Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 202

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 202
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 202
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 202
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 202

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In his political affiliations Mr. Woodley is a Republican, and has always taken an active part in promoting the interests of his party. He has been honored with the offices of supervisor and auditor of his town, and is now a member of the Republican county committee from Berlin. Socially he is affil- iated with the I. O. O. F., Freedom Lodge No. 88, Honesdale, Penn. It is not alone in the business world that he is well known, but in political and social circles he stands equally high. Himself and wife and family all hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Beech Lake, and

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have been instrumental in promoting the moral edu- cational and social interests of the community. Any- thing that tends to uplift and benefit humanity re- ceives their hearty co-operation.

CHARLES H. AND HOWARD E. DECKER are among the most prominent stone contractors and builders in Damascus, Wayne county, where they have done an extensive business for the past twenty years, and they are both natives of the town, the former born in January, 1852, the latter in April, 1853.

Alfred Decker, the grandfather of these gen- tlemen, was born in Deckertown, N. J., and set- tled many years ago in Sullivan county, N. Y., where he passed the remainder of his days, follow- ing his trade, that of stone mason. His son James H. was born in 1828 in Orange county. N. Y., and when old enough began to learn his father's busi- ness, in which he has engaged more or less all his life, now, at the advanced age of seventy-two, con- tinuing to follow same. In 1847 he first came to Wayne county, where he remained until 1850. working in a sawmill. In the year last named he returned to Sullivan county and there married Ma- hala A. Chesire, who was a native of Queens coun- ty, L. I., born in 1829, and the young couple first located at the Skinner Mill, in Damascus. Later he purchased the Levi Little farm, in that town- ship, which he retained until 1857, during his resi- dence there running a sawmill for Moses Young. After selling the Little farm he invested in fifty- five acres of land situated on the south branch of Calkins creek, which was then in a primitive state, and he was obliged to clear a space for the frame dwelling which he erected for himself and family. Here he engaged in agricultural pursuits, by in- dustry and unceasing energy clearing the entire tract, which he converted into a valuable and de- sirable property. Later he bought fifty-five acres adjoining, which he also cleared and improved, putting up good buildings on all his land, and there he made his home until 1889, when he sold the place to his sons Charles H. and Howard E., and re- moved to Narrowsburg, Sullivan Co., N. Y., where he has since resided, working at his trade. His faithful life companion passed away in February, 1897. Their union was blessed with nine children, of whom we give a brief record: Charles H., the eldest, is mentioned below. Howard E. is spoken of more fully below. Eliot P., born in August, 1854, in Wayne county, married Miss Lavina Be- dient, of Damascus, and they reside there with their family of five children, Millie B., Hiram W., Charles H., Earl and Ethel May. Alice, born in February, 1857, married Walter Branning, and they reside on his farm in Damascus; they have four children, Grover A., Walter Coe, Madeline L. and Nahanita. Flora E., born in 1858, is now the wife of Ludwig Heller, of Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., Penn., and has two children, Harold and Clara ; they make their home in Rockland, Sullivan Co.,

N. Y., where he is engaged in the milling business. John H., born in 1860, lives in Delaware county, N. Y., where he carries on a butcher business and owns considerable real estate; he married Miss Jessie Parmatier, of that county; they have no children. Minnie Della, born in 1862, married Bernard Mayo, of Delaware county, N. Y., and they now reside in Ormsby, Mckean Co., Penn .; they have one son, Ralph. Fannie M., born in 1863, is unmarried and lives with her father in Sullivan county, N. Y. Hattie L., born in 1867, is the wife of Joseph L. Noble, and they reside on his farm in Damascus ; they have three children, William, Estella and Floyd Jehiah.

CHARLES H. DECKER grew to manhood in the town of his birth, and received his rudimentary education in the public schools there, later attend- ing the Damascus academy, where he was given a thorough practical training. In early life he dis- played a remarkable aptitude for the calling which he finally adopted as his life work, when a mere boy giving evidence of more than ordinary ability in the cutting and building of stone walls and arches, and he learned the trade in early manhood, work- ing under Benjamin Bussman, head mason for the Krupp Gun Manufacturing Co. in Germany. Some twenty years ago he commenced contracting and building on his own account, and in connection with his brother Howard he has continued to en- gage in this line up to the present day, for the most part on public buildings and improvements, in Wayne county and the surrounding country. His genius in his particular branch is unquestioned, and he is a fine draftsman, especially of arches and bridge architecture, being at present engaged on the plans of the Honesdale bridge, a structure of large dimensions which the commissioners of Wayne county contemplate erecting at the county scat over the Lackawaxen river. Mr. Decker is no less capable in the management of his affairs, and his executive ability and untiring energy have been no small factors in his success, which has been enviable, for he ranks among the leading men in his line in this part of Pennsylvania. He is un- married and makes his home with his brother on their fine farm in Damascus, which, as above men- tioned, they purchased from their father.

