Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 144

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 144
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 144
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 144
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 144

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

hanna L., who married George W. Weldy, a farmer in Madison township, Lackawanna county : Sarah A., wife of Henry Benjamin, a farmer of near Dunmore, Penn. ; and Isabella, deceased.

SAMUEL G. PETERS, the well-known post- master at Bushkill, Pike county, and one of its lead- ing and prominent citizens, is a representative of an old Pennsylvania family, of Holland origin, which was founded in this country by his great-grand- mother, who with her three sons, Peter, John and Henry, embarked for America in an early day. The mother died on the ocean, and the three sons located in Philadelphia, where they were sold to pay their . passage. This was prior to the Revolutionary war. Of this family, Peter Peters, the grandfather of our subject, married and had a family of seven children, namely: John, who married Betsy Smith; George, who married Margaret Michaels : Henry, father of our subject ; Betsy, who married William Meredith ; Polly, who married Cornelius Gregory ; Michael, who married Fanny Bright, and Peter, who enlisted in the army and never returned home.

Henry Peters was born in Northampton coun- ty, Penn., and was married in Middle Smithfield township, Monroe Co., Penn., to Miss Sarah Gon- zales (a daughter of Samuel and Elsa (Dewitt) Gonzales), who at the time of their marriage was eighteen years of age. Shortly afterward they re- moved to Bushkill, Pike county-where they made their home throughout the remainder of their lives -making the journey in a sled. The young couple arrived in June, 1812, at the present Peters property, Mr. Peters' first purchase being a tract of land and a saw-mill, for which he was obliged to run in debt, his means being then very limited. In his younger clays Mr. Peters followed farming and lumbering, adding to his land and building a grist-mill as pros- perity came to him, but for twenty-seven years prior to his death he was crippled with rheumatism. He served as postmaster of Bushkill for many years. He was an ardent Democrat in politics, and a con- sistent member of the German Reformed Church. to which his wife also belonged. He died March 27, 1857, aged seventy-two years, his wife in May, 1890, aged ninety-six, and both were laid to rest in Bushkill cemetery. Their family consisted of eight children, namely: Elizabeth, who died in March, 1858, aged fifty-five years; Elsa, deceased wife of Hon. Henry H. LaBar, associate judge of Pike county : Charles R., deceased ; Delinda P., deceased wife of Hon. Henry S. Mott; Maria E., who lives with our subject; Catherine, widow of Frank Eilen- berg and a resident of Bushkill; Samuel G., of this review, and William N., a prominent merchant of Easton, Penn., who married Lena Mackey.

Samuel G. Peters was born and reared on the old homestead in Bushkill, where he still resides. Here he owns a well-improved and highly cultivated farm of 130 acres, on which he erected, in 1874. a large and elegant house of twenty-five rooms that can easily accommodate forty people, and during

the summer months his home, which is well fur- nished, is filled with boarders. During his youth he clerked in his father's store, and when the latter re- tired he purchased the same, which he continued to carry on in connection with general farming and the conduct of his boarding house until 1891. He then retired from mercantile pursuits, and now rents his store. Industry, enterprise and perseverance are numbered among his chief characteristics, and in his undertakings he has met with a well-merited suc- cess. As a Democrat he is quite an active politician, and he has most faithfully and satisfactorily served his fellow citizens in the capacity of township clerk for twelve years, and school director three years. In 1857 he was first appointed postmaster at Bushkill, to succeed his father, who had been postmaster since the establishment of the office, and under each succeeding administration has been reappointed, his official duties having always been most capably per- formed.

JERVIS GORDON, a venerable and highly esteemed resident of Milford, Pike county, is deserv- ing of a prominent place in any list of the business men of that region, having been engaged for more than thirty years in operating a flour and grist mill. His history is one of more than usual interest, as he is a self-made man, and his successful career affords an encouraging example to others.

Mr. Gordon was born December 22, 1819, at Stroudsburg, and is of Scotch descent in the pater- nal line. His grandparents, Thomas and Mary Gor- don. came from Scotland at an early day and settled in Bucks county, Penn., where their remaining years were spent. They had the following children : William. Joseph, Abraham, George, Samuel, Robert, Jane ( who married John Bowen), and Mary ( who married (first) John Murphy, and ( second) Philip Featherman).

