Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 74

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 74
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 74
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 74
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 74

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During his boyhood and youth William Tay- lor remained upon the home farm. When he was only twelve years old his father was injured while logging on a clearing, which disabled him for work of almost any kind, and our subject and his twin brother continued the work, clearing a four-acre tract in Oakland township. They cut the logs and drew them with a yoke of oxen. During his younger years our subject's principal occupation was that of lumbering, and on the East Branch, in 1876, he cut and handled 13,000 railroad ties for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western and the New York & Erie railroads.

On September 3, 1864, Mr. Taylor enlisted in the 16th New York Light Artillery, under Capt. R. H. Lee, of New York, and, with the Army of the James, was first engaged in battle in front of Rich- mond, on the New Market road. This was fol- lowed by the engagement at Dutch Gap and the battle of Fort Fisher, in February, 1865. The bat- tery then boarded a steamer bound for Raleigh, N. C., but in a heavy storm were blown far out to sea. After the storm subsided they were chased by a British man-of-war for three days, but finally reached the harbor at Morehead City, N. C., after thirty-five days spent upon the water. As they had only ten days' rations many of the men were nearly starved. On February 10 they embarked

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on the steamer "Enterprise," at City Point, for Fort Fisher. On the second day they left Fortress Monroe with 103 horses, which became nearly suffocated in the hold. Our subject informed his superior officer of their condition, and the com- manding officer ordered the boat back to port, thus saving a part of the horses. Mr. Taylor was badly injured by a fall through a trap in the hold. From Fort Fisher he went with his command to Raleigh, N. C., fighting nearly all the way, a distance of 360 miles, and at the latter place they remained until after the surrender of Gen. Lee. They then re- turned to Elmira, N. Y., where our subject was honorably discharged June 25, 1865.

Returning to his home in Susquehanna county, Mr. Taylor was married, in January, 1868, to Miss Mary E. Schriver, who was born in Oakland town- ship, in 1850, a daughter of Henry and Gilpah Schriver, prominent people of that township, where she was educated. They began their domestic life in Great Bend township, where they have since made their home, with the exception of one year spent in Franklin township. In 1882 Mr. Taylor purchased the John Buck farm in Great Bend township, where they lived until 1887, when he bought their present home on the Susquehanna river, near Hallstead.

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor had seven children, namely : (1) Clara E., born in September, 1870, is the wife of Ralph Greenwood, a farmer of Great Bend township, and they have five children, Hazel, Ar- thur H., Edna E., Martha and Gladys. (2) George H., born in July, 1872, married Gertrude Warfell, and they reside on his farm in Great Bend town- ship. (3) Mary A., born in 1876, is the wife of W. W. Dayton, of Great Bend, and they have one son, Irvin P., born October 3, 1899. (4) Mar- garet L., born November 9, 1878, is now a resident of Montrose. (5) James R., born March 20, 1884, died at the age of three months and fifteen days. (6) Bessie J., born March 21, 1886, died at the age of one year and six months. (7) Charles A., born in 1891, is a student in the home school.

Mr. Taylor comes of Whig stock, and is an ardent supporter of the Republican party. He and · his wife hold membership in the Reformed Meth- odist Church, to which their children also belong, except Margaret L., who is a member of the First Baptist Church of Hallstead. Mrs. Taylor is a zealous Christian worker, and it was largely through her influence that the new church was built near their home in Great Bend township, and she was among the first to head the subscription list for its erection. The congregation now owns, free from incumbrance, a neat and well-finished church.

JEROME BERTHOLF, a leading agricult- urist of Jessup township, Susquehanna county, was born there April 9, 1854, and is a worthy repre- sentative of one of its highly-respected families, being a son of Henry C. and Elizabeth (Shay) Bertholf, natives of Sussex county, N. J., who

came to Susquehanna county when young, with their respective families. The paternal grandpar- ents, Samuel and Martha (Couse) Bertholf, re- moved from Sussex county, N. J., to Susquehanna in 1843, and located in Jessup township, where the former, who was quite a prominent business man of the community, carried on operations as a black- smith and farmer, and also operated a gristmill. The maternal grandparents, Benjamin and Jane Shay, were the first New Jersey people to settle in Jessup township, where they spent the remainder of their lives as farming people.

