Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 78

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 78
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 78
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 78
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3 > Part 78

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).

In 1867 Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage with Miss Julia Woodmansee, who was born and reared in Wayne county. a daughter of Lyman and Jane (Stanton ) Woodmansee, both of whom died in Preston township. In the Woodmansee family were six children: Emory. Myron, Matilda, Delia. Julia (Mrs. D. E. Wilcox), and Jane (Mrs. Wil- cox). To our subject and his wife have been born the following children : Mertie E., Willie H., David

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L., Ernest Lyman, Benjamin F., Nelson Harvey, Bessie Olive, and Rosetta (who died at the age of ten years ).

The Republican party finds in Mr. Wilcox an ardent supporter of its principles, and socially he is identified with Warren Rix Post No. 397, G. A. R., and the Grange. His pleasant, genial nature wins him many friends, and he is held in high regard by all who know him.

HON. WARREN W. MUMFORD. There are in every community men of great force of char- acter and exceptional ability, who, by reason of their capacity for leadership, become recognized as foremost citizens, and bear a most important part in the development and progress of the locality with which they are connected. Such a man is Mr. Mumford, who has for several years been promi- nently identified with the business and political in- terests of Starrucca, Wayne county.

Mr. Mumford was born December 3, 1840, at the old Judge Mumford homestead in Starrucca, and is a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent families of the northern part of Wayne county. The Mumford family is said to be of Welsh origin, and the first of its members to cross the At- lantic to the New World located in Rhode Island about 1700. One branch came to Wayne county, Penn., in 1793, and made a settlement in Mt. Pleas- ant township. Jirah Mumford (the grandfather of our subject ) located permanently at Starrucca, and in that vicinity purchased several thousand acres of land, on which he engaged in lumbering. He mar- ried Polly Baker, of Orange county. New York.

James Mumford (our subject's father) was born in Wayne county, and on reaching manhood married a relative. Miss Mary A. Mumford, by whom he had the following children: Oliver, who was killed in the war of the Rebellion ; Olive, wife of V. M. Keen; Mary Adelaide; Matilda. wife of Col. George B. Osborn, now a resident of Hones- dale, Wayne county; Warren W .; Hattie, wife of Daniel Cargill; Clarence G., who married Miss Susie Avery, and now lives in Albany, N. Y .; Clin- ton D .; and Thomas J.

In the public schools near his childhood home Warren W. Mumford began his education, and later he attended the school at Prompton, Wayne county. then conducted by County Superintendent Terrell and Prof. Briggs. After tcaching for a time he entered Montrose Academy, and in 1862 attended the Normal School at Millersville. Penn., completing his training with a course in the business college at Binghamton, N. Y. In 1863 he joined a company raised to aid in the defense of the State against in- vasion from the South, remaining a member of the same until it was disbanded, after the threatened danger was passed.

In 1865 Mr. Mumford became a partner of Major E. P. Strong, in a mercantile establishment at Starrucca, and for some years they carried on business under the firm name of Mumford & Co.

Major Strong then sold his interest to Col. George B. Osborn, and the name was changed to Mumiord & Osborn. After the death of his father Mr. Muni- ford withdrew from the firm in 1873 in order to take charge of the estate. The following year he was nom- inated by the Republicans as their candidate for the State Legislature, and, notwithstanding the county was then Democratic, he was triumphantly elected, receiving all but three of the votes cast in the bor- ough of Starrucca. At the close of his term in the Legislature he resumed merchandising, having erect- ed a new business block for that purpose. In 1876 he also became interested in the manufacture of wood alcohol, or naptha, and other chemicals, with his brother C. D. Mumford, and constructed the first works of the kind in Wayne county, doing busi- ness under the firm name of the Starrucca Chemical Co. He is still interested in that industry, and also conducts his store in Starrucca.

In 1868 Mr. Mumford was united in marriage with Miss Laura A., daughter of Theodore Swift, of Ulster county, N. Y., who was a representative of a well-known and prominent family founded in Connecticut at an early day. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mumford are Lorena, now the wife of Reuben Taylor, who is engaged in teaching at Niagara Falls, N. Y. ; Hattie E .; Jennie E., wife of A. C. Crosby, of Starrucca; Minnie, a successful teacher of Sayre, Penn .; Henry W., who is now at- tending college in Rhode Island, preparatory to en- tering the legal profession ; and Iva Louise.

