Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 267

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 267
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 267
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 267
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 267

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Mr. Lane then resumed the study of law and was admitted to the Bar at the January term of court in 1879, since which time he has engaged in the practice of his profession. In politics he was a Republican until 1878. since which time he has been independent. He was elected sheriff of the county in 1866, and most creditably and acceptably filled that office for three years. In 1870 he purchased a farm in New Milford township, to which he re- moved in 1873, but in August, 1877, returned to Montrose, where he has since engaged in practice and other business. On September 7, 1899, at the State convention of the People's party, Mr. Lane was nominated for justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

In Benton township, Lackawanna Co., Penn., November 14, 1866, Mr. Lane was united in mar- riage with Miss Kate A. Wells, a native of Lu- zerne county, Penn., and a daughter of John Wells, an extensive farmer of that county. Of this union seven children were born, namely: Grace A .; Olm- sted, who was killed by a horse December 24, 1878; Jesse ; Bruce, who died at the age of eight months ; Emma May ; Walter F., and Pauline.

Mr. Lane is a charter member of Four Brothers Post No. 453, G. A. R. ; is librarian of the Susque- hanna County Historical Society ; president of the Equitable Aid Union Insurance Co., and also presi- dent of the Montrose Farmers Alliance & Industrial Union. It will thus be seen that he is quite popular socially and has the confidence and respect of his fel- low citizens. When Mr. Lane was discharged from the service, he was presented, unsolicited, with a very strong letter, signed by all his regimental offic- ers, and addressed to Gov. Curtin, recommending him as eminently qualified to have an important com- mission in the military service of his country, which was never presented to the Governor on account of the sickness of his brother. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has served as superintendent of the Sunday-school and as trustee of the Church, and has taken an active and leading part in all church work. He has mani- fested the same loyalty in days of peace as in time of war and a trust reposed in him has never been misplaced.

ELDER WILLIAM SPANGENBERG, re- tired farmer and local minister, whose residence is in Lake township, Wayne county, comes of an old and honored German family in this country, and first known in the State of New Jersey.

A native of Pennsylvania, our subject was born January 7, 1828, in Jefferson township, Luzerne county, a great-grandson of William Spangenberg, who was a wealthy man, for several years proprietor of a meat market in Hanover, Germany. He never came to this country. Frederick Spangenberg, son of the above, and the grandfather of our subject, was born in Hanover, whence in an early day he came to this country, settling on a farm in Sussex coun- ty, N. J. John Spangenberg, son of Frederick, and the father of our subject, was born in Sussex coun- ty, and was there twice married, first time to Mary Fargo, by whom he had six children: Henry, Thomas, Abbie (who married Alonzo Collins, now deceased), Susan (who married Daniel Osgood, now deceased), John, and Abner (retired farmer of Jefferson township, Lackawanna county), all now deceased except the last named. The mother of these dying, John Spangenberg for his second wife wedded Mary Bronson, of Schoharie county, N. Y., and they not long afterward came to Wayne county. Children were born to this marriage as follows: George, Eunice (who married Philip Merringer), Amos, Phœbe (who married Ephraim Swingle, now deceased), Hannah (wife of Marcus Day, a retired

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farmer of South Canaan township, Wayne county), Frederick (also a resident of South Canaan town- ship), William (our subject), Simeon H., Levi and Louis, all now deceased excepting Hannah (Mrs. Day), Frederick and William. The parents died in Wayne county, the father in 1856, at the age of seventy-two years, the mother on April 6, 1891, at the patriarchal age of ninety-nine years, seven months, six days, and their remains rest in South Canaan township burial ground.

On January 6, 1848, in Jefferson township, Luzerne Co., Penn., by Rev. James Ferguson, Elder William Spangenberg was married to Henrietta Kiz- er, and the following is a brief record of their chil- dren : Allen, born December 9, 1848, died June 22, 1875, being killed on the railroad at Gravity, Wayne county, while at work; he married Anna Chivers. Mary E., born August 28, 1850, has been twice mar- ried, her first husband being David Kenner, and after his death she wedded Joseph Ingle, a wealthy attorney of New York City. Jacob, born September 3. 1852, died at the age of two vears, eight months. John J., born March 15, 1855, married Julia Arnold. Milton C., born July 26, 1858, married Mary Shiek. Hannah J., born February 2, 1862, married Wesley Hughey. Friend W., born April 9, 1864, married Mary Brant, and died November 25, 1885. Lilly A., born October 20, 1866, married Allen J. Pethick, a carpenter and farmer of Lake township, Wayne county. Delbert L., a farmer in Paupack township, born September 8, 1869, married Emma Bucking- ham. Simon P., a farmer in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne county, born August 14, 1872, married Lena Kimble. Of the above, John J. and Milton C. Spangenberg, and Wesley Hughey are all farmers in Lake township, Wayne county.

