Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 9

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 9
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 9
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 9
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 9

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About the time that Mr. Chase took this de- cided stand against the license laws, another ques- tion arose in Susquehanna county which tested still farther his fidelity to his convictions. The new law. providing a Superintendent of Public Schools was very unpopular, and at least four-fifths of the vot- ing masses opposed and carnestly petitioned for it; repeal. Mr. Chase had been school teacher long enough to see the virtues and necessity of such a law, and notwithstanding its widespread unpopulari- ty he felt compelled to disregard the petition of his constituents. This course created many enemies. and a determined effort was made to defeat liis re- election. He undertook a personal canvass of every school district in the county, explained eloquentis the necessity of the law, and was triumphantly

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

elected. This settled forever the question in favor of the new law, and to-day it is more popular with the people than it was thien odious. In the Legis- lattire Mr. Chiase became a leader of distinction. He was made chairman of the Ways and Means, Judiciary and other important committees. He be- came a popular candidate for Speaker, and, while defeated by a narrow majority, he presided over the deliberations of the House most of that session, owing to the serious illness of the Speaker-elect. In 1858 he was selected chairman of the Republi- can convention, and then retired from the political arena for a time and devoted his time to organizing the temperance elements in the State and Nation, so as to better equip them for their determined ef- fort to dethrone the rum king. He became the guiding spirit of the Sons of Temperance and the order of Good Templars, and held so many places of honor and trust that a mere enumeration of them might tire the patience of the reader. It is sufficient to say that he has been presiding officer of either State or National lodges almost continuously for over a quarter of a century, and has attended every session of the International Supreme Lodge, over which he presided with great credit to himself for five consecutive years. He was for seven years tlie Grand Chief Teinplar of Pennsylvania, and dis- charged the duties of that responsible trust with dignity and ability. These connections, and his eminent qualities as a leader and worker, secured for him a reputation and an acquaintance as wide as the Nation. On both sides of the Atlantic his clarion voice has rung out notes of warning against that traffic which is the direst curse of man. In 1872 he was called to preside over the first National Prohibition Convention ever held in this country. It met at Columbus, Ohio, and but for the fact that he was the permanent chairman he would have been honored with the nomination for the Presi- dency. During the same year the Prohibitionists of Pennsylvania selected him as the gubernatorial standard-bearer, and afterward he was twice their candidate for the Supreme Judgeship of the State. In 1878 he received the nomination for Congress in the old Grow district, and two years ago, at Easton, Northampton county, where lie now practices law, he again was honored with a Congressional nomina- tion on the Prohibition ticket. In all of these cam- paigns he showed remarkable activity, canvassing the State and the Congressional districts with great ability, awakening everywhere profound interest in the cause of temperance, and making a host of friends. As a writer Mr. Chase has exercised great influence among the temperance masses. His pub- lished reports and addresses are valuable contribu- tions to the current literature of the day. The tol- lowing are some of his well known and most popu- lar works: "Good of the Order," "Digest and Treat- ise on Parliamentary Law," which has reached the fifteenth edition, "History of Good Templars," for Mill's Manual, "Manual of Good Templars." These and many other works from his pen have largely

shaped the policy and purpose of the Good Tem- plars on both sides of the Atlantic, and his name as a temperance leader is quite as familiar to-day in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire- land, Australasia and South Africa, as it is in the United States.

From borhood Mr. Chase has been an earnest and useful Church member. Hc belongs to the Presbyterian denomination, and in the affairs of that religious organization he has taken a very prominent part. He was thrice appointed com- missioner to the General Assembly of the United States, and in Sunday-school work he has been a powerful factor for good. Aside from his being an elder in the Church he has been for thirty-five years at the head of the Sunday-school at Hallstead, Sus- quehanna county, where he is loved and respected by the entire community. In the work of the Sun- day-school, as well as in the battle for temperance, he has constantly received the valuable assistance of his talented wife, Fanny D. B. Chase, who lias for many years been one of the leading spirits in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and for- six years presided over the deliberations of that or- ganization in this State. The influence of her writ- ings and works extends bevond the confines of our Commonwealth. Three sons of this worthy couple are vet living : N. Du Bois, an attorney at law in Easton, Penn .; Emmet C. and George A., officers of a leading insurance company in Balti- more, Maryland.

