Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 238

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 238
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 238
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 238
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 238

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Mr. Jackson was married, in 1872, to Miss Josephine Anderson, a successful teacher, who was a native of Sullivan county, N. Y., and a daughter of Joseph and Hannah Anderson, both now de- ceased. She is a sister of Capt. Anderson, of Cal- licoon Depot, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have four children: R. E., who as a veterinary sur- geon graduated from the Toronto (Canada) Vet- erinary College in 1896; Julia H., a competent and successful teacher in Wayne county ; Edna Blanche ; and Harry G., at home. Politically Mr. Jackson affiliates with the Republican party, and he is a prominent member of the Methodist Church, in which he is serving as superintendent of the Sab-

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bath school at Tyler Hill. He is a director and vice-president of the Wayne County Agricultural Society, and is one of the most intelligent and pro- gressive men of his community. He is also sec- retary of the school board, and takes a deep inter- est in everything that tends to the advancement of the moral and educational welfare of his township and county.

CHARLES H. WOOD. Among the residents of Pike county who may be considered self-made men, who have within them those sterling traits that rise superior to circumstances, and who are not only instances of individual success but exam- ples of guidance for the young and ambitious, must be mentioned the subject of this sketch. A keynote to this character may be noted here. When a lad of thirteen years, during the final year of the great struggle between the North and South, he sought to enlist as a drummer boy in the service of his country ; but against this patriotic resolve his par- ents entered a vigorous and successful veto.

Mr. Wood was born in New York City, Sep- tember 2, 1849, a son of Thomas and Matilda L. (French) Wood, and a grandson of William Wood. The latter was an Englishman of considerable prom- inence, and lived at Canterbury, England. He had a family of five sons and two daughters, the latter being named Charity and Susan. Thomas, one of the sons and the father of our subject, was born at Canterbury in March, 1808. When a young man he left home and friends for America. He mar- ried Matilda L. French, who was born in Lon- con, England, in 1824, a daughter of Dr. French, who had served in the English army, was taken prisoner by the French and held for some time. Returning to England, he resumed his practice, and died of blood poisoning, caused by a cut in perform- ing an operation. The mother of Matilda died when the latter was nine days old. Matilda had one sister, Mary Ann, and they were reared by an aunt.

After his arrival in America, Thomas Wood carried on, in New York City, a soap-manufactur- ing business until 1865, when he removed to Mil- ford, Penn. There he rented a farm for a time, and later conducted a painting business. Return- ing to New York in 1870. he conducted a news stand until 1884. Again taking up his residence at Milford, he lived a retired life until his death, Feb- ruary 16, 1887. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Episcopal Church. His wife died at Port Jervis, N. Y., June 17, 1897, and was buried at Milford. Thomas and Matilda Wood had eleven children, as follows : George W., of New York City ; Charles H., subject of this sketch ; Winnie M. ; Tillie L. ; Frank M .. a druggist at Port Jervis, N. Y. ; Ernest C., a painter at Milford ; Lil- lie; and William, Durand, Walter and Thomas, all four being deceased.

Charles H. in his boyhood days.began the bat- tle of life. He received a common-school educa-

tion, but his mental development has been largely practical in its nature, and very valuable. At the age of nine years he began to earn his own living by working on a farm in New York State, and later he was employed by a florist in New York City. He removed with his parents to Milford, and there worked on a farm. Next he was a salesman for five years in the general store of C. C. Pinshot. Mr. Wood then learned the painter's trade, which he has carried on ever since, although his active mind sought supplementary avenues of labor and busi- ness. For seven years he was steward of the "Bluff House." In 1883 he entered the service of H. S. Mott as a funeral director. He afterward bought a one-third interest, later increased to one- half interest, in the undertaking business, the firm name becoming Horton & Wood. Mr. Wood con- ducted the first funeral in the New Milford cem- etery, and also the first at which the vault was used.

In politics Mr. Wood is a Democrat. For three years he has been tax collector at Milford, and for the past fifteen years he has served as court crier. He has served in the town council two years, and for the same period was treasurer. . He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., being a charter member of the lodge at Milford.

