Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 356

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 356
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 356
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 356
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 356

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Soon after his marriage our subject purchased the old homestead in Oakland township. Besides engaging in general and dairy farming he is an extensive ice dealer. To our subject and wife has

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been born one son, Edward J., born March 25, 1889, a student of St. John's Academy in Susque- hanna. In politics Mr. Stack is a Democrat. He has filled the office of school director in Oakland township. Himself and family are members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Stack is a member of Branch No. II, C. M. B. A., of Susquehanna. He is a young business man of enterprise and ability, and of high moral standing.

JOHN H. MITCHELL. Among the agricul- turists of Susquehanna county who have attained success from a financial point of view is the gen- tleman whose name introduces this sketch. Almost his entire life has been passed upon his present farm, and its well-tilled fields and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place testify to his skill and ability in his chosen calling.

The Mitchell family was founded in Connec- ticut at an early day in the history of this country, and there our subject's grandfather, Henry Mitch- ell, was born and reared. In Colchester, New Lon- don county, that State, he was married, April 28, 1814, by Rev. Amos Loomis, to Miss Mary Ely, and in January, 1816, they came to Susquehanna county, Penn., first locating in Brooklyn township and later removing to Bridgewater township, where they lived for ten years. At the end of that time they removed to Lemon township, Wyoming Co., Penn., where both died, the grandmother May 4, 1861, aged seventy-nine years, one month and eleven days, the grandfather, October 5, 1880, aged eighty-eight years and six months. In politics he was a Republican. Their children, who are all now deceased, were as follows: Horatio Henry, born February 7, 1816; two who died in infancy unnamed; George Ely, father of our subject; and Eunice Mary, who was born September 6, 1826, and married Ezekiel Mowry, Jr., of Meshoppen, Pennsylvania.

George Ely Mitchell was born in Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, March 16, 1823, and was seven years old at the time of the removal of the family to Lemon township, Wyoming county, where he grew to manhood and was mar- ried, October 27, 1850, to Miss Rebecca Thomas, a daughter of Salmon and Roselinda (Lathrop) Thomas, and a granddaughter of Ezekiel Lathrop. For fourteen years after his marriage, Mr. Mitch- ell continued to follow farming in Lemon township, Wyoming county, and then removed to Springville township, Susquehanna county, where he purchased eighty-four acres of partially improved land, to the further development and cultivation of which he devoted his energies for many years. He was an ardent Republican in politics, and in Lemon township most creditably filled a number of local offices, including those of supervisor and constable. During the Civil war he manifested his love of country by trying to enlist in the Union army, but was rejected. He died May 4. 1884, honored and respected by all who knew him. His wife,

who was born February 12, 1828, is still living on the old homestead in Springville township.

John H. Mitchell, our subject, is the only child of this worthy couple. He was born in Lemon township, Wyoming county, January 16, 1863, and was two years old when he came with his parents to Springville township, Susquehanna county, where he attended the common schools and grew to manhood. He has always remained on the old homestead with the exception of a few months spent in clerking in a store in Springville. He is en- gaged in general farming and dairying, and for the latter purpose keeps nine cows. He also operates a threshing machine and ensilage cutter in the fall, and is agent for Heebner & Sons, of Lansdale, Montgomery Co., Penn. He is a wide-awake, en- ergetic business man whose sterling integrity and honorable, upright manhood fully entitle him to the high position he holds in the estimation of his fellow citizens. Politically, he is a stanch Re- publican, and has served as a member of the elec- tion board. On January 31, 1884, he joined the Odd Fellows' Lodge, No. 992, of Springville, is a charter member of Vesta Lodge, No. 187, Daugh- ters of Rebekah, and the Encampment No. 50, at Lynn; and Utility Grange, No. 873, of Spring- ville.

Mr. Mitchell was married in Dimock town- ship to Miss Jessie Miles, who was born Decem- ber 29, 1862, and died February 2, 1899. Her great-grandfather, Thomas Miles, and his wife, whose maiden name was Adams, were natives of Litchfield county, Conn., and were the founders of the family in this State, taking up their residence in Mehoopany, Wyoming county, when her grand- father, Thomas Miles, Jr., was in his teens. They were farming people and both died before the birth of her father. In their family were ten children, five sons and five daughters, the former being Thomas ; John, who lived in Wyoming county, but died in Bradford county, Penn .; Jasper, who died in Ohio; Jonathan, who died in Susquehanna county ; and Joseph, who went South when a young man, and all trace of him was lost.

