Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 90

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 90
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 90
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 90
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 90

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Joseph D. Schmale, our subject, was born in Eldred township, November 11, 1844. He was a youth of seventeen on his father's farm, when he enlisted for nine months in Company H. 153rd Regi- ment P. V. I., Capt. George H. Young. He was mustered in at IHarrisburg, September 24, 1862, and during his comparatively brief service endured all the hardships and privations of war. The two greatest battles in which he engaged were Chancel- lorsville and Gettysburg. His term of service had expired on the cve of the great battle of Gettysburg, when Hood was making his dash into Pennsylvania, and when all the available military resources of the North were rallied to repel the daring invasion. The 153rd P. V. I. had by a forced march of ninetcen days arrived from Stafford Court House, Va. On the first day of the fierce engagement, July 1, 1863, about two o'clock in the afternoon our subject was shot through the hip and rib joint. For a few days he remained in the field .hospital, and from July 6, . to the 24th lay in the Philadelphia hospital. He was afterward mustered out at Easton, Penn. Return-

ing homc, the young soldier assisted on his father" farm until fall, when he went to Allentown, and :: following winter teamcd in the lumber woods. F : a year he was employed in a sawmill at Bethlche ::. Penn., and then he was similarly engaged at White- haven until the opening of 1866.

On March 24, 1866, Mr. Schmale was married to Miss Elizabeth Serfass, who was born Januar; 22, 1841, on the farm now occupied by our subject, and is a daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth ( Hawk Serfass, a prominent agriculturist family of Eldred township. Of the five children born to Joseph and Elizabeth Schmale, Ella and two infants are de- ceased; Adam, who married Frances D. Hawk, is at home, and Eva is the wife of Allen P. Schafer, a farmer of Eldred township.

Since his marriage our subject has remained! on his present farm, where he is engaged in general farming. Hc has served his township as school director for seven years, has been treasurer for two years, and supervisor, also two years. He is a prom- inent member of Scotis Post No. 562, G. A. R .. and since the age of seventeen has been a member of the Trachsville Reformed Church, of which for the past two years he has been elder. Mr. Schmale is one of the best informed men of Polk, and is especially well versed in local history, a subject in which he has taken a deep interest. He is broad in his views. intelligent and progressive, and ranks as one of the best leading citizens.

HORACE O. PECK. In this well-known citizen of Brandt, Susquehanna county, we find A typical business man, shrewd, yet honorable in ail his dealings, and winning popular esteem by his sterling qualities of character. Since locating in Brandt, more than a quarter of a century ago, Mr. Peck has been connected with nearly every im- portant enterprise begun there, and his sound judg- ment is appreciated by his business associates in all lines.

The Pcck family is well known in this country. our subject's ancestors having come from England at an early period to settle in Connecticut. Amos Peck, our subject's grandfather, was born and rearcd in Wallingford, Conn., and married Sybil Parker, also a native of that State. They made their permanent home at Jewett. Greene Co .. N. Y .. clearing and improving wild land. This worthy couple had a large family of children who lived 1. maturity. (1) Levi married and settled in Jewett. where he died. (2) Orin. deceased, married and settled on a farm in Delaware county, N. Y. (3) Munson, born in Jewett, married and located on 2 farm in Massachusetts, where he died. leaving a daughter, Emily, now the wife of Lieut. Dicker- man, residing near Rockford, Ill. (4) Charles. our subject's father, is mentioned more fully be- low. (5) Mary married Nathaniel Hull. of Con- nccticut, later of Jewett, N. Y .. where she died. leav- ing no family. (6) Lydia married Alfred Peck. of Jewett, where they resided for a time, but later

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Av.Peek

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

they removed to Great Barrington, Mass., where he followed mercantile pursuits for many years. She died in 1896, leaving two daughters, Mary, wife of J. H. Tuller, and Bell, wife of John Boyd, of Waterbury, Connecticut.

