Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 400

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 400
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 400
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 400
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 400

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).

Our subject's youth was chiefly spent in North- ampton county, where he learned the cooper's trade, a business which he followed for twenty years. In 1871 he came to Monroe county and found employ-

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ment at his trade at Mountain Home, where he and his family resided for nine years. In 1876 he pur- chased the Henry Sipe farm in Paradise township where he has made many improvements. Later he and his son David purchased five acres near the homestead where they have cleared up land and made general improvements. Politically Mr. Heller is a Democrat, and while he is not inclined to official life he has never shirked the duties of citizenship, hav- ing served as tax collector and judge of election in Paradise township. He has always been interested in religious work, and he and his wife are leading members of the German Reformed Church in their locality.

In 1855 Mr. Heller was married to Miss Caro- line Metz, who was born in 1831, the daughter of David and Anna Metz, of Northampton county, Penn., and a member of a prominent family of that section. Until 1871 they resided in Plainfield town- ship, Northampton county, and their five children were born there, and were as follows: (1) Edna died when twelve years of age. (2) Miss Annie, who is at home, was educated in the public schools. Her earnest Christian character has won her a large circle of friends. (3) Ellen died when nine years of age. (4) Emma is now the wife of W. A. J. Beaty, of Philadelphia, and they now reside in Bryn Mawr, Montgomery county, Penn., where he owns a home. (5) DAVID N. HELLER, the only son, was born in 1864, and when eight years of age came to Monroe county with his parents. He received a good public-school education and he remained with his parents on the farm taking the management of the business. He has been a dutiful son and is a young man of good moral habits, being much respected and honored in the community.

I. G. WILLIAMS, a reliable and intelligent agriculturist of Sterling township, Wayne county, was born in that township, July 27, 1866, and is a son of A. B. Williams, whose sketch appears on an- other page of this volume. He attended the common schools near his boyhood home until fourteen years of age, and on attaining his majority embarked in the butchering business at Honesdale, Wayne county. Later he was interested in the same business in Lack- awanna county, Penn., and was then employed in a sawmill in Sterling township, Wayne county, for two years. Purchasing a portable sawmill he operated the same for about three years, and on selling it bought his present farm consisting of ninety-three acres, nearly all of which is cleared. Upon the place is a fine residence, commodious barns and other im- provements which make it one of the best farms of its size in the locality. In connection with general farming, Mr. Williams is also interested in dairying and sheep raising, having a flock of fifty-four sheep, and upon his farm are about 200 maple trees, from which he makes several hundred pounds of sugar each year.

On January 1, 1895, in Columbia, N. J., Mr. Williams was married by Rev. W. C. Trimbrell, a

Methodist Episcopal minister, to Miss Edna Nau- man, a native of Monroe county, Penn., and a daugh- ter of George and Wilhelmina ( Koerner ) Nauman, also natives of Monroe county, the former born in Stroudsburg, and the latter of German ancestry. In the Nauman family were the following children : Elizabeth, wife of Joseph B. Williams, of Mt. Po- cono, Monroe county ; Theodore N., a conductor on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, liv- ing at Scranton, Penn .; William, who died at the age of thirty-four years; James, a wheelwright and blacksmith, of Paradise, Monroe county ; Lydia A., wife of William Welchler, of Clark's Summit, Lack- awanna Co., Penn .; Samuel, a carpenter living near Stroudsburg, Monroe county ; Charles, of Daleville, Lackawanna county ; Josiah D., a clerk in the coal office of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Rail- road Co., at Scranton; and Edna, who was born March 20, 1869, and is now the wife of our sub- ject ; Arminda, wife of Allen Nauman, of Mt. Po- cono, Monroe county ; and Ira D., who is still with his parents.

In his political affiliations Mr. Williams has always been a stanch Republican, and he has most acceptably filled the offices of constable for three years, and collector for six years. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Richley Protective Association; and religiously is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a very industrious, wide-awake and progressive man, of known reliability, who has the good will of his neighbors and the friendship of all who know him.

MICHAEL HERMAN, the well-known manu- facturer of carriages and wagons, is one of the leading business men of Honesdale, and an account of his career should find a prominent place in a volume which is designed to preserve for future generations an accurate view of the men who are developing and sustaining the chief activities of this section to-day.

