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First settlers - related to have been Rev. John Smith and Alice Andrews in 1792 who were from Dighton, Massachusetts. Rev. Joel Jewell stated their arrival was later, around 1798 or 1800. Alice d. 11 July 1811 54y 6m (ts) and Rev. Smith d. 15 May 1817 68y (ts) buried in the old Baptist Church yard or known as the Wisner Burying Ground in Elmira, New York. The bodies were removed from this cemetery for a park and the Smiths were reintered in Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira. We are uninformed of what other family members may have accompanied them to Wells.
First framed building - related to have been a barn erected in 1809 by the Judsons who settled in the Seeley Creek Valley just north of Mosherville in 1803 on lands vacated by the Reeders, afterward the Alexander Roy and Joanna McWhorter farm which passed to their son John Alexander Roy and now (1998) the Shutts residence. Reference: Reporter Journal, Towanda, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1885.
First house of worship erected - Presbyterian Church at Aspinwall (now Coryland) built in 1839. The North Church of Wells was built at the State Line in 1845 which was moved to Mosherville in 1869. Both of these churches are still in existence with alterations and additions.
First framed house - related to have been built in 1812 by Samuel Edsall who settled at Aspinwall (now Coryland) west of the Coryland church and cemetery, later the Brown farm. This house was in existence until the early 1900's when it burned.
First death - related that one of the Reeder families who accompanied or followed Rev. John Smith and Alice Andrews, had a child die which was buried in a grave at the present site of Mosherville on property of Charles L. Shepherd. A young child of Solomon Soper and Mary Corey, a resident of western Columbia on Mill Creek, was related to have been scalded to death at a work bee on the 4th of July, year uncertain, some records giving 1810, at the residence of Samuel Edsall and Sarah Seeley at Aspinwall. The History of Bradford County by Bradsby relates that a young boy died prior to William Keyes who died in 1813.
First death of an adult - related to be William Keyes husband of Saloma Daggett who died in 1813 and has a marker in the Mosherville Cemetery inscribed "W. Keys 1813."
First post office - established at French Mills (now Mosherville) in 1826.
First hotel - The only one in the township was built at Mosherville and is still in existence as an apartment house.
J. Kelsey Jones
1820 Warrant Map of Wells Township
1869 Atlas Map Showing School Districts
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