Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 14

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 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 14
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 14

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).

In May. 1867. at Hawley, Mr. Bingham was married to Miss Mary A. Ammerman, who died in December, 1880, and was laid to rest in the cemetery at East Hawley. Five children were born to them, namely : Lizzie A., who died at the age of two years ; Minnie L., now the wife of Charles M. Potter, a butcher of Dunmore, Penn. ; Albert Judgson, a glass- blower at Streator, Ill. ; Grace MI., who died at the age of eleven years ; and William G., who died at the age of five months.

At the bride's home at Cherry Ridge, Wayne county, Mr. Bingham was again married, December 11, 1882, his second union being with Miss Jennie S. Hurd, who was born there September 13, 1855. Ifer parents, Thomas and Hanna ( Dony) Hurd, were natives of Cornwall, England, and came with their respective parents to America, the former at. the age of sixteen years, the latter at the age of fifteen. The father engaged in farming at Cherry Ridge. He died in February, 1807, aged eighty-five vears, and was laid to rest in the cemetery there. The mother died in November, 1899. Of their children, William H. died in 1877: Maria, died un- married : Elizabeth married Alfred Ward, a stone mason of Honesdale, and is now deceased : Jennie S. is the wife of our subject : Della lives in Honesdale : and lda is the wife of Arthur Pierce, a farmer of Greenfield, Pennsylvania.

Socially Mr. Bingham is a member of the F. & A. M., of Hawley; the 1. O. O. F. ; and he and his wife both belong to the Rebekah branch of the latter order. lle is an earnest and faithful member of the Baptist Church, she of the Methodist Church, and they are held in high regard by all who know

D. Bingham

957

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

them. Politically our subject is identified with the Republican party, and is well informed on the lead- ing questions and issnes of the day.

CHARLES KELLER, a well-to-do agricult- urist of Stroud township, Monroe county, is one of the leading citizens of that locality, and in the course of his long and useful life has been identi- fied with many progressive movements. His home- stead, which has been in the possession of the fam- ily since pioneer times, gives evidence of thrift and industry, and fully justifies the high reputation en- joyed by Mr. Keller as manager.

The first of the family to settle in Monroe county was our subject's great-grandfather, who made his home on the banks of the Delaware, at which time the Indians were still troublesome, and our subject's grandfather, Joseph Keller, and a sister, Mary Keller. were captured by the Indians and held as prisoners for eight years. Joseph settled at the site of the present homestead, clear- ing the land and building a log cabin. He and his wife died there many years ago, leaving a family of nine children: Adam, Leonard, Joseph, Samuel, Peter, George, Sarah (wife of Robert Shaw, of Illinois), Melissa ( Mrs. John Hagenshalt), and Lizzie ( Mrs. John Fellenser ).

Peter Keller, our subject's father, was born at the present homestead, where he spent his life. In 1851 he built a residence, which still stands on the farm, and he died there in September, 1878. In October, 1798, he was married in Hamilton township, Monroe county, to Miss Elizabeth Hel- ler, daughter of Peter Heller, and she died No- vember 4, 1886. They had twelve children, as fol- lows: (1) John, born in 1818, died in April, 1886, unmarried. (2) Susan, who was born in 1821, and died in 1883, was never married. (3) Catherine, born on 1823. married Thomas Rhodes ( now de- ceased), and resides in Stroudsburg with her chil- dren. (4) Daniel, born in 1825, married Jane Drake, of Stroud township (now deceased), and at present he resides in Scranton, Penn. (5) Charles, our subject, is mentioned more fully far- ther on. (6) Mary, born in 1829, married Henry Dennis, of Stroudsburg, and has a large family of children. (7) Joseph, born in 1831, died in Ham- ilton township in 1871 ; his wife, Jane ( Rhodes), of Stroud township, died in 1897. They had six children-Francis, Rachel, Clayton, Jacob, Harry and Joseph. (8) Lewis, born in 1833, married Miss Julia Workheiser, of Hamilton township, and now resides in Scranton .. (9) Miss Louise, born in 1833, and ( 10) Miss Sarah, born in 1835. are also residents of Stroudsburg. ( 11) William, born in 1837. married Miss Sarah Kemmerer, of Hamilton township, and now resides in Bangor, Northampton Co., Penn. ( 12) Theodore, twin of William, married Miss Martha Staples, of Ham- ilton township. and resides in Scranton.

