Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 47

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 47
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 47
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 47
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 47

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GEORGE T. RODMAN, M. D., occupies a foremost place among the medical lights of Wayne county, for though still a young man he has won recognition as a skillful physician and surgeon, with unusual ability for the profession which he has adopted. He commands an extensive practice in Hawley, where he resides, and, indeed, all over Wayne county, enjoying an enviable popularity among both his professional brethren and fellow men, by whom he is held in the highest esteem as a physician and as a man.

Dr. Rodman is a native of Hawley, born June 28, 1864, and is a son of George and Susan (Long- street) Teeter, who were also natives of this State, the father born in Monroe county, the mother in Wayne county. George Teeter was a successful self-made man, ambitious and persevering in his desire to secure a good education and advance him- self in life. While working as a brakeman on the Pennsylvania Gravity railroad he spent such leisure moments as he had studying from clippings taken

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out of his geography, arithmetic and other books of practical use, and after his marriage, in 1862, his wife, who was an intelligent and educated woman, aided him materially in this respect. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Teeter volunteered with a company of nine-months' men and served as first lieutenant of his company, his command being at- tached to the Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Hancock. In 1865 Mr. Teeter went to Illinois and obtained a situation at Murphysboro, on the Mobile & Ohio railroad, his wife and little son joining him in November, 1866. Here she rapidly developed consumption, and in May, 1867, with her only child, George, returned to her early home in Penn- sylvania, where she died in August following. After her death, on account of his work, Mr. Teeter was obliged to remain in Illinois, where he was killed in 1877 on the Mobile & Ohio railroad crossing, just below Murphysboro, where he was living. Returning home one evening in the face of a strong wind, he was caught in the darkness and mangled beneath a train. He had risen to the position of master mechanic and machinist on the railroad, and was serving in that capacity at the time of his death. He was laid to rest at Murphys- boro, Ill. Mr. Teeter was a member of the Repub- lican party, and was a faithful and active worker for its interests wherever he was. He was a per- sonal friend of John Logan.

George T. Rodman was two years old when he removed with his mother to Murhpysboro, Ill., and six months later he returned to Hawley with his mother, who was anxious to secure a home for him before her death. After that event he was legally adopted by his aunt and uncle, Keturah (Longstreet) and James T. Rodman, who had no children of their own, and he was reared in their home in Hawley, up to the age of fifteen years at- tending school and assisting his uncle in the drug store. For one year afterward he was employed in the Delaware & Hudson office as telegraph oper- ator at Hawley, and he then went to Port Jervis, N. Y., where he opened and took charge of the office of the American Union Telegraph Co., whose equip- ment in Port Jervis was so scanty at that time that the instrument on which he took his first message stood on a dry-goods box. However, he succeeded so well in getting affairs at that office afloat that the Erie Co., realizing that his thorough acquaintance with the business in general would make himn a val- table employe, offered him special inducements to enter their employ, and he remained with them seven months, as supply man. His next move was to Scranton, Penn., where he was engaged by the Western Union Telegraph Co. on commercial work for several months, and at the end of that time, finding that indoor work was undermining his health, he abandoned telegraphy and went to work in a sawmill, in which he continued for three months. Having recuperated somewhat, he ac- cepted a position with the United States Express Co. as train messenger at Carbondale, Ill., on the

Wabash, Chester & Western railroad, but after two months there he was injured in a wreck and re- turned to Hawley, where he has ever since resided. In the fall of 1882 he took up the study of medicine, reading with Dr. H. B. Stevens, of Hawley, after which he entered the medical department of the University of New York, from which he was grad- uated on March 6, 1886, with the degree of M. D. He commenced general practice in Hawley immedi- ately, and has continued it successfully up to the present time, winning the confidence and good opinion of all with whom he comes in contact, either in professional or private life-as a man worthy the position he holds among his fellow men-by his many sterling traits of character. Dr. Rodman is thoroughly versed in the healing art, and he de- serves the high rank which he has attained as a medical man in Wayne county, for he has devoted himself faithfully to his studies and practice, keep- ing up with the times in every respect. As a sur- geon he has distinguished himself by his success in several difficult operations in this locality, but his time and attention are given mainly to his large general practice, which calls him all over Wayne county. In November, 1896, Dr. Rodman was again unanimously elected a member of the board of health of Hawley and asked to accept the posi- tion, and he has served as president and secretary of the board, giving universal satisfaction in that incumbency. He is examining physician for the Aetna, the Northwestern Mutual Life, the Mutual Benefit of Newark, N. J., and several other large insurance companies.

