Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 318

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 318
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 318
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 318
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 318

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Phineas Teeple was born in May, 1817, at the water gap in Smithfield, N. Y., and with his parents came to Wayne county, where amid primitive scenes he grew to manhood. He became one of the great- est hunters on the Delaware river, and his fame spread throughout eastern Pennsylvania. During his boyhood he could handle a gun with the skill of an old hunter, and throughout his entire life he continued to engage in this-his favorite sport. On one occasion he killed nine wolves in one day, and in two and a half days killed seventeen deer. At another time he had sixty-five deer at his home which he had killed, and these he disposed of at the markets in Philadelphia, receiving a good price for the same. Wild animals of many kinds were still found in this region, and he often killed bears, wolves and wild cats. Bv occupation he was a farmer and lumberman. He married Miss Sarah Quick, daughter of Samuel Quick, also an old set- tler of Wayne county, and eight children were born to them, of whom seven reached years of maturity, namely: Isabella, wife of Alanson Lester, of Equin- unk, Wayne county ; John, who served as a Union soldier during the Civil war, and is now a resident of Manchester township; Elijah, the subject of this sketch; Christopher, deceased; Simon, who lives on the old homestead; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Codington, of Hancock, N. Y. : and Henry, who is also living upon the old homestead. The mother died at the age of sixty-eight, the father at the age of seventy-seven years. He was six feet in height, weighed 180, was well proportioned, and

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although as amiable in disposition as a woman, he was as brave as a lion. As a business man, he was always upright and honorable, and therefore gained the confidence and good will of all whom he came in contact with.

Elijah Teeple was reared upon the home farm, where he was born October 2, 1847, and as he in- herited his father's taste for hunting, he early be- came an expert marksman. Many bears, wild cats and foxes have fallen before his trusty rifle, in one season he killed twenty-one deer, and fifteen years ago he killed the last bear to be slain in the county. He has killed deer on the head waters of the Susquehanna, in Potter county, Penn., the high- est point in the State, it being drained also by the Genesee and Allegheny rivers, and has some of the best specimens of bucks' heads to be found in the State.

At the age of fifteen years Mr. Teeple began jobbing in the lumber woods, and in his business en- terprises he has met with good success. In 1870 he located upon his present farm, which was still in its primitive condition, but to-day he has sixty-six acres under. cultivation, and improved with a comfortable residence and good out-buildings. He also owns a store at Lookout, where he is engaged in general merchandising, carrying a good stock of dry-goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and for eight years he has served as postmaster at that place.

In 1869 Mr. Teeple was united in marriage with Miss Sylvia A. Chase, who was born, reared and educated in Wayne county, and is a daughter of Gideon B. and Jane (Raines) Chase, the former now deceased. Our subject and his wife have three children: Irene, now the wife of F. W. Clanson, of Honesdale, Wayne county; and Millard and Ela- ford, both at home. In his political views Mr. Teeple is a stanch Republican, and he has served his fellow citizens in the capacity of supervisor. He is an exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal Church, is zealous and active in all Church work, and for the long period of twenty years has served as super- intendent of the Sabbath school. All enterprises calculated to advance the moral, educational or material welfare of the community receive his hearty endorsement, and he takes an active part in advanc- ing the cause of temperance.

SIDNEY N. GALLOWAY, a wide-awake and energetic farmer of Great Bend township, is a na- tive of Susquehanna county, born in Gibson town- ship, in December, 1837, and is a son of Aaron T. and Mercy M. (Ball) Galloway.

The father was born in the same township, in 18II, while the grandfather, who also bore the name of Aaron and was a native of New Hamp- shire, came to Susquehanna county at an early day and took up his residence in South Gibson, where his death occurred. In the family of the latter were nine children, five sons and four daughters, namely : George, born in Susquehanna county, married and located in New York State ; Lewis made his home in

Waverly, N. Y .; Wesley married and settled in Binghamton; Jonathan married and removed to Michigan, where he died leaving a family; Matilda was the wife of a Mr. Grant, of Binghamton, N. Y .; Hulda married a Mr. Tallman, of the same place; Betsy was the wife of John Tallman, who moved West; and Sarah made her home in Bing- hamton, New York.

