Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 45

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 45
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 45
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 45
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 45

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Marshall H. Van Scoten was born September 15, 1841, at Blairstown, N. J., and came with his father's family to Susquehanna county, Penn., in 1856. While yet a school-boy, and in his teens, the firing on Sumter aroused his patriotism, and laying aside his books, he left the school house for the tented field. He came of patriotic stock, some of his ancestors having served in the Revolutionary war. On June 17, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, 4th Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves (33rd P. V. I.). On July 21 the regiment was ordered to Baltimore, in which city it was on duty under com- mand of Gen. Dix until the last of August, when it was ordered to the general camp of rendezvous of the reserves at Tennallytown, Md. Upon the or- ganization of the division, the Fourth was assigned to the Second Brigade, commanded by Brig .- Gen. George G. Meade. In October ( 1861), the regiment crossed into Virginia and became a part of the .Army of the Potomac. In was in support at the battle of Drainsville, December 20. In the spring of 1862. upon Mcclellan's departure for the peninsula, the reserves were left with the First Corps under command of Gen. McDowell, but early in June they were detached therefrom and proceeded by water to White House, and marched to form a junction with MeClellan's army. The Fourth Regiment reached the vicinity of Mechanicsville June 20. and on June 26 a severe battle was fought, the regiment being under fire during the entire battle. During the night following the division was sent down to Gaines' Mill, where the next day the Rebel army, sixty thousand strong, attacked the single corps of I'itz Jolin Porter. In this engagement the Fourth,

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MH Van Scoten

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

supporting Duryea's Zouaves, drove the enemy from the woods, after which it was ordered to the ex- treme left, where it charged the Rebel line, but be- ing met by the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, were forced to fall back with great loss. At the battle of Charles City Cross Roads, on June 30, the Fourth was posted in the front line on the right, in support of Randall's Battery. Gen. McCall, in his official report, says "the most determined charge of the day was made upon Randall's battery by a full brigade advancing in wedge shape, without order, but with a wild recklessness that I never saw equalled." After referring to other charges that liad been made by single regiments upon Cooper's and Kern's batteries, which had been gallantly re- pulsed, the General continues: "A like result ap- pears to have been anticipated by Randall's battery and the Fourth Regiment (as was subsequently re- ported to me) was requested not to advance be- tween the guns, as I had ordered, as it interfered with the cannoneers, but to let the battery deal with them. Its gallant commander did not doubt, I am satisfied, his ability to repel the attack, and his guns fairly opened lanes in the advancing hosts." The Rebel column closed up, and with trailed arms came on at a run to the very muzzles of the guns, where they pistoled and bayoneted the cannoneers and at- tacked their supports (the Fourth) with such fury and in such overwhelming numbers that they were broken, but held their ground with the most deter- mined obstinacy. Gen. McCall, continuing, says : "It was here my misfortune to witness, between those of my men who stood their ground and Rebels who advanced, one of the fiercest bayonet fights that perhaps ever occurred on this continent. Bay- onets were crossed and locked in the struggle : bay- onet wounds were freely given and received. I saw skulls crushed by the heavy blow of the butt of the musket. and, in short, the desperate thrusts and par- ries of a life-and-death encounter, proving indeed that Greek had met Greek when the Alabama boys fell upon the sons of Pennsylvania." The enemy was successfully held in check, and during the night the Reserves retired to Malvern Hill. The casualties in the Fouth Regiment during the seven days of battle were more than two hundred. From Malvern Hill the regiment marched to the plains of Manassas, where on August 29 and 30 it en- gaged the enemy at the second battle of Bull Run, where the Reserves were under the command of Gen. John F. Reynolds. The regiment again en- countered the enemy at South Mountain ( September 14), and was heavily engaged. that battle resulting in the retreat of the enemy. On the evening of the 16th the Reserves crossed Antietam creek with the Fourth in the advance, and opened that great and important battle, which raged with great fury for twelve hours. At the battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, the Fourth held the right of the second line in the memorable charge of the Penn- sylvania Reserves on the left of Mary's Heiglits,

when they broke through the enemy's lines, carried the summit, the key to the position, but failing of support they were forced to retire. On February 8, 1863, tlie Reserves now greatly reduced by act- ive service, were ordered to the defenses of Wash- ington to rest and recruit. On January 6, 1864, the Fourth was ordered to duty in West Virginia. It participated in the battle of Cloyd Mountain, May 9. On May 28, three years' term of enlistment of Third and Fourth Reserves having expired-those who lad not re-enlisted were ordered home for muster- out, while the veterans and recruits of the two reg- iments were organized into a battalion of five com- panies and placed in command of Capt. A. T. Sweet. This ended the service of the Fourth as an organi- zation. It was mustered out June 8, 1864, at Phil- adelphia.