Dr. Rodman has been twice married. His first union, with Miss Sarah Sharpsteen, was celebrated September 15, 1887, at Honesdale, Rev. W. L. Thorp, an M. E. minister, performing the ceremony. She died May 3, 1893, at the age of thirty-two years, and was laid to rest in Dyberry cemetery. She was the mother of one child, Mabel Sarah, who lives with her father at Hawley. On October I, 1894, at Honesdale, Dr. Rodman was married, by Rev. C. A. Benjamin, pastor of the M. E. Church, to Miss Mary H. Sharpsteen, who was born October 1, 1871, in Honesdale, and was a younger sister of his first wife. One child has blessed this marriage, Silvia Adelaide.

Mrs. Rodman's parents, John H. and Phœbe (Williams) Sharpsteen, were born respectively in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne Co., Penn., and New York State, and were married in Honesdale, Wayne county. They had a family of seven chil- dren, viz .: Sarah, born in IIonesdale, who was the first wife of Dr. Rodman; Martha, unmarried, who lives at Middletown, N. Y .; Austin, a life insurance agent, living in Honesdale; Harriet, of Scranton, Penn .; Mary H., wife of Dr. Rodman; John, of Honesdale, who is a mail clerk; and Ella, unmar- ried, living in Honesdale. The father had charge of a crew on the canal, and he was killed at Hones- dale, October 16, 1893, at the age of sixty-four years, while engaged in loading a boat lying in one

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of the slips ; he slipped and fell through a hatchway. He was buried at Honesdale by the side of his daughter. Mrs. Sharpsteen, now aged sixty-two years, makes her home with her children in Hones- dale, enjoying the esteem of all who know her. She came to Wayne county when a young woman. In religious connection she is a faithful member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Sharpsteen was a Prohibi- tionist in political sentiment. He was a son of Ste- phen and Sally (Swingle, originally Zwingli) Sharpsteen, his mother being a descendant of Zwin- gli, the great Swiss reformer of the sixteenth cen- tury.

In fraternal connection Dr. Rodman is a popu- lar member of the I. O. O. F. and the Knights of the Maccabees, and religiously he unites with M. E. Church. He is regarded as one of the substantial and valuable citizens of Hawley, and no resident of that place is more sincerely appreciated or admired by a wide circle of friends and well wishers. The Doctor gives his political support to the Republican party.

JAMES T. RODMAN needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for it would be diffi- cult indeed to find a citizen of Wayne county, especially in the vicinity of Hawley, more widely known than he is, and we may safely say the same of his talented wife, who shares with him the esteem and respect of their neighbors and friends every- where. They were for many years numbered among the leading educators of the county, and not a few of the prominent citizens of the present gen- eration received their literary training under Mr. and Mrs. Rodman during their active years as in- structors.

Mr. Rodman was born October 5, 1826, in Hillsdale, Columbia Co., N. Y., where the family had been represented for several generations. His great-grandfather, who was a farmer at Hillsdale, died there when over eighty-five years old, and the grandfather, Joseph Rodman, engaged in farming on the homestead during his early life. When the Delaware & Hudson canal opened, in 1828, he moved from Hillsdale to Rondout, Ulster Co., N. Y., where he embarked in the mercantile business, continuing same until his death, which occurred when he was at a ripe old age. He married a Miss Tyler. After his decease his children carried on the establishment in Rondout.

Nathaniel T. Rodman, father of the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, was born in Hills- dale April 8, 1803, and was an agriculturist during the greater part of his life. He married Fanny Knapp, who was also a native of New York State, born March 23, 1806, and they became the parents of four children: James T. ; Susanna F., who mar- ried Andrew S. Hendricks (both are now de- ceased) ; Sarah, who died in infancy ; and Cornelia L., widow of Joseph L. Clark, a farmer of Orange county, N. Y. Nathaniel Rodman lived for a time in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., thence removing to Beaver

Brook, same State, and subsequently, in 1866, to Paupac, Pike Co., Penn. There Mrs. Rodman passed away February 16, 1874, and for several years afterward he continued to farm in a small way, finally coming to Hawley to spend his remain- ing days with his son James T. Only a few days later he was called to his final rest, dying December 7, 1882, and he was buried with his wife in Hawley. They were devout members of the M. E. Church.