The father of our subject was also a farmer by occupation, and being one of the prominent cit- izens of his community he was honored with a num- ber of township offices. Both he and his wife died in Jessup township, the former June 6, 1891, aged sixty-one years, the latter July 13, 1886, aged fifty- eight years, five months and five days, and the re- mains of both were interred in the Bertholf bury- ing-ground in that township. They attended the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were most highly- respected people. Their children were as follows: Shay B., who operates the old homestead in Jessup township; Josephine, deceased; Samuel, a farmer of Vestal, N. Y .; Jerome, our subject ; Edward D., who is engaged in clerking in New Milford, Penn .; David, who died at the age of ten years; Elizabeth, who died young ; Mary L. and Jennie E., twins, the former the wife of E. L. Greene, a farmer and car- penter of Jessup township, the latter the wife of Charles Cronk, of the same township; Eveline, wife of Edward L. Jones, a farmer of Rush township, Susquehanna county ; and Emma, wife of Denton Roe, a farmer of Jessup township.

Our subject has a great-aunt, Mrs. Caroline Hewitt, who is also a resident of Jessup township. She was born in Orange county, N. Y., August 22, 1823, and married A. H. Hewitt, a farmer of Jes- sup township. Her parents, John and Elizabeth (Perry) Bertholf, were also natives of Orange county, of Holland descent. They spent their last days on a farm in Sussex county, N. J., the father, who was born May 13, 1779, dying February 8, 1855 ; the mother, born June 16, 1783, died March 3, 1837, and both were buried at Newton, N. J. The names and dates of birth of their children are as follows : William, January 5, 1802; Samuel, February 21, 1803; Henry B., December 9, 1804; Hannah, January 19, 1806; James P., October 3, 1808: Thomas, July 12, 1810; John, July 4, 1812; Marcus, February 12, 1814; Edward, April 9, 1816; Elizabeth, June 28, 1818; Jesse, August 9, 1820; Sarah, August 20, 1822; and Caroline, August 22, 1823.

The boyhood and youth of Jerome Bertholf were passed on the old homestead, where he re- mained until his marriage. At Montrose, Decem- ber 28, 1876, he wedded Miss Jennie Cronk, and they have one son, Thomas J., at home. Mrs. Bertholf was born in Jessup township, and is a daughter of John and Isabella (Roberts) Cronk,

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natives of Dutchess county, N. Y., and Susque- hanna county, Penn., respectively. Both died in Jessup township, the father October 2, 1891, aged fifty-seven years, the mother August 24, 1894, aged fifty-six years, and both were buried in Fairdale cemetery. In early life he worked at the mason's trade, but later engaged in farming, and he held a number of township offices. The children of the family were Sally, Elmira and William, all de- ceased ; Mary Jane, wife of our subject; Anetta, wife of Harrison McKeeby, a farmer of Jessup township; Mortimer, a resident of Towanda, Penn. ; and Keron, wife of Simeon Oaks, a farmer of Jes- sup township. Mrs. Bertholf's paternal grandpar- ents were William and Sally ( Myers) Cronk, na- tives of Dutchess county, N. Y., who came to Sus- quehanna county, Penn., at an early day, and here remained. The grandfather, who was a farmer by occupation and a soldier of the war of 1812, died · at the age of seventy-five years, his wife at the age of ninety. The maternal grandparents were Sam- tel and Sally ( Davis) Roberts, natives of Vermont, who were also pioneers of Susquehanna county, and from a timbered tract developed a farm in Jes- sup township, on which they spent the remainder of their lives.

For one year after his marriage Mr. Bertholf operated a rented farm at Fairdale, Jessup town- ship, and for the same length of time rented a farm in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna coun- ty. During the following year he worked for a coal company at Wilkes Barre, Penn., and for five years was employed in steel works at Scranton, Penn. He then returned to Jessup township, and after renting a farm for a year purchased 105 acres, October 12, 1884. This he has transformed into his present fine farm, in the operation of which he has met with excellent success. In his political affil- iations he is a Republican, and he has most accept- ably filled the positions of inspector of elections, supervisor nine years, and school director three terms. He is enterprising and energetic, and is quite a popular citizen of the community in which he lives.

FRED ELBERT MOORE. Although yet a young man, the subject of this sketch, an enterpris- ing farmer of Harford township, Susquehanna county, has displayed business ability of a high order. He is a son of the late Hon. Linus Moore, of New Milford township, a sketch of whose interesting and successful life appears elsewhere in this vol- ume, and inherits in a large measure the business sagacity of his distinguished father.

