man; medical examiner, Dr. Burg Chadwick; warder, John Cramsie; sentinel, Edward Norman; trustees, Dr. Burg Chadwick, O. S. Greeley and James Dunn. The officers named, and the following named, were charter members: J. B. Laraway, C. R. Sprague and Peter Conley.

McKean Post No. 347, G. A. R., was mustered in June 21, 1883. At the beginning of 1889 the following named were active members, names marked * being charter members:

ett.

B. F. Wright*, First Pennsylvania Rifles, Smethport. William H. Grumbine*, Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. S. D. Freeman*, Bucktails, Smethport. D. A. Easterbrook*, Second United States Signal Service, Kendall Creek. A. H. Peirce, Sixth Ohio Cavalry, Smethport. N. D. Foote*, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Farmers Valley. J. D. Barnes*, Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Kasson. R. Sartwell, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. W. H. Rifle*, Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Norwich. S. G. Bush*, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. W. Brockham*, One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Farmers Valley. W. Ogilvie*, First New York Dragoons, Coleville. M. S. Sheldon*, Two Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. A. Reed*, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth New York Volunteers, Farmers Valley. E. P. Pratt*, One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. J. Howard*, One Hundred and Forty-first New York Volunteers, Farmers Valley. H. S. Sawyer*, First Volunteer Cavalry, Farmers Valley. Charles S. Sanford*, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Smethport. George Ogilvie, First New York Dragoons, Farmers Valley. M. Rowan, Thirty-seventh New York Volunteers, Smethport. J. L. Stanton*, Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Farmers Valley. N. F. Ferris, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Farmers Valley. W. W. Brewer*, Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Mount JewEmil Thamm*, Forty-first Missouri, Smethport; J. H. McQuaid*, Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Farmers Valley. M. O'Reilly*, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Smethport. R. E. Hooker, First New York Dragoons, Farmers Valley. M. R. McCauley*, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Farmers Valley. William Smith*, One Hundred and Fifth New York Volunteers, Mount Jewett. J. M. Robinson, One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Kasson. A. L. Hughes, Indiana Cavalry, Smethport. P. Rowan, Sixty-fourth New York Volunteers, Smethport. J. E. Henderson, Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colegrove. S. W. Evans, Fiftyeighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Norwich. John A. Marsh, Sixth Vermont, Norwich. F. Cox, One Hundred and Thirteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Kane. A. Ostrander, Two Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Port Allegany, W. Ostrander, Two Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Port Allegany. J. H. Sowers, Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, East Smethport. Thomas Walker, Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry, East Smethport. H. K. Moore, Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Coleville. A. A. Wolters, Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. D. Smith, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth New York, Coleville. D. Sterrett, One Hundred and Thirtyfirst Pennsylvania Volunteers, Washington. E. Grover, Two Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colegrove. S. Martin, Two Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. O. Brink, Thirty-third New York Battery, Smethport. H. L. Burlingame, One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. Jacob Hafner, One Hundred and Seventy-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Clermont. William Wilkins, Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Kanesholm. F. J. Vickery, One Hundred and Ninety-fourth New York, Smethport. J. H. Ellsworth, One Hundred and Seventh New York, Smethport. J. Colegrove, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colegrove. W. H. Curtis, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. L. Rogers, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. W. C. Dickenson, Second United States Signal Service, Norwich. W. Grigsby, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. H. M. Choate, Twenty-first New York Volunteers, Smethport. R. Kasselbach, One Hundred and Tenth New York Volunteers, Olean. J. M. McElroy, One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. J. H. Stull, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, East Smethport. H. B. Vincent, Fifty-first New York Volunteers, Smethport. A. Fields, One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Kane. G. W. Talbot, United States Navy, England. L. W. Searfass, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Kane. T. A. Morrison, One Hundred and Twenty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. G W. King, One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, East Smethport. Herman Young, One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Farmers Valley. J. A. Briggs, One Hundred and Ninety-fourth New York Volunteers, Smethport. S. E. Quick, One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Volunteers, Keating. C. F. Holmes, Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, Keating. T. W. Chandler, One Hundred and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. D. Y. Lee, Sixth New York Artillery, Smethport. Asa Champlin, Thirteenth Artillery, Farmers Valley. William Cas

key, One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. G. H. France, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Smethport. D. E. Robbins, Sixth New Hampshire Artillery, Smethport. P. O'Brien, Third New York Volunteer Excelsior Brigade, Smethport. S. Lewis, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth New York Volunteers, Colegrove. E. R. Mayo, Third Maine Light Battery, Smethport. T. Ray, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Infantry. H. C. Hammon, Eleventh Illinois Cavalry. J. C. Backus*, J. K. Graham*. E. V. Chadwick*, Joseph Hoover*, Patrick McCabe, George Badger*, R. E. Tooker*, J. Loudragon*, Henry Herring*, B. H. Farman*.

