Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 73

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 73
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 73
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 73
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 73


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).


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A. V. JERAULD, now a prominent farmer of Lenox township, Susquehanna county, has attained his standing as a farmer and come into possession of the fertile acres which he cultivates largely by his own efforts. He is distinctly a self-made man. The strength of character he has developed in winning his way in life marks him as one of the solid and sub- stantial men of the township. The family is of French extraction.


Dupree Jerauld, the great-grandfather of our subject, migrated from France, his native land, to America. His son, James Jerauld, the grandfa- ther of our subject, was born February 13, 1745, and lived in Rhode Island, where, being possessed of considerable ability, he became a man of prom- inence. He was a school teacher, and for many years served as a justice of the peace, his commission to that office reading as follows :


By his Excellency, Arthur Fenner, Esquire, Gov- ernor, Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief of and over the State of Rhode Island and Provi- dence Plantations to James Jerauld, Esq., Greeting : You, the said James Jerauld being chosen by the General Assembly of the said State to the place and office of a justice of the peace in the Town of War- wick in the County of Kent, in the said State, are hereby in the name of the Governor and Company of the said State, commissioned, authorized and empow- ered to do all things by law required and appointed throughout your township, in Civil cases; and also to do all things required of you by law in criminal cases, both in the courts of General Sessions of the Peace, and out of the same that justice may be duly administered : and for your so doing, this commission shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge.


Given under my hand, and the seal of the said State, the thirteenth day of September in the year of our Lord, One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety, and in the Fifteenth year of independence. By his Excellency's command, Henry Ward, Sec'y. A. Fenner. Mr. Jerrauld was twice married, and by his second wife, Eleanor ( Steadman) Jerauld, who. was born June 4, 1771, he had two children: Ray G., our subject's father ; and Phœbe S., born Sep- tember 14, 1805, who died in Luzerne county, June 22, 1838. The father died April 22, 1827, the moth- er August 31, 1851.


Ray G. Jerauld, the father of our subject, was born in Rhode Island August 20, 1803. There he married Dorcas Remington, who was born March 9, 1807, daughter of Holden and Dorcas Reming- ton, the former born June 17, 1766, died August 29, 1854; the latter born April 21, 1766, died July 13, 1852. After his marriage Ray G. Jerauld moved from Rhode Island to Pennsylvania on April 13, 1837, locating in Luzerne county, where he was one of the early settlers. He purchased a tract of fifty acres, then almost a wilderness, in the present bor- ough of La Plume, Lackawanna county, cleared up the land, and on April 28, 1868, removed to Len- ox township, Susquehanna county, purchasing one hundred acres of improved land, where he lived un- til his death, in October, 1881, at the age of seventy- eight years. His wife died December 12, 1882, aged seventy-five years, nine months and three days. Their children were as follows: Angeline L., who married Zina Bailey, of Lenox township, and died January 5, 1870 ; James H., a blacksmith of Rhode Island ; Harriet Z., widow of Elvin Patrick, of New York : Sarah L., wife of S. Wescott, of Lenox town- ship, Susquehanna county ; Margaret P., widow of Charles A. Howe, of LaPlume ; George R., of Len- ox township: A. V., subject of this sketch; and Elva A., wife of Frank Tiffany, of Dalton.


A. V. Jerauld was born in Abington township, Luzerne county, June 30, 1844. He was reared on the farm, attended the district schools, and at the age of twenty years began farm and lumber work. On March 10, 1865, he enlisted in Company F. 52nd


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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Regiment, Penn. V. I., and served to the close of the war. In the fall of 1865 he purchased fifty acres of land in Lenox township, without a building of any kind, and on April 10, 1866, he rented a house near by, while his own residence was being erect- ed. He removed into his new home the following Christmas and continued to live there until 1891, when he rented the farm to his son Orrie. In No- vember, 1892, he moved to Scranton, where he had already commenced work as a carpenter, engaging in that occupation for three years. While occupied only with the cultivation of his first purchase Mr. Jerauld worked also at blacksmithing for his neigh- bors, but after adding to his possessions he had enough to do to look after his own work.


