Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 34

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 34
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 34
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 34
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 34

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During his boyhood Joseph G. Bronson became thoroughly familiar with the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and upon the old home farm he remained until April, 1890, when he came to South Canaan Corners. In partnership with J. N. Swingle, he engaged in merchandising for two years, and on selling out purchased his present store from Porter Swingle and John N. Edwards. In his new undertaking he has met with excellent success, receiving a liberal share of public patronage. On April 20, 1897, he was appointed by will a life executor and trustee of the estate of William W. Bronson, who was president of the First National Bank of Carbondale, and was also an extensive dealer in horses and other fine stock, leaving a very large and valuable estate. Besides his mercantile interests, Mr. Bronson owns the old Bronson home- stead of 164 acres in South Canaan township.

In South Canaan Mr. Bronson was married, August 25, 1881, to Miss Ida B. Swingle, P. M. Mott performing the ceremony. She was born in that township, September 28, 1858, a daughter of Erastus C. and Abby (Kennedy) Swingle, who spent their entire lives in South Canaan township; with the exception of five years he followed contract- ing in New York State. Her paternal great-grand- father was Conrad Swingle, and her grandparents were John and Polly (Quick) Swingle, of South Canaan township. There her maternal grandpar- ents, Lyman and Nancy (Swingle) Kennedy, also made their home, while the former engaged in farming.

Erastus C. Swingle (Mrs. Bronson's father) engaged in teaching school in early life, also con- ducted a mercantile store in South Canaan for sev- eral years, but his last days were spent in farming. He was one of the leading citizens of his community, and most creditably filled the office of justice of the peace for many years. He was born April 12, 1831,

and died June 7, 1895, while Mrs. Bronson's mother was born August 8, 1836, and died August 19, 1872, both being laid to rest in South Canaan cemetery. They were married January 28, 1856, and became the parents of the following children: Arthur J., born March 28, 1857, is now a school teacher of Leonardville, Kans .; Ida B., wife of our subject, is next in the order of birth; Clarence G., born July 16, 1862, has for the past four terms served as coun- ty superintendent of schools in Riley county, Kans., and is also editor of the Kansas Educator, being a resident of Manhattan, that State; and Orley H., born July 2, 1870, is a school teacher of Ogden, Kans. The father of these children was twice mar- ried, his second union being with Mrs. Angeline · (Swingle) Varney, and two children were born to them, namely : Cora E., born November 18, 1877; and Dean B., born January 6, 1879. Mrs. Angeline Swingle was the widow of Newton Varney, by whom she had four children : Mary and Nellie, both now deceased; May, the wife of Howard B. Cam- ron, of Washington, Mich .; and Joseph G., who conducts a book store in Manhattan, Kansas.

In his political affiliations, Mr. Bronson is a Republican, and he has capably served his fellow citizens in the capacity of township treasurer for six years, and school treasurer for five years. With the Methodist Episcopal Church both he and his wife hold membership, and in the community where they have always made their home they have the respect and esteem of all who know them.

GILBERT F. BORTREE is a leading lumber- man and farmer of Salem township, Wayne county, whose success may be attributed to his ambition, preseverance and indefatigable industry, combined with sound business principles. His farm comprises IIO acres of valuable land, part of which is covered with a fine growth of timber, estimated at 600,000 feet. During the year 1874 Mr. Bortree spent some time in farming in Minnesota, but with that excep- tion he has always been identified with the business interests of Wayne county, and is numbered among its valued and useful citizens.

Mr. Bortree's great-grandparents, Robert Bor- tree and wife, were born, reared and married in Ireland, and that country was the birthplace of sev- eral of their children. Among the number was Ed- ward Bortree, our subject's grandfather, who came with his parents to America. They purchased land in Sterling township, Wayne Co., Penn., where they spent the remainder of their lives. Edward Bortree married Eliza Gilpin, and they reared a large family of children, among whom were Philena; Robert John, father of our subject; Richard; William Ed- ward; Mary, who wedded Jabez Simons, of Greene township; Abram, who died when a young man; and Joseph.

