Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 228

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 228
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 228
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 228
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 228

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JOHN BEEMER, the present efficient and popular street commissioner of Hawley, Wayne county, was born in Indian Orchard, same county, March 14, 1836, a son of Frederick and Laura (Dexter) Beemer.

The paternal grandparents were of German origin, and were lifelong residents of Beemersville, N. J. The father was by occupation a farmer and lumberman, politically was a Democrat, and in re- ligious belief was a Baptist. He died in 1844, at the age of thirty-five years, honored and respected

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by all who knew him. His children were: John, the subject of this review; and Nancy, now the wife of Cornelius Brown, foreman of the Delaware shipyard at Newburg, N. Y. The mother was twice married, her second husband being G. W. Daniels, who now resides at White Mills, Wayne county. By this union she had five children: Cyn- thia, who first married David Bishop, and after his death wedded a Mr. Hedglin, a stationary engineer at Lake Ariel, Wayne county ; Laura, who married Joel Fish, of Wisconsin, and both are now de- ceased; Amanda, who lives with her father at White Mills; and Emma and Edith, who both died unmarried. The mother passed away in 1892, at the age of sixty-seven years.

At an early age John Beemer commenced work- ing in the woods for Russell Daniels, and on leav- ing home at the age of seventeen followed lumber- ing in the employ of others. For thirteen years he served as foreman for Collingwood & Co., lum- ber merchants of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., looking after their business in Pike county, Penn. In 1883 he embarked in business on his own account as a general contractor in timber and sawed lumber, and was thus employed until the spring of 1896, when elected street commissioner of Hawley, to which place he had removed in 1882 from Pike county. In connection with the duties of that office, which he most capably discharges, he still carries on business as a lumber contractor. The Repub- lican party finds in him an ardent supporter of its principles, and he has done much to promote its welfare in his community. He is an energetic, in- dustrious and enterprising business man, and the success he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own unaided efforts and excellent management.

Mr. Beemer was married November 1, 1856, · at White Mills, Wayne county, to Miss Caroline Morrow, Rev. C. L. Rice, a Methodist minister, officiating. Five children have been born to them, namely: Amanda, now the wife of Seth Downs, a teamster at White Mills, by whom she has two children ; Ada, at home; Anna, wife of George Pal- lott, a traveling salesman living in Scranton, Penn .; Frederick B., who is employed as shipping clerk in the glass works in Hawley and resides at home ; and Harry R., who also lives at home and is em- ployed at the glass works.

Mrs. Beemer was born in 1838, at what is now Hawley, but at that time was known as Paupack Eddy, a daughter of Elias and Anna ( Kellam) Morrow, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter of Pike county, Penn. The father, who was a lumberman by occupation, died in Palmyra town- ship, Pike county, in 1877, the mother in Indian Orchard, Wayne county, in 1867, at the age of fifty-two years. Both were consistent members of the Baptist Church, and he was a Democrat in poli- tics. Of their children, Caroline is the wife of our subject ; William, Louis and Amanda all died when young ; and Brown died at the age of eighteen years.

HARVEY A. WILLIAMS, the well-known proprietor of the Williams brush handle manufac- tory, at Lake Como, has resided in Wayne county for over twenty years, and his name is inseparably connected with its industrial interests. His thor- oughly American spirit and great energy have en- abled him to mount from a lowly position to one of affluence. One of his leading characteristics in business affairs is his fine sense of order and com- plete system, and the habit of giving careful atten- tion to details, without which success in any under- taking is never an assured fact.

Mr. Williams was born in Verona, Essex Co., N. J., in April, 1854, and is a son of Zadoc and Mary (Langdon) Williams, the former born in Orange, .N. J., the latter in Ireland, in 1817. They were married in New Jersey, where the father followed the butcher business throughout life, dying in that State in 1859. Our subject is the fourth in a fam- ily of six children, the others being as follows: (I) George, born in 1846, attended the public schools during boyhood, and on reaching man's estate mar- ried Minnie Sherry, of Verona, N. J., by whom he has five children. He lives in Verona, and is em- ployed as engineer at the Newark City Home. (2) Catherine, born in 1848, married John Garretson, of Long Island, N. Y., by whom she had two chil- dren, and all died in Verona, her death occurring in 1887. (3) John, born in 1851, married Martha Keifer, of Verona, where he engaged in the gro- cery business until his death, in 1894. He left a widow and six children who are still living in that city. (5) Louisa, born in 1856, is the wife of Hiram Handville, and lives on her father's old homestead. She has two children, Ruth and Russell. (6) Sarah, born in 1858, died in 1878.

