Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 128

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 128
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 128
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 128
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 128

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In 1885 Mr. Resseguie was elected a member of the State Legislature, serving with credit to himself and to the full satisfaction of his constitu- ents. He is a man of wide popularity, and has held almost all the local offices, including that of school director for six years. He is a prominent member of A. J. Ropper Post No. 452, G. A. R., at South Gibson. In politics he is a strong Re- publican, in religious affiliation an active member of the M. E. Church of South Gibson. He has been especially active in the Harford Agricultural Soci- ety, of which he has served sixteen years as general superintendent, four years as vice-president, and two years as president.

NORMAN E. TRAVIS stands prominent among the well-to-do agriculturists of Auburn town- ship, Susquehanna county, where he has had his home for a number of years. He was born Octo- ber 7, 1846, at Meshoppen, Wyoming county, this State, son of James B. and Catherine (Wilcox) Travis, who were natives of Abington, Penn., and New York State, respectively.

Mr. Travis' grandfather, Zebulon Travis, was a native of Connecticut, and a farmer by occupation. He died at Abington, Luzerne Co., Penn. His fa- ther, James B. Travis, born October 6, 1810, was also a farmer, and in an early day settled in Wyo- ming county, where he died March 26, 1859. He was buried near the West Nicholson church. For his first wife he married Phoebe Featherby, by whom he had three children: Eliza A., who mar- ried Jonas Stanton ; Elizabeth, who did not marry ; and Phobe C., wife of John Kaufman, all now deceased. His second wife was Mrs. Catherine (Wilcox) Palmatier, widow of John Palmatier, who had four children by her first marriage: Rebecca, deceased; Henry, a farmer of Chenango county, N. Y .; Isaac, of Scranton, Penn .; and Cal- ista, Mrs. Jacob Palmer, deceased. Her parents, Isaac and Freelove Wilcox, came from New York State

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to Pennsylvania, settling at Peckville, Luzerne coun- tv. To James B. and Catherine Travis were born three children : Norman E. ; Benjamin F., a miner, who was killed in 1898 in a rock cut at Scranton, Penn. ; and Freelove A., wife of Norman S. Brown, a farmer and beeman of Springville township (he has 105 colonies of bees). The parents were act- ive members of the M. E. Church. Mrs. Travis came to Susquehanna county with her son Norman E. in the spring of 1877, and remained here until her death, which occurred April 10, 1889; she was laid to rest in Newton cemetery, in Dimock town- ship. She was born March 30, 1809.

Norman E. Travis received his education in the public schools in the neighborhood of his boy- hood home, but he spent the greater part of his time on the farm, becoming skilled in agricultural work of all kinds at an early age. When fourteen years of age he began to support himself, working for farmers and on public works, and during the winter time in the lumber woods, continuing thus until his marriage, since when he has devoted him- self exclusively to farming. He rented land for nineteen years, and in the spring of 1877 came to Susquehanna county, for nine years residing in Dimock township. On January 1, 1889, he pur- chased his present property in Auburn township, which comprises eighty-eight and one-half acres, and he has become well known in the neighborhood for his progress and thrift, deriving a good income from his farm as a result of judicious and capable management. Mr. Travis has always been identi- fied with the best interests of the community, and while in Dimock township he served for six years as school director, during five years of that time acting as secretary of the board. However, he has given strict attention to his private affairs, and is not an office-seeker. His political support is given to the Democratic party.

On April 1, 1871, Mr. Travis was married, in Auburn township, to Miss Lucy B. Robbins, and they have had two children, Harry J. and Lena M., both of whom are still with their parents. The family are prominent members and workers of the M. E. Church, of which Mr. Travis has been stew- .

ard for four terms, at different times. While in Dimock he was class-leader for four years.

Mrs. Lucy B. ( Robbins) Travis was born Oc- tober II, 1850, in Montrose, Penn. Her grand- parents, Ephraim and Jane ( Wright) Robbins, were natives of New Jersey and Philadelphia, Penn., respectively, and came to Susquehanna county in 1830, passing the remainder of their days here. They were farming people. They located three miles east of Montrose, where she died in 1852, and Ephraim Robbins subsequently removed to Jessup township, where his death occurred in 1865, when he was sixty-seven years of age. They had a fam- ily of four children : Mary, Mrs. William Melmish, deceased ; Isaac W., father of Mrs. Travis ; Elisha, deceased ; and Henry, living retired in Bridgewa-

