Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 58

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 58
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 58
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 58
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 58

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In his political views Mr. Tarbell was before the organization of the Republican party a Whig, casting his first presidential vote in 1840 for Will- iam H. Harrison. He has affiliated with the Re- publican party throughout its existence. As a young man he took an active part in the memorable campaign of 1840, he and his father, then an active Whig, exhibiting at many meetings a model log cabin with its coon-skins and hard cider-this drawn on a large wagon with many horses. Mr. Tarbell is prominent in Masonic circles throughout the State; has been identified with the order since 1843, being now a member of Warren Lodge and

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Chapter of Montrose. He is a charter member of Great Bend Consistory No. 32, and a member of Malta Commandery, of Binghamton, N. Y. He is probably one of the oldest Knights Templar living. Standing six feet, two inches, in height, with a forceful and strong face, Mr. Tarbell is a striking figure, easily recognized by the stranger, while his genial presence and ever cordial welcome will long be recalled by all who have known his familiar form on the streets of Montrose for so many years. "He is a man of marked individuality, positive in his ways, firm in his convictions and loyal to his friends." A man of kindly and generous nature, his name will long be fresh in the memory of those who have shared his hospitality and generosity. He has been a reader and subscriber of the New York Tribune for fifty years. In November last (1899) Mr. Tarbell served on the jury, and there, as in all the activities of life, his remarkable clearness of interest was very evident. In the fall of 1899 he presented a fine drinking fountain tothecity of Mont- rose, which will stand in the center of Main street.

On October 8, 1843, Mr. Tarbell was married to Mary Estelle, only daughter of Isaac and Emi- line Ketchem. She was born April 10, 1824, at Smithville, N. Y., and died there suddenly while on a visit from Montrose, on September 9, 1878. She was a most excellent woman, loved and respected by all who knew her. In 1883 Mr. Tarbell was again married, this time to Mrs. Emily Birchard, a native of Binghamton, N. Y., born in 1846, who has made him a good wife and is tenderly caring for him in the evening of life. Her parents, George W. and Margaret ( Kimball) Andrews, were both natives of New York State, and died in Bingham- ton. He was a cabinet maker by trade. Mrs. Tar- bell has one daughter by her first marriage, Carrie, now Mrs. Everett M. Alger, of Brockton, Mass., who has one child, Margaret.

Mr. Tarbell's children, all born to the first marriage, are: (I) Mary F. Tarbell, born in 1847, is the wife of John R. Raynsford, now the popular landlord of the "Tarbell House." (2) Eli K. Tar- bell, born in 1850, was reared and passed his early life at Montrose. For a period he was in the hotel business and interested in mining lands at Hurley, Wis. Some twelve years ago he went to Winona, Minn., organized a stock company, and erected a hotel building, at a cost of over one hundred thous- and dollars, of which he has since been the success- ful landlord. The building is 110 by 130 feet, five stories high, and attached to it is a plant for heat- ing and lighting purposes. The "Winona" is a modern hotel and first-class in every respect, and its landlord a most capable and successful hotel man. He owns a controlling interest in the company's stock. He married Celia Dryer, of Victor, N. Y., and had two daughters-Leonia and Julia. (3) Emily A. Tarbell, born in 1851, married (first) Leonard Searle, Jr., who died in 1879, and (sec- ond) Warren S. Danolds, and is now a resident of Albion, New York.

L. F. MEACHAM. Among the honored and representative citizens of Springville township, Sus- quehanna county, none stand higher than this gen- tleman. He is a native of the county, born in Au- burn township, May 20, 1830, and is a worthy rep- resentative of one of the highly respected pioneer families.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were Asa and Zilphia (Roswell) Meacham, who were lifelong residents of New Hampshire, where they died when well advanced in years. Their children are also now deceased. They were: Lawrence, the father of our subject; Asa, a resident of Claremont, N. H .; Augustine, of Springville township, Sus- quehanna Co., Penn .; Hubbard in Canada ; James, of Springville township; John, of Auburn township ; Almira, wife of Ambrose Cossett, who was president of the Claremont ( N. H.) National Bank, and judge of the court; and Benjamin, who always lived on the old homestead in the Granite State.

