Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 270

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 270
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 270
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 270
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 270

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JOHN M. ACE, a successful merchant of Par- adise township, Monroe county, has been engaged in business at East Swiftwater for several years, and is in every way deserving of a place among the repre- sentative citizens of his section. Starting life a poor boy, he has made his way to prosperity through his own ability, energy and careful management, and his history conveys a helpful object lesson.

Mr. Ace comes of good pioneer stock. Data relating to his earlier ancestors is found in an old German Bible now in the possession of Robert Ace (nephew of our subject). His great-grandfather, George Ace, settled somewhere near Easton, Penn. He married a Miss Boney, and they had the fol- lowing named children: Jacob, George, Peter, Elizabeth, Katy, Polly, Lydia, Sally and Ann. Of these, Peter Ace, grandfather of our subject, set- tled at an early day near the present site of Shaw- nee, Monroe county, where he cleared a tract of land and brought it under cultivation. This worthy citizen married a Miss Sigafuss (whose first name is supposed to have been Albina), and they became the parents of eight children, viz. : Elizabeth, who married Philip Detrick; George, a resident of Pocono township, Monroe county, who married a Miss Transue; Simon, our subject's fa- ther ; Joseph, who married a Miss Smith, and made his home in Susquehanna county; Catherine, who married a Mr. Gruver, and died in Susquehanna county ; Abraham, who married a Miss Doreshinn, and settled in Susquehanna county ; John, who died in Susquehanna county, unmarried ; and Julia Ann, who married a Mr. Le Bar. All are deceased but Joseph, who was in Tunkhannock when last heard from.

Simon Ace, the father of our subject, was born in 1814, in Smithfield township, Monroe county, and resided there until his death, April 29, 1899, being cared for in his declining years by his chil- dren. He married Anna Margaret Michaels, who was born in 1815 in the same township, and died March 5, 1898, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Of their eight children, (I) our subject is the youngest living. (2) Anna M. and (3) Salona, who died in childhood, were younger children. (4) Samuel M., born November 29, 1840, in New Jer-

sey, married Miss Mary E. Heller, of Paradise township, Monroe county, and settled in East Stroudsburg, where he died in 1898, leaving a wife and family ( who are still residents of East Strouds- burg), viz .: Robert, Ida, Alta, Howard, Sarah, Annie and Charles, living, and Mary, deceased. (5) Peter was born in New Jersey, in 1843, is single, and resides in Smithfield township. (6) David, born in Monroe county, in 1845, married Miss Sarah Heller, of Smithfield township, and re- sides near Delaware Water Gap, where he is en- gaged in the mercantile business. His wife died some years ago, leaving a daughter, Bertha. (7) Moses M., born in Monroe county, in 1847, married a Miss Sarah Tribel, of Smithfield township, and resides near Delaware Water Gap, where they con- duct a boarding house. They have had children- Irvin, Stewart, Oscar, Lewis, Willard and Emma. (8) Horace M., born in Monroe county, December 14, 1849, married a Miss Arnce, of Smithfield town- ship, and now resides near Minsi, Monroe county. They have two children living, Victor and Mary.

George Michaels, the maternal great-grandfa- ther of our subject, was born April 2, 1765, and on May 6, 1787, married Elizabeth Puss, who was born July 8, 1770. Their children were born at follows : J. Frederick, April II, 1788; George, October 30, 1789; Annie Maria, January 9, 1791; John, Sep- tember 17, 1793; Abraham, December 20, 1795; J. Adam, March 5, 1798; Daniel, August 1, 1800; Jacob, November 9, 1802; Elizabeth, October 25, 1807; Catherine, January 25, 1810; Nicholas, No- vember 27, 1812; Ann, December 2, 1816.

John Michaels married Saloma Zimmerman, and they reared a large family, as follows: Anna Margaret married Simon Ace, and had eight chil- dren ; Julia married John Depew, and had two chil- dren ; Elizabeth married Henry Bush, and had three children ; Sally Ann married Samuel Bush, and had four children; David married Mary Transue, and had two children; Moses married Ann Michaels (they had nochildren) ; Susan married B. Vanauken, and had one child ; Lacinda married Heller Dimock, and had five children; Catherine married Jacob Brown, and had nine children ; Peter Z. married Ella Michaels, and had five children ; Mary did not marry. David and Lacinda are the only survivors.

