Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 12

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1000

USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 12

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Reared on the old homestead, Mr. Underwood, of this review, began his education in the public schools of the neighborhood, later attending an academy for two terms, after which he engaged in teaching in the district schools for the same length of time. He then turned his attention to lumber- ing and farming, and in 1866 located upon his father's farm, which he successfully operated for twenty years. At the end of that period he re- moved to Lake Como, where for three and one-half years he engaged in mercantile business with his son, E. B.

Mr. Underwood was married, January 17, 1857, at Thompson, Susquehanna Co., Penn., to Miss Sarah A. Rice, who was born in Worcester county, Mass., but was reared and educated in Har- ford, Susquehanna Co., Penn. Her parents were Amos J. and Sallie ( Green) Rice, natives of Mas- sachusetts, the former of whom died in Harford, Penn., at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years. In their family were the following children: Har- riette, who married F. Sanford, but both are now deceased; Sarah. wife of our subject; Daniel, who died in youth ; Ellen, widow of S. Hardy, a resi- dent of Westfield, Mass .; Carrie C., wife of Wil- lard G. Underwood, of Hancock, N. Y. ; and Har- vey S., who was a member of the 17th Pennsylva- nia Cavalry, with the rank of sergeant, during the Civil war, and died in action near Trevilians, Va. The G. A. R. post at Harford, Penn., is named in honor of this young hero.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Under- wood are as follows: Nettie F. ; E. B. and I. R., who are graduates of the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Mo., the former practic- ing at Elmira, N. Y., and the latter at Scranton, Penn. : Rosalia ; Kate S., who for four years suc- cessfully engaged in teaching, and died at San Diego, Cal., at which time she was the wife of Jesse Frisbee ; and Dolly, who died in 1879, at the age of four years. All have been provided with ex- cellent educational advantages. Nettie having at- tended school in Prompton, Wayne county ; Rose in Hancock, N. Y., and the others in Pleasant Mount, Wayne county. The family have a beau- tiful home at Lake Como, where they delight to entertain their many friends, and in the social cir- cles of that place they occupy an enviable position. Parents and children all hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Underwood has the finest mineral col- lection in Wayne county, and has also many inter- esting Indian relies. Socially he was formerly a member of the Masonic Lodge of Hancock, N. Y., and he is still a member of Como Lodge, I. O. O. F.

Since the organization of the Republican party he has been one of its stanch supporters and an earnest advocate of its principles, taking a leading and ini- portant part in political affairs. He has filled al- most all of the local offices, serving as justice of the peace many years, and in 1878 was elected to the State Legislature, taking his seat in January of the following year. At the end of his term. his name was again placed on the Republican ticket, but this time he was defeated by nine votes. How- ever, in 1894, and again in 1896, he was elected to that body, and is now one of the most influential and popular members of the House, serving on a number of important committees. From 1879 to 1895 he was a member of the State Board of Agri- culture. He has proved a most able and efficient representative of his district, and the measures he advocates have always met with warm and cordial support. [Mr. Underwood has contributed an in- teresting and instructive article on the Geology of Wayne county to Mr. Haines for use in his con- templated "Centennial History of Wayne County."]

JOHN F. STEWART, a prominent citizen of Lanesboro, Susquehanna county, bears an hon- arable record as a business inan and as a veteran of the Civil war. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, 198th P. V. I., the "Union League Regiment", under Capt. B. F. Gardner, of Fac- toryville. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, First Brigade, First Division, Fifth Corps. Mr. Stewart served on detached duty until the fall of 1864, and took part in all the engage- ments of the Fifth Corps, the first one being the battle of the South Side Railroad. After Lee's surrender he marched from Appomattox to Ar- lington Heights, where he was mustered out of service, after participating in the Grand Review at Washington.

Mr. Stewart's family is of Scotch origin. and our subject's grandfather, James Stewart, came from the Highlands of Scotland in Colonial times, being the first white scitler in Delaware county, N. Y. This worthy pioneer was driven from his home three times by the Indians, but he was not dis- heartened by his trials and hardships, and his estate of 400 acres, purchased from the govern- ment, became a fine property. He and his wife, Margaret ( Frazier ), had a large family of children. and their four sons were all given portions of the homestead. ( 1) William married, and settled for a time at the homestead. He was a man of much ability, although self-educated, and finally entered the ministry of the Methodist .Episcopal Church. in which he continued until his death. He had several children who became noted as writers in various journals and magazines. (2) Jolin, our subject's father, was next in the order of birth. (3) Isabella, who was born in Delaware county, married a Mr. Gregory, of New York City. a wealthy importer of fancy goods. She left one son, Daniel Gregory, who was a prominent mer-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

