Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 1

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1000

USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 1

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Gc 974.8 C73 pt.3 1810852

REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIUM 3 1833 00826 4514

490

COMMEMORATIVE

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

. . OF ..

NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

INCLUDING THE COUNTIES OF

Pt. 3

SUSQUEHANNA, WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE,

CONTAINING

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. AND MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES.

ILLUSTRATED.

j. H. BEERS & CO., CHICAGO. 1:1(H).

1810852

901

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

K. Haviland, and was mustered in at Stroudsburg. He participated in various engagements and skir- mishes, and after the battle of North Anna River. on May 23, 1864, in which he lost a finger of his left hand, he was transferred to the Veteran Re- serve Corps. He received his discharge at Annapo- lis, MId., at the close of the struggle, and in Au- gust, 1865, he returned from the field to his home in Delaware township, where he resumed farming, but his health was so seriously impaired that he never recovered. On December 26. 1871, Mr. Lay- ton was united in marriage, in Delaware township, with Miss Sarah S. Titman, daughter of Jacob F. and Barbara Titman. They had no children. Mr. Layton was a well-known leader in public circles in Delaware township, held a number of important positions here, and at the time of his decease was serving as justice of the peace. He was laid to rest in Delaware cemetery, and his taking away was re- garded as a loss to the entire community with whose interests he had so long been closely identified. His widow made her home on the farm until 1891. since when she has lived in Dingmans Ferry with her mother. Socially Mr. Layton was an active member of Col. John Nyce Post, G. A. R., of Milford.

B. F. GILL is the owner of the West Branch Iron Works. of Seelyville. Texas township. which ranks among the most important industries of Wayne county, giving employment as it does to a . large number of men. and he stands high in com- mercial circles in this part of Pennsylvania. enjoy- ing also a wide reputation for mechanical skill and as an inventor of no ordinary ability. Mr. Gill is a representative citizen of Wayne county, more es- pecially as he is a native of the town where his suc- cess has been made, having been born in Seelyville in 1847. son of John H. and Hannah ( Courtwright) Gill. the former of whom was one of the early manu- facturers of this region and the first mill builder in Wayne county.

John H. Gill was born in 1807 in Yorkshire. England, where he passed his early life. When nineteen years of age. his parents being dead and he thrown on his own resources, he decided to try his fortune in the New World and emigrated to the United States. his first location in this country being in the city of Philadelphia. For a number of years he engaged in the manufacture of cotton machin- ery at New Hope, Penn .. on the Delaware river. doing quite an extensive business in that line. and later he built a foundry at Dingmans Ferry, also on the Delaware, which he conducted for several years. In 1840 ne settled in Wayne county, Penn., erecting a foundry at Seelyville in Texas township, where he turned out all kinds of machinery, making a special- ty, however, of castings for saw and grist mill machinery. In 1844 he purchased extensive tracts of land of R. L. Secly and put up a new foundry, this being the land on which the large plant now operated by his son stands, and here he continued in business for the remainder of his days, his death

occurring in 1883. Mr. Gill's life was an eventful and successful one, and he was considered one of the leading mechanics of this section in his day, be- ing a practical workman as well as manufacturer. He was one of the pioneers in his line in Wayne county, but with that spirit of energy and determina- tion so necessary to success in any new field he carried his enterprises through safely and succeeded in establishing a business which has proved more and more profitable as the years go by, and which under the able management of his youngest son and successor has now assumed large proportions.