B. F. Wright was chosen commander, and J. K. Graham was acting adjutant until appointed adjutant in July. In 1884 A. L. Hughes succeeded Graham, but H. L. Burlingame filled the office until he was appointed, vice Hughes, in July. J. C. Backus was commander in 1885 and Burlingame adjutant. William H. Grumbine was chosen commander in 1886; Lucius Rogers in 1887, with the adjutant of 1885-86 still in office. In December, 1887, J. M. McElroy was elected commander, and H. M. Choate adjutant, who served until January, 1889, when Adjt. Choate was elected commander, and Lucius Rogers was appointed adjutant. The officers for 1890 are: S. G. Bush, C.;

C. S. Sanford, S. V. C.; H. L. Burlingame, J. V. C.; Emil Thamm, Q. M.; T. W. Chandler, Chap.; J. D. Barnes, Surg.; J. H. Sowers, O. of D.; J. H. Ellsworth, O. of G.; M. O'Reilly, O. S.

Women's Relief Corps No. 23, Smethport, was organized September 17, 1885, with Madams Kate L. Wright, Helen S. Morrison, Rebecca Kerns, Alminia Backus, Sarah Grumbine, Hattie P. Colegrove, Julia L. Easterbrook, Rose E. Peirce, Elminia Thamm and Amelia Bush, members. Mrs. Wright was elected first president and Mrs. Morrison secretary. In 1887 Mrs. Chambers was elected secretary, and Mrs. Thamm president, succeeded in 1888 by Mrs. Helen Morrison as president, and Miss Ella J. Wright secretary. In July, 1888, Miss Lena Wright took the former secretary's place and was appointed in December, 1889, when Mrs. Morrison was re-elected president. On the latter's election as president of the department of Pennsylvania, W. R. C., Mrs. Kate Wright was elected president, and Mrs. Bertie Choate vice presi dent. The officers for 1890 are: President, Miss Lena Wright; senior vicepresident, Mrs. Nina Rumsey; junior vice-president, Mrs. Amelia Bush; treasurer, Mrs. Sarah Vickery; chaplain, Mrs. Julia Pratt; conductor, Mrs. Rose Peirce; guard, Miss Maud Stephens.

The K. O. T. M. is a recent organization at Smethport. I. S. Reynolds presides over the lodge, with M. B. Greer, recorder.

The Central Home Relief Society was organized at Smethport August 20. 1863, with Mrs. P. Ford, president; Mrs. H. Hamlin, vice president; Mrs. C. Cornforth, treasurer; Mrs. W. Cowles, secretary; Madams A. N. Taylor, W. H. Richmond, L. A. Stevens, A. S. Swift, M. A. Holmes and J. R. Chadwick, collecting committee. The object was to furnish aid to the families of volunteers.

The County Prohibitory Constitutional Association was organized at Smethport in February, 1889, with W. W. Brown, president; Byron D. Hamlin, vice-president; E. E. McElwaine, secretary, and B. F. Hazelton, treasurer. W. A. Young, Mrs. Young, W. H. Dodd and Reuben Dennis were chosen delegates. In May of this year the association established The Amendment Herald, and by other means essayed to educate the people in temperance affairs, carrying the question so far as to win 3,054 votes for the amendment, against 2,058 recorded for maintaining the evil to which they were opposed.

The Women's Christian Temperance Association was organized March 13, 1883, and reorganized May 2, 1885. The names of original members are Madams L. T. Medbury, F. L. Chadwick, A. Corwin, F. M. Blodgett, R.

Kerns, B. F. Wright, C. L. Douglas, E. J. Bush, J. G. Strong, S. J. Gifford, T. A. Morrison, K. E. Kidder, Charles Leemler, C. A. Burdick, M. L. Georgia, Emma Gifford, E. P. Hubbell, E. Sterrett and M. D. Bush. Mrs. L. T. Medbury was president of the old society. After reorganization Mrs. H. Hamlin presided, and next Miss S. A. Scull. The present president is Mrs. T. W. Chandler. The first corresponding secretary was Mrs. T. A. Morrison, with Mrs. F. L. Chadwick, recorder. Since reorganization Mrs. Morrison, Mrs. Bogisch, Mrs. E. Richardson and Mrs. Chadwick have held the secretary's position. The officers elected in July, 1889, are Mrs. D. L. Forsyth, president; Mrs. E. F. Chandler, vice-president; Mrs. M. E. Richmond, recording secretary; Mrs. Esther Keefe, corresponding secretary; Mrs. M. A. Backer, treasurer. Vice-presidents in churches: Mrs. A. T. Palmer, Methodist; Mrs. B. F. Wright, Baptist; Mrs. A. F. Brown, Episcopal. Superintendents: Mrs. Martha Chadwick, literature; Mrs. M. A. Backer, heredity; Mrs. B. F. Wright, soldiers and sailors; Mrs. Esther Keefe, jail and almshouse; Mrs. D. L. Forsyth, Mrs. M. E. Richmond, assistants jail and almshouse. Delegates to county convention: Mrs. Martha Chadwick, Mrs. Esther Keefe. Alternates: Mrs. A. T. Palmer, Mrs. E. F. Chandler.