HOWARD E. DECKER received his education in the public schools of Damascus and grew to man- hood on the home farm, learning the stone mason's trade with his father and brother. On December 15, 1880, he was married to Miss Evelyn L. Noble, daughter of Sexton and Lavina Noble, old pioneer people of Damascus, the family being considered one of the best and most highly respected in this section. They now make their home on the old Decker homestead, a well-stocked farm of 173 acres in Damascus township, and eight children have blessed their union, viz. : Carrie B., Arthur E., James II., Inez L. and Coe H., living, and Stella M., Leona E. and Rose E., who died in childhood.

Religiously the Decker brothers have followed

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in the footsteps of their parents, and they are de- went members of the M. E. Church, in whose inter- est they are earnest and zealous workers. They are regarded as representative Christian citizens, men whose moral character and strength would give them influence for good in any community and command for them the respect of friends and acquaintances wherever they go. Howard E. Deck- er has been superintendent of the Union Sabbath- schools, and is at present serving in that capacity in the Sabbath-school in Boyd's Mills, having the proud distinction of being the youngest Sabbath- school superintendent in Damascus. He is a man fitted both by education and inclination for active religious work, and he and his worthy wife, who shares with him the esteem of all who know them, : re devoted workers for the Master's cause, and liberal contributors to all Church and charitable en- terprises. Politically the brothers are stanch Re- publicans, and the younger of the two has taken an active part in the workings of the party in this lo- cality, at present serving as judge of the election board in Damascus. The elder brother takes no interest in politics beyond voting.

WARREN D. YERKES, a prominent and in- fluential farmer of Damascus township, Wayne county, was born February 28, 1829, on the farm where he now resides, and he is a worthy representa- tive of one of the honored pioneer families of this region.

Mr. Yerkes' grandfather, Jonathan Yerkes, was born December 5. 1759, near Philadelphia, of German ancestry, and in 1803 took up his residence in Wayne county. By occupation he was a mill- wright and builder, and as such erected the Milan- ville mill, and also a sawmill in Wayne county. He married Elizabeth Jarrette, November 15, 1789. and both died in Damascus township. Their chil- dren were Jacob Paul, born February 9. 1794, died in Evansville, Ind. : Titus, born December 21, 1791, clied in Michigan : Joseph W., born September II, 1790. the father of our subject; Nathan L., born July 16, 1800, died at Port Jervis, N. Y. : Mrs. Mary Ann Clark, born January 24, 1798, died in Michi- gan : David Shields, born April 23, 1807, died in Wisconsin : Margaret, born December 28, 1802, and Sebastian J., born January II, 1805, in Damascus, both deceased in Damascus township, Wayne coun- tv: and Hannah, born April 30, 1810, married to Ira Sherwood, and died in Fort Madison, Iowa. In politics Jonathan Yerkes was a Whig, and both he and his wife were reared in the Quaker faith, but later became Baptists, contributing liberally to all Church needs. He died March 27, 1835, and she passed away February 3, 1833.

Joseph W. Yerkes, eldest son and child of Jonathan Yerkes, was born at Germantown, Penn., September 11, 1790, but was reared in Wayne coun- ty. He was a lifelong lumberman and farmer, and was very successful in his businesss operations. A consistent member of the Baptist Church, he was

honored by all who knew him. On January 4, 1816, he married Miss Elizabeth Burcher, who was born at Westminster, England, September 13, 1792, and was a daughter of William Burcher, and a sister of John Burcher, of Damascus township. Six children were born of this union, namely : Caro- line, wife of Orin Bentley, of Honesdale; William B., who died on the old homestead in Damascus township; Jonathan, who died in the same town- ship; Jarrette P., deceased; Warren D .; and Rox- anna, deceased. The father in politics was first a Whig and later a Democrat. He died upon his farm in 1854, and the mother passed away May 4, 1874, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-two years.

