Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 24

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 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 24
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 24

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).

In 1830 Alvin Chandler eame to Susquehanna county, Penn., and took up his residenee in Her- riek township, where he continued to make his home throughout life, dying there at the age of seventy-four years. His remains were interred in the Lyons Street cemetery, Herriek township. In connection with farming he operated a gristmill and turning shop, was a man of considerable promi- nence in his eominunity, and served as constable and collector for twenty consecutive years. Politieally he was a Demoerat. He was three times married, his first wife being Raehcl Tucker, his third Mrs. Cordelia Arnold, and by those unions he had no children : The mother of our subject died Feb- ruary 22, 1872, being laid to rest in the Churchill family burying ground, in Herrick township. She was of the sixth generation in deseent from Roger Williams, and was a daughter of Rev. William Churchill.

Our subjeet was with his father until eleven years of age, and then started out to make his own way in the world empty-handed. He worked as a farm hand until seventeen, and then contraeted to purchase his present farm of ninety acres in Clif- ford township, which he seeured on attaining his majority. He is a thorough and systematie farmer, of known reliability, and for the suecess that he has achieved in lite deserves great credit, as it was all due to his own industry, perseverance and eapable management. In his political views he is inde- pendent. .

In May, 1889, in Susquehanna county, Mr. Chandler married Miss Christina Finn, a native of Clifford township, who died in June, 1892, and was buried in the Uniondale cemetery. Her father, Clark Finn, was born in the same township, Jan- uary 23, 1820, and died January 22, 1895, his re- mains also being interred in Uniondale cemetery. He was a farmer by oeeupation, and a member of the Adventist Church. On January 23, 1843, in Dundaff, he married Maria Coleman, who was born near Hyde Park, Lackawanna Co., Penn., October 30, 1822, and is still living in Uniondale, whither the family removed in 1890. Their children were Albert E., deceased: Ann F., wife of Alson Bur- diek, a farmer of Clifford township; Henry H., a I. crehant of Uniondale, who married Emma E. Whitman ; and Christina, deceased wife of our sub- jcct.

Mr. Chandler was again married, in Bingham- ton, N. Y., in October. 1893, his second union being with Miss Mary E. Williams, by whom he had three

children, Luella A., Alvin E. and Olive I. She was born in Clifford township, August 13, 1874, and is a daughter of Edward and Huldah ( Casterline) Williams, prominent farming people of that town- ship. The father was born in North Wales, No- vember 14, 1836, the mother in Pittston, Penn., June 8, 1850, and they were married in Clifford township, March 31, 1867. In their family are five children : Jolin, who married Evalyn Lowry, and is a school teacher and traveling agent, residing in Gibson township, Susquehanna county; Charles B., who married Ethel Bowman, and is a farmer of Gibson township; Mary E., wife of our subjeet ; and Owen W. and Lena M., both at home.

HENRY W. LOVE, one of the prosperous farmers and dairymen of Auburn township, Sus- quehanna county, was born there, April 9, 1863, son of Newell and Annie ( Fox) Love. Mr. Love is of Irish descent, liis great-grandfather, Henry Love, having been a native of the Emerald Isle, whence he came to the western continent with his brother John, who located in Canada. Both brothers served in the Revolutionary war, and Henry lost a limb in the service. . He settled in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania.

Andrew Love, son of Henry Love, passed his entire life in Wyoming eounty. engaging in farm- ing and lumbering. Newell Love was born in 1819, in Wyoming eounty, and there reared, in early man- hood coming to Susquehanna county and settling in Auburn township, where he purchased 105 aeres of land which was then for the most part in its wild state. He devoted himself to clearing and cultivat- ing his property, and sueeeeded in improving nearly all of his original purchase, to which he had added anotlicr 105 aeres before his death. He also owned a tract of 100 aeres in the vicinity. He was mar- ried, in Susquehanna county, to Miss Annie Fox, who was born in 1824, daughter of William Fox, one of the early settlers of this region, and of the children born to this union, John, who died in 1896, lived in Auburn township; Jackson resides in Au- burn ; Charles, deceased in 1897, lived in both Sus- quchanna and Wyoming countics: Mareella is the wife of John Titman. of Dimock township: Sophia, Ida and another died in infancy; Lucy died when thirty years old : Butler, deceased. was a resident of Auburn township; Henry W. is the subject proper of these lines ; onc died in infancy. The mother of this family passed away in November, 1889. and the father followed licr to the grave Mareh 4. 1895. dying in Wyomnig county. He was a Republican in politieal faith and took an active part in loeal affairs, serving some years as supervisor of his township.

