Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 235

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 235
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 235
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 235
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 235

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Throughout life the father of our sub- ject carried on farming in his native township, and as one of its leading and influential citizens he was called upon to fill many local offices of honor and trust. In the Reformed Church both he and his wife held membership. He died May 28, 1883, and

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she passed away February 12, 1893, the remains of both being interred in the Brodheadsville cemetery. In their family were the following children: Chris- tianna, born September 11, 1832, marrried John Andrews, and died in May, 1875; Margaret, born January 18, 1834, is now the widow of L. Over- peck; Mary, born November 15, 1835, married William Adams, and died July 23, 1881 ; Jacob. born November 14, 1837, died in 1840; George, born November 9, 1839, is a farmer of Ross town- ship, Monroe county ; William, our subject, is next in the order of birth; Maria, born March 19, 1843, married Daniel Andrew, and died March 10, 1881 (Daniel Andrew was born January 16, 1835, and died March 31, 1885); Charles, born March 19, 1845, is a resident of Scranton, Penn. (he married America. L. Krese) ; Simon, born March 15, 1847, was a soldier of the Civil war, and died November 5. 1866; Sally A., born June 29, 1849, married Amos Rhodes, and died in August, 1886; Joseph, born February 15, 1852, is a resident of Hamilton township; Franklin, born September 3, 1854, is a farmer of Chestnut Hill township; and Catherine, born August 8, 1857, is still living on the old home- stead.

William Searfass passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm, and in 1856 began learn- ing the shoemaker's trade with Thomas Evans, serving a two-years' apprenticeship. He then worked as a journeyman for a few months. At Tobyhanna, Penn., March 29, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, 5Ist P. V. I., under Capt. Daniel Nicholas, and remained in the service until hostil- ities ceased, being honorably discharged at Alex- andria, Va., August 15, 1865. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness ( May 6 and 7, '64), Spottsylvania (May 12), Cold Harbor (two days, June I and 3), Petersburg ( three days, June 17, 18 and July 30), Weldon Railroad (August 19 and 21), South Side Railroad ( August 27) and Hatch- er's Run. On April 1, 1865, his regiment was en- gaged in the battle at Petersburg; on the morning of the 3rd it entered Petersburg, and on the 9th Gen. Lee surrendered. When he found time, our subject was engaged in shoemaking, but at times was forced to throw away his tools, and afterward was compelled to make new ones. During the ex- plosion at Petersburg he was sligthly wounded, and at Cold Harbor came nearly losing his life. While lying down in the act of firing, a ball fell at his side, passing under his limbs. In the same en- gagement his colonel was killed. On his return home he worked for Mr. Evans another year and then went to Tobyhanna, where he followed his trade for a few months, later working in the lumber woods. In 1870 he embarked in business on his own account as a shoemaker, carrying on operations at Brodheadsville, for three years. He then located on his present farm, where he continued to follow his trade for a few years, and subseqently worked at carpentering until 1894, when ill health caused his retirement from that occupation. Since then he

has devoted his time and attention exclusively to agricultural pusuits.

In August, 1869, in Chestnut Hill township, Mr. Searfass was united in marriage with Miss Ann M. Kresge, a native of Ross township and a daughter of Joseph and Lucinda ( Andrews) Kresge, in whose sketch may be found the history of the family. The children born of this union are Lu- cinda, born May 27, 1870, wife of Edward Jones, of Carbon county; Augusta, born February 15, 1872, died May 24, 1873; Nathan, born July 2, 1873, died September 6, 1873; Eugene, born Janu- ary 31, 1875, who is engaged in school teaching and resides at home; Catherine J., born December 4, 1876, a resident of Philadelphia; and Mary A., born 20, 1878, Carrie, born July 29, 1880, Emma, born August 29, 1884, Joseph, born Janu- ary 9, 1887, and Pearl M., born January 29, 1890, are all at home.

Fraternally Mr. Searfass is an honored mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, the Patriotic Order Sons of America and the Grand Army Post of Sciota, while religiously he holds membership in the Reformed Church. His political support is always given the Democracy, and he has most creditably filled the offices of constable three years and school director two terms. In days of peace as in days of war he has always been found a patriotic and loyal citizen willing to support every measure for the public good.

FRANKLIN J. TINGLEY. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Tingley family, an extended sketch of which appears elsewhere. Our subject is one of its most worthy representatives of the present generation. Under different circum- stances from those which surrounded his ancestors in the pioneer history of Susquehanna county, he has aggressively and successfully fought the battle of life, displayed business ability of a high order, proved the versatility and tenacity of his talents, and withal made conspicuous in achievement his innate mental force. As a farmer he has clung to the traditions of his forefathers, and prospered ; as a railroad fire- man he has persistently retained employment ; as owner of grist and saw mills, as postmaster and courageous man of affairs, he has given his time to the village of Tingley, where he now resides.

