Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 103

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 103
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 103
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 103
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 103

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After leaving school Mr. Ham, from the force of his environment, entered commercial life as business manager of the mercantile business of his father. He remained in that position for three years, but his thoughts ran to journalism, and at intervals he made contributions to various news- papers and periodicals, among others the Wayne County Herald. In 1859 Hon. H. B. Beardslee, editor and publisher of the Herald, offered him a position on his paper. Here was an opportunity to enter the chosen field. He accepted an engage- ment as assistant editor, at the same time having charge of the Honesdale post office. In the spring of 1861, following the inauguration of President Lin- coln and subsequent official changes, the young man visited Prince Edward Island, with a view of engaging there in his new profession. But the pros- pects were not bright, and returning to Honesdale in the fall of the same year he purchased, with Charles Menner-for many years foreman in the office-as partner, the Wayne County Herald, from its old publisher, Hon. H. B. Beardslee. He was now settled in his life pursuit in a manner that was to his liking. Four years later he purchased the interest of his partner, and became sole owner. He has repeatedly enlarged the paper, and under his able editorial supervision it has a wide reputation as an influential journal.

In all the departments of newspaper work, in both business and editorial branches, Mr. Ham has been highly successful. As an editorial writer he has won recognition for forceful and logical statement,

for graceful diction and for touches of fancy which lighten and beautify his able articles. An extended European trip in 1873 resulted in a series of descript- ive letters of travel, covering England, Ireland, Ger- many, Austria, Switzerland and France, which were most favorably received by the reading public. Mr. Ham has frequently contributed to the Metropolitan dailies, and his letters have brought to him many offers of editorial positions on city papers. He has resolutely declined them all, preferring the field of usefulness which he has marked out for himself. He is devoted to the intellectual growth of his na- tive county, and many of its institutions are indebted to his efforts for their realization. He was the pioneer in the field of local historical research, and a skeleton of events which he published in 1870 was incorporated six years later in Dr. Egle's "History of Pennsylvania." For twenty-two consecutive years Mr. Ham was secretary of the Wayne County Ag- ricultural Society, and for nine years its treasurer.

In politics Mr. Ham has been throughout his long career an unwavering Democrat. Almost contin- uously he has served as a member of the Democratic County Executive Committee, and frequently has represented Wayne in district and State conventions. He was nominated in 1874 for the State Legisla- ture in the Wayne and Pike district, but dissensions between the two counties about that time led to an open rupture. A Democrat was subsequently nom- inated in Pike county, and the divided ticket gave the office to the Republican candidate, Thomas Y. Boyd. Living in Senatorial and Congressional dis- tricts largely adverse to him in political faith, Mr. Ham has failed to reach those higher positions for which he has received the endorsement of his party. Besides his Legislative candidacy he has been the Democratic standard bearer for senator, and twice for Congress. For three successive terms he filled the position of bank assessor for the Wayne-Pike- Monroe district. In 1886 he was appointed asso- ciate judge by Gov. Robert E. Pattison, and in 1889 was elected to the same office for a full term of five years, his majority being the largest ever given a candidate for that position in the district.

Mr. Ham was married, March 5, 1863, to Miss Laura E., daughter of Zechariah Paddock, D. D., of Binghamton, N. Y. Of their five children two survive-Eugene P., district agent of the Phoenix Life Insurance Co., residing at Scranton, Penn .; and William W., a member of the reportorial staff of the New York Sun.

E. VANDER TUCKER, a representative citi- zen of Susquehanna county, who owns and occupies a well-improved farm in Jackson township, was born in that township, in February, 1829, a son of Ste- phen and Lucy ( Harris) Tucker, natives of Ver- mont, the former born in 1794, the latter in 1793.

Our subject's paternal grandfather, James Tucker, was a representative of an old New England family, and died in Vermont. His son Stephen was a soldier in the war of 1812, and after that

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

conflict, about 1816, he and his brother Simeon came to Susquehanna county, Penn., and located in Jackson township. Some time later Simeon removed to Harford, where he married Lois Guile, of that place, and subsequently they became residents of Scranton, Penn., where he was employed by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Co. He died in that city about thirty years ago, leaving four children : Florilla, who married Theodore Gam- ble, and resided in Kansas; A. B., now a resident of Aurora, 111 .; Mrs. Susan Williams, of Ridgway, Penn. ; and Louisa, wife of Peter Conran, of Kansas.

