Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 314

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 314
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 314
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 314
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 314


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Mr. Spedding was born in Clifford township, October 8, 1835, and is the only child of John and Deliverance (Foster) Spedding. The father was a native of Westmoreland county, England, and a son of Isaac Spedding, a baker by trade, who spent his entire life in that country. In 1830 John Sped- ding emigrated to America and located on a small farm in Clifford township, Susquehanna Co., Penn. In connection with its operation he also worked at the stone mason's trade to some extent, and he held several township offices. He died July 17, 1856, at the age of seventy-three years, honored and re- spected by all who knew him. His estimable wife, who was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, died in December, 1872, at the age of seventy-nine,


and was laid to rest by his side in Clifford ceme- tery. She was twice married, her first husband be- ing Adam Miller, a native of Ireland, by whom she had seven children: Emily, deceased wife of Har- rison Doud; Redmond, who enlisted in the 107th P. V. I. during the Civil war and died while in ser- vice ; and John, who died unmarried; Merrick, de- ceased, who married Jane Ferris; Samuel, who en- listed in the 14th U. S. Regulars in the Civil war, and was never heard from; Gould P., a prominent farmer of Clifford township; and Waity Ann, who died unmarried.


During his boyhood and youth our subject re- mained at home, and at the age of twenty-one com- menced to operate a small portion of the farm on his own account. As the years passed and his financial resources have increased, he has added to it from time to time until it is now one of the largest and best farms in Clifford township. He has always given considerable attention to stock raising, and in 1885 commenced importing fine stock, such as Poland China hogs, Cleveland Bay horses, Shropshire sheep and Norman and Percheron norses. He is the only importer of pure bred horses in Susquehanna coun- ty, and has been remarkably successful in this branch of his business. He is independent in politics and has never sought or desired public office, preferring to devote his entire attention to his business inter- ests. He is a member of the Alliance and has served as supervisor of his township for six years.


On February 25, 1858, at Lenoxville, Mr. Sped- ding married Miss Mahala Cobb, and five children have been born to them : Nellie J., born February 2, 1859, now the wife of Frank Tennant, hotel pro- prietor at Clark Summit, Penn .; Walter S., born March 31, 1861, who married Ella Slocum and is engaged in business with his father; Amy A., born September 26, 1864, wife of William Hasbrook, a prominent farmer of Clifford township; Frank W., born February 22, 1870, who married Agnes Stevens, and follows farming in Lackawanna county; and Eva M., born July 9, 1875, at home.


Mrs. Spedding was born in Greenfield town- ship, Lackawanna county, February 18, 1837, a daughter of Ziperon and Sally ( Yarns) Cobb, life- long residents of that county. The father, who was an agriculturist, died May 18, 1883, aged sixty-seven years, the mother January 9, 1872, aged fifty-seven, and both were buried in Clifford cemetery. The mother was a member of the Baptist Church of Clif- ford. Mrs. Spedding was the eldest of their chil- dren, the others being Eunice, deceased wife of An- son Tingley ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of William Wallace : James A., a farmer of Lackawanna coun- ty ; Jennie B., who first married John Bell, and sec- ond David Ulmer, a farmer of Wayne county, Penn .; Sally A., who died at the age of seventeen years; Tamar, deceased wife of Melvin Pierce; Nathan, a resident of Carbondale; Caroline, wife of George Snyder, of Carbondale; Harriet L., who died young ; and Arminda, wife of Andrew Miller, a farmer and traveling salesman. Mrs. Spedding's


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paternal grandparents were John and Elizabeth ( Brundage) Cobb, natives of New York State and early settlers of Lackawanna county, where the grandfather, who was a farmer, died at an old age. The maternal grandparents were Nathan and Jane (Lowery) Yarns. The former died in Lackawanna county, the latter in Susquehanna county.


