USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 34
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December 25, 1851, he married Mary Eliza- beth Abbett, a daughter of George and Mary (Craig) Abbett.
Ardently American in his ideas, Mr. Mc- Killip has taken a leading part in Republican politics and has been honored by his party in receiving the nomination for the State As- sembly, and for two years has been chairman of the county committee.
Mr. McKillip is very prominent in the Ma- sonic fraternity in the state. He is a past officer of the State Grand Council, Grand Chapter, Grand Commandery, and A. C. of Constantine, an active member of the Grand Cross of the U. S., and is a Thirty-third De- gree Mason. He is yet a young man, an un- tiring worker, and, from the records of the past, we do not hesitate to predict a brilliant future for him.
born
HARLES C. EVANS, attorney and counselor-at-law, residing and prac- ticing in the town of Berwick, was in Briarcreek township, Columbia County, Pa., January 10, 1858.
His preparatory education was obtained in the common schools of the district and at the Bloomsburg State Normal School. During the winter of 1876-77 he taught the Martz- ville public school in Briarcreek township. In the fall of 1877 he entered Lafayette College, taking a four years' course, and was grad- uated therefrom in June, 1881. In July, 1881, he entered the office of Hon. Simon P. Wol- verton as a law student, and was admitted to the Northumberland County Bar July 14, 1883. In August of the same year he opened a law office in the borough of Berwick, Co- lumbia County.
On February 23, 1888, our subject married
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JOSEPH D. THOMPSON.
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
Annie Wendle Sloan, the youngest daughter' of Morris C. Sloan, of Bloomsburg, Pa.
Mr. Evans is president of the Berwick Wa- ter Company and the Berwick School Board. He enjoys a large and lucrative law practice.
Politically, Mr. Evans is a Republican. In the fall of 1898 the judicial conferees of Co- lumbia County were instructed for Mr. Evans as a candidate for president judge of the Twenty-sixth Judicial District.
OSEPH D. THOMPSON, one of the prominent and well-to-do citizens of the town of Berwick, Columbia Coun- ty, Pa., whose portrait is shown on the oppo- site page, is principally engaged in hauling sand for The Jackson & Woodin Manufactur- ing Company. He was born in Berwick No- vember 7, 1821, and is a son of Hugh and Ann (Dodson) Thompson and a grandson of Paul Thompson.
The Thompsons are of Scotch-Irish des- cent, and Paul Thompson, the grandfather of our subject, was born in County Derry, Ireland, March 1, 1754, and died at his home in Berwick, Columbia County, Pa., July 8, 1807. His wife Nancy was born May 10, 1754, and passed from this life September 16. 1823. Mr. Thompson and family bade fare- well to their native country July 9, 1792, sailed for America and located in Dillsburg, York County, Pa. Paul Thompson learned the trade of a potter in his younger days and followed that occupation throughout his en- tire life. He remained in York County until 1798, when he and his family moved to Ber- wick, Columbia County, and there he built the first pottery that was erected in that sec- tion of the county. His plant was located where the Methodist Church now stands, and
the earthernware he made he sold to the set- tlers along the Susquehanna River; he owned a flatboat which he used to convey his goods up and down the river. When the grandfather of our subject took up his residence in Ber- wick there were but few houses in the town. and he lived to see a fair-sized and prosperous community grow up around him. In reli- gious views he was a member of the Presby- terian Church. He was the progenitor of two sons and three daughters, namely: Hugh, the father of our subject; Jane, born in Ire- land November 21, 1781, died April 14, 1807: Margaret, born January 1, 1783. died April 15, 1855; Alexander, born May 1, 1790. who was engaged in the pottery business all his life; and Ann, born January 6, 1792, and died November 29, 1856.
Hugh Thompson, the father of our subject. was born in Ireland in 1780 and came to this country with his parents in 1792. He spent his boyhood days working with his father and learning the pottery trade, which he contin- ued to follow until within a few years of his death. Upon his father's death he succeeded him in his business, immediately enlarged the plant and built up a large and paying business. He was also engaged in the culti- vation of the soil and was the proprietor of a farm consisting of 150 acres of productive land. A part of his farm is now in the town of Berwick and a part is now the homestead owned by our subject. He was an emergency man during the War of 1812. Mr. Thompson was one of the valued members of his com- munity, and his home for many years was made the stopping-place of the Methodist ministers of the section. He was united in the bonds of wedlock with Ann Dodson. and to this union three sons and three daughters were born, as follows: Paul, who died in in- fancy; Richard, born June 14, 1811, died May
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
25, 1895, who was a farmer by occupation and a partner with his brother in the pottery busi- ness; Alexander, born October 6, 1813, died December 12, 1881, was formerly engaged in the pottery business and later in the foundry at Tunkhannock, Luzerne County, Pa., and also was justice of the peace many years; Su- san, born February 22, 1816, died December 27, 1895, was the wife of Rev. Ege, a well- known Methodist minister of the Baltimore Conference; Jane, born December 5, 1818, was the wife of Dr. Berket; our subject; and Elizabeth Ann, born March 3, 1828, who is the wife of P. C. Wadsworth, who was justice of the peace of Townhill, Luzerne County, Pa., many years.
