Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 415

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 415
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 415
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 415
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 415

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).

Mr. Smiley belongs to a pioneer family, his grandparents, Thomas and Lucretia Smiley, hav- ing settled "in the woods" two miles east of Strouds- burg at an early day. There they made their per- manent home, clearing and cultivating a farm, which was divided after their death between their two sons, Thomas and David. The latter married Miss Elizabeth Palmer, of Monroe county, and had seven children: Morris; Samuel, a resident of Stroudsburg; Emily, who married William Jones, both now deceased; Mary, wife of A. Sayers, of Stroud township; Eliza, wife of John A. Bush, of Stroud township; and Annie, who married a gen- tleman of New York.

Thomas Smiley, father of our subject, grew to manhood on the old homestead, and married Miss Catherine Ult, a member of a leading pioneer fam- ily of Barrett township, Monroe county. Mr. Smiley remained on his father's homestead until his death, and his wife survived him only a few years. The subject of this sketch is the eldest in a family of six children, the others being: (2) Charles E., born in 1846, died in Stroudsburg. Early in the Civil war he enlisted in the 15th N. J. V. I., and was honorably discharged after two years' service on account of wounds received at the battle of the Wilderness. After the war he married Miss Jane Westbrook, of Stroud township, who survives him. They had no children. (3) Miss Sarah A., born in Monroe county, resides in Stroudsburg. (4) Jane married Charles Fish, of Stroud township, Monroe county, and died some years ago, leaving no family. (5) Allen was drowned when a boy. (6) Emily died in infancy.

John B. Smiley was born in January, 1844, and grew to manhood on the old homestead. He en- joyed the advantages of a district-school education and later attended the higher schools of Strouds- burg, where he graduated in 1865. On April 10, 1865, he enlisted in Company D, 215th Regiment P. V., in the Civil war, and was taken to Alexan- dria, where he was on duty several months, being honorably discharged at Fort Delaware on July 21, 1865. On his return home he engaged in teaching in the public schools of Monroe county, continuing until 1895. In 1867 he married Miss Elizabeth Arndt, of Bartonsville, Monroe county, and settled on his father's old homestead, his summers being spent in farming and his winters in teaching school. In 1878 he bought the Richard Le Bar prop- erty, where he erected a fine home in 1891, giving it the name of the "Ridge Dell House," already a

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favorite resort of tourists. Politically Mr. Smiley is a Democrat and at times he has held office, serv- ing as supervisor, assessor and township clerk. He is a member of the P. O. S. A., and he and his worthy wife are both active workers in the Meth- odist Church at Spragueville. Their seven chil- dren are: William A., born in February, 1868, is a miller by trade. He married Miss Alice Row, of Stroud township, and they now reside in East Stroudsburg. Stearns P., born in 1869, in Stroud township, Monroe county, is now a telegraph oper- ator at Southampton, Mass. He is a member of the Masonic order. He married Miss Lizzie Nyce, of Stroud township, Monroe county, and they have two sons-Edward and Frederick. Bernard S., born in May, 1871, is a telegraph operator on the Wilkes Barre & Eastern R. R. Floyd I., born in April, 1873. Mary E., born in August, 1875. Grace H., born in July, 1877. D. J., born in April, 1880.

Mrs. Smiley is noted for her good works in religious and philanthropic lines, and she is an able assistant to her husband. She comes of pioneer stock, her parents, Benjamin and Mary (Posten) Arndt, being among the first settlers at Bartons- ville, where her father cleared and improved two good farms. He is now deceased, but his widow resides on the homestead. They had eight children, of whom Mrs. Smiley is the eldest, the others being : William T .; Thomas P .; Jesse was accidentally killed in boyhood; Edward, who was engaged in railroading, is a resident of Mauch Chunk, Penn .; Hattie married John W. Ace, of Swift Water; Franklin S., a physician of Scranton, mar- ried Miss Isabella Taylor, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and has a son, Frank; and Ellen married Samuel Wat- son, of East Stroudsburg, who died leaving no family.

EDWARD CONRAD. The subject of this sketch has demonstrated the possession of both business and musical talent. Both parents were teachers of music and in his younger years our sub- ject was a successful musician. Quite recently he has turned his attention to business and has met with flattering success. He is engaged in general farming in Hopbottom borough, and has given especial attention to poultry and stock raising.

