Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 240

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 240
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 240
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 240
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 240

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).

Mr. and Mrs. Garratt have one son, Chester Arthur, born October 10, 1884. The family live in Berlin township, where Mr. Garratt owns a valuable farm of ninety-seven acres, pleasantly located only five miles from both Honesdale and Hawley. Here he is successfully engaged in general farming and dairying. The Republican party always finds in him an ardent supporter of its principles, and his aid is given to every measure which he believes will prove of public benefit. He has served as stew- ard, trustee and treasurer of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, of which he and his wife are both prom- inent members. In the social circles of the con- munity they also stand deservedly high.

THOMAS SPEARS. In the successful career of this well known agriculturist of Harmony town- ship, Susquehanna county, we have a noteworthy object-lesson in perseverance and industry. Be- ginning life without capital, he has made his way to a substantial success, and his fine homestead near Stevens Point is a model of good management.

Mr. Spears was born August 28, 1845, in Glas- gow, Scotland, coming to this country when about one year old. David Spears, his father, married Ellen Crookshanks, daughter of George Crook- shanks, of Scotland, and in 1846 they came to the United States, locating near Deposit, Broome Co., N. Y., where he conducted a boarding house for some time during the construction of the Erie rail- road. Later he bought a farm in the same locality, and he was killed there in 1859 while walking on a railroad track. His widow still resides at the old homestead.

Our subject was the eldest of their children; (2) Ellen, born December 25, 1848, near Deposit, married James Horan, a cigar manufacturer, of Binghamton, N. Y. (3) Jane born in 1850, at De- posit, married J. S. Ives, of Binghamton, and has one son living, John Ives. (4) Agnes, born in Broome county, N. Y., in 1852, married George Delano, of Owego, N. Y.,where she died leaving two children, George and Nellie Delano. (5) David, born in 1854, married (first) Miss Pool, of Broome county, and settled on the Spears homestead. His first wife died leaving one son, Frederick, and he later married Miss Flora Benedict, by whom he has had three children, Agnes, Willie and Anna. (6) Henry, born in Broome county N. Y., died at the age of twenty-four years.

Our subject attended the district schools near his home for a short time, but as he was only four- teen years of age when his father died he was ob- liged to give his attention to the work of the farm. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-four, and in 1870 he married Miss Dorcas E. Gardiner, who was born in Broome county, N. Y., in 1850, a daughter of Jedekiah and Abbie Gardiner, and a member of one of the old pioneer families of that section. She was well educated, for some years had been a successful teacher in Broome county, and her advice and aid did much to es-

1024

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tablish her husband's success. In 1870 he removed to Susquehanna county, and after working for a time in the acid business he purchased his present farm, where he has made many improvements, clearing land and erecting a fine two-story resi- dence and good barns and other buildings. Po- litically he has always been identified with the Demo- cratic party, and he has served as supervisor, five years as assessor, and for some time was school director. Since 1865 he has been a member of the Methodist Church, and at present he holds the office of trustee.

His wife, who was a devout and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, died in No- vember, 1894, while under treatment for kidney disease at a hospital in Brooklyn. They had eleven children, to whom have been given the best educa- tional privileges that the schools of Lanesboro and vicinity afford: Mary E., born in February, 1871, in Susquehanna county, married John Vaughn, of McClure, Broome Co., N. Y., now the foreman in a milk factory in Orange county, N. Y .; they have one daughter, Edna. Alvin G., born in December, 1872, in Wayne county, Penn., married Miss Maud Putnam, of Harmony township, and they now re- side in Wayne county, where he is engaged in the stone quarry business. David T., born in 1874, now resides in Montana near Yellowstone Park. He is not married, and is a promising young man. Ber- tha, born in September, 1876; Earl, in November, 1878; Willard, in. April, 1880; Millie, October 17, 1882; Margaret D., April 10, 1884; Jesse, in July, 1886; Rosie, October 21, 1888; and James R. Spears, May 15, 1891, are at home.

