Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 13

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 13
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 13
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 13
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 13

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subject. The mother of these children, who was a miost estimable woman, died February 14. 1871 : the father passed away July 11, 1898, honored and respected by all who knew him. In polities he was a Republican, and in religious faith a Free Method- ist.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Wert have a family of five children. namely: Forest Everett. Herman Mon- roe. Mabel Anna. Mildred Jane, and Edith Alice. The parents are both earnest and consistent mem- bers of the Free Methodist Church, in which Mr. Van Wert is serving as steward. Being an advo- cate of Temperance principles. he has become an active worker in the Prohibition party, which he always supports by his ballot. He is a large man, of kindly disposition, and his circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county is extensive.

JOSEPH H. NEWHART, a highly-esteemed resident of Delaware Water .Gap, Monroe county, has held for many years the position of steward in the "Kittatinny House," a noted hostelry and a fav- orite resort of the visitors from all parts of the Union who spend their summer months among the charming scenery of this region. As a citizen Mr. Newhart is public-spirited and progressive, taking an active part in local improvements, and his genial. kindly disposition has won him the friendship of everyone in the community.

Our subject comes of good pioneer stock. his grandfather. John Newhart, having settled in Smith- field township. Monroe county, at an early day. en- gaging in the blacksmith's trade. This worthy citi- zen married Jemima DePuy, and they had eight children, of whom our subject's father. Abram Newhart, was the second. Of the others, ( 1 ) Charles is deceased. (3) Aaron, who was not married, went South previous to the Civil war, and was never heard from afterward. (4) Peter now re- sides at the old homestead in Smithfield township. (5) Daniel is deceased. (6) Lewis, who died at his home in Delaware Water Gap, married Miss Louise Sandt. of Northampton county, and had five chil- dren. Mary. Eva. Lizzie. David and George (de- ceased ). (7) Sarah married Frederick Casebeer, of Smithfield township, where she died leaving no fam- liv. (8) Miss Susan resides at the old homestead with her brother Peter.

Abram Newhart. our subject's father, was born October 14. 1814. in Smithfield township, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Susanna Hau- ser. a native of the same locality, born September 10. 1816. Ile then settled upon a farm in Smithfield township, now Delaware Water Gap borough. and his death occurred there October 4, 1886, his esti- mable wife having died a few years previous, on December 26. 1879. Of their ten children: (1) Elizabeth, born September 20. 1841. died in in- fancy. (2) Jemima, born November 9. 1842, mar- ried J. Van Jouser, of Smithfield township, and resided in Delaware Water Gap borough, where she died in 1882. Her husband survived her

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J.16 Newhart

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

with three children, Lizzie, Abram and George. (3) Joseph H., our subject, is mentioned more fully be- low. (4) Sarah J., born April 9, 1847, married George Reinhart, then of New Jersey and now a resident of Delaware Water Gap borough. They have six children, Anna, Samuel, Susan, Ada, Pres- ton and Raymond. (5) Hannah died in infancy. (6) Anna. born April 12, 1849, married George B. Shanon, who for many years was engaged in mer- 'cantile business, and is now living in retirement at Delaware Water Gap. (7) John N., born March 4. , 1850. died March 5, 1879. (8) Maggie, born October 18, 1854, married David Huddleson, who is engaged in general mercantile business at Bangor, Penn. (9) George W., born May 18, 1857, married Miss Mary Yeisley, of Smithfield township, and settled upon the old homestead in Delaware Water Gap borough, but some years after engaged in business there, and still continues same. He has three children, John, Mag- gie and Florence. ( 10) Katie, born August 22, 1860, married Harry Christian, of Smithfield township.

Our subject was born December 11, 1844, in Delaware Water Gap borough, was reared a farmer boy and at the age of eighteen began to.learn the carpenter's trade. which he followed for a number of years. In 1869 he purchased a lot from his father's old farm, and erected a good two-story house, but in 1891 sold the property and removed to the old homestead which he purchased later. For two years he resided in the old family: residence, but he then built a fine home on the estate, where he still resides. Since 1881 he has been steward of the "Kittatinny House," owned by W. A. Brodhead & Sons, and his skillful discharge of the duties of that position has been a recognized factor in the success of that well- known establishment. Politically Mr. Newhart is a Democrat of the Jacksonian type. and he has been frequently chosen to office by his fellow citizens. For six years he was school director in Smithfield town- ship. and after the organization of the borough he held the same office four years. In 1893 he was elected chief burgess for one year, in 1894. for the term of three years. and in 1807 he was chosen to the office of councilman, which he is now filling ac- ceptably. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian, and he and his family are prominent members of the Church at Delaware Water Gap: his parents were among the original supporters of the denomination in this region.

