Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 197

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 197
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 197
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 197
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 197

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John S. Mosher was early trained to habits of industry, and entered upon his business career at the early age of ten years, doing chores for his board. Later he received a salary of $2 per month. At the breaking out of the Civil war, when the call came for 300,000 volunteers, he put aside all personal in- terests and went forth to battle for the Union, en- listing in the 84th P. V. I. His life has always been one of fidelity to duty, and has been character- ized by unfaltering industry. In 1876 he embarked in business in Damascus, where he has since carried on operations as a furniture dealer, in 1896 erecting a substantial store building, 24 x 36 feet, and two stories in height, one of the best business houses in the town. There he carries an excellent line of fur- niture, and also conducts an undertaking establish- ment. His well-directed efforts, his earnest desire to please his customers, and his reliability in all transactions have gained him a liberal and well- merited patronage.

Mr. Mosher was married, April 10, 1894, to Miss Isabella Lovelass, an estimable lady, and a daughter of John Lovelass, a native of England. Mr. Mosher is a member of Adelph Lodge No. 240, I. O. O. F., and of Delaware Lodge No. 561, F. & A. M. ; he and his wife hold membership in the Method- ist Church, with which he has been identified for

twenty-five years, his wife for thirty-five years, and for a number of years he has served as trustee and steward of the same. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and he keeps well informed on the issues of the day. He takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community, and ranks among the progressive and leading citizens of Damascus.

WILLIAM H. BARTHOLD. The revolu- tions and changes that are constantly occurring in the industrious world bring to some men disaster and to others fortune. One notable mutation in in- dustrial activity has been the displacement of local and scattered plants by large centralization estab- lishments. With one of these industries, that of tanning, the subject of this sketch was long and prominently connected, but with judicious manage- ment he made it subservient to himself, and did not become the creature of an adverse fate when chang- ing years at length decreed that the industry must pass away. Mr. Barthold is a man of sterling character, fertile in resource, quick to perceive causes and conditions, alert and watchful in the affairs of men which betide for weal or woe.

Our subject was born September 7, 1839, on the well-known homestead which he now owns and oc- cupies, a son of Jonas and Eliza (Cassler) Bar- thold. The father was a native of Northampton county, Penn., where he was born August 28, 1805. In his native county he was married July 26, 1829, to Miss Eliza Cassler, by Rev. Broabst. A tanner and currier by trade, he had been married but three years when he resolved to try his fortune in a new locality. Accordingly, in 1832, he migrated to Monroe county, and settled upon the farm in Chest- nut Hill township, where his son, the subject of this sketch, now resides. Jonas Barthold was a prominent citizen in his day, recognized by his neighbors as a man of ripe judgment and decision of character. He was frequently called upon to fill local township offices, and in various ways proved his character as a natural leader. In addi- tion to farming he operated for about thirty years the tannery which upon his retirement fell to the management of his son John J., and later was oper- ated by our subject. Jonas Barthold lived to the ripe old age of eighty-two years, passing away September 18, 1887. He was a member of the Re- formed Church. His wife, who was born Octo- ber 28, 1807, and in religious faith was a Lutheran, died June 15, 1887. Both were buried in Pleasant Valley cemetery. The children of Jonas and Eliza Barthold were as follows: John J., born July 14, 1830, now an agent at Slatington, Penn .; Amelia F., born March 4, 1832, married John Umphert, and died in New York; Thomas F., born Decem- ber 4, 1834, died at Milwaukee, Penn .; Mary A., born January 7, 1837, died at the age of two years ; William H., subject of this sketch; Eliza A., born December 24, 1843, wife of A. K. Berger, formerly a carpenter of Noblesville, Ind., now deceased;

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Catherine J., born June 15, 1846, wife of Josiah 11. Moyer, a carpenter of Bethlehem, Penn. ; Ilen- rietta, born February 1, 1849, died in infancy; Jo- sephine S., born March 20, 1850, wife of Timothy Everett, of Stroudsburg, Penn .; Ellen E., born January 15, 1853, married Lyman Everett, a farmer and school teacher of Chestnut Hill township, and is now deceased.

