USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 209
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 209
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 209
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 209
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E. C. MUMFORD, of Honesdale, Wayne coun- ty, is a prominent and successful lawyer. He has a large clientage and office practice, and has tried as many cases as any one of his years in northeastern Pennsylvania. He is also identified with several important business enterprises, and his keen judg- ment and knowledge of affairs cause him to be fre-
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El rumford
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quently consulted by his fellow practitioners in cases involving commercial law. Being remarkably shrewd in making investments, he rarely, if ever, loses money.
Mr. Mumford is descended from an old English family, the first ancestor of whom we have a definite account having been a secretary to Queen Elizabeth. Some of the descendants of this worthy courtier came to America at an early day, and settled in Rhode Island, and through them he traces his lineage. He was born August 8, 1851, in Starrucca, Wayne Co., Penn., son of Hon. James Mumford. His boyhood was spent near the village of Star- rucca, where his father was engaged in mercantile business, milling and lumbering, and when not in school he assisted in these industries, thus acquiring a practical insight into business methods. After completing the course of study offered in the local schools he pursued the higher branches of learning in the State Normal School at Millersville, Lancas- ter Co., Penn., and at his father's death, in 1873, it became necessary for him to take charge of the estate, which he settled up in a business-like and eminently satisfactory way. Soon afterward he be- gan the study of law with Hon. M. J. Larrabee, an attorney at Susquehanna Depot, and in 1875 he re- moved to Honesdale, where he continued his studies in the office of Waller & Bentley. In September, 1876, he was admitted to the Bar, and he at once es- tablished himself in independent practice at Hones- dale, where success attended him from the start. As has been said, he is essentially a business lawyer, and his advice and co-operation are valued by busi- ness men and practitioners alike. Among the enter- prises with which he is now connected we may men- tion especially the Honesdale Savings Bank, in which he is a director, and the Honesdale Board of Trade, of which he is secretary, and although he has never had a partner in the legal practice, he finds time to give his personal attention to various local interests. His sympathies are always on the side of progress, and he takes pleasure in forwarding any movement which promises to benefit his town.
In religious faith Mr. Mumford is a Presby- terian, and he is a trustee of the Church at Hones- dale. On May 17, 1881, he was married to Miss Ella F. Sutton, who was born in Honesdale Novem- ber 14, 1858, and their home is brightened by three children, namely: Mamie, Jamie and Margaret. Two of Mr. Mumford's seven brothers were captains in the Civil war, and both were killed, Oliver at the battle of Petersburg, Va., and James at the battle of Chancellorsville. The former was wounded at the first battle of Bull Run.
Mr. Mumford naturally resents and exerts his influence against the abuses of power and the per- petration of wrongs on the public, and strongly sympathizes with all judicious movements for re- form. Though exceedingly independent in thought and actions, he is stable in character, clinging with great constancy to his friends, but is broad in his humanity, always responding liberally when called
upon to aid persons who have been overtaken by mis- fortune. He is a great reader, a tireless worker, is careful, methodical, true to those who intrust their business interests to his direction, is a safe counselor, and pursues whatever he undertakes with great en- ergy and skill.
RICHARD WOLFF is one of the successful and progressive agriculturists of Dreher township, Wayne county, and a representative man of this sec- tion. He has made a success in his special field of industry, and is highly esteemed and respected by those who know him best.
Our subject's father, Paul Wolff, was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1801, and in that country mar- ried Miss Caroline Swalbe, a daughter of Jacob Swalbe. For many years he engaged in the manu- facture and sale of cloth in his native land, and there seven of his nine children were born. It was in 1837 that they crossed the broad Atlantic and took up their residence in Nazareth, Penn., a year later removing to Bethlehem, this State, where the father was employed in a factory for two years. At the end of that time, with his entire family, he came to Sterling township, Wayne county, where he en- gaged in farming and lumbering throughout the remainder of his life, his death, which was acci- dental, occurring in 1845 ; he was killed by the limb of a tree.
