Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 69

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 69
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 69
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 69
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 69

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The late Benjamin R. Lyons, son of Dr. Jerre Lyons, of Colerain, Mass., was born there in 1802, and passed his boyhood at that place and at Chester- field, N. H. He was a clerk in a store at the latter place for nine years. In 1831 he settled permanent- ly at Montrose, Penn., engaging in business in partnership with his brother Jerre. He retired from active life in 1884, after having been engaged in mercantile business for nearly fifty years. He was one of the organizers of and a director in the Sus- quehanna Bank of Montrose. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, was one of the building committee that erected the present edifice, in 1860, and gave liberally of his means to charitable, ben- evolent and Church purposes. He possessed a choice library and kept well informed on current issues. Mr. Lyons married, in 1826, Maria A. Chandler, who was born in 1801, a daughter of Clark and Nancy ( Lyons) Chandler. Mrs. Lyons died in 1846, and Mr. Lyons on August 17, 1890. 1

Aaron Lyons was born September 10, 1780, in Roxbury, Mass., and when four years of age was taken by his parents to Colerain, same State, where he was reared. He was occupied throughout life in farming. In 1804. he married Mary Miner, a native of Connecticut, born in 1779, and both died in 1863. Mrs. Lyons was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Churchi. Their children were: (1) Alvin, born in 1805, died in 1833, in New Jersey. (2) Catherine Cecelia, born in 1807, married Robert Miller, now deceased. They lived in Jackson town- ship, where she died in 1848. (3) Seth A., born in 1809, died in 18So, in Lanesboro, Penn. He mar- ried Esther McKune, who was a daugliter of Robert McKune, of Harmony, and a most estimable lady. They had three children, two of whom died in in- fancy. Frank A., who became a prominent busi- ness man of Lanesboro, Penn., is now also deceased.

He married Hattie McNeal, who still lives in Lanesboro, and they had a family of four children- Ray A., a physician at Muncy, Penn .; Ralph, an artist in New York City; Coloma, at home; and Harry, who died at the age of four years. (4) Gilbert M., born in 1811, died in 1836, in Colerain, Mass. (5) Mary A., born in 1814, died in 1884, in Susquehanna county, unmarried. (6) David A. and (7) Frederick D. are mentioned farther on. (8) Charles T., born in 1822, was educated for the medical profession, and practiced medicine for many years, but is now living retired. In 1849 he went to California, via Cape Horn, and remained there some four years. Later he practiced medi- cine in Colerain, Mass., several years, and also in Waverly, N. Y., finally becoming a druggist at the latter place. About the year 1854, at Waverly, he married Prudence B. Smith, and they have one son, Smith E. Lyons.

The late David A. Lyons, son of Aaron Lyons, was born in 1816, at Colerain, Mass. He came to Susquehanna county, Penn., about 1834, and entered the employ of his brother, Seth A., who had associ- ated himself at Lanesboro with Putnam Williams, and established a manufactory for sash, blinds, chairs . and cabinet work. He remained with his brother until 1837, after which he was engaged in other business pursuits at Lanesboro until 1857, in that year locating at Susquehanna and engaging in mercantile business, which he continued the re- mainder of his life. He married Amelia, daughter of David Lyons, and at his death, in 1881, left a widow and one daughter, Isa E. Lyons; one son died in infancy. Mr. Lyons was a member of the Universalist Church of Susquehanna, and served on the building committee at the time of the erec- tion of the church edifice, in 1871.

FREDERICK D. LYONS, son of Aaron Lyons, was born March 14, 1819, at Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass., where he was reared and educated. At the age of twenty-four he commenced teaching school, and followed that profession successfully four wint- ers, his future wife being one of his pupils for one term. Several of his brothers having previously located at Lanesboro, Susquehanna Co., Penn., Fred- erick D. Lyons, in 1848, followed theni to that point. He became associated with his brother David A., in the mercantile business, which they carried on to- gether until, in 1856, the partnership was dissolved, and Frederick D. Lyons then conducted the busi- ness there alone for two years. Removing to Sus- quehanna, he there, in 1859, embarked in the same line, and for forty years has been one of the leading business men and citizens of that borough. He is a man of good judgment, and, through his ability, industrious habits and good management, has made a success of his undertakings, and has a competence. He is one of the substantial men of Susquehanna county. where he has enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the people through a long business career. He is a member of the Universalist Church, and on the organization of that Society at Susquehanna,

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in 1866, he was chosen clerk. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.

