Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 55

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 55
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 55
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 55
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 55

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Mr. Spragle was born in Hamilton township, December 3, 1823, a son of Jacob and Catherine (Myers) Spragle, who spent their entire lives in that township. The father was born November 9, 1790, on the farm where his parents had squatted on coming to the county that year. During early life he worked at the wheelwright's trade, but in later years devoted his attention to farming. He was progressive, thrifty and industrious, and at one time owned four farms in Hamilton township, aggregating 425 acres; but during the panic of 1835 he was obliged to make an assignment. He was quite prominent 'in early days, and was called upon to fill many township offices. Religiously he was a member of the Society of Friends. He died March 28, 1858, his wife in 1860, at the age of sixty-nine years, and both were buried at Strouds- burg. Their children were as follows: Melcher, who served as district surveyor, married Julian Trivley, and died in Stroudsburg; Sarah married John H. Kunkle, and moved to Susquehanna coun- ty. Penn., where she died; Christianna married John Wolf, and moved to Iowa, where her death occurred ; Julia A. married Noah Phillips, and died in Pittston, Penn. : Samuel is next in the order of birth; Sophia married Philip Wildrick, and died in Slatington, Penn .; Mary A. is the widow of William Sherrer, and a resident of Luzerne county, Penn .; Jacob married Elizabeth Major, and died in Iowa; William married Abesenia Frieland, and died in Stroudsburg, Penn .; and Catherine is the widow of Jonas Altimus, and a resident of Phila- delphia.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were George and Sophia (LaBar) Spragle, natives of Lancaster and Monroe counties, Penn., respectively. Both died in the latter county, whither the grand-

father removed in early life, and here he followed the mason's trade. Their children were: Jacob, (father of our subject), Daniel, George, John, Joseph, Abraham, Fanny (wife of George Learn), Peggie (Mrs. Carmer), Mary (wife of Joseph Learn), and Elizabeth (Mrs. Miller). The daugh- ters all became residents of Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and there died. Our subject's maternal grand- father, John Lewis Myers, was a native of Hessen- Cassel, Germany, and on his emigration to Ameri- ca, in 1775, located in Monroe (then Northampton) county, where he continued to make his home. He was buried in the cemetery at Hamilton Church, one of the first churches established in Monroe county, it being organized in 1745.

Remaining at home with his parents, Samuel Spragle learned the wheelwright's trade with his father, and made that occupation his life work, carrying on business for himself until 1896, when he laid aside all business cares. He is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, but has never aspired to office. He is an intelligent, well-in- formed man, possessed of superior business tact and sound common sense, which make him an in- valuable member of the community. He is a con- sistent member of the Lutheran Church, was of- ficially connected with the same for many years, his last office being president of the board of vestry, but he recently resigned as his hearing had become impaired. He has the reputation of possessing the best memory of many persons in his section of the county, and he can relate many interesting in- cidents of pioneer life.

In 1848, Mr. Spragle married Miss Lydia Hartman, a daughter of Jonathan and Maria Hart- man, who were natives of Lehigh county, Penn., and came to Monroe county at an early day. Mrs. Spragle died in March, 1868, at the age of forty- two years, and was laid to rest at St. John's Church. The children born of this union were Maria, now the wife of George T. Alliger, a farmer of Pocono township, Monroe county, by whom she has three children ; Alvin, who married Elizabeth Hallet, and is employed in a hotel at Delaware Water Gap; Samuel and Emma L., both of whom died young; Almira, deceased wife of Louis Edinger; and Annie J., wife of Frank Shaw. Mr. Spragle was again married, this time in November, 1870, in Hamilton township, Monroe county, to Mrs. Sarah J. (Snyder) Hartman, and to them have been born four children : Elmer, a druggist and physician re- siding at Philadelphia ; Herbert, who married Rosa Dreher, and is a section boss on the railroad, now residing in Pocono township, Monroe county ; and Mary and Rachel S., both at home.

Mrs. Sarah J. Spragle was born in Hamilton township, in June, 1842, daughter of Charles and Mary Snyder, well-known farming people of Mon- roe county, where they spent their entire lives. The father died in 1887, aged seventy-five years, the mother in 1890, aged seventy years, and both were buried at St. John's Evangelical Church, Hamil-

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ton township. Their children were: Isaiah, John and Charles, all farmers of Hamilton township; Sarah J., wife of our subject; and Mary E., widow of Reuben Selliner, and a resident of Philadelphia. Mrs. Spragle's paternal grandfather, John Snyder, was also an agriculturist of Monroe county, where he spent his entire life, while her maternal grand- father, John D. Hartman, was a native of Lehigh county, and in 1830 came to Monroe county, where he also carried on farming until his death.

