Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 261

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 261
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 261
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 261
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 261

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After his marriage Mr. Barrager purchased a valuable farm of 370 acres in Great Bend town- ship, on the New Milford road, near Hallstead, and after locating upon this property erected a fine modern residence and good outbuildings. His land is all underlaid with the best quality of blue flag- stone, and from his quarries he makes large ship- ments daily over the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad to Philadelphia and New York. On the property there is also a fourteen-foot vein of Venetian red paint ore, which when analyzed was found equal to any imported lead paint, and has stood the acid test.

As a Republican Mr. Barrager has ever taken an active and influential part in local politics, and for twenty consecutive years he has filled the office of justice of the peace with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the general public. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, although not a member, has always given generously to the Church and to charitable objects. Fraternally he is an honored member of Simrell Post No. 233, G. A. R., of Great Bend. As a citizen he has always been found true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, so that his loyalty is above question, being as manifest in days of peace as when he followed the old flag to victory on southern battlefields, and as a representative man of his community he is worthy the high regard in which he is uniformly held.

Besides Mrs. Barrager George and Betsy Con- rad had the following children: Eli, a farmer, who died in 1894, married Mary Price, and they had five children ; Lucinda married John D. Pickering, a farmer, and a soldier of the Civil war, now de- ceased, and they had four children; Fidelia mar- ried Andrew Corey, a miller, and had four children (both are now deceased ) ; Martin, a farmer and ex- soldier, married Marilla Miller, and had four chil- dren (both he and his wife are now deceased) ; George W., a farmer of Lenox township, married Ellen Chandler, and they have two children (he served during the Civil war, was captured, and was held prisoner for thirteen months) ; Malinda .B. died when eighteen years of age; Freelove married John Guard, and they had three children (Mr. and Mrs. Guard are both deceased ) ; Henry F., a farmer of South Gibson, married Fanny Williams, and they had five children; William S. died in 1863, while serving in the Union army.

DANIEL WRIGHTER, an old and honored citizen of Thompson township, Susquehanna county, was born January 19, 1816, in Mt. Pleasant, Wayne county, a son of John and Annie ( Wayving) Wrighter.

The father was a native of Germany, and on his emigration to America located in Orange coun-

ty, N. Y., where he learned the trade of a black- smith. While there he met and married Mrs. Annie (Wayving) Smith, a native of the Isle of Wight, England, whose first husband died in New York. During the war of 1812 John Wrighter removed to Mt. Pleasant, Penn., where he made his home for some years, and on selling his property there came to what is now Thompson township, but was then a part of Jackson township, Susquehanna county. At Wrighter's Lake he purchased a tract of wild land, which he transformed into a good farm. In those early days the lake swarmed with fishes, and wild animals of various kinds roamed the forest, deer and wolves being very numerous. In a log cabin, which he erected upon his farm, Mr. Wrighter and his family lived for many years, but he finally sold the place and located near Bingham- ton, N. Y. As Mr. Read, to whom he had traded his farm, failed to make the payments upon the same, the family returned to Thompson, and the fa- ther spent the remainder of his life upon his farm, which he greatly improved by the erection of good buildings. He was a hard-working, industrious man, and was very successful in business. At his own home he established the first postoffice in Thompson, and was one of the contractors and builders of the Belmont pike, from Belmont to Lanesboro, Penn. Politically he was a Jacksonian Democrat, and was called upon to fill a number of local offices of honor and trust. He died in 1846, at the age of seventy-seven years, and his wife de- parted this life four years later.

In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, all born in Mt. Pleasant, Wayne county, with the exception of the youngest : (1) Cornelius, the eldest, married Harriet Simons, and after living for some time in Ararat removed to Thompson town- ship, where he spent his last days on a farm. His children were Harley A., wife of William Nugent, of Susquehanna ; Elmer, a resident of Susquehanna ; . Olive, wife of Luman Sanford, of Thompson; Lydia, widow of George Tallman, of Carbondale, Penn. ; Frances, wife of William Tallman, of Thomp- son : Henry, a soldier of the Civil war, and a resident of Binghamton, N. Y .; and Fred, a farmer of Thompson. (2) Julia married William B. Biga- low, of Thompson, and both died near Tunkhan- nock, Penn., leaving a family. (3) Stephen mar- ried Louisa Brown, of New York State, and lived for some time near his father's old home, but finally removed to Harmony township, where he died leav- ing two sons-John O., who married Katie Van Horn, and lives on a farm in Thompson; and Mar- vin (a soldier of the Civil war, who was with Sher- man on his famous march to the sea), who is mar- ried and now resides in Kansas. (4) Catherine married Abner Hulce, of New York State, and after living for some time in Deposit, N. Y., re- moved to Skinner's Eddy, but died at Thompson. Their children were Augusta; Emily, wife of Man- ning Stebens, of Owego, N. Y .; Ada; Manless and

