Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 299

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 299
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 299
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 299
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 299

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SAMUEL ARNOLD is one of the representa- tive farmers and stock raisers of Clifford township, Susquehanna county, who has met with well-merited success in his chosen calling. Naturally energetic, and of more than ordinary business capacity, he has been extremely fortunate in his labors and invest- ments, and seems especially adapted to the business which he now follows.

Mr. Arnold was born in Luzerne county, Penn., March 27, 1826, a son of Joseph and Ann (Reyn- olds) Arnold, natives of Rhode Island, who came to Susquehanna county in April, 1826, and located on the farm which is now the home of our subject. After residing there twenty years they removed to Carbondale, where the father conducted a store for eight years, and then returned to the farm, making his home with our subject until called from this life, in 1867, at the age of eighty years. His wife died just five weeks before, at the same age, and both were laid to rest in Elkdale, Penn. They were members of the Old-School Baptist Church, and highly esteemed by all who knew them. Their chil- dren were : Job, who died in Rhode Island ; Solomon, who died in Carbondale, Penn .; Amy, deceased wife of George Brownell; William, deceased ; Ellen, deceased wife of James Brownell; Abel who died in Wilkes Barre; Abby, wife of C. R. Clark, of Carbondale ; and Samuel, our subject.

Throughout his entire life Samuel Arnold has resided in the old homestead, engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, and for forty-five years he has given special attention to stock raising, also shipping and dealing extensively. His farm comprises 225 acres, well improved, with good buildings, etc. He was married in Clifford township, in November, 1845, to Miss Rebecca L. Halstead, and to them were born the following children : Margaret J., deceased, was the wife of J. C. Wells, a farmer of Clifford township, and had four children, Samuel (who died at the age of three years), Lorenzo J., Fred W. and M. Rupert. Ida is the wife of Silas Finn, a railroad man of Scranton, and has had two chil- dren-Samuel (who died when one and one-half years old), and Harry, Mary H. married (first) John Daniel, and (second) William Jones, a railroad

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man of Northumberland, Penn .; there were no chil- dren by the first union, and two by the second-one that died in infancy, and Leone R.

Mrs. Arnold was born in Clifford township, September 12, 1825, a daughter of Alanson and Phœbe ( Wells) Halstead, natives of Orange coun- ty, N. Y., and Susquehanna county, Penn., re- spectively. When a young man the father came with his parents to Susquehanna county, where throughout the remainder of his life he followed farming; he held various township offices. He died in 1867, aged eighty years, his wife in 1872, aged eighty-one, and their remains were interred at Elkdale, Penn. They were members of the Baptist Church for many years, and were held in high regard by their neighbors and friends. Their children were as follows: David, deceased; Cather- ine, deceased wife of Alexander Coleman ; Rachel, wife of Searle Peck; John, a resident of Clifford Corners, who died in November, 1899; Nathaniel, a retired carpenter and prominent citizen of Scrant- on ; Rebecca L., wife of our subject; Margaret, de- ceased wife of Sylvanus Doolittle; Charles, a resi- dent of Scranton ; Mary, who died unmarried ; Silas, a resident of Clifford township; Sidney, deceased ; and Hugh, who died young.

Mr. Arnold is unwavering in his allegiance to the Republican party, and he has been honored with the offices of assessor and auditor, both of which he most creditably filled. He is quite prominent socially as a worthy member of the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., at Forest City ; of the Improved Order of Red Men, Carbondale; of the Farmers Alliance, Dundaff ; and of the United Order American Me- chanics, Dundaff.

MICHAEL KRANTZ, a well-known manu- facturer of soft drinks and proprietor of the Key- stone Bottling Works, of Forest City, Susquehanna county, was born in Wayne county March 20, 1858, and is a son of Mathias and Anna M. (Slung) Krantz, natives of Germany. His grandparents spent their entire lives in that country.

Mr. Krantz's parents emigrated to America in 1852, and took up their residence in Wayne county, Penn., where they continued to make their home throughout life with the exception of two years spent at Rondout, N. Y., the father being engaged in boating on the canal at that place. He also fol- lowed the same occupation during his early resi- dence in Wayne county, and then turned his atten- tion to farming. He died in 1871, aged seventy- two years, the mother in 1880, aged seventy-two. Both were devout members of the Roman Catholic Church, and he was a Democrat in politics. Their children were Peter, who operated a brewery at Carbondale, Penn., where he died in 1899; Mathias, who was drowned in the canal when young; Mar- garet, deceased wife of Joseph Hessling; Joseph, who was accidentally killed on the dock at Hones- dale; Catherine, widow of Peter Moyer, and a resi-

dent of White Mills, Wayne county ; Anna, wife of Peter Everling, of White Mills; and Michael, our subject.

