Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 380

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 380
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 380
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 380
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 380

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).

In 1881, Mr. Simons wedded Mary E. Siglin, by whom he had one son, George L. He was again married, September 10, 1892, at East Stroudsburg, Penn., his second union being with Mrs. Elizabeth (Vanwhy) Piersol, and to them have been born two children: Eliza J. and Charles W. Mrs. Simons was born at Middle Smithfield, Penn., March 8, 1862, a daughter of William H. and Mary J. (Hannis) Vanwhy, who now reside at East Stroudsburg, where the father is attending gates for the D. L. & W. railroad. Their children are : Nellie, wife of Charles Babbit, of Newark, N. J .; Frank, a hotel man of Porters Lake, Penn. ; Emma,

1630

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

wife of H. Babbitt, of Morristown, N. J .; Eliza- beth, wife of our subject; and William, who is with his brother in the hotel business. Mrs. Simons' first husband was Richard Piersol, who died in 1888, leaving one daughter, Flossie, who now lives with our subject.

SAMUEL A. SHOOK is numbered among the enterprising and thorough-going farmers of Springville township, Susquehanna county, who have given considerable attention to the raising of fine stock, and have thus materially advanced the value of cattle and sheep in this section of the State. He has met with eminent success in his operations, and is now one of the well-to-do and prosperous agriculturists of his community.

Our subject's paternal grandfather, John Jacob Shook, was a farmer by occupation. He was born in Plainfield township, Northampton Co., Penn., and died in Tunkhannock, Wyoming county, where his remains were interred. The father, John Shook, was also a native of Plainfield township, Northampton county, born in 1810, and there grew to manhood and married Miss Lydia Albert, a daughter of Jacob Albert, also of Northampton county. In 1840 they removed to Tunkhannock, Wyoming county, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1872. The mother died in 1887, at the age of eighty years. To this worthy couple were born six children, namely : John Jacob, a miller of New York State; William, a miller of Maine, N. Y .; E. A., a farmer of In- diana; Samuel A., our subject; Susan, wife of Theron Strickland; and Mary, wife of George Weaver, of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Samuel A. Shook was born in Tunkhannock, April 18, 1840, and obtained a good practical edu- cation in the common schools of that locality. After leaving school he assisted in the work of the home farm until twenty-nine years of age. In Spring- ville township, Susquehanna county, he was united in marriage with Miss Helen Rosengrant, a daugh- ter of Jeremiah and Sophia ( Billings) Rosengrant. One daughter was born to this union, Minnie, now the wife of William Coy, of Susquehanna county, by whom she has two children, Arthur and Chester.

On leaving the home farm Mr. Shook pur- chased seventy-seven acres of land in Springville township, Susquehanna county, to which he has since added a tract of fifty acres, and he now has one of the most valuable and attractive farms of its size in the township. In connection with gen- eral farming he is engaged in stock raising and dairying, and now has a fine herd of pure blooded Holstein cows, and a flock of Southdown sheep. He is also interested in bee culture, and has a fine apiary of eighty hives. A man of sound judgment and good business ability, he has steadily prospered in his undertakings, and as the products of his farm are always of the best he finds a ready sale for the same in the Scranton markets. The Demo- cratic party has always found in Mr. Shook a stal-

wart supporter of its principles, and he has most capably served his fellow-citizens as a member of the election board, township supervisor, and asses- sor (for eight years). Socially he belongs to Maple Lodge, No. 992, I. O. O. F., and both he and his estimable wife are members of the Rebekahs, and the Grange.

During the Civil war Mr. Shook served from February to May, 1865, as a member of the con- struction corps with the army in Tennessee.

HORACE T. AND GEORGE H. WHITNEY are the proprietors of the leading livery establish- ment in Honesdale, Wayne county, where they take a prominent place among the successful business men and representative citizens. They are natives of Honesdale, and sons of Elias Whitney, who was born November 30, 1816, reared in Susquehanna county, Penn., and died October 2, 1889. He had removed to Honesdale prior to his marriage, Octo- ber 18, 1842, his bride being Elizabeth Welch, who was a native of Cornwall, England, born October 6, 1819. They reared a family of four children, namely: Horace T .; Charles A., born June 16, 1846, deceased; Major George H .; and Mary E., born November 19, 1850, Mr. Whitney was a car- penter and builder by occupation, and did contract- ing until his health failed, when he embarked in the livery business, now carried on by his sons. Sub- sequently he engaged in farming in Texas township, Wayne county. Mr. Whitney lived to be over seventy years old, and his wife passed away July 4, 1873, at the age of sixty. They were members of the M. E. Church, and he was a Democrat in politi- cal faith up to the time of the Civil war, when he changed his sentiments.

