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

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

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he retired, locating in Winchester, Mass. Their children are: George, Miriam A., Helen M., Harry C., Benjamin W., Henry C. and George R. Chaun- cey Wright, the father of this family was a strong Abolitionist until the organization of the Republican party, with which he was prominently identified dur- ing the remainder of his life. He served as justice of the peace for many years, and was a very prominent man in many ways. Both Chauncey Wright and his wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Wright passed away in 1892, aged ninety-three years.

Scth R. Wright was born in Choconut town- ship, Susquehanna county, January 22, 1835, and was educated in the district schools of his native town, also in the schools of Hamilton, N. Y. On reaching man's estate he engaged in farming until 1868, in which year he joined his brother in the man- ufacture of cloth and in milling, continuing until 1878, when he sold his interest to W. A. Southwell. Since 1890 our subject has been a stockholder in the Forest I .ake Creamery, of which he has served most capably as secretary and treasurer, and really as manager.

In 1864 Mr. Wright was united in marriage with Miss Emina A. Turrell, of Forest Lake town- ship, a daughter of L. M. and Lovina Turrell, prominent residents of that town. Mrs. Wright was educated at Kingston and Montrose, Penn., and for some time was employed as a teacher in the New Jersey and Susquehanna schools. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wright settled on a part of the old homestead, but after his mother's death they moved into the old home, which is equipped with every modern convenience. To their union one son, Le- man T., was born in 1866: he died in 1875.

In his political affiliations Mr. Wright. while formerly a Republican. is now a stanch advocate of and adherent to the principles of the Prohibition party. In 1862 he was appointed postmaster by Abraham Lincoln. and continued in office for fifteen ycars, and he has held various town offices. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Wright belongs to the Rising Sun Grange. Socially both are very popular, and their hospitable home is always open. Their kindness to those in less fortunate circumstances. and their uniform courtesy to those in all stations of life, have en- deared them to all who know them.

WILLIAM WILSON. It has often been re- marked that this is the "age of specialties," and that any man who desires to achieve success in busi- ness should select some new or unusual line of effort rather than attempt to follow in the steps of the multitude., As the only manufacturer of optical lenses in the State of Pennsylvania, this well-known citizen has brought this advice to a practical test with most favorable results, and the history of his life will be of interest to any ambitious youth.

Mr. Wilson was born April 12. 1835. in Shef- field. England. where his ancestors in the paternal line had their home for many years. His paternal

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

grandfather, Wilson, married a Miss Claten, and both belonged to Sheffield, England. His maternal grandfather, Hewit, of Gate Emsley, near Whitby, married a Miss Munster, of Munster Hall, near Whitby, England.

John Wilson, our subject's father, was born and reared in Sheffield, and for many years was employed there as a grinder of optical lenscs, his death occurring in 1876. He was married in Shef- field to Miss Mary Hewit, a native of Whitby, Eng- land, who died in 1868. They had seven children, all of whom are deceased except Isabella, who mar- ried William Lineman, of Sheffield, and has two sons, Joseph and Jolin; and William.

Our subject received a limited education in the schools of Sheffield, and when eleven years old began the art of preparing lenses, at which he scon became an expert. In 1840 he married Miss Maria Hall, daughter of Ralph and Betsey Hall, highly esteemed residents of Sheffield. He continued to work at his trade in a Sheffield factory until 1873, when he came to America with his family, locating first in Reading, Penn., and taking the position as foreman in the works of the T. A. Wilson Spectacle Co. A year later he engaged in the manufacture of optical lenses for Spencer's Optical Company, of Maiden Lane, New York City. Later he started a new factory at Katonalı, N. Y., forty miles from New York City, in partnership with Cox & Parent, the venture proving very successful. In 1885 he sold his interest and took a position as fore- man of the same plant ; but in 1889 he resigned, hav- ing determined to move to this section on account of his wife's failing health. Before their prepara- tions were quite completed she died, and he brought her remains to Stroudsburg for interment. Soon after his arrival he purchased from William Rafferty a gristmill in Cherry Valley, about two miles south of Stroudsburg, for the grinding of lenses. His business is chiefly with wholesale markets in New York and in Philadelphia, and he keeps a large quantity of goods on hand at the factory, his pres- ent stock and machinery representing an outlay of about $5.000. His skilled workmanship has brought him a high reputation, and his enterprise and sound judgment have cnabled him to rcap fair financial returns. As a citizen he is much respectcd, being prominently identified with the best interests of his community, and he is active in religious work as a member of the Episcopal Church of Stroudsburg. Politically he is a stanch Republican, but he does not crave official rewards for his allegiance. In 1893 he married a second wife, Mrs. Rhoda Marvin. daughter of Simon ITill, a well-to-do agriculturist of New Jersey. He has five children, all of whom were born in England of his first marriage, and are well settled in life, reflecting credit upon their par- cnts, while all are members of the Methodist Church: ( 1) William, a watch-spring maker of Sanford, Conn., married Miss Emma Clark, of New York, and has two sons. Ernest and Arthur. (2) John T. resides in Southbridge, Mass., where lie

