Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 40

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 40
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 40
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 40
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 40

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JOHN W. BENNETT. The Bennett family is of English origin, and the subject of this biog- raphy, a well known resident of Lanesboro, Susque- hanna county, is of the fourth generation in descent from John Bennett, a native of England who came to America in Colonial times with four brothers, and settled in New York City. Of his brothers no account has been preserved.

Joseph D. Bennett, son of John, and grandfa- ther of our subject, was a soldier in the Revolution- ary army. He married Elizabeth Sprague, of Rhode Island, and made his home at Cambridge, Washing- ton county, N. Y. Of his thirteen children all set- tled in New York State.

William Bennett, our subject's father, was born at Cambridge, and followed farming in Washington county throughout his active life. He married Miss Martha A. Sharp, also a native of Washing- ton county, and had three children, of whom our subject was eldest. (2) Mary E., born in Jack- son, N. Y., married William E. Neil, of Washing- ton county, who served three years in the Civil war as a member of the 123rd N. Y. V. I. They reside in Broome county, N. Y., and have two children : Herby and Ora. (3) Jeanetta, born in Washing- ton county, N. Y., married Alonzo Haines, of Broome county, now a farmer at Coleville, N. Y., and they have one daughter-Rena.

Our subject was born July 7, 1839, at Cam- bridge, N. Y., and grew to manhood at the old homestead. He continued agricultural work for some years, but in 1862 he enlisted in Company I, 123rd N. Y. Vol. Inf., which had been assigned to the Army of the Potomac. His term of service lasted three years, and during that time he took part in many battles and skirmishes, being with Sher- man's forces in the historic march to the sca. The hardships of the latter campaign broke down his health, and he was sent back to Washington, where he was discharged in July, 1865. As his health would not permit him to resume the work of farin- ing, he engaged in peddling jewelry, and in this business he has met with marked success. In Oc- tober, 1874, he married Miss Margaret Williams, of Susquehanna county, and located in Lanesboro,

at the Williams homestead. Later he bought real estate in the borough, and in 1892 he built a handsome residence. Politically he has always affiliated with the Republican party, and he is popular in social life as a member of the Shawan- gront Tribe No. 268, Order of Red Men, and the G. A. R. Post at Lanesboro. He and his wife have had two children, both born in Lanesboro. (1) Leonia, born February 18, 1879, graduated from Lanesboro Academy, and is now the wife of Frank French, a resident of Lanesboro, and a well-known teacher of Susquehanna county. They have one .daughter, Margaret. (2) Charles, born December 24, 1889, is attending the local school.

Mrs. Bennett, who is a leading worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Lanesboro, and takes an influential part in social and philanthropic movements in the town, was born in 1844. and was educated in the schools of the locality. She is the only survivor of a family of twelve children. Her father, Alanson Williams, was a native ot Dutchess county, N. Y., but came to Susquehanna county at an early day, locating first in New Milford, and later in Lanesboro, where he died. He was highly esteemed as a citizen, and for many years was active in the local Republican organization, holding vari- ous offices, while he and his wife were prominent in religious work as members of the Presbyterian Church. He married Miss Harriet Tennet, a na- tive of Connecticut, whose parents, William and Hannah (Sprague) Tennet, came to Susquehanna county in pioneer times, and cleared a homestead in the wilderness in New Milford township, her fa- ther being one of the leading citizens of that sec- tion in his time.

REV. ANTHONY THOMAS BRODRICK. the beloved pastor of Holy Mary's ( Catholic) Church, Montrose, was born in Archbald. Lack- awanna county, Penn., June 6, 1866, a son of An- thony and Sarah ( Melvin) Brodrick. Father Brod- rick passed his boyhood in Archbald, where he at- tended the district schools until 1882, when he en- tered St. Charles College, Ellicott City. Howard Co., Md., remaining a student there for five years. He next attended St. Bonaventure's Seminary. Alle- gany, N. Y., where he completed the course and was ordained a priest, October 17, 1890. For almost nine years he served as assistant pastor at St. Pat- rick's Church, Scranton, Penn .; Sacred Heart Church, Plains, Penn., and St. Mary's Church. Wilkes Barre: and in April, 1899, was appointed pastor of Holy Mary's Church, Montrose. He is untiring in his work for the Church and has been particularly successful in advancing its interests. Hc is enterprising and energetic, and is now erect- ing a cozy parsonage adjoining the church.

