Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 132

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 132
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 132
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 132
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 132

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HARRY WEBSTER BEEBE, a prominent representative of the agricultural interests of Frank- lin township, Susquehanna county, residing on the old Beebe homestead, was born in Surry county, Va., June 9, 1874, and is a son of Walter L. and Elmira (Eastman) Beebe. His paternal grandpar- ents were Lyman and Phoebe ( Merritt) Beebe, and his maternal grandparents were Nathaniel and Mary (Cook) Eastman, natives of Connecticut who at an early day came to Susquehanna county, Penn., where Mr. Eastman engaged in farming.

Walter L. Beebe was born in Franklin town- ship, January 28, 1841, and followed farming throughout life. For three years he was one of the gallant defenders of the Union during the Civil war, being a member of Company D, of a Pennsyl- vania volunteer regiment, and a bullet received in the service remained in his body up to the time of his death. Soon after the war he married and moved to Surry county, Va., where he engaged in farming for ten years. On his return to Susque- hanna county he purchased the present farm of our subject from the old Beebe estate, and located there- on in 1880, but three years later removed to Frank- lin Forks, where his death occurred January 28, 1890, his remains being interred in the cemetery at that place. In his political affiliations he was a Re- publican. His widow, who was born in Maine, N. 1., in 1844, now makes her home in Binghamton, N. Y. To this worthy couple were born three sons, namely: Lyman E. has just returned from the Klondyke, where he met with good success, and is now in business in Seattle, Wash .; Harry W. is

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next in the order of birth; and Phineas W. is with his mother in Binghamton.

Harry W. Beebe was a lad of seven years when his parents located upon his present farm, and two years later he accompanied them on their removal to Franklin Forks, where he was reared and edu- cated, returning to the farm in 1895. He has shown good business ability and sound judgment in its man- agement, and is meeting with excellent success in his farming operations. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and socially affiliates with the Sons of Veterans. He is a worthy represent- ative of one of the most prominent families in this section, and is held in high regard by all who know him.

At Kirkwood, N. Y., May 15, 1895, Mr. Beebe was united in marriage with Miss Kate Vailes, a native of New Milford, Susquehanna county, and a daughter of Jesse and Emma (Kittle) Vailes, resi- dents of New Milford, where the father operates a gristmill. He was born in New Milford in May, 1844, son of Ralph and Phoebe (Smith) Vailes. He has ever taken quite a prominent and influen- tial part in local politics, served as postmaster for four years under President Harrison, has been tax collector, was constable eight years, and filled other offices in a most creditable manner. His wife was born near Port Jervis, in September, 1845, a daugh- ter of Richard and Deborah ( Westbrooke) Kittle, natives of Pike county, Penn. Mrs. Beebe is the second youngest in a family of four children, the others being as follows: Letta M., wife of Harry Bartlett, a traveling agent, residing at Bingham- ton, N. Y .; Vinnie L., wife of Eugene Osborne, who conducts a tonsorial parlor at Harford, Sus- quehanna county; and Ruth, at home with her parents.

SYLVANUS P. PECK, one of the represen- tative citizens of Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne county, was born May 19, 1858, on the farm where he still resides, and belongs to one of the old and prominent families of Wayne county, whose iden- tification with her history dates from an early period in the development of this section of the State. His paternal grandfather was Rev. Elijah Peck, a pioneer Baptist minister of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Hiram Peck, our subject's father, was also born on the old homestead in Mt. Pleasant township, Au- gust II, 1819, and there grew to manhood amidst pioneer scenes. He was married, September 27, 1848, to Miss Maria Perham, who was born and reared in Mt. Pleasant township, a daughter of Aaron Perham, one of the first settlers of Wayne county. . Seven children were born of this union, namely: Chloe, Mrs. Kennedy ; George ; Hiram E .; Sylvanus P .; Charles and Fred, both deceased ; and Francis A. The father died in February, 1889, at the age of nearly seventy years; the mother is still living. Both were consistent members of the

Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a Demo- crat in politics. Throughout his business career he engaged in stage driving and farming, and he most creditably and satisfactorily filled the offices of collector and constable in his township.