Our subject has been a lifelong resident of the home farm. In 1860, when he reached his ma- jority, the tannery was transferred to his manage- ment, and he became at once an energetic and capa- ble business man. A few years later, when he had attested his ability to care for himself and others, he founded a home by uniting in marriage October 4, 1864, in Hamilton township with Miss Eliza A. Roth, who was born in Lehigh county, Penn., No- vember 5, 1847, daughter of Henry and Maria ( Hotz) Roth. In 1860 Mr. Roth had removed from Lehigh county to Monroe county, Penn., and there for four years he engaged in the hotel busi- ness. He then followed farming during the bal- ance of his days. To William H. and Eliza A. Roth have been born the following children: Ida A., wife of J. F. Green, of Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county ; Forest F., who married Amanda Altemose, and is now a carpenter at Bethlehem, Penn. ; Edna MI., wife of M. D. Kistler, a book- keeper in Morganton, N. C .; Allen H., who mar- ried Agnes Gregory, and is now engaged in the wire business at Philadelphia ; Emma, who died in February, 1897; Ella, residing in New York; Laura J., wife of G. M. Shafer ; and John and Ray- mond W., at home.

Our subject in connection with general farm- ing continued to operate the tannery on the home- stead until 1885, when he gave up the business, the conditions of trade making it no longer profitable. Mr. Barthold has been a prominent member of the Reformed Church for many years. For a period of eight years he has served as deacon, and for four years as elder. For the year 1891 he served as tax collector, but has never been an aspirant for political honors. He is prominently identified with both the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. As a citizen he is most highly esteemed, and as a farmer he has won an independent financial success.

MICHAEL BRISH, a leading agriculturist of Stroud township, Monroe county, is a represent- ative of that hardy German stock which has done so much for the general development of this section, and he and his wife, who have spent nearly half a century of wedded life on their present home- stead, are held in high esteem by all who know them.

Mr. Brish was born July 16, 1824, in Baden, Germany, where his ancestors, in both maternal and paternal lines, have resided for generations. His parents, Peter and Lizzie Brish, were born and reared in Baden, and after their marriage, in 1832, came to the United States, locating first in New

York City, where the father was employed for about four years as foreman for a street railway corporation. In 1836 he removed to Stroud town- ship, Monroe county, where he bought an improved farm, and remained there until 1840, when he sold and purchased a tract of wild land in the same township, near the Smithfield line. This he cleared and improved, erecting good farm buildings; but after seven years he sold it and bought the home- stead where our subject now resides, located three miles north of Stroudsburg. He died on his home in 1873. His first wife, the mother of our sub- ject, died in New York in 1834, and he afterward married Mary Shutter of New York, who died on the present homestead in 1882. By his first wife he had the following children : (I) Peter, who died in childhood in Germany; (2) Lizzie, who came to New York with her parents, and married John Cramer, of that city, but they afterward removed to Long Island, where she died in 1866 leaving five sons who are extensive lumber dealers of Long Island; Tillie died in France on the way to Amer- ica; Eva died in Stroud township, Monroe coun- ty, when sixteen years of age; and Michael, our subject, is mentioned more fully below.

Michael Brish came to America with his par- ents when seven years of age, and received a very limited education as his time in boyhood was large- ly spent in work on the farm. He remained at home, gradually assuming the cares of the farm, and after the death of his parents he became the owner of the estate. He has built a fine two-story residence, a good barn and other buildings, and made many general improvements, clearing and cul- tivating a large portion of the farm, and beautify- ing the grounds about the home. It is an attract- ive place, containing 100 acres, and a natural lake of pure mountain water is one of its most charm- ing features. A few years ago Mr. Brish bought the Alexander Fowler farm, adjoining the home- stead, and this he has also improved, erecting a bank barn, wagon shed and other buildings. Po- litically Mr. Brish is a Republican, originally a Whig, but he has never aspired to office. In relig- ious faith he is a Methodist, and he and his esti- mable wife are leading members of the Mt. Zion Church, to which they contribute liberally. In August, 1850, Mr. Brish married Miss Miriam Lee, and thirteen children have blessed the union : (I) Mary, born January 12, 1852, married (first) a Mr. Carr, and (second) Robert Roberts, of North- ampton county, and settled in Stroud, where she died. By her first marriage she had one son, Charles, who was two years old when his father died. By her second marriage she had four chil- dren, Sadie Roberts (wife of Edmund Hofner, of Monroe county), Viola, Frederick and Elma. (2) Joseph, born June 23, 1853, married Miss Annie Roberts, of Stroud township, where he now resides, being employed as an engineer. They had two sons, both of whom died in childhood. (3) Margaret J., born October 22, 1854, married John White, of