Mrs. Henrietta (Kizer) Spangenberg, wife of our subject, was born February 28, 1831, in Sussex county, N. J., a daughter of John J. and Mary ( Bartlo) Kizer, natives of New Jersey, who came to Pennsylvania in March, 1831, settling in Luzerne county. Their children were Abraham, Henry and Betsey, all three of whom died in New Jersey ; Hen- rietta, Mrs. Spangenberg; Mary A., who married John Black, a farmer of Lackawanna county ; Jas- per. also a farmer in that county; Hulda, widow of Louis Spangenberg, living in Scranton, and Sam- uel, the youngest in the family, who makes his home in Scranton, Penn. The father of these died in 1884, aged eighty-three, the mother in 1869, aged sixty-nine years, and they are buried in Jefferson township, Luzerne county. Mrs. Spangenberg's paternal grandparents, Abraham and Anna (Span- genberg) Kizer, were lifelong residents of New Jersey, as were also her maternal grandparents, John and Betsy Bartlo.

Elder William Spangenberg, the subject proper of this review, received a liberal education at the public schools of the neighborhood of his boyhood home, and remained with his parents on the farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he began

life for himself, purchasing a farm in Salem town- ship, Wayne county. Operating same six years, he sold out at the end of that time, and during the sub- sequent fourteen years was for the most part serving as a conductor on the Gravity railroad. In 1851-52, however, he carried on a mercantile store in Jeffer- son township, Luzerne county, and from there went to Erie county, N. Y., where he farmed one year, thence returning to his old employment as conductor on the Gravity railroad. In 1860 he was licensed to preach by the Christian denomination, and has con- tinued in that connection ever since. He has or- ganized many Churches throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, has done much Chris- tian work among railroad people, and is still active in local work as the weather may permit. Polit- ically he was originally a Whig, then a Republican after the organization of that party, and for seven years he was postmaster at Pink, but resigned in 1896. He and his wife at present make their home on the farm belonging to their daughter, Mrs. Mary E. Ingle, in Lake township, and they are looked up to with the highest respect by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, by whom they are hon- ored and esteemed for their many virtues.

AARON PARKS BUMP, a retired farmer of West Auburn, Susquehanna county, was born March 27, 1834, in Bradford county, Penn., son of George and Theodosia ( Beeman) Bump.

George Bump was born in Fishkill, N. Y., July 9, 1786, son of Jacob and Millicent (Waterson) Bump, who were natives of England and Connecti- cut, respectively. Jacob Bump was a farmer by occupation. He and his wife died at Wyalusing, Penn. George Bump married Theodosia Beeman, who was born in Rocky Forest, Penn., daughter of Nathan and Esther ( Beerley) Beeman, of Connect- icut, both of whom died in New York State. This union was blessed with children as follows: Lovisa, now deceased, who was the wife of Isaac Greek ; Isaac and Esther, both of whom died at the age of three years; Adelia, wife of George Brotzman, of Auburn township; Hannah, Mrs. Ransford Ford, deceased; Harriet, who died at the age of four; Aaron P., our subject ; Jacob, who died at the age of two years ; and Dennis L., a farmer of Evergreen, Penn. The father of this family came to Susque- hanna county in 1809, locating in Forest Lake town- ship, subsequently lived in Bradford county for a time, and finally, in 1840, setled in Auburn township, where he passed the rest of his life. He was en- gaged in farming pursuits. He died April 3, 1862, and was interred in the Camptown (Penn.) ceme- tery ; the mother, who died December 3. 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-five, is buried in Bradford county.