owns property. He married Miss Amelia Sites, of Rochester, N. Y., and has one daughter. (3) Enos is foreman of the American Optical Co.'s works at Southbridge, Mass., having 500 workmen in charge. He married Miss Ida Raymond, of MIt. Kisco, N. Y .. and has three children living: Glad- ness, Ida Belle and George C. (4) Mary married James Waster, an optical expert residing in Brook- lyn, and they have one daughter, Eva Mary. (5) Elizabeth married John E. Bailey, a real-cstate agent in Brooklyn. and they have had five children : John, Jennet, William (deceased), Taber and Eanos.

NATHAN SERFASS. The Serfass family is entitled to be permanently associated, not only with the industrial but also with the intellectual de- velopment of our time; and of those who bear the name it may be said that there is none more worthy whose memory should be thus preserved. The first of this family to come to America was John Serfass, a native of Germany, who came about the year 1750, and soon afterward settled in Polk township, Mon- roe county, where he purchased large tracts of land, which are still owned by his descendants. He mar- ried Susannah Hone, a native of Lehigh county, Penn., and had thirteen children, of whom the fol- lowing mention is made :

I. John married Margaret Kresge Kunkel, and settled in Polk township. II. Joseph married El:za Kunkel, and made his home in Polk township. III. Adam married Christina Berger, and had eight chil- dren: Aaron married Eliza Hawk: Joel married Elizabeth Hess; Charles married Dosie Barlen ; Ephraim never married; Linford married (first) Sally Beers, and ( second) Polly Getz; Emanuel married (first) Lucinda Erhardt, ( second ) Sarah Shupp, and ( third) Eliza Kleintop; Elizabeth. born June 12. 1814, married John Schmale, in his day a well-known agriculturist ( is now deccased), and re- sides at the Schmale homestead in Chestnut Hill township. Monroe county; and Fanny married Aaron Heiny. IV. George married Elizabeth Christman. and had five children, John. George, Susan ( married to John Kerchner). Elizabeth ( married to Amos Everett), and Hannah ( married to Peter Smith)

V. Peter is more fully referred to farther on. VI. William, who lived to middle age. never mar- ried VTI. David married Sally Everett, and had four children, Henry, Barton. Solomon and Fred- erick. VIII. Hannah married William Kresge. and they had eight children. William ( married to Sallie Storm), Jacob (married to Sarah Gregory). George( married to Sarah Kunkel), Joseph W. (mar- ricd to Lucinda Andrew), Hannah (married to Reuben Gregory), Elizabeth (married to John Bonscr). Sarah (married to John Serfass), and Susan ( married to Peter Kunkel). IX. Sallie mar- ried George G. Hawk, and they had children. X. Catherine became the second wife of George Kresge. and had seven children, Thomas (married Elizabeth

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Dotter, and settled in Luzerne county). James (married; settled in Chestnut Hill township, Mon- roe county), Joel (married; had four children, Charles A., Henry, Tilghman, and Emaline ( Mrs. James Berlin), David (married; died about 1876, leaving six children, Peter, Josiah, Absalom, Cath- erine ( Mrs. William H. Small), Sallie ( Mrs. Mel- choir Silfiese ). and Elizabeth). Reuben (married ; had two children, Alfred and Catherine), Sallie (married to John Kunkel), and Katie ( married to John Gregory). XI. Christianna married Conrad Driesbach. XII. Elizabeth married John Eshen, of Northampton county. XIII. Thomas married Miss Dotter, and a few of his descendants are now to be found in Polk township, Monroe county.

Peter Serfass, son of the pioneer, was a well- known resident of Polk township, and for some years was engaged in farming at the homestead now owned and occupied by his son Nathan. He was a leading member of the Lutheran Church at Gilberts, and was a lifelong Democrat in politics. He died at the homestead in July. 1844. at the age of thirty-six, his remains being interred in . Pleas- ant Valley Cemetery. His wife, Catherine, who died in 1875, aged seventy-two years, was a daugh- ter of Andrew Storm, and a member of a leading pioneer family of this section. Of their seven chil- dren. the eldest. Anna. married Jacob Christman, of Eldred township. Monroe county: Andrew settled in Whitehaven, Penn .; Sarah (deceased ) married Henry Hawk; Hannah married Lewis Hawk. and resides in Iowa : Elizabeth married Samuel Hawk, of Allentown, Penn .; Franklin resides in North- ampton county ; and Nathan occupies the old home- stead.