Ilenry W. Love grew to manhood in his native placc, and during his boyhood attended the common schools of the township, receiving a good practical cducation. When cigliteen years old he went to Michigan, in which State he remained for five years, living in Saginaw and Bay City; he was engaged in

548

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lumbering on the lower peninsula. After his re- turn home he continued to live at home for some years, and when he married he bought a place of ninety-six acres, which he sold after residing six years thereon. Meantime he had added eleven acres to the place, erected buildings and made other improvements. His next purchase was a tract of 175 acres near South Auburn, which he still oc- cupies, successfully carrying on general farming pursuits. At one time he owned 300 acres. In addition to the regular farm work he has engaged in dairying for some time, at present keeping twenty cows. Mr. Love's large farm is nearly all im- proved, and he has the reputation of being one of the most careful agriculturists in this section, justly deserving of the prosperity which has rewarded his efforts. He is one of the substantial and highly respected citizens of the community which has al- ways been his home, and a man of unquestioned integrity and fairness in all his dealings with his fellow men.

On September 18, 1888, Mr. Love was married, in Auburn township, to Miss Arvilla Titman, who was born March 21, 1867, a daughter of Elias and Almira (Low) Titman, natives of New Jersey, and granddaughter of Elias and Phoebe ( Harris) Tit- man and Cornelius and Elsie ( Brown) Low. This union has been blessed with four children, born as follows: Anna Grace, May 25, 1889; Frank Elias, August 8, 1890; Almira Ruth, July 25, 1891 ; Fred Newell, October 26, 1892. The entire family attend the M. E. Church, of which Mrs. Love is a mem- ber. Our subject is a stanch Republican in political faith.

HENRY ALDRICH, a leading dairyman and agriculturist of Harmony township, Susquehanna county; is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war, having seen active service during some of the most critical and decisive engagements of that struggle. Enlisting in 1861, at Elmira, N. Y., as a member of Company K, 89th N. Y. V. I., he was assigned to duty with the Army of the Potomac. his first battle being at Roanoke, Va. Later he fought at Camden, under Burnside, and at South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Charleston, Folly Island, Petersburg and Richmond, with Gen. Butler, and during the fierce conflict along the Weldon railroad lie had a leg broken, necessitating a stay of several months in convalescent hospital. On recovering he joined his regiment at Roanoke Island, from there went to Fortress Monroe, and later participated in the engagements at Petersburg and Chapin's farmi, being mustered out at the ex- piration of his term of enlistment.

Mr. Aldrich is a native of Susquehanna coun- ty, born in Silver Lake township, June 25, 1840. During boyhood he attended the Brackney school in his native township, and his term of military service canie before lie liad made a definite start in business life. In 1865, after his return from the army, he married and settled upon a farm in Broome

county, N. Y., in 1879 purchasing his present home- stead, which is located near the New York line, and not far from the village of Gulf Summit. He has made many improvements, clearing much of the land himself, and now has 150 acres under culti- vation. In 1891 he built a large two-story house, also excellent barns and other buildings for use in connection with his extensive dairy business. He has a large herd of cows, and at present is one of the large shippers of milk to New York markets. Politically Mr. Aldrich has always been identified with the Republican party, but he has not aspired to office, and he and his wife are prominent in re- ligious work as members of the Presbyterian Church. Of their four children, (1) George H., who was born in Binghamton, in August, 1869, died there when ten years old. (2) Louis S., born in Bing- hamton, in January, 1871, was educated in the town of Sanford, and is now a telegraph operator on the Erie railroad in New Jersey. He married Miss Charlotte Silvernail, of the town of Sanford, N ... Y., and they have one daughter, Freda. (3) Mary- M., born in Binghamton, August 2, 1872, was ed- ucated in Sanford, and is now the wife of Edward Lawrence, of Orange county, N. Y., station agent and operator at Gulf Summit. They have three children, Henry R., Eleanor and Elbert B. (4) Miss Lida A., born at Binghamton, in 1879, is an accomplished young lady, living at home.

