Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 218

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 218
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 218
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 218
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 218

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On November 22, 1893. at Newfoundland, Mr. Smith was married, by Rev. J. W. Widell, to Miss Clara L. Waltz, and to them has been born one son, who died in infancy. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of George L. and Magdeline C. ( Rohrbacker) Waltz, of Newfoundland, where the father is successfully engaged in general merchandising and the cream- ery business. She is the second in order of birth in their family of three children, the others being Edward W., a prominent farmer of Newfoundland, who married Mary C. Beisecker; and Frank D., who married Emma A. Beehn, and is now in part- nership with his father.

BENJAMIN V. GRAY, a well known and popular citizen of Berlin township, and a repre- sentative of one of the honored old families of Wayne county, was born on the home farm in that township, February 21, 1854, a son of Benjamin H. and Catherine ( Barnes) Gray. The father was born in Lackawaxen, Penn., and was a son of John and Mary ( Holbert) Gray ; while the mother was also born in Pike county, and was a daughter of John and Betsy ( Holbert) Barnes, the latter a daughter of Benjamin Holbert, a prominent set- tler of the Delaware valley, in Pike county, Penn- sylvania.

Coming to Wayne county at an early day, Benjamin H. Grav located on a farm in Berlin township, and in the midst of the forest developed a good farm. He was a farmer and lumberman by occupation, and was a successful fisherman and hunter, killing many bears, wolves, foxes and other wild game in those early days. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, gave liberally of his means to its support, and his wife was ever in harmony with its teach- ings. Politically he was a Democrat, and for sev- eral years efficiently served as a member of the school board. He died in November, 1887, at the . age of sixty-two years, and his widow passed away March 6, 1898, at the age of seventy years, her

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death occurring in Peckville, Penn. ; she was a con- sistent member of the Methodist Church of that place. In the family of this worthy couple were thirteen children, who in order of birth are as fol- lows: John B .; Decatur, deceased; William D .; Mrs. Harriet A. Stearnes; Benjamin V .; E. Alice, who died at the age of fifteen years; Mrs. Catherine A. Breidenstein, of Honesdale ; Mrs. Margaret Pethick, of Poyntelle, Penn .; Mrs. Amanda A. Loomis, of Peckville; Mrs. Rosa A. Hartson, of Delaware county, N. Y. ; Mrs. Emma V. Gibson, of Peckville: Charles N., of Oliphant, Penn. ; and George H., of Peckville.

The subject of this sketch was reared to habits of industry and honesty upon the home farm in Berlin township, his scholastic training being ob- tained in the district schools of the neighborhood. He was married, November 24, 1881, to Miss Fran- ces D. Buckingham, a successful and popular teacher, who was also reared and educated in Wayne county. Her father, the late John Buck- ingham, was for many years one of the leading and highly-respected citizens of Berlin township. He was born October 28, 1826, in Cornwall, England, a son of Digery and Elizabeth ( Haines) Bucking- ham, also natives of Cornwall, where the father died. Subsequently the mother came to America, bringing her five children, namely: Richard; Cath- erine, who married Ambrose Davie, now deceased ; Digery, a resident of California; John ; and Eliza- beth, who died when a young woman. The mother reached the ripe old age of eighty-five years, and died honored and respected by the entire com- munity.

John Buckingham was a lad of thirteen years when he accompanied his mother on the emigration to the New World. They located near the Haines farm in Berlin township, Wayne county, which he helped to clear, and during his boyhood he also en- gaged in boating on the canal for two years. To a limited extent he had attended school in England, but by practical experience he became a well-in- formed man on general topics. In 1855 he married Emma Dony, who was also born in England, but was only three years old when brought to the Uni- ted States by her parents, John and Frances (Cawrse) Dony, the latter being the fourth Fran- ces in her family. Mr. and Mrs. Dony were pio- neer settlers of Bethany, Penn., and died in Dy- berry, Wayne county, at advanced ages. Of their seven children, six reached years of maturity, namely: Mrs. Emma Buckingham, Mrs. Jane Blake, George, John, Mrs. Mary Short (a widow), Fanny ( wife of William Kaislake, of Michigan), and Ella ( wife of Henry Karslake, of Long Island, N. Y.). To Mr. and Mrs. John Buckingham were born seven children, as follows: Frances D., wife of our subject ; Elizabeth J., wife of Wallace Spry ; Sarah E., wife of George Spry, of Berlin township ; Rebecca A. Buckingham, of Forest City, Penn. ; William D., who lives on the old homestead ; Emma G., of Forest City; and John R., of Damascus

township, Wayne county. The father departed this life October 4, 1894. He was an active mem- ber and liberal supporter of the Methodist Church, in which he served as trustee and steward, and was an ardent advocate of the principles of the Re- publican partv.

