Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 78

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 78
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 78
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 78
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 78


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221 | Part 222 | Part 223 | Part 224 | Part 225 | Part 226 | Part 227 | Part 228 | Part 229 | Part 230 | Part 231 | Part 232 | Part 233 | Part 234 | Part 235 | Part 236 | Part 237 | Part 238 | Part 239 | Part 240 | Part 241 | Part 242 | Part 243 | Part 244 | Part 245 | Part 246 | Part 247 | Part 248 | Part 249 | Part 250 | Part 251 | Part 252 | Part 253 | Part 254 | Part 255 | Part 256 | Part 257 | Part 258 | Part 259 | Part 260 | Part 261 | Part 262 | Part 263 | Part 264 | Part 265 | Part 266 | Part 267 | Part 268 | Part 269 | Part 270 | Part 271 | Part 272 | Part 273 | Part 274 | Part 275 | Part 276 | Part 277 | Part 278 | Part 279 | Part 280 | Part 281 | Part 282 | Part 283 | Part 284 | Part 285 | Part 286 | Part 287 | Part 288 | Part 289 | Part 290 | Part 291 | Part 292 | Part 293 | Part 294 | Part 295 | Part 296 | Part 297 | Part 298 | Part 299 | Part 300 | Part 301 | Part 302 | Part 303 | Part 304 | Part 305 | Part 306 | Part 307 | Part 308 | Part 309 | Part 310 | Part 311 | Part 312 | Part 313 | Part 314 | Part 315 | Part 316 | Part 317 | Part 318 | Part 319 | Part 320 | Part 321 | Part 322 | Part 323 | Part 324 | Part 325 | Part 326 | Part 327 | Part 328 | Part 329 | Part 330 | Part 331 | Part 332 | Part 333 | Part 334 | Part 335 | Part 336 | Part 337 | Part 338 | Part 339 | Part 340 | Part 341 | Part 342 | Part 343 | Part 344 | Part 345 | Part 346 | Part 347 | Part 348 | Part 349 | Part 350 | Part 351 | Part 352 | Part 353 | Part 354 | Part 355 | Part 356 | Part 357 | Part 358 | Part 359 | Part 360 | Part 361 | Part 362 | Part 363 | Part 364 | Part 365 | Part 366 | Part 367 | Part 368 | Part 369 | Part 370 | Part 371 | Part 372 | Part 373 | Part 374 | Part 375 | Part 376 | Part 377 | Part 378 | Part 379 | Part 380 | Part 381 | Part 382 | Part 383 | Part 384 | Part 385 | Part 386 | Part 387 | Part 388 | Part 389 | Part 390 | Part 391 | Part 392 | Part 393 | Part 394 | Part 395 | Part 396 | Part 397 | Part 398 | Part 399 | Part 400 | Part 401 | Part 402 | Part 403 | Part 404 | Part 405 | Part 406 | Part 407 | Part 408 | Part 409 | Part 410 | Part 411 | Part 412 | Part 413 | Part 414 | Part 415 | Part 416 | Part 417 | Part 418 | Part 419 | Part 420 | Part 421 | Part 422 | Part 423 | Part 424 | Part 425 | Part 426 | Part 427 | Part 428 | Part 429 | Part 430


On October 16, 1873, at Sparrowbush, N. Y., Mr. Courtright was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ellen De Witt, who was born December 23, 1849, and was one of the fourteen children born to Jacob P. and Susan ( White) De Witt, natives of Pike county, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Courtright have one child, Lillian, who was born August 10, 1874, and is now the wife of Martin Fisher, of Matamoras.


Like his father and grandfather, Mr. Court- right is a supporter of the Democratic party and its principles, and he has been honored with a number of important offices, serving as constable of Milford borough in 1884-85, and as collector of State and county taxes in 1879. He has also served efficiently as sheriff of Pike county, and is the only one holding that office who has been compelled to hang a criminal. Whether in public or private life, his duties are al-


328


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


ways most faithfully discharged, and he has thus won the commendation and esteem of all who know him. On May 13, 1874, he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has held office in his lodge for the past ten and a half years, during which time he has missed but seven meetings. He has passed all the chairs, and is one of the most popular members of the local organization. He also belongs tc the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and is trustee in that order. He and his wife belong to Hope Evangelical Church of Matamoras.


