Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 303

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 303
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 303
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 303
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 303

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THOMAS HOWELL PHINNY, of Dun- daff, Susquehanna county, is a son of Thomas P. Phinny, and a grandson of Gould Phinny. A his- tory of Susquehanna county would not be com- plete without a sketch of the once prosperous town of Dundaff, or of the part that Gould Phinny took in building up the beautiful little town, situated near the two beautiful lakes known as Crystal and New- ton Lakes, now being built up with summer hotels and cottages for a summer resort. At the time Gould Phinny took up his residence at Dundaff it consisted of but a few houses, but through his fore- sight, energy and push it soon became one of the finest business towns in Susquehanna county. He built a gristmill, axe and scythe factory, tannery, and glass factory, started a bank and also a printing press, hotel, blacksmith, harness and wagon shop. By his thrift, industry and upright dealing he be- came quite wealthy for the times and surroundings in which he lived. Aside from his interests at Dun- daff he purchased a plantation near Richmond, Va., where he would take his family each fall, spending the winter months there, and returning in the spring to spend the summer months at his old homestead. As there were no railroads through the country at that time, he would make the journey through the the country with his horses and carriage. Mr. Phin- ny took quite a prominent interest in the State militia and was for a number of years colonel of a regiment. Battalion training days used to be con- sidered one of the greatest and most important days of the time, and was looked forward to by citi- zens from all over the county who would come from

Thoy Thing

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a distance of fifteen or twenty miles to see the sol- diers march, drill, and finally wind up with a hotly- contested sham battle.

Thomas P. Phinny, son of Gould Phinny, was also a resident of Dundaff, and always took a strong interest with his father in building up the town. He was a lawyer by profession, having been admitt- ed to the Bar at the age of about twenty-one, and began practice at Dundaff, where he continued thus for many years. He was also largely engaged in farming, milling and general merchandising, be- ing a man of no little prominence in his commu- nity. He died in 1889, when nearly eighty years of age, his wife in 1892, at about the same age. Their remains are interred in the Dundaff cemetery. Mrs. Phinny was a member of the Episcopal Church. Although he was not a member of any denomination, Mr. Phinny gave the grounds on which the Episco- pal Church now stands, and was always one of the most liberal givers toward its support. To Thomas P. and Elizabeth B. (Howell) Phinny were born and survive them four children: Thomas Howell, Owen P., Elizabeth G., and Jennie.

Our subject, Thomas Howell Phinny, spent his boyhood days at Dundaff. At the age of twen- ty-two he married Miss Frances E. Johnson, daugh- ter of Sylvester Johnson, also a resident of Dundaff. They together bid good-bye to Dundaff and started out for new fields. To them were born three daugh- ters and one son, as follows : Bessie H., Thomas G., Anna and Edith, the three daughters married and residing in Chicago; Thomas G. married and re- sides in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

AWRY HARRIS. One of the regiments which during the Civil war proved its mettle most gallantly was the 143rd P. V. I., organized in the fall of 1862, which served to the close of the war. The subject of this sketch was a member of Com- pany B, entering the service as a private, and was mustered out as a sergeant. He is now engaged in writing a history of the regiment, collecting those facts of thrilling interest which must soon fade away unless thus collated and preserved by one most admirably qualified for the work. Mr. Harris, since the age of thirteen years, has been a resident of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Our subject's grandfather, Awry Harris, was a native of Westchester county, N. Y., and lived in that county to the ripe old age of ninety-three years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and followed farming. He married Nancy Avery, who also was a native of Westchester county, of French and German ancestry.

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trade. During the later years of his life he was an invalid from a stroke of paralysis. He was mar- ried, in 1837, to Miss Ellen Sprague, who was born in New Jersey March 25, 1816, daughter of John L. and Effie (Booth) Sprague; her father had been a soldier in the war of 1812. The family of Will- iam H. and Ellen Harris consisted of six children, namely : William H., born April 12, 1838, who died December 8, 1880; Awry, the subject of this sketch, born February 3, 1840; Electa J., born June 30, 1842, wife of A. G. Colvin, of East Benton ; Enoch, born April II, 1844, who died February 8, 1845; John W., born July 15, 1847, a resident of East Benton; and Elisha, born October 14, 1849, who died June 6, 1851. The mother died December 15, 1880, the father January 9, 1885.