Thomas Miles, Jr., was born in Litchfield county, Conn., but was reared in Wyoming county, Penn., and afterward spent twenty years in Bradford county, where he owned and operated a farm. In 1840 he came to Susquehanna county and located in Dimock township, where he bought 130 acres of land and made his home until called from this life in 1862, at the age of seventy-five years. Politically, he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and religiously was an active mem- ber of the Baptist Church. In Wyoming county he married Polly Vost, a daughter of Lemuel and Katie Vost. She died in 1850, aged sixty years. Their children were Elizabeth, deceased wife of B. B. Wells ; James, who died in Wisconsin ; Jasper, who died in Susquehanna county; Lucy, wife of Richard Kinney, of Wyoming county; Jonathan, a resident of Lackawanna county ; John, who died

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in Susquehanna county; Riley, a soldier of the Civil war, who died in Bradford county; William C., father of Mrs. Mitchell; Ora, deceased wife of A. Lewis, of Bradford county; Jerusha, deceased wife of John Canum, of the same county ; Cordelia, deceased wife of John Montgomery, of Bradford county ; Harriette, deceased ; and Abigail, who died in infancy.

William C. Miles was born in Wyoming county, February 28, 1814, and died January 24, 1899. He was reared and educated in Bradford county, and at the age of twenty-one he entered a sawmill, where he worked for two years; later was a lumber contractor in Wyoming county ; and for a year engaged in peddling goods through north- eastern Pennsylvania. He then came to Susque- hanna county and purchased 115 acres of land in Dimock township, where he is still engaged in gen- eral farming and dairying, keeping a herd of about sixteen cows. In his political views he is a stanch Republican, and he most creditably served as super- visor of his township for several terms until he refused longer to accept the office. He is a promi- nent member and trustee of the Baptist Church, and fraternally is a member of the Grange. In Sus- quehanna county, he married Miss Eliza C. Hen- drick, a native of the county, who died in 1890, at the age of seventy years. Of the four children born of this union, two died in infancy, and Mrs. Mitch- ell, who was the youngest, died in 1899, as pre- viously stated. The oldest, Hendrick Carrington, is still living and makes his home with his father. He wedded Mary Allen, a native of New Jersey, and they have three children: Maud Allen, now the wife of Isaac Baker; Edna Jean; and Mary Allyne.

G. LESTER LEWIS. Among those agricul- utrists of Jessup township, Susquehanna county, whose farms manifest to the most casual observer the energy and ability of their owner in his chosen calling, is the subject of this review. He was born in Pike township, Bradford Co., Penn., March 18, 1832, and is a son of James and Betsy (Ross) Lewis, natives of Bradford and Susquehanna counties, re- spectively.

About 1825 the father came with his parents to Susquehanna county, and made his home in Middletown township until 1837, when he became a resident of Jessup township and spent his last days there. He was a farmer by occupation, a Republican in politics, and for many years served his fellow citizens in the capacity of constable to their entire satisfaction. He was born February 9, 1802, and died in Jessup township June 22, 1869, while his wife was born in 1801, and died in Brad- ford county, May 10, 1874, the remains of both being interred in Fairdale cemetery. They were sincere Christians and held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children were Clarissa P., deceased wife of John Shelp; Loren S., a farmer of Tompkins county, N. Y .; Justus,

deceased; G. Lester, our subject; Mary, wife of Thomas E. Beaumont, of Middletown township; Wilbur, a farmer of Nebraska; Huldah J., wife of William Whitney, a farmer of Rush township, Sus- quehanna county ; and William, who died while serving as a soldier in the Civil war. Our subject's paternal grandparents, John Lewis and wife, were natives of Connecticut, and on coming to Penn- sylvania, located in Bradford county near the Sus- quehanna county line, where they died in old age. By occupation the grandfather was a farmer. In their family were six children, namely: James, Levi, Gemima, Cyrus, Annie and Mary, all de- ceased. The maternal grandparents, Joseph and Polly Ross, were also born in Connecticut, and died in Middletown township, Susquehanna county, when past the age of eighty years.

