Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 348

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 348
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 348
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 348
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 348

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).

1491

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1886; Robert M., born in August, 1892; Samuel L., born in July, 1894, and Kirby, born in October, 1897, are all at home and are being educated in the local schools as soon as they attain a sufficient age. Mr. Pettit comes of good old Whig stock and gives his political support to the men and measures of the Republican party. He has made the most of his opportunities in life, and by indus- try, perseverance and good management, he has secured for himself and family a good home and is now one of the well-to-do citizens of Liberty town- ship, as well as one of its most highly respected men.

SAMUEL J. OWEN, a well-known citizen of Scranton and agent for the Pennsylvania Mu- tual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia, has his summer home upon a farm in the Welsh settle- ment of Clifford township, Susquehanna county, and has for many years been actively identified with the agricultural interests of this locality. He was born at Minersville, Schuylkill county, Penn., June 24, 1858, a son of Samuel and Mary (Jones) Owen, natives of South and North Wales, respec- tively. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Moses Owen, spent his entire life in Wales, but the ma- ternal grandfather, John Jones, came to America in early life and after living in Pottsville, Penn., for some time removed to Wisconsin, where he now resides. By occupation he is a farmer.

Samuel and Mary (Jones) Owen were married in Pottsville, Penn., and in 1855 came to Susque- hanna county, locating on the farm in Clifford township, where our subject now spends the sum- mer months, the father having purchased the place the year previous. He cleared most of the land, made all of the improvements thereon, and continued to engage in farming until called from this life in February, 1896, at the age of eighty years. The wife and mother died September 3, 1867, at the age of forty-four years, and the remains of both were interred in the Welsh cemetery located upon their farm in Clifford township. They were active and prominent members of the Welsh Church, in which the father served as deacon for over forty years. He also held the office of school director in his district. The children of the family were Noah, a mine operator of New Mexico; Anna S., who first married Thomas M. Leyshon, manager of the Kingston Coal Company's store, and second John Nichol, engineer at Kingston, Penn .; William J., a miner of Scranton ; Samuel J., our subject ; and Arthur, who died in Clifford township, in July, 1868.

During his boyhood and youth Samuel J. Owen attended school and assisted his father in the operation of the home farm. At the age of nineteen he commenced teaching and taught four terms of school in Gibson and Clifford townships, after which he bought, baled and sold hay for three years. For a year and a half he was em- ployed as clerk and bookkeeper in a mercantile

establishment in Kingston, Penn., and then went West, acting as book agent in Dakota and Winni- peg, Manitoba, for one year. On his return to Pennsylvania, he located upon his present farm, which he purchased of his father in 1886, and to its cultivation he devoted his time and attention until 1895, when he removed to Scranton and has since engaged in the life insurance business, while his farm is operated by hired help.

On November 19, 1884, in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, Mr. Owen married Miss Mar- garet Jones, who was born in Providence, Penn., June 5, 1863. Her parents, Lewis H. and Martha (Jones) Jones, were born, reared and married in Wales, and emigrated to the new world in 1859. They first located in Scranton, where the father engaged in mining, and later, after fourteen years spent in farming in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, he returned, in 1885, to that city, where he is now employed as mine boss. He is a stanch Republican in politics and both he and his wife are members of the Welsh Baptist Church. The children born to them are as follows : Mary J., who married John E. Jones (no relative), a farmer of Herrick town- ship, Susquehanna county; John, a resident of Scranton ; David, also a resident of that city ; Mar- garet, wife of our subject; Henry, of Scranton ; Ellen and Thomas, who both died at the age of five years; Nellie, wife of William J. Smith, a carpenter of Scranton; Lena, who died at the age of three years; Louie, who died at the age of fif- teen ; and Martha, wife of David Evans, a clerk of Scranton. Mrs. Owen's paternal grandparents were Henry and Jane Jones, of Wales. The former, who was a farmer by occupation, died in his native land, but his wife came to this country and died in Scranton. The maternal grandparents, David and Mary Jones, were life-long residents of Wales, though the latter once came to this country on a visit. David Jones was also a farmer.

Politically Mr. Owen affiliates with the Repub- lican party, and was serving his second term as school director in his district when he resigned on his removal to Scranton. He is a member of the Welsh Church, and is highly respected and es- teemed by all who know him.