Mr. Wood was married January 7, 1874, to Miss Josephine Aldrich, of Westfall township, Pike county. She was born January 1, 1853, a daughter of Adna T. and Nancy Jane (Lutes) Aldrich, and a granddaughter of Jacob O. and May (Youngs) Aldrich, natives of Germany, who became early and prominent residents of Pike county, Penn. Adna T. Aldrich was a native of Pike county, and was a school teacher by profession. He died in 1850, leaving a widow and four children, John M .. a farmer; Mary E. (deceased) ; Levi, a leading farmer of Orange county, N. Y .; and Josephine, wife of our subject. . The eldest of the family, John M. Aldrich, is a leading farmer of Westfall township, Pike county, owning a fine farm of 134 acres, 100 of which are under a high state of culti- vation. The place is adorned with fine buildings. Mr. Aldrich uses the latest improved machinery ; He was the first man to build a silo in Pike county. Mrs. A. T. Aldrich, mother of Mrs. Wood, for her second husband married Henry Hall, a farmer of English birth, who died December 9, 1879. He came of a good family, and early in life had been butler for Queen Victoria. On coming to America he was in business in New York City for some ten years, and then came to Pike county and purchased a fine farm, becoming a man of prominence and one of the leading farmers of the county. He was a Dem- ocrat in political faith, though no office seeker. By this marriage there was one child, Henry Hall, who died at the age of two years.

To Charles H. and Josephine Wood were born two children, Blanche A. and Charles G. Blanche is a graduate from the Milford high school class of 1893, and of the State Normal of Stroudsburg ; she has received a fine musical education, and is

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now engaged in teaching. For eight years she has been organist in the Episcopal Church. Charles G. is also a graduate of the Milford high school, and of Packard's Business College, New York. He is a graduate from the United States School of Embalming, passing the State board of examination of Pennsylvania successfully in the same, and has secured a one-third interest in the undertaking business, the firm name being Horton, Wood & Son.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wood is one of the brightest and cultured and hospitable in Mil- ford. The wife and mother represents one of the oldest families of Pike county, is highly esteemed and possesses those traits of grace, dignity and womanliness, which give life and beauty to home. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are prominent members of the Episcopal Church, and the mother and daughter are active in Sunday-school and Church work.

JONATHAN FREDERICK GARDNER, one of the most public-spirited and progressive citi- zens of Bridgewater township, is a native of Sus- quehanna county, born October 19, 1836, and is a son of William Gardner, one of the prominent and high- ly respected citizens of his community.

During early life the father followed the trade of a mason, and while thus engaged worked on the construction of the locks on the north branch of the canal. At this time he became acquainted with Miss Margaret Ann, daughter of Frederick Wagner, a farmer on the plains near Wilkes Barre, and subsequently they were married. In 1832 they located on the farm where their son William Frank- lin now resides, and by subsequent purchase be- came the owner of 200 acres of land. The house still standing upon the place was erected in 1846. Mr. Gardner was a man of untiring industry, great courage, correct habits and. fine motives, and never sought political preferment, but exercised his right of suffrage according to his own will. Both he and his wife are now deceased, and sleep in the cemetery at Fast Bridgewater near the church. The children born to them are as follows: Eunice, born in 1835, is the wife of Matthew J. Harrington, of East Bridgewater ; Jonathan F., our subject, is next in the order of birth ; James S. is a farmer living near the old homestead; Mary died in 1871, at the age of twenty-six years; Lidia is the wife of Major J. W. Young, of Minneapolis, Kans., who raised a company in Susquehanna county during the Civil war, and served with distinction In that struggle; Ziba, born in 1850. was accidentally killed at Alma, Colo .; and William Franklin resides on a part of the old home- stead.

When he was only eighteen years of age Jona- than F. Gardner took the management of the farm into his own hands, upon the death of his father. His previous training had well prepared him for his task. and he met with marked success in the under- taking. Throughout his active business career he has successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits,

and is now the owner of 300 acres, which are under a high state of cultivation and well improved. In 1883 he purchased the sawmill, known as the Keep property, at New Milford, which he has continued to operate in connection with farming. He is a thoroughgoing and intellectual farmer, and by un- tiring industry and judicious management has accu- mulated a fair competence. He manifested his loy- alty and love of country by enlisting in October, 1862, in Company C, 15Ist P. V. I., under Capt. Young, and at the end of nine months, when illness compelled him to resign, he held rank as second lieutenant. At all times and under all circumstances he has been found to be a useful and valued citizen of the community in which he lives. Politically he is a Democrat, and socially he belongs to Blue Lodge at Montrose. His wife and sons belong to the M. E. Church.

