Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 185

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 185
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 185
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 185
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 185

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

COMMODORE D. SANDS is one of the busiest, most energetic and most enterprising men of Scott township, Wayne county, carrying on oper- ations along several different lines, and meeting with excellent success in his undertakings. He is a native of Wayne county, born at Balds Eddy, and is a son of Decatur and Bertha ( Cartwright) Sands.

Decatur Sands was born March 1, 1818, in Delaware county, N. Y., a son of Richard and Chloe Sands, of Long Island, who died in New York. After his marriage he came to Scott township, Wayne county, where he followed the occupations of lumbering and farming, and there, in 1856, pur- chased 200 acres of land, of which forty acres had been cleared. To its further development and im- provement he and our subject devoted their ener- gies, and erected thereon a commodious two-story residence and large barn, sixty feet square, with an addition sixty by fourteen feet. There the father continued to make his home until called to his final rest, January 15, 1897; the mother died April IO, 1896. For over half a century they had traveled life's journey together, having celebrated their golden wedding in 1888. They had four children, of whom (1) George H., born at Balds Eddy, June 15, 1840, married Almeda Ledgyard, of Pleasant Mount, Wayne county, a daughter of Hiram Ledg- yard, a wealthy citizen of that place. They lived in Scott township, where he engaged in lumbering until his death, in 1890. The two children, Annie C. and Ord L., live with their mother in Peckville, Lackawanna Co., Penn. (2) Lydia A., born at Balds Eddy, December 6, 1842, was educated in the high schools of Prompton and Honesdale, Wayne county, and followed teaching for a number of years. On June 16, 1869, she married Montellas Moore, of Balds Eddy, by whom she has one daugh- ter, Susie L. After his marriage, Mr. Moore lived for a time in Hancock, N. Y., from there moved to West Virginia, where he served as foreman for the lumber firm of Horton & Dallas until 1891, and then went to Fort Morgan, Colo., where he is now en- gaged in the banking business. (3) Richard N., born in Wayne county, July 14, 1846, finished his education in the high schools of Walton and Han- cock, and is now engaged in the insurance business in Binghamton, N. Y. He was married October 17, 1874, to Ruth Fletcher, of Haine's Corners, Wayne county.

On his present farm Commodore D. Sands early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and acquired his edu- cation in the schools of the neighborhood. He pur- chased his brother Richard's interest in the old homestead, and has greatly improved the place, making it one of the most desirable farms of Scott township. Of late years he has devoted considera- ble attention to lumbering and dairying, and since 1889 has been interested in the stone quarry busi- ness, shipping his stone from Sands Switch, on the Delaware river and the Erie railroad. He is a wide- awake, progressive man, of more than ordinary

business ability, and the success that he has achieved is certainly well deserved.

Mr. Sands was married, December 31, 1878, to Miss Rosie D. Searles, of Honesdale, Wayne coun- ty, who had been one of the successful teachers in the public schools, and is a cultured and refined lady. Her parents, William and Sarah Searles, are natives of Cornwall, England, who at an early day crossed the Atlantic and became residents of Wayne county. They are now living retired in Carbondale, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Sands have four children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: William R., September 15, 1880; Sarah B., October 3, 1881 ; George Everell,January 21, 1883 ; and Carl E., Sep- tember 25, 1884. They have been provided with good school privileges. In his political views Mr. Sands is a Democrat, and in religious faith he and his wife are Presbyterians. Their home is noted far and wide for its generous hospitality, and the friends of the family are legion.

CHARLES C. SPENCER. Among the sub- stantial and progressive agriculturists of Wayne county, whose names are scattered through the pages of this volume, none is more worthy of mention than Mr. Spencer, who devotes his energies to the culti- vation and improvement of his fine farm of 100 acres in Mt. Pleasant township, conveniently situ- ated only two miles from the village of that name: In his labors he has met with prosperity, and also gained the confidence and respect of those with whom he has come in contact, either in business or social life.

On the family homestead in Wayne county, Mr. Spencer was born February 26, 1841, a son of Philo C. Spencer, and grandson of Ezra and Eliza (Clark) Spencer, both natives of Connecticut, the former born in Hartford. During the pioneer epoch of this region they came to Wayne county, where the grandftaher died at the ripe old age of eighty- three years. Philo C. Spencer was born in 1818, in Wayne county, where he grew to manhood and followed carpentering and wagonmaking as a life work. He married Miss Lucy Ann Simonds, a representative of one of the old and honored families of Susquehanna county, Penn. In religious faith he is a consistent member of the Methodist Church, and in all the relations of life has been found true and faithful to every trust reposed in him.