Under the parental roof Sylvanus P. Peck passed his boyhood and youth in much the usual manner of farmers' sons of that day. On April 7, 1880, he married Miss Lottie Hacker, a daughter of Samuel Hacker, and to them have been born seven children: William Frederick, Mabel Ellen, Elizabeth Perham, Samuel Reese, Anna May, Charles Egbert and Harold Sylvanus. The parents attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the social circles of the community occupy an enviable position. Mr. Peck is a thorough and systematic farmer, and is meeting with success in the operation of the farm, which comprises 160 acres of rich and arable land, under a high state of cultivation and well improved. His comfortable and convenient residence was erected in 1897, at a cost of $1,500. In the exercise of his elective franchise he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and he always takes a deep and commendable inter- est in publis affairs.

HENRY B. WILLIAMS. Industry has been the highway by which the subject of this sketch, now a prosperous and prominent citizen of Hop- bottom, Susquehanna county, has attained his suc- cess in life. As farmer and stone mason he has spent many years in the community in which he now lives. They have been years of patient toil, cheerfully given, and followed by the reward that has been their due. As a young man our subject worked with an ox-team in the labor of the farm. He has never since then outgrown the nobility of labor. As a youth, too, he enlisted under his coun- try's flag when the national life was assailed. He has ever been a conscientious and a forceful char- acter in the history and growth of Susquehanna county.

Mr. Williams' grandfather, Latham Williams, about the opening of the present century migrated with his young wife from New England and set- tled in Brooklyn township, where he passed the re-' mainder of his life, engaged in farming. He died in Springville township, in the spring of 1864, aged eighty-four years. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Lucy Stanton, had two sons and five daughters, viz .: Nelson, who died August 4, 1864; Angeline, deceased in infancy; Betsy E., wife of Otis Boss, of Middletown, Penn .; Luke, who died September 6, 1829; Thankful, wife of Charles Miles, of Carbondale, Penn. ; Amanda, wife of Will- iam Giles, of Brooklyn, Penn .; and Lucy, wife of Henry Giles, also of Brooklyn. By his second wife, Lucy Dix, Latham Williams had one child, John S., father of our subject, born June 11, 1817.

John S. Williams grew to manhood in Brook- lyn township, and became one of its most estimable citizens. He followed farming, and also the trade

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of carpenter. He married Eliza E. Wesbrook, who was born June 29, 1817. About 1843 John S. Will- iams moved to Springville township, where he had purchased one hundred acres of wild land, and this with the aid of his sons he cleared, adding to the original acres. He remained on the farm until 1862, and he died January 4, 1874. His widow, mother of our subject, is yet living, in Linn county, Mo. John S. Williams in politics was a Whig and later a Republican. He was an active worker, a class- leader in the M. E. Church, and superintendent in the Sunday-school. The family of John S. and Eliza E. Williams consisted of the following chil- dren : George L., born July 7, 1838, now living in Meadville, Linn Co., Mo. ; William N., born April 3, 1840, who died when nineteen days old ; Lucy ES., born January 13, 1842, who died November 29, 1844; Thankful A., born January 11, 1844, who died in infancy ; Henry B., our subject, born Feb- ruary 23, 1845; Daniel G., born March 5, 1848, now a farmer of Meadville, Mo. : Erastus .P., born Nay 13, 1850, a mason of Meadville, Mo. ; Luke A., born March 8, 1853, a hardware merchant of Meadville, Mo. ; Warren K., born May 26, 1855, who died February 2, 1864; and John C., born Au- gust 23, 1857, a railroad employe of Meadville, Missouri.

Henry B. Williams was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the neighboring schools. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in Com- pany H, Ist Penn. Light Artillery, and served to the close of the war, doing guard duty at Washing- ton much of the time.

Mr. Williams was married, in Springville town- ship, January 3, 1871, to Miss Rachel P. Kinney, who was born in Warren county, N. J., January 18, 1851, daughter of Isaac S. and Catherine Reed Kin- ney. Isaac S. Kinney was born in Warren county, N. J .. November 19, 18II, son of Frederick and Margaret (Snover) Kinney, of that county ; Cath- erine Reed was born in Warren county, N. J., Jan- uary 2, 1813, daughter of Aaron and Margaret Reed, and died August 13, 1891. In 1867 Isaac Kinney moved with his family to Susquehanna county, locat- ing in Dimock township. He died in Warren county, N. J., October 10, 1895, while visiting his boyhood home. The children of Isaac and Cath- erine Kinney were as follows: Margaret, who mar- ried John A. Van Scotten, of Warren county, N. J. ; David I .. a resident of Dimock township: Maria, who married John Messler, of Sussex county, N. J. ; Bartley, a farmer of Warren county, N. J .; Aaron, a resident of Brooklyn township, Susquehanna Co., Penn. : Sarah, wife of Benjamin Linaberry, of War- ren county, N. J. : Frederick, a farmer of Lathrop township: Samuel. of Bridgewater township : Rachel P., wife of our subject: Johnston T., a farmer of Lathrop township: Jennie, wife of Thomas Giles, of Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., Penn. ; and Almeda, wife of Judson Saunders, of Scran- ton, Pennsylvania.

