Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 3

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 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 3

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Until twenty-five years of age Mr. Beebe con- tinued to assist in the operation of the home farm, which he then purchased of his father, and to its further improvement and cultivation he devoted his energies until 1878, when he removed to his present farm in Franklin township: he is now prac- tically living retired, leaving the operation of the place to younger hands. On September 20, 1864. he enlisted in Company K. 185th N. Y. V. I., under Capt. A. H. Spore, and was mustered into the United States service at Syracuse. N. Y. He spent most of his time in front of Petersburg, and in a skirmish one morning. while the Union lines were advancing. received a flesh wound in the right arm. He was sent to Harwood hospital. Washington, D. C., where he remained until mustered out. 1Ie is now a prominent member of the Grand Army of"; the Republic, and is identified with the Republican party. He has been honored with a number of local offices, such as supervisor and school director. and was once elected justice of the peace. but re- fused to qualify. He served as county commis- sioner in 1871. 1872 and 1873, discharging the duties of the office in a niost commendable manner. Although he has rounded the psalmist's span of threescore years and ten, and the snows of several : the State Society. He became a Fellow of the

winters have whitened his hair, he has the vigor of a much younger man, and in spirit and interest seems yet in his prime. Mrs. Beebe is a member of the M. E. Church, to which her husband liberally contributes.

CALVIN C. HALSEY, M. D., who for forty years or more has practiced medicine in and about Montrose, Susquehanna county, traces his ancestry back nearly three hundred and eighty years to the Halseys of Great Gaddesden, England.

Thomas Halsey, his first American ancestor, was in Lynn, Mass., in 1637, and from there went to eastern Long Island. From this ancestor Dr. Halsey is in the seventh generation. Dr. Stephen Halsey, Jr .. the Doctor's grandfather, born in 1757. at Southold, L. I., was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. He married Hamutal Howell, of Bridgehampton, L. I., where he died in 1837. Their son, Rev. Herman Halsey, our subjeet's father, was born in 1793. in Bridgehampton, and married So- phia Woolworth, a native of the same place. He was graduated from Williams College, in Massa- chusetts, in 1811, from which institution he after- ward received the degree of D. D. He was a cler- gyman of the Presbyterian Church, was for a time engaged in missionary work in Kentucky, and in 1820 located in Genesee county, N. Y. Eleven years later he removed to Niagara county, and there lived to the advanced age of ninety-eight years, dying at East Wilson. His wife died in 1876.

Dr. Calvin C. Halsey was born March 31, 1823, at Bergen, N. Y. He was graduated in 1844 from Williams College, which later gave him the degree of A. M. During the winter of 1844-45 he was engaged in teaching at Lewiston, N. Y., and in April, 1845, he came to Montrose, Penn., serving as principal of the Susquehanna Academy for two years from that time. He read medicine with Drs. E. Patrick and G. Z. Dimock, of Montrose, and at- tended his first course of lectures at Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia, in 1847-48. In the fall of the latter year he became a clerk in the Bank of Susquehanna County, remaining until January, 1850. when he attended a course of lectures at Cas- tleton (Vt. ) Medical College, which gave him the degree of M. D. in 1850. He practiced medicine one year in Niagara county. N. Y., one year at Montrose, and early in 1853 located at Nicholson, Penn .. where he remained until 1859. In the fall of that year he again returned to Montrose. where he has ever since resided. Dr. Halsey became a member of the Susquehanna Medical Society in 1850. was secretary of the Society 1861-63. 1873-78 and 1880-87. and its president 1868-71. He has twice represented the State Medical Society as dele- gate to the Medical Society of the State of New York. He attended the meetings of the Pennsyl- vania State Medical Society in 1863, 1866, 1885 and 1886, and in 1885 was a vice-president of

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. American Academy of Medicine in 1880. He was examining surgeon for Susquehanna county for the draft of 1862, and went to Harrisburg with the men. On the invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863 by the Confederate forces under Gen. Lee, Dr. Halsey, under a call from the Governor, raised a company of men which was designated as Company D, 35th Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, of which he was commissioned captain. The company was mustered into the United States service July 2, 1863, and mustered out August 7., same year. Dr. Halsey was appointed United States Pension Examining Sur- geon in 1864, and held that position twenty-one years, and 1889-93. From 1865 until 1885 he held the office of jail physician for Susquehanna county. He was coroner of the county 1860-63 and 1869-81, making fifteen years of service.

