Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 182

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 182
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 182
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 182
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 182

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Four children have blessed the union of Dr. and Mrs. Cooke, two of whom, Gerald and Harold, died in infancy ; those living are: H. Florence and

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A. Earle. Socially the Doctor is a Free Mason, politically a Republican, and religiously a Presby- terian. For six years he served as school director in Salem, and has always taken an active and prom- inent part in promoting those interests which he believes calculated to advance the moral, intellectual and material welfare of his town and county. He is a stockholder and director in the Hawley Water Co. As a dentist he is numbered among the best in Wayne county, and as a citizen he is progressive, public-spirited and reliable.

JOHN Q. ADAMS, who as a boy faithfully served his country in the Civil war, making for him- self a war record both honorable and glorious, is now one of the leading agriculturists of Bucking- ham township, Wayne county, and is serving his fellow citizens in the capacity of supervisor. He was born at Long Eddy, Sullivan Co., N. Y., June 2, 1848, and traces his ancestry back to Deliverance Adams, a Revolutionary hero, and a relative of President Adams, of Massachusetts.

Jonathan Adams ( father of our subject) was also a native of Sullivan county, N. Y., and was a son of James Adams and a grandson of Deliverance Adams. He married Miss Lydia Cole, a daughter of Abram Cole, whose father, Hans Cole, was a native of Germany. Mrs. Adams died in 1860, when our subject was only twelve years old, but the father survived her several years, dying at the ripe old age of sixty-eight. He, too, was a Union soldier in the war of the Rebellion, serving from 1862 until hostilities ceased, and, being wounded, he received a pension from the government. By occupation he was a farmer and lumberman, and was an old river pilot or steersman on the Dela- ware. In politics he was a Republican, and in re- ligious belief a Universalist. His last days were spent in Manchester township, Wayne county, where he was numbered among the honored and highly- esteemed citizens. In his family were six children, namely: Julia, a successful teacher, who died in 1868; Mary A., wife of Charles Glidden, of Boston, Mass. ; John Q., the subject of this sketch; Thomas Jefferson, who died in 1869; and Madora L., de- ceased wife of H. Berry, of Carbondale, Pennsyl- vania.

Reared on a farm, John Q. Adams received his education in the public schools of the neighborhood. Like many brave boys during their country's hour of peril, he manifested his patriotism by enlisting, November 3, 1863, in Company A, 25th New York Volunteer Cavalry, under Capt. Woodruff and Col. Lebanon. The regiment was assigned to General Sheridan's command, and with it Mr. Adams par- ticipated in several engagements. At Bunker Hill he was taken prisoner, and for six long months was confined in different prisons of the South, being in the Bull Pen at Winchester during the battle at that place, and later at Lynchburg, Va., and Salisbury, N. C., whence he was taken back to Richmond, and from there to Castle Thunder. At Annapolis, Md.,

he was finally paroled, and from there was sent to New York. Being granted a thirty-days' furlough, he returned home, where for some time he was very ill with typhoid fever, which he had contracted in the South. The doctor, believing his disease to be smallpox, vaccinated two hundred persons in the vicinity of his home. At the end of fifty days he was able to return to the front, and remained in the service until honorably discharged, July 5, 1865, the war being over. For three years after his return to his home in Delaware county, N. Y., he was un- able to engage in any hard labor, but since that time has been employed on the river, in the lumber camps and at general farming. For a quarter of a century he has lived in Wayne county, Penn., and now owns and operates a well-improved farm of sixty-seven acres in Buckingham township.

In 1880, Mr. Adams married Miss Matilda M. Cole, who was born, reared and educated in Wayne county, and is the daughter of Moses and Jane (Anderson) Cole, of Buckingham township. To them have been born five children: Willard Em- mett, John L., Dora J., Cora M. and Hazel G. Mr. Adams is a prominent member of John Plasket Post, G. A. R., of Hancock, N. Y., and is one of the leading members of the Republican party in his community. He is now acceptably serving as su- pervisor of his township, and supports all measures which he believes calculated to advance the public welfare. His wife holds membership in the Bap- tist Church, takes an active part in its work, and has served as teacher and superintendent of the Sabbath-school at Sunshine, Pennsylvania.

