Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 386

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 386
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 386
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 386
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 386

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Mr. Gregory was ably assisted in his work by his worthy wife, and by thrift and good manage- ment they accumulated a comfortable property. Prior to losing his sight he had purchased a small farm in Texas township, on which he erected a good house in 1854, and built a barn, and he made that place his home until 1871, when he traded it for his present property, known as the Schoonover farm, in Berlin township, near the Pike county line, two miles from Beach Lake. It is now ably man- aged by his son, Amos D. His faithful wife, who shared all the hardships of his early life so uncom- plainingly, was called to the world beyond January, 1891, mourned by many friends, as well as her im- mediate family.

Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gregory, Thomas W. and William (twins) were the eldest. The former died in childhood. (3) Lucy A., born in Texas township in May, 1853, is now the wife of Ernest Miller, a farmer of Berlin township, and of the fourteen children born to them those still living are Henry, Minnie, Lewis, Bower, Augusta, Retta, Charles, Dennie and Bessie. Minnie is now the wife of John Whitmore, of Berlin township, and has one daughter. (4) George F., born in Texas township in July, 1854, married Lizzie Van- gorder, of Wayne county, and they reside on his farm in Berlin township. Their children are Ed- ward, Hattie, Samuel, Sadie, Eva, Amos, William, Nora and Bessie. (5) James H., born in Texas township in 1857, married Florence McIntyre, of Wayne county, and resides on his farm near Beach Lake. They have five daughters, Neal, Della, Myr-

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tle, Stella and Josephine. (6) John A., born in Texas township, married Maggie Barnes, who was born near Beach Lake, and they live on his farm in Berlin township. They have two children living, Johnnie and Grace; several died in childhood, Os- car, Rush, Joseph, Friend and Welland. (7) Maria Augusta, born in Texas township in 1865, is the wife of John Troop, a farmer of Berlin town- ship, and the children born to them were William R., Annie C., Retta G., Rosie J., Lewis R. and Leonard B., all living; and Clara and Alice, who died in childhood. (8) Charles E. died at the age of twenty-five years. (9) Amos D., born in Texas township, received a public-school education, and has always remained on the home farm, which he is now successfully operating. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, Council No. 980. In August, 1890, he married Miss Clara Miller, who was born in Wayne county, in June, 1871, and was reared and educated in Berlin township. They have five children, Olive J., Lydia A. and Lillie G. (twins), Charles E. and Minnie M. (10) Enos W., born in Texas township, mar- ried Azuba Reamer, of Berlin township, and they make their home in Honesdale, where he is engaged as a glass-cutter. Their children are Clarence and Fred. (II) Samuel R., born in Berlin township in 1872, resides at home with his father; he owns real estate in the town of Berlin.

Politically Mr. Gregory is identified with the Democratic party, and religiously he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife was also a faithful member. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and his career has com- manded the respect and admiration of all.

RAY M. BAKER is the senior member of the firm of Baker & Harrington, who own the leading and popular livery, sale and feed stables at Mon- trose, Susquehanna county. They keep on hand a fine line of carriages, new and stylish good horses and careful drivers, and there are no more popular liverymen in this part of the State, being hail fel- lows well met, who make friends easily and have the happy faculty of being able to retain them.

Mr. Baker was born February 28, 1859, in Lycoming county, Penn., a son of George W. Baker. His mother died when he was quite small, leaving five children, of whom he was fourth in the order of birth. He received his literary educa- tion in the public schools, and by close observation and practical experience obtained a thorough knowl- edge of business methods which has been of great assistance to him in later years. He lived with his uncle, Charles Baker, for several years and at the same time worked in a planingmill for a time. For some years he was also a popular clerk in the employ of S. B. McCain of Rush, Susquehanna county, and on leaving his service came to Mon- trose and purchased the livery business of John R. Raynsford, who enjoyed an excellent trade, to which our subject has succeeded.

In 1891, Mr. Baker was united in marriage with Miss Maggie A. McGovern, a daughter of Peter McGovern. She was reared and educated in Susquehanna county, and belongs to one of its most highly-respected families. Socially Mr. Baker is quite prominent, is a member of Lodge No. 471, I. O. O. F. at Montrose, and politically he is iden- tified with the Republican party. Honorable in business he commands the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact and is popular with the traveling public.