Our subject began housekeeping on the old homestead in Springville, which he purchased, and where he remained about twenty-six years. In 1895 hie leased his farm of 100 acres and removed to Hopbottom, where he built his present home. While on the farm he followed both farming and stone masonry, but since moving to Hopbottom he has given exclusive attention to stone mason work. In politics Mr. Williams is a stanch Republican. He has served as street commissioner and in the council in Hopbottom borough. He is a member of Rogers Post No. 143, at Brooklyn Center.

REV. CHARLES E. VAN ALLEN, D. D., needs no introduction to the residents of Middle Smithfield, Monroe county, for he and his worthy wife are widely known and highly esteemed in that township and throughout the surrounding country, where the most active years of their busy and useful lives have been spent.

Dr. Van Allen is a native of West Perth, N. Y., born June 21, 1835, son of Lawrence E. and Maria (Ellis) Van Allen, the former of whom was born in 1802, in West Perth, the latter in 1800, in the State of Vermont. Lawrence E. Van Allen grew to maturity in the place of his nativity, receiving his education in the public schools, and after his mar- riage, which took place in 1825, settled down there to agricultural pursuits. He was a successful farm- er and a representative leader in local public affairs in his day, taking a warm interest in politics as an en- thusiastic supporter of the Old-line Whig party and its principles. During the campaign in which Henry Clay ran for President he took the stump in his county in that gentleman's interest. He died March 21, 1878. Mrs. Van Allen passed away in 1842, leaving a family of seven children, namely : Evert E., A. Emily, Marinda A., Charles E., Chester L., Chauncey E., and Clark L. (I) The eldest son, Evert E., was born at West Perth in 1826, graduat- ed from the Albany State Normal School in 1840, and followed teaching for a few years, finally em- barking in mercantile business in New York City as a commission merchant and real estate broker; he amassed a large fortune, and made his permanent home in New York City, although his death oc- curred in September, 1869, at West Perth, where he was buried. Evert E. Van Allen married Miss Mary Gunn, of New York City, and he left two sons, Everet and Chester, the former of whom is engaged in business in Albany, the latter a resident of Johns- town, N. Y. (2) A. Emily was born in West Perth in 1830, and married James Aiken, of the same place, eight children being born to their union, viz. : James C. ( who is one of the leading merchants of Schenec- tady, N. Y.), William E. (a prosperous merchant of Johnstown, N. Y.), Isabelle, Helen, Mary, Margaret, Ni. Emma, and Katherine A. Mr. and Mrs. Aiken moved to Michigan, and after several years' resi- dence there returned East, settling in Johnstown, where they died, the former March 19, 1879, the lat- ter March 15, 1888. (3) Marinda A. became the

CHARLES E. VAN ALLEN

MRS. M. EMMA VAN ALLEN

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wife of John Frydendall, of New York, and they died at Johnstown, the former in 1874, the latter ten years later. They left one daughter, Cora, who is married to Jonathan Hovey, of Burdett, N. Y. (4) Charles E. is next in the order of birth, and is more fully mentioned below. (5) Chester L., born in Au- gust, 1836, finished his collegiate education at Johns- town and became a Baptist minister, continuing in active ministerial work until his death, in 1898; his wife survives him. They had one daughter, May Zel- ma, who died in young womanhood, a very bright and scholarly young lady and a graduate of the Schen- ectady high school. (6) Chauncey E., born in 1838, prepared for college at Johnstown and matriculated at the Schenectady (N. Y.) Union College, from which he was graduated in 1864, afterward taking a course in the Princeton Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1867 ; he entered the Presbyterian min- istry, and is at present located at Russell, Mass. He married Miss Annie Ward, of Schenectady, and they have one son, Dr. Harvey W. Van Allen, who is a leading physician of Springfield, Mass. (7) Clark L., born at West Perth in March, 1842, prepared for college at Johnstown, N. Y., and graduated from the Medical Department of the University at Ann Arbor, Mich., commencing the practice of his profes- sion at Schenectady, N. Y., where he remained for some years ; he then moved to New York City, en- gaging as a commission merchant, and later in the wholesale tea and coffee trade, until 1886, when he embarked in business in Albany, N. Y., as an import- er of tea and coffee from Ceylon and China, in which he has continued up to the present time, though he is now living in Schenectady. He has been highly successful in the commercial world and has amassed a large fortune, of which he gives liberally to re- ligious and charitable enterprises. He takes an active interest in Church work, and was the founder and builder of the Villa Road Baptist Church, of Schenectady. Dr. C. L. Van Allen was married January II, 1898, to Miss Ada Parks, of Jersey City, New Jersey.

