Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 38

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 38
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 38
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 38
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 38

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At the breaking out of the war of the Rebel- lion the spirit of patriotism moved Mr. Merring to enlist, and he became a member of an unassigned company, 8th P. V. I. On December 24, 1864, while in barracks somewhere down South, the of- ficer in charge, while calling the roll failed to call his name, and he was accidentally left alone in the barracks with the result that he had both feet frozen. During his service he also contracted rheumatism and bowel trouble, from which he never fully recovered. He died May 20, 1896, and was laid to rest in Maplewood cemetery. In polit- ical sentiment he was a Republican, and in religi- ous connection was a consistent member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He was a man of excellent principles, leading a blameless life, and enjoying the esteem and respect of the community where he made his home, dying mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mrs. Merring's brother now resides with her, and man- ages the farm.

GEORGE F. SIMONS, a prominent hotel man of Ariel, Wayne county, where for a decade or more his name has been closely allied with the business and social interests of the place, has de- scended from pioneer families of this locality.

Mr. Simons' great-grandfather, James Simons, was one of the family of six brothers and one sister who settled in what is now Greene and Sterling townships, Pike and Wayne counties, respectively The family came from County Tyrone, Ireland, to Philadelphia, in 1806, and some of them removed to Wayne and Pike counties in about 1807 and 1808, James locating in Greene township, Pike county. His children by his first wife were: Silas

and Henry, those by his second wife being George B., William, Abraham, Jabez, Thomas, James, and Samuel. James Simons (I) located about a half mile east of the Paupack, cleared up a good farm and built the stone house subsequently occupied by his son Samuel. His son Thomas located on part of the tract about a half mile north of the home- stead. Jabez Simons located north of his brother.

James Simons (2), (grandfather of our sub- ject), was seventeen years of age on coming to America with his parents. He was twice married before he left Philadelphia, his second wife being Ann Bell, of Boston, whose parents were of English origin. He located about one and one-half nules southeast of his father, and likely was later than some of the family in coming to Wayne county. He died in 1867, his wife some years later. Their children were: George, Abraham and William, ail now deceased ; Jabez, Thomas, James, and Samuel, all farmers of Pike county; Elizabeth, widow of Samuel Bortree, formerly of Pike county; Mary, who married Horace Kipp, of Palmyra township, Pike county ; and Frances, who married John Burras.

Of the sons and daughters just mentioned, Abraham Simons, father of our subject, was born December 6, 1821, on his father's farm in Greene township, Pike county, and on July 4, 1846, in Sa- lem township, Wayne county, married Mary J. Bid- well, a native of that township. To this union came children as follows: Emma A., born October 2, 1851, married George Jones, a dealer in milk, also engaged in the restaurant business at Dun- more, and has children-Edgar, Elizabeth, Mary and Georgia. Edgar W. will be spoken of more fully presently. George F. and Georgianna (twins) were born December 6, 1859; Georgianna married (first) Edward Bortree, and (second) Albert Brink, a farmer and teacher of Sterling township, and has two children-Virgil and Abbie. Byron A. is mentioned more fully below. Minnie L., born Au- gust 14, 1865, married Jacob Beisecker, a farmer of Hollisterville. Abraham Simons, father of this family of children, was a well-to-do farmer, and lived a life that commanded the respect and es- teem of the community. He passed away April I, 1888. His good and faithful wife, who made happy his home through life, preceded him to the other world by several years, dying February 11, 1884.

Mrs. Mary J. (Bidwell) Simons (mother of our subject), who was born October 25, 1824, de- scended from an old Connecticut family who came to Wayne county a century ago. Ephraim Bid- well, her grandfather, was a drum-major in the war of the Revolution, and settled here on a "Soldier's Richt." He and Timothy Hollister came to Salem township in 1800, and lodged in a hut used in a sugar camp, a mile north of Little Meadows. Re- turning to Connecticut, they brought their families the next spring. Bidwell settled in what is known as Bidwelltown, one mile south of the East school house. Ephraim Bidwell married Dorcas Andrews,