Mr. Tingley was born in Lenox township. Sus- quehanna county, September 11, 1860, son of War- ren and Cornelia (Avery) Tingley, grandson of Hon. Charles and Sally (Wilmarth) Tingley, and great-grandson of Elkanah Tingley, the pioneer of the family in Susquehanna county. Warren Tingley, the father of our subject, was born April 24, 1820, in Harford township. In earlier life he engaged in farming in Lenox township, but became a man of great prominence. In 1868, two years after the death of his wife, he removed from his farm at Hopbottom. He became a successful mer- chant, continuing in that business until his death August 15, 1892. He was a justice of the peace,1003

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and for many years was a surveyor. He married Cornelia Avery, who was born in Harford town- ship, September 15, 1821, daughter of Franklin and Rosanna (Brush) Avery, and who died August 5, 1866, in Lenox township. To Warren and Cor- nelia Tingley were born the following children : Morris, born February 8, 1845, married Libby Jack- son, and lives on the old homestead in Lenox town- ship; Alice H., born June 9, 1846, married E. Al- bert Shook, a farmer of Randolph county, Ind .; Burt, born April 27, 1849, is a railroad engineer at Binghamton, N. Y. ; Kate J., born March 3, 1851, married George W. Smith, reared three children, and now lives at the home of her brother ; Julius P. A., born October 30, 1854, is a druggist at Car- bondale, Penn .; Charles W., born June 10, 1857, is a railroad engineer at Great Bend ; Franklin J., subject of this sketch, comes next; Gaylord N., born March 21, 1863, was a gardener, and died at Day- ton, Tenn .; Rosa M., born May 27, 1866, married Bloomfield H. Howard, formerly a school teacher and now government gauger in the vicinity of Pitts- burg, Penn. Both parents were devout members of the Baptist Church.

Our subject was reared on the old homestead, received a good education in the common schools, and at the age of nineteen years began teaching school, teaching five terms. At the age of twenty- three he became a fireman on the D. L. & W. rail- road, a position which he ever since continually filled. In 1886 he removed to a farm in New Mil- ford, and six years later, in 1892, he purchased from Mrs. P. I. Shoemaker and removed to his present residence in Tingley. In 1893 he was appointed the first postmaster at Tingley. He there conducts a general store, and operated grist and saw mills.

Mr. Tingley was married at Great Bend, Penn., March 27, 1884, to Miss Nellie MI. Jackson, who was born in Franklin township, December 15, 1866, the only child of John and Jane Jackson, farmers of Susquehanna county. To our subject and wife has been born one child, Bruce H., born July 1, 1888. The home of our subject was saddened October 16, 1894, by the death of his estimable wife. In politics Mr. Tingley is a Republican. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Broth- erhood of Locomotive Firemen. He is a man of keen intelligence and of thrifty and energetic hab- its. He has prospered in life, and ranks as one of the most successful of the younger citizens of Sus- quehanna county.

CANFIELD STONE. In Forest Lake town- ship, Susquehanna county, no family is better known, none more prominent in the early history and development of that locality, than the Stone family. The name has been perpetuated in Stone street, a highway extending from the old Snider place to Friendsville, so named because the princi- pal landowners along the street were members of that family, the descendants of which at one time formed a considerable proportion of the popula-

tion. They were the descendants of four brothers, whose father, Canfield Stone, the great-grandfa- ther of our subject, was a wealthy landowner in Litchfield, Conn., where he lived and died. Gar- rad Stone, his son, migrated with his wife from Litchfield, Conn., in 1800, and settled on a farm of 300 acres in Forest Lake township. Judson, his brother, came in 1813, and located on 280 acres adjoining. Canfield Stone, another brother and the grandfather of our subject, came in 1821 and settled on a woodland tract of 150 acres, where he spent the remainder of his life, clearing the land and engaging in farming. In 1829 the widow of Walker Stone, another brother who had died in Connecticut, brought her family of five children to Forest Lake township.

Canfield Stone, grandfather of our subject, married Almira Bostwick, daughter of Dimon and Mary (Olmstead), Bostwick, natives of Connecti- cut. To Canfield and Almira Stone were born three children : James E., the father of our subject ; Eliza, who was born in 1822 and married Robert Cooley, a mechanic of Binghamton, N. Y .; and Arabella, born in 1824, who married Calvin Leet, son of Dr. Calvin Leet, a physician of Friendsville who later moved to Minnesota.