Mr. Jerauld was married in Luzerne county, September 13, 1863, to Ruth A. Howe, daughter of Palmer and Julia ( Weed) Howe, who were of English extraction. To our subject and wife have been born three sons: Orrie E., a farmer and huck- ster of Lenox township; Willie R., a farmer of Len- ox township; and Lynn W., at his father's home. They have also had an adopted daughter, Mabel Smalley, now the wife of Bert Stevens, of Nichol- son, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Jerauld and their chil- dren are members of the Presbyterian Church at Nicholson, of which Mr. Jerauld is an elder; for many years he was also a worker in the Sabbath- school, serving as teacher and superintendent. He was a charter member and first Master of the Glen- wood Grange. In politics he was formerly a Re- publican, but is now an advocate of Prohibition principles. For six years he has served as school director, and for three years as supervisor, besides filling other local offices. He is progressive and en- ergetic, and possesses the high esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances.


ABRAM J. WALKER. Among the first to respond to the call for soldiers in 1861 was the sub- ject of this sketch, now a leading resident of Harm- ony township, Susquehanna county, and his experi- ences if fully described would make a most interest- ing chapter in the history of the war. As a citizen he has show his public spirit in many ways, and his thrift and enterprise in his business lines have won him an enviable standing.


Mr. Walker was born July 17, 1833, in the town of Sanford, Broome Co., N. Y., a son of Capt. William and Debby ( Monroe) Walker. As he was but four years old when his father died he knows but little concerning his paternal ancestry, but it is supposed that the family settled in north- eastern New York at an early day. Capt. William Walker was born in Connecticut, and followed the sea for some years in early manhood, being captain of a vessel on the English coast at one time. He was married in Delaware county, N. Y., and for some time was engaged in lumbering on the Dela- ware river, running rafts to the Philadelphia mar- kets. His last years were spent at his homestead in Sanford, where he was a pioneer settler, and his


death occurred May 30, 1837. His estimable wife, who died April 10, 1877, was born in New York State, on the banks of the Mohawk, and her father, Col. Alexander Monroc, was an officer in the Revo- lutionary army and was present at the surrender of Yorktown. Our subject was one of a family of thirteen children, five of whom died in infancy. Of the others, (1) Henry was born in Broome coun- ty, N. Y., and is now a lumberman in Clearfield county, Penn. During the Civil war he served as a soldier in the 5th P. V. I., the famous "Bucktail" regiment. He was married, in Tioga county, Penn., to Miss Maggie Seward, and has one child. (2) Emma, born in Broome county, married William Ticknor, of Rhode Island, and settled in Harmony township, Susquehanna county, where she died July 7, 1879, leaving . five children, Frederick, George (who was killed at Roundtop, during the Civil war), William ( who died in 1864), Josephine (the wife of Walter Stephens, of Susquehanna county), and Libbie (now the wife of William Celia ). Amanda married Limon Lewis, who died at Starrucca, and she now resides in Susque- hanna with her five children, three daughters and two sons. (4) Adaline married Abram Hewit, who died in California, where his widow and son John still reside. (5) Eunice, born May 4, 1830, married William Prentice, of Susquehanna, and their chil- dren are Frank E., born August 25, 1854 ; Charles L., October 25, 1856; Will, February 4, 1859; George E. March 3, 1861 ; Mary E., January 15, 1863: Lorin, April 30, 1865; Rosetta, November 17, 1867 ; and John F., September 5, 1869. (6)L. W., born in Broome county May 10, 1831, married and settled in Tioga county, where he follows farming. He has a family of four children, William, Francis, Dellia and Richard. (7) Sara Wiley, married Squire Walker, and now resides at Cooperstown, New York.


