Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 166

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 166
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 166
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 166
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 166

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MILES LEACH HUTCHINSON, who is probably best known as the "Father of East Strouds- burg," has been identified with that now thriving city since it was a hamlet of about thirty-one inhabi- tants. Some of its buildings occupy a portion of his old farm, and he had the honor of naming two of its streets, "Courtland" and "Washington." At the time of the organization of the borough he served as a member of the council, and his popularity may be inferred from the fact that, although he is stanch Republican and the township is Democratic, three to one, he has held the office of justice of the peace- for thirty consecutive years.

U. S. Hutchinson

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Squire Hutchinson was born April 18, 1831, in the town of Harmony, Warren Co., N. J., and is of hardy Scotch ancestry in the paternal line. John Hutchinson, his great-grandfather, was a native of Scotland, and became a sailor in boyhood, making a trip around the world before he reached the age of eighteen. In early manhood he settled near Mar- tins Creek, in Northampton county, Penn., where he followed farming many years. He died there at the advanced age of 101 years, leaving three sons, John, William and Thomas, and several daughters whose names are not known.

John Hutchinson (2), our subject's grand- father, became a farmer, and at the time of his death was the owner of 1,200 acres of land at Martins Creek and Lower Mount Bethel, Northampton coun- ty .. He was an active, energetic man, and doubtless shortened his life by overwork, as he died when only sixty-five years old. He married a Miss Brit- ten, and had four sons, Thomas, James, John and William; and two daughters, who married and left families.

William Hutchinson, our subject's father, was born in 1783 at Lower Mount Bethel, and died in 1847. He was reared as a farmer boy, receiving a common-school education, and became a farmer, miller and lumberman. He built a gristmill at Uniontown, N. J., but afterward sold it and pur -. chased a sawmill at Hutchinson's Station, Warren Co., N. J., which he operated many years. In 1831 he settled in Jones Eddy, N. J., where he died while engaged in rafting. Like his father, he was ambi- tious, and his death was attributed to overwork. Politically, he was a Democrat, and he and his family were devout members of the Presbyterian Church. He married Miss Mary Hay, who was born in 1794, in South Easton, Penn., and died in 1849. Her father, John Hay, was a farmer near South Easton, whence he removed to a farm on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, where he died at the age of eighty-five years, and his wife, Mary (Best), at the age of eighty-one years. Of the children of William and Mary (Hay) Hutchinson, John D. (deceased) owned the Samuel De Puy prop- erty at Hutchinson Station, comprising a sawmill and farm. His wife survived him with one daugh- ter, who married Rev. Clark Kline, of Oxford, N. J. (2) Ellen (deceased) was the wife of George Stocker, of Lower Mount Bethel. (3) Mary mar- ried Judge Jeremy Mackey, formerly associate judge of Monroe county, and cashier of the Stroudsburg Bank, but now deceased. . (4) Harriet (deceased) married Edward L. Allen, of Harmony, N. J., who died in Stroudsburg. (5) Elizabeth (deceased) married (first) James Ramsey, and (second) Dr. Little Osmun, of Harmony, N. J. (6) William (now deceased) was not married and resided at Del- aware Station. (7) Eveline married Jeremiah Osmun, of Delaware Station. (8) Andrew Jack- son, a lumberman, resides at the same town. (9) Miles L., our subject, is mentioned more fully be- low. (10) James conducts a gristmill at Dela- 45

ware Station. (II) Thomas died when three years old.

