Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 346

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 346
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 346
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 346
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 346

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David Wellman, Jr., remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-one, but for three years previous he had been employed more or less by farmers in the vicinity. On attaining his majority he bought a partially improved farm in New Milford township, but he sold out three years later, and purchased another farm in the same township, and in 1860 he bought his present home- stead, an attractive place, containing nineteen acres.

When about thirty years old he began working at the carpenter's trade, which he followed success- fully until 1886, old age compelling him to retire from active work. In politics he is an Independent, his influence having always been given to the men and measures of his choice without partisan bias.

On October 13, 1841, he was married in New Milford township to Miss Lucy Howland, and three children were born to them: Ann M. married Almond Jones, a carpenter at Sayre, Penn .; Abi- gail married Richmond M. Hall, of New Milford township, mentioned above; and Sarah J. married (first) Charles W. Norton, and (second) Jerome W. Case (deceased), and now resides with our subject.

Mrs. Lucy (Howland) Wellman, whose' com- panionship has cheered our subject's lot for nearly sixty years, was born February 10, 1825, near Prov- idence, R. I., the daughter of Asahel Howland and granddaughter of John Howland. Her father was a shoemaker by trade, but also followed farm- ing throughout his life. His wife, Barbara (Ide) Howland, died in Rhode Island, in 1830. In 1839 he came to New Milford township, and the follow- ing year married Eliza J. Wellman. In 1848 they removed to Illinois, where the father died in 1865, aged sixty-two years. Asahel and Barbara How- land had three children, viz .: Henry W., George D. (deceased), and Lucy.

WILLIAM H. WHITNEY, a prominent and extensive farmer, lumberman and stock raiser of Rush township, Susquehanna county, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Windom township, Wyoming county, May 14, 1824, at which time it still formed a part of Luzerne county.

His parents, Walter and Louisiana (Edwards) Whitney, were natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively, but were married in Wyoming county, Penn., where they continued to make their home throughout life, the father being engaged in farming and lumbering. He died January, 1864, aged sixty-four years, the mother in August, 1877, aged seventy-two years, and both were laid to rest in the North Flat burying ground, Wyoming coun- ty. Their children were: (1) William H., our sub- ject. (2) Ann E., who died unmarried in 1891. (3) Charles W., deceased. (4) Emeline, deceased wife of Bennett Lyon. (5) Louisiana, deceased wife of Elihu Kinney, of Lynn, Penn. (6) John, deceased, who married a Miss Davenport, of Plymouth, Lu- zerne county: He for a time engaged in mercantile business in Dallas, Penn., doing the major portion of the building of his store himself. (Nature had gifted him with the faculty of doing well whatever work he attempted.) He continued to conduct this store until at the outbreak of the Rebellion, when he answered the President's first call for volunteers, and remained a true and faithful soldier through- out that dire struggle, holding different offices, be- ing a captain at about the time of Lee's surrender, when he was killed by the bursting of a random shell from the enemy-no battle being in progress.

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His men had cautioned him, but the warning came too late. His remains were sent home and placed in the North Flat cemetery. Two Posts of the G. A. R. are named in his honor, one at the home of his boyhood, and one in the Wyoming Valley. H. L. Whitney, his son, is now a practicing physician at Plymouth. (7) Lorenzo and (8) Alonzo, twins, retired citizens of Plymouth and Stevensville, Penn., respectively, the former of whom also served in the Union army during the Civil war. Our subject's paternal grandparents, Jonathan and Ollie Whitney, were natives of Connecticut and farming people, who in 1808 removed to Luzerne county, Penn., where they spent the remainder of their lives. The maternal grandparents, Eli and Hannah Edwards, were natives of New York State, and early settlers of Luzerne county, Penn., but they later removed to Ohio.

Having received a good practical education . during his early life, William H. Whitney com- menced teaching school at the age of twenty years, and successfully followed that profession in Wyo- ming county for four winters. He acquired an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits upon the home farm, and on leaving the parental roof at the time of attaining his majority, he rented a farm on North Flat, Wyoming county, which he successfully operated for one year. In the same year chopped, cleared, and sowed a fallow of wheat. At the end of that time he located upon a part of the old homestead, which he cleared and improved, remaining there until 1856, when he took up his residence upon his present farm. This place con- sists of 450 acres of valuable land, a portion of which is in Rush township, Susquehanna county, and the remainder just across the border in Brad- ford county. Since taking possession of the same, he has placed it under a high state of cultivation and made many improvements thereon, which add to its value and attractive appearance. Since boy- hood he has been an earnest member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and since the organization of the Republican party, he has been one of its stanch supporters. He has served as school direc- tor for three years, and has always taken an active and commendable interest in educational affairs, or any enterprises which he believed calculated to ad- vance the moral, intellectual or material welfare of his community.