Of the children, Paul is now a retired farmer and nurseryman of Olivia, Minn .; Henry, who was for many years a farmer of Bird Island, Minn., is now deceased; Julius A. is also a farmer of that State; Richard is the subject of this review ; Gtis- tavus is a farmer of Redwood Falls, Minn .; Ed- ward, who married Julia Groner, a native of Monroe county, Penn., is engaged in farming and black- smithing in Snydersville, that county; Louis is a farmer and blacksmith of Chaska, Minn .; Ferdi- nand is an agriculturist of Bird Island, that State; and Bernard is a merchant of Redwood Falls, Min- nesota.
Richard Wolff was born in Saxony, Germany, December 9, 1830, and was seven years old when brought by his parents to the United States. He completed his education in the schools of Wayne county, and after his father's death assisted his mother in the operation of the home farm until he. attained the age of twenty-two years, when he started out to make his own way in the world. Soon afterward, however, he returned to the old homestead, and he has since devoted his energies to its cultivation and improvement with most gratify- ing results. He has eighty-five acres of valuable land, upon which he has erected a substantial dwell- ing and good outbuildings. In connection with gen- eral farming he has engaged in lumbering, and having a grove of over 200 maple trees upon his place, he manufactures, in a good season, 400 pounds of sugar, besides sufficient syrup for home use.
In Dreher township, Mr. Wolff was married, in 1854, to Miss Ernestina Ehrhardt, a daughter of
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Gotlieb Ehrhardt, and they have had children as follows: (1) Agnes, born July 27, 1855, died February 2, 1858. (2) Frank E., born March II, 1857, wedded Mary Schroeder, and is now living in Alameda, Cal. He was educated at Bethlehem, Penn., for the Moravian ministry, and first preached at Whitewater, Wis., later at Green Bay, that State, and at Casselton, N. Dak., and was for seven years a missionary in Alaska. (3) John R., born No- vember 9, 1858, is married and engaged in merchan- dising in St. Paul, Minn. (4) Charles, born March I, 1860, married Mary Burrus, and is carrying on farming and lumbering in Greene township, Pike county, Penn. (5) Richard F., born December 31, 1861, married Mary Racliffe, and is a machinist of Auburn, N. Y. (6) William E., born August 22, 1863, married Katie Kipp, and is a farmer and lum- berman of Greene township, Pike county. (7) Edward A., born March 12, 1865, married Frances Ruth, and resides in Mont Clair, N. J. ; he is a car- penter by trade. (8) Samuel H., born September 10, 1869, married Frances Brink, and makes his home in Stroudsburg; he also is engaged in car- pentering. (9) Mary E., born November 23, 1871, is the wife of Frank Sebring. The mother of this family passed away October 11, 1878. Mr. Wolff has twenty-three grandchildren.
As a Republican, Mr. Wolff takes an active in- terest in political affairs, and has most acceptably filled the office of supervisor of his township. He is an earnest member of the Moravian Church, and is widely and favorably known throughout his adopted county.
IRWIN R. BENJAMIN, an enterprising and thorough-going farmer of Simon, South Canaan township, Wayne county, is a native son of that county, born August 9, 1843, in what was then Salem (now Lake) township.
Henry H. Benjamin, father of our subject, was a native of New York State, and in Lackawanna county, Penn., about two miles from Dunmore, be- came acquainted with Miss Sarah Krotzer, a native of Easton, Penn., who afterward became his wife. In 1835 they came to Wayne county, living in Salem township until 1867, when they returned to Dun- more, and she died there in 1872, aged sixty-six years. He died June 21, 1887, while on a visit to our subject in Wayne county, at the age of eighty- three years and three months, and both were laid to rest at Dunmore. They were active and faithful members of the Christian Church. The father was a carpenter by trade and was a Republican in politics. The children born to Henry H. and Sarah ( Krot- zer ) Benjamin were as follows: Mary wedded Will- iam Beisecker, and both are now deceased. Sidney is a carpenter Dv trade. Wells and Charles are both deceased. Sarah A. is the wife of P. H. Moan, who is with the Pennsylvania Coal Co., in Pittston, Penn. Harriet is the deceased wife of Amos Washer, who is with the Pennsylvania Coal Co., in Dunmore. Henry lived on the old homestead in Lake township, in 1898
removing to Hollisterville, where he died October 2, 1899. Irwin R. is the next of the family. Cath- erine is the wife of William H. Sharp, a farmer of Lake township. Hettie is the wife of Henry Moon, a farmer of Salem township.