Charles Peck, our subject's father, was born in 1811, in Wallingford, Conn., but his youth was spent mainly in New York State, his education be- ing secured in the schools of Jewett. For many years he was engaged in farming in that locality, his death occurring in 1881. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and his popu- larity among his fellow townsmen was shown by his frequent election to local offices. He married Miss Stata Coe, who was born in 1810 at Jewett, N. Y., and died in 1874. Both were devout men- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and their family was reared in that faith. Of their seven children our subject was the youngest, and all were born and reared at Jewett. (1) Oliver, born June 21, 1836, settled upon a farm at Jewett. where he died in 1891. He married Miss Luann Barclay, of Jew- ett, and had four children-Lyman, a resident of Waterbury, Conn .; Charles, now a resident of Jew- ett, N. Y .; Louise, wife of Edward Haines, of Hensonville, Greene Co., N. Y .; and Lottie, wife of a Mr. Lane, of Ulster county, N. Y. (2) Lyman, born May 13, 1838, enlisted in the 120th New York Regiment during the Civil war, being mus- tered into the service in August, 1862, and was as- signed to the Army of the Potomac. He was in all the battles of his command; at Fredericksburg he was taken sick, and his death occurred in a hospital at Falmouth, Va., January 14, 1863. He was held in high esteem among a large circle of friends. He was unmarried. . (3) George WV., born July 25, 1840, enlisted in November, 1861, in the goth New York Regiment, and sailcd from Governor's Island to Key West, Fla., where he died of yellow fever, his early death cutting short a promising career. He was not married. (4) Kate, born February 12, 1843, married Newell Morse, a farmer in Greene county, who died leaving three children, Archie, Bell and Edward, all at home with their mother. (5) Maria, born December 1, 1845, married George Rice, of Jewett, where they now reside: he was a member of the 120th New York Regiment, and served during the Civil war. They have a family of six children, William. John, Kitty. Annie. Bes- sie and Arthur. (6) Brainard, born November 4. 1848, married Miss Sarah Jones, and now resides on his father's old homestead in Jewett. He has five children-Frank, who married Nettie and settled at Old Forge, in the Adirondack Moun- tains ; and Raymond, Bertha, Ilarry and Allen, at home.

Our subject was born July 23, 1852, at the old homestead at Jewett, and when a boy he attended the academy at that place. He also took a course in the academy at Kingston, N. Y., and for some time was successfully engaged in teaching in the district schools of Greene county. There he be-

came a clerk in the store of George Chase, of Jew- ett, remaining two years, and in 1872 he removed to Brandt, Susquchanna county, where he engaged as clerk for a time with Henry W. Brandt. In 1875 he was appointed station agent at Brandts, on the Jefferson Branchi railroad, which position he held fifteen years, and during that time, in company with W. S. Brandt and Andrew Blank, he engaged in the quarrying of stone and the manufacture of brick, which he has since continued. In 1895 they formed a stock company, of which Mr. Peck is secretary and treasurer, and they employ abotit seventy-five men. They have erected a large plant, and make a specialty of manufacturing a high grade of red brick, which they ship all over the country. Mr. Peck is also interested in the manufacture of a popular line of chairs, and is a stockholder in the American Chair Manufacturing Co., having a plant at Brandt. In 1893 he engaged in the mer- cantile trade near the brick works, where there is now a large trade. Politically Mr. Peck has al- ways been identified with the Republican party ; he has held the office of school director and treasurer of Harmony township, and is a justice of the peace for- his town at the present time. He was a dele- gate to the State convention in 1899, and is a men- ber of the county central committee. He and his wife are leading members of the Presbyterian Church at Brandt, in which he has been elder for several years.

In 1875 Mr. Peck married Miss Emma Davis. daughter of Peter and Anne Davis, well-known residents of Flat Bush, N. Y. Her ancestors set- tled in the Hudson Valley at an early day, and in the maternal line she is of Holland-Dutch de- scent. She was educated at the Kingston Acad- emy, where Mr. Peck met her, and for several years previous to their marriage she was a teacher in the public schools of Ulster county, New York. Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Peck have resided in a pleasant home at Brandt, and their union has bee:1 blessed with six children. (1) May, born at Brandt May 24, 1876, is a graduate of the Keystone Academy at Factoryville, and is now engaged as instructor in music in that institution, being especially gifted as a musician. (2) Martha, born February 17. 1879. is a graduate of the Lancsboro and West Chester Normal schools, and is a schol- arly young lady. (3) Sybil. born February 23, 1884. is now a student in the Lanesboro schools. (4) Clarence. born February 10, 1886, is a student in the home schools. (5) Theodore. born Decem- ber 26, 1880. and (6) Anna, born May 7. 1894. are attending the local schools.

