Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-05-06
Political Divisions Of Sullivan
County.

Sullivan county is O part of the
purchase made of the Indians, No.
We nb 9th 176S, which was large
strip of territory extending diagon-
ally across the state from the North.
east TO the Southwest corner; this
is at the present time divided into
about twenty counties. When the
first settlement was made within the
present bounds of this county, it
was a part of Northumberland.
Northumberland was organized
March 9th 1772, from parts of Ian
caster. Cumberland, Berks, Bedford
and Northamton. Soon after the
first settlement was made here Ly.
coming was organized. This took
place April 18th, 1896, it being
formed from part Of Northumber
land.
At the time Lycoming was erect
ed all the territory now comprised
in Sullivan and much of the present
bounds of Lycoming was included
in Loyal Sock and Muncy town
ships.
The first road or rather path
called at that time pack-horseroad
into the valley of the Loyal Sock
Creek, was cut across the mountain
from Muncy to HillsGrove, no
doubt by surveyors and the pioneer
settlers for the purpose of getting in
supplies. 1t was called the "Wallis
Road"
As carly as 1893 another pack
horse road was cut out leaving the
Wallis Road at the foot of the al.
leghany thence Northward to the
left of Hunters Lake, on through t.
the forks of the Loyal Sock where
Forksville now is situated. This
was called the "Courson Road" and
was first used by surveyors in bring
ing in provision and IN travelling to
and from their work.
The Genesee Road wss opened
about the beginning of the present
century, so called because it afford
ed the first thoroughfare for emf,
grants from Southern Pennsylvania
Maryland and Virginia to the rich
valley of the Genesee River, ther
the great "Eldorado.' 1t was moi
opened for that purpose, however.
but for the purpose Of inducing
settlers to come into this vast
region then almost an unhroker
Wilderness and make their homes
here. This land had lately beer
surveyed as has just been state
and was now in the hands of specu
lators, principally, Joseph Priestll
John Vaughn, Phineas Bond, Thorn
as Barclay and Others. William
Ellis living on Wolf Run, two miles
North>of Muncy, and being at that
time deputy land surveyor, and
man of great influence seemed to
have been the most active agent ii
procuring subscription and locating
the Genesee Road. This road like
the greater part Of the roads in this
state laid out at an early day were
located without much regard t.
feasibility. 1t ran from Muncy,
then called Pennsburg, passed Mr.
Ellis farm, John Rohb's a mile be
yond to Abraham Webster's neal
Huntersville, thence climbing th,
Allegheny by Highland Lake
skirted the summit of the mountail
for some distance and then decend.
ed to the valley Of Ogdonia Greek
down it to the Loyal Sock; theme,
following the Sock to the mouth OF
Elk Creek, which it followed cross
ing and recrossing to Lincoln Falls,
thence crossing the ridge it reached
the valley Of Kings Creek, neal
Thomas Kings, following the streau
for some distance il then curved
Eastward passing near wher,
Charles Hugo now resides and soon
began to ascend by steep and heavy
grades TO the summit ot Burnett
Ridge, near Kahill's and then de
eended by very heavy grades to the
narrow Valley of Milestone Run,
down this to the Sehrader Branch
and finally connected with another
road running along Towanda Greek
at point known at that time as
Dougherty's tavern near Green
wood,
Al tha instance af "A faw eettlf