Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 142

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 142
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 142
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 142
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 142

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sixteen days. Two children died in infancy. Jo- seph, Elizabeth, Irene S., Charles E. and Thomas Y. are all useful residents of Damascus township, and we give a brief record of their lives. Joseph, born in 1860, received a good education in the acad- emy at Damascus, and is at present holding the po- sition of treasurer of Wayne county, making his home in Honesdale ; he married Miss Lydia Hall, of this county, and they have two children, Lulu Irene and E. Rush. Elizabeth, born in 1862, is the wife of Edgar Clark, who is a merchant at Boyd's Mills ; they have four children, Carrie E., Boyd, Russell and Anita. Irene S., born in 1864, married Arthur Noble, of Damascus, and they reside on his farm in that township; they have two children, Mary J. and Clarence A. Charles E., born in 1866, received his early education in the public schools of Damas- c11s, and finished his literary education in Hones- dale ; he is a professional horseshoer, having learned the blacksmith's trade under Prof. George E. Rich ; in 1893 he wedded Miss Nancy Noble, daughter of Sexton and Lavina Noble, prominent people of Da- mascus, and they have two children, Robert and David. Thomas Y., born in 1868, received the greater part of his schooling in Damascus and Binghamton, N. Y., where he had a thorough com- mercial training, and he has developed marked busi- ness capacity, giving his time to the large interests connected with the mills and general business of the Boyd estate, which Mrs. Boyd, her two sons, Charles and Thomas, and her son-in-law, Edgar Clark, are now conducting. Their lumbering, milling and mercantile interests are among the most extensive in this section, and these young men have gained an enviable popularity in commercial circles by their skillful handling of the estate, the demands of which call into play no small amount of acute judgment and executive ability. Mr. Boyd at the time of his death held the office of postmaster at Boyd's Mills, and the authorities at Washington transferred the appointment to his wife, who has continued to con- duct the office up to the present time. The entire family are esteemed and admired by their neighbors for their many sterling qualities of head and heart, and they can always be counted upon for generous support in any worthy religious or charitable enter- prise, or any project which is for the general good and advancement. Mrs. Boyd and her family are all members of the Christian Church. The father belonged to the Baptist society. In fraternal affilia- tions he was a member of the F. & A. M., uniting with the lodge at Callicoon, N. Y., to which his son Joseph also belongs.

Mr. Boyd was originally a Douglas Democrat in political sympathy, but at the breaking out of the Rebellion he joined the Republican forces, with which he continued the remainder of his life. He acted as delegate to the National convention held at Chicago, when Benjamin Harrison was nominated for President. His son follows in his footsteps in this regard, and all are actively identified with party and public affairs in Wayne county, bidding fair to take

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as active a part in the administration or local gov- ernment as their worthy father. Charles at present holds the office of assessor in Damascus.

LAFAYETTE ROWLAND, one of the most thorough and skillful agriculturists of Lackawaxen township, Pike county, has spent his entire life in that county, and belongs to a family which was founded in this country at an early day by three brothers, probably natives of County Armagh, Ire- land : one located in Philadelphia, Penn. ; another in Maine: while Joseph Rowland, our subject's great-grandfather, took up his residence near Sara- toga, N. Y. The grandfather, Thaddeus Rowland, was born in Greenfield township, Saratoga Co., N. Y., and at his death was buried near Porter's Cor- ners, sixteen miles from Saratoga Springs. He was a farmer by occupation and reared a large family of children.

Samuel H. Rowland, our subject's father, was born in Greenfield township, Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1801, and died at the age of fifty years. He mar- ried Lucinda Rogers, who was born in Connecticut, in 1803. and died at the age of seventy-one years. This worthy couple became the parents of the fol- lowing children : ( 1) George H., born in December, 1827, came to Pike county, Penn., in boyhood, and the postoffice known as Rowland was named in his honor. he having engaged in general mercantile business at that place. He was a well informed man, due more to observation and study in later years than to schooling during his boyhood days. He took quite an active and prominent part in po- litical affairs, served as Presidential elector at one time, and also represented his district several times in both branches of the State Legislature. He died in 1895. (2) Obediah, born in 1833, was a farmer and canal foreman in Lackawaxen township, Pike county, and died in 1885. He married Adelaide Griswold, who is still living in that county. (3) Lafayette is next in the family. (4) Mary C., born in 1840, died at the age of two years. (5) Emily C. is the widow of Moses Brink, who was a farmer of Lackawaxen township. Coming to Pike county, Penn., April 16, 1828, the father, Samuel H. Row- land, located in Lackawaxen township, where he purchased property and engaged in farming and lumbering. He served as justice of the peace for many years, and also filled the office of school di- rector to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

