Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 280

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 280
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 280
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 280
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 280

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The subject of this sketch spent the first fif- teen years of his life upon the home farm, and then, purchasing his time of his father, worked as a farm hand for others until his marriage. On March 14, 1855, in Dimock township, Susque- hanna county, he wedded Miss Mary J. Light, and to them came four children: Emily E., born December 20, 1855, at home; Eva J., born April 6, 1862, who married Levi Light, and also lives with our subject; Eunice M., born August 15, 1872, at home; and John H., born October 18, 1876, who died in infancy. Mrs. West is a native of Susquehanna county, her birth having occurred in Bridgewater township, July 13, 1836. Her parents, David and Eliza (Estus) Light, were both natives of New York State, but were married in Rush township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., and later removed to Bridgewater township. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were highly respected by all who knew them. The father was born November 23, 1814, and died April 29, 1858, on his farm in Susquehanna county, near the New York State line, being laid to rest at Little Meadows. The mother was born

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July 5, 1815, and died at the home of our subject June 19, 1856, her remains being interred in Rush township. Their children were Mary J., wife of our subject; Sarah A., wife of John S. Wood, a retired farmer of Pike township, Bradford county ; Hannah C., deceased wife of Charles A. Carter ; and Eliza A., deceased wife of Daniel B. Wood. Mrs. West's paternal grandparents, Elisha and Mary Light, were natives of Connecticut, who came to Rush township, Susquehanna county, at an early day, and spent the remainder of their lives engaged in farming.

For one year after his marriage Mr. West continued to work as a farm hand, and later was employed in a furniture factory at Middletown, Susquehanna county, for three years, at the end of which time he purchased a small farm in Rush township, and engaged in its operation for two years. In October, 1863, during the Civil war, he was drafted, and went to the front as a member of Company K, 56th P. V. I., under Capt. Stod- dart. He took part in the battles of the Wilder- ness and Richmond. While building breastworks near Spottsylvania Court House, May 22, 1864, he sprained his back, and was sent to the field hos- pital whence he was transferred to Emory hos- pital, Washington, D. C., and when strong enough was sent to the hospital at York, Penn., where he was finally discharged, June 9, 1865. He then re- turned to his farm, but has been able to do little work, as his health was completely broken down by his army service. He found employment in a machine shop at Montrose, but the work proved too arduous and he was obliged to give it up at the end of six months. During the war he con- tracted rheumatism, from the effects of which he was totally blind for five years, and at present can scarcely see. As a sort of compensation for his misfortunes he now receives a pension of $30 per month from the government. Politically he is a Republican.

MOSES M. ACE, the well-known proprietor of the "Riverside House," of Smithfield township, Monroe county, was born in May, 1846, in War- ren county, N. J., but is a representative of an old Monroe county family, his grandfather, Peter Ace, having been one of its pioneer settlers. Later in life, however, he removed to Tunkhannock, Lu- zerne Co., Penn., where he died at a ripe old age. In his family were five children, namely: Simon, the father of our subject; George, who married and settled at Swiftwater, Monroe county, where his family still reside; Joseph, who married and located in Wyoming county, Penn., where with his family he still makes his home; John, who died, unmarried, in Tunkhannock; and Catherine, who is the widow of John Gruver, and resides with her children in Tunkhannock.

Simon Ace, our subject's father, was a native of Smithfield township, Monroe county, where he was reared, and he was educated in the public