Robert John Bortree was born in Sterling township, where he grew to manhood, and in 1849, in Salem township, Wayne county, he was married, by Rev. Mendenhall, an Episcopal minister, to Miss

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Catherine Peet, a daughter of Charles and Ann (Wright) Peet. The children born of this union were Oliver T., deceased, whose home was in Ster- ling township ; Gilbert F., of this sketch ; Anna Eliza, a teacher at Clark's Summit, Penn., Mary J., wife of Amosy Van Campen, of Lackawanna county, Penn .; Edward, who died at the age of five vears; Emma R., who died in childhood ; Lydia A. ; Carrie Eva, deceased wife of Charles Farringer, of Lacka- wanna county, Penn. ; A. Minnie, teacher at Clark's Summit ; Leonora, who is teaching near that place ; Frederick G., who died in childhood; and Cather- ine, who died in infancy.

Gilbert F. Bortree was born August 17, 1851, in Sterling township, Wayne county, and passed his boyhood and youth upon the old homestead, remain- ing under the parental roof until he attained the age of twenty-six vears, and assisting in the farm work. He was married in Sterling township, by Rev. J. F. Warner, a Methodist Episcopal minister, to Miss Fannie Lee, who was born in that township, March 14, 1860, a daughter of Dawson W. and Diana (Griffin) Lee, the former a native of Philadelphia, the latter of Lackawanna county, Penn. In the Lee family were only two children, the other being Ella, who died at the age of seven years. Mrs. Bortree's paternal grandfather, Dawson Lee, was a native of Kildare, County Tyrone, Ireland, and married Betsy Williams, who was born and reared in Philadelphia, Penn. The great-grandfather, Robin Lee, lived and died in County Tyrone, Ireland. Her maternal great-grandfather, Thomas Griffin, was born in Wales and when a small bov came to America. His son Thomas M. married Eliza Potter; both were born and reared in Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county, Pennsylvania.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bortree: Clarence L., born August 5, 1878, is at home; Everett Lloyd, born February 28, 1886, died November 21, of the same year; Effie Wray, born October 2, 1887, is at home; and Freddy died at the age of three months. Politically Mr. Bortree has always been a strong Republican, and socially he is a prominent member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America. For eight years he had the contract to carry the mail between Ledgedale and Moscow, and in business as well as social circles he occupies an enviable position, for he is straightforward and honorable in all his dealings. At all time he is courteous, kindly and affable, and those who know him personally have for him high regard.

HORACE E. KIPP, who is now residing in Wilsonville, Wayne county, and is engaged in gen- eral merchandising, has throughout the greater part of his business career been extensively interested in the lumber business in this section of the State. Systematic and methodical, his sagacity, keen dis- crimination and sound judgment have made him a prosperous business man, and his upright and hon- orable dealings have won for him the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

Mr. Kipp was born in Greene township, Pike Hannah (Correll) Kipp, natives of Philadelphia, and Co., Penn., December 26, 1843, a son of John and Sterling, Wayne Co., Penn., respectively. The name of Kipp was originally spelled Kip. Our subject's paternal grandparents were Isaac I. and Susan ( Vaughn) Kipp, the former a native of New York City, the latter of Philadelphia. The grand- father, who was of Holland descent, went to Phila- delphia when a young man, and became one of the first principals of the public schools at Kensington. The Vaughn family was of English origin, and some of its members were among the first settlers of Philadelphia, where Thomas Vaughn, the great- grandfather of our subject, was born.

By occupation our subject's father was a farmer and lumberman, and for many years he owned and operated a sawmill in Greene township, Pike Co., Penn. He continuously filled some township office, and also served as auditor of Pike county. In Phil- adelphia he held membership in the Episcopal Church, but as there was no Church of that denomi- nation near his home in Pike county, he attended the Methodist Church. He died in August, 1892, aged seventy-five years, his wife in June, 1888, aged sixty-four years, honored and respected by all who knew them.

In the family of this worthy couple were the following children: Isaac M. is a blacksmith of Nobletown, Wayne county ; Horace E. is second in the order of birth; Benjamin F. was at one time a miller, and is now engaged in farming and serving as mail agent in Greene township, Pike county ; George W. is a member of the firm of Clark, Kipp & Co., extensive lumbermen of Jefferson county, Penn .; John A. is a resident of Milford, Penn., but is engaged in the practice of law and in the real- estate business in New York City ; Mary is the wife of S. Vangorder, a carpenter of Scranton, Penn .; Susan is the wife of T. H. Gilpin, a lumber manu- facturer and turner of Pike county; Margaret A. is the wife of Horatio Simons, proprietor of the Poyntelle of Wayne county ; Elizabeth, wife of J. H. Banks, a farmer of Pike county; Thomas, who died in 1861 ; Helen, wife of Simeon Pipper, an engineer on the D. & L. R. R., living in Scranton ; and Baxter, a salesman in Greentown, Pike county.

