Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 30

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 30
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 30
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 30
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 30

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).

JOHN R. WILCOX, an energetic and pro- gressive farmer of Manchester township, Wayne county, was born February 19, 1860, on the old homestead where he still resides, and is a repre- sentative of one of the honored pioneer families of the community.

Pardon T. Wilcox, father of our subject, was born December 29, 1814, in Rhode Island, and at an carly day came to Wayne county with his parents, George and Hannah ( Whitman) Wilcox, who were also natives of Rhode Island, and who died in Wayne county. On March 19, 1841, Pardon T. Wilcox wedded Miss Mary E. Wood, who was born in Connecticut, July 14, 1822, a daughter of Samuel R. and Eliza (Godfrey) Wood, natives of that State, who in 1836 came to Wayne county, making the journey with horses and wagon. The parents of our subject began their domestic lite in Damas- cus township, Wayne county, but later removed to Manchester township, where they erected a rude log house, roofed with hemlock shingles, and barn with roof of hemlock bark. Upon this farm the father continued to reside until called to his final rest at the age of seventy-seven years ; the mother is still living on the old homestead. Fourteen chil- dren were born to them, only five of whom are now living ; in order of birth they are as follows: Will- iam H., who was born August 10, 1843, died in the service of his country August 23, 1862, his name being on the soldiers monument at Honesdale. Wayne county; Hannah E. is the deceased wite of Gideon B. Chase, who was also a Union soldier during the Civil war; Malissa died in 1849 at the age of eighteen months : Cassandra J. is the wife of Henry Brown, of Manchester township: Eleanor E. is the wife of M. Burscly, of Manchester township; Mary Olive is the wife of George T. Kellum, of the same township: Henry W. died at the age of nine ycars ; Edward Fremont is also deceased : Diana T. is the deceased wife of William Sanders, of Lu- zerne county, Penn. : John R. is the subject of this sketch ; Solomon Wesley was drowned in the Sus- quehanna river at Plymouth, Penn., in 1874: and Caroline F. is the wife of John Price, of Manchester township.

John R. Wilcox was reared on the old home farm, where he obtained a thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits, and in the public schools of the neighborhood acquired his literary cducation. He now has entire management of the farm, which comprises eighty-three acres of rich and arable land.

1026

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

under excellent cultivation and improved with good buildings. The fields are well tilled, and every- thing about the place bespeaks the thrift and enter- prise of the owner, who is a man of excellent busi- ness ability. His frank and genial manner wins the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact, and those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends.

On May 24, 1888, Mr. Wilcox married Miss Jennett Mawdsley, who has proved a true helpmeet to him. She was born, reared and educated in Da- mascus township, Wayne county, and is a daughter of George and Margaret (Collins) Mawdsley (both now deceased), the father a native of Eng- land, the mother of Scotland .. Mrs. Wilcox is one of a family of nine children, the others being John, Thomas, Joseph, James, Agnes, George and Rachel, all still living, and Ellen, deceased. Our subject and his wife have two bright boys : Raymond, now (1900) aged nine years; and Sherman, aged eiglit.

WILLIAM JENNINGS, a prominent citizen of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, is an able and progressive agriculturist, and his farm, though small, is one of the most valuable in that locality, the scientific methods employed in its man- agement bringing better results than are secured on many larger estates.

Mr. Jennings was born October 28, 1853, at the old family homestead in New Milford township, and is a son of Lancaster and Eliza Ann ( Richard- son ) Jennings, and a grandson of David B. Jennings, a well-known pioneer, of whom an extended account is given elsewhere. He remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty, and after work- ing for a year among farmers in the vicinity he purchased a farm in that township. This place he kept only one year, when he sold it and again worked as a laborer on neighboring farms; but after his marriage he rented land and engaged in farming on his own account. In the fall of 1880 he removed to Binghamton, N. Y., where he was employed nine years in cigar factories, being fore- man of the Kent factory for two years. He then became interested in the coal business, and in ad- dition to that operated a gristmill for two years ; he has since been engaged in general farming in his native township, having twenty-five acres under cultivation. Ile is a member of the local grange. and of Binghamton Lodge, Order of Red Mer ;