Our subject's early life was spent on the old home place in New Jersey, and he was educated in the schools of Harmony and Oxford. For a time he engaged in lumbering, and after the death of his father, in 1846, he took charge of the mill in partner- ship with his brother, Andrew J., renting the prop- erty from their mother until her death in 1857. Owing to the ill health of his brother-in-law, James Ramsey (mentioned above), our subject went to Ramseyburg, N. J., to operate his store, lumberyard and farm, and after Mr. Ramsey's death, two years later, Mr. Hutchinson continued in charge three years as a partner with his sister, Mrs. Ramsey. In 1866 he removed to East Stroudsburg, purchasing a farm of sixty-five acres, which he sold eighteen months later. For one year he resided in Strouds- burg, and in 1869 he settled in East Stroudsburg, building his present residence on Washington street. He built seven other residences, which he still owns in the town, and his energy and foresight have done much for the development of the locality. Among other en- terprises we may mention the Stroudsburg Bank, in which he has held the office of director for many years. The Hutchinson family has been identified with the Presbyterian Church as far back as tradi- tion runs, and our subject is an active member of the Church at East Stroudsburg, serving as elder and for nineteen years as superintendent of the Sunday- school. His career as a justice of the peace began at the organization of the borough of East Strouds- burg, when he was elected for a term of five years, and after serving a second term by re-election he was appointed for one year by Governor Hoyt under a regulation in the new constitution. At the end of the time he was again elected, and his continuance in office since is convincing evidence of the con- fidence of his fellow townsmen in his impartiality and sound judgment. In only one instance has an appeal been taken to a higher court, and in that case his decision was sustained. On January 19, 1861, the Squire married Miss Amanda D. Pace; no chil- dren have been born to the union. Mrs. Hutchinson was born January 3, 1838, daughter of Major John Pace, and granddaughter of Major Pace, of War- ren county, N. J., where the family has resided for many years. Major John Pace died in 1842, and his wife Sarah (Frome) in 1845, and and the re- mains of both are interred at their home, Oxford, N. J. The Frome family was also of pioneer stock, and Henry Frome, Mrs. Hutchinson's maternal grandfather, who lived to the age of ninety-six, re- sided near the old Warren county almshouse. Mrs. Hutchinson was one of a family of seven children, the others being: Mary (deceased), who married Gen. Shoemaker, of Oxford, N. J .; Jacob (de- ceased), who occupied the old homestead ; Elizabeth (Mrs. George Hoff), a resident of Belvidere, N. J. ; Jane (deceased), formerly the wife of Thomas Mc- Fall Davidson, of Harmony, N. J., and later of Illi- nois ; Sally Ann (Mrs. Able Huff), of Harmony ;

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and C. Catherine, widow of Amzi Mutchler, of East Stroudsburg, and mother of Dr. John Mutchler, of Stroudsburg. Socially our subject is a charter mem- ber of the 1. O. O. F. Lodge at East Stroudsburg, in the work of which body he has been quite active.

WESLEY J. AND MILTON D. PRICE. To the sightscer who revels in vistas of beauty and grandeur, "Spence Cabin Inn" is one of the promi- nent attractions of Monroe county. To the deni- zen of the city, whose youthful love of nature and nature's recreations has not perished, this magni- ficent home holds special interest. It stands on the summit of the proud Pocono range, presenting a series of views that ennobles and expands thought and sentiment. To the sportsman the glades and ravines offer additional attraction. Little wonder that "Spence Cabin Inn" is famous; little wonder that guests throng there in numbers to enjoy the bountiful hospitalities. The inn is the creation of Wesley J. and Milton D. Price, who have thus crested an ancestral home with an edifice of most honorable renown.

They are the sons of Jacob and Susan (Nye) Price, and the grandsons of Benjamin Price. Jacob Price was born in Monroe county, and became one of the leading business and lumber men of Barrett township, Monroe county. After his marriage to Susan Nye, member of an old Smithfield township family, he settled upon the farm now graced by "Spence Cabin Inn."" Here in the wilderness Jacob Price erected a sawmill and engaged extensively in lumbering, rafting the product of his mill down Brodheads creek, and thence in large rafts to Phila- delphia and New Jersey markets. He was widely known on the Delaware river as one of its most prominent lumbermen. His judgment was held in the highest esteem among his neighbors, who for twenty-four years elected him justice of the peace. Throughout Monroe county he was widely and popularly known. In politics he held allegiance to the Democratic faith, and in religion he liberally supported the Baptist Church, of which his wife was a worthy and consistent member. Jacob Price remained actively in business until a few years be- fore his death, in 1888. His wife survived him three years. The six children of Jacob and Susan Price were as follows: (1) Paul, who married Charlotte Deubler, and is engaged extensively in farming at Cresco. He has three chlidren, Clif- ford, Leroy and Erna. (2) Stroud, who married Ella Edwards, of Moscow, Monroe county, and followed farming in Barrett township until his death. A wife and six children, Gertrude, Lillie, Sanford, Euretta, Edna and Orville, survive him. The widow is now postmistress at Canadensis, where she has a home. (3) Jacob, a bright young man who died in 1883. (4) Esther, who married Julius Bush, of Smithfield; they now reside in East Stroudsburg, and have six children, Lewis, Nettie, Wallace, Roe, Fred and Harold.

