Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 43

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 43
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 43
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 43
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 43

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Blank was born at Wittenberg, Germany, son of Andrew and Dora Blank, both of whom were natives of that city. Our subject was educated

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in his native land, and when eightcen years old came to America, being first employed in a brick yard on the Hudson river, where he learned the trade in all its branches. He married Miss Anna Dorothea Miller, daughter of John and Katherine Miller, well-known residents of Rockland county. N. Y. Soon after his marriage he bought real estate in Rockland and engaged in the manufacture of brick, continuing successfully until 1874, when he sold out and removed to Brandt. For one year he was in partnership with Mr. Weiant, who then sold his interest to H. O. Peck and W. S. Brandt, our subject's present partners. Mr. Blank is identified with the Republican party, but has never sought or held office. He and his wife are leading members of the Presbyterian Church at Brandt, and their attractive home is the center of a refined hospitality. Their children, the first five of whom were born in Rockland county, have received the best edu- cational advantages within reach, and all are taking creditable places in life. (1) John died young. (2) Katherine married E. B. Gardner, of Harmony, and they now reside in Carbondale. (3) Anna C. is a talented young lady and resides at home. (4) Lena MI. is an accomplished musician and one of the most successful teachers of the art in Harmony township. (5) Andrew after a course in the home schools became a student of Wyoming Seminary, where he graduated in 1894, and is now engaged as superintendent for the Harmony Briek Company. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Susquehanna. (6) William, born in Harmony township, was educated in the home schools and Wyoming Seminary, where he graduated in 1894, and is now clerking for the well known firm of Blank & Peek, and he and his brother are regarded as among the clever young men of the locality.

JACKSON CHANDLER, a well-to-do and substantial farmer of Susquehanna county, is a typical self-made man, and in the record of his career there is much to arouse respect and esteem. He has placed his reliance upon industry and perse- verance rather than "luek," and, by making the most of circumstances, however discouraging, has made his way to substantial sucecss, his fine farm in Thompson township being a tangible evidence of his prosperity.

A native of Susquehanna county, Mr. Chan- dler was born in Gibson township, May 1, 1828, a son of Henry and Saralı ( Parmater) Chandler, who were natives of Rhode Island and Vermont, respectively. His paternal grandfather was Dr. Chandler, of Rhode Island, who became a resident at an early day of Gibson, Penn., where the father also located, after his marriage, making his home there for thirty years, while he followed teaming on the Newburgh pike from Syracuse, N. Y., hauling goods all over this part of the country. In 1845 he bought 400 acres of wild land in Thompson township of Judge Jessup, and settled on what is now known

as the Belmont pike, near Thompson borough. He gave out contracts to clear a large portion of his land, and still continued to engage in other business. Upon his place he erected a hotel, running a licensed house until the building was destroyed by fire. He also hauled coal from the mines to Hones- dale and other points on the pike. He died upon his farm in 1871, after which his wife made her home with our subject until she, too, was called to her final rest, at the age of eighty-six years. In the family of this worthy couple were six children, all born in Gibson, namely: (1) Uriah married Philo Benson, of Jackson, and located in Thomp- son, where he died. He had two children-David. who died young ; and Annie, now the wife of Victor Potter, of Susquehanna. (2) William married Laura Lowe, and lives in Jackson township. They have one son, Alfred, a resident of that place. (3) Ezra married a French lady from Canada, and they and their descendants are all now deceased. (4) Charles, a man of great promise, was robbed and murdered by boatmen at Fort Wayne, Ind. (5) Sarah J., born in 1832, died when a young woman. (6) Jackson completes the family.

Our subject passed his boyhood and youth in Gibson and. Thompson townships, and during the winter season attended school in the former place, walking two miles to and from the school house. He assisted his father in the improvement and cul- tivation of the home farm, clearing over 100 acres. which he made ready for planting. In 1846 he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Van Horn, of Thompson, and they began housekeeping upon a part of his father's place. After his father's death he purchased 100 acres, to which he has since added until he now has 200 acres, in one body. This he has cleared and placed under a high state of cultivation. He has prospered in his undertak- ings, and has acetimulated considerable property. including four or five large farms in Thompson and Harmony townships. He also loans considerable money on real estate, and is extensively engaged in the dairy business, keeping over sixty head of cows for that purpose.

