Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 16

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 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 16
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 16

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).

The boyhood and youth of our subject were

passed in much the usual manner of farmer lads, and he remained with his parents until his marriage. On December 5, 1872, in Wooster, Ohio, Mr. Tinker wedded Miss Margaret Bruce, and to them were born five children, namely: Jean graduated from the preparatory department of Wooster University, and has taught school, but is now at home; John S. attended the same institution for six years, graduat- ing; Agnes M. (who was also a student at the Wooster University for two years) and W. A. Bruce are now attending the Westminster College, being in their second year; and Margaret R. is at home. Mrs. Tinker was born in Stirlingshire, Scot- land, July 18, 1840, and died January 11, 1896, her remains being interred at Uniondale, Penn. Her parents, William and Jean (Russell) Bruce, were also natives of Scotland, and on their emigration to America located in Wooster, Ohio, where the father, who was an agriculturist, died at a ripe old age. His children were Christina A., wife of Daniel Byall, of Garnett, Kans .; Margaret, deceased wife of our subject ; Martha, an invalid, who lives with her sister in Garnett, Kans., William A., a farmer of Wooster, Ohio; and James H., of the same place.

After his marriage Mr. Tinker located upon a farm of 101 acres in Clifford township, given him by his father, and later moved to his present farm, in the same township. He now operates both with good success, being one of the most extensive and prosperous agriculturists of his community. He takes an active and commendable interest in edu- cational affairs, and gives his support to every enterprise which he believes calculated to advance the moral, intellectual or material welfare of his township or county. At the polls he endeavors to support the best man for the office, usually voting the Republican or the Prohibition ticket, and, though he has never cared for official honors, he has served as auditor and as school director for two years, to fill a vacancy. He is an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church. Upright and honorable in all things, he commands the respect and confidence of those with whom he comes in contact, in either business or social life.

GEORGE H. HARVEY, a representative farmer and dairyman of Jessup township, Susque- hanna Co., Penn., was born in Staffordshire, Eng- land, January 30, 1839, and is a son of George and Elizabeth ( Wootton ) Harvey, natives of the same county.

George Harvey, the father of our subject, was born at Staffordshire, England, April 16, 1816, the son of George and Mary A. (Simms) Harvey and the grandson of Jolin Harvey and Emanuel Simms. both farmers of England. George Harvey, the grandfather of our subject, was a sawyer and died in England in 1820, aged forty-four years. To George and Mary A. (Simms) Harvey were born seven children, namely: Mary deceased; Anna, who married a Mr. Harvey and remained in England ;

JOHN K. TINKER

...-.-

MRS. MARGARET B. TINKER

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

William, who died in Susquehanna county ; Thomas, who was killed accidentally in England by falling from a wagon; George, father of our subject ; Elizabeth, who married William Harvey, and died in England; and John, who died in 1898 at Stafford- shire, England. Mary A. ( Simnis), widow of George Harvey, married for her second husband Samuel Ruston, by whom she had one son, Edward Ruston, a shoemaker of Stone, England. She died September 26, 1869, aged eighty-one years. George Harvey, father of our subject, married May 14, 1834, at Tulford Church, Staffordshire, England, Elizabeth Wootton, who was born in Stafford- shire, February 29, 1816, daughter of James and Mary ( Mason ) Wootton, farming people of England. To George and Elizabeth ( Wootton ) Harvey were born nine children, namely: Mary Ann, deceased wife of Norton Allen : George H., our subject ; Eliza, who married Edward Jenner, of Jessup township; William R., who married Ella Pickett and is now deceased; John, the first child of the family born in America, married Julia Verbryck and resides with his father; James married Louisa Wood and resides in Auburn township; Wesley married Ella William and lives in Vestal Center, N. Y .; Emma, who died in infancy ; Albert, who died aged twenty- three years.

In July, 1847, George Harvey, the father of our subject, migrated with his family to America and settled in Forest Lake township, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. For two years he was engaged in construction work on the New York & Erie Road, then for two years worked on the North Branch Canal. He then engaged in farming in Choconut township, where he remained until, in 1856, he pur- chased a farm in Rush township, where he still re- sides. He is a Silver Democrat in politics and for many years has been an active member of the M. E. Church. He has filled various offices, including those of supervisor, assessor and county jury com- missioner, each three years. His worthy wife died February 16, 1895. and is buried in Bolles cemetery.

