Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 17

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 17
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 17
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 17
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 17

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in Germany ; Emily, who died about ten years ago; and Wilhelmina, living in Germany.

John Frederick Smith was born April 1, 1810, in Calw, and learned his father's trade, that of dyer, which he followed in the Fatherland. There he married Louisa Kerner, who was born December 5, 1814, and in 1847 they came to the United States, the year afterward settling in Honesdale, Wayne Co., Penn., where they lived until 1853, in which year they removed to Seelyville. After coming to this country Mr. Smith did not follow his trade, but worked for the Delaware & Hudson Co. in various capacities for many years, spending the latter part of his life on a farm near Seelyville. He and his wife were members of the German Lutheran Church. They celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage on February 7, 1887, and lived for several years afterward, the mother dying September 26, 1891, the father February 28, 1892. Their children were: Mary, who died in Germany when thirteen years old; Gustave, the subject proper of these lines ; Frederick, who died in Honesdale at the age of nine years ; Charles H., who is in the lumber busi- ness at Seelyville; Fredrica, who died on the ocean when coming over with her parents ; and the young- est, Emily, born in this country, who died in infancy.

When the family came to the United States, Gustave and Mary were left with their grandparents until the parents had a home prepared for them, but Mary died, as above stated, in 1850. In 1853 Gus- tave set out for America, sailing May II, and land- ing in New York City on July 14, after a tedious voyage. He joined his parents at Mt. Pleasant, where the family had lived about a year, and as soon as possible commenced life for himself in the New World, becoming an employe of the old Birdsall Woolen factory at Seelyville, where he continued for four years to work at a meager salary. He then worked four years in a sawmill, following which he was employed for a time in New York City, where he learned the trade of pocketbook- maker, but he finally returned home and engaged in milling, having charge of a sawmill, until 1867. On January 7, of that year, he commenced his mercan- tile career in partnership with Henry Hartung, con- ducting a store in Seelyville, and five years later he bought out Mr. Hartung's interest and admitted his brother into the business, the firm being known as G. & C. Smith. In 1876 they added lumbering, leasing the Seelyville mill and owning a mill in Canaan township. They bought tracts of land and timber, manufacturing and selling the lumber, the output often being more than one and one-half million feet, thus necessitating the employing of a large force of men. The brothers carried on the estab- lishment together until December 6, 1891, when Charles H. Smith sold his interest and Gustave be- came sole proprietor of the store, continuing thus until January I, 1896, since, which time his son Charles has belonged to the concern, and the firm is now G. Smith & Son. In addition to their mer- cantile pursuits, the firm carries on a cheese busi-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ness, which was established in 1894, commencing on a small scale. The junior partner, Charles, at- tends to the sales on the road, and in particular to him is due the growth of that line of the business, he having given it his undivided attention, so that their sales have nearly doubled each successive year. They import Swiss cheese largely, direct from the creameries in Switzerland, and handle fourteen or fifteen different makes of cheese, the principal lines, however, being imported and domestic Swiss, Brick, Limburger, Muenster and Dairy cheese. In the fall of 1899 they purchased the Aldenville and Haines cheese factories, in Wayne county, which are being remodeled for the manufacture of fancy cheese, and the firm being thus enabled to manufacture their own product save a large amount of freight paid an- nually, besides distributing a handsome amount of money to the surrounding farmers.

The success of the Smith brothers has been one of the most remarkable in Wayne county. Com- mencing life at a meager salary, they contrived, by dint of economy and industrious habits, in obtaining a start in business in a modest way, and their lives have since then been examples of steady advance- ment and progress. Gustave Smith was $2.50 in debt when he arrived in Wayne county, and his first wages in the woolen mills were $1.50 per week, out of which he had to board himself. But the deter- mined man knows no obstacles to success, and with the tireless energy and thrift characteristic of the Teutonic race he continued his efforts to make his way in the world until, after years of plodding, he had succeeded in establishing himself in a prosper- ing and profitable business, and gained the esteem and good will of all with whom he came in contact. He is everywhere recognized as deserving of the po- sition which he has acquired, and is respected for the part he has taken in promoting the commercial ac- tivity of the town and county in which he lives, and the public-spirited interest which he has shown in all her affairs.

Though the greater part of his time has been de- voted to business, Mr. Smith has served his town and county in different capacities, and he held the position of postmaster at Seelyville for a number of years. It was through his influence that the office was established here, on September 26, 1873, when he received his first appointment, under President Grant, and though the office at that time was an ex- pense to him, he patriotically continued it for the benefit of the town. He served under his first com- mission until 1885, and on May 16, 1889, was re- appointed, this time holding the office four years. For twenty-one years he served as school director, finally resigning this office.