Joseph D. Thompson, our subject, acquired a good education in the common schools of his native town and then worked in his fath- er's pottery, and when he attained the age of twenty-one years he and his brother, Richard, succeeded their father in the business and suc- cessfully carried it on until 1853, when the firm dissolved partnership and our subject be- came sole proprietor. In 1863 Mr. Thomp- son discontinued the business, as the demand for earthernware became very light, moved upon his present farm, where he has since re- sided. Since 1870 he has been engaged in hauling sand for The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company of Berwick, for which work he requires the continual use of from six to eight mules.
Mr. Thompson was wedded in 1846 to Mary Bonham, and this union was blessed by the birth of one child, Almira, who died in in- fancy. Mrs. Thompson passed from this life December 21, 1850, and on February 23, 1858, our subject was again united in mar- riage to Mary Hull, and they are the parents of two children, namely: Hugh, who is en- gaged in hauling sand with his father; and
Annie E., the wife of J. S. Housneck, treas- urer and bookkeeper for the Armour meat market at Shenandoah, Pa.
Aaron Hull, father of our subject's wife. was a native of Easton, Pa., and was a mill- wright by trade. He removed to Berwick in 1840 and served as toll collector on the Ber- wick bridge a number of years. His death occurred in 1867, at the age of sixty-nine years. Religiously he was a member of the Methodist Church. He was married to Eliza- beth McPherson, who passed from this earth in 1858, aged fifty-six years. They reared a family of two sons and three daughters, name- ly: Esther, deceased, who was the wife of Samuel E. Smith of Berwick; William, who was a dispatch-bearer in the Civil War, and passed from this life at Fort Schuyler, N. Y., in 1864; Edward, formerly a butcher residing at Shickshinny, Pa .; Mary, the wife of our subject; and Kate, widow of the late J. H. Mears, a contractor and builder.
7 1 . ELDAAH WILCOX, a prosper- ous and progressive farmer of Fox township, Sullivan County, Pa .. is a son of Gideon and Mary (Hoagland) Wil- cox, and was born on what is known as the F. Morgan farm, in that township, April 18, 1859.
Our subject's great-grandfather was John Wilcox, who was more familiarly known as "Dr. John." He was a native of New York State, but at the time of his death resided in Fox township. During the War of 1812 he shouldered a musket and marched to the front, and in one of the battles was severely wounded, but recovered and lived to reach a ripe old age.
Our subject's grandfather was John D.
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
Wilcox, who moved to Fox township, Sulli- van County, from New York State soon after his marriage, taking up a tract of 400 acres of land, for which he paid a nominal sum. After erecting a log house he went back to New York for his wife, and returning, they settled in the wilderness, carving a home out of the forest, and enduring many of the hardships incident to pioneer life. In a few years they cleared many acres and toward the close of their lives were in comparatively comfortable circumstances. His wife's maid- en name was Deborah Stewart, and they reared a family of eleven children, namely : Deborah; John; Charles; Gideon; William; Sally; Chloe; Nancy; Mary J .; Joseph; and Rheuamy. Mr. Wilcox never carried on any other business than farming, but he took a part in politics, and was looked upon as one of the most fair-minded as well as one of the most just men in the county. He was one of the commission appointed to decide the location of the county seat, his choice being Forksville, but as history and facts show he was overborne by a majority. He was a Whig in politics until that party met its death in the great anti-slavery storm, and when the Republican party was formed he used his in- fluence in its favor until death called him away. He lived to a good old age, and dying was laid to rest in the cemetery at West Franklin.