Nathan Serfass was born January 9. 1842, on the present farm, where he grew to manhood. At the age of twenty-one he went to Carbon county, engaged in lumbering and teaming, but after three years he returned to the homestead, and has since given much attention to its management. He has also been engaged in surveying for twenty years past, and for fifteen years he served as treasurer of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Monroe county, his integrity and sound business judgment being a tower of strength to that corporation. His influence is felt in local politics, as he is an active worker in the Democratic party, and at times he has held township offices, including nine years as school director, four years as constable, and four years as auditor. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, and for many years he has been identified with the Church at Kresgeville, serving three years as dea- con and six years as trustee. In 1862 he married Miss Susannah Hawk, who was born in 1842, in Carbon county, a daughter of David Hawk, who afterward removed to Monroe county, where he became a prominent citizen. She died in Septem- ber, 1876, aged thirty-four years, and her remains now rest in Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Nathan Serfass married ( second) Miss Fannie Fisher, daughter of Charles A. and Anna (Dorsheimer )

Fisher, and a native of Polk township, Monroe county. By the first marriage there were three children: Jerome, of whom further mention will presently be made; Louisa, who married Milton Lurch, of Polk township; and James J., who mar- ried Miss Jennie George, and resides at the home- stead with his father. By the second marriage there is one son, Francis F., who is still at home.

JEROME SERFASS, an enterprising and success- ful young agriculturist of Polk township, Monroe county, was born August 4, 1862, at the old family homestead in Polk township, Monroe county, where he grew to manhood, his early training in farm work establishing habits of industry which have contributed largely to his later success. In 1885 he engaged in farming on his own account near Kresgeville, and his estate shows the progressive management of the modern scientific farmer. As an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, he has al- ways been active in local movements, and for six years he served ably as school director. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, while he is also actively interested in religious work as a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church at Kresgeville, in which he held the office of deacon for six years. On Aut- gust 8, 1885, he was married at Gilberts, by Rev. A. M. Strauss, a Lutheran minister, to Miss Emma Kunkel, and three children have blessed the union : Spener J., born. February 15, 1887; Harvey N., born May 24, 1889: and Byron H., born September 13, 1892. Mrs. Serfass, who is highly esteemed by her circle of friends. was born June 12, 1865, in Polk township, Monroe county, where her family has long been prominent, her ancestors having set- tled there as early as 1740. Her father, John Kunkel, was a prominent resident of Kresgeville. and her mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Kresge, is still living at that place : a more com- plete account of the family is given elsewhere.

J. L. BROWN has the reputation of a strictly first-class business man, reliable, energetic, wide- awake and progressive, and is a citizen of whom Wayne county may be justly proud. For many years he has been prominently identified with the business interests of his section of the State, and as a carpenter and millwright has done much to- ward its devolpment and upbuilding. He has not only erected many buildings in Pennsylvania, but also aided in the construction of the beautiful build- ings at the World's Fair. himself and family spend- ing the entire year of 1893 in Chicago.

William Brown, our subject's grandfather, was probably a native of England, but his father, Obediah Brown, was born in Rockwell. N. Y., and at the age of fourteen began as a boatman on the Hud- son river, continuing that work for fifteen years. In Ulster county. N. Y., he wedded Miss Mary Weist, and to them were born children as follows: Nancy J .. wife of Thomas Shecley, of Ulster county ; Julia A., deceased wife of Richard Smith, of Lackawack, Ulster county ; William II., a mill owner and wood-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

en-ware manufacturer at Leibhardt, N. Y. ; Cather- ine, deceased wife of Jamies Allen, of Ulster county ; Lydia M., who died at the age of twelve years; Mary, wife of Joel A. Bennett, of Ulster Heights, N. Y. ; Ellen M., deceased wife of Sanford Bennett, of Ulster county ; J. L., of this sketch ; James W., a resident of Chester, Orange Co., N. Y .; Emily M., wife of John H. Brooks, of Ulster county ; and Margaret T., wife of Peter Conklin, of Passaic county, New Jersey.