T. Whitney, the father of Elias, was a native of Brattleboro, Vt., and removed thence to Susque- hanna county, Penn., where he passed the remainder of his days. He was an extensive farmer and owned large tracts of land there. He married a Miss Lamb.

Horace T. Whitney, the senior member of the firm of H. T. and G. H. Whitney, was born May 30, 1844, in Honesdale, and received his elementary education in the public schools of his birthplace, subsequently entering Flushing (L. I.) Institute, where he remained until the breaking out of the Civil war. Returning home, he became connected with the livery business, to which he and his brother succeeded about 1880, and it is now the best equipped and largest concern of its kind in Hones- dale, with an extensive and profitable patronage from the people of the town and surrounding coun- try. The brothers have spared no pains to make their livery the best conducted and most satisfactory one in the place, and in return they have received the encouragement and custom of the best class of people, who appreciate the attention to and regard for their wishes always shown by the Whitney brothers. Horace T. Whitney was married, on No- vember 5, 1867, to Miss Isabella Palmer, who was

1631

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born December 23, 1846, in New Lisbon, Penn. They had one son, Fred B., who was born July 31, 1868, and died January 23, 1897. He was a grad- uate of the home schools and later took a course in the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which he accepted a position in the First National Bank at Honesdale, and at the time of his death was serving in the capacity of teller. On June 4, 1896, he had married Josephine B. Dur- land. Mr. Whitney is a Knight Templar.

Major George H. Whitney, junior member of the firm, was born in Honesdale July 18, 1848, and acquired his education in the public schools. At an early age he became identified with this line of busi- ness, bought and sold horses extensively, and in 1880 succeeded with his brother to his father's in- terests. His attention has necessarily been de- voted chiefly to the demands of business, but he has served his city in several offices of trust, as member of the town council, member of the Fire Depart- ment for over twenty years and served as its presi- dent for two years. He is a Republican in political preference, and though not a politician in the sense of office-seeker he is an ardent party worker, throw- ing all his aid and influence to the advancement of its welfare in Wayne county.

There is no better known or more important figure in military affairs in this part of Pennsylvania than Major Whitney. He joined the Pennsylvania State Guards August 23, 1878; was promoted to corporal August 14, 1879 ; to sergeant July 29, 1882 ; to second lieutenant April 1, 1884 ; to first lieutenant March 23, 1885; to captain April 26, 1886; re- elected captain April 13, 1891 ; and elected major July 6, 1893. This glorious record, as will be seen, is one of steady, rapid and unusual advancement, and our subject now holds the rank of senior major Third Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard, a position of honor and importance in the militia of his State.

JOHN C. BECK, proprietor of "Beck's Hotel," at Milford, is one of the prominent residents of that thriving place, and is now serving as a member of the city council.

Mr. Beck was born January 5, 1855, at Lam- poldshausen, Germany, and came to America in childhood with his parents, John E. and M. Fred- erika (Breuinger) Beck, who are mentioned more fully elsewhere. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-one years, and learned the business of making watch-cases, being employed for a number of years in Desire Bournique's fac- tory at Milford. In October, 1876, he was married at Port Jervis, to Miss Rose Snyder, and in 1883 he purchased his present hotel, of which his wife took charge, while he continued his work in the factory. In 1885, when the shop was closed, Mr. Beck turned his attention to the hotel business, which has since occupied all of his time. The hotel building, which was purchased from Edward La- count, was originally quite small and unpretentious,

but in 1889 Mr. Beck tore it down and built a hand- some new structure of twenty rooms, heated by steam and supplied with hot and cold water through- out. Mr. Beck has always taken keen interest in public affairs, and in 1889 was elected councilman for a term of three years. He and his wife are popular socially, and he is an active member of the I. O. O. F. at Milford.