William Gordon, our subject's father, was born and reared in Bucks county, where he learned the trade of carpenter and cabinet maker. In early manhood he located at Stroudsburg, where for some years of his later life he was engaged in the milling business. He died in Warren county, N. J., in 1850, at the age of seventy-five, and his remains were in- terred at Stroudsburg. His widow, whose maiden name was Margaret Albert, passed away at the old home in Stroudsburg in 1875 aged seventy-five wears. Her father, Andrew Albert, was a native of Germany, and was one of the Hessian soldiers sent to America by the British government during the Revolutionary war. He was taken prisoner by the Colonial forces, and after the war closed he made his home in Monroe county. He married a Miss Workheiser, and had ten children: George, John, Peter, Joseph, Jacob, Margaret, Julian (who mar- ried John Quick), Barbara (who married (first) Mr. Myers, and ( second) Michael Walters), Katie ( who also married ), and Betsy ( who did not marry ). William and Margaret Gordon had eight children : Evans, who never married; Jeannette, Mrs. Daniel

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Corbett ; MaryA., Mrs. Drake Reasey ; Jervis, our subject; Albert, who married Susan A. Long; Charles, who married Jane Depue; Garbot B., who married Miss Berry, and Louis, a printer at Pitts- ton, Penn., who married Miss Mellick. Of this family only one is now living, our subject.

Mr. Gordon's youth was spent in useful work which taught him habits of industry, while giving him practical knowledge of business methods. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty, assisting his father in the mill and carpenter shop, and working upon neighboring farms in the busy seasons. When twenty years old he began working in a mill on his own account, and in 1840 he took charge of a gristmill at Pokono, Penn., for William Bisby. After one year he went to Wilkesbarre, Penn., where he was employed for some time in dif- ferent mills, and in 1868 he settled at Milford, pur- chasing an old mill on the site of his present plant. In 1882 the old mill was destroyed by fire, but Mr. Gordon rebuilt one on modern principles, his present mill containing improved machinery of 2,400 horse- power. While he has not been especially active in politics, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and for many years he has been active in re- ligious work as a member of the Methodist Church.

In 1842 Mr. Gordon was married in Monroe county to Miss Eliza Ann Gish, who was born in Belvidere, N. J., in 1824, a daughter of Jacob Gish, a native of Lancaster county, Penn., and his wife, Sallie Ann (Henyen), a native of New York State. Mrs. Eliza Ann Gordon died February 4, 1878, aged fifty-five years, and in 1880 our subject was married in Pike county to Mrs. Catherine (Van Etten) Rosenkrantz. By his first marriage he had the fol- lowing children: Ollis, who died at the age of seven months ; Margaret J., wife of Miller McEwen, a carpenter at Easton, Penn .: Lewis, a jeweler in Brooklyn, N. Y., who married (first) Emma Rose, and (second) Lena M. Brannigan ; Emma E., wife of Oscar Merrill, a farmer of near Easton ; John E., an express agent, who married Emma -, and resides in Topeka, Kans .; Melvina, who married (first) George Clark, and (second) Cass Cress- man, of Iowa, and Anna, wife of Thompson Mc- Graney, of Toronto, Canada, attorney for the Rock Island railroad. By his second marriage Mr. Gor- don has one daughter, Miss Lucy, a successful school teacher, who resides at home. Mrs. Cath- erine Gordon was born April 21, 1837, in Delaware township, Pike county, a daughter of Daniel E. and Lucinda (Van Gorden) Van Etten, natives of Pike county. Her father, who was a farmer by occupa- tion, died in February, 1880, aged seventy-two years, and her mother died May 15. 1891, aged eighty-one. The Van Gorden family is one of the oldest in Pike county, and John and Mary (Van Gorden) Van Gorden, Mrs. Gordon's maternal grandparents, re- sided upon a farm there. Of their large family of children, Lucinda, Mrs. Gordon's mother, was the only one who lived to maturity. Daniel and Lucin- da Van Etten had eleven children: Maria, Mrs.

David O. Brodhead; John, who married Sarah A. Cole ; Sidney, who died in childhood; Catherine, Mrs. Gordon; Sarah A. and Robert, who died in childhood; Martha, who married (first) Andrew Rosenkrantz, and (second) B. Drake; Hannah J., wife of Joseph Buckley ; Mary, Mrs. Albert Shimer ; C. Ella, wife of Jacob Coburn, and Sophia, who died in childhood.