LEWIS W. BEDFORD, a well-known lum- berman and farmer of Scott township, Wayne county, has had a somewhat eventful career, but his successful struggle with adverse circumstances shows what can be accomplished by industry, per- severance and good management. He was born August 15, 1858, in Eaton, Wyoming county, Penn., a son of Ellis and Mary (Corby) Bedford, natives of Germany, who on coming to the United States first located in New Jersey. The maternal grandfather, Amsey Corby, lived to the advanced age of one hundred fourteen years, and the paternal grandfather, Timothy Bedford, lived to the age of eighty years. They both settled in New Jersey, but later removed to Wyoming county, Penn.,

1492

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

where Amsey Corby erected the first sawmill, it being on Bowman's creek. For many years he engaged in lumbering on the east branch of the Susquehanna river, and continued to make his home in Wyoming county, where he died. His wife had died some years previous in New Jersey, leaving two sons-Lewis and Ellis, the former of whom married and moved to the West.

In 1861 Ellis Bedford (our subject's father) enlisted in the Union army from Wyoming county, becoming a member of a company of sharp shoot- ers, and was killed at Richmond, Va., a short time prior to Lee's surrender. He left a widow and six children : (1) James, who was also one of the boys in blue during the Civil war, has spent his en- tire life in Wyoming county, where he was married and has reared his family. (2) Lorenzo was edu- cated in the Soldiers' Orphan School, of Susque- hanna county, Penn., and now lives on a farm near Eaton, Wyoming county. He married Esther Kitheline, of that county, and has two sons, James and Howard, both at home. (3) Albert, who was also educated in the same institution, married Fan- nie Rankins, of Susquehanna county, and has five daughters-Pearl, Nellie, Leona, Gladdys arıd Vi- ola. They make their home at Gibson, Susque- hanna county. (4) Mabel was educated in the Soldiers' Orphan School at Harford, Susquehanna county, and is now the wife of George Cregle, of Hemlock Creek, Luzerne Co., Penn., by whom she has two sons-Willie and Ira. (5) Maggie died at the age of fifteen years while attending the school at Harford.

In 1868 Lewis W. Bedford, who completes the family, entered the Soldiers' Orphan School at Wilkesbarre, Penn., and attended that institution until 1874, when he was transferred to the school at Harford, where his education was completed at the age of sixteen. He then worked on the farm of George R. Resseguie, of Susquehanna county, for eight years. In 1881 he was married to Miss Elma Baker, of that county, a daughter of Joshua and Cordelia Baker, the former a well-to-do con- tractor and builder of Lackawanna county, Penn. They began their domestic life in Susquehanna county, where he engaged in railroading for a year and a half, and then followed lumbering for six months in Wayne county, after which he returned to Susquehanna county, there working on bridge work for a railroad company.

Leaving his wife and two sons in that county, Mr. Bedford, in 1887, started for El Paso, Tex., traveling by way of Niagara Falls. Chicago, Kan- sas City, and on reaching El Paso, proceeded to Chihuahua, Old Mexico, but later returned to the former place, where he worked for six months on a windmill tower. For the same length of time he was next emploved in the El Paso & Kansas City Smelting Works, but the arsenic and lead soon poisoned his system and he was obliged to give up that business. Buying a ticket to Penn- sylvania, he started for home, but on reaching Fort

Worth was unable to proceed for some time, being under medical treatment at that place. At Texanna, he was again obliged to stop for some time as he was unable to travel, and on reaching St. Louis entered St. Mary's hospital, where he lay uncon- scious for a long time. On reaching home he was still unable to walk, and it was some time be- fore he fully recovered. After operating farms on the shares for a few years, he purchased his present place in 1894, and has since made it his home. It comprises II0 acres of good land in Scott town- ship, known as the Katank farm, and under his able management is yielding a good return for the care and labor bestowed upon it.

Mr. and Mrs. Bedford have five sons and one daughter, namely: (1) Ray C., born in Susque- hanna county, in 1883, began his education in the public schools, and later attended the Lanesboro high school; he is a very bright boy and will un- doubtedly make a brilliant record. (2) Ralph O., born in the same county, in 1885. (3) Boyd I., born in Susquehanna county, in 1892. (4) Harold, born in Wayne county, in 1893. (5) Emerson, born in Binghamton, N. Y., in 1895, are all at home. (6) Helen, born in Wayne county, in 1898. The parents are consistent members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and have the respect and es- teem of all who know them. Politically he is identi- fied with the Republican party, has been an active worker in its ranks, and for several years served on the election committee.