Broad in his views and sympathies. a friend of the poor and oppressed, ever ready with helpful counsel for the perplexed or sorrowful, Father Brod- erick has a wide field for labor, and well does he dis-

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charge its arduous and sacred duties. Throughout this section of the State, he is noted for his pleasant, social manner and his liberality, and is held in high esteem by the people of all creeds and denomina- tions.

C. E. TAYLOR, M. D. Among the promi- nent professional business men of Forest City, Sus- quehanna county, the subject of this sketch is well and widely known. His talents and tastes are for both profession and business, and as proprietor of a drug store Dr. Taylor is in a position to satisfy both predilections, each of service to the other, and combining to make him one of the most useful mem- bers of society.

The ancestry of Dr. Taylor is Pennsylvanian for several generations back. His paternal grand- father, who was a farmer of Greenfield township, Luzerne county, died in 1896. at the age of eighty years. The parents of our subject, R. W. and A. E. (Wheeler ) Taylor, were both natives of Lacka- wanna county, the father born April 11, 1842, and the mother October 7, 1839. Their family consists of four children, as follows: C. E .; Herbert L., an attorney at Scranton ; George L., living at Forest City. Penn. ; and H. E., a salesman at Forest City. R. W. Taylor, the father, engaged in farming in Lackawanna county, removed to Forest City, and is now a prominent grocer there.

C. E. Taylor was born October 1, 1862, in Scott, Penn. After his education in the public schools was completed he attended medical lectures at the University of Michigan, and then entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, from which institution he was graduated in 1887. Dr. Taylor immediately located at Forest city and engaged in general practice. The following year he opened a drug store, which he has since conducted in connection with his practice. He is a registered pharmacist, and prefers an office to a general prac- tice of medicine, diverting his lucrative practice in that direction and continuing it in connection with the management of his drug store.

Dr. Taylor was married to Miss Catherine Mul- holland, a native of Jermyn, Penn., and to this union three children have been born: Claude H., Beatrice ( who died in infancy), and Anna. In pol- itics Dr. Taylor is a Republican. He is a member of Forest City Lodge No. 439, F. & A. M., and of Palestine Commandery No. 14. at Carbondale. He is successful in his business and profession, and socially lie is one of the best known residents of Forest City.

MATHEW STANLEY. The subject of this sketch is a namesake of his grandfather. who in 1814 built in the wilderness a small log cabin. For four generations the family has been prominent. Mathew Stanley, the grandfather, was a resident of Burlington, Vt., and the father of a large family. His sons whom he brought with him to the wilder-

ness home were Calvin, Luther, Jasper, Captain Heriman, Archy, Horace, Jason and Mathew. Luther served in the war of 1812. Mathew Stan- ley first began a clearing at a place known as "Ellerslie," then in Choconut, but he soon after came to the farm two miles north of Choconut Lake occupied by his son Jasper, and died in 1838 aged seventy-two years.

Jasper, the father of our subject, was born in Burlington, V't., in 1793. He came with his father to Choconut, and here he cleared up a large farin, which his son, our subject, now owns. He was a carpenter, and followed his trade many years in connection with farming. He became one of the representative citizens during the first half of the present century. In religious faith he was a mem- ber of the Baptist Church; in politics he was a Democrat. For many years he served as justice of the peace and as postmaster. He was a man of sterling principles, exemplary of the people among whom he lived. He was married in 1825 to Miss Roccinda Sherer, a native of Hillsboro, N. H., daughter of John Sherer and Jane (Tompson) Sherer, who settled in Choconut township in 1815. Jasper Stanley died on the home farm in 1884, aged ninety-two years, surviving his wife about twenty years. To them were born five children: John. Mathew, Jane, Emily and David. John, the eldest, married Miss Amelia Luck and is now a farmer and lumberman of Union, N. Y. Jane married Joseph WV. Parker, who served in the Civil war as a mem- ber of Company I, 57th P. V. I., and who was a farmer in Choconut township till his death in 1890. Emily married Davis Burrows, who served in the Civil war, a member of Company I, 83rd P. V. I., and became a farmer of Rush township; both are dead, and one son, John E. Burrows, a resident of Binghamton. survives. David, the youngest. is un- married, and resides with his brother, our subject, on the old homestead.

Mathew Stanley, our subject. a prosperous lum- berman and farmer of Choconut township, was born in Choconut township in 1829. He was reared on the home farm, attending the winter schools during his boyhood and early giving substantial aid to his fatlier in the farm work .. He assisted his father and brother John in the erection of a sawmill, and for inany years followed the manufacture of lumber. having a large trade at Binghamton and in Susque- hanna county.

