Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 307

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 307
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 307
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 307
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 307

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ANDREW SWINGLE, a leading citizen of South Canaan township, Wayne county, has been for many years identified with the agricultural in- terests of that locality, but he is now living in re- tirement and enjoying the results of past efforts. His sterling qualities of character and pleasant manners have won him many friends, and the fol- lowing history will be read with interest.

Mr. Swingle was born April 1, 1824, at the old homestead two miles southeast of South Canaan Corners, and belongs to that well-known and numerous branch of the Swingle family which traces its descent from Hans Ulrich Swingle, who came to America from Switzerland prior to the Revolutionary war. This worthy pioneer made his home for a time in New York State, and settled in 1783 in what is now known as South Canaan township, Wayne county, building a log cabin in the wilderness and clearing a farm. His wife, Mary Shaffer, bore him ten children, among whom was a son John, our subject's grandfather. John Swingle was married first to Catherine Moore, second to Catherine Shorter, and third to Barbara Burleigh, and had twenty-four children, four by his first wife, viz .: Elizabeth (Mrs. Jonathan Nickerson), John (2), Eva (Mrs. Justus Cobb) and Conrad.

John Swingle (2), the father of our subject, was born at South Canaan Corners, where he passed his life in farming. He was a man of excellent character, a member of the Methodist Church, and much esteemed by his associates. His death oc- curred in December, 1843, when he was aged sixty- six, and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Wagner, died in 1892, aged eighty years, the remains of both being interred at Shaffertown, Wayne county. The Wagner family is prominent in this section. John and Sarah (Wagner) Swin- gle had a large family of children, as follows : Otho, who died at the age of sixty-eight ; Catherine, wife of Joseph Woodward, both of whom died out West some years ago; Polly, who married Isaac Seeley (deceased), and died in 1887, at the age of :sixty-five; Elizabeth, who married James Robin-

son, and died in 1889, her husband's death occur- ring within the same week; Adam, who married (first) Mahala Thorp, and (second ) Lucinda Schmar (both now deceased), and died in 1890; Samuel, who died in 1883, aged fifty; Lucinda, widow of Corland Brooks, now residing in South Canaan township; Sarah Ann, who married Amos Spangenberg (both now deceased) ; Andrew, onr subject ; Barbara, wife of Samuel Leland, a farmer of South Washington township ; James, who married Clarissa Sharp, and resides upon a farm in Wayne county ; and Frederick and Henrietta, who died in childhood.

Andrew Swingle's early life was spent at the old homestead, where he gained a thorough knowl- edge of farm work, while profiting by such edu- cational opportunities as the local schools afforded. At the age of twenty-one he left home, and for seven months was employed on the turnpike at Milford, Penn. This experience sufficed to show him that there was "no place like home," and re- turning to his native township, he purchased a farm of forty acres, and engaged in agricultural work. His thrift and energy were duly rewarded by a substantial success, and after three years he sold that farm and bought 116 acres of improved land in the same township, where he continued his operations on a larger scale. In the fall of 1888 he decided to retire from active business, and for a time he resided in Carbondale, purchasing a small place there, but on April 16, 1897, he took posses- sion of his present farm in South Canaan town- ship. He has always taken an interest in local affairs, and throughout life has been an influential supporter of the Democratic party. At one time 'he held the office of supervisor, and he has also served as school director. Socially he is connected with the I. O. O. F. at South Canaan Croners, and is active in religious work as a member of the Methodist Church, in which he has served as class- leader for six years.

On June 9, 1846, Mr. Swingle married, at South Canaan. for his first wife, Miss Abigail Sharp, who died March 15, 1894, aged sixty-nine years, her remains being buried at South Canaan. Her parents, John and Phœbe ( Seeley) Sharp, were for many years residents of Canaan, and both died in Wayne county, the mother in 1893, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-eight. On April 16, 1897, Mr. Swingle married Mrs. Caroline Corthwright, nee Swingle. Mr. Swingle has four children, all by his first marriage. (1) Mary J. Swingle mar- ried Lewis Curtis, of Carbondale, who is in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Co., and seven children have been born to them-

George, who died in August, 1892; Reuben and Rufus, twins, the former of whom, a resident of Carbondale, married Hattie Belknap, of that place, and has two children, Lena and Helen; Rufus died when five months old; Andrew, a prominent gold- miner of Colorado, who also spent two years in the Klondike; Emma, a resident of Carbondale;

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Charles, a prominent resident of Carbondale, who is head bookkeeper for the Delaware & Hudson Coal Co .; and Archie, a machinist, also a resident of Carbondale. (2) Barbara A. Swingle married Charles Wagner, a machinist at Waymart, and has one child, Jessie. (3) Sophronius L. Swingle re- sides upon a farm in South Canaan township. He married Miss Mary Day, and they have three chil- dren, all residents of South Canaan-Myrtle N., Mrs. Ross, who has one child, Gail A .; J. Lee ; and Maud A., Mrs. Shaffer, who has one daughter, Lepha B. (4) Emma J. Swingle married Freder- ick Martwick, a farmer near Aldenville, Penn., and has five children, Andrew, Abbie, Rena, Charlie and Nancy.