While at New Hope, Penn., Mr. Gill was mar- ried to Miss Hannah Courtwright. of New Jersey, who shared with him all the trials and successes in their long married life, dying one year after he passed away. Nine children blessed their union, of whom we have the following record: (1) Elizabeth, who was born in New Jersey, became the wife of George Ingling. of Seelyville, whence they removed to Canada, Mr. Ingling owning a woolen mill there which he operated until his death. She died some years later, leaving four children. ( 2) Sarah married a Mr. Churchill. of Seelyville, where she died, leaving one son. Eugene, who is now a resident of Kansas ; she was burned to death, the accident being caused by the explosion of a lamp. (3) Fanny was born in Seelyville, where she was reared and educated, receiving a good school training. She was a teacher in the public schools for a number of years previous to her marriage with George Cutler, of Canada. where she subsequently resided until her death. She left one son. Harry, a printer by trade, who makes his home in Manitoba. (4) Alexander. born in Seelyville. is now the wife Hugh Mills, of Scranton, Penn. They have no children. (5) Alexander was born in New Jersey and grew to maturity in Seelyville, where he learnedl the molding trade under his father. After his marriage he resided in Wilkes Barre, Penn., where he died some years ago. Four children sur- vive him. (6) Morris was born in New Jersey. When a young man he commenced boating on the Erie canal in New York State. where he married and still resides, his home being in Syracuse. He has one son. Morris, who works with his father. (7) John, born in Wayne county, learned the mold- ing trade under his father in the shops at Seely- ville. He married a New York lady, and they had two children, Margaret and John, the latter a resi- cent of Scranton. Penn. (8) George was born in Seelyville and grew to manhood there. During the Civil war he enlisted for service in the Union army with a New Jersey regiment, and at the close of the struggle returned to his home in Wayne county, where he died in 1882. He never married. (0) B. F. Gill. the youngest of this interesting family. is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. The homestead was near Seelyville, on the same ground as the p'ant rim by the fatler.

B. F. Gill received a good common-school edu- cation at Seelyville, and here he has passed his entire

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

life, commencing work in his father's foundry at an early age and acquiring a thorough practical knowledge of every branch of the business. After his father's decease he bought the interest of the other members of the family in the foundry and shops, which he has since operated on his own ac- count, and he has proved a worthy successor to his enterprising father, for it is safe to say there is not another plant of the kind in Wayne county which has a more progressive or up-to-date man at its head. In 1890 lie suffered the loss of his entire establishment, but he rebuilt the same year on a larger and more improved scale, equipping his new shops with what is known as the Manilla Trans- mission Power. The works are located on high ground, the elevation from the river being sixty- five feet, and the power is transmitted from the west brauch of the Lackawaxen creek, 1,000 feet of Man- illa belting being required to run the machinery. This is one of the finest transmission plants in the State, and the only one in Wayne county, and, thus equipped through the mechanical skill and ingenuity of the proprietor, is run with less expense than most works of the same size. All kinds of implements are manufactured, stoves, plows, cultivators, corn shell- ers, cutting boxes, hay racks, mangers, feed rollers, water motors, gearing, water wheels, mill works, road scrapers, hog trouglis, etc., and in addition they do a large business in general repairing and ma- chine jobbing work. Mr. Gill has, by satisfactory and thorough work, acquired a large patronage, and it has continued to grow and prosper, taking place among the thriving and important manufactories of Wayne county and this part of Pennsylvania, where Mr. Gill is favorably known among his business as- sociates as a man worthy their confidence and esteem, and one who can be relied upon for strict integrity in all his dealings. Broad and liberal in all his views, he is popular also among his fellow citizens everywhere, but he has not been particularly active in public life. his business affairs absorbing all his time and attention. He has held the office of school director in his township.

In May. 1865. Mr. Gill was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Mattese, of Hawley, Wayne county, who was born in Hamburg, Germany, and came with her parents to this country when young. The family first located in Honesdale. Wayne county, later removing to Hawley, where her mother still re- sides. Mr. and Mrs. Gill settled at Seelyville, and there she passed away in 1881. leaving four chil- dren, viz. : ( 1) Edward Gill was born and reared in Seelyville, learned the molding business in his fa- ther's establishment, and at present resides at Han- cock, where he has charge of molding shops. He married a Miss Bissel, of Seelyville: they have no children. (2) Fredward C. Gill was born in Seely- ville and grew to manhood there. receiving a good education in the public schools. When a young man he entered his father's machine shops, where he learned the business thoroughly, supplementing his experience here by working in the locomotive shops

