USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 323
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 323
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 323
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 323
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At Union, Broome Co., N. Y., September 18, 1867, Mr. Griffis was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. La Grange, and to them were born three children: (1) Moses La Grange, teller of the First National Bank of Montrose, married Louise Vail, only daughter of Dr. John D. and Margaret (Es- mond) Vail, natives of Orange county, N. Y., and members of the Society of Friends. The father be- came one of the prominent physicians and honored citizens of Susquehanna county, Penn. Moses La Grange Griffis and wife nave two children-Francis and John Vail. (2) Gerritt Miller died in infancy. (3) Andrew J. Gerritson is engaged in clerking in Montrose and resides with his parents.
Mrs. Griffis was born in Union, N. Y., June 2, 1842, a daughter of Moses and Nancy (Morgan) La Grange, both natives of that State, the former born in Broome county, the latter in Brooklyn. In early life the father followed farming, but spent his last years in retirement from active labor. He died October 13, 1872, aged sixty-two years, and was buried in Union cemetery. His wife is still liv- ing at the age of eighty-one years, and continues to make her home in Union, N. Y. Their children were Marv, wife of our subject; Harriet. a mission- arv of Tripoli, Syria; Erwin, a prominent coal and lumber merchant of Fullerton, Neb .; Ella, wife of T. J. Davis. an attorney of Montrose. Penn .; and Fayette, a prominent agriculturist and stock deal- er of Genoa, Neb. The La Grange family is of French origin and was founded in America by John La Grange during the Huguenot troubles. His son, grandson and great-grandsor all bore the name of John. The last was the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Griffis, and was a native of Elizabeth, N. J., from which place he removed to Vestal, N. Y., where he owned large tracts of land, but never followed farming. He served as justice of the peace for many years and was known as Squire La Grange. He mar- ried Hannah Halsey. Mrs. Griffis' maternal grand- parents were David and Esther (Brink) Morgan, natives of Litchfield, Conn., and early settlers of Brooklyn township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where they continued to reside through life.
Politically Mr. Griffis is identified with the Democratic party, and socially is a Master Mason. Although he is not a member of any Church, he is a liberal contributor and constant attendant at Sunday services. He is a man of excellent business and executive ability, whose sound judgment, un- flagging enterprise and capable management have
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brought to him a well-merited success. In manner he is pleasant and cordial, which, combined with his sterling worth, make him one of the prominent citizens of Montrose.
JAMES P. DOWD (better known as Downs ), who passed away January 7, 1900, was an honored and highly-respected citizen of Oakland township. Susquehanna county. For several years prior to his decease he lived practically retired from active business life.
Our subject was born at Stockport, Cheshire, England, in August, 1824, a son of Charles and Jane (O Brien) Dowd, the former a native of Connell, Ireland, the latter of County Clare. They were mar- ried in Manchester, England, where the father fol- lowed his trade, doing all kinds of house and fancy painting, and both died at their home in Stock- port. Our subject was the eldest in their family of six children, the others being as follows: (2) William, born in Stockport, in 1827, served in the British army before coming to this country, and participated in the Russian war. In 1855 he emi- grated to America, and during his residence in Buffalo, N. Y., enlisted in the Union army for ser- vice in the Civil war, taking an active part in Sher- man's campaign. After the war he came to Sus- quehanna, Penn., where he worked at the painter's trade until his death, which occurred very suddenly, in 1868. (3) Michael, born in Stockport, in 1830, came to America in 1862, and located in Susque- hanna county, Penn. At the time of the Mormon troubles he enlisted in the regular army under Gen. Warren, and was stationed on the frontier for a time. Later he re-enlisted for the Civil war, becom- ing a member of Company D, 83rd United States Infantry, and was several times promoted for brav- ery. He died soon after the war, in one of the Philadelphia hospitals. (4) John, born in 1835, mar- ried Susanna Roach, of Stockport, and in 1853 they came to the New World, locating in Fall River, Mass., where they still reside. They have two sons, John and James. By trade, he, too, is a painter. (5) Jane married and remained in Stockport, Eng- land, where she is still living. (6) Mary wedded a Mr. Davis, and died in England, leaving one son, now a resident of this country.
