Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 324

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 324
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 324
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 324
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 324

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

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married Henry Tilden, of Forest Lake, Susque- hanna county, and after his death wedded, in 1868, George J. Handrick; after the death of her second husband, on January 9, 1888, she removed to Mont- rose, where she now resides.

Mary Clark, aunt of our subject, married Rich- ard Ashton, in Gloucester, England. They migrat- ed to America, settling first in Philadelphia, and thence removing to Neath, Penn., where they owned and successfully conducted a farm until death, Richard Ashton passing away in 1858, aged eighty- one years and nine months; he survived his wife some years. She united with the Baptist Church, being baptized by immersion, through the ice, at the age of eighty-one years. To them were born six children: Richard, Emanuel, Priscilla, Maria, Susan and Harrietta.

William F. Clark, our subject, was born in Pike township, Bradford Co., Penn., June 4, 1839. His mother died when he was four years old, leaving him to the care of his father and friends, and after the death of his father he lived at the home of the renowned and lamented Richard Ashton, Jr., his cousin, a prominent cattle raiser and dealer of Brad- ford county. Our subject attended school at the Le Raysville Academy, and later at Franklin Insti- tute, Delaware county, N. Y., finishing at the Com- mercial College High School, Syracuse, New York.

When the Civil war broke out Mr. Clark joined the Construction Corps of the government. Later he obtained employment on a merchant ship, as supercargo, and visited nearly all the seaports then in the possession of the United States government. Procuring a permit from the Secretary of War to enter the lines of the army, he traveled extensively in the Army of the Potomac, then commanded by Gen. Grant. He sat in the saddle the greater part of six days, and rode to all divisions of the army. He witnessed the last great battle which resulted in the fall of Richmond and Petersburg, and saw Gens. Grant and Lee at Appomattox Court House, at the time of the surrender. He participated in the Grand Review of the whole army at Washing- ton, by President Lincoln. Later he traveled quite extensively over the West, and once spent a short time in Susquehanna county, but did not locate there permanently until 1871, when he purchased his present farm in Jessup township. He at once became identified with the best interests of the county, and is to-day one of the most prominent and influential citizens of his community. In religious faith he is a Baptist, and in political sentiment a Democrat.

At Binghamton, N. Y., May 3, 1871, Mr. Clark married Miss Elmina J. Handrick, and to this union has been born one son, Henry Adolphus, now at home. Mrs. Clark was born on their present farm, January 9, 1842, a daughter of Wakeman C. and Urana S. (Stone) Handrick, the former a native of Litchfield, Conn., the latter of Middletown town- ship, Susquehanna Co., Penn. The father came to the county with his parents when a child of five

years, and took up his residence in Middletown township, where he later engaged in business as a tanner and shoemaker, having served his appren- ticeship with his father. Subsequently he operated a tannery upon his farm in Jessup township, where he located in 1837. There he passed away in 1889, at the age of seventy-seven years; the mother died in 1896, at the age of seventy-eight, and the re- mains of both were interred in the Stone street cem- etery, Forest Lake township. They were widely and favorably known, and their friends were many throughout the county. Their children were as fol- lows: George J. ( deceased) married Mrs. Maria (Clark) Tilden, a sister of our subject; Edgar L. married Martha D. Leet, and is a physician of Friendsville, Penn .; Elmina J., wife of our sub- ject, is next in the order of birth; Sophrona L. is the wife of Lester Turrell, a farmer of Forest Lake township; Oscar S. married Lila Turrell, and lives at Clark's Summit, Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Clark's paternal grandparents, William G. and Betsey (Carrington) Handrick, were born, reared and married in Litchfield county, Conn., and continued to make their home there until 1817, when they came to Susquehanna county, Penn., and took up their residence in Middletown township. There the grandfather operated a tannery and engaged in farming for some years, but was living retired at the time of his death, having already accumulated a comfortable competence. He was a soldier of the war. of 1812, and during his entire residence here served as justice of the peace. He was born in 1785, and died May 4, 1866; his wife was born in 1790, and died April 8, 1837, and they now sleep side by side in the Stone Street cemetery, Forest Lake township. To them were born the following children : Fannie married William Small, and died December 25, 1828; William B. (deceased) married Sabrina Sherman; Orilla (deceased) married Charles Birchard; Wakeman C. was the father of Mrs. Clark; Annis (deceased) was the wife of Hon. I. P. Baker, associate judge of Susquehanna county ; Frederick Henry (deceased) married Abiah Mott; Daniel T. (deceased) also married; Eliza C. (de- ceased) was the wife of William Miles : David mar- ried Cornelia E. Webster, and is now living retired in Montrose, Penn .; Merwin S. (deceased) mar- ried Sarah Barnes; Mary L. (deceased) was the wife of Hubbard Miles; Andrew V. was killed by falling from a tree, at the age of eight years; and Elizabeth died at the age of three years.

