Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 10

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 2390

USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 10
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 10
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 10
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 10

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The Noble family has always done its share in supporting Churches and religious work, giving liberally of their time and means to that end, and they are actively interested in the religious wel- fare of the community. Mrs. Noble is a member of the M. E. Church, but Mr. Noble and his family have always adhered to the Disciples Society, though he had liberal views in this matter as in everything else. He was originally a Whig in political faith, and supported the Republican party after its organization, especially in National affairs.

LEWIS SIMONS was for many years prom- inently identified with the industrial and agricult- ural interests of Sterling township, Wayne county, where he still makes his home, but is now living retired. His has been a long and busy career, rich with experience, during which he has established himself in the esteem and confidence of all who know him.

Richard Simons, father of our subject, was born in the North of Ireland, and when about five years old was brought to America by his parents, who settled in Philadelphia, where the grandfather of our subject died. There Richard Simons learned the nail-making trade, which he followed for many years. In Philadelphia he was married, about 1811, to Miss Hannah Smith, who was born in that city, of German ancestry. Subsequently they removed to Pike county, Penn., where he purchased a tract of land for a mere nothing, but the cost of clearing a few acres amounted to $700, as the land was stony and covered with a heavy growth of tim- ber. After seven years spent in that locality, Mr. Simons came to Sterling township. Wayne county, where he purchased 100 acres of woodland, cleared nearly all of it, and remained there until death claimed him, at the age of seventy years. His chil- dren were Thomas and William, twins, who died in infancy; Eliza, widow of John H. Bortree, of Jersey City, N. J .; John, deceased, who made his home in Sterling township, Wayne county ; Nettie, wife of O. Hardin, of Susquehanna county, Penn. ; Hannah, who died at the early age of three years ; Lewis, the subject of this sketch : G. W., a resident of Hamlinton, Wayne county ; Frances Jane, wife of Thomas Hartford, of Sterling township; Richard H., of Salem township. Wayne county; Catherine, who died at the age of twenty years; William, de- ceased, who lived in Sterling township; Mary, who wedded Gabriel Walrath, of Sterling township, and died in 1895; and Isaac, who died at the age of two years.

Lewis Simons was born February 21, 1825, in Sterling township, Wayne county, where he has spent his entire life with the exception of one year, when employed by the Pennsylvania Coal Co., in runing a sawmill at Elmhurst, Penn., near No. 7. He built a sawmill in Sterling township which he operated for thirty years, and in connection with milling cleared about fifty acres of land. He now owns 246 acres, part of which is located on the river flats in Sterling township, and with his sons owns a portable sawmill, which the latter operate during the winter months. He has always been a hard worker, and by systematic labor has brought his farm to a high state of productiveness. Upon the place he has a beautiful home and well-built barns and stables.

At Stroudsburg, Monroe county, Mr. Simons was married, March II, 1854, to Miss Catherine Heller, a daughter of Thomas and Maria (Fen- ner) Heller, both natives of that county, where they spent their entire lives. The father, who was

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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a farmer by occupation, was born February 21, 1801, and died October 3, 1870, while the mother was born March 25, 1800, and died May 6, 1859. Their children were as follows: Sally, wife of Peter Metzger, of Pocono township, Monroe county ; Catherine, deceased wife of our subject ; Alfred, a widower, who has made his home with Mr. Simons since 1890; Matilda, deceased wife of Louis Kel- ler, of Scranton, Penn .; Caroline, wife of R. H. Simons, of Salem township, Wayne county ; Eliza, deceased wife of Coe Wilson, of New Jersey ; Lou- isa, wife of Sidenham Keller, a retired harness- maker of Scranton; Hattie, widow of Horace Shiree, of Scranton; Maria, who was born April 4, 1838, and is the present wife of our subject; Chauncey, who died in infancy ; and Lena, wife of Chris Sensanbauck, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania.