On January 10, 1867, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Catherine Miller, who was born in Germany December 6, 1844, and was brought to America by her parents when only six months old. Seven chil- dren were born to this union, as follows: Charles, November 10, 1867: Kate M., April 15, 1870: Lou- ise. December 16, 1871 : Henry, February 9, 1874;

John Frederick, September 26, 1875; Emma, July 28, 1877; Gustave, October 18, 1881. The eldest son, Charles, is in partnership with his father. He was first married to Margaret List, by whom he had one child, Florence, and after her death married Laura Taylor, of Hancock, N. Y. Kate is the wife of Reinhold Schenk, and has two children, Louis and Rudolph. Henry is engaged in his father's store. In 1892 Mr. Smith and his daughter Kate took a trip to his old home in Germany, leaving in June and arriving home in Seelyville on the 14th of September. They made the return journey in about eleven days. Their three-months' sojourn in the old country was very enjoyable, and Mr. Smith made many pleasant visits to the scenes of his boyhood and youth.

JOHN BROCK, deceased. Cornishmen have always been credited with shrewd and sound judg- ment, and in view of the fact that so many of them have sought homes in this favored region we may find strong confirmation of the theory. They form a most desirable class of citizens, and in the life and character of the subject of this biography, who was a well-known resident of Texas township, Wayne county, the excellent qualities of the race are strik- ingly shown.

Mr. Brock's ancestors have long been identi- fied with Cornwall, England, and his grandfather, William Brock, was a life-long resident of that locality, for many years engaging in boating on the seashore and in supplying sand to the cities near by. He had two sons, Thomas, who died in Corn- wall, and William (2) our subject's father. Will- iam Brock (2) was born and reared in Cornwall, but the latter part of his life was spent in Devon- shire, England, where he and his wife, Martha Hacker, died many years ago. This worthy cou- ple had six children, three of whom came to Amer- ica: (I) William grew to manhood in Cornwall, and in 1840 emigrated to Canada, where he followed agricultural pursuits during his remaining years. He and his wife, Elizabeth Phillips, also a native of Cornwall, had five children-John, who now resides in Elkland, Tioga Co., Penn., is married and has one son ; William, also a resident of Elk- land, is married and has several children: George and Richard still reside in Canada ; and Elizabeth married a Mr. Mocumber, of Knoxville, Tioga Co., Penn., and has several children. (2) Thomas, who was born in 1829, came to America in early man- hood, and for some years resided in Canada, where he married Miss Jane Soper. Later he removed to Honesdale, where he engaged in contracting and building, and he now resides at Knoxville, Tioga Co., Penn. They have had seven children-Emma, who married Daniel Bonier, of Tioga county, and has one daughter, Grace; Thomas, who resides at Cawanesque, Tioga Co., Penn. : William, who died in April, 1898, was married and resided at Knox- ville : Martha : Hattie : Lillian ; and Marv. (3) Ed- ward died in England. (4) John, our subject, is

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

mentioned more fully below. (5) Jane, who mar- ried a Mr. Billing and died in England, had one son, J. W., now a resident of Saginaw, Mich., and three daughters, all of whom married and settled in Michigan. (6) Sarah married a Mr. Granwell, of Cornwall, England, where they still reside.

Our subject was born in 1832, at the old home in Cornwall, and at the age of sixteen emigrated to Canada, where he learned the carpenter's trade, remaining about three years. In 1853 he came to Honesdale, where he found employment at his trade, and in 1854 he was married there to Miss Catherine Swingle, a member of one of the oldest families of the county. She was reared by Mrs. Sarah Sharp- skeen, of Cherry Ridge, Wayne county, as her par- ents, John and Polly Swingle, died during her childhood. After marriage Mr. Brock made his home in Honesdale for one year, when he removed two miles south of the city, on the White Mills road, having purchased a tract of fifty acres of for- est land. There he cleared a homestead, his first dwelling being a small board shanty which he and his family occupied during the early years of strug- gle. As time passed his industry brought the entire tract under cultivation, and he made many substan- tial improvements, including good stone fence, two commodious barns, and a fine two-story residence built in 1868. He made a handsome profit on the timber from the place, rafting the lumber down the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers, with the assist- ance of his sons. Mr. Brock was progressive in his ideas, and was always in sympathy with local improvement. In politics he was a Republican, and in religious faith a Methodist, he and his wife being leading members of the Church at Honesdale. At one time he was affiliated with Freedom Lodge No. 78, I. O. O. F., of Honesdale, and during his long residence in the county he won a host of friends. He passed away December 9, 1899.

