Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 366

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 366
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 366
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 366
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 366

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).

Hanford Knapp, who completes the family, was reared on the home farm and obtained his edu- cation in the public schools of the neighborhood. While a young man he engaged in the marble busi- ness in Middletown, N. Y., and on selling out in 1884 came to Equinunk, Wayne Co., Penn., enter- ing the store of H. N. Farley as clerk. Under that gentleman he was appointed deputy postmaster and served as such for nine years. After his mar- riage, in 1885, he purchased the undertaking and furniture establishment of E. S. Budd, which he has since successfully conducted, largely increasing his stock until it is now worth several thousand dol- lars. A man of keen perception, of great sagacity, and of unbounded enterprise, he has steadily ad- vanced on the road to prosperity, and is now one of the substantial citizens of Equinunk.

On November 25, 1885, Mr. Knapp was united in marriage with Miss Deborah Lloyd, of Equinunk, a daughter of Anthony and Martha Lloyd. Her father, who was one of the early lumbermen and very prominent citizens of Wayne county, gave her the beautiful home which she and her husband now occupy, it being one of the finest residences in the village. She was provided with an excellent musical education, and is now the organist at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Equinunk, of which she and her husband are leading members. In his political affiliations Mr. Knapp is a Republican, and he is now serving as town clerk and town treas-

urer, having filled the latter office for the past three years. His strict integrity and honorable dealing in business commend him to the confidence of all; his pleasant manner wins him friends; and he is one of the popular and honored citizens of Equi- nunk.

Usial Knapp, great-uncle of our subject, was one of Washington's life guards, and served all through the war. At his death, which occurred when he was over ninety years old, he was buried at Washington's headquarters, Newburg, N. Y .- the last of those loyal guards.

GEORGE E. MILLER, a prominent and highly progressive citizen of Wayne county, ranks among the prosperous, well-to-do agriculturists of Lake township.

Mr. Miller was born January 20, 1862, on his present farm, a son of John B. and Nancy ( Stone) Miller, natives of Salem township, Wayne county, and Luzerne county, respectively, in which latter county they were married. The father, who was born August 4, 1816, died April 10, 1875, and was buried at Chapmantown, Lake township. He was a farmer by occupation, and in 1842 came to the farm whereon his son, our subject, now lives, but he had worked it some four years prior to coming to the place, building thereon a small house and barn. When he first arrived, he found his nearest neighbor was George Doebell, about two miles dis- tant. In politics he was a Democrat. His widow was born January 18, 1819, and now makes her home with her son, George E. She is a member of Palmyra Baptist Church, as was also her husband. The following is a brief record of their children : Maraldia L., born February 17, 1843, married Silas C. Clark, a farmer of Chapmantown, Lake town- ship ; Jerusha, born July 19, 1844, married Benjamin F. West, a tanner, of Canaan township, and died in November, 1879; Mary E., born October 5, 1848, married James A. Wiley, a farmer of Lake town- ship, Wayne county ; John J., born November 19, 1851, died July 27, 1882; Judson C., born Septem- ber II, 1857, died March 28, 1858; and George E., who is the youngest.

Elijah Miller, the great-grandfather of our subject, came from Connecticut to Wayne county at an early day and died there; he served as a soldier throughout the Revolutionary war. Jesse and Margaret (Bishop) Miller, the grandparents of George E., were natives of Connecticut and Long Island, respectively, and came to Wayne county prior to their marriage. Their family of children was as follows: Volney P., John B. (father of our subject), Jesse, Jaseph and Jason, all now de- ceased. James Stone, the maternal great-grand- father of George E., was born in Rhode Island, whence he removed to Pennsylvania, and followed farming pursuits in Luzerne county. By his wife, Perlona (Greene), who was also of Rhode Island, he had children as follows: Merritte, who died in Luzerne county ; Lemuel, who died in Wayne coun-

he n- ne r- nd re rs id

e- re st of

d a d

f ). st n d S, n

S S

1570

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ty ; Robert who died in Luzerne county ; Nancy, mother of our subject ; and Alfred and Emory, both farmers in Luzerne county. By his second wife, Catherine (Ackley), he had children named re- spectively : Henry, Benira, Samuel, Byron, Marlo, Eliza A., and Melissa, all now deceased except Sam- uel and Marlo, and all married, except the last two named.