Andrew Conrad, his father, is a native of Sax- ony, Germany, where he was educated and where he married Catherine Mueller, who in her girlhood days had taught music. Andrew Conrad emigrated to America with his family, locating first in New York City, and later at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Penn. He has been a lifelong music teacher- vocal, violin and piano. After ten years' residence in Pottsville he removed to Wilkes Barre and thence to Scranton, Penn., where he now follows his pro- fession. His children are as follows: Matilda, wife of Louis Rauch, of Philadelphia ; Louisa, who married Dr. Wehlau, of Scranton, and is now de- ceased; William, who is engaged in the milk busi-

ness at Green Ridge, near Scranton; Louis, a hat- ter of Green Ridge; Charles, correspondent for the First National Bank, of Scranton, Penn .; Edward, our subject; Emma, who studied music for seven years in Germany and now has considerable local fame as a musician, is the wife of Theo. Hem- berger, a pupil of Joachim, of Berlin, Germany, who now conducts an orchestra at Scranton ; Josephine, wife of Dr. Wehlau, mentioned above; and Otto, who is engaged in the life and fire in- surance business at Scranton.

Edward Conrad, our subject, was born at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Penn., April 12, 1865. He received his education in the public schools of Scranton, and at the age of fifteen began life as a musician, which he continued for ten years, giving instruction on the violin and leading in the Sunday- school orchestra in Scranton. He was married, in that city, to Miss Clare Woodhouse, daughter of John Woodhouse: She was born in England, was brought to America when two years of age by her father, and was reared in Scranton. To our sub- ject and wife have come two children-Harold, born August 30, 1892, and Edward, born Septem- ber 30, 1894. For several years Mr. Conrad en- gaged in the milk business with his brother at Green Ridge. In 1896 he came to Hopbottom, Susquehanna county, where he leased 140 acres of land, about half of which was cleared, and he has since engaged in general farming. He has from 300 to 400 chickens and operates a creamery, hav- ing about 25 head of cattle. During his first year on the farm Mr. Conrad reared 1,500 chickens. In 1898 he raised 1,000 ducks, and he has made con- siderable investment in farm property. His busi- ness investments have been very successful. In politics he is a Republican. He has served as a school director in the borough, and himself and wife are prominent members of the Baptist Church, of Scranton.

OLIVER BENSLEY, of Lehman township, Pike county, is one of the representative agricult- urists of his locality, and his farm of 170 acres shows the thrift and care of a. capable manager.

Mr. Bensley comes of pioneer stock, his great- grandfather, Israel Bensley, having settled in this locality at an early day, where he acquired a large amount of land. The particulars of his settlement are given in the sketch of James M. Bensley, else- where.

Adam Bensley, our subject's grandfather, was born in Monroe county, later moved to Lehman town- ship, Pike county, and finally made his home in Delaware township, of the same county, where his death occurred in 1857, his remains being interred in Delaware cemetery. His wife, who is buried beside him, was Miss Anna Impson, a native of Pike county. They had the following children : Jacob, our subject's father ; Sarah, Mrs. Jacob Gag- ger ; Israel, who died in childhood ; Catherine. Mrs. Adam Van Gorden; Elizabeth, Mrs. Aaron Bergs-

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treser ; Daniel, deceased, who never married; Han- nah, Mrs. Joseph C. Lattimore; Mary A., Mrs. John Bergstreser; Jane, Mrs. Adam Davis; Elsa, Mrs. Benj. Fralick; John, who married Ann Davis; and Susan, Mrs. Burris Ward.

Jacob Bensley, the father of our subject, was born September 30, 1810, in Pike county, where he followed farming for many years, his death occur- ring in 1886, when he was in his seventy-seventh year. He was an active and influential worker in local affairs and held several official positions, in- cluding that of commissioner of Pike county. Po- litically he was a Republican in later years, and he and his wife were devout members of the Meth- odist Church. He married Miss Sally Ann Clif- ford, who died in 1875, aged sixty-five years, and the remains of both now rest in Swartwout ceme- tery in Pike county. Their children were Oliver, a resident of Lehman township, Pike county ; Elizabeth, wife of Luke Whittaker; J. Madison, who married Mary Gariss; Charles, who died in the army; Ryma and Jane (twins), of whom the former married Charles Hoffe, and the latter John Cromer ; Maria, wife of Oscar Van Gorden; Jos. eph, who married Belinda Decker; Solomon, who died in the army, unmarried; Susan; Frank and William, who are not married; Robert P .; Jacob, deceased ; Martha and Albert, who are not mar- ried and reside together at Susquehanna, Penn .; and John S.