Mr. and Mrs. Chandler have a family of three children: ( 1) Sarah is the wife of Josiah Barton, and they now reside on one of our subject's farms in Harmony township. Their children are Howard C. (of Lanesboro, who was born in Thompson in 1880. and married Louise Burchell, of Stevens Point. by whom he has one daughter, Blanche L. ). Naomi B., Rena M., Ella J., Charles R., and Flor- ence. (2) Ella May married John Glover, of Thompson, and they also make their home on a farm in Harmony township. They have had four chil- dren-Walter. Mabel. Letha and Milton, of whom Mabel died August 1, 1896, aged one year, three months and four days. (3) Charles B. is still with his parents on the home farm.

Politically Mr. Chandler is a Democrat, and he has held the office of poormaster at Thompson for

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JACKSON CHANDLER

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

twenty years, and supervisor for a long period. He is a man of recognized ability, and stands high in the community where he has so long made his home. He has borne his part in its development and prog- ress, and while advancing his own interests has never ignored the welfare of his fellow citizens, giv- ing his support to every enterprise which he be- lieves calculated to prove of public benefit.

DANIEL W. HAGER, general agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad at New Milford, Susquehanna county, is an efficient and popular official, and has been continuously in the employ of that company for thirty years. He is also a successful business man, dealing extensively in coal, both wholesale and retail, and was the first to establish a coal yard for the local trade.

Mr. Hager was born February 17, 1835, at Blenheim, Schoharie Co., N. Y., and is descended from a well-known pioneer family of that section. Daniel Hager, his grandfather, was a lifelong resi- dent of that county.

Nelson Hager, our subject's father, was a na- tive of Blenheim and came to New Milford in 1849, engaging in business as a shoemaker. He died in March, 1877, aged sixty-five years, and his wife, Cynthia Sanford, also a native of Blenheim, died in 1888, at the age of seventy-four. This worthy couple had the following named children: Daniel W .; Mary, who married H. P. Little, a clerk in the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western car shops at Scranton; Salmon S., station agent for the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Co., at Gouldsboro, Penn. ; Willis D., purchasing agent for the same company, residing in Orange, N. J .; and Melvin E., an engineer on the elevated road in New York City.

HENRY H. WILLIAMS, a leading and in- fluential member of the agricultural community of Great Bend township, Susquehanna county. was born in Westchester county, N. Y., in 1840, a son of Henry and Elizabeth A. ( Baker ) Williams. The father was a native of the same county, and was a son of Abram Williams, who died in Sullivan coun- ty. N. Y. In the family of the latter were seven children, namely: Purdy, William, Theodore. Burlin, Nathaniel, Henry, Jane.

Henry Williams, our subject's father, began life for himself at Peekskill, Westchester Co., N. Y .; in 1846 he removed to Sullivan county. that State, where he purchased a farm: and in 1872 he came to New Milford, Susquehanna Co., Penn. Ilere he bought real estate and engaged in con- tracting and building until his death, which occurred in 1801. His wife had died in 1878, leaving five children, one son, our subject, and four daughters. The latter are as follows: Armenia C., born in Westchester county. N. Y., in 1838, is the wife of David C. Benedict, of Sullivan county, N. Y., and has three children-David, Wesley and Mary. (2) Mary, born in Westchester county, in 1842, mar-

ried David Frasier, of Niagara Falls, N. Y., and died leaving three children, all of whom are now residing in Cleveland, Ohio. (3) Rebecca, born in Sullivan county, N. Y., in 1845, married George Osburn, of that county, and after residing there for a number of years they removed to Bay City, Mich. ; they have one daughter, Lizzie. (4) Susan, born in Sullivan county, N. Y., in 1847, is the wife of a Mr. Swinton, of Bay City, Michigan.