chant of New York City. (4) Margaret married Swetan Grant, and settled on a farm in Delaware county, N. Y. They had no family. (5) James remained on the old homestead. He married, and had two sons-Hector, who married and settled in Bridgeport, Conn .; and Charles, who died at the old homestead, where his only son, Hector, still resides. (6) Rachel married John T. Moore, of Mooresville, Delaware Co., N. Y. They left no family. (7) Charles was weil educated, and was principal of different schools in New York City and in the State of New Jersey, where he finally settled. He died leaving two children. Clark and Margaret ; Clark became a very wealthy and promi- nent business man of Brooklyn, where he still re- sides : he was cashier for Jenny Lind. the "Swedish Nightingale," while on her tour of this country. under the management of P. T. Barnum. Mar- garet married Mr. Kingsley, one of the great capi- talists of Brooklyn, later a paper manufacturer of New Jersey.

John Stewart. the father of our subject, was born in 1775 in Delaware county, N. Y .. and his wife, Millicent (Landon), was born in the same locality in 1786. . He acquired a good education through his own efforts, and for a number of years he taught successfully in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 1837 he purchased a farm in Harford township, Susquehanna county, to which he devoted his attention in summer for sev- eral years while teaching in winter. He resided in New Milford for two years while teaching there, and later he made his home in Herrick, where his wife died in 1850. From that time he lived with his children until his death in 1868. and his remains now rest beside those of his wife in the Harford cemetery. While he did not crave public honors. he always took an interest in the questions of the time, being a strong Democrat in politics, and he and hi's worthy wife were active in religious work as members of the Presbyterian Church. They had seven children. all of whom were born in Delaware county, N. Y. ( 1) Charles was placed by his father in a wholesale store in New York City during boyhood, and remained there until he was twenty-one years old. He then started on a mine-years' tour of the United States, and from Washington, D. C., he traveled all over the country. Returning to his father's home in Susquehanna county, he married Miss Sarah Roberts, a niece of the well known S. Mylert. of New Milford. who was a Russian by birth. Charles Stewart settled in New Milford, then in Pittston, where he resided for some time, but later he moved to the vicinity of Topeka, Kans. He died in Chicago while under treatment for cancer, leaving a widow and four children, Florence. Willie, Thomas and Jerome. all residents of Kansas. (2) Polly L. married Her- bert Dimock, and resided at Dimock Corners, in Susquehanna county, for some years. In 1857 they removed to Avoca, Wis., and later they moved to Lake county, South Dakota, where they died leav-1

ing three children, Frederick, Robertine and Blanche : both of the daughters were well educated. and became successful teachers. (3) Harriet Helen was well educated under her father's in- structions, and was one of the successful teachers of Susquehanna county for a number of years. She inarried Edmund Sampson, a farmer of Starrucca ; they died at their farm, and their only daughter, Agnes, is now the wife of Stephen Skillett. of Star- rucca. They have six sons. Edmund, Charles, George. Ralph. John and Thomas Skillett. (4) Thomas J. died at Herrick in early manhood. He was much liked among his associates. and was an active member of the I. O. O. F. (5) Margaret E. is the widow of John Hayden, of New Milford, formerly one of the leading merchants and business men of that town. He died leaving no family, and his widow resides in Binghamton, N. Y. (6) Melicent L. taught school for a time, and later mar- ried George Davis. of Prompton, Wayne county. and moved to Kankakee. Ill .. where they resided two years. He was employed as car inspector. and was killed while on duty. He left no family, and his widow now resides with her sister. Mrs. Hay- den, in Binghainton. (7) John F., our subject, comes next in the order of birth. (8) Ursula died in Harford when eight years old.