Stephen Tucker, father of our subject, re- mained in Jackson township, where he cleared and improved a farm, and the family residence, erected by him in 1828, is still in a good state of preserva- tion. There his wife died in April, 1871, and he passed away in 1882. Both were consistent mem- bers of the Baptist Church, and he assisted in the erection of the first house of worship in Jackson. They aided in . all religious work, and gave their support to every enterprise for the public good. In politics the father was a Jeffersonian Democrat. Nine children were born to this worthy couple, namely : (I) James married Diana Moxley, of Jack- son township, where he made his home until his death. He had two sons, of whom the younger, Jonathan, born in Jackson township, resides in Scranton, Penn. The elder, Stephen, was born in Jackson township, in 1845, was educated in the dis- trict schools, and married Hannah S. Callender, of Scott, Lackawanna Co., Penn., a daughter of Nelson Callender. After his marriage he purchased the old homestead, where he still resides. He and his wife are active members of the Baptist Church of Jackson, and he is a supporter of the Prohibition party. Their children are Llewellyn, born in 1872, who was educated in the Gibson high school and Wood's Business College, and was a teacher for several terms (he married Minnie Bryant, of Jack- son, and is now engaged in clerking in a store in Peckville) ; James C., born in 1877, who graduated from the Bloomsburg Normal School in 1898, and has taught for several terms in Jackson township, Susquehanna county, and also in Lackawanna coun- ty; Elsie, born in 1879, who was educated in the home schools; and Wilfred, born in 1881, Nellie, born in 1883, Raymond and Mabel, twins, born in 1885, Beatrice, born in 1889, and Reid, born in 1894, all at home. (2) Clarissa is the widow of Horace Tracy, of Honesdale, Penn. (3) Elizabeth married H. M. Wells, of Jackson, where they made their home for some years. Later they lived in Illinois, for some time, and then returned to Jack- son, where both died, leaving two children-Cynthia, wife of E. L. Barrett, of Windsor, Broome Co., N. Y. : and H. M., now of Iowa, who was a soldier in the Civil war, and was incarcerated for nine months in Andersonville prison. (4) Sarah married Rufus Walworth, and after living for some time in New Milford, Penn., removed to Brooklyn township, Sus- quehanna county, where she died, leaving three chi !-

dren-Hattie, now the wife of Isaac Shimer, of New Milford; Irma, wife of Frank Quick, of Sus- quehanna ; and William, a resident of New Milford. (5) Willison married Permelia Pickering, and re- sides in Thompson borough, Susquehanna county. They have three children-Charles; Etta, wife of William Douglas, of Rochester, N. Y .; and Ross, a resident of California. (6) Eunice H. married J. H. Miles, of Jackson, and died leaving two sons -- Frank W., who lived in DeWitt, Neb., and who was elected State representative in 1895 ( died in 1896) ; and Edward K., who holds a position with the American Lumber Co., and resides in Knappton, Wash. (7) E. Vander, our subject, is next in the family. (8) E. N. is a resident of Jackson ; he has had two sons-Frank E., who died in 1895; and Clarence L. (9) Amos was a member of an Illinois regiment in the Civil war, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, remaining in the service until the war closed ; he lost a limb in a railroad accident. He married Anna Sebastian, of Illinois, and now resides in Wichita, Kans. His children are Sebas- tian, Herbert and Fred.

On the old homestead E. Vander Tucker spent his boyhood and youth, and received the benefits of a district-school education. In 1850 he married Miss Theoda Mott, of Rush township, Susquehanna county, a daughter of Willard and Beulah ( Tupper) Mott, natives of Massachusetts, and prominent pio- neers of Rush township. Mrs. Tucker was born in that township in 1830, and educated in the schools of Jackson and Montrose. She was adopted by Rev. J. B. Worden, of Montrose, who had charge of the Jackson Baptist Church for a number of years. Our subject and his wife have spent their entire married life in Jackson township, and in 1865 he purchased his father's old homestead, upon which place he has erected two barns and other outbuild- ings, and made many other improvements which enhance the value and beauty of the farm.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Tucker are as follows: (1) Frederick E., born in 1850, was educated in the local schools and the Normal School of Mansfield, Penn., and taught several terms in Susquehanna county. He married Madelaine J. Watson, of New Milford, Penn., and removed to Buffalo, N. Y., where he was employed on the New York & Erie railroad until his death, in 1885. He left a wife and one son, Willoughby, now a resi- dent of New Milford, Penn. (2) Hattie, born in 1861, married Duane Barrett, who died in Jackson, leaving one son, Fred, and for her second husband she married Emery L. Tingley, by whom she has one daughter, Theoda. (3) Gilmore E., born in 1863. is a brakeman in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson railroad, and resides in Carbondale, Penn. (4) Judson, born in 1866, married Ida Holmes, of Jackson, by whom he has one daughter, Mildred, and they reside on the old homestead with our sub- ject.