NEWTON A. GEISINGER, proprietor of the roller-mill at Brodheadsville, and one of the pros- perous and successful business men of Monroe coun- ty, owes in great measure the fortunate issue of his business enterprise to the thoroughness of his preparation, and to the interest he has taken in his calling. His tastes for this time-honored and im- portant calling may be said to be partially inherited, for his father was an extensive mill owner and oper- ator ; his maternal grandfather was a miller ; two of his brothers are millers. Growing up in an at- mosphere so saturated with the skill and proficiency of the miller's art, the success of our subject par- takes less of the nature of an ordinary business venture, and more of that indescribable and elusive talent which crowns with success its fortunate pos- sessor.


Mr. Geisinger was born in Bethelehem, Penn., August 4, 1846, a son of Jacob J. and Mary A. (Funk) Geisinger, and a grandson of Abraham Geisinger, a lifelong farmer of Lehigh county. Ja- cob J. Geisinger was born in 1820, and married Mary A. Funk, daughter of a Bucks county miller. Ja- cob J. Geisinger operated mills at various places, and died at Center Valley, Lehigh county, in 1895, aged seventy-five years, being buried in the Men- nonite cemetery of that village. His widow resides at the old homestead, at the age of eighty years. He was a member of the Moravian Church. To Jacob J. and Mary A. Geisinger were born the fol- lowing children: Clayton F., a miller at Coopers- burg, Penn .; Newton A., subject of this sketch; J. J., who operated the old home mill at Center Valley ; L. A., a clerk at Allentown, Penn .; Edwin, also a clerk at Allentown; Jacob J., a jeweler at Center Valley; and Emma A., wife of Rev. Jere Ritter, a Lutheran minister at Bath, Pennsylvania.


Newton A. Geisinger remained at the home of his father until he reached his twenty-fifth year. Between the ages of seven and eighteen he attended the schools of his native village, thus acquiring a good education, and he then followed with his fa- ther the trade of miller, which he had learned. De- sirous of seeing something of the world, and also of adding to the knowledge of his trade the expe- rience to be gained at other mills, Mr. Geisinger then spent several years throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa, following his trade at various mills.


In 1883 our subject came to Brodheadsville, and became proprietor of the well-equipped roller- mill of fifteen-horse power which had been built in 1877 by J. P. Keller. In the operation of this mill Mr. Geisinger has been eminently successful. He has a pleasant home, presided over by his wife, 85


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formerly Miss Lydia Gregory, who is a sister of Dr. W. E. Gregory, of Stroudsburg. Mr. Geis- inger's son, Oscar, is a salesman at Stroudsburg, and is married to Martha, daughter of Morris Nau- man, of that city. In politics Mr. Geisinger is a Democrat. He is a prominent member of the Re- formed Church, and has served as deacon for six years. He is highly respected and popular in the community, combining in his personality the spirit of comradery, the flash of intelligence, the keenness of ripe judgment and other most estimable quali- ties.


MARCUS A. BLAIR, a well-known pharma- cist and druggist of Hopbottom, Susquehanna county, has been in business there for the past thir- teen years. During that time he has risen steadily in the public confidence, and he ranks as one of the most substantial and sterling citizens of the com- munity.


Mr. Blair was born in East Durham, Greene Co., N. Y., March 5, 1855, son of Alfred and Char- lotte (Allen) Blair. His great-grandfather, James Blair, emigrated from Scotland, his native land, to Salem, Mass., with his parents and his eight brothers, He married an English woman, and died in 1827 at the age of eighty-seven years. Joel Blair, his son, grandfather of our subject, was born in Salem, Mass., in 1791. He was reared in that town, and there married Mahala, daughter of Samuel Page. He removed to Schoharie county, N. Y., where he remained until his death, in 1840, following the vo- cations of farming and shoemaking. In politics he was a Democrat. Eleven children were born to Joel and Mahala Blair, of whom four are yet living at this writing, namely: Willis, of Castle Creek, Broome Co., N. Y .; Mariett, who married C. E. Dunn, of Binghamton, N. Y .; Adaline, who married E. Nickerson, of Newark Valley, N. Y. ; and Alfred, father of our subject. The deceased are Rowena (who married David Nickerson), Alonzo, Lorenzo, L. Parley, Oscar, Mahala (who married A. Gray), and Winslow.


