Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 413

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 413
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 413
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 413
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 413

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).

1772

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in Mt. Pleasant township. He was born in that township, in February, 1824, a son of Orin and Lois (Denning) Griswold, natives of Connecticut and early settlers of Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne Co., Penn., where the father purchased 122 acres of wild land and transformed the same into a good farm. His residence was a little frame building, the first house of its kind in the township. He resided upon this property during his entire residence in the coun- ty, and when life's labors were ended he died there in 1878. His wife had passed away three years pre- viously.

In the family of this worthy couple were three sons and one daughter: (I) Alfred, born in Mt. Pleasant, in 1822, married Sarah A. Lowery, of Wayne county, and engaged in the butcher business in Carbondale, where he died in 1858. He left a widow and three children, of whom, Charles died at the age of nineteen years; Altha is now the wife of Stephen Tagely, of Carbondale, and has six children, George, Charles, Edward, Orin, Bell and Ollie. Orin, a conductor on the railroad between Pottsville and Wilkes Barre, is married and has one son. (2) Ru- fus, our subject. (3) Ambrose, born on the pres- ent home of our subject, in 1828, followed farming until his death (he did not marry ). (4) Mary, born on the same place, married Hiram Dibble, of Wayne county, and they made their home in Peckville, where she died, leaving no family.

Reared on the home farm, Rufus Griswold re- ceived his education in the public schools of the lo- cality, and during early life he followed lumbering and farming. In 1858 he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Miles, of Bethany, Wayne county, a daughter of James and Almeda ( Brink) Miles, now deceased. Her father was born in Orange county, N. Y., and when a young man came to Wayne coun- ty, where he was married and afterward located at Cherry Ridge, carrying on the stone mason's trade there until his death. His children were: Clarissa, now the wife of Levi Bennett; Mary J., wife of Rev. James Miner, of Watertown, N. Y .; Lucius; Charles N., who was drowned at sea ; Nancy, wife of our subject; Isaac and William H., who were both drowned at Honesdale in 1872; and Alice, wife of William Bates, of Carbondale. To Mr. and Mrs. Griswold were born two children, but Emma Jane, born in 1872, died in childhood, and the other died at birth. In 1873 they adopted Lula Drake, who remained with them until she became the wife of Wallace Mills, of Wayne county. They now reside in Mt. Pleasant township and have a family of four children : Bessie, Orasmuth, Gladys and Rufus.

After his marriage Mr. Griswold located in Clinton, Wayne county, where he resided for some time. During the dark days of the Rebellion, he manifested his love of country by enlisting, in 1862, and from Wayne county proceeded to Philadelphia, thence going to Newport News, Va., and later to Yorktown, Va., where he did guard duty, being de- tailed as provost guard until honorably discharged in August, 1863. Returning to Wayne county he en-

gaged in farming in Dyberry township for four years, and later for a number of years was in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Co. In 1875 he returned to the old home farm, where he and his wife cared for his father until the latter's death two years later. Our subject then purchased the place, and has since successfully operated it. He is an honored member of the Grand Army Post at Forest City, is a Jack- sonian Democrat in politics, and has held office. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church, and in the social circles of the community they occupy a promi- nent position.

JOHN SCHULER. Many of the best class of citizens of Monroe county have come from over the sea, particularly from the Empire of Germany. They have transported to this country the industry, thrift and economy of their native land, and have been very important factors in its development and prosperity. Of this class of honest, hard-working, alien born citizens, there is none who occupies a more prominent place than our subject, who is now engaged in general farming in Tobyhanna township.

Mr. Schuler was born May 29, 1833, in Rhine- berger, Germany, of which province his parents, John and Elizabeth (Stelp) Schuler, were also ņa- tives. The father who was a farmer and game war- den in Germany, came to America in 1860 and locat- ed at Wilkes Barre, Penn., where he followed coal mining. He died in that city in 1890, and his wife passed away in 1878. In their family were nine children : John, of this review; Valentine, a saloon keeper of Wilkes Barre ; Frank, who is employed on city work at that place; Frederick, who conducts a shoe store there; Adam, a molder of Wilkes Barre; Lewis, an engineer of Parsons, Penn .; Catherine, wife of Henry Walter, a laborer of Wilkes Barre; Elizabeth, widow of C. Frey, and a resident of Philadelphia ; and Annie, who is now a widow and resides in Philadelphia.

