Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 167

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 167
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 167
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 167
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 167

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In 1878 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ramsberger, a lady of culture and refinement, who was born in New York City, in 1857, and re- ceived the benefits of a good education. After her parents, John and Mary (Kime) Ramsberger, re- moved to Marshalls Creek, Monroe county, she re- turned to New York to complete her education. The father was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and when a young man emigrated to New York, where he was married, and continued to work at the cabi- net maker's trade for ten years thereafter, coming to Monroe county in 1863. Here he purchased a farm, on which he made his home until called from this life in 1887. His widow now finds a pleasant home with Mr. and Mrs. Siptroth. In their family were only two children, the son being John, who married Lizzie Doll, of East Stroudsburg, where they now reside. Their children are John, William, Lulu and Mary. To our subject and his wife have been born five children. Anette, born in East Stroudsburg, in 1880, is a scholarly young lady, who was educat- ed at the high school and State normal of that place, and is now a teacher. Florence, born in East Stroudsburg, in 1881, was also a student in the East Stroudsburg high school, and is a very refined and attractive young lady possessing considerable mu- sical talent. Lulu, born in 1882, died in childhood. Herman, born in 1886, died the same year. Archer F., born at Marshalls Creek, in July, 1889, is attend- ing the home schools.

After his marriage Mr. Siptroth resided in East Stroudsburg until 1888, when he sold his property there and spent the following two years on his father-in-law's old homestead at Marshalls Creek. He then bought a tract of land near that place in Middle Smithfield township, which he has converted into his present fine farm. The neatness and thrift that pervades the home shows the culture and re- fined taste of the inmates, while a gracious hos- pitality adds to its material charms. The friends of the family are many. Mr. and Mrs. Siptroth were active and' prominent members of the Baptist

Church, and he served as superintendent of the Sab- bath-school at Craig's Meadows six years. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat, and is now serving as school director of his township; he is a member of Analomink Lodge No. 946, I. O. O. F., of East Stroudsburg.

BERNHARD BUCK is a prominent repre- sentative of the German-American citizens, who have been such important factors in the development and prosperity of this country. For thirty-six years he has been identified with the lumber and farming interests of Monroe county, and is now carrying on operations as an agriculturist in Paradise township.

Mr. Buck was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1843, a son of Jacob and Margaret Buck, also natives of that country, who in 1866 emigrated to the New World and took up their residence in Bar- rett township, Monroe Co., Penn., where they pur- chased a farm and continued to make their home until called from this life, the mother dying in 1880, the father in 1888. Both were earnest and consist- ent members of the Lutheran Church. In their family were five sons and four daughters, all of whom were born in Germany with the exception of the youngest, who was born in Barrett township : ( I) Bernhard is our subject. (2) Martin, a lumberman of Luzerne county, Penn., who married Louisa Phelerious, of Barrett township, and has a large family. (3) Mary wedded Conrad Single, of Ger- many, by whom she has children, and they now reside in Pittson, Penn., where he works as a brick- layer. (4) Abby is the wife of John Gravel, a farmer of Barrett township, and they have a family. (5) Casper, a farmer of the same township, married Maudline Deibler, and has one daughter, Laura. (6) Adam, a resident of Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county, married Mary Pie, of Barrett town- ship, and they have a family. (7) Conrad is still on the old homestead. (8) Margaret is the wife of Albert Phelps, a farmer of Barrett township, and they had two children, Howard, and Margaret, who died young. (9) Agnes, born in 1867, married Michael Dursch, of Luzerne county, and with their family now reside in Pittston. The eldest four children were educated in Germany, and the others in the schools of Barrett township.

In 1862, at the age of nineteen years, Bernhard Buck crossed the Atlantic and located in Barrett township, Monroe Co., Penn., where he followed lumbering for some years. He was married there, in 1864, to Miss Caroline Wettling who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1846, and in 1850 was brought to America by her parents, Henry and Susan Wettling, who located on the farm in Para- dise township, Monroe county, where our subject now resides. The father made some improvements upon the place, but devoted the greater part of his time to work on the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern railroad. Both he and his wife died upon that farm. They reared a family of three children, namely : Godfrey, John and Caroline. Ten children

