Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 95

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 95
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 95
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 95
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1 > Part 95

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).

subject and wife, Gertrude, Grace and Marion. On February 2, 1894, Gertrude married E. M. Blakes- lee, and they have two sons-Frank, born Decem- ber 30, 1897; and Leon, born January 12, 1899. Grace married M. W. Stoddard, of Brooklyn, N. Y., June 15, 1897, and has one daughter, Pearle, born January 22, 1899. Marion married, in Brook- lyn, N. Y., in September, 1898, F. L. Lewis, who is engaged with I. V. Ketchum in the milk business in Brooklyn, as is also Mr. Stoddard.

CAPT. DAVID E. WHITNEY, a prominent stock dealer and agriculturist of Gibson township, Susquehanna county, is a veteran of the Civil war, and as a citizen has always shown himself loyal to the best interests of his community.

Like others among our successful business men, the Captain comes of good New England ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Enos Whitney, served six months in the Revolutionary army, and became one of the leading pioneers of Susquehanna county. Enos Whitney was born August 20, 1761, in Bran- ford, New Haven Co., Conn., and was married at Wallingford, in 1787, to Eunice Avery, who was born May 22, 1760, in Wallingford, daughter of Abner Avery. In 1818 he removed to Gibson town- ship, Susquehanna county, locating on a farm in Gelatt Hollow, adjoining that upon which his son Thaddeus had settled in 1817. He followed farming in connection with the blacksmith trade. His wife died in 1838, aged seventy-eight years, and he died in 1846, aged eighty-five years, both being buried in Union Hill cemetery. Their children were as follows: Laura, who married Leonard Tiffany, of Mt. Pleasant ; Thaddeus, above mentioned ; Eunice H., wife of Moses Chamberlain, of Gibson ; Belias, our subject's father; Anna, wife of Preserved Pickering; Enos, who married Margery Merriman, and lived in Gibson; Paulina, who married Riley Case, and lived in Lenox; Everett, who married Julia Merriman, and died at Great Bend, aged eighty-one years.

Belias Whitney, father of our subject, was born in 1794, in Connecticut, but the greater portion of his life was spent in this section. By occupation he was a farmer and carpenter, and he was active in local affairs in Gibson township, Susquehanna coun- ty, for many years serving as constable, collector, road master and school director. He died in Har- ford township, in June, 1850, aged fifty-six years, and was buried in Harford cemetery. His wife, Jane (Chase), who died in Gibson township in 1886, aged eighty-five years, was a daughter of Daniel and ( Philbrook) Chase, of Vermont, and ac- companied them in childhood to Jackson township, Susquehanna county. After a few years her par- ents removed to Windsor, Broome Co., N. Y., where her mother died, and her father spent his last days at the home of one of his children at Mt. Pleasant, Wayne Co., Pennsylvania.

Captain Whitney was born October 2, 1823, at Windsor, N. Y., and as the only son of a busy

401

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

farmer was trained to habits of usefulness. After the death of his parents he remained for some years at the farm in Harford township, a fine estate of 160 acres which he still owns, but in March, 1870, he removed to his present nomestead of twenty- one acres in Gibson township. He is a Republican in politics, and while living in Harford township served as supervisor, but he does not care for official honors. He and his wife are identified with the Presbyterian Church at Harford, and the Cap- tain belongs to A. J. Roper Post No. 452, G. A. R., at Gibson, in which he has held the office of commander for two years. In 1873 he organized a band of musicians at Gibson which continued suc- cessfully for ten years, and later he assisted in forming the present band of eighteen pieces, of which he is captain. For four years he was captain of a militia company ; the regiment then disbanded, and on September 3, 1862, he enlisted at Harford in Company B, 17th Penn. Cavalry, which was re- cruited by him at the request of Gov. Curtin. He was appointed captain, and remained with the com- pany four months, when he was discharged for in- ability, the hardships of camp life having injured his health permanently. While he did not partici- pate in any battles he was in several skirmishes dur- ing his period of service.