ALMON SWEET, a highly-esteemed resident of Gibson, Susquehanna county, has been promi- nently identified with the agricultural interests of that locality for many years, but is now living in retirement and enjoying the rewards of a life of well-directed effort. He was born in Gibson town- ship. May 18. 1817, and in the paternal line is of good Massachusetts stock. Oney Sweet, our sub- ject's father, was born and reared at Attleboro, Mass., and married to Abigail Chandler, of Gibson township, Susquehanna county. It was in 1805 that he came to Susquehanna county and settled in Gib- son township, where he made a clearing in the wil- derness and built a log house in which they lived in true pioneer style for a number of years. He died April 18, 1848, aged sixty-five years, and his wife died May 5. 1858. aged sixty-nine years, and their remains were interred in Gibson cemetery. In re- ligious faitli he and his wife were Universalists, and were among the leaders in the movement to secure a Church in their locality. They had the fol- lowing children : Raymond, who died at the age of eighty-four: Sally, who is now aged ninety-two, married Evander Spalding, of Binghamton. N. Y .; Laura, deceased. married Lyman Blackington : Ema- line, deceased. married Manly Blackington, a broth- er of Lyman Blackington : Eliza, deceased. married Arson Root, of Schoharie county, N. Y. : Almon is mentioned more fully below : Elvira, youngest of the family, but now deceased, married Stephen Barnard.

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Almon Sweet was reared to farm work, and as a young man took charge of the old homestead, a fine estate of 135 acres. He continued general farming until October, 1897, when he retired and settled in Gibson village. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and his family is connected with the M. E. Church, his wife being an active meniber. On March 18, 1841, he was married; in Gibson town- ship, to Miss Caroline Foster, and they have had- four children : Oney, born December 13, 1841, mar- ried Helen Coon, and settled in Hampton, Iowa, as a merchant ; Williani, born April 12, 1847, married Jennie Lindsley, and located upon a farm in Brule county, S. D .; Sarah, born July 10, 1849, in Gib- son township, married Samuel Strockbine; Julia, born February 21, 1861, married William Lamb, and resides on the old homestead.

Mrs. Caroline Foster Sweet, who is greatly respected for her intelligence and personal worth, was born June 24, 1821, at Lansingburg, Rensselaer county, N. Y., the daughter of John, and the grand- daughter of Joseph and Abigail Foster, of Attle- boro, Mass. John Foster was born at Attleboro, but made his home in mature years in Troy, N. Y., where he engaged in the meat business. He died there in 1827, aged forty-three, and his wife, Susan Gillespie, who was a devout member of the Presby- terian Church, died in 1829, aged forty-three years. She was a native of Orange county, N. Y., and a daughter of James Gillespie. Of the seven children of John and Susan Foster, the eldest, Edward, died at Owego, N. Y., unmarried; Julia married George Dewitt, and died at Nyack, N. Y., in 1899, aged eighty-four years ; Joseph married Mary Strockbine, of New York City, and they lived there, he being employed in the general postoffice until the time of his death; James, a twin of Joseph, was a tanner and currier of Troy. N. Y., and married Frances Morey, and now resides at Charleston. S. C .; Will- iam was the fifth in order of birth: Caroline is the wife of our subject; John is a hotel-keeper in Cali- fornia.

THOMAS AVERY is one of the most pro- gressive and enterprising agriculturists of Ararat township. Susquehanna Co., Penn., and the success that he has achieved in life is due to his own thrift and industry. His tastes have always inclined him to agricultural pursuits, and his well-improved farm gives evidence of his careful supervision and excel- lent management.

In the township where he still continues to re- side, Mr. Avery was born in 1838, and he is a repre- sentative of one of its old and lionored families, being a grandson of John and Eleanor ( Griffithi) Avery, who located here in 1825. From the wild, unbroken forest the grandfather developed the farm on which Chauncey Avery now lives. He died in Ararat township, June 1. 1844. and his wife depart- ed this life in 1840. Their children were David; Samuel, father of our subject ; Sally; Polly; Eva- line ; Gardner ; John ; Daniel ; Lydia Ann ; and Eliza.