Gideon Wilcox, the father of our subject, was born in Fox township, Sullivan County, August II, 1827, and was educated in its pub- lic schools and lived there throughout his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning at the time of our subject's birth some 250 acres of the best land in the township. He was active in local politics, holding successively many of the town offices and fulfilling his duties to the entire satisfaction of his con-
stituents. In religion both be and his family were members of the Society of Friends. Hc was first united in marriage with Mary Hoag- land, on January 27, 1853, and the following offspring resulted: Sarah, the wife of Joseph Henderson; Martin C., who is still unmar- ried; G. Eldaah; and Maurice Ellis, who married Nettie Hart. Mr. Wilcox formed a second union with Lucy Lilly, on April 28, 1870, and their children are: Belle, who mar- ried Enos Tremain; Lottie; Helen, the wife of George Caseman; Seymour; Franklin: and Eleanor A.
G. Eldaah Wilcox, whose name heads these lines, was educated in the common schools of his native township until he was fourteen years of age, after which he attended the Westtown Academy for two and one-half years; being precocious by nature, his intel- lectual development was above the average. His bent of mind, however, was mechanical and not caring to teach until he had learned a trade, he served four years' apprenticeship at carpentering. He then entered upon a successful career, teaching school during the winter months and following his trade during the milder seasons, for a period of eleven years. He then turned his attention to farm- ing, at which he has continued up to the pres- ent time. He purchased a farm of ILI acres of John H. Wilcox and Lorenzo Brown, and he has never ceased to beautify and add im- provements to this land, on which he still re- sides. He is a very popular man and has many friends throughout his section.
Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage with Lizzie Cook, a daughter of William Cook, a prominent farmer of Chester County, and Margaret (McConomy) Cook, and they are the parents of the following children: Lizzie; William; John; Robert; Jennie, deceased: George; James; Walter; Anna M. : Maria: Ma-
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
bel: Chester; and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox are the parents of the following children : Jesse J., Clara M., Jennie B. and Edwin H. Mr. Wilcox does not take an active interest in politics, yet he has served his township seven years as auditor, and has been school director for two terms, being elected on the Republican ticket. Religiously he is a mem- ber of the Society of Friends.
ARRY W. WILSON, of the firm of R. F. Wilson & Co., manufacturers of leather fly-nets, of Milton, Pa., is a son of William E. Wilson and a grandson of Robert Wilson, who was the inventor of leather fly-nets for horses.
Robert Wilson was born October 16, 1810, at Williamsport. Pa., and early in life he learned the saddler's and harnessmaker's trade, at which he worked in his native town and also in New York State. In 1850 he settled in Milton, Pa., where he worked as a journey- man at his trade, and six years later he de- vised what has since been known all over the United States as the Wilson Fly Net. In 1856 he commenced on a small scale, employ- ing only three or four men, the manufacture of leather fly-nets and placed them upon the market. Their value was at once recognized and the demand increased in one year from 400 to thousands. Mr. Wilson secured a patent for the nets in 1858, and in 1870 sold 3,000, while in 1879 the sale had increased to 25,000. He began the manufacture of nets in the Goodlander building, and in 1860 he formed a partnership with Mr. Funk, who was with him five years, retiring in 1865. During the Rebellion he felt it his duty to de- fend his country's honor and volunteered in 1863, serving three months and then return-
ing to his former business of manufacturing fly-nets. After the partnership with Mr. Funk was dissolved, Robert Wilson took his son, William E. Wilson, as a partner; and one year later he sold his interest to his second son, Reuben F., retiring from business. He died in 1870. He was united in marriage to Lu- cretia Heinen, a daughter of Dr. Henry Hein- en; she died in 1853, leaving three sons: Will- iam E., our subject's father; Henry H .; and Reuben F., who married Mrs. Rebecca Over -. peck in 1860.
William E. Wilson, our subject's father, was born in Milton, October 9, 1837. After going through the public schools and Milton Academy he learned the trade of harnessmak- ing and worked as a journeyman for several years. He then enlisted in the Navy and was acting as master-mate on the Ironsides at the beginning of the Civil War, in which capacity he continued to serve until the close of the war in 1865. He returned to Milton and went into partnership for one year with his father, Robert Wilson, the inventor, in the manufacture of leather horse fly-nets. When his father retired he took his brother, Reuben F., in the business and they continued under the firm name of Reuben F. Wilson & Bro. until 1875, when he retired from the business and died July 2, 1882. From 1875 to 1888 the business was conducted under the firm name of R. F. Wilson. In that year it was changed to R. F. Wilson & Co., which style it retains up to the present year. Will- iam E. Wilson firmly supported the Republi- can party and held many minor township of- fices. He married Mary H. Foreman and reared a family of twelve children, namely : Arrabella, deceased; Sally, now deceased; Annie Lucretia; Harry W., our subject; Rob- ert G .; Winfield S .; Robert F .; Grace G .; Rebecca; Jacob V., now deceased; Lizzie,
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DR. ISAIAH W. WILLITS.