Mrs. Caroline Swingle is also a descendant of Hans Ulrich Swingle, her father, Harmon Swingle, being a son of Jacob Swingle, the sixth child of the old pioneer. Jacob Swingle was born in Orange county, N. Y., and died July 24, 1870; his wife, Eva Shaffer, was a native of Canaan township, Wayne county. They had nine children, viz. : Nancy, who married Lyman Kennedy; Julia, who married Joseph Brandt; Harmon; Emeline, who married John Bates; Richard; Abby, who married Herman Arnold; Austin; Adaline, who married Joseph Swingle; and Catherine, none of whom are now living except Harmon and Richard. Harmon Swingle was born August 21, 1819, in South Canaan township, Wayne county, and for many years followed farming in that locality. He is an honorable, upright man, respected by all who know him, and at present he resides upon his old home- stead with his daughter and son-in-law. He was married, January 14, 1842, to Miss Elizabeth Hutchins, of the same township, who died in 1888, aged sixty-four, and their children were: Albert, who died at the age of thirteen; Steward S., a merchant at Plymouth, Penn., who married Mrs. Martha Van Lone, nee Myers; Caroline, wife of our subject; Nancy, who married Doice Daven- port, both deceased; Ephy, deceased; Frank G., a farmer in South Canaan township, who married first Arabella Beers, and after her death wedded Rena Myers; Lutita, wife of William Telshaw, a farmer in South Canaan township; William H., de- ceased ; Jacob A., a farmer in Lackawanna county, Penn., who married Jessie Mandeville, of Canaan township; Thomas K., a merchant at Carbondale, who married Elsa Swingle; and David, a farmer in Canaan township, who married Ina Robinson.

Mrs. Caroline Swingle was married first to John Corthwright, a farmer of South Canaan town- ship, who was a son of William Corthwright, of New Jersey. He died September 26, 1894, at the age of fifty-one, and his remains now rest in the cemetery at South Canaan. The following children were born of their union: Edith M., deceased, was the wife of Bert Brownell, a railway employee at Carbondale; Eddie (twin of Edith) died in in- fancy; Eva O. is the wife of John Case, a car inspector at Carbondale; Nellie J. is the wife of

Eban Tucker, a merchant at Carbondale; Thomas E. is a railroad brakeman residing at Carbondale ; Frankie died in infancy; Edna is the wife of Ben- jamin Watkins, an engineer residing at Carbon- dale; Percy is a resident of Wayne county.

DANIEL S. BUSH, a prosperous agriculturist of Stroud township, Monroe county, is one of the brave men who saved this country from disunion in the days of the Rebellion. In many a desperate battle he did gallant service, never flinching even when his comrades fell all around him dead or dying, and at home his young bride bore as bravely the anxiety that falls to the lot of those who can only "watch and wait."

Mr. Bush is descended from the best pioneer stock, his great-grandfather, Jonathan Bush, a native of England, having been among the first white settlers along the Delaware river, in what is now Monroe county. John Bush, our subject's grandfather, was born in Monroe county, and made his home in Stroud township, where he cleared a large farm about three miles north of the present town of Stroudsburg. He built two log houses on the place, and he and his wife, Susan, also a native of Monroe county, spent their last days there. They had a large family of children, as follows: Benjamin, James, John, George, Daniel, Abram, Betsey (who married and removed to the West), Peggy (wife of Joseph Lee), Annie (who married John Lee, of Stroud township), Catherine ( widow of Nelson Cramer, of Pocono township, Monroe county ), and Susan (wife of George Dibell, of white Haven).

Abram Bush, our subject's father, was born in Stroud township, and grew to manhood at the old homestead. He married Miss Jane Kinney, and soon afterward purchased a tract of wild land near Spragueville, which he cleared and brought under cultivation. In 1862 he sold out and bought land in the northwestern part of the township, where he made many improvements, building a good house and barn. He died there in 1892, and his worthy wife passed away in December, 1864. Our subject is the eldest in their numerous family of children. (2) Mary married Samuel Smith, a farmer of Pocono township, Monroe county. (3) Peter is a resident of Smithfield township, Monroe county. He married Miss Annie Owens, of Mon- roe county, and has had seven children-Percy, Melancthon, Nancy, Charles, Clarence, Cora and Ethel. (4) Maggie married Jacob Transue, of Scranton.