On September 12, 1853, Captain Whitney was married at Harford to Miss Cordelia Carpenter. They have had no children of their own, but have reared three. Helen Lyon, whom they took into their home when one year old, is now the wife of Hollis Wood, a banker and real estate agent at Lincoln, Neb. Elizabeth Barnes, adopted at the age of thirteen years, married the late W. B. Payne, of Harford. Minnie Gillespie married Charles Crane, of Binghamton, New York.

Mrs. Whitney belongs to a well-known family, and was born in Harford township, March 19, 1825, daughter of Elias and granddaughter of Obediah Carpenter, of Massachusetts. Her father was born August 23, 1773, at Attleboro, Mass., but removed to Susquehanna county previous to his marriage and became a successful farmer. He was the first teacher in Harford township, and was obliged to conduct his classes without books. For many years he was an active worker in the Congregational Church at Harford. His death occurred October 9, 1850, and his wife, Polly ( Hawley), who was born November 17, 1779, died January 30, 1857, both being interred in Harford cemetery. This worthy couple had a large family of children, of whom Mrs. Whitney is the youngest; Ira, born December 4, 1800, died December 17, 1877; Sally H., born August 7. 1802, married Daniel Oakley, and died January 28, 1870; Ada, born October 18, 1804, married Gerdon Able, and died August 18, 1871 ; Polly E., born May 18, 1807, married Almon Clinton, and died August 1, 1869; Densey, born October 10, 1809, married Cyrus Oakley, and died December 21. 1860 : Loretta, born October 12, 1812, £6

died January 2, 1815 ; Loranda, born July 20, 1815, married Isaac R. Lyon, and died August 2, 1858; Elias N., born March 15, 1818, died June 10, 1893 ; Betsy, born November 13, 1822, married Isaac R. Lyon, and died May 6, 1896.

WILLIAM BARBER. For more than a half century the subject of this sketch has been an active and respected resident of Lenox township, Susque- hanna county. He has during that time engaged largely in farming, but the greater part of his at- tention has been devoted to mill work. He made his start in life as a millwright, and for many years was prominently identified with the lumbering in- terests of his section.

Mr. Barber was born in Abington township, Luzerne (now Lackawanna) Co., Penn., September 6, 1822, being the eldest son of Williams and Mary (Taylor) Barber, and a grandson of William and Elizabeth ( Williams) Barber. The father of our subject was born September 19, 1793, in Otsego county, N. Y., and when a young man located in Abington township, where in 1818 he married Mary Taylor, who was born in Providence, R. I., March 26, 1803. She came to Abington township with her parents, Libanus and Mehitable (Hopkins) Taylor, in the year 1814. When the subject of our sketch was about seven years old, his parents moved from Abington township to Benton township. Luzerne (now Lackawanna) Co., Penn., where the father had previously taken up a tract of wild land, cleared a plot of its tall beech and maple, and erected there- on a log house, which was the only style of archi- tecture then in use in the wilds of Pennsylvania. Here the parents spent the remainder of their lives, gradually reducing the forest and subduing the land, until the farm was well cleared and the land in a good state of cultivation. In time the log house was abandoned for a larger and mor. con- venient frame dwelling which still stands to mark the old home. Whenever the weather or the season forbade work on the farm the father worked at the anvil or the bench, making at the former knives and many useful tools, and at the latter (besides many pieces of furniture which his children still keep in fond remembrance of the hands that made them) window sashes, which he carried to Dundaff, Susquehanna county, and sold to Charley Wells, a. merchant who kept them in his store for sale. Sashes made by him are still ( 1900) in use in the frame house on the old homestead, and in several other old houses throughout the country. The moth- er was a weaver, and, besides spinning the yarn for and weaving many pieces of cloth which were made into clothes for herself and family, she wove many pieces of cloth and carpets for her neighbors. In politics the father was a stanch Democrat. Will- iams Barber passed away June 20, 1875, his wife on March 25, 1884. lacking only one day of being eighty-one years old. Their nine children were as follows : Sarah, who died young ; William, our sub- ject : Clarinda, wife of Ezekiel Gumaer, a farmer of

