Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 226

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 226
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 226
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 226
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 226

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At Cherry Ridge, Wayne county, Mr. Smith was married, January 1, 1867, to Miss Susan Brown, a most estimable lady, who was born in Greenfield, Luzerne Co., Penn., a daughter of Reuben and Susan (Clark) Brown. Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Smith have adopted William P. Brown, who was born June 12, 1884, a son of Andrew Brown (deceased), a nephew of Mrs. Smith, and has made his home with them since eight years old. Politically Mr. Smith is identified with the Republican party, and fraternally he affiliates with Capt. George J. Daven- port Post No. 534, G. A. R., of Gravity, of which he has been commander, and has served in all the minor offices. Both he and his wife are active and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is serving as trustee, class- leader and secretary of the board, and in the social circles of the community they occupy a position of prominence, having the respect and esteem of all who know them.

Mrs. Smith was educated in the Normal and high schools of Prompton and Honesdale, and for seven years taught in Wayne and Luzerne counties. Her parents, who were Eastern people, removed from Litchfield, Conn., to Luzerne county, Penn., in 1833, and thence to Cherry Ridge in 1847. To Reuben and Susan (Clark) Brown were born seven children: (1) Andrew P. Brown, born in Con- necticut January 1, 1831, was married October 15. 1851, to Miss Sarah Schenck, of Cherry Ridge, and engaged in the business of lumbering until 1864, when he enlisted in Company L, 56th N. Y. V. I. He served until the close of the war, the hardships of army service leaving him broken in health and evidently causing his death, December 31, 1889. His wife is since deceased. (2) John W. Brown, born August 17, 1833, was married June 18, 1861, to Abby Jane Kenyon, of Luzerne county. He had previously learned the carpenter's trade, and after

his marriage resided for some years in Scranton, Penn., following the business of contractor and builder. Later, entering the service of the Dickson Manufacturing Co., he remained in their employ until failing health compelled him to resign his po- sition. He died May 16, 1875, leaving a wife and three children. He was a respected and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. (3) George C. Brown, born January 11, 1836, married Miss Harriet Kimble, of Cherry Ridge, September 27, 1865. Previous to the Civil war he purchased a farm, where he now resides, near Hoadleys, Wayne county. In 1862 he enlisted in Company M, 17th Penn. Cavalry, for the term of three years, was wounded at Chancellorsville in May, 1863, and sent to hospital, where surgeons removed the Rebel bullet from his side. Returning to his company, he participated in their hard marches and battles until taken prisoner by Mosby's Cavalry, and he suffered the horrors of prison life in Libby and Salisbury prisons for six months, being released at the time of Sherman's march to the sea. He re- turned home but a shadow of his former self, and so broken in health that he has never recovered. (4) Eben C. Brown, born September 6, 1838, re- sided with his parents until the fall of 1864, when he joined a construction corps and started for the seat of war. He reached Chattanooga, Tenn., and was on duty at that point and various places in the vicinity for some months, when he was taken seri- ously ill with typhoid fever, and shortly after re- turned home. On his recovery he resumed his work on the farm, and has ever since given his attention to agricultural work and dairying, meet- ing with success in both. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and takes an active part in local affairs, hold- ing township offices at times. In religious faith he is a Methodist, being a member of the Church at Cherry Ridge. On July 9, 1879, he was married to Miss Katie Chapman, of Lake township. (5) Lucretia M. Brown, born September 27, 1844, died September 17, 1848. (6) Annie L. Brown, born April 12, 1848, was married June 5, 1872, to Wal- ter D. King, at the homestead in Cherry Ridge. Two children were born to them, Edith, now Mrs. Marvin Tuthill, of Dunmore, and Hattie, of Scran- ton. Mr. King was a locomotive engineer for some years, until failing health compelled him to retire from active labor, his death occurring on Au- gust 9, 1887. His widow some years later married Capt. George Woodward, a veteran of the Civil war, and they made their home for a time at Mo- line, Ill., where Mr. Woodward died in 1898. (7) Susan, wife of our subject, completes the family.

CHARLES W. SHANNON is a well known general merchant of Lackawaxen, Pike county, whose career demonstrates that only true success in life is that which is accomplished by personal effort and persevering industry. He possesses un- tiring energy, is quick of perception, and his close application to business and excellent management

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have brought to him the high degree of prosperity which is to-day his.