The Clifford family, to which our subject's mother belonged, became identified with Sussex county, N. J., at an early date, and Casper Clifford, our subject's grandfather, was born there. Soon after his marriage to Elizabeth Teel, of the same county, he removed to this section, locating in Pike county, where both spent their remaining years. They had eight children: Sally Ann, our subject's mother ; Henry ; Martin; Isaac, who married Cath- erine Gould ; Hannah, wife of David Benson ; Mar- garet, wife of Martin Rosencrans; Mary, wife of William Smith; and James (twin of Mary), who married Elizabeth Utt.

Our subject was born August 13, 1833, in Lehman township, Pike county, and remained at the old homestead until he attained his majority. He then engaged in lumbering, which he has since continued, carrying on the peeling bark business extensively every winter. In early manhood he purchased twenty acres of land from his grand- father Bensley, and after making his home there for two years, he purchased his present farm. While he has never been a politician he is a stanch Republican and at times his fellow townsmen have chosen him to office. He has served as supervisor and school director for one term each, his intelli- gence and public spirit making him a most capable official.

On February 24, 1855, Mr. Bensley was mar- ried, in Lehman township, to Miss Elizabeth Utt, daughter of John and Sally Utt. She was born August 13, 1833, in Monroe county, and died Febru-

ary 22, 1887, her remains being laid to rest in Swartwout cemetery. On July 4, 1889, Mr. Bensley was married, at Port Jervis, N. Y., to Mrs. Elmeda (Shaffer) Heater. He has had thirteen children, all born to the first union, namely: Irvin C., May 23, 1856, married Susie Schuylard, of Lehman township, and died December 10, 1882; James M., born February 6, 1858, married Marian Stewart, and resides upon a farm in Lehman township; Wallace, born October 13, 1859, married (first) Miss Annie Titman (who died leaving one daugh- ter-Cora), and (second) Miss Jennie Gagger ; William R., born December 9, 1861, married Josephine Heater, and resides on a farm in Lehman township; Harrison, born March 22, 1864, married Ida Shoemaker, and is engaged in farming in New Jersey ; Solomon, born November 30, 1865, mar- ried Cora Albright, and resides upon a farm in Delaware township, Pike county; Alpheus, born May 6, 1868, married Anna Smith, and is engaged in farming in Lehman township; Ida Ann, born June 30, 1870, married Calvin Croen, a hotel keeper in New Jersey ; Charles, born March 17, 1872, mar- ried Nellie Van Auken, and is a farmer near Hainesville, N. J .; Marcus, born May 24, 1874, married Almira Croen (sister of Calvin), and is engaged in farming near Scranton, Penn .; Isaiah, born June 24, 1876, married Maggie Heater, and resides at the homestead with our subject; Eva, born July 23, 1878, married Frank Layton, a farmer of Lehman township; and Miss Ada, born Octo- ber 16, 1880, is at home.

Mrs. Elmeda Bensley is a native of Delaware township, Pike county, and a daughter of Isaac Shaffer, who was born in Monroe county, but made his home in Pike county, where he died in 1883, aged eighty-seven years, six months and six days. His wife, Elizabeth ( Hoover), a native of Pike county, died in March, 1894, aged eighty-nine years. Their children were: Peter, Matilda, Catherine, Jacob, Moses, Mary E., Adam, William, Elmeda, Isaac, John and Maria, of whom the last two died in childhood. Mrs. Bensley was married (first), November 12, 1861, to Theodore Heater, a farmer by occupation, who died in 1882, aged forty- six years, two months and six days, and was buried in Delaware cemetery. By this union she had eleven children, namely: Adelia, wife of Milo Weaver, of Stroudsburg; Elmira, wife of Samuel Singer, of the same city; Oliver, who resides in Stroudsburg; Alfred, a resident of Stroudsburg, who married Mary Smith; Hannah and Frank, deceased; Ella, deceased; Philip and Floyd, resi- dents of Stroudsburg; Maggie; and Miss Minerva.

HARRY VARNUM FRINK, D. D. S., a pop- ular and successful dentist of Montrose, Penn., is a native of Susquehanna county, born May 22, 1864, in Auburn township, a son of George Stillman and Lucy Ellen ( Frink) Frink. The father was born in Montrose, in 1839, a son of George and Mary ( Cran- dall) Frink, and the mother was born in Auburn