Henry H. Williams was reared upon the home farm in Sullivan county, N. Y., and pursued his studies in the local schools. He was among the boys in blue during the Civil war, enlisting in Sul- livan county, in 1862, in Company F, 143rd N. Y. V. I., under Capt. E. H. Pinney, of Sullivan coun- ty, and Col. Horace Boughton. He participated in the siege of Suffolk, Va., April and May, 1863; the battle of Nansemond on the 3rd of that month ; and was under Gen. Keys in the Peninsular campaign in May, June and July, 1863. Later the regiment was transferred from the Army of the Potomac to the Army of the Cumberland; and was in the bat- tles of Wauhatchie, Tenn., October 28 and 29, 1863 ; Missionary Ridge, November 23, 24 and 25, and the skirmishes around Knoxville, Tenn., in November and December. They spent the winter at Nash- ville, where they remained until May 2, 1864, and then started on the Atlanta campaign, taking part in the battles of Resaca, May 13, 14 and 15; Cass- ville, Ga., May 19 to 22; Pumpkin Vine Creek, Ga., May 25; the battles of Akworth, Kenesaw Mountain, Lost Mountain, Big Shanty, Marietta. Golgotha, Noose Creek and Culp's farm, June 4 to July 2, 1864; the battle of Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 1864; and the siege of Atlanta, which lasted from July 22 until August 26. The march with Sherman to the Sea lasted from November 15 until December 22, 1864; and the Carolina campaign from January 17 to April 26. 1865, including the following battles: Robertsville, S. C., January 29; Lawtonville, S. C., February 2; Averysboro, N. C., March 16; Bentonville. N. C., March 19: Golds- boro, March 27 ; Akin Creek, April Io ; and Bennett House, April 26. Although Mr. Williams partici- pated in forty-three engagements, he fortunately was never wounded and was absent from his regi- ment only one month during his entire service.

At the close of the war he returned to Sullivan county, N. Y., and was there united in marriage with Miss Almeda C. Benedict. a daughter of David and Mary Benedict, of that county. She died May. 29, 1867, leaving one daughter, Almeda, who mar- ried Stephen Whitman. of Sullivan county, and died at Port Jervis, Orange Co., N. Y., in January, 1897, leaving three children-Frank. Ililda and Gladys. In October, 1872. Mr. Williams was again married, his second union being with Miss Alice M. Baker, a daughter of Nelson and Lucy A. ( Thomas ) Baker, prominent residents of Great Bend town- ship, Susquehanna Co .. Penn. The father was born in Connecticut, in February. 1812, and was a son of Jeremiah and Nancy Baker, who came to Hall-

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stead, Susquehanna Co., Penn., at an early day and purchased a large tract of land. There Mrs. Will- iams' grandfather erected a tannery and engaged in its operation for a great many years. He also purchased land at Red Rock, where his son Nelson located. He had two other sons: Lewis, who married a Miss Trobridge and removed to Beaver Dam, Wis., where he reared his family of three children, Nancy, Maria and Christina; and Will- iam, who married a New York lady and made his home in that State. Nelson Baker, Mrs. Williams' father, received a good education in the schools of Connecticut, and on reaching manhood married Miss Lucy A. Thomas, of Conklin, N. Y., a daugli- ter of Aaron and Margaret Thomas, one of the leading old families of Broome county, N. Y. Mr. Baker first located at Red Rock, on the Susquehanna river, two miles and a half from Great Bend, where he cleared a large farmi and made many valuable improvements thereon, including the erection of good and substantial buildings. There he con- tinued to make his home until called from this life in 1878. His worthy wife survived him for some years, dying in 1897. They were widely known and highly respected and had a large circle of friends throughout the county. Mrs. Williams was their only daughter, but in their family were four sons, all born on the home farm in Great Bend township. (1) Harrison J., born October 9, 1840, was educated in the local schools, and during the Civil war was employed by the government on con- struction work in Alexandria, Va., where he was taken ill and died. He was unmarried. (2) Alonzo W., born in October, 1842, was for some years employed as a ticket agent for one of the railroads at Chicago, Ill., but is now located at Portland, Ore., in the employ of the Union Pacific railroad. He was a soldier in the Civil war and served until its close. (3) Chauncey, born in July, 1845, was also one of the defenders of the Union during the war of the Rebellion. When a young man he entered the service of the New York & Erie railroad and was advanced to the position of con- ductor, but is now living retired in Baltimore, Md. He married Annie Ginnivan, of Deposit, N. Y., and has two children, Chauncey and Alonzo. The former was with the Astor Battery in the Cuban war and took part in the battle of Santiago. (4) Al- bert, born in November, 1852, went West when a young man, and when last heard from was in Fort . Wayne, Indiana.

Mrs. Williams was born in 1848, on the old hontestead at Red Rock, Great Bend township. which she now owns and occupies. She is a lady of culture and refinement, who was educated in the schools of Susquehanna and Great Bend. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Williams located on the old Baker homestead, left her by her father, and she tenderly cared for her mother until she was called to the world beyond. Our subject and his wife have four children, namely: ( 1) Demont 11., born in 1876, received a district-school education, I

and is now employed as a machinist in Susque- hanna. (2) Nelson B., born in February, 1878. is in the service of the New York & Erie Railroad Company. (3) Winifred S., born July 19, 1879, not only attended the home school and the higher schools of Great Bend, but also took a course at Lowe's Business College, Binghamton, N. Y., where she was graduated. She is a refined and accom- plished young lady of considerable musical ability, and is a great favorite with her companions and friends. (4) Albert, born in July, 1885, is attend- ing school in Great Bend.

