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The Reverend Mr. David Craft Granville Township |
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GRANVILLE TOWNSHIP
The township of Granville was organized in 1831, from parts of Troy,
Burlington, Franklin, and Canton townships, and is situated between the
townships of Troy and West Burlington on the north, West Burlington and Franklin
on the east, Le Roy on the south, and Canton and Troy on the west. The
township is eight miles in length on the north line, east and west, and about
two and a half miles on the east line.
Its principal stream is the north branch or the Towanda creek, which takes
its rise in Armenia townships in the eastern marsh, and takes its course down
the mountain, near A. W. Thomas', and enters Granville near the northwestern
corner, and passes out at the southeastern corner. Several small
tributaries enter from the north, at intervals of about a mile, throughout its
whole course in the township. On the main stream, near the summit, was in
the early days a beaver-dam, and also a number of saw mills, but few of which
are now in operation.
The township was noted for its timber, consisting of pine, hemlock, maple,
beech, ash, white-wood, and chestnut, which has now nearly all disappeared
before the axe of the settler or saw of the lumberman. The ground shaded by its
foliage being now farms in excellent cultivation, fenced largely with the
material once growing thereon. The town is somewhat celebrated for its
butter manufacture.
The first settlers on the territory now included in the township of
Granville were Jeremiah Taylor and his family, including two children, who came
from Berkshire Co., Mass., to West Burlington, in the winter of 1798-99.
The family stopped in that town the first season, where a crop was raised, Mr.
Taylor in the mean time making a clearing and putting up a log cabin, with
"shake" roof, fastened with poles laid across longitudinally. In the month
of March 1800, he came to the cabin with his family, with an ox-sled, a portion
of the track then cut through being yet visible. The cabin stood on the
west bank of a small stream, a few rods north of its junction with Towanda
creek. The cabin was not the most inviting home that could be imagined,
having places for a door and window, a bole through the roof for a chimney, but
neither of those rather comfortable articles in domestic economy were in
existence. The floor was made of the usual bass wood punchions, which was
a luxury in those days. Night was falling when the oxen were unyoked and,
with the cow, were turned loose. The few household effects were brought into the
cabin, a blanket was hung up at the door, and another at the window, a fire
kindled on the fire-place, that is, on the ground, and their first repast in
their forest home was prepared and eaten.
The second settler was Lewis Moffit, who came to the township the same year
(1800), and who settled about one mile west of the main stream, on the firm now
owned by Harrison Ross, and a road was cut along the stream, the creek being
crossed twice by logs or fallen trees. Moffit was from Brimfield, Mass.
The next settler was Scovil Bailey, who came in the spring of 1801 or 1802,
and settled on the firm now owned by Luman D. Taylor. He was from
Connecticut, and a carpenter by trade, and a noted hunter. David Bailey
and his father and mother came next, and settled on the farm now owned by Robert
Bailey. They were followed by Ezra Bailey, who settled on the farm now
owned by Elam Bailey. Thomas Bailey came next, and located on the farm now
owned by John Vroman, and about the same tilde Uriah Baxter came and located on
the farm now owned by Benjamin Baldwin. Benjamin Saxton and Oliver Nelson
came about 1807, Saxton settling on the first location of Lewis Moffit. He
was a blacksmith, and soon after arrivals built a shop and began operations at
his trade. Nelson settled farther east, on the farm now owned by John
Vroman 2d. The foregoing families were the pioneers for several years, and were
all old acquaintances from New England.
About 1811 several new settlers came in, among them Philip Packard (1809),
Abraham Parkhurst, and Charles Butterfield. In 1817, John Putnam, Alvord
Churchill, John Pratt, Josiah Vroman, and David Ross came into the township, and
from the settlers already named have sprung a large proportion of the present
inhabitants of Granville.
About this time a new settlement was made on what was called the
"Windfall,"-a large section of country on which the trees had been prostrated by
winds, and which had been burned over by hunters. The first settlers here
were Abijah Ayers (1820), Zoroaster Porter, Avery, Packard, Nathaniel Clark,
Simon Chesley (1824),* Shoemaker, and Ferguson. These and their
descendants have now settled the "Windfall" in every direction. This
settlement soon built a school-house, opened schools arid religious meetings,
and built the first church edifice in town, which was called the "Union
meetinghouse," and furnished accommodations for several different denominations.
Elders Pentecost, Sweet, and Asa Dodge were the pioneer preachers.