(5) William, a resident of Hyde Park, Scranton, was engaged in railroading until in- jured by a train, in 1898. He married Miss Beckie Bufelt, of Hyde Park, and has three chil- dren. (6) Annie married a Mr. Ace, and died in New Jersey about twenty-five years ago, leaving no children. (7) Joseph is a contractor on the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, and resides at Dunmore, Penn. He married Miss Hannah Weatherbee, of Scranton, and has had five children,

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of whom Katie and George are named. (8) Ephraim, (9) Mary A., (10) David, and (II) An- amas did not live to adult age.

Our subject was born in October, 1840, in Middle Smithfield township, Monroe county, and was reared as a farmer boy, receiving a common- school · education. He resided at home until his marriage, in August, 1863, to Miss Susan Knecht, of Gouldsboro, Penn., who was born in 1845, at Long Pond, Monroe county, daughter of Frederick and Annie (Smith) Knecht, prominent residents of that locality. For some years Mr. Bush made his home at Gouldsboro, where he engaged in saw- mill work, and in 1876 he bought fifty acres of land, adjoining his father's homestead, which he cleared and improved for a permanent home. In 1897 he purchased the old homestead, and the two farms were kept in a fine state of cultivation under his able management. Politically he is a strong Republican, but he has never joined in the struggle for official honors. He served during the Civil war as a member of Company F, 45th P. V. I., under Capt. Fayette Lord, and he joined Sher- idan's command at Petersburg, Va., and took part in numerous battles, including the hard-fought en- gagements at Fort Steadman, Petersburg, Burks- ville and High Bridge, on the Weldon railroad, one of the fiercest struggles of the war. His next battle was at Johnstown, Va., where he remained until the surrender of Lee. During his service eleven balls passed through his clothing.

Mr. and Mrs. Bush have had six children, of whom four are living. (1) Joseph, born in 1864, died in childhood. (2) Hattie, born in Stroud township, married James Impt, of Monroe county, and has five children-George, Charles, Wilbert, Beulah and Walter. (3) Wilson is a railroad brakeman and resides in East Stroudsburg. He married Miss Sallie Decker, of Stroud township, and has three children-Ida, George and Fayette. (4) Ida married David Kresge, of Wyoming coun- ty, Penn., and had two children, Lila and Pearley. (5) Laura married Samuel George, of Lycoming county, Penn. (6) Sally died at the age of two years. Mr. Bush and wife are leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Spragueville, and can always be found on the side of progress.

ABRAHAM BENNETT KIRBY. Wayne county has many well-to-do and successful farmers, who have accumulated what they have of this world's goods through individual effort. Among this class the name of our subject is entitled to a place. For a number of years he was engaged in railroading, but in 1886 he purchased his present fine farm in Cherry Ridge township, and has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits.

Mr. Kirby was born at Milford, Pike Co., Penn., November 22, 1832, a son of David and Esther (Bennett) Kirby, who were born, reared and married in Orange county, N. Y., where they continued to make their home until their removal

to Pike county, Penn., in 1828. In 1834 they be- came residents of what is now Cherry Ridge, Wayne county, but which at that time formed a part of Texas township, living there until 1852, when they returned to Orange county, N. Y., where the father died in 1863, aged sixty-eight years. In early life he engaged in school teaching, and later followed agriculture. He was a man of prominence in his community, was a stalwart Democrat in politics, and was often called upon to serve in official positions, being justice of the peace in Cherry Ridge township many years. Both he and his wife were earnest and consistent members of the Baptist Church, and were held in high regard by all who knew them. She was born September 23, 1785, and died February 25, 1870. The pater- nal great-grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and the grandfather, John Kirby, was in the war of 1812. The latter was born in Orange county, of English parentage, and was a farmer by occupation.

The subject of this sketch is third in the order of birth in a family of ten children, of whom Lydia married Milo S. Hobbs (both are now deceased) ; Laura married Chester Frisby (they are also de- ceased) ; Mrs. Jane Smith is a widow, living in Middletown, N. Y .; Margaret has never been heard from since leaving home, several years ago; Oliver was killed by lightning, while working on a freight train; Oscar is a conductor on the O. W. railroad, and a resident of Middletown, N. Y .; Gilbert is a farmer of Orange county, N. Y .; Esther is the wife of William Cooley, a farmer of Sullivan county, N. Y .; and David lives on the old homestead in Orange county.