schools. When a young man he learned the ma- son's trade, which he followed a number of years. After his marriage to Margaret Michaels, he pur- chased a farm near Minsi, Monroe county, on which he made many improvements, and where he continued to reside until Mrs. Ace was called to her final rest, in March, 1898, at the age of eighty-two years. She was a woman of good Christian character, a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, and a devoted wife and mother. The father made his home with his sons until his death, on April 29, 1899, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. In the family were eight chil- dren, and we have record of the following: (1) Samuel, born in Smithfield township, there grew to manhood, receiving a fair education, which enabled him to successfully engage in teaching school in Monroe county for a number of years. He married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Heller, of Paradise, Monroe county, and after his- marriage located at Bartonsville, where he en- gaged in mercantile trade for twelve years, subse- quently following the same business at Minsi for three or four years. He then purchased a home in East Stroudsburg, and was employed as stew- ard of the State Normal at that place until his death, which occurred in June, 1898. He was widely known and very popular socially. Early in life he united with the Lutheran Church, and he always took an active part in Church and Sab- bath-school work, was one of the deacons of the Church, and superintendent of the Sunday-school. He was a man of fine Christian character, loved and respected by all who knew him. He left a wife, who still resides in East Stroudsburg, and seven children-Robert, Howard, Charles, Annie, Sarah, Ida (wife of George Craig, of Springfield, N. J.), and Alda (wife of William Rockefeller, of East Stroudsburg). (2) Peter, born in Smith- field township, died unmarried. (3) David, born in Monroe county, resides in Minsi, where he is engaged in mercantile trade. He married Sarah Heller, of Smithfield township, and has one daugh- ter, Bertha, at home. (4) Horace, born in Smith- field township, in 1849, resides near Minsi. He married Lizzie Arndt, of Smithfield township, daugh- ter of John Arndt, of Monroe county, and to them have been born three children-Wetzer and Mary, who are still living, and Rhoda, who died in childhood. (5) John, born in Smithfield township, in 1851, married a Miss Arndt, of Stroud town- ship, Monroe county, and they live at Swiftwater, Pocono township, same county, where he is en- gaged in mercantile business. Their children are Claud H. (a graduate of the State Normal at East Stroudsburg), Mabel and Cora.

Moses M. Ace passed his boyhood and youth on his father's farm, his education being obtained in the public schools of the neighborhood. When a young man he learned the carriage maker's trade with William Bloom, of Scranton, Penn., serving a three-years' apprenticeship, and on his return to

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Monroe county engaged in business as a carriage maker on his own account for seventeen years, meeting with good success. In 1870 he married Miss Sarah J. Treible, daughter of Jacob and Jane ( Decker ) Treible, representatives of old and promi- nent pioneer families of Smithfield township. After his marriage Mr. Ace located near Minsi, where he continued to follow his trade for some years. He then purchased the "Cataract House," and engaged in keeping city boarders for four years. In 1884 he bought the Henry Shaler home- stead, on the Delaware river near Minsi in Smith- field township, but later sold the farm, reserving only six acres, on which he has erected a large and handsome house, where he and his worthy wife are well prepared to entertain their many city boarders during the summer season. Their place has be- come very popular, as the host and hostess do all in their power for the convenience and comfort of their guests and well understand how to cater to the wishes of the public. Mr. Ace is one of the most progressive and enterprising citizens of Smithfield township. He is a Jacksonian Democrat in political sentiment, but has never aspired to office. Religiously himself, wife and family hold membership in the Lutheran Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Ace have seven children, all at home, their names and dates of birth being as fol- lows: Washington Irving, August, 1877; Stewart Wilson, March, 1879; Oscar, April, 1880; Lewis, April, 1882; Millard, January, 1885; Emma, Feb- ruary, 1887; and Floyd S., October, 1891.

HENRY CONNELLY, a worthy citizen and progressive farmer of Oakland township, Susque- hanna county, was born in Manchester, England, in 1838, and is a son of Michael T. and Martha ( Burgess) Connelly, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of Stockport, England. In 1848 they emigrated with their family to the United States and took up their residence in Columbia county, N. Y., where the father was employed for some years as foreman in a cotton factory. Subsequently he was engaged in the same work in Massachusetts, and in that State his death occurred. His wife died in Albany, N. Y., in 1890. In their family were seven children, five sons and two daughters, all born in Manchester, England. (I) James, the eldest, enlisted from Albany county, N. Y., in the Union service during the Civil war, becoming a member of Company I, 7th Heavy Artillery, acting Infantry, and with the Army of the Potomac, under General Grant, participated in the battles of Cold Harbor, Petersburg and the Wilderness. At Petersburg he was captured and was first incar- cerated in Libby prison and later in Andersonville. After his exchange he returned to his regiment and, having veteranized, he remained in the service until the close of the war. He then returned to Albany, where he married and made his home throughout . the remainder of his life. (2) Samuel, who was educated in England, also enlisted in Company I,

7th Heavy Artillery, acting Infantry, took part in the battle of the Wilderness and Cold Harbor, and is supposed to have been killed in the latter engage- ment, as he was never heard of afterward. He left a wife and daughter, Lucy, now residents of Albany county, N. Y. (3) Michael lived for a time with the family in Albany county, N. Y., and then removed to Minnesota, where he enlisted in the Union army. He served under Gen. Sherman until the close of the war and then returned to Minnesota, where he married and reared a large family, that are still residents of that State. (4) Henry, our subject, is the next of the family. (5) Elizabeth was married in Minnesota to a Mr. Tis- dale and there they still reside. They have a large family of children. (6) Edmund enlisted from Saratoga county, N. Y., in a cavalry company and served through the war. He is now married and engaged in farming in Massachusetts. His chil- dren are Maud, William and Edmund. (7) Sarah is the wife of Lambert Tanner, of Albany county, N. Y., and they have two daughters-May and Clara.