politically he is a stanchi Republican. While re- siding in Binghamton and since his return to New Milford he has held a number of local offices ; also . for many years served the Methodist Church (1.6 which he is a member ) in various official capacities. On March 18, 1874. he was married in Harford township. Susquehanne county, to Miss Mary E. Titus, daughter of Baker and Anna ( Cary) Titus, of Lenox township. She died March 17, 1875, aged twenty-one years, and was buried in Lenox township. On October 31, 1877. Mr. Jennings married Miss Anna Waldo, of New Milford town-

ship, daughter of Anson and Jane ( Leach ) Waldo. The Waldo family is of English origin, and Mrs. Jennnings' great-grandparents. Edward L. and Hannah ( Elderkin) Waldo, came to this coun- try from England at an carly day, settling in Wind- ham county, Conn. Zachariah Waldo, grandfather of Mrs. Jennings, was born in Connecticut, and his wife, Joanna ( Butterfield), was a native of New Hampshire. Anson Waldo, father of Mrs. Jen- nings, was born in Windham county, Conn., and as a young man followed the molder's trade: later. in 1841, he came to Susquehanna county. purchasing thirty acres of land in New Milford township. There he made a clearing and built a log cabin, and two years later he removed to another farm adjoin- ing, but in 1876 he returned to his original home- stead, where lie died October 2, 1882. aged seventy- six years, three months, nineteen days. He was a Universalist in religious belief. and as a citizen was much respected for his excellent qualities of char- acter. His widow, Mrs. Jane ( Leach) Waldo, who was born April 1, 1826, is now residing with our subject. Of their children, Samuel, the eldest, was born in New Milford township, May 21, 1846, and is now engaged in general farming in the same township. (2) Albert, also a farmer in New Mil- ford township, married Miss Ella Fuller, and has one daughter. May, wife of John Monroe. (3) Anna is the wife of our subject.

The Leach family is of pioneer stock. and Sam- uel Leach, Mrs. Jane Waldo's father, once owned the larger portion of the site of New Milford borough. He was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., a son of Capt. Leach, and came to Susquehanna county in early manhood, settling first in New Milford town- ship, then in Franklin township, and finally in Bridgewater township. He died in 1829. and his remains were interred at New Milford. His wife, Betsy ( McFall ), came to Susquehanna county fron Dutchess county. N. Y., during her girlhood. She died in 1862. and was buried at Milburn. N. Y., near Binghamton. They had the following chil- dren : Eliza ( deceased), who married Harvey Leach: Charles ( deceased) ; Hannah, widow of Sylvester Simpson, of Binghamton, N. Y. : Harry, a school teacher, who died in Colorado; Ruth (de- ceased ), who married George Hopkins ; Ellen ( de- ceased ), who married Ludwig Main : and Jane, the mother of Mrs. Jennings.

CHARLES H. FREDERICK POEPPEL. Many of the most enterprising and prosperous busi- ness men of Wayne county have come from the land beyond the sea, and especially is this true of those who have left their homes in the German Empire and sought in this land of freedom a home and competence for themselves and family. Among these is Mr. Poeppel, a leading butcher and meat merchant of Hawley. He was born November 9. 1845. in Hameln. on the Weser. Hanover, Germany, a son of Henry and Wilhelmina ( Quante ) Poeppel, who spent their entire lives in Germany, where the

1027

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

father worked at his trade of shoemaking. He died in March, 1879, at the age of seventy-eight, his wife two months previous, at the age of seventy-two years. They were earnest and consistent members of the Lutheran Church. Of their children, Will- iam, who came to America, and served as sergeant in the Civil war, has not been heard from for eight- een years ; Charles was also a Union soldier, and died from the effects of his service in the hospital at Utica, N. Y. ; our subject is next in the order of birth; Henrietta and Wilhelmina ( twins ) com- plete the family; the former died in Germany at the age of four years, and the latter is now the wid- ow of Frederick Wolter, a stonemason.

Until fourteen years of age our subject at- tended the schools of his native land, and then served a four-years' apprenticeship to the butcher's trade, receiving nothing for his services and having to furnish his own clothes. He continued to work for his employer as a journeyman for about six months, at fifty cents per week, and then went to Hanover, Germany, where he worked for a year and a half at seventy-five cents per week. Two nights out of each week he had to make sausage, but while here he added to his wages by selling bones and other refuse, realizing in this way about two dol- lars per week. The following three years he spent in Bremen, Germany, where he worked for one em- ployer one year, and for another the remainder of the time.