Until he attained his majority, George H. Harvey remained with his parents, and then pur- chased twenty-five acres of his present farm in Jessup township, to which he has added from time to time until he now has 200 acres of rich and valti- able land. His attention, however, has not always been confined to agricultural pursuits, as he was engaged in the produce business in Scranton, Penn., from 1879 until 1888. and prior to that traveled as a book agent through several States, but in 1888 he returned home and has since engaged in general farming and dairying with marked success. For the past ten years he has been interested in the last business, keeping on hand for that purpose twenty-four cows, and he ranks among the leading dairymen of the county. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Democratic party, and he has most acceptably filled the offices of auditor and inspector of elections.

On November 6, 1859, in Rush township, Mr. 1

Harvey was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Ellis, by whom he has one son, Wellington E., at home. Mrs. Harvey was born in the village of Ovid, N. Y., May 26, 1828, and is a daughter of Josiah and Hannalı ( Mead ) Ellis, the former a native of Put- nami county, N. Y., the latter of Ridgefield, Conn. Her parents first came to Susquehanna county, in 1817, but after spending one year in Rush township, they returned to New York State, and did not locate permanently here until 1830, at which time they settled in Jessup township, removing to Rush town- ship two years later. The father died in 1858, aged sixty-eight years, the mother in 1888, aged ninety- three, and both were buried in Snyders cemetery, Rush township. He was a farmer by occupation and, being one of the leading citizens of his com- munity, he was called upon to fill township offices. In the family were only two children: Henry B., who married Sarah Lathrope and is engaged in farming and lumbering at Vestal Center, N. Y. ; and Elizabeth, wife of our subject. Mrs. Harvey's pa- ternal grandparents, Foster and Elizabeth (Town- send ) Ellis, spent their entire lives in Putnam coun- ty, N. Y., where the former died at the age of seventy-four years, the latter at the age of fifty. The maternal grandparents, John S. and Hannah (Sherwood) Mlead, were natives of Putnam county, N. Y., and Connecticut, respectively.

CHESTER J. HAIGHT, a leading and repre- sentative citizen of Rush township, Susquehanna county, who is successfully enaged in general farm- ing and bee culture, was born in Warren Center, Warren township, Bradford county, March 17, 1844. His parents, David and Sally ( Jones ) Haight, were natives of Dutchess county, N. Y., and were married in Owego, that State, where they continued to make their home until coming to Warren Center, Warren township, Bradford Co., Penn .. in 1840. Later they removed to Friendsville, Susquehanna county. The father, who was a farmer by occupa- tion, and one of the highly respected citizens of his community, died in June, 1884, aged eighty-four years, and the mother passed away in January, 1888, aged eighty-eight years, the remains of both being interred in Birchardville cemetery. Their children were Mary A., wife of W. W. Bullard, a farmer of Hallstead, Penn .; Emeline, who married G. B. Strange, and both are now deceased : Chester J., our subject : and Maria, wife of Dr. A. J. Ainey, of Brooklyn, Pennsylvania.

Reared upon the home farm, Chester J. Haight assisted in its operation until after attaining man's estate and remained with his parents until his mar- riage. In Forest Lake township, Susquehanna coun- ty. December 23. 1860, he wedded Miss Fidelia Giffin. a native of the county, born in Choconut town- ship, in February, 1845, and a daughter of Isaac and Juda ( Moore) Giffin, natives of New llanip- shire and Binghamton, N. 11., resepectively. In 1813. when a lad of twelve years, the father came to Sus- quehanna county with his parents, Robert and Eliza-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

beth (Sherrar) Giffin, who located in Choconut township. They were also born in New Hampshire and were farming people. Mrs. Haight's maternal grandparents were Bealy and Lucy Moore, agri- culturists, who settled in Susquehanna county, in 1813. and both died there. Isaac Giffin, Mrs. Haight's father, continued his residence in Choconut township until 1846, when he removed to Forest Lake township, and successfully followed agricult- ural pursuits. He served as justice of the peace and supervisor, and filled other township offices in a most creditable and acceptable manner. He died in March, 1883, at the age of eighty-two years, his wife in December, 1893, at the age of eighty-three, and both were laid to rest in Birchardville cemetery. Their children were Bealy, a resident of Rushville, who first married Julia Ball, and second . Susie Sprout; Lucy and Susan, both residents of Bing- hamton, N. Y. : Martha, deceased wife of Nathanie! Congdon; Lucina, wife of John Howard, of Iowa ; Robert, a farmer of Forest Lake township, Susque- hanna county; Fidelia, wife of our subject; aud Mary and Ella, both residents of Binghamton, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Haight have a family of three children, namely: Ella is now the wife of Frank La Rue, a farmer of Auburn township, Susquehanna county. Guy W. enlisted during the Spanish- American war, in June. 1898, in Company G, 13th P. V. I., under Capt. Robert MIcCausland, contract- ed typhoid fever while in camp at Middletown, Penn., and was in the hospital for some time. Glenn is at home.