By his first marriage Mr. Simons had the fol- lowing children: Alfred, born December 26, 1854, married Edith Hoyle, of Honesdale, Penn., and now lives in Minnesota; Elizabeth, born October I, 1856, is the wife of James Gilpin, of South Sterling, Dreher township, Wayne county ; Charles, born May 10, 1858, died at the age of one and one- half years ; Edwin, born November 24, 1859, mar- ried Minnie Owens, of Minnesota, where they make their home: Howard, born September 13, 1861, lives in Minnesota; Richard, born September 20, 1863, married Anna Gilpin, of Sterling township; and now lives in Sterling; F. C., born July 22, 1865, is a harness maker of Omaha. Neb .; Isaac, born January 20, 1868. married Ella Catterson, and lives in Sterling township; and Catherine, born August 8, 1869, died at the age of nine months. After the death of his first wife. Mr. Simons mar- ried her sister, Miss Maria Heller, on August II, 1870, in Sterling township, and of this union two children have been born: Blanche B., on October 6. 1871 ; and Horace S., on April 24, 1873, both at home.

On May 3, 1897, Mr. Simons suffered a stroke of paralysis, which has since confined him to the house. With his wife and children. Richard and Blanche, he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has always been a very active Church worker, serving as steward and trustee for many years. In political sentiment he is a stanch Republican, and he has been honored with a number of local offices, serving as school director for many years, treasurer for six years, assessor for three years, and a member of the elec- tion board many times. For over a quarter of a century he has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.

JOHN COOLBAUGH WESTBROOK. Few citizens of this section enjoy to as high a degree the confidence of the public as does this well-known resident of Milford, whose popularity is attested by his frequent election to offices of responsibility and trust. For many years he has served ably

and acceptably as prothonotary and county auditor, and as recorder of deeds, register of wills, clerk of the Orphans' Court, Clerk of Court of Assertions, he has also shown characteristic ability, zeal and fidelity.

Mr. Westbrook comes of good old pioneer stock, and traces his descent to an English family, some of whose members went to Holland at an early period to escape religious persecution. The records at Albany, N. Y., show that in 1630 some of that name were settlers on the manor lands of Patroon Van Rensselaer, having come with a Dutch colony. On October 9, 1665, John Westbrook was at Ports- mouth, N. H., and in 1689-90 Job and John West- brook were there. In 1721 Col. Thomas West- brook, a wealthy land owner and ship builder of Maine, said to have come from Stroudwater, Glou- cestershire, England, commanded the expedition against Norridgewock, which broke up the settle- ment of the famous Jesuit priest Father Ralle, and captured his papers. Two years later he was ap- pointed by Gov. Dunmore as chief in command of the eastern frontier of the Colony of Maine, and he seems to have wielded an important influence in that commonwealth, the town of Westbrook having been named after him. In every generation the love of liberty has been a leading characteristic of the family, and its members have not hesitated to make open resistance to tyranny, several having served in the Revolutionary army. The definite records of our subject's ancestry began with An- thony Westbrook, who came to Pennsylvania from Guilford, Ulster Co., N. Y., and settled in the Minisink Valley, where he acquired a large tract of land. In 1737 he was a justice of the peace and an elder in the Reformed Dutch Church, while his brother Johannes, who preceded him, was also prominent in the settlement. Anthony Westbrook married Antie Van Etten, and had at least two chil- dren, Jacob and Johannes.

Jacob Westbrook became the owner of a large tract of land on the east bank of the Delaware river, about eight miles below Port Jervis, in what is now Montague township, Sussex Co., N. J. His sub- santial stone house was often used as a fort dur- ing the troubles with the Indians, as was that of his son Johannes, three miles farther down the Dela- ware river. Like other pioneer families the West- brooks kept slaves in the early days. Jacob West- brook was married March 24, 1746, to Lydia West- fall, and had six children : Blandina, Johannes, Sof- ferine, Solomon, Maria and Jane.