Until he attained his majority Horace E. Kipp remained at home, assisting in the labors of the farm and lumber woods and attending the local schools when his services were not needed at home. At the age of twenty-one he went to Lycoming coun- ty, Penn., and later to Clearfield county, devoting a year to lumbering in each place. He then at- tended the Lowell Commercial College at Benning- ton, N. Y., and after his graduation returned to his home in Pike county, where he remained the follow- ing winter. He next went to Chicago to seek em- ployment, but did not long remain in that city. On his return home, he purchased his father's mill and lumber interests in Greene township, Pike county, continuing operations there for eight years, during

Horaci & Képp

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

which time he built the first circular-saw mill in that section of the country. During the following twelve years he was employed as foreman in the woods for Collingwood & Co., and then assisted in the organization of the Paupack Lumber Co., the other members of the firm being Judge Purdy, E. C. Mumford and Thomas Medland. Though the partnership has never been dissolved they carried on operations for only about two years. In June, 1894, Mr. Kipp purchased his present store in Wilsonville, where he has since successfully engaged in general merchandising, and November 10, 1896, he re- moved to his present home.

Mr. Kipp was married in Pike county, June 24, 1868, to Miss Mary Simons, by whom he has two children: Edith and Emma. Mrs. Kipp was born in that county, September 12, 1842, a daughter of James and Ann ( Bell) Simons, natives of Ireland and Boston, Mass., respectively. They were among the early settlers of Pike county, where they died at a ripe old age.

Politically, Mr. Kipp is a stanch Democrat, and although he has never aspired to office, he has been called upon to fill a number of local positions, the duties of which he most faithfully performed. He is an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ma- sonic fraternity.

BROWN FAMILY. From a sturdy English family, dwelling near the coast of England, living the virtuous and industrious lives of their fore- fathers, three brothers at widely scattered periods crossed the ocean and settled in Wayne county, Penn., where they and their children have become useful and prominent citizens. It is especially fit- ting that in this biographical collection mention should be made of this truly representative family.

Thomas Brown was born in Marhamchurch, where his ancestors had lived for generations before him. It is a small village in the northeast part of Cornwall, England, about two miles inland from the Atlantic ocean, and three miles from the Devon- shire line. The family have been mechanics for gen- erations, and Thomas was boss carpenter on the little canal that extends inland from Bude, used to convey fertilizing sands and coal from the Atlantic to the farmers, until he began running boats himself. The family have been Wesleyan Methodists for gen- erations back. They were among the orderly, in- dustrious people who were contented to live and die as their fathers had done, firmly believing that their reward awaited them in the next world. Thomas Brown married Grace Herd, and they had a family of ten children. He died at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Three of his children came to America-Thomas in 1848, Samuel H. in 1851, and John R. in 1873.

Thomas Brown was a carpenter and bridge- builder. He was county commissioner of Wayne county in 1875, and it was under his direction that

the massive foundations of the present courthouse were laid. He died in 1877, while in office. He was twice married, his wives being sisters, Mary and Elizabeth Box. Of his children, Thomas is dead. John resides in Portland, Oregon. Samuel, who died in 1893, was a very competent commis- sioner's clerk for several terms; he married Miss Emma Frost, and had a large family of children, now residing at Wehawken, N. J. William mar- ried Miss Emma Henderson; he died January 31, 1898, at Tracyville, Pennsylvania.

Samuel Herd Brown came to America in 1851, when he was fifteen years of age. He first worked at carpentering with his brother Thomas, and after- ward learned the millwright trade of D. W. Church, of Bethany, Wayne county, while with him attend- ing Stoddard's school, at Bethany. In 1856 he be- gan to work for himself, putting up sawmills and tanneries, and took a trip to Texas and the West, working on a gristmill in Cincinnati, Ohio. Re- turning to Honesdale, he married Hannah Loretta Gerow, of Newburg, N. Y., and in 1858 they went to England, where he worked with his father and operated a sawmill for nearly eight years. On his return to Honesdale he worked on Coe F. Young's tanneries, and at other carpenter work, until April 14, 1879, when he became master builder for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., at Honesdale, a po- sition which he has held ever since. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born children as follows: Sarah, wife of Arthur Howell, a telegraph operator, of Carbondale, Penn .; Lionel, who, when a boy, not yet eight years of age, was drowned while heroically saving his younger brother Willie from a like fate; William and Samuel, both carpenters, who work with their father for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co .; Maretta, wife of R. M. Stocker, of Honesdale ; Charles, who died at the age of five years; Fred- erick, shipping clerk for Lester Bros., at Bingham- ton ; and Raymond, at home.

