Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 350

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 350
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 350
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 350
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 350

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At Newburgh, N. Y., on February 1, 1870, Mr. Snyder was united in marriage with Mary E. Misner, who is of German-American descent, born at Bridgeville, Sullivan Co., N. Y., July 5, 1850, a daughter of Peter Misner, one of the brave defend- ers of the Union, during the war of the Rebellion, who now awaits that last reveille in Arlington cem- etery. Her mother, formerly Elizabeth Edwards, was of Indian descent, her father, Dr. Nat. Edwards. having been medicine man of the Mohawks, one of the tribes composing the Six Nations. She, too, lost her life as a result of the war, by attendance on her fifteen-year-old soldier son, Charles Misner, in the hospital at Brattleboro. They both died shortly after their arrival home. One other son, Albert H. Misner, is also a veteran of the Civil war, and now resides at Ellenville, New York.

Five children have come to bless the union of Charles A. Snyder and his wife, Mary E. Misner, as follows : Elias A., born January 30, 1871, and Cora A., born April 22, 1873, at Port Jervis, N. Y .;

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Edith M., born October 3, 1880 (who married Daniel S. McPeck), and Charles J., born February 13, 1882, at Deposit, N. Y .; and Grover C., on May 27, 1885, at Matamoras, Penn. Politically Mr. Snyder is a stanch Democrat, and is now efficiently serving as secretary of the school board. Although not a member, he is an attendant and a supporter of the Epworth M. E. Church, and socially he has affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, having been a member of Port Jervis Lodge, No. 328, F. and A. M. for thirty-two years. For thirty years he has belonged to the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers, and efficiently served that order for the term of two years, expiring April 1, 1900, as the Chief Engineer of Division 54, and was delegate to the third biennial convention of the Grand Lodge Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, which con- vened at St. Louis, Mo., May 11, 1898.

FRANK POTTER. The success of this en- terprising dairyman and agriculturist of Harmony township, Susquehanna county, demonstrates the value of scientific methods, his fine farm near Stevens Point being a model of good management. As a citizen also Mr. Potter has shown himself possessed of a progressive spirit, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability, have chosen him as supervisor for five consecutive years.

Mr. Potter is a native of Susquehanna county, and was born July 6, 1856, at Bethel Hill, Harmony township, where his family has been prominent from pioneer times. William Potter, our subject's father, was born in March, 1818, in Gibson, Susquehanna county, and for twenty-three years made that place his home. He then went to Bethel Hill, and located in the woods near the old Belmont turnpike. There he cleared and improved a farm, erecting comfor- table buildings, and in addition to farming he was also engaged in lumbering for many years, con- ducting a sawmill on his estate. He was an active, able business man and became identified with va- rious interests, being toll-keeper and superintend- ent of the turnpike for some years. In June, 1843, he married Rachel Reynolds, who was born near Lanesboro, Susquehanna county. The marriage took place at the home of her uncle, Joseph Austin, who was Mr. Potter's nearest neighbor on the Bel- mont pike. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and he held numerous local offices, while residing in Harmony township. He and his wife were lead- ing members of the M. E. Church at Bethel Hill, Mrs. Potter being especially active in the work of the society. His death occurred at his homestead in June, 1875, and his wife died in December, of the same year. They had eleven children, of whom four, Freeman, Elizabeth, William and Ida, died in childhood. Of the others besides our subject : (I) Amity, born June 21, 1848, married William Birdsall, a farmer in North Jackson, Susquehanna county, and has several children: Mrs. Grace Norris, of Stroudsburg, Penn .; Leroy, of Iowa; Kate R., wife of Dr. M. Snyder, of Scranton, Penn. ;

Lottie, a teacher; Fannie, a dressmaker; George ; James; Stanley; and John. (2) Joseph, born in February, 1850, resided upon the old homestead for some years, but later settled in Thompson town- ship, Susquehanna county. He married (first) Miss Emma Washburne, who died, leaving two sons- Ernest and Rufus. By his second wife, Isola Wash- burn, he has had three children-Fay, May and Harry. (3) Miss Ella C. resides in Binghamton, N. Y. (4) Emma married P. L. Mann, of Scranton, now employed in a mill. (5) Newton N., a farmer at Bethel Hill, married Miss Louisa Williams, of Thompson township, and has one daughter- Rachel. (6) Frederick H., a farmer in Thompson township, is a leading citizen, serving at present as supervisor. He married Miss Orley Miller, of Har- mony township.