In 1868 Mr. Newhart married Miss Sarah Smith, daughter of Henry and Sarah Smith, and a member of a leading family of Smithfield township. Their only child, Miss Jennie, born October 30, 1869. received an excellent classical and musical educa- tion, and is a favorite in the best social circles of the neighborhood. She is especially active in re- ligious work as a member of the Presbyterian Church and Sunday-school in which she is organist, and she is one of the workers in the Christian En- deavor Society. Mr. Newhart and his wife have also reared one of his nephews, George Houser. a son of his deceased sister Jemima, and have given

the lad the same educational opportunities afforded their daughter. At present he is attending the Stroudsburg Normal School, taking high rank in liis classes.

DANIEL VANWHY, proprietor of the "Val- ley House," near East Stroudsburg, Monroe coun- ty, is one of the leading citizens of that locality, and in addition to the management of his well- patronized hotel he has recently engaged in the manufacture of baskets on an extensive scale.

Mr. Vanwhy comes of good pioneer stock, and his paternal grandfather, Israel Vanwhy, who re- sided in Middle Smithfield township, Monroe coun- tv. was a citizen of more than usual prominence. He was almost ninety years old when he was called from earth, and his wife, Mary (Leonard), also lived to an advanced age. Their children were : Henry, Israel, Martin, Margaret, Mary, Lottie and Julia.

Henry Vanwhy, father of cur subject, was born in 1832, and is living at Smoky Hill. He spent his early life in arduous labor, as a tiller of the soil. but for many years he has been invalided through rheumatism. He married Miss Liza Mil- ler. and had three children: Daniel (our subject ) ; Sarah, who married Roland Miller, and resides in Northampton county, Penn. : and Mary, who died when two years old. The mother of this family. died. and for his. second wife Mr. Vanwhy wedded Mary Smith, by whom he had ten children: Mar- garet, William, Jefferson, Mary Ann, Henry, Moses. Israel, Peter, Samuel, and Susan.

Daniel Vanwhy. the subject proper of this memoir, was born April 15, 1850, in Middle Smith- field township, Monroe county. It is due to him to say in the outset that he is purely a self-made man. having through his own peculiar genius and in a straightforward business way lifted himself in a few years from the "ragged edge" of poverty to an honorable place as a citizen. His hotel is worth several thousand dollars, and his basket factory is also worth several thousand dollars, with every prospect of an advance in value. In his boyhood days his educational opportunities were most meagre. At the age of twenty-four. when he desired to take a wife and settle down. he found himself penniless. but this did not prevent him from marrying. He commenced keeping house with seventeen dollars worth of furniture, purchased on credit. and later he bought a horse on credit with his father for se- curity. but the horse died soon afterward. Ile managed at last to secure a span of mules, and with them to do the hauling he commenced cutting and hauling railroad ties. He chopped, hewed and de- livered the ties himself. and having knocked from the hardwood a subsistence he finally secured a tract of land : but he was still poor. In course of time. however, he saved about three hundred dol- lars. just enough to pay for the ground required. and he decided to build a hotel in the picturesque

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region at the forks of the road north of East Stroudsburg. His friends tried to discourage him, but he saw an opportunity and he took advantage of it. By careful management he built a fine brick hotel of three stories, which was opened in 1893 and then he was, so to speak. on his feet. How he managed and how he saved and traded can be better imagined than described. The story would fill a volume, but he made money to pay his bills and kept his credit good, and soon had money ahead. He lost some by over-liberality with the needy, for he remembered his own trials, and never suspected that any poor man would be less honest and full of resource than himself; yet notwithstand- ing losses the short period of three years has made him practically independent. A fine basket fac- tory worth about $6.000 was offered for sale, and in 1897 he purchased it, and this he also makes profit- able. Politically he is a Democrat, but he does not aspire to office. His first wife, who in her maiden- hood was Miss Gussie Smith, died a few years after their marriage, and their two children passed away in infancy. For his second wife he married Miss Hannah Miller, who has proved herself an efficient helpmeet. They have no children of their own, but have adopted two, George Vanwhy and May Miller. Mrs. Hannah ( Miller) Vanwhy is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Strunk ) Miller, the latter of whom is a daughter of John C. Strunk, who is now living at the advanced age of ninety-four years. with unimpaired intellect, though he has been blind for the past twenty-five years. William Miller and his wife have six liv- ing children : B. F., who has been county commis- sioner for six years; John; Catherine, wife of Ja- cob Mick; Hannah; Lizzie, wife of Jacob Rush; and Rush, who married Fannie Smith.