In Pike county Lafayette Rowland was born January 16, 1837, and the education acquired in the common schools near his boyhood home was sup- plemented by a course at the Fort Edward Institute, Washington county, N. Y. Later he successfully taught school, and assisted his father by attending to the financial part of his lumber and other business enterprises. At the age of thirty-two he commenced lumbering on his own responsibility, and is still in- terested in that business in connection with general farming.

On July 1, 1869, Mr. Rowland was united in

marriage with Miss Arabella Kimble, daughter of Ephraim Kimble, and a sister of Ephraim Kimble, Jr., whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Four children blessed this union, namely : Gertrude, born May 30, 1871, died at the age of six years and five months ; Otis F., born September 12, 1873, was graduated from Lafayette College in 1895, and successfully taught school in Lackawaxen township, Pike county, but is now practicing civil engineering in Scranton, Penn .; Earl S., born No- vember 8, 1878, died April 23, 1891 ; and Helen B., born September 5. 1880, is attending the high school at Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Rowland's political support is given to the Democratic party, and he is one of the best informed men in the county on the subject of American poli- tics. He ranks among the most honored counselors of his party, and for two years represented his dis- trict in the House of Representatives, while he is now a prominent member of the State Senate. He is a progressive man, pre-eminently public-spirited and all that pertains to the public welfare receives his hearty endorsement. Socially he has affiliated with the Masonic fraternity since 1874. Courteous, genial, well-informed, alert and enterprising, he stands to-day one of the leading representative men of his State-a man who is a power in his com- munity.

ISAAC S. LA BAR, a well-known and stic- cessful carpenter of Matamoras, Pike county, be- longs to an old and honored Pennsylvania family. The first of whom we have any authentic record is George La Bar, the great-grandfather of our sub- ject, whose grandfather came to America with two brothers in 1730, leaving France, their native land, on account of religious persecution. George La Bar was born near Water Gap, at Mt. Bethel, Northampton Co., Penn., in 1765, and died in Smithfield township, Monroe county, in 1876, at the extreme old age of one hundred and eleven years. He reared a large family of children, among whom was Peter La Bar, our subject's grandfather, who spent his entire life in Monroe county as a farmer. His children were: Elias, father of our sub- ject ; Jacob ; John ; Louis; Polly, wife of Samuel Garris ; and Catherine, wife of John Heller.

Elias La Bar was born in Lehman township, Pike county, and there died in 1856, aged sixty-four years. His wife, Catherine, a daughter of Isaac and Catherine ( Arnst) Smith, was born June 18, 1800, and died October 20, 1870. The children born to them were as follows: Elizabeth, wife of Henry Tolan, a farmer of Hunterdon county, N. J. ; Charles, who died young; Isaac S., our sub- ject ; Sarah A., who married Sylvester Tolan, and died at New York, March 9, 1872; and Frances, wife of Seeley Drake, a miller of Wayne county, Pennsylvania.

Isaac S. La Bar was born at Bushkill, Pike county, March 1, 1835, and remained with his par- ents until their deaths. At the age of twelve years

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he began working for neighboring farmers in order to help support the family, as his father was con- fined to his bed during the last seven years of his life. Leaving the old homestead at the age of eight- een years, he served an apprenticeship at the wheel- wright's trade with Simeon Schoonover, at Bush- kill, remaining with him three years. He then fol- lowed the carpenter's trade during the summer months while employed as a wheelwright through- out the winter season. In 1862 he opened a carpen- ter's shop at Marshall's Creek, Monroe county, which he conducted for four years, and then pur- chased a hotel at Craig's Meadow, same county, which he carried on for four years. On selling out he worked at the millwright's trade for three years, and at the end of that time purchased a farm in Leh- man township, Pike county, devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits for four years. On dispos- ing of that place he moved to Matamoras and secured employment as a carpenter for the Erie Railroad Company, remaining with them twelve years. Since then he has successfully engaged in carpentering on his own account at Matamoras. He has taken quite an active and prominent part in local affairs, has always been a stanch supporter of the Democracy, and has most capably and satisfac- torily served as supervisor for two terms.