John R. Brown, the third brother who came to America, arrived in 1873, from Marhamchurch, England, where he was a tailor and dry-goods mer- chant. In England he had been licensed' to preach by the Bible Christians, a branch of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and he is a prominent member of the Honesdale Methodist Church. He follows mer- chant tailoring on Main street, in Honesdale. John R. Brown married for his first wife Katharine Rogers, by whom he had children as follows: Amanda J., wife of Richard Lane, of Toronto, Canada ; Richard H .; Frederick G., a merchant at Carbondale, Penn. ; Joshua A., of the firm of Menner & Co .; Edith L., wife of Noble A. Ray, of Reading, Penn .; Grace R., wife of M. E. Simons, an attor- ney-at-law; and Katharine, wife of Benjamin W. Fitch, of Wayne county, on the staff of the Citizen. The mother of these dying at Plymouth, England, in February, 1866, Mr. Brown married Julia Brown, of Somerset, England, and three children blessed this union, viz. : Ernest T., who is a dentist, with Dr. Otis Avery; William J., an exemplary

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young man, who died in 1897, at the age of twenty- five years; and Irving B., who works with his father.

RICHARD H. BROWN was born at Marham- church, March 9, 1855, and grew to manhood in England. He attended school in London and Plym- outh. His schooling, however, ceased at the early age of eleven years, after which he worked in a printing office one year, when he was apprenticed to the trade of carpenter and joiner. He came to America, in 1875, and located with his parents at Honesdale, where he continued his trade, first work- ing by the day, and later going into business for him- self as contractor. His success is amply demon- strated by the fact that he is the leading contractor of Honesdale at the present time. Among the buildings he has erected are: the Presbyterian chapel ; the City Hall; the Independent building ; the bank building for the Wayne County Savings Bank; and the public-school buildings at Waymart and Honesdale. He is chief of the fire department, and has been a member of the school board seven years. He is a Republican, a member of the Pres- byterian Church, and socially of the Royal Arcanum and the F. & A. M. He married Miss Lucy J. Fitch, who was born in Honesdale in 1855, and their three children are: Florence, Ray and Ralph.

ARTHUR H. AVERY, who was for two years the well-known editor of the Hawley Times, of Hawley, Wayne Co., Penn., was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 25, 1869, of English parentage, and began his education in the public schools of that city. Later he entered Colgate University, at Ham- ilton, N. Y., with the view of preparing himself to become a medical foreign missionary, but ill-health causing throat trouble made it necessary for him to relinquish his plans, and to leave the salt air of the city. In Mav, 1896, he became editor of the Haw -. ley Times, continuing to publish that paper until May, 1898. He is a fluent and forcible writer, and by education is well fitted for a journalistic career.

Mr. Avery was married in Hawley, December 2, 1897, to Miss Harriette B. Speers, of that city, and there they continue to make their home, sur- rounded by a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances.

FREDERICK W. TEGELER. Among the agriculturists of Damascus township, Wayne county, who have attained success from a financial point of view, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is one of the most progressive and en- ergetic farmers of the community, and is complete master of the calling which he has chosen as a life work. His sterling integrity and honorable, up- right manhood fully entitle him to the position which he holds in the estimation of all who know him.

Mr. Tegeler was born in Damascus township, September 25, 1849. His father, W. H. Tegeler, was a native of Germany, born in 1811, and in that country was reared and educated. After coming to

America he was married, in 1844, to Miss Catherine Tennent, who was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1813, a daughter of Christopher Tennent. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Tegeler located on a farm in Damascus township, and in connection with its operation he also conducted a store. He died at the age of sixty-two years, in the faith of the Baptist Church, of which he was a consistent mem- ber, and his wife passed away January 2, 1893, at the age of eighty years. She was a woman of envi- able disposition, who won the respect and ad- miration of all, and was an earnest member of the Christian Church.

Reared on the home farm, Frederick W. Tege- ler easily obtained a thorough knowledge of agri- cultural pursuits, and his literary training was re- ceived in the public schools of the neighborhood. In 1872 he located upon his present farm, which con- sists of 100 acres of rich and arable land, and is one of the most desirable places in Damascus township, being conveniently situated two miles from Milan- ville, on the Honesdale road. The place is sup- plied with a good residence, barns and outbuild- ings.