In Stockport James P. Dowd grew to manhood, and received a fair education. During his youth he learned the painter's trade under his father, and continued to follow the same in his native land until coming to this country. In 1849 he married Miss Mary Egan, a daughter of Peter and Annie Egan, of Stockport. She was born in 1830, and was reared in Englandl. In January, 1854, they sailed for Amer- ica on the"Isaac Webb," which was loaded with rail- road iron shipped from England to the United States, and in February they landed in New York, where they made their home until July, 1855. Mr. Dowd then accepted a position with the Erie Rail- road Co. ,being employed on bridge and general work from New York to Cleveland, Ohio, and for
one year the family lived in Deposit, N. Y., finally coming to Susquehanna, Penn., where our subject purchased a residence. His name was changed at the time he was employed by what is now the Erie Railroad Co., his name being misunderstood as a train was passing, and he was known by the name Downs ever afterward,
Our subject was making his home in Susque- hanna when the Civil war broke out, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company H, 177th P. V. I., under Capt. Rodgers, of Susquehanna, and was sworn into the United States service at Camp Curtin, Harris- burg, where he remained on detached duty in the smallpox hospital for four months. He was then sent to the distribution camp near Washington, D. C., and on joining his regiment at Deep Creek, near Suffolk, Va., he was placed on duty as a volunteer scout. He went with the regiment to Harper's Ferry, and participated in the battle of Gettysburg, after which he was ordered to Camp Curtin and was there honorably discharged, as his term of enlist- ment had expired. He returned home, but on Aug- ust 13, 1864, re-enlisted, in Company A, 53rd P. V. I., under Capt. Charles Geiger, and was again sworn into the United States service at Harris- burg. The regiment was assigned to the Second Corps, Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Grant, and participated in a number of engagements, including the battle of Hatcher's Run, the South Side Rail- road, the siege of Petersburg, and the battle of Fredericksburg. After Lee's surrender Mr. Dowd was honorably discharged, in May, 1865, and re- turned to his home in Susquehanna, where he con- tinted to follow the trade of painting for a number of years. In 1870 he purchased a farm in Oakland township, which was operated by his family, while he worked at his trade in town, but for several years before his decease he lived retired, enjoying a well- earned rest. His death was caused by apoplexy.
Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dowd, only four reached years of maturity, and two are now living. (1) Daniel, born in Susquehanna, married Margaret Carroll, of Hallstead, Penn., and located at that place, where his wife died in 1894, leaving one son, William. (2) Elizabeth, born in Susquehanna, is now the wife of George Benedict, a railroad man of Oneonta, N. Y., and they have three children, Elmer, Ward and Zilpha. (3) Philip, born on the old farm in Oakland township, was a bright, promising young man, who had many friends. He entered the service of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, and was killed in 1895, while endeavoring to pass between two mov- ing trains at Pine street crossing, in Hallstead. 4) Mary J., the eldest of the family, was born in Eng- land, and married John Carnegie, of Susquehanna. They resided at Stevens Point, Penn., where she died leaving two children-Theresa, now a resident of Elmira, N. Y .; and James, of Susquehanna, who is married and has one child, John.
Religiously the family hold membership in the Catholic Church, and politically Mr. Dowd was
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
identified with the Republican party, but he was never an aspirant for office, though he took a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. He was at one time a member of Moody Post No. 53, G. A. R., of Susquehanna. He came to this country, a young man full of life and energy, determined to make for himself and family a home, and he succeed- ed beyond his expectations. He was a well-informed man, especially on all subjects pertaining to govern- mental affairs, and was a student of the great politi- cal questions of the nineteenth century.