ter township. Isaac W. Robbins was born in Tren- ton. N. J., September 20, 1818, came to Susquehanna county with his parents, and here married Miss Lucy A. Day, a native of the county, daughter of Robert and Lucy ( Bush) Day; they were born in Rhode Island and Susquehanna county, Penn., re- spectively, and both died in Susquehanna county, where Mr. Day was engaged in farming. To Isaac W. and Lucy A. Robbins were born three children : Frank, who is a railroad engineer of Susquehanna, Penn. ; Lucy B., Mrs. Travis ; and Charles F., de- ceased, of Susquehanna county. The mother passed away in Auburn township in August, 1870, at the age of fifty-two years, and her remains rest in the Bunnell cemetery. The father, who is now retired, makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Travis. He was a farmer and stone mason by occupation, and he is highly respected by all who know him.

SIMON MARCY. The man who possesses strong convictions, and lives up to them, not only gets more out of life than the individual of looser principles, but his influence in the community in which he lives is infinitely superior. Simon Marcy, the subject of this sketch, evidently believes in well- doing, both in conduct and in the practical duties of life. Even a cursory inspection of his well-tilled acres reveals the presence of the principle that what- ever is worth doing is worth doing well. He has built miles of wall, he has greatly increased and im- proved his possessions, he has exemplified in a most admirable manner the advantages of thoroughness as applied to farming.

The family ranks among the pioneers of north- eastern Pennsylvania. John Marcy, the grandfa- ther of our subject, was a resident of Wyoming county. Simon Marcy, his father, was born in Wyoming county in 1812. He was reared on the farm. married Esther Phillips, and followed farm- ing until his death, which occurred at the age of twenty-eight years. His three children were: Olive, who died young ; Angeline, wife of J. T. Bennett, of Lenox township; and Simon, our sub- ject.

The latter was born in Lenox township May 17, 1839. He received a good common-school ed- ucation, and at the age of sixteen began working in the lumber woods in Lenox township. Three years later he came into the possession of a farm left by his father. Mr. Marcy was married to Miss D. Clarinda Phillips, and has ever since engaged in farming in Lenox township. The original farm of seventy-five acres has been increased to 222 acres, about 125 acres of which is cleared, and the lumber- ing is chiefly the result of Mr. Marcy's labors. Be- sides general farming our subject is interested in dairying and in market gardening. He is not with- out his experiences in a business way, having trav- eled for several years as salesman for washing ma- chines, etc. In politics Mr. Marcy is a Republican, but has never sought office. To Mr. and Mrs.

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Marcy have been born thirteen children, nine of whom survive; their names and dates of birth, etc., are as follows: Sidney, July 7, 1859; Emily, Feb- ruary 21, 1860; Fernando, March 5, 1863 (died August 5, 1863) ; Ferdinand, September 18, 1864; Nellie, March 10, 1867; James, August 13, 1868; Olive, June 12, 1870; Russel, December 8, 1872; Wellington and Walter, twins, December 21, 1874 (the former died March 16, 1876, the latter March 7, same year) ; Helen, November 12, 1877 ; Harry, October 14, 1879; Oscar, April 16, 1882 (died March 14, 1883).

THOMAS CAMERON. When twelve years of age the subject of this sketch came with his par- ents to Susquehanna county from his native city, Newburgh, N. Y., and here he has ever since re- mained, except when in the army during the Civil war. John Cameron, father of our subject, pur- chased the hotel property in the northeastern part of Lenox township, and the name of Cameron's Corners still clings to the place. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of Scotland, and removed to the North of Ireland. There John Cameron, the father of our subject, was born. At the age of twenty-one he emigrated to America, and secured employment in Newburgh, Orange Co., N. Y., there marrying Mary Moore, who when a babe had been brought by her parents to America from Ireland, her native land. John Cameron removed from Newburgh, N. Y., to Lenox township, Sus- quehanna county, in 1852, and for many years con- ducted a hotel at Cameron's Corners. For three years prior to his death, in 1887, at the age of eighty- two years, he lived in Harford township, where he owned a farm of fifty acres. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. His widow now lives with our 'subject. The eight children of John and Mary Cameron were Thomas, our subject ; John, a carpen- ter of Wilcox, Elk county; Ellen, who married George Dun, of Lenox township, and is now de- ceased ; William, of Brooklyn township; Mary, wife of John Adams, of Kingsley; Sarah, who married G. W. Howell, of Carbondale; James, of Harford ; and Robert, a dentist of Meshoppen.

