Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 241

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 241
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 241
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 241
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 241

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Mr. Page comes of good Vermont ancestry in both paternal and maternal lines. Peter Page, our subject's grandfather, was a farmer in Vermont, and he and his wife both died there many years ago. Capt. Levi Page, his father, was born and reared at Hardwick, Caledonia Co., Vt., and was married there to Priscilla Ingalls, daughter of Amos and Ruth (Stevens) Ingalls, who came to Gibson, Susquehanna county, at an early day. Her father, who was a clothier by occupation, died at Bingham- ton, N. Y. One of her sisters, Ruth, was precep- tress of Wyoming Seminary for some time, and afterward conducted a ladies seminary at Bingham- ton for twenty-five years. In 1814 our subject's parents came to Susquehanna county with their family, then consisting of four children, and located upon the site of the present homestead. The lo- cality was a wilderness, and a clearing had to be made in the forest before the double log house was built which served many years as a family resi- dence. Capt. Page was a man of influence in the township, holding various offices and serving seven years as captain of a militia company. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and politically was a Democrat until the Civil war issues arose, when he became a Republican. He died June 30, 1873, aged eighty-seven years, his wife in April, 1866, aged seventy-six years, and the remains of both were interred in Lakeview cemetery, Jackson township.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Their children have taken an honorable place in life, and all except Elihu taught school for a time. (I) Amanda (deceased) married (first) Joseph Norris, of Vermont, and ( second) Henry Bunnell, of Wayne county. (2) Ezoa (deceased ) married Griffin Cook. (3) Elihu died in New Mil- ford township in 1899, aged eighty-five years, and is mentioned more fully elsewhere. (4) Levi S., a retired resident of Susquehanna, Penn., was for- merly engaged in carpentering and in mercantile business, and also served thirty-five years as justice of the peace. (5) Calvin J. ( deceased) was a school teacher at the time of his death. (6) Eber died in infancy. (7) Hannah married J. W. H. Bradford, of Connecticut, and died in Susquehanna county in 1897, aged seventy-seven years. (8) Amos I. died at the age of twenty-eight. (9) Rosman I., our subject, is next in the order of birth. (10) Mari- etta M. married William Benny, farmer of New Milford township. (II) Seth died at the age of eleven years. (12) Joseph N. died in 1899 at Syracuse, N. Y., where he had been engaged in mercantile and insurance business. For a time he was president of the Commercial Travelers Insurance Co., and later became general agent of the United States Insurance Co. (13) John W., a resident of Syracuse, N. Y., was formerly secretary and treas- urer of the Commercial Tavelers Insurance Co.

Our subject was born September 3, 1824, in the log house above mentioned, and as the son of a busy farmer with an indebtedness taking the profits of the estate he found plenty of work to do during his youth. At seventeen he taught school for one term ; but as the pay was very small he de- cided to learn the carpenter's trade with his brother L. S., with whom he worked at intervals for about eight years, the remainder of the time being spent in assisting his father. When he was about twenty- five years old the debt was finally cleared, and his father gave him seventy-five acres of land upon which he engaged in farming on his own account. From time to time he has purchased other tracts of land until he now owns 103 acres on his home- stead, with several wooded lots in the vicinity. He also bought the farm in New Milford on which his son Seth resides. For about ten years he followed carpentering in connection with farming. As a good citizen he takes an intelligent interest in the questions of the day and although not an office seeker he served as supervisor during the Civil war, one of the duties being to fill the quota from the township for the drafts, and take the men to Scranton for enlistment. Not being able to go him- self, he furnished a substitute. Previous to the war he was a Democrat, but he has ever since affil- iated with the Republican party. He has been a member of the Grange for twenty-five years.

On December 8, 1849, Mr. Page was married in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, to Miss Orilla E. Chandler, daughter of Dr. Charles and Sally (Lewis) Chandler, of Gibson township, Sus- quehanna county, where his father was a prominent

