Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 21

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 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 21

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On October 20, 1863, our subject was married to Frances Gardner, and to the union have come the following children: Bertram, Gardner. and Eliza- beth, all now deceased. The mother was born in Fulton, N. Y., a daughter of Dewitt and Elizabeth G. ( Simmons) Gardner, who were also born in Fulton, of which place DeWitt Gardner was for years a prominent and influential citizen and busi- ness man, being a large flour manufacturer, and president of the First National Bank of Fulton. He died in November, 1897.

W. E. SAMSON, general manager for the firm of Morgan Brothers, merchants of Pleasant Mount, Wayne county, can trace his ancestry on the maternal side back to the sixteenth century. and the family was prominently identified with the early history of this country.

Mr. Samson is a native of Wayne county. born in Starrucca. July 20. 1855, a son of James M. and Lois (Sprague) Samson. The father was born near Starrucca. November 6. 1826, and grew to manhood in Wayne county. In 1850 he married Mrs. Lois ( Sprague) Samson, whose ancestors were among the Protestants, known as Huguenots, driven from France after the Edict of Nantes was revoked, being again persecuted by the Catholics.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

A shipload of these refugees landed in the Province of Maine, whence they later removed to Massacht- setts, and finally located a few miles from Plymouth Rock. In 1732 there was a child born to the Spragues, and he was given the name of Abel. After reaching manhood he removed from Rhode Island to Connecticut, where he married Mercy Harvey, a bright and active young woman. and they reared a family of six sons. They prospered in the Nutmeg State, but learning that land could be pur- chased very cheaply on the west shore of the Hud, son, Abel Sprague packed his knapsack with pro- visions for his journey, and started to investigate this new territory. On his way he met Silas Bowk- er, formerly a resident of Connecticut, who told him that the land was cheap but the Indians were troublesome, but he had no fear of the Red men, as the land was being settled up, and from parties in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., he purchased a tract of land and erected thereon a log house and barn. He also bought a yoke of oxen and a cow. About this time King George sent over his army to subdue the Colonies, which had become .rebellious and were ready to fight for liberty and freedom. Mr. Sprague enlisted in the patriot army and was captured by the Tories and Indians, who took him as prisoner to a place called Oquaga, on the Susquehanna river, and in trying to escape he was shot by the Indians while swimming the river. His children grew up to be useful men and women, and from this brave and patriotie gentleman is descended Mrs. Samson, the mother of our subject. Her brother, Mil- ton Sprague, was with John Charles Fremont in his several trips over the Rocky Mountains, and was one of those who helped plant the American flag on Fremont's Peak and save California to the United States. He has passed the greater part of his life in Wisconsin and still survives.

On the paternal side our subject can trace his ancestry to a little before 1800. when his great- grandfather, Henry Samson, with his twin brother, Ezekiel, came to Wayne county. Penn .. from Seneca Lake, N. Y. Ezekiel soon left the county and was lost track of. Henry Samson married Polly Hammond, and to this union were born: Sons- Hiram K., Justin. James M. ( father of our sub- ject ), Willard II., William and Isaac: and one (laughter-Sallie, who died rather early in life. Henry Samson was one of the pioneers of Metho- dism in Starrucca, and served as a class leader for many years.

Throughout the greater part of his life James M. Samson engaged in the sawmill business and in lumbering along the Delaware river. Ile resided in Starrucca until the Civil war broke out. when he enlisted at Owego, N. Y .. in Company A. 144th N. Y. V. I., under Dr. Redfield, of Equinunk. captain, and he remained in the service until the close of the conflict. He died in October. 1896, leaving a wife and five children, who are still living.

Mrs. Samson was first married to Justin Samson, an older brother of James M .. and three