Joel Shannon, father of our subject, was born in Monroe county July 15, 1812, and when a boy lived with his uncle in Hawley, Wayne county, where he was employed by a lumber company. For some time he traveled through Susquehanna, Wayne and Pike counties, selling medicines and notions ; was a boatman on the canal for several years, and also followed the butcher business for a time. Locating in Lackawaxen, he purchased a store and engaged in the grocery business. He next rented a store, hotel and farm situated at the junc- tion of the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers, and there carried on operations along those lines for eighteen years, after which he bought a farm a mile from the village of Lackawaxen, on the stream of the same name. Here he engaged in farming and merchandising until well advanced in years, and then retired from active business, making his home with our subject. He died at Matamoras, Pike county, January 28, 1895, honored and re- spected by all who knew him. At Hawley, Penn., he married Elizabeth Hatteras, who was born March 3, 1815, at Gloversville, N. Y., near Geneva, and died January 23, 1888. Her parents were John and Catherine (Glover) Hatteras, the former of English descent, the latter of German. The chil- dren born to Joel and Elizabeth ( Hatteras) Shan- non were: Calvin C., who married Almira Ben- nett, daughter of Rev. James L. Bennett; Marvin W., a carpenter, who married (first) Fannie Laub- shire, who died not long afterwand, and he then married Ella Cortright (now deceased), and resides in Sullivan county, N. Y. ; Jacob D., who married Jane Detrick, and is a carpenter of Port Jervis, N. Y .; Charles W., the subject of this sketch; Em- mett (deceased), who married Helen Kirkham, and lived in Lackawaxen; Frances J., wife of Otto K. Laubshire, a retired conductor living in Matamoras, Pike county ; and George W., a carpenter, who married Ida Kirkham, and lives on the old home- stead in Lackawaxen township, Pike county.

Charles W. Shannon was born in Lackawaxen, August 31, 1846, and first attended the common schools, later spending one year at an academy at Delaware Water Gap, Penn. He began his busi- ness career in the employ of the Erie Railroad Co. as operator at Hawkins Station, Sullivan Co., N. Y., for eight months, after which he opened a gen- eral store near Lackawaxen, which he conducted for five years. He then purchased a half-interest in a store in Lackawaxen with his brother, whose interest he purchased several years later, and he has since been alone in business. He carries a large and well-selected stock of general merchandise, and receives a liberal share of the public patron- age. He also owns and operates a good farm of 150 acres, thirty-five of which are under cultivation, and to some extent he is interested in both lumber- ing and stone quarrying. He has always been a stanch Republican in politics, is State committee-

man at the present time, and has been county com- mitteeman on several occasions. Socially he has been connected with the I. O. O. F. for ten years, and, in religion, holds membership in the Baptist Church.

In November, 1873, Mr. Shannon was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Bushweiler, who died in 1884. Three children blessed this union: Nettie C., born October 13, 1874, is a student at the Boston Conservatory of Music; Walter R., born February 10, 1876, was graduated from the Balti- more University at Baltimore, Md., in 1897, with the degree of M. D., and is at present engaged in prac- tice in Lackawaxen; and Laura G., born June 18, 1877, is at home. Mr. Shannon was again mar- ried, his second union being with Miss Louisa Gil- lett, who was born August 3, 1865. Her father, Charles A. Gillett, a son of Abner Gillett, was born in West Brookville, N. Y., and was married in Monticello, Sullivan Co., N. Y., to Miss Martha Manna, daughter of James Manna.

GEORGE C. WHITE, an honored veteran of the Civil war whose devotion to his country was tested on many a Southern battle-field, is now one of the honored and highly respected citizens of Epuinunk, Wayne county. He is a native of the county, born in Scott township, April 23, 1824, a son of Joseph and Esther ( Thomas) White, repre- sentative pioneers of this region.

Joseph White was born in 1800, on the Dela- ware river in Wayne county, and after his marriage located in Scott township, where he followed lumbering for some years. In 1830 he moved to Little Equinunk, on the Delaware, where he worked in a sawmill, engaging in the manufacture of sawed lumber for the Philadelphia and New Jersey mar- kets. He died in Equinunk in 1868, and his wife passed away at the same place in 1887, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-eight years. In the family of this worthy couple were ten children, of whom our subject is the eldest. (2) Albert, born in Dela- ware county, N. Y., married a Western lady, and spent the last years of his life in Little Equinunk, where he died some years ago, leaving a wife and family, who still reside in Wayne county. (3) Margaret is the wife of Charles Layton, of Calli- coon, Sullivan Co., N. Y. (4) Charles, born in Wayne county, married Rebecca Jenson, of Dela- ware county, N. Y., and moved to Cameron coun- ty, Penn., where he died, leaving two children, who still live on Sinnamahoning creek. (5) Jerome, born in Wayne county, moved to Iowa when a young man, and there married. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in an Iowa regiment, and at the charge on Vicksburg was mortally wound- ed, dying shortly afterward. His widow subse- quently married again, and went as a missionary to Texas. (6) Annie, born in Manchester town- ship, Wayne county, is now Mrs. Hamilton Gen- son, of Delaware county, N. Y., and has a family. (7) Clarissa, born in Manchester township, is the-