402

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Benton township, Lackawanna county ; Pardon, a farmer of Benton township; Marvin, a farmer of Lenox township, Susquehanna county ; George, a carpenter of Scranton, for many years largely en- gaged in moving buildings; Mary L. (twin of George), wife of Levi Gumaer, of Benton town- ship ; Ira, a carpenter of Scranton ; and Esther Jane, wife of Wells Wallace, of Jermyn, Pennsylvania.

William Barber, our subject, passed his boy- hood in Benton township. He was educated in the common schools, and when he attained the age of nineteen years began active life for himself. Previ- ous to this time, while watching the construction of a sawmill which was built near his father's farm, he conceived the idea of learning to be a millwright. Accordingly, in 1842, he was employed by Eliphalet Wells, for $16 per month, to work on a mill for Asa Brundage, which was built on the farm later owned by Isaac Morgan, situated in that part of Clifford township, Susquehanna county, known as the Welsh settlement. Mr. Barber was married, February 10, 1847, to Eunice Chamberlin, who was born in Clifford township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., January 17, 1828, a daughter of Levi and Mary (Lott) Chamberlin, of Lenox township, Susque- hanna county, a granddaughter of Wright and Hannah ( Heath) Chamberlin. of Gibson, Susque- hanna county, and of Ichabod and Sarah ( Roberts) Lott, also of Gibson township, and a great-grand- daughter of Moses and Jemima ( Wright) Chamber- lin, of Litchfield, Conn. Her paternal grandfather, Wright Chamberlin, Sr., was born June 16, 1758, in Litchfield, Conn., where he lived until 1795, ex- cept for a residence of one year and eight months in the State of Vermont, where he married, for his first wife, Hannah Heath. Re- turning to Litchfield, he remained there until May, 1795, when he sold his farm and set out, with Den- man Coe, to visit the State of Pennsylvania and to find another farm. He purchased a tract of land at Hop Bottom, and there worked from June 26 until September 8, when he set out for Litchfield to move his family. He started for Pennsylvania with them January 21, 1796, and arrived at the "Nine Part- ners" settlement, where he was persuaded by John Tyler to stop, February 29, 1796. In May, of the same year, he sold his possession at Hop Bottom, buying a farm of Joshua Jay, which was situated on Putt's Hill, now in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, and to which he moved his family in August, 1796, there spending the remainder of his life. He was well educated for his time, and taught school in part of his own house for the benefit of his and his neighbors' children. He was for many years a taverneer of Gibson. His first wife, Han- nah (Heath) Chamberlin, dying, he married Sallie Holdridge December 25, 1797, and after her decease wedded Polly Billings. By the first marriage there were eight children, by the second nine, and by the third nine. Wright Chamberlin was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

Mrs. Barber's father, Levi Chamberlin, son of

Wright and Hannah (Heath) Chamberlin, was born in Litchfield, Conn., February 17, 1792. He came to Gibson, Susquehanna Co., Penn., with his parents in 1796, and there remained until after he was married, April 8, 1814, to Mary Lott, daughter of Ichabod and Sarah (Roberts) Lott. She was born April 28, 1798. Mr. Chamberlin, together with his brother, Moses, and brother-in-law, Jere- miah Fuller, was drafted for the war of 1812, and went as far as Danville, when news came that peace had been declared, and they returned home.

