THE HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY

On Susquehanna's side, fair Wyoming! Although the wild flower on thy ruined wall And roofless homes a sad remembrance bring Of what thy gentle people did befall, Yet thou wert once the loveliest land of all That see the Atlantic wave their morn restore. Sweet land! May I thy lost delights recall."-CAMPBELL.

WYOMING! At that name, wherever the English tongue is spoken, wherever the traditions of our nation's first struggles for life are read, wherever in the round world the tales of American patriotism and endurance are told, a thrill electric threads the nerves, and makes the heart of man beat faster in its sympathy with true bravery, true nobility. This name is most appropriately given to this county, as being the northern opening of the wonderful and beautiful Wyoming valley, the home of heroism, the fount of history and song. True, within the immediate limits of this county, the records remain of no hard-fought battles, no bloody massacres, no life-long captivities, to transmit her name down to posterity as one rendered immortal by the bloody deeds committed within her border; yet while the work of devastation was going on in other counties, and even before it had commenced, it was the scene of quarrels and Indian plottings, that culminated, at length, in the great massacre of Wyoming.

While the Indians were making preparations for the decisive move on the valley below, it was evident that Wyoming county was destined to be the scene of much bloodshed. Her bright sun of peace and happiness was about to set. "On the 5th of June, 1778, there was an alarm from the Indians and six white men, Tories, coming in the neighborhood of Tunkhannock and taking Wilcox, Pierce, and some others prisoners, and robbing and plundering the inhabitants." The foregoing is from the journal of Lieutenant Jenkins, and he tells us that as soon as this reached the ears of those in the valley below they began to fortify, so this seems to have been one of the first indications of the approaching danger. On the 12th of June, 1778, William Crooks and Asa Budd came up the river in a canoe to a place some two miles above Tunkhannock, formerly occupied by a Tory named John Secord, which was near where Uriah Swetland now lives. Crooks was fired upon and killed by a party of Indians. He was the first white man killed in Westmoreland, so we see the first blood was shed in Wyoming county. On the 17th of June of the same year, a party of six men, in two canoes, came up the river to observe the movements of the enemy. The party in the forward canoe landed about six miles below Tunkhannock (La Grange), and on ascending the bank they saw an armed force of Indians and Tories moving toward them. They gave the alarm, returned to their canoes, and endeavored to get behind an island to escape the fire, which was being poured in upon them. The canoe, in which were Miner Robbins, Joel Phelps, and Stephen Jenkins, was fired upon, and Robbins killed and Phelps wounded. Jenkins escaped unhurt. In the party that fired upon the canoe was Elijah Phelps, a Tory, the brother of Joel and brother-in-law of Robbins.
Thus the work of death commenced, and on the 30th of June, the enemy, numbering about two hundred British Provincials, and about two hundred Tories from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, under the command of Major John Butler and Captain Caldwell, of Sir john Johnson's Royal Greens, and about five hundred Indians, commanded by Joseph Brant, a Mohawk, descended the river in a boat, and landed on the south bank of Bowman's creek, where they remained some time waiting for the West Branch party to join them. This party consisted of about two hundred Indians, under the command of Gucingerachton. After the juncture of these forces, numbering altogether about eleven hundred, they moved forward to the invasion of Wyoming. They left the largest of their boats, and with the lighter ones passed on down the river to the Three Islands, now known as Keeler's. from this point they marched to the valley. The bloody scene had now commenced, and these fiends of hell were let loose upon the inhabitants of the country, dealing death to whomever they met.

WYOMING county is a new county, having been taken from the north-eastern corner of Luzerne, by act of April 4, 1842, when Henry Colt, of Luzerne, George Mack, of Columbia, and john Boyle, of Susquehanna county, were appointed commissioners to mark out the boundary. Its form is that of an oblique parallelogram, being about twenty-three miles long by fifteen wide, making an area of three hundred and forty-five square miles. Its eastern boundary is a broken line extending from Marcy's sawmill, on Tunkhannock creek, to Stearn Keeler's, a point on the Susquehanna about two miles below Falls village. The surface of the county is diversified by numerous spurs of the Appalachian system, some of which tower into lofty peaks, among which the principal are Mount Solecca, whose base is washed by Tunkhannock creek and the river, and which rises to the height of one thousand feet in the face of the borough of Tunkhannock; Mount Chodano, nearly opposite, on the south bank of Bowman's creek, and of about the same height; and Mount Matchasaung, which rises to a great height, overlooking the little hamlet of La Grange. The Susquehanna river runs from the north-west to the south-east corner, thus dividing the county diagonally into two almost equal portions. It has numerous tributaries which, by reason of the mountainous region through which they flow, descend very rapidly, and thus afford excellent water-power for factories and mills of all descriptions. Among the most prominent of these streams are the Tuscarora, Meshoppen, Tunkhannock, Falls, and Wyonlutimunk creeks, from the east side, ad Little and Big Mehoopany and Bowman's creeks from the west side. There are also several beautiful little lakes, among which are prominent Lake Carey, Lake Wyola, and Oxbow lake. The largest of these, Lake Carey, is situated in Lemon and Tunkhannock townships, about three miles north of Tunkhannock borough, and is tree miles long by one wide. It is surrounded by lofty pines and hemlocks, which give it a picturesque appearance. This, as well as the others named, is filled with fish. Lake Wyonla is situated in Overfield township, about five miles south-east of Tunkhannock, and is a beautiful little body of water.