Our subject was born November 30. 1828. and was nine years old when the family removed from the old homestead in Delaware county. N. Y. He received a good education at the Harford Academy. where he was a schoolmate of Judge Henry Will- iams. of the Supreme Bench, also of E. B. Chase. He remained with his parents on the farm until his marriage, in 1856. to Miss Gulielma Williams, a descendant of Roger Williams. of Rhode Island, and a daughter of John and Esther Williams, prominent residents of Herrick township. After his marriage our subject bought a farm at Dimock Corners, where he resided for a number of years, and during the Civil war his wife and children re- mained there. In 1874 he sold his farm, and in 1876 bought real estate in Lanesboro, where he erected a fine house in 1876. His genial nature has made him many friends, and he is a leading mem- ber of the Order of Red Men and Tremain Post No. 81. G. A. R .. at Lanesboro. Although never an office seeker, he is a stanch Republican, and his sons are also adherents of that party. He has always been active in Church and Sunday-school work in connection with the Presbyterian Church. His beloved wife, who was for many years a devout member of that society, died in. Lanesboro March 11, 1880. Of their five children. the ekdlest. Ralph E .. born at Herrick in 1857, was educated in the select schools of Lanesboro, and as a young man went to Schuylkill county, Penn., where he became a clerk in his uncle's store. Some years later he entered the office of a coal firm in Lykens Valley, and while there he had his limb cut off in a rail- road accident, which caused his death in 1880. He was a promising young man and had many friends.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(2) Ernest W., born at Herrick in 1860, married Miss Salina Gray, of Lanesboro, and for a time located in that borough. Later he and his brother- in-law, M. Bowers, a business man, with their fami- lies, went to Omaha. Neb., but after two years they all returned to the East. Ernest W. then hired as stage carpenter in an opera house in Chicago, but was there taken sick with pneumonia, and died in 1885. He left a widow and two children, Walter, a student in the high schools of Binghamton, and Bertha, who resides with her mother in Susque- hanna. (3) Blanche, born in 1862, married Dwight Newell, of Lanesboro, and moved to Ashe- ville, N. C., where he is a prominent railroad man. being manager of the Asheville railroad. Mrs. Newell died in 1885, while on a visit to her parents, and is buried in the family plot in Lanesboro. She left one daughter, Katie. (4) Rolla F., born in Herrick, was educated in Lanesboro, and as a young man went to Omaha, where he spent one year as a clerk in a drug store. He then became manager for a telephone company, putting up lines from Omaha to the Pacific coast, and about four- teen years ago went to Australia to superintend their work. (5) Charles H., born .at Herrick in 1868, is now employed on the Susquehanna rail- road; he married the widow of his brother Ernest W., and has three children, Frank, Ida May and Marguerite, who reside in Susquehanna.

PHILANDER FLETCHER is one of the hon- ored sons of Wayne county, as well as a leading and representative farmer of Mt. Pleasant township. A man of progressive ideas, broad-minded and liberal. he has made the most of his opportunities in life. and has risen to a foremost place among the well-to-do citizens of his community.

Born February 23, 1823, Mr. Fletcher is a son of John and Catherine (Decoba) Fletcher, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of Dutchess county, N. Y. From Connecticut they came to Wayne county, Penn., during the pioneer epoch of this region, when the country was an al- most unbroken wilderness, and in the primitive for- est they cut the logs for their first home there. After living for a time on the banks of the Dela- ware river they came to Mt. Pleasant township, and . located where Hugh Lestrang now lives, about one mile west of our subject's present home. By trade the father was a cabinetmaker, but during his residence in Pennsylvania was principally en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He died at the age of eighty-one years. the result of an injury sus- tained from the kick of a horse. Politically he was a Democrat, and in religious connection a worthy member of the Methodist Church, to which his wife also belonged. She departed this life at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. In their family were children as follows: John E .: Ruth, who died when young : Almira, widow of Marcus Wil- cox. of llonesdale: Philander: Solon, who died at Pleasant Mount : Lucy and Joseph, both deceased ;

Lucy (2), deceased wife of Jackson Hines. of Wayne county ; Nancy, deceased; Sally Anne, wife of L. W. Rude, of Walton, N. Y .; and Amanda, wife of Norman Hines, of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

During his minority Philander Fletcher re- mained under the parental roof, and he early became familiar with all the duties incident to farm life. When twenty-one years of age he secured fifty- six acres of land, and several years later purchased another tract of forty-two acres. His education was received in the old log school-house so common in early days, and since leaving the school room he has devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits with most gratifying results. He has cleared about nine-tenths of his land, and has replaced the little log cabin by a more commodious and modern dwelling, which is surrounded with good barns and outbuildings. Upon the place is one of the best orchards to be found in Wayne county.

On August 21, 1845, Mir. Fletcher was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Wilcox, a native of Wayne county, and a daughter of Ezaias and Lucy (Compton ) Wilcox). Her father, who was one of the first settlers in the forests of this region, was an active and prominent member of the Presby- terian Church and served as deacon in the same for many years. He died at the age of eighty-six years, his wife at the age of sixty-three. Their chil- dren were Ambrose, deceased; Ambrose (2) ; Marcis; Saralı,, wife of our subject; Axie Marie, deceased; Axie Marie (2) ; David Stuart ; Lucy Jane, wife of S. Clemno; Benjamin ; and two who died when young.

