Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 54

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 54
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 54
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 54
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 54

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of birth the children are as follows : Charles, a resi- dent of Damaseus township, Wayne county ; Henry, of Crawford county, Wis. ; Alfred, of Iowa ; Emily, who died at the age of three years; Nathaniel, who died in Minnesota, in 1896; George E., of Manches- ter township. Wayne county; Erastus, who died in Carbondale, Penn .; Norris, of Greene county, N. Y .; Warner, of Manchester township, Wayne county; Alson, of the same township; Joseph, of Warren county, Penn. ; and Benjamin, our subject, who is a twin brother of Joseph.

When two years old Benjamin Lester was brought by his parents to their new home in Wayne county, where he grew to manhood. acquiring an excellent knowledge of work, but a limited literary education. In 1860 he visited Iowa and Minnesota, with a view of locating in the West, and he made a claim on the Des Moines river, in the former State, where he broke twenty acres of land and creeted a log house. At the outbreak of the Civil war, however, the Indians in western Iowa became very troublesome, and he and his brother were forced to leave their claims and return to Penn- sylvania. In May, 1861, when President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers, he enlisted in 'Com- pany F, 70th N. Y. V. I., and going to the front took part in several battles, including the engage- ment at Fair Oaks. At the latter place he lost one finger of his right hand, and was honorably dis- charged. Going to Wisconsin, he enlisted. in 1865, in Company C, 6th Wis. V. I., and remained in the service until the war was over, when he returned to Wisconsin. In 1866 we again find him in Penn- sylvania, and he has since lived on the old home- stead of fifty-five acres in Manchester township, Wayne county.

At Equinunk, Wayne county, in 1872. Mr. Les- ter was married to Miss Hannah Layton, who was born and reared in Manchester township, and to them were born three children, all of whom died in early life: Wellmer, at the age of fourteen months ; Emma, at the age of five years : and Cur- tiss Benjamin, at the age of two years. Fraternally Mr. Lester affiliates with George Seudder Post No. 340. G. A. R .. of Equinunk, and politically he is iden- tified with the Republican party, whose principles always find in him a stanch supporter and earnest advocate. His career has been characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty, and he well deserves mention among the representative citizens of his adopted county.

David Layton, Mrs. Lester's father, was a native of Callicoon, Sullivan Co., N. Y .. and a son of Charles Layton, who was born in New Jersey, of French ancestry, and took part in the carly wars of this country. David Layton married Loretta Billings, also a native of Sullivan county. N. Y .. and a daughter of William Billings, Jr., who was born in the same State, and was a son of William Billing's, Sr .. a Revolutionary soldier. Mrs. Lay- ton's mother bore the maiden name of Margaret Swage, and was the daughter of a Revolutionary

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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soldier of German birth. Sixteen children were born to David and Loretta ( Billings ) Layton, as follows: Eliza, who died at the age of three years ; John, a Union soldier, now residing in Holmes- ville, N. Y .; William E., who was also in the Civil war, and is now a resident of Manchester township, Wayne county ; Jacob, who died in 1862; Charles, of Equinunk; Sally, who died at the age of eighteen years; Margaret, deceased wife of Mr. Rush, of Damascus township, Wayne county ; Hannah, wife of our subject ; Mrs. Maria Teeple, deceased ; Mrs. Millie Kellam, of Buckingham townhip; Josepli ; Thersey, wife of H. Reifler, of Scranton, Penn. ; a daughter who died in infancy ; David. of Damascus township; James Curtiss, of Dutchess county, N. Y .; and Loretta, wife of Benjamin Thomas, of Stockport, Penn. The father died at the age of sixty-eight, the mother at the age of forty-eight vears. Both held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was connected with the Democratic party. By occupation he was a lum- berman and farmer.

JOSEPHI LAYTON, of the above family, was born in Manchester, Wayne county, April 27, 1846, and during his boyhood attended the common schools of that locality to a limited extent. In December, 1861, at the early age of fifteen years, he responded to liis country's call for aid, enlisting in the 56th N. Y. V. I., and he was first with the Army of the. James and later with the Army of the Potomac under Gen. McClellan, participating in many im- portant engagements. In January, 1863, they left Yorktown, Va., for Hilton Head, S. C., and remained there until the close of the war, under Gilmor, taking part in the siege of James Island and Morris Island, and they were among the first troops to enter Charleston, S. C. In October, 1865, * Mr. Layton was honorably discharged and returned liome with a war record of which he may be justly proud. Throughout his business career he has suc- cussfully engaged in lumbering and farming, and has also found time to devote considerable atten- tion to public affairs. He is one of the most popu- lar and influential men of Manchester township, and has been called upon to serve as collector and assessor for six years. Ile is a prominent mem- ber of Scudder Post No. 340, G. A. R.