Lawrence Meacham, our subject's father, was a native of Claremont, N. H., and one of the early settlers of Susquehanna county, Penn., where he lo- cated in 1815, when about. thirty years of age. Two years later he married Miss Susan Stewart, who was born in Vermont, of Scotch descent. He purchased a tract of 150 acres of wild land, and after making a little clearing he erected a cabin thereon. As time passed, acre after acre was cleared and placed under the plow until he had ninety acres of highly cultivated land. To the original purchase he added thirty-seven acres, and made many im- provements upon the place in the way of buildings. There he died at the age of eighty-three years, his wife at the age of seventy-three, honored and re- spected by all who knew them. In political senti- ment he was a Whig. To this' worthy couple were born six children, namely: Zylphia lives in Tunk- hannock; Armina is a resident of Wilkes Barre, Penn .; Levica is the widow of Hiram Blakeslee, of Montrose, Penn. ; Harriet died at the age of thir- ty-five years; L. F. is our subject; and Orphia is the deceased wife of Urbun Avery, of Washington township, Wyoming Co., Pennsylvania.

L. F. Meacham acquired a good practical edu- cation in the district schools of Susquehanna county, and for several terms successfully engaged in teach- ing there and in Wyoming county. He also followed farming in the latter county, where he remained three or four years, and has devoted considerable attention to lumbering in Auburn township, Sus- quehanna county, on a tract of land which he pur- chased. In 1889 he bought seventy-three acres of land in Springville township, nearly all of which was cleared, and upon this place he has erected a comfortable residence and a good barn. He is now engaged in general farming, dairying and stock raising, keeping horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, and is meeting with well-merited success. He is also a stockholder in a creamery company, of which he is now serving as treasurer and manager, and he generally carries forward to successful completion

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whatever he undertakes. Fraternally he is a mem -- ber of the Grange, and politically is an ardent Re- publican, doing all in his power to advance his par- ty's interest. He was auditor of Auburn township one year, and has served as judge of the election board.

On April 27, 1899, Mr. Meacham was married to Elizabeth Manning, daughter of Robert and Mary (Garr) Manning. Her father was a farmer, born in Bucks county, Penn., in April, 1800, and died in November, 1874. Her mother was born in Mon- roe county, Penn., in May, 1804, and died in No- vember, 1889. They were the parents of children as follows (besides Mrs. Meacham) who grew to maturity: Gersham, Jackson, John, Phoebe, Ann, Daniel, Mary and Louis. The parents and all of the daughters were members of the Church.

GEORGE W. GREEN is one of the old and honored citizens of Susquehanna county, and is still actively identified with the agricultural interests of Dimock township. Upright and honorable in all the relations of life, he has attained to a position of distinctive prominence in the county where he was born, and where he has retained his residence up to the present time, being now one of the revered patri- archs of the community.

Abel Green, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Rhode Island, and a soldier of the Revolutionary war, during which struggle he was wounded in the eye. The father, Obediah Green, was born, reared and educated in the same State, and there married Ruth Mattison, a daughter of David Mattison, of Rhode Island. Leaving his native State, at the age of twenty-two years, Obe- cliah Green went to Royal Grant, but soon after- ward came to Susquehanna county, Penn., and pur- chased 300 acres of wild land near Montrose, where he cleared and improved a farm. Subsequently he lived in Forest Lake, and in 1850 came to Dimock township, where he spent his last days, dying Octo- ber II, 1860, at the advanced age of eighty-nine years. As a life work he followed farming and car- pentering. He was a pronounced Democrat in poli- tics, but was never an office seeker, and was a faith- ful member of the Baptist Church. In his family were twelve children, of whom ten lived to have children and grandchildren, but our subject, the youngest, is the only one now living.

George W. Green was born in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county, September 1, 1819, was reared near Montrose, and received a com- mon-school education. At the age of twenty years he was married in Dimock township, to Miss Eliza Williams, a daughter of Samuel and Salichia (Van Aukin) Williams, both natives of New Jersey. Mrs. Green was born November 12, 1819, and was reared by her maternal grandparents. The children born of this union were as follows : Fannie Mary, wife of William Seiber, of Rush township, Susquehanna county ; Amos Leroy, a farmer of Susquehanna county; Edwin Luther, a farmer of Auburn town-

ship, same county ; Annie L., who died at the age of seventeen years; George E., a farmer of Dimock township; William R., who died at the age of eight years; Nathan Emery, who is living on the old homestead ; Arminda Eliza, who died at the age of eight years; and Martha E., wife of Darius War- ner, of Forest Lake.

