Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 331

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 331
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 331
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 331
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 331

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(IV) Stroud Jacob Hollinshead, son of Dr. James Hollinshead (III), and grandson of Col. Ja- cob Stroud, was born in the family homestead near Stroudsburg now occupied by John Kautz. He enjoyed the benefits of a good classical education, and during his life-time was one of the leading busi- ness men of Monroe county, engaging extensively in farming and milling. He became interested in various speculative enterprises and, in January, 1857, helped organize the Stroudsburg Bank, in which he was a director. He was a man of good judgment and character, of superior executive ability and liberal impulses, read men closely and met with suc- cess in his business ventures. He also took a promi- nent part in the local politics of the county. In July, 1836, he gave to Monroe county the present site of the court house and donated to Stroudsburg that portion of Franklin street which extends from Main street to the court house. He died in 1864, and is buried in the old Hollinshead graveyard, where a neat monument marks his grave. He was married, February 2, 1819, to Jeanette De La Barre, born May 3, 1803, daughter of Jacob De La Barre and Rachel Smith, who was the daughter of Dr. Francis J. Smith and Elizabeth Brodhead, and granddaughter of Garrett and Jane (Davis) Brod- head. Mrs. Jeanette Hollinshead's mother having

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died while the former was yet an infant, she was reared by her great-grandmother Brodhead, and as she had great-grandchildren of her own she had liv- ing communication in a direct line with seven genera- tions in the maternal line. She had in her possession a paper dated "Lower Smithfield township, the first day of the year, 1795" written by Dr. Francis J. Smith when he was forty-six or forty-seven years of age. The following are the contents :

" I was born in Brussels, capital city of the Austrian Netherlands. My true name is Josephus Jacobus De Aerts, son of J. B. De Aerts, Lord of Opdorp and Zimmersecle. I altered my name in the year 1777 when I proceeded to join the American army. I could not expect to travel through Europe, as I had to go through France by that name, with- out being exposed to arrest by the despotism either of the Emperatrice or that of her daughter, the Queen of France. I took the name of Smith and my passports both in England and France under it, also my commission from congress, etc.

"From the age of eighteen I took an extreme aversion to despotic and monarchical governments, which in part was the occasion of my being made a state prisoner, and confined in irons in a dungeon for six months, when I made my escape from the prison at Brussels. I went to Holland, where I took service in order to be protected by the military. Col. Mans, who commanded the regiment of the Prince of Weilburg, was my friend and protected me until his death, when I traveled through the greater part of Europe until I was suffered to return to Brussels.

"Ever since 1777 I have lived in America, my parents died in the meanwhile, and as a rebel disinherited man, my brother, James Henricus De Aerts, Lord Boon, near Antwerp, invaded my patrimony which I think ought to amount to 100,000 florins if not more. The French Republic I hope will keep the Netherlands and do justice to my children without distinction on an equal basis; my reasons for acting as I have done are best known to me. I shall only add that if it was not done I should do it again, however, these reasons are known to some of my friends who will do me the justice to explain them on a future day, if I should not have time and opportunity to do it myself. After my decease I wish these few lines might be published if any of my friends through see cause for it."

Stroud Jacob Hollinshead had five children : Harriet, Sarah, Frank, William and Caroline. (I) Harriet, born November 19, 1819, married Dr. A. Reeves Jackson, of Stroudsburg, and died January 19, 1869. He afterward removed to Chicago where he practiced medicine until his death. They had four children-Jeannette De Aerts, Stroud H., Will- iam and Mary Lavinia. Miss Jeanette De Aerts Jackson has now in her possession, given to her by her grandmother, Mrs. Jeanette Hollinshead, the old Hollinshead Bible which was brought by Daniel Hol- linshead from England. It contains the Old and New Testaments, the Apocrypha, the Book of Com- mon Prayer and the Psalms in Metre. It is pro- fuselv illustrated with quaint engravings, and is the old King James version published at Oxford. (2) Sarah, born January 20, 1824, married Hon. John D. Morris, and died January 27, 1854. (3) Frank, born June 6, 1826, married Jane Malven, daughter of John Malven, of Wigtown, Scotland. He stud- ied medicine under Dr. William P. Vail, and was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in April, 1848. He settled in Northampton county, Penn., almost immediately upon his graduation, and remained until 1854, when he returned to Strouds-

burg, where he died December 24, 1856, after two years of languishing illness. His children . were- Elizabeth Malven, who married, December 27, 1888, Edwin A. Bell; Edgar Pinchot is our subject ; Will- iam, born November 25, married Cecelia Knecht, died November II, 1876; and Caroline, born July 4, 1839, died September 14, 1842.