Henry Connelly was about twelve years of age when he came with his parents to the New World, and he was principally educated in the schools of Fort Edwards, Saratoga Co., N. Y. When young he worked in the cotton mills of Columbia county, that State, and in 1853 went from there to Cohoes, Albany county, where he was employed as foreman in the weaving mills for some years. While thus engaged, in 1860, he had the misfortune to lose his left arm, it being caught in the belt. After that he engaged in mercantile business in Albany county until 1893, when he came to his present home in Oakland township, Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- vania.

In 1863 Mr. Connelly married Miss Marian McAuley, of Albany county, N. Y., who died in 1878, leaving one daughter, Jessie, a resident of Cohoes, Albany county. He was united in mar- riage in 1879 with Miss Lunette Stoddard, who received an excellent education and was one of the successful school teachers of Susquehanna county for a period of six years. Her parents were Wil- bur D. and Annie ( Prentice) Stoddard, representa- tives of one of the oldest and most prominent families of Susquehanna county. Her father was born in Thompson township and was a son of Jesse Stoddard, a native of Massachusetts and a pioneer of Susquehanna county. Four children were born to our subject and his wife, namely : Raymond and Lila both died in childhood; Harry W., born in Cohoes, N. Y., in 1880, attended school in Albany and is now in a store in New York City ; and Luil, born in Albany county, N. Y., is a student in the home schools. Mr. Connelly continued his residence in Albany county, N. Y., until 1893, when he came to Susquehanna county, Penn., and pur- chased the old Stoddard homestead in Oakland township. where he is now successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is a member of the

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Farmers Alliance of Susquehanna, and is a Repub- lican in politics. Though reared in the Mennonite Church, his wife holds membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and is a cultured woman who retains the noble qualities of her race and people. Both stand high in the esteem of their fellow citizens, and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the community where they now live.

JACOB BROTZMAN, a prosperous, self- made farmer of Auburn township, Susquehanna county, was born July 30, 1831, in Warren county, N. j., son of Samuel and grandson of Jacob and Susannah Brotzman, natives of Germany, who died in Blairstown. Jacob Brotzman was a farmer by occupation.

Samuel Brotzman was born March 12, 1808, in Blairstown, N. J., and was married, at Easton, Penn., to Miss Eliza Moser, a native of that town, whose parents, George and Susan Moser, were born in Germany; they died at Mosertown, Penn. The young couple took up their residence in New Jersey, and thence in 1836 came to Susquehanna county, Penn., locating at South Auburn, where they ended their days. Mr. Brotzman first took up fifty-four acres of wild land, made a clearing for his log house and set to work to improve the tract, and he subsequently took up another ninety- six acres. He passed away in 1893, at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife in July, 1860, at the age of sixty, and they were laid to rest in South Auburn. They were members of the M. E. Church. Their children were: George, who is a farmer in Auburn township; Jacob, whose name opens this sketch; Henry, a farmer of Wisconsin ; Gabriel, who died young; Edward, engaged in farming in Wisconsin; Susanna, wife of Lyman Carter, a retired farmer of Waverly, N. Y .; Sam- uel, a farmer in Wisconsin (he served in the Civil war in Company A, 57th P. V. I.) ; Isaac, who died at Annapolis, Md., of diphtheria, while a prisoner, he, too, having enlisted in the Union service ; William, who joined Company L, 13th P. V. C., and was killed while in the service; and Anthony, who is a farmer on the old homestead in South Auburn.