The subject of this sketch received a good prac- tical education in the German language, and re- mained in the Fatherland until eighteen years of age, when he crossed the Atlantic and found em- ployment as a farm hand near Wilkes Barre, Penn. Later he worked for three years in the lumber woods at Bear Creek, Luzerne Co., Penn., and then rented land and engaged in farming for two years, in Ham- ilton township, Monroe county, after which he pur- chased a farm in Jackson township, the same coun- ty, which he operated for seven years. On selling that place he came, in 1864, to Tobyhanna town- ship, and bought 150 acres, nearly all cleared. Here he followed lumbering and farming, and also for three years conducted a hotel, and for many years engaged in merchandising. Subsequently he spent twenty years in Wilkes Barre, where he en- gaged in the huckstering business, but in 1890 he returned to Tobyhanna township, Monroe county, and resumed farming. Besides his property here he owns a good farm of eighty acres in Jackson

1773

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

township, of which fifty acres have been cleared. In business matters he is prompt and notably relia- ble and the success that has crowned his efforts is certainly well deserved.

Mr. Schuler has been twice married, first at White Haven, Penn., to Miss Mary Miller, a daugh- ter of Jacob and Eve Miller, of Jackson township, Monroe county. Eight children blessed this union : George, who died at the age of twenty-three years ; Elizabeth, who died when young; William, who is employed in the wire rope works at Wilkes Barre; John, a teamster at that place; Frank, who works in a planing mill at Wilkes Barre; Annie, wife of Charles Togus, of Wilkes Barre ; Frederick, who has been employed for the past fifteen years in a cloth- ing store in Wilkes Barre; and Harry, a laborer and contractor for John Smith at Parsons, Penn. For his second wife Mr. Schuler married Catherine Winter, widow of Jacob Shiffer.

In his political views Mr. Schuler is independ- ent, and he has ever taken a very active and promi- nent part in public affairs, being one of the most public-spirited and progressive citizens of his com- munity. He has served several years as school di- rector, as supervisor two years and tax collector three years, and while a resident of Wilkes Barre he was a member of the election board, school di- rector four years, and treasurer of the school board for a year and a half. His official duties have always been most promptly and capably performed, and he is justly numbered among the valued and useful citizens of the township. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Evangelical Church, and he belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge at Wilkes Barre. .

ALFRED SWINGLE, an industrious and thrifty agriculturist of Sterling township, has spent his entire life in Wayne county, his birth occurring in South Canaan township, April 21, 1862. His par- ents, Ralph and Jeanette (Swingle) Swingle, were also natives of South Canaan township. During his active business career the father engaged in farming, and was employed on the old Gravity railroad until it abandoned business. He died in 1870, at the early age of thirty-two years, and was laid to rest in the Swingle burying ground of South Canaan town- ship. He left three children: Gaston, who died at the age of thirteen years ; and Alpheus and Alfred, twins, the former of whom died at the age of sev- enteen years. The mother, who was born in 1840, is now the wife of Elbert Boothe, a farmer, who makes his home in Bradford county, Pennsylvania.

On leaving home at the age of twenty-one years, Alfred Swingle purchased a farm in South Canaan township, which he operated for three years and then sold, moving to Salem township, where he also owned a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits for eleven years. On February 9, 1896, he bought his present farm, which is one of the best in Sterling township, for the land is under a high state of cultivation, and is improved with good and sub- stantial buildings.

In Dreher township, Wayne county, Mr. Swin- gle was married April II, 1888, to Miss Ellen Er- good, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Bel- lows. They now have four children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Ralph M., Feb- ruary 28, 1889; Sadie E., August 2, 1890; Florence M., March 30, 1892; and Howard A., April 22, 1895. Mrs. Swingle was born in Trumbull coun- ty, Ohio, October 10, 1865, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah E. (Campbell) Ergood, the former a native of Easton, Penn., and the latter of Trumbull coun- ty, Ohio. Her father now lives in Dreher township, Wayne county.

In his political affiliations Mr. Swingle is a Republican, and he always gives his support to those enterprises which he believes calculated to prove of public good, being one of the most public-spirited citizens of his community.

CHARLES D. MITCHELL, one of the most progressive and reliable business men of Salem township, Wayne county, has throughout the greater part of his life been prominently identified with the agricultural and lumber interests of this sec- tion of the State. He was born September 7, 1856, on the farm where he now resides, and is a worthy representative of one of the leading pioneer families of this region.