The battalion shared in all the battles and ter- rible marches, at one time without food and with no halt for rest for eight days and nights. On July 13, 1864, they arrived on the upper Potomac above Martinsburg. Here the veterans and recruits of the Third and Fourth Reserves were transferred to the 54th P. V. I. On July 18, Company H, as reorgan- ized, had a short but severe engagement with the enemy at Snickers Gap, Va., in which five of the original members of Company H, including Sergt. Van Scoten, were wounded (Van Scoten in the left hand). The men shared the disasters and triumphs of Sheridan's campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, and late in December they proceeded via Washing- ton to City Point, passing winter in that vicinity, and March 23, 1865, they broke camp for their last and final campaign that was to end at Appomattox. Three days before the surrender the 54th Penn. and 132nd Ohio were captured by the Rebels.

Mr. Van Scoten on June 17, 1861, was made color corporal, and on February 25, 1863, he was promoted sergeant. He re-enlisted February 8, 1864, and on July 13 he was transferred to Com- pany L and E, 54th Penn. Veteran Volunteers. On being wounded he was sent to the field hospital at Pleasant Valley, Md., where he remained until Sep- tember 10, 1864. when he had sufficiently recovered to join the command. He shared the fate of the commands throughout their experience and has a record of which he and his posterity can well be proud. After returning to his regiment he par- ticipated in the battles of Berryville, Va., Sep- tember 13; Winchester. September 19: Fisher's 1 lill. September 22: Stroudsburg, October 15 ,and Cedar Creek. October 19. On December 18, 1864, he 'marched six miles in his stocking feet through eight inches of snow. He was with Gen. Butler in front of Richmond, thence to Hatchers Run. where he took part in the engagement near by on March 30. 1865. He was in the battle at Fort Gregg, Va., April 2, and at High Bridge April 6, the entire com- mand being captured here, were made prisoners with Gen. Lee's army, and paroled on the 9th after the surrender to Gen. Grant. The men were then sent

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to Camp Parole, MId., where our subject was honor- ably discharged (as a paroled prisoner ) May 31, 1865, when he returned to his widowed mother after an absence of four years.

Young Van Scoten on returning to civil life again went into the school room, attending for a short time the public schools at Montrose. He was married, on October 25, 1865, to Eleanor B. Gay, and bought the old home place in Auburn township, where he resided and was occupied in farming some thirty years, until coming to Montrose in 1896. Politically he has always been an ardent Republican and active and influential in his party. He served for nearly a decade as auditor of Auburn town- ship; was for several years a director of the Auburn and Rush poor asylum. For a number of years a member of the County Republican Committee. He was once defeated for sheriff of Susquehanna coun- ty by three votes. In February, 1899, he was elect- ed a justice of the peace, an office for which he is well fitted. The Squire is a genial and sociable gen- tleman, affable and courteous. For a dozen or more years he has been engaged quite extensively in the prosecution of claims against the United States government, especially penision claims, and in this she has been most successful and is held in high esteem by all, and especially by the old soldiers.

Mrs. Van Scoten, the Squire's wife, formerly Miss Gay, is the daughter of Ansel and Elizabeth (Bunnell) Gay, and was born January 8, 1846, in Auburn township. Three of her brothers, James P., Calvin S. and Treadway K. Gay, were soldiers in the Union army in the Civil war. James P. was a second lieutenant in Company H, 4th Penn. Re- serves, serving upwards of three years; Calvin S. was a private in the same company and regiment, and also of the 15th N. Y. Cavalry, and was wound- ed at the battle of South Mountain; and Treadway K. died at Knoxville, Tenn., while in the U. S. Sig- nal Corps. To our subject and wife have been born six children, namely: Carrie A., born June 30, 1866, is the wife of B. F. Jones, of South Mont- rose, and their children are William, Hugh and Orin Pritchard; Savannah, born June 30, 1867, is the wife of Sherman A. Benninger, of Kingsley, Penn., and their children are Marshall Pierce, Leo Sherman, Florence and Donald; Eva E., born December 5, 1869, was engaged in teaching and died at the age of twenty-three ; Calvin S., born March 21, 1871, mar- ried Martha Ruger, and resides at Athens, Penn. ; Elnora, born October 15, 1875, is at home; and Charles L., born July 24, 1878. like father and grand- fatlier, manifested his patriotism by serving in the Spanish-American war, from April 27, 1898, to March 11, 1899-there being but one day's differ- ence in the ages of himself and father at the time of their respective enlistments. He was a corporal in Company G. 13th Penn. Inf., and is now quarter- master sergeant in the same company and regiment, P. N. G.