JAMES K. SPRY, who for a number of years prior to his death lived retired in Waymart, Wayne county, was one of the most loyal citizens that England has furnished to the New World, mani- festing his patriotism for his adopted country by almost four years of faithful service in the Union army during the Civil war.

Mr. Spry was born April 14, 1836, in Cornwall, England, a son of Walter and Patience (Kensman) Spry, also natives of that country, where the grand-1389

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

parents, James Spry, Richard Kensman and their wives, spent their entire lives. In 1841 the parents, with their children, emigrated to the United States, and took up their residence in Berlin township, Wayne Co., Penn., where they passed their remain- ing years. The father was a skillful farmer, a man of prominence in his community, and a Re- publican in politics. In religious belief he was originally a Methodist, but later became a leading and active member of the Presbyterian Church. Both he and his estimable wife were laid to rest in the Berlin township cemetery. In the family of this worthy couple were the following children: Daniel died in childhood; Charles is a farmer of Berlin township; Keziah is the wife of George Oliver, a merchant of Beach Lake, Wayne county ; Walter is a farmer of Dyberry township; James K. was next in the order of birth; Frederick is a hardware mer- chant of Plymouth, Penn .; Tamson is the deceased wife of William Ellis, a grain merchant living in the West ; Daniel is a retired druggist of Plymouth, Penn .; Anna is the wife of Edwin Budd, a wagon maker of New York; and Richard is a tinner of Jersey City.

Until seventeen years of age James K. Spry remained under the parental roof, and then worked for neighboring farmers until he attained the age of twenty-five, after which he was engaged at painting and chair-making for a year and a half. In November, 1861, he laid aside all personal in- terests to join the "boys in blue," as a member of Company C, 67th P. V. I., under Capt. George Erwilder, of Philadelphia. He participated in many important engagements, including the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Winchester, Mine Run, Harper's Ferry, and Fredericksburg, and at Win- chester was taken prisoner, being confined for some time in Libby Prison and at Belle Isle, where he was nearly starved to death. Although he was never wounded, he suffered greatly during his prison life and from exposure, from the effects of which he never recovered. He was honorably dis- charged in July, 1865, and was granted a pension. For five years he remained upon the home farm recuperating, and then went to Susquehanna, Penn., where he worked for the Erie Railroad Co. for a year and a half. Going to Wyoming, Penn., he con- ducted a meat market there for the same length of time, but in that venture lost $1,000. He then fol- lowed his trade of painting until 1887, when owing to ill health he was obliged to give it up. From 1883 until his death, November 16, 1899, he made his home in Waymart, where he lived practically re- tired at his elegant residence.

On September 25, 1865, in Honesdale, Mr. Spry was married, by Rev. Cole, a Methodist Episcopal minister, to Miss Sarah A. Chubb. She was born in Oregon township, Wayne county, July 6, 1846, a daughter of Walter and Margaret (Histed) Chubb, the former a native of Pancrosswick, Devon- shire, England, the latter of Schenectady, N. Y. The father was born July 12, 1812, was a farmer

by occupation, and was among the early settlers of Oregon township, Wayne county, where he held a number of local offices. He died there January 5, 1893; Mrs. Spry's mother, who was born Feb- ruary 22, 18-, is still living, and now finds a pleas- ant home with our subject. She is a daughter of Rev. Richard Histed, a Methodist Episcopal min- ister, of England, who came to this country at an early day. Walter Chubb (Mrs. Spry's paternal grandfather) remained in England, where he fol- lowed blacksmithing as a life work.

To the parents of Mrs. Spry were born the following children: James E., who died in the Union army during the Rebellion; William H., su- perintendent of the iron works at Scranton, Penn .; Sarah A., wife of our subject; Margaret M. and Hannah M., who both died unmarried; Richard N., deceased; Mary E., deceased wife of E. Gon- sallaus, a railroad man of Waymart, Wayne county ; Walter, a railroad man of Scranton; Charles, de- ceased ; Stephen, a railroad man of Waymart ; Rich- ard I., a barber of Waymart; and George W., a railroad man of Olyphant, Pennsylvania.

