Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 32

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 32
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 32
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 32
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 32

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David. deceased, married Elizabeth Hoffman, and lived in Smithfield township, Monroe county : Solo- mon lived in Jackson township, and died unmarried in 1895 : and Mary, deceased, was the wife of Phineas Miller, of Tunkhannock township, Monroe county.

George Singer, our subject's father, was born in Chestnut Hill township. in 1810. and died in 1865. In his native township he grew to manhood, and later spent twenty years in Jackson township, where he purchased property. On selling his inter- ests there he came to Pocono township, and in the midst of a dense wilderness began to clear tle land for farming purposes. He purchased forty-three acres just below Mt. Pocono, and before his death succeeded in placing twenty-five acres under the plow. In early life he followed the cooper's trade. but his later years were devoted exclusively to agri- cultural pursuits: On attaining his majority he became a supporter of the Democratic party, and ever remained one of its stanch adherents. He served as supervisor of his township for one term. and was always recognized as one of the valued and useful citizens of the community. In Jackson township. Monroe county, he married Hannah Brong, a native of that township, and a daughter of Peter and Hannah ( Miller ) Brong. She died at the age of sixty-two years, and both she and her hus- band were buried at Tannersville. Pocono town- ship. Seven children constituted their family: Elias ( deceased) was a farmer of Jackson township ; Amos married Lebina Kinkle, and was for some time engaged in farming and lumbering in Monroe county, but is now in business in Wilkes Barre, Penn .; Sebastian, our subject. is the next in the family; Julia Ann is the wife of George Becker, of Jackson township: Peter ( deceased ) married Mary Rickert, and was engaged in the drug business in Portland, Penn .; Mary Ann ( deceased ) married Henry Smith, and lived in Tompkins county. N. Y. : Joshua was a soldier in the Civil war and was for some time incarcerated in Libby prison. where he was nearly starved. dying soon after his release from the effects of his hardships.

Sebastian Singer was born in Jackson township. December 2, 1835. and was a mere child when brought by his parents to Pocono township, where he was reared, his education being obtained in the district schools of the locality. As soon as able he began to assist his father in the work of the farm, and at the age of twenty-five years took complete charge of the same, having purchased his brothers' interests. Here he has since successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, and he is now the owner of 110 acres, of which forty-five acres have been cleared and placed under excellent cultivation, the remainder being good timberland.

At Stroudsburg, Penn .. in February, 1862. Mr. Singer was married, by Squire Dutot. to Miss Sally Ann Possinger, a daughter of Joseph Pos- singer, and to them have been born six children: Franklin married Sally Dailey, of Pocono township. and is engaged in business as a contractor and

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Britton A. Biddis ; Samuel ()., a retired hotel keeper at Port Jervis, who married Lucinda Dimmick ; Chauncey W., a retired hotel keeper at Washington, D. C., who married Maria Church; Henrietta L., widow of Evert Eldred. a veteran of the Civil war, and Miss Frances .A .. who is mentioned below.

VIII. MISS FRANCES A. DIMMICK, who was born at Milford in 1831, is a lady of remarkable talent and rare executive ability. Her musical gifts are of a high order, and she is especially accomplished as a violinist, two old French violins, made in 1700 and 1721, respectively. being among her most highly prized possessions. She has always been popular in the best social circles, being prominent in the Or- der of the Eastern Star, and is noted for her fine conversational powers. Horseback riding is a favorite diversion, but with all her accomplishments she has always found time to devote to business in- terests. For some time she was assistant postmas- ter at Milford, and the management of the hotel has been in her hands for many years. The first license, issued in 1858, was taken out in her name by her father, and this arrangement continued until 1879 when she removed to her own cottage, the heirs hay- ing decided to rent the hotel. In the spring of 1896, seeing that the property was being misman- aged, she again took charge, and has since conducted it successfully.

SEBASTIAN SINGER, a leading farmer of Pocono township, Monroe county. evidences by the manner in which he carries on his business that he thoroughly understands the vocation in which he is engaged, and success has attended his efforts toward acquiring a competency. Neatness and order pre- vail upon his place, which is managed, with regard to its cultivation, in a manner which reflects great credit upon the owner.

