Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 29

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 29
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 29
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 29
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 29

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

more fully below. (3) Enos R., who was born in 1849 at Hawley, Wayne county, received a practical education in the schools of that county and as a young man engaged in railroading on the Delaware & Hudson and New York, Lake Erie & Western railroads. After a time he was appointed a con- ductor on the Texas & Pacific railroad, a position he held for about ten years, and at present he is the agent at Fort Worth, Texas, for the Traveler's In- surance Co., of Connecticut. In 1871 he married Miss Julia Griner, of Prompton, who is descended through her mother from the Haden family, one of the leading pioneer families of Wayne county. Since his marriage he has made his home at Fort Worth, Texas, where he owns a pleasant residence. He has four children: Catherine (now Mrs. Rad- cliff, of Houston, Texas), Jennie, Edwin and Paul.

Our subject was born in 1844 at White Haven, Luzerne county, but his youth was mainly spent in Wayne county, where he received a good common- school education. For a few years he was engaged in lumbering in the woods, then in 1865 entered the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Com- pany. After spending sixteen years in the service of this corporation, he was employed for six years by the New York, Lake Erie & Western line, most of the time being devoted to work at signal stations. Since October, 1885, he has been in the employ of Jones Brothers, or the Grand Union Tea Co., and during this long period he has had the management of their business in Honesdale. In politics he is a Republican, and although he is not an office seeker he has always been willing to work for the success of his party. In religious faith he is a Methodist, and he and his family are leading members of the society at Honesdale. He is also identified with the various fraternal orders, including the Knights of the Maccabees, Lodge No. 255, at Honesdale, and the American Legions of Honor, Lodge No. 841, of the same place.

In November, 1868, Mr. Woodward married Miss Hattie E. Bell, daughter of the late Horace Bell, a native of Connecticut, who came many years ago to Wayne county, and after his marriage to Miss Mary Goodrich settled in Salem township, where he died in January, 1886. This estimable couple had five children : Frederick, Hattie, Ada (now the widow of the late James Swingle, of Lake township, Wayne county), George, and Charles. Soon after our subject's marriage he purchased a home in Prompton, where he remained eleven years, and in 1879 he removed to Jersey City, his work on the railroad making these localities convenient. In 1885 he located at Honesdale where he purchased the Harry Wheeler place, on the road to Seelyville, a fine home- stead which he has greatly improved. He has modernized the buildings, and his home is marked by an appearance of refinement which indicates the taste and culture of its occupants. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward have three children : (I) George E., born March 16, 1870, at Prompton, was educated in the schools of Jersey City and Honesdale, and after

clerking for some years for the Grand Union Tea Co. he took the position of shipping clerk in the F. B. Clark glass factory, which he still holds. In November, 1893, he married Miss Nealia Marshall, then residing near White Mills, and he now occupies a portion of his father's homestead. He has one son, Edwin D. (2) Myrta, born at Prompton, De- cember 25, 1873, received an academic education at Honesdale, and is now the wife of Dr. Edward Burns, a prominent physician of that city. They have one daughter, Helen W. (3) Miss Lillie May, born in Prompton, December 14, 1878, com- pleted a course of study in the Honesdale high school, and is now the wife of W. B. Headley, a very worthy young man of Lake Ariel, employed by Scranton parties.

JOHN O. WHITNEY. There are few men more worthy of representation in a work of this kind than the subject of this biography, who is an hon- ored veteran of the Civil war, and a prominent citi- zen of Scott township, Wayne county. He is a na- tive of Delaware county, N. Y., and a son of John Whitney, whose parents were Zachariah and Eliza- beth Whitney. The grandfather of our subject was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, having val- iantly fought for American independence. John Whitney grew to manhood in Delaware county, N. Y., and there married Sabina Cook, a native of Davenport, that State, and a daughter of John and Sallie (Cotter) Cook, of an old and prominent fam- ily of New York. Her father was a soldier of the war of 1812. John Whitney at an early day re- moved to Harmony township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., his old homestead there being about two miles west of Starrucca, on Starrucca creek, and near where the Melrose Chemical Works are now located. Later he came to Wayne county.

Our subject was one of a family of three sons, the others being George and Roderick B. During the war of the Rebellion George enlisted in the 137th N. Y. V. I., and died in West Virginia, in 1895. Roderick B. was a member of the same regi- ment, and died while with Sherman on the march to the sea, leaving a widow who died some years later, and a son Roderick, Jr., who now resides at Brandt, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania.

