Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 101

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 101
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 101
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 101
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 101

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).

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

deputy sheriff of Jefferson county, that State, and later was elected sheriff. He became an active and influential politician and is now a member of the Rocky Mountain detective force and resides in Den- ver. He married Miss Ida Strope, of Pittston, " Penn., and has four sons.

Charles T. Belcher, our subject, was born Jan- uary 18, 1841, in Gibson township. He grew up on the farm, attending the district schools, and at the age of twenty, in 1861, he enlisted in Company K, 6th Penn. Reserves, under Capt. John Shull. The 6th was called from Harrisburg to the front and the first engagement was at Dranesville, in De- cember, 1861. Our subject was at the Seven Days' fight, in the Peninsula campaign, the second battle of Bull Run, August 28 and 31, 1862; at South Mountain, September 14. 1862, and three days later at Antietam. There, while supporting the Buck- tail Fifth Reserves and driving back the enemy, our subject was severely wounded. He was shot in the head, losing his left eve, and was left on the field for dead. He was discharged from the service No- vember 11, 1862, for physical disability. His rec --. ord was that of a brave soldier, and the partial loss of his sight was sustained while gallantly defend- ing the Nation's flag.

Our subject returned to his native home, and there, in 1870, he was married to Miss Flora Grif- fith, who was born in Jackson township in 1848, daughter of Leander and Fidelia Griffith, old set- tlers of the county. In her early womanhood Mrs. Belcher had been a teacher in the public schools of" Susquehanna county. In 1873, on account of fail- ing health, Mr. Belcher removed to Colorado and en- gaged in stock raising. He returned to Pennsyl- vania in 1877 and purchased his present farm in Jackson township, where he has erected new build- ings and made other notable improvements. He now owns one of the choice and well-cultivated farms of the township.

To our subject and his wife have been born five children, as follows: Clarence, the eldest, who died at the age of four years; Frank, born in May, 1873 ; George, born in 1876: Bernice, born in 1881 ; and Lulu, born July 21, 1884.

Politically our subject has always been iden- tified with the Republican party. He is a sup- porter of Prohibition principles. For two terms he has held the office of constable, and he has also been school director of Jackson. Himself and family are active members of the Baptist Church. He is regarded as one of Jackson's most worthy and pros- perous citizens, and enjoys the high csteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

. FRANK WERNET. The subject of this sketch is the proprietor of the "Effort Hotel." a commodious and modern hostelry of Effort, Mon- roe county, and he is one of the most prominent and popular citizens of the community. While he is thoroughly a self-made man, reaping in esteem and prosperity the rewards of his own well-directed

energies, yet he inherits from his ancestors a tem- perament and disposition that has set him aright in his life's career.

Francis Wernet, his father, now a prominent citizen of Carbon county, Penn., was one of the Ger- man youths, in the stormy days of 1848, who were imbued with the spirit of liberty which was stifled under the conditions which then existed in the Fatherland. Like many of his young countrymen young Wernet resolved to seek a home in the Uni- ted States, and the same year occurred his migration to this country. He was born in 1828, and upon his arrival in America, at the age of twenty-four years. he settled near White Haven, Penn. A few years later he removed to Carbon county, that State. wliere he became identified with large farming and lumbering interests and where he scon became one of the prominent residents of the county. He now owns a well-improved farm of 160 acres. In Lu- zerne county, Penn., he met and married Miss Catherine Baltz. To Francis and Catherine Wernet were born the following children: Catherine, wife of Xavier Moses, of East Mauch Chunk; Frank. the subject of this sketch ; Charles O .. who married Malinda Koch, a sister of our subject's wife. The mother died in 1885, aged sixty years, and is buried at Albrights cemetery, in Carbon county. Francis Wernet is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is a Democrat of the old Jacksonian type.

Frank Wernet, our subject, was born in Car- bon county, July 25, 1860. He remained at the home of his father until he reached the age of twenty- three years, assisting in the arduous work demand- ed by the calling of his father, and gained a rich experience and training in the school of industry, patience and energy. In August. 1881. he was uni- ted in marriage, at Mauch Chunk, Penn .. to Miss Susanna Koch, a native of Carbon county, and the daughter of Enos and Christiana (Chrisman) Koch, who were born in Northampton and Carbon counties, respectively. Enos Koch was the son of William and Barbara Koch, of Reading, Penn., and became an extensive farmer and lumberman in Car- bon county. He died July 5, 1896, at the age of sev- enty-seven years. His wife passed away in 1804. at the age of seventy-eight years. Both are buried at Forest cemetery, Carbon county. The family of Enos and Christiana Koch were as follows: Aman- da. who married William Snyder, and is now de- ceased : Lucy, wife of Daniel Keener ; Joseph. of Kresgeville; Frank, of North Carolina : Etta. now Mrs. Paul Danner ; Emma, who married Joseph S. Houch, and is now deceased; Elizabeth, wife of G. W. Snyder: Enos, living on the old homestead : Samuel, deceased; Jefferson, deceased : Susanna. wife of our subject ; Malinda, wite of Charles Wer- net, brother of our subject; and Ellen, wife of Josiah Muffley.