Our subject was born February 6, 1871, on the farm he now occupies, where he remained until eleven years of age. Removing in 1884 with his parents to Harford village, he was employed by his father in the latter's general store. In 1892 our subject purchased a mercantile business at Harford village, which he successfully conducted for four years. He then operated a steam gristmill at New

Milford for one year, disposing of which property he returned to the old homestead, where he has since remained. Mr. Moore quickly perceives a business opportunity, and promptly takes advan- tage of it. This quality of mind, requiring shrewd judgment as well as quick perception, is illustrated by one of his transactions. While visiting in St. James, Minn., he saw there an opening for a laun- dry, which he at once built, operated same success- fully for a few months, then sold out advantage- ously to himself and returned home.

Mr. Moore was married, December 15, 1892, at the home of the bride in Harford township, to Miss Mary M. Resseguie, daughter of Hon. George R. Resseguie, of that township, and to Mr. and Mrs. Moore has been born one daughter, Helene. In politics our subject is a Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Harford. He is one of the most prominent young men of the township, has been extremely fortunate in his business en- terprises, and is popular and progressive.

HON. WILLIAM NORMAN CURTIS. It is now more than a hundred years since the Curtis family, to which this well-known citizen of South Canaan township belongs, became identified with Wayne county and its various members have won for the name an enviable distinction by their intelli- gence and worth. This high reputation is in no way diminished in the present generation, and our subject is one of the most influential and prominent citizens of his community.

The first of the family to come to the New World were his great-grandparents, Henry and Merilla (Swingle) Curtis, natives of Germany, where the former served in the regular army for four years. He also aided the Colonies in their struggle for independence, as a soldier of the Revo- lutionary war, for three years. In 1784 he came to South Canaan township, Wayne county, and pur- chased 205 acres on Middle creek, for two shillings per acre. In his family were only two children: Jeremiah, to whom he sold the old homestead for thirty-four cents; and Mary, who wedded John Reed. Our subject now owns 133 acres of the original tract.

On the old homestead Jeremiah Curtis (our subject's grandfather) was born, and throughout life he engaged in agricultural pursuits there. He married Miss Polly Wagner, also a native of South Canaan township, and a daughter of Adam Wagner. She died in 1837, aged forty-five years, her hus- band in 1861, aged sixty-four years, and both were buried in South Canaan township. Of their chil- dren, Rhoda married Henry Spangenberg, and both are now deceased ; Aaron is living retired in Scran- ton, Penn .; Priscilla married Moses Shaffer, and both have passed away ; Moses is the father of our subject ; Mary Ann wedded Samuel Shaffer, and both are now deceased; Elizabeth married Samuel Swingle, and they are also deceased ; Angeline mar- ried Charles Farr, and both are deceased ; and Caro-

Qr. N. leurtis

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line is the deceased wife of Rufus Frisby, of Shaf- fertown, Wayne county. Jeremiah Curtis was twice married, his second union being with Elizabeth Hoadley, by whom he had two children : Solomon, a farmer of South Canaan township; and Charlotte, deceased wife of Thomas Dershimore, a meat mer- chant of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Moses Curtis, who is now living retired with our subject, was born on the Curtis homestead, May 15, 1823, and remained with his parents until he attained his majority. For the following three years he engaged in farming at Peckville, Penn., and then worked on the old Pennsylvania railroad for four years, first on head No. 9, and later as an engineer. He next ran a large blast furnace at Scranton, Penn., for nine years, and then returned to the old home farm, which he purchased in 1865, residing there continuously since, although he sold the same to our subject in 1892. He has taken an active and leading part in local affairs, and has acceptably served as poormaster three years, and as school di- rector for the same length of time. In casting his ballot he supports the man whom he believes best qualified to fill the office, regardless of party ties.

In October, 1847, in South Canaan township, Moses Curtis was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Colburn, who died three years later, at what is now known as Peckville, leaving one daughter, Jenette, wife of Loren Reed, a farmer of South Canaan township. The father was again married, in 1851, his second union being with Miss Mary Miller, and to them were born four children: The- ressa, now the wife of Cortland Brooks, a farmer of South Canaan township; Henry B., a farmer of Ripon, Wis .; William N., the subject of this sketch ; and Walter D., an agriculturist of South Canaan township.