Irwin R. Benjamin remained under the paren- tal roof until after the outbreak of the Civil war. Responding to his country's call for aid, he enlisted, August 6, 1862, in Company A, 137th P. V. I., under Capt. J. M. Buckingham. He was under fire at Chancellorsville, but was never wounded, and when his term of service had expired was honorably dis- charged, in June, 1863. After a short time spent at home, he began working for the railroad, with which he was connected until March, 1864, when he went to Tennessee as a carpenter in the employ of the gov- ernment for five months. On returning to Wayne county he again entered the service of the Pennsyl- vania Coal Co., as a railroad employe between Dun- more and Hawley, remaining with them four and a half years. He then purchased a farm in South Canaan township which he operated for one year, but for the following year and a half was again with the railroad, at the end of that time returning to the farm, and continuing its cultivation from 1871 until 1876, when he removed to his present place of 160 acres. Here he has since successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits.
On December 25. 1864. Mr. Benjamin was uni- ted in marriage to Miss Orrilla R. Swingle, and to them were born four children : The eldest, born September 11, 1865, died in infancy. Jennie M., born April 17, 1867, is now the wife of Hayton Merithew, a hardware merchant of Wilkes Barre, Penn., and they have one son, Lyle Leroy, born July 8, 1890. Simon L., born March 4, 1873, died in infancy. Delbert, born March 21, 1877, died in childhood. The wife and mother was born in South Canaan township, April 4, 1846, and died March II, 1895, being buried in the Protestant Church cem- etery, in South Canaan township. Her father, Simon Swingle, died March 6, 1896, but her mother is still living, now making her home with her son- in-law, Charles McKinney, at Simon, South Canaan township.
At Wilkes Barre, Penn., Mr. Benjamin was married, March 3, 1897, to Miss Clara A. Brown, Rev. George Eakens, assisted by Rev. J. T. Logan, of the Free Methodist Church, performing the cere- mony. Mrs. Benjamin was born near Pittston, Penn., a daughter of William and Abigail ( Will- iams) Brown, the former a native of Scotland, the latter of Luzerne county, Penn. At the age of six- teen the father came to America, locating first in New York, whence he removed to Luzerne county, Penn., and where both he and his wife died, the former in April, 1862, aged fifty years, the latter in 1876, aged fifty-four, and their remains were in- terred at Wilkes Barre. Their children were Will -- iam, who died in 1874; Bradley, deceased; Clara A., wife of our subject ; Harry A., a printer of New York ; and Milton C., a baker, of Wilkes Barre. The
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mother was twice married, her first husband being Charles Mckinney, by whom she had five children, namely : Thomas, deceased ; Lovia, deceased wife of William Mitchelltree; Lucy, who died when young ; Charles, who conducts a poultry farm in California ; and Frances, deceased wife of L. C. Gomer, a jew- eler of Wilkes Barre. Mrs. Benjamin's maternal grandfather, Thomas Williams, was descended from Connecticut ancestry who were early settlers of Plains, Luzerne county, being there at the time of the Wyoming massacre. Her grandmother, Hannah (Bennet) Williams, was a native of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Benjamin is a prominent and active member of the Free Methodist Church, of which he is at present serving as trustee and steward. Being a strong Temperance man, his support is always given the men and measures of the Prohibition party, and his influence and support is never withheld from any object which he believes calculated to prove of pub- lic good. In many respects his life is well worthy of emulation.
