Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 92

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 92
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 92
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 92
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 92

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Mr. Fish possesses considerable musical talent, and is especially proficient in that art. At the age of twenty years he commenced teaching vocal music, and successfully followed that profession through the winter months for thirteen years, while the summer seasons were devoted to farm work. When seventeen he purchased a small farm in Lib- erty township, adjoining his father's place, and to it added more land eleven years later, when he lo- cated thereon, making it his home for four years. At the end of that time he removed to Franklin township and purchased his father-in-law's farm, comprising 140 acres, to the cultivation and further improvement of which he devoted his energies until 1896. While living there he and his wife cared for her parents until they were called to the world be- yond. Since 1896 he has made his home in Frank- lin Forks and has lived retired from. active labor, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He is well posted on the current events as well as political questions and issues, and is now a supporter of the Prohibition party, though he was formerly a Re- publican. He has served as inspector of elections and township auditor, and has ever given a cheer- ful support to those measures which he believes would prove of public benefit.

GEORGE R. HIBBARD, a well-to-do farmer and landowner of Auburn township, Susquehanna county, belongs to one of the early settled families of this region, and is a native of the township in which

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he makes his home, having been born August 25, 1853, on his father's farm in Auburn.

Mr. Hibbard's grandparents, Andrew and Mil- lie (Justin) Hibbard, natives of Connecticut, came to Susquehanna county and settled in Auburn town- ship in about 1820, dying on the farm now owned and occupied by their grandson, Benton I. Hibbard. Their remains rest in the Jersey Hill cemetery. Andrew Hibbard reached the advanced age of eighty-five years. He was the father of five chil- dren: John, of Rush township; Judson E .; Phil- ander ; Carlisle, of Bernice, Penn .; and Stearl, de- ceased.

Judson E. Hibbard was born March 31, 1825, in Auburn township, near the farm which he aft- erward owned, and he followed farming all his days. When he moved to the place it was still a wilder- ness, and he made the first clearing for his log cabin, continuing to improve and cultivate the tract until his death, which occurred April 18, 1898. He was laid to rest in Jersey Hill cemetery. On October 16, 1849, he was married, in Auburn town- ship, to Miss Sarah Hay, who was born Decem- ber 25, 1828, in Warren county, N. J., daughter of Peter and Susan ( Alverson) Hay, who came to Sus- quehanna county in 1849 and followed farming in Auburn township. Mrs. Hibbard survives her hus- band, living with her son Benton on the old home farm. Of the children that blessed this union, Ed- ward L., born August 13, 1850, is a miller of Bing- hamton, N. Y. Philander, born February 26, 1852, is a farmer in Silver Lake township. George R. is the subject proper of these lines. Anna F., born May 31, 1855, is the wife of Jerris Brugler, a farmer of Jessup township. Mary E., born February 7, 1857, is the wife of Alex. Stevens, a farmer of Au- burn township. William, born January 31, 1859, is a farmer and speculator of Bridgewater town- ship. James F., born April 1, 1861, is express agent at Wilkes Barre, Penn. Alfred B., born June 6, 1864, is engaged as clerk in a store at Wilkes Barre. Elmer E., born March 12, 1866, died July 18, 1898. Jessie M., born May 7; 1872, died Jan- uary 6, 1876. Benton I., born March 24, 1877, lives on the old home farm with his mother. Mrs. Hibbard is a devout member of the M. E. Church.

George R. Hibbard received his education in the schools of the home neighborhood and was reared to farm life, living with his parents until he took up his residence on his present farm, in March, 1884. He is considered one of the thrifty and pro- gressive agriculturists of the section, and by good management and industry has succeeded in gaining a comfortable income from his farm, which com- prises 133 acres of fertile land, and which under his watchful care is growing steadily in value. Mr. Hibbard is thorough in all his work, and is con- stantly improving and beautifying his place, having a neat and pleasant home. He is a Republican in political faith, but he devotes the greater part of his time to his private interests, though he takes a loyal pride in the advancement of the community in

which he resides. He was married December 17, 1884, in Rush township, to Miss Mary E. Ervin, who was born December 17, 1861, in Warren county, N. J., daughter of J. J. Ervin, of Rush township, and to this union have been born seven children, as follows: Viola, October 1, 1885; Tessie M., Jan- uary II, 1887; Arthur, February 11, 1889; Ethel, June 6, 1892 ; Floyd E. and Flora D., twins, August 31, 1895 ; and Annabell Mildred, May 21, 1899, all living.

