HARMONY

Tags

Bainbridge NY, Broome County NY, Colesville NY, Harmony Pennsylvania, Joseph Smith, Mormon Beginnings, Reverend Peck, Scranton, Susquehanna Pennsylvania, Susquehanna River

Remember when we were looking at the Starucca Viaduct; that manmade wonder of the world?

The small town of Harmony is a short walk from the viaduct.

When discussing the viaduct I mentioned Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon religion. There is a lot of common information about Joseph Smith in Palmyra, New York and Ohio and Missouri and his followers in Utah.

HOWEVER – – –

There is little common knowledge about his life in Harmony, Pennsylvania.

Oh – – – I don’t mean that the Mormons have little knowledge about their leader when he was in Harmony. What I mean is that most of us non-Mormons know little about this part of his life.

Like in Ohio and Missouri, Josesph Smith was under scrutiny and attack, jailed and not understood.

For example, here is some second hand and very aged information from a Christian minister.

 

 

The good reverend Peck doesn’t sound too Christian too me.

However Joseph Smith related, “my wife’s father’s family were very much opposed to our being married. I  was therefore, under the necessity of taking her elsewhere” 

Isaac (Jesse) Hale reported that while he was absent from home Joseph “carried off my daughter, into the state of New York, where they were married without my approbation or consent.”

Peter Ingersoll, a neighbor of the Smiths, was hired to take Joseph and Emma back to Pennsylvania in his wagon. Peter said that as they drove into the yard, Father Hale came out in an agitated state and amidst a “flood of tears” confronted Joseph for having “carried away” his daughter. However, Isaac asked Joseph to move to Harmony and said he “would assist him getting into business.”

Harmony is a rural township on the Great Bend of the Susquehanna River. Great Bend is where the  river takes a dip out of New York State and into Pennsylvania before returning back up north for another fifty miles. Then it returns to Pennsylvania for most of the remainder of its life.

 

And then it dies in the Chesapeake Bay

Joseph Smith found himself in trouble with mobs; not in Harmony but when he decided to visit his northern neighbors in New York.

Following a conference of the Church, Joseph Smith, his wife Emma, and others visited the farm of Joseph Knight of Colesville, New York. A number of converts applied for baptism at that time. A dam was made on the stream coming out of Pickerel Pond. However, their enemies tried to intervene by breaking down the dam. But the “font” was reconstructed and the baptisms carried out.

As the baptisms were concluded, they were greeted by a hostile crowd. When they were leaving the water they were met by many of Knight’s neighbors. 

Before Joseph Smith could “confirm” his followers he was taken by officers to Chenango County in South Bainbridge, New York for trial. He was accused of asserting that the Book of Mormon was a revelation from God.

Joseph Knight employed two lawyers, James Davidson and John Reid, to plead for Smith. They cleared Joseph Smith of any wrongdoing.

 Before Joseph Smith was able to return to Knight’s farm he was taken again, to be tried in Broome Co. at Colesville. Knight employed the same lawyers who cleared him again. And that is the story that tells where Joseph Smith’s troubles began; in Harmony.

Ironic, right?

©W. Tomosky♠

AS I WANDERED #53 BUTLER

Tags

Annapolis, B & O Railroad, Beast Butler, Ben Butler, Civil War, General Ben Butler, New Orleans, Susquehanna River, Thunder Mug, Thunder Pot, Virginia, Washington DC

Old Ben Butler…. he is a hoot.
 
Both Bogdan Yelcovich and Jim McFee have heard of him.
 
We were talking about Butler one day and sure enough Bogdan brought in some literature about him.
 
Bogdan must have a house full of recent periodicals. Maybe that is where he learns about all this trivia.
 
Anyway we should start with the basics.
 
Ben Butler is big in politics but not so big in wartime.
 
Everyone seems to either hate him or love him. He has strong opinions on everything and does not have the patience to beat around the bush looking for snakes.

If he thinks there is a snake in the bush he reaches in, grabs it by the tail, and yanks it out.
 
Ben’s problem is that once he gets hold of the snake he doesn’t always seem to know what to do with it.
 
There is a story around about his school days. He decided that he needed to speak out about the Christian ways of the school he was attending. That got him close to expelled.

