Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 14

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 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 14

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Sosyal S. Bank

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

estate and insurance business at the latter place. On November 1, 1895, he bought the Milford Dispatch, from the Hon. Milton D. Mott, the former editor. In 1894 he was elected to Congress, being one of the two Democratic members from Pennsylvania in the LVIth Congress, where he served on the committee on Naval Affairs, one of the most important com- mittees of that and of subsequent congresses. At present he is president of the board of school direct- ors of Milford, having been elected in 1898. In re- ligious faith Mr. Hart is an Episcopalian, and so- cially he is connected with various orders, including the F. & A. M., Milford Lodge No. 344, and the I. O. O. F., Vandermark Lodge No. 848, at Milford.

JOHN A. HAGERMAN, M. D., one of the successful general practitioners of Monroe county, who makes his home at Sciota, Hamilton township, is one of those physicians who seem constitu- tionally adapted to the profession, and eminently fitted to occupy the place in a community generally accorded to its medical advisers. He is a native of the county, born July 31, 1850, in Snydersville, son of Sandford and Nancy ( Ilick) Hagerman, and grandson of Joseph and Susan Hagerman.

Joseph Hagerman came from Northampton county at an early day, and settled in Spragueville, Monroe county, where he followed farming and lumbering successfully until his death, in 1826. After that event his wife moved back to Mt. Bethel, Northampton county, with her family, which con- sisted of ten children, namely: Elijah, Morris, Corson. Frank, Joseph, Rachel, Sidney, Sarah, Ella and Sandford. Of these, Elijah, Morris and Frank remained in Northampton county, where they died. Corson married and moved to Illinois. Joseph married and moved to Ohio, where he died. Rachel married Peter Bugler, of Warren county, N. J. Sidney became the wife of Gideon Cowe, of Mt. Bethel. Sarah died unmarried, in Monroe county. Ellen is unmarried, and makes her home in Centerville, New Jersey.

Sandford Hagerman was born April 25, 1819, near Spragueville, and was reared to manhood in Northampton county, during his boyhood attend- ing the public schools, where he obtained a good, practical education. In 1845 he married Miss Nancy Ilick, and the young couple took up their home in Snydersville, Monroe county, where they made their residence permanently. Mr. Hagerman buying a comfortable home for himself and family. He followed his trade of wheelwright, and also en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for some years. Mrs. Hagerman departed this life in October, 1857, the mother of five children, namely: (I) John A. is the subject proper of these lines. (2) William F. died in childhood. (3) George was born in Snydersville in 1854, grew to manhood in Hamil- ton township, and is now engaged in the butcher business in his native village; he married Miss Alice Tittle, of Hamilton, and they reside at their home near Snydersville with their family of six

children, John, Frank, Martin, Mary, and Harry and Carrie (twins). (4) Adaline, born in 1855, married Frank Snyder, of Sciota, where he is en- gaged in farming; they have four children, Lay- ton, Lillie, Bertha and Hattie, all at home. (5) Susan Hagerman died when six years old.

In his earlier years John A. Hagerman re- ceived the advantages of the public schools in his native village, where he acquired his elementary education, and in 1869 he entered the Kutztown (Penn.) State Normal School. He pursued his medical studies in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1878, the same year commencing the practice of his profession at his old home, Sny- dersville. In 1889 he took up his residence in Sciota, Hamilton township, in which village he purchased the Dr. Gregory home, and here he has since remained, building up an extensive practice and gaining a solid footing among the well-estab- lished physicians of this section of the county. Dr. Hagerman has won the confidence and esteem of all who have met him, professionally or otherwise, and he has made a wide and ever-widening circle of friends and acquaintances in his locality, who one and all regard him with the greatest respect, and admire him for his many attractive personal qualities as much as for his skill in his calling. Though he does not assume to be a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear and throat, Dr. Hagerman has given particular attention to this branch of the profession, having in 1897 taken a course of study in the Philadelphia Polyclinic, and he has been very successful in treatment. He has identified himself closely with the public interest of his adopted town from the time of his removal here, and has taken an active part in political affairs as a stanch mem- ber of the Republican party. The Doctor is a member of the Lehigh Valley Medical Association.