On Mi Fr

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township, in 1844, a daughter of Tracy and Harriet ( Griffis) Frink. They spent the first few years of their married life in Auburn township. In 1864 the father enlisted at the last call for troops during the Civil war, becoming a member of a company of cavalry, but on reaching Louisville, Ky., was tak- en ill and was confined to the hospital for six months. On receiving his discharge he returned to his home in Auburn township; later spent eight years in New Milford township; and in 1872 located on the old Frink homestead in Bridgewater township, where he now resides. He is a quiet, unassuming man, whose life has been devoted to agricultural pur- suits, and he commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. He is a supporter of the Republican party, and a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dr. Frink is the eldest in a family of seven chil- dren, the others being Frederick H., who died at the age of one year ; Tracy M., who resides on the old homestead with his father; Harriet M., wife of E. W. Rogers, a pattern maker, of Westfield, N. J .; Lovern E., foreman for the Rocket Printing Company, of Wyalusing, Penn .; Leo M., who died at the age of twenty years; and Oland B., a pat- tern maker of New York City.

The early education of our subject was ac- quired in the district schools near his boyhood home, and at the age of fourteen years he commenced at- tending school in Montrose, walking each morning and evening a distance of three miles to school. On leaving home, he worked for neighdoring farmers for two years through the summer months, while he taught school during the winter season for three years in New Milford township and one year in Franklin township. At the age of twenty-two, he attended the Wyoming Seminary for a part of two terms, and then canvassed Bradford county, Penn., for the Union Publishing Company, of New York, for one year. Then, after spend- ing a few weeks at home, "he went to Sy- racuse, N. Y., where during the evenings he studied medicine for six months, while he worked for the Syracuse Novelty Manufacturing Co. through the day. On October 1, 1888, he en- tered the Philadelphia Dental Collage, from which he was graduated in February, 1890, and then opened an office in Montrose, where he has succeeded in building up a large practice in his chosen profession.

On October 8, 1891, in Bridgewater township, Dr. Frink was married to Miss Edith Lenora Bush, a native of that township, and a daughter of Caleb S. and Mary (Michaels) Bush, who are still living in Bridgewater township, where the father is en- gaged in farming. The Doctor and his wife have one child, Mollie Lynn, born in May, 1895. On May 5, 1892, Dr. Frink enlisted as a private in Com- pany G, 13th Pennsylvania National Guard, and was soon afterward made corporal, and later, bugler. He was in active service for eighteen days during the Homestead riot, and at the end of three years, May 6, 1895, was discharged at Montrose. His

political support is given the men and measures of the Republican party. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is prominently identified with several civic societies, serving as sec- retary of the Royal Arcanum six years ; secretary of the I. O. H. three years; and treasurer of the Knights of Pythias for the past three years. He also belongs to the Sons of Veterans, and is a man of considerable prominence in the community.

C. W. BRODHEAD, a leading blacksmith and prominent citizen of Montrose, Susquehanna county, was born December 20, 1852, near White Haven, Luzerne Co., Penn., a son of Samuel and Margaret (Tidd) Brodhead, who are now living in Old Forge, Pennsylvania.

Samuel Brodhead was born June 22, 1826, at Stoddardsville, Luzerne Co., Penn., and the mother of our subject at Easton, March 25, 1830. In early life Samuel Brodhead worked in the lumber woods, but is now living retired from active labor. Dur- ing the Civil war he served as a private in Company E. 185th N. Y. V. I., and was wounded at Quaker Roads, March 28, 1865. Prior to the war he sup- ported the Democratic party, but he is now a stanch Republican, and both he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In their family were the following children: Lorenzo, who was drowned, at the age of two years, in Hick- ory Run, Penn .; C. W .; W. James, a blacksmith of Elk Lake, Penn .; Anna, who married ( first) William Porter, and (second) Wilson Fargo, and is now a widow residing in Waterbury, Conn .; Samuel, a notary public at Old Forge, Penn .; Wealthy, a school teacher of Old Forge; J. Irwin, an Episco- pal clergyman of Forest City, Penn .; Margaret, a dressmaker at Old Forge; Luther B., who graduated from the Bloomsburg Normal School and is now engaged in teaching the sciences at Scranton, Penn .; Minnie, who died at the age of one year ; and Josie May, who graduated from the Stroudsburg State Normal, and is now a school teacher of Old Forge. Our subject's paternal grandparents were John R. and Rebecca Brodhead, of Stroudsburg, Penn. Four generations of the family are now living, and the parents of our subject celebrated their golden wed- ding, August 29, 1899.

Charles W. Brodhead moved from the lumber woods at the age of nine years, and, later, un- til sixteen he was employed in coal mines, at which age he entered a blacksmith shop at Moosic, Penn., to learn the trade. He soon mastered the business and continued to work at his chosen occu- pation in that locality until December, 1874, when he removed to Brooklyn, Susquehanna county, where he conducted a shop of his own for four years. The following eleven years were passed at Elk Lake and from there he came to Montrose, where he is now doing a large and profitable business.