The resources of the county are principally agricultural and manufacturing, the minerals abounding being unimportant from an artizan's point of view-the Leather, lumber, and agricultural implements are the principal articles of manufacture. By reason of the vast forests of timber in different portions of the county, lumber forms on of the principal exports. The soil along the river and its tributaries is exceedingly fertile, and well adapted to the raising of grain, while the hill sides afford excellent pasture for cattle and sheep. Butter and grain are shipped yearly in considerable quantities. The railroads which pass through the county furnish ample facilities for transportation, while its contiguity to the coal fields of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys makes it a desirable location for manufactories.

Wyoming county contains seventeen townships and two boroughs. BRAINTRIM, originally known as White Haven township, was laid out in 1766, but owing to the troublesome times incident to the Revolution, it was re-ganted in 1778, and called by its present name. This was one of the three certified towns which were situated in the county, and was one of the first settled. Among the settlers of Braintrim was John Depue, who located at the mouth of Tuscarora creek. In July, 1776, the farm passed into the hands of William Hooker Smith. About two miles below, on Black Walnut bottom, Frederick Vanderlip was seated. This was a favorite stopping point for travelers, and was the place where Sullivan's army encamped in its march up the river on the night of August4, 1779.

EXETER was granted on the 28th of November, 1772, to Isaac Tripp, John Jenkins, and Jonathan Dean. It was named Exeter in 1774, from Exeter in Rhode Island. When the county was set off from Luzerne, that part of Exeter embraced in Wyoming was still called Exeter. Among the first settlers were Mr. Headley and Paul Keller, about 1795.

FORKSTON was taken from Windham in 1844. The first settler was Leonard Lott, who came up the river in a canoe about the year 1795, and drew the canoe up the creek to the forks where he settled.
CLINTON township was erected from parts of Tunkhannock, Falls, Nicholson, and that portion of Abington, in Wyoming county. The people petitioned to have the township named Harmony, but for some reason the judges then on the bench called it Clinton. It was settled by emigrants from Rhode Island. Robert, Phineas, Oliver, and Solomon Reynolds, were the first settlers, who came there in the year 1798. Stephen Capwell and sons were the nest, who came in 1800.

EATON was erected from parts of Tunkhannock, in 1818. It was named for General William Eaton, of Massachusetts. Among the first settlers was one John Secord, who located on the flat about two miles above Tunkhannock, on the opposite side of the river, in 1773. This flat was then called Catchakamy Plains. It was at his house that the first white man was killed in Westmoreland during the Revolutionary war. Below this, at the mouth of Bowman's creek, lived Jacob and Adam Bowman, settled there in 1773, whence the name of the creek. It was on their farm that the Indians encamped on the night previous to the massacre of Wyoming. Elisha Harding came in 1790, and Joshua Patrick, a soldier of the Revolution, about 1795. Glen Moneypenny, situated in Eaton township, on a little stream which empties into the Susquehanna on its western side, six miles below Tunkhannock, presents one among the many wildly picturesque scenes to be found throughout the mountain region of the county.

FALLS was originally granted to James Park, Obediah Gore, George Dorrance, and Captain Joseph Park, but being driven off by the natives it was re-granted on the 8th of May, 1786. The first settlement was made in July, 1773, by Benjamin Jones, at Wyolutimunk. This old Indian village was situated in the lower end of Falls township, and was the camping ground of Sullivan's army on the night of August 1, 1797. It signifies "we came upon them unawares." The Delaware Indians say in explanation of this name, that a party of the Five Nation Indians were making a descent upon them with hostile intent; that they went out to meet them, ambuscaded them at the lower end of the mountain, and surprised and captured them. Justus Jones came in 1794, David Moorehouse and John Fitch in 1787, Zuriel Sherwood in 1789, John C. Williams in 1784, and Matthew Sherwood in 1789. The latter is now living at the advanced age of eighty-nine years, and is the oldest Connecticut settler in the county.