In 1880 Dr. Hagerman was united in mar- riage with Miss Rachel Marsh, of Hamilton town- ship, the accomplished daughter of Peter and Hannah (Myers) Marsh, who are still living in Stormsville. To this union has been born one daughter, Edith, who has for some time been a student in the Fairview Academy, of Brodheads- ville. In religious connection Mrs. Hagerman is united with the Reformed Church of Sciota. The family occupy a high social position, and their home is one of the most congenial and attractive in the locality. Mrs. Hagerman's great-grand- father Myers was a Hessian soldier, fighting in the Revolution with the English forces, and was en- gaged at Trenton; after the war he remained in America.

MARTIN YETTER is widely known as one of the leading citizens of Smithfield township, Monroe county, where he is the owner of much val- uable land, and carries on agricultural pursuits on an extensive scale, his success in his life vocation being one worthy of note. The family has long

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

been identified with the history of this part of Mon- roe county, Mr. Yetter's grandparents, John and Magdalena ( Strauss) Yetter, having located in Hamilton township in an early day, and removed thence to Smithfield, where they made a permanent home along Marshall's creek, on the land now owned by Peter Yetter. John Yettter was a wheel- wright by trade, but after settling in Smithfield township he also engaged in farming, clearing a large tract, erecting buildings and making general improvements on the property which he purchased. He passed away at this home in 1863, leaving a widow and four children: David is the father of Martin Yetter ; John, who married Miss Jane Mur- ray, and settled on a part of the old homestead ; Sarah E. ( Mrs. Henry Miller, of Smithfield) ; and Edward, who married Elizabeth Williams and re- moved to Florida, where he died ( he was a soldier in the Civil war). The mother of this family died in 1841.

David Yetter was born in August, 1811, in Smithfield township, Monroe county, where he passed his entire life, engaged in farming and lum- bering. He received his education in the district schools, and after his marriage lived on the old homestead with his father for six years, farming on shares. He finally commenced on his own account, settling on a partly improved tract of 212 acres which he purchased, and on which he followed farming and lumbering for a number of years, run- ning the lumber which he cut in clearing his land down the Delaware river to the Eastern markets. He succeeded by hard labor in putting much of this tract under cultivation, and he remained thereon until 1868, in which year he divided the land among his sons and purchased a home for himself near Minsi, where he ended his busy and useful life in 1878. In May, 1836, David Yetter married Miss Elizabeth Bush, who was born in Smithfield in Sep- tember, 1812, and was a daughter of John C. and Hannah Bush, well-known residents of this locality, who for many years carried on the hotel business at Craig's Meadows. Mrs. Yetter's death occurred in 1887. She and her husband were earnest members of the Lutheran Church. Eight children blessed their union, of whom Martin is the eldest. (2) Andrew, born in July, 1838, received his education in the public schools and in Hartwick (N. Y.) Seminary, and is now a resident of New York City, where he is engaged in the storage business. He married Miss Lizzie Walk, of Hackettstown, N. J., and they have one daughter living. Nellie, who is the wife of Dr. Heller, formerly of New York City, but at present in the Klondike. They have two children, Jean and Helen. (3) Anna M., born in 1840, is the wife of Andrew Huffman, of Smithfield ; they have one daughter, C. Ada, who is the wife of Edward Cornelieson, of Monroe county. (4) Eliza, born in 1841, became the wife of Isaac S. LaBar, of Smithfield, and they make their home in Port Jervis, Mr. LaBar being engaged as carpenter on the Erie railroad ; they have one son. Edward LaBar, who is

in the flour, feed and coal businessin Port Jervis, N. Y., and one daughter, Anna ( who married Will- iam Case, and has one daughter, Beatrice). (5) John and (6) Samuel (twins) were born in June, 1845. John married Miss Caroline Trible, of Smith- field, by whom he has had ten children-Lillie M., Harry, Amzie, Anna, Florence, Grace, Stewart, Herbert, Edna and Beulah. The family reside in Binghamton, N. Y., where Mr. Yetter is engaged as a glass manufacturer. (6) Samuel wedded Miss Lizzie Bogart, of Smithfield, and they made their home in Wilkes Barre, where Mrs. Yetter died; they had ten children-Bertha, Howard, Amy, Clar- ence, Flora, Harry, Stanley, Charles, Archie and Edith. (7) Milton, born in August, 1849, is one of the leading wealthy business men of East Strouds- burg, where he is largely interested in the manu- facture of glass, and a heavy stockholder in the large glass plant of that town ; he is also one of the pro- prietors of the silk mill, president of the East Stroudsburg National Bank, and has been one of the most active men in the building of the East Strouds- burg Normal School, as well as in other important interests. He married Miss Amanda Wright, of New York State, by whom he has three daughters, Minnie, Myrtle and Louise ; they have an adopted son, named Russell. (8) Emma J., born in 1854, is the wife of P. C. Dickerson, who has just pur- chased Lawn Cottage, in East Stroudsburg, a beau- tiful summer resort. They have one son, Francis Dickerson.

