Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 41

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 41
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 41
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 41
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 41

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ABRAM E. SNYDER, M. D., a well-known physician and surgeon of New Milford, is one of the younger representatives of the medical frater- nity in Susquehanna county, but his skill and ability have already gained for him an honorable position among his professional brethren, and he enjoys an extensive practice. He was born in Lackawanna county, Penn., September 21, 1863, a son of David N. and M. J. (Snyder ) Snyder, in whose family were five children, two sons and three daughters. The fa- ther was also a native of Lackawanna county, and was one of the men who valiantly fought for the preservation of the Union during the Civil war.

Dr. Snyder received a good literary educa- tion, and after leaving school commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Fike, a prominent and success- ful physician. Later he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and being a close student he was graduated with honors from that famous insti- tution in the class of 1889. Immediately after his graduation he located at Uniondale, Susquehanna county, then, in July, 1890, removed to New Mil- ford, where he was not long in building up a large and lucrative practice, also in the surrounding coun- try. He is prominent in professional circles, and is a most active and zealous member of the Susque- hanna County Medical Society.

In June, 1889, Dr. Snyder was united in mar- riage with Miss Ellis Stearns, a daughter of H. W. Stearns. She presides with gracious dignity over their beautiful home in New Milford, and their many friends are always sure of a hearty welcome within its hospitable doors. They occupy an en- viable position in social circles, and both are mem- bers of the Baptist Church.

WILLIAM ROTH is one of the most popular and enterprising citizens of Kresgeville, Monroe county, a leader in musical and business circles. He is the well known proprietor of the "Mansion House" at that place, one of the best hotels of the county, and is a music teacher of more than local prominence, his services as an instructor of bands being in great demand throughout this section of the State.

Born in Washington township, Lehigh Co., Penn., October 4, 1857, Mr. Roth is a son of Henry and Maria (Hoats) Roth, also natives of Lehigh county, who came to Monroe county in 1861. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, spent his last years in retirement from active business, and

died in October, 1897, at the age of seventy-eight years ; his wife departed this life in 1894, at the age of seventy-three, and the remains of both were in- terred in Pleasant Valley cemetery. They were worthy members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics the father was a Republican. Of their chil- dren, Henry died in 1896; Sarah is now the widow of Lewis Doorwart, and a resident of Walnutport, Penn .; Eliza Ann married William H. Barthold, of Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county, and now lives in Effort; Rebecca is the wife of Lewis Kunkel, who is living retired in West Pittston, Penn .; Peter is deceased; George is a resident of Walnutport, Penn .; John is a merchant of Little Gap, Penn .; William is next in the order of birth; and Alice died at the age of twenty-four years. Mr. Roth's parents, Henry and Maria (Hoats) Roth, came to Polk township, Monroe county, in 1861, and there made their home upon a farm throughout the remainder of their lives. After their death our subject purchased the old home, which he recently sold; he also bought his father-in-law's home, and also sold it again.

The first twenty years of his life William Roth spent upon the home farm with his parents. In February, 1878, at Pleasant Valley, Monroe county, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Ser- fass, by whom he has six children: Edith E., Cal- vin H., Della O., Mason A., Benjamin H. and Jen- nie M. Mrs. Roth was born in Polk township, Monroe county, August 21, 1859, a daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Hawk) Serfass, who always made their home in that county, spending their last days with our subject. The father, who was a farmer by occupation and a Democrat in politics, died in March, 1894, aged seventy-seven years, the mother in 1890, aged sixty-eight, and both were buried in Jerusalem Church cemetery. In their fam- ily were six children: Elizabeth, now the wife of Joseph Smale, a farmer of Polk township; Cath- erine, who married (first) Edward Brotzman, and (second) William Frantz, of Polk township; Adam, a blacksmith of Brodheadsville; Peter, a farmer of Eldred township, Monroe county ; Joseph, de- ceased, and Mary J., wife of our subject. Her grandfathers, Adam Serfass and Peter Hawk, were both lifelong residents of Monroe county.