PUTNAM was granted, September 24, 1775, and on December 20, lots were taken by twenty-is persons. The place of encampment of Sullivan's army on the night of August 3, 1779, was at Watman's, who lived in a cabin near Palen's tannery.

WASHINTON was taken from Braintrim and Tunkhannock, in 1831. John Carney and son, the first settlers, located on the flat opposite Mehoopany in 1787, his son William having come two or three years previous. Directly back of Mehoopany depot, Jacob Miller settled in 1791, and his son Christopher (now living) was born the following spring. Near Vosburg depot lived one Mr. Hunt, who came there prior to the year 1795. He established a ferry which has always been known as Hunt's ferry.

WINDHAM is among the oldest townships in the county. Job Whitcomb was one of the first settlers, having settled on North Flat in the year 1787. Hiram and Solomon Whitcomb also lived near by. Asa Stevens lived on the upper end of Hemlock Bottom, now Scottsville. Just below him lived Josiah Fassett, who came to this township in the year 1795. It was on his farm that Timothy Pickering was imprisoned in a log cabin, and confined some months. Asa Budd, who was with Crooks when he was shot at Secord's house lived just below Fasset's. Abijah Sturdevant was the first settler at Jenningsville, having come there some time previous to 1795.

LEMON was organized from Tunkhannock and Washington in1847. Daniel Earle was among its first settlers.

MEHOOPANY was taken from Whindham in 1844. It was originally "Hoppeny," an Indian name, and signified "the place of potatoes," or "where potatoes grew." "Amos York erected a house in 1775, opposite, and above the mouth of the Meshoppen, and enclosed a considerable tract of land, and afterwads removed to Wyalusing. Elijah Phelphs finding the house empty, moved in without any authority from York, who warned him off some time prior to the battle, York was slain in the battle." This battle was probably the massacre of Wyoming. Thomas Millard lived near Elijah Phelps, and came about the same time. Noah Phelps lived nearly opposite Meshoppen creek, as early as 1795. Just below, at the mouth of the little Mehoopany, Henry Love, a soldier of the Revolution, settled in 1796. At the mouth of the Big Mehoopany settled Zepheniah Lott in 1791, and on Grist Flat, John and George Grist, about 1795.

MESHOPPEN was taken from Braintrim in 1854. The Indian name from which it is derived means "the place of choral beads," or a "distribution of choral beads." Amaziah Cleveland was probably the first permanent settler. He built a saw mill and two houses at the mouth of Meshoppen creek. Mason F. Alden came there as early as 1775, followed by Ezekiel Mowry, some years after; he built the first grist mill in Meshoppen. Farther up the river, Benjamin Overfield came prior to 1795, and Peter Osterhout about the same time. After him came Paul Overfield.

MONROE was taken from North Moreland, in 1831. Matthew Phenix was probably the first settler, but he did not come there until 1817.
NICHOLSON is an old township, named for John Nicholson, formerly comptroller general of the State.

NORTH BRANCH was erected in 1856.

NORTH MORELAND was the second of the three certified towns in the county It was erected in 1815. Timothy Lee was probably the first settler of this township, having settled on the place now owned by Manning Champlin, in 1800.

OVERFIELD was taken from Falls, in 1859. Abel Patrick was probably the first settler, having settled in 1787.

TUNKHANNOCK was incorporated August 8, 1841. When the county was set off from Luzerne, Tunkhannock became the county seat, and the stakes for the court house were set on the 25th of May, 1842, upon two acres of land presented to the county by Thomas Slocum. The court house and jail were built in 1843-'4, and the jail was re-built 1868. The court house was enlarged in 1869-'70. The borough proper contains 983 inhabitants, but within the immediate neighborhood of the borough there are 1,245. At this place the Montrose railway intersects the Lehigh Valley. It is a quiet, orderly town, and is the largest in the county.

NICHOLSON was incorporated in August, 1875. It is a flourishing little town of about 450 inhabitants. It is on the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western railroad, and ships considerable quantities of lumber and farming produce.

Source: History of Pennsylvania by William H. Egle, M.D., M.A. Published 1883

Author: WYOMING COUNTY BY CHARLES M. LEE, TUNKHANNOCK

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