ERASTUS BENNETT is numbered among · the brave "boys in blue" who,. during the Civil war, laid down their lives on the altar of their country while defending the old flag and the cause it repre- sented. He was born September 25, 1822, a son of John Bennett, a native of Gibson, Susquehanna Co., Penn., of which place the family were hon- ored pioneers. His parents had seven children: The eldest. son is deceased; Erastus was second in the order of birth, and was followed by Priseilla Coon, Laura Lee, Wilbur, Horace and John Wes- ley. The father was a pronounced Republican in politics, but was very broad and liberal in all his views. The mother was a woman of strong char- acter, and was a faithful member of the Methodist Church.

Reared in Susquehanna county, Erastus Ben- nett obtained his literary education in the public schools of that section. Soon after attaining his majority he was married. October 30, 1843, at West Herrick, Penn .. to Miss Martha D. Coon, who was born in Roxbury township, Delaware Co., N. Y., a daughter of Benjamin and Hariet Coon. The children born to them are as follows: Lester E.,

who resides on the home farm, married Miss Etta Kennedy, by whom he had two children, Estella and George, and after her death wedded for his sec- ond wife Miss Nettie Miller; to them have been born two daughters, Vera and Hazel. Cynthia J. is the wife of Charles Crandall, of Forest City, Penn. Alva C. is married and makes his home in Preston township, Wayne county. Ann Del- phine is the wife of Wilbur Kennedy, of Pleasant Mount, Wayne county. Matilda M. is the wife of E. P. Cargill, of Thompson, Penn. Louise is the wife of John Hayden, of Dickinson, N. Dak. Hattie is the wife of Ed Hayden, of Ararat, Penn. Weiss is deceased. Ira .N. completes the family.

Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, Mr. Ben- nett enlisted in 1862, on President Lincoln's call for 300,000 men, becoming a member of Company B, 17th P. V. I., and after two years of faithful and gallant service on many a Southern battlefield, he died August 28, 1864, being laid to rest in the South, on the farm that once belonged to Gen. Lee. He was a Republican in politics, and was a zealous worker and class-leader in the Methodist Church, to which he belonged. Thus passed to his reward a man of noble character, one who acted well his part in life, "wherein all honor lies," and who gained and retained the confidence, respect and esteem of his fellowmen.

Left a widow with nine children depending upon her, Mrs. Bennett deserves great credit for the excellent manner in which she has managed her affairs, displaying remarkable skill and ability in the supervision of her farm and other busi- ness interests. Her children do credit to her care and attention, all occupying honorable positions in life, and by her wisdom and kindness she has reared an everlasting monument in their hearts and those of her friends. In her declining years she will be able to look back over a well-spent and useful life, and when the inevitable end comes can confidently expect the welcome plaudit : "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

W. E. FLOWER, proprietor of the leading meat market in Gouldsboro, Wayne county, was born in Clifton township, Lackawanna Co., Penn., October 16, 1869, and is a son of Silas Flower, a native of Sterling township, Wayne county.

At the age of eighteen years the father of our subject moved to Lackawanna county, where he has since engaged in lumbering and farming, being foreman of a sawmill there for fourteen years. For the past twenty-six years, however, he has lived upon his present farm, and now devotes his entire time and attention to general farming. He was married, in Clifton township, Lackawanna county, to Miss Sarah Summers, by whom he has four chil- dren, namely: W. E., of this review : and Flora, Walter and Mary, residing on the old home in Lackawanna county. Our subject's paternal grand- parents were Abraham and Susan ( Hazelton) Flower, the former born in Stroudsburg, Penn.,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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where he grew to manhood. Later in life he be- came a resident of Sterling township, Wayne coun- ty, where he followed the carpenter's trade for some years. His last days, however, were spent in Daleville, Penn., where both he and his wife died.