On leaving home Mr. Roth commenced teach- ing school in Polk township, where he followed that profession four terms. During the following eight years he was engaged in the huckstering business. In 1873 he commenced the study of instrumental music under the able direction of Prof. A. B. Bush, since when he has devoted considerable attention to that art, and has organized and taught fifteen different bands, making a specialty of band music. He instructed eight at one time, and at pres- ent is teaching four. He is a talented musi- cian, and as an instructor has but few equals. At Kresgeville he has a full uniformed band-one of the best in this section of the State-of which he has been at the head for the past two years. He

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does not confine his attention to music, however, but is most successfully conducting the "Mansion House" at Kresgeville, the original one having been purchased by him in 1892, and converted into a modern, first-class hotel, heated by steam through- out and supplied with water. On the night or early morning of September 27, 1899, while Mr. Roth and his son Calvin were absent in Stroudsburg, the "Mansion House" was destroyed by fire, en- tailing a loss to Mr. Roth of $2,500. On Novem- ber 21, 1899, the building of the new one was com- menced, and it is equal, if not superior, to the old one in all respects. There is a fine bar and a good stable attached. It is only a short distance from the Pennforest brook trout hatchery, and is liberally patronized by a good class of people. Our subject has also bought the "American House," at Kresge- ville, which he rents, and in addition he owns nine acres of good land. Politically Mr. Roth is a Dem- ocrat ; religiously he is a member of the Lutheran Church, and socially is identified with the Jr. O. U. A. M., holding membership with the lodge at Slat- ington, and the Farmers Alliance.

FRANCIS W. PAYNE. Among the citizens of Susquehanna county who are actively engaged in industrial work, the subject of this sketch is one of the most worthy representatives. He has been farmer, soldier, carpenter, wagon maker and black- smith, and possesses that rare mechanical gift which makes easy to him that industrial occupation which to many is difficult, and he has met with mer- ited success.

Mr. Payne was born in Lenox township, Sus- quehanna Co., Penn., February 15, 1831, a son of William and Lucy (Knapp) Payne, and a grandson of Amos Payne, who about 1815, in middle life, moved with his family from Canterbury, Mass., to Lenox township, Susquehanna county, where he purchased property and engaged in farming until his death. His children were: Charles, Daniel, Louisa (Mrs. Seneca Tanner), William, and Susan (Mrs. Crawford Titus).

William Payne, the father of our subject, was born in Canterbury, Mass., in 1808, and was six years of age when he came with his parents to Lenox township. He married Lucy, daughter of William and Margaret (Rhyerson) Knapp, and en- gaged through life in farming in Lenox township, living to the age of seventy years. For many years he was also an active lumberman. In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and for many years he served as constable. His children were: Fran- cis W., subject of this sketch; Martin, a resident of Hyde Park, Penn. ; Margaret, wife of Frank Blaks- ley, of Nicholson, Penn. ; George L., hotel proprietor, at Harford village; James, of Gibson township; Amanda, wife of Thomas W. Westcott, of Gibson township; and Jekerbird D., who enlisted in Com- pany G, 143rd P. V. I., and died at Point Lookout from wounds received in the battle of the Wilder- ness.

Our subject was reared to manhood in Lenox township, and there he attended the district schools. At the age of twenty years he began life for him- self. He acquired the trade of carpenter and joiner, and also that of wagon maker, and with the proceeds of his labors he paid off the indebtedness on the homestead. He was married January I, 1861, in Lenox township, to Samantha E. Riner- son, born in Lenox township, in 1841, daughter of Cornelius and Eunice (Knapp) Rinerson. In the fall of 1862 our subject enlisted in Company G, 177th P. V. I., serving for a term of nine months. In 1864 he enlisted in Company G, 187th P. V. I., for a term of three years. He was in front of Petersburg June 18, 1864, and was there wounded by a spent shell, complications ensuing which al- most resulted fatally, our subject saving his life only after a hard struggle.

Returning to Lenox township at the close of the war, Mr. Payne followed farming for two years. He then removed to Hopbottom, and there engaged itì the wagon business. Then for eleven years he was employed by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Co., as carpenter and foreman. Succeeding that service Mr. Payne has for the past fourteen years followed wagon making and black- smithing at Hopbottom. His family consisted of the following children: Frank, who died at the age of nineteen years; Eva, wife of Eugene Mead, of Hopbottom ; Elmer, who is employed by the Del- aware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Co., at Binghamton, N. Y .; Eddie, at home; Viley, who died at the age of eleven years; and Leon and Cora, at home. In politics Mr. Pavne is a Dem- ocrat ; he has served as a member of the town coun- cil, and during the past seven years has been school director. Until the organization disbanded he was a member of the American Mechanics at Hopbot- tom. He is a capable, public-spirited citizen, and enjoys the highest esteem and regard of the com- munity in which he lives.

