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

mand for -four, our farmers taking advantage
of the snow, lined the (in summer deteStable) J
road through the swamp to Easton, with
wheat The sleighing was certainly, half a
century ago, more to be depended on than in
later years Industry and its requittal follow
ed. Take the late General Ross. as an in
stance He bought of Col Pickering, boldly
involving himself heavily. The wheat crop
paid the debt. He was no specuator His
fortune was the result of sagac.y in forseeng
the rise of land Industry, economy, and these
consorting with a we'll spread table and gen.
erous hospitality. The late Stephen Abbott
told me, "When | came to reclaim our land,
| worked for Ross the first year. He kept my
horse, unexpectedly to me-for nothing You
eral, but Ross is clever fellow" 'How much
are you worth ?' inquired Dr. Miner, year
before his death. Guess $50, ,000"-
" Double that" He might have said /" Three
times"
Such, according to my observation has been
in greater or less degree the rise of real es-
tate throughout the County, and the effects of
farming industry, to those who in old fashion
ed scriptural phrase Abide by The staf"-
Whoever may have failed, as nine in ten in
most other pursuits have-nne in ten who have
adhered to the Homestead, and been content
with enough, are, or their heirs, now indepen-
dent.
Take Kingston, as memory in 1905 presents
it, from Myers, Hoyt, Atherton, Dorrance,
Pettebone, Bennett, Denison, SHETLAND, Per.
kins, jenkins, and up to ScofeldS at the head
of the valley. Is it not so And is not a
lesson taught in the review Of old times worth
remembering
Eutwined by so many recoIections that fas
cinate and charm, | linger here too long and
abuse your patience.
The WiIkesBarre Gazette was established in
1881 The scohd number, dated December is
before me. An advertisement of Clark Beebe
is of some historical interest as showing, that
the mail was taken to and from Easton once
week, that if the sleighing was good, he would
take passengers at s. 80. Leave Wilkes
Barre every Wednesday morning. and arrive at
Easton Thursday at o'clock"
Aware that an intelligent friend is engaged
in writing history of Luzerne county, | shall
be very chary of quotations lest | interfere
with him. The volume is prolific of facts and
hints useful for his purpose.
The Luzsrus Couaty FrderaliSt" was es-
Der issued January s. 1901. 1t may be worth
the remark that the Printing Press was brought
in from Norwich, on a sled the preceding win
ter by me. Mr. s. Howard, my pleasant com
paniOn-seighng excellent. So strange a
piece of machinery was a wonder along the
road. To the thousand and one queries
What is it 2" his patience being exhausted
Mr.. Howard was wont to reply we are tax
ing it to Wyoming they are terribly troubled
there with mice, and this timber is for mice
traps"
Jefferson was just chosen President, and NJ
kean elected Governor. So our Democratic
neighbOrs were resolved on Triumphant dis
play. Wilkes Barre never saw such before or
since Hollenback'S and Ross iue four horse
teams and wagons, gay with banners and mar
tial music Farmers so ging wheat--or reap
ing in oue-the other, to break our hearts help
eSSly. had all the school girls | have before
named, and enough more to make up the mum
Der of States in the Union dressed IN white
and then a long procession, Grafton, and all
OK roasted whole.
To be sure, had it been for rict0ry on our
side, we should have thought it capital af-
fair
As an early pioneer trust my journey near
two hundred miles north in 1900 may have
some slight interest Mr. Wright engaged me
to go up the river and collect his outstanding
debts. Preparations having been duly made,
| started in November mounted, on his favo
rite carriage horse, very good, very gentle, sure
footed for, having frequently to ford the Sus
quehanna as the subscribers resided on both
sides, his gentIeness, | had almost said, his
IiCrrotiOu md in-tipotiva him, n,
to my gratitude
If not fOOI-hardy-it was certainly adventu-
rous far beyond the limit of prudent daring
The weather was, however, delightful, that
soft smoky state of atmosphere, called Indian
summer, prevailing the whole time Every,
where received kindly, settlements were made
and notes taken, when the balance could not
be paid in money. Game was plenty, and the
gray and black squirrels seemed to take special
pleasure to jump from tree to tree over my
head-to crack their nuts as if they were dis
posed to laugh defiance at me while the
pheasant at every mile, strutted in my path or
whirPed away to his mates. Nearly hundred
miles of the road was the same road travelled
by Sullivan'S army. Venison, then in its prime,
always a luxury, ceased to be a rarity. All
the country above the mouth of the w Wyalusing
was new to me. AT Sheshequin | made the
acquaintance of Judge Gore, Joseph Kings
bury, Gen. Spalding, COL John Spadng, Jo-
Seph Kinney, aud others.
Gen. Spaldiug was still in the spirit and Wig
or of manhood. As this country was then in
the excited state of incipient war with France.
" Millions for Defence not cent for Tribute"
resounding from plain to hill top the old sol
diers Revolutionary ardor was so revived that
he came to WilkesDarre to preside at mill
tary meeting.
At Tioga Point, David Payne, Esq, Col.
Franklin, the Satterlee's, and DR.. Hopkins be-
came known to me. Indeed, as almost every
a.