Mr. Herman was born February 12, 1839, in Honesdale, but is descended in both paternal and maternal lines from German ancestry. His father, Frederick Herman, who was born in Bavaria in 1793, was a soldier in the Bavarian army in 1813 during the campaign against Napoleon and was wounded at the battle of Leipsic, one limb being so injured that he was discharged from further service. Later he married Margaret Feldem, a native of the same province, born in 1802, and in 1837 they came to the United States, landing in New York City. From that point they made their way by canal to Hones- dale, and for some years the father was employed by the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. In 1843 he purchased a tract of forest land in Wayne county, in the northeastern part of South Canaan township, where he cleared a farm and built a log-house for a residence. He was a man of high character and he and his worthy wife were devout members of the Lutheran Church, to which he gave liberally of

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his time and means. His death occurred in 1852, his wife surviving him with four children until Feb- ruary 8, 1886. Of the children, (1) Margaret, who was born Bavaria, married Jacob Lauer, of New York City, where she died in 1886. She had five children-Annie (now the wife of August Kremp, of Middle Village, N. Y.), Lizzie, Amelia, Jacob and August. (2) Barbara, who was also born in Bavaria, married Louis Krietner, a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, who died some years ago at Honesdale, where she now resides. She has the following children-Lewis, Jacob, Fred- erick, William, Theodore, and Annie. (3) Mary, born in 1830, in Bavaria, married Frederick Lohman, a wealthy real estate dealer at Honesdale, who died in 1890. They had six children-Maggie married Henry Sweger, of Honesdale, and both died some years ago leaving two children; Lizzie, Dora, Katie, Frederick, and Mary are living. (4) Michael is our subject.

Michael Herman was educated in Wayne coun- ty, in the schools of South Canaan and Honesdale, and in 1853 he and his mother removed from the latter city to New York, where he was employed as a baker for one year. In 1854 he left his mother in New York and returned to Honesdale to learn the blacksmith's trade with Corry & Estabrook, with whom he served an apprenticeship of four years and ten months. On completing his term he was em- ployed by the same firm as a journeyman, and in 1861 he entered the employ of Jacob C. Vetter of East Honesdale. In 1865 he engaged in business on his own account in partnership with George Councilman, a brother-in-law, and they conducted a shop successfully until 1868 when Mr. Herman sold his interest. In 1876 our subject purchased the property known as the Jacob C. Vetter place, located on the east side of the Lackawaxen river at Honesdale, where he has since been engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages of all kinds. He is thoroughly acquainted with every branch of the trade and constructs any vehicle from the "rough to the finish," while he also deals extensively in wagons and carriages of other makes. From eight to ten men are constantly employed in his plant and his trade is steadily on the increase, his name be- ing widely known as a guarantee that the vehicles sent out from his shop are as good as skill can make them. In 1895 his entire plant burned down with a large amount of lumber, machinery and stock, the latter including thirty-one new wagons and fifteen new sleighs. The buildings, paint shop and all, were totally destroyed, causing a loss of $12,000, but in the same year he re-built on a larger scale, introducing various improvements in the plant. He also erected in the same year a large three-story dwelling house with all modern improvements, and at present he uses the lower story or basement, as a depository and office. Mr. Herman is a man of genial nature and is much esteemed by his fellow- townsmen, who have frequently chosen him tq office. He has served as school director eleven

years ; overseer of the poor for six years, and town- ship assessor for three years, having been elected to the latter post in 1891. He was formerly a member of the Democratic party but he has always reserved the right of independent judgment and of late has affiliated with the Republican party. In religious faith he is a Lutheran and he and his family are prominent workers in the Church at Honesdale. In 1865 he was drafted as a soldier but by paying commutation he secured exemption from service.

In 1863 Mr. Herman married Miss Selma Reichbackter, of Honesdale, who was born in Sax- ony, Germany. They have had nine children, of whom seven are living, making a family that would do honor to any parents. The children were: (1) Frederick, born in 1864, was educated at Honesdale and is now engaged in his father's shops as a painter. He is not married and resides at home. (2) Edward, born in 1866, learned the blacksmith's trade with his father and is now engaged in business with him. (3) George died in childhood. (4) Annie, born in 1872, was educated in Honesdale, completing a high school course, and resides with her parents. (5) William, born in 1874, is young man of excellent ability in mercantile lines and for five years past has been in the employ of Warren Schenk as a clerk in his general store. (6) Charles, born in 1877, is now working as a blacksmith for his father, with whom he learned the trade. (7) Amelia, born in 1879, is attending school at Honesdale. (8) John died at the age of two years. (9) Horace, born in 1888, is studying in the Honesdale schools. Mr. Herman belongs to the Legion of Honor, an in- surance order.