WILLIAM WEISS. There is probably no better known figure in public life in Wayne county than William Weiss, who has been closely identified with its interests, more particularly in Honesdale, for the last half century.

William Weiss was born February 21, IS19, in Bohemia, the son of Moses Weiss, who was a soap manufacturer in that country. Ile received a lib- cral education in the schools of his native land, where he was thoroughly drilled in his own language and German, and also studied Hebrew in addition to all the practical branches. English he acquired his knowledge of after settling in the United States. Mr. Weiss early conceived the idea of bringing his

family to America, and his plans matured in 1848, in which year they landed in New York City. At that time he had little knowledge of the vastness of this Western world, and he concluded that his best course was to travel through the country on foot in order to make himself familiar with the hab- its of the people and learn the language, at the same time keeping a lookout for a good location for his family. With this intention he set out from Eliza- beth, N. J., and walked to Easton, Penn., thence con- tinuing his journey northward until he came to with- in fifteen miles of Honesdale, Wayne county, where he hired himself out to a farmer to learn the mys- teries of agriculture. Having no suitable working clothes, he was obliged to come to Honesdale to pro- vide himself with an outfit, and here he met a nium- ber of German settlers who, recognizing in him the ability which would make him a valuable member of any community, induced him to lay aside his agri- cultural plans, assuring him that a man of his re- sources had no need to begin as a farm hand. He was given a position as clerk in the store of Asa Snyder ; but it was not long before he realized what opportunities lay along his path in a growing town like Honesdale, and he embarked in business on his 'own account. The manufacture of soda water was his first venture, and he bottled and sold that prod- uct for about five years, doing a profitable business in thiat ine until be was able to enter commercial life in a more substantial branch. He purchased a gen- eral merchandise store in Honesdale, which he car- ried on with continued success until about 1892, when he withdrew from business pursuits, and he is now enjoying, in peaceful retirement, the fruits of a long career of activity.

However, Mr. Weiss' sphere of usefulness was not limited by the four walls of his store room. Church and charitable movements, educational niat- ters and the public affairs of the community all came in for their share of his attention, and he attained a popularity almost unparalleled in that it came entire- ly unsolicited and from all quarters. regardless of creed, nationality, or politics. As a business man he was never sued or sued any one. and his social and public career was marked by the same peaceful- ness and liberality, for he has acquired and main- tained a reputation surpassed by none for honor and justness in all his transactions, of whatever nature. He has held various positions of responsibility, to which he has been elected because of his genuine worth and fitness, a statement which will be best ap- preciated when it is known that he was elected to one office-that of jury commissioner-by the Re- publicans of his county, and while still serving in that position was elected county aulitor on the Dem- ocratic ticket. For fifteen years he was a member of the city school board. of which he acted as pres- ident or treasurer for about half that time, and he has also been a member of the town council. He was one of the delegates to the Cincinnati conven- tion which nominated llorace fireeley for President. It woukl be impossible to give Mr. Weiss any higiter

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

praise-his record speaks for itself. Such numer- ous honors at the hands of his fellow citizens are accorded no man unless deserved, and that Mr. Weiss has deserved them, is a fact recognized by all. That he himself is liberal is shown in many acts, one instance being his service as member of the building committees of two Churches at the same time-the Jewish and the German Lutheran. He is a prom- inent Hebrew in this part of Pennsylvania. In

point of years of membership he no doubt has the distinction of being the oldest Odd Fellow in Wayne county, having joined in 1851, and he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1853. In addition to his many interests Mr. Weiss found time for an important branch of agriculture, and he planted the first vineyard in this section of the country, which he still owns.