Our subject, in 1883, then a young man of twenty-three years, began contracting with the fa- ther in the lumber woods. He continued this toi'- some but invigorating life for a period of eight

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years, and won signal success in the avocation. In 1891 he purchased from Charles Martin the two- and-a-half-story frame hotel building at Effort, which he now occupies, and where he conducts a well-known and popular hotel. Fully alive to the comfort of his guests, Mr. Wernet has had the building equipped with modern conveniences. Its rooms are all steam-heated, and otherwise made at- tractive and inviting. In politics Mr. Wernet is a Democrat. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is identified with the Effort Lodge of I. O. O. F. He is one of the progressive and enterprising cit- izens of Monroe county, and in addition to his qual- ities of worth and merit, lic possesscs that happy faculty of making and keeping friends, so essential to the complete success of a prominent business man.

JEREMIAH F. GRAY. The subject of this sketch, one of the highly-respected and successful farmers of Lathrop township, Susquehanna county, has for the past twenty-seven years been a resident of that township. He was born September 26, 1829, in Owego, N. Y., the son of Otwer Gray, and the grandson of Jonas Gray, who with his family be- HENRY F .: KRAUTER; P. O., Tobyhanna Mills; residence, Coolbaugh township, Monroe county. came early settlers of Dimock township, Susque- hanna county. The father, Otwer Gray, was born in Connecticut, and when young came with his parents to Susquehanna county, where he married CHARLES L. HALLET, a military veteran, is one of the progressive and enterprising agri- culturists of Stroud township, Monroe county, who Alivia Rosencrans, a native of Springville township, and the daughter of Jeremiah Rosencrans, an early settler of that township. Soon after his marriage he + are making that charming picturesque region a verit- able garden spot.

removed to Owego, N. Y., and later located at Wysox, Bradford Co., Penn., and then at Stand- ing Stone, same county. He was a farmer and car- penter by occupation, and in politics a Democrat. His family consisted of the following children : Jeremiah, our subject; Lucy, widow of Harlow Gates, of Susquehanna county; Jonas Spicer, a farmer and carpenter, of Bradford county; Will- iam H., a farmer of Wyoming county : Mary, who married Rufus Raught, of Nicholson, Penn. : Silas. who at the age of fifteen accidentally shot and killed himself ; and three children died young. The father lived to the age of sixty-five ycars, and the mother to seventy-four years.

Jeremiah, our subject, was reared in Bradford township. He received a common-school educa- tion. remaining at home until of agc. He was mar- ried. in Bradford county, to Mary A. Squircs. daughter of Horton Squires, by whom he had two children-Janics E., of Kingston, Penn., and Lydia M., wife of A. Furguson, of Broome county, N. Y. After the death of his first wife Mr. Gray married Mrs. Sarah ( Fikc) Phillips, daugliter of Jacob Fike. of Bucks county, Penn., and widow of David N. Phillips, who died December 13, 1862, in the army, a member of Company F, I4Ist Regiment, P. V. I. David N. Phillips was born in Luzerne county. Penn., in 1832, the son of Hlosea and Lon- ise ( Carter) Phillips, and was one of fourteen chil- dren, of whom the following yet survive: Jolin

W., of Lathrop; Simon, of Carbondale; Benjamin, of Chicago, Ill .; Ziba, of Scranton, Penn .; Lydia ( Mrs. Vincent White), of Lackawanna county. After his marriage to Sarah Fike in Luzerne county, David N. Phillips settled in Lathrop township, Sus- quehanna county, where he purchased a farm of sixty-two and one-half acres and engaged in farm- ing until his enlistment, in August. 1862, in the army. His five children were: Isaac, now of Lackawanna county; Mary, wife of Alva Johnson, of Lenoxville; Peter, of Lathrop; Henry, a farmer of Susquehanna county; and Francis D., deceased.