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Stroudsburg, and has two children, Mary and Charles. (4) Wesley, born January 6, 1856, mar- ried Miss Edith Lee, of Michigan, where he died in 1893 leaving a widow and one child, Leola Lee, who are still residents of Michigan. (5) Mahlon, born April 14, 1857, married Miss Isabella Hal- lett, of Stroud township, where they now reside. They have four children: Sylvana, Miriam, Lewis and Charles. (6) Ida, born November 19, 1859, married William Phillips, of Stroudsburg, and has five children, Josephine, Orna, Cary, and Michael, and Roy. (7) Elizabeth, born July 17, 1861, mar- ried William Patterson, of Stroud township, and has four children, John Patterson, Georgie, Miriam and Charles. (8) Rhoda, born January 19, 1863, married William O. Lee, of Scranton, and has three children, Malan, Anna and Carrie. (9) Lecty, born May 30, 1864, married Samuel Smiley, of Strouds- burg, a brick manufacturer, and they have one daughter, Emily. (10) Mathias, born December 20, 1865, married Miss Florence Banty, and now resides in Stroudsburg; they have three children, Russel, Henrietta and Cecial. (II) Henrietta, born February 16, 1867, married (first) Benjamin Baughman, who was killed on the Susquehanna railroad, leaving her with one son, Chester. She afterward married James Baughman, a railroad man, residing in Stroudsburg, and they have one daughter, Ruth, and one son, Stanly. (12) Sher- man, born November 20, 1868, is single, and has charge of his father's farm; he is a bright active young business man, and the pride of his father's home. (13) Bertha died in childhood.

Mrs. Brish belongs to a well-known pioneer family, and her grandfather, Noah Lee, came from England during the Revolutionary war, and set- tled in Stroud township, Monroe county, where he died leaving four children: Jesse, Joseph, Mary (wife of John Miller, of Stroud township), and Edward, all deceased. Joseph Lee, the father of Mrs. Brish, married Margaret Bush, and made his home in Stroud township. They had four children: George, now a resident of Michigan; Miriam, wife of our subject ; Charles, who resides on his farm in Stroud township; and Mathias, who married and now resides in Saginaw, Michigan.

EDMUND V. LA BAR, one of the progress- ive, well-to-do farmer citizens of Middle Smith- field township, Monroe county, has passed all his life on the farm which he owns and occupies, hav- ing been born there in June, 1858, a son of David and Sallie (Staples) LaBar. Mr. LaBar is of French descent, and several of his ancestors were prominent officers in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war.

George LaBar, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Northampton county, Penn., coming thence to Monroe county in the early part of the present century, and in 1829 settling on the land still owned by his descendants in Middle Smith- field township, which he purchased. He erected a

log house and commenced to clear the tract, which was then in its primitive state, and he made general improvements, devoting the remainder of his active life to agricultural pursuits. George LaBar lived to the great age of 112 years, dying in 1874 on this home ; his wife passed away many years previous. Eight children were born to this couple, the follow- ing named growing to maturity: John, Hugh, David, Mary (Mrs. Jacob Transue, of Monroe county), Julia (Mrs. William Kramer, of Mon- roe county ), Susan ( Mrs. John Vanvliet, of Stroud) and Catherine (Mrs. Henry Cook).