John O. Whitney, the subject of this sketch, was also a member of the 137th N. Y. V. I. during the Civil war, having enlisted in Jefferson county, N. Y. With his regiment he participated in many important engagements, was with Gen. Sherman on the march from Atlanta to the sea, and when the war was over took part in the grand review at Washington. Mr. Whitney was married at Star- rucca, Wayne county, to Miss Hattie M. Dix, a daughter of David and Betsy Dix, of Preston town- ship, Wayne county. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have been born the following children: Stella M., Alpheus H. and Alice H. (twins), Francis J., Jay S., and Nettie L.

Mr. Whitney is the owner of one of the finest

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farms of Scott township, it being beautifully situ- ated on the shores of Starlight lake, and near the depot on the Ontario & Western railroad. He is a progressive, energetic farmer and reliable business man, whose success in life is certainly well deserved. Politically he is an ardent Republican, socially he belongs to the G. A. R., and religiously is a consist- ent member of the Methodist Church. Like many old soldiers he now feels the effect of long exposure and fatigue of his army life, but is uncomplaining and always cheerful, having willingly given his services to aid in the preservation of the Union. His duties of citizenship in times of peace are as faithfully discharged as were his military duties while following the flag on Southern battle fields, and he is numbered among the valued citizens of his community.

JOHN H. VERNOY. For many years the subject of this sketch has been a prominent and en- terprising citizen of Barrett township, Monroe coun- ty. His chief occupation is farming, but Mr. Ver- noy is the owner of one of the picturesque properties which are the delight of city people, and has thrown open the doors of his pleasant residence, widely known as "Lewis Falls House," to the many sum- mer sojourners from the crowded cities. It has special accommodations for fishermen and hunters with guide. The table is abundantly supplied with the best of everything fresh from the farm, and there are delightful drives and walks within the sur- rounding country. The house is situated on a beau- tiful spot on the summit of the Pocono Mountains (the southern terminus of the Catskill range), com- manding a fine view for many miles; entirely sur- rounded by delightful scenery.

Mr. Vernoy was born in Sullivan county, N. Y., in 1838, son of Mathias and Cornelia (Horn- beck) Vernoy, both natives of Wawarsing, Ulster Co., N. Y. Mathias was the son of Cornelius Ver- noy, whose ancestors came from Holland. Cor- nelius Vernoy had four sons: Henry, who settled at Hawley, Wayne county, and for many years was proprietor of a livery stable; Charles and William, who were boat builders at Honesdale ; and Mathias, the father of our subject. After his marriage to Cornelia Hornbeck, Mathias Vernoy moved to Sulli- van county, N. Y., where he purchased and cleared a farm and tilled it through the remainder of his life. He left four children, Maria, Garrett, Catherine and Cecelia and William. Of these Maria married Al- bert Brooks, of Sullivan county, where he died leav- ing a family. Garrett is married and has two sons ; he lives in Sullivan county, N. Y., where he keeps a stock and dairy farm. Catherine is the wife of a railroad man at Liberty Falls, N. Y. Cecelia is a professional nurse in New York City.

John Vernoy, our subject, spent his youth on the home farm in Sullivan county. There he attended the public schools, and when a young man learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years. At the age of eighteen he came to Monroe

county, and for years worked in the Canadensis tan- nery. In 1858 he married Miss Catherine Alvert, who was born in New York in 1841, daughter of Adam and Louisa Alvert, who emigrated from Ger- many and settled in Barrett township, where they re- mained through life, engaging successfully in farm- ing. After his marriage our subject lived for many years in Canadensis. In 1882 he purchased a tract of wild land in Barrett township, which by patient and judicious labor he has converted into one of the well cultivated farms of the township, and upon which he has erected substantial and attractive build- ings. Onto this pleasant farm the family moved from Canadensis, and for ten years they have opened the home to city boarders. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Vernoy consists of two sons and three daugh- ters as follows : Georgianna, born in 1859, is the wife of John B. Snow, of Canadensis ; Albert, born in No- vember, 1859, a carpenter, contractor and builder of Barrett township, married Miss Eleanor McDladery, of Philadelphia, and has three children, Alice, Alpha and Arthur; Ida, born in 1862, married David Quinn, of Philadelphia, and has three children, John, Clarence and Charles, and now lives in Chester City, Penn .; Maria S., born in March, 1867, married Adam Huesler, of Barrett township, has four chil- dren, Albert, Ida, Melicie and Blanche, and now lives in Pike county ; William, the youngest, was born in May, 1869, attended the Canadensis schools, and when thirteen years of age was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade with Benjamin Ketchum, of Philadelphia, and worked at his trade in Philadel- phia seven years, was then foreman for Lamont & Burhams, contractors and builders of New Jersey and Pennsylvania four years. In September, 1898, he married Miss Nellie Graves, of Barrett township, daughter of John Graves, and now lives with his father on the old homestead.