James E. Stone was born in 1819, and being the only son in the family succeeded to the old homestead, to which he added by purchase sixty- four acres. He followed farming as a vocation, and became one of the successful agriculturists in the township. He was a man of unflagging industry, made nearly all the present building improvements on the farm, and was possessed of keen business judgment which he was content to apply to the ordinary vocations of life, for he had no ambition to rise beyond the circle which he made for him- self and family among his friends. He was, more- over, a man of high moral worth, whose character was an influential force in the township and its affairs. He was fortunate in selecting as his life companion Miss Amorillis Beebe, of Choconut, Susquehanna county, whom he married in 1843. She was born May 18, 1822, daughter of Joseph (1785-1861) and Eunice (1795-1864) Beebe, granddaughter of Reuben Beebe, who came from Orange county, N. Y., to Apolacon township, Susquehanna county, and granddaughter of Silas (1761-1820) and Catherine ( 1770-1820) (Tread- well) Beardsley, natives of Connecticut who settled in Middltown township, where they reared a fam- ily of nine children. To Joseph and Eunice Beebe were born children: Marinda, born in 1810, mar- ried Bela Fairchild, and died in Warren, Bradford county ; Lyman, born in 1812, settled in Kalkaska, Mich. ; Avery, born in 1813, died in Little Meadow, Apolacon township, in 1881; Lewis, born in 1815, is a farmer in Apolacon township; Allen, born in 1817, died aged nineteen years; Reuben, born in 1820, is a farmer of South Apalachin Creek, Penn .; Amorillis, mother of our subject; Caroline and Catherine (twins) married respectively Samuel

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Treadwell, of Forest Lake, and Guy Wells, of Bridgewater; Andrew died aged seven years; Juliet, born in 1828, married Cullen Darling, of Freeville, N. Y .; Almira, born in 1830, taught school and married James F. Whalen, of Warren, Bradford county ; and Burrace, born in 1833, de- ceased, was a resident of Freeville, N. Y. Amorillis Stone, the mother of our subject, was a successful teacher in her early days, and a woman of many accomplishments and social charms. To James E. and Amorillis Stone were born the following chil- dren : Adaline, who married Henry Spafford, and lives in the Stone homestead; Dimon, a farmer at Ilia, Wash .; Elmira, who married Chauncey Peck- ins, of Rochester, N. Y .; Canfield, our subject ; Horatio B., a farmer of Forest Lake; Joseph, a farmer in Rays Hill, Bradford county; and Charlotte A., a teacher, who in 1884 graduated from the Mansfield State Normal School, and now resides in Chicago, wife of J. H. Tucker, a Baptist minister. James E. Stone died in 1860, his widow 1892.

CANFIELD STONE, the subject proper of this sketch, was born in Middletown (now Forest Lake) township September 26, 1849. His boyhood was passed on his father's farm, and he received a good common-school education. At the age of seven- teen years, in 1867, he enlisted in Battery I, First United States Light Artillery, and for three years served on the Mexican frontier. It was several years after his return from military service that the genial and popular Boniface settled down to his life vocation. He began his pleasant and success- ful career in 1882, as hotel proprietor at Rush, where he conducted the hostelry in a manner pleas- ing to its many guests for eight years. Mr. Stone then purchased and for two years conducted the "Niver House," at Nicholson. Selling that proper- ty, he in 1893 bought the C. H. Killam hotel, at Hopbottom, which he has since greatly improved, introducing gas for lighting purposes, and adding other modern appliances. His business career at Hopbottom has been most successful, for Mr. Stone possesses in a high degree that combination of happy disposition and business ability which is recognized as essential to the best results. He is moreover an ardent admirer and follower of the rod and gun, and is not only recognized in the com- munity as an expert in hunting and fishing, but has that reputation well established throughout his and adjoining counties. He has been elected an honorary member of the Commercial Travelers Association. He is a member of the G. A. R. at Rush, and for twenty years has been an active mem- ber of the Masonic Fraternity in both Lodge and Chapter ; he has also been connected for some time with the I. O. O. F. In political sentiment he is a Republican, and a quiet but effective worker for his party, but he is no office seeker.

Mr. Stone was married, at Birchardsville, Penn., to Miss Ida Pickering, daughter of Fred Pickering. One son has come to them, Frederick J:,

born in 1876, who, as a corporal of Company L, Twelfth New York Vols., saw active service in Cuba during the late Spanish-American war.