PERRY BIRDSALL, contractor and farmer of Forest Lake township, Susquehanna county, was born in Middletown township, that county, August 17, 1831, a son of Henry and Fannie (Canfield) Birdsall.

Henry Birdsall was born in the State of Con- necticut, and in early manhood settled in Middle- town township, on the north branch of the Wyalu- sing creek, and after spending some time there he moved to the Wolf road, where he bought land and settled. With the aid of his good wife and his chil- dren he cleared up a home in the woods, making a comfortable abiding place for their old age. Short- ly after leaving Connecticut he wedded Fannie Canfield, who was born in Middletown township, Susquehanna county, a daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Canfield, former residents of Connecticut, but later of Middletown. Mrs. Birdsall was a member of the Methodist Church, and devoted her- seli to the practice of the faith she professed. Mr.

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Birdsall passed away in 1866, his wife in 1872. They had a family of children besides our subject as follows: (1) Sarah married Johnston W. Stone, and lived near St. Paul, Minn., on a farm; (2) Harvey was twice married; his first wife, Orinda (Stone), died in Forest Lake township, leaving three children, Mary, Sabilla and Charlotte, all of whom died young. For his second wife he married Harriet Taylor, by whom he had children, Turrell, of Forest Lake; Chester, of Owego, N. Y .; Fanny, Douglas and Luna ; also Nelson and Susan, deceased. Harvey Birdsall died in March, 1897, his wife in 1888. (3) Phœbe A. died at the age of sixteen years. (4) Harmon married Miss Can- field, and for some time kept a hotel at Friendsville, Penn., and then went to Minnesota. After about five years passed in the Northwest he returned to Middletown and lived on a farm until he returned to New York State. He has eight children, George M., Nelson, Judson, Watson, William, Flora, Ben-

janin and Frederick. (5) Emeline married Jo- seph F. Twining, of Middletown, and died leaving children, Phœbe A. (wife of William Totton), George, William, Clara (deceased), and Libbie. (6) Lodema married John W. Sliter, and for twenty years they resided in Forest Lake township, and then moved to Bradford county, where she died, leaving five children, Martha, wife of Ira Gregory; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Holeman, of Waverly (both are now deceased) ; Morris, Sarah and Ida. Mr. Sliter was a soldier in the Civil war, and was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness. (7) Julia married Joab Thompson, of St. Paul, Minn., where he died; they had two daughters, Maggie and Fanny. (8) Alvira married Fred- erick Billings, a druggist of Leraysville, Penn., and has one son, George. (9) Chester K. enlisted during the Civil war in the 5th N. Y. V. C., and was in a number of battles; after the war he went to Minnesota, where he died.

Perry Birdsall received his literary training in the district schools of Middletown and Forest Lake townships, making his home in the family of Judson Stone, upon whose farm he worked until he was twenty-one years old. He then took up the carpenter's trade, at which he worked as contractor and builder, employing at times from six to eight men, until the outbreak of the Rebellion. When his country needed him he cast aside his personal affairs and enlisted in the 22nd N. Y. V. C. under Col. Phil Sheridan. For four months he did skir- mish duty, and was then stricken with typhoid fever, and passed two months in the field hos- pital at Winchester, Va. He returned to his reg- iment, and after hostilities had ceased he was em- ployed in administering the oath of allegiance to those engaged in the Rebellion. In August, 1865, at Rochester, N. Y., he was honorably discharged from service. On resuming the arts of peace he settled for some five years in Middletown, where he engaged again in contracting and building. In 1876 he purchased the John Sliter and William

Morgan farms in Forest Lake township, where he has erected two fine houses, one for his son Jud- son, and the other for himself and family. Two good barns are also to be included among the many improvements he has made on the farms, and, while still engaged at his trade, he nevertheless finds time to see that his farms are well conducted after the most modern methods.