physician in his day. She died March 31, 1885, aged fifty-eight years, and her remains rest in Lake- view cemetery. Of the two sons of this union, Seth, the eldest, a farmer in New Milford township, married Miss Hattie R. Kenyon, and had three children, May, Glen R. (who died in 1898, aged fourteen years), and an infant. (2) Lamont L., who resides on a portion of the old homestead ad- joining our subject's farm, married Miss Sarah A. Kenyon, a sister of his brother's wife. On Decem- ber 24, 1891, our subject was married at New Mil- ford to Miss Betsey C. Follet, who was born April 25, 1832, in Jackson township, Susquehanna county. Her paternal grandparents, Warren and Patty P. (Tingley) Follet, came to Susquehanna county from Attleboro, Mass., at an early day, and made their home in Harford township. Capt. Hiram Follet, Mrs. Page's father, was born in Harford township, and became a successful farmer in Jack- son. He was a Democrat in politics, and was fre- quently chosen to office by his fellow citizens. He died at Danville, Penn., October 27, 1876, aged sev- enty-three years, and his wife, Nancy (Green), died in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, April 10, 1868, aged sixty-three years, the re- mains of both being interred in Gibson cemetery. The Green family has been identified with Gibson township from pioneer times, and Mrs. Page's ma- ternal grandparents, John Green, of Massachusetts, and his wife Betsey (Van Winkle), of Long Island, both died there and were buried in the local cem- etery. Mrs. Page was the youngest of two chil- dren, the other being John P., who married Miss Adeline Clafflin, and is a farmer by occupation, now residing, at the age of seventy-one, at Man- lius, Ill. Mrs. Betsy C. Page died very suddenly September 5, 1899, of heart failure.

AUGUSTUS WAIDLER is the well known proprietor of "Sunnyside Farm," in Scott township, Wayne county, which at the time of his purchase, in 1887, was known as the Christ Williams farm. He has since been prominently identified with the substantial improvement and material development of the locality, and although an adopted son of America his loyalty is above question, and his labors in the interests of the community have been most effective and beneficial.

Mr. Waidler was born in Baden, Germany, February 2, 1848, and when a child was brought to the New World by his parents, Christian and Josephine (Hayes) Waidler, also natives of Baden, and representatives of highly-respected families of that country. By trade the father was a black- smith, and on coming to the United States located in Lumberland, Sullivan Co., N. Y., where he fol- lowed that occupation. Throughout life he was remarkably healthy, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years, dying in Kimble, Pike Co., Penn., in December, 1895. His children who are still living are Kate, Barbara, John, Carrie, Philip, Augustus and Lave.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, and early became familiar with hard work. For ten years after starting out in life for himself he followed boating on the Delaware & Hudson canal, and two years on the Erie canal. He built the boat "G. E. West," at a cost of $2,000, but sold it on his return to Sullivan county, N. Y., in 1877, and on disposing of his property there he came to Wayne county in 1886 and bought his pres- ent farm in Scott township. It comprises 100 acres of rich and arable land, under a high state of cultivation, and improved with a commodious res -- idence and very large barn. It is conveniently near the school house of the district, and is one of the most desirable places in the community.

At Cahoonzie, N. Y., Mr. Waidler was mar- ried, March 20, 1878, to Miss Esther E. Jennings, who was born in Barryville, Sullivan Co., N. Y., June 9, 1859, a daughter of Isaac Jennings, a hotel- keeper, who died in 1883, and his wife, Susan Jane (Davenport) Jennings. Mr. and Mrs. Waidler have five children, namely: George L., Emma Florence, Amanda E., Mabel E. and Ruth Sadie.

In political affiliation Mr. Waidler is a stanch Republican, taking an active interest in the affairs of his party, and he is now acceptably serving as a member of the school board and as postmaster of Scott Centre, having been appointed to the latter position in October, 1897. Socially he belongs to the Knights of Honor and the Improved Order of Red Men. His upright, honorable life commends him to the confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact, and he has made many warm friends in his adopted county.

JOHN McCORMICK, one of the enterpris- ing agriculturists of Silver Lake township, Susque- hanna county, is a native of same, born in June, 1835, of Irish parentage.