JOHN LOVELASS is well known in Damas- cus township, Wayne county, as a successful farmer and lumberman, and also a large landowner, and he is one of the respected self-made men of his locality. He is a native of Philadelphia, Penn., born in 1833, a year or two after his parents, Isaac and Ann Lovelass, came from England-the coun- try of their birth. The family moved to Damas- cus township, Wayne county, during our subject's early boyhood, and later located in Berlin town- ship, that county, where they resided for eight years. At the end of that time the father sold his property and went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he bought real estate, intending to establish his family there, but he died in Berlin township when returning for them.

John Lovelass was the eldest in the family. He received his schooling in the public institutions of Wayne county, but as the facilities afforded here in that day were somewhat limited he might have learned next to nothing had he not possessed natural ability beyond the average. After his fath- er's death he hired out to Truman Tymson, draw- ing lumber to the Delaware river from Boyd's Mills, for which work he received eight dollars per month, continuing with this employer in 1848 and 1849. In 1850 he drove team for Hiram Mills, who paid him fourteen dollars per month, and in 1851 and 1852 he was in the employ of Joseph Wood. Subsequently he was engaged for two

1493

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years with Porter Sumner in the sawmill on Cal- kins creek, and at the end of that time he com- menced on his own account, meeting with steady success from the start. His marriage with Miss Charlotte Gavitt, of Damascus, daughter of William and Violet Gavitt, who came from New York State, took place September 1, 1853, and in the same year he made his first purchase of land, a partly im- proved farm near the Union Church in Damascus township, where they resided one year. He then traded that property for a 160-acre tract on the line of Oregon township, one and a half miles west of Boyd's Mills, all of which was at that time wild timber land, and he commenced at once to clear it for cultivation, lumbering the timber on the Dela- ware river. He cut and hauled his bark to the Eli Beech & Sons tannery, in Milanville, and made many improvements on the place, erecting a sub- stantial house, barns and other outbuildings, and engaging in general agriculture. In 1884 he pur- chased from Wood & Boyd 230 acres adjoining his original purchase and removed to the new place, on which he has done a considerable amount of clearing, erecting a house, buildings, etc. Mr. Lovelass is one of the pioneer lumbermen on the Delaware, becoming familiar with all the details of that business in his early manhood, and that his various investments have turned out success- fully is due to his careful management and strict attention to business affairs, for he had no ad- vantages over his associates in any way. His pros- perity has come as the result of steady applica- tion and untiring energy in the conducting of his interests, and he has commanded the respect of all with whom he has come in contact by his strong personal characteristics and his genuine worth. Vig- orous and active by nature, he would no doubt have succeeded in any line of enterprise, and he is well thought of in his community, where he has made many friends among all classe's.

Mrs. Charlotte (Gavitt) Lovelass passed away in March, 1891, the mother of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, namely: Adline, born August 14, 1854, is the wife of Tracy H. Smith, of Damascus ; she has no children. Violetta, born in 1856 in Damascus, married William Hinman, of Wayne county, and they now reside in Scranton ; they have no family. Howard B., born in 1858 in Damascus, married Miss Emma Mathews, of this county, and they live on his farm in Oregon town- ship; they have no children. Rosella, born in 1860 in Damascus, is the widow of Jacob Badgers, of Scranton ; she has one daughter, Charlotte. Jo- seph, born in 1862 in Damascus, married Miss Abbie Wilcox, of Vermont, and resides in Scran- ton, where he is engaged with the North End Lumbering Co .; they have one son, Earle. James, born in 1864, married Miss Lucy Green, of Scran- ton, where he is engaged in contracting and build- ing. Lee, born in 1866, is unmarried, and is engaged at carpentering in Scranton. Elmyra, born in 1868, is the wife of Joseph Holt, of Oregon

township, and they are residents of Carbondale, Penn. Florence, born in 1874, is the wife of Walter Jackson, and they have their home on part of her father's homestead. Eva, born at the present home in 1876, is unmarried and lives at home. Frank, born in 1882, received his education in the public schools of Damascus and is at present en- gaged in helping his father in the management of the farm. Ursula, born in 1872, lives in Scran- ton, Penn. In December, 1892, Mr. Lovelass wed- ded for his second wife Mrs. Morrilla M. Mathews, of Lebanon, this county, who is the daughter of Seth and Clara Yale, old pioneers of that town, and was born in 1847. In 1867 she married Sam- tel Mathews, and of the children born to that union five are living-Ella (Mrs. Thomas Cole), Ernest (unmarried), Ermina (Mrs. Lovelass), Ezra and Edith (at school). Mr. Lovelass is an earnest mem- ber of the Baptist Church, to which his father and mother also belonged; his wife is a Presbyterian in religious connection. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and he has served as judge of elections, but he is not an aspirant for any official honors, preferring to devote himself to his private interests. In social affiliation he is a member of the Masonic lodge at Callicoon, New York.