STEPHEN TUTTLE, one of the leading and representative citizens of Springville, Susquehanna county, where he is successfully engaged in business as a furniture dealer and undertaker, belongs to an old and prominent New England family, which was founded in this country in April, 1635, by William Tuttle, of Boston, who arrived on the ship "Planter."

From his son, Jonathan, our subject is a direct descendant. Jonathan Tuttle was baptized at Charlestown, Mass., July 8, 1637, and he married Re- becca, daughter of Lieut. Francis Bell, of Stamford, Conn. She was born in August, 1643, and died in 1676. About 1670, he founded a settlement near the Quinnipiac river, near New Haven, Conn. He built a bridge over the river, which was known as the Tuttle bridge, and by a decree of the court was al- lowed to demand a fee of each traveler passing over it. He died in 1705, leaving six children. His son, Wiliam Tuttle was born May 25, 1673, and died in 1727. He wedded Mary Abernatha, who was born in March, 1679 or 1680, and they became the parents of eleven children. Their youngest child, Daniel Tuttle, was born April 30, 1722, and married Phobe Beach, who died at the age of eigh- ty-two years. Of their seven children, the eldest, Zophar Tuttle, was born July 19, 1743, and was married, January II, 1767, to Hannah Doolittle, of Wallingford, Conn. At an early day he went to Vermont, later coming to Susquehanna county, Penn., where he died, leaving three sons.

The eldest, Ezra Tuttle, was born in Walling- ford, Conn., March 20, 1768, and when young was taken by his father to Vermont, where he was mar- ried, June 1, 1787, to Rebecca Thomas, who was born March 7, 1766, and died December 30, 1842. In February, 1801, with his wife and six children, he left Weathersfield, Windsor Co., Vt., and ar- rived in Susquehanna county, Penn., in March. He located in Springville township, and purchased land under the common title, paying $300 for 300 acres, but afterward had to pay $500 more to secure his title from the Pennsylvania claimant, Henry Drinker. Here he died March 9, 1826, highly re- spected by all who knew him. He was a carpenter, millwright and farmer by occupation, was an act- ive and energetic man, and with the aid of his sons cleared 250 acres of land, upon which he built the first frame building in Springville township. He was interested in all the public improvements of his neighborhood and county, and constructed a large part of the Wilkes Barre turnpike.

The eldest of the seven children born to this worthy pioneer was Abiathar Tuttle, our subject's grandfather, who was born March 29, 1788, and died in Springville, Penn., March 7, 1879, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. He was a well- preserved man, and at the age of eighty hewed all the timber for a granary, 18x26 feet. For some years prior to 1850, he resided in White Haven, Penn., and was a leader in local affairs; a member of the council on its organization as a borough ; and for several years acted as justice of the peace for the township of Anson. In 1820 he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he re- mained an active and consistent member until his death. He joined the Masonic fraternity in 1816, and was a most worthy and exemplary man, highly esteemed wherever known. His remains were in- terred at White Haven. On March 6, 1811, he mar- ried Jane Rosencrantz, who was born October 8, 1789, and died May 24, 1842. He was again mar- ried, May 6, 1850, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah Loomis, who died several years before his death. By his first marriage he had four children, of whom, John, the father of our subject, was the eldest ; Stephen, born May 3, 1817, is now a resident of St. Paul, Minn. ; Edward P., born . April 17, 1821, is a justice of the peace and an insurance and col- lecting agent of White Haven, Penn .; and Sarah Rebecca, born November 23, 1824, married James L. Winder, and resides in St. Paul, Minnesota.

John Tuttle, our subject's father, was born in Springville township, Susquehanna county, Novem- ber 17, 1812, and although in early life he spent some time elsewhere, he returned to the old home- stead which his father had purchased, and of which he subsequently became the owner. From the or- ganization of the Republican party he was one of its stanch supporters, and withheld his aid from no enterprise, which he believed calculated to advance the public welfare. He was married, February II, 1847, to Miss Sarah Gray, of Kingston, Wayne Co., Penn., who was born August 25, 1823, and died August 25, 1888. He died September 30, 1898, honored and respected by all who knew him. Of their children, A. B. is a resident of Springville; Jennie died at the age of twenty-seven years; Ste- phen is our subject ; Mary died at the age of four- teen ; James W. still lives on the old homestead ; and Sophrona is the wife of J. B. Corwin, of Bingham- ton, New York.