In 1863 he married Miss Mary F. Jackson, who was born in Monticello, N. Y., in March, 1841, daugh- ter of Cyrus B. and Rachel ( Crooker ) Jackson. Cyrus Jackson was born in Westminster, Mass., in January, 1812, his wife in Bath, Me., in April, 1816. They settled in Friendsville in 1857, and here Mrs. Jack- son died in 1864. Mr. Jackson subsequently moved to Wright county, Minn., where he died. After his marriage our subject settled on the old Stanley farm where he and his wife cared for his father until the latter's death in 1884. In his youth our subject

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CheTaylor 22

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

learned the blacksmith's trade, and this he has fol- lowed in connection with farming and lumbering. In 1884 he purchased the old homestead, including a large amount of timber land, and has since con- tinued to reside there. The old home was destroyed by fire in March, 1898, but upon the old foundation our subject has erected a modern residence and has also made many other improvements to the farm. To Mathew and Mary F. Stanley were born the fol- lowing children : Jennie R., who died in childhood ; Belle, born in 1866, was well educated in the home and Montrose graded schools, and is now at home ; Edward, born in 1869, married Miss Mary Ragan, of Susquehanna county, and has two children- Marie and Florence (he now conducts a meat mar- ket in Choconut) ; William, born in 1873, is an act- ive young lumberman of Choconut and is now serv- ing his third term as supervisor : Mary A., born in 1876, was a teacher, but is now the wife of William F. Emerson, an engineer in the shoe factory at Lestershire, Broome county, N. Y .; Winifred A., born in 1879, was educated in the Montrose High School and is now one of the successful teachers of Susquehanna ; Charles J., born in 1883, is a stu- dent in the home schools. Politically Mr. Stanley is a Democrat. He has held various local offices, including those of school director and auditor. Sev- eral times he has been elected justice of the peace, but he has always declined to serve. Religiously himself and wife are active adherents of the Baptist Church.

GEORGE PEROZ, a thrifty and enterprising agriculturist of Milford township, Pike county, is the fortunate owner of a fine farm of 118 acres near Milford village, and under his able management the place is kept in a high state of cultivation. He was born June 9, 1854, at his present homestead, and was the only child of John B. and Catherine ( Mat- thews ) Peroz, both now deceased. His father was born in 1781 in the northern part of France, and when fourteen years old enlisted as a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte. He was with the "Little Corporal" in some of his most important campaigns, including the disastrous one which resulted in the burning of Moscow, and at Waterloo he received a severe saber wound in the neck. In 1831 he came to America, locating first in New York State, where lie followed gardening and farming. In 1848 he removed to this section and settled at the present homestead, then a tract of unbroken forest. His first purchase included twenty acres only, but as time passed he added other tracts until the estate reached its present limits. His death occurred March 20, 1877, and his wife, who was born at Belfort, France, died February 9, 1898, aged eighty years, thie re- mains of both being interred in the Laurel Hill cemetery in Milford township, Pike county.

Our subject was reared to farm work, and at an early age he began to assume responsibility in the management of the homestead, to which he

succeeded on the death of his father. He and his family are prominent in the social life of the local- ity, and he is a member of the 1. O. O. F., Vander- mark Lodge No. 828, at Milford. Politically he is a Democrat, but he has not been especially active in partisan work. On September 5, 1876, he was mar- ried at Dingmans Ferry to Miss Emma Ellenwine and the following children have blessed the union : Jolin, George, Elizabeth, Frank, Catherine V., Mary and Frederick, who are all at home.

Mrs. Peroz was born at Milford, January 6, 1856, and was the eldest of the six children born to John K. and Adeline ( Strombergh) Ellenwine, na- tives of Germany. The other children were as fol- lows: Sarah L., deceased wife of George Daumann, of Milford ; Susan, wife of Otto Vogeley, a farmer of Three Oaks, Mich .; Katie, wife of Louis Lake, also a farmer at Three Oaks, Mich .; Cecelia, who died at the age of eleven years; and Frank B., who is engaged in farming at Three Oaks, and who wed- ded Reckie Klute. John K. Ellenwine, the father, was born July 7, 1833, and when a boy emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming. For some time he made his home in Lancaster county, Penn., and there in 1854 he was united in marriage to Adeline Strombergh, who was born in 1823. In 1855 they removed to Milford, and there made their home until 1883, when they went to Indiana, there remaining until 1885, at which time they made their last change, going to Three Oaks, Mich., where they purchased a farm adjacent to Oxford Church. On Wednes- day, June 28, 1899, while engaged in mowing, Mr. Ellenwine met an accidental death. The machine struck a gutter washed out by the recent rains, and Mr. Ellenwine was thrown out backwards ; the back- ing of the horses caused the mower to rest on him, and death ensued in a few hours. The funeral was held two days later in the Oxford M. E. Church, the Rev. J. P. Dunham officiating, and the remains were laid to rest in Woodlawn cemetery.

