Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 236

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 236
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 236
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 236
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 236

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In his political affiliations Mr. Melhuish has ever been an earnest Republican. His neighbors have well recognized his worth as an upright citi- zen and business man, and have asked his services in the local offices many times. For some fifteen years he has held the office of school director, and has been supervisor, judge of elections, etc., always giving satisfaction. He is a member and master of the Rising Sun Grange, and was delegate to the State Grange at Williamsport in 1898, and at Lock Haven in 1899. Socially he belongs to the Four Brothers Post, G. A. R., at Montrose. Mrs. Melhuish and daughters are members of the Meth- odist Church, and while not a member himself, Mr. Melhuish contributes liberally to the support of the Church, and uses his influence to advance the cause of religion. Public-spirited and progressive, he is of the highest type of a good citizen.

MARTIN R. BARRETT is one of the self- made prosperous men of Hawley, Wayne county, where he has carried on a mercantile business for several years past, and he is a native of the place, born July II, 1861, son of Alexander Barrett, who has resided here for almost a half century.

Alexander Barrett was born October 31, 1826, in County Mayo, Ireland, where his father, Richard Barrett, carried on farming. His first ancestor in that country was Louis Barrett, a native of France, who settled in Ireland, and there reared his family of seven sons, who scattered throughout the coun- try. He was the great-great-grandfather of our subject. One of the sons, Richard, was a Latin teacher, and was a noted poet in his day. Great- grandfather Patrick Barrett, his brother, remained in County Mayo, where his father had settled, and carried on farming all his life. His son, Richard

Barrett, married a Miss McDonald, and they re- mained in County Mayo until 1847, in which year they took up their residence in Warrington, Eng- land, where they ended their days, the father dy- ing in 1848 at the age of seventy-one, the mother two years later at the age of seventy. He fought in the Rebellion of 1798. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett had eight children, of whom, Rossmore P. died young ; Alexander comes next; Richard, Catherine and Ellen died young; Thomas died at Hawley, at the age of forty years; Louis died in Ireland at the age of tewnty-one; John died in Ireland when twenty years old. The parents were members of the Catholic Church.

Alexander Barrett grew to manhood in his native country, living with his parents and assisting his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came to the United States. The first two years of his life in this country he passed in Pike county, Penn., near Lackawaxen, and there he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed afterward during his active years. From Pike county he went west to Ohio, and thence by steamboat to St. Louis, Mo .; but as the boat was tied up at the latter city on account of the cholera he returned to Pennsylvania, settling at Hawley, Wayne county, in 1849, and commencing work at his trade in the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Coal Co. He continued to work for them for thirty-seven years, until he retired from active la- bor. He died May 19, 1898, a member of the Catholic Church, and a Democrat in politics. He served nine years as school director, part of the time acting as treasurer of the board.

On October 31, 1850, Alexander Barrett was married, at Hawley, to Miss Hannah O. Quinn, Rev. Father Maloney performing the ceremony, and they became the parents of four children : Mary A., Bridget, Louis and Martin R. Mary A. married James Reilly, who is a railroad conductor, and they live at Dunmore, Penn .; they have had seven children, four of whom are deceased. Bridg- et married Edward McAndrew, a machinist of Scranton, Penn., and they have five children. Louis died when four and one-half years old. Mrs. Hannah O. (Quinn) Barrett, was, like her husband born in County Mayo, Ireland, where her parents, Martin and Mary (Clark) Quinn, were farming people. The father died in 1845, aged seventy years, the mother in 1872, at the age of seventy- six. They were Catholics in religious faith. Their family consisted of four children, Sarah, who mar- ried Anthony Welch (both died at Hawley) ; Hannah; Martin, living in Scranton, Penn., who is a car repairer ; and Mary (Mrs. Michael Narry), living at Scranton. Mr. Quinn had three children by his first wife, a Miss Duffy, namely: Owen, who died in Scranton, Penn .; Michael, who died in . Hawley; and Catherine, who married Edward Cafferty (both died at Hawley). Mrs. Barrett is a devout member of the Catholic Church.