On October 3, 1884, at Dunmore, Penn., by Rev. Steven Elwell, a Methodist Episcopal minis- ter, George E. Miller was married to Miss Joanna Foster, who was born May 20, 1868, in Wayne coun- ty, Penn., a daughter of Timothy Foster, a miner, of Dunmore ; her mother died young. The children by this union are five in number, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Margaret G., July 9, 1885 ; Myra C., August 22, 1886; Mary E., June 27, 1888; Elmer C., August 11, 1890; and Myrtle, September 12, 1893. Mr. Miller is an excellent neighbor and friend, and a loyal useful citizen. In politics, he is a Republican, and served as school director one term ; in religious faith he and his wife are members of Jones Lake Baptist Church.

. WILLIAM H. STODDART is a well-known general farmer of Lehman township, Pike county, who has been prominently identified with the inter- ests of the community for several years, and has been an important factor in its advancement and prosperity. As an agriculturist he has materially aided in the development of this region, and as a citizen gives his support to all measures calculated to prove of public benefit.

Mr. Stoddart was born in New York City, Au- gust 17, 1844, a son of William and Margaret ( Simpson) Stoddart, both natives of Scotland. William Stoddart crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in New York City, where he followed his trade, that of a mason, which he had learned in his native land. He also engaged in the flagstone business, and was a man of prominence in the busi- ness world. He died in the metropolis in 1881, aged sixty-nine years and four months, his wife in 1879, aged sixty-one years, and both were laid to rest in New York Bay cemetery. They were faith- ful members of the Presbyterian Church, and the father was a Republican in politics. Their chil- dren were as follows: Elizabeth G. is the wife of William Farmer, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Agnes J. is the wife of William Patchel, who is extensively engaged in the sawdust business in New York City ; Margaret married John Gladhill, but both are now deceased ; William H. is the next in order of birth; Mary is the widow of William Johnson, of Brooklyn; John A., deceased, married Florence Innes ; Adam G., a boss brick layer, of New York City, married a Miss Hardy, of that city; Jessie is the wife of Robert J. Campbell; and Isabella, de- ceased, married John McGowan.

At the age of thirteen years William H. Stod- dart began keeping books for his father, and three years later located upon the latter's farm in Lehman

township, Pike county, which he successfully oper- ated until 1884, when he purchased his present farm in the same township. He has not confined his at- tention alone to agricultural pursuits, as he con- ducted a restaurant at Bushkill for three years, from 1875 to 1877 inclusive, and for nine years, from 1876 to 1884, ran a butcher's wagon. He has met with a fair degree of success in his undertakings, and is now quite well-to-do.

On February 4, 1869, in Pike county, Mr. Stoddart was united in marriage with Miss Anna L. Cole, by whom he has had five children, namely : William F., at home; John A., who married Mar- garet M. Sutton, and now lives in Newton, N. J .; and Alexander, Elizabeth G. and Samuel T., all at home. Mrs. Stoddart was born in Newburg, N. Y., September 12, 1851. Her parents, David and Sarah (Snyder) Cole, were natives of Orange and Ulster counties, N. Y., respectively, and were mar- ried in the former county. In 1859 they came to Pike county, Penn., and located in Lehman town- ship, where they ever afterward made their home. The father, who was a stone mason and plasterer by trade, died in March, 1886, aged seventy years, and was buried at Bushkill. The mother, who was born January 2, 1823, now resides in Bushkill. Their children were: John B., who died in the army ; Alonzo, deceased ; Anna L., wife of our sub- ject; Lydia and Olive, both deceased; David, who married Mary McGowan and resides in Port Jervis, N. Y .; Fanny, wife of Samuel N. Dwee, of Mill- brook, N. J .; Priscilla, deceased wife of Fletcher Fuller ; Sarah A., wife of Bushnell La Bar; and Lorenda, deceased. Mrs. Stoddart's paternal grandfather, Jacob Cole, was a native of Ulster county, N. Y., where he spent his entire life; and her maternal grandparents were John and Eliza- beth (Rumelfield) Snyder, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Germany.

In his political affiliations Mr. Stoddart is a Democrat, and he has taken quite an active and prominent part in local politics. He has served as assessor of his township, off and on, for a quar- ter of a century; tax collector two terms; school director four terms; and township clerk seven terms. Although not a member of the congregation, he has been trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bushkill for the past five terms, and his fellow-citizens have the utmost confidence in his integrity and honesty. He has ever been found faithful to every trust reposed in him, whether public or private, and those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends.