Mr. Beck and his wife have three children: James, Lillie, and Alice, who are all at home. Mrs. Beck is a native of Sussex county, N. J., and was born November 8, 1852, daughter of John and Lida (Johnson) Snyder. Her paternal grand- parents, John and Beckie Snyder, resided upon a farm in New Jersey, and her father was also en- gaged in agriculture there. He died in 1880, aged seventy, and her mother passed away in 1895, at the age of eighty years. Of their children, the eld- est, Andrew, who was wounded and disabled while serving as a soldier during the Civil war, married Rachel - -, and resides in Boston, Mass .; Ellen married Nathan Van Campen (now deceased), who was farmer in Kansas; Sallie married Joseph Kins- ley, a boss carpenter at Newark, N. J .; Mary, widow of George Struble, resides in Newton, Penn .; Mrs. Elizabeth Jennings (a widow) resides in New Haven, Conn .; John, a carpenter at Centerville, N. J., married Maggie Arnst; Kate, widow of Taylor Sullivan, resides in Lafayette, N. J .; Rose (Mrs. Beck) comes next in the order of birth ; and Emma, widow of Thomas Hilford, resides in Milford.

CHARLES SPRY is one of the honored vet- erans of the Civil war whose devotion to his adopted country was tested on many a Southern battlefield, and América has no more loyal or patriotic citizen. He is now successfully carrying on operations as a farmer in Berlin township, Wayne county.

Born in Cornwall, England, February 27, 1829, Mr. Spry is a son of Walter and Patience (Kins- man) Spry, who brought their family to this coun- try in 1840 and located in Berlin township. Our subject was the eldest of the children, the others being as follows: Walter, a resident of Dyberry township, Wayne county ; Frederick, of Plymouth, Penn .; Daniel, also of Plymouth; James, of Way- mart, Wayne county; Richard, of Jersey City, N. J .; Daniel (1), who died when young; Keziah, wife of George Oliver, of Berlin township; Tamsin, de- ceased wife of Col. William Ellis, a prominent citi- zen of Villisca, Iowa, who was a member of the governor's staff in that State; and Anna, wife of Ed Budd, of Mt. Vernon, N. Y. Five of the sons were soldiers in the Civil war, and the son-in-law, Col. Ellis, served with distinction in the same strug- gle, being a prominent officer ; he was wounded in the knee in battle. By a second marriage the father had one daughter, Hannah, Mrs. Taft, now a resi- dent of Jersey City, N. J. Upon the old home farm in Berlin township he made his home from 184I until called to his final rest, and he had the respect and esteem of the entire community.

1632

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Although his literary education was meager, Charles Spry's training in farm work was not lim- ited, and he early became a thorough and pains- taking agriculturist. In 1851 he married Miss Tamsin Robbins, who has proved a most faithful and devoted wife, capably superintending the man- agement of the farm and caring for their three chil- dren during his absence at the front, while in the service. She was born in Cornwall, England, and was brought to this country about 1850 by her parents, John and Elizabeth (Spry) Robbins, who had a family of thirteen children, and Mrs. Spry was the eldest of the seven who reached years of maturity. James is now deceased; Keziah is the wife of George Schoonover; William is deceased ; Maria (Mrs. Davie) is the only one besides Mrs. Spry now living; and Charles is deceased. The parents were in early life members of the Episcopal Church, but later joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics the father was a Republican. He died at the age of seventy years.

After his marriage Mr. Spry bought sixty acres of wild woodland in Berlin township, Wayne county, which he at once began to clear and improve, and it was this place, with its $700 mortgage, that he left to the care of his wife when he entered the army during the war of the Rebellion. To support her three children she was forced to do most of the work upon the farm during his service. In Sep- tember, 1862, he enlisted for nine months in the 117th P. V. I., being honorably discharged on the expiration of that term. In the fall of 1863 he re- enlisted, this time becoming a member of Company C, 67th P. V. I., and he took part in the battle of Cedar Creek with Gen. Sheridan's command, Fos- ter Hill, the engagements in front of Petersburg, and Mine Run, besides many skirmishes. While making a charge in front of Petersburg he was severely injured by falling on a stake, causing a rupture, which has required three different opera- tions, and nearly cost him his life.

Returning home after the close of the war, Mr. Spry resumed his farming operations, and he has prospered in his undertakings, being now the owner of an excellent farm of 172 acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. Be- sides his comfortable residence there are three large barns and a good orchard upon the place, and in connection with general farming he is successfully engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of horses and cattle.

Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Spry, four died in infancy, and two are now living : (I) Patience is the wife of Albert Burger, of Honesdale, Penn., and has four children-Charles, Frank, Mary and Lizzie. (2) Lizzie married Rich- ard Horn, and is now deceased. (3) Wallace, a prominent citizen and enterprising farmer of Berlin township, married Elizabeth Buckingham, and has five children-John, Charles, Emma, Tamsin and Harry. Mr. Spry is a stalwart Republican in poli- tics, and always takes a deep and commendable in-

terest in public affairs. Prosperity has crowned his efforts as a business man, and he is now one of the well-to-do citizens of his community, as well as one of the most popular and influential residents of the township.

