Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 385

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 385
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 385
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 385
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 385

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(5) Patrick J. FitzGerald was born in Ire- land, grew to manhood on the old homestead in Silver Lake, and after his father's decease, took the management of the estate, continuing to reside there until his death, in 1887. He was unmarried. He was a devout church member and a man greatly respected throughout the community for his high Christian character and goodness of heart.

(6) Julia A. FitzGerald was born in Ireland, was reared on the farm in Silver Lake township,

and received her education in the Sisters' schools in New York City, later becoming a teacher in the schools near her home. She married Prof. Joseph Stenter, a learned musician and teacher of music, of Brooklyn, N. Y., where they resided a number of years, thence removing to Jeffersonville, Sulli- van Co., N. Y., where they now make their home. They have had two children-Fannie, Mrs. Gungen- hauser, of Brooklyn; and Michael, who died in boyhood.

(7) Ellen FitzGerald, the youngest child born in Ireland, was drowned while on her way to Flor- ida with her sister, Mrs. Larkin, the vessel on which they had taken passage going down in the Gulf of Mexico.

(8) Frances S. FitzGerald was born in 1828, on the homestead at Silver Lake, and received her education partly at the schools of the neighborhood and partly under the tuition of her sisters at home. She has spent some time in New York City, but her life has been passed principally on the home- stead, where she has managed the household affairs for a number of years.

(9) Anne A. FitzGerald was born in 1830 at Silver Lake, and acquired a thorough education, attending the Sacred Heart school in New York City. She taught in the schools near her home for some years previous to her marriage to Gustave Coutan, of New York, who was a son of Madam Coutan, one of the celebrated teachers of New York City in her day.

G. W. LANE, an enterprising and popular young business man of Honesdale, Wayne county, has had a remarkably successful career, and his friends anticipate for him still greater things in the future, as ability, tact and enterprise command a high premium in the business world.

Mr. Lane is a son of Christopher C. Lane, now a leading resident of Honesdale. Jacob Lane, our subject's grandfather, a native of Monmouth county, N. J., was a market gardener by occupa- tion, and lived to an advanced age. His wife was a native of England. Christopher C. Lane, the father of our subject, was born February 25, 1827, in Mon- roe county, N. Y., coming to Honesdale in early manhood and engaging in the boating business, being now the owner of the docks at that point. As a citizen he is held in high esteem, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but of late years he has supported the Republican party. He married Miss Jane N. Clark, who was born in 1836 in Easton, Penn., and is still living. Four children were born to them: G. W., our subject; Mrs. Sidney Hen- wood; Miss Bertha and Miss Charlotte.

In early life our subject attended the public schools of Honesdale, graduating at the age of six- teen. He then went to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to take a course in a business college, but he left the institu- tion two weeks before the time for his graduation, having been offered a desirable position in a bank

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at Honesdale. He was the youngest clerk that had ever been employed in the bank, and he discharged his duties so well that he served continuously from 1882 to 1895, being appointed paying teller and re- ceiver in 1889. In the meantime he had worked up a profitable life-insurance business, and in 1895 he resigned his position in the bank in order to give his entire time to his later enterprise. At present he does an extensive business in life, fire, and acci- dent insurance, to which he adds real estate, and his well-directed efforts have already brought him a small fortune. He is also active in municipal affairs, having served as a member of the city council, and during his conection with that body he held the office of treasurer.

On January 12, 1888, Mr. Lane was married to Miss Lottie E. Petersen, and their home is bright- ened by two children, Marian L. and Charlotte. The family is prominent in social life, and Mr. Lane is identified with various fraternal orders, including Oslek Tribe, Independent Order of Red Men; the I. O. O. F., Fredonia Lodge of Honesdale ; Hones- dale Lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M., in which he holds the rank of worshipful master; Palestine Comman- dery, at Carbondale; and the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Wilkesbarre.

FRANK PETERS, a well-known farmer and prominent citizen of Hamilton township, Monroe county, was born at Gouldsboro, Wayne Co., Penn., January 31, 1858.