Mr. and Mrs. Mumford are leading members of the Baptist Church, and socially he is one of the charter members of Starrucca Lodge, K. of H., also belonging to Susquehanna Lodge. F. & A. M .. and to Great Bend Commandery. K. T. Being one of the most popular and influential citizens of his com- munity, he has been called upon to serve in a number of official positions. Since 1874 he has continuously and most capably filled the office of school director, and he was instrumental in securing the adoption of the grade-school system now in vogue, which has resulted so beneficially to the borough. He also secured the erection of the excellent school build- ing now in use. Mr. Mumford is emphatically a man of enterprise, positive character. indomitable energy, strict integrity and liberal views, and is thoroughly identified in feeling with the growth and prosperity of his native county.

HOLLIS S. PARKS. Susquehanna county has many enterprising and successful agriculturists who have accumulated what they have of this world's goods through individual effort. Among this class is the subject of this review, who is to-day a leading farmer and dairyman of Fairdale.

Mr. Parks is a native of Bradford county, Penn., born in Orwell. June 15, 1835. a son of Harry L. and Electa (Allis) Parks. who always made their home in Bradford county, where the fa- ther followed farming as his life work. He was first a Democrat and later a Republican in senti-

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I, W, Mumford

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ment, but was no politician, though he was called upx011 to serve in several township offices of honor and trust. He was born July 23, 1800, and died in March, 1888, while his wife, born in August, 1805, died in November, 1887, the remains of both being interred in Rome cemetery, Bradford county. Both were sincere and faithful members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. In their family were the fol- lowing children : Sarah E., now the widow of E. N. Frost, and a resident of Athens, Penn. ; E. Minerva, widow of Washington Towner, of Sheshequin, Bradford county; Joseph W., who is living on the old homestead at Orwell; Chloe O., widow of J. T. DuBois, and a resident of Elmira, N. Y. ; Hollis S., our subject ; Martha M., wife of Stephen O. Allen, of Rome, Penn .; Mary, wife of Alexander O. Keefe, of Athens, Penn .; Eliza, who (first) married Rev. William Shelp, and ( second) Joseph Massett; Charles W., a resident of Smithboro, N. Y .; and Laura, wife of John Lyon, of Athens. The paternal grandparents of our subject, John and Sarah Parks, farming people, were born in Massachusetts, and died at Rome, Bradford Co., Penn. John Parks was one of Washington's bodyguards in the Revolu- tionary war. During the Wyoming massacre his wife, who was then a child of twelve years, was captured and taken to Canada, but was afterward exchanged; her mother was captured at the same time. Our subject's maternal grandparents were Eleazer and Esther (Rutty) Allis, also natives of Massachusetts, and were the parents of nine chil- dren. They, too, were farming people, and died in Orwell, Bradford county.

Hollis S. Parks made his home with his par- ents until his marriage, which was celebrated in Orwell, May 27, 1859, Miss Lucy D. Pickering be- coming his bride. Five children blessed this union : Mary E., deceased wife of Scott Drake; Nellie E., wife of O. C. Downer, of Jessup township, Susque- hanna county ; Ned L., who married Jane Warner and is engaged in farming in Jessup township; Mable C., wife of Jesse E. Whitting, of New Brunswick, N. J. ; and Ordencie N., at home. Mrs. l'arks is a native of Susquehanna county, born in Bridgewater township, August 10, 1840, a daughter of Thomas and Julia (Westbrook) Pickering, the former a native of England, the latter of Sussex county, N. J. They were married in Susquehanna county, where the mother died in 1847. at the age of thirty-three years, and was laid to rest in Mont- rose cemetery. Later the father moved to Orwell, Bradford county, where he passed away in 1883, at the age of eighty-four years, his remains being interred at that place. Only two children were born of their union : Willard, a resident of Muncy, Penn. ; and Lucy D., wife of our subject .. The father was a mason by trade, and on coming to America, in 1818, he located in Susquehanna county. He had previously married a Miss Morgan, of England, who died in Dimock township, Susquehanna county, and by whom he had the following children : 78

John M., Jacob and George, all deceased; Eliza- beth, deceased wife of Bunson Roberts; Ralph and Mary, deceased; and William and Thomas, both farmers of Orwell. Mrs. Parks' paternal grand- parents died in England. Her maternal grandpar- ents, George and Ellen (Courtright) Westbrook, were natives of New Jersey. They were the par- ents of twelve children.

