Bradford County, PA
Miscellaneous News Paper Articles From the Past
Transcribed by Nancy Piper unless otherwise noted
Accidental Death of Stranger
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, September 27, 1809
Russelville, June 26
On Saturday last, as Mr. Armstrong and others were returning home from a muster in this county, they called at the house of Mr. Millapaugh for a gun which Thompson had left here in the morning. On entering the house found a strange man there alone, apparently in a deranged state. Supposing that he had frightened the family away, they concluded to take him to Esquire Neely's, a short distance off; he appearing rather refractory, Thompson, to frighten him, threatened to shoot him if he did not comply; the man then started and went out of the yard, a few steps from the house, refusing to go farther; Thompson then presented his own gun at him and snapped it, supposing it not loaded, the gun fired, and the contents passed through the man's body; in a few hours he expired, without giving any account of his name or residence; he was about 50 years of age, dark complexion, about 5 feet 7 inches high, very plain dressed. Thompson was bound over to the next July circuit court for trial.
The Star (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April , 3, 1832
The citizens of Towanda, Bradford County, have held a public meeting, and avowed their determination to prosecute to the laws extent, any person, whether citizen or stranger, who shall be found intoxicated within the limits of that borough. A temperate move.
Taken From the Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 19, 1836
Towanda, April 2
The ice on the river left us on Wednesday last, (30th March) without doing much injury. We mention the circumstance for the sake of putting it upon record, that it was crossed several times of Monday, the 28th by persons with horses loaded with sleighs, and by foot passengers as late as the 29th. - Banner
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 18, 1836
A Groggy Marriage
At Towanda, Pa., Mr. Julius Waters, aged 16, to Mrs. Rosina Whiskey, aged 84. The very best receipt for grog - fresh water and old whiskey!
Star and Republican Banner (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 26, 1840
Mysterious - Mr. N. Mowry, a merchant of Towanda, Pa., who was a lodger at the Pearl House, N.Y., stepped out with the design of being absent but a short time, on Monday evening, April 27th, and has not been since heard of. He was a man of respectability and regularity, in all respects. He had purchased goods at various stores, which remain, of course, as they were on the day of his disappearance. He is known to have had about him $800 in money - N. Y. Jour. of Com.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 3, 1843
Sudden Death
The Bradford county papers mention the sudden death of Wilson Scott, a young and talented lawyer of the Towanda bar. He was at a party in Atheus, apparently in good health, and enjoying the festivities usual upon such occasions when suddenly he became seriously ill, losing his senses, and died in the short space of two hours, leaving destitute an aged mother and her large family, who were dependent on him.
Taken From the Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 1, 1844
Fatal Accident
A Locomotive on the Towanda, Pa., Railroad ran off the track at a place where the embankment was four feet high. The tender and freight car were upset and a hand engaged on the road crushed to death.
Taken From the Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
March 22, 1847
Destructive Fire at Towanda, Pa.
On the 12th inst., a most destructive fire visited the town of Towanda, Bradford county. More than twenty buildings were laid waste, in the fairest and most business portions of the town. The fire originated in the roof of a building occupied as a store by N. N. Betts, and in less than two hours, the Court-house, the Claremont-house, together with about eighteen other buildings, were consumed by the insatiate element. The loss is estimated at from 60 to $80,000.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
December 18, 1848
Execution
James P. Langford was executed at Towanda, Bradford county, Pa., on the 1st inst., for the murder of his wife. He manifested no disposition to avoid the dreadful death which awaited him, but exhibited every manifestation of being completely subdued in spirit and humbled in heart - broken down by his long confinement, and heart-crushed by the continued contemplation of the awful fate to which he was doomed.
Taken From the Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
September 16, 1850
Benjamin Wilcox, who recently murdered his wife in Towanda, has since committed suicide in prison.
The Agitator (Wellsboro, Pennsylvania)
July 14 1859
Adjoining Counties - Bradford County
We clip fro the Argue the following account of the late fire in Towanda:
Our citizens were roused from their slumbers between two and three o'clock on Saturday morning last by the unwelcome cry of fire! An alarm which had not fallen upon our ears for many months before. The fire was soon discovered to be in the old Eagle Foundry, in the southern part of the borough. Before the engines could be got on the spot, the flames had made such progress that all efforts to save the Foundry buildings were in vain. The stabling attached to the Rail Road House, which was directly in the rear of the Foundry was also destroyed; and it was with considerable difficulty that the Rail Road House, and other adjoining buildings were saved. Indeed, had it not been for the stillness of the night and the heavy shower of rain which fell just previous to the discovery of the fire, it must inevitably have extended much farther. As it was, however, the fireman were enabled to stay its progress.
Mr. O. D. Bartlett, proprietor of the Foundry, estimates his loss at $10,000, insured for $2,500, in the Lycoming Mutual Insurance Company. Col. Means, estimates his loss, in the destruction of the barn at $500. No insurance. We have not been informed of the extent of Mr. Carrier's loss.
Fire At Canton
Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania) August 6, 1875
A Portion of the Business Part of the Town Destroyed this Morning - Amt. $14,000.
Canton, PA, Aug 6. At two o'clock this morning, fire broke out in the second story of the building owned by Elmandy and occupied by (..?..) as a grocery store. The building was of wood and the fire communicated to the furniture store of A. J. Merrett, thence to the variety store of M. M. Trout and the jewelry store of C. W. Beardsley, completely destroying them. Five fronts on Towanda street were thus destroyed.
On Troy street the fire spread tothe grocery store of W. S. C(?)nmer, and the next building; Tuttle's Hotel was severely scorched. The Central Hotel on Towanda street was saved, although within twenty-five feet of the burning buildings, by almost superhuman effort.
The stores of Burk, Thomas & Co., B. W. Clark and Mix & Whitman on the opposite side of the street were considerably scorched. Mix and Whitman sustain the loss of a plated glass front. The losses will amount to about $12,000; insured for about $3,000.
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