S. ST. JOHN GARDNER, a well-known and prominent business man of Shohola, Pike county, is a representative of one of the most honored and distinguished pioneer families of Sullivan county, N. Y. His grandfather, Sears Gardner, was probably a native of Newark, N. J., where he grew to man- hood and married Miss Mary Keen. He was appointed a lieutenant in the army during the war of 1812, but was unable to serve, and was one of the militia trumpeters that put down the "whiskey rebellion." As early as 1800 he came to Pond Eddy, Sullivan county, N. Y., where he remained for twenty years engaged in lumbering. He then located at Eldred, Sullivan Co., N. Y., and from there went to Beaver Brook, same county, at both of which places he carried on extensive lumber opera- tions. Retiring from business, he made his home with the father of our subject until called from this life in March, 1849. His widow died about 1865.

James K. Gardner, our subject's father, was born at Pond Eddy, Sullivan county, N. Y., August 9, 1805, and at the age of twenty-one began business as a wheelwright and manufactured wheelbarrows at Eldred, Sullivan Co., N. Y. In 1834, he moved to Beaver Brook, N. Y., and engaged in lumbering at that place, then in 1848 removed to Barryville, N. Y., where he carried on mercantile business until his death, June 30, 1860. In connection with his other business interests at Barryville he operated a mill, and he was a man widely known throughout the counties along the Delaware river, both in New York and Pennsylvania. He was one of the most prominent and influential citizens of his community ; in 1852 he was elected to the New York State Leg- islature, and was honored with all the local offices, being justice of the peace, judge of courts, etc. He also took quite an active part in Church work, and served as deacon of the Congregational Church, in which he and his wife held membership. Polit- ically he was a Democrat. At Eldred, Sullivan Co .. N. Y., he married Miss Eliza Eldred, a daughter of Hon. James Eldred, a prominent man of his time and a member of the New York State Legislature. She was born December 23, 1810, and now lives with our subject in Barryville, N. Y. She became the mother of several children, only four of whom reached maturity, namely: Maria, wife of Oliver Calkin, a farmer and miller of Barryville; S. St. John, our subject; James E., a groceryman of Brooklyn. N. Y., who married Rebecca J. Rider ; and Ann E., widow of Louis Cuddeback, and a resi- dent of Orange county, New York.

S. St. John Gardner was born at Beaver Brook,

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Sulfivan Co., N. Y., September 2, 1835, and com- pleted his education at the University of Northeast- ern Pennsylvania, located at Bethany, Wayne county. He remained at home until he attained his majority, and the following winter taught school near Otisville, N. Y. In 1857 he secured employ- ment as clerk in a general store at Shohola, Penn., and in 1858 bought a half interest in the business, but disposed of the same within a short time and embarked in a similar enterprise across the Delaware river at Barryville, N. Y. As in-door life did not agree with him, he purchased property in Mon- gaup Valley, Sullivan Co., N. Y., where for twelve years he carried on an extensive lumber business, the output of his mills finding ready markets in Port Jervis, N. Y., and Philadelphia, Penn. When intended for the latter market the lumber was floated down the river in rafts. At the end of twelve years he sold his business and returned to Barry- ville to resume mercantile pursuits. In 1883 he opened a general store at Shohola, Penn., which he now carries on in partnership with his son, James K., and also deals in coal and lumber. Although engaged in business at this place he still makes his home in Barryville, New York, just across the Dela- ware river.

On September 12, 1860, Mr. Gardner was united in marriage with Miss Louisa McElroy, of Philadel- phia, and six children were born to them, three of whom survive : James K., born June 26, 1861, mar- ried Ella Breen, and has one child, Edna; Kate McElroy, born February 24, 1864, is at home ; and Myers J., born January 30, 1866, married Annie Long, and is bookkeeper for a lumber firm at Stock- ton, Cal. The wife and mother was called to her final rest September 14, 1877, and Mr. Gardner mar- ried, in November, 1880, Miss Margaret J. Terns.

The Democratic party finds in Mr. Gardner a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has ever taken quite an active and prominent part in political affairs, having filled all the township offices. In 1860 he was elected a member of the Assembly of New York, and most ably represented his district. He is always courteous, kindly and affable, and those who know him personally have for him a warm regard. A man of great natural ability, his suc- cess in business has been uniform and rapid, and he has ever supported those interests which are cal- culated to uplift and benefit humanity. He and his estimable wife both hold membership in the Con- gregational Church.

MARTIN HELLER has for many years been identified with the business interests of Matamoras, Pike county, as a manufacturer of cigars, and he has just completed a new shop fitted with modern appliances. In his factory he uses both foreign and domestic tobacco, and the product turned out is of a superior quality.

