Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 171

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 171
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 171
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 171
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 171

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

James Howe Post No. 198, G. A. R., of Honesdale. His political sympathy is given to the Republican party, in the local interests of which he takes an active part, and he is at present serving his second term as supervisor of his township, where he ranks among the foremost of the solid, reliable citizens, a man who has won respect on his own merits and is universally esteemed for his genuine worth.

MATTHEW CLEMO. Among the prosperous farmers of Wayne county, the record of whose lives fills an important place in this volume, it gives us pleasure to record the name of this gentleman. He is now one of the leading agriculturists of Dyberry township, but his early life was spent in England, of which country he is a native. His grandfather, Matthew Clemo, who took part in the famous battle of Waterloo, always made his home in Cornwall, England, and there married Ann Sanders, by whom he had five children : Ann, John S., Matthew, Margaret and Joseph, all of whom died in England.

Joseph Clemo ( the youngest, and the father of our subject) was born in Cornwall, in 1807, and there died March 31, 1849. He wedded Mary Jay, and to them were born three children: Matthew ; Stephen, who married and died in Mt. Pleasant, Penn. ; and John, who was a soldier of the Civil war, and was killed at Tracyville, Penn., while sink- ing a well (his widow and six children survive him). Our subject's maternal grandfather, Stephen Jay, also spent his entire life in Cornwall. His children were as follows: (I) Elizabeth (deceased) was the wife of Peter Harris and had four children, Joseph, Elizabeth, Hannah and Thomas. (2) Stephen and his son Richard came to America. The latter, familiarly known as "Dickie, the mail-carrier," car- ried the mail for many years between Mt. Pleasant and Honesdale, Wayne county. (3) John also emi- grated to America. His children were (a) Joseph, who in 1850 married May Lattey, and had three children, Mary L., Hattie and Carrie; (b) John, who wedded Mary Ann Moore (now deceased), and had two children ( both deceased ) ; (c) Stephen (deceased) ; (d) Mary Ann, wife of John Thomas, by whom she has seven children. Mary J., Charles. William, Joseph, Stephen, Grace and Walter; and (e) Charles, a resident of Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne county. (4) Mary (the mother of our sub- ject ) came to the New World in 1851 ; for her sec- ond husband she married Josiah Wilcox, of Mt. Pleasant township. (5) Ann died in England. (6) Richard, with his four sons, came to the United States and located in Pennsylvania.

Matthew Clemo was born March 22, 1831, in Cornwall, England, and in 1849 crossed the broad Atlantic and located in Bethany, Wayne county, where he has since made his home with the excep- tion of two or three years spent in New York, New Jersey and Canada. For many years he has suc- cessfully engaged in lumbering, farming and stock dealing, and now has one of the very best farms in northeastern Pennsylvania.

At Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y., Mr. Clemo was married July 4, 1852, to Miss Adelia Broadhead, daughter of George and Sarah ( Van Buren) Broad- head, the latter being closely related to President Van Buren. Mrs. Clemo, who was the eldest of a large family of children, was born September 9, 183-, and died February 22, 1880. Her sister Mar- sena is now the wife of John Du Bois, of Kings- ton, N. Y .; her brother John was a Union soldier, and died in Bethany, Penn. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Clemo were as follows: Mary, born April 4, 1855, died May 25, 1861 ; Joanna, born Oc- tober 25, 1856, is the wife of S. B. Sergent, of Mt. Pleasant township; Jane, born September 18, 1858, died April 18, 1859; Matthew B. was born March 23. 1860; Maria T., born October 10, 1863, married James O. Ried, and moved to Canada, where she died October 21, 1897, leaving four children; Mary Jane, born April 18, 1867, died September 18, 1868; Emily H., born September 7, 1868, is the wife of Horace Hoyle, of Texas township, Wayne county ; John S., born March 1, 1871, married Florence Bun- nell, of Seelyville, Texas township; Stephen, born September 2, 1873, is a railroad employe ; and Joseph S., born September 26, 1876, died March 28, 1880. Mr. Clemo is very proud of his twenty-four grandchildren, and. his first great-grandchild named Matthew Clemo, born September 30, 1899. In Mt. Pleasant, October 23, 1880, he married for his sec- ond wife Elizabeth Thomas, Rev. Stephen Jay offi- ciating. She is a native of Cornwall, England, and a daughter of Richard and Ann ( Treloar) Thomas, who died in that county, the former in 1864, the latter in 1844. It was in 1880 that Mrs. Clemo emi- grated to America. Our subject is widely and fa- vorably known throughout Wayne county and has many warm friends. He is a very pronounced Democrat in politics, and has most capably and sat- isfactorily served his fellow citizens as overseer of the poor fourteen years, and supervisor a number of years.

