Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 407

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 407
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 407
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 407
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 407

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).

Since 1879 Mr. Cochran has resided upon his present farm, where he has 100 acres under a high state of cultivation and well improved, and is suc- cessfully engaged in general farming. Socially he is a man of prominence in his community, and he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows at Uniondale, Penn .; the United Order of American Mechanics; and the Improved Order of Red Men, at Burnwood, of which he is a Past Sachem.

JOHN J. STECHER, a well-known pension agent and business man of Brodheadsville, Monroe county, was born in Hamilton township, that county, September 17, 1846, a son of Mathias and Chris- tianna ( Dreher) Stecher, natives of Northampton county, Penn. The paternal grandparents were also born in the latter county, but at an early day removed to Hamilton township, Monroe county, where both died. The maternal grandparents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Storm) Dreher.

When a young man Mathias Stecher, our sub- ject's father, who was born June 3, 1816, came to Monroe county, where he carried on shoemaking for forty years, but he is now living retired in Hamil- ton township. In early life he was an active worker in the Lutheran Church, in which he still holds membership, and his life has ever been in harmony with his professions. His wife died in 1892, at the age of seventy-four years ; her remains now rest in St. John's Church cemetery, Hamilton township. The children born to them are as follows: Sevilla is the wife of Adam Walter, a painter of East Stroudsburg; Christiana is the deceased wife of Josiah Frantz ; Lydia A. lives with her father ; John J., our subject, is the next of the family ; Abraham, a painter, married Margaret Alberson and lives in Hamilton township; Sarah A. died unmarried ; Joseph, a carpenter, wedded Mary Lynn and resides in East Stroudsburg ; Peter, a painter, married Lydia Hartman, and also makes his home in East Strouds- burg ; and Isaac, a clerk, married Ella Miller, and lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

John J. Stecher remained on the home farm with

his parents until nineteen years of age, and then be- gan his business career as a clerk in a store at Sud- ersville, where he remained for three years. The following year he conducted a hotel in Kresgeville, Monroe county, and then removed to Carbondale, Penn., where he engaged in merchandising for four years. Coming to Brodheadsville in 1875, he opened a mercantile store, which he carried on until 1890. He is a shrewd business man, enterprising and saga- cious, and the success that he has achieved is due entirely to his own well-directed efforts. He has devoted considerable time to buying lumber, and he is now interested in the produce business at Brod- headsville, buying eggs, butter, etc.

On February 22, 1866, in Hamilton township, Mr. Stecher was united in marriage with Miss Emma Heller, and to them have been born nine children, namely: Amanda J., now the wife of Stewart Nyehart, a farmer of Hamilton township; Mary, wife of George Hinton, a machinist of the same township; Ella L., deceased; Edward M., a brickmaker of Lancaster, N. Y .; Llewellyn, de- ceased; and Erastus E., Susan R., Clewey P. and Sterling S., all at home.

In his political views Mr. Stecher is a stalwart Democrat, and in 1879 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he acceptably filled for a term of five years, during which time he often acted as an attorney, appointed by the court, and his advice be- ing often sought. He served as postmaster for one year, and has ever been one of the prominent and influential citizens of the community. Socially he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Knights of Pythias and the Farmers Alli- ance. Although not a member of any religious denomination, he usually attends the services of either the Lutheran or Reformed Churches, and gives towards their support.

FRANKLIN VAN VLIET, a prosperous lum- berman and agriculturist of Stroud township, Mon- roe county, is a representative of one of the most prominent and highly-esteemed families of that lo- cality. For five generations its members have been prominent in business and social life and in local affairs, and the name has been associated with en- terprise, thrift, and public spirit. The family is of Holland descent.

Derick Van Vliet, our subject's grandfather, was born December 1I, 1776, and made his home near Stroudsburg, where he owned a large tract of land and engaged in farming, becoming quite well-to-do. He married Rachel Smiley, who was born December 19, 1779, and they died there many years ago. Their children were: Miriam, born May 5, 1799; Amanda, June 4, 1801 ; Ann, January II, 1804 ; Charick April 7, 1806; John S., November 9, 1808; Rebecca, July 7, 1811 ; Richard, November 24, 1813 ; and Elizabeth, February 28, 1816. The father was a Whig and later a Democrat in politics.

