Descendants of David Codding

Generation No. 1

The Coddings are of English origin. Capt. James Codding was one of the first settlers of Taunton, Mass. He had a son Ensign James Codding whose son, James, married Abigail Cobb. They had a son James who married Joanna Eddy and had three children, David, Abiel and Abigail.

David Codding, the elder son of James and Joanna (Eddy) Codding, was born June 4, 1786, at Taunton, Mass. He received a good academic education and for several years followed school teaching in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. While teaching at North East, Dutchess county, he became acquainted with Susanna, daughter of Consider and Mary (Adams) Wood (pg. 248) whom he married June 7, 1812. In early manhood, Mr. Codding met with a misfortune which was a great handicap; while doing the "honors" in arousing militia officers, his gun burst, tearing off his left hand. However, after his marriage, his son John A. says: "Father taught school winters and worked on a farm as a day laborer through the farming season. He had only one hand but managed to do nearly all kinds of farm work. He could mow, cradle, hoe and rake and do many other kinds of work as well as any one. In October, 1823, he came with his wife and six children to Pike, Bradford county. He built a log house in the primeval forest, and for the next ten years, our parents struggled with extreme poverty. The house had only one window with twelve lights 7x9. The door was hung with wooden hinges with latch and fastenings of the same kind; a floor of unplanned boards came to within about 8 feet of the west end of the room and on that space a fire of wood was built on the ground without stove or chimney; a stone chimney was built the next season. We had no chairs or table; a table was improvised by wooden pins about 20 inches long driven into holes bored in the logs at the side of the room, and a long board placed on the pegs made a table where we all sat with our faces towards the side of the house. For chairs we had blocks sawed from small logs about the size of a nail keg. When we desired to move our block, we turned it down on the floor and rolled it to a place where we desired to sit. On such chairs, we sat and ate our roasted potatoes, and if we could get corn bread of the plainest kind, it was a luxury. In this primitive log house we lived 18 years."

With true pioneer courage, Mr. Codding struggled on. He cleared land, taught school and worked at the mason's trade. Later in life, he became a Methodist preacher and was superintendent of the Burlington circuit. His good and faithful wife bore her part most heroically, and in the evening of their lives, they enjoyed every comfort, surrounded by affectionate children. Mrs. Codding, b. Feb. 8, 1786, died Feb. 5, 1865; Mr. Codding died Aug. 19, 1874. They reared a notable family of four sons and three daughters:

Mary Adams, b. Oct. 24, 1813, married Jackson K. Bosworth, died Oct. 30, 1895; was the mother of eleven children (I--317).

Amy Tompkins, b. May 2, 1815, married Clinton Keeney, died Aug. 12, 1874; children, Lovisa, John, Mary and David.

David Seabury, b. July 20, 1817, physician, married Celinda A. Ladd ( Asenath Celinda Ladd ), died Aug. 30, 1891; children, Lydia O., Martin O., Clarissa, Mary, Edgar and Julia.

John Alpine, b. July 6, 1819, married Nov. 14, 1847, Perciller L. Hodge, died June 1, 1909 in Towanda. He was one of the noted men of the county and in his closing years "the grand old man." He was a successful teacher, mason and merchant, one term sheriff of the county and 16 years a magistrate. He was long active in the old militia, passing through the different grades to colonel. In his old age he was remarkably brilliant and exact. Children: James H., lawyer, twice congressman, a 33rd degree Mason, holding the exalted position of Grand Secretary General of the Ancient Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic jurisdiction of U.S.A.; John W., lawyer and former district attorney; Charles L., eminent physician in Duluth; Mary (Mrs. Alex. H. Davis), deceased.

Martin Ham, b. April 4, 1821, married Evaline Smith, died Dec. 7, 1910; children: Mary F., Burton O. and Leslie A.

Susanna Desire, b. March 14, 1823, married Albert F. Shadduck, living; children: Mary A., John and David.

Abner Wesley, b. Oct. 7, 1829, died March 30, 1835

source:

Tri-Counties Genealogy & History Sites by Joyce M. Tice

Pioneer & Patriot Families of Bradford County PA 1800-1825

Vol. II - Clement F. Heverly - Pages 412-426 & 434

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source:

John A. Codding to his son - John W. Codding

My Dear Son,

The following lines were originally written at the suggestion of your brother Dr. Charles L. Codding and delivered to him. It has now been carefully copied in my own hand writing and this copy is lovingly inscribed to you and yours by you affectionate Father.

John A. Codding - Towanda - Feb. 19, 1898

A BRIEF SKETCH OF FAMILY AND PERSONAL HISTORY FROM THE WRITERS OWN RECOLLECTIONS AND RELIABLE INFORMATION

"James Codding, the great grandfather of the writer was born in the vicinity of the town of Taunton in the County of Bristol and State of Massachusetts early in 1700 and died and is buried in Taunton aged about 82 years.

James Codding, my grandfather, was the son of James Codding, and a native of Taunton aforesaid born about 1757 and died about 1840 aged 83 years. He married Joanna Eddy and had three children -

two sons and one daughter. David Codding, my father, was James Codding's eldest son, born June 4, 1786. The other son Abiel was several years younger than David and lived and died in Bristol County Mass. at about the age of 90 years. He died at North Attleboro Mass.

James Codding's only daughter, Abigail, was born, lived and died in Bristol County Mass. She married Wheaton Barrows and had a large family of children.

HISTORY OF DAVID CODDING

Born as heretofore stated June 4 1786, his early childhood was spent with his parents in the Township of Taunton about two miles from the present beautiful City of Taunton. A legend was related to me by Roswell Woodward who was born near the place: that the site of the City of Taunton was sold by the owner, an Indian woman named Polly Poole for a peck of beans, and that she had laid out a square in the center called "Taunton Green" which she reserved to be used for military trainings parade and drill as long as grass grew green and water ran down the hill.