Politically Dr. Halsey is a Republican. He was an Abolitionist and a Free-Soiler, and cast his first Presidential vote for J. G. Birney. Religiously he is of the Presbyterian faith, has been a ruling elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Montrose since '1872, and clerk of the session since 1873.

On September 27, 1866, he was married to Mary, daughter of Jeremiah Etheridge, of Mont- rose. Owing to ill health the Doctor has not been engaged in active practice for about ten years. He is pensioned for disabilities incurred in the service of the United States.

JOHN B. POSSINGER, a man of more than ordinary intelligence and business capacity, owns a valuable tract of land in Jackson township, and is prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Monroe county, contributing largely to its repu- tation by improving one of the most desirable farms within its borders. He is admired and esteemed by his friends and neighbors, and enjoys, as he de- serves, a generous portion of this world's goods.

Our subject's grandfather, John Possinger, was a native of Bucks county, Penn., where his marriage, to Elizabeth Handeline, probably occurred. On coming to Monroe county, in early manhood, he lo- cated in Jackson township, when there were only seven families in the district now included in Po- cono and Jackson townships. Here he took up 300 acres of land and developed a small farm. By trade he was a blacksmith and tinsmith. His children were Joseph, father of our subject. who spent his entire life in Monroe county; John, Jr. ; Reuben, who also lived in Monroe county: Catherine. wife of Abram Tucker : Susanna, wife of Abram Smith, of Jack- son township ; and Mary, who married Daniel Bel- lis, of Jackson township, and died in Luzerne coun- ty, Pennsylvania.

Joseph Possinger, fatlier of our subject, was born February 4. 1802, and always resiled in Jack- son township, engaged in farming and coopering. He was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Becker, a native of Jackson township, and a daughter of Henry Becker, a Revolutionary soldier. The chil- dren born of this union are as follows: Rosanna,

now the widow of Philip Frailey, and a resident of Jackson township; Sarah Ann, wife of Sebastian Singer, of Pocono township ; Catherine, wife of God- frey Ruff, of Bradford county, Penn .; Margaret, who died at the age of thirty-one years; Peter, a farmer of Bradford county; John B., our subject; Aman- dus, justice of the peace of Jackson township ; Jo- seph, a farmer and carpenter of Jackson townslnp; and Edwin, who died in infancy.

John B. Possinger was born in Jackson town- ship, November 13, 1836, and spent his boyhood days under the parental roof. At the age of twenty- two he began lite for himself, in the coopering busi- ness, which he followed for several years. He then purchased sixty acres of land in his native town- ship, to which he subsequently added a tract of twenty acres, and here he has since resided, his time and attention being devoted to agricultural pursuits.

In March, 1867, Mr. Possinger was married. in . Jackson township, to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Frantz, also a native of Jackson township. Mon- roe county, and a daughter of Thomas and Eunice ( Metzgar ) Frantz. To them have been born three children : Joseph ; Thomas, who was born March 25, 1868, and assists his father in the farm work : and Ida, now the wife of Alexander Siptroth, of Clark's Summit, Lackawanna Co., Penn. The en- tire family hold membership in the Reformed Church, and they occupy an enviable position in the best social circles of the community in which they live. Mr. Possinger is a stanch Democrat in poli- tics, as were his ancestors, and has acceptably served as inspector of elections, judge of elections, assessor (one term), school director ( nine years) and over- seer of the poor (three years). being the present incumbent in the last named office.

PETER ALFAST, the owner of one of the fine farms of Damascus township, Wayne county, has lived on his present place since 1865, and dur- ing his long residence here he has gained the good- will and esteem of the entire community. Mr. Al- fast was born August 21. 1830, in Denmark, where his parents, Nelson and Elsie Alfast, were farming people, and he was one of a family of five children- Mary, Ceren, Nelson, Secie and Peter. The father died in 1840, the mother in 1870. Nelson. the only brother of our subject, was a soldier in the Prussian war for three years. He is still a resident of Den- mark, where lie married and has a family of five children, one of whom, Lawson, came to this coun- try twenty-four years ago and settled in Denver, Colo., where he has since remained, engaged in mining. He is unmarried.