Martin R. Barrett lived with his parents at

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Hawley until he reached the age of nineteen years, when he went to Sranton, at which place he served one year as sexton of the Cathedral. For three years following he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Co. at Hawley, transferring coal from the pockets, and worked thus until the pock- ets were dispensed with, after which he was en- gaged for another year at Scranton, repairing cars in the shops. Returning to Hawley he was engaged in different occupations for two years, and in 1889 he again went to Scranton, this time embarking in the mercantile business there, which he continued for one year, at the end of that period selling out and establishing himself in the same line at Hawley, where he has since remained. Mr. Barrett has now a thriving trade, which he has won by fair dealing and strict attention to his business, and he has made a creditable success in his line as a result of continuous hard work and thrifty management. He is well and favorably known in Hawley and the surrounding country, and is respected as a de- servedly prosperous man and a substantial citizen. In 1888 he served as tax collector there, but he gives little time to public affairs. Politically he is a Democrat.

On April 25, 1894, Mr. Barrett was married, by Father Judge, to Miss Elizabeth C. Sheridan, and three children were born to them, John L., who died when five months old; Joseph ; and Alexander, Jr., born January 5, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett are members of the Catholic Church, and frater- nally, he unites with the Ancient Order of Hiber- nians.

Mrs. Elizabeth C. (Sheridan) Barrett is a na- tive of Hawley, Penn., and her parents, Michael and Ann (Lennon) Sheridan, were born in Williamsport and Honesdale, Penn., respectively. Mr. Sheridan was a merchant at Hawley. where he also had a teaming business, owning several wag- ons, and since his death, on September 19, 1894, his widow has conducted the store. He was cross- ing the Paupac creek on a wagon heavily loaded with stones when the bridge gave way, and he was killed ; he was fifty-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan had nine children: Catherine (who died at the age of sixteen), Elizabeth C. (Mrs. Barrett), Michael, Mary A. and Jennie (all three living with their mother), William (deceased), Edward (at home), John (deceased), and Anna (deceased). On July 8, 1897, as the result of an accident which occurred while he was unloading some stone, Michael had the misfortune to lose one of his limbs. The entire family are Catholics in religious faith. Mr. Sheridan was a member of the C. M. B. A. He was a Democrat in his po- litical preferences.

P. R. JOHNSON, proprietor of the "Glen- wood House," a popular hotel at Delaware Water Gap, is a man of marked ability and force of char- acter, and while making his way to success in busi- ness life has taken an active part in public affairs

in his community. At present he holds the office of burgess of his borough, having been elected in February, 1897, and he is regarded as one of the in- fluential Democrats of his locality.

Our subject is a member of an old Pennsylvania family of Dutch stock, and his great-grandfather, Jacob Johnson, and grandfather Jacob (2), were residents of Northampton county. Jesse John- son, the father of our subject, was born in North- ampton county, and made his home in Portland village, where he engaged in business as a farmer and stock dealer, his death occurring about nine years ago, when he was fifty-nine years of age. He married Miss Marietta Long, daughter of John A. Long, of Northampton county, a descendant of Scottish ancestry, who is now residing with our subject. This estimable couple had six children : J. I., proprietor of the "Portland House," at Port- land, Penn .; P. R., our subject; Frances, wife of Thomas Chamberlain, of Bangor, Penn .; Ella, wife of John C. Miller, of Bangor; Nettie, who married E. S. Albert, of Portland; and Josie, wife of Frank S. Knerr.

P. R. Johnson was born January 7, 1855, at the old home in Portland, and was educated in the schools of that town, He learned the trade of lo- comotive engineer, which he followed about ten years, being in the West for some time with Lin- coln, Neb., as his headquarters. For about three years he was employed as hotel clerk, and in April, 1892, he settled at Delaware Water Gap, taking charge of his present hotel. He is most esteemed so- cially, and is identified with various organizations including the P. O. S. of A., the Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Engineers, and is a Royal Arch Mason. He is not married.

JONATHAN GILLESPIE. One of the most attractive farms in Susquehanna county is that of our subject, a prominent agriculturist and lumber- man of New Milford township. It comprises about 160 acres of excellent land, and a beautiful lake, sixty acres in extent furnishes water power for a sawmill on the estate. The water of the lake, though not deep, is abundantly stocked with fish of many kinds, including pickerel, sunfish, and bull- heads, and its advantages are well known to sports- men.

Mr. Gillespie is of Scotch descent in the paternal line, and his grandparents, James and Margaret Gillespie, were both natives of Scotland. The grand- father was a man of superior ability and education, and after coming to this country taught school stic- cessfully for many years. He died at Rosendale, N. Y., and his wife's death occurred in New York City.