The Singer family was founded in Monroe county by our subject's grandfather, who was prob- ably a native of Northampton county. Penn., and when a young man came to Monroe county, locating in Chestnut Hill township, where ne took up a tract of wild land. Here he developed a small farm, and in connection with its cultivation he also worked at the cooper's trade. Ile was married in that town- ship to Susanna Possinger, a daughter of John Pos- singer, a pioneer of Monroe county. After his death, which occurred in Chestnut Hill, she made her home with our subject until she too was called to her final rest. In their family were nine children : Catherine married Jacob Hessler and was living in Huntersville, Penn., at the time of her death ; Elizabeth. widow of Nicholas Zacherias, is living with her daughter, Mrs. Amandus Possinger, at the age of eigthy-three years : George, father of our sub- ject, was next in the family: Henry married llar- riette Boien. and died at Clarks Summit, Penn .. at the age of seventy years: Sarah, widow of Henry Siptrowth, is living with a son in Jackson township. Monroe county : John married Eva Ann Rinker, and is engaged in farming in Bradford county, Penn. :

David, deceased, married Elizabeth Hoffman, and lived in Smithfield township, Monroe county: Solo- mon lived in Jackson township. and died unmarried in 1895 ; and Mary, deceased, was the wife of Phineas Miller, of Tunkhannock township, Monroe county.

George Singer, our subject's father, was born in Chestnut Hill township. in 1810. and died in 1865. In his native township he grew to manhood, and later spent twenty years in Jackson township, where he purchased property. On selling his inter- ests there he came to Pocono township, and in the midst of a dense wilderness began to clear the land for farming purposes. He purchased forty-three acres just below Alt. Pocono, and before his death succeeded in placing twenty-five acres under the plow. In early life he followed the cooper's trade, but his later years were devoted exclusively to agri- cultural pursuits: On attaining his majority he became a supporter of the Democratic party. and ever remained one of its stanch adherents. He served as supervisor of his township for one term. and was always recognized as one of the valued and useful citizens of the community. In Jackson township. Monroe county, he married Hannah Brong, a native of that township. and a daughter of Peter and Hannah ( Miller ) Brong. She died at the age of sixty-two years, and both she and her hus- band were buried at Tannersville. Pocono town- ship. Seven children constituted their family: Elias ( deceased) was a farmer of Jackson township : Amos married Lebina Kinkle, and was for some time engaged in farming and lumbering in Monroe county, but is now in business in Wilkes Barre, Penn .; Sebastian, our subject. is the next in the family ; Julia Ann is the wife of George Becker. of Jackson township: Peter ( deceased ) married Mary Rickert, and was engaged in the drug business in Portland, Penn. ; Mary Ann ( deceased ) married Henry Smith, and lived in Tompkins county. N. Y .; Joshua was a soldier in the Civil war and was for some time incarcerated in Libby prison, where he was nearly starved. dying soon after his release from the effects of his hardships.

Sebastian Singer was born in Jackson township. December 2. 1835, and was a mere child when brought by his parents to Pocono township, where he was reared, his education being obtained in the district schools of the locality. As soon as able he began to assist his father in the work of the farm, and at the age of twenty-five years took complete charge of the same. having purchased his brothers interests. Here he has since successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, and he is now the owner of 110 acres, of which forty-five acres have been cleared and placed under excellent cultivation. the remainder being good timberland.

At Stroudsburg. Penn., in February, 1862, Mr. Singer was married. by Squire Dutot. to Miss Sally Ann Possinger. a daughter of Joseph Pos- singer, and to them have been born six children : Franklin married Sally Dailey, of Pocono township, and is engaged in business as a contractor and

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builder at Clarks Summit, Penn. ; Joel married Ann Wasburg, and is a bricklayer living in Dalton, Lackawanna Co., wenn .; Steward married Sue Kresge, and farms the old homestead; Edna is a dressmaker, residing at home; Alice is the wife of Joseph Dailey, of Clarks Summit; and Harvey, a plasterer of Clarks Summit, married Elsie Bailey, of Dalton, Lackawanna county.

During the dark days of the Rebellion Mr. Singer enlisted, in December, 1863, and served for eleven months as a member of Company F, 176th P. V. I., under Capt. Joseph Nicholas. From Fortress Monroe the regiment went to Norfolk, and later to Suffolk, Newbern and Hilton Head, at all of which places they experienced the usual hardships of army life. In National affairs Mr. Singer is a supporter of the Democratic party, but at local elections he votes independent of party ties always endeavoring to support the best man for the office. For several terms he has served as assessor of his township, and his duties of citizenship are at all times most faithfully and. conscientiously per- formed. He and his family all hold membership in the Reformed Church, and are quite prominent socially.

