Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 291

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 291
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 291
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 291
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 291

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).

On leaving the parental roof, at the age of nineteen years, Delmar Stark went to Stark coun- ty, Ill., where he attended a graded school for four months, and was then employed at different occu- pations until his return home, after an absence of a year and a half. He rented his father's farm for a few years, and later engaged in selling wagons for eight years. In 1888 he embarked in the hotel business, in Springville, where he remained for two years, and was then engaged in the same business in Rush until 1894, when he sold his property there to Scott Shaner and bought the Susquehanna County Mineral Springs property, in Rush town- ship. He was converting the place into a sani- tarium when his buildings were destroyed by fire, and he did not rebuild. In June, 1895, he pur- chased the drug store in Rush, which he has since so successfully conducted, and he is also proprietor of a first-class hotel in Le Raysville, besides being engaged in speculating along various lines. As a business man he is energetic, enterprising and sagacious, and has been remarkably successful in his undertakings.

At Springville, January 18, 1876, Mr. Stark married Miss Elizabeth Seely, and to them were born three children: Ora, Alcora and Anna M., Ora dying in 1878. Mrs. Stark was born in Shib- ley's Point, Adair Co., Mo., in February, 1856, a daughter of John and Betsy (Park) Seely, the former also a native of Missouri, the latter of Sus- puehanna county, Penn. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in his native State three months prior to the birth of Mrs. Stark, and the mother's death occurred in 1873. Their children were Martin N., a farmer of Dimock township, Susquehanna county; Maggie, who married Cal- vin Merritt, and died in Montana; Susan E., a resident of Springville township, who (first) mar- ried Nathan R. Stark, a brother of our subject, and (second) Robert Squire; William, a farmer of West Nicholson, Penn .; and Elizabeth, wife of our subject.

SETH B. STARK, a nephew of our subject, and the present proprietor of the "Rush House," at Rush, was born in Springville township, Susque- hanna county, January 26, 1870, a son of Nathan R. and Susan E. (Seely) Stark, the former a native of Springville township, the latter of Missouri. The father died January 24, 1876, aged thirty-one years, but the mother is still living in Springville township, at the age of forty-eight. Two children were born to them: Seth B., and Minnie, who

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died at the age of a year and a half. Seth B. Stark was reared on a farm until eighteen years of age, after which he worked for his uncle, Delmer Stark, for one year, at the "Rush House." He next at- tended business college at Scranton, Penn., and then purchased the stage line which was run be- tween Rush and Montrose, but after conducting it for seven months returned to the "Rush House," where he was employed for two years. One sum- mer he sold wagons, sleighs, carriages, etc., and for two years conducted a meat business, during which time he served as assistant postmaster of Rush. On April 15, 1897, he purchased the "Rush House," which he has since so successfully carried on. In political sentiment he is a Republican. He was married, in Dimock township, December I, 1897, to Miss Alice T. Glidden, a native of Mont- rose, and a daughter of D. Whiley, now a black- smith of Forest Lake township, Susquehanna county.

JOHN C. TANNER. For more than six decades John C. Tanner has made his home in Har- ford township, Susquehanna county, having been born two miles north of Harford village, February 1, 1838. While his life cannot be said to have been especially eventful, it is one full of interest, and his business success affords a striking example of what may be achieved by earnest resolve and unflagging courage.

Mr. Tanner is one of a large family of children born to Clark S. and Betsey (Carpenter) Tanner, who were married May 1, 1831, by Rev Adam Mil- ler. His father was born in Mt. Pleasant, Wayne county, and came to Susquehanna county at the age of nine years, being adopted by John Tyler, who brought him up to farm life. Clark S. Tan- ner died April 12, 1869, after a life of seventy-two years. Our subject's mother was born in Harford township, and lived there until her death, although she spent a few years as teacher in New York. Her father, John Carpenter, was one of the "Nine Partners" of Harford township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tanner were earnest Christians and devout members of the Congregational Church. To them were born the following children: Nancy born February 27, 1832, died March 4, 1859, and was buried in Clifford (she married Daniel Brundage, born February 20, 1834) ; Milburn, born February II, 1834, died July 11, 1857; Martha married Ste- phen Brundage, of Benton, Penn. (both are de- ceased) ; John C. is the subject of this sketch; Mary, born August 19, 1842, married Henry Cole, of Collingwood, N. Y., a farmer, justice of the ' peace and State land agent; and Edward R., born March 29, 1849, married Margaret J. Kerr, and died December 1, 1872.