Our subject was for three years a member of Company H, 6th Regiment Pennsylvania National Guards. He was a teacher in the public school one term.

Politically Mr. Vernoy is a Republican. He is interested in educational matters, and has served as school director. He was reared under the influence of the Protestant faith, and is one of the reliable and highly-esteemed citizens of Monroe county. Trust- worthy in every relation of life, possessing business principles and sagacity of a high order, and diligent in whatever enterprises he undertakes, the success of our subject has been natural and almost assured from the start.

FRANK BEERS, M. D., who has now been en- gaged in the general practice of his profession at Bushkill for about ten years, is one of the leading physicians of this section of Monroe and Pike coun- ties, and he is an esteemed member of the com- munity in which he has made his home, and where by his genial dispositon and admirable personality he has made many friends.

Dr. Beers was born in September, 1859, at

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Beersville, Northampton Co., Penn., son of Tilgh- man and Mary (Kciper) Beers, who were also na- tives of Northampton county, where the father was prominent for many years as a successful general business man. He dealt largely in road horses, and he was also engaged in the hotel business, which he was carrying on at the time of his death, in June, 1879. Mrs. Beers' death occurred in 1893. They had two children, Frank and Ida. Ida was born near Beersville in 1861, received her education in the public schools, and is now the wife of A. E. Wright, of Northampton town, who is engaged as a stationary engineer. They have two daughters, Florence and Mamie.

Frank Beers passed his youth and early man- hood in the county of his birth, after his elementary studies taking a course in the Weaversville Acad- emy, which was supplemented with an attendance at the Kutztown ( Penn. ) State Normal School. He commenced reading medicine in 1878 with Dr. G. D. Spingler, of Petersville, Penn., not long afterward entering Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in March, 1881, hav- ing finished the regular three-years' course. Dur- ing the first two years of his professional experience Dr. Beers was located in his native town, in 1883 re- moving to Flatbrook, Sussex Co., N. J., where he remained until his coming to Bushkill, Penn., in 1888. Here he succeeded in building up a lucrative practice, in which he continued until the fall of 1892, when he located in Bethlehem, this State. In 1893 he moved to Harrisburg, remaining there until June, 1894, when he resumed his practice at Bushkill. Dr. Beers' clientele has increased steadily during his res- idence in that town, and besides his patients in the immediate neighborhood he has a large number among the New York and Philadelphia families who come to this locality to spend the summer months. He is admirably fitted, by nature as well as edu- cation, for his adopted calling, for he is endowed with a sociable disposition and manly generosity which with his winning manners generally has won him many friends among his patients as well as his associate's in private life, and he is a ready con- versationalist on all subjects of general interest, having read widely. Dr. Beers' marked success has been well merited, for he has devoted himself strict- ly to the duties of his profession, keeping abreast with all progressive movements and ideas in reading and in practice, and allowing no other interests to supplant those of the earnest physician who consid- ers professional skill and professional ability before anything else.

In July, 1884, Dr. Beers was united in marriage with Miss Rosa V. Hice, the accomplished daughter of James N. and Augusta Hice, of Trenton, N. J., who was born at Milford, N. J., and received her education in Phillipsburg, graduating from the high school of that place. Six children have blessed this union : Amy, born April 15, 1885, in New Jersey ; Nelson T., born in 1887 at Flatbrook, N. J. ; George W., born in 1891 at Bushkill; Adelaide P., born in

1894 in Monroe county ; Allen K., born in 1897 in Monroe county ; and Mary, born in Monroe county January 24, 1900. After his return to Bushkill in 1894 he purchased a beautiful home at Maple Grove, upon which he has made various improvements since his ownership, and it is one of the neatest and most comfortable residences in the neighborhood. Mrs. Beers is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically the Doctor has always been identified with the Democratic party.

