Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 315

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 315
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 315
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 315
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 315

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REV. GEORGE HENRY PRENTICE, for some time pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Waymart, Wayne county, was born January 17, 1853, in Otsego county, N. Y., where his parents, John A. and Lydia A. (Monroe) Prentice, were born in October, 1817, and in March, 1822, re- spectively. There they were reared and married, and continued to make their home there until 1884, the father following the occupation of farming. Since then they have lived retired in Mt. Upton, N. Y. They are leading members of and active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church; in politics the father was first a Republican, and is now a Prohibitionist. Of their three children, the two eld- est, George W. and Henry J., both died in childhood, our subject being the only survivor.

George Henry Prentice was reared on his fa- ther's farm, remaining with his parents until 1873, when he began teaching school. At the end of one term he accepted a position as assistant teacher in Hartwick Seminary, where he remained for five years, and then entered Drew Seminary, where he pursued his studies for three years. Joining the Methodist Episcopal Conference, he was first as- signed to East Worcester, N. Y., where he remained for one year, the following two years was at Wells Bridge, and then returned to East Wor- cester for one year. The next year his charge was Harpersville and Nineveh, N. Y. For the following three years he was pastor of the Church at Gilberts- ville, which was followed by three years at New Ber- lin, and in the spring of 1894 he came to Waymart, Wayne Co., Penn., where he did effective service for the cause of Christianity and for the Church. He succeeded in building a new parsonage and remodeling the church, and also built up the Church numerically and spiritually. While a resident of New York, he conducted a job printing office in Hartwick for three years.

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Mr. Prentice was married, April 4, 1884, at Rockdale, N. Y., by Rev. L. A. Wild, a Methodist Episcopal minister, to Miss Hattie V. Chamberlain. They now have five children: Anna Pearl, Leslie Neil, Edna Ruth, Julia Florean and Blanche Lydia. Mrs. Prentice was born in De Witt, Iowa, March 24, 1861, a daughter of Thomas J. and Julia A. ( North) Chamberlain, natives of Chenango county, N. Y. The father, who was a railroad contractor, died in De Witt, Iowa, in March, 1865, at the age of thirty-eight years ; the mother, who was born December 22, 1831, is still living, and now makes her home in South Dakota. She is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her children are Thomas Jefferson, a farmer and school teacher of Wisconsin ; and Hattie V., wife of our subject.

At the polls, Mr. Prentice always casts his ballot with the Prohibition party. He is a man of thoughtful, earnest purpose, of strong intellectual endowments, of broad charity and kindly nature, and by all denominations, as well as his own people, he is held in the highest regard.

B. F. MILLER, commissioner of Monroe coun- ty, is a leading resident of East Stroudsburg, and is noted among his large circle of friends and ac- quaintances for his excellent judgment and the liberality of his opinions. As a business man he has won a high standing, and for a number of years he has been an influential worker in the Dem- ocratic organization of his county, his advice being sought in all matters of importance. He was born July 29, 1849, in Middle Smithfield township, Mon- roe county, and comes of patriotic ancestry in both maternal and paternal lines. Benjamin Franklin Miller, his great-grandfather, served in the Revolu- tionary war and was taken prisoner by the British, but escaped.

Henry Miller, our subject's grandfather, was born in New Jersey, but made his permanent home in Middle Smithfield township, Monroe county, where he followed farming and carpentering. He died at the age of sixty years, but his wife, Elizabeth (Cisco), also a native of New Jersey, attained the advanced age of ninety years. Of their ten children, the eldest, Daniel, who died in October, 1885, when seventy-one years of age, was a blacksmith in Mid- dle Smithfield township; David and Peter are farm- ers in Middle Smithfield township; William, our subject's father, is mentioned more fully below ; Henry and Jonn are engaged in farming in Middle Smithfield township; Eliza died unmarried; Mar- garet married Joseph Ace; Catherine married Jo- seph Casebeer ; and Mary married John N. Noack.