Samuel Avery, our subject's father. was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1801, and there he grew to manhood and married Miss Dorcas Hop- kins, a native of Rhode Island. In 1821 they first canie to Ararat township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., but in 1823 returned to the Empire State, and did not locate permanently here until five years later. Throughout life the father followed farming, and on the old homestead in Ararat township he died in October, 1872 ; his wife passed away in May, 1875. To them were born ten children, namely: Chaun- cey ; Eleanor, who married first a Mr. Williams, and then a Mr. Hopkins, and died in 1894; Abner, a resident of Ararat township; Susannah, who died in 1847, at the age of nineteen years; David, Mrs. Angeline Doyle, and Samuel, who all died in Ararat township; George, a veteran of the Civil war and resident of Ararat township; Thomas, our subject ; and Mrs. Eliza Stone, of Thompson.

During his boyhood Thomas Avery attended the district schools of Ararat township and became thoroughly familiar with every department of farm work. He has always made his home in that town- ship, and since 1884 has resided on his present farm, which is a well-improved and valuable tract of sixty-three acres. He was among the boys in blue of the Civil war, enlisting in Bradford county, Penn., in 1863, in Company H, 49th P. V. I., for three years or during the war. He was mustered into the United States service at Harrisburg, and as a member of the Army of the Potomac took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and all the other engagements in which his command participated. He was wounded in the left shoulder at City Point, Va., and after remain- ing in the field hospital at that place for a time he was sent to Washington. D. C. He was honorably discharged September 12, 1864, and returned to his home in Ararat township.

In 1860 Mr. Avery was married to Miss Mary E. Beaumont, a native of Susquehanna county. Her parents, John and Jane ( Dunklesly) Beaumont. were born in England, and in early life emigrated to the United States and located in Ararat township, where the father's death occurred. The wife and mother is living at the advanced age of eighty years. and continues to make her home in that township. In their family were seven children: Thomas, now a resident of Bradford county, Penn. ; Martha Jane. wife of George Avery, of Ararat township: Mary E., wife of our subject : John, of Ararat township; Matthew, of Hornellsville, N. Y .: Henrietta, wife of Frank Potter, of Saxton, Penn .; Dora Alice, wife of A. J. Avery, of Ararat township. The children born to our subject and his wife are as iol- lows: Thomas Jefferson, a soldier of the Spanish- American war: Amy J., wife of S. E. Dunn, of Ararat township; Nora J., born in 1866, died in 1877, at the Harford Soldiers' Orphans School. in Susquehanna county ; Robert John, a resident of Ararat township; Frank J., of Brooklyn, N. Y .: Charles J., on the liome farm; Henry J., of Ararat

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township; Minnie J., wife of E. J. Payne, of Ararat township; Josephine J., wife of Noah Smith, of the same township. In his political affiliations Mr. Avery is a Republican, and he has always taken an active and commendable interest in public affairs.

CHARLES P. EDWARDS, deceased, was for many years a leading citizen of Gibson, Susque- lianna county, being actively engaged in business and taking an influential part in local affairs. His death, which occurred January 21, 1893, was so sin- cerely mourned in the community that the following brief memoir will be of general interest.

Mr. Edwards was born September 9, 1820, at Hopkinton City, R. I., the son of Putnam and Dorothy ( Burdick) Edwards, both natives of Rhode Island. In 1833 Putnam Edwards came to Susque- hanna county with his family to make his perman- ent home, locating in Clifford township and en- gaging in farming. He was a devout Christian, a member of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church, and was much esteemed as a citizen. His wife was a daughter of Kendall Burdick, of Rhode Island, and her family became prominently identified with Clif- ford township, at an early day. Seven children were born to Putnam and Dorothy Edwards, as follows: Lydia, Mrs. Thompson, who died in Honesdale; Samuel, who died in Buffalo, N. Y .; Charles P., our subject ; Eunice, who' married Henry Coil, of Gib- son township, and died at Dundaff; Harriet, de- ceased, who married Steven Wright, of Herrick township, Susquehanna county; Sarah, who died in Herrick township, unmarried, and Mary, who mar- ried Mr. Lord and went to Ohio.

As a lad of thirteen Charles P. Edwards ac- companied the family to Susquehanna county, and, his parents being in limited circumstances, for a short time he worked among farmers near their home. At an early age he served an apprenticeship at Dun- (laff as a wagon maker, and then he settled at Gib- son. where he first rented the "Dutcher shop," and afterward built a suitable building for himself. After operating this shop for several years in part- nership with Anson Hall he sold his interest and engaged in the manufacture of bedsteads and horse rakes, continuing five years, but he then resumed the wagon business, which he carried on until his death. In politics he was a Republican, and at one time he served as justice of the peace, the duties of the office being discharged with characteristic faithfulness. In early manhood he united with the Presbyterian Church, and he and his estimable wife always manifested sympathy with religious work.