Barney and Catherine (Foster) Peters, parents of our subject, are both natives of Germany, the father born in July, 1824, the mother in 1834, and when young came together, with Nicholas Ruster, to the New World. In his younger days the father was a tanner, later devoting his time to farming, but is now living retired. During the war of the Rebellion he entered the Union army, and he lost his right hand in the service of his adopted country. Now in their declining years he and his wife are enjoying a well-earned rest, at their pleasant home in East Stroudsburg. In religious faith they are Lutherans, and in political sentiment the father is a Democrat. Frank is the eldest of their family ; Philip married Bertha Heller, and is engaged in farming at East Stroudsburg ; Joseph wedded Mary Lee, and operates his father's farm; Elizabeth is the wife of John Row, a railroad conductor of Scranton, Penn .; Conrad married Sally Peters, and is engaged in farming in Stroud township, Mon- roe county ; Mary, widow of Robert Colbt, is a resident of East Stroudsburg; George married Emma Kramer, and is employed as fireman at the Normal School in East Stroudsburg ; Charles mar- ried Martha Prutzman, and is engaged in farming in Middle Smithfield township, Monroe county : and Elbina and Lena are at home with their parents.

Frank Peters remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, aiding his father in the labors of the farm. He then worked in a tan- nery at Sciota, Monroe county, for eight years and

in a limestone quarry for one year, after which he purchased his present farm from Susanna Transue, and he has since given his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, with good results. He is a thorough and systematic farmer, and a business man of known reliability. Success has attended his well- directed efforts, and he is now the possessor of a comfortable home and competence. His political support is always given to the Democratic party and in his church relations he is a Lutheran.

On October 30, 1881, at Sciota, Hamilton town- ship, Mr. Peters married Miss Cecelia Steimetz, by whom he has two children, Martin and Lavine. Mrs. Peters was born in that township April 1, 1866, and there her father, Reuben Steimetz, is still en- gaged in general farming. He was born in North- ampton county, Penn., June 8, 1824, a son of John and Polly (Stoudler) Steimetz, also natives of Northampton county, whence they came to Monroe county in 1838. The parents of John, Philip and Betsy (Oberidge) Steimetz, spent their entire lives engaged in farming in Northampton county, and his wife's father, George Stoudler, was also a resi- dent of that county. In Monroe county John Steimetz carried on farming throughout his active business life. He died there in November, 1881, aged eighty-four years, his wife in April, 1868. Their children were John, George, Philip, Charles, Thomas, Levi, Reuben, Lydia A. (wife of Samuel Haney), Polly (wife of John Rodder), Mary Ann (Mrs. Shaffer), Clara (Mrs. Searles), and Katie J. (Mrs. Wallet).

Reuben Steimetz came to Monroe county in 1842, and also engaged in farming as a life work. He holds membership in the Reformed Church, and casts his ballot with the Democratic party. On De- cember 24, 1856, in Monroe county, he married Miss Sarah J. Murphy, and to them were born three chil- dren, namely: Clarissa, now the wife of Robert Hartman, a farmer of Hamilton township, Monroe county ; Cecelia, wife of our subject; and Lavine, who married Hattie Shafer, and is engaged in farm- ing in Hamilton township. Mrs. Sarah J. Steimetz was born in Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county, in October, 1833, a daughter of John and Margaret (Shook) Murphy, also natives of that township, where her father died in 1881, aged seventy-four years; her mother passed away in 1897. Their children were Hannah M., wife of Samuel Wells; Sarah J., mother of Mrs. Peters ; Daniel, a resident of Polk township, Monroe county; Susan, wife of Lane Phillips; Elizabeth, wife of Jack Anthony; Juliette, wife of John Shaffer; Adam; Catherine, wife of Jacob Hagley; Mary, wife of George Bra- der ; Jane, Mrs. Phillips; Ella, wife of Silas Shoop; Caroline, wife of Samuel Wein; and Louise, wife of Joseph Flight. John Murphy was a son of George and Mary (Arnold) Murphy, farming peo- ple, who always made their home in Monroe county, and his wife's parents, Henry and Margaret (Kon- kle) Shook, were also well known agriculturists of Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

HON. DANIEL MYERS VAN AUKEN. The history of this distinguished resident of Milford is of unusual interest, his brave and successful struggle with adverse circumstances in early life lending greater lustre to the achievements which have placed him in the front rank of the legal pro- fession in Pike county.