MARTIN B. RINEHART (deceased). The mystery of life and death is deepened by the uneven allotment of years to men of wide influence and prominence. Some are sparcd to a mellow old age, others cut down in their prime ; when the end of life came swiftly to Martin B. Rinehart he was seem- ingly in the midst of his useful and active career. A man of high ideals and rectitude of thought and deed, he devoted his energies to the material prob- lems which the country offered to brave and persist- ent effort. He had wide interests as a lumberman and merchant, but craved also the amenities of cult- ure and refinement. and in his home he found the quickening impulses to mental and moral growth which aided him in the prosecution of his enterprises *and perfected in him a man of noble type.

Mr. Rinehart was born at Charleston. Hunter- don Co., N. J., March 1. 1835. son of Jacob and Jane Rinehart. of that county. His education was ob- tained chiefly in Easton. Penn .. and when a young man he taught school for a number of terms in his native State. For his first wife he married Miss Elizabeth Evans, who died in New Jersey, Icaving two children : Arthur. a resident of New York City, and Howard, a resident of Ardsley, on the Hudson river. For his second wife Mr. Rinehart married. in 1871. Miss Tillie D. Drake, of 'Stroudsburg. daughter of Amos and Elizabeth ( Batron ) Drake. and granddaughter of Joseph Drake, one of the early and prominent pioneers of Delaware Water Gap. Joseph Drake was the son of Levi Drake, who settled in Cherry Valley : he raised a large family of children, and many of his descendants are still res- idents of Monroe county. Amos Drake died at Stroudsburg, and his wife in 1895 at Oswego, N. Y. They had two children : Tillie D., widow of our sub-

ject, and Minnie, now Mrs. C. D. Yothers, of Oswe- go, N. Y. Mrs. Tillie D. Rinehart was educated in the high schools of Stroudsburg, and was one of the successful teachers in the public schools.

Before his second marriage our subject became a member of the firm of Rinchart & Shafer, and in 1875 he removed from Hampton Junction, N. J., to Mountain Home, where they commenced operations in the manufacture of lumber. In 1888 the part- nership was dissolved, Mr. Shafer, who was a brother-in-law of Mr. Rinehart. taking the farm. and our subject continuing to manufacture and ship sawed lumber until his death, which occurred July 13, 1895. During Cleveland's administration Mr. Rinehart was postmaster at Mountain Home. and there he built a commodious and attractive residence. He died very suddenly, from a stroke of apoplexy, while away from home, and his death was a severe blow to his wife and only daughter, Minnie G. They still occupy the residence. Minnie G. Rine- hart was born at Mountain Home in 1876, attended the home schools and those of Pennington, N. J., and Oswego, N. Y., and was graduated from the East Stroudsburg Normal School in 1895, and is now a bright and successful teacher in the schools of Mont Clair. N. J. She is a universal favorite among her wide circle of friends, winning many by her charming manners and cultured mind.

Mr. Rinehart was a lifelong Democrat. but never aspired to office. He was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, and throughout his life he commanded the highest esteem and respect of all who knew him. He was retiring and unassuming in manner, but thoroughly genuine, frank and gen- erous. His widow is a lady of culture and refine- ment. and in her loss is sustained by her talented and affectionate daughter.

JACOB B. KRESKY, a skillful and progres- sive farmer of Jackson township, Monroe county, was born there January 3. 1842, and is a representa- tive of one of the old and prominent families of the county. He has changed the name from Kresge. as it was originally spelled. Ilis grandparents. Jacob and Elizabeth Kresge, were born, reared and married in Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county. and to them were born nine children, all deceased with the exception of Linford, namely: John. a resident of Chestnut Hill township: Jacob, father of our subject : Joseph and Michael. also residents of Chestnut Hill township: Henry, a farmer of that township: Linford. who is engaged in lumbering. and lives at Tobyhanna Mills : Samuel, of Chestnut HIill township: Mary, wife of Jacob Miller. of Chestnut Hill township: and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Burger. of Chestnut Hill.