His father, John P. Mitchell, was born July 2, 1809, in Luzerne county, Penn., a son of Michael and Lucy (Munson) Mitchell, natives of Connecti- cut, who came to Wayne county, Penn., in 1814, and located in Salem township. His great-grand- father, Michael Mitchell, Sr., was born in England and on his emigration to America located in Con- necticut. During the Revolutionary war he was taken prisoner by the British and starved to death in a barn. Michael Mitchell, Jr., who was a farmer and lumberman, died January 26, 1855, aged eighty years, his wife February 3, 1867, aged ninety-one years and seven months.

Our subject's father also followed the occupa- tions of farming and lumbering quite extensively, operating sawmills for many years, and was sup- posed to have been very wealthy, but when the estate was settled after his death very little remained. He was a polished gentleman and quite prominent both in social and business life, enjoying the re- spect and esteem of all who knew him. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, was identified with the Republican party, and was honored with a number of township offices.

On February 13, 1831, in Sterling township, John P. Mitchell was married to Miss Elizabeth Long, who was born in Philadelphia, December 31, 18II, and by this union he had the following chil- dren : Lucy A., born August 26, 1832, married Hugh Lancaster, who engaged in farming and con- ducted a stick factory in Sterling, Wayne county, and she died September 18, 1892; Sarahett, born November 10, 1834, is the wife of John McFarland, whose sketch appears elsewhere. Angeline, born

1774

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

March 20, 1837, is the wife of Sanford Williams, a carpenter of Hamlinton, Wayne county ; Eugene B., born June 27, 1839,, is unmarried and resides in Scranton, Penn .; Salmon P., born March 29, 1841, married (first) Miranda Davis and after her death ( second) Jerusa Waite, and is engaged in carpen- tering in Olyphant, Penn. The mother of these children died May 9, 1841, and was laid to rest in the Hollisterville cemetery. Mr. Mitchell was again married, April II, 1842, his second union being with Miss Frances Williams, who died August 8, 1862, at the age of forty-one years and nine months. Seven children were born to them, namely: Mary E., born December 23, 1843, married Dr. H. B. Stevens, and both are now deceased; George, born July 24, 1845, is unmarried and is now serving as postmaster at Hollisterville ; Uriah W., born August 30, 1849, married Emma Kootzer and is a sawyer at Ricketts, Penn .; Nancy, born June 29, 1852, died January 27, 1857; Charles D., of this sketch, is next in order of birth; Hewett, born April 2, 1860, mar- ried Anna Walters and is a merchant at Forest City, Penn .; and Washington, born June 12, 1862, died July 31, 1862. On September 8, 1863, Mr. Mitchell married Mrs. Lucy A. Englert, who died September 18, 1892, aged seventy-one years, seven months and eighteen days. He died March 5, 1896, and both were buried in the Hollisterville cemetery.

Until twenty-four years of age Charles D. Mitchell remained under the parental roof, and then went to Spring Brook, Luzerne county, Penn., where he served as foreman for the Peck Lumber Co. for five years. The following ten years he held a similar position with the A. Lewis Lumber Co., but in 1895 he returned to the old homestead, and after the death of his father he purchased the place, which he is now successfully operating. The first sawmill erected on this land was built at an early day upon the site now occupied by our sub- ject's mill, the latter having been built by his fa- ther in 1871, when the original mill there was de- stroyed by fire.

On March 20, 1880, at Moscow, Penn., Mr. Mitchell was married, by Rev. W. B. Westlake, a Methodist Episcopal minister, to Miss Nellie Tur- ner, and they have become the parents of two chil- dren : Zoela, born January 27, 1881 ; and Maxwell, born May 17, 1882. Mrs. Mitchell was born May 21, 1859, at Springbrook, Penn., a daughter of Na- than and Sarah ( Wilson) Turner, the former a native of Spring Brook, the latter of Belvidere, N. J. Her parents were married at Daleville, Penn., and to them were born four children: Emma, born August 12, 1853, died unmarried ; Mary, born July 15, 1855, married Thomas Lewis, and both are now deceased ; George, born March 28, 1857, married Ida Scott, and is superintendent in a turning shop at Kane, Penn .; and E. Nellie completes the fam- ily. The mother died at Spring Brook, June 5, 1879, aged fifty-one years and nine months, but the father, who was born May 18, 1826, is still living at that place. He is a retired turner, having operated

a factory for many years ; is a Republican in pol- itics, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belonged. His parents were Abraham and Mary ( Slosson) Turner, the former a miller by trade. They were natives of Connecticut, and died in Spring Brook, Penn. Mrs. Mitchell's maternal grandparents, Will- iam and Sarah (Christian) Wilson, were born in Belvidere, N. J., where the latter died, while the former passed away at Spring Brook, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Mitchell is a well-educated man, having completed his literary course of study by six months' attendance at Kingston College when sixteen years of age, and he is thoroughly posted on topics of gen- eral interest, as well as the leading questions and issues of the day. He is a member in good standing of Blue Lodge, No. 330, F. & A. M., and in his political affiliations he is an ardent Republican. By all he is recognized as one of the most popular and influential citizens of Salem township, and his cir- cle of friends and acquaintances is extensive.