HON. LORENZO GRAMBS is one of the most highly respected and prosperous citizens of Honesdale, Wayne county. He owes the position of esteem and confidence in which he is held to his own untiring and well-directed efforts, as in boyhood he was poorly equipped for the battle of life. He landed in America at the age of fourteen years, with the family of his parents, who were then in poor circumstances, and it became neces- sary for the lad, in a strange country, to make his own way in the world. He has succeeded, and in the afternoon of life he enjoys the comparative rest won by his earlier victories over adverse condi- tions.

Judge Grambs was born at Fischbach, Bava- ria, January 28, 1825, a son of John and Marga- retta Grambs. The father was an architect, and in the year 1839 he came to America with his wife and three sons-Frederick (who died in Califor- nia), Lorenzo, and George (now a resident of Scranton, Penn.). He first located at Rondout, N. Y., where he followed his profession, and in 1840 moved to Poughkeepsie; later he lived at Roches- ter, and in New York City. In 1848 he purchased a farm in Sullivan county, N. Y., which he occu- pied until his removal to Honesdale, where his death occurred in 1879.

Lorenzo Grambs received a good common- school education in his native land, and had scant opportunities for adding to it, after his arrival in this country. His first occupation was as a driver on the tow path of the Delaware & Hudson canal, between Rondout and Honesdale. In 1840 he was apprenticed to the shoemaker's trade, but not find- ing it congenial, he quit at the expiration of a year, and engaged in the more active work of brick-lay- ing and masonry at Rochester. He accompanied his father's family to New York City, and there acquired the trade of a cigar-maker, at which he worked three years as a journeyman, and then in 1846, after his marriage, established himself in business in Delancey street, New York City.

It was while following his trade here, that in 1849, when the gold fever swept over the country, he abandoned the cigar business and sailed round Cape Horn for California. By an unfortunate ac- cident, on shipboard, his leg was broken, and for two months he was confined after reaching Cali- fornia. Upon his recovery, he started for the mines and met with moderate success. Acquiring about $2,000 worth of gold dust he returned east, and on May 1, 1851, he located at Honesdale, Penn. For a year he worked as a journeyman for John N. Conger, the pioneer cigar manufacturer of that place. He then started in business for him- self, at first in a small way, which gradually and

1633

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

steadily increased until he acquired the manage- ment of a large and lucrative business. The firm for a time consisted of himself and son Edward G., and was known as L. Grambs & Co., but Mr. Grambs has since retired, leaving the business in the hands of his sons.

Business cares and responsibilities did not wholly engross the time and attention of Judge Grambs. He has ever been a public spirited citizen, having at heart the interests of his fellow men, and zealous in encouraging and promoting enterprises for the public good. He has also held many positions of responsibility and trust. In 1859 he was commis- sioned, by the Governor, inspector of the Second Brigade, Tenth Division Uniformed Militia, of Susquehanna and Wayne counties, with the rank of major. In 1862 he was elected treasurer of Wayne county and served two years. Among other offices that he has filled have been those of chief burgess of Honesdale, member of the town council, and treasurer of the borough. In 1882 he was elected associate judge of Wayne county, and was commissioned by Gov. Hoyt for five years from January, 1883; but in June, 1884, he resigned.

Judge Grambs has been prominent in the so- cial orders of Wayne county, and is a past officer of the I. O. O. F., in which he has for many years been prominently identified. For twenty years he was connected with the German Lutheran Church, of Honesdale, but he is now a regular attendant of the Presbyterian Church. Though living a re- tired life in comparison with the activity of his earlier years, the indomitable nature of our sub- ject will not permit a total cessation from current interests. In 1871 he was one of the organizers of the Wayne County Savings Bank, and has since served continuously on the board of directors. He is now serving as vice-president.

