Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 53

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 53
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 53
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 53
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 53

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John M. Rickard made his home with his par- ents until he reached the age of twenty-three, his earnings going to his father. During the latter part of the time lie worked with his father for L. A. Robinson, in the first tannery ever built in Wayne county. On leaving the parental roof he went to Sliver Town, Salem township, Wayne county, to take charge of a sawmill for the same employer. and he held this position six years, conducting a boarding-house in the meantime. He then went to Preston township to operate the largest sawmill in Wayne county, then the property of Charles Waller, of Ilonesdale. There he remained until 1875, when he purchased his present farm for the sum of $5.500. He has good water power from a large spring on the place, supplying 1.600 feet of pipe which he has laid for various purposes, and among the improvements made by him is an ele- gant fountain. While he devotes much attention to general farming, he is extensively engaged in dairying, and at present sells more milk than any

other person in the township. At times he unde takes work for other parties, doing threshing a: mowing on a large scale, and he also owns and co. dusts a blacksmith shop. With all this he might ; supposed to be too busy to pay attention to pub !. affairs, but as a good citizen he has always respon ed cheerfully to any call to duty, serving in varios offices, including those of school director, jude of elections, and township auditor. In 1882 he was elected county commissioner, and his able and effi- cient service during the term of three years so wor the approval of the people that he was again chosen to the position, serving six years in all. In politics he is a Democrat, and he adheres to the Catholic faith, in which he was reared, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Church.

On October 18, 1867, Mr. Rickard was mar- ried in Cherry Ridge township, by Rev. David Williams, a Methodist minister, to Miss Sarah E. Bartron. Of the children of this union, ( 1) Will- iam was born December 21, 1868, is engaged in farming in partnership with our subject. He mar- ried Miss Agatha Forster, and has four children- Irvin, John L., Sadie, and Esther. (2) Anna, born May 16, 1872, died February 21, 1882, from diph- theria, and (3) Mamie, born April 13, 1876. died from the same disease on February 26, 1882. Mrs. Rickard was born February 22, 1850, at the present homestead, the daughter of Samuel and Lucetta < ( Spancenburg ) Bartron. Her father was a native of Delaware Water Gap, and came to Wayne county in early manhood, and for many years was a prom- inent lumberman, being largely engaged in rafting. He was much esteemed as a citizen, and at times held local offices. He was married April 29, 1849. in Cherry Ridge township, his wife being a native of Jefferson, Luzerne Co., Penn., and a few months after their marriage they settled upon the present homestead. where Mrs. Bartron died April 18, 1862. at the age of forty-two. In 1878 Mr. Bartron removed to the home of a daughter in Texas town- ship, Wayne county, where he passed away in December. 1880, at the age of seventy-seven years and ten months. He was a member of the Presby- terian Church and his wife was a Baptist, and their remains now rest in the Cherry Ridge cemetery. Mrs. Rickard was the eldest in a family of seven chil- dren, the others being Josephine J., who married Zara Robins, both now deceased : George W .. a farmer in Texas township. Wayne county : William. deceased : Mary P., who married first Wallace Bnn- nell, and after his death, Frank Gill, a prominent citizen of Seelyville, now engaged in the foundry business: Leonard. a farmer in Texas township: and Emily L., who died in infancy.

LEWIS GRIFFIN. England has furnished to the New World many of her best and most re- liable citizens, who have taken an active and prom- inent part in the growth and development of the country. Among the leading residents of Damascus township. Wayne county, whose early home was on

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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the "Merrie Isle," is Mr. Griffin, who since 1862 has been a permanent resident of this section of the State. He was born in January, 1828, in Shebbear, Eng- land, a son of John and Fannie Griffin, who spent their entire lives in that country. He was the eldest of their ten children, the others being as follows : Mary A., now Mrs. James Merris, of Luzerne county, Penn., and the mother of one child, Bessie ; Elizabeth, who died in England : Thomas and Mrs. Elizabeth Pike, still residents of that country ; and John William, Isaac, Nora and Fannie, who all died in England.

