Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/250

 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES now tlic Benton borough limits w as destined through its geographical position to be its prin­ cipal settlement. During the last year ot the eighteenth century two fam ilies had pene­ trated up the valley o f Fishing creek and had chosen sites in the vicinity. In the first sixty years of the nineteenth century the growth of the community was hardly perceptible to the passing generations. B y liSOB the settlement had grown into a considerable village. Some fifty houses clustered around a tavern* a church* a schoolhousc and a sawmill. The post office had been established in 1852* and Daniel Hartman* who had started the Qrst store, was appointed postmaster. From 1868 to i886 Benton grew* slowly. The number o f dwellings increased to sixt^* or more* two churches ministered to the religious needs of the community, entertainment and accom­ modations for the w ayfarer w*cre furnished by two hotels, and several stores supplied the re­ quirements o f residents. T he "Exchan ge Hotel,” which was destroyed in the great fire of 1910* w as built by Hiram Hess in 1872 and opcne<l to the public early in the following year* and for a long time was the most important hostelrj* tn upper Columbia county ana adja­ cent territory. The last owner o f this hotel was Daniel J . Dona van, who remodeled the structure and entered upon a career o f pros­ perity which was cut short by the fire. Since that event the hotel has never been rebuilt. Benton’s second hotel, the "M cH en ry House,” w as erected in 1886 by lames Boyd McHenry* much of the planning o f its interior being done by his w ife, a lovely and estimable woman, who still resides in Benton. T his hotel passed unscathed through the fires o f later years* and is now opera toil by F. V. Z willing, who caters to a large trade (rom all parts of this and surrounding counties. T he old "T ravelers Inn” stood on the west side o f Main street some distance above the other hotels, and w as in its day a famous meeting place fo r the residents o f this section. 'Pile Iniikling is now used fo r other purposes. ORNTON BOROrCtt

T h e Benton of the present day. despite the ravages o f several disastrous conflagrations, is a smiling little town, set in level swards of meadow land, and one in contemplating its Ie'cl and trcc-embowercd aspects, from the heights of the adjacent hills, is instinctively re­ minded o f O liver fJoldsmith’s "Sw eet Auburn, I.ovel 5 cst Village of the Plain.” Beautiful Fishing creek passes through the heart of the

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place* sparkling down the gentle incline o f its course on the way to the broad Susquehanna. M one place the beautiful stream passes along the base o f a majestic and pine-clad slope* at another it dances through a verdant meadow* or jicrchance slips quietly and musically along beside a w'cll traveled thoroughfare. The phys­ ical environments o f Benton arc o f peculiar charm. N o craggy masses rear their lofty tops to the skies. T he scenery is unmarked by the grandeur o f sublime heights or the vaiy*ing contrasts o f sylvan dclls and bold prcciptccs. On the contrary* the surrounding hills are of gently undulating nature and the broad plateau o f its setting sweeps in straight lines to their bases. Wooded slopes climb to the top of the sun-ktssed hills and well tilled fields, particu­ larly during the days o f harvest, which ripen into colorful charm the varying hues of their fertile gam ienturc. and bring out the p ersp^ tivc o f a scenic picture* exquisite* which lingers long in the memory. The community of the present has probably suffered more, size and condition considered* than any other town o f its class in the Union. Numerous fires have robbed it o f many indus­ tries and a far reaching financial upheaval has visited many o f its principal business Interests and devastated many homes. Shock after shock has been bravely met. M isfortune u]K>n misfortune has swept the town, until the towns(iGopIe* looking around in temporary' despair* have asked one another, "what next?” Prior to the completion of the Bloomsburg & Sullivan railroad, in 1887. but few industries flourishc<l in the town. One of the first was the plant established by N . P. Moore in 1848 for the purpose o f manufacturing wagons. In these modern days the application o f that word to the industry then conducted by this wheel­ wright would undoubte<lly be a misnomer, as his business, the time and date considered* must have Iieen conducted under primitive condi­ tions which perhaps would hardly ju stify the name of "shop.” Tn any event, the work of producing wagons at the Moore place contin­ ued from 18 4 8 10 1862. F o r several years Benton liorough has heen in the public eye as a genuine, bona fide hardtiick town. Disaster after disaster has swept the community. Interwoven in the w arp and w oof o f its later days one man played a promi­ nent part, a man gifte<l with great personal charm, ambition and an intellect unusually acute. H e did more to hulld the community up than any other factor, and the unfortunate ending o f his rariotis enterprises did still more to pull it down—a condition which, happily,