Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 254

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 254
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 254
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 254
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 254

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Mr. and Mrs. Gere began their domestic life upon the Marsh homestead, where they have since continued to reside, caring for her parents in their declining years until they were called to the world beyond. Mr. Gere has made many improvements upon the place, and has met with excellent success in its operation. He and his wife have one son, Llewellyn, who was born in February, 1883, and is now a student in the home school. He is very pro- ficient in music, having pursued his studies along that line under the able direction of his aunt. Our subject comes of Whig stock and is an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party. Both he and his wife are leading and active members of the Presby- terian Church of Hallstead, in which he is serving as elder, while his father has been elder of the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church for a number of years.

M. J. RYAN, proprietor of the "Starrucca Hotel," at Susquehanna, Susquehanna county, is a model landlord, and under his careful direction his hotel enjoys a large patronage among the best class of people, the traveling public having found it in all respects satisfactory. As a citizen Mr. Ryan is equally popular, as his genial nature and cour- teous manners have won him friends in all classes,

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and for some years he has been regarded as a lead- ing Democrat of his locality, his devotion to party interests being rewarded by an appointment to the office of postmaster of Susquehanna during Cleve- land's administration.

He was born October 12, 1860, at Susquehanna, Penn., the son of M. and Hannah ( Vaughn) Ryan, both natives of County Limerick, Ireland. His fa- ther, who was born in 1823, came to America in 1849, and for many years was employed in the blacksmith shop at Susquehanna, where his death occurred in 1886. His wife, who was born in 1835, died May 27, 1893. They had six children: John, who was in the United States navy for seventeen years; M. J., our subject; Daniel; Michael, who died in San Francisco; Margaret, and Mary.

Our subject was educated in the schools of Susquehanna, and developed into a hearty, robust manhood, weiging 204 pounds when only seven- teen years of age. At that time he entered the em- ploy of the Erie Railroad Company, and for sev- eral years he worked as a hammersmith in their shops at Susquehanna. He then purchased the Cen- tral Hotel in that city, and after conducting it suc- cessfully for five years he disposed of the business, having been appointed postmaster. The duties of that office occupied his attention until the spring of 1898, when he resigned to make way for a Re- publican, owing to the change of administration, and soon afterward he took charge of his present hotel. He is a member of the school board, and has been delegate to State and National conventions. In 1897, when nominated for prothonotary by his party, he won a majority in his own town, and though defeated ran ahead of his ticket.

On June 14, 1887, Mr. Ryan was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Callahan, daughter of John and May Callahan, and three children have blessed their union-Marion, Frances and Paul. The fam- ily are all faithful adherents of the Church of Rome. Mr. Ryan is public-spirited and genial, and has a host of warm friends in the county.

JOHN ERNEST BECK (deceased), formerly proprietor of the "Vandermark Hotel," at Milford, Pike county, was for many years a leading citizen of that place. His sound and practical judgment, and untiring industry, were strongly characteristic of the sturdy German race from which he sprang, and the discouragements and hardships of his early life seemed only to strengthen his worthy determina- tion to achieve success. A good citizen and a kind- hearted man, he was never known to do an unkind act, but many could tell of his charitable deeds, and it was this trait in his character, and his aversion to meddling in the affairs of his fellow men, that drew to him many warm friends. His death, which oc- curred March 9, 1888, caused sincere mourning in the community where he had so long made his home.

Mr. Beck was born July 18, 1830, at Lamphold- shausen, Wurtemberg, Germany, where his family had resided for generations. His father, John G.

Beck, a farmer by occupation, married Frederika Mühlbach, and they had the following named chil- dren: Christina, Frederick, John Ernest, and Jo- hannah, all now deceased; Rose, wife of George Hafner, a farmer at Westtown, N. Y .; Christina, who married John Ost, a farmer near Milford; Frederika, widow of Philip Meisenhelder, of Mil- ford; and Christian, who was a railroad conductor for many years, and was then pensioned, now living at Lampholdshausen, Halle, Wurtemberg, Germany.

