Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 326

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 326
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 326
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 326
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 326

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).

born in Warren county, N. J., in 1823. Their chil- dren were: Mary E., who married David Voss ; De- witt C .; Lemuel W .; Emily, who married Andrew L. VanGorden ; Elias ; John J. ; and Jerdon, deceased. Of those now living, all are now residents of Sus- quehanna county, and sketches of a number of them appear elsewhere.

HON. DEWITT C. TITMAN, son of Philip Tit- man, was born July 15, 1844, at the old Titman homestead in Warren county, N. J., where he re- sided until accompanying the family to Susquehanna county, Penn. He was reared on a farm, and at- tended the district schools of his neighborhood. During the Civil war, on September 2, 1864, when twenty years of age, he was mustered into the United States service as a member of Company C, 203rd P. V. I., under Capt. Dunker and Col. Moore, and served with the command, which became a part of the Army of the James, under Gens. Birney and Terry, respectively. Young Titman shared the fortunes of the command, and at the battle of Fort Fisher, N. C., January 15, 1865, was wounded and sent to the hospital, where he was at the time of the muster-out of his company, in June following. He was subsequently honorably discharged, and re- turned home, and with the bounty he had received and the little he had saved he began dealing in farm produce and live stock. He shipped the first carload of lambs that went into New York markets from that section. In this business he continued until October, 1866, when he suffered a loss that in the end left him practically without means. He took to New York a large drove of lambs and a carload of flax seed, and had his hired man, Emmons by name, accompany him. They made the sale, and started on the return trip by way of Blairstown, Warren Co., N. J., where Mr. Titman was to visit relatives for a couple of days. While there Emmons got in company with one Elias Maine, but recently re- turned from the penitentiary, and in the course of their acquaintance revealed the fact of the sales made in New York. It did not take long for the ex-con- vict to conceive of a plan by which this money could be secured. The night of October 15, 1866, was to be the eventful one. Emmons was to see where the money was placed, and when Maine made a noise in the rear of the house was to throw it from the front window, while Mr. Titman investigated the noise. All started well, but Emmons, fearful lest he would not obtain his share of the booty, in- stead of throwing it out, as agreed, said he would go down, and see what was the trouble. The two criminals fled to the mountains and then went to Carbondale, Penn., later going to Lapeer county, Mich, where they were arrested by an officer and Philip Titman. On being taken back to Belvidere, N. J., for trial, they pleaded guilty, and were sen- tenced to State's prison. Emmons broke down, and soon died. They had taken over nineteen hundred dollars in currency, and some valuable papers, the greater portion of which they had squandered or secreted, which loss, together with the necessary ex-

113

his

SC T

1397

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

penses, reward, etc., left Mr. Titman without funds necessary to continue in business. However, with his indomitable will and determined energy as his only capital, he started once more at the foot of the ladder, in the same line, and with the aid of his de- voted helpmeet, to whose careful management he gives unlimited praise, he has met with great success.

Along in the middle 'seventies Mr. Titman be- came a merchant at Auburn Four Corners, and re- mained there so engaged until 1894. He succeeded in establishing at that point one of the most popular markets for produce in Susquehanna county. He also engaged in merchandising at West Auburn, as- sociated with a Mr. Lacey, under the firm name of Titman & Lacey. Mr. Titman, through his reliabili- ty and willing accommodation to patrons, maintain- ing the most pleasant business relations with his large circle of friends and acquaintances, became one of the most popular men in Susquehanna coun- ty. In all that pertained to Church work, school and public enterprise he has ever willingly assumed a generous part. In the spring of 1880 he was one of the building committee that erected the M. E. church edifice at Auburn Four Corners, of which Church society himself and wife have been consis- tent members for many years. In 1894, having sold out his interests in the business at Auburn Four Corners to his nephew, C. E. Vass (whom he had taken in to the store a poor boy over fifteen years before, and who is now running the business with great success), he removed to Montrose, intend- ing to retire from active life. However, he at once established a large and first-class furniture store, with which the

business of undertaking is coupled, all carried on under the name of D. C. Titman & Son, the son being the active man in charge. The father, long active and a "rustler," has found it unsuited to his tastes to be idle, and has kept busy, dealing in vehicles of all kinds, a busi- ness which has so grown that is requires about all of his time and attention. These buggies, carriages, wagons, etc., are made at Flint, Mich., and shipped in carloads for his trade-both wholesale and retail. He is also the largest dealer in wool in this section, and handled about 70,000 pounds last year ( 1899).