Alfred Blair, the father of our subject, was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., April 1, 1815. There he married Charlotte Allen, who was born March 17, 1818, daughter of Jacob and Phœbe (Mckenzie) Allen. Between 1834 and 1837 Alfred Blair learned the blacksmith's trade, which he fol- lowed in connection with farming. In 1861 he moved from Schoharie county to Tioga county, N. Y., where he continued actively at his trade until 1885, after which he lived with his son Marcus A. until his death, April 2, 1900, when he was aged eighty-five years and two days. His wife died Au- gust 6, 1894. In Schoharie county he served as asses- sor and as commissioner of highways; in politics he was a Democrat. Himself and family were life- long members of the Presbyterian Church. The chil- dren born to Alfred and Charlotte Blair were as fol- lows: Rowena, who died at the age of fifty-seven years; Roseltha, wife of Henry C. Stannard, of


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Newark Valley, N. Y .; Joel, who died in infancy ; Harlan Page, who was a Presbyterian minister, and died after a service of about fifteen years ; P. Ellen, who married Isaac Arnold, of Newark Valley, N. Y .; Euphemia, wife of J. H. Saddlemire, of New- ark Valley, N. Y. ; Charlotte A., who married Charles Fuller, of Binghamton, N. Y., and is now deceased ; John A., a bookkeeper of Binghamton, N. Y., now deceased; Marcus A., subject of this sketch; A. Stryker, a graduate of the University of the City of New York, and since 1882 a practicing physician in Bradford county, Penn. ; and Orissa Inez, who died at the age of two and one-half years.


Marcus A. Blair was six years of age when, in 1861, he moved with his father's family from Scho- harie county to Tioga county, N. Y. In his boyhood he attended the common schools, later Newark Val- ley Academy, and in 1874 he graduated from the Lowell Commercial College, of Binghamton, N. Y. In 1872 he began, at Binghamton, N. Y., to acquire the profession of pharmacist and druggist with Dr. E. I. Ford, with whom he remained two years. He was then for about eight years incapacitated for further studies or steady work by injuries received. On January 5, 1882, Mr. Blair was married, at New- ark Valley, N. Y., to E. Arlettie Lockwood, who was born at Beach Lake, Wayne Co., Penn., November 14, 1861, daughter of Daniel and Mary Jane ( Rob- erts) Lockwood. Daniel Lockwood was born in Newburg, Orange Co., N. Y., October 4, 1822, and was a posthumous child; his mother died when he was a babe of six weeks. At the age of fifteen years he removed from Orange county, to Hancock, Dela- ware Co., N. Y., where he learned the tanner's trade. At Beach Lake he became foreman in a tannery. He was married July 21, 1859, to Mary Jane Rob- erts, who was born at Damascus, Wayne Co., Penn., in 1829, daughter of Daniel and Mehitable (Dunn) Roberts. Daniel Roberts was a native of Wales, came to America when five years of age, and mar- ried in Wayne county, Penn., where he lived to a good old age, dying when eighty-two years old, and outliving all his family of fifteen children ex- cept three. He followed the vocations of a farmer and blacksmith.


To our subject and wife have been born four children: Iva Roseltha, who died at the age of one near; one daughter deceased in infancy; John Al- fred, deceased at the age of eleven months; and Marcus Allen Blair, Jr., born May 2, 1900. In 1883 our subject settled at Franklin Forks, Susque- hanna Co., Penn., where he entered the drug busi- ness, which he continued three years, and in 1884 he was appointed postmaster at that place. Leaving the business and the post office in charge of his wife, who had developed splendid business ability, he in 1886 purchased a stock of drugs at Hopbot- tom, Susquehanna county, where he has since con- tinued in business. In politics Mr. Blair is a Dem- ocrat, but he is a strict Prohibitionist in principle and in practice. From 1890 to 1893 he held the office of burgess of the borough, and from 1893 to 1898


