Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 122

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 122
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 122
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 122
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 122

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WESLEY OSTERHOUT, one of the most successful business men of Harford township. Sus- quehanna county, is of Dutch descent, his grand- parents on both sides having emigrated from Hol- land to America before the revolt of the Colonies from Great Britain, and settled in Ulster county, N. Y. His maternal grandfather, Jacob Turner, who was a farmer, fought at Bunker Hill. His paternal grandfather was Philip Osterhout.

Our subject's father, Cornelius Osterhout, mar-

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ried Catherine Turner (named for her mother, Catherine Wood), and settled, with his family, at Great Bend, Susquehanna county, in 1840. He was a stone mason by trade, but misfortune overtook him in the loss of an arm, and he experienced some difficulty in keeping the wolf from his door. The family consisted of five sons and one daughter : Catherine lost her life through burning, while a child of four years; Jeremiah G. lived at Great Bend ; John H. is a farmer of Great Bend township; Abram C. died in 1899; Wesley is our subject ; and James T. died in 1899.

Wesley Osterhout was born near Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y., March 25, 1839, and was an in- fant in arms when his parents came to Pennsylvania to seek a new home and better fortune. It was there that, on December 14, 1861, he was married to Miss Eliza Vernooy, by whom he has had one child, Mattie, now the wife of E. J. Whitney, an undertaker, of Harford.

Like her husband, Mrs. Osterhout is of Dutch descent. Her paternal grandfather was Charles Vernooy, her mother's parents, Peter and Helena Kelder. All settled in Ulster county, N. Y. Her parents, John and Maria ( Kelder) Vernooy, took up their residence at Great Bend, Susquehanna county, in 1840, emigrating from the banks of the Hudson. She herself was born at the old home, August 1, 1837. Her father was a carpenter by trade, and in religious faith a consistent member of the M. E. Church. He died in 1882, at the age of seventy-six years, and his wife in 1862, in her forty-ninth year. Mr. Vernooy's remains rest at Columbus, Ohio, his wife's in a Susquehanna ceme- tery. Besides their daughter Eliza they had chil- dren as follows: Sarah, now Mrs. Thomas Donald- son, of Cincinnati; Catherine, who married Henry Haws, of Columbus, Ohio, and is deceased ; Georgi- ana, wife of James Burrell, of Susquehanna, Penn .; Melvina, married to Jefferson Batchelor, of Colum- bus, Ohio ; Maria, also residing at Columbus, and the wife of Perry Deunen ; Mary E., widow of Jeremiah Whipple, of Athens, Ohio; and Selvenus and Han- nah, both of whom died in childhood.

Owing to the straitened circumstances of his parents, entailed by his father's physical disability, Wesley Osterhout found it necessary to begin his actual battle with the world at the early age of twelve. His first employer was L. B. Crook, a wagonmaker, of Great Bend, with whom he re- mained for four years. Leaving Mr. Crook, he went to New Milford, where for ten months he devoted himself to the technical study of that trade. Returning to Great Bend he worked for twelve years as a journeyman, at the end of which period through industry and prudence, he had accumulated enough capital to remove to Harford and embark in business on his own behalf. He invested in im- proved machinery, and his sagacity and fidelity brought him prosperity. To-day he conducts a thoroughly-equipped shop for the manufacture of wagons and sleighs, a shingle and planing mill, be-

sides other minor branches of manufacturing carried on at the same plant.

Mr. Osterhout is widely and deservedly popu- lar. Of a tender heart and genial disposition, he readily wins friends and rarely loses them. In every relation of private and commercial life he has been tried, and in none has he been found wanting. As a son, he brought his mother, in 1864, to his home in Harford, where she was tenderly cared for until her death. As a father, his heart so yearned for the companionship of his daughter that he fol- lowed her and her husband to their Western home, to offer his son-in-law a half-interest in his busi- ness if he would return to the old home at Harford. In politics he is a Democrat, and by religious pro- fession a Universalist. Mrs. Osterhout, however, belongs to the Congregational Church.

JASPER J. SAVORY (deceased) was for many years one of the leading farmers and dairy- men of Jackson township, Susquehanna county, and left an honorable record, well worthy of per- petuation. He was born in that township, May 18, 1824, a son of John and Sophia ( Woodard) Savory, natives of Connecticut. On coming to Susque- hanna county, the father purchased land in Jackson township, and erected thereon a log house in which the family lived for many years, while he cleared and improved his farm. There he and his wife died many years ago. They were devout and earn- est Christians, lifelong members of the Baptist Church. To them were born four children, three of whom died young, our subject being the only one to reach years of maturity.