Aaron P. Bump grew to manhood on the home farm, receiving his education in the common schools, and was trained to farm life, which he has always followed, being now comfortably situated

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as the result of industry and thrift during his early years. In September, 1862, he became a member of Company A, 15Ist P. V. I., Capt. G. L. Stone, hav- ing enlisted at Montrose, Penn., for nine months service, was mustered in at Harrisburg, and was mustered out at that city in 1863. He was taken sick with typhoid fever near Falmouth, Va., and finally taken to the Lincoln general hospital at Washington, thence to Harrisburg. He was at Chancellorsville during this term of service. In 1864 he enlisted at Scranton in Company C, 203rd Regiment P. V. I., Capt. Smallwood, for one year, was sent to Petersburg, afterward taking part in the battles of Deep Bottom, Chapins Farm, before Richmond, and Fort Fisher, and thence proceeding to Raleigh, N. C., where the command was mustered out in June, 1865. They were discharged in Phila- delphia.

After his discharge from the service Mr. Bump returned to his old home in Susquehanna county, settling on the farm in Auburn township, part of which he now occupies. He first purchased the place, which originally comprised fifty acres, from John Lacey, sold it in 1870 and removed to Brad- ford county, and after a residence of four years there lived in different places until 1889, when he purchased the home again with the nine and two- thirds acres of land he now owns. In 1862 Mr. Bump married, at West Auburn, Miss Susan Welch, who was born in Wilkes Barre, Penn., daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Welch, and died in 1872, at the age of forty years ; she was buried at Skinners Eddy. To this union were born children as follows : Charles F., who married Emma Twinnan, and lives in Leraysville, Penn .; George, deceased ; Jane, de- ceased ; Anna, wife of Edgar Winnings, of Lerays- ville : Etta, who died when one year old; and Cora, wife of Martin Grover, who drives the stage be- tween West Auburn and Skinners Eddy. Mr. Bump is a Republican in political preference. So- cially he is a member of the G. A. R., and he is well and favorably known throughout this section.

REV. SEWARD ELIAKIM MILLER (de- ceased ) was for a quarter of a century a prominent minister of the Baptist Church preaching through- out Susquehanna and Lackawanna counties. He la- bored with all the strength of a great nature and all the earnestness of a true heart for the bettering of the world about him; and when called to the rest and reward of the higher world, his best monument was found in the love and respect of those who knew him.

Adam Miller, was a native of Ireland, and on his emigration to America located in Philadelphia, where he married Eleanor Nicholson, a native of that city, and a cousin of Comptroller General Nicholson. There they continued to reside until 1787, when they came to Susquehanna county and settled in Brook- lyn township, near the village of that name. In Scott township, Lackawanna county (then Northumber- land county), Rev. Charles Miller married Miss Algytha Orvis, who was born August 8, 1792, in that township when it formed a part of Luzerne county, and died in Clifford township, Susque- hanna county, December 3, 1856. Her parents were Roger and Marianne ( Seward) Orvis, natives of New York State, who also died in Clifford town- ship, having come from Scott township, Lackawanna county, to spend their last days with their children. The children born to Rev. Charles and Algytha ( Or- vis) Miller were Mary, deceased wife of William S. Finn ; Charles Nicholson and Joseph S., both de- ceased ; Rev. William A., a Baptist minister of Clifford township; Jerusha, who married Joel Wheeler Finn and died in Kansas; Seward E., our subject ; Loren, who died after his return from the anny ; and Stephen, who died in St. Louis, Missouri.

On January 3, 1855, at the home of Rev. Will- iam K. Mott, in Providence, Penn., Elder Seward E. Miller was united in marriage with Miss E. Anne Gardner, who was born in Scott township, Lacka- wanna county, February 24, 1831, a daughter of William and Susan ( Barriger) Gardner, the former a native of Luzerne county, the latter of Delaware, Pike county. Her parents died in Scott town- ship, where they had made their home for over seventy years, and were buried in Scott Valley cemetery. The father, who was a farmer by occu- pation, was born November 23, 1799, and died October 22, 1880, and the mother died October 20, 1896, at the age of eighty-eight years. Their children were Charlotte, deceased wife of John Knight; Mary L., deceased wife of Hiram Wells; E. Anne, wife of our subject; William H., de- ceased ; John H., who died at the age of twenty- eight years; Paul, who died in infancy; Benjamin F., deceased, who was captain of a company in the Civil war ; William H. H., a farmer of Scott town- ship, Lackawanna county; Caroline, wife of Cal- vin Vail, of Jermyn, Penn .; Josephine, wife of George Vail, a farmer of Scott township; Chester B., an attorney of Scranton, Penn .; and Winfield S., who lives on the old homestead in Scott town- ship. Mrs. Miller's paternal grandparents were Jesse and Christina (Simrell) Gardner, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of Luzerne coun- ty, Penn. They were farming people, and both died in Greenfield, Penn. The maternal grandparents were John and Charlotte (Ewall) Barriger.

