Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 3

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 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 3

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On December 21, 1844, Mr. Dreher married Miss Sallie Phillips, and six children blessed the union : (1) Anna P., born October 15, 1849, mar- ried Joseph Matlack, of Philadelphia, and they have three children, Samuel D. (an attorney at law), Paul (a real-estate dealer in Philadelphia ) and Sarahı. (2) Oscar, born March 9, 1852, is an ac- countant. His wife, formerly Miss Lizzie Baldwin, of Stroudsburg, died some years ago, leaving one son, Norman B., who is employed as a court ste- nographer. (3) Elizabeth, born February 5, 1854, married A. A. Dinsmore, and died May 28, 1893, leaving two children, Elizabeth and William Frank. (4) Howard, born April 24, 1856, resides in Lacygne, Kans. He married Miss Grace Deringer, of that place, and has had the following children. Ruth, Sallie, Ida, Henry, and Anna (deceased). (5) Addie, born June 24, 1858, married Dr. Mutch- ler, of Stroudsburg, and has two children, Miles H. and Margaret H. (6) Edith, born July 6, 1862, died July 6, 1866.

Mrs. Dreher, whose ability and worth made her a true helpmeet to her husband, was born Au- gust 15, 1826, in the vicinity of Stroudsburg, and was educated in a private school. The Phillips family became identified with Bucks county, Penn., at an early date, and Mrs. Dreher's grandfather, Thomas Phillips, was a farmer and miller there. Her father, Moses Phillips, was born in 1792, in Bucks county, and was married there to Miss Chris- tiana Carey, a lady of English descent, who was born in the year 1794, the daughter of Thomas Carey, a farmer in that county. Soon after his marriage Mr. Phillips came to Monroe county, lo- cating first upon a farm about a mile from Strouds- burg, but a few years later he sold out and became

a partner in a gristmill in Stroudsburg, where he died in 1865. He and his wife, whose death oc- curred in 1885, were both members of the Society of Friends. They had ten children : Hannah, who was an infant at the time of the removal to Monroe county, married Dr. Walton, of Stroudsburg, and died in 1893; Mary, deceased, never married ; Will- iam, a miller by trade, died in St. Louis, from chol- era; Samuel is a farmer in Monroe county ; Sallie, Mrs. Dreher, is fifth in the order of birth; Carey is deceased ; Elizabeth married Samuel Melick, a jew- eler at Stroudsburg; Ellen, deceased, was the wife of Reuben Miller; Louis is a jeweler at Hawley ; and Rachel married Michael Brown, a carpenter at Stroudsburg.

EBEN H. CLARK has from early manhood been closely identified with the commercial and pub- lic affairs of Honesdale and Wayne county, and he is at present engaged in the general merchandise business in Honesdale as a member of the firm of Clark & Bullock. He is a native of Wayne county, born November 6, 1845, in Cherry Ridge township, where his father, Eben Harris Clark, carried on farming.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Perry Clark, a Revolutionary soldier, who saw active service in the Colonial army when the British took New London. He was a farmer by occupation, and resided for many years near Jewett City, New London Co., Conn. Later he migrated to Dutchess county, N. Y., but he returned to end his days on the old Connecticut homestead, where he died about 1825, aged seventy-five years. One daughter, Mrs. Reuben Brown, settled and died in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne county. Another, Mrs. Thomas J. Lindsey, died in Honesdale. Two sons served in the war of 1812.

Eben Harris Clark, father of our subject, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1810. When a young man he came, in 1832, to Greenfield, Penn., where, the same year, he married Miss Maria E. Williams, born in 1810, near Jewett City, Conn. Her father was a sea captain, and died on the ocean. Maria E. Williams came to Dundaff, Penn.,to live with her sister, Mrs. Thomas J. Read. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Clark sold his farm and removed to Carbondale, remaining there until September, 1842, when he settled at what is now Clark's Corners, Cherry Ridge township, Wayne county. He there rented a hostlery on the old stage turnpike then fre- quently traversed, and for many years entertained "both man and beast," becoming one of the most popular inn-keepers on the pike. His business pros- pered and he purchased the property and thirty acres of land. He enlarged the hotel, added 120 acres, and kept public house until the hotel was burned, in June, 1877. His position as proprietor of a popu- lar hotel made Mr. Clark necessarily a public man. He was influential in politics, and in the social life of the community. A stanch Democrat, he held many offices in Cherry Ridge township, in-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cluding those of supervisor, school director, etc. Justice and integrity were the keynotes of his busi- ness principles. His wife died in 1862, and he sub- sequently married Julia Cole, widow of Mr. Fan- ning. Mr. Clark died in 1879. The children sur- viving him are Maria J., born November 17, 1840, wife of Frederick I. Keen, a liveryman of Hones- dale; Perry A., a well-known farmer of Wayne county ; Susan S., born August 31, 1843, wife of John S. Eno, superintendent of the Borden Milk Condensing factory, at Brewster, Putnam Co., N.Y .; Eben H., subject of this sketch ; and Emily E., born July 4, 1850, wife of William M. Sandercock, a lum- ber dealer of Honesdale.

