The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-22

However" she added, "they did not
lose their game for they elected their
president, William II. Harrison the
next fall" She said also that another
speaker, Mart Compton, upon the same
occasion, said he hoped that the Dem
ocracy would stand as firm as the rock
of Gibraltar. The Democrats raised
their pole and held their services be-
tween Jacob Courtright's house and
the old red school house, about the
present site of the Baptist church. The
following were the earliest settlers Of
this vicinity. Adam Thompson, settled
upon and cleared tract known as the
Truman Knapp farm. Joseph Coon,
the farm now owned by his grandson,
John Coon, elias Smith, the farm now
owned by his son, Elias. James Will
liams, the properties owned by S. Van
Sickle Aaron Fuller and Paul Aten.
William Brink owned nearly the entire
place called Brinktown. Henry Wal
ters owned and cleared the Robert
Lewis farm.
Clayfoss Lo Teer, who settled upon
the farm known as the Robson farm,
which he partially cleared, also owned
and cleared the Ross property
Charles McCloskey settled upon the
farm known as the George Kern farm
and brought with him from New Jer-
sey an apple seed from which he prop
agated the apple known as the NC
Closkey" apple.
Zebulon Comstock settled upon and
cleared the farm now owned by d. w.
La Rue. Andrew Compton cleared the
place now owned by Orin Richards and
L. b Ayers. Peter Richahrds cleared
the John Dershihmehr farm.
Henry Becmer, grandfather of super
intendent of Hillside Home, George w.
Beemer, cleared the farm now owned
by L. L. Jennings and the old stone
chimney and fire. place of his log cabin
still stand.
MRS. JANE LIFTS THOMPSON.
One of Newton Centres earliest resi-
dents now living is Mrs. Jane Thomp-
son, daughter of Henry Lifts and
widow of Andrew Thompson. Gran"
as she is more commonly called and by
which title she is best known, was So
years of age on June 10th. Her mother
was Katherine Hoyt, a knswoman of
Ex-Governor Henry NJ. Hoyt Her father
removed from Montague, Sussex tcoun-
ty, n. j., in Feb, 1921. He had made
journey to Newton Centre during the
previous summer, purchased a tract
of land and built a log cabin for his
| family, then returned for them and his
| stock. He hired William Havens to
| bring his wife and children with horse
| team and wagon, while he followed,
| arriving two days later with his stock
which consisted about his entire world
| ly possessions. He had a yoke of oxen,
| two COWS and five sheep, "and just
| ten cents in solid cash. added Gran
1t was fine sleighing when they came
to their new home and she says they
struck but one stone during the entire
| journey, that one being upon the top of
the mountain.
| They stopped at one CObb's for din
ner, father of the late Asa Cobb, OF
Mt Cobb, and who resided near the
home of the late Asa Cobb. Gran says
she remembers hearing them talk Of
having so much bear meat, and also
| that they had some for dinner.
The only contents of the new home
was a roaring fire in the fire place,
| which had been kindly kindled by
| their nearest neighbor, Zephaniah Ha-
vens, brother of William Havens.
| Their cabin contained but one room,
| ard was located at the end of the road
beside the large spring still there, and
near the present site of c. H. Bic
| seekers home.
AN INDIAN TRAIL.
An Indian trail led from their home
| to Ransom, then Gardner's Ferry. The
only road to Falls. where was located
| the nearest mill. was by a deer path
and by marked trees around by the
| farm now owned by F. l.. Thompson.
| on the road from Schultzville to Falls,
| several miles farther than the present
| route. The grain was carried on the
back or by slowly plOdding oxen. The
| nearest store was across the Susque-
| hanna from Gardner's Ferry and was
reached by deer path or Indian trail
| to the ferry and by ferry boat across
| the river. The store was kept by a
man named Brown.
In the field, which is now the New
ton cemetery, Grams" father had
sown rye, and as he owned no gun,
| Gran" was sent with a large club to
hammer on the rail fence to frighten
the deer away from the grain. She
said How I did hate to chase away
the pretty speckled little things"
When her father first settled here,
Zebulon Comstock, who owned the
farm now owned by d. w. La Rue,
was one of their nearest neighbors.
and often came with his wife to spend
! the evening, just run in, as it was a
! trifle of only five miles. Gran" said
she was always so frightened at their
| stories that she was afraid to look into
a corner for fear she would see a bear.
Grams" early education was received
in an old log school house, with a
large stone chimney and fireplace