FREDERICK HASER, a worthy representa- tive of the agricultural interests of Greene township, Pike county, was born in Germany, March 9, 1855, but during his infancy was brought to America by his parents, Adam and Christina (Lalerbacht) Haser, who were born, reared and married in Ger- many. The mother was a native of Prussia, and there her husband followed the trade of a wheel-

1571

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

wright. On reaching the New World, the parents of our subject came direct to Greene township, Pike county, where the father engaged in farming until his death, which occurred November 5, 1885. The mother passed away in September, 1891. The children born to them were Maggie, who died in Greene township at the age of seventeen years; Frederick, of this sketch; Annie, deceased wife of Frederick Krieger, of Greene township; Caroline, who died at the age of ten years; Christina, de- ceased wife of William Haag, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; and Henry, who died in Greene township, January 8, 1898, leaving a wife and family.

As soon as old enough, Frederick Haser began to assist his father in the operation of the home farm, and soon became thoroughly familiar with every department of farm work. Therefore on starting out in life for himself at the age of twenty- seven years, he was a skilled and systematic agri- culturist. He is now the owner of a farm of 100 acres in Greene township, thirty-five of which are serviceable for pasture and the raising of grain. Here he is successfully engaged in both general farming and lumbering.

On November 16, 1882, in Greene township, Mr. Haser was married by Rev. Charles Menigh, a Moravian minister, to Miss Louisa Uhl, a daugh- ter of Christian and Barbara (Gravor) Uhl. The father, a general farmer and lumberman, of Greene township, was born in Germany, April 25, 1833, a son of Jacob and Christiana Uhl, also natives of Germany, who are now deceased, the former dying in 1880, at the age of seventy-seven years, the lat- ter in 1877, at the age of seventy-four. Christian was the oldest of their children, the others being Jacob, who died in Peoria, Ill., in 1894 ; and Conrad, Elizabeth and Philippina, who all died in Germany. Christian Uhl is one of the leading and prominent citizens of his community, and for five years most ably served as supervisor of his township. He is an honored veteran of the Civil war, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and for the past thirty years has affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In Wayne county, Penn., on April 25, 1858, he was married to Miss Barbara C. Gravor, and the children born to them are as follows: Elizabeth, now the wife of John Burrus, a farmer and lumberman of Greene township, Pike county ; George, who married Esther Pasholt, and is engaged in farming in the same township ; Louisa, wife of our subject ; Charles, deceased; Peter, who married Christina Young and follows farming in Greene township; Barbara, wife of Charles E. Brink, an agriculturist of the same township ; Linda, a resident of Delaware Water Gap; John, who is employed in a hotel at Tobyhanna, Monroe county ; and Jacob, Carrie and Christian, all at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Haser have a family of five chil- dren, whose names and dates of birth are as fol- lows: Carrie, October 8, 1883 ; Lizzie, September 18, 1885; Fred, July 23, 1888; Laura, December

18, 1890; and Virgie, October 1, 1895. The parents are both earnest and consistent members of the Moravian Church at Newfoundland, Penn., and socially, Mr. Haser has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for seventeen years. His political support is always given the men and measures of the Democracy.

PHILIP H. REINING, ex-commissioner of Wayne county, and a prominent and representative farmer and lumber merchant residing in Cherry Ridge township, was born May 9, 1845, in Ger- many, of which country his parents, Jacob and Catherine Reining, were also natives. They emi- grated to America in 1847, locating first in New York State, and a few years later the paternal grandfather, Philip Reining, also crossed the At- lantic, spending his last days in Wayne county, Penn. It was about 1855 that our subject's parents came to Wayne county and took up their residence upon a farm in Berlin township, where the father died in 1885, aged sixty-three years, and the mother four years later, aged seventy years, the remains of both being interred in the cemetery at Indian Orchard, Wayne county. The father was quite a prominent member of his community, and was elected to a number of local offices of honor and trust. In the family were only three sons: Philip H., of this sketch; George, who died in Wayne county ; and John, who lives on the old homestead at Beach Lake.

Until twelve years of age, Philip H. Reining lived upon the home farm, when he began working for neighboring farmers, being thus employed for four years. Prompted by the love he bore his adopted country, he enlisted in December, 1861, for three years, in Company C, 112th Penn. H. Artillery, under Capt. J. Logan, and later under Capt. Charles Dunkelsburg. The company was stationed in front of Petersburg, and most of the time Mr. Reining was connected with the quar- termaster's department. Fortunately he was never wounded, and in February, 1865, was honorably discharged. Returning to Wayne county, he worked at lumbering and farming for C. P. Waller & Co., for five years, never losing a day during that time. He then purchased 140 acres of his present farm in Cherry Ridge township, at $32.50 per acre, and to it has since added tracts of 106 acres, forty acres and 54 acres, making in all 340 acres of valuable and highly productive land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and improved with good and substantial buildings.