Jacob Brotzman lived with his parents until he reached his majority, receiving his education in the public schools. He was reared to farming, and when but a lad of twelve years began to work for neighboring farmers in order to assist his parents, who, though hard-working people, needed his help, for the pioneers of this region had a struggle even for an ordinary living. After leaving home he worked for one week at 75 cents per day, and after- ward received $12 per month for his services, en- gaging with farmers and lumbermen for thirteen months. He then went to Bradford county, where he took up sixty-four acres of new land, made a clearing for a log house, and there remained for ten years, at the end of which time he received

$1,000 for the place. He had cleared about forty- five acres. Returning to Auburn township, Mr. Brotzman took up a tract of eighty-eight acres here, which he also improved, and five years later, after he had thirty-five acres cleared, the place brought him $2,700, though he paid but $300 for it. Mr. Brotzman has since lived on his present farm in Auburn, comprising eighty-four acres of good land, for which he paid $3,100. Mr. Brotz- man has acquired a comfortable competence by years of industry and thrift, for he has worked very hard until recent years, his son now operating the farm. He is very active for his age, however, and has never had to call a doctor ; he is five feet, eight inches in height, and weighs 145 pounds. Mr. Brotzman may well be ranked among the pioneers of Susquehanna county, for he has done his full share in the conversion of what was once a wilder- ness into a productive region, and he is highly respected throughout the township, where he is well known.

In December, 1853, Mr. Brotzman was mar- ried, in Auburn township, to Miss Clymena Havens, who was born in New York State, daughter of George and Hannah (Freeman) Havens, who came thence to Susquehanna county in an early day and made a permanent home here. Mrs. Brotzman passed away August 18, 1890, at the age of sixty years, and was interred in Bolles cemetery. She was the mother of two children, Charles and Armeda J., both of whom are living with their father. Charles married Miss Emily Wilson, who died leaving three children-Grace, Cora and Jacob D. Mr. Brotzman is a Republican in political preference.

KLINE SHAVER, a leading farmer and representative citizen of Ararat township, Susque- hanna county, has resided here since 1870, having come to this locality from Gilboa, Schoharie Co., N. Y. He was born in that county, in 1854, a son of Jacob and Letitia (Kline) Shaver. The father was a native of Columbia county, that State, and was reared and married in New York. In 1870 he brought his family to Pennsylvania and took up his residence in Ararat township, Susquehanna county, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred four years later. His wife still survives him and makes her home with our subject. She was born in New York, in 1823, a daughter of John and Catharine (Decker) Kline, natives of Columbia county, that State. Her pa- ternal grandparents were John and Hannah ( Hoff- tella ) Kline, the former a native of Germany, the latter of New York. Her grandfather was a fife major in the Revolutionary war and at the close of that struggle located in New York, where he con- tinued to make his home throughout the remain- der of his life. Her maternal grandfather, Cor- nelius Decker, lived and died in Columbia county, N. Y., and was a representative of one of its most prominent pioneer families.

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In order of birth the children born to the par- ents of our subject were as follows: Phebe is the wife of J. W. Ballard, of Elk county, Penn .; Titus is married and resides in Ararat township, Susque- hanna county ; Christina is the wife of Edgar Strain, of Scott township, Wayne county; Martha is at present making her home with our subject ; Etta is the wife of G. L. Payne, of Preston, Wayne county ; Kline is the next of the family; O. J. is married and lives in Ararat township; and Kleber, born in New York State, in 1863, is now engaged in farming in partnership with our subject. They have an excellent farm of 315 acres, which they have placed under a high state of cultivation, and as they thoroughly understand their chosen calling, they are meeting with good success in its operation. They are industrious, enterprising and energetic, and have become quite prominent in public affairs. Both are ardent supporters of the Republican party, and have several times served on the election board. Kline is a member of the school board, to which posi- tion he was elected February 18, 1896, and has served as secretary of the same four years, and on February 15, 1898, was elected assessor of the town- ship. That office he is now most creditably filling. Kleber was elected township clerk, February 20, 1894, and has since filled that position with the exception of one term.

MORGAN L. MILLER, M. D., of Susque- hanna, though now only in the meridian of life, has attained such proficiency in medicine and surgery as to give him rank among the foremost in the pro- fession not only in Susquehanna county but in east- ern Pennsylvania, a section in which his ancestors in several lines have been among the foremost citi- zens, substantial men and women throughout the century.

