Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 371

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 371
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 371
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 371
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 371

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).

CO Po an Ja di Ly fo cha

tra ton

far ing ho th cou no

hou Lac

P ol

tr G

n la

B1 E.

1591

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

its advantages. The place is easily accessible, the house being only a few rods from the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western R. R. station, where all trains between New York, Philadelphia and Scran- ton stop.

Mr. Henry belongs to an old Pennsylvania family, his great-grandfather, William Henry, hav- ing come from Ireland at an early day to make his home in Bucks county. This worthy pioneer had three sons, namely: Sanford, who died in Bucks county ; William, who left Bucks county, of whom no account has been preserved, and Arthur, our subject's grandfather.

Arthur Henry was born and reared in Bucks county and after his marriage settled in what is now Pocono township, Monroe county, where he cleared and improved a large farm. Of his children, (I) Jacob located upon the old homestead, where he died in 1878, leaving six children-James, Addison, Lydia, Lizzie, Morris and John. (2) Charles was for a time a resident of Henryville, and later pur- chased a home in Stroudsburg, where he and his wife died some years ago. He married a Miss Buskirk and had the following children-William E .; Susan married Vincent T. Miller, of New Jer- sey; Mary is the wife of Swyn McFall, of Dover, N. J .; Edna married Henry Braman, of High Bridge, N. J .; and Emma is the wife of Samuel Hilgert, of Paradise Valley, Monroe county. (3) Lydia married Jacob Smith, of Paradise township, where both died many years ago, leaving five chil- dren-Charles married and settled at Mount Po- cono; Amos is a resident of Paradise township; Jacob married and resides in Pocono township; Simon L., is a resident of Pocono township; and a daughter who married William H. Hull, of South Easton, Penn. (4) Nancy married E. Price, of Price township, Monroe county, and had a large family of children of whom two are living, and are -Lydia, the wife of Jacob Miller, of Cresco, and Henry, who married and resides at Mountain Home, Barrett township, Monroe county. (5) Hannah married Jedick Decker, a farmer and lumberman, who resided near Gouldsboro, Penn. Both died there some time ago and two children survive them -Jedick, who married and settled in Stroudsburg, and Jacob, who is a resident of Monroe county. (6) William married a Miss Becker, of Jackson township, Monroe county, and made his home in Paradise township, where he died leaving five chil- dren-Emma, Malan, Annie (Mrs. William Lake, of New Jersey), Georgie A. (Mrs. Seavring, of Olean) and Sampson (who occupies his father's old homestead).

James Henry, our subject's father, was born in Pocono township, and grew to manhood upon the old homestead. He married Sarah Mosteller, a native of the same locality, and settled on a large tract of land on the West Branch of Brodhead creek. Gradually a town grew up at that point, which was named Henryville in his honor, and a few years later he entertained a large number of summer tour-

ists in his handsome and commodious residence. He was extensively engaged in lumbering, felling the trees on his land and preparing them for the market in his own sawmill, which was the first mill in this part of the county. He would run the lum- ber down the creek from Henryville to the Dela- ware Water Gap, where he would couple it together in large rafts for the remaining voyage to the East- ern markets. He was also engaged in mercantile business for many years and here his kindly dis- position, which made it impossible for him to refuse any one a favor, was sometimes imposed upon, his books showing many accounts uncollected. His in- fluence on the community was marked, as his ster- ling qualities of mind and heart endeared him to all who knew him. He died in 1888 and his esti- mable wife passed away in 1870. Our subject was the youngest in a family of four sons and two daughters, the others being as follows: (1)

William was educated in the local schools and for ten years in early manhood was station agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western R. R. Co. at the depot near the homestead. He resigned on account of failing health and later took a position at Spragueville with the same company, but only lived one year after his removal there, his death occurring in 1872. He was a bright and intelligent young man and a favorite with his employers and the public. (2) Martha married Charles Bush, an engineer on the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern R. R., residing in Scranton, and they have two children-Sadie and Russell. (3) M. Luther was graduated from Kingston College and for some years was interested in real estate speculation at his old home. In 1880 he was appointed to a posi- tion in the New York postoffice, which he still holds, and he also conducts a real estate business in the metropolis. In 1890 he married Miss Mary Keller, of Mountain Home, Monroe county, who died in New York, leaving two daughters-Laura and Mary. Later he married Miss Cassie Long, daugh- ter of Lewis Long, of Price township, Monroe county, and they have one son, Lewis. (4) Mary married Charles Kougle, an employe of the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western R. R. Co., residing at Hampton Junction, N. J., and they have four children-Charles, William, Mattie and Mamie. (5) David was graduated from the Kutztown Normal School and for nine years was station agent at the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western R. R. depot, near the old home, but he now operates a portion of the old homestead and keeps a private hotel for summer tourists. He married Miss Jennie Metzgar, of Paradise township, and he has had six children-Harry, Margaret, Sanford and Arthur (died in childhood) and Harry (2) and Clare, who are living.

