USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 86
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 86
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 86
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 86
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Rev. Charles L. Wolfe, Mrs. Swepeniser's fa- ther, who was for many years an honored minis- ter in the M. E. Church, was born at Carlsruhe,
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Germany, and came to America with his parents in childhood. He married Miss Catherine Rohr- backer, who was born October 23, 1805, at Wein- garten, Baden, and was a child when her parents, Christopher and Julia Rohrbacker, came to Amer- ica. She was one of a family of six children : Jacob, who married Ernestina Zeigler; William, who married Elizabeth Rohrbacker (no relation ) .; Catherine, Mrs. Swepeniser's mother ; Julia, wife of Robert Cross; Francis, who married Ellen Clem- ens ; and Margaret, wife of Daniel Kellam. Soon after his marriage Rev. Charles L. Wolfe settled upon a farm in Greene township, Pike county, where his death occurred in 1873, when he was sixty-two years of age. His wife, who is highly esteemed for her excellent qualities of character, resides at the farm in Greene township. They had seven children, of whom five are living: George, an ex- tensive landowner and farmer, at Grand Tower, Ill., now retired, married Elizabeth Crowther ; Miss Julia resides with her mother ; Charles ( deceased ) married Harriet Correll, and settled upon a farm at Kipp- town, Pike county; Louisa married Isaac Kipp, a blacksmith in Wayne county; Margaret B., Mrs. Swepeniser, was fifth in the order of birth; Fran- cis, a farmer in Pike county, married Sarah Weiss ; and Addie, born August 23, 1852, died April 13, 1888.
SHEPPARD CARPENTER, a prominent farmer and dairyman of Uniondale, Susquehanna county, was born on his present farm, December 25, 1838, a son of Ezra and Happy ( Burdick) Car- penter, the former a native of Harford, Penn., the latter of Rhode Island. By occupation the father was a farmer, carpenter, builder and lumberman, and, being a man of prominence in his community, he was often called upon to fill township offices. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Repub- lican, and in religious belief both he and his wife were Presbyterians. He was born October 27. 1801, and died in Uniondale in March, 1887 ; she was born March 18, 1805, and died at the same place in 1871, their remains being interred in Uniondale cemetery. Of their children, Elijah, a resident of Uniondale, is the eldest ; Alva died at that place in 1894; Nancy, a resident of Uniondale, first married a Mr. Dimock, and second Andrew Gregg, but is again a widow ; Russell is a merchant of Carbon- dale, Penn. : Clarissa A., deceased, first married Almond Spoor, and second a Mr. Dix; Julia Anna is the wife of Dimock Williams, a carpenter of Binghamton, N. Y .; Sheppard is next in the order of birth ; Zerah was killed while at work at the car- penter's trade in Scranton, Penn. ; Verilla, deceased, was the wife of John Bolton ; and Warren died in Clifford township, Susquehanna county. Our sub- ject's paternal grandparents were Ezra and Mary (Follett) Carpenter, and his maternal grandpar- : ents were Kendall and Hannah Burdick.
Sheppard Carpenter grew to manhood upon his present farm. For one year after attaining his ma-
jority he was employed in a gristmill, and then worked with his brother Elijah at the carpenter's trade until after the Civil war broke out. At Uniondale, September 4, 1862, he joined the boys in blue, becoming a private of Company K, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, the officers of the company being Richard Fitzgerald, captain; Philip Brong, first lieutenant ; and Charles Johnson, second lieu- tenant. The company was organized in Luzerne county, Penn., in October, and assigned to the "Iron Brigade," Army of the Potomac. Mr. Car- penter was in fifty-seven engagements, including the battles of Aqua Creek, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, Upperville, Gettysburg, Boonsboro, Rac- coon, Stevensburg, Mine Run, the Kilpatrick raid, the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, White House Lodge, Jones Ridge, Charles City, Stony Creek, Petersburg, Sul- phur Springs, Winchester, Smithfield, Kearney- ville, White Post, Berrysville, Bunker Hill, Winches- ter, Cedar Creek, Gordonsville, and the Appomat- tox campaign. For two weeks, during April, 1863, Mr. Carpenter was ill in the hospital at Aqua Creek, Va., and after being injured by falling from his horse, near Sulphur Springs, June 30, 1863, he was treated for the same at Dismounted Camp for two months. In September he was detailed at Catlett Station, Va., as orderly to the provost mar- shal of the division for three months, and was also a teamster in the ordnance train for twenty months. When hostilities ceased, and his services were no longer needed, he was honorably discharged at Cloud's Mill, Va., June 6, 1865, and returned home.