Mr. Weiss has been twice married. His first marriage occurred in 1845, in the old country, the bride being Miss Caroline Lewi, who died April 10, 1856. Of this union there survives one son, Sam- uel W., who is a graduate of the University of Yale, and of the Columbia Law School, was admitted to the Bar in 1874, and is now practicing in New York City. He married Carrie Stix, daughter of Louis Stix, Esq., and they have four children-William, Nina, Louis and Carol. Mr. Weiss' second mar- riage occurred October 3, 1858, when Miss Theresa Lederer became his wife. She was born in Bo- hemia April 21, 1830, a daughter of Joseph and Roselle Lederer, and came to America with her par- ents about 1856, her father being nearly eighty years of age at that time. To Mr. and Mrs. Weiss have been born five children, as follows: Matilda. Caroline, Minnie (who married Seligman J. Straus, a lawyer of Wilkes Barre, Penn., and has three children-Frank A., Emily T. and Theresa ), Mollie, and W. Monroe (in business in New York). The girls were all graduated from the Honesdale Acad- emy, while Minnie was graduated from the Mans- field (Penn.) College. and Mollie from the Welles- ley College, in Massachusetts. W. Monroe studied at Andover, Mass., and Princeton ( N. J.) College. The wife and mother died October 26, 1892. At her bier three ministers of different denominations- two of them at their own request-delivered enlo- gies upon the noble character of the deceased to a numerous gathering from every Church .in town. Such is the liberal spirit of the people in the beau- tiful town of Honesdale.

GEORGE ROBINSON has resided on the Clover Hill farm. on the Whitney estate, in Texas township. Wayne county, for the past twenty years, as superintendent for Mrs. Whitney, and he is one of the well-known agriculturists and stockmen of that township. He is a native of the same, born in March, 1856, and he belongs to one of the old pioneer families of this section, being a grandson of William Robinson, who settled in Wayne county, at an early day.

William Robinson was born on the ocean while

his parents were en route to the United States, and they settled in Reading, Penn., where he grew to manhood. After commencing life for himself le came to Wayne county, here marrying Miss Mary Ann Patton, and they settled in Dyberry, where they made their home until their removal, in 1838, to near Seelyville, Texas township. There he died, in 1849, his wife surviving until 1873. He was a stone mason by occupation. They reared a family of seven children-two sons and five daughters, viz .: (1) William, the eldest, died in Wayne county. (2) Sarah became the wife of Leonard Sloan. of Carbondale. (3) Mary was first married to Rob- ert Sibottom, and after his death she became the wife of Minor Swingle, of Pittston, where they reside. (4) Martha is the wife of Jesse Robbins. (5) Elizabeth has been three times married, her first husband being James Belknap, her second Nelson Lawrence, and her present husband is Charles Gillmartin, of Carbondale. (6) Margaret is the wife of Charles Allen, of Binghamton, N. Y. (7) Jerome B. is the father of our subject.

Jerome B. Robinson was born in Wayne county in January, 1831, and has passed his entire life here, making his home at present in Texas township. He learned the carpenter's trade. which he followed in his earlier years, and he erected a number of saw- mills in the county, where he has also engaged in lumbering to some extent. He married Frances Switzer, who was born in 1830 in Switzerland, and came to America with her father, Nicholas Switzer, landing in New York City. Mr. Switzer migrated finally to Ohio, where he died, but the daughter came from New York to Wayne county, Penn., and here met and married Mr. Robinson, the young couple settling in Texas township, near the present home of their son George. They reared a family of six sons and three daughters, of whom we give a brief record : ( 1) William H. Robinson was born in 1853 in Texas township where he grew to man- hood and married Miss Verna Gier. They now reside at Como, this county, where he is engaged in running mill engines. They have two children- Lillie and Edna. (2) John G. Robinson, born in 1855 in Texas township, married Miss Rachel Myers, of Susquehanna county, and they liave four children living-Albert, Harry, Bessie and Flos- sie. They reside in Carbondale. (3) George is the third in order of birth. (4) Christina, born in 1859 in Texas township. is the wife of John Sporer. of Cherry Ridge, Wayne county, and they reside on their farm there. Seven children have blessed their union-Edward, John. Joseph. Francis, Theresa. Frank and George. (5) Sarah. born in 1861. is the wife of John Deitz. of Texas township, and they reside on his farm : he is employed on the Delaware & Hudson railroad. They have a family of nine children-John. Joseph. Francis. Theresa, Annie. Lizzie, Charles. Arthur and Elsie. (6) Frank Rob- inson. born in 1863. grew to manhood in Texas township, and is married to Miss Katie Manion, of Starrucca, by whom he has three children-Clar-