MARTIN LEICHT is one of the prominent young business men of Matamoras, Pike county, and is now successfully managing a hotel at that place.

Mr. Leicht was born there March 15, 1877, a son of Charles and Christiana ( Huffman) Leicht. His maternal grandfather was George E. Huffman, a native of Germany, where he learned the mason's trade. At an early day he came to the United States and settled in Westfall township, Pike Co., Penn., where he soon became widely and favorably known. He was a stanch Democrat in political sentiment, and was elected to nearly all the township offices, in- cluding that of justice of the peace, which he most acceptably filled. In his family were eight chil- dren, namely: Annie, wife of Henry Nehemyer, of Westfall township, Pike county; John, who died at the age of twenty-seven years; Christiana, mother of our subject ; Minnie, wife of David Gantz, a tailo! in Stroudsburg, Penn .; George, deceased; Mary, wife of George Gaylord, of Germantown, N. Y., Tilly, wife of William Van Dine, of East Orange, N. Y .; and Carrie, wife of John Lane, of Port Jer- vis, New York.

Charles Leicht, our subject's father, was also a native of Germany, born in Saxony, whence when a boy of ten years he came to America and secured em- ployment in New York City, where he learned the ci-

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gar maker's trade. There he was married, May 12, 1876, to Miss Christiana Huffman, a native of West- fall township, Pike county, and to them were born two children : Martin, our subject ; and Minnie, who died at the age of two years. The father passed away in 1881, and the mother afterward married Frank Miller, whose death occurred in October, 1896. She now makes her home with our subject.

Martin Leicht was reared in Matamoras, Pike county, and is indebted to the public schools of the village for his education. At the age of fifteen years he began assisting his stepfather in the hotel work, and soon became familiar with every department of the business, so that he is now fully competent to fill his present responsible position as manager of the hotel now owned by his mother. Like his ances- tors, he is a supporter of the Democratic party, and he is also a member of the Maennerchor, a German singing society of Port Jervis, N. Y. He was mar- ried, July 21, 1896, to Miss Agnes Gibhart, a daugh- ter of Nicholas Gibhart, and they have a daughter, Sophia Margaret, born September II, 1897.

LEVI L. LE ROY, a well-known horticulturist of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, is a representative citizen, and in his career there is much that is worthy of emulation. His thrift and enterprise have won for him a high standing in busi- ness circles, while his public spirit was shown by service in the Union army from 1862 to 1865, a por- tion of the time being spent in special hospital dutv.

Mr. LeRoy was born August 22, 1831, near Albany, N. Y., and is of French descent in the pa- ternal line. His grandfather, John LeRoy, came from France with two brothers, owing to religious troubles, and settled in Albany. Tunis S. LeRoy, our subject's father, was born at Le Roy, N. Y., and was married at Stephentown, N. Y., to Miss Asenath Knappen. In 1856 he removed to Wyoming coun- ty, Penn., where he was engaged in business for many years as a farmer and blacksmith. He died in 1876, aged eighty-one years, and his wife passed away in June, 1886, at the age of eighty-six years, their remains being interred in Wyoming county. They had a large family of children as follows: William, who died in Michigan in 1898; Sarah, who married Jere Wells, and died in Chicago, Ill .; Mel- vina, who married Daniel Prosser, and died in New York State; Simon, a retired merchant at Utica, N. Y .; Jackson, who died in Pennsylvania; Sheribiah, who died in childhood; Levi L., our subject; Asen- ath, who married W. Chapman, of New Milford; Tunis, a machinist; Delavan, foreman on a canal in New York State; and Hellen, who died in child- hood.

Our subject was thirty years old when he left home, his assistance upon the farm being of value to his father. He purchased a farm in New Milford township, Susquehanna county, and has ever since been engaged in agriculture with the exception of the time spent in the army. In December, 1862, he enlisted in Binghamton, N. Y., in Company G, N.