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were born to our subject and his wife: (1) John, born in Barrett township, in 1866, now resides on a farm in Paradise township. He married Minnie Warrick, and has four children: David, Margaret, Anther, and Ilelen. (2) Henry, born in 1868, died in August, 1898. (3) Annie, born in 1870, is the wife of Sandford Henry, of Paradise township, and they have one daughter, Florence. (4) Margaret, born in 1872, is the widow of Jesse Palmer, of Stroudsburg, and has one daughter, Jennett. (5) Abbie, born in 1873, is a resident of Germantown. (6) Martin, born in 1875, received a good public- school education, attending the home schools and the high school at Brodheadsville. He is now book- keeping in the Alderney dairies at Germantown, Penn. (7) Mary, born in 1877, was educated in home schools, and has now charge of a Ladies' Home in Philadelphia. (8) Lizzie, born in 1879, died at the age of eight years. (9) Walter, born in 1880, is at home. (10) Cora, born in 1884, is a student in the local schools.

Mr. Buck continued his lumbering operations in Barrett township until 1881, when he purchased his father-in-law's farm in Paradise township, erected thereon a new house and made many other improvements. He has cleared much of the land,and now has one of the best cultivated farms in Paradise township. Coming to America a poor boy, he has through his own energy, honesty and perseverance, succeeded in accumulating a comfortable compe- tence. He even had to borrow money to pay his passage to this country, but soon paid it back. He possessed the marked characteristics of the people of his native land, being industrious, economical and ambitious to success, and with the assistance of his careful and painstaking wife, he has succeeded far beyond his highest expectations. They have also reared a good industrious family, of which they may be justly proud. Politically Mr. Buck has al- ways supported the Democratic party, and has served as school director and overseer of the poor, and is now filling the office of supervisor of his township.

JOHN A. HOBBS, an enterprising and pros- perous farmer, resides on what is known as the old Thorpe homestead in South Canaan township, Wayne county, which was cleared by Martin Thorpe it: 1847, and later came into the possession of Samuel B. Thorpe, the father-in-law of our subject. Mr. Hobbs is a thorough and systematic farmer, and the success that has crowned his labors in life is due en- tirely to his own individual efforts.

Our subject was born March 14. 1858, in Greenfield township. Lackawanna Co., Penn., when it formed a part of Luzerne county, and is a son of Abraham and Ester (Yarns) Hobbs, also natives of that county, whence they removed to Wayne county in 1865, locating on North & South turn- pike. in South Canaan township. There the father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in 1891, aged eighty-two years; the mother, who was born De- cember 14. 1812, is still living on the old homestead.

Their children were Alma, now the wife of Charles Howell, a farmer of South Canaan township; Ellen, wife of Simon Enslin, a merchant of Wymart, Wayne county; Candas, widow of George Emory, of South Canaan township, who died in May, 1885; and John A. The paternal grandparents were Eli- jah and Mary ( Treat ) Hobbs, natives of Vermont, and farming people, who died in Lackawanna coun- ty, Penn., the former at the age of eighty years, the latter at the age of seventy-nine. Duer and Mary (Foster) Yarns, the maternal grandparents of our subject, were natives of Connecticut and early set- tlers of Lackawanna county, where the former died aged eighty years, the latter aged eighty-six.

At the age of six years John A. Hobbs accom- panied his parents on their removal to South Canaan township, where he grew to manhood under the parental roof. His first purchase consisted of a farm in Benton township, Lackawanna county, which he owned for two years but never lived thereon, in the meantime working for others at farming and thresh- ing. At the age of twenty-three he bought a farm in South Canaan township, Wayne county, on North & South turnpike, which he operated for six years, and then purchased two farms in Clinton township, Wayne county. Four years later he sold one of these, but still owns the other, and in April, 1892, he removed to his present farm.

At his present home, Mr. Hobbs was married, December 20, 1881, to Miss Jennie Thorpe, and to them have been born three children, namely : Mabel E., Edna C. and Wallace J. Mrs. Hobbs was born on an adjoining farm in the same township, August 6, 1862, a daughter of Samuel B. and Elizabeth (Reed) Thorpe. The father, a retired farmer, liv- ing with our subject, was born in Sussex county, N. J., December 4, 1821, a son of Ephraim and Ellen (Vanocker) Thorpe, also natives of New Jersey, who, in 1823, came to Wayne county and first located at old Canaan. In 1838 they removed to a farm ad- joining the one on which our subject now resides, where they made their home during their remaining years. Going out one morning, the grandfather caught a fish for his dinner, in Mile Brook, South Canaan township, and in the afternoon determined to again try his luck at that sport, and while thus engaged was drowned, in 1854, at the age of eigthy- two years. His wife died seven years later, aged seventy-five years, and both were laid to rest in South Canaan township. Their children were Sam- tel B., the father of Mrs. Hobbs; Sallie A., who married Aaron Vangorder (both are now deceased) ; Mahala, who married Adam Swingle (both are now deceased) ; Ephraim,who is living retired in Wiscon- sin. Ephraim Thorpe had three children by a former marriage, all now deceased, namely: Mary, who wedded John Harding (now deceased) ; Jesse ; and John.