Michael Krantz remained upon the home farm with his parents until eleven years of age, and then went upon the canal, being engaged in boating at intervals for fifteen years, on seventeen different canals, including the Delaware & Hudson; Erie; Raritan ; etc. He was employed one year as cook on a tug in the New York Harbor, and for the same length of time was similarly engaged on Lake Erie. As a canal boatman his first and last employment was on the Erie canal, and he served as cabin boy on a vessel plying between New York and the West Indies. While boating he was employed at inter- vals in breweries, and spent one year in Iowa, Ne- braska and Colorado, working in breweries and also in a brick yard. At the age of nineteen he held a position in a brewery at Honesdale, and later drove a team for his brother, who was engaged in the same business at Carbondale. From there he came to Forest City in August, 1888, purchasing his pres- ent plant from William O'Keefe. He bottles liquors, and manufactures all kinds of soft drinks, doing quite an extensive and profitable business. He is enterprising and energetic, and the success that he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own un- aided efforts and good business ability. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic, and in political senti- ment he is a Democrat.

At Honesdale, May 29, 1883, Mr. Krantz mar- ried Miss Josephine Ackerman, by whom he has had seven children, namely: Mathias, at home; Anna, Henry and Mary, all deceased; and Joseph, Catherine and Willie, at home. Mrs. Krantz was born in Honesdale, December 9, 1861, a daughter of Henry and Mary ( Manzer) Ackerman, natives of Rhein Mosel, Germany, the former born March 12, 1824, the latter in September, 1835. They were married in Honesdale, where they still reside, the father being a stonemason and butcher. Religious- ly they are members of the Catholic Church. They have had children as follows: Catherine, wife of John Work, of Carbondale ; Peter, a meat merchant of Chicago, Ill .; Mary, wife of Joseph Logan, of White Mills, Penn .; Gertrude, wife of Gustave Heinichel, a clerk; Josephine, wife of our subject ; Henry, deceased; Anna, wife of William Stein- back, of Chicago; Sophia, at home in Honesdale ; Elizabeth, wife of Leonard Keltz, a butcher of Forest City ; Magdelina, at home ; Joseph, justice of the peace at Forest City; Susannah, deceased ; and Henry and Florence, both at home. Mrs. Krantz's paternal grandparents, Hubbard and Anna M. (Lozier) Ackerman, natives of Germany, came to the New World in 1849, and located in Honesdale, Penn., where the grandfather died shortly after his- arrival. Her maternal grandparents, John P. and Anna (Kizer) Manzer, also natives of Germany, came to America at the same time, and spent the re- mainder of their lives in Honesdale. Mr. Manzer was a shoemaker by occupation.

Michael Franty

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EDWARD JAMES RICHARDSON, propri- etor of the Crystal Spring Bottling Works, at Haw- ley, Wayne county, is one of the most industrious, enterprising and progressive business men of the place.

Mr. Richardson was born there May 22, 1864, a son of Edward and Julia ( Hallinan) Richardson, who were born, reared and married in County Mayo, Ireland, whence they came to America in 1849, first locating in Honesdale, Wayne Co., Penn., where the father worked on the canal as a boat gauger and foreman. Coming to Hawley in 1851, he continued with the same company until 1872, when he embarked in the business in which our subject is now interested-bottling beer and other drinks. He died at Hawley, April 18, 1897, aged seventy-seven years. Religiously he was a Cath- olic, while politically he was not identified with any particular party, voting for the man whom he be- lieved best qualified to fill the office. He was called upon to serve in a number of local offices in Pal- myra township, and always discharged his duties in a prompt and commendable manner. Of the chil- dren born to Edward and Julia (Hallinan) Rich- ardson, Ann died at the age of two years; Patrick died at the age of six years and five months ; John, the present yardmaster for the Pillsbury Flouring Mills, of Minnesota, married Ella Welsh, and after her death married Mary Curtin; James died at the age of three years; Henry, a hotel-keeper of Port Jervis, N. Y., married Catherine Ward, and has a family of six sons and five daughters; Thomas died at the age of two years; Edward J. is next in the order of birth; Michael died at the age of one year ; Mary died at the age of three months; and Luke P., of Hawlev, completes the family.