ASHER ENSLIN (deceased), who in his life- time was a prominent farmer of Lake township, Wayne county, was one of the county's most popular and most highly esteemed citizens, and on his retire- ment from active life he made his home in the thriv- ing little village of Gravity, where he owned an ele- gant residence. He was the son of George and Sarah (Swingle) Enslin, mention of whom is made elsewhere.


Mr. Enslin, our subject, was born on the old homestead of his parents, April 1, 1828, and worked for them until he was twenty-one years and six months old, receiving wages for the odd six months. He then purchased a team, and hauled iron used in the constuction of the York & Erie railroad, his route being between Scranton and Archbald; but at the end of three months he sold out and returned home, remaining there a short time. His uncle, Fred Ens- lin, having a pair of mules which he wished to have broken in, our subject took them in hand, and with them hauled iron, lime and stone from Scranton to Archbald. About this time he married, as will pres- ently be recorded, and he and his wife then came to the village of Gravity, where he built a home, practi- cally without assistance as he paid only six dollars for help; but at the end of a few months they re- moved to Cherry Ridge township. in the same coun- ty, and there worked by the day for a tannery opera- ted by L. A. Robinson, kept boarders, stocked one sawmill with logs, and cleared thirteen acres of wild land-the first clearing in that section. After two years they returned to Gravity, where Mr. Enslin engaged in lumbering and farming exclusively till 1872, in which year, in company with J. S. Welsh, he opened a general merchandise store in the village, which they conducted some five years. At the end of that time our subject sold out, and continued his farming and lumbering interests until 1893, when he retired, in the meantime renting out and selling a portion of his land. He died February 1, 1899, and was laid to rest by the side of his wife Rhoda A., in East Cemetery. At the time of his decease he owned a 121-acre farm in South Canaan township, on which there has been considerable prospecting and drilling for gold. In order to show how he disposed of his property by sale, from time to time, it may be here mentioned that his late place of seventy-five acres, in Lake township, is a part of what was 300-acres owned by him some thirty-five years ago.


On November 10. 1850, in South Canaan town-


ship, Wayne county, by Rev. William M. Griffin, a Methodist Episcopal minister, Asher Enslin was married to Miss Rhoda A. Robinson, who died child- less, August 28, 1894, and was buried in East Ceme- tery, South Canaan township. She was a daughter of Elizabeth (Swingle) Robinson, long residents of Wayne county.


In his political preferences Mr. Enslin was a Democrat, "dyed in the wool," until three or four years ago, after which he voted the Prohibition tick- et. He was drafted in 1864, but paid a substitute $1,000. In religious faith he held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. As will be seen in the perusal of this brief biography of a representa- tive self-made man-one who rose 'from a poor boy to a man of comparative affluence-that he was a·"hustler" in his day, possessed of sound judgment and strong will power, but unfortunately, in 1893, he was seized with rheumatism which settled in one of his knees, thereby disabling him so that he was required to use an invalid's chair. He was one of the most progressive and wide-awake business men of Lake township, but was unassuming, and in no way sought notoriety. He was a worthy representative of one of the most illustrious and popular families of Wayne county, and was held in high esteem.


JOHN S. GATHANY, a faithful defender of the Union during the Civil war, and for many years a highly-respected citizen of Liberty township, Sus- quehanna county, was born October 12, 1836, in Middleburg, Schoharie Co., N. Y., a son of Peter and Emma (Post) Gathany, also of the Empire State.


Our subject's paternal grandfather, Pedro Gathany, was born in the City of Rome, Italy, and on his emigration to America located in Maine, making his home there until the war of 1812, when he and his two sons, James and Peter, entered the United States service. The father and son James were killed at Queenstown Heights, while Peter, our subject's father, was captured, and held a prisoner at Quebec for three years. He served as a musician in his regi- ment. After the war he drifted to Schoharie coun- ty, N. Y., where he married, and engaged in farm- ing until his death. His wife is also deceased. They left two children, of whom our subject is the elder. His sister, Ellen, married Nathan Wells, and resided in Albany, N. Y., for some years, but finally removed to Detroit, Mich. In their family were two daughters.