Mr. Tucker has been a zealous and earnest member of the Baptist Church of Jackson for fifty-

-.---

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

six years, and has served as deacon and in other official positions for a number of years. His wife is also a devout Christian, and has been a member of the Church for over fifty-five years. They have the respect and esteem of all who know them, and their circle of friends and acquaintances is extensive. In politics Mr. Tucker is a Prohibitionist, and although he has never cared for public office, he has been called upon to serve his fellow citizens as assessor two terms, and school director and constable one term each.

H. C. BURGESS is a leading carpenter and contractor of Montrose, Susquehanna county, with whose material progress and prosperity he has been prominently identified for half a century. On all sides are seen many notable examples of his skill and handiwork, for he has erected many of the best buildings in the city, and the quality of his work is a convincing test of his own personal worth.

Mr. Burgess was born in Wyoming county, Penn., in 1828, a son of William and Catherine ( Miller ) Burgess, natives of Luzerne (now Wyom- ing) county. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Bur- gess, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was one of the honored early settlers of what is now Wyoming county. There the father opened up a farm, and continued to engage in agricultural pur- suits until called from this life, in 1870. His wife survived him some four years. To them were born children as follows: Mrs. Elvina Spaulding is a resident of Tunkhannock, Penn .; H. C., our sub- ject, is next in the order of birth; Washington is living in Iowa; George H. served for three years in the 95th Ill. V. I., and now makes his home in Kansas; Earl served for six months in the 143rd P. V. I., was taken ill, and died in Wyoming coun- ty, Penn. ; Elmira is the widow of Jonas Goodwin, of Wyoming county ; Mrs. Lucina Furman died in Texas in 1893; Charles is a resident of Tunkhan- nock, Penn .; Granville, who lives in Mehoopany, Penn., served nine months in the 84th P. V. I., and was taken prisoner three days before Lee's surrend- er ; and Delos, a merchant of Mehoopany, is now deceased.

In the county of his nativity H. C. Burgess was reared and educated, and during his youth he aided his father in clearing and cultivating the home farm. In 1849 he came to Montrose and learned the carpenter's trade with W. H. Boyd, for whom he worked for ten years. Since then he has en- gaged in contracting and building on his own ac- count and has met with excellent success. His labors, however, were interrupted during the Civil war, for he enlisted at Montrose, September 6, 1861, in Company D, 50th P. V. I., for three years or during the war, and was mustered into service at Harrisburg, Penn. His regiment proceeded thence to Washington, where they stayed one week, thence to Annapolis, where they stayed two weeks, and thence to Hilton Head, S. C. They started from Fortress Monroe October 25, on board the "Win-

field Scott," and the voyage lasted twenty-one days. When off Cape Hatteras the vessel sprang a leak, and those on board were obliged to pump thirty- six hours for "dear life." The vessel was cleared of all its freight, the masts were cut down and thrown overboard, as were also the guns, anchors, and over 500 barrels of provisions-everything, in fact, that was loose, and they finally arrived at their destina- tion, after a most trying experience. The regiment was at Hilton Head when it was taken, staying there one month, and then moved up to Beaufort, sixteen miles, remaining there seven months. On July II they went to Virginia, and, as a part of the Army of the James, participated in the battles of Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Bull Run, Chantilly. Mr. Burgess was then sent to Fortress Monroe, in March, 1863, was confined in Hampton Hospital for a time, while there serving as ward master, and was honorably discharged at Fortress Monroe, November 1, 1864. He returned to Montrose, but later again went South, and at Fort Warwick was employed by the government to build mills, of which he erected three, two of these being on Gen. Lee's place, at Newport News. Since the war he has made his home uninterrupted- ly at Montrose, and has devoted his energies to his business interests with most gratifying results.