The subject of this sketch lived with his par- ents until thirty years of age, and when quite young began working for his father. While the latter and his son Luke conducted the store, our subject had charge of the bottling works, and from 1884 the profit of the soda-water department belonged to him. Since 1893 he has engaged in business alone at his present place, and now manufactures sarsa- parilla, ginger-ale, birch beer, orange cider, lemon sour, and all carbonated waters, using pure moun- tain spring water in their manufacture. He also bottles beer, ale and porter, and is doing an extensive and profitable business.

On August 10, 1892, at Hawley, Mr. Richard- son wedded Miss Mary Keheler, Father Stanley officiating. She is a native of Hawley, and a daugh- ter of Garret and Catherine Keheler. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson have three children: Mary, Helen and Bessie. The parents are communicants of the Catholic Church, while politically Mr. Richardson is identified with the Democratic party, and socially he affiliates with the C. M. B. A., of Hawley.

Garret Keheler is at this writing the efficient track inspector for the New York & Erie railroad, with residence at Hawley. Born May 21, 1839, in County Galway, Ireland, he is a son of Hugh and 81

Bridget (Welsh) Keheler, farming people of County Galway, Ireland, whose children were: John, who came to America, but was lost track of, and his whereabouts afterward were unknown; Margaret; Garret ; Mary, a resident of New York; and Mich- ael, who died in Ireland. Garret Keheler, in April, 1862, married Catherine Murray, and the union was blessed by the following children: Mary married E. J. Richardson ; John is a glass-blower, residing at Massillon, Ohio ; William is deceased ; and Misses Catherine and Anna are with their parents. The mother of this family was born in County Galway, Ireland, January 12, 1840, a daughter of Patrick and Bridget (Kirk) Murray, also natives of that place. She came to this country in 1844, with her brother, her parents having remained in Ireland. Mr. Keheler came to America in 1851, stopping one year in New York, thence to Hawley. He and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.

THEODORE A. ROBERTS. Among the sturdy, energetic and successful farmers of East Rush, Susquehanna county, who thoroughly under- stand the vocation which they follow, and con- sequently are enabled to carry on that calling with profit to themselves, is the subject of this notice. He is a native of that county, born in Dimock town- ship, January 1, 1854, and is a representative of one of its honored pioneer families.

Mr. Roberts' grandfather, Horatio Roberts, was born in Vermont, a son of Hart and Pattie Roberts, also natives of the Green Mountain State, where the latter died. The former subsequently married again, and died in the West. At an early day Horatio Roberts came to Susquehanna county, Penn. He was one of the prominent farmers of his community, and held several township offices. Here he married Calista Wells, a native of Brad- ford county, this State, and a daughter of Amasa Wells. He died in Dimock township, Susquehanna county, in 1867, aged sixty-six years, his wife in Jessup township, in 1874, and both were buried in Prospect Hill cemetery. They were faithful mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was an active worker and served as class-leader. Politically he was first a Whig, and later a Repub- lican. His children were Sally, wife of Christian Davis, of Camptown, Penn. ; Charles, deceased, who married Nancy Shelp; Adeline, deceased wife of William Seiber : Horace Agard, father of our sub- ject ; Louisa, who married Anderson Johnson, and lives on the old homestead; and William, who died in Dimock township.

Horace Agard Roberts, our subject's father, was born in Dimock township,. June 15, 1833, and on attaining to man's estate he was married, in Jessup township, Susquehanna county, in May, 1853, to Miss Chloe E. Shelp, by whom he had two chil- dren, namely : William H., who married Ella Estus, and is engaged in farming in Rush township; and Theodore A., our subject. The wife and mother

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was born in Jessup township, December 21, 1835, and died in the same place, July 20, 1896, being laid to rest in the Fairdale cemetery. Her parents were Henry and Betsy ( Maine) Shelp, the former a na- tive of the Mohawk Valley, N. Y., the latter of Con- necticut. After his marriage the father of our sub- ject located upon the farm in Jessup township where he still continues to reside. From William Smith he purchased 300 acres of valuable land, and for many years was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, but is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He is one of the wealthiest and most substantial citizens of his community, and is widely and favorably known. He holds member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is identified with the Prohibition party. He filled the office of supervisor of his township for six years, and school director for the same length of time. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted, at Parkvale, Susquehanna county, in August, 1862, for three years, as a member of Company H, 14Ist P. V. I., under command first of Capt. Cash Tyler, and later of Capt. John Giles. He participated in the battles of Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Cold Har- bor, Antietam, Culpeper, Poplar Grove, Clover Hill, and various skirmishes, and on Sunday morning, during the battle of Chancellorsville, the Rebels made a charge on him while crossing a creek, and he was trampled upon. He was not sent to hos- pital at that time, but at another time was confined in the hospital at Fort Schuyler for thirty days, with typhoid fever.