Soon after his father's death our subject was placed with a family in Delaware county, N. Y., where he was reared, his education being obtained in the local schools. As a young man he learned the mason's trade with David Allen, of Deposit, N. Y., and for some years he was employed there. On January 1, 1856, he married Miss Susan Finch, of Greene county, N. Y., daughter of Ira and Cath- erine Finch,and a member of a well-known family of Prattsville, N. Y. After his marriage Mr. Walk- er settled at Brandt, Susquehanna county, and fol- lowed his trade until 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, 27th N. Y. V. I., being mustered in at Elmira, N. Y., and assigned to the Ist Brigade, 6th Corps. He took part in the first battle of Bull Run, the siege of Yorktown, and was in the cam- paign on the Peninsula, and the engagement at Williamsburg. During the battle at White House Landing he was wounded in the leg, and on re- covering rejoined his regiment in time to take part in the battle of Seven Pines, and the campaign in front of Richmond in 1862. At the engagements at Gaines Mill and Savage Station his regiment lost


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heavily and during the march to Harrison's Land- ing, which followed, they met the enemy at White Oak Swamp and narrowly escaped capture. Then came Malvern Hill, the second battle of Bull Run, Chantilly, where Gen. Kearney was killed, the regiment following the retreating Rebels thence to Sugar Loaf Mountain. The next battle was at South Mountain, where the losses on both sides were very heavy, but although five balls pierced our subject's overcoat, he was not injured. His regiment again suffered severe losses at Antietam and the first battle of Fredericksburg, and later was with Burnside in the historic march to White Oak Church, characterized by the soldiers at the "Stick-in-the-mud" campaign.


During this time our subject's term expired, but he remained with the regiment, then under command of Gen. Brooks, and after joining Bartlett's forces they marched to Fredericksburg, taking three lines of Rebel fortifications while on the journey. At Fredericksburg the 5th and 6th Pennsylvania regi- ments distinguished themselves by their bravery, and soon afterward they were sent back to Elmira, by way of Washington, and mustered out of the service. Our subject then re-enlisted, in Company H, Ist N. Y. Vet. Cav., joining Sheridan's com- mand, and was sent to the Shenandoah Valley, on a scouting expedition against the guerrillas under Mosby and Morgan. In the battles at Woodstock, Cedar Run and Piedmont they won decisive vic- tories, and afterward they marched to the Kanawha Valley, where they were on garrison duty until the close of the war, being mustered out in July, 1865.


After his return home our subject engaged in lumbering, and purchased a tract of timber land in Lanesboro. In 1879 he bought his present home- stead, which he has improved from time to time. The attractive residence which he built was burned in 1889, and has since been replaced by a fine modern building. In politics Mr. Walker is a steadfast Re- publican, and his continued interest in military mat- ters is shown by his active work as a member of the G. A. R. at Lanesboro. In religion he inclines to the Methodist faith, his parents having been earnest and devout members of that Church, and the family is much esteemed socially. His three daughters are all married. (1) Debby, born at Brandt and educated at Lanesboro, is now the wife of L. D. Westbrook, formerly of Susquehanna county, and now a resident of Binghamton, N. Y. For a number of years he was foreman in a brush factory, and at present he is a clerk in a wholesale grocery store. They have one daughter, Ida. (2) Frances, born at Brandt, married William West- brook, a lumberman in Susquehanna, and has four daughters, Angie M., Lulu W., Eva F. and Susie May. (3) Ida, born at Lanesboro, November 13, 1869, married Silas W. Young, of Lanesboro, and they now reside at the Walker homestead. Our subject and his wife had two sons, both of whom were drowned. Ira A., born December 7, 1860, was drowned when four years of age, while Mr.


Walker was in the army. William T., born June 4, 1864, was drowned when nine years old, in Barnes Reservoir, in company with Edwin Whitney, a young boy from New York City.