The I. O. G. T. was organized in January, 1871, with S. B. Sartwell, Anna Potter, H. S. Sartwell, M. L. Armstrong, J. C. Bard, L. O. Chadwick, R. D. Hays, E. V. Chadwick, L. S. Bard, D. C. Young, Mrs. A. E. Taylor, B. Downey and G. Corwin filling the offices of the lodge.

The Young Women's Christian Temperance Union is one of the new additions to the ranks of temperance workers. Mrs. W. P. Burdick is president, with Miss Lydia Burlingame, secretary.

The C. M. B. A. elected the following named officers for 1890: Chancellor, J. F. Rooney; president, Morris Mulvehill; first vice-president, James Lynch; second vice-president, Peter Conely; recording secretary, Ed. Obertrifter; assistant recording secretary, James A. McKean; financial secretary, Daniel Bacon; treasurer, Dennis Quinlisk; marshal, Thomas O'Brien; guard, William Covley; representative to Grand Council, John F. Rooney; alternate, T. H. Purtle; trustees (two years), J. F. Rooney, P. Conely.

On July 18, 1875, the St. Elizabeth's Total Abstinence Association was organized.

The Knights of St. Martin and the Iron Cross are presided over by Dwight Waller, with Fred Gallup, scribe, and Rev. J. H. McCandless, warden.

The McKean County Musical Convention held its first session in February, 1875, with C. S. Diffen, president; J. W. Hilton, Dr. E. A. Van Scoy and T. J. Campbell, vice presidents; Albert DeGolier, secretary; and Loyal Ward, treasurer.

The Equitable Aid Union is presided over by Lucius Rogers, with W. H. Knight, secretary.

Smethport Lodge 182, A. O. U. W., was instituted August 19, 1880, with G. Lyman, S. V. Godden, H. L. Burlingame, W. O. Congdon, George R. Brownell, W. F. Specht, Frank Kerns, S. W. Pattison and S. G. Bush, holding the respective offices. At the annual election in December H. L. Burlingame was chosen master.

The Wild Cat Base Ball Club was organized at Smethport in May, 1873, with A. W. Colegrove, president; Henry Biever, vice-president; M. L. Armstrong, treasurer; B. T. Downey, secretary. The directors were Robert Wolters, C. A. Burdick and Patrick McLea.

Hotels.--About 1822 the first regular whose wife carried on the house in 1826.

hotel was completed by Willard, Some short time after came Squire

Crow from the Sinnemahoning country to compete with the Willard Hotel. The house which he erected occupied the site of the Bennett House. This last named hotel was erected in 1851 by O. R. Bennett. This house, and the Haskell store, built in 1857 by B. D. and Henry Hamlin, were destroyed by fire in May, 1882.

In January, 1847, O. R. Bennett petitioned the court to open an inn at his house in Smethport. This petition was signed by Edward Hartnett, O. A. Holmes, B. D. Hamlin, Ferd. Hamilton, W. F. Ormsby, O. R. Bennett, Nathan Barrett, J. B. Taylor, Gideon Irons, Adam Brockham, W. F. Young and N. W. Goodrich.

Mr. Williams, at whose house the judges and officers of the court made their home for years after 1826, came about 1822, when John Keating Williams was born as the first white child of the settlement. Squire Williams had many of the pioneer's experiences. On one occasion he was making lard from a hog killed for the purpose, and left this lard in an iron kettle to render during the night. Later there was heard a terrible racket in the cellar, and the Squire, descending, discovered a huge bear with his head trapped in the kettle. The Squire had little difficulty in killing "bruin." The late Mrs. Asa H. Cory remembered this event.

Rockwell House was built in 1880-81, by S. J. Rockwell, who conducted it for a few months; C. W. Dickinson followed, then H. S. Sartwell. John Hussey carried on business here for two or three years, when the property was bought by H. B. Vincent, who changed the title to Chautauqua House, and conducted it for three years, when J. L. Thomas became proprietor.