315
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
now deceased; and Kate. Mrs. Wilson is still living and resides in Milton.
Harry W. Wilson, our subject, was born December 17, 1865, in Milton, Pa. He at- tended the public and high schools of his na- tive town until 1880, when he began work in the fly-net manufactory of his ancestors, and continued there for twelve years, when his faithful services were rewarded by his being made a partner in the concern. The firm is composed of Mrs. R. F. Wilson, Marshal Reid, B. F. Vandegrift, and H. W. Wilson. Mr. Marshal Reid is the general manager, and H. W. Wilson and B. F. Vandegrift have charge of the details of the business. The firm manufactures 40,000 fly-nets annually, for which are used fifty sides of leather per day, making three grades, fine, extra fine, and common, black. The firm has established a fine reputation for first-class work all over the United States and the goods are shipped from Maine to California.
Our subject married Lizzie A. Trate, a daughter of John Trate of New Columbus, Pa. Two children have blessed this union : Mary L., and Ruth, who died in infancy. Mr. Wilson is a stanch Republican and although he never aspired to public office, his many friends have persuaded him to accept some political honors.
R. ISAIAH W. WILLITS. This Book of Biographies would indeed be incomplete if mention were not made of one of Bloomsburg's prominent and influ- ential citizens, the gentleman whose name appears above and whose portrait is pre- sented on a preceding page. He has been engaged in the practice of medicine there for many years, and is at the head of the well- known Dr. I. W. Willits' Medicine Company.
He was born in Catawissa, Columbia County; May 22, 1843, and is a son of George 11. and Jane (Clark) Willits.
The Willits family is of English extraction, Richard Willits, who came from England prior to 1650, being the first of that name to locate in America. His son Thomas was born in this country in 1650, and reared a son Thomas, who was born in 1682 and located in the state of Pennsylvania in 1738. He was the progenitor of a large family of chil- dren, one of whom was Isaiah, the grand- father of our subject.
Isaiah Willits, our subject's grandfather. was born in 1732, and carly in life learned the trade of a tanner, which he followed in Catawissa, being one of the first business men of that vicinity. He erected a large tan- nery there, and resided on the corner of First and South streets, which is now the property of W. W. Perry. Isaiah Willits was united in matrimonial bonds with Rachel Hughes, and they became the happy parents of the following children George H .; Charles; John; Matilda; Elizabeth; Clinton; and Townsend.
George H. Willits, the father of our sub- ject, was born at Catawissa and upon the re- tirement of his father took charge of the tan- nery, which he conducted until he was obliged to give up the business on account of failing health. It was necessary for him to obtain open-air work, so he accepted a contract to build a half-mile of the Pennsyl- vania Canal along the rocks of that vicinity. One year later he engaged in coal mining in Schuylkill County, shipping the product of his mine to the city of Philadelphia. Sell- ing out his interest in the boats, he pur- chased some 300 acres of good farm land near Catawissa, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1867. He then disposed of his
.
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
property and settled in Catawissa, where he spent the remainder of his life in retirement, dying in 1881, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was an active politician, affiliating with the Republican party. In 1851 he was elected for a five years' term as associate judge, and later served as postmaster and in other minor offices. He was united in mar- riage with Jane Clark, a daughter of John Clark, one of Catawissa's early and promi- nent merchants. She passed to her eternal resting place in 1883, aged seventy-three years. Their union resulted in the follow- ing issue: twin daughters, who died in in- fancy; Isaiah W., a sketch of whose life is here recorded; Jane Cordelia, who was born in 1850, and was called Home in 1888; and Charles Clark, who was for many years a physician and druggist of Catawissa, but is now the proprietor of the leading dry goods store of Sunbury, Northumberland County.