Aaron T. Galloway, who completes the family, lived at different times in Jackson and Gibson town- ships, Susquehanna county, where he owned and operated farms. He died in the former township, in 1879, and his wife departed this life in 1888. To them were born eight children, as follows: Mercy A. died in 1852, during childhood. (2) (I) Dennis M., born in 1836, married Lucy Beecher, of Thompson township, Susquehanna county, and later served for a year and a half in the Civil war as a member of Company A, 15Ist P. V. I. He is now a resident of Binghamton, N. Y. His only child, a daughter, died young. (3) Sidney N. is the next in order of birth. (4). Aaron, born in 1840, wedded Mary Bishop, of Susquehanna county, and as a member of the Pennsylvania Light Artillery he participated in a number of battles during the Civil war. He now has a large family and resides in Binghamton. (5) Amos, born in 1842, first married Sarah Wood, and after her death Mary Tailor, and they now live in Binghamton. He has one son, John. (6) George W., born in 1845, was also a Union soldier in the war of the Rebellion. He married Ellen Green, of Susquehanna county, and is now living near St. Paul, Minn. (7) Jo- seph, born in 1847, married Isabel Drake, of Sus- quehanna county, and they make their home in Binghamton. (8) Mary A., born in November, 1851, married George Wood, of Susquehanna coun- ty, and died leaving four daughters-Dora, Caro- line, Bertha and Sarah.

Sidney N. Galloway acquired a limited educa- tion in the district schools near his boyhood home, and at an early age commenced working on the New York & Erie railroad, his father being a con- tractor on that road, and he continued working with him until he attained his majority. In 1861 he was united in marriage with Miss Esther E. Belcher, who was born in 1846, a daughter of Uriah and Nancy (Perkins) Belcher, of Jackson township, Susquehanna county. Since 1893 she has been an invalid from nervous prostration, but has borne her sufferings with Christian fortitude and has been tenderly cared for by her devoted husband. To them were born the following children: (I) Aaron died at the age of fourteen years. (2) Mary A., born in 1864, is now the wife of Scott Frisk, of Bear Lake, Mich., and the mother of six children- Willie, Emily, Vernie, Arthur, Esther and Wal- ter. (3) Mercy, born in 1866, married John Tur- ball, of Great Bend, Susquehanna county, and died leaving three children-Jennie, John and Esther. (4) Sidney, born in March, 1868, married Annie Slater, by whom he has two children, Rena and

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Nelson, and they live in Oakland. (5) Gilbert, born in March, 1871, married Ella Austin, and re- sides in Great Bend. (6) William, born in No- vember, 1873, married Isabel Grodavant, of Wind- sor, N. Y., by whom he has two daughters-Ver- na and Lorena, and they make their home with our subject. (7) Amos, born in October, 1875, is single and resides in Susquehanna. (8) Eva, born in November, 1877, is the wife of Daniel Munson, of Oakland, and has one daughter-Louellia.

After his marriage Mr. Galloway located in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county, but in 1862 he left his young wife and answered his coun- try's call. He enlisted in the 15Ist P. V. I., and was sworn into the United States service at Harrisburg. The regiment was assigned to the army of the Poto- mac, and was under the command first of Gen. Hooker and later of Gen. Burnside. They were in winter quarters at Belle Plaine, and took part in the battle of Chancellorsville and a number of skir- mishes around Fredericksburg and at other points., In 1864 Mr. Galloway re-enlisted in the 112th Penn- sylvania Heavy Artillery, with which he served until the close of the war, taking part in the en- gagements at Fort Harrison, Dutch Gap and Chap- man's farm. On receiving an honorable discharge he returned to his home in Susquehanna county and purchased a farm in Jackson township, but after operating the same for a short time, he sold that place and bought another in Thompson township, where he lived until 1878. It was in that year that he purchased his present farm in Great Bend town- ship, three miles from Susquehanna, on the Sus- quehanna river, upon which he has since made many useful and valuable improvements, including the erection of a comfortable residence and good barns and other outbuildings. He comes of Whig stock, and is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, and is an honored member of Moody Post No. 53, G. A. R. Religiously both he and his wife are con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they are widely and favorably known.