Mr. Miller was born June 7, 1825, within a few rods of the present home of his family in Clif- ford township, Susquehanna county. His father, Rev. Charles Miller, also a minister of the Baptist The children born to our subject and his wife were as follows: (I) Susan A., who is now the- wife of August Marx, a traveling salesman of El- mira, N. Y. (2) Jessie A., wife of Rev. G. R. Church for over forty years, was born in Brooklyn, Susquehanna county, March 20, 1793, and died in Clifford township, March 20, 1865, his remains be- ing interred in Clifford cemetery. The grandfather, . Smith, a Baptist minister of Franklinville, N. Y.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(3) Frank S., who was principal of the Everetts schools, later a professor at Pierce Business Col- lege, Philadelphia, and superintendent of the Ma- hanoy schools. Subsequently he was admitted to the Lackawanna bar and was an attorney at the time of his death, which occurred December 26, 1896. He married Clara M. Gardner. (4) Charles H., who died March 9, 1885. (5) Hugh C., who died November 20, 1885. (6) Eugene K., who is a salesman in Scranton, Penn. (7) Ruth D., who is at home ; and (8) RALPH WILLIAM, who lives on the old homestead, which has been the home of four generations of the name.

In early life Elder Miller studied law, and was was admitted to the Lackawanna County Bar, after having been a student in the office of Lathrop & Jones, of Carbondale. He pleaded his first case at Wilkes Barre, but soon abandoned the profession. On July 10, 1868, at the Greenfield Church, Lacka- wanna county, he was ordained a minister, and from that time up to within a few weeks of his death he engaged in preaching, having charge of churches in Lenox, Harford and Clifford town- ships, Susquehanna county, besides some in Lacka- wanna county. He often preached in school-houses and did much missionary work, most of the time receiving no compensation for his services. In early life he was a strong anti-slavery man, was also an anti-Mason and a man of decided opinions. Politically he was a Prohibitionist, and he held the offices of school director and poormaster for many years, and his support was always given every enterprise for the public good. He died on the home farm in Clifford township, April 23, 1885, and was buried in Clifford Valley cemetery, of which he was one of the organizers. He was faith- ful to his church, to his country and to his friends, and in his home was a most exemplary husband and father. His death occasioned the deepest regret throughout the community, and the county thereby lost one of its valued citizens.

VAN CAMP PETERS. The Peters family has long been prominent in Pike county, and for several generations its members have been active in the varied interests which have tended to the rapid development of that section. Coming of shrewd, thrifty Holland-Dutch stock, they have made the best of citizens, and the name is a synonym for ability and integrity and enterprise. The first an- cestor of whom we have definite record was Peter Peters (the great-grandfather of the successful young business man of Stroudsburg whose name opens this sketch). That worthy pioneer, who was a miller by trade, came from Holland about the time of the Revolutionary war, accompanied by two brothers, Henry and John, and landing at Philadelphia, made his home for several years at Chestnut Hill, near that city. Later he removed to Easton, and finally to Stroudsburg, where his last days were spent.

Henry Peters, the grandfather of our subject,

was born near Philadelphia in September, 1787, and died March 2, 1857. On January 16, 1814, he married Sarah Gunsaules, who was born July 23, 1794, in what is now Middle Smithfield township, Monroe county. Soon after his marriage Henry Peters bought a large tract of timber land from Judge John Coolbaugh and a Mr. Van Horn, of Easton, the purchase including most of the present site of the village of Bushkill, Pike county. Here he built a humble dwelling, and engaged in lumber- ing and rafting, and as other settlers came to the locality, he became interested in milling and in mer- cantile business. His log cabin (which contained only one window with four panes of glass ) was the. first tavern in the neighborhood, travelers being entertained there in primitive style, and after his death that business was contintied there for some time by one of his sons. The building was finally torn down, after standing more than a century, and near its former site stands the handsome resi- dence of Mrs. Charles R. Peters. Henry Peters was the virtual founder of Bushkill, and was the first postmaster at that place, the office having ever since been held by some member of the family. He was a man of strong character and high stand- ing, industrious and economical in his habits, and scrupulously upright in his dealings with others. His descendants still own the greater part of the land in and around Bushkill, now an attractive vil- lage, much frequented by summer tourists in search of picturesque scenery and healthful surroundings. To Henry and Sarah Peters the following children were born: Elizabeth (1814-1858) ; Elsie (1817), widow of Henry M. La Bar; Delinda P. (1819- 1871), who married Henry S. Mott, of Milford ; Charles R .; Maria; Catherine Eilenberger ; and Samuel G., the last named being now engaged in business at Bushkill.

