The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-08-20
The Berwick Centennial.
SOME DATA RELATING TO THE TOWNS sKT
TLEMRNT-NoTABLE EVENTS, ENTER
PRIsRs, BUILDINGS, ETo.

SOME DATA RELATING TO THE rowN's SET
TLEMRNT-NoTABLE EVENTS, RsTRR-
PRIsKs, BUILDINGS, RIO.
Authorities differ as to the exact time to
celebrate the centennial of the Borough of
Berwick, Columbia county. The people
there say 1886 is the proper year Hon.
Steuben jenkins says 1t should be next
year. While DIR. Egle, in his history OF
Pennsylvania, says Berwick was first set
tied in 1888, and this date comedies with
that given in Days Historical Collections
of Pennsylvania, published in 1S43, In
the Berwick Independent of July Ia, 1876,
still another date IS gwen, IL being stated
that Berwick was founed in 1880 by Evan
Owen, whose name would indicate Welsh
origin, who came from Philadelphia in n
Durham boat He built habi tation and
laid out a town, which he called Owens
vile He subsequently named the town
Berwick, after his birthplace in Scotland,
along the river Tweed. His house was Of
logs upon site now occupied by the st.
Charles Hotel. The settlers who immedi-
atey followed were Robert and John
Brown, Englishmen; Samuel jackson,
brother-in-law of Owen; James Evans, a
millwright; Henry Traugh, tanner; John
Smith, shoemaker, and John Jones'
John Brown opened the first hotel, and
it was the favorte stopping place for trav-
elers between Wilkes-Barre and Northum-
berland. This hotel stood where the Y.
M. G. A. building now stands.
The next hotel was built by John Jones,
| at corner Of Market and Front streets, and
was kept by him.
Abraham Klotz kept the Jones hotel
stand long while; then Frederick Nicely,
during whose time it was known as the
Cross Keys. The st. Charles hotel was the
first brick structure in the town. 1t was
first known as the Seybert stand, then as
the Rising Sun. Its present name was but
recently applied After Seybert it was
kept successfully by Connolly, Leidy, Ruch,
Miller, Hoyt, Correll, McNair, Stedman,
Enke and Seely.
| DIR. Headly kept a hotel in what is
known as the old Heady house, the pres
ent residence of Ii. r. Bower.
A market house was erected in 1906, it
serving for schools, religious services, pub
lie meetings and elections.
Game was plenty in those days ard
wolves were common nuisance.
John Jones opened the first store about
1900. Other early storekeepcrs were j. Il
l 7 q, aiJ D;cho 1.
son, Matthew Mcdowell, Wright 6, Slocum,
Robert McCurdy, Showers & Ellis Clark,
Drilly & Scoville, VIM. G. Reynolds, Gil
more & Shuman, Rittenhouse & Shuman,
Headley & BAIL, Headley, McNair & Co.,
Fowler & Driesbach, j. & j. Bowman, who
were succeeded by c. B. Bowman, George
Lane, who was Methodist preacher and
for long time identified with the Book
Concern, New York.
The first farmer was Sebastian Seybert,
who had also a store and blacksmith shop.
dis farm was at the Swamp, in Salem
township, two miles above Berwick.
Among the early comers were Mr.. Da'
venport, the Malloys, Samuel Herrin, VIM.
| L
the Vernetts and Marshalls. Joseph Stack
house brought fruit trees from Bucks Co.,
which he planted in the square, comprised
between Second, Third, Mulberry and Vine
streets. The first lawyer was Bancroft;
first judge, John Cooper; first doctors,
Moreland and Reisswick; first postmaster
VIM. Brien; first schoolmaster, Isaac Hol
loway; first Sunday schoolman, d. Bowen
first preachers, Carson and Painter; frs
coopers, John and Peter SOlt; first carpen
, ter, John Brown; first blacksmith, Aquilt
Star; first tailor Benjamin Dean; first me
r son, Jonathan Cooper; first dyer, Bush
first tanner, Henry Traugh; first dentist
Vallershamp; first timer, Hiram 1nman
: first gunsmiths, Sloppy & Co.; first wheel
g wright James Evans first silversmith
Q Marshall; first miliner, Roxana Courtright
first painter, Abel Dalby; first butcher
| Stackhouse; then Jonathan Cooper; frs
weaver, Polly Mullen first cabinet maker
: Samuel Herrin; first saddle and harness
=. maker, Col John Snyder; first lime burner
L. John Jones.
r VIM. Brien kept the first ferry. The frs
v bridge was hnit in 1914 by Theodore Burr
it being carried away by fre shet 81 year
4 later. Its officers were A. Miller, Sr., pre-.
A ident; John Brown, treasurer managers
Silas Engle, Thomas Bowman, Elisha Ba
ton, Jr. After a few years new bridg
was built, the State contributing $4,000
and this structure still stands. The contr
button on the part of the State was ol
tanned through the efforts of Jesse Bow
man, who was delegated to visit Harri
burg and urge the matter before the Legi
> laturc. The bridge was built by Eliphal
Edison and Charles Barrett. Its cost VIZ
y about $45, 900. John Bowman was pres
~ dent in 1887, when it was finished, an
until 1S43. He was succeeded by Ii
brother, Jesse Bowman, who continued
Office during lis life. Others who helpt
the enterprise through were s. f. Headle
u j. T. Beach, DIR. A. b Wilson, Robe
d Smith and Judge Mack.
In 1905 several Philadelphia capitals
Y. constructed the Nescopeck turnpike. III
e. Tioga and Susquehanna turnpike w
8. opened in 1918. and the first stage line WI
ID run to Mauch Chunk by Andrew Shine
= The first stage line between Wilkes Bar
IS and Northumberland was run by the Ho
ID ton Brothers, and it antedated the above
lg number of years.
ne Evan Owen was squire and settled I
IS disputes. Every bear killed was broug
re to him and he divided it equally amor
~ the citizens. He was succeeded as squi
to by Samuel Herrin.
r. Columbia county was taken from NJ
:" thumberland in 1914; Berwick was incC
it porated q borough in 1918,
ne The nearest mill was at Catawissa,
y. miles distant. Later the Rittenhouse nj
20 a mile or two below town, and the Eva
y mill, at Evansville, were built. Ev
he Owen built mill along the river, inter
he ing to supply it with water therefrom, |
n the scheme proved failure and "
abandoned.
MI nv. I,,.1 l,,t