Martin Yetter was born in May, 1837, in Smithfield township, and grew to manhood in the place of his birth, receiving his education in the dis- trict schools of the neighborhood. Under the able tuition of his father he was given a thorough train- ing in agricultural pursuits, remaining at the pa- rental home until his marriage, after which he set- tled on one of the farms in Smithfield township bought by his father, who had erected barns and other outbuildings and part of the house which stands on the property. Our subject put up a large brick house and made numerous improve- ments from year to year, adding also to the extent of his farm as prosperity rewarded his early efforts until the tract comprised 125 acres, all well improved and under a good state of cultivation. Mr. Yetter also bought one of the old homestead farms, which he rents, and the old Posten farm, in Stroud town- ship, where his eldest son, Arthur, now resides. That Mr. Yetter has been unusually successful in his chosen calling everyone knows ; but it is only fair to add that his prosperity has been well deserved, for he has advanced himself in life by his own efforts, energy and industry, combined with a fac- ulty for good management and well-directed exec- utive ability, being prominent traits in his character. He has maintained a high reputation for honor and strict integrity in all his dealings, and no citizen of Smithfield commands higher respect from his fellow men than our subject, for he has shown himself worthy of their esteem in many ways.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

They have given proof of their confidence in his ability and trustworthiness by electing him to va- rious offices in the township, where he has served as constable, overseer of the poor, and. during the Civil war, as collector of bounty tax; but he pre- fers to devote his time exclusively to his business interests, and has no political aspirations. Mr. Yetter owns five lots in East Stroudsburg, on three of which stand double houses.

On February 4, 1860, Mr. Yetter was united in marriage with Miss Maria Bartron, whose parents, Leonard and Rachel ( Starner) Bartron, were well- known residents of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, and nine children blessed this union, as follows: (1) Rachel B., born in December, 1861, became the wife of Horace I. Moser, of Shawnee, Monroe county, and has one daughter, Ruth. They conduct a large boarding house called "Water Front House." (2) Arthur, born February 26, 1869, is unmarried, and, as above mentioned, lives on one of his father's farms in Stroud township, which he manages, also running a dairy business there. (3) Wilda, born in November. 1866, re- ceived her education in the public schools of her native township, and in August, 1884, married Lewis B. Kintner, of Craig's Meadows. Monroe county ; they occupy a fine home on Cortland street, in East Stroudsburg, where Mr. Kintner is en- gaged as assistant freight clerk by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Co .; he was at one time a successful teacher in Monroe county. Mrs. Kintner is a lady of culture and true refine- ment, well-fitted to be the helpmeet of her progres- sive husband. They have no children. (4) John M., born in June, 1868, was given a thorough ele- mentary training in the local public schools, and for a number of years engaged in teaching in Mon- roe county, commencing when but sixteen years of age. He subsequently studied in the Stroudsburg select schools and the Kutztown State Normal School, graduating from the latter institution, and in 1896 he graduated with honors from the Muh- lenburg College, Allentown, Penn .. his devoted mother, who has taken a deep interest in the educa- tion of her children, being present on this occasion and taking a loving pride in the success of her son. He has since graduated from the University of New York, and is a professor in Muhlenburg Col- lege, Allentown, Penn .; (5) Clara, born in May. 1870, was married December 5, 1888, to Samuel Scott, and has one daughter, Iva M. Scott, who was named after her grandmother Yetter, and is the oldest grandchild and oldest great-grandchild in this noted family. They make their home in East Stroudsburg, where Mr. Scott holds the posi- tion of superintendent in the glass works, of which he in one of the proprietors and a stockholder, and he owns his beautiful home and other property in that city. (6) Nathaniel, born in February. 1872, is also employed in the glass works in East Strouds- burg, where he resides, owning a fine home. (7) Emma, born in October, 1874, was married in Au-

gust, 1893, to Simon Schoonover, who is a glass blower by trade, and a stockholder in the East Stroudsburg Glass Works. They own a beautiful home in that town. (8) David L., born in May, 1876, is unmarried, and is engaged in farming with his father. (9) Van D., born in September, 1878, is a glass blower employed in the glass fac- tory in East Stroudsburg.

