Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 46

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 46
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 46
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 46
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 46

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. Beach has ever been a public-spirited and enterprising gentleman, a vigorous supporter of every movement toward the advancement of Mont-

rose. He early saw the advantages that would come to the borough from the building of the Lackawanna & Montrose railroad, and to him in no little degree are the people indebted for its building. He is one of the largest stockholders in the company, and has served as one of its directors. He is president of the First National Bank of Montrose, succeeding in 1890 William D. Lusk ; is a man of means; and an esteemed citizen, genial and courteous. He is a self- made man, the architect of his own fortune and worthy of the success that is his. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member of Four Brothers Post No. 453, G. A. R., of Montrose. Mr. Beach married Jennie B., daughter of Rich Benjamin, and two children were born to them: One son who died in infancy, and Harry Wilbur.

HARRY WILBER BEACH was born January 24, 1874, at Montrose, Susquehanna county. At the age of seventeen years he entered Lehigh University, where he pursued a mechanical course, graduating in 1895. For two years thereafter he was associated with his father in the manufacture of wood-working machinery, and in October, 1897, assumed entire control of the business, which he has since con- tinued. On September 8, 1897, Mr. Beach was mar- ried to Miss Jeannette Ayars Taylor. In religious connection he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

J. M. BAUMAN, a prominent retired citizen of Honesdale, Wayne county, has in his eventful life attained a high degree of success, not only for himself, for he has been as well the sage adviser and close friend to many countrymen, molding their lives in the direction of similar success and prosperity. He has thus been a factor of great good in his community, setting human activity aright and giving direction to effort. There are comparatively few men fitted by nature to com- mand and lead. Happy is he who possesses this gift, and whose heart prompts him to use it for the benefit of his fellow countrymen. Mr. Bau- man inherited a strength of conviction, and undy- ing love of human freedom and energy, which have wrought in unison toward the good of rich suc- cess in all to which that term applies.

Our subject's grandfather, tradition says, was born in Alsace, but fled to Wurtemberg at the time of Huguenot persecution, locating at the town of Gomaringen, where he spent his subsequent career. There he left to succeed him two sons and a daugh- ter. John was the father of our subject. Johan Martin came to America in 1846, located in Hones- dale, and was for several years in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., but subse- quently became a farmer, and died in Wayne county.

John Bauman, the father of our subject, was born at the town of Gomaringen in 1785, and died in 1878; he was a member of the Evangelical Church. By occupation he was a lifelong weaver of cotton fabrics. He married Anna B. Ankele,

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who died at the age of fifty-six years, and their children were: (1) Catherine, who married Henry Reifer, and died at Gomaringen, aged eighty-three years; (2) Elizabth, who married Michael Rilling, and died at Gomaringen, aged sixty-eight years ; (3) Barbara, who died unmarried, aged fifty-seven years; (4) John, a weaver by trade, who died at Gomaringen, aged sevnty-two years; (5) Johan Martin, subject proper of this sketch; and (6) Dora, who married William Schmidt, a farmer of Oregon township, Wayne county.

Johan Martin Bauman, subject proper of this memoir, attended school in his native town of Gomaringen until he was fourteen years of age. He then learned the trade of weaver with his father, and at twenty years of age was drafted into the German army, serving over six years, and receiving an honorable discharge. In was during his period of service, in 1849, that the uprising led by the well known Gen. Sigel occurred. Mr. Bauman was present at the battle of Waghäusel, which quelled the uprising, the regiment in which he served being held in reserve. He was married February 27, 1851, and sailed for America the same year, arriv- ing in New York June II, 1851, after a voyage of thirty-one days. They came direct to Honesdale, where Mr. Bauman entered a cabinet shop and worked gratis for three months in order to learn the trade. After seven months employment he quit cabinet making and became a clerk in a gen- eral store, where he worked for twelve years. He had made marked progress in the esteem of the community, for in 1860 (on the same ticket with Abraham Lincoln) he was elected treasurer of Wayne county. He served his term, and then en- tered the grocery, provision, flour and feed busi- ness, carrying a full stock of all that pertains to that line. In 1892 he disposed of this business and re- tired from active life. He entered Honesdale a poor young man, but if the ideal conception "To crown a youth of labor with age and ease" was his ambi- tion, his cup of satisfaction must be well filled.