George F. Simone une

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a sister of John Andrews, who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, serving under Washington, and was present at the execution of Major Andre. Of their children, Orren Bidwell ( father of Mrs. Simons), born May 3, 1795, married Betsy Dan- iel, born September 7, 1801 (both natives of Con- · necticut), and located near Laurel Run, about two miles from his father's, where he built a sawmill. Their children were: Ira, born August 30, 1820, married Eliza Wright; Louisa, born October 2, 1821, married Arch. Smith (both are now de- ceased) ; Hiram, born January 27, 1823, married Dolly Nichols (both are deceased, he dying in the army during the Civil war) ; Mary J. married Abra- ham Simons; Armenia, born May 30, 1826, is the widow of Augustus Webster, of Madisonville, Penn .; Amanda, born November 13, 1830, now deceased, was twice married, first to Reuben Engle, and second to Abraham Simons; Gilbert L., born October 3, 1833, died in Salem township; Stephen, born September 7, 1838, was killed during the Civil war, while serving in the United States army ; Will- iam H., born September 1, 1840, is a farmer of Lake township; George W., born July 4, 1843 (now deceased), married Marian Leonard (he was a Union soldier in the Civil war) ; and Benjamin F. (twin of George W.), was also a soldier in the Civil war, and died while in the service, of a fever.

George F. Simons was born December 6, 1859, on his father's farm in Greene township, Pike coun- ty. Until of age he remained with his parents, do- ing such work as is to be done on a farm, and at- tending school. He was for one year in the high school at Hollisterville, under Prof. Ayers, and one year at Greentown, under Prof. Dooley, after which he took a pleasure trip to Eau Claire, Wis., remain- ing there eight months. Returning home, his first business experience was with Hiram Frisby, with whom he was in partnership in a general store at Greentown. A year or so after their partnership began Mr. Simons purchased his partner's interest, and for some five years carried on the business himself, during this time erecting a new house and barn, and purchasing a little farm of William Hoff- ner, in Greentown. He then sold his store prop- erty to S. R. Hazelton, and the farm to Martha M. Croft, and moved to Ariel, where his two brothers, Edgar W. and Byron A., joined him in purchasing two store properties, one owned by Dr. Marcey, the other by Dwight Mills. They carried on a mercantile business and meat market for one year, when our subject and Byron A. sold out their inter- est in the one store to Edgar W .; the two brothers still continuing the mercantile business and meat market for three years. In the meantime, in 1893, they erected the present "Columbia Hotel," a comfort- able and neat hostelry containing some forty airy and elegant rooms, in every way an inviting establish- ment, heated with hot air, piped for water, and other- wise modernly furnished. In January, 1899, George F. and Byron A. Simons sold the "Hotel Colum- bia" to the Lake Ariel Improvement Co., of Scran-

ton, Penn., who took possession on April I, follow- ing, and employed George F. Simons as manager. The hotel is first-class, the landlord genial and so- cially well suited to the business, while his good wife is not lacking in a knowledge of how her de- partment should be conducted. Guests will always find every comfort, from a clean and comfortable bed to a well-spread and bountifully provided table.

On April 21, 1899, George F. Simons bought the United States Knitting Mill, in Hawley, includ- ing the mill and machinery contained therein, a dwelling-house and seven building lots. He then leased it to Mr. H. Nollan, its former proprietor, and on November 6, 1899, he sold a half-interest to Capt. George A. Smith, of Honesdale. On March I, 1900, they formed a stock company, capitalizing it at $40,000, retained a controlling interest, George F. Simons being president, and George A. Smith, treasurer. The works are capable of furnishing employment to some 200 hands. On the death of his father, George F. Simons was appointed adminis- trator, and after settling up the estate the home- stead was purchased by the three sons. On July 4, 1891, George F. and Byron A. bought Edgar's in- terest in the farm, and in 1897 they sold the home- stead to Joseph Fyda, of Brooklyn. Since 1893 George F. Simons has served as treasurer of the board of school directors of his town. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason, identified with the lodge at Scranton, Penn. In politics he is a Republican. He has always been very successful through life, and is one of the most popular business men of Wayne county.

On May 12, 1886, in New York City, George F. Simons was married to Ella A. Noble, the cere- mony being performed by James M. King, pastor of the 86th St. M. E. Church. To the marriage have come children as follows: George N., born Novem- ber 5, 1887, who died August 4, 1888; and Ray A., born December 21, 1890. Mrs. Simons was born February 20, 1860, a daughter of John and Amanda F. (Swepeniser) Noble, natives of New York and Philadelphia, respectively, the father born in Sep- tember, 1834. They were married May 1, 1859, in New York, where her death occurred in 1862, when she was twenty-one years of age. He is a contrac- tor and builder. To these parents was born one child, deceased in infancy.