CHARLES O. REILEY, who has made his home in Pike county since 1862, is one of the most prominent wealthy residents of the agricultural class in Delaware township, where he owns a farm of large proportions worthy in every way to be classed with the best in the county.

Pennsylvania numbers many of the sons of Erin among her most substantial and respected citi- zens, men who, coming to this country in their early manhood, have taken advantage of the opportuni- ties here offered to willing workers everywhere, and by years of earnest toil reached a degree of pros- perity which would have been impossible for them to attain in their mother country, at the same time

living lives of eminent usefulness to their fellow men in general; for this fact is never disputed, that the welfare of a community depends on the spirit of ambition and progress displayed by its individual members. Of this class Mr. Reiley deserves to be ranked among the foremost, for he is a typical pros- perous, self-made man, in the best sense of that much-abused term-energetic, intelligent and pro- gressive in every respect, attending thoroughly to the details of his own affairs, and also taking a public-spirited interest in public matters, especially in the locality with whose advancement he has been identified for so many years.

Mr. Reiley was born April 2, 1827, in County Louth, Ireland, son of Owen O. and Jane ( Russell) Reiley, and grandson of Charles and Mary ( But- terly) Reiley. The parents and grandparents passed their entire lives in Ireland, and were farmers by occupation, our subject's father also engaging ex- tensively in cattle speculating, disposing of his stock in the English markets. Charles O. is one of eight children, of whom we give a brief record : Mary became the wife of Michael Higgins; Jane married James Moore; Ann was never heard of after she came to America; Margaret came to America and married a Mr. Agen; Charles O. is next in the order of birth; Owen married and died in New York City; John is supposed to have been killed while serving in the Confederate army ; Thomas is married and resides in New York City, where he is engaged in the fruit business. The mother of this family died in 1840, the father in 1860, at the age of seventy-two years.

Charles O. Reiley was reared and educated in the country of his birth, and came to the United States in 1849, landing at New York City. The day

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after his arrival he proceeded to Stratford, Conn., where he remained until 1852, employed as gar- dener and farmer, and returning thence to New York City he worked on ships as foreman for the New York & Philadelphia line, with which he con- tinued until his removal to Pike county, Penn., in 1862. Here he purchased the farm which he has ever since owned and occupied ; but not long after his location here he was drafted into the Union army at Milford, on October 1, 1862, becoming a member of the Eighteenth Regular Pennsylvania Cavalry, with which he served faithfully during the remainder of the Civil war, engaged on detail duty. He was wounded several times, and has scars on his body which he will carry to his grave. At the battle of the Wilderness he was wounded twice in his left leg; he was shot four times in the lift ribs, and a horse, stepping on his left foot, smashed the toes; in front of Richmond he was struck in the face by an exploding shell, and some of the shot still remain in his face. With all this he was never in hospital, maintaining always that he would rather die than go. He was honorably discharged June 2, 1865, at Philadelphia, and returning home resumed farming as soon as possible, continuing to follow that occupation with signal. success to the present day.

As above stated, Mr. Reiley has a fine farm, beautifully laid out and improved in a manner de- cidedly up-to-date, and all this is the result of in- defatigable labor on his part, for he is known as a tireless worker and good manager, especially in everything pertaining to agricultural affairs. How- ever, he has found time for pleasure even in his busy life, and he has done a great deal of hunting and trapping in his day, delighting in sport. As might be expected of one of his wide experience, he is a good conversationalist and entertainer, with a memory keen for the best in all he has seen or heard. He has been quite active in township affairs, and has served ably as assistant assessor, roadmas- ter and auditor. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R. post at Milford, and, in religious connec- tion, unites with the Roman Catholic Church. His political sympathies are with the Democratic party.

On April 23, 1854, Mr. Reiley was united in marriage, in New York City, with Miss Margaret Shea, who was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, daughter of James and Mary (Farrell) Shea, who passed their lives in Ireland. Five children blessed this union, namely: Mary J. and Margaret A. (twins), the former of whom died October 1, 1860, the latter in December, 1896 (Margaret married John Callahan) ; Fanny, wife of John Cunningham, a prominent insurance agent of Dobb's Ferry, N. Y .; Kate, who married Frank Herman, proprietor of a restaurant in Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; and Charles, a miner, of Victor, Colo.