Jeremiah Gray, our subject, lived in Bradford county for six years, then moved to Hop Bottom. He enlisted, in 1864, in the 50th New York Engi- neers, serving to the close of the war. He has lived in Lathrop township twenty-seven years, and during that time has been engaged in general and dairy farming, and he owns a well-improved farmi of fifty acres. He is also a stockholder in the La- throp Creamery. In politics Mr. Gray is a Repub- lican. He is a Good Templar, and a member of the G. A. R.

Mr. Hallet belongs to an old family of Orange county, N. Y., his grandparents, Isaac and Patience Hallet. having settled there early in their married life. This estimable couple had the following chil- dren: Daniel and Isaac, who lived and died in Orange county; Abigail, who married Thomas Jacovus, of New York City, who came to Monroe county, and bought a farm in Stroud township, but afterwards sold out and made his home in Slate- ford, Northampton county : James, our subiect's fa- ther, and Susan, who married David Earle, of Orange county.

James Hallct was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1791, and in early manhood removed to North- ampton county. In May, 1818. he was married there to Miss Rachel LaBar, a native of the county. born in 1796. After his marriage hc settled in Stroud township, Monroc county, where he purchased 160 acres of wild land from Danicl Stroul. This lie cleared for a homestead, building a cabin of round logs for his first dwelling. As time passed he made many improvements, building in 1850 a handsome two-and-a-half story frame residence. and in 1851 a large bank-barn. In 1863 he sold the farm and bought a house and lot in Northampton county where he resided until his death in 1872, and his wife died there about ten years later. Our subject is the youngest in a family of eight children. the others being ( 1) William, born in February. 1819,

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in Stroud township, became a farmer in Pocono township, Monroe county, where his death occurred. He married Miss Sarah Lee, of Stroud township, who with seven children survived him. (2) Mar- garet, born October 19, 1820, married the late Jolin Williams, of Slateford, a man of wealth and in- fluence who owned large interests in the slate quarries of that locality. He died at Slateford in 1890. Himself and wife had seven children-Will- iam, Jennie, Benjamin, Augustus, Frank, Anna (Mrs. McKinsey, of New York City), and Emma, who died in early wonianhood. (3) Ellen, born in January, 1822, married the late Thomas Rousland, of LaBar, Lehigh county, Penn., and since his death she has resided at her father's old homestead. She has five children-James, Thomas, Mary E., Lizzie (Mrs. Roscoe) and William. (4) Mary J., born in April, 1826, married Hugh Williams, a wealthy retired resident of Portland, Northampton county, and they have four children-John, Sophia (Mrs. Robert Ingals, of Portland), Harris, and Alice, who married Irvin Workeiser, a merchant of Portland .- (5) Abigail, born in December, 1827, married Henry Mattison. (6) Joseph, born in De- cember, 1830, is living in retirement in Warren county, N. J. He married Miss T. Brands, of Northampton county, and has had five children- John, Ulyses G., who was accidentally killed on the railroad, Maggie, William, and James. (7) An- drew, of Orange county, N. Y., is now a resident of East Stroudsburg.

Our subject was born October 4, 1833, at the old homestead in Stroud township, Monroe county, where he has always resided, his early education be- ing obtained in the local schools. Since taking charge of the farm he has made many improvements, erecting new outbuildings and a large addition to the residence. He has also arranged for piping water to the house and barn, and in every department his farm shows the influence of modern methods. Po- litically he is a Republican of the old time Whig stock, and he has always taken an active interest in partisian work in his locality. He has served three terms as supervisor and at present is overseer of the poor. His military service during the Civil war lasted ten months, and as a member of Company C, 176th P. V. I., he was on duty in South Carolina under Gen. Gilmore. In his religious views he in- clines to Methodism, he and his wife both having been reared in that faith. Socially he and his fam- ily are much esteemed, and he is a member of Post No. 150, G. A. R.

Mr. Hallet married Miss Mary E. Mosteller, of Stroud township, daughter of William and Eliza- beth ( Frederick ) Mosteller, well-known residents of Hamilton township, Monroe county .. Mrs. Hallet has proved herself a most capable helpmate and her husband also takes manly pride in acknowledging the value of her advice and assistance. Their ten children all are living and are as follows: (1) Al- bert, born in July, 1862, is an engineer on the Chica- go & Northwestern R. R., and resides in Milwaukee,