Taking passage on the steamer "Columbia," Mr. Poeppel landed in New York City May 3, 1869. and ten days later came to Hawley, Penn., where he worked at his trade for Frederick Nell one year. the following year he was employed at different kinds of labor, after which he returned to Mr. Neil, remaining with him for six years. On April 21, 1874, while in his service, the horse he was driving became scared, and backing down an embankment fell on our subject, breaking hus collar bone and three ribs. He was thus disabled for about a month, but with that exception he has engaged in business uninterruptedly since coming to America. In March, 1877, he opened a meat market of his own in Haw- ley, and seventeen months later removed to his present location. He has met with remarkable success in business, and is now the owner of three fine farms in Wayne county, one in Paupack town- ship, and two in Palmyra.

In Hawley, November 28; 1869, Mr. Poeppel was united in marriage with Miss Lonisa C. Lange. and to them have been born seven children: Fred- erick G .. Amelia F., Louisa C., Henry C. F., Anna A. and Lena M., all at home ; and Carl Christ, who (lied in childhood. Mrs. Poeppel was born in Wal- lensen, Province of Hanover, Germany, March 14. 1850, a daughter of Christopher and Christina ( Pleuger) Lange, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father, who was a shoemaker by trade. was born in 1801, and died in 1888, while the mother was born in 1825 and died in 1885. Their children were Frederick, who was killed at

Metz in the German war of IS70; Caroline, widow of Nicholas Miller, and a resident of Bremen, Ger- many; Louisa C., wife of our subject; Henry, a stonemason in Germany; and Christina, wife of Charles Brothagen, a farmer of Germany.

Socially Mr. Poeppel affiliates with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Encampment, the American Legion of Honor, and the American Pro- tective Legion, whose headquarters are at Waverly, N. Y. In religious connection he is a member of the German Lutheran Church. In politics he is identi- fied with the Republican party, but has never cared for official honors, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. Through his own efforts he has risen from a humble to an ex- alted position in the business world, and by his upright, honorable course has gained the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

ROSMAN I. PAGE. The rapid development of this section is best realized when one listens to the reminiscences of some sturdy pioneer, whose memory goes back to the time when the forest spread unbroken over hills and valleys which now boast of populous communities. The venerable subject of this sketch, a retired agriculturist of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, was born and reared in that county amid the environments of the "early days," and in his seventy-five years of life has seen marvelous changes, his own industry having been a factor in the progress of his locality.

Mr. Page comes of good Vermont ancestry in both paternal and maternal lines. Peter Page, our subject's grandfather, was a farmer in Vermont, and he and his wife both died there many years ago. Capt. Levi Page, his father, was born and reared at Hardwick, Caledonia Co .. Vt., and was married there to Priscilla Ingalls, daughter of Amos and Ruth (Stevens) Ingalls. who came to Gibson, Susquehanna county, at an early day. Iler father, who was a clothier by occupation, died at Bingham- ton. N. Y. One of her sisters, Ruth, was precep- tress of Wyoming Seminary for some time, and afterward conducted a ladies seminary at Bingham- ton for twenty-five years. In 1814 our subject's parents canie to Susquehanna county with their family, then consisting of four children, and located upon the site of the present homestead. The lo- calicy was a wilderness, and a clearing had to be made in the forest before the double log house was built which served many years as a family resi- dence. Capt. Page was a man of influence in the township, holding various offices and serving seven years as captain of a militia company. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and politically was a Democrat until the Civil war issues arose. when he became a Republican. lle died June 30, 1873, aged eighty-seven years, his wife in April. 1866, aged seventy-six years, and the remains of both were interred in Lakeview cemetery, Jackson township.

1023

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Their children have taken an honorable place in life, and all except Elihu taught school for a time. ( 1) Amanda ( deceased ) married ( first ) Joseph Norris, of Vermont, and ( second). Henry Bunnell, of Wayne county. (2) Ezoa ( deceased ) married Griffin Cook, (3) Eliliu died in New Mil- ford township in 1899, aged eighty-five years, and is mentioned more fully elsewhere. (4) Levi S., a retired resident of Susquehanna, Penn., was for- merly engaged in carpentering and in mercantile business, and also served thirty-five years as justice of the peace. (5) Calvin J. ( deceased) was a school teacher at the time of his deatlı. (6) Eber died in infancy. (7) Hannah married J. W. H. Bradford, of Connecticut, and died in Susquehanna county in 1897, aged seventy-seven years. (8) Amos I. died at the age of twenty-eight. (9) Rosman I., our subject, is next in the order of birth. (10) Mari- etta M. married William Benny, farmer of New Milford township. (11) Seth died at the age of eleven years. (12) Joseph N. died in 1899 at Syracuse, N. Y., where he had been engaged in mercantile and insurance business. For a time he was president of the Commercial Travelers Insurance Co., and later became general agent of the United States Insurance Co. (13) John W., a resident of Syracuse, N. Y., was formerly secretary and treas- urer of the Commercial Tavelers Insurance Co.