Charles Ridgway Peters, the father of our subject, was born February 12, 1822, and died De- cember 2, 1867. He was engaged in farming and hotel-keeping at Bushkill throughout his life, and won the respect of all his associates by his sterling qualities of character. Although he was never an aspirant after public honors he took much interest in politics, being a stanch Democrat in principle, while he was also active in Church work. On February 4, 1852, he married Miss Elizabeth E. Coolbaugh, daughter of John Coolbaugh, and three children were born to the union: Edwin F., Harry and Van Camp.

Our subject was born June 17, 1862, at Bush- kill, and after completing the course of study in the local schools attended the seminary at Kings- ton, Penn. Having determined upon a business career, he took a course in the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., acquiring a thorough training in the methods of practical finance. He then formed a partnership and engaged in the grocery business at Pittston, Penn., but he soon afterward sold his interest and accepted a clerkship in the Stroudsburg National Bank. Later he was

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in business with his uncle, Hon. Luke Brodhead, at Water Gap, but since 1887 he has devoted his attention to the tanning business, in connection with the Stroudsburg Tannery. Politically he is a Democrat, but he is not an office seeker.

On December 27, 1887, Mr. Peters married Miss Edith M. Knighton. Her father, the late Rev. Frederick Knighton, had been heavily inter- ested in the Stroudsburg Tannery, with which Mr. Peters is now connected. Mr. and Mrs. Peters are leading members of the Presbyterian Church at Stroudsburg, and take an active part in its varied lines of work. They have three bright children : Knighton, Henry and Adelaide.

Rev. Frederick Knighton, D. D., who was for many years an honored clergyman of the Presby- terian Church, was born April 1, 1814, in Derby, England, and died at Stroudsburg, September 9, 1888, after a long but comparatively painless illness. He was of English parentage, and in his character displayed many of the best traits of that sturdy race. Dr. Knighton spent his youth in New Jer- sey and was educated at Princeton, graduating from the college in 1838, and from the Theological Seminary in 1841. Later he studied law with Judge Green, of the same city, but he never prac- ticed that profession. For several years previous to his graduation he taught school, and after leav- ing school he continued that occupation for a time at various places, including Hamburg and Glouces- ter, N. J .; Alexandria, Fredericksburg and Din- widdie Court House, Va .; Belvidere, N. J., and Milford and Stroudsburg, Penn. In 1833, when a young man, he came to Stroudsburg and taught a public school in the old seminary for two years, having for one of his pupils Judge S. S. Dreher. During that time he boarded with Stroud J. Hol- linshead, keeper of the "Stroudsburg House" (now Burnett ).

The following article gives a brief resume of his labors, and is a high testimonial of his char- acter and usefulness :

It having pleased the Lord to remove, by death, the Rev. Frederick Knighton, D. D., a member of the Presby- tery of Newton, the Presbytery would place on its records the following minute :--

Dr. Knighton was licensed by the Presbytery of East Hanover, Va., in April, 1847; was ordained by the Presbytery of West Jersey, November, 1851, served the Gloucester City Presbyterian Church, as pastor, a short time, from this date; took charge of the Academy at Belvidere, N. J., in the fall of 1854, and, soon after, began to supply the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford. He served this church until the summer of 1873 Since leaving First Oxford in 1873, he continued to supply feeble Churches for short periods, and has preached for his brethren, as called upon to suppy their pulpits, resid- ing for the last ten years in Stroudsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Knighton was a man of eminently scholarly tastes and attainments. He was one of the few liberally educated persons who keep up their interest in more strictly literary studies. His superior natural ability and acquirements would have fitted him well for a professor's chair. He was much interested in the cause of education. Several persons, now in the Gospel Ministry, and other professions, express themselves as greatly indebted to him for valuable instruc- tion in pursuing their Academic studies.

His work, while in the First Oxford Church, was greatly

blessed, a new Church-edifice having been built, and large accessions made to the membership of the Church; and he was instrumental in doing foundation work in the establish- ment of the Second Church of Oxford. He served as Chap- lain of the Eleventh Regiment N. J. Vols., for the term of nine months, during our late Civil war. His work has been accomplished, and he has entered into his rest.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 267

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