Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 19

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 19
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 19
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 19
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 19

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Our subject was born September 4, 1846, in Monroe county, and was educated in the district schools near his home and in the high school at Water Gap. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in East Stroudsburg and vicinity for some eighteen years, after which he became connected with a tannery in that locality. Later he purchased an interest in his present lumber business, which was continued for a time under the firm name of Rhodes & Hoffman before the title of the East Stroudsburg Lumber Co. was adopted. They own a large planing-mill at East Stroudsburg, and con-, duct an extensive business, Judge Hoffman's energy and acumen being leading factors in their success. He has always been an ardent Republican in political sentiment, and has frequently been chosen to local offices, including those of borough assessor, school director, city councilman, and mayor, serving two terms in the last named incumbency. In 1897 he . was nominated by the Republican party in Monroe county as associate judge, and elected, taking his seat January 1, 1898. Socially he and his family are prominent, and he is identified with the I. O. O. F. and the B. P. O. E.

On October 24, 1870, Mr. Hoffman married Miss Emeline Kautz, who was born in 1849 in Smithfield township, Monroe county, and four chil- dren have blessed the union: Nettie B., Lulu, Ida E. (who died at the age of two years and six months ), and Graydon D. Nettie B. is the wife of Prof. A. D. Wanamaker, a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster Co., Penn., who is at present engaged in teaching at Portland, Northamp- ton county, this State.

Mrs. Hoffman's father, George Kautz, was born in Germany, son of Abraham and Maria Kautz, who had a family of six children: Henry, John, Valer- tine, George, Martin and Mary. They came to America when George was ten years old, settling on the farm in Smithfield township, Monroe Co., Penn., where Mrs. Hoffman was born ; this land is now owned by our subject. George Kautz was a carpenter by trade, and later in life engaged in farming. He married Margaret Custard, who was

a native of Bushkill, Pike county, and fourteen chil- dren were born to this union, namely: Emeline, Marcellus, Benjamin, Charles, Lewis, Cornelia, Isa- dora, Ella, Mary, Carrie, Alice, Sallie, Willmer, and one that died in infancy. The father passed away February 2, 1880, and the family then removed to New Haven, Conn., where the mother died in 1896.

WRIGHT. Since early in the nineteenth century-a little less than one hundred years-the Wrights have played a conspicuous part in the his- tory of Susquehanna county, among the several generations covering that period, beginning with Chauncey Wright, the pioneer settler of this branch of the family in the county. Such men as the late Chester and Seth R. Wright, brothers, and the sons of the former, the late Hon. Myron B. Wright, three times elected to the United States Congress, and the Hon. Charles Fred Wright, now a member of that body from this, the Fifteenth District, are worthy the inheritance of their sturdy New England ancestry.

Hon. Myron B. Wright and Hon. Charles F. Wright, the former late of Susquehanna, which place is now the residence of the latter, are in the fifth generation from Seth B. Wright of Lebanon, Conn., the line of their descent being through Seth Wright, Chauncey Wright, and Chester Wright.

Seth Wright, son of Seth B. Wright, a native of Connecticut, married (first) in 1777, Miriam, daughter of Ephraim and Miriam Wright, of Northampton, Mass. She died in 1803, and he married (second) - he married (third) Widow Bates, who survived him, dying in 1822. His children born to the first marriage were: Eras- tus, Sally, Lucina, Merilla, Chester, Merilla (2), Chauncey, Moses, Milton, Henry, Clark, and Miles. His children by the second marriage were: Miriam, Lydia, and Polly. In about 1801 Mr. Wright removed from Sharon, Conn., to Hartwick, Otsego Co., N. Y., which was afterwards his home.

Chauncey Wright, son of Seth Wright, born in 1791, at Sharon, Conn., removed with his father's family in about 1801 to Hartwick, Otsego Co., N. Y. In 1815, when a young man of twenty-four, he came to Susquehanna county, Penn., purchased land in Choconut, and built a fulling-mill on the branch of the creek by the same name, and there engaged in the business of cloth-dressing. In 1802 he returned to his former home in New York, and was there married to Jerusha, born in Lisbon, Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1798, daughter of Timothy and Lydia (Kingsley) Rockwell. After marriage the young couple came to the Choconut home, the husband resuming work on the farm and his cloth- dressing business. Mr. Wright here continued his operations successfully for many years, when he was succeeded by one of his sons. The father in 1842 re- moved to a tract of 150 acres of land in Forest Lake township, and near the village. This tract of land included a mill site, there having been a gristmill there since 1829. He made extensive improve-

ay to 6.