Solomon Westbrook, our subject's grandfather, was born October 6, 1762, and died March 30, 1824. In 1792 he located upon a tract of 700 acres of land on the west bank of the Delaware river in Delaware township, Pike county, and his residence, a large stone house, stood on the stage road, two miles below Dingman's Ferry. In 1801 he was assessed with 150 acres of improved land, and was serving as justice of the peace. On September 24, 1782, he married Margaret De Witt, by whom he

In Ce Westroke

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

had five children : Jacob (1786-1847), who resided on a part of the homestead, and was the father of John I. Westbrook, of Port Jervis ; Col. John ( 1789- 1852), a leading spirit in the State militia, a mem- ber of Congress ( 1841-1843), and one of the ablest men this section ever produced ; Solomon, our sub- ject's father ; Sofferine; and Margaret ( Mrs. Will- iam H. Nyce).

Solomon Westbrook (2), the father of our subject, was born in 1794, and died in 1852. He was a successful business man, and was also active in politics, serving one term as sheriff of Pike coun- ty (1822-1825). In 1819 he sold his farm to his brother Jacob, and purchased another in Middle Smithfield township, where he remained about ten years ; but in 1829 he disposed of the place to John V. Coolbaugh, and removed to Philadelphia. In 1830 he returned and opened a store at Bushkill, which he carried on for a year, while for five years he conducted a hotel at Dingman's Ferry. In 1832 he opened a store there, and he also carried on mer- cantile business at Tafton in 1835-36. In the mean- time he became extensively engaged in lumbering at Blooming Grove, but a paralytic stroke in 1837 deprived him of the power of speech while he was yet in the prime of manhood. He had removed with his family in 1835 to the old stone house in Delaware township; then in 1842 the family located at Blooming Grove, where his sons carried on the lumber business for many years. His wife was Hannalı Coolbaugh, of Middle Smithfield town- ship, Pike county. Of their children, Margaret, the eldest (deceased) was the wife of John B. Stoll, of Branchville; John C., our subject, is men- tioned more fully below; Hiram (deceased) was a real-estate dealer at Ridgewood, N. J., and was twice married, (first) to Eunice A. Horton, and (second) to Jennie M. Maston; Lafayette, a resi- dent of Stroudsburg, is mentioned elsewhere; Moses C., a farmer on the homestead at Blooming Grove. married Emily Jones; Susan a resident of Milford, married (first) Theodore Grandon, and (second) William H. Bell, both of whom are now deceased.

Our subject was born May 24, 1820, in Middle Smithfield township, Pike county, then a portion of Delaware township. He began his education in the country schools, afterward studying for some time with Rev. Mr. Allen at Milford. At the age of fifteen he became a clerk in his father's store at Ding- man's Ferry, and after the latter's health failed he took charge of the business, assisted by Col. H. S. Mott. Together with his brothers he also managed the lumber business at Blooming Grove, and later he cleared a farm there upon which he built a sawmill and a gristmill. In 1845 he was elected prothono- tary of Pike county, on the Democratic ticket, and removed to Milford. After serving two terms he returned to Blooming Grove, and in the fall of 1863 he was again chosen to that office, which he held for six years. In 1870 he removed to Branchville, N. J., and during the following year he secured from

various individuals the land for Blooming Grove Park. In 1872 he went to Berks county, Penn., and for three years acted as foreman in the con- struction of the Boston & South Mountain R. R., running from Harrisburg to Poughkeepsie. In the fall of 1875 he returned to Milford, and was elected prothonotary, to which office he has since been con- tinuously re-elected, having held the office in all thirty-five years. Socially Mr. Westbrook and his family are prominent, and he is connected with various orders ; he is a Master Mason, having joined the fraternity at Hawley.

On December 31, 1850, Mr. Westbrook was married at Milford to Miss Jane Wells, and four children have blessed the union: Alice B., who resides in Milford, married (first) Dr. Gouverneur Emerson, and after his decease wedded the late Milton B. Mott, formerly editor of the Milford Dispatch, and a representative in the State Legis- lature. Hannah married John Williamson, of Branchville, N. J., now deceased. Frank Brod- head and Lafayette died unmarried. Mrs. West- brook was born at Milford, January 24, 1824, only child of Peter and Jane Wells, and, both parents dying when she was an infant, she was reared by her grandmother, Jane Wells.