THOMAS W. ATKINSON, one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Clifford town- ship, Susquehanna county, who is successfully en- gaged in agricultural pursuits on the Clifford and Dundaff road, one mile east of the former village, was born in the county of Westmoreland, England, September 10, 1830, a son of William and Isabella ( Wilson.) Atkinson, also natives of that county.

The paternal grandparents, Robert and Jane . Atkinson, spent their entire lives in England. Their children were as follows : Robert, a farmer ; Richard, a brewer ; William, the father of our subject ; Elea- nor, who died when a young woman; and James, who served fourteen years in the British army, and was in several great battles, the last one being the battle of Waterloo, soon after which he was honor- ably discharged. The mother of our subject died in England in February, 1843, at the age of fifty-one years. Subsequently the father, with three of his . children, William, Thomas and Isabella, came to America, landing in New York in June, 1849, after a voyage of fifty-one days on the "Manila." They spent a short time in that city, and then re- moved to Greenfield, Luzerne Co., Penn., where the father engaged in business as a farmer and stone mason throughout the remainder of his life. He he'd a number of local public offices while in Eng- land, and was a member of the Episcopal Church. He died in 1852, at the age of seventy-two years, and was buried in Clifford Valley cemetery. In his family were the following children: Jane married Thomas Robinson, and died in England, leaving several children who now reside in the United States; Elizabeth married William Sill, and died in England ; Eleanor married James Bigland, came to America in 1843, and settled in Greenfield town- ship, Luzerne Co., Penn .; William is superintend- ent of the Delaware & Hudson lumber yard at Car- bondale: Thomas W., our subject, is next in the order of birth : John died in England when young ; and Isabella is a resident of Clifford.

Since the age of thirteen years Thomas W. Atkinson has been dependent upon his own resources for a livelihood, and for the success that he has achieved in life he deserves great credit. After coming to this country he first worked for John Spedding, in Clifford township, for four months, and later was in the employ of different farmers. He worked for James Hodgson for six years, and subsequently rented land in Clifford township for thirty years. At the end of that time he purchased his present farm, and has since given his time and attention to its improvement and cultivation with good results.

On March 7. 1857, in Greenfield township, Luzerne county, Mr. Atkinson was united in mar- riage with Miss Temperance Miller, and by this union four children were born: Adam M., who

I.M. atkinson

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married Myrtle Tinklepaw, and is engaged in farm- ing in Clifford township; John E., at home; Mary C., wife of George H. Moon, bookkeeper for the Delaware & Hudson Co., at Carbondale; and Sarah C., at home. Mrs. Atkinson was born in Greenfield township, Lackawanna Co., Penn., May 4, 1828, a daughter of John and Margaret (Coons) Miller, natives of Columbia county, N. Y., where they were married April 10, 1817. Later they removed to Hyde Park, Penn., and subsequently to Greenfield township, Lackawanna county, where the father engaged in farming and held almost all of the town- ship offices, being a man of prominence in his com- munity. He was born March 23, 1796, and died October 5, 1852; his wife was born July II, 1799, and died July 4, 1852, and both were laid to rest in the old Clifford cemetery. With the exception of Mrs. Atkinson, all of their children are also de- ceased. In order of birth they were as follows: Barbara, wife of Clark Stewart; Eleanora, wife of Elisha Davidson ; Caroline, wife of James Hodgson ; Adam C .; Temperance; Margaret, wife of Albert Graves; Sarah E .; and Isaac. Mrs. Atkinson's paternal grandparents were Nicholas and Eleanor (Person) Miller, natives of Columbia county, N. Y., the former born May 27, 1777, the latter on March 20, 1772. They were married in March, 1792, and continued their residence in Columbia county throughout life. The grandfather was a farmer. The names and dates of birth of their children were as follows: Marcia, June 7, 1792; Irena, May 30, 1795 ; John, March 23, 1796; Helen, June 24, 1798; Temperance, October 15, 1800; Catherine, July II, 1802; Tobias, May 13, 1805; Caroline, October 9, 1807 ; Isaac, February 11, 1810; and Lyman H., October 10, 1816. Mrs. Atkinson's maternal grandparents were Andrew and Barbara Coons, also farming people and lifelong residents of Columbia county, New York.

Mr. Atkinson is a popular and influential citi- zen of his community, and has been honored with a number of local offices, the duties of which he most capably and satisfactorily discharged, having served as township assessor twelve years, school director, auditor and judge of elections. He is a Repub- lican in politics, on his party ticket he was elected county commissioner in 1890, and at the end of a three-years' term re-elected.