It is not only in a financial way that Mr. Batt- man has been a success. Though popular with all nationalities, he early became a leader among the German citizens of Wayne county. He was their chief and counselor. He advised and admonished, settled differences, kept their interests as sacredly at heart as he did his own. Whatever question they had an interest in, he was their representative. He served the city of Honesdale as a member of the council, as burgess several terms, and now at his advanced age is a member of the city school board, and deputy county treasurer of Wayne county. He is also a director in the First National Bank. When Mr. Bauman came to the United States one of the most difficult obstacles he encountered was his ignorance of the English language, so he set him- self to work studiously to acquire it. He now speaks it fluently and writes it with as much ease and accuracy as his mother tongue. Wishing to understand legal forms, and realizing their con-

venience, he purchased law books and familiarized himself with these and all methods for the convey- ance of property. Knowing his extended knowl- edge, and having faith in his judgment, his fellow countrymen, when having any business in this line to transact in Germany, give him the power of at- torney and he attends to it. Although his life has been one of constant application to business, and notwithstanding his seventy-three years, an age which dulls the intellect and bends the frames of most men, Mr. Bauman's mind is clear and act- ive as in youth, and, true to his army training, he walks erect, with the dignity and assurance of step characteristic of a cavalier.

Mr. Bauman married Miss Ursula Conzelman, who was born in the town of Moessingen, Germany, February 21, 1826, and still survives. Children as follows have been born to them: (I) Gottlob, born October 20, 1851, died May 15, 1875. (2) Edward H., born November 16, 1854, attended the common schools of Honesdale until the age of fifteen, when he began clerking in the insurance office of H. W. Kalisch, where he remained until 1877. That year he bought out Mr. Kalisch and took up the insur- ance business for himself, still continuing it with ever increasing success. He is also secretary of the Electric Light Company. Prominent in the Repub- lican party, he has taken an active part in politics, serving as burgess three years (1894-97), as mem- ber of the council, auditor, and chairman of the Republican county committee (one term). Al- though brought up a Lutheran, he has for twenty years affiliated with the Episcopal Church, in which he is a vestryman. On October 18, 1877, he was married to Julia F. Wilken, a daughter of Rev. J. F. and Charlotte (Heller) Wilken, natives of Ger- many, whose marriage occurred in this country ; both are now deceased. One child gladdened the home of Edward H. and Julia F. (Wilken) Bau- man, Charlotte J., born October 16, 1879. (3) Martin, born May 10, 1859, died May 3, 1865. (4) John J., born September 18, 1861, is now a practicing physician in Jersey City, N. J. His early literary education was secured in the Short- ledge school, Media, Penn. He then graduated from the Poughkeepsie (N. Y.) Business College, and later studying medicine in New York gradu- ated with the degree of M. D. He was appointed as ambulance surgeon, and later as house surgeon, at the Jersey City Hospital, and at present has an office in Jersey City, ranking high as a successful physician. (5) William C., born in 1864, is now a member of the Honesdale Shoe Co. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Honesdale, and at an early age entered the postoffice, where he remained a numer of years. Seeing the possibilities of the West, he left for that part of the country, and for a time attended a business college at St. Paul, after which he returned East, where he has aptly dem- onstrated his right to be called a thorough and suc- cessful business man. He married Matilda Briggs. Mr. Bauman has for years been a constant

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member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Honesdale, and is one of its chief supporters, acting for twelve years as its secretary.

REV. ALPHONSO L. BENTON, D. D., the efficient and faithful pastor for the past eighteen years of the First Presbyterian Church of Mont- rose, Susquehanna county, comes on both sides from a sturdy New England ancestry, among whom were patriots of the war of the Revolution. On his father's side Dr. Benton is in the seventh gen- eration from Andrew Benton, of Hartford, Conn., the line of his descent being through Samuel, Daniel, Daniel (2), Jacob and Chester Benton ; while on his mother's side he is in the ninth genera- tion from Joseph Loomis, his first American an- cestor, the line of his descent being through Deacon John, Thomas, John, Timothy, Dan, Eleazer and Tirzah Loomis

I. Andrew Benton, born in 1620, was in Mil- ford, Conn., in 1646, and in 1666 resided in Hartford, Conn., where he died in 1683. He held lands in Hartford.

II. Samuel Benton, son of Andrew Benton, settled in Tolland, Conn., where he was probably born. He was one of the grantees in the deed to the first proprietors of Tolland, May II, 1719.