David LaBar was born in August, 1810, in Northampton county, Penn., received such educa- tion as could be obtained in the public schools dur- ing his boyhood, and came with his father to Mon- roe county, where he subsequently made his home. He was always engaged in farming and lumbering, and he made numerous improvements on the home place after it came under his management, erect- ing a fine barn and other outbuildings, and work- ing industriously to bring the land into a product- ive state. He lived on the home place until his death September 21, 1897, a few months after that of his wife, who departed this life in March of the same year. She was a devout member of the M. E. Church, and Mr. and Mrs. LaBar were both con- sidered worthy Christian people, who deserved the highest respect of their neighbors and friends. Their union was blessed with five children, namely : David, Amanda E., Mary E., Sarah M. and Ed- mund V. Of these, the eldest, born in 1849, re- ceived a good public-school education, and took up farming as his life occupation, which he now follows on his place in Middle Smithfield adjoining the old homestead; he married Miss Catherine Halterman, daughter of Adam and Mary Halter- man, respected residents of Smithfield township, and they have six children, Adam H., Lewis G., Sarah A., David L., Mary A. and Nelson D. Amanda E. was the wife of Depuy Detrick, who lives in Price, Stroud township, Monroe county ; she left four children, Flora E. (now Mrs. Charles Lander), David L., Alice and Susan. Mary E. is the widow of Benjamin F. Transue, and resides on her home in Middle Smithfield with her three chil- dren, Sylvia, Peter and Alice. Sarah M. is the wife of John Trible, of Middle Smithfield, where they reside on his farm; their family consists of four children, Harry, Charles, Sylvanus and Amanda.

Edmund V. LaBar grew to manhood on the old homestead, where he was trained to agricultural life, working with his father in the summer time and during the winter attending the district schools, where he received a good practical education. After leaving school he remained on the home place, and about two years after his marriage he purchased the property from his father, his parents making their home with him, however, until they passed away. In 1883 Mr. LaBar built the fine two-story residence which now adorns the place, and a few years later he built an addition to the barn, erected new out-

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buildings and in various ways has done much to enhance the value and beauty of his farm. He has been systematic and modern in his methods of working the land, and his place is now considered one of the best cultivated and improved in the township, thanks to his watchful oversight of all the details of the work. Mr. LaBar is a hard work- er as well as a careful manager, and he is regarded as one of the leading farmers in this section-an intelligent, practical citizen, an honor to the com- munity in which he resides. He has always taken the greatest interest in public affairs, not as an office-secker, though he has served his fellow citi- zens in various capacities, but as a public-spirited resident of his town and county, one who takes the general welfare to heart and lends his influence to any worthy project for advancement or improve- ment. Politically he has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and he has held the offices of school director, inspector of elections, also that of town auditor, and he is now filling the position of county auditor.

In 1880 Mr. LaBar was united in marriage with Miss Annie Rheinhart, of Price township, Monroe county, whose father, Peter Rheinhart, was a native of Germany, and after coming to this country settled in Monroe county, Penn., where he married Miss Mary Pipher. Mr. and Mrs. LaBar have always made their home on the LaBar farm, and here three sons have been born to them, Ches- ter P., in October, 1880, Ira A., in January, 1883, and Norman E., in 1884. Chester P. received his education in the public schools, and is at present teaching. Ira A. is at present a student in the Normal School at Stroudsburg in the Senior class. The family attend the M. E. Church, in which they have always been active workers, and Mr. LaBar is at present holding the office of steward in the con- gregation at Wooddale. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Patriotic Order Sons of America.

WILLIAM BARRON. The history of this gentleman, who is now practically living retired upon his farm in Jessup township, Susquehanna county, is a forcible illustration of that success that can be achieved in life by the exercise of perseverance and resolution under all circumstances, for unaided he has worked his way upward from a humble position to one of affluence.

A native of Susquehanna county, Mr. Barron was born in Bridgewater township, August 18, 1824, and on his father's side is of Scotch descent, his grandparents having been natives of Scotland and early settlers of Nova Scotia. His father, Alexander Barron, was born in Nova Scotia in 1769, and there married a Miss Leonard, by whom he had three children, all now deceased, namely: Jane ( who first married J. Sterling, and after his death wedded Alva Noble, and died in Wayne county, Penn.), James, and Phoebe; the youngest was but an infant when the mother died,