GEORGE R. BELL is a representative and prominent business man of Salem township, Wayne county, who is now successfully engaged in con- tracting and building. His entire life has been passed in Wayne county, and he belongs to one of its highly-respected and honored families. His grandfather, Russell Bell, was a native of Con-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

necticut, where he grew to manhood and married, and there engaged in farming for many years, but finally came to Wayne county, Penn., where he spent his last days.

Horace Bell, the father of our subject, was also born in the Nutmeg State, and after reaching man's estate was employed in a stone quarry there for several years. After coming to Pennsylvania he wedded Miss Mary, a daughter of Anson Goodrich, and they became the parents of five children, namely : Fred, a hardware dealer at Carbondale, Penn .; Hat- tie, wife of Delavan Woodward, of Honesdalc, Wayne county ; Addie, wife of James Swingle, of Lake township, same county; George R., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Charles, who is living in the West. The parents came to Wayne county in 1837, and the father purchased land in Salem town- ship, near Arlington, upon which they lived for ten years. On selling that property he bought land in the northern part of the same township, the farm .on which our subject now resides. He died January II, 1886, honored and respected by all who knew him.

In Salem township, Wayne county, George R. Bell was born February 11, 1857, and his early edu- cation, obtained in the common schools of the lo- cality, was supplementcd by a course in the graded schools of Prompton. At the age of twenty-three years he commenced farming on his own account, following that occupation steadily for twelve years, when he turned his attention to carpentering, and for the past five years he has been a contractor and builder, taking contracts for summer cottages at Lake Ariel, Wayne county. He owns a lot at that place, on which he has erected a cottage, and also has a fine farm of ninety-three acres, much of which is under a high state of cultivation.

On October 1, 1878, in Lake township, Wayne county, Mr. Bell was married, by Rev. George M. Peck, to Miss Mary Swingle, who was born March 20, 1859, a daughter of Enos and Elizabeth ( Fow- ler ) Swingle. She is the eldest in a family of three children, the others being Rosie, now the wife of Miles Keesler, of Chapmantown; and Katic, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have three chil- dren, whose names and dates of birth are as follows : Blanche, September 13, 1882; Homer, January 1I, 1887; and Spencer, May 26, 1895. Politically, Mr. Bell is identified with the Democratic party, and he has served his fellow citizens as a member of the election board. As a business man he is progres- sive, upright and reliable, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact, either in business or social life. He holds member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife belongs to the Christian Church.

CHARLES M. LOW, who for over twenty years has been prominently identified with the in- dustrial and agricultural interests of Greene town- ship. Pike county, operating what was known as Low's mills, was born in Gelatt, Susquehanna Co.,

Penn., November 9, 1831, a son of John and E !.. . (Barnes) Low, the former a native of Delawa :. county, N. Y., the latter of Connecticut.

Early in the nineteenth century the father : moved with his parents to Susquehanna count Penn., where he carried on operations as a farm. : and lumberman throughout his active business lif .. becoming one of the prominent citizens of his co:11- munity. He died September 6, 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years, six months and six days, his wife in March, 1885, at the age of seventy-five years, and. the remains of both were interred in the Gelatt bury- ing ground, Susquehanna county. Their children were: Charles MI., the subject of this review; Eli, who married Calfernia Dix, and is engaged in farni- ing in Susquehanna ; and Diantha, wife of Danford Hines, a farmer of Susquehanna county. .

Upon the home farm in Gibson township, Sus- quehanna county, Charles M. Low grew to manhood, remaining with his parents until he attained the age of twenty-seven. From the age of sixteen to twenty years he attended the Harford University and in 1854 commenced teaching school in Clinton town- ship, Wayne Co., Penn., successfully following that profession at intervals for fifteen years, during which time he had charge of a school at Kellersville. Monroe Co., Penn., for ten years. Agricultural pursuits also claimed a part of his attention, and he began farming in Hamilton, Monroe county, in 1858. From 1862 until 1868 he engaged in the manufacture of . coarse woolen goods, but in the spring of 1877 he came to Greene township, Pike county, and located upon his present farm, purchas- ing 600 acres of land, most of which was still in its primitive condition. Upon the place was an old water mill, and during the fall season he engaged in the manufacture of lumber until a few years ago. carrying on business quite extensively along that linc. He has now disposed of all his land with the exception of 127 acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings, and now gives his entire time and atten- tion to general farming.