G. Lester Lewis remained on the home farm until he attained his majority, and was then mar- ried, at Montrose, to Miss Rosanna Shelp, who was born in Jessup township, June II, 1833, and died July 3, 1873, being laid to rest in Fair Hill cemetery. By this union three children were born : Frederick married Hattie Shay, and is engaged in farming in Forest Lake township, Susquehanna county ; Elsa H. is the wife of Martin Darrow, a farmer of the same township; and Charles B. mar- ried Luella Mather and lives in Binghamton, New York.

At Fairdale, Susquehanna county, Mr. Lewis was again married, May 13, 1874, his second union being with Miss Alice E. Tuck, who was born in Conklin, N. Y., July 29, 1849, a daughter of Rev. Thomas and Catherine (Vanness) Tuck, natives of England and Bradford county, Penn., respect- ively. Her paternal grandparents, Henry and Alice E. (Southworth) Tuck, spent their entire lives in England as farming people. The maternal grand- parents, George and Hannah Vanness, were na- tives of Connecticut, and died at Standing Stone, Bradford Co., Penn. When a young man, Rev. Thomas Tuck, accompanied by two brothers and two sisters, emigrated to America and located in New York State, about 1840. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but most of his life was devoted to school teaching. He died in 1850, at the early age of thirty-two years, and was buried at Standing Stone, Bradford county. He had only two children: Francis, who married Theressa Brum and died in Minneapolis, Minn .; and Alice E., wife of our subject. For her second husband the mother married Elias Jagger, and she is now living in Wellsboro, Penn., at the age of seventy-four years. The children born of this union were Cordelia, deceased; Harriet L., wife of Henry Berchard, of Susquehanna ; Mary A., a resident of Montrose ; and Carrie A., who married Thomas Evans, deceased, and died August 16, 1899.

At the time of his first marriage Mr. Lewis was employed as a sawyer in a sawmill in Wyalusing township, Bradford county, which position he held

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for about six years. Later he purchased a farm in that township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies for thirteen years, and in March, 1866, located upon his present farm in Jessup township, Susquehanna county, where he has since made his home uninterruptedly. He also owns an adjoining farm, and in the opera- tions of these he has met with a well deserved success. Politically, he is a supporter of the Re- publican party and its principles, and for nine years he most efficiently served as school director in his district. For many years he has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, has held the offices of steward and class leader for the past twenty-five years, has ever taken an active and prominent part in its work, and in his daily life has shown himself to be consistent with the beliefs which he professes, being generous and charitable in answering the appeals of the distressed.

SETH WATERMAN EDDY, a well-known and highly respected citizen of Rush township, Sus- quehanna county, was engaged during the earlier years of his life in agricultural pursuits, but is now retired from active labors, though he still con- tinues to occupy his farm. The neat and thrifty appearance of his place tells, in unmistakable terms, of his rare business enterprise, untiring labor, close attention and broad and liberal views.

A native of Susquehanna county, Mr. Eddy was born in Dimock township, August 4, 1826, and is a son of Charles and Abigail (Lathrop) Eddy, natives of Vermont and Connecticut, respectively. Both having come to Susquehanna county at an early day, they were married in Dimock township, November 25, 1818, but later spent some time in Vermont, returning to Dimock township after the death of the paternal grandfather of our subject. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, was born May 19, 1791, and died July 30, 1861, while the mother was born June 10, 1792, and died Sep- tember 29, 1865, the remains of both being interred at Elk Lake, Dimock township. They were mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church of Montrose, and were held in high regard by all who knew them. Their children were Eliza E., now the widow of Samuel Cornell, of New Milford, Penn .; Mary E., deceased wife of Erastus Sprout; Alice L., wife of J. H. Hall, a farmer of Rush township ; Seth W., our subject ; Asa L., and Charles H., both farmers of Lycoming county, Penn .; Charlotte E., who died young; and Charlotte A., deceased wife of Albert Little.

During his minority Seth W. Eddy assisted his father on the home farm, and in the sawmill, and then went to Springville Hollow, Susquehanna county, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. After devoting his attention to that occupation for fifteen years. he purchased a farm and again en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, spending two years upon that place. The following year he rented his father-in-law's farm, and then purchased his

present place in Rush township, to the further im- provement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies for many years with most gratifying results.