Stephen Tuttle, whose name introduces this sketch, was born in Springville township, Susque- hanna county, November 23, 1851, and received the advantages of a common-school education. He re- mained on the home farm until he attained his ma- jority, and then learned the carpenter's trade, and clerked in a store in Springville. In 1881, in part- nership with his brother A. B., he opened an under- taker's establishment at that place, under the firm style of Tuttle Brothers, but since 1889 he has been alone in the business. He carries a line of furni- ture in connection with the undertaking business,

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and is now at the head of a large and profitable business. He has made good use of his opportuni- ties in life, has prospered from year to year, and con- ducted all business matters carefully and success- fully, and in all his acts displays an aptitude for successful management. He is one of the leaders of the Republican party in his community, and has served as a member of the county committee, as constable, and collector of taxes for his township four years, also as auditor six years. Socially he has been a member of Maple Lodge No. 992, I. O. O. F., of Springville, since 1884, and also belongs to the Encampment at Lynn, and Rebecca Lodge No. 187, of Springville.

On April 9, 1884, in Springville township, Mr. Tuttle married Miss Ida Handrick, and they now have one child, Rexford H., born May 25, 1888. Mrs. Tuttle's grandfather, Gaylord Handrick, was born probably in Connecticut, but for many years prior to his death he made his home in Middle- town, Susquehanna Co., Penn. He married Miss Betsy Carrington, and to them were born thirteen children, among whom were: Van Ess, David, Will- iam Bishop, Merwin, Wakeman, Henry, Fannie, Eliza and Anna. William Bishop Handrick, Mrs. Tuttle's father, was born in New Washington, Litchfield Co., Conn., in September, 1808, and died October 20, 1884. On first coming to Susquehanna county, he located in Middletown township, but later removed to Springville township. During the '4os he purchased a tannery at Springville, which he successfully operated until he retired from act- ive life, and he also owned another tannery in Mid- dletown township. When old age compelled him to lay aside business cares some years prior to his death, his son assumed the management of the for- mer. It was destroyed by fire in January, 1878, and immediately rebuilt, but when it was again burned it was not rebuilt. The father was a stanch Democrat, as were all the members of his family, and he served as county coroner for one term. He attended the Episcopal Church, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows Lodge at Montrose. In early life Mr. Handrick was married, in Susquehanna county, to Miss Se- brina Rebecca Sherman, who was born in Bridge- water township, May 24, 1814, a daughter of Jona- than Childs Sherman, and the children born of this union were as follows: Izora Abigail, born July 25, 1837, died in infancy: Estella Theresa, born in Middletown, Susquehanna county, September 22, 1838, is the widow of Henry N. Sherman, of New York City; Eugene Sherman, born May 5, 1840, is now living retired in Tunkhannock, Penn .; Byron Carrington, born March II, 1842, is a tanner and farmer of Great Bend, Susquehanna county ; Ros- coe Toles, born May 20, 1855, is in the cash regis- ter business in Wilkes Barre, Penn. ; Julian Polk, born February 18, 1846, is a grocer of Bingham- ton, N. Y .; Frederick Henry, born April 19, 1848, is a farmer of Madison county, Ga .; Lillian Ger- trude, born September 23, 1850, is the wife of J. K.

Aldrich, of Springville township; Frank S., born January 31, 1854, died at the age of six years ; and Ida Avilda, born November 8, 1858, is the wife of our subject ..

JESSE W. PALMER is an energetic and en- terprising farmer of Westfall township, Pike coun- ty, and being an able and fluent writer, he is also acting as correspondent for the American Agricul- turist, the New York Farmer, the National Stock- man and Farmer of Pittsburg, Penn., and is agricul- tural editor of the Pike County Press.

Mr. Palmer was born November 3, 1862, on a part of his present farm, a son of Stephen M. and Catherine ( Beecher) Palmer, the former of whom was a native of Sullivan county, N. Y., the latter. of Milford, Penn. His paternal grandparents, Aaron and Zilpah Palmer, were natives of New England. The grandfather, who was a farmer by occupation, died at Winterton, Sullivan Co., N. Y. In 1843, the father came to Pike county, Penn., and settled in Milford, where he engaged in merchant tailoring for ten years, after which he made his home in Westfall township, dying there September 2, 1893, aged sixty-seven years, five months and seven days. For eighteen months he was a member of a New York regiment in the war of the Rebellion, and was always a patriotic and loyal citizen. The mother died November 24, 1867, aged thirty-eight years, nine months, twenty-two days, and was buried in Milford cemetery. In their family were seven chil- dren : Charles A., who married Annie Hall, is a traveling salesman of Milwaukee, Wis .; Harvey E. is a carpenter of Chicago, Ill .; M. Shirley, a ma- chinist of Boston, Mass., married (first) Mrs. Anna H. Bibby, and (second) Jennie Mason; Rev. William E., Ph. D., a Methodist Episcopal minister, of Paterson, N. J., married Alice C. Hoyt : Jesse W. is the subject of this sketch; A. Lincoln is a salesman of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Mary E. is the wife of Olin S. Twiste, a real-estate agent of Passaic, New Jersey.

