Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 96

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 96
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 96
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 96
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2 > Part 96

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Mr. Lauer was born April 22, 1864, in Mil- ford township, Pike county, and has resided at his present farm since he was three years old. At twenty-three he purchased the place from his step- father, Mr. Hammon, and he has since made many improvements. On September 4, 1893, he was married at Port Jervis, N. Y., to Miss Amy A. Helms, and four children brighten his home: Paul J., born June 19, 1894 ; Emil J., November 25, 1895; Acelia M., May 14, 1898; and Cyrus S., January 8, 1900.

Mrs. Lauer is a member of a highly esteemed pioneer family, and was born April 23. 1874, at Pond Eddy, Pike county. Her grandparents, Hi- ram and Hecla ( Blackmore) Helms, were both na- tives of Pike county, and hier father, Peter Helms, is now a well-known agriculturist of Dingman township. He was born July 11. 1847. and was married in IS70 to Miss Mary Lilly, by whom he lias had six children: Amy ( Mrs. Lauer), Wyman, Charies, Alida, LeRoy and Fannie, the last five be- ing still at home. Mrs. Mary ( Lilly ) Helms was born in Sullivan county, N. Y., a daughter of Hen- ry Lilly, a successful farmer.

FRANK D. SHUPP. The subject of this sketch is an active young farmer of Chestnut Hill township, whose ancestry in the county extends back for four generations. His father, Nathaw Shupp, was a generation ago one of the best known men in the county, prominent in politics, prominent in Church affairs, prominent in all matters of public welfare.

Nathan Shupp was born in 1816 on the farm which his son, the subject of this sketch, now owns and occupies, and was the son of George and Susan- '

nah (Hawk) Shupp, and a grandson of Abrahan and Catherine Shupp. In 1814 Abraham Shupp, a well-to-do land-owner, at that time, trans- ferred to his son George the title of the farm now held by the latter's grandson, our subject, George Shupp entered upon the property, which was then a wilderness, built a home and remained its lifelong resident. Ilis family consisted of tlie fol- lowing children: Frederick, Charles, Aaron, Peter, Nathan ( father of our subject), David, Eliza ( Mrs. Charles S. Strauss), Katie ( Mrs. Charles Lanfer ), Anna (Mrs. John S. Fisher), and Julia A. (Mrs. James Seriass ). In this pioneer home Nathan Shupp was reared, and here he remained through life. In 1841 he married Sally A. Dersheimer, who was born in Chestnut Hill township April 17, 1817. a daughter of George and Ann ( Seiglan) Dershei- mer, also natives of Chestnut Hill township, George Dersheimer was a farmer, and his family consisted of the following children : George, John, Jacob, William, Joseph, Christiana ( Mrs. William Everett ), Elizabeth ( Mrs. Adam Kresge), and Sally A., the mother of our subject.

To Nathan and Mary A. Shupp were born the following: Susannah, who married John Smale, and is now deceased : Josiah, who married Sarah J. Kresge, and is a farmer of Chestnut Hill township; Emanuel, also a farmer of Chestnut Hill township, married to Sarah J. Serfass; Henry, a Chestnut Hill township farmer, whose first wife was Eliza Smith, and his second. Christiana Koch : Fanny, wife of Peter Serfass, a shoemaker of Chestnut Hill township: Anna, wife of Charles H. Altemose, a farmer of Polk township: and Frank D., our sub- ject. Nathan Shupp was a prominent member of the Lutheran Church, holding continuously through- out his long membership the office of elder or deacon. He was a Democrat politically, and one of the lead- ers of his party in Monroe county. He died upon the old home farm April 2, 1885, after an active and useful carecr, aged fifty-five years, five months and twenty days, and is buried in Salem church cem- etery. His widow, now eighty-one years of age, is living with her son upon the old home farm.