In Whitingham, Vt., in August, 1851, Mr. Lyons was married to Miss Mary A. Hull, a most estimable lady, and to their union was born one daughter, Carrie, now deceased, who was the wife of Howard Shaeff of Susquehanna. Mrs. Lyons was born in Whitingham, Vt., in 1831, a daughter of Emory and Lydia (Chase) Hull, also natives of that place, where the father died in 1841, at the age of thirty-eight years. He was a cooper by trade. In 1865 the mother came to Susquehanna, Penn., where she passed away in 1871, at the age of sixty- three years. She was an earnest and faithful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had five children : George, who died in Vermont; Mary A., wife of our subject : Fanny, who married Harvey Holdridge, and died in Susquehanna ; Ann, who died unmarried, in Vermont ; and Melissa, wife of New- ell B. Hall, of Turner's Falls, Mass. Mrs. Lyons' paternal grandparents, Jesse and Fanny Hull, were lifelong residents of Whitingham, Vt., where the former was engaged in the marble business. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.

Mrs. Lyons is widely known all over the State of Pennsylvania, being prominent in religious, charitable, temperance and other work, in which she wields a potent influence for good. For the past fourteen years she has been an active member of Moody Woman's Relief Corps No. 12, Susquehanna (which is auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Re- public), has been vice-president of the corps two years, president three years, and chaplain three years, and her duties in connection with the Order have taken her all over the State. In 1897 she was National aid to the National president of the W. R. C., serving as such one year, was department chap- lain of the department of Pennsylvania one year, assistant inspector in the State, four years; and served on the executive board two years. It is the custom of the W. R. C., at their annual conventions, to hold memorial services for deceased members, and on two occasions the services were conducted by Mrs. Lyons, she delivering the customary ad- dress. For the past four years she has been presi- dent of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union at Susquehanna, and by virtue of her office was mainly instrumental in the placing of a public foun- tain in that city. Until within the past few years, when failing health commenced to interfere with her efforts, she was a great Church worker, a leader, a "Mother in Israel." and what she has already achieved, in that and other lines, remain enduring monuments to her unselfish, patient labors in the noble work of doing good.

Daniel Lyons, born in 1778 at Colerain, Mass .. learned the trade of a cabinet maker. In 1812, lie came to Great Bend, Susquehanna county, and there carried on that business. lle was one of the subscribers of the Great Bend Bridge Co., in 1812, and in 1814 was chosen one of its managers. He married Rebecca Barker, who died in 1819, and he

subsequently wedded Anna Smith. His children who lived to mature age were: David (mentioned farther on), John, Jesse, Betsey, Barker. Susan MI., Sabra A., Daniel, Joshua, Horace, Silas and George. The father was a deacon in the Baptist Church, and his first wife was the daughter of a Baptist clergyman of Massachusetts. Daniel Lyons, it is said, alone built the Baptist Church at Great Bend in 1825.

The late David Lyons, son of Daniel Lyons, was born in 1804 at Colerain, Mass., and was brought with the family on their removal to Great Bend in 1812. He had but meager school privileges, and early learned cabinet making and the use of tools under his father. He was variously employed through a long and busy life, kept hotel for a time, worked at carpentering and building, and making wagons, and was largely occupied in lumbering and milling. At one tinte, in connection with Mr. Aus- tin, he purchased 500 acres of timberland, and at another, associated with Jonathan Taylor, 1,400 acres and the mills-the Lane property. He marketed much lumber by raft to Philadelphia. In 1829 he settled in a home at Lanesboro, and ever afterward lived at that point. In 1839 he erected a gristmill at Lanesboro, for Jesse Lane. Mr. Lyons was a man of good judgment and business ability, and of marked individuality. He was self- reliant, always industrious, a good manager, and made a competence. In 1827 he married Amanda Smith, who died in 1872, aged sixty-eight years. He died in 1894. Their children were: Amelia, who married David A. Lyons, of Susquehanna; Sarah H .; Julia A., who died when nineteen years of age ; Nancy, who married C. B. Smith, of Stamford, Conn .; and Charles J., who married Laura F. Roberts, and lives at Windsor, N. Y., engaged in farming.

WILLIAM PRATT. Few if any men have for half a century been better or more favorably known in Lenox township, Susquehanna county, than William Pratt, who is a successful and pros- perous farmer, as well as a trained and talented musician, who has throughout his long and useful life made large contributions to the entertainment and enjoyment of many people.