SAMUEL N. SETZER, one of Monrce coun- ty's ablest educators, as well as one of its highly-es- teemed and valued citizens, has spent most of his life in Jackson township.

George Setzer, father of our subject, made his home there for many years, and to agricultural pursuits gave his entire time and attention. He was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Siglin. After her death he wedded Miss Barbara Singer, a daughter of Philip and Elizabeth ( Brong) Singer, natives of Chestnut Hill township, where the latter died. Soon after her death Mr. Singer went to Eckley, Penn., where he passed away at an advanced age. Both lived to be quite old, and throughout life he worked as a day laborer. Polit- ically the father of our subject affiliated with the Democratic party and was honored with a number of local offices, such as school director, overseer of the poor, township clerk, inspector and judge of election. He also acceptably served as justice of

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the peace for seventeen years, being first appointed by the governor. Religiously he and his wife were members of the Evangelical Church, with which he was officially connected. He died in December, 1873, at the age of sixty-eight years, eight months and twenty-five days, and the mother, who was a native of Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county, departed this life March 19, 1898, at the age of seventy-nine years, eleven months and eleven days. To them were born four children, namely: Thomas J., born October 22, 1848, died December 18, 1849; Samuel N., our subject, is next in the order of birth; Amanda, born May 22, 1855, is the wife of Abram Hoffner, of Jackson township; and Sarah, born April 11, 1861, is the wife of Ervin Prutzman, of Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania.

Samuel N. Setzer was born in Jackson town- ship, April 25, 1851, and to a limited extent at- tended the common schools during his boyhood, but secured his education almost wholly by home study and perseverance. He was a student in the graded school at Brodheadsville for sixteen weeks, under Prof. D. E. Schevdler, and so well did he improve his opportunities that he was granted a teacher's certificate in 1872. For nineteen terms thereafter he successfully engaged in teaching in Monroe county-in Tunkhannock, Chestnut Hill, Jackson and Hamilton townships. The time not occupied by his profession was devoted to lumber- ing. He now owns twenty-four acres of cleared land in Jackson township, on which he is engaged in farming, but is principally employed at the car- penter's trade.

On May 9, 1874, Mr. Setzer was united in mar- riage with Miss Susan Northrup, a native of Chest- nut Hill township, and a daughter of Joel and Mary (Bond) Northrup. Her father was born in Broome county, N. Y., and when a young man came to Monroe county, where his marriage was celebrated. He was a prosperous farmer of Chestnut Hill town- ship, where his death occurred, and his widow is still living on the old homestead there. In their family were five children: Susan, wife of our sub- ject ; Jacob, who is living on the old home farm; Elizabeth, wife of Alvin Kresge, of Chestnut Hill township; William H., deceased; and Amanda C., who is with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Setzer have become the parents of twelve children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Mary A., April 17, 1875; Laura F., December 15, 1876; Sarah E., November 17, 1878; Georgiana, March 24, 1881 ; one who died unnamed, May 18, 1883; Jerome C., June 27, 1884 ; Minerva J., April 6, 1887 ; Maggie C., May 12, 1889; Mabel A. (deceased), July 25, 1890 ; one who died unnamed, July 5, 1891 ; William Ervin, April 17, 1893 : and Ada May (de- ceased), December 7, 1895. Of those still living, all are at home with the exception of Sarah E., who is now the wife of Johnston Monsteller, of Ham- ilton township, Monroe county.

Among Mr. Setzer's most cherished posses- sions is a clock of Colonial style, which has been

in the family for several generations. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party, and he has served his fellow citizens in the capacity of school director six years, assessor two years, town- ship clerk two years, and inspector of elections sev- eral times. His official duties have always been most promptly and faithfully discharged, winning the commendation of the entire community. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Evangel- ical Church, with which he is also officially con- nected.

HIRAM J. ROCKWELL, an enterprising and successful agriculturist of South Canaan township, Wayne county, is one of the most deserving citizens of the locality. But few men in this section have had as great obstacles to overcome in their way to success, and the account of his life will be read with the deep interest which follows any story of earnest and well-directed effort.