Our subject lived with his uncle, Jacob Post, about six months. After this he worked at the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for some years. In July, 1861, at the age of twenty-four years, he enlisted, at Great Bend, Penn., becoming a private in Company H, 4th Pennsylvania Reserves, 2nd Bri- gade, McCall's Division. He was in active service until March, 1862, when he was taken ill with ty- phoid fever and confined in the hospital at George- town, D. C., for six weeks. The following August he was again taken sick, and after spending some


Asker Enslin


329


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


time in the field hospital at Fredericksburg, he was transferred to the hospital at York, Penn., being off duty at this time for four months. He was honora- bly discharged January 18, 1864, at Martinsburg, W. Va., but the following day re-enlisted in the same company and regiment. After spending some time at home, on furlough, he was transferred, in March, 1864, while near Winchester, to Company E, 54th P. V. I. In May, 1864, at Meadow Bluff, he volunteered to serve in the Ist Kentucky Light Artillery, as a gunner under Capt. Glassie. On re- joining his regiment he served with the Army of the James until the war ended. The engagements in which he participated were the battles of Draines- ville, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, the seven-days fight, the battles of Charles City Cross Roads and Malvern Hill, the second battle of Bull Run, the battle of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericks- burg, the first and second battles of Winchester, Fisher Hill, Cedar Creek, Weldon Railroad, siege of Petersburg, and the battles of Petersburg, Burks- ville Junction, High Bridge and Hatcher's Run. At High Bridge he was taken prisoner, held four days, and then paroled and sent to parole camp. The war having ended, and his services being no longer needed, he was honorably discharged at Annapolis, Md., May 31, 1865, and returned to his home in Great Bend. His brother-in-law, George Osterhout, was taken sick with typhoid fever at Alexandria, Va., during his service, and was sent to Washing- ton, D. C., where he died.


In 1865 Mr. Gathany married Miss Fannie Os- terhout, of Great Bend, who was born in 1844, and was educated in the schools of that place. Her par- ents were Abram and Jane (Kelder) Osterhout, the former of whom is still living in Great Bend, at the advanced age of seventy-six: her mother died in 1888. Our subject and his wife began house-keep- ing at Great Bend, Mountain Valley, where they continued to reside until 1898, while he worked at the stone mason's trade, but they are now residing at Lestershire, New York.


To Mr. and Mrs. Gathany were born fourteen children, of whom Frederick, George, William, Al- va, Eva and Emma all died young. The others, all born in Great Bend, are as follows: (I) Charles, born in 1868, received a district-school education, and married Eva Brown, of Great Bend, where he is engaged in business as a stone cutter. They have four sons, John, Nathan, Peter and Dewey. (2) Wallace A., born in 1873, is a resident of Halls- stead, Penn., engaged in stone cutting and mason's work. Like the other members of the family he attended the district schools of Great Bend. (3) Eugene P., born in March, 1875, is now extensively engaged in the stone quarry business at Great Bend. In October, 1896, he married Eva Gage, a daughter of E. I. and Phœbe Gage, representatives of prom- inent pioneer families of Silver Lake township, Sus- quehanna county, and one son has been born of this union, Hermon. (4) Melvin A., born in April, 1878, is now a student in Windsor Academy, Broome


Co., N. Y., where he is preparing himself for the teacher's vocation. (5) J. Madison, born in 1879, was also a student at Windsor Academy, and is now preparing to enter the Baptist ministry, at Mt. Hermon, Mass. (6) Arthur F., born in 1880, at- tended the Harford Soldiers Orphans School for two years and later the Windsor Academy. He is now living in Lestershire, N. Y. (7) Merrill O., born in 1881, pursued his studies at Great Bend and Harford, later attended the Soldiers Indus- trial School at Scotland, Penn., and then entered the Windsor Academy, remaining there until he was eighteen years old. He is now in Binghamton, N. Y., where he is fitting himself for the work of a bookkeeper. (8) Benjamin F., born in October, 1884, is being educated at the Harford and Scotland Sol- diers Industrial Schools. Parents and children are all consistent members of the Baptist Church, of Hallstead, and the family is one of prominence in the community where they make their home. Po -- litically Mr. Gathany was formerly a Republican, but being a strong advocate of temperance he now supports the men and measures of the Prohibition party.


R. H. ROOSA, a prosperous and successful farmer and stock raiser, has spent his entire life in Great Bend township, Susquehanna county, his birth occurring there in 1832. His paternal grand- father, David Roosa, was a lifelong resident of Ulster county, N. Y., and a farmer by occupation. He was twice married, and by his first wife had six sons, by the second one daughter. Of this family, Isaac Roosa, our subject's father, was the eldest. (2) Peter was a farmer of Broome county, N. Y., where he died. (3) Luke D. married Lucinda Stoddard, and located on the old Stoddard home- stead in Great Bend township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he died, leaving four children: Ira, a resident of Windsor township; William, a resident of Great Bend township; Anthony, wife of C. D. Smith, of Binghamton, N. Y .; and Ellen, wife of John Chamberlain, of Binghamton, N. Y. Another daughter, Lavina, wife of Charles Huffman, is de- ceased. (4) Abram married and remained in Ul- ster county, N. Y., where his death occurred. (5) Henry spent his entire life in that county. (6) John married and located on the old homestead in Ulster county, where he died leaving three children, who are still residents of the Empire State. (7) Cather- ine married a Mr. Adams, of Ulster county.