Mrs, Mary Curtis (the mother of our sub- ject) was born in Columbia county, N. Y., March 17, 1819, and died in September, 1893, being laid to rest in East cemetery, South Canaan township. Her parents, Benjamin and Maria (Smith) Miller, were also natives of Columbia county, N. Y., but were married in Luzerne county, Penn., whence they removed to Lackawanna county, this State. there spending the remainder of their lives as farm- ing people. In their family were ten children, five sons and five daughters, namely : Catherine, wife of Benona Stone (both deceased) ; Hannah, wife of James White (both deceased) ; Mary, the mother of our subject ; Cornelius (deceased) ; Norman, a resident of Ripon, Wis. ; Walter (deceased) ; Henry. a resident of Kewanee, Ill. ; Grovner, a carpenter of Peckville, Penn .; Jane, wife of Paffus Finn (both deceased) ; and Adelia, a resident of Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Curtis, the subject of this review, was born in Scranton, Penn., April 15, 1857, and was seven years of age when the family returned to the old homestead in South Canaan township, Wayne county. On leaving the parental roof, at the age of twenty-two, he went to Ripon, Wis., where he

worked three years for his uncle Norman Miller, an extensive and prosperous farmer, serving as fore- man for the last two years. He then rented and operated his father-in-law's farm for five years, and also did a large and profitable business in buying and shipping horses, handling fifteen carloads in six years. In 1885 he returned to Pennsylvania, and has since lived on the old Curtis homestead, with the exception of two years spent at South Canaan Corners. His attention is now devoted to general farming and lumbering.

On January 4, 1882, at Ripon, Wis., Mr. Cur- tis was married to Miss Lena A. Morey, Rev. Ste- phen Smith performing the ceremony. To them has been born one daughter, Lizzie May. Mrs. Curtis is a native of Ripon, Wis., and a daughter of John B. and Mary C. (Coon) Morey, who were born, reared and married in Rensselaer county, N. Y., whence they removed to Wisconsin at an early day. In early life her father was a farmer, later engaged in the implement business, but for five years prior to his death he lived retired. Politically he was a Republican. He died in Ripon, in August, 1886, at the age of sixty-two years, and there his widow is still living, at the age of sixty-seven. Mrs. Curtis was their only child. Her paternal grand- parents, Benjamin and Anna (Finch) Morey, al- ways made their home in New York State, where the former engaged in farming.

Fraternally Mr. Curtis is an honored member of the F. & A. M. Lodge No. 330, of Salem ; and of the Grange of South Canaan. Politically he is an ardent suporter of the Republican party, takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs, and in November, 1892, was elected to the State Legis- lature from Wayne county. So ably did he repre- sen his district, that in 1894 he was re-elected. His public and private life are alike above reproach, and as a public-spirited, enterprising man, he is recog- nized as a valued citizen of the community.

FRANK W. GAY, though still a young man, is taking his place among the enterprising and en- ergetic business men of Auburn township, Susque- hanna county, where he was born January 24, 1869, son of Charles Gay. His ancestors, as far back as we have record, are American, his great-grandfa- ther, George Gay, having been a native of New England. He married Alphia Blackmore, who was born in Rhode Island, and they migrated to this part of Pennsylvania in an early day, coming down the river on a raft to Meshoppen, where they took up land. George Gay died there, and his wife, who survived him, passed away in 1883, in Susquehanna county.

Ansel Gay, son of George, was born August 31, 1809, in Herkimer county, N. Y., and was a boy when the family settled in Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. He made agricult- ure his principal vocation, but he also engaged in lumbering near his home and in Bradford county, and conducted a mercantile business. He was mar-

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ried, in Wyoming county, to Miss Elizabeth Bun- nell, who was born in 1812, daughter of Solomon and Eleanor ( Place ) Bunnell, and in the spring of 1834 they came to Susquehanna county, locating in Auburn township, where he took up a tract of eighty-five acres of wild land. He subsequently pur- chased 145 acres more, and during his busy life he succeeded in clearing up a large portion of this property, on which he cut the first tree. He was a prominent and active man in local public affairs, besides being so extensively interested in the agri- cultural advancement of this region, and he was honored with election to various offices of trust, serving creditably as supervisor, constable (in 1844), and school director of the township. Polit- ically he affiliated with the Republican party. Ansel Gay passed away in 1882, his wife in 1865. They had a large family, of whom we have the follow- ing record: Amanda, deceased, was the wife of William Dunmore, of West Auburn; Emily, de- ceased, was the wife of Smith Bunnell; Savannah, deceased, married Moran LeBar, of Wyoming county ; Solomon is a resident of Harford, Penn .; Charles is the father of our subject; George died young ; James makes his home in Montrose, Penn .; Calvin lives in Sayre, Bradford Co., Penn. ; Eleanor B. died young ; Treadway died in 1864, while serv- ing in the Civil war; John B., who lived in Wyo- ming county, was killed on the railroad ; Eleanor is the wife of Marshall Van Scoten, of Montrose ; Armina, deceased, was the wife of John Anderson, of Iowa; Almeda died at the age of twelve years ; Mary died at the age of ten years; Lorenzo D. was killed in a mill at Wilkes Barre, Penn .; Harriet is married and resides in Sayre, Bradford county.