Charles E. Van Allen was brought up in his na- tive place, where he received his elementary educa- tion, preparing for college in the Johnstown Academy, and he attended the Fort Edward Insti- tute, at Fort Edward, N. Y., from which he was grad- uated in 1855. He took a professorship in the Fort Plain Institute of Literature and Science, and in 1859, while holding this incumbency, became a student of the Union College of Schenectady, N. Y., graduating therefrom in 1862, and in 1865 from Princeton Theological Seminary. The same year he accepted the pastorate of the Coolbaugh Pres- byterian Church, in Middle Smithfield township, Monroe Co., Penn., in which charge he was retained for a quarter of a century, working faithfully and energetically for the religious growth of the com- munity and the upbuilding of the interests of his own congregation. This Church was founded and built by John V. Coolbaugh and others, the gentleman named giving largely of his time and means toward 36

its support and the successful carrying on of its work, being zealous in all worthy religious and char- itable projects. When Dr. Van Allen assumed the charge there were only fifteen members, which num- ber he brought up to one hundred and eighty com- municants, and the Sabbath-school, in the work of which he was the leading spirit, was one of the thriv- ing examples among those in the Lehigh Presbytery. In 1890 the Doctor took a Church at Delaware, Warren Co., N. J., where he continued for five years, and he subsequently supplied the Church of La- fayette, Sussex Co., N. J., for two years.

In 1886 our subject purchased the Plains farm, since known as the "Echo Lake Farm," a valuable tract in Middle Smithfield township upon which many improvements have been made since he came into possession, and which is well laid out for gen- eral farming purposes. New buildings have been erected, and many beautifying changes made in the residence, which has been converted into a summer boarding-house and is known as the "Echo Lake House," one of the most desirable of the many re- sorts which abound in this section. The house is provided with all modern improvements, is sur- rounded by a large lawn, delightfully shaded, and charmingly situated on an elevated plateau in the center of the farm, which lies 1,200 feet above the sea level, in a beautiful mountain region unrivalled for the purity and dryness of its atmosphere, a place where malaria and kindred ills are unknown, and whose equal for those in search of health or recrea- tion cannot be found east of the Rockies. Dr. Van Allen's guests hail from New York, Brooklyn, Phila- delphia and many of the States, and they are unani- mous in pronouncing the scenery and the bene- ficial climate a combination of delights made still more enjoyable by their genial host and his efforts. to do all in his power for their material comfort. The table at "Echo Lake House" is supplied almost exclusively from the farm, the land yielding fine fruit and vegetables in great variety, and the butter and milk supply coming from a fine herd of thorough- bred Jersey cows kept on the place. The post office of Coolbaugh is located at the house, and Dr. Van Allen served as postmaster here for many years during his pastorate, his son Willie holding that office at the present time. The Doctor is a Repub- lican politically.

Though no longer a pastor, Dr. Van Allen is by no means an idle man. While resting from the active ministry, in his own delightful home, he preaches a great part of the time, supplying pulpits for neighboring ministers, and in the autumn and winter season is largely engaged in evangelistic work, in which he is not a little sought for, and in which he has always been a marked suc- cess. It is the concensus of opinion of all who know him best that he has hardly a peer in the pulpit. He is a good sermonizer, has a very fine delivery, and is, on the whole, a very interesting and attractive- speaker. His pulpit ministrations are more than ordinarily acceptable. The Doctor is also spending

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his riper years in writing, both for the secular press, on the popular topics of the day, and for religious magazines and periodicals, and has now in prepara- tion a work entitled "How to be successful in the Ministry," in which he will give some valuable ex- perience of his long and successful career. May hc long live to complete this and other works in con- templation.

Rev. Dr. Van Allen is entirely a self-made man, and a good example of what energy and ambition can accomplish. By his own efforts he worked his way through a four-years' Academic course, a four- years' College course, and a three-years' Theological course, and he was one of the first of his class in each of these institutions from which he graduated. He has been honored by three different colleges by the respective degrees of A. B., A. M. and D. D., and by Reverend by a Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church upon graduation from one of the most cele- brated Theological seminaries of the land.