M. G. LESH, M. D. The lawyer may be the friend in need in the settlement of earthly disputes, and the priest may minister unto the wayward soul and point out the path Divine; but weak and erring man finds comfort and strength during his worldly sojourn by a steadfast reliance on the science and skill of his physician. To no other profession does mankind owe so much. Peace of mind and the at- tendant happiness comes only with a sound body, and to those men whose lives have been devoted to study of the laws of health and their accumulated wisdom is due, in no small degree, the welfare of the nation. A careful attention to the laws of san- itation will advance the general prosperity of any community. Among those followers of /Esculap- ius whose devotion to his work, his knowledge and his skill, have brought him to the front rank in his profession is Dr. M. G. Lesh, of East Stroudsburg, Monroe county.

Dr. Lesh comes of good old Bucks county stock. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Lesh, died in Mon- roe county at the advanced age of ninety-one years, and his wife, who in her maidenhood was a Miss Cooper, lived to be ninety-six years of age.

John Lesh, father of our subject, was born in Bucks county, in 1807, and learned the tailor's trade at Easton. He was a man of no school training, but possessed a remarkable memory. It was said of him that he would go to Church, listen to the ser- mon, and then go home and repeat it nearly word for word as the minister had delivered it. As a mathematician he excelled, solving any problem al- most instinctively in his mind. About 1830 he re- moved to what is now Monroe county, and took up land which is now owned by our subject. In Ham- ilton township he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mosteller, who was born in 1814 and died at the age of sixty-five years. They had the follow -. ing children : William, who died when twenty-one years old; Stogdell, a farmer of Hamilton town- ship; Sarah, wife of Henry H. Teeter, of East Stroudsburg : Hiram, a resident of Scranton ; Nath- an, who resides in Scotia ; Sophia C., widow of Dr. Seem ; Matthew George; John F., a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, now practicing medi- cine in Kansas ; and Martha, wife of Jerome Daily, of Snydersvillle. The father of this family passed to his long rest in January, 1888, a faithful follower of Martin Luther, as was also his wife. In politics lie was a Democrat.

Dr. M. G. Lesh was born October 16, 1850, in

To.G. Leshim

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Hamilton township, Monroe county, and after the usual common-school education he took a course in the Normal school, at Kutztown, Berks Co., Penn. When not quite fifteen years of age he began teach- ing school, and for a time was quite successful in this line, which, however, was but a stepping-stone to his chosen walk in life. He is a self-made man, as his medical education was obtained with money saved from his salary as a teacher. He also bor- rowed from his father and brothers, and on finish- ing his studies repaid the amount. In 1870 he en- tered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1873. Locating at Gilberts, he practiced until 1876, when he took a post-graduate course at his Alma Mater, and soon afterward he opened an office in East Stroudsburg, where he speedily built up a large practice. He has the rare faculty of being able to impart his knowledge to others, and, as he has always manifested a keen desire to aid worthy and ambitious aspirants in his profession, his in- struction has been sought by an unusually large number of students. Of these, eleven have com- pleted their college course with credit to themselves and their preceptor. The Doctor is a man of fine physique, looking many years younger than he is, and his excellent constitution enables him to do an immense amount of work. His force of char- acter, his unfailing courage, and his genial dispo- sition have done much to win for him the good will of his patients, and, incidentally, aid in obtaining the best results from his treatment. His success in surgical work is especially noteworthy, his perfect self-control and skill giving him unusual qualifica- tions for this difficult department of medical sci- ence. For some twelve years, beginning with 1877, Dr. Lesh was one of the principal physicians and surgeons for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western road, until the company organized a hos- pital at Scranton.

In 1877 Dr. Lesh was married to Miss Amanda Louisa Shafer, a native of Stroudsburg, and their only child, Jacob B., born January 4, 1878, died at the age of thirteen. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, but he has not been especially prominent in party work. Socially he and his family are much esteemed, and he is an active member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, belonging to Monroe Chapter No. 281, R. A. M., and the Odd Fellows, holding mem- bership with East Stroudsburg lodge, which he had joined in 1877.