Of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. Brock, the eldest, (1) Clark E., born in March, 1855, received a district-school education, and in early manhood went to the State of Texas, where he spent four years, being engaged for one year in herding cattle. On his return home he worked on the farm for three years, and then went to Warren county, Penn., but he now resides in Kane, Mckean county. this State, where he is engaged in lumbering. He was married in Warren county to Miss Florence Hoyt, and they have had six children, Martha, Mary, Harry, Bessie, Fred and Earl. (2) Martha J., born in January, 1857, at the present homestead, was educated in the Honesdale high school, and was married in 1882 to Sidney Cowell. of Carbondale. They have three children, Katie H. , Frank and Maud. (3) John L., born in September, 1860, re- sides at White Mills, where he is employed in the glass works. He married Miss Adelle Compton, of that village, and they have had four daughters, Jennie, Clara. Ethel and Carlotta. (4) William E., born in January, 1862, is engaged in farming in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne County. He mar-

ried Miss Mary Toms, of Wayne county, and they have four sons, Floyd, Earl, Harold and Harmon. (5) Sarah A., born in July, 1869, married Harry Toms, of Tracyville, Wayne county, who is em- ployed by the Penwarden Manufacturing Company at that place.

MARCUS M. TREADWELL, a distinguished and popular citizen of Hawley, Wayne county, and the present district attorney, is one of the ablest lawyers practicing at the Wayne County Bar, having that mental grasp that enables him to quickly dis- cover the points in a case. A man of sound judg- ment, he manages his cases with masterly skill and tact, is a logical reasoner, and has a ready command of English.

Mr. Treadwell was born in Ipswich, Mass., .September 17, 1842, a son of Nathaniel and Emaline C. (Jewett) Treadwell, also natives of Ipswich, and representatives of prominent old families of the Bay State. His paternal grandparents, Capt. Nathan- iel and Elizabeth (Smith) Treadwell, always made their home in Ipswich. The grandfather, who was a sea captain, commanded a vessel during the war of 1812, and after being captured by the British in that struggle was never heard from, His children were Thomas, a cabinet maker ; Samuel, a furniture dealer and real-estate agent in Boston ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Richardson, who died in Ipswich; and Na- thaniel, father of our subject. John and Susan ( Martin) Jewett, the maternal grandparents of our subject, also spent their entire lives in Ipswich, where the former engaged in farming. Their an- cestors were from England, and came to this coun- try in the "Mayflower." Both the Treadwell and Jewett families were well represented in the Revo- lutionary war. The children of John and Susan ( Martin) Jewett were: Susan, wife of Capt. An- drew Tucker, a sea captain ; Eliza, wife of Augustus Walton, a merchant of Salem, Mass .; Charles, a farmer of Massachusetts; Emaline C., the mother of our subject ; John J., a boot and shoe manufact- urer of Massachusetts, who was killed in the Civil war; Martha and Mary (twins), of whom the former is the widow of a Mr. Griffing, of Glouces- ter, Mass., who was killed in the Civil war, the lat- ter the wife of Edward Bennett, a farmer of Maine ; and Edward, a boot and shoe manufacturer of Sa- lem, Massachusetts.

Nathaniel Treadwell (our subject's father) was extensively engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes in his native place, and was one of the most public-spirited and influential citizens of the community. In early life he was a Democrat, later became a prominent member of the Know- Nothing party, and on the organization of the Re- publican party joined its ranks, voting for John C. Fremont in 1856. A true and earnest Christian gentleman, he took an active part in the work of the Congregational Church, to which he and his wife belonged. He died in 1857, aged thirty-seven years, and was buried at Ipswich; Mrs. Treadwell

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The success of the Smith brothers has been one of the most remarkable in Wayne county. Com- mencing life at a meager salary, they contrived, by dint of economy and industrious habits, in obtaining a start in business in a modest way, and their lives have since then been examples of steady advance- ment and progress. Gustave Smith was $2.50 in debt when he arrived in Wayne county, and his first wages in the woolen mills were $1.50 per week, out of which he had to board himself. But the deter- mined man knows no obstacles to success, and with the tireless energy and thrift characteristic of the Feutonic race he continued his efforts to make his way in the world until, after years of plodding, he had succeeded in establishing himself in a prosper- ing and profitable business, and gained the esteem and good will of all with whom he came in contact. He is everywhere recognized as deserving of the po- sition which he has acquired, and is respected for the part he has taken in promoting the commercial ac- tivity of the town and county in which he lives, and the public-spirited interest which he has shown in all her affairs.

