Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 112

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 112
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 112
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 112
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 112

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).

Mrs. Almira ( Rockwell) Wilmot is a lady of marked mental ability and high character, and for twenty-four years past has been a licensed preacher

-----

---

1809

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in the Methodist Church. Her labors in the cause of religion have been greatly blessed, while she has at the same time been a model wife and mother, neighbor and friend. She was born in Susquehanna county, and is of good New England ancestry in both paternal and maternal lines. William and Mary Rockwell, her grandparents, came from Connecti- cut at an early day and located upon a farm in Sus- quehanna county, and her father, Rev. Hiram Rock- well, who was born in Rhode Island, passed the greater portion of his life in this section. By occu- pation he was a farmer, and for many years he served acceptably as a local preacher in the Baptist Church. He was married at Montrose, Penn., to Miss Rebecca Merritt, a native of Rhode Island, and daughter of William and Rebecca (Lamfer) Merritt, of Connecticut, who settled during their latter years in Susquehanna county. For some years after his marriage Mr. Rockwell made his home in Montrose, but he afterwards removed to Brooklyn, Susquehanna county, where his wife died January 12, 1877, aged sixty-nine years. He spent a year with his daughter, Mrs. Almira Wilmot, and then, after his marriage to Mrs. Nancy (Stone) Miller, . he resided for ten years at Susquehanna, but his last days were passed in the home of Mrs. Wilmot, where he died July 3, 1888, at the age of eighty- four, his remains being interred beside those of his first wife in Susquehanna county. He had ten chil- dren, all by his first marriage. Rebecca J. married J. Safford, both deceased; Harriet C. married Al- bert Blower, and both are deceased; Hiram C. is a farmer in South Canaan township, Wayne county; Elizabeth S. died at the age of nineteen; Werding is engaged in farming on an extensive scale in Sus- quehanna county ; Mary L. married Chester Wright, a retired resident of Carbondale ; Lydia A., deceased, married Abraham Wessels, of Susquehanna county; Almira C. is the mother of our subject ; Joseph met a soldier's death in the battle of the Wilderness, during the Civil war; and S. Corenna is the wife of Peter Eckerson, a farmer in Iowa.

Our subject was born February 21, 1860,. at Montrose, and as a child he accompanied his par- ents to Waymart and later to Varden. When six- teen years old he began to work at the blacksmith's trade and after the father's death our subject car- ried on the business alone for several months, and then rented the shop for a year, conducting it on his own account. For two years following the place was rented by William Roykouff, who employed our subject to operate it for him, and after this arrange- ment was terminated Mr. Wilmot spent one year driving a team. In 1894 he built the present shop, as has been said, and he now has a large and grow- ing custom. He has always taken keen interest in public questions, especially such as relate to re- forins, and although he was formerly a Republican his vote has lately been cast as a Prohibitionist. Socially he is connected with Lodge No. 531, I. O. O. F., of South Canaan, and P. H. C. No. 34, at Gravity. On December 25, 1879, he was married, 114

at the home of the bride, in Texas township, Wayne county, by Rev. Martin Berryman, a Methodist Protestant minister, to Miss Jane Box, and they have one son, George W., born January 2, 1881.

Mrs. Jane (Box) Wilmot was born January I, 1859, near Honesdale, in Texas township, Wayne county, and is of English ancestry both in paternal and maternal lines. Her great-grandparents lived and died in England, as did their four children, among whom was Daniel Box, Mrs. Wilmot's grand- father, a machinist by trade, whose death occurred February 2, 1850, at the age of fifty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ritter, came to America in the fall of 1857 with two children, locating at Honesdale, and her death occurred on May 10, 1888, at the age of eighty-one, her re- mains being buried in Riverdale cemetery, at Hones- dale. Daniel and Sarah Box had the following children: William, a retired farmer of Bethany, Penn .; John, born April. 18, 1830, died at White Mills; Thomas, father of Mrs. Wilmot, is men- tioned more fully below ; Henry W., born April 23, 1836, is an attorney at Buffalo, N. Y .: Mary A., born March 30, 1839, married Alfred Brown, now deceased, and resides at White Mills; Samuel, born August 28, 1841, is a farmer near Bethany; and Elizabeth, born August 5, 1844, died October 12, 1845. Thomas Box, Mrs. Wilmot's father, was born in April, 1833, in Cornwall, England, and began at an early age to assist in supporting the family, be- ing employed on a farm when but twelve years of age. He lacked only a few days of his twentieth birthday when he started for America. and on land- ing came immediately to Wayne county, where he entered the employ of Mr. Doney, of Dyberry township, with whom he remained two years. In 1855 he was married, in Honesdale, to Miss Eliza Doney. He then returned to the farm of his father- in-law, which he operated for two years on shares. and in 1860 he removed to his present farm in South Canaan township, Wayne county, having purchased the place from Lorin Robinson. He is a successful farmer and is one of the prominent men of his local- ity. In politics he is a Republican, and for three vears has held the office of school director. He and his wife have had six children. namely: William H., a resident of Forest City, Penn., married Miss Carrie E. Searle, and has one child, Alice M. ; John D., a farmer in South Canaan township, married Miss Marency Johnson, and has had five children- Abby, Amy, Meta, Merland and Clinton; Jane, the wife of our subject ; Charles, deceased, never mar- ried ; Nathaniel, formerly a merchant of George- town, Penr. , married Miss Hattie Andrew, and died some years ago leaving children-Harold and Thomas Cecil ; and Benjamin F .. formerly a partner of Nathaniel. is not married, and makes his home with his parents.