GABRIEL D. W. LAYTON. On June 18, 1880, there passed away, at his home in Delaware township, Pike county, this well-known educator and prominent farmer, whose many years of faithful toil in his profession made his name a household word in that community. In all the varied activities of our common life he had taken a helpful part as a loyal citizen, devoting his abilities to the cause of progress. His death was felt as a loss among all classes, and the following brief account of one so esteemed will be read with unusual interest.
Mr. Layton was born in Sussex county, N. J., July 17, 1818, a son of Henry D. and Julia (Drake) Layton, the former born in New England, of En- glish ancestry, the latter in Sullivan county, N. Y., of Holland extraction. The father, who was also a teacher by profession, perished in the woods in 1836, darkness overtaking him while returning home, and he was lost in the snow. He was buried where his body was found. Our subject was the eldest of his children. John became a man of prominence in his community, having served nine years as county su- perintendent and many years as county surveyor, filling the latter office at the time of his death; he wedded Mary Whittaker, a native of Burnley, Eng- land. Henry D. married Susan Johnson. Anna is the widow of George Silvey, and a resident of Chi- cago, Ill. Henrietta is the widow of Christopher H. Garrison.
Gabriel D. W. Layton came to Pike county dur- ing boyhood, and here continued to make his home until called to the world beyond. During the greater part of his life he engaged in school teach- ing, and being one of the leading and influential cit- , izens of his township he was called upon to fill many local offices, serving as justice of the peace at the time of his death. In his political views he was a Democrat.
In 1840, in Delaware township, Mr. Layton married Miss Belinda Steele, who died March 23,
1895, at the age of eighty-one years, one month and eleven days. Her parents, Gilbert and Hannah (Decker) Steele, well-known agriculturists, spent their entire lives in Pike county, the father dying in 1840, aged sixty years, the mother in 1860, aged eighty-one. Their children were Daniel, who mar- ried Barbara Miller; Sarah, wife of William Mor- ris ; Gilbert J., who married Elizabeth L'Homedieu ; Eleanor, wife of Abram Van Auken; Belinda, wife of our subject ; Leah, who died unmarried at the age of thirty-five ; Jane and Hannah, who both died when young ; and Catherine, wife of Thomas Cortright. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Layton were Maurice H., who died in Delaware township; Sarah E., who lives on the old homestead; John, who died at the age of two and a half years; Hannah S., who lives with her sister on the home farm; Jennie L., widow of George M. Bosler, of Milford, Penn. ; and Kate, who is now serving as secretary to the super- intendent of a hospital in Warren county, Pennsyl- vania.
Miss Sarah E. Layton began her professional career as a teacher at the age of seventeen years, for nineteen years successfully taught in Pike county, and for one term in Sussex county, N. J. She was also in the Harrisburg State Hospital for three years, as ladies' companion, and as supervisor of female wards in hospitals at Warren, Penn., for nine and a half years, but since 1891 she has lived retired on the old home farm. She is a lady of more than ordinary business ability, is cultured and refined in manner, and has a host of warm friends who esteem her highly for her sterling worth. Religiously she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. .
SYLVESTER SHAFFER, a prominent resi- dent of Lake township, Wayne county, has been for many years identified with agricultural interests in that locality, but is now living in retirement, enjoy- ing the rewards of his past labors. He comes of a family which is noted for its industry and thrift, and his successful career shows that he possesses in abundant measure these admirable qualities.
Among the first settlers in Wayne county was John Shaffer, the grandfather of our subject, a German by birth. This pioneer came to America previous to the Revolutionary war, in which he took an active part on the side of freedom, and after residing for some years in New York State, where he married a Miss Forbes, removed, in 1783, to what is now South Canaan township, Wayne coun- ty. locating in the wilderness and clearing a farm. His surroundings and conveniences were of the most primitive type. In about 1800 he built a grist- mill at Shaffer's Hollow, the first in the neighbor- hood. He and his wife had the following children : John, a native of New York State; Moses, our sub- ject's father ; Samuel ; Catherine, Mrs. James Mc- Lane; Susan, Mrs. Joshua Borleigh; Effie, Mrs. Jacob Swingle; Betsey, Mrs. Edward Doyle; and Polly, Mrs. Samuel Chumard.