At Montrose, Mr. Burgess was married, in 1850, to Miss Clarissa M. Dunn, a native of Susque- hanna county, and a daughter of John and Sophia (Phelps) Dunn, early settlers of the county, who are now deceased. Our subject and his wife have one child, Della G., now the wife of Dr. W. D. Gort- on, of Austin, Texas. Socially Mr. Burgess is a prominent member of Four Brothers Post No. 453, G. A. R., in which he has held office, and as a Republican he takes quite an active and commend- able interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is now serving as one of its trustees. By his honorable, upright life he has gained the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact, and has made a host of warm friends in Montrose.

LEWIS CHAMBERLIN. One of the his- toric families of Choconut township, Susquehanna county, is that of which the subject of this sketch was an honored representative. He was patriotic, intellectual, and prominent in the affairs of the township, contributing many teachers to the cause of public education, and in various ways advancing the best social interests of the county.

The family was founded in Susquehanna coun- ty in 1813 by the subject of this sketch. His father, Benjamin Chamberlin, was born in Rhode Island in 1762, and when a young man enlisted in the Revolutionary army. He was taken prisoner, and for three months confined on board a prison ship in the East river, near New York. He died in 1822, aged sixty years. His wife, Olive, survived to the age of eighty-two years, passing away in 1843.

Two brothers and two sisters of Mr. Chamber-

.. . . .

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lin migrated to Susquehanna county about the same time he did, another brother, Daniel, coming later. Of these, Daniel, after engaging in mercan- tile business for some years, turned his attention to farming ; he died in Maine, Broome Co., N. Y., in 1869; he married Orpha Scoville, of Bennington, Vt., and they had five children. Joab, who was a carriage maker, died in 1868, in Michigan ; he mar- ried Rebecca Dean, of Montrose, Penn., and had three children. Melvin, the youngest brother, was a farmer, and died in 1854, in Choconut ; he married Orpha Rogers, of Connecticut, but had no children. Nabby, wife of Buel Scoville, died a short time after coming to Choconut, leaving two children. Olive, who was a young girl when she came hither, married Oliver Lozier, and had two children; she died in 1885, at Montrose. Betsey Murray, a sister of Mrs. Lewis Chamberlin, came with our subject and wife, and became the wife of Benjamin Dimock, a son of Davis Dimock, the old "pioneer Baptist minister." She died in Carbondale, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-six years.

Lewis Chamberlin was born in Rhode Island, in 1786. He removed with his parents to Benning- ton, Vt., in 1800, and there learned from his fa- ther the business of scythe making. In 1811 he married Miss Nancy Murray, a native of Hebron, Conn., and two years later, with his wife and one child, Albert, he came to Choconut township, settling on the farm which he occupied continuous- ly until his death, March 20, 1871, at an extreme old age. Here he soon became a prominent citi- zen. Though possessing a limited education, he was a man of superior intellectual force, and be- came a political leader of Choconut township. His early efforts, however, were applied in a business way. Upon his farm he erected a mill, and engaged extensively in lumbering, rafting the lumber down the Susquehanna river to eastern markets, and at the same time clearing up his farm. During the administration of President Jackson he was com- missioned postmaster of Choconut, a position he held continuously, and without reappointment, un- til his death, a period of forty-two years. At the time of his death he was believed to have been the only postmaster in the United States whose com- mission had a date so remote. In politics he was a Whig, and later a Republican, and in the affairs of his party he ever took an active part. In re- ligious belief he adhered to the Baptist faith, and his wife was also a consistent member of that Church. To Lewis and Nancy Chamberlin were born ten children who grew to mature age, as fol- lows :

(I) Albert, the eldest, born in Bennington, Vt., read law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1843. He located at Montrose, and was twice elected district attorney, serving from 1856 to 1862. He was jus- tice of the peace for many years, and was appointed revenue collector during President Grant's adminis- tration. Removing to Scranton, he died there in 1878. He married Miss Harriet Durbrow, who

still survives with one son, Edward, a business man of Scranton.

(2) Louisa, born in Choconut township, was well educated, and for years was an efficient public ·school teacher. She died, unmarried, in 1898.

(3) Otis K. received an excellent education, and when a young man opened a commercial coll- ege in Baltimore and one in Pittsburg. He studied medicine and practiced successfully for twenty years in New York City, being now an active prac- titioner in Dayton, Ohio. He married Miss Carrie Bolles, of New York City.