Col. Jacob Stroud, grandfather of Stroud Ja- cob Hollinshead, is interred in the Stroudsburg graveyard, where his grave is marked by a white marble slab, on which is inscribed: "Here lies the body of Jacob Stroud, Esquire, the original pro- prietor of Stroudsburg, who was born January 15, 1735, at Amwell, in New Jersey, and died at this place, July 14, 1806, aged seventy-one years, five months and twenty-five days. He was a member of the Legislature of Pennsylvania during the dan- gerous times of the Revolution; one of the conven- tion which formed the first Constitution of the State ; and in this part of the country, one of the most use- ful men of his day."

W. S. DUTOT, one of Stroudsburg's most pro- gressive and enterprising citizens, is successfully engaged in the insurance business. As a self-made man he enjoys in a high degree the esteem and con- fidence of his fellow townsmen, and his success is all the more gratifying to him for the reason that it has been gained without a shadow of stain upon his integrity.

His grandfather Dutot, of French descent, was the first of the family to make his home in this coun- try. On leaving France he first went to San Domin- go where he engaged in business and owned a num- ber of slaves. During the rebellion of the negroes on the island in 1793, he was obliged to flee to the United States. He settled at Delaware Water Gap, Penn., purchasing a large tract of land. For many years he kept a toll-gate there, and at his death his remains were interred at a spot previously designat- ed by himself near the present "Water Gap House," and almost surrounded by a luxuriant growth of ferns. He was a man of fine intelligence, being in sympathy with the advanced thought of his time, and he predicted that steamboats would run through the gap and that the whistle of the railroad engine would at some time resound through the glen. Shortly before his death he purchased a cannon and placed it in a commanding position with the request that it be fired when the first locomotive should go through. He spoke nothing but French, but would never permit his children to learn that language as through his ignorance of English he lost much of his fortune after coming to this country. At the time of his flight from San Domingo his wife was unable to accompany him; but she followed him two years later, the gold coin which she had brought with her being saved from confiscation by being quilted into her clothing. She died at Delaware Water Gap, leaving a large family, of whom our subject's father, Anthony Dutot, was the eldest. The others were Philip, who died at Mauch Chunk,

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Penn .; Ferdinand (deceased), formerly a justice of the peace at Stroudsburg ; Louis, who died in early manhood ; and Delila and Lawrence.

Anthony Dutot, the father of our subject, was born in 1807, and always resided at Delaware Wa- ter Gap, his death occurring in 1883. By occupation he was a millwright, and he built most of the grist and saw mills constructed in this section during his lifetime. While he was not a politician, he took much interest in public questions, giving his support to the Democratic party. His wife, Johanna Sta- ples, a daughter of Luke Staples, was born in 1812, and died in 1882. Of their eleven children, the first died in infancy ; John and James are both deceased ; Eunice married Christopher Hovenstein, a cabinet- maker in Missouri; Louis was accidentally killed on a railroad at the age of nineteen ; Mary, who resides at the Gap, is the widow of Sherman S. Lindsley ; Luke is a carpenter at East Stroudsburg ; Gerome B. is deceased; Miss Louisa A. resides at Delaware Water Gap; Delila married Porter J. Sutts, of New York City ; and W. S., our subject, is the youngest of the family.

W. S. Dutot was born August 31, 1856, at Del- aware Water Gap, Penn., and his education was ob- tained in the schools of that locality. He learned telegraphy in his youth, and after working for some time as an operator at different points he became station agent at Mount Pocono, where he resided until December 1, 1890. He was always interested in politics as a stanch Democrat, and in 1890 he was elected prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Monroe county, making a removal to Strouds- burg advisable. In 1893 he was re-elected on an Independent ticket after a hard fight, but when his second term expired he declined to appear as a candidate again. Since his retirement he has been engaged in the insurance business, carrying life, fire and accident risks, and from the first he has met with success. On February 5, 1882, he married Miss Margaret Mount, who was born May 1, 1862, at Tannersville, Penn., and their home is brightened by three children : Mabel M., Walter C. and Clara. Mr. Dutot and his wife are prominent socially, and he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Knights of Pythias, the Junior Order of Amer- ican Mechanics, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, East Stroudsburg.