On May 9, 1853, in Bradford county, Penn., Mr. Whitney married Miss Mahala Bennett, a na- tive of that county and a daughter of Ferris and Nancy (Black) Bennett, who were born in Con- necticut, and died in Bradford county, Penn. Mrs. Whitney died in 1872, at the age of forty-two years, and was laid to rest in a private burying ground upon our subject's farm. By that union seven chil- dren were born, two of whom died at birth; the others were, namely : Lillie, who died young ; Wal- ter, who married Olive Maines, and is engaged in merchandising in Rush, Penn .; Alva, wife of Charles Cobb, a farmer of Stevensville, Penn .;

Jennie and McKinzie, both deceased. Mr. Whitney was again married, in Montrose, Penn., February 3, 1874, his second union being with Hulda Lewis, who was born in Fairdale, Penn., February 3, 1842, a daughter of James Lewis, a sketch of whom is given in connection with that of G. L. Lewis on an- other page of this volume. The children born of this marriage are Lamar, a farmer of Rush town- ship, who married Blanch Hogeboom; William, at home ; and a daughter, who died in early infancy.

GEORGE N. WELLMAN. For more than a third of a century the subject of this sketch has been an honored and substantial farmer of New Milford township. He has been content to live the life of peaceful industry that marks the career of an agriculturist, but with an energy that stamps him as a man of more than ordinary force, he has, in addition to his pursuits on a well-cared-for farm, followed successfully the trade of a carpenter. Without pretensions, without a struggle for the unattainable, he has most admirably exemplified that type of American character, which succeeds by its own innate capacities.

Mr. Wellman is a native of New Milford town- ship, and the descendant of one of its pioneers. He was born August 27, 1826, in the old homestead which stood about 100 rods distant from his present home, a son of Jacob and Mercy (Hubbard) Well- man, and a grandson of Jacob and Rebecca (Chase) Wellman, of Massachusetts. Jacob Wellman, the grandfather, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He was born in 1739, and in 1812 moved with his family to Susquehanna county, Penn. His sons were John, Jacob, David, Berry, Hiram and Calvin. Jacob Wellman, the father of our subject, was born in Attleboro, Mass., in 1789. He married Mercy Hubbard, daughter of George and Mercy (Theers) Hubbard, farmers of Springfield, Conn., and in 1812 migrated from that State to Susquehanna county, Penn., settling in New Milford township, near New Milford. He there made improvements, then sold and removed to a farm in the same town- ship, where he remained through life. He made the first clearing on the farm for a log cabin, and became a prominent citizen of the township. He held various local offices, including those of super- visor for nine years, school director, etc. In poli- tics he was a Democrat, and himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church. He died in July, 1861, aged seventy-two years. His wife survived until 1875, passing away at the age of seventy-nine years. Both are buried in New Milford cemetery. To Jacob and Mercy were born eight children, as follows : Elias H., a retired farmer of New Milford township; Mary, of Quincy, Ill., widow of John Nichols, and Daniel Hubbard, respectively ; Ruhema, who was married to John Richardson, and after his death to John C. Clark, and who is now deceased; Caroline, widow of Jonathan Ben- nett, of New Milford township ; George N., a retired farmer of New Milford township, subject of this

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sketch; Permelia, who died young; Juliette, who died young ; and Frank T., a farmer of New Milford township.

George N. Wellman remained on the farm with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. He then removed to Great Bend and for a year worked at the carpenter's trade. That trade he has since followed continuously in connection with farming, until failing eyesight quite recently induced him to relinquish the work. He removed to his present farm from Great Bend township in 1865. He has brought his fertile acres to a high state of cultivation and is ranked as one of the best farmers of the township.