served as a member of the town council, of which he was also president. He is now president of the school board. He is a member and past master of Harford Lodge No. 445, F. & A. M., at Hopbot- tom, and of the Sons of America. For two terms he was district president of the Sons of America ; was for years a member of the Sons of Temper- ance, and when only a boy he joined the Band of Hope; which was a society at that time for boys, to help on the cause of temperance at Newark Val- ley, N. Y. For many years he has been an active worker in the Presbyterian Church, holding mem- bership in the Society at Franklin Forks, and he has served officially ; he now has charge of the M. E. choir at Hopbottom, though he retains his old Church connection.


WESTBROOK MERRING is one of the lead- ing and influential agriculturists of Lake town- ship, Wayne county, and has taken an active part in promoting the substantial improvement and mate- rial development of the county.


A native of New Jersey, he was born in Sussex county, November 7, 1842, a son of Philip and Eu- nice (Spangenberg) Merring, the former of whom was born April 2, 1813, in Sussex county, N. J., and died July 18, 1881, the latter born June 28, 1815, in Bethany, Wayne Co., Penn., and died Jan- uary 28, 1881 ; they sleep their last sleep in Kizer's Cemetery, Lackawanna county, Penn. They were members of the Christian Church. A brief record of the children of this honored couple is as follows : Mary J., born January 1, 1835, died May 22, 1849; Phebe J., born July 27, 1838, died July 18, 1881 (she married W. J. Van Sickles, a farmer of Re- novo, Penn.) ; Sarah A., born February 27, 1840, died May 9, 1846; Westbrook, our subject, is the next in the order of birth; Louis E., born March 25, 1846, died May 20, 1896 (he married Victorene Sheerer) ; Hiram, a farmer of Lake township, Wayne county, born June 19, 1849, married Aman- da M. Bronson; Abigail, born March 30, 1852, married Franklin Swingle, of Susquehanna coun- ty, Penn .; Amos, twin of Abigail, and a farmer of the State of Oregon, married Sophia A. Spangen- berg; Philip A., born March 13, 1855, is an invalid in South Canaan; and Josephine E., born April 10, 1858, married Elias Merring, a farmer in New Jer- sey. The father of this family came from New Jer- sey to Pennsylvania, and in 1834 located in Jefferson township, Lackawanna county, later moving to? Wyoming county, thence returning to New Jersey, where he remained on his father's farm until 1853, in that year coming to Lake township, Wayne coun- ty, and purchasing some 200 acres of land, at differ- ent times, making the farm whereon his son, our subject, now resides, and here the parents both died, as already related.


The first of the Merring family in this country was George Merring, the great-grandfather of our subject, who was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to these shores at an early day, settling in


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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Sussex county, N. J. His son John, our subject's grandfather, was born in Sussex county, where he purchased a large tract of land, which he divided among his children. By his wife Mary (Coss) he had children as follows: George; John; Philip, fa- ther of Westbrook; Jacob; Nicholas; Peter; Isaac ; Rebecca, who was twice married, first to Aaron Stoll, and afterward to James Moore; Elizabeth, who married Joseph Stroud ; and Mary, who wedded Jacob Morris.


On December 3, 1868, in Wayne county, Penn., by Rev. J. Waterous, a Methodist Protestant min- ister, Westbrook Merring was married to Mrs. Eliza (Cary) Spangenberg, and a brief record of their children is as follows : (I) Sumner M., born Decem- ber 12, 1869, married Ida Clark; he is a farmer in Lake township, Wayne county. (2) Isabel C., born March 4, 1871, married Warren J. Van Sickles, a merchant of Georgetown, Wayne Co., Penn. (3) Victor H., born September 30, 1872, died February 2, 1898 ; he was a graduate of Woods College, Scran- ton, Penn., was well read, an elegant penman, promi- nent in society, surrounded by hosts of friends, and his early taking away, when he had a bright prom- ise before him, was a sad blow to his parents. (4) Grace A., born June 20, 1874, married Eugene Sampson, proprietor of a meat market at Lake Ariel, Penn. (5) Wayne W., born August 5, 1876. Wayne W. married Nettie Goodrich, who died in September, 1899; and (6) Legrand W., born March 20, 1878, married Arlene Ostrander and was acci- dently drowned while skating on Lake Henry, Penn., December 17, 1899.