JAMES B. HELLER is a prominent repre- sentative of the farming and stock raising interests of Jackson township, Monroe county, and has pros- pered in his labors. He is a man of excellent busi- ness capacities, and his habits of thought and ob- servation have tended to provide him with a good fund of general information, which has proved valu- able in every respect.

The Heller family has long been identified with the agricultural and industrial interests of Mon- roe county. Jacob Heller, father of our subject, was born in Hamilton township, and for many years fol- lowed the cooper's trade in Stroud township, where he also engaged in farming on a small scale. There he wedded Mary Brewer, a native of Stroud town- ship, and a daughter of James Brewer, a shoe- maker of that township. Mr. Heller died in 1867, at the age of sixty-seven years, his wife in 1885, at the age of seventy-six. Both were active and prominent members of the Reformed Church, in which he was an officer at one time; politically he was a Democrat. Their children were Daniel, who died in Stroud township; James B., our subject ; Lillie, who is married and lives in Stroud township ; Therris, who died at the age of thirty years; Mary Ann, wife of Ferdinand Metzgar, of Stroud town- ship; Lewis, living in Stroud township; Henry, de- ceased; and Rachel, wife of Reuben Gerhart, of Cherry Valley, Stroud township.

James B. Heller was born December 15, 1828, in Stroud township, where he was reared, and re- ceived a fair common-school education. At the age of twenty-two he went to Carbon county, Penn., where he engaged in lumbering for twelve years. While thus engaged the Civil war broke out, and patriotic men from all the walks of life thronged to the front in response to the call of the general government to defend the national life. Fired by the spirit of patriotism, Mr. Heller enlisted, Feb- ruary 1, 1862, and served two years as a member of

1775

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Company E, 67th P. V. I., after which he re- enlisted, remaining in the service until hostilities ceased. The officers of his company were Capt. James Carney, Lieut. John Carpenter, and Second Lieut. Hagenbach, while Col. Stanton commanded the regiment. Mr. Heller participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, the second battle of Bull Run, and all of the engagements in the Shenandoah Valley. He was captured by the enemy at Win- chester, and held as a prisoner for forty-seven days on Belle Isle, and for a few days in Libby Prison. He took part in the fighting before Petersburg and Richmond, and witnessed the surrender of Gen. Lee, being finally discharged August 14, 1865.

Soon after the war Mr. Heller came to Jack- son township, Monroe county, and purchased his present property, consisting of 272 acres, much of which was wild at that time, but he has since cleared eighty acres, erected a comfortable residence, good barns and outbuildings, and now has one of the finest farms in the township.

At White Haven, Luzerne Co., Penn., Mr. Hel- ler married Miss Catherine Fenner, a daughter of Jonathan Fenner. She was born in Jackson town- ship, Monroe county, and died May 15, 1898, at the age of sixty-six years. Seven children were born to our subject and his wife, namely: Ferdinand is mentioned below; John is also a farmer of Jack- son township; Leonard is working in the lumber woods, and lives in Coolbaugh township, Monroe county ; Mary is the wife of Owen Neihart, of Jackson township; Alice is the wife of John Rieno, of Hamilton township, Monroe county; Frank is living in Stroudsburg; and Emma is the wife of Elmer Shoemaker, and lives on the old homestead.

Mr. Heller supported Lincoln for the Presi- dency at both elections, and also voted once for Gen. Grant, but he has since affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. As one of the leading citizens of the community he has been called upon to fill the of- fices of constable (two years), supervisor (seven- teen years), and overseer of the poor. He has also been a member of the election board. In 1854 he joined Snyderville Lodge, I. O. O. F., at White Haven, Penn., and is still connected with that Order, while religiously he is a member of the Lutheran Church. He is one of the famous hunters of his locality, and from boyhood up to 1893 had killed over 600 foxes, as may be seen by the records of bounty at the court house. Since 1865 he has also killed three bears and twenty-one deer.