t, is, er

e, a- nd

e d 1

n S

1. e d e e 2 d 1 y e e -

re 1, f e ) 2. 1, d

th he IS- al th

re id

CHESTER WRIGHT

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ments about the place, building a new dwelling- house in 1843; in 1846 he re-built the mill, and carried on the business until along in the latter part of the 'sixties, and in this business as in the old fulling-mill he was succeeded by some of his sons. He lived a long, busy and useful life as well as a successful one, and he and his good wife ever held the esteem and respect of the communities in which they lived. They were members of the Congregational Church at Choconut, and were liberal supporters to both Church and all worthy ob- jects. Mr. Wright gave liberally toward the build- ing of the Baptist church in Forest Lake, which was his Church home after the family's removal to that point. In his political views Mr. Wright was first a Whig. He became an ardent anti-slav- ery man, voting alone as an Abolitionist. He was a candidate on that ticket at one time for the State Legislature. He served for upward of a decade as a justice of the peace in Choconut. On the organi- zation of the Republican party he became one of its stanchest supporters. He was a strong advocate of temperance throughout life. He and his wife had children as follows :

(I) Chester Wright is mentioned farther on. (2) Lydia Wright, born in 1820, was married (first) to Philip Peckins, who was a member of Company F, 14Ist P. V. I., in the Civil war, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. She was married (second) to Ralph S. Birchard, of Jessup township, now deceased. (3) Lucina Wright, born in 1823, was married to Thomas D. Wright, and resided at Hartwick, N. Y. She died in 1850. (4) Matilda Wright, born in 1827, died in 1884, un- married. (5) Helen M. Wright, born in 1829, died in 1861, unmarried. (6) Seth R. Wright, born in 1835, was married in 1864 to Emma A., daughter of Deacon L. M. Turrell, of Forest Lake, of which place he is a resident. (7) Miss Sarah M. Wright, born in 1837. (8) Miriam J. Wright, born in 1841, was married to George A. Guerney, cashier of a bank at Canton, Pennsylvania.

(9) CHESTER WRIGHT, son of Chauncey Wright, and the father of Hon. Charles Fred Wright, was born August 25, 1818, at the Wright homestead in Choconut, Penn., where he was reared to agricultural pursuits and to the cloth- dressing business under his father's tuition. On reaching his majority, in 1839, he succeeded to the business in that line established by his father, and conducted the same at that point until in 1842. He then removed to Forest Lake, erected a fulling-mill at that point, and continued in the same line of business there, adding a few years later machinery for wool carding. In 1868 Mr. Wright, associated with his brother Seth R. Wright and W. A. South- well, equipped the plant for the manufacture of cloth, continuing the business successfully under the firm name of Wright Brothers until 1876. In 1876 Seth R. Wright retired from the firm and it became Wright & Southwell. The business was carried on by the partnership until 1884, in which

year the factory was destroyed by fire and the firm was dissolved. In 1868 the two Wright brothers succeeded their father (as stated in the foregoing) to the gristmill property, which they operated for a period, and it then went into the hands of Myron B. and Chester F. Wright, sons of Chester Wright. Chester Wright also owned a farm which he culti- vated for a half-century. Politically Mr. Wright was a stanch Republican. He served his town in various offices, among them those of justice of the peace and school director. He was identified with the Forest Lake Baptist Church. He held the esteem and respect of the community in which he lived. He died July 16, 1896.

Mr. Wright was married (first), in 1843, to Julia Nickerson, of Forest Lake, who was born in 1821, and died in 1883, and (second) to Ruth S. Birchard. His children, all born to the first marriage were: Ellen E., born in 1845, married W. A. South- well, of Forest Lake, who served in the Civil war in Company H, 143rd P. V. I., later as captain of a company of United States colored troops, and who for three years from 1884 was treasurer of Susquehanna county ; Myron B. (now deceased), born in 1847, is referred to farther on; Henrietta L., born in 1851, married Benjamin T. Glidden, a merchant of Forest Lake; and Charles F., born in 1856, is also referred to farther on.

Hon. Myron B. Wright, son of Chester Wright, was born June 12, 1847, in Forest Lake, Penn., and in the public schools of the village re- ceived the rudiments of his education, pursuing his studies further at the Montrose Academy. He be- gan his career as a teacher, but after a few months' service discontinued work in this line to accept a position in the First National Bank of Susque- hanna. In 1869 he succeeded George A. Guerney, as cashier of the bank, a position he ever after- ward held. In the bank he had an opportunity to display his rare genius for finance, his enterprise and ability gaining him a wide reputation. He became one of the leading stockholders of the bank, and invested in many other enterprises which proved to be of permanent advantage to the locality in the development of its resources. For many years this bank has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the soundest financial institutions in northern Pennsylvania, having up to some years ago never lost a dollar on any loan negotiated since its or- ganization. For many years Mr. Wright was presi- dent of the Oakland Bridge Co., and in 1880 he helped to organize the Susquehanna Chemical Co., for the manufacture of wood alcohol, from which he and his associates derived large profits. They erected large works at Starrucca, Penn., of which for years Mr. Wright was the business manager. He was one of the original owners of and largely interested in the Jefferson Chemical Co., and the Lackawanna Chemical Co., at Ararat, Penn. He was also interested in the Melrose Acetate Co., of Melrose, Penn., and Wayne Chemical Co., at Equinunk, Penn. In the spring of 1888, Mr.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Wright was made the nominee of the Republican party, at Scranton, to represent the Fifteenth Dis- trict in Congress. One of the papers of Susque- hanna county, commenting on the nomination, said : "His career in life has been one of splendid suc- cess, and his keen business qualifications are uni- versally recognized. But Mr. Wright is some- thing more than a successful business man. Liber- ally educated, and taking a deep interest in the af- fairs of State and Nation, he is thoroughly in- formed on all matters and issues entering into na- tional politics and which concern the country. Mr. Wright belongs to the class of Republicans who believe in the correctness of the principles, meas- tres, and general policy of the party ; he belongs to the courageous class of Republicans who refuse to yield anything to mere expediency. He believes that the welfare of the country depends upon the application of the principles of the Republican party in the affairs of the government. He is an uncom- promising Protectionist, and is abreast with the foremost and most progressive of the defenders of American labor and enterprise against the en- croachment's of Free trade and foreign competi- tion. Mr. Wright represents the advanced and en- lightened sentiment of the great majority of the people of the Fifteenth Congressional District, and will faithfully represent that sentiment of his con- stituency in the LIst Congress."

In November following Mr. Wright was elect- ed, his majority in Susquehanna county being 2,- 400. He was re-nominated and re-elected to Con- gress in 1890 and again in 1894. Of his services in Congress the Independent Republican of Mont- rose of October 13, 1894, editorially said: "While Mr. Wright has not figured conspicuously in the debates of the House as an elaborate speaker, he has been prominent among those who constitute the earnest workers in committee in formulating legislation, and few among the members of the minority side of the chamber wield a greater person- al influence among their colleagues of all parties than does Mr. Wright. Among his constituents in each of the four counties of the district Mr. Wright has been constantly growing in popularity since his first election. This is due wholly to the painstak- ing care and industry with which he has devoted himself to every interest of the people. He is in the very best sense of the term a representative. As a Republican he has by every word and vote in the House upheld the principles and supported the policy of his party.'

Mr. Wright died November 13, 1894, on which occasion appeared a long editorial in the Independ- ent Republican of Montrose from which we extract the following :

A more generous-hearted man never lived, nor a more just, faithful or honorable one. Every trust confided to him was performed with conscientious fidelity; those who knew him best loved him most. In his friendships he was as true as steel, steadfast and unfailing in every emergency. As compared with the average man in political life he was al- most god-like in his adherence to truth, honor and good faith.

He was never known to make a promise that he did not sa- credly redeem, no pledge that he did not manfully fulfill. The people of this Congressional District honored and loved him. The unusual honor of a fourth election to Congress had been conferred upon him just before his death. All oppositions had vanished, and his last nomination came to him as voluntary and unanimous offering from his party in each of the four counties comprising the Fifth Congressional District. His election on the 6th inst. was followed by a larger majority than ever. Such a tribute is rarely con- ferred upon a public man, and even more rarely deserved in so large a measure as in the case of Myron B. Wright. As a representative in Congress he developed qualities that surprised even his warmest friends and most ardent admir- ers. He grasped questions of National proportions and mo- ment with the comprehensive understanding of the trained publicist and statesman, and almost from the very beginning of his public career. Had he possessed the gift of oratory he would have easily taken a position among the foremost men in the halls of the National Legislature. That this is no exaggeration of Myron B. Wright's abilities in the domain of statesmanship was abundantly demonstrated in his fa- mous letter to the committee of Louisiana planters in re- sponse for his support in behalf of the great industry of their State. He was wise in the councils of his party, un- bounded in his patriotic devotions to the interests of the community, and untiring in his effort for the welfare of the American people. Myron B. Wright was a man of intel- lect, of conscience, and of heart. He despised everything that savored of measures or falsehoods. His bearing in every walk of life was that of genuine, unassuming exemplary gentlemen. His methods were those of the frank, noble, truthful and honorable man. Well may those who have known such a man as Myron B. Wright bow their heads in deepest sorrow when he passes away. Men of his stamp are, alas, too rare, in these days, especially in public life. When men possessed of so many grand and noble qualities, and marred by so few blemishes of character, pass from the scenes of active life to the silence of the grave, well may the people mourn and marvel at the inscrutable ways of Providence. Cut off in the vigor of his matured manhood, in the days of his greatest usefulness, Myron B. Wright will be mourned as few men in this section of the country would be. He needs no other epitaph than this: "He was a manly man."

On September 28, 1870, Mr. Wright was mar- ried to Mary E., born May 14, 1849, in Jersey City, N. J., daughter of Hon. Samuel and Abby A. (Hedden) Falkenbury, and the union was blessed with four children, namely : Sarah E., born in 1872, and died in 1874; Albert H., born in 1876, and died in 1894, the funeral of father and son occurring at the same time; Clarence E., born in 1882; and Chester S., born in 1887 and died in 1888.

HON. CHARLES FRED WRIGHT, of Susquehan- na, son of the late Chester Wright, of Forest Lake, and brother of the late Hon. Myron B. Wright, of Susquehanna, was born in 1856, at Forest Lake, Penn. After attending the district schools of his native town, and assisting in the work of the farm, he went to Montrose and entered the Montrose Academy. He is spoken of as very bright and studious in those early days, and was a general. favorite with both his tutors and his fellow stu- dents. On the organization of the First National Bank of Montrose, in 1875, Mr. Wright assumed the responsible position of teller in that institu- tion, where he won the confidence and esteem of all who came in business contact with him, and in the performance of his duties he displayed the same splendid ability which has since marked his career. In 1881 Mr. Wright removed to Susquehanna and

CÂUright

jal

İL1- all

1 t sa-

ved ght. that buir -

mo- ned

tory post 15 15

fa- re-

un- the the tel - ung

lary

ave s in

are, hen and nes

ple nice. his ł as eds

ied ing nd

an-

ar- ity, A. sed 72,

of ke, his

se nd ral

oved ress All e to

con-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

became a stockholder in and the general manager of the Jefferson Chemical Co., and the Lackawanna Chemical Co., the factories of both companies being located in Ararat township, Susquehanna county. He also became one of the owners and the general manager of the Wayne Chemical Co., the works of which were at Equinunk, Penn. In 1884, Mr. Wright was made assistant cashier in the First National Bank of Susquehanna, with which his brother, the lamented Myron B. Wright, was for so long a time prominently identified, and since his brother's death he has been the cashier of the bank. Mr. Wright is also largely interested in acid manu- facturing in various parts of the country. In busi- ness ability and integrity, public spirit and enter- prise, general traits and disposition, Mr. Wright possesses those same characteristics which so en- deared the late M. B. Wright to the people of Sus- quehanna county and this Congressional district. In the convention to nominate a successor in Con- gress to the Hon. Myron B. Wright. Charles F. Wright was the unanimous choice of Susquehanna county for that position. The conference decided upon another; but Mr. Wright continued to in- crease in popularity throughout the district, and in the spring of 1898 he was again nominated for that high honor, by the citizens of Susquehanna county, and at the conference in August was chosen the nominee of the district, his election following in November by the plurality in the district of 5,- 3II. The Montrose Independent Republican at that time said: "To such voters of the district as may not be personally acquainted with Mr. Wright we can but say that we, of his home county, know him and that right well, and shall delight in honor- ing him for we know that in his public life, as in his private, he will be an honor to his friends, his county, and to the Fifth District. Mr. Wright was born and spent the early years of his life upon his father's farm, receiving his education in our common schools, entered upon his business life at an early age, and by his force of character, splendid abilities and absolute honesty has attained gratify- ing succcess, and won the esteem and admiration of all whose privilege it is to know him. He is an ad- mirable Congressman, whose first thought will be for the interest of his constituents, and whose time will be ever at their command."