Reared on the home farm, Charles C. Spencer early became familiar with farm work in its various departments, and is now numbered among the most thorough and systematic agriculturists of Mt. Pleas- ant township. During his boyhood and youth he attended the public schools, and also clerked in a store to some extent. In 1865 he was united in marriage with Miss Antoinette Hall, who was born, reared and educated in Wayne county, and success- fully engaged in teaching prior to her marriage. Her father, Zenas W. Hall, was a native of Sullivan county, N. Y., and her mother, who bore the maiden

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name of Selina Hoe, was a niece of Richart Hoe, the great inventor. To Mr. and Mrs. Spencer were born seven children: (1) Fred H., born August 8, 1866, is a steam fitter by occupation; (2) Lizzie S., born April 1, 1868, died May 10, 1873; (3) Emma J., born January 25, 1870, is a music teacher in Hornellsville, N. Y .; (4) Lottie A., born July 31, 1873, is a graduate of the East Stroudsburg Normal School; (5) Katie E., born June 6, 1875, died Oc- tober 14, 1890; (6) Anna M. was born December 14, 1877 ; and (7) Bessie M. was born April 5, 1880. Mrs. Spencer, who was an affectionate wife and mother, a kind neighbor and a good Christian woman, a member of the Methodist Church, de- parted this life in August, 1891, and her death was widely and deeply mourned. On September 12, 1899, Mr. Spencer married, for his second wife, Miss Emma C. Blandin. He takes an active and commendable interest in whatever tends to promote the growth and prosperity of the community in which he lives, and is therefore numbered among its most valued and useful citizens, one who com- mands the respect and esteem of all who know him.

JAMES ORR, an old-time agriculturist of large experience, is now numbered among the elderly residents of Damascus township, Wayne county, where he is held in that reverence and respect tacitly accorded those whose lives have been distinguished by integrity and usefulness.

A native of County Donegal, Ireland, Mr. Orr was born January 2, 1819, a son of James Orr, also a native of that county, where the paternal grand- parents of our subject, Joseph and Sarah (Mc- Knight) Orr, spent their entire lives. Their chil- dren were James, Joseph, John, Catherine, Sarah and Belle. Of these, James Orr, our subject's father, took up the occupation of farming as a life work,buthe was often called upon to accept positions of public trust in Ireland, and after coming to this country had the construction of the State peniten- tiary, the marine hospital and the United States mint, at Philadelphia. He married Miss Catherine Ralston, a lady of refinement and education, and a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (King) Ralston, and to them were born two children: James, of this sketch; and John, who was born in 1821 and died in 1887. In 1820 the family emigrated to the United States, living for some years in Philadelphia, and in 1833 taking up their residence in Wayne county, Penn., where in the midst of the forest the father developed a farm, after erecting a log house upon his place. He operated his farm with two yoke of oxen. He died at the age of seventy-four years, the mother at the age of seventy-five, honored and respected by all who knew them.

James Orr was a lad of two years when he ac- companied his parents on their removal to the United States. His education was acquired in the schools of Philadelphia. During early life he clerked in a store for three years, but the greater part of his time and attention has always been given

to agricultural pursuits, and he is now the owner of two fine farms in Damascus township, one of 121 acres and another of 182 acres, which are under a high state of cultivation and well improved with good buildings.

In September, 1851, Mr. Orr was united in marriage with Miss Eliza McClintock, also a na- tive of Ireland, and a daughter of James and M. (Ralston) McClintock. To our subject and his wife were born three children: James K., who married Belle Curley, and resides in Damascus township; Catherine, wife of James Blair, of the same town- ship ; and John L. (living on the old homestead with our subject), who married Josephine Millks, by whom he had one child. Mrs. Orr departed this life in 1871, at the age of forty years. Although over eighty years of age Mr. Orr is still hale and hearty after years of pioneer life, and bids fair to enjoy the fruits of his labor for many years to come. He is frank and genial in manner, and is in every way a worthy citizen of the land of his adoption. His political support is always given to the men and measures of the Republican party. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian.

CHARLES H. MILLS, coal agent and one of the substantial citizens of Ariel, Wayne county, is a veteran of the Civil war, and refers with pride to the fact that several of his ancestors fought for liberty in the war of the Revolution.