Thomas Cameron, our subject, was born in Newburgh, N. Y., November 18, 1840, and when twelve years old came with his parents to Susque- hanna county. He received a good common-school education. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in Com- pany B, 177th P. V. I., serving about ten months, and after being mustered out, in August, 1863, he was in the government service for about eighteen months. At the close of the war he returned to Susquehanna county and engaged in carpenter and blacksmith work at Cameron's Corners until 1869, when he purchased a farm of eighty-one acres, about two-thirds of which was improved. He erected a home, cleared the remainder of the farm. and has since engaged successfully in general and dairy farming.

Mr. Cameron was married in South Gibson township, December 26, 1869, to Miss Sarah Wil- son, daughter of Peter Wilson, of Dallas, Luzerne county. To our subject and wife have been born the following named children: Byron T., a farmer of Lenox township : Jennie E., wife of J. E. Corey, of Lenox township; Gertrude M., at home ; and Albert J., at home. In politics Mr. Cameron is a Demo- crat. He is not an office-seeker, but for eighteen years has been postmaster at Lenox. He is a mem- ber of Capt. Lyons Post No. 85, G. A. R., and is one of the substantial and enterprising men of the township.

JOHN A. McCONNELL, an enterprising ag- riculturist of New Milford township, Susque- hanna county, is the first man in that locality to make a specialty of growing berries for the mar- ket, and his success demonstrates the advantage of seeking new lines of effort instead of adhering closely to the old ways.

Mr. McConnell was born December 25, 1840, in Bangor, County Down, Ireland, and is a repre- sentative of the Scotch-Irish race which has pro- duced so many able and energetic workers in vari- ous lines. John McConnell, his grandfather, was a farmer in the North of Ireland,, and he and his wife, Sarah (McCollough), died there many years ago. David McConnell, the father of our subject, was born and reared in the North of Ireland, and was married there to Catherine McKee, daughter of John McKee, a weaver and farmer. Their chil- dren were all born in Ireland. In April, 1853, our subject's parents left the old home for America, and for a number of years they resided on a farm in Harford township, Susquehanna county. The father lost his eyesight in his later years, causing his retirement, and he passed away February 22, 1878, at the age of seventy-nine years, while on a visit to our subject. The mother died March 6, 1893, aged ninety, while visiting her daughter, Mrs. H. B. Tiffany, of Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, and the remains of both now rest in the cemetery at New Milford. While in Ireland they united with the Presbyterian Church, and through- out their lives they commanded the respect of all who knew them by their consistent following of the Christian faith. They had a large family of chil- dren, as follows: Margaret, who married James Alexander, and died at Harford; Joseph, who died at the age of two years ; John A., our subject ; Hugh, a farmer and blacksmith in Harford township; twin of Hugh, deceased in infancy; David, a harness maker at New Milford ; and Elizabeth, who married H. B. Tiffany, a farmer at Kingsley, Pennsylvania.

Our subject's youth was spent mainly in assist- ing his father in the work of the home farm, and at the age of twenty-five he took charge of the place for one year. He then operated the Nathan Aldrich farm, in Brooklyn township, for one year, and on March 28, 1868, he took possession of his present homestead, an attractive farm of fifty-two acres.

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As a good citizen he takes an intelligent interest in local affairs, is an active worker in the Republican organization, and has served two years as township assessor and held the office of school director for part of a term, resigning to take that of poor com- missioner, which he held for six years. Socially he and his family are prominent, and he is a leading member of the Methodist Church at New Milford, having served as trustee for many years. On Feb- ruary 14, 1866, he was married at Harford to Miss Ellen A. Aldrich, and two children have blessed the union : Nellie A. was a successful school teacher, having taught eight years prior to her marriage, June 28, 1899, to Joseph Mathews. Elmer F., resid- ing in New Milford township, married Bertha Mat- hews, and they have three children, Nelson John, Harold C., and Ellen Fay.

Mrs. Ellen A. ( Aldrich) McConnell, to whose efficient aid much of her husband's success is due, was born March 1, 1843, in Harford township, Susquehanna county. She comes of good New England stock, her paternal grandfather, Nathan Aldrich, having been a native of New Hampshire, while his wife, Betsey Wheelock, was born in Mas- sachusetts. They came to Susquehanna county in 1814, with little or no capital, and after residing in Harford township for a few years settled in Brooklyn township, where they acquired a large estate. The grandmother died in 1869, in Susque- hanna county, and the grandfather married, for his second wife, a Mrs. Appley. Alanson Aldrich, the father of Mrs. McConnell, was born in Massa- chusetts, and came to Susquehanna county at the age of seven. He became a successful agriculturist, and died in Harford township, April 19, 1873, at the age of sixty-six. He was married in that town- ship to Miss Electa Loomis, a native of Coventry, Conn., born August 18, 1815, who when eight years old came to this section in 1823 with her parents, Eldad and Fannie (Jeffers) Loomis, to settle upon a farm in Harford township. She died March -26, 1895, her remains being interred in Harford town- ship beside those of her husband. Mrs. McCon- nell was the eldest of a large family of children. Of the others, Frank E. died in Harford township, aged twenty ; Edna married Emerson C. Caperon, a farmer in Harford township; Lucy married C. A. Sterns, of Harford; Alvin, who married Emma Clark, of Sullivan county, Penn., is a stock dealer in New Milford; Fanny married B. C. Tourje, a farmer near New Milford; and William died at the age of three months.