In 1850 Peter Alfast, believing that greater op- portunities awaited him in the United States, crossed the ocean on a sailing vessel, which landed him in New York after a voyage of six weeks. He pro- ceeded from that city to Milwaukee. Wis., where he arrived without anything in his pocket, and from there lie drifted to St. Louis, Mo., at which place he took steamer for Independence, that State. The

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spirit of adventure was strong in him, and having caught the gold fever which was then raging in this country he determined to try his fortune in the New Eldorado. From Independence he journeyed overland to California, crossing the plains with the · train of a contractor named James McCoy, which besides a company of seventy-five men included 2.500 head of cattle, 400 horses, 500 mules, and twen- ty-five canvas-covered wagons with six yoke of oxen to each. They left Independence in May and arrived in Sacramento, Cal., on September 25, 1851. Mr. Aifast commenced the search for the precious metal after reaching the gold district of Amador county, where he followed mining for four or five years with varying success, but he succeeded in accumulating a fair share of this world's goods in that time. He finally took passage for Panama on the "John L. Stephins," crossed the Isthmus, and em- barked at Aspinwall for New York, the voyage being made via Havana. From New York he sailed back to his native Denmark, and on his journey visited England, Germany and other countries, re- turning to the United States in 1857. On his re- turn he was married in New York to Miss Mary Vinton, a German lady, and they started a board- ing-house at No. 68 Cherry street, in that city, which they continued for four or five years. In 1861 he and his wife made a trip to Germany and Denmark, remaining abroad for a year, and on their return they re-opened their boarding-house, which they carried on for four years more. In 1865, on ac- count of Mrs. Alfast's health, they moved to a farm in West Damascus,; Wayne Co., Penn., which he purchased, located two miles west of Tyler Hill. on the Newburg pike, and a large part of this land has been cleared by Mr. Alfast's own labors. Since his removal here he has given all his time and attention to general farming and dairying, and he has one of the finest properties in the township, systematically cultivated and well managed, with good buildings, fences, etc. Mr. Alfast is a good example of the

- self-made man, having come to this country without means, but with a fixed determination to advance himself, and he has progressed steadily ever since his arrival. He is a man of upright character and true moral worth, and he commands the esteem of his fellow citizens throughout the township where he has made his home for over thirty years. He has filled the office of school director in the township for six years.

Mrs. Mary Alfast passed away in 1866, and in July, 1868, Mr. Alfast wedded for his second wife Miss Louisa Schweighofer, daughter of Christian and Catherine Schweighofer. of Germany. No children were born to his first union, but eleven have been born to his second marriage. viz .: (1) Lizzie, born in May. 1869, is unmarried and lives at White Plains, N. Y. (2) Kate, born in December, 1870, is the wife of E. J. Barnes, of Scranton, Penn. : previous to her marriage she taught for four years in the public schools. (3) Mary, born in April. 1872. is the wife of George B. Lassby, of Milanville,

Wayne county. (4) Nelson B., born January 10, 1874, lives with his parents. (5) Charles P. was born July 18, 1875. (6) Naomi, November 17, 1877. (7) David R., in February, 1880 (died in October, 1888). (8) Alvin, March 3, 1882. (9) Lillie, Aug- ust 10, 1884. (10) Ezra, February 11, 1887. (II) Lawrence, November 12, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Alfast are members of the Baptist Church at Damascus. He is a Free Mason in fraternal affiliation, having united with the Order in New York City in 1863, and since removing to his present home he holds membership with Delaware Lodge No. 561, of Cochecton. His political support is given to the Democratic party.

JOHN KENT JENKINS (deceased) was one of the few men to whom the public intuitively turns for representatives in public service. He united the qualities of integrity, devotion to the needs of the community in which he lived, ability of a high order, and that rare personality which won for him the lasting friendship of his many friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Jenkins was the descendant of a long line of American citizens. His grandfather, Benjamin Jenkins, was born in Scituate, Mass., but migrated to Wayne county, Penn., from Connecticut. in 1818. He was one of the pioneer manufacturers of Amer- ica, laying the foundation for those iron industries which have since risen to a magnitude that brings prestige, wealth and power to the nation. Benjamin Jenkins was in his day a man of great force of char- acter and commanding personal presence. In 1795 he built a scythe factory operated by water power, in Winsted, Conn., the third establishment of the kind in the country. He followed lumbering in Pennsyl- vania. building a sawmill. and also a scythe factory near Honesdale, and acquired considerable wealth. He had served as a member of the Legislature of Connecticut in 1803 and 1804. In politics he was a Democrat. Benjamin Jenkins married Elizabeth Boyd, of Little Britain. N. Y .. daughter of Samuel Bovd; she was an orphan in childhood. Mr. Jenk- ins died January 18, 1853.