Bogdan had a periodical that I had never seen before. It was rather humerous and poked jokes at everbody from Commodore Vanderbilt to Old Ben Butler.

Of course they had to ask a snide question with two meanings.

Other periodicals joined in on the fun.

But “The Old Guard” got pretty nasty about Ben after the civil war.

And then there is the “New Orleans” story:

OLD NEW ORLEANS

 OCCUPIED BY THE TROOPS OF GENERAL BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BUTLER

It seems as though the ladies of New Orleans were harassing his troops and being generally mean to them. Butler, once again, grabbed the snake by the tail and yanked it out of the bushes.

Of course this was an insult, not only to the ladies but also to the southern gentlemen. An uproar ensued in periodicals all over the country.

This would be a good place to show the good General’s photograph for comparison.

 

The comparison will be the picture of General Benjamin Butler that started showing up in the bottom of all the “thunder mugs” being sold for the boudoirs of New Orleans.

Even the consumptive patients in Saranac, New York had something to say about Ben Butler and his political cronies.

 

And the following is an example of how Old Ben Butler ignored orders and pulled a rabbit out of the hat.

 

Even the Susquehanna River played a part in that story; how about that!

Someone, a hundred years into the future, may refer to Ben Butler as “a reckless, impetuous, headstrong, boy who regularly got into fights and never seemed to grow out of it.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

©W. Tomosky♠

AS I WANDERED #32 SUSQUEHANNA

Tags

Coal, Rail Yards, RR Engine Shops, Shad, Susquehanna Hat Company, Susquehanna Pennsylvania, Susquehanna River

Yes-a-ree-Bob, that’s correct.

We are visiting both of the Susquehannas today.

“We” is you, Bogdan Yelcovich, Jim McFee and I.

However, Bogdan and Jim will remain silent – – – I hope.

So here we go.

Bogdan?  You had a question? Sure; I can answer that.

The city and the river; yes – – – we are visiting both the city of Susquehanna and the river named The Susquehanna.

First of all I should tell you how old the city is.

It is so old that it was once called a depot; a railroad depot where the engines and cars were repaired. In fact you and I have discussed this before; twice.

Once when we discussed Harmony and the other time when we looked at the Starucca Viaduct.

No more railroad stories – – – well not today anyway. I just wanted to put you in the correct geographical and time perspectives. You know – – – that “time, space, continuum thing.”

But if you wish you can see the old rail yard between the city and the river.

And all that activity drew in several businesses.

A great building was built where the Railroad Engines could be worked on.

OK, OK.  Sorry. I just thought it was a great rendering and of much interest. Holy cow, you interrupt more than Bogdan and Jim.

Moving along with the story;

It was not all hustle and bustle. The river was a great place to spend a quiet day.

And to fish for shad – – – until they built several dams that kept the shad from running upstream.

There was a “Binghamton Shad Club” on the Susquehanna River way up in New York.

Up and down the valley were coal mines.

There was even a hat company – – – but it relocated to New York City.

©W. Tomosky♠

AS I WANDERED #19 DANVILLE

Tags

Canal System, Gomer Thomas, Hanging Rock, moose, Pennsylvania, Scranton, Susquehanna River, Waldorf Phillips

What a great view.

They call this “Hanging Rock.”  I wonder why.

It is in Danville, Pennsylvania.

However, the area between the river and the cliff is a little narrow for a roadway, a railroad and a canal.

I met the man who took this picture. He said it is going to be placed in the United States Library of Congress.

I hope so.

The hanging rock may puzzle some but I have seen this type thing happen before. It is the “natural progression of progress” – – – if I may use that phrase.

First the rivers were used by rafters to ship produce from rural areas to places like Baltimore and Philadelphia.

It happened on the Susquehanna River, which by the way is the river in the picture, and on the Delaware River – – – just to name two.

Then the canal systems were built. What better place to get water from than the small streams that ran into the rivers. Besides – – – it was already surveyed by God and deemed to be the most level place to build a canal.

Right on their tails were the railroads. So the railroads had to build next to the canals. They did not want to go uphill and downhill either. But there were existing roads in those locations.

So the railroad companies had to blast new roadways for the carriages. And they were not about to go the extra mile. So they blasted just enough for the carriages to pass.

Oh yes – – – how did I get here in Danville, Pennsylvania?

