About 1823 Andrew Shiner started the town of Shinersville, which was located on Sugar Hill. It was laid out in regular town lots which he sold for $35 each. John Mosier, who afterward moved to Dushore, settled here in 1824 and worked at his trade of blacksmith. John Hartzig was the wagonmaker and David C. Dodge, the merchant and hotel-keeper. Both of these men were taxed in 1825. The second schoolhouse in the township was built here in 1825, and the second post office located here with Henry W. Cooper as postmaster. Here occurred the first death in the township, that of Samuel Maston who came from Symesbury, Connecticut. He died in the summer of 1821 and was buried at Shinersville. For a time, the place prospered and gave every promise of a growing village, but Andrew Shiner became involved and was sold out by the sheriff in 1829. After this, the village declined, much of the business being transferred to Cherry Hill. Mr. Shiner returned to Columbia county where he secured position as gatekeeper at the river bridge at Berwick and there he lived the few remaining years of his life. His two sons remained in Sullivan county but a short time, leaving only his two daughters, Mrs. Samuel Jackson and Mrs. Ellis, in the township which he had been so much the means of improving.

Ref: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~pasulliv/sullivancountyfolk/scf2/streby/CherryStreby.htm

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THE TURNPIKE.

In 1806 an act was passed incorporating a company to be called the �President,
Managers and Company of the Susquehanna and Tioga Turnpike Road.� The turnpike
was designed to furnish a shorter route from Berwick to the Tioga river at
Newtown, now Elmira. This company constructed a road in 1808 as far as the
Loyalsock creek, and in 181o completed it to the Haverly settlement. From near
the Long pond it went directly to the Loyalsock, which it crossed about a mile
below what is now Ringdale Station, and crossed the Little Loyalsock near what
is now Sick�s Mill, and continued northward to the Haverly settlement.
Supplements to the act of 1806 were passed in 1812 and 1815. A new route was
surveyed, and Andrew Shiner took the job of building the road, and got it opened
as far as Birch creek in 1818. In that year Amos Ellis built a shanty on the
Loyalsock, and boarded men who worked on the turnpike. He afterward built a
hotel at that place. John R. Lopez built a shanty and boarded men near Birch
creek. At that time Samuel McNeal was on land not far from the place where the
old Evangelical church was built. There Sally McNeal, the first white child in
Cherry township, was born. Frederick Huffmaster was at the Phinney mill; Jacob
Miller was on the land since known as the Lewis Zaner place. Ezra Payne came in
the fall of 1818 or winter of 1819. He moved into a house called the �Yankee
house;� built of hewn logs with two rooms, a chimney in the middle and a
fire-place in each room. This house was built by John Stowers after he left the
Phinney log house at the Falls. Stowers then moved away from Cherry.

On the 18th of March, 1819, Freeman Fairchild and his wife, whose maiden name
was Hannah Kitchen, moved into the house with Ezra Payne. Soon afterward Payne
moved across the road on his farm (the same afterward owned by Daniel and
Soloman Bahr), where he built the first farm house and frame barn in that
township. He also planted the first orchard. He was the first postmaster at the
Cherry postoffice, and also the first justice of the peace in the township.
Afterward a road was started from the turnpike on his premises, which went to
Wyalusing and was known as the �Payne road.� Later in the spring of 1819,
Frederick Huffmaster moved to the farm where his grandson, Henry Huffmaster, has
recently lived.

The public spirit of the new settlement was shown on the 4th of July, 1819, when
they raised a tall cherry �Liberty-pole,� from the top of which the stars and
stripes were first flung to the breeze in that township. Roswell Phelps read the
Declaration of Independence. We have no report of speeches, but a patriotic song
was sung, which commenced:

�Come all ye gallant heroes,
I�d have you lend an ear;
I�ll sing you a small ditty
Which will your spirit cheer.�

As soon as Payne left the Yankee house Fairchild leased it and there commenced
the hotel business. He afterward purchased a farm and built a large frame house,
long known as the Fairchild�s Hotel. It was situated on the ground now occupied
by the house of B.M. Sylvara, on the hill south of Dushore. Freeman Fairchild
and his wife were from Morris county, New Jersey, but had lived in Berwick,
whence they moved to Cherry. Their children were Stephen, Harriet and Caroline,
brought with them, and another son, David, born after their settlement in
Cherry.

In the Fairchild tavern, for many years, weary travelers over the mountain found
a welcome resting place. In 1834 Mr. Fairchild died, but his widow continued to
keep the hotel until about 1851. Among the settlers who came in 1819 and 1820
were Brookins Potter, Roswell Phelps, Linas Holcomb and David E. Davis. About
this time Mr. Shiner built a sawmill, and later a gristmill, at the crossing of
the turnpike at Big Loyalsock, and the location was from that date known for
some time as Shiner�s Mills. Here was established a postoffice, and Mr. Shiner
received the appointment as postmaster. A road was built making connection with
the original road connecting Lewis�s lake with the old turnpike, which became
the mail route from Mount Lewis to the turnpike. On its completion John Reeser,
a miller by trade, then living in Columbia county, was induced to move his
family, and take charge of the mills. About 1823 Mr. Shiner contracted with his
son-in-law, Amos Ellis, and sons, Evan O. and Andrew, to sell them the Shiner�s
Mills property.