Mr. Van Auken was born January 15, 1826, at Montague, N. J., and in the paternal line his an- cestry is traced to. Holland. His boyhood was spent chiefly in Sussex county, N. J., at the home of his great-aunt, Kate Van Auken, and his education was begun in the district school near by. His sum- mers were occupied with farm work, and during the winter season he was often employed in cutting timber and wood, but he managed to secure a good foundation for subsequent study. In this school he had a negro boy for a seat mate. Later he attended school at Montague, Sussex Co., N. J., under Somner C. LaZelle, and at the age of fifteen, on completing his course there, he began teaching. His earnings during two seasons enabled him to enter Deckertown Academy, then conducted by Prof. William Rankin, but at the end of a year his health failed and he was obliged to give up his studies for a time. He still had some funds left, and as he received a good offer in the following spring from the directors of the school at Pleasant Valley, N. J., he resumed his profession, spending two years there. He then returned to Deckertown Academy, remaining a year and a half, when his funds gave out. His ability had attracted the at- tention of Prof. Rankin, who undertook to prepare him for college, and later paid him a small salary for doing some work. In 1850 Mr. Van Auken entered the junior class of Union College, at Sche- nectady; N. Y., where he remained two years, graduating July 9, 1852. Soon afterwards he came to Milford, and began to read law under John B. LaForge, with whom he spent three years, being admitted to the Bar in 1855. In the meantime he had been active in politics, doing effective work on the stump, which won him friends in all parts of the county. He was appointed to fill an unexpired term as district attorney, in the place of William Smith, resigned, and at the next election he was chosen to the office on the Democratic ticket. In 1866 he was elected to Congress by a large ma- jority, and two years later he was re-elected, receiving 7,605 votes more than his Republican op- ponent. In 1874 he was a candidate from Pike county for the office of presiding judge of the Twenty-second Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and after balloting several thousand times the con- ferees nominated him ; but the Democrats of Wayne county insisted upon placing Hon. Frederick M. Crane's name before the people. This action caused a division in the Democratic ranks, and the election of the Republican candidate, Charles P. Waller, by a small majority. Judge Waller's death in 1882, after seven years of his term had expired, brought on another conflict over the Democratic nomina-

tion, Mr. Van Auken receiving the indorsement of the Pike County Democracy, while George S. Purdy was supported by Wayne county, the divided strength of the party again bringing defeat. For nine years past Mr. Van Auken has served as dis- trict attorney, and at present he is the oldest member of the Milford Bar. He resides at the old Ross homestead, which is separated from Milford bor- ough by Elizabeth street and Vandermark creek. He and his family are prominent socially, and he is an active member of the Masonic Fraternity, having joined at Port Jervis, N. Y., where he attained the rank of Master Mason, and later he helped to or- ganize the Milford Lodge.

On November 4, 1857, Mr. Van Auken was married at Milford by Rev. Mr. Todd, a Presby- terian minister, to Miss Marcia Brodhead, by whom he had three children : (I) Grace B., married Henry S. Mott, of Washington, D. C., a govern- ment employe, and they have two children, Theodosia and Charles Van Wyck. (2) Ross B. married Eva Paget, and resides on a farm at Mil- ford. (3) Florida McElrath married Hugh W. Brodhead, a machinist at Milford, and has two children, Daniel and Marcia. Mrs. Marcia Van Auken was born at Milford June 10, 1834, and died September 26, 1885. She was a member of a well- known family, of which an account is given else- where, and the line of her descent was traced to Daniel Brodhead, the first American ancestor, through Richard, Daniel, Garret, John (1), John (2), and John H.

Hon. John H. Brodhead, father of Mrs. Van Auken, was born January 5, 1802, in Milford, and died October 22, 1881. He was a man of wealth and prominence and served some years ago as a member of the State Legislature, while at the time of his death, which occurred at Washington, D. C., he held a position under the general government. He married Miss Louisa Ross, a native of Milford, born March 14, 1802, now deceased. Of their chil- dren the eldest, Louisa (now deceased) married Rev. Dr. H. S. Carpenter, a Presbyterian clergy- man at Brooklyn, N. Y .; Miss Mary G. resides in Milford ; Augustus, a deceased Presbyterian minis- ter, was a missionary in India for twenty years; Marcia (Mrs. Van Auken) was fourth in the order of birth; John F. (deceased), who served in the quartermaster's department during the Civil war, married Louisa Avery, daughter of Hon. Otis Avery, of Honesdale; Ross went to sea and was never heard from afterward; Mark, who was a quartermaster during the Civil war, and now holds a government position at Washington, D. C., mar- ried Lizzie Burley, daughter of David Burley, a prominent resident of Milford, Penn .; Kate married the late Hon. Charles H. Van Wyck, formerly a general in the United States army, a congressman from the Thirty-eighth District of New York and United States senator from Nebraska, having been chosen to the latter position during his residence in that State.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

JOHN N. COLE, who is numbered among the wealthy dairymen and stock dealers of Damascus, Wayne county, is deservedly honored as one of the best examples of the self-made man in this section, of which he is one of the solid, respected citizens. He is a native of Sussex county, N. J., born in December, 1854, a son of Moses and Elizabeth (Holbert) Cole.