On December 23, 1843. he was married. in Clif- ford township, Susquehanna county, to Miss Helen P. Stevens, and four children blessed their home. ( I ) Julia, deceased, married Delois Bryant, a fore- man in a carriage shop at St. Paul, Minn. (2) Caroline married Butler Williams, of Mansfield, Ohio. who operated a dry-goods store at Susque- hanna for three years, and for about twenty-five |

years past has been a successful traveling salesman. Their only son, Charles Sanford, also a traveling salesman, married Miss Grace Hedges, and has two children-Jeanette and Francis. (3) Henry, a blacksmith at Scranton, married Miss Ella Ten- nant. (4) Nettie married Dennison Tait, a wagon manufacturer at New Milford. Mrs. Edwards, to whose efficient aid our subject owed much of his success in life, was born December 23. 1821. in Clifford township, Susquehanna county, daughter of Joel Stevens, a prominent resident of that local- ity, who is mentioned elsewhere. The Stevens family is of old Vermont stock, and Joel Stevens was born and reared in the Green Mountain State, but came to Susquehanna county at an early day. He was married three times, the last time in Clif- ford township. to Julia Spencer, a member of a well known pioneer family. His death occurred in Clifford township, and his wife's last years were spent in the home of our subject. Of their six children, Helen P., Mrs. Edwards, is the eldest ; Ed- ward is a farmer at Portland, Oregon : William is a farmer in Clifford township, Susquehanna county ; Ann, deceased. married George Mumford, of MIt. Pleasant ; Franklin was killed in a mine at Pike's Peak; and Florence is the wife of George Taylor, of Benton, Pennsylvania.

ELIHU H. LYMAN, who is now living retired on his fine farm in Auburn township, Susquehanna county, has been a resident of same for nearly half a century, and during that time has gained a posi- tion second to none as an industrious, honorable and esteemed citizen, and a man who would be a credit to any community. He was born January 9, 1821, in Springville township, son of Joseph A. Lyman, who was a well-known figure in this sec- tion for many years.

Joseph A. Lyman was born May 18. 1788. in Claremont, Vt., son of Gideon, Sr., and Dolly ( Spencer) Lyman, the former of whom was a sol- dier in the Revolutionary war. At the age of fif- teen years Joseph came to Susquehanna county, Penn., settling in Springville township, where he became in time one of the most prominent and use- ful citizens of the locality. both as a prosperous farm- er and capable public official. He was extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits at what is now known as Lymanville, clearing 150 acres of land, carried on carpentering in connection with the work of the farm, and built the turnpike between Mont- rose and Tunkhannock. He held nearly every office in the gift of his fellow townsmen in Springville. serving as supervisor, school director. member of the election board, etc .. to the satisfaction of all. and no citizen was held in greater esteem or more favorably known throughout the vicinity. His po- litical support was given to the Republican party. Joseph A. Lyman married Miss Annie Hall. who was born August 20. 1789. daughter of Elihu and Mary Hall. and their children were : Mary Ann.who died young ; Mary, now deceased, who wa, the

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

wife of David Daly, of Springville township : Dens- more, who died young ; Elihu H .; Joseph, deceased, who was a physician, practicing in Tunkhannock and Towanda, Penn .; Keziah, wite of W. Walker, of Springville township ; Roxanna Ashley, who died at the age of four years ; and Charles H., who died young. The father of this family passed to his eternal rest September 4, 1869, on his farm at Ly- manville, the mother following hini to the grave on March 7, 1872. Both were zealous members ot the M. E. Church, the mother being the first mem- ber of that denomination in Springville, and they took an active part in the advancement of Christian- ity and religious and charitable affairs generally.