Frank D. Shupp, our subiect, was born January 13. 1858, upon the farm that had been the property of his father, his grandfather and his great-grand- father. Once for a period of three years he de- parted from it to engage in huckstering at Kresge- ville. but in 1895 he returned and now cultivates the acres which his fathers before him had tilled almost to the limits of a cemetery. He was married De- cember 26. 1885, in Chestnut Hill township. 10 Miss Ida A. Shafer, who was born in Polk township. Monroe county, June s. 1862, daughter of Charles J. and Hannah ( Kresge) Shafer. To our subject and wife have been born seven children: Frederick M .. Rov F .. Charles [. Burton A .. Floyd E., Esther N. and Nettie I. Mr Shupp is a man of sterling character, and considerate manners make him a choice companion. He has the thrift and enterprise of his ancestors, and justly takes pride in the acres

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which he so successfully tills. He is one of the. strong supporters of the Lutheran Church, and for the past four terms has served as deacon. In pol- itics he is a Democrat. For three years, from 1893 to 1896, he served as school director, and in 1898 was re-elected to the same position.

JAMES BENNETT WALKER, a prominent and successful citizen of Herrick township, Sus- quehanna county, who is now living retired from business cares, is a native of that county, his birth having occurred in Gibson township, January 19, 1823.

Willard Walker, father of our subject, was born in Vermont, March 8, 1800, and was a son of Enos and Mary (Reading) Walker, natives of Massachusetts, who came to Susquehanna coun- ty, Penn., in 1817, and first located in Beechwoods. Gibson township; in 1832 they removed to Clifford township, where they spent their remaining days. Enos Walker was born March 11, 1777, and died March 29, 1856, while his wife, Mary ( Reading ). was born February 20, 1776, and died October 3, 1832. Both were buried in South Gibson township. The names and dates of birth of their children were as follows: Warren R., April 17, 1798: Willard, March 8, 1800: Mary, March 30. 1803 ; Rins, Octo- ber 7, 1806; Eliza, October 26, 1808; Enos, Feb- ruary 14, 1811; Harriet, July 5, 1813: and Mary A., August 25, 1815. Eliza married Chauncey Cory, and Harriet married ( first ) Thomas Wil- cox and (second) Seth Dann. For his second wife Enos Walker marricd Mary Elizabeth Fenno, who died December 3, 1860, at the age of seventy- two years.

Willard Walker came to Susquehanna county with his parents, and in Gibson township married Miss Mary A. Bennett, who was born in New Yorl: State, November 15, 1799. Her parents, Levi and1 "Lydia ( Belcher) Bennett, farming people, were na- tives of Massachusetts, but came to Susquehanna county from Broome county, N. Y. They had nine children : Betsy. John, Abigail, William, James, George, Jane. Margaret and Mary A. In April. 1870, Willard Walker and wife removed to Kirk- wood, N. Y., where they spent their remaining days, the former dying September 6. 1885, the latter April 11, 1883; both were laid to rest in the Kirk- wood cemetery. They were sincere Christians and active members of thic Free-Will Baptist Church. By occupation the father was a farmer. Only two of their large family are now living: James B., our subject ; and Albert. a retired farmer of Lenox township, Susquehanna county. In order of birtil the children were as follows: Betsy. wife of Martin Sweet : Rebecca, wife of John Moore; Janics B .: Albert : Isaac, of Gibson, Penn .; Erastus, of Her- rick township; Malinda, wife of Josiah Whiting, of Lenox township: Nancy J., wife of Emerson Hawkins, of Kirkwood, N. Y .: Alvina, wife of George Whittings, of Kirkwood: Emily. of Her- rick township; Henrietta, wife of Levi Miller;

Melvern, of Herrick township; and Willard, of Gib- son township.

On leaving the parental roof, at the age of twenty-two years, James B. Walker purchased a farm of fifty acres in Gibson township, which he successfully operated until 1854, when he bought ninety-nine acres of his present fine farm, now coni- prising 164 acres of rich and arable land. He also owns a farm of sixty acres in Gibson township, which is one of the best in the county. He casts his ballot in support of the Republican party, and his fellow citi- zens, recognizing his worth and ability, have often called him to office. He has served as school director three years, poormaster five years, supervisor five years, and pathmaster twenty years. Since seventeen years of age he has been a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and his well-spent life has not only gained for him a comfortable competence, but has also won for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact, either in a busi- less or social way.

