Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 27

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 27
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 27
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 27
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 27

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).

John S. Williams grew to manhood in Brook- lyn township, and became one of its most estimable citizens. He followed farming, and also the trade

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of carpenter. He married Eliza E. Wesbrook, who was born June 29, 1817. About 1843 John S. Will- iams moved to Springville township, where he had purchased one hundred acres of wild land, and this with the aid of his sons he cleared, adding to the original acres. He remained on the farm until 1862, and he died January 4, 1874. His widow, mother of our subject, is yet living, in Linn county, Mo. John S. Williams in politics was a Whig and later a Republican. He was an active worker, a class- leader in the M. E. Church, and superintendent in the Sunday-school. The family of John S. and Eliza E. Williams consisted of the following chil- dren: George L., born July 7, 1838, now living in Meadville, Linn Co., Mo .; William N., born April 3, 1840, who died when nineteen days old; Lucy E., born January 13, 1842, who died November 29, 1844; Thankful A., born January 1I, 1844, who died in infancy ; Henry B., our subject, born Feb- ruary 23, 1845: Daniel G., born March 5, 1848, 110w a fariner of Meadville, Mo .: Erastus .P., born May 13, 1850, a mason of Meadville, Mo. ; Luke A., born March 8, 1853, a hardware merchant of Meadville, Mo .; Warren K., born May 26, 1855, who died February 2, 1864; and John C., born Au- gust 23, 1857, a railroad employe of Meadville, Missouri.

Henry B. Williams was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the neighboring schools. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in Com- pany H, Ist Penn. Light Artillery, and served to the close of the war, doing guard duty at Washing- ton much of the time.

Mr. Williams was married, in Springville town- ship, January 3, 1871, to Miss Rachel P. Kinney, who was born in Warren county, N. J., January IS, 1851, daughter of Isaac S. and Catherine Reed Kin- ney. Isaac S. Kinney was born in Warren county, N. J., November 19, 1811, son of Frederick and Margaret (Snover) Kinney, of that county; Cath- erine Reed was born in Warren county, N. J .. Jan- uary 2. 1813, daughter of Aaron and Margaret Reed. and died August 13, 1891. In 1867 Isaac Kinney moved with his family to Susquehanna county. locat- ing in Dimock township. He died in Warren county, N. J., October 10. 1895, while visiting his boyhood home. The children of Isaac and Cath- erine Kinney were as follows: Margaret, who mar- ried John A. Van Scotten, of Warren county, N. J. : David I., a resident of Dimock township: Maria, who married John Messler. of Sussex county. N. J. : Bartley, a farmer of Warren county, N. J. : Aaron. a resident of Brooklyn township. Susquehanna Co .. Penn. : Sarah, wife of Benjamin Linaberry, of War- ren county, N. J. : Frederick, a farmer of Lathrop township: Samuel. of Bridgewater township: Rachel P., wife of our subject: Johnston T., a farmer of Lathrop township: Jennie. wife of Thomas Giles, of Stroudsburg. Monroe Co., Penn. ; and Almeda, wife of Judson Saunders, of Scran- ton, Pennsylvania.

Our subject began housekeeping on the old homestead in Springville, which he purchased, and where he remained about twenty-six years. In 1895 lie leased his farm of 100 acres and removed to Hopbottom, where he built his present home. While on the farmi he followed both farming and stone masonry, but since moving to Hopbottom he has given exclusive attention to stone mason work. In politics Mr. Williams is a stanch Republican. He has served as street commissioner and in the council in Hopbottom borouglı. He is a member of Rogers Post No. 143, at Brooklyn Center.

REV. CHARLES E. VAN ALLEN, D. D., needs no introduction to the residents of Middle Smithfield, Monroe county, for he and his worthy wife are widely known and highly esteemed in that township and throughout the surrounding country, where the most active years of their busy and useful lives have been spent.