Benjamin Jenkins, son of Benjamin Jenkins. mentioned above. was the father of our subject. He was born in Connecticut. December 6. 1796, and died January 18, 1871. His wife. Pollie ( Kent ). was born in Cohasset. Mass., July 19. 1795. and died October 22, 1881. They were married in Wayne county, Penn., October 4. 1820. and chil- dren were born to their union as follows : James D .. May 4, 1823: Elizabeth. September 9. 1825 (died young ) ; Mary J., September 3. 1828 ( died unmar- ried ) : Horace, September 27, 1833: John Kent. January 9, 1838. The father was a quiet, unas- suming man. He spent many years in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson railroad.

John h. Jenkins spent his boyhood days at Prompton, and at the age of fourteen years became a clerk, attending school in winter. Two years later he became a clerk at Carbondale. At the

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early age of twenty-four years he was elected prothonotary of Wayne county, serving one term in that incumbency, and he was elected to a number of other responsible and honorable offices. In politics he was a Republican; in religious faith a Presbyterian ; and in social affiliations a Free Mason. After his time as county officer expired he became employed on the Delaware & Hudson canal as assistant paymaster, remaining three years, when he entered the First National Bank, as teller. After two years in the bank he engaged in the hardware business at Honesdale, Penn., in company with Gilbert Knapp, later buying Mr. Knapp's interest and continuing the business up to his death. He was married, June 6, 1860, to Miss Susan Eno, a native of Seelyville, Wayne county, and a daughter of Daniel and Eunice (Sage) Eno, who are men- tioned more fully elsewhere.

To John K. and Susan Jenkins were born nine children, as follows: (1) Frederick Winthrop, born April 12, 1861, received a common-school educa- tion, and after his father's death assumed charge of the hardware business. continuing same up to one year before his death, on March 12, 1890. (2) Mary Munsill, born May 9, 1863. married, October 15, 1890, Charles B. Comstock, of Elgin, Ill., secre- tary of the Condensed Milk Co. (3) Benjamin Daniel, born April 6. 1865, is in a railroad office at Salt Lake City. (4) Martha Louise, born Novem- ber 9, 1870, is a graduate of the M. E. Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y. (5) Susan Elizabeth was born June 14, 1873. (6) John K., born October 5. 1875, and (7) Gail Borden. born November 4, 1877, are at home. (8) Lauria Eno and (9) Grace Alice died in infancy.

Mr. Jenkins died at his home May 15, 1878. His death was widely felt, for he was one of the best-known men of his county. His widow resides at the old home in Honesdale, surrounded by her family, and holds a high place in the hearts and minds of her wide circle of friends.

GEORGE W. CRANDALL ( deceased) was one of the nien whose lives were sacrificed on the altar of their country during the dark days of the Civil war. He was a native of Susquehanna coun- ty, born in New Milford township March 2, 1827.

Our subject's father, Caleb Crandall, was born in Rhode Island in 1786, and was educated in that State. In 1810 he was married, in Connecticut. to Miss Charlotte Babcock, who was born in Con- necticut in 1789, and there they passed the first three years of their married life, coming to Susquehanna county, Penn., at the end of that time. They .first located in Springville, but shortly afterward re- moved to New Milford, where the father worked at his trade of carpenter for a number of years. Subsequently he went to Tompkins county. N. Y .. where he continued to follow his chosen occupa- tion until late in life. There he died in 1848, and his worthy wife, who long survived him, passed away in 1872. In their family were twelve chil-

dren, namely: (1) Charlotte, born in Connecticut in 1811, married Bailey Evans, and located near Ithaca, N. Y., where they reared a family of six children-Melissa, Mary, Dora, Crandall, Louise and Nancy. (2) Ira, born in Connecticut in 1812, married and located in Richford, N. Y. (3) Mary became the wife of M. L. Green, of New Milford, Penn., and had eight children. (4) William mar- ried and settled in Ohio, where two of his sons are still living. (5) John, born in New Milford in 1817, married and moved to Cortland, Ill., where he died leaving two daughters, who are still living in the West. (6) Job T., born in 1818, was a resi- dent of Waterloo, N. Y. His son, J. Warren, is now living in Rock Island, Ill. (7) Sarah, born in 1820, married Edwin Green, of New Milford, and now resides in Oregon. (8) Charles, born in 1822, married and located in New York State, where he died in 1849, leaving no children. (9) Isaac, born in 1824, married and settled in Owego, N. Y. He has two children living-Morris, a resident of Owego ; and Alsine, of Illinois. (10) George W. was next in the order of birth. ( II ) Alsine, born in 1829, is the wife of Sylvester Schutt, of Slater- ville, N. Y., and they have five children-Louise, Henry, George, Howard and Cora. (12) Albert. born in New Milford in 1831, married Olive Green, of Susquehanna county, and moved to Ohio.