The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Wayne county, and after going to school at Milanville for some time he attended the Union Academy several terms. On March 28, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Mar- garet H. Mitchell, a woman of refinement and edu- cation, a native of Damascus township, and a daugh- ter of Stephen and Margaret (Lukens) Mitchell. Her parents both died in that township, the father at the age of seventy-seven years, the mother at the age of seventy-nine years. Both were devout members of the Baptist Church, and were highly respected by all who knew them. To Mr. and Mrs. Yerkes were born five children: Eva Mar- garethe, born March 7, 1867, was educated at Mans- field, Penn .; William B., born August 12, 1870, was educated at Factoryville, Penn., and in Octo- ber, 1894, married Irene Noble, by whom he has one child, E. Helene, born August 31, 1895 (he is at home in business with his father ) ; Edward L., born August 14, 1872, died September 29, 1878, Warren J., born October 14, 1875, graduated from the Honesdale high school, class of '97, and is em- ployed in the Delaware & Hudson Railroad office at Honesdale; Harold C., born February 22, 1880, took a course in business college, and is now in the office of T. B. Clark & Co., manufacturers of cut glass at Honesdale.

Mr. Yerkes has lived on the old homestead in Damascus township, which is a valuable place of 250 acres, under a high state of cultivation, and improved with a comfortable residence and good outbuildings. Besides this property he owns other farms and valuable hemlock and pine timber lands. Throughout his entire business career he has been interested in lumbering as well as farming, and by keen discrimination he has met with more than or- dinary success. As a citizen he meets every re- quirement, and manifests a commendable interest in everything that is calculated to promote the general welfare. He used his franchise for the support of the Republican party. In private life he is sym- pathetic and generous, extending a helping hand to the poor and needy, and always ready to aid those less fortunate than himself. He is rather reserved in manner, but all who know him esteem him high- ly for his genuine worth. Both he and his wife are

Warren D. Herkes

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earnest members of the Baptist Church. He be- longs to the Masonic Fraternity, being a member of Delaware Lodge No. 561, Callicoon, New York.

JOSIAH KRESGE, for some considerable time a prosperous agriculturist of Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county, is a member of one of the leading families of his locality, and his career shows that he possesses in a high degree the thrift and enterprise which characterizes his ancestors. By his careful management of his affairs he has won an excellent standing in business circles, and several fine farms give evidence of his well directed efforts.

Mr. Kresge was born May 6, 1850, in Chestnut Hill township, a son of David Kresge, and a grand- son of George and Catherine (Serfass) Kresge, early residents of that locality. David Kresge was born in Monroe (then Northampton) county, and died at Bossardsville, March 2, 1881, aged sixty-one years, two months and nine days. For thirteen years he operated a gristmill and sawmill at Kresge- ville in addition to the management of a large hotel and store carried on in a building erected by himself, which is still the finest in that town. Later he re- moved to Bethlehem, Penn., where he conducted the "Mansion House" for three years, when he sold out, and at the time of his death he had been engaged in a similar business at Bossardsville for about six years. Politically he was a Democrat, as all of his family have been from poineer times. He married Miss Elizabeth Hoffsmith, daughter of Peter and Sallian (Shoemaker) Hoffsmith. She died Febru- ary 8, 1894, at the age of seventy-two years and nine- teen days, while on a visit to her daughter in Kresge- ville ; at the time she was residing with our subject, and her funeral took place from his house, her re- mains being laid to rest beside those of her husband in the cemetery at Brodheadsville. This worthy couple had the following children : Peter H., a farmer at the old homestead, who married (first) Miss Emeline Anthony, of Monroe county, and (second) Miss Alice Mover, of Carbon county ; James M., a merchant at South Bethlehem, Penn., who married Lucinda Kunkle, of Monroe county ; Catherine, wife of William H. Smale, a farmer in Polk township, Monroe county ; Sally A., widow of Melcher Silfice, of Kresgeville; Absolom, a house painter at Bethlehem, Penn., who married Miss Car- rie Gearing ; Josiah, our subject ; Milton H., a mer- chant at West Bethlehem, Penn., who married Miss Fiola Braider ; Ephraim H., a merchant at South Bethlehem, Penn., who married Miss Carrie Cus- tard ; Elizabeth, who married Charles Hardy, a mason in Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county.