Dr. Van Allen is a native of West Perth, N. Y., born June 21, 1835, son of Lawrence E. and Maria (Ellis) Van Allen, the former of whom was born in 1802, in West Perth, the latter in 1800, in the State of Vermont. Lawrence E. Van Allen grew to maturity in the place of his nativity, receiving his education in the public schools, and after his mar- riage, which took place in 1825, settled down there to agricultural pursuits. He was a successful farm ?- er and a representative leader in local public affairs in his day, taking a warm interest in politics as an en- thusiastic supporter of the Old-line Whig party an.1 its principles. During the campaign in which Henry Clay ran for President he took the stump in his county in that gentleman's interest. He died March 21, 1878. Mrs. Van Allen passed away in 1842, leaving a family of seven children. namely : Evert E., A. Emily, Marinda A., Charles E .. Chester L .. Chauncey E., and Clark L. ( 1) The eldest son. Evert E., was born at West Perth in 1826, graduat- ed from the Albany State Normal School in 1840. and followed teaching for a few years, finally em- barking in mercantile business in New York City as a commission merchant and real estate broker : he amassed a large fortune, and made his permanent home in New York City, although his death oc- curred in September, 1869, at West Perth. where he was buried. Evert E. Van Allen married Miss Mary Gunn, of New York City, and he left two sons, Everet and Chester, the former of whom is engaged in business in Albany, the latter a resident of Tohis- town. N. Y. (2) A. Emily was born in West Perth in 1830, and married James Aiken, of the same place. eight children being born to their union, viz. : James C. ( who is one of the leading merchants of Schenec- tady. N. Y.). William E. ( a prosperous merchant of Johnstown, N. Y. ). Isabelle, Helen, Mary, Margaret. M. Emma, and Katherine A. Mr. and Mrs. Aiken moved to Michigan, and after several years' resi- dence there returned East, settling in Johnstown. where they died, the former March 19, 1879, the lat- ter March 15, 1888. (3) Marinda A. became the

MRS. M. EMMA VAN ALLEN

CHARLES E. VAN ALLEN

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wife of John Frydendall, of New York, and they died at Johnstown, the former in 1874, the latter ten years later. They left one daughter, Cora, who is married to Jonathan Hovcy, of Burdett, N. Y. (4) Charles E. is next in the order of birth, and is more fully mentioned below. (5) Chester L., born in Au- gust, 1836, finished his collegiate education at Johns- town and became a Baptist minister, continuing in active ministerial work until his death, in 1898; his wife survives him. They had one daughter, May Zel- ma, who died in young womanhood, a very bright and scholarly young lady and a graduate of the Schen- cctady high school. (6) Chauncey E., born in 1838, prepared for college at Johnstown and matriculated at the Schenectady (N. Y.) Union College, from which he was graduated in 1864, afterward taking a course in the Princeton Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1867 ; he entered the Presbyterian min- istry, and is at present located at Russell. Mass. He married Miss Annic Ward, of Schenectady, and they have one son, Dr. Harvey W. Van Allen, who is a leading physician of Springfield, Mass. (7) Clark L., born at West Perth in March, 1842, prepared for college at Johnstown, N. Y., and graduated from the Medical Department of the University at Ann Arbor, Mich., commencing the practice of his profes- sion at Schenectady, N. Y., where he remained for some years ; he then moved to New York City, en- gaging as a commission merchant, and later in the wholesale tea and coffee trade, until 1886, when he embarked in business in Albany, N. Y., as an import- er of tea and coffee from Ceylon and China, in which he has continued up to the present time, though he is now living in Schenectady. He has been highly successful in the commercial world and has amassed a large fortunc, of which he gives liberally to re- ligious and charitable enterprises. He takes an active interest in Church work, and was the founder and builder of the Villa Road Baptist Church, of Schenectady. Dr. C. L. Van Allen was married January 11, 1898, to Miss Ada Parks, of Jersey City, New Jersey.

Charles E. Van Allen was brought up in his na- tive place, where he received his elementary educa- tion, preparing for college in the Johnstown Academy, and he attended the Fort Edward Insti- tute, at Fort Edward. N. Y., from which he was grad- uated in 1855. He took a professorship in the Fort Plain Institute of Literature and Seience, and in 1859, while holding this incumbency, became a student of the Union College of Schenectady, N. Y .. graduating therefrom in 1862, and in 1865 from Princeton Theological Seminary. The same year he accepted the pastorate of the Coolbaugh Pres- byterian Church. in Middle Smithfield township, Monroe Co., Penn., in which charge he was retained for a quarter of a century, working faithfully and energetically for the religious growth of the com- munity and the upbuilding of the interests of his own congregation. This Church was founded and built by John V. Coolbaugh and others, the gentleman named giving largely of his time and means toward

its support and the successful carrying on of its work, being zealous in all worthy religious and char- itable projects. When Dr. Van Allen assumed the charge there were only fifteen members, which num- ber he brought up to one hundred and eighty com- municants, and the Sabbath-school, in the work of which he was the leading spirit, was one of the thriv- ing examples among those in the Lehigh Presbytery. In 1890 the Doctor took a Church at Delaware, Warren Co., N. J., where he continued for five years, and he subsequently supplied the Church of La- fayette, Sussex Co., N. J., for two years.