(5) WESLEY J. PRICE was educated in the

public schools, and attended also the noted private school of the Northrups. He received a splendid practical business training under his father's guid- ance, and in 1887, when he reached his majority, formed with his brother (6) MILTON D. (who had been employed in a New York wholesale drug house) a business partnership for the erection of a fine city boarding house on the old homestead. The enterprise was successful from the start, and became a favorite resort for wealthy New York sportsmen, who visited the inn to fish and hunt. In June, 1891, the home was destroyed by fire, but the energetic young proprietors at once began the work of reconstruction upon an enlarged scale. The present handsome edifice is 60x70 feet, and has every modern improvement, including water, bath rooms, light, etc. It is distant but three and one- half hours from New York, and the gentlemanly proprietors have spared no pains to make the home attractive to their guests. They are young men of ability and education, and enjoy a wide acquain- tance among the wealthy business men and sports- men of Stroudsburg, New York and Philadelphia.

Both are Democrats in politics. Wesley J. has filled the office of constable in his township for sev- eral years, and is now a member of the Democratic county committee, also a member of the order of Odd Fellows and P. O. S. of A. Lodges at Mt. 'Home. Milton is a member of the Order of Elks at East Stroudsburg, and Odd Fellows at Mt. Home. Both have made large and profitable busi- ness investments in real estate in Monroe and Pike counties.

A. M. MERWINE deceased), late a well- known wholesale dealer in malt liquors and mineral waters at Mt. Pocono, Monroe county, is a native of that county, born in Tunkhannock township, in 1854, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Coult) Merwine.

Peter Merwine was born at Long Pond, same county, and was a son of Peter and Mary (Denton) Merwine, who were among the first settlers of Tunkhannock township, where the grandfather im- proved a farm and engaged in the manufacture of sleighs for the Jersey and Philadelphia mar- kets. Throughout life he continued to follow lumbering and farming. In his family were the following children: (I) Jacob became a resident of Pittsburg, Penn., and had one son, who is still living in that city. (2) Denton is now a resident of Los Angeles, Cal., while his family are living in Belvidere, N. J. (3) John married a Miss Schick, of Monroe county, and located at Merwinesburg, where he engaged in hotel-keeping and farming. He was elected associate judge of the county, and filled that office with ability. He died at Merwines- burg, leaving a family of six children; but seven children were born to him, namely: Franklin; Sylvester ; Oliver ; Lucinda, deceased wife of Ste- phen Daniel, of Hickory Run, Carbon Co., Penn. ; Diana, wife of Dr. George Sepe, of Philadelphia ;

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Sophia ; and Emily, who married Alexander Gould, now deceased, and they resided on the old home- stead of Judge Merwine. (4) George married Sallie Warner, of Pocono township, Monroe coun- ty, and they located in Tunkhannock township, where he followed lumbering and farming until his death in 1898. His children were: Josiah; Wil- son, a resident of Kansas; Luther, who was en- gaged in merchandising in Clearfield county, Penn., for some years, but was living in Philadelphia at the time of his death; Edward, who is married, and lives in Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county ; Marshall, who is married, and is connected with the Standard Oil Company at Stroudsburg ; Augustus, who died unmarried in Stroudsburg; Delila, who married William Bower, of Monroe county, and both died in Wilkes Barre, Penn. ; and Emma, wife of Edward Wilson, who is now living on the old Merwine homestead. (5) Peter, father of our subject, is mentioned more fully below. (6) Will- iam. (7) Fannie married Dr. Rupert, of Hamil- ton township, Monroe county. (8) Amanda mar- ried Jesse Travel, of Belvidere, N. J., who was a soldier of the Civil war, and she died in Strouds- burg in 1897. (9) Sallie married Robert Sleep, of Belvidere, N. J., where she and her husband both died leaving three sons: Peter, a resident of Reading, Penn .; Wesley, a resident of Weatherly, Penn .; and Andrew, who was a soldier during the war of the Rebellion, and is now living in Reading.

After his marriage, Peter Merwine, father of our subject, bought the old homestead, and in con- nection with agricultural pursuits followed lumber- ing during the greater part of his life. He was al- ways identified with the Democracy, and on his party ticket was elected sheriff of Monroe county, which office he filled with ability for three years. He also served in a number of local offices, and was military inspector of the county for a number of years. He was very prominent in commercial cir- cles, and was actively engaged in business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1895. His wife, who is a most estimable lady, is still living on the old homestead with her son, Vincent O. Our subject was the youngest of their three children, the others being as follows: (I) Irvin J., born on the old homestead in Tunkhannock township, in 1848, began his education in the local schools, and later graduated from the business college at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which he studied law with Judge John B. Storm, of Stroudsburg. He married Lizzie Roberts, of Stroud township, Mon- roe county, and they resided upon a part of the old homestead, where he died in 1894. He had two children: Peter R., who died in childhood; and Carrie. (2) Vincent O., born in 1851, has spent his entire life on the old homestead, and for one term most acceptably served as treasurer of Mon- roe county. He married Martha Rineheart, of Jack- son township, Monroe county, and to them were born thirteen children: Wade H., who married a Miss Altamos, and resides near his father; twins