Moses Shaffer, the father of our subject, was
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the first white child born in South Canaan town- ship, Wayne county. He married Mary Swingle, a member of another pioneer family, and their chil- dren were: Jacob, who married Susan Enslin, both now deceased; Susan, who married (first) Jacob Swingle and ( second) Moses Springer, all deceased ; Sarah, who married John Cobb, both deceased ; Fanny, deceased, who married Aaron Curtis, of South Canaan; Samuel, who married (first) Re- becca Jaggers, deccased, and (second) Mary A. Curtis; Charles, who married Alice Bennett, both deceased ; Permelia, who married Adam Wagoner, of South Canaan; John, who married Mary A. Hoosier, both now deceased; Catherine, who mar- ried James Glenn, both deceased; Mary, widow of Abraham Jaggers, of South Canaan township; Sylvester, our subject; and Hannah J., wife of Rev. George W. Swingle, of South Canaan town- ship.
Our subject was born November 30, 1826, at the old homestead in South Canaan township, and remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-four. For about four years he was em- ployed as a farm hand and at lumbering, working in the woods as well as in sawmills. He then set- tled at his present farm in Lake township, and until his retirement from active work his time was chiefly given to its management. He has always taken an interest in local affairs, his influence being exerted on the side of progress, and he has for years been a leading worker in the Democratic organization of the township, having served in various official posi- tions, including that of supervisor, which he held for three years.
On November 8, 1850, Mr. Shaffer was mar- ried, in Jefferson township, Luzerne county, Penn., to Miss Hannah Swingle, and eight children have blessed the union. ( I) Frances married William Black, a railroad man residing in South Canaan township, and they have had three children: Cath- erine, who married Emory Chapman, and has two - children, Samuel and Buel; Minnie, who married Silas Bellows, and has five children: Leslie, Leo, Frances, Pearl and Luella ; and Alice, who married Byron Van Sickles, and has one child, William D. (2) Benjamin, a farmer of South Canaan town- ship, married Miss Ida Wagner, and they have five children: Jeanette (who married Charles Cobb, and has one child, Charles B.) ; Anna ( who married Albert Minry, and has one child, Grace), Sylvester J., Mary and Susan. (3) Alvin, who is engaged in farming in South Canaan township,married Miss Eretta Hawk, and they have four children, Clara (who married John Bell), Elmer, Leroy M. and Harlan. (4) Sylvia, widow of Spencer Black, re- sides in South Canaan township. She has five chil- dren: Emmet, Elida, Martha, Mattie and Bertha. (5) Mary, widow of Clinton Black, resides in South Canaan township. She has two children, Samuel and Carl L. (6) Charles, a carpenter in South Can- aan township, married Miss Almina Swingle, and they have seven children, Vincent, Gaston, Woody A.,
Herman, Floyd, Calvin and Nancy A. (7) Al- mina married Paolo Testa, a farmer in South Canaan township, and they have five children, Alson B., Pearl, Effie, Raymond and Mead. (8) Estella married George Mandeville, and resides in South Canaan township. She has one child, Hannah L. With the exception of Mrs. Mandeville, all of this family reside in Lake township.
Mrs. Shaffer was born October 16, 1832, in South Canaan township, and is of the fourth genera- tion in descent from Hans Ulrich Swingle, the noted pioneer, who is mentioned more fully else- where. Frederick Swingle, her grandfather, and the fifth child of the pioneer, married Susan Enslin, a native of South Canaan township, and a member of another well-known family. Charles Swingle, the father of Mrs. Shaffer, was a prominent resi- dent of the township in his day, and he died there in 1869 at an advanced age. His wife, Elmina Quick, who died in 1894 in her eightieth year, was born in Luzerne county, Penn., the daughter of Cornelius and Elizabeth Quick, who settled later in Wayne county. Charles and Elmina Swingle had the following children: Anna, who married Ira Reed, both now deceased; Oliver, a resident of Canaan township, Wayne county ; Hannah, wife of our subject ; Leonard, a resident of Canaan town- ship; Sarah, wife of James Mandeville, of Canaan township; Nancy, deceased, who married Samuel Swingle, of South Canaan township; Rachel, who married Michael Cobb, both deceased ; Julietta, who married James Ashley, of Canaan township; Cath- erine, deceased, who married Delavan Swingle, of Scranton, Penn. ; and Elijah, a resident of Scranton.
