Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 19

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 19
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 19
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 19
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 19

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).

Mr. Roberts returned to Sullivan county, where he was married, in June, 1870, to Miss Olive Smith, of that county, and a daughter of Harry and Lou- isa Smith, natives of Connecticut. Her father has been dead some years, but her mother is still liv- ing, and finds a pleasant home with our subject. Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have given homes to three of her sister's children who were left motherless, and are now ten- derly cared for by them.

In 1870 Mr. Roberts came to Wayne county, Penn., and purchased the George Price farm of I 50 acres in Manchester township, on which he has erected good and substantial buildings and made many other excellent improvements, so that it is now one of the most desirable places in the locality. Here he is extensively engaged in the dairy business, keeping on hand for this purpose twenty-five cows at the present time. He is a prominent member of Scudder Post, G. A. R., and in politics is an ardent Republican. He is now filling the office of overseer of the poor in a most creditable manner. He and his wife are sincere and earnest Christian people, and are leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Braman, taking an active and prominent part in its work, while their lives have ever been in harmony with its teachings.

LANCELOT W. ARMSTRONG. The charming little city of Milford contains some of the most beautiful homes in Pike county, and that of our subject, a prominent business man of New York City, is a model of elegance and comfort. One could scarcely imagine a more pleasant spot in which to recuperate from the strain of business life, and Mr. Armstrong makes it a rule to spend there the interval from Friday night to Monday morning. As a native of Milford and a member of one of its oldest families he holds a high place as a citizen, and his fine abilities and unassuming yet genial manners have won for him a host of friends.

Mr. Armstrong is a descendant of the Arin- strong clan of Scotland which furnished many noted warriors in the struggles between that coun- try and England, and according to good authority lie is of the same stock as the Armstrongs who were established at Liddesdale, in the "Debatable coun-

try," as early as 1376. In 1377 Robert Arm- strong and his wife, Margaret Temple, were the owners of the town of Whithaugh, in Thorpe, Eng- land, and lands adjoining, and this estate remained in the possession of the family until 1730. A branch of the Clan Armstrong settled in the North of Ireland at an early day, and our subject's grand- father, Lancelot Armstrong, was born in Gortin, County Tyrone, Ireland. But little is known of him beyond the fact that he left seven children: Jolin, Andrew, James, Thomas, William, Mary ( who married Edward Warwick), and Sarah. Andrew came to America about 1825 and settled at Milford. where he constructed some of the first buildings. William Armstrong, the father of our subject, was married at Gortin, Ireland, in 1833, to Miss Eliza- beth Graham, and they started on the same day for America. For many years he was engaged in con- tracting in masonry at Milford, retiring in 1876, and he died there May 21, 1886. He had the repu- tation of being one of the most skillful workmen, in his line, to be found in this section, while as a cit- izen he was much esteemed for his excellent qual- ities of character. His widow passed from earth April 30, 1888. They had the following children : Catherine (who died in infancy), Lancelot W., Eliza, Catherine, Thomas, Sarah, William, Mary, Wilhelmina, and Annie.

Our subject was born October 24, 1835, at Mil- ford, and when eigliteen months old he was adopt- ed by an uncle, Edward Warwick, of whom further mention is made below. His education was begun in the schools of Milford, but in 1847 he accom- panied his uncle to New York City, where he at- tended school for about three years. In 1850 he found employment in a straw-hat factory, but he only remained a few months, as the work was not congenial. For six months he was in the office of Austin & Bradford, attorneys in New York, where he made himself useful at copying and other work, and on September 11, 1851, he began an appren- ticeship to the mason's trade with Theodore Hunt, a prominent contractor of the same city. He soon showed marked aptitude for his chosen line of work, and his executive ability brought him pro- motion to the position of foreman. In 1858 he was taken into partership with Mr. Hunt, the arrange- ment continuing until 1860, after which for five years he was in business alone. In 1865 he formed a partnership with Owen Moran, under the firm name of Moran & Armstrong, and since Mr. Moran's death, in 1891, lie has conducted the business alone. He has an extensive and lucrative trade among the best people of the metropolis, and lias erected many of the costliest buildings in the city, prominent among which we may mention the New York Produce Exchange, built in 1882-83; the Insane Asylum buildings on Wards Island, 1869-1873; St. Bartholomew's church and rectory; the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum; New York Life Insurance building : the Art Museum at Central Park; St. Agnes Catholic church, and West Wash-

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ington Market. Politically Mr. Armstrong is a Democrat, and socially he is identified with Archi- tect Blue Lodge No. 519, F. & A. M., at New York City.