WILLIAM NELSON BARNES. Rising above the head of the mass are many men of sterling worth and value, who by sheer perseverance and energy have conquered fortune, and by their own unaided efforts have risen from the ranks to stand among the successful few who now hold honorable positions in life. It is to his perseverance, in- domitable energy and close application that Mr. Barnes owes his success in life, and he is now most creditably filling the office of deputy register and re- corder of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Barnes was born in Warren county, N. J., April 30, 1855, a son of Royal W. and Malinda (Stevens) Barnes, natives of Sussex county, N. J. In that State they continued to make their home un- til 1867, when they removed to Delaware Water Gap, Monroe Co., Penn., but after residing there for two years, they came to Susquehanna county. For a year they made their home in Auburn township, and then removed to Rush township, where the mother died February 15, 1888, at the age of sixty- two years. The father, who was born December 14, 1813, is still living, and now makes his home with his daughter in Rush township. He has been quite a prominent man in his community, has been called upon to fill township offices, and was director of the poor asylum for a time. In politics he is a Repub-

lican, and in early life was a member of the Episco- pal Church, but now belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife was also a consistent member. In their family were four chil- dren : Watson T. (deceased), who was a prominent attorney of Montrose, and represented Susquehanna county in the State Legislature for two terms; Martha, wife of Alden Devine, a farmer of Rush township; William N., our subject ; and Susan, who died in New Jersey at the age of three years. The paternal grandparents of our subject, William and Catherine (Kirkhuff) Barnes, were lifelong resi- dents of Sussex and Warren counties, N. J., and the former was a gunsmith by trade. .

William N. Barnes was reared on the home farm, and continued to live with his parents most of the time until thirty years of age. At the age of nineteen he commenced teaching school, and suc- cessfully followed that profession for seventeen terms in Rush township. On leaving home he studied law with the firm of Little, Blakesley & Allen, of Montrose, at intervals for five years, and was admitted to the Bar in August, 1885, since which time he has devoted a part of his attention to the practice of his profession, though for the greater part of the time he has held some official position.

On September 15, 1897, at Binghamton, N. Y., Mr. Barnes married Mrs. Lois M. (Bleakley) Tower, and to them has come one son, Guy Seward, born April 27, 1899. Mrs. Barnes was born July 2, 1868, in Cohoes, N. Y., where her parents, William Irving and Sarah (Gray) Bleakley (both yet liv- ing), spent the greater part of their lives. The father, who is a machinist by trade, was born May 25, 1838, in Moreau, Saratoga Co., N. Y., of English descent ; the mother was born November 26, 1844, in Gilboa, Schoharie Co., N. Y., of Scotch- Irish ancestry. In 1892 Lois M. Bleakley married John E. Tower, of Amsterdam, N. Y., who died the same year in Norfolk, Va., where he was en- gaged as bookkeeper.

Fraternally Mr. Barnes is a Master Mason, also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and of the Heptasophs; in religious faith he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His political support is given to the men and meas- ures of the Republican party, and he takes quite an active and influential part in public affairs. While a resident of Rush township he served as school direc- tor three years ; township clerk three terms ; has been secretary of the Auburn and Rush Poor Asylum for the past nineteen years ; and in September, 1888, was appointed deputy register and recorder, which po- sition he will contiue to fill during the Democratic administration. His official duties have always been most capably and conscientiously discharged, and his public and private life are alike above reproach.

DANIEL LOWE, a prosperous farmer and . lumberman of Scott township, Wayne county, is one of the public-spirited citizens to whose energy and foresight the locality is indebted for many improve-

Jr. Nelson Barnes

1025

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ments. While he has given close attention to his private affairs, he has never forgotten or ignored that bond of common interest which should unite the people of every community, and he has always been ready to promote progress in every line.

Mr. Lowe was born in 1833, near Binghamton, N. Y., a son of Lewis and Hannah ( Hopkins ) Lowe. His paternal grandfather, John Lowe, was a native of Holland, and served as captain in the Revolutionary war under Gen. Washington. At an early day Lewis Lowe removed to Ararat, Susque- hanna Co., Penn., where he worked at the black- smith's trade until 1872, when he sold out and went to Great Bend, making his home with his son Mor- ris. His wife died in 1883. In their family were seven children, Daniel being the eldest. (2) Mor- ris, born at Ararat, in 1835, was educated in the pub- lic schools of Susquehanna county, and is now en- gaged in the railroad business at Great Bend. He married Lucinda Hill, of that county, and has six children. (3) Sarah, born in Ararat in 1837, is now living in one of the Southern States. (4) Hen- ry, born in 1839, in Susquehanna county, was for three years a Union soldier in the Civil war, and re- turned home broken down in health. He married Lucinda Page, of Susquehanna county. by whom he has five children, and they now live in New Mil- ford, Penn. (5) Perry, born in Ararat in 1841, married Sarah Griggs, and died while in the ser- vice of his country during the Civil war. (6) Mary, born in Susquehanna county, died at the age of twenty years. (7) John, when a young man drift- ed with the tide of emigration to the Black Hills, and has never been heard from by his friends in Pennsylvania. [Anyone reading this article would confer a great favor on the family by giving any information of his whereabouts.]

