Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 19

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 19

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HON. MONROE J. LARRABEE .- His great- grandparents were Stephen and Polly (Nims) Larrabee. The former was born in Montague, Franklin Co., Mass. He was a farmer, and subsequent to his marriage he moved to Dum- merstown, Vt., where he died. His son Vera- nous (1788-1869), known as “ Colonel " Larra- bee, was born in Massachusetts. He married Lucy Bennett, and in 1831 immigrated from Vermont, and settled in Jackson, where he purchased a farm.

They had children-Veranous (1809-63) went to the State of Texas when a young man, married and resided there until his death ; Lorenzo D., 1810; Emory B., 1811 ; Aden B., 1817 ; Benjamin F., 1823; Charlotte, 1813, married for her first husband Calvin Dix-is now the wife of Major Asa Hammond, of New Milford; Roxanna, 1819 (now deceased), was the wife of Sabin Barrett, of Jackson ; Permela, 1825 (now deceased), was the wife of Jasper Savory, of "Savory Corners" (now Lake View). All the children were born in Dum- merstown, Vt., and all came to Jackson with their parents. The farm that Colonel Larrabee purchased upon coming to Jackson was near what is known as the " Bartlett Farm." This he afterwards sold, and bought a place near Jackson Corners, now owned by Dr. Wheaton. The latter part of his life he and his wife lived with their daughter, Mrs. Calvin Dix, where he died. After his death his widow re- sided, until her decease, with another daughter, Mrs. Sabin Barrett. Emory B. and Aden B. settled on farms in Jackson, where they still reside. Benjamin F. also settled in Jackson, but about twelve years ago removed to Broome Co., N. Y., where he is engaged in farming. Lorenzo D. Larrabee was born in Dummers- town, Vt., February 13, 1810. In 1831 he married Nancy P. Tenny (1810-64), a native of Vermont. About this time he came from Vermont to Jackson, and purchased an unim- proved tract of land, and commenced to clear and improve it. He made occasional visits to Vermont, but did not move his family to Jack- son until about 1835, when, having erected a log house, he brought them to his then wilder- ness home. He is a farmer, still residing in

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Jackson, which town has been his home most of the time siuce he came there, in 1831. Their childreu are Willard E. (1832-64) was a farmer in Jackson; Melvin V., 1834, a farmer of Jacksou; Marshall (1837-66) re- sided in Ohio, and was a soldier of the late war in an Ohio regiment ; Monroe J., 1838 ; Tru- man G. (1841-64) was a member of Company D, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was dis- charged, afterwards re-enlisted, was captured and confined in Andersonville, afterwards sent to the prison at Florence, where he died ; Aden B. (1842-43) ; Lucy L., 1843, now residing in Massachusetts; Maria L. (1847-65).

Monroe J. Larrabee was born August 4, 1838, in Jacksou. His boyhood was the une- ventful life of a farmer's boy. The district school claimed his atteution, but when old enough to assist on the farm he only had its advantages during the winter. He afterwards attended the graded school at Montrose, and also the Wyoming Semiuary at Kingston, Pa. He taught a term of school at Thomson, Pa., and afterwards was engaged for oue year selling fruit-trees, traveling most of the time iu New York State and Canada. He was in a whole- sale grocery store in Boston for oue year. But these pursuits were not congenial, and his in- clinations tending to a professional life, he commenced, in 1861, the study of law with Hon. Wm. J. Turrell, of Moutrose. But the Rebel- lion burst upou the country, and Blackstone was laid aside in response to the call for volun- teers. He enlisted as a private in Company A, One Hundred aud Fifty-first Penusylvania Voluutcers, in October, 1862, aud served until the company was mustered out, in July, 1863. Shortly after muster he was detailed as hospital steward of the regiment, and served most of the time in that capacity. (See history of Compa- ny A, One Hundred and Fifty-first Penusylva- nia Volunteers, for company's service.) He afterwards re-enlisted iu Company B, One Hundred aud Ninety-fourth New York Vol- unteers, and served to the close of the war. After the close of the war he resumed his stu- dies with Mr. Turrell, and was admitted to the bar in August, 1868. He immediately com- menced the practice of his profession at Susque-

hauna, where he has successfully continued it to the present time, and has gained the reputation of an able lawyer aud reliable counselor. He held the office of notary public for two terms, and has been attoruey of the borough of Susquehanna. In politics he has always been a Republican, and active and zealous in aid of the success of his party by voice aud vote. He was elected to the Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1876, and served in the sessions of that body in 1877-78. In 1882 he was the nomiuee of the Republicans of the Twenty-sixth Senatorial District for Senator, and in 1884 received the Republican nomination in the county for Con- gress. In 1883 he married Kate L. Dennison, of Montrose, who had been a teacher for several years, and was teaching in the graded school at Montrose at the time of her marriage. Their children are Louise, born March 2, 1884, and Bessie, born July 3, 1886.