Col. John Mills, our subject's grandfather, was a patriot of the war of the Revolution. He was a polished gentleman, of neat personal appearance, al- ways carrying a pocket mirror in his hat to see that he was "in trim." The maternal grandfather of our subject, too, was a soldier in the war of the Revo- lution, serving as a corporal and sergeant. He was of Scotch descent, and was proud of the name he bore. He reared a large family, and used to say, jokingly, that none were ever in a criminal prison. His descendants, in all their various occupations of life, were of the best class of people in their respect- ive communities.

John Mills, the father of our subject, was born at Old Hadley, in Hampshire county, Mass., where he owned a frame house and about eight acres of land ; he also owned about twelve acres in Hocka- num Meadows, which lay along the Connecticut river, giving him a small interest in the shad fishing waters. The land was a veritable garden spot, and its close proximity to the village made it valuable. He married Hannah Buckman, of Hadley, and in 1814 moved with his family, which was then small, to New York, where he purchased a farm from his brother Edward. Remaining on this until 1820, he moved to Susquehanna county, Penn., and there for a time lived on a rented farm, mak- ing another move, to near Dundaff, where he farmed for a period. In 1823 he settled in the woods on a tract of wild land located three miles west of the present site of Carbondale, Penn., then known as "Ragged Island." This land he purchased, mak-

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ing a clearing and building a small log house into which he at once moved his family, and began the work of clearing and improving a farm. His family by that time had increased to seven in number. Their only neighbor was a man by the name of Nor- ton, who lived one mile distant. The now flourish- ing city of Carbondale was then a place of two log houses. John Mills died in 1840, aged sixty-three years, and his wife in 1846, aged sixty-five years; both were buried in the Carbondale cemetery. They were members of the Baptist Church. Their chil- dren were: (1) Theodore ( deceased) was a farmer of Carbondale township, Luzerne county. (2) Ed- ward ( deceased ) lived in New York City, and there (lied. He was a broker, a man of means, and prom- inent in business circles. He was the first man to contract with the United States Government to carry the mails from this country to Europe, in 1845 con- tracting to make twenty trips per year, and he built several vessels for that purpose. In 1848 he formed a company and started an opposition line of boats to those operating in the Pacific waters to San Francisco. (3) John was drowned at the age of five years. (4) Mary died in infancy. (5) Sam- tiel, a blacksmith by occupation, died at Carbondale, Penn. (6) Abial B., a merchant of New York, died in Washington Heights, N. Y. (7) Dwight, who for years was engaged in railroading, died at Lake Ariel, Penn., December 24, 1894. (8) William was a sailing master in the employ of his brother Ed- ward, on the steamer "Uncle Sam." During the Civil war he was acting master of the United States gunboat "Pembino." (9) Mary J. married Capt. Henry Randall, master of the steamer "Yankee Blade," belonging to Edward Mills. (10) Charles H. is our subject.

Charles H. Mills was born January 22, 1826, in Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county, Penn., and remained on the home farm until a short time after the death of his father, when he went to attend school at the Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Penn. In less than a year thereafter he went to New York, intending to go to work on a vessel for his brother Edward, but on his arrival in that city found the vessel had departed, so he became employed in a grocery store with his brother A. B. Later he em- barked in that line for himself, continuing until 1849, when he disposed of his business. On De- cember 16, 1849, he started on a voyage through the straits of Magellan, and was out one year when he went aboard of a river boat at Panama Bay. For three years he was assistant clerk and general utility man on a steamboat that ran between San Francisco and Sacramento. In 1853 he returned to New York City, taking the position of storekeeper on the steamship "Uncle Sam," of E. Mills' "Inde- pendent Line from Panama to San Francisco," made a second trip through the straits of Magellan, re- maining until 1857 on the Pacific coast. At the expiration of this service he returned to New York, and for two years was engaged in the business of general supplies for vessels. In 1860 he went to

Ariel, Penn., in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Co., as a measurer of lumber, and was so employed for fifteen years, excepting while in the United States service during the Civil war. Since the extension of the Erie & Wyoming railroad to Lake Ariel he has been coal agent at that point. It may be stated here that Mr. Mills is also quite exten- sively engaged in bee culture.