From 1871 Mr. Spry was an honored member of Lodge No. 323, I. O. O. F., of Susquehanna, and since attaining his majority he has been a stal- wart supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party. He is a progressive citizen, tak- ing a deep and commendable interest in public af- fairs, and does all in his power to promote the general welfare of the community where he lives.

SANFORD B. TINGLEY is one of the leading and successful agriculturists of Herrick township, Susquehanna county. Energy, close application, per- severance and good management-these are the ele- ments which have entered into his business career and crowned his efforts with prosperity.

Mr. Tingley was born in Greenfield township, Luzerne Co., Penn., now Lackawanna county, Feb- ruary 18, 1842, and is a son of Benjamin and Eliza- beth (Clark) Tingley, the former a native of Attle- boro, Mass., the latter of Danbury, Conn. The Tingley family is of English origin and its progeni- tor in America came from Manchester, England, in 1692, and located in Massachusetts. He served with distinction as an officer in the Revolutionary war. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Elkanah Tingley, was also born in Attleboro and came to Susquehanna county, Penn., in 1795. Throughout life the father followed farming. He was born No- vember 28, 1788, and died in April, 1850, in Green- field township, Lackawanna county, where he had made his home since marriage. His remains were interred in a private cemetery in Clifford township, Susquehanna county, near the old homestead. The mother died September 4, 1878, at the age of sev- enty years, and was buried in the new Clifford cemetery. Both held membership in the Baptist Church. The children born of their union were as follows: Ansley, born December 27, 1832, died July 28, 1833; Friend G., born February 24, 1834,

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is a farmer of Herrick township, Susquehanna coun- ty; Anson A., born November 30, 1836; Guilford S., born September 13, 1838, is a coal merchant of Herrick Centre; Asnford B., born January 3, 1840, is a farmer of Herrick township; Sanford B., our subject, is the next in order of birth ; Sarah P., born September 3, 1843, is the wife of Russell Carpenter, a veterinary surgeon of Carbondale, Penn. ; Thomas J., born November 24, 1845, is a machinist of Sus- quehanna ; and Eliza H., born February 24, 1847, is the wife of Jerome Kishbaugh, a farmer of Her- rick township. For his first wife the father mar- ried Miss Betsey Millard, a daughter of Solomon Millard, a Revolutionary soldier from Connecticut who settled in Lenox township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., in 1796. Nine children were born of that union, namely : Benajah. Elkanah, Joel, Ransom E. and George, all deceased; Jeremiah, a resident of Binghamton, N. Y. ; Mrs. Nancy Roles and Mrs. Zilphia Stevens, both deceased; and Julina, who married the late Freeman Tingley and resided on the old homestead in Harford township. Susque- hanna county, until her death."

At the age of eight years Sanford B. Tingley left home and went to live with Deacon Freeman Tingley, with whom he remained for eight years, and then worked as a farm hand. At the age of eighteen he learned the blacksmith's trade at Her- rick Centre and later followed that occupation at Clifford Corners, Herrick Centre and Scranton. He also worked in the scale shop at Great Bend, Penn., for a time. He first came to Herrick town- ship April 18, 1871, and in 1874 again located here, coming from Clifford. For three years he conducted a blacksmith shop in Herrick Centre, and then retired from the business and has since engaged in farming upon his present place, where he owns 120 acres of fine land. He still does his own blacksmithing, and the neat and thrifty appear- ance of his place indicates his careful supervision and good business ability. He is a trustee and member of the Baptist Church and a Democrat in politics.

Mr. Tingley was married in Jackson town- ship, Susquehanna county, August 21, 1869, by Elder Lamb, a Baptist minister, to Miss Amy Odell, by whom he had two children: Benjamin, now de- ceased; and one that in infancy. The wife and mother was a native of Clinton, Wayne Co., Penn., and a daughter of Field and Mary Odell. She died in 1874, aged twenty-seven years and was buried in Clinton. On August 4, 1875, in Harford township, Susquehanna county, Mr. Tingley mar- ried Miss Emma Follet, and to them were born two children : Arthur L., at home ; and Lizzie I., now the wife of Winfield Carpenter, a carpenter of Union- dale, Penn. Mrs. Tingley was born in Harford township, September 15, 1845, a daughter of Ovid and Luraina ( Barnes) Follet, natives of Harford and Gibson townships, respectively. Both died in the former township, the father in 1868, aged sixty- one years, the mother in 1893, aged eighty-two, and they were laid to rest in Gibson cemetery. He fol-

lowed farming and held township offices. The chil- dren of the family were Sebastian, who died young ; Virgil, deceased; Corintha, deceased wife of Will- iam Clark ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Taber Lewis ; Julia, wife of Asher Tingley, a farmer of Herrick township; George, a farmer of Conesus, N. Y .; William, a furniture dealer and undertaker of Factoryville, Penn .; Emma, wife of our subject; Henrietta, who died unmarried; Edgar, who was killed in a sawmill at Ararat, Penn .; and Ezra, deceased. Mrs. Tingley's paternal grandparents were Warren and Patty (Tingley) Follet, natives of Attleboro, Mass., and early settlers of Susque- hanna county, Penn., the former being one of the nine partners in Harford. The maternal grand- parents, Ezekiel and Betsy (Belcher) Barnes, were also early settlers of Susquehanna county.