Mr. Titman is a member of H. C. Titman Post, G. A. R., of Auburn Four Corners, of which he has served as commander. In 1887, at Harrisburg, he was chosen delegate to the National Encampment of the G. A. R., at St. Louis, Mo. The first year he lived in Montrose he was elected a director of the First National Bank, and still continues as such, with credit to himself and satisfaction to the deposi- tion. As an evidence of Mr. Titman's popularity, at his election to the State Legislature, in the fall of 1888, he received 131 of the 144 votes cast in his home district ; out of 450 votes cast in Auburn town- ship he received 341 ; and his majority in the coun- ty was about 2,000. An ardent Republican, and nominated by the Republican party, the above figures give evidence of Democratic friends as well. Dur- ing his first term in the Legislature he was chair-

man of the committee on Agriculture. So satis- factory was his career during his first term that he was renominated, and re-elected, to the Lower House of the State Assembly in the fall of 1890. During his second term he was chairman of the committee on Appropriations, one of the most im- portant committees in the House. He also served on the committee on Labor and Industry. His secre- tary was Richard Quay, son of Senator Mathew M. Quay. As a further evidence of the esteem and confidence in which Mr. Titman is held by his fel- low citizens, we give extracts, from one of the papers of Montrose, which appeared at the time of his candidacy, and during the period of his legis- lative service. -

"Mr. Titman has had no legislative experience, but he is so well known as a business man and citi- zen, his record is so consistent, and he is withal so intelligent and honorable a man, that there can be no doubt as to his usefulness as a member of the Legislature."

"Mr. Titman's record as a member of the last Legislature is all right; there is not a flaw or weak spot in it. He was true to constituents, mindful of all their interests, and industrious, painstaking and intelligent in the performance of every duty devolv- ing upon him as a representative."

"Mr. Titman represented his constituents in a highly creditable manner in the last Legislature, and his re-nomination is but a deserving compli- ment for a well-performed service."

On April 3, 1867, Mr. Titman was married to Miss Elmira Kirkhuff, daughter of John A. and Sarah (Raub) Kirkhuff, of Blairstown, N. J., and to the union were born children as follows: May, who is the wife of Elmer Lacey, of West Auburn ; Arthur, who married Catherine Friend, of Elmira, N. Y., and is in the furniture business in Montrose ; Harry; Madge; Grace; and Bruce.

John A. and Sarah (Raub) Kirkhuff, the par- ents of Mrs. Dewitt C. Titman, settled in the vicinity of Auburn Center about 1840. Their children were: Jacob B., Letitia, Samantha, Elmira (Mrs. Titman), John, George, and Mary. The family is of German extraction. The father held about all of the import- ant offices in the township, and his services gave great satisfaction. He died January 15, 1869, when aged fiftv-six years.

WILLIAM H. STARNER, late an honored and worthy citizen of Pocono township, Monroe county, and a gallant defender of the Union during the Civil war, answered his last roll call November 19, 1899. He belonged to one of the prominent pioneer families of Monroe county. His paternal grandfather, a native of Germany, came to America when a young man, and located in Hamilton town- ship, Monroe county, where he married and reared his family of seven children.

Joseph Starner, our subject's father, was born in Hamilton township, and there married Mary Van Horn, a daughter of John Van Horn, who was also

1398

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of German ancestry, and came to America just be- fore the Revolution. After their marriage they settled in Coolbaugh township, where Mr. Starner engaged in lumbering until his death, on August 19, 1875, when he had reached the age of seventy-seven years, nine months and ten days. His widow, now aged seventy-one years, makes her home in Toby- hanna, Monroe county. To them were born the following children : William H., our subject; Jane, who married John Borom, of Cresco, Penn., and died at the age of twenty-eight years; Stewart, who lived in Stroudsburg, Monroe county, and died in 1894; Catherine, wife of John Decker, of Strouds- burg; Joseph, a resident of Coolbaugh township, Monroe county ; Ellen, deceased, who married John Van Horn and lived in Tobyhanna; Mary, wife of Osman Beers, of Scranton, Penn .; Freeman, who was killed on the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern railroad, at the age of twenty-one years; and Lucinda, wife of James Crooks, of Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania.

