Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 109

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 109
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 109
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 109
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 109

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Mr. Bensley was born April 20, 1849, in the township in which he now resides and is a member of a well-known pioneer family, his parents, Jacob and Sally A. (Clifford) Bensley, being mentioned more fully elsewhere. His youth was spent at the old homestead but at the age of seventeen he began working among neighboring farms. At nineteen hie became an apprentice to the carpenter's trade and after working three years with his brother, James M. Bensley, and one year with William Garis, lie en- gaged in that business on his own account. He has continued successfully and in connection with this work he has carried on farming at his pleasant homestead near Egypt Mills. In politics he is a Republican and he has frequently been chosen to offices of trust and responsibility, having served as supervisor two terms, school director twelve years, tax collector seven years, and for some time he held the office of assessor.

On October 9, 1873, Mr. Bensley was married, in Smithfield township, Monroe county, to Miss Be- linda Decker, and two children brighten their home, Edgar B. and Chester G. Mrs. Belinda Bensley was born January 15, 1844, in Lehman township, Pike county, and is of pioneer stock, her great grand- father, Daniel Decker, having conducted the old Decker ferry which crossed the Delaware river be- low Bushkill. John Decker, Mrs. Bensley's grand- father, was born in 17So, and followed farming near Wallpack. N. J., where his death occurred in 1827. Ilis wife, Maria ( Brokaw ) Decker, was born in 1787, and died in 1823. Peter Decker, the father of Mrs. Bensley, was born in Wallpack, September

18, 1806, and in 1838 removed to Pike county, Penn., locating on a farm in Lehman township, where he also conducted a hotel for fourteen years. In 1867 lie settled upon a farin in Middle Smithfield town- ship, Monroe county, dying in that locality, Decem- ber 26, 1887. His wife, Margaret ( Santh), was born July 8, 1810, the daughter of William and Mary ( Decker) Smith. of Wallpack, and her deatlı occurred September 15, 1890. They had nine cliil- dren, namely : Mary, wife of Shay Dephew; Miss Salache, who resides in Smithfield township; Ange- line, widow of Oliver Place; William S. ( now de- ceased) ; John ( now deceased ) married Margaret Piffer ; Hannah L .; Belinda (MIrs. Bensley ) ; Mal- vene, wife of Jolin Overfield, a farmer in Middle Smithfield township; and George, who married Mary Shoemaker and resides in East Stroudsburg.

NATHAN SKINNER, a worthy representa- tive of the agricultural interests of Oakland town- ship, Susquehanna county, was born there, March 16, 1826, a son of Jacob and Rhoda ( MMcDowell) Skinner, natives of Orange county, N. Y., the forni- er born in 1778, the latter in 1781.

Jacob Skinner with his twin brother, Dr. Israel Skinner, came to Susquehanna county, in 1804. and they located on adjoining farms on the Susquehanna river, near Hickory Grove, in what is now Oakland township, but then formed a part of Harmony town- ship. The Doctor engaged in the practice of medi- cine, and here reared a large family, all of whom are now deceased. In the midst of the wilderness Jacob Skinner cleared and improved a good farm, and in the log cabin he erected thereon, he spent his last years. In his family were thirteen children who reached years of maturity, namely: Amos, born in Orange county, N. Y., in March, 1801. married Julia A. Brush, of Oakland, and for some years lived on a farm in Great Bend township, but finally purchased a large tract of land on the Belmont pike near Lancs- boro, where the greater part of his life was passed. By his first wife he had four children, all now de- ceased. and by the second, a Miss Mayo, he had one daughter, Etta, now deceased. (2) John, born in Orange county, N. Y., in May, 1802, married a Miss Salisbury, of Susquehanna county, and moved to Lee county, Ill., where both died. (3) Rhoda MI .. born in Orange county, in March, 1804. married David Hall, and after living for some years in Oak- land, went to Illinois and settled near Amboy, where both died, leaving one daughter. who is still a resi- dent of that place. (4) Abraham, born on the honie farm in Oakland township, Susquehanna count- ty, in 1806, married Mary Brush, a representative of one of Oakland township's old families, and also moved to Illinois, locating on the Fox river, where he spent the remainder of his life. He left two children-Charles and Sarah J. (5) D-, born in May, 1808, married Deborahi Tarkey, of Orange county, N. Y., and located on the Susquehanna river in Oakland township, near where the poor farm nos stands. There he followed lumbering and milling