At Port Jervis, N. Y., November 3, 1864, Mr. La Bar was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Yetter, the ceremony being performed by Rev. J. S. Coit, a Methodist Episcopal minister. They have two children: (1) Annie B., born September 5, 1866, was married December 6, 1891, to William Case, a bicycle dealer of Port Jervis. (2) Edwin B., born October 29, 1868, resides in Matamoras, Penn., and as a feed and coal merchant is engaged in busi- ness in Port Jervis, N. Y. He married Grace Near- pass and has one child, Beatrice.

Mrs. La Bar was born in Smithfield township, Monroe Co., Penn., June 13, 1841, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Bush) Yetter, also natives of Monroe county, where the father carried on farm- ing throughout life. He died in 1875, aged sixty- seven years, and his wife on April 23, 1887, aged seventy-five years. In their family were the fol- lowing children: Martin, a farmer of Monroe county ; Andrew, a business man of New York City ; Maria, wife of Andrew Hoffman, a farmer of Monroe county ; Eliza, wife of our subject ; John B. and Samuel (twins), the former a resident of Binghamton, N. Y .. the latter of Wilkes Barre, Penn .; Milton, a glass manufacturer and president of the East Stroudsburg Bank at East Strouds- burg, Penn. ; and Emma J., wife of P. C. Dickerson, a bookkeeper of New York City. Mrs. LaBar's maternal grandparents were John and Hannah Bush, of Monroe county.

THE WOOD FAMILY, now so prominent in Pike county, was founded in Orange county, N. Y., at an early day in the history of this country, but at the present time many of its representatives make

their home in Shohola township, Pike county, Penn., including MRS R. J. BRADFORD. Her great-grand- father was probably a native of Orange county, and there he served for many years as justice of the peace, being one of the most prominent and influen- tial men of his community.

Charles Wood, the grandfather, was born in Orange county, N. Y., January 16, 1785, and there married Phobe Cole, whose birth occurred in the same county July 10, 1789. He died March 9, 1861, and her death occurred in March, 1846. In their family were seven children, whose names and dates of birth were as follows : Mary Ann, December 25, 1807 ; an infant,, December 27, 1809, who died unnamed ; Reeves, April 15, 1811 ; Jerusha, August 10, 1813; Bradner, February 1, 1816; Sarah, July 29, 1819; and Samuel, February 5, 1823. All are now deceased with the exception of Bradner, father of Mrs. Bradford; and Sarah, widow of Decatur Wells, of Lyons, Kansas.

Bradner Wood is a native of Orange county, N. Y., but has been a resident of Shohola township, Pike Co., Penn., almost his entire life, coming here with his father who purchased a large tract of land in this locality. Mr. Wood now owns about 150 acres, which ne successfully operates. He is an ar- dent Republican in politics, and has served his fel- low citizens in the capacity of road master, school director, and in nearly all the other township offices. Religiously both he and his wife are earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In Pike county Bradner Wood was married, October 28, 1843, to Elizabeth Middaugh, daughter of Levi and Margaret ( Van Akin) Middaugh, and they have become the parents of the following chil- dren : Jerusha, born July 7, 1844, is now the wife of W. C. Cortright, of Lackawaxen township, Pike county ; James W., born November 4, 1845, died in boyhood; Phœbe (deceased), born December 16, 1847, married George McCartv; Rebecca J., born December 9, 1850, is the wife of Thomas Bradford; John F., born June 28, 1854, married Rebecca, daughter of John and Melissa ( Hoover) Stephens, natives of Pennsylvania, and he is now in Alaska ; Harriette E. (deceased), born July 13, 1856, mar- ried John Stark, of Shohola township, Pike county ; and Levi B., born January 22, 1859, went to the West and has not been heard from for many years.

On December 31, 1881, Rebecca J. Wood gave her hand in marriage to Thomas Bradford, and four children bless their union, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Henry, September 27, 1882; Hattie, July 17, 1884; Clara, August II, 1886; and Beatrice, May 17, 1891. Hattie is now attending school in New York City.