John S. Van Vliet, the father of our subject, was born near East Stroudsburg, in the old stone

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house which has sheltered so many of the name. He married Susan LaBar, who was born February 27, 1807, and they settled upon a farm near Sprague- ville belonging to his father. He made numerous improvements in the place, the greater part of the land being cleared by him. Mrs. Van Vliet died there in 1861, and his last years were spent with a son in East Stroudsburg, his death occurring in 1894.

Our subject is the eldest of a family of eight children, the others being: (2) Evaline, widow of Jacob Phillips, resides in Stroudsburg. She has children-John and Susan (now Mrs. Able, of Scranton). (3) Emily married Alexander Loder, a merchant of East Stroudsburg, and has four chil- dren-Milton, William, Vinton and Laura (wife of a Mr. Bush, a druggist of East Stroudsburg). (4) David married Miss Maneda Allenburger, of Smith- field township, Monroe county. They now reside in East Stroudsburg, he being a conductor on the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. (5) Abram, a miller by occupation, died at the age of thirty-six years. (6) Rachel is unmarried, and resides with her sister, Mrs. Phillips, in Strouds- burg. (7) Samerfield married Miss Emily Sha- fer, of Stroud township, and now resides in Sprague- ville. (8) Edmund married Miss Maggie Beecher, of Wayne county. They now reside in Michigan, where he followed the milling trade for a great number of years, but is now retired ; he is justice of the peace of his village. They have three children- Stanly, Dowling and Georgianna.

Franklin Van Vliet was born August 10, 1830, in Stroud township, and grew to manhood at the old homestead, his schooling being limited to three months each winter. In July, 1854, he married Miss Anna Kinney, and settled at the old homestead, which he purchased in 1868. In 1869 he built a comfortable two-story residence and a good barn, besides other good buildings, and his place is now one of the best of its size in the township. In 1873 he bought 200 acres of woodland in Price town- ship, Monroe county, adjoining Stroud township, and he and his sons have followed lumbering there for some years. Politically Mr. Van Vliet is a Democrat of the old Jacksonian stripe, and at vari- ous times he has held office, serving nine years as school director. In 1897 he was elected tax collector of his township, and he now holds that position. He and his estimable wife have had eight children, as follows : (I) Martha, born March 19, 1855, married Hiram Transue, of Lower Smithfield town- ship, Monroe county, and has one son, Lewis. (2) Erastus, born June 7, 1857, married Miss Frances Dean, of Barrett township, Monroe county ; they now reside in Spragueville, where he is serving as justice of the peace. They have two sons-Frank and Robert. (3) Ella G., born December 8, 1858, is now the wife of David Bush, of East Strouds- burg. (4) Susannah, born January 15, 1862, mar- ried Joseph Pencil, of Stroud township, and they now reside in Pocono, Monroe county. They have

two children-Albert and Skelly. (5) Frank Oscar, born November 10, 1865, is single, and re- sides with his parents on the old homestead. (6) Oras, born August 14, 1867, married Miss Emma Schaffer, of Stroud township, and they now reside in Spragueville. (7) Maggie B., born May 10, 1869, married Frank Barry, of Stroud, and they now reside at Spragueville, where he is engaged in rail- roading. They have one daughter, Ruth. (8) Sherman, born May 17, 1878, is single, and resides with his parents on the old farm. Our subject is identified with the A. P. A. and the P. O. S. A., and he and his family are prominent members of the M. E. Church of Spragueville, which he joined some forty years ago. His son Sherman has been Sab- bath-school superintendent for a number of years.

Mrs. Anna (Kinney) Van Vliet belongs to a well-known family, and her father, Moses Kinney, a native of New Jersey, became a prominent agri- culturist of Stroud township, Monroe county. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Sallie LaBar, died there some years ago. This worthy couple had eight children, of whom Mrs. Van Vliet was the youngest, the others being: James, Peter, Will- iam, Joseph, Maria (wife of Philip Neihart), Jane (wife of Abram Bush), and Maggie (who married George Anderson, of Lackawanna county). Mr. Van Vliet has the old family Bible of Derick Van Vliet, which was published in 1815.

JOHN HAND, a prominent agriculturist of Harmony township, Susquehanna county, is the owner of an attractive homestead on Starrucca creek, which by his able management is kept in an excellent state of cultivation. As a citizen he is held in high esteem, and during the Civil war he made an honorable record as a soldier, serving from 1861 to 1865.