Wis. In July, 1896, he married Miss Lillie Stine, of that city, and they have one daughter, Myrtle. ( 2) William, born in April, 1865, is a carpenter in Stroudsburg. He married Miss Mary Banturn and has two cluldren-Adele and Elsie. (3) Emma, born January 20, 1867, married Harry Dreher, a farmer of Stroud township, and has three children -Mary, Ruth and Anna. (4) Greeley H., born in February, 1869, was graduated from the Strouds- burg high school and in 1889 went to Chicago where he is now employed as manager of a large retail store of Browning. King & Co. He married Miss Grace Ayers, of that city, and has one daughter, Florence. (5) Bertha, born in September, 1871, married B. Sheller, a clerk in Wallace & Sons' dry goods store in Stroudsburg, and they have one child, Florence. (6). Lizzie MI., born August 14, 1873, married George Walters, who owns and operates a fine farm near Greeley, Colorado. They have two children-Clara MI. and Earnest. (7) Howard, born December 14, 1875, received a public-school education and now assists his father on the home- stead. (8) Clarence, born in January, 1878, is with his brother-in-law, a MIr. Walters of Colorado. (9) Garfield, born February 25, 1880, is a student in the high school at Stroudsburg. (10) Paul, born July 10, 1891, is the youngest of the family.

HENRY COIL, a veteran of the Civil war, has been for many years a respected resident of Gib- son township, Susquehanna county, and previous to his retirement from business cares was prominently identified with the agricultural interests of that lo- cality.

Mr. Coil comes of good pioneer stock, his pater- nal grandparents, James and Polly Coil, who were both natives of Ireland, being the first settlers at Dundaff, Susquehanna county. Their log cabin became a noted tavern as it afforded the only shel- ter for travelers in the vicinity for a number of years. John Coil. our subject's father. was born in Rhode Island, but spent the greater portion of his life at Dundaff, where he engaged in farming. He married Clarissa Brownell, also natives of Rhode Island. Of the nine children of John and Clarissa Coil, James, the eldest, is a farmer at Dundatt : John is a farmer of Wisconsin; Henry is men- tioned more fully farther on; Rachel married Jonas Reindenburg, a carpenter and farmer, at Deposit, N. Y .; Mary, widow of John Rivenburg. resides at Dundaff ; Benjamin is deceased; Clarissa married Eugene Speneer in New York State: Thomas is a farmer at Dundaff : and Erastus died some years ago at the same place.

Our subject was born May 23, 1828, at Dun- daff, and when twenty years old he left home, find- ing employment among neighboring farmers. After his marriage he worked in a blacksmith shop. in Dundaff. for a year, acquiring such a knowledge of the business that he decided to undertake it on hi- own account For three years he conducted a shop at Greenfield, Penn., and spent sixteen years at Smi-

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ley Hollow, Susquehanna county, but he then turned his attention to farming. In 1895 he retired, but with the exception of frequent attacks of rheuma- tism he enjoys good health. His weight is 175 pounds and his eyesight is so well preserved that he seldom uses glasses. In 1861 he was drafted, becoming a member of Company E, 177th P. V. I., and served nine months, being mustered into the ser- vice at Harrisburg. He was detailed for duty during the service, as guard and cook, and the hardships and privations of camp life brought on an attack of rheumatism, and after two weeks of suf- fering in a tent he was sent home.

On April 24, 1851, Mr. Coil was married, in Lenox township, Susquehanna county, to Miss Ma- randa A. Kelley, who was born in Gibson township, May 18, 1829, daughter of James and Easter ( Den- ny) Kelley, of whom further mention is made else- where. Six children were born of this union, nainely: Walter, born July 5, 1852, is now de- ceased; H. Franklin, born February 6, 1854, mar- ried Laura Bennett, and settled upon a farm in Gib- son township; Angeline A., born January 21. 1856, married John Howell ( deceased), and resides in Herrick township; Gertrude M., born August 23, 1858, married Harmon Howard, a clerk in Scran- ton, Penn .; Clara M., born April 26, 1862, married George F. Holmes, a farmer in Gibson township; and Lottie J., born November 16, 1870, married Charles Day, a farmer at Clifford, Pennsylvania.

WILLIAM HART, a representative and pro- gressive farmer of Jessup township, Susquehanna county, was born in that county, December 27, 1844, and is a son of Philemon and Rachel ( Smith ) Hart, natives of Vermont and New Jersey, respect- ively.