James T. Rodman spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, helping with the work at home until he was about seventeen, when he commenced his career as a teacher. His first school was at Parker's Glen (then known as Handsome Eddy ), Sullivan So., N. Y., where he remained one term, and from that time until 1855 he taught at different places in Sullivan and Orange counties, N. Y., with the exception of one year-1850-which he spent in New York City, employed as acting captain of the steamer "James Madison"; prior to this he was cashier and-receiver in the office of J. F. Rodman, superintendent of the Citizens Line, on the North river. In 1855 Mr. Rodman took up his residence in Hawley, teaching in the public schools here up to the time of his marriage, after which he and his wife conducted a select school until 1878. Mr. Rodman opened the drug business which he still conducts, in 1864, but as he enlisted for service in the Civil war that year he was obliged to give it up until his return from the army in 1865, since when he has given much time and attention to the store, carrying a complete line of drugs, stationery, newspapers, etc. He has been as successful in a commercial way as he was in his profession, which in this case is saying much, for in his day he held his own with the most popular and able teachers of Wayne county .. Mr. Rodman received his early education at the public schools and the Pough- keepsie high school and Teachers Seminary, and has been a constant reader and student of the best in literature and history, storing his mind both for pleasure and profit, for by continual application he was able to advance himself yearly in his profession until he reached the front rank and won recognition for his ability and thorough competence wherever his work called him. . On December 8, 1870, he- was appointed on the committee to examine appli- cants for State certificates. The importance of the educator as an elevator of the social and moral status of the community has been better understood in this century perhaps than ever before, and it is needless to say that the personal influence of a teacher on his or her pupils may have a lasting effect for good if properly directed, especially when that teacher has a strength of character which would call forth admiration from old as well as young. Many of Mr. Rodman's pupils look upon him as one of their best friends, and during the years of his service as teacher in Hawley he won golden opinions from every source for his fitness, his tact and his success in his chosen calling.

On September 15, 1864, Mr. Rodman enlisted

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in the Union army at Oswego, N. Y., as a member of Company B, Fifth New York Volunteer Artil- lery, First Battalion, which was sent to Harper's Ferry, and he served faithfully until the close of the Rebellion, being mustered out June 22, 1865, He was an active participant in the battle of Cedar Creek, under Gen. Phil Sheridan, and various skirmishes, and was a credit to his command, dis- tinguishing himself throughout his service by his coolness and bravery under the most trying circum- stances. He is now a prominent member of James M. Thorp Post No. 195, G. A. R., of which he is commander, and of the Veterans Association of the Fifth New York Volunteer Artillery, in whose affairs he takes an active interest.

Fraternally Mr. Rodman is a member of the F. & A. M., in which he is past master; of the 1. O. O. F., and of the K. of H. He is a Repub- lican in political sentiment, and though not a poli- tician in the usual sense of the term, he has the welfare of his party at heart, particularly in Na- tional issues. For three years, up to 1896, he acted as burgess in Hawley, and on August 2, 1888, he was appointed, by Gov. Beaver, justice of the peace to fill an unexpired term, continuing to serve in that capacity until February, 1891. Mr. Rodman is a faithful member of the M. E. Church, and Mrs. Rodman of the Presbyterian Church. Both are liberal supporters of these Churches.

On December 26, 1860, James T. Rodman was united in marriage, at Hawley, Penn., with Miss Keturah Longstreet, who was born November 2, 1824, in Milford, Pike Co., Penn. They have had no children, but they reared a nephew of Mrs. Rod- man's, George T. Rodman, who has taken their name, and who is now a prominent and successful physician of Hawley. Mrs. Rodman's family, the Longstreets, is one of high standing in the East and is of German origin. The first ancestor of whom we have record in the United States is Rich- ard Longstreet, or Langstrasse, who was of German extraction, and settled in 1657 in Monmouth coun- ty, N. J. Some of his descendants removed to Sussex and Morris counties, N. J., and others went South as far as Georgia, Gen. James Long- street belonging to this branch of the family. Col. Christopher Longstreet, of Revolutionary fame, was in early life a pioneer settler in the vi- cinity of Great Bend and New Milford, Penn., where he was a large landholder. After some years residence there he returned to his native State, and according to its archives was a member of the Gen- eral Assembly of New Jersey in 1800. He was the paternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Rodman.