On October 30, 1849, Mr. Wellman was mar- ried at Great Bend, to Miss Sarah N. Holmes, who was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., January 6, 1833, daughter of John and Maria Holmes, natives of Great Bend, Penn., and Connecticut, respectively. John Holmes was the son of John and Mercy (Man- ning) Holmes, who migrated from Massachusetts to Susquehanna, at an early day. John Holmes, the son, removed with his family about 1830 from Great Bend to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he conducted a newspaper route until his death, about 1840, in that city. His wife also died in Brooklyn. To John and Maria Holmes were born children as follows : Sarah, wife of our subject; John, who died in the army ; Frances, who died unmarried in Brooklyn, N. Y .; and Louisa, who also died unmarried in Brooklyn, N. Y. In politics Mr. Wellman is a stanch Democrat. He has filled various local offices, was school director three years, and a mem- ber of the election board four years. He is a promi- nent member of the Grange at New Milford, and for two years served as its secretary. He is a farmer of more than ordinary success. He possesses a ripe judgment and good business ability, which, com- bined with his energy and integrity, have assured his high standing in the intelligent community in which he lives.

E. M. ATWATER is one of the most pros- perous and substantial farmers of Ararat township, Susquehanna county. Throughout life he has been a resident of this section of the State, and has wit- nessed almost its entire development. He has seen its wild lands transformed into beautiful homes and farms, its hamlets grow into villages and flourish- ing towns, and all of the interests and evidences of an advanced civilization introduced. In business life he has always kept pace with this progress. and over his life record there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil.

Mr. Atwater was born in Mt. Pleasant town- ship, Wayne Co., Penn., in 1823, a son of Eldad and Elizabeth (Barney) Atwater. The father was born near the city of New Haven, Conn., in 1793. and was a son of Eldad and Lydia (Heriden) At- water, natives of that place, where they spent their entire lives. Their children were Sally; Nancy and Eunice, who both died young ; Heaton ; and Eldad.

In his native State the last named grew to manhood, and during his youth engaged in clerking in New Haven. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and at the close of that conflict married and came to Wayne county, locating in what is now Mt. Pleas- ant township, where in the midst of the wilderness he opened up a farm. He was interested in various business enterprises, and by his connection with them he materially advanced the welfare of his adopted county. In 1820 he erected a grist mill, the first in northeastern Pennsylvania, and later built two sawmills and a woolen mill. He also had a factory for making pearlash, or carbonate of potash, which he shipped to New York, and in 1835 embarked in merchandising at Mt. Pleasant, where he carried on business for many years. He died there in 1888, at the advanced age of ninety-five years, honored and respected by all who knew him. His first wife, the mother of our subject, died Au- gust 10, 1825, and he was again married in Con- necticut, his second union being with Amanda Gris- wold, who died in Wayne county, in 1879. He had four children, all by the first marriage, namely : Charles Augustus, who died in Rush township, Susquehanna county, in 1863; E. M., our subject ; Mrs. Anna Alexander, a resident of Winfield, Kan .; and Elizabeth, who died in Wayne county, in 1878.

In the county of his nativity, E. M. Atwater was reared and educated, and in early life engaged in clerking in his father's store. Subsequently he carried on merchandising on his own account at Mt. Pleasant, and was interested in various busi- ness enterprises with his father, including the manufacture of woolen goods, but for the past eight years has followed farming almost exclu- sively. He owns a well improved and valuable farm of about 400 acres, situated partly in Ararat township, Susquehanna county, and partly in Wayne county.

In 1848, Mr. Atwater was married in Wayne county, to Miss Catharine Stone Wright, a native of that county, and daughter of Dr. Uriel and Jerusha (Spencer) Wright. Her father was a life- long resident of that county and was one of the most prominent physicians of this section of the State in his time. Mrs. Atwater died September 15, 1880, beloved by all who knew her. To our sub- ject and his wife were born seven children: Eliza- beth, who died in 1861, at the age of twelve years; Catharine, now Mrs. Harmes, of Brandt, Penn .; Edward, who died at the age of two years; Anna May, wife of George W. Phillips, of Scranton, Penn., who is principal of the high school at that place ; Marian E., wife of Will Keisler, of Brandt ; Lawrence, who died at the age of twelve years; and Ella, who died in Wayne county, at the age of ten years.

