Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 220

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 220
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 220
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 220
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 220

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Mrs. Bishop was born in Carbondale, Lacka- wanna Co., Penn., July 26, 1828, a daughter of Uriah and Elizabeth ( Hewett) Williams, who were married at that place, but were natives of Connecti- cut and Susquehanna county, Penn., respectively. The paternal grandparents, Jacob and Fanny (Enist) Williams, spent their entire lives in Con- necticut. For some years the maternal grandpar- ents, John and Mary ( Phillips) Hewett, lived in Susquehanna county, Penn., and died in Salem township, Wayne county, of which place they were early settlers. The grandfather was wounded in the war of 1812. After his death, his widow mar- ried Seth Goodridge. . The great-grandfather, Captain Hewett, commanded a company in the Revolutionary war.

By trade Uriah Williams (Mrs. Bishop's fa- ther ) was a stone mason. In 1832 he removed to Paupack township, Wayne county, where he made his home until 1860, and then located in Haw- ley, where he engaged in the butchering business and in buying and selling meat. He held a number of local offices in Paupack township, and was one of the active and influential members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which for many years he served as class leader. He died in February, 1872, aged sixty-seven years, his wife three days later. aged sixty-four, and both were laid to rest in the cemetery in Paupack township. Their chil- dren were: Sarah A., who died in childhood ;

Frances, who married John Mitchell, and both are now deceased ; John H., who died in 1893; George, a merchant and postmaster at South Canaan, Wayne county ; Lucy, wife of our subject; Mary J., deceased wife of Harvey Bishop (a cousin of our subject ), who was a soldier of the Civil war, and is now a lumberman at Lake Ariel, Wayne county ; Nancy, deceased wife of John McFarland, of Hollisterville, Penn .; Angeline, who died at the age of sixteen years ; Sanford W., a carpenter, build- er and wheelwright at Hamilton, Wayne county ; and Mahala and Charles, who died in childhood.

Although Mr. Bishop has never aspired to of- fice, he has been called upon to serve as councilman and school director, filling the latter position at the time the large school house was erected in Hawley. He is unswerving in his support of the Republican party, is an earnest and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and for the past sixteen years has affiliated with the Legion of Honor. He has rounded the Psalmist's span of three-score years and ten with mental and physical vigor unimpaired, overcoming the ordinary and usual cares and weaknesses of age by active interest and participa- tion in the living issues and affairs of the day. His friends are many throughout the county, and he is held in high regard by all who know him.

GILES A. WATROUS, one of the valiant de- fenders of the Union during the Civil war, and a prominent citizen of Bridgewater township, Sus- quehanna county, is now the owner of the old fam- ily homestead known as Sunny Slope, which has been in possession of the family since 1818. It is one of the most beautiful rural homes in this section, and is supplied with all the comforts which make life worth the living.

On this farm Mr. Watrous was born May 15, 1840, a son of Spencer Watrous, who was a native of Schoharie county, N. Y., and in 1818, during his childhood, was brought by his parents, Benjamin and Lucy (Spencer) Watrous, to Susquehanna county, Penn., locating in the southeastern part of Bridgewater township. Before he attained his ma- jority he learned the carpenter's trade, and in later vears built many houses for his neighbors besides carrying on his farm. He took little interest in po- litical matters, never sought official honors, but cred- itably served as supervisor and poormaster when those offices were given him by the vote of the town- ship without his solicitation. He was ever content to move along in the even tenor of his way, devoting himself to his family and his business interests. In boyhood he had but little opportunity to obtain a knowledge of books, and belonged to a class of sturdy citizens who cleared away the forests of Bridgewater township, prepared its soil for crops, built its roads, fences, school houses and churches, and placed within easy reach of coming generations good facilities and a sustenance without indefatiga- ble labor. During the old days of the militia he I served as captain of a company under Gov. Wolfe.