Eben H. Clark was reared on the farm of his birth, and in his youth attended the public schools of Cherry Ridge, where he received a practical edu- cation. Up to the age of twenty-five years he con- tinued to follow farming and also stock droving to some extent ; but mercantile pursuits have since oc- cupied his attention. He commenced as clerk in a hardware store in Honesdale, in which he subse- quently bought a half interest, the firm becoming Jenkins & Clark, and this partnership lasted three years, or until Mr. Clark's election to the office of sheriff of Wayne county. He was chosen to this important position as the candidate of the Demo- cratic party, and entered upon the duties of the in- cumbency January 1, 1883, serving very creditably for one term; for the two years following he acted as deputy for his successor. Mr. Clark now re- ceived the appointment to the position of postmaster at Honesdale, under President Cleveland, and, re- signing the office of deputy sheriff, held this new one for four years, at the end of which time he be- came a member of the firm of Clark & Bullock, and again devoted himself to business. They carry on general merchandising, and have a large and profit- able patronage, which they have gained by sound methods and honorable dealings with all their custo- mers. Mr. Clark has also been mayor of Hones- dale, and no higher praise for past service or more substantial token of the regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens could be desired by any man than repeated election to such important municipal positions. Mr. Clark has, in his various incum- bencies, shown himself worthy of the confidence and trust reposed in him by the community, and they on their part have shown their appreciation of his faithfulness by giving him their hearty sup- port.

Mr. Clark was married, on December 1I, 1867, to Miss Laura E. Eno, who was born in Seelyville, Wayne county, in July, 1845, daughter of Daniel M. Eno, and they have reared a family of five chil- dren, namely : Elizabeth, Herbert E., Edward Perry, Bertha Laura and Daniel Marcus. Elizabeth, born at Cherry Ridge, August 22, 1869, is the wife of Charles Bullock (Mr. Clark's partner in business), and has had four children, Charlotte, Laura, Carl, and one deceased. Herbert E., born December II, 1871, at Cherry Ridge, was married June 15,

1899, to Clarrie Williams, of New Berlin, N. Y. ; he has been employed for the last ten years by the- Borden Condensed Milk Co., of New York. Ed- ward Perry, born September 30, 1873, at Cherry Ridge, is a graduate of Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, and one of Brooklyn (N. Y.) Homeo- pathic Hospital, and is now engaged in the practice of his profession at Connellsville, Penn. Bertha Laura, born October 1, 1876, at Honesdale, is at home. Daniel Marcus, born September 28, 1880, at Honesdale, is now taking a course at Pierce's. Business College, Philadelphia.

DEACON ASA HOLLISTER, deceased, was for many years a highly-respected and hon- ored citizen of Wayne county, where he made his home throughout life. He was born in Sterling township, Wayne county, February 9, 1815, the only son and eldest child of William and Polly (Jones) Hollister, who were natives of Connecti- cut, of English descent. They became acquainted and were married in Wayne county, Penn., March 25, 1814. The paternal grandfather, John Hollis- ter, spent his entire life in the Nutmeg State, was a wealthy land owner, and also had an interest in a cotton factory. The maternal grandparents were. Asa and Polly Jones, of Connecticut.

When our subject was six years old he was taken by his parents to Glastonbury, Conn., where they lived twelve years, thence returning to Wayne county, and settling in Salem. The father was born February II, 1792, and died in 1873; the mother was born September 26, 1794. The re- mains of both are interred at Salem Corners. They had one son, Asa, and several daughters, namely: Jerusha, born November 12, 1817, married James Waite, and is now deceased; Harriet, born Decem- ber 20, 1821, is the widow of James Waite, and a resident of Hollisterville; Laura, born October 26, 1824, is the widow of Hon. A. B. Walker, a repre- entative to the State Legislature, and makes her" home in Nicholson, Penn .; Mary J., born July II, 1828, married John Walker, and both are now de- ceased : Amanda, born March 21, 1830, is the wife of L. G. Clearwater, of Salem township; Eliza G., born June 14, 1836, is the wife of Thomas Noble, of Sterling township: and Emily C., born October 20, 1838, is the wife of Frederick Leonard, a farmer of Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania.