During his boyhood and youth Mr. Parks was provided with good educational advantages for his day, and at the age of twenty he commenced teach- ing school. He taught one term in Rome, Brad- ford county ; two terms in the old academy at Wilkes Barre; and three terms in Allis Hollow, Bradford county. He then turned his attention to farming in Orwell, where he owned and operated a farm for five years, in 1866 removing to Bridgewater town- ship, Susquehanna county, where he purchased a farm, on which he made his home for twelve years. The following five years were devoted to the hotel business in Fairdale, after which he removed to his present farm, in Jessup township, and he has since engaged in general agriculture and dairying, with a fair degree of success. He keeps on hand from ten to thirty-six cows for dairy purposes. and this branch of his business has proved quite profitable. Fraternally he is a member of the Grange, and po- litically is what may be termed a Free-silver Re- publican, being an advocate of the free coinage of silver, at a rate of sixteen to one.

WILLIAM E. ALLEN, who occupies a valu- able and well-improved farm in Bridgewater town- ship, Susquehanna county, is numbered among its wealthy and substantial citizens. His residence and its surroundings are highly creditable to the pro- prietor, and indicate him to be a man of industry, energy and enterprise, one who has availed himself of the most approved methods of carrying on agri- culture. In connection with farming he has also given some attention to lumbering.

Mr. Allen was born upon his present farny February 3, 1821, a son of Walter and Betsy ( Camp- bell) Allen. The father was a native of Connecticut, born in 1795, and when a boy came to Susquehanna county with his father, Jason Allen, who located in Bridgewater township, where he purchased a tract cf wild land and cleared and improved a farm, erect- ing thereon a log house and barn. He continued the improvement and cultivation of this place until called to the world beyond. In his family were six chil- dren, namely: James; Walter, father of our sub- ject : Rachel, wife of Andrew Barker, who lived near New Milford: Erastus ; Charles; and Sarah, wife of A. Crokfoot. On reaching man's estate Walter Allen married Betsy Campbell, and they be- gan their domestic lite on a part of the old home- stead. where they spent the remainder of their lives, the former dying May 9, 1883, in his eighty-ninth year. the latter January 31, 1879, at the age of eighty. William E. is the eldest of their children,

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the others being Gideon, Sallie, John, Melgaret, Catherine, Walter, Leonora, A. H. and Albert (twins), and Stephen, who died some years ago.

William E. Allen was reared on the home farm, obtaining an excellent knowledge of farm work, and receiving a common-school education. In 1869 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary A. Kellogg, of Susquehanna county, who was born in Connecticut, in 1830. Her parents, Benjamin B. and Betsy A. (Allen) Fox, were also natives of Connecticut, the father born January 24, 1798, the mother April 15, 1802. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1836 the family came to Susquehanna county, Penn., locating at Forest Lake, where the father followed farming until his death, April 15, 1867. He left a widow who survived until Janu- ary 19, 1893, dving at the home of her daughter, MIrs. Allen-and four children : Benjamin MI., J. R., Harriet Emeline ( Mrs. Robinson), and Mary A. (Mrs. Allen). The parents were members of the Baptist Church. Mary A. Allen was first married to Franklin I. Kellogg, by whom she had one daugli- ter, Eva E., born September 22, 1858, who was mar- ried November 11, 1879, to E. P. Browning, of Spring Hill, Bradford Co., Penn .; she was edu- cated in the high school at Montrose, and has suc- cessfully engaged in teaching in the common dis- trict schools. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Hattie L., who was born on the old home- stead, in September, 1873, was educated in the com- mon schools, and, in 1895, married Daniel A. Du Bois, of New York. They have one child, Beatrice E., and live on the home farm with her parents.

After his marriage Mr. Allen bought the old homestead, on which he has since made many im- provements which add greatly to its value and at- tractive appearance. Politically he is a stanch Demo- crat, and he has most creditably and acceptably served in all the local offices of the township. In maner he is pleasant and genial, and all who know him esteem him highly for his genuine worth. Re- ligiously Mrs. Allen is a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

ALVIN WESTGATE, an enterprising and progressive citizen of Clifford township, Susque- hanna county, was born April 23. 1840, on the farm where he now resides about eighty rods from his present home.