Eugene R. Henry, our subject, was born No- vember 26, 1860, at his present homestead, and after obtaining an education in the local schools he engaged in business with his father, taking the ac- tive management of the estate. In 1885 he was

1592

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married to Miss Ellen Brewer, daughter of John M., and Hester Brewer, and a member of one of the leading families of Cherry Valley. Soon after his marriage Mr. Henry became manager of the home- stead, and later he purchased the property, including the mill, boarding-house and farm, a fine estate with large orchards containing the choicest varieties of apples and pears. The place being encumbered with a debt of $9,000, Mr. and Mrs. Henry bravely undertook to redeem it, and by industry and thrift they have managed to clear off all obligations. For ten years past they have entertained large com- panies of guests during the vacation season, the place becoming more popular as its merits are seen. Politically, Mr. Henry is a Democrat and although he is not inclined to official life he takes an active interest in local affairs, and has served several terms as school director. He belongs to the P. O. S. A., and he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Church, to which they have contributed liberally. They have three children, namely; John F. is a student in the Stroudsburg Normal School, Mabel A. and Russell J., all born at the homestead.

WILLIAM H. DEUEL. Prominent among the leading farmers and prosperous citizens of Rush township is this gentleman, who is widely and fa- vorably known throughout Susquehanna county.

Born in Schoharie county, N. Y., August 22, 1833, Mr. Deuel is a son of Elijah and Esther (Edgcomb) Deuel, the former a native of Rhode Island, the latter of New London, Conn. They were married in Schoharie county, in 1818, and in 1845 came to Susquehanna county, Penn., but later re- moved to Broome county, N. Y., where the mother died March 9, 1890, at the age of eighty-nine years. The father died while on a visit to his daughter in Birchardville, Susquehanna county, in February, 1882, at the age of seventy-eight. Both were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the mother took an active part in church work. She was buried at Tracy Creek, Broome Co., N. Y., and his remains were interred in Devine Ridge cemetery, Rush township, Susquehanna county. While a resident of this county he served as justice of the peace of Choconut township for five years. During the war of 1812 he enlisted, but owing to his youthful age his father secured his release. During his active business life he followed the cooper's trade, but spent his last days in retirement among his children. He owned different farms, but never operated the same, as he did not like agricultural pursuits. In his family were ten children-seven sons and three daughters-and four of the former were among the defenders of the Union during the Civil war. Only two returned home, and one of these died shortly after his arrival. All left families. The children were: Mary J., a resident of Madison county, N. Y., who married William Salisbury ; Sally A., widow of Garret Merselias, of Broome county, N. Y .; Abner, who died in Rathboneville, N. Y .; John, who was a member of the 107th N. Y.

V. I., and died from disease contracted in the army ; Harriet, widow of Samuel Shoemaker, and a resi- dent of Birchardville, Penn .; Samuel, who was a member of the 50th P. V. I., and, being captured at Spottsylvania, he died in Andersonville prison ; Wil- liam H., our subject; Asa, who was a member of the 109th N. Y. V. I., and died in a hospital in New York from a wound received in the head while in front of Petersburg; Ira, who died in Schoharie county, N. Y .; and Charles, who died in Bethel, New York.

The paternal great-grandparents of our subject, Benjamin and Mary (Stotz) Deuel, were natives of Kent, England, and on their emigration to the New World, in 1746, located in Rhode Island, but later removed to Schoharie county, N. Y., where both died, being laid to rest upon their farm. They were among the first settlers of that county. The grandparents, Abner and Mary (Potter) Deuel, were born in Rhode Island and died in Schoharie county, N. Y., the former in 1848, aged one hundred and one years, nine months and fourteen days, the latter in 1846, aged eighty-eight years, their re- mains being interred upon their farm in that county. The grandfather served as a private all through the Revolutionary war. Their children were: Pru- dence, wife of Jonathan Lown; Rhoda, who mar- ried (first) Samuel Boynton, and (second) a Mr. Blanchard; Philip; Elijah, father of our subject ; and Benjamin. All are now deceased. Our sub- ject's maternal grandparents, Thomas and Mary (Morgan) Edgcomb, were born in New London, Conn., followed farming and died in Schoharie county, N. Y., the former in 1847, aged eighty-six, the latter in 1838, aged sixty-five years, their re- mains being also interred on the old Deuel farm. Thomas Edgcomb had two brothers who were sol- diers of the Revolutionary war, and one was cap- tured and the other killed. In his family were four children, namely: Polly, wife of Philip Deuel ; Thomas; William ; and Esther, mother of our sub- ject.