William H. Starner was born in Hamilton town- ship, May 24, 1844, and was reared in the lumber districts of Monroe county, early becoming familiar with every department of the lumber business. On February 13, 1864, at the age of nearly twenty years, he responded to his country's call for aid, en- listing in Battery K, 112th Pennsylvania Volunteers, for three years or during the war, and was hon- orably discharged February 22, 1866. Under the command of Gen. Burnside he participated in the battles of Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, Petersburg and the Wilderness. He was taken prisoner at Cold Harbor, but was soon recaptured and returned to his company; while in front of Petersburg, on June 18, 1864, he was slightly wounded. After the war Mr. Starner lumbered and worked in a sawmill at Tobyhanna with one company for thirteen years. Becoming disabled, he afterward lived retired, being unfitted for active labor. In 1872 he moved to Poco- no township, and in 1890 purchased his last home, of 117 acres, sixty of which had been cleared. He also owned fifty acres of farming land on the mountains, in the same township, and five acres at Tobyhanna. He superintended the operation of his land, but left the active management and labor to his son and hired man.

At Tobyhanna Mills, July 26, 1866, Mr. Starner was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Schufter, who was born March 30, 1849, daughter of Chris- tian and Lena ( Bowers) Schufter, natives of Ger- many, who are now living in Pocono township, Mon- roe county. Mr. and Mrs. Starner had the following children : Mary Elizabeth, born July 5, 1868, is the wife of Charles Eilber, of Tannersville, Monroe county, and they have one daughter; George F., born May 26, 1871, is attending a school of telegraphy at Janesville, Wis. ; John D., born at Tannersville, October 5, 1874, married Emma Smith, and while working for an ice company, at Tobyhanna, was killed November 24, 1899, falling off a locomotive and over a bridge at a junction on the Wilkes Barre

& Eastern railroad, near Wilkes Barre; Jennie, born October 12, 1877, is the wife of Ed Deihl, a butcher living in Pocono township; Julia M., born June 19, 1880, married, August 26, 1899, John H. Widdoss, a vaccine virus collector in Dr. Slee's Biological Lab- oratories, Swiftwater, Monroe Co., Penn .; Charles W., born April 16, 1882; Joseph, born October 13, 1885 ; Frank, born April 19, 1888; and B. Harrison, born January 31, 1893, are all at home.

After 1890 Mr. Starner was a stanch supporter of the Republican party, but he never aspired to public favors. Socially he was an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and religiously he was a member of the Lutheran Church ; his wid- ow holds membership in the Reformed Church. Wherever known he was held in high regard, and his friends were many throughout Monroe county ; his widow enjoys the same high esteem.

AUSTIN ELLSWORTH (deceased) was for many years a leading farmer and highly respected citizen of Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county. He was a native of that county, born in Harford township, August 5, 1829, a son of Henry and Lucy (Van Winkle) Ellsworth.

The father of our subject spent his entire life in Harford township, where he died in 1852; the mother, was a native of Orange county, N. Y., died at the home of her son in La Salle county, Ill., No- vember 25, 1874, at the age of seventy-one years, her remains being interred in Deer Park cemetery, that county. In their family were the following chil- dren : Anson, now a retired farmer of Forest City, Iowa ; Lovisa, who married Dr. H. Tingley, and died in 1889, in Susquehanna ; Henry, who died in Har- ford in 1894; Betsy, who died at the age of eleven years; Ann, wife of Samuel Ramsey, of Ottawa, Ill .; Austin, our subject; Adeline, who married (first) Chauncey Hawley, and (second) Giles Roberts, and lives in Ottawa, Ill .; Charles, a farmer and resident of the same place ; and Willard, a farmer and miller in Indiana.

Until he attained his majority Austin Ellsworth remained at home with his parents, and then worked as a farm hand in Illinois and Pennsylvania until after his marriage, when he rented the farm be- longing to his mother-in-law-a tract of ninety acres now owned by Mrs. Ellsworth. Here he continued to make his home until called from this life, March 29, 1875, his remains being interred in the East Bridgewater cemetery. He was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and was a man honored and respected wherever known, and most of all where he was best known.

On January 21, 1865, at Harford, Mr. Ellsworth married Miss Betsey A. Aldrich, and to them were born three children : Willard A., who married Gert- rude Deans, and resides on the home farm; Alma R., at home; and George W., a farmer of La Salle county. Ill., who married Blanche Huss, and has one 'child, Glenn A.

