Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 103

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1098

USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 103
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 103
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 103
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 103

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The knowledge which William H. Hall ac- quired in.the public schools during his boyhood and youth has been greatly supplemented by reading and observation in later years. In 1864. at the age of seventeen years, he enlisted in the 16th New York

.Artillery, and for some time was stationed at Fort Fisher, under the command of Gen. Butler and la- ter of Gen. Terry. He was also on duty in Vir- ginia, Maryland and North Carolina, and when the war was over received an honorable discharge at Elmira, N. Y. Returning to his home he was in the employ of the New Jersey Railroad Co., at Port Jervis, N. Y., for two years, and for the same length of time was subsequently connected with the New York & Erie railroad. He was then variously employed until 1889, when he located upon his pres- ent farm of sixty-five acres of well-cultivated land in Scott township, Wayne county, and has since de- voted his energies to agricultural pursuits. meeting with good success. The fields, pastures and mead- ows are all in an excellent condition, and the build- ings upon the place are models of convenience.

In November, 1877, Mr. Hall was united in . marriage with Miss Mary Bury, of Hancock. N. Y., who was born in Rockland, that State, of German ancestry. To them have been born three children : Florence, now a successful teacher ; Lelia. and Ray- mond. Originally, Mr. Hall was a Republican in political sentiment but he now gives his allegiance to the Prohibition party. He is an honored member of Starrucca Post, G. A. R., and is one of the most highly-respected citizens of Scott township.

SILAS E. BUCKLAND. The agricultural in- terests of Clinton township, Wayne county. find a worthy representative in this gentleman. He belongs to one of the honored pioneer families of this sec- tion of the State, his paternal grandfather having come from Connecticut at an early day and taken up his residence in the wilderness of Canaan town- ship, Wayne county. He married a Miss Jenkins, and to them were born five sons: Charles, Louis, Horace, Belden and Lyman. The last named. who was the father of our subject, was born in Connecti- cut December 4, 1808, and came with mis parents to Canaan township, Wayne county, where he later engaged in farming. He was married. December 29, 1829, to Phoebe M. Corey, and they became the parents of three children: Harvey, a resident of Forest City, Susquehanna Co., Penn. ; Catherine M., wife of Simeon MI. Carpenter, a well-to-do farm- er of Clinton township, Wayne county ; and Silas E., the subject of this sketch.

On a farm in Clinton township, Silas E. Buck- land was born June 6, 1845, and he obtained his education in the common schools of the neighbor- hood. At the age of sixteen he began working for the Delaware & Huilson Canal Co., but in 1864 he laid aside all personal interests to aid in the defense of his country, and went to the front as a member of Company G, 3rd Pennsylvania Artillery, faithfully serving until the war ended. The year following hie was in the railroad employ, at the end of that time purchasing his present farm in Clinton township. and he has since devoted his energies to agricul- tural pursuits with good results.

Mr. Buckland was married July 4, 1866. to

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Miss Augusta E. Ogden, the wedding ceremony be- ing performed at Carbondale, Penn., by Rev. Ira T. Walker. She was born in Clinton township, July -7, 1848, a daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth ( Engle) Ogden. Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Buckland. namely : Edward, born May -7, 1867, died September 15, 1887 ; Jennie A., born May Ii, 1869. died May 9, 1887; John, born May 24, 1876, and Lyman, born January 20, 1884, are both at home.

Since casting his first Presidential vote Mr. Buckland has been a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called upon him to serve as overseer of the poor, supervisor, constable and. school director, the duties of which offices lie most capably performed.

EDWARD A. OPPELT, a substantial and en- terprising farmer of Dreher township, Wayne coun- ty, resides on the farm where he was born Novem- ber 15, 1852. Our subject's father, Francis A. Op- pelt, was born March 15, 1813, in Gnadenhutten, Ohio, and on April 7, 1835, was married, in Naza- reth, Penn., to Louisa Beitel, who was born Decem- ber 30, 1814, in Schoeneck, Northampton Co .. Penn. The father was a harnessmaker by trade, and followed that occupation in his younger years in connection with school teaching, but later in life engaged in farming. From 1875 until 1879 he was a commissioner of Wayne county, was a justice of the peace thirty years, and held other local offices, in- cluding that of county auditor. He was one of the most influential and prominent citizens of his com- munity, and an ardent supporter of the Republican party. He died June 22, 1897, his wife July 22, 1896, and as they were members of the Moravian Church, their remains were buried in that cemetery. In their family were the following children: An- gelica. born July 19. 1837, is the wife of Frederick "Ehrhart, a merchant of Newfoundland, Wayne county : Caroline J., born August 27. 1839, is the wife of Christian Lange, a prominent business man of Newfoundland ; Lawrence V., born February 13, 1842. died March 5, 1851 ; Annie E., born Novem- ber 25. 1843, is the widow of Isadore Kastner, and a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y. : Henry S., born No- vember 24. 1845, resides on the old homestead : Sarah A., born November 12. 1847. is a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; James B., born February 10, 1850, died March 10. 1851 : Mary L .. born March 30. 1851. is the wife of Emil Walter, who is engaged in the millinery business in Newfoundland: Ed- ward A. is next in the order of birth : and Celia L., horn May 10. 1854. is the wife of William Heber- ling, a laborer of Newfoundland.