After his marriage Mr. Green engaged in farm- ing in Forest Lake township, Susquehanna county, but finally sold his place there, and July 16, 1849, took up his residence in Dimock township, where he purchased eighty-eight acres of partially cleared land, on which he has since engaged in general farming and dairying. At different times he has bought and sold other tracts, and at one time owned 100 acres of land in Jessup township, Susquehanna county, but is still living on his original purchase in Dimock township. He has dealt quite extensive- ly in cattle, and during the past sixty years has owned eighty-eight horses. In 1885, he traveled through many of the Western States, visiting Illi- nois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan, and also Cana- da. In Iowa, he stopped at Tama City and the In- dian reservation. Although eighty years of age he is yet quite active, is able to work in the lumber woods, and can still handle a plow with the ease of a much younger man. In political sentiment he is a very strong Democrat, and he has been honored with a number of local offices in Dimock and Forest Lake townships, including that of supervisor which he filled for several terms. He was also a member of the election board, and has ever been accounted one of the most useful and valuable citizens of his community. He attends the Universalist Church, gives liberally to its support, and his life has ever been such as to commend him to the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

JOHN SOMMER. This well-known resident of Palmyra township, Pike county, is one of our leading German-born citizens, and in his successful business career he has shown the characteristic thrift and enterprise of his race. Beginning with no capi- tal except that acquired by his own industry, he has steadily overcome the obstacles in his path to suc- cess, and is to-day a prosperous farmer.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were Jacob and Elizabeth Sommer, who spent their entire lives in Hessen, Germany, where the former was an extensive buyer. His parents, Henry and Anna Gertrude (Emhurf) Sommer, were also natives of Hessen, and remained in the Fatherland, the father dying there in 1884, aged eighty-three years, the mother in September, 1887, at the same age. The children born to them were as follows: Elizabeth, widow of Cart Swartz, and a resident of Newark, N. J .; John, the subject of this sketch; Anna Ger- trude, wife of Peter Burn, and a resident of Ger- many : Henry, a farmer of Hessen, Germany ; Mar- garet, wife of Jacob Cronan, of Hessen ; Annie, who is married and lives in Hessen ; Catherine, who died

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in Newark, N. J .; and Henry, who is married, and resides in New York City, where he is employed as a varnisher and polisher.

John Sommer was born in Hessen, January 22, 1829, and received a good education in the German language. At the age of twenty he crossed the At- lantic and found employment in New York City as a varnisher and polisher of pianos, at which trade he worked there for twenty-eight years. He then returned to his native Province, where he visited friends and relatives for five months, and on again coming to America located in Palmyra township, Pike Co., Penn., where he purchased a hotel, com- monly called the "Tafton House," which he con- ducted for three years. On selling that property he bought a farm near by, and upon that place he now resides. It consists of 150 acres, fifty of which are tillable, and to general farming he now devotes his attention with most gratifying results. His po- litical support is always given the men and measures of the Democratic party, and he has served his fel- low citizens as judge of election and school director for four years.

On September 2, 1852, in New York City, Mr. Sommer was married by Rev. Buschey to Miss Ann Augusta Gaap, who was born in northern Germany, March 17, 1834, and died in 1887. Children as follows have blessed this union: Annie, born June IO, 1853, died at the age of two and one-half years ; John H., born December 28, 1854, lives with his fa- ther and owns and operates an adjoining farm; Lewis, born December 4, 1856, wedded Mary Mey- ers, and is a prosperous farmer of Palmyra town- ship; Adolph, born January 12, 1860, died in 1888; Charles, born February 1, 1864, married Geneveive Hughes, and is employed as a bookkeeper in New York City; and Matild, born January 18, 1869, married Carl Oberle, a jeweler, of Hawley, Penn- sylvania.

JOHN T. TITMAN (deceased) was during his lifetime one of the well-known farmers of Leh- inan township, Pike county, where his widow still resides, and he was a worthy member of a family whose members are respected everywhere for in- dustry and integrity, and who have had a prominent place in the life of this section for many years. Mr. Titman's parents, John and Elizabeth (Teeal) Tit- man, were natives of Warren county, N. J., and his grandparents, Baldus and Marie (Force) Titman, were also lifelong residents of that county, Baldus Titman engaging in farming on an extensive scale. He died from the effects of a snake bite. He and his wife had seven children: George, Philip, William, John, Margaret (Mrs. Eugene Krause), Lena (Mrs. Isaac Blackford) and Anna (Mrs. Isaac France).