EDGAR J. LINDSEY, an active and enter- prising farmer residing in Franklin township, Sus- quehanna county, is an honored veteran of the war of the Rebellion, bearing an honorable record for brave service in the cause of freedom and union, and in the paths of peace he has also won an envi- able reputation through the sterling qualities which go to the making of a good citizen.


Mr. Lindsey was born in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county, June 13, 1833, a son of John and Mary (Tewksberry) Lindsey, the former a native of Brattleboro, Vt., the latter of Susquehanna county. The paternal grandparents, Amhurst and Betsy (Eastman) Lindsey, were natives of Edin- burgh, Scotland, and Vermont, respectively, and were among the pioneers of Susquehanna county, settling in Bridgewater township when this region was almost an unbroken wilderness. After building a cabin in the woods, the grandfather returned to the Green Mountain State for his family. Here he operated a sawmill, engaged in blacksmithing and farming, and was quite prominently identified with the early development and prosperity of the coun- ty. He died in 1850, aged seventy-eight years, his wife in 1843, and both were buried in Montrose cemetery. Their children were Polly (wife of Israel Gregory), Betsie (wife of Israel Reynolds), Laura (wife of John Reynolds), Myron, John ( fa- ther of our subject), Lyman, Benjamin, Amhurst, William, Samuel, Mason, and George. Of these Benjamin is now the only survivor. The maternal grandparents of our subject, Thomas and Clarrisa Tewksberry, were natives of Vermont, and were also early settlers of Susquehanna county, where the former followed shoemaking. Their children were Lydia, wife of (first) Christopher Penny, and (second) John Gause ; Mary, mother of our subject ; Matilda, wife of Elihu Smith; Sarah, wife of Stan- ley Behman; Jane, wife of Joel Jones; Charles ; Francis; William; and Martin and Maria, twins. All are now deceased.


John Lindsey, our subject's father, was a mere boy when brought by his parents to Susquehanna county, and in Bridgewater township he grew to manhood and continued to make his home through- out life, his time and attention being devoted to ag- ricultural pursuits. He died in January, 1888, aged seventy-nine years, the mother in 1847, aged thirty-eight years, and they were buried in the cem- eteries at Hallstead and Brooklyn, Susquehanna county, respectively. Both were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics the father was first a Democrat and later a Repub- lican. Their children were as follows: Edgar J., our subject ; Mary J., who died at the age of eleven vears ; Adeline, widow of Eliphalet Gardner, and a resident of Factoryville, Penn .; Alonzo, deceased ;


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Francis, a blacksmith of Lathrop township, Sus- quehanna county ; Henry, a farmer of the same township; Mary, widow of Francis Hawley, and a resident of Great Bend, Susquehanna county ; and Sarah, who died young.


Until his marriage Edgar J. Lindsey remained with his parents. In Lathrop township, in April, 1858, he wedded Miss Minerva Marcy, a daughter of John and Mary Marcy, agriculturists of Wyo- ming county, Penn. She died August 4, 1860, at the age of twenty-eight years, and was buried at Harford, Susquehanna county. Mr. Lindsey was again married, November 29, 1868, in Franklin township, his second union being with Miss Luran- cla Hewett. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Joseph Chidester, a Methodist Episcopal minister. To this union came one daughter, Gertrude, born June 1, 1871, now the wife of John Werner, a mer- chant of New Milford, Penn. On March 5, 1899, our subject adopted Elsie Sphar, six years old, of Susquehanna, giving her his name, and intends to rear her as his own daughter.