Reared in his native land, Lewis Griffin at- tended the public shools of that country, but his educational advantages were exceedingly limited, a fact which he has never ceased to regret. He is, however, a man of clear, bright intellect, and is well informed on the leading questions and issues of the day. When a young man he decided to try his fortune in the United States, and accordingly crossed the ocean, landing in. Albany, N. Y., where he worked for some time. Subsequently he spent three years in Wayne county, Penn., and then re- turned to England, where he married Miss Elizabeth Bolch. a daughter of George and Grace Bolch, prom- inent English people. For eight years after his mar- riage he remained in his native land.and in 1862again came to America taking up his residence in Damas- cus township, Wayne county, where he has since made his home. With a desire to aid his adopted country in her hour of peril. he enlisted, in 1864, in Company F. 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, for service in the Civil war. and under the command of Gen. Grant was stationed at Fortress Monroe until the fall of that year, when they were ordered to move to a position in front of Richmond. Mr. Griffin was subsequently wounded by a shell in the battle of Fair Oaks. and taken to hospital at Willis Point. "where he remained unitil honorably discharged at the close of the war. Returning to his wife and family in Wayne county, he purchased a farm near Isaac Loveless' place, which he sold at the end of eight years and bought the Samuel Henderson farm, in Damascus township, where he has made many use- ful and valuable improvements which add greatly to its attractive appearance.

Mr. and Mrs. Griffin have had children as fol- lows: John R., born in England, in July, 1856, is single, and is a resident of Wayne county, whither he came with his parents. William G., born in Eng- land. in February. 1838. died in boyhood. Elida. born in Wayne county, in 1804. married Barney Gib- bony, of Wayne county, and they resided at Hones- dale. where he died six years ago, leaving a widow and two children-George S. and Julia E. Emma. born in May. 1866, is the wife of Eugene Skinner. of Damascus, and has four children -- Walter, Ed- ward. Nelson and Emma J. Edward L., born in October. 1868. Frank W., born in May, 1870, and George 11 .. born in September, 1872, were all cdu- cated in the schools of Damascus township, and now assist their father in the operation of the home farm.

Katie E., born August 25, 1875, married Howard Spry, of Wayne county, now a resident of Newark, N. J., and they have one son-Levi.

Voting as he fought during the war, Mr. Griffin is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, and he is to-day an honored member of Grand Army Post No. 198, of Honesdale. Religiously he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Damascus, and are numbered among the highly-respected citizens of the commu- nity, whose honorable, upright Christian lives never fail to win the confidence and esteem of all with whom they come in contact.

DANIEL K. LONG, who died December II, 1878, was in his day a busy contractor in his part of Wayne county, and also conducted the farm in Texas township now occupied by his widow. He was a native of this section, born November 3, 1821. at White Mills, and was the son of Peter and Amanda ( Kimble) Long, who resided in Pike county, Penn., where the father died.

Mr. Long grew to manhood at White Mills. where he worked for Mr. Benjamin Kimble until his marriage, in 1848, to Miss Elizabeth J. Coon, of Texas township. After that he was for a num- ber of years in the employ of the Delaware & Hud- son Canal Co., and he finally commenced contract- ing with his father-in-law, Mr. Coon, who was one of the most extensive railroad and mill contractors in this part of Pennsylvania for many years. In 1853 he purchased the farm of 110 acres in Texas township, near Honcsdale, on which he and his family made their permanent home, and which he managed in connection with his contracting inter- ests during the remainder of his life. He clcared part of the land for a residence site, putting up a good two-story house, and lic also erected a good barn and other outbuildings. continuing to improve the land year after year until he had established a most comfortable home. Mr. Long was the archi- tect of his own fortunes, for he began life with no capital but his own perseverance and energy, but he succeeded in accumulating a comfortable compe- tence before his decease and occupied a good position among the substantial men of this locality. Fle died in 1878. from cancer, and the property has since been looked after by his widow, who has shown herself to be a capable business woman, and during her husband's life time proved a competent and valu- able helpineet to him in the management of their home affairs. Five children blessed their union. of whom (1) Daniel J., the eklest, died at the age of twenty-two years. ( 2) Alfred received a good educa- tion in the common schools and the high school at Homesdale, and when a young man went west, first locating in Kansas, and later in Denver, Col .. whence he returned cast. settling in Chicago. There he engaged as clerk in a wholesale house, where by faithfulness and steady habits he advanced from salesman to bookkeeper, receiving a salary of $2.000 per year from Clement & Sayer, with which firm