For two years after his marriage, Mr. Haight engaged in blacksmithing with his brother-in-law, Bealy Giffin, and for the following three years was interested in the same business in Forest Lake town- ship. Returning to Rush township, he purchased the blacksmith shop of J. W. Granger, which he conduct- ed for seven years, and at the end of that time came to his present fine location. where he has since suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and the raising of bees, having a large apiary of 180 hives. He is one of the most popular and influential citizens of his community, has been called upon to serve as town- ship treasurer for four terms, and in 1887 was elect- ed justice of the peace for a term of five years. So- cially he is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Rush. and politically is identified with the Repub- lican party. In all the relations of life he has been found true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, and he is justly deserving the high regard in which he is held.

ASA W. HICKOK, a well-known general blacksmith and wagon maker of Rush, Susquehanna county, is an expert workman. and has met with more than ordinary success in his chosen calling, so that he is now one of the well-to-do and substantial citizens of his community. Mr. Hickok is a native of New York, born in Elmira, January 23, 1844. a son of Asa and Mary A. ( Glynes ) Hickok, both na- tives of Pennsylvania. The father, who was born May 5, ISHI, was a carpenter and joiner by trade,

and died in Clayton, Mich., in December, 1887, be- ing laid to rest there. The mother, who was born July 14, 1817, died near Elmira, N. Y., September 8, 1850, and there her remains were interred. To them were born the following children : David MI., a resident of Montcalm county, Mich .; Edward. of Port Jervis, N. Y .; Betsy, widow of William Nich- ols, and a resident of Binghamton, N. Y .; Asa W., . our subject ; and Thomas, a farmer of Michigan. Our subject's paternal grandparents were David and Betsy ( Abbott) Hickok, natives of Connecticut, who came to Susquehanna county, Penn., shortly after their marriage, and located in Rush.

Asa W. Hickok was reared on the home farm until seventeen years of age, and then enlisted in the Union service during the Civil war, going to the front as a member of Company E. Ninth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry, under Capt. John S. Detweller. At the end of three years he re-enlisted and was in act- ive service until hostilities ceased, participating in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Murphysboro, Chickamauga. He was also with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, marching for twenty- two consecutive days. He was never confined in a hospital, but was once taken prisoner by the Rebels in Tennessee. For four long years he was one of the defenders of the old flag and the cause it rep- resented, and was finally mustered out as sergeant at Salisbury, N. C., July 25, 1865. After receiving his discharge, Mr. Hickok returned to his home, where he engaged in farming for two years, and spent the following two years in learning the black- smith's trade with David Angle at Rush. For nine years he was engaged in business for himself as a blacksmith at Auburn Center, Susquehanna county, and on April 3, 1882, opened his present shop in Rush, which he has so successfully conducted, having built up a large and profitable trade by fair dealing and good workmanship. The Republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its prin- ciples, and for three years he has most efficiently served as school director in his district. He is one of the prominent and influential citizens of his com- munity and has a host of warm friends.

On February 11, 1868, in Rush, Mr. Hickok married Miss Rebecca Kunkle, and to them have been born the following children: William, born January 27, 1869, who died March 2, 1869; Cora E., born April 24, 1870, died October 20, 1880 ; Mary E., born February 7. 1873, a school teacher residing at home : Guy Clifton. born November 17. 1874, at home, who is county surveyor : and Asa Lee, born July 24, 1876, who is a member of Company G. 13th P. V. I., and for a time was with his regi- ment at Augusta, Georgia, but is now a student in Baltimore Medical College, Baltimore, Maryland.

Mrs. Hickok was born in Kunkletown, Monroe Co., Penn., February 11. 18447. a daughter of John H. and Sarah ( Spragle) Kunkle, also natives of Monroe county. They made their home in Kunkle- town until 1851. when they removed to Warren county, N. J., and seven years later became residents