Seven children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher in order of birth as follows: George, who now lives near Philadelphia, Penn .; Abbie, wife of Norris Brown, of Preston township, Wayne county, and the mother of three children, Merrett, Clarence and Minnie; Anna, wife of Charles Gear, by whom she has three children. Cora, Ernest and Wright; Solon, who married Louise Hartman, and has four children, Francis, Grace, Alice and Edna; Libbie, wife of Victor Gear; Adelia, deceased; and Leroy, who died at the age of three years.

In early life Mr. Fletcher was a stanch Demo- crat, but now gives his allegiance to the Prohibi- tion party, of which his son Solon is also a sup- porte .. He is a man of more than ordinary intelli- gence and natural business ability, is energetic. en- terprising and thoroughly reliable, and his life has ever been such as to command the confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. Ile is a devout member of the Free Methodist Church. while his wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ELDER JOHN GRUBB RAYMOND. a well known Methodist Episcopal minister now located at Carley Brook, Wayne county, was born on a farm in Newcastle county, Del., August 6. 1844. a soll of Sebastian and Ann B. (Grubb) Raymond. na-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tives of Luzerne, Switzerland, and Newcastle county, Del., respectively. The father is now a resident of Wilmington, Del., and a leading mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church of that place ; he has reached the advanced age of ninety- three years. The mother who passed away in January, 1899, at the age of eighty-seven years, was also a devout member of that Church.

Elder Raymond is entirely a self-made man, having left the home farm at the tender age of eight years to make his own way in the world. At the age of fifteen he began learning the shoemak- er's trade with J. B. Murphy, of Wilmington, Del., and was thus employed until entering the Union army during the Civil war. On October 23, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, 2nd D. V. I., under Capt. Thomas J. Wood, and was afterward discharged in order to re-enlist at Stevensburg. For a while he served as sergeant of his company, and was quar- termaster-sergeant of the Ist Del. Vol. Vet. Inf. for about one year, holding that rank until honor- ably discharged at Munson's Hill, July 12, 1865. He then resumed work at his trade as a shoemaker.

In 1870 Mr. Raymond entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but for about ten years was interested only in local work. In 1880. however, he assumed the pastorate of the Church at Newark Union, Newcastle Co., Del., where he remained for three years; the following year had charge of a Church in the Catskill mountains, Greene Co., N. Y .; for two years was located in Wilkes Barre, Penn .. one year in Waverly, Penn .; one year in South Canaan, Wayne county ; and five years in Arlington, Wayne county. He now has charge of the Church at Carley Brook, and is an untiring worker in the cause of the Master, labor- ing earnestly for the betterment of his fellowmen and for the welfare of the communities in which his lot has been cast. He not only has the love and confidence of his own congregations, but has the respect and esteem of all who know him.

DAVID S. DOYLE. Among the prominent farmers of Wayne county there are many who man- ifested their loyalty and patriotism during the dark days of the Rebellion by going to the front and valiantly fighting for the old flag and the cause it represented. Mr. Doyle responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting in Company D. 179th P. V. I .. for nine months' service, and with his regiment was stationed most of the time near Yorktown, Va., be- ing honorably discharged at Harrisburg, l'enn., when his term of enlistment had expired.

Mr. Doyle, now a leading farmer of Mt. Pleas- ant township, Wayne county, was born August 16, 1835, at Carbondale, Penn., and is a son of Gar- rett Dovle, a native of Ireland. who came to Amer- ica when a young man and lived for many years in Carbondale. but died in Philadelphia when in his fortieth year. By trade lie was a carpenter. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Iluldal Swezy, survived him for many years, passing away in Mt.

Pleasant township, Wayne county, at the age of seventy-six. In their family were three children: William, who lives at Middletown, N. Y .; David S. ; and Anne, wife of Wesley Howell.

David S. Doyle acquired his literary education in the public schools. On April 7, 1859, he married Miss Mary Giles, a native of England, who at the age of twelve years came to this country with her parents, William and Catherine ( Mills) Giles. In the Giles household were nine children: Emily, William, Kate, Mary, Christopher, John, Grace, and two who died when young. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Doyle: ( 1) William H., a resident of Wayne county, married Mary Spen- cer, daugliter of James Spencer, and they have four children, Frank, Clara, Howard and David. (2) John W .. also of Wayne county, married Hat- tie Monroe, and they have three children, Emma, Irwin and Alice. (3) Emma, who married Charles H. Spencer. of Mt. Pleasant township. died in November, 1894. (4) Seymour, who lives on the old homestead with his parents, married Jennie Spencer, daughter of James Spencer : she died Au- gust 1, 1892, leaving one child, Tennie Florence. (5) Frank died when young. (6) Susie May lives on the old homestead. Mrs. David S. Doyle. the mother of this family, died November 8, 1898, after an illness of five days, aged fifty-six years.