On September 17, 1863, Mr. Armstrong was married in New York to Miss Mary Ann Souza, and the following children have blessed the union : Sarah E., who died in infancy and was buried in Greenwood cemetery, New York City: Mary E., wife of Frederick B. Wilson, of New York, who is in the employ of our subject; Edward L., a ma- son in New York, who is unmarried; Joseph T., who married Ellen A. Mahony, and settled in New York, where he was accidentally killed August 26, 1895, by falling from a window; Carrie (1), de- ceased ; Miss Carrie (2), who resides with her par- · ents ; William, who was in the employ of the Con- solidated Gas Co. at New York, but is now a sol- dier in Grimes Battery, stationed at Huntsville, Ala .; Lancelot W., a clerk in New York; Miss Mabel, who resides in New York; George W., a resident of New York, who is employed in the Naval office; Frank. who died in childhood; and Mattie, who died at the age of eleven months. Mrs. Armstrong is a native of New York City, and a daughter of Nicholas Souza, who was born in Por- tugal and came to New York in early manhood. There he met and married Miss Sarah Armstrong, a native of Ireland, who died in 1855, aged forty- five years ; his death occurred in I870, when he was seventy-two years of age, and the remains of both were interred in a cemetery at New York, They had four children: John (deceased), who married Ellen Crittengton ; Joseph, a government appraiser at New York, who married Martha Hamilton ; Mary A. (Mrs. Armstrong) ; and Nicholas, an em- ploye of the Asbury Park Co., New Jersey.

EDWARD WARWICK, our subject s uncle, was born August 15, 1803, at Gortin, Ireland, and died in April, 1891 (in New York City), at the home of our subject. By occupation he was a farmer, but for some years previous to his death he lived in retirement. He was married in Ireland to Miss Mary Armstrong, who died at Milford in 1885, aged eighty years, and their remains now repose in the cemetery at Milford. They came to Pike county in 1832, and resided at Milford until 1847, when they removed to New York. As they had no children of their own, they centered their affection upon our subject, who in his turn watched over them in their declining years with true filial devotion.

THOMAS VALENTINE TAFT, of Hawley, Wayne county, is the possessor of a handsome prop- erty which now enables him to spend his years in the pleasurable enjoyment of his accumulations. The record of his life previous to 1889 is that of an active, enterprising, methodical and sagacious busi- ness man, who bent his energies to the honorable acquirement of a comfortable competence for him- self and family.

Mr. Taft was born in New York City, Febru-

ary 2, 1819, a son of Royal and Saralı ( Valentine) Taft. His paternal grandparents. Daniel and Rhoda (Ellis) Taft, were residents of Woodstock, Mass., while the maternal grandparents. James and Sarah (Werner) Valentine, who were of Holland origin, made their home in Westchester county, N. Y. The father of our subject was a native of Massachusetts, and when a young man went to Westchester coun- ty, N. Y., where he was married. In 1812 lie re- moved to New York City, making his home there for seven years, and then started for the lake re- gions, but for some reason finally located at Wil- sonville, Pike Co .. Penn., where he engaged in merchandising, hauling his goods from Newburg, N. Y. Later he located on a farm one mile from that village, and there conducted a store and also engaged in the hotel business. When the mail route was established he was appointed postmaster, and continued to serve as such until his death, when our subject was appointed, serving from 1841 to 1867. In his honor the village of Tafton was named. He died in 1841, aged fifty-one years, his wife in 1853, aged fifty-six, and both were laid to rest in the cemetery at Tafton. She was first an Episcopalian in religious belief, but later joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically the father was an ardent Whig. In their family were eight children, namely: (1) James died in in- fancy. (2) Thomas V. is our subject. (3) Adeline, who was born November 19, 1820, (4) Amanda, who was born January 6, 1822, and (5) Elizabeth A., who was born October 18. 1823, all died unmarried. (6) Charles V., born June 6, 1825, died in Hawley, Penn., in March, 1874, leav- ing a widow, one son and three daughters. He married Eunice K. Atkinson, daughter of Joseph Atkinson, an early settler and lumberman of Wayne county, who was connected until his death with mercantile business in Hawley. (7) Theodore WV., born March 6, 1828, is now living retired in Jersey City. He married Miss Sarah Shouse, and after her decease Miss Emma Spry, and is the father of seven children, two sons and three daugli- ters now living. (8) Eliza A., born May 4, 1833, died unmarried.