Charles Keller was born April 20, 1827, at the old homestead, and was educated in the public

schools of that neighborhood. In 1851 he married Miss Lavina Smith, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth Smith, who were prominent residents of Smithfield township, Monroe county, in the early days. Mr. Keller brought his bride to the old home, where they spent nearly half a century of wedded life. On June 22, 1897, she passed to the unseen world. Of their nine children: (1) Miss Ella, born February 28, 1853, is exceptionally in- telligent, and is a capable graduate from train- ing school of nurses connected with a hospital in New Jersey, being now in successful practice in East Orange, N. J. (2) Frank died at the age of two years. (3) Mary E., born October 22, 1856, married Warren Nyce, of Warren county, N. J., and later of Stroud township, Monroe county, where she died in 1892, leaving three children-Anna L. ( Mrs. John C. Hunton ), Charles E., and Lester. (4) Miss Emma, born November 25, 1858, resides at home, caring for her father in his declining years, and is much esteemed in the community for her fine qualities of mind and heart. (5) Davis, born March 15, 1861, occupies a portion of the home- stead. He married Miss Valeria Nicholson, of Stroud township, and has three children, Oscar N., Margaret A., and Alice, all born at the old home. (6) Christian, born March 11, 1864, is a blacksmith at Scranton. He married Miss Annie Hutchins, of that city, and has two children, Clay- ton and Charles Frederick. (7) Angeline, born March 18, 1866, married Frank Rice, a machinist in Scranton, and has four children-John, Mildred, Charles, and Elizabeth. (8) Ernest, born May 10, 1868, is a blacksmith by trade, but owns and oper- ates a fine farm in Stroud township. He married Miss Laura Fellenser, of Hamilton township, and lias two children-Ella F., and Emma S. (9) Thomas, born June 26, 1870, is a machinist in Scranton. He married Miss Alice Spencer, of the same city.

Since coming into possession of the old home Mr. Keller has made many improvements of a sub- stantial nature, erecting several buildings. The farm comprises 125 acres of choice land, being one of the best estates of its size in the township. Po- litically Mr. Keller is a Democrat, and at times he has held local offices. serving as supervisor of the poor. He and his family have always been noted for their liberal aid to the cause of religion as mem- bers of the Reformed Church, and the land for the German Reformed Church in the valley near their residence was donated by him.

FRANKLIN L. BENJAMIN, a resident of Lake township, Wayne county, where he is engaged in farming and also in the business of repairing clocks and watches, is a native of the county, born January 14, 1859.

Mr. Benjamin's parents. Wells and Mary J. ( Swingle ) Benjamin, were natives, the father of the present site of Carbondale, Penn., born August 8. 1831, and the mother of Jefferson township, Lu-

958

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

zerne (now Lackawanna) county, born December 10, 1838. When ten years of age Wells Benjamin was brought by his parents to the farm in Wayne county on which they died. He was by occupation a fariner, and from April, 1857, to June, 1865. he was also in the employ of a railroad company. In June, 1865, he quit the railroad work and purchased a farm in Jefferson township, Luzerne ( now Lack- awanna ) county. Here he resided until the autumn of 1866, when he sold this farm and purchased an- other in what is now Lake township, Wayne Co., Penn., continuing to reside there the remainder of his life, which terminated August 29. 1893. IIe wife died some years previously, passing away June 10, 1887. Both were members of the Chris- tian Church; their remains rest in the Kizer grave- yard in Lackawanna county. Their children were : Franklin L., Julia A. (born March 23, 1868, died October 26, 1879), and Elmo O. (who is attending school at Pittston, Penn.). The grandparents, Henry H. and Sally ( Krotzer) Benjamin, are re- ferred to elsewhere.

Franklin L. Benjamin passed the first six years of his life on the top of the Moosic Mountains, at a place called "No. 11," on the line of the Pennsylva- nia Coal Co.'s railroad, on which road his father was employed as a brakeman, and afterward as a conductor of a coal train. He lived with and worked for his father, farming, lumbering, clearing new land, and following the various pursuits connected with farming, until 1882, when, in his twenty-fourth year, he was married to Miss Eva A. Bell, of Sa- lem township, Wayne Co., Penn. On . April 16, 1882, he commenced life on his own ac- eount, on a farm owned by his father in Jefferson township, Lackawanna county, and there he lived one summer, when his father sold the farm. The son then moved with his father to the house where he continued to reside until August, 1885, when he built the house near his father's, where he still makes his home, dividing his time between farming and watch and clock repairing, in which craft he