Y. H. A., under Capt. Jones, "for three years or the war." He served until the close of the struggle, being discharged at Alexandria, Va., in 1865, and saw some severe fighting in the battles of the Wilder- ness and Alsop House and various skirmishes. At the battle of the Wilderness he was taken ill and sent to the hospital, and on his recovery he was placed in charge of Aurger's hospital baggage. In politics he is a strong Republican, but he does not aspire to office. He and his family are prominent socially, and he is identified with the Congregational Church at New Milford, also with the F. & A. M., in which he holds the rank of master. On Novem- ber 16, 1861, he was married at New Milford town- ship to Miss Mahaley Watson, who was born in that township April 30, 1837, a daughter of John W. and Mary Ann ( Tennant ) Watson. Of their five chil- dren the eldest, John D. (deceased) married Miss Dela B. Braman, of Forest City, Penn. (2) Mary married Adelbert Braman, justice of the peace at Forest City. (3) Wellington H., a tailor and wholesale clothing merchant at Nicholson, Penn., married Miss May Clinton. (4) Charles is a tailor and clothier at Factoryville, Penn. (5) Grant re- sides at home.

MILTON LOTT, who is now living retired on his large farmin Auburn township, has for years been prominent among the extensive farmers and land- owners of this section of Susquehanna county, and he is equally well known as one of its most intelli- gent and progressive citizens. The Lott family has long been identified with agricultural interests in Wyoming and Susquehanna counties, Mr. Lott's grandfather, Seth Lott, having carried on farming in the first-named county for many years. He died there, leaving two children, Abraham; and Seth (who made his home at Mehoopany, Wyoming county ).

Abraham Lott was born in Mehoopany, Wyom- ing county, and there passed his early life, receiving his education in the common schools. He was mar- ried in his native county to Betsey Heberly, a na- tive of Germany, who came to this country with her parents. Her father, Philip Heberly, came to and made a permanent home for the family in Susquehanna county. Soon after their marriage the young couple came to Susquehanna county, where Mr. Lott had purchased 211 acres of wild land located in Auburn township, and here they passed the remainder of their busy lives, engaged in improving and cultivating their place. He suc- ceeded in clearing two-thirds of this large tract, which was in its primitive condition when he moved to it, and by dint of industry and careful manage- ment made a fine home for himself and family. He was a man of quiet, retiring disposition, taking lit- tle active interest in public affairs and devoting his undivided attention to his farm, which gave ample evidence of the thoughtfulness and diligence of the owner. Mr. Lott died in 1845, at Meshoppen, Penn., while on his way home from Wilkes Barre with

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his son Charles; he was buried on a part of the old farm. His wife, who survived him until 1878, dying in Rush township, was laid to rest in Jersey Hill cemetery. Abraham Lott was a Democrat in political sentiment. He and his wife had children as follows: James, who died in Auburn township; Louisa, widow of Joseph Carlin, of Auburn town- ship; John, a farmer of Auburn; Margaret, de- ceased, who married Richard Lott, of Wyoming county ; Sarah, deceased wife of W. Robinson, of Wyoming county; Charles; Milton; Polly, widow of Samuel Hyde, of Auburn township; and Eliza, deceased, was married to Daniel Devine, of Rush township.

Milton Lott was born February 24, 1823, on the old Lott farm at Auburn Center, and, like his father and grandfather, he has been a lifelong farmer, and a successful one. His education was obtained in the public schools of the home neighbor- hood, such as they were, and he was trained to ag- ricultural pursuits on the home place, where he re- mained up to the age of twenty-two years, with every opportunity for acquiring a thorough knowl- edge of farming in all its branches. For a year and a half after his marriage he rented his father's place, and he has since lived on the farm of 218 acres in Auburn township, which is still his home. When Mr. Lott settled on this place it was literally a wil- derness, and he had to go through the trying expe- rience of clearing his land before he could begin to cultivate it, a dreary task and a tedious one, which can be appreciated only by those who have carried through such an undertaking themselves. But per- severance and industry won in time, and our sub- ject has lived to reap the reward of his years of toil and at the same time had the enjoyment of seeing what was once a waste converted into a beau- tiful and productive farm-an improvement to the section in which it is situated, as well as a monu- ment to his skill and industry. Mr. Lott has always been on the side of progress, whether in his own work or the affairs of the community in general, and he is a highly valued citizen of Auburn town- ship, where he is respected both for his own worth and the position he has made for himself from a more material point of view.