In Gibson township Mr. Walker was married. in 1846, to Miss Philena Tiffany, a native of that township, and a daughter of Noah and Charlotte Tiffany. She died in February, 1863. at the age of thirty-nine years. Of the children born to this union, Frances H .. Ann. Lillian and Edith. all died. of black fever in February; 1863. The only one now living is Ernestine. a farmer of Salem, Wayne Co., Penn:, who married Flora Spangenburg, and has five children : Lena, Russell, Harry, Everett and Mildred.

Mr. Walker was again married. March II, 1865, at his present home, his second union being with Miss Ladorna Stone, then seventeen years of age. To them have been born two children: (1) Roselia M. is now the wife of Frank Dowd. a far- mer of Gibson township. and they have three chil- dren. Iva E .. Lula L. and Miles Walker. ( 2) Judson, who operates the home farm, married Clara Archer, and has one son. Robert. Mrs. Walker was born in Jackson township. Susquehanna county. March II. 1848. a daughter of Elson and Elvina (Slocum) Stone, natives of Vermont, who became acquainted and were married in Susquehanna coun- ty. Penn., and here spent the remainder of their lives as farming people. Both died in Thompson, thic father August 8. 1862, at the age of fifty-four years. the mother January 29, 1882. aged sixty-nine, and their remains were interred in Jackson cemetery. They were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and highly respected by all who knew them. In their family were eight children. namely: Norman, Freeman .and Dayton, who all died in Thompson: Sarah, wife of Silas Gelatt. a retired citizen of Lanesboro, Susquehanna county ; Oscar, a farmer of Jackson, Penn. : Ladorna. wife of our subject : Adelbert. who died in Ararat town- ship. Susquehanna county ; and Emerson. a farmer of Thompson. Mrs. Walker's paternal grandpar- ents were Calvin and Nancy ( Cargell ) Stone. na- tives of Vermont and farming people who canic

James & Walker

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to Susquehanna county, Penn., at an early day and located in Jackson township. Their children were Elson, Wilson, Clarissa, Eveline, Pertainie, Eu- nice and Nancy. Her maternal grandparents were Simon and Polly ( Cleveland ) Slocum, also natives of the Green Mountain State and early settlers of Jackson township, Susquehanna Co., Penn. They were also agriculturists. Their family consisted of nine children : Loren, Hiram, Jerusha, Elvina, Otis, William, Mary, Franklin and Paul.

THEODORE FLYTE. Among the residents of Monroe county whose lives have been measured by the golden. standard of success, must be in- cluded the subject of this sketch. now a prosperous egg merchant of Brodheadsville. He has. the strength of character and judgment which aims at high yet reasonable success, and then unswerving strides to the goal. Mr. Flyte won the founda- tion of his material prosperity on the farm, and in that pursuit he was diligent, painstaking and all conquering. He is one of the self-made men of the county.

Mr. Flyte was born in Ross township, Monroe county, March 13, 1846, a son of Barnett and Cath- erine (Queenswite) Flyte, natives of Ress and El- dred townships, Monroe county, respectively, and grandson of Abraham Flyte, an early and respected farmer of Ross township. Barnett Flyte. the father of our subject, was born in 1809. He was a lifelong farmer of Ross township. industrious in habits and prominent among his fellow men. In politics he was a Republican, and in religious faith a member of the Evangelical Church. He died in 1883, agedl seventy-four years. His wife died in 1882, aged seventy-three years. They are buried at Saylors- burg. Penn. The family of Barnett and Cather- ine Flyte consisted of the following children : Mary, who married Alfred VanBuskirk, and is now de- ceased ; Christiann, widow of Peter Sobers, who fell in battle during the Civil war; Emanuel, who now occupies the old homestead in Ross township ; Amanda, wife of John Mansfield, a farmer of Ham- ilton township: Lucinda, widow of Henry Hood- maker, of Lisbon, Ia .; Emaline, wife of Wesley Green, a farmer of Hamilton township; Theodore, subject of this sketch ; and Matilda, wife of Joseph Werner, an insurance agent of Pen Argyl, Penn- sylvania.