ISAAC MELHUISH, one of the honorable veterans of the Civil war, and a well-known farmer and dairyman of Forest Lake township, Susque- hanna county, was born in Spring Hill, Bradford Co., Penn., February 6, 1841. He is a descendant of an old English family, and his grandfather, John Melhuish, came from England to Bridgewater town- ship, Susquehanna Co., Penn., in 1819. After a few years he moved to Bradford county, Penn., and there died. He was the father of seven children : Robert,who died in Cattaraugus county, N. Y. ; John, who lived and died in Lycoming county, Penn. ; William, mentioned below; James, who lived in

Illinois ; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Granger, of Rush township; Mary, wife of Amos Burrows, of Bridge- water township; and Maria, wife of Joseph Burney.

William Melhuish was born in England in 1813, and came to this country with his parents. His edu- cation was secured in Bridgewater township, Sus- quehanna county, and in Bradford county district school. After his marriage he settled for a time in Bridgewater, and then bought a farm at Spring Hill, Bradford county, where he lived until 1844, when he moved to Montrose and began farming for Judge Jessup. He continued at this until his death. In January, 1833, he wedded Miss Mary A. Robbins, who was born in New Jersey in 1816, a daughter of Ephraim and Mary Robbins, of Bridgewater, whence they had removed from New Jersey. Mr. Melhuish died in June, 1881, and his wife in July, 1879. They were the parents of ten children, as follows : (I) Charles D., born in Bridge- water in June, 1836, died at the age of twenty-four years. (2) Ephraim, born in April, 1838, learned the blacksmith's trade, and followed it until his death in 1861; (3) William Henry, born in September, 1843, now traveling salesman for a furniture house, resides in Williamsport. He was a soldier in the military railroad service. He married Mollie Up- degraff, and has one daughter, Reah. (4) James, born in Bridgewater, in September, 1846, and now a merchant in Binghamton, N. Y., married Mary Weeks, of Montrose. (5) Frank D., born in Feb- ruary, 1849, married Alice Green, of Montrose, by whom he has two daughters, Florence and Ruth. They reside in Toledo, Ohio, where he is in busi- ness. (6) George L., born in 1852, is a farmer in Broome county, N. Y. He married Helen Merrill, of Auburn township, Susquehanna county, and has three children, David, Jennie and Fannie. (7) Fan- ny J., born in June, 1854, died unmarried in Mont- rose, in 1876. (8) Samuel M., born in March, 1858, married Nettie Hamlin, and has three children, Leona, Laverne and Roy. (9) Albert C., born No- vember 28, 1863, died in September, 1884. (10) Isaac.

Isaac Melhuish was educated in the country schools near his home, and when but a boy he learned the wagon maker's trade, which he followed until 1876. In the hour of his country's peril he responded to her call, and in 1862 he became a mem- ber of Company A, 15Ist P. V. I., and marched to the front. He participated in the battles of Chan- cellorsville and Gettysburg, and in a number of skir- mishes. He was wounded at Gettysburg, and at the end of his term of enlistment he was honorably discharged. On his return to practice the arts of peace, he soon went to Scranton, Penn., where he remained three years, and then went to Montrose, where he followed carriage manufacturing for sev- eral years. In 1876 he purchased the Jarred Stone farm and erected a modern house, and with his well-kept barns and out-buildings he now has one of the best cultivated farms and also one of the best dairies in the country. There are 300 acres of im-

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proved land, and he has a large herd of dairy cows and much fine blooded stock.

In February, 1867, Mr. Melhuish was married to Miss E. O. Corwin, a daughter of Shultz and Valara (Crane) Corwin, old and prominent resi- dents of New Milford, formerly of Orange county, N. Y. Seven children came to gladden their home : (I) Harry M., born in Scranton, in December, 1867, was educated in the high school at Montrose, and is now a contractor and builder in that city. He married Jennie Baxter, of Harford township, and has two children, Lawrence and Hilbert. (2) Ernest W., born at Montrose in July, 1869, is now a farmer in Franklin township, Susquehanna coun- ty. He married Laura Baker, of Rush township, and has one son, Paul. (3) Emma A., born at Mont- rose, December 1, 1870, was educated in the home schools and at Kingston, and has been teaching with great success for several terms. (4) Corwin O., born in July, 1873, died at the age of seventeen years. (5) William B., born in 1875, now resides in Hallstead. Penn. (6) Frederick S., born in Forest Lake, in February, 1879, is a student in the Mont- rose schools. (7) Lottie R., born in 1883, is still in school at home.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 235

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