The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-03-28
d. l.. Chaplin, New Columbus and vi
cinity.

In the death of both the heads Of
this family, Mr.. Chaplin, on March
10th and Mrs. Chaplin, three days
previous, both of whom though at
this writing, not yet buried, will
both he buried on the same day, re-
calls many pathetic scenes, and his
toric incidents of the first families
who settled in New Columbus and
vicinity.
MIR. Chaplin was 81 years old and
Mrs. Chaplin SO. The latter was a
daughter OF Androus Fellows, of
Cambria, who was the first white
child born in Huntington township.
The Chaplin family was highly
respected and prominent family and
also highly influential. Mr.. Chaplin
served term or two in the legisla-
ture in the early sixties, and has
since held almost continuously, the
Office of Justice Of the Peace, which
Office he still held at the time of his
death.
So far as l remember, there SUR
vive son and daughter, Alfred
Chaplin. an attorney at Wilkes
Barre and Mrs. l. J. Jamison, OF
New Columbus. In his early life
Mr.. Chaplin engaged II the mercan-
tile business, and since then has
always lived in New Columbus.
The death of these people removes
about the last land marks, though
not altogether the earliest settlers
of that community.
New Columbus is situated on the
old Berwick Turnpike, which j.
crossed at that place by branch o.
the old State Road, leading from
Van Camp to Shickshinny. The
surrounding country is somewha
broken and hilly. and highly fertil
and productive. In its early histo
ry, New Columbus was promi
nent business centre for mile
around, until the advent of railroad
up the river, and up the Fishing
creek Valley, which rendered tn
town and vicinity rather isolated
and diverted the bulk OF the busi
ness to Shickshinny and to Benton
The early settlers of New Colum
bus and vicinity, have long ag
disappeared. John Rooms, its found
, er, was prominent in its history
and highly intelligent in his day
He was surveyor, and probabl
run nearly all the lines for mile
around. He was a Justice of tn
Peace at one time, also Associat
Judge of I.uzerne county, an
} probably did more business for tn
people, in his day, than any o.he
man in the valley. But we cannc
thus speak at length, of all the cal
ly settlers.
The death Of the Chaplin famil
was the occasion for writing thi
sketch, in which we embody man
historical points, that should b
preserved, before passing into OF
livion and lost forever, that may b
of interest and value to many pee
pie.
James S. Woods, also engaged i
the mercantile business at this plac
when you-g man. And littl
later came Edwin Holmes. a nativ
; of Connecticut. Freas and Adiso
Brown of Miff]in, also embarked i
! the mercantile business at thi
place, about the year 1856 or sc
The earliest blacksmith of this plac
was Thomas Bender, and his sue
cessor was Samuel Bogert, some c
whose family arose to positions c
prominence. The first tailor was
Mr.. Clewell, who was succeeded b
William Ruckel, and after Rucke
came Joseph Remaly. The educa
tional spirit was quite active anon
the citizens of this town, and abou
the year 1852 established highe
grade school in the upper story c
J. S. Woods store.
Wesley Writ, then of Cambria
but later on removed to Bloomsbury
was the pioneer teacher of the high
er grades OF the community. Late
the New Columbus Academy wa
established.
But other figures loom up befor
us, whom we cannot pass by. Chris
topher Bowman, pioneer of tn
vicinity, was prominent in tha
day. His family, SO far as we rec
ollect, consisted of one son, Thorn
as. the first husband of Mrs. Benja
| mir, Xonnn Of Van Gnn,n aud c;c