at Carbondale, Penn .. where he became a finished ; chanic. For the four years following he was employ at Stroudsburg, where he had charge of the mach: ery department of the J. C. Ryle & Co.'s silk mills. 1897 returning to Wayne county and locating Honesdale, where he has since made his home. F a number of years he has been experimenting cr stantly with electrical motor devices of all kinds. a: he is the inventor of an electric motor for machiner private power for all kinds of light machinery-sev ing machines, etc .- and other useful appliances. H is at present engaged in electrical and mechanica work, and is experimenting and working on electr cal motor power. Mr. Gill is a talented musiciar one of the leaders in musical circles in Honesdale and takes an active part in band, concert and or chestra work in that place. Fraternally he is a mem. ber of the Red Men. uniting with Sagymon Trilx No. 325, of East Stroudsburg. In 1890 he married Miss Luetta Silsby, of Honesdale. who is a daughter of F. and Rebecca Silsby, and they have one son. Niles. (3) John H. Gill was born and educated in Seelyville, and there grew to manhood. Having early evinced a talent for music, he was given every opportunity for instruction in that art. and he is a fine performer and composer. For the past three years he has been engaged by Walter L. Main as director. He makes his home at Circleville. Ohio, and is married to a Miss Beltzer, of that city : they have no children. (4) David W. Gill, the youngest son, is unmarried and is still under the parental roof. He, too, has more than ordinary musical ability, and has received a fine musical education, for several years being under his brother's instruction, and sub- sequently traveling for some time with Walter L. Main, the last season making a tour of the Pacific coast and Canada. In January, 1884. the father wedded for his second wife Mrs. Mary P. Bun- nell, who was born in Cherry Ridge. this county, and is a daughter of Samuel Bartram, of Cherry Ridge. The entire family are connected. religiously. with the M. E. Church. Mr. Gill is a Democrat in po- litical preference.

GEORGE D. BERGSTRESER. a man of more than ordinary business capacity, owns and operates the old homestead in Lehman township, Pike coun- ty. where he was born July 31. 1844. He is now in the prime of life and in the midst of his usefulness. admired and esteemed by his friends and neighbors. and enjoying, as he deserves, a generous portion of this world's goods.

Our subject's parents. John and Mary A. ( Bensley ) Bergstreser, were natives of Bucks and Pike counties, Penn., respectively. In 1832 the ta- ther came to Pike county with his parents, John and Barbara Bergstreser, also natives of Bucks county. The grandfather purchased two large farms in Leh- man township, and there spent his remaining years. engaged in agricultural pursuits. His children were Nancy, wife of G. Bunnell: Aaron, who married Elizabeth Bensley : Jesse, who married Levera West :

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903

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and John, father of our subject. The last named continued to make his home in Lehman township until 1871, when he removed to Milford, and in 1883 he took up his residence at Dingmans Ferry, where he died in 1895. at the age of eighty-one years. He followed farming until 1883. when he laid aside all business cares and lived retired untl his death. He was one of the prominent and influential citizens of his community, was a Democrat in politics, and served as collector for Leliman township for a fime. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, as was also his wife, who made her home with our subject from 1897 until she too was called away, in January, 1898, at the age of seventy-five years. She was laid to rest by the side of her husband in Delaware ceme- tery. To this worthy couple were born five children, namely: Milton, now a resident of St. Louis, Mo .; George D., our subject; Ella, wife of Chandler Lewis, who is conducting a boarding-house at Winnebago. Ill .; Susan, wife of John Prescot, a plumber of Matamoras, Penn .; and John D., who married Mrs. Josephine Dingman, and is employed at the "Schanno Hotel," at Dingman, Pike county.

The boyhood and youth of George D. Bergstres- er were passed upon his present farm, where he has spent his entire life with the exception of two years when engaged in farming in Sussex county. N. J., whither he removed in 1874. He was married in Lehman township, in February, 1871, to Miss Sarah A. Van Gorden. a native of the township, and a daughter of Moses W. and Julia ( Collins ) Van Gorden, who are represented elsewhere. Twelve children have been born to this union: Ella, Frank, George, Flora, Bertha, Van Allen, Kate, Harry, Anna, Lula, Clyde and Henry. Frank, Flora, Van Allen. Harry and Lula all died of diphtheria. The others are all at home.

Mr. Bergstreser has ever taken a deep and commendable interest in educational affairs, and for fifteen years most efficiently served as school director. He was also fish warden for one year, but resigned at the end of that time, and has never aspired to Do- litical honors. He casts his ballot with the Republi- can party, and is one of the most public-spirited and enterprising citizens of his community.

WILHELM SCHMIDT. Our German-born citizens are among the strongest uphelders of true American principles, and the subject of this sketch, a prominent resident of Lanesboro. Susquehanna county, showed his devotion to the cause of liberty by enlisting in the Union army only nine months after liis arrival in this country. His gallant service entitled lint to recognition as a citizen. and he has never been requested to take out naturalization papers, although he is an active and influential men- ber of the Republican party in his locality.

