Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 156

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 156
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 156
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 156
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 156

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At Aldenville, May 20, 1846, Mr. Loomis was united in marriage with Miss Laura Griswold, and together they have traveled life's journey for over half a century, sharing its joys and sorrows, its ad- versity and prosperity. Her parents were Francis and Jane (Loomis) Griswold, the former a native of Massachusetts, and an honored pioneer of Clinton township, Wayne county. In the Griswold family were six children, namely : Louis, born January 31, 1822, died January 6, 1832; Alvin, born April 22, 1824, died in New York State in September, 1849; Laura, born July 7, 1826, is the wife of our subject ; Louisa, born November 2, 1828, is the wife of H. B. Cutris ; Nathan, born March 21, 1832, is a resident of Clinton township, Wayne county ; and Homer, born March 14, 1835, died April 1. 1874.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Loomis are as follows: Theron O., born February 25, 1848, is a resident of Carbondale, Penn. ; Oliver G., born Au-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

gust 16, 1857, died April 23, 1862; Helen A., born February 25, 1860, died November 17, same year ; and Francis E., born December 17, 1861, wedded Mary E. Paynter, and has five children-Flora, Herbert. Nettie, Floyd and Laura. Francis F. Loomis is an energetic and progressive young man, now successfully engaged in lumbering.

Mr. Loomis was reared under Democratic in- fluences, but seeing that Republican principles more closely agreed with his political ideas, he has for more than fifty years supported the platform of the "grand old party." He has never sought public favor, but has capably filled most of the township offices, being assessor four years, town clerk, over- seer of the poor and school director. Religiously he and his family are connected with the Baptist Church, and in the social world occupy a prominent position.

JOHN F. KEARNEY has been a resident of Wayne county for half a century, and he has been prominently identified with the interests of Hawley, where he makes his home, for many years. Since 1890 he has lived retired, enjoying a well-earned rest after a long career of constant industry, during which he became one of the prosperous citizens of his adopted town and gained an honorable place among its respected self-made men.

Mr. Kearney is an Irishman by birth, born January 2, 1834, in County Mayo, where his par- ents and grandparents were also born. His father, John F. Kearney, was the son of Mathew and Mary (Loftus) Kearney, who passed their entire lives in Ireland, engaged in farming. In County Mayo he met and married Mary Carlan, whose parents, John and Phœbe (Narey) Carlan, were also farm- ing people in that county, and they made their home in Ireland until 1848, in which year they came with their family to the United States, locating first in Honesdale, Wayne county, Penn. Several months later they moved to Carbondale, where Mr. Kearney had a contract from the Pennsylvania Coal Co. to build a road bed, and after two years' residence there they came to Hawley, making their home in this place for three years, during which period Mr. Kearney continued in the employ of the same com- pany, loading boats, etc. After that the family set- tled on a farm in Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne county, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits for the remainder of his life, dying on the farm in 1872, when he was seventy-five years of age. The mother died there five years later, aged seventy- three years. Their remains rest at Hill Top, in Mt. Pleasant township. They were the parents of five children, viz. : Mathew, who now owns and car- ries on the farm in Mt. Pleasant township ; John F .. of Hawley: Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Thomas Loftus, a shoemaker, of Moberly, Mo .: Patrick, residing at Forest City, Penn., where he has a meat market : and Martin, the only child born in the United States, who died in 1805 in California. The parents were members of the Catholic Church.

Mr. Kearney became an influential and well-known man in the neighborhood of his home, and held several offices of trust and importance in Mt. Pleas- ant township. He was a Democrat politically.

John F. Kearney lived with his parents until their removal to Mt. Pleasant township, after which he remained at Hawley, though for several years, dur- ing the winter months when work here was scarce, he would work on the farm at wood chopping or any other employment there was for him. For seven years he held the position of foreman with the Pennsylvania Coal Co., and he also worked as gauger of boats for seven years until the company built the pockets, continuing with them afterward until 1886, when he changed to the Erie Co., for whom he did road repairing until his retirement from active labor in 1890. Mr. Kearney's industry and steady habits made him valued as a worker in whatever capacity he was engaged, and he was re- garded by all who came in contact with him as a reliable and trustworthy man. By dint of economy and shrewd management he acquired the comfort- able competence which he now enjoys deservedly,and he occupies a respected position among the prom- inent old citizens of Hawley, where his sociable dis- position and genuine worth have gained him scores of warm friends. On June 21, 1898, he met with a heavy loss by fire, covered only by light insurance. Fraternally he is a member of the C. M. B. A., and he is a Catholic in religious belief. His political influence is given to the Democratic party.