In early life Mr. Atwater was a Whig and cast his first presidential ballot for Henry Clay, but has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party since its organization. He has always taken an active interest in educational affairs, and built the

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Mt. Pleasant Seminary, where his children were all educated. On leaving that place he sold it to a stock company for less than it cost him. In re- ligious faith he is a Presbyterian. The part which he has taken in the development of this section has impressed his name indelibly upon its records, and he well deserves mention among its most valued and useful citizens.

PROF. PORTER E. S. HINE is well known as a successful educator, through thirty-two years of faithful and efficient service. Although he has re- cently retired from his profession, and is now en- gaged in general farming in Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, his work will not be readily forgotten by the many who have been helped by him in the steep, and sometimes weary, path of knowledge.

A native of Susquehanna county, he was born in Gibson township, July 29, 1838, and belongs to an old colonial family, which was founded in Amer- ica by Thomas Hine, a native of Sussex county, England, who settled in Milford, Conn., in 1638. There our subject's great-great-grandfather, George Hine, and the great-grandfather, Stephen Hine, spent their entire lives as farmers. The grand- father, Stephen Hine, Jr., was an expert ship car- penter of Milford, Conn., but died in Louisiana of yellow fever, in 1826, at the age of thirty-five years, while engaged in boat building there. He married Esther Larrabee, of West Haven, Conn., who died in New Haven, that State, in July, 1867, at the age of seventy-five years.

David L. Hine, father of our subject, was born in New Haven, Conn., January 12, 1815, and in 1822 was brought to Susquehanna county, Penn., by his uncle, John Gillet. He spent eighteen years in Kentuck, Gibson township, and then removed to Harford township, where he improved the farm now occupied by Hon. George R. Resseguie. He was an excellent farmer and mechanic, and a promi- nent man in the community. The last sixteen years of his life were spent in retirement from active labor in Harford, where he died December 2, 1897. He always took an active interest in all worthy enter- prises, was one of the founders of the Harford Agricultural Society, and most capably filled sev- eral local offices, including those of supervisor and school director, serving in the latter position twen- ty-two years. Although he was a member of no church, he was a good Christian, and attended and supported the Universalist Church. He was a prominent and active member of the Odd Fellows Society at Harford, and their success and their beautiful building may be in a great degree at- tributed to his efforts and devotion. He married Miss Polly K. Adams, who was born in Harford township, October 4, 1817, and died in the village of Harford, May 24, 1892, her remains being in- terred there. Her parents were Joshua K. and Peddy Wilmarth (Tiffany) Adams. The mother was the first female white child born in Harford

township. Mr. Adams was born in Canterbury, Conn., and came to Susquehanna county, Penn., in 1812, locating in Harford township, where he spent the remainder of his life engaged in house carpentering. Porter E. S. Hine is the oldest in a family of seven children ; Frank B. is a farmer, re- siding in the village of Harford; Charles W. died in Carbondale, Penn., in 1897; Sarah Ettie mar- ried E. W. Farrar, a miller of Nicholson, Penn., and died April 15, 1887; May Lorenzo, deceased, married F. R. Topping, of Carbondale, Penn., and at her death left one son-Rex Hine Topping ; James B. died in infancy ; and Lillie J. is the wife of William E. Reynolds, a wagon manufacturer of Deposit, New York.

Prof. Hine was reared on the home farm in Harford township, and began his education in the public schools of the neighborhood. At the age of fifteen, he entered Harford University, where he pursued his studies under the direction of Rev. Lyman Richardson for three years. In 1855 he commenced teaching school in the Tingley dis- trict, Harford township, receiving a salary of $10 per month and boarding round among the scholars. In 1859, he was a student in the Wyoming Semi- nary, and subsequently was principal of the graded school at Harford for four years. Going to Illinois he taught school in McLean county for a time, and also attended the Normal University, at Blooming- ton, that State, for one year. Later he engaged in teaching in Sussex and Warren counties, N. J., for eight years, being principal of the graded schools of Hope half the time, and for seven years he was principal of the schools of Nicholson, Penn., his last term being at that place in the spring of 1887. The following two years he engaged in farming in Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, and then spent six years in Binghamton, N. Y., for the pur- pose of educating his wife's sons. Returning to Brooklyn township, at the end of that time, he located on the old Breed farm, and has since de- voted his time and attention to agricultural pur- sttits, with occasional contributions to the county papers.