On June 20, 1871, at Lackawanna, Penn., Mr. Brodhead was married to Miss Henrietta Slack, who was born in Belvidere, N. J., May 12, 1854,

in ley da in,

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a daughter of Henry Slack. By this union the fol- lowing children have been born: Emma died at the age of fourteen months ; Charles W. died in infancy ; Samuel E., a horseshoer of Montrose, married Mar- gerie Mawhimy, and has one son, Charles J .; Jennie is at home ; Clarence G. died at the age of two years ; and Gai E. is at home. Members of four genera- tions of this family, yet living, are: Samuel, born 1826; Charles W., 1852; Samuel E., 1875; and Charles J., 1897.

Mr. Brodhead is a member of the Farmers Alliance and of the Grange, and he is also at present a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Susque- hanna County Agricultural Society. He also be- longs to the Sons of Veterans, and the Knights of Pythias, which he joined in 1873, and in which he is now serving as grand order guard of the State, having represented the subordinate lodge in the Grand Lodge for the past eighteen years. The Dem- ocratic party finds him a stanch supporter of its principles, and in 1898 he was the candidate for Representative on the Democratic ticket. Although defeated, he reduced the Republican majority to one- half of its usual amount. At one time he was the only Democrat in the city council, and while a mem- ber of that body he was one of the pioneer advocates of the sewerage system of Montrose. He is public- spirited and progressive, and always gives a willing support to every enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit. He has one of the best libraries in Montrose and is a well-informed man.

JOHN DOUGLAS MILLER. In the last half century the lawyer has been a pre-eminent factor in all affairs of private concern and national im- portance. He has been depended upon to conserve the best and the permanent interests of the whole people, and he is a recognized power in all the aven- ues of life. He stands as the protector of the rights and liberties of his fellow men, and he is the repre- sentative of a profession whose followers, if they would gain honor, fame and success, must be men of merit and ability. Such an one is John D. Miller, who is engaged in the practice of law in Susque- hanna, Susquehanna county, though he makes his home in Thompson, that county.

Mr. Miller was born December 6, 1856, in Greene county, N. Y., a son of Abram D. and Lydia (Doug- las) Miller, natives of Delaware and Greene coun- ties, N. Y., respectively. The father was born De- cember 1, 1824, and is still living in Greene county ; the mother died there in 1870, at the age of forty- five years. In early life Abram D. Miller followed farming, later engaging in the manufacture of bed- steads and furniture, and he also operated a sawmill for twenty-five years, but since 1884 he has lived retired from business. He is a supporter of the Re- publican party, and for twenty years most efficiently served as justice of the peace. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belonged. To them were born

the following children : Mary E. is the wife of Fred- erick E. Ingalls, who is engaged in the stone-quarry business in Thompson, Penn. ; Isabella L. is the wid- ow of Hiram Lake, and a resident of Windsor, N. Y .; Ella is the wife of James Wooden, a railroad foreman of New York City ; William H. is a farmer of Athens, Greene Co., N. Y .; John D. is our sub- ject ; Dora died in infancy ; and Catherine died in 1896.

Our subject's paternal grandfather, William Miller, was a lifelong resident of Delaware county, N. Y., where he died in 1829, aged thirty-one years. The maternal grandfather, John Douglas, was born in Scotland, and followed the sea in early life. He married Margaret Van Steenberg, who was of Dutch descent, and a member of the Van Steenberg family who were among the first settlers of the Hud- son river valley. They first settled in Ulster county, N. Y., and subsequently in Greene county, same State, and both died at Hunter at an advanced age, John Douglas Miller, whose name introduces this review, was reared in the village of Hunter, Greene Co., N. Y., and was educated in the district schools. At the age of sixteen he commenced the business career as clerk in a mercantile store in Me- dusa, Albany Co., N. Y., where he remained three years, and then came to Susquehanna county, Penn., as bookkeeper for a lumber firm in Harmony town- ship, with which he was connected until his removal to Thompson, in 1879. He was engaged in the hard- ware business with his brother-in-law, Hiram Lake, until the spring of 1882, and later was interested in mercantile business with his father-in-law until 1888, when he commenced the study of law with R. J. Manning, of Susquehanna, remaining with him until his admission to the Bar, in 1891. He engaged in practice with Mr. Manning, at Scranton, Penn., until the fall of 1893, and then opened an office in Susquehanna, where he now enjoys a large and lu- crative practice.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 415

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