Louis Longstreet, her father, was a native of New Jersey, and there passed his early life, follow- ing farming and lumbering. In 1822 he removed to Pike county, Penn., where he resided until 1829, the year of his settling in Wayne county, where he passed the remainder of his life, engaging in lum- bering altogether during his residence here. He was married in New Jersey to Elizabeth A. Goble,

who was born in that State, where her parents, Nathaniel and Azuban A. (Price) Goble, resided for many years, finally removing to Pike county, Penn., where they died. Mr. Goble was a farmer, and he and his family were among the carly settlers of Pike county. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. To Louis and Elizabeth A. ( Goble) Longstreet were born eleven children, of whom the eldest, Nathan, is deceasd; Keturah is the wife of James T. Rodman; William R. died in .1872; Sarah A. died in 1845; Samuel P., who was an attorney, died in 1881 ; Isabella D. married, in 1850, James Cromwell, who is a farmer of Abington, Luzerne county, Penn. (she died in 1868) ; Margaret married William Bernstein, and she and her husband are both deceased; Susan H. died in 1867, at the age of twenty-seven, leaving one son, George T., who is now a prominent phy- sician of Hawley (her husband, George H. Teeter, was killed on the railroad, in Illinois, in 1877) ; Lucy is the widow of Charles Shelp, of East Haw- ley, Penn .; Francis P., an attorney, died in 1880. The father of this family died in 1870, aged seventy- five years, and the mother passed away in 1881, aged seventy-six. He was laid to rest in the ceme- tery at Prompton, Penn., she at Hawley. They were earnest members of the Baptist Church. though in her later years Mrs. Longstreet united with the M. E. Church.

Mrs. Keturah (Longstreet) Rodman received only ordinary advantages for an education in her early years, but by hard work and faithful attention to such opportunities as came in her way she man- aged to fit herself for teaching by the time she was sixteen, and after that supported herself and saved enough besides to enable her to broaden her knowl- edge from time to time by attendance at different academies, etc. In 1848 Miss Longstreet entered the Mt. Holyoke (Mass.) Seminary ( since char- tered college), where she spent one vear, by faith- ful study succeeding in reaching the middle class at the close of that term. She then resumed her voca- tion, and taught in Hawley and Honesdale, Penn., during the four succeeding years; in the meantime aiding her younger brothers and sisters in obtain- ing an education. In 1853 she returned to the Seminary, and graduated August 4, 1854, having completed the four-years' course of study in two years. She has continued to read and supplement her early studies until she is now considered one of the best-informed, cleverest and most brilliant women in this part of Pennsylvania, where her culture and thorough familiarity with the best lit- erature, etc., have won her universal admiration and respect. She taught school forty years in all, a great part of that time in Hawley, where, as pre- viously stated, she and her husband conducted a select school for about eighteen years. They occupy a high position among the intelligent people of Wayne county, old and young alike holding them in high esteem for their many winning qualities of head and heart.

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ALPHEUS F. WHIPPLE ranks among the successful farmers of Susquehanna county who have made their way to the front rank in thir call- ing by intelligence, good judgment and well-direct- ed effort, and he is one of the native-born citizens of Silver Lake township who are a credit to their community.

David Whipple, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born at Stonington, Conn., and there passed his earlier years. Moving thence to New York State, he settled at Duanesburg, where he passed the remainder of his days, dying in May, 1850. He married Miss Johanna Jones, and they became the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter : Pattie died, unmarried, at the home of our subject; William married and settled near Brackney, in Silver Lake township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., living there for some years, after which he sold out and removed to Schenectady county, N. Y., where he died; John owned and occupied the farm of our subject for some time, but finally returned to New York State and lived in Cattar- augus county, where he died (he married Phoebe Read, of Rhode Island, and they had two children, Theron, who resides in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and Serepta (Mrs. Samuel Wilbur), of Bingham- ton, N. Y.) ; Joseph was the father of our subject ; Samuel lived in Silver Lake township for some years, thence removing to Rochester, N. Y., where he died ( he married Phobe Cleveland, of Schenec- tady county, N. Y., and of their children, John C. is a resident of Oakland, Cal .; Annis and Zada, both unmarried, also make their home in that State).

