Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 404

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 404
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 404
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 404
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 404

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Upon the home farm S. T. Smith was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys, acquiring his education in the public schools of the locality and assisting in the labors of the fields. After his marriage in 1875 he remained on the farm for five years, but in 1880 he accepted the position of fore- man of the chemical works of W. W. Mumford, of Starrucca, filling that responsible position with ability for three years, and winning the approval at all times of his employer. He then returned to the old homestead, which he has since successfully operated.

In 1875 Mr. Smith married Miss Ada Rey- nolds, of Preston, Wayne county, a daughter of Eldridge and Mary Reynolds, early settlers of Pres- ton township, formerly from Rhode Island. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Smith was a prominent teacher of Wayne and Luzerne counties. Three children were born to our subject and his wife, namely: Bertha, born in 1877, died at the age of four years. Ethel, born on the old homestead in 1880, began her education in the public schools, and later at- tended the Mansfield Normal in Tioga county, Penn. She is a very bright young lady, and is now a popular and successful teacher, having charge of a school in Sherman.

She is one of the youngest

teachers of the county to hold a high-grade certifi- cate. Sarah, born in April, 1887, is attending the home school. Politically Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican, is one of the active and prominent workers of his party in Scott township, and has most acceptably served his fellow citizens in a num- ber of local offices of honor and trust. He is one of the most popular and influential men of his lo- cality, and wherever known is held in high regard. His wife is a consistent member of the Maple Hill Baptist Church, and is a most estimable lady.

H. W. COBB, a highly esteemed resident of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, has been identified for many years with the agricultural interests of that locality, but is now retired from the active management of his farm. His long and useful life furnishes a pleasing retrospect, and his success demonstrates the fact that well-directed effort in agricultural work brings substantial re- wards.

Mr. Cobb was born April 30, 1825, at Middle- town, Orange Co., N. Y., where his paternal ances- tors located at an early period. Zipron Cobb, his father, was born in Orange county, February 20, 1776, and became a wealthy farmer at Middletown, where he died in September, 1846. He and his wife were devout members of the Baptist Church, in which he held the office of deacon for a number of years. He was married in New York State to Rebecca Byron, a native of New Jersey, who was born in March, 1781, and survived him only forty- four hours. Their remains now rest at the old farm in Orange county. They had nine children, our subject being the youngest; Hannah married Aaron Cobb; Arena married Zipron Cobb, a cousin ; Phœbe married Holloway Kirby; Rebecca married Noah Kirby; Mariam married Denmore Decker ; Zipron married Sarah Crane; Byron; Henry L. married Julia Barrett, and now resides on a farm in Jackson township, Susquehanna county.

Our subject was reared to farm work, and after the death of his parents was employed for some time among the farmers of the locality. Through careful management of his resources he was able to purchase a farm one-half mile from Middletown, and at the age of twenty-nine he settled upon the place, remaining four years. He then sold out and removed to Susquehanna county, locating at Hart Lake on a farm now occupied by his son, Prof. Willis R. Cobb. There he resided for thirty-nine years, and then made his home at his present farm. In politics he is a strong Republican, and for over fifty years he has been a member of the Methodist Church, in which he was a trustee for about twenty years. In 1854, two years after coming to Suspue- hanna county, he made a visit to his native county, where he was married on March 30th of that year to Miss Minerva J. Dwan. Of the ten children of this union, five are living. (1) Henry W., born April 13, 1855, married Lola Miller, and resides on a farm in New Milford township. (2) John H.,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

born September 8, 1856, died September 7, 1886, married Bertha Miller. (3) Leabdor R., born Au- gust 17, 1858, married Angeline Griffin, and died March 21, 1883. (4) Wims R., born November 20, IS60, married Jennie Burdick and resides on a farm in New Milford township. He is prominent in Church work and is superintendent of a Sabbath- school. (5) Etta E., born March 18, 1862, mar- ried Fred Dean, a farmer in New Milford town- ship. (6) Bennie Z., born April 4, 1864, married Lottie Griffin, and settled upon a farm in New Mil- ford township. (7) Edith W., born June 25, 1866, married Sherman Griffin, a farmer of Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county. (8) Minnie M., born September 28, 1868, died September 28, 1869. (9) Alma L., born September 20, 1871, died Febru- ary 4, 1882. (10) Alva, born December 4, 1873, died June 18, 1875.