Isaac H. B. Roosa, father of our subject, was born in Ulster county, N. Y., in 1802, and was there reared and educated. When a young man he came to Great Bend township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he worked as a farm hand for a few years prior to his marriage. In 1825 he wedded Miss Lavina Stoddard, who was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1806, and at an early day came to Susquehanna county with her parents, Isaac and Lanca Stoddard, who located on the hill near Hickory Grove, her father clearing and improving a farm, on which he


330


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


and his wife spent their remaining days. After his marriage Mr. Roosa located in Great Bend town- ship, where in 1826 he purchased land one mile from the Susquehanna river, and after erecting a log house thereon he commenced to clear and im- prove his land. There he continued to make his home throughout life, dying upon that place in July, 1863 ; his wife passed away in October, 1896. Theirs was a long and happy married life. They were earn- est and consistent members of the Baptist Church, and gave liberally of their means toward the sup- port of the Church and the erection of the first church in Great Bend. Politically Mr. Roosa was an Old-line Whig, and he was honored with a number of local offices. This worthy couple were the par- ents of nine children, all born on the old homestead in Great Bend township. ( I) David, born in 1826,


had but limited educational advantages. He mar- ried Permelia Brush, of Great Bend township, and located on a farm near that of his father, where he made his home until called from this life, in 1867. His wife and one son, Isaac, a resident of Hall- stead, are still living. His daughter, Dora, who became the wife of Isaac Bull, is now deceased. (2) Lavina, born in 1828, married J. B. Kimber, of New Milford, a Baptist minister, now deceased, who preached in many places throughout this sec- tion of the State. She is still a resident of Great Bend. Their only daughter, Annie, wife of Charles Stephens, is deceased. (3) Heman, born in 1830, wedded Mary Babcock, of Great Bend township, where he still resides upon his farm. He has two sons : Edwin H. B., a contractor and builder of Hall- stead; and F. T., a merchant of Great Bend. (4) R. H., our subject, is next in the family. (5) Mary J., born in 1835, married Frederick Ives, of Sus- quehanna, who died some years ago, but she still resides in that place. Her children are Emma, wife of a Mr. Brock ; Ellen, wife of William Phelps, of Susquehanna ; Edwin, who died young ; and Fred- erick, a machinist of Susquehanna. (6) L. A., born in 1838, married Flora Gunn, and settled in Bing- hamton, N. Y., where she died leaving a son, Will- iam. Later he married Hattie Cary, of Bingham- ton, and by that union has two daughters, Mabel and Hazel. (7) Hiram C., born in 1840, married Isabel Moscript, of Great Bend township, where they reside upon his farm, and they have three chil- dren : Hattie ( wife of Ross Dixon, of Great Bend), Mary and Lottie. (8) Lorinda A.,born in 1843, is the widow of James Osterhout, and a resident of Great Bend. (9) John A., born in 1848, died in 1865.


R. . H. Roosa, our subject, remained upon the home farm until he attained his majority, acquiring an excellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits. In 1854 he purchased the Barley homestead of 245 acres, adjoining his father's farm, and commenced life for himself. The following year he married Miss Hannah E. Smith, of Great Bend township, daughter of John and Annie ( Barley) Smith, who came from Ulster county, N. Y., to Great Bend township, in 1837, and located on a farm adjoining


that of our subject, where her father died in 1868, her mother in 1893. They reared a large family. Mr. Roosa brought his bride to the home he had already prepared for her, and he has since devoted his energies to the cultivation and improvement of his farm, erecting thereon good substantial build- ings, and making it one of the most desirable places in the township. He is a thorough and systematic farmer and stock raiser, and has met with excellent success in his undertakings.