During his boyhood and youth Harvey A. Will- iams attended the public schools of Verona, in which village he was reared, and there learned the tool-making trade, becoming an accomplished work- man during the three years he devoted to that occu- pation. Subsequently he learned wood-turning, and was employed in that work in Parkersburg, W. Va., for fifteen months, after which he returned to New- ark, N. J. Coming to Lake Como, Wayne Co., Penn., in 1876, he accepted a position in the wood- turning establishment of Jacob R. Lawshe; six months later was appointed foreman of the works, and at the end of the first year purchased the plant, which he has since successfully operated. Having put in new machinery and otherwise improved his manufactory. he is now enabled to do first-class work, and his brush handles are used in almost every State in the Union, his trade being very large and quite profitable. When he became owner of the plant the business was yet in its infancy, but to-day, through his energy and careful management, it has assumed extensive proportions. Besides his business property he owns a fine home in Lake Como, and 500 acres of valuable timber land in Wayne county.

Mr. Williams was married, in 1877, to Miss

-- -- --

ada Mentenett Williams

It a Millioner

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Ada Menhennett, of Lake Como, a daughter of James C. and Julia ( Martin) Menhennett. Her father was a native of England, the son of a Method- ist minister, and when a young man came to the United States, locating in Wayne county, where he was married. In his family were the following children: Julia; Ada L .; Elma, now Mrs. J. F. Bridges, of Binghamton, N. Y .; Etta, now Mrs. Miller, of Binghamton ; James, deceased in infancy ; William, a railroad man, who lived at Great Bend, N. Y., but was killed in an accident ; and Olive, now the wife of Fayette Littelle. Mr. Menhennet, who was a mason by trade, died December 5, 1897. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Williams, name- ly : Leona died at the age of eight years ; May, who was born in 1879, is a graduate of the high school at Hancock, N. Y., being an accomplished young lady, of high musical and literary talent; Grace died in infancy ; Willma was born in August, 1890; and Harley was born in 1892. The parents are leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lake Como, take an active and prominent part in its work, and do all within their power to pro- mote the moral welfare of the community. Mrs. Williams obtained her literary education in the pub- lic schools, while her musical training was secured under private instruction; she became an accom- plished musician, and taught both before and after her marriage. For twenty years she has served as organist in the Como Church, where her father for a like period was chorister. Mr. Williams' political views coincide with the principles of the old Jack- sonian Democracy, but he has kept out of politics. His genial, pleasant manner has made him quite popular in both business and social circles, and as a public-spirited, enterprising citizen he is recognized as one of the valuable members of the community.

CHARLES H. SPENCER. The State of Pennsylvania owes its high standing, among the sovereign Commonwealths that make up the United States, to the high character and dauntless spirit of the settlers who made their home within her borders during the early days. To their inspira- tion and work is due her wonderful progress in agriculture, manufacturing and the arts. They opened the mines and cleared away the forests, transforming the wilderness into fertile farms; they established Churches and schools in the savage wilds, laying the foundation for the grand institu- tions of philanthropy and learning which are the glory of the State at the present day. Connecticut has furnished to Pennsylvania many of its worthy pioneers, and among these the Spencer family of Wayne county are deserving of honorable men- tion.

Charles H. Spencer was born November 18, 1847. on the farm in Mt. Pleasant township where he still resides. His father, Ezra Spencer, now one of the oldest men living in Wayne county, being born November 17, 1806, is a son of Ezra Spencer, Sr., a native of Saybrooke, Conn., who, with his

father, Joseph Spencer, of English ancestry, came to Wayne county, Penn., when it was almost an unbroken wilderness, and after cutting the logs erected their dwelling in the midst of the forest. Joseph Spencer's brother Peter had located here about two or three years previous, being among the very first settlers of this region. Ezra Spencer, Sr., married Miss Mehitable Bushnell, a native of Connecticut, who died when quite young, leaving two children, Ezra, Jr., the father of our subject ; and Hettie, wife of John Knight. For his second wife he married Miss Ellett Clark, and to them were born four sons, all now ( 1898) living: Philo, George, Orson and William. The father of these, who was a consistent member of the Methodist Church, died at the age of eighty-four years, hon- ored and respected by all who knew him.