James McCormick, the father of our subject, was born in 1799 in County Tipperary, Ireland, and came to the United States when a young man. He was married, at Albany, N. Y., to Mary Guyton, who was born in 1808 in County Tipperary, and they shortly afterward came to Susquehanna coun- tv; Penn., settling on new land in Silver Lake town- ship. Mr. McCormick spent the remainder of his life in the cultivation and improvement of his farm, which he was first obliged to clear, however, and by incessant industry he succeeded in convert- ing what was once a wilderness into a pro- ductive and valuable farm ._ The log house which he erected on his arrival, and which the family oc- cupied for many years, was in time replaced by a substantial frame residence, and numerous other changes were made about the place which increased its value and enhanced its appearance. Mr. Mc- Cormick did his full share in the advancement of agricultural interests in this region, and he also took an active part in establishing good public schools, and otherwise assisting in the intellectual growth of the section, serving faithfully for many

years as school director. He passed away on his farm in Silver Lake township in 1862, his wife pre- ceding him to the grave in 1855. They were con- sistent Catholics in religious belief, and reared their family in the same faith, always placing the greatest importance in their moral training, and giving them the best advantages for education at their command. Six children were born to James and Mary McCormick, of whom we have the follow- ing record :

(I) James was born near Albany, N. Y., was reared on the home farm, and for several years prior to his marriage taught in the schools of Sus- quehanna county, but he made farming his life work, his place adjoining that of his father. He died in February, 1898. He married Miss Katie Curley, of Middletown, and they had seven children, Mary (wife of James Kane, of Choconut), James, Thomas, Joseph, Lawrence, Catherine (who mar- ried John Heavey), and Annie (wife of William Caddon, of New York State.) (2) Mary, born on the old home farm, received a good education, and followed the teacher's profession for a number of years before her marriage to Joseph Ward, of Sil- ver Lake township. (3) Ellen, born in Silver Lake, received a thorough education, and for a num- ber of years engaged in teaching in the convent schools of Susquehanna county, where she died. (4) Thomas, born in Silver Lake, resides in Scranton, Penn., where he has for many years been pattern maker for the Iron & Coal Co. For his first wife he married Miss Margaret Clark, of Choconut township, who died in Scranton, leaving four children, Joseph, Thomas, Annie and Mary. By his second wife, Annie (Monaghan), he has two children, James and John. (5) Joseph went South, and was employed as clerk in a wholesale jewelry store in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he was attacked with smallpox and died in young manhood. (6) John is the subject of this sketch.

John McCormick attended the district schools during his boyhood, and received his training to agricultural work on the home place, where he con- tinued to reside until 1876, purchasing the farm at the time of his marriage. In early manhood he also engaged in lumbering in the winter season. In 1876 he sold the property in Silver Lake township, and purchased the Allen J. Sheldon farm near Sil- ver Lake, where he erected a fine home, and here he has since resided, engaged in general agriculture and dairying. He has cleared up a large portion of this tract, on which he has also made general im- provements which have materially beautified the place, and he holds high rank among the most suc- cessful and up-to-date farmers of the section. Like his father, he has always taken special interest in the educational affairs of the community, and he has served acceptably as school director for a number of terms, but he has been progressive and public-spirited in every respect, and his genial dis- position has won for him hosts of friends among his neighbors and fellow citizens. He is as highly

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

respected as he is popular, and he bears an untar- nished reputation for honesty and integrity in all his dealings.

In 1859 Mr. McCormick married Miss Bridget Hannagan, daughter of John and Cath- erine (Donnelly ) Hannagan, who were well known pioneers of Liberty township, Susquehanna county, where the father engaged in farming. Twelve children have blessed this marriage, all born in Sil- ver Lake township, namely: Mary married a Mr. Kelly, of Silver Lake, where they reside on their farm; they have four children living, Matthew, Rose, Mary and Theresa. (2) Daisy received a good education in the select schools of the county, and taught school here successfully for fourteen or fifteen years. She is now the wife of John J. Mur- phy, of Silver Lake township, and they have had five children, Leo, Rachel, Charles, Vincent and Gabriel. (3) John married Miss Katie Murphy, and they have three children, Cecelia, Mary and Richard. They reside on a farm near Brackney, in Silver Lake township. (4) Ellen is the wife of Charles S. Sweeney, and has seven children, Jo- seph, James, Ellen, Rose, Edward, Annie and Mon- ica. They own a comfortable home near Quaker Lake. (5) Joseph married Miss Anna Heavey, and makes his home in Binghamton, N. Y. They have two children, Walter and Florence. (6) Rose was engaged in teaching for a number of years before her marriage to Thomas Gahagan, of Broome county, N. Y., where they reside. They have one son, Ambrose. (7) Alphonse taught school in Susquehanna county for a number of years, and is now manager of the New York State Asylum farm, proving himself in this responsible position a very capable business man. He is un- married. (8) Ambrose is engaged in the feed business in Binghamton. (9) Genevieve, (10) James, (II) William and ( 12) Paul are still under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick and all their children are members of the Catholic Church, to the work of which they contribute lib- erally. Politically our subject is a Democrat.