Our subject remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-one, when he engaged in farming on his own account in Polk township, Monroe coun- ty, where he continued for one year. He then took charge of the mail route between Lehighton and Stroudsburg, but after a year and a half he sold out to his brother Peter and went to Bethlehem, Penn. There he purchased a store, but three months

in the mercantile business satisfied him, and he again engaged in farming, locating in his native township, remaining two years and a half. For one year he rented and operated his father's hotel at Bossards- ville, and for four years he carried the mail over his old route ; but on giving up that business he engaged in farming at his present homestead which he pur- chased from Peter Kresge, who cleared it. A year later he rented the place to a tenant, and returned to Bossardsville, purchasing his father's hotel, which he conducted three years ; but in 1885 he traded it to Peter Bonser for a farm adjoining the homestead. He has since given up farming, however, and moved to the village of Brodheadsville, where on Novem- ber 22, 1898, he purchased a store property, and he is now in the general merchandise business. In pol- itics Mr. Kresge affiliates with the Democratic party, and for six years he served as constable, while at times he has held other positions, including that of judge of elections. He is active in religious move- ments as a member of the Reformed Church, in which he has served ten years as deacon and four years as treasurer.

On April 16, 1871, he was married in Lower Towamensin township, Carbon Co., Penn., to Miss Francisca E. Sigfried, and five children have bright- ened their home: Ida A., wife of Samuel Miller, of Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county ; David H., a merchant of Philadelphia, who married Henrietta Dixon, June 1, 1899 ; Franklin, deceased ; Claud M., and Josiah C., who still reside with their parents. Mrs. Kresge, who is much esteemed by her circle of friends, is a native of Carbon county, born May 17, 1855. Her paternal grandparents, Daniel and Julia (Detter) Sigfried, were residents of Northampton county, and her father, William H. Sigfried, was born there in June, 1837. He served with distinc- tion in the Union army during the Civil war, being wounded twice, and now resides in Luzerne county, where he has been engaged in farming and lumber- ing for many years. His wife, Eve Green, a native of Carbon county, died in Luzerne county in February, 1891, aged fifty-three years, and was buried in the cemetery adjoining Conyngham Valley Church. Mrs. Kresge is the eldest in a family of eight chil- dren, the others being: William, a stone mason in Luzerne county, who married Miss Emma Shiner ; Leandershear, who married Miss Frances Readler, and resides in Luzerne county ; Sarah, who married Samuel Shimer, a farmer in Luzerne county ; Alice, who married Peter Hunter, of Luzerne county ; Cal- vin, a resident of Hazelton, Penn., who married Mary Hicks : Horatio, a resident of Hazelton, Penn., who married Lizzie Realaser ; Edward, who married Daisy Shimer, and resides in Hazelton ; and Osulla, who married Reuben Shad, of Hazelton.

ENOCH SWINGLE, an enterprising and successful agriculturist of South Canaan township, Wayne county, is deserving of special mention in this volume, not only because of the excellent reput- tation which he has won by his thrifty and ener-

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gctie management of his homestead, but also for his upright Christian character and as a repre- somtative of one of the oldest families of this sec- tion.

Mr. Swingle is a descendant of that noted pio- neer. Hans Ulrich Swingle, who came from Swit- wetland to America prior to the Revolutionary war, and located in this section in 1783, purchasing four hundred acres of land in what is now South Canaan township, Wayne county. Ilis wife, Mary (Shaf- jer, bore him ten children, among whom was a son, Conrad Swingle, our subject's grandfather, who was born in 1769, and died April 24, 1849. He married Lucy Bunton, who was born in 1774, and died in 1850, and they had thirteen children, of whom the seventh was a son Isaac, our subject's father. The late Isaac Swingle was born October 17, 1808, in South Canaan township, and passed his life in agricultural pursuits in that locality. He was married, February 3, 1833, to Miss Polly Croop, a native of Luzerne county, Penn., who was born December 11, 1816, and died August 7, 1893; his death occurred June 12, 1892. They had three children : Conrad, born February 7, 1834, died Oc- tober 31, 1853; Enoch is mentioned more fully be- low ; and Seth, born August 10, 1839, resides upon a portion of the old homestead in South Canaan township.

Enoch Swingle was born February 9, 1837, on the farm which he now occupies as a homestead, and during his boyhood became familiar with the details of agricultural work. He remained at home until after he attained his majority, but in the spring of 1861 he began to work at the carpenter's trade for a cousin, John Dull, continuing this work until 1864, and then for a few years following different occu- pations, as circumstances permitted. Later he re- turned to the old homestead to take charge of the farm work for his aged father, and he has since re .. sided there. He is a successful manager, and by hiis strict attention to business has accumulated a fine competence, and he has money at interest. His farm is an excellent one, well adapted to general crops, and he does not specialize at present in its cultivation. He is now unable to engage in any labor, having been almost helpless for the past year. While he has taken an intelligent interest in pub- lic affairs, and is a strong believer in the principles and policy of the Republican party, Mr. Swingle is of a quiet disposition and has never entered upon active political work.

