Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 5

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 5
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 5
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 5
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 5

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ROBERT ENSLIN, a prosperous agricult- urist and lumberman of Wayne county, his fine farm being located on the line which divides South Canaan township from Lake, is a native of the coun- ty, born September 3, 1831. He is a son of George and Sarah (Swingle) Enslin, whose sister Susan married Jacob Shaffer, of Lake township, both of whom are now deceased.

Up to the age of twenty-one years our subject worked for his father, and then after a brief inter- val purchased, from the latter, part of his (our subject's) present farm of 137 acres, paying there- for $8 per acre, the remaining acres being given to him by his father. Here he has since successfully carried on general farming, also lumbering. On June 16, 1860, in South Canaan township. Wayne county, by Rev. G. W. Steriger, he was married to Miss Sarah J. Buckland, and a brief record of the children born to this union is as follows: Martha A., born June 17, 1861. married Walter Curtis, a farmer in Canaan township, Wayne county, and they have three children-Herbert, Rena and Beat- rice : Elizabeth, born December 3. 1863. married Elbert Swingle, a farmer of South Canaan town- ship, and has three children-Leona, Lena and Ruth ; William H., born July 29. 1867. married Emma Enslin, and is on the farm along with his father : Williard D. (twin of William H.), a farmer by oc-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cupation, married Anna Burleigh, of Canaan, Penn., and they have two children-Blanche M. and Ade- laide; and Edward, born April 19, 1870. also a farmer, married Lettie Bell.

Mrs. Sarah J. ( Buckland) Enslin was born Hay 15, 1843, a daugliter of Charles D. and Eunice ( Jag- gers) Buckland, natives of Connecticut and South Canaan township, Wayne Co., Penn., respectively, the former born January 29, 1816, and died August 28, 1848, the latter born May 5, 1821, and died April 17, 1860; their remains were interred respect- ively near and in Keens Pond burying grounds, in Wayne county. The children born to this hon- ored couple were Sarah J. ( wife of our subject), born May 15, 1843; and Susan, born July 4, 18.45, died August 8, 1847. After the death of the father of these, the mother married George Beech, wlio died in April, 1895. Three children came of this union : Adelbert and Adeline, both deceased, and Electa, who married Charles Hilgert, proprietor of a meat market in Dunmore, Penn. Chester and Sarah Buckland, grandparents of Mrs. Sarah J. Ens- lin, came from Connecticut to Wayne county, and set- tled in South Canaan township. In 1889 Mrs. Enslin unfortunately received a stroke of paralysis in the right arm, and has thereby lost the use of it. In .politics Mr. Enslin is a stanch Democrat, and for four years he served as supervisor. He is, pos- sessed of the essential qualifications of the success- ful man, and his indefatigable labor, his sound judgment and well-directed efforts have brought to him the prosperity which he now enjoys.

LUCAS W. HANKINS, owner and proprie- tor of a beautiful summer resort in Manchester township, Wayne county, was born October 31, 1831, in Tusten township, Sullivan Co., N. Y., a son of John and Susan ( Thomas) Hankins. His paternal grandparents, Ralph and Mary Hankins, were of Holland descent, and were early settlers and highly respected citizens of Pike county. Penn. His great-grandfather Hankins served under Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary war, and was with the Continental army when they crosscd the Delaware. Our subject's maternal grandparents. Judge and Rebecca Thomas, of Damascus township. Wayne county, were prominent settlers along the Delaware river. The great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather were early pioneersalong the Dela- ware. One was killed at the battle of Lackawaxen by the Tories and Indians; the other was shot by the Indians at the mouth of Skinner's creek, in sight of Mr. Hankins' grandfather's farm, on which stood the block fort in Revolutionary times.

John Hankins, our subject's father, was born and reared in Pike county, and throughout life en- gaged in lumbering and in the mercantile trade. Moving to Liberty township, Sullivan Co .. N. Y., he purchased a large tract of land, on which he erected two sawmills, which he successfully oper- ated. and did an extensive business on the site of the present village of Hankins, which was nanied