As a boy Mr. Frank Potter attended the dis- trict schools of his native township, and assisted in the work of the farm. After his father's death he managed the estate for his mother for a time, and later he removed to Stevens Point, but in 1883 he purchased his present farm from James Connelly. He has cleared much of the land, and built two barns and a comfortable and attractive two-story dwelling house, besides making other substantial improvements. Politically he has always been a Republican, and his family is connected with the Methodist Church, his wife being an active member.

In November, 1876, he married his first wife, Miss Mamie Cook, daughter of Elijah and Ruth ( Stanton) Cook, well-known residents of Thompson township, who came to this section from Otsego Co., New York. She was born in 1854, in Thomp- son township, where she received a district school education, and her death occurred September 2, 1879, at Stevens Point. The only child of the union, Willie C., died a few weeks before. On February 14, 1882, Mr. Potter married Miss Janie Cook, a sister of his first wife, and a native of Thompson township. By this marriage he has two children : Frederick E., born June 19, 1886, now attending the local schools ; and Ruth L., born April 26, 1897.

AMOS G. STERLING, one of the most pro- gressive, energetic and successful farmers of Brook- lyn township, Susquehanna county, was born in that township, January 7, 1853, and is a representa- tive of an old and honored family, which was founded here in 1810, by Isaac and Urena (John- son) Sterling, of Cornwall, Litchfield Co., Conn.

Their children were Isaac Hilliard, the grandfather of our subject ; Heman B .; Urena J., wife of Eph- raim Gibbs. For his second wife, Isaac Sterling married Millicent, daughter of Asa Bonney, and to them were born four children: Joline R., de- ceased ; A. Harmon, a resident of Brooklyn ; John and Daniel. The parents both died in Dimock township, Susquehanna county.

Isaac H. Sterling was born in Cornwall, Litch- field Co., Conn., and in 1810 came with his parents to Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, where

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he followed the carpenter's trade for about twenty- seven years, and then engaged in farming. He married Miss Harriet Emmons; a native of Goshen, Conn., and a daughter of Leman and Ursula (Beech) Emmons. She died January 15, 1888, aged eighty-four years, three months, twenty-nine days, and he died October 15, 1882, aged eighty-three years, four months, nineteen days. In their fam- ily were the following children: Amos, who died October 7, 1847, at the age of twenty-three years, two months and twenty-four days; Ansel, father of our subject ; James H., who wedded Mary Brown and engaged in farming in Brooklyn township, until his death April 2, 1900, aged about seventy- three years; Charles, who died August 30. 1840, at the age of ten years, five months and nineteen days; Herman, who married Frances Stroud, and is a retired farmer of Sterling, Whiteside Co., Ill .; Ralph, who married Amy L. Kent, and is a farmer of Brooklyn township (she died January 18, 1900, aged sixty-three years) ; Harriet, widow of Philan- der Babcock, and a resident of Rock Falls, Ill .; Charles M., who married Katie Hullinger, and is a farmer of South Dakota; Julia, who makes her home with her brother Charles; and Ursula W., wife of J. Murray Roper, of South Dakota.

Ansel Sterling was born in Brooklyn township, October 8, 1825, and there he is now living a re- tired life. On attaining his majority he purchased a tract of land, but did not locate thereon until three years later. The following ten years he suc- cessfully operated it, and then returned to the old homestead in 1864, residing there until 1877, when he removed to the village of Brooklyn, where he erected a house, and where he lived until coming to his present home in 1893. He is a Democrat in politics, and served as assessor of his township for four years. In 1852 he married Lucina Kent, a native of Brooklyn township and a daughter of David and Betsy (Miles) Kent. She died March II, 1885, aged fifty-six years, and was buried in Hill cemetery. She left two children: Amos G., our subject ; and William L., a farmer of Brooklyn township, who married Emaline Brown, and has two children: Ethel and Lela. The father was again married, March 28, 1886, in Brooklyn town- ship, his second union being with Josephine A. Miles.

Amos G. Sterling has spent his entire life upon the old home farm in Brooklyn township, which comprises 200 acres of land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and upon which he has made many useful and valuable improve- ,ments. He is a thorough and systematic farmer, and has met with eminent success in his life work. His political support is given the Democratic party, and his duties of citizenship are always most faith- fully and conscientiously discharged.