WESLEY F. ROGERS, whose sudden death on January 13, 1900, is still fresh in the minds of his fellow citizens, was at the time serving as yard engineer for the Erie Railroad Co., at Hawley; Wayne county.

Mr. Rogers was a native of Pennsylvania, born at Westfall, Pike county, July 9, 1845, a son of Augustus J. and Lucinda (Quick) Rogers, natives of England and New Jersey, respectively. When a lad of ten years the father emigrated with his par- ents to the United States and located in Bingham- ton, N. Y., where they died. He was married in Pike county, Penn., and there continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life, em- ployed first as foreman on the canal, and later en- gaging in farming and tending a lock at the same time. He was an earnest, conscientious Christian gentleman, and for many years served as a local

minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in March, 1884, at the age of seventy-three years, his wife in April, 1887, at the age of sixty- six, and both were laid to rest in the cemetery at Kimble, Pike county. Their children were Mary and Russell ( twins), who both died in infancy ; Wes- ley F., the subject of this sketch; Isabella, a trained nurse, now located in Pittsburg, Penn .; Ebba, wife of Edward Calfus, station agent at Shohola, Pike county ; and Stella, a resident of Hawley.

Wesley F. Rogers pursued his studies in the schools near his childhood home until fifteen years of age, acquiring a good practical education, and at the age of seventeen he was made lock tender at what was then known as Blue Eddy, holding that position for four years. In March, 1865, he en- listed in Company G, 214th P. V. I., under Capt. Robert H. Ford, of Philadelphia, and proceeded to Richmond, Va., where he did guard duty until hon- orably discharged in March, 1866. Fortunately he was never wounded. On his return home he began braking on the Erie railroad, and after serving in. that. capacity for two years he was made fireman. In 1871 he was promoted to engineer, and as such con- tinted with the Erie railroad, an honored and trust- ed employe of the company until his sudden death on January 13, 1900, from heart disease. He was on duty on his engine, on the return trip from Haw- ley to Port Jervis, and died between Lackawaxen and Rowland. His remains were interred January 17, at Kimble.

In Glen Eyre, Pike Co., Penn., Mr. Rogers was married in 1870, to Miss Christina Mahler, a native of Baden, Germany, who when a child came to America and lived with an uncle in New York. She died April 23, 1893, and was laid to rest in Kimble cemetery, Pike county. Six children blessed this union, namely: Harry, who is now located in Yonkers, N. Y .; Ralph, deceased; and Charles, Clarence, Herbert and Mabel, who are at home. Mr. Rogers was again married, at Hawley, October 17, 1897, his second union being with Miss Laura M. Gearing. There are no children of this marriage.

Fraternally Mr. Rogers was an honored mem- ber of Pocahontas Lodge, I. O. R. M., of Haw- ley ; and of the K. of H. and F. & A. M., both of Hawley. His political support was always given to the measures which he believed best culculated to advance the public welfare, but he was not bound by party ties. He was, however, one of the most progressive and popular citizens of Hawley, where he made many warm friends.

CHRISTOPHER W. BODIE, a well-known and prominent citizen of Dyberry township, Wayne county, belongs to a family that has for many years been identified with the industrial and business in- terests of this section of the State. His paternal grandfather, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, was born about 1788, was for many years a resident of Philadelphia, and spent his last days in Ohio.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Joseph Bodie, father of our subject, was a na- tive of Philadelphia, and when a boy learned the glass blower's trade. On first coming to Wayne county he was employed in a glass factory in Dy- berry, but later purchased land in the western part. of the township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies until called from this life in February, 1888. He married Miss Caro- line, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth ( Hen- itz) Faatz, who were born, reared and married in Saxony, Germany. In 1808 Mr. Faatz and his eld- son son came to America and in Philadelphia found employment in a glass factory, as they were skilled workmen along that line. The following year they were joined by the remainder of the family, and in 1816 they all removed to Dyberry, Wayne county, where the father, with the assistance of his sons, built and operated a glass factory for many years. Suitable sand for the factory was found in large quantities with in the township of Dyberry. All of the family are now deceased, the children being Christian, Christina, Jacob, Caroline and Charles. Of these Mrs. Caroline Bodie died December 14, 1893. Our subject is fifth in the order of birth in a family of eight children, viz .: Charles F. died in 1868 or '69; Euphemia, wife of Elias Stites, died about twenty-two years ago ; David, now ( 1900) aged sixty-four, is living in Honesdale; Julia A., wid- ow of John Reynolds, is living in Carbondale, aged sixty-two; Christopher W. is our subject; Ann, now aged fifty-seven, is the wife of S. W. Samp- son, of Dyberry township; Mary, deceased at the age of fifty-three, was the wife of Edward Faatz; Caroline, is the wife of George Olver, of Carbon- dale, Pennsylvania.