After the was of the revolution and the frequent Indian wars military organizations were kept up, and all males between the age of 18 and 45 years were compelled to meet in companies and regiments several times in each year for military exercise drill and instruction, and such organization were officered by Captains and Lieutenants ready for duty in case of war. It had long been the practice for the private members of the company on training days to "wake up officers". This was done in the following manner, a squad of soldiers, a dozen more or less, would go to the house of an officer, in the early morning of training day, before daylight, with guns heavily loaded, discharge their muskets under the windows where the officer slept. The guns were discharged in rapid succession. They were sometimes loaded so heavily that the glass in the windows would be broken by the concussion. Of course the officer would be "waked up" and come out with his bottle and treated all the boys in the company of wakers to a drink of grog. The officer would consider himself highly honored by his soldiers.

In about 1804 or when father was about 18 years of age, he with others went to wake up officers. A heavily loaded musket was discharged by him which burst into fragments in his hands, which mangled and mutilated his left hand and wrist that it had to be amputated about half way from the wrist to the elbow. After the accident he was taken to the house of his grandfather, James Codding, about a half mile from his fathers. There his arm was amputated. He had a good academic education and from that followed teaching school until he was married eight or nine years later. His first school was at Vineyardhaven, a town on the Island of Martha's Vineyard. From there he went to Connecticut where he taught in several places. From there he went to Albany New York where he taught about one year. From Albany he went to the town of North East Dutchess County N.Y.

In that place on the 7th day of June 1812vhe married Susanna Wood (my mother). She was the eldest daughter and eldest child of Consider and Mary Adams Wood of Puritan stock and born and reared in Dutchess County N.Y. or Berkshire County Mass.

Consider Wood, her father, served three years as a soldier in the war of the revolution. He enlisted at Middlebury (Mass.) now Vermont as a private commanded by Capt. Joshua Benson in in the Mass. Regiment commanded by Col Rufus Putnam and discharged at the highlands in the state of New York. He had a government pension of $8.00 per month. His application is dated June 16, 1818. He was then 58 years old. He died in Pike Bradford County Pa. about 1822. He was born about 1760 and buried in LeRaysville Cemetery.

My father and mother commenced housekeeping in the North East corner of Dutchess County N.Y. in 1812 and while there six children, three sons and three daughters, were born. Their names and dates are as follows:

(see genealogical information)

While they lived in Dutchess County father taught school winters and worked on a farm as a day laborer through the farming season. He had but one hand but managed to do nearly all kinds of farm work and earn full laborers wages with one hand. He could mow and cradle and rake and do many other kinds of work as well as any one. In October 1823 he came with his wife and six children to Pike Township Bradford County Pa. He built a log house in the primeval forest and for the next ten years, our parents struggled with extreme poverty. The house was not the best of its kind. It had only one window with 12 lights of 7 x 9 glass. The door was hung with wooden hinges with latch and fastenings of the same kind. A floor of un planed board came to within about eight feet of the west end of the room, and on that space a fire of wood was built on the ground without stove or chimney. A stone chimney was built the next season. We had no chairs or table. A table was improvised by wooden pins about 20 inches long driven into holes bored in the logs at the side of the room and a long board placed on the pins or pegs made the a table where we all sat with our faces towards the side of the house and our backs towards the room and for chairs we had blocks sawed from small logs about the size of a nail keg. When we desired to move our block we turned it down on the floor and rolled to a place where we desired to sit. On such chairs we sat beside the above described table and ate our roasted potatoes and salt. And if we could get cornbread of the plainest kind it was luxury. Father made a table of pine boards some time latter which we used for a long time.

In this primitive log house we lived 18 years until 1841 whin I was 21 years of age.

During the first few years of our living in Pike Father taught the district school in winter and worked at the masons trade in the summer, and cleared the trees and logs from land enough to keep a cow or two, and raise corn and potatoes to keep his little family through winter.

We kept a few sheep, and raised some flax, and Mother spun, wove, cut and made our clothes and Father made all our shoes. In 1828 we built a barn 26 x 36 - the same that stands there now.

About Sept. 3, 1826 Father and Mother professed religion and were baptized with their entire family by a Methodist Minister named David Shepard. The minister preached in our log house and our family, parents and children 8 in all together with Uncle Aaron Wood with his family and family about as many more, wen to the little brook, and pouring it on our heads. That was about Oct. 4, 1826.

About 1835 Father withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church and united with the Protestant Methodist Church and was given license to preach. The Protestant Methodist afterwards called themselves Wesleyan Methodists. They broke off from the M.E. Church an the subject of slavery -

members of the M.E. Church held slaves. The Wesleyan did not. After the war of the Rebellion the two branches of the Methodist Church were practically reunited. Mother remained a member of the Methodist Episcopal church until her death.

The Protestants and Wesleyans did not have any Bishops or presiding elders. Their leading man was called a superintendent. Father was made superintendent of Burlington Circuit and had preaching places in Pike, Herrick, Wysox, Towanda, Burlington, Springfield, South Creek, Troy, Armenia, Granville, Canton, Albany, Terry, and through Sullivan, Lycoming, Wyoming, and Luzerne counties. He traveled all over the country where Scranton now stands. It was called Slocum Hollow where now is the City of Scranton. He rode horseback and was about four weeks making a circuit. He continued to preach several years. His pay was treasures laid up in heaven. Some pay he did get, but entirely inadequate to buy his clothes and keep him and his faithful horse.

All this time the older children were able to earn a comfortable living for themselves and Mother.

The stone house was built in 1840, We moved from the log house to the stone house in the spring of 1841. The same spring I pulled up four maple saplings and planted them in front of the stone house, one of them stands there now as shown in Charles photograph picture of the old place. I commenced to work at the masons trade with father about 1831 and continued to do so every season until he (father) commenced to preach. Then I took Martin, my brother, with me - we worked together 8 years. We together built stone dwelling houses for Uncle Abner Wood, John Alderson, Jod Turrell and Platt Wood.