Mrs. Minerva J. (Dwan) Cobb is a member of an old and respected family of New York State, and was born August 5, 1835, at Walkill, Orange coun- ty. Peter Dwan, Mrs. Cobb's father, was born and reared in Orange county, whence, in 1857, he re- moved to a farm in Sullivan county, N. Y., where he died in April, 1861, aged sixty years. He mar- ried Mrs. Jane (Van Auken) Purdy, widow of Isaac Purdy, and she survived him; she came to Susquehanna county in 1862, to make her home with our subject. She died September 28, 1874, aged seventy-six years, seven months, and her re- mains were interred at New Milford. By her first marriage she had three children: Louisa, who married John King, and died in Michigan ; Lean- der, who died in Michigan; and Isaac ( deceased ), formerly a physician of Sullivan county, N. Y. By her marriage to Peter Dwan she also had three children : Mary (deceased), who married Hagert Drake: Jolin (deceased), who was a physician at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; and Minerva J. ( Mrs. Cobb).

CHARLES S. PAGE, justice of the peace, and a veteran of the Civil war, is a prominent resi- dent of New Milford, Susquehanna county, and after many years of successful effort as a manufacturer has turned to agricultural pursuits. His popularity among the citizens of his locality has been shown by his frequent election to offices of trust and re- sponsibility, and at one time he served as register, recorder, and clerk of the Orphans Court for Sus- quehanna county.

Mr. Page is descended from good New England ancestry, and his great-grandfather, Peter Page, was a resident of Vermont. Levi Page, his grand- father, was born in 1787, in Vermont, and came to Susquehanna county in 1816, locating first in Jack- son township, and later in New Milford township, where he engaged in farming. He was married in Vermont to Priscilla Ingalls, who was born June 25, 1793. Their children were: Amanda, born De- cember 16, 1809 ; Evra, August 23, 1811 ; Elihu, May 27, 1813; Levi S., May 31, 1815; Calvin J., June 27, 1817 ; Eber D., May 6, 1819; Hannah M., May

17, 1820; Amos I., September 12, 1822; Rosman I., September 3, 1824; Marietta M., July 27, 1826; Seth W., May 4, 1828; Louisa P., December -, 1830; Josepn N., May 16, 1836; Williston J., March 2, 1840. Levi S., Rosman I., Marietta M. and Wil- liston J. are yet living. Levi S. resides in Susque- hanna, where he has been active in politics for many years, having served for thirty-five years as justice of the peace, and he has also been county commis- sioner.

Eilhu Page, the father of our subject, was born at Hardwick, Caledonia Co., Vt., and accompanied his parents to this section. For many years he fol- lowed lumbering, operating a sawmill at different points in Susquehanna county, but later he devoted his attention to farming at Lakeside, New Milford township. He was a man of standing in his locality, and at times held township offices including those of tax collector and constable. In religious faith he was a Methodist, and he died in that faith January 4, 1899, his remains being interred at New Milford. In 1836 he was married, in Susquehanna county, to Miss Eunice M. Hill, a native of New Hampshire, who was born in 1814, and died August 7, 1891. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and be- longed to an old family of pioneers. Her parents, Ichabod and Mary (Durkee) Hill, came to this section in 1817 from the vicinity of the Hudson river, in New York State, and settled upon a farm in Jackson township, Susquehanna county. Our subject was the eldest of a family of four children, the others being: Clara M. (deceased), who mar- ried Gilbert S. Johnson, of Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county ; Calvin I., who married Miss Elizabeth Doloway, and resides in Binghamton, N. Y., where he is employed on the police force ; and Elmer F., who married Miss Nellie Walker, and located at Binghamton, where he holds the position of superintendent in a chair factory.

'Squire Page was born October 26, 1838, in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county, and remained with his parents until he attained his ma- jority. At the age of twenty years he began teach- ing in the district schools of his township, and later he taught in Broome county, N. Y., and Wyoming county, Penn., continuing about three years. While in charge of a graded school in the latter locality he decided to enlist in the Union army, and on August 19, 1862, he joined Schooley's Independent Battery, being mustered in at Pittston. Later this battery joined the Second Pennsylvania Heavy Ar- tillery, and Mr. Page was afterward transferred on orders from the War Department, to the Signal Corps, with which he remained until discharged, as sergeant, in June, 1865, at Portsmouth Grove, R. I. He took part in Sherman's campaign, and on February 6, 1865, was wounded in the right foot in a skirmish in South Carolina. He spent some time in a hospital at Wilmington, N. C., and was then transferred to another at Portsmouth Grove, R. I. On returning home he purchased a furniture fac- tory at Lakeside, which he operated from 1865 to

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I885. In the latter year he was elected register, recorder and clerk of the Orphans Court, and dur- ing his term the factory was conducted by others. Since his retirement from office he has purchased his present homestead, where he is engaged in gen- eral farming. He has held various township offices, and in 1890 was elected justice of the peace, to which position he was re-elected in 1895. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and he is active in religious work as a member of the Methodist Church, in which he is now serving as steward and trustee.