William Miller, our subject's father, was born in 1826, and died in April, 1897, at his old home- stead in Middle Smithfield township. He was a prominent Democrat of that locality, and was a farmer by occupation. His wife, Elizabeth Strunk, who was born in Middle Smithfield township in 1828, is still living. They had eight children, viz. : B. F., our subject; Eleanora, deceased, who mar-

ried Samuel Munn; John S., a resident of Stroud township, Monroe county; Catherine, who married Jacob S. Mick, of Stroudsburg, now serving as county jury commissioner ; Hannah L., wife of Dan- iel Van Why, of East Stroudsburg; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Bush, of Stroudsburg; Francis, who died in childhood ; and Bush, who resides in Middle Smithfield township. Mrs. Elizabeth Strunk Mil- ler is a descendant of a well known Pennsylvania- Dutch family, and her grandfather, Peter Strunk, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Her father, John C. Strunk, who has been blind for twenty-three years, is a highly esteemed resident of Middle Smithfield township, and served eight years as con- stable of that township before the organization of Monroe county. At various other times he has been chosen to office, and for nine years he held the posi- tion of county commissioner. He married Miss Ella Hanna, of Middle Smithfield, Monroe Co., Pennsylvania.

Our subject's early education was somewhat meagre, but he has supplemented it by reading, and observation, and his independence of thought gives his conversation a peculiar interest. As a boy he began working in the woods in the lumber business, which he followed for many years, both as superin- tendent of the operations of others and on his own account, but of late he has given less attention to it because of the pressure of public cares. He has always been a stanch Democrat, and at various times he held office in his township, serving twice as judge of elections, two terms as school director, and two as tax collector. He resigned the last named post in 1893 to accept his present office of county com- missioner, his term beginning in 1894. His able discharge of duty was appreciated by his constitu- ents and in 1896 he was re-elected, this being his second term. He is not married, but is prominent socially, being an active member of the P. O. S. A. and other organizations. He has a fine presence and well proportioned frame, and his good nature and abounding vitality are appreciated by his large cir- cle of friends.

S. K. BELLES, a well-known lumberman of Dimock township, Susquehanna county, and one of the faithful defenders of the Union during the Civil war, was born near Tannersville, in Pocono township, Monroe county, May 4, 1838.

His father, J. D. Belles, was a native of the same place, born Januarv 6, 1806, and a son of George and Mary (De Haven) Belles. Reared to manhood in Monroe county, J. D. Belles there mar- ried Elsie Brown, who lost her father when only a child. Until our subject was twelve years old his father followed farming in Pocono township, where he owned property. and then removed to Plymouth, Luzerne Co., Penn., where he was sim- ilarly employed. Subsequently he lived in Lake township, the same county, and in Monroe town- ship, Wyoming Co., Penn., where he followed farm-

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ing and lumbering, and then returned to Tanners- ville, Monroe county, where his death occurred in 1871. In his political views he was a Democrat. His wife died in Beaumont, Wyoming county, in 1873. The children born to this worthy couple were as follows: Hiram, who died in 1858; Ann Marie, who married William Brink, of Monroe county, and died in 1888; Amos, who during the Civil war enlisted in Company F, 143rd P. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, De- cember 13, 1862 ; Andrew, a millwright of Mckean county, Penn. ; S. K., our subject ; Adam, a farmer of Beaumont, Wyoming county; Lewis W., who died at Lehman; Sarah and Elizabeth, twins, de- ceased ; Mary Jane, deceased; and Miner V., who was killed in a sawmill.

At the age of twelve years S. K. Belles ac- companied his parents on their removal to Luzerne county, and until eighteen worked in sawmills there and also on a farm in New York State. Laying aside all personal interests, he enlisted as a private August II, 1862, in Company B, 124th N. Y. V. I., under Col. A. V. H. Ellis, who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. He participated in the engagements at Fredericksburg, Beverly's Ford, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. At Sailor's Creek his company cap- tured many wagons and prizes in artillerv. He was all through the seven-day battle of the Wilderness, and with his regiment was continually skirmishing from there to Petersburg. He also took part in the battles of North Ann, Cold Harbor and Spottsyl- vania, and being wounded at the last named, he was unable to engage in active duty for several months, being confined at Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washing- ton, D. C. He rejoined his regiment in time to take part in the siege of Petersburg, and was pres- ent at Lee's surrender. For two years, ten months, and twenty-one days he remained in the service, gallantly defending the old flag and the cause it represented, and as hostilities had ceased was finally mustered out as sergeant June 16, 1865. After the war Mr. Belles returned to Pocono township, Mon- roe county, but later made his home for eleven years in Luzerene county. where he owned property and followed farming.