Awry Harris, our subject, was born in Fishkill, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and was thirteen years old when, in 1853, he came with his father to Pennsyl- vania. For several years he lived in New York City. At the age of. sixteen years he began taking care of himself as a farm laborer, and a year later the support of the family fell upon him and his elder brother. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, 143rd P. V. I. He was promoted suc- cessively to corporal and sergeant, and was mus- tered out in June, 1865. Mr. Harris was with the regiment during its long and memorable career and participated in the engagements at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsyl- vania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, siege of Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Hatcher's Run, Peebles Farm, and the memorable Weldon raid in winter months. At Gettysburg he was wounded in the side by a ball, and his gun was destroyed in his hand, and he had a similar experience at the battle of the Wilderness. Returning to Lackawanna county at the close of the war, Mr. Harris engaged in gristmilling at various localities from 1868 to 1879.

Mr. Harris was married, January 1, 1870, in Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county, to Miss Mary A. Kennedy, who was born August 24, 1840, daugh- ter of John L. S. and Nancy (Shiffer) Kennedy, granddaughter of John and Elizabeth (Barber) Kennedy, and great-granddaughter of Josiah and Mary (Stuart) Kennedy. Josiah Kennedy was a native of the North of Ireland, and married Mary Stuart, who was born in the South of Scotland ; migrating to America, he settled in New York, and later moved to Abington township, Lackawanna county. By his first marriage he had two children : John, the grandfather of Mrs. Harris; and Lois, who was a deaf mute. Josiah Kennedy married for his second wife Esther Barber, by whom he had one son, Josiah, who married Sarah Van Fleet, of Dutch ancestry and of New Jersey birth.

William H. Harris, the father of our subject, was born in Westchester county, N. Y., July 23, 1815. In early life he was a carpenter and joiner, and for some years worked as a patternmaker at John Kennedy, the grandfather of Mrs. Harris, was born in the North of Ireland. He was mar- ried, December 25, 1806, to Elizabeth Barber, who was born February 23, 1785, and who was the sis- the West Point Foundry. In March, 1853, he moved with his family to Benton, Lackawanna Co., Penn., where he followed farming for some years, but later resumed work at carpentering, his old | ter of Esther Barber, the second wife of her hus- 82

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band's father. John Kennedy remained through life a farmer of Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county, and died March 10, 1863. His wife died March 8, 1854, aged sixty-nine years. Their children were as follows: Elizabeth, born June 9, 1808, married Nathaniel Purdy ; John Levi Stuart was the father of Mrs. Harris; George C. is a resident of Lacka- wanna county ; Harvey died a resident of north- eastern Pennsylvania ; Mary Ann died unmarried ; Lucinda, unmarried, lives at Dalton ; David N. died on the old homestead, in what is now Lackawanna county ; and Esther, unmarried, lives with her sister Lucinda, at Dalton.

John L. S. Kennedy was born November 8, 1809. He was reared in Luzerne county, and fol- lowed carpentering through life. He married Nancy Shiffer, who was born June 13, 1813, daugh- ter of Jacob and Mary (Blanchard) Shiffer, of German extraction, and to their union were born children as follows: Helen, who died unmarried ; Martin V., of Lenox township; Mary A., wife of our subject; Elizabeth, of Clark's Green; Levi, of Abington, Penn .; and one child who died in in- fancy. The father died February 13, 1880, aged seventy years; his wife survived until February I, 1888.

The family of our subject and wife consists of five children as follows: Lyle Lewelyn, born March 29, 1871, is employed on the Lehigh Valley rail- road, at West Pittston ; he married Sarah E. Bond, of West Pittston; Elmer Eckman, born June 7, 1872, married Retta B. Snyder, and lives at Lenox- ville; Alston Awry, born August 29, 1873, is at home ; Sumner Seward, born June II, 1877, mar- ried Eva May Stephens, of Lenox, and lives near Lenoxville ; Hector Henry, born February 12, 1879, is at home.

In 1879 Mr. Harris moved to Lenoxville, and there operated the gristmill from that year until 1885. He there purchased his present farm of sixty- five acres, which he has greatly improved, and which his son Sumner S. is now managing. In politics Mr. Harris is a Republican, but he is a strong advo- cate of Prohibition principles. From 1886 to 1891 he served continuously as justice of the peace, and in 1898 he was re-elected to the office. He is a member of the G. A. R., and both himself and wife are active members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Harris is a man of marked literary proficiency, and for many years has been a valued contributor to many papers. He is at present correspondent of the New Milford Advertiser, Scranton Republican and the Leader and Advance of Carbondale.