Mr. Lott was married, December 25, 1846, in Auburn township, to Miss Ann M. Cool, and they became the parents of three children-Sarah C., now the wife of Edward Loomis, of Auburn town- ship; Elizabeth A., wife of Revilla Harris, of Di- mock township; and May J., who died at the age of fifteen. Mrs. Lott was born March 1, 1823, in Warren county, N. J., daughter of William and Catherine (White) Cool, and granddaughter of Paul C. and Susan (Raub) Cool, of Warren county, N. J., who were lifelong farmers of that place. Mr. Lott is an ardent Democrat in political affiliation.

ABRAM B. SMITH. Among the brave men who devoted the opening years of their manhood to the defense of their country from the internal foes

who sought her dismemberment was Mr. Smith, now a prominent resident of Scott township, Wayne county, where since 1862 he has successfully en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a brave soldier, always found at his post of duty, and when the war was over he was honorably discharged in June, 1865.

Mr. Smith was born at Church Hollow, in the town of Coventry, Broome Co., N. Y., February 28, 1836, a son of Isaac and Martha (Roberts) Smith, the former a native of Valona Springs, Broome county. In the family of this worthy cou- ple were ten children-five sons and five daughters -- of whom, Abram, James and Henry entered the Union army in 1861 and remained in the service for three years. The others are: Armina; Na- than, who also enlisted at the beginning of the war, but being taken ill, he was sent home, and died soon afterward; Susan; Josephine; Alanson; Alvin ; and Nancy. The father of these children died at the age of sixty, and the mother, who survived him some years, passed away at the age of fifty-seven years.

The early life of Abram B. Smith was passed in much the usual manner of boys of his day, and July 12, 1860, he was married to Miss Loretto B. Johnston, a native of Sanford, N. Y., and a daughter of John S. and Roxsely (Smith) Johnston. Her paternal grandfather, who was a Revolutionary sol- dier, died at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. Mrs. Smith is one of a family of eight children, the others being Fidelia, Caroline, Henrietta, Rosetta B., Napoleon B. (who served as a Union soldier throughout the Civil war, and is now living in the West), Flora, Etta and Josephine. Mr. Johnston died at the age of sixty years, his wife at the age of fifty-seven, after surviving him for some years.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith are Elmer M., Gorman F., Roselle O., Byron B. and Lovell. Mr. Smith voted for Abraham Lincoln, but since the war has given his support to the men and measures of the Democratic party, whose prin- ciples he warmly advocates. He is one of the rep- resentative and highly-respected citizens of Scott township, with whose interests he has been iden- tified for a quarter of a century. Religiously his wife is a faithful member of the Church of the Disciples, and she is a most estimable woman.

J. EDWARD GRANNIS is numbered among the progressive and energetic farmers of Canaan township, Wayne county, as well as among those who have been successful, and whose efforts through life thus far, through their own perseverance, have borne ample recompence.

Mr. Grannis was born in Brooklyn, Susque- hanna Co., Penn., July 1, 1861, a son of Lyman M. and Hannah M. (McKeeby) Grannis, the former born in Bradford county, Penn., January 1, 1838, the latter in Susquehanna county, in September, 1842. They now make their home in Lathrop town- ship, Susquehanna county, where the father is en-

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gaged in agricultural pursuits. His political support is always given the men and measures of the Re- publican party. Our subject is the eldest of the children, the others being Jasper D .. a farmer of Bradford county ; Isaac O., a farmer of Susquehanna county ; and Jerusha R., wife of Robert Hughes, also a farmer of Susquehanna county. The pater- nal grandfather of our subject was Edward Gran- nis, a native of Waterbury, Connecticut.

During his boyhood and youth J. Edward Gran- nis attended the public schools, and assisted his fa- ther in the labors of the home farm until twenty-six years of age, when he went to Scranton, Penn., and served a three-years' apprenticeship to the butcher's trade, with lra T. Brown. The following winter he was employed in Stores' packing house, and then re- moved to his present fine farm in Canaan township, Wayne county, to the cultivation and improvement of which he has since devoted his energies with most satisfactory results.

On March 24, 1887, at Carbondale, Mr. Gran- nis was married to Miss Sarah P. Inch, Rev. Hiller officiating. She is a daughter of John and Chloe Inch, whose sketch appears elsewhere. In his po- litical views Mr. Grannis is a Republican, and he has been called upon to serve his fellow citizens as supervisor one term, election inspector one term, and constable one term. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Farmers Alliance of Waymart. He has made a very successful start in life, and by his sys- tematic methods of conducting his work, his strict attention to it in all its details, and his thoroughly upright dealings, he has already made an honorable record in the business world.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 400

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