He was born in Lathrop township. Susque- hanna county, May 18, 1822. the son of Noah Pratt, a native of England, who migrated to Amer- ica and first settled in Connecticut. He there mar- ried Nancy Mack, and in 1811 became one of the earliest settlers of what is now Lathrop township ( then York ). He purchased 125 acres of wild land, where Lorenzo Sweet now lives, and cleared a considerable portion of it. He died in Nichol- son aged ninety-two years, and his wife also lived to an advanced age. They reared a large family of children, as follows: Nancy, who married Asa Tewksbury and died in Lathrop township; Noah, deceased: Alfred, of Binghamton, Penn. : Albert, deceased; George, deceased ; Betsy, who married

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

W. Hecock, of San Francisco, Cal .; Julia, who married Eli Bacon, of Wyoming county, and is now deceased; Elmira, who married Neison Ben- jamin, and is now deceased; Maria, of St. Joseph county, Mich., widow of J. Millard : William, sub- ject of this sketch; Lafayette, deceased ; Phœbe, widow of William Babcock, of Scranton, Penn .; Amanda, widow of Marvin Newcome, of Woon- socket, Ia .; Sallie and Eli, who both died in Lathrop.

William Pratt attended in his youth the com- mon schools, and possessing both taste and talent for music he early became proficient in that pro- fession, making a thorough study of music in his youth. At the age of twenty-one years he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner and also studied architecture. He followed his trade through most of his life, also devoting a considerable portion of his time to music. He has worked in all parts of Susquehanna county, and in Scranton.

On April 3, 1847, Mr. Pratt was married to Miss Harriet Almeda McNamara, who was born in Nicholson, Penn., April 16, 1827, daughter of Lewis and Polly ( Halstead) McNamara, of En- glish and French descent respectively. To Mr. and Mrs. Pratt were born four children: Rextord M., born December 22, 1847, who married Harriet L. Wilson, settled in Lenox township and died Octo- ber 21, 1894; Frank C., born November 26, 1849, married Louisa Green, and is a farmer and musi- cian of Brooklyn township; Willis W., born Janu- ary 30, 1852, died September 27, 1873; Amanda L., born September 13, 1855, married Dr. William Nelson Green, a practicing physician of Hopbot- tom, who died in 1886, and she has since lived with her father. She, too, is a finished and talented' musician, having studied the profession with her father. The wife and mother died November 29, 1898.

Mr. Pratt came to Lenox township in 1852. He bought first twenty-five acres of land to which he later added seven acres. Still later he made an- other purchase, adding fifty acres to the property. For nearly half a century Mr. Pratt has been an industrious and successful farmer in connection with his trade and profession. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, but he has never sought nor accepted public office.

JAMES MUSGRAVE. Among the well-to- do and successful farmers of Wayne county, who have accumulated a competency through their own exertions and economy and are now enabled to lay aside all business cares, is the subject of this bio- graphical notice. For many years he was one of the most active, enterprising and energetic agri- culturists of Sterling township, but now leaves tlie operation of his farm to others, though he still resides there.

Mr. Musgrave was born in Philadelphia, Penn., September 29. 1822, a son of Andrew and Isabella (Gilchrist ) Musgrave, natives of County Tyrone,

Ireland, who became acquainted and were married in Philadelphia, where they continued to reside until conting to Sterling township, Wayne county, in 1828. At the end of two years, however, they re- turned to the Quaker City, leaving our subject and two sisters to care for themselves. The father, who was a farmer and trader by occupation. was the first man to die of cholera in that city, passing away at the age of thirty-five years, and his remains were buried there. Subsequently, in 1839. his widow returned to Sterling township, Wayne coun- ty, where she purchased a farm and made her home until her death, in 1871, when she was eighty-five years of age. For her second husband she mar- ried Robert McLane, who died in May, 1845. There were no children by this union, but by her hrst mar- riage she had four, namely: James, the subject of this sketch; Margaret, who married Thomas McLane, both being now deceased; Mary widow of Thomas Bennett, and a resident of Har- risburg, Penn .; and Elizabeth, wife of Jolin Hines, a hotel-keeper of Perth Aniboy, N. J. Our sub- ject's paternal grandfather, Robert Musgrave, spent his entire lite in Ireland, and after his second marriage his tliree sons, Andrew, Thomas and John, came to America.