children were born to this union: (1) Oscar F., born in Binghamton, N. Y., enlisted in 1861 in the Union army, and re-enlisted in 1864, remaining in the service until hostilities ceased, and partici- pating in the battles of Cold Harbor. Spottsylvania and the Wilderness. He married Maggie Davis, of Starrucca, who died leaving five children, and he subsequently wedded Eunice Stickner, of Stevens Point, Penn., by whom he has one daughter, Lois. (2) Osmar died in infancy. (3) Mary, born in Binghamton, N. Y., married E. J. Collyer, of Thompson, Susquehanna Co., Penn., and died in Starrucca. Her children were May, Fred, Cora, Minnie. Rose, Frank and Lois. To James M. and Lois Samson were born nine children : ( 1) Sallie D., born at Starrucca, is the wife of William Myrick, of Sherman, Wayne county, and they have had three children, Lucy, John and Vena, the eldest now the wife of Alvin Fuller, of Deposit. N. Y. (2) Milton, born in Starrucca, in 1853, married Han- nah Marks. of Galilee, Wayne county, resides in Scott township, and has two children, Ruth and Robert. (3) W. E., of this sketch, is next in the family. (4) Rose, born at Hales Eddy, N. Y., in 1857, married George L. Sands, of Hancock. N. Y., and died in 1897. leaving a husband and five chil- dren, Clinton, Howard, William, Georgie and Dorothy. (5) George R., born in Wayne county, in 1859, is engaged in farming and the stone quarry business at Stevens Point, Penn. He married Leora Cook, of that place. and has five children, Harry, Ralph, Mabel, Archie and Georgie. (6) Nellie, born at Starrucca. in 1861, first married Alvin Newman, of Otsego, N. Y., and after his death married Jesse Scott, of Meridale. Delaware Co., N. Y .. by whom she has two daughters, Grace and Iva. (7) Cora died at the age of two months. (8) Minnie died at the age of two years. (9) James H. died at the age of two and one-half years.

W. E. Samson was reared in Starrucca, and after attending the public schools of that place for a few years was a student in the Pleasant Mount Academy for two terms. During the year 1877 he began his business career as a cierk in the store of W. W. Mumford. of Starrucca, where he remained for two and one-half years, and in May, 1880, he ac- cepted a position in the store of J. L. Morgan & Brother, at Pleasant Mount, in whose employ he has since remained. For several years he has served as superintendent of their general mercantile establishment, and lias the entire confidence and respect of the members of the firm. In 1883 he pur- chased a house and lot in the place, where he has since made his home. Mr. Samson has for years been a great admirer and breeder of fine poultry, his favorites being the Silver Wyandottes, which he ships to nearly every State in the Union. He has exhibited at the leading shows, Madison Square, New York, Boston, etc., and has taken some of the best prizes offered.

Mr. Samson was married. in November, 1881, to Miss Dora Lloyd, of Equinunk, Wayne county,

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a daughter of Anthony and Martha Lloyd, former- ly of Colchester, N. Y. One child graces this union : James Lynn, who was born in 1884, and is now attending the Pleasant Mount Academy. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, take a leading part in all Church work, and Mr. Samson has held the positions of class- leader, Bible class teacher and steward. Fraternal- ly he belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge at Thomp- son, and to the Knights of Honor. Being a strong Temperance man, he is unswerving in his support of the men and measures of the Prohibition party, and his influence is great and always for good in the community where he has now made his home for nearly twenty years. He is treasurer of the Village Improvement Association, and he is al -. ways numbered among the most valued and useful citizens of the town.

P. R. CROSS is a typical well-to-do farmer and lumberman of Palmyra township. Pike county, whose success in life may be attributed to his per- severance, untiring enterprise, resolute purpose and commendable zeal, and his actions have always been guided by an honesty of purpose that none have questioned.

Mr. Cross has spent his entire life in this sec- tion of the State. He is a grandson of Thomas Cross, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, who was married in his native place, and continued to make his home there until after the birth of some of his children. In 1832, with his family, he came to the United States, and took up his residence in what is now Dreher township, Wayne Co., Penn., where he spent the remainder of his life as an agriculturist. Besides Abram, our subject's father, he had children a's follows: Anthony. who is deceased; Mary Ann (widow of Simon Dilworth ), who lives at Denver, Colo .; Sarah Ann, who married Nathaniel Martin, a farmer of Sterling, Wayne county : William B., deceased ; and Thomas Nathan, a farmer of Greene township, Pike county.

Abram Cross, our subject's father, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, July 20, 1828, and was four years old when brought by his parents to America. Ilis boyhood and youth were passed in Wayne county, and when a young man he went to Easton, Penn., and for fourteen years was in the employ of one man, Peter Uhler, first on the Dela- ware & Raritan canal. later on the Morris & Essex, and the last few years on the Lehigh canal. Com- mencing as boy, driving for six dollars per month. he rose in time to captain, being engaged as such some ten years, and the last year received $1,000 for the season. Returning to Wayne county, he purchased a farm in Dreher township, but some time after his marriage he removed to Greene town- ship, Pike county, where he followed agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. For two years he also engaged in the manufacture of pottery-ware, a good quality of clay having been found in Palmyra township, Pike county, but when