John D. Gillespie, our subject's father, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and was but four years old when he came to America, his boyhood being spent mainly in New York City. He became a successful farmer at Stone Ridge, Ulster Co., N. Y., where he also carried on a large blacksmith shop, employing

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five men. He was a devout member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and died in that faith, in 1857, aged sixty-four years, his remains being interred in Rosendale cemetery. On February 18, 1818, he married Miss Sarah Smith, who died at Stone Ridge in 1840, aged forty-eight years. Her an- cestors were early settlers in Ulster county, N. Y., and her parents, Hendrick and Margaret ( Notting- ham) Smith, were married there March 15, 1786, and made their home upon a farm near Stone Ridge, Marbletown. John D. and Sarah Gillespie had a large family of children, as follows : Elizabeth, born December 1, 1818, married Henry Rosencrants, and died some years ago; James A., born October 9, 1820, died in Columbus, Ohio; Henry S., born Feb- ruary 20, 1824, is a merchant in Ulster county, N. Y .; Margaret and Jeanette (twins), born July 26, 1827, are both deceased; Mariah K., born February 4, 1830, married Joshua Dumond, and died many years ago ; Jonathan, our subject, comes next ; Sarah ; born March 9, 1835, is the widow of William Horn- by, of Keyport, N. J .; Elsie, who married Augustus Churchwell, of High Falls, N. Y., and died there; Marjorie died in infancy.

Our subject was born October 12, 1832, near Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y., and remained at home until he reached the age of eighteen years. For about eight years he was employed off and on by the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., and later he engaged in farming near Binghamton, N. Y. He then went to Illinois spending some time in Chi- cago and Belvidere; but in September, 1860, he re- turned to Binghamton and took charge of his old farm. In 1870 he removed to a farm at Herrick Center, Susquehanna county ; then ten years later went to Harford township, where he resided un- til 1895, and he has since made his home at his present farm. For many years he was extensively engaged in lumbering in connection with farming, his sons operating the farm and mill. Politically he is a strong Democrat, as are all of his relations, and in religion he inclines toward the Presbyterian Church, which he has attended for many years. On October 12, 1855, he was married in Ulster county, N. Y., to Miss Mary Bowen, and the fol- lowing children were born to them: Miss Jeanette, who is at home; Margaret, who married H. J. Tif- fany, an insurance agent at New Milford; Irving, clerk at Binghamton, N. Y., who married Miss Elizabeth Jowels; Mary, wife of John Bennett, a farmer in New Milford township; Elsa, who mar- ried L. O. Farrar, a bookkeeper in New Milford; William, a resident of New Milford township; F. N., a. jeweler in New Milford; Harry (deceased), who married Miss Nellie Coleman; and Manning, who resides at the homestead.

Mrs. Mary (Bowen) Gillespie, who has been an able and valued assistant to her husband for near- ly half a century, was born April 28, 1834, in the town of Shawangunk, Ulster Co., N. Y., the only child of Aaron and Malinda (Rogers) Bowen. Her paternal grandfather, Seth Bowen, who was

a farmer by occupation, was born in New England, while his wife, Susan ( Kelp), was born in Philadel- phia of Welsh ancestry. Aaron Bowen followed farming throughout his life, and in 1860 he re- moved from Ulster county to the vicinity of Bing- hamton, N. Y. His wife, Malinda (Rogers), was a daughter of Aaron and Susan (Cox) Rogers, who resided upon a farm in Orange county, N. Y. She was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and she died in Binghamton, N. Y., March 1, 1870, at the age of sixty-one. Aaron Bowen died March IO, 1875, aged sixty-eight, at Herrick Center, Sus- quehanna county, where his remains are interred.

WILLIAM TINKER, a prominent retired farmer and highly esteemed citizen of Clifford town- ship, Susquehanna county, was born on his grand- father's old homestead in that township, February 20, 1830, a son of John and Agnes (Stevenson) Tinker.