At Foster, Penn., on September 4, 1876, Mr. Sterling was married to Miss Inez L. Titus, and they have one child, Ernest A., who was born June 27, 1878, and is now a student at Bucknell

University. Mrs. Sterling was born in Foster, Oc- tober 4, 1855, a daughter of Albert and Ruth A. (Roper) Titus, natives of Harford township, Sus- quehanna county, the former born July 2, 1831, the latter May 29, 1838. They were married April 6, 1854, and the same year removed to Foster, since which time Mr. Titus has been with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Co., as track foreman for many years, and now as gate keeper at Foster. Both he and his wife are members of the Universalist Church and are held in high esteem by all who know them. Mrs. Sterling is the oldest of their children: Jennie, born November 1, 1858, is the wife of D. C. Tiffany, superintendent of a coal breaker at Ashley, Penn .; Ida, born August 20, 1860, died October 6, 1873; Ernest, born May II, 1871, died September 4, 1873 ; Florence, born May 5, 1875, is the wife of F. E. Benjamin, a butcher of Binghamton, N. Y .; and Marian E., born July 29, 1876, is at home. Mrs. Sterling's paternal grand- parents were Ezekiel and Betsy (Jeffers) Titus. The former was born in Cumberland, R. I., January 8, 1765, and was one of the nine partners of Har- ford, Penn. The maternal grandparents were John and Lucia (Roper) Roper, natives of England, who came to Susquehanna county, Penn., from Massa- chusetts. The maternal great-grandmother was a Gerry, and a descendant of the Gerry, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- ence.

GEORGE L. PICKETT. One of the most prominent lumbermen and farmers of Rush town- ship, Susquehanna county, is the subject of this sketch. For more than a century the Pickett fam- ily has been eminent in the history of the county.

Joab Pickett, his great-grandfather, a native of Litchfield Co., Conn., in 1795, migrated to Rush township, Susquehanna county, with his family and settled in what is now Rush township, building a log cabin on the Wyalusing flat just north of the present Wyalusing bridge. He had acquired title under the Connecticut claims, made many improve- ments, and stoutly resisted the conflicting Pennsyl- vania title, to the land he had acquired. He led in a demonstration against Bartlett Hinds, who had abandoned the Connecticut claimants, and as a result of "Pickett's war," as it was called, was in 1806 arrested and fined $30 and costs. He was a man of great force of character and prominence in the pioneer days of the township. He held various local offices, and participated in the war of 1812. He built at his place on the Wyalusing, the first sawmill in Rush township, and besides milling and farming was very skilful with his rifle, famous espe- cially as a "painter" hunter. Capt. Joab was twice married. By his first wife he had two children : Samuel, grandfather of our subject, and Sheldon, who remained in Connecticut. By his second wife, Mary, daughter of Capt. James Turrell, of New Milford, Conn., he had five sons and five daughters, among whom were the following : (1) Daniel, born

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in 1804, married Hannah, daughter of Robinson Bolles, was an early member of Rush Baptist Church, settled in Jessup township and was for many years justice of the peace. (2) Charles Miner, the first white child born in Rush township, settled in Jessup township. (3) Orrin, who became blind, but was famous for the good shingles and baskets bondale. which he made. (4) Anson, a carpenter of Car- (5) Almon, a merchant in Rush and afterward in Laceyville. (6) Polly, the only daugh- ter, married Alanson Lung, a farmer of Rush. Augustus H. Lung, one of their sons, became a famous Baptist divine, Chaplain of the 33rd N. Y. V. I., from 1862 to 1865, member of the board of managers of the American Baptist Historical So- ciety, N. J., Baptist Educational Society, trustee of Lewisburg University, South Jersey Institute, etc.

Samuel Pickett, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., in 1790, and was five years old when brought by his father to . Susquehanna county, Penn. He was reared in Rush township, settled in Auburn township, and adopted farming as his vocation in life. He mar- ried Nancy Avery, and to them were born the fol- lowing children: Ezekiel A. (deceased) ; Avery, who settled in Pike township, Bradford county, and lived there until his death February 9, 1889, his remains being interred in the cemetery at Beaver Meadows; Orrin, who died in infancy; Caroline, who married James Sherer, and is now deceased ; Mary, who first married Lewis Baker, and, later, David Rugg, of Auburn township ; and Almond L. and Anson W. (twins), the former settling in Jessup, Penn., the latter, the father of our subject, remain- ing in Susquehanna county. Nancy, wife of Samuel Pickett, died in 1831, and for his second wife Sam- uel married Hannah Lyons, a native of Unadilla, N. Y. The six children by this marriage were Jefferson F., who died in 1896; Mabel E., who died young; Lambert P., born in Auburn township, March 28, 1839, a farmer of Rush township; Or- lanto E., of Laceyville ; Hanford, who died young ; and Frederick, a farmer of Auburn township. Sam- uel Pickett died March 20, 1877, aged eighty-seven years. His second wife, Hannah, survived him nine months, passing away at the age of seventy- three years.