who died in childhood, and a daughter who also died in childhood ; John; Otwell; Grover C .; Burt ; Vincent; Nettie, wife of Irvin Johnson, of Port- land, Penn .; Jennie, deceased; Minnie, unmarried ; and Maggie, wife of Kirk Real, of Wind Gap.

Reared on the home farm, A. M. Merwine obtained his education in the public schools of the neighborhood, and assisted his father in his farming and lumber operations until his marriage. In 1874 he wedded Miss Delilah M. Everett, of Gilbert, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Dottery) Everett, representatives of prominent pioneer fami- lies of Monroe county, which were founded in Chestunt Hill township at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Merwine became the parents of eleven chil- dren, namely : Harry J., who was born in 1874, and is now a resident of Minnesota; Lizzie, born in 1876, at home ; Lucy, who was born in 1877, and died at the age of fifteen years; Effie, born in 1878; Charles, born in 1880; Ella, born in 1882; Beulah, born in 1883; Alva and Lila (twins), born in 1886; Walter, born in 1888; and Berson Leroy, born in 1892.

In 1880 Mr. Merwine purchased property in the village of Mt. Pocono, and built a pleasant home. In partnership with F. D. Smith he embarked in the wholesale manufacture of bottled beer, later bought out his partner, enlarged the entire plant by the erection of new and improved buildings, and continued in business up to his death, May 31, 1899, his trade extending all over the county. He pros- pered in his business and purchased the McPher- son property at Mt. Pocono, including fifty acres of land, with a fine large private residence erected by Mr. McPherson, of Philadelphia, for a summer home. From the time of his attaining his majority Mr. Merwine was always a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and was called upon to fill the office of school director. Socially he was a mem- ber of Mountain Home Lodge No. 684, I. O. O. F .; the Benevolent and Patriotic Order of Elks No. 123, of Scranton; and the Improved Order of Red Men at Mt. Pocono. In religious faith his widow is a member of the German Reformed Church. After the death of Mr. Merwine, he having left no will, the properties were sold, and were purchased by his widow, Delilah M. Merwine, who still carries on the business.

IVYMAN KIMBLE, burgess of Honesdale, Wayne county, has experienced an active and suc- cessful business career in that thriving borough, where he was born and where he has ever since resided. His present political duties do not absorb his entire attention, for he is engaged in the manu- facture of glass-polishing goods.

Mr. Kimble descends from New England stock. His grandfather, Daniel Kimble, married a Miss Ross, and settled in Honesdale, migrating from the old ancestral home in New England. He was a sturdy and upright citizen, and lived to the ripe old age of eighty years. He had two daughters,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

one of whom died unmarried; the other became the wife of John Diltze, who settled near Indian Orchard. His six sons were Daniel, Purdham, Scott, Benjamin F., Joseph and Samuel. Scott enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war and never returned. Daniel and Purdham lived and died near White Mills.

Benjamin F. Kimble, the father of our subject, was born at White Mills, Wayne Co., Penn., in 1803, and in early life acquired the millwright's trade. While yet a minor, in 1823, he erected what in early days was well known as the "Old Red Grist- mill." It was afterward purchased by the Dela- ware & Hudson Canal Co. Benjamin F. Kimble married Prudence Vastbinder, who was born near Lake Ontario in 1808, and died in 1883. Their surviving children are as follows: Ellen J., wife of Robert Bailey, who lives on a part of the old home- stead; B. F., a resident of Damascus township; Clarence D., a carpenter and contractor, living on the old place; and Wyman, subject of this sketch. The father followed milling until his retirement, in 1867. In politics he was an Old-line Whig, and, later, a Democrat. In religious faith he was a Universalist. His wife was a Methodist. He con- tinued to live at the old home on the mill property until his death, which occurred December 14, 1875.

Wyman Kimble was born in Honesdale, April 16, 1843. He attended school at Bethany Academy for three years. He had a natural taste for mathe- matics and mechanics, and applied himself diligently to those branches. After leaving school he learned the trade of millwright, in which he actively en- gaged from 1859 to 1866. During the latter year he and his father repurchased from the canal com- pany the "Old Red Gristmill" property, and there built Kimble's Steam Mills. His father retired the following year, and Wyman conducted the business with a partner until 1876, when he disposed of his interest to the other owner.