Files Q. Watrous

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Spencer Watrous was born March 26, 1810, one of the eleven children of Benjamin and Lucy ( Spen- cer) Watrous, who were formerly residents of Con- necticut. The other ten children were: Ansel, born September 4, 1792, died January 30, 1865; Joseph, born February 5, 1794, died May 6, 1875; Linas, born January 6, 1796, died April 29, 1865; Sallie, born April 13, 1798, died December 23, 1863; Mar- garet, born March 2, 1800, died December 6, 1808; Benjamin, Jr., born June 16, 1802, died March 28, 1882: Hannah, born March 7, 1804, died December 12, 1809; James, born February 9, 1807, died Feb- ruary 2, 1868; Maria, born February 9, 1807, died December 13, 1887: Ann, born July 12, 1812, died June 13, 1872 ; Lucy, born February 10, 1815, died March 18, 1888. Benjamin Watrous died in Susque- hanna county, and his wife, who had married again, died in Michigan. In 1839 Spencer Watrous was married to Louisa Giddings, born January 27, 1817, a daughter of James and Lucy (Deming) Giddings, who came to Susquehanna county from Groton, Conn., and located in Herrick township, where they reared their family which numbered the following children : Sarah W., Fanny D., Andrew, Charles W. (a presiding elder in the Methodist Church for many years), Giles A., Jabez D., Louisa, Maria, John James, George Henry, Francis Marion, Dewitt Clint- on ( who was a member of the United States Con- gress), and Mary Ann. Mrs. Watrous' paternal grandparents were Solomon and Sarah ( Waterman) Giddings, the former of whom died in 1827, the 'latter in 1784. Our subject is the eldest of the chil- dren born to Spencer and Louisa (Giddings) Wat- rous, the others being as follows: George G., born June 24, 1847, read law with Fitch & Watson, was admitted to the Susquehanna County Bar in 1879, and was engaged in practice at Montrose ; S. Ann, born August 10, 1844, is the widow of H. E. Tiffany. and resides in Montrose : James G. died at the age of four years. The mother was first a member of the Methodist Church, but afterward united with the Presbyterian Church, while the father was a Baptist in religious faith. Both were earnest Christian peo- ple. held in high esteem by all who knew them. He died November 14, 1891, preceded by his wife who passed away April 27, 1886, on the old homestead they loved so well.

During the war of the Rebellion Giles A. Wat- rous manifested his loyalty to his country by enlist- ing in November. 1861, in an independent company raised at Carlisle, and commanded by Capt. W. J. Palmer. It first acted as body-guard to Gen. An- derson, and after going to Louisville, Ky., served in the same capacity for Gen. Buell at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and as body-guard to Gen. Rose- crans at the battles of Crab Orchard and Stone Riv- er. Being sent with a message from Gen. Rosecrans to Gen. McCook, Mr. Watrous was captured on the Salem pike near Murfreesboro, and was taken to Libby prison. After one month's imprisonment, however, he was paroled and sent to Camp Chase. Ohio, from which place he returned home in March,

1863, his discharge papers having been previously made out with the rest of the company while he was in prison. On August 31, 1864, he enlisted in the marine corps at Philadelphia, and then went to Washington, D. C., where with seventy-five picked men he served as the body-guard of President Lin- coln until the early part of 1865. He was next sent with the ship guard to Norfolk, Va., where he was detailed to do duty in the navy yard. Four months later he went on board the "Powhatan," the ad- miral's ship of the South Pacific squadron, which sailed to southern seas and cruised on the coast of Peru and South America until 1868. His time hav- ing expired, he was then discharged and returned home.

Since the war Mr. Watrous has engaged in farming with marked success upon the old home- stead consisting of 100 acres, to which he has since added eighty, making 180 acres. He married Miss Celia E., daughter of Spencer and Electa ( Watrous) Read, of Deep River, Conn., and to them were born three daughters: (1) Nellie R., who died at the age of twenty years, was a young lady of culture and re- finement, and many womanly graces, and her death was a severe blow to her parents and friends. She died while attending the normal school at Mansfield, Penn. (2) Ella R., twin sister of Nellie, died in infancy. (3) Louise E. is a graduate of the Mont- rose high schools, and in 1897 also graduated with high honors from the Mansfield Normal school, re- ceiving the first prize. In politics Mr. Watrous is a Republican, has served his town six years as asses- sor, and has been school director. He is a member of the Four Brothers Post, G. A. R., at Montrose (a post so named in memory of four brothers who gave up their lives for their country). Both Mr. and Mrs. Watrous are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Spencer Read, father of Mrs. Watrous, was born April 23, 1817, in Chester, Conn., and died in April, 1898. He was a mechanic, and worked in a bit and auger factory, and during the war worked in the Whitnevville (Conn.) gun factory, later be- coming foreman in an ivory shop. He married Electa Watrous, who was born September 10, 1818, and died January 16, 1886. They were the parents of four children: Eleanor, born June 27, 1841 ; Henry Ș., born April 1I, 1844 : Celia E. ( Mrs. Wat- rous ), born June 5. 1846 ; and Myra A., born August 7, 1854, and died January 29. 1867.