Anson W. Pickett, father of our subject, was born in Auburn township, Susquehanna county, in October, 1831. He was reared in that township, where he remained, engaged in farming until 1870, when he removed with his family to Rush township. Except for two years, when he followed sawmilling, he was a farmer. On October 3, 1854, he married Miss Sarah Bennett, who was born June 17, 1836, in Pike township, Bradford county, Penn., daughter of Ferris and Nancy (Black) Bennett. Ferris Ben- nett was born in Fairfield Co., Conn., on May I, 1801, son of Thomas and Sarah (Stratton) Bennett. Thomas Bennett was a tailor by trade, and migrated to Bradford county. Nancy Black, wife of Ferris Bennett, was the daughter of Joseph and Alice

(Wells) Black, natives of England and of Bradford county, respectively. Joseph Black was a pioneer of Bradford county, where he operated a sawmill and gristmill, and also engaged in farming. He was the owner of 700 acres of land in Bradford county, for which he paid six cents an acre. To Ferris and Nancy Bennett were born the following children : Samuel, deceased ; Levi, of Silvara, Penn .; Charles, deceased; Mahala, who married William Whitney, deceased; Miles, a farmer of Bradford county ; Dimock, a farmer of Bradford county ; Sarah, mother of our subject; Jane, who married George Peet, of Bradford county; Rhoda C., who married Asa Carland, of Springville township, Sus- quehanna county ; and Lydia, who married William Bradshaw, and is now deceased. Ferris Bennett died May 13, 1890, aged eighty-nine years. His wife died in February, 1872, aged sixty-nine years. They are buried in Beaver Meadow Church ceme- tery, Bradford county. To Anson and Sarah (Ben- nett) Pickett were born seven children, namely : Ella, who died in infancy ; George L., our subject ; Minnie, wife of David Haney, a farmer of Brad- ford county ; Norman, who died in infancy ; Frank A., an extensive ice dealer at Torrington, Conn .; Merton K., an ice dealer, of Waterbury, Conn .; and William H., a druggist of Derby, Conn. In politics Anson Pickett was a Republican. He died August 28, 1875, on the farm in Rush township, now occupied by his son, our subject, and was buried at Beaver Meadows, Bradford county. For her second husband the mother on September 15, 1883, married Avery Pickett, brother of her first husband and second son of Samuel and Nancy (Avery) Pickett.

George L. Pickett, our subject, was born in Dimock township, December 3, 1858. He was reared in Susquehanna county, and remained with his parents till twenty-one years of age, when he went to Clare, Mich. There for eight months he worked on a farm. Returning to Rush township, Susquehanna county, he worked on his mother's farm for four years, then purchased the property and has since most successfully operated it, engag- . ing also in lumbering extensively for four years, and since continuing that business in connection with farming.

In June, 1883, Mr. Pickett was married to Miss Florence Baker, who was born in St. Catharine's, Canada, October 16, 1863, daughter of Charles L. and Harriet (Granger) Baker. Charles L. Baker was born in Danville, Union Co., Penn., July 2, 1839, son of George and Elizabeth (Shrout) Baker. George Baker was a stone mason by trade, and died in 1845 on a farm at Danville, Penn., where the ' asylum now stands. His wife died in Union county, Penn., in 1860. Charles L. Baker was but six years old when his father died. He was reared among relatives and acquired the carpenter's trade. He was married November 20, 1862, at Niagara Falls to Harriet Granger, who was born in Luzerne county, Penn., April 17, 1844, daughter of Henry

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and Elizabeth (Melhuish) Granger, natives of Rush township, Susquehanna county and of England respectively, the mother coming with her parents to Susquehanna county when two and one-half years of age. In 1867 Charles L. Baker came to Rush township, purchasing a sawmill, which he operated until 1885. He then sold the property and has since engaged in farming in connection with his trade. In politics he is a Republican. To Charles and Harriet Baker were born five children, namely : Florence M., wife of our subject; Fanny E., de- ceased ; Henry H., a farmer of Rush township; Laura B., wife of Ernest Melhuish, a farmer of Sus- quehanna county ; and Grace V., at home.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pickett have been born six children, namely: Archie W., Fanny E., Bessie, May, Ethel and Howard W. Mr. Pickett is a Re- publican in politics. He has served as township clerk for two terms and as school director for one term. He is a prominent member of the Grange, and himself and family are active members of the Presbyterian Church, of which for the past three years he has officiated as elder. He is progressive in his business methods, and possesses those ster- ling traits of industry and thrift, which, combined with his good judgment in farming, have paved the way to his success. He is a leading citizen of the township, and one also who commands the friend- ship and respect of all who know him.

