Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 170

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 170
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 170
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 170
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 170

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Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are active members of the Baptist Church. In politics our subject is a Republican, and he has held many of the local offices, including those of auditor and school di- rector, secretary and treasurer, inspector and judge of election. Socially he is a member of Four Brothers Post. No. 453, G. A. R., of Montrose. He is one of the wide-awake, prosperous farmers of Middletown township, and his success is attributed largely to his industry, thrift and careful manage- ment. Quiet in demeanor, he has by his kindly manner and many good qualities won a cherished place in the hearts of his fellow men. His record in the Civil war was that of a faithful and cour- ageous soldier, and the same qualities have dis- tinguished his subsequent career in the vocations of peace.

MILO KISTLER is a prominent and influen- tial citizen of Tannersville, Monroe county, who is now living retired at his beautiful home known as Glenwood Hall. He began his business career at the bottom round of the ladder as bookkeeper in his father's store, but steadily worked his way up- ward, and for several years was at the head of a large and profitable business in New York City. Comparatively few men can attain to the highest offices in civil or military life ; but commerce offers a broad and almost limitless field in which one may

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exercise his powers unrestrained, and gain a leader- ship as the head of a chosen calling. Drawing the lessons which we do from the life of Mr. Kistler, we learn that the qualifications necessary for success are a high ambition, and a resolute, honorable purpose to reach the exalted standard that has been set up. Mr. Kistler belongs to an old Pennsylvania family, his grandfather, Michael M. Kistler, having spent most of his life in Lynnville, Lehigh county, engaged in agricultural pursuits. His children were Stephen, father of our subject; Michael, who is now living retired at East Stroudsburg; William, who died at Delaware Water Gap, Monroe county, in 1896; Joel, deceased ; Daniel, a resident of Schuyl- kill county, Penn. ; Jacob, who died in Lynnville, Le- high county ; Angelina, widow of Peter Seip, of Lehigh county ; and Mary, deceased wife of J. Snyder.

Stephen Kistler, our subject's father, was born in Lynnville, and on reaching manhood went to Lehighton, Carbon Co., Penn., where he engaged in the tanning business. In 1852 he came to Po- cono township, Monroe county, where he purchased a tannery, which he operated until his death, and which was then operated by his heirs until destroyed by fire, in 1882. In Lehigh county he married Miss Hettie Mosser, also a native of that county, and a daughter of Jacob and Magdalena (Oswold) Mosser. She died in April, 1878, at the age of six- ty-two years, and he departed this life March 16, 1880, at the age of sixty-five. The following chil- dren were born to them : Charles married Ann Eliza- beth Woodling, and was engaged in the tanning business at Sciota, Monroe county, where he died at the age of forty-two years. Rufus, also a tanner, wedded Mary Jane Ettinger, and they reside in Mt. Jewett, McKean Co., Penn. Angelina died and was buried in Lehighton, Carbon county. Wilson, a tan- ner, married Henrietta Stauffer, and is living at Lock Haven, Penn. Alfred died in infancy. Mary Elizabeth (deceased) was the wife of John H. Leash, of Monroe county. Milo is the next in order of birth. Michael D. married Sena Siebert (now deceased), and operates a tannery at Morganton, Burke Co., North Carolina.

Milo Kistler was born in Pocono township, Monroe county, August 31, 1854, and received a common-school education. In 1874 the father and his eldest son opened a leather store in New York City, and at the age of nineteen our subject was made bookkeeper in that establishment, where he remained until 1880. In accordance with his father's will he then took entire charge of the business, which he successfully carried on for five and a half years. In the interests of the firm he traveled ex- tensively over the Eastern States and also visited the West. In partnership with his brothers he contin- ted in active business until 1889, since which time he has lived retired, and they have engaged in the tanning business. In that year he returned to his native township, where he had previously purchased the old homestead with its surroundings. He now

has 260 acres of valuable land and seventeen dwell- ing houses, besides a store, gristmill, blacksmith shop, butcher shop and other property in Tanners- ville. He is a wide-awake, enterprising business man, who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.