III. Daniel Benton, son of Samuel Benton, maried, in 1722, Mary Skinner.

IV. Daniel Benton (2), son of Daniel Benton, born in 1723, married, in 1746, Mary Wheeler.

V. Jacob Benton, son of Daniel Benton (2), born in 1754, married first, in 1782, Sarah Weston, who died in 1787, and he married second, in 1789, Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Ladd, Jr., of Tolland, Conn. Jacob Benton was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war at seventeen years of age, being a dra- goon in the Continental army at the battle of Sara- toga, and saw Gen. Burgoyne taken prisoner. He lived to be eighty-nine years of age, dying in 1843.

VI. Chester Benton, son of Jacob Benton and the father of Dr. Benton, of Montrose, was born February 5, 1798, at Tolland, Conn., where he was reared and educated. He married, February 8, 1826, Tirzah, daughter of Eleazer Loomis, born March 27, 1804, at Coventry, Conn. The same year the young couple went overland to the then wilds of western New York, locating at Cortland, where they began the work of the pioneer, clearing up and improving a farm. They were of that plain, sturdy type of New England people who left their impress for good upon the western country, whither so many of them went in its early settlement. Religiously they were Pres- byterians in faith, and politically Mr. Benton was a Whig and later a Republican. His death occurred November 23, 1875, at Cortland, N. Y., where his wife also ended her days. Their children: (I) George C., born February 7, 1827, at Cortland, N. Y., married, 1858, Harriot Stevens, of Cortland, In early manhood he went to the State of Wiscon- sin, and later to Chicago, where for years he has been a prominent business man, engaging

largely in the lumber trade. (2) Alphonso L. is re- ferred to farther on. (3) Henry F., born February 3. 1837, at Cortland, N. Y., was there reared and educated. In 1861 he married Caroline L. Put- man, of Portland. He is the head of the H. F. Ben- ton Lumber Company, of Cortland, N. Y., manu- facturers of sash, doors and blinds, and dealers in lumber. (4) Melvin P., born in 1841 at Cortland, N. Y., died there in 1864.

I. Joseph Loomis, the first American ancestor of Dr. Benton, of Montrose, was born about 1590 in Braintree, County of Essex, England. He Failed from London April 1I, 1638, in the ship "Susan and Ellen," and arrived in Boston, Mass., July 17, 1638.

II. Deacon John Loomis, son of Joseph Loom- is; born in 1622, in England, married, in 1649, Eliza- beth Scott, of Hartford, Connecticut.

III. Thomas Loomis, son of Deacon John Loomis, born in 1653, married, in 1680, Sarah White.

IV. John Loomis, son of Thomas Loomis, born in 1681, married first, in 1706, Martha Osborn, and second, in 1725, Ann Lyman.

V. Timothy Loomis, son of John Loomis, born in 1718, married Ann

VI. Dan Loomis, son of Timothy Loomis, born in 1758, married Sarah Fields. During the war of the Revolution he enlisted in the Continental army in September, 1776. as a private under Capt. Will- iam Wilson and Col. Israel Putnam, participated in the battle of Stillwater, and was present at the sur- render of Gen. Burgoyne. In August, 1777, he again enlisted, in the company of Light Horse under Capt. Joel Loomis. He died in 1841.

VII. Eleazer Loomis, son of Dan Loomis, born in 1776, married first Tirzah Porter, and sec- ond, in 1803, Lucretia Porter.

VIII. Tirzah Loomis, daughter of Eleazer Loomis, and the mother of Dr. Alphonso L. Benton, born March 27, 1804, married Chester Benton February 8, 1826.

Alphonso L. Benton was born November 9, 1831, at Cortland, N. Y., and was prepared for col- lege at the Cortland Academy. He then entered Hamilton College, at Clinton, N. Y., and after a four-years' course was graduated with the class of '56. Following this he took a three-years' course of study in the Auburn Theological Seminary, at Auburn, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1859. He supplied the First Presbyterian Church of Milwaukee, Wis., for five months, and in Janu- ary, 1860, accepted a call from the Presbyterian Church at Lima, N. Y., continuing his pastoral rela- tions with that Church for about eleven years. From the autumn of 1870 until the autumn of 1872 he was associate pastor with Rev. John C. Lord, D. D., over the Central Presbyterian Church of Buf- falo, N. Y. That fall he was called to the Presby- terian Church at Fredonia, N. Y., and for nine and one-half years sustained pastoral relations with that charge. Of these relations a writer in the New