The subject of this sketch is indebted to the common schools of his native county for his edu- cational privileges. He began life for himself at the age of twenty-one years, working for neighbor- ing farmers, and subsequently purchased forty acres of land upon which he engaged in farming and lumbering until April 27, 1895, when he moved to Gouldsboro and purchased the meat market which he has since so successfully conducted.

At Gouldsboro, December 18, 1890, Mr. Flow- er was married, by Rev. Mr. Heilig, a Lutheran minister, to Miss Linnie Tiger, whose parents, Gar- ner and Mary ( Fackenthall) Tiger, are natives of Lebanon, N. J., and now make their home in Gouldsboro. By trade her father is a mason. Mr. and Mrs. Flower have three children: Howard, born September 22, 1891; Mabel, born March 24, 1893; and Annie, born September 29. 1894. In his political affiliations Mr. Flower is a Republican, has most creditably served as inspector of elections for two years, and is tax collector at the present time. In religious faith both he and his wife are Lutherans, and they enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them.

ALEXANDER F. LAWSON. of Manchester township, Wayne county, is a well known contrac- tor and builder, of whose skill niany notable ex- amples are seen in this region. Thoroughly reli- able in all things, the quality of his work is a con- vincing test of his own personal worth, and the same admirable trait is shown in his conscientious discharge of the duties of different positions of trust and responsibility to which he has been chosen in business and political life.

Mr. Lawson was born in Bethel. Sullivan Co .. N. Y., January 7, 1836, a son of Mathew B. and Elizabeth ( Kirshamer ) Lawson. both natives of Dutchess county, N. Y., the latter born in Pough- keepsie. The paternal grandfather. Benjamin Lawson, was one of the Revolutionary soldiers who settled on Manhattan Island, and was driven away by the British. After his marriage Mathew B. Lawson located at Bethel, N. Y., where he pur- chased a large amount of real estate. and he died upon one of his farms there, in 1860. at the age of sixty-two years. His wife passed away a few years later, at the age of about seventy-eight. In their family were ten children, all born in Bethel, Sulli- van Co., N. Y .: (1) Peter C., the eldest. married a Miss Ostehont, of Bethel, and located on the oki homestead, where he followed farming. His wife died leaving three children. of whom two died young, and the other, Margaret. is unmarried. Later he wedded Eliza Fitzgerald, of Bethel, by whom he has one daughter, Mary, and they still

live on the old home farm. (2) Sarah J., born in 1825, married Edward R. Lawrence. of Sullivan county, who died in 1895; her death occurred in 1888. Their children were Viola S., William N., Nellie ( deceased) and Edward. (3) Thomas, born in 1832, married and resided in Sullivan coun- ty, where he died some years ago, leaving one daughter, Annie, now a resident of New York. (4) Alexander F. is the next of the family that reached years of maturity. (5) John, born in 1840, enlisted during the Civil war in the 28th N. Y. V. I., and was killed during Mcclellan's retreat at the battle of Bull Run. Five of the family died in childhood. Alexander F. Lawson was reared in his native county, and received a good education. In 1857, when still a young men, he came to Little Equi- nunk, Wayne Co., Penn., and erected a tannery for the firm of Wood & Vanhenscoten, continuing to engage in contracting and building there until his marriage. In 1863 he wedded Miss Mariette Car- gin, who was born in Delaware county, N. Y., where she was reared, her parents, Gilbert and Caroline Cargin. being pioneers of that county. After his marriage Mr. Lawson located at Long Eddy, Sullivan Co., N. Y., where he followed con- tracting for three years, in 1866 returning to Little Equinunk. In 1873 he bought forty acres of wild land in Manchester township, on the creek. one mile from the village, and upon that place erected a fine house and also a wagon and blacksmith shop, which he still conducts. He has cleared and im- proved his farm, but still gives a portion of his time to contracting and building. In 1879 he built a tannery at Hills Grove, Sullivan Co., Penn., and in the fall of the following year erected one at Hoytville, Tioga Co .. Penn., for the firm of Hoyt Bros. He is a skillful workman, and conscien- itously fulfills his part of every contract.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawson have become the par- ents of five children, namely: (1) Eudora MI., born at Long Eddy, N. Y., in 1865, was educated in Wayne county, Penn., and married Gilbert Miner, of Delaware county. N. Y. They now live in North Sanford, Broome Co., N. Y., where he is engaged in farming. They have had the follow- ing named children: Nellie, Rena, Grace. Frank L., Helen, and Frank B. ( who died in infancy). (2) Edward G., born at Little Equinunk. in 1868, mar- ried Lillie Toms, of Wayne county, and they reside at Long Eddy, N. Y. Frank B., born in Wayne county, in 1870, was educated in the schools at Equinunk, and now follows the carpenter's trade at Long Island, N. Y. He makes his home with his parents. (4) Mate E., born in Little Equinunk. in 1873. is a very bright, well educated young lady, residing at home. (5) Ida MI., born in 1876, died in 1877