Mr. Schmidt was born March 20, 1834. in Som- merfeld. Prussia, a son of Traugott and Louisa ( Krumpelt ) Schmidt, natives and life-long residents of that place. Our subject received an excellent education in his native land, and from nine to four-

teen years of age he attended a military academy there. On leaving school he learned the baker's trade, and in 1859 he emigrated to Canada. being the only member of his family to leave the Fatherland. In the spring of 1860 he came to New York, and there worked at his trade until the Civil war broke out, when, in April, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Sth New York Volunteers, for two years : he was in the first and second battles of Bull Run ( between these two battles he was taken sick. and confined to hospital), and later engaged in the campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley and along the Rappahannock and Acqua Creek. He then returned to camp and was honorably discharged in May, 1863. On his return to New York he followed his trade for five years, when he removed to Pittston, Penn., and engaged in business independently as a baker. While there he met and married Miss Sophia Kingsley, who was born and raised in Bavaria, coming to this country with her mother, and locating ( first) at Scranton, Penn., and ( later) at Pittston. After his marriage Mr. Schmidt bought a farm at Cascade. N. Y., where he followed farming until luis removal to Lanesboro, where he purchased real estate and built a home and bakery. He has been successful in business, and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of the town. Socially he is identified with Post No. 81. G. A. R., and at one time he was a member of the Order of Red Men. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church, with which he united in boyhood, and their children have been reared in that faitlt. Of his four children: ( 1) Minnie was born in New York State January 7, 1875. and was educated in the schools of New York and Lanesboro. . She married Jacob Rendorff. of Lanesboro, a stone cutter by trade. (2) Emma, born near Scranton. October 13, 1876, was educated in Scranton and Lanesboro, and married Frank Card, a blacksmith at Great Bend : they have one daughter, Baby Card. (3) Charles N., born in Cascade. N. Y., October 13, 1870, was a student ot the Lanesboro schools. and now follows the baker's trade. (4) Herman, born a+ Cascade. N. Y .. November 1, 1882. attended school at Lanesboro.

DAVID D. GAGER, one of the most prominent and successful farmers of Wayne county. residing in Lebanon township. was born on the old homestead here March 2. 18:6. a son of Horace and Millie ( Ilgate ) Gager, the former also a native of Wayne county, the latter of England. The paternal grand- father. David Gager, was born in Connecticut, and was one of the defenders of his country in the war of 1812.

Our subject's father developed a good farm on the turnpike in Lebanon, making many excellent improvements unon his place, including the erection of a comfortable residence and good barns. He was quite active and influential in public affairs in the county, was widely and favorably known, was a recognized leader in the local Democratic organi- zation, and served his fellow citizens as a member

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the school board and as supervisor of Lebanon township. He died at the age of sixty-four years, but his wife is still living at the age of seventy- making her home in Forest City, Penn. In the family of this worthy couple were thirteen children, as follows: Herbert, a resident of Rileyville, Wayne county ; Benjamin, of Cold Spring, Lebanon town- ship; Doreplias, of Forest City ; David D., the sub- ject of this review ; Carrie, wife of Isaac Rutridge, of Damascus township, Wayne county ; Lillian, a teacher, who married Clarence Hopkins, of Riley- vile; Frederick, who lives on the old homestead ; Bertha, wife of J. A. Rutridge, of Damascus town- ship; Lida, wife of Warren Douglass, of Lebanon township : May, wife of Wesley Rutridge, of Damas- cus township; Vernie, wife of William Gummoe, of Forest City ; and one daughter and one son who are deccased. Reared on the home farm, David D. Gager early became familiar with every department of farm work. He is indebted to the public schools of the neighborhood for his educational privileges, Since a lad of fifteen years he has engaged in lum- bering in connection with agricultural pursuits, and on leaving home at the age of twenty-three. he lo- cated on a tract of wild timber land, being the first settler in that section of Lebanon township. In or- der to dig a cellar for his house he was first obliged to remove the Beech stumps from the site : but now on all sides are seen waving fields of grain which bear evidence of the industry, enterprise and perse- verance of the owner. The farm comprises 135 acres, and besides the good barns and other buildings upon the place there is a comfortable residence, erect- ed on a natural building site with picturesque sur- roundings.