On leaving home, at the age of eighteen years, Theodore A. Roberts commenced teaching school in Susquehanna county, and after being thus em- ployed for two years attended the Lowell Commer- cial College, Binghamton, N. Y., where he was graduated. The year following he was a student at Whitney's Point Academy, N. Y., and subsequently he engaged in teaching school in Jasper and Law- rence counties, Mo., for two years. On his return to Susquehanna county he was married, and located upon his present farm at East Rush, where he owns 130 acres of fine land, under a high state of cultiva- tion and well improved with good buildings. He served as postmaster at that place for the long period of twenty-one years, resigning the position in August, 1898; has also served as township au- ditor two terms; assessor one term; and school director six years; and his official duties have al- ways been discharged with promptness and fidelity, winning the commendation of all concerned. Po- litically he is identified with the Republican party, and religiously he has been a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church for the past ten years.

In Forest Lake township. Susquehanna county, Mr. Roberts was married, March 15, 1876, to Miss Ella J. Hamlin, and to them were born four chil- dren, namely : Minnie; Ida V., who died at the age of two years and two months ; Glenn H. ; and Mabel.

Mrs. Roberts was born in Forest Lake town- ship, August 12, 1853, a daughter of Joseph P. and

Phœbe (Gray) Hamlin, natives of Broome county, N. Y. When a child of seven years the father came with his parents to Susquehanna county, Penn., where he continued to make his home throughout life. In was while on a visit to a sister in New York that he became acquainted with his future wife. They began their married life in Forest Lake township, where he worked for four years at the cooper's trade, and following same later in con- nection with farming. He was born June 22, 1823, and died September 20, 1898, his remains being in- terred in Birchardville cemetery. He was a con- sistent member of the Baptist Church, to which his widow also belongs. She was born June 10, 1829, and is now living on the old homestead in Forest Lake township. The children born to them were as follows: Ella J., wife of our subject; Ada V., wife of Samuel Melhish, a farmer of Forest Lake township; William A., who married Kate Evans, and is engaged in farming in the same township; Esther L., wife of Ferris Bolles, a farmer of Jessup township; Seth C., who was killed by a falling tree, at the age of twenty-one years ; and Charles R., who married Josephine Moore, and lives on the old home- stead.

Mrs. Roberts' paternal grandparents, Solomon and Clarissa (Wells) Hamlin, were natives of Con- necticut, and on coming to Susquehanna county, Penn., in 1830, located in Forest Lake township. The grandfather, a cooper and farmer by occupa- tion, was born April 16, 1796, and died on the farm in Forest Lake township, where he first located, in April, 1875. His wife was born February 1, 1800, and died in July, 1877. They were married March II, 1818, and became the parents of the following children: George H., a retired citizen of Forest Lake township; Mariette, who died at the age of eighteen years; Joseph P., the father of Mrs. Rob- erts; Jerusha C., deceased wife of Joswin Blair; Abby and Eunice, both deceased ; William, deceased ; twins who died in infancy; Seth C., who was killed in the Civil war; another who died in infancy ; Eliza and Elias, the former of whom is the wife of David Pitcher, of New York, the latter dying young ; Ruth, wife of Daniel Boardman, of Bing- hamton, N. Y .; and Theron and Amy, both de- ceased.

Mrs. Roberts' maternal grandparents, Richard and Sarah (Knapp) Gray, spent their entire lives as agriculturists in New York State. Their chil- dren were Esther, deceased wife of Jesse Port; Hiram, a resident of New York State; Phoebe, mother of Mrs. Roberts; Ambrose, a resident of New York; Lovina, deceased wife of Rev. Avery Cole, a Baptist minister; Jesse and Harvey, both residents of New York State; and Rhoda, wife of Henry Roummer, of the same State.

SAMUEL McKEEBY, one of the active, prominent and most enterprising citizens of Jessup township, Susquehanna county, is of sturdy Scotch ancestry, and has inherited the traits of industry

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and thrift peculiar to that people, and which always bring them success in their various occupations. He was born in Jessup township, July 4, 1847, and here he has made his home almost continuously since.