For the past twenty years Mr. Doyle has re- sided upon his present farm in Mt. Pleasant town- ship, having purchased the place of Joseph L. Smith. It is known as the old John Howell farm and contains 120 acres of rich and productive land, improved with a comfortable residence and good farm buildings of all kinds, which stand as monu- ments to his thrift and enterprise. Politically he is a member of the Democratic party, as are also his two sons, William and Seymour. The family at- tend the Methodist Church, and John and Seymour take a very active and prominent part in both Church and Sabbath-school work. Wherever known the family is held in the highest esteem, and their circle of friends is only limited by their circle of acquaintances.

JOHN WESLEY VAN WERT, a prominent and representative farmer and dairyman of Berlin township, Wayne county, was born at Beaver Brook, Sullivan Co., N. Y. May 27, 1853, and be- longs to an old and distinguished family of the Empire State. The Van Werts are of Holland lescent, and to the great-uncle of our subject, Isaac Van Wert, is due the capture of Benedict Arnold, the traitor, during the Revolutionary war.

The father of our subject. George Van Wert, was born on the Hudson, in New York, son of John Van Wert. He married Miss Nancy Slater, a na- tive of Sullivan county and a daughter of David Slater, who was of German descent, and they be- came the parents of nine children. as follows: Mrs. Mary Ann Johnson : John Wesley : Mrs. Charlotte Koehler, of Pike county, Penn .; George, of Empo-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

rium, Cameron Co., Penn. ; William H., of he same place; Mrs. Alice Howland, of Buffalo, N. Y .; Stephen, of Emporium, Penn .; Mrs. Lenora Buhr, of Elizabeth, N. J. ; and Frank, of Hawley, Penn. The mother of these children died February 23, 1870; the father is still living at the age of sev- enty years, a resident of Sullivan county, N. Y. Throughout his active business career he has been a lumberman and farmer, and since the organiza- tion of the party has been a stanch Republican. During the Civil war he was a member of Company K, 143rd N. Y. V. I., and proved a valiant and fearless soldier on many a Southern battlefield.

In the county of his nativity John W. Van Wert grew to manhood, acquiring a fair educa- tion in its common schools. On leaving home he came to Wayne county, in 1873. and has since been identified with its agricultural interests, now own- ing a valuable farm of 130 acres in Berlin township, which is under excellent cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings. He is also a stockholder in a creamery and conducts a good dairy upon his farm, finding this branch of his busi- ness quite profitable.

Mr. Van Wert was married, May 7, 1879, to Miss Susan Male, who was born, reared and edu- cated in Wayne county. Her father, John C. Male, was born in Cornwall. England, April 19. 1827, a son of Richard and Susan ( Huskin) Male, also natives of that county, the former of whom came to America in 1832. with one son. George. The following year he was joined by his son Will- iam, and in 1836 the mother and John C. also crossed the Atlantic. For some time Richard Male worked at his trade as a tailor in Honesdale, Wayne county, but in 1836 he came to Berlin townshin. purchasing land on Vine Hill from which he cleared the timber. erecting thereon a house. Later he moved to the neighborhood where our subject now resides, and died there at the age of sixty-five years. He was a Whig in politics, and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he served as class-leader for forty years; as a local preacher in England. and as an exhorter most of his life. His wife died at the age of seventy years. Their son George Male removed to the State of Oregon, where he passed away in 1894, leaving three sons and one daughter. The second son, William Male, died in 1850. leaving a widow, now Mrs. Warfield, and a daughter. now Mrs. Eliza Babcock, of Carbondale. Penn. John C. Male, the father of Mrs. Van Wert, was married in 1854 to Miss Ann Spry. a daughter of William and Ann ( Tamblyn) Spry, who were also born in Cornwall. England, and died in Berlin township. Wayne county. Mr. and Mrs. Male became the parents of six children, viz .: William C., a resident of Egeria, Routt Co., Colo .; Joseph Benson, an exten- sive cattleman and ranchman of the same place ; Miles M., of Peckville. Penn. : James Spry, a travel- ing man of Pittsburg, Penn. : Jonathan T .. a medical student, of Buffalo, N. Y .: and Susan, wife of our

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 12

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1000

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1000