In his younger days Jasper J. Savory was a student in the district schools, and after reaching manhood he followed farming throughout his active business life. He first married Miss Permelia Lar- rabee, of Jackson township, and they began their domestic life on the old homestead, where she died April 21, 1850. Two children were born to them, both of whom died in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Savory married Miss Antoinette Burdick, by whom he had five daughters, namely : Ella, deceased wife of O. E. Barrett, of Jackson; Emma, wife of James Walters, of Iowa ; Mary, wife of O. C. Whit- ney, of Binghamton, N. Y .; Jennie, deceased wife of E. H. Estabrook, of Jackson; and Flora A., a resident of Binghamton. The mother of these chil- dren died September 14, 1867, and on August 15, 1868, Mr. Savory married Mrs. Sophia D. Tyler, nee Case, a daughter of Elam and Melita (Dow) Case, representatives of prominent pioneer fami- lies of Preston, Wayne Co., Penn. Mrs. Savory was born December 19, 1836, and was educated in the schools of that county, where she afterward taught for several terms. When a young lady she married Ellis J. Tyler, of Jackson township, Sus- quehanna county, where he died June 30, 1865, leaving a wife and one daughter, Flora A., who was well educated in the schools of Jackson and was one of the successful teachers of the county for a num-

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ber of years. She is now the wife of Frank Holmes, of Jackson, and has three children, Ralph, Ruth and Stewart. By his third union Mr. Savory had two sons, both born on the old homestead in Jackson township: (1) Judson J., the elder, was educated in the local schools, and is living on a place adjoin- ing the home farm. He married Miss Allie Larra- bee, of Jackson, a daughter of George V. and Viola Larrabee, and to them have been born two daugh- ters, Marie V. and Louise S. (2) Allison G. was also educated in the district schools, and is a very worthy young man, still at home.

Mr. Savory died on the old homestead Febru- ary 1, 1895. He was a man of the highest respecta- bility, and those who were most intimately associat- ed with him speak in unqualified terms of his sterl- ing integrity, his honor in business, and his fidelity to all the duties of public and private life. He was a self-made man in the highest sense of the term. Both he and his wife held membership in the Baptist Church, of which he was an officer for many years, and he took a leading part in the erection of the house of worship and the support of the Church. Politically he was identified with the Republican party, of which his sons are also supporters, and he held the offices of collector, overseer of the poor, school director, and other local positions. Mrs. Savory is an estimable lady, noted for her many sterling qualities and high Christian character, and has a large circle of friends in the community.

SAMUEL R. DE PUE (deceased) was a leading representative agriculturist of Franklin township, Susquehanna county. He was born in Sussex county, N. J., September 11, 1836, a son of Samuel and Jemima (Righter) De Pue, who spent their entire life in that county, engaged in farming. The father was born February 15, 1789, and died May 25, 1845, while the mother was born October 20, 1802, and died September 12, 1847. In their family were four children, namely: Eliza- beth, deceased wife of Jackson Dennis ; Keron, wife of David Shay, of Jessup township, Susquehanna county ; Samuel R., our subject ; and Jane, wife of Robert Pettitt, of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Samuel R. De Pue came to Susquehanna coun- ty about 1856, and first located in Jessup township, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, but after his marriage he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, locating upon the present homestead of the family in 1865. To the further improvement and cultivation of his farm he devoted his energies until called from this life, March 3, 1874, his re- mains being interred in Fairdale cemetery. In po- litical sentiment he was first a Democrat, and later a Republican. He was an earnest and faithful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his in- fluence was great, and always for good. His sym- pathy. his benevolence and kindly greeting will long be remembered. His duties were performed with the greatest care, and throughout his life his per- sonal honor and integrity were without blemish.

On October 2, 1858, in Jessup township, Mr. De Pue married Miss Phobe Gunn, and of the children born to them, Ada and Melvina both died young; Priscilla is now the wife of Calvin Peck, of Frank- lin township; Minerva is the wife of Charles Palm- er, of Franklin township; and Ogden is mentioned below. Mrs. De Pue is also a native of Sussex county, N. J., and a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Ogden) Gunn, of Sussex county, who came to Susquehanna county, Penn., in 1840, and settled in Jessup township, where her father followed farm- ing throughout the remainder of his life. He died in 1856, at the age of sixty-two years, the mother in 1854, at the age of sixty-three, both being laid to rest in Jessup township. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and most esti- mable people. To them were born the following children: Experience, wife of Joseph Frud, of Franklin township; Elizabeth, wife of Ephraim Farot, of Colorado; William and Jacob E., both resi- dents of New Milford township, Susquehanna coun- ty ; Isaac, a resident of Michigan; Sarah, deceased ; Ephraim, who died in New Jersey ; Susan, deceased ; Samuel, a resident of Michigan ; Hannah, deceased ; Theodore, who also make his home in Michigan ; Mary A., wife of Isaac Krane, of Nicholson, Penn .; Joshua, a resident of Michigan ; and Phœbe, widow of our subject.