On September 16, 1864, Mr. Mills enlisted in Company M (Capt. Rogers), 15th N. Y. Vol. En- gineers, under command of Col. Wesley Brainerd, and served faithfully until discharged, with the rank of sergeant, June 13, 1865. , He was stationed at City Point, Va., and took part in some of the maneuvers about Petersburg. He is a charter member of George Davenport Post, G. A. R., at Gravity. Mr. Mills is identified with the M. E. Church. He has served his fellow citizens in vari- ous official capacities, among them as school director for eleven years, during six of which he was treas- urer of the board. In politics he is a Republican.

On October 24, 1855, at San Francisco, Cal., our subject was married to Mary A. Crawford, and to their union have come children as follows ; Charles H., Jr., born August 7, 1856, at San Francisco, died January 14, 1860, and was buried in Greenwood cemetery, New York. Frank, born August 25, 1857, married Frances Smith, and is a brakeman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. Myron, born at New York City, February 19, 1859, died January 5, 1860. Isaac, born at Ariel May 26, 1861, married Myrtle Hathaway, and resides at Bairdstown, Wood Co., Ohio. Butler, born Sep- tember 25, 1862, died February 22, 1871, and is buried in Dyberry cemetery. Herbert, born June 19, 1865, died February 21, 1871. Theodore, born Oc- tober 25, 1867, is a captain in service in the New York harbor. L. Agnes, born June 28, 1869, mar- ried A. R. Braunlick, M. D., of New York City, September 3, 1898. Wilfred B., born February 6, 1871, was married July 25, 1898, to Kate S. Kellam ; he is a machinist by trade. The mother of this family was born April 24, 1834, in New York City, a daughter of Isaac and Ann (Fitzgerald) Craw- ford, natives of Yonkers, N. Y., and New York City, respectively. He died October 26, 1835, in New York, aged thirty-two years, and she died in California in 1865. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Charles H. Mills, Silas and Hannah ( Odell) Crawford, were residents of Yonkers, N. Y. He and all his brothers were soldiers in the war of the Revolution.

CALVIN UTTER, a leading blacksmith and prominent business man of Starrucca, Wayne coun- ty, was one of the valiant soldiers of the Civil war, fighting for the country which his grandfather as- sisted in freeing as a soldier of the Revolution. He was born at Harpersfield, Delaware Co., N. Y., in 1843, a son of John and Catherine ( Sawyer) Utter, in whose family were fifteen children, namely: Dan- iel, John, Abigail, Henry, Alfred, Roxy, Mary, Jo-

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seph, Edward, Silas, Sarah, Susan, Calvin, James K. and Benjamin. Of these Alfred was also a Union soldier during the dark days of the Rebellion.

The subject of this sketch spent the first seven- teen years of his life in the county of his nativity, acquiring his education in its public schools, and then went to Susquehanna county, Penn., where he worked at the blacksmith's trade until the Civil war broke out. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, 6th P. R. V. C., with which regiment he served until discharged, September 17, 1862, under a gen- eral order to enlist in Company C, 5th U. S. Artil- lery, for the remainder of his three-years' term. On February 17, 1864, he re-enlisted in the last-named command, remaining in the service until discharged on February 17, 1867. He participated in the battle of Drainesville, the seven days' fight on the Penin- sula, the battle of Cold Harbor, the second battle of Bull Run, and the engagements at South Mountain, Antietam and Gettysburg, followed by the riot in New York City. Later he took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania, the Wilderness, Petersburg and Hatcher's Run. After the surren- der of Lee, the regiment was ordered to Fortress Monroe, where they guarded Rebel officers, and while there often saw Jefferson Davis during his imprisonment. Mr. Utter received his final dis- charge at Fortress Monroe, leaving the army with the rank of sergeant.

On January 1, 1867, Mr. Utter was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Toping, of Elizabeth City, Va., a daughter of Nathaniel and Martha Toping, of that State, and four children have been born to them, namely: Viola V., now the wife of Obid Sampson, of Starrucca; John L., who is de- ceased ; Oddie Garfield, who is engaged in business with his father; and Clarence L.

After his marriage Mr. Utter located at Stevens Point, Susquehanna county, and in 1872 came to Starrucca, Wayne county. He has always engaged successfully in general blacksmithing and wagon making, and being one of the best mechanics in this line in the county, enjoys an excellent trade. Fra- ternally he is a charter member of Oliver Mumford Post, G. A. R., of which he is past commander, and he also affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Honor. His political support is given to the Democratic party, and he has served as constable, overseer of the poor, school director and collector, with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Honor- able and upright in all things, he commands the re- spect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact, either in business or social life.