George W. Crandall was indebted to the public schools of New Milford for his educational ad- vantages. During his youth he learned the car- penter's trade, which he made his life work, after his marriage remaining in New Milford for a short time, and then removing to Brookdale, where he followed his chosen calling until after the opening of the Rebellion. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in Company H, 4th P. R. V. C .. of which he was first lieutenant, but resigned in November, 1861. On account of ill health lie remained at home until November, 1862, when he raised a company, be- coming its captain. This was Company C, 151St P. V. I., and he was in active service until taken ill in 1863, some time after the fight at Chancellors- ville. After some time spent in hospital, where his wife went to care for him, he was granted a fur- lough and returned home, where he died August 24. 1863. His integrity of character, his sterling worth, and never-failing courtesy, made him be- loved by all who had the honor of his acquaintance. and he left a large circle of friends, as well as his family, to mourn his decease.

On April 21. 1848, Mr. Crandall was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Hinchman. daughter of Barton and Mary ( Townsend) Hinchman. rep- resentatives of old and prominent families of Sus- sex county. N. J., who came to Susquehanna coun- ty. Penn .. in 1838, and took up their residence in Brookdale, where the father was engaged in agri- culture. In their family were nine children : Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Chalker : Hannah, wife of Alanson Chalker, of Conklin, N. Y .: Mary .A .. widow of our subject : Almeda and William. both

großbrandall

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of whom died young; John, who married and lo- cated in New York; James, who died from the effects of wounds received in battle during the Civil war, leaving a wife, but no children; Harriet, wife of J. B. Lasure, of Liberty township, Susquehanna county ; and James, who was born after the death of his brother of the same name, and is now a rest- dent of Brookdale.

To Mr. and Mrs. Crandall were born four children: ( 1) Charlie, born in 1848, served in the Civil war, enlisting in February, 1804, at the age of fifteen, in Company A, 5th New York Cavalry, and remaining in the service until hostilities ceased. In 1872 he enlisted in the regular army as a mem- ber of Company C, 7th Cavalry, and this time served for five years, being under the command of Gen. Custer on his Indian raids, and was present in the battle and terrible massacre in which that brave commander was killed. After leaving the army he - married Evalyn Winans, of Corbettsville, N. Y., and located at Lawsville, Penn., where he died in April, 1885, leaving a wife but no children. (2) William A., born at Lawsville in IS51, was edu- cated at the Harford Soldiers Orphans School, and is now a resident of Susquehanna, where he is serv- ing as superintendent of the Prudential Insurance Co. He married Carrie Van Loan, of Liberty township, and to them were born three children- MI. Maude; George T., who died young ; and Ken- neth. (3) Ida MI., born in Liberty township in 1853, received her education at the Harford Sol- diers Orphans'School, and is now the wife of A. L. Tiffany, of New Haveny Conn., by whom she has one son, Ralph. (4) Laura L., born in October, 1860, also attended the Harford Soldiers Orphans School, and higher institutions of learning in that town, and later successfully engaged in teaching school for three terms in Susquehanna county. In 1898 she married F. H. Southworth, a prominent merchant and business man of Lawsville Center. where he is now serving as postmaster. With them Mrs. Crandall now finds a pleasant home. and is spending her declining years in ease and quiet, sur- rounded by all the comforts and many of the lux- uries of life. She is a consistent Christian woman, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which her husband also belonged. and with which her family are also connected. The sons are supporters of the Republican party, with which Mr. Crandall affiliated until his death. The family is one of prominence socially, and its mem- bers occupy honorable positions in life.

CYRUS SMITH JOHNSTON. In the lineage of those mien who rise to commanding prominence, in whatever sphere of human activities they essav. may often be found the keynote of their subsequent success. The subject of this sketch is among the most prominent residents of Harford township. Susquehanna county. He has attained this promi- nence and the responsibilities attached to it by his own unaided efforts. The lines of his rugged char-

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 3

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