Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-06-30
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Communication of Charles Miner, read at
the Pioneer Anniversary, in the Meth
odist Church, at WilkesBarre, June 1st,
1859.

As one of the early pioneers that remain it
occurred to me that some recollection of the
o'deu time might be acceptable from my pen,
confning myself chiefly to the first ten years Of
the century.
In the fall of 1899 | came to WilkesBarre
by invitation to brother AsherS wedding. Ha-
ing served his seven years apprenticeship with
master Green, and accumulated 500 he had
arrived early in the year to obtain Printing
establishment. The WikesBarre Gazette was
then owned by Thomas Wright, and published
by his sons. Negotiations were commenced
terms agreed to-writings drawn and execu-
ted. Next morning the Old gentleman be-
thought himself of sundry alterations, and
pressed them with the decision Of one accuS
toned to have his way. Asher, without tenn
per, but with frmneSs placed the agreement
under the forestick Astonished, but yet lik
ing the character exhibited, they made up, the
old gentleman giving the young Yankee his
only daughter in marriage, "a very amable la
dy,) and Asher established the Luzerne Fed
erahst Not to lose a moment of time, be bad
opened a school but unable to resist the
temptation to take his prize to Norwich, he en-
gagged me to take charge of the scholars. Par
don one minute more of this egOtiSm. 1t is not
without a purpose. beardless boy, not out
of his teens, preSuming even for month to
take charge of the WiIkosBarr high school,
will of itself tell You of primative times. Among
my numerous pupils were Lettia Wright-then
II Sarah HoIIenback 10 Ellen Hollenback,
70; Charlott Schotts II ; George Hollen-
back, g. George, now the millionaire OF Lu-
zerne President Of the Bank-the thorough
man of business, and esteemed neighbor. Miss
Schotts removed with her father and married
merchant Mr. Vaudeville, and hence was
derived the middle name of her cousin, the late
Rev H. NJ Denison, who married President
Tyler's daughter, and who died, with charac-
teriStc and christian bravery at his post, with
yellow fever, in CbarieStOn-the Misses Hol-
Ienback, finished their education at Mrs. Nah
Ions, in Philadelphia. The happy faces Of
twenty children aud grand children in our
midst as Mrs CSt and Mrs Butler, remind us
of Sarah, the universally loved-but now de-
parted.
1t was day dawn WilkesBarre was just
beginning to emerge from the darkness which
thirty years of suffering had enshrouded her.
The policy inaugurated by Colonel Pickering
of quietng, by liberal compromise, the old set
tiers, awakening hope and impartiug confidence,
began to be felt in its benifcence, but the vii.
lage was yet little more than a rude hamlet.
From the Tavern opposite the Dr. Coyell house
to the Public Square and thence to (now) the
bridge, on the southwest side of the street,
there was not a single building. There had
been one, but the cellar only remained. Your
beautiful Franklin or Church street was not
open until several years afterwards An ad-
vertisenent in the Gazette of '99 announced
q &c aA n cfo fb1f
eTIce, TO go once fortnight to the Great
Bend. Another to go to Berwick-down one
side of the river and back the other These
were private post. note it as an amusing
evidence of gentemen's fashions. A reward
VIII be given to the finder of a Queue, lost be-
tween the Ferry and DR. Bigelo's, Kingston"