Jacob Kresge was born in ISot. in Chestnut Hill township, and there passed his boyhood and youth. In Hamilton township. Monroe county. he married Miss Ilannah Rinker, of that township. who died fifteen years later, leaving the following children: Joseph and Israel, who were both sol-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

diers in the Civil war and are now residents of Jackson township ; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Will- iam Eckhard, of Ledgedale, Warren Co., Penn .; Maria, deceased wife of Michael Hilliard. of Eas- ton, Penn .; Levi, who married and lived in Jack- son township prior to the Rebellion, in which strug- gle he was killed ; and Richard, who also entered the service of his country during the Civil war and died at Annapolis. In Chestnut Hill township the father was again married, his second union being with Miss Barbara Brong. a native of that town- ship and a daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Learn) Brong. To this union three children were born : Jacob B., the subject of this review ; Mary, now the widow of Samuel Felker, of Jackson township, and a resident of Northampton county, Penn. ; and Emma, wife of M. B. Woodling, of Appenzell, Jack- son township. The parents are now both deceased.

Jacob B. Kresky passed his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, and remained with his father until twenty-four years of age. as he was the youngest son and his parents were becoming quite old. On May 10, 1866, he ivas married in Hamil- ton township, Monroe county, to Miss Elizabeth Setzer, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah ( Micksel) Setzer. Five children were born to them, as fol- lows: Alta, who died at the age of nine years ; Emma Celesta, now a dressmaker in Philadelphia ; Marietta, who died at the age of five years; Ellen who died at the age of three years ; and Harry, who died in infancy. The mother, oldest daughter and only son all died within a week. in 1873. For his second wife Mr. Kresky married Elizabeth Doll, daughter of Frederick and Mary Doll, and to this union were born two children: Hattie is the wife of Philip Smith and resides at Trumbull Corners, N. Y. (She is a dressmaker). Frank is in busi- ness at Bear Lake, Pennsylvania.

On leaving home Mr. Kresky went to the lum- ber woods of Tobyhanna township, Monroe county, „where he worked for different firms for a period of twenty years. At the end of that time he came to Jackson township and purchased a farm of forty- six-acres, to which he lias since added a twenty- acre tract. At the time of purchase nearly all the land was wild and unimproved, but by persistent labor he has succeeded in clearing thirty acres and converting it into a rich and productive farm, im- proved with good buildings. In his political affilia- tions Mr. Kresky is a pronounced. Democrat, and he has served as judge of election and inspector of election at two different times. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been steward for four years, and his honorable, straightforward course in life has won him the respect of all with whom he has come in contact, either in business or social life.

SAMUEL II. 11AY. who is pleasantly located in Jackson township. Monroe county, is operating successfully as a farmer and stock raiser, and is numbered among the industrious and enterprising

men of the community. He is a native of the town- ship, born March 30, 1844. His grandfather, Charles Hay, was the first of the family to come to Monroe county. He was born at Easton, Northampton Co., Penn., and there wedded Miss Mary Tyrone, who was of German extraction. At an early day he re- moved to Luzerne county, where he purchased land and engaged in farming until Samuel Hay, father of our subject, was a lad of eight years. He then located in what is now Jackson township, Monroe county, where both he and his wife spent their re- maining days. To them were born fourteen chil- dren, of whom six are still living, and we have record of John, a resident of Jackson township; Charles, who is living retired at Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe county ; Hiram, who is conducting a hotel in Tunkhannock township, Monroe county ; Melchor, deceased, who lived in Bradford county, Penn .; Philip, deceased, who lived in Jackson township, Monroe county; Samuel, father of our subject ; Catherine, widow of Powell Heller, of Jackson township; and Elizabeth, widow of Jacob Doll.

Samuel Hay was born near Wilkes Barre, Penn., July 19, 1810, and, as previously stated. was eight years old when the family removed from Lu- zerne county to Jackson township, Monroe county. After reaching manhood he owned and operated a small farm there, and also worked at the cooper's trade, but finally sold his property and removed to Tobyhanna township, same county, where he pur- chased a tract of 118 acres of wild land, on which he made his home for half a century. During that time he cleared seventy acres and placed it under a high state of cultivation. In Pocono township, Monroe county, he was united in marriage with Miss Sally Heller, a native of Northampton county, Penn., and a daughter of John Heller. She passed away August 24. 1800, at the age of seventy-eight years, and her death was widely mourned. as she was loved and respected by all who knew her. The father devoted his active years principally to lumm- bering and farming, and lived retired for some time prior to his decease, which occurred November 2, 1899; he was buried November 6. in Tompkinsville cemetery, Tobyhanna township. He was always identified with the Democratic party, served as judge of election and tax collector, and was a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church. Wherever known he was held in high esteem for his many excellencies of character and sterling worth. The children of the family are as follows: William, a resident of Coolbaugh township, Monroe county: Jonas, a fariner of Tobyhanna township. Monroe county; Samuel H .. our subject : Charles, who is mentioned below ; Rachel, widow of William Bouser, of Toby- hanna township: Sally Ann, wife of Henry Pos- singer, of Wilkes Barre, Penn. : and Mary. widow of Joseph Bonuser, and a resident of Scranton, Penn. Charles Hay was born in Tobyhanna township, January 26, 1848, and throughout life has followed Inmbering and farming. He and his brother owned the old homestead, a valuable estate in Tobyl anna