In Kellersville, Monroe Co., Penn., May 5, 18:7, Mr. Low was united in marriage with Miss Rachel S. Keller, who was born in that place, February I, 1830, a daughter of John and Sarah ( Trach ) Keller. prominent citizens of Kellersville, which was named in honor of her grandfather. Her grandparents were John G. and Rachel ( Diltz) Keller. the former a native of Monroe county. Penn., and the latter of New Jersey. The grandfather was one of the wealthy and influential men of his community, and the family was one of prominence in business and social life. Mrs. Low's father, who was a manu- facturer of woolen goods, died in Kellersville. in 1854, aged fifty-nine years, and her mother passed away at the same place on December 26, 1872, the remains of both being interred in Mt. Zion cemetery. In their family were ten children, namely : Jolin G .. who died at the age of two years: David, who died in 1896 at the age of seventy-six; Rudolph, a re-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

: farmer, of Iowa, who married Eliza Reece; ry M., who married Peter William, and both are a deceased ; Andrew, who married Eliza Wallace, ! is a retired pensioner of Stroudsburg, Penn .; Ich, deceased ; Julian, who first married Joseph .n.l. and after his death wedded Anthony George ; Rachel S., wife of our subject ; Saralı A., wife of Dr. Roger J. Levering, a physician of Kellersville, and an cher son, John, who died April 6, 1832.

To Mr. and Mrs. Low have been born four chil- uren : ( I) John W., the eldest, died in infancy. (2) Miward F. married Minnie Kramer, and is rep- resented elsewhere. (3) Alice O. is the wife of I.dward Freeland, a machinist of East Stroudsburg, l'enn. (4) Frederick C. is a successful young phy- «ician and surgeon of Philadelphia, with office at No. 1336 Locust street. His early education, ac- quired in the common schools, was supplemented by a course at the Keystone State Normal School, which he entered at the age of sixteen years, and in 1889 he matriculated at the University of Pennsyl- vania, from which he graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1894. Being thus well fitted for his chosen profession he returned home, and after spending a few months with his parents he opened an office in Philadelphia. However, he engaged in practice at High Bridge, N. J., from September, 1896, until September, 1897, since when he has returned to Phila -. delphia, where he has already met with fair success. He is a progressive member of his profession, keep- ing fully abreast with the latest discoveries and the- ories by his perusal of medical journals.

Although an ardent Republican int politics, Mr. Low has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. For the past twenty-five years he has been an earnest and consistent member of the Lutheran Church, is liberal with his means almost to a fault, and his life has ever been such as to com- mand for him the confidence and esteem of the entire community in which he has cast his lot.

JACOB J. GREENAMOYER, a prominent sud influential farmer citizen living near the vil- lage of Brodheadsville, has spent his entire life in Monroe county, having been born in Chestnut Hill township. August 29, 1837.

Jacob and Elizabeth ( Arnold) Greenamover, is parents, were natives of Berks and Monroe counties. respectively, but when only three years oid the former came to Monroe county with his parents. Jacob and Elizabeth ( Weiss) Green- aboyer, who spent their last years as farming peo- ple in Chestnut Hill township. The family is of Holland descent, and the name was originally spelled Greenemver. The father of our subject also adopted farming as a life work and success- fully followed his chosen occupation in Chestnut Hill township. He died in 1889, aged eighty-two cars. and his wife passed away in 1805. aged «ighiv-five, the remains of both being interred in Brodheadsville cemetery. They held membership 11 the Reformed Church, and were highly respected

by all who knew them: In their family were three children: Margaret, wife of Harrison Snyder, a carpenter of Tiffin. Ohio; Daniel, who is living with our subject ; and Jacob J., of this review.

Until seventeen years of age Jacob J. Green- amoyer assisted in the work of the home farm, and pursued his studies in the local schools. He then served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, which he followed in connection with lumbering until 1862, when he enlisted in Compauy F, 176th P. V. I., under Capt. Joseph Nicholas. During his service he was mostly engaged in guard duty and in building forts, etc., in South Carolina." Fortunately he was never wounded, and at Phila- delphia he was honorably discharged in August, 1863. On his return home he devoted his ener- gies to agricultural pursuits for some years, but has now laid aside business cares, and is en- joying a well-earned rest, surrounded by all the comforts which make life worth the living.