After his marriage Mr. Gray purchased the William Molaney farm of fifty acres in Berlin township, which has been his nome for some years, and is one of the most valuable places of its size in the locality. The soil is rich, and being well cul- tivated, has proved very productive, and upon the place is also a good bearing orchard, while the buildings are neat and attractive. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gray are Mabel A., Frances E., William B., Lewis V. and Catherine W.

Reared a Republican, Mr. Gray has always been a stanch supporter of that party, and has labored earnestly for its interests, but has never aspired to office. Now, in the prime of life, he is acknowledged to be one of the best farmers and most useful and valued citizens of his community, taking an active interest in whatever tends to pro- mote the moral or material welfare of his township or county. He and his wife are leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Beach Lake, in which he serves as steward. For several years he was both steward and Sunday-school teacher in the Church at Vine Hill, while Mrs. Gray was a teacher in the Sunday-school before her marriage, and organist for ten years.

JOHN F. LEE, an able representative of the agricultural interests of South Canaan township, Wayne county, was born December 12, 1839, on the farm where he still continues to make his home. He belongs to one of the old and prominent families of the county, his parents being Horace and Catherine ( Hamlin) Lee, natives of Connecticut and Massa- chusetts, respectively. His paternal grandfather, Vene Lee, who was a resident of Litchfield, Conn., was twice married, and by his first union he had one son, Horace, the father of our subject. After her death, when Horace was about fourteen years old, he wedded a Miss Griffin, and by her had one son, John, who died when twenty-one years old.

Horace Lee was born in Connecticut in 1792, and came to Wayne county Penn., with his father about 1812. They settled on 500 acres of land, 200 of which are owned by our subject, John F. Lee. Horace spent his entire life as a farmer. He mar- ried Catherine Hamlin, who was born in Massachu- setts in 1790, and was a sister of Judge Butler Ham- lin, mentioned elsewhere. Horace Lee died in Sep- tember, 1867, aged seventy-five years, and his wife, who was a consistent member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, passed away in December, 1869, aged seventy-seven, both being laid to rest in Canaan Corners cemetery, Wayne county. Politically, he was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. Of their children, Eliza lived with our subject until her death, which occurred in 1891 ; Remanda L. married

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George A. Stockweather, now a retired merchant of Waymart, Wayne county ( she died in 1869) ; Bald- win H. is a farmer of Minnesota ; Carlton O. died in Kansas in 1893; Hannah died at the age of three years ; Lucy A. is the wife of John Warner, a stock- man of Kansas; and John F. completes the family.

Reared upon the home farm, the subject of this sketch early became familiar with every department of farm work, and is now acknowledged to be one of the best and most skillful agriculturists of South Canaan township. His education was limited to that obtained in the common schools of the day, and one year at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Penn. He was married at Purdytown, Wayne county, Novem- ber 10, 1868, by Rev. William Callender, a Baptist minister, to Miss Adelaide V. Purdy, and to them were born five children: Earl M. and Cora, who both died of scarlet fever aged five and seven years, respectively ; Harry H., who taught school in South Canaan township (he is a graduate of the Waymart Normal Institute ) ; and Daisy A. and Roy A., both at home.

Mrs. Lee was born in Purdyville, Wayne county, April 14, 1843, a daughter of Reuben R. and Clara (Purdy) Purdy, who were distant blood relations. The paternal grandfather, Rev. William Purdy, was a Baptist minister of New York State. Mrs. Lee's parents both died in Wayne county, the mother in 1844, aged forty years, the father. in 1879, aged seventy-eight years, and were buried at Purdyville. He was a farmer and lumberman by occupation, and was one of the prominent and influential citizens of his community, being elected to various offices, including that of commissioner of Wayne county. He was one of the most active workers and liberal supporters in the Baptist Church, to which he be- longed.