DR. EDWIN R. VARCOE, one of the lead- ing dentists of Orange county, N. Y., located at Goshen, was born at Honesdale, Wayne Co., Penn., November 4, 1850.

Francis and Mary ( Hocken) Varcoe, parents of our subject, were natives of England, and de- . scendants of a long line of substantial English an- cestry. Both were educated near Liskeard, in the County of Cornwall, where they grew to maturity, and were married in 1846. They came to America on their wedding tour, and were so well pleased with the appearance of the country that they decided to remain, settling near Honesdale, Penn., where they engaged in farming pursuits, and there re- mained until their death, the father dying in 1895. and the mother in 1865. Both were devout mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their eight children, three sons and five daughters, are all living but one, viz .: Lavenia, wife of Isaialı Scudder, of Middletown, N. Y .; Sophia, widow of Ira S. Baxter, and a resident of Jersey City ; Ed- win R .; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Frank Sagen- dorph, of Jersey City ; Selina, MIrs. T. Edson Hard- ing, of Jersey City; William F., a practicing phy- sician in New York City; Carrie, who married Her- man Groffell, of Jersey City ; and Charles W., a dent- ist of Walden. N. Y. In 1875 Francis Varcoe married for his second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (Onger) Glenn. and they had one daughter, Kitty, now the wife of Charles Webb, of Bethany, Penn. Politically Mr. Varcoe was at first an old-line Whig, but he subse- uently became a Republican and wasa stanch Union man during the Civil war. In religious belief hie was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and held membership in that denomination until his death, which took place at the old homestead near Honesdale, Penn., September 6, 1895, when he was aged eighty years.

Samuel Varcoe, the father of Francis Varcoe, was an English gentleman and a landed proprietor in the County of Cornwall. One of his sons, Rev. R. Varcoe, came to this country and filled several im- portant charges in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania, where he died. The maternal grandfather of Francis Varcoe was Rev. Charles Hicks. of the Church of England. The father of Mrs. Varcoe was Rev. Edward Hocken, a minister of the Church of England, and a man of learning and eloquence; for fifty years he filled important pulpits in his native land, dying at an advanced age, revered for his many acts of kindness and his piety and benevolence. He reared a family of seven children, of whom Edward Hocken, Jr .. be- came a clergyman under the celebrated Jolin Wesley in the Methodist Church during the pioneer era of the organization.

The great-grandfather of our subject on the maternal side was Rev. William Geake, of the Church of England. He was a learned man, and ably filled parishes for many years in the County of Cornwall. It is a notable fact that the progenitors

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of the family were scholarly men, of sterling charac- ter and upright lives. Refinement and culture have always been characteristic of the race.

Dr. Edwin R. Varcoe received his literary edu- cation in the schools of Wayne county and Wyom- ing Seminary, at Kingston, Penn. At the age of twenty-one he began the study of his profession under Dr. J. W. Kesler, of Honesdale, Penn., with whom he remained for two years. He then practiced at different places in Orange county for five years. In 1880 he was graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College, carrying off the highest honors of his class, and receiving the prize awarded, an S. S. White Dental Engine. In June, 1880, he established himself in practice in Goshen, where for the last fifteen years he has enjoyed an extensive and lucra- tive patronage. In all modern improvements and appliances pertaining to his profession he has kept abreast of the times, and is recognized as most skillful and successful. He is public-spirited, and has ever been zealous in the promotion of the pro- gressive interests of the town.

The Doctor is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Goshen. He is also a member of the Sec- ond District Dental Association, the Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Encampment of Patriarchs. In politics he is a Republican. He has made a success not only in a professional way, but has also accumulated a comfortable competency and has found time during his vacations to make several trips to Europe, visiting Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Switzerland and Italy, besides traveling extensively through this country, Mexico, Cuba and the Sandwich Islands. For the benefit of the Church and charitable interests he has frequently lectured on his travels in a most entertaining and eloquent manner.