JOHN HILBORN, a prosperous and suc- cessful farmer of Oakland township, Susquehanna county, was born in June, 1826, on his present farm, and belongs to one of the oldest and most highly respected families of the county-one that has taken an active and prominent part in its upbuilding and development.

Mr. Hilborn's grandfather, John Hilborn, a native of Bucks county, Penn., came to Susque- hanna county as early as 1791 (he and his wife mak- ing the journey from Stroudsburg on horseback), and was one of the first settlers in his section. Here he acted as land agent for Henry Drinker, of Philadelphia, for many years. He located on the east bank of the Susquehanna river in Harmony township, where he became the owner of a large amount of land, and cleared and improved a good farm there, erecting thereon good and substantial buildings. He was one of the prominent and in- fluential men of his community. He was a devout Christian, a member of the Friends Church, and died in that faith in 1826 on his farm in Harmony township, at the good old age of ninety-four years. Living up to the tenets of his creed. he would not quarrel with the Indians, though they took him prisoner, carried him to Canada, and sold him. Having worked out his freedom, he returned to his home in Harmony, where he passed the re- mainder of his days, enjoying the good will and respect of all who knew him. His wife survived him a number of years, dying in 1848. To them were born five children, namely: William, born

in Stroudsburg, Penn., lived for some years in Harmony township, then moved to near Montrose, and later to New York State, where his death oc- curred ; Jesse died, unmarried, in Unadilla, N. Y .; Mary wedded Robert McCune, and settled on the old homestead ; Hannah married Warren Bird, and after living in several different places finally located in Oakland, where they died; John, father of our subject, completes the family.

John Hilborn was born in Harmony township, and acquired a limited education in the local schools. In 1819 he married Miss Sallie Bidwell, of Otsego county, N. Y., and they began their do- mestic life in Oakland township, on the farm now owned and occupied by our subject. The father cleared a large portion of this tract, and erected thereon a good residence and also a barn, part of which is still standing. Here he made his home until called to his final rest, in 1843, and his wife died there in 1833. They were earnest and con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were highly respected by all who knew them. In their family were six children, four sons and two daughters, all born on the home farm in Oak- land township. Samuel, who never married, made his home in Towanda, Bradford Co., Penn., where he died; Martha H., unmarried, resides in Otsego county, N. Y .; John, our subject, is next in the family ; Bidwell, who after the death of his father, was reared by a Mr. Reynolds, of Brooklyn town- ship, Susquehanna county, died unmarried ; David lived with his uncle in Otsego county, N. Y., and was killed when a young man, a tree falling on him ; Rachel J. after the death of her mother was sent to New York, where she was educated and remained through life.

In 1834, after his mother's death, our subject went to live with Samuel Everts, in Broome coun- ty, N. Y., and attended school in Conklin, that county. When a young man he worked in a foun- dry at Windsor, where he learned the trade of molder, following same for one and a half years. Previous to his marriage he became heir, by his grandfather's will, of his father's old homestead, and to its further improvement and cultivation he has since devoted his energies with marked suc- cess, now owning one of the finest farms of Oak- land township, under a high state of cultivation.

In 1850 Mr. Hilborn married Miss Elizabeth L. Heath, a daughter of Major and Phila (Stow) Heath, of Windsor, Broome Co., N. Y., where she was educated. Her father was born in Massa- chusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Heath had a family of eleven children, in which Mrs. Hilborn was the oldest daughter. The second daughter, Maria A., married William Still, and had one daughter, Eva. Three sons died when young, the other six still surviving, as follows: (1) R. Ogden is married, and resides in Binghamton, N. Y. (2) Alva is also a resident of that city. (3) Morgan married Jo- sephine Johnston, by whom he has children, and they live in Union, N. Y. (4) Levi is married, and

e d

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makes his home in Binghamton. (5) T. O., born in Broome county, received a good education in the schools at Union Centre, and when a young man engaged in the manufacture of wooden toys. For a number of years he was manager of the noted toy works at Bainbridge, N. Y., and he is now a stockholder in and manager of the Clearfield Toy Works, his home being in Clearfield county, Penn., where he owns a fine residence. He married Ida Scism, of Broome county, N. Y., and their children are Ada, wife of Ross Hays, of Clearfield county ; Glenn, who married Bell Midway, of New York State, and is now employed in the toy works at Clearfield ; Henry, also married, and residing in Clearfield ; Hattie, twin sister of Henry, married to George Blake, of New York State, and living in Binghamton ; May, who died in childhood ; Arthur, a professional nurse, living in Washington, D. C .; Myron, living in Clearfield ; and Clellen, who was born at that place. (6) Edwin, the youngest brother of Mrs. Hilborn, is married and lives in Union, New York.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 350

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