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George, who died in the Civil war; and Porter, who died young. (5) Charles married Almeda Reid, of Harford, Penn., and settled in Thompson, near the old homestead, where he died leaving four children-Malliss, who is still living on the home farm; Manley, a resident of Thompson ; Jenett, wife of Aldin Hubbard, of Wayne county, and Louis, also on the old homestead. (6) Betsy married Alvin Mudge, and lived in Thompson until her death. Their children were Alamanza, who died in the Civil war; and Euphemia, wife of Ambrose Lamb, of Thompson. (7) Daniel, the subject of this sketch, is next in the family. (8) George married Emaline Shearer, of Wayne county, and still resides on a farm in Thompson township, at the age of eighty-one years. They have one son, Frank, who is with his parents. (9) J. Munford, the first white male child born in Thompson town- ship, married Ada Tucker, of the same place, and there they still reside. They had two children- Gail, who died a few years ago leaving a wife and one son, Clyde; and Fay, a resident of Thompson.

Amid pioneer scenes Daniel Wrighter grew to manhood in Wayne and Susquehanna counties, re- ceiving a very limited education, as he was only able to attend school for three months in winter. Early in life he became an expert at hunting and fishing, and has followed those pursuits, more or less, throughout life, having killed a large number of deer and other wild animals. In 1838 he was united in marriage with Miss Wealthy Gelatt, of Thompson, who was born in Gibson township, Sus- quehanna county, in 1816, and on the paternal side was of French descent. Her parents, Jonathan and Rebecca (Parmater) Gelatt, were natives of Ver- mont. Mr. and Mrs. Wrighter began housekeep- ing near the village of Thompson, upon a partially improved farm, and to its further development and cultivation he at once turned his attention, erecting thereon a good residence, barns and other out-build- ings. He now has one of the best-improved places in this section, and is numbered among the leading agriculturists of the community.

Mr. and Mrs. Wrighter celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1888, and she passed away in Decem- ber, 1891. To them were born three daughters, namely: (1) Emaline, born at the present home of the family, in 1839, was educated in the district schools of Thompson township, and married Emery Crosier, of Thompson, who died on his farm in Ararat township, in 1880, leaving one daughter, Vernie. She married Judson Witter, of Thomp- son borough, and died in January, 1898, leaving one daughter, Hazel, who is now a student in the home schools. (2) Mary A., born in June, 1842, was well educated in the local schools, and was married, in 1866, to Ellis Foster, of Ararat, son of George Foster, of Bradford county, Penn. He was a soldier in the Civil war, a member of Company C, 12th Pennsylvania Reserves, and during his three- years' service participated in twenty-four battles.

He was wounded at Antietam, and endured all the hardships of army life. After his marriage Mr. Foster engaged in business as a coal dealer in Thompson for many years. He died in 1891, leav- ing a wife and one daughter, Capatola, who died when a young lady, in March, 1894. Mrs. Foster still resides at her home in Thompson. (3) Del- phine, born in December, 1845, was educated in the village schools of Thompson, and in 1876 married Charles Casterline, of New Jersey, also a veteran of the Civil war, who now has charge of the old Wrighter homestead, which he successfully man- ages for our subject.

Politically Mr. Wrighter has always been a stanch Democrat, and religiously he and his fam- ily are members of Protestant Churches, and are worthy, consistent Christians, highly respected by all who known them.

GARDNER C. HOWELL, the genial and pop- ular postmaster at New Milford, Susquehanna coun- ty, is the junior member of the firm of Vail & How- ell, editors and proprietors of the New Milford Ad- vertiser. This well known paper has a circulation of 1,800, and as its patrons number many of the best citizens of the locality, its influence upon the community is marked.

Mr. Howell was born April 3, 1860, in Har- ford township, Susquehanna county, and in the pa- ternal line is descended from an old and honored family of Holland, his great-great-grandfather, Cut- lip Howell, having been a nobleman of that country. His great-grandparents, John and Deborah (Gar- rison) Howell, passed their lives in Orange county, New York.

