Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 101

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 101
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 101
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 101
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 101

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Mr. Bortree grew to manhood in Sterling town- ship, Wayne county, and throughout his active business life followed farming and lumbering there. He was an upright, honorable business man, one who commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. In politics he was a Republican, and was often called upon to serve in local official positions. Mr. Bortree was twice mar- ried, his first wife being Miss Hannah Clements, who was born April 12, 1827, and died in Sterling township, in 1855, leaving one son, Edward, who was born March 30, 1852, and died in 1885. At Hamlinton, Wayne county, he was married, De- cember 18, 1856, by Rev. Edward Mendenhall, an Episcopal clergyman, to Miss Lydia Ann Clements, a sister of his first wife.

John Clements, Mrs. Bortree's father, was born September 25, 1762, in County Tyrone, in the North of Ireland, and left the Cove of Cork Sep- tember 8. 1798, landing in New York on the 13th of the following November. On March 4, 1804, he purchased a tract of land in Sterling township, Wayne Co., Penn., consisting of 434 acres, upon which he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life. He first wedded Mary McGill, by whom he had two daughters, both now deceased, namely: Mary, born October 10, 1801, who married Simon Lee, of Sterling township ; and Elizabeth, born July 7, 1805, who married Jeremiah Bennett. of South Sterling.

In Philadelphia, Mr. Clements was again mar- ried, his second union being with Miss Mary Ann

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mckean, who was born in County Armagh, Ireland, and when a child of nine years started for Amer- ica with her parents, who died of yellow fever dur- ing the voyage and were buried at sea. Children were born to this union as follows: William, born July 4, 1811, was a blacksmith of Stroudsburg, Penn., and is now deceased ; Hiram, born July 17, 1813, a blacksmith of Hamlinton, Wayne county, died in 1856; John Perry, born November 27, 1815, was a lumberman of Oshkosh, Wis., and died April 14, 1880; Allen, born September 8, 1817, died in Sterling township, at the age of sixteen years ; Sarah N., born April 18, 1820, is now the widow of Christopher Miller, and lives in Greene township, Pike Co., Penn .; Charles Franklin, born February 28, 1822, died in Sterling township ; Ellen, born No- vember 24, 1823, is the deceased wife of France Rhobacker, of South Sterling; Thomas, born July 24, 1825, a blacksmith, died in Lockport, N. Y .; Hannah, born April 12, 1827, was the first wife of William E. Bortree ; and Lydia Ann, born May 18, 1829, is now the widow of William E. Bortree. The father of these children died July 17, 1831, and the mother passed away April 14, 1872.

The only child of William. E. and Lydia A. (Clements) Bortree is Fannie, born October 14, 1867. She was married, April 24, 1889, to B. F. Simons, a son of Thomas and Polly ( McKean) Simons, of Greene township, Pike Co., Penn., and they have become the parents of four children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Bertha L., February 2, 1890: Ada M., Mav 18, 1891 ; William E., November 27, 1894; and Lloyd B., November 14, 1897. For several years Mr. Simons has been a prominent lumberman and farm- er of Wayne county, and now owns and successfully operates a sawmill on Paupack creek.

OBADIAH HORNBECK, who passed away September 1, 1892, was in his lifetime one of the prominent, thrifty, progressive farmers of Lehman township, Pike county, conducting the farm on which his widow and family now reside. He was a member of a family well-known in this section for their industry and business ability, and his fa- ther, Jacob Hornbeck, was in his dav a prominent figure in the public and commercial life of Lehman and Delaware townships.

Jacob Hornbeck was born April 13, 1808, in Lehman township, son of Everett and Jane ( Van Auken ) Hornbeek, as the name was originally spelled. The change to the present spelling was made by Jacob Hornbeck. On May 6, 1838, the latter married Miss Eliza Ann Hetzel, who was born February 2, 1820, in Delaware township, and they reared a large family of children, of whom we have the following record: Obadiah, born March 18, 1839, is the subject proper of these lines. Everett, born September 29. 1840, was married December 13, 1860, to Susan Westbrook ; he is now holding a position in the Government mint at Phila- delphia. Myron, born July 10, 1843, is married,

and resides in Clarion county, Penn. Marsena, born May 4, 1846, is the wife of Isaac Westbrook, a farmer of Lehman township. Martha, born July 14, 1848, lives in Dingman's Ferry ; she is unmar- ried. Jacob was born July 21, 1851. John G., born April 21, 1854, died February 23, 1856. Isaiah, born October 1I, 1857, is a farmer in Delaware township; he married Emma Stoll. William B., born January 8, 1861, is a prosperous farmer of Delaware township.