Until seventeen years of age, William H. Deuel remained with his parents in Broome county, N. Y. When thirteen he began working in the lumber woods and was thus employed until attaining his majority. He then embarked in farming in Apolacon town- ship, Susquehanna Co., Penn., devoting his summers to that pursuit and his winters to work in the lum- ber woods until twenty-eight years of age. On August 13, 1862, in Friendsville, Susquehanna county, he enlisted in Company H, 143d P. V. I., which was known as the "Bucktail Regiment," and he was under the command of J. C. Morris in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and other engagements. Later he was transferred to the 108th Pennsylvania Volunteer Reserve Corps at York, Penn., under command of Lieut. Mitchell. For six months he was ward master, acting as steward a part of the time, and was afterward drum major of the camp. He was discharged at York, August 28, 1865. Returning to his farm in Apolacon

1593

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

township, he remained there until 1867, and then purchased a farm of 175 acres, on which he lived for seventeen years. On disposing of that place, he bought his present farm of sixty acres in Rush township, but in 1888 rented it and removed to Bradford county, Penn., where he owned and oper- ated a farm for five years. At the end of that time he sold out and returned to his farm in Rush town- ship, Susquehanna county, where he has since re- sided. Mr. Deuel is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, having only served as judge of elections and school director for five years. He belongs to Bissel Post, No. 471, G. A. R., and is also a prominent member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge at Rush, with which he has been officially connected for the past quarter of a century, having filled all the chairs. He has also represented the lodge in the grand lodge three times, and has been its conductor for the past eleven years. He has made for himself an honorable record, and by his well-directed efforts he has acquired a comfortable competence. As a citizen, friend and neighbor, he is true to every duty and justly merits the esteem in which he is held.

On April 28, 1853, in Vestal, Broome Co., N. Y., Mr. Deuel was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth A. Zeh, and they have become the par- ents of the following children: Alice M., born May 24, 1854, is the widow of Ezra Rhynevalt, of Birchardville, Susquehanna county; Marcus H., born August 29, 1855, wedded Mary Griffis, and is engaged in farming in Warren, Bradford Co., Penn .; Lorinda J., born September 23, 1857, is the wife of C. S. Congdon, of Towanda, Penn .; George W., born March 29, 1859, married Julia Carter, and is an engineer residing in Montrose, Penn .; Rens- selaer F., born September 3, 1860, married Detta Swan, and resides in Montrose; Harriet A., born April 16, 1862, is the wife of Eugene Griffis, a farmer of Jessup township, Susquehanna county ; Asa A., born July 14, 1864, married May Worrick, and lives in Vestal, N. Y .; Samuel S., born July 28, 1866, is represented elsewhere; John G., born March 16, 1868, married Gertie Sneel, and lives in New York City ; Libbie M., born October 25, 1869, is the wife of A. C. Newton, of New York City ; Carrie B., born January 19, 1872, is at home ; James C., born January 28, 1874, is in New York ; Fay W., born June 8, 1876, is at home; Edith M., born Sep- tember 23, 1877, died August 26, 1878; and Mary E., born March 10, 1880, is at home. A twin of James C. died in infancy. Our subject and his wife have thirty-one grandchildren.

Mrs. Deuel was born in Tioga county, N. Y., June 22, 1837, a daughter of Storme Z. and Maria (James) Zeh, the former a native of Albany county. They were married at Warner's Lake, Albany county. The father was born in 1814, the mother in 1817, and both are now making their home in Osseo, Trempealeau Co., Wis. He has retired from active business. Their children are Elizabeth,

wife of our subject; Caroline, wife of Irwin Bris- tol, of California; Lorinda, wife of George Sher- wood, of Wisconsin; Josephine, wife of Augustus Woster; Frederick, a farmer of Wisconsin; Hattie (Mrs. Newman, of Wisconsin) ; Mary (Mrs. Brooks, of Wisconsin) ; Abraham, also a resident of Wisconsin; and Ella, deceased. Mrs. Deuel's paternal grandparents were Honyonst and Clara C. ( Broot) Zeh, who were born, reared and married in Bavaria, Germany, and on their emigration to Amer- ica located at Warner's Lake, Albany Co., N. Y., where they ever afterward made their home upon a farm. Her maternal grandfather, Dr. James, was a physician of that county.