A Mr. Bacon owned the Connecticut title, arid those Who bought of him lost
their ventures, by reason of the loss of his property by Bacon. Oliver
Bailey was the ancestor of all the Baileys of Granville.
FIRST THINGS
The first white child born in Granville was Sylvester Taylor, the third son
of the first settler, Jeremiah Taylor. He is still living on the farm on
which be was born in 1804, the original location of his father, who died Sept.
17, 1827. This farm is at Granville Centre.
The first death that occurred in the town was that of Mrs. Lewis Moffit,
who was buried on Towanda creek, in the old burying-ground on the Crofut farm.
The first wedding was that of Hugh Holcomb, one of the first settlers in
the present town of Le Roy, and Miss Prudence Bailey, daughter of Oliver Bailey.
Mrs. Holcomb lived to see her family well settled around her, and one or her
sons. Hon. Judson Holcomb, now of the Bradford Republican, Towanda,
filling many important official trusts.
The first school was taught in the summer of 1807 by Miss Delight Spalding,
late of Franklin township. The patrons of this school were Jeremiah
Taylor, Benjamin Saxton, Scovil, Ezra, David, and Thomas Bailey, Uriah Baxter,
and Oliver Nelson. There were about fifteen pupils in attendance, from a
territory embracing about three miles square, many of whom are present residents
of the township.
The first religious movement was manifested about 1805, when Jeremiah
Taylor and his wife made a profession of religion and united with the Baptist
church on the Towanda creek. Elder Thomas Smiley was the pioneer
evangelist who raised up this church. In 1810 the Methodist Episcopal
church made its first preaching appointment in the town and organized a society,
which continued till 1850, when it ceased. The Protestant Methodists
formed an association in the town about 1820-22, Uriah Baxter being the leader
of the class. Elder David Randall, of Burlington, was active in this
organization, exhibiting much zeal and industry in forming and maintaining the
society until his death. This society is yet in existence, Rev. Alexander
Lane being its occasional supply. In 1832 a Disciples church was formed of
twenty members by Dr. S. E. Shepard, of Troy, which is yet in a flourishing
condition.
The first framed barn was built by Jeremiah Taylor in 1815, and the first
framed house was built in 1819 by Jeremiah Taylor, Jr.
The first grist-mill was built in 1820 by the last-named person, who used
it to grind corn only. In this mill afterwards were placed a turning-lathe
and chair-making apparatus by Nathaniel Phelps. A few years later Jeremiah
Taylor built a saw-mill, and shortly afterwards another gristmill, which was in
operation until quite recently.
The first road opened in the township was the one up the creek, between
Taylor's and Bailey's, in 1802. In 1807, the Towanda creek and Sugar creek
road was opened through the town. It began near the present road from West
Burlington to Granville and Le Roy, and crossed the Sugar creek at the site of
Goddard's saw-mill (afterwards). From that point the road ran up the hill
south, and intersected the present road near George Shattuck's, and continued
near the same to Bailey's, where it crossed the North Branch, and from thence
ran south near the present road, intersecting the "Taylor" road (as the old road
is still called) about a mile from Towinda creek. In 1811, a road was laid
out from the Towanda creek in West Franklin to Irad Wilson's, near Alba borough,
a distance of about eleven miles, near the present road, but over the points of
the hills, on which road the settlers began to build their houses, leaving their
old cabins on the stream. In 1846, the change in the road laws was made,
and highway commissioners were first elected in the township; John Sayles, Levi
Taylor, and Marcus Ayres being the first incumbents.
In 1826, through the influence of Gen. Samuel McKean, then a member
of congress from this district, a mail-route was established through the
settlement, from East Burlington to Alba, with weekly mail carried on horseback.
The next year a post-office was established in the settlement and known as the
"North Branch" post-office. In 1831, when the town of Granville was
organized, against a spirited opposition, the name of the office was changed to
Granville.
About 1849, the first public house for the entertainment of travelers and
others was opened by Levi Taylor, and about the same time B. F. and L. D. Taylor
opened the first store in the township.
In 1852, the Williamsport and Elmira railroad was opened through the
northeast corner of the township, and the "Summit" depot established, taking its
name from the fact that its site is the highest point on the road. Here,
too, a post-office was soon established by the same name. About this time,
Albert and Wilson Nichols came in from the State of New York, and purchased a
quantity of timber land, and erected a large steam saw-mill, and with others
manufactured a large amount of lumber. In 1857 a large tannery was built
at the centre. In 1859, C. G. E. Martin succeeded to the proprietorship of
the tannery, and operated it until his death, Nov. 14, 1861, and the present
owner, Adams Innis, bought it in 1865, and has made extensive improvements
thereon.