Our subject was reared in his native land, where he received a common-school education, and on Oc- tober 27, 1853, he was married there to M. Frieder- ika Breuinger, to whose wise counsel and constant assistance he owed much of his later prosperity. In 1857 he came to America with his wife, their son John, and two of his sisters-Mrs. Philip Meisen- helder and Mrs. George Hafner. The voyage lasted forty-two days, and during this period the little party suffered many hardships. On landing in New York Mr. Beck sought a train to take him to Port Jervis, on his way to Dingman's Ferry, where his sister, Mrs. John Ost, resided; but as he could not speak English he had some difficulty in makng his wishes known, and through a misunderstanding, or a practical joke, he was told each day, on in- quiring for the train, that it had just gone, being thus unnecessarily detained in New York three days. On finally arriving at Port Jervis, July 4, 1857, he was told that the stage for Milford had "just gone," and suspecting another trick, the entire party decid- ed to walk to Dingman's Ferry without delay. Each took a turn in carrying the baggage and little John, and after a weary journey they reached their des- tination. Mr. Beck was employed as a farm hand in that vicinity for eight years, and then, when nearly forty years of age, moved to Milford, where he was engaged in the silver watch-case factory of Desire Bournique for fourteen years and seven months, for some years acting as foreman. He learned the polisher's trade there. As his health began to fail, his physician advised him to try some less confining work, and six years before his death he accordingly went into the hotel business, purchas- ing the present property from Hon. George Geyer. The building was then quite small and old-fashioned, but as trade increased he enlarged it, until it now contains twenty-three rooms, equipped with modern improvements, including steam heat and water serv- ice. The house, which is largely patronized by country people, is now conducted by his son William.

In 1865 Mr. Beck was drafted, and as he did not wish to serve he went away from home to es- cape the recruiting officers. During his absence a tramp called, and told Mrs. Beck that her husband had sent him for his gold watch and $5 in cash. Mrs. Beck, who was alone with her little children, was very much frightened, but kept the tramp over night, giving him supper and breakfast, and in the morning gave him the watch and money, only to find, on her husband's return, that he knew nothing

Ernest Beck

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of the matter. Thirteen children were born to John E. Beck and his wife, and ten are now living: John C. is the proprietor of "Beck's Hotel," at Mil- ford; Sophia L. married Daniel H. Middaugh, a farmer near Dingman's Ferry ; Amanda E. married Almer Terwilliger, a jeweler at Milford; Ernest J., who married Margaret Schottler, is a watch-case maker at Ravenswood, Ill .; Louise J. married George A. Frieh, of Milford; William F., who is unmarried, manages the "Vandermark Hotel," owned by his mother; George H., also sin- gle, is an engraver at Newark, N. J .; Miss Wil- helmina, Frederick A. and Miss Katherine reside with their mother. The others died in infancy. Mr. Beck was a charter member of Vandermark Lodge No. 828, I. O. O. F., of Milford, and also belonged to Minnisink Tribe, I. O. R. M., of Port Jervis, and his funeral, which was held from the Presbyterian Church, was largely attended by mem- bers of those organizations, as well as by many oth- ers of his fellow citizens. Rev. A. S. Gardener de- livered a very fitting discourse, Rev. Mr. Millett, of Montague, N. J., himself an Odd Fellow, speaking in behalf of the fraternities, and at the grave in Milford cemetery their ceremonies were performed. One part of the Red Men's ceremony was the loosing of a white dove, which rested on the coffin until the remains were lowered, when it soared gracefully upward, symbolizing the departure of the Brother's spirit to that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." Mr. Beck was a Democrat in political sentiment, and served as school director for many years.

Mrs. Beck was born in Kochersteinsfeld, Wur- temberg, Germany, November 18, 1834, daughter of William D. and Rose E. (Elg) Breuinger. Her father, who was a successful agriculturist, was born in 1790, and died in 1868, and her mother died in 1847, aged fifty-two years. Of their seven children, the eldest, Rosanna, married Christian Whitmeyer, and died in 1896; Sophia married John Ilshi fer, and resides at the old home in Germany ; William, now deceased, married Augustina Shefler; John, a iarmer in Germany married Elizabeth Fendel; Lou- ise married Michael Fendel, and resides in Ger- many; M. Friederika, Mrs. Beck, was sixth in the order of birth ; J. Michael, a retired hotel-keeper at Kingston, N. Y., married Tishie Cunningham.

BENJAMIN F. McKUNE (deceased) was for many years one of the most popular and in- fluential citizens of Oakland, and for one term most capably and satisfactorily filled the office of sheriff of Susquehanna county. His devotion to the general welfare made him a valued factor in public life, and by his death the community was de- prived of one of her best citizens.