In 1886 our subject purchased the Plains farm, since known as the "Echo Lake Farm," a valuable tract in Middle Smithfield township upon which many improvements have been made since he came into possession. and which is well laid out for gen- eral farming purposes. New buildings have been erected, and many beautifying changes made in the residence. which has been converted into a summer boarding-house and is known as the "Echo Lake House," one of the most desirable of the many re- sorts which abound in this section. The house is provided with all modern improvements. is sur- rounded by a large lawn, delightfully shaded, and charmingly situated on an elevated plateau in the center of the farm. which lies 1,200 feet above the sea level, in a beautiful mountain region unrivalled for the purity and dryness of its atmosphere. a place where malaria and kindred ills are unknown, and whose equal for those in search of health or recrea- tion cannot be found east of the Rockies. Dr. Van Allen's guests hail from New York. Brooklyn, Phila- delphia and many of the States, and they are unani- mous in pronouncing the scenery and the bene- ficial climate a combination of delights made still more enjoyable by their genial host and his efforts to do all in his power for their material comfort. The table at "Echo Lake House" is supplied almost exclusively from the farm. the land yielding fine fruit and vegetables in great variety, and the butter and milk supply coming from a fine herd of thorough- bred Jersey cows kept on the placc. The post office of Coolbaugh is located at the house, and Dr. Van Allen served as postmaster here for many years during his pastorate, his son Willie holding that office at the present time. The Doctor is a Repub- lican politically.

Though no longer a pastor. Dr. Van Allen is by no means an idle man. While resting from the active ministry, in his own delightful home, he preaches a great part of the time, supplying pulpits for neighboring ministers, and in the autumn and winter season is largely engaged in evangelistie work, in which he is not a little sought for, and in which he has always been a marked suc- cess. It is the concensus of opinion of all who know him best that he has hardly a peer in the pulpit. Ile is a good sermonizer, has a very fine delivery, and is, on the whole. a very interesting and attractive speaker. His pulpit ministrations are more than ordinarily acceptable. The Doctor is also spending

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his riper years in writing, both for the secular press, on the popular topics of the day, and for religious magazines and periodicals, and has now in prepara- tion a work entitled "How to be successful in the Ministry," in which he will give some valuable ex- perience of his long and successful career. May he long live to complete this and other works in con- templation.

Rev. Dr. Van Allen is entirely a self-made man, and a good example of what energy and ambition can accomplish. By his own efforts he worked his way through a four-years' Academic course, a four- years' College course, and a three-years' Theological course, and he was one of the first of his class in each of these institutions from which he graduated. He has been honored by three different colleges by the respective degrees of A. B., A. M. and D. D., and by Reverend by a Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church .upon graduation from one of the most cele- brated Theological seminaries of the land.

He has given all his children a liberal education and has enough of this world's goods left to own one of the most delightful homes in the section in which he resides.

This memoir would be incomplete without some mention of Mrs. Van Allen, who though modest and retiring in disposition has been a constant aid to her husband in his religious and charitable work, and is universally beloved by scores of friends and acquaintances in Middle Smithfield and elsewhere. She was in her maidenhood Miss M. Emma Cool- baugh, the daughter of John V. and Mary Cool- baugh. They were married February 22, 1866, and four children blessed their union, viz .: (1) Willie, born in Middle Smithfield in December, 1866, re- ceived his early education in the public schools and under a private tutor at home, later entering the Pouglikeepsie Business College. where he took a commercial course. He now resides on the farm with his father, engaged in stock raising, and makes a "specialty of Jersey stock, his large herd being the only one of thoroughbreds in Monroe county. In 1892 he married Miss Bertha K. Brands, of Dela- ware, N. J., whose parents, John S. and Caroline Brands, were prominent people of that place, and they have two children-Ralph B. and W. Morton. (2) Myra E., born in Middle Smithfield in Novem- ber. 1870, was first instructed by a private governess at home and later entered Blair Hall, in Warren county, N. J., whence she graduated with highest honors in the class of '88 ; in June, 1893, she married James P. Ammerman, of New Jersey, and they have two daughters, Adelaide and Ruth. They make their home in Delaware. N. J., where he is engaged as ticket and express agent for the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western road. (3) Charles P., born in October, 1873. in Middle Smithfield, was educated at Blair Hall, graduating in the class of '93. and sub- scquently took a four-years' course in Lafayette College, studying electrical engineering. Ile finished liis course in 1807, receiving the degree of Electrical Engineer, and the same year he traveled in England,

Germany, France, Italy, and other European coun- tries, to complete his preparation for his life work. On his return he settled in New York City, and he has entered upon a promising career as a member of the firm of Van Allen & Zahn, electrical contractors. (4) Clarence H., born in July, 1876, graduated from Blair Hall in the class of '94 and has taught one term in the public schools of Middleville, N. J .; during the summer he acted as clerk for L. W. Broadhead, at the "Delaware Water Gap House," and he is now in his second year at Lafayette College.