Our subject was reared upon a farm adjoin- ing the one on which he now lives, remaining with his father until seventeen years of age. The fol- lowing two years he successfully engaged in teach- ing school in Pike county, and then went to Troy, N. Y., where he spent a year and a half in learning the art of shirt cutting. For one year he served as clerk for a cousin in the post office at Otisville, N. Y .: at Glens Falls, that State, spent a year and a half in a cutting shop, and for four months worked in the cutting deparment of an underwear factory at Schenectady, N. Y., being obliged to leave there on acount of ill health. After traveling through the West for some time, he located in Buffalo, N. Y., where he lived for three years, being employed in a shirt factory for a short time. He then went to Newark, N. J., cutting in a ladies' underwear fac- tory, but a few months later returned to Schenec- tady, N. Y., where he was employed in a similar es- tablishment for a year and three months. As busi-

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ness became dull he secured a position in the Edison Electrical Works, and was with this firm for a few months; but when his father died he returned to Pike county, and has since resided upon his pres- ent farm, giving his attention to agricultural pur- cuits. He is industrious, progressive and ambitious, and is meeting with a well-deserved success in his undertakings. Religiously he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Milford, and politically is identified with the Republican party.

On March 6, 1895, in Pike county, Penn., Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Etta L. Youngs, by whom he has two children: Mabel N. and Wallace H. Mrs. Palmer is a native of Dingman township, Pike county, and a daughter of Albert and Mary E. (Aldrich ) Youngs, natives of Orange county, N. Y., and Luzerne county, Penn., respectively. They removed to Albion, Mich., in 1869, and there the father, who was born in 1846, is still engaged in farming, but the mother died at that place in 1871, aged twenty-three years. There were two children born to them: Etta L., wife of our subject; and Augusta, deceased. For his second wife the father married Elizabeth Harrison, by whom he has four children : John, Mary, Albert and Myrtle B. Mrs. Palmer's paternal grandparents were Elijah and Louise (Neely) Youngs, natives of Orange county, N. Y., and farming people ; her maternal grandpar- ents were Adney and Nancy (Lutes) Aldrich, the former a native of Long Island, the latter of Orange county, New York.

PROF. BENTON E. JAMES has for over a quarter of a century been prominently identified with the educational interests of Susquehanna coun- ty, and since September, 1889, has been supervising principal of the public schools of Montrose.

Our subject is a native of the county, born in West Auburn, December 28, 1851, and is a son of Abijah and Sarah B. ( Marshall) James. The fa- ther was born in the same place, October 2, 1824, a son of Thomas W. James, a native of New Jersey and an early pioneer of Susquehanna county. By occupation Abijah James was a farmer and teacher, and he taught many years in Susquehanna county. In 1882 he removed to South Dakota, where he en- gaged in farming and stock raising, and at Huron, that State, he died in November, 1889. At one time he was proprietor of the Shellsburg Record, pub- lished at Shellsburg, Iowa. In early life he was an Abolitionist, warmly championing that cause, and always befriending the refugee slave. The mother of our subject died in 1863. Benton E. is the eldest of the six children who comprised the family, the others being Mrs. Effie Dickinson, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Kate and Frank, both deceased; Harry, a physician of New York City ; and Mrs. Cora Blood- good, who lives near Huron, South Dakota.

Prof. James was reared in Auburn township, Susquehanna county, and acquired his early edu- cation in its public schools. In 1868, at the age of seventeen years, he commenced teaching in that

township, "boarding round," as was customary in those days, and he taught for some years during the winter months. Afterward he attended Wyom- ing Seminary, in Luzerne county, and was also a student at the State Normal in Mansfield, Penn., graduating in 1877; in 1897 he delivered the alumni address at that institution. In May, 1881, he was elected county superintendent of schools in Susque- hanna county, and most capably and satisfactorily filled that office for six years. During his able ad- ministration, the three hundred schools of the coun- ty were greatly benefited, ranking among the best in this section of the State. On retiring from office Prof. James bought a half-interest in an in- surance business, being associated with O. H. Gil- bert for two years. Prior to his service as county superintendent he became interested in merchan- dising at Auburn, as a member of the firm of Tit- man & James, being identified with mercantile pur- suits for some time. He is now the popular and efficient principal of the schools of Montrose, which have an enrollment of 450 pupils, the school com- prising four grades, the primary, intermediate, grammar and high school. Being able to readily impart the knowledge he has acquired to others, he has become a very popular educator, and has met with remarkable success in his profession. He is now one of the trustees of the Mansfield Normal.