John Calvin. Howell, our subject's father, was born in 1822, in Crawford, Orange Co., N. Y., where he married Miss Margaret Frear, a native of the same county. In 1857 they removed to this section, locating in Harford township, Susquehanna county, and in 1869 they settled in New Milford township. The father at present resides with his son in New Milford, the mother having passed into the eternal sleep at her home in Binghamton January 22, 1900. They had a large family, but the first three children died in infancy; Alice is the wife of William T. Worrall, a railway engineer at Bingham- ton, N. Y .; Ira is a tanner at New Milford; Gard- ner C. was next in the order of birth; Alma is the wife of Rice Cleveland, of Binghamton, New York.

Our subject was reared to farming, but his spare time was devoted to studying in preparation for more congenial work. He nearly .completed the course in the New Milford High School, and in April, 1880, entered the office of the Advertiser, then owned by Vail & Brown. He has ever since been connected with that paper, with the exception of three months spent at Montrose, Penn., work- ing on a Greenback paper, the Montrose Messenger, and nine months at Binghamton, N. Y., on the Binghamton Republican. In 1886 he purchased the

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Advertiser, in partnership with James S. Hayden, but three years later C. S. Vail, one of the former proprietors, returned from the West and repurchased Mr. Hayden's interest, and has since continued the business with our subject. In politics Mr. Howell is a stanch Republican, and takes a prominent part in local affairs. In 1897 he was appointed post- master, since 1892 has been a school director, and for six years served as an auditor of the borough. Socially he and his family are much esteemed, and he is active in religious work as a member of St. Mark's Church.

In September, 1882, Mr. Howell was married, at New Milford, to Miss Elizabeth Vail, and they have two children: Beatrice and Reuben V. Mrs. Howell is a native of New Milford, and a daughter of the late Reuben C. Vail and his wife, Martha Ann (Roberts), who in 1857 came to Susquehanna county from Orange county, N. Y., where the Vail family has been well known from Colonial times.

CHARLES RISLEY, a successful agricultur- ist who owns and operates a good farm in Jessup township, has spent his entire life in Susquehanna county, his birth occurring in Dimock township, March 4. 1840. His parents, Proctor and Sally (Shelp) Risley, were also natives of the same coun- tv, where the father followed farming throughout life. He died in 1869, aged sixty-two years, the mother in 1874, aged sixty-seven, and the remains of both were interred in Bertholf cemetery, Jessup township. The children born to them were James, a farmer of Lawsville, Penn .; Caroline, deceased wife of Lorenzo Stone; Bernice, deceased; Elea- nora, deceased wife of Ezekiel Oaks; Peter, de- ceased : Henry, a farmer of Dimock township; Charles, our subject ; Andrew, deceased ; and Eme- line, who died at the age of sixteen years.

During his minority Charles Risley remained with his parents, assisting in the work of the farm, and attending the local schools when his services were not needed at home. At the age of twenty-one he commenced working for neighboring farmers, and in 1878 purchased his present farm from Hon. J. B. McCollum, to the cultivation and improvement of which place he has since devoted his attention with marked success. In his political affiliations he is a pronounced Republican, and for the past nine years he has most creditably and acceptably filled the office of poormaster in his township.

On January 18, 1883, in Dimock township, Mr. Risley was united in marriage with Miss Emma Vanover, and five children bless this union: Fred- erick A., Bessie, Walter V., Mark H. and Helen G. Mrs. Risley was born in Rush township, Sus- quehanna county, January 28, 1860, a daughter of Abram C. and Aner ( Mullison) Vanover, who were natives of Orange county, N. Y., and Luzerne coun- ty, Penn., respectively, and were married in the lat- ter county, whence they came to Susquehanna county in 1859, locating in Rush township. After making

their home there for about twenty years they re- moved to Dimock township, where the father died January 9, 1894, aged eighty-two years, and was buried at Jersey Hill, Auburn township. The moth- er now resides in Rush township, at the age of sixty- seven, the present wife of John M. Hibbard. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Vanover were Emma, wife of our subject ; Ella A., wife of Elmer Wandell, a farmer of Broome county, N. Y. ; Eunice, deceased wife of George L. Ming; and Cora, formerly a school teacher of Rush township, now the wife of L. L. Owen, of Lynn. The father was twice mar- ried, his first wife being Esther Crone, who died leaving two children: Jacob C., a carpenter of Washington, N. J .; and Sarah E., wife of Louis Scaden, of New Jersey. The mother, now Mrs. Hibbard, is a daughter of Reuben and Anna (Car- ver) Mullison, natives of Connecticut, who died in Luzerne county, Penn., where Mr. Mullison had carried on operations as a farmer and lumberman. Mrs. Risley's paternal grandparents were Henry and Hannah (Chandler) Vanover, who were born, reared and married in Orange county, N. Y., and thence removed to Warren county, N. J., where both died.