After we were married in 1847 each went for himself.

Father did not continue to ride the circuit and preach after we moved into the stone house. He preached on special occasions and at funerals but staid at home, did some work in the garden, smoked his pipe and read the Tribune. Father and Mother had a room with a fireplace which they occupied together for their common sitting room. I left there when I was elected Sheriff in 1854 in Oct. and moved to Towanda. Mother died in that room Feb. 6, 1865. She is buried in the cemetery on the farm of J. Alonzo Bosworth. Martin afterwards sold the old farm and moved with father to LeRaysville where father died Aug. 19, 1874. He is buried by mother. Mothers parents came to Bradford County with most of their children several years prior to our coming. Her father and mother both died in Pike before we came. Mother and her sister Polly who married John McAlpine did not come with the family. Aunt Polly settled in Hillsdale Columbia County N.Y. She had four sons and one daughter - Robert, Orville, Ezra, Philo, and Mary Ann, the mother of Hon. Wallace Bruce, a celebrated platform lecturer. He was consul to Edinburgh Scotland under President Ben Harrison. I think all of Aunt Polly's children are dead except Orville. Her husband was a farmer.

Mothers youngest sister Deborah came to Pa. long after our family came. She was an old maid and died here aged about 75 years.

The principal attraction that brought our family here was Mothers five brothers and two sisters who were settled here.

In the fall of 1822 father traveled on foot from Dutchess County to Bradford County on a journey of discovery to find a place to live and where his sons could carve out for themselves a home. Traveling west he stopped at Bainbridge N.Y. where he boarded a raft and rode to "Meansville" now Towanda and walked to Pike where it was arranged that he should have a narrow strip of land 74 rods wide and about a mile long from east to west between uncle Josiah and Uncle Aaron.

The owners of the land was then unknown The settlers did not pretend to purchase the land, but were termed squatters, and the owners of large tracts of wild land, who lived in cities or foreign countries were willing and anxious for settlers to come and improve their lands and make them valuable. We never knew much about the ownership of the land on which we settled until about 1840 when we were asked to buy and pay for our land at eight dollars per acre. Our farm was owned by two different parties. A north and south line ran along the public road in front of the stone house. The west end of the farm on which the the stone house stood, contained fifty acres, was owned by heirs of Robert Proud and Charles F. Wells was the agent. The east end on which the old house stood contained 50 acres and was called the Wilcox tract owned by two old maids in England. C.L. Ward was agent.

About 1841 an old worn out sawmill stood near the forks of the creek north of our house just off from our land, owned by Cornelius Brink. Father bought the old mill on condition that I should sign a judgement note for four hundred dollars. I refused to sign and decided to leave home and take care of myself. Father and Mother were much afflicted and grieved that I should leave them. Father proposed to give me a quit claim deed which conveyed only his possession right, and I should stay with them. It was so done and I went to work to pay fathers debts and to pay for the land which I did by years of hard work with hammer and trowel through the summer and teaching through the winter. By paying promptly as fast as I earned it I got the original eight dollars per acre considerably reduced of the interest.

About the close of my term as Sheriff in 1857 an agreement was made with my brother Martin by which I made a deed of the old farm to him. The only consideration being that he support and maintain father and mother during their lives. I took a bond signed by him by which he was bound to do so in the penal sum of $1500.

When I left the stone house October 30, 1854 my oldest brother David moved into it with father and mother, and lived with them about three years, until Martin took the place and care of our parents.

The evening of their lives was made very comfortable surrounded by affectionate children and provided with all the necessary food and clothing and even luxuries which they desired.

Martin and Eveline performed their whole duty and fulfilled their trust with fidelity and to the entire satisfaction of all. Martin sold the old homestead for $4000.00 to a Mr. Scott. It was afterwards sold from Scott by the Sheriff and purchased by Amos Baldwin of LeRaysville. He owns it now Feb. 1898.

from a letter by John A. Codding provided by the Bradford County Historical Society

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Generation No. 2

COLONEL JOHN A. CODDING, Towanda. Every old and long established community, by an unwritten law of selection, tends toward the process of sitting out and placing at the fore some recognized common leader in our social and business life. These chosen men lead, not by virtue generally of any written law, but mostly by that instinct of cohesion and dependence upon superiors that is an under-current in every social life, and in all communities. In the rude and wild tribes these leaders are their fighters, and the degrees of civilization are measured by the domination of mind, and to this advance in time comes that yet higher type of "mentor and friend" who combines integrity of character with broadening of intellect. The appositeness of these reflections, linked to the gentleman’s name that heads this sketch, will be apparent by the briefest recital of the public and private positions of honor and trust that the good will of his old neighbors and friends have put upon Col. Codding through a continuous generation of years. Forty years ago he was a humble mechanic, and an occasional short winter-term school teacher, and was in 1853 constructing canal locks, railroad bridges, stone and brick buildings, and plastering houses and, though by nature retiring and negative, yet his neighbors found him out, and from a private adviser and friend they promoted him, by their spontaneous will, from the trowel and the hammer to high sheriff of the county, in which he served from 1854 until 1857, and was then made deputy-sheriff, and was in the position three years from 1857 to 1860. In 1862 he filled, by appointment of Gov. Curtin (who had already sent him, unsolicited, a full captain’s commission), the difficult and responsible office of commissioner of the draft, and he performed its every duty with eminence and fidelity. A short parenthesis just here is necessary: When the war came Col. Codding was by far the leading military character of the county. He had vast experience and varied service in the old State militia, a strong military organization in peace times. He has served for years as Brigade Inspector, the district then being composed of five counties, and in this service had passed the grades of captain, major, lieutenant-colonel to Brigade Inspector, a most responsible position, with sufficient salary to command his undivided time and attention. He thus served until the old military organization of the State was changed in 1845, and at the breaking out of war the Governor looked naturally to him as the one man of military affairs in Bradford, and was ready to give him any position he might prefer. He began organizing and drilling a company, and soon this grew so large that it was divided into two companies, and it fell to the second company to go en mass into the service, while Col. Codding continued to raise and drill men and forward them to the front. In this way he rendered his country invaluable service.