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Rush township, Susquehanna Co., Penn. The father, who in early life followed milling and later farming, was born January 29, 1811, and died July 19, 1877 ; while the mother was born January 17, 1817, and died July 5, 1888, their remains being in- terred in Rush Center cemetery. Their children were: Jeremiah, deceased; George, deceased. who was a soldier of the Civil war; Edna, deceased ; Jacob S., who died in the army during the Rebellion ; William C., a farmer of Rush township; Catherine, widow of R. S. Luce, of Liberty township. Susque- hanna county ; John W., who also died in the army ; Rebecca, wife of our subject : Martha, wife of D. L. Bunnell, of Binghamton, N. Y. ; Edwin M., who died at the age of eight years: Mary F., wife of Kirby Bunnell, a farmer of Rush township; Ella S., wife of Randolph Wilcox, a huckster of Rush township ; and Sarah E., wite of Silas Smith. a farmer of Rush township. Mrs. Hickok's paternal grandparents were John and Rebecca ( Huston ) Kunkle, of Mon- roe county ; and her maternal grandparents were Jacob S. and Catherine ( Myers) Spragle, also of that county.

BENJAMIN TASKER GARDNER, super- visor of Harmony township, Susquehanna county, is one of the most highly-respected residents of Brandt, and notwithstanding his seventy years he takes an active interest in all the progressive move- ments of his locality, his advice being often sought by his fellow townsmen.

Mr. Gardner was born April 18, 1829, at Wind- sor, Broome Co., N. Y., and comes of excellent an- cestry. William Gardner, his father, was born in 1797, in Lenox township, Susquehanna county, but settled in early manhood in Broome county. N. Y .. where he was killed in 1837. He was an excellent citizen, and an active worker in the Methodist Church, serving several years as elder and class- leader. He married Margaret Andrews, a native of Broome county, born in 1799, who survived him, and they reared a large family to lives of usefulness. Of their children: ( 1) Sarah married George Cresson, and settled on a farm in Windsor, N. Y., where she died, leaving a family of eight children. (2) Jane became a tcacher in the district schools of Broome county. She married Rev. Benjamin Ferris, of Otsego county, N. Y., who died four years after marriage at Beach Pond, Wayne Co .. Penn., and she later married William Frith, of England. who now resides in Michigan; they have two children, now residents of Kalamazoo, Mich. (3) Robert died when a young man of nineteen years. (4) Harrict married Steplien Bonker, of Windsor. N. Y .. and died leaving six children, who are residents of New York. (5) George M. dicd in childhood. (6) Benjamin T., our subject, is next in the order of birth .. (7) William settled at Oakland, Susquc- hanna county, where he died in 1888. He mar- ried ( first) Miss Louisa Woodward, who died soon afterward, leaving no children. His second wife, Catherine (Hoagland), survives him with one

daughter, Margaret, now the wife of George Lown, of Oakland. (8) Elizabeth died when three years old. (9) Margaret married George Roberts, of Susquehanna, where she died leaving one daughter, Margaret, now the wife of A. M. Bronson, ot Sus- quehanna.

Our subject's boyhood was spent in Windsor, N. Y., where he secured a district-school educa- tion. As a young man he engaged in lumbering and farming, and in 1853 he married Miss Eunice Root, of Harmony township. Susquehanna county, and settled in the town of Susquehanna. Later he pur- chased a farm at Windsor, N. Y., where he resided four years, and on selling out he removed to River- side, in the same county. After four years there he returned to Susquehanna county, buying a farm in Harmony township, where he remained until 1893, and he ha's since resided at Brandt. entertain- ing a number of boarders in his pleasant home. Po- litically he is a strong Republican, taking an active interest in party work, and during his residence in Harmony township he has served several terms as supervisor. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Church, in which he was reared. but his wife and daughters are members of the Presby- terian Church.

Mrs. Gardner, whose industry has been of signal value to her husband, is a descendant of a prominent pioneer family of Harmony township. Her father, Denison Root, married Elizabeth Hale, daughter of Capt. Isaac Hale, and sister of the wife of Joseph Smith, the Mormon "prophet." Four children have brightened our subject's home, and his daugh- ters are much esteemed in social life: (I) Miss Ella was educated in the schools of Lanesboro, and for some time engaged in dressmaking. but gave up the business on account of ill health, and now re- sides at home. (2) Elsworth B .. who was born in Broome county, N. Y., received a district-school education, and was for some time a train dispatcher, but he is now an engineer. at Carbondale. He mar- ried Miss Kate Blank, who was born on the Hud- son river, and whose father, Andrew Blank, a native of Germany, is one of the leading citizens of Brandt. Two children have been born of this union-Robert and Hazel, both pupils of the Carbondale high school. (3) Erminie, born and reared in Lanesboro. marricd Herbert L. Wolf. a native of Germany, and now a resident of Brandt, where he is engaged in the business of wood carving. (4) Agnes V., born at Brandt, is at home.