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COMMEMORATIU'E BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ence, Frank and Chester. They have their home in Carbondale. (7) Joseph F. Robinson, born in 1865, received a good common-school education, and at any early age took up architectural work, for which he manifested unusual ability, and in which he has won unusual success. He has acquired the reputation of being one of the finest architectural draftsmen in Pennsylvania, through- out which State he is well known, and he is very popular in his own county and the adjoining sec- tion. Mr. Robinson not only aims at erecting a building which will command attention for archi- tectural beauty, but also makes it a rule to econo- mize space in every way, and he has furnished plans and specifications for some of the best public buildings in the State. In 1892 he wedded Miss Vina Toby, of Carbondale, where they reside, and they have one daughter, Marie. (8) Barbara, born in 1867, is the wife of Charles Vincent, and they reside in Georgetown, Wayne county, where he is engaged in farming. They have one daughter, Mabel. (9) Nicholas Robinson. born in 1869, mar- ried Miss Maggie White, of Texas, Wayne county, and they reside in Carbondale, where Mr. Robin- son follows the carpenter thade. They have two chil- dren living-Eva and Florence. Jerome B. Robin- son, the father of this large family, is a citizen of Texas township, and he has always been identi- fied with the Republican party in that section as one of its most loyal members. He is a devout Catholic in religious connection.

George Robinson was reared in his birthplace, and he has followed agricultural pursuits for the most part, being also known as a stockman in this part of the township. For the past twenty years he and his family have occupied their present home in Texas township, known as the Clover Hill farm, which is part of the Whitney estate, and dur- -ing that time he has acted as superintendent for Mrs. Whitney. In 1880 Mr. Robinson was imited in marriage with Miss Catherine Murrman, of Seelyville, and seven children have come to their union : Lizzie A., born in February, 1881 ; Henry A., July, 1882: Louis G., August, 1886; Cora M., August, 1888: E. Royal, September, 1890; Grace A., October, 1897 ; and Laura, in June, 1899. Henry A., the eldest son, is now employed in the office of the Montreal Daily Witness, and resides with his uncle in Montreal. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are mcm- bers of the Presbyterian Church at Prompton. In political affiliation he is a stanchi Prohibitionist.

Mrs. Robinson is the eldest in the family of five children born to Henry and Elizabeth Murrman, natives of Bavaria, Germany, who came to America in 1866 and settled in Seelyville. Wayne Co., Pem., where the father followed the shoemaker's trade. A record of the family is as follows: (1) Catherine ( Mrs. Robinson) was born in 1860 in Bavaria, Germany. (2) Rev. Adam Murrman. born in 1863 in Germany, is now a minister of the Congregational Church. located at Montreal, Canada. He married Miss Julia Moody, of Northfickl, Mass., who is a

niece of the late famous evangelist, Dwight L. Moody. They have no children. (3) Henry was born in 1864 in Germany, and learned his father's trade, shoemaking, working with him in the Dir- land & Thompson shoe factory in Honesdale. He married Miss Clara Long, of Honesdale, where they reside, and they have two daughters-Marion and Gertrude. (4) Mary was born in Germany, and was an infant when the family came to America. She is now the wife of Charles Folley, of Seely- ville, and has one son, Edward. (5) Cornelia was born in Scelyville, and married Willis Searles of that place. They now reside in Peckville, near Scranton, with their two children-Harold and Clarence. Mr. Murrman still makes his home in Honesdale, and is among the honored and respected residents of that place.

D. W. WILCOX, who has resided on his farm. in Damascus township, Wayne county, for nearly forty years, is a representative prosperous farmer and lumberman of this part of the county, and a member of one of the earliest pioneer families of the region, being a son of Darius and Sophronia ( Sim- mons) Wilcox, who were well known among the early settlers of this locality.