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for some years and then removed to Illinois, where he died leaving a family. (6) Phobe, born in Sep- tember, 1810, married Timothy Cannon, and also went to Illinois, where both died leaving a family. (7) Betsy, born in October, 1812, married William R. Wells, of Orange county, N. Y., and on going west first located in Illinois, but later in Seneca, Kan., where before their deaths they celebrated their golden wedding. One of their sons was a promi- nent lawyer of Seneca, and he was elected presiding judge, and later supreme judge of that State. (8) Jacob I., born in 1815, was a carpenter by trade but also followed farming, having purchased a farm in Oakland township, where he died leaving a widow, who was, in her maidenhood, Jane Penny, of Sus- quehanna county, and they had ten children-Theo- dore; Ophelia, deceased wife of Ham Canfield, of Susquehanna; Ollie, wife of George Pooler, of Lanesboro; Jenton; Elmira, wife of Charles Vin- cent, of Oakland; Ida, a resident of Oakland; Fre- mont, who is married and lives in Philadelphia ; Cora, wife of Martin O'Donald, of Towanda, Penn .; Al- ice, widow of George Drake, of Susquehanna; and Charles, a resident of Oakland, who married Cora, Mayo, and has one daughter, Hazel. (9) Alpheus, born in January, 1817, married Olive Lewis, of Sus- quehanna county, and became a resident of Illinois, where he died leaving a family. ( 10) William, born in October, 1819, is a blacksmith by trade and a resi- dent of Oakland township. He married Nancy Sut- liff, of New York State, and has two children- Lydia Dell, wife of Joseph Whittington, of Buffalo, N. Y. ; and Marcellus, of Oakland. ( II) Isaac, born- in August, 1821, married Cordelia Roberts, and is now living at Syracuse, N. Y. Two of his four chil- dren are living-Isaac and George, of New York City. (12) Josiah, born in June, 1824, married and moved to Chicago, Ill., where he engaged in hotel- keeping until his death, and in that city his family still live. (13) Nathan, our subject, is the youngest of the family.

During his boyhood and youth Nathan Skinner assisted in the work of the home farm during the summer season and attended school through the winter months. In 1847 he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Baker, a daughter of William Baker, a representative of one of the old families of Great Bend township, Susquehanna county. They located on a tract of wild land in Oakland township, which Mr. Skinner converted into a good farm, erecting thereon good and substantial build- ings. Here the wife died in December, 1860, and the two daughters, Helena and Helen, born to them, died in childhood. Mrs. Skinner was a well educat- ed woman and prior to her marriage successfully engaged in teaching in the district schools for a number of years. For his second wife our subject married Margaret A. Blessing, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Blessing, prominent citizens, of Great Bend township. After this marriage he sold his first farm and moved to Great Bend township, and later lived in the Borough of Oakland, where

he served as street commissioner for a number of years, and also looked after his farming in- terests. In 1896 he located upon his present farm in Oakland township, where his wife died in March, 1898, leaving one dauginter, Blanche, a lady of culture and refinement, who is a great com- fort to her father in his declining years. She re- ceived a good education in the graded schools of Susquehanna and Oakland, and was for several years one of the successful teachers of Susquehanna county. In 1886 she married Jasper Hawes, who was born in Forest Lake, Susquehanna county, in 1855. He attended school in Montrose, and gradu- ated from the Kingston Academy, after which he studied law under M. J. Larrabee, of Susquehanna, and was admitted to the Bar at Montrose. He then engaged in practice in Susquehanna until failing health caused his retirement. For a time he served as foreman in the felting factory at Newburg, Or- ange Co., N. Y., and in early life taught for some years in the district schools. He died in January, 1899, leaving his young wife with three children- Rex Bentley (who is now attending the Oakland schools) ; Margaret Louise ; and Helena Blanche.

Politically Mr. Skinner has always affiliated with the Republican party, and he has been called upon to serve in several local offices of honor and trust, such as supervisor, road master, auditor of Oakland Borough, and school director. Religiously he and his daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife was also an active and prominent member. She belonged to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Oakland, and for a time served as its president. Our subject is widely and favorably known, and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family of the county. As tillers of the soil they bore their part in transforming the wild timber land into productive farms, and they were men of integrity and sterling worthi whose kindly acts will long be remembered and their names revered.

The residence now occupied by Mr. Skinner was once occupied by Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormanism, and it was here that he wrote the book of Mormanism. He was born in New York State, but an early day purchased the present home of our subject, and lived here until his removal to Nauvoo, Ill., where he was finally killed. He married Emma Hall, who was reared in Oakland township, a daugh- ter of Isaac Hall, long since dead, who was known as the great hunter of this country.