Ezra Spencer, Jr., was a lad of ten years when brought by his parents to Wayne county, where he grew to manhood surrounded by scenes familiar to frontier life. When about twenty-two he bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Mt. Pleas- ant township for $100, and upon the partially im- proved tract he erected a log house. Having secured a home he wished some one to preside over it, and soon afterward wedded Miss Mary B. Moore, a daughter of James and Mary ( Terrell) Moore, and a native of New Jersey. The eleven children born of this union are as follows: James M., a resident of Wayne county; Eliza, deceased wife of James Partridge; Juliet, who married Will- iam Kerr (both are now deceased) ; Norman, a soldier of the Civil war, who died at Starrucca, Penn .; Adaline, deceased wife of H. L. Butler, of Lake township, Wayne county ; Clark, who lives on his grandfather's old homestead; Keziah, wife of Theodore La Barre, of Starrucca, Penn .; Charles H., the subject of this sketch; Kate, wife of Mat- thew Clemo, of Bethany; Olive B., wife of James Watson, of Lake Como, Penn .; and Hettie M., de- ceased wife of Frank Clough, of Rushsylvania, Ohio. The mother, who was a good, kind, and affectionate woman, died in January, 1859; the father died Oc- tober 23, 1899, aged ninety-two years, eleven months, six days. He was one of the most esteemed citi- zens of the community.

Charles H. Spencer of this review obtained his education in the public schools near the home farm, and as soon as old enough began to assist in the labors of the fields, soon becoming a skillful and painstaking agriculturist. Prosperity has crowned his business efforts, and he is to-day one of the most substantial citizens of Mt. Pleasant township. On February 21, 1882, he was united in marriage with Miss Emily Giles Doyle, a daughter of David Doyle, of Mt. Pleasant township, and they became the parents of three children: Ezra, Clarence D. and Emory G. The greatest loss that has come to Mr. Spencer was in the death of his estimable wife, who passed to the world beyond in November, 1894, leaving many friends to mourn with her sorrowing husband. As an ardent Democrat Mr. Spencer has

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ever taken an active part in local politics, and has been honored with a number of positions of public trust, including those of township supervisor and assessor, which he filled with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

DAVID T. BRYANT. Among the leading and influential agriculturists of Oregon township, Wayne county, who thoroughly understand their business, and pursue their chosen calling in a methodical and workmanlike manner, is the subject of this biography. He is a native of the county, born in Bethany, July 11, 1830, and is a son of William Bryant, who was born in Cornwall, Eng- land, in July, 1795, and at the age of twenty-eight years came to America. Two years after his arri- val he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel, the eldest daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Hodge) Bidwell. Her paternal grandfather, Ja- cob Bidwell, was a native of Germany, and on com- ing to America when a young man located in New York State. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Bryant were Eliza, wife of Gehnan Page, of Bos- ton, Mass .; Lucretia, widow of Francis Stephens, of Berlin township, Wayne county ; Mary, deceased wife of Aaron Pulis; Nancy, deceased wife of T. Savage, of Boston, Mass .; Axie, widow of Orin Parks, of Berlin township, Wayne county; Olive, widow of William Stephens, of Boston, and An- drew Jackson, who died in New York State.

Soon after his marriage William Bryant locat- ed in Bethany, and assisted in clearing the first land in the present borough limits. His father had an opportunity to purchase the land on which Honesdale is now located for six cents per acre. On selling his property in Dyberry township, Will- iam Bryant purchased land in Oregon township, where he made his home until called to his final rest in the fall of 1856. His children were as fol- lows: Ann, who married Nathan S. Young and died in Concordia, Kans .; James H., who was a sol- dier of the Civil war, and was killed during the siege of Petersburg; Amanda, widow of John S. Pulis, and a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y .; David T., the subject of this sketch; Eliza, who married Martin Reed, and died in California; Henry G., a Methodist minister, who married Mattie Avery, and died in California ; Lucretia, widow of Frank- lin Dunchee, and a resident of Sidney Centre, Del- aware Co., N. Y .; Joseph, who is now living in Kansas; and Elwyn O., who died in California.

During his boyhood and youth David T. Bry- ant had little opportunity to attend school. At the age of seventeen he came with his parents to Ore- gon township when it was all a vast wilderness, and in the work of transforming the wild land into highly cultivated fields he bore an important part. After the death of his father he took charge of the lumbering and farming interests of the family, and still lives on the old homestead.