the plant was destroyed by fire it was never re- built owing to a disagreement among the stock- holders, though the venture had proved a success. In Wayne county Mr. Cross married Miss Susan Hazelton, a native of Philadelphia, and a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Thorp) Hazelton. the former of whom was born in County Tyrone, Ire- land. Mr. Cross died February 14, 1894, his wife on February 24, 1898. Our subject was the eldest in their family, the others being Thomas Wesley, a farmer of Palmyra township, Pike county: Eliza J., wife of F. V. McMunn, living at Campbell Hill, Orange Co., N. Y. : Anthony, who died at the age of fourteen years; Abram L., a lumber inspector at Austin, Potter Co., Penn .; Friend, a resident of Dunmore. Penn. ; and Lafayette, who is living with our subject, and is engaged in lumbering. The parents were members of the M. E. Church at East Sterling for nearly fifty years. Mr. Cross was a charter member of Wallen Paupack Lodge No. 478, I. O. O. F. He was a Republican in political senti- ment, but he neither sought nor held public office.

P. R. Cross was born in Sterling ( now Dreher) township, Wayne county, July 20, 1863, but was reared in Greene township, Pike county, and in the schools of that locality began his education. He also attended Waymart Academy for one term. and the Telegraphic Institute of Philadelphia for one year. After the completion of his education he suc- cessfully engaged in teaching school for five years, in Wayne and Pike counties, and then bought a partially improved tract of 175 acres of land in Pal- myra township, Pike county, on which he has since followed general farming with marked success. He is also quite extensively interested in lumbering, being a silent partner in the Hazelton & Kipp Lum- ber Co., who own the timber on 2.700 acres of land and are engaged in the manufacture of sawed lun- ber. turning out about one million feet annually, umbrella handles, dowells, etc .; they give steady employment to about twenty men, and last year ( 1898) paid out some ten thousand dollars to their help. In addition to his interest in this concern, Mr. Cross follows lumbering on a tract of his own, and has in all about 500 acres of land in Pike county. much of which is covered with a fine growth of timber, while fifty acres are under a high state of cultivation. He also conducts a store, selling gro- ceries. feed and flour.

On May 28, 1885, at Factoryville, Wyoming Co., Penn .. Mr. Cross was married, by J. H. Harris, V. D. M .. to Miss Minnie Basley, who was born October 4, 1866. Her parents. David and Rosie ( Piper ) Basley, were natives of Monroe county, Penn., and now make their home in Salem township, Wayne county. Their other children are Harry, a resident of Sullivan county, Penn. ; William, of Freyton. Lackawanna county; Georgie E., who makes her home with our subject in Palmyra town- ship. Pike county : and Hattie, who is living with her grandmother in Monroe county. Mr. and Mrs. Cross have an interesting family of five children,

١٠٢٠ ٢ ٤٢١ مليئة حبه :

هایم

P. R. Cross

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

whose names and dates of birth are as follows : Oscar C., April 20, 1886; Carl P., September 16, 1887 ; Homer H., May 16, 1889; Susic Myrtle, April 17, 1891 ; and Raymond E., December 14, 1892.

Socially, Mr. Cross is identified with the Pa- triotic Order Sons of America, Washington Camp No. 279, at Sterling, Wayne county ; and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Wallen Paupack Lodge No. 478, at Newfoundland, Wayne county. In his political views he is a Republican, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to office, he having served as town clerk for one term, as assessor two terms, and at the present time he is justice of the peace. In Feb- mary, 1899, he was elected township auditor for three years ; also in August, 1899, was elected one of the seven county committeemen, receiving the largest number of votes cast at that election of four- tcen candidates that were running; was also nom- inated for county treasurer on the Republican tick- et, but was defeated by a small majority in a strongly Democratic district.

B. F. HOLBERT, a representative and prom- inent eitizen of Matamoras, belongs to one of the old and honored families of Pike county. His grandfather, Benjamin Holbert, was born in Lacka- waxen township, Pike county, December 25, 1781, and married Mary Ryder, born July 24, 1782. They reared a large family of children, namely : Elizabeth, born May 26, 1799, died in infancy. William, born April 17, 1801, lived at Indian Or- chard, Wayne Co., Penn. Joseph, born March 2, 1803, was the father of George Holbert, who is represented elsewhere. Jancs R., born April 4, 1805, died young. Catherine, born July 18, 1806, did not marry. Margaret Ann, born April 3, 1809. Martha Ann, born November 7.