On October 15, 1859, Mr. Kearney was united in marriage, at Hawley, with Miss Mary Coughlin, Rev. Filand performing the ceremony, and they have reared a family of five children, namely : James married Catherine Atkinson, and has one child, Mary; he is in the wholesale liquor business at Scranton, Penn. Mary is the wife of William Bushwaller, a glass blower, and lives in Clyde, N. Y. : they are mentioned elsewhere. Ann is the widow of William Dunn and resides with her par- ents ; she had one child, Lawrence, who is dead. Francis J. lives at home. Patrick H. is mentioned below.

Mrs. Kearney is like her husband a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and she came thence to the United States with her parents, Anthony and Mary (Harrison) Coughlin, in 1856. The family set- tled at Hawley, Penn., where Mr. Coughlin was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Co. until his death, which occurred in May, 1860; he was sixty- three years of age. The mother followed him to the grave four years later, at the age of sixty-six. Both were interred at Hawley. . Six children were born to them-Patrick, who lives in Pennsyl- vania : Michael, in the foundry at Scranton, Penn. ; Francis, who is a stone mason of Scranton ; Ann, deceased, who was the wife of James H. Murphy, also deceased : James, deceased ; and Mary, Mrs. Kearney. Mrs. Kearney's grandparents, Francis and Catherine (Mellet) Coughlin on the paternal side, and Peter and Ann ( Rown) Harrison on the.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

maternal side passed their lives in County Mayo, Ireland, the latter engaged in farming.

Patrick H. Kearney, son of John F. and Mary (Coughlin) Kearney, was born December 14, 1872, at the parental home in Hawley, and has spent all his life in that place. He attended school up to the age of eighteen years, and after his fifteenth year he worked during vacations for H. F. Bea in his gro- cery store at Hawley until his literary education was completed. After leaving school he entered the employ of the Erie Railway Co. at Hawley in his present position, that of recording clerk in the car repair shops, and he has proved a capable and steady man for this work, gaining the respect and confi- (lence of all associated with him. He has a wide acquaintance among the younger men of Hawley and vicinity, with whom he is popular and well thought of as an agreeable and social companion, honorable and straightforward in his intercourse with everybody. In fraternal connection he is a member of the C. M. B. A., the A. O. H., the Knights of Columbus, and the Nat. P. L., and re- ligiously he unites, like the rest of the family, with the Catholic Church. He is a Democrat in political preference.

ALFRED DECKER has held the position of foreman in the shops of the Erie Railway Co.at Haw- ley, Wayne county, since January, 1864, and during his many years of service in this responsible capacity he has gained the confidence of his employers as a man worthy of the trust reposed in him and made an enviable reputation among his fellow citizens in this town. Mr. Decker deserves to be called a self- made man in the truest sense of the term, for he has worked his own way into the comfortable circum- stances he now enjoys and attained his high stand- ing by virtue of his genuine worth, which is recog- nized by all who know him, either in a business or friendly way.

Mr. Decker was born August 9, 1836, in Sus- sex county, N. J., and he is a great-grandson of Daniel Decker, a native of New York State, who settled in Sussex county in an early day and spent the remainder of his life there. He was a man of means, being an extensive farmer and landowner in Wallpack township, that county, where he had five farms, and he also owned slaves. John S. Decker, brother of our subject, has a copy of his will in which he bequeaths his most valuable slave. Diana, to his son John. The last named was born in Sussex county, N. J., and passed all his life there, engaged in agricultural pursuits. His son Abra- ham was twice married, his first wife being Eliza- beth Struble, a daughter of John Struble, a farmer of Sussex county, and by her he had five children, viz. : Julia, now the widow of L. L. Hawk, living in Purcells, I. T .: Alfred, our subject : John S., of Hawley; Eveline, deceased in 1873, the wife of Theodore Winans, a blacksmith, who now lives in Sussex county, N. J .: and Theodore, a conductor on the Erie road, residing at Hornellsville. N. Y.