ANDREW A. BIESECKER, an active and energetic member of the farming community of Salem township, Wayne county, is not only engaged in agricultural pursuits, but is also interested in lumbering, stock raising and the manufacture of maple sugar and syrup, and is acknowledged to be one of the most thorough and systematic business men of the community.

Mr. Biesecker was born in Madison township, Lackawanna Co., Penn. (then Luzerne county ), August 12, 1842, a son of Jacob and Matilda ( Swartz) Biesecker, also natives of Luzerne coun- ty. The paternal great-grandfather was a native of Germany, and on coming to America at an early day settled in Easton, Penn. The grandparents, John and Sillepean Biesecker, were both born in eastern Pennsylvania, the former of German. the latter of French descent. The grandfather. who was one of the Revolutionary heroes, was a farmer

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by occupation. and died in Buffalo county, Wis. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Balser Swartz, was also a native of Germany.

Jacob Biesecker, our subject's father, was one of the most influential and popular citizens of Mad- ison township, Lackawanna county, where he served as justice of the peace for many years, and as county commissioner when it still formed a part of Luzerne county. He was a large man, weighing 180 pounds, and by occupation he, too, was a farmer. while socially he affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and religiously was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belonged. He died in the fall of 1851, at the early age of thirty-three years, and was buried at Bear Creek, and his wife departed this life June 4, 1889, and was laid to rest at Madisonville, Penn. The children born to them are as follows: David married Dora McClure, now deceased, and is en- gaged in farming in Madison township, Lacka- wanna county ; William H. married Maggie Bat- son, and is a stock raiser and farmer of St. Paul, Minn .; Margaret and George both died unmarried ; Andrew A. is the next of the family ; Hiram married Bell Blair, and is a farmer of Eau Claire, Wis .; Daniel married Hannah Swartz, and is a contractor and builder, of Lackawanna. Penn .; and Ira mar- ried and is a farmer of Amboy, Wash. For her second husband the mother of these children mar- ried Anson Swingle, who died September 10, 1897, aged seventy-four years.

Until eighteen years of age Andrew A. Bies- ecker remained with his mother on the home farm in Lackawanna county, attending the district schools and assisting in the labor of field and meadow. He then went to Mendota, Wis., where for three years he engaged in lumbering and contracting. Return- ing home he enlisted in September, 1861, for three years, in Company E. 143rd P. V. I., under Capt. Blair, and at Laurel Hill during the battle of the Wilderness he was twice wounded. His first wound was a slight one in his right leg, and after dressing it he took up his gun and continued fighting, but a half hour later a bullet struck his right hand, taking off his thumb and passing through the wrist. When he had sufficiently recovered from his wounds he returned home after two years and eight months of faithful service on Southern battlefields. He has since successfully operated his fine farm in Salent township. Wayne county, and having a large grove of maple trees upon his place, he manufactures sugar and syrup quite extensively.

On September 16, 1862, in Salem township, Mr. Biesecker was married, by Elder Milton Clark, a Christian minister, to Miss Elizabeth France, who was born on the farm where she and her husband now live, May 6, 1846. Her parents, Jacob and Catherine ( Hawk ) France, were born, reared and married in New Jersey, whence they came to Wayne county in 1845 and located upon a farm of seventy- one acres, where they continued to make their home

until called from this life. The father always foi- lowed agricultural pursuits, and was a man highly respected by all who knew him. He died in 1851. at the age of thirty-one years, and his estimable wife, who was a consistent member of the Christian Church, passed away in 1868, at the age of fifty-one. the remains of both being interred in the Hollis- terville cemetery. The children born to them were Elizabeth, wife of our subject ; and Isaac, who mar- ried Evaline Lamerue, and died in Kingston, Penn. The mother was twice married, her second husband being Joseph Hornbaker, who died in 1860, aged thirty-one, leaving one child. George, who is mar- ried and engaged in merchandising in Greenridge. Penn. Mrs. France's parents were Philip and Elizabeth ( Snover ) Hawk.