Our subject was born December 16, 1851, in Smithfield township, where he received a public- school education during boyhood. He was reared to farm work, but finding it uncongenial he left the homestead in early manhood and engaged as clerk for his brother Samuel, at Bartonsville, Mon- roe county, where he remained two years. Later he clerked for Kistler Bros., at Tannersville, and in their branch store at East Stroudsburg, and in Sep- tember, 1880, he engaged in mercantile business for himself at Snydersville, Monroe county, where he remained until 1888. He then removed to Neola, where he followed the same business for a year and a half, and in 1890 he purchased the store building

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and real estate of George Halterman, at East Swift- water, where he has since conducted a grocery business, requiring the building of a large addition to the store. In 1893 he erected a fine dwelling- house in the lot adjoining his store, which he has fitted up with every modern improvement, making a most desirable residence. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and has held the office of au- ditor of his township for three pears, to which in- cumbency he was re-elected, and has served at times as inspector of election. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, but his wife is a member of the Methodist Church.

On November 9, 1879, Mr. Ace married Miss Hattie Arndt, who was born August 18, 1853, in Stroud township, daughter of Mary and Benjamin Arndt, prominent residents of that locality. After his marriage Mr. Ace made his home for a time in Snydersville, where he was then engaged in business. His wife has proved herself a worthy helpmeet in adversity as well as prosperity, and he acknowl- edges the value of her advice and encouragement with true manly pride. Three children have blessed the union: (1) Claude B., born at Snydersville, March 17, 1881, was partially educated in the local schools, and later took a course in the East Strouds- burg State Normal School, graduating in 1898. He taught two school years in the schools of Para- dise township, and is now ( 1900) engaged in the grocery business at Easton, Penn., in partnership with E. M. Arndt, under the firm name of Arndt & Ace. (2) Cora B., born August 19, 1886, is at home ; and (3) Mabel P., born May 5, 1889, is attending the local schools.

ERASTUS V. D. COOK (deceased) was a well known farmer and carpenter of Great Bend township, Susquehanna county, and one of its highly respected and honored citizens.

Mr. Cook was born in Oxford, N. Y., October 15, 1827, a son of Worthy and Polly Cook, of that place, who at an early day removed to Tunkhan- nock, Penn., where both died. The father was a miller by trade. In their family were eight chil- dren: William married and moved West, where he died; Eliza was the wife of a Mr. Lewis, of New York State; Julia married Daniel Abbott, and now resides in Elk Lake, Susquehanna county ; Mary was the wife of Christian Shelp, of Elk Lake, where she died, leaving one daughter, now Mrs. H. Stone, of South Montrose; Derias is a resident of Tunkhannock ; E. V. D. is mentioned below ; Alan- son is a resident of Binghamton, N. Y. ; and John makes his home in Susquehanna county.

When a boy Erastus V. D. Cook came to Elk Lake, Susquehanna county, where he grew to man- hood and received a district-school education. When a young man he learned the carpenter's and miller's trades, which he followed for some time. He was married, in March, 1849, to Miss Zipporah Mack, of Dimock, Susquehanna county, a daughter

of Henry and Abbie Mack, who were born near Wilkes Barre, Luzerne Co., Penn., and after their marriage removed to Dimock township, Susque- hanna county, where the father purchased a farm and engaged in its operation until 1859. He lived an earnest Christian life, was a member of the Pres- byterian Church for a number of years, and was a man who stood high in his community, having many friends. After his death his wife lived with her children until she passed away, at Hallstead, in 1883. In their family were nine children, of whom, (I) Elias, the eldest, was a carpenter by trade. He married Jane Springer, of Dimock, and they had three children-William, Ella and Elmer. He purchased a place in Binghamton, and died there in 1890. (2) Mrs. Cook was second in the order of birth. (3) Louisa is the wife of Alfred Springer, of Susquehanna county. (4) Jethrow, born on the old homestead in Dimock township, married Caroline Lee, of New York State, and located in Hallstead, where he died in 1898, leaving two sons, Franklin and Rossell, who still reside there. (5) Ovid married Amanda Dodge, of New York State, and they now reside in Binghamton, N. Y., where he is employed as baggage master on the D. & H. railroad. They have one daughter, Cora, now the wife of Charles Singleton, of Binghamton. (6) Lucelia was the wife of James Jeston, of Scranton, Penn., where she died leaving two children, Henry and Mrs. Abby Brunk, of Scranton. (7) Wealthy married Henry Talmage, of Hallstead, and died leaving one son, Earl, of that place. (8) Henry married Adelaide Sweet, of Springville, Penn., and they now reside in Carbon county, this State. Their children are Grace (wife of C. Bacon, of that county), Vernie, Harry and Finly. (9) Asa, a railroad engineer, married Jane Simpson, of Hor- nellsville, N. Y., where they reside.