It was Jim McFee again. His relatives had come here from Ireland and built the canals. Some of them stayed in the area to work in the iron works.

See that fellow in the wagon? He is hauling iron ore down to the iron works.

It is that factory down there in the valley.

So Jim’s Uncle Eppy – – – from Henryville – – – sent him this map.  He wanted to show Jim how he was supposed to use the river and the canal system to get to Danville to visit his relatives.

See how the canal followed the Susquehanna River from New York all the way to Northumberland?

Danville is only fifteen miles from Northumberland. Uncle Eppy made it look a little closer to Scranton. Maybe he was trying to make the trip look a little easier than it was.

Anyway, we made the trip to Nanticoke by raft, then hopped on a canal boat just to see what that was all about. The canal boat took us right to the boat basin in downtown Danville.

We had a good time downtown. There were a lot of pretty girls there. I think I will return by myself some day.

Oh – – – I almost forgot to tell you. Guess who I met while I was standing on the bridge going over the canal. Give up?  Gomer Thomas!

Yes – – – that Gomer Thomas. I wanted to meet Waldorf Phillips but Gomer told me he had another engagement in Baltimore.

It wasn’t a big trip. You can take the river or a railroad to get to Baltimore. Gomer gave me this fancy cover page – –  – and the following second page of his and Waldorf’s music.

He must have been thrilled that I recognized him right off.

I had seen a woodcut of him on the Opera House in Scranton. It was a very good likeness.

Gomer took us to see the new bridge that they had just built across the Susquehanna River.

We left Danville and headed back to Scranton after a day or two. Jim had sort of a falling out with his relatives. They sure were not any Uncle Eppy or Aunt Polly.


On the canal ride back we saw a moose in the woods – – –

– – – and several beautiful waterfalls.

It was a nice trip back but Jim was very moody.

With good reason.

©W. Tomosky♠

AS I WANDERED #13 HARMONY

Tags

Harmony Pennsylvania, Joseph Smith, Mormon Beginnings, Reverend Peck, Scranton, Susquehanna Pennsylvania, Susquehanna River

Remember when we were looking at the Starucca Viaduct; that manmade wonder of the world?

The small town of Harmony is a short walk from the viaduct.

When discussing the viaduct I mentioned Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon religion. There is a lot of common information about Joseph Smith in Palmyra, New York and Ohio and Missouri and his followers in Utah.

HOWEVER – – –

There is little common knowledge about his life in Harmony, Pennsylvania.

Oh – – – I don’t mean that the Mormons have little knowledge about their leader when he was in Harmony. What I mean is that most of us non-Mormons know little about this part of his life.

Like in Ohio and Missouri, Josesph Smith was under scrutiny and attack, jailed and not understood.

For example, here is some second hand and very aged information from a Christian minister.

The good reverend Peck doesn’t sound too Christian too me.

However Joseph Smith related, “my wife’s father’s family were very much opposed to our being married. I  was therefore, under the necessity of taking her elsewhere” 

Isaac Hale reported that while he was absent from home Joseph “carried off my daughter, into the state of New York, where they were married without my approbation or consent.”

Peter Ingersoll, a neighbor of the Smiths, was hired to take Joseph and Emma back to Pennsylvania in his wagon. Peter said that as they drove into the yard, Father Hale came out in an agitated state and amidst a “flood of tears” confronted Joseph for having “carried away” his daughter. However, Isaac asked Joseph to move to Harmony and said he “would assist him getting into business.”

Harmony is a rural township on the Great Bend of the Susquehanna River. Great Bend is where the  river takes a dip out of New York State and into Pennsylvania before returning back up north for another fifty miles. Then it returns to Pennsylvania for most of the remainder of its life.

Joseph Smith found himself in trouble with mobs; not in Harmony but when he decided to visit his northern neighbors in New York.

Following a conference of the Church, Joseph Smith, his wife Emma, and others visited the farm of Joseph Knight of Colesville, New York. A number of converts applied for baptism at that time. A dam was made on the stream coming out of Pickerel Pond. However, their enemies tried to intervene by breaking down the dam. But the “font” was reconstructed and the baptisms carried out.

As the baptisms were concluded, they were greeted by a hostile crowd. When they were leaving the water they were met by many of Knight’s neighbors. 