Moses Cole was born in 1821 in Sussex county, N. J., where he grew to maturity. He married Elizabeth Holbert, who was born in Pike county, Penn., in 1826, a daughter of Joseph and Sabra Holbert, who were among the first settlers of that county. After his marriage Mr. Cole bought a farm in Sussex county, near Milford, where he resided during the remainder of his life, dying in May, 1891, at the homestead. His widow still sur- vives, at the advanced age of seventy-one years. Eight children blessed their union, of whom we give a brief record: Mary J. was born and reared in Sussex county, and lives with her mother on the homestead; she is unmarried. William H. married Miss Libbie Stanton, of Orange county, N. Y., where they reside, their home being near Middle- town; he is one of the wealthiest men in that vi- cinity, owning a number of farms and engaging extensively in dairying; they have no children. Thomas J. received his education in Deckertown, N. J., and has followed the profession of teacher in the public schools of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Orange county, N. Y., where he now lives ; he mar- ried Miss Lydia Hazen, of Pike county, Penn., and has two children, Elmer and Charles. Martha E. is the wife of Edward Bevin, of Sussex county, N. J., and has two children, Francis and Ella. Ophelia is unmarried, and makes her home with her sister, Mrs. Beamer, in Orange county, N. Y. Ella mar- ried Edward Beamer, formerly of Sussex county, now of Orange county, N. Y., where he carries on farming; they have three children, Leslie, Hattie and Ella. Grant married Miss Mary Hazen, of Pike county, Penn., and they live on the paternal home- stead in Sussex county; they have one daughter, Myrtle. John N. is the subject proper of this bio- graphical sketch.

John N. Cole grew to manhood on the home farm in New Jersey, and was educated in the public schools of his native county. When a young man he settled in Wayne county, Penn., and here, in June, 1882, he married Miss Emma E. Holbert, of Equinunk, who was born in February, 1854, in Pike county. Her parents, William and Emma Holbert, were old and prominent residents of Pike county, her father being one of the most extensive of the early lumbermen of Pike and Wayne counties. After his marriage Mr. Cole resided in Equinunk for about two years, in 1884 removing to Damascus, where he made a purchase of 200 acres of wild land near the gristmill of Joel Hill. He set him- self energetically to work to put the land in farming condition, and cleared over 150 acres, which is now under a good state of cultivation, and on which in

1886 he erected a large barn, with wagonshed and other outbuildings; in 1890 he erected a large two- story dwelling, which is equipped with all modern improvements and conveniences. Mr. Cole is now the owner of one of the most highly cultivated and improved places of Damascus township, where in addition to general farming he has also engaged in stock raising and dairying, doing an extensive and profitable business in these branches. Our subject commenced life on his own account as a laborer in Mr. Holbert's tannery, obtained a start by industry and economy, and has risen steadily in the ranks of successful farmers till he now stands foremost among the well-to-do citizens of Damas- cus township as the owner of one of the finest dairy and stock farms in its boundaries. His buildings are substantial and well kept up, his land is sys- tematically cultivated, and everything in his surroundings gives evidence of good care and pre- sents a neat and tasteful appearance.

Mr. and Mrs. Cole have three daughters: Effa M., born in June, 1883, in Equinunk; Emma E., born in Damascus in December, 1885, and Nora H., born in Damascus in February, 1889. The eldest daughter received her preliminary training in the home schools, and is at the present time at- tending the high school in Hawley. Our subject and his wife are, in religious connection, members of the M. E. Church in Damascus. He is an active and influential worker in the local ranks of the Republican party, to which he has always given his political support. Socially he is a member of the Duck Harbor Farmers' Alliance, No. 650.

O. T. CHAMBERS, the proprietor of a well- appointed drug store in Honesdale, Wayne county, was born June 16, 1851, in Easton, this State, and is a son of Joseph and Lucy A. (Olmstead) Cham- bers. The Chambers family is probably of Scottish origin.