For a number of years after his marriage Mr. Cook lived in Dimock township, and then moved to Broome county, N. Y., residing for a time at Willow Point Mills, and later purchasing a place at Vestal, where he made his home for several years. Selling that property, he purchased in Binghamton, where he remained some years, in 1873 trading for hotel property in Hallstead, known as the "Mit- chell House." After a few years, however, he traded for another place in Binghamton, and in 1883 he traded for the farm in Great Bend township, two miles west of Hallstead, on the Susquehanna river, where his widow now resides. There he suc- cessfully engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in February, 1886. Polit- ically he was identified with the Republican party, and religiously both himself and wife were earnest members of the Baptist Church of Binghamton. For a number of years he was a member of the Ma- sonic Fraternity in Binghamton, N. Y., and as an honest, upright man, he was well thought of in the community where he made his home, and had the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in

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contact. He was very popular, and was promi- nently identified with many interests of the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook were born two children, namely: (I) Lottie, born in Susquehanna county, in 1851, was educated at Montrose and Binghamton, and married Henry Howard, of Broome county, N. Y. They resided in Binghamton, where she died in 1873. (2) Henry B., born in September, 1853, died in Binghamton, in April, 1871. In 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Cook adopted a son, named Byron, then two years old, whom they reared as their own. He received a good education in the schools of Bing- hamton, N. Y., and Great Bend township, Susque- hanna county, and for several years before his death, in August, 1899, was employed as brakeman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, run- ning between Hallstead and Scranton. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen of Hallstead, and was a Republican in politics.

J. B. CHALKER, a worthy and honored cit- izen of Liberty township, Susquehanna county, who has throughout his active business life been iden- tified with its agricultural and industrial interests, was born in that township, in 1816, a son of Sam- uel and Mercy ( Webster) Chalker.

Samuel Chalker was born in Saybrook, Conn., in 1768, and was one of a family of four sons, the others being Daniel, Joseph and Charles, all of whom came to Susquehanna county and made their home in Choconut township until called from this life. Before coming to Pennsylvania Samuel Chalk- er married Miss Mercy Webster, and they began their life in Susquehanna county upon a wild tract of land in Franklin township, which he commenced to clear and improve. Later he removed to Chalker Hill, where he lived for some time, but he spent his last days in Brookdale, where he died in 1843; his wife survived him a few years, passing away in 1849. To this worthy couple were born thirteen children, of whom eleven grew to maturity, namely : Sarah, born in Franklin township, Susquehanna county, married Lewis Trudesdale, a farmer of Broome county, N. Y., where both died. Polly mar- ried Dr. Daniel Adams, and located near Brook- dale, Susquehanna county, where they died leaving a family. Joseph married and located in Liberty township, where he still resides with his daugh- ter, Mrs. Charles Butts. Betsy was the wife of William Minkler, of Silver Lake, Susquehanna county, where both died, leaving one daughter, now a resident of Idaho. Samuel married a Miss Web- ster, and both died at Silver Lake, leaving three children. Mercy married James Travis, a farmer of Liberty township, where they died leaving three sons, one of whom, Melon, is still a resident of that township. Harriet was the wife of Ebenezer Carter, who settled near Brookdale, Susquehanna county, where they died leaving one son and one daughter, now residents of Binghamton, N. Y. Catherine, born in Liberty township, married Isaac

Travis, and located on a farm near Brookdale, where he died in 1876, and where she still resides; their three children are also residents of the county. J. B., our subject, is next in the order of birth. Cru- cia married Alfred Ross, and located on a farm in Liberty township, where they died leaving two chil- dren, one of whom, Frank, is still a resident of the county. Alanson married Hannah Hinchman, and lived for some time in Brookdale, but later made their home in Broome county, N. Y., where they reared a family of eight children. Maria and Ealy both died young.