JOSEPH SOLLIDAY, a representative and popular business man of Hawley, Wayne county, was born in Bucks county, Penn., September 5, 1824, a son of Samuel and Mary (Fretz) Solliday, also natives of Bucks county. The paternal grand- parents, Daniel and Mary (Wyker) Solliday, were born in America of German ancestry, and died in Bucks county, Penn., where the former engaged in farming for many years. Anthony Fretz, the ma- ternal grandfather, was also a resident of that coun- ty, and throughout his business career engaged in farming, operating a gristmill and in the manufac- ture of linseed oil.

For some years the father of our subject con- ducted the "Black Eddy Hotel" on the Delaware river, and in Bucks county he died in 1830, at the age of thirty-seven years. Subsequently his widow went to Lambertville, N. J., where she passed away in 1885, aged seventy-six years, but her remains were taken to Bucks county and interred by the side of her husband. A few years previous to her death she married John Bissey, who was a farmer in early life, and later lived retired. He was also buried in Bucks county. There were six children born to Samuel and Mary (Fretz) Solliday, namely: Ely (deceased) ; Rachel, widow of Robert E. Beard, of Lambertville, N. J .; Joseph, the subject of this sketch; Clarissa, who died unmarried in 1897; Wil-

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son, who died in infancy; and Sarah, the wife of Dr. John Longshore, of Camden, New Jersey.

At the age of eighteen years Joseph Solliday removed to Honesdale, Wayne county, where he was employed as clerk by Charles Weiss at the "Wayne County House," for two years. He then clerked in the mercantile store of William C. Conk- lin at Ilawley ( then Paupack Eddy ) for two years, and in 1847, in partnership with Charles V. Taft, he embarked in merchandising on his own account in Hawley (then Paupack Eddy ). At the end of about two years he purchased Mr. Taft's interest, but after being alone for a few years he admitted another partner, whose interest he later purchased. Subsequently he had another partner, to which he later sold the store, and retired from business on account of ill health. In 1881, however, he opened another store in Hawley, but at the end of a year sold to the glass factory, continuing to work in the store, however,, for about four years, when the business was sold to J. Milham & Co. He lived retired for two years, but since then he has returned to the store, where he is now employed.

On February 17, 1846, in Hawley, Mr. Solli- day was married to Miss Anna C. Atkinson, a Bap- tist minister officiating. She was born in Hawley, a daughter of Joseph and Anna ( Kimble) Atkinson. The mother died during the infancy of Mrs. Solli- day, and the father passed away in May, 1853, aged sixty-six years. Both were interred in Kimbles burying ground in Pike county. Of their children, Eunice died in infancy; Lucy is the widow of Charles Weiss, of Oil City, Penn. ; John, Ephraim and George are all deceased; and Anna C. com- pletes the family. By a second marriage the father had the following children : Mrs. Amelia Bell, de- ceased : Margaret, widow of Ira Daniels, of Haw- ley: Eunice, widow of Charles V. Taft, of Haw- lev ; Mrs. Marilla Chambers, deceased ; William and Mary (twins), deceased; Malisa, wife of Rev. J. Woodruf, deceased ; Joseph, superintendent of the glass factory at Hawley, and ex-sheriff of Wayne county : and, Lott, a merchant of Hawley. Mrs. Solliday's maternal grandfather, Ephraim Kimble, was one of the first settlers of Wayne county.

With the exception of the office of auditor, which he filled for two terms, Mr. Solliday has always refused to accept any public positions, but is an earnest supporter of Republican principles. For many years he has been a prominent and active member of the Presbyterian Church, and for the past twenty-five years has served as elder. He is also one of the Church trustees. His life is exem- plary in all respects, and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is de- serving of the highest commendation.

NATHAN CARPENTER, a leading agricult- urist and popular citizen of Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne county, was born February 28, 1843, in Preston township, that county, a son of Nathan

T. and Mary (Luther) Carpenter, the former a native of Attleboro, Mass. Their children were Luther, Mary, Don, Hannah and Nathan. Our subject was reared to manhood in Pennsylvania, and the day before he attained his majority (Feb- ruary 27, 1864) he enlisted in the Union army, and after faithfully serving for sixteen months he was honorably discharged at Fort Burr, Va., June 30, 1865, as hostilities had ceased. Among the en- gagements in which he participated was the battle of the Wilderness. On his return home he entered the employ of A. G. Lyman & Co., in Potter county, Penn., as foreman, a position he most creditably filled.