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he continued for sixteen years. In 1881 he returned to his old home in Wayne county, and for one year carried on a mercantile business in Tracyville, but he sold out and moved back to Chicago, where he is at present engaged as general manager in the large wholesale clothing house of Rosenthal & Weil. In Chicago he met and married Miss Eve- line Renaud, of Canada, and they have had five children-Roy D., Mabel G., Jessie, Olive and Alfred. The eldest of these makes his home with his grandmother, Mrs. Long, managing the farm for her, and he has twenty-one head of dairy stock and three horses on the place. (3) Evelyn was born in Honesdale, and died at the early age of sixteen years. She was a promising girl, and a favorite in the family and among all her companions. (4) Ella C. was born on the home farm, and was given a fine edueation, attending the high school in Honesdale, where she was one of the most advanced scholars. For two years she followed teaching in the public schools of Texas and Cherry Ridge, but on account of ill health and sickness in the family she gave up the profession and makes her home with her mother on the home place. (5) Eugenia M. was born on the home farm and died when but fourteen years of age. The entire family are, in religious connection, Episcopalians. Mr. Long was a life- long Republican in political faith, but he was not active in public or party affairs. Mrs. Long is now passing her declining years in the enjoyment of the comfortable property accumulated by the early efforts of herself and husband, and she well deserves the prosperity which has fallen to her lot. She is highly respected by all who know her, and has the love and esteem of her family and more intimate friends.

Jacob and Comfort Coon, the parents of Mrs. Long, were prominent among the well-to- do people of Texas township during their day. Mr. Coon being one of the most extensive railroad and mill contractors in northeastern Pennsylvania, and the owner of large tracts of land in Texas town- ship and other parts of Wayne county. He did a leading business in general contract work here, and was a very successful man in all his under- takings, which were generally conducted on a large seale. He built the plank road between Mast Hope and Honesdale. and he was engaged in building a railroad at Hackettstown, N. J., when attacked with the illness which resulted in his death. in 1865. Ile owned a large tract of land in Texas township, where he kept his stock for his contract work, and he purchased a home for his family near Honesdale, where his widow resided until her death, in January; 1872. For a short time he was located in Carbondale, where he had large contracts. Mr. and Mrs. Coon had a family of eight children. of whom Elizabeth J. (Mrs. Long), the eldest. was born in 1827. Alfred is a prominent resident of Kingston, Lackawanna county, where he is engaged in the milling business; he has six sons-Charles, Alfred, Crittenden. Bolton, Frank and Oswer.

Charles, also living in Kingston, is married and has two children. Douglas also makes his home in Kingston. Augusta died unmarried. Giles was killed while raising a building in Kingston. Dal- las died in childhood. George died at the age of twenty-two years.

ZERAH VERY was for many years one of the prominent residents of Harford township, Susque- hanna county, where as merchant and farmer he was widely known and highly respected as a man of the strictest integrity, a valuable publie servant, and one of the substantial citizens of whom the community had reason to be proud.

Mr. Very was a native of Danville, \t., born August 10, 1805, and eame thenee to Pennsylvania with his parents, Asa and Chloe (Rexford) Very, in 1814. the family settling on a farm two miles north of Harford village on the turnpike leading to New Milford. The father was born in 1776, the mother in 1774. and they passed away in 1829 and 1842. respectively, ending their days on the farm in Harford township, Susquehanna county. Of their children, Betsey married Aaron Mogg, of Waverly, Penn., and died 1894; Russell resided near Fairdale, Susquehanna county, where he died ; Orin died in Michigan ; Olney H. was a resident of Montrose Depot, and died 1898; Zerah is the subject proper of this sketch ; Cyrena. widow of Judson Mulneaux. who was killed in the Civil war, died 1887 at her home in Washington, D. C. : Lorinda' became the wife of Samuel Cornell, of New Milford, and died in 1843: Emily died in young womanhood : Loren was a physician, and practiced his profession in Centerville, La., where he died.