C. M. HINKLEY, a prominent representative farmer of Dimock township, Susquehanna county, belongs to one of the honored pioneer families of the county, and traces his ancestry back to Samuel Hinkley, who came to the New World in 1635 and was one of the first settlers of Barnstable, Massa- chusetts.

Our subject's grandfather, Josiah Hinkley, was a native of Roxbury, Delaware Co., N. Y., and on coming to Pennsylvania first located in Abington township, Lackawanna county, where he purchased property and engaged in farming, spending his last days, however, in Lenox township, Susquehanna county, where his death occurred. His children, all now deceased, were as follows: Anna, who. married Abner Rose, and resided in Abington ; Hevland, whose descendants live in Lackawanna county ; Abijah, whose home was in Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, Penn .; Hannah, wife of Robert English, of New York State; John, of Wy- oming county ; Betsy, wife of William Hurley, of Scott township, Wyoming county ; Delight, wife of Jariah Meade, whose home was in the West; Mar- quis, father of our subject; Margaret, wife of Josiah Wickmire, whose home was in Lenox and Auburn townships, Susquehanna county; Benja- min, who spent his life in Wyoming and Susque- hanna counties; and Josiah, Jr., who probably died young.

Marquis Hinkley was born in Delaware county, N. Y., February 23, 1813, and was only four years. old when the family removed to Lackawanna coun- ty, Penn., and eighteen when they took up their residence in Lenox township, Susquehanna county. There he began life for himself, later living in Brooklyn and Lathrop townships, and in 1848 came to Dimock township, first locating in the western part. Eight years later, however, he purchased eighty acres of partially improved land in the east- ern part of the township, fifty acres of which had been cleared, and he devoted his attention to its fur- ther improvement and cultivation, adding to the original purchase more land in Dimock township, near the Four Corners. About forty-three years ago he built a sawmill, which he operated in his own in- terests and for others for sixteen years. In 1837 he wedded Miss Mary L. Maryott, who was born in Brooklyn township, November 20, 1817, a daugh- ter of William and Mary (Lamfield) Maryott. Her father, a native of Connecticut, was one of the first settlers of Brooklyn township, where he died. Mr ..

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Hinkley died December 23, 1876, but his wife is still living, making her home in Dimock township. Both were faithful members of the Baptist Church. During the Civil war he enlisted, October 15, 1862, in the 17th Penn. Cavalry, but being injured in the retreat from Chancellorsville he was unfitted for further service. Of the fourteen children born to Marquis Hinkley and wife, nine are still living, namely: Almyra, who has carried on a book and stationery store at Williamsport, Penn., for ten years; William, who served his full term of enlist- ment in the Civil war, and died on his way home; Asenath, deceased wife of Lewis F. Griff, of Phila- delphia and Williamsport; Susan, wife of Israel Reynolds, of Dimock township; Alma, who died at the age of six years; C. M., our subject; Olive, wife of Charles Moore, of Susquehanna; a daugh- ter who died in infancy unnamed; Emma Jean, wife of Daniel Crossen, of Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county ; George W., a farmer of West Nicholson, Penn .; Fayette, a blacksmith, of Brad- ford, McKean Co., Penn .; Effie M., wife of Sam- uel Moore, of Scranton; Jessie, who died at the age of six years ; and Fremont, a traveling salesman for a tea and spice company, residing at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

C. M. Hinkley was born in Lathrop township, Susquehanna county, August 12, 1847, and when one year old was brought to Dimock township, where he has since made his home. During his boyhood and youth he had the advantages of the common schools, and assisted in the work of the home farm. At the age of twenty-one he bought fifty-five acres of improved land in the same town- ship, and commenced life on his own account, selling that place at the end of three years, and buying the old homestead of eighty acres, to which he has since added forty-two acres. He has always fol- lowed general farming, and for sixteen years oper- ated the sawmill which his father abandoned. He is also engaged in dairying, and for that purpose keeps fifteen cows, having also a flock of twenty- two sheep and some hogs, which he raises for market.