Religiously, the Baker family were Presby- terians, but Mr. and Mrs. Williams hold meniber- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Great Bend. Socially he belongs to Grand Army Post No. 233, and Friendly Hand Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 1009, both of Great Bend, and Canawacak En- campment, of Susquehanna county. His political support is always given the men and measures of the Republican party, and he has ever taken an active and prominent part in local politics. He has served as school director in Great Bend township with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the general public.

ANSEL J. GERE, a skillful and thorough farmer of Liberty township, is a native son of Sus- quehanna county, born in Brooklyn township, in March, 1856, and is a worthy representative of one of her prominent and highly respected old families. His parents, Albert R. and Sarah E. (Tewksbury) Gere, were also born in Brooklyn township, the former in 1822 and the latter in 1825. Our sub- ject's paternal grandfather, Stephen Gere, was the founder of the family in Susquehanna county. hav- ing located in Brooklyn township as early as 1804. His father, Rezin Gere, was killed by the Indians in the Wyoming massacre, but he himself managed to make his escape. Here he cleared a farm and continued to make his home throughout the remain- der of his life. He married for his second wife Abigail Olney, and to them were born four chil- dren, of whom Albert R., our subject's fatlier, is the youngest ; two died in infancy, and Cornelia, the only daughter, married Edward Packer and located in Brooklyn township, where he died, leaving her with five children, three of whom are now living: Austin, who is now living in the West : Elizabeth, who is with her mother in Brooklyn; and Mrs. Delia Andrews, of White Haven, Pennsylvania.

Albert Gere, our subject's father, attended the district schools and acquired a good practical edu- cation, which well fitted him for teaching-a pro- fession which he successfully followed for several terms. In 1845 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarahı E. Tewksbury, a daughter of Jonathan and Lucinda ( Fuller ) Tewksbury, one of the pio- neer families of Brooklyn township. Atter his marriage Mr. Gere purchased a farm in that town- ship, and after residing there for some years bought tlie Tewksbury homestead, where he has lived for

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

forty years, but he now leaves the work of the farm to younger hands while he enjoys a well-earned rest. In 1895 he and his estimable wife celebrated their golden wedding, having traveled life's jour- ney together for half a century, sharing its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. They are widely known and have a host of warm friends in the community where they have so long made their home. They have a family of eight children, all born in Brooklyn township. (1) William R., born in 1846, followed school teaching in carly life, but is now engaged in farming in Brooklyn town- ship. He married Pauline Bunnell, of Bradford county, Penn., and they have four sons-W. Ber- wyn, A. Raymond, Harold E. and Clarence L. (2) George L., born in 1848, also engaged in teaching in Brooklyn township, but now operates a part of the old Gere homestead. He wedded Mary Al- worth, of Scranton, Penn., and they have four chil- diren-Louis A., Josic. Luella and Albert W. (3) Charles E., born in 1850, married Maria Mills, of Carbondale, Luzerne Co., Penn., and they reside in Elmira, N. Y., where he is engaged in the lumber trade. Their children are C. Frederick, Oscar R. and George L. (4) Mary E., born in 1852, is now the wife of Thomas West, a farmer of Brooklyn township, and they have one son-Roy L. (5) Hattie E., born in 1854, received a good district school education and is now with her parents. (6) Ansel J., our subject. is the next of the family. (7) Alva K., born in 1862, is also at home. (8) Frank J., born in 1865. is one of the leading politicians of Brooklyn township : he wedded Mary Bailey, of that township, and they have one daughter-Esther.

Ansel J. Gere was a student in the home schools during his boyhood, and continued to assist his father in the labors of the farm until within a few +years of his marriage. In 1879 he wedded Miss Lora Marsh, a daughter of Jerod and Hannah ( Southworth) Marsh, natives of Liberty township, Susquehanna county, the former born in 1821, the iatter in 1827. Her paternal grandparents, Archi and Lois (Merriman) Marsh, located in Liberty township in 1817. Archi Marsh walked the entire distance from his old home in Litchfield, Conn., in company with Samuel W. Truesdell, who settled in the same neighborhood. Mr. Marsh cleared a large tract of land and transformed the wild land into a good farm. He owned considerable prop- erty, and at his death left to each of his sons a farm. He took an active part in religions work as a mem- her of the Presbyterian Church in Franklin, and led an honorable, upright life. He died in 1851, his wife in 1863. In their family were eight chil- dren, four of whom grew to manhood and woman- hood, namely: Jerod, born in 1821, was the father of Mrs. Gere: Almira, born in 1823, is the widow of Benjamin Southworth, of Lawsville; Kirby, born in 1826, married Olive Baker, and died on the old Marsh homestead in 1892; and David, born in 1833, married Maria Brundage, and located in Franklin township, Susquehanna county ; he died in Montrose