During his boyhood Zerah Very attended the district school near his home, then for two winters studied at the Harford school, and by making the most of his opportunities he acquired a good English education, which with his native intelligence and practical nature he turned to more than ordinary ac- count. He was reared to farming, and settling on the homestead after his marriage continued to follow agricultural pursuits and worked in a saw mill on his own farm, until 1849, by which time he had succeed- ! ed in saving enough to justify him in embarking in mercantile business. He opened a store in Harford, for the first two years renting a place opposite the Congregational church, and at the end of that period removing to the property he had bought of Saxa Sey- mour (opposite the postoffice), which he had remod- eled and added to. The front part of the building was used for the business, and the family resided in the other part. Mr. Very conducted the business success- infly until 1870. when he was succeeded by his sons- in-law, and from that time until his decease he lived comparatively retired. attending only to his own private affairs and the management of the farm, which he still retained. He passed away at llarford December o, 1886, full of years and honor, but his lite and influence have left a permanent impress up-

MRS. LAVINIA VERY

ZERAH VERY

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.

on the community. Though unostentatious in his life and habits he was called upon to fill various po- sitions of public trust, serving his township as school director, collector, constable and in other minor offices, and while he never sought preferment he never shirked responsiblities, and was never found wanting in the discharge of duty. His political sympathies were with the Democratic party. He was not a member of any Church, but gave liberally to all religious and benevolent enterprises.

Mr. Very was three times married. In 1828 he married Lavinia Richardson, who was born in 1807, at Rehoboth, Mass., a daughter of Francis Richardson, and children as follows blessed their union : Eleanor, born in 1829, lives on the homestead with her sister, Mrs. Avery. Leonora, born in 1832, married Thomas J. Carr, and died in 1865. leaving four children, Susan L., who married Charles S. Edwards, of Scranton, and they have one daughter, . Leonora May ; Ida May, who died in 1891 ; Anne E. wife of W. B. Miller, of Moscow, Penn., and Clar- ence E., who died at the age of six years. Ludora, born in 1835, is mentioned farther on; and Emmer- ancy, born in 1839, died at the age of four years. The mother of these died in 1871, and in 1872 Mr. Very married Mrs. Cyrena ( Hammond ) Green, who died in 1881. She was a sister of Major Asa Ilam- mond, of New Milford. For his third wife he wed- ded Mrs. Floranda ( Richardson ) Hartt, daughter of Richard Richardson, a resident of Harford, and she now lives in New Milford, Pennsylvania.

Francis Richardson, father of Mrs. Lavinia Very, was born in 1768, and migrated from Wrenth- am, Mass., to Harford township in 1825, locating about two miles from the village. Two of his sons preceded him and put up a log cabin, 12x12, into which Mr. and Mrs. Richardson and their family of twelve children moved. They were the first set- tiers in that section, and took up their home in the wilderness cut of which Mr. Richardson and his sons cleared up a farm, purchasing at first one hundred acres and afterward adding another hun- dred acres. Mr. Richardson married Mehitabel Puf- fer, who was born in 1778, and of their children we have mention of Mehitabel ( Mrs. John Tenant ), Lavinia ( MIrs. Zerah Very). Lois ( MIrs. Peter Dunn), Silence. Laura ( Mrs. George Lindsey), Richard ( who lived and died on the homestead), Francis, Thomas, Melloyd, John and Joseph. Francis Richardson passed away in 1850, his widow in 1854.

Mrs. Eudora (Very) Avery is one of the best known and most highly-respected residents of Har- ford, and she has her home on the same site where was her old homestead, she and her sister being the sole survivors of a family universally esteemed throughout Susquehanna county. She was born in Harford and on October 20, 1859, married Hezekiah HI. Avery, who was born in New Milford township July 20, 1835, a son of Ebenezer and Catherine (.\\'- ery ) Avery, his parents being second cousins. Their early home was in Connecticut, and Mr. Avery came to Susquehanna county in 1813, dying there in 1863.

at the age of seventy-seven, upon the farm of Eben- ezer Avery in New Milford township, where Mrs. Avery also passed away. There were three children in their family besides Hezekiah: Nancy, who died unmarried; Henry, who served in the war of the Rebellion, and is now living in Iowa ; and Fanny, the wife of Egbert E. Corwin, a carpenter, of Scranton, Penn., who died in August, 1899. For his first wife Ebenezer Avery married Nancy Avery, also a cousin, who died in 1832, in her thirty-seventh year, and they had children as follows: Ebenezer, deceased ; Charles D., of New York State; Jonas E., of Grand Haven, Mich. ; Alonzo, deceased ; Sarah A., who was twice married, her first husband being Nathan Brain- ard and her second D. M. Farrar ; Hannah E., mar- ried to Erastus Wilcox, and now deceased; and Mary E. (MIrs. Andrew Gillespie), of Binghamton, N. Y. ( Mr. Gillespie died in August, 1899). Eben- ezer Avery took an active part in local affairs, serv- ing as constable and supervisor, and was highly es- teemed. He was a Presbyterian in 'religious faith.