Asa Hollister never left the parental roof until he was married, March 14, 1848, to Miss Lodusky Purdy, of Purdyville, Wayne county. She was born July 3, 1820, on the old Purdy homestead at that place, a daughter of Solomon and Mynis- (Nicholson) Purdy, who were married July 24, 1803. Her father was born April 18, 1775, and died June 10, 1855; her mother was born Septem- ber 1, 1785, and died October 7, 1854. They were- the parents of eight children : (1) Anna Purdy, born April 10, 1804, married Jonas Sutton, who died' January 13, 1863, and she died July 2, 18 -. (2) Abbott N. Purdy, born June 30, 1806, died June

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

12, 1866. (3) Harriet Purdy, born May 10, 1808, married Jason Bass, who died in 1862, and she died January 10, 1857. (4) Marenda Purdy, born July II, 1810, married the Hon. A. W. Gray ; they first lived in Nebraska, in which State he became a mem- ber of the Legislature, and they now live retired in Lemoore, Kings county, Cal. Five of their ten children are living, E. F., a noted criminal lawyer, who has two daughters, Vesta( now a practicing lawyer), and Etta (a student preparing for the same profession) ; Reuben, a farmer; Mary, wife of George W. Cody, a farmer; Josephine, wife of Isaac H. Ham; and Wheaton, superior judge of Tulare county, Cal. (5) Alzina Purdy, born Novem- ber 19, 1816, married Asa Onley, who died October 30, 1855, and she died September 4, 1848. (6) Lo- dusky Purdy is next in the family. (7) Chora Pur- dy, born April 15, 1822, married Alvin Purdy, and lied March 25, 1877. (8) Zenas Purdy, born No- vember 15, 1825, died when three years of age.

Mrs. Hollister's paternal grandparents, Will- iam and Rachel Purdy, were married October 25, 1769, and shortly afterward located in Paupack township, Wayne county. He was the founder of the first Baptist Church established in the county, and in many ways was prominently identified with the early development and prosperity of this section of the State. He served through the Revolutionary war. He died March 1, 1824, and his wife passed away October 20, 1828. It is supposed that in their family were eight children, six sons and two daugh- ters, among whom were William, Phœbe, Ebenezer, Solomon, James, Abner and Rachel.

The Purdys were originally Norsemen, from Denmark or Norway, and it is believed that they were among their countrymen who conquered a portion of France, afterward known as Normandy, and several German provinces. They also went with William the Conqueror to England, when he made conquest of that island, and settled in the town of Rye, from which place they came to America. The German branch spells the name Perdy ; the French, Pardee ; the English, Purdy ; but the Norse spelling is not known at the present time. On the maternal side Mrs. Hollister is descended also from Revolu- tionary stock. Her grandfather Nicholson was a soldier in that war, his widow receiving a pension for many years before her death.

The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Hollister was a happy one, and on March 14, 1873, they cele- brated their Silver Wedding. They made their home in Hollisterville, but traveled extensively over the United States, twice visiting California. At the time of his death, which occurred March 23, 1892, at the present home of Mrs. Hollister, they had been identified with the Baptist Church for forty years, and always took an active and prominent part in all Church work. Mr. Hollister was one of the leading members of the Prohibition party in his community, and possessed fine social quali- ties, which gained for him a host of friends. His funeral, which was conducted by Rev. A. W. Leve-

see, at the Baptist Church in Hollisterville, was one of the largest ever held in the village. He was a. man of sterling integrity and honesty of purpose, and despised all unworthy or questionable methods. to secure success in any undertaking or for any purpose, or to promote his own advancement in any direction. He was an earnest and consistent Chris- tian, and it is our duty to mark our appreciation of stich a man, one true to every relation of life. Mrs. Hollister was her husband's partner in all good works, and has given her home to advance the cause of Christianity on earth. Though not a graduate, Mrs. Hollister was given a certificate to teach the higher branches, which she did with great success for a period of eight years. Each summer she makes a visit to California, but still continues to re- side in Hollisterville, where she is widely known and admired for her many excellencies of char- acter.