GEORGE B. SMITH, a well-known painter of Montrose, Susquehanna county, and one of the gallant defenders of the Union during the Civil war, is a native of Susquehanna county, born in 1837, in Brooklyn, now Lathrop township.

Our subject's father, Elihu Smith, was born in Connecticut, in 1805, a son of Elihu and Eliza Smith, who were also natives of the Nutmeg State, and in 1814 removed from Stockton, Conn., to Sus- quehanna county, locating in the woods of Brook- lyn township, where Mr. Smith's grandfather began the improvement and cultivation of a farm. He died in that township April 14, 1849, and his wife passed away some years later. Our subject's father was reared to farm life in Susquehanna county, and continued to live on the old homestead until within a few years of his death, which occurred at the home of our subject, in Montrose, in 1889. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Matilda Tewksbury, died in Lathrop township in 1876, at the age of fifty-six years. She was born in Brook- lyn township, a daughter of Jacob Tewksbury, one of the pioneers of that township, who there died. George B. is the eldest in a family of six children, two sons and four daughters, the others being as follows: Paulina is the wife of A. W. Shay, of Jessup township, Susquehanna county; Mary is a resident of Forest City, the same county; Fannie married J. W. Larrabee, and died in Great Bend ; Mrs. Marilla Herrick makes her home in Mont- rose; and William P. enlisted, June 21, 1864, in the 4th New York Heavy Artillery (he died in 1872, at his home in Lathrop).

On the old homestead in Lathrop township, George B. Smith grew to manhood, his literary education being obtained in the public schools of the neighborhood. In 1862 he offered his services to his country to aid in putting down the Rebellion, enlisting in Company B, 17th Pennsylvania Cav- alry, which was mustered into the United States service at Harrisburg, and assigned to the Army of the Potomac. While stationed at Camp Curtin Mr. Smith was taken ill, and was confined in City Hospital with typhoid fever; he was honor-

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ably discharged March 7, 1863. He then returned to his home in Lathrop township, but on January 31, 1864, he re-enlisted, for three years, this time joining Company D, 4th New York Heavy Artil- lery. He enlisted in Marathon township, Cortland Co., N. Y., proceeded to Elmira, that State, and from there to Washington, D. C., and on to Fort Ethan Allen. On March 4, 1864, he started with his command on the march to Alexandria, marching sixteen miles the first day. From Gen. Meade's headquarters he went to Culpeper, Va., where he was taken ill with rheumatism and sent to Washing- ton, D. C., and later to David's Island, New York Harbor. When he had sufficiently recovered he carried the hospital mail for Wards 9, 10, 3 and 4. He was honorably discharged, at that place, and re- turned to his old home in Lathrop township. In 1874 he removed to Montrose, where he has since successfully engaged in the painting business.

In Lathrop township, in 1860, Mr. Smith wed- ded Miss Mary A. Lindsey, a native of Susquehanna county, and a daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Knight) Lindsey, natives of Vermont and Penn- sylvania, respectively, and pioneers of Springville township, Susquehanna county. The mother died in 1860, and the father in 1896. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born six children, namely: James, who is married and lives in Montrose; G. W., who is married and lives in Owego, N. Y .; Charles Ed- ward, who is married and lives in Binghamton, N. Y .; Mrs. Eva Smith, a resident of Montrose; W. P., of Owego, N. Y .; and Arthur, at home. The wife and mother died in Lathrop township, in 1873, and Mr. Smith was again married, in Montrose, in 1875, his second union being with Miss Sarah E. Brown, a native of Orange county, N. Y., and a daughter of Lewis and Harriet (Mead) Brown, the former of whom passed his life in Orange county, dying in 1870. The same year the widow came with her children to Susquehanna county, Penn., and she passed away here in 1879. Her father, Amos Mead, was one of the early settlers of Susque- hanna county, and died in 1897, aged ninety-one years.