Mr. McKune was born in Oakland township in 1833, a son of Joseph and Sarah McKune, repre- sentatives of old and prominent families. The father, who was a pioneer of the township, owned

at his death the farm of Joseph Smith, the famous Mormon prophet, who wrote the book of Mormon- ism there; this farm is still in the possession of the McKune family. In the district schools of his na- tive township our subject acquired his literary education, and upon the home farm obtained a thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits. In 1857 he went to California and spent about twelve years in that State, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho and Washington Territory, where he was successfully engaged in business. After his return East he was married, December 26, 1867, to Miss Mary E. Barton, who was born in the town of Windsor, Broome Co., N. Y., in 1845, a daughter of Ephraim and Lorena ( Hupman) Barton, prominent citizens of that coun- ty. She was well educated in the schools of Oak- land township, Susquehanna county, where her par- ents resided upon a farm. Mr. and Mrs. McKune became the parents of two daughters: (I) Alice G., born in Oakland township, in June, 1869, was a student in the Montrose and Susquehanna schools, is a bright and accomplished woman, and for ten years successfully engaged in clerking in one of the leading dry-goods stores of Binghamton. On June 10, 1896, she married William Smith, of Bing- hamton, a traveling salesman, who now resides in Oakland, and they have one daughter, Eleanor Mc- Kune, born September 16, 1899. (2) Nellie N., born in Oakland township, in October, 1872, ac- quired a good education in the schools of Montrose and Oakland, and was married, in February, 1894, to Robert B. Thompson, Jr., of Oakland, where he is engaged with his father in the mercantile trade ; they have one son, Arthur Newell, born December 9, 1899. The daughters are both members of the Episcopal Church, and are quite prominent in social circles.

After his marriage, Mr .. McKune located on the old homestead in Oakland township, engaging in agricultural pursuits until elected sheriff of Sus- quehanna county, in 1879, when he removed to Montrose, the county seat, to assume the duties of the office. He was one of the most popular officials who ever served the county in that capacity. On the expiration of his term of two years he took up his residence in Oakland borough, where he made his home for a number of years. In 1887 he was appointed toll clerk of the river bridge, and filled that position most creditably for eight years, until, in 1895, it was made a county (or free) bridge, when he removed to the house now occupied by the family, and where he died November 2, 1898, from the effects of a wound received four years pre- viously. While discharging the sick duties for a fellow Mason, he was met on his way home by a tramp, who demanded his money and watch. In the scuffle which followed Mr. McKune was shot, and he never recovered from the injury, dying of heart failure four years later. At that time he was past eminent commander of Great Bend Command- ery No 27, K. T. He was a charter member of St. Andrews Commandery No. 76, K. T .; was past

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high priest of Great Bend Chapter No. 210, R. A. M., and was a member of Susquehanna Chapter No. 20, R. A. M. His political support was always given to the men and measures of the Republican party, and it was on that ticket he was elected sheriff by a large majority. In 1869 he and his estimable wife united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a devout and faithful member throughout the remainder of his life. He was widely known, and was held in high regard on ac- count of his sterling worth and many excellencies of character.

DAVID E. HOLMES, of South Gibson, Sus- quehanna county, is one of the leading business men of that locality, and is also prominent in local poli- tics, having served thirty years as postmaster of the town, a strong evidence of his popularity. He owns and operates the Holmes grist and sawmills, near South Gibson, located on a branch of Tunkhannock creek, which supplies excellent water power, and the gristmill, which was built by himself, contains the latest improvements and model machinery.

Mr. Holmes is a native of Gibson township, born July 6, 1825, on Kennedy Hill. His paternal grandparents, Deacon William and Mary ( Wyatt) Holmes, of Newburg, N. Y., came to Susquehanna county in 1810, and his parents, David and Hannah ( Fuller) Holmes, were prominent residents of Gib- son township. Our subject had five brothers and one sister, of whom Samuel R., Jesse L. and George F. now reside in the township; William W. resides in Jackson township; Charles M. enlisted in Com- pany C, 15Ist P. V. I., for service in the Civil war, was mustered in October 20, 1862, and died May 11, 1863, at Windmill Point, Va .; Sarah P. married Richard Owens, a farmer of Gibson town- ship, and died December 23, 1898.