In 1880 the Colonel was made clerk to the prothonotary of Bradford county, and served to the satisfaction of the entire community, for years; in 1880 he was made a magistrate, has filled the office continuously since, and was again elected for five years, from May, 1891, where perhaps, as mutual friend of neighbors, hot and eager for legal frays, he has rendered more valuable services to a greater number of people than has probably any other man ever in the county. IN 1876 he became president of the Eureka Mower Company, Towanda, and his clear judgment and quick perceptions were of the highest measure to that concern. In 1854 he was the close friend of Hon David Wilmot and Judge Mercur, in founding in this State the Republican party, where, as everywhere, his advice was clear cut, carrying much weight, and he was a real factor in swinging the great Commonwealth into line where a Lincoln was to lead and a Grant to command.

The social side of this man’s life is not so easily written, but it is in the hearts of the many whom has befriended in the hour of trial and great need, attested joyfully by all in open glad acts at every opportunity. He has now reached that age, but that is all, when the average man would begin to retire from active life. Born in Dutchess County, N. Y., July 6, 1819, of David and Susannah (Wood) Codding, the son of an honest mechanic and himself successfully passed the degrees of the mechanic’s craft, from the humblest to the highest. His father’s family came to Bradford County in 1823, locating in Pike Township, and in time the father taught school and became a distinguished minister of the protestant Methodist Church; he died in August 1874. His family numbered six children, of whom John A. was the fourth in the order of birth. He now looks back with no inconsiderable pride upon some of the substantial buildings in the county and in Elmira, N. Y., that are yet evidences of his skilled hand, when he was a young mechanic on the threshold of his long, useful and honorable life. In November, 1847, John A. Codding and Perciller L. Hodge were joined in the bonds of wedlock at her home in LeRaysville; she was a daughter of Rev James and Rebecca (Miller) Hodge, natives of Pennsylvania. Of this union there were four children, as follows: James H. Codding, John W. Codding, Dr. Charles L. Codding, of Duluth, and Mary (Mrs. Alexander H. Davis). Mrs. Codding departed this life February 4, 1888.

Dr. Charles L. Codding was born in the court-house in Towanda while his father was sheriff; and is a distinguished physician of Duluth, Minn. Mrs. Mary (Codding) Davis is a resident of Duluth, Minn. Two of this family of children have gone out from the roof-tree, bearing in their hearts the admonitions of their childhood home, and two are here in their native place, while all have so deported themselves as to advance along that higher plane of life that comes of the wise and gentle ministrations imparted to them in their tender childhood, honoring a parent that has honored them by their employer and upright lives – all of them have inherited well that shield that would turn as wholly harmless every shaft of envy or detraction that might be cast at them. Mr. Codding has been a consistent and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church during the past thirty years, much of the time serving as class leader, and has been secretary and treasurer of the church fifteen years. During thirteen years he was judge of elections; for many terms was a member and president of the school board, and was largely instrumental, while in that body, in the building of the elegant school-house in 1873. He is a Royal Arch Mason. He was appointed census enumerator in 1880, and performed the duties of that office completely, and to the entire satisfaction of his official superiors.

Source for the following:

PERSONAL HISTORY OF JOHN A. CODDING

written by himself in his 79th year

I was born in the town of North East / Minden, County of Dutchess and State of New York, July 6, 1819.

When I was a child two or three years of age I followed my older sisters who wen to the woods for berries. In climbing over a pole fence, a pole or log was pulled from the top of the fence which fell on me. It was so heavy that my sisters Mary and Amy could not lift it off. I was carried to the house unconscious and so remained through the first night. There has always been an ugly scar under my left ear and jaw which is still very noticeable. One of the first things I remember, I went to school with the children one day before we came to Bradford County. The teacher's name was Coomer Crandal, the same day I found a pocket knife. The finding of the knife and the day at school I remember. The falling from the fence I do not remember. In Oct. 1823 I went with the whole family to Hillsdale, Columbia County, New York. Stayed there a week and started for the home of my Uncle John McAlpine for Bradford County, Pennsylvania. We crossed the Hudson River on a ferry boat propelled by horse power on a tread wheel. I saw what seemed to me houses on the river with smoke coming out the chimneys. It was in the infancy of steamboats. We stayed the first night of our journey west at the little old town of Esopus. We traveled in an old lumber wagon covered with muslin - a sort of prairie

schooner. We had our provisions in the wagon and lived there six days. A bed was found for mother and the six months old baby nights. The baby was Susana, now Mrs. Albert F. Shadduck. We stopped the last day of our journey at Russel Very's in Bridgewater, Susquehanna County. Mrs. Very was Mother's sister Lucy. Father said he paid his last schilling at Montrose. Russell Very's was about 11 miles from our destination at Uncle Josiah Woods. Within two or three days we were living in our new log house. My first school days was the summer I was 8 years old, 1827. The log school house was about two miles from our house and through the woods.

In the spring of 1826 I went to live with Russel Very. His wife was Mother's sister Lucy in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, about six miles south of Montrose. There I was sort of sprinter, chore, and errand boy. Stayed about 6 months. When I was eleven years of age, I was sent to live with Samuel Gregory, two miles east of LeRaysville. I stayed there nearly a year, did chores, drove and milked cows, and took care of baby.

In the latter part of the season of 1831 after I was twelve years old I commenced to work in the mason's trade with father. Our work was mostly building chimneys and cellar walls. I attended school quite regularly winters, the next four years. Our schoolhouse was now only a mile and a quarter from home.