Christopher W. Bodie was born November II, 1841, in Dyberry township, where he still continues to make his home. He acquired his literary educa- tion in the common schools and also received a good musical education. For many years he was employed as an instructor in music, conducting the winter singing schools in Wayne county, which were so popular in the early days.

On November II, 1862, at Bethany, Wayne county, Mr. Bodie was married to Miss Caroline E. Brink, by Rev. E. O. Ward. She was born De- cember 27, 1842, a daughter of Abraham and Julia A. (Grimer) Brink, in whose family were the fo low- ing children: David Eugene, who died in infancy ; Charlotte, wife of Milton Lawrence, of Dyberry township; Caroline E., wife of our subject ; War- ren, a Union soldier, who died at the age of thirty- five years ; John H., a resident of Carbondale, Penn. ; Phoebe E., wife of Charles Castle, of Tracy Creek, N. Y .; Charles, of Binghamton, N. Y .; Elida, also of Binghamton; and Edward, of Syracuse, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Bodie have three children : Effie L., born in July, 1863, is the widow of John Oliver, and is now engaged in teaching school ; Roland C., born October 30, 1864, is a resident of Dyberry township ; and Ada A., born June 15, 1867, is at home.

Mr. Bodie has always been a stanch supporter

of the men and measures of the Democratic party, and has most acceptably filled the offices of consta- ble ( thirteen years), school director ( six years), as- sessor, and member of the election board. He is now the popular postmaster of Haines, having served in that position for twelve consecutive years, with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the . public. Religiously he is one of the leading mem- bers of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, and was for some time a trustee.

SAMUEL HACKER. Many of the late de- fenders of the Union during the Civil war were of foreign birth, but their loyalty to their adopted country was never questioned, for on Southern bat- tlefields they were among the most brave and faithful soldiers. Among the boys in blue was Samuel Hacker, a prominent farmer of Mt. Pleasant town- ship, Wayne county, who was born in Devonshire, England, May 17, 1835, a son of Edward and Sarah (Broy) Hacker. In the family were eleven children, six sons and five daughters, Thomas, John, Will- iam, Ed, Nathan, Samuel, Jane, Sarah, Mary, Anne and Diantha. The parents spent their entire lives in England, and both died at the age of seventy years. In religious belief they were Episcopalians.

In his native land Samuel Hacker spent his boyhood and youth, and acquired his literary educa- tion in its public schools. At the age of eighteen years he, in company with his brother Ed, now a resident of Cherry Ridge, Penn., came to America, taking passage at Plymouth, and arriving in this country after seven weeks spent upon the water, a broken anchor chain occasioning the delay. Our subject first located at Honesdale, Wayne county, where he worked as a carpenter and contractor for two years, and then settled on a farm in Texas town- ship, but later removed to Cherry Ridge. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he enlisted, in 1861, in Company D, 179th P. V. I., and was first stationed at Yorktown, Va., where with his regi- ment he participated in several skirmishes. His eyesight being defective, and being also troubled with a chronic disease, he was honorably discharged at Harrisburg, Penn., after several months' service, and returned home. In 1883 he purchased the Den- nis Baxter farm, comprising seventy-five acres of fertile and productive land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and a comfortable residence and good outbuildings are in perfect har- mony with the well-tilled fields. He has been quite successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, and the prosperity which has crowned his efforts is certainly well deserved, for he has made his own way in the world unaided by capital or influential friends.'

Mr. Hacker was married, March 21, 1857, to Miss Ellen Karstake, also a native of Devonshire, England, and a daughter of Rodger and Anna (Browning) Karstake. Her father died in Wayne county at the age of eighty-two years, after which the mother returned to England, where she passed

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 241

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