Isaiah W. Willits was in attendance at the public schools until he was twelve years of age, after which he took a course of two years' study in the select school of Eaton & Wells, and spent one year in the Greenwood Seminary at Millville, Pa. Then, after spend- ing a year in the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, he became a clerk in Bittenbender & Co.'s store, of which firm his father was a silent partner. He remained there one year, and then for two years was engaged in a sim- ilar capacity for D. G. Driesbach at Beach Haven, Pa. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, 132d Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., of which he was made orderly sergeant. He was but twenty years of age when he was promoted to the position of lieutenant, in December, 1862. He was struck in the knee by a shell in the battle of Fredericksburg, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He was sent to the hospital to
recuperate at Georgetown and was dis- charged May 24, 1863, with his regiment at the expiration of term of service. He re- turned home and in a short time his strong constitution asserted itself and his recovery was sufficient to permit him to enlist as cap- tain of Company E, 30th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., being one of the youngest officers in the ser- vice. He received his discharge after ninety days of service. He was in a number of im- portant engagements, and always showed a willingness to perform his full share of the duties, displaying bravery and coolness in the thickest of the fight. Upon returning home he took up the study of medicine with Dr. John K. Robbins of Catawissa, after which he attended Jefferson Medical College until 18,66, when he took up a practice and con- tinued until 1874, when he returned to col- lege and completed his course. He contin- ued to practice at Catawissa, where he re- mained for seventeen years, and then went to Roanoke, Va., in August, 1883. March 17, 1885, he took up his residence at Blooms- burg, where his success was immediate. He has remained there since and his patronage has assumed large proportions, many of the leading citizens being numbered among his patients. In 1897 he formed a stock com- pany, the Dr. I. W. Willits' Medicine Co., which manufactures Willits' Neuralgia Cure and Willits' Vitalizer for all stomach, liver and kidney troubles. They have both been proven excellent remedies, and have had a large sale throughout the state. In 1893 he opened and conducted a gold cure establishment at Bloomsburg with splendid results. Dr. Wil- lits has also dealt extensively in real estate, owning a number of farms in Pennsylvania and in West Virginia, where he has also bought and built many houses. He is a pub- lic-spirited man and takes an active interest in the welfare of the town of Bloomsburg.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
In 1866 Dr. Willits formed a matrimonial alliance with Marcilia R. Reifsnyder, a daugh- ter of George and Harriet Reifsnyder of Cat- awissa. She passed into the realms of the unknown in 1877, and two years later our subject was united in wedlock with Mrs. Kate P. Reifsnyder, a daughter of George and Mary Scott. In political belief the Doctor is a Republican and has served as councilman for one term. Socially he is a Mason, and has received the degree of Knight Templar; he is also a member of the G. A. R. post.
AMUEL C. CREASY, senior mem- ber of the firm of Creasy & Wells, the largest lumber merchants of Colum- bia County, Pa., whose yards are located at Bloomsburg, is one of the prosperous and enterprising business men of the borough. This highly esteemed citizen was born at Light Street, Columbia County, Pa., Novem- ber 21, 1860, and is a son of Henry W. and Martha E. (Sloan) Creasy, and a grandson of Samuel and Mary (Brown) Creasy.
Our subject's great-grandfather was Hen- ry Creasy, who came from the state of New Jersey and settled in Mifflin township, Colum- bia County. His son Samuel, the grandfath- er of our subject, was born in Mifflin town- ship, Columbia County, and began life as a farmer, which occupation he followed but a short time, when, in partnership with George and Elisha Brown, he embarked in the mer- cantile business, which he carried on until death claimed him, at the age of seventy-five years. He married Mary Brown, who bore him a family of eight children, namely: Hen- ry W .; Nathan B .; Horace; Elizabeth; Dan- iel B .; William; John J .; and Fanny. Our
subject's grandmother passed from this life aged eighty-six years.
IIenry Wesley Creasy, the father of our subject, was born at Mifflinville, Columbia County, Pa., October 17, 1825. His boy- hood days were spent attending school and when young he began clerking in a flouring mill and later worked in a mercantile store at Berwick, Pa. Having become thoroughly acquainted with the mercantile business he went to Lime Ridge, Pa., where he ran a store on his own account; later he sold out and went to Light Street, Pa., where he clerked for James Melick, but was soon taken in as a partner. William Creasy subsequently pur- chased the interests of Mr. Melick, and for three years the business was carried on under the firm name of Creasy Bros. Upon the death of William he was succeeded by his brother Daniel, who is now a merchant of Bloomsburg. The two brothers, Henry and Daniel, in addition to carrying on a mercan- tile store, conducted a lumber-yard until the death of our subject's father, which occurred October 30, 1868. Mr. Creasy was an active member of the Presbyterian Church and was steward and superintendent of the Sunday School. He was joined in marriage with Martha Sloan, a daughter of George and Su- san (Melick) Sloan, and granddaughter of David Sloan, who came from Ireland and set- tled at Summer Hill, Briarcreek township. Columbia County. George Sloan was a farm- er and started his son Samuel in the mercan- tile business at Light Street, Pa .; while he was en route to Philadelphia to purchase goods Samuel was drowned and his father took charge of the store and conducted it until his death. He died aged sixty- three years. He was married to Susan Melick and they had a family of five children, who grew to maturity, as follows : Samuel; Susan-
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