The mother of these died July 27, 1847, and was buried in Sussex county, and Mr. Decker subse- quently wedded Jane Schoonover, by whom he had two children-William, who is a clerk in the employ of the Jersey Central Railway Co. in New York City, and James, whose whereabouts are un- known. Mr. Decker was a tailor by trade and fol- lowed that business while in New Jersey, but in his later years he took up agricultural pursuits in Leh- man township, Pike county, Penn., whither he re- moved with his family in 1855. There he died, on July 11, 1886, at the age of seventy-one years, a faithful member of the Reformed Dutch Church, and he was buried in Milford, Pike county. His wife's death also occurred in Lehman township, in April, 1887, when she was aged seventy-one. Mr. Decker was a man of quiet disposition, but he was persevering and industrious in everything he under- took, and he was esteemed by all who knew him.

During his early years Alfred Decker led the usual life of a farmer boy, working with his father until he was fourteen years old and after that for others, receiving at first but $3.25 per month for his services. When eighteen he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of three years, one year in Sussex county and two years in Port Jervis, N. Y., which is just across the river from his old home in Pike county. He subsequently worked as journeyman carpenter in Port Jervis until 1857, when he went into the car shops at that place, and there he was employed until his enlistment in April, 1861. as a soldier in the Union army. He served until May, 1863, as a member of Company D, 18th N. Y. V. I., under Capt. John C. McGinnis, and with his com- mand took part in numerous battles and skirmishes, among others the first battle of Bull Run, the seven days' fight at South Mountain, Antietam, Freder- icksburg, Chancellorsville, West Point, etc. After his discharge Mr. Decker resumed work in the car shops at Port Jervis, continuing there until January, 1864, when he was sent to Hawley as foreman of the Erie shops here, a position which he has since held in a most creditable manner. Mr. Decker gives orders, etc., and looks after the machinists' work of the Erie Co. here. discharging his duties as only a man of his long experience and excellent judgment in this line could. He has been a tireless worker for the interests of his employers, and deserves the respect which is paid to him by his fellowmen in Hawley, where he has a wide acquaintance. He is regarded as a valuable citizen of the town, one whose intellect and force of character are appreciated and carry weight wherever he is known. Mr. Decker, though interested in a loyal and public-spirited way in the welfare of his adopted town, has taken no active part in public affairs and has never aspired to office. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. (). F. and F. & .A. M .- Blue Lodge, Chapter and Com- mandery-at Port Jervis. His political sympathies are with the Republican party.

Mr. Decker has been twice married, the first

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time on August 16, 1865, at Port Jervis, N. Y., to Miss Martha M. Johnston, who was born in 1839, daughter of Isaac and Anne ( Borris) Johnston, of Huntingdon county, N. J. None of the children born to this union lived, and on April 1, 1883, Mrs Decker died, and was laid to rest at Port Jervis. On November 26, 1887, Mr. Decker wedded, at New York City, Miss Anna Dow, daughter of Joseph and Mary Dow, of Susquehanna county, Penn. They have no children.

MARTIN REAFLER. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising borough of Hawley, Wayne county, than the subject of this sketch, the present proprietor of the "Reafler Hotel". He has been an important factor in busi- ness circles, and his popularity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbend- ing integrity, unabated energy and industry that never flags. He is public-spirited, and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the welfare of his town or county.

Mr. Reafler was born June 4, 1842, in Witten- berg, Germany, whence when a child of six years he was brought to America by his parents, Michael and Barbara ( Bauman ) Reafler, who located in Honesdale, Wayne county, Penn., where the father was employed as a mason for two years. Removing to Smith Hill, Oregon township, he worked in a tannery until 1860, and then settled at Cherry Ridge, where in the midst of the forest he developed a farm, making it his home until called to his final rest in 1887, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife died five years later at the age of seventy-six, and both were laid to rest in the Honesdale cemetery. They were consistent members of the Lutheran church of that place, and had the respect and esteem of all who know them. Of their children, Martin is the eldest ; the second died in infancy ; Henry is a black- smith of Hawley ; and George, who remained on the old homestead, is now deceased. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Martin Bauman, was one of the earliest settlers of Honesdale, where he died.

