Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 317

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 317
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 317
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 317
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 317

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).

(7) Benjamin H. Larrabee, the youngest son

of Veranous and Lucy Larrabee, was born in 1823. He settled in West Jackson, and married Maranda Hall, who was born in 1819, second daughter of Deacon Martin Hall. In 1870 the family removed to Lester, N. Y., where they now reside. The chil- dren are Hadley B., Devillo E. (born in 1853) and Nettie E. (born in 1858), all of whom are living. Perhaps the most prominent living member of the Larrabee family to-day is Hadley B. Larrabee, A. M., born in North Jackson August 18, 1849. He graduated from Hillsdale (Mich.) College, class of '75 ; served as principal of Pleasant Mount Acad- emy, 1875-78; superintendent of public schools of Wayne county, Penn., 1878-84; was candidate of the Republican party of Wayne county for State Senator, 1882; alternate delegate to the national Republican convention at Chicago, 1884; city su- perintendent of public schools, Creston, Iowa, 1884- 95; city superintendent of public schools Rapid City, S. Dak., from 1895, which position he now retains. In 1875 Prof. Larrabee married Ella Rood, of Lenoxville, Penn., who died in Creston, Iowa, in 1893, of pneumonia. In 1895 he married Myrtle Bostetter, of Lincoln, Neb. His children are Wayne B., born in 1877; Ben R., born in 1883; Willie M., born in 1887; and Nettie M., who died in infancy.

Wayne B. Larrabee enlisted in Company M, First Regiment South Dakota Volunteers, May 7, 1898, served as adjutant's clerk in the brigade and division headquarters, and was chief clerk for Gen. McArthur when hostilities began at Manila, Feb. 4, 1899. He immediately joined his company, and participated in all the battles and charges in which his regiment was engaged. In the charge at Marilao, he was one of eight who first swam the river and reached the trenches; was promoted to corporal by order of Col. Frost, for gallantry in action ; was offered the position of major, but was taken sick and removed to the hospital just after the fighting was over, and could not accept the ap- pointment. He was an author of acknowledged ability, many articles from his pen finding a place in city dailies. Several magazine articles from his pen have been published. A song, "The Fighting Suit of Brown," composed by him just after the fight at Malolos, has been set to music, and is hav- ing a great sale. Returning with his regiment to San Francisco in September, he contracted small- pox, and died October 7, 1899, in Presido Fort at that city. His remains were interred at sunset on the day of his death, outside that fortress.

(6) Aden Bennett Larrabee, the father of George V. Larrabee (whose name heads this sketch), was born in Dummerston, Vt., August 9, 1817. He came with his parents to Jackson in 1831, the family settling upon the farm now form- ing a portion of the farms of Frank Whitney and O. E. Barrett, near Lake View. Mr. Larrabee spent six years in Jackson, Gibson and Lanesboro, working as a farm hand for Obed Nye, Milton Tingley, Henry Chandler and Jesse Lane, and re-

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turned to his native State in 1837. He worked for Martin Gates that and the following year, and was employed one winter in the Collinsville axe fac- tory. Returning to Pennsylvania, he cast his first Presidential vote for William H. Harrison in 1840, and has voted at every Presidential election since, a period of sixty years. In 1841 he married Har- riet E. Dougherty, eldest daughter of William and Sally Dougherty, of Gibson, Penn., the former of whom was born in Newburgh, N. Y., in 1799, and died in Jackson, in 1860, aged sixty-one years. Harriet E., Mrs. Larrabee, was the eldest of four sisters, and was born in Salem, Wayne Co., Penn., June 10, 1820, and died in North Jackson, May 24, 1894, aged seventy-four years. Two of the sisters survive, Mrs. L. D. Benson, of Jackson, and Mrs. N. P. Conyne, of Binghamton, N. Y. After his marriage Aden B. Larrabee worked for Leonard Corse, of New Milford, and in 1847 moved to Har- mony township, where he worked several years at Comfort's Pond, for James Comfort. In 1862 he was made a captain of State troops by Gov. Curtin and held his commission throughout the Civil war, serving under Gen. Couch, near Harrisburg, in the Gettysburg campaign in 1863.