B. O. CAMP was boru at Camptown, Brad- ford County. He obtained a very satisfactory education at Le Raysville Academy, in that county, and subsequently taught school winters aud worked at the carpenter's trade summers five years, and then became a student at Wyo- ming Semiuary two years. He taught school after that at Montrose and New Milford. He served in the army during the War of the Re- bellion, and became captain. He read law with Hou. J. B. McCollum and was admitted to the bar November 9, 1868. He devoted his time to law practice and attention to his real estate interests.

HON. WILLOUGHBY W. WATSON, son of Walter Watson, was born in New Milford, Susquehauna County, Pa., October 6, 1842, aud was educated at the public schools, Mont- rose Academy and State Normal School at Millersville, besides private study at home. He was principal of the New Milford school and was elected county superintendent of pub- lic schools in June, 1866. After serving two

years and three months he resigned to devote himself to the profession of law. He read law with Hon. L. F. Fitch, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1868, and commeuced prac- tice at Montrose. In November, 1874, he was elected to the State Senate for Susquehanna and

O. L. Blakeslee

THE BENCH AND BAR,

Wayne Counties, and served during the sessions of 1875 and 1876. In 1878 he received the county Republican nomination for Congress. He removed to Scranton in 1883, where he established a law practice. He is secretary and treasurer of the Moosic Monntain Coal Com- pany, also of the Moosic Mountain and Carbon- dale Railroad Company. Mr. Watson is an active and aggressive lawyer and business man. He married Miss Annie M. Keinerer Novem- ber 26, 1868.

HUNTTING C. JESSUP, son of Judge Wil- liam Jessup, was born at Montrose February 18, 1843. He prepared for college at Mont- rose Academy and Cortland Academy, Homer, N. Y., and was graduated from Yale College in July, 1864. After he came home he entered the law-office of his father, but soon after en- listed in the army, where he served for about nine months, when he was discharged with the rank of first lieutenant. While in the army he married the daughter of Dr. Cobb, of Clarks- ville, Tenn. He was admitted to the bar No- vember term, 1868, and is associated with his brother in the practice of the law. He was judge advocate of the State militia at one time, and has been associated with other counsel in some important suits,-such as the Erie fore- closure cases, in connection with George G. Wal- ler, Esq .; also Thorn, Watson & Co. against the First National Bank of Montrosc. Mr. Jessup is not only a well-read lawyer, but also a man of fine social characteristics, which has secured him a great many friends.

ELBERT L. BLAKESLEE is the son of Hiram Blakeslee, and grandson of Benjamin Blakeslee, one of the pioneers of Dimock. His mother was a daughter of Cyrus Whipple, of Bridge- water. He was born at Dimock May 25, 1843, and received his early education at the district school and at the Harford and Montrose Acad- emies. At this time the War for the Union was arousing the patriotism of the masses in the North, and young Blakeslee enlisted as a pri- vate and became corporal in Company H, Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves.

He served faithfully with his corps and was honorably discharged. He entered the Medical Department of Michigan University, at Ann 7

Arbor, and was graduated with the degree of M.D. in 1865. He successfully practiced medicine for three years at Brooklyn, and find- ing it unsuited to his taste, or inclination, he returned to Ann Arbor and entered the Law De- partment of Michigan University, where he remained one term, when he came to Montrose and completed his law studies with Hon. L. F. Fitch and R. B. Little. He was admitted to the bar in 1869, and became the junior member of the firm of Little & Blakeslee, and after the death of R. B. Little, his preceptor, the firm became Little & Blakeslee, subsequently Little, Blakeslee & Allen, now Blakeslee & Williams. Dr. Blakeslee is a man of culture and poetic inspiration, which manifests itself in the trial of a cause, when he warms up to the occasion in electrical flashes of eloquent and soul-stirring utterances. His generous nature is soon in sympathy with his client, although he be a criminal, and lie advocates his cause with the same enthusiasm and energy as though he were convinced of his innocence. He is particularly strong as a trial lawyer. Alert and active in ex- amining witnesses, eloqnent and impressive in ar- gnment, Dr. Blakeslee stands second to none as a criminal lawyer at the Montrose bar. He was on the side of the prosecution in the O'Mara case and convicted him. He defended McCor- mick, who was convicted in the second degree. He also defended Frederick Warren for shoot- ing M. B. Wilson in Montrose, who was convicted in the second degree. He took a conspicuous part in the defense of N. L. Len- hein, the defaulting cashier of the First National Bank of Montrose. In fact, he has been retained on one side or the other in most of the important cases that have been tried re- cently at the Susquehanna bar. He is. now en- gaged in the defense of Tiffany, who is indicted for murder. He has found that his knowledge of medicine has been of material assistance to him in the practice of law.

