Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 52

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 52
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 52
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 52
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 52

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Addison Learn was born in Pocono township, Monroe county, April 8, 1866, and received a com- mon-school education. At the age of nineteen years he began farming for himself, and on attain- ing his majority entered a store at Tannersville, where he engaged in clerking for three years, dur- ing which time he obtained a good practical knowl- edge of business methods. He then bought out his employer, and has since carried on business as a general merchant. In 1897 Charles Waas became a member of the firm, and the business has since been conducted under the firm style of Learn & Waas. They carry a large and complete assortment of general merchandise, and receive a liberal pat- ronage from the public. Besides his village prop- erty our subject owns a half-interest in sixty acres of timber and farming land.

At Tannersville, July 26, 1890, Mr. Learn was married, by Rev. George B. Smith, of the German Reformed Church, to Miss Mary A. Waas, a native of Pocono township, and they have two children: Lillian A., born May 11, 1894; and George A., born April 13, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Learn are members of the Lutheran Church; socially he is a charter member of P. O. S. of A., Camp No. 473, and on May 16, 1895, became a charter member of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 1086. In his political affilia- tions he is a stanch Democrat, has served on the election board and as overseer of the poor, and was elected township auditor, but refused to qualify. He takes a deep interest in everything pertaining

to the public welfare of the town, and withholds his support from no enterprise calculated to prove of public benefit.

George Waas, father of Mrs. Addison Learn, was born in Hessen, Germany. He was a tinsmith by trade, following same until he came to America, in 1852, after which he worked as day laborer, a part of the time for Stephen Kistler, in the tannery. He continued thus until 1856, when he bought a farm in Pocono township, Monroe Co., Penn., and he has followed farming ever since. In 1856 he married Miss Catherine Miller, who was born in Naussen, Germany, and came to America in 1852, and they had seven children, one son and six daugh- ters. One of the daughters is deceased.

ALVIN L. TITUS. The subject of this sketch, a representative citizen of Lenox township, Susquehanna county, is a descendant of one of the oldest New England families, and one of the pio- neer families of Susquehanna county.

Mr. Titus is the tenth in the line of descent from Robert Titus, the original emigrant trom England to America, viz .: (1) Robert Titus, (2) John Titus, (3) John Titus, (4) John Titus, (5) Ebenezer Titus, (6) Comfort Titus, (7) Nathaniel Titus, (8) Charles B. Titus, (9) Asa Titus, (10) Alvin L. Titus.

Nathaniel Titus, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a native and lifelong resident of Con- necticut. Charles B. Titus, his son, grandfather of our subject, was born in Windham county, Conn., in February, 1786. He married Sarah Ben- nett, who was born November 11, 1783, and in 1830 migrated to Abington township, Lackawanna Co., Penn., arriving September 17. On March 6, 1832, he settled with his family in Lenox township, Susquehanna county, purchasing a tract of 112 acres, all wild land, and in his lifetime clearing much of it. He was a farmer throughout lite, and died in 1864, aged seventy-eight years. His wife died in 1863, aged eighty years. Their family was as follows: ( 1) Baker, born in 1804, was married October 31. 1830, to Mary A. Simons, and they had one child, who died young: Mrs. Mary A. Titus died September 2, 1835. and in March, 1839. he married Anna Cory, by whom he had two chil- dren, both now deceased. Baker Titus died Janu- ary 13. 1874. his wife, Anna, May 11, 1882. (2) Noah, born in 1807, in 1825 married Lydia Haw- kens. and they had ten children, six of whom are still living. The mother died in December, 1849. and a few years afterward Noah Titus married Christian Bissett. They had one child, who is still living. Noah Titus died March 13, 1883. his widow in 1885. (3) Sarah, born in 1810, was married, April 12, 1839, to Archibald Williams, and had eight children, three of whom are living. Archi- bald Williams died April 25, 1843, Mrs. Williams surviving until December 25, 1867. (4) Asa, father of our subject, was next in the family. (5) Elizabeth, born in 1816, died' young. (6) Thur-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sey, born in 1818, on June 12, 1836, married La- prellet Fuller, and had three children, two of whom are living. Mr. Fuller died February 25, 1895. (7) Charles A., born in 1820, died March 11, 1838. (8) Hiram, born in 1823, died in 1843. (9) Albert J., born April 27, 1828, lives on the oid homestead in Lenox township. He married Ko- sina C. Richardson, and has tour children, Lucian M., Leroy E., Emma T. ( wife of A. T. Patrick), and Sylvia B. ( wife of L. A. Williams ). Thursey and Albert J. are the only survivors of the family.