At Barnet, Vt., October 23, 1853, Mr. Bryant was married to Miss Lois Ann Stevens, by Rev.

Thomas Goodwillie. Her parents were John and Jennett (Miller) Stevens, the former born in Bar- net, Vt., December 25, 1788, the latter in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1797, emigrating with her parents to Vermont when twelve years old. Their children were: Rhoda, deceased wife of James Gibson, of Barnet; Janette, deceased wife of Horace Brown, of Barnet; John C., a resident of Granville, Iowa; and Lois Ann, who was born February 28, 1826, and is now the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant have three children: (I) Warren S., born August 24, 1854, married Gertrude Ames, and re- sides in Mayfield, Luzerne Co., Penn. (2) Dar- win M., born February 6, 1859, is now at home assisting in the farm work. During one winter he was employed in the orange groves of Florida, the winter of 1879-80 he passed in Georgia, and for one summer he was superintendent of Rev. F. B. Savage's farm in Orange county, N. Y. (3) Meroe, born October 25, 1861, is the wife of Dwight M. Cavin, of Delaware county, New York.

For many years Mr. Bryant has voted the Re- publican ticket, and he has been called upon the serve as school director, auditor, and on the elec- tion board. In the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Bethany, he holds membership, and he is a sup- porter of all measures which he believes will in any way advance the moral, educational or material wel- fare of his township and county.

DAVID FREMONT HOPKINS, a well known agriculturist of Clinton township, Wayne county, is a man whose sound common sense and vigorous able management of his affairs have been important factors in his business success, and with his undoubted integrity of character have given him an honorable position among his fellowmen.

A native of Wayne county, Mr. Hopkins was born in Dyberry township, December 29, 1855, but was very young when his parents removed to Clin- ton township, where he attended school, while later he was a student in the Wayne County Institute, then located at Prompton. At the age of eighteen he went to Bergen county, N. J., where he found employment and remained two years, returning home at the end of that time to take charge of the farm. To his portion of the old homestead he has added from time to time until he has 300 acres of fine land, one-half of which is under cultivation, and the farm is so well arranged that every branch of the work is profitable. Special attention is given to dairying, Mr. Hopkins finding a ready market at Carbondale for his products, which re- ceive the highest market price. For dairy purposes he keeps twenty milch cows of the best breeds, and in his dairy has the latest mechanical appliances such as cream separators, etc. Besides his cattle he has a flock of twenty-five sheep, several horses, hogs, and poultry. Pork raising has proved a paying venture in connection with the dairy, Honesdale being a good pork market.

Politically Mr. Hopkins is somewhat liberal

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in his views, and at local elections votes for the man he considers best qualified for the office, but on National issues he stands with the Republicans. He has most efficiently served as justice of the peace for five years, assessor two years, and as president of the school board. He and his family are all carnest and consistent members of the Baptist Church and the Christian Endeavor Society, while he is deacon and trustee of the Church and assist- ant superintendent of the Sunday-school. Over his life record there falls no shadow of wrong. His public service has been most exemplary, and his private life has been marked by the utmost fidelity to duty.

Mr Hopkins was married, November 27, 1879, to Miss Selina A. Moore, who was born Septem- ber 4, 1864. Her parents, George and Mary ( Mills) Moore, were both natives of England, but were married after coming to the United States. In their family were five children, namely: James, a blacksmith of Aldenville, Wayne county; Selina A .; Ida, wife of Ernest Oliver, of Carbondale ; Kate, wife of Francis Oliver, of Dyberry, Wayne county ; and Mamie, wife of Francis Faatz, of Carbondale.

Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins, namely : Harry M., born November 14, 1881; Ada Violet, August 20, 1886; Arthur A., May 14, 1889; Mark Raymond, June 6, 1893 ; and Marion Letta, August 6, 1899. The home has been darkened by the sudden death of. the eldest son, Harry M., who departed this life August 20, 1897. He was a faithful member of the Baptist Church and Christian Endeavor Society, of which he had been president, and was an active worker in the Sunday-school, serving as its treasurer at the time of his death. Being a very industrious boy, he was his father's right-hand man, his mother's comfort, and everybody's friend, always ready to help at home, at school, or in Church work. His life, though short, contained more good works and was a better example than many who have reached their three-score years and ten. He united with the Church by baptism in 1892, but it would be difficult to say when he was converted, as he had always been so good. As was said of President Madison, "If his soul was turned inside out we doubt if there would be a spot found upon it; and then he was ready to die if God called him."