In religious connection Mr. and Mrs. Yetter and their large family are identified with the Luth- eran Church, uniting with the Church at Craig's Meadows, to the support of which they are liberal contributors. Politically Mr. Yetter has been a life-long member of the Democratic party.

STEPHEN HOLMES, a leading attorney of Stroudsburg, Monroe county, is deserving of prom- inent mention in a volume which aims to preserve an account of the men who are "making history" in this section to-day.

Mr. Holmes was born May 16, 1836, near the village of Alfred, the county seat of York county, Maine, and was the youngest of four children of Stephen and Nancy ( Meserve) Holmes. After completing a course of study in the common schools near his home, our subject attended the academies at Alfred and Limerick, in the same county, and at Yarmouth, near Portland, Maine. At the age of eighteen he came to Pennsylvania and engaged in teaching, and about three years were spent in that occupation in this State and New Jersey, his vaca- tion being devoted to work as bookkeeper and clerk for different business firms. In May, 1858, he be- came principal of the public schools of Stroudsburg, where he has ever since resided with the exception of one year. In the fall of 1858, having decided upon entering the legal profession, he began his preparatory studies with Hon. S. S. Dreher, then one of the most prominent lawyers of Monroe county, and in December, 1860, he was admitted to the Bar after a satisfactory examination. He continued to teach at Stroudsburg, until the spring of 1861, and while occupying his responsible position there he found time in addition to his legal studies, for some excellent literary work as a contributor to various periodicals. In the fall of 1861 he established an office at Asbury, Warren county, N. J., but as he found the outlook for practice discouraging he re- turned to Stroudsburg in the fall of 1862. In the following year he was elected district attorney of Monroe county, and this office he held until 1872, three consecutive terms. His able discharge of duty attracted attention, and established his reputation for mental force and fertility and thorough knowl- edge of law, combined with a persistency and deter- mination which would brook no failure. In the fall of 1869 he was admitted to practice before the Su- preme court of Pennsylvania, and his practice has included some of the most important cases arising in Monroe and adjacent counties, and the Stroudsburg Bank, of which he is also a director. He is an earnest student, his cases being prepared with scrup-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ulous care, and no point is neglected that can benefit his client. As a speaker he is both forceful and elo- quent, his points being presented in such a manner as to win and retain the interest of a jury. His pub- lic spirit has been shown in many ways, and he is much esteemed as a citizen, his influence being always cast on the side of progress. For many years he has been an active worker in the Presby- terian Church at Stroudsburg, serving as elder, and in politics he is a firm supporter of the principles and policy of the Democratic party, being one of the chief advisers of the local organization. In 1864 he married Miss Georgiana Blair, formerly of Hope, N. J., and later of Stroudsburg, and their home is brightened by three children: Edith May, Frank Blair and Norman Meserve.

THOMAS ARMSTRONG, a leading merchant of Milford, Pike county, and for many years a suc- cessful contractor there and in New York, is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this section. His career is marked by ability, enterprise and public spirit, and in making his way in life he has set an example which cannot fail to encourage many an aspiring youth.

According to data collected by Leonard A. Mor- rison, and published in a number of "The Massachu- setts Magazine," our subject is a descendant of the historic Clan Armstrong of Scotland, which was among the most numerous and powerful Lowland families. The same authority states that as early as 1376 this clan was identified with Liddisdale, on the borders between England and Scotland (known as the "Debatable Country"). In 1377 Robert Arm- strong and his wife, Margaret Temple, were in pos- session of an estate in Thorpe, England, which in- cluded the town of Whithaugh. The original deed having been lost or destroyed, the property was re- granted to Lancelot Armstrong on October 9, 1586, and his descendants continued to hold it until about 1730. The family name became famous during the border wars for the dashing enterprise of its mem- bers, and supplied many a theme for the poets of that era. Among the most celebrated of the clan was Johnnie Armstrong, a border chieftain some- times called "Gilnockie," who was treacherously cap- tured with thirty-five of his men by King James V. of Scotland, and hanged at Carlenrig.

