A few gleanings from the pages of History of our pleasant, healthful and efficient town!

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A number of people have asked me if the name should not be SHICKSHAWNEE, which can be definelty replied to with authority...Shickshinny is the correct name.

 

We hold in our possession belonging to Nathan Beach, my father's grandfather, a deed from John & Thomas Penn, Governors of Pennsylvania, dated 1772. Therein is mention of "Shickshinny Brook" running through the village of the same name. It is difficult to picture our peaceful little town the abode of warlike Algonquin Confederacy, locally known by the names of Shawnee and Nanticoke Indians. These tribes were finally pushed out by the still more warlike Iroquois Confederacy, or as we know more familiarly by the name "Five Nations" and later called "Six Nations".

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Shickshinny was formed of Union and Salem Townships. Union being taken from Huntington township in 1813 and Shickshinny remained a part of the township until 1861. The Borough was not chartered until November 30, 1861, and the first borough officers were: Jesse P. Enke, burgess, T.W.Search, B.D. Koons, N.B. Crary, John F. Nicely and Thomas Davenport.

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"Shickshinny", the place where Five Mountains (Newport, Lee's, Rocky, Knob and River) meet, was thus indicated by the Indians, hence Shickshinny' unusual name, but no more than other Indian names.

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No doubt we all have had "jibes" on it, had to give spelling lessons, not only on Shickshinny, but the other mouthfuls like Mocanaqua, Wapwallopen, Nescopeck, etc., to the delight and wonder of inquiring strangers and guests.

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The first permanent settler in what became Shickshinny, was Ralph Austin of Connecticut (the great-grandfather of Charles Austin, Vice President of the Wyoming National Bank, Wilkes Barre PA and also of Mrs. Keatley, our gifted and much appreciated towns-woman) This was the period of Connecticut jurisdiction 1782.

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Austins became farmers and inn keepers. A number of the Austins were buried on mountain side at a place known as Rockview. In 1801, Shadrick Austin, son of the first settler in Shickshinny, married Mary Gregory and bought the Austin homestead where he lived until his death.

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Austin's land, 256 acres, passed to Matthias Hollenback under the Pennsylvania claim. His daughter, Mrs. Cish, held it until her death. As the "Cish Farm" in Shickshinny was sold in 1857 by Attorney A.J.McClintock (whose wife was a daughter of Mrs. Cish) to Nathan Beach Crary, G.

​W. Search, Lot Search and Nathan Garrison, who associated... to lay off a village upon it. About these four purchasers...all enterprising men...it is interesting to note the following:

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 ...N.B.Crary was very much the youngest of the four.

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 ...The  Attorney, Mr. A.J.McClintock, who sold the land, was a friend of the family and was the      Attorney for Mr. Crary's grandfather, Nathan Beach.

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 ...​Nathan Beach was the owner of the mines on both sides of the Susquehanna. It thus seemed a logical venture on N.B.Crary's part.

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The corner was then sold to Mr. Walter Garrison and is now the site of the beautiful and modern bank structure that is a credit to this thriving community. (Formally known as Wells Fargo Bank, that was removed after the 2011 Flood)

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George and Lot Search had a general store previous to this purchase, one mile above the present site of Shickshinny, where they resided. Lot Search was Treasurer for Luzerne County in 1855 f0r two years. In 1865, George and Lot Search erected and operated a gristmill.

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Nathan Garrison was a very fine man, as his descendant, E.W. Garrison, gives evidence. Nathan Garrison only lived a short time after this purchase. He died in 1862 and was succeeded by his widow Rachel Garrison and heirs. At the time of the purchase there was but one family living on the plotted land. In 1861, this village was organized into a borough by the owners.

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The beginning of the town was the beginning of the hard times of 1857. This was the beginning also of a real mercantile effort in Shickshinny. This effort steadily grew until now there are many flourishing stores with fine stocks and efficient service. A small store was already active for the few inhabitants of this village at the time of its plotting in 1858, the corner of Main and Union Streets.