During his earlier business career Mr. Horn- beck conducted a mercantile business on the place now occupied by his son William, but he also en- gaged extensively in general farming, following that vocation up to the time of his death. He was active in the public life of the locality, as well as in business circles, and he held a number of township offices of trust and responsibility in the able manner which characterized all his undertakings; he also served as commissioner of Pike county. His politi- cal preferences were with the Democratic party. In 1870 Mr. Hornbeck purchased the farm in Delaware township now owned by his sons William and Isaiah, from Solomon H. Dingman, and William has in his possession the documents relating to the transfer of the property from John Decker to Solo- mon Dingman in the year 1750. Jacob Hornbeck ended his days on this place, November 25, 1881, his wife October 1I, 1865, and both are buried in the Delaware cemetery. In religious connection he was a member of the M. E. Church.

Obadiah Hornbeck was born March 18, 1839, in Lehman township, was reared and educated in his native place, and remained with his parents, as- sisting his father, until March, 1862, when he and his young wife took up their residence on the farm which was his home until his death, on September I, 1892. It is a valuable tract of river-bottom land, well kept up and under a good state of cultivation, and Mr. Hornbeck ranked among the up-to-date, in- telligent farmers of his section, keeping up the family reputation for thrift and progress in his vo- cation. By careful and economical management he succeeded in deriving a good income from his land, and he was regarded as one of the valuable citizens of the township in more respects than one, taking a public-spirited interest in all that concerned the general welfare. He was not an office-seeker, but he was honored with election to various positions of trust in his township, and he served in such in- cumbencies as school director, road master, poor master, etc., with credit to himself and satisfaction to all. Mr. Hornbeck's remains rest in the Dela- ware cemeterv.

On December 18, 1861, Mr. Hornbeck was married, in Delaware township, to Miss Sarah Jane Westbrook, who was born in that township Febru- ary 20, 1840, daughter of Jacob B. Westbrook, and seven children blessed their union, viz .: Daniel H. in engaged in teaching school in Milford, Penn. ; he married Alice Whittaker. Carrie L. is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State Normal School and is

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also following the teacher's profession. Eliza J. is the wife of Harry L. Briscoe, a stone mason, and resides at Dingmans. John W., unmarried, is a stone mason at Milford. Jacob was accidentally killed in 1890, being shot February 19, while fox hunting, and dying the next day. Harry lives at home. Nina died May 24, 1885. The children are all typical representatives of the Hornbeck family, per- severing, intelligent and ambitious, and they bid fair to take their place among the most useful and pro- gressive citizens of their day, wherever their lot may be cast.

JOHN J. SMITH, a venerable and highly- esteemed citizen of New Milford township, Susque- hanna county, was for many years previous to his retirement successfully engaged in agriculture, and his fine homestead near New Milford village gives evidence of his thrift and industry.

Mr. Smith was born October 23, 1822, in Dutchess county, N. Y., where his ancestors settled at an early day, his grandfather, John Smith, hav- ing been a resident of Poughkeepsie. John Smith, our subject's father, was born and reared in Pough- keepsie, and his death occurred in Fishkill, N. Y., in 1825, at the early age of twenty-seven. He married Miss Helen Bice, daughter of John Bice, a stone mason in Poughkeepsie, and she survived him with three children: Catherine died at the age of seventeen ; John J. is mentioned more fully be- low ; Benjamin died in Matteawan, N. Y., in 1875. The mother removed to Susquehanna county, in 1849, locating in Harford township, where she died in 1873, aged seventy-five years. She married for her second husband, Hibbard Mead, and by this marriage had two children: Henry, a machinist in Binghamton, N. Y .; and Sarah, wife of Theodore Fuller, a farmer in Lenox township, Susquehanna county. Mr. Mead had five children by his first marriage, to a lady named Dickson; James, who died in California : Peggy Ann, who died in Mattea- wan, N. Y .; William, a retired resident of Bing- hamton, N. Y. ; Joseph, deceased ; and Mandy.