Mrs. Margaret Reiley died December 10, 1871, at the age of forty years, on the farm in Delaware township, and was laid to rest in the Delaware cem- etery. On May 7, 1873, Mr. Reiley married, for

his second wife, Miss Margaret Finnegan, the cere- mony taking place in New York City. No chil- dren have been born to this marriage. Mrs. Reiley is, like her husband, a native of County Louth, Ire- land, and is one of the family of nine children born to Owen and Catherine (Sullivan) Finnegan ; viz .: Gilbert, who died young; Margaret, Mrs. Reiley ; Mary, who died young; Bridget, Mrs. John Mc- Guire; Kate, Mrs. James Bellier; William, who married Ann Caffrey; Owen, who married Mary Cooley ; Patrick, who died young ; and Barnett, who married Rose A. Devine. Of these, William, Bar- nett, Mary and Margaret came to the United States, the two daughters making the journey together. Mr. and Mrs. Finnegan passed their entire lives in Ireland, where he died in March, 1873, at the ad- vanced age of seventy-five years, she in 1855, at the age of fifty years. He was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation.

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PATRICK McGONIGLE was for many years one of the most honored and highly respected citi- zens of Herrick township, Susquehanna county, Penn. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, March 14, 1818, but when only two years old was brought to America by his parents, Daniel and Bridget (Dewey) McGonigle, who were also natives of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish extraction. They located in Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y., where the mother died. In 1837, the father came to Herrick Center, Penn., where he died at the age of forty-five years. He was a man of extraordinary strength and activity, having been known to pick up four bushels of salt with his teeth, and to raise a barrel of whiskey above his head. In the family were only two children, of whom the daughter died on the ocean, while they were coming to the New World.

Patrick McGonigle was reared upon a farm in Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y., and during his youth worked as a farm hand until eighteen years of age. He had to care for twelve cows and four hundred sheep, besides gahering wood for two fires, and for this he received $4 per month. For a time he also worked in a carding and cloth factory in Goshen for a Mr. Phillips, and served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade at that place. At the age of of eighteen he removed to Mt. Pleasant, Wayne Co., Penn., where he followed his trade for some time. For many years he devoted his energies to that occupation, during which time he spent one year in Savannah, Ga. He was in partnership with John Giltfeller at Great Bend, Penn., for two years, and on coming to Herrick Center in 1842, erected a blacksmith shop, a house and barn, which are still owned by his heirs. During the last five years of his life he lived retired on account of ill health. His death occurred July 5, 1889, and his remains were interred in a private cemetery upon his farm. He was an active and prominent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Herrick Center, was class leader and superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty-two years, and was in-

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age of 1 in ost · is 71, en- in ith he

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

strumental in building the first Methodist Church in his part of the county. He gave liberally to the support of all worthy enterprises for the public good, and in his death the community realized that it had lost one of its most valued and useful citi- zens. Truly such a life is worth having been lived, and deserves permanent record on the pages of the country's history, that others, seeing the good works, may follow in the footsteps.

On December 31, 1839, in Herrick Center, Mr. McGonigle was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Munford, who still survives him and makes her home with her children. She was born in Herrick Center March 28, 1821, a daughter of Lillibridge and Deborah (Sherwood) Munford, the former a native of Tolland county, Conn., the latter of Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne county, Penn. Both died in Herrick township, Susquehanna coun- ty, the father in September, 1862, aged seventy- eight years, the mother in 1864, aged sixty-five years, and their remains were interred in the old Munford burying ground in Mt. Pleasant town- ship, Wayne county. Mrs. McGonigle is the oldest of their children, the others being Thomas, who died in infancy; Malinda, a resident of Sturgis, S. Dak .; Merritt, who died young; and George, a lumber merchant of Sturgis, S. Dak. Mrs. Mc- Gonigle's paternal grandparents were Jirah and Deborah (Lillibridge) Munford, natives of Massa- chusetts and pioneers of Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne Co., Penn. The grandfather owned and operated farms, saw and grist mills, tanneries, etc., and was a man of prominence in his community. The maternal grandparents, Solomon and Polly (Horton) Sherwood, were natives of Orange coun- ty, N. Y., and Wayne county, Penn., respectively, and were farming people.