Charles Gay was born March 26, 1834, in Braintrim township, Wyoming Co., Penn., and was six weeks old when brought by his parents to Au- burn township, where he grew to manhood. He received a good practical education, attending the common and select schools of the locality, and took up general farming, to which he was trained from early boyhood, remaining at home until he was nearly thirty years of age. When he commenced life on his own account he invested in thirty-one acres of land, and he subsequently received forty acres of the old homestead, all of which he culti- vated in a careful and systematic manner, gaining a comfortable competence in his chosen calling. For thirty-five years he also operated a threshing ma- chine, and he has engaged in sheep raising and dairying-at present, however, on a small scale- and for several years sold agricultural implements. Mr. Gay recently purchased a house and lot in South Auburn, which he intends to occupy after 1899. He has been active in public as well as busi- ness circles in his township, and has filled the offices of school director (five years) and auditor (three years ), at present serving as supervisor. The same thoroughness and capability which have character- ized his management of his private affairs have

marked his career as a public servant, and he has won and retained the respect of all who know him for uprightness and sterling integrity in all the re- lations of life.

Charles Gay was married, April 2, 1863, in Wyoming county, to Miss Sally A. Winans, daugh- ter of Clark and Martha ( Maynard) Winans, who were natives of New Jersey and New York State, respectively, the father born September 13, 1812, the mother October 1, 1814, daughter of Elijah and Sally ( Stowe) Maynard. Mr. Winans passed away March 16, 1882, and his widow now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Gay. Of their chil- dren, Albert lives in Meshoppen, Wyoming county : Charles is a resident of Meshoppen ; Sally A., Mrs. Gay, is the third ; one died in infancy ; Gideon is de- ceased ; Frank, Gershom, Bentley and Lyman live in Meshoppen; Vernando died young. Mr. and Mrs. Gay have had children as follows: Cora Belle, deceased, was a music teacher ; Alice is the wife of Lalin Brown, of Meshoppen; Frank W. is the sub- ject proper of this sketch; Marble C. is engaged in farming in Wyoming county (he is a musician and conducts a band) ; Clark and Ansel, twins, died in infancy. In religious connection the mother and children unite with the M. E. Church. Socially Mr. Gay has been a member of the Knights of Pythias for many years. He is a stanch Republican in political sentiment.

Frank W. Gay was reared in the township of his birth, and here received his early education in the district schools, later attending the Mansfield Normal. In his earlier manhood he learned the tinner's and plumber's trades, and in 1888 began for himself, opening a hardware shop at Meshoppen which he carried on for two years. He has always engaged more or less at his trade, and now takes contracts for plumbing and tinning, though at pres- ent he devotes himself principally to general farm- ing and dairying, in which he intends to engage shortly on an extensive scale. He has carried on farming for the past nine years, owning an interest in the Tubbs place of over 200 acres, a valuable property, and besides his fine dwelling and barns he owns a house and lot in the neighborhood. Mr. Gay is necessarily a busy man, for he attends care- fully to every detail of his varied interests, and he has acquired an enviable reputation for thrifty man- agement and ability of no mean order. His integ- rity and business methods are unquestioned, and he bids fair to become one of the prominent business men of this section, where his interests are constantly widening. He naturally takes a deep interest in the welfare of the community in which he resides, but he gives little direct attention to public affairs, his time being fully occupied with business matters. In politics he is a stanch Republican. He is not a Church member, but he attends Church and sup- ports religious interests by his means and influence.

Mr. Gay was married, October 23, 1888, to Miss Nora O. Tubbs, and they have one daughter, Lolo, who was born April 5, 1890. Mrs. Gay is

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 74

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