MRS. R. LINDA HILTON. Next to its par- ents, the child in after life has recollections of no one person so vivid as those of the early school teacher. Those recollections are usually pleasant and endearing, for the relation between teacher and pupil is distinctively one of encouragement to mental and moral effort. Few individuals perhaps in Susquehanna county are so universally and lov- ingly remembered as Mrs. Hilton, of whose life a brief outline is here presented. The daughter of a prominent settler of Susquehanna county, the de- scendant of an early pioneer family, she in her early girlhood felt a strong calling toward the pro- fession which for so many years she graced and honored by her practical and inspiring work among the children of the county.
Mrs. Hilton was born in Lathrop township, Susquehanna county, October 30, 1853, a daughter of Horace and Roena ( Belcher) Yeomans. Hor- ace Yeomans was a son of Samuel Yeomans, and a grandson of Samuel Yeomans, a native of England, who emigrated to Massachusetts, and thence moved with his wife, Elizabeth, to Connecticut, where he died. Samuel Yeomans the father of Horace, was born in Connecticut, there grew to manhood, and when a young man came to Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, where he married Huldah Tewksbury and lived many years, afterward re- moving to Carbondale, where he died. They had two children, Sarah (who married Dr. Munger, of Carbondale) ; and Horace.
Horace Yeomans was born in Brooklyn town- ship, Susquehanna county, December 27, 1817. He learned the carpenter trade, which he followed in connection with farming, purchasing land in Lath- rop township. He was married September 19, 1839, to Miss Roena Belcher, who was born March 28, 1820, daughter of John and Sarah (Fuller) Bel- cher. John Belcher was born March 17, 1770, and " died March 22, 1853. By his first wife, Elizabeth, he had children as follows: John, born October 17, 1791 ; Catherine, October 9. 1793; Elizabeth, Janu- ary 26, 1795 ; Mary, March 16, 1797; Hiram, June 30, 1799; Ira, August 16, 1802; Hannah, February 18, 1804; Michael, June 27, 1806; and Durinda, April 9, 1809. By his second wife, Sarah, he had two children: William, born February 1, 1817, and Roena, born March 28. 1820.
To Horace and Roena Yeomans were born the following children: F. S., born January 28, 1841,
was an engineer on the P. & R. road at Easton, Penn., and was killed in a railroad accident Decem- ber 15, 1899; Edward C., born November 8, 1845, is a farmer at Kingsley, Penn .; Sarah A., born January 5, 1848, is the wife of Miles Grandall, of Hopbottom, Penn .; R. Linda, the subject of this sketch, was born October 30, 1853; William H., born July 12, 1856, is a resident of Harford. Hor- ace Yeomans, the father, died October 1, 1859. He was in his later years a radical Republican in poli- tics. The mother died December 17, 1896.
Mrs. Hilton spent ner girlhood days in Lathrop township, attended the public schools at Factory- ville, also the Brooklyn high school and later the schools at Carbondale. At the early age of fourteen years she began her life vocation, and she has taught in Lathrop, Lenox, Brooklyn, and Dim- ock townships, Susquehanna county, in all forty- four terms. Going to Colorado, she taught school in Denver. At Colorado Springs she met her hus- band, Benford A. Hilton, whom she married at Colorado Springs, November 30, 1881. Mr. Hilton is a native of Missouri, where for years he was en- gaged in business. Later he located in Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton have one child, Clyde B., born February 18, 1885. For a short time they lived in the East, but Mr. Hilton's business requires his pres- ence in the West, and he is now in Montana. Mrs. Hilton returned to Lathrop township, Susquehanna county, to take care of her invalid mother, and she has since the death of her mother remained on the well-improved farm property. She still follows her profession, besides supervising the work on the farm, teaching school in the vicinity of her com- modious and handsome home.