WILLIAM S. TANNER is a leading citizen of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, and the thriving village of Lakeside owes much of its business prosperity to his enterprise and acumen, and to that of his talented wife. He was born Sep- tember 14, 1846, on a farm near New Milford town- ship, a son of Russell Tanner, and grandson of William and Martha Tanner, lifelong residents of Massachusetts. Russell Tanner was born in Che- shire, Mass., March 22, 1812, and came to Sus- quehanna county in 1840, locating in New Milford township. He always followed agricultural pur- suits, and in 1861 he made his permanent home upon the farm now occupied by his son, Elmiron F., where he died November 20, 1886. He was mar- ried in Massachusetts, on February 20, 1834, to Miss Amy Scott, a native of Maple Grove, Mass., and a daughter of Sylvenus and Melintha (Sher- man) Scott. She was born October 31, 1810, and

died September 1, 1887, her remains being at rest beside those of her husband in the cemetery in Gibson township. They had a large family of chil- dren, as follows: Horace, born September 20, 1835, died December 3, 1890; Charles E., born June 24, 1837, in Massachusetts, died February 23, 1863, and was buried in Gibson cemetery; Daniel, born December 16, 1838, died in October, 1891; Ade- line, born January 21, 1841, married Theo Well- man, and died February II, 1863; Lydia S., born September 7, 1842, died February 17, 1863 ; Lovina J., born December 7, 1843, married Osco Tennant and died in Michigan in 1894; William S. is men- tioned more fully below ; Russell B., born March 20, 1847, died March 15, 1863; Levi P., born February 21, 1849, resides in Lestershire, N. Y .; Elmiron F., born May 19, 1852, is mentioned below; Martha M., born April 20, 1854, married Henry Robinson, and died December 21, 1884. Elmiron F. Tanner, who occupies the homestead, is a respected citizen, and active Prohibitionist, and member of the Methodist Church, in which he has been a trustee and steward for twenty years. He took care of his parents in their last days and always resided with them, with the exception of six years, from 1877 to 1883, when he was engaged in farming on his own account in the same township. On June 12, 1870, he was married, in Gibson township, to Miss Olive L. Jennings, by whom he has had three children-Brown, born May 22, 1872, died Octo- ber 31, 1879; Burton, born October 8, 1882, and Ella B., born June 26, 1890.

William S. Tanner resided with his parents un- til his marriage, and later he took charge of the old homestead, continuing sixteen years. He then pur- chased a farm in the same township, and remained upon it two years, and in November, 1881, he re- moved to his present farm in Lakeside village, where he carried on a blacksmith shop in connec- tion with agricultural work. He is an expert at his trade, which he learned as a boy of eighteen with his father, and at present he devotes much of his time to the shop, his farm being operated by his son-in-law. As a citizen he is much esteemed, and he is an active worker in the cause of prohibition and in religious affairs, being a trustee of the Method- ist Church at Lakeside. On January 1, 1867, he was married, in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, to Mrs. Annis L. (Morse) Tanner, widow of his brother, Charles E. The only child of this union, Edwin, born July 19, 1872, died in infancy.

MRS. ANNIS L. ( MORSE) TANNER is a lady of rare ability and force of character, and has suc- cessfully conducted a store at Lakeside since No- vember, 1881. As a girl of sixteen she began teach- ing school, and in this work she has met with marked success, teaching twenty-three terms in Sus- quehanna county and one term in Wayne county. The first and last terms were taught in her own native district, and four terms were after her mar- riage. In October, 1883, she was appointed post- mistress at Lakeside, and this position she held

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until 1895, and in November, 1897, she was, again appointed, being still in charge of the office. She was born August 9, 1838, in Jackson township, Sus- quehanna county, and was first married December 31, 1862, to Charles E. Tanner, the ceremony be- ing performed at New Milford. They had one daughter, Carrie, who married Frank M. Williams, a farmer at the homestead, and has had six sons- Legrand, Ray, Harry, Leo, William and Hugh. Mrs. Tanner comes of good New England ances- try, her paternal grandparents, John and Susanna (Osgood) Morse, were residents of Vermont for many years. The grandmother died there, and the grandfather, who was a farmer by occupation, be- came totally blind in his latter years, and his son John went to Vermont after him and brought him to Jackson township, Susquehanna county, where his death occurred at the home of his son Calvin. John Morse (2), Mrs. Tanner's father, was born in Vermont, and came to Susquehanna county as a young man of twenty-five. He made his home in Jackson township, where he followed the carpen- ter's trade in connection with farming, and he was also influential in local affairs, serving as school director and supervisor, and also in other township offices. In religious faith he was a Methodist, while his wife was a member of the Baptist Church, both taking an active part in the work of their re- spective societies until old age limited their strength. Mrs. Tanner's mother, whose maiden name was Achsah Hill, was reared in Susquehanna county, her parents, Ichabod and Christeen (Durkey) Hill, hav- ing come from Massachusetts when she was but seven years old to settle upon a farm in Jackson township. John Morse (2) died September 1, 1864, aged fifty-three years, and his wife died December 8, 1896, aged seventy-six, their remains being buried in Jackson cemetery. Mrs. Tanner was the eldest in a family of five children, the others being : Stella, who married Elliott Shepardson, both now deceased ; Zilpha, wife of George Pease, a farmer in Jackson township; Jason (deceased), who mar- ried Miss Nora Norton, of Lanesboro; and Ashley, who died in childhood.