Isaac France. Mrs. Biesecker's paternal grand- father, was born July 26, 1797. in Rhode Island, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Vaughn) France, na- tives of Kentucky and New Jersey, respectively. His grandfather. Isaac France, was a native of Scotland, who came to America at an early day and with an expedition went to Kentucky during the eighteenth century, and settled near Boone Ridge. He became quite wealthy and prominent. The children of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Vaughn) France were Abram, 'who married Catora Quick; John. who wedded Mary Snover, and after her death Lena Miller ; Jacob, who married Angeline Hart- man; Isaac, the grandfather of Mrs. Biesecker : Richard, who married Abby Miller; and David, who married Susan Hartman. All are now de- ceased. The father of these served as a private in the Revolutionary war. On May 11, 1819, Isaac France married Anna Titman, who was born in New Jersey, April 1, 1796. For some time he con- ducted a blacksmith shop near Blairstown, N. J .. but spent his last days in farming. In politics he was a Democrat. He died January 12, 1840. his wite August 11, 1837. and both were buried at Blairstown. Their children were as follows: Ja- cob, born January 19, 1820, married Catherine Hawk, and they became the parents of Mrs. Bies- ecker ; Abram, born January 22, 1822, died in 1836: Isaac, born February 4. 1824. is deceased : Walter B. was born February 21. 1826; Elizabeth, born April 10. 1828. is the widow of John Ball : Mary, born March 2. 1830. married first Ezra Pierce and after his death Moses Dickinson, but both she and her husband are now deceased; Sarah A., born April 7. 1835. is the wife of Peter Quick, a farmer of Bevington, lowa: and George, born April 11. 1837. died at Leadville, Colorado.

To Mr. and Mrs. Biesecker were born two chil- dren, namely: Jacob, who married Minnie Simons and is engaged in farming at Hollisterville. Wayne county : and Carrie, who married Ward Sheerer. of Maplewood, Penn., and died leaving one child- Ethel. Poltically Mr. Biesecker is an ardent Re- publican, but has never cared for office. preferring to give his undivided attention to his business in-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

terests. Socially he is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and religiously both he and his wife are sincere and faithful members of the Baptist Church. They are widely and favorably known throughout their county, their sterling worth and many excellencies of character winning for them the friendship of all with whom they come in contact.

WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS, an honored vet- eran of the Civil war and a leading citizen of Oak- land township. owns and operates a valuable farm, whose neat and thrifty appearance well indicates his careful supervision. Substantial improvements are surrounded by well-tilled fields, and all of the accessories and conveniences of a model farm are there found.

Mr. Reynolds is a native of New York, born in Greene county, in November, 1844. and is a son of John and Jrefa ( Watters ) Reynolds; both of whom were born in the town of Jacksonville, Greene coun- ty, the father in 1819. After residing in Delaware county. N. Y., for some years they came to Oakland township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., in 1856, and bought a farm, on which the father still lives at the age of eighty years, but his wife is now deceased. Leaving his wife and five children he enlisted during the Civil war in the 137th N. Y. V. I .. for three years, and at the battle of Gettysburg he was so seriously wounded in the shoulders that he was disabled for further duty. Our subject is the eldest of his children. (2) Martha J. is now the wife of Martin Pooler, of Oakland borough. (3) Mary is the wife of Isaac Kent, of the same place, and has five children. (4) Watson, born in Delaware coun- ty, N. Y., lives in Oakland borough and by his mar- riage has two children. (5) Betsy is the wife of * Noah Chamberlain, of Oakland, and has seven children.

During his boyhood, the subject of this sketch was given the advantages of a district school edu- cation, and upon his father's farm he grew to man- hood. At the age of eighteen years he offered his services to the government in her efforts to suppress the Rebellion, enlisting in Company F. 112th P. V. I., which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. As a recruit he joined his regiment in front of Peters- burg and was placed on picket duty the first night. He took part in the engagement at Chase's farm, and later was in several skirmishes while the head- quarters of the regiment was near the Appomattox river. They followed Lee's army to Richmond and after the surrender of that general were stationed at Petersburg until July, 1864, when they were dis- charged at Fortress Monroe.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 40

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