Mr. Flyte was reared on his father's farm, and remained with his parents until 1881. During the following ten years he was variously employed by neighboring farmers and in slate quarrying. In I891 he engaged at Brodheadsville in his present business as an egg merchant, and has since con- ducted it successfully. He buys and sells on a large scale.

The marriage of Mr. Flyte to Miss Ella Kresge occurred in November, 1897, at Pleasant Valley, Ross township. She was born at Gilberts, Monroe county, November 19, 1856, daugliter of James and Nellie (Gregory.) Kresge, and granddaughter of

George and Catherine ( Serfass) Kresge, farmers of Monroe county, and also granddaughter of David and Catherine Gregory, natives of Lehigh and Mon- roe counties, respectively, and who became pioneer farmers of Monroe county. James Kresge, the father of Mrs. Flyte, was a justice of the peace for many years. He wasafarmer, andalsoengaged extensively in lumbering. He was a prominent member of the Reformed Church, for many years filling the du- ties of class-leader, elder and deacon. James Kresge died December 5, 1896. aged seventy-six years; his wife on April 4, 1894, and both are buried in the cemetery at Gilberts. The children born to James and Nellie Kresge were as follows: Lucinda. wife of George Bruch, a carpenter of Effort, Penn .; Adeline, wife of Peter Shaffer, a re- tired shoemaker of Gilberts, Penn .; Edwin, a re- tired merchant of Bethlehem, Penn .. who married Emma Buskirk; Sarah J., wife of Josiah Shupp, of Chestnut Hill township; Amanda E., wife of Franklin Smith, a merchant of South Wilkes Barre, Fenn. ; Frances H., who died young; James H., who also died in infancy; Ella, wife of our sub- ject : Oscar D., who married Ella C. Shaffer, and lives at Gilberts, Penn .: George F., who married Emma Werst, was a salesman of Bethlehem, Penn., and died January 19, 1900, aged thirty-eight years ; and Ira. a farmer of Dalton, Penn., who married Flora Summers.

LYMAN R. BURRU'S, a successful general farmer in Salem township, Wayne county, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Greene township, Pike county, August 2, 1863, and is a worthy repre- sentative of one of the old and highly respected families of this section of the State. His father, Thomas M. Burrus, was born in Sterling township. Wayne county, August 31, 1824, a son of John and Rebecca (Bartleson ) Burrus, natives of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, respectively, who were among the early settlers of Wayne county, where they were married and continued to reside until 1828, when they removed to Greene township, Pike county. There the grandfather followed farming during the remainder of his life. He died in 1854, at the age of sixty years, his wife in 1875 at the age of eighty, and both were laid to rest in Kipps burying ground.

In Salem township, Wayne county, on June 13. 1855. Thomas M. Burrus was married. by Rev. Mendenhall, to Miss Sarah Long, who was born in Monroe county. Penn .. October 11, 1835. a daughter of Henry and Ann ( Callahan) Long. the former a native of Philadelphia, the latter of Ireland, having come to America at the age of nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Burrus are now wealthy and prominent farming people of Greene township, Pike county. Their children are as follows: Mar- garet Ann, born October 25. 1856, is the wife of Robert Cross, a farmer of Sterling township, Wayne county : John Henry, born April 9, 1858, married Libbie Larne, and is a railroad engineer residing in Scranton, Penn .; Lafayette B., born August

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27, 1859, is a weaver residing at home ; Horace M., born June 11, 1861, is a school teacher and carpen- ter of Helena, Mont .; Lyman R. is next in the family ; Ella M., born April 19, 1865, is the wife of Albert F. Simons, a farmer of Pike county; Or- ville E., born July 24, 1867, married Alma Dick- erson, and is engaged in farming in Greene town- ship, Pike county ; and Clyde L., born November 9, 1878, is at home.