At Maxatawny, Berks Co., Penn., January 27, 1876, Mr. Kistler, was married by Rev. Heffrich, a German Reformed minister, to Miss Alice C. Clader, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Fisher) Clader. Her great-great-grandfather, Valentine Clader, was born in Germany, June 17, 1726, and on coming to America located in Northampton county, Penn., where he died August 7, 1775. He was married December 12, 1749, and became the father of nine children, one of whom, Adam, was killed by the Indians. Another, Jacob Clader, was the great- grandfather of Mrs. Kistler. He was born Febru- ary 8, 1751, and died March 25, 1832. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Sherer, by whom he had six children, namely: Joseph, the grandfather ; Abraham; John; Isaac; Mrs Sallie Francis ; and Mrs. Polly Bost. His second wife was a Miss Kolp, and to them were born four children : Valentine, Jacob, Hannah and Eva. This family became widely scattered over the United States. Joseph Clader, Mrs. Kistler's grandfather, died February 26, 1849, at the age of sixty-two years, nine months and twelve days. He married Cath- erine Gangewere, by whom he had the following children : John ; Levi, a resident of East Allentown, Penn .; Paul; Josiah, of East Allentown; Daniel; Owen: and Elizabeth, who died young. All are now deceased with the exception of Levi. Daniel Clader, the father of Mrs. Kistler, who spent most of his life in mercantile pursuits, was reared in Al- lentown, Penn., and there married Miss Sarah Fisher, by whom he had two children: Albert J., a merchant, who wedded Mary Jones, and lives at Delta, Penn .; and Alice C., who was born Decem- ber 26, 1853, and is now the wife of our subject.

Mr. Kistler's father was a Democrat until the Civil war broke out in 1861, when he joined the Re- publican party, and our subject also supported that party until the silver issue was brought before the people when he joined the Democracy. He has filled the office of overseer of the poor, but has never taken a very prominent part in political affairs aside from voting. Socially he is a member of the Ameri- can Protective Association, has affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for two years, and the Patriotic Order Sons of America for one year, while in religion he is a Lutheran, and his wife holds membership in the German Reformed Church.

JOHN WITTICH, a well-to-do farmer of Lake township, Wayne county, and one of the best of the German element who have made Wayne county their home, and to whom it is indebted for much of its prosperity, is a native of Hessich, Ger- many, born January 4, 1836.

Our subject's parents, Philip and Anna Martha

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(Honigle) Wittich, lived and died in the Father- land. In connection with farming they wove what was there called "Loom harness." He died when aged sixty-eight years, and she passed away at the age of thirty-five. They had children as follows : John is the subject of this sketch. Deitrich, a farmer, resided in Allen county Kans., until his death on Oct. 29, 1899; while out hunting duck his gun was accidentally discharged, the butt hitting him in the stomach, and he died next morning. Martha married (first) Gotlieb Miller, and (sec- ond) William Eglehoof, a farmer of Bucks county, Penn. Augustus died in Germany, unmarried. Adam also died in Germany. The father of these children was four times married.

John Wittich was reared until eighteen years of age in his native land. In 1855 he came to America and stopped at Reading, Penn. He had an uncle, Deitrich Wittich, residing there, and with him served two years at the shoemaker's trade, re- ceiving for his services twelve cents per week and his clothes. In the winter season he made a little extra money by shoveling off snow, so that at the end of the two years he had saved twenty dollars. Prior to the breaking out of the Civil war he be- came a member of an artillery company in Reading. Not long after the firing on Fort Sumter, on June 4, 1861, young Wittich enlisted in Company A, 32nd Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, under Capt. Jacob Lanhart. His term of enlistment was for three years, but owing to his having contracted ty- phoid fever at Georgetown, Del., and rheumatism, by which he was rendered unfit for duty, he was discharged June 14, 1862. As soon as able after re- turning home he resumed work at his trade, and followed the business at that point until 1867, whence he came to Salem township, Wayne Co., Penn. Here for four years he continued working at his trade, then purchased his present farm of 112 acres. Since that time he has been one of the most industrious farmers of his locality, by his frugal habits and good management has prospered, and is to-day comfortably fixed. He has taken a com- mendable interest in all measures that have from time to time come up, looking to the welfare of the community. For two years he was supervisor of Lake township. In his political views he is an In- dependent.