Mr. Hand was born in 1833, near Mauch Chunk, Penn. He left home during boyhood to make his way in the world, being employed for some time on the Gravity railroad, between Carbon- dale and Honesdale. In 1857 he married Miss Lucetta Compton, of Carbondale, and made his home in that town. In 1861 he enlisted in the 57th P. V. I., under Capt. Pierson, of Wilkes. Barre, his regiment being assigned to the 10th Army Corps. He was with McClellan during 1861 and 1862, and took part in a number of engagements under Burn- side, including the seven days' fight. In December, 1863, he was honorably discharged at Morris Island, S. C., his term having expired, and after a visit home, on a furlough, re-enlisted in the same com- pany, "for three years or the war." During his second term of service he saw much fighting, being in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines and other engagements, and was finally mustered out on July 20, 1865, at Salisbury, N. C. On his return home he engaged in farming, and since purchas- ing his present homestead he has made many im- provements thereon. In politics he is a steadfast Republican, and his interest in military affairs is

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

still keen, as is shown by his active work as a mem- ber of Mumford Post, G. A. R., at Starrucca. His first wife died while he was in the army, and in August, 1884, he married Mrs. Jane (Prentice) Squires, widow of Horace Squires, of Scott Center, Wayne county. Mr. Hand has two children, both by the first marriage: Mattie married James Jen- nings, of Carbondale ; and Osman went to Montana.

Mrs. Jane Hand is a native of Wayne county, and comes of good New England ancestry, her par- ents, Asher and Polly (Terry) Prentice, being na- tives of Connecticut. They came to Wayne county in 1857, with two children, and spent their remain- ing years upon a farm at Scott Center. As devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church they did much to promote the welfare of the community, and their family was reared in that faith, Mrs. Hand being an active worker in the Church. Of their seven children: (1) Cyrus B. married Miss Lydia Lee, and settled at Scott Center, where he died leaving three children-Jennie, now the wife of William Wayman; Lewis, a resident of Jackson, Susquehanna county ; and Emma, wife of William Pond, of Sanford. (2) Sallie M. married Charles Lee, of Harmony township. (3) William mar- ried Emma Walker, and resides in Susquehanna county. He has several children. (4) Lavina, deceased, married George Dow, of Preston, Wayne county. (5) Jane, our subject's wife, is next in the order of birth. (6) Lorenzo D. married Miss Loretta Gorton, of Carbondale, and now lives on the old Prentice homestead. (7) Joseph G., a res- ident of Scott township, Wayne county, married Miss Phobe Wayman, who died leaving no family.

Mrs. Hand was educated at Scott Center, and was married first to Horace Squires, of Madison county, N. Y. He died in 1864, leaving her with five children: (I) George, born in New York State, married Miss Inez Rosencrans, and is now a merchant of Herkimer county, N. Y. (2) Polly, born in Georgetown, Madison Co., N. Y., is now the wife of William Edwards, of Harmony town- ship. They have ten children-Cora, Fred, Hattie, William, Ira, Edward, Florence, Floy, Malecut and -. (3) Edward, born in Scott township, Wayne county, married Miss Estella Holiker, of Mount Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., daughter of John and Ruth Holiker. They reside in Harmony township, Susquehanna county, and have three children- Rose, Pearl and Horace, all born at Sherman, Wayne county. (4) Roselia, born in Wayne county, is the wife of James Smith, of Harmony township, and has six children-Mary, Philip, Lyman, Nora, Frank and George. (5) William, born in New York State, married Louise Johnston, of that State, and now resides in Lanesboro. They have two chil- dren-Theodore and Jennie.

ANDREW J. RUTLEDGE. Prominent among the farmers of South Canaan township, Wayne coun- ty, who have by honest toil and industry succeeded in acquiring a competence, and are now able to spend

the sunset of life in quiet and retirement, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch.

Mr. Rutledge was born in County Limerick, Ireland, November 10, 1840, but in 1844 was brought to America by his parents, Patrick and Julia (Tesque) Rutledge, who spent their remaining days upon a farm in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne Co., Penn., where the mother died in January, 1862, the father in the spring of 1868, at the age of six- ty-four years, both being laid to rest in the Canaan township cemetery. They were devout members. of the Catholic Church, and he was a Democrat in politics. Their children were: Margaret, who mar- ried Michael Regane, and both are now deceased ; Hugh F., who was wounded during his service in the Union army, and is now living retired in Elmira, N. Y .; Patrick, a farmer of South Canaan township, Wayne county; Andrew J., the subject of this sketch; and William, deceased. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Hugh F. and Mary ( Burke) Rutledge, emigrated from Ireland to America in 1827, and spent their last days upon a farm in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne county.