Our subject's paternal grandparents were Rev. Godfrey and Anna ( Westhaffer ) Oppelt. the for- mer a native of Saxony. Germany. the latter of Lan- caster county, Penn. Early in the nineteenth cen- tury the grandfather came to America as a mis- sionary of the Moravian Church, and located in

Northampton county, Penn., where his death oc- curred. Later, on April 7, 1840, his wife came to Wayne county, where she spent her remaining days. Their children were William, Charles, Benjamin. Herman, Charlotte ( wife of Rev. Decker). and Francis .A. (our subject's father ). Our subject's maternal grandparents, Frederick and Mary ( Fryr Beitel, spent their entire lives in Northampton county, where the former engaged in blacksmithing. Their children were Henry, James, Edwin, William, Louisa (mother of our subject), Saralı ( wife of Amos Seigler), and Lucetta ( who first married John White, and after his death a Mr. Fetter ).

Reared on the home farm, Edward A. Oppelt early became familiar with every department of farm work, and is to-day recognized as one of the most thorough and skillful agriculturists of Dreher township. In the spring of 1884 he left the old homestead and removed to Greene township. Pike county, following his chosen calling there until 1896, when he returned to his birthplace, which he has since successfully managed. He is a worthy representative of one of the most highly respected families of Wayne county, and is justly deserving of the high regard in which he is held. He. too. is a faithful member of the Moravian Church, and a stanch Republican in politics.

In Greene township, Pike county. Mr. Oppelt was .married. February 23. 1882. to Miss Caroline M. Grimm, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Charles Moench, a Moravian minister. They have three children : Katie L. : Francis E. : and Lawrence H., born June 27, 1899, in Dreher township. Mrs. Oppelt was born in Greene township. Pike county. May II. 1859. and is a daughter of Christian H. and Catherine (Ehrbaugh) Grimm. The mother died in 1862: the father is still living and makes his home in Greene township.

JOSEPH G. SMITH. a worthy representative of the farming and stock-raising interests of Berlin township. Wayne county, is a man of more than ordinary business capacity, intelligent and well in- formed. He was born in that township, in No- vember. 1858. a son of John and Catharine ( Probst ) Smith, natives of Bavaria and Prussia, Germany. respectively. Mr. Smith's paternal grandparents, Joseph Smith and wife. emigrated from Germany to America and located in Albany, N. Y., where the former died. His wife then came to Honesdale. Penn .. where her son, our subject's father, was em- ployed as a boatman on the Delaware & Hudson canal for a number of years. Her other son was killed on the canal near Port Jervis. N. Y., leaving a wife ( who afterward married Henry Gumper, of Berlin. Wayne county) and four children, l'eter, Jacob. Michael and Maggie.

John Smith finally purchased a tract of wild land in Berlin township, from which he developed a good farm, erecting thereon substantial and com- modious buildings, and he still resides there and is numbered among the highly respected citizens. His

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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children were: Rachel, who married Frank Gidline, of Honesdale, where she died at the age of twenty- three years; Margaret, now the wife of A. Fritch, of Oregon township, Wayne county; Joseph G., of this sketch ; Peter, who was drowned at Honesdale in the Delaware & Hudson canal; John, Jacob, William, Frederick and Claud, glass cutters by trade, who are all married and live in Berlin township; and Victor, who is single, and is still with his parents on the old homestead.

When a young man Joseph G. Smith also learned the glass cutter's trade, with Dorflinger & Son, and became an expert in that line. successfully following the trade for ten years. In 1885 he bought the William Huffsetter farm of 125 acres in Berlin township, locating thereon after his marriage, and he has made many excellent improvements upon the place, including a large addition to the barn ; he now has one of the best farms of the locality, well stocked with a high grade of horses, cattle, etc.