FRANK C. BROWN, an enterprising and "up-to-date" business man of Cherry Ridge town- ship. Wayne county, is successfully engaged in agriculture and in mercantile pursuits, and at this writing for some time past has hield the office of postmaster at Clemo, in which he has served with satisfaction to all concerned.

Mr. Brown comes of good New England an- cestry: his great-grandfather, Reuben Brown, a resident of Connecticut, was a private in the Revo-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lutionary army. The patriotic spirit of this old hero survives in his descendants, for our subject's father and two uncles served in the Civil war, while two aunts married soldiers. Reuben Brown (2), the grandfather of our subjcet, was born in Con- necticut, and after his marriage to Susan S. Clark, removed, about 1832, to Pennsylvania, spending some years in Susquehanna and Luzerne countics, and locating permanently in 1845 in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne county, where he followed farni- ing upon a place which is now occupied by his son Eben.

Perry Brown, our subject's father, was born January 1, 1831, and the greater portion of his life was spent in Wayne county. By occupation he was a sawyer and for twenty-five years he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Co. He was a man of fine physique, weighing about 190 pounds, and was noted for his industry. He was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war. His death occurred Deceniber 31, 1889, when he was in his fifty-ninth year, and his wife died November 21, 1894, aged sixty-two, the remains of both being in- terred in the cemetery at Cherry Ridge. Our sub- ject was the eldest of a family of four children, the others being Andrew W., deceascd ; Helen, wife of Thomas Brock, a contractor and builder of Elk- land, Penn .; and Harriet, wife of Vint L. Breese, of Wyoming, Penn., who is employed as weigh- master for a coal company.

Frank C. Brown was born July 15, 1853, in Wayne county, and at an early age began working for the Pennsylvania Coal Co. Industry and econ- omy enabled him to secure the capital for independ- ent enterprise, and in 1890 he purchased his present homestead, an attractive farm of forty acres. He has also established himself in mercantile business at Clemo, and in 18- he was appointed postmaster of that place. In all these lines of effort he is meet- ing with marked success, and while he possessed only $150 in 1880 he is now worth about $5,000. His ability and sound judgment are appreciated by his fellow citizens and he is both active and influen- tial in local affairs. Politically he is a Republican, but he is not a strict partisan and sometimes "scratches the ticket" in order to support the best man. Socially he and his wife are prominent, and he is a member of the Knights of Honor.

In 1880 our subject was married in Wayne county to Miss Catherine Bonear. by whom he has had four children: Sarah, Lillia, Charles and Kittie. Mrs. Brown was born in 1856, in Cherry Ridge township, the daugliter of Francis and Cyn- thia (Kirby ) Bonear, prominent residents of that locality. On the paternal side she is of English descent : her father, who was born. in Cornwall, England, accompanied his parents, Moscs and Cath- erine ( May) Bonear, to America in 1832. Her ancestors on thic maternal side settled in this coun- try during the Colonial period, and her grcat-graud- father, James Kirby, was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary army.

HENRY T. ASHER (deceased), for a num- ber of years a leading and higlily-esteemned citizen of Lackawaxen, Pike county, was born May 19, 1831, in Westphalia, Germany, and before coming to this country served in the Crimean war. It was some time during the early 'sixties that he landed in New York City, where he engaged in the clothing business for a time, but finally deciding to go Southi he located in Baltimore, Md., where he opened a small clothing storc. Disposing of his stock after a short time, however, he removed to New Orleans, La., where he engaged in the same business for a period of four or hve years. He then traveled from city to city until becoming tired of the South, and, as the climate did not agree with his health, tie re- turned to New York, where he resumed his former business.

While traveling through northeastern Penn- sylvania, on business, Mr. Asher stopped at Lack- awaxen, and seeing that the village would be a favorable location tor a hotel he bought property there. He enlarged the hotel which he had pur- chased, and for many years successfully conducted what is known as the "Lackawaxen Housc," a hostelry favorably known and largely patronized. The proprietor also became widely known up and down the Delaware Valley, and along the line of the Erie railroad, and made a host of warm friends, who esteemed him highly for his sterling wortli and many excellencies of character. He was a public-spirited citizen, and gave liberally of his means to advance the interest of whatever was likely to benefit his town. He was also kind-hearted and hospitable, and was held in high regard by all who knew him. For twenty years he filled thie position of school director in Lackawaxen town- ship, and was treasurer of the school board at the time of his death. Socially he held membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in Napthala Lodge No. 10, Independent Order of Free Sons of Israel, New York City. He died January 21, 1897, and his body was cremated at Fresh Pond, Long Island, N. Y., after which his ashes were buried in Cypress Hills cemetery beside his wife, who had passed away November 20, 1896.