JOHN MILTON SPENCER. Prominent among the leading farmers and well-to-do citizens of Mt. Pleasant township. Wayne county, is the gentleman whose name introduces this review. He was born in that township October 27, 1842. at what was then known as "Wheeler Corners," about a mile south of where he now lives, and throughout life has been prominently identifiedį with the agricultural interests of this region.

Mr. Spencer's father. Philo C. Spencer, is also a native of Wayne county, born in 1818, and is a

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

son of Ezra and Eliza (Clark) Spencer, who took up their residence here in 1816 and were among the honored pioneers. During his early life Philo C. Spencer was employed as a carpenter and joiner, wagon maker, etc. He married Miss Lucy Ann Simons, a daughter of Timothy Simons, an early settler of Susquehanna county, and to this worthy couple were born five sons: Charles Clark, J. Mil- ton, Orville W., George F. (a resident of Thompson, Penn., where he is the well-known proprietor of a steam-heating business, being the patentee and man- ufacturer of steam heaters), and Davie E. The mother's death occurred in January, 1885, but the father is still living, honored and respected by all who know him.

The subject of this review was reared at home, doing such work as his father furnished, some- times in the shop at wagons and sleighs, at other times at farm work. He obtained his education in the public schools of the locality. In the spring of 1865 he heeded the government call for men and took his place for a few months among those who went to defend the country's flag. After regaining his health, which became much impaired while a soldier, he followed mechanical work, such as is found to do in a country wagon shop, or as car- penter and joiner, much of the time for a few years. He has occupied the farm he now lives upon since 1870, obtaining the title for the same four years later.

On September 6, 1883, Mr. Spencer wedded Miss Maria E. King, a native of Susquehanna coun- ty, Penn., and a daughter of Sylvester and Jane (Hall) King. Her father, who was a millwright and farmer by occupation, died July 26, 1894, at the age of sixty-eight years. To Mr. and Mrs. Spen- cer were born three children, but the only one now living is James Russell, whose birth occurred Au- gust 21, 1887. King, the first born, died at the age of three years ; and Ward Wheeler, the youngest, died at the age of four months.

Mr. and Mrs. Spencer are both devout members of the Methodist Church at Pleasant Mount, and she is much interested in the temperance cause, be- ing an active and prominent member of the Wom- an's Christian Temperance Union, and living in har- mony with its motto, "For God and home and native land." In politics Mr. Spencer is an ardent Republi- can, and has ever been a warm advocate of the prin- ciples of this great political organization. Industry, honesty and integrity are among his chief character- istics, and he too is a stanch supporter of temperance principles, being a member of the Independent Or- der of Good Templars.

JOSEPH BACON SHAW, M. D., of Dela- ware Water Gap, Monroe county, is a physician of the highest standing, and his genial and courteous manners make him popular among all classes of people.

Our subject comes of good Colonial stock, his ancestors having resided at Cape May, N. J., for

several generations. His great-grandfather, Obediah Shaw, and grandfather, Obediah Shaw, Jr., were ocean pilots, and the latter attained the advanced age of ninety-seven years, his death oc- curring at Cape May. Of his children our subject remembers only five: Washington, who went west and was lost from memory; Louisa and Elizabeth, (the two daughters), who lived and died at Cape May, N. J .; Lemuel, also a pilot ; and Alexander.

Alexander Shaw, our subject's father, during the California gold excitement of 1845, was one of the first to go to that country, making the trip by way of Cape Horn. However, he was set upon by Indians, and lost all he had. A few years afterward he returned home by the overland route. For many years he followed the sea as pilot, and was connect- ed with the Philadelphia & Boston Steamship Line for over twenty-five years, sailing from Philadelphia to Boston every week. While in their service he un- fortunately fell down the hatchway of one of the vessels, breaking both arms in several places, also several ribs and dislocating one leg. He had taken vessels to almost every port in the known world. He located at Stonington, Ill., where he died at the age of sixty-seven years. In religious faith he was a Baptist. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Mulford, died in Florida in 1897, aged eighty- four years. They had the following children : Danelia, who married Albert McBridge, and died at their residence in Stonington, Ill .; Charles, a carpenter and builder at Warren, Penn .; Virginia, who was married to John Burnham, of Stonington, Ill., and died in that State; George, a resident of Florida, where he owns an orange grove ; Charlotte, who married A. McConnell (they also live in Florida on an orange grove) ; Joseph B., our sub- ject ; and two who died in childhood.