Mrs. Aldrich, whose maiden name was Mary C. Balcom, was born in 1836, in Chenango county, N. Y., where she was educated, and became a suc- cessful teacher, being employed for some time in Chenango and Broome counties, N. Y. She comes of good New England stock, her parents, Benja- min and Maria (Smith) Balcom, having both been natives of Connecticut, although their last years were spent in Broome county, N. Y. This worthy couple had three children, all of whom are living : (I) Samuel S., born in 1832, in New York State, is a manufacturer in Brooklyn, N. Y. He mar- ried Miss Louise Taylor, of Yonkers, N. Y. (2) Mary C. is the wife of our subject. (3) George M. N., born in 1845, in Chenango county, N. Y., served in the Civil war as a member of the 16th New York Artillery, taking part in a number of import- ant battles. He was educated at Cortland, N. Y., and for some time was successfully engaged in teaching school, but at present lie is in business at Binghamton, N. Y. He married Miss Adelia Gage, of that city, and they have two living children- Theodore, who married Miss Georgia Thompson, and resides in Binghamton; and Louise, a teacher in the city high school.

HARRY C. FRENCH. This section is ad- mirably adapted to dairying, and the subject of this sketch. a well-known resident of Harmony town- ship, Susquehanna county, is among the leaders in that branch of industry. He is a representative of a family that has long been prominent in the coun- ty, liis grandparents, Nelson and Amelia French,

....

519

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

having come from Vermont at an early date to make their home in Jackson township, then a wilderness. Their old homestead, a large estate, which is now in a high state of cultivation, is still held in the family. The six children of this worthy couple were all born in Jackson township. Cordelia married Wes- son Lamb, of Oakland. Eliza married Charles McKune, of Harmony township. Julia married Elias Barrett, of Susquehanna, and has two chil- dren, Agnes ( wife of Harry Page, of Jackson town- ship) and Herbert (who is at home). George occupies the old homestead.

Edgar French, our subject's father, was born in 1845, the second youngest in the family, and grew to manhood at the old home farm, his educa- tion being received in the district and select schools of the neighborhood. In 1865 he married Miss Martha Birdsall, daughter of George Birdsall, a prominent resident of Jackson township. For three years Mr. French resided upon a farm in the same township, but he then purchased a large tract of land at Comfort's Pond, where he cleared and improved two farms. In 1898 he removed to the city of Susquehanna, purchasing property there. He has always taken an active part in political affairs, being a strong Republican, was frequently chosen to office by his fellow citizens in Harmony township, and is at present serving as street com- missioner in Susquehanna. He and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the support of which he has been a liberal contributor. They have three sons, of whom the first, George, born February 18, 1868, in Jack- son township, was drowned in Comfort's Pond when six years old. (2) Harry C., our subject, is mentioned more fully below. (3) Frank, born January 22, 1874, in Harmony township, was edu- cated in Lanesboro Academy, and taught for some time in the public schools of Harmony township, but is now engaged in carpentering in Susquehanna. He married Miss Leona Bennett, of Lanesboro, daughter of John Bennett, a highly-respected citi- zen of Harmony township, and they have had one daughter, Margaret.

Our subject was born December 14, 1871, at the old homestead in Harmony township, and, after completing a course in the local schools, attended the Jackson Academy. As a young man he took charge of the home farm, and in 1891 he purchased the Willard Austin estate, at Comfort's Pond, which he has since conducted as a dairy farm. He owns a fine herd of cattle, and the products of his dairy find a ready sale in the markets of Susquehanna. In politics he has always been identified with the Republican party, and in religious faith he inclines toward Methodism, in which he and his wife were reared. He is connected with the Order of Red Men, Lodge No. 268, at Lanesboro, and socially he and his family are much esteemed. In January, 1891, Mr. French married Miss Emma Hankinson, of Rome. Bradford Co., Penn., daugliter of Obadialı and Adaline ( Knapp) Hankinson, formerly resi-

dents of Susquehanna county, where her youth was spent. Two sons brighten our subject's home : Carl, born November 16, 1892; and Lloyd, born March 20, 1895.

LEE D. SPEARBECK is one of the active young farmers and dairymen of Great Bend town- ship, Susquehanna county. He has been identified through life with the agricultural interests of this fertile and beautiful locality, and his forbears for two generations before him cultivated the same soil, clearing the land of its primeval forest growth and ever since retaining possession.