EDGAR W. SIMONS, the eldest son of Abra- ham and Mary J. (Bidwell) Simons,was born March 16, 1857, and up to the age of twenty-one remained at home with his father, assisting in the labors of the farm, and attending winter school during his boyhood. For one year after he came of age he worked for his father on wages, and in the spring of 1880 he went to Colorado, locating in Loveland, Larimer county, where he took up and improved a homestead, and engaged in the shipping of hay. After a residence there of some nine years he sold out, returning to Pennsylvania in '1889. He en- tered mercantile business in Ariel with his brothers

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George F. and Byron A., the partnership continuing one year, when he bought them out and continued the business five years alone, at the end of that time selling out to a Mr. Andrews, and subsequently assisting his brother in the hotel. In the latter part of 1899 he re-entered mercantile life.

In October, 1878, Edgar W. Simons married Miss Mary A. Neville, daughter of Edward and Rosanna ( Stewart) Neville, the former of whom is a native of Dublin, Ireland. The mother, who was of Scotch and English descent was a success- ful teacher in Wayne county. They are now mak- ing their home in Larimer county, Colo., where Mr. Neville is engaged in the cattle business. They had a family of ten children : Sarah, Mary A., Margaret, James, Lavinna, Fannie, Frank, Lawrence, Rosie and Friend, all but Mary living in Colorado. Ed- gar W. Simons and his wife have had a family of four children, all born in Colorado, as follows : Edith, October 10, 1880; Leslie H. and Lillie B. (twins), December 6, 1882; and Frankie, born Oc- tober 5, 1886. The circle of this interesting little family was interrupted July 10, 1897, in a sudden and tragical manner, by the accidental drowning of Lillie, a lovely and bright child, just budding into beautiful womanhood. On the day mentioned she and a few other happy little girls went out in a boat on Lake Ariel, in Wayne county, for the purpose of bathing, when by some means the boat upset, re- sulting in the drowning of Lillie, to the inexpressi- ble grief of not only her immediate and other rela- tives but of the entire community, wherein she was so well known and beloved as a most attractive and affectionate child.

In politics Edgar W. Simons is a lifelong Re- publican, and while a resident of Colorado he served as school treasurer some six years, also as constable and justice of the peace. Socially he is a Master Mason, a member of Salem Lodge No. 330. He is the owner of an elegant and comfortable home in the village, completed November 1, 1899.

BYRON A. SIMONS was born November 4, 1863, on the homestead in Pike county, where he was educated and reared. He remained at home until twenty-five years of age, when he joined his brothers George F. and Edgar W. in a mercantile business at Ariel, Wayne county. He carried on a general store there until 1894, a portion of the time in connection with the two brothers named, then with George F., as set forth in the reference to their business in the latter's sketch. In 1899 he sold his interest in "Hotel Columbia" to the Lake Ariel Improvement Co., and has since been deal- ing quite extensively in lumber. He has been en- gaged as manager of a new summer hotel which is being erected at Lake Clemo (Sand Pond) and will assume his duties April 1, 1900. Byron A. Simons has prospered in his business career, which has been a straightforward one, and to-day he is one of the leading men of Wayne county. So- cially he is a Royal Arch Mason, identified with the.

lodge at Scranton, Penn., and in politics he is a Republican. He is an enterprising and up-to-date business man.

On October 12, 1881, Byron A. Simons was married, at Hamlinton, Penn., to Mary Obert, and to their union were born: Clarence, May 11, 1883; and Ernest, January 12, 1886, died July 3, 1889. ' The mother of these was born August 5, 1862, in Pike county, Penn., a daughter of Augustus and Elizabeth Obert, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1857 and settled in Pike county, Penn., where the father died in 1872, aged forty-five years ; the mother is still living on the home place in Greene township, Pike county, now (1898) aged sixty-five years. They were the parents of four children, namely: Adolphus, who resides on the farm with his mother; Mary, wife of Byron A. Simons; Matilda, wife of John Kreager, a farmer of Salem township, Wayne county ; and Josephine, who died unmarried. Mrs. Byron A. Simons died May 19, 1898, and on December 7, 1899, Mr. Simons married Miss Dora M. Bidwell, one of Wayne county's most successful teachers. She is a daughter of George M. and Mary (Ammerman) Bidwell, of Arlington, Salem township.