A.S. Bentou

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

York Evangelist said: "The farewell sermon was preached to a crowded house in the evening. A reception was given to Mr. Benton and family on Monday evening, and just before his departure sev- eral handsome sums of money were presented him, among them an envelope well filled by the ladies of ·the Church. During his pastorate there have been added to the Church 197, seventy-three have been dismissed to other Churches, and fifty have been re- moved by death, leaving the present number 365. Our commodious and beautiful church edifice, built during a season of severe commercial depression, with its furnishings cost about $33,000; all of this sum was very promptly paid. There has been raised in addition for the current expenses of the Church about $23,820, making a total expenditure for home support of $56,829. The aggregate of contributions for objects of benevolence has been something over $13,200, or an average of about $1,400 per annum, making a sum total of a little over $70,000 which has been furnished by the congregation within the term of the pastorate just expired. Ten years ago next autumn Mr. Benton came among us to labor in the Gospel ministry, and by his rare Christian courtesy and high culture as a gentleman imme- diately won the good opinion of all classes, which has strengthened with fuller acquaintance. He has devoted himself with singleness of purpose to the arduous duties incident to a faithful pastor's life, not counting his own ease or strength, but willing to spend and be spent in the Master's service, if haply he might be instrumental in saving the souls of the flock over whom God had appointed him the under shepherd. Eternity will show the results of his unwearying efforts, for he determined to know nothing among this people but 'Christ and Him crucified." In May, 1882, Dr. Benton was called to the Presbyterian Church of Montrose ; was installed as its pastor on November 23 fol- lowing, and with this people he has since labored earnestly and faithfully, and by them himself and wife are dearly beloved. His usefulness in the Church here and to society as a citizen covering this long pastorate have been characterized by that same earnestness and zeal in the cause of the Master and the uplifting of humanity which made his life so successful and exemplary in previous pastorates. A man of letters and genial, court- eous presence, he commands the respect and ad- miration of those whose privilieges it is to meet and hear himi.

On January 4, 1860, Dr. Benton was married to Miss Emma Sandford, daughter of Gen. Halsey Sandford, late of Ovid, N. Y., and their children have been : George Parsons, born August 4, 1862, married October 12, 1884, to Leila E. Forbes, of Fredonia, and has one child; he is a resident of Chicago, Ill. Emma, born March 5, 1869, died April 20, 1884, at Montrose.

Gen. Halsey Sandford, late of Ovid, N. Y., the father of Mrs. Dr. Benton, belonged to a distin- guished family. The Sandford family history is 13

traced back in a direct line to Thomas de Sand- ford, who was in the army of William the Con- queror, and whose name is written in the famous Roll of Battle Abbey. After the Conquest he obtained as his part of the spoils the lands of Sandford in Shropshire, and there founded the family which is still in possession of the same land by regular descent. The first of the family in this country was Ezekiel, who settled in South- hampton, L. I., in or before 1670, and from whom Gen. Halsey Sandford was a descendant in the sixth generation, the line being through Ezekiel, Jr., Zachariah, Joel and Dr. Jared Sandford.

Dr. Jared Sandford, son of Joel Sandford, was born in Southampton, L. I., in 1774, and settled at Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y., in 1796. He was the first postmaster at Ovid, appointed in 1801 ; was the first surrogate of Seneca county, appointed in 1804, and was appointed associate judge in 1813. He was eminent and successful in his pro- fession. In 1801 he married Sally R. Halsey, daughter of Hon. Silas Halsey, who moved from Southampton, L. I., to Ovid, N. Y., in 1792. Both were remarkable for character and intellectual ability, and Judge Halsey was the most notable man of his day in all that region. Two of the sons of Dr. Jared Sandford attained positions at the head of the New York Bar-Lewis Halsey Sand- ford as chancellor and judge of the Supreme court, and Edward Sandford as a practicing at- torney. To these may be added the name of Dr. Sandford Eastman, whose mother was also their mother, who stood in the medical profession in Buffalo where his brothers had stood earlier in the legal profession in New York City.

Gen. Halsey Sandford, son of Dr. Jared Sandford, was born in 1801 in Seneca county, N. Y., was reared on a farm, and received a common- school education. In 1821 he located in that part of the town of Reading, Steuben county, that after- ward became Starkey, in Yates county, as a mer- chant. He was the first town clerk of Starkey after the organization of Yates county, and was also for a time postmaster in the village. In 1830 he sold out his mercantile business, and in 1831 removed to Lodi, the place of his nativity, where he again engaged in mercantile and produce business, retiring in 1838. He was supervisor of the town of Lodi in 1836, 1837 and 1838. In the fall of the latter year he was elected clerk of Seneca county, and he held the office one term-three years. In 1848 he moved to Ovid and resumed his old business, merchandising, successfully en- gaging in same until 1861. He was the postmaster of Ovid for ten years, commissioner of excise four years, and superintendent of the poor three years. In the old military days he was colonel of the Tenth Regiment of Cavalry of New York, later brigadier-general of the Fifth Brigade, and finally major-general of the Third Divison of the same corps. On May 1, 1822, he married Fanny M. Howell, born January 16, 1801, daughter of