GEORGE W. SQUIRES. In the useful yet quiet life of a farmer there is opportunity for the development of the highest qualities of good citi- zenship, and this well-known agriculturist of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, who has made his own way to success from a humble begin- ning, enjoys in a high degree the esteem of the community.

Mr. Squires was born January 2, 1828, at Nicholson, Wyoming county, Penn., the son of Nathaniel and Phoebe (Winters) Squires. His grandfather, Stephen Squires, was a native of New Jersey, but made his permanent home at Nichol- son, where he engaged in farming and lumbering. Nathaniel Squires, our subject's father, was born at Newark, N. J., and was but two years old when his parents removed to Nicholson. In 1836 he settled at Harmony, Susquehanna county, now Oakland, building a farm house and later he re- sided in Bradford county, Potter county, and Steu- ben county, returning to Susquehanna county for a short time. He then went West, spending some time in Wisconsin and although over sixty-five years of age, making two trips to the Rocky Moun- tains, but afterwards he made his home with our subject. He died while on a visit at Nicholson, in 1876, at the age of eighty-three, and his remains were interred there in the Stark burying ground. By occupation he was a farmer and lumberman, and as a citizen he took much interest in public affairs, being especially active in religious work as a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife died in 1845 at Lanesboro, aged thirty-six years, and was buried at McCune's cemetery. She was a native of Springville township, Susquehanna

1494

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

county, where her father, Silas Winters, of Con- necticut, was a pioneer settler. Nathaniel and Phoebe Squires had seven children, all born before the removal to Harmony. Silas W., is a retired farmer, residing in New Milford township; George W. was the second in order of birth ; Emeline mar- ried Simpson Drake and died in Wisconsin ; Char- lotte married N. C. Whitcomb, and died in Greene county, N. Y .; Emma G. married P. B. Banks, and died in Michigan ; Alfonso died in infancy, and Zenophon lived only to the age of six years.

When our subject was but thirteen years old he left home to work for neighboring farmers, and in 1848 he and his brother Silas purchased 190 acres of land in New Milford township, and in 1852 our subject engaged in farming there. The prop- erty was divided two years later and our subject has since added to his share until he owns 162 acres in one tract. His brother still resides on the adjoining farm, a portion of the original purchase. In politics Mr. Squires is a stanch Republican, and at times he has been called to fill local offices, having served three years as school director, three years as township auditor and eleven years as super- visor.

On November 27, 1850, he was married in Jackson township, Susquehanna county, to Miss Harriet Estabrooke, and they have had four chil- dren, nine grandchildren and three great-grand- children. Of their children (1) Orie married Henry Shay, and died leaving three children-Myrty, Ar- thur and Alma. (2) William, a railway conductor. residing at Hallstead, married Miss Dora Bess, and has four children: Lulu, Milton, Madaline, and Lester. (3) Eva married C. L. Rosencrantz, a farmer in Delaware county, N. Y., and has two children : Earl and Winnifred. (4) Frank, who resides with our subject, married Miss Belle Doolittle. Mrs. Harriet (Estabrooke) Squires was born Novem- ber 8, 1829, in Brattleboro, Vt., and died September 16, 1897, her remains being laid to rest in High- land cemetery, Great Bend township, Susquehanna county. Her parents, Sylvester and Dennie (Whip- ple) Estabrooke, came from Brattleboro in 1832, and settled upon a farm in Jackson township, Sus- quehanna county, where their remaining days were spent.

COLEMAN T. DARROW is entitled to dis- tinction as one of the most progressive and ener- getic farmers of Bridgewater township, Susque- hanna county. Of good executive ability and sound judgment, he has attained a prominent place among the substantial citizens of his part of the county, and his business interests have been so managed as to win for him the confidence of the public, as well as the prosperity which should always attend honorable effort.

Mr. Darrow was born on the old home farm in Bridgewater township, December 16, 1837, and belongs to a family that has been prominently iden- tified with this region since pioneer days. His grand-

father, John Darrow, who was one of the first set- tlers of the township, was born in Connecticut, of English ancestry, and was a soldier of the Revolu- tionary war, arriving in this region soon after the massacre of Wyoming. He was married in New York State to Miss Martha Herrick, who was born there, and at an early day they located in Bridge- water township on the farm now owned and occu- pied by James Gardner. To them were born a large family of children, as follows : William, Mrs. Electa Griffin, Mrs. Polly Dowd, Mrs. Phoebe Green, Mrs. Crandall, Amos, Royal, Herrick, Dan- iel, John, Dennison, and four who died in child- hood.