A. W. COOK, proprietor The Deposit Journal ( weekly ) and The Epworthian ( monthly), Deposit, New York.

1810

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

R. C. GLOSENGER, in his lifetime a well- known general merchant of Hemlock Hollow, was throughout the greater part of his active business life identified with the agricultural and commercial in- terests of Wayne county. Of excellent business abil- ity and broad resources, he attained a prominent place among the substantial citizens of his part of the county. He won success by his well-directed, energetic efforts, and the prosperity that came to him was certainly well deserved.

A native of Wayne county, Mr. Glosenger was born in Salem township, March 21, 1824, a son of John and Mary ( Brown) Glosenger, the former a native of Connecticut, who in his twentieth year came to Wayne county and took up his residence in Salem township. In their family were the follow- ing children : Calitha Ann, now a resident of Hem- lock Hollow; R. C., the subject of this sketch; William (deceased) ; and Amanda, who is living in Gibson, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania.

On attaining his majority R. C. Glosenger left home and began the struggle of life for himself as a carpenter. .. He was married, November 19, 1843, to Miss Mary Tisdal, of Salem township, and.they became the parents of nine children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Leonora, Au- gust 4, 1845; Charles B., March 4, 1848; Franklin P. (deceased), December 11, 1853; Armenia R. (deceased), September 13, 1855; Selina Elecia, No- vember 10, 1858; Emogene, April 23, 1861; Mary Amanda, April 20, 1863; John C., September 3, 1865; Irene, May 24, 1868; and Anna B. Irene is now the wife of Joseph Moore, of Mckean county, Penn., and Anna B. is the wife of John Hilts, a merchant of Dover, N. J., by whom she has two children-Carl Glosenger and Russel.

Soon after his marriage our subject purchased a farm in Salem township, which he successfully operated for fifteen years. By the government he was appointed provost marshal in 1861, under Col. Ewell, and acceptably served in that capacity until the close of the war. He then purchased another farm, which he conducted for three years, but be- lieving other business would be more profitable, he removed to Hemlock Hollow, where he opened both a hotel and general store. In 1875, however, he again became a farmer, but at the end of two years removed to Scranton, Penn., where for the same length of time he was proprietor of the "White Horse Hotel." Returning to his native county, he resumed agricultural pursuits, which he continued to follow until after the death of his wife, which occurred September 29, 1881. Two years later he sold his property and returned to Hemlock Hol- low, where he has successfully engaged in merchan- dising, enjoying a liberal patronage.

For his second wife Mr. Glosenger married Miss Christine Pelton, of Lackawaxen township, Pike county, a daughter of James L. and Almeda (Harvey) Pelton, and one child blessed this union, Ethel Ahueda, born March 20, 1886. Mr. Pelton was a native of New York City, and at the age of

ten years removed to Pike county, Penn., eight years later becoming a resident of the city of Lacka- waxen, where he engaged in the hotel business ior some time. After selling his property he was en- ployed by the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. for eight years, and for the remainder of his life en- gaged in farming. He died October 21, 1882, and his beloved wife passed away May 21, 1884, hon- ored and respected by all who knew them.

In politics Mr. Glosenger was always a stanch Democrat, and ever took an active interest in pub- lic affairs. He most acceptably served as collector for Salem township for two years, and for many years was one of the school directors in Paupack township. He was a member of the Salem branch of Odd Fellows for over forty years. To the day of his death he stood a strong man-strong in the consciousness of a well-spent life, strong to plan and to perform, strong in his credit and good name, and a worthy example for the rising genera- tion.

JOHN N. LANE, deceased. Few if any of the prominent agriculturists of Great Bend township, Susquehanna county, were more widely known or had more warm friends than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He was born in Litch- field county, Conn., in 1823, a son of David G. a'.1 Diana (Ogden) Lane, also natives of that county, the former born in 1797, the latter in 1800. His maternal grandparents, Robert and Annie (Stewart) Ogden, were representatives of honored old fanı- ilies of the Nutmeg State, and the grandfather was one of the number who lost their lives in the Wyo- ming massacre. John Lane, our subject's pater- nal grandfather, spent his entire life in Connecticut. His children were Daniel, who married and remained in Connecticut ; Maria. wife of Abram Lee, of the same State; Ellen, wife of Hanford Ford, of Con- necticut ; Annie, wife of Elias Ford, of Connecticut : Patty, wife of Allen -; Hosea, who married and located in Connecticut; and David, the father of our subject.

Coming to Susquehanna county, Penn., David G. Lane located in Great Bend township, near the New York State line, upon the farm now owned by Cicero Dixon. He cleared the land, erected build- ings thereon and made a good home for his fam- ily. He was a charcoal burner, and each summer would return to Connecticut to engage in that oc- . cupation, but continued to make his home upon his farm in Great Bend township until his deatlı, which occurred in 1873. His wife died in 1879. They were the parents of six children, all born in Connecticut, and of the number three are still liv- ing: (1) Eliza A., born in 1820, was educated in the schools of Great Bend. She married George Burleigh, a carpenