Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 195

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 195
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 195
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 195
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 195

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).

HORACE O. PECK. In this well-known citizen of Brandt, Susquehanna county, we find a typical business man, shrewd, yet honorable in all his dealings, and winning popular esteem by his sterling qualities of character. Since locating in Brandt, more than a quarter of a century ago, Mr. Peck has been connected with nearly every im- portant enterprise begun there, and his sound judg- ment is appreciated by his business associates in all lines.

The Peck family is well known in this country, our subject's ancestors having come from England at an early period to settle in Connecticut. Amos Peck, our subject's grandfather, was born and reared in Wallingford, Conn., and married Sybil Parker, also a native of that State. They made their permanent home at Jewett, Greene Co., N. Y .. clearing and improving wild land. This worthy couple had a large family of children who lived to maturity. (I) Levi married and settled in Jewett, where he died. (2) Orin, deceased, married and settled on a farm in Delaware county, N. Y. (3) Munson, born in Jewett, married and located on a farm in Massachusetts, where he died, leaving a daughter, Emily, now the wife of Lieut. Dicker- man, residing near Rockford, Ill. (4) Charles, our subject's father, is mentioned more fully be- low. (5) Mary married Nathaniel Hull, of Con- necticut, later of Jewett, N. Y., where she died, leav- ing no family. (6) Lydia married Alfred Peck, of Jewett, where they resided for a time, but later

Av.Peck

829

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

they removed to Great Barrington, Mass., where he followed mercantile pursuits for many years. She died in 1896, leaving two daughters, Mary, wife of J. H. Tuller, and Bell, wife of John Boyd, of Waterbury, Connecticut.

Charles Peck, our subject's father, was born in 18II, in Wallingford, Conn., but his youth was spent mainly in New York State, his education be- ing secured in the schools of Jewett. For many years he was engaged in farming in that locality, his death occurring in 1881. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and his popu- larity among his fellow townsmen was shown by his frequent election to local offices. He married Miss Stata Coe, who was born in 1810 at Jewett, N. Y., and died in 1874. Both were devout mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and their family was reared in that faith. Of their seven children our subject was the youngest, and all were born and reared at Jewett. (1) Oliver, born June 21, 1836, settled upon a farm at Jewett, where he died in 1891. He married Miss Luann Barclay, of Jew- ett, and had four children-Lyman, a resident of Waterbury, Conn .; Charles, now a resident of Jew- ett, N. Y .; Louise, wife of Edward Haines, of Hensonville, Greene Co., N. Y .; and Lottie, wife of a Mr. Lane, of Ulster county, N. Y. (2) Lyman, born May 13, 1838, enlisted in the 120th New York Regiment during the Civil war, being mus- tered into the service in August, 1862, and was as .. signed to the Army of the Potomac. He was in all the battles of his command; at Fredericksburg he was taken sick, and his death occurred in a hospital at Falmouth, Va., January 14, 1863. He was held in high esteem among a large circle of friends. He was unmarried. (3) George W., born July 25, 1840, enlisted in November, 1861, in the goth New York Regiment, and sailed from Governor's Island to Key West, Fla., where he died of yellow fever, his early death cutting short a promising career. He was not married. (4) Kate, born February 12, 1843, married Newell Morse, a farmer in Greene county, who died leaving three children, Archie, Bell and Edward, all at home with their mother. (5) Maria, born December 1, 1845, married George Rice, of Jewett, where they now reside; he was a member of the 120th New York Regiment, and served during the Civil war. They have a family of six children, William, John, Kitty, Annie, Bes- sie and Arthur. (6) Brainard, born November 4, 1848, married Miss Sarah Jones, and now resides on his father's old homestead in Jewett. He has five children-Frank, who married Nettie and settled at Old Forge, in the Adirondack Moun- tains; and Raymond, Bertha, Harry and Allen, at home.

Our subject was born July 23, 1852, at the old homestead at Jewett, and when a boy he attended the academy at that place. He also took a course in the academy at Kingston, N. Y., and for some time was successfully engaged in teaching in the district schools of Greene county. There he be-

came a clerk in the store of George Chase, of Jew- ett, remaining two years, and in 1872 he removed to Brandt, Susquehanna county, where he engaged as clerk for a time with Henry W. Brandt. In 1875 he was appointed station agent at Brandts, on the Jefferson Branch railroad, which position he held fifteen years, and during that time, in company with W. S. Brandt and Andrew Blank, he engaged in the quarrying of stone and the manufacture of brick, which he has since continued. In 1895 they formed a stock company, of which Mr. Peck is secretary and treasurer, and they employ about seventy-five men. They have erected a large plant, and make a specialty of manufacturing a high grade of red brick, which they ship all over the country. Mr. Peck is also interested in the manufacture of a popular line of chairs, and is a stockholder in the American Chair Manufacturing Co., having a plant at Brandt. In 1893 he engaged in the mer- cantile trade near the brick works, where there is now a large trade. Politically Mr. Peck has al- ways been identified with the Republican party ; he has held the office of school director and treasurer of Harmony township, and is a justice of the peace for his town at the present time. He was a dele- gate to the State convention in 1899, and is a mem- ber of the county central committee. He and his wife are leading members of the Presbyterian Church at Brandt, in which he has been elder for several years.

In 1875 Mr. Peck married Miss Emma Davis, daughter of Peter and Anne Davis, well-known residents of Flat Bush, N. Y. Her ancestors set- tled in the Hudson Valley at an early day, and in the maternal line she is of Holland-Dutch de- scent. She was educated at the Kingston Acad- emy, where Mr. Peck met her, and for several years previous to their marriage she was a teacher in the public schools of Ulster county, New York. Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Peck have resided in a pleasant home at Brandt, and their union has been blessed with six children. (I) May, born at Brandt May 24, 1876, is a graduate of the Keystone Academy at Factoryville, and is now engaged as instructor in music in that institution, being especially gifted as a musician. (2) Martha, born February 17, 1879, is a graduate of the Lanesboro and West Chester Normal schools, and is a schol- arly young lady. (3) Sybil, born February 23, 1884, is now a student in the Lanesboro schools. (4) Clarence, born February 10, 1886, is a student in the home schools. (5) Theodore, born Decem- ber 26, 1889, and (6) Anna, born May 7, 1894, are attending the local schools.

GEORGE R. BELL is a representative and prominent business man of Salem township, Wayne county, who is now successfully engaged in con- tracting and building. His entire life has been passed in Wayne county, and he belongs to one of its highly-respected and honored families. His grandfather, Russell Bell, was a native of Con-

8:30

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

nectient, where he grew to manhood and married, and there engaged in farming for many years, but finally came to Wayne county, Penn., where he spent his last days.

Horace Bell, the father of our subject, was also born in the Nutmeg State, and after reaching man's estate was employed in a stone quarry there for several years. After coming to Pennsylvania he wedded Miss Mary, a daughter of Anson Goodrich, and they became the parents of five children, namely : Fred, a hardware dealer at Carbondale, Penn. ; Ilat- tic, wife of Delavan Woodward, of llonesdale, Wayne county; Addie, wife of James Swingle, of Lake township, same county ; George R., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Charles, who is living in the West. The parents came to Wayne county in 1837, and the father purchased land in Salem town- ship, near Arlington, upon which they lived for ten years. On selling that property he bought land in the northern part of the same township, the farm on which our subject now resides. He died January II, 1886, honored and respected by all who knew him.

In Salem township, Wayne county, George R. Bell was born February 11, 1857, and his early edu- cation, obtained in the common schools of the lo- cality, was supplemented by a course in the graded schools of Prompton. At the age of twenty-three years he commenced farming on his own account, following that occupation steadily for twelve years, when he turned his attention to carpentering, and for the past five years he has been a contractor and builder, taking contracts for summer cottages at Lake Ariel, Wayne county. He owns a lot at that place, on which he has erected a cottage, and also has a fine farm of ninety-three acres, much of which is under a high state of cultivation.

On October 1, 1878, in Lake township, Wayne county, Mr. Bell was married, by Rev. George M. Peck, to Miss Mary Swingle, who was born March 20, 1859, a daughter of Enos and Elizabeth ( Fow- ler) Swingle. She is the eldest in a family of three children, the others being Rosie, now the wife of Miles Keesler, of Chapmantown; and Katie, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have three chil- dren, whose names and dates of birth are as follows : Blanche, September 13, 1882; Homer, January II, 1887; and Spencer, May 26, 1895. Politically, Mr. Bell is identified with the Democratic party, and he has served his fellow citizens as a member of the election board. As a business man he is progres- sive, upright and reliable, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact, either in business or social life. He holds member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife belongs to the Christian Church.

CHARLES M. LOW, who for over twenty years has been prominently identified with the in- dustrial and agricultural interests of Greene town- ship, Pike county, operating what was known as Low's mills, was born in Gelatt, Susquehanna Co.,

Penn., November 9, 1831, a son of John and Eliza (Barnes) Low, the former a native of Delaware county, N. Y., the latter of Connecticut.

Early in the nineteenth century the father re- moved with his parents to Susquehanna county, Penn., where he carried on operations as a farmer and lumberman throughout his active business life, becoming one of the prominent citizens of his com- munity. He died September 6, 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years, six months and six days, his wife in March, 1885, at the age of seventy-five years, and the remains of both were interred in the Gelatt bury- ing ground, Susquehanna county. Their children were: Charles M., the subject of this review; Eli, who married Calfernia Dix, and is engaged in farm- ing in Susquehanna ; and Diantha, wife of Danford Hines, a farmer of Susquehanna county ..

Upon the home farm in Gibson township, Sus- quehanna county, Charles M. Low grew to manhood, remaining with his parents until he attained the age of twenty-seven. From the age of sixteen to twenty years he attended the Harford University and in 1854 commenced teaching school in Clinton town- ship, Wayne Co., Penn., successfully following that profession at intervals for fifteen years, during which time he had charge of a school at Kellersville, Monroe Co., Penn., for ten years. Agricultural pursuits also claimed a part of his attention, and he began farming in Hamilton, Monroe county, in 1858. From 1862 until 1868 he engaged in the manufacture of coarse woolen goods, but in the spring of 1877 he came to Greene township, Pike county, and located upon his present farm, purchas- ing 600 acres of land, most of which was still in its primitive condition. Upon the place was an old water mill, and during the fall season he engaged in the manufacture of lumber until a few years ago, carrying on business quite extensively along that line. He has now disposed of all his land with the exception of 127 acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings, and now gives his entire time and atten- tion to general farming.

In Kellersville, Monroe Co., Penn., May 5, 1857, Mr. Low was united in marriage with Miss Rachel S. Keller, who was born in that place, February I, 1830, a daughter of John and Sarah ( Trach) Keller, prominent citizens of Kellersville, which was named in honor of her grandfather. Her grandparents were John G. and Rachel (Diltz) Keller, the former a native of Monroe county, Penn., and the latter of New Jersey. The grandfather was one of the wealthy and influential men of his community, and the family was one of prominence in business and social life. Mrs. Low's father, who was a manu- facturer of woolen goods, died in Kellersville, in 1854, aged fifty-nine years, and her mother passed away at the same place on December 26, 1872, the remains of both being interred in Mt. Zion cemetery. In their family were ten children, namely : John G., who died at the age of two years; David, who died in 1896 at the age of seventy-six; Rudolph, a re-

831

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tired farmer, of Iowa, who married Eliza Reece; Mary M., who married Peter William, and both are now deceased ; Andrew, who married Eliza Wallace, and is a retired pensioner of Stroudsburg, Penn .; Jacob, deceased; Julian, who first married Joseph Dech, and after his death wedded Anthony George ; Rachel S., wife of our subject ; Sarah A., wife of Dr. Roger J. Levering, a physician of Kellersville, and another son, John, who died April 6, 1832.

To Mr. and Mrs. Low have been born four chil- dren: (1) John W., the eldest, died in infancy. (2) Edward F. married Minnie Kramer, and is rep- resented elsewhere. (3) Alice O. is the wife of Edward Freeland, a machinist of East Stroudsburg, Penn. (4) Frederick C. is a successful young phy- sician and surgeon of Philadelphia, with office at No. 1336 Locust street. His early education, ac- quired in the common schools, was supplemented by a course at the Keystone State Normal School, which he entered at the age of sixteen years, and in 1889 he matriculated at the University of Pennsyl- vania, from which he graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1894. Being thus well fitted for his chosen profession he returned home, and after spending a few months with his parents he opened an office in Philadelphia. However, he engaged in practice at High Bridge, N. J., from September, 1896, until September, 1897, since when he has returned to Phila- delphia, where he has already met with fair success. He is a progressive member of his profession, keep- ing fully abreast with the latest discoveries and the- ories by his perusal of medical journals.

Although an ardent Republican in politics, Mr. Low has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. For the past twenty-five years he has been an earnest and consistent member of the Lutheran Church, is liberal with his means almost to a fault, and his life has ever been such as to com- mand for him the confidence and esteem of the entire community in which he has cast his lot.

JACOB J. GREENAMOYER, a prominent and influential farmer citizen living near the vil- lage of Brodheadsville, has spent his entire life in Monroe county, having been born in Chestnut Hill township, August 29, 1837.

Jacob and Elizabeth (Arnold) Greenamoyer, his parents, were natives of Berks and Monroe counties, respectively, but when only three years old the former came to Monroe county with his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Weiss) Green- amoyer, who spent their last years as farming peo- ple in Chestnut Hill township. The family is of Holland descent, and the name was originally spelled Greenemyer. The father of our subject also adopted farming as a life work, and success- fully followed his chosen occupation in Chestnut Hill township. He died in 1889, aged eighty-two years, and his wife passed away in 1895, aged eighty-five, the remains of both being interred in Brodheadsville cemetery. They held membership in the Reformed Church, and were highly respected

by all who knew them: In their family were three children : Margaret, wife of Harrison Snyder, a carpenter of Tiffin, Ohio; Daniel, who is living with our subject; and Jacob J., of this review.

Until seventeen years of age Jacob J. Green- amoyer assisted in the work of the home farm, and pursued his studies in the local schools. He then served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, which he followed in connection with lumbering until 1862, when he enlisted in Compauy F, 176th P. V. I., under Capt. Joseph Nicholas. During his service he was mostly engaged in guard duty and in building forts, etc., in South Carolina. Fortunately he was never wounded, and at Phila- delphia he was honorably discharged in August, 1863. On his return home he devoted his ener- gies to agricultural pursuits for some years, but has now laid aside business cares, and is en- joying a well-earned rest, surrounded by all the comforts which make life worth the living.

At Brodheadsville, Mr. Greenamoyer was married, April 22, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Kunkle, who was born February 18, 1840,in Polk township, Monroe county, where her parents, Peter and Su- sannah (Kresge) Kunkle, spent their entire lives, the former dying in 1858, at the age of fifty-three years, the latter in 1848, at the age of thirty-three. Both were laid to rest near Pleasant Valley Church. In religious faith they were Lutherans, and in his political views the father was a Democrat, while by occupation he was a farmer. In their family were the following children: Harrison, a merchant of Carbon, Penn .; Nathan, a mechanic of Kingston, Penn .; Henry, who conducts a sawmill at Harver's Lake, Penn .; Frederick, who is clerking in Allen- town, Penn .; Hannah, wife of William Smail; Sena, wife of Joseph Smail, of Kresgeville, Mon- roe county ; Sarah, wife of Paul Serfass, of Beth- lehem, Penn .; Lucinda, wife of J. M. Kresge, of Bethlehem; and Elizabeth, wife of our subject. Her paternal grandparents, George and Catherine (Dotter) Kunkle, spent their entire lives in Mon- roe county, as did also her maternal grandparents, William and Hannah (Serfass) Kresge. To Mr. and Mrs. Greenamoyer have been born six chil- dren: Alice M., now the wife of Joseph Lanfer, a farmer of Chestnut Hill township; Ambrose, now conducting the old homestead, who married Edna Shaffer ; William H. and James H., who both died young ; Lizzie and Sarah (twins), the former now deceased; the latter is the wife of Eugene E. Dorsheimer, who is engaged in clerking in Say- lorsburg, Manroe county. Mr. Greenamoyer still occupies the old farm one mile from Brodheads- ville, which comprises eighty odd acres of valuable land, upon which his father settled when in its primitive condition. At present he is looking after the stock in a store at Brodheadsville, having been appointed to the position by a committee of cred- itors who were obliged to take the business.

Socially Mr. Greenamoyer affiliates with the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and Theodore

832

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Fenner Post No. 562, G. A. R., and religiously he is connected with the Reformed Church, in which he has served as deacon for four years. He casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party, and has most capably served in a number of local positions of honor and trust, such as jury commissioner, school director, poor- master and judge of election. Twice he has been the candidate of his party for county treasurer. He has ever been found true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, whether public or private, and is well worthy the high regard in which he is held.

EDWIN G. SHAFFER, who was for several years a most able and popular educator, is now devoting his energies to general farming at Brod- headsville, Chestnut Hill township, Monroe coun- ty, and in this undertaking is also meeting with marked success. He was born in East Genoa, Cayuga county, N. Y., February 6, 1856, but is a representative of old and honored Monroe county families, being a grandson of Peter and Lydia (Featherman) Shaffer, and also of George L. and Maria ( Breece) Van Buskirk.

His maternal grandfather's ancestor was a na- tive of Holland, and a physician by profession. His parents, George and Mary ( Van Buskirk ) Shaffer, were both natives of Monroe county, but during his infancy the father was taken by his parents to New York State, and is now living with his daughter, Mrs. Hattie Anderson, in Brooklyn, at the age of seventy-five years. At one time he returned to Monroe county, where he taught school for a time when a young man, and here married, but later re- turned to New York. His principal business throughout life has been farming, and for a time he was interested in the operation of iron mines in New Jersey, but in 1888 he retired from active business, and has since lived retired. His wife died in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 13, 1897, at the age of seventy-one years. To them were born four chil- dren, namely : Clarence and Lillie, both deceased ; Edwin G., our subject ; and Hattie, wife of Mathew Anderson, of Brooklyn.

On the home farm Edwin G. Shaffer spent his boyhood and youth in much the usual manner of farmers' sons. He attended the country schools at East Genoa, N. Y. ; then spent two years in grad- ed school of Ithaca, N. Y., and finished his edu- cation at the "Centenary Collegiate Institute," of Hackettstown, N. J. After attaining his majority he successfully engaged in teaching school for six- teen years or more. He has made his home in Monroe county continuously since 1878, but taught one term of school in New Jersey in 1879-80. He was married at Brodheadsville, July 1. 1879, to Miss Julia Lanfer, and to them have been born three children : Clara, George E. (a school teacher at sixteen years of age), and Mary. Mrs. Shaffer was born in that place, May 25, 1858, a daughter of Peter and Mary ( Huffsmith ) Lanfer, the former a native of Northampton county, Penn .; the latter of Brod-

headsville. The father owned a farm, to the culti- vation of which he gave some attention, but his time was mostly occupied by work at the carpenter's trade. He died in June, 1898, aged seventy-seven years, the mother in 1885, aged sixty-one, and both were laid to rest in the Brodheadsville cemetery. They were members of the Reformed Church, and highly respected by all who knew them. Their children were: Sarah, wife of Reuben Bitting, of South Bethlehem, Penn .; Edward, also a resident of South Bethlehem, who married (first) Cather- ine Kresge, and ( second) Bell Boyer; Lena, de- ceased wife of William Beil; Maria, who died at the age of six years; Milton, of South Bethlehem, who was elected sheriff of Northampton county, in 1898; and Julia, wife of our subject.

As an agriculturist Mr. Shaffer has met with a well-merited success, and as a citizen he stands deservedly high in the estimation of his fellow- men. Recognizing his worth and ability, they elect- ed him county auditor in 1891, re-elected him in 1893, and most creditably and satisfactorily did he fill that office for two terms. Previously he had served as township auditor. He is a pronounced Democrat in politics, believing in a "tariff for rev- enue, only for the affairs of government econom- ically administered," and does not believe in "office for revenue only." He and his family are members of the Reformed Church.

JACOB B. WESTBROOK, proprietor of a thriving general merchandise business at Ding- man's Ferry, is one of the most prominent figures in the business and political life of Pike county, and he is a representative descendant of a family which has been identified with the history of this section for many years. He is a grandson of Col. John and Sarah ( Brodhead) Westbrook, the former of whom represented this District, the Eighth, in Con- gress, he being its first member, and, on the ma- ternal side, of Isaac P. and Jane (Frazier) Van Gorden, who were also prominent people of their day; Mrs. Van Gorden's father was born in Scot- land.

Jacob B. Westbrook, father of our subject, was born November 28, 1815, in Delaware township, Pike county, and passed his entire life there, dying in January, 1853, at a comparatively early age. He was buried in Delaware cemetery. He was a well- known citizen in the township, serving for ten years as a justice of the peace. On October 24, 1838, he married Hannah Jane Van Gorden, who was born November 20, 1819, in Lehman township, and to their union came four children, namely: Sarah J., born February 20, 1840, who resides in Lehman township, the widow of Obediah Hornbeck; Susan, born July 10, 1842, wife of Hon. Everett Hornbeck, who served three terms as associate judge of Pike county, and is now employed in the mint at Phila- delphia ; Isaac V., born February 12, 1847, a farmer of Lehman township, who married Marcena Horn- beck; and Jacob B., the subject proper of these

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 195

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