In 1888 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Annie Houth, of Texas township, Wayne county, where her parents, Nicholas and Malatine Houthi, located in 1871. on their emigration from France to the United States. Three children have blessed this union : Annie, born August 7, 1891 ; Mamie, born December 16, 1804: and John Fred- erick, born April 23. 1898. The parents are both devout members of the Catholic Church. Since attaining his majority Mr. Smith has affiliated with the Democratic party, and in 1896 he was elected to the office of supervisor of Berlin township, the du- ties of which position he is still most creditably fill- ing, having been re-elected in 1899. Through his own industry and careful management he has al- ready accumulated a comfortable competence, and being a man of sterling worth, upright and honor- able in all things. he enjoys the confidence and es- teem of all who know him.

JOHN LERCH. "Lerch's Hotel." a popular hostelry at South Canaan Corners, Wayne county, is one of the landmarks of that region, having stood for more than half a century, during which time it has been continuously in the possession of the same family. It is still in successful operation under the able management of the subject of this sketch, one of the leading business men of the town, and attracts a large patronage, especially in the summer season. The locality was formerly known as Lerch's Cor- ners, and at one time boasted the only postoffice in South Canaan township.

The Lerch family is of German origin, sev- eral brothers of the name having come from the Fatherland in Colonial times. Among these was Daniel Lerch, our subject's grandfather, who served as a soldier in the war of 1812. and was one of the early settlers in Northampton county. Penn. Daniel Lerch was born in Germany September 3, 1785, lo- cated for a time in New Jersey, and finally settled at Nanticoke, Penn. He was an energetic man. and for many years was extensively engaged in business

as a miller and millwright, though in his later years lie suffered some financial reverses. He was acci- vientally drowned while crossing the Susquehanna river, near Nanticoke, to do some work at his trade of millwright. On January 11, 1805, he married Rachel Case, who was born in Hackettstown. N. J., September 3, 1788, and they became the parents of eight children, all now deceased: Anna, born in 1805, married Charles Smith ; Philip W., born Sep- tember 12, 1807, became the father of our subject ; Jacob was born in 1809; Sarah. born in 1811, mar- ried a Mr. Wade: Catherine, born in 1813, died at the age of sixteen years ; William, born in 1815. was married ; Louise was born in 1817 : Andrew, born in 1819, died unmarried. Daniel Lerch passed away at. the age of fifty, his wife, Rachel, at the age of seventy-six years and ten months. William Case, her father, was a soldier in the Revolution : he was killed on a Fourth of July by the explosion of a cannon.

Philip W. Lerch was born in Hunterdon county, N. J., and received an excellent education in his youth. In early manhood he taught school in New Jersey, and for a time he was employed as a book- keeper at Oxford, that State. Later he conducted a boarding house at Lafayette College, Penn., and on April 3, 1846, he settled at the present site of South Canaan, purchasing the Gabriel Howell estate. He built and operated the "Lerch Hotel" and a store, which formed the nucleus of the present thriving village of South Canaan Corners, and he also owned a gristmill in the township. and conducted it for many years, while he was at times extensively en- gaged in farming. He ran the hotel for eighteen years, and then rented it to a tenant for about fifteen years, and until a year and a half previous to his death, on November 18, 1873, he was actively inter- ested in numerous business enterprises. He took an influential part in local affairs, and at times held offices in the township. On June 20, 1835. he was married, at Greenwich, N. J., to Miss Anna Winters, a native of that locality, who has now reached the advanced age of eighty-three, being an honored member of our subject's houschold. Mrs. Lerch's father, Michael Winters, a resident of New Jersey, was born February 3. 1780, and died September 28, 1818; her mother, whose maiden name was Mar- garet Brakeley, was born June 11. 1788, of Holland ancestry, and died October 7. 1866. Michael and Margaret Winters had five chikIren : Jorn, born De- cember 16. 1807. died in February. 1878; Catherine, born December 23. 1800, married Spencer Carter (both are deceased ) ; Anna ( Mrs. Lerch), horn March 6, 1816. in Warren county. N. J., was third in the order of birth ; George. born October 23, 1813. is deceased : and Margaret C .. born June 3, 1818, married Henry Hance ( both are deceased ).