J. L. Brown was born May 11, 1850, in Sun- down, Ulster Co., N. Y., and spent his boyhood and youth there and in Sullivan county, same State. At the age of twenty-one he came to Luzerne coun- ty, Penn., and after working at lumbering for a time became a carpenter and millwright, and has done considerable work along those lines in this State. He now owns a fine farin of 170 acres located in Wayne and Pike counties, and in three townships, Sterling, Salem and Greene. For some years he successfully operated a sawmill in Lackawanna county, Penn., but moved its machinery in 1897, and is now engaged in the erection of a steam sawmill on his own property in Salem township.

On August 15, 1872, in Salem township, Mr. Brown was married, by Rev. Daniel Gormer, a Methodist Episcopal minister, to Angeline H., a daughter of George W. and Sylvia (Jones) But- ler. The parents are now deccased, the father hav- ing died in 1885, the mother in 1894. Her paternal grandparents were Daniel and Lydia (Tindall) Butler, and her maternal grandparents were Erastus and Sallv ( Clark ) Jones, both natives of Sheldon Falls, Mass. Mrs. Brown is ninth in the order of birth in a family of twelve : Eliza J:, married, lives on the homestead in Sterling township, Wayne county ; Sidney died at the age of two years; Horace L. is a resident of Lake township, Wayne county; John B. makes his home in Greene township, Pike Co., Penn .; Charles was accidentally killed in the Alle- gheny mountains at the age of eighteen years ; Sally A. is the wife of H. B. Cook, of Salem township, county ; Amanda is the deceased wife of James Hein- line, of Lake township, Wayne county ; Maria is the wife of Joseph Ferguson, of Sterling township, Wayne county; Angelina H., born March 8, 1855, is the wife of our subject ; George W. died in Ster- ling township; Eliza S. died in infancy ; and Sylvia MI. is the wife of Thomas Neville, of Sterling town- slip.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of twelve children, whose names and dates of birth are as fol- lows: George W., March 24. 1873 ; O. H., June 1I, 1875 : Charles Joel, March 19. 1877: John Flesher, December 25, 1878: Anna E., March 21, 188t ; Lill- ian A., July 29, 1883; James A., August 7, 1885; Katie Evelinc, January 16, 1889: Carric A., Febru- ary 2, 1801; Homer Harvey Greene. March 31. 1803: William E .. May 10, 1896; and Ruth Ellen. January 1, 1890. The eldest son, George W. Brown. was married, November 6, 1804. to Marilla Kellum, of Salem township, Wayne county.

Being a strong Temperance man, Mr. Brown is an ardent supporter of tlie Prohibition party. While a resident of New York he served his fellow citizens in the capacity of county supervisor. In 1896 he was licensed as a local preacher of the Methodist Protest- ant Church, and his wife is also an active and promi- nent member of that denomination. His life has ever been in harmony with his professions, and as such men are rare, the world is not slow to appreciate them. It is safe to say that no man in his com- munity has more or warmer friends than J. L. Brown.

CHARLES OTT is the owner of a good farm in Delaware township, Pike county, where he has liad his home since the spring of 1897, but although he has not long been a permanent resident of the locality he is well known here, his father's family having occupied the place before him, and he has had the management thereof for a number of years. Mr. Ott is a native of the Fatherland, and is a son of Christian Ott and grandson of Leonard Ott, who was a roofer by occupation. The latter lived and died in Germany.

Christian Ott was born in 1804 in Wittenberg, Germany, where he passed his youth and early man- hood. In his native country he married Rosena Gebhardt, who was born in 1805 in Wittenberg, and tliey became the parents of seven children, of whom we give a brief record: Frederick is a farmer in Delaware township; he has been twice married. Fredrica, living in New York, is the widow of Henry Boock, who was a soldier in the Civil war. Charles is the subject proper of this sketeh. Cath- erine (deceased) was the wife of Herman Ohman, who was a gardener, of Long Island. Anna is the wife of John A. Blatt, who carrics on a meat-market in New York City. Pauline married Godfrey Geb- hardt, a farmer of Pike county. Emil has a meat- market in Newark, N. J .; he married Margaret Miller. In 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Ott came with their family to America, making the ocean voyage in the "Margaret Evan," of London, and spent the first two years of their residence in this country in the eities of New York and Brooklyn, where the father carried on the manufacture of soap and candles, the business he had engaged in in Germany. From New York they removed, in 1849, to Pike county, Penn .. wlicre Mr. Ott took up farming, for the first four years in the employ of others, and then on huis own account. His first purchase was a traet oi thirty acres in Delaware township, from William Cummins, and he subsequently added the fifty aeres adjoining now included in the Ott farm in Delaware township, the whole making a most comfortable property, where he passed the remainder of his days. sutecessfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died on the farm December 21. 1877, his widow pass- ing away in April. 1892. in New York City, and their remains rest in the Milford cemetery.