At the age of sixteen our subject left home to serve an apprenticeship with T. W: Cole, a carpen- ter and joiner in Gibson township. He spent one year and three months there and one and a half years at Montrose, and after a few months spent at Honesdale located at Clinton, N. Y., where he remained three years. He then returned to Gib- son township, and continued the business for some time, and for ten years he was employed in the railroad shops at Susquehanna. In December, 1861, he engaged in mercantile business at South Gibson, in 1889 selling out and purchasing a farm upon which stood an old sawmill. This he rebuilt, and six years ago he added the gristmill, his large trade justifying the venture. Politically he is a Repub- lican, and he has served several terms as auditor in addition to his able and efficient work as post- master, which ended in 1897. On March 23, 1853, he was married, in Gibson township, by Rev. George N. Todd, to Miss Emeline Elton, and three chil- dren were born of the union: (I) Sherwood, born May 26, 1854, died January 17, 1857. (2) Maria, T., born January 8, 1858, married Frank W. Peck, a farmer in Harford township, Susquehanna coun-

ty, and they have had one son, Carl. (3) William G., born October 15, 1866, resides with our sub- ject. He was married, May 12, 1887, to Miss Hat- tie A. Phyer, and has had six children, Maud A., Lillian, Mason W. (who was drowned in January, 1898), Ray T., Emeline and Nina. Mrs. Emeline (Elton) Holmes, a lady of most estimable char- acter, was born in Gibson township, March 10, 1828, and died July 7, 1895, her remains being in- terred in the Manzer cemetery. Her father, Good- rich Elton, was born in Connecticut, November 20, 1799, and became an early settler in Gibson town- ship, where he; engaged in business as a clothier and dresser. He died June 2, 1865, and was buried in the Manzer cemetery. His wife, Elizabeth Ann Palmer, was born September 11, 1806, in Green- wich township, Washington Co., N. Y., and died April 15, 1877. She was a daughter of Sherwood Palmer, a native of the town of Cambridge, who was married February 3, 1805, to Phobe Smith, of the town of Chatham, N. Y. Mrs. Emeline Holmes was the younger of the two daughters of Goodrich and Elizabeth Elton. Her sister Eliza, now deceased, was born February 17, 1825, and married a Mr. West.

WILLIAM H. VARCOE, justice of the peace in and for Cherry Ridge township, Wayne county, is one of the leading residents of that locality, and his homestead, some four and one-half miles from Honesdale, is a fine farm of about 100 acres.

Mr. Varcoe was born at the homestead Decem- ber 2, 1839, and the greater portion of his life has been spent in Wayne county. His parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Doney) Varcoe, natives of England, purchased the estate in 1832, shortly after their ar- rival in this country, and for a number of years the father devoted his attention to its cultivation and improvement. In 1865 he removed to Canada, where he died in 1867, at the age of sixty-six, his remains being buried there. He was a man of much intelligence, and during his residence in Wayne county was prominent in Church affairs and in the local Republican organization. The mother re- turned to the homestead in 1868, and her remaining years were spent there, her death occurring in 1878, at the age of seventy-two. She was a devout mem- ber of the Methodist Church, to which her hus- band also belonged. Her mortal remains now rest in the cemetery at Cherry Ridge. Three children were born to this worthy couple, viz .: Mary A., who died at the age of fourteen; William H., our subject ; and Decious, a carpenter of Falls Church, Virginia.

'Squire Varcoe received the usual educational opportunities afforded to country youths of his day and generation, but he has supplemented them by wide observation and reading, so that he now pos- sesses more than ordinary information upon a wide range of subjects. From an early age he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits at the homestead, and while he has given much time to general farm-

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ing he has also been interested in dairy work, in which he has met with decided success. As a citizen he is highly esteemed, has held nearly every town office in the gift of the people, and in 1896 was chosen to the office of justice of the peace, which he fills with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. Politically he is not a strong partisan, but his sympathies are with the Democratic party in the main.

On June 18, 1873, Mr. Varcoe was married, in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne county, to Miss Elsa A. Bonear, the ceremony being performed by Rev. J. H. Taylor, a Methodist clergyman, at the home of the bride's parents. One son, Francis J., has brightened their home. He was married, May 31, 1899, to Miss Stephana Clark, of Cherry Ridge, and is now engaged in mercantile business in Honesdale, being the junior member of the firm conducting the Honesdale Cash Store, formerly owned by W. P. Schenck. The family is prominent socially, and ,is identified with the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

