Was formed from Huntington township in 1834; lies north of the latter, and its west line is the county line, as is its north line. The mountains are in the north end of the township, and Red Rock is at the south foot of the mountains. Among the earliest improvements was that of the old Berwick turnpike, built through this section in 1810. All the township except the mountainous northern part, the North mountain, is fair arable land, and is well settled by a most excellent class of farmers, noted for their good morals and general intelligence—especially their universal sobriety, there being but one licensed hotel in the township. Of the nature of the land in the famed Huntington valley, see the account of "Huntington." Speaking of the township in 1866, Stewart Pearce in his Annals says:
The first saw-mills in Fairmount, were erected about the year 1837, on Huntington creek and Maple run, by Shadrach Laycock and Peter Boston.
This township contains forty-four square miles, of which one-tenth is cleared and cultivated. The surface is undulating, and the soil yields wheat, rye, corn, buckwheat and oats. The timber is principally pine, hemlock and oak. It has fifteen sawmills and one tavern, but no gristmill and no church.
Its population in 1840 was 594, and in 1850 it was 958; in 1880, 1,085 and in 1890, 1,090.
In 1838 the governor appointed Jacob Ogden and Levi Seward as justices of the peace; 1840, Levi Seward and Silas Callender; 1845, Jonathan Pennington and James Laycock; 1850, J. C. Pennington and James F. Laycock; 1875, Nathan Kleintob and Thomas Ogden.
[p.553] The summit of North mountain is some 2,000 feet above the Susquehanna at Beach Haven, and from it can be seen ten of the counties in this State, also the celebrated Water Gap on the Delaware.
In the summer of 1878 Col. Rickets built an observatory on the top of this mountain, and made it easy of access by a winding road. This tower, fifty feet high, with a sixteen-foot base, was destroyed by a gale in the latter part of 1878. He built a second one.
One of the most important industries of this township is the manufacture of maple sugar and syrup. The harvest is usually abundant, and lasts about six weeks each year. Most of the timber in the township is sugar maple. There are several large sugar orchards containing from 500 to 5,000 trees each.
Jacob Long is supposed to have been one of the first settlers, if not the first. Some of his descendants are still on the old homestead in the south part of the township. He came here in 1792, journeying from the Delaware river with an ox team, and brought with him quite a large family and a stock of provisions, which was expected to last until more could be raised. As often happens in a new country the provisions would not last unless served out in rations. The old mortar and pestle constituted the only gristmill until one was built at Wapwallopen, and then there was no road to it, and the old pioneer had to take his grist on his shoulder and his rifle in hand and march, marking the route as he went through the woods that he might not go astray as he returned.
Joseph Potter, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, was the first settler at Fairmount Springs. He located here long before the old Tioga turnpike was built.
Charles Fritz is one of the early settlers in the south part of the township. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and lived to a great age.
George Gearhart, another pioneer and also a soldier of the War of 1812, located in the southwest part of the township. He lived to bestow his blessing upon twelve children, eighty-two grandchildren and fifty-three great-grandchildren.
Peter Boston, another early settler, located on Maple run, near the center of the south half of the township. He owned and operated a saw-mill, doing most of the work himself. He came here in 1820, and was one of the most successful hunters of his day.
Joseph Moss located at what is now known as Maple run, south of Boston's, in the Maple run valley. At this crossing are the Moss Methodist church and the Moss schoohouse.
The pioneer tavern was kept by Gad Seward, in 1818, at Fairmount Springs. It was a favorite resort for all inclined to mirth, as Gad was always ready with a sharp repartee or a side-splitting story, and for a mug of hot "flip" he could not be beaten. His larder was always supplied with the best game and fish of the season, and the traveler, wearied with stage coaching on the Tioga turnpike, was sure to leave Gad's hostlery refreshed as with old wine.
About the same time Andrew Horn opened a popular tavern at Red Rock, at the foot of North mountain.
The pioneer foundry of Fairmount was built by Shadrach Lacock in 1830, in the southeast corner of the township, on Huntington creek. The Lacock plow, quite celebrated in its day, was made here. In 1874 D. E. Rittenhouse built his foundry.
The first postoffice was established in 1835, with J. C. Pennington as postmaster. He was succeeded by Jeremiah Britton. The office was that now called Fairmount Springs. It was first named "Fairmount Township" postoffice. The next office was established at Red Rock, and the first postmaster there was Truman D. Taylor.
As in other newly settled portions of our country, the pioneer of Fairmount traveled from place to place guided only by marked trees. Next would come the underbrushing and cutting out, to make room for the ox team and sled, and then other improvements followed until roads were made. The first of these were in the [p.554] southeast part of the township, and from there they ran westerly and northwesterly along Maple run.
The Susquehanna and Tioga turnpike runs along and nearly parallel with the west border of the township, from its south line near S. White's place, northerly through Fairmount Springs and Red Rock, to a point south of Dodson's pond, where it turns into Sullivan county. It was commenced in 1811; work was suspended during the War of 1812, but resumed in 1816, and the road was completed through this township in 1818. It was built by a stock company, and paid a good dividend till travel was diverted to the steam channel. In 1845 it was abandoned by the company and surrendered to the township.
The first stage-drivers and mail-carriers over this line were Joshua Dodson, Timothy H. Tubbs and S. F. Headley.
Red Rock is near the foot of North mountain, and was once a popular hunter's resort. There is a store, blacksmith shop, and the place is served with a mail three times a week that comes up from Harveyville.
Patterson's Grove is one of the well-known places in the county. This is the great Methodist camp-ground. On an island near the junction of the two creeks is a maple grove of about twenty-seven acres, and is a most inviting place. Their annual meetings here are notable events, and from all over the county the people come. To many a pious soul it is a retreat, a religious feast, and an annual outing that renews both soul and body. It was first prepared and opened as a camp-ground in 1867. Just across the creek from the "camp" is quite a little hamlet that has sprung up partly in connection with the grove; has a mill and store.
Maple Run (old Mossville) is a postoffice and one of the best business places in the township, being immediately surrounded with well-to-do farmers. Here is Grange hall, a lumber mill, store, church and school.
Rittenhouse is a postoffice.
Kyttle is a postoffice north of Rittenhouse.
Fairmount Springs is also surrounded with a rich farming country, and keeps up a considerable trade—a postoffice, store and blacksmith shop. The old stone house was once a licensed tavern, but is not now.