George V. Larrabee was born February 7, 1850, in Harmony township, and passed his early years in Jackson, the family moving thence in April, 1861, to North Jackson, where the father purchased a farm. Our subject entered the Susquehanna Acad- emy in 1862, and remained a student for two years under the teaching of Prof. E. W. Rodger. He afterward attended school under Prof. O. E. French and Rev. R. G. Lamb, both well known educators of Susquehanna county. Rev. Mr. Lamb is now deceased, and Prof. French is superintendent of the city schools of Creston, Iowa. In 1866 our subject's father purchased the Slater farm, in North Jack- son, and George became a farm hand, assisting in tilling, cultivating and clearing up this old aban- doned place. He taught school winters up to 1872, on October 12 of which year he married Viola Eliza French, born in North Jackson, December 13, 1853, youngest daughter of Charles and Eliza French. The Frenches were neighboring farm- ers and well-to-do people. Mrs. Larrabee's mother died on the old homestead January 18, 1870, aged fifty-seven years, and her father died on the same farm February 19, 1899, aged eighty-nine years. Mr. Larrabee followed farming on his father's farm until his mother's death, in 1894, and then removed to his father's place in North Jackson, to care for him, residing there at present. Aden B. Larrabee has now reached the ripe old age of eighty-two years, and is hale and hearty for one so far ad- vanced in life.

Mr. Larrabee first began journalism in 1882, writing a political article in the interest of Hon. C. C. Jadwin, of Wayne county, Penn., for renomina- tion for Congress. This was first published in the Wayne Independent, of Honesdale, and afterward copied in the leading newspapers of the Congres-

sional district. Emboldened by the favorable im- pression created by this his first essay in writing for publication, he occasionally furnished news items and articles for the county press up to 1893, when he was retained on the Susquehanna Daily Tran- script-Ledger to furnish a weekly budget of Jack- son news items, and paragraphs, and this employ- ment he still follows. In 1894 he made a similar contract with the Advertiser, of New Milford, and in 1895 with the Montrose Republican, which posi- tion he still retains. In 1897 he was retained by Messrs. Resseguie & Birchard as general agent for the Transcript and Ledger, and in January, 1900, was retained for the same place by their successors, Birchard & Titsworth. Mr. Larrabee has two daughters: The eldest, Allie M., born March II, 1875, married Judson J. Savory, of Lake View, March 13, 1895, and has two children -- Marie V., born December 13, 1896, and Louise S., born Au- gust 12, 1898. The youngest daughter, Ida S. Lar- rabee, was born April 12, 1881, graduated from the Lanesboro High School May 22, 1899, and is now engaged as a teacher in the township public schools ; she is unmarried.

Perhaps the member in the Larrabee family in whom they all take most pride, and one whose mem- ory is ever held in sacred remembrance, is Hon. Monroe J. Larrabee, fourth son of Lorenzo D. Lar- rabee, born in Jackson, August 4, 1838; he died in Susquehanna, October 26, 1888, aged fifty years. His boyhood was spent in poverty and much of that period was uneventful. He attended the district schools only in the winter season, and assisted his father on the farm during the summer months. Afterward he attended the high school in Montrose and also Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Penn., graduating from this well known institution with honors. Mr. Larrabee taught a term of school in Thompson and spent a year in western New York and Canada. One year he spent in Boston as a clerk for his uncle, Marchall Teney, but these pursuits not proving congenial to his studious nature, he in 1861 turned his attention to the study of law, entering the office of Hon. William J. Turrell, a prominent attorney of Montrose, as a student of Blackstone. However, the war of the Rebellion burst upon the country a few months after he was enrolled as a student. Laying aside his books, he, with his three brothers, became at once citizen sol- diers of the Republic, and through all the four years he remained in the field, first in a Pennsylvania regiment, and later in a New York command. His service was one of distinction, and in 1865, when the war was over, he returned home and resumed his law studies with Mr. Turrell, being admitted to practice in the Susquehanna county courts in 1868. Opening an office in Susquehanna for the practice of his profession, he soon gained the reputation of an able lawyer and reliable counselor, and what was of far more worth to him and his many friends, maintained an honest name and an upright char- acter not only in professional but in social and

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moral life as well. Entering political life, he was, in 1876, nominated and elected representative to the Pennsylvania State Legislature, serving in the sessions of 1877-78. In 1882 he was the Repub- livan candidate for State Senator from his home county of Susquehanna and the neighboring county of Wayne, comprising the 26th district, but was not successful in the election.