In 1876 he was selected by the citizens of Susquehanna County and delivered the cen- tenial poem on the fair-grounds at Montrose. He is also an admirer of the beautiful scenery by which he is surrounded, and is having some of the romantic spots in Susquehanna County

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

painted for his parlors. His house is on the west side of the public avenue and his law-office is attached. He has a summer cottage, called Three Oaks, at Heart Lake, not far from Montrose, where he spends his summers with his family, which consists of a wife, the daugh- ter of R. B. Little, and one son, Elbert L. Blakeslee.

ALEXANDER H. MCCOLLUM was born in Bridgewater township in 1836, and was educa- ted under Lyman Richardson at Harford Academy. He read law with his brother, Hon. J. B. McCollum, and was admitted to the Sus- quehanna County bar August 9, 1869. He became a partner with his brother until he was elected judge. From January 1, 1879, to May 1, 1883, McCollum and Watson were in part- nership. The same day that Watson & Mc- Collum dissolved, the firm of McCollum, Searle & Smith was formed. Mr. McCollum is a good accountant and a good business lawyer. He is energetic and aggressive in the trial of a canse, working earnestly for his client's interest. The firm of which he is an active working member are doing a good business. In 1856 he married Philena Underwood. He has one son, Hugh McCollum.

CAPTAIN CHARLES E. LYMAN was born at Berkshire, Tioga County, N. Y., in 1824, and removed with his parents to Great Bend in 1836. His father, Dr. Eleazer Lyman, was killed by his horse in 1845, and in 1846 young Lyman went into the western part of the State, having previously attended Franklin Academy, at Harford. He commenced reading med- icine with Dr. Stranahan, and subsequently read six months in Geneva. Returning to Potter County, he practiced medicine about one year with Dr. Rice ; thence he went to Pike Mills, where he was married, and registered in the law-office of Chapman & Boyle, of Ridgway. In 1861 he enlisted in the army and was pro- moted to the second lieutenancy. A splinter from a rail which had been struck by a cannon- ball broke his leg, and he was discharged. In September, 1864, he went out again as captain of Company H, Two Hundred and Third Reg- iment of Sharpshooters, and was present at the taking of Fort Fisher, where his son, Frank E.,

and his brother, Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Lyman, were both killed. After his discharge he went to Lock Haven, Clinton County, Pa., and read law with his brother, C. A. Lyman, and T. T. Abrams, and was admitted to the bar there in 1871, where he remained until 1880, when he returned to Great Bend after an ab- sence of thirty-six years, and was admitted to the bar of Susquehanna County.

EUGENE O'NEILL was born in New York City May 29, 1851. His father was a practical printer and worked for D. Appleton & Co. In 1857 he purchased a farm in Auburn township, and his wife and family were there summers until 1861, when he moved there with his family. Eugene was educated in New York and at Montrose. Hc read law with Hon. J. B. McCollum, and was admitted to the bar April term, 1875, being the first Catholic1 who read law and was admitted in the county. He was secretary of the Democratic County Com- mittee from 1872 to 1876, Democratic candi- date for district attorney in 1877, chairman of the County Committee in 1880-81, four times delegate to the State Convention, Susquehanna's choice for State Senator in 1882, and was ap- pointed deputy collector of internal revenue for Bradford, Susquehanna, Sullivan and Wyoming in 1885. In 1879 he married Miss Lizzie Conway, of Chicago. He removed in 1877 to Susquehanna.

FREEMAN I. LOTT was born in Lenox town- ship September 25, 1847, and educated in the common schools and at Mansfield Normal School. He taught school about four years and read law with Little & Blakeslee. He was admitted to the bar August term, 1875, and elected district attorney in 1880, and again in 1886 he was elected to the same office. For six years, in connection with Wm. M. Post, he has been counsel for the county commissioners, and drew the contract for the addition to the court- house.

CHARLES N. WARNER was born April 19, 1839, and educated at Montrose and West Point, where he was graduated in 1862. He was a captain in the regular army from 1862 to

1 Peter Byrne was the first Catholic admitted to the Susquehanna County bar in 1841 ; he afterwards moved to Scranton.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

1872. During the Rebellion he was in the second Bull Run battle, also at South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Mine Run, Gettys- burg, Bristow Station and with General Wilson's cavalry force that raided the South. He read law with Little & Blakeslee, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1875. He married Eliza Houston and has a family of five children.