On leaving the home farm at the age of fif- teen years, Andrew J. Rutledge worked in the woods and upon neighboring farms until he attained his- majority. At the beginning of the Civil war he: responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in the Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery under Capt. Ed- ward S. Rowand, for three years, and when his term of service had expired he re-enlisted in the same company, under Capt. B. Mercer. For several months he was unable to engage in active service owing to illness, but was never wounded, although he participated in many hotly-contested engage- ments, including the battles of the Wilderness and Cold Harbor. On January 29, 1866, he was hon- orably discharged and returned home. For the following three years he worked in an iron foundry in Scranton, Penn., but in the spring of 1869 lo- cated upon his present farm, which he has- con- verted into one of the best and most desirable places in South Canaan township.

At Honesdale, March 10, 1864, Mr. Rutledge wedded Miss Mary Carey, Rev. J. J. Dougherty officiating, and to them were born eight children, namely : Catherine, now the wife of George Swith- inger, superintendent of the Prudential Life Insur- ance Co., at Honesdale, Penn .; Margaret, at home with her parents; Henry, an engineer at Johnson- burg, Penn .; Paul F., a corporal in the regular army now stationed at Fort Porter, N. Y .; Eliza- beth, a resident of Honesdale; and Theressa, John and Sadie, all at home.

Mrs. Rutledge was born in South Canaan township, and died October 27, 1896, aged fifty- four years, being laid to rest in Canaan cemetery. Her parents, Michael and Catherine (Kiley) Carey, came from Ireland to the United States in 1845, and took up their residence in Wayne county, where they continued to reside throughout life. They had seven children: Patrick, who died in Pennsyl-

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vania; John, a farmer of South Canaan township; Ellen, who died in childhood; Mary, the deceased wife of our subject; Michael, deceased; Bridget, wife of John Gallagher, a retired driller of Brad- ford, Penn .; and William, a farmer of Canaan town- ship, Wayne county.

For many years Mr. Rutledge has been unable to engage in the arduous labors of farming, but having accumulated a comfortable property in early life, he can now enjoy a well-earned rest. Politically he adheres to the principles of the Re- publican party, and he has acceptably served as school director for three years. Socially he is an honored member of the Grand Army Post at Way- mart, Wayne county.

JOHN W. BEYER. Among the more prom- inent and enterprising agriculturists of Shohola township, Pike county, whose early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, is this gentleman. Like others of his countrymen he has brought to the New World the habits of economy and fru- gality which are inherent characteristics of the Fatherland, and the exercise of which, accompanied by industry and good management, have made him one of the prosperous farmers of his community.

Casper Beyer, his grandfather, spent his entire life in Saxony, Germany, where he was engaged in the carting of freight. The father, Adam Ernest Beyer, was also a native of Saxony, and was the eldest of five sons. When a young man he followed the occupation of freighting, but after his marriage engaged in farming. He wedded Barbara Smyth, a native of Hessen, Germany, and in 1866 they came to America, their sons having located in this country some years before. Landing in New York, they came almost immediately to Shohola township, Pike Co., Penn., where their children owned prop- erty. Here the father died a few years later and the mother only survived him two years, the re- mains of both being interred in the old Shohola cemetery. Their children were as follows: Adam E., a farmer of Shohola township, who died in Middletown, Penn .; Gustav, a station agent, who remained in Germany; Ann Elizabeth, twin sister of Gustav and widow of Henry C. Knealing, who was a prosperous farmer and prominent citizen of Shohola township, having served for thir ---- five years as a justice of the peace; John W., the sub- ject of this sketch; Eve Elizabeth, widow of Jacob Engelhart, and a resident of Shohola township; and Anna Christina, widow of Gotlieb Smith.

John W. Beyer was born in Germany, August 8, 1835, and in his native land learned the trade of a wagonmaker and wheelwright, which he there followed for three years. With the hope of bet- tering his financial condition he came to the United States, at the age of twenty-two, and located in Shohola township, Pike Co., Penn., where he was employed as a farm hand for one year, but the fol- lowing fifteen years he worked in a wagon shop in the village of Shohola. In 1865 he bought prop-

erty in Shohola township, consisting of forty acres of wooded land, to which he shortly after added twenty acres, and in course of time by subsequent purchase he became the owner of 124 more acres of valuable timber land. This wild tract has seen a marked change, for now seventy acres are cleared and have been converted into one of the finest farms of the township, on which our subject is now suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and dairying. As his father before him was, he is a stanch Demo- crat in politics and has several times refused to accept political favors, preferring to give his un- divided attention to his business interests. Relig- iously he is a Protestant, believing in the doctrines laid down by Martin Luther.