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wife of John H. Layton, of Little Equinunk, and has a family. (8) Henry, born in Wayne county, joined the Union army during the Civil war as a member of the 99th N. Y. V. I., and served until hostilities ceased. Later he moved to Wisconsin, where he has married and reared a family. (9) Florence, born in Wayne county, is the widow of Nathaniel Kellam, of Little Equinunk, who died some years ago, and she and her family still reside in Wayne county. (10) John died in Wayne coun- ty during boyhood.

George C. White was reared in Wayne county, receiving a very limited education, but his busi- ness training was by no means meagre, for at an early age he began work in the lumber woods. He also learned sawmill work, and continued to op- erate mills until a few years ago. In 1848 he mar- ried Miss Julia A. Price, of Manchester township, a daughter of Samuel and Polly Price, pioneers of Wayne county, and after his marriage he purchased a tract of land in Manchester township on which he made his home for some years, clearing forty acres and erecting thereon good and substantial build- ings.

In August, 1862, Mr. White joined the boys in blue as a member of Company F, 144th N. Y. V. I., enlisting at Hancock, N. Y., and from there was sent to Washington, D. C. As a member of the Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Burnside, his first engagement was against Longstreet at Suffolk, fol- lowed by the battles of South Mountain and Gettys- burg. The regiment then crossed the river below Harper's Ferry, and proceeded along the ridge to Warrington, and from there to Folly Island, Charleston. They were under Gen. Gilmore at the battle of Olnstee, and were later sent to Jackson- ville. Fla., being on guard duty from that place to Hilton Head. In November, 1863, while at Charleston, Mr. White was granted a furlough and returned home, where he remained for one month, rejoining his regiment at Hilton Head. They then succeeded in tearing up the Charleston & Savannah railroad, and for several days were in a number of skirmishes with the Rebels under Johnston, at Honey Hill or Grahamsville. At that place Mr. White was wounded, November 30, 1863, by a minie ball, in the right leg below the knee. All day and night he lay on the battle field, and was then taken to Hilton Head hospital, where the limb was amputated. In February, 1864, he was transferred to Davis Island, and was later taken to Elmira, N. Y., where he was finally discharged August 15, 1865. Returning to his home in Wayne county, he engaged in the manufacture of shingles for a number of years.

Mr. White has been called upon to mourn the death of his wife, who passed away about sixteen years ago. This noble woman had most tenderly cared for her children while he was at the front de- fending the flag of our glorious country, and she al- ways proved to him a raithful helpmeet and devoted wife. She left four children. ( I) Ida, born in Man-

chester township, in 1854, is the wife of Samuel Lest- er, an engineer on the York & Erie railroad, by whom she has three children-Claud, Orie and Dotty- and they reside in Susquehanna, Penn. (2) Alwyn, born in Manchester township, married Ella Jones, of Carbondale, Penn., where they make their home, and he is employed as track foreman on the rail- road. Of their three children, Ida accidentally shot herself at the age of sixteen years; Victor and Guy are both at home. (3) Zana, born in Manches- ter township, is the wife of Asa Lester, of Susque- hanna, Penn., and they have one son, Malcom, now a resident of Mckean county, Penn. (4) Frank, born in Wayne county, was educated in the Susquehanna Soldiers Orphans school, and mar- ried Julia Woodslater, by whom he has one daughter.

Politically Mr. White was first a Whig and is now an ardent Republican, while socially he is a member of George C. Scudder Post No. 240, G. A. R., of Equinunk. . He is a man of many noble qualities, is generous to a fault, and a great favorite with the children and young people of the village on account of his kind-heartedness and generosity. They all know and recognize him as "Uncle George.'

CHARLES H. SCUDDER, for about half a century a well known resident of Lebanon town- ship, and a worthy representative of one of the prominent families of Wayne county, was born April 27, 1831, at Roxbury, Delaware Co., New York.