He has given all his children a liberal education and has enough of this world's goods left to own one of the most delightful homes in the section in which he resides.

This memoir would be incomplete without some mention of Mrs. Van Allen, who though modest and retiring in disposition has been a constant aid to her husband in his religious and charitable work, and is universally beloved by scores of friends and acquaintances in Middle Smithfield and elsewhere. She was in her maidenhood Miss M. Emma Cool- baugh, the daughter of John V. and Mary Cool- baugh. They were married February 22, 1866, and four children blessed their union, viz .: (I) Willie, born in Middle Smithfield in December, 1866, re- ceived his early education in the public schools and tinder a private tutor at home, later entering the Poughkeepsie Business College, where he took a commercial course. He now resides on the farm with his father, engaged in stock raising, and makes a specialty of Jersey stock, his large herd being the only one of thoroughbreds in Monroe county. In 1892 he married Miss Bertha K. Brands, of Dela- ware. N. J., whose parents, John S. and Caroline Brands, were prominent people of that place, and they have two children-Ralph B. and W. Morton. (2) Myra E., born in Middle Smithfield in Novem- ber. 1870, was first instructed by a private governess at home and later entered Blair Hall, in Warren county, N. J., whence she graduated with highest honors in the class of '88 : in June, 1893, she married James P. Ammerman, of New Jersey, and they have two daughters, Adelaide and Ruth. They make their home in Delaware, N. J., where he is engaged as ticket and express agent for the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western road. (3) Charles P., born in October, 1873, in Middle Smithfield, was educated at Blair Hall, graduating in the class of '93, and sub- sequently took a four-years' course in Lafayette College, studying electrical engineering. He finished his course in 1897, receiving the degree of Electrical Engineer, and the same year he traveled in England,

Germany, France, Italy, and other European coun- tries, to complete his preparation for his life work. On his return he settled in New York City, and he has entered upon a promising career as a member of the firm of Van Allen & Zahn, electrical contractors. (4) Clarence H., born in July, 1876, graduated from Blair Hall in the class of '94 and has taught one term in the public schools of Middleville, N. J .; during the summer he acted as clerk for L. W. Broadhead, at the "Delaware Water Gap House," and he is now in his second year at Lafayette College.

From her girlhood Mrs. Van Allen has been a tireless worker in Church and kindred interests, and during her husband's active life in the ministry she was an invaluable helpmeet, laboring zealously in the Church and Sabbath-school for the advancement of the Master's kingdom. As organist and choir instructor she has never failed to be present on the Lord's day except when kept home by sickness, and her devotion to her Church is recognized by all who know her and who take delight in acknowledging their appreciation of her faithful service and unite in praise of her fine Christian character. She shares with her noble husband the highest regard of their fellow citizens in Middle Smithfield township, and the loving esteem of the many she has helped and befriended.

WILLIAM WHITFIELD KIZER, one of the wide-awake and progressive business men of South Canaan township, Wayne county, is now the proprietor of the Middle Creek Grist Mill, which was built by Philip W. Lerch, George Enslin, and L. A. Robinson, in 1856, and is of eighty-horse power. Near his present place of business our subject was born March 22, 1857, in Jefferson township, Lackawanna Co., Penn., a son of John D. and Phœbe (Beemer) Kizer, who were natives of New Jersey, but became acquainted and were married in Lackawanna county, when it formed a part of Luzerne county, and there they still contin- ted to reside. The father was born August 22, 1827, the mother on February 12, 1835. He is a lumberman by occupation, and has capably filled a number of local offices of honor and trust. His parents, Jacob and Mary (Emory) Kizer, were also born in New Jersey, and were early settlers of Luzerne county, Penn., where the former owned and operated a sawmill.

The subject of this sketch, W. W. Kizer, is second in the order of birth in a large family of children, the others being as follows: Judson died in infancy; Edwin Floyd resides at Towanda, Penn., and is, extensively interested in the lumber business in Jefferson and Bradford counties. He is a member of the firm of Clark, Kizer & Kipp, lum- berman, Cortez, Penn., is manager and treasurer of the Towanda Water Works, Towanda, Penn., he owning a large portion of the stock. Almeda is the wife of William Cobb, an extensive lumberman of Bradford county, Penn .; Augusta is the wife of Mortimer Arnold, watchman at the car-shops

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 132

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