In 1866, Mr. Gardner was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Elizabeth Jewett, who was born September 23, 1842, and they have become the par- ents of four children, two of whom are now deceased : Annie M., who died in 1875, at the age of seven years ; and Benson, who died the same year, at the age of two. Those living are William Jewett and Jonathan Frederick, Jr. Mrs. Gardner is a daugh- ter of Rodney and Sally Maria (Bailey) Jewett, of Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, whose farm property was just on the line between that township and Bridgewater. In order of birth their children were as follows: Mary Electa, wife of Rev Charles Blake, a Methodist minister, now of Rome, Penn. ; Nathan Rodney, who occupies the old home- stead once owned by his grandfather Jewett: Jen nie A., wife of Benson Wood, a lawyer of Effing- ham, Ill. ; Harriet E., wife of our subject : Gertrude Eliza, wife of H. W. Bardwell, of Tunkhannock, Penn. ; Lavina A., wife of W. H. Stark, a farmer of East Bridgewater; and Frederick Bailey, who re- sides on the homestead formerly owned by his father, adjoining the property of his brother Nathan. Mrs. Gardner's paternal grandparents, Nathan and Electa (Fox) Jewett, were from Connecticut and came to Susquehanna county in 1810. They erected one of the first frame houses in their locality. The grand- father died in 1860. Her maternal grandparents. Col. Frederick and Mary (Witter) Bailey. settled in Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, in 1807, and there reared their family of ten children-six sons and four daughters. The Colonel was a dis- tinguished officer in the war of 1812, and was the younger brother of Capt. Amos Bailey, who came from Groton, Conn., and located in Brooklyn town- ship as early as 1801. In religious faith the Baileys were Universalists, while the Jewetts were Method- ists.

ABRAHAM LUCE is one of the business men of Springville township, Susquehanna county, where he has successfully carried on operations as a wagon maker for over a third of a century. He has gained recognition and prestige as one of

f. F. Gardner

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the influential and representative citizens of the community, and has won an enviable reputation in business circles by his superior ingenuity, me- chanical skill and business ability.

Our subject's father, David Luce, was mar- ried in Warren county, N. J., to Miss Phoebe Criger. For a number of years they lived in Hack- ettstown, N. J., where he followed his trade of wagon making. After the death of his first wife he married the widow of Cornelius Low. In 1836 he came to Pennsylvania, but afterward returned to New Jersey, and did not locate permanently in this State until 1842, when he took up his residence in what is now Wyoming county, then a part of Lu- zerne county, where he bought property previous to his marriage. In Auburn township he engaged in farming on his second wife's property until called from this life at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife died in the same place August 9, 1893. The children born to Mr. Luce were the result of his first marriage: George (deceased) was a carpen- ter and farmer, and died in Wyoming county ; Abraham; Mary, wife of Aaron Jayne, of Russell Hill, Wyoming county ; Catherine, deceased wife of Thomas Kintner: Jacob, a farmer of Wyoming county ; Fannie, deceased wife of Conrad Kintner, of Wyoming county ; Sarah Ann, deceased wife of Daniel Carney, of the same county ; Mrs. Elizabeth Belles, who died in Michigan, and Phoebe, who died in infancy.

Abraham Luce was born in Hackettstown, N. J., September 15, 1820, and was a young man when he came to Pennsylvania. He and his brother took charge of his father's business in Wyoming county, and moving the plant to Pittston engaged in the manufacture of wagons there for seventeen years. In 1864 he came to Susquehanna county, and took up his residence in Springville township, where he opened a wagon shop and has since successfully engaged in business. He purchased a well im- proved farm of fifty acres, to which he has since added another fifty-acre tract, and for one year en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, but since then has either hired some one to operate the farm or rented it. In 1865 he built upon his place a large brick residence at a cost of over $4,000, and in this pleasant home hospitality reigns supreme, the many friends of the family always being sure of a hearty welcome.

In Susquehanna county, Mr. Luce married Miss Lucinda Blakeslee, a daughter of Zopher and Abigail (Taylor) Blakeslee, and nine children have been born to them, namely: Alathea, a resident of White Haven, Carbon Co., Penn., married Lyman Phillips, and had one child, Edna, now deceased ; Francis E., who died young; Irwin B., a salesman of Wilkes Barre, Penn., married Rose Churchill, and has two children, Lillie and Walter; Eunice, deceased wife of Joel Benscoter: Mary married Archibald Sheldon, a farmer of Springville town- ship, Susquehanna county, and has two children, Clarence and Burns ; Clarence C. died at the age of

sixteen years ; George P., a lumber dealer of Dow- ners Grove, Ill., married Jennie Squires, and has three children; L. B., who married Rowina Kel- logg, has two children, and is engaged in farming in Springville township; and Nellie married John Maryott, of Montana, and has two children.