(4) Abigail in adult age became crippled by rheumatism, and has for many years been an invalid. She bears her deep affliction with patience and res- ignation, preserving through all her suffering the sweetness of her former disposition.

(5) Lydia A. was educated in the high schools of Harford, and is a graduate of Wyoming Semin- ary, Kingston, Penn. She had taught for a year or two after graduation when the Civil war broke out. Offering her services to the government as a nurse, they were accepted, and she served in the hospitals of Washington, New Haven, Chester, Penn., and at Fortress Monroe. She was on duty at Richmond, Va., when Lee surrendered. Return- ing home, she taught for several years, and when the Freedmen's Bureau was organized she accepted a position as teacher at Okolona, Miss., with her sister Carrie. After continuing devotedly in that service for five years she returned home, and at Choconut Valley opened a select school in one of the houses owned by her father, following this line of work until her death, in 1887. The attendance was often from sixty to seventy-five pupils. She was a lady of culture and many accomplishments, and among her attainments was the mastery of three languages. She was greatly beloved and most highly respected, for her kind disposition and use- ful life.

(6) Lewis is a resident of the old homestead. He married Miss Harriet Minkler, and has four children-James, George, Lottie (wife of George Acker, of Binghamton, N. Y.), and Ernest.

(7) Mary M. resides at the old homestead in Choconut. She attended the schools at Montrose and Harford, later graduating from Wyoming Sem- inary, Kingston. Her life was devoted to educa- tion, and for many years she taught in the higher schools of Montrose and Scranton, and had charge of the classical studies in the select school of Choco- nut Valley. In 1871 she succeeded her father in charge of the post office, and has ever since been postmistress, the office having thus been continu- ously in the family for a period of seventy years. She is lady of marked executive ability, possesses many rare and refining graces of character, and has won the hearts and the esteem of all who know her.

(8) Betsey was educated for the teacher's profession, and had taught for several terms when her untimely death, in 1860, cut short a promising and useful career.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(9) Benjamin moved West, and for some years worked in the silver mines of Nevada. Later he went to Texas, and there engaged in stock raising until his death, in 1873.

(10) Carrie received an excellent education in the schools of Montrose and Harford, where she made special preparation for teaching, her life vo- cation. She taught a number of terms in Pennsyl- vania and New York State, and in 1868 moved South for four years, laboring as a teacher among the freedmen of Mississippi. After her return she was engaged with ner sisters in the Choconut Val- ley school. She is a lady of gentleness and re- finement, whose life has been nobly spent in an un- selfish cause.

Rarely can a family be found that has made such devoted and generous contributions to educa- tion as that of Lewis Chamberlin. Though him- self ill-equipped, perhaps, to cope with the prob- lems of higher education, his mentality was vigor- ous, his heart was kind and generous, and in his own line of effort he won marked success, receiv- ing from his neighbors and friends the hearty love and esteem which was so justly his. But to the world he gave a family of children whose influence for the right and for progress has been almost in- calculable. To each he gave a liberal education, and of the ten seven became teachers. High tribute is due them for the unselfishness shown in their splendid careers, and the many hundreds of young men and women to whom they gave inspiration and direction toward the better life rise and call them blessed.

ERASTUS P. BRADFORD. The Bradford family comes of Puritan stock, and the subject' of this sketch, a prominent resident of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, is descended from the "Mayflower" pilgrim of that name.

I. William Bradford, Sr., married, June 21, 1584, Alice Hanson, daughter of John Hanson, of Yorkshire, England, and died July 15, 159I.

II. William2 Bradford, son of William and Alice (Hanson) Bradford, was born in 1588 at Chesterfield, baptized March 19, 1590, at Chester- field, admitted as a citizen of Leyden March 12, 1612. On November 13, 1613, he married Dorothy May, and they had four children born in England. On September 6, 1620, William Bradford embarked with his family on the "Mayflower," bound for America, and they came to anchor November II, near Cape Ann. While the vessel was lying at anchor, Dorothy, his wife, was accidentally drowned. They landed December 21, before which, on Decem- ber 7, the Colony was organized, John Carver be- ing chosen governor. He died in 1621, and William Bradford was chosen to succeed him. During the hardships the Colonists endured from exposure, want of food, etc., three of the governor's children sickened and died: the survivor, Joseph, was lost at sea in 1666. For his second wife Gov. William Bradford married, August 14, 1623, Widow Alice

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 103

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