Mr. and Mrs. Roosa are the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter, namely: (I) Cora, born in 1858, was well educated in the dis- trict schools of Great Bend township, and was a successful teacher for several terms. She is now the wife of Arthur Halstead, a dentist of Binghamton, N. Y., and they have three children, Albert W., Nina and Leon. (2) Norton L., born December 19, 1860, was also educated in the home schools, and taught for several years in his district. He married Stella Fisher, a daughter of James and Mary Fish- er, of Great Bend, and they now reside on his fa- ther's homestead, of which he is manager. (3) Adelbert R., born in 1870, was educated in the dis- trict schools, and has followed farming through- out life. In 1889 he married Nettie Conklin, who was born in 1869, a daughter of Frank and Olive Conklin, of Kirkwood, N. Y. She was educated in the Empire State.


Politically Mr. Roosa has always been identified with the Republican party, and has been an active worker for its interests. His fellow citizens, rec- ognizing his worth and ability, have elected him to office, and he has most acceptably served as school di- rector nine years, poormaster six years, and super- visor six years. He was reared in the Baptist Church, though his wife is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and he has given liberally to the support of all Church work. His sons are mem- bers of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Lestershire, and the Tribe of Red Men at Great Bend. The success that Mr. Roosa has achieved in life has been due to his own efforts and the able assistance of his es- timable wife, and they now have one of the model farms of Susquehanna county, while their home is supplied with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Everything about the place testifies to the careful management of cultured and refined people.


THEODORE LABARRE, a general black- smith and wagon manufacturer, who has engaged in business in Starrucca, Wayne county, since 1891, has led a life of honest toil. His business interests have been so managed as to win for him the confi- dence of the public, and the success that has come to him is certainly deserved.


Mr. LaBarre was born in Hancock, Delaware Co., N. Y., December 12, 1852, a son of Jacob La- Barre, also a native of Hancock. The grandfather, George LaBarre, was born at the Delaware Water Gap, on the Jersey side, now known as Delaware


331


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


Station; he was of French ancestry. In 1800, at the age of twenty-two years, he settled in Hancock. He married Miss Achsa Williams, who was born April 6, 1785, in Mt. Pleasant, Penn., of German descent, and died March 22, 1882, at the advanced age of nearly ninety-seven years. Jacob LaBarre married Miss Jane Hawk, daughter of John and Julia (Thomas) Hawk, the former of whom was born in Colchester, Delaware Co., N. Y., and was of German parentage; he was one of the early settlers of Hancock, and in 1820 built the first hotel there, the place being now known as the Riley Reed property. Julia ( Thomas) Hawk was born in Han- cock in 1801, and died in 1887.


To Jacob and Jane LaBarre were born two children, twins, Theodore, the subject of this sketch ; and Theodora, wife of Samuel N. Wheeler, of Hancock, N. Y. The father was a carpenter by trade, was a Democrat in politics, and in religion was liberal. He died at the age of sixty-seven years, and his wife, who was a true Christian woman, departed this life in October, 1893, aged seventy-four years. Both were widely and favor- ably known throughout their community.


In the common schools Theodore LaBarre ob- tained a good practical education, and he received his business training upon the home farm. Since 1881 he has been a resident of Starrucca borough, Wayne Co., Penn. Besides his business he owns a good farm of fifty acres in the borough, which is known as "Morning Side." Naturally it is a beautiful place, and it has been materially improved by our subject, who has erected good buildings and placed . the land under excellent cultivation. He has a pleasant residence, and is surrounded by all the comforts which go to make life worth the living.


In Mt. Pleasant township, Wayne county, Mr. LaBarre was married. December 18, 1879, to Miss Keziah Spencer, a lady of education and refinement, who was for a time a popular and successful teach- er. Her father, Ezra Spencer, died at his home in Mt. Pleasant October 23, 1899, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, eleven months, six days. He had been a resident of Mt. Pleasant for eighty- three years, and was highly respected by all, a man of unblemished Christian character, a consistent Christian, and a member of the Episcopal Church. He was a Democrat in politics. He married Mary B. Moore, who was born in New Jersey, daughter of James Moore, of Preston, and died in 1858. The following children constituted their family : James M .; Eliza, deceased wife of James Part- ridge; Juliette, deceased wife of William Kerr; Norman E., who was a soldier in the Civil war, and died in Starrucca in 1884; Adaline, deceased wife of H. L. Butler ; Clark E. ; Keziah, Mrs. La Barre; Kate, wife of Mathew Clemo: Olive, wife of James Watson; Hetty, deceased wife of Frank Clough.