AMANDUS POSSINGER is a leading citizen of Jackson township, Monroe county, where he has spent his entire life, his birth occurring there Octo- ber II, 1837. His grandfather, John Possinger, was a native of Bucks county, Penn., whence in an early day he came to Monroe county, and took up- 300 acres of land in Jackson township, on which he located in 18II: He was a blacksmith and tin- smith by trade, but also engaged in farming. He married Elizabeth Handeline, and to them were born six children-three sons and three daughters.

Joseph Possinger, father of our subject, was born. February 4, 1802, and always resided in Jack- son township. He was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Becker, a native of Jackson town- ship, and a daughter of Henry Becker. To this worthy couple were born the following children : Rosanna, now the widow of Philip Frailey, and a resident of Jackson township; Sarah Ann, wife of Sebastian Singer, of Pocono township, Monroe county ; Peter, a farmer in Bradford county, Penn .; John, a farmer of Jackson township; Amandus, the subject of this review; Joseph, a farmer and car- penter of Jackson township ; Catherine, wife of God- frey Ruff, of Wyalusing, Bradford county ; Mar- garet, who died at the age of thirty-one years; and Edwin, who died in infancy. The father departed this life July 17, 1877, and the mother on February IO, 1885.

Until he attained his majority Amandus Pos- singer remained at home, assisting his father and at- tending the common schools. He began life for himself by working on the farm and in the lumber woods, where he was first engaged in peeling bark, and in 1865 commenced work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a number of years. At present his attention is principally occupied by his official duties and the management of his farm of nineteen acres in Jackson township.

On March 20, 1864, Mr. Possinger wedded Miss- Mary A. Williams, who died December 3, 1892, leaving three children: Edward, a carpenter of

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Jackson township; Emma, wife of W. B. Morton, a railroad employe living in Cleveland, Ohio, and Minnie A., wife of N. D. Kresge, a plasterer, also of Cleveland. Mr. Possinger was again married, August 31, 1897, his second union being with Mrs. Mary (Shietz) Singer, widow of Elias Singer, and daughter of John Shietz. She was born in Chest- nut Hill township, Monroe county, February 8, 1837.

Like his father before him, Mr. Possinger is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and has ever taken an active and prominent part in local political affairs. He has served on the jury and as jury commissioner of Monroe county, and was twice candidate for county commissioner, making a good showing among the fifteen candidates in 1893. In 1879 he was first elected justice of the peace of Jack- son township, and by re-election has continuously filled that office in a most creditable and acceptable manner until the present time. He also held local township offices, such as auditor and assessor. Re- ligiously he is a Lutheran, and his wife holds mem- bership in the Reformed Church.

HON. GEORGE S. PURDY, now President Judge of the Twenty-second Judicial District of Pennsylvania, was born in the township of Paupack, Wayne county, January 24, 1839. His parents were Abbot N. Purdy and Eliza, daughter of Elder George Dobel, a Baptist minister who emigrated from England in 1818 and settled in the southern part of Wayne county-then a wilderness. Judge

Purdy descends from a pioneer family in Wayne county, this having been the ancestral home on his father's side for more than a century. His great- grandfather, William Purdy, a minister of the Bap- tist denomination ( whose father was Peter Purdy ), emigrated from Fairfield county, Conn., and settled in Paupack township in 1792. Solomon, a son of William Purdy, married Mynis, a daughter of Francis Nocholson, who had been a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was one of the pioneers in the settlement of Salem township, and their son, Abbot N., was the father of Judge Purdy.

The Purdy family was of Norse origin. The con- quests of the Northmen, in the ninth, tenth and elev- enth centuries, carried many of its members into Ger- many, France and England. In Germany the name took the form of Perty ; in France, that of Pardee ; and in England, that of Purdy. Those of the name who came to England with the Norman army settled in Sussex, near the town of Rye. In 1656 three brothers of the family emigrated to America, and settled in Vermont, near Burlington. Some time before the Revolution a number of their descendants removed to Westchester county, N. Y., and on the shore of Long Island Sound founded a village which they named Rye, after the ancestral home in Eng- land. From this point the family spread in various directions, some of them crossing the State line into Fairfield county, Conn., whence Rev. William Purdy emigrated to Pennsylvania.

Abbot N. Purdy, father of our subject, was born in Paupack township in 1806, and here re- mained, engaged in farming and lumbering, until his death in 1866. He was a man of strong moral and intellectual force, and of strict integrity of char- acter. His wife survived him ten years. They left six children: Harriet Cochran, of Philadelphia ; George S., the subject of this sketch; Caroline D., of Chicago; Stacy D., of La Crosse, Wis .; Marion L., wife of F. O. Wyatt, of Chicago; and Ann Au- gusta, also of Chicago.