Mr. Kimble realized that the sweep of modern progress was retiring to comparative obscurity the millwright's occupation, and was quick to turn his genius into another channel. He entered a machine shop as a pattern-maker, and worked steadily for two years. He was then engaged in a sash and blind factory, in getting out polishing woods for polishing glass. While so engaged Mr. Kimble developed the important idea of having the wood so cut that the grain would all run in one direction, and thus render the polishing wheel doubly effect- ive and doubly valuable. He patented his idea, and is now engaged at Honesdale in manufacturing polishing wood for cut glass. His finished product has acquired a world-wide reputation, and is now exported in large quantities to all glass-producing countries, besides commanding an extensive sale in our own country.

Mr. Kimble was first married to a Miss Hoag- land, a native of Schoharie county, N. Y. ; the only child by this marriage, Ida M., is the wife of Elmer Goodman, of North Branch, Sullivan Co., N. Y.,

and has one child-Floyd. Mr. Kimble was again married, July 26, 1870, his second union being with Miss Charlotte Fox. They have two children, Nel- lie G. and Wyman W.

In politics Mr. Kimble is a Democrat. He was elected to the mayoralty of Honesdale on a Bimetallic platform in 1897. He is a true member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Blue Lodge No. 218 and Chapter No. 204, both of Honesdale, filling all the chairs in the Blue Lodge; he was a charter member of Callicoon Lodge, in Sullivan county, N. Y. He is a public-spirited and promi- nent citizen, wedded to his private business, and not seeking official life, yet ready to bear his share of public service when principles and the exigencies of the time require a standard bearer.

FRANKLIN SIPTROTH, who owns and operates a good farm in Middle Smithfield town- ship, Monroe county, has been the architect of his own fortune, and has builded wisely and well so that he is now in the possession of a comfortable home and competence acquired through his own perseverance, industry and good management. He has brought his land to a high state of cultivation, largely by the labor of his own hands, has erected a good set of buildings thereon, and each year has added something to enhance the beauty and value of the property.

A native of Monroe county, Mr. Siptroth was born in Jackson township, in 1850, a son of Henry and Sally (Singer) Siptroth. The father was born in Bavaria, Germany, in January, 1820, and when a boy crossed the Atlantic, taking up his residence in Northampton county, where he learned the car- penter's trade. After coming to Monroe county he married Miss Sallie Singer, daughter of John Singer, of that county, and they began their domes- tic life in Easton, Penn., where he followed his trade for some years., Returning to Monroe coun- ty, he purchased a home in Jackson township, and in connection with carpenter work also followed masonry, being familiar with several branches of mechanics. There he died in 1896, but his wife is still living, making her home with her son Christian in Jackson township.

In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, four sons and three daughters: (I) Oliver, born in Jackson township, in 1849, married Maria Butts, of Monroe county, and they now reside with their family in East Stroudsburg. (2) Franklin is next in order of birth. (3) Chris- tian, born in 1852, wedded Mary Rinker, of Jack- son township, and they live on the old homestead. Their children are Albert, Ray, Hattie, George, Emma, Elias, John and Alice. (4) Edward died in childhood at Easton, Penn. (5) Elias died when young. (6) Alexander, born in 1863, mar- ried Ida Possinger, of Jackson township, and they make their home in Susquehanna county, Penn. They have children, Weldon, Flossie, Olive and Easton. (7) Margaret, born in 1844, is the wife

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of Conrad Morningstar, a farmer of Sullivan coun- ty, Penn., and they have three children, Franklin, Elizabeth and Ray. (8) Elizabeth, born in 1853, is the wife of Joseph Zacharias, a merchant of East Stroudsburg, and they have two sons, Amzie and Alva. (9) Alvesta, born in 1860, is the wife of Michael Harbenstein, of Paradise township, Mon- roe county.

The subject of this review was reared in Jack- son township, his education being obtained in its public schools. He began his business career as a lumberman at Tobyhanna, Monroe county, and later in Bradford county. In 1875 he formed a part- nership with his brother-in-law, Mr. Zacharias, and purchased the Starner brickyard in East Strouds- burg, Monroe county, where they engaged in the manufacture of brick for about seven years, dur- ing which time Mr. Siptroth purchased a lot and erected thereon a fine brick residence for his own use.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 166

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