Mrs. Elizabeth Thorpe (the mother of Mrs. Hobbs) was born in South Canaan township, Feb- ruary 6, 1824, a daughter of John and Mary (Cur- tis) Reed, the former a native of Connecticut, the

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latter of Orange county, N. Y. With their respect- ive parents they came to Wayne county, Penn., at a very early day, and were married in South Canaan township. Mr. Reed was born August 14, 1796, and died at the age of fifty-seven years, while his wife was born November 6, 1802, and also died at the age of fifty-seven, both being buried in South Canaan township. Of their children, Henry and Ira are both deceased; Elizabeth is the mother of Mrs. Hobbs; Amos is a farmer of South Canaan town- ship; Catherine first married Thomas Dexter, and after his death a Mr. Smith, and now resides in Minnesota; Hiram is a farmer in Minnesota; Charles is deceased; Ann is the deceased wife of Stanley Day, who is living retired in Georgetown, Wayne county ; Morris is a farmer of South Canaan township; Amanda is the wife of Alexander Shaffer, a farmer of Nebraska; Clarissa died at the age of nine years; and Densie is the deceased wife of George Durshimer, a farmer of Lake township, Wayne county.

Samuel B. and Elizabeth (Reed) Thorpe are the parents of the following children : Utley A., born October 1, 1851, is a railroad conductor, living in Peckville, Penn .; Loren E., born August 1, 1854, is a railroad brakeman, living in Carbondale, Penn .; Volney F., born September 28, 1857, died at the age of three years and five months ; and Mrs. Jennie M. Hobbs completes the family. For half a century the father of these children was actively engaged in farming, but owing to ill health sought a lighter em- ployment, serving as night watchman for the Dela- ware & Hudson Coal, Co. for two years, while his family continued to reside on the home farm. He and his wife now find a pleasant home with our sub- ject, and are held in high regard by the entire com- munity. They are faithful members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church; for fifty years he has been connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, is a member of the Grange, and politically is identified with the Republican party.

Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs are also leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in social circles occupy an enviable position. Fraternally he holds membership in the Patriotic Order Sons of America, at Georgetown, and the Heptasophs, at Waymart. His political support is given to the men and measures of the Prohibition party, and he has most efficiently served as auditor, tax collector ( two terms), and in other local offices of honor and trust.

EBEN CLARK BROWN, a prominent agri- culturist and dairyman of Cherry Ridge township, Wayne county, resides on the old family homestead, which under his able and energetic management is regarded as one of the best farms of its size in the lo- cality. The family is of good Colonial stock, and our subject's grandfather, William Brown, a native of Connecticut, served as a private in the Revolutionary army, and for many years was engaged in business as

a woolen manufacturer and fuller in Stonington, Conn., where he died at an advanced age. He was the father of six sons-Dudley, Russell, William, Reuben, Palmer, and Warren-and four daubhters, all deceased.

Reuben Brown, the father of our subject, was born in Connecticut, September 3, 1801, and was married September 2, 1829, to Miss Susan S. Clark, a native of the same State, born January II, 1807. She belonged to an old Colonial family noted for its patriotism, and her father, Perry Clark, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, while two of her brothers served in the war of 1812. Three years after their marriage Mr. Brown moved to this section, locating first in Susquehanna county, and later, after spend- ing a few years in Luzerne county, he then settled permanently in Wayne county, purchasing in 1845 the farm now occupied by our subject. At that time there were but few improvements on the place, the only dwelling being an old log cabin, but in- dustry and enterprise transformed the scene in a few years as the fertile soil was brought under culti- vation. The father was a man whose sympathies were always on the side of right, and while he was not a member of any religious society he was a man of strong religious belief and convictions, and gave liberally toward the support of the Presbyterian Church, to which his wife belonged. He died March 3, 1870, and his wife survived him only a few years, passing away November 8, 1876, the remains of both being laid to rest in Cherry Ridge cemetery. They had four sons, three of whom served in the Union army in the Civil war, and three daughters, two of whom married soldiers. Perry was born in Connecticut January 1, 1831, served through the war as a private in Company L, 56th N. Y. V. I., and died December 31, 1889; John W., born August 17, 1833, died May 16, 1875 ; George C., born January II, 1836, was corporal in Company M, 17th Penn- sylvania Cavalry, and is now engaged in farming in Cherry Ridge township; Eben C., our subject, was fourth in the order of birth ; Susan S., born June 17, 1842, married Layton T. Smith, of Wayne coun- ty, a farmer and a veteran of the Civil war ; Lucretia M., born September 27, 1844, died September 17, 1849; and Anna, born April 12, 1848, married, first, on June 5, 1872, Walter D. King, and later became the wife of Capt. George Woodward, a military veteran, now deceased, who resided in Rock Island, Illinois.