1812, married John Barnes. Stephen D., born February 14, 1815, was killed when a young man. Benjamin F., born March 17, 1817, did not marry ; lie lived in Lackawaxen township, Pike county. Mary, born March 15, 1819. married H. B. Rose, one of the pioneers of Westfall township, Pikc county. Frederick. born November 26, 1822, is mentioned below. Albert J., born August 22, 1825, and who was a lifelong resident of Lackawaxen township, married Phoebe Shimer, of Sussex coun- ty, N. J. The grandmother died July 25, 1843, the grandfather on May 4, 1856.

Frederick Holbert, our subject's father. was born at Westcolang, Lackawaxen township, Pike county, and in that township spent his entire life en- gaged in farming and Imbering. Ile married Eliza- beth Pole. a native of Connecticut, born in November. 1824. and she is still living at Westcolang, but his death occurred August 15, 1891. lle was widely and favorably known, and had many friends throughout the county. B. F. Holbert. our subject, is the fourth in order of birth in a family of twelve children, the others being as follows: Albert, born in 1848, and Emma, born in 1849. both died when

young; F. J. is the proprietor of the "Delaware House," a summer hotel at Lackawaxen, Penn. ; Mary is the wife of Frank Van Wagener, a resi- dent of Rowland, Lackawaxen township; Calvin died in infancy ; Philena is the wife of Eugene Poole, of New York City; Elizabeth is the wite of Alfed Dailey, a railroad employe living at Mata- moras, Penn .; Rolandus is the wife of Ebenezer Tyler. of Lackawaxen; Ferdinandus married Kate Comfort, and lives at Westcolang: Louis N., a farmer of Lackawaxen township, married Dottie Eldred ; and Arthur D. died at the age of eighteen years.

B. F. Holbert, our subject, is a native of Lack- awaxen township, Pike county, born May 15, 1851, and there grew to manhood. In Ulster county, N. Y., he was married, July 2, 1872, to Miss Eliza- beth Furman, who was born September 20, 1850, a daughter of William and Phoebe (Van Wagener ) Furman, natives of Ulster county Our subject and his wife have two children: Candace, born July 5, 1874, is telegrapher and stenographer for R. H. D. Siedenburg & Co., Cotton Exchange, New York City; Otis R., born July 13, 1875, married Clara Buchanan, of Port Jervis. N. Y .. and has one child, Earl B. In early life Mr. Holbert followed lumbering in Lackawaxen township, but in 1882 he moved with his family to Matamoras and en- tered the employ of the Erie Railroad Co., with which he is still connected. Ile has always been a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and while a resident of Lackawaxen town- ship served his fellow citizens in the capacity of constable eleven years, and collector six years, with credit to himself and to their entire satisfaction. Fraternally he is a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, also of the A. L. of H. Re- ligiously his wife and daughter hold membership in the Baptist Church, while socially the family is one of prominence in the community where they make their home.

William Holbert, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Holland, in 1751, and married Mary Showers, of the same place, born in 1752. They came to A America in 1773 and settled at Indian Orchard, Wayne Co., Penn. In 1775 the Indians took him and a few other families, and after burn- ing their buiklings took them to the Forks. now known as Hancock, where they placed the women and children in a canoe and let them go. They came down to the barracks at Minisink, known now

as Carpenter's Point. The Indians took the men on west to what is now known as Oneida. but they succeeded in getting away from their captors, and returned to the barracks. When Independence was declared the Holberts went to hackawaxen and bought the river flats of Widow Jones at sixpence an acre, and then followed farming and lumbering. Mr. Holbert furnished the lumber for the old Tren- ton bridge at Trenton. N. J., in 1803. He died in 1815. his wife in 1832, leaving two children, Ben- jamin and Joseph.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL . RECORD.

ELBERTE E. WEED, a representative farmer and also a well-known contractor and builder of Wayne county, resides on the old Weed homestead at Canaan Corners, where he was born January 25, 1845, a son of Smith and Louisa ( Hoadley) Weed, the former a native of Horse Neck, N. Y., and the latter of Branford, Conn. Both died on the farm where our subject is now living, the father in Sep- tember, 1876, aged sixty-five years, the mother in May, 1888, aged seventy-nine years, and the remains of both were laid to rest in the Canaan Corners ceme- tery. The father was killed by falling from a hay rigging, running a sharp stick into a blood vessel, and dying the same night. He was a good mechan- ic, serving as boss carpenter for the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Co., during the construction of their road in 1828, and he also engaged in general contracting and building. Politically he was an ardent Republican, and religiously was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belonged. To them were born two children : Elberte E .; and Louisa, wife of Hen- ry Sampson, an employe of the D. & H. R. R., with residence in Waymart.