ROBERT J. ELLIS, a prominent resident of South Gibson, Susquehanna county, was identified for many years with the agricultural interests of that locality, but is now living in retirement.

Mr. Ellis was born May 7, 1833, in Brooklyn, N. Y., son of Robert and Margaret ( Edward) Ellis, natives of Wales, who came to America early in life, their marriage occurring in Brooklyn. In 1825 they came to Susquehanna county, locating in Clif- ford township, and clearing and improving a home- stead in the wilderness. The father, who followed farming throughout his life, died in 1861, aged sixty-eight years, and the mother died in 1882 aged eighty-four. They were devout members of the Welsh Congregational Church, and their remains now rest in the Welsh cemetery in Clifford town- ship. They had four children: Ellen, widow of Samuel Owens, resides in Clifford township; Fran- cis died at the age of twenty-two vears; Robert J. is mentioned more fully below ; and Jane died aged seven years.

Until he reached the age of fifteen our subject remained with his parents, and he then spent three years in New York State, working among farmers. Having decided to learn the blacksmith's trade, he served an apprenticeship for three years with Ab- igner Lewis, of South Gibson, and after working a few months as a journeyman with David Maxon he built a shop on his father's farm, and carried on the business for fifteen years. Later he engaged in farming, first in Clifford township, and later at South Gibson, where he located in 1872, and while in active business he gave much attention to dealing in cattle and sheep, sending the former to the mar- kets of Philadelphia, and the latter to New York

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City. At one time he was also interested in buying wool at South Gibson. As a good citizen he has taken an active part in politics, being one of the leading advisers in the local Republican organiza- tion, and he served two terms, from 1875 to 1880, and from 1890 to 1895, as justice of the peace at South Gibson.

In January, 1855, Mr. Ellis was married at South Gibson to Miss Mary Bennett, but no children have blessed the union. Mrs. Ellis, who is highly esteemed in the community where she resides, was born April 1, 1837, in Clifford township, Susque- hanna county, daughter of James Bennett, and granddaughter of Levi and Lydia (Belcher) Ben-

nett, of Gibson township. Her father, who now re- sides in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, was born January 26, 1811, in Susquehanna county. He married Julia Sweet, a native of the same county, who was born in 1809, and died in 1891, her re- mains being interred in the Manzer burying-ground, in Gibson. The family is identified with the Baptist Church, both parents having united with that So- ciety many years ago. They had the following chil- dren: Edwin, who died in Gibson township, in 1870; Levi, a farmer in Gibson township; William, who died in Gibson township, in 1863, with black fever; Mary, wife of our subject; John, a farmer in Gibson township; Sarah, who married Isaac Morgan, of Uniondale, Penn., and died in Clif- ford, in 1897; Alvira, who married Maurice Davis, a blacksmith, at Uniondale, Penn .; Amanda (de- ceased), who married Merwin Taft; and Almeda, wife of Dennis Card, of Uniondale, Pennsylvania.

CLARINGTON W. CATERSON, M. D. Not by gift or purchase, or by influence, can one rise in the medical profession, but solely by merit must he gain his reputation, his ability winning him great- ness and enabling him to pass on the highway of life many who perhaps had accomplished a part of the journey ere he started out. Although Dr. Cater- son is comparatively a young man, he has already gained an enviable reputation among his profes- sional brethren, and has built up an excellent prac- tice in and around Franklin Forks, Susquehanna county.

The Doctor was born in Sterling township, Wayne Co., Penn., June 9, 1867, and is a son of John M. and Oliva (Appleman) Caterson, the for- mer a native of the same township, born February 12, 1841, the latter of Buttzville, Warren Co., N. J., born August 29, 1841. They are now honored and highiy-respected citizens of Sterling township, Wayne county, the father, who is one of the most prominent and influential farmers of his commun- ity, having often been called upon to fill local offices of trust. He is a Democrat in politics, and both he and his wife are worthy members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. Two children were born to them: Clarington W., subject of this review ; and Sally May, who died at the age of three years.