MATTHEW M. RILEY, son of Martin Riley, of Susquehanna Depot, was born February 22, 1852. He attended the convent and public schools of his native town until he was ten years of age, when he was taken from school and put into the Erie Railway's shops by his parents, where he worked at the moulder's trade ; mean- while he persevered in his studies nights, thus acquiring a fair education, including some knowledge of the classics. He read law with M. J. Larrabee, of Susquehanna Depot, and also with the firm of Little & Blakeslee, of Montrose, and was admitted to the bar Jan- uary term, 1876. Being without means, he re- sumed work in the shop at his trade, but finally he turned his attention wholly to the practice of the law, during which time lie had several partners : first, John S. Maginnis, who is now dead ; second, John S. Courtright, who is now practicing at Montrose, and C. A. Van Wormer, who is now in Dakota. Mr. Riley built up a good practice, and was one of the rising young men of the Susquehanna County bar, when he sold out in 1886 to C. A. Warren, and removed to Ashland County, Wis.

JOHN S. COURTRIGHT was born near Wilkes- Barre July 21, 1855, and was educated at the schools of Wilkes-Barre and Kingston. He read law with Hon. Henry M. Hoyt, of Wilkes- Barre, and D. W. Searle, of Montrose, and was admitted to the bar January term, 1876, and has an office in Searle's building. In 1877 he married Ella V., daughter of Azur Lathrop. He is one of the justices of the peace for Mont- rose borough.

D. T. BREWSTER, son of Horace Brewster and grandson of Eldad Brewster, one of the pi- oneers of Bridgewater township, was born at the homestead farm February 8, 1853. He at- tended school at Montrose, and was graduated at Mansfield Normal School in 1873. He con-

tinued his studies one year more in the post- graduate course of that school. He returned to Montrose and read law with Hon. L. F. Fitch, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1876. He has an office in " Phoenix Block."

SAMUEL F. LANE, son of George W. Lane, one of the pioneers of Dimock township, was born August 31, 1834. He worked on the farm until he was twenty-four years of age, at- tending district school and the Montrose Acad- emy winters. He thus fitted himself for teach- ing, an avocation which he followed from 1858 until the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1861. He enlisted as a private in Company A, First Pennsylvania Cavalry, and by subsequent pro- motions became a sergeant. He served three years and was honorably discharged. In the fall of 1866 lic was elected sheriff of Susque- hanna County, and served for three years. He read law with Wm. D. Lusk, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1879. His office is in the Susquehanna County Legal Association's rooms, in the court-house.

HON. WATSON T. BARNES was born in War - ren County, N. J., July 19, 1850. He obtained his education at Factoryville, Lackawanna County, Pa., and read law with Geo. P. Little, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1879. He has withdrawn from the active practice of law, and is now residing on a farm in Rush township. He was a member of the Legislature in 1883.

B. L. BALDWIN, son of Edmund Baldwin, was born at Montrose July 2, 1850. He was educated at Montrose, and read law with W. H. Jessup. He was admitted to the bar August term, 1870, and was elected district attorney in 1874, and re-elected in 1877. His office is over the First National Bank.

MILLER S. ALLEN was born in Morris County, N. J., December 15, 1854. He at- tended the common schools in New Jersey, and had a few weeks' special instruction at Spring- ville. He also attended the public school at Montrose a short time. He read law with Little & Blakeslec, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1879. He was in partnership with Little & Blakeslee for two years, and with Mr. Little for two years. He now has an office in

100

HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Nichols' Block. Mr. Allen is one of the rising young lawyers of the Montrose bar.

JOHN M. KELLY, son of N. T. Kelly, was born at Owego, Tioga County, N. Y., in 1861. His father moved into Rush township August 6, 1866. John, being the eldest of six children, helped his father and did not attend school un- til B. E. James taught select school, which he attended twelve months and went to teaching school, after having attended school but twenty- three months altogether. His father had been a newspaper man, and assisted him somewhat in obtaining an education. He read law with Mc- Collum & Watson, and was admitted to the bar.

GEORGE G. WATROUS was born in Bridge- water June 24, 1847. He obtained his pre- paratory education at the Montrose Academy, and at the age of twenty-five entered the law- office of Fitch & Watson. He completed his law studies with Wm. J. Turrell, and was ad- mitted to the bar at the April term in 1879, and has practiced his profession here since. He was elected justice of the peace of the borough of Montrose in 1881, and by re-election is serving his second term.