At the age of twenty-seven Mr. Page was mar- ried, in Wyoming county, Penn., to Miss Ella Hough, a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of Francis and Kate (Clark) Hough. She died June 20, 1879, aged thirty-seven, and was buried at New Milford. On March 18, 1882, Mr. Page was married in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, to Miss Sarah Whitmarsh, who was born in Eng- land, daughter of William and Mary (Clark) Whit- marsh. Her death occurred June 20, 1893, and on June 12, 1895, the 'Squire married Miss Carrie Stoddard, a native of New Milford township, and daughter of Horace S. and Mary ( Harris) Stod- dard, her father being a well-known resident of Lakeside. By his first marriage 'Squire Page had two sons: Frank E., who died when twenty-one years of age; and Glenn C., who married Miss Mabel Sieverson, and resides in Kingston, Penn., where he is employed as receiving teller of the Wy- oming Valley Trust Co. Previous to his appoint- ment to this position he was principal of a school at Sanitaria Springs, N. Y., and also at Chenango Forks, N. Y. There were four children by the sec- ond union : Hugh S., Lena M., Harry L. and Ruth E., all at home, and by the third marriage there is one son, Bruce L.

HUGH B. SMITH, a traveling saleman now residing in Nicholson, Wyoming county, is a native of Wayne county, born at Gouldsboro, October 8, 1867, and is a son of Louis R. and Christina (Baillie) Smith, a sketch of whom is given on page 926 in connection with that of David B. Smith, a brother of our subject. He remained with his par- ents until eighteen years of age when he went to Nanticoke, Penn., and entered the employ of Albert J. Massy & Co., in the crockery business. When they removed to Easton, Penn., nine months later, he continued with them, representing them on the road for two years or until they abandoned business. He then went to Scranton, this State, and entered the service of the crockery firm of Carson, Clements & Co., traveling for them for two years. The fol- lowing three years he was with Clark Brothers of Trenton, N. J., and then conducted the Hotel Clif- ford, at Clifford, Susquehanna Co., Penn., for one year. At the end of that time, however, he returned to Clark Brothers and remained with them for five years, accepting his present position with Loren & Lane, of New York City, in July, 1897. He is a popular salesman who easily wins and retains the

confidence and respect of his employers and many patrons. He is a worthy representative of one of the best families of Wayne county, and has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and socially affiliates with the Odd Fellows Lodge of New- foundland.

At Nicholson, Penn., November 26, 1891, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Minnie M. Hinkley, the ceremony being performed by his brother, Rev. H. A. Smith. They now have two children: Leah B. and Grace A. Mrs. Smith was born in Scott, Lacka- wanna Co., Penn., in July, 1875, and is a daughter of George S. and Clara C. (Grosvenor) Hinkley, also natives of Scott. They now reside, however, in Nicholson, where the father has conducted the Nicholson Hotel for the past twelve years. He was born February 22, 1854, his wife in 1856. Their children are Minnie, wife of our subject; and Morris, Elmer and May, all at home.

THOMAS F. BRODERICK, who was for several years railroad engineer, and is now one of the leading merchants in Hawley, Wayne county, was born at Honesdale, September 12, 1863. His father, Thomas E. Broderick, a retired farmer of Hawley, was born in County Galway, Ireland, No- vember 16, 1834, a son of John and Mary ( Hogan) Broderick, of Galway, where the latter died in 1841, aged forty years. Six years later John Broderick came to America, landing at Quebec, Canada, from there went to Vermont, where he engaged in farm- ing for a year, thence came to Wayne county, Penn., and after living several years in Mt. Pleasant town- ship returned to Vermont on a visit to a brother and his daughter. He died there in 1871, aged eighty years, and his remains were interred in a Catholic cemetery in that State.