WESLEY OSTERHOUT, one of the most successful business men of Harford township. Sus- quehanna county, is of Dutch descent, his grand- parents on both sides having cmigrated from Hol- land to America before the revolt of the Colonies from Great Britain, and settled in UIster county, N. Y. His maternal grandfather. Jacob Turner. who was a farmer. fought at Bunker Hill. His paternal grandfather was Philip Osterhout.

Our subject's father, Cornelius Osterhout, mar-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ried Catherine Turner (named for her mother, Catherine Wood), and settled, with his family, at Great Bend, Susquehanna county, in 1840. He was a stone mason by trade, but misfortune overtook liim in the loss of an arm, and he experienced some difficulty in keeping the wolf from his door. The family consisted of five sons and one daughter : Catherine lost her life through burning, while a child of four years; Jeremiah G. lived at Great Bend ; John H. is a farmer of Great Bend township; Abram C. died in 1899; Wesley is our subject ; and James T. died in 1899.

Wesley Osterhout was born near Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y., March 25, 1839, and was an in- fant in arms when his parents came to Pennsylvania to seek a new home and better fortune. It was there that, on December 14, 1861, he was married to Miss Eliza Vernooy, by whom he has had one child, Mattie, now the wife of E. J. Whitney, an undertaker, of Harford.

Like her husband, Mrs. Osterhout is of Dutch descent. Her paternal grandfather was Charles Vernooy, her mother's parents, Peter and Helena Kelder. All settled in Ulster county, N. Y. Her parents, John and Maria ( Kelder) Vernooy, took up their residence at Great Bend, Susquehanna county, in 1840, emigrating from the banks of the Hudson. She herself was born at the old home, August 1, 1837. Her father was a carpenter by trade, and in religious faith a consistent member of the M. E. Church. He died in 1882, at the age of seventy-six years, and his wife in 1862, in her forty-ninth year. Mr. Vernooy's remains rest at Columbus, Ohio, his wife's in a Susquehanna ceme- tery. Besides their daughter Eliza they had chil- dren as follows: Sarah, now Mrs. Thomas Donald- son, of Cincinnati; Catherine, who married Henry Haws, of Columbus, Ohio, and is deceased ; Georgi- ana, wife of James Burrell, of Susquehanna, Penn. ; Melvina, married to Jefferson Batchelor, of Colun- bus, Ohio ; Maria, also residing at Columbus, and the wife of Perry Deunen ; Mary E., widow of Jeremialı Whipple, of Athens, Ohio ; and Selvenus and Han- nah, both of whom died in childhood.

. Owing to the straitened circumstances of his parents, entailed by his father's physical disability, Wesley Osterhout found it necessary to begin his actual battle with the world at the early age of twelve. His first employer was L. B. Crook, a wagonmaker, of Great Bend, with whom he re- mained for four years. Leaving Mr. Crook, he went to New Milford, where for ten months he cievoted himself to the technical study of that trade. Returning to Great Bend he worked for twelve years as a journeyman, at the end of which period through industry and prudence, he had accumulated enough capital to remove to Harford- and embark in business on his own behalf. He invested in im- "proved machinery, and his sagacity and fidelity brought him prosperity. To-day he conducts a thoroughly-equipped shop for the manufacture of wagons and sleighs, a shingle and planing mill, be-

sides other minor branches of manufacturing carried on at the same plant.

Mr. Osterhout is widely and deservedly popu- lar. Of a tender heart and genial disposition, he readily wins friends and rarely loses them. In every relation of private and commercial life he has been tried, and in none has he been found wanting. As a son, he brought his mother, in 1864. to his home in Harford, where she was tenderly cared for until her death. As a father, his heart so yearned for the companionship of his daughter that he foi- lowed her and her husband to their Western home, to offer his son-in-law a half-interest in his busi- ness if he would return to the old home at Harford. In politics he is a Democrat, and by religious pro- fession a Universalist. Mrs. Osterhout, however, belongs to the Congregational Church.

JASPER J. SAVORY (deceased) was for many years one of the leading farmers and dairy- men of Jackson township, Susquehanna county, and left an honorable record, well worthy of per- petuation. He was born in that township. May 18, 1824, a son of John and Soplria ( Woodard) Savory. natives of Connecticut. On coming to Susque- hanna county, the father purchased land in Jackson township, and erected thereon a log house in which the family lived for many years, while he cleared and improved his farm. There he and his wife . died many years ago. They were devout and earn- est Christians, lifelong members of the Baptist Church. To them were born four children. three of whom died young, our subject being the only one to reach years of maturity.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 16

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