On February 3, 1863, Mr. Wittich was married to Henrietta Ames, and their home has been made happy by the birth of three children, namely : Laura, Lizzie (who died in March, 1890), and Bertha. Mrs. Wittich and her daughters are greatly es- teemed for their womanly graces. Mrs. Wittich was born April 27, 1845, in Bradford, N. Y., a daughter of Lorenzo and Rosanna (Avery) Ames, of Connecticut. They became acquainted and were married in Wayne county, Penn., but later moved to New York State, thence to Illinois, where the mother died in 1853, when aged thirty-two years. After her death the father returned to Wayne coun- ty and again married. His death occurred in 1887,

when he was sixty-two years of age, while on a visit at Scranton. His children by the first marriage were: Henrietta; Laura, now deceased, who mar- ried John Tucker, and resided at Scranton; Clara, who was twice married, first to Elmer Blanding, and second to Edward Limon (their home is in California) ; Ralph, who married Mary Jones, of Salem; Frank, who married Ella Smith, and is a farmer of Wayne county ; Isidora, married to Frank Slote, of Scranton, Penn .; William, married to Ida Williams, of Scranton; Hawley, a carpenter of Scranton, Penn .; and James, who married Mary Edwards, and is in the foundry business at Scran- ton.

Henry Avery, the grandfather of Mrs. John Wittich, came from Connecticut to Wayne county, Penn., and settled in Salem township, being among the first to settle there. He was twice married, his first wife being Lucy Fishe. He passed away at the home of his eldest daughter, Elmira Avery, when at the advanced age of ninety-seven years.

AMOS J. MITCHELL, who resides in Damas- cus township, Wayne county, two miles west of Tyler Hill, is one of the prosperous general farmers of this region, where he passed all his life. He was born in Damascus in March, 1840, son of Amos T. and Sallie E. (Conklin) Mitchell, and comes of good old Revolutionary stock, his great-grandfather, Nathan Mitchell, having been a soldier in that war. Nathan Mitchell settled along the Delaware river about the time of the Revolution, and there he reared his large family, which consisted of fourteen children, namely: John, Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Jo- seph, James, Nathan, Stephen, Hannah, Jane, Polly, Betsy, Sarah and Lydia.

Amos T. Mitchell, father of the gentleman whose name introduces these lines, was born in Cochecton, Sullivan Co., N. Y., son of James and Martha Mitchell, and grew to manhood in his native place. After his marriage he invested in a tract of new land along the Newburg & Great Bend turn- pike, ten miles from the Delaware river, where he passed the rest of his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. With the aid of his sons he succeeded in clearing out a comfortable farm, upon which he erected a dwelling, barn, outhouses, etc., and made general improvements, having 164 acres under cul- tivation at the time of his death, in May, 1882. Mrs. Mitchell proved a faithful helpmeet to him in the early struggles and hardships incident to life in a new region, and she passed away in January, 1897, after a long life of usefulness, after her husband's decease making her home with her son Amos. Eight children blessed the union of Amos T. and Sallie E. Mitchell, as follows: (I) Benjamin C., born in 1834 in Cochecton, N. Y., was first married to Miss Pamelia Brandamore, of Honesdale, and settled in- Chester county, Penn., where she died in October, 1894, leaving two children-Maggie and Clinton. He has since wedded Miss Maggie McCrudden, of Chester county, where they reside. They have no

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children. (2) Analiva, born in 1836 in Damascus, is the wife of Virgil Mitchell, of Lebanon, Penn., and has two children-Nora and Judson. They re- side in Liberty, N. Y. (3) Eliza, born in 1838 in Damascus, married J. L. Brush, of Tyler Hill, and has a family of four children-Flora, Emma, Mary and Sidney. (4) Amos J. is next in order of birth and is spoken of more fully below. (5) Ran- som Y., born in 1842, was like the rest of the fam- ily reared and educated in Damascus, and now re- sides at Findlay, Ohio, where he is engaged in the production of oil. He married Miss Lydia A. Avery, of Damascus, and they have five children- Fanny, Frank, Amos, Alabel and Donald. (6) Lauretta, born in 1843, married Theophilus Lukens, of Damascus, and has four chidlren-Minnie, Amos, Thaddeus and Gilbert. They live in Wadena coun- ty, Minn. (7) Nancy, born in 1847, is now the wife of J. (. Jackson, of Tyler Hill, and has five children-John, Hattie, Benjamin, Eula and Mary. (8) Mary Alice, born in 1854, is the wife of Sam- uel Vail, of Lebanon, and has one son, Frank. They make their home in Orange county, New York.