In the Purdy family were the following chil- dren : Percis is the wife of George W. Leonard, a retired farmer of Central Valley, N. Y. ; Darius G. is a hardware merchant of Carbondale, Penn. ; Lecta died unmarried : Andrew and Martin are both de- ceased ; Delinda is the deceased wife of John Weiss, a farmer and stock dealer of Delaware Water Gap, Penn. ; Franklin is a farmer of Purdyville : Adelaide is the wife of our subject ; and Sylvanus is a retired hardware merchant of Carbondale, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Lee has been called upon to serve in all of the township offices, being an efficient school direc- tor for twelve years and justice of the peace for five years. Politically he is an ardent Demo- crat, and religiously is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is one of the trustees. He has traveled extensively, some twenty years ago visiting the West, and later with his wife spent one summer in Kansas and Nebraska. He takes a deep and commendable interest in matters pertaining to the progress and development of his native county, and is justly numbered among its valued and useful citizens, as his support is never withheld from any object which he believes will prove of public benefit. Mr. Lee is a Free Mason, 59

being a member of Blue Lodge No. 442, Waymart, Penn. For the past twenty years he has been a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 531, South Canaan, and of the Patrons of Husbandry No. 898, of South Canaan.

HENRY S. BUSH, a prominent farmer of Smithfield township, Monroe county, was born in that township in August, 1845, and is a descendant of one of the honored pioneer families of the coun- ty. His great-grandfather, Henry Bush, a native of Germany, was one of its earliest settlers, and since his time members of the family have been actively identified with the development and pros- perity of this region.

John C. Bush, our subject's grandfather, lo- cated near Craig's Meadows, where he erected a building and engaged in the hotel business for a number of years. His worthy wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Arndt, died in October, 1858. Soon thereafter he discontinued the hotel business and lived with his children until his death, which occurred in February, 1867. In 1843 he purchased a farm near Marshall's Creek, which he rented until 1865, when he sold it to his son Daniel A. He took quite a prominent part in public affairs, and was elected county commissioner, which office he filled with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In his fam- ily were five children: (1) Samuel married and moved to Shelby county, Ohio, where he followed agricultural pursuits until his death. He left one son, John S., who is married, has a family, and still resides in Shelby county. (2) Andrew married Susan Brutzman, of Monroe county, and after his marriage moved to Bradford county, Penn., where he followed farming some years. He then went to Meshoppen, Wyoming county, where he pur- chased a farm and made his home until called to his final rest, his wife dying at the same place. Their children were Sylvester ; James : Van ; Emma J. ; Hannah, wife of Benjamin Custard, of Wyalus- ing, Penn .; Mrs. Lizzie Sterling, a resident of Wilkes Barre, Penn; Albina and Cora Bell, who both died unmarried. (3) Catherine, born at Craig's Meadows, married Michael Shearbaugh, of Monroe county, and they moved to Shelby coun- ty, Ohio, where both died, leaving four children : Caroline, Marietta, Catherine and John. (4) Eliza- beth, born in Smithfield township, Monroe county, married David Yetter, of the same township, where they made their home until called from this life. They are mentioned more fully in the sketch of their son. Martin Yetter.

Daniel A. Bush, our subject's father, was born at Craig's Meadows, Monroe county, in June, 1819, grew to manhood in Smithfield township, and re- ceived a good common-school education, which well qualified him to successfully engage in school teach- ing in Monroe county for several terms. In Oc- tober, 1844, he married Miss Ann Eliza Jayne, who was born in Milford, Penn., in July, 1819, a daugh-

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ter of Daniel and Mary (Shoemaker) Jayne, who belonged to old and prominent families of Pike county. After his marriage Mr. Bush engaged in agricultural pursuits in Smithfield township, and later, for a number of years, managed his father's farm, which is now owned by our subject. In 1859 he moved to Craig's Meadows and took charge of his father's hotel, which he conducted for six years, but in 1865 purchased the old homestead, where he erected a large two-story house. In 1848 he and his father had erected thereon a com- modious barn, and in 1877 he built another com- modious residence for his younger son, Julius F. Bush, now a resident of East Stroudsburg. Upon this farm Mr. Bush died in January, 1879, honored and respected by the entire community. He was always identified with the old Democratic party, and he was called upon to fill a number of local offices. His wife made her home with her children after his death, and she, too, passed away in 1893. Our subject is the eldest in the family of three children. (2) Blandena, born in Smithfield town- ship in April, 1848, was educated in the public schools, and married George M. D. Huffman, of Middle Smithfield township, Monroe county, where they now reside on his farm. Their children are Le Roy, who married Nettie Strunk, and lives in the same township; Charles P. and Lewis B., both at home. (3) Julius F., born December 17, 1851, was married in 1874 to Esther A. Price, of Barrett township, Monroe county, and for seven years thereafter had charge of the old home farm. In 1884 he removed to East Stroudsburg, where he purchased real estate, and is still engaged in busi- ness. He had six children: Lewis D. (a glass- blower by occupation), Nettie, C. Wallace, A. Roe, Fred and Harold.