At the tender age of six years James Musgrave was thrown upon the world to earn his own liveli- hood, and for the success that he has achieved in life he deserves great credit. For a time he and his sister Mary resided with their step-grandpar- ents, Robert Catterson and wife, and at the age of seventeen our subject joined his mother in Phila- delphia, both returning a few months later to Ster- ling township, Wayne county, where, as previously stated, the mother purchased a farm. When she married again, three years later, our subject left home, and for the first two months had only $4. After his marriage he engaged in farming and chopping wood, for which he received $20, invest- ing the same in a cow. For three years lie resided upon the farm of his brother-in-law. Isaac Smith. paying his rent by clearing and improving six acres of land. He then purchased fifty acres of his pres- ent farm, for $3 per acre. and after his return home from the war bought thirty acres more. for $750. The land was still in its primitive condition when he located thereon, but by industry, persever- ance and good management he now lias a fine farm of 100 acres, under a high state of cultivation and well improved. His first team consisted of a yoke of oxen, which he purchased from his mother for $18.

In Sterling township, in August. 1842, Mr. Musgrave was united in marriage with Miss Jane Rawlston, who was born in Scotland, August 25. 1822, and was brought to America in 1826 by her parents, John and Mary ( Rawlston) Rawlston ( they were not related prior to their marriage ). Until 1841 they made their home in Philadelphia. where her father engaged in draying, but after coming to Sterling township, Wayne county, in

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that year, he lived retired upon a farm. He died in February, 1852, aged seventy-five years, and was buried in Sterling township, his widow returning to Philadelphia, where she passed away ten years later. They were Episcopalians in religious bc- lief. They were the parents of eiglit children: Ann, wife of Michael McGlocklin; Margaret, wife of John Speer; Martha, wife of Noble Speer; Mary, wife of Charles Rawlston ; William; Thomas, who marricd Ann Lamb; Rebecca, wife of Robert Rawlston; and Jane, Mrs. Musgrave, the only sur- vivor of the family. Her paternal grandparents, William and Ann (Scott) Rawlston, natives of Scotland, came to America at an early day. Her maternal grandfather, Joseph Rawlston, spent his entire life in Scotland.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Musgrave are as follows: Mary, born May 18, 1843, is the wife of James McGuire, a railroad engineer of Amboy, Penn. ; Andrew, born February 26, 1844. died at the age of five years; Margaret M., born February 26, 1846, is the wife of Reuben Malson, a farmer of Sterling township; Isabella, born May 25, 1848, died when young; Elizabeth, born Octo- ber 26, 1852, is the widow of Joe Thompson, and a resident of Amboy ; William J., a railroad man of Dunmore, born February 2, 1854, wedded Marion Lewis, who died May 8, 1898, leaving three chil- dren, Grace, Pearl and Percy; Henry, born No- vember 26, 1856, married Maggie Paul, and is a railroad engineer of Jersey City, N. J .; Emily, born May 24, 1858, is the deceased wife of Otto Snyder, a carpenter of Amboy, Penn .; Thomas R., born March 19, 1860, wedded Mary E. Reid, on De- cember 25, 1895, and has one child, Maud, he and his family residing with our subject; Walter, born August 19, 1862, married Elizabeth Spangenberg, and is engaged in farming in Sterling township; and Lillie, born May 14, 1867, is the wife of C. C. Hawk, a farmer of the same township.

In the fall of 1861 Mr. Musgrave was drafted for service in the Civil war, and became a member of Company A, 179th P. V. I., under Capt. Hubble. At the end of eleven months he was honorably dis- charged and returned home. He was then engaged in teaming for the Lehigh Lumber Co. from fall until March 24, 1864, when he enlisted in the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, under Capt. King, but a few months later was transferred to the 188th P. V. I. After the captain of his company was killed he was under the command of Lieut. Hawk, and later under Capt. Gray. Fortunately he was never wounded nor taken prisoner, and when the war was over he was honorably discharged, at Fortress Monroc, Va. While in the army the lightning struck his home, killing his daughter Martha, and burning the building to some extent. In political sentiment he is a Republican. He has always made the most of his opportunities in life, and has not only secured a handsome competence, but has also gained the respect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact.