At Shohola Mr. Beyer was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hess, a daughter of George and Anna Marie Hess, and to them have been born the following children: George, who married Annie Bartlemas, and is working in Scranton, Penn .; Catherine, wife of Robert Freeland, of Hackensack, Dutchess Co., N. Y .; John, who married Anna Focht, and is engaged in blacksmithing in Buffalo, N. Y .; Annie, wife of Charles Eckert, a farmer of Shohola township; Peter, who is living at home and assists his father on the farm and in the stone quarries ; and three, who died in infancy.

RALPH V. FETHERMAN, junior member of the enterprising mercantile firm of Decker & Fetherman, of Analomink, Monroe county, is a young man of marked ability and energy in busi- ness affairs. He comes of pioneer stock, and his first American ancestor came to America at an early day, settling in Pennsylvania. Abraham Fetherman, the grandfather of our subject, became a farmer in Monroe county, and his wife, Rachel Miller, was a native of that locality, which was then included in Northampton county. This worthy couple had ten children: Jacob A., Absalom, Sophia, Simpson, Abraham, Joseph, Masias, Charles, Manasseh and A. J.

Simpson Fetherman, our subject's father, of whom a more complete account appears elsewhere, was born in Hamilton township, Monroe county, and is now a leading citizen of Stroudsburg, hav- in held numerous official positions, including that of county treasurer. His wife, whose maiden name was Ella Andrews, was born in Pittston, Penn., and they had six children: William (deceased), Ralph Van Allen (our subject), Flora M., Clyde, Nettie and Randall.

Our subject's early educational advantages were not of the best, but he made up by private study what circumstances prevented him from gaining through instruction, and in the end was the gainer by his deprivations, as his innate ability developed within him the power to think for him- self, a trait which is worth much more than mere book-learning. He attended a school at Gilberts for one term, and he then taught two terms suc- cessfully. Business life seemed to promise more

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than a career as an educator, however, and having once decided upon a definite path in life he entered upon it with characteristic determination. Begin- ning as he could, he drove a delivery wagon in Stroudsburg for two years, and spent one year as a clerk in a general store, but in June, 1897, he was able to engage in business on his own account, forming a partnership with G. B. Decker and pur- chasing the present store at Analomink. This is the leading store of the place, and from the pres- ent indications it is safe to predict a bright future for the enterprise. Mr. Fetherman married Miss Jennie Hanna, who was born in 1876. They are popular socially, and are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while he also belongs to the P. O. S. of A., the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and the Royal Arcanum. Politically he is a stanch Democrat.

C. W. HATHAWAY. The subject of this sketch is certainly entitled to be considered not only one of the enterprising farmers of Ararat township, Susquehanna county, but one of its respected and honored citizens, and a man of more than ordinary ability.

Mr. Hathaway was born in 1850, in the town- ship where he still resides, and is a representative of one of its honored pioneer families. His father, Walter F. Hathaway, was born in 1819, in New York State, and in 1834 came to Susquehanna county with his parents, Horace and -( Brooks) Hathaway, who located in the woods of Ararat township and built a log house. Both died on the farm where our subject now resides. In their family were the following children: Walter F., father of our subject ; H. Philander, a preacher and salesman, who lived in Thompson, Susquehanna county, and died in 1898; William, a resident of Binghamton, N. Y .; Josiah, who died in Ararat township; and Morris, Caroline and Mary Ann, all deceased.

On reaching man's estate Walter F. Hathaway was married in Mt. Pleasant, Wayne Co., Penn., to Miss Harriet Hall, who was born in New York, but was reared in that county. The father, in com- pany with his brother, William E. Hathaway, of Binghamton, N. Y., opened up a farm in Ararat township, and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits there until called from this life, in 1866. His widow still survives him and finds a pleasant home with our subject, who is now the only repre- sentative of the Hathaway family left in Susque- hanna county.

C. W. Hathaway was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farmer boys, and since starting out in life for himself has followed the occupation with which he had already become quite familiar. He is a skillful and systematic farmer, and successfully operates his fine farm of 115 acres of highly cultivated land. In 1884 he was mar- lied, in Ararat township, to Miss Antoinette Hoel, a native of Wayne county, Penn., and a daughter of

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 407

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