Our subject, who was born November 16, 1836, at Stewartsville. N. J .. was the eldest in a family of five children : ( 2) Margaret Lerch, born April 13. 1840, now widow of Thales K. Varney, resides with our subject. She has two children, Lulu, wife of

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William Erk, formerly of Seelyville and now a res- ident of South Canaan Corners ( they have one child, Reinhold Varney ) ; and Edward M., a physician at White Mills. (3) Henry Lerch, born July 11, 1844, is in business with our subject. (4) Spencer C. Lerch, born July 10, 1848, died May 9, 1880, ummar- died. (5) Miss Annetta Lerch, born August 31, 1852, resides with our subject.

John Lerch remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he engaged in mercantile business on his own account in South Canaan Corners. He continued thus from 1859 to 1869, when he went to Honesdale and established a similar enterprise in partnership with Henry Stan- ton. After a few years he returned to South Canaan Corners and worked for a time as a clerk, but later he began to manufacture the celebrated "Dony's British Universal Salve," which belonged to P'. W. Lerch's estate, and which has an extensive sale in all parts of the United States. In 1881 he took charge of the hotel on behalf of the estate, and he has since con -. ducted it with marked success. He is a man of fine intelligence, fond of reading, and is prominent in local affairs, having served as town clerk for thirty years past. In politics he is a Republican, and so- cially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity as a member of the Blue Lodge at Salem, Wayne county.

On April 24, 1860, he was married, at Promp- ton, Wayne county, to Miss Rena J. Arnold, by whom he has had two children: ( 1) Anna married F. C .. Niles, a traveling salesman, and moved to Wichita, Kans., but returned to her old home in South Canaan, where she died January 23. 1897, leaving no children. (2) Miss Rena S., a success- ful oral teacher, resides with her father., Our sub- ject's wife passed to the unseen life January 31, 1867, at the early age of twenty-eight, her remains being interred at South Canaan Corners. She was highly esteemed by her acquaintances for her many fine qualities of mind and heart. Her parents. Phineas and Jane (Wood) Arnold, were both natives of Wayne county, of which her father once served as associate judge. The ancestors of Phineas and Jane Arnold came from Connecticut.

JOHN CATTERSON, a resident of Salem township, Wayne county, is one of the worthy citi- zens that Ireland has furnished to the New World. He inherited some of the strong, rugged, persever- ing characteristics developed by his earlier environ- ments, which, coupled with the livelier impulses of his Celtic blood, made him at an early day seek a wider field in which to give scope to his ambition and industry, his dominant qualities. He is now thoroughly American in thought and feeling, and is patriotic and sincere in his love for the stars and stripes.

Our subject's grandfather, Williant Catterson. was born in Scotland, but when a young man crossed the channel to Ireland, and there engaged in farming throughout the remainder of his lite. John Cat-

terson, the father of our subject, was born near Mount Charles, in County Donegal, Ireland, and on reaching manhood married Catherine Lockart, who was also of Scotelt ancestry. The children born to them were William, who died in Ireland at the age of sixteen years; Ann, deceased; Jolm, of this sketch; James, a resident of Gouldsboro, Wayne Co., Penn .; Andrew, of New York State; Thomas, who died in Scotland at the age of twenty-four years; two daughters who died in Ireland wlien young ; and Alexander, still living on the old home- stead in Ireland.

At the age of sixteen years the subject of this sketch came to America, but before leaving the En- erald Isle he married Ellen Baskin, a daughter of Moses and Sarah (McAlwee) Baskin, natives of England. After reaching New York City Mr. Cat- terson became a seaman on a coasting schooner. and on leaving the water he worked in marble yards for some months. He then came to Ledgedale, Wayne Co., Penn., and for five years was employed by the tannery company there, at the end of that period purchasing 150 acres of woodland in Salem town- ship upon which he began lumbering, and he now lias a well-improved farm, under a high state of cultivation.

To Mr. and Mrs .. Catterson were born the fol- lowing children: John. born October 30, 1849. is now a resident of Lackawanna county, Penn. ; Al- exander, born in 1851, makes his home in Salem township, Wayne county; Sarah. born September 8. 1853, is deceased: Matilda. born August 26,. 1855, married John Sosenliamer, and died April 10, 1885; Eliza Jane, born March 2. 1858, is the wife of U. S. Dixon, of Port Jervis. N. Y. : Mary, born March 2, 1860, died September 25, 1881 ; William, born September 10. 1862, lives in Tioga county. Penn .; Margaret, born September 25. 1865. died January 16, 1867: and Fannie, born February 21. 1869, is the wife of Henry Simons, of Greene town- ship, Pike Co., Penn. The mother of these children died September 2. 1895. leaving many friends as well as her immediate family to mourn hier demisc. Mr. Catterson is a stalwart Democrat. and at one time took considerable interest in politics and served as a delegate to the county conventions of his party. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and has been trustee of the same for fifteen years. ITe has traveled quite extensively over this country, visiting seven States, and in 1807 made a visit to his old home in Ireland and at the same time went to Scotland. He is a man of industrious habits. one whose career lias ever been such as to command the confidence and respect of all who know him.