From her girlhood Mrs. Van Allen has been a tireless worker in Church and kindred interests, and during her husband's active life in the ministry she was an invaluable helpmeet, laboring zealously in the Church and Sabbath-school for the advancement of the Master's kingdom. As organist and choir instructor she has never failed to be present on the Lord's day except when kept home by sickness, and her devotion to her Church is recognized by all who know her and who take delight in acknowledging their appreciation of her faithful service and unite in praise of her fine Christian character. She shares with her noble husband the highest regard of their fellow citizens in Middle Smithfield township, and the loving esteem of the many she has helped and befriended.

WILLIAM WHITFIELD KIZER, one of the wide-awake and progressive business men of South Canaan township, Wayne county, is now the proprietor of the Middle Creek Grist Mill, which was built by Pliilip W. Lerch, George Enslin, and L. A. Robinson, in 1856, and is of eighty-horse power. Near his present place of business our subject was born March 22, 1857, in Jefferson township, Lackawanna Co., Penn., a son of John D. and Phœbe ( Beemer) Kizer, who were natives of New Jersey, but became acquainted and were married in Lackawanna county, when it formed a part of Luzerne county, and there they still contin- tied to reside. The father was born August 22, IS27, the mother on February 12, 1835. He is a lumberman by occupation, and has capably filled a number of local offices of honor and trust. His parents, Jacob and Mary ( Emory) Kizer. were also born in New Jersey, and were early settlers of Luzerne county, Penn., where the former owned and operated a sawmill.

The subject of this sketch, W. W. Kizer, is second in the order of birth in a large family of children, the others being as follows: Judson died in infancy; Edwin Floyd resides at Towanda, Penn., and is, extensively interested in the lumber business in Jefferson and Bradford counties. He is a member of the firin of Clark, Kizer & Kipp, lum- berman, Cortez. Penn .. is manager and treasurer of the Towanda Water Works. Towanda, Penn., he owning a large portion of the stock. Almeda is the wife of William Cobb, an extensive lumberman of Bradford county. Penn .: Augusta is the wife of Mortimer Arnold, watchman at the car-shops

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of the D. & H., Carbondale, Penn. ; J. Dahlgreen is a resident of Kizers, Lackawanna county ; Verna is the wife of M. S. Shaffer, a prominent merchant of Wilkes Barre, Penn .; Alton F. is a prominent merchant of Peckville and Scranton, Penn .; Syl- vania is the wife of Frank Peck, a merchant of Peckville, Penn .; and Bertha is the wife of Vane HI. Kennedy, clerk, Peckville, Pennsylvania.

Our subject was reared at Kizers, which was named in honor of his father, and with his parents he remained until he attained his majority, aiding his father in the mill. He then successfully oper- ated the sawmill with his father and others for two years. In 1881, removing his family to South Canaan, Wayne county, he rented from his father a gristmill, which he operated until 1884, when he sold his stock to his father and went to Bradford county, Penn., buying a one-third interest in the firm of Kipp, Kizer & Co., operating several saw- mills. After remaining one year and one-half, he sold his interest to his brother, E. F. Kizer, and re- turned to South Canaan, took charge of the mill, and operated it for the following three years. He sold his stock to John D. Kizer, and traveled throughout the Southern States, and finally located in North Carolina in 1890, and again engaged in the lumber business ; built a residence, removed his family and remained there nearly three years. He then returned to Varden, Wayne county, in 1894, and took charge of the Middle Creek Mills, owned by his father ; our subject now operates both mills, and is meeting with a well deserved success in his business undertakings.

At Kizers, Mr. Kizer was married April S, 1877, to Miss Mary Van Sickle, Rev. Mark Berri- man, a Methodist Protestant minister, officiating. Four children bless this union : Ernest C., Leslie A., Lillian Mav, and Ward Glenn, all at home. MIrs. Kizer was born in Jefferson township, Lackawanna county, February 9, 1857, a daughter of Garrett and Rachel (Sharp) Van Sickle.