CHARLES H. HOWELL, a prosperous farmer and popular citizen of Mt. Pleasant town- ship, is one of Wayne county's native sons, born April 2, 1842.

Elisha K. Howell, our subject's father, was also a native of Wayne, and was a son of John W. Howell, who was born in New England, and whose father was Job Howell. Here Elisha K. Howell passed his boyhood and youth, and on reaching man's estate wedded Miss Rosetta Keen, daughter of Capt. Mathias Keen. They became the parents of five children, as follows: Charles H., our subject; Helen, now the wife of Isaac

Johnson, of Starrucca, Penn .; Thomas N., a resi- dent of Clinton township, Wayne county; Mary, wife of George Kent, of Binghamton, N. Y .; and Rosa, wife of Augustus Jennings, of Broome coun- ty, N. Y. The mother is now living at Melrose, Susquehanna Co., Penn .; the father departed this life August 21, 1888. He was one of Wayne coun- ty's highly respected citizens, and was an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, hav- ing served for nine months in the Union army dur- ing the Civil war as a member of Company D, 179th P. V. I. When his term of enlistment had expired he was honorably discharged at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania.

The Keen family of Wayne county, of which our subject's mother is a member, is supposed to be of Swedish origin. Jacob Keen, Mr. Howell's great-grandfather, was a resident of Virginia, and Capt. Mathias Keen, it is believed, was born there. The latter first married Miss Muzzy, who bore him two children. In February, 1815, he moved with his family to Canaan township, Wayne Co., Penn., and purchased 200 acres of wild land, including Canoe pond, which he afterward turned into a mill site. To get to his new home he had to drive over lumber roads and part of the way through an un- broken wilderness. Their new home was a rude log cabin, but he at once commenced to improve the desolate surroundings. The accidental dis- charge of his gun, while hunting, gave him a pain- ful wound which he carried through life. But nothing daunted, this brave man with true courage erected a carding machine and gristmill, thereby benefiting the country roundabout for many miles. In 1830 the gristmill was torn down and a sawmill erected in its place. He was very active and did much for the good of the country. While in Orange county, N. Y., he raised a company of mili- tia, called the "Republican Blues," of which he was made captain. He was proficient in military drill, and on reaching Wayne took an active in- terest in military affairs and was appointed by Gov. Snyder captain in the 103rd Regiment of Pennsyl- vania militia. He was a strong Jacksonian Dem- ocrat, and held many township offices, an ardent Freemason and a prominent member of the Ma- sonic fraternity. Capt. Keen's second wife was Anna Reeves, and their children were: Julia, James, Mathias, Elvira, Mary, Jacob L. (who lives on the old homestead), Ann, Catherine, Rosetta (who married Elisha Howell), Louisa and Eliza- beth. The Captain died in 1835.

The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm, comprising 142 acres of valuable land in Mt. Pleasant township, and since starting out in life for himself he has devoted his time and at- tention to agricultural pursuits with marked suc- cess. His farm is under excellent cultivation, is very productive, and is improved with a model res- idence and good barn and other outbuildngs. Upon the place there is a fine orchard of good bearing trees, and in fact everything about the premises is

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kept in first-class order, so that it is one of the most desirable farms in the locality. In connection with general farming Mr. Howell is also interested in dairying, and this branch of his business has also proved quite profitable.

In 1865 Mr. Howell was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Southwick, daughter of Joshua Southwick, from New Hampshire, who was a mem- ber of the Society of Friends ; he was a poet of no small ability. Joshua Southwick was married three times, and Sarah is the youngest of six chil- dren by the third wife, whose maiden name was Weaver. Mrs. Howell was born in Astoria, was but an infant when her mother died, and was reared and educated in New York City. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Howell, Bertha is now the wife of Fred Walker, of Scranton, Penn. Evelyn graduated from Pleasant Mount Academy, was an honored student of the Stroudsburg State Normal, and is now a successful and popular teacher, en- gaged in the eighth and ninth grades in the high school at South Abington, Lackawanna county. Maud, the youngest daughter, lives at home with her parents. Harry is in New York City.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 228

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