OGDEN DE PUE, one of the most enterprising and energetic farmers of Franklin township, was born December 7, 1867, on the old homestead, and he now resides about two miles distant, on a farm he has purchased. He has always remained with his mother, with the exception of two years spent in the West, being in Michigan and Iowa for nine months each, and the remainder of the time in Montana. There his time was devoted to travel- ing, cooking, farming, etc., and since his return home in 1888 he has followed agricultural pursuits uninterruptedly, with most gratifying success. He placed the farm under a high state of cultivation, and made many improvements which aud to its value and attractive appearance.

Ogden De Pue was married, in October, 1890, to Miss Hattie Peirson, and to them was born one daughter, Mabel, who died in infancy. Mrs. De Pue was born in Franklin township, August 6, 1860, the only child of Nathaniel H. and Margaret J. ( Beebe) Peirson. Her father came from New Jersey during childhood to Franklin township, Sus- quehanna Co., Penn., where he engaged in farming and shoemaking throughout his active business life. He was born August 3, 1824, and died August II, 1860, being laid to rest in Liberty township. The mother was born January 2, 1827, in Pennsyl- vania, and died February 12, 1875, her remains be- ing interred in Franklin township. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics Mr. Peirson was a Republi- can. His parents, John and Betsey ( Talmage) Peirson, were natives of New Jersey, and came to Susquehanna county at an early day. Mrs. De

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Pue's maternal grandparents, Harry and Oril ( Waller ) Beebe, were natives of Windsor and Wilkes Barre, Penn., respectively, and took up their residence in Franklin township, Susquehanna county, in 1833, there spending the remainder of their lives on a farm.

ONEY ROUNDS ( deceased ) was prominently identified with the carly development and upbuild- ing of Clifford township, Susquehanna county, and always bore his part in advancing any enterprise for the public good. He was public-spirited and pro- gressive, and in his death the community realied that it had lost one of its valued and useful citizens. Mr. Rounds was born in Foster, R. I., February 10, 1828, and in 1831 was brought to Susquehanna county by his parents, Jeremiah and Phoebe ( Salis- bury ) Rounds, who located on the farm in Clifford township where the widow of our subject now re- sides. Here they continued to make their home throughout the remainder of their lives, and here the father died in December, 1871, at the age of seventy- one years. The mother departed this life in Septem- ber, 1878, at the age of seventy-five, while on a visit to Benton Center, Lackawanna county, and was laid to rest by his side in the Rounds cemetery. Their children were Lucy, deceased wife of Henry Whit- man ; Henry, deceased, who married Mary Bran- nard; Sarah, widow of John Higgs, and a resident of Denver, Colo .; Oney, our subject; Elmira, de- ceased, who was married three times ; Phoebe, de- ceased wife of Andrew Young; and Alphonso, who married Matilda Holford, and lives in Denver.

Oney Rounds remained on the old homestead, aiding in its operation, until 1855, when he removed to another farm in Clifford township, one and a half miles from his old home, and lived there until 1871. He then returned to the old homestead, where he spent the remainder of luis life. In connection with farming he operated a sawmill, and manufactured the lumber for and helped build the first house in Forest City. His farm comprised 150 acres of val- uable land, fifteen acres of which have since been sold. He was a worthy representative of the hardy pioneers who did so much toward transforming Clifford township into a productive farming dis- trict. With his parents and family he made the journey from Connecticut to this State with an ox- team, and in the midst of an almost unbroken wil- derness they built their log cabin, and began to clear and improve a farm. Mr. Rounds was an industri- ous, hard-working man, and became a citizen of considerable prominence, one whose word was con- sidered as good as his bond. In his political views he was a Republican. He died July 25, 1899, hon- ored and respected by all who knew him, and was laid to rest in the Rounds burying-ground.