The Doctor's paternal grandparents were John and Anna (Stevens) Caterson, the former a native of Ireland, who came to America in childhood, the lat- ter born in Sterling township, Wayne county. His maternal grandparents, William and Rebecca (Bid- dleman) Appleman, were born February 5, 1800, and June 22, 1809, respectively, and lived at Buttz- ville, N. J. He served many years as justice of the peace and held held many offices of trust.

Dr. Caterson was reared on the home farm, and obtained his literary education in the local schools. At the age of twenty he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he continued his studies from 1887 until 1891, graduating in the latter year. After looking about him for a suitable location he decided on Franklin Forks, and opened an office at that place, where he now enjoys an ex- cellent patronage. In his political affiliations he is a Republican, and both he and his wife hold a prominent position in the social circles of the com- munity.

On November 23, 1892, in Forest Lake town- ship, Susquehanna county, Dr. Caterson was uni- ted in marriage with Miss Lizzie A. Boothe, by whom he has one son, Robert J., born November 30, 1895. Mrs. Caterson was born in Forest Lake township, October 10, 1869, and is one of five chil- dren born to Robert and Lucy M. (McFall) Boothe, George H., Lizzie A., Daisy M., Marion M. and William R. Her father was born in Derbyshire, England, and when a child emigrated to the United States with his parents, taking up his residence in Forest Lake township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where the mother, a native of Bethlehem, Penn., also located when twenty-one years of age, having removed hither with her parents. Mr. Boothe operated a sawmill and became a man of prominence in his community, serving as justice of the peace for fifteen years with credit to himself and to the en- tire satisfaction of the general public. In Feb- ruary, 1900, he was re-elected for another term.

HON. EVERETT HORNBECK, who for a number of years has been one of the most prominent figures in public life in Pike county, and, indeed, in this part of Pennsylvania, is a member of one of the old families of the region where he has passed his entire life, and was born September 29, 1840, in Lehman township, Pike county, son of Jacob and Eliza Ann (Hetzel) Hornbeck. The parents were also natives of the county, born April 13, 1808, in Lehman township, and February 2, 1820, in Del- aware township, respectively. They were married May 6, 1838, and became the parents of nine chil-

dren, viz .: Obadiah, Everett, Myron, Marsena, Martha, Jacob, John P., Isaiah and William B. The father died November 25, 1881, the mother October II, 1865, both in Delaware township, and their re- mains rest in the Delaware township cemetery.

Everett Hornbeck grew to manhood on the par- ental homestead, remaining there until the year he at-

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tained his majority, when he associated himself in the mercantile business with A. S. Dingman, of Ding- man's Ferry, with whom he continued for three years. From that time until 1873 he resided on a farm in Lehman township, in the year last mentioned pur- chasing and removing to the old Hornbeck home- stead, which he occupied until 1883, when he again embarked in the mercantile business at Dingman's Ferry. He continued in that line successfully until 1896, when he sold out to J. B. Westbrook and pro- ceeded to Philadelphia, where he now has his tem- porary residence, being employed in the government mint in that city, in which he holds the position of foreman in the shipping department. From early manhood Mr. Hornbeck has been well known in public circles in Pike and the surrounding counties, and he has been chosen to serve in numerous local offices of trust and responsibility in the gift of his loyal and admiring fellow citizens, whose faith in his abilities has only been strengthened by the cap- able manner in which he has discharged the duties imposed upon him. For eight years he acted as justice of the peace in Lehman township, resigning from the office in 1881 to accept that of associate judge of Pike county, being re-elected to the latter incumbency in 1886, for another term of five years, which he filled with characteristic faithfulness and attention to duty. It is hardly necessary, perhaps, to say that Mr. Hornbeck has always kept pace with the most progressive citizens of this section, and he is one of the best known and most popular men in political circles here. In 1892 he received the nomination for Congress from Pike county, though he was defeated in the other counties in the District. His political sympathies are with the Democratic party. Socially he is a member of the Masonic order.

On December 13, 1860, Mr. Hornbeck was uni- ted in marriage, at Dingman's Ferry, to Miss Susan Westbrook, who was born in Delaware township, Pike county, daughter of Jacob B. Westbrook, and six children blessed this union, namely: Harvey, a decorator, of Philadelphia, who married Mary Brisco; Frank, a feed merchant at East Branch, N. Y., who married Stella Arnst; Allen W., who is mentioned below; Anna, wife of J. E. Darragh, a miller of Dingman's Ferry; Frazier, unmarried, who is in business with his brother Frank, at East Branch, N. Y .; and Ross, who is a bookkeeper in Philadelphia.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 261

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