ALVIN W. BARRETT. The settlement of a new country is usually made by clusters of people from older settlements. The pioneer arrives, and if the reports to the old home are encouraging his relatives and friends often follow as rapidly as in- clination or circumstances will permit. It is for- tunate that some of the early pioneers of Jackson township, Susquehanna county, were the hardy sons of choice New England localities. for thereby has been insured a sterling type of citizenship.

The Barrett family figures prominently in this connection. The progenitors of the Jackson town- ship Barretts were Whitmore and Lovica ( Miller ) Barrett, a God-fearing and industrious couple, of English ancestry, who dwelt a century ago at Brat- tleboro, Vt., and there passed away after long and well-spent lives, leaving seven sons and one daugh- ter, as follows: Levi, the eldest son, came to Sus- quehanna county, and was one of the pioneer set- tlers living and dying in Jackson township (he left a fantily, two of whom live in Jackson) ; David came to Jackson and lived for some years, return- ing to his father's old liome in Vermont, where he

died ; William came to Jackson, where he lived until his death; Cynthia married William Estabrooks, and lived in Jackson, where they remained through- out life; Ransel died in Brattleboro, Vt .; Chester was a soldier in the Civil war, being a member of a Pennsylvania regiment (he was a resident of Michigan for some years, then moved to Wisconsin, where he died leaving children who still are in the West ) ; Ezra moved West to Ohio, where he died.

Hosea Barrett, the father of our subject, was born in Brattleboro, Vt., March 8, 1799, grew up in Vermont, and there married Polly Lindsey, who was born in Windham county, Vt., March 30, 1800. He farmed in his native State until the winter of 1832-33, when he moved to Pennsylvania, arriving by sleds in February, 1833, and settled in Jackson township. He commenced life in the woods, bought a tract of over one hundred acres, and erect- ed a small home, he.and his sons clearing up a good farm, and later they erected more substantial buildings. Hosea Barrett and his wife remained on this home during their lives. Mr. Barrett was a Whig in politics, and took an active part in the political work of his town, holding a number of town offices. Himself and wife were members of the Free Baptist Church, where they were earnest workers in the cause of religion. Mr .. Barrett died in July, 1860, and his. worthy wife lived to be ninety-three years old, loved and esteemed during her long and useful life. To Mr. and Mrs. Barrett were born nine children, three of whom died young. Our sub- ject is the eldest of the family. The other children who lived to maturity were as follows: (2) Luther Barrett, born in Vermont, in 1820, married Miss Hanah Robinson, of New York, and settled at his father's old home. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company B, 17th Penn. Vol. Cavalry, and served three years. He now leads a retired life, residing in Binghamton. He has one son. Stanley B., of Bing- hamton. (3) Alonzo Barrett, born in Vermont, was also a soldier in the Civil war, being a member of a Pennsylvania volunteer regiment. He married Sabrina Course, by whom he had five children, and after her death wedded Miss Emily Hazen, of Jack- son; to this union two children were born, Glen and Etta Barrett. (4) George W. Barrett was born in Vermont in February, 1832. He was a soldier in the Civil war for two years, as a member of a Pennsylvania regiment, and participated in a num- ber of engagements. He married Miss Annis Seager, of Jackson, and for some years lived near his father's old home, then sold and moved to Sus- quehanna, where he still resides. He has two daugh- ters-Viola, the wife of A. W. Dightman, of Brad- ford, Penn., and Delia, wife of Charles Langford, of Homesville. Penn. (5) Hollace Barrett, born in Jackson township in 1837. was the fourth brother to serve in the Civil war, enlisting in a Pennsylvania regiment. He married Miss Juliett Tyler, of Jack- son. and is now a merchant at Gibson. He has three daughters and one son-Edna, wife of Alan

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Smith, of Binghamton; Gertie, wife of Elbert A. Sweet, a merchant of Gibson; Mabel, wife of a Mr. Rosenkrans, of Binghamton, N. Y .; and Fred, with his father in the store at Gibson. (6) Smith Barrett, born in Jackson in April, 1839, married Miss Sarah Brooks, of Jackson, and now resides at Bradford, Penn. His seven children are Virgil, Carrie, Bertie, Hosie, Ulyssus, Lula and Hcssie.

Alvin W. Barrett was born in Brattleboro, Vt., August 18, 1817, attended the schools in. his native town, and was about sixteen years of age when he came with his father to the wilderness home in Jackson township. He assisted his father in clearing up the forest. In 1836 he married Miss Mary Jane Hazen, of Jackson, who was born at Londonderry, Vt., January 3, 1819, daughter of David and Jane Hazen, and with them .came to Jackson township.