in his honor. He rafted a large amount of lum- ber down the Delaware river to southern markets, and continued to engage in this business until his cleath, in 1847. John and Susan Hankins liad a family of eight children, as follows: (I) Lucas W. is our subject. (2) Mary, born in Sullivan county, N. Y., in October, 1833, married Col. Zal- man Main, of Sullivan county, N. Y., who during the Civil war raised a company in Indiana, and for bravery and valor on the field was promoted to the rank of colonel, having command of an Indiana regiment. He died in 1866, leaving a wife and one child, Florence E., who now resides in Binghamton, N. Y. (3) Rebecca T., born in Sullivan county, N. Y., is a well-educated woman, was for a num- ber of years a successful teacher in the public schools, and is now a resident of Binghamton. (4) Angie E., born in Damascus township, Wayne county, married Capt. C. A. Johnson, of the regu- lar army, who died in 1894, at Washington, D. C., and she now makes her home at Binghamton. (5) Susan A., born in Hankins, N. Y., in 1841, married David Bush, of California, born in Sullivan coun- ty, and they located in Susquehanna, Penn., where he was connected with the Adams Express Com- pany for a number of years, or until his health failed. He died at his home in that place in 1889. leaving a wife, now a resident of Binghamton ; one son, Edward, a civil engineer residing in Rome, N. Y., and one daughter, Jessie, who died at the age of sixteen years. (6) John R., born in Han- kins, was educated in the New York schools. and when a young man engaged in mercantile business at Little Equinunk, Wayne county. Subsequently he carried on business near Owego, N. Y., for a number of years, but now has charge of his brotli- er's wholesale tobacco trade, in Binghamton. where he makes his home. He married Emma Buckley, of Fremont Center, Sullivan county, N. Y .. and had two daughters-Susan, now the wife of Dr. W. Leonard, of Tully, N. Y. ; and Bertha, who died in childhood. (7) Willie died when a child. (8) Samuel H., born in Hankins, has a large whole- sale tobacco establishment in Binghamton, and is one of the leading business men of that place. He married Lillian Wait. of Hollisterville, Wayne Co .. Penn., and has two children, Walter and Winifred.

Lucas W. Hankins grew to manhood in the village of Hankins, receiving a good public-schioo! education. which has well fitted him for the respon- sible duties of business life. Being the eldest son. he assisted his mother in the management of the estate after his father's death. In August, 1857. he wedded Miss Mary E. Ross, of Wayne county. the only child born to John and Sally Ross. She received a good education. and prior to her mar- riage successfully engaged in teaching in the pub- lic schools for a number of years.

In 1858 Mr. Hankins purchased a partially- improved farm of 127 acres in Manchester town- ship, which is owned jointly by himself and wife. and later bouglit fifty acres of woodland adjoin-

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ing his farm, and also some real estate in Hankins. Since 1888 they have entertained summer board- ers, having as many as twenty-eight continually during the summer months. The beautiful scen- ery and surroundings make their home an attractive resort, it being situated only one mile from Lord's Lake and two miles from the Delaware river, and it is supplied with all modern comforts and conven- iences for the entertainment of city people.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hankins were born three children : (1) Laura A., born in Wayne county. in 1858, died in March, 1859. (2) Howard Ross, born in Manchester township, August 4, 1863, re- ceived a good academic education in Newark Val- ley, and when a young man was employed as book- keeper and general manager by Barker Brothers, of Cameron county, Penn. He is now with the Osborn agricultural firm, of Auburn N. Y., filling the position of head bookkeeper. In 1887 he mar- ried Emma Chappious, of Berkshire, N. Y., who died in October, 1889, and their only daughter, Mabel, died at the age of one year. (3) William L., born in Manchester township, in October, 1872, received a good business education in the Luzerne County Academy, and followed the profession of teaching for some years. Later he was employed as assistant agent for the Lehigh Valley Co. for sev- eral years, and is now cashier and time-keeper with the Osborn Manufacturing Co., at Auburn, N. Y., where he makes his home. In 1896 he married Mary J. Kellam, of Hankins, a lady of culture and refinement, who at one time was a teacher in the public schools of New York State. They have one son, Francis WV.

Politically Mr. Hankins is a Jacksonian Demo- crat, and has most efficiently served his fellow citi- zens as township auditor for several terms, a mem- ber of the school board, and in other local offices. He and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are numbered among the highly-respected and valued citizens of Manchester township.