The subject of this sketch was only nine months old when brought by his parents to Pennsylvania, and he grew to manhood upon the home farm, aid- ing his father in the store and hotel until twenty- two years of age. when he was admitted to a part- nership in the business. Several months later the father died, and as administrator our subject con- tinued to conduct the store and other branches of his father's late business, the younger brothers be- ing sent to the Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, Penn., where better educational opportunities were afforded. In 1866 Thomas V. Taft removed his family to the then new village of Hawley, in order to secure better educational facilities for his chil- dren, leaving the store in charge of his brother, and his farin and stock in charge of a farmier who shared in the increased avails. In 1867, with

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Abram Shimer as partner, Mr. Taft engaged in the milling business, handling grain, flour and feed, Mr. Shimer subsequently selling his interest in the mill and business to Wesley N. Pierson, onr sub- ject's son-in-law. The firm of Taft & Pierson dis- solved July 1, 1879, Mr. Taft withdrawing and sell- ing his interest to Mr. Pierson. Some years after the death of their mother the Taft brothers aban- doned business at Tafton and sold the Tafton homestead-originally comprising 444 acres-in parcels, reserving the burial plat.

In Tafton, Pike Co., Penn., Mr. Taft was mar- ried, April 20, 1845, to Miss Dian Labar, who was born in Paupack township, Wayne county, Septem- ber 18, 1823, and the ceremony was performed by Rev. Elbert Young, a Methodist Episcopal minis- ter. Three children have blessed this union: (1) Mary Adelaide is the wife of Wesley N. Pierson, a miller of Hawley. (2) Pernina J. is the wife of Friend Tuttle, a merchant and farmer of Hawley, by whom she has had five children, three still liv- ing, Marcus T., Thomas T., and Friend L. (3) Sarah Ella is with her parents.

The Republican party always finds in Mr. Taft a staneh supporter, and his aid is never withheld from any enterprise which he believes calculated to advance the moral or material welfare of the community. He owns one of the handsomest res- idences in the borough, and there the many friends of the family delight to congregate, always feeling sure of a hearty welcome.

WILLIAM H. DETRICK, a well known con- tractor and builder of Price township, Monroe county, and an honored veteran of the Civil war, is a native of the county, having been born in Poco- no township, in January, 1840.

George Detrick, father of our subject, was born in Germany, in 1815, there grew to manhood, and served as a soldier in the regular army for a time. Coming to the United States, he took up his resi- dence in Tannersville, Monroe Co., Penn., where he worked at his trade as a tanner for ten years, dur- ing which time he married Miss Barbara Prong. He then located in Paradise township, Monroe county, where he purchased a farm and spent his remaining days, dying there in 1888. His wife had passed away in 1871, leaving him with two children. John having died prior to his mother, at the age of twenty years. Hannah, the only daughter, was born in Pocono township, in 1844, and is now the wife of Joseph Evans. justice of the peace of East Stroudsburg. Out of the seven children born to them, only one daughter is now living, Effie, wife of Abram Smith, of East Stroudsburg; Edward and George both reached manhood, but the former was accidentally killed on the Lackawanna & Western railroad, and the latter died when a young man.

The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed in Monroe county, and his education ob- tained in the public schools of Paradise township. Hardly had the echoes from Fort Suinter's guns