Mrs. Lindsey was born in New Milford and is a daughter of Charles and Minerva (Howe) Hewett, who spent their entire lives in Susquehanna county. The father, who was a laborer, died No- vember 25, 1894, aged seventy-six years, and the mother January 25, 1893, aged seventy-seven years, and their remains were interred in New Milford cemetery. The mother was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and in political sentiment Mr. Hewett was a Democrat. The children born to them were Zolman and Clarissa, who died young ; Luranda, wife of our subject; and Mary, wife of Lewman Brown, of Syracuse, N. Y. For his first wife the father married Lucy Peck, who died in 1847, leaving one daughter, Clarissa J .; she be- came the wife of Emory Mudge, and died in 1872. Mrs. Lindsey's paternal grandparents, Marble and Clarissa (Bowers) Hewett, were natives of Onon- daga county, N. Y., and early settlers of Susque- hanna county, where the former followed farming. He died March II, 1826, and his wife departed this life December 10, 1883, at the age of eighty-six, both being laid to rest in New Milford cemetery. Their children were Charles, Sollman, Anna (who died at the age of fourteen years), and George, all of whom have passed away. Mrs. Lindsey's mater- nal grandparents, Peter and Mary ( Blowers) Howe, were natives of Tioga and Susquehanna counties, Penn., respectively, and were pioneers of Bradford county, where the former died in 1864, at the age of seventy-eight years and six months, the latter in 1859, at the age of seventy-seven years and six months, their remains being interred at Wysox, Penn. In their family were seven children, name- ly: Minerva, mother of Mrs. Lindsey ; Maria, wife of Eli Goddart ; Sheppard ; Amaria ; Margaret, wife of Lee Wood; Martha, wife of Stephen Slate; and Henry, all deceased.


For eight years after leaving the home farm Mr. Lindsey was in the employ of the Delaware


& Lackawanna Railroad Co. At first he engaged in teaming with four horses, and on the completion of the road secured the position of brakeman, which he held for six months, later serving as fireman on the road until ill health forced his retirement from that business. Subsequently he operated a steam sawmill in Luzerne county, Penn., and was em- ployed as engineer at different places for ten years. At the end of that time he returned home, and after working for his father for a year located in Frank- lin township, where at different times he has owned three farms, but has made his home uninterrupt- edly upon his present place since March, 1870, and has met with well-deserved success in his farming operations.


On August 4, 1862, in Bailey Hollow, Penn., Mr. Lindsey enlisted in Company B, 143rd P. V. I., which was first assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Ist Corps, but later was transferred to the Ist Brigade, Ist Division, 5th Corps. During the winter of 1862-63 he was detailed as clerk in the commissary department at Fort Slocum, Washing- ton, D. C., where he remained four months, and in the fall of 1864 was detailed as teamster at brigade headquarters in front of Petersburg, serving in that capacity for the same length of time. With his reg- iment he took an active part in the battles of Get- tysburg, Warrington, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Potomac River, Cold Harbor, Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run, and the siege of Petersburg. At the battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863. he was wounded by a gun-shot in the left leg ; and at Fort Helena, June 30, 1864, he almost miraculously escaped death, a solid shot scratching his face, and tearing away a part of his coat collar, canteen and haversack. In February, 1863, he was sent to the hospital at Aqua Creek, where he was confined for two months with typhoid fever. At length hostil- ities ceased, and he was honorably discharged at Harts Island, N. Y., in July, 1865, returning home with a war record of which he may be justly proud. His brother Henry was also in the Union service, as a member of Company D, 50th P. V. I., and was seriously wounded in the knee. Our subject is now an honored member of the Grand Army Post at New Milford, is an ardent supporter of the Repub- lican party, and for three years served as pathmas- ter in his township. He is a true and earnest Chris- tian gentleman, and was a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church in Harford for forty vears, he and his wife in 1896 uniting with the Presby- terian Church of Upsonville, of which they are active members, holding honored positions in Church work.


WILLIAM TAYLOR. Prominent among the most active and enterprising citizens of Great Bend township. Susquehanna county, is the gentle- man whose name introduces this review. His rep- utation for integrity and industry is second to none in the county, and he is both widely and favorably known.