HENRY BENNETT is a representative farm- er of Susquehanna county, pleasantly located in Clifford township. His operations have been marked with uniform success, and, in addition to being a thorough and skillful agriculturist, he is a business man of more than ordinary ability, wise and judi- cious in his investments. He also takes advantage of the facilities afforded at this day and age by im-

proved machinery, and all the other appliances re- quired by the modern tiller of the soil.

Mr. Bennett was born in Clifford township, January 17, 1846, a son of Wines and Anna M. (Miller) Bennett. The father was a native of Gibson township, Susquehanna county, and a son of John and Margaret (Lott) Bennett, who were born, reared and married in Orange county, N. Y., coming to Susquehanna county, Penn., in 1810. They made their home in Gibson township for fourteen years, and then removed to Clifford township, where the grandfather followed farming until his death. He was born in 1789, and died in 1828, while his wife was born in 1794, and died in 1856. Their children were Henry and Benjamin, deceased ; Wines, father of our subject; Peter, a retired black- smith of Clifford; Mary A., widow of Mark Dale, who is mentioned below; Abigail, widow of Joseph Halstead, and a resident of Lenox township, Sus- quehanna county ; Sarah, who has been married three times, and now resides in the West; John, who died young ; and Hulda, who married William Bell, and lives in the West.

Throughout life Wines Bennett followed the occupation of farming. At Benton, Penn., June 24, 1844, he married Miss Anna M. Miller, who was born on Thorn Hill, Clifford township, November 6, 1825, a daughter of William and Anna ( Baker) Miller. Being offered 100 acres of land if he would locate in Susquehanna county, her father took up his residence here. He died at the home of his son, George, in Lenox township. His children were Adam, who died young ; Eleanora, deceased wife of Lyman Bell; Louisa, wife of Pulaski Chamberlain, of Clifford township; Anna M., mother of our sub- ject ; Emaline, deceased, who ( first) married Benja- min Seaman, and ( second) James Wilbur ; William, a resident of Clifford township; and George, de- ceased. The mother of these children was twice. married, her first husband being Jacob Stevens, by whom she had three children: Elizabeth, deceased wife of Harrison Finn; and Ebenezer and John, both deceased. The father of our subject died September 19, 1897, at the age of eighty-one years and one month, and was buried in Clifford Valley cemetery ; but the mother still survives, and resides on the old homestead in Clifford townshin. Chil- dren were born to this union as follows: Henry is the eldest; Florence, born August 9, 1848, is the wife of Peter Lott, a farmer of Clifford township; John, born June 29, 1850, conducts the "Lonsdale Hotel," in Clifford township; William B., born June 3, 1852, is a farmer of Clifford township; Clara and Wines both died young; Ruric, born May 8, 1859, lives on the old homestead with his mother; La Grand, born July 6, 1861, is a farmer of Clifford township; Peter died in August, 1894, at the age of thirty-one years and twenty-five days; and Jesse W., born Mav 8, 1868, is a farmer of Clifford town- ship.

During early manhood Henry Bennett worked for others to some extent, but continued to make

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his home with his parents until he purchased his present farm in Clifford township, in 1873, since which time he has devoted his energies to its culti- vation and improvement with most gratifving re- sults. He is a prominent member of the Evangeli- cal Church, of West Clifford, and a Prohibitionist in political sentiment.

On April 26, 1880, at Jermyn, Penn., Mr. Ben- nett married Miss Ada Dale, and to them have been born two children, George H. and Clara E., both at home. Mrs. Bennett was born in Lacka- wanna (then Luzerne) county. Penn., May 5, 1849, a daughter of Rev. Mark and Mary Ann ( Bennett) Dale, the former a native of Yorkshire, England, the latter of Gibson township, Susquehanna county. The father came to America in 1819 with his par- ents, David and Margaret (Tanfield) Dale, and lo- cated on the present site of Daleville, Lackawanna Co., Penn., the family becoming the first settlers of that place. They were farming people. On sell- ing his farm in Lackawanna county, Mr. Dale made his home with our subject, where he died March 29, 1888, at the age of seventy-one years. He was a local minister of the Methodist Protestant Church, and was highly respected by all who knew him. His estimable wife, who was born January 5, 1820, daughter of John and Margaret (Lott) Bennett, the paternal grandparents of our subject, is still living, and finds a pleasant home with Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. The children born to them were Margaret S., now the wife of W. S. Ward, jail warden at Scranton, Penn .; Andrew J., a farmer of Cairo, Mich .; Jane, wife of George Schall, of Scranton, Penn .; Ada, wife of our subject; David, Henry, John, lda and Ralph, all deceased ; Nephus, a silk weaver of Sterling. N. J .; and Roscoe, an attorney of Scranton, Penn. The father was twice married, his first wife being Lucinda Tribly, by whom he had two children: William T., a hard- ware merchant of Dakota ; and George, who died in the Civil war.