Elihu H. Lyman passed all his early life on the home farm, during his boyhood receiving such ad- vantages for education as the common schools of the day offered, but the greater part of liis time was given to learning agriculture thoroughly, and that he did is evidenced by the success which has attended him in his chosen calling He remained on the home place for several years after his mar- riage, working a tract of fifty acres, adjoining, which he owned, and in 1853 he came to Auburn and set- tled on the farm which has ever since been his home, but which at that time presented a vastly different appearance, the land then being in its primitive condition. He bought 106 acres at first, and has since added a small tract, and he has cleared seventy-five acres, which is devoted to general crops. Mr. Lyman has also engaged in carpenter and cooper work, and he has become prosperous as a result of steady industry and thrifty management, for it was no easy matter to make a comfortable living from the farm in its original condition. After years of toil Mr. Lyman retired to spend his clos- ing years peacefully in the enjoyment of the com- fortable competence which he has acquired, and the management of the farm is now in the hands of his son-in-law. The present residence, a large and convenient dwelling, was built in 1868, and the home and surroundings are all pleasant and taste- fully improved. A dairy is also conducted on the farm.

Mr. Lyman was married, in Wyoming county, Penn., to Miss Sarah Smith, who was born March 3, 1822, daughter of Tilton H. and Catherine ( Draper ) Smith. and was the sixth in a family of twelve children. viz. : Truman, who died at the age of eight- een years; Samuel W., a resident of Springville township, who died in 1807: Susan, who died in 1805. wife of W. Russell. of Washington town- ship, Wyoming county; Isaac O., born March 20, 1817. living in Washington township, Wyoming county : Oliver P., born October 14. 1819. living in Nichols. N. Y .; Sarah, Mrs. Lyman : James S., born September 12, 1824, engaged in mercantile business in Fremont. Dodge Co., Neb. : Esther, born March 2. 1827. now deceased. who first married L. Safford and later became the wife of P. Lyman : Charles A .. born September 5, 1829. of Fremont. Neb. ; Joseph T., born November 28. 1831, a land-

owner and speculator of Fremont, Neb. ; Mary J., born August 16, 1834. deceased wife of David Car- penter, of Tunkhannock; and Catherine M., born July 22, 1839. who first married Amos Warner, and for her second husband Daniel Sheldon, ot Auburn township. The father of these was born November 11, 1787, in Orange county, N. Y .. and died May 1. 1863, in Wyoming county, Penn., where he followed farming for many years; the mother was born June 24, 1790, and died June 15, 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Lyman have had a family of four children, namely: ( 1) Llewellyn, born March I, 1846, deceased. (2) N. Janette, born February 13. 1847, now the wife of Elmer Alger, of Vose, Wyoming county. (3) Amelia G., born March 6, 1853, wife of Perry Bixby (they have had thrce children-the eldest died in infancy ; Gordon S .. born

June 2. 1882; and Lennie Janette, an adopted daughter, born July 25, 1891). (4) Eudora. born March 8. 1860, who died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Lyman are active workers in the M. E. Church, in which they have held member- ship for many years. and he is serving at present as steward and trustee of the cemetery. In his po- litical affiliation he is a Republican, but he takes no active interest in party affairs and has never as- pired to public position, preferring to devote his time to his private affairs.

EMANUEL COYKENDALL is one of the worthy citizens of Matamoras, Pike county, who valiantly went to the defense of their country dur- ing the war of the Rebellion, and he has at all times been a loyal and patriotic citizen, devoted to the best interests of the community. For many years he was identified with the agricultural interests of Westfall township, Pike county, but is now prac- tically living retired at his pleasant home in Mat- amoras.

.. ..

Mr. Coykendall was born in Sussex county. N. J .. September 8. 1835, son of Martin and Margaret (Van Sickle) Coykendall, who were born. reared and married in that county, where they continued to make their home until their removal to Westfall township, Pike Co., Penn .. in 1842. The father was a suc- cessful farmer and spent the last thirty years of his life in retirement from business carcs, making his home in Matamoras from 1872 until his death, which occurred in November. 1893, when he was eighty-two years of age. His wife died in 1891 at the age of seventy-nine years, and the remains of both were interred at Carpenter's Point. N. J. They were earnest members of the Baptist Church. and most estimable people. The children born to them were: James, Louis, Catherine. Ohediah and Mar- tin. all deceased; Mary E., wite of John Fisher. a railroad conductor of Middletown, N. Y .: Harry, a farmer of Orange county. N. Y. : Charlotte. wife of Charles Angle, a railroad engineer of Port Ier- vis. N. Y. : Seymour, a farmer of Matamoras, Penn. : Emanuel. our subject : and Anna. wife of Ira Cole. a railroad man of Matamoras. The paternal grand-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

father of our subject, Emanuel Coykendall, who was a prominent and extensive farmer and dairy- man, spent his entire life in New Jersey.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 9

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