David Scudder, our subject's father, was born in Westchester county, that State, October 2, 1783, and was married, February 17, 1823, to Mrs. Sallie (Pattison) Yeaman, widow of Drake Yeaman, and daughter of Michael Pattison, who was a native of Ireland, and a soldier in the American Revolution. To Mr. and Mrs. Scudder were born eight chil- dren : Hellen ; Betsy Fidelia ; Mary Jane, deceased ; Phœbe Marie; Frances H., deceased ; Charles H .; Abram L. ; and Sarah Arubouette. The father was a faithful defender of his country in the war of 1812, and during his business career was variously employed, being engaged in farming, conducting a store and tavern, and manufacturing potash. In 1839 he removed to Louisiana and located on Ber- wick Bay, in St. Mary's Parish, about two hundred miles from New Orleans, where he died three years later. Returning to the North, the family located in Damascus township, Wayne county, Penn., in 1847, where they remained two years; then (in 1849) removed to Lebanon, thence (in 1898) to Prompton, Pennsylvania.

The education of our subject was received in the public schools of New York and Louisiana, being about nine years of age when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the latter State. He returned with the family to Pennsylvania, and for nearly half a century resided upon the farm of 260 acres in Lebanon township, Wayne county. He

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made many useful improvements upon the place, thereby adding greatly to its value and attractive appearance, including the erection of a good frame residence and substantial outbuildings.

On January 21, 1852, Mr. Scudder was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann La Tourette, daughter of John and Sallie ( Wheatcraft) La Tourette, and eight children were born of this union, five of whom are still living: Jane Metute, of Honduras, South America; David W., a resi- dent of Torrey, Penn. ; Frank J., of Lebanon town- ship; Charles G., of Chicago, Ill., where he is en- gaged in business; and Helen, wife of Fred Ken- nedy, of Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne county. Those deceased are Eleanor, and twins who died in infancy. The wife and mother departed this life in February, 1867, and on August 23, 1870, Mr. Scudder wedded Mrs. Emily ( Keesler ) Maffett, widow of John Maffett, who died in 1861, leaving twin daughters, one of whom died at the age of one year and eight months; the other, Ella, is now the wife of Deloss R. Boughton, of Broome county, N. Y. Mrs. Scudder's parents were Peter and Percy (Lewis) Keesler, the former a native of Sul- livan county, N. Y., in whose family were ten chil- dren, seven still living, namely: Wallace (who was a soldier in the Civil war), Emily, Roxie, Joseph, Helen, Martha and Peter. To Charles and Emily Scudder have been born seven children: Mary Jane, wife of Horace Purdy, of Lebanon township; Samuel, a resident of the same place; Anna C .; L. J .; John D., who died at the age of seventeen years ; and two who died in infancy.

Mr. Scudder is an earnest advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and has ever been a supporter of that organization. Sincere and con- scientious Christian people, he and his wife are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is serving as elder. Their lives have ever been in harmony with their profession, and their sterling worth and many excellencies of character have won the admiration and esteem of all who know them.

JOHN SHAFFER, who resides on the old homestead at Waymart, is a representative of an honored and highly respected family of Wayne county. His paternal grandfather, John Shaffer, was a native of Germany, and on coming to the New World at about the beginning of the Revolu- tionary war, located in Orange county, N. Y., where he married a Miss Forbes. In 1783, after the birth of their son John, they came to Wayne county, and located on a tract of land on Middle creek below the North & South road. Here their son Moses was born, being the first white child born in South Canaan township. The grandfather had received a very favorable report of this locality from a party of hunters living in Orange county, N. Y .. and he therefore determined to make it his future home. On removing to his farm in South Canaan town- ship he was obliged to cut his own roads, and with

the early development and upbuilding of the county he was prominently identified.

In the grandfather's family were the follow- ing children: (I) John was the father of our sub- ject. (2) Moses wedded Mary Swingle, and had children, to-wit: Jacob; Fannie, wife of Aaron Cur- tis; Samuel; John; Sallie, wife of Jacob Cobb; Millie, wife of Adam Wagner, of Waymart; Cath- erine, wife of James Glen; Sylvester; and Mary, wife of Abram Jaggers. (3) Samuel married Rachel Wagner, and his children were Elizabeth, wife of John Spangenberger ; Moses, Abraham ; Eli; Lydia, wife of Simon Enslin ; Amy, wife of Daniel Everts ; Mary, wife of Henry Reed; Berzilla; Joseph; Rachel; Alexander; and Martha, wife of Francis Enslin. (4) Susan married Joshua Berleigh. (5) Effie married Jacob Swingle. (6) Betsy mar- ried Edward Doyle, of Buckingham town- ship, Wayne county. (7) Polly married Samuel Chumard. (8) Catherine married James McLain.