Amid rural scenes Henry S. Bush passed his boyhood and youth, attending both public and select schools of Monroe county, and assisting in the farm and hotel. In 1863, at the age of eighteen years, he commenced teaching school in that county, and continued to follow that profession here until 1869, when he went to Walworth county, Wis., where he was engaged in the same occupation. In 1870 he went overland by team to Mitchell county, Kans., and in Cowley county, that State, secured a tract of government land by pre-emption. For three years he devoted his attention to its improvement and cultivation, but in 1873 returned to Pennsylva- nia and operated his father's farm for four years, again going to Kansas at the end of that time. In July, 1878, on account of his father's ill health, he returned home, and in 1883 purchased the old home- stead, where he still resides. Politically he is a supporter of the principles of the Democratic party as advocated by Andrew Jackson. He has always been identified with the best interests of the com- munity, is a man of upright character and sterling worth, and is highly respected by his fellow citizens.

In 1884 Mr. Bush married Miss Malvina Mosier, who was born in 1858, a daughter of Frank-

lin and Hannah Mosier, leading citizens of Middle Smithfield township, Monroe county. She was educated in select schools of the county, was a lady of culture and refinement, and was one of its suc- cessful teachers for several years. She was a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, took an active part in religious work, and made many friends throughout the community. She died after a short married life of only ten months, and her death was widely and deeply mourned.

GEORGE S. MITCHELL, a well known farmer of Damascus township, Wayne county, was born there October 18, 1846, a son of Bateman S. Mitchell, also a native of Wayne county. The grandfather, Isaac Mitchell, came here with four brothers, and members of the family have since been prominently identified with the growth and prosperity of this region. They were of English descent. Nathan Mitchell, the great-grandfather of our subject, was once taken by the Indians, and narrowly escaped freezing to death.

Isaac Mitchell married Ursula Smith, of Litchfield, Conn., and related to Lord Bateman's family, and ten children were born to them, namely : Mrs. Electa Hunt; Mrs. Viletta Gavitt; Mary Ann, wife of John Y. Tyler, of Damascus township; Bateman S., father of our subject; Albert, a resi- dent of Hallstead, Susquehanna Co., Penn .; Elmira, wife of J. Wood; Oliver, who died in Kansas ; Mrs. Betsy Jane Boyd, of Damascus township ; David, of Berlin township, Wayne county; and Nathan, of Hallstead, Penn. Isaac Mitchell, who was a miller by occupation, died at the extreme old age of nine- ty-three years, and his wife reached the age of ninety-one.

Bateman S. Mitchell, our subject's father, was reared in Wayne county, and married Miss Mar- garet Stewart, daughter of Alexander Stewart. They became the parents of four children: George S .; Apply L., of Damascus township; Stewart A .; and Adelaide, wife of Thomas Buscher, also of Damascus township. Throughout his active busi- ness life the father followed farming and lumber- ing, and was known as an expert hunter, killing many deer and other wild game so plentiful in early days. Politically he was a pronounced Demo- crat, and in religious belief was a Baptist. He died December 25, 1895, aged seventy-six years, respected by all who knew him. The mother, also a worthy member of the Baptist Church, is still liv- ing at the age of eighty years, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Buscher, of Damascus township.

During his boyhood and youth George Mitch- ell remained under the parental roof, and not only acquired an excellent knowledge of farm life, but also became familiar with lumbering on the river, while his literary education was obtained in the dis- trict schools. In 1878 he located upon his present farm of seventy-two acres in Damascus township, which under his careful supervision has become one

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of the most desirable places of the locality. He has been very successful in his business ventures, and has become much interested in bee culture, having a large apiary upon his farm.