Mr. and Mrs. McGonigle became the parents of the following children: Cecelia married Albert Allerton, by whom she had a child, Albert, who died in infancy, and she now lives at the old home- stead with her mother; Mattie is the wife of D. B. Towner, of Chicago, Ill., a professor of vocal music, who was with Rev. D. L. Moody, the evangelist; Etta died at the age of six years; George L. mar- ried Grace E. Whipple and lives on the old home- stead; Ida is the wife of Henry C. Ruby, a mer- chant of Ponca, Okla., and they have two children -- Charles and Towner. The family is one of con- siderable prominence in the community where its representatives make their home.

DAVID McKEAN, one of the most success- ful and prosperous business men of Shohola town- ship, Pike county, comes of a family of Scotch- Irish origin, which was founded in this country by his grandfather, James McKean, who was born .in London, England, June 8, 1738, and died in this country, April 17, 1808, while his wife, Jemima McKean, was born September 8, 1755, and died May 18, 1816.

Jesse McKean, our subject's father, was born

in Warwick, Orange Co., N. Y., December 10, 1781, and died November 7, 1861. During his boy- hood he removed with his parents from his native State to Pike county, Penn., locating where Milford now stands. There they built a log cabin and lived in true pioneer style. During a January thaw the stream on which their log house stood overflowed its banks, and carried away their home, the family being forced to flee to the hills for safety. Farming was but little followed in those early days and the father earned a living by making shingles; he was also a noted hunter. When our subject was seven years old the father sold his land at that place and purchased about 100 acres in Shohola township, upon which the family moved. With the assistance of his sons he cleared the land and engaged in farm- ing, and upon that place both he and his wife spent their remaining days. He was a thoughtful reader, an entertaining talker, and took great interest in political and religious subjects. He always sup- ported the Democratic party by his ballot, and both he and his wife were earnest and faithful members of the Baptist Church.

On May 16, 1808, Jesse McKean married Miss Azabeth Travis, who was born August 19, 1794, and died September 27, 1868. Her parents, Robert and Roumania (Sherid) Travis, were both natives of England, and three of her paternal uncles served for seven years in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war, as Washington's Life Guards. Jesse and Azabeth McKean became the parents of seventeen children, namely: (1) Lucretia, born July 23, 1810, died October 21, 1826. (2) George W., born February 14, 1812, died February 19, 1880. (3) Amanda, born March 25, 1813, married S. L. Hasen, of Blooming Grove township, Pike county, and died June 2, 1885. (4) Lucinda, born December 25, 1814, married Howard Hulse, and they were residents of southeastern Iowa, where she died March 3, 1866. (5) Lexeuction, born Feb- ruary 2, 1816, married and settled in Paupack town- ship, Wayne county, and his descendants now live in that and Susquehanna counties. He died April 5, 1886. (6) Thomas, born April 14, 1817, never married and located in Easton, Penn., where he carried on a general banking business. He died March 17, 1894. (7) Hiram, born June 11, 1818, was married in Canada and lived for many years in Sheboygan, Wis., where he died March 9, 1863. (8) Gibson, born August 5, 1822, died April 25, 1894. (9) Ruamy, born August 14, 1825, married Hiram Reed and lived in Plymouth, Penn., where she died in 1897. (10) David, our subject, is the next in order of birth. (II) Charlotte, born June I, 1829, is now the widow of Louis Croen, of Steu- ben county, N. Y. (12) Hugh, born March 8, 1831, is married and lives near Sacramento, Cal. (13) Batemon, twin brother of Hugh, married Lydia Davis, now deceased. (14) Augusta, born June 2, 1832, is the widow of Henry Smith, who was killed in the battle of Gettysburg during the Civil war. (15) Azabeth, born June 2, 1834,

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is the wife of Silas Rowley. (16) Jesse, born Feb- ruary 7, 1836, was drowned March 2, 1838. (17) Josiah, born May 3, 1839, married Jane Decker and lived at Long Eddy, Sullivan Co., N. Y., where she died. December 7, 1897.