Our subject was born September 3, 1824, in the log house above mentioned, and as the son of a busy farmer with an indebtedness taking the profits of the estate he found plenty of work to do during his youth. At seventeen he taught school for one term; but as the pay was very small he de- cided to learn the carpenter's trade with his brother L. S., with whom he worked at intervals for about eight years, the remainder of the time being spent in assisting his father. When he was about twenty- five years old the debt was finally cleared, and his father gave him seventy-five acres of land upon which he engaged in farming on his own account. From time to time he has purchased other tracts of land until he now owns 103 acres on his home- stead, with several wooded lots in the vicinity. He also bought the farm in New Milford on which his son Seth resides. For about ten years he followed carpentering in connection with farming. As a good citizen he takes an intelligent interest in the questions of the day and although not an office seeker he served as supervisor during the Civil war, one of the duties being to fill the quota from the township for the drafts, and take the men to Scranton for enlistment. Not being able to go him- self, he furnished a substitute. Previous to the war he was a Democrat, but he has ever since affil- iated with the Republican party. He has been a member of the Grange for twenty-five Years.

On December 8, 1849, Mr. Page was married in Gibson township. Susquehanna county, to Miss Orilla E. Chandler, daughter of Dr. Charles and Sally (Lewis) Chandler, of Gibson township, Sus- quehanna county, where his father was a prominent

physician in his day. She died March 31, 1885, aged fifty-eight years, and her remains rest in Lake- view cemetery. Of the two sons of this union, Seth, the eldest, a farmer in New Milford township, married Miss Hattie R. Kenyon, and had three children, May, Glen R. (who died in 1898, aged fourteen years ), and an infant. (2) Lamont L., who resides on a portion of the old homestead ad- joining our subject's farm, married Miss Sarah .1. Kenyon, a sister of his brother's wife. : On Decem- ber 24, 1891, our subject was married at New Mil- ford to Miss Betsey C. Follet, who was born April 25, 1832, in Jackson township, Susquehanna county. Her paternal grandparents, Warren and Patty P. (Tingley) Follet, came to Susquehanna county from Attleboro, Mass., at an early day, and made their home in Harford township. Capt. Hiram Follet, Mrs. Page's father, was born in Harford township, and became a successful farmer in Jack- son. He was a Democrat in politics, and was fre- quently chosen to office by his fellow citizens. He died at Danville, Penn., October 27, 1876, aged sev- enty-three years, and his wife, Nancy (Green), died in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, April 10, 1868, aged sixty-three years, the re- mains of both being interred in Gibson cemetery. The Green family has been identified with Gibson township from pioneer times, and Mrs. Page's ma- ternal grandparents, John Green, of Massachusetts, and his wife Betsey ( Van Winkle), of Long Island, both died there and were buried in the local cem- etery. Mrs. Page was the youngest of two chil- dren, the other being John P., who married Miss Adeline Clafflin, and is a farmer by occupation, now residing, at the age of seventy-one, at Man- lius, Ill. Mrs. Betsy C. Page died very suddenly September 5, 1899, of heart failure.

AUGUSTUS WAIDLER is the well known proprietor of "Sunnyside Farm," in Scott township, Wayne county, which at the time of his purchase, in 1887, was known as the Christ Williams farm. He has since been prominently identified with the substantial improvement and material development of the locality, and although an adopted son of America his loyalty is above question, and his labors in the interests of the community have been most effective and beneficial.

Mr. Waidler was born in Baden, Germany, February 2, 18448, and when a child was brought to the New World by his parents, Christian and Josephine ( Hayes) Waidler, also natives of Baden, and representatives of highly-respected families of that country. By trade the father was a black- smith, and on coming to the United States located in Lumberland, Sullivan Co., N. Y., where he fol- lowed that occupation. Throughout life he was remarkably healthy, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years, dying in Kimble, Pike Co., Penn., in December, 1895. His children who are still living are Kate, Barbara, Jolin, Carrie, Philip, Augustus and Lave.