Leaving home at the age of twenty-one, Ly- man R. Burrus worked on the farm of Richard Bortree, of Dreher township, Wayne county, for six months ; then drove a team for Thomas H. Gil- pin, of Pike county, for the same length of time; and for the following six monthis worked on the farm of Dr. Gilpin, of Wayne county. Coming to Hollisterville, Wayne county, he worked on the farm of John P. Mitchell for six years, and then purchased from Charles Hamlin the Harris Hamlin farm in Salem township, paying $1,550 for fifty- one acres. He has since increased the amount to fifty-seven acres, and has a highly cultivated and productive farm. Being a thorough and skillful farmer, he is meeting with success in its operation.

At the home of the bride in Dreher township, Wayne county, Lyman R. Burrus- was married, May 7, 1890, by Rev. J. V. Newell, a Methodist Episcopal minister, to Miss Ella Posten, by whom he has two children: Legrand W., born April 18, 1892, and Elma S., born June 7, 1898. Mrs. Bur- rus was born in Smithfield. Monroe Co., Penn., July 29, 1864, a daughter of William E. and Susan (Gilpin) Posten, natives of Monroe and Wayne counties, respectively. The father came to Wayne county in 1862, and is now a farmer of Dreher township. Fraternally Mr. Burrus affiliates with the Independent. Order of Odd Fellows of Wallen- paupack Lodge, and politically is identified with. the Republican party.

RICHARD LUTHER WOODLEY is one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Berlin town- ship, Wayne county. Systematic and methodical, his sagacity, keen discrimination and sound judg- ment have made him one of the prosperous citizens of his community.

Mr. Woodley is a native of Wayne county. born in Oregon township, May 24, 1850, a son of Thomas and Nora ( Sluman) Woodley, who were both born in Cornwall, England, the former in 1814, the latter in 1820. In 1842 they arrived in Hones- dale, Wayne county, and for a year or two made their home in Seelyville. The father then purchased a tract of wild land in Oregon township, which he cleared and transformed into a good farm, making all of the necessary improvements. . There he died in 1886. His widow, who had faithfully shared all his early hardships, now makes her home with hier daughter, Mrs. Herman Bunting. In the family were six children, two sons and four daughters, namely : (1) Elizabeth, born in Wayne county, is now the widow of John Lassley, and resides on

a farm in Damascus township, left her by her hus- band; she has four daughters, Fannie, Nora, Eva and Libbie. (2) Frederick G., born in Oregon township, in 1844, received a public-school educa- tion, and now makes his home in Damascus town- ship ; he married Dorcas Decker, of Berlin township, and has six children, Louisa, Fred D., Blanch, Wil- ber, Thomas and Sidney L. (3) Fanny married Herman Bunting, of Wayne county, by whom she has one son, John L., and they reside in Berlin town- ship. (4) Louisa is the wife of Joseph Olver. of Berlin township, and their children are Virginia, Woodley, Sidney L., and Lillie. (5) Richard Lu- ther. (6) Lillie married T. J. Pentecost, of Sus- quehanna county, Penn., and they make their home. in Forest City, where he is engaged in mercantile trade. They have one son, Irving.

Richard Luther Woodley was reared on the home farm in Oregon township, and liis education, begun in the public schools, was completed with a course at a select school in Damascus when a young man. For a number of years in early life he iol- lowed lumbering on the Delaware river, and after his marriage he resided for some time in Berlin, where he worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1876 he purchased 165 acres of wild land two miles east of Beach Lake, and to its development and cultivation he has since devoted his time and attention with most gratifying results. He has one of the finest country homes in Berlin township, it being a large, commodious residence with all modern improve- ments, and the barns and outbuildings are in perfect harmony therewith. In connection with general farming he is also interested in stock raising, mak- ing a specialty of choice breeds and dairy cattle, and is one of the most enterprising and energetic dairy- men of the township.