Thomas Bradford was born in County Down, Ireland, October 15, 1852, and lost his parents when quite young. His father, Henry Bradford, was a native of Ulster, County Down, and followed the occupation of farming throughout life. He married Eliza Greer, daughter of Nevin Greer, and to them

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were born these children : William (deceased), who married Agnes Shields, of Shohola township, Pike county ; Mary, wife of James Aiken, of New York City ; Eliza, widow of William McKittrick, of Sho- hola township; Agnes, wife of George Lonnecker, of Florida; Margaret, wife of Samuel Stephenson, of New Jersey ; and Thomas. At the age of seven- teen years Thomas Bradford came to America with his older brother, and located in West Brookville, Sullivan Co., N. Y., where he was employed in the stone quarries for nearly two years. He then came to Parker's Glen, Shohola township, Pike Co., Penn., and worked in the stone quarries here for about fifteen years. With his brother he bought a farm of 179 acres, fifty acres of which had been cleared, and he followed farming for three or four years before selling his interest in the same. For ten years he also worked in his father-in-law's farm, but now owns 168 acres in Shohola township, forty acres of which are cleared, and devotes his at- tention to farming, lumbering and quarrying with good success. In his political affiliations he is a Republican, and he takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs.

MARTIN PLACE, a wealthy farmer and land- owner of Middle Smithfield township, Monroe county, is one of the venerable and esteemed resi- dents of that town, where all his long life has been passed, and where he was born March 16, 18II, on the homestead which he now occupies.

Mr. Place's grandparents, James and Phoebe Place, were born and reared in New York State, and during the Revolutionary period migrated to Penn- sylvania, settled in Middle Smithfield near the place now owned by Martin Place, which at that time was included in Northampton county. James Place suc- ceeded in clearing out a home, and here he reared his family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters: William, John, James, Isaac, George, Jacob, Rebecca (wife of Benjamin Jennings), Ro- sanna (wife of Alexander Boiles, of Wilkes Barre), Mary ( who married John Bunnell, of Wilkes Barre ), Lena (MIrs. Solomon Bunnell, of Tunkhannock), and Annie ( who became the wife of Joseph Har- mon, and settled with him on the north branch of the Susquehanna river, where some of their descend- ants are still living).

Jacob Place, father of Martin Place, passed his early life on the parental homestead, and after his marriage to Mary Overfield settled on the place in Middle Smithfield now owned by his son Martin, where he spent the remainder of his life. As the Indians were still numerous in this locality, Mr. Place built a log fort (chinked with stones to make it proof against the arrows and guns of the savages) for the protection of his family, and in this house he lived and died, passing away in 1816 at the com- paratively early age of thirty-three years; his death was the result of a severe cold contracted during his service for his country as a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Place had succeeded by persevering in-

(lustry in clearing out a large portion of this farm, and made general improvements, and here his widow reared her family, continuing to reside on the place until her death in 1871. She was a consistent mem- ber of the M. E. Church, and an exemplary Chris- tian woman and devoted mother. Of the seven chil- dren, (1) Eliza, born in 1802, was like the rest of the children instructed at home, by private tutors, and after reaching womanhood she married Jacob Frutchey, of Mt. Bethel ; they settled along the Sus- quehanna, near Tunhannock, where they made a permanent home, and some of their children are still living there. (2) William, born in 1804, mar- ried Miss Susan Custard, of Pike county, where he settled, engaging in hotel-keeping and farming for some years ; he became one of the well-to-do citizens of his community and at his death left a large amount of property. Of their children Jacob H. con- ducts a large and commodious boarding house at Maple Grove ; Oliver E. is a cabinet maker at Scran- ton, Penn. : Mrs. Susan Howell lives in Pen Argyl, Penn., and Mrs. Vanaucken resides in Pike county. (3) Rebecca, born in 1806, married Martin Court- wright, of Monroe county, and they passed their days on his farm in Middle Smithfield township, where they died. They left a family of seven chil- dren: Jacob, who lives in Pike county; Elijah, of Monroe county ; James, residing in Wilkes Barre; Lydia, in Stroudsburg; Savannah (Mrs. Bossard, of Stroudsburg) ; and Cynthia and Eliza, also living in Stroudsburg. (4) Sarah died in childhood. (5) Martin is the fifth in the family. (6) James, born in 1814, married Miss Sarah Overfield, and they settled at Coolbaugh on the Milford road, where he kept hotel for a number of years, becoming a very prosperous business man ; he and his wife both died on this home. His heirs are Henry E., of Worces- ter, Mass. ; James N., a hotel keeper of East Strouds- burg, Penn .; Frank, of Mt. Pocono, Penn .; George M., of Chicago, Ill .; Seymour, of Philadelphia, Penn. ; Mrs. J. S. Coleman, of Williamsburg, Penn .; Mrs. A. O. Ball, of Newark, N. J. ; and Miss Hannah Place, a resident of Newark, N. J. (7) Mary A., born in 1816, became the wife of Adam Mosier, of Middle Smithfield, and they removed to Wilkes Barre, where they died; their children are also de- ceased.