GILES L. LEWIS. The sight of the high mountains and lofty hills naturally inspires high am- bitions, and the necessity of carving out one's own future amid such surroundings tends to build char- acters strong and simple and noble. Giles L. Lewis was born in Harford township, Susquehanna coun- ty, March 1, 1825, a son of Giles and Roxanna L. (Hammond) Lewis.

Giles Lewis, Sr., was born March 10, 1795, and ini carly manhood became one of the soldiers in the war of 1812-a war that settled forever the inde- pendence of the United States. On January 13, 1820, Mr. Lewis was wedded to Roxanna L. Ham- mond, who was born November 30, 1804, and died in 1882. To this union came seven children : Mary A., born March 6, 1821 ; Samuel H., born April 2, 1823 ; Giles L. ; Roxanna C., born January 15, 1828; Elgiva O., born January 3, 1830; Ephraim W., born January 17, 1834; and Sally E., born June 6, 1836, all of whom except Sally are now deceased. After the death of her father Mrs. Lewis married Job Benson, who died in 1877.

Giles L. Lewis, the third child in the above- named family, received his education in the com- mon schools of the day. He remained at home until he was twenty-one, becoming a thorough ag- riculturist under the tuition of his father and the neighbors for whom he occasionally worked. He also learned the carpenter's trade, and followed it for many years. Many of the buildings in that vicinity have been the work of his hands, and the home now occupied by his widow was built for their home when they were married. He toiled faithfully in the daytime, but when the evening shadows fell, and the time was all his own, the na- ture of the man was made manifest, and he passed the time in reading and study, finally beginning the study of law. He continuing carpentering up to 1868, but early in the 'sixties he took up law and surveying as a business, and about 1868-1869 he started a general store and was appointed postmas- ter under Grant. This office he held through the changing administrations until 1884, when the Dem- ocratic party came into power. In 1884 he gave up the store to his sons Charles M. and Frank W., who still continue the business. In addition to his other affairs Mr. Lewis also bought and sold land and loaned money. His position in the legal world was the natural outcome of his own efforts. For thirty- three years he held the office of justice of the peace, and in all those years he had but one decision re- versed. The same carefulness that characterized his management of his own affairs was given to all the work entrusted to him. He was the executor for a large number of estates, and served as guard- ian for several children. In the political world Giles L. Lewis was a powerful factor. He was identified with the Republican party, and was ever found a clear-headed adviser, and his uncompromis- ing integrity made him at once loyal to his party and to his manhood. He held at different times every office in the township, and after he had labored unceasingly for the erection of Thompson borough he became its first burgess. He served as delegate to county and State conventions, and constantly used his influence to the furthering of wise legisla- tion.

On April 24, 1853. Giles L. Lewis was united in marriage with Miss Augusta M. Salsbury, and

M. S. Sociais

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the young couple went at once to the home built by Mr. Lewis. Four children gladdened their home: (1) James L., born March 28, 1854, died in in- fancy. (2) Charles M., born October 21, 1858, was educated in the common schools, and now, in partnership with his brother, owns the store. He married, on October 21, 1881, Bessie Leonard. In politics he is a Republican. (3) Sudie, born Jan- uary 21, 1861, died February 16, 1864. (4) Frank W., born May 21, 1870, was educated in the public schools, and also took a course in business col- lege at Binghamton, N. Y. He is now one of the partners in the store. For a time he, too, followed in the political footsteps of his father, but of late has been identified with the Prohibition party ; he is now serving as school director and auditor. On October 16, 1894, he wedded Miss Bertha Clark, a native of Green Grove, Penn., and they have become the parents of two children-Willard, born April 4, 1897, and Florence, born February 22, 1899. On July 21, 1898, Giles L. Lewis was killed by falling under a train, as he was attempting to climb over. His death was looked upon as a public calamity- and many expressions of sympathy were extended the bereaved family. A firm friend, a kind husband and father, a loyal citizen, he was a man who met every issue squarely and unflinchingly, and when the end came, so suddenly and so swiftly, men of all classes came to pay their tribute of respect to his upright character.