At an early date members of the family settled in County Tyrone, Ireland, and our subject's grand- father, Lancelot Armstrong, was born in that coun- ty, and made his home upon a farm near the village of Gortin. He died there in 1880, aged ninety-six vears, and his wife, Cathrine, died in 1830. Thev had seven children : John, Andrew, James, Thomas, William, Mary ( who married Edward Warwick), and Sarah ( who did not marry), all of whom came to America, and Andrew, who came about 1820, was one of the earliest settlers at Milford, where he built some of the first houses.

William Armstrong, our subject's father, was married at Gortin, in 1833, to Miss Elizabeth Gra-

ham, and on the same day started with his bride for America. He spent a few years in New York, Lut made his permanent home at Milford, where he was engaged in contracting in masonry until 1876, and his death occurred there on May 21, 1886, at the age of eighty. He made a fine reputation in his chosen line of effort, being regarded as one of the best ma- sons in this section, while as a citizen he was held in high esteem. In politics he was Democratic, but he never sought or held office. and in religious views he inclined to the Presbyterian faith, although he was not a member of any Church. His faithful wife, who was a devout Presbyterian, was born at Gortin, Ireland, May 20, 1816, and died at Milford, April 30, 1888, the remains of both being interred at Milford. Her parents, Thomas and Ann ( Scott) Graham, were lifelong residents of County Tyrone, Ireland. Her mother died in 1869, aged eighty-four years, and her father, who was a farmer by occupa- tion, died in 1881, at the age of ninety-six years. Their children were Ann ( Mrs. John Knox ) : Eliza- beth, our subject's mother ; Thomas, deceased, who did not marry ; Archibald, a wealthy retired mason of New York, who married Mary Laughlin, deceased. To William and Elizabeth Armstrong the following children were born: Catherine, who died in infancy; Lancelot, who resides in Milford, and is engaged in business in New York City; Eliza, who married Morris Debormont (now deceased ). and died May 2, 1866; Catherine, who died October 1I, 1869; Thomas, our subject ; William, who died at the age of seven years: Miss Mary, a resident of Milford ; Wilhelmina, wife of Philin F. Steele, a farmer in Milford township, Pike county; Anna, who died aged five years; and Sarah, who married (first) Levi Van Gordon and (second) J. S. Pursell, for thirty years past connected with the New York Herald.

Our subject was born at Milford April 11, 1844, and was educated in the schools of that borough. At the age of sixteen he began to learn the printer's trade, taking a position as "devil;" but the work proved less congenial than he had thought, and in 1861 he entered upon an apprenticeship with his father, by whom he was given practical training in every branch of the mason's trade. On March I, 1865, he enlisted as a private in Company I, 143rd N. Y. V. I., and after joining his regiment, at Raleigh, N. C., marched with Sherman through the Carolinas and on to Washington, where he participated in the Grand Review. In June, 1865, he was mustered out, and returned to Milford, where he at once estab- lished himself in business as a contractor and builder. For some time he was the chief contractor in the town, building most of the important structures, and in 1876 he took a responsible position with the firm of Moran & Armstrong, of New York, of which his brother Lancelot was the junior member. During a portion of the time spent with them he served as foreman, becoming thoroughly familiar with the construction of metropolitan buildings. While su- perintending the erection of O. B. Potter's fine build-

yours truly .Amistring

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing, at Broadway and Astor Place, he won the per- sonal esteem and confidence of that gentleman, who, in 1883, gave him the contract for the Potter build- ing on Park Row, corner of Beekman street, one of the finest business blocks in the city. Recently Mr. Armstrong completed a fine mansion at Sing Sing, N. Y., for Frederick Potter, at a cost of $100,000, and numerous other important contracts have been filled by him in a most satisfactory manner. In Au- gust, 1894, he purchased a half-interest in the gen- eral store business of A. D. Brown & Son, and on March 19, 1898, he bought A. D. Brown & Son's in- terest, the business being now conducted entirely by himself. Mr. Armstrong and his family are promi- nent socially, and his genial disposition has won him many warm friends. He is a member of vari- ous fraternal orders, including the L. of H., the I. O. E. A., the K. of H., the I. O. O. F. ( Vandermark Lodge No. 828, in which he is past noble grand), at Milford, the R. A., and Milford Lodge No. 344, Ancient York Masons. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and from his youth up he has been strictly temperate in his habits.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 14

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