Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 115

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848-
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck
Number of Pages: 1318

USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania > Part 115

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

alone; but, after continuing the business for a year, sold out to Smith & Shaeff. In 1870 he purchased the fine and commodious residence previously owned and occupied by C. S. Bennett, and this is his present pleasant home. In 1878 he entered into the real es- tate and insurance business, and opened an office in the building owned by him. On the 9th day of March, 1883, the "Cook Block " was totally destroyed by fire, involving heavy loss upon Mr. Cook, not only on building, but from the loss of valuable papers which were consumed in his office. Mr. Cook has

dent of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union for eleven years. Himself and wife are active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Cook's membership dating back to 1853, and for more than thirty years he has been an official member of the same. In politics Mr. Cook is known as a stanch Republican. Casting his first Presidential ballot with the Democratic party, he soon severed his con- nection with it, and when the Republican party was first organized at Susquehanna he was one of the committee appointed on organization. He has been

J. M. Cook

uninterruptedly continued the business established in 1878, and occupies an office in the Brandt Block.

By his first wife, who died in 1865, Mr. Cook had children,-Verna O., 1856, married C. I. Fisher and now residing at Sunbury, Pa .; Arthur W., 1861, is a partner with his father in the real cstate and insur- ance business at Susquehanna. In 1867 Mr. Cook married for his second wife Cassia W., daughter of John and Sophia B. Calkins, a lady of rare energy and intelligence, whose philanthropic labors in the cause of temperance and morality have been felt and acknowledged beyond the vicinity of her own town and county. She has been district and county presi-

an earnest advocate of that party and its principles since, and has contributed of his time and means in aid of its success. His fellow-townsmen have selected him to fill various offices of trust and importance, amongst them that of justice of the peace, Council- man, school director and treasurer, and in 1871 the citizens of the county elected him an associate judge, which position he honorably filled for five years, oc- cupying the bench with Judges Streeter and Morrow.

Mr. Cook has dealt quite largely in real estate, and previous to the fire that destroyed the " Cook Block," paid the largest real estate tax of any person in Sus- quehanna.

Eng ªLy AF FO

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SUSQUEHANNA.

He has been a stockholder, director and vice-presi- dent of the First National Bank of Susquehanna for twenty-one years. Judge Cook has been identified with the growth, prosperity and business enterprises of Susquehanna for thirty-five years, and his energy and public spirit have contributed not a little towards placing it on its present firm and extremely stable foundation.

JOHN C. COOK came to Susquehanna in 1854. For three years he was a. carpenter and house-builder, and subscquently in the employ of the railroad com- pany. In 1858 he rented the store now owned by F. D. Lyons, and began a grocery business. In 1860 he bought the store where he is now located, and has carried on business since. He had his brother for a partner for some time, and the firm also conducted a boot and shoe business on the corner of Main and Exchange Streets for eight years. With the exception of James Bell, Mr. Cook has been longer in one kind of business than any other man in this borough, and embraced jobbing as well as retail trade.

HON. GEO. T. FRAZIER was born in Connecticut in 1818, and in 1832 engaged in public school teach- ing. In 1841 he was elected county superintendent for Broome County, and was subsequently a teacher until 1850, when he bought a farm in Oakland (then Harmony), near Susquehanna. In 1854 he estab- lished an office in Susquehanna as a contractor with the Erie Company for supplying wood for fuel and cross- ties and bark, which was used for setting tires on the drive-wheels of locomotives. He furnished annually about six thousand cords of wood, one thousand cords of bark and fifteen hundred cross-ties. In 1857 he left this business and gave his attention chiefly to farming until 1865, when he opened a flour and feed store on East Main Street and conducted this business twelve years, when, selling out, he opened another store on Drinker Street, his present place of business. Mr. Frazier is a brother of the late H. H. Fra- zier, the founder of the Independent Republican, pub- lished at Montrose. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania in 1859-60, and was in the Legislature in the extra session of 1861, when the memorable "$3,000,000 act," for aid in rais- ing and equipping the Pennsylvania Reserves, was passed, and voted for its passage. He was a school di- rector fifteen years while living in Oakland and Sus- quehanna, having been burgess of the latter place two terms. He is one of the directors of the First Na- tional Bank. He is a man of sterling qualities, and whatever he has undertaken hc has pursued with the discretion and vigilance that insurcs success.