Our subject came to Susquehanna county in 1854, and settled upon a farm in New Milford town- ship, but for many years much of his time in winter was spent in working at the molder's trade, in Montrose. He also worked in Scranton, New Mil- ford, Harford, Cold Spring, and other places, sup- plementing the income from his farm, and accumu- lating a comfortable competence for old age. He is a leading member of the Methodist Church at New Milford, to which his wife also belonged, and in earlier years was active at times in local affairs as a member of the Republican party, serving one term as school director. In the spring of 1844 he was married, at Matteawan, N. Y., to Miss Betsey Odell, who was born September 11, 1826, in Pough- keepsie, N. Y. She died November 9, 1896, aged seventy years, and her remains rest in the ceme- tery at New Milford. Seven children were born to them, viz .: Catherine, deceased, who married

Henry Simmons ; Benjamin, a butcher in Bingham- ton, N. Y. ; Albert, a painter and molder at Mont- rose ; Charles, who manages the homestead ; Martha, deceased; Henry, a barber at Montrose ; and Fred, a shoemaker in Harford.

CHARLES SMITH was born March 13, 1854, in Montrose, and has resided at the present homestead during the greater portion of his life, although for one year he was employed in a tannery at New Mil- ford. As his father's health has failed with ad- vancing years he has taken charge of the farm, which he manages with marked success. In politics he is a strong Republican, but he is not an aspirant for official honors. On September 24, 1878, he was married, at Jackson, Penn., to Miss Jennie Wellman, and the following children have blessed the union : Clarence, Florence, Walter, Raymond, Maud, Harley, Harry, Hellen, Paul, and Mildred. Mrs. Jennie ( Wellman) Smith was born October 5, 1864, in New Milford township, daughter of Theron Wellman, and granddaughter of Berry and Dorcas Wellman. Theron Wellman was a native of Susquehanna county, and followed farming in New Milford township for many years, his death occurring February 2, 1887, when he was aged fifty-four. During the Civil war he served two years in the 5Ist P. V. I., under Capt. Stone, but the hardships of army life undermined his health, and he was discharged for disability. He married Miss Alice Bunting, who was born in Wayne coun- ty, December 19, 1842, and now resides in Milford. Her grandparents, John and Mary (Bunting) Bunting, were pioneer settlers in Wayne county, and her parents, Daniel and Elvira ( McMillen) Bunting, were lifelong residents there. Mrs. Smith is the eldest in a family of four children, the others being: Lizzie I., wife of Martin Hayden, a mer- chant at Montrose: Miss Clementine, who resides in Hallstead; and Edgar, who died in childhood.

DAVID OLMSTEAD is a retired farmer, living upon the farm in Jessup township, Susque- hanna county, where his birth occurred June 9, 1829. It has often been remarked that those lives that are most successful are often the least event- ful, and this seems to be the case with our subject, whose life has been one of usefulness and helpful- ness to others, though lacking in dramatic action. From those around him we learn, however, of his strict integrity, of his faithfulness and trustworthi- ness in all the relations of life, and of his possession of those qualities that constitute a good man and true citizen.

Asa Olmstead, our subject's father, was born in Litchfield county, Conn., and was a son of David and Sarah ( Waller) Olmstead, also natives of that State, who removed to Bradford county, Penn., when he was a young man of nineteen years, and there spent the remainder of their lives, engaged in farming. Religiously they were Episcopalians. The grandfather died in November, 1829, at the age of eighty years. His children were Asa, Adolphus,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Louis, Mary, Sarah, Amerillas, Esther and Cath- erine. In Bradford county Asa Olmstead married Miss Rhoda Brown, a native of the county, and a daughter of Ezekiel and Mary (Hancock) Brown, who were also born in Bradford county. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and by occupation the grandfather was a farmer. He died in his native county, his wife passing away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Olmstead, in Susquehanna county, in 1839, at the age of eighty years. They had only two children : Nancy, wife of John Mintz ; and Rhoda, mother of our subject.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Olmstead continued to reside in Bradford county until about 1820, when with their family, then consisting of two children, they removed to Susquehanna county, lo- cating upon the farm where our subject now re- sides. The father was a farmer and stone mason by occupation, and was a man of prominence in the communities where he made his home. He died in March, 1867, aged eighty-six years and ten months, his wife in 1858, aged seventy-nine, and both were buried in Fairdale cemetery. They were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and took an active and prominent part in its work. In their family were four children, name- ly: Waller, who married Maria Downer, both now deceased; Susan, who died unmarried; Bibbins, who died in infancy ; and David, our subject.