Until eighteen years of age Mr. Kirby, whose name introduces this sketch, remained with his parents upon the home farm, and then entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Co., at first as- sisting in the construction of the Gravity railroad. For fifteen years he was either brakeman or con- ductor on that road, running between Hawley and Pittston, Penn., and then, after filling the position of fireman for one month, he was promoted to engineer, in which capacity he served the company until 1886. In that year he purchased his present farm in Cherry Ridge township, comprising 160 acres of valuable land, and to its cultivation and improvement has since devoted his energies.

In Orange county, N. Y., in September, 1854, Mr. Kirby was married, by Rev. Lytell, a Presbyter- ian minister, to Miss Cynthia A. Decker. The only child born of this union, Edwin (now deceased), married Laura Bearheight, who resides in Warren, Penn. The wife and mother was born September 23, 1835, and died February 26, 1870, being laid to rest at Middletown, Orange Co., N. Y. Her parents, Dennis and Miriam (Cobb) Decker, were natives of Orange county, where the father engaged in farming throughout life. He was born Novem- ber 3, 1812, and died in 1869, being laid to rest in that county. The mother, born May 3, 1813, is

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still a resident of Orange county. Their children were Cynthia A., Henry L., Harriet and Sarah J., all now deceased ; Charles, a physician of Montrose, Penn .; Phœbe A., deceased wife of George Reed, an alderman of Middletown, N. Y .; and John W., who went West, and has not been heard from for some time.

At Cherry Ridge, Wayne county, Mr. Kirby was again married, September 17, 1873, his second union being with Miss Bettie Grant, Rev. James Taylor, a Methodist Episcopal minister, perform- ing the ceremony. Three children have been born to them: Flora, now deceased; and Nannie C. and Alvin S., both at home. Mrs. Kirby was born in Cherry Ridge township, July 8, 1850, a daughter of Samuel and Clarissa ( Myers) Grant, natives of Susquehanna and Wayne counties, respectively. They were married at Honesdale, where they made their home for a number of years, while Mr. Grant was employed as brakeman and conductor on the Gravity railroad. In 1850 they removed to Cherry Ridge township, where Mr. Grant engaged in farm- ing the remainder of his life, dying in January, 1893, aged seventy-two years; he was laid to rest in the Honesdale cemetery. He was a Democrat in politics, served his fellow citizens as school director, tax collector, and in other local offices, and socially was a Freemason. His widow, who was born July 19, 1822, resides at Hoadley's, Cherry Ridge township. Besides Bettie, Mrs. Kirby, they were the parents of the following named children : Sarah J., now the widow of Stephen Bigart, and a resident of Hoad- ley's; William, baggagemaster on the Delaware & Hudson railroad, and a resident of Wilkes Barre, Penn .; Catherine, a resident of Dunmore; War- ren, a railroad engineer, living in Dunmore; Clara, wife of Henry Babcock, who is engaged in clerk- ing in Scranton, Penn .; Lula G., wife of Edward Gee, an architect of Scranton; and Willard, a resi- dent of Cherry Ridge township, Wayne county.

In casting his ballot, Mr. Kirby endeavors to support the best man for the office, and though he generally votes for the Democratic candidate, he is not bound by party ties. Socially he affiliates with the F. & A. M., at Salem Corners, Wayne county, while religiously he is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as steward, class-leader and superintendent of the Sunday-school for many years. His life is a living illustration of what ability, energy and force of character can accomplish, and the community where he makes his home has been enriched by his example.

NELSON LA TOURETTE, one of the rep- resentative prominent men of Lebanon township, Wayne county, was born there July 1, 1839, a son of John La Tourette, a native of Staten Island, New York.

The La Tourettes were French Huguenots who were expelled from France about the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, 1685. The

first authentic knowledge we have is that the Count and Countess La Tourette were notified at that time that they were about to be assassinated. They had a large party, to which all the neighboring gentry were invited, and when the fun was at its height left the party, making their way to the sea coast, and boarding a vessel bound for Charleston, N. C., the count taking nothing but his jewels and his Huguenot Bible. The ship was blown out of her course and wrecked on Staten Island, N. Y. The next record is of the marriage of Jean La Tourette to Maria Mersereau, daughter of Jean Mersereau, from Moise, in Juintonge, France, July 16, 1693. They had a son Peter (Pierre), born November 22, 1697. He had a son, Peter ( Pierre), born 1730, who married a Mersereau, and they were our sub- ject's great-grandparents. The above facts were taken from the records of the French Church in New York, and also from the French Church in Staten Island, N. Y. The Mersereau family were of the French nobility, and claim descent from Josue Mersereau, generale de la garde royale, and Josue Mersereau Rochefort.