Mrs. Varcoe, who is a member of one of the leading families of the township, possesses unusual mental ability and force of character. She was born in Cherry Ridge township, and is a grand- daughter of Moses and Catherine (May) Bonear, who came from Cornwall, England, in 1832, with Mr. Varcoe's parents. Her father, Francis Bonear, was born in Cornwall, December 22, 1819, and accompanied his parents to this country in boyhood, and the greater portion of his life has been spent in agricultural work at the homestead in Cherry Ridge township, formerly part of the Striker farm, a fine estate of 200 acres. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and at times he has taken a prominent part in local affairs. His wife, whose maiden name was Cynthia Kirby, was born December 16, 1821, in New York State, and for many years she has been an active member of the Methodist Church at Cherry Ridge. She is a descendant of an old Co- lonial family, and her grandfather, James Kirby, served in Washington's army during the Revolu- tionary war. Francis and Cynthia Bonear have had the following children: Moses, a resident of Scranton, Penn .; Elizabeth, Mrs. John Roberts, a widow, now residing with her parents; Daniel, a carpenter of Tioga county, Penn .; Elsa A., wife of our subject; Sophia, deceased; Catherine, wife of Frank P. Brown, of Cherry Ridge township; John, a farmer of the same locality ; Joel, deceased ; Miss Delia, who is at home; and Francis, Jr., a farmer in Cherry Ridge township (he is a member of the Maccabees and of the I. O. O. F.).

ABNER COBB (deceased). The life of Abner Cobb might well be selected as one that is typical of industry and business ability-a com- bination of which qualities is assurance of success. He was a man to whom the values of real estate appealed strongly, and a better judge of farm prop- erty it would have been difficult to find. He not

only possessed a large capacity for work, but he took pleasure in achievement. He was a man among men, and in the sphere of life which he se- lected he was eminently successful.

He was born in Greenfield township, Lacka- wanna county, on Sunday, June 10, 1829, the son of John and Elizabeth ( Brundage) Cobb. The father was a native of New Jersey, who removed to Lackawanna county and became a farmer of promi- nence and wealth. He married Elizabeth Brund- age, who was a native of Lackawanna county. She died in January, 1834, and her husband survived until December 15, 1865. Their family consisted of the following children : Aaron ; John ; Zipheron ; James; Ira; Henry; Abner, our subject; Lydia, who married Daniel Carpenter ; Lucy, who married Reeves Cox; Sally A., who married John Snyder ; and Caroline, who married Luther Lee.

Abner Cobb remained at the home of his par- ents until he was nineteen years of age. He re- ceived a good common school education and ac- quired those habits of industry and thrift which were largely instrumental in his future success. He worked out among neighboring farmers, and on February 19, 1848, before he had attained his nineteenth year, he married Miss Ruth Ann Dilts, who was born at Dundaff, Sunday, December 5, 1830, tlaughter of Jesse K. and Ellen (Coyle) Dilts, natives respectively of Dundaff, Penn., and of New Jersey. Jesse K. Dilts was the son of John and Ruth Dilts, natives of New Jersey, who be- came farmers of Pittston, Penn. He died in Wayne county at the residence of his son in 1863, aged fifty- five years. His wife Ellen was the daughter of James and Polly ( Buck) Coyle, early settlers of Dundaff. She died in 1858, aged forty-eight years. To Jesse K. and Ellen Dilts were born the following chil- dren : John (deceased) ; Ruth A., widow of our subject ; Mary E., who married Butler Vinson, and is now deceased; Nancy, who married William Duce, and is now deceased ; Arnold, a railroad man of Carbondale, Penn .; Elisha, of Carbondale ; Cath- erine, widow of Lucas L. Gardner; Margaret, who died unmarried; and Ellen, wife of Thomas Van Kirk, a stonemason of Carbondale.

To Abner and Ruth A. Cobb were born eleven children. The eldest two, Abner N., born Decem- ber 8, 1848, and Ellen, born August 17, 1850, died on the same night, December 12, 1851, of scarlet fever. The other children were as follows: Al- bert J., born August 23, 1852, married Mabel Burns, and is a farmer of Clifford township; Ann G., born April 2, 1854, married Lafayette Brownell, a farmer of Clifford township; Isabella, born April 10, 1856, married Jesse Gardner, a farmer of Greenfield ; Mary Etta, born March 27, 1858, married Samuel Williams, hotel proprietor at Carbondale; Emma J., born April 15, 1860, married Joseph Lee, a farmer of Wayne county ; Ella, born June 7, 1862, married George Cox, a railroad engineer of Car- bondale; Catherine, born February 9, 1867, mar- ried Legrand Wells, a farmer of Clifford township;

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Lafayette, born July 9, 1869, married Bertha Lowrey, and is a farmer of Lackawanna county; Walter, born June 9, 1872, married Lillie Gunther, and is a farmer of Clifford township.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 254

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