SHINERSVILLE.

Previous to this he had commenced improvements at a point on the turnpike
afterward known as Shinersville. Here he laid out a village plat, on lands
conveyed to him by the turnpike company, and offered village lots for sale at
thirty-five dollars each. This point seems to have been one first selected by
the settlers as the most convenient place of gathering. Here was the first
burial after the settlements commenced, occurring during the summer of 1821,
being that of William Maston, who came from Symsbury, Connecticut. Among those
purchasing and improving the property were: David E. Davis, merchant,
tavern-keeper and potash manufacturer, and John Mosier, blacksmith. A postoffice
was here established, and Henry W. Cooper appointed postmaster. In this
neighborhood we find the largest number of settlers at the time of the
organization of the township. Among those who took up lands, we have the name of
Samuel Thomas, who cleared the land still known as Thomas farm.

A sawmill was built by Shiner at the crossing of Birch creek at the turnpike.
Jesse, John and Samuel Hicks each improved lands in this vicinity. John M.
Kirkendall made the first improvements on lands known as the Pendergast place.
Jesse Kirkendall�s name is found among the list of single freemen in the returns
of 1824, and Charles Scott and Samuel Dill, who settled on lands still known by
their names, came as early as 1820. The second schoolhouse built in the township
was located here.

John R. Lopez was a sub-contractor on the turnpike and was working near Ellis�
in 1819. Later he purchased land on the turnpike north of Shinersville, where he
continued to reside until his death. Lopez creek was named after him, and has
given name to the present flourishing town of Lopez. In addition to the persons
already named, Dennis Thrall, William Graifly, Caspar King, Joseph Litzenswope,
Alden Potter, Nicholas Potter, William Potter, Joseph Potter, Charles Scott,
Samuel Dill and John Miller were settlers before 1822. Henry Yonkin moved into
the township in 1822. He was born in Germany and came to this country in 1806.
He purchased land and cleared a farm on a ridge south of the Little Loyalsock.
The same farm was afterwards occupied by Peter Yonkin, his son. Henry Yonkin
came to Cherry from Brier creek, Columbia county. He had seven children� Henry,
John, Jacob, Joseph, Peter, Elizabeth (who married Henry Graifly) and Catharine
(who married Christian Mosier). Quite a large settlement of Germans gathered
around Henry Yonkin, and that part of Cherry township became known as �Germany.�
In that settlement was erected, about 1825, the first church in Cherry township.
Henry Yonkin, Joseph Litzenswope, Dennis Thrall and William Graify were among
the active men in that church-building work. It was called a Lutheran or German
Reformed church, but they received assistance from Catholics in building it, and
it was used for Catholic worship as occasion required. The Rev. John Miller, a
young German minister, first preached there in the German language. Henry
Yonkin�s sons were all highly intelligent, industrious and thriving men, and his
numerous descendants have been worthy, influential citizens.

Andrew Shiner had town lots regularly laid out at the point on the turnpike
north of the present village of Mildred. He sold a number of these lots, and
buildings enough were erected to give it the character of a village. He had
purchased a good deal of land, and incurred expenses, as he stated, to the
amount of seven thousand dollars. Being unable to meet his obligations, he was
sold out by the sheriff in 1829. He returned to Columbia county, and with his
departure his village decayed. Natural causes took the center of business to
Cherry Hill. Samuel Jackson, who had been employed by Andrew Shiner in his
business, and had married one of the latter�s daughters, now removed to land on
the turnpike, south of Ezra Payne�s, and occupied the �Yankee house,� heretofore
mentioned, built by John Stowers. Here he opened a store.

As soon as the turnpike was completed a coach was put upon it, and a great deal
of travel went over it, especially in the spring of the year, when hundreds of
rafts-men from southern New York and northern Pennsylvania were returning from
their rafting trips to the lumber markets on the lower Susquehanna. The lands
were found to be good, and settlers flocked in and took up farms in every
direction. Among those who came early (some in 1823) were Henry Yonkin, William
Graifly, Casper King, Joseph Litzleswope, Dennis Thrall, William Hartzig, John
Mosier, William Darby, Frederick Barge, John Reeser, Lewis Zaner and William
Colley.

FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE IN CHERRY.

The first school-house in Cherry township was built on Cherry Hill, near the
residence of Daniel Bahr, in 1820, and a school was taught here the same year by
Salome Tompkins, at one dollar per week and board. The next term was taught by
Roswell Phelps, from Connecticut, and the next by Alma Potter, of Huntington.

LITTLE LOYALSOCK.