John Titman was the only one of the above named family to come to Pike county. He grew to manhood in Warren county, and there married Miss Elizabeth Teeal, whose father, John Teeal, came from his native country, Holland, in early life,

and settled in Warren county, N. J., where he carried on farming for the remainder of his days. Some few years after their marriage, in about 1819, Mr. and Mrs. Titman migrated to Pike county, Penn., taking up their residence on a farm at what is now known as Egypt Mills, in Lehman township, where they made a permanent home. In addition to general agriculture Mr. Titman engaged in car- penter and cooper work, and by industry and thrift he acquired a comfortable property, at the time of his death ranking among the prominent and pros- perous citizens of the locality ; he served as con- stable for many years. Politically he was a Demo- crat. He passed away in March, 1865, at the age of seventy-five years, his wife preceding him to the grave in 1863, when seventy-one years old. Their remains rest in the Swartwood cemetery. Of their children, Catherine married David Emory and both are deceased, Mrs. Emory dying at the age of eighty-four years. Jacob F. (deceased) married Barbara Reaser. Jeremiah M., who is a farmer in Lehman township, married Sarah M., Wildrick. John T., the subject proper of these lines, born July 27, 1821, near Blairstown, N. J. Baldus and Joehila died young. Charles married Margaret Counter- man; he resides in Milford. Maria, who is un- married, also lives in Milford, Pike county.

On March 9, 1859, at the homestead of the Tit- man family in Lehman township, John T. Titman was united in marriage with Miss Elmira Counter- man, and nine children blessed this union, of whom we have the following record: Louis M. married Mary Seymore, and they reside in Morristown, N. J., where he follows the carpenter trade. Anna (deceased) was the wife of Wallace Bensley. S. Catherine is married to Philip Misenhelder, of Mil- ford, Penn. William H. is mentioned farther on. Ulysses G. married Clara Williams, and they make their home in Bushkill, Penn. Martha J. is the wife of George William, of Montague, N. J. Minnie M. married Richard Van Tassell, of Frank- lin Furnace, N. J. Philip D., who is unmarried, lives in New Jersey. Harry S., also unmarried, is a resident of Morristown, that State. The fa- ther of this family passed away November 29, 1893, at Egypt Mills, from the effects of being thrown from a wagon, whereby the top portion of his spine was injured. Mrs. Elmira (Counterman) Titman was born May 23, 1837, in Monroe county, Penn., a daughter of Jacob and Eve (Cortright) Coun- terman, who were farming people of Monroe coun- ty all their lives. They died in July, 1842, and January, 1894, respectively ; the mother was born in April, 1807. Their children were as follows: El- mira, Mrs. Titman; James, who died while serving in the army ; Philip, a farmer of Lehman township, who married Eliza Crump; and Margaret, Mrs. Charles Titman, deceased.

WILLIAM H. TITMAN was born December 28, 1865, at Egypt Mills, and was reared in Lehman township, where he received his education. At the age of twenty-one he commenced work on his own

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account, hiring out to various farmers until his marriage, since which time he has lived on the fine farm in Lehman which is now his home. This place, which is a valuable tract of river-bottom land, is one of the best farms in Pike county, and although Mr. Titman does not own the property he takes as much pride in its appearance and improvement as if it belonged to him, and everything about the land and buildings bespeaks watchful care and good management on his part. He is thoroughly modern in all his agricultural work, thrifty and progressive to an extraordinary degree, and he attends to the cultivation of his fertile acres in an intelligent and systematic manner which would do credit to many an older and more experienced man.

In December, 1893, Mr. Titman was united in marriage, at Deckertown, N. J., with Miss Flora Canfield, by whom he has had three children : Emmet S., Irvin L., and Earl. Mrs. Titman has proved a competent helpmeet to her industrious husband, working steadily with him and assisting him materially in his success, and thev are both highly esteemed by their neighbors and friends in Lehman township as pleasant, intelligent people, who would be desirable residents of any community. Mr. Titman's widowed mother makes her home with them. Our subject is a Republican in his po- litical preferences.