On March 29, 1870, in Dimock township, Mr. Hinkley was married, by Rev. C. V. Arnold, a Methodist Episcopal minister, to Miss Julia A. Tyn- dle, who was born in Northampton county, Penn., July 8, 1851, a daughter of John and Sarah (Rel- ston) Tyndle. Her father was born in Newark, N. J., and died in July, 1859, at the age of forty-five or fifty years, and her mother, who was born in Philadelphia, is still living in Phillipsburg, N. J., at the age of seventy-nine years. Her paternal grand- father was a native of Germany, and her maternal grandfather, Hugh Relston, was a native of Scot- land. At the age of five Mrs. Hinkley left her na- tive county, and spent two years in Saylorsburg, Monroe Co., Penn., after which she lived for a time in Easton, Penn., and Phillipsburg, N. J., com- ing to Dimock township, Susquehanna county, at the age of eighteen years. Until her marriage she

always lived with her mother's sister. The only child of our subject, Adelbert, was born January 14, 1871, and died February 5, 1892.

In his political affiliations Mr. Hinkley is a Republican, and he has served as inspector of elec- tions two years and as township auditor for three years. Since 1890 he has been connected with a life insurance company. Both he and his wife are active and prominent members of the Baptist Church of Dimock, in which he has filled the office of deacon for six years. They are widely and favorably known, and their friends are many in the community where they have so long made their home.

HON. FARRIS B. STREETER, late of Mont- rose, Susquehanna county, was born in 1819, in Har- ford, Penn., a son of Dr. Joseph B. Streeter, a na- tive of Swanzey, N. H., who settled in Harford in 1812, and reared several sons who became men of distinction.

Mr. Streeter was educated at the Harford Academy and at the Clinton ( N. Y.) Liberal Insti- tute. He read law under Hon. George W. Wood- ward, of Wilkes Barre, and Davis Dimock, of Mont- rose, and in 1841 was admitted to the Bar of Sus- quehanna county. He held the office of district at- torney by appointment, from 1843 to 1847; was State senator for three years, elected in 1848; in 1853 was appointed, by President Pierce, solicitor for the Treasury Department at Washington, re- signing the office at the beginning of the Buchanan administration. He became a Republican out of disapproval of the Repeal of the Missouri Com- promise Bill, and the policy of the administration in its dealings with Kansas. In 1865 he was ap- pointed, by Gov. Curtin, president judge of the 13th District, to succeed Judge Mercur, and was elected in the fall following for a full term. On Susquehanna becoming a separate judicial district he was, in 1875, elected president judge of that, the 34th District, for ten years : resigned the judgeship, to take effect August 20, 1877, and died on August 19, 1877.

As a lawyer, Judge Streeter won honorable dis- tinction. "In the discharge of his official duties his well-considered decisions were the result of an im- partial and thorough investigation ; always cautious, he was slow to act when he feared injustice might be done, and in acts of discretion ever ready to fol- low the leadings of the moral sense of the commun- ity ; affable and courteous, he still always main- tained a true dignity, and while justice was ever administered with firmness, it was so kindly done as to impress all that it was for the highest good."

THOMAS J. MANZER, son of the late Rev. Lawrence Manzer, and father of Henry F. Manzer, the prothonotary of Susquehanna county, was born March 26, 1827, at Fly Creek, Otsego Co., N. Y., and came with his father's family to Susquehanna county. Penn., about 1831. Lawrence Manzer was a native of Cherry Valley. Otsego Co., N. Y., and

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was married in Otsego, same county, to Mary Price, who was born in Vermont, daughter of Timothy Price. The Manzers are of Dutch de- scent.

Our subject was but a lad of eight or nine years when his father removed to the old Collar farm, which has since been his home. Here when a boy he attended the schools of the neighborhood, and assisted in doing the chores and in the farm work. Here in young manhood he reared his chil- dren, and here in his riper years himself and wife are passing the evening of their lives, surrounded by plenty, and amid the scenes of childhood and a long lifetime. During his boyhood and early manhood the country was comparatively new, his parents were poor and in debt for their farm, and it was young Manzer's lot to work early and late in order to assist in paying for the land. When only twelve years of age he began teaming for his fa- ther on the Delaware river, and at thirteen he hauled coal between Carbondale, Penn., and Bing- hamton, N. Y. He was also engaged in hauling the rails for the New York & Erie railroad, from Scranton to Lanesboro, during its construction. From the age of twenty, for some ten years, Mr. Manzer during the spring seasons operated his fa- ther's sawmill, working daily (on Mondays he worked twenty-four hours) eighteen hours out of the twenty-four, and doing two men's work. This great task he did in order to save the farm for his father, which greatly to his credit he did, paying for it mainly himself. On the death of his father, in 1869, Mr. Manzer came into possession of the old homestead, buying out the other heirs, to whom he paid six thousand dollars. He has greatly im- proved and augmented the farm, by purchase, until he now has nearly three hundred acres of land, well watered (the Tunkhannock creek passing through it) and well adapted to stock raising, in which he has largely engaged, at times keeping about sixty head of cattle. The house is a large and commodi- ous one, convenient and inviting, which, with the large barns and other neat improvements, indicates the thrift and system of the occupants. Industry has been one of the characteristics of the Manzer family possessed in full degree by Thomas J. Man- zer, through which, together with his good manage- ment, he has become one of the first farmers in Susquehanna county, with the agricultural inter- ests of which he has been actively associated from boyhood. He is a man of good information and judgment, and his opinions are often sought, and have weight among his neighbors and fellow citi- zens. He is largely interested in the creamery at South Gibson. Mr. Manzer, as have been the members of the family in general, is a Republican in his political views. He has served his town in various local offices, among them as poor master, ten years ; assessor, three years ; register of voters, six years ; and collector, one term. Mr. Manzer's serv- ices as assessor are especially noteworthy. After the first year of his incumbency he became convinced

