USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 62
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 62
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 62
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 62
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
J. K. BUNNELL, JR., youngest son of J. K. Bunnell, Sr., was born December 4, 1862, on the old homestead, and there spent his youth. giving his father such assistance as his growing strength per- mitted. He remained at home until his mar- riage, and was educated in the the local schools and the schools of Honesdale. On September 20, 1893, he married Miss Anna Mary Taylor. who was born in 1868. in Berlin township. Wayne county, only child of Lewis Taylor, a prominent farmer of that locality. He is a native of England, and his wife, whose maiden name was Eleanor Decker, was born in Johnstown, N. Y. Since his marriage Mr. Bunnell has conducted the old home- stead, which he has improved in many ways. mak- ing additions to the buildings, and erecting a large barn, with all conveniences for dairy farming. He has also constructed two siloes, of fifty and seventy- five tons capacity, respectively, and he keeps on the average about thirty head of Holstein and Jersey cattle. enabling him to furnish his patrons with the best of milk and butter. He is at present the sole agent for the Eureka mower in his own and adjoin- ing townships. Politically, as in other respects, he
-
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1163
is not inclined to follow the opinions of others, and although he formerly affiliated with the Republican party he now votes independently. He takes an active part in all the progressive movements in his locality, as is the custom of his family, and he and his wife are both members of the Methodist Church at Honesdale. Their union was blessed with one beloved daugliter, Candace E., who died in Febru- ary, 1898, aged one and one-half years.
PROF. ALFRED W. LARRABEE, one of the most successful school teachers in Susquehanna county, was born in Jackson, that county, April 2, 1837.
Our subject's parents, Emory B. and Laura A. ( Wheaton) Larrabee, were both natives of New England, but became acquainted and were married in Susquehanna county. The father moved here in 1825 with his parents, Capt. Veranas and Lucy (Bennett) Larrabee, natives of Vermont, who lo- cated in Jackson township, where the grandfather followed farming, and at intervals held township offices. He was a pensioner of the war of 1812, and commanded a company of the State militia. It was in 1821 that our subject's mother came to Susque- hanna county, with her parents, Moses B. and Polly. A. (Aldrich) Wheaton, of New Hampshire, who also settled in Jackson township. In connection with farming Mr. Wheaton followed school teaching for over a half century. The father of our subject en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in Jackson township throughout his active business life, and also held township offices, such as school director, supervisor, etc. In politics he was a Republican. He died in April, 1899, aged eighty-eight years, and his wife passed away in 1887, aged sixty-seven years, the remains of both being interred in the North Jack- son cemetery. She was a consistent member of the M. E. Church. Our subject is the eldest of their six children, the others being William H., a butcher of Susquehanna ; Oscar G. and William W., both carpenters of Susquehanna ; John W., a tonsorial artist of the same place : and Winfield S., a painter of North Jackson, now deceased.
Alfred W. Larrabee's boyhood days were spent in close proximity to the whipping rod, both at home and in the public schools. At the age of sixteen years he received a certificate, to teach the common branches, of school director Adin Miller. of South Gibson. His next certificate was from the first county superintendent, Willard Richardson, under the Act of 1854. This was the beginning of his life work. The hours of hard labor greatly exceeded those of pleasure while he was toiling up the hill of science and wisdom, teaching .both public and select school winters, and learning the carpenter's trade, to enable him to attend the academies at Harford and Montrose. At the age of twenty-one years he received his professional certificate. after which he taught nearly all the time until the war broke out, in 1861. At the country's first call for
aid he enlisted in Company F, Ist Penn. Light Artillery, which was known as "Rickett's" Battery, and remained with them for two and a half years, always doing the work of a sergeant, having com- mand of one gun. He was in thirty-two engage- ments up to the time he was wounded, at the second battle of Bull Run, his left hip being fractured by the premature discharge of his ten-pounder. From the battlefield he was taken to Carver hospital, Meridian Hill, Washington, D. C., where he stayed three months. Thence obtaining a sixty days' furlough, he went home, in March, 1863, and was married to Emma D. Doyle, second daughter of Justin L. and Lydia Ann W. (Avery) Doyle, natives of Rhode Island, who came to Susquehanna county with their respective parents when young, and remained here. Only a few days after his marriage he went back and was sent to Portsmouth Grove hospital, Rhode Island, where, while convalescing, he was made head clerk for Surgeon-General Edwards. After three months' service he was discharged, but only a few days elapsed before he re-enlisted, in Troop MI, Ist New York Vet. Cav. During his stay with thein he was in command of the provost guard, at Camp Piatt, WV. Va. From this camp he ob- tained a leave of absence, and went home, to find his wife dead and buried ; their wedded life had been only thirty-two days. Returning to camp. he stayed until discharged at the close of the war.