In April, 1864, Mr. Reining was married in Maryland, near Washington, D. C., to Miss Emma Land, a Baptist minister officiating, and to them have been born four children, namely: William, who died at the age of thirteen months; Philip, Jr., who assists his father in the labors of the farm and is now serving as tax collector of Cherry Ridge township; and Anna C. and Charles W., both at home. Mrs. Reining was born in Philadelphia,

1572

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Penn., July 20, 1845, a daughter of Jacob and Anna M. ( Phipps) Land, natives of Montgomery county, this State, where the paternal grandparents, Jacob and Catherine Land, farming people, both died. Her maternal grandparents, Jonathan and Mary (Curtiner) Phipps, were born in Montgomery county, where the former engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years, but they spent their last days in retirement at Philadelphia. Mrs. Rein- ing's father enlisted as a private on the President's call for three months' men during the Civil war, and later re-enlisted in Company D, 112th Penn. Heavy Artillery. He was a sawyer by trade, and re- moved to New York City, where he worked on the elevated railroad, dying there in 1887, at the age of seventy-three years. His remains were interred in Fernwood cemetery, Philadelphia. He was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, and was honored and respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Land, who was born June 25, 1818, now finds a pleasant home with Mrs. Reining, her only child, and is still quite bright and active for one of her years.

Mr. Reining is unswerving in his support of the principles of the Republican party, and has most creditably served his fellow-citizens as school director and county commissioner, being elected to the latter office in 1889. He started out in life for himself with nothing but his own indomitable en- ergy, and his accumulation of this world's goods is attributable to his sound judgment, industry and perseverance. With signal consistency it may be said that he is the architect of his own fortunes, and one whose success amply justifies the application of the somewhat hackneyed but most expressive title, "a self-made man." His elegant home is up to date in all its appointments, and there hospitality reigns supreme.

ANTHONY DE LA FONTAINE, an hon- ored and highly esteemed citizen of Clifford town- ship, Susquehanna county, was born in Quebec, Canada, March 30, 1829, a son of Anthony and Theresa (Lungavel) De La Fontaine, who spent their entire lives in that country with the excep- tion of the time they visited our subject at Carbon- dale, Pennsylvania.

The father, who was a gardener and a man of considerable prominence in his community, died in Montreal, in 1851, at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother died in the same place in April, 1877, at the age of seventy-seven. Both were com- municants of the Catholic Church. They had seven children, our subject being now the only survivor ; Josephine, who (first) married Dennis Yando and (second) Joseph Grislon, and died in Clifford town- ship, Susquehanna county, in 1897; Anthony, our subject ; Louis, who died in Canada; Lenora, wife of Jerome Latour ; Philomene, wife of Charles Ves- sure ; Julia, wife of John Callestine; and Leo. Our subject's paternal grandparents were Geal and - (Decanet) De La Fontaine, who were born

in France, and in 1759 emigrated to Quebec, and the grandfather took up arms against the French in the French and Indian war, becoming one of Gen. Wolfe's staff officers. Later he served as body guard to the king. He was very wealthy and influential, and had a pew in the Cathedral at Quebec.

In early life Mr. De La Fontaine drove a cab in Canada, but in 1849 he came to the United States, and for six years worked in a machine shop in Car- bondale, Penn., for the Delaware & Hudson Rail- road Co. In their employ he ran a stationary engine for seventeen years, and remained with them until locating upon his present farm in Clifford township, Susquehanna county, in April, 1880. It comprises 105 acres of well-improved and valuable land, which he successfully operated as long as his health permitted, but for the past two years he has been confined to the house by some disease, which the doctors do not thoroughly understand, though it seems to be stomach trouble. He suffers con- stantly, but his mind is still bright and active. He is a supporter of the Republican party, and is widely known and highly esteemed.

In Carbondale Mr. De La Fontaine was mar- ried, January 11, 1855, to Mrs. Sarah Hallock, who since her husband's illness has most successfully managed the farm and attended to his business in- terests, in which she has displayed remarkable ability. She is a member of the Episcopal Church, is kind and generous to those about her, and makes many friends. To Mr. and Mrs. De La Fontaine were born two children: (I) John, a farmer of Clifford township, married Fanny Goodrich, and they had two children, Raymond, and Lenora, de- ceased. (2) Lenora married George Breece, a conductor on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, re- siding in Carbondale, and died leaving four chil- dren: Willis, Willard, Leon, and Glenn (who resides with his grandparents).