F. D. LYONS was born in Massachusetts in 1819, came to Lanesboro' in 1848, and engaged with his brother David in mercantile business. In 1856 the partnership was dissolved and F. D. Lyons conducted the business two years longer at that place, then exchanged his property there with C. S. Bennett for property in Susquehanna. Since 1859 Mr. Lyons has 373

conducted a store in Susquehanna, in which all kinds of goods are kept.

DAVID A. LYONS was born in Massachusetts in 1816, and died at Susquehanna in 1881. He came to Lanesboro' about 1834 and engaged in cabinet-making for his brother, Seth A. Lyons, until 1837, and then in other pursuits at Lanesboro' until 1857 when he came to this place and engaged in mercantile business in a store that he purchased and occupied until his death. His widow and daughter still reside here.

The business of Guttenberg, Eisman & Co. was establislied at this place in 1857, under the title of Guttenberg, Rosenbaum & Co., and a frame build- ing formerly occupied by Smith & McKune. The store at 'Susquehanna was one of the five different houses conducted by this firm-the other stores and branches being at New York, Elmira, Montrose and Towanda. In 1877 the business had become so extensive that a settlement of the business of the seven partners was made and the firm at this place was succeeded by Guttenberg, Eisman & Co. In 1865 the frame building was burned down and in place thereof a large three-story brick building was erected. The house does a more extensive business than is done by any other firm in Susquehanna County. At the present time sixteen men and women are employed in the different departments of this store.

MICHAEL H. EISMAN was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, in 1839. He came to America when thirteen years of age, and after attending school one year he secured employment in Guttenberg & Co.'s wholesale store in New York. Six years after he was admitted into the partnership and thus became a member of a business house that has been remarkably successful. In 1862 he came to this place and was associate general manager of the business here two years, when, in 1864, he was made sole manager, and since has had absolute control. When the firm of Guttenberg, Rosenbaum & Co. was dissolved, Mr. Eisman, at the request of the members of the firm, drafted the stipulations of dissolution, by which more than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars of property, consisting of real and personal property, and located in various places, was divided, and so equitable did the conditions thereof appear to them all, that the paper was adopted with no changes whatever. He has been president of the First National Bank for a number of years past; he is vice-president of the Susquehanna Bridge Company; largely interested in the Water Company, and identified with many other business enterprises in the county. For fifteen years past he has held the office of school director and for fourtcen ycars has been the treasurer.

JOHN C. KANE came from Choconut, where he was born, to Susquehanna in 1867. He engaged in the grocery business as a partner of the firm of Kane & McDonald, and about one year after the firm was changed to McDonald & Kane. In 1871 the partner-

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ship was dissolved, and Mr. Kane conducted the business alone until 1884, when he sold out his groceries, re-arranged the interior of the store, and opened a dry-goods store in place thereof, taking into partnership with him his brother. The firm is now J. C. Kane & Bro.

JOHN BUCKLEY was born in Ireland, and when eight years old, in 1855, came with his parents to Susquehanna. He spent several years as a clerk in this place and in Binghamton, and in 1875 establish- ed a dry-goods store in the Falkenbury block, which he has conducted to the present time.

E. J. MATTHEWS' MARBLE WORKS .- The marble business established by Mr. Matthews in 1885 has al- ready become a very important industry. His trans- actions are more extensive than are those of all the other marble dealers together in Susquehanna County. From a small boy of seven years of age, when his parents removed to Oakland, he lived near this bor- ough until he reached his majority, since which time, with the exception of a few years, he has been identified with the active business men of this town.

BANKS,- The First National Bank was chartered in 1865. Its capital stock was fifty thousand dollars. The first officers elected were the following : As di- rectors, Joseph W. Guernsey, Gaylord Curtis, E. T. Wheeler, H. W. Brandt, James W. Guernsey, Wm. Tremaine and Henry L. Bailey ; president, Joseph W. Guernsey ; vice-president, Gaylord Curtis ; cashier, Geo. A. Guernsey. In 1866 Justin H. Cook was elected vice-president, and has since held the office. In 1869 H. W. Brandt was elected presi- dent, and in 1881 Mr. Brandt was succeeded by M. H. Eisman, who has since continued to occupy the position. In 1866 Myron B. Wright was appointed book-keeper; in 1867 he was elected assistant cashier, and in 1871 he was elected cashier, succeeding Mr. Guernsey, who had occupied the position from the organization of the bank up to that time. A. H. Falkenbury was elected teller in 1869, and still holds the position. C. F. Wright was made assistant cash- ier in 1884, and Henry C. Miller was appointed book- keeper at the same time. The capital stock was increased to one hundred thousand dollars in 1871. The directors now are M. H. Eisman, J. C. Kane, H. A. Fonda, J. G. Brewer, Geo. T. Frazier, A. H. Falken- bury, J. H. Cook, Samuel Falkenbury and M. B. Wright.