Mr. Carpenter spent three months working in the oil fields of this State, and then went to Scran- ton, where he was married, May 10, 1866, to Miss Ann Wren, by whom he has eight children, namely : Frank A., who married Verna Coleman, and is en- gaged in the butcher business in Forest City ; Mag- gie, a dressmaker, widow of James Loftus, residing with her parents; Mary E., wife of Frank Corey, a miller of Uniondale; Charles, who married Ann Dalton, and lives in Carbondale; Effie, wife of James Nealon, a carpenter of Olyphant, Penn. ; Kate, wife of Walter Rounds, a railroad brakeman, residing in Carbondale : Agnes, deceased; and Libbie, at home. Mrs. Carpenter was born in the North of Ireland, January 1, 1842, a daughter of Miles and Margaret ( Murray) Wren, also natives of that country, where the mother died in June, 1844. aged forty-five years. The father, who was a stone mason by trade, came to the United States in 1863, and settled in Scranton, where he departed this life in 1885, aged eighty years. Both were mem- bers of the Catholic Church. Their children were: Bryan, who died in Ireland; Phala and Phala (2), both of whom died young; Mary, who married a Mr. McGroyer, and died in Ireland ; Bridget, wid- ow of David Powell, and a resident of Scranton, Fenn. : Frank, who died in Scranton : Michael, who was never heard from after coming to America ; Fhilip, who is living retired in Scranton ; Lawrence,
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a farmer of Minnesota; Margaret, wife of Patrick Roach, of Scranton ; and Ann, wife of our subject.
After his marriage Mr. Carpenter returned to the home farm, comprising seventy acres of good land, which he has since successfully operated, at the same time carrying on the dairy business. So- cially he belongs to the Grand Army Post of Union- dale, and religiously is a member of the Presby- terian Church of that place. Prior to the Civil war he affiliated with the Abolition party, and since then he has been a stanch Republican. He was one of the first school directors in the borough, which office he most creditably filled for ten years, and for the past eleven years has been an influential and prominent member of the city council.
PATRICK T. DONOVAN, an able repre- sentative of the agricultural interests of Liberty township, Susquehanna county, is a man of more than ordinary business ability, intelligent and well informed, and has thoroughly identified himself with the progress and best interests of the people around him.
Mr. Donovan was born on his present farm, in March, 1842, a son of Patrick and Mary Dono- van, who were born, reared and married in County Cork, Ireland. On their emigration to America they located in Northumberland county, Penn., where the father worked on the north branch of the canal for a number of years, in 1841 coming to Susquehanna county and purchasing 100 acres of wood land in Liberty township, which has since been converted into the present fine farm now owned and occupied by our subject. For a number of years the family lived in a log house, which was later replaced by a large double frame dwelling. There the mother died in 1882, and the father in 1888. Both were devout members of the Catholic Church, gave liberally to its support, and had the respect and confidence of the entire community in which they lived. Our subject is the only son in their family of four children, his sisters being : (I) Mary, born on the North Branch of the Sus- quehanna river, married Patrick Corbett, a farmer of Liberty township, where she died leaving the following children-James, John, William, Thomas ( who died when a young man), Frederick, Ella (deceased wife of John Quain, of Susquehanna), and Julia. (2) Julia, born on the North Branch, married John J. Murphy, a carpenter of Susque- hanna county, and died on her father's farm, leav- ing one daughter, Sarah, now the wife of Dennis Bowen, of Binghamton, N. Y. (3) Margaret, born on the farm in Liberty township, married Daniel Donovan, of Susquehanna county, and they now reside on his farm in Silver Lake township. Their children are Daniel, Mary, Cornelius, Lewis, Julia, Lucy and Katie.