On February 21, 1878, Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage with Miss Anna E. Chittenden, a woman of intelligence and refinement, who prior to her marriage was a popular and successful school teacher. Her father, Aaron Chittenden, was born in Pleasant Mount, Wayne county, in February, 1815, and was a son of Anson Chittenden, a native of Connecticut. The former was married April 30, 1843, to Miss Eliza Abbott, a daughter of Samuel Abbott, whose family came to America in 1829, and after living for some time in New York removed to Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne county, in 1834, locating on what is now known as the old Abbott farm. Nine children were born to Samuel Abbott and wife, namely: Sarah Myells, now deceased ; Henry, who was a soldier of the Civil war, and died on the old home farm; Mrs. Eliza Chittenden, the mother of Mrs. Carpenter; Sophia, who married Noah A. Chittenden ; Lydia Ann Abbott, a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Charles John, deceased ; Matil- da Brentnoll, wife of William Nynce, a soldier of the Civil war, now living in Caldwell, Kans. ; Har- riet Elizabeth, wife of Rev. J. L. Rayce, pastor of the M. E. Church at Scranton, Penn. ; and Lucy, widow of F. Wicks, also a Union soldier of the war of the Rebellion. The father of these children died at the age of seventy years, the mother at the age of seventy-five, both earnest and faithful members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he was iden- tified with the Republican party. Aaron Chitten- den and wife had two children : Anna E. wife of our subject ; and a son, now deceased. The father passed away June 23, 1875, honored and respected by all who knew him. For many years he affiliated with the Democratic party, but in later life he joined the Republican ranks, and in religious connection was an active member and trustee of the Presby- terian Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are the parents of two children : Charles Chittenden, born October 7, 1879; and Friend Bliss, born July 22, 1882, now attending school at Bloomsburg, Penn. In his political affili- ation Mr. Carpenter is an active member of the G. A. R., and for fifteen years has been connected with the Baptist Church. His wife is president of the W. C. T. U. at Pleasant Mount, and is an in- defatigable worker in the temperance cause. Both are interested in all education and temperance re-

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forms, are well-posted on the general topics of the day, and their home is the center of a cultured so- ciety circle.

WILLIAM H. REILLY is a thorough and skillful farmer now carrying on operations upon the old Reilly homestead in Canaan township, Wayne county, where he was born May 21, 1853. His father, William Reilly, Sr., was born in Ireland, February 2, 1803, a son of William and Elizabeth (Russell) Reilly, natives of the same country, where the latter died in 1848. A few years later the grand- father came to America and made his home with his son William in Canaan township, Wayne county, until called to his final rest in 1855, at the ripe old age of eighty years, being buried at Honesdale. His children were: Mrs. Ellen Dinan, who never came to America; William; Michael, who died in this country ; James, who died in Ireland; John, who died in America in 1870; and Jeremiah, who became a resident of Scranton, Penn., in 1889.

In 1837 the father of our subject emigrated to the United States, and after a short time spent in New York, where he helped to build the Croton Aqueduct, he came to Wayne county, locating upon the farm which his son William now occupies. He was an industrious, enterprising citizen, and while not engaged in the cultivation and improvement of his own farm, he worked at the stone-mason's trade, or at other employments. Two of his brothers had also located in Wayne county.

William Reilly, Sr., was married in New York City, August 15, 1841, to Miss Mary Welsh, who was born in County Limerick, Ireland, May 1, 1819, a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Maloney) Welsh, who never left the Emerald Isle, where her father followed farming. She was the youngest of their three children, the others being John, who died in Ireland, 'and Thomas, who came to America, but afterward returned to Ireland, where he died. At the age of seventeen years Mrs. Reilly came to the United States with her cousins. By her marriage she became the mother of six children: Elizabeth, now the wife of Henry Fitzsimmons, a railroad en- gineer living in Bedford, Ohio; Catherine, wife of George Shreehan, footman of the Gravity railroad, located at Fairview, Penn .; Ellen, wife of Albert Piatt, a farmer of South Canaan township, Wayne county ; Mary and Michael, both deceased; and William H., the subject of this sketch. The father died February 6, 1877, and was buried in the Cath- olic cemetery, Canaan township. He creditably filled several local offices, and was a stanch Dem- ocrat in politics, and was a Catholic in religious be- lief. The mother, who now lives with our subject upon the old homestead, is also a faithful member of the Catholic Church.