On July 4, 1860, near Deckertown, N. T., Mr. Belles was married to Emily F. Brink and they be- came the parents of Anna F., who was born in August, 1862, and married John Drake, of Luzerne county. Mrs. Belles died in January, 1863, while he was in the army. In Monroe county, in January, 1865, Mr. Belles was wedded to Miss Julia Ann Gordon, who died in 1889, leaving two children : Charles A., a farmer of Pike's Creek. Luzerne coun- ty ; and Frank A., a blacksmith of Meeker, Luzerne county. Throughout life Mr. Belles has been more or less interested in lu nbering, following that oc- cupation in Luzerne, Columbia, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties, and for some time he owned and operated a portable sawmill. On coming to Susquehanna county, in 1892, he bought a steam sawmill and also a home, and has since engaged

in the manufacture of lumber, lath, shingles, etc., furnishing employment to three or four men during the summer months. He is a progressive, enterpris- ing and public spirited citizen, who takes a deep interest in public affairs, and is unwavering in his support of the Republican party. He has never been an aspirant for official honors, though he has served as judge and inspector of elections, and as supervisor of Lake township, Luzerne county. So- cially he is quite prominent, having been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for twenty-nine years and the Grand Army of the Re- public for thirteen years, belonging first to Shick- shinny Post No. 257; later of Pleasant Hill Post No. 499; and at the present time of H. C. Titman Post No. 93, Auburn Four Corners.

GEORGE W. FERRIS, a farmer and lumber- man of Lake township, Wayne county, who has cut cut of the once heavily timbered lands of his locality and improved a good farm, is a native of this State, born September 24, 1846, in Blakely township, Luzerne couty.

John Ferris, his grandfather, ¿ native of Eng- land, came from that country to the United States and located in Luzerne county, Penn. In 1854, he moved to Salem township, Wayne county, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits and lumbering. His children were: Hiram (the father of our sub- ject), Almira (who married Reuben Heffelfinger, both deceased ), Lucinda ( who married Hiram Wise, of New Milford), Isaac ( who married Adora Stev- ens, both deceased), Elizabeth (now Mrs. Nathan Stark, a widow of Dunmore, Penn.), and Anna (who wedded James H. Kenny, of Dunmore, Penn. )

Hiram Ferris was born January 22, 1814, in Luzerne county, Penn., and was there married to Mary E. Carpenter, a native of Bradford county, Penn. In 1852 he moved his family to Salem town- ship, Wayne county, where he ever afterwards made his home, engaged in farming and lumbering. They were estimable people and for true worth had few superiors. In his political views he adhered to the principles of the Republican party. He died in 1860, and his wife in 1891, when aged sixty-nine; both are buried in the cemetery at Hollisterville. Their children were-Martha B. (died in youth), Edward (died when twenty-six), George W. (our subject), John (deceased, married Malinda A. Shera), Franceo (deceased), Orilla (Mrs. Chris- tian Greim, of Dunmore, Penn.), W. Newton and Reuben (are unmarried and on the homestead), Freemont (married Emma Bockus, and is a farm- er and lumberman in Tioga county), and Jessie (Mrs. Byron Dingee).

George W. Ferris remained on the farm with his parents, employed and going to school in a man- ner not unlike the general farmers' sons until eight- een years of age. He then began working for the Gravity railroad and was soon promoted to the po- sition of roadmaster, and held the same for thirteen years. Through his industrious habits and by the

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practice of economy, he was enabled when with- drawing from the employ of the railroad company to purchase a tract of 200 acres of timber land, which he cleared up an converted into one of the finest and best farms of Lake township. His im- provements are modern and the general appearance of the property indicates that a prosperous and up- to-date, practical farmer resides there. Mr. Ferris is both enterprising and public-spirited, believing in keeping up with the times. He is identified wth the M. E. Church and in his political views he is a strong Prohibitionist.

Mr. Ferris has been twice married, the first time, in 1870, marrying Laura Lonsheir, who bore him one child, Nettie, who died when two years of age. The wife and mother died in 1873, when twen- ty-four years old. She was the daughter of Louis Lonsheir (now deceased), then a farmer of Salem township. In 1874 Mr. Ferris was again married, this time to Miss Eleanora Friant, and their home has been made happy by the birth of the following children: Jessie, Arthur, Martha, Clarence, Kate, Samuel, Henry, and Helen. The mother of these was born January 23, 1853, at Scranton, Penn., a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Scott) Friant, who were born April 19, 1827, at Belvidere, N. J., and July 31, 1827, in Luzerne county, Penn., re- spectively. They were married at Providence, Lack- awanna Co., Penn., and in 1870 removed to Elm- hurst, Penn., where Mr. Friant died December 20, 1871. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics was a Republican. By oc- cupation he was a puddler in a rolling-mill. His widow, a very exemplary and highly respected woman, makes her home with our subject and wife. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Friant were: Elizabeth, George Francis, and Jane, all of whom died in infancy. Jacob S., an assistant train dis- patcher in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Rail- road Co., married Frances McLaud. Eleanora is Mrs. Ferris.