After John Reeser left the Shiner mill, about 1823, he took up land along the
Little Loyalsock, including a mill site about a mile below Phinney�s sawmill.
Here he erected a gristmill. He had sons named William, John, Daniel and Amos.
His son, the Rev. William Reeser, has given to the public considerable
information in regard to the early settlement. We quote Mr. Reeser as follows:

�A considerable source of income to our fathers in those early days was the
maple-sugar product. The seasons were much better than now, and considering the
crude appliances in use in the manufacture of sugar, the amount of the crop in
pounds was very gratifying, although the prices realized were generally small.
Game and fish were plenty. Deer could frequently be seen walking along the
highway. For a period of about eight years wild turkeys were very plenty. My
wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Martin and who was raised on the farm now
owned by Lyman Baker, says she was frequently sent by her parents to drive the
wild turkeys from the buckwheat, and sometimes the flocks were so large as to
frighten her. Trout in great numbers could be found in all of our streams, and
of a size, too, that would set wild the anglers of to-day. Wheat could not be
raised in this country at that time. There was a plentiful growth of straw but
it would not head. Corn was the same way� all stalks, and no ears. The first
corn was raised on what is now known as the Lyman Baker farm. Rye and buckwheat
did well. Wages in those times were small. Finally the times improved, and a
good workman was able to get seventy-five cents a day during haying and
harvesting; at other work fifty cents a day was considered a day�s wages. A
day�s work was from sunrise to sunset.

�We knew nothing about the eight-hour law then. A girl�s wages were from fifty
to seventy-five cents per week. Very often the men were compelled to go from
home to earn money with which to pay for their lands, leaving their families, as
we may say, in the wilderness to shift for themselves for months at a time. The
tools used by the first settlers were an axe and a hand-spike, and with the
assistance of a pair of oxen the early settler was ready to commence his battle
with the wilderness.�

The Rev. William Reeser, from whom we quote, has always been a prominent man in
the county and acted for three years as county commissioner. Amos Reeser, son of
John Reeser, was a genial and much respected hotelkeeper in Dushore for many
years.

William Colley, who came from Columbia county when a young man, in the employ of
Mr. Shiner, was one of the first to engage in the public business of the
township. He succeeded Mr. Maxwell as justice of the peace. Mr. Colley was
president of the first school-board in Cherry township, and among the most
active in measures connected with the organization of the county. He received
the appointment as associate judge, and when a change was made, by which judges
were elected, he was continued in office five years longer. He served also as
prothonotary and recorder, continuing to hold important public positions, either
in connection with county or township, until impaired health compelled him to
give up public business.

Among the early settlers in Cherry township was George Hunsinger. He had
formerly resided near Berwick, and moved to the Genesee country in New York, but
finding the fever and ague prevailing there, returned and took up land near the
southwestern corner of the present boundary of the township, along the old
turnpike. By him and his sons the first clearings were made on the ridge between
the two branches of the Loyalsock. His family consisted of seven sons and two
daughters, viz.: Christian, George, Samuel, Charles, Jacob, Soloman and Barney.
His daughters married Thrashers and resided in Schuylkill county. Christian was
a blacksmith by trade; Jacob moved to Lycoming county; Soloman to Bradford;
Barney to Schuylkill, and George settled in Forks township, where his father
made his home with him until he died.

David H. Goodwin came about 1830. He was first employed as a surveyor by
nonresident land-owners, and in a few years became their agent for the sale of
lands. He was a well educated man, thoroughly alive to the importance of
improving the county, and especially interested in advancing its educational
interests. During the winter months he was employed as a school-teacher, and
sometimes taught singing schools. He was active in church work, and occasionally
served as a local preacher.

Joseph Bachelor settled along the turnpike on the hill north of what is now
Dushore, but did not remain long. William Lawrence took up land on the turnpike
about three-fourths of a mile north of Bachelor�s improvement. He came from
Augusta township, Northumberland county. He was born in 1805, married a daughter
of Horatio Ladd in 1824, and built a log house in the neighborhood. In 1825 he
contracted for forty-eight acres of land at two dollars per acre, for which he
obtained a deed, and five years afterward he increased the amount to one hundred
and twenty acres. Mr. Lawrence was one of the first commissioners of the county,
and prominent in all its affairs until he left this county and moved to Bradford
county, in 1854. His wife died in 1847, leaving one son, John H. Lawrence, who
was afterward sheriff. His grandson, William J. Lawrence, is now prothonotary
and recorder.

Cornelius Harrington took up lands in the northwestern part of the township
about 1828. He was from Ireland, and was afterward joined by a number of his
countrymen. The neighborhood is known as the Harrington district. He was an
energetic man in all measures pertaining to the interests of the county, and was
the first in taking active measures for the establishment of the Sullivan county
fair. So far as is now known he was the first Catholic Irishman who settled in
Cherry township. Joseph Litzleswope (father-in-law of Cornelius Harrington), who
settled in Cherry township in 1823, was the first German Catholic. Cornelius
Harrington�s son Cornelius owns the homestead, and James is a prominent business
man in Dushore.

Isaiah Bartley, who was one of the most active managers in the contest for the
county seat at Cherry Hill, came into the county about 1835. He kept a store
and, being a single man, boarded at the Fairchild hotel. He was of Protestant
Irish descent, had an excellent education, and was a man of fine talents. He was
the most efficient man at Harrisburg of all who advocated the county seat in
Cherry. He afterward moved to Harrisburg and continued in business there until
he died.

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