In October, 1881, in Susquehanna county, Prof. James married Miss Jessie B. Adams, a native of the county, and a daughter of Elijah Adams, the present justice of the peace of Auburn. They have three children: Annah Sarah, Vida Gertrude and Benton Harrie, Jr. For the past two years. Prof. James has been president of the Agricultural Society, of which he is a member, and he is also president of the Susquehanna County Historical Society. He is Worshipful Master of Blue Lodge No. 242, F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. It is as a successful educator that he is most widely known, and his faithful and efficient services will not readily be forgotten by the many whom he has aided in the steep and some- times weary path of knowledge.

A. BRADLEY LACEY, one of the prominent and well-to-do residents of Auburn township, Sus- quehanna county, and who is engaged in the general mercantile business and farming at West Auburn, was born March 7, 1851, at the place where he still resides, a son of Edwin J. and Ruth A. (Sage) Lacey. He belongs to a family which has for many years been identified with the history and best in- terests of Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, and comes of old Connecticut stock. His great-great- grandfather, Ebenezer Lacey, removed from that State to Pennsylvania in an early day, settling with his family in Braintrim township, Luzerne county, which subsequently became a part of Wyoming county, where he passed the remainder of his life.

Isaac Lacey, son of Ebenezer, was born in

DE James

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Connecticut, came to Pennsylvania with his family, and settled on the present site of Laceyville, Wy- oming county, which is now a village of 500 people, with two churches, two hotels, eight stores, etc. He learned the weaver's trade in early life, and fol- lowed same while in Connecticut, but after settling in Wyoming county, he took up farming, and though he started with little prospect of making more than a living he became one of the well-to-do men of his section, carrying on agricultural pursuits on an ex- tensive scale for years. He gave each of his chil- dren a farm comprising 100 acres or more. The family was as follows : Ebenezer, Daniel, Isaac, Da- vid, John, Henry, Gedida ( Mrs. William Camp), Polly ( Mrs. Isaac Camp), and Lydia ( Mrs. Paul Overfield ), all now deceased.

David Lacey was born in 1797 in Braintrim township, Wyoming Co., Penn., and remained at home up to the age of sixteen years, when he was bound out to learn the shoemaker's trade. He did not follow it long, however, for he took up farming and lumbering in early manhood, later engaging in carpentering, also operating sawmills in Wyoming county, and becoming a prosperous business man. He married Miss Ruth Lake, also of Braintrim township, Wyoming county, who was a daughter of Davis and Anna (Sturtevant) Lake, farming peo- ple, and early settlers of Wyoming county, coming from Connecticut. She was one of a family of nine children, all now deceased, namely: Electa (Mrs. Miles Coburn), Laura (Mrs. Nathaniel Averill), Amanza ( Mrs. James Coburn), David, Samuel, Will- iam, Henry, Isaac and Ruth. David and Ruth Lacey came to Susquehanna county in 1856, making a permanent home in Auburn town- ship, where he died in 1863, at the age of six- ty-six years, she in 1865, at the same age; they were buried in West Auburn. In religious connec- tion they were members of the Baptist Church in which Mr. Lacey held the office of deacon. Of their children, Edwin J. is mentioned more fully below. Hiram, a carpenter by trade, is now living retired in Binghamton, N. Y. ; he was first married to Orelia Rugg and later to Matilda Fish. Ann (deceased) was the wife of D. H. Rugg. Miles C. died in Kan- sas in 1897; he married for his first wife Bethia Morley, and, for his second, Ellen Peet. James died in infancy. James (2), a mechanic, makes his home in Binghamton; his first wife was Nancy Butler, his second Kate Benjamin. Truman I., an archi- tect, also resides in Binghamton; he first married a Miss Gaylord, and afterward wedded Clara Birch. John R. (deceased), who was a resident of Lacey- ville, married Ann Peet. Dora married Walter Simpson, now a retired farmer of Great Bend, Penn : he was a soldier during the Civil war.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 55

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