is very proficient. On October 17, ISSO, he be- came a charter member of Harvest Grange No. 892, Patrons of Husbandry, organized at Maple- wood, of which he was elected secretary. On Feb- ruary 11, 1890, he became a charter member of Macoby Tribe No. 234, Improved Order of Red Men, organized at Maplewood; in this order he held varoius positions, including that of chief of records. On the organization of the Wayne and Lackawanna County Pomona Grange he became a charter member and was elected master, which office he held for two years, and on the expiration of his term of office he was unanimously elected lecturer on the first ballot, which was the more remarkable when it is remembered that no nominations were made, each one voting for whom he chose. In February, 1892, he was elected school director for three years, and also served as secretary of the board. On February 15, 1898, lie was re-elected a member of the school board for a term of three

years. We may here remark that the only educa- cional opportunity that came within the reach of Mr. Benjamin was that of a country district school, to attend which, most of the time, he was obliged to walk one and one-half miles. The term was a short one during the winter season, and only a few branches were taught (and many times those in- differently), consisting of reading, writing, spell- ing, arithmetic and geography. He made the most of liis opportunities in this direction, and be- came farther advanced than most of his school- mates. He is a great reader, and is at present a paid subscriber to eight newspapers, periodicals and magazines, including three agricultural and one scientific journal.

Mr. Benjamin is the father of three bright boys: Howard W., born February 15, 1886; Alton L., born June 23, 1888; and William Walter, born April 8, 1891. Mrs. Eva A. Benjamin was born November 7, 1857, in Salem township, Wayne Co., Penn., a daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Barklow) Bell.

WILLIAM BLEWETT, one of the honored and respected citizens of Mt. Pleasant township is, like many other of the prominent and representa- tive men of Wayne county, a native of England, born in Cornwall August 14, 1839.

Our subject's father, Henry Blewett, was a blacksmith by trade, as was also his paternal grand- father. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Anne Wellington, was a daughter of Peter Wellington, a farmer by occupation. In 1849 the parents with their children sailed for America, and after a long and tedious voyage of six weeks landed at Quebec, Canada, whence they proceeded to Montreal, and then by way of St. Johns to Albany, N. Y., and from there to Honesdale, Penn. In that city the father worked at his trade until 1852, when he purchased a blacksmith shop and farm in Dyberry township, carrying on operations there until called from this life, at the age of seventy- four years. In religious faith he was an Episco- palian, and he was highly esteemed wherever known. His wife had reached the age of eighty- five years at the time of her death. In the family of this worthy couple were eight children, of whom four died in England. Of those who came to this country, John is now a farmer at Bethany, Wayne county . Mary Anna is the wife of James Mc- Reynolds (Tubs). of Delhi, Delaware Co., Iowa; Jane, deceased, was the wife of Ilenry Arthur, of Dyberry, Wayne county; and William is the subject of this review.

William Blewett was a lad of only nine years when the family crossed the Atlantic and took up their residence in Wayne county, where he resumed his studies in the public schools, his education hav- ing been commenced in his native land. Ile re- mained at home until his father's death, and throughout his business career has devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, owning and op-

959

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

erating at the present time a well-improved and highly-cultivated farm, one of the most valuable and attractive places in Mt. Pleasant township. The residence is comfortable, convenient and com- modious, and the out-buildings are such as are found on a model farm of the nineteenth century.

On December 31, 1859, at Honesdale, Mr. Blewett was united in marriage with Miss Betsy Cruse, who was born, reared and educated in Wayne county, and is a daughter of Nicholas and Mary ( Brown) Cruse, both natives of Cornwall, England, where their marriage was celebrated. Mrs. Blewitt is the elder of their two children, the other being William Cruse, a resident of Hawley, Wayne county, who was a Union soldier during the Civil war. The mother died at the age of fifty years. in the faith of the Methodist Church, of which she and her husband were consistent members.

Mr. Blewett and his wife have been blessed with twelve children: Mary Anne, born February 27, 1861, died May 23, 1892; William Henry, born May 2, 1862, died November 25, 1889; Fanny Ellen, born October 22, 1863, is a resident of Wayne coun- ty ; Eliza B., born February 25, 1865, is the wife of William H. Thomas, of Butte, Mont .; John James, born February 2, 1867, makes his.home in Wayne county ; Lillie Maria, born January 31, 1869, died July 31, 1870; Ezra Franklin, born April 17, 1871, married Ida G. Strang, and lives in Lackawanna county, Penn .; Lillie, born March 21, 1873, is the wife of James E. Henshaw, of Dyberry township ; Wayne county ; Amanda L., born January 7, 1875, is at home with her parents; Elias W., born No- vember 23, 1876, is now a clerk in Mr. Morgan's store in Pleasant Mount; Bessie, born May 28, 1879, died December 19, 1879; and Clarence, born March 17, 1881, is at home. Three daughters -Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Henshaw and Amanda-have engaged in teaching, and Miss Amanda is still one of the popular and successful teachers of Wayne county.