At the early age of nine years Martin Reafler started out to make his own way in the world, and has since been dependent upon his own exertions for a livelihood, driving a horse on the canal the first summer. He then worked for Gilbert Palmer, do- ing chores, etc., until twelve years of age, and for the following four years was bound out to learn the wheelwright's trade with William Wicher, of Mt. Pleasant. Wayne county, for whom he afterward worked as a journeyman for one year. He then spent a few months at the home of his parents at Cherry Ridge, and in the fall of 1860 came to Haw- ley, where he worked at his trade for George Schu- man for three and one-half years. He then bought out his employer, and successfully engaged in busi- ness on his own account for eighteen years, often having five men working under him. At the end of that time he sold out to his brother Henry and J. H. Twigler, and for the following five years engaged

in the livery business in Hawley. After disposing of that business at a heavy loss, he went to New York City, where for one season he was engaged in buying and selling butter and eggs, and subsequently worked at the carpenter's trade for one year. Going to Coney Island, he engaged in the restaurant busi- ness with his sister-in-law for a short time, and then returned to Hawley where his family had remained. In 1885 he took charge of the "Wayne County House," and after managing it for four years for Mrs. Herman Frank, he leased the place, successful- ly conducting it until 1896, when he sold the stock and fixtures to Miss Altemus. Two months later he purchased from Jacob F. Seidler what was formerly known as the "German Hotel," but he has since changed the name to the "Reafler Hotel." It con- tains twenty-four rooms, all elegantly equipped and up-to-date in appointment, and lighted throughout with electric lights. Mr. Reaffer has always been a progressive, enterprising citizen, and in 1894 pur- chased water power for the purpose of starting an electric plant, but could not get enough stockholders to aid in the affair. He then sold to a Scranton firm, who organized the Hawley Light & Power Co., which is now doing a large and profitable business.

Mr. Reafler was married at Honesdale, June 12, 1864, to Miss Ida Schurer, a native of Saxony, Ger- many, who died in 1865 and was buried in Eddy cem- etery at Hawley. Martin, the only child born to them, died in infancy. At Hawley, January 21, 1866, Mr. Reafler married Miss Ida Augusta Schurer (a sis- ter to his first wife), Rev. Arnold officiating. Nine chilfiren bless this union: Ida B. is the wife of Charles H. Ehlert, who for eighteen years has been a clerk in the Jay Gould Exchange, New York, and they have one child, Augusta H. Lena is the wife of Joseph Weehle, who is employed by the glass works of Hawley. Anna A., Amelia A., Martha B., Hilda C., William J., Augusta L. and Flora C. are all at home with their parents.

Mrs. Reafler was born January 29, 1843, in Stunning Green, Saxony, Germany, a daughter of Christian and Cristiana ( Pleadner ) Schurer, who in 1852 brought their family to the New World, first locating in Hawley. In his native land the father had engaged in the hotel business, but here he en- gaged in farming in Paupack township, Wayne county. He died in 1857, aged sixty-three years, his wife on January 6, 1879, aged sixty-six years, being laid to rest in the cemetery at Hawley. They were members of the German Protestant church, and in politics the father was a Democrat. Their children were Charles, who is now living retired: Sophia, wife of Charles Glutha, who conducts a meat market in New York City; Christiana, wife of Alexander Goldbach, a stone mason of Hawley ; Caroline, wife of John Glass, a carpenter ; Ida Augusta, wife of our subject : and Ida, his first wife, who died at the age of nineteen years. Mrs. Reafler's paternal grand- father, Christian Schurer, spent his entire life in Germany.

Socially, Mr. Reafler is a charter member of

Martin Reafter

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Lackawaxen Lodge No. 667, I. O: O. F., of Haw- ley ; also belongs to Lackawaxen Encampment No. 30; the Heptasophs, of Honesdale, No. 210; is a charter member of High Sun Tribe No. 326, I. O. R. M .; and is one of the three charter members of the Maennerchor Society of Hawley. Religiously he is a member of the German Lutheran church. At the polls he always supports the men whom he con- siders best qualified to fill the offices, regardless of party affiliations, and for seven years he most credit- ably served as overseer of the poor, and for four years as constable. As a citizen he meets every re- quirement, and manifests a commendable interest in everything that is calculated to promote the welfare of the community.

ERASTUS T. CADE, one of the respected well-to-do farmers of Damascus township Wayne county, is a native of that county, born October 4, 1838, in Berlin township, where his father, George Cade, settled in an early day.