Mr. Smith takes an active interest in political matters, and. always votes the Democratic ticket. He is an honored member of Four Brothers Post No. 453, G. A. R., and is one of the worthy and highly-esteemed citizens of Montrose.

LEVERETT BARNEY AVIS was formerly one of the most energetic and enterprising farmers of Rush township, Susquehanna county, and en- joyed more than ordinary success, but is now re- tired from active labor, having accumulated a com- fortable competence which enables him to spend his declining days in ease and quiet, surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

The Kingdom of Holland, which has given to the world one of its hardiest races of people, shel- tered the paternal ancestors of our subject. His grandfather, Leverett Avrist (as the name was orig-

inally spelled) spent his entire life in Amsterdam. The father, Leverett B. Avrist, was born in Amsterdam, and in early manhood ran away from home and came to America, to avoid serving in the army of his native land. He located in Connecticut, where he spent the remainder of his life, engaged in shoe- making. There he married Miss Ruth Hummis- ton, who was born in that State, of English ances- try. He died in 1828, at the age of sixty years, she in 1878, at the age of eightv, and both were laid to rest at Hamden, Conn. They were faithful mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and most estimable people. Their children were Henry S., a soldier of the Mexican war; George, who died in 1868; Louis, who died in New Haven, Conn .; Leverett B., our subject ; Mary E., wife of Samuel Baldwin, of New Haven, Conn .; Jerry, deceased ; William, who died during the Rebellion; and Eliza, deceased wife of George Shelly.

Mr. Avis, whose name introduces this sketch, was sixteen years of age when he left home and came to Rush township, Susquehanna Co., Penn. He was born in New Haven, Conn., May 10, 1812, and was there reared and educated. In this State he worked in the lumber woods until his marriage, on September 7, 1841, in Rusn township, to Miss Cordelia Comstock, a native of North Avon, Mass., and a daughter of Elisha and Polly A. ( Waterman) Comstock. The children born of this union were Eleanora E., who died in infancy; Mary E., de- ceased wife of James Nichols ; William H., a farmer of Iowa; Martha A., wife of Harvey Coleman, of Bradford county, Penn. ; Oliver, deceased ; Leverett Barney, who married Ann E. Carter, and with whom our subject is now living, in Rush township ; Eva, who died young; Sarah J., deceased wife of Elmer Atwood; and George N., deceased. The wife and mother was called to her final rest April 12, 1863, at the age of forty years. Mr. Avis was again married, June 21, 1863, in Rushville, Penn., to Mrs. Mary Collar, a sister of his former wife, and by this union he has two sons: Louis R., a farmer of Monona county, Iowa, who married Irene Wilson ; and John D., a machinist of Elk Rapids, Mich., who married Edith Mrs. Avis was born in Great Barrington, Mass., December 3, 1822, and first married David Collar, who was born in Bainbridge, N. Y., November 30, 1811, and died December 18, 1860. The children born to them were Isadore, George G. and Charles, all now' de- ceased ; Ira, a millwright of Pennsylvania; Michael, deceased; Emily, deceased wife of Slighter Beebe ; David, a farmer of Michigan; and Edward, who died young. Mrs. Avis' parents, Elisha and Polly A. (Waterman) Comstock, were born, reared and married in Massachusetts, where they continued to make their home until coming to Rush township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., in 1824. Here the father engaged in business as a farmer and shingle manu- facturer. He died in 1875, at the age of eighty- five years, the mother in 1868, and both were laid to rest in Rush cemetery. They held membership in

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the Methodist Episcopal Church, and had the re- spect of all who knew them. In their family were the following children: Cordelia, the first wife of our subject ; Mary, his present wife; Cyrus, Sco- field and Elisha, all deceased; Polly, deceased wife of William Avis; and Alonzo, a machinist of Wav- erly, New York.

After his first marriage Mr. Avis purchased a heavily-timbered tract of land on Wolf creek, in Rush township, and to its improvement and cultiva- tion he devoted his energies with marked success until March, 1878, when he went to Shelby county, Jowa, purchasing land and making his home there for two years. At the end of that time he bought a farm in Monona county, same State, where he lived for eight years, and on selling the place re- turned to Susquehanna county, Penn. He has since lived retired with his son, L. Barney, in Rush town- ship. He and his faithful life partner are now well advanced in years, but are still quite active and able to do a large day's work. They are passing quietly down the sunset hill of life, enjoying the esteem and confidence of their neighbors, and the affection of their children and friends. Politically Mr. Avis has always been identified with the Dem- ocratic party, and while a resident of Iowa he served for five years as supervisor of his township.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 324

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