Mrs. De La Fontaine was born in Providence, Penn., August 21, 1829, and first married Peter Hallock, by whom she had three children. ( I) Mary is now the widow of Wright Campbell, by whom she had two children, Wright and Gertrude, and now resides in Carbondale. (2) Emma is the wife of Andrew Lindsley, of Jermyn, Penn., and they have three children, Nellie, Sarah and Nettie. (3) Charles P., a resident of Carbondale, married Lydia Smith, and has one daughter. Mrs. De La Fontaine has five great-grandchildren. Her parents were William and Hannah ( Rivenburg) Connor, the former a native of Drinker's Beach, Luzerne Co., Penn., the latter of Dutchess county, N. Y. They spent their last days with their children in Scranton, where the father died in May, 1867, aged sixty-six years, the mother September 17, 1882, aged eighty-three. Their family consisted of Mahala, widow of Patrick Grattan, and a resident of Carbondale; Miner, deceased; Sarah, wife of our subject; Lucy, widow of James Higgins, and a resident of Greenridge, Penn .; Hannah, wife of

1573

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Lan Rolls, of Grassy Island, Penn .; Archelia, wife of Ulysses Campbell, of Scranton; and Jane, wife of Edward Shaffer, of South Canaan, Wayne coun- ty. Mrs. De La Fontaine's paternal grandfather, William Connor, spent his entire life in Luzerne county, Penn., and her maternal grandfather, Ja- cob Rivenburg, who was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., died in Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania.

JACOB LOUIS KEEN, a venerable gentle- man of over ninety years of age, who has played well his part in the development of the country of Wayne county, which has been going on through his little less than eighty-five years' residence here, was, during his active, busy life, one of the substan- tial men and leading farmers of Canaan township.

Born May 15, 1809, in the village of Mechan- icsville, Orange Co., N. Y. Mr. Keen is the son of Capt. Mathias Keen. The Keen family, it is thought, is of German origin, their ancestor having emigrated two centuries ago. Jacob Keen, the grandfather of our subject, resided in Virginia, and was likely a native of that State, as was also his son, Capt. Mathias Keen, who went from Vir- ginia to Orange county, N. Y. About 1801 he moved to New York City, and for two years was engaged in the draying business. He then returned to Orange county, and for a time was at Middle- ton engaged in mercantile business, but he later sold out, and going to Mechanicsville, bought a farm. Unfortunately he lost this through having indorsed paper for others, the farm being sold under a mort- gage. He then moved to Milford, Pike Co., Penn., and for several years worked at the mason's trade. In February, 1815, he moved to what was then Elk Forest, now Canaan township, Wayne county, and here purchased 200 acres of land in its primitive state, which included Canoe Pond, which he in- tended to convert into a mill site. In the fall of 1814, he had, with the help of a hired man, built on his land a log house, or cabin, of the most sim- ple pattern possible; it had a bark roof, and for doors suspended blankets were used. To get to it he drove through the lumber roads and part of the way through an unbroken wilderness. Their house- hold goods and the family were drawn in a sleigh, and while it was being unloaded Mrs. Keen, who sat in the sleigh, could not keep back the tears- so dreary and wild appeared what was to be their new home. They at once began the improvement of the surroundings, but soon after their arrival Mr. Keen was badly wounded by the accidental dis- charge of a rifle while hunting. Among their im- provements was a log dam built across the outlet of the pond, thereby raising the water ten feet. In 1816 he completed the gristmill commenced the year previous, and this supplied a want which had been deeply felt by the inhabitants of the sur- rounding country for many miles. The stones for the mill were obtained in the mountains and shaped by Mr. Keen's own labor. In 1830 the gristmill was torn down and a sawmill built in its place. Mr.

Keen being by trade a stone mason worked at it after coming to Canaan. He had charge of the building of the locks on the Lehigh canal at Easton. He also built the lock at Durham on the Pennsyl- vania canal, and the locks on the Delaware & Hud- son canal. While in Orange county, N. Y., he raised a company of militia called the "Republican Blues," of which he was made captain. He became proficient in military drill, and on his arrival in Wayne county he took an active interest in military affairs, and was commissioned, by Gov. Snyder, captain of the Eighth Company, 103d Pennsylvania Militia. Capt. Keen was an ardent Free Mason, and in 1816 was installed worshipful master of Freedom Lodge, No. 147, of Bethany, and he was its first master. Politically, he was an ardent Demo- crat of the Jackson type. He held at various times township offices.

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 366

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