Mrs. Eliza (Cary-Spangenberg) Merring was born March 12, 1841, in South Canaan town- ship, Wayne county, a daughter of Minor and Ros- anna (Schwartz) Cary, of Lackawanna county and Easton, Penn., respectively. Mr. Cary died in 1864 at the age of seventy years, and his widow subse- quently wedded Jacob Swingle, of Wayne county, Penn. To Minor and Rosanna (Schwartz) Cary were born children as follows: Minor, deceased ; Eliza, wife of our subject ; Justus, married to Hulda Taylor (he is a farmer, also foreman on the D. & H. R. R. at Carbondale, Penn.) ; Mary E., deceased wife of Enos Enslin, a farmer of Lake township, Wayne county ; Olive, wife of Dr. James Daven- port, of Luzerne county, Penn .; Lydia, deceased wife of A. R. Woodward, of Scranton, Penn .; and Winton, a railroad yard master in Carbondale, Penn,. married to Angeline Woodward. Both parents were twice married, and the father by his first wife had the following children: John, Parker, Sarah (who married Chauncy . Derby), Esther (who after the death of her sister Sarah married Chauncy Derby), and Lucy (who wedded Harrison House). The mother by her first husband, Noah Cobb, of Canaan township, had three children: Usual, a farmer of Wayne county ; Michael, an extensive miner in Colo- rado; and Lucy, widow of Justus Bronson, who was starved to death in Libby prison.


Mrs. Westbrook Merring's paternal grandfather,


John Cary, came to the United States from Scotland at an early day, and became one of the first settlers of the Wyoming Valley. Her maternal grand- father, Michael Schwartz, of Easton, Penn., settled in Lackawanna county, Penn., where he followed farming during the remainder of his life. Mrs. Merring has been twice married, first time to Levi Spangenberg, who in 1865, at the age of twenty- three years, while on his way home from the army, was killed by a locomotive at a railroad crossing. The children by this marriage were: Eugene, who married Augusta Dewee, and is a farmer and lum- ber dealer of the State of Oregon ; and Sophia, wife of Amos Merring, a brother of our subject, and a farmer and lumberman in the State of Oregon.


Westbrook Merring, whose name opens this sketch, remained under the parental roof until April 23, 1861, when he enlisted in Company B, 8th P. V. I., under Hiram S. Travis (three-months' men), and was discharged July 29, 1861 (he was one of the first six men to enlist from Wayne county). On his return home he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Co., as runner on the cars until February 28, 1865, when he enlisted in Company E, 143rd P. V. I., under Capt. Louis Blair, and was discharged June 12, 1865. On his second return from the army he went to Cameron county, Penn., and for three years worked in the woods, making timber, then came to his present farm, of 200 acres of as fine land as can be found in the county. So- cially, he has been a member of Normal Lodge No. 53I, of South Canaan. Politically, he is stanch Republican, and for three years he served as school director. Mr. Merring is possessed of considerable literary ability, and his numerous contributions to the local papers have always found place in their columns, and elicited much favorable criticism.


GEORGE CARR ROBERTSON, one of the most influential and public-spirited citizens of Dy- berry township, has since reaching manhood been prominently identified with the agricultural and political interests of Wayne county. He was born in Honesdale, September 13, 1850, and is a grand- son of David Robertson, who was born in Dunblane, Scotland, in 1782, and in 1832 crossed the Atlantic to the United States, first locating in Honesdale, Penn. After two years spent in that city, he pur- chased a farm in Dyberry township, upon which he made his home until called to his final rest in November, 1859. In his native land he mar- ried Margaret Saures, who died in 1853. They had but two sons, John and David, both born in Scotland.