The Democratic party always finds in Mr. Blewett a stalwart supporter of its men and mcas- ures, and he has most creditably filled the offices of supervisor and member of the school board. He and his family are regular attendants of the Meth- odist Church, and he is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Mt. Pleasant. Sixty years of age, he is yet in the prime of life, is a man of good physique, enjoys excellent health, and is al- ways a courtecus, genial gentleman, well de- serving of the high regard in which he is held.

WILLIAM B. CHAPMAN, proprietor of the. New Milford foundry in Susquehanna county, is an alle business man, and for more than thirty years he has been successfully engaged in his present line of business, twenty-eight years having been spent in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Chapman was born November 19, 1830, in Oneida county, N. Y., and comes of good New England stock, liis ancestors having settled in 1

Rhode Island at an early day. John Chapman, his grandfather, who was a farmer by occupation, was born and rcared in Rhode Island, but his last years were spent in Oneida county, N. Y. Willard Chapman, the father of our subject, was also a na- tive of Rhode Island, and was a child when the family removed to New York State. His life was spent in agricultural pursuits, and hc never sought public notice, though for many years he was active in religious work as a member of the Baptist Church. He died in 1878 at the age of seventy- eight; and his wife, Patty ( Stone), who was born in Oneida county, died in 1871 aged sixty-five years. They had the following children : Abigail, widow of William LeRoy, resides in Grand Rapids, Mich .; Leander is a farmer in Otsego county, N. Y .; Morris is deceased; William B., our subject, was fourth in the order of birth: Joseph is a farm- ei and mechanic at Grand Rapids: Mary married Jerome Gouldeburg, of Grand Rapids; Maria, wid- ow of Charles Hotchkis, resides at Oncida, N. Y .; Charles occupics the old homestead, in Oneida county ; and Evaline dicd in childhood.

Our subject was reared at his father's home- stead, and when twenty years old entered a foundry at Clayville, N. Y., remaining about a year. The following year he spent at home, but he then began working steadily at his trade. After some years at MIchoonpany, Penn., he passed one year in Ot- sego, N. Y., then in 1868 he came to Susquehanna county, and engaged in farming in New Milford township, continuing four years. Returning to Mehoopany, he remained until January 20, 1886, when he took charge of his present foundry in New Milford. In politics he is an ardent Prohibi- tionist, while in religious faith he is a Methodist. Socially he and his family are much esteemed, and he is identified with the Knights of Pythias.

On November 23, 1853, Mr. Chapman was married in Oneida county, N. Y., to Miss Asenath LeRoy, and five children have blessed the union : Wilford L., a farmer in New Milford township, married Miss Ella Kent; Archie W., who resides at the homestcad, married Miss Ella Hatfield; Anna M. married Nathaniel Burdick, a mechanic at New Milford ; Grace P. married Charles Culver, a painter and paper-hanger at New Milford; and Maurice D., who is in the shoe business at Lester- shire, N. Y., married Miss Lora Babcock. Mrs. Asenath Chapman, who was born January 22, 1832, in Fulton county, N. Y., is of French descent in the paternal line. Her father, Tennis LeRoy, was a blacksmith in Rensselaer county, and he and his wife Asenath passed away in Oneida county.

JOHN WESLEY WATSON. Prominent among the successful farmers and dairymen of Wayne county is the subject of this historical notice, whose homestead lies in Salem township, and who, by his enterprise and energy in the direc- tion of his chosen industry, has given his work a

960

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

significance and beauty of which few deem it capa- ble.