W. ORLANDO BUTTON (deceased) was for many years one of the highly-respected and hon- ored citizens of Springville township, Susquehanna county. He was born there June 10, 1844, a son of N. W. and Melissa (Burdick) Button, the father a native of New York State, whence at an early day he removed to northeastern Pennsylvania, for many years making his home in Springville township, Susquehanna county, where his death occurred. In his family were five children, two sons and three daughters, namely: Amanda, deceased wife of James Decker; Mrs. Ellen Welsh, a resident of

Springville; Ada, wife of George McCracken; W. Orlando, our subject; and Oscar, deceased.

In his native township Mr. Button grew to manhood and continued to make his home through- out life, being called to his final rest April 4, 1896. He was widely and favorably known, and in his death the community realized that it had lost one of its most valuable and useful citizens, one who was always willing to aid every enterprise for the public good.

On April 30, 1865, Mr. Button was united in marriage with Miss Esther Decker,a most estima- ble lady, who was born in Lathrop township, Sus- quehanna county, February 24, 1848, and seven children blessed their union: Alvin, now a resi- dent of Lathrop township; Jennie, wife of Asa Fredrissa, of Clinton, Penn .; Franklin, a black- smith of Nicholson, Penn .; Estella, at home with her mother; Elizabeth, wife of Lewis Johnson, of Springville township; Bert, at home; and Wesley, who died at the age of seven years.

Mrs. Button's paternal grandfather, William Decker, was of German descent, and lived in Scott township, Wyoming Co., Penn., where he followed farming as a life work. Her father, Jacob Decker, was born in that county, in April, 1810, and there married Miss Hannah Benedict. He followed agri- cultural pursuits in his native county and in Lathrop township, Susquehanna county, until his removal, in 1868, to Wisconsin, where he was similarly em- ployed throughout his active business life. He died in 1896, his wife in 1894. They were earnest, consistent Christian people, members of the Baptist Church, and their upright, honorable lives gained for them the confidence and esteem of all who knew them. In his political views the father was a Re- publican. Their children were as follows: Joseph, a Methodist Episcopal minister, now living in Wis- consin; Job, a resident of Factoryville, Wyoming Co., Penn .; James, a farmer of Springville township, Susquehanna county ; Elijah and Henry, both farm- ers of Lathrop township, Susquehanna county ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Robert Blakeslee, of Wyoming county; Mary, deceased wife of Nelson Chambers, of Factoryville, Penn .; Esther, Mrs. Button ; Franklin, a Methodist Episcopal minister, of Wisconsin; Adoniram, a farmer of that State; and Benjamin, a farmer of Oregon.

SYLVESTER P. KAHLER, a most energetic and enterprising merchant of Rush, Susquehanna county, is a member of the well-known firm of Kahler, Terry & Co., limited. Business was first started in 1884 under the style of Hibbard & Terry, who conducted a small grocery store, but in 1888 they enlarged their stock. Our subject became in- terested in the business in 1895, and has since de- voted his entire time to it with excellent results.

Mr. Kahler was born in Hughesville, Lycom- ing Co., Penn., January 5, 1850, and is a son of Samuel and Hester (Pursel) Kahler, the former a native of Bloomsburg, Penn., the latter of Colum-

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bia county, this State. The father was a black- smith by trade, but about 1848 purchased a large farm at Hughesville and throughout the remainder of his life devoted his attention to agricultural pur- suits. He was a devout member of the Baptist Church, took an active part in its work, and assisted in building the first church of that denomination at Picture Rock. He was one of the most highly-re- spected and influential men in his community, and was often called upon to fill township offices of trust. He died in 1883, aged seventy-six years, his wife in 1886, aged seventy-nine, and both were laid to rest in Hughesville cemetery. In their family were the following children: Catherine, who died in in- fancy ; Harriet, who married Hiram Cronin, and died in 1898; Jackson, a retired farmer of Hughes- ville; Germilla, deceased wife of Jacob R. Hilp; Ann, deceased ; Caroline, a resident of Hughesville ; Martha, wife of Edward Melnish, a turner of Pic- ture Rock ; Samuel N., a farmer of Lycoming coun- ty; and Sylvester P., our subject. His paternal grandfather, John Kahler, was a native of Germany, and on his emigration to America located in Co- lumbia county, Penn. The maternal grandparents Pursel were natives of England and also early set- tlers of Columbia county, where the grandfather engaged in farming and also operated an iron ore mine upon his farm, becoming quite wealthy.