On his return home from the army our subject began studying with renewed vigor, trying hard to bury his sorrow in the knotty problems of science, and in 1867 he nad mastered the Latin language and received a State certificate for the same, with twenty-three additional branches. In May. 1872, he was again married, this time to Miss Wealthy J. Gelatt, of Thompson, and they began housekeeping in Susquehanna. Here he graded the public school, and was principal three years. From there he moved to Great Bend, graded the public school at that place, and served as principal until appointed county superintendent, to fill the unexpired term of W. W. Watson, resigned. In 1876 a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Larrabee, Mabel L .. now wite of Dr. W. W. McNamarra, of Thompson. Our sub- ject was divorced from his second wife. He was again alone, but he kept on teaching. keeping up his physique with the saw and hammer when not in the school room. and dotting the county here and there with memorials of his handiwork. One town contains sixteen dwelling-houses of which he is the architect. In 1880 he came to Union Dale, and graded the public school here. In 1882 he married. for his third wife, Georgieanna L. Barriger. fourth daugh- ter of the late Henry S. and Sophia A. ( Pickering) Barriger, residents of Gibson, Penn. He was princi- pal of the graded school four years, and taught select school as many years more, twenty-one pupils from his select school receiving certificates to teach through his instruction. The Professor is now building himself a home, the upper part of which
1164
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 1
will be fitted up for a private school room. All these years he has kept up his untiring zeal for learn- ing, and to-day is as great a student as ever. The past with him is a mighty memory, as his pupils number between five and six thousand. He keeps pace with the cycle of public events, and is recognized as a scholar and a Christian gentleman. He never seems to have done his best. There is always a reserved force for another time. Fraternally he be- longs to the I. O. O. F., and is an honorary member of the Jr. O. U. A. M .; he is a stanch Republican in political sentiment.
ALFRED C. GROW, one of the progressive and well-to-do general farmers of Auburn township, Susquehanna county, was born May 7, 1840, in Mehoopany, Wyoming Co., Penn., son of John W. and Caroline ( Wakefield) Grow.
John W. Grow was born January 3, 1820, in Connecticut, son of Danford and Chloye ( Jones) Grow, who became early settlers of Meshoppen, Penn. In Meshoppen township, Wyoming county, he met and married Caroline Wakefield, a native of Massachusetts, daughter of Cyrus Wakefield, a farmer, and, they soon afterward removed to Me- hoopany, where Mr. Grow operated a sawmill, and also carried on a coopering business. Seven chil- dren were born to their union, namely: Alfred C .; James, who died at Akron, Ohio; Philander, who died while serving in the Civil war; Adelia, wife of Franklin Bullock, a retired citizen of Tunkhan- nock, Penn .; Emerson, a blacksmith, living in Illi- nois ; George, who runs a sawmill in Auburn town- ship; and Uneca, who died in childhood. The mother died in 1855, at Meshoppen, Penn., where she was buried, and where the father now lives re- tired. He married, for his second wife, Mrs. Eu- nice White, and to them were born children as fol- lows: Inez, married to Solomon Baker, a stone mason of Meshoppen; Ida, wife of Maleel Har- vey, a farmer of Kizerville, Penn., and Hattie, wife of John Harvey, who owns a farm near Kizerville. Mr. Grow is a member of the Baptist Church.
Alfred C. Grow received his education in the public schools and remained under the parental roof up to the age of fifteen years, after his moth- er's death making his home with an uncle for a year. Between the ages of thirteen and fifteen he worked in a sawmill at Meshoppen. For a few years during his early manhood he worked with various farmers, and he also lived at home for two years. For three months he was engaged in re- pair work on the river dam, and for two or three years prior to his marriage ran a sawmill in Spring- ville township, Susquehanna county, which his fa- ther rented. After his marriage, in 1860. he pur- chased a mill in Springville, which he ran for six months, at the end of that time moving to Lyman- ville, Penn., where he engaged in farming for a year. In July, 1861. he enlisted. for three years, in Company H, Ist Pennsylvania Light Artillery, un- der Capt. James Brady, but he was discharged in
January, 1862, at Washington, D. C., on account of disability. For the next two years he was capable of doing little work, though he carried on farming for about a year, and in December, 1863, he moved to Doylestown, Ohio, where he was employed for a few months in the Buckeye reaper and mower shop. In January, 1864, he re-enlisted, this time in Com- pany G, 120th O. V. I., under Capt. Benjamin Jones, after a few months' service with that com- mand transferring to the 114th O. V. I., and later to another Ohio regiment. He participated in the Red River campaign, was in various skirmishe's, and was under fire for a week at Blakely, but he was never wounded. He came home on furlough in the fall of 1865, and received an honorable discharge from the service in May, 1866, at Columbus, Ohio.