On October 31, 1855, Mr. Birdsall was united in marriage with Miss Julia T. Gregory, who was born in 1840, a daughter of Zalmon and Susan (Green) Gregory, of Forest Lake township, the former of whom was born in Lexington, N. Y., and the latter in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county. Both are deceased. Besides Mrs. Bird- sall, Zalmon and Susan (Green) Gregory were the parents of the following children: Anna E., de- ceased wife of Isaac Strange, had three children, Theresa, Warren and Myron; Rachel M. deceased wife of Joab Tebbitts, had five children, Alzady, James, Jane, Mary and Lucy ; Daniel, a resident of lowa ; George, deceased, was buried at Youngwom- anstown, on the north branch of the Susquehanna river; Ruth Jane, married the late Jeremiah Can- field (who served four years in the Civil war in an Iowa cavalry regiment), of Des Moines, Iowa, and had five children, Wallace, Charlie, Martha, William and Lee; William, who served in the con- struction corps in the war of the Rebellion, mar- ried Alice Greenleaf, of Canton, Penn., and twenty years ago they went to Kansas City, Mo., where the wife graduated in medicine and is now a practic- ing physician (their children are George, Levi and Mary ) ; and Ira, of Jessup township, Susquehanna county, has five children, Minnie, Nettie, Charles, Wellington and George. Mrs. Birdsall was edu- cated in the schools of Forest Lake and is a highly cultured woman, taking a prominent place in the social life of the community. To Mr. and Mrs. Birdsall have been born five children: (I) Charles E., born at Forest Lake in 1856, is a farmer in Warren, Bradford Co., Penn. He married Zoela Snell, and has one daughter, Ruby. (2) Flora, born August 17, 1858, married George M. Bird- sall, a carpenter at Binghampton, N. Y., and has two children, Frank and Grant. (3) Judson W., born in 1864, grew up on the home farm, was edu- cated in the district schools and then learned the carpenter's trade. On November 9, 1887, he mar- ried Hattie S. Day, who was born May II, 1868, a daughter of Erastus and Eunice Day, of Forest Lake township. She was educated in the district schools, and now presides with grace and dignity over her husband's home in the same township. They have one daughter, Maude M., born August 12, 1888, and now attending school. (4) Earl B., born in 1883, is a fine violinist, and is still at home. (5) Eva died in childhood.

The Republican party has always received the hearty support of Mr. Birdsall, and his sons affiliate with the same party. Active in every movement for the advance of the welfare of his town and

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county, Mr. Birdsall can always be found on the side of progress, and in his quiet unassuming way wields an influence of untold weight for good.

PAUL SWINGLE, justice of the peace, and president of the Wayne County Mutual Insurance Company, is a leading citizen of South Canaan Cor- ners, Wayne county, and for many years has held an influential place in the business, social and polit- ical life of that section. His genial disposition has won for him a host of friends, and he has frequently been chosen to positions of public trust, in which he has shown marked ability and unswerving fidelity to duty.

His family is well known in Wayne county, his great-grandfather, Hans Ulrich Swingle, a native of Switzerland, having settled there in 1783. Conrad Swingle, our subject's grandfather, was born in New York State in 1769, and died in Wayne county in 1849, and his wife, Lucy (Bunton), died in 1850. [A more complete account of the Swingle family appears elsewhere, giving interesting particulars concerning the earlier generations. ]

Moses Swingle, the father of our subject, was born April 2, 1804, and during his later life was ex- tensively engaged in farming in South Canaan town -. ship, Wayne county. He was a man of much intel- ligence, and in early manhood he taught school for a time, and throughout his life he was fond of the old-time sports of hunting and trapping, in which he excelled. At various times he held town- ship offices, and he was an active worker in the Dem- ocratic organization of his locality until the nomina- tion of J. C. Fremont, when he became an ardent supporter of the Republican party. For a number of years he was a leading member of the Methodist Church near his home, and he died in that faith on November 29, 1891, aged eighty-six years, his last days being spent with his son-in-law, R. E. McMinn. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Cobb, is also deceased, and the remains of both were in- terred in the cemetery at South Canaan. They had the following children : Mary A. and Mary F., who died in infancy ; Laura J., wife of Conrad Cobb, a farmer in Lackawanna county, Penn .; Clark, a farmer in Washington State; Rubie, deceased ; Ralph, who died leaving a widow (now Mrs. Booth, of Bradford county, Penn.) and three children; Paul, our subject, who is mentioned more fully be- low; Asa S., a farmer in Kansas; Benjamin F., a farmer in South Canaan township, Wayne county ; Lewis, who married Jane Manderville, and died in Kansas ; Ruth A., a resident of South Canaan ; Es- tella, Mrs. Benjamin Smith, a widow residing at Montoursville, Penn .; Lucetta, wife of Abraham Kiser, a farmer in South Canaan township; and Abbie, deceased wife of R. E. McMinn, assistant postmaster at South Canaan.