1029

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, and early became familiar with hard work. For ten years after starting out in life for himself le followed boating on the Delaware & Hudson canal, and two years on the Erie canal. He built the boat "G. E. West," at a cost of $2,000, but sold it on his return to Sullivan county, N. Y., in 1877, and on disposing of his property there he came to Wayne county in 1886 and bought his pres- ent farm in Scott township. It comprises 100 acres of rich and arable land, under a high state of cultivation, and improved with a commodious res. idience and very large barn. It is conveniently near the school house of the district, and is one of the most desirable places in the community.

At Cahoonzie, N. Y., Mr. Waidler was mar- ried, March 20, 1878, to Miss Esther E. Jennings, who was born in Barryville, Sullivan Co., N. Y., June 9, 1859, a daughter of Isaac Jennings, a hotel- keeper, who died in 1883, and his wife, Susan Janc (Davenport) Jennings. Mr. and Mrs. Waidler have five children, namely: . George L., Emma Florence, Amanda E., Mabcl E. and Ruth Sadie.

In political affiliation Mr. Waidler is a stanch Republican, taking an active interest in the affairs

of his party, and he is now acceptably serving as a member of the school board and as postmaster of Scott Centre, having been appointed to the latter position in October, 1897. Socially he belongs to the Knights of Honor and the Improved Order of Red Men. His upright, honorable life commends him to the confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact, and he has made many warm friends in his adonted county.

JOHN McCORMICK, one of the enterpris- ing agriculturists of Silver Lake township, Susque- hanna county, is a native of same, born in June, 1835, of Irish parentage.

James McCormick, the father of our subject, was born in 1799 in County Tipperary, Ireland, and came to the United States when a young man. He was married, at Albany, N. Y., to Mary Guyton, who was born in 1808 in County Tipperary, and they shortly afterward came to Susquehanna coun- ty, Penn., settling on new land in Silver Lake town- ship. Mr. McCormick spent the remainder of his life in the cultivation and improvement of his farm, which he was first obliged to clear. however, and by incessant industry he succeeded in convert- ing what was once a wilderness into a pro- ductive and valuable farm. The log house which he erected on his arrival, and which the family oc- cupied for many years, was in time replaced by a substantial frame residence, and numerous other changes were made about the place which increased its value and enhanced its appearance. Mr. Mc- Cormick did his full share in the advancement of agricultural interests in this region, and he also took an active part in establishing good public schools, and otherwise assisting in the intellectual growth of the section, serving faithfully for many

years as school director. He passed away on his tarm in Silver Lake township in 1862, his wife pre- ceding him to the grave in 1855. They were con- sistent Catholics in religious belief, and reared their family in the same faith, always placing the greatest importance in their moral training, and giving them the best advantages for education at their command. Six children were born to James and Mary McCormick, of whom we have the follow- ing record :

( I). James was born near Albany, N. Y., was reared on the home farm, and for several years prior to his marriage taught in the schools of Sus- quehanna county, but he made farming his life work, his place adjoining that of his father. He died in February, 1898. He married Miss Katie Curley, of Middletown, and they had seven children, Mary (wife of James Kane, of Choconut). James, Thomas, Joseph. Lawrence. Catherine (who mar- ried John Heavey), and Annie (wife of William Caddon, of New York State.) (2) Mary, born on the old home farm, received a good education, and followed the teacher's profession for a number of years before her marriage to Joseph Ward, of Sil- ver Lake township. (3) Ellen, born in Silver Lake, received a thorough education, and for a num- ber of years engaged in teaching in the convent schools of Susquehanna county, where she died. (4) Thomas, born in Silver Lake. resides in Scranton, Penn., where he has for many years been pattern maker for the Iron & Coal Co. For his first wife he married Miss Margaret Clark. of Choconut township, who died in Scranton, leaving four children, Joseph, Thomas, Annie and Mary. By his second wife, Annie ( Monaghan), he has two children, James and John. (5) Joseph went South, and was employed as clerk in a wholesale jewelry store in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he was attacked with smallpox and died in young manhood. (6) John is the subject of this sketch.

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 30

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