Joseph Whipple was born December 27, 1787, in Dutchess county, N. Y., where he spent his early life. Like all his brothers, he migrated to Penn- sylvania, settling in Silver Lake township, Susque- hanna county, his first home being on the place now owned by Mr. Patton. In 1815 he purchased the farm of his brother John and one hundred acres adjoining, and hither he brought his family, erect- ing on this property the second frame house in the township, the Dr. Rose homestead being the first. Here he engaged in agricultural pursuits the re- mainder of his life, meeting with encouraging suc- cess and becoming one of the most substantial as well as extensive farmers of the township, for he cleared a large farm and derived a good income from it. He was well known and highly respected throughout the neighborhood, where in the course of his long and busy life he made many friends, and his death, in 1872, was widely mourned. Joseph Whipple married Miss Betsey Fitch, a native of Albany county, N. Y., who died in 1859, leaving a family of twelve children, eleven of whom were liv- ing at the time of the father's death. We have the following record of this family: Patty, born Feb- ruary 19, 1814, was married ( first) to Julius Gould, who died not long afterward, leaving one daughter, Juliet, who is now the widow of Milo Travis, of Liberty. Mrs. Gould subsequently mar-

ried James Gage, and they located in Silver Lake, where he died. Six children were born to this union, Leonard, Ebenezer, Asher, Mary, Betsey and Johanna. The mother is still living, in New York State. (2) Jonathan, born in 1815, moved when a young man to Cattaraugus county, N. Y., where he married a Miss Tracy, and of their chil- dren, two are living, George and Joseph, who are residents of New York State. Jonathan Whipple died in 1897, at his home in Cattaraugus county. (3) Nancy, born in 1817, became the wife of Ed- mund Stewart, and settled in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., where she is still living. They have three children, Edmund, Ophelia and Horatio. (4) Henry F., born October 20, 1819, married and re- moved to Cattaraugus county, N. Y. He enlisted in the Union service during the Civil war, was taken prisoner and starved to death at Anderson- ville. He had three sons, Alfred, William and Spencer, of whom the last named has become quite prominent in political affairs in New York, having represented his State in the Assembly two terms, and he is now clerk of the Senate of New York. (5) Johanna, born in September, 1821, married Asher Hance, and for some time they resided at Brookdale, Susquehanna county, on the old Hance homestead. Later they settled in New York State, where Mrs. Hance died leaving four children, Au- gustus, John, Cornelia (wife of George C. Hill, of Silver Lake), and Jennie ( wife of Norman Meeker, of Binghamton, N. Y.). (6) Sarah, born in May, 1824, married James Lester. They resided in Bing- hamton, N. Y., where she died in 1895, leaving five children, Alpheus, who lives in Kansas; Alonzo; Lucetta, wife of Frank Shearer, of Binghamton ; and Laura and Filkins, both deceased. (7) Al- pheus F. and (8) Lydia (twins) were born in De- cember 1826. Lydia married William Robinson, and they have three children, John, Henry, and Elma (wife of Hiram Rickards, of Binghamton). Mr. and Mrs. Robinson make their home in Bing- hamton. (9) Dorcas, born in July, 1829, became the wife of Henry Meeker, and they reside on a farm in Broome county, N. Y. They have one son living, Leroy. (10) Elizabeth, born in March, 1832, married Patra Bull, now of Binghamton, and they have four children, Burr, Alfred, Bertha and Evelyn. (II) Spencer, born in 1835, married Miss Matilda Spencer, of Curwensville, Clearfield Co., Penn., where he resided for a number of years. Mrs. Whipple died there, and he subsequently mar- ried a Miss Spencer. They moved West, living for some time in Kansas and later in Arkansas, where Mr. Whipple died. By his first wife he had three children, and one of his daughters is the wife of a Curwensville (Penn.) physician. (12) J. W., born in December, 1837, served with the Union army during the Civil war, and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. He married Elsie Gage, and for some time afterward resided in New York State, moving thence to near Wells- boro, Tioga Co., Penn., where he is engaged in

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farming. They have had six children, Albert, Grant, Perry, Henry, Blanche and Ray. All of this large family were born in Silver Lake township, and received the advantages afforded by the neigh- boring district schools. In the various communi- ties in which they have settled they have always been classed among the respected and substantial citizens, and each one has filled his or her sphere in life worthily and intelligently. Three of the sons, Spencer, Henry and J. W., served their coun- try faithfully in the Civil war, and all have been public-spirited and progressive men.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 47

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