Daniel Lowe conned his lessons in the common and high schools of Susquehanna county. He was married in September, 1857, to Miss Ellen Ray- mond, of Scott township, Wayne county, and they have become the parents of six children, all born at their present home. Lansing R. is with his par- ents; Emma married Russel Fletcher, of Broome county, N. Y., who died leaving one child, Ellen ; Nellie died at the age of twenty-two years; Min- nie died at the age of ten years; and Ernest and Myron are both at home. Mr. Lowe began his do- mestic life upon his present farm in Scott township, Wayne county, but later sold out and removed to Ararat, Susquehanna county. Subsequently he re- purchased his farm in Scott township, where he has since made his home. In 1884 he erected a pleasant residence, and has made many other im- provements which add to the value and attractive appearance of the place, making it one of the best rural homes in Wayne county. His farming opera- tions were interrupted in 1864 by his enlistment in Company I, 127th N. Y. V. I., with which he served until the close of the war, participating in a number of important engagements.

Earnest and consistent Christian people, Mr. 65

and Mrs. Lowe have become active and prominent members of the Baptist Church of Sherman. The Republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter, and he cheerfully gives his influence to all measures which he believes calculated to prove of public good. Fraternally he affiliates with De- posit Lodge No. 396, F. & A. M. As a citizen, friend and neighbor, he is true to every duty, and justly merits the esteem in which he is held by the entire community.

JOHN R. WILCOX, an energetic and pro- gressive farmer of Manchester township, Wayne county, was born February 19, 1860, on the old homestead where he still resides, and is a repre- sentative of one of the honored pioneer families of the community.

Pardon T. Wilcox, father of our subject, was born December 29, 1814, in Rhode Island, and at an early day came to Wayne county with his parents, George and Hannah (Whitman) Wilcox, who were also natives of Rhode Island, and who died in Wayne county. On March 19, 1841, Pardon T. Wilcox wedded Miss Mary E. Wood, who was born in Connecticut, July 14, 1822, a daughter of Samuel R. and Eliza (Godfrey) Wood, natives of that State, who in 1836 came to Wayne county, making the journey with horses and wagon. The parents of our subject began their domestic life in Damas- cus township, Wayne county, but later removed to Manchester township, where they erected a rude log house, roofed with hemlock shingles, and barn with roof of hemlock bark. Upon this farm the father continued to reside until called to his final rest at the age of seventy-seven years ; the mother is still living on the old homestead. Fourteen chil- dren were born to them, only five of whom are now living ; in order of birth they are as follows: Will- iam H., who was born August 10, 1843, died in the service of his country August 23, 1862, his name being on the soldiers monument at Honesdale, Wayne county ; Hannah E. is the deceased wife of Gideon B. Chase, who was also a Union soldier during the Civil war; Malissa died in 1849 at the age of eighteen months; Cassandra J. is the wife of Henry Brown, of Manchester township; Eleanor E. is the wife of M. Bursely, of Manchester township; Mary Olive is the wife of George T. Kellum, of the same township; Henry W. died at the age of nine years; Edward Fremont is also deceased ; Diana T. is the deceased wife of William Sanders, of Lu- zerne county, Penn .; John R. is the subject of this sketch; Solomon Wesley was drowned in the Sus- quehanna river at Plymouth, Penn., in 1874; and Caroline F. is the wife of John Price, of Manchester township.

John R. Wilcox was reared on the old home farm, where he obtained a thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits, and in the public schools of the neighborhood acquired his literary education. He now has entire management of the farm, which comprises eighty-three acres of rich and arable land

1026

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

under excellent cultivation and improved with good buildings. The fields are well tilled, and every- thing about the place bespeaks the thrift and enter- prise of the owner, who is a man of excellent busi- ness ability. His frank and genial manner wins the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact, and those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends.