Before Joseph Smith could “confirm” his followers he was taken by officers to Chenango County in South Bainbridge, New York for trial. He was accused of asserting that the Book of Mormon was a revelation from God.

Joseph Knight employed two lawyers, James Davidson and John Reid, to plead for Smith. They cleared Joseph Smith of any wrongdoing.

 Before Joseph Smith was able to return to Knight’s farm he was taken again, to be tried in Broome Co. at Colesville. Knight employed the same lawyers who cleared him again. And that is the story that tells where Joseph Smith’s troubles began; in Harmony.

Ironic.

©W. Tomosky♠

JOHN BESSAC MOVES TO THE CHENANGO VALLEY

Tags

Albany, American revolution, Battle of Oriskany, British, Chenango County, Chenango River, Chenango Valley, Cherry Valley, Cherry Valley Massacre, Continental Army, Cooperstown, General Burgoyne, General Clinton's Dam, General Sullivan, Hanau, Indian Territory, Indian Warfare, Jager, Joseph Brant, Loyalists, Montvalant, New York City, Oquaga, Oriskany, St. Leger, Susquehanna River, Tioga, Tory, Walter Butler, William Butler

John Bessac, in 1809, was offered a place to dwell. It was a peaceful valley plot that his son Lewis had purchased. The Chenango River was at its base and the hills, almost mountains, rose above it for several hundred feet.

The Chenango River Valley As Seen From Between the Mountain Top Trees

This was the first movement of people west of the banks of the Susquehanna River. Prior to John Bessac’s move the American Revolution had turned into a very unconventional and nasty war. There were two army officers named Butler. Walter Butler fought for the British and the William Butler for the Continental Army.

All the territory to the west of the Susquehanna River was questionable territory. The white man had moved in and began farming. But with the American Revolution the territory was muddied; and no one wins when drinking muddied water.

There were farming settlements in Cherry Valley, Oquaga and Tioga. The British saw these territories as fair game for deflecting the war. Their thrust was towards those farmers who had no defense. This was especially true after the Battle of Oriskany. The American Revolution had moved from New York City to the midlands of New York.

The British had decided to split New England in half by taking control of the Hudson Valley. General Burgoyne, “Gentleman Johnny”, drove his forces from Quebec, Canada southward. This was timed with Lieutenant Barry St. Leger’s expedition of about 1,800 men that were a mix of British regulars, Hessian Jäger from Hanau, Loyalists, Indians, and hired rangers. St. Leger’s drive was a surprise attack from the west. They were to meet Burgoyne in Albany.

Between June of 1777 and 1778 General Walter Butler, a Loyalist to the British, had created havoc for the small farming communities. In 1778, he and Joseph Brant, a Mohawk chief, led a company of Tories and Indians in the raid that culminated in the Cherry Valley Massacre. He has been blamed for the deaths of the many women and children that were killed on that occasion.

The battles and massacres between the American’s Continental Army and the British mixture of Hession Soldiers of Fortune, Indians and Torys continued.

General Sullivan’s Expedition, which wiped out all opponents, halted these attacks on defenseless small farming communities. The expedition was a “scorched earth” campaign that flooded the entire Susquehanna Valley.

A dam was constructed by General Clinton’s men at the mouth of Otsego Lake. After several months the damn was destroyed. Indian, Tory and Loyalist settlements were wiped out; if not at first by the flood then with follow up troop movements that burned any remaining homes, Indian lodges and fields of corn.

With the opposition finally beaten the United States opened up the “Indian Territory” west of the Susquehanna River. This included the Chenango River Valley where Lewis Bessac, John’s son had purchased property.

When John Bessac moved to the Chenango Valley he found a previous settler already established. That settler was Abram Storms. Storms had hauled mill stones across the Katskill Mountains; from the Hudson Valley to the Chenango Valley. He had established a grist mill in what was to become Brisban, New York. Storms then started farming in what was known as the Stillwater Area of the Chenango River.

John Bessac learned proper farming methods from Storms. Then another farmer moved his family from the Connecticut/New York border; this farmer was Henry Birdsall.

Bessac, Storms and Birdsall learned from each other. Their farms became prosperous.

John Bessac had found a river, hills and friends that reminded him of his boyhood in Montvalant, France.

John Bessac was a happy man.