On April 30, 1849, at Skinner's Eddy, Wyom- ing Co., Penn., Mr. Eddy was united in marriage with Miss Philena C. Doolittle, who was born in that county, November 14, 1824. Her parents, James and Laura (Church) Doolittle, were natives of Litchfield county, Conn., and New York State, respectively, and were married February II, 1821. They were consistent members of the Methodist Church, and the father was a farmer by occupa- tion. Both died near Skinner's Eddy, the father May 19, 1890, aged ninety-two years, the mother November 12, 1888, aged eighty-eight years, and were laid to rest in Laceyville cemetery, Wyoming county. Their children were Eunice, deceased, who first married Job Green, and second Daniel Brotz- man ; Philena, wife of our subject ; Lucy A., widow of William Dexter and a resident of Skinner's Eddy ; and Sarah A., who first married Wesley Car- len and second E. E. Chaffee. Mrs. Eddy's pa- ternal grandparents were David and Hannah (El- ton) Doolittle, who were born in Connecticut and died in Wyoming county, Penn. The grandfather was a farmer and a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He was four times married, his second wife being a Mrs. Miller, the third Rhoda Canfield, the fourth Elizabeth Huff. Mrs. Eddy's maternal grandparents, Ebenezer and Eunice (Gernsey) Church, were natives of New York State, where the former died, but the death of the latter occurred in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania.

To Mr. and Mrs. Eddy were born the follow- ing children : James M. and Laura, who both died young ; William, who married Lucy J. Bolles, now deceased, and was killed by a falling tree, leaving twins-Vern and Vera; Frances A., who died in infancy ; Lucius M., who died at the age of six- teen years ; Vira A., who died young ; and Eliza M., wife of T. H. Hall, who lives with our subject and by whom she has one son, Benton Milo. Earnest and consistent Christian people, Mr. and Mrs. Eddy are both active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as steward, class leader and Sunday school superin- tendent. Being a strong temperance man, he casts his ballot with the Prohibition party, and he has filled the positions of school director for four years and judge of elections. He never acts except from honest motives, and in all the relations of life has maintained a character and standing that has im- pressed all with his sincere and manly purpose to do by others as he would have others do by him.

JOHN H. McCARTY, a military veteran, is a leading agriculturist of Milford township, Pike county, and his homestead of three hundred and sixty-five acres is one of the most beautiful estates in Pennsylvania. The Raymonds Kill Falls, located upon this tract, are much admired, one being seven-

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ty-five and the other sixty feet in height, and the scenery attracts many visitors during the sum- mer season. The residence is known as the Ray- monds Kill House, and in addition to this farm Mr. McCarty owns sixty-five acres of bottom land in Milford township, and twenty-six acres in Dingman township, Pike county, all of which is under cultiva- tion.

Mr. McCarty was born April 27, 1835, in Dingman township, and is of Irish descent in the paternal line. Philip McCarty, our subject's great- grandfather, came from Ireland at an early day, being so poor at the time that he was sold for a term of years to pay for his passage, but he became one of the wealthiest pioneers of Pike county, where he owned large tracts of land. Philip McCarty (2), our subject's grandfather, was a corporal in the Revolutionary army. He married Marie Van- dermart and settled in Pike county, becoming the owner of extensive tracts of land. He had the fol- lowing children : Frederick, James, Joseph, Philip and Jacob (twins), Polly, who married Aaron Van Auken, and Betsey, who married Elias Hendrick- son.

Jacob McCarty, the father of our subject, was born in Dingman township, Pike county, in 1804, and died there March 6, 1867, his remains being interred at Milford cemetery. His wife, Catherine Van Auken, was born in 1808, and died in 1872 They had four children : Uriah, who married Olive R. Crawford and died in 1869; John H., our subject; William, who married Virginia Finch and resides in Denver, Colo .; and Abram, who mar- ried Adelia Rowe, and occupies the old family homestead in Dingman township.