Asa Titus, the father of our subject, was born in Connecticut, on the Quinebaug river, April 7, 1813, and when a boy canie with his parents to Pennsylvania. He was nineteen years old when his father settled in Lenox township, of which he became a lifelong farmer, and died March 2, 1882. In politics he was a Democrat. He married, in Lenox township, Miss Harrict Ely, daughter of Silas Ely, and they had one child, Alvin L., sub- ject of this sketch. The mother died at the age of of thirty-two years, and for his second wife Asa Titus married Eunice L. Palmer, born May 3, 1819, daughter of Esek H. and Amy ( Smith) Palmer. Esek Palmer was born in December, 1777, and died October 31, 1861; his wife was born March I, 1783, and died March 6, 1879, aged ninety-six years. By his second wife Asa Titus had one child, Elmire P., born September 5, 1862, who died October 11, 1865.

Alvin L. Titus, our subject, was born in Lenox township, March 9, 1846. He was reared on the farm, and received a common-school education, fin- ishing at a select school. He remained at home until he was of age, then spent one year farming in Michigan. Mr. Titus was married, February 27, 1885, to Miss Eva A. Miller, who was born May 16, 1857, daughter of George and Catherine (Lott) Miller, and granddaughter of William and Anne (Baker) Miller, and of Solomon and Phoebe (Brundage) Lott. George Miller, her father, was born in Clifford township, Susquehanna county, and died January 31, 1896, aged sixty-two years. His wife, Catherine, a native of Lenox township, Susquehanna county, is now living, aged sixty- three years. To George and Catherine Miller were born four children: Eva A., wife of our subject ; Ella, wife of Oliver Burman, of New Milford; William, of Lenoxville ; and Alice, wife of Henry Mecham, of Norfolk, Va. To Alvin L. and Eva A. Titus has come one child, Ethiel M., born April 4, 1886.

Mr. Titus owns and occupies his father's farm of ninety-two acres, and is engaged in general and dairy farming. Himself and wife aremembersof the Grange, and Mrs. Titus is an active worker in the M. E. Church. In politics Mr. Titus is a stanchi Democrat. He has served as school director for three years, and is highly esteemed throughout the community of which for so many years he has been a prominent and substantial member.

HENRY MANZER, retired farmer of South Gibson, Susquehanna county, comcs of an honored pioneer family, which for three-quarters of a cen- tury has been largely identified with the agricul- tural interests of that locality. He was born De- cember 14, 1819, at Fly Creek, Otsego Co., N. Y., a son of Rev. Lawrence and Mary ( Price) Man- zer, natives of New York State and Vermont, re- spectively.

For three quarters of a century the Manzer family of Gibson have been residents of Susque- hanna county. In the little cemetery on a beautiful knoll of the old Manzer homestead, in South Gib- son, there rest the remains of Rev. Lawrence Man- zer and wife, the pioneers of the Susquehanna branch of the family; also the remains of a num- ber of their children and children's children, among whom several were soldiers in the Civil war. The descendants of Lawrence Manzer have been an in- dustrious and frugal people, who have played well their parts in their pursuits of life, making good citizens and members of society.

Rev. Lawrence Manzer was born July 5, 1785, in Schoharie county, N. Y., a son of John Manzer, a farmer of Northampton, N. Y. When a boy Lawrence removed to Otsego county, and there, on February 12, 1804, he married Mary Price, who was born April 16, 1787, in Vermont, a daughter of Timothy Price. About the year 1831 they migrated to Jackson township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., whence, after a sojourn of four or five years, they removed to Gibson township, in 1836 buying, of P. Rynearson, some 200 acres of land on Tunkhannock creek, in the vicinity of South Gibson village. This included the old John Collar improvement. Col- lar had here made one of the earliest clcarings on the Tunkhannock within the bounds of Gibson township. He came up the mouth of the creek in about 1792, built a good log house and barn, which some years ago were still standing, and set out a large orchard. He was a great trapper, and, it is said, caught in one season nine bears, in what has since been called Bear Swamp. Mr. Manzer, on purchasing this old Collar tract, made extensive improvements; he cleared land, erected comtorta- ble buildings, and in 1843 erected a sawmill. Rev. Lawrence Manzer died January 3, 1869. his wife on November 10, 1872, and they sleep their last sleep in the old Manzer cemetery, which occupies a portion of the old home farm. Mr. Manzer was a member of the Old-School Baptist Church, and for many years served as minister of that denomi- nation in his neighborhood, at the same time fol- lowing farming until within a few years of his death. He dceded one-half acre to the Manzer family for burying purposes, which in 1870 was enlarged by the donation of two and one-half acres by his son Thomas Manzer. the whole being in- corporated. and known as the Manzer or South Gibson cenictery.