Mr. Swingle has a pleasant home and an attrac- tive and clever family. On May 30, 1866, he was mar- ried at Hawley, Wayne county, by Rev. H. Van Hou- ton, a Presbyterian minister, to Miss Ella Compton, by whom he has had three children: (I) Lillian D. married William Robinson, a farmer in South Canaan township, Wayne county, and has had seven children, Ethel L., Harry D., Mabel E., Charles, Leah M., John C. and Karl. (2) Miss Anna M. resides at the homestead. (3) Webb R., who is engaged in teaching school, also makes his home

with his parents. Mrs. Swingle is a prominent member of the M. E. Church. She was born Jan- uary 22, 1842, in Palmyra township, Wayne county, daughter of Ira and Susan (Bishop) Compton, well-known residents of that locality. She was the second in their family of four children. The eld- est, George, met a soldier's death during the Civil war; Harvey, the third, is a farmer on the old Compton homestead in Palmyra township; and Su- san, the youngest of the family, went west and has not been heard from since. Ira Compton was born in New Jersey, and was a farmer by occupation. He took a prominent part in the political issues of the times, affiliating with the Republican party. He was town collector for many years, and held other minor offices. His death occurred in August, 1888. His wife, a native of Pennsylvania, had long pre- ceded him to the unseen world, dying in 1848.

EDWARD FERGUSON, a retired farmer of Sterling township, Wayne county, is a self-made man, having through his own unaided efforts suc- ceeded in accumulating a comfortable property, which now enables him to lay aside business cares and spend his declining years in ease and quiet.

Mr. Ferguson was born February 8, 1835, on the old Ferguson homestead in Sterling township, a son of Thomas and Hannah (Severs) Ferguson, the former a native of Sligo, County Sligo, Ireland, born January 1, 1802, the latter a native of Bucks county, Penn., born December 5, 1806.

Thomas Ferguson's parents, George and Ann (Wallace) Ferguson, who were also born in Ireland, came to America in 1820, with their family, and lo- cated in Philadelphia. He was a farmer, and also bought and sold cattle. Mrs. Ann Ferguson died in 1845. Their son Edward married Ellen Munns in Ireland ; James, unmarried, was a sailor ; John mar- ried Mary Ellet, in Philadelphia; George was un- married ; Catherine married Archibald Black; Eliza became the wife of James Cook; Anna, the wife of George Graham; Thomas was the father of our subject. In 1810 Edward came to America with his wife and brother John, locating in Philadelphia. Our subject's maternal grandparents were farming people and spent their entire lives in Bucks county, Penn. Their children were Ridgeway; Joel ; Clay- ton .; John ; George ; Maria, wife of William Jordan ; Hannah, mother of our subject; and Sarah, wife of John Barry.

Thomas Ferguson came to America in 1820, and for some time made his home in Philadelphia, where he engaged in teaming, but after coming to Sterling township, Wayne county, in 1834, he de- voted his'attention to farming, buying, raising and selling cattle. He was a man of prominence in the community and held a number of local offices, being commissioner of Wayne county for three years. In Philadelphia he married Hannah Severs, and they became the parents of the following children : George, born November 16, 1829, is a farmer of Ster- ling township; he first married Charlotte Raub,

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and after her death wedded Elizabeth Walters. Sarah A., born June 30, 1831, died December 28, 1832. Margaret, born March 6, 1833, is the widow of Robert Stevens, and resides with her children in Wayne county. Edward is next in the family. John, born May 7, 1837, is a farmer of Sterling township; he married Jane Stevens. Thomas, born May 1, 1839, is unmarried, and is a farmer and carpenter of Shasta, Cal. James, born in 1842, is unmarried ; he is en- gaged in farming and also operates a shingle mill in Sterling township. William E., born March 8, 1845, is a farmer of Sterling township, he married Macrina H. Raub. Joseph, born October 14, 1847; married Maria Butler; he operates the old home farm in the same township. The father of these children died May 27, 1884, aged eighty-two, the mother March 25, 1882, aged seventy-six, and the remains of both were interred in the Catterson bury- ing ground in Sterling township.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 202

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