Daniel Darrow, our subject's father, was born in Bridgewater township, in 1805, and passed his boyhood and youth on the old homestead. By oc- cupation he was a drover, and for some years after his marriage he resided in Montrose, Susquehanna county. He wedded Angeline Beebe, a daughter of Joseph Beebe, who was one of the early set- tlers of the county, and was a native of the Mo- hawk Valley, N. Y. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Sally Tyler, was born in Susque- hanna county, and was a daughter of Moses Tyler, a prominent citizen of that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Darrow were born five children, namely : Ellen, wife of John Backus ; Coleman T., our sub- ject; Oscar B .; Augustus, who lives on the old homestead ; and Horace, deceased. The father died at Montrose in 1892, at the age of eighty-seven years, and the mother on October 17, 1898.

Coleman T. Darrow was reared on the home farm, and received a good education. In 1859 he went to California by way of the Panama route. He remained in that State for two years, engaged in teaching and farming in the San Mateo Valley, and later followed lumbering and mining in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. For a time he was located on the Frazier river, and at another time was a member of the Orofino Mining Company of Idaho. Returning to Pennsylvania in 1869, he made his home in Luzerne county until 1885, when he purchased his present farm-one of the best in. Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county. To this beautiful place of 173 acres he has given the name of "San Mateo." It is pleas- antly located near Montrose, and is under a high state of cultivation, and well improved with good buildings.

On September 12, 1871, Mr. Darrow was united in marriage with Miss Calista A. Bush, a daughter of Marvin and Nancy (Beeman) Bush, of Bridgewater township, in whose family were four children, the others being Judson, Hattie and Randall. To Mr. and Mrs. Darrow were born two children : (1) Daniel C., a clerk in a store at Du- pont, Penn., married Jennie Perego and has two children-Paul C. and Helen. (2) Girton, who married Lida Bushnell, resides with his father. So- cially the family is one of prominence in the com- munity. In politics Mr. Darrow is a Republican,

1495

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and has been secretary of the school board for six years, supervisor two years, and school director six years.

CHRISTIAN LEHDE, one of the leading general farmers of Dingman township, Pike county, is of foreign birth, but his duties of citizenship are always performed with a loyalty equal to that of any native son of America, and during the dark days of the Rebellion, he went to the defense of the Union, and protected the cause of his adopted country on many a Southern battlefield.

Mr. Lehde was born July 3, 1840, in West- phalia, Germany, where his parents, Frederick W. and Louise M. Lehde, spent their entire lives as farming people. The father's real name was Fred- erick W. Buck, but after his marriage he took the name of Lehde. He died in 1874, aged seventy- three years, his wife in 1876, aged seventy-six. Their children were Frederick William, a farmer of Germany; Henrietta, wife of Henry Göke, of Germany; Charlotte, wife of William Henken, of Germany; Christian, of this sketch; Wilhelmina, wife of William Strongmeyer, of Germany; and Carl, who married Sophie Hegemeyer and died on the old homestead.

On September 17, 1857, Christian Lehde first set foot on American soil, locating in New York City, where he clerked in the grocery store of George Neander for three months, and in an- other grocery until May, 1861. He then enlisted in Company H, Ist N. Y. V. C., under Capt. Otto, which for a time was a part of the Army of the Potomac, and with that army participated in the Seven Days' fight, Antietam, Gettysburg, and the engagements in the Shenandoah Valley. Later they were assigned to the Middle Department, where they suffered great hardship and privation. At Piedmont, Va., Mr. Lehde was shot in the fore- head over the left eye, but after his wound was dressed he rejoined his company, and remained in the service until honorably discharged at Halltown, near Harper's Ferry, W. Va., in September, 1864, at which time his regiment was a part of the com- mand under Philip Sheridan. After receiving their discharges, the men started for New York to be paid off, but their troubles were not over, as they forgot to ask for rations, and it was about two days before they received their pay for the last eight months' service, but, as our subject declares. "For all that we would have turned back if our services were wanted." On his return to New York, he resumed his old position with Martin Wellenhoff, for whom he worked until March, 1865, when he purchased the business and contin- ued to conduct a grocery there until October, 1887. Since then he has practically lived retired upon his farm in Dingman township, Pike county, though he oversees the management of his place and does some light work.

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 348

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