HOMER GREENE is the poet-lawyer of Honesdale, Wayne county. That title is perhaps more acceptable to Mr. Greene than lawyer-poct, for he prefers that his friends should think of him rather as a lawyer than as a poet. The former is his profession by which he gains his living. It is, however, the province of the historian to rise above the routine of life, and call attention to those quali- ties which transcend the ordinary sphere of human effort. Though he is eminent in law, the sweet songs he has written, those touches of nature which find responsive echo from the human heart, will be remembered and treasured long after the success of the forum and of the public platform shall have passed away.

Mr. Greene was born in Ariel, Wayne county, January 10, 1853. His father, Giles Greene, was one of the oldest employes of the Pennsylvania Coal Co., having been lumber agent for the Gravity road between Pittston and Hawley. Giles Greene was a descendant of the Rhode Island family of the name, his father, James Greene, having settled in Susquehanna county, Penn., where Giles was born. Giles Greene served one term as associate judge of the courts of Wayne county. He died in 1892, at the age of seventy years. Mr. Greene's mother, Harriet L., is a daughter of Jacob Schenck, whose father, Col. John Schenck, was one of the early settlers of Cherry Ridge township, where Har- riet L. was born. She is still living.

Homer Greene received his education at Union College, graduating from that institution with the degrees of A. B. and C. E., in June, 1876, and from the Albany Law School in 1877 with the degree of LL. B. In December, 1878, he was admitted to the Wayne County Bar. For a period of two

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years prior to his entrance to college he was a member of the Pennsylvania Coal Co.'s corps of civil engineers. But his tastes were with books rather than with compass and chain, and law books were more congenial than surveys. He was a stu- dent in the office of Judge Seeley, of Honesdale, and after his admission to the Bar, at the age of twenty-five years, he entered at once upon the active practice of his profession, which he has ever since followed with marked success. His professional career is brightened by his oratorical qualities, which find additional outlet upon the political plat- form, Mr. Greene being interested in politics of the higher type, the politics of principles and not of plunder, and his services are in constant demand in defense and promotion of those great causes which conduce to the betterment of mankind. For one term he served as district attorney.

Regarding Mr. Greene's contributions to the standard literature of the age, we quote from a sketch written by one who well knew his work, Prof. Will S. Monroe, now of Westfield, Mass. Prof. Monroe says: "His first literary effort was written while a student at the Riverview Military Academy, Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; it was a story entitled 'The Mad Skater,' and was published in Wayne Reid's magazine, 'Onward,' for June, 1869. While a student at Union College he contributed liberally both in prose and verse to college litera- ture, and was special correspondent for the New York Evening Post, Albany Evening Journal, Troy Whig and Albany Argus. 'What My Lover Said,' his best known poem, was written during his senior year and first published in the New York Evening Post, November 9, 1875, with only the initials H. G. signed to it. Its merits were patent, and it was widely copied and largely credited to Horace Greeley. The newspapers, however, were soon cor- rected, and its recognized excellence won for its author the encomiums of the most select critics. In unique conception and artistic execution, the poem is a masterpiece. Every line has compact- ness, precision and elegance; it has an unstudied freshness, a sunny humor, and an artistic polish most genuinely the author's own, for Mr. Greene is quite as much a poet of art as a poet of senti- ment. 'My Daughter Louise' and 'Kitty,' pub- lished in Judge Tourgee's disastrous literary venture, 'The Continent,' confirmed his reputa- tion as a poet of the first order. The former is natural, graceful and tender, and infused with just enough sentiment to make it effective; the latter has a playfulness of style and nicety of finish that betray the refined taste and practiced ear of one who has completely captured the spirit of divine song. 'She Kissed the Dead,' published in the 'Christian Union' in 1874, and 'The Rivals,' printed in 'The Critic' in 1885, have an artist-like finish and are written with great animation and deep feeling." Mr. Greene has been rather more prolific in his contributions to prose than to poetic literature. His first decided success was the Scran-

ton Truth's prize story, "Dick, the Door Boy," published in 1885. He next won the "Youth's Companion" $1,500 prize with the "Blind Brother," published in 1887. Since that time he has been a constant contributor of serial and short stories to the "Youth's Companion," and has contributed serials, stories, essays and poetry to many of the leading magazines and periodicals of the country. His published books are "The Blind Brother,". "Burnham Breaker," "The Riverpark Rebellion," "A Tale of a Towpath" and "Coal and the Coal Mines."