The father was twice married, his first wife being Charlotte Boertre, of Sterling, Penn., by whom he had two children, Robert E. and Frank- lin H. (twins). The former is in the employ of the D. &. H. R. R. Co., and the latter was instantly killed by the boiler of his engine blowing up while he was serving as engineer for that company. The mother of our subject was also twice marricd, her first husband being Elisha Fobes, and to them were born two children, Lydia A., who married James Pugh, of New York (both are now deceased) ; and John E. (also deceased).

The maternal grandparents of our subject were Abraham and Olive (Price) Hoadley, who were married April 10, 1792, and came to Wayne coun- ty, in 1823, spending their last days in Canaan town- ship, where the grandfather engaged in farming. Their remains were interred in the Canaan Corners cemetery. They had eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Lucrctia ( Mrs. Squire Day), February, 1793; Jolin, P., December 23, 1794; Miles, Septeniber 4, 1796; Mrs. Polly Lindsley, June 17, 1798; Abigail B., July 27, 1800: Betsy, July 29, 1802; Lydia Charlotte ( Mrs. Will- iam Covert), June 25, 1805 ; and Louisa A. ( Hod- ley) Weed, December 5, 1809.

The subject of this sketch remained with his parents upon his present farm until eighteen years of agc. when he entered the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Co., in the transportation de- partment, for two years. Subsequently he pur- sued his studies for three terms in the Henry street grammar school of New York City, and then com- menced clerking in the dry-goods store of John E. Seward, at Long Island, where he remained two years. After a few years spent at home, he again entered the service of the railroad company, as fire- man with his brother, filling that position for six

years. Since then he has lived uninterruptedly upon the old homestead, and in connection with the culti- vation of his land he works at the carpenter's trade. In his undertakings he has met with a well-merited success.

In New York City, April 20, 1871, Mr. Weed was married, by Rev. J. B. Wetherell, an Episcopal minister, to Miss Frances W. Dudley, and they have two children, May L. and Clarence D., both at home. Mrs. Weed was born January 14, 1848, in Manches- ter, England, a daughter of Ellis W. and Mary A. ( Taylor ) Dudley, who on June 14, 1848, emigrated to the United States, locating in New York City, where they continued to make their home until called from this life. The father, who was a harness maker by trade, died in August, 1888, aged seven- tv-two years, the mother on March 28, 1855, aged thirty-two, and both were laid to rest in Greenwood cemetery, New York. The former was an Episco- palian in religious belief, while the latter held mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children were: Frances W., wife of our subject ; Ellis E., a harness maker, of New York City; Car- rie, also a resident of that place ; and Jolin T., who is in the government employ in New York. Mrs. Weed's paternal great-grandfather, Gilbert R. Dud- ley, Sr., always remained in England, as did also the grandfather, Gilbert Dudley, Jr., who was a bar- rister. He married Mary Williams, who was born in England, of Welsh ancestry. The maternal grandparents, Ralph and Fannie Taylor, made their home in Chathill, England, near the border of Scot- land, where they had large landed interests.

Mr. Weed is a sincere and worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, takes an active part in its work, and has served as trustee since. 1882. The Prohibition party always finds in hint a stanch supporter, and he has been called upon to fill a number of official positions of honor and trust, hav- ing been justice of the peace five years, and audi- tor, assessor and overseer of the poor at the pres- ent time.

JOHN W. BIDWELL, a well-known farmer of Salem township, Wayne county, is one of the honored vetcrans of the Civil war, his devotion to his country being tested not only by service on the field of battle, but in the still more deadly dangers of a Southern prison.

This gallant soldier is descended from good old Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Ephraim Bidwell, having valiantly fought for the independ- ence of the Colonies. He was a pioneer of Wayne county, having in 1800 located in the central part of Salem township, and later purchased land on what is now known as Bidwell Hill, where his death occurred. From the virgin forest lie de- veloped a farm, and built thercon his cabin home. His burial place, though not exactly located, is on the John Watson farm, near Hamlinton, Wayne county. He married Dorcas Andrews and to them were born the following children: Luther, who

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 21

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