W. NELSON BARNES was born in Warren County, N. J., April 30, 1855. His parents shortly afterwards removed to Rush township, where he obtained his education at the district schools and at home. He also attended school at Montrose and taught school winters, -- in all seventeen terms. He read law with Little, Blakeslee & Allen, and was admitted to the bar at August term, 1882. Mr. Barnes is only about three feet seven inches tall, and weighs one hundred pounds. He is undoubtedly the shortest lawyer in the State. He deserves great credit for his perseverance under difficulties in obtaining his education. He has an office in the brick block with D. T. Brewster, and de- votes himself principally to Orphans' Court practice.

EDWARD R. W. SEARLE, son of Henry S. Searle, was born in Bridgewater township June 18, 1858. He attended school at Factory- ville and St. Mary's College, Montreal. He read law with Daniel W. Searle, and was ad- mitted to the bar of Susquehanna County August term, 1879.

EDSON W. SAFFORD, son of Felix T. Saf- ford, was born in Brooklyn township April 11, 1857. He attended the common schools and Montrose Academy, and read law with J. B. and A. H. McCollum. He was admitted to the bar in August, 1880. He was district at- torney from 1884 to 1887.

ANDREW B. SMITH, JR., was born in New Milford township Nov. 30, 1857. He obtained his education at the schools of New Milford and at Hackettstown, N. J. He then attended law school at the University of Pennsylvania for two years, after which he entered the law- office of McCollum & Watson, and was admit- ted to the bar November term, 1880.

DAVID W. BROWN was born in Lathrop township April 17, 1856. He obtained his education at Keystone Academy, at Factory- ville, and Madison University, at Hamilton, N. Y., where he was graduated in the class of 1882. He read law with Little & Allen, and was admitted to the bar at August term, 1885. Mr. Little having dissolved partnership rela- tions with Mr. Allen, prior to Mr. Brown's ad- mission to the bar, he entered into partnership with him, under firm-name of Little & Brown.

THOMAS J. DAVIS, son of T. R. Davis, was born in Clifford June 4, 1853. He was edu- cated in the commnon schools and at Kingston. He followed the avocation of teaching for six or eight years. He read law with Little & Blakeslee, and was admitted to the bar at August term, 1882. He was in partnership with Mr. Blakeslee for three years, and now has an office in Nichols' Block.

WILLIAM H. JESSUP, JR., was graduated at Yale College in the class of 1884. He read law with his father and uncle Huntting, and was admitted to Susquehanna County bar in April, 1886. He is associated with his father- in-law in practice at Scranton.

WILLIAM E. WILLIAMS was born January 1, 1861. He was graduated at Keystone Acad- emy, and was a student in the University of Virginia one year, after which he read law with McCollum & Watson, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1884, and in February, 1886, he formed a law partnership with Dr. E. L. Blakeslee. On November 7, 1886, he married

101

THE PRESS.

Carrie Parkhurst, of Elkland, Tioga County, Pa.

RICHARD J. MANNING was born in Lenox township in 1860. He graduated at Keystone Academy, and attended Madison University, at Hamilton, N. Y., for two years, and St. Lanrent College, near Montreal. He read law with Miller S. Allen, and was admitted to the bar January term, 1887, and removed to Susque- hanna.

WILLIAM D. B. AINEY, son of Dr. Ainey, of New Milford, was born April 8, 1864, was educated at Mansfield Normal School, and was two years at Lehigh University. He read law with E. L. Blakeslee, and was admitted to the bar, August term, 1887.

CHAPTER X.

THE PRESS.

THE Centinel, a four-column folio, eighteen by twenty-two inches, was the first newspaper published at Montrose. It was published by Justin Clark, and the first number was issued February 20, 1816. Its motto was :

" Here shall the press the people's rights maintain, Unawed by influence, undisturbed by gain."

The editor certainly had ample room up here in the wilderness to cry out against wrongs of every description unawed by influence, and the gains were not so large that any one wonld be likely to offer to bribe him. There was no great cry against the wrongs of humanity in the paper, however; it was edited according to the old-fashioned plan of giving the larger part of the paper to the latest news from Europe, which was as fresh as the time it took a sailing- vessel to cross the Atlantic, a New York, Phila- delphia or New England newspaper to publish it, and slow coaches to carry these newspapers to Montrose, where it was reproduced as the latest news from Europe. Besides European news, it was not beneath the dignity of these pioneer newspapers to publish the messages of the Presidents and Governors, stilted essays on grave subjects; and a superabundance of poetry,

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 19

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