D. R. POPE. Seventy-eight years of life, filled with useful effort and crowned with the re- spect and esteem of his fellow citizens, he left this venerable resident of Thompson township, Sus- quehanna county, still hale and hearty with every prospect of continued health for years to come.

Mr. Pope was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in November, 1821, and is a son of William and Amy (Stanton) Pope, both natives of Connecticut, the former born in 1795, the latter in 1798. At an early day they removed to Otsego county, N. Y., where the father followed farming for almost half a century, but spent his last days in Susquehanna county, Penn., where three of his sons had pre- viously located. The wife and mother died in Ot- sego county. In the family were six children, namely: (I) William H., a carder and manu- facturer of cloth, owned and conducted a woolen factory at Gibson, Penn., for many years. He died in 1895, leaving five children: Edward P., ex-

sheriff of Susquehanna county ; Manning H .; Will- iam W., now of Gibson; Alice S., wife of John Barnes, of Susquehanna; and Mary; of Gibson. (2) Gaines died in childhood. (3) Henry H. married Sally Freeman, of Otsego county, and later removed to Jackson, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he made his home until his death. He had three daughters: Henrietta, deceased wife of Hosea Ben- son, of Jackson ; Ada, wife of Fremont Butterfield ; and Drett, deceased wife of Joseph Bloxem, of Ararat. (4) D. R., our subject, is the next in the family. (5) James, a resident of Cory, Penn., is married and has one daughter, Clarissa.

D. R. Pope grew to manhood in his native State, and in 1840 came to Montrose, Penn., where he served a three years' apprenticeship in a woolen factory. He then purchased land in Gibson town- ship, Susquehanna county, where he made his home for some years after his marriage. He next resided in Susquehanna for four years, and at the end of that time purchased a large tract of woodland in Thomp- son township, where he now resides. He erected thereon a sawmill and has since engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He has cleared a large amount of this land, nearly 300 acres, and has since sold one of the farms developed therefrom, with all its buildings. In 1895 he had the misfor- tune to lose eleven buildings which were destroyed by fire at one time. Upon his home farm he built a fine residence in 1867, a gristmill and two fine barns, and has made many other useful and valuable improvements, so that he has one of the best farms of the township.

In 1844 Mr. Pope married Miss Elizabeth Thayer, of Gibson, a daughter of Horace and Betsy (Washburn) Thayer, natives of Vermont, and prominent citizens of Gibson township, Sus- quehanna county. Of the three children born of this union, two daughters are now living. (I) Ida C., born in Gibson in 1847, is now the wife of Oscar Smith, of Albany, N. Y., where he has been engaged in business for twenty-five years. They have four sons : Albert T., Edwin O., Arthur P. and Clar- ence R. The second and youngest are both grad- uates of the Wesleyan University, of Connecticut. (2) Marian, born in Gibson, in 1849, was educated in the schools of Jackson and Gibson, and married Albert Smith, of New York State. They now re- side in Wilkes Barre, Penn., and have one son, Charles P., who for fifteen years has been agent for the American Express Company in that city.

Politically Mr. Pope was formerly a Repub- lican, but is now a stanch supporter of the Prohibi- tion party. He has held the offices of supervisor and school director, and has served in other local posi- tions to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. For over fifty years he and his wife have been iden- tified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have taken a very prominent part in Church work, to which they have also contributed liberally of their means. Mr. Pope is to-day one of the lead- ing business men of Thompson township, where as

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a young man he started out in life for himself in rather limited circumstances, but by strict atten- tion to business, careful management and hard work he has accumulated a handsome fortune, and is now surrounded by all the comforts which make life worth the living. He is widely and favorably known as an upright, honest man, and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances who esteem him highly for his sterling worth.

GEORGE FARGO is among the prominent and worthy citizens of Rush township, Susquehanna county, whose lives have been devoted to agricult- ural pursuits and lumbering, and who is now prac- tically living retired, while younger hands carry for- ward the work he began.