ISAAC N. FOSTER (deceased). The Fos- ter family has long been prominent in Wayne coun- ty, the name having been associated with many en- terprises of importance in the development of the locality. The first ancestor of whom we have a definite record was I. Christopher Foster, who was born in England in 1603, and on June 17, 1635, embarked at London for America in the ship "Abi- gail," with his wife Frances, aged twenty-five, and three children, Rebecca, Nathaniel and John. On the shipping list farming is given as his occupation. He was made a freeman, or voter, at Boston, April 17, 1637, but at the time was residing at Lynn, where sixty acres of land were allotted him in 1638, as stated in Lewis' History of Lynn. In 1651 he removed to Southampton, Long Island, where his death occurred in 1687. He and his wife Frances had the following children: Rebecca, born in 1630; Nathaniel, 1633; John, 1634; Benjamin: Hanna, who married Daniel Sayer; Joseph; and Sarah, wife of Samuel Jones. The line of descent to the Fosters of Honesdale, Wayne Co., Penn., was con- tinued through John, as shown below, his descend- ants being numerous in that locality. Little is known of the history of the others, but Nathaniel is said to have made his home at Huntington, Long Island, and to have had at least two children, Nathaniel, Jr., and Samuel. On October 10, 1781, a John Foster, of Huntington, probably a descend- ant of Nathaniel, Sr., made a will, in which he mentions his wife, Sarah: his eldest son, Samuel ; John, William, Henry, Glorianna and Elizabeth. This will was recorded in New York City, March 16, 1782.

II. John Foster, son of Christopher, had a

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

large family of children, as follows: John, who is mentioned more fully below, the line of descent in which we are now interested being traced through him; Sarah, born January 29, 1664 ; Hannah, Janu- ary 2, 1667; Jeremiah, March 2, 1671; Patience ( Mrs. Abraham Howell), March 7, 1673; Rachel, February 2, 1675; Jonathan, April 2, 1677 ; David, March 15, 1679; William, April 2, 1681 ; Phoebe, April 1, 1683 ; and Abigail, February -, 1685.

III. John Foster, son of John II, was born February 8, 1662, and on December 5, 1689, mar- ried Hannah Abbott, by whom he had at least two children, viz .: John, who is mentioned more fully below ; and Hackaliah, born in 1700.

IV. John Foster, son of John III, was born in 1695, and died in 1762. His first wife, Sybil Howell, who was probably a daughter of Major John Howell, died February 20, 1733, at the age of thirty-two years, leaving one son, John. His sec- ond wife was named Elizabeth. He had children as follows: John, who married Mary, daughter of Ephraim White; James; Cleo; Keturah, who mar- ried Cason --; Josiah; and Samuel.

V. Josiah Foster, born January 22, 1737, was married, in 1768, to Esther Post, who was born March 3, 1743. Their children were Josiah, born August 10, 1769 (died at an early age) ; Justus, November 3, 1770; Josiah, September 2, 1772; James, August 28, 1774; Cephas, November 7, 1776; Elizabeth, November 22, 1778; John, March 16, 1781 ; Molly, July 13, 1783; Mary, September 24, 1784: and Isaac P., the immediate ancestor of the Fosters of Honesdale.