JOSEPH WARD has from early manhood been prominent in the affairs of Silver Lake town- ship, Susquehanna county, as a prosperous farmer and public-spirited citizen, and he enjoys the es- teem of his neighbors and friends everywhere, being well known throughout the township and county. His parents, Michael and Catherine ( Malady) Ward, were both natives of County Longford. Ire- land, where they passed their early years, and were married. They came to America in 1824, locating first along the Delaware river. where the father was employed three or four years at government work. after which he removed to Susquehanna county. Penn .. and bought a tract of wild land in Silver Lake township-the farm now owned by our sub- ject. Here he passed the remainder of his indus- trions life. and succeeded by well-directed energy in clearing and putting under cultivation a large part of his purchase, upon which he erected good

buildings as he was able, making a comfortable home for himself and family. He was a hard- working man, sober and persevering, and though he necessarily devoted the greater part of his time and attention to his farm he became quite well known in' this section, and by his upright life gained the respect and confidence of all who knew him. He was an active Democrat, and was elected to various local offices in the gift of his fellow citi- zens, the duties of which he discharged with the same care and faithfulness which characterized all he undertook. He passed away in 1845, at his home in Silver Lake township, where his widow continued to reside until her death, in 1862. Both were devout members of the Catholic Church. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom were born in Ireland prior to their emigration, viz. : (1) John learned the trade of cabinet maker in New York, and was working in that city at the time of the cholera scare. when he left for New Orleans, and he was never again heard from. (2) Thomas drove stage for some years from Bing- hamton to Greene, N. Y .. and in 1860 moved to Michigan, where he spent the remainder of his life; he left one son. (3) James was a soldier in the regular army, and was killed in battle during the Civil war ; he was unmarried. (4) Michael married Miss Elmira Gilbert, and they settled in Millers- burg, Penn., where he died leaving a wife and three children-Ellen. Maggie and Mary: Ellen and Mary live in Millersburg. Michael Ward served three years during the Civil war in a Pennsylvania cavalry regiment. (5) Christopher, who was born on the ocean while his parents were en route for America, shipped on a trading vessel bound for for- eign ports and was never again heard from. (6) Maria, who was born near the Delaware river, is the widow of Michael Ward, and resides in Phila- delphia ; she has five children-Joseph ( who is an engineer and lives in Williamsport. Penn .; for two years he was a member of the Collins Brothers Engineer Corps, in Brazil), Mary. Ellen. Annie ( who lives with her mother ), and Frank ( now serv- ing on board a man-of-war). (7) Joseph is the subject proper of our sketch. (8) Anna, born in Silver Lake township, received a good education and taught school for a number of years. after which she entered St. Joseph's College. at Choconut. as a sister ; she finally became Mother Superior of the convent at Reading. Penn., where she died.

Joseph Ward was born March 19. 1830. on the farm in Silver Lake township where his entire life has been passed. received his education in the district schools, and was trained to farm work from early boyhood. He conducted the place for his mother until her decease. after which he purchased it. and has he been constantly improving the prop- erty all these years. having now one of the best cultivated farms in the section. A commodions residence, barn and other outbuildings have been erected by him, all adding materially to the appear- ance and value of the farm, which has, under his

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

effective and systematic management, become highly productive. In addition to general agriculture, he pays special attention to dairying, which adds con- siderably to the income his land yields. Mr. Ward is a capable business man, and has always looked carefully after every detail connected mith the man- agement of liis farm, but he has nevertheless found time to interest himself in the general welfare and advancement of the township, and he has been hon- ored repeatedly with election to local positions of trust. For thirty years he has served as justice of the peace, and he has been school director and town- ship auditor for a number of terms, displaying in every capacity an integrity unassailable, and a re- gard for his duty to his fellow men which could not fail to win him approval on all sides. His in- fluence and support have always been given to the Democratic party. He is a member of the Farmers Alliance of Silver Lake township.

In 1856 Mr. Ward was married to Miss Mary A. McCormick, daughter of James and Mary Mc- Cormick, respected residents of Silver Lake, and they have had thirteen children, viz .: (1) John J., born in 1857, learned the trade of bridge builder, at which he is engaged as foreman in the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. He married Miss Maria McCarthy, and they have two children-Mary and Edna. They reside at Elmira, N. Y. (2) Mary, born in 1858, received a thorough education and became a very accom- plished woman. She taught school for a number of years, and died in 1882, unmarried. (3) Annie, born in 1860, also taught public school for a num- ber of years. She married Timothy Murphy, a farmer of Broome county, N. Y., where they still reside, and they have had eight children-Joseph, Katie, Daniel, William, Augusta, Ward, Marie and Walter. (4) Ellen, born in 1864, taught school for a few years before her marriage tr Tames Cad- den. They have three sons-Thomas. Joseph and James. The family reside in Broome county, N. Y. (5) Michael, born in 1866, lives on Long Island, and is a mason by occupation. He married Miss Mary Reardon, of Binghamton, N. Y., and they have liad two sons-Joseph and Francis. (6) Katie, born in 1865, died in 1889. (7) Joseph died in childhood. (8) Thomas, born in December, 1868, was educated in the district schools of Silver Lake township. In 1892 he embarked in the mier- cantile business, which he carried on until June, 1897, when he purchased the "Brackney Hotel,' and he has since conducted that establishment suc- cessfully, becoming one of the most popular land- lords in Susquehanna county. In September, 1897, he married Miss Veronica O'Day, daughter of Den- nis and Hattie ( Morrow) O'Day. well-known pio- neers of this township, and they have one son. Serenius, who was born in July, 1898. (9) Frank was born in September, 1870. (10) James died in childhood. (11) Lizzie is successfully engaged in teaching in Silver Lake. ( 12) Genevieve and (13) Leo are still at home. The entire family be-