Mrs. Augusta M. (Salsbury) Lewis was born February 13, 1834, in Harmony township, Susque- hanna county, a daughter of Joel and Aurelia (Stod- dard) Salsbury, the former of whom, a farmer by occupation, was born April 9, 1807, in Great Bend township, and died December 12, 1889. The mother was born April 23, 1814, at Great Barring- ton, Mass., and died February 12, 1871. They were the parents of seven children: Augusta M. was the eldest; Caroline L., born December 31, 1837, married E. E. Dow, and lives in California ; Frances E., born July 10, 1840, married Thomas Slanton, a farmer, and died November 15, 1892; Stanley G., born June 15, 1843, died in April, 1899; Alford O., born June 26, 1846, is a blacksmith at Thompson, Penn. ; Milo O., born October 24, 1849, died April 8, 1872; Lillie B. married Florence Silsby, and lives in Nebraska.

ALFORD B. LINABERRY, one of the most active, prominent and enterprising citizens of Rush township, Susquehanna county, with whose agricul- tural interests he is closely identified, was born in Warren county, N. J., February 15, 1841, a son of Joseph D. and Mary C. (Gardner) Linaberry, also natives of Warren county, the former born September 9, 1811, the latter June 8, 1812. They were married April 27, 1833, and continued to make their home in the county of their nativity until coming to Susque- hanna county, Penn., in 1851, locating on the farm in Auburn township where their son William B. 35

now resides. There the mother died May 23, 1853, and was buried in Jersey Hill cemetery. In con- nection with farming and dairying, the father con- ducted a hotel at Auburn Four Corners for three years, from 1878 to 1881, and in 1886 came to Rush township, where he passed away in April, 1891 ; his remains were interred in Jersey Hill cemetery, Auburn township. By his first marriage he had ten children, as follows: Emma E., born January 31, 1834, lives with her brother William B. in Auburn township; John L., born April 4, 1836, died in that township at the age of fifty-eight years; William B., born December 16, 1837, was formerly engaged in the gristmill business for thirteen years, but now owns and operates a farm of 165 acres in Auburn township; Mark G., born December 24, 1839, died young ; Alford B., our subject, is next in the order of birth; Theodore C., born February 4, 1844, is a retired farmer of Auburn township; Alson Marshall, born September 22, 1846, is a farmer of Rush town- ship; Mary C., born May 12, 1848, is the wife of Baltus Titman, a grocer of Wilkes Barre, Penn .; Josephus, born May 2, 1850, is a farmer of Auburn township; Letitia, born September II, 1852, mar- ried Marvin Bennett, of Auburn township, and died in 1898. On August 28, 1858, the father married for his second wife Mrs. Mary (Hay) Hibbard, who died in 1865, leaving three children : Merilda, born October 9, 1859, is the wife of John Bennett, a grocer and restaurant man of Wilkes Barre, Philip B., born March 6, 1862, is a farmer of Dimock township, Susquehanna county ; and Evaline, born January 10, 1864, is the wife of Miner Manning, of Rush township. The paternal grandparents of our subject, John and Elisabeth (Kishpaugh) Lina- berry, spent their entire lives engaged in farming in Warren county, N. J. The maternal grandpar- ents, David and Mary Gardner, were natives of Connecticut, of which State they were lifelong resi- dents. They were also agriculturists.

Alford B. Linaberry was a lad of ten years when he came with his parents to Susquehanna county. With the exception of one year spent in Oakland county, Mich., when twenty-one years of age, he remained on the home farm until his mar- riage, on November 2, 1867, at the home of the bride in Auburn township, to Miss Sarah C. L. Lott. They have become the parents of three chil- dren, namely : Preston, born November 10, 1868, married Agnes Lehman, and lives in Rush town- ship; they have one child, Clark E., born January 30, 1892. Lelia, born December 25, 1870, is the wife of Augustus Crissman, a farmer of Auburn township, and has two children, Beatrice A., born January 16, 1896; and Myron H., born May 7, 1897. Lovina, born December 25, 1872, is the wife of Charles Roberts, a farmer of Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county. Mrs. Linaberry was born in Auburn township, May 22, 1844, a daughter of John W. and Lovina (Hallock) Lott, the former also a native of Auburn township, the latter of Dutchess county, N. Y. The father, who was born

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 128

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