In the fall of 1836 I had commenced attending school at home. Father was on his circuit preaching. He wrote to me from Albany, Bradford County that a teacher was needed. That I should come and teach the school. I started at once. My brother David took me with a sleigh to the Towanda Bridge - the toll to cross the bridge was 25 cents. David returned and I walked in a blinding snowstorm about the last of Dec. 1836 to what is now Laddsburg 15 miles from Towanda. I had no overcoat nor grip sack nor trunk - my extra shirts and stockings were tied up in a pocket handkerchief and carried in my hand.

I taught the school for three months at nine dollars per month; did some extra work for which I got three dollars, and twenty seven dollars for teaching so I carried home the enormous wealth of thirty dollars. It was greater wealth and much more money than I had ever possessed.

When I arrived home our family needed flour and many other things, and my wealth soon faded away. The summer was occupied with mason work. The next fall the Laddsburg people wrote to me to teach their school again. I had engaged to teach on Springhill, Tuscarora Twp. at $12 per month. David went to Albany, taught there two winters. There he found and married Celinda Ladd. They lived together 53 years. She is now living 81 years of age, 1898.

I taught two winters in Tuscarora, 1838 and 1839. The next winter in Bridgewater (now Jessup), near the Russel Very neighborhood where I lived when I was a 7 year old boy.

In 1840 I voted for Gen. Wm. H. Harrison for President. That winter 1841 I taught school west of LeRaysville - called the west school house. I was two winters in Merryall District, Wyalusing Township and had my home in the same house where Maj. Guy Wells was born. The house has since been burned. In 1845 I taught the village school in LeRaysville, three winters in the Centre district where Alonzo Bosworth lives, and where Father's mother's sister Mary and brother David are buried.

The balance of my teaching was in my home district at the stone house. I did not teach after 1852.

I was the master workman and did most of the work with my own hands in building five stone dwelling houses - one for ourselves in 1840 - one for Uncle Platt Wood in 1842 - one for Abner Wood in 1846 -

one for John Alderson in 1847 - one for Joe Turrell in 1849 in Forest Lake Township, Susquehanna County and now after more than fifty years they are all occupied by families, 1898.

in 1850 - 1852 I built some of the very best buildings in Owego and Elmira, New York. The Ah-Waga in Owego I superintended from the foundation to chimney top and worked on the Rathbun house and others in the city of Elmira. I was boss mason in the building of the piers and abutments of the Chemung river railroad bridge for the Erie R.R. Co. in 1852 and the same for the Erie R.R. bridge at Passaic New Jersey in 1853 and two locks and one aqueduct on the North Branch Canal in 1853 and 1854 in Athens Township, this county.

Military Promotions as follows:

Enlisted in the Pike Cavalry in 1841, a volunteer militia company of Pennsylvania Uniformed Militia.

Commissioned 1st. Lieut. Nov. 24, 1842 by Govenor David R. Porter.

Commissioned Captain May 4, 1846 by Govenor Francis R. Schunk.

Elected Major Feb. 1847 - no commission issued, a vacancy in the office of Colonel called an election before commission issued.

Commissioned Lieut. Colonel June 23, 1847 by Govenor Francis R. Schunk.

Commissioned Brigade Inspector June 4, 1849 by Govenor William F. Johnston.

Commissioned Capt. of Towanda Home Guards June 15 1861 by Govenor Andrew C. Cartin.

Commissioned High Sheriff of Bradford County Oct. 23, 1854 by Govenor William Bigler.

Commissioned Justice of the Peace Dec. 11, 1880 by Govenor Henry M. Hoyt.

Commissioned Justice of the Peace April 9 1881 - 5 years - by Govenor Henry M. Hoyt.

Commissioned Justice of the Peace April 2, 1886 - 5 years - by Govenor Robert E. Pattison.

Commissioned Justice of the Peace April 16, 1891 - 5 years - by Govenor Robert E. Pattison. Justice office ended May 4, 1896 - same day Mary died. I was an officer on the election board the first time I was a voter in 1840. I served on the election board as clerk inspector or judge nearly or quite every election from 1840 to 1854 when I moved to Towanda. During the time I lived in Pike I had the office of Town Clerk, Township Auditor, and School Director, one or more of those offices nearly every year.

After coming to Towanda, I was Judge of Election 13 years in succession when the Boro was only one election and over 700 votes were polled. I was School Director in Towanda two terms and Boro Council one term. In the war of 1862 was appointed Commissioner of Draft Oct 16, 1862 - did draft 400 men from Bradford County and took them to Harrisburg where they were enrolled in Companies and sent to the front.

In 1880 was appointed enumerator to take the census in Towanda Boro which occupied the entire month of June 1880. In 1876 was elected President of the Eureka Mower Company and traveled in 1876 and 1877 establishing agencies etc. I took the office of High Sheriff on the first day of Nov. 1854. Thomas M. Woodruff was my deputy. The term of office was three years. While Sheriff, Nov. 5, 1855, I was thrown from my carriage while driving in Canton Twp. and sustained a compound fracture of the leg below the knee and was laid up in Canton Twp. 42 days before I could be brought back home to Towanda.

When my term of three years as Sheriff was ended in 1857 my Deputy Thomas M. Woodruff was elected High Sheriff and I took the position of Deputy Sheriff and continued in the office three years longer or until 1860.

In 1860 I commenced the hardware firm of Codding and Russell which continued to 1876.

In August 1880 I commenced to write in the Prothonotary's office and continued to do so until Jan. 1885. During most of that time I was a Justice of the Peace and kept open a separate office.

Considerable space has been taken up in narrating my official life, giving dates of elections, commissions, etc., I would here like to remark that I was never defeated at an election. I have failed to receive nominations by caucuses but never in an election. I have been a candidate in town, Boro, and county 30 times without a single defeat.