VI. Isaac P. Foster was born March 28, 1788, in Quogue, Southampton township, Suffolk Co., N. Y., and was reared upon Long Island. In April, 1810, he went to New York City to seek employment, but found none, and in December, the same year, he settled in Montrose, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he engaged in mercantile business. In 1812 he made a visit to his native State, and on February 19, of that year, he was married to Miss Mary Howell, who was born April II. 1793, at Southampton. His bride accompanied him on his return to Montrose, where he resided for many years, being engaged for some time in mercantile pursuits, and later in the tanning business and in distilling liquor. He attained financial success, and as his ability and sound judgment won the con- fidence of his fellow citizens, he was chosen, in 1826, a director of the Milford & Owego turnpike. While acting in this capacity he became intimately acquainted with Major Jason Torrey, who had al- ready been impressed with the advantages of the present site of Honesdale. He explained to Mr. Foster the project for founding a town there, and the active and far-seeing brain of the latter quickly comprehended the possibilities involved in the plan. In 1826 Mr. Foster located at the site of the pro- posed town, although his family remained for a time in Montrose, and with Major Torrey as a partner he opened a store in a little "shanty" built

by himself on the "point," at the forks of the Dy- berry. These were pioneer times. South of the West branch, at the present site of the "National Hotel," Samuel Kimbell had effected a small clear- ing, where he lived with his family in a log house. North of the Lackawaxen, Major Torrey had at- tempted a clearing and had a gang of men at work, and had also erected a large barn-like structure on the "point," which was the only building in the vicinity when the store was built. In a district so sparsely settled the sale of goods was of necessity limited, and Mr. Foster came to the conclusion that he must add some other business in order to make a financial success. Seeing the vast supply of hemlock bark at hand, and realizing the advantages to be derived from the canal he decided to resume the manufacture of leather, and on looking about he found a suitable site for a tannery a mile up the West branch. He associated with his partners, Ezra Hand, D. P. Kirtland and John F. Roe, and at once commenced the erection of the necessary build- ings, which were put up and fitted with the re- quired machinery most expeditiously, the tannery going into active operation in 1830. Up to this date the tanning business in Wayne county had been of purely local nature, the raw material being purchased and the leather disposed of in the imme- diate vicinity, but with the favorable location, and Mr. Foster at its head, this tannery was destined to give an impetus to the business of which the most sanguine had not dreamed. Hides were shipped in from South America, and finished leather placed in the markets in New York, and for many years this was the leading tannery in the section. As soon as Mr. Foster saw that the business was well established, he bought out the interests of his sev- eral partners, and conducted the business himself in connection with his store, which he moved to a more convenient location. As his sons grew up Mr. Foster associated them with him.

Isaac P. Foster was a most admirable char- acter. He was familiarly known as "Deacon" Fos- ter, and he was one of the original members of the Presbyterian Church in Honesdale. For many years he was among its most exemplary and zeal- ous adherents ; but, when the slavery question as- sumed a definite form, he was forced to retire from his office of ruling elder because he was an Aboli- tionist. However, he lived to see the entire mem- bership of his Church, with the exception of two or three members, adopt his views in regard to slavery, and he was re-instated in the eldership. During the years immediately preceding emanci- pation, he was one of the brave men who dared to violate the unjust laws, and in the hours of night he often fed the fleeing slave and helped him on his way to Canada, his house being a noted station on what is now the historic "Underground Railroad." He assisted in the organization of the first temper- ance society in Wayne county, and was an agitator on all moral questions, his zeal in championing his convictions being equaled only by his charity for

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the opinions of others. He died in Honesdale, No- vember 18, 1876, comforted by the consciousness of a life well spent, and honored by all who knew him. His wife, Mary Howell, followed him into eternity June 27, 1879. Sixteen children were born to this worthy couple: (1) Elizabeth, born March 26, 1813, married Albert Jessup, of Palmyra, N. Y., and died July 4, 1897, leaving two sons, Josiah and Albert (a minister at South Haven, Mich.) (2) Josiah was born January 8, 1815. (3) William Howell, born April 5, 1816, was reared in Hones- dale, where he was engaged in tanning and lumber- ing until 1876, and later followed mercantile pur- suits till his death, which occurred March 8, 1880. On January 24, 1839, he married Harriet Jessup, and their children were George, Harriet, Gertrude, Mary, Samuel J., and W. H. (born March 6, 1857). (4) Mary, born January 16, 1817, died July 5. 1818. (5) George and (6) Sallie (twins), born July 15, 1818, died in infancy. (7) James, born March 17, 1821, died December 16, 1891. (8) Mary, born April 17, 1823, married Stephen D. Ward, Decem- ber 30, 1841. (9) Isaac N. is mentioned below. (10) Harriet J., born September 27, 1826, is now Mrs. J. D. West, of East Orange, N. J. (II) Millicent, born September 12, 1828, is the widow of Horace Woodhouse, of Honesdale. (12) Eme- line, born April 4, 1830, married L. M. Chase, and died August 30, 1870. (13) Esther, born May 22, 1832, died in infancy. (14) Anna Eliza, born July 8, 1834, married W. W. Weston. (15) Sarah A., born November 30, 1836, died in infancy. (16) Ellen, born November 14, 1839, married Horace Weston.