The father of this family was a great hunter, fearless and courageous, and would often lie out all night, alone in the unbroken wilderness, when in search of wild game, hunting all kinds then found in this region. He killed as many as one hundred bears, and two panthers. In 1805, while living in Franklin township, he had an exciting adventure with a bear. He had cleared and put in about two acres of corn, when he was taken sick with the ague, and after recovering from that he suffered from a nervous fever which lasted all summer. About the Ist of August his wife, thinking the corn was advanced enough to be eaten, went down to the field to get some for dinner. On her return she reported that the coons and squirrels were mak- ing sad havoc with the corn, pulling it down and tearing off the ears, and Mr. Chalker said if she would get a shotgun of a neighbor, he being still very weak, he would try and get a squirrel. Mrs. Chalker having procured a gun, he went to the field, and had just stepped over a fallen tree when Bruin made his appearance. The animal raised himself on his haunches, and made for Mr. Chalker with "open arms" and mouth, but he had the pres- ence of mind to thrust the barrel of the gun down the bear's mouth and pull the trigger. The animal dropped dead, a hole blown through the top of its head. Mrs. Chalker got two of the neighbors to draw the bear home and dress it, giving them half of the meat for their trouble, and the balance was used by the Chalkers and given to other neighbors.

Samuel Chalker was also instrumental in cap- turing the perpetrator of the first robbery in Sus- quehanna county. In the year 1819 or 1820 a man living in or near Montrose was robbed of $400 and left for dead. A passer-by, hearing groans, found him lying insensible, by a log, and after he had been cared for the neighbors turned out to look for the criminal. He was overtaken by a Mr. Lyons, who in the struggle that followed had his arm cut, the robber, who was named Roberts, escaping. No- tices of the robbery and escape of the robber were posted in many public places, and Mr. Chalker saw one at Great Bend. The evening of the same day a man came to his house and called for his supper, throwing down two shillings to pay for same. Mr. Chalker, who was at work at his shoemaker's bench, was led to suspect the man by his guilty appearance, and John Holmes, one of the neighbors, coming in,

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he set a chair for him against the door, making him a sign to sit there and hold the door. Roberts walked across the room two or three times, and finally ordered Holmes out of his way, threatening to stab him. He was very angry, and as Mr. Holmes did not move he made a thrust at him, but struck a button. Mr. Chalker jumped and threw Roberts, and Mrs. Chalker, running for the bridle, made a slip noose which she slipped over his head, drawing it as hard as she could (and she was a very strong woman). With the help of their daughter Betsy they soon had the man securely tied ( Holmes being told not to leave the door for fear a confeder- ate might be near), and the next morning he was taken to jail. His trial came off soon after- ward, and he was sentenced to forty years' impris- onment in State Prison; but he lived only two years.

J. B. Chalker, the subject of this review, passed his boyhood and youth upon the home farm, assist- ing his father in its operation as soon as old enough, and acquiring his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. In 1840 he was united in mar- riage with Miss Elizabeth Hinchman, of Liberty township, a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of Bartin and Polly Hinchman, who removed from that State to Brookdale, Susquehanna county, in 1839. After his marriage Mr. Chalker located on land which he owned, at Brookdale, Liberty town- ship, living there until 1853, when he purchased his present farm near Lawsville. In connection with the work of clearing and cultivating the wild land, he engaged in lumbering until 1882, since which time he has given his attention wholly to ag- ricultural pursuits. He has been called upon to mourn the death of his estimable wife, who depart- ed this life in October, 1894. She was a consistent Christian woman, a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church for a number of years, and was loved and respected by all who knew her.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Chalker. (1) Jacob, born in January, 1841, re- ceived a fair education in the Brookdale schools, and married Sarah Post, of Allegany county, N. Y., where they now reside. They have two sons, Nor- man and Harry. (2) Porter, born August 4, 1842, died in June, 1894. He married Katie Hall, who died, leaving one daughter, Alice, now the wife of George Howard, of Conkling Forks, Broome Co., N. Y., and for his second wife he wedded a Miss Hughes, by whom he had two children, Ray and Frank, both residents of Scranton, Penn. (3) William, born in May, 1844, attended the district school of Brookdale, and remained with his father until he was married, in November, 1869, to Miss Elsie Butts, a daughter of Isaac Butts, an old and highly-respected citizen of Liberty township. They located on their farm near Brookdale, but since his mother's death they have returned to the old homestead, and he has taken charge of his father's interests. They have two children, Ariette and

John M., both grown. (4) Samuel, born in Au- gust, 1857, died October 18, 1861.

Politically Mr. Chalker has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and he has been hon- ored with a number of local offices, which he has most creditably and acceptably filled, being constable five or six years, poormaster for a number of years, and also tax collector, school director and super- visor. He was reared in the Presbyterian Church, of which his parents were lifelong members. Grow- ing to manhood amid pioneer scenes, he has taken an active and prominent part in the growth and de- velopment of this section of the State, and his name should be among the foremost on its rolls of hon- ored pioneers.