that Gibson was paying higher taxes on real estate than adjoining townships where the valuation should be higher if only on account of their proxim- ity to railroads. Having obtained permission to compare his books with those of other towns he found that his surmises were correct, that Gibson was paying from $1.36 to $2.95 more per acre than adjoining townships. After considerable figuring he succeeded in reducing the valuation to the aver- age of adjoining township, and the commissioners allowed every cent of the claim, which saves the citizens $14,000 annually.

On February 1I, 1849, Mr. Manzer was mar- ried to Polly E. Fuller, who was born May 7; 1831, in Harford township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., a daughter of David H. and Sally (VanWinkle) Fuller, natives of Attleboro, Mass., and Susque- hanna county, Penn., respectively. To their mar- riage were born: Henry F. is referred to farther on. Earl L., born December 7, 1856, is residing on the home farm with his parents; he married Alice Owens, and they have two children-Edna G. and R. Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Manzer have lived in the same house, their present home, for over half a centurv, having never moved. He is a member of the Universalist Church.

Mrs. Thomas J. Manzer is descended on both sides from early settlers of Susquehanna county who played well their part in the development of the country, and in the country's civil affairs. Her paternal grandparents, Joab and Lucy (Daggett) Fuller, came from Attleboro, Mass., and located in the county in 1822. He was a shoemaker, and worked at that trade in connection with farming. He died in 1842, aged sixty-eight years, and his widow passed away in 1860, aged ninety years. Mrs. Manzer's maternal grandparents, Elias and Lucy (Price) Van Winkle, came from Staten Island, N. Y., and located in Harford township, where they were occupied in farming. He died in 1846, aged eighty-one years, and she died in 1814.

David H. Fuller, the father of Mrs. Thomas J. Manzer, was born November 20, 1806, and came with his parents to Susquehanna county in 1822. He was occupied through life in farming, passing the later years of his life among his children. He served for many years as a justice of the peace. He was a Christian gentleman, and a great Church worker, he and his wife being members of the Free- Will Baptist Church. He died October 3, 1877, and his wife, who was born November II, 1803, passed away December 14, 1881. Their children were: Alpheus B. died in Connecticut at the age of forty-two. Polly E. became Mrs. Manzer. Charl- otte E. is the wife of B. L. Herrick, of Binghamton, N. Y. Lucy C., widow of James E. Post, resides at Phillipsburg, N. J. Mary R. married C. A. Mill- er, a farmer and quarryman in Susquehanna, Penn. Henry M. died at Nicholson, Penn. Clarissa E. married Lute Welch, and died at Sedalia, Mo. George died in May, 1899, at Phillipsburg, N. J. Franklin, a retired railroad man, resides at Kings-'

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ton, Penn .; he was conductor on a passenger train for twenty-eight years, and was obliged to abandon work on account of ill health.