Mr. Spearbeck was born on his present farm February 10, 1855, son of Benjamin and Eliza (Shufelt) Spearbeck, and grandson of Michael Spearbeck, a native of Greenbush, N. Y., who in 1839 removed to Great Bend township and made the first improvement on our subject's present farm. There he died October 27, 1877, aged eighty-four years. His children were as follows: Alpha, who married Kilborn Roberts, and moved to Cass county, Mich., where she died leaving one son, Frederick ; Henry, who lived in Harford town- ship, Susquehanna county; Andrew, a farmer of Windsor township, Broome Co., N. Y. ( he. served during the Civil war as a member of Company MI, Ist New York Regular Cavalry) ; Michael, now a resident of Binghamton ; Theodore, who was a sol- dier in the Civil war, serving as a member of Com- pany E of a Pennsylvania volunteer regiment, and who now resides in Great Bend; Mary, widow of Charles Snedeker, of Binghamton; Catherine, who married Russell Thatcher, of Harford township, and died leaving a family; Nancy, who married Alonzo Andrews, and settled in Broome county, N. Y .; Amanda, wife of Ralph McLeod, of Conk- lin, N. Y .; and Benjamin, the father of our subject.

The last named was born in Conklin, Broome Co., N. Y., in 1822, and came with his father to the wilderness home in Great Bend township. He mar- ried Eliza Shufelt, who was born near Albany. N. Y., in 1832, and after his marriage purchased his father's farm, adding to it by purchase until he had 200 acres of land. He cleared up a large farm, erected good, substantial buildings, and built one of the old-fashioned sash sawmills, which he later improved by substituting a circular saw. The mill as thus improved is yet in operation by our subject. Benjamin Spearbeck died on the farm in 1897, his worthy wife passing away in 1895. They left two children: Lee D .. our subject; and Georgia, the daughter, still living on the old homestead.

Lee D. Spearbeck grew up on the old home- stead, and received a good common-school educa- tion. He remained on the homestead. managing his father's farm, for many years. In 1877 he mar- ried Miss Ida A. Baker, of Windsor, who was born in the town of Barker, Broome Co .. N. Y .. in 1857, daugliter of Jerome and Jane Baker. Our subject and wife began housekeeping on the okl homestead, which he purchased in 1898. They have a family

550

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of three children, namely: Lena, born in 1879, who in March, 1899, married Elmer E. Lockwood, a farmer of Marydell, Md .; Bertha, born in 1882, a student in the home schools; and Duane E., born in 1890.

Politically Mr. Spearbeck has always been identified with the Republican party, and for three years he served as supervisor in Great Bend township. He is a member of the Order of Red Men at Great Bend, and is a Protestant in his religious faith. He is highly esteemed by all who know him, and is intimately identified with the best interests of the township.

JOHN W. SPENCE, a popular engineer on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, running between Montrose and Alford, Penn., with headquarters in the former place, was born in Har- risburg, Penn., July 2, .1860, a son of John and Nancy M. ( Youngs) Spence, also natives of Penn- sylvania. The father enlisted in 1861, at the call for three-months' men during the Civil war, be- coming a member of Company I, 84th P. V. I., and was killed in the service .. Our subject was the only child of this union. In 1865 the mother mar- ried Moses Snyder, of Lake Ariel, Wayne Co., Perin., who was a raftsman, and to them were born five children: Frances, now the wife of Jacob Haines, a farmer of Lackawanna county, Penn .; James, who died at the age of four years ; George N., who died at the age of two years; Anna, who died in 1888; and William, who died at the age of three years. The father of these children died at Moscow, Penn., in March, 1874, the mother at Salem, Penn., September 22, 1872.

After the death of his mother our subject was bound out to Isaac MIvers, of Lake Ariel. He had attended school previous to that tiinc, but the knowledge he has since gaincd has been acquired mainly by his own unaided efforts. At the age of thirteen years, while on his way to Hawley to dis- pose of some berries, he slipped from the train at the foot of No. 14, light tract of the Pennsylvania Gravity Coal Co., and was run over, his left leg being broken at two different places above the ankle. He was taken to the home of a neighbor, who cared for him for eight months, until he re- covered, and in the meantime his step-father had married again and moved to Moscow, where our subject joined him. A month later lie entered the service of R. E. Wardell. working for his board and clothes for two years. Then, at the age of sixteen years, hc secured a position with David Dale, a lumberman of Daleville, Penn., driving oxen in the lumber woods for a few months, and the next summer worked on a farm in Lackawanna county, tending hops. The following fall he cn- tered the clothes-pin factory of Staples & Brown, where he operated a lathe for one year, then had charge of the gang-saw for a year, and at the end of that time was promoted to engineer of the fac- tory, which position he held several months, or