CHARLES W. BOGERT, one of the leading and highly respected citizens of Paradise town- ship, Monroe county, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., May II, 1854, a son of James S. and Harriet J. Bogert, who were also prominent residents of Para- dise township. The father was born February IO, 1827, a son of Gilbert and Elizabeth Bogert, of

Brooklyn. He married Miss Harriet J. Ray, a native of the same city. There he followed the cooper's trade until January, 1878, when he came to Monroe county, Penn., locating near Swiftwater, in Paradise township, where he is still engaged in agricultural pursuits. Since the organization of the Republican party he has been one of its stanch supporters, and since early life he and his wife have been sincere and devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

To them were born nine children, five sons and four daughters, six of whom are still living, George W., Harriet E. and Carrie having all died in child- hood : (1) Julia S., born in Freehold, N. J., in De- cember, 1856, was educated in the public schools of Brooklyn, N. Y., and married Isaac Whitman, of that city, where they continued to reside for some years. They then came to Monroe county, Penn., on account of his declining health, and here he died leaving his young wife with three children: Charles B., Laura E. and Edwin M. Subsequently she wedded Freeman Heller, of Swiftwater, Mon- roe county, who is now engaged in carpenter work in Paradise township, and to them have been born three children : George C., Maud H. and James B. (2) Frank H., born in New Jersey, in May, 1859, was educated in the schools of New York and Brooklyn, and now resides in Dunmore, Lacka- wanna Co., Penn., where he is in the employ of the Erie & Wyoming Railroad Company. He mar- ried Sarah Hobday, of Pike county, Penn., and they have one son, Frank. (3) Elizabeth F., born in New Jersey, October 5, 1861, was educated in the schools of Brooklyn, and married Andrew L. Rowe, of Paradise township, Monroe county, who is now engaged in lumbering at Gouldsboro, Wayne Co., Penn. They have had three children, Charles and Alva living, and Maud E., who died in child- hood. (4) Arthur J., born in Brooklyn, in Decem- ber, 1865, married Emma Schick, of Monroe coun- ty, and is now engaged in agricultural pursuits near Swiftwater. They have four children: Ethel, George, Edna and Evelyn. (5) William G., born in New Sharon, N. J., in December, 1870, attended school in Brooklyn and also in Monroe county, Penn., and now owns and operates a fine farm in Pocono township, Monroe county. He married Miss Lydia, daughter of Peter Heller, of the same coun- ty, and they have three sons: H. Sterling, Harry E. and Leon.

Charles W. Bogert, the eldest of the family, was principally educated in the schools of Brook- lyn and New York City, where he grew to man- hood. When a boy he entered the employ of J. B. Spelman & Son, wholesale dealers in fancy goods, remaining with that firm as clerk for thir- teen years. The following two years he was gen- eral buyer of fancy goods for Butler Pitkin & Co., and in 1882 became connected with Levi Brothers' importing house, where he remained for four years. Subsequently he was wholesale buyer for the whole- sale firm of F. G. Ferris & Co.

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In December, 1877, Mr. Bogert married Miss Nettie J. Casper, of Brooklyn, the accomplished daughter of Bernard and Alida Casper, of that city, both of whom were born in Rotterdam, Holland, and when young came to New York, where they were married. Mr. Casper was for many years a prominent architect and builder, and became quite wealthy, so that he is now able to spend his declin- ing years in ease and retirement. Ilis wife died in 1870, leaving three daughters: Nettie J., who was born in Brooklyn, in June, 1857, received a good education, and is now the wife of our subject; Alida E. and Delia are still with their father in Brooklyn. The last named was born in that city in 1863, and is a well educated lady. Mr. and Mrs. Bogert have three children: (1) Charles W., Jr., born in Brooklyn, December 16, 1879, was partly educated in the schools of that city, and was for a time a student at Stroudsburg, Penn. He is a bright, scholarly young man, now residing at home, and is foreman of the Monroe property belonging to a MIr. Broas, of New York. He is a young man of steady habits, and is well spoken of by his employers. (2) A. Casper, born in Brooklyn, April 24, 1881, began his education in the schools of that city, later attended the high schools of Stroudsburg, and still later a school at Dansville, N. Y. He now holds a first-class teacher's certificate, and is one of the successful and popular teachers of Monroe county. (3) Hattie M., born in Lakeview, N. J., September 1, 1883, was a student for a time in the schools of Brooklyn, and is now attending the home schools, being well advanced in her studies.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 185

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