MYRON B. WRIGHT was born June 12, 1847, in Forest Lake. He was educated at the public schools and at Montrose Academy. In the winter of 1865-66 he taught a public school in the "Bolles" school- house, in Jessup, and at the close of his winter term of three months he taught a two months' term of select school, closing it at the end of that time to ac- cept a position as clerk in the First National Bank of Susquehanna, of which his uncle, George A. Guern- sey, was cashier. In 1869, upon the removal of his

uncle to Port Jervis, he was promoted to the cashier's desk, which position he still occupies.

It is said poets are born such, and Mr. Wright is a " born" financicr. He is a large stockholder in the bank, and it enjoys the reputation of being one of the soundest financial institutions in Northern Pennsyl- vania, having never lost a dollar on any loan nego- tiated by it since its organization. Mr. Wright is a stockholder in the Susquehanna and Oakland Bridge Company, and has been director and treasurer of the same since the date of its organization. In 1880 himself and Angus Smith, M. H. Eisman and A. H. Falkenbury organized the "Susquehanna Chemical Company," and erected works at Starrucca, Wayne County, Pa., of which he became, and still continues, the business manager. Since then he has been one of the original owners, and largely interested in the Jefferson Chemical Company and Lackawanna Chem- ical Company, both situated at Ararat, Pa .; also in the Melrose Acetate Company, of Melrose, Pa., and the Wayne Chemical Company, of Equinunk, Pa. In 1870 he married Mary E., daughter of Hon. Samuel and Abby A. Falkenbury, who was born at Jersey City May 14, 1849. Their children are Sarah E. (1872-74); Albert H., born June 10, 1876; and Clarence E., born April 10, 1882. Mr. Wright may be properly placed in the front rank with the successful business men of Susquehanna County. Early taught the rigid and inflexible rules of finance that govern all well-regu- lated and sound banking institutions, he is a financier of acknowledged skill and ability. While the posi- tion he occupies, and the business enterprises he is engaged in, have claimed his whole time and atten- tion, yet he has taken a lively interest in the local affairs of his town, and has ever been active in ad- vancing its interests with his means and influence. In politics he has always been an earnest and active Republican, advocating its principles and zealously aiding its success. In 1886 he was the nominee of the Republican party of Susquehanna County for member of Congress.

HON. SAMUEL FALKENBURY .- His great-grand- father came from Holland and settled in the Mohawk Valley. His grandfather, Levi Falkenbury (1756- 1850), was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., and married Hannah Hatch (1758-1832). He served in the army during the Revolutionary War for seven years, and was with Washington in his campaign through New Jersey, and was a Revolutionary pensioner when he died. His son, Ira Falkenbury (1791-1840), was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., and when about seven years old his parents removed to Skeensborough, N. Y. (now White Hall), where his father purchased a farm, being one of the first settlers in the eastern part of that town. Here he cleared up and improved his farm and remained there until he died. His son Ira re- mained on the farm, receiving the common-school advantages of a farmer's boy until he became of age. Shortly after attaining his majority he purchased a

Samuel Falkenbuy

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farm adjoining his father's, and married Esther Vre- denburg, a native of New York State, who died about 1821. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, which broke out about the time he reached his ma- jority. A son and daughter were born of this mar- riage,-Robert E. and Esther. In 1822 lie married for his second wife Phœbe (1789-1830), daughter of William Densmore, who was a Revolutionary soldier. He remained at White Hall until his death, honored and respected by all who knew him. Their children were William (1823-59); Samuel, 1825; Ira, 1827, married and residing in Jersey City, where he is in the employ of the Erie Railroad Company; Obed D., 1831, married and for several years resided in Jersey City, where he had charge of the Erie Railroad Com- pany's foundry, and while a resident of New Jersey was elected a member of the General Assembly ; came to Susquehanna in 1873, and is foreman of the Erie Railroad Company's foundry at this place.