Joseph Chambers was born in 1812, in Red- bank, N. J., whence he removed with his parents to New York City in childhood. He was reared to manhood there, and when old enough began an ap- prenticeship to the merchant-tailor business, which he learned thoroughly, eventually, in about 1820, starting in that line on his own responsibility. His establishment was in Broadway and he continued in business in New York until about 1830, after which he went to West Point, where he had a con- tract to furnish uniforms for the cadets. Subsequently he removed to Easton, Penn., in which place he followed merchant tailoring up to his re- moval to Honesdale, in 1864. It was not long before he was recognized here as the leading mer- chant tailor of the place, and he commanded the best patronage as long as he remained in the busi- ness. He died in 1884, leaving a widow and two sons, O. T. and Edward. The last named was a druggist by occupation, and up to the time of his decease, which occurred when he was thirty-seven years old, was in partnership with his brother. He

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married a Miss Cooper, and they had two children, Joseph B. and Bessie. Mr. Chambers was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Chambers was born in Montrose, Penn., and they were mar- ried in Easton.

O. T. Chambers was brought up in Easton, Penn., and Honesdale, and attended the public schools of both places, receiving the principal part of his training, however, in the Honesdale schools. He learned the printer's trade in the office of The Citizen, in Honesdale, but in 1873 he left the print- ing business for that of druggist, which he has since followed. As above stated, he and his brother carried on the drug store in partnership until the latter's death, since when our subject has continued the business alone, and he has one of the best equipped establishments in the town. Mr. Cham- bers is inclined to be quiet and retiring in his ways, but he is nevertheless well known and liked by his fellow citizens, and though not as active perhaps as some in public matters, he has the interest of his town at heart, and is regarded as one of her hon- ored, thrifty business men.

Mr. Chambers married Miss Hattie Delezenne, who was born in Honesdale, December 8, 1853, and they have had one daughter, Katie. Mr. Chambers, like his father before him, gives his political allegi- ance to the Republican party.

RICHARD GREGORY well exemplifies in his career the motto that "merit always commands its reward," for he has had to contend with more than ordinary misfortunes, but he has steadily per- severed in his purpose to secure a home and competence for himself and family, and success has at length crowned his efforts, placing him among the prosperous farmers of Berlin township, Wayne county.

Mr. Gregory was born January 2, 1824, in the parish of Southill, Cornwall, England, a son of Richard and Susanna ( Williams) Gregory. In 1849 he and his brother William came to America, and commenced work on a farm for Thomas Stephens, in Texas township, Wayne county, Penn., where they earned the money with which to bring their parents to the New World. The father died in that township in 1854, and the mother afterward re- married and removed to Wisconsin, where her death occurred in 1887. The family was as follows : (I) Elizabeth, like the remainder of the family, was born in Cornwall, England, and in that country married George Warring. For some years they and their children have lived in Wisconsin. (2) Thomas W. was drowned in England when a young man. (3) Richard is next in the order of birth. (4) Mary wedded William Milton, and on coming to America located in Montreal, Canada, where they have reared their family and still reside. (5) Wil- liam came with his parents to Wayne county when a young man, and here married Maria Snell, who is of English descent. He is now engaged in farm- ing in Dyberry township, Wayne county. (6) Ann

is now Mrs. Samuel Varcoe, of Canada, and has a large family. (7) Sarah was married in Wayne county to William Searls, also a native of England, and they make their home in Carbondale, Penn. Their children are Mary A., Mrs. Cole, of Carbon- dale; Jane, a teacher in a school for deaf mutes at Pittsburg, Penn .; Tirzah; William; Rosy, now Mrs. Commodore Sands, of Forest City, Penn .; and Sadie, who is also married. (8) John married Christina Bynds, of Texas, Wayne county, by whom he has three children, Alice, Carrie and -, and they reside in Dyberry.

Richard Gregory was married in 1851 to Miss Grace Doney, who was born in 1829, in Cornwall, England. Her parents, Samuel and Grace Doney, were also natives of Cornwall, and on coming to this country located near Beach Lake, but later re- moved to Bethany, Wayne county, where both died. In October, 1852, Mr. Gregory met with a very sad misfortune. While he was engaged in blasting rock the charge of powder exploded, destroying the sight of both his eyes. Though left entirely blind, with a wife and one child depending upon him for support, he did not give up, but with characteristic energy has steadily overcome all obstacles in his path to success, and is now able to perform all kinds of farm work, such as binding grain, forking hay, etc., and when seen by the writer of this sketch was cutting corn fodder, feeding the machine himself.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 385

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