At his present home Patrick T. Donovan grew to manhood, acquiring his literary education in the district schools of Liberty township, and his busi- ness training upon the home farm. Early in life
he became part owner of the place, and to the orig- inal tract has added another 100 acres, making in all a fine farm of 200 acres. As previously stated, he and his father erected a commodious and com- fortable two-story residence upon the place, in 1875, and good barns and other outbuildings have also been built.
In 1872 Mr. Donovan was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Down, of Silver Lake township, a daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Down, one of the pioneer families of that locality. Mrs. Donovan, who was a devoted wife and loving mother, as well as a true Christian woman, died in March, 1895, mourned by all who knew her. She left eight chil- dren, whose names and dates of birth are as follows : Mary, August 26, 1873; Patrick, April 4, 1875; Julia, February II, 1877; Jeremiah, June 6, 1879; Joanna, March 6, 1881; Ellen, October 27, 1883; Margaret, May 25, 1886; and Loretta, August 24, I889. All have been educated in the district schools of Liberty township and are still at home, while the eldest daughter has charge of the house- hold affairs.
Politically Mr. Donovan has always been iden- tified with the Democratic party, and for two terms he has efficiently served as school director. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Farmers Alliance of Franklin Forks. He and his family are all con- nected with the Catholic Church of Silver Lake. He is a man of sterling worth, who bears an envia- ble reputation for honesty and integrity, and his standing among his neighbors is that of a gentle- man and a Christian.
IRA LEWIS BLAKESLEE, an enterprising agriculturist of New Milford township, Susquehan- na county, has but recently taken charge of his farm near Lakeside, his success in other lines of business, and his excellent standing as a citizen, making him a welcome acquisition to the community.
Mr. Blakeslee was born October 6, 1848, at Hart Lake, Susquehanna county, and is of good New England stock, in the paternal line, his ances- tors having settled in Connecticut at an early day. Mr. Blakeslee's grandfather, Lewis Blakeslee, came from the State of Connecticut to Susque- hanna county in June, 1819, settling in New Mil- ford township and clearing a farm in the wilder- ness. He was a clock maker by trade, but much of his life was spent in agricultural work, though he traveled extensively at times. His death occurred at Dunkirk, N. Y., while the grandmother died in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county, at the home of their son Orsemus.
Orsemus S. Blakeslee, our subject's father, was born at Hart Lake May 18, 1819, and followed farming there for many years. In 1878 he removed to Kirkwood, Broome Co., N. Y., where he died in May, 1882. He was an excellent citizen, and he and his wife were devout members of the Baptist Church. He married Clarissa Curtis, also a native of Susquehanna county, Penn., who died at Kirk-
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wood September 24, 1888, and the remains of both were interred in the cemetery in Bridgewater town- ship, Susquehanna county. The Curtis family is well known in that township, and Ira Curtis, father of Mrs. Blakeslee, came hither with his wife Salinda in pioneer times. He was killed in early manhood by a falling tree. Orsemus and Clarissa Blakeslee had three children: Sarah married E. A. Wood, a mechanic in Binghamton, N. Y .; Ira L. is men- tioned more fully below; and Ida, who married Leroy Couse, died in 1887, leaving three children.