John C. Tanner was married, April 12, 1860, at Harford, to Miss Anna R. Kerr, who bore him three children, viz .: Frank H., born January II, 1861 : John E., born August 2, 1863; and a third son, born in January, 1869, the two younger chil-

dren dying in infancy. Frank H. Tanner, a son of rare promise and ability, an earnest Christian, beloved by all who knew him, and whose early demise cast a shadow over his parents' lives, died on his twentieth birthday.

Mrs. Tanner was born at Middletown, N. Y., her parents being Patterson and Margaret (Shaw) Kerr, respected residents of that place, and both active members of the Presbyterian Church. Her father, who was a contractor, was prompted by. business and tastes alike to seek change of location. He died in Peekskill, N. Y., in January, 1847, aged. thirty-six, and was buried there. Mrs. Kerr rests at Middletown, where she died in her seventy-third. year. Their children were: Elizabeth, wife of Henry Horton, a hardware merchant of Middle- town; Anna R., Mrs. Tanner; William H., who. died at Northumberland, Penn .; and Margaret J., whose first husband was Edward R. Tanner (a. brother of John C.), and who, after his death, mar- ried John K. Gamble, a dentist, of Coffeyville, Kans., whose father, Dr. George Gamble, was for many years a respected physician of Harford. After the death of the father, Mrs. Tanner's mother mar- ried William H. Harris, who died in 1890, at the age of seventy-three years. Of this marriage there was no issue.

John C. Tanner worked on his father's farm until he was sixteen years old, and for the next five years was employed as clerk in a country store- in Harford village. Returning to the farm, he managed it for four years. Agriculture, however, was not especially to his taste, and he determined · to enter upon a mercantile career. He entered. into partnership with Jones & Babcock, under the name of Jones, Babcock & Tanner, the firm after four years becoming Jones & Tanner. This part- nership was dissolved four years later, and for twenty-six years our subject was a commercial traveler for hardware houses: First with Phelps & Co., of Binghamton, N. Y., in whose employ he remained for fourteen years; then with Pratt & Co., of Elmira, N. Y. ; next with Spanging & Spald- ing, of Syracuse; and finally with Barker, Rose & Gray, with whom he has continued for eleven years, being still in their employ.

In politics our subject is a stanch Republican, and on December 15, 1898, he was appointed postmaster. He still owns the old homestead of 130 acres, and has actively identified himself with with the interests of Susquehanna county. He has always been prominently interested in the Harford Agricultural Society, being now its president, which office he is filling for the fourth term (of one year each.) His liberality and support of all good projects in the community, especially those involv- ing the improvement and beautifying of the village, are well known. His deep sympathy and spirit of helpfulness for those in sorrow and trouble is most beautiful and genuine, as so many can testify who have felt the beating of his great heart for them. He is the very embodiment of good nature and

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cheer. These qualities of heart and soul have en- deared him to a multitude of friends, wherever he is known throughout this region. Though not a member of any Congregational Church, in loyalty and support he is second to none, being now a trus- tec of same. His time, money and thought are al- ways freely given to every worthy proposition and enterprise undertaken by his community, and to be counted one of his friends is an honor prized by every one.

CASSIUS M. GARFIELD is a well-known and successful merchant in the borough of Little Meadows, Susquehanna county. His father was one of the pioneer business men of the place, and. in his store our subject received his mercantile training.

Mr. Garfield is a representative of an old New England family which has produced some noted men and women, President James A. Garfield descending from one branch of the family. Our subject was born in Warren Center, Bradford Co., Penn., De- cember 21, 1851, son of Daniel R. and Mary C. ( Bigelow ) Garfield, and a grandson of Daniel R. and Eliza J. (Spencer ) Garfield. The father of our subject was born January 31, 1815, in Spencer, Mass. He was an only son, and was but three years of age when his father died. His mother married for her second husband John Bigelow, and he was reared by his father's family, spending a large portion of his boyhood at the home of his grandfather, at Spencer, Mass. When about twen- ty-one he shipped on a sailing vessel for a whaling voyage of forty months to South America and the Sandwich Islands. On July 6, 1846, he married Miss Mary C. Bigelow, who was born in Rutland, Mass., May 18, 1816, and soon afterward, they migrated to Warren Center, Bradford Co., Penn. Here Daniel R. Garfield engaged in shoemaking for eight or nine years, and then moved to Friends- ville, Penn., where he purchased real estate, and for one year followed his trade. Removing to Towanda, Bradford Co., Penn., he there continued shoemaking for several years, and in 1860 removed to Little Meadows, where he purchased property and pursued his vocation steadily until 1868. In that year he built a store and engaged in mercantile trade, continuing thus until his death, June 7, 1877, after which our subject purchased and conducted the business. The mother survived him five years. In politics Mr. Garfield was an ardent Abolitionist, and he followed the organization of the Republican party enthusiastically until the presidential cam- paign of Horace Greeley, when he supported his nomination. He was reared in the Protestant faith, and his wife was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The children of Daniel R. and Mary C. Garfield were as follows : (I) Solon F., born in Worcester, Mass., June 19, 1847, was educated in the schools of Towanda, Penn., and Little Meadows, and was a graduate of Lowell's Business College, Binghamton, N. Y.