JOSEPH D. BROOKS is one of the most in- telligent, enterprising and energetic young business men of Delaware township, Pike county, his atten- tion being given to various occupations, including farming, carpentering, carpet weaving and stone masonry. He was born on his present farm Jan- uary 24, 1872, and it is also the birthplace of his father, Benjamin Brooks, who spent his entire life here engaged in farming and carpet weaving. He was born in 1827, and died in 1880, being laid to rest in a private burying ground upon the old home- stead. He married Mary Doyle, a native of New York City, who is now residing with her son Wil- liam at Franklin Furnace, N. J. William is the eld- est of their children ; he married Ella Heater, and is engaged in mining at Franklin Furnace; Joseph D. is the next of the family ; Sarah E. lives in Mid- dletown, N. Y .; Edgar C. is deceased; and Walter H. is with his mother.

The paternal grandparents of our subject, Jo- seph and Betty E. (Holden) Brooks, were natives of England, the former born in Yorkshire, the latter in Lancashire. On coming to the New World they landed at Philadelphia, and in 1817 the grandfather rented a factory at Rocky Hill, Chester Co., Penn., where he engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods until 1822, during which year he located on the farm in Delaware township, Pike county, now occupied by our subject. He died while on business at Milford, in March, 1832, aged forty-one years ; his wife, who was born February 2, 1788, departed this life at the extreme age of one hundred years and ten days, and the remains of both were interred in the family cemetery on the old homestead. They were married in Yorkshire, England, in 1813, and became the parents of five children : William, James, Benjamin and John (twins), all now de- ceased; and Mary A., the wife of John Young, a farmer of Delaware township, Pike county.

Joseph D. Brooks has remained upon the old home farm with the exception of the year 1888, which he spent working in a mine at Franklin Fur- nace, N. J. He has never served an apprentice- ship to any trade, but is a natural mechanic, and has gained an excellent knowledge of various occupations by work for different people, and in his undertaking has met with a well-deserved suc-

1594

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cess. Fraternally he is connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Milford, and po- litically is identified with the Republican party. In 1896 he was elected constable, and is now most effi- ciently serving a three-years term in that office.

At Port Jervis, N. Y., Mr. Brooks was mar- ried, May 4, 1898, to Miss Phoebe Hazen, a native of Delaware township, Pike Co., Penn., and a daughter of Martin and Henrietta (Armstrong) Hazen, who are highly respected farming people of that township. Her father was born in Dingman township, Pike county, November 5, 1848, and is a son of James and Elizabeth ( Watson) Hazen, na- tives of Orange county, N. Y., and Pike county, Penn., respectively. The grandfather came to Pike county in 1818 and settled at Sawkill pond, where he engaged in farming until called from this life July 27, 1861, at the age of fifty-seven years. His wife died in 1894, at the age of seventy-five, and was laid by his side in Laurel Hill cemetery. Their children were: Martin, father of Mrs. Brooks; Cornelia and Mary, both deceased; and Ella and William (twins), the former now the wife of John Rider, of Milford, Pike county, the latter also be- ing a resident of Milford. Mrs. Brooks' paternal great-grandparents were Isaiah and Julia (Oakley) Hazen, who came from Orange county, N. Y., to Pike county in 1818, and here spent their remaining days. Her mother, Mrs. Henrietta Hazen, was born in Westfall township, Pike county, April 7, 1856, a daughter of James B. and Lorine ( White) Arm- strong, also natives of Pike county.

PETER BONSER, who since 1885 has been successfully engaged in the hotel business in Bos- sardsville, Hamilton township, Monroe county, is one of the well-known citizens of that place, with whose affairs he has been closely identified since his removal thither. He was born in Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county, in January, 1853, and belongs to one of the old-settled families of the section, being a son of Elias Bonser and grandson of John Bonser, who was born in Polk township, and passed his entire life in Monroe county.