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Mr. Taylor was born in the town of New Mil- ford, in January, 1842, and is a son of Solomon and Margaret ( Fulton ) Taylor, the former born in Wil- mington, Conn., December 9, 1799, the latter in Nicholson, Wyoming Co., Penn., in March, 1800. The paternal grandfather, David Taylor, was a native of England, and came to this country about 1777, when a boy, during the Revolutionary war, locating in Wilmington, Connecticut, where he married and reared his family. He came to Sus- quehanna county, Penn., in 1809. He had ten chil- dren, of whom: (1) Amos married and located in South Gibson, Susquehanna county, where he owned a large amount of land and followed farm- ing. (2) William settled on the old homestead near Hickory Grove after his marriage, and there reared his family, which consisted of nine children, Jacob, Hannah, two daughters both of whom mar- ried men by the name of Thomas, Jonathan, Jonas, Daniel, Elizabeth, and David (who was county sheriff for three years and deputy sheriff for years). (3) Thomas married and located in Great Bend township, where he died.


Upon the home farm in Hickory Grove Solo- mon Taylor grew to manhood, and, as there were no district schools at that time, his early educa- tional privileges were meager, and he was almost wholly self-educated. He was a good musician, and taught vocal music for many years. After his marriage, he purchased a farm near Hickory Grove, on the Susquehanna river, living there until 1836, when he sold the place and bought another farm at Egypt, Great Bend township. There he died in July, 1875, and his wife in September, 1887. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: (I) Eliza- beth, born in Hickory Grove, in 1822, first married Charles Peacher, a stonemason of Susquehanna, and after his death wedded Benjamin Bencraft, of Schuyler county, N. Y., where she died in 1868, leaving no children. (2) Henry, born in 1824, married Julia Towner, of New Milford, by whom he has several children, and they reside in Oakland township, Susquehanna county. (3) Catherine, born in Hickory Grove, in 1826, is the wife of George Chappel, of Schuyler county, N. Y., and they have three children, John, Nellie and Edward. (4) Robert, born in Great Bend township, in 1828, learned the carpenter's trade. During the Civil war he enlisted, at Union City, Ind., in an Indiana regiment, and served throughout the struggle, tak- ing part in many battles, and being wounded two or three times. When a young man he entered the regular army, in which he served until the Rebel- lion. After the war he married and located at Union City, Ind., where his wife died, and he subse- quently married a lady of Watkins, N. Y., where he now resides. He has no children. (5) Rachel, born in Hickory Grove in 1830, married John Well- man, of New Milford, and first located in Lanes- boro, Susquehanna county, thence removing to Illi- nois, where he left his wife and family while he went to California during the gold excitement. He


became quite wealthy, and the family removed to San Francisco, where he erected a large hotel, known as the "Wellman House," which he con- ducted for twenty years. He died in that city, leaving a wife and five children. The former is now a resident of Seattle, Wash., where her son and son-in-law are engaged in the banking busi- ness. (6) Margaret, born in Hickory Grove, in 1832, is the wife of David Hurley, of Watkins, N. Y., where he engaged in business for sixty years as a butcher and large stock dealer. They have two children, Minerva, wife of William Brightman ; and Edwin, a butcher of New York State. (7) Caroline, born in 1836, married Albert Blackington, of Oakland, Susquehanna county, and is now de- ceased. They had two sons, William, who was killed on a log train in Michigan; and Burton, who is married and resides in that State. (8) William, our subject, and (9) John are twins, born at East Lake, New Milford township, in 1842. The latter, a farmer by occupation, married Phœbe Vanhelton, of Nicholson, Penn., and resided in Springville, where she died leaving one daughter, Eva, who married Frank Slater, and is now deceased. He was again married, in 1896, and now resides in Brooklyn, Susquehanna county. (10) James C., born in Harmony township, Susquehanna county, in 1847, was educated in the district schools. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company K, 89th N. Y. V. I., and participated in thirteen battles. At Antietam he was seriously wounded, and died from the effects of same September 17, 1862. He was the youngest soldier in the regiment, being only fifteen when killed.




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