Mr. Larrabee was named by Susquehanna county in 1884 for Congress from the 15th Penn- sylvania district, but his name was rejected in the conference which followed. He was a prominent candidate for judge in his judicial district, and had he lived would have received the nomination in 1890. In politics Mr. Larrabee was always a Republican, and an active and zealous one. Always on the alert to achieve party success, he considered no work too arduous or trial too great to perform, and when his health was sadly impaired, and his once rugged constitution undermined by disease, he hastened to the call of duty, and in the closing days of the Presidential campaign of 1888 ad- dressed a large meeting in his native town of Jack- son. Returning home he was stricken down by a cold contracted on this night's journey, and in three days' time his life was ended. His was a most impressive funeral, and is remembered to this day by the many in attendance. Reposing in the beau- tiful cemetery at North Jackson, beside his loved ones, he awaits that day that will summon him from sleep to join his brother heroes on the plains of immortal glory. His widow, Kate (Dennison) Larrabee, whom he married in Montrose in 1882, now resides in Bloomsburg, Penn., where her two daughters-Louise, born March 2, 1884, and Bes- sie, born July 3, 1886, are attending the State Nor- mal School.

S. D. BARNES is prominent among the en- ergetic, enterprising and successful business men of Thompson borough. Industry, integrity and perseverance have been important factors in his suc- cess, and his connection with various business en- terprises has been of decided advantage to Sus- quehanna county, promoting its material welfare in no uncertain manner.

Mr. Barnes was born in Herrick township, Sus- quehanna county, in November, 1851, and is de- scended from good old Revolutionary stock. His grandparents, Ezekiel and Betsy Barnes, were na- tives of Connecticut and early settlers of Gibson township, Susquehanna county, where the former cleared and improved a farm, and there they both died. In their family were six sons and five daugh- ters, namely: George W. J., who died in Herrick township; E. R., father of our subject; Jefferson, who lived and died in Great Bend, Susquehanna county ; Ira, a resident of Luzerne county, Penn. ; Alonzo, of North Attleboro, Mass .; Stephen, a farmer of Ararat township, Susquehanna county ; Lorania Follett; Julia Colwell; Fannie Williams ; Mary, who died unmarried; and Amanda Bowdish.

E. R. Barnes was born in Gibson township, March 22, 1821, and during his boyhood and youth assisted in the work of the home farm dur- ing the summer season, and attended the winter schools. When a young man he purchased a farm in Herrick township, which has been greatly im- proved by him and is still his home. He has taken a very active and prominent part in local affairs, and has held a number of offices in his township. In religious faith both he and his wife are Uni- versalists. In early manhood he married Miss Al- meda Belcher, who was born August 10, 1821, a daughter of William and S. Belcher, prominent citizens of Susquehanna county. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes celebrated their golden wedding a few years ago, and in their declining years they are surrounded by a host of friends who honor and respect them for their sterling worth and many excellencies of character. To them were born eight children, namely: (1) Elvene, born in Herrick township, May 12, 1845, was educated in the higher schools of Gibson and other select schools, and is now the wife of J. D. Legg, a real estate dealer of Long Eddy, Sullivan Co., N. Y. They have one son, Arthur, who is now connected with the Bingham- ton Herald, of Binghamton, N. Y. (2) Dr. F. M. Barnes, born July 7, 1848, was educated at New Milford, Penn., and after his graduation took up the dentist's profession, which he has followed for a number of years. For his first wife he married Mary McBriar, of Brooklyn, N. Y., by whom he had three sons: Howard, a druggist of New York ; Frank, a student at Franklin College; and William, a dentist of New York. His second wife was Frances Hendrick, of Middletown, N. Y. (3) S. D. is the next of the family. (4) B. H., born July 14, 1853, was well educated and successfully en- gaged in teaching in Susquehanna and Luzerne counties for a number of years. He married a lady of Des Moines, Iowa, and is now a prominent newspaper man of that city. (5) William A., born March 15, 1856, died at the age of seven years. (6) A. D., born October 6, 1858, is a merchant of Her- rick Center, Susquehanna county, and a leading business man of that section. He wedded Mary Mills, of Susquehanna. (7) Ida, born June 7, 1861, attended the graded schools, and for some years was a successful teacher of Wayne and Sus- quehanna counties. She is a refined and popular lady residing with her parents. (8) Clara, born January 17, 1864, is the wife of Milton Kellam, a tea and coffee merchant of Binghamton, N. Y., and they have three children: Helen, Reid and Eloise.