LAWRENCE DUNN, who, after years of honest and faithful toil as a blacksmith, has now laid aside business cares, and is living retired in Hawley, Wayne county, was born November 4, 1827, a son of John and Margaret (Dunn) Dunn, natives of Ireland, the former born in Kings county, the latter in Queens county. Both died in Kings county, the father in 1853, aged forty-nine years, the mother in 1847, in middle life. John Dunn fol- lowed the blacksmith's trade, as did five genera- tions of the family before him. Lawrence is the eldest of their seven children, the others being Mary, who died in childhood; Thomas, a blacksmith, who died in New York; Margaret, widow of Michael Carr, and a resident of Honesdale, Penn .; Joseph and Eliza, who still make their home in Ireland ; and Bridget, wife of James Batson, a farmer of that country. Our subject's paternal grandparents, Lawrence and Bridget (Rowe) Dunn, and mater- nal grandparents, Thomas and Margaret Dunn. who were not related to the other family, never left the Emerald Isle. The latter were farming people.
With his father the subject of this sketch learned the blacksmith's trade, and soon became an expert workman. Going to Dublin, he there worked for three months, and continued to follow his trade
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in different places in his native land until 1848, when he crossed the Atlantic with the hope of benefiting his financial condition. The first three months after his arrival he spent in New York City, and the fol- lowing ten months worked at his trade in Mongaup, N. Y. He was then employed for a year and a half at Lackawaxen, Penn., and May II, 1850, wit- nessed his arrival in Hawley, Wayne county, where he has since made his home, and where for many years he successfully conducted a blacksmith shop. His untiring labors were rewarded by a comfortable competence, which now enables him to retire from the arduous duties of business life and enjoy a well- earned rest.
In the Parish of Kill, Kings County, Ireland, Mr. Dunn was married, in 1847, to Miss Mary Flanigan, and to them were born two sons: Joseph, a blacksmith of New York, who married Bridget Cawley (now deceased) ; and James, who married Margaret Scott, and is engaged in blacksmithing in Obert, N. Y. Mr. Dunn was again married in Hawley, August 4, 1857, his second union being with Miss Doranda Feely, a native of County Sligo, Ireland. Six children were born to them, namely: Lawrence, Thomas and Elizabeth, all deceased ; William, who married Anna Kearney, and died in Hawley; Theressa, at home; and Francis B., who is engaged in business at his father's old stand. The family are all connected with the Catholic Church, and in politics Mr. Dunn affiliates with the Democratic party. He merits and receives the con- fidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, and has many warm friends in his adopted county.
ASAHEL U. TUCKER, owner of one of the many fine farms in Ararat township, Susquehanna county, is a native of that county, born in Herrick township, in 1836.
Sabin B. and Phebe (Cudney) Tucker, parents of our subject, were natives of Connecticut, and Sul- livan county, N. Y., respectively. The father was born in 1812, and was only seven years of age when brought to Susquehanna county by his father, Syrea Tucker, who settled in Herrick township, where he opened up a farm and spent his remaining days. By occupation he was both a farmer and blacksmith. In early life Sabin Tucker also engaged in agricult- ural pursuits in Herrick township, but in 1843 he removed to Ararat township, and from a wild tract of land developed a good farm there. He died in that township in 1894, and his wife passed away in 1884. To them were born six children, namely : Alvin N., a resident of Thompson, Susquehanna county ; Asa- hel U., our subject ; George, a resident of Wisconsin ; Weston, who died in California; Christina, wife of Wallace Brown, of Mt. Pleasant, Wayne Co., Penn .; and E. M., of Ararat township.
Our subject was reared in Susquehana county, and educated in the schools of Ararat township. Early in life he became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and chose that vocation as his life work. In 1858 he was united
in marriage with Miss Phebe L. Van Horn, a na- tive of Bridgewater township, Susquehanna coun- ty, and a daughter of William and Betsy (Kimler) Van Horn, early settlers of the county. Mr. Tucker has been called upon to mourn the death of his es- timable wife, who passed away in February, 1893, leaving two children, namely: (I) Ada married Lawrence Thomas, by whom she had one son, Asa- hel, and is now the wife of Robert Adair; she lives on the home farm. By her second union she also has one child, Sylvan. (2) George is married, and lives in western Pennsylvania.