John Tinker, father of our subject, was born in Falkirk, Scotland, May II, 1796, and in 1817 came to America with his parents, William and May (Anderson) Tinker, also natives of Falkirk. They spent the first winter in New York City, then removed to Little Britain, Orange Co., N. Y., and two years later came to Susquehanna county, Penn .. locating on a farm in Clifford township where our subject's brother Robert now resides. There the grandfather died June 29, 1835, aged seventy-six years, the grandmother on May 27, 1852, at the same age, and their remains were interred in the Tinker cemetery upon their farm. They were members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. They had four children : William, born February 20, 1797, married Louise Catlin, and engaged in farming in Green- field township, Lackawanna Co., Penn., where he died October 16, 1881 ; John, father of our subject, is next in the order of birth ; James, born September 2, 1801, married Polly M. Dunn, and was a wealthy, prominent and charitable farmer residing on the old homestead, where he died June 3, 1884; and Flem- ing died in Scotland at an early age. During his youth the father of our subject worked in his father's stocking factory, but after coming to Susquehanna county followed agricultural pursuits chiefly. He was a large land owner in Susquehanna county, and became a noted speculator, stock farmer and money lender. In the spring of 1830 he removed to the farm in Clifford township, where his daughters now reside. Returning to Scotland, he was married in Silverwood, Ayrshire, March 18, 1829, to Miss Agnes Stevenson, a native of that place and a daugh- ter of Thomas and Agnes ( Templeton) Stevenson. Six children blessed this union: William, our sub- ject ; Agnes, born January 24, 1832, died unmarried January 17, 1864; May, born August 1, 1835, lives on the old homestead ; John, an extensive farmer of Clifford township, was born June 2, 1839, and mar- ried Margaret Bruce; Robert, born September 19, 1842, wedded Mary Trollis, and operates his grand- father's farm; and Janet S. S., born October 14,

WILLIAM TINKER

MRS. REBECCA M. TINKER

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1846, lives with her sister on their father's farm. The father died September 29, 1891, the mother on October 31, 1873, aged sixty-three years, and both were laid to rest in the Tinker cemetery. They were consistent members of the Reformed Presby- terian Church, and were highly respected by all who knew them.

William Tinker, of this review, remained under the parental roof until he was married at Carbon- dale, Penn., April 20, 1869, to Miss Rebecca M. Carr, who was born in Brownloe Hill, England, July 29, 1844, a daughter of Henry and Ann (Carter) Carr. After his marriage Mr. Tinker located upon his present fine farm of eighty-five acres in Clifford township, which has been in his possession for some years, and has been operated by him. He is a thor- ough and systematic agriculturist, and has met with most excellent success in his farming operations. He is also an able business man of known reliability, and has always rejected public office, preferring to give his undivided attention to business interests. Politically he is a Republican, and he belongs to the Junior Order United American Mechanics. He is a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church, and has served as trustee of the same for the past four years. He and his wife are widely known and highly respected.

Mrs. Tinker's parents, Henry and Ann ( Carter) Carr, were born in Brownloe Hill, England, and on coming to America in 1866 located in Carbondale, Penn., where the father died March 8, 1868, aged seventy years. In his native land he followed the oc- cupation of farming, but here he lived retired from active labor. He traveled quite extensively in the Old World, and was a well-informed and highly re- spected man. He was in the British army under Wellington at the battle of Waterloo, and lost the middle finger of his right hand in that engagement. He was a sincere and consistent Christian and a local member of the Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belonged. She departed this life January 27, 1885. at the age of seventy-five years, and was laid to rest by his side in the Carbondale cemetery.

AARON SMITH, general farmer of Smith- field township, Monroe county, is one of the old and highly esteemed residents of this neighbor- hood. He was born February 23, 1838, on the place which he now owns, a son of Henry Smith and Sarah (Schoch) Smith.

Mr. Smith's grandparents were of German an- cestry. His grandmother Smith was a daughter of Honas Metzgar, born in Springfield township, Bucks Co., Penn., April II, 1776. Honas Metz- gar moved into what is now Monroe county before his grandmother Smith grew to womanhood, and purchased a piece of land in Lower Smithfield town- ship, containing 1161/2 acres, conveyed by deed of Abraham Ball. consideration 116 £ 10 shillings, on the 17th day of December, A. D., 1790. The prop- erty is now owned by the heirs of Charles M. Hoffman (deceased).

John Smith, who was formerly a resident of Lehigh county, married Anna Maria Metzgar. He purchased a piece of land in Lower Smithfield town- ship, Northampton (now Monroe) county, con- taining 102 acres, situated one mile north of East Stroudsburg, which is now the Pool property, which was conveyed by deed of Adam Fehler April 23, 1801, where Mr. Smith passed the remainder of his days. He left his wife with seven children, five boys and two girls. Henry, the eldest, was the father of our subject; he was born November II, 1798.

(2) John married a Miss Hauser, of Monroe county. By occupation he was a farmer, and lived a number of years in Monroe county, thence moved to Northampton, where he spent the remainder of his days. Four children were born to them: Bar- net, who was a carpenter, lived in Phillipsburg, N. J., for many years, and is now deceased. Samuel, who lives in Bangor, Penn., taught school for thirty years ; during recent years he has been a carpenter. A family of children were born to them. John, Jr., and Mary are both deceased.