Our subject's father. John Westgate, was born in Rhode Island, June 3. 1794. and when about eighteen years of age came along to Pennsylvania. For three years he worked for Samuel Meredith. in Mt. Pleasant, Wayne county, and while there became acquainted with Miss Eliza Carpenter. who later became his wife. After their marriage thy removed to Clifford township. Susquehanna county. and while he cleared and improved his farm his wife taught school, thus carning money to purchase fifty acres of land. to which they added another fifty-acre tract a few years later. Upon that farm

they spent the remainder of their lives. The father always followed farming, and he held several minor offices in his township. He died June 2, 1872, and his wife, who was born in Harford township, Sus- quehanna county, October 14, 1797, died December 29, 1880, both being laid to rest in the Burdick cemetery, Clifford township. Mrs. Westgate was a consistent member of the Free-will Baptist Church. In their family were seven children : Wallace, born June 3. 1820, married Esther Curtis, and died in November, 1878; Sylvanus, born November 25, 1822, married Hulda Crandall, and died February 16. 1875; Elias, born December 18, 1825, married (first ) Frances Crandall, and ( second ) Saran Rider, and is engaged in mercantile business in Uniondale, Penn., where he died August 7, 1899: Robert, born June 23, 1831, married (first) Tirzah Ellis, and ( second) Verneda Dimock, and died April 23. 1889; Tryphsa, born December 10, 1834, married San -. ford Burns and died in July. 1891; Lydia, born February 18, 1838, became the wife of Irban Bar- riger, of Uniondale, and died December 29, 1893 ; and Alvin, our subject, completes the family.

Upon his father's farm Alvin Westgate grew. to manhood, and in Carbondale, Penn., he was mar- ried, September 7, 1862. to Miss Clara Arnold. To them have been born three children : Joseph, a farmer of Clifford township, who married Dela Walter, and has one child: Charles, who married Mabel Lozier. and lives with our subject ; and Eliza Jane, now the wife of Everett Hadsell, a farmer of Clif- ford township.

Mrs. Westgate was born in Elkdale. Clifford township. August 8, 1843. a daughter of Abel and Cordelia E. (Baker) Arnold. Her father was born in Rhode Island, in 1819, and was brought to Sus- quehanna county when two years old by his parents, Joseph and Ann ( Reynolds ) Arnold, who spent their last days here. He followed farming throughout his active business life, and died in August, 1883. at Wilkes Barre, Penn .. where his remains were in- terred. His wife, who was a faithful member of the Baptist Church. died April 2. 1885. at the home of our subject. and was buried in Elkdale. She was a native of Harford township. Susquehanna county, and a daughter of Rev. Elnathan and Polly ( Finn) Baker. who were born in Rhode Island. Her father. who was a Free-Will Baptist minister, died in Benton, Penn .. her mother in Elkdale, and the re- mains of both were interred in the former place. Mrs. Westgate is the eldest in a family of seven children. the others being Joseph, who died young ; Charlotte, who ( first ) married Henry Dickinson, and ( second ) William Gray, a hotel-keeper of Ash- tabula. Ohio: Mary, who died young ; Samuel, who (lied at the age of five years: Sidney, who died at the age of two: and Lorenzo, a carpenter of Car- bondale. Pennsylvania.

Mr. Westgate continued to live with his parents until twenty-four years of age. and then purchased a farm in Herrick township, Susquehanna county,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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a year later selling that place and returning to Clif- ford township, where he operated a rented farm for two years. The following year he worked on the home farm, and after the death of his father pur- chased the same. Besides this place, comprising fifty acres, he has another farin, of 100 acres, in Clifford township, and property in Forest City. He followed general agriculture with good success, and has also operated a sand bank upon his farm for the past five years. He is an upright, reliable business man industrious and progressive, and the pros- perity that has come to him is well-merited. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat, and he has most creditably filled the offices of pathmaster and school director for three years. He was a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church at East Clifford, during its existence of seven or eight years, and served as Church clerk and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. He is held in high esteem by all who know him.

GEORGE MEAD HILL.IS. Among the pro- pressive and enterprising farmers of Rush town- ship, Susquehanna county, there are few who are the peers of the subject of this biographical sketch. He was born in that township. April 26, 1843, a son of David and Mary A. ( Pepper) Hillis. the former native of County Monaghan. Ireland, the latter of Connecticut.

At the age of sixteen years the father of our subject came to America, accompanied by two cous- ins, Robert and John Hillis, and first located in Herrick, Bradford Co .. Penn. It was in Susque- hanna county, however, that he married Mary A. Pepper, who when a child of five years had removed thither with her parents. She died January 16, 1877, aged sixty-four years and four months, and he passed away February 20. 1878, aged seventy years, the remains of both being interred in Rush township. He was a farmer by occupation. They were active and consistent members of the Pres- byterian Church, and their sterling worth and many excellencies of character gained for them the friend- ship and high regard of all with whom they came in contact. The father was a Republican in poli- tics, and for some time efficiently served as school director in his district. In the family were the fol- lowing children: Mary A., who died young: Eliza- beth, now the widow of Edward Owen, of Pike township, Bradford Co .. Penn. : Matilda, who died young : John C., a farmer of Rush township: Lucy, who married Albert Hitchcock. and died at the age of twenty-six years ; George M., our subject ; Dav- id J., a farmer of Rush township: Ella. deccased wife of Joseph Morris, a merchant of New York City: and Emma (twin of Ella), who died in in- fancy.