David McKean was born in Dingman town- ship, Pike county, January 12, 1827, and when a boy came with his parents to Shohola township, where he grew to manhood, assisting in the ardu- ous task of clearing and developing the home farm. After his marriage he took charge of the Taylor property at Greeley, Pike county, including a farm, grist and saw mill, which he operated for thirteen years. At the end of that time, in 1874, he bought a farm of eighty-four acres in Shohola township, to which he has since added a 102-acre tract adjoining, a part of which is underlaid with a fine grade of blue stone, silver and lead. Besides this property he has seventy-five acres of very valuable timber land in Blooming Grove township, Pike county, and is successfully engaged in general farming, lumbering and quarrying. He has recently en- larged his home with the expectation of taking summer boarders. In all his undertakings he has met with marked success, and is recognized as one of the most reliable, substantial and prominent busi- ness men of his community, as well as one of its leading and influential citizens. In politics he is a Democrat, and he has been called upon to serve in the offices of supervisor, school director and over- seer of the poor. Religiously both he and his wife are earnest members of the Baptist Church.

On March 25, 1857, in Middletown, N. Y., Mr. McKean was married to Miss Ann Jane Tra- vis, a daughter of Jesse and Eliza (Cleaves) Travis. Her father was a native of Long Island and a ship carpenter by trade. He died December 31, 1894, when he was aged eighty-six years and seven months. The mother, who was born in Orange County, N. Y., November 14, 1814, died March 29, 1899. Their children were as follows: Wil- liam, born April 9, 1834, married Catharine Feely on April 9, 1859, and lived in Steuben county, N. Y., until his death June 5, 1888. Ann Jane, born in Pike county, January 19, 1836, is the wife of our subject; Ira M., born August 14, 1842, is a farmer of that county; Emeline, born June 22, 1845, is the wife of Silas Witter, of Steuben county, N. Y .; Phœbe, born August 5, 1847, is deceased; David C., born November 24, 1849, lives in Steuben county, N. Y .; John B., born September 30, 1854, married Ida Smith and is a farmer of Blooming Grove township, Pike county; Mehitable B., de- ceased, born July 23, 1852, made her home in New York; Mary Ellen, born January II, 1857, is the deceased wife of Norman Cook; and Andrew E., born June 24, 1860, died in infancy.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mckean: Lafayette, born November 19, 1857 died May 5, 1862. Alice, born June 1, 1860, died May 10, 1862. David, born May 21, 1863, married Mary Emma Wainright, by whom he has three

children, Edgar W., Benton J. and Murlin, and they live in Wantage township, Sussex Co., N. J., where he is engaged in agricultural pursuits. Jesse, born March 9, 1866, married Lena M. Wallack, by whom he has three children, Jennie May, Ralph and Ernest, and they live at Peckville, Penn. War- ren, born February 15, 1869, lives at home and is engaged in farming and quarrying. In political sentiment he is a Democrat.

ROBERT M. BORNE is a farmer of Liberty township, Susquehanna county, who through his own industry and perseverance has worked his way upward from a humble position in life to one of affluence.

Mr. Borne was born in Devonshire, England, a son of Robert and Mary Borne, also natives of Devonshire.

As Robert M. Borne was quite young when his parents died, he was reared by relatives, making his home on a farm with an uncle until thirteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to another uncle, to learn the machinist's and carpenter's trades, remaining with him until twenty. At the age of fourteen he received three months' school- ing, paid for by himself with pennies saved from gifts of friends. For some time he followed the carpenter's trade. In 1867 he went to London, where he worked at his trade for three months, and then went to Staffordshire, where through the in- fluence of an uncle, he was placed on the police force, with which he was connected until his emi- gration to America. In 1869 he took passage on a sailing vessel bound for New York, and was six weeks making the voyage, during which time they encountered a terrible storm, a number of sailors being washed overboard and our subject lashed to the rigging to save his life. He finally, in April of that year, arrived safely in New York, and the same month went to Owego, where he worked for a short time, after which he drifted to Ithaca, N. Y., where he was employed at his trade on one of the universities in that city. While a member of the police force in Staffordshire, England, he was pro- moted to the rank of sergeant, and at the same time attended night school.

On leaving Ithaca, N. Y., Mr. Borne com- menced working for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, at Pittston, Penn., where he remained three years. While there he became acquainted with Miss Isabella Low, a daughter of John J. and Jane A. Low, of New Jersey, and in 1872 they were united in marriage.

Our subject and his wife have three children, namely: (I) Robert O., born in Pittston, January 6, 1873, was educated in the district schools, and in May, 1897, married Ada Blowers, of Franklin Forks, a daughter of Ralph and Nettie Blowers, one of the old and well-to-do families of that place. They now have one son. (2) Cora E., born in Auburn, Penn., October 15, 1874, received a dis- trict school education, and is now the wife of E.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 386

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