George Cade was born and reared in Dutchess county, N. Y., whence when a young man he came west to Wayne county, Penn., here marrying Miss Dorcas Smith, daughter of William Smith, one of the pioneers of Berlin township. The young couple settled on land in the township which Mr. Cade pur- chased, and which at that time was in its primitive state, tincleared and uncultivated. He succeeded in clearing out a home for his family, and by ardu- ous labor had the work of cultivation well under way at the time of his death, which occurred in1841. His death was accidental, a tree falling on him while he was engaged in felling timber on his land.' Four children were born to George and Dorcas Cade, namely: Lucinda C. and Prudence A. (twins), Charles W. S. and Erastus T. Lucinda married Holland E. Groom, of Onondaga county, N. Y., who died some years ago leaving her with two children- George and Louisa. Prudence became the wife of Henry Wood, of Damascus, who during the Civil war enlisted for service in the Union army, as a member of a Pennsylvania regiment, and was starved to death in a Rebel prison; they also had two children-George and Alonzo B ; Mrs. Prudence Wood died November 16, 1899. Charles enlisted during the Civil war in Company A, 49th P. V. I., and fought throughout his term of service, taking part in many battles and serving all through the Peninsular campaign; he was taken prisoner at Savage Station and confined in Rebel prison four months: after his return home he married Miss Mary E. Hall, of Beech Creek, Penn., and they now reside in McPherson, Kans., where he owns a large farm. They have a family of five children-Jessie, Carrie, Bessie, Tasie and Elsie. Mrs. Dorcas Cade married for her second husband a Mr. Tuttle of Wayne county. She is now deceased.

Erastus T. Cade received his education in the public schools of Onondaga county, N. Y., and in early manhood went to Clinton county, Penn., where he engaged in lumbering on Beech Creek, following

that occupation until his enlistment in the spring of 1861, for service in the Union army. He joined from Clinton county, becoming a member of Com- pany A, 49th P. V. I., under Capt. Green, of Miles- burg, Center county, was sworn into the service at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, and from there pro- ceeded to Virginia, where they were assigned to the army of the Potomac, under Hancock. The first engagement in which our subject took an active part was the battle of Gaines Mills, Va., and he was subsequently all through the Peninsular campaign, in the battle of Williamsburg, and at Fair Oaks. He was wounded in front of Yorktown while on picket duty, was in the battle of White Oak Swamp, and continued with his regiment until 1863, when he was retired to the hospital on account of physical disability and he was honorably discharged, from the convalescent camp, in Virginia, February, 1863. In February, 1865, he again enlisted, this time be- coming a corporal in Company G, 192nd P. V. I., and was discharged at Harper's Ferry August 24, 1865. His army record is an enviable one, and he may well be proud of the part he had in the great struggle between the North and South.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Cade came to Wayne county, shortly afterward going to Beech Creek again and resuming his old occupa- tion of lumbering, which he continued there for a number of years. In 1872 he was united in mar- riage with Miss Harriet K. Bitner, of Clinton coun- ty, whose parents, Abram and Mary Bitner, were prominent among the early settlers of Clinton county, and the young couple made their home in Beech Creek for several years, finally removing to the farm in Damascus which they have since occu- pied. Mr. Cade had bought this place previous to his marriage, and he has been constantly engaged in clearing and improving ever since he settled there, at the present time enjoying the distinction of having one of the best conducted farms in the township. The tract consists of eighty-four acres, lying two miles north of Galilee, and was known as the Jacob Marks farm. In 1880 Mr. Cade erected a com- modious two-story dwelling, and in 1887 he put up a large bank barn, besides which the place is pro- vided with all the other necessary outbuildings, sub- stantial stone walls and the various et ceteras which are considered essential by the up-to-date farmer. The land is carefully and systematically cultivated, and brings the owner a good income.

Mr. and Mrs. Cade have a family of nine chil- dren, viz. : Bertha H., born in 1873 in Clinton coun- ty, now living in Honesdale; Alice M., born in 1874 in Clinton county, now residing in St. Augustine, Fla. ; George Lincoln, born in 1875, who was reared and educated in Damascus ; Harry W., born in 1876, who enlisted June 20, 1898, in Company K, 11th U. S. Inf., and went with his regiment to Porto Rico, where he became ill and was sent home on furlough ; Edith M., born October 8, 1877, now with her sister in St. Augustine, Fla .; Charles E., born August 13, 1879; Garfield E., born November 12,

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 156

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