in 1882. Jerod Marslı, Mrs. Gere's father, spent the greater part of his life upon the farm in Liberty township where our subject now resides, and to thie improvement and cultivation of the place he devot- ed liis energies for many years. At one time he spent seven years in Hallstead to give his children the benefit of the graded schools of that town, and then returned to the farm. He was married in 1845, and he and his wife also celebrated their golden wedding in 1895. Theirs was a long and happy married life, and they were not long separated by the hand of death, as they died within four days of each other in 1897. Their family consisted of five chil- dren, of whom Mrs. Gere is the eldest. She was born at her present home, in 1851, and is a lady of culture and refinement, who was educated in the high schools of Great Bend and for nine years was a successful teacher in Susquehanna county. (2) Carrie S., born in 1857, also attended school in Great Bend, and gave special attention to the study of music, in which art she became very proficient. She was a teacher of both vocal and instrumental music for a number of years, spending one year in Marion, Ala., and two in Scotland, S. Dak., but failing health at length compelled her to abandon that pursuit, and she now makes her home with her sister. Mrs. Gere. (3) Elmer E., born in 1861, died in 1864. (4) H. Wilmer, born in 1863, was for a time a student in the schools of Great Bend and Factoryville, Penn., and then entered Lafayette College, where he was graduated in 1889. He mar- ried Annie G. Fordyce, of Susquehanna, Penn., and is now a teacher in the Pratt Institute, of Brooklyn, N. Y., where they make their home. (5) Arthur S., born in 1867, died in 1878.

Mr. and Mrs. Gere began their domestic life upon the Marsh homestead, where they have since continued to reside, caring for her parents in their declining years until they were called to the world beyond. Mr. Gere has made many improvements upon the place, and has met with excellent success in its operation. He and his wife have one son. Llewellyn, who was born in February, 1883, and is now a student in the home school. He is very pro- ficient in music, having pursued his studies along that line under the able direction of his aunt. Our subject comes of Whig stock and is an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party. Both he and his wife are leading and active members of the Presby- terian Church of Hallstead, in which he is serving as elder, while his father has been elder of the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church for a number of years.

M. J. RYAN, proprietor of the "Starrucca Hotel," at Susquehanna, Susquehanna county, is a model landlord, and under his careful direction his hotel enjoys a large patronage among the best class of people, the traveling public having found it in all respects satisfactory. As a citizen Mr. Ryan is equally popular, as his genial nature and cour- teous manners have won him friends in all classes,

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and for some years he has been regarded as a lead- ing Democrat of his locality, his devotion to party interests being rewarded by an appointment to the office of postmaster of Susquehanna during Cleve- land's administration.

He was born October 12, 1860, at Susquehanna, Penn., the son of M. and Hannah ( Vaughn) Ryan, both natives of County Limerick, Ireland. His fa- ther, who was born in 1823, came to America in 1849, and for many years was employed in the blacksmith shop at Susquehanna, where his death occurred in 1886. His wife, who was born in 1835, died May 27, 1893. They had six children : John, who was in the United States navy for seventeen years; M. J., our subject; Daniel; Michael, who died in San Francisco; Margaret, and Mary.

Our subject was educated in the schools of Susquehanna, and developed into a hearty, robust manhood, weiging 204 pounds when only seven- teen years of age. At that time he entered the em- ploy of the Erie Railroad Company, and for sev- eral years he worked as a hammersmith in their shops at Susquehanna. He then purchased the Cen- tral Hotel in that city, and after conducting it suc- cessfully for five years he disposed of the business. having been appointed postmaster. The duties of that office occupied his attention until the spring of 1898, when lie resigned to make way for a Re- publican, owing to the change of administration, and soon afterward he took charge of his present hotel. He is a member of the school board, and has been delegate to State and National conventions. In 1897, when nominated for prothonotary by his party, he won a majority in his own town, and though defeated ran ahead of his ticket.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 43

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