For about one year after his return from the army, Mr. Grow was under the doctor's care, after which, until 1871, he was employed in the reaper and mower machine shop at Doylestown. in 1872 he returned to Pennsylvania, first renting a farm in Auburn township, Susquehanna county. The next year he worked the Whitesmith farm, in 1874 and 1875 the Lemuel Blakesley farm at Springville, and subsequently Dr. Gratton's farm at Benton Center. On his return to Springville he worked for six years for Lemuel Blakesley, and he has since been en- gaged in farming on his own account. at present liv- ing on the Beardsley farm, in Auburn township, near the Baptist Church. It comprises 130 acres of good land, and by industry and careful management AIr. Grow has derived a good income from the farm, gaining a well-deserved reputation for prog- ress and thrift in all his undertakings. He is re- spected by all who know him as intelligent, honest. hard-working man, and is well known in the vicinity of his home.
On February 4, 1860, Mr. Grow was united in marriage with Miss Annie Wiles, the ceremony tak- ing place in Springville township, and they have had children as follows: Clark E., who died at the age of six years ; Caroline A .. wife of Thomas Bag- ley, a machinist of Towanda, Penn .; James L .. a farmer of Rush township, Susquehanna county; John, who died at the age of twenty-five years : Al- fred E., a molder, of Towanda, who married Eva Lake ; Blanche \ .. married to Burton Thomas. who owns a farm in Springville; Edith, wife of Fred Thomas, who owns a farm in Springville : Charles, a farmer of Auburn township; Harry and Clara. twins, the former living at home, the latter married to Zibe Lott: and Wileston T. and Burton C .. liv- ing at home. Mr. Grow takes a deep interest in re- ligious matters. uniting with the Baptist Church, to which most of the family belong, and in which he has held the office of deacon for six years. While liv- ing in Ohio he attended the Christian Church, in which he was an elder for five years. His political sympathies are with the Republican party. So- cially he belongs to the G. A. R. and I. O. O. F., and he and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah.
1
1165
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mrs. Annic ( Wiles) Grow was born March 2, 1844, near Meshoppen, Penn. Her mother, Martha Boughton, was twice married, and Annie was born to the first union, but as she was only a young child when her mother wedded Martin Wiles she always went by licr stepfather's nanic. Mrs. Wiles lived to the advanced age of eighty-seven years. As the family consisted of eleven children Mrs. Grow com- menced to help when but ten years of age, going to school winters and doing housework and spin- ning in the summers. She married Mr. Grow at the early age of sixteen. Always studious, quiet and unassuming, she gained many friends, and she is an active Church worker, having from early life been a constant attendant of Sabbatli-school and Church. She is president of the Mission Circle, and may always be relied upon in any good work.
EDMUND L. VAN GORDEN, for a number of years a prosperous and honored citizen of Rush township, Susquehanna county, commenced life for himself in limited circumstances, poor in everything but energy and indomitable will power. Success at length crowned his well-directed efforts, and he is now the possessor of a fine farm and comfortable competence.
Mr. Van Gorden was born in Bradford county, Penn., March 2, 1840, a son of Levi M. and Mehitable (Terry) Van Gorden, the former a na- tive of Pike county, the latter of Rush township, Susquehanna county. The father made his home in Bradford county from the age of twenty until twenty-six, and in the meantime was married, in Rush township, Susquehanna county, where he lo- cated on leaving Bradford county, and continued to make his home through the remainder of his life. He was a fariner, and actively engaged in that oc- cupation until his death, March 29, 1892, when he had reached the ripe old age of seventy-seven years and nine months. He survived his faithful wife only seven weeks, she dying February 9, 1892, and they now sleep side by side in Rushi cemetery. Both were earnest, consistent Christian people, tlie father a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the mother of the Baptist Church. Our subject is the eldest of their four children, the others being . Prudence J., deceased wife of Ebenezer Stanton ; Lucy R., who (first) married Aden Stevens, and (second) William Bradshaw, a hotel man of Stevens- ville, Penn. : and Charles A., a carpenter of Lester- shire, N. Y. Our subject's paternal grandparents were Abraham and Rebecca Van Gorden, and his maternal grandparents were Ichabod and Lucy ( Metcalf) Terry, who are mentioned elsewhere.