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Roger and Elizabeth Howell, of Orange county, N. Y., natives of Southampton, L. I., and to them were born: Howell, Sarah, Helen, Emma (Mrs. Dr. Benton ), Jared, Lewis and Montgomery. The parents celebrated their Golden Wedding on May I, 1872. He died in March, 1885, and she passed away June 6, 1888.

THOMAS BROWN, deceased, was during his lifetime an active figure in business and public circles in Tracyville and Honesdale, Wayne county, where he was engaged for a number of years as a contractor and builder.

Mr. Brown was a native of Cornwall, England, born in 1827, and his parents, Thomas and Grace Brown, passed their entire lives in that country. He was reared and educated in the country of his birth, and also learned the millwright's trade and boat building, following the latter vocation until he came to this country, after which he turned his attention to carpenter contracting and millwright- ing. He was married, in Cornwall, to Miss Mary Box, and they came to America with their two sons, in the fall of the same year locating in Honesdale, Wayne Co., Penn., where Mr. Brown purchased a home and commenced contracting. He laid the foundation of his prosperous career when he ob- tained the contract for the Honesdale court house, and he did many other important pieces of work, commanding in his day a large and profitable pat- ronage in his line throughout this part of Wayne county, where he had a reputation second to none for honest, reliable work and honorable dealing. In 1868 he bought the Gilbert property in Tracyville, one of the finest homes in that town, and there he resided until his death, in November, 1877. His first wife died not long after they settled here, in Damascus township, Wayne county, leaving two sons, Thomas, who died in young manhood, and John, who is now a resident of Portland, Oregon, and Mr. Brown returned to England and mar- ried her sister Elizabeth, who survives him. To this union were also born two sons, Samuel and William H. Samuel, born in England in 1853, grew to manhood in Honesdale and received his education in the public schools here, acquiring also a practical commercial training. He held the po- sition of commissioner's clerk in Wayne county for a number of years. In February, 1876, he married Miss Emma Frost, of Weehawken, N. J., and they resided in Honesdale, where he died in 1893, leaving six children, Maud, Thomas, Annie, Kate, Lizzie and Anita, all of whom live with their mother in New Jersey. William H. Brown was born in 1855 in Cornwall, England, and was reared and educated in Honesdale. He learned the carpenter trade, which he followed all his life. In May, 1893, he married Miss Emma Henderson, of Honesdale, who was born in England and came to this country in childhood with her parents, William and Mary Henderson, who settled in Honesdale. The young couple took up their

residence with his mother in Tracyville, and there he died, in January, 1898. He left no family. The father, Thomas Brown, was actively identified with the affairs of his adopted place, held a num- ber of local offices here, and for one term filled the position of county commissioner, giving univer- sal satisfaction in every capacity. He won a place for himself among the most respected citizens of the community, and his widow shares the esteen in which he was held by all. She is now passing her days in the home in Tracyville, living in peace- ful retirement, saddened, however, by the loss of her husband and the more recent taking away of her sons, who were still in the prime of their early manhood. She is a member of the Episcopal Church, as was also her husband. Fraternally he was a Mason, holding membership with Lodge No 218, of Honesdale. He was a Democrat in political faith.

Mrs. Elizabeth Brown was born in 1832 in Cornwall, England, and was one of the eleven children of Thomas and Elizabeth (Burrows) Box, who lived and died in Cornwall. The father was one of the principal business men of his lo- cality, owning large machine shops which he con- ducted up to the time of his death. Of their family, Thomas married, and raised a family in Canada, where he was engaged in farming. Samuel mar- ried a Miss Wing, of England, and they made their home with their family in Toronto, Canada. Will- iam died in England. Henry and Edward are liv- ing in Cornwall. Sarah, Mrs. Chub, has her home in England. Mary was the first wife of Thoms Brown. Elizabeth was reared and educat- ed in England, receiving a good practical educa- tion. Fannie married David Mills, and they came from England and settled at Bethany, Wayne Co., Penn., where he followed milling; she died some years ago, leaving two sons, Samuel and John, who are both residents of Wayne county.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 46

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