David Olmstead grew to manhood upon the old homestead in Jessup township, acquiring an ex- cellent knowledge of farm work under the able direction of his father. He was married, in that township, November 12, 1854, to Miss Catherine V. Fullerton, and they became the parents of the following children: William Waller, an agricultur- ist of Jessup township, married Evaline McKeeby ; Eva M. is the wife of Dr. G. M. Harrison, of Auburn Center, Susquehanna county ; Bertie died at the age of three years ; George M., also a farmer of Jessup township, married Caroline E. Strange ; and Asa died in infancy. Mrs. Olmstead, who was a most estimable lady, was a native of Orange coun- ty, N. Y., and died January 28, 1892, at the age of fifty-six years, six months and seventeen days, be- ing laid to rest in Fairdale cemetery. Her parents, and Effie (Writer) Fullerton, were also na- tives of Orange county, N. Y., where the father's death occurred, the mother dying in Jessup town- ship, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania.

Mr. Olmstead brought his bride to the old homestead, where he still continues to reside, and throughout his active business life he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has been quite promin- ently identified with public affairs in his township, and has served as school director three years, asses- sor one year, and township treasurer two years. In politics he was first a Republican, but is now a Prohibitionist. He is an active and influential mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as class-leader and trustee for many years, and has also filled the office of steward.

HON. LEWIS M. BURSON.

He is not dead. He has but passed Beyond the mists that bind us here Into the new and larger life Of a serener sphere.

The subject of this sketch, a highly-respected citizen of Stroudsburg, Monroe county, passed from earth October 21, 1892, his demise bringing sincere grief to a large circle of friends, whose esteem he had won by his sterling qualities of character. Mr. Burson was born July 28, 1822, in what is now Stroud township, Monroe county, then a part of Northampton county, where his parents, Isaac and Deborah (Stroud) Burson, were prominent resi- dents. After receiving an academic education in the schools of that locality he studied law with John D. Morris, of Stroudsburg, in September, 1843, was admitted to practice, and had entered upon his professional work when an attack of the "gold fever" led him to abandon his business temporarily, and go West to seek his fortune. In June, 1849, he sailed from New York for San Francisco, via Cape Horn, and on December 20, of the same year, reached his destination. During the first sixteen years of his stay in the West he resided in Hum- boldt county, Cal., where he became prominent in public affairs, serving several terms as district at- torney, and one term, in 1860, as representative in the State Legislature. In 1866 he went to Helena, Mont., but two years later he returned to California. In the fall of 1870 he came back to this section, and made his permanent home at Stroudsburg. In poli- tics he was a Democrat, and in religion he inclined to the Quaker faith, to which his ancestors for sev- eral generations had adhered.

On February 17, 1875, Mr. Burson married Miss Mary Elizabeth Dilley, who was born No- vember 4, 1845, in Lebanon, Hunterdon Co., N. J., and died June 9, 1899. She was educated in the public schools of that town. On the paternal side she was of Holland-Dutch descent, her ancestors settling in New Jersey at an early day. Tunis Dilley, her grandfather, was a native of White- house, N. J., and there for many years followed carpentering, but as he lived to an advanced age his later years were spent in retirement. He married Miss Elizabeth Johnson, whose ancestors came from England in early Colonial times, settling in New Jersey, and the following children were born of this union : John, deceased; Catherine, who mar- ried Edward Lantz, of New Jersey; Eliza, who married John Henry, of Mechanicsville, N. J .; Re- becca, who married John Dalley, of Readington, N. J. ; and Henry.

Henry Dilley, Mrs. Burson's father, was born April 1, 1815, at Whitehouse Station, N. J., and throughout his active business career he conducted a shoe store at Lebanon, N. J. Politically he was a Democrat, and previous to the Civil war he served eight years as postmaster at Lebanon. He was also active in religious work as a member of the Dutch

Gly Burson

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Reformed Church, to which his wife also belonged. On March II, 1841, he married Miss Sarah S. Harris, who was born April 7, 1818, and died April 5, 1853, leaving one daughter, Mary E., Mrs. Bur- son. On April 10, 1855, Mr. Dilley formed a sec- ond matrimonial union, this time with Miss Phœbe S. Guest, who was born June 22, 1815, and died July 21, 1893, leaving no children.

CHARLES BRADY BOLLES, a worthy and honored citizen of Jessup township, Susquehanna county, now living retired, is very fortunate in hav- ing back of him a long line of distinguished an- cestry.