JOHN D. WEST, a worthy and highly-es- teemed citizen of Rush township, Susquehanna county, was born November 15, 1835, in Herrick, Bradford Co., Penn., and is a son of Hezekiah N. and Emily ( Barnes ) West, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of Bradford county, Penn. The mother, who was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in Herrick in 1841, aged thirty-two years, and was laid to rest in the Orwell cemetery, in Bradford county. The father remarried and long survived her, dying in Madison county, Ohio, in 1868, at the age of sixty- five, and was buried in that State. Ile was a farmer, and followed that occupation at various places. Religiously he also held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. By his first mar- riage he had six children: Mary E., born May 29, 1825, deceased wife of John M. Pickering: Ruth E., born November 10, 1826, deceased; Erastus B., born April 23. 1829, a blacksmith of Geneva. Ohio; Eunice E., born January 16, 1831. deceased : John D., our subject; and Orrill H., born April 27, 1839, wife of Harvey Esthus, a farmer of Rush township, Susquehanna county. For his second wife, the father married Nancy H. Vargason, and the children born to them were as follows: Chan- cey J., deceased ; Sarah, wife of Henry Nye, a farmer of Mountville, Ohio; David H., a farmer of Lake county, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of William Hutchinson, a farmer of Ashtabula county, Ohio; and Annetta, wife of Frank Nichols, an agriculturist of Lake county, Ohio. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Rev. Hezekiah West, a Baptist min- ister, was born in Connecticut, and died in 1844. while on a visit to Iowa, at an advanced age. His children were Hezekiah, father of our subject ; Eunice, wife of George Hardy; and Orrill, wife of Robinson Barnes.

The subject of this sketch spent the first fit- teen years of his life upon the home farm, and then, purchasing his time of his father, worked as a farm hand for others until his marriage. On March 14, 1855, in Dimock township. Susque- hanna county, he wedded Miss Mary J. Light. and to them came four children: Emily E., born December 20, 1855, at home; Eva J .. born April 6, 1862, who married Levi Light, and also lives with our subject : Eunice M., born August 15. 1872, at home; and John H., born October 18. 1876, who died in infancy. Mrs. West is a native of Susquehanna county, her birth having occurred in Bridgewater township, July 13, 1836. Her parents, David and Eliza (Estus) Light, were both natives of New York State, but were married in Rush township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., and later removed to Bridgewater township. Both werc members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. and were highly respected by all who knew them. The father was born November 23, 1814, and died April 29, 1858, on his farm in Susquehanna county, near the New York State line, being laid to rest at Little Meadows. The mother was born

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July 5, 1815, and died at the home of our subject June 19, 1856, her remains being interred in Kuslı township. Their children were Mary J., wife of our subject ; Sarah A., wife of John S. Wood, a retired tarmer of Pike township, Bradford county ; Hannah C., deceased wife of Charles A. Carter ; and Eliza A., deceased wife of Daniel B. Wood. Mrs. West's paternal grandparents, Elisha and Mary Light, were natives of Connecticut, who came to Rush township, Susquehanna county, at an early day, and spent the remainder of their lives engaged in farming.

For one year after his marriage Mr. West continued to work as a farm hand, and later was employed in a furniture factory at Middletown, Susquehanna county, for three years, at the end of which time he purchased a small farm in Rush township, and engaged in its operation for two years. In October, 1863, during the Civil war, he was drafted, and went to the front as a member of Company K, 56th P. V. I., under Capt. Stod- dart. He took part in the battles of the Wilder- ness and Richmond. While building breastworks near Spottsylvania Court House, May 22, 1864, he sprained his back, and was sent to the field hos- pital whence he was transferred to Emory hos- pital, Washington, D. C., and when strong enough was sent to the hospital at York, Penn., where he was finally discharged, June 9, 1865. He then re- turned to his farm, but has been able to do little work, as his health was completely broken down by his army service. He found employment in a machine shop at Montrose, but the work proved too arduous and he was obliged to give it up at the end of six months. During the war he con- tracted rheumatism, from the effects of which he was totally blind for five years, and at present can scarcely see. As a sort of compensation for his misfortunes he now receives a pension of $30 per month from the government. Politically he is a Republican.

MOSES M. ACE, the well-known proprietor of the "Riverside House," of Smithfield township, Monroe county, was born in May, 1846, in War- ren county, N. J., but is a representative of an old Monroe county family, his grandfather, Peter Ace. having been one of its pioneer settlers. Later in life, however, he removed to Tunkhannock, Lu- zerne Co., Penn., where he died at a ripe old age. In his family were five children, namely : Simon, the father of our subject; George, who married and settled at Swiftwater, Monroe county, where his family still reside: Joseph, who married and located in Wyoming county, Penn., where with his family he still makes his home: John, who died. unmarried, in Tunkhannock ; and Catherine, who is the widow of John Gruver, and resides with her children in Tunkhannock.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 69

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