THE SETTLEMENT OF THE TIOGA VALLEY
The first settlements in the Tioga Valley were
made just over the Pennsylvania line, in the
neighborhood of Lawrenceville. Samuel Baker,
afterwards of Pleasant Valley, in this county,
settled upon the open flat, at the mouth of the
Cowenisque Creek, in 1787, and not long afterwards
a few other settlers, the Stones, the Barneys, the
Daniels, who also afterwards removed to Pleasant
Valley, erected cabins in the wild grass and hazel
bushes of the vicinity.
Col. Eleazer Lindley, a native of New Jersey,
and an active officer of the �Jersey Blues� during
the Revolutionary War, rode through the Genesee
country previous to the year 1790, to find a tract
of land which he might establish himself, and gather
his children around him. The sickliness of the
regions around Seneca and Canandaigua Lakes
deterred him from locating his township in the rich
northern plains, and he purchased township number
one of the second range, a rugged and most
unpromising tract for agricultural purpose, but
intersected by the fine valley of the Tioga. The
healthy hills, the pure springs, and the clear
beautiful river, descending from the ravines of
the Alleganies, promised,, If not wealth, at least
freedom from those fevers, agues, cramps and
distempers, which prostrated the frames and
wrenched the joints of the unfortunate settlers
in the northern marches.
In the spring of 1790, Col. Lindley started
from New Jersey with a colony of about forty persons,
who, with their goods, were transported in wagons to
the Susquehanna. At Wilkes-Barre the family and
baggage was transferred to seven-ton boats and poled
up the river, according to the practice of emigrants
penetrating Ontario county by the valley; while the
horse and cattle, of which there were thirty or
forty, were driven along the trails, or rude roads,
on the bank. On the 7th day of June, 1790, the colony
reached the place of destination.
Two sons of Col. Lindley, Samuel and Eleazer,
and five sons-in-law, Dr. Mulford, Ebenezer Backus,
Capt. John Seely, Dr. Hopkins and David Payne,
started with the colony from New Jersey. Dr. Hopkins
remained at Tioga Point to practice his profession.
The others settled near Col. Lindley.
The river-flats were �open,�,� and overgrown
with strong wild grass and bushes. Ploughs were made
by the settlers after their arrival, and as soon as
these were finished, the flats were immediately broken,
as on the Canisteo, with four oxen to each plough. The
season was so far advanced, that the crop of corn was
destroyed by frost, but a great harvest of buckwheat
was secured. With buckwheat, milk and games, life was
stayed during the first winter. History, looking
sharply into the dim vale of ancient Tioga, smiles
to see the image of �Old Pomp,� negro pounding
buckwheat in a samp-mortar, for the first ice in
November till the breaking up of the rivers in March,
when canoes can find a passage to Shepard�s Mill, on
the Susquehanna. History also, in this connection will
embrace the opportunity to rescue Old Pomp from
oblivion for the notable exploit of killing four bucks
at a shot, and has the pleasure, therefore, of handing
the said Pompey down to future generations as a fit
subject for as much admiration as an intelligent and
progressive race may think due to the man who laid
low, with a musket at one shot, four fine bucks, as
they were standing in the water.
Colonel and Mrs. Lindley were members of the
Presbyterian Church, at Morristown, in New Jersey.
In his settlement the Sabbath was strictly observed.
Traveling missionaries were always welcomed, and when
none such were present, the settlers were collected to
hear a sermon read by Col. Lindley himself. In 1793,
Col. Lindley was elected a member of the Legislature,
and while attending the session of the body died in
New York. Numerous descendants of Col. L. live in the
neighborhood settled by him. His son, Hon. Eleazer
Lindley, was, for several years, a Judge of the County
Court. He died in 1825.
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