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.

township, which they operated for some time. but finally sold. and on March 17, 1898, purchased their present property in Jackson township. Politically he is a Democrat.

Samuel H. Hay assisted his father in the work of the farm until twenty-five years of age, and in Tobyhanna township followed lumbering for about twenty-two years ; in fact has spent most of his life in the lumber woods. In 1873 he and his brother Charles came into possession of the old homestead, which they successfully carried on until the spring of 1898, when they sold and purchased an improved farm of ninety-five acres in Jackson township. The old home place they had improved until it was one of the most valuable and attractive farms in Toby- hanna township. There Samuel H. Hay was mar- ried. in 1898. to Miss Celesta Koch. a native of Car- bon county, Penn., and a daughter of Enos Koch, of that county. Mr. Hay is unwavering in his support of the men and measures of the Democratic party, and withholds his aid from no enterprise which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit. Dur- ing his boyhood he found a bayonet which had been lost by Gen. Sullivan in early war times.

MARCUS N. B. KILLAM is a worthy repre- sentative of one of the oldest and most prominent pioneer families of Pike county,. its various mem- bers having won for the name an enviable distinc- tion by their intelligence and worth.

The Killams are of English extraction, tracing their ancestry back to 1637. in which year Austin Killam and his wife sailed from England and set- tled at Salem. Mass. They had three sons, David, Lot and John, and from John sprang the branch to which our subject belongs. John married. March 5, 1718. Sarah Rose, granddaughter of Thomas Rose. a native of England who came to America and was one of the first settlers of Preston. Conn. : he was a man of culture and note. John and Sarah Killam lived at Preston. Conn. They had three sons: Zadock, Silas and Moses.

Zadock Killam was born November 8, 1720. at Preston, Conn., and was one of the very first farmers of Pike county. Penn .. having a cabin near the old Wallenpaupack fort, a rude affair built for protection against the Indians. In his family were three sons : Silas, the maternal grandfather of our subject's wife; Ephraim, who was a soldier in the Revolut- tionary war ; and Moses, the paternal grandfather of our subject.

Moses Killam was a native of Connecticut, born in 1759. and when a young man went to Goshen, N. Y .. later coming to Palmyra township. Pike Co .. Penn., where he took a leading part in the settlement and advancement of this region, being prominent in both business and political circles; he served for many years as justice of the peace, in which office he was succeeded by his son Moses. He was a large land owner, and erected a grist and saw mill on Mill Brook. Moses Killam was a stanch Whig in politics. He died May 15. 1831. leaving two sons :

Benjamin T .. the father of our subject : and Moses, a farmer of Palmyra township, who died in 1861.

Benjamin T. Killam was born June 21. 1771, probably in Palmyra township, was reared in Pike county, and attended the district schools of his native township, and also a select school at Goshen, N. Y. Ile spent his entire life in Pike county, first engaging in farming upon land cleared by the Indians along the flats of the Paupack stream, but later in lite turn- ing his attention to lumbering. He was a local min- ister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but he extended his hospitality to those of all denomina- tions, and was well-known throughout Wayne and Pike counties as an earnest Christian worker. In Pike county he married Miss Elizabeth Witter, who was born September 3. 1773. and was the first white child born in this vicinity, either in Pike or Wayne county. Her parents, Elijah and Elizabeth Witter, were driven from their home by the Indians about the time of the Wyoming massacre. Elijah Witter was born September 26. 1735, and died when between seventy and eighty years of age ; his wife was born September 26, 1749, and passed away near Geneva. N. Y., aged ninety years. Benjamin T. Killam died May 9. 1856, his wife on July 1. 1872. He was a Whig and, finally. a Republican in politics. and had often been urged to accept office. but in- variably declined such honors.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 32

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