in Nova Scotia. Alexander Barron was a millwright by trade, and when testing a sawmill which he had built he caught his hand in the saw, severing three fingers entirely and part of the thumb and little fin- ger. It was after this accident, that, leaving his three children with friends in Nova Scotia, he came to the United States with the intention of establish- ing a permanent home in this country. Arriving in New Milford, Susquehanna Co., Penn., he went westward into the unbroken wilderness some five miles and contracted to buy 200 acres in the midst of the forest, agreeing to pay $600 therefor. Bears, wolves and panthers abounded in the region at that early day, and there was no road, Mr. Barron find- ing his way by means of marked trees. He cleared a small lot and built a log house, but knowing the dif- ficulties of paying for a farm in the wilderness and clearing it at the same time, he left the place and went over on the Delaware river, obtaining employ- ment at his trade, and continued thus for six years, paying off $100 each year. He then married Miss Ruth Bonna, a native of Litchfield county, Conn., and they took up their residence on the home in the wilderness. The place was then included in Frank- lin township, but after the formation of other town- ships it was included in New Milford and Bridge- water townships. A road built from Summerville to Montrose passed through the farm. Mr. Barron devoted the remainder of his life to farming. To his second marriage were born four children: John, who died in Franklin township, Susquehanna county, at the age of seventy-three years ; Mary, who wedded Francis Berge, and died in Wisconsin at the age of sixty-five ; William, our subject ; and George, who died in Wisconsin at the age of sixty-eight. The mother died in Bridgewater township, in 1832, at an early age, and was buried there, while the father died in Newark Valley, N. Y., in 1853, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-four years, and was laid to rest at that place. Both were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a Dem- ocrat in politics. Mr. Barron was one of the lead- ing and prominent citizens of his community, but would never accept office. Wolves and panthers were numerous when he took up his home in the township. One evening a wolf began howling with- in thirty rods of the house, and was soon joined by many others, keeping up a continuous howling until midnight. This was near the spring where Stephen Trumbull, the present owner of the farm, has built his house. On another occasion, when returning from an evening visit to the house of a neighbor one and one-half miles distant from his home, he realized that he was being cautiously followed by some animal that at times came so close its glowing eyes could be seen. He reached home in safety, but the animal came up to the house and snuffed under the door. Next morning Mr. Barron found that two sheep he had bought and kept in a log pen had been killed, leaving unmistakable evidence of the work of a panther.

At the early age of fourteen years William Bar-

Barron

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ron began his business career, working in the lumber woods and for neighboring farmers for four years. He then spent one year in a carpenter's shop, learn- ing the trade, and for five years followed carpenter- ing in Honesdale, Penn., after which he was em- ployed as carpenter by the New York & Erie Rail- road Co., constructing bridges until the completion of that road. For one year he was also connected with the Catawissa railroad, and after his marriage located at Great Bend, Susquehanna county, spend- ing three years at that place. In 1856 he came to Jessup township, and in 1865 he located upon his present farm in that township. On locating here he retired from the carpenter's trade and turned his attention to the operation of a saw and feed mill, which is run by water power. This he still owns, but he leaves both the mill and farm to the man- agement of his son.

In Liberty township, Susquehanna county. De- cember 31, 1851, Mr. Barron was united in mar- riage with Miss Experience Rogers, and to them were born three children, namely: Willis E. mar- ried Florence Ervy Pettitt, and resides with our sub- ject ; Frank E., a merchant and postmaster at South Montrose, first married Emma Southworth, and later Tempy Quick; and Edith J., deceased, was the wife of Peter Osborn. Mrs. Barron was born in Bridgewater township, August 15, 1827, a daughter of Samuel and Anna (Butler) Rogers, who were natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively, and were married in the former State, in 1817. The father was born in Montville, Conn., July 3, 1790, and after his marriage came to Susquehanna county, Penn., locating first in Brooklyn township, and in 1820 in West Bridgewater township, where he continued to make his home until called from this life May 13, 1887. His wife died in January, 1881, at the age of eighty-three years, and both were buried in Bridgewater township cemetery. Mr. Rogers was a lineal descent of the Martyr, John Rogers, who was burned at the stake, at Smithfield, England, 1555, during the reign of "Bloody Queen Mary." Rev. John Rogers, a grandson of the martyr, and a minister of the Church of England, who died in 1636, was the father of James Rogers, who came to this country in the ship "Increase" in 1635, and his son Samuel was the first white set- tler in the town of Montville, Conn. He died in 1713. His great-grandson, Capt. Andrew Rogers, was the grandfather of Mrs. Barron.

Mr. Barron has always taken an active and prominent part in Church work, and in early life held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, but is now a Seventh-Day Adventist. He has held the position of treasurer and elder in his Church ever since its organization, in 1870. According to the promise of God, he looks for a new earth, which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God, wherein dwelleth righteousness. His honorable and upright life has commended him to the confidence and esteem of all who know him, and he is held in high regard by his neighbors and friends.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 197

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