Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-06-30

in the northern part of the County, the Assem-
bly, had passed the sharply coerSive Intrusion
Law and the Land Holders were sending out
surveyors in every direction, to renew, to per-
feet their surveys, perfectly and imperfectly
made under warrants by Morris Nicholson &C.
Of '83-4, joining with this the wise, and as it
proved successful, policy, OF sending agents of
frstrate character and abilities, to mngle
with the settlers as missionaries of peace and
opinion. Among the chiefest of these agents
was Dr. Rose, then (l802 or g. young man
OF three aud twenty-an accomplished scholar
master OF several languages, an intimate of
Dennie, contributor to the Port Folio, po-
ct of various merit-at times of eminent pow
er and sweetness, always clasScally correct
as prose writer, unsurpassed, to borrow quo
tation he had placed at the head of his brief
bnt excellent biography of Wayne, naturalya
proud man
Naughty and sour, to those that loved him not
To those that sought him, sweet as summer"
The opinion that he came to Luzerne land
holder is an error. He did not purchase until
several years afterwards. His first appear
ance was in directing the surveys on Towanda
and Sugar creek of which | shall speak here
after
To arrest the settlements under the lead of
Hyde, Tracy, and others-to induce the peo-
pie to take, on easy terms, the Pennsylvania
titIe-not to check bat encourage settlement,
ut any rate to enter on the nnd-to unfurl up
on the contested ground the Pennsylvania ban
ner. This was his purpose To arrest with
vigOr, to defend with fortitude TO establish
counter settlements, and to win converts to bis
faith.
Fearless, he deGed danger, if any existed
Notwithstanding the excited temper of mems
minds he avowed his object, travelled alone,
traversed every path, visited every clearing,
yelled his natural hauteur to the simple man
ners of the cottager, made acquaintauces, dis
cussed agriculture, listened to the long stories
of the hunter about trapping wolves and tree
ing catamOunts. With those who discovered
:aSte for literature, he quoted tae poets re-
cited Marmion's quarrel with Earl Douglass,
visited the charming Orwell authoress Of An
gelna and everywhere reasoned to show.
How many years if successful it would take
to establish the Connecticut Claim How
much better for the settler and the State, to
get their titles for tr,de and pursue their
agriculture in peace
the northern half of (now) Susquehanna county
he commenced settlement at Silver Lake,
since known as the elegant and hosptable
mansion of Dr.. Rose We remember tarrying
with him in a log cabin at an early day. \
bear skin and blanket his bed From a leg of
vensiou hanging up in the middle of the hut
our breakfast was cut by lad, his only atten-
dant. The woods were falling round him -
Before his udOmitable firmness, his unequahsd
address, Though at times seemingly harsh aud
repuIsive) by an energy and perseverance ex-
erted for years, the Connecticut claimants be-
gan to doubt to waVer some declared them
selves neutral" They would wait and see who
owned the land Others bought, and it was
apparent the dispute was approaching its ter
minatiOn. During these years of severe hard
ships and excessive toll, the Doctor took to
himself occasional hours of social intermission
aud literary ease Coming to Wilkes Barre,
the moment he could arrange his papcrS-he
threw himself on the sofa with the most ap-
parent liStleSS Incidence and pcrused the new
novel, or turned over the pages of the late
review. An inveterate reader he took his
book to bed, and often lay till near noon. A
cracker and cup OF chocolate was his most
coveted luxury. All ardent spirits and even
wine he eSchewed except on extraordinary oc-
caSions. Having whiled away the allotted
time, the hour fixed for starting having arriv-
ed, his powerful easy paced ilee-bitten steed,
was brought TO the door, loaded down with
port manteau, blanket, cloak, umbrella, and
then, if thunder gust was rising, a hail storm
raging it made not the slightest difference -
Indeed seemingly unconscious of sunshine or
rain be pursued bis journey. The eifrminate
child of case and indulgence was at once meta
morphosed into the hardy mountainecr, fearless
of hardship and laughing at danger
Chiefly through his instrumentality, though
aided by other causes, all vestigcS of the Con-
nectcut Claim disappeared The Susquehanna
and Delaware companies gradually sunk into
oblivion The services rendered by DR.. Rose
to the Commonwealth, the land holders, and
may | not add the settlers Themselves has
never, think, been fully realized or properly
appreciated. A debt of gratitude is due to his
name as public benefactor. HIS exortions
were crowned with success. He accomplished
his object. There are not finer or more pros
porous counties in the State than Susquehanna
and Bradford They are studded with beauti-
ful farms, and the population distinguished in
a remarkable degree by industry, pure morals
and intelligence and at his decease DE- Rose
left his amilble family in independence.
Connected with his name | have one more
paragraph to add in justice to the Towanda
and Sugar creek settlers
The compasses of the Pennsylvania survey
ors were shattered and rife balls thrown into
their packs. All the northern part Of county
was in commotion. To suppose that those set
tiers were an unprincipled bandtt setting moral
obligations at defiance, and ready for any crime
that sel6shness might suggest, would do them
great injustice Allow me to relate an illustra
tive fact Having been to Tioga Point with
the mail and papers, as was the usual custom,
7 had returned as far as Sheshennin and ston-