Socially Mr. Kizer is a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to the Commandery in Scranton. Penn .; politically he is a Republican with Prohibi- tion tendencies, and religiously is an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Protestant Church. His straightforward, lionorable course as a business man and citizen has won the com- mendation of all with whom he has come in con- tact, and he has a host of warm friends through- out the community.

RICHARD H. BIDDLECOMBE, at present living on the Hartwell farm in Damascus township, where he has full charge for J. Burchard, is an Englishman by birth, born October 2, 1843. in Dor- setshire, and as an honest, loyal citizen of the com- munity in which he has made his home for so many years none is more highly respected or esteemed.

In 1856 Mr. Biddlecombe came with his mother, Mrs. Esther Biddlecombe, to the United States, and they settled in Damascus township, Wayne Co., Penn., where she was subsequently

married to W. Goodall, who was also a native of England. She died in 1879, the mother of three children by her second marriage, viz .: Alexander, who grew to manhood in Wayne county, and moved some years ago to Colorado, where he married and has a family ; Matilda, born in Damascus, who resides on the Goodall homestead with her brother; and William, unmarried.

Richard H. Biddlecombe received his educa- tion in the public schools of his native country. After coming to Wayne county he commenced work at the carpenter's trade. and he also learned wagon-making, but he has been principally engaged at farming, in which line he has made a signal suc- cess. After his marriage he settled on what is known as the old Stearns property, which he bought, and there he continued to clear the land, erected a house and barn and made general improvements, living on that place until 1871, when he sold and removed to the farm adjoining. In 1881 he moved to Boyd's Mill, in Damascus town- ship, where he had charge of the mill work for twelve years, at the end of that time returning to his old home in the township, where he lived until the spring of 1897, since which time he has resided on and managed the Hartwell farm for J. Burch- ard. He is a thorough-going farmer, progressive and up-to-date in all his ideas and methods where- ever practicable, and he has the unqualified respect of his employer and his fellow farmers in this locality.

In 1865 Mr. Biddlecombe was united in mar- riage with Miss Frances E. Darling, of Damascus, whose parents, James and Phoebe Darling, now residents of Damascus township, were formerly of Sullivan county, N. Y. Five children have blessed this union, of whom, Etta, born May 14. 1867, is a teacher in select schools ; she obtained her prelim- inary education in the public schools of Damascus, later became a student in the select schools of the town, and is a very bright young lady, highly accomplished ; she resides at home. John J., born March 28, 1870, dicd August 2. 1870. Martha A., born August 5, 1871, was reared and educated in Damascus, and in September, 1892. became the wife of Ellery P. Bunnell, of Honesdale; they re- side on his farin in Berlin township: they have no children. Frank H., born September 25, 1874, and Irene M., born December 12, 1883, are with their parents. In religions connection the entire family belong to the Disciple Church. They are well and favorably known throughout Damascus township, and are a family which would be a credit to any community, industrious, intelligent and progressive in every way.

Mr. Biddlecombe has always been active in the ranks of the Republican party, of which he is a stanch member, and he is at the present writing hokling the office of collector in Damascus town- ship. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 561, at Callicoon, Sullivan Co., N. Y., and of the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 240, at Jef- fersonville.

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ISAAC M. THORP, one of the prosperous farmers of Damascus township, Wayne Co., Penn., has occupied his present farm for over thirty years, and during that time he has attained a high stand- ing among thie agriculturists of this locality. He was born in 1837 in Orange county, N. Y., and is of English descent, his grandfather, Cornelius Thorp, having been a native of England.

John W. Thorp, father of our subject, was born in 1800 in Orange county, N. Y., where he grew to manhood. He married Abigail Hendricks, of Wayne county, Penn., and they located in Orange county, later moving to Berlin township, Wayne county, where he bought a fann and re- mained some years. In 1852 the family removed to Kalamazoo county, Mich., but they returned east after three years' stay there and located in Long Eddy, N. Y., where Mr. Thorp died in 1856. His wife survived until 1871. They were the par- ents of six children : Lester A., Louisa, John J., Isaac M., Commodore II., and Nathan, of whom, Lester, born in Orange county, N. Y., married a Miss Kellam, of Wayne county, Penn., and now resides in Illinois. Louisa is the wife of Edgar Pullis, of Wayne county. John J., born in Orange county, enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of the Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves, and was killed at the battle of Petersburg. Commo- dore H., born in Wayne county, also enlisted in the Civil war, and was starved to death in Libby prison. Nathan, born in Michigan, married Miss Rosie Billing, of this county, and they reside on his farm at Pine Mills, in Manchester township; they have two children-William and Florence.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 27

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