Mr. Heller was born in Saxony, Germany, Sep- tember 3, 1835, and is a son of Ernest Heller, whose birth occurred January 6, 1797, in Meiningen, Sax-

ony, where he grew to manhood and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Margaret Fleish- man, who died in 1870, and he passed away two years later. Our subject is one of their four chil- dren, the others being: Dorey (deceased), who married, and was a china decorator in Saxony ; Lena, who died in Germany; and Charles, who is the youngest, a carpenter and builder at Jersey City Heights, New Jersey.

Reared in his native province, Martin Heller attended the local schools for nine years, and secu (.d. a good practical education in the German language. He also learned the bookbinder's trade, which he followed in that country for five years. He was married in Meiningen, Saxony, to Miss Caroline Hopf, who was born May 5, 1836, a daughter of Martin Hopf, and six children blessed their union : Louisa, born May 22, 1861, is now the wife of Charles Jacob, a retired baker of New York City ; William, born March 28, 1863, is engaged in the manufacture of cigars with his father at Mata- moras; Edward, born March 31, 1865, is a barber of Mt. Vernon, N. Y .; Emma, born July 7, 1870, is the wife of Jacob Roberts, a railroad employe residing at Port Jervis, N. Y .; Sophia, born June 3, 1873, is at home; and Henry, born August 7, 1875, is a cigar manufacturer with his father.

In 1861 Mr. Heller emigrated to the United States and first secured employment in a cloth fac- tory in New York City, where he remained for over two years. He then learned the cigar trade, which he followed there for five years, and at the end of that time came to Matamoras and embarked in the manufacture of cigars on his own account. As the excellence of his goods became known, he built up good trade, which has been constantly increasing. He is a strong Republican in National politics, but at local elections endeavors to support the best man for the office regardless of party ties. For thirty years he has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Man- nerchoir for the same length of time, with the Knights of Honor for nine years, while religiously he and his wife are members of the German Lu- theran Church, in which he has served as trustee and secretary.

HON. DESIRE BOURNIQUE (deceased). To the sunny land of France we owe much that is best in the development of our country. From the dark days of the Revolution when the French nation contributed so much that was of inestimable value to the struggling Continental army, when the young men left their comfortable homes to cross the sea and endure the hardships of war under our own indomit- able leaders, the French born, or naturalized citizens, have been of the best element of our cosmopolitan population.

Desire Bournique was born in Lorain, France, December 26, 1833, a son of Joseph and Rosa Bournique, both of whom spent their entire lives in France. Joseph was an inspector in a French plate-

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glass factory for many years, and, after becoming incapacitated for work by reason of advancing years, he was retired on a pension. Both he and his wife died in the year 1884, when they were aged eighty-four years. In their family were the follow- ing children: Josephine, in France; August, who died in New York ; Emily, of Orange county, N. Y., who was twice married, first to F. Grudot, and after his death wedded Paul Provo; Mary Ann, who wed- dled a Mr. Reka, and lives in Paris, France, and Desire, our subject.

In 1847 Desire Bournique accompanied by his sister Mary Ann, bade farewell to the familiar scenes of his boyhood and youth, and crossed the Atlantic to find his fortune in the New World. He settled in Brooklyn, N. Y., and served an apprenticeship under Joseph Mecire at watchcase making. He remained five years, when his employer failed, and his next venture was in New York City, where he remained until 1863, in which year he came to Milford, Penn. During his sojourn in New York he had accumulat- ed some money, and on coming to Milford he began the manufacture of silver watchcases, employing about seventy-five operators in his factory. This he continued until his death. Though always attentive to his business interests he took active part in the political world, and his interests in public affairs brought him in the front rank of the most prom- inent citizens. In his political affiliations he was a stanch Republican. When the borough of Milford was chartered, he was one of the first councilmen, and was the second chief burgess. So well and ably did he discharge the duties of these offices, that when his terms had expired there was not a more popular man in the borough. On January 18, 1880, he was appointed associate judge of Pike county to fill the unexpired term of the late Hon. George Heller. The official positions which he held were not of his own soliciting, but the tribute paid by his fellow citizens to his worth and ability.