until the mill was closed by the sheriff. For three months he held a similar position in S. Kistler & Bros.' clothes-pin factory in Monroe county, Penn., when the old mill was re-opened returning to it as engineer, and he remained there until February, 1883, when he went to Seranton, Penn., and was made fireman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. A year later he moved to Bing- hamton, N. Y., and was fireman on a fast passen- ger train between that place and Washington, N. J., until January, 1888, when he was transferred to Scranton and made engineer of a coal and freight train. On August 24, 1894, when the present branch of the road was completed, he removed to Montrose, and has since had charge of a train run- ning between that place and Alford. He was en- gineer on the first train which passed over this branch on its completion.

At Moscow, Penn., May 28, 1881, Mr. Spence married Miss Delia Hay, who was born at Houser Mill, Monroe Co., Penn., in 1863, a daughter of Hiram and Maria ( Bounser) Hay, also natives of that county. Her father now conducts a hotel in Ef- fort, Monroe county. To Mr. and Mrs. Spence have come three children: Earl R., born in Bing- hamton, N. Y., September 10, 1887, who died in Scranton, Penn., July 27, 1888; Ernest R., born November 27, 1889; and Fenella R., born Jantt- ary 23, 1896.

Mr. Spence was a charter member of the Broth- erhood of Locomotive Firemen at Binghamton, N. Y., and later transferred his membership to Acme Lodge No. 228, of Scranton, where he served as chairman of the grievance committee. He was a delegate to the second biennial convention, heid at San Francisco, Cal., September 8, 1890; he is now a member of Division No. 305, Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Engineers, at Hallstead, Penn., and of Warren Lodge No. 240, F. & A. M., of Montrose. He is an active and prominent member of the Meth- · odist Episcopal Church of that city; was president of the Epworth League four terms ; and is now a director of the Young Men's Christian Association of Montrose. He affiliates with the Republican par- ty, and was appointed a member of the town coun- cil, to fill an unexpired term ending in February, 1898. He was then elected to that office. and is now chairman of the committee on Sidewalks and Strects. Mr. Spence is a self-educated as well as a self-made man, and was taught to write on shavings in the clothes-pin factory where he was employed, being aided by the foreman of the factory, an old school teacher, who secured the position for him and ever took considerable interest in his welfare. Mr. Spence is now an elegant penman, and is a well informed man, keeping thoroughly abreast of the times, and commands thic respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.

R. G. FRINK, the present well-known burgess of New Milford, was born in Auburn township, Susquehanna county, in 1856, a son of Tracy and

551

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Harriet (Griffis) Frink. His paternal grandfather, Benijah Frink, was a native of Connecticut, and when a young man came to Susquehanna county, where he continued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life, taking up land and en- gaging in agricultural pursuits. Here he married Nancy Hancock, who was born in Susquehanna county, near Wyalusing, and to them were born four sons: Orin, who died in Scranton, Penn., about 1877 ; Isaac, who died in Potter county, Penn. ; Tracy, father of our subject ; and William, a resi- dent of Scranton.

Tracy Frink was born in Auburn township, in 1809, was there reared on a farm, and acquired his education in the public schools. In Jessup township he married Harriet Griffis, a native of the latter township and a daughter of Robert and Lydia Griffis, who were among the pioneers of Jessup township. Mr. Frink, who was a farmer by occupa- tion, continued to live in Auburn township until 1866, when he removed to New Milford township, making his home there until called to his final rest, January 28, 1887. He was a stanch Republican in politics, and was called upon to fill several town- ship offices of honor and trust. His wife died Janu- ary 18, 1887. In their family were three children, of whom our subject is the youngest, the others be- ing Mrs. Lucy Frink, of Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county; and Edith, wife of R. M. Bushnell, of Auburn township.

R. G. Frink spent the first ten years of his life in Auburn township, and in 1866 accompanied the family on their removal to New Milford township, where he grew to manhood and was educated. With the exception of two years, devoted to the harness business in Herrick township, he was engaged in farming in New Milford township until 1893, when he removed to the village of New Milford.

In Uniondale, Herrick township, Mr. Frink was married, in 1880, to Miss Ella Louise Darrow. She was born in Clifford township, and her parents, Orlando and Guyelma ( Barringer ) Darrow, were also natives of Susquehanna county, the former born in Bridgewater township, the latter in Great Bend township. To our subject and his wife has been born one child, Florence.

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. 2, Part 24

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