(3) Elizabeth became the wife of Jacob Transue. They were residents of Monroe county. Mr. Transue was a descendant of French Hugue- not ancestry. He settled in Monroe county at an early date, and died in 1873. Mrs. Transue died in 1857. Seven children blessed their union, as follows: Julia, wife of Jacob Pipher, Catharine, wife of Henry Treible; Charles S. married Ellen Groot ; Mary married David Z. Michael ; Sarah mar- ried Jesse Albert; Matilda became the wife of George M. Hoffman; and George S. married Jane Nye. They are all deceased with the exception of George S., who is a Methodist minister located at Solvay, New York.

(4) Jacob Smith, approaching manhood, found employment in Mt. Bethel, Northampton county, becoming a carpenter by trade. He married Sarah, daughter of Mathias Frutchey, of Mt. Bethel, Northampton county, in 1825. He died at his resi- dence in 1884. Nine children blessed their union : Samuel (deceased) ; Simon, Catharine M. and and Mary, who live in Mt. Bethel, Northampton Co., Penn. ; Madison, who lives in New York State ; Jesse, in the State of Minnesota, and William H. in the State of Washington; Jacob lives in Mis- souri; and Sarah, the wife of William LaBar, re- sides in Mechanicsville, New York.

(5) Samuel located in Northampton county after he grew to manhood. He was a carpenter by trade. He married Sally Rasley, of the same coun- ty. Three children blessed this union of the first wife, one son and two daughters. Theodore mar- ried a Miss Ott; Mary A. married George Trovell ; and Liza J. became the wife of Robert Angelmire. In the latter part of the 'fifties he located in Ste- phenson county, Ill. His wife died, and he after- ward married Mrs. Jennie Dodd, of Tennessee. By her one daughter and two sons were born. The children of the first union are deceased. Samuel

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Smith died in Stephenson county, Ill., about fifteen years ago.

(6) Catharine married Henry Detrick, of Smithfield. Mr. Detrick in his early manhood was a carpenter, later in life he became a farmer, con- tinuing the business a number of years; then sold his farm and moved to East Stroudsburg, where he lived retired. They both died at a good old age. They had a family of nine children: Charles S. died in Stroudsburg, leaving a widow and two daughters to survive him. William S. lived in Raymond, Blackhawk Co., Iowa; he was engaged in the mercantile business. He died in 1897, leav- ing a widow, one daughter and three sons. Sam- tiel lives in East Stroudsburg. Mary, who was married to Simon Myers, long since deceased. George, who lives in Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa. Martin lived and died in Smithfield. Reuben lives at Cedar Falls, Iowa. Joseph lives in the State of Nebraska. Frank lives in Cerro Gordo county, lowa. Amanda, who is the wife of Frank Smith, lives in Stroud township.

(7) Daniel, born and reared in Smithfield township, a farmer by occupation, married Sarah Phillips, of Northampton county. Hoping to bet- ter his condition financially, he moved to Columbia county, Penn., where land was less costly. Five children were born to them: Joseph, who enlisted in the U. S. service in the Civil war and died from disease contracted in the service; and four daugh- ters, Sophia, Susanna, Maria and Cristann.

Henry Smith, Sr., was born in Lower Smith- field township, Northampton Co., Penn., Novem- ber II, 1798, and was reared in his native county. On reaching manhood he chose the trade of weaver. He went to Lehigh county, where he learned the art; then returned to Lower Smithfield, where he erected a shop about the year 1819. He wove spreads and worked in general for farmers and others. In connection with weaving he held an ap- pointment from the Governor of Pennsylvania as jus- tice of the peace for many years. His jurisdiction extended over five townships. He and his wid- owed mother kept house to the time of his marriage, in 1828, to Miss Sarah Schoch, daughter of Jacob and Anna M. Schoch, of Mt. Bethel, Northampton Co., Penn. Sarah Schoch was born April 10, 1806.

Henry Smith continued the occupation of weaving until about 1840, when failing health brought him to seek a more healthful occupation. A number of children were already added to the family. He purchased some additional land and began farming. Later he purchased more land and built the necessary farm buildings, also an addition to his house. Schools being few and far between, people, generally speaking, were unlearned. In those days the law made no provision for limita- tion. It was common for creditors to sue for the collection of small debts, and this brought distress and trouble, and many a person sought counsel and advice in the person of Squire Smith. Politically Mr. Smith was an Old-line Whig until the advent

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 236

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