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1885 Seven Counties History - Bradford
County PA
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Postcard of Terytown from
Wyalusing Rocks
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“HISTORY OF SEVEN COUNTIES presented by the Elmira Weekly
Gazette". It is an “Outline History of Tioga and Bradford Counties in
Pennsylvania, Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins and Schuyler in New York by
TOWNSHIPS, VILLAGES, BORO’S AND CITIES.” Written expressly for the Gazette
Company, Elmira, N. Y. Copyright 1885.From AN OUTLINE
HISTORY of Tioga and
Bradford
Counties in Pennsylvania, Chemung, Steuben,
Tioga, Tompkins and Schuyler in New York by TOWNSHIPS, VILLAGES, BORO'S AND
CITIES"
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TERRY TOWNSHIP
Terry township was formed in 1859. It is
bounded on the north by Asylum township, on the east by the Susquehanna river
and Wilmot township, on the south by Wilmot, and on the west by Albany and
Asylum. It is a peculiarly shaped township, its principal lines running in
a northeast and southwestern direction, forming a similar figure to a key stone
placed between the township of Wilmot and Asylum. Terrytown is situated in
the northeastern portion of the township, on the banks of the Susquehanna river
and New Era, situated in the south western portion of the township are villages
and post towns of the township. Along the Susquehanna river settlements
were early made, and the land well cultivated, while back from the river
lumbering was carried on extensively for years. The timber being removed
the lands are now being cleared and cultivated with a fair degree of success.
The early settlers were Benjamin Budd, Johnathan
Terry, Stephen Durell, Joshua Terry, Nathaniel Terry, Nathan Terry, Israel
Parshall, John Horton, Lebbeus Gardner, Parshall Terry, Uriah Terry, William
Terry, Oliver Dodge, Edmund Dodge, George F. Horton, Edmond Horton, J. L. Jones,
Charles Homet, Isaac Schoonhover.
--There is an Odd Fellows’ Hall at New Era.
--The French refuges built a house near New Era, in
Terry township, to receive the King and Queen of France, during the French
revolution. The house was erected about the year 1795.
--Uriah Terry was a teacher and poet.
--Marshall Terry erected the first grist mill, in
1794.
--Major Oliver Dodge was an early settler at
Terrytown.
--Uriah Terry was the first white child born at
Terrytown.
--Benjamin Budd erected a log house in Terrytown,
in 1774.
--There were five brothers named Dodge, in the
battle of Bunker Hill.
--Major John Horton, Sr., built the first framed
house in Terry township.
--Union Church or Tabernacle erected at Terrytown,
in 1852, open to all evangelical organizations
--“Terry Castle” an old landmark, a double two
story hewed log house was for many years an object of interest.
--Jonathan Terry, was the first permanent settler
in Terry township, and the founder of the village of Terrytown, in 1787.
--Major John Horton Sr., built the first framed
barn in Terry township, in 1805. He did service in the revolutionary war.
He settled in Terrytown in the year 1792.
--Hon. Uriah Terry was the democratic member of the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, in 1875 and 1876, the only democratic
member elected in Bradford county in many years.
--Major John Horton Jr., was Justice of the Peace
for many years, a merchant, Captain and Major in the milita, county treasurer of
Bradford county, and one of the prominent and influential democrats of the
county. He was born in 1793, and died in 1867.
--Jonathan Terry was commissioned Justice of the
Peace, by Gov. Simon Snyder, in the year 1812, and continued in office until the
year 1821, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Uriah Terry. The office
of Justice of the Peace was held by the Terry family for four successive
generations.