Mrs. Titman's father, Charles Canfield, was born in Huguenot, N. Y. For his first wife he married Julia A. Dewitt, a native of the same place, and a daughter of John C. and Sallie A. (Trible) Dewitt. In 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Canfield removed to Monroe county, Penn., where she passed away in May, 1875, at the early age of thirty years, and he subsequently removed to McAvee Valley, N. J., where he still resides. Mr. Canfield is now forty- eight years of age. He is a blacksmith bv trade. For his second wife he married Miss Minerva Kishpaw, and to them have been born nine children : Sadie, Eugene, Arthur (deceased), Maggie, Lydia, Leanora, William (deceased), Itha M. and Orval. Mrs. Titman, who was born August 9, 1873, at Port Jervis, N. Y., was the only child of the first marriage, and after her mother's death she went to live with her grandfather Dewitt, by whom she was reared.

L. J. MIDDAUGH. Among the worthy pio- neers of Pike county the Middaugh family hold a prominent place, and the results of the labor and self-denial of those past generations is manifest in the comfortable homes and fertile, well-arranged farms which they left to their descendants. The family was originally from Holland, but was found- ed in this country in early Colonial days. Court- right Middaugh, our subject's grandfather, was born in what is now Westfall township, Pike county, and there amid pioneer scenes he grew to manhood. He never left the county, and throughout life de- voted his energies to farming and lumbering. Here he married and had eight children, all now deceased ;

Cornelius, Levi, Henry, Helen, John, Catherine, Jane and Sahra.

Levi Middaugh, father of our subject, was also a native of Westfall township, born July 4, 1786, and was reared there. When a young man he learned the blacksmith's trade which he followed for some years. Nearly ninety-five years ago he came to Shohola township and purchased 300 acres of wood land, and as there were no roads through this por- tion of the county he traveled up the Delaware river in a canoe. This tract he planned to clear in the winter, but being pleased with the surroundings and evidence of an abundance of game, he decided to locate here at once, and accordingly erected a log house and brought his family to the new home in the midst of the forest. The family endured all of the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and many times would have starved had it not been for the abundance of wild game in the neighborhood. Levi Middaugh married Miss Margaret Van Akin, who was born in Westfall township, February 28, 1793, a daughter of Garrett Van Akin, and died October II, 1876. Mr. Middaugh passed away September 13, 1861. Their marriage was celebrat- ed in Westfall township, September 30, 1813, and was blessed with ten children: Catherine (de- ceased) married James Dewhiliger ; Phœbe (de- ceased) married John Ketchum; Elizabeth is the wife of Bradner Wood; Janes (deceased) married John Van Tyle ; James N., born June 24, 1823, re- sides in Shohola township, where he follows farm- ing and blacksmithing, and as a Democrat takes an active part in public affairs, having held several township offices; Margaret is the wife of John J. Coursen, of Shohola township; Sarrah Ann (de- ceased) married Jerry Tutton, of Sullivan county, N. Y .; Hanna (deceased) married Edward Hines, and resided in Paterson, N. J. ; Harriet is the wife of Daniel Van Tyle, of Sullivan county, N. Y. ; and L. J., our subject, who is the twin brother of Har- riet, completes the family.

L. J. Middaugh was born in Shohola township, Pike county, September 6, 1836, and upon the home farm early became familiar with the occupations of lumbering and farming. He also learned the blacksmith's trade, which he has followed to some extent, and during the winter months has devoted his attention to lumbering throughout life. At his father's death he came into possession of the old homestead where he now resides, and is successfully engaged in its cultivation. It comprises 200 acres, seventy of which are devoted to agriculture. He is enterprising and progressive, and in his undertak- ings has met with most excellent success. Like his father, he is a stalwart supporter of the Dem- ocratic party, and is now serving as school director, which office he has most capably filled some thirty- five years.

Mr. Middaugh has been twice married, first in Shohola township, to Miss Mary Ellen Warner, who died leaving two children : Hattie P., who was born November 20, 1861 ; and Levi, who was

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born April 27, 1864, and died October 15, 1876. At Port Jervis, N. Y., Mr. Middaugh wedded Miss Elmira Paugh, who was born January 10, 1849, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Osterhouse) Paugh, both natives of New Jersey. Four children came of the second union: Maggie, born February 24, 1873, is now the wife of Marcus Kroger, of Sho- hola township; Eva Jane, born January 15, 1878, is the wife of Edward Conklin, of the same town- ship; and Levi J., born April 12, 1885, and Mamie, born October 5, 1888, are both at home.

HENRY E. BARNARD, a well-known citi- zen of New Milford township, Susquehanna coun- ty, is an enterprising and successful agriculturist, and his farm of 129 acres shows everywhere the re- sults of his capable management.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 58

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