Mr. Rockwell was born October 19, 1829, in Franklin township, Susquehanna county, where his family had long been prominent. His paternal grandparents, William and Mary Rockwell, were natives of Connecticut, who settled upon a farm in Susquehanna county at an early day. Hiram Rock- well, the father of our subject, was born in Con- necticut, but the greater part of his life was spent in this section. . In early manhood he engaged in farming, which he continued for many years, and he was also an active worker in the Baptist Church. He was married, at Montrose, Susquehanna county, to Miss Rebecca Merrit, a native of Connecticut, whose parents, William and Rebecca (Lanfer) Mer- rit, came from that State in pioneer times to make their home in Susquehanna county. To Hiram and Rebecca Rockwell the following children were born : Hiram J., our subject ; Rebecca J., Mrs. J. Safford, now deceased ; Harriet C., Mrs. Albert Blowers, de- ceased ; Elizabeth, deceased; Worden, a farmer in Susquehanna county ; MaryL., wife of Chester Wright, of Carbondale ; Lydia A., Mrs. Abraham Wessels, de- ceased ; Almira C., Mrs. Wilmot ; Joseph, who was killed in the battle of the Wilderness; and S. Corinna, wife of Peter Eckerson, of Iowa. The mother of this family died January 9, 1877, at the age of sixty-nine years, and the father died in May, 1888, aged eighty-four.

Our subject was reared to habits of industry. He remained upon the home farm until he reached the age of twelve years, when he began to earn his own livelihood by working for neighboring farmers. spending three years with Orin Eley, of Susque- hanna county, and two years with his brother-in- law, William Gardner, and later he worked at various places in the same county, sometimes as a farm hand and sometimes as a lumberman in the woods. In 1851 he came to Wayne county, and in 1853 was married in Clinton township, for his first wife, to Miss Phobe Etta Buckland. Settling upon a farm in Wayne county, he engaged in lumbering in con- nection with his agricultural work, and in 1860 he

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

removed to his present farm near Varden, where, by energetic work in clearing and improving, he has made himself a comfortable home. He has been prominent in all social and religious move- ments in his locality, and he is a leading worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church of South Canaan, having served as Sunday-school superintendent for several terms. For six years he has held the office of school director. His first wife died in June, 1857, at the age of twenty-six years, leaving no children. She was a daughter of Belden and Henrietta Buck- land, natives of Connecticut, who settled in the early times in Clinton township, Wayne county, where her father was a prominent farmer. On July 3, 1860, Mr. Rockwell was married at Honesdale to Mrs. Rebecca A. ( McMinn) Griffing, by whom he has had six children: Elbert L. is deceased ; Eliza- beth was first married to Charles McIntyre, and after his decease to Charles Gillett, of Windsor, N. Y .; Henry U. married Miss Sarah Chesworth, of Wy- oming, Penn., and resides at Lake Ariel, where he is engaged in carpentering and farming ; Olive J. is the wife of David Treslar, of Lake Ariel, Penn. ; Hiram H., now deceased, married Miss Dora Loftus, of Scranton, Penn. ; James W. is living at Scranton.

Mrs. Rockwell is a native of South Canaan township, Wayne county, and is a great-grand- daughter of Thomas McMinn, who came from Scot- land in 1772, and located in Newburg, N. Y., later removing to a farm in Delaware county, in same State. Her grandfather, Major James McMinn, met a soldier's death in the war of 1812, leaving a wife, whose maiden name was Susan Fish, and three children: Harrison, James, and Susan. Harrison McMinn, Mrs. Rockwell's father, was born in 1807 at Kortright, N. Y., and same to Wayne county in 1825 to work on the Gravity railroad. In 1829 he married Miss Elizabeth Jaggers, daughter of Joseph Jaggers, a native of Connecticut, and a pioneer farmer of South Canaan township, Wayne county. She died in 1891, at the age of eighty-two years, and he passed away in April, 1893, at the age of eighty-six years, both being buried in the Canaan cemetery. He was one of the leading agriculturists of South Canaan township in his day, and he took an active part in all progressive movements, he and his wife being much esteemed for their excellent quali- ties of character. Of their children, James R., is a farmer near Jackson, Penn .; William H. is a ma- chinist at Carbondale ; Roseanna died in childhood ; Hannah M. married Squire W. H. Moore, a farmer in South Canaan township; Richard Elbert resides at South Canaan Corners, and at present holds the office of assistant postmaster; Susan E. died in childhood ; George H., a resident of Carbondale, has been in the employ of the Gravity railroad for twen- ty-seven years ; and Adelia E. is the wife of Charles Bloes, of Scranton, Penn., a baggagemaster of the Erie & Wyoming railroad. Mrs. Rockwell was first married to Henry Griffing, who died in 1857, at the age of twenty-seven years, eleven months, and seven days, his remains being interred at Old Ca-

naan Corners. The only child of their union, Eleanor S., died in infancy, and is buried beside her father.