Eben C. Brown was born September 6, 1838, in Luzerne county, Penn., and resided with his parents until the fall of 1864, when he joined a construction corps, being a member of Company M, Sub. Div. No. I, 4th Div., Construction Corps, U. S. Mil. Railroad Div. of the Mississippi. He started for the seat of war, and served three months, reaching Chattanoo- ga, but was taken seriously ill with typhoid fever and sent home, being honorably discharged. On his recovery he resumed work on the farm, and has ever since given his attention to general agricultural

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work and dairying, meeting with success in both. In politics he is a strong Republican, and he has always taken an active part in local affairs, holding town- ship offices at times. In religious faith he is a Methodist, and he is a prominent member of the Church at Cherry Ridge, Wayne county. On July 9, 1879, he was married in Lake township, Wayne county, by Rev. Mr. Wells, a Methodist minister, to Miss Catherine C. Chapman, and their home has been brightened by five children, as follows: Eben, Jr., born April 9. 1880; Cora M., born August 14, 1881, a graduate of Hawley high school ; Horace De, born June 21, 1885 ; Susan C., born July 8, 1891, and Frances S., born January 27, 1897.

Mrs. Brown was born December 31, 1856, in Lake township, Wayne county, daughter of Francis and Sarah ( Foote) Chapman, highly-esteemed resi- dents of that locality, where the father is engaged in agricultural pursuits. Both parents were born in Connecticut, the father in 1829, and the mother in November, 1831, but they came to Wayne county in childhood with their respective families. They are devout members of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Chapman has always been influential in local poli- tics, being chosen at times to township offices. Mrs. Brown's grandparents on the paternal side were Ralph and Laura (Tavlor) Chapman, natives of Connecticut, and they became well known among the early settlers of Wayne county, her grandfather being engaged in business for many years in Salem township as a blacksmith and farmer. Her maternal great-grandfather, George Foote, was born in Eng- land, and her grandparents, George and Hannah ( Moorehouse ) Foote, were natives of Connecticut who came in the early days to Wayne county, where Mr. Foote followed farming in addition to his work as a plasterer and stone mason. He served one term as commissioner of Waynecounty. Mrs. Brownis the eldest of a family of seven children, the others being Eva, who married Benjamin Hoffman, a lumberman and contractor at Hawley, Wayne county ; Clayton, deceased ; Anna, wife of Edward Warner, an em- ploye of the Erie & Wyoming Valley railroad, Penn. ; John, a farmer in Lake township, Wayne county ; Julia, wife More Purdy, a carpenter at West Pitts- ton, Wayne county ; and Grace, who married Elmer Wickzier, a machinist of Kingston, Pennsylvania.

LEWIS W. BARTON, deceased. Among the earlier settlers of Apolacon township, Susquehanna county, New Englanders who early in the century swept over the forested region and selected the more eligible farming tracts, was the Barton family. William Barton, in 1812, and his wife, Almira (Ful- ler), left their home in Litchfield, Conn., and reach- ing northeastern Pennsylvania erected on the farm occupied by the widow of our subject a log cabin. which continued to be their home until, in later years, the present commodious dwelling was built. Here William Barton remained a resident until his death in October, 1851, his wife passing away in 1869. Both were conscientious and active members

of the Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. Barton was a Whig. They reared a family of seven daugh- ters and one son, as follows: (1) Lucinda, born in December, 1812, and died in 1891, married Hora- tio Bowen, of Warren Center, Bradford county ; (2) Polly, born in 1815, died unmarried in 1878; (3) Violetta died in childhood; (4) Louisa, born in 1820, and died in 1888, married Nathaniel Deuel, of Little Meadows, whose son, Ward Deuel, is now sheriff of Susquehanna county ; (5) Phobe, born in 1822, died unmarried in 1892; (6) Harriet, born in 1828, married Frederick Noteware, of Tioga county, N. Y., and died in 1891, leaving one son, Oscar ; (7) Elizabeth, born in 1831, lived at Nichols, N. Y., and died unmarried in 1899.