On June 30, 1846, in New York City, Judge Grambs was married to Miss Kunigunda Rech, daughter of Adam Rech, a native of Unterlangen- stadt, Bavaria. She died February 17, 1889, aged sixty-one years and twenty-two days. The chil- dren born of this marriage are as follows: Char- lotte, born July 17, 1847, died at the age of ten days ; Pauline, born September 18, 1849, married Robert Tralles, and has one child. Anna C., born January 28, 1852, died unmarried. Sophia D., born July 2, 1853. Caroline, born October 7, 1854, died at the age of seventeen years. Bertha M., born April 28, 1856, married W. H. Krantz, Honesdale; they have one child living, Fred. John, born March 5, 1858, died young. Henry W., born July 30, 1859, married and is living in Dakota; he has one child, Mildred. William J., born April 11, 1861, a gradu- ate of the United States Naval Academy, now a resident of Seattle, Wash .; he has three children, Harold, Richard and William K. Tilly M., born June II, 1862. Edward George, born June 23, 1863, of the firm of L. Grambs & Co. Lorenzo O., born January 25, 1865. Frank, born September 18, 1866, a resident of Bismarck, N. D. Bernard, born De-

cember 10, 1867, died at the age of three years. August B., born July 27, 1869, now living in Jer- sey City, N. J. Robert L., born May 30, 1870, an attorney at Scranton, Penn. Albert A., born May 16, 1873; and George J.

RUPERT P. NILIS, a progressive and well- known farmer citizen of Lehman township, Pike county, is a son of Capt. Justin and Isabella ( Mont- gomery) Nilis, the former of whom has for years been one of the respected residents of Delaware township, where he is now living retired on part of the Nilis homestead at Silver Lake.

Justin Nilis was born May 18, 1820, in Bel- gium, son of Peter and Antoinette (Petit) Nilis, of the city of Mons, who came to America with their family in 1842, settling in New York City. The father was an artist by profession. He died in 1852, at the age of sixty years, the mother in 1848, and both are buried in New York. Justin was the eldest of their three children. Paul en- listed in a Connecticut regiment for service in the Civil war and was not again heard from. Mary, now deceased, married Mr. Duswee, who was killed while serving in the Civil war.

Justin Nilis received a thorough education in his native country, after his preliminary training entering the Brussels College, a school of arts and manufactures, where he studied for some time. He came to America with his parents, with whom he lived for the most part during their lifetime, and while in New York he taught school, though some- what irregularly, for a period of about twelve years, part of the time in a French college conducted by Peugnet Bros. His first marriage, to Miss Isa- bella Montgomery, daughter of James and Rebecca (Rowg) Montgomery, was celebrated in New York City, and there he continued to reside until his en- listment, on September 25, 1861, for service in the Civil war. He formed Company D, of the goth N. Y. V. I., was made captain of the same and served faithfully for his term of three years, when he received an honorable discharge from the hos- pital at Annapolis, Md .; he did not re-enlist on account of disability. Capt. Nilis saw a great deal of active service, taking part in numerous engage- ments, skirmishes, etc., notably the siege of Port Hudson, the Red River expedition, the operations in the Shenandoah Valley, etc. Though never wounded, he suffered exceedingly, along with oth- ers of his command, from typhoid and yellow fever, his regiment losing eight officers and one hundred privates from the latter disease alone, and the cap- tain was in the Annapolis hospital for three months prior to his discharge. His army record is indeed an honorable one, and he is one of the venerated members of the G. A. R. post at Milford, in whose welfare he takes a warm interest.

In February, 1864, during his absence at the front, Capt. Nilis' family removed to Pike county, Penn., settling at what is now known as Edgemere, on the homestead at Silver Lake, Delaware town-

103

1634

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ship, which has ever since been occupied by them. Hither he returned at the expiration of his term, taking up farming, which he continued to follow during the remainder of his active days. In 1890 he removed to the home in Silver Lake which he has since occupied, and he is now leading a life of leisure, enjoying the competence which he acquired by hard work in his younger days. By his first wife he had children as follows: Montgomery, born December 16, 1847, who died November 9, 1861 ; Rebecca, born July 31, 1849, who died April 15, 1896; Pierce M., born December 1, 1851, who is a farmer and justice of the peace in Delaware township, and is also engaged as steward of the Edgemere Club, at Silver Lake; Marian and Elea- nor, twins, born March 1, 1856, deceased in in- fancy ; and Rupert P., whose name introduces this sketch. The mother of these passed away June 16, 1887, at the old homestead, aged sixty-eight years, and was laid to rest in the Delaware ceme- tery. In November, 1892, while visiting the World's Columbian Exposition, at Chicago, Capt. Nilis wedded for his second wife Mrs. Julia A. ( Barlow) Dennis, a Southern lady, whom he met first during the Civil war.

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 380

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