Mr. Rounds was married, in Greenfield town- ship, Lackawanna Co., Penn., January 9, 1851, to Miss Emaline J. Youngs, who was born in that county, May 5, 1832, a daughter of James and Re- becca (Simons) Youngs, natives of Rhode Island

and early settlers of Lackawanna county. She died April 20, 1861, and was buried in the Rounds cem- etery. The children born of this union were Frank, who married Alice Crandall, and follows farming in Elkdale, Clifford township; Elnora, wife of Charles A. Davis, a farmer of Clifford township; Stephen, who died of scarlet fever February 24, 1860; William, who died of that disease at the same time ; and Mamie, wife of M. D. Daniel, a clerk and farmer of Richmond Dale, Susquehanna county.

On December 13, 1865, Mr. Rounds was united in marriage with Mrs. Ann R. (Davis) Youngs, by whom he had five children: (I) Oney T., born July 18, 1868, is a young man of good business abil- ity, and now successfully operates the home farm. He married Mattie J. Breece, and they have had four children, Edna A., Letson, Rexford E., and Gaylord (deceased). (2) Walter D., born Octo- ber 29, 1870, married Kate Carpenter, by whom he has one child, Anna, and they live in Carbondale, Penn. He is a brakeman for the D. & H. Co. (3) Jesse J., born July 5, 1873, is a telegraph operator in Carbondale. He married Stella Sherman, and has three children, Ruby L., Sherman P. and Gladdys. (4) Jason D., born June 25, 1876, married Minnie Bass, and follows farming in Clifford town- ship. (5) Bessie E., born October 6, 1878, is the wife of H. W. Robinson, a traveling salesman, who lives with Mrs. Rounds on the home farm, and they · have two children, Thomas O. and Walter W.

Mrs. Rounds was born in Sterling Hill, Conn., February 5, 1836, and first married Stephen Youngs. Her parents, Barney and Betsv ( Thomas) Davis, spent all but five years of their lives in Rhode Island. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died December 13, 1887, aged seventy-five years, and the mother September 5, 1892, aged ninety years. To them were born the following children: Almira, deceased wife of William Baker ; William, a farmer of Rhode Island; Sarah, wife of Jeremiah Fiske, of that State; Phoebe, deceased wife of George Woodmansee; Elizabeth, who died at the age of sixteen years ; George, deceased ; Ann R., now Mrs. Rounds ; Joseph, a carpenter of Rhode Island ; John, a miner of California; and Charles, a farmer of Clifford township.

WATKIN W. WATKINS (deceased) was throughout his active business life prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Clifford township, Susquehanna county, and was one of the leading citizens of his community. He was born November 20, 1834, on the farm where his entire life was passed, and where his widow still resides, being the first child of Welsh parents born in Clif- ford township or the Welsh settlement there.

Mr. Watkins' parents, Thomas and Hannah (Edmonds) Watkins, were both natives of Wales, and in that country were married, in 1828. Four years later they came to the New World, and for one year the father was employed on the Delaware river. They then removed to Carbondale, Penn.,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

where he worked in the mines from 1833 to 1849, though his family came to Clifford township, Sus- quehanna county, and his farm was operated by hired labor. For four months he was engaged in mining in Schuylkill county, and having had the mis- fortune to lose a leg in the mines was obliged to re- tire from that occupation, turning his attention to agricultural pursuits upon the home farm. His first purchase consisted of fifty acres, of which only one acre had been cleared, and a log cabin erected thereon, but he increased his landed possessions un- til he had seventy acres of fine farming land. He was not only the founder of the Welsh settlement in Clifford township, but was also one of the origin- al promoters of the Welsh Congregational Church, was elected deacon on its organization, and served as such for many years. He was an upright, hon- orable man, who had the confidence of all who knew him, and he was elected to the office of tax collector. While working in the mines in Wales he was quite badly burned in an explosion. He was born March 3, 1803, and died May 26, 1870, and his wife was born January 1, 1800, and died August 9, 1887, the remains of both being interred in the Welsh cemetery. Their children were Catherine C., now the widow of Thomas H. Eynon, of Bangor, Wis .; Ann, who died young; Watkin W., our sub- ject ; Mary, who was born in 1837, and died unmar- ried in 1865; Evan, who, like his sister, died of typhoid fever in 1865; and John, a farmer of Clif- ford township. Our subject's paternal grandpar- ents, Watkin and Mary Watkins, and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Evan Edmonds, were all lifelong residents of Wales.