On May 24, 1888, Mr. Wilcox married Miss Jennett Mawdsley, who has proved a true helpmeet to him. She was born, reared and educated in Da- mascus township, Wayne county, and is a daughter of George and Margaret (Collins) Mawdsley (both now deceased), the father a native of Eng- land, the mother of Scotland .. Mrs. Wilcox is one of a family of nine children, the others being John, Thomas, Joseph, James, Agnes, George and Rachel, all still living, and Ellen, deceased. Our subject and his wife have two bright boys: Raymond, now (1900) aged nine years; and Sherman, aged eight.

WILLIAM JENNINGS, a prominent citizen of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, is an able and progressive agriculturist, and his farm, though small, is one of the most valuable in that locality, the scientific methods employed in its man- agement bringing better results than are secured on many larger estates.

Mr. Jennings was born October 28, 1853, at the old family homestead in New Milford township, and is a son of Lancaster and Eliza Ann ( Richard- son) Jennings, and a grandson of David B. Jennings, a well-known pioneer, of whom an extended account is given elsewhere. He remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty, and after work- ing for a year among farmers in the vicinity he purchased a farm in that township. This place he kept only one year, when he sold it and again worked as a laborer on neighboring farms; but after his marriage he rented land and engaged in farming on his own account. In the fall of 1880 he removed to Binghamton, N. Y., where he was employed nine years in cigar factories, being fore- man of the Kent factory for two years. He then became interested in the coal business, and in ad- dition to that operated a gristmill for two years ; he has since been engaged in general farming in his native township, having twenty-five acres finder cultivation. He is a member of the local grange, and of Binghamton Lodge, Order of Red Men; politically he is a stanch Republican. While re- siding in Binghamton and since his return to New Milford he has held a number of local offices; also for many years served the Methodist Church (of which he is a member ) in various official capacities. On March 18, 1874, he was married in Harford township, Susquehanna county, to Miss Mary E. Titus, daughter of Baker and Anna (Cary) Titus, of Lenox township. She died March 17, 1875, aged twenty-one years, and was buried in Lenox township. On October 31, 1877, Mr. Jennings married Miss Anna Waldo, of New Milford town-

ship, daughter of Anson and Jane (Leach) Waldo. The Waldo family is of English origin, and Mrs. Jennings' great-grandparents, Edward L. and Hannah ( Elderkin) Waldo, came to this coun- try from England at an early day, settling in Wind- ham county, Conn. Zachariah Waldo, grandfather of Mrs. Jennings, was born in Connecticut, and his wife, Joanna (Butterfield), was a native of New Hampshire. Anson Waldo, father of Mrs. Jen- nings, was born in Windham county, Conn., and as a young man followed the molder's trade; later, in 1841, he came to Susquehanna county, purchasing thirty acres of land in New Milford township. There he made a clearing and built a log cabin, and two years later he removed to another farm adjoin- ing, but in 1876 he returned to his original home- stead, where he died October 2, 1882, aged seventy- six years, three months, nineteen days. He was a Universalist in religious belief, and as a citizen was much respected for his excellent qualities of char- acter. His widow, Mrs. Jane (Leach) Waldo, who was born April 1, 1826, is now residing with our subject. Of their children, Samuel, the eldest, was born in New Milford township, May 21, 1846, and is now engaged in general farming in the same township. (2) Albert, also a farmer in New Mil- ford township, married Miss Ella Fuller, and has one daughter, May, wife of John Monroe. (3) Anna is the wife of our subject.

The Leach family is of pioneer stock, and Sam- uel Leach, Mrs. Jane Waldo's father, once owned the larger portion of the site of New Milford borough. He was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., a son of Capt. Leach, and came to Susquehanna county in early manhood, settling first in New Milford town- ship, then in Franklin township, and finally in Bridgewater township. He died in 1829, and his remains were interred at New Milford. His wife, Betsy ( McFall), came to Susquehanna county from Dutchess county, N. Y., during her girlhood. She died in 1862, and was buried at Milburn, N. Y., near Binghamton. They had the following chil- dren: Eliza (deceased), who married Harvey Leach; Charles (deceased) ; Hannah, widow of Sylvester Simpson, of Binghamton, N. Y .; Harry, a school teacher, who died in Colorado; Ruth (de- ceased ), who married George Hopkins ; Ellen (de- ceased ), who married Ludwig Main ; and Jane, the mother of Mrs. Jennings.