He studied civil engineering and followed that pro- fession. In the early seventies he located at South Haven, Mich., and for nearly thirty years was al- most continuously in the employ of the government, as United States inspector of pier work and harbor improvements along the east side of Lake Michi- gan. Mr. Garfield was married, March 20, 1883, to Minnie A., daughter of Senator and Mrs. George Hannahs, of South Haven, Mich. Mrs. Garfield died August 19, 1894, aged thirty-four years, leav- ing two daughters-Grace M., born June 23, 1887, and Georgia H., born November 23, 1892. Mir. Garfield died January 20, 1900, leaving the care of his daughters to our subject. (2) George B., born in Warren, Bradford Co., Penn., November 23, 1849, received a good education. When a young man he clerked in Owego and Binghamton, N. Y., until his health failed, and he then visited Massa- chusetts, where he remained one year ; he died Oc- tober 6, 1876, a young man of great promise, and was greatly missed by his family and friends. (3) Cassius M., our subject, was the third child in the family. (4) Helen P., born at Warren, Bradford Co., Penn., in October, 1853, was well educated in the schools of Little Meadows, and became a suc- cessful teacher in Bradford and Susquehanna coun- ties, following that calling for a period of twenty- five terms. On February 20, 1884, she married A. W. Cogswell, of Union, N. Y., formerly of Forest Lake, Penn., where they now reside, and they have had three children-Hiram Garfield, born April 15, 1886; Royal A., born October 8, 1887, deceased in infancy; and Eva Edna, born November 19, 1888. (5) Edna M., born in Friendsville March 16, 1856, was well educated in the district schools and Montrose high school, and for a number of years taught school in Susquehanna and adjoining counties. On May 4, 1878, she married Alfred H. Jones, of South Montrose. She died August 13, 1892, leaving no family. (6) John M., born in Towanda, Penn., December 13, 1858, died at the age of one and one-half years. (7) Joseph H., born at Little Meadows June 18, 1860, was a student of the home schools, and when young edited a small paper at his home in Little Meadows, two years before entering Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Penn. There his health failed rapidly, and he died February 27, 1883, while yet a student fitting him- self for a profession.

Our subject was reared at the home of his parents, attending the various schools at Little Meadows. When a young man he assisted his father in the store, and in winter taught school in Susquehanna and Bradford counties for five or six years. In 1877, after his father's death, he took charge of his store in Little Meadows, carrying it on until 1889, when he sold out, and, in company with A. Rohrbasser, under the firm name of Rohr- basser & Garfield, engaged in the milk and cream- ery business, handling some days over seventy thousand pounds of milk, and making between two and three tons of butter daily. Our subject was

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part owner, manager and bookkeeper in the firm, and continued in this work for three and one-half years. In 1893 he again embarked in mercantile trade, and he now carries a large stock of general merchandise. The postoffice is located in his store building, and he acts as assistant postmaster.

Mr. Garfield was married February 18, 1884, to Mrs. Helen L. Fairchild, nce Chaffee, daughter of Stephen and Caroline (Pendleton) Chaffee, prominent residents of Warren Center, Penn., and formerly of Rhode Island. They reside at the old home. W. Ray Hinman, born September 8, 1887, has lived with our subject and wife since he was three years old, and Mrs. Garfield's two nieces, Grace M. and Georgia H., also live with him.

In politics Mr. Garfield has been identified with the Republican party. Mrs. Garfield is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Little Meadows. They are among the prominent and highly-respected residents of Little Meadows, and the worthy position in life which our subject fills is the result of his own efforts. He began his career practically without means, but by his in- dustry, integrity, thrift and good business judg- ment he has won a most honorable place in life. To use his own words, neither he nor his brother have ever "known the taste of one intoxicating drink from another."