Mr. Avery's paternal grandparents were Eben- ezer and Hannah Avery, of Groton, Conn., and his maternal grandparents were Jonas and Esther (Den- nison) Avery, of the same place. Ebenezer and Hannah Avery remained at Groton, while his mother's parents settled at New Milford in the early days of the township, and conducted one of the first hotels.

Hezekiah H. Avery was a resident of Harford. He was injured in a railroad accident at Union, N. Y., he being at the time in the employ of the Erie Railroad Co., with which he had been connected for two years; he died May 7, 1869, and his remains were brought to New Milford, where he now rests. MIr. and Mrs. Avery had one. daughter, Elfrida E., who was born February 6, 1861, and became the wife of Calvin D. Brown, a farmer of Woodbury county, Iowa, where she died May 30, 1890. Her remains were brought back to her native place, and she now rests there. Mrs. Avery and her sister are members. of the Congregational Church.

JACOB ZIMMERMAN, a leading agricult- urist and a worthy citizen of Palmyra township, Pike county, was born in Switzerland, August 18, 1837, and is a son of Mathew and Elsie Zimmer- man. who spent their entire lives in that country, the father working at his trade as a print cutter. The grandfather, Jacob Zimmerman, also remained in Switzerland, and followed farming as a life work. Our subject is the youngest in a family of eight children and the only one to come to America, the others being Regila, who married and died in Switzerland at the age of seventy years : Theobold, a farmer, who died in Switzerland at the age of sixty-five: Barbara, who married, and died at the age of sixty : Mathew, who is still engaged in farin- ing in his native land ; Catherine, also a resident of Switzerland ; Marens, who died at the age of sixty- seven ; and Annie, who died at the age of eighty- six years.

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In his native land Jacob Zimmerman passed his boyhood and youth, and on attaining to man's estate was there married to Miss Barbara Hefty, a daugh- ter of John and Agnes Hefty. She died in Paterson, N. J., leaving five children. Matt, the eldest, was born in 1860, is now married, and is employed as a print cutter in Brooklyn, N. Y. Agnes is the wife of Adolph Widmer, of Paterson, N. J. JOIN, born October 22, 1869, is his father's right-hand man, and is successfully engaged in farming and operating a cider-mill during the busy season; in politics he is a Democrat, and has served as a mem- ber of the election board. Elsie and Barbara are both at home.

The first of the family to come to the New World was Matt, the elder son, but he was soon joined by the others and they located in New York City, where our subjeet was employed at his trade, that of a print cutter, for seven years. In 1886 Jacob Zimmerman came to Pike county, Penn., and turned his attention to farming, buying a place of 283 acres, about 100 of which are under a high state of eulti- vation. Here he has since successfully engaged in general farming, and also in dairying on a small scale. He is justly regarded as one of the most enterprising citizens of the community, is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and takes a deep and commendable interest in the affairs of his adopted land. He is a consistent member of the German Methodist Church, and also belongs to sey- eral German societies.

BENJAMIN LESTER, a leading farmer and highly respected citizen of Manchester township, Wayne county; is a worthy representative of a fam- ily noted for its patriotism and loyalty to country, he and eight of his brothers having been Union sol- diers in the Civil war. It is safe to say that no fainily in northeastern Pennsylvania can boast of a more honorable war record.

Mr. Lester was born in Luzerne county, Penn., May 15. 1842. son of Daniel and Fanny ( Gard- ner) Lester, the former a native of Connecticut, where his family was founded at an early day, the latter a native of Luzerne county, Penn., and a representative of one of its pioneer families. In 1844 the parents came to Wayne county, and located upon the farm where our subject now resides, it being at that time all wild land. in which wild animals roamed at will. The father devoted lis energies to the cultivation and improvement of his land, and in addition to general farming he also engaged in lumbering. He was unswerving in his support of the Republican party, and both he and his wife were earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died at the age of seventy-one, she at the age of eighty-four years. In their family were eleven sons and one daughter. and with the exception of Henry and Norris, all of the sons valiantly aided their country in her ste- cessful efforts to preserve the Union. Fortunately none were killed or died in the service. In order

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 53

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