JAMES K. HORNBECK has in his career illustrated most forcibly the possibilities open to a young man who possesses sterling business qualifi- cations. It also proves that ambition, perseverance, steadfast purpose and indefatigable industry, com- bined with sound business principles, will be re- warded, and that true success follows individual effort only. Mr. Hornbeck has gained recognition and prestige as one of the influential and repre- sentative business men of Equinunk, Wayne coun-

ty, and has advanced to high and honorable dis- tinotion in lumber circles.

A native of Pennsylvania, our subject was born in Lackawaxen, Pike county, October 16, 1844, and is a son of Jason and Rebecca (Cole) Hornbeck, the former born near Milford, Pike county, the lat- ter in Dutchess county, N. Y. They were married in Pike county, where the father followed the occu- pation of lumbering throughout the greater part of his life, in 1887 coming to Wayne county, where he spent his remaining days. After his death his widow returned to Pike county, where she is now living. In the family were three children : (I) Elizabeth, born in 1843, in Pike county, married William Holbert, of that county, and they lived in Lackawaxen, where he was extensively in- terested in lumbering for a number of years. In 1866 he removed to Equinunk, Wayne county, where he owned and operated two large tanneries, and also engaged in lumbering on the Delaware river, hav- ing large mills at Camden, N. J., where he was ex- tensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He died in 1888, leaving no children; his widow now lives in Lackawaxen. (3) Augusta, born in Pike county in 1847, married J. C. Braning, of Ber- lin township, Wayne county, and for a number of years they lived in Equinunk, where he followed lumbering for his brother-in-law, Mr. Holbert. Since 1887 they have lived in Westcolang Park, Pike county, where he is doing an extensive and profitable business as a dealer in lumber, merchan- dise and stone. Mr. and Mrs. Braning have four children, namely: Getty, now Mrs. C. E. Barnes, of Equinunk; and Carrie, Lulu and Edna, all at home.

At the age of fourteen James K. Hornbeck's school days were ended, and he commenced his busi- ness career as a lumberman in the employ of Will- liam Holbert, with whom he remained for a number of years, rafting lumber down the river and work- ing in the sawmills near Equinunk. In 1866 he was married to Miss Sarah J. Branning, of Wayne coun- ty, who is a native of New York State, and a daugh- ter of Moses and Ellen Branning. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hornbeck, namely : (I) William F., born in Wayne county, in 1869, was educated in a select school at Equinunk, and now resides in one of his father's houses in that village, being connected with our subject in busi- ness. In 1895 he married Carrie Teeple, of Wayne county, by whom he has one daughter, Elva. (2) Joseph, (3) Horton and (4) Claude, all died in in- fancy. (5) Gertrude S., born in Pike county, is at home, attending school.

For three years after his marriage Mr. Horn- beck lived at Beach Lake, Wayne county, but in 1869 removed to Pike county, where he erected a sawmill and engaged in the manufacture of lumber for the same length of time. He then located on Mr. Holbert's farm in Wayne county, where he passed the following three years, and at the end of that time (in 1876) came to Equinunk, remaining

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only a short time, however. During the following two years and a half he had charge of Mr. Holbert's sawmills at Camden, N. J., and then returned to Equinunk, where he purchased of that gentleman a mill and tract of land, engaging in the manu- facture of lumber here on his own account for sev- eral years. In 1883 he accepted the position of foreman for Mr. Holbert at Westcolang Park, where he built a large saw and planing mill. He next purchased the Stanton mills, at Camden, N. J., where he was engaged, in partnership with J. G. and William Holbert, in the manufacture of lumber until 1890. The year previous he had moved his family back to Equinunk, where he bought the mills and real estate of J. G. Holbert, son of William Holbert, who had erected a saw and planing mill and also an excelsior factory, which Mr. Hornbeck is now successfully operating. He manufactures from four to five tons of excelsior per day, most of which he ships to New York City. In 1894 he had the misfortune to have his saw and planing mill destroyed by fire. Few men in the State are more familiar with every department of the lumber busi- ness than our subject, who in early life rafted both square timber and logs down the Delaware river to market, and has since engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He is an active and prominent worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and in political as well as business circles occupies a leading place. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. As a public-spirited, progressive citizen, he has given a liberal support to all enterprises which he believes calculated to advance the welfare of his town and county, and is therefore deserving of honorable mention in a work of this character.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 29

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