Mr. Gager was married, October 2, 1879, to Miss Mary Atkins, of Lebanon township, a woman of refinement and education. and a daughter of Will- iam and Cornelia Atkins, of Rileyville. Wayne coun- ty. Five children grace this union, namely: Loren B., Russel H., Ivy L., Judson L. and William A. The parents are worthy members of the Presby- terian Church, in which Mr. Gager is now serving as elder, and as superintendent of the Sabbath- school. He is firm in his convictions of right and wrong, and being a strong Temperance man, he gives his unwavering support to the men and meas- ures of the Prohibition party. His word is con- sidered as good as his bond, and at all times and under all circumstances he has been found true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, and his straightforward, honorable course has commanded the confidence and respect of the entire community.

WORDEN C. ROCKWELL. The same spirit which in his father and grandfather helped to clear up from the wilderness homes in Susquehanna county has been of invaluable service to the subject of this sketch. lie has been a man of unusual ac- tivity, and is now one of the best-known and most successful residents of Lathrop township. Susque- hanna county. Prior to the war of the Rebellion he

went to sea, and was also engaged in lumbering. During the great struggle for National existence he gave four years of his life to the cause, and par- ticipated in some of the hard-fought battles of that memorable conflict. He has since settled down in Lathrop township, and become one of its most en- terprising and successful farmers.

Mr. Rockwell was born in Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, August 21, 1833, a son of Hiram and Rebecca Rockwell, and a grandson of William Rockwell, a native of Connecticut, who in advanced life migrated with his sons to Susque- hanna county and settled in Lathrop township, there passing the remainder of his life; he 'sur- vived to the good old age of eighty-two years and five months. Hiram Rockwell, father of our sub- ject, was born in Connecticut in July, 1804, and when a boy came with his father to Franklin town- ship. Susquehanna county. He there grew to man- hood and married Rebecca Merritt, who was born in Connecticut in 1808, daughter of William and (Northrup) Merritt, and died January 9. 1878, aged sixty-nine years. To Hiram and Rebecca Rockwell were born the following children: Re- becca Jane, who married Jedediah Stafford, of La- throp township, and is now deceased; Harriet, who married A. Blowers, of New York City, and is now cleceased ; Hiram, a resident of Canaan township, Wayne county: Elizabeth, who died at the age of nineteen years; Worden C., the subject of this sketch ; Mary. wife of Chester Wright. of Carbon- dale, Penn. : Lydia, wife of A. Wessels: Almira, widow of Abijah Wilmarth, of South Canaan town- ship, Wayne county; Joseph, who enlisted in the 6th New York Heavy Artillery, and was killed at Spottsylvania Court House May 9. 1864; Carrena, wife of Peter Eckerson, of Merrill, Iowa. In 1838 the father bought 106 acres of unimproved land in Lathrop township. and devoted the balance of his life to making it a well-improved home. He cleared about forty acres of the land, and throughout his life was an industrious and highly esteemed pioneer of the township. In politics he was a stanch Re- publican. He died May 1, 1888, aged eighty-three years, nine months and twenty-one days.

Worden C. Rockwell, our subject, was five years of age when he was brought to the wilderness home in Lathrop township by his parents. He re- ceived only a common-school education, and when seventeen years of age began to work out among the neighboring farmers. At the age of twenty-five, in 1858. he was married in Lathrop township to Miss Betsey Williams, who was born January 11. 1835, daughter of James F. M. and Lodema Williams, and granddaughter of Thomas M. Will- iams, of Brooklyn. Windham Co .. Conn. F. M. Williams was born in 1800, and died in 1880. In 1826 he married Lodema Downing, also a native of Brooklyn, Conn., born in 1799, and died in 1875; she was a daughter of James Downing. They lived at Lawrence. N. Y., and other places for a few years, and in 1834 came to Brooklyn township. Susque-

MRS. BETSEY ROCKWELL

WORDEN C. ROCKWELL

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

hanna Co., Penn., where they remained through life. Their children were Seymour ( 1828-1881 ), for many years a member of the Board of Trade, Chicago ; Phoebe, who married Lyman Saunders. a farmer of Lathrop township; Betsey, the wife of our subject ; and Dyer, a farmer of Lathrop.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 1

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1000

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1000