The founder of the family in America was Joseph Bolles, a native of England, who was born in 1608 and died in 1678. The date of his arrival and place of landing is not definitely known, but in 1640 he was engaged in trade at Winter Harbor, near the mouth of the Saco river, Province of Maine, and the records of the General Court of Maine, that year, contain the passage: "Joseph Bolles hath presented to the grand inquest Thomas Heard, for being drunk." His descendants in direct line down to the grandfather of our subject were Thomas, 1644-1727; John, 1677-1767; Thomas, 1704-1795; and Amos, 1739-1814. The last named was the seventh child in the family of Thomas Bolles. He was born in New London, Conn., May 15, 1739, and was twice married, first, in 1763, to Abigail Smith, by whom he had three children, and, second, to Anna Gardner, by whom he had six. He died in 1814. His children were Robinson, Amy, Amos, Abel, Daniel, Abigail, Anna, Sarah and Elizabeth.

Robinson Bolles, the eldest of this family, and the grandfather of our subject, was born in New London, Conn., January 25, 1766, and was married, November 26, 1780. to Hannah Stoddard. In 1810 he removed to Fairdale, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he made his home until his death, January 28, 1842. In his family were twelve children, name- ly : Hannah, who died young; Simeon A., father of our subject ; Maria, wife of John C. Stevens ; Abel ; Nelson ; Elkanah; Hannah, wife of Daniel Pickett; John; James; Lyman; Nancy, wife of Silas Bald- win; and Prudence, wife of Almon Pickett. In early life the grandfather was a sailor, but he was a tanner, currier and shoemaker by occupation. and in later life operated a tannery in Jessup township. He was quite a prominent man in the community in which he lived.

Simeon A. Bolles, our subject's father, was born in New London, Conn., October 13, 1792, and became one of the prosperous and highly-esteemed agriculturists of Fairdale, Penn., where the greater part of his life was passed. On July 27, 1823, he married Miss Ruth Dewers, who was born in Kingsbury, N. Y., October 2, 1801, and died May 2, 1844. Her father, David Dewers, was born in Dart- mouth, Conn., November 10, 1776, and died in Jessup township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., Sep- tember 15, 1850. On January 10, 1799, he mar-

ried Mary Childs Brady, who was born in Rhode Island, February 19, 1780, and died in Jessup town- ship, May 5, 1848, the remains of both being in- terred at Birchardville, Susquehanna county. Mrs. Bolles was the eldest of their children, the others being as follows: Hiram, born October 20, 1804, died in Jessup township; Henry, born March 10, 1807, is deceased; Thomas M. N., born October 27, 1810, died November 23, 1810; Mary C., born Janu- ary 7, 1812, died December 11, 1840; Patience C., born April 14, 1813, died in Jessup township, Oc- tober 2, 1857; Ezra S., born December 22, 1816, died May 19, 1841 ; and Frederick W., born July 4, 1819, died in Jessup township, March 22, 1847.

In July, 1847, Simeon A. Bolles was again married, his second union being with Cynthia Lung, but no children were born to them. Our subject is the eldest of the children by the first marriage; Nelson, born October 23, 1825, married Comfort C. Sherman, and died February 3, 1877; Amos, born December 26, 1828, died May 14, 1883; Anson, born February 2, 1831, (first) married Emma Nash, ( second ) Eliza Marshall, and died September 6, 1888; Henry, born June 7, 1833, died in infancy ; Robinson, born July 2, 1834, married Lucy Camp, and lives on the old homestead; and Hannah, born March 3, 1840, died in childhood.

Charles B. Bolles was born in Jessup township May 17, 1824, and remained with his parents until his marriage, acquiring a good practical knowledge of farm work and a fair common-school education. In his native township he was married, April 6, 1847, to Miss Adelia Chatfield, a daughter of Abel and Sophrona Chatfield, natives of Charlotte coun- ty, Vt. She was born in Jessup township in 1827, and died January 31, 1891, being laid to rest in the Bolles cemetery, that township. To this union four children were born: Ruth S., born June 12, 1848, is at home ; Mary J., born May 12, 1850, is the wife of Ackley Tyler, a farmer of Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county ; Emma A., born November 27, 1852, is the wife of John Hutchinson, a farmer of Bradford county, Penn .; and Franklin F., born December 11, 1855, is at home. The daughters have been successful school teachers, and Miss Ruth is acceptably filling the position of director and sec- retary of the Woman's Branch of the Home and Foreign Missionary Societies of the Baptist denom- ination in Susquehanna and Bradford counties. Franklin F. Bolles is serving his third term in the most responsible office of the township, being the unanimous choice of the people, irrespective of party.

For several months after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bolles lived with her parents, while the present residence of the family was being erected, and on its completion took up their abode there. Throughout his active business life our subject was engaged in farming, meeting with such excellent success that he is now enabled to lay aside all busi- ness cares and spend his declining years in ease and quiet, surrounded by all the comforts and many

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 101

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