HON. WILLIAM B. GUINNIP, a well- known general merchant of Damascus township, Wayne county, has been prominently identified with the commercial interests of that township for the past ten years, and also oversees the operation of a fine farm there. He is a man of keen perception, of great sagacity and unbounded enterprise, and these characteristics have been important factors in his success, while his integrity and reliability have won for him an honorable position among his fellow men.

The first of the family to come to Wayne coun- ty was our subject's grandfather, David Guinnip, a son of George Guinnip. He afterward removed to Sullivan county, N. Y., where he married Per- melia Dunn, a daughter of William Dunn, a promi- nent citizen of Narrowsburg, N. Y., who was en- gaged in farming and lumbering. David Guinnip continued to reside in New York for a number of years, but he finally returned to Wayne county, where he died at the age of seventy-two years. He was a lumberman, owning and operating a sawmill. Politically he was a Jacksonian Democrat, and took quite a prominent part in public affairs, serving in several township offices. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Church. She departed this life at the extreme old age of ninety years. In their family were eight children, of whom six are still living: William D., Mary, Caroline, Catherine, Jane and George. Erastus and Mathias are deceased.

William D. Guinnip, our subject's father, was born in Sullivan county, N. Y., July 2, 1821, and was educated in the public schools. He remained at home, assisting his father, until he was twenty- two years old, when he started out in the world to make his own living. The greater part of his life he has engaged in the sawmill business. He helped to draw the lumber to build the first bridge across the Delaware river at Narrowsburg, and well remembers plowing where that thriving town now is. In 1843 he married Miss Sarah A. Knapp, a native of Bethel, Sullivan Co., N. Y., and a daughter of Daniel and Huldah (Corwin) Knapp. who were also born in the Empire State. Only two children were born of this union: William B., whose name introduces this sketch; and Louisa Jane, wife of Milton L. Skinner, who is engaged in the sawmill business at Milanville, Penn. The father is a firm Democrat in politics, an earnest ad- vocate of the Monroe doctrine, and for several years has most efficiently served as a justice of the peace ; he has also been supervisor and school di- rector. He and his wife are connected with the Methodist Church, and they are numbered among the most highly esteemed and honored citizens of their community.

The subject of this sketch was born October

Miliam B. Guinnik

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

31, 1850, and his education was acquired in the Prompton Normal and the schools of Monticello, N. Y. In early life he took up the profession of teaching, which he successfully followed for sev- eral years, but for the past decade he has been interested in mercantile pursuits, conducting a good general store at Atco. By fair and honorable deal- ing, and courteous treatment of customers, he has succeeded in building up a large trade, which is constantly increasing, and in 1895 erected a new store 24x52 feet in dimensions. He resides upon a farm, and here hospitality reigns supreme, the many friends of the family always being sure of a hearty welcome.

On May 24, 1876, Mr. Guinnip married Flor- ence R. Scudder. Her father, Isaiah Scuduer, was born in Delaware county, N. Y., March 26, 1808, a son of Obediah and Peace (Corbin) Scudder, and was reared and educated in that State. By trade he was a tanner, and in 1848 he removed to Equinunk, where he built a large tannery. In 1852 he erected the High Lake tannery, which cost $30, 000, selling it in 1856 and removing to Equinunk, Wayne coun- ty. In 1833 he married Margaret Hadsell, a native of New York, whose father was a Revolutionary soldier. They became the parents of eleven chil- dren, of whom are living, besides Mrs. Guinnip: Isaiah, a carpenter, at Middletown, N. Y .; Homer A., a railroad contractor, at Grand Rapids, Mich .; Harriet S., wife of Charles F. Rockwell, of Hones- dale; Elizabeth, wife of the late Dr. Jonas Starnes, a surgeon in the Civil war, who died at Burton Barracks, Mo., in 1864; and Charlotte A., wife of Judge Thomas F. Ham, of Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio. Mrs. Scudder died August 6, 1876, and for the past ten years Mr. Scudder has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Guinnip. Politically he is identified with the Republicans, and socially he is one of the principal members of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Bethany, while in religious faith he has been a member of the Methodist Church for over sixty years. Mr. and Mrs. Guinnip have a family of four children: Mabel G., a student in the Stroudsburg Normal School; Sadie L., Milton W. and Ruth.