Samuel Falkenbury was born at White Hall, Wash- ington Co., N. Y., February 25, 1825. His early boy- hood was spent on his father's farm. The limited advantages of the district schools he had, but when old enough to help on the farm these were confined to the winter term. At the age of fifteen his father died and the year following himself and brothers car- ried on the farm. The next year he hired out as a " driver boy " on the Champlain Canal, which he fol- lowed one season, then worked on a farm and went to school in winter until the spring of 1843, when he went to New York City to learn the trade of an iron- moulder. In 1848 he married Abby A., daughter of Albert and Abby Y. Hedden, a native of Newark, N. J., and went to housekeeping in Jersey City. Here he remained working at his trade until 1851, when he went to Piermont, N. Y., and entered the employ of the Erie Railroad Company, but retained his resi- dence in Jersey City. On the 5th day of October, 1852, he removed with his family to Susquehanna, and for thirty-five years this has been his home. He imme- diately took charge of the Erie Railroad Company's foundry, and remained in charge of it for more than twenty years. In 1874 he was elected a representative to the State Legislature for two years, and served his constituents faithfully and acceptably, and his record as a legislator was consistent and honorable. In 1879 he engaged in the book and stationery business, which he has successfully carried on to the present time. In 1864 he erected a large three-story building on the corner of Main Street and Erie Avenue for stores, offices and Masonic Hall. This building was destroyed by fire in 1875, and on its site he erected, the year following, three store buildings,-one of which he now occupies. He is a director of the First National Bank, and the only original stockholder now living in Susquehanna. When he came to Susquehanna, in 1852, he rented of the Erie Company a house on Washington Street, which he afterwards purchased, remodeled, and is his present residence. Their chil-

dren are Mary Emma (1849), wife of M. B. Wright, a manufacturer and banker of Susquehanna ; Albert H. connected with the First National Bank and a manu- facturer, and Clara E. are unmarried and living at home with their parents. Mr. Falkenbury, although not a pioneer in this section, has "grown up" with Susque- hanna. A scattering hamlet when he came here, he has not only watched, but contributed to its growth until, in population, it ranks first in the county. He was a member of its first Council, and for two years president of the board, and for one year burgess ; has served as Councilman several times since; was one of the commissioners, under act of Assembly, to locate the Oakland and Susquehanna Poor Asylum, and served as one of its directors for three years. He la- bored actively with James B. Gregg in organizing the Library Association, and was identified with many other enterprises for the benefit of his town. He was one of the committee on organization when the Re- publican party was organized in Susquehanna, and has ever been loyal in support of its principles, and zealous and active in advancing its interests and con- tributing to its success. As a mechanic, as a business man, a legislator and a citizen, he has ever had the confidence and esteem of his fellow-townsmen.

CITY NATIONAL BANK .- This bank was incorpor- ated in 1884; capital stock. fifty thousand dollars. H. W. Brandt, Charles Schlager, S. H. Barnes, V. Blackburn, M. Wagner, W. Thomas, S. S. Doolittle, W. S. Brandt and H. O. Peck were the first directors. H. W. Brandt was elected president ; Charles Schlager vice-president ; W. S. Brandt cashier ; and L. G. Ben- son teller. In 1885 Jacob Schlager was elected vice- president ; in 1887, Charles Schlager, president; and the same year, S. S. Doolittle, vice-president. No changes have been made in the board of directors, ex- cept to fill the places made vacant by the death of H. W. Brandt and the resignation of H. O. Peck. These vacancies were filled by R. Kessler and J. S. Brandt.

GAYLORD, CURTIS & Co., BANKERS .- This banking- house, commonly called the Curtis Bank, was institu- ted in 1866, under the title of Curtis & Miller's Bank. In 1877 Mr. Miller retired, and since that time the first-mentioned title has been assumed. William Emery was the first cashier. In 1872 Charles F. Curtis was appointed teller, and in 1875 he succeeded Mr. Emery as cashier. In 1881 Charles Sabin was appointed teller. For the past twenty years or more, since this bank was instituted, there have been but very few changes respecting the per- sons who have conducted it.