In September. 1872, Mr. Woodley was united in marriage with Miss Adelaide Decker, a daughter of Nelson and Susan Decker, natives of Sullivan county. N. Y., and honored pioneers of Berlin town- ship. Wayne Co., Penn. Of the three children born of this union. Forest L. died at the age of four years : Llewellyn L., born in April, 1879, completed his education in the schools of Narrowsburg. N. Y., and is now clerking in a store at Honesdale : Violet, born in 1884, is a graduate of the Narrowsburg school and Lowell's Business College. Binghamton, N. Y., and is a very bright and scholarly young girl, and a favorite among her companions.

In his political affiliations Mr. Woodley is a Republican, and has always taken an active part in promoting the interests of his party. He has been honored with the offices of supervisor and auditor of lis town, and is now a member of the Republican county committee from Berlin. Socially he is affil- iated with the I. O. O. F .. Freedom Lodge No. 88, Honesdale, Penn. It is not alone in the business world that lie is well known, but in political and social circles he stands equally high. Himself and wife and family all hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Beech Lake, and

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have been instrumental in promoting the moral edu- cational and social interests of the community. Any- thing that tends to uplift and benefit humanity re- ceives their hearty co-operation.

CHARLES H. AND HOWARD E. DECKER are among the most prominent stone contractors and builders in Damascus, Wayne county, where they have done an extensive business for the past twenty years, and they are both natives of the town, the former born in January, 1852, the latter in April, 1853.

Alfred Decker, the grandfather of these gen- tlemen, was born in Deckertown, N. J., and set- tled many years ago in Sullivan county, N. Y., where he passed the remainder of his days, follow- ing his trade, that of stone mason. His son James H. was born in 1828 in Orange county. N. Y., and when old enough began to learn his father's busi- ness, in which he has engaged more or less all-his life, now, at the advanced age of seventy-two, con- tinuing to follow same. In 1847 he first came to Wayne county, where he remained until 1850, working in a sawmill. In the year last named he returned to Sullivan county and there married Ma- hala A. Chesire, who was a native of Queens coun- ty, L. I., born in 1829, and the young couple first located at the Skinner Mill, in Damascus. Later he purchased the Levi Little farm, in that town- ship, which he retained until 1857, during his resi- dence there running a sawmill for Moses Young. After selling the Little farm he invested in fifty- five acres of land situated on the south branch of Calkins creek, which was then in a primitive state. and he was obliged to clear a space for the frame dwelling which he erected for himself and family. Here he engaged in agricultural pursuits, by in- dustry and unceasing energy clearing the entire tract, which he converted into a valuable and de- sirable property. Later he bought fifty-five acres adjoining, which he also cleared and improved, putting up good buildings on all his land, and there he made his home until 1889, when he sold the place to his sons Charles H. and Howard E .. and re- moved to Narrowsburg, Sullivan Co., N. Y., where he has since resided, working at his trade. His faithful life companion passed away in February, 1897. Their union was blessed with nine children, of whom we give a brief record: Charles H., the eldest, is mentioned below. Howard E. is spoken of more fully below. Eliot P., born in August, 1854, in Wayne county, married Miss Lavina Be- dient, of Damascus, and they reside there with their family of five children, Millie B., Hiram W., Charles H., Earl and Ethel May. Alice, born in February. 1857. married Walter. Branning, and they reside on his farm in Damascus; they have four children, Grover A., Walter Coe, Madeline L. and Nahanita. Flora E., born in 1858, is now the wife of Ludwig Heller, of Stroudsburg. Monroc Co., Penn., and has two children. Harold and Clara ; they make their liome in Rockland, Sullivan Co.,

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 2, Part 96

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