During his infancy, John Shaffer (the father of our subject) was brought by his parents to Wayne county, and amid scenes of frontier life he grew to manhood, aiding his father in the arduous. task of clearing and developing a new farm. In connection with his agricultural pursuits he also did some contracting, and our subject now has in his possession a contract, dated January 29, 1831, between the Honesdale & Clarksville Turnpike Co. and Charles Stanton, Blilander Beattys, Asa Stan- ton and John Shaffer. He also has the commissions given his father as lieutenant and captain of the State Militia, dated August 3, 1807; and a land warrant for his farm of sixty-nine acres, for which. he paid $130, dated September 23, 1828. Our sub- ject now owns sixty-five acres of the original tract, having purchased the same of the other heirs Feb- ruary 26, 1876.

The father was born in Orange county, N. Y., December 25, 1783, and died in Wayne county, Penn., July 30, 1864. He was three times married, his first wife being Miss Lydia Benjermin, who was born in Orange county, N. Y., October 20, 1791, and died October 16, 1826. They were married June 9, 1811. On July 5, 1827, he married Louisa Fobes, who was born September 21, 1798, and died October 16, 1852. The following children blessed this union : ( 1) Lydia A., born January 19, 1830, married Alexander McMillan, who died June II, 1883, and she died in October, 1891. In their family were two children, now deceased, namely : Mary R. and Winta L. The former married Charles Betz, and died leaving one daughter, Caro- line, now a resident of Honesdale. (2) Mary, born December 24, 1831, is the widow of George A. Clark, and resides with our subject. She has two daughters, Ida L., who was born January 15. 1870, and is now the wife of Sumner Merring, a farmer of Wayne county; and Bertha E., who was born February 2, 1872, and is now successfully engaged in teaching, while she resides at home. (3) Amy, born October 1, 1834, lives with our subject. (4)

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John, born February 25, 1837, is next in the family. (5) Sarah A., born November 22, 1841, died Feb- ruary 13, 1852. The parents and the children who are now deceased are all buried at Canaan Corners, Wayne county. The family is one of the highest respectability and is widely and favorably known.

The subject of this sketch has always resided upon the old homestead at Waymart, where he was born, and now gives his entire time and attention to its management. From 1864 until 1882 he was employed as brakeman on the Gravity railroad, but with that exception he has always engaged in farm work. He is well posted on the leading puestions and issues of the day, and in politics is a stanch Democrat.

JAMES P. SIMPSON. During the trying days of the Civil war the cause of freedom found many gallant defenders among our foreign-born residents, and the subject of this sketch, an English- man by birth, proved his devotion to the principles of Magna Charta by volunteering for "three years or the war." He took part in several important en- gagements, and a serious wound, which might have been fatal except for the pure blood and sound health that a wholesome life had brought him, is an incon- testable evidence of his courage. Mr. Simpson has been for a number of years a resident of Salem town- ship, Wayne county, where he is held in high esteem for his excellent qualities of character, and the fol- lowing history will be of general interest to our readers.

Our subject belongs to an old Yorkshire fam- ily, and was born in Bradford, England, February 23, 1841. His father, Thomas Simpson, who for thirty years was an overseer of a large factory at that place, owned by Wood & Walker, manufac- turers of worsted goods, died in 1891, at the age

of seventy-four. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Jane Perkins, died in 1854, aged thirty-nine, and the father for his second wife mar- ried Jane Reid, who died March 8, 1886, at the age of sixty-six. By the first union there were five chil- dren : James P., our subject ; John W., now a clerk in a grocery store in England; Miss Sarah, a resi- dent of Bradford, England ; Elizabeth and Samuel, who both died in infancy. By the second marriage there were four children: Hepsiba, a resident of Bradford, England ; Alfred, who is clerking at Brad- ford; Joseph, who died December 9, 1899; and Arthur, who is a bookkeeper for one of the largest business houses in Bradford.

Our subject remained at home until he at- tained his majority, but after the age of seventeen he was employed as a clerk by John Milligan, Son & Co., his education being continued at a night school. His active and clever mind enabled him to make good use of his educational opportunities, such as they were, and after coming to America, he at- tended school for some time in Boston, Mass. In 1862 he set sail for this continent, the voyage last- ing six weeks, and after spending a few days in New

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 226

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