Reared on his father's farm, S. D. Barnes ob- tained his primary education in the home schools, and later he attended the Harford graded schools and took a classical course at the State Normal at Geneseo, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1878. He then took up the work of teaching in Damascus, Wayne Co., Penn., and through his in- fluence the Delaware Valley Academy was built at that place. Subsequently he was superintendent of

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the Hawley schools for three years. While princi- pal of the Hawley schools he was appointed by the executive educational board of the State as one of the State Institute instructors. This position 'he very ably filled for several years; at that time he delivered a number of popular lectures, his serv- ices being in great demand in eastern Pennsylvania and New York. In 1883 he was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Armstrong, who was born in Cochecton, N. Y., in 1861, and graduated from the Delaware Valley Academy under her husband's teaching. She is a daughter of George and Olive Armstrong, of New York, and a granddaughter of Deacon Hedden, in his time a leading and promi- nent business man of Wayne county, Penn. Four children were born to our subject and his wife, namely : Irene A., born in Thompson, in 1886; H. Mildred, born in 1888; Howard B., who died at the age of five months; and Marion, born April 2, 1899.

After his marriage Mr. Barnes was principal of the Montrose high schools for one year, but on account of failing health he was finally obliged to abandon that profession. He then embarked in business at Thompson as a druggist and general merchant, and has since successfully carried on operations there. In partnership with E. E. Gelatt, of that place, he is also extensively engaged in the manufacture of hard and soft wood lumber, and deals in stone, selling principally to the Eastern markets. He was one of the prime movers in es- tablishing the water works at Thompson and owns a large amount of the stock. He is one of the most progressive and public-spirited men of the town, and to him and a few others Thompson is greatly indebted for the many improvements that have been made within her borders in the last de- cade. He is an upright, honorable business man who commands the respect and confidence of the entire community, and the success that he has achieved is certainly well merited. For several years he has been a supporter of the Prohibition party and its principles, and he and his wife are active members of the Baptist Church, to which they contribute liberally.

WILLIAM G. SEAMANS. During the dark days of the Civil war Pennsylvania contributed her full quota to the defense of the government, and the subject of this sketch, now a leading agriculturist of Harmony township, Susquehanna county, was among the brave men who went from this section, enlisting in September, 1862, in -Company B, 17th P. V. C., under Capt. D. E. Whitney, of Harford. He took part in more than thirty engagements, serv- ing for a time under Gen. Alfred Pleasanton, with the Army of the Potomac, and later under Gen. Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley.

His first battle was at Mountain Run, April 28, 1863, and then followed Chancellorsville, May I, 2 and 3; Beverly Ford, June 9; Upperville, June 21 ; Gettysburg, July 1, 2, and 3 ; Williamsport, Md.,

July 6; Boonsboro, Md., July 8; Falling Waters, Md., July 14; Brady Station, August 1 ; Culpeper, September 15; Stevensburg, October II; Brandy Station, October 12; Bristow Station, October 13; and Raccoon Ford, October 16 and 18. The regi- ment wintered near Falmouth and the spring of 1864 opened with the great battle of the Wilderness in May. For some time he had constant fighting, being at Todds Tavern, May 7, 1864; Spottsyl- vania, May 8; Yellow Tavern, May II; Meadow Bridge, May 12, New Castle Ferry, May 28; Old Church, May 30; Cold Harbor, May 31 ; Trevilian Station, June 12; White House Landing, June 21 ; Jones Bridge, June 23; Deep Bottom, July 28; Newtown, August II; Cedar Creek, August 10; Berryville, August 21 ; Shepardstown, August 25; Smithfield, August 28 and 29; Opequan Creek, Sep- tember 7; Winchester, September 19; and the bat- tle near Gordonville on December 23, 1864. His regiment followed Lee's army until the surrender, and our subject was honorably discharged on June 22, 1865, after the Grand Review at Washington, and returned home on June 23, 1865.

Mr. Seamans comes of good New England stock, his ancestors having settled in Rhode Island at an early day. Asher B. Seamans, his father, was born in Rhode Island, March 17, 1803, and was married there in 1823, to Betsy Batty, also a native of the State, born in August, 1804. In the winter of 1837 he removed to Harford, Susquehanna Co., Penn., the journey being made in sleighs, and after residing at that place for a short time located in New Milford township, where he cleared a farm. Later he bought an adjoining tract, over the line in Harford township, which he also cleared and im- proved, making a valuable and attractive home- stead, known as the "Three Lake farm." He was prominent in local affairs, first as a Whig and later as a Republican, and frequently held office in the township. He and his worthy wife were devout members of the Methodist Church, and were much esteemed in the locality. His death occurred at the homestead, March 24, 1882, and his wife died May 24, 1873. They had a large family of children, of whom the following is the record: (1) Emma R., the eldest, born in 1828, in Rhode Island, married Orin Bennett, a native of that State who settled upon a farm in New Milford township, Susque- hanna county. They died there, and their children were as follows: Herbert E. is a railroad man in Connecticut ; Alice is the widow of a Mr. Tennant, of New Milford, Susquehanna county ; Oscar ; Eva ; and Elizabeth. (2) William G. is next in the order of birth. (3) Annie M., born in 1832, in Rhode Island, died in New Milford township, un- married. (4) Douglas O., born in 1834, in Rhode Island, was educated in the schools of Harford. He settled in New Milford, where he engaged in black- smithing and the manufacture of plows. During the Civil war he enlisted, in 1864, at Elmira, N. Y., in the N. Y. V. I., and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, serving until the close of the