Charles Ott was born April 22, 1838, in Witten- berg, Germany, where he received his cducation in

Choules Cott

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the common seliools. and came to America with his parents in 1847, residing with the family in Brook- Ivn and Delaware township up to the age of sixteen years. In the fall of 1854 he proceeded to Tomp- kinsville, Staten Island, and having obtained a situa- tion in the "Union Hotel" continued to be employed there until March 15, 1857, when the place was de- stroyed by fire. The proprietor, Christian Huber, opened another hotel. and Mr. Ott remained with him until August 20, 1860, when the ownership of the place was changed. He was retained by the new proprietor for eight years, and in 1868 was admitted to a partnership in the business with his father-in- law, David Elsaesser, who continued as a member of the firm until 1873, in which year he retired, leaving our subject the sole owner of the establishment; it is located at No. 6 Greenwich street. New York City. He condueted the hotel successfully until May 1, 1897, when he gave up the business and came to Del- aware township, Pike county, to live on the farm for- merly owned by his father, rebuilding the old house and making various other improvements about the place. The property has been under his manage- ment since his father's decease, in 1877. and the farm is a valuable one, in fine condition, devoted to general farming purposes. Mr. Ott also owns prop- erty in New York City. He is well-liked by his neighbors in Delaware township, and is highly es- teemed by all who have had the pleasure of his ac- quaintance. Fraternally he is a Free Mason, hold- ing membership in the Blue Lodge, in New York City. In politics he is independent.

On April 27, 1869, at Philadelphia, Penn., Mr. Ott was united in marriage with Miss Anna Louisa Elsaesser, who was born in that city, a daughter of David and Catherine C. ( Miller) Elsaesser. This union was blessed with seven children. of whom, the eldest, Christian T., lives in New York City, where he has a printing office (he is at present at Chickamauga with his regiment. the 12th New York Volunteers, and holds the position of sergeant in his company) ; Catherine ( now deceased ) was the wife of Fred Korz: Charles died in March. 1897; David lives in New York City ; Louisa is also in New York; Caroline and George died in infancy. The mother of these died February 5. 1884, at the age of thirty- four years. and was laid to rest in the Lutheran cem- etery in Middle Village. Long Island. On October 1. 1806, Mr. Ott wedded. for his second wife, in New York City. Miss Margaret Blum, and they have had one child. Nicholas Wilhelm. Mrs. Margaret ( Blum ) Ott was born in Hessen, Germany. a daugh- ter of Nicholas Blum, also a native of the Father- land. and came to America in 1805. living in New York City until her marriage to Mr. Ott.

CHARLES AVERY is a well-known civil en- gineer, residing in Bethany. Wayne county, and is highly respected as a man of energy and enterprise. besides being a worthy citizen and having to his credit an unblemished war record. Ile is a native of Wayne county. and throughout the greater part of 58

his life has been prominently identified with its busi- ness interests.

Mr. Avery's grandfather, John Avery, was a native of Connecticut, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Roxilana Humphrey. Subse- quently they removed to Oneida county, X. Y. Their children were as follows: Tracy ; John F., who died in Damascus township, Wayne county, Penn. ; Silas, who died in Auburn, N. Y .; Charles, who was an engineer on the Erie railroad. and died in Dansville, N. Y .; Otis, the father of our subject ; Elizabeth, deecased wife of George Flint, of Cassville. N. Y .; Thomas H., who died in New Berlin, N. Y. ; Eliza, deceased wife of John Van Duzer, of Orange county. N. Y. : Z. W., who owned an orange grove in Po- mona, Putnam Co., Fla., where he died ; and Lueius, who died in Texas.

Otis Avery was born in Oneida county, N. Y., August 19, 1808, and when seventeen years of age went to Cochecton, that State, whenee he later eame to Bethany, Wayne Co., Penn., opening a jewelry store. While a resident of that place he studied dentistry, and in 1833 began practice in New York. where he remained for several years. Subsequently he followed his profession in South Carolina, was next located in New York City, and from there came to Honesdale, Wayne county, where he is still doing a successful business. being recognized as one of the leading dentists of eastern Pennsylvania. In 1829. in Bethany, Wayne county, he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Hoel. daughter of Charles and Abigail Hoel, and to them were born the following children: Charles, the subject of this sketch; Otis, who died at the age of two years ; Martin P., who died in New York City : Mrs. Louisa Grillette, a resident of Fairhaven, Wash. : Eliza, wife of William H. Brodhead. of Hale, Idaho: and Otis E., who was one of the many gold hunters that have never been heard from.

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

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