JOHN B. JOHNSTON, of Hallstead, Sus- quehanna county, is now living retired in the enjoy- ment of a rest which he has truly earned, and richly deserves, by reason of his industrious efforts of former years. Accomplishment and progress ever imply labor, energy and diligence, and it was those qualities that enabled our subject to rise from the ranks of the many, and stand among the successful few. He is one of the most highly-respected citi- zens of Hallstead, and his long residence in Sus- quehanna county, and the active part he has taken in promoting its moral and material welfare, well entitle him to representation in its history.

Mr. Johnston was born in Kirkwood, Broome Co., N. Y., in September, 1812, and on the paternal side is of Scotch descent, his grandfather, James Johnston, being a native of Scotland. In early life he was a sea-faring man, and was captain of a vessel, but later lived for many years upon a plantation in New Jersey, and owned a large num- ber of slaves. He was in the British service dur- ing the Revolutionary war. He married Annie Anderson, and had six children, three sons and three daughters: Lewis married and located in New Brunswick, N. J., where he died, leaving two daughters, who died soon afterward; the second son, after reaching manhood, went West, and was never heard from again; Annie married and died in New Brunswick, N. J .; Betsy married Abram Van Deventer, of New Brunswick: Margaret mar- ried a Mr. Waldron, and died in New Jersey, leav- ing sons who are now wealthy and prominent

manufacturers. of machinery for printing wall- paper (they reside in New Brunswick).

Andrew Johnston, father of our subject, com- pletes this family. He was born in Hunterdon county, N. J., in 1765, and in early manhood mar- ried Elizabeth Snedeker, who was born in the same county, in 1776, a daughter of Garrett Snedeker, a native of Holland. They began their domestic life in Kirkwood, Broome Co., N. Y., and later lived for a few years at Wasso Lake, N. Y., but finally returned to Kirkwood, where Mr. Johnston conducted a hotel on the Newburgh pike for ten or twelve years. They next moved to Conklin, N. Y., where he died shortly afterward, in 1815. The mother died at the home of our subject, in 1868, at the age of about ninety-three. Their children were as follows: (I) James, born in Kirkwood, in 1797, married Betsy Kruzer, of New Jersey, and lived in Gibson, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he followed shoemaking until his death. He left one daughter, Elizabeth, now deceased, who was the wife of Noble Buck, of Great Bend, Sus- quehanna county. (2) Garrett, born in Kirkwood, in 1800, married Amanda Smith, of Herrick, Sus- quehanna county, and was engaged in the manu- facture of woolen goods, first in Mt. Pleasant, Wayne county, and later in Gibson, Susquehanna county. He died, however, in Great Bend, at the age of eighty-four years. He left a large family, of whom James E., a resident of Great Bend, is represented elsewhere. (3) Ursula, born in Kirk- wood in 1803, married Joel Stinebeck, of Gibson, Penn., and located in Nicholson, this State, where he died. She died later, at the home of her son Hur- ley, in Wilkes Barre, Penn. Silas, her other son, when last heard of was in Denver, Colo. (4) K. Anderson, born in Kirkwood, in 1807, engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods in Great Bend township, Susquehanna; later started a factory in Harford, where he followed the same business for fifteen years; and then removed to New Milford, where he owned and operated a farm until called from this life, in 1877. He left three daughters, Julia H., Rhoda E. and Evelyn, of whom Julia H., born in Summersville, Penn., in 1846, was edti- cated in the schools of New Milford, and is still residing on the old homestead at the latter place with her sister Evelyn. Rhoda E. married James Partridge, of Mt. Pleasant, Penn., now a resident of New Milford, where she died leaving three sons, Burton, Lewis and Irwin, who are all bright busi- ness men. (5) David, born in Kirkwood, in 1809, was in early life engaged in the manufacture of lumber, in partnership with his brothers, Anderson and John, hauling the sawed lumber from their mills to Hale's Eddy, on the Delaware river, where it was rafted to the Philadelphia markets. Later he engaged in the same business on Moshannon creek, with B. C. Bowman, of Susquehanna county, and when that partnership was dissolved he rented property in Philipsburg, Center Co., Penn., and engaged in hotel-keeping for five or six years. He