The boyhood and youth of our subject werc passed on tlic honte farm, where lic remained until after he was married, May 19, 1862, at Benton, Penn., to Miss Eliza Jane Estell, a native of that placc, who died in August, 1864, at the age of twenty years, and was buried in Rush cemetery. Her parents were Jacob and Hannalı Estell, of Benton.
The only child born to our subject by this union, 1
William, marricd Frankie Terry, and now lives in Scranton, Penn .; he is a compressed air engineer.
On May 12, 1867, at Myersburg, Bradford Co., Penn., Mr. Van Gorden wedded Miss Annie Varges- on, a native of that county, and a daughter of James and Mary A. Vargeson. They separated in January, 1874. She died July 1, 1877, aged twenty-eight years, and was laid to rest at Standing Stone, Brad- ford county. By this union were two daughters : Emma J., now the wife of Jacob Berry, who is fore- man for the West Ridge Coal Co., of Scranton; and Ada MI., wife of Willian1 Kambeck, of Scrant- on, who during the war with Spain was commis- sioned captain of Company B, 13th Regiment, P. - V. I., and was stationed at Camp Mckenzie.
Mr. Van Gorden was again married, at Nichol- son, Penn., June 23, 1877, his third union being with Mrs. Amy ( Brown) Betts, who was born in Lenox, Susquehanna county, August 11, 1842. Her parents, John and Minerva ( Wright) Brown, farm- ing people, were natives of Connecticut and Ver- mont, respectively, and both died in Lenox, Penn., the former in 1874, aged sixty-seven years, the latter in 1876, aged sixty-five, their remains being in- terred at Lathrop, Penn. The children born to them were as follows: George W. and Lovisa, both deceased; Henry, a resident of Nicholson, Penn .; Rowena, widow of Joshua Crandall, who was killed in the Civil war ; Christina, wife of Joseph Saund- ers, of Hop Bottom, Penn .; Porter, also a resident of Hop Bottom ; Lucinda, who was killed by a fall- ing trce; Amy, wife of our subject ; Nancy, wife of Warren Kilburn, of Rush township, Susquehanna county ; Alonzo, a resident of Hop Bottom; and Lydia, Isaac and Adeline, who all died young. MIrs. Van Gorden's paternal grandparents, Wise and Lovisa Brown, were natives of Connecticut, and located in Lenox township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., at an early day, making their home upon a farm there until called from this life. Her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Wright, were also natives of Connecticut, and early settlers of Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county; they, too, were farming people.
On leaving the old home farm, at the age of twenty-seven years, Mr. Van Gorden went to Glen- wood, Susquehanna county, where he was employed for one ycar pulling stumps, having purchased a machine of 180 horse-power for that purpose. With his machine, drawn by two mules, hie traveled through Susquehanna. Wayne, Pike and Wyoming counties for some years, and did considerable busi- ness along that line. For six monthis he was located in Lenox township, Susquehanna county ; spent one year on a farm in Benton, Penn. ; and made his home for fifteen years in Nicholson, where, in connection with the operation of his own machine, he was en- gaged in haypressing for three other parties for five years, each. While there hic served as street com- missioner five years, constable the same length of
1166
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
time, and tax collector three years. On July 5. 1890, he located upon a farm in Rush township, Susque- hanna county, where he now owns 150 acres of excellent land under a high state of cultivation. He has recently rented the place and now makes his home in the city of Scranton. He is a stockholder in the Rush Center Creamery, which was built in 1892, and is one of the most enterprising, progres- sive and industrious business men of his community. For ten years he has been faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, being a strong Temperance man, he gives his political support to the nien and measures of the Prohibition party.
NELSON L. PECK, D. D. S., a well-known" dentist of Stroudsburg, Monroe county, is not only a leader in his profession, but he and his family stand high in the social life of the community. His fine intellectual gifts, and wide range of informa- tion, united with an upright character, make him a valuable citizen, and the following account of his life will be appreciated by a large circle of friends.