Amos J. Mitchell received his early schooling in the public schools of Damascus, where he was reared to manhood, and finished his literary training with a term in the Delaware Academy. In September, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 84th P. V. I., was sworn into the Union service at Camp Curtin, Har- risburg, Penn., sent to Washington, and, with his command, assigned to the army of the Potomac. He served under Capt. Gilbert, and was injured at Ar- lington Flats while engaged in the performance of his duty, being disabled for further military service, on which account he received an honorable discharge at Washington in February, 1863. On returning home he found employment in a wholesale notion house in Susquehanna county, with which he re- mained for five years, after which he engaged with the Weston firm in Honesdale, Wayne county, wholesale stone dealers, for whom he also worked five years. Two years after his marriage he located in the town of Damascus, near the parental home- stead, and there made his home for ten years, finally, in 1885, purchasing what was known as the "Thomas Brown farm" in Damascus, where he has since re- sided. This property is situated on the pike two miles west of Tyler Hill, and here Mr. Mitchell has carried on general farming, at the same time im- proving his place, which is now provided with every- thing necessary to the conducting of a modern farm and is under a fine state of cultivation. By indus- try and good management he has been able to make a good income from the place, and he well deserves the success which he has met with.

In November. 1865, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage with Miss Fidelia E. Dodge, of Damas- cus, whose parents, John S. and Sarah ( Mitchell) Dodge, were old and prominent people of Cochec- ton, Sullivan Co., N. Y. Mr. Dodge was a native of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and when a young man locat- ed in Cochecton, where he met and married his wife.

To Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have been born nine chil- dren, viz: Leonard A., born in Honesdale, in Octo- ber, 1866, married Miss Christina Smith, of Damas- cus, and resides at Tyler Hill, Wayne county ( they have no family ). Charles M., born in June, 1869, in Damascus, is unmarried and lives at home. Harry- R., born in Damascus, in April, 1871, married Miss Annie Mitchell, of Berlin, Wayne county, where they reside ; they have one son, Nathan T. Lauretta, born in September, 1872, is the wife of Howard B. Lord, of Tyler Hill, and they reside on his farm there ; they have no children. Wallace was born in August, 1874. Mattie L. was born in March, 1876. Melvin was born in November, 1878. Arthur L. was born in October, 1882. Robert E. was born in December, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are ranked among the best and most useful members of the community in which they reside, and they are well- known and highly-respected throughout Damascus township and the surrounding country. Mrs. Mitchell was appointed postmistress at West Damas- cus in 1892 under Harrison's administration, and she has continued to hold the office ever since to the en- tire satisfaction of the townspeople, proving herself a competent and reliable business woman in the dis- charge of her duties. Mr. Mitchell is a Republican in political faith, but his activity in public affairs is not carried much beyond voting, and he has never aspired to office. He and his wife were both reared in the Baptist faith.

LEWIS A. LYBOLT, one of the well-to-do agriculturists of Damascus township, Wayne coun- ty, has occupied his present farm in that township since 1874, and during his residence of almost a quarter of a century here has establisded a reput- tation for himself as one of the best farmers in the neighborhood and a leading citizen of the com- munity. Mr. Lybolt was born in Hanbury, N. J., in November, 1843, and his parents, Daniel and Sarah A. ( Edsel) Lybolt, were natives of Orange county, N. Y., and New Jersey, respectively.

Daniel Lybolt was married in New Jersey, and in 1847 removed with his family to western New York State, settling in the Mongaup Valley, where he followed his trade, that of blacksmith, for many vears. His death occurred in 1891 at Monticello, Sullivan Co., N. Y., four years after that of his wife. This worthy couple had a family of eleven children, of whom the eldest. ( I ) Henry, was born in New Jersey in 1840. He grew to manhood in New York, whither he removed with his parents, and during the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army, serving theree years with the 143rd N. Y. V. I. He married Miss Catherine Rhinehart, and now makes his home in Monticello, Sullivan county, N. Y. They have no children. (2) Daniel died when four years of age. (3) Lewis A. is the next in order of birth. (4) Annie E., born in 1845 in Orange county, N. Y., became the wife of Hiram Rose, of Mongaup Valley, Sullivan county, who now resides in Port Jervis, that county, with his

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family of three children, viz .: William H., born in Orange county, N. Y., and educated in Port Jervis, was an employe in the postoffice at the latter place for four years ; May Rose was born in Orange county ; Frank was born at Port Jervis. Mrs. Rose passed away in July, 1897. During the Civil war Mr. Rose enlisted, in 1863, in the 25th New York Cavalry, and in his three-years' service took an active part in a number of engagements, aiding his country faithfully until the close of his term. (5) William L., born in 1847 in Sullivan county, is un- married and makes his home in Port Jervis. (6) Jane died at the age of twenty years. (7) Mar- cus, born in 1851 in Sullivan county, learned the blacksmith's trade, and after reaching manhood removed to Colorado and thence to the Indian Ter- ritory, where he was last heard from in 1896. (8) George, unmarried, is a resident of Sullivan county. (9) Mary, born in 1855 in Sullivan county, mar- ried Milo Racine of that county, and still resides there. They have five children, of whom Truman, Edith and Ralph are mentioned. (10) Albert, born in 1857 in Sullivan county, married Miss Ettie Fox of the same county, and has two chil- dren-Jennie and Howard. Their home is now in Orange county, N. Y. (II) Emma married Con- rad Condroman, of Callicoon, Sullivan county, and has three children-Lizzie, Elmer and Elsie. They reside in Port Jervis.