In April, 1865, the post-office was re-established at Granville
Centre, with a daily mail from the Summit, and called the Granville Centre
post-office.
TIIE PRESENT.
Old homes are giving way to the new; new school-houses are erected in more
convenient locations, and more conformable to modern advanced requirements of
education; mills are constricted on more economical principles, for more
expeditious and better work, with the best and latest improvements. The
old is rapidly passing away, and the new, with all its progressive ideas, is
entering in and taking possession of the business places in every department.
The "hayloader" is an invention of Luman D. Taylor, of Granville Centre, and
manufactured there, and is a useful improvement over the old method of
pitchforks. E. F. Larcom is a cooper, whose work is much sought after by
the butter makers. P S. Bailey, boot and shoe maker, David Sayles,
harness-maker; N. Sayles, wagon-maker; Henry Arnold, blacksmith; E. Roby,
millwright - J. P. Bush, joiner - and Adam Innis, are all excellent mechanics of
the present day in the town.
In 1856, through the liberality of different individuals, a commodious and
convenient house of worship was erected in Granville Centre, and the same year a
bell was placed in the tower and the edifice dedicated as a "Christian" church,
Since then two other churches have been built in the western part of the
township, one for the Disciples church, and the other for the Free-Will
Baptists. The detailed history of the churches of the township will be
found elsewhere in the general history of' the county.
In 1852, a division of the Sons of Temperance was organized in Granville.
In June, 1854, a lodge of Good Temperances was organized, which continued its
meetings several years. Through the influence of these organizations, the liquor
traffic was closed, and has so continued. Scoville Bailey had the only
distillery ever built in the township, but it disappeared a great many years
ago.
THE FASHIONS
of the pioneers, though not elaborate, were nevertheless somewhat difficult
to follow in the way of clothing, for in the entire absence of wool and flax
they were necessarily chiefly confined to the article furnished by nature to
primitive man in all countries, the skins of wild beasts. These, however,
were more or less elaborately manufactured, and adorned according to the taste
and skill of the artist who manipulated the raw material. Buckskin
breeches, jackets, and coats took on a buff color, and under skillful working
became soft and pliable. Raccoons, foxes, minks, and such small
fur-bearing animals furnished hats and caps of no mean quality.
Amusements were no rarity, though often sought and participated in
under difficulties of the little moment. The young gallants took their
"faire ladyes" to their rustic dances and sports on horseback behind them on the
same horse, and occasionally "Dobbin" carried a triple burden. The "party"
gathered its constituents from a wide extent of territory.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
ADAMS INNIS
The subject of this sketch was born in Musselburg, Scotland, April 10,
l820. He was a son of Robert and Murion (Kirkwood) Innis, and the fifth
child in a family of seven, none of whom except himself are now living. He
learned the tanning trade, serving an apprenticeship of five years, and working
at the trade eight more, when be removed with his father to Ulster Co., N. Y.
Upon his arrival he at once took charge of A. I. Shultz's tannery. He had
the management of the business for seven years, when he purchased an interest in
it, remaining ten years longer. In 1865 be sold out and went to Granville,
Bradford Co., Pa., where he purchased the tannery of Mrs. C. J. Martin. He
has more than doubled the business by judicious management, besides building his
present residence, his son's residence, and many outbuildings. His tannery
is at present in successful operation. He owns also a tannery at Grover,
besides an interest in the Troy tannery, with Mr. B. Bowen.
He was married Oct. 4,1844, to Ellen McNiel, a daughter of Daniel and Mary
McNiel, of Linlithgow, Scotland, the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots
His family consists of five sons and three daughters, viz. Robert,
born July 27, 1845, in Scotland (married Betsey H. Sayles, daughter of John
Sayles, of Granville Centre); David, born in Scotland, Feb. 28, 1848; Mary C.,
born in Ulster county, May 15, 1850; Olivia A., born June 1, 1853, in Ulster
county; John A., born July 20, 1855; Colin A., born in Ulster county, May 27,
1858; Helen J., born July 8, 1860; and Judson K., born Dec. 25, 1862.
Robert, in the spring of 1875, began the tannery business for himself in
Bodinesville, Lycoming Co. David represents the tannery at Grover.
In politics, Mr. Innis is a Republican, and has always possessed
considerable influence at the polls. He joined the Congregational church
in Scotland, but united with the Dutch Reformed church upon his arrival in
America.