Ferdinand Heller, son of our subject, was born in Stroud township, August 15, 1853, and was reared in Monroe county, receiving a common- school education. He remained on the home farm with his father until 1895. In Jackson township he married Miss Mary E. Rustine, a daughter of Ja- cob Rustine, and to them have been born seven children: John, Milton, Edward, Albert, Sadie, Emma and James B., all at home. In 1895 Mr. Heller became interested in a sawmill, and in cider making. He does custom sawing, and in the fall

does a large and profitable business in the manu- facture of cider, making 40,000 gallons annually. He owns sixty-two acres of land, about twenty of which are cleared, and in connection with his other business is engaged in farming to a limited extent. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, has efficiently served as school director for three years, and both he and his wife are earnest members of the Lu- theran Church.

SEDGWICK RUSSLING HUFF, an hon- ored veteran of the Civil war, and a representative farmer of Palmyra township, Pike county, was born June 7, 1838, in that township, and is of German descent.

Mr. Huff's paternal grandfather, Joseph Huff, was born, reared and married in Germany, and on emigrating to America located in Sussex county, N. J., where he spent his remaining days. Abram Huff, our subject's father, was born in that county, and in his native State married Miss Annie N. Perry. They soon afterward removed to Blooming Grove township, Pike county, Penn., and a short time later purchased property in Palmyra township, where the father died in May, 1863, at the age of eighty-three years ; the mother passed away at the extreme old age of ninety-six. In their family were the follow- ing named children: Sarah (deceased), who mar- ried Samuel Warner, a farmer of Palmyra township; Benjamin, who married Libby Smith, and died in lowa; Joseph, who died in infancy ; Ebenezer, who wedded Mary Ann Bishop, and is a farmer of Pau- pack township, Wayne Co., Penn .; Levi, a farmer of Palmyra township, married Annie Perry, and died in 1894 (he was a soldier in the Civil war) ; Ruth, wife of Robert Conley, a farmer near Brooklyn, Iowa; Peter, who died in Wayne county, Penn., at the age of thirty-five years; Margaret, wife of Charles Cole, a lumberman of Sullivan county, N. Y .; William (also a veteran of the Civil war), who married Maria De Groat, and resides in Salem town- ship, Wayne Co., Penn. ; Daniel, a resident of Haw- ley, Penn., who (first) married Martha Swingle, and (second) Sarah Chamberlain; and Sedgwick R., the youngest of the family.

The common schools of Pike county afforded our subject his educational privileges, and as soon as he was old enough to be of any assistance he be- gan to aid his father in the labors of the farm. Later he cared for his parents, when they became too old and feeble to help themselves. After his father's death he came into possession of the old homestead, which he sold, purchasing property in Salem town- ship, Wayne county. On disposing of the latter place he removed to Hawley, Penn., where he was em- ployed in a tannery for three years, and then worked in a sawmill at Wilsonville, Wayne county, for a . time. In 1883 he located upon a newly acquired farm in Palmyra township, Pike county, consisting of fifty acres, half of which is under cultivation, and here he has since successfully engaged in general agriculture.

1776

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Huff was married, in Monroe county, Penn., to Miss Martha E., daughter of Cornelius and Martha ( Kelley ) Buckingham, and three chil- dren blessed their union: Curtis T., born April 14, 1863, is a carpenter and contractor, and also a retail lumber dealer, at Dunmore, Penn .; Olive, born July 20, 1865, died at the age of two years; Berton T., born December 5, 1867, is in business with his brother as a contractor and builder at Dunmore.

During the dark days of the Rebellion Mr. Huff enlisted, in February, 1864, in the 113th P. V. I., and saw service in Virginia and Maryland, being honora- bly discharged in November, 1865. He is now an honored member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, is a stanch Republican in his political views, and has creditably served as supervisor of Palmyra township for three terms.

WILLIAM WICKLIFF POPE, the head of the Pope Manufacturing Company, of Gibson town- ship, Susquehanna county, is widely known as an un- dertaker and manufacturer of fine furniture. His factory, built by W. D. Eymer, is run by water power, enabling him to meet the demands of his large trade.

Mr. Pope was born April 1, 1843, at Smiley, Susquehanna county, and comes of good pioneer ancestry. Deacon William Pope, his grandfather, was born and reared in Connecticut, and was married there to Amy Stanton. About 1840 they removed to Susquehanna county, locating upon a farm in Gib- son township, and he became a leading worker in the Baptist Church of that locality, having been a deacon in the church before leaving Connecticut.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 413

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