I will now return to events and experiences in private life. My boyhood, youth, and early manhood were full of hard work and hard fare.

On the 14th day of November 1847, at the village of LeRaysville, Bradford Co, Pa. I married Perciller Lee Hodge, daughter of Rev. James Hodge. She was a model of modesty, virtue, grace and beauty. Her form and personal appearance were faultless. As a wife and mother I in my affection and loving adoration thought her peerless. She was in every sense a noble Christian woman. She brought love sunshine and happiness to me. In my enjoyment I believed that when the Creator took Adam's rib and made a wife for him he could not have done a better job than was done for me. She was bright intelligent educated, had been a teacher several terms and not the least of her accomplishments, she was a model housekeeper. We lived together more than 40 years and never a word of scolding to her husband, ever passed her lips. She was a faithful member of M.E. Church till death.

We commenced housekeeping the last of Nov. or first of Dec. 1847 in the stone house. I taught school in the center dist. near Alonzo Bosworths the first winter after I was married and boarded at home. The next 6 years my work was away from home nearly the whole time. My good wife faithful careful and loyal to our united interests was an important factor in our success.

July 8, 1849 was a bright spot in our lives. Our first baby was born. We named him James Hodge after his maternal Grandfather and James after my paternal Grandfather. We thought he was a nice baby and he turned out pretty well. The winters of 1849 - 1850 and 1851 I taught school in our home district and boarded at home. In 1852-1853 and 1854 I was away from home summer and winter. While my dear good Perciller and my little boy James remained at home she managed the farm, made and sold butter, sold wool from the sheep and in fact paid all living expenses of the family, and all the money I earned ($3.00 per day) was carefully saved and used to pay for the farm. When I was elected Sheriff in Oct. 1854 I owned the farm 170 acres and had about $2000. in cash.

After I was married I worked at Joel Turrells stone house in 1848 and 1849. In Owego and Elmira in 1850 and 1851 - at the Chemung bridge in 1852 until Sept. From Sept. 1852 to Sept. 1853 at the Passaic bridge N.J. From Sept.. 1853 to May 1854 at the canal locks in Athens Twp - came home May 7, 1854 to stay. June 10, 1854 another boy was born. He was a beautiful baby, plump and pretty, light complexion, both boys apparently healthy. He was as heartily welcomed as his elder brother. We named him John Wesley Codding.

A few days after James was born in July 1849 I made a journey to East Smithfield to take possession of the records and property of the Brigade Inspector's office from Col. Wm. E. Barton.

The season of 1854 was mostly devoted to the Sheriff campaign and was successful. I took possession of the Courthouse Oct. 31 1854 and was sworn as High Sheriff Nov. 1 1854. My bonds were $10,000. Daniel Bailey and Alba Bosworth signed the Bond. As already stated my leg was broken Nov. 5, 1855. During the time I was sheriff and deputy I made about 15 trips to Philadelphia to convey prisoners to the Eastern Penitentiary.

While we lived in the Courthouse May 2 1857 a bright little boy was born. He came Saturday, coming before the term of May Court commenced on Monday. He was large healthy and good looking and was welcomed the same as his brothers had been. We wanted another boy. We called him Charles Lee. He was always a good boy and is now settled a practicing physician and surgeon in Duluth, Minn.

In Nov. 1857 we bought of Dr. D. S. Pratt the house on the bank of the river known as the Carman house a the foot of Weston Street for $1500. and moved into it at once. We lived there seven years. In that house on the 19th of May 1862 our only daughter Mary was born. She was a very welcome visitor, a pet of her mother, an object of love and affection for the whole family. In July 1864 we purchased the large house on second street and moved into it the last day of Aug. 1864. I have continued to live in the same house to the present time Feby. 16, 1898. Mary born in the house on River Street at the foot of Weston Street. She was past two years old when we moved into the house on 2nd street. Our fifth and last child was born April 9 1866, in the house where I now live. His name was Arthur Edward Codding. He died May 12 1867. We sold our store business in the spring of 1876. I was elected President of the Eureka Mower Co. at a salary of $2000. a year. Within a year the company failed by reason of bad conduct of the Treasurer Edward T. Elliott. Some of the best men in Towanda were dragged down with it.

In 1878 I was an unsuccessful applicant for nomination for Prothonotary. Up to Aug. 1880 I was pension agent prosecuting pension claims for soldiers. In August 1880 I commenced as a clerk in the Prothonotary's office and continued in the same position until Jany. 1 1885.

I was commissioned Justice of the Peace Dec. 11 1880. I opened a separate office for Justice and at the same time performed my work in the Prothonotary's office to Jany. 1885. From that time on my whole time was given to the Justice Office to May 4 1896.

The dark cloud and deep sorrow of my life came to me in 1887 and 1888. In 1886 my dear wife Perciller gradually declined in health. Early in 1887 her lower limbs and body were paralyzed and so continued until Feby. 4 1888 when Rest came after months of patient suffering.

Thus passed away from earth one of the noblest spirits that ever irradiated the form of the American woman. Her mortal remains lie at Rest in Riverside Cemetery (must have been moved later to Oak Hill Cemetery in Towanda) beside her little son Arthur Edward. 2 and 1/2 years I lived alone with Dear Mary. April 17 1890 Mary married Alexander H. Davis and left home on her wedding day. She lived in Waterbury Conn. over a year. Removed form Waterbury to Duluth and died at Duluth Minnesota leaving little Dorothy who was born in Duluth Jany 1, 1892.