long to the Catholic Church, to the support of which they have always been liberal contributors. They rank among the respected, well-to-do residents of the township, and take a leading part in everything that concerns the welfare of the locality.

ZENAS ROUNDS, a highly-respected farmer citizen of Clifford township, is a native of Susque- hanna county, born on the present site of Union- dale, October 15, 1829.

Our subject's parents, Arby and Sally ( Cur- tis) Rounds, were natives of Rhode Island. They were married in Jackson township, Susquehanna county, and both died in Uniondale, the father in 1866, at the age of eighty-three years, the mother in 1845, at the age of fifty. Their remains were interred in the Uniondale cemetery. They were consistent mentbers of the Presbyterian Church, and were held in high regard by all who knew them. The children born to them were Lydia, de- ceased wife of Lucius Curtis; Eliza, deceased wife of Mortimer Williams; Polly, deceased wife of Fitz Stanton, of Waymart, Penn .; Israel, a resi- dent of Uniondale; Zenas, our.subject ; Hubble, a resident of Waymart; Martha, wife of Wilmot Carr, of Prompton, Wayne county; and Hannah, who died at the age of seventeen years. The father was thrice married, and by his first wife had four children : Nathan," Alvah, Laura and Levi. For his second wife he married the widow of Hub- bell Curtis, three children being born of this union: Isaac, Sally and Maria. The father was a farmer by occupation, and he cleared a farm in Jackson township, which he lost on account of a detective title. He taught the first school in the neighbor- hood. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican.

Zenas Rounds remained with his parents until he had attained his majority, when he was married in Mt. Pleasant, Wayne Co., Penn., November 2. 1850, to Miss Harriet N. Carpenter, who was born in Clifford township, October 13. 1833. By this union the following children were born: Clara E .. wife of Ira Reeder, a farmer of Herrick township, Susquehanna county; Ella, wife of William I. Wells, a carpenter of Carbondale; William M., a railroad man of Carbondale, who married Nellie Carpenter ; Elmer E., who married Enuna Wader- man, and lives in Forest City ; Abby, wife of Her- bert Stoddard, railroad and express agent at Car- bondale; Harvey M., who (first) married Bertha Rankin, and ( second) Janie Frederica : Minnie I .. widow of Judson Tingley, of Carbondale: Bertha. wife of Elmer Sherman, of Binghamton, N. Y .: and Frank L., who married Mabel Bennett, and lives with our subject.

After his marriage Mr. Rounds operated his father-in-law's farm for three years, and then pur- chased the farm of eighty acres on which he has since made his home. As an agriculturist he met with well-deserved success, and is now able to lay aside all business cares and enjoy the fruits of his

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

former toil. During the dark days of the Rebel- lion he entered the Union army, enlisting, October 16, 1862, in Company B, 177th P. V. I., under Capt. B. F. Gardner and Col. George B. Wiestling, and remained in the service nine months. He took part in no battles, and was never wounded. His polit- ical support is always given to the men and meas- ures of the Republican party, and for six years he most efficiently filled the office of school director. . He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is one of the honored and highly-esteemned citizens of the community where he has so long made his home. He is a member of McPherson Post No. 509, G. A. R., at Uniondale.

CARPENTER FAMILY. With the famous "Nine Partners" settlement in Harford township, one of the chief historic events of Susquehanna county, the Carpenter family was most intimately connected.