Mr. Lawson casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. In 1870 he was appointed justice of the peace under J. W. Geary, and held the office for ten years; in : 1893 was re-elected to the same position and is the

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present ineumbent, discharging the duties of that office in a most able and satisfactory manner. He has also held the office of school director for thir- teen years, and township treasurer for six years. He and his wife are prominent members and liberal supporters of the Methodist Church at Little Equinunk, and for twenty-seven years he has been a Master Mason, belonging to Delaware Lodge No. 561, F. & A. M. By his thrift and good man- agement he has accumulated a comfortable proper- ty, and as a business man, private citizen and pub- lic official his career as ever been such as to com- mand the respect and confidenee of all with whom he has come in contact.

DANIEL BINGHAM, a prominent and highly respected ctizen of Hawley, Wayne county, was born November 3, 1845. in Brownville, N. Y., a son of Hiram and Ann ( Deviny) Bingham, also natives of that State, where they continued to make their home until coming to Hawley, in the fall of 1848.

The father of our subject, who was a carpenter by trade, was made overseerer on the construction of the Gravity railroad for the Pennsylvania Co. He was of quiet, retiring disposition, but all who knew him had for him the highest regard. He always cast his ballot with the Democratic party, and was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, to which his wife also belonged. In September, 1879, he passed away at the age of eighty years, and she died three years later. at the age of eighty-three. the remains of both being interred at Hawley. Our subject, the youngest of their five children, is the only one now living. John was drowned in the Delaware & Hud- son eanal at Brownville, N. Y., at the age of ten years : Sylvia died at the age of three years ; Cornel- ius died in Hawley, in 1876; and Mary A. died in Dunmore, Penn., in 1894.

Daniel Bingham was but three years old at the time of the arrival of the family in Hawley, where he grew to manhood, attending the old-fashioned district school for three months during the winter un- til twelve years of age. He was then apprenticed to the carpenter's trade with his father, and finished his literary education by many weary nights of home study. After mastering the business, he had charge of the machinery in Joseph Ensley's planing-mill for three years. He then worked at house building until, in: 1865, he went to Scranton, Penn., where for three years he was employed in a sash and blind factory. Returning to Hawley in 1868, he and his brother Cornelius leased the planing-mill of Mr. Ensley. which stood on the present site of J. S. O'Connor's glass-cutting shop. and operated it together until 1873, when they admitted B. K. Pellett to a partner- ship. With other work they manufactured furni- ture, and also engaged in the undertaking business. After Mr. Pellett became a member of the firm the plant was removed to the site of the present electric plant, but in 1876 it was destroyed by fire, at a loss of $0.000, with no insurance upon it. Owing to hard times, business was not resumed, and Mr. Bingham

again turned his attention to the carpenter's trade. being engaged in house building until 1887, when he took charge of B. L. Wood's planing-mill in Hones- dale. During the five years he operated same his family still continued to live in Hawley, where he afterward worked at the carpenter's trade for three years. In 1895 he became interested in journalistic work. being now solicitor and correspondent for the Wayne county Independent, and is also on the staff of the Scranton Daily Republican and local corres- pondent for the Citizen of Honesdale, for which he lias written many able and interesting articles. He is also the leading insurance agent in Wayne county, for fire, life and casualty insurance.

Mr. Bingham has devoted his whole time to newspaper work and insurance since early in 1897. His courteous treatment, honest representations in business matters and close adherence to the in- terests of his patrons and the companies he repre- sents, have won for him the esteem of the inhabit- ants within a radius of many miles from his home town, and the mention of "Bingham's Agency" at once authenticates reliability in all branches of in- surance. Hawley has been the home of Mr. Bing- ham for fifty years. He owns and occupies a fine residence on the corner of Fifteenth and Nineteenth streets, and has his office adjoining, on Nineteenth street.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 13

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