died away when he enlisted for three months in Company I. Ist N. J. V. I., at Oxford Furnace. N. J. On the expiration of that time he returned home, and in December, 1861, was united in mar- riage with Miss Hannah Bush, a daughter of Ben- jamin and Sarah Bush, representatives of one of the prominent pioneer families of Paradise township, Monroe county. Leaving his young bride with her parents, Mr. Detrick re-enlisted in Company C. 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. under Col. Samuel P. Speer. and was sworn into the United States service at Easton, where the regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac under Gen. Sheridan. His first engagement was at Blackwater, Va., in 1863. and was followed by the battles of Hatcher's Kun, Bull Run, Gaines' Mills. Charles City Cross Roads. Johnson's Farm, and Seven Pines. The regiment then went into winter quarters at Camp Geddy. Va., and on breaking camp March 28, 1864. marched to City Point along the Weldon railroad. and par- ticipated in many skirmishes on the way. including Bermuda Hundred, Ream Station and Knobaway Junction. During this time Mr. Detrick had three horses shot from under him, and was wounded in the head at Corn Cross Station on the Weldon railroad. He also took part in the Wilson raid in Virginia. and the skirmish at Stony Creek. He was seriously injured, having three ribs broken, at Ream Station by a fall of his horse when it was shot, and for three days he and Major Ackley lay in ambush at that place. They then rode on an old mule to camp at Jones Kneck, where they joined their regiment. Being taken ill with fever and ague, our subject was off duty for six weeks, but in the spring of 1865, he rejoined his command, which was then pursuing Lee's army, overtaking it at Five Forks, where Col. Speer was wounded. The IIth Pennsylvania Cavalry was in a skirmish every day until Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House. and then helped to bury the dead and take care of the wounded. They then marched south of Lynchburg, where they were on guard against Johnson's army, which finally surrendered April 17, 1865. After that they marched down the Shenan- doal Valley to Staunton and from there to Char- lottesville, where the army was disorganized. Company C of the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry then proceeded to Palmyra Court House to parole pris- oners, then went to Columbia and on to Richmond, where they turned over their horses and equip- ments to the government and were transported to Camp Cadwallader, Philadelphia, where they were honorably discharged from the service.

Returning home to Monroe county. Penn., Mr. Detrick and his wife took up housekeeping in Price township, and there remained until 1874, when they moved to Paradise, where he built a house of his own. In 1877 they again moved, this time to Marsh Mills, Wayne county, where he worked two years : thence to Promised Land, where lie also worked two years for the Wilson Mill Lumber Co .; thence to Dunning, Lackawanna cc tin-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ty, and there contracted for Mathew Rhode. Here he had the misfortune to be burned ont, losing everything he possessed, amounting in all to some St.Soo, with no insurance. Mr. Detrick then, in 1887, returned to Price township, Monroe county, and became general agent for A. W. Cutler, of Morristown, N. J., who is the owner of 7,000 acres of land in Monroe county, Pennsylvania.

MIr. and Mrs. Detrick became the parents of eight children, all born in Monroe county: (1) Emma, born in December, 1862, is the wife of Hayden Row, of Paradise township, and has had ten children : Harry, Mabel. William H., Steward, Malen, Walter, Paul, Florence, Maria and one

Since attaining his majority Mr. Detrick has affiliated with the Republican party, and he has been called upon to fill a number of official positions of honor and trust, being assessor of Price town- ship four terms, and of Paradise township one term, supervisor two terms, school director and secretary of the board eight years. collector two terms and justice of the peace of Price township at the present time. His duties have always been most faithfully and satisfactorily performed, and in days of peace as in time of war has always been found ready to aid every enterprise for the good of the country. He holds membership in Wadsworth Post No. 150, G. A. R .; his wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

GRANT EDINGER, J. P., proprietor of "Bridge View House," at Delaware Water Gap, has shown admirable judgment in the selection of a site for his hostelry. From its wide verandas ean be seen the most charming views to be found on the Delaware river, while its convenient location is within five minutes walk from the railroad station, and surrounded by all the attractions afforded by the busy life of the town. Ample shade is found under the large trees on the lawn surrounding the house and in the beautiful groves near by, while walks or drives tempt the visitor to visit more dis-

tant scenes on the mountain, or along the winding river, carriages being always in readiness. The fishing on the river is unsurpassed, and boating is a favorite amusement throughout the season. Within the house the large airy, well-appointed rooms af- ford every comfort, while the table is supplied with all the luxuries of the local and city markets, no effort being spared to give satisfaction to the guests.

The genial proprictor is a descendant of one of the old pioneer families of Monroe county, his grandfather, David Edinger, having settled in Cherry Valley at an early day, engaging in agri- culture, working also at the mason's trade. This worthy citizen married Eve Kemmerer, of Hamilton township, Monroe county, and had the fallowing children : Jacob, John, Henry, Joseph. Peter, Julia ( first wife of Henry Biesecker, of Stroud township, Monroe county ), Catherine (.second wife of Henry Biesecker ). Mary (wife of William Felker), and Regnia, wife of John Staples.