Mr. Asher was married in New York to Miss Sarah Richard, a native of Baden, Germany, and they removed to Lackawaxen in the later 'sixties. To this worthy couple were born thirteen children. but only three now survive, all the others dying in infancy with the exception of Samucl. who was drowned in the Delaware river in 1877, while play- ing with some boys in a boat. The eldest now liv- ing is Rose, wife of J. C. Picr, a business man of New York City, by whom she has two daughters- Isabella, born March 19, 1893; and Marion, born April 23, 1898. Bell assists her brother in con- ducting the hotel at Lackawaxen. E. H. completes the tamily.

E. H. ASHER was born in Lackawaxen town- ship. Pike county, October 23. 1872, chained his early education in the village schools, and later at-

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tended the Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Penn., for one year. He then assisted his tather in the hotel, which he has successfully managed since the latter's death. Politically he follows in his father's footsteps, voting the Democratic ticket, and is now efficiently serving his first term on the school board. He is a wide-awake young business man, and a brilliant future no doubt awaits himn.

WILLIAM O. MEDLER. At Glenwood, Susquehanna county, the subject of this sketch has for the past fourteen years combined the occupa- tions of farmer and carpenter and lawyer. He is a man of active temperament, and through life has been largely identified with milling operations. As a boy of seventeen years he enlisted in the army during the Civil war and participated in many of its severest and most critical battles. He was pres- ent at the supreme moment of Lee's surrender and witnessed that momentous event.

Mr. Medler is a descendant of one of the early Dutch families. His grandfather, Zachariah Med- ler, was a native of Dutchess county, there married and remained until late in life, when he removed to Sullivan county, N. Y. He was a farmer, and his eight children were as follows: Rebecca, John, Charles, Peter, Maria, Peggy, Samuel and Julia.

John Medler, the father of our subject, was born in Dutchess county, August 26, 1796. In Sullivan county, N. Y., he married Delia Rexford, who was born March 6, 1800, daughter of John Rexford. John Medler purchased a farm in Sul- livan county and there lived until his death, in 1874. surviving his wife two years. He was a man of great force of character, and besides farming he followed millwrighting, wagon-making and lumber- ing, owning a sawmill in Sullivan county, and being largely instrumental in the clearing of the farms in the vicinity of his home. In politics he was a Re- publican. His children were as follows: Eliza- beth, who married Henry Davis, of Sullivan coun- ty, N. Y., and is now deceased; Louisa, widow of John - -, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; John, deceased ; Mary Ann, who married George Carley, of Sullivan county, N. Y., and is now deceased ; Charles, who was a soldier in the Civil war, and died in Kansas City, Mo .; Cordelia, wife of H. J. Cox, of Sullivan county, N. Y .; James, a resident of Illinois ; Julia, wife of J. M. Fibbs, of Ida Grove, Ia .; William O., our subject ; and George, a resi- dent of East Branch, Delaware Co., New York.

William O. Medler was born March 16, 1845, in Sullivan county, N. Y. He attended the district schools in his youth, and August 14, 1862, he en- listed in Company C, 143rd N. Y. V. I., serving until honorably discharged in April, 1863 .. He re-enlisted February 2, 1864, in Company M, 15th Heavy Ar- tillery, with which he remained until the close of the war. Mr. Medler saw a great deal of active service. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Betliesda Church, North Anna River, South Anna River, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Wel-

don Railroad, Pebbles Farms, Elm Station, Fi .: Forks, White Oaks and Plank Road. Before Peters- burgh a bullet passed through his coat sleeve. He was present at Appomattox and witnessed the sur- render of Gen. Lee.

After the war Mr. Medler attended two terms of school at Monticello Academy. He then beyan lumbering in the sawmills, continuing until 1$72. He was married, in Sullivan county, to Miss Ger- trude Chandler, daughter of Martin and Ann ( Ste- phens) Chandler, and to our subject and wife lave been born five children, namely: Frederick O., a miller of Glenburn, Penn .; James MI., a barber of Binghamton, N. Y .; Mabel A., Maud A., and Julia. at home.