In 1816 Mr. Chamberlin moved into the wilds of New Milford, three miles from "Mott's Hotel." Just how long he remained there or at his next place of residence-the Bennett farm, in Clifford township, Susquehanna county, on the Milford and Owego turnpike, now owned and occupied by Will- iam Hasbrouck, Jr .- is not now remembered, but while living at the last named place he took up a tract of land lying on the hill west of the West Clifford school house, bordering the Milford and Owego turnpike, and clearing a small portion of the ground he erected a log house, into which he moved in the spring of 1823. Here he remained for twenty-one years, clearing most of the farm owned by his son, the late Pulaski W. Chamberlin, and the farm owned and occupied by his grandson. Charles P. Chamberlin.

In course of time the old log house was va- cated for a larger and more commodious dwelling, built on the opposite side of the road from the old one, and a little in front of the house now occu- pied by his grandson. Here he kept tavern for many years, and, although there was another hotel within a mile, his house was often filled to its ut- most with travelers from Brooklyn, Dimock, and Montrose, who hauled their grain to Carbondale. The last thirty years of his life Mr. Chamberlin spent in Lenox township, on the farm lying on the south side of the east branch of the Tunkhannock creek, two miles below Lenoxville (then known as Doud Hollow), which is now owned and occupied by his grandson, Valentine W. Barber, and here for several years he kept the toll-gate on the Lons- dale and Brooklyn turnpike. Mr. Chamberlin was a stanch Republican, and a devout Christian, being a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, Mary (Lott) Chamberlin, passed away July 19, 1874, at the age of seventy- six years, and he followed April 3, 1876, at the age of eighty-four years. Their children were: Pulaski W., a carpenter and farmer of West Clifford : Elizabeth, wife of Warren Price, of Lenox town- ship; Azubah, wife of Charles D. Wilson, of Nicholson, Penn .; Mary, wife of Hiram Barnum, of Hallstead, Penn .; Catharine, who died young ; Diana, wife of Jeremiah Coleman, of Dimock, Sus- quehanna county ; Levi (a soldier of the Civil war), now a resident of Silvara, Bradford Co., Penn .; Elvira, a maiden lady, of Lenox; Eunice, wife of William Barber, the subject of our sketch; Andrew J., a carpenter of Hopbottom, Penn .; Hannah, who

---- ----

403

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

‹lied of consumption at the age of twenty-two years ; Sarah, first wife of Moses Cox, who also died of consumption, in 1852 ; Ellen, wife of Merritt Penny, of South Montrose, Penn .; and Milo, who died young.

In 1848 Mr. Barber purchased a seventy-five- acre tract of land of Charles Hobbs, which was situated in Lenox township, on the south side of the east branch of the Tunkhannock creek, one and a half miles below Lenoxville (then called Doud Hollow) and which he has cleared and greatly im- proved. The log house in which they began house .. keeping April 1, 1848, was vacated in 1859 for a larger and more convenient frame structure, which in 1884 was abandoned for the beautiful and com- modious house which they now occupy. Here Mr. Barber and his faithful, frugal and industrious wife have dwelt for fifty-two years. In connection with clearing and improving the farm, which he has increased to 120 acres, he for many years followed his trade, working on the farm summers, and at millwork during the winter. He built his first steam sawmill in Carbondale, for G. M. Hollenback. during the winter of 1859-60. Among the several mills, run by water power, which he built, was the one situated on the east branch of the Tunkhannock creek, about one mile below his residence, which he afterward bought and successfully worked for sev- eral years, doing both custom and private sawing. Mr. Barber's political support has always been given to the Democratic party. He and his wife were members of Clifford Grange, and he belonged to the Masonic lodge at Waverly. Mr. Barber has been a man of robust health and unusual strength until within the last fifteen years, since which time he has been an uncomplaining sufferer from sciatica, which has seriously crippled him.