Mr. Guinnip is a recognized leader in the ranks of the Democratic party in his community, and he has not only been called upon to serve in local offices of honor and trust, but in 1884-85 was elected to represent his county in the State Legislature. His loyalty as a citizen and his devotion to his coun- try's interests have ever been among his marked characteristics, and the community is fortunate that numbers him among its citizens.

THOMAS MILLER, a representative farmer of Monroe county, is actively engaged in his profita- ble occupation on his homestead in Jackson town- ship, where his energetic labors in developing the wild land into a well cultivated and productive farm have met with due reward. He is a native of the county, born in Chestnut Hill township, February

26, 1837, and is a representative of one of its prom- inent pioneer families. His paternal grandfather spent his entire life, and for many years carried on business in Chestnut Hill township as a cooper and farmer.

Jacob Miller, father of our subject, was born in Chestnut Hill township, in 1800, and was there. reared to manhood. He purchased a farm of about 200 acres, and during the summer months followed agricultural pursuits, while the winter season was devoted to the cooper's trade. In his political affilia- tions he was a strong Democrat. In his native township he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Kresge, a daughter of Jacob Kresge. She was born in Chestnut Hill township, and died in Jackson township, Monroe county, in 1865, at the age of seventy-five years; he departed this life in 1859 at the age of fifty-eight years. The children born to this worthy couple were: Mary, wife of Frederick Doll, of Jackson township; Samuel, a farmer of Chestnut Hill township; Liizabeth, wife of Joseph Franz, of Jackson township; Sally Ann, deceased wife of John Felker, of Jackson township; Jacob (deceased), who was a farmer of Jackson township ; Joshua, deceased, who was a farmer of Chestnut Hill township; Catherine, who died at the age of twenty- one years ; Jonas, who was killed near Spottsylvania during the Civil war; Thomas, the subject of this review ; Hannah, wife of William Smith, of New- field, N. Y .; and Barbara, also a resident of New York State.

During his youth Thomas Miller had the ad- vantages of a common-school education, and upon the home farm obtained an excellent knowledge of all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. At the age of twenty-one he commenced working in the lumber woods in the northern part of Monroe county, and was there employed for fifteen winters. In the meantime, in 1861, he was married in Jack- son township to Miss Elizabeth Rinker, who was born in that township, November 19, 1843, a daugh- ter of John Rinker. Five children bless this union : Francis, a farm hand living in Lackawanna county, Penn., has been married, but his wife is now de- ceased ; Eugene is a stable-boss at the mines of Pitts- ton, Penn .; William is a farmer living near Ithaca, N. Y .; Milton is a resident of Lackawanna county, Penn. ; and Richard is at home assisting his father.

In the spring of 1864 Mr. Miller offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company I, 51st P. V. I., with which he served until the war was over. He went with his regiment to Virginia, and took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania Court House, Weldon Railroad, and the en- gagements round Petersburg, but was in hospital at the time of Gen. Lee's surrender. Soon after his re- turn home Mr. Miller bought eighty acres of land in Jackson township, which he began to improve, but later sold the original purchase and bought an- other farm in the same township. He has nearly eighty acres of this place cleared and under culti- vation, and in 1892 he erected thereon a pleasant

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residence at a cost of $1,000. His time and atten- tion is now devoted exclusively to general farming and stock raising, and the neat and thrifty appear- ance of his place bears testimony to his industry and careful management. In politics, he is a true Re- publican, heartily supporting the principles of that party, and in religious faith both he and his estima- ble wife are Lutherans.

ISAAC R. KIMBLE. The subject of this review is one whose history touches the pioneer epoch in the annals of Wayne county, and whose (lays have been an integral part of that indissolu- ble chain which links the early formative period with that of latter-day progress and prosperity. He is a native of the county, born at Middle Creek, January 1, 1825, and is a representative of one of its most honored pioneer families, his father being Asa Kimble, one of the early settlers of this region.

Asa Kimble was a native of Pike county, Penn., and a son of Ephraim Kimble, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Abigail Pellet, was born in the same county, and was a daughter of a soldier in the war of 1812. In their family were seven children, namely: Nancy, wife of E. W. Genung; Ephraim, who died in Dyberry, Wayne county ; George, who died in Oregon township; John P., who died in Texas township; Isaac R .; William, a resident of Dyberry township; and Mar- tin, of the same township. The father departed this life at the age of fifty-seven years, the mother at the age of eighty-six, honored and respected by all who knew them.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 171

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