On June 23, 1887, in Brooklyn, Prof. Hine married Mrs. Emma M. (Beers) Breed, daughter of John and Sally (Howe) Beers, of Orwell, Brad- ford Co., Penn. He is a member of Trinity Episco- pal Church of Binghamton, N. Y., is a Master Mason, and Past Grand of Live Oak Lodge, No. 645, I. O. O. F., of Harford. Politically he is a Republican with prohibition tendencies. As a citi- zen he stands high in public esteem and is widely and favorably known throughout the county.

J. PIERCE DUNN, a successful farmer and highly respected citizen of Ararat township, Sus- quehanna county, was born at Dunn Lake, that township, in 1864, and belongs to an honored old family of that locality, being a son of Peter and Sarah (Tobey) Dunn. On the paternal side he is of Scotch descent and has inherited many of the ad-

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mirable characteristics of that brave and hardy race.

His grandfather, James Dunn (or Dun as the name was then spelled), was born in Edinburg, Scotland, September 15, 1770, and was a college bred man, being a graduate of one of the univer- sities of his native land. In early manhood he came to America, and in New York married Miss Marie Van Slyke, August 12, 1795. She was born in 1775, at Coxsackie, now Albany county, N. Y., and by her marriage became the mother of the following children : Robert, born in October, 1799; Baltus, February 13, 1801 ; John, August 20, 1802; Han- nah, July, 1804 ; James, December 1, 1805 ; Andrew, August 24, 1809; Joseph, April 4, 1814; Peter (father of our subject) and Jane, twins, born in 1815; William Henry, in 1817; and Polly Maria, in 1820. The father of these children, a joiner and cabinet maker by trade, removed from New York City to Delaware county, N. Y., where he improved a farm. In 1820 he came to Susquehanna county, Penn., and purchased land at what is now Dunn Lake, Ararat township, where his family located the following year. This region at that time was almost an unbroken wilderness, and in its develop- ment and upbuilding the family have borne an im- portant part. The grandfather died at Dunn Lake in 1857 at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years, and his wife departed this life in 1865.

Peter Dunn, father of our subject, was born in Delta, Delaware Co., N. Y., in 1815, and was about five years of age when the family took up their residence in Ararat township, Susquehanna county. He remained on the old homestead at Dunn Lake throughout life and followed the vocation of farm- ing. In 1858 he was married in New York State to Miss Sarah Tobey, a native of Morris, Otsego Co., N. Y., and a daughter of Zacheus and Mary (Gifford) Tobey, lifelong residents of the Empire State. In 1877 Mr. and Mrs. Dunn left the old farm and moved to the other end of the lake, where our subject now resides. This place the father im- proved and converted into a fine farm. There his wife died in February, 1895, and his death occurred at the same place August 8, 1898. He was widely known and highly respected, and occupied a promi- nent position among his fellow-citizens. He served as supervisor of his township and was a member of the school board, always taking an active interest in educational affairs. He had the honor of nam- ing Ararat township and also Sugar Loaf Mountain, the highest point in the township. In his family were three children: Elma Maria, now Mrs. Bor- der, of Binghamton, N. Y .; J. Pierce, our subject ; and Mercy Rebecca, who resides with our subject on the home farm.

J. Pierce Dunn has spent his entire life at Dunn Lake, and in the public schools of Ararat township he received his literary education. As soon as old enough to be of any assistance he began to aid in the farm work and has always engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He now owns the old homestead

of 400 acres. under excellent cultivation, and suc- cessfully follows dairy farming and sheep raising. Many years ago, on his grandfather's farm at the south end of Dunn Lake was captured the vaga- bond murderer of Col. Brooks, Evan Matthews, who came from Wayne county, fleeing from his pursuers. He was given his supper at the old homestead, where he was carefully watched and later arrested. His captors were on horseback, and binding the prisoner securely on another horse, they set forth, accompanied by some of the Dunn broth- ers as far as Belmont, and as they left the prisoner extended them an invitation to his hanging.

FRANCIS EMERY PUTNAM. Only those lives are worthy of record that have been potential factors in the public progress by promoting the gen- eral welfare or advancing the educational or moral interests of the community. Mr. Putnam has ever been faithful to his duties of citizenship, and by the successful conduct of his business interests not only promoted his individual success, but also advanced the general prosperity. His influence is always on the side of right, and he is justly regarded as one of the most useful and honored citizens of Scott township, Wayne county.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 346

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