The Wright House, built in 1875, is modern in arrangement and management, and is generally credited with being one of the first-class hotels of this section of the State.

The Grand Central Hotel building, begun early in 1880 by Andrew Reilly, was completed in June, 1881. The intention of Mr. Reilly was to make it one of the finest hotel buildings in the northern part of the State, and in carrying this intention forward he gave to Smethport a house 67x82 feet, containing sixty-two rooms fitted with all modern improvements and elegantly furnished. The plans were drawn by S. A. Bishop, assisted by Mr. Reilly. The latter superintended the mason work. The building cost $40,000 and was opened by Mr. Reilly June 22, 1881. Gen. Hammer, of the Bennett House, leased the building soon after, and after two years H. S. Sartwell conducted the house. In the year 1883 the property passed into the hands of Mrs. A. N. Taylor, from whom the popular Frank N. Taylor leases the house. The lessee and his chief clerk, Ham Hill, conduct this hotel on modern principles.

Banks. In the history of Bradford City the story of the old McKean County Bank is told. It was established in 1857, and in opposition to the desire of many of the local stockholders Bradford was fixed upon as its headquarters, which action led to legal proceedings to change headquarters to Smethport.

The Hamlin Bank may be said to date back to 1862. Since that year Henry Hamlin has been the recognized leader of the banking business at the county seat, if not in the county. His store office was the bank office, and drafts of exchange, as well as loans, were negotiated in much the same form as at present. In 1874 he retired from mercantile life, and established a banking office over the old Hamlin store, later known as the Haskell store. In 1880 S. C. Townsend was employed as cashier. After the fire of May, 1882, the office was in B. D. Hamlin's office, and in 1885-86 in the room now occupied by Wells' drug store until the present building was completed in January, 1887.

It is one of the best finished buildings of its size in the State, and fully equipped for banking purposes. The cost of this ornamental pile was $15,000. In February, 1889, Moss M. Coleman took the position of assistant cashier and book-keeper. The financial condition of this house July 8, 1889, is shown as follows:

A.

The McKean County Savings Bank was chartered in February, 1872. N. Taylor, V. P. Carter, J. C. Backus, J. E. Butts, Jr., J. R. Chadwick, J. F. Gallup and D. C. Young being incorporators. This banking company was never organized.

Water and Gas Systems.-The beginning of Smethport's water system dates back to 1874, when the commissioners purchased a spring lot and connected the spring with the jail by means of a small pipe. E. V. Chadwick secured the use of the surplus water for $10 per annum and had a pipe extended from the main pipe to his dwelling, but the supply being limited the contract was rescinded. The Smethport Water Company was incorporated in April, 1881, with thirty-seven stockholders. Henry Hamlin held twenty-four, Byron D. Hamlin ten, W. J. Colegrove and D. R. Hamlin five shares each. The works were completed within the year.

The Smethport Gas Company was incorporated September 20, 1881, with C. A. Backer, E. L. Keenan, Robert H. Rose, David Sterrett, Leroy Tabor and L. J. Backer, directors. In January, 1890, the following named officers were chosen: C. P. Byron, president; H. McSweeney, secretary; A. B. Armstrong, treasurer; and they, with R. H. Rose and W. D. Gallup, directors. The gas well on the Eben Gallup farm was opened in January, 1890.

Floods and Fires.-The rains of May 31 and June 1, 1889, swelled the tributaries of Marvin and Nunundah creeks and raised these streams far above

all high-water marks of previous floods. The citizens of Smethport emerged from their homes Friday morning to find the low lands everywhere covered with several feet of water, while the rain still fell in torrents. Some residents of East Smethport were forced to take refuge in the second stories of their buildings, and anchor their houses to neighboring trees. The only way to reach the depot was by means of a boat. The railroads were undermined and damaged in many places, and traffic was suspended for several days. The bridge on the poor-farm, which was built at the expense of the county, was swept away, and Gifford's upper dam was damaged, necessitating the suspension of work.

In the destruction of G. W. White's house (two miles southwest of Smethport) in March, 1852, a three-year-old son was burned to death, and the father severely burned while trying to rescue the boy.... The Smethport fire of March 24, 1868, destroyed the Astor House block, property of William Haskell, A. N. Taylor's store, Miss Holmes' building, and the barns, all valued at $40,000 and insured for $19,000.... The Smethport fire of May, 1882, originated in the Bennett House, destroying Haskell's large store-building on the other side of the street, the banking office of Henry Hamlin in that building, the Bennett House and Sterrett & Rose law office.