John H. McCarty remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-three, when he purchased a half interest in a lumber mill belong- ing to his brother Uriah. The partnership lasted until 1862, when our subject enlisted at Milford in Company B, 179th P. V. I., under Capt. John Frazier. At the expiration of his first term of nine months, he re-enlisted in the same company in the District of Columbia, for "three years or the war," under Capt. Club. During the engagement at Seventh street road or Early's raid on Washing- ton he was stationed on the right flank of our forces when a sliver struck him in the forehead, making a wound so severe that a permanent scar resulted, but he did not leave his company, however. On July 13, 1865, he was discharged from the general hospital at Argyle, Va., and until the following spring he remained at home. He then began clerk- ing in his brother's store, but on March 7, 1867, he returned to the homestead, owing to his father's death. He had charge of the place until 1873, when he rented a farm in the bottom lands in Dingman township, and two years later he removed to his present homestead. In 1897 he purchased the farm which he rented in 1873. Politically, he is a Re- publican and he has always been active in local affairs, serving four terms as road master, one as

school director, and at times he has been judge of elections. In 1897 he was elected poormaster for the term of three years and this office he still holds. He and his family are prominent in social life, and he is a leading member of Milford Post, No. 459, Grand Army of the Republic.

In April, 1871, he was married in Port Jervis, N. Y., to Miss Mary P. Howell. Their only son, Charles B. McCarty, who is much esteemed for his sterling qualities of character, married Miss Nellie Case, and resides at the homestead. Mrs. McCarty is a lady of fine mental abilities and much force of character, and her gracious manner adds a charm to the hospitality for which her home is noted. She was born at Milford May 10, 1839, the daughter of David Howell, and granddaughter of Dr. Abra- ham Howell, a native of Philadelphia, and a well- known pioneer physician, who settled in Pike county at an early period and married Mary Nyce, who was born in that county. David Howell, Mrs. McCarty's father, was born September 14, 1788, and in early manhood engaged in milling in Pike county, oper- ating grist mills in various places, seven years being spent in Milford. His last days were passed upon a farm in Dingham township, where he died July 20, 1861. In October, 1830, he married Miss Catherine Newman, who was born in Pike county, September 28, 1812, the daughter of Ira and Mary Newman, and died in 1890, her remains being laid to rest beside those of her husband in Milford cemetery. They had ten children: David, born January 1, 1832, died March 20, 1878; Thomas N., born February 7, 1834, resides in Hawley ; George, born January 2, 1836, married Justa Hornett and resides in New York; Charles B., born November 10, 1838, married Mary H. Foster, and settled upon a farm near Rahway, N. J .; Mary P. (Mrs. McCarty) was the fifth in order of birth; Foster, born August 2, 1841, married Kate Paddock and resides at Pen Argyl, Penn .; John H., born August 20, 1844, died September 28, 1851; Isaac, born January 10, 1850, died May 6, 1850; Miss Esther J., born May 8, 1852, resides in New York, and James M., born November 19, 1854, married Susan Barlow, and settled at Pen Argyl, where he now holds the office of postmaster.

FREEMAN SHIFFER. There are some families, whose connection with the locality in which they live goes back to pioneer times, and whose fortunes and influences grow as steadily and as surely as the advance of the county in material wealth and prosperity. Whether the seeds of in- dustry and endurance, planted in human soil amid the untoward circumstances of life in the wilder- ness, are thus given a strong impetus towards future development, or whatever the cause, the fact remains that human nature thus unfolds. One of the families deserving especial mention in the biographical records of Monroe county is that of Freeman Shiffer.

His father, George Shiffer, was one of the

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forerunners of civilization. He came to the fertile and well-cultivated acres of our subject, when a dense and forbidding wilderness covered the land, and bravely assumed the task of reducing it to cul- tivated fields. George Shiffer was a native of Chest- nut Hill township. He was born in 1807, son of Jacob and Susan (Teel) Shiffer, an honored pioneer couple who through life endured the privations and hardships of the solitudes of nature, though they were not without their compensations. George Shiffer was raised in the wilderness. He married Mary Sox, and built for himself a little log cabin in the forest, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a man of courage and conviction, served the township for several terms as constable, was a prominent member of the Reformed Church, and in politics was a Democrat. He died in 1850 at the age of forty-three years. His wife survived until 1866, when she passed away at the age of sixty-two years. The children born to George and Mary Shiffer were as follows: John, who mar- ried Amanda Altamose, and lives in Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county ; Julia Ann, wife of Tim- othy Kresge, of the same township ; Freeman, sub- ject of this sketch ; William H., who died at the age of twelve years; Peter, who enlisted in the army during the Civil war, as a substitute for his brother John, and died of fever while in service; and James K., a Methodist Episcopal clergyman, now of Volga City, Iowa.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 356

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