ARTHUR HENRY AYRES, of Dundaff, Susquehanna county, is proprietor of one of the largest and finest farms in northeastern Pennsylva- nia, supplied with all the conveniences and acces- sories found upon a model nineteenth-century farm. As a tiller of the soil he is thorough and skillful, and has been uniformly fortunate in his invest- ments. .
Mr. Ayres was born in the old "Dundaff Hotel," May 3, 1835, and is a worthy representative of one of the most prominent families of Susquehanna county, being a son of Benjamin and Margaret (Lepper) Ayres, the former a native of Bergen county, N. J., the latter of Dublin, Ireland. But little is known of his maternal grandparents ex- cept that they were lifelong residents of Dunmore, Ireland, and were Protestants in religious faith. His paternal grandparents were Elihu and Susan (Terhune) Ayres, the grandfather a native of Southampton, England, whence, in. 1780, he came to America with a brother. After a year spent in New Bedford they separated, the former going to. Bergen county, N. J., the latter to Pennsylvania, where he died shortly afterward. For many years Mr. Ayres' grandfather operated the first cable ferry between Manhattan Island and Jersey City. N. J. He died in 1825, at the age of sixty-eight
att Synes
حبيبي
ـبيبينه ــ
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years, his wife in 1836, at the age of seventy- eight, and both were buried at Stapleton, L. 1. Their children were Susan, wife of Witham Stagg, of New York City ; Eliza, wife of 1. B. Smith, of the same place; Benjamin, father of our subject ; Ann, wife of Jacob Lake, of New York City; Al- bert, who married Eliza C. Snyder; and Maria, wife of James Clark.
In 1824 Benjamin Ayres, father of our subject, came from Wilkes Barre, Penn., to Dundaff, and purchased the "Dundaff Hotel, ' which he conducted for twenty years. His first hotel was a log house, at which four stages stopped daily. He was in- strumental in securing the construction of the Mil- ford & Owego turnpike, in which he owned an in- terest until 1855, and he drove the first "coach and six" over that road. On leaving the Dundaff House" he rented the "Lake Hotel," in Clifford township, which he carried on for sixteen years. In 1855 he purchased from James Shott, of Phila- delphia, 450 acres of land in that townhsip and lo- cated thereon, and at the same time he also bought the "Dundaff Hotel" and three and one-half acres. He devoted the remainder of his life to agricultural pursuits. He had previously purchased 550 acres, making a tract of 1,000 acres, owned a farm of 250 acres at Clifford borough, and at the time of his death had 1,770 acres of fine farming land. He was an excellent business man, of keen discrimina- tion and sound judgment, and the success he achieved in life was due entirely to his own well- directed efforts and good management. He died August 7, 1868, at the age of sixty-eight years and eight months, and his wife passed away November 16, 1879, at the age of seventy-four years and six months, both being laid to rest in a private ceme- tery on a part of the old homestead. The chil- dren born to this worthy couple were William, who died young ; Thomas S., who died in 1853; Phin- ney, a broker and real-estate dealer of New York City ; Magaret J., widow of B. J. Edwards, of Dun- daff, mentioned below; Arthur H., our subject ; Susannah, a resident of New York City; Eliza, wife of Dr. E. W. Wells, of Eureka, Cal. ; Benja- min, a physician of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Mary R., wife of R. P. Olmstead, a salesman of Buffalo, N. Y .; and Albert, who died June 13, 1892.
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