Joseph Edinger, our subject's father, was born in 1825, in Kemmerer Town, Hamilton township, and in 1847 married Catherine Mosteller, locating afterward in Cherry Valley. For many years he was employed as a mason by the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad Co., in building bridges, depots and other structures, and in 1861 he pur- chased a homestead in Poplar Valley, where he con- tinued to work at his trade. He was regarded as one of the most skillful workmen in his line in the coun- ty, and many of the finest houses in Delaware Water Gap and neighboring towns were built by him. In 1870 he bought real estate at Water Gap, where he built a handsome and commodious resi- dence, in which he and his wife now enjoy the fruits of their past labors. They had eight children, as follows: ( 1) Mary E., born in Hamilton town- ship April 8, 1848, married Samuel Brewer, a con- tractor and builder at South Bethlehem, Northamp- ton Co., Penn., and has had two sons, Howard and Millard, both of whom died in childhood. (2) Will- iam, born in Hamilton township, in 1850, is a ma- son in East Stroudsburg. He married Miss Annie Boorem, of Paradise township, Monroe county, and has had four children, Grace, Hilda, Stanley and Vergie. (3) Charles E., born in Hamilton town -. ship July 31, 1852, was killed in October, 1896, on the railroad at East Stroudsburg. His wife, whose maiden name was Alvina Williams, was born at Delaware Water Gap, and died there in 1895- They had five children, Floyd, who married Miss Lotta LaBar, of Water Gap, and now resides in Northampton county ; Clarenee, who resides with his grandfather Edinger ; Anzie, Katie, and Lena. (4) Joseph, Jr., born in Hamilton township October 30, 1854, is a contractor and builder of masonry work, residing in East Stroudsburg. He married Miss Louise Meyers, of Shawnee, and has three children, Irwin. Mabel. and William. (5) Frank, born in Hamilton township November 1. 1858, re- sides at the Water Gap, and is a contractor at ma- sonry. He married Miss Rachel Keller, of Storm-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ville, and has had four children, Maggie, who died in childhood ; and Harry, Laura and Mary, who are at home. (6) Abram, born in 1856. (7) Grant, our subjeet. (8) One that died in infancy, unnamed.

The Mosteller family has long been prominent in Hamilton township, Monroe county, and our sub- ject's maternal grandparents, William and Elizabeth ( Fredericks) Mosteller, were mueh esteemed resi- dents of that locality. They reared a large family of children as follows: Catherine, our subjeet's mother; Wesley; Harrison; Frank; Marietta, wife of Charles Hallet, of Stroud township; Amanda, wife of Joseph Schoonover, of Moosic, Penn .; Em- ma, who married Rennis Stone, of Marshalls. Creek, Monroe county ; Alice, who married Azariah Hunt, of Stroud township, and after his death wedded Alonzo Hunt, of the same township, a brother of her first husband.

Squire Grant Edinger was born March 25, 1865. in Cherry Valley, and received his education chiefly in the schools of Delaware Water Gap. At the age of eleven he entered the employ of L. W. Brodhead, proprietor of the "Water Gap Hotel," with whom he remained sixteen seasons, holding many positions of responsibility in the hotel. During the winter seasons he assisted his father in his rail- road contracts. In 1890 he purchased his present property at the Water Gap, and built his hotel, in connection with which he eonduets a restaurant at at the boat landing, where he supplies the publie with the best of everything in the way of refresh- ments. He is especially gifted as a musician, and for a number of years he has been the leader of the O. A. N. M. Orchestra of Delaware Water Gap, which he organized in 1890. Among the prom- inent members of this orchestra were : John L. Mc- Carty. violin; Carlton McCarty, piano; Frank Brodhead, guitar ; Wesley Staples, violin ; Dr. Voor- hies, banjo; Robert Kistler, guitar ; C. C. Smith, guitar ; Horatio Kennedy, reporter. Politically our subject is a Republican, and he takes a keen interest in the active work of his party. For three years he served as tax collector of his borough. Quite re- cently he was nominated on the Republican ticket for the office of justice of the peace, also endorsed by the Democratie ticket for the same office, and so was elected. On March 4, 1891. Squire Edinger married Miss Lizzie Newheart, of Delaware Water Gap, daughter of Lewis and Louisa Newheart, highly respected residents of Monroe county. So- cially the Squire and his wife are popular, and they are leading members of the Methodist Church at Water Gap, to which our subject's parents also be- long.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 19

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