HON. W. E. GREGORY, M. D., of Strouds- burg, is equally popular as a physician and citizen, his ability and energy being displayed not only in successful professional career but in public offices of trust and responsibility.

The Gregory family is of Scotch origin, and our subject's great-grandfather, John Gregory, crossed the ocean at an early day to make his home in Berks county, Penn., where he probably en- gaged in farming. This worthy pioneer had several sons and daughters, and among the number was a son David, our subject's grandfather, who was born in Berks county, but came to this section in early manhood, locating in what is now Monroe county. He was a man of fine physique, and pos- sessed a wide reputation as an athlete, being especially noted for agility in climbing lofty trees,

and on more than one occasion he scaled high hickory poles to place flags in place. Politically he was a Democrat, and he took an active part in re- ligious work in his locality as a member of the Reformed Church. He died of typhoid fever at the age of eighty-five years, and his wife, whose maiden name was Martha Mosteller, died in the same year of that disease, at the age of seventy- eight years. They had eight children: John, who is now about eighty-five years old, resides at Gil- berts; Peter, a farmer by occupation, died in Ohio, at an advanced age; Sallie married Jacob Kresge, and died of typhoid fever in 1885; Nellie married Thomas Kresge, and died when about sixty-five years old; Samuel died many years ago, and our subject does not remember him; James was acci- dentally killed in 1864; Reuben, our subject's father, is mentioned more fully below; and Will- iam, the youngest of the family, resides at Gil- berts.

Major Reuben Gregory, the Doctor's father, was born in 1817, in Kresgeville, Monroe county, and became a well-known agriculturist. He was a prominent Democrat in his locality, serving for a time as county treasurer, and for many years he took an active part in military affairs as a major in the old State Militia. Like his parents, he was a mem- ber of the Reformed Church. He married Miss Han- nah Kresge, who was born in Pleasant Valley, Mon- roe county, and both lived to the age of seventy-two years. Of their twelve children, only eight sur- vived childhood. Elizabeth married Amos Shafer, of Pleasant Valley; Lydia married Newton A. Geisinger, of Brodheadsville; Salinda (deceased) married Simeon Driesbach; Nathan is a farmer at Kresgeville; Catherine married Harrison Lo- bach, of Kresgeville; James was a cavalryman in the Union army during the Civil war, and met his death in the service; W. E. is the subject proper of this sketch; and Sarah died at the age of four- teen.

Dr. Gregory was born October 4, 1853, in Kresgeville, and after completing the course offered in the local schools he attended the Car- bon Academy at Lehighton, and the Normal School at Kutztown, Penn., of which school he is a grad- uate. Before entering the latter institution he taught school for a time, and later he resumed that work, teaching nine terms in all. He began his medical studies with Dr. Lesh, of Pleasant Valley, and in 1877 he was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsyl- vania, at Philadelphia. For some years he prac- ticed successfully at Sciota, Penn., stopping in 1888 to take a post-graduate course, and in 1889, after a term in the Polyclinic at Philadelphia, he located at Stroudsburg, where his ability and skill have met with well-deserved recognition. He is an active worker in the Democratic party, and in 1885 and 1887 he was elected to the State Legis- lature, where his professional knowledge and stand- ing enabled him to do some excellent work in

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behalf of the new board of health bill. Since re- moving to Stroudsburg he has served as secretary and executive officer of the local board of health, and on April 19, 1895, he was appointed county medical inspector by the State board of health. In 1878 he married Miss Emma Smith, who was born October 16, 1853, in Brodheadsville, and three children have blessed the union: Mabel, Guer- ney and Myrtie. The son, Guerney, is preparing to follow his father's profession, and last year took a course in medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York City, and at present is a student in the Medico Chirurgical, at Phila- delphia. The family is identified with the Re- formed Church, and is prominent in social life. In addition to his membership in the Lehigh Medi- cal Association, the Doctor is connected with vari- ous social organizations, including the Knights of Malta, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Masonic fraternity.