CHARLES H. FREDERICK POEPPEL. Many of the most enterprising and prosperous busi- ness men of Wayne county have come from the land beyond the sea, and especially is this true of those who have left their homes in the German Empire and sought in this land of freedom a home and competence for themselves and family. Among these is Mr. Poeppel, a leading butcher and meat merchant of Hawley. He was born November 9, 1845, in Hameln, on the Weser, Hanover, Germany, a son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Quante) Poeppel, who spent their entire lives in Germany, where the

1027

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

father worked at his trade of shoemaking. He died in March, 1879, at the age of seventy-eight, his wife two months previous, at the age of seventy-two years. They were earnest and consistent members of the Lutheran Church. Of their children, Will- iam, who came to America, and served as sergeant in the Civil war, has not been heard from for eight- een years; Charles was also a Union soldier, and died from the effects of his service in the hospital at Utica, N. Y .; our subject is next in the order of birth; Henrietta and Wilhelmina (twins) com- plete the family; the former died in Germany at the age of four years, and the latter is now the wid- ow of Frederick Wolter, a stonemason.

Until fourteen years of age our subject at- tended the schools of his native land, and then served a four-years' apprenticeship to the butcher's trade, receiving nothing for his services and having to furnish his own clothes. He continued to work for his employer as a journeyman for about six months, at fifty cents per week, and then went to Hanover, Germany, where he worked for a year and a half at seventy-five cents per week. Two nights out of each week he had to make sausage, but while here he added to his wages by selling bones and other refuse, realizing in this way about two dol- lars per week. The following three years he spent in Bremen, Germany, where he worked for one em- ployer one year, and for another the remainder of the time.

Taking passage on the steamer "Columbia," Mr. Poeppel landed in New York City May 3, 1869, and ten days later came to Hawley, Penn., where he worked at his trade for Frederick Nell one year. the following year he was employed at different kinds of labor, after which he returned to Mr. Neil, remaining with him for six years. On April 21, 1874, while in his service, the horse he was driving became scared, and backing down an embankment fell on our subject, breaking his collar bone and three ribs. He was thus disabled for about a month, but with that exception he has engaged in business uninterruptedly since coming to America. In March, 1877, he opened a meat market of his own in Haw- ley, and seventeen months later removed to his present location. He has met with remarkable success in business, and is now the owner of three fine farms in Wayne county, one in Paupack town- ship, and two in Palmyra.

In Hawley, November 28, 1869, Mr. Poeppel was united in marriage with Miss Louisa C. Lange. and to them have been born seven children: Fred- erick G., Amelia F., Louisa C., Henry C. F., Anna A. and Lena M., all at home; and Carl Christ, who died in childhood. Mrs. Poeppel was born in Wal- lensen, Province of Hanover, Germany, March 14, 1850, a daughter of Christopher and Christina ( Pleuger) Lange, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father, who was a shoemaker by trade, was born in 1801, and died in 1888, while the mother was born in 1825 and died in 1885. Their children were Frederick, who was killed at

Metz in the German war of 1870; Caroline, widow of Nicholas Miller, and a resident of Bremen, Ger- many; Louisa C., wife of our subject; Henry, a stonemason in Germany; and Christina, wife of Charles Brothagen, a farmer of Germany.

Socially Mr. Poeppel affiliates with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Encampment, the American Legion of Honor, and the American Pro- tective Legion, whose headquarters are at Waverly, N. Y. In religious connection he is a member of the German Lutheran Church. In politics he is identi- fied with the Republican party, but has never cared for official honors, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. Through his own efforts he has risen from a humble to an ex- alted position in the business world, and by his upright, honorable course has gained the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

ROSMAN I. PAGE. The rapid development of this section is best realized when one listens to the reminiscences of some sturdy pioneer, whose memory goes back to the time when the forest spread unbroken over hills and valleys which now boast of populous communities. The venerable subject of this sketch, a retired agriculturist of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, was born and reared in that county amid the environments of the "early days," and in his seventy-five years of life has seen marvelous changes, his own industry having been a factor in the progress of his locality.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 240

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