I married for a second wife Sept. 11, 1890 Mercy Beecher Taylor, widow of Wm. B. Taylor, daughter of Bradford Beecher of Pike. She had only one child George B. Taylor, a Physician, who graduated at the University of Pennsylvania. My present wife was born in Pike Jany 18 1838 and is 60 years old. We are now living alone in the old homestead mansion enjoying comfortable health for our years, with the hard work and responsibilities of life mostly done. Whatever wars and strifes disturb the outside world we have peace love and contentment at home. We feel at peace with the whole world and do not envy the wealthiest and proudest mortals on earth.

In 1861 I united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Towanda and have been a class leader continuously in the same church to this day. My wife is a member of the same church.

I have here outlined hastily with a trembling hand a few of the events and experiences of a checkered life.

Looking backward through the long vista of over seventy years, what visions of life's joys and sorrows trials and successes crowd upon the memory - the dark morning of poverty swiftly passes - afterward the bright sunshine of the connubial happiness and smiling infancy flies too soon. The noon of honorable promotion comes and goes, the lengthening shadows of evening gather around us. While memory remains we cannot forget an affectionate wife, and loving children who have gone before us, nor dear loving and honored children still with us.

We fondly anticipate that children and children's children will comfort our declining years, and may God grant to all the happiness and blessings which are sure to follow a pure and virtuous life.

Albert was a farmer as were most settlers of those days and operated a water powered "up & down" saw mill on the farm with water supplied by the Gaylord Creek parts of the mill race are still there today. The mill pond was near the Gaylord Creek bridge on RT 858 & the mill race ran between the road & the creek & the mill was across the road from the current house & barn. My father had a "up & down" saw from that mill which has probably by now disappeared.

It appears to me that most of Thomas & Johanna Shadduck's children (Benjamin, John, George & Joseph) & their families would have lived at Albert & Susanna's house from time to time. And that some of half brother, Evert Shadduck- Shadduck's family from Skunk, PA visited as well per the diaries of Patia & Rena This house burned in the 1920's Irene (Squires) Owen dates the fire at 1924 based on her brother, John Squires's date of high school graduation.

After this house burned in the 1920's my grandfather, John Shadduck purchased a house in LeRaysville, PA, tore it down, moved the materials to the homestead, and rebuilt the house in place of the original house which burned. This 2nd house still stands there today. This is the house where I grew up after 4½ years of age, when my father, Frank Shadduck paid off the Sheriff Sale foreclosure debt of Welton Kinney of Rush, PA and took over the farm from his mother, Blanch & her 2nd husband Robert Rosencrants-Carter.

The original homestead farm grew in acreage by the addition of the 116 acres purchased by Thomas III & Johanna (Burke) Shadduck in 1850 of John & Mary Birge, the acreage purchased by Albert's brother, John Shadduck soon after 1850, the purchases of Joseph Shadduck after 1865 (Joe served in the Civil War). And by a series of property gifts, purchases, & sales within the Shadduck family and to & from others the homestead farm grew in acreage (this would require a in-depth deed & wills study to determine all of these property transactions). The farm grew to include both the Gaylord & the North Branch of the Wyalusing Creeks, their confluence point, the valley flatlands and the hills to both the east & the west.

Generation No. 3

1880 Pike, Bradford Co., PA census (listed as a divorced farmer)

Per the book, 'Descendants of Consider Wood and Mary Adams' by Norris Wood, "Josiah was wounded on 2 July 1863 during the Battle of Gettysburg by a musket bullet entering the right leg and depriving him the use of his leg. He lay wounded on the field nearly forty-eight hours without food or drink. Josiah enlisted on the 13th of August 1862, became Sergeant in Company B, 141st Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers and was discharged on 29 June 1865. During the battle of Chancellorsville he carried the flag from the field after four men were shot down with it and for which he was presented with a cross as a token of his heroism. He was in important battles including Fredericksburg. His pension application listed him as a farmer. Josiah was active in the GAR Post at LeRaysville and was a Republican. He was a prosperous farmer and occupied the farm his grandfather settled.

In a Wyalusing Rocket news item of 2 May 1888, Josiah stated that the barn on his farm was built in 1803".

Alonzo enlisted in Co. B 141st PVI in the Civil War.

Obit - 22 June 1923, Daily Review

JOSIAH ALONZO BOSWORTH

Funeral services for the late Josiah Alonzo Bosworth will be held on Saturday at ten o'clock at the home of Mrs. Pearl Keeler, in LeRaysville. Burial will be in the Bosworth cemetery

JAMES H. CODDING, a leading member of the Bradford county bar, was born in Pike township, this county, July 8, 1849, and is the eldest son and child of John A. and Perciller (Hodge) Codding. He was reared in Towanda from five years of age, and educated at Susquehanna Collegiate Institute, Towanda, and Dartmouth College. From 1868 to 1876, he was engaged in the hardware business in Towanda with Codding & Russell. After that he studied law with Henry Streeter, Esq., was admitted to the bar in February, 1879, and has been in active practice of his profession since. On September 15, 1870, he married Blanch, daughter of Theodore and Martha (Clark) Wells, of Muncy, Pa., and has one son, Arthur. In 1890 Mr. Codding was the Republican candidate for president judge for the Thirteenth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, but was defeated in election by the Independent Republican fusion with the Democrats; politically he has always been a staunch Republican, and never, even in the bitterest political campaign ever witnessed in the county, was he personally assailed, and no man in the county today stands fairer in name and fame among his neighbors of all classes.