On January 10. 1867, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Catherine Miller, who was born in Germany December 6, 1844, and was brought to America by her parents when only six months old. Seven chil- dren were born to this union, as follows: Charles, November 10, 1867: Kate M., April 15, 1870: Lou- ise, December 16, 1871 ; Henry, February 9, 1874;

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Mr. Brock's ancestors have long been identi- fied with Cornwall, England, and his grandfather, William Brock, was a life-long resident of that locality, for many years engaging in boating on the seashore and in supplying sand to the cities near by. He had two sons, Thomas, who died in Corn- wall, and William (2) our subject's father. Will- iam Brock (2) was born and reared in Cornwall, but the latter part of his life was spent in Devon- shire, England, where he and his wife, Martha Hacker, died many years ago. This worthy cou- ple had six children, three of whom came to Amer- ica: (I) William grew to manhood in Cornwall, and in 1840 emigrated to Canada, where he followed agricultural pursuits during his remaining years. He and his wife, Elizabeth Phillips, also a native of Cornwall, had five children-John, who now resides in Elkland. Tioga Co., Penn., is married and has one son; William, also a resident of Elk- land, is married and has several children: George and Richard still reside in Canada; and Elizabeth married a Mr. Mocumber, of Knoxville, Tioga Co., Penn., and has several children. (2) Thomas, who was born in 1829, came to America in early man- hood, and for some years resided in Canada, where he married Miss Jane Soper. Later he removed to Honesdale, where he engaged in contracting and building, and he now resides at Knoxville. Tioga Co., Penn. They have had seven children-Emma, who married Daniel Bonier, of Tioga county, and has one daughter, Grace; Thomas, who resides at Cawanesque, Tioga Co., Penn .; William, who died in April, 1898. was married and resided at Knox- ville : Martha : Hattie : Lillian : and Marv. (3) Ed- ward died in England. (4) John, our subject. is

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. Brock, the eldest, ( 1) Clark E., born in March, 1855, received a district-school education, and in early manhood went to the State of Texas, where he spent four years, being engaged for one year in herding cattle. On his return home he worked on the farm for three years, and then went to Warren county, Penn., but he now resides in Kane, Mckean county, this State, where he is engaged in lumbering. He was married in Warren county to Miss Florence Hoyt, and they have had six children, Martha, Mary, Harry, Bessie, Fred and Earl. (2) Martha J., born in January, 1857, at the present homestead, was educated in the Honesdale high school, and was married in 1882 to Sidney Cowell. of Carbondale. They have three children, Katie H. . Frank and Maud. (3) John L., born in September, 1860. re- sides at White Mills, where he is employed in the glass works. He married Miss Adelle Compton, of that village, and they have had four daughters, Jennie, Clara, Ethel and Carlotta. (4) William E., born in January, 1862, is engaged in farming in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne County. He mar-

Mr. Treadwell was born in Ipswich, Mass., September 17, 1842, a son of Nathaniel and Emaline C. (Jewett) Treadwell, also natives of Ipswich, and representatives of prominent old families of the Bay State. His paternal grandparents. Capt. Nathan- iel and Elizabeth (Smith) Treadwell, always made their home in Ipswich. The grandfather, who was a sea captain, commanded a vessel during the war of 1812, and after being captured by the British in that struggle was never heard from, His children were Thomas, a cabinet maker ; Samuel, a furniture dealer and real-estate agent in Boston; Elizabeth, Mrs. Richardson, who died in Ipswich; and Na- thaniel, father of our subject. John and Susan (Martin) Jewett, the maternal grandparents of our subject, also spent their entire lives in Ipswich, where the former engaged in farming. Their an- cestors were from England, and came to this coun- try in the "Mayflower." Both the Treadwell and Jewett families were well represented in the Revo- lutionary war. The children of John and Susan (Martin) Jewett were: Susan, wife of Capt. An- drew Tucker, a sea captain ; Eliza, wife of Augustus Walton, a merchant of Salem, Mass .; Charles, a farmer of Massachusetts; Emaline C., the mother of our subject : John J., a boot and shoe manufact- urer of Massachusetts, who was killed in the Civil war; Martha and Mary (twins), of whom the former is the widow of a Mr. Griffing, of Glouces- ter, Mass., who was killed in the Civil war, the lat- ter the wife of Edward Bennett, a farmer of Maine ; and Edward, a boot and shoe manufacturer of Sa- lem, Massachusetts.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 17

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