Mrs. Ellsworth was born in New Milford town-

1399

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ship, Susquehanna county, April 5, 1840, a daugh- ter of Albert and Clarissa (Keeney) Aldrich, who were born, reared and married in Wyoming coun- ty, Penn., and came to Susquehanna county in 1834, locating in New Milford township. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died November I, 1867, at the age of fifty-seven years, and the mother departed this life April 11, 1893, at the age of seventy-nine years, both being laid to rest in East Bridgewater township. They were widely and favorably known, and merited the high regard in which they were held. In their family were five children: Betsey A., Mrs. Ellsworth; Wellington, who died at the age of thirteen months ; Mary A., wife of William T. Spencer, who lives on the old homestead in New Milford township ; Benjamin, who died young; and Emily L., wife of Montreville Aldrich, a farmer of Bridgewater town- ship. Mrs. Ellsworth's paternal grandparents, Na- than and Elizabeth ( Wheelock) Aldrich, were na- tives of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, respec- tively. They were married in the latter State, and came to Susquehanna county, Penn., in 1815, first making their home in Harford township, and later removing to Brooklyn township. Her maternal grandparents, Chester and Abigail (Crawford) Keeney, made their home in Wyoming county, Penn., throughout life, and the former followed the occupation of farming.

CHARLES AVERY (deceased) was for many years one of the prominent and influential citizens of Montrose, Susquehanna county, and for a time was actively identified with the business interests of the city. His devotion to the public welfare made him a valued factor in public life, and in his death Montrose was deprived of one of her best and most useful citizens.

The Avery family was founded in America by Christopher Avery, a weaver by trade, who was born in England about 1500. There are several traditions in regard to his emigration to this country; one is that he came from Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, in the "Arabella" with John Winthrop, and landed in Salem, Mass., June 12, 1639; and another is that he came over with the younger Winthrop in 1631.

Our subject was of the seventh generation in di- rect descent from the progenitor of the family in America. He was born in Groton, Conn., March 28, 1796, a son ofAsahel and Clarissa (Hartshorn) Avery, also natives of Connecticut, who came to Susquehanna county, Penn., in 1802, and first locat- ed in Bridgewater township, but a few years later removed to Great Bend. There the father, who was born March 6, 1765, died February 14, 1813. He followed the occupation of a carpenter and farmer, and was the first justice of the peace in Great Bend. In 1817 his wife and family removed to Montrose, and erected the house now occupied by the daughters of our subject. Here the mother died in 1848, at the age of eighty-two years. In the family were six children, as follows : Clarissa, wife of Benjamin

Lathrop, died September 12, 1830; Asahel died April 17, 1872 ; Charles, our subject, was next in the order of birth; Chauncey died May 18, 1876; Hub- bard died October 19, 1836; and Maria died Octo- ber 19, 1819. The father was a member of the Masonic fraternity.

During his youth Charles Avery learned the car- penter's trade, which he followed in Montrose un- til twenty-four years of age, and then engaged in mercantile business for a few years. He continued to make his home in that city throughout life, and died February 13, 1877. His remains were interred in the Montrose cemetery. He was a prominent citizen, having been county treasurer, county com- missioner, commissioners' clerk, sheriff and register and recorder. He was justice of the peace from 1840 until his death. In all these positions he se- cured the highest esteem of his fellow citizens by his unswerving integrity and conscientious fidelity to every trust reposed in him. He was a peace-maker, and his kind advice often averted vexatious litiga- tion and animosities among friends and neighbors.

In Broome county, N. Y., Mr. Avery was mar- ried, March 27, 1830, to Miss Harriette Lord, who was born in Great Bend, Penn., February 23, 1798, and died in Montrose, July 20, 1876. Her parents were Henry and Ann ( Van Dyke) Lord, the former a native of Maine, the latter of Dutchess county, N. Y. They resided for a few years in Great Bend, Susquehanna Co., Penn., but both died in Yates county, New York.

Mr. Avery affiliates with the Republican party, and was a consistent and faithful member of the Presbyterian Church. As a citizen he was ever ready to discharge everv duty devolving upon him, and gave his support to every enterprise which he be- lieved calculated to prove of public benefit, or that would in any way advance the interests of the town and county. He was widely and favorably known and justly merited the esteem in which he was held.