William H. Reilly early became familiar with the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and now successfully carries on the home farm. One of his favorite teams is a fine yoke of oxen, which he uses for heavy hauling. He is a public-

spirited, enterprising citizen, giving his aid to all measures which he believes calculated to prove of public good. He has proved a competent and trust- worthy official, having served as township clerk five terms, collector, auditor, and in other positions of honor and trust. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious belief is a Catholic. On December 26, 1899, he was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Hughes, of Highland township, Sullivan Co., New York.

JOHN M. WELTON is not only one of the wide-awake and progressive agriculturists of Da- mascus township, Wayne county, but is also a recog- nized leader in public affairs, taking an active and prominent part in local politics. He was born October 10, 1843, on the farm where he still lives, and throughout his active business life has successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Levi H. Welton, his father, was born in Dela- ware county, N. Y., December 27, 1812, but was reared in Sullivan county, that State. Ithureal Wel- ton, the grandfather, a soldier of the war of 1812, was a native of Connecticut, and the father of eight children, namely : Elizabeth, Susan, Ithureal, Ira W., Truman, Benjamin, Levi and Darius. On reaching man's estate Levi H. Welton married Miss Maria White, a daughter of L. White, a native of Sulli- van county, N. Y. Four children blessed this union : George W., one of the heroes of the Civil war, who now fills a soldier's grave in the National cemetery at Washington, D. C .; John M., our sub- ject; Almira M., deceased wife of A. Foster; and Ellery C., a resident of Sullivan county, N. Y. The mother of these children died on the old homestead in Damascus township, Wayne county, August 17, 1888, aged sixty-four years, and the father passed away at the ripe old age of eighty-two. Through- out his entire life he engaged in farming ; in politics was first a Whig, later a Republican ; and in his re- ligious connection he was a worthy member of the Baptist Church.

Upon the home farm John M. Welton grew to manhood, early learning lessons of thrift and in- dustry, to which he attributes his success during his active business life. His literary education was ob- tained in the public schools, which he attended when his services were not needed at home. On June 2, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Brown, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Sherwood) Brown, and granddaughter of George Brown, who was drowned in the Delaware river. Mrs. Welton is one of a family of thirteen children, seven of whom are now living, viz .: Daniel, Eber, Marion F., Elizabeth, Caroline Comfort, Rose Noble and Sarah Wood. The father of these died at the age of fifty-seven years, and the mother passed away at the ripe old age of seventy-two, both earnest and consistent members of the Baptist Church. In his political affiliations Mr. Brown was a Democrat.

Mr. Welton is now the owner of the old home- stead, which is one of the best improved farms of

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the locality, its well-tilled fields, comfortable resi- dence and good outbuildings representing the skill and ability of the proprietor in his chosen calling. The home has been brightened by the presence of one child, Fannie M., who is now twenty years old. Mr. Welton is one of the most enterprising and public- spirited men of his township, is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, and is a man of the strict- est honor and integrity. His fellow citizens, recog- nizing his worth and ability, elected him auditor of Damascus township, a position he creditably filled for one term, and he has also efficiently served as a member of the school board. His wife holds mem- bership in the Baptist Church, and both are earnest supporters and patrons of educational as well as religious institutions.

THOMAS GILL, justice of the peace, of White Mills, Wayne county, is one of the leading citizens of that locality, and for some years past has filled, to the entire satisfaction of the people, the responsi- ble office mentioned. His popularity is not limited to his own neighborhood, however, as his able and judicious management of his hotel, known as the "White Mills Hotel," has gained him the good will of the traveling public. Mr. Gill is now an extensive property owner, and his success in life reflects great credit upon him, having been secured through his carefully directed industry.