To Rev. Lawrence and Mary Manzer were born children as follows: Mary, born January 2,

TRUMAN C. MANZER

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1805, now deceased, married Alonzo P. Kinney, who still survives, at upward of ninety-four years of age. Christopher, born May 25, 1807, married Eliza Potter ; he bought and removed to a tract of 600 acres of land in the Fox River country, in Illi- nois, dying in Lake county, that State, December 19, 1845. Thomas J., born March 19, 1809, died January 10, 1826. Elizabeth, born August 23, 1812, married Austin Benson, of Jackson town- ship, and there died April 16, 1891. Timothy, born January 27, 1815, married Julia Gardner, and was engaged as a farmer in Lake county, Ill., where he died January 26, 1892. John MI., a farmer of New Milford, born August 17, 1817, married ( first ) Julia A. Whitney, and ( second ) Melissa Wood Collum; he died January 22, 1866. Henry is the subject proper of thiis sketch. Horatio, born March 20, 1822, a farmer of Gibson township, served as a soldier of Company D, 50th P. V. 1., in the Civil war ; he married Elizabeth Payne, and died in 1893. Elnora, born June 2, 1824, married Bradbury Mapes. Thomas J., born March 26, 1827, is mentioned elsewhere. Harriet, born Janu- ary 15, 1829, married Elias T. Harding, a soldier of the Civil war, now deceased.

Henry Manzer remained at home until within one year after his marriage, at which time he pur- chased an unimproved farm of 125 acres on Gunn Hill, made a clearing thereon, and put up a one- room frame house, in which, before it was finished, he and his young wife commenced housekeeping. This primitive little building is now owned by their son Truman C., by whom it has been remodeled "up to date," while fifty acres have been added to the original purchase. Mr. Manzer has done quite an extensive business in lumbering.

On February 3, 1842, at South Gibson, Penn., Mr. Manzer was united in marriage, by John Will- iams, Esq., with Miss Mindwell Sparks, and the following is a brief record of their children : Charles H., born March 31, 1844, enlisted for service during the Civil war in Company M, 4th Penn. Cavalry, and died November 22, 1861, in Georgetown Hospital, Washington, D. C. Mind- well C., born June 25, 1845, is the wife of Silas Howell, a farmer of Gibson township. Mary A., born December 6, 1849, died October 23, 1850. Truman C., born April 23, 1852, is mentioned be- low. Harriet E., born May 26, 1856, died March 23, 1859. In politics Henry Manzer is a stanch Republican. During the war of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company M. 4th Penn. Cavalry, and served three years as corporal; was under Gen. McClellan during the campaign against Richmond in 1862, participating in the battle of Antietam in September. 1862, and in the fall of 1863 was dis- charged on the field, owing to rheumatism con- tracted in the service. He is a member of A. J. Roper Post No. 452, G. A. R., at South Gibson, of which he is the present commander.

Mrs. ( Rev.) Mindwell ( Sparks) Manzer was born June 2, 1823, in Schoharie county, N. Y., a 71

daughter of Thomas and Mary ( Howe), Sparks, who were natives of New York State and Great Bend, Susquehanna Co., Penn., respectively; both died in Plainfield, Wis., the father in 1889, the mother in 1887. They came to Susquehanna coun- ty in 1858, settling at Great Bend, where they tol- lowed agricultural pursuits. They were good Christian people, members of the Presbyterian Church. Children as follows were born to them: Amanda married Levi Rodman, and died in Cali- fornia; Asena is also deceased; Charity married Chauncey Davis, and died in Gibson, Penn .; Sarah married Job Bound, and died in Wisconsin; Rev. Robert, a minister of the First Baptist Church, died in Wisconsin; James F. is a farmer of that State; Nancy, widow of William Wood, lives in Wisconsin ; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of John Blessing; and Rev. Mindwell is the wife of our subject. At Windsor, N. Y., in 1889, Mrs. Manzer was licensed as an evangelist in the M. E. Church, and received her first call to Red Rock, Susquehanna county, but she subsequently left that denomination for the Free Methodist. Before be- ing ordained she had a charge at Liberty, Sullivan Co., N. Y., for two years, and she has been en- gaged in local preaching for the past ten years, has officiated at some 250 funerals, and married three couples. She has in her possession a handsome Bible, which was presented to her by some of her admirers in the lumber woods.