Thomas E. Broderick (our subject's father ) was married in Mt. Pleasant, Wayne county, March 23, 1856, by Father Shields, to Miss Ann O'Donnell, who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, June 24, 1835, a daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Kelly) O'Donnell, of that county, where the father died in 1842. Mrs. O'Donnell came to the United States in 1847, and after spending four months in New York, went to New Orleans, later removed to Hones- dale, and from there to Pittston, Penn., where she died in 1873, aged seventy-eight years. Both she and her husband were communicants of the Catho- lic Church. To Thomas E. and Ann (O'Donnell) Broderick were born the following children: Mary E., who died at the age of five years ; John, a rail- road man of Hawley, who married Sabina Gallifer ; Margaret, deceased wife of Michael Shelby, a rail- road man of the same place; Thomas F., the subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of Luke Richardson, of Hawley; Catherine, a resident of Phillipsburg, N. J .; Anna, at home ; Michael F., a telegraph operator at Yonkers, N. Y .; Nellie J., at home; and James and Charles (both deceased).

During his childhood our subject accompanied

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his parents on their removal to Cherry Ridge town- ship, Wayne county, and upon the home farm he remained until eighteen years of age, at which time he began braking on the N. Y. L. E. & W. R. R., with which he was connected for two years. For the following twenty-six months he was employed as fireman on the E. Y. V. R. R., and with the same road served as engineer for three years. He was then with the N. Y. C. R. R. for two years, and the N. Y. O. & W. R. R. for four years and a half, after which he spent eight months in sight-seeing, and traveled over the country watching the workings of the strikes of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En- gineers. Returning to Hawley in 1896, he has since successfully engaged in merchandising.

Mr. Broderick was married in Hawley, October 29, 1896, to Miss Margaret Nallan, Rev. Father Judge officiating, and to them has been born a daugh- ter, Margaret. Mrs. Broderick was born in Dun- more, Penn., November 8, 1874, a daughter of James and Bridget ( Monahan) Nallan, natives of Coun- ty Mayo, Ireland, who with their respective parents came to America when very young. They met and were married in Hawley, where the father engaged in merchandising at our subject's present stand. He died in July, 1881, aged thirty-two years, his wife on September 8, 1895, aged fifty-seven years. Both were earnest members of the Catholic Church. Their children were: William, of whom nothing is now known; Patrick, an engineer on the Erie rail- road, residing in Hawley; Margaret, wife of our subject ; Mary, wife of P. J. Tyge, railroad engineer of Dunmore; Michael, a flagman for the Erie rail- road at Hawley; and John, who resides with our subject and works in the glass factory. The mother of these children conducted the store after her hus- band's death until she too passed away. Her par- ents were Michael and Mary Monahan, who came from County Mayo, Ireland, at an early day and located in Hawley. Mrs. Broderick's paternal grand- parents were Patrick and Margaret Nallan, of Coun- ty Mayo, where the grandfather died, after which his wife came to Hawley, where she spent her remain- ing days.

During his railroad career Mr. Broderick met with many narrow escapes from death. While on the Erie railroad he had his right leg broken on account of one of the steps of the car breaking off, and while firing on a fast freight at Greenville his train ran into another freight, demolishing both engines, but he fortunately escaped without a scratch and the trains did not leave the track, the embanking at that place being 160 feet in height. While making an extra trip as engineer on the Ontario & Western, with a load of Havana cigars going to the Canadian border, the train was wrecked at Oswego, N. Y., causing a loss of $4,000, but Mr. Broderick was only slightly bruised. At Peekskill, N. Y., while engineer for the New York Central, his train with thirty-five car-loads of cattle ran into a train of grain, throwing both into the river. Mr. Broderick jumped in time to save himself, but his fireman

jumped too late, just as the trains came together, and the engine turned over him into the river. These wrecks were through no fault of our subject. During the World's Fair, he made the fastest record on the N. Y. O. & W. R. R., running between Nor- wich and Oswego with nine cars, four miles of the trip being made at the rate of forty-six seconds per mile. Although the train was sixty-six minutes late in starting, he made up the time during the one-hundred-mile run. He was a brave and efficient engineer, but has now retired altogether from that work, giving his whole attention to the management of his store. Religiously he is a member of the Catholic Church; fraternally affiliates with the A. O. H., and the B. L. E. ; and politically is identified with the Democratic party. He is one of the prominent and influential citizens of his community, and is now serving as supervisor and poor master of Palmyra township, Wayne county.