On March 26, 1874, Mr. Tegeler married Miss Florence Lovelass, a native of Wayne county. Her father, James Lovelass, was born in Dorsetshire, England, November 21, 1816, and in 1833 came to the United States with his parents, William and Mary Lovelass, the vessel on which they sailed be- ing six weeks in crossing from Liverpool to New York. Locating in Wayne county, Penn., William Lovelass built the first frame house in his locality. He died at the extreme old age of ninety-two years, and his wife at the age of sixty. In their family were five children, namely : Isaac, Mary (de- ceased), John, Robert and James. In 1841 James Lovelass was united in marriage with Miss Emaline Noble, a daughter of Alva Noble, and six children blessed this union: William, who married Fanny Chambers, and resides in Warren county; Alice, wife of Frank Kimble, of Damascus township; Amelia, who married Christopher Tegeler, of Da- mascus township, and died in 1872; Elizabeth, wife of Frank Nessmith, of Warren county, Penn. ; Flor- ence, wife our subject ; and Lester, who resides on the homestead. The wife and mother, who was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, departed this life at the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. Love- lass owns a well-cultivated farm of fifty acres, which has been his home for fifty-six years. In his political affiliations he is a Republican.

Mr. and Mrs. Tegeler have a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, namely: William Henry, now conductor on a cable line in New York City ; Bird E., wife of L. B. Price, of Wayne county ; Cassie A. ; Otto; Pearle ; Ralph L .; Fred; Clare; and Vernon. Mrs. Tegeler holds membership in the Christian Church, and is worthy of the high respect in which she is held. Since at- taining his majority Mr. Tegeler has been identified with the Democratic party, taking a deep and com-

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mencable interest in educational matters, and he has efficiently served for three years as a member of the school board in his township.

HARRY H. BUNNELL, an enterprising and successful business man of Texas township, Wayne county, is prominently identified with the agricult- ural and lumbering interests of that locality, and is also well known in this and other States as an exten- sive dealer in live stock.

Few residents of Wayne county have taken a more active part in the development of the section than have the members of the Bunnell family, many of the fertile farms that greet our eyes to-day having been cleared by them from the primitive growth of forest in the course of their large lumbering opera- tions. David Bunnell, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Middle Smithfield, Monroe Co., Penn., and in 1804, after residing at Wallpack, N. J., for some years of his early manhood, located per- manently at Bethany, Wayne county, on the farm now owned by William Stephens. In 1839 he sold this property and purchased 750 acres of wild land in Dyberry and Texas townships, in partnership with his sons, Henry, Pike and John K. He erect- ed a sawmill upon the tract, and for years was con- sidered one of the leading lumbermen of Wayne county. He and his wife, Parthenia Kellam, of Palmyra, Pike Co., Penn., died at their homestead on this tract, and their remains now rest in Bethany cemetery. Their children were: Rockwell, born in 1806; Eleanor, who became the wife of Isaac Ump- stead; Eunice, born January 6, 1810, who married Brooks Lavo and is now deceased ; Henry, our sub- ject's father, mentioned more fully below ; Zebulon M. P., born in 1813, died in 1856; Charles F., born in 1815, who made his home in Oxford, N. Y., where he died in 1868 ; J. Kellam, born in 1817, residing at Bunnelltown, Wayne county ; Sarah E., wife of Rev. Gilbert Bailey, of California ; David S., born in No- vember, 1821, residing in Philadelphia, where he is engaged in business as a contractor and builder ; Harriet A., born in May, 1824, who died in early womanhood; and Abigail J., born in October, 1826, widow of William Stockdale, who was a merchant of Springfield, Ill., for many years.

Henry Bunnell was born at Bethany in Octo- ber, 1811, and had the usual advantages of a pio- neer's son. In 1836 he married, for his first wife, Miss Amanda Page, of Harford, Susquehanna Co., . Penn., and for about three years resided at Mont- rose, same county. In 1839 he joined with his father and brothers in the purchase of the tract of land mentioned above, and made his permanent home upon a portion of it, located at what is known as Bunnell's Pond. He was a man of fine business capacity, and for many years was extensively en- gaged in lumbering, in addition to which he carried on a tannery and looked carefully after his agricult- ural properties. After the great freshet of 1860, which swept away the old sawmill, he built another on the same site, and also erected a tannery and a

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 34

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