Our subject resided with his parents during his youth, and in 1878 went to Kirkwood, N. Y., where they afterward joined him. From 1879 to 1893 he drove an express wagon between New Mil- ford and Binghamton, N. Y., and lost but one day in that time when able to work. Later he operated an acid factory in Potter county, Penn., belonging to the South Branch Mfg. Co., continuing two years, and then located in Binghamton, N. Y., where he remained until taking possession of his present farm, April 8, 1899. It is an attractive place of ninety-six acres, for which he traded prop- erty in Kirkwood, and as it is underlaid with ex- cellent stone, similar to that in a valuable quarry on the adjoining farm, it is likely to prove a good investment. Politically Mr. Blakeslee is a strong Republican, and he takes much interest in the ques- tions of the day. He belongs to the P. O. S. of A., Lodge No. 12, at Binghamton, and he and his fam- ily are held in high esteem among their acquaint- ances. In February, 1886, he was married, at Kirkwood, to Miss Ida Rice, a native of Jackson township, Susquehanna county, and daughter of D. William Rice, of New Milford township, whose sketch appears elsewhere. They have one son, Frank C., who is now at home.
WALLACE NEWMAN, commissioner of Pike county, is one of the leading agriculturists of his section, owning two fine farms, and a fine residence in Broad street, Milford, and he has won a high reputation for judicious and scientific management. His fellow citizens, appreciating his abilities, have frequently called him to official positions of import- ance, and he brings to his public duties the same energy, foresight and acumen which have won him success in business affairs.
Mr. Newman was born September 18, 1844, at Milford, and comes of good old pioneer stock. Isaac Newman, the great-grandfather of our subject, emi- grated to America from England. He married Ara- bella Webb, a native of Connecticut, and they had three sons, Ira B., Isaac and Thomas. Isaac New- man came to Milford about 1765. Ira B. Newman, the grandfather of our subject, came to Milford in about 1793 from Salem, Conn., and for many years followed the blacksmith's trade. In 1808 he built a house in Water street which is still standing, and carried on the hotel business there for a number of years. He and his wife, Mary ( Bross), a native of New Jersey, lived to advanced years, and they had
the following children : Laura, Mrs. William Brink ; Nancy, Mrs. John Heller ;' Solomon, who married Kate J. Brink ; Isaac, who died in childhood ; Thom- as, who married Louise Dimmick; James W. W., who married Prudah Maria Lutes ; Julia, Mrs. Will- iam Custard; Catherine, Mrs. David Howell; Ira B., who married Sarah J. Adams; and Malinda J., who did not marry. One of the sons taught school.
James W. W. Newman, our subject's father, was born at Milford, November 25, 1808, and died in Dingman township, Pike county, in 1880, his re- mains being interred at Milford. In early man- hood he drove the stage on the Milford turnpike between Milford and Cherry Ridge, Wayne coun- ty, and he was also extensively engaged in milling for some time, renting several gristmills in Pike county. In later life, however, he followed farming. He was active and influential in local affairs, hold- ing various township offices, and was much esteemed as a citizen. Up to 1860 he was a Democrat; and subsequently an ardent Republican. His wife, Maria (Lutes ), died July 27, 1888, aged sixty-seven years, and was buried in Laurel Hill cemetery. They had three children: Isaac, who died in infancy; and Wallace and Webb (twins), the latter dying when five months old.
Mrs. Prudah Maria (Lutes) Newman was born in Orange county, N. Y., daughter of Levi Lutes, a native of Holland, and his wife, Clara (Oakley), a native of Connecticut. They were married in Orange county, N. Y., and remained there until 1838, when they removed to Pike county and set- tled upon a farm in Dingman township. They lived to a good old age, the father being seventy- four and the mother eighty-three years old at the time of death. Of their children, the eldest, Jona- than O., married Betsey Gorden ; Smith married Jane Hough; Samuel married Lucinda Parker; Rosen married Harriet Shauntz; Prudah Maria was fifth in the order of birth; Clarissa married Abigner Goeble : Sarah married Jabez Post ; Deborah married John Cortright ; Nancy Jane married (first) Adna T. Aldrich, and ( second) Henry Hall; Libby died in childhood.