JOSEPH DOUD, a successful and progressive farmer residing in Clifford township, Susquehanna county, was born upon a part of his present farm, February 17, 1837, a son of Franklin and Temima (Halstead) Doud, natives of Lenox township, Sus- quehanna county. The Doud family was founded here by our subject's great-grandfather, Isaac Doud, a native of Connecticut, who located in Lenox town- ship in the spring of 1799, and took up 400 acres of government land, which had been laid off by him two years previous. Upon his place he erected a cabin and mill, which he operated for some time. Some of this land is still in the possession of the family. During the Revolutionary war Isaac Doud was one of Washington's body guard, and was also blacksmith for the General. He died in Sandusky Plains, in Ohio, whither he removed in 1825. The paternal grandparents of our subject were John and Eliza (Baker) Doud. The grandfather was born in Middletown, Orange Co., N. Y., and came to Susquehanna county with his parents. Through-

1400

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

out life he followed farming and also operated a grist and sawmill. He died at the home of a son in West Clifford, and his wife died on the present farm of our subject. Franklin Doud, our subject's father, was also an agriculturist. He died March 4, 1873, at the age of sixty-five years and three months, and his wife departed this life October 30, 1850, at the age of thirty-seven years, both being laid to rest in Clifford cemetery. They were members of the Universalist Church and highly respected by all who knew them. Their children were William, a resi- dent of Wavmart, Penn. ; Joseph, our subject ; Mar- tin V., of Clarenceville, N. Y .; Henrietta died in September, 1845, aged four years; Maria E., of Portland, Ore .; and Jackson D., a book agent of Australia.

Leaving home at an early age, Joseph Doud worked for others until his marriage, and then rented the old homestead for nine years, purchasing the place at the end of that time. The neat and thrifty appearance of the farm plainly indicates his care- ful supervision and good business ability. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and he has creditably filled the office of poormaster. In religious belief he is a Universalist, and fraternally is a member of the Farmers Alliance.

On December 16, 1860, in Lenox township, Mr. Doud married Miss Sarah Felton, who was born in that township, daughter of George and Cynthia Felton, November 22, 1841, and they became the parents of seven children, Effie M., Ida L .. Walter C., Jennie Alice, Arthur W. and Harry M., all now deceased, leaving only the youngest, Mason B., living at the present time. The mother died February II, 1900, aged fifty-eight years and two months, deeply mourned by all who knew her.

CHRISTOPHER HENDERSHOT ( de-

ceased) was for several years one of the most hon- ored and highly respected citizens of Westfall town- ship, Pike county, as well as one of its most reliable and prosperous business men. He was born at Swartwood, N. J., March 6, 1825, and was left an orphan at an early age. His real name was Rierson, but he was reared by a Mr. Hendershot, and as- sumed the name of his foster-father.

In 1845 our subiect came to Pike county and took up his residence in Westfall township, where he operated a stone quarry and also engaged in farm- ing with marked success. In early life he also as- sisted in the construction of the Erie railroad. In response to his country's call for aid during the Civil war, he enlisted December 7, 1864, in Com- pany E, 5Ist P. V. I., for one year, but as the war ended before that time he was honorably discharged July 27, 1865. His company was under the com- mand of Capt. William R. Foster. While living near Matamoras, Pike county, Mr. Hendershot went on a hunting trip, and on his return while alight- ing from the stage at Port Jervis, N. Y., he was accidentally shot. This was some time in March,

1874. In his death the community realized that it had lost one of its most valued and useful citizens, and his family mourned the loss of a kind and affectionate husband and father. His duties were always performed with the greatest care, and his personal honor and integrity were without blemish.

In 1845, at Swartwood, N. Y., Mr. Hender- shot married Miss Susan Maines, a native of Sus- sex county, that State, born July 10, 1825, a daugh- ter of Peter and Mary (Cox) Maines, of said county. The following children were born of this union : Aaron, who is still on the old homestead in Westfall township ; Joseph, a railroad man of Port Jervis, N. Y .. who married Emma Adams; Hiram, who died unmarried : William, who is mentioned more fully below ; Lydia A., deceased wife of William McPeet ; Sarah, at home; John P., a farmer of Sussex coun- ty, N. J., who married Drinda Hill; Abram, at home; Charles, who died unmarried ; and Elizabeth, wife of Elworth Clark, a railroad fireman residing in Port Jervis, New York.

WILLIAM HENDERSHOT is an native of West- fall township, Pike county and was reared to habits of thrift and industry, never leaving the parental roof. In 1876 the family removed to his present home, and while assisting in its. operation he also gives considerable attention to stone quarrying. He has always been a hard worker, and due success has not been denied him. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat, and he ever takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 326

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