The record of the Peck, or Beck (as it is pro- nounced in German), family is traced back many generations. It is supposed that they came originally from Scotland, tradition making them Scotch-Irish. Peck or Beck in Gaelic means a small stream. From Scotland they went across the North sea to the Continent, settling in Hesse Darmstadt, thence removed to Wittenberg, and thence to Alsace, whence the first ancestor in America emigrated. His given name is unknown. He was an only son, and came to America to avoid entering the mili- tary service, which was compulsory in his country, though he wished to remain with his widowed mother. Being undecided as to what course he should pursue-take care of his widowed mother or go into the army-he sought advice of his pas- tor, who advised him to take up military service. and take the ninety-first Psalm as his guide. How- ever he came to America, instead. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war he enlisted, and did valiant service in many battles ; lie testified that no day passed in which he failed to read the ninety-first Psalm, and that in the hottest battles he felt as safe as if at home, in his easy chair. Physically he was a very large man, weighing nearly three hundred pounds. His son, Johann Heinrich Beck, was prob- ably the founder of the Beck or Peck family in America. He married Catharine Wolf, a sister of Gov. Wolf, seventh governor of Pennsylvania, and comptroller of the currency under Andrew Jackson. and they had four sons, John. Jacob, George and Henry, and eight daughters. He took title to 325 acres of land ( near Newburg, Lower Nazareth township) from Jolin and Richard Penn, the orig- inal title and part of the land being still owned by George H. Beck. The Becks descended from this ancestry are numerous, scattered far and wide over the country, and are for the most part well-to-do. being farmers, druggists, doctors, preachers, den- tists, etc. Many of them are Lutherans in religious
faitlı, some are Methodists, a few Presbyterians ; and there are also a few Moravians.
Henry Beck, son of Johann Heinrich Beck and Catharine Wolf, and grandfather of our sub- ject, inherited a farm from his parents. He opened a pottery, but the clay turned out badly and he lost much money, though he was afterward more suc- cessful. He died in 1824, of typhoid fever, leaving three children : Mary, Jesse and Emanuel.
Mary married Adam Hampshire. and died near Newburg, Penn. ; Jesse entered the United States ar- my during the war of the Rebellion and never re- turned home.
Emanuel Peck, father of our subject, was born in 1818, and as his parents died during his childhood he was apprenticed in early life, and was reared in the vicinity of Allentown, learning the tailor's trade, which he has followed for many years. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F, 4th Penn. Re- serves, and spent nine months in the service, endur- ing untold hardships, which brought on chronic rlieumatism. On his return from the army he set- tled in Stroudsburg, where he still resides. He is a stanchi Republican in politics, and for many years has been an honored member of the M. E. Church at Stroudsburg. His wife, Susan ( Lee), who died in 1891, was a daughter of Daniel Lee, of Monroe county, and a sister of Senator D. S. Lee, of Strouds- burg. Our subject was the eldest of four children, the others being: Josephine, who died of scarlet fever when five years old; David, who died in child- hood ; and Miss Ella F., a resident of Stroudsburg.
Doctor Peck was born January 9, 1847, at Bel- videre, N. J., and after receiving a good common- school education began his professional studies with Doctor Lantz, of Stroudsburg. Later he took a course in a dental college in Philadelphia, and on graduating he began practicing, meeting with grat- ifying success. Since 1872 he has been in practice in Stroudsburg, where he has an excellent patronage. He is prominent in the affairs of his town, and is an active member of the Building and Loan Associa- tion. Politically he is a Prohibitionist. and socially he is identified with various organizations, including the Masonic Fraternity and the Sons of Veterans. .He and his family are connected with the M. E. Church at Stroudsburg, in which he has served as local preacher for fifteen years. and even longer as class-leader. In 1879 the Doctor married Miss Elizabeth Hinsdale Burr, of Newark, N. J., and they have two children: Anna V., who graduated from the public schools of Stroudsburg at the age of sixteen with high standing, is now ( Jan .. 1900) a student of dentistry in the Pennsylvania College of Dentistry. Philadelphia : Jesse Lee is now a stu- dent in the Bordentown (N. J.) Military Institute.
CAPT. W. R. BENNETT, a military veteran, and one of the leading business men of Strouds- burg, Monroe county, has won an enviable reputa- tion in financial circles for sound judgment, of which he has given abundant evidence in the course
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.