E. C. MUMFORD, of Honesdale, Wayne coun- ty. is a prominent and successful lawyer. He has a large clientage and office practice, and has tried as many cases as any one of his years in northeastern Pennsylvania. He is also identified witlt several important business enterprises, and his keen judg- ment and knowledge of affairs cause hint to be fre-

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quently consulted by his fellow practitioners in cases involving commercial law. Being remarkably shrewd in making investments, he rarely, if ever, loses money.

Mr. Mumford is descended from an old English family, the first ancestor of whom we have a definite account having been a secretary to Queen Elizabeth. Some of the descendants of this worthy courtier came to America at an early day, and settled in Rhode Island, and through them he traces his lineage. He was born August 8, 1851, in Starrucca, Wayne Co., Penn., son of Hon. James Mumford. His boyhood was spent near the village of Star- rucca, where his father was engaged in mercantile business, milling and lumbering, and when not in school he assisted in these industries, thus acquiring a practical insight into business methods. After completing the course of study offered in the local schools he pursued the higher branches of learning in the State Normal School at Millersville, Lancas- ter Co., Penn., and at his father's death, in 1873, it became necessary for him to take charge of the estate, which he settled up in a business-like and eminently satisfactory way. Soon afterward he be- gan the study of law with Hon. M. J. Larrabee, an attorney at Susquehanna Depot, and in 1875 he re- moved to Honesdale. where he continued his studies in the office of Waller & Bentley. In September, 1876, he was admitted to the Bar, and he at once es- tablished himself in independent practice at Hones- dale, where success attended him from the start. As has been said, he is essentially a business lawyer, and his advice and co-operation are valued by busi- ness men and practitioners alike. Among the enter- prises with which he is now connected we may men- tion especially the Honesdale Savings Bank, in which he is a director, and the Honesdale Board of Trade, of which he is secretary, and although he has never had a partner in the legal practice, he finds time to give his personal attention to various local interests. His sympathies are always on the side of progress, and he takes pleasure in forwarding any movement which promises to benefit his town.

In religious faith Mr. Mumford is a Presby- terian, and he is a trustee of the Church at Hones- dale. On May 17, 1831. he was married to Miss Ella F. Sutton, who was born in Honesdale Novem- ber 14, 1858. and their home is brightened by three children, namely: Mamie. Jamie and Margaret. Two of Mr. Mumford's seven brothers were captains in the Civil war, and both were killed. Oliver at the battle of Petersburg. Va .. and James at the battle of Chancellorsville. The former was wounded at the first battle of Bull Run.

Mr. Mumford naturally resents and exerts his influence against the abuses of power and the per- petration of wrongs on the public, and strongly sympathizes with all judicious movements for re- form. Though exceedingly independent in thought and actions, he is stable in character, clinging with great constancy to his friends, but is broad in his humanity. always responding liberally when called

upon to aid persons who have been overtaken by mis- fortune. He is a great reader, a tireless worker. is careful, methodical, true to those who intrust their business interests to his direction, is a safe counselor, and pursues whatever he undertakes with great en- ergy and skill.

RICHARD WOLFF is one of the successful and progressive agriculturists of Dreher township, Wayne county, and a representative man of this sec- tion. He has made a success in his special field of industry, and is highly esteemed and respected by those who know him best.

Our subject's father, Paul Wolff, was born in Saxony, Germany, in 1801. and in that country mar- ried Miss Caroline Swalbe, a daughter of Jacob Swalbe. For many years he engaged in the manu- facture and sale of cloth in his native land, and there seven of his nine children were born. It was in 1837 that they crossed the broad Atlantic and took up their residence in Nazareth. Penn., a year later removing to Bethlehem. this State, where the father was employed in a factory for two years. At the end of that time, with his entire family. he came to Sterling township, Wayne county, where he en- gaged in farming and lumbering throughout the remainder of his life, his death, which was acci- dental. occurring in 1845 ; he was killed by the limb of a tree.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 103

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1098

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1098