Our subject was born April 18, 1838, at South Canaan Corners, and grew to manhood upon the farm. His education was begun in the public schools of the vicinity, and at the age of eighteen he entered

Wyoming Seminary for a higher course of study, remaining two terms. On leaving school he taught for one term in Lackawanna county, Penn., and then, returning to South Canaan Corners, he became a clerk in the store of E. C. Swingle. In 1859 he purchased a half interest in a sawmill and flouring- mill, which he conducted in partnership with H. S. Bloes until 1862, when he sold out to Mr. Bloes and entered the Union army. He served four months in Company A, 137th P. V. I., under Capt. J. M. Buckingham, with the rank of second lieutenant, and although he escaped wounds he was taken ill and sent home disabled. During his term of service he had participated in the battles of Antietam and South Mountain. After his recovery he purchased a farm and settled down, but his patriotic spirit led him to again offer his services to the government as a sol- dier, and March 7, 1865, he re-enlisted, this time in Company A, 143rd P. V. I., under Capt. Plottsy, on detached service. He remained in the service as long as there was any fighting to be done, and on coming home resumed the management of his farm, continuing until 1890, when he removed to South Canaan Corners. In 1893 he was appointed presi- dent of the Wayne County Mutual Insurance Co., which office he has ever since held, and at times he has been identified with important enterprises of various kinds. He is one of the chief advisers of the Republican party in his locality, and has held dif- erent offices, including those of school director, and auditor, besides other positions in the township, and since 1869 he has served continuously as justice of the peace. He has also been active in the politics of the county, and in 1874 he was elected treas- urer of the county. Socially he is connected with the I. O. O. F. at South Canaan, also with Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., at Waymart, and for years he has been an active member of the Methodist Protest- ant Church at South Canaan.

On November 25, 1857, Squire Swingle was married in South Canaan township to Miss Sarah J. Sampson, who was born at South Canaan October 23, 1838, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Storm) Sampson. Her father was born in Con- necticut, her mother in Monroe county, Penn., and they located in South Canaan township in pioneer times. Mrs. Sarah J. Swingle died February 14, 1893, and on December 4, 1897, the Squire married Miss Elizabeth Hetzel, daughter of Samuel Hetzel, of South Canaan. By his first marriage he had the following children: M. Eugene, the postmaster at South Canaan, who is also engaged in agriculture ; Mary A., who married Andrew Swingle, a distant relative, who resides upon a farm in South Canaan township ; Calvin E., who married Lizzie Lesher and resides in Scranton, Penn .; Carrie, wife of John Condon, a decorator at Honesdale; William, who married Anna Hoel, and is engaged in farming in Lake township, Wayne county; Nelson, a railway postal clerk, who married Anna Black, and resides at Scranton ; Elsworth, a farmer in South Canaan township, who married Martha Swingle, a distant

Paul Single

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relative; Velmar, wife of George Howell, a school teacher of South Canaan township; Estella, wife of George Carman, an oyster grower on Long Island ; and Jennie M., who married David Hand, a black- smith, and resides at Scranton, Pennsylvania.

GEORGE HARRISON (deceased). The subject of this memoir was for many years a lead- ing agriculturist of New Milford township, Susque- hanna county, and on retiring from active business he made his home in New Milford village where he and his family at once took an enviable position in social and religious circles. While he was noted as an able and successful business man, his kind- liness of heart was no less .recognized and many warm friends mourned his death.

Mr. Harrison was a native of Hampshire, Eng- land, born in 1808, and came to this country when twenty-one years of age. Being of a roving dispo- stion he spent some years in travel, returning twice to England, but later settling in Dutchess county, N. Y., where he married Miss Elizabeth Senior. After a few years he removed to Washington, Litchfield Co., Conn., and in 1850 he settled upon a farm in 'New Milford township, Susquehanna county. In connection with his agricultural work he was engaged in business as a dealer in live stock, and much fine stock was brought to Susquehanna county by him. He was prominent in local affairs, holding various local township offices, and although not a member of any religious society, he attended the Episcopal Church and contributed to its work. As old age came on his health failed, and in 1870 he retired to New Milford, where he died Septem- ber 8, 1892, aged eighty-three years, nine months twenty-eight days, and his remains were buried in New Milford cemetery. His second wife was Mrs. Sarah Jane Foster, nee Harrington, who survives him. He left four children, all by the first mar- riage: James, who is now a resident of St. Paul, Minn., was born in Dutchess county, N. Y. (the others were born in Connecticut) ; William is a farmer in New Milford township; Frances married Frederick Percy, of Bridgeport, Conn .; and Anna married Albert Thompson, of Binghamton, New York.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 41

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