Dr. Joseph B. Shaw was born September 25, 1845, at Cape May, and was educated mainly in the public schools of Philadelphia. He studied pharmacy in that city at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, graduated in 1868 and then entered up- on the study of medicine, completing his course in the University of Pennsylvania in 1877. For ten years he practiced at Darby, Delaware county, Penn., conducting a drug store at the same time, and in 1878 he located at Delaware Water Gap, where he speedily built a large and lucrative gener- al practice. At present he is the only physician in the town. He belongs to the Lehigh Valley Med- ical Society, and is also prominent in non-profes- sional organizations, being an active worker in Keystone Lodge No. 271, F. & A. M., at Phila- delphia ; Kadoah Commandery No. 29, K. T., at Phila- delphia, Penn., and Oriental Chapter, No. 183, Phila- delphia. For nearly forty years he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, and for five years past he has served as elder in the congrega- tion at Delaware Water Gap. On February 7, 1867, at Dover, Del., he married Miss Maria Col- lins, who was born July 4, 1848, at Milford, Del., and five children were born to them: Elma, Eva,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mary, Ernest, and Edward, the last named dying in infancy. Politically the Doctor is a stanch Re- publican, but his professional labors occupy his time to the exclusion of party work. Toward the close of the Civil war he enlisted in the 7th Delaware Vol. Inf. regiment.

SPENCER R. RAYMOND, until recently a well known agriculturist or Salem township, Wayne county, presents in his life a splendid example of hard labor, close application to business, and per- severance. He commenced life at the foot of the ladder, but is now able to take life easily and com- fortably, having acquired a handsome competence through his own individual efforts.

Mr. Raymond's father, Rev. Albert R. Ray- mond, was one of the oldest and most distinguished. members of the Lackawanna Presbytery. He was born in Chenango county, N. Y., November 5, 1806, and having lost his father November 5, 1816, he was reared by his grandfather Lathrop, of Malta, N. Y., who gave him a thorough Bible training. At the age of sixteen years he professed religion and joined the Church. In early life he took up the study of medicine and graduated at Union College in 1831, but he never followed that profession, as he preferred to enter the ministry. He attended Prince- ton College one year, the Auburn Theological Sem- inary two years, taking the regular course, and stud- ied for six months under Dr. Cox, after which he was licensed to preach. His first charge was the Presbyterian Church at Nelson, N. Y., where he re- mained until September 1, 1844, when he accepted the pastorate of the Church at Hamlinton, Wayne Co., Penn., remaining there for nineteen years. He was also pastor of the Church at Sterling, Wayne county, until 1868, but the last ten years of his life he lived retired, and he died in Hamlinton April 30, 1888. His sympathy, his benevolence, his kindlv greeting will long be remembered. He was one of Nature's noblemen, and the world is better for his having lived.

In 1847 Rev. Raymond was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Wright, who was born in Salem township, Wayne county, October 15, 1826, a daugh- ter of Dr. Erastus Wright, an early settler and prominent physician of that township. She died January 4, 1896, at Jermyn, Penn., and was laid to rest in the Salem cemetery. The subject of this sketch is the youngest in the family of five children, the others being as follows : Spencer W., born May 5, 1850, died on the 12th of the same month : Fran- ces L., born June 14, 1851, married J. D. Stocker, a merchant of Jermyn, Penn., and died August 6, 1876; Helen L., born August 16, 1855, is now the wife of Sidney W. Cooke, a partner of J. D. Stock- er, at Jermyn ; Gertrude L., born July 28, 1858, was the second wife of Mr. Stocker, and died March 23, 1895.

Spencer R. Raymond was born at Hamlinton, Salem township, Wayne county, November 7, 1861, and remained with his parents until fourteen years

of age, when he went to Hawley and worked for James Murray at wagonmaking for thirty days. The following six months he was employed at the same occupation at Honesdale, and for one and a half years worked at his trade for Moon Brothers, at Carbondale, Penn. Going to Jermyn, he was then interested in the butcher business with J. D. Stocker for five years, and at the end of that time returned home with the intention of bidding good-by to his friends preparatory to starting for California, but changed his mind and for one and a half years rent- ed and operated his father's farm. He also carried on a wholesale and retail meat business, and then, in partnership with G. C. Andrews, he purchased a butcher business at Scranton, Penn., conducting the same for one year. The following year he worked for the party to whom he sold the estab- lishment, and subsequently accepted a position with the corps of engineers on the New York, Ontario & Western railroad at Scranton, remaining with that company for six years as car wiper, foreman of re- pairs on plumbing, carpentering, etc. He next worked in a furniture factory in the Cumberland mountains of Tennessee, and on his return to Scranton engaged in coal mining for six months and operated a mine engine for one year and nine months. In December, 1896, he located upon a farm of 106 acres in Salem township, Wayne coun- ty, where he successfully engaged in general farm- ing until October 1, 1899. He then sold the farm and removed to Scranton, Penn., having previously bought a meat business in that city, which he is at present engaged in conducting.