At Brodheadsville, Mr. Greenamoyer was married, April 22, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Kunkle, who was born February 18, 1840,in Polk township, Monroe county, where her parents, Peter and Su- sannah (Kresge) Kunkle, spent their entire lives, the former dying in 1858, at the age of fifty-three years, the latter in 1848, at the age of thirty-three. Both were laid to rest near Pleasant Valley Church. In religious faith they were Lutherans, and in his political views the father was a Democrat, while by occupation he was a farmer .. In their family were the following children: Harrison, a merchant of Carbon, Penn .; Nathan, a mechanic of Kingston, Penn .; Henry, who conducts a sawmill at Harver's Lake, Penn .; Frederick, who is clerking in Allen- town, Penn .: Hannah. wife of William Smail; Sena, wife of Joseph Smail, of Kresgeville, Mon- roe county; Sarah, wife of Paul Serfass. of Beth- lchem, Penn .; Lucinda. wife of J. M. Kresge. of Bethlehem: and Elizabeth, wife of our subject. Her paternal grandparents. George and Catherine (Dotter) Kunkle. spent their entire lives in Mon- roe county, as did also her maternal grandparents, William and Hannah ( Serfass) Kresge. To Mr. and Mrs. Greenamover have been born six chil- (ren: Alice M., now the wife of Joseph Lanfer, a farmer of Chestnut Hill township; Ambrose. now conducting the old homestead, who married Edna Shaffer : William H. and James H., who both died young : Lizzie and Sarah (twins), the former now deceased: the latter is the wife of Eugene E. Dorsheimer. who is engaged in clerking in Sav- lorsburg. Manroe county. Mr. Greenamover still occupies the old farm one mile from Brodheads- ville, which comprises eighty odd acres of valuable land. upon which his father settled when in its primitive condition. At present he is looking after the stock in a store at Brodheadsville. having been appointed to the position by a committee of cred- itors who were obliged to take the business.

Socially Mr. Greenamover affiliates with the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and Theodore

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

: ::... In religious connection the parents were hth members of the M. E. Church. Mr. West- ! wk was a Democrat in politics. Sixteen years after his death Mrs. Westbrook wedded Jacob Hornbeck, who died at the age of eighty years, and .in lived to the age of seventy-seven, passing away December 13. 1896, at the home of her son Jacob in Dingman's Ferry. She, too, was laid to rest in Delaware cemetery. There were no children by the second union.

Jacob B. Westbrook was born April 9, 1853, in Delaware township, where he received his edu- cation and early training, attending the common schools. He was also a student for thirteen weeks at the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He was reared to farm life on the home place, remaining at home until twenty years of age, when he went to Freemansburg, Penn., to take a position as telegraph operator with the New Jersey Central Railway Co: Three months later he ac- cepted a similar position at Irwin's Station, on the l'ennsylvania road, and there he continued for two vears, after which he worked as extra for the Bal- timore & Ohio Railway Co., on the Pittsburg di- vision, remaining in this employ for nine months. He has since been in commercial life, his first enter- prise in this line being in partnership with A. S. Dingman, with whom he engaged in business in April. 1876. conducting a mercantile establishment in Dingman's Ferry for a year and a half, when the firm dissolved. and up to the present writing Mr. Westbrook has engaged in business on his own account. In 1894 he removed to the place he now occupies, and here he has built up an extensive trade, his customers coming from all parts of the surrounding country. His prosperity is due no less to his personal popularity than to his business ability, for he has a reputation second to none in the county for strict honesty and fairness in all his Clealings, and he has won the confidence and estecm of all who have come in contact with him in any of the relations of life.

As above remarked, Mr. Westbrook has taken a prominent part in the civic life of his community from early manhood. and his fellow citizens have given convincing proof of their confidence in his ability and fitness for public trust by selecting him for various offices of importance and responsibility. That lie has never fallen below their estimate of him may be judged by his repeated elections: He has served as county chairman for the past five years; in 1887 he was elected county treasurer for a term of three Wars, and in 1894 was again the choice of the peo- ple for this office: he has served many years as school director, and for the last five years acting as secretary of the school board; and he lias filled numerous township offices, in every incumbency di-charging his duties with a systematic faithfui- ne-s and regard for the wishes of his constituents that could not fail to give satisfaction and win universal commendation. His political sympathies are with the Democatic party. Fraternally he be- 1

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 90

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