Like many of our successful citizens, Mr. Gill is of Irish blood, as his grandfather, Anthony Gill, was a life long resident of the Emerald Isle. Roger Gill, his father, was born in 1828, in County Galway, Ireland, where he received his education, and in early manhood came to America, locating first in Lordville, Delaware Co., N. Y. For many years he was em- ployed as a foreman on the Erie railroad at that place, and for two years he worked in a tannery for Scudder Brothers, in 1866 removing to Hancock, in the same county, and engaging in the grocery business, which he continued one year. In 1869 he settled at White Mills, being employed by the Dor- flinger Glass Co., as a skilled temperer of glass, but. in 1890, after many years of faithful work, his eye- sight failed, leaving him almost blind. He was treated in New York for this affliction, and fortunately has recovered, his eyesight being now nearly as good as in his youth. He resides in White Mills in a pleasant home built by our subject, who purchased for that purpose in 1883 the property known as the David Jillard place. In 1852 he married Miss Bridget Caine, who was born in 1833 in County Galway, Ireland, and died at White Mills in February, 1896. This honored couple had a fam- ily of twelve children, of whom (I) Thomas, our subject, is the eldest. (2) Anthony, who was born at Lordville, N. Y., died at the age of five years. (3) Patrick, born in 1857, at Lordville, learned the glass- blower's trade, but was killed in December, 1872, in his sixteenth year, at a lock on the Delaware & Hud- son canal. (4) Celia, born at Lordville in 1859, died when two years old. (5) Margaret, born in 1861,

was for some years engaged in the hotel business with our subject, and in 1890 married William Bolan, of Hawley, a conductor on the Erie railroad. They have four children, Mary, Robert, Bessie and William. (6) John F., born in 1863 at Lordville, N. Y., learned the glass-blower's trade in White Mills. In 1885 he went to Pittsburg to follow his trade, and at present resides at Jeannette, Penn., where he is ployed in the glass factory of McKee Brothers. In 1890 he married Miss Annie McFarland, of Pitts- burg, and they have had four children, Nora and John, who died in childhood, and William and Thomas, who are at home. (7) Mary, born in 1865 at the old home in Lordville, was married in 1885 to George Trueman, of White Mills, who is engaged in the restaurant business. They have two children living, Thomas and Vera; two others, John and Christina, died in infancy. (8) Nora, born in Hancock, N. Y., in 1867, resides with her father, and is one of the most highly esteemed young ladies in the village. (9) Roger, who was born in 1869 at White Mills, learnel the glass- blower's trade in boyhood, and at the age of eighteen went to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he has since been employed in that business. He was married in 1893 to Miss Katie Farrell, of that city, and they have had three children, Roger and Rich- ard, who are at home, and Nora, who died when four years old. (10) William, born in 1872 at White Mills, is not married, and resides with his father. He is a glass-blower by occupation, and is now em- ployed in the Dorflinger works. (II) Patrick J., born in 1874 at White Mills, is also employed as a glass-blower at White Mills, and resides with his father. (12) Delia, born in 1877 at White Mills, be- gan her education in the schools of White Mills, and later pursued a course of study at Hawley, graduat- ing in 1885. She is an accomplished musician, and is now engaged in teaching that art at her native place.

Our subject was born November 19, 1853, at Lordville, N. Y., and during his boyhood attended the school of that town, receiving a good practical education. When the Erie railroad was being con- structed along the Lackawaxen between Honesdale and Hawley he was employed as a water boy, and in February, 1868, he was employed in the glass-blow- ing department of the Dorflinger Glass factory at White Mills. After some time he was promoted to the post of engineer, which he held until the fall of 1881, when he engaged in the hotel business, in which he has met with marked success. Previous to his marriage he had the assistance of his sister Margaret, and on April 16, 1889, he took to himself a life partner, Miss Teresa Driscoll, daughter of John and Mary A. Driscoll, prominent residents of White Mills. Five children have blessed this union : Thomas S., born June 20, 1890, died in infancy ; Anthony H., born October 21, 1891; Leo C., born August 8, 1894; Myrtle M., born March 25, 1896, and Esther M., born May 6, 1898. Mr. Gill and his amiable wife are prominent socially, and are mem-

Thos Gill

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bers of the Catholic Church at White Mills, of which he is a liberal supporter. He was reared in that faith, his parents being devout adherents of the Church.

In addition to the David Jillard property, men- tioned above, Mr. Gill owns other real estate in White Mills, including a restaurant, purchased in 1890, and now rented by him to his brother-in-law, George Trueman. He has always taken a deep in- terest in politics, and for years has been an influen- tial worker in the local Democratic organization. In 1895 he was elected justice of the peace, and his faithful and prompt discharge of the duties of the position has won him the approval of all classes of citizens, regardless of party lines.

HARRY HUDSON HARWOOD, formerly the well-known proprietor of the Waymart Steam Flouring Mill, of Waymart, Wayne county, was born in Salem township, Wayne county, July 5, 1868.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 182

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