Upon the old homestead in Clifford township Watkin W. Watkins grew to manhood, and in Uniondale, Penn., he was married, May 22, 1889, to Miss Marietta Craft, a native of Harpersfield, Delaware Co., N. Y., of which county her parents, Rebuen and Jane (Conrow) Craft, were also na- tives. Her father was born in Roxbury, in March, 1823, and in January, 1855, removed to Jefferson, Schoharie Co., N. Y., where he still resides. By occupation he is a farmer. He is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a Republican in politics, and has filled several township offices of honor and trust. His wife died in Jefferson, Jan- uary 19, 1899, aged sixty-eight years and seven months. The children born to them were Marietta, now Mrs. Watkins; Lafayette, a physician of Her- rick Center, Penn .; Leroy, a farmer of Worcester, N. Y .; Wesley, who has not been heard from since nineteen years of age ; and Fenton, a hardware mer- chant of Jefferson, N. Y. Mrs. Watkins' paternal grandfather, William Craft, was a native of Co- lumbia county, N. Y., and a son of Jacob Craft, who was born in Connecticut and took an active part in the Revolutionary war.

After attaining to man's estate Mr. Watkins successfully operated the home farm, being a skill- ful and thorough agriculturist, possessed of good business ability, and he became one of the well-to-

do citizens, as well as one of the representative men, of his community. He held several township offices, and always gave his political support to the men and measures of the Republican party. He died Feb- ruary II, 1898, and was laid to rest in Welsh Hill cemetery. His wife, who is a capable business woman and excellent financier, has since success- fully managed the farm, and has gained the respect and esteem of all who know her.

JAMES S. GALE, for several years prior to his death, on May 2, 1899, the able and popular postmaster at Milford, Pike county, was one of the leading Democrats of his section, and for years his influence was a recognized factor in local political movements.

Mr. Gale was born May 5, 1852, in Dublin, Ireland, son of Michael and Jane (Aunger) Gale. The father, who held a government office at Lambay Island, Ireland, and was a prominent citizen of that locality, died in 1853, in early manhood. The widowed mother came to America in 1854, accom- panied by her mother and our subject, and after spending some years in New York City removed to Hoboken, N. J., where she died in 1882, aged eighty years. After coming to America she married Thomas Foster, a native of London, England, who was then engaged in the lithographic business in New York City, and also owned coal mines in Cen- tre county, Penn., being for many years prominent in business life. His last days were spent in retire- ment, his death occurring in 1895, when he was aged eighty. By this union there were five chil- dren: Thomas and Jennie (twins), who died in childhood; Lucy, who did not live to maturity ; Susan, wife of A. H. Wolff, a graduate of Steven's College, at Hoboken, N. J .; and Dorothy, wife of Charles L. Griffin, a resident of Brooklyn, who is engaged in business in Wall street, New York.

Our subject, who was the only child of his mother's first marriage, was but little over one year old when he crossed the ocean. He remained in New York City about nine years, and then went to Syra- cuse, N. Y., in 1870 coming to this section to make his home with an uncle, Peter Dunn, a farmer of Dingman township, Pike county. He had already enjoyed good educational advantages, and for six terms taught successfully in the schools of the lo- cality, his fine talents and aptitude for public life soon leading him into prominence in local politics. In 1884 he was elected commissioner of Pike county, and at the expiration of his term was re-elested. He then accepted an appointment as commissioner's clerk, but on December 1, 1893, resigned to take charge of the post office at Milford, a third-class office. Mr. Gale was popular socially as well as in political circles, and was an active member of Milford Lodge, I. O. O. F. He was unmarried.

WILLIAM BURROWS (deceased) was one of the honored and highly-esteemed citizens of Franklin Forks, Susquehanna county, where he suc-

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cessfully carried on operations as a farmer for many years. He was a native of England, born in Lov- ington, Somersetshire, in July, 1812.

In his native land our subject married Miss Elizabeth Long, who died at Franklin Forks, Penn., in June, 1879, at the age of seventy years, and was laid to rest in Lawsville cemetery. Of the five chil- dren born to this union, the only survivor is Alvin, who married Fanny Eastman, and now lives at Grand Forks, N. Dak., where he is engaged in busi- ness as a loan agent ; he is a veteran of the Civil war. Elizabeth and Susan both died young, and Emma and Henrietta are also deceased.

In 1840 Mr. Burrows, accompanied by his wife and two children, emigrated to the New World, lo- cating in Susquehanna county, Penn., and engaging in the cultivation of berries for some time. He then removed to Franklin Forks and turned his attention to general farming, in which he met with well-de- served success. He was one of the prominent and influential citizens of the community, and was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he belonged, and of which he was a trus- tee for many years. He voted the Republican ticket, and gave a liberal support to all measures which he believed calculated to advance the moral or social welfare of his community or the general public. He passed away at the present home of the family, at Franklin Forks, December 21, 1892, and his remains were interred in Lawsville cemetery.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 122

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