VII. ISAAC N. FOSTER, son of Isaac P. Foster, was born June 22, 1824. at Montrose, and in 1827 accompanied his parents to Honesdale, where he made his permanent home, his death occurring there September 5, 1897. After com- pleting a course of study in the local schools, he attended school on Long Island during one winter, and at an early age he began his business career as an assistant to his father. On succeeding to the management of the store he introduced many judicious improvements, and he carried on the busi- ness wth marked success until his retirement in 1894. During the latter years his store was on the present site of the postoffice. He was one of the prominent citizens of Honesdale, and at the time of his death he was president of the Wayne County Savings Bank. his time being divided between the cares of that position and the general oversight of his extensive property. On March 22, 1848, he was married to Miss Caroline Conger, a native of Montgomery county. N. Y., born. April 2, 1829. Of their two children: (1) Susan Conger, born June 4, 1850, was married, December IT, 1873. to Robert Wallace Ham, a leading manufacturer of Honesdale, and they have four children-Isaac Fos- ter, born November 21, 1874: Thomas Conger, born June 18, 1879: Grace E., born July 22, 1883 : and Robert Dudley, born October 30, 1888. (2) Anna

Grace, born March 29, 1858, was married Novem- ber 12, 1885, to Hon. Erastus Post.

In his political affiliations Mr. Foster was a pronounced Republican, and for a number of years served as chief burgess, and as a member of the council was greatly interested in educational mat- ters. He was a man of keen perception and strong convictions, and never hesitated to express himself as to his position on any question. His forceful and logical arguments left no doubt in his hearers' minds as to his opinion, and his honest effort to up- hold it. He was a consistent member of the Pres- byterian Church, of which he was trustee.

OSCAR LAKIN, a leading citizen and prom- inent lumberman and farmer of Dingman's Ferry, Pike county, was born October 7, 1833, at Han- cock, Delaware county, N. Y., where his par- ents, William and Sophia ( Wheeler) Lakin, spent their entire lives. The father, who was also a farmer and lumberman by occupation, died in 1851, aged fifty-two years, and after surviving him about fifteen years the mother passed away at the age of seventy, the remains of both being interred at Han- cock. He was a man of prominence and held sev- eral local offices. Their children were: Robert, who died in infancy ; Oscar; Earl, a retired farmer of Hancock; James W., a farmer and lumberman of Hancock, who married Lucy Sherman; Julius, who died at the age of twenty; Porter, a farmer and lumberman of Hancock, who married Mary Mills. Our subject's paternal grandparents were . Jonas and Prudence (Parks) Lakin, the former a native of Deerfield, Mass., the latter of Hancock, N. Y., and early settlers of Hancock, N. Y., where they afterward made their home, the grandfather following the occupation of farming and lumber- ing. In their family were eight children, namely : William; Elvira, wife of John Bonner; Sallows; Thankful, wife of Rev. David Turner; Omar; Arad S .; George; and Sally, wife of David Pettitt. The maternal grandparents, Royal and Catura Wheeler, were natives of Connecticut, and also pio- neers of Hancock, N. Y., where the grandfather engaged in lumbering and farming.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 10

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 2390

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 2390