Lewis A. Lybolt grew to manhood in Sullivan county, and there received his education in the pub- lic schools. He commenced lumbering in early life, when a mere boy engaging in peeling bark and similar work, and this continued to be his princi- pal business nutil his removal, in 1874, to Wayne county, Penn. After his marriage he located in the Mongaup Valley and followed lumbe-ing on his own account, also, for a time, work y in a tannery, but he finally, in the year above mentioned, purchased what was known as the Stearns prop- erty in Damascus, Wayne county, and took up his residence thereon. He has since devoted his time to the cultivation and improvement of this place, a large part of which was not even cleared when he took possession, and it is now equipped with sub- stantial outbuildings and all modern improvements necessary in the estimation of the progressive owner, who takes more than ordinary pride in the appearance of his place. A fine dwelling, erected in 1890, also adorns the farm, which, taken all around, is considered one of the finest in Damascus. Mr. Lybolt may well be proud of his property, for its increased value and splendid condition are all due to the unremitting care and energy which he has bestowed upon it, and he has won an honora- ble place for himself among the deservedly pros- perous farmers of his section. He is respected and esteemed everywhere as one of the best citizens in his township, where he is well known.

This record would be incomplete without men- tion, at least, of Mr. Lybolt's military career, for he is a veteran of the Civil war, in which he served

for over two years. He enlisted in 1863 in the 9th New York Heavy Artilley, under Capt. Wood, with which he served in the Army of the Potomac and with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. The first engagement in which our sub- ject took an active part was at Cold Harbor, in 1864, after which he was engaged in the battle near Harper's Ferry, Md. When the Rebels marched on to Washington his command helped to drive them back, following them along the Washington Pike to Snicker's Gap, where they had a battle which resulted in heavy losses on the Rebel side. Theyremained near Harper's Ferry, and on Septem- ber 19, 1864, took part in the battle of Winchester, and after the color-bearer of the regiment was shot our subject carried the flag into the battle. The next day the Rebels made a stand at Fisher's Hill, where Mr. Lybolt's command was again engaged, and they subsequently fought them at Newmarket and Staunton, near Richmond. They then came back to Middletown, in the Shenandoah Valley, and on October 19 met the enemy at Cedar Creek, where the company of which our subject was a member was reduced to nineteen men and the losses were heavy on both sides. When Sheridan reached them they forced the Rebels to retreat, taking a large number of prisoners. In November the regiment marched to Richmond, where they were encamped for the winter, being engaged in picket duty. On April 2 they participated in the charge on Rich- mond, and Mr. Lybolt was shot in the chin when climbing over the breastworks. The ball lodged in his neck and he was taken to City Point Hos- pital, being transferred thence to the hospital at Washington, from which he was honorably dis- charged in June, 1865, when he returned to his old home. Mr. Lybolt served bravely in the defense of the Union, and can look back with pride to his army experience, during which he was a participant in some of the hardest-fought battles of that strug- gle, and he is one of the honored survivors of his command.

In August, 1868, Mr. Lybolt wedded Miss Sarah J. Sisson, of Sullivan county, N. Y., where her parents, William and Angeline Sisson, were early pioneer settlers. They made their home in Mongaup Valley until they settled on the 108-acre farm in Damascus which has since been their home, and where they now have a most comfortable and pleasant residence. Five children have blessed their union, of whom two died when young, Willie at the age of two years. Alma and Alfa, twins, were born in March, 1874, in Sullivan county, and received their literary education in the cchools of Damascus, where they were given a thorough practical training. Both have evinced unusual talent for music, and Alfa is a graduate of the musical conservatory at Port Jervis. Lewis Lybolt, the youngest of the family, was born in Damascus in May, 1885. The entire family are connected, religiously, with the M. E. Church. Socially, Mr. Lybolt unites with the Odd Fellows lodge at Cochecton, N. Y., and with Capt.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 170

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