From early boyhood Martin Place was obliged to assist in the support of the family, and when his services were not required at home he hired out to neighboring farmers until old enough to embark in business on his own account. Having learned the carpenter's trade he followed the same as a con- tractor and builder for many years, succeeding be- yond his expectations, and he was finally enabled to buy his brothers' and sisters' interest in the home- stead, which has been divided among the six chil- dren who grew to maturity. Numerous improve- ments have been made upon the property since he came into full possession, and he erected a good house, barn and gristmill, the last named as much for the promotion of industry in the locality as for

MARTIN PLACE

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his own interest. Although the mill is now many years old, it is still in good running order, and in addition to his undertakings in agriculture and mill- ing Mr. Place has engaged in various other enter- prises, by untiring energy and indomitable persever- ance winning his way to a foremost position among the leading business men of this part of Monroe county. He has made large purchases of land ad- joining his homestead and owns farms in different parts of the county, accumulating much valuable property during his long and active career, and his landed possessions entitle him to a place among the wealthy citizens of the section. Left fatherless at a tender age and obliged to begin life without the preliminary training now considered so essential to success in any field, Mr. Place's early prospects were not of the brightest, but he improved his every op- portunity, and in his life we have an example of the worthy self-made man seldom equalled. By his great ambition, his industry and a faculty for good management he overcame all the obstacles in his road to fortune, with characteristic energy working his way up the ladder step by step and progressing steadily until he gained the position which he has since held as one of the prosperous business men and large landowners of Middle Smithfield, in all his dealings keeping his reputation for integrity and honor unsullied, and gaining the admiration of all who met him for his many sterling qualities. He has been identified with the best interests of the county, especially in the agricultural line, for years, and has taken an influential part in the growth of her industries. Mr. Place has always commanded the highest respect of his associates, whether in business or private life, and no man in the county bears a better name than he. At the advanced age of eighty-eight he is still attending personally to the management of his numerous affairs, and his faculties are as strong as they were when he was but fifty.

In 1838 Mr. Place was united in marriage with Miss Mary Overfield, who came of one of the prom- inent families of Middle Smithfield township, be- ing a daughter of William and Sarah Overfield, and a granddaughter, on the maternal side, of Judge Coolbaugh. Mr. and Mrs. Place always made their home on the old Place farm, and here nine children were born to them, of whom we have the following record: J. M. married Miss Venie Lewis, of New Jersey, and they have one daughter, Mary; they live in Stroudsburg, where he is engaged in busi- ness. Jacob married Miss Georgia Harmon, of Middle Smithfield, and they conduct a hotel at Ma- ple Grove. Morris R. is one of the substantial citizens of Middle Smithfield, living on the home farm, of which he has charge, and also assisting his father in his business; he is unmarried. George died in early manhood. Lydia became the wife of Philip DePuy, and they took up their residence on his father's farm in Middle Smithfield, where he died not long afterward; he left one daughter, Edith, who is now the wife of Verne Smith, one of

the well-to-do young men of Middle Smithfield, and has one daughter, Viva. Eliza is the wife of Jacob Transue, one of the prominent citizens and former county commissioner of Monroe county, and lives in Smithfield township; they have one son, Irvin. William married Miss Estella Over- field, of Middle Smithfield, and they have one son, George; they reside on their farm near Shawnee. Sarah is the wife of Frank Walter, of East Strouds- burg, who is engaged in carpentering there; they have no family. Martin, Jr., is unmarried, and is engaged with his brother Morris in helping his father ; he is a man of sterling character, highly respected by all who know him.

Politically Mr. Place has always been identi- fied with the Democratic party, and was one of the men who cast their ballots for Jackson in 1834. Though too busy to have any aspirations for politi- ical preferment, he has been honored again and again with elections to various local positions of trust, and he has held all the township offices, acting for years as overseer of the poor and school direc- tor, in every incumbency discharging his duties with characteristic fidelity and ability. His son Morris is now serving as overseer of the poor in Middle Smithfield. Religiously Mr. Place was brought up in the faith of the M. E. Church. Mrs. Place passed away in 1891.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 142

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