Our subject spent the first three years of his life in Milford, and was then taken to Dingman township, where he remained one year. For the next four years he lived at Egypt Mills, Pike coun- ty, the family then returning to the farm in Ding- man township, where our subject continued to re- side until 1897. He remained with his parents until about twenty-three years of age, when he bought his first farm, the place of 100 acres on which his son now resides. Agricultural interests have occupied his time chiefly and he has been high- ly successful, having purchased another tract of 183 acres, the farm where his daughter now makes her home. However, he has taken an active part in politics, being one of the most valued advisers and workers in the local Democratic organization. At different times he has served as school director, township auditor, township clerk, and township as-
Grallaw Yermany
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sessor, and in January, 1893, he was elected county commissioner. in 1897 he was again chosen to that office, and as his duties require mis frequent pres- ence in Milford he now resides there. He has been president of the board of commissioners for four years. In religious connection he is a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, and he and his family are popular in the best social circles of Mil- ford. In his youth Mr. Newman received only such advantages as the common schools of the day afforded, attending three months a year, and he may deservedly be called a self-made man from a busi- ness point of view, for he had only a few dollars in his pocket at the time of his marriage, and he has attained his present substantial position by good management, strict honesty and prudent economy
On November 15, 1865, Mr. Newman was mar- ried, in Dingman township, Pike county, to Miss Sarah J. Doty, and three children have blessed the union : Celesta is the wife of William J. Shields, a farmer and stonemason in Dingman township, and has six children, John W., Florence, William, Fred, Jennie and Agnes. David J., who is at present serv- ing as township assessor, married Jennie A. Vogel, and resides on the homestead in Dingman township ; they have one child, Cecelia. Miss Nettie M. re- sides with her parents. Mrs. Sarah J. Newman was born September 2, 1846, in Dingman township, a daughter of David C. Doty, and a granddaughter of Abram Doty. Abram Doty, who was a farmer by occupation, married a Miss Cole, and they had six children : Joseph, Anna, Lorena, Samuel, Dav- id C., and Hiram. David C. Doty, Mrs. Newman's father, was born in New Jersey, and came to this section in 1840, locating in Dingman township, Pike county, where he followed farming. In January, 1870, he removed to Waterloo Mills, N. Y., where he is living in retirement upon a farm. His first wife, Marjory ( Middaugh), died December 25, 1864, aged fifty-six years, and he afterward mar- ried Sarah Cortright. There were two children by the first union : Lorena, who was the wife of the late John Newman, and died in 1885; and Sarah J., wife of our subject. Mrs. Marjory ( Middaugh) Doty, mother of Mrs. Newman, was the daughter of Leon- ard Middaugh, a farmer in New Jersey, and his wife Sarah .( Van Auken). This worthy couple had four children: Rachel, Sarah, Solomon, and Marjory (Mrs. Doty).
JAMES C. WELLS. Among the leading rep- resentative agriculturists of Clifford township, Sus- quehanna county, none stands higher in the esteem of their fellow citizens than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. In connection with general farming he is successfully engaged in stock dealing, and is now acceptably serving as assessor of his township.
Mr. Wells was born upon his present farm, October II, 1842, a son of Wright and Minerva Ann ( Baker) Wells, the former also a native of Susque- hanna county, the latter of Augusta. Oneida Co.,
N. Y. The father spent his entire life on the old Wells homestead in Clifford township, where his birth occurred, dying there January 6, 1891, at the age of seventy-three years, and his remains were interred in the Likdale cemetery. He was an active and prominent member of the Baptist Church, in which he served as clerk, and he heid several town- ship offices. The mother, who was born September 1, 1019, is still living on the home farm with our subject. The children born to this worthy couple were: Alpheus, who died at the age of two years; James L., our subject; Fallay, deceased wife of john L. Wirth ; Anna E., wife of O. 1. Hull, a farmi- er of Dundaft, Penn. ; and Elliott E., a merchant of that place.