The father was a farmer and lumberman and operated sawmills at various points in Susquehanna county, also the gristmill on Wyalusing creek, Jes- sup township, now conducted by John Snow. Both he and his wife died in that township, the former in 1878, at the age of sixty-nine years, the latter in December, 1865, at the age of forty-nine, and both were buried in Fairdale cemetery. The children born to them were as follows: Philander is a shoe- niaker of Jessup township; Mary is the deceased wife of Benjamin Marshall; Isaac is a farmer of Jessup township ; Jemima ( deceased ) married Jolin- son Lee ; William is next in the order of birth: Ju- liette and Julianna are twins, the former now the widow of Davis Burris, of Lestershire, the latter being the wife of Richard Angel, of New York City; Jane is the deceased wife of Frank Estus ; Leonard is a farmer of Jessup township; and En- ma is married and lives in Binghamton, N. Y. Our subject's grandfather, Isaac Ilart, was a native ot Vermont and pioneer of Jessup township, Susque- hanna Co., Penn., where he spent his last days. In his family were threc sons : Philander, Philarman and Philemon. The maternal grandparents, Willian and - ( Kittle) Smith, were born in New Jer-

sey, and were also early settlers of Jessup township. The subject of this review was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys of his day. and re- mained with his parents until he entered the service of his country during the dark days of the Rebell- ion. He enlisted at Scranton, in Company B, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Capt. Donahue, and participated in the engagements at Gardensville and Staunton, Va., and in various skirmishes. At Louisville, Ky., he was thrown from his horse and had his left leg broken below the knee. After five weeks spent in the post hospital, he was honora- bly discharged and returned home, remaining with his parents until the mother's death, when the father broke up housekeeping. He was then employed as a farm hand until March, 1876, when he purchased a farm in Jessup township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies until the spring of 1898, when he removed to his present place in the same township, leaving the former to be operated by his son-in-law. He owns both farms, having met with excellent success in his chosen call- ing. In politics he is a thorough Republican. be- lieving that within that party lie the principles which are the safest guides for our national government. Socially he is a member of the Grand Army Post.

On August 31, 1871, in Forest Lake township, Susquehanna county, Mr. Hart was united in mar- riage with Miss Catherine Otis, and to them have been born three children: Richard, at home: Me- lissa T., wife of Irvin Very, a farmer of Jessup township; and Isaac. at home. Mrs. Hart was born in Jessup township, July 10, 1844, a daughter of Richard and Eliza ( Walbridge) Otis, who were lifelong residents of Susquehanna county, where the father carried on operations as a farmer. He died March, 1886, aged seventy-five years, his wife in October, 1883. aged seventy-three. and both were laid to rest in Fairdale cemetery. She was an earn- est member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Four children constituted their family, namely : Harriet, wife of Henry Lester, a farmer of Forest Lake township ; Almira, wite of Isaac Hart. a farm- er of Jessup township ; Mary, a resident of the same township ; and Catherine, wife of our subject. Mrs. Hart's paternal grandparents, Israel and Sabre ( Bills) Otis, were natives of Connecticut and early settlersof Susquehanna county, where they continued to live until death. The maternal grandparents, Henry and Nancy ( Shelp) Walbridge. were natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively, and died in Jessup township, Susquehanna county, where their remains wire interred.

SAMUEL R. COOLY, an honored veteran of the Civil war, and a representative citizen of Buck- ingham township, Wayne county, is a native of that county, born in Manchester township. a son of Shel- don Cooly, who was born in Connecticut, and was a representative of an old family of that State. The father, who was of English. Scotch and Irish de- scent, married Miss Elizabeth Morgridde, a native

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of England. To them were born five children : James C., Samuel R., Maria, Ann, and Paul, who died in infancy. The parents became carly settlers of Manchester township, Wayne Co., Penn., where the mother died at the age of thirty-eight years ; the father, who was a farmer by occupation, spent his last days in the West, dying there at a ripe old age.

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and youth in Wayne county, and was early inured to the arduous labors of the farm and lumber camps. At the age of twenty-two he married Miss Sarah Gibson, by whom he had seven children, only two of whom are now living : James M .. a resi- dent of St. Paul, Minn. ; and Mrs. Mary Pike, also of that State. After the death of his first wire he married Miss Emily Simpson, and to them were born two children, namely: Ulysses Grant, of For- est City, Penn. ; and Alice, of Susquehanna, Penn. In 1888 he wedded Zelpha M. Cadington, widow of Anson Tyler, by whom she had one daughter, Maude Tyler.

During the dark days of the Rebellion, Mr. Cooly enlisted for nine months in Company B, 137th P. V. I .; and after receiving his discharge he re- enlisted, this time in the 25th N. Y. V. I., with which he served for a year and a half.' He partici- pated in important battles and skirmishes, and also took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C. Having never recovered from the effects of his arduous service, he now receives a pension from the government. He owns a good home in Buck- ingham township, surrounded by good barns and outbuildings and a fine orchard. In his political affil- iations Mr. Cooly is a Republican. In times of peace as well as war he is faithful to every duty of citi- zenship, and is recognized as a valued and useful citizen of his community.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 101

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1058