FREDERICK SLOCUM. Among the enter- prising, energetic and successful farmers and dairy- men of Jackson township, Susquehanna county, who thoroughly understand the vocation which they follow, and are consequently enabled to carry on their noble calling with profit to themselves, is the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Slocum was born in that township, in August, 1835, and is a son of Hiram and Brittana (Stone) Slocum, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire respectively. The paternal grandparents, Simon and Polly Slocum, removed from the Green Mountain State to Jackson township at a very "early day in the history of this locality, and from the wild, unbroken forest the grandfather developed a farm, now known as the Slocum Hill farm. There both he and his wife died. (I) Hiram, father of our subject, was the eldest of their children. (2) Loren, a noted deer hunter of this section, married and located in Jackson township, but later removed

to a farm in Wayne county, Penn., where his death occurred. (3) Otis, born in Jackson township, mar- ried Axtel Washburn, of that township, where they made their home throughout life. (4) Apollos mar- ried Nancy Hathaway, of Ararat township, Sus- quehanna county, and after residing in Jackson for some time moved to Tioga county, Penn., where his death occurred. (5) Jerusha married Hiram Tan- ner, and located near the old Slocum homestead, where she died leaving five children-Jerome, Curtis, Polly, Sarah, and Mrs. Mary A. Bowen, of Susque- hanna. (6) William married Sophia Warner, and after living on the home farm for some years moved to Tioga county, where he died. (7) Mary mar- ried John Cottrell, and settled in Ararat township, where she died leaving a family. (8) B. F. mar- ried Samantha Kay, and died in Ararat township, in 1898, leaving a wife and two sons. (9) Lavina married Elston Stone, of Vermont, and located in Jackson, but later removed to Thompson, where they died leaving a family.

After his marriage Hiram Slocum, father of our subject, located on the farm in Jackson town- ship, where he continued to make his home through- out life. He was a hard-working, industrious farm- er, who was honored and respected by the entire community. He was a Republican in politics, but never aspired to office. His estimable wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a good Christian woman. To them were born six sons and one daughter, namely: (1) Calvin enlisted during the Civil war in a Pennsylvania regiment, participated in a number of engagements, and re- mained in the service until the conflict ended. He resided in Jackson township for many years, but died at the home of his children, in Binghamton, N. Y. He married May Hawley, of Jackson, by whom he had three children, Carrie, Emily and Frederick. (2) Andrew died in childhood. (3). Clarissa married Charles Belcher, of Ararat, and died leaving four children-Mary, now the wife of Erastus Mapes, of Portland, Maine; Amanda, wife of Edwin Bowell, formerly of Ararat, now of Jack- son ; Emogene, deceased wife of Nathaniel Benson, of Jackson; and George, a resident of Portland, Maine. (4) Frederick, our subject, is next in the family. (5) Alfred enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war from Susquehanna county, and was in a number of engagements. After the war he mar- ried Rebecca P. Walker, of Ararat, where both died, leaving no family. (6) Andrew married Lovisa Barnes, of Gibson township, and is now en- gaged in farming there. (7) Arvine wedded Mary Mapes, of Gibson, and now lives in East Deering, Maine; they have no children.

During his boyhood and youth Frederick Sloc- um, of this sketch, assisted his father on the home farm during the summer season, and attended the district schools through the winter months. He also learned the shoemaker's trade. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company I, 50th New York Engineering Corps, and remained in the service until

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the war ended, taking an active part in the battle of the Wilderness and a number of other engagements. When finally mustered out he returned to Jackson township. For a short time after his marriage, in 1866, he resided in Ararat township, then sold his place there and bought his father's old homestead, in Jackson township, where he lived until 1876. He next purchased the Sands home, in the same township, and after living there for some years bought the Dix farm adjoining, on which he now re- sides, while his son Vernon occupies the Sands farm. Upon all of these places he has made many improvements, including the erection of good build- ings. He is justly regarded as one of the most skillful and thorough agriculturists of his com- munity, and has met with well-deserved success.