In 1841 Mr. Barrett purchased his present home. He erected a log house and barn in the un- broken wilderness, commenced with spirit and perseverance the clearing up of a farm, and later erected good, substantial buildings, now owning one of the well-improved and well-cultivated farms of his town. To our subject and wife have been born a family of four sons and three daughters, namely : (1) A. Clark Barrett, born in 1837, married Miss Louisa Barrett, of Maryland. He has been a com- mercial traveler for a number of years, and now follows farming in New Milford township, being one of the prominent men of that town. He has one son, Dana Barrett. (2) Julia M. Barrett, born in Jackson in 1841, married Henry Cobb, a farmer of Jackson, and they have had four children-Mertie. wife of Calvin Prescott; Ernest, a resident of Jackson ; Herbert, who died when a young man ; and Gertrude, wife of W. G. Gellatt, of Thompson. (3) Elias R. Barrett, born in September, 1843, married Miss Julia French, daughter of Nelson French, of Jackson. He owns a fine brick block in Susque- hanna, where he is engaged in the butchering trade. He has two children-Agnes, wife of Henry Page, of Jackson; and Herbert, of Susquehanna. (4) Polly E. Barrett, born in December, 1845, is the wife of L. D. Hall, of Jackson. (5) Edson A. Barrett, born in August, 1848, married Miss Ella Case, of Wayne county. He resides in Susque- hanna, and is employed by his brother Elias. He has four children, Lena (a teacher in the Oakland graded 'schools ), Jay, Eva, and Roland. (6) Alice L. Barrett, born in 1851, married A. N. French, of Jackson, and they reside with her parents at the old homestead, where Mr. French has management of the farm. They have three daughters, Bessie, Mabel and Letha. Bessie is the wife of George Estabrock, of Susquehanna. Mabel has been a student at New Milford, Lanesboro, and the State Normal School of Stroudsburg, is bright and scholarly, and was one of the successful teachers in her county for two terms ; in June, 1899, she married Samuel Joins ,of Susquehanna. Letha, born in Jackson in 1889, is a student of the home schools.

(7) Frank O. Barrett, born in July, 1854, married Miss Dora Kinney, of Preston, Wayne county, and has two sons, Sandford and Harold. He is a painter, of Susquehanna.

In religions connection our subject and wife are prominent and active members of the Free Baptist Church, where they have worshipped Fifty-four ycars. They celebrated their Golden Wedding thir- teen years ago. Politically Mr. Barrett has always been identified with the Republican party. He cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison, and has voted for every Republican president since. He has held a number of local offices, including those of assessor, supervisor and pathmaster for a num- ber of terms. During the Civil war Mr. Barrett was a ruling spirit and formed the quota of men re- quired from his town. He is still one of the lead- ing and prominent men of Jackson, and for more than half a century has been active in the business affairs of the town. A more truly representative typc of citizenship it would be difficult to find.

JONATHAN C. TERRY, a worthy and hon- ored citizen of Rush township. Susquehanna coun- ty, who is living retired, was born on the old Terry homestead in that township, August 8, 1822, and is a son of Ickabeth and Lucy ( Metcalf) Terry, the former a native of Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y., the latter of Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn. They were married in Rush township, Susquchanna county, and there located upon her father's farm. which became the homestead of the family. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died May 5, 1849. aged sixty-six years, the mother February 24, 1882, aged ninety-four, and their remains were interred in Snyder cemetery. In religious faith they were Baptists. Their children were Lucy A., deceased wife of Alexander Daugherty; Isaac, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Uriah. who died in infancy; Uriah, who married Mercy Deuel, and died at the age of seventy years; Daniel, who died in infancy; Daniel, deceased, who married Sarah A. Dcuel; Mehitable, deceased wife of Levi Van Gorden; Charles, deceased. who married Agnes Angle; Jonathan C., our subject ; Henrietta, a res- ident of Fairdale, Susquehanna county, who mar- ried ( first ) Horace Southwell, ( second) a Mr. Rob- inson, and (third) Dr. Nathaniel Cornell; George F., who has not been heard from since going West in 1858: and Abigail, wife of Ira Bennett. of Col- orado. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Uriah Terry, was of French extraction, and was in the Wyoming massacre. He and his wife, Abigail, were both natives of Orange county, N. Y., and came to Susquehanna county, Penn., at an early day, here spending the remainder of their lives.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 45

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