In 1859 Mr. Tucker located upon his present farm in Ararat township, where he first purchased thirty-five acres of land, but has since added to it forty-two acres, has erected good and substantial buildings thereon and made many other improve- ments, so that he now has one of the best farms of its size in the locality. In his political views he is a Democrat, and he has most efficiently filled the office of supervisor in his township.
DANFORD S. WALKER, a well-known re- tired agriculturist of Gibson township, Susque- hanna county, is one of the most highly-respected residents of that locality. He was born August 25, 1826, in Ararat (then Herrick) township, and comes of good New England stock, as the following brief account of his ancestry will show.
Mr. Walker's paternal grandparents, Parley and Rebecca (Broughton) Walker, were natives and lifelong residents of Connecticut, the grandfa- ther having been a farmer by occupation. Capt. Wareham B. Walker, our subject's father, was born and reared in Windham county, Conn., and was mar- ried there to Hannah Scarborough, daughter of Elisha Scarborough, of the same State. In 1816 Capt. Walker came to Susquehanna county, and set- tled upon a farm in Herrick (now Ararat) town- ship, where he died September 5, 1875, aged eighty- four years. He was prominent in public affairs, holding various offices, and served in the war of 1812 and in the local militia as captain. His wife died March 14, 1880, aged eighty-nine years, and the remains of both rest in the cemetery at Gelatt. They had the following children: Alonzo died in Gibson township; Sally, who married Joseph Wash- burn, died in Jackson township; Don A. died in Sullivan county, Penn .; Alia Ann, who died in Jackson, was the wife of Oliver Perry; Danford S. is our subject; Caroline died in Ararat township, Susquehanna county, unmarried; Elizabeth, who married (first) William Dunn and (second) Charles Fletcher, now resides at Thompson, Penn., and Rebecca, who married Alfred Slocum, died in Ararat township, Susquehanna county. The Scarborough family was noted for the patriotism of its members during the Revolutionary war, Elisha Scarborough and five brothers taking an active part in the strug- gle. Each was over six feet high in his stocking feet, and weighed over 200 pounds.
Danford S. Walker has always been engaged
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in agricultural pursuits, and on leaving home, at the age of twenty-one, he worked on different farms for about seven years, spending the first three months with Oney Sweet, of Gibson township. Later he purchased the old family homestead, and on March 27, 1861, he took possession of his pres- ent farm, a well-cultivated place containing fifty- eight acres, and abounding in springs and other natural attractions. In politics he is a Democrat, as are all his relatives. On September 8, 1853, he was married, at Clifford, to Miss Cordelia Berry, who was born January 10, 1832, in Lenox town- ship, Susquehanna county, and they have one son, Oliver P. Walker, an enterprising and successful agriculturist.
OLIVER P. WALKER was born July 22, 1859, and at the age of nineteen began teaching school, having charge of the Rock School, in Gibson town- ship, for two terms, and of a school in New Milford township one term. He now operates the home- stead, but his interest in educational affairs has not ceased, and for three years he served as school di- rector. Socially the family is much esteemed, and Mr. Walker is a member of Huron Lodge No. 483, I. O. O. F., at Jackson, of Samuel Meredith En- campment No. 174, I. O. O. F., of Pleasant Mount, Wayne county, and has been D. D. G. M. for the Eastern District of Susquehanna county. On April 4, 1883, he married Miss Carrie J. Everett, who was born in New Milford, December 2, 1861, daughter of Lemuel S. and Helen ( Wilmarth) Everett, well- known residents of New Milford, her father being a retired farmer. Two children have blessed this union : Dimock E., born September 19, 1886; and Percy W., born November 21, 1889.