TRUMAN C. MANZER, son of Henry Manzer, received all his education at the common schools of South Gibson, and, in the purest sense of the word, is a self-made man. He remained at home until he was about twenty-one years of age, and for the most part engaged in doing chores for the neighbors, and cutting wood for the railroad com- pany. Later he opened a store at South Gibson, after two years renting same and building a larger store, in which he conducted business some six months, and then sold both building and stock. Removing to Gelatt, in the same township, he opened and for three years operated a general store there, also buying and selling cattle: then went to Forest City, and embarked in the real-estate busi- ness, also conducting a lumber yard, and building and selling dwelling houses, in addition to which he buys and sells cattle. Politically he is a Re- publican, and he has been postmaster at Forest City for some years, having served under Har- rison's administration. No one has done more to build up the place, and advance its social condition. in fact, he is an all-round "rustler." kind-hearted and liberal to the poor, while no individual has a wider acquaintance among the business men of northeastern Pennsylvania. Socially he is a Free- mason. Beginning at the bottom rung of the lad- der, he is now one of the wealthiest men of the county.

On April 3, 1881, Truman C. Manzer married Adda Maxon, and they have a family of three chil- dren: Cecil, born in 1882, attending a military

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

school in New York State; Victor, born in 1887. , attending school at Forest City; and Margaret, also attending school at Forest City.

FLETCHER D. AND HARVEY S. BROWN are worthy representatives of an old and promi- nent family of Jackson township, Susquehanna county. They are sons of Elisha and Maria ( Ben- son) Brown, the former born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1809, the latter in New Hampshire in 1812.

The paternal grandfather of our subjects. Elisha Brown, Sr., was a native of Rhode Island. of Scotch-Irish descent. In about 1830 he removed with his family from New York to Jackson town- ship, where he spent his remaining years. He had a family of five sons and two daughters, namely: (1) Charles became a resident of Thompson town- ship, Susquehanna county, where his death occur- red. (2) Oranel married Harriet Nye, and located in Jackson township, where some of his children still reside. (3) Theodocia married William Wit- ter, and died in Thompson, leaving three sons- Gilbert, a resident of Lenox; and Egbert and Jud- son, of Thompson. (4) Watts marricd Sallie Van Horn, and settled in Thompson, (5) Caroline died unmarried. (6) James entered the Mexican war when a young man, after which nothing definite was ever heard of him. (7) Elisha completcs the family.

In his native county Elisha Brown, Jr., was reared and educated. He came with his parents to Susquehanna county, and was married in Jackson township. There he purchased a tract of wild land. which he cleared and converted into a good farmn. The log house which he erected thereon was his home for a number of years, but was later replaced by a good frame residence. He died upon that place in 1877, and his worthy wife, who had shared with him all the hardships of their early married life, passed away in April, 1899, at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. Both were faithful mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their earnest Christian lives won them many friends and the high regard of all with whom they came in contact. In his political affiliations the father was a Democrat. Ten children were born to this wor- thy couple, of whom two died in infancy. The others are as follows: (1) Annie, born in July. : 1836, obtaincd a good education in the Harford schools, and for several terms engaged in teaching in Susquehanna county. She married Martin Lan- caster, of Jackson, and located in Starrucca. Wayne Co., Penn. Her husband, who became sheriff of After his marriage Fletcher D. Brown located near his prescut home, and upon the place erected a new barn. Later he bought the William Slocum farm, where he now resides. He lias remodeled and enlarged the residence, and now has one of the neat and tasteful homes of Jackson township. Mr. Brown formerly voted the Democratic ticket. but has been identified with the Republican party for that county, was killed by a falling tree while driv- ing along a road. She died in February, 1898. Their only child, Evangeline, is.now the wife of James Nicholas, of Scranton, Penn. (2) Cynthia A., born on the old homestead in Jackson town- ship, in 1838. married Rev. Frank Larrabee, of the sanic township. and they now reside in Thompson. They have one son, Arthur, a business man of : some years. He is a member of Myron Frenchi

Starrucca. (3) Fletcher D., our subject, is men- tioned below. (4) Dorr, born in 1842, still resides on the old homestead. (5) Amanda, born in 1846, was given a good district-school education, and was one of the successful teachers of the county for a number of years. She is now the wife of Ralph Howard, justice of the peace of Thompson, and they have one daughter, Stella. (6) Estella E., born in 1849, is the wife of Judge Strong, of Star- rucca, and is represented elsewhere. (7) Harvey S. is mentioned below. (8) Arthur, born in 1854, married Kate Shew, of Susquehanna, and is now a leading dairyman and justice of the peace of Starrucca. They have four children, May, Allen, Juanita and Tracy.