In his younger years our subject, like his father, was a noted hunter and expert marksman, and has killed many deer, bears, panthers, wolves, etc. When he was a small boy his father gave him a lamb to raise. A wolf known as the "three-footed wolf," that was especially destructive among the flocks, came one night and killed the lamb, and young Chalker swore vengeance on her then and there, this being the circumstance that started him on his wolf hunt in after years. She and her whelps had killed as many as sixty in a single night, for Dr. Rose, of Silver Lake, and corresponding num- bers from smaller flocks throughout the adjoining townships. Dr. Rose determined to exterminate the marauders, called several wolf hunts to drive them in swamps or wind falls, that they might be killed, and at one time they had as many as seven wolves in one swamp, surrounded by hundreds of men. Many shots were fired, but not a wolf was hit.

When Mr. Chalker was about sixteen years of age he earned money, by splitting one thousand rails and underbrushing seven acres of land, and pur- chased a gun. He immediately commenced prac- ticing by shooting at a mark, and trying his hand at killing deer and foxes, and, as practice makes perfect, he in course of time became a very good shot. In the year 1835, while going to school at Brookdale, he came across the wolf track. With Watson and David Bailey he left school and started on the chase, the others giving up tired out after three days. Many others participated, but would give up after two or three days' chase. The wolf's bed, where she had stopped the night before, would be found in the morning, so there was no difficulty in keeping the track, and after nineteen days' chase she was driven past our subject by a man named Jack Greek. He started her out of her bed, and after running about one hundred rods she came within about twenty-five rods of Mr. Chalker, who fired at her while she was on the run, the bullet pass- ing through her body. After the shot she ran about one mile and a half, and then went into a hollow log, where he "finished" her. She was said, by the oldest hunters, to have been the largest wolf ever killed in this section of the country. The skin was sold to Dr. Rose, of Silver Lake, the same gentleman

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who had hunted her years before. There was a bounty on wolves and other beasts of prey, but Mr. Chalker being a resident of Pennsylvania, and hav- ing killed the wolf in New York State, could get a bounty in neither State, the York State officials re- fusing to notice him, and the grand jury of Penn- sylvania ruling him out.

MISS EMILY C. BLACKMAN, of Montrose, Susquehanna county, is one of the well-known char- acters of northern Pennsylvania. Her father, the late Dr. Josiah Blackman, son of Josiah and Clarissa (Camp) Blackman, was born in 1794, in Newtown, Conn., and there read medicine under Dr. Gideon Shepard. In 1816 he received his diploma to prac- tice from the Connecticut Medical Society, and set- tled the same year in practice at Gilbertsville, N. Y., remaining there until 1829, when he removed to Binghamton, and in 1836 to Montrose. Here he continued in practice until his death, in 1875. He was actively interested in the Susquehanna County Medical Society during his long practice in the county, and held various offices in same, being president in 1857 and 1858. He was elected coroner of the county in 1857. He was a plain, unassuming man, kind and generous, and as a Christian gentle- man and citizen commanded the greatest confidence and esteem. He was a member of the Presby- terian Church, of which he was an elder thirty-five years. Dr. Blackman married, in 1820, Emily Don- aldson, of Butternuts, N. Y., who died in 1864. Of their three daughters, Emily C., the subject of this sketch, survives.

Miss Emily C. Blackman was born July 15, 1826, at Gilbertsville, N. Y. Her early education was obtained principally at the Montrose Academy, in which at the early age of fifteen years she be- came an assistant teacher. Later she taught at Towanda and at Chester, Penn .; and she also taught in the schools of Wisconsin and Illinois. From 1866 to 1868 she was a teacher in the Freedman's school, at Okolona, Miss. Miss Blackman has been a student all her life, the greater part of which has been devoted to teaching, and in addition to other branches she taught music, having studied in both New York and Philadelphia. She is able to read the Testament in ten different languages ; is of a literary turn of mind; and in 1873 published a history of Susquehanna county, a most carefully compiled and meritorious work, in the preparation of which she spent four years of earnest and painstaking re- search and labor. Competent critics have pro- nounced it a most excellent and commendable work. Miss Blackman has lived an earnest and useful life. She has travelled extensively, and been a frequent contributor, to the local press, of articles and letters, relating to points visited, which have been instruc- tive and interesting. She has crossed the continent twice, and has been abroad twice, in 1878 and 1889. Since 1890, owing to failing health, she has spent nine winters and four summers in Florida.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 270

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