The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-03-24
JRG. Pa, FRIDAY, MARCH "a. 1876.

Espytown is also in Scott township, and
is located east from Bloomsbury about three
miles. 1t has some fine and pleasant resi-
dences; fine stores, shops, meeting and
school houses, one tavern, large steam grist
MILL and is depot for the Lackawanna &
Bloomsbury railroad. George Espy was the
proprietor, and in early times it was noted
for its shad fishery and its race ground,
"Webb's lane"
Espy was for long time better known as
as the residence of Mr.. Frederick b. Swaby
than for any thing else and he was in many
respects a conspicuous man. He died with
in the last year, at the residence of his son,
Frederick j. Swaby, in Seneca Falls, at the
age of So years.
Mr. Swaby was born in the island of ia
maica, in the year 1901. He was educated
in England, and during the years 1905 and
1906 was scholar at the school near Barnet
Castle, in Yorkshire, which has since been
rendered celebrated by being described in a
vein of very broad but amusing caricatue by
Dickens in his novel "Nicholas Nickleby," +"
under the name of "Dotheboys hall" and
Mr. Swaby is perhaps the last survivor of
that institution. He came to this country
in company with his father-in-law, Capt
John Haigh of the British army, in 1921, +,
and settled at the village of Espy, Columbia
county, Pa, where he resided until 1916
surrounded by many warm friends, for whom
b., 10 +,l,o Il,
ton and regard. In that year he removed
to Seneca Falls, where he has since resided
with his sons. His father, Joseph Swaby,
died in Jamaica in the year 1911 he was
born in 1927; the lives of the father and son
consequently extended through period of
AS years. During the nearly thirty years
residence of Mr.. Swaby in Seneca Falls, he
has been little in public life, being rather
retiring in disposition, but in the home cir
Gle and among those whose acquaintance
with him became intimate, he was highly
priced. He possessed the keenest sense of
honor, which was always manifest in his in
tercourse with the world, and the probity of
his character was ever conspicuous. He
was communicate of the Church of Eng
land, and always maintained the highest
standard Of a devout Christian. His genial
and cheerful temperament rendered him Pc
culiarly favorte among the young. 1t was
while participating with them in their inno-
cent amusements, some five months since,
that he received injuries from a fall, which
hastened his death. His memory will re-
main as precious legacy to those to whom
he has been loved companion for years,
and toward them the sympathies of all will
be extended. His funeral was attended at
the Episcopal church, Rev. Dr. Guion offici-
ating.
Mifllnville is q staid and ancient village
nine miles east of Bloomsburg, on the east
bank of the Susquehanna, contains about
thirty dwellings, a couple of stores, tav-
ern, shops, meeting and school houses, and
a couple of grist mills The projected North
& West Branch railroad will run through
the village.
Mainville is in Maine township, about
six miles southeast from Bloomsbury, has
hiteen TO twenty houses, tavern, store grist
mill, forge, &c, and is situated on Catawissa
creek, and on the Catawissa railroad.
Beaver Valley, twelve miles south east
of Bloomsburg, has tavern, a store, half a
dozen dwellings, and depot for the Cata-
wissa railroad.
Centralia Boro', situate in Conyngham
township, southeast from Bloomsburg about
twenty miles, is in the midst of coal min
ing district, and has within and about it sew
eral hundred dwelling houses, number of
stores, and hotels and drinking houses innu-
merable. 1t has a beautiful and tasteful
place of worship, 'Holy Trinity Church, +"
Episcopal, a Roman Catholic church edifce,
and several denominational meeting houses.
Numidia and Shutdown, lying in Locust
township, respectively thirteen aud eleven
miles southeast from Bloomsbury, have
each ten to fifteen dwellings, store, tavern,
shops, &c. The village OF Shutdown, whose
post-oflice name is Roaringcreek, is on the
stream of that name, which drives grist
mill there located.