Potter County: Oddities, Legends and Ghosts

Oddities:

Spontaneous Human Combustion

    It was Coudersport Pennsylvania when one of the few known cases of human spontaneous combustion occurred.  It was at the home of a Dr. Bentley, a 92 year old retired doctor. 

    Spontaneous human combustion is a phenomenon in which an internally generated flame suddenly consumes the victims flesh and bone.

    Dr Bently's walker was found tipped over against the tub and all that remained of Dr Bentley was a charred portion of his leg and foot (with slipper).

Elliot Ness

    A famous crime fighter from the roaring twenties, working to leading his agents to the apprehension of Al Capone.  Mr. Ness ended up in Coudersport working on processing a process to control counterfeiting.  Ness was in need of money so he agreed to work with Author Oscar Franley on a book detailing his crime fighting exploits.

    He died of a heart attach, six before the book was published.

Giant skeleton

    In December 1886, W.H. Scoville, of Andrew's settlement, discovered a mound in Ellisburg. On exploring, it was found to contain parts of a skeleton of a man measuring between seven and eight feet tall. A large birch tree grew on top of the mound, and around it were hemlocks two and two and one half feet in diameter

Legends:

Joshua Jones

    The first murderer in the county was committed on the morning of August 11,1838 by Joshua Jones. He shot his wife in her bed, shooting her in the head with his rifle.After committing the crime, he went on with his daily duties, hoping a neighbor would stop by and find her body and think that she committed suicide.  He later confessed to his crime and sold his body to Dr. Amos French of Coudersport. It was said that he bought candy and luxuries with the money and became fat while in jail.  On the evening of 5/21/1839 he escaped his jail cell.  He was recaptured and hung 5/31/1839 on the courthouse square. It seemed that when he sold his body to Dr. French he had stipulated that the Doctor should resuscitate him; which gave idea to a poem which appeared sometime after the hanging, purported to have been written by Joshua's ghost.

    This was the first and only execution in Potter County.  Joshua Jones' skull can still be seen in the Historical Museum in Coudersport.

Ghosts:

More to come...give me time!  Have a good story to add? e-mail me !   EMAIL

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