John Robertson was born August 13, 1823, and was a lad of eight years when brought by his par- ents to America. In the district schools of Dyberry township he pursued his studies for a time and later attended the University of Northern Pennsyl- vania. On leaving the school room he located at Honesdale, Wayne county, where as a carpenter he was employed by the Delaware & Hudson Co. for


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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


some time. In 1858 he purchased a tract of land in the southern part of Dyberry township, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred Oc- tober 19, 1886. He was one of the most prominent and highly respected men of that community, and was called upon to serve as justice of the peace, school director, auditor and in other local positions of honor and trust. At Dyberry, December 28, 1848, John Robertson was united in marriage with Miss Clarinda M. Carr, and to them were born three children, of whom our subject is the oldest. Jennie, born August 1, 1853, is a type writer in the office of E. C. Mumford, of Honesdale; and Clara M., born September 28, 1855, is the wife of George M. Keyes, of Morenci, Michigan.


Mrs. Clarinda (Carr) Robertson traces her ancestry back to Benjamin Carr, who was born in London, England, August 18, 1592. His son, Caleb Carr, the first Governor of Rhode Island, was born December 9, 1616, and located at Newport, R. I., in 1640. His son James was born about 1680 and was the father of Caleb Carr, who was born at Little Egg Harbor, N. J., in 1726. The next in dir- ect line was James Carr (the great-grandfather of our subject), who was born at Mt. Holly, N. J., July 12, 1760, and married Esther Varnell, who was born at the same place, March 1, 1769. He died in South Canaan, Wayne Co., Penn., June 10, 181I, and his wife in Honesdale, July 4, 1854. She would frequently relate to her descendants many interesting incidents of Revolutionary war times, these events being impressed upon her youthful mind very clearly as her home was near Trenton, N. J., where some of the most clever schemes were planned and carried out, especially by our patriotic leader, Gen. Washing- ton. John Carr (our subject's grandfather) was born at Trenton, N. J., September 12, 1796, and June 6, 1823, was married at Bethany, Penn., to Adeline Jones, who was born in Salem, Wayne county, March 25, 1805, and died in Dyberry, June 6, 1859. His death occurred at the same place January 20, 1858. Their daughter, Clarinda M., was born in Bethany, April 25, 1824, and married John Robertson (father of our subject).


George Carr Robertson attended the public schools of Dyberry and Honesdale, and also took a course in a commercial college at Kingston, Penn. After leaving school he went to Rochester, N. Y., where for one year he assisted his uncle in the lumberyard and on his return to Dyberry township took charge of the old homestead, which he success- fully operated until 1890, when he was elected regis- ter and recorder of Wayne county for a term of three years. He proved a most popular and capable official, promptly and faithfully discharging the duties of the responsible position. In the fall of 1899 he was elected county commissioner, receiv- ing the largest number of votes cast for any candi- date for that office on either ticket, and on the organization of the Board he was elected its Presi- dent. He has also been honored with a number of local offices, including that of township clerk,


which he filled for eight terms. Socially he is a prominent member of the Heptasophs.


In Boston, Mass., December 30, 1881, Mr. Robertson was married to Miss Harriette S. Strong- man, by Rev. A. B. Kendig. They now have one son, Arthur Carr, who was born October 14, 1882, and is attending the graded schools of Honesdale. Mrs. Robertson is a daughter of John and Martha (Andrew) Strongman, who were born, reared and married in Cornwall, England, and on coming to this country located in Dyberry township, Wayne Co., Penn., where they still continue to reside. Their children are Benjamin, a member of the Honesdale Glove & Mitten Co., and a resident of Seelyville, Wayne county; Mary, wife of John H. Avery, of Dyberry ; Emeline (deceased) ; Harriette S., wife of our subject; John, superintendent of a store in Boston, Mass .; Mattie, a clerk in the same store ; George, superintendent of a store owned by the same company in Washington, D. C .; and Jessie, wife of Jacob Houser, of Dyberry. Mrs. Robert- son is a member of the M. E. Church at Honesdale.




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