Our subject's grandfather, Peter La Tourette, was born on Staten Island in 1774. He became one of the pioneers of Wayne county, and, being a skilled blacksmith, was known far and near for his good and reliable work. He married Rebecca Moore, a lady of Scotch lineage, who was born September 22, 1773, in Woodbridge, N. J., daughter of Jonathan and Mary Moore, and their union was blessed with eight children : Samuel, Jacob, Lorane, Mary, Delia, Samuel (2), Mary (2), and John.

When a mere boy John La Tourette was brought by his parents to Wayne county, Penn., where he grew to manhood, early becoming familiar with the arduous task of clearing and developing the wild timber land into highly-cultivated fields. He mar- ried Sallie Ann Whatcraft, a daughter of Edward and Rebecca (Rodgers) Whatcraft, in whose fam- ily were three daughters and one son. Her father was the first settler on the Newberry turnpike, lo- cating there when the country round about was almost an unbroken wilderness, and covered with a dense growth of timber. To Mr. and Mrs. La Tourette were born seven children, as follows: Jonathan, who now makes his home in the far West; Mary Ann, deceased wife of Charles Scud- der; Jackson, a resident of Lebanon township, Wayne county ; Nelson, subject of this sketch ; Eli- jah, of Warren county, Penn .; Lorane, who died leaving a widow and children, living in Wayne county; and Reed, who died in the same county, leaving a widow and one child. The parents, most estimable people, were devout members of the Meth- odist Church, and the father was an ardent Repub- lican in politics. He died at the age of seventy- nine years, leaving a valuable farm of 100 acres, besides some stock and other property. His wife passed away at the advanced age of eighty-six years.

Nelson La Tourette passed his boyhood and

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youth in much the usual manner of farmer lads, assisting his father in the labors of the fields, and attending the district schools when his services were not needed at home. Throughout his active busi- ness life he has been interested in agricultural pur- suits and prosperity has crowned his efforts, so that he is now the owner of a fine farm of 234 acres, which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved.

On May 18, 1864, Mr. La Tourette married Miss Susan Robinson, a daughter of James Robinson, who by his first marriage to Mary Haigh had a fam- ily of seven children, namely : Samuel, John, James, Tamar, Mary, Sarah and Hannah. Some time after the death of his first wife Mr. Robinson wedded Miss Mary Hall, daughter of E. Hall, and to them were born two children: Franklin H., who was a Union soldier during the Civil war, and is now a resident of Lebanon township, Wayne county ; and Susan, wife of our subject. The father, who was a native of Lancashire, England, died at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. Politically he was a Republican, and religiously a member of the Church of England or the Episcopal denomination. Mr. and Mrs. La Tourette have a family of six children : Frank B., who is at home with his parents ; John, a carpenter by trade; Jean D., who was married, February 16, 1898, to Miss Madge Robinson, of Elmhurst, Penn. : Ernest, who married Anne Sears, and resides at home; J. Roy; and Vera, who died at the age of ten months and twenty-two days. With the Methodist Church the parents hold mem- bership, and Mr. LaTourette is identified with the Republican party. His pleasant, courteous manner has gained for him many warm friends, and few men in his community are more popular or held in higher esteem than he.

ELI B. SMITH, a well-known citizen of Frank- lin Forks, has gained recognition and prestige as one of the influential and representative business men of Susquehanna county. His success illustrates most forcibly the possibilities that are open to young men who possess sterling business qualifications, for he started out in life empty-handed, and has steadily worked his way upward to a position of affluence.

Mr. Smith was born in Delaware county, N. Y., March 15, 1825, a son of Joseph and Belinda ( Bartram ) Smith, natives of Litchfield county, Conn., whose farm adjoined that of Jay Gould's father, and the noted millionaire was his boyhood playmate. The paternal grandparents of our sub- ject, Joseph and Lydia (Beers) Smith, were also natives of that State, were farming people, and died in Roxbury, Delaware Co., N. Y. The maternal grandparents, Eli and Dolly (Lyon) Bartram, were born in Litchfield county, Conn., and died in Ash- tabula county, Ohio. Throughout his active busi- ness life Mr. Bartram followed farming, but his last days were spent in retirement from labor. The father of our subject was born in 1792, and on April 19, 1844, removed from Roxbury, Delaware

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 307

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