Mr. Fargo is a native of the county where he still makes his home, his birth having occurred in Bridgewater township, August 4, 1822. His par- ents, Elisha and Alice (Lathrope) Fargo, were natives of Connecticut, and in 1800 came to Sus- quehanna county, Penn., locating in Bridgewater, now Dimock township. Both died in Auburn town- ship, the same county, the father in 1885, aged eighty years, the mother in 1888, aged eighty-one years, and their remains were interred in the Bun- nell burying-ground of that township. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father was a Republican in pol- itics. He was a farmer by occupation and was hon- ored with several township offices of trust. In his family were the following children: James L., who died in 1894; Norris, who died in 1898; Bishop, who was killed by falling from a window in 1888; George, our subject; Charlotte, wife of Jonathan Bunnell, of Auburn township; Orand, deceased ; and Mason, a miller of Rush township.

Until twenty-two years of age George Fargo remained with his parents, assisting in the work of the home farm, and then worked at the carpen- ter's trade for about eight years. At the end of that time he located upon his present farm in Rush township, and erected thereon a lathe, saw and feed mill, which he operated in connection with his farm work until failing health caused his retirement from active labor in 1888. He possesses considerable musical ability, especially as a violin player, and from the age of twenty-four until 1888, his services were in demand at most of the dances in his locality. Since the organization of the Republican party he has been one of its stanch supporters, and for three years he efficiently served as school director in his district.

On July 1, 1849, in Dimock township, Susque- hanna county, Mr. Fargo was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Bennett, and to them were born two sons, namely: Herbert T., who married Clara Lathrope and is now engaged in farming in Dimock township; and William, who married Alma Sipher and is engaged in the real estate business in Buf- falo, N. Y. The wife and mother was born in Au- burn township, Susquehanna county, March 27,

1836, and died May 29, 1885, being laid to rest in East Rush cemetery. Mr. Fargo was again mar- ried, December 28, 1896, in Rush township, his sec- ond union being with Miss Serepta Bennett, a sis- ter of his first wife, who was born in Auburn town- ship, May 21, 1836, and is a most estimable lady. Her parents were Daniel F. and Eunice (Crandall) Bennett, who were natives of Connecticut, but be- came acquainted and were married in Auburn town- ship, Susquehanna Co., Penn. They were well known and had the respect and esteem of the en- tire community. The father was born March 21, 18II, and died November 5, 1867, and the mother was born June 18, 1806, and died February 27, 1898, both being laid to rest in Bunnell cemetery, Auburn township. Their children were Selina, wife of Clark Cobb, a retired farmer of Factoryville, Penn .; Harriet, the first wife of our subject ; Eman- vel, a huckster of Scranton, Penn .; Serepta, the present wife of our subject; Daniel W., who died in Scranton, Penn .; Eunice, a resident of Auburn township, Susquehanna county; and Freeman, a farmer of the same township. Mrs. Fargo's pa- ternal grandparents, Ames and Wealthy ( Spafford) Bennett, were also natives of Connecticut and at an early day became residents of Susquehanna county, where the former engaged in farming throughout the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Fargo re- ceive and merit the high regard of all who know them, and no citizens in Rush township are more honored or highly respected.

JACOB ANDREWS was formerly an active and enterprising farmer, and enjoyed more than ordinary success, but is now retired from labor, and is in the enjoyment of all the comforts which make life worth the living. This worthy citizen of Chest- nut Hill township, Monroe county, was born at White Marsh, Montgomery Co., Penn., July 5, 1831, a son of James and Saloma (Fenner) An- drews. The father was born in this country of Irish ancestry, and for many years engaged in the restaurant business, but at the time of his death was serving as janitor of the American Mechanics hall and Bethany church. He held membership in the Reformed Church, and was a Republican in politics. He died in Lancaster, Penn., in 1874, at the age of sixty-five years, and was buried in the German Reformed cemetery at that place. The mother, who was a native of Northampton county, Penn., died at Bethlehem, in December, 1831, and was laid to rest in the Moravian cemetery at that place.

Jacob Andrews, the only child born to this worthy couple, was six months old when his moth- er died, and until six years of age he made his home with his uncle, Valentine Raw. From that time until he was twenty he lived with Jacob Leidy, and then worked for the Pennsylvania Coal Com- pany for four years, putting in the first line between Port Griffith and Hawley, Penn. Coming to Mon- roe county in 1855, he settled at Saylorsburg, where

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 315

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