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war, and taking part in a number of engagements. After his return he located at Waverly, N. Y., where he resided until his death, in 1876. He mar- ried Miss Emily Brewster, of Harford (now also deceased ), and had two children-Frederick B., a resident of Harford, and Nellie, who died in early womanhood. (5) Jane Mary, born in 1836, in Rhode Island, is the widow of James Chamberlain, and resides at New Milford. She has the following children-George, a resident of New Milford; Ar- thur, a railroad man of Great Bend; John; Anne; Dora, wife of a Mr. Jackson, a railroad man at Great Bend. (6) Asher J., born in 1838, at New Milford, married Miss Hannah Halstead, of Har- ford, and now resides in Harford village, where he follows the carpenter's trade. He has one daugh- ter-Ella. (7) Alvin S., born in 1840, in Harford, married a young lady in Michigan, while attend- ing school at Ann Arbor. He settled at that place as a stock farmer and merchant, and is one of the prominent men of the city. During the Civil war he held a position under the government. He has several children. (8) Henry T., born in 1842, in New Milford, Susquehanna county, married (first) Miss Katie Smith, of New Milford, and settled on his father's old home. His wife died, leaving one son-Eugene, and by his second wife, Miss Rosetta (Tiffany), he has two sons-Homer and Elbert, who are still at the old homestead. (9) Betsy C., born in 1844, in Harford, married Charles Chamberlain, who died in New Milford, leaving two sons-Chester and Lynn, both of whom are now married and have families. (10) Chester W., the youngest of the family, was born in Har- ford, in 1846, and was killed at Scranton, on the railroad in 1863, when he was aged seventeen years.

William G. Seamans was born December 29, 1830, in the town of Foster, R. I., but his education was obtained in the schools of Harford and New Milford. During his youth he worked at home, clearing land and following the plow, and since at- taining his majority his attention has been mainly devoted to agriculture. On February 14, 1858, he married Miss Sarah L. Owens, who was born April 8, 1832, in Rush township, Susquehanna county, where her parents, Samuel and Charlotte (Heath) Owens, were prominent residents. After his mar- riage Mr. Seamans located at New Milford, but on his return from the army in 1865 he made his home in Harford. In 1872 he purchased his present farm, a fine estate of 180 acres in North Harmony, Susquehanna county, near the New York line, and there he has cleared land and made many improve- ments, building stone walls and erecting a large bank barn with other structures. His orchard is one of the best in this section, one hundred and fifty trees of different varieties now bearing fruit. He also operates a stone quarry upon the place, the product being in good demand for paving. Polit- ically he has always affiliated with the Republican party, and although he is not an office-seeker, he has served as school director. He is a member of Post No. 81, G. A. R., at Lanesboro, and in religion 86

he inclines toward the M. E. Church, of which his wife is an active member. His family holds an en- viable social position, and of his six children two are still at home: (I) .Charles M., born Septem- ber 28, 1859, at New Milford, resides at Bureau, Ill. He was married in 1885 to Miss Katie Hub- bard, of Clinton, Iowa, and they have four chil- dren-Ivan, Verna, Elmer and Iona. (2) Will- iam O., born in New Milford, October 28, 1862, married, in 1887, Miss Eva French, of McClure, Broome Co., N. Y., where they reside on a farm. They have two daughters-Clara and Sadie. (3) Lottie M., born at Harford, March 27, 1866, was married, in 1895, to William Davis, of Harpers- ville, Broome Co., N. Y .; they have two children- Sarah E. and Karl. (4) Samuel A., born in Har- ford, October 4, 1870, and (5) Miss Emma O., born at the present home November 27, 1873, are at home. (6) Ruford D., born in Harmony town- ship, November 12, 1878, is at present residing in New York State.

ELIJAH TEEPLE, a prominent farmer and business man of Manchester township. is a worthy representative of one of the old and honored fam- ilies of Wayne county, it having been founded here in 1821, by his grandparents. Christopher and Eliza Teeple, the former of German, the latter of French descent. They spent their remaining days in Wayne county, and died in Manchester township.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 317

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