WILLIAM H. FRENCH, one of the most prominent engineers on the Erie railroad, has through his own exertions attained an honorable po- sition and marked prestige among the representative men at Matamoras, Pike county, and it may be truly said of him that he is the architect of his own for- tunes, and he has certainly builded wisely and well.

Mr. French was born in Axminster, England, April 24, 1849, a son of William H. and Sarah E. (Board) French, who spent their entire lives in that country, the former dying in 1858, the latter in 1849 during the infancy of our subject. He was taken to the home of an uncle, James French, with whom he remained until he reached the age of ten and a half years, and then bound himself out to John P. Parsons, a wheel-wright and builder, with whom he remained for seven years. At the end of that time he came to America in search of work, and after stopping for a short time in Philadelphia went to Pittsburg, Penn. When his funds were almost ex- hausted he was taken ill, and for three months was unable to do anything, during which time a new acquaintance relieved him of all his earthly posses- sions. On his recovery he went to Port Jervis, N. Y., and secured work with the Erie Railroad Co., as a cabinet maker, serving in that capacity for four years, subsequently he was fireman on the road for eight years, and was then promoted to the position of engineer, which he has since acceptably filled, hav- ing never had a wreck. He is an honored member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Port Jervis ; is a Democrat in politics and in 1897 was elected school director, now serving as treasurer of the board. In religious faith he is a Methodist, and he is both widely and favorably known throughout the community in which he makes his home.

At Minisink, N. Y., Mr. French was married, October 24, 1874, to Miss Sarah E. Lindley, and they have become the parents of five children, name- ly : Ralph W., who is now attending the University of Pennsylvania; Stanley, at home; Florence E.,

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who died in July, 1891; Harvey, who died in 1888; and Willard, at home.

Mrs. French was born in Paulina, N. J., and is a daughter of Dennis and Elizabeth (Anderson) Lindley, who were natives of New York, and died in Orange county, that State, the former in February, 1896, aged seventv-nine years, the latter in February, 1895, aged seventy-three, the remains of both being interred in Laurel Grove cemetery. The father was a carpenter and builder by occupation, and as a Democrat he took quite an active and prominent part in political affairs. His children were: James H., a railroad engineer of Goshen, N. Y .; Nancy A., wife of James Barts, a mechanic by trade ; Mary, wife of Henry Coykendall, a farmer of Orange county, N. Y .; Sarah E., wife of our subject; J. Stephen, who died at the age of seventeen years; Emma, wife of William L. Boyton, a railroad en- gineer of Dutchess county. N. Y .; Ida, who died at the age of three years; and George and Eugene, who both died when young. Mrs. French's pa- ternal grandfather, John Lindley, was of French extraction, while her maternal grandparents, Amos

and - (Silverthorn) Anderson, were natives of Holland, and came to America at an early day, their deaths occurring in Sunbury, N. Y. The name An- derson was changed from Van Abbadah. By his first marriage Amos Anderson had four children: Elizabeth, the mother of Mrs. French; Cornelia ; Mary A .; and Nancy; and by his second union he had two sons, Robert and George.

GEORGE PLACE, now living retired, has been a resident of Auburn township, Susquehanna county, for thirty years, and carried on general agri- cultural pursuits on the farm which he still occupies, becoming one of the prosperous farmers of the section.

William Place, father of our subject, was born in Middle Smithfield township ,Monroe county, son of Joseph Place, a native of Connecticut. He married Lena Myers, and to this union were born children as follows: Betsey, deceased, who was the wife of Benjamin Stemples, of Wyoming county, Penn .; Mary, deceased, wife of Peter Butts, of Wyoming county ; Eleanor, deceased, who married and lived in Wyoming county; George, subject of these lines; Sarah, wife of David Dewitt, of Brad- ford county, Penn. ; John, a farmer of Middle Smith- field township, Monroe county; Charles, living on the old home farm in Wyoming county ; Hannah, widow of Dorey Evans, of Mehoopany, Penn .; Baker, deceased, who was a farmer of Wyoming county ; and William, of Mehoopany, who is engaged in farming. The parents both died in Wyoming county, where they lived for about twenty years. Mr. Place followed milling for several years, but his principal business was farming, in which he was unusually successful, at the time of his death own- ing 260 acres, nearly all improved land. He was a Democrat in political faith. Mrs. Place was a mem- ber of the M. E. Church.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 404

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