During the Civil war Mr. Luce was one of the State guards organized to drive Lee's army from Pennsylvania, and since 1861 he has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, but never an aspirant for public favors. For half a century he has been a member of Gohonto Lodge No. 314, I. O. O. F., of Pittston, and for many years has been officially connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Pittston and Linn, of which he is now a trustee. His public and private life are above re- proach, for his career has been one characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty, and he receives and merits the high regard of the entire community.

RICHARD ELBERT MCMINN. Pennsyl- vania sent many brave men to the defense of the Union in the dark days of the Rebellion, and this well known resident of South Canaan Corners, Wayne county, was among the number that gave proof of courage on the battlefield. He comes of patriotic stock, members of his family having served in the two wars with England, and by his own gallantry he has added lustre to the name.

On the paternal side he is of Scottish descent, the first of the family to leave the hills of "Auld Scotia" being his great-grandfather, Thomas Mc- Minn., who came to America with his wife in 1772. He located first in Newburg, N. Y., where he resid- ed about ten years, and during the struggle of the Revolutionary period he served as a soldier under Washington. About 1782 he settled upon a farm in Delaware county, N. Y., where his remaining years were spent. Major James McMinn, the grandfa- ther of our subject, was born and reared in Del- aware county, and in 1805 was married there to Miss Susan Fish, by whom he had three children: Har- rison, born in 1807; James, in 1809, and Susan, in 1811. At the outbreak of the war of 1812 he volun- teered as a soldier, and his gallant service won for him a promotion to the rank of major. During the fierce and decisive battle of New Orleans he met a soldier's death while leading his men.

Harrison McMinn, the father of our subject, being left fatherless at an early age, was soon taught by circumstances that he must rely upon his own brain and brawn to gain a livelihood. As his sister and younger brother were not strong, they could do little to assist in the support of the fam- ily, and he became the chief reliance of his mother. His schooling was necessarily limited, and irregu- lar attendance during the winter was all that was permitted nim. In 1825 a call was made for labor- ers to prepare the great railway for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. in this section, and this led to his removal to Wayne county, where he made his permanent home. At that time there was but one

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house in the site of the beautiful little city of Hones- dale, and he helped to build the first frame house in Carbondale. On November 15, 1829, he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Jaggers, and soon afterward he purchased a tract of land in South Canaan town- ship, near what is known as Curtis Pond. The estate, which is now called the McDonnough farm, was in its primitive state, and after making a road to it by blazing the trees in the unbroken forest he cut down enough trees to give room for a log house and barn. Here the young couple began housekeeping, an oxsled full of furniture enabling them to make their rude cabin comfortable. Four miles from any store, postoffice or church, and sur- rounded on all sides by dense forests, one might have supposed that they would have been lonely, but in later years they described that time as filled with contentment and pleasant effort. Bv day the sound of the axe betokened the advance in the work of clearing, and at night, around the fireside, Mr. McMinn drew sweet music from his violin or flute, while his faithful wife continued her labors with the distaff or the spindle, transforming the flax or newly shorn wool into cloth for the use of the household. The howl of the wolves in the forest served only to intensify their sense of comfort and security, and the wholesome influences of a life "near to nature's heart" brought unalloyed hap- piness. As prosperity came to them a frame house was built, and other improvements made, and in 1863 they changed that farm for the one now owned by George Fielding, in the same township, half a mile from South Canaan Corners ; but later, as ad- vancing years told upon their strength, they were induced and permitted themselves to be cared for by loving hands in the home of their son-in-law, Hiram Rockwell, rather than by hired help in the old home.