On October 10, 1855, at Hoboken, N. Y., Mr. Bournique was married to Miss Emelie Loreaux, and to this union the following children were born : Charles, who died at the age of twelve years ; Emily, deceased wife of James F. Tobin; Henrietta, de- ceased at the age of four years ; Juliette, wife of Oc- tave Boillotat, lives on the old farm in Dingman township, Pike county ; Desire, a grocer in Brooklyn, N. Y., married to Agnes Moran; Adele, wife of James T. Welding, an upholsterer in New York; Paul, manager of the "Bluff House," married to Catherine Wells ; George, a salesman in New York ; Regina, at home, and Beatrice, deceased at the age of nineteen months. For seven years the father of this family had been a sufferer from what is sup- posed to have been consumption. On November 19, 1884, he went home from the factory, and two hours later his weary soul took its flight, and Pike county was called to mourn the loss of one of the most prominent and respected citizens, a man who stood firm for the right, honorable in all his dealings, conscientious in the performance of every

duty, charitable in its broadest sense, a wise and ten- der husband and father. Fraternally he was a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., and in religious faith was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church, to the support of which he contributed most liberally.

Emelie (Loreaux) Bournique was born in New York City, October 10, 1836, a daughter of Remy and Helen (Devoe) Loreaux, natives of France and Westchester county, N. Y., respectively. Remy Loreaux was born in Waighnies, France, January 13, 1800, and died in 1875. When a lad he accom- panied his father and uncle in the campaign under Napoleon Bonaparte. With scarcely a dollar in his possession he came to America, reaching Pike coun- ty in 1830, shortly after the arrival of the Pinchot family, and for about one year was in the employ of the mother of the late Cyril C. D. Pinchot, and in the performance of the duties connected with this posi- tion he visited his native country. On his return to America, he engaged in business in New York City, importing baskets; this he continued with great financial success until 1849, during which time he invented a machine to cut out envelopes, and while this machine had been extensively used, it was never patented. In 1833 he bought of Mr. McCarty 160 acres of land in Dingman township, Pike Co., Penn. This land was almost an unbroken wilderness, only a few acres having been cleared, but on this little clearing stood a primitive log cabin. Mr. Loreaux sent to France for his relatives, and established them on his farm. In all that he attempted he ultimately won success, although his business in New York was three times burned, but he met disaster with the cool head that will not be cast down, and from the ashes of the old, there came forth new and better things. On his property in Pike county he spent over $40,000 in improvements. In 1840 he built a brewery which was carried on to a limited extent for several years, and in 1849 he moved his family from New York to the farm, but a year later, daz- zled by the reports of the fortunes that only awaited the seeker, he left home for California. Accom- panied by four other men, and with a two years' sup- ply of provisions, he sailed for the Eldorado, taking the circuitous route, around Cape Horn. After two years or more, he found his business would prove unprofitable, and he returned home, and success- fully. operated his brewery until his death.

Mr. Loreaux married Helen Devoe, and became the father of the following children: Charles, who married Nancy Doolittle, and lives in Philadelphia ; Emelie (Mrs. Bournique) ; Rame, who died at the age of nineteen years; Julia, who died when three years old ; Edward, of Port Jervis, N. Y., who mar- ried Emily Labor ; Helen, wife of Walter Newman, manufacturer of watchcases in New York; Cloves, who was twice married, (first) to Elizabeth Rider, and (second) to Grace Hissen; Isabella, who mar- ried Joseph DuBois; Ashel and Artance, both deceased in infancy, and Mary, deceased wife of Frank Deppert. The father was a man noted for his philanthropy ; his charity extended to all man-

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kind, both in word and in deed. The mother died in 1888 when sixty-nine years old, and was laid to rest at the side of her husband in the cemetery at Milford.

ARNOLD T. POOLE, one of the most intelli- igent and wide awake citizens of Buckingham township. Wayne county, is proprietor of the Hill- side Farm, one of the most beautiful places in this section of the State. The residence is located on a high hill commanding a fine view of the surrounding country, which is very picturesque, being made up of mountains, valleys, streams and lakes. It is only a mile and a half from the village of Lake Como, which affords a good market for his products. The farm comprises 300 acres of valuable land, its pas- tures rivaling the famous blue-grass regions of Kentucky, and the cultivated fields yielding to the owner rich returns for the care and labor bestowed upon them.

Mr. Poole was born in Devonshire, England, June 29, 1832, a son of Richard and Hannah ( Len- thall ) Poole, the former a native of Devonshire, the latter of Somersetshire, England. In the family were three sons and three daughters, namely : George Fredrick, Frances Drusilla, Arnold Theo- philus, Walter Adolphus, Amelia Sophia, and Sabina Dorcas, all of whom are yet living except Amelia Sophia. The father was a baker by trade, making a specialty of bread and biscuit, and was an indus- trious, honest and successful business man. He died at the ripe old age of eighty-four years, in the faith of the Baptist Church, to which his wife also belonged. She was a woman of many good qualities and died in 1858, at the age of fifty-six years.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 144

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