Darius Wilcox was a native of Blackstown, R. I., where he grew to manhood. For a few years he was located in Windham county, Conn., and there he married, but in 1836 be decided to migrate west and try his fortune in a region just then open- ing up to civilization, Wayne county, Penn. He preempted 169 acres of wild land situated in Damas- cus township, erected a round-log house and barn upon the property, and in the following year. 1837, brought his family to their home in the wilderness and commenced the work of carving out a farm and establishing himself in a comfortable home. By arduous and unceasing toil he succeeded in clear- ing seventy-five acres of the land, which he brought to a highly improved state and cultivated profita- bly to the end of his days, succeeding beyond his expectations in acquiring a valuable property, a property whose condition and appearance were in reality a monunient to his energy and skill. As the passing years brought him continued prosperity he made various improvements on the place, put- ting up a commodious frame house and barn, etc., and he made his home there until his death. in 1868. His wife, who shared with him all the hardships and privations incident to life on a new farm in an unsettled region and proved a faithful helpmeet to him in all his trials, survived him nine years. pass- ing away in 1877. They were among the most suc- cessful of the early settlers in the neighborhood, but their neighbors and friends were all of the one opinion, that none merited better success, and they were respected and admired by all for their cour- age and industry and for the many sterling traits of character which showed forth in all their actions and dealings with others. They reared a family of four children, of whom D. W. is the eldest. 1

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Freda was born in 1835 in Connecticut, grew to maturity on the farm in Wayne county, and there married William H. Rose, of Sullivan county, N. Y .; they now reside on a part of the old Wilcox homestead in Damascus; they have had two chil- dren-William J., who is unmarried, and Elizabeth, Mrs. William Tymerson, of Richmond Hill, L. I. Ellen, born in 1838 in Damascus, is the wife of Solomon C. Impson, of Sullivan county, N. Y., and has one son living, Marian, a bright young man, who has received a fine education; they are now residents of Hollisterville, Wayne county. John T., born in 1844, in Damascus, grew to manhood on the farm, and after his marriage to Miss Frances E. Winkley, also of Wayne county, settled on the homestead, where he still has his home; they have four children-Julia (Mrs. Nathaniel Wood, of Damascus), Ferry, Lon and Dovie.

D. W. Wilcox was born in February, 1832, . in Windham county, Conn., and grew to manhood on the homestead in Damascus township, where from his earliest years he was inured to the duties of farm life. The public schools in those days were few and far between, and as our subject's services were needed 'at home his attendance was somewhat limited, and if the perseverance which he has dis- played in everything had not manifested itself early · in his life his learning might have been limited too. But he studied evenings by the fire until he had mastered the rudimentary English branches, and possessing intelligence of no mean order he has succeeded in gaining more than the average in the school of experience. He has always kept his own business accounts, and, like his father, acquired by good management and tireless industry a comfort- able share of this world's goods. In 1853 he mar- ried Miss Julia Rose, of Sullivan county, N. Y., and they lived on a farm in Oregon township which he had purchased for the three years following, at the end of which time he sold and bought a farm in Damascus, near Beaver Meadows, while on this place engaging in agriculture and lumbering, job- bing logs and peeling bark for one and a half years. In 1859 he purchased the present home, comprising 150 acres, which at that time was in a primitive con- dition, and he at once set about the task of clearing and improving this tract. 125 acres of which are now, thanks to his industry, under a fine state of cultivation. A good frame house, two commodious barns and other outbuildings adorn the place and enhance its value, which is now considerable. for it is one of the most desirable farms in the township. During the early part of his residence here, for about ten years, Mr. Wilcox followed lumbering in connection with general farming, working along the Delaware river, but the greater part of his time and attention has been devoted to the management of his agricultural interests. Ilis farm, besides being provided with all the modern improvements considered necessary by the up-to-date farmer, is well stocked with the best Durham cattle, fine sheep, hogs and poultry of improved breeds, and the

orchard, set out by his own hands and carcin cultivated, is one of the largest in Damascus.

Mr. Wilcox has made a place for himself and .. the intelligent and successful farmers of this sect: and he is a self-made man in the best sense of ! term, having risen by his own efforts. Begini. life a poor boy, he toiled early and late to obtain good start in the world, and he advanced steads year by year to a place among the solid men of th prosperous community, respected by all who kilo ;. him.

In 1862 Mr. Wilcox enlisted in the Union cau -.. becoming a member of Company E, 179th P. V. 1., Capt. G. W. Hubbel, Col. Funk, commanding. lle was sworn into the service at Philadelphia, where he was engaged in guard duty, acting during the heavy drafts of 1863, when he was detailed to guard public property. In the meantime he was elected sergeant and was later promoted to orderly, which rank he still held at the time of his discharge from the service. He was in Philadelphia for ten months.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 54

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