Mr. Greene was married, September 20, 1883, to Matilda E. Gilbert. She died August 22, 1884. Two years later, June 30, 1886, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Greene to Miss Catherine F. Gaines, of Albany, N. Y. They have two children, Giles Polland, born in June, 1889, and Margaret Harriet, born in November, 1894. Mrs. Greene is the daughter of John Polland and Margaret ( Wands) Gaines, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Albany, N. Y. Mr. Gaines was the Ter- ritorial Governor of Oregon when it was admitted as a State, and was elected United States Senator from there, but died before taking his seat; he was originally a Whig. He married twice, Mrs. Greene being the only child of the second marriage.

MICHAEL WHELAN (deceased). The life of this in his day devout and earnest citizen of Friendsville, Susquehanna county, might well serve as a model. He possesses great force of character, and his home was presided over by his wife, a woman of many accomplishments and noble traits. As both farmer and merchant he won ma- terial success, but his life was devoted not solely nor principally to the accumulation of wealth. He pos- sessed deep sympathies, and was ever ready to as- sist and advance the best interests of humanity.

Mr. Whelan was born in County Clare, Ire- land, a son of John Whelan. When a young man, in 1826, he emigrated to America. Stopping for a short time in New Jersey, he there met and mar- ried Miss Mary Burke, a very estimable young lady, who was born in Ireland, and with her par- ents, John and Elizabeth Burke, emigrated to New York, they settling a little later in New Jersey, where they educated their children. After his mar- riage Michael Whelan came to Susquehanna coun- ty, and for a short time lived at Silver Lake. Re- turning to New York, he then engaged in mercan- tile trade for a number of years. In 1851 or 1852 he came to Friendsville, and purchasing land erect- ed a home and followed farming during the balance of his life. He died in 1881, surviving for many years his wife, who passed away in 1863. Both were faithful members of the Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Whelan was a Democrat, and he held many of the local offices during his life. He ac- quired a competence; but the aim of his life was to do God's work for his fellowmen. Of his ten children only three, Louisa, Ellen and James B.,

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lived to an adult age. Of these, Ellen died when a young lady, mourned by a wide circle of friends for her many estimable qualities. James B., who was born in New York City in 1844, received the benefits of an education in the St. Joseph's Parochial Academy. He became a student of the Niagara school, and later attended college in Phil- adelphia and Baltimore, and was ordained a priest in the latter city by Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Hara. Father Whalen is a man of great energy and abil- ity, and is popular with all classes of Hyde Park, Scranton, where he is located. He was stationed at Providence, and assisted the late lamented Father Whitty, afterward serving at Towanda Cathedral and at Olyphant, Penn. He was sent to take charge of Hyde Park, where he became pastor, and is still holding his charge. He was ordained to the ministry in 1873, and has filled his charge with ability. Christians of other denominations, as well as members of his own congregation, speak of his ministry and citizenship in the highest terms.

LOUISA WHELAN, the eldest in the family, was born in New York, where she received a con- vent education. She is a lady of education and culture, and devoted her life to the care of her parents. Since their death she has remained at home in Friendsville, where she is devoted to Church work, and where she is held in high esteem by all who know her.

ELBERT P. JONES, one of the leading agri- culturists of Wayne county, and a citizen of promi- nence, has descended from an old Connecticut family, some members of which became the first settlers of this locality, where they and their posterity have figured largely in the development of the country. Mr. Jones is of the eighth generation of the family in this country, the line of descent being as follows: Thomas Jones came from England to America in 1639, stopping in New Haven, Conn. He settled in Guilford, returned to England, and died about 1656. His wife Mary died in 1650. Capt. Samuel Jones, son of Thomas Jones, proba- bly a native of Guilford, Conn., married Mary Bushnell, and died in Saybrook, Conn., in 1704. He was an early settler in Saybrook. Ensign Samuel Jones, son of Capt. Samuel Jones, born "middle" of November, 1667, in Saybrook, married Deborah Sanford, and died in Saybrook in May, 1746. Dan- iel Jones, son of Ensign Samuel Jones, born March 18, 1697, in Saybrook, married Hannah Stanward, and died in Hebron, Conn., October 21, 1760; he was an early settler in Hebron. Abner Jones, the third son of Daniel Jones, was born January 15, 1730, in Hebron. He married Lura Hunt, who was born November 26, 1740, and they had nine children, all born in Hebron. Abner died March 6. 1793, and the widow married, March 29, 1802, Zadoc Smith, of Lyme, Conn. She survived him, dying November 13, 1818, at the home of her son Bethuel, in Manchester.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 38

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