Lewis W. Barton, our subject, the only son in the family, was born in Little Meadows July 4, 1824. He was educated in the district schools, and in his early manhood taught school one term. In 1863 he married Miss Caroline C. Beebe, daughter of Lewis and Harriet ( Wilson) Beebe. The Beebe family is one of the oldest in Apolacon township. Joseph Beebe, son of Reuben, settled in the township in 1805, and on October 19, 1809, married Eunice Beardslee; this is said to be the first white mar- riage in the township. Of their children, thirteen lived to mature age. Lewis, the father of Mrs. Barton, married Harriet Wilson, who was born in Middletown township, Susquehanna county, in 1815, a daughter of Samuel Wilson, a pioneer from Ver- mont. In September, 1862, Lewis Beebe enlisted in Company H, 143rd P. V. I. He was stricken with disease, and for a time was confined to hospital, and after partially recovering he became a hospital nurse, serving as such until honorably discharged on sur- geon's certificate, in August, 1863. He returned to Susquehanna county, where he remained until his death in 1898; his wife preceded him to the grave five years. To Lewis and Harriet Beebe came ten children: (1) Aruba O., the eldest, born in 1838, married Homer Currier, of Warren, Bradford coun- ty ; she died in Nebraska in 1893. (2) Martha H., born in 1840, married Dexter Sleeper, of Warren Center. (3) Joseph W., born in 1842, resides on the old home in Apolacon township; he married Julia Murphy, and has two children, William and Maud. (4) Caroline C., widow of our subject, was born in 1843, and received a good education in the common schools. (5) Calvin L. Beebe, born in 1845, enlisted in Company H, 5th N. Y. C., in 1862, and served to the close of the war. He died in 1874 from injuries received from a falling tree. (6) Lois A., born in 1848, married H. C. Brainard, of Binghamton, N. Y., and has one son, Burnette Brainard, of Binghamton ; another child is deceased. (7) Isaiah S., born in 1850, married (first) Belle Collar, and (second) Mary Carter ; he resides in Le Raysville, Bradford county. He has one son, Clyde (by his first marriage). (8) Minor T., born in 1853, died in 1871. (9) Nettie, born in 1858, mar- ried David Collar, of Kalkaska, Mich., and has seven children, Etta, Hattie, Rosa, Arley, Elma, Floyd and

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L. W Bartın

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Lena. (10) Willie, born in 1860, died in 1862. Politically Lewis Beebe was a Republican, and in religious faith he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church.

After his marriage to Caroline C. Beebe, Lewis W. Barton, our subject, purchased from the other heirs the old Barton homestead in Apolacon town- ship. He remodeled the house, erected good barns and made other improvements, and here remained an active and progressive farmer until his death, on September 20, 1896. He was a prominent citizen of the township, and for twenty-five years served as justice of the peace in Little Meadows. For a num- ber of terms he was also school director. He and his wife and family were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Little Meadows. To our sub- ject and wife were born six children, two of whom, Mattie and Emma, died in childhood. The surviv- ing children are as follows: (1) Mary E., born in 1868, married in 1890 F. A. Johnson, of Potterville, Bradford county, and they reside at the Barton homestead ; one of their sons, Lewis, died in child- hood ; another son, Frank A., was born in 1900. (2) Elsie A., born in 1870, married Arthur E. Woodruff, of Le Raysville, Bradford county, and has two chil- dren, Glenn and Lewis. (3) Calvin L., born in 1874, graduated at Cazenovia Seminary, Cazenovia, N. Y., and in 1899 completed the civil-engineering course at Cornell University. He is now practicing his profes- sion at Rochester, N. Y. (4) Walter W., born in 1876, was for three years a student at the Owego high school, and in 1896 graduated from Cazenovia Sem- inary. In 1899 he graduated in dental surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, and is practicing in Binghamton, New York.

In the century of history just closing both the Barton and Beebe families have been leading factors in northeastern Pennsylvania. Their men and wom- en have possessed the sterling traits of energy, indus- try and perseverance, good judgment and business ability, and have been liberal supporters of Church, school and public institutions. They have reared families of intelligence, whose influence upon the world has been conspicuous for right living and good citizenship.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 167

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