Mrs. Cordelia (Berry) Walker belongs to a prominent New England family, and her grand- parents, Joseph and Mary (Potter) Berry, passed their lives in a farming community in Rhode Island. Her father, Rhodes Berry, was born in Rhode Is- land, but came to Susquehanna county early in life, and engaged in farming in Clifford township, where he died April 19, 1855, aged fifty-four. He was married in Herrick township, to Dorcas Dimock, a native of Luzerne county, Penn., who died in Gib- son. township, February 21, 1871, aged seventy-one years. The remains of both were interred in the old Clifford cemetery. They had a large family of children, as follows: Mary, who married Ed- gar Lamoreaux, of Dundaff, Penn., and died in Dundaff ; Sarah, who married J. N. Baker, and died in Clifford; Cordelia, Mrs. D. S. Walker; Frances, who died in Clifford township, unmarried; Ada- line, wife of Rufus Barnes, an insurance agent in Gibson township; Aveline (twin of Adeline), who married (first) Timothy Barnes, and ( second) William Brady ; Charles, who died at Ashley, Penn .; Ann, who died in Clifford township, unmarried ; and George Rhodes, who was born September 9, 1842, in Lenox township, Susquehanna county, and is now engaged in general farming near Gelatt.
Mrs. Dorcas (Dimock) Berry was a daughter
of Asa and Ruth ( Miller) Dimock, who were resi- dents of Herrick for many years, and he served as justice of the peace by appointment of the Gov- ernor. He died December 18, 1833, in Herrick, aged sixty-one years. Asa Dimock was a son of David and Sarah (Green) Dimock, of Connecticut, the former of whom died February 14, . 1832, aged eighty-six years.
WILLIAM F. CLARK is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Jessup town- ship, Susquehanna countv. He has been identified with the township for almost thirty years, and in that period has well established his position in society as one of its most useful factors.
Russel Clark, paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, was an Episcopal minister in London, England. He had four children : George, Thomas, Mary and Elizabeth. Thomas Clark- the father of our sub- ject, was born in London, England, in 1797, learned the trade of a mason, and by profession was a musician and music teacher. About 1828 he mar- ried, in London, England, Miss Maria Hughes, who was born in that city in 1811, the highly-educated and refined daughter of Charles Hughes, a promi- nent resident of the English capital. Her mother, Maria (Dearborn) Hughes, was a native of Paris, France. The mother of our subject had one sis- ter, Jane, and two brothers, Richard, a celebrated physician, and Watson, author of a work on mathe- matics. In 1830, about two years after his marriage, Thomas Clark, with his wife and son, Thomas, Jr., sailed for America. Landing at Philadelphia, they resided there for a few years, and then moved to Rochester, N. Y. From Rochester, about 1837, he removed to the Welsh settlement at Neath, Brad- ford Co., Penn., where he bought a farm in the wilderness, cleared up a home, and built one of the first frame houses in that settlement. There his wife died, February 6, 1843, aged thirty-two years, and was buried in Neath cemetery. Thomas Clark sub- sequently moved to LeRaysville, Bradford county, where he died March 7, 1853, aged fifty-six years. He was buried in Neath cemetery, near the Welsh church. Mr. Clark was highly honored and re- spected where he was best known, and as a gifted musician and vocalist his contributions to the social life of the early settlements were highly prized. Both he and his wife were intellectual and well-in- formed people, and his efforts were directed rather along the lines of mental culture and accomplish- ments than toward the acquisition of property. To Thomas and Maria Clark were born four chil- dren : Thomas, Elizabeth, Maria, and William F., cur subject. Thomas, who was born in London, died in childhood, at Rochester. Elizabeth, born in Philadelphia, married H. M. Ranney, of Bingham- ton, N. Y., moved to Reading, Penn., and thence to St. Paul, Minn., where he was a real-estate dealer until his death, and where his widow now resides ; she has three children, Adelina Patti, Maurice Ma- son, and A. Vance. Maria, born in Philadelphia,
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