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next rented the "Mansion House," in Clearfield, and after conducting same fifteen years moved to Pittsburg, where he was also engaged in the hotel business for a short time. Subsequently he was similarly employed in Bellefonte, Center county, and at Lockhaven, after which he lived retired from active business. He died at the home of his son Clarence, in Shamokin, Penn., in May, 1894. He married Charlotte Hancock, of Philipsburg, who is now living with her son John, in Clearfield, and they had a family of four children-Edward, a resident of Shamokin, Penn .; Clarence, who con- ducts the "Vanderbilt Hotel" at the same place ; Owen is clerking in the "United States Hotel," Harrisburg ; and John, a resident of Clearfield, who is married, and has one daughter (now the leading lady salesman in the dry-goods store of J. J. Har- getty), and one son (who is an electrician). (6) Andrew, born in Kirkwood, in 1815, married Ada- line Sloat, of Orange county, N. Y. He was en- gaged in the woolen-mill business for a short time, later conducted a mercantile store in Lynn, Sus- quehanna county, and was afterward employed as a traveling salesman. Moving his family to Fac- toryville, Penn., he engaged in the butcher busi- ness there for twenty-five years. He died at Scranton in June, 1898, leaving three children- Revillo and Marion, who are both living in the Rocky Mountains; and Mary, who is now conduct- ing a grocery store in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

John B. Johnston, our subject, is the second youngest in this family. His boyhood and youth were passed in Kirkwood and Susquehanna coun- ty, and he was given a district-school education. He assisted in the operation of the home farm until he and his brothers, David and Anderson, embarked in the lumber business, renting the Mc- Kinney sawmills, two miles south of Hallstead, where they engaged in the manufacture of sawed lumber, which they hauled to Hale's Eddy and then rafted down the Delaware river to the markets of Philadelphia. In 1843 he located in Hallstead, where he purchased real estate, and conducted a shoe store, and also engaged in business as a wagon and cabinet maker for twenty years. He was one of the leading and influential business men of the town for many years, and by fair and honorable dealing won the esteem and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. Upon the property he purchased in Hallstead he erected a fine residence, and there he has made his home for fifty-five years, honored and respected by the entire com- munity.

In 1842 Mr. Johnston married Miss Phoebe Chamberlain, of Gibson, Susquehanna county, a daughter of James and Phœbe Chamberlain. Her grandfather. Wright Chamberlain, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, was one of the old and promi- nent pioneers of Susquehanna, and many of his descendants are now numbered among its leading citizens. Mrs. Johnston died in 1889, and she left many friends, besides her family, to mourn her de-

mise, for she was widely known and highly es- teemed. Our subject has two daughters: (I) Flora A., born in Great Bend, in 1843, attended the select schools of Great Bend Village, and for several terms successfully engaged in teaching in the dis- trict schools. She is now the wife of Richard Gil- lespie, whose sketch is given elsewhere. (2) Theo- dosia L., born in Hallstead, in 1852, became well-edu- cated, having pursued her studies in the home and select schools of Great Bend Village. She also was a successful teacher in the public schools of Susque- hanna county for a number of years. In 1870 she married J. R. Millard, foreman of the large shops of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Co. at Hallstead, and one of the leading well-to-do citizens of that town, a man highly respected for his ability and social worth. Mr. and Mrs. Millard reside with her father at the old homestead. They have four children -- Robert, born in 1886, was killed at the age of nine years by a train, on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, while crossing the tracks near his home. Martha, born in 1875, was well educated in the schools of Hall- stead and Great Bend, and is now engaged in dress- making in the former place. George, born in 1883, is a student in the graded schools of Hallstead. Erminia, born at Great Bend in 1880, died April 29, 1881.

Mr. Johnston has cast his ballot for sixteen Presidential candidates, and has always supported the men and measures of either the Whig or Re- publican parties. He has been called upon to fill a number of local offices of honor and trust, such as township treasurer, collector and school director, and was drawn and served as juryman at Montrose when eighty-two years of age; five times he has been called upon to fill that position. Although his hearing is now somewhat impaired, he possesses a mind as bright and active as a man of forty years, and he is a good talker, his language being well chosen, his conversation edifying. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter of Great Bend, and religiously he and his daughters are members of the Presbyterian Church, to which the wife and mother also belonged, having united with that Church at Gibson when a young girl. She was a devout and consistent Christian, and an active worker in the Church. Mr. Johnston has served as elder for over thirty years, and has helped in the building of two churches at Hallstead, the first being a wooden struc- ture, which has since been replaced by a fine brick edifice which occupies the same ground. He assist- ed in laying the corner-stone of the latter, which contains a large stained-glass window dedicated to the memory of himself and his estimable wife.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 291

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