DAVID PATTERSON, a well-known resident of Salem township, Wayne county, whose early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, com- menced life without other capital than his strong hands and resolute will, and has attained a fine po- sition, socially and financially, among his fellow citizens. His homestead, one of the most noticeable in the township, embraces a fertile tract of 150 acres of land, about half of which is now under cultivation.

Our subject's parents, David and Jane (Ber- nette ) Patterson, were both natives of County Ty- rone, Ireland, where their children were also born.

On coming to America they located in New York State, and with the exception of our subject all are now deceased. Jane, the eldest of the children, was married, in Ireland, to Thomas McMullen, and in this country made her home at Scranton, Penn. Mary was married, in Newport, R. I., to John Eg- gleston. Sarah was the wife of James Finley. Ellen was twice married, first to Adam Becker and later to Daniel Martin. William purchased a farm in Salem township, Wayne Co., Penn., where he mar- ried first Ann Henry, now deceased, and second Agnes Reed, who survives him. Robert came from New York State to Wayne county, and married Jane Henry ; he and his family removed to Ne- braska, where his death occurred.

David Patterson, of this review, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1828, and with his par- ents emigrated to America when about nineteen years of age. His education was all acquired in his native land. His first work in this country was on the coal docks at Rondout, Ulster Co., N. Y., where he was employed two years, and the following three years worked in a tannery at Ledgedale, Salem town- ship, Wayne Co., Penn. He then began business for himself as a lumberman and bark dealer, and purchased 150 acres of wood land in the central part of Salem township, on which he has since made his home. He has erected a fine residence and con- venient barns and outbuildings upon the place.

In 1858, in Salem township, Mr. Patterson was married to Miss Ellen Utt, Rev. Raymond, a Presbyterian minister, performing the ceremony. Her parents, Eli and Eliza (Landers) Utt, were natives of Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., Penn., and in their family were the following children: Marietta, born February 3, 1822, is the deceased wife of John R. Compton, of Palmyra township, Wayne coun- ty ; William, born February 8, 1825, is a resident of Paupack township, Wayne county; Melissa, born May 25, 1827, died at White Mills, Penn. ; Charles, born September 30, 1829, is deceased; Ira, born June 9, 1832, is living at Jermyn, Lackawanna Co., Penn .; Jefferson, born April 26, 1834, was a res- ident of Los Angeles, Cal., but is now deceased ; Eliza, born June 18, 1836, is the wife of Ira Bidwell, of Dunmore, Penn .; Ronessa, born February 7, 1838, is the widow of Myron Purdy, of Paupack township, Wayne county ; Ellen, born August 5, 1839, is the wife of our subject; and Theodore, born July 19, 1841, lives at Olyphant, Pennsylvania.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are as follows: Robert E., born April 9, 1859, died November 13, 1889; William L., born January 30, 1861, married Rosa Gerhart, by whom he has three children, Ella, Walter and Theodore, and they re- side at Morris Run, Tioga Co., Penn .; Theodore S., born November 9, 1862, is engaged in lumbering in Tioga county ; Ardeen N., born October 12, 1864, married Hattie Walker, by whom he has five chil- dren, Roy, Ruth, Earl, Carl and Leland. David D., born July 2, 1866, married Ella M. Carlton and has one child, Minnie; they reside in Dunmore, Penn.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Joseph, born August II, 1868, died February 20, 1894. Minnie, born March 20, 1870, is at home. George W., born September 16, 1872, is a carpenter in Scranton, Penn. Lizzie L., born December 1, 1875, married Louis J. Schulz and they reside in Pittsburg, Penn. Horten N., born July 14, 1877, is at home. Maggie, born March 5, 1879, died at the age of two years. Ella M., born November 10, 1880, is at home.

During the Civil war Mr. Patterson enlisted in Company D, 179th P. V. I., for nine months, and on the expiration of that term re-enlisted, serving until honorably discharged at the close of the war. Po- litically he is identified with the Republican party ; in religious connection, he belonged to the Presby- terian Church in Ireland. In all the relations of life he has proved himself an earnest, honest, up- right man, and a citizen of whom any community might be justly proud.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 19

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