Thomas J. Watson, father of our subject, was born November 25, 1803, in Philadelphia, where he grew to manhood, received his literary education, and also learned the trade of a wheelwright and blacksmith, at which he worked until 1859, when he and his family came to Wayne county. He pur- chased a farm in Salem township, and upon that place made his home until his death, which occur- red March 26, 1880. Politically he was identified with the Republican party, and while a resident of Philadelphia took quite an active and prominent part in political affairs, serving as alderman in that city for ten years. There he was married, May II, 1829, to Miss Mary Ayers, who died in Philadel- phia December 20, 1848. The children born to this union were Mary Elizabeth, now the widow of Francis Ferguson, and a resident of Colorado Springs, Colo. ; Anna S., widow of Theodore Fry, and a resident of Philadelphia; Matilda H .. who died in Philadelphia during childhood : Sarah J .. wife of Robert Knox, of Scranton, l'enn .; Will- iam H. H., who was a soldier in the Civil war, and is now foreman of a machine shop in Philadelphia ; Matilda, who died when young; Thomas Corvin, who was also a soldier in the Civil war, and is now a pattern maker in Philadelphia ; and John Wesley, of this review. On March 6, 1851, Mr. Watson was again married, his second union being with Mary Ann Leonard, who died in April, 1870, leav- ing three sons: Leonard, a resident of Ledge- dale, Penn. ; and George and David, both of Scran- ton, this State.

John W. Watson was born in Philadelphia, September 1, 1847, and when a lad of twelve years came with his father to Wayne county. He ac- quired a good practical education in the schools of Philadelphia and Salem township, Wayne county, and during his minority assisted his father in the labors of the home farm. At the age of twenty- one he commenced farming for himself in Salem township, and in 1894 purchased the old homestead, which had been out of the family for a number of years. He now owns 140 acres in that township, of which 120 acres are suitable for cultivation. and is successfully carrying on farming in all its branches, paying particular attention to dairying.

On December 2, 1868, in Salem township, Mr. Watson was married, by Rev. Everetts, to Miss Adelaide Andrews, a daughter of AAbner and Phoebe O. ( Peet ) Andrews, and sister of J. W. Andrews, of Lake Ariel, whose sketch appears elsewhere. Four children grace this union: Anna Mary, born March 15, 1870, is the wife of Gustav Greuner, of Scranton, Penn .; Emma Eliza, born February 23, 1875, attended school for two years in Philadelphia, and afterward graduated from the East Stroudsburg Normal School; she began teach- ing in 1893, and is now successfully following that profession in Florence, Mass. Sarah Jane, born June 14, 1877, and John Wesley, Jr., born Decem-

ber 12, 1882, are both at home. The daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hamlinton.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Watson has always been a stanch Republican in political senti- ment. and has most creditably filled the office of school director in Salem township. He bears high rank in the community as a substantial and reliable citizen, is of a genial and affable disposition, and his circle of friends and acquaintances is extensive.

C. T. TEGELER has for many years been prominently identified with the business interests of Damascus township, Wayne county, and in act- ing in accordance with the dictates of his faith and judgment he has reaped, in the fullness of time, the generous benefits that are the recompense of indomitable industry, spotless integrity and mar- velous enterprise.

Mr. Tegeler was born in New York City, April 24. 1846, a son of W. H. and Catharine ( Tenant ) Tegeler. His father was a native of Prussia. Ger- many. and on coming to America located in New York, where he engaged in cabinet making and in the furniture business for some years. In 1854, however, he brought his family to Damascus town- ship, Wayne Co., Penn., and purchased the Thomas Shields farm, where he made his home, though he still continued in business in the city for some time. In his later years he located permanently here, and in 1865 bought the store property of J. H. Louns- burg, where he engaged in mercantile trade until his death in 1871. His wife survived him a number of years, dying in 1893. In their family were only two sons. C. T. being the elder. Fred- erick W. was educated in Damascus township, where he grew to manhood. He married Florence Love- lass, of the same township, and there purchased the farm where he now resides. He has a family of nine children: Harry, Elizabeth E. (wife of Lorenzo l'rice ), Catherine, Otto, Pearl, Ralph, Fred, Clarence and Vernon.

The subject of this sketch was a lad of eight years when the family removed to Damascus town- ship. He received a good education in the academy at Monticello, N. Y., and when his school days were over worked on the home farm until his marriage. On December 4, 1867, he wedded Miss Amelia MI. Lovelass, of Wayne county, and they began their domestic life upon the old homestead. living there while he engaged in raising stock and dealing in the same. for a number of years. He also clerked in his father's store for some time. Mrs. Tegeler died in 1872, leaving three children: (1) Wil- helmina E., born in Damascus township. October 21, 1868, was educated in the public schools, and was married. December 4. 1890, to Lewis G. Crock- er, of Wayne county, who is now engaged in the grocery business in Topeka, Kans., where they re- side. They have one son, Clyde. (2) Frederica Grace, born June 28, 1870, was married. in April. 1801. to William J. MeIntyre, of Wayne county. They reside in Honesdale, and have two children.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 14

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