GAYLORD CURTIS, a banker at Susquehanna, Pa., was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., January 29, 1812, and the same year came with his parents, Natlian- iel (1778-1850) and Mary Lamberson (1778-1848) Curtis, to East Bridgewater where his grandfather, Na- thaniel Curtis, was the pioneer settler in 1806. Gay- lord, remained at home during his boyhood, learned how to work, and obtained what education from books

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

he could, by attending the home school. Industry and self-reliance were marked characteristics of his early life. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to Albert Moss, a tanner and shoemaker at New Milford, with whom he remained six years, and became fully conversant with those trades. He then followed his trade for two years at Lanesboro', and in 1836 became the partner of John Smiley, at Gibson, in general mer- chandising. He married, in 1843, while a resident of Gibson, Almira S. Sabin, who was born June 13, 1812, a daughter of William and Alınira Bissel Sabin, natives of New Haven, Conn., who settled in New Milford, in 1816, were farmers, and resided there un- til their deaths. Their surviving children are :-- John, of Chicago ; Almira S. ; and Benjamin, proprietor of a Susquehanna hotel. Mr. Curtis continued success- fully the mercantile business at Gibson until the spring of 1853, when he settled in Susquehanna, and served as the first treasurer of the borough. During that year he built the store now the property of David Lyon, on Main Street, and kept a general store for some six years, besides doing a considerable real es- tate business. In 1861 he was elected justice of the peace on the Democratic ticket, and by re-election he served two terms. In this capacity Esquire Curtis never encouraged litigation, but, on the other hand, frequently acted as a peacemaker, and counseled an amicable adjustment of any difficulties. He has been the nominee of his party for sheriff and associate judge, but owing to the party being in the minority, the ticket failed of election. He has been closely identified with the interests of the borough during his residence here, and has served as burgess and in other official positions. He is president of the Sus- quehanna Water Company, a large holder of its stock and was the prime mover in its establishment.

In 1866 the firm of Curtis & Miller opened a pri- vate banking-house, the present location, which was managed under the firm-name until 1877, when Mr. Miller retired from the concern, and Charles F. Cur- tis (nephew) became a partner. The banking-house of G. Curtis & Co. is one of the solid institutions of the borough, and commands the confidence of the public for its systematic and safe management of all business entrusted to its care. Esquire Curtis enjoys the distinction of being the only successful private banker of years' standing in Susquehanna County, and has been engaged in business during the longest period. He started out in boyhood with only a six- pence in his pocket, but with that perseverance, judicious management and shrewdness in business matters characteristic of his whole life-work, he has made a competence to enjoy in his declining years. Mr. Curtis is a man of frank and open manners, so- cial, genial and sympathetic, and he liberally sup- ports the various enterprises around him needing assistance, never forgetting those less fortunate than himself. As a respite from business, and for the pur- pose of seeing the country, in company with Samuel

Vail, of New Milford, he took a two months' trip in 1886 to the Pacific coast; visited Utah, Portland, Oregon, the principal cities of California, the Garden of the Gods, near Manitou, Col., and sailed to the mouth of the Columbia River, visiting Astoria, named for John Jacob Astor, who, in 1811, established the first trading-post at that point with the Indians. A description of the outline of travel of Curtis and Vail was published at the time, showing that these gentlemen did not make the tour without interest to themselves and friends.

FIRES .- The most disastrous fires that have occurred to the business-places in the borough are the follow- ing: In 1862 a store owned by C. S. Bennett and occupied by Geo. Weed was destroyed, together with a large stock of general merchandise. In 1865 fire broke out in Saba Bryant's grocery-store, by which this store and Guttenburg, Rosenbaum & Co.'s dry- goods store and T. J. Ingstrum's grocery were de- stroycd. In June, 1874, fire was discovered in Frank Kirby's shoe-store, that stood right over the Drinker Creek, where Wm. H. Strachen's grocery is now located. In a short time fire was communicated to other build- ings adjacent to it, and, before the fire was brought under control, about thirty buildings on Main Street, Erie Avenue and Willow Street, together with a great deal of property contained in them, were consumed. In 1878 a large building, in which there were four stores, located on Erie Avenue and known as the Smith Block, was utterly ruined before the flames were subdued, although the building was deluged with four powerful streams of water that were thrown upon and into it. In 1879 Rogers' steam mill on Exchange Street was burned. In May, 1883, fire broke out in one of the stores in the Cook Block, a very large frame building. This building was entirely consumed; and the graded school building, standing near by, also took fire and was destroyed. With extreme difficulty other buildings, on the opposite side of Main Street, and the railroad company's shops in rear of the fire, and on the opposite side of Ex- change Street, were saved.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 115

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848- Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck Number of Pages: 1318

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848-
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck
Number of Pages: 1318