Phillip Miller, the Doctor's grandfather, and a native of Germany, came to America and located in Northampton county, Penn., where, at Easton, was born, in 1832, David Miller, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch. David Miller, who early in life settled at Stroudsburg, was there married, in 1858,, to Edna Loder, and in that place their lives have since been passed, and there both are now pass- ing life's evening greatly esteemed and highly re- spected citizens of that community, members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Miller is the owner of considerable property in and about Stroudsburg, and his business has been in the line of real estate. He is a business man of ability and good judgment, has so managed his own affairs as to make him an available man for public business, and his services have frequently been sought by his fellow citizens who have elected him to a number of township offices. In his political views he is a Democrat. To the marriage of David and Edna (Loder) Miller were born children as follows: Morgan L. is our subject ; Laura is the wife of William Warner, of Stroudsburg; and M. Walter is a lawyer in Phila- delphia.

Morgan L. Miller was born December 18, 1860, at Stroudsburg, Penn., and received his ele- mentary education in the schools of Stroudsburg, graduating at the academy there, and supplement- ing it with a course of study at the Monroe Col- legiate Institute. He studied medicine under the direction of Dr. N. G. Lesh, of Stroudsburg ,and at- tended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, in 1879, 1880, 1881 and 1882, from which institu- tion he was graduated in the latter year. After his graduation he located in the practice of his pro- fession at Lanesboro, Penn., which continued to be his place of residence, and that point and vicinity his field of operation up until in March, 1899, when he moved to Susquehanna. For some sixteen years Dr. Miller was the physician for Harmony town- ship, and he has been health officer for the village of Lanesboro from the creation of that office. He served for six years on the school board and for three years was a member of the village council. Ambi- tious to excel in his profession, the Doctor has in the last half-decade availed himself of study and ob- servation under some of the most learned and pro- ficient men of the time in medicine and surgery, and in the most modernly equipped hospitals. This preparation included a post-graduate course, in 1896, in the Medical School and Hospital in New York City ; and also a course, in 1897, in the New York Polytechnic Medical School and Hospital. He also took, in 1896, an operative course in sur- gery under Prof. Charles B. Kelsey, M. D., of New York ; and also a course under the eminent surgeon John A. Wythe, and Robert T. Dauborn, of that city. Then, thoroughly prepared through years of study and practice, and from touch with men of eminence in the profession of medicine and sur- gery, and in practice and observation in the most modern hospitals, Dr. Miller has become especially fitted to render the highest skill of this advanced age to the profession in and about the locality in which his lot has been cast, while in the line of surgery he has especially figured successfully in a number of difficult cases and in which he has at- tained high rank. His ability as a surgeon was evi- denced by the Erie Railroad Company in his ap- pointment, in 1897, as surgeon for that great road in Susquehanna, and, too, by the government in his appointment as one of the Board of Examining Surgeons for Pensions for Susquehanna county, both of which positions he still ably and efficiently fills. He is a member of the Susquehanna Medical Society, of the International Association of Rail- road Surgeons, of the American Medical Associa- tion, and also of the Erie Railroad Surgeon Asso- ciation. He is a most active and energetic busi- ness man as well as a busy one in his profession, so much so that it is with difficulty that one can get his attention on outside matters. He is genial and social in manner, easily approached and cordial, which give him just popularity. The Doctor es- tablished, in 1899, a hospital at Susquehanna. His political affiliations are with the Republican party.

M. L. Miller M.S.

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Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, identified with St. Andrews Commandery at Sus- quehanna. He is a director in the City National Bank of the borough.

On June 3, 1883, Dr. Miller was married, at Lanesboro, to Miss Nellie E., born in 1855, in that village, a daughter of David and Cordelia ( Weeks) Taylor. Dr. and Mrs. Miller are attendants at the Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Miller is an active member and worker and the Doctor a liberal contributor. They are the possessors of a fine property at Lanesboro, and have a most pleasant home at Susquehanna, where Mrs. Miller dispenses a generous hospitality, she being a lady of culture, refinement and accomplishments. She is of great assistance to the Doctor in both his profession and business. The Taylor family from which Mrs. Mil- ler descends was one of the pioneer families of Sus- quehanna county, the forerunner of which was Dav- id Taylor, her great-grandfather, who with his wife Mercy and children settled in Gibson township as early as 1804, and at Smiley the father erected and occupied a hotel building where was dispensed an old-time hospitality. In 1814 he removed to what became Taylortown (now Hickory Grove), named in his honor, in Great Bend township.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 280

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