Our subject's paternal grandparents were James and Polly ( Oakley ) Wells, and his great-grandfa- ther was James Wells, Sr. Mrs. Minerva A. Wells, mother of our subject, is a daughter of Rev. El- nathan and Fally ( Finn) Baker, the former a na- tive of Massachusetts, the latter of Kingston, Penn. The father was a Baptist minister, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812. At one time he made his home in Susquehanna county, and from here removed to Luzerne county, Penn., where he died in 1862, aged seventy-six years, his wife in 1802, aged seventy-seven, their remains being interred in benton Center. Their children were: Alpheus B., Elliott B. and William H., all deceased ; Minerva A., mother of our subject; Cordelia E., deceased wife of Abel Arnold; Fally L., deceased, who first mar- ried a Mr. Stiles, and second Walter Bangs; and Clarissa, who died at the age of ten years. Mrs. Wells' paternal grandparents were Elnathan and Luana ( Butler) Baker, natives of England, the former of whom was a soldier in the Colonial army during the Revolutionary war. Her maternal grand- parents, Solomon and Irene (Scoval) Finn, were natives of Connecticut, and came to Luzerne coun- ty, Penn., at an early day. Solomon Finn was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father, Rev. James Finn, preached the first sermon in the Wyoming Valley.
The subject of this sketch made his home with his parents until twenty-three years of age, though at the age of twenty he commenced working for others. At twenty-two he conducted a saloon in Dundaff for seven months, but not being pleased with the business he returned to Clifford and pur- chased a farm, which he operated until his removal to Scranton, in 1873. After three years spent in the butcher business at that place he returned to the old homestead, to the cultivation of which he has since devoted his energies with good results. This place comprises sixty acres, and he still owns his original farm of 113 acres.
On November 23, 1868, in Clifford township, at the home of the bride on an adjoining farm, Mr. Wells married Miss Margaret J. Arnold, who was born there September 18, 1847, and died November 3, 1893, being laid to rest in Elkdale cemetery. Her father, Samuel Arnold, is represented elsewhere.
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By this union our subject had four children: Sam- uel A., who died at the age of three years; Lorenzo J., who married Ella J. Kennedy, of Wayne county, Penn., and is now engaged in farming in Clifford township; Fred W., who married Rose Messen- ger, and is an agent at Scranton, Penn .; and M. Kupert, at home.
Mr. Wells casts his ballot with the Republican party, and takes an active and influential part in local affairs. He has served as school director three years; township auditor for the past twenty years; and assessor and register for eight years, and his official duties have always been most sat- isfactorily performed. He is a past master of the blue lodge of the Masonic Order at Forest City, and also belongs to the United Order of American Mechanics and the Farmers Alliance.
ALFRED OGDEN, a well-known general farmer and stone mason of Herrick township, Sus- quehanna county, is a native of that county, his birth having occurred in Ararat township, April 13, 1842. His parents, Lemuel and Lucinda (Tyler ) Ogden, were both natives of New York State, and when young came with their respective parents to Susquehanna county, Penn., where they were mar- ried. The father went West in 1853, and was never heard from again. The mother died March 19, 1879, at the age of seventy-four years. Their children were: Cornelia, now the widow of Lo- renzo Dow, and a resident of Starrucca, Penn .; William, a farmer of Preston township, Wayne county ; Adelia, who first married James Cook, and second Benjamin Plew, and died in 1874; Daniel, born July 5, 1837, in Ararat, a farmer, who was killed in the woods; Phoebe, widow of Hazzard Card, and a resident of Susquehanna ; Lemuel and Martha, twins, the former of whom died young, the latter now the widow of Joshua Mackey, a farmer of Kansas ; Alfred, our subject ; and Salina, who married Eslie Dopp, both now deceased. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Daniel Ogden, was a native of New York State, and an early settler of Ararat township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he followed farming until his death, in 1844. The maternal grandfather was also a farmer of Ararat township.
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