Our subject's great-great-grandfather, Mathew McKeeby, was a native of Scotland, and came to America about the year 1730, locating in Sussex county, N. J., where he married a Miss Courtright, who was of Holland birth. They made their home at what is now known as the "Brick House," in Sussex county, opposite Milford, Pike Co., Penn. He was killed by the Indians, on an island, while crossing the Delaware river on his way to a grist- mill. He had two sons, John and Gilbert. The latter married a Miss Shay, who was also of Hol- land descent, and to them were born three sons, William, John and Gilbert. The last named and his wife, Leah (Kater), were the grandparents of our subject, and both were natives of Sussex coun- ty, N. J., where they continued to reside until 1830. Coming to Susquehanna county, Penn., in that year, they located in Bridgewater township, where they founded the family and continued to reside through- out the remainder of their lives, the grandfather being engaged in farming. He died at the age of sixty, in 1858, being killed by a runaway horse. The grandmother died at the age of thirty-five, leav- ing nine children: Betsy married Dorris Shay ; Mathew married Elmira Stebbins; Isaac married a Miss Heywood; Eleanor married Leonard Stone ; Solomon was the father of our subject; Hannah married Abram Westfall; William married Sarah A. Jackson; Lydia married Joseph Steiger; Theo- dore married Lucy Kelsy ; and Julia died young. For his second wife Gilbert McKeeby married Abi- gail Bunnell, by whom he had one daughter, Julia, who married Luther Very. The grandparents were buried in the McKeeby cemetery, in Bridge- water township.

Solomon McKeeby, father of our subject, was born in Sussex county, N. J., and was a mere child when brought by his parents to Susquehanna coun- ty. His early life was passed in Bridgewater, and after his marriage he lived in Jessup township, where he died. He was a self-made man, having made his own way in the world unaided, and by in- dustry, economy and good management became the owner of 500 acres of valuable land, being worth at the time of his death $25,000. He was one of the leading and influential citizens of his community, and was called upon to fill several township offices. In early life he married Miss Evaline Taylor, a native of Forest Lake township, Susquehanna coun- ty, and a daughter of Dyer and Lucinda (Kellom) Taylor, who came to the county from Connecticut in 1795, settling in Forest Lake township, where they continued to make their home throughout life, the former dying in 1848, aged fifty-eight years, the latter in 1884, aged ninety-six. Both were buried on their farm in that township. Mr. Taylor followed the mason's trade, and engaged in farni- ing, and as a Methodist minister had charge of

different Churches in the county. In his family were five children, namely : Lucinda, wife of Earl Carr, an attorney, of Montrose; Betsy, wife of Ben- jamin Clark, a hotel man of Forest Lake; George, who married Mary Hollenbeck; Evaline, mother of our subject; and John, who married Amelia Stone.

Mrs. McKeeby died in 1856, at the early age of thirty-two years, and was laid to rest in the Mc- Keeby burying ground. Her children were Samuel, our subject; Josephine, wife of Robinson Bolles, a farmer of Jessup township; Wilbur, who married Ella Dewers, and lives in Forest Lake township; and Gilbert and Edward, who both died young. For his second wife the father married Adeline Eckert, by whom he had the following children : Harrison married Nettie Cronk, and is engaged in farming in Jessup township; Evaline is the wife of Waller Olmstead, a farmer of the same township; James married Addie Warner, and is superintend- ent of the Wilkes Barre Ice Co .; Frederick died at the age of twenty-one years; Charles married Jes- sie Osburn, and is assistant superintendent of the Wilkes Barre Ice Co .; Theodore married Ella Heiss, and died March 16, 1893; Minnie is the wife of George Robinson, a farmer of Jessup township; and Dewitt Solomon married Ann E. Martin, and is connected with the Wilkes Barre Ice Co. The mother of these children died in 1888, aged forty- two years, and the father passed away March 3, 1873, aged forty-six, their remains being interred in the McKeeby burying ground.

Reared on the home farm, Samuel McKeeby remained with his parents until September 21, 1863, when he went to Scranton, Penn., and enlisted in the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, under J. C. Donahue. The regiment marched from the Rapidan river to Bull Run Heights, participated in the battles of Mine Run, Wilderness and Petersburg, and was then transferred to the Shenandoah Valley, after which it took part in the engagemnets at Perryville, Winchester and Fisher's Hill. Mr. McKeeby was shot in the left arm during a skirmish in front of Gordonsville, and was unable to engage in active duty for about a month, but remained with his com- pany in camp at Lovettsville until March 1, 1865, when they went down the valley to Wheeling, W. Va. The war being over, and his services no longer needed, he was finally mustered out at Louis- ville, Ky., August 18, 1865, and returned home with a war record of which he may justly be proud.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 299

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