FLETCHER D. BROWN was born in Jackson township, November 12, 1840, and passed his boy- hood and youth on the old homestead, his education being acquired in the district schools of the neigh- borlood. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted during the Civil war in Company F, 179th N. Y. V. I., and took part in a number of engage- ments, including the battle of Petersburg. On the close of the war he was honorably discharged. and returned to his father's farm. In July, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Eva C. Carpen- ter, of Ararat, daughter of Rolla and Minerva ( Carlin) Carpenter. She was born in Thompson township, in 1848, was well educated in the dis- trict and select schools of Ararat and Gibson, and was a teacher in Susquehanna county for several terms. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have three children, namely: (1) Ethel L., born in Jackson, in Feb- ruary, 1869, was educated in the select schools of the county, and was also a successful teacher for a number of terms. She married L. M. Brundage, of Scranton, by whom she has one son, Jaman D., and they reside in Jackson. (2) Gertrude MI .. born in October. 1871. has received a musical edu- cation, having been a student in the schools of Scranton and Factoryville. She has taught music for some time, and is one of the attractive young ladies of her town. (3) Bruce E., born in August, 1877, was educated in the home schools and the high school of Great Bend. When the war broke out between this country and Spain, in 1898, he enlisted in Company G, 13th P. V. I. From Mt. Gretna he was sent to Camp Alger, Va., later to Camp Mead, Harrisburg, and from there to Au- gusta, Ga., where he was finally discharged. in March, 1899, having never been called into active service. Hc is a young man of sterling qualities and a favorite with his companions.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Post No. 512, G. A. R., of Jackson, and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church of that place. They began their domestic life in rather limited circumstances, but by their combined efforts, industry and economy they have accumu- lated a comfortable property, and now have one of the best homes in Jackson township. Socially the family is one of prominence, and its members are highly respected by all who know them.

HARVEY S. BROWN was born in 1853 in Jack- son township, and passed his early life on the home farm. He received a thorough practical schooling, and for a number of years during his early man- hood followed teaching and clerking, engaging as- a teacher of district schools in his own town and in Ararat for five terms. For two and a half years previous to his marriage he clerked in the general store of H. M. Benson, at Jackson, and for two and a half years after that event was located at Scranton, as billing clerk for the United States Express Co. However, he resigned that position, as his mother wished him to return home and take charge of the farm, and here he has since remained. He ranks among the leading agriculturists of the township. Since the home place came under his management 175 acres have been added to the original farm, substantial barns and outbuildings, and a commodious modern dwelling, have been erected, and various changes made which indicate that the owner is a thoroughly progressive man in every respect. There are many evidences of the intelligent and refined taste of the owner in the home, which is supplied with every modern con- venience, and a telephone connects the house with Starrucca and Thompson, the line being a private one owned by the Browns. Mr. Brown's agricul- tural methods are fully in keeping with the equip- ment of his place. He devotes considerable at- . tention to dairying, keeping fifty cows. He is a Prohibitionist in political sentiment.

In 1877 Mr. Brown married Miss H. Evelyn Tewksbury, of Jackson, and their union has been blessed with two children, Bissell and Anna. Mrs. Brown received her education in the common and select schools, and prior to her marriage taught eight years, in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Her grandparents, Amos and Harriet H. ( Robinson ) Tewksbury, were natives of Vermont, from which State they migrated to Pennsylvania in an early day, settling in Susquehanna county. He was a farmer by occupation. Amos Tewksbury passed away in 1864. his wife preceding him to the grave. Their family consisted of six children, namely : Nancy, Mary Jane, Benjamin F., Fannie MI., Har- riet E. and Amos Edgar. Benjamin F. Tewks- bury, father of Mrs. Brown, was born in Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, where he grew to manhood, and was a teacher by profession. He was the second county superintendent of schools, and the youngest man who ever served in that in- cumbency, for he passed away in 1860. at the early age of twenty-seven. On March 4, 1853. he mar-

ried Lucy J. Benson, and they had two children- H. Evelyn, wife of Harvey S. Brown ; and Bayard F., who married Grace Gordinier, and is engaged in farming in Wayne county .. The mother re- married, her second husband being George Wood- worth, of Norwich, Connecticut.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 52

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