Mr. and Mrs. La Barre have two children : Jay E., born February 16, 1883; and Norman E., born November 23, 1884. The parents are both con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,


and Mr. La Barre holds membership with the Knights of Honor. His political support is given to the Democratic party, and his influence is always extended to those measures which he believes best calculated to advance the public welfare and pro- mote general prosperity.


FREDRICK ELLSON, of White Mills, Wayne county, is an able and enterprising young man, now connected with the Dorflinger Glass Works at that place. His sterling qualities of mind and heart have won him an enviable popularity, and his home, which is brightened by an amiable and attractive wife, formerly one of the belles of the village, is a center of hospitality for a pleasant social circle.


The Ellson family is of English origin, and William Ellson, the grandfather of our subject, came to America at an early day. After a short residence in Canada he located in Troy, N. Y., where he and his wife passed their remaining years. They had six children, of whom our subject's fa- ther, William Ellson (2), was the eldest. (2) John, who was born in London, England, was a young man at the time of the removal to Troy, where he married. He engaged in boat building at that city, and after some years he removed to Baltimore, Md., where he still resides. He has three children, two sons-John and Teed-and one daughter, who resides in New York. (3) James was born in London, but spent a portion of his boyhood in Troy, N. Y. At present he resides at Port Jervis, N. Y., where he is employed as a tender by a railroad company. He is married and has three children, Mary (now Mrs. Edward Bruin, of Beaver Brook, N. Y.), Miss Emma ( who is at home), and John (who is married and resides at Port Jervis, N. Y., where he is employed as an engineer). (4) Mary was born in London, Eng- land, and is now the wife of a merchant in Troy, N. Y. (5) Kate, also born in London, married Al. Wright, now deceased, who was engaged for some years in mercantile business at Wilkes Barre, Penn. During the Civil war he enlisted, becom- ing a private in Company K, 153rd N. Y. V. I., and by his gallant conduct won the rank of first lieu- tenant. He had no children, and his widow now resides in Pittston, Penn. (6) Lizzie was born in London, but her life was mainly spent in this coun- try. She married Joseph Boils, a bricklayer by trade, who was employed for some time in the Brooklyn navy yard, but later removed to Balti- more, Md., where his death occurred. During the Civil war he served in the Brooklyn regiment of Heavy Artillery, remaining until near the close of the struggle, when he lost a hand by an explosion of artillery. His wife died a few years ago, leaving three children, William, Joshua, and Joseph.


William Ellson (2), our subject's father, was born in 1821, in the County of Kent, England, and came to America in 1861. After a residence of about three years in Troy, N. Y., he removed to


.


332


COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.


this section, and spent some time at White Mills. Later he went to Scranton, where he was employed by a railroad company for a few years, and in 1867 he returned to White Mills to make his permanent home. On July 3, 1873, on account of an accidental injury, his right leg was amputated, and on his recovery he engaged in the shoemaker's trade, which he had learned in England. This occupation he continued until a short time previous to his death, in September, 1897. He was a man of great energy and industry, and his integrity was never ques- tioned, while his generous nature gained for him a host of friends. He was married in England, in August, 1841, to Miss Annie Spooner, a native of that country, who died in Texas township, Wayne county, in 1880. This worthy couple had a family of six children: (1) James died in 1864. (2) William was born in 1848, in Wadsworth, England, and on coming to Wayne county with his parents he found employment with Samuel Saunders, a farmer of Berlin township, where he spent three years. He then worked some time for his father on a farm in the same township, and later assisted his father for two years at railroad work in Scranton. In 1873 he was employed as lock tender by the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., and this position he has held continuously to the present time, making more than a quarter of a century of faithful service. Politically he has always been identified with the Republican party, and in religious faith he is an Episcopalian, having been baptized in the Church of England as a child in London. In 1880 he mar- ried Miss Caroline Mandeville, a daughter of David and Phebe Mandeville, formerly of Orange county, N. Y., who settled over forty years ago at White Mills, their last days being spent there. (3) Mary was born in England, and died at White Mills in 1889, at the age of thirty-four years. She was bright and intelligent, and was popular in society, her early death being deeply lamented by all who knew her. (4) Alice was born in 1860, at Wads- worth, England, and was married in 1878 to Mar- shall Smith, a resident of Indian Orchard, Wayne county, who is employed as a glass cutter at White Mills. They have four children, Horace, Clarence, Caroline and Lizzie. (5) Rosie was born in Eng- land in 1864, and is now the wife of Eli Mansard, of Scranton. They have six children, Mabel, Wellie, Carrie, Frank, Laura and Micel.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.