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The first store built was for Mrs.Cist, afterward the wife of Chester Bently (Butler?) when the canal was chartered. Second store established when the Bloomsburg and Lackawanna RR was built. A Brick hotel was then built near the depot by Caleb Atherton and sold to Jacob Gould who owned it until his death. N.B.Crary had a store in the upper part of Union Street at the site of Freeman Robbins residence (81 West Union Street). Later he built a store at the corner of Union and Main, where the First National Bank is now located and continued there until 1906.

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Eventually, Mr. Crary's daughter sold this site and building to Mr. E.W.Garrison, President of the Shickshinny National bank. The bank has erected a beautiful building here. Mr. Garrison is the son of Nathan Garrison, one of the original purchasers and plotters of Shickshinny. Mr. Nathan Garrison died quite early after the purchase and Mr. N.B. Crary took charge of Nathan Garrison's part of the company for his widow and children, At the time of N.B Crary's death, Mr. Walter Garrison, with tears in his eyes, remarked to me that N.B. Crary had always been like a father to them all, which of course we knew but appreciated much Mr. Garrison's expressions of appreciation.​

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Almost a mile up Shickshinny Creek was a sawmill, which ran steadily until 1885. There was a mill nearer the village in earlier years and another grist mill was built in 1865 by G.W. and Lot Search.

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The canal to Nanticoke was built through the township on 1828. This canal was established mainly through the effort of N.B. Crary's grandfather, Nathan Beach. Jacob Cist and Nathan Beach, both influential men of Luzerne County, were sent to interview the Governor at Harrisburg and entreat him to consent to having the North Branch Canal put through. Ground was broken at Berwick, PA by Nathan Beach and Alexander Jamison on July 4th, 1828 and thus continues through Shickshinny to Nanticoke. A great step ahead for progress!

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The first church was the Protestant Methodist built  in 1860, situated on its present site. At a revival in this church was the beginning of the Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches. The Methodist Episcopal was built in 1868 and the Presbyterian in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Crary founded the first Sunday School in Shickshinny. It was organized in 1857 in a log school house back of what is now Glen Ave , Shickshinny, Union Township. Mr. Crary was Superintendant,  Mr A.I. Nicely, Assistant Superintenant, and Mrs. Crary, the one and only teacher for a time. The circumstances attedning the foiunding of this school are well remembered by some now living.​​​​​​

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The Ministers of the Gospel past and present have been and are, men of exceptional ability and spiritual alliance. (One of the first Methodist ministers in Shickshinny was Dr. Geer). Likewise, the medical profession, past and present, has been worthy of its calling, Physicians self sacrificing generous of time and strength. Each and all have practiced in Shickshinny.

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At the founding of our town, a little school-house stood a mile below Shickshinny. Before 1857 a log school house stood back of what is Glen Avenue, Shickshinny.  In 1859, Union Township erected a school house opposite the site of the present Presbyterian Church. Shickshinny had advanced far since this one room, one teacher for all grades period. Our schools are among the very best in the country with advantages unexcelled as to instruction and equipment. A building is devoted to occupational work for boys and girls each under a directing principalship.

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In 1877, a turnpike was built along the Shickshinny creek gap, six miles, and crossed to Huntington Mills. (this is now Rte 239). The promoters and officers of the Union Turnpike Company were: N.B. Crary, K.W. Stackhouse, B.D. Koons, Secretary, William A. Campbell, President, F.A.B. Koons, S.F. Monroe and D.G. Larned, Treasurer. It is interesting to note that "History repeats itself". Mr. Crary's grandfather, Nathan Beach, was the promoter of a number of Turnpikes and President of the Susquehanna and Lehigh Turnpike Road starting at Nescopeck. Wouldn't all these gentlemen be amazed at our highways throughout the Country? So evolves Progress! -Turnpikes-canals-railroads-perfectly paved highways "horseless carriages" and flying machines-and what not!                                                               

 

 

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