Of the nine young residents of Attleboro, Mass., who, during the fall and winter evenings of 1789, agreed to seek western homes, four bore the name of Carpenter-Searle, John, Daniel and Jo- siah-and all four were at the time unmarried. Leaving Attleboro in April, 1790, the party pro- ceeded to Albany, N. Y., in quest of a suitable lo- cation. Information of various localities was sought as the little party proceeded westward. They were strongly inclined to settle in Cherry Valley, N. Y., but were invited to first pass down the Susquehanna river by boat. Leaving the river at Great Bend, where they found a few settlers, they proceeded southward, and finally purchased, for £1,198, a tract four miles long and one mile wide in what is now Harford township, Susque- hanna county. It was in the midst of a vast wil- derness, with no near human habitation. Here the partners built cabins and labored during the sum- mer, returning to Massachusetts in the fall, only to again seek the wilderness the following spring.

John Carpenter, Sr., one of the original nine settlers, was born in 1766, and died in 1838. He was one of the eleven children of Daniel and Eliza- beth (Tyler) Carpenter, of Massachusetts, who were born in 1744 and 1748, and died in 1803 and 1821, respectively. He married, in 1793. Polly Ty- ler ( 1772-1811), who bore him six children, as fol- lows: John, born in 1793. was lost on Lake Erie; Asahiel, born in 1796, died in 1842; Polly T., born in 1798, married Austin Jones. of Harford, and was a woman of superior intellect and zealous mission- ary spirit : Jesse, born in 1801, died in California : Betsey, born in 1803. married Sterry Tanner, of Harford, and died in 1886; and Nancy married Milbourn Oakley. For his second wife, John Car- penter, Sr., in 1813 married Lydia Pattee, who died without issue. C. C. Carpenter, one of the grand- sons of John Carpenter, became governor of Iowa. Daniel and Josiah Carpenter, the other two original members of the nine partners, both died in Massa- chusetts.

Nancy Carpenter, a sister of John Carpenter.

Sr., was born in 1786, and married Spencer Blan- din, a soldier of the war of 1812, who settled in Bethany, Penn., in 1816.

Obadiah Carpenter came to Harford township in 1795. and bought 320 acres of the original "Nine Partners" purchase. He was one of the first dea- cons of the Harford Congregational Church, hav- ing been elected in 1803, and holding the office until his death in 1810. With him came two sons, Oba- diah and Elias, who settled on the purchase of 320 acres. Elias married Polly Hawley, and always lived on the original homestead. He served as as- sessor, and was one of the first school teachers and law directors under the new law. His children were: Elias N. and Ira (who died in 1877, aged seventy-seven ).

Obadiah Carpenter married Mercy Tyler, daughter of Jabez Tyler, an early settler of Har- ford. Among his children were: Achsah, Am- herst and Penuel. Achsah, born in 1798, married Tingley Tiffany, who died in 1868. Amherst Car- penter was a man of considerable prominence, filled nearly every office of trust in the township, was county commissioner in 1853, colonel of militia, and brigade inspector ; he was general superintendent at the annual fairs of the Agricultural Society, and for twenty-three years was sexton of the Congre- gational Church. Penuel Carpenter was a cattle buyer and merchant at Harford village.

Ezra Carpenter, brother of John Carpenter, Sr., came to the "Nine Partners" settlement in 1795. from Attleboro, Mass. He married Mary Follett, daughter of Kendall (born in 1778) and Hannah (Gray) ( 1775-1843) Follett, who migrated with their family from Rhode Island to Clifford town- ship, Susquehanna county. He was a farmer in Clifford township through life. In religious faith he was a member of the Baptist Church.

Zenas Carpenter, son of Ezra and Mary ( Fol- lett) Carpenter, was born in 1805. He was mar- ried in Herrick township to Abigail F. Dimock, daughter of Capt. Edward and Esther ( Tilden ) Dimock, the former a Revolutionary soldier wlio, in September. 1807, came to Herrick township, from Mansfield, Conn. ; he followed stone masonry, shoemaking. and also operated a tannery. He died in September, 1836, aged eighty-eight years. Zenas Carpenter died in Clifford township July 26. 1850. aged forty-five years. His wife survived until May 29, 1881. dying at Olyphant. Penn .. aged sev- enty-four years : both were laid to rest in the Union- dale cemetery. Their children were: Alford ( de- ceased ). who married Halona Dimock. daughter of Edward Dimock: Harriet N .. wife of Zenas Rounds, of Clifford township. Susquehanna coun- ty: Osmer, a farmer of Uniondale: Triphena. who first married Hardin Carpenter. and for her second husband Gilbert Burns, of Herrick township: Adelia, wife of Alric Berry, of Carbondale : Alonzo. a farmer of Herrick township: Freeman, a farmer of Clifford township: Hubert. who died aged six- teen : and Helen, wife of S. O. Churchall.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 5

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