Mr. Raymond was married in Salem township, September 6, 1886, to Miss Maud Abbey, who was born on the old homestead in that township, a daughter of Ralph Abbey, whose sketch appears elsewhere. They now have an interesting family of four children: Carl S., Albert R., Helen L., and Merle I. In politics Mr. Raymond is identified with the Republican party.

WARREN A. SHERWOOD, the popular station agent at Starlight, on the New York, On- tario & Western railroad, has always made his home in Wayne county, at present residing in Maple- wood. He was born August 18, 1867, a son of Zelotus Sherwood, an early settler of Wayne county, who married Eliza Jane Hazen, a native of the county, and a daughter of Daniel Hazen, also one of its honored pioneers. By occupation Ze- lotus Sherwood was a farmer. His death occurred May 19, 1898. Of his eight children, only three are now living: A. M., a resident of Maplewood ; Warren A. ; and Delton E., a station agent at Hoad- leys, on the Erie & Wyoming Valley railroad.

The public schools of Wayne county afforded our subject his early educational privileges, after which he pursued a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, in Buffalo, N. Y., and later a three-months' course under Prof. H. D. Saddler, of Baltimore. During his youth he also

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rected his attention to the lumbering opportunities in the South. At any rate, a few years after the close of the war he became prominently identi- fied with the vast timber industries of Virginia and North Carolina, to which he gave about twen- ty years of his life. He then returned to his na- tive State, where he is now a substantial and in- fluential citizen.

Mr. Smith was born in Luzerne county, Penn., August 13, 1843, a son of Harrison and Abigail (Colvin) Smith, and a grandson of Da- vid Smith. The latter was of French descent, and by trade a carpenter. During the war of 1812 he served in the cavalry, and the saber he carried is still in the possession of the family. David Smith was married, in Northumberland county, to Mar- garet Utt, and for many years lived in Luzerne county. He died at Waverly, Penn., in 1862, his widow in 1868. The children of David and Margaret Smith were as follows: Fannie, who married Elijah Angle and removed to Ohio; Han- nah, who married Samuel States, of Luzerne coun- ty ; Sally Ann, who married Jesse Gibbs, of Luzerne county ; Jacob, who lived in Luzerne county ; Eliza, who married Israel Colvin, of Luzerne county ; Har- rison, father of our subject; Molly, who married Michael Raub, of Luzerne county ; Stinson, who was a resident of Luzerne county, and was killed on the railroad; Jackson, who lived in Luzerne county ; and Margaret (the only survivor of the family), wife of Joseph Chase, of Lackawanna county. The father of this family was a Democrat in political sentiment ; socially he was a member of the Masonic Fraternity.

Harrison Smith, the father of our subject, was born in Northumberland county, Penn., March 23, 1816. When a young man he moved to Luzerne county, where he married Abigail Colvin, who was born April 18, 1822, a daughter of James Colvin, a native of Rhode Island. Harrison Smith was a carpenter by trade, and followed same for many years in Luzerne county. He died September 28, 1888, his wife on October 29, 1861. Their children were as follows: Margaret, who married (first) Adelburt Thomas, and who is now the wife of Hugh Williams, of Wyoming county, Penn .; Edgar E., the subject of this sketch; Maria, born November 16, 1845, wife of William Coon, of Luzerne coun- ty ; Mary, who married Jesse Clifford, of Scranton, Penn., and is now deceased; Sarah E., wife of A. Briggs, of Wyoming county: George, of Lacka- wanna county : James B., of Wyoming county, an engineer on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad ; Fannie, a resident of Philadelphia ; and Abigail, who died in infancy. Like his father, Har- rison Smith was a Democrat and quite an active party worker. He was also a Free Mason.

Edgar E. Smith, our subject, received his edu- cation in the common schools and at Madison Acad- emy, Waverly. He was a boy of nineteen years when in August. 1862, he enlisted in Company K. Eleventh P. V. C., and he remained in service until

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 220

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