During his boyhood and youth Sylvester P. Kahler became familiar with every department of farm work, and when his parents moved away he and his two brothers operated the home farm on shares, he being at that time twenty-four years of age. Three years later they purchased the place and divided the same; but after living upon his share for three years our subject sold it to his brothers and come to Susquehanna county. On February 15, 1884, he purchased a farm in Rush township, to the cultivation of which he devoted his energies un- til the spring of 1895, when he sold the place and for three years rented a large farm with the inten- tion of buying it, but in the meantime became inter- ested in his present business and gave up farming, As a merchant he has built up a large trade which is constantly increasing, and he has gained the con- fidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact.

On October 27, 1876, at Picture Rock, Lycom- ing county, Mr. Kahler wedded Miss Mary Gran- ger, by whom he has three children, namely: Ida M., Henry G. and Arthur H. Mrs. Kahler was born in Rush township, Susquehanna county, Jan- uary 13, 1851, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Mellmish) Granger, natives of Vermont and England, respectively. The latter was three years of age when she came to this country with her parents, who located first in Susquehanna county, Penn., and in 1844 removed to Wyoming county, but the following year returned to Susquehanna county, where they ever afterward made their home. Mrs. Kahler's father was a farmer by occu- pation, and quite a prominent man in his township,

where he filled the offices of collector and assessor for many years. Both he and his wife were earnest and consistent members of the Baptist Church, in which he served as deacon. He was born August 9, 1814, and died February 12, 1891; she was born February 22, 1817, and died April 22, 1857, and the remains of both were interred in Snyder cemetery, Rush township. Their children were as follows: James H., born June 6, 1837, died young; Nava, born April 5, 1840, also died young; Arletta, born April 3, 1842, married Solomon Bradshaw, and died February 22, 1876; Harriet, born April 17, 1844, is the wife of Charles L. Baker, a farmer of Rush township; Frank H., born December 23, 1846, is a farmer of Bradford county, Penn .; Mary J., born January 13, 1851, is the wife of our subject ; Estella, born June 5, 1854, is the wife of Nelson Cobb, of Camptown, Penn .; and Orpha A., born November 23, 1855, is the wife of W. W. McCain, a merchant of Stevensville, Pennsylvania.

The Democratic party always finds in Mr. Kah- ler a stanch supporter of its principles, and for three years he most efficiently served as treasurer of his township. He is an active and prominent member of the Presbyterian Church of Rush, of which he has been a trustee for the past four years. His life has been honorable, his actions sincere, and in business and social circles he occupies an enviable position.

LEWIS DRAKE, a wealthy resident of Pop- lar Valley, Monroe county, is a man of progressive ideas, and his influence is felt in the business, so- cial, political and educational life of his section. As an agriculturist he is noted for his scientific methods, while in general business lines his advice is frequently sought, and for some time he has been a director in the Stroudsburg National Bank.

Mr. Drake is of good Scotch-Irish descent in the paternal line, and the family is noted for the thrift and enterprise which characterize that race. The first ancestor of whom we have a definite ac- count was Levi Drake, our subject's grandfather, who settled at an early day in Cherry Valley, Mon- roe county, where he cleared and improved a farm. He had six sons and three daughters, the names of the sons being: (1) Daniel married and located in Smithfield township, Monroe county. (2) Jo- seph, our subject's father, is mentioned more fully farther on. (3) Duane (now deceased) settled in Cherry Valley on a farm adjoining that of his fa- ther. He married and had the following children- Jane, who married Daniel Keller, of Stroud town- ship; Caroline is the wife of Abel Storm, of Strouds- burg ; Ellen died in early womanhood ; Robert (now deceased) married and settled in Lackawanna coun- ty; Lorenzo died in New Jersey; George (now deceased) married and settled in Stroudsburg ; Jerome died in Ohio; and Cyrus is a railway em- ploye in the West. (4) Alfred (now deceased) married and made his home in Stroud township. (5) Silas (now deceased) never married. (6)

the

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

James married and settled in Smithfield township, where he died leaving a family of children. Of the three daughters of Levi Drake, the eldest mar- ried John Elizas, of Wilkes Barre, Penn. ; one mar- ried a Mr. Dreher, of Stroud township, and an- other married Ephraim Lacord, of Northampton county, where several of these children now reside.