In 1872 Mr. Medler removed to Lake Como. Wayne county, where he operated a niill, and later he operated one in Delaware county. In 1881 he came to Lenox township, Susquehanna county, and for five years served in the Glenwood mill. Then in 1886 he purchased 53 acres of land, partly im- proved, and for fourteen years he has farmied in connection with carpenter work and milling in the Glenwood mill. In politics Mr. Medler is a stanch Republican. . He served as township clerk two terms and declined a re-election. He is a member of Cap :. Lyons Post, G. A. R., at Glenwood, and at one time was active in the P. O. S. of A. Mr. Medler is a' public-spirited and representative citizen and holds the esteem and respect of all who know him.

JACOB I. SMITH is one of Monroe county's energetic and enterprising citizens whose early home was on the other side of the Atlantic. his birth occu :- ring December 8,1857, in one of the Rhine provinces. Germany. When a lad of fifteen years he came to America with his parents, Jacob D. and Margare: (Isler) Smith, who located in Monroe county, Penn. The father is now a prosperous farmer and highly respected citizen of Tobyhanna township, and has cleared a large tract of land in that section. Besides our subject there were four other children in the family, as follows : Balsor, now a resident of Lopez. Sullivan Co., Penn .; John, deceased ; Emma, wife of Henry Miller; and Theresa, wife of Charles Noll.

At the age of seventeen years Jacob I. Smith began to assist his father in the lumber woods, re- maining with him until he attained his majority, and then engaged in lumbering on his own account. In 1878 he bought sixty acres of improved land in Tobyhanna township, and now has thirty acres cleared and under a high state of cultivation. His summers are now devoted to agricultural pursuits. while through the winter season he is still employed in the lumber woods of Monroe county, where he has done a great deal of work. In connection with his farming operations lie is also engaged in stock raising on quite a large scale. and in all his under- takings has met with fair success. As a Democrat he takes quite an active interest in political affairs. but has never aspired to office.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

On February 19, 1881, in Tobyhanna town- ship, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Argott, who was born in that township, February 1, 1858. Her parents, Adam and Eliza- beth (Smith) Argott, were both natives of Ger- many, but were married in Monroe county. Of the seven children born to them, five are still living, namely: Michael, a resident of Tobyhanna town- ship ; Mary Ann, wife of subject ; Louisa ; Lizzie, wife of Marlor Drelier; and Jacob, a resident of Sulli- van county, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have an interesting family of six children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Louisa, born No- vember 22, 1881 ; Michael, January 8, 1883; Mah- lon, August 14, 1891 ; Adam, March 21, 1893; Mar- garet, October 15, 1895; and one whose name is not given, August 14, 1898.

AARON SINGER, the well-known postmaster and merchant at Reeders, Monroe county, is a man of sound judgment and good executive ability, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. This characteristic, combined with his undoubted integrity, has brought him prosperity, and has given hin an honorable position among his fellow men.

Mr. Singer is a representative of 'one of the honored pioneer families of Jackson township. The first of the Singers to come to Monroe county was his grandfather, Christian Singer, who was born in Germantown, Penn., in 1777, on the day of the bat- tle of Germantown, and there grew to manhood. At an early day he came to Monroe county, being one of the first settlers in the vicinity of Reeders, Jackson township, where he followed coopering and farming until called from this life, at the age of sixty-three years. In Hamilton township, Monroe county, he married a Miss Woodling, a native of that township, who died in 183 --. The children born to them were Andrew; Peter; Jacob, father of our subject; Hannah, wife of John Dailey, of Pocono township, Monroe county; and Samuel. All are now deceased. For his second wife Chris- tian Singer married Rachel Van Horn, by whom he had the following named children: Christian ; Benjamin ; Eunice; Eliza Ann, wife of Reuben Pos- singer, of Jackson township; Mary, wife of Jacob Frounfelter, of Tobyhanna Mills; and Amos, the only one now living, who makes his home in Scran- ton, Pennsylvania.

Jacob Singer was born in Monroe county, Au- gust 5, 1805, and was reared in Jackson township, where he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- beth Van Horn, a daughter of John Van Horn. She was born in that township, May 26, 1811,, but her parents were natives of Berks county, Penn. After his marriage Mr. Singer continued to make his home in Jackson township, where he engaged in business as a farmer and cooper, and also followed lumbering for some years. In his family were nine children, namely: Josiah, who married, and died at Tobyhanna Mills; William, a resident of Salem

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 109

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