Aside from such facilities as were afforded by the public schools, Judge Purdy's educational advan- tages were very limited, and his acquisition of the practical part of the academic course of the period was largely the result of self-culture. On reaching manhood he devoted much of the time, for four years, to teaching ; and, for the latter part of this period, was principal of the graded school of the borough of Providence-now a part of the city of Scranton. Subsequently he was employed as book- keeper for the large tanning establishments at Ledgedale and Middle Valley. In 1866 he accepted the appointment of commissioners' clerk, which po- sition he held for nearly ten years. He was admit- ·ted to the Bar May 9, 1873. In September of the same year he was married to Agnes C. Addoms, step-daughter of Hon. Otis Avery. He began act- ive professional practice in 1876.

As a lawyer Judge Purdy was methodical and far-sighted in the preparation of his cases; lucid, accurate, and comprehensive in their presentation ; wary, vigilant and strenuous in their trial, and log- ical and practical in argument. He proceeded with evident clearness of view, directness of purpose, and earnestness, and with a self-possession and mental equipoise not easily shaken. He commanded the respect of the Bench and Bar, rapidly won public confidence, and in a few years was recognized as one of the leaders of the profession.

In 1893 he was nominated by the Wayne county Democratic convention for President Judge. The Democracy of Pike county presented the name of Hon. D. M. Van Auken as their candidate. The conferees of the two counties were unable to agree, and both candidates remained in the field, with Judge Seely as the Republican nominee. At the election which followed, Judge Purdy received a majority vote in Wayne county, but lack of time prevented an adequate canvass of Pike in his behalf; the bulk of the Democratic vote of that county was cast for Mr. VanAuken, and Judge Seely was elected-his plurality in the district being only 261 votes over Judge Purdy. Though the contest between the friends of the competing candidates had been very heated, and marked with acrimony on some points, Judge Purdy manifested no resentment toward his opponents, but met the result with an equanimity that won general admiration and respect, and led to an appreciation of his character which contributed largely to the satisfactory result of the judicial can- vass ten years later.

Eng. by E. G. Williams & Bro. N

Ges. S. Jindy .

13:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In 1893 the Democrats of Pike and Wayne united in the nomination of Judge Purdy for the next judicial term; Judge Seely declined a re-nomi- nation, and Judge Purdy was endorsed by the Re- publican party, and was elected without opposition. Thus he took his seat on the Bench with the united support of the people and the Bar of the district, irrespective of party ; and, in the six years of his term that have already expired, he has amply dem- onstrated the wisdom of this unanimous choice.

Judge Purdy has brought to the discharge of his judicial duties the grasp of essential facts, the com- prehensive knowledge of law, and the accurate per- ception of the governing principles in the case in hand. which distinguished him at the Bar, accom- panied with the impartiality, freedom from bias, and independence of action which are recognized as in- dispensable to the due administration of justice. As a result, his decisions, generally, mark the end of litigation. Only once in the past six years of his ad- ministration has his ruling been reversed by the appellate courts.

Besides fulfilling the judicial duties, Judge Pi.dy is successfully directing several extensive business enterprises. As a citizen, he is honored and esteemed. among all classes. He is a man of large heart, and liberal views, and is ever ready to aid in any worthy enterprise or deserving char- ity. He is not a member of any religious denomi- nation, but is an attendant, and financial contributor, of the Presbyterian Church. The influences of his refined home, on Park street, presided over by his estimable wife, reach out into various circles of social life, and radiate a warmth of hospitality and good cheer which make it a blessing and an honor to the beautiful little city of Honesdale.

PETER H. ROBESON, a venerable and high- ly esteemed citizen of Stroudsburg, Monroe county, known far and near as "Uncle Peter," has been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his active life. His homestead, which is a part of the old Stroud estate, is now within the limits of South Stroudsburg, and his handsome residence is at- tractively located on Main street.

Uncle Peter was born July 22, 1828, at his pres- ent home, and is of Scotch ancestry in the paternal line. His grandfather, Robeson, who was a native of Philadelphia, married a daughter of John Paul, one of the founders of that city. Later he removed to Oxford, N. J., where he purchased property con- taining iron ore, which he sold some time previous to his death. His wife made her home in Strouds- burg for some years, but died in Philadelphia. This worthy couple had one son, Morris D., our subject's father.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 3

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