Henry F. Manzer, son of Thomas J. Manzer, and now the efficient prothonotary of Susquehanna county, with residence at Montrose, is a native of the county, born February 7, 1850, at the Manzer homestead in South Gibson. He passed his early boyhood upon the farm of his father, working on the farm and attending the neighboring schools. He furthered his early studies in the Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, Penn. Returning to his home in Gibson, he resumed agricultural pursuits, which for a period claimed his attention, and later clerked for his father some three years at Jackson, after which for several years he conducted a general store in Herrick. In the fall of 1888 he removed to Susquehanna, and became manager for the "Star- rucca House," his executive ability being displayed here in the neatness, general good order, attention, etc., that guests received, the increased patronage and popularity of the house, and also in its success from a financial standpoint. Always most courteous and obliging, he readily won popularity and friends, which traits, along with his knowledge of affairs, his business methods and ability, rendered him an available man for the position of prothonotary of the county. A stanch Republican, always zealous in the party's interests, he was nominated for the office named at the Republican County Convention held at Montrose in June, 1897. At this time the Independent Republican of Montrose said :

In the nomination of Mr. Manzer the office of prothon- otary is accorded to the ea-tern part of the county for the first time in twenty-seven years, with the exception of one term, and it goes to one who is eminently qualified for the po-ition and an earnest and zealous Republican. The nom- ination of Mr. Manzer is an exceedingly strong one, and when the votes are counted it will be discovered that he will enter the office of prothonotary backed by a magnificent en- dorsement from the voters of Susquehanna county.

The observations of the editor of the Republi- can were correct, for Mr. Manzer was elected by a handsome majority, and he is making a most effi- cient and capable official. He is a courteous and ac- commodating gentleman.

On June 6, 1871, Mr. Manzer was married to Miss Abbie A., daughter of Dr. William W. Wheat- on, who for nearly forty years has been a prominent physician at Jackson Center, and granddaughter of Moses B. Wheaton. The latter was a native of Richmond, N. H., and a descendant of Caleb Wheaton, the progenitor of the family in New England, who came from Wales, and settled in the State of New Hampshire. Mr. and Mrs. Manzer have had no children.

GEORGE PRATT. The family, of which this well-known resident of New Milford is a rep- resentative, is of ancient origin, the name being found in English records of a very early period. The name was variously spelled in olden times, · appearing as Pratt, Prat, Pratte,' Pradt, Praed,

Prate, also Praer, Prayers. It is a surname de- rived, like many of the Norman and Saxon names, from a locality; from the latin Pratum, a meadow ; Spanish and Portugese, Prado; French Pre, Preux, prairie. The clerks by whom the Liber censulis (Dom-Book or Doomsday Book), and other rec- ords and enrollments of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, were written, translated words and names into either Latin or French, or retained them in Saxon, at their pleasure. Hence, of those occupying meadow lands, some would be entered by the reg- istrars Do Prato or Pratensis; others as Du Pre; whilst others would be called, in the language of conquered people, Moedes, Moed or Mead. From these topical adjuncts to a given name a large class of English patronymics has arisen. Thus Pratt, Dupre and Mead, also Meadow, have a common and probably, too, a synchronous origin. The early homes of the English Pratts were chiefly in the eastern and southern parts of England, in the con- tiguous counties of Leicester, Huntingdon, Nor- folk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Devon, Lincoln, and Hertford.

Many noted professional men have given dis- tinction to the name, but the following review is re- stricted to our subject's direct lineage. The first an- cestor, of whom we have a definite account, was Lieut. William Pratt, who is supposed to have come from England with Rev. Thomas Hooker in 1633, locating first at Newton, Mass., now Cambridge. In June, 1636, he removed to Hartford, Conn., and he also resided at Saybrook. The date of his death is not known, but it appears from the records of Saybrook that he left a will, which was doubtless destroyed with other records in the fire of 1700. At one time he attended the General Court at Hart- ford, as deputy. His wife was Elizabeth Clark, daughter of John Clark, of Saybrook, and later of Milford, and they had eight children.

Benjamin Pratt, son of William, married Ann , and had a son Zephaniah.

Zephaniah Pratt was born about 1712, and died in 1758, aged forty-six, leaving two children, Hul- dah and Zadock. His wife, Abigail, survived him, and married for her second husband a Mr. Phelps, but if they had children, as is supposed, no record of their names has been preserved.

Hon. Zadock Pratt was married November I, 1781, to Hannah Pickett, who was born September 3. 1755, a daughter of Benjamin Pickett, of New Milford ; the date of her death is not known. Dur- ing the Revolutionary war Zadock Pratt, then a young man, displayed a degree of courage and patriotism of which his descendants may well be proud. At the opening of hostilities he joined the troops that built the breastworks at Dorchester Heights, near Boston, and afterward served with the main body of the army on Long Island, under Lord Sterling. He was taken prisoner in the un- fortunate battle of August 27, 1776, and confined some time in the Middle Dutch church, New York City (at the present site of the post office), and also

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 92

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