To our subject and wife eight children have been born, six of whom grew to maturity, at which time each set out for him or herself, leaving the parents, as they began, alone, except during school vacations, when the third daughter, E. Miena-for many years a teacher in Susquehanna and Lacka- wanna counties, where she had a most successful career in her educational work-would return to the paternal roof and lend a helping hand. She was progressive in her school work, and tried to keep in touch with the best educational thought of the day. When age and disease so disabled the parents that she was unable to do justice to both the home work and the school she gave up the latter, and remained at home. The children are: Diana E., wife of Adam B. Miller, a blacksmith and farmer of Lenox township, has three children- Myra I., wife of Burton Clarkson (has one child, B. Bell) ; and Elmina and Ralph, at home. Hannah died young. Freeman J. went to the Indian Terri- tory. and has not been heard from for several years. E. Miena. Valentine W., a carpenter and farmer of Lenox. married Adelaide Philipps, and has four sons-Frank J., Vernon E., Earl S., and Clifton L. Ella A. died young. Edgar A., a carpenter of Peck-

ville, married Ida Clarkson, but has no children : he is a contractor, and a dealer in all kinds of building material. Ina is the wife of Willis M. Ran- som, and has two children-E. Pearl and Ronald. Mr. Ransom was for several years a merchant at Lenoxville, Susquehanna county, until afflicted by nervous prostration, when he bought the Frank Sheridan farm, near Glenwood, Penn., and he in- tends to try farming for his health.

DAVID JACKSON RAUB (deceased) was for many years one of the prominent residents of Auburn township, Susquehanna county, a fine type of the intelligent, Christian citizen, industrious and enterprising in his private affairs, deeply interested in the moral and material welfare of the commun- ity, and winning the esteem of all classes by his un- failing kindness of heart and sterling uprightness of character.

Mr. Raub was a native of Warren county, N. J., born November 23, 1823, son of Andrew and Catherine (Butts) Raub, farming people, who passed their entire lives in New Jersey. Andrew Raub was born March 29, 1783, in that State, where his parents, Michael and Anna Raub, settled in an early day, coming from Germany, their native land. They, too, were engaged in farming. Their family consisted of eight children, viz .: Andrew ; Will- iam; Michael; Betsey, who married John Stout; Mary A., who married Benjamin Sutton; Anna, who married Samuel Vaughn; Katie, who married John Fleming; and Sarah, who married Abraham Rice. On November 26, 1805, Andrew Raub wed- ded Catherine Butts, who was born November 1, 1781, and they became the parents of children as follows: Mary Ann, born August 19, 1806, who died young; Michael, born September 30, 1808, a farmer of Lackawanna county, who died January 6, 1899 ; Eliza, who died at the age of sixty-nine, un- married ; Jacob, born January 5, 1815, who died in 1869; Sarah, born April 25, 1817, now deceased, who married John A. Kirkhoff ; William, born Sep- tember 3, 1819, deceased; Sidney M., who died April 24, 1882, aged sixty-nine years, married to George Van Scoten, who died in June, 1863, while serving in the Civil war; and David Jackson, our subject. Andrew Raub, the father, passed away

February 21, 1860, the mother February 9, 1831.

David J. Raub grew to manhood in his native county, receiving such advantages for education as the common schools of his time and place afforded, and during his early years learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until coming to Susque- hanna county. As he did not like the trade he gave it up after settling in Auburn township, and devot- ed himself to farming pursuits. He became well and favorably known throughout the township, where, by industry and good management, he ac- quired a fine property, owning two farms, and he was chosen to fill various positions of trust, serv- ing ably as auditor and assessor, and assisting in numerous ways in the local civil administration.

404

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

He cast his ballot with the Republicans, but he was a Prohibitionist in principle. In 1852 he united with the M. E. Church, of which he was ever an earnest member and zealous worker, carrying his Christianity into his every-day affairs, and living a consistent and pure life. His last words were: "Under the shadow of His wings." Mr. Raub passed away May 8, 1897, and was laid to rest in Jersey Hill cemetery, mourned far and wide in Au- burn township as a citizen whose place could not easily be filled, and a friend and neighbor whose like is not met with every day.