The wife and mother passed away January 6, 1891, and Mr. McMinn died April 20, 1894. He was one of the leading men in South Canaan town- ship in his day, being especially active in educa- tional and religious work, and during the time of compulsory military training he served in the mili- tia as drum and fife major. He held various town- ship offices, including that of school director, and for many years he was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being actively en- gaged in its work as a class leader, Sunday-school superintendent and leader of the choir. Of their children, James R., the eldest, born January 18, 182I, married Miss Lizzie Kennedy, and settled upon. a farm near Jackson, Susquehanna county ; William H., born January 14, 1833, married Miss Jeannette Stanton, and resides in Carbondale, where he is employed as a machinist ; Rosanna, born Feb- ruary 12, 1835, died in infancy ; Rebecca, born No- vember 15, 1837, is the wife of Hiram Rockwell, a farmer in South Canaan township, Wayne coun- ty ; Hannah M., born July 5, 1840, married William H. Moore, a farmer in the same township; R. Elbert, our subject, is mentioned more fully below ;

Susan Eliza, born August 2, 1844, died at the age of four years ; George H., born April 20, 1847, mar- ried Miss Adelia Stone, and resides in Carbon- dale, where he is employed as foreman of the D. & H. Co .; and Adelia E., born January 19, 1851, is the wife of Charles Bloes, the station agent at Scranton for the E. & W. railroad.

Our subject was born July 2, 1842, at the old homestead, and during his youth he assisted his father in the farm work, and at lumbering in the woods and sawmills. The district schools, which he was permitted to attend during the short winter terms, afforded him the only educational opportu- nities, and he has many times regretted that his ambition was not more strongly turned toward his studies rather than a competition with other boys of his acquaintance in the use of the axe, scythe, and such tools, a contest which then seemed all im- portant to them. On August 3, 1862, at the age of twenty, he enlisted in Company A, 137th P. V. I., under Capt. J. M. Buckingham, and although they are not mentioned among Fox's three hundred gory regiments, they saw much severe fighting, and fulfilled every duty faithfully and cheerfully. Mr. McMinn took part in the battles of South Moun- tain, Antietam and Fredericksburg, and on Jan- tary 20, 1863, he was injured in the left breast while with his regiment on detached duty at Aqua Creek Landing. Soon afterward they were ordered out on what was popularly known as "Burnside's stick- in-the-mud campaign," and although he had not re- covered from the effects of his injury, he bravely went with his regiment. After many weary days spent in wading through the deep mud under stormy skies, they reached Belle Plain; but the effort was too great for Mr. McMinn, and he was prostrated with pneumonia. Violent hemorrhages set in, which continued so long that he has never recov- ered his health. On April 3, 1863, he was dis- charged from the service, and he now receives a small pension from the government.

In 1864 Mr. McMinn began to work at the carpenter's trade in Plymouth, Penn., and in July, 1865, he was injured by some falling timber while at work, necessitating the amputation of his left leg below the knee. In August, 1866, he was em- ployed as a watchman by the New England Coal Co., at Plymouth, and he put his leisure time to good use by studying mechanics and the various methods of mining coal and preparing it for mar- ket. In 1868 he was installed as engineer of the Susquehanna Coal Co. at Plymouth, Penn .. and he remained until 1879, running machinery and at times making repairs as might be required. At various times he served in different positions with the company from miner and carpenter to that of bookkeeper. In 1876 he purchased a one-half in- terest in a store in South Canaan, and on severing his relations with the Coal company, in 1879, he removed to that place, and took active part in the management of the business. A year later he sold his interest and good will to his partner, B. F. Swin-

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gle, and for some time devoted his time to farming, carrying the mail, and following other occupations from which his infirmities did not debar him. He first purchased a farm in South Canaan township; but after a year he sold out and bought the old homestead of his wife's family. He is naturally of an energetic nature; yet a continual irritation in his old wound kept him from hard manual labor, and in 1894 he sold his farm and removed to the vicin- ity of South Canaan Corners. Since 1896 he has been deputy postmaster there, and at the present time he is agent of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Co. for that locality. He has always been in sym- pathy with progressive movements, and is especially interested in educational matters, having served as school director for three years. For many years he has been a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 534, at Gravity, and socially he is much esteemed. In politics he is a stanch Republican. On July 20, 1872, he was married in South Canaan township, by Rev. Mark Berryman, a Protestant Methodist minister, to Miss Abbie E. Swingle, and five chil- drer blessed this union, Lizzie A., born June 8, 1873, married J. B. Keen, Jr., a mechanic at Willi- mantic, Conn .; Grace E., born July 25, 1875, mar- ried Ira W. Swingle, a South Canaan merchant ; William H., born June 27, 1877, Edyth, born Sep- tember 5, 1880, and Ralph E., born October II, 1883, are at home.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 238

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