John Bonser came to Chestnut Hill township in an early day, buying a farm upon which he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. He married Elizabeth Kreste, and they reared a family of six children, of whom we have the following rec- ord: (I) George, born in Chestnut Hill, married and settled in Ross township, where he owned a fine farm. He left a family of five children-James, Simon, Henry, William, and Amanda ( Mrs. Oliver Dark, of Pen Argyl, Northampton county). (2) Elias was the father of Peter Bonser, whose name introduces these lines. (3) Jacob, born in Chestnut Hill, settled in Ross township, where he was en- gaged in merchandising all his life. He married Miss Mary Kreste, of Monroe county, and they became the parents of four children-Charles ; Sallie A., Mrs. Jerome Buskirk, of Pen Argyl, Northampton county ; John, who married, and set-

tled in Pocono; and Flora, Mrs. Heller, of North- ampton county. (4) Hannah married Jerry New- heart, of Eldred, Monroe county, where they still reside. They have no family. (5) Sallie A., be- came the wife of Peter Gilbert, of Pleasant Valley, Polk township, where they died, leaving two sons -William, who married, and died in Pleasant Val- ley ; and Charles, who married Savilla Jones, and resides in Carbon county, Penn. (6) Reuben married Lavina Trautz, of Ross township, and died on the old Bonser homestead there, where his wife still makes her home. They had three children- Jerome, who married Estella Shoemaker, and lives on the old homestead; Annie, Mrs. Alvin Marsh, re- siding in Stroudsburg; and Charles, married a lady of Stroudsburg, where they reside.

Elias Bonser was born in 1824, in Chestnut Hill township, was there reared to manhood and after his marriage, to Miss Julia A. Anthony, bought a tract of wild land in his native township, where he made a permanent home. He was a car- penter by trade, and he erected all his own buildings on the farm, which he improved materially during his residence thereon, converting the place from a wilderness into a fertile and profitable tract, de- voted to general farming purposes. Here he de- parted this life in 1896, and here his widow still makes her home. They had a family of four chil- dren: Mary A., Peter, Amanda and Edwin, of whom the eldest, born in 1851, married Calvin Trautz, of Ross township, where they reside on their farm ; they have one son, Irvin, who is married to Miss Alice Haney, and lives with his parents on the homestead. Amanda, born in 1856, married John Trautz, and they live on his farm in Ross township; they have one son, Alvin. Edwin, born in 1861, married Miss Emma Gregory, of Polk township, by whom he has four children; they live in Weatherly, Penn., where he is engaged as car- penter in the car shops.

Peter Bonser received his education in the public schools of Chestnut Hill township, and grew to manhood on the home farm. When sixteen years of age he commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade, serving his apprenticeship with a Mr. Smith, of Scranton, where he worked for three years, and subsequently working another three years in White Haven, whence he returned to his home. After his first marriage he settled on the homestead of his father-in-law, John Gregory, who was a promi- nent resident of Chestnut Hill township, and there carried on agricultural pursuits for nine years, at the end of that time trading his farm property for the hotel in Bossardsville, which he has since con- ducted. Mr. Bonser has a large patronage from the traveling public, whom he and his wife enter- tain in a most hospitable manner, providing their guests with every comfort, and by their geniality and desire to please winning the friendship of all who sojourn under their roof. The table is supplied with everything obtainable in the local and city markets, and Mr. Bonser has been deservedly suc-

1595

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cessful in this venture, for he has spared neither pains nor expense to make his hostelry one of the most satisfactory in the county.

Politically, Mr. Bonser has been prominent as one of the stanch members of the Democratic party in Monroe county, and since his removal to Bos- sardsville he has taken an active part in the public affairs of the place, where he is regarded as a substantial, useful citizen, one who has the welfare of his community at heart. For seven years he held the office of assessor, discharging the duties of that incumbency with fidelity and ability, and he was one of the strong candidates of his party for the office of county sheriff. Mr. Bonser is widely ac- quainted all over Monroe county, and he has the respect and confidence of all who know him or have had dealings with him.

In 1876 Mr. Bonser was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Gregory, daughter of John and Catherine Gregory, of Chestnut Hill, and she died leaving two children-Mary Alice, born in 1878; and Francis A., born in 1880. The daughter mar- ried Aaron Fetherman, of Hamilton township, who lives retired in South Stroudsburg. Francis Bonser is employed on Mr. Ryner's farm, at Williamsburg. In 1880 our subject married, for his second wife, Miss Edna Singer, of Tannersville, Monroe county, who died in 1882 ; she left one daughter, Carrie, who died when six years old. In 1888 Mr. Bonser wedded Miss Ida J. Young, daughter of J. W. and Catherine Young, well-known residents of Hamilton township. In religious connection Mr. and Mrs. Bonser are members of the Reformed Church of Hamilton. Fraternally he is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and he is president of Lodge No. 276, of Bossardsville.

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 371

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