Joseph Drake, the father of our subject, was born in Cherry Valley, and in early manhood mar- ried Miss Mary La Bar, a member of a well-known family. Soon after his marriage they located in Poplar Valley, where he followed the millwright's trade, and after a few years he purchased the pres- ent homestead from Amos La Bar. It contained 200 acres of land, partly improved with a log house and small barn, and this Mr. Drake improved in a sub- stantial manner. He cleared much of the land, and for a number of years he devoted himself to agri- cultural pursuits, giving up his trade entirely. He was an excellent citizen, and during the war of 1812 he served as a soldier, for which he received, for some years previous to his death in 1877. a pen- sion of $8 per month. His worthy wife survived him several years, passing away in 1885. Our sub- ject is the youngest in a family of three sons, the others being: (I) Amos, born in Stroud town- ship, was engaged in business with the Tanite Co., at Stroudsburg, where his death occurred. His wife, Elizabeth (Bertram), of Smithfield township, died in 1896, leaving two daughters-(a) Tillie mar- ried the late Martin Rhinehear, of Cresco, and has one daughter, Minnie. (b) Minnie married Charles Youthers, a banker in Owego, N. Y., and has two daughters. (2) Levi, second son of Joseph Drake, born in 1832, in Stroud township, is now one of the leading capitalists of Stroudsburg. He received a public-school education in his youth, and as a young man taught successfully for several winters. He married Miss Catherine Wise, of Smithfield town- ship, and has one son, Stewart, who married Miss Alice Swartswood, of Stroudsburg, and now re- sides on a farm in Stroud township, belonging to his father.

The subject of this sketch was born June 10, 1834, in Stroud township, and was reared as a farmer boy, his education being obtained in the com- mon schools of the locality. In 1865 he married Miss Elmira Keller, who was born May 8, 1848, the daughter of Charles L. and Mary A. Keller, prominent residents of Stroudsburg .. Mr. Drake then rented a farm in Stroud township, and after the death of his father he purchased the old home- stead, where he has since resided, making a spe- cialty of dairying. He has built a fine two-story residence and an addition to the barn and made other improvements, his farm being one of the best in the township. Politically he is a stanch Republican, having entered the party on the dissolution of the Whig organization, of which his father was also an adherent in the early days. At times he has been called to office, has served as supervisor several terms and was school director. He is in sympathy

with the doctrines of the Presbyterian and Method- ist Churches, having been reared under their influence and taken an interest in all that pertains to the ad- vancement of religious work. Socially the family is prominent, and their home is the center of a refined hospitality, Mr. Drake's genial courtesy making him an ideal host. Of his six children, the eldest, Amelia, born in 1866, has received an excellent edu- cation in the public schools and is now at home. (2) Clayton, born in March, 1871, is a promising young man and at present assists his father in the business of the farm. (3) William, born in May, 1873, was killed by a kick on the head from a horse. He was a remarkably intelligent youth and the pride of the home, his loss being deeply felt. (4) Charles, born in August, 1878, is at home. (5) Nellie, born in August, 1880, died at the age of two years. (6) Miller, born in July, 1883, resides with his parents.

WILLIAM STORM (deceased) was one of the most highly-esteemed citizens of Paradise town- ship, Monroe county, where he passed a long and useful life. His industry and upright business methods won him an honorable place in the com- munity, while his kindly heart drew the regard of all who knew him. His estimable widow, Mrs. Eliza- beth (McCarty) Storm. is worthy of prominent mention in this volume, as she has not only been a fond and devoted wife and mother, but has made a high reputation as an educator, many of the leaders among the younger men and women of the locality having been trained under her able guidance.

Mr. Storm was born August 6, 1829, in Po- cono township, Monroe county, and belonged to a well known family, the family name being associat- ed with a high order of citizenship. Andrew L. Storm, our subject's father, came from Holland with his wife, Elizabeth (Roth), and became a pioneer settler in Pocono township, where he purchased land and cleared and improved a homestead. He had the following children : Sally A. is the wife of Barnard Misson, of Ross township, Monroe county ; William is our subject ; Peter married Mary Harps, of Ham- ilton township, and resides in Binghamton, N. Y .; Maria is the wife of Charles Rowe, of Paradise township; John ( deceased ) married Miss E. Heller, and resided in Paradise township; Katie married John Hilgert, of Paradise township, Monroe cour- ty ; Rachel is the wife of Willi ... n Busecker, of Bar- rett township, Monroe county ; Amanda is the wife of Augustus Busecker, of Paradise township; Ja- cob married Sally Doll, of Jackson township, Mon- roe county ; Joshua married Miss Anna Newheart, of Paradise township, and now resides at Mt. Poco- no; Andrew married Miss Mary Smith, of Smith- field township, and died in 1896, his widow being now a resident of East Stroudsburg; and Mahlon married Miss Lydia Smith, of Barrett township, and resides in Paradise township, Monroe county.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 331

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