WILLIAM A. SKINNER, a talented young attorney of Susquehanna, Susquehanna county, is rapidly making his way to the front rank in his profession, his success in general practice hav- ing already won him a high reputation. Even as a student he displayed unusual aptitude for legal work, and he enjoys the distinction of holding the first certificate as Bachelor of Laws ever granted by the New York Law School to a candidate who had only attended that institution one year, a special permit being required from the State Board of Regents before he was allowed to take the examina- tion.

Mr. Skinner was born June 23, 1875, at Star- rucca, Penn., and comes of excellent ancestry. His father, James Skinner, was born in Devon- shire, England, and was married to Eliza Josephine Penn, of Starrucca, in October, 1873. Humphrey Penn, our subject's maternal grandfather, came to America from England in the early days of the closing century, and died at the ripe age of sev- enty-nine years. He was related by blood to Will- iam Penn, the founder of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Eleven years of our subject's life were spent in his native town, but his parents then removed to Susquehanna, where he completed a course in the high school, graduating in 1890, with the hon- ors of his class. For some time he was employed in the mechanical drafting department of the Erie railroad, at Susquehanna. In 1893 he began his legal studies under a preceptor, and in October, 1895, he was enrolled as a member of the senior class of the New York Law School. His previous reading, supplemented by close application while in school, enabled him to pass the examinations successfully and graduate at the end of one year, his triumph in the contest for the Bachelor's degree reflecting still greater credit upon his scholarship and native ability. He was admitted to the bar immediately upon his arrival, at twenty-one years

of age, and in the fall of 1896 opened an office at Susquehanna, where he met with gratifying recog- nition from the start. He is a member of. the local Board of Trade, of which he is now secretary, and is active in political affairs as a steadfast adherent of the Republican party. His musical gifts are of a high order, and as a performer on the cornet he has gained especial favor with the public. So- cially he is popular, and belongs to the [. O. O. F., Starrucca Lodge No. 423, at Susquehanna, of which he is the presiding officer, while he is also prominent in religious work as a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a teacher in the Sabbath-school.

WILLIAM B. PHINNEY, a leading citizen of New Milford, Susquehanna county, is a member of the firm of Van Buskirk & Phinney, well-known liverymen of that city, and for a number of years he conducted the business alone with marked suc- cess.

Mr. Phinney is a representative of an old pio- neer family of Susquehanna county, and was born in New Milford township, September 15, 1843. John Phinney, his grandfather, came from Con- necticut to Susquehanna county at an early date, and settled upon a farm in New Milford town- ship, where he died February 22, 1867. He was a man of fine abilities and good education, and for some years taught school successfully. Our sub- ject's grandmother, whose maiden name was Lu- cretia Hyde, was also a native of Connecticut, but was living in the Wyoming Valley at the time of the great massacre, and made her escape on horse- back with much difficulty. She died July 9, 1853. John Phinney was married three times, and by his wife, Lucretia, had four children, as fol- lows: Philander, our subject's father ; Artemisia, who married James Stout; Henrietta, who died in childhood; and Adaline, who married George Tyler.

Philander Phinney was born in Connecticut, and was but a boy when he came to this section with his parents. For many years he followed farming in New Milford township, and in 1856 he took charge of a hotel in Summersville, continuing thus until 1858. In 1860 he removed to New Mil- ford borough, and resumed the management of the "Eagle Hotel," which he conducted until a few years previous to his death, on February 25, 1892, at the age of eighty years. He was a highly- esteemed citizen, an active worker in the Episcopal Church, and a leading adviser in the local Repub- lican organization. He served many years as as- sessor, and also held other offices, including those of township supervisor and borough councilman. He married Miss Rebecca Brush, who died No- vember 16, 1885, aged sixty years. She was a native of Connecticut, and came to Susquehanna county in childhood, with her parents, Jonathan and Laura Brush. Our subject was the eldest of four children, the others being Emma J., deceased,

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 318

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