In July, 1866, Mr. Slocum married Miss Nancy J. Sands, of Jackson, who was born in New York City, in June, 1841, and when a child was brought to Susquehanna county by her parents, James and Elizabeth (Lowe) Sands, who located near her present home. She was educated in the select and normal schools of the county, and for several years. successfully engaged in teaching here. Her father was born in Ireland, and crossed the ocean about 1829. They were shipwrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but all reached shore in boats except one girl who was drowned. For nine days they wandered about on the Canada shore, without food, before they were rescued. Mrs. Slocum's mother was born in Herrick township, Susquehanna county, of New England parentage, being a daughter of John N. Lowe, who was a soldier of the war of 1812. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sands died in Jackson township some years ago. He was a manufacturer of fine linen. In their family were two daughters: Mrs. Slocum, and Elizabeth, now the wife of N. K. Lowe, of Jackson. Our subject and his wife have four sons, namely : (1) Edward Vernon, born in Ararat township, June 24, 1867, married Alice Clapper, of Thompson, by whom he has one daughter, Celia M., and they live on the Sands farm. (2) Grant S., born in October, 1868, married Isabelle Cadoo, of Elmira, N. Y., and holds a position in the Erie depot at that place. (3) Ernest L., born in May, 1871, and (4) Wilfred W., born in December, 1875, are still under the parental roof, and assist their fa- ther in the operation of the home farm.

The Republican party has always found in Mr. Slocum a stanch supporter of its principles, and his aid is never withheld from any enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit, as he is one of the most public-spirited and progressive citizens of his community. Fraternally he is a member of the Grand Army Post, No. 512, of Jackson, and . of Thompson Grange. His wife shares with him the respect and esteem of their fellow citizens, and their home is noted for its generous hospitality.

HOLLIS ALMOND BARRETT, for many years a leading merchant at Gibson, Susquehanna county, is now living in retirement at his pleasant

home in that village. As a citizen he is held in high esteem, and many years of faithful work in township offices, and a brief but creditable term of service in the army during the Civil war, give evi- dence of his public spirit.

Mr. Barrett was born July 1, 1837, in Jackson township, Susquehanna county, and comes of good New England stock, his paternal grandparents, Whitmore and Mary Barrett, having been lifelong residents of Vermont. Hosea Barrett, our subject's father, was born and reared near Brattleboro, Vt., and was married there to Polly Lindsay. Later he removed to Susquehanna county, and settled upon a farm in Jackson township, where he died in July, 1862, aged sixty-one years. His wife, who was born in 1800, died in April, 1893, and both were buried in Lakeview cemetery. They were devout members of the Free-Will Baptist Church, and their excellent qualities of character won the respect of all who knew them. Six children were born to them, as follows: Alvin W., a resident of Jackson; Luther, a retired farmer residing in Binghamton, N. Y .; Alonzo, a retired farmer in Jackson township, Susquehanna county ; George, a wagon-maker at Susquehanna ; Hollis A., our subject; and Smith, a farmer near Bradford, Pennsylvania.

Our subject left home at the age of twenty to attend school at Montrose, and after a year and a half of advanced study engaged in teaching in Susquehanna county. He taught five winters, his summers being spent in carpentering, and he then purchased a farm in New Milford township, Sus- quehanna county, which he operated until the fall of 1885. On disposing of the farm he bought a store at Gibson, and for twelve years he conducted it successfully, in June, 1897, selling the business to his son, F. W., and retiring. In 1893 his horses ran away with him, and injuries sustained then led to his determination to give up active business. In politics he is a Republican, and he is serving as postmaster at Gibson; he has served six years as school director, and two years as township treasurer in Gibson township, and three years as school direc- tor in Jackson township. He belongs to the G. A. R., and he and family are prominently identified with the M. E. Church at Gibson. His military service began in the spring of 1864, when he entered the Bridge Corps, but he returned home in the fall of the same year. In March, 1865, he enlisted at Scranton in the First Penn. Light Artillery, Battery E, under Captain Wildey, of Philadelphia. He par- ticipated in no battles, and on July 20, 1865, was mustered out at Philadelphia.

On December 25, 1862, Mr. Barrett was mar -. ried, at Susquehanna, to Miss Juliette Tyler, and they have had seven children: (I) Royal B., born . October 8, 1863, died in infancy. (2) Edna I., born November 10, 1865, married February 21, 1889, Aldin Smith, a cigar maker, at Binghamton, N. Y., and has had two children-Hollis and Lynn. (3) Almond H., born March 6, 1869, died March 31, 1892. (4) Gertrude E., born September 22, 1870,

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 303

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