George M. Hillis remained with his parents until they were called from this life. He was mar- ried, in Rush, October -. 1877. to Miss Ellen Sny- der, and they have one daughter, Mabel. Mrs. Hil-

lis was born in the town of Conklin, Broome Co., N. Y., on the State road, April 18, 1848, and at the age of eighteen years went to Le Raysville, Penn., where she learned the millinery trade. The following year she opened a shop of her own 111 Rush, near her father's hotel, and successfully en- gaged in business for five years, retiring at the end of that time in order to be of more assistance to her mother, whose health was poor.

Capt. Jacob Snyder, Mrs. Hillis' first known ancestor, came to America during Colonial tinies, and settled near Johnstown, Fulton Co., N. Y. He served as captain in the Revolutionary war, and also as an aide-de-camp to Gen. Washington. His son, Adam Vrooman Snyder, was born at Johns- town, N. Y., and was educated at Union College. In IS10 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Dockstader, of Johnstown. He served as a volun- teer during the war of 1812, was appointed aide- de-camp, and carried dispatches from headquarters to forts in the western part of the State. He en- gaged in teaching school in early life, in connection with farming, which he always followed. In 1853 lie and his wife became residents of Rush township, Susquehanna county, and he started the first Sab- bath-school at Rush. Nicholas Dockstader Snyder, son of Adam V. and Elizabeth Snyder, was born in the town of Fulton, N. Y., August 12, 1811. His mother dying when he was six weeks old, he was cared for by his Dockstader grandparents up to the age of five years, and then went to live with a relative, John Vrooman, from whom he ran away when about thirteen years old. He came then to live near Schoharie Courthouse, with his uncle. Peter M. Snyder, better known as "Yankee Pete." a nickname gained by his being the only one of the Dutch settlers of the valley who could speak English or "Yankee" to the traders who came through the valley. On September 2, 1831, Nicholas D. Sny- der was married in Schoharie county, N. Y., to Elizabeth Rickart, who was born in Schoharie county, daughter of David G. and Margaret ( Nas- challs) Rickart, who spent their entire lives there, the father being a wealthy farmer. To Nicholas D. and Elizabeth Snyder was born, in Schoharie, on February 2, 1833, a son, George, and in Aug- ust. 1834, a second son, Adam Vrooman. They removed from Schoharie in 1836. and settled on the State road. four miles from the city of Binghani- ton, Broome Co .. N. Y., Mr. Snyder contracting for fifty acres of land, and building a log house. While living here his next three children were born. David. Peter and Margaret Esther. all of whom died in one week of scarlet fever. There was also born to him. in 1843, a son, William: in 1846, a daughter. Catherine Amelia; in 1848, another daughter. Ellen Elizabeth. In the year 1849 he traded his farm on the State road for one in Rush. Susquehanna Co., Penn., moved thither in March. 1849. and lived there until his death, July 10, 1877. His youngest son. David H., was born in Rush in 1850.

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In Rush township Mr. Snyder built an addi- tion to the hotel there, and operated it under the name of the "Snyder House" until his death, prov- ing a most genial. . popular and obliging landlord ; in all his undertakings he met with well-merited suc- cess. At his death he left the hotel property to Mrs. Hillis and her sister Catherine, but on November 19, 1897, while conducted by the latter's husband, Isaiah Haire, it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Sny- der, who was a man of considerable prominence in his conimunity, and ot the highest respectability, most efficiently filled a number of local offices, includ- ing those of township collector, supervisor and school director, and in all the relations of life was true to every trust reposed in him. His widow de- parted this life in 1884, at the age of sixty-five years, both being laid to rest in Snyder cemetery, Rush township. Of their children, George is a retired farmer and hotel man of Owego, N. Y .; Adam V., a farmer, died in Stevensville, Penn .; William died at Spring Hill, Bradford Co., Penn .; Catherine A. is the wife of Isaiah Haire, who is now serving as county commissioner, and residing in Mont- rose; Ellen is the wife of our subject; and David H. is a farmer of Rush township, Susquehanna county.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 3, Part 78

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