On November 7, 1846, David J. Raub was uni- ted in marriage with Miss Amy Pierson, and they reared a family of four children, namely: Retta M., who married Charles Fuller, a farmer of Au- burn township; Sarah Catherine, wife of Charles Tewksbury, of Kirwin, Bighorn Co., Wyoming ; Benjamin P., a lumberman of Towanda, Penn. (he married Cora Silvara) ; and Frances, who married Abijah James, a druggist, of Ely, Minn. Mrs. Raub is an intelligent, well-preserved woman. She was born June 6, 1827, in Warren county, N. J., daughter of Joseph and granddaughter of Daniel and Susanna (Jones) Pierson, who were farming people of Connecticut. Joseph Pierson was born in Sussex county, N. J., and in early manhood re- moved to Warren county, same State, thence, in 1841, coming to Auburn township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he ended his days. He was a carpenter by trade, but during his latter years en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Mary White, daughter of William and Amy (Runion) White, farming people, who settled in Auburn town- ship in 1841, and they had four children: Amy, Mrs. Raub; Benjamin, who died in 1870; Charles W., a farmer of Auburn township; and Susanna, who married Milton Harris, of Auburn township. The father died August 21, 1865, at the age of sixty-seven years, the mother surviving until Sep- tember 28, 1886, reaching the advanced age of eighty-two years. They were laid to rest in Jersey Hill cemetery. They were members of the M. E. Church, but as there was no Society of that denom- ination in Auburn on their removal here they united with the M. P. Church, and he was one of the three men who erected the first M. P. church in the town- ship. Mr. Pierson was an active citizen of this locality, holding office and otherwise taking a promi- nent part in public affairs.

ELIJAH CARPENTER, a well-known and honored citizen of Uniondale, Susquehanna county, who is now engaged in the fire and life insurance business, was born at that place, November 29, 1826, a son of Ezra and Happy ( Burdick) Carpen- ter, the former a native of Harford, Penn., the lat- ter of Rhode Island.

By occupation the father of our subject was a farmer, carpenter, builder and lumberman, and, be- ing a man of prominence in his community, he was often called upon to fill township offices. In pol-

itics he was first a Whig and, later, a Republican, and in religious belief both he and his wife were Presbyterians. He was born October 27, 1801, and died in Uniondale, in March, 1887, and his wife, born March 18, 1805, died at the same place, in March, 1871, their remains being interred in Union- dale cemetery. Elijah is the eldest of their chil- dren; Alva died in Uniondale, in 1894; Nancy (first) married Miner Dimock, and ( second) An- drew Gregg, but is again a widow, and a resident of Uniondale ; Russell is a merchant of Carbondale, Penn. ; Clarissa A., deceased, (first) married Alvin Spoor, and ( second) Henry Dix ; Julina is the wife of Dimock Williams, a carpenter of Binghamton, N. Y .; Sheppard is a farmer of Uniondale ; Zerah, after having served nearly four years in the Union army, was killed while at work at the carpenter's trade, in Scranton, Penn .; Berrilla, deceased, was the wife of John Bolton; and Warren died in Clif- ford township. Our subject's paternal · grandpar- ents were Ezra and Mary (Falet) Carpenter, and hs maternal grandparents were Kendall and Han- nah Burdick.

Elijah Carpenter was reared on a farm which occupied the present site of Uniondale, and has passed his entire life here, with the exception of four years spent in Luzerne county, Penn. His early education was acquired in a district school near his boyhood home, and a select school at Mt. Pleasant, Penn., and at the age of sixteen he com- menced learning the carpenter's trade with his fa- ther, working with him until he attained his ma- jority. He continued to follow that occupation through the summer months for many years, and at the same time taught vocal music for fifteen years. At the age of twenty-two, feeling the need of a bet- ter education in music, he again entered school, pursuing the study of that art under the direction of Dr. Lowell Mason and George James Webb, who were then holding institutes at Syracuse and Rochester, N. Y., and attending one term at each place.

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.

Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 1, Part 95

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