More about James H. Codding -

CODDING, James Hodge, 1849-1919

CODDING, James Hodge, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Pike Township, Bradford County, Pa., July 8, 1849; moved to Towanda, Pa., in 1854; attended the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute, Towanda, Pa., and Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.; engaged in the hardware business at Towanda in 1868; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Towanda, Pa., in 1879; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Myron B. Wright; reelected to the Fifty-fifth Congress and served from November 5, 1895, to March 3, 1899; was not a candidate for reelection in 1898; resumed the practice of law in Towanda; moved to New York City in 1903; grand secretary general of the northern Masonic jurisdiction for the Scottish Rite bodies from 1902 until his death in Brooklyn, N.Y., September 12, 1919; interment in Oak Hill Cemetery, Towanda, Bradford County, Pa

Source of the following :

A Fathers notes on his family written by John Alpine Codding to his son -

James Hodge Codding our oldest son was born in the stone house in Pike township Bradford County Pa. Sunday morning July 8 1849. He was five years old when we moved to Towanda in the Courthouse. He was educated at the Collegiate Institute in Towanda until 1867. He entered Dartmouth College for one term only. He had a position in the hardware store of Codding & Russell several years. He married Blanche O. Wells on the 15th day of Sept. 1870. Her father was ---------Wells, who died in Muncy Pa. Her mothers maiden nam was Martha Clark. She died in Towanda.

Their oldest child is Arthur Codding born in Towanda Nov. 10. 1872. Their daughter Charlotte died at Towanda Dec 1877 - a beautiful child "Her life an angel's visit".

In 1878 James commenced the study of law with Hon. P.D. Morrow and was admitted to practice in the several courts of Bradford County in 1879. He was elected Grandmaster Mason in the state of Pennsylvania. He was elected to the Fifty fourth Congress from the 15th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, composed of the County of Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming as a Republican, receiving 14,356 votes against 6575 Democratic votes. He was re-elected to the Fifty fith Congress by a large majority. He is now in Washington (Feb. 1898) performing his duties as a member

of the Fifty fith Congress. His son Arthur is private secretary to his father at $100 per month. James was a partner in the firm of Codding Russell & Co. a few years.

JOHN W. CODDING, district attorney, Towanda, was born in Pike Township, this county, June 10, 1854, and is a son of John A. and Perciller L. (Hodge) Codding. He was reared in Towanda, and was educated at Lafayette College, where he was graduated in 1877; the same year he began the study of law in the office of Overton & Mercur, Towanda, and was admitted to the bar September 5, 1879, and has since been in active practice as a member of the law firm of James H. & John W. Codding. He was married November 12, 1890, to Anne E., daughter of Maj. Elias W. and Mary J. (Taylor) Hale, of Towanda. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, Towanda, and has been chairman of the Bradford County Republican Committee three years, 1886-1887-1888 was elected district attorney of Bradford County in 1889, and has discharged the high office with marked fidelity and ability. Mr. Codding has been a Republican, ever staunch in his politics, and true and trusted in his friendship, and is accounted one of the strong and leading attorneys of Bradford County.

Source of the following :

A Fathers notes on his family written by John Alpine Codding to his son -

Our second son, John Wesley Codding, was born in the stonehouse in Pike June 10, 1854. He was a little over 4 months old when we took possession of the Courthouse (Towanda) in Oct. 1854. He was a charming child, a very sweet little boy. He was prepared for College at the Collegiate Institute in Towanda and graduated at Lafayette College at Easton Pa. in the Class of 1877. He studied law with Messrs. Overton and Mercur, was admitted to the Bar of Bradford County in Sept 1877 and elected District Attorney of Bradford County in 1889. He has since his admission continued to practice law in Towanda.

On the 12th day of Nov. 1890 he married Anna Hale, youngest daughter of Maj. Elias W. Hale and Mary T. Hale. They were married in the Episcopal Church in Towanda.

Their only child at this writing (Feb. 1898) is Elias Hale Codding, born in Towanda township Jan 3, 1892. He is a bright, intelligent and lovely boy. Both John and Anna his wife are members of Christ Church (Episcopal) in Towanda. He is a member of the Vestry of the Church and a Director in The First National Bank in Towanda.

Was a doctor in Deluth, Minnesota.

Source of the following :

A Fathers notes on his family written by John Alpine Codding to his son -

Our third son, Charles Lee Codding, was born in the Courthouse in Towanda (The family lived there while John was Sheriff) on Saturday evening May 2, 1857. He was educated in the common public schools in Towanda, was an active and efficient clerk in Prolhonoterys office five years from 1875 to 1880. He studied medicine with Dr. C.K. Ladd in Towanda, entered the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia Sept. 1880. He was graduated in the class of 1883. His class numbered about 100 members, some of them direct from the best schools and colleges in New England and the middle states. His standing was high in his class. He entered St. Marys Hospital in Philadelphi the first year after his graduation. He then commenced practicing medicine with Dr. Wentz at Jedda, Luzerne County, Pa. From thence he went to Freeland, Luzerne County where he practiced about three years.

Leaving Freeland in Oct. 1887 he stayed at the old home in Towanda, was there when his mother died Feb. 4, 1888.

In March 1888 he went to St. Paul, Minnesota where he was examined by the State Inspectors and certified as a regular practicing physician and surgeon in Minn. He immediately established himself as physician and surgeon at the city of Deluth, St. Louis Co. and has continued in the same practice to the present time (Feb, 20, 1898).

On the 15th day of August 1889 he married Mrs. Katherine Buchanan (she was married to Homer W. Buchanan June 22, 1882 - no children), daughter of Maj. Guy Wells, a resident of Deluth. Their only child John Albert Codding was born in Deluth on the 26th day of July 1890.

Charles has always been industrious, studious and good.

Generation No. 4

Capt. in the USNR

John Codding Jr. of Concord, 100, sales manager.(Obituary)

The Boston Herald

The Boston Herald; 10/1/1998

John W. Codding Jr. of Concord and Orrs Island, Maine, a sales manager, died Sunday at his home after a long illness. He was 100.

Born and raised in Towanda, Pa., he graduated from Towanda High School, where he was captain of the varsity football team.

He later attended Mercersburg Academy and graduated from Williams College in 1921, where he was voted best athlete in his class and awarded letters for football and track.

A World War I veteran, Mr. Codding served in the Marine Corps.

He was New England sales manager for the Bethlehem Steel Co. until retiring at age ...

Generation No. 5