In 1868 Mr. Mitchell was married to Miss Martha R. Martin, a native of Sterling, Wayne county, and a daughter of Nathaniel Martin, who was born in January, 1813. Her grandparents, William and Mary ( Mertland) Martin, were na- tives of Ireland, and the parents of eight children. In 1832, when nineteen years of age, Nathaniel Martin came to Pennsylvania, and after spending three years in Philadelphia, he bought 200 acres of land at Salem, Wayne county, where he made his home for a time. Later he sold that land and pur- chased a farm at Sterling, Wayne county. He married Mary Ann Cross, a native of Sterling, daughter of Ed Cross, and to them were born eight children: William Edgar and Robert M., who were both soldiers in the Civil war; Mrs. Frances Ridgeway, who died in St. Louis, Mo .; Mary, wife of Charles Wright, of Hawley, Penn .; Martha, wife of our subject; Nathaniel, a resident of Da- mascus township; Oliver, of Salem; and George, of Sterling. The wife and mother, who was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church, de- parted this life in 1856. Subsequently Mr. Mar- tin married Sarah G. Cross, by whom he had four children : Thomas E., William J., Henry and W. G.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are Ora E., of Wayne county, who was educated at Honesdale and Hallstead, Penn .; Louie M., wife of Scott Bush, of Jersey City ; Vernie E., wife of Leslie Bush, of Damascus township; and Merle B., at home. The parents hold membership in the Bap- tist Church, and occupy an enviable position in the esteem of their fellow citizens. Mr. Mitchell is a man of broad and liberal views, is a stalwart Demo- crat in politics, and is a liberal supporter of all measures for the public good.

REINHARD R. WARG (deceased) was for several years one of the most prominent business men and valued citizens of Hawley, Wayne county. He was of foreign birth, born in Saxony, Germany, June 6, 1836, but performed his duties of citizen- ship with a loyalty equal to that of any native son of America. He was killed while on a pleasure trip, February 25, 1883. A party of friends, num- bering twenty-eight, were in a bus to which four horses were attached. The road being very slip- pery with ice, the vehicle went over an embank- ment, and he was the only one of the party killed.

In 1852 Mr. Warg was brought to America by his parents, Carl and Wilhelmina (Meinel) Warg, who first located at Wilsonville, Wayne county, but a year later came to Hawley, where the father fol- lowed his trade of shoemaking. There he died in 1866, aged sixty-seven years, the mother in 1876, aged sixty-six. Both were earnest and faithful members of the German Congregational Church. Their children were Amelia, now the wife of Mich-

ael Koehnlein, of Bridgeport, Ohio; Carl, who died in Chicago, Ill .; Reinhard R .; Louisa, who mar- ried Frank Hess, and died in Newark, N. J .; and Augusta, who first married Frank Kamsel, and after his death wedded John Davies, foreman of a hardware store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The first two years after his arrival in Wayne county, Reinhard R. Warg worked in a sawmill, and then went to Allentown, Penn., where he was employed in a woolen mill. He was an active worker and class-leader in the German Congrega- tional Church at that place. Returning to Hawley in 1859, he served an apprenticeship to the shoe- maker's trade with his father, and continued to work for him until the father's death, when he took charge ot the business, later establishing a regular shoe store which he successfully conducted until he too was called from this life. He was one of the found- ers and president of the Hawley Maennerchor, and also served as treasurer of the Odd Fellows lodge to which he belonged. A man of known reliability, he was often called upon to fill responsible positions in both public and private life, serving as guardian for three different families. He was charitable and benevolent, and always took an active and prom- inent part in Church work. The Democratic party found in him a stanch supporter, but he never cared for political honors. However, he was deeply inter- ested in education, served creditably as school di- rector for six years, declining a renomination at the end of that time, and was the founder of the graded school in Hawley.

At Hawley, August 23, 1863, Mr. Warg mar- ried Miss Mary E. Koesting, Rev. Frankford, a German Reformed minister, officiating. She was born in Hesse, Germany, February 6, 1844, a daugh- ter of Henry and Jenetta (Everling) Koesting, of the same Province, who, in 1854, came to America and located in Stroudsburg, Penn., where the father worked in a mill. The mother died in June, 1854, just three weeks after her arrival in that place, at the age of thirty-nine years. In 1860 Mr. Koesting came to Hawley, where he conducted a meat market for three years, and for the following six years engaged in the same business in Milford, Penn., where he subsequently lived retired until his death in 1890, at the age of seventy-four. In 1858 he was married to Elizabeth Meyer, of Hamilton, Penn., who died in Milford, in 1887. The children born to them were William, who died at the age of twenty-three years; and Anna, now the wife of Lawn Greening, a drover, of Milford. By his first marriage Mr, Koesting had six children: Carl, who died in Germany; Frederick, who died in New York, in 1891; Philipenna, wife of George Jacobs, who is employed in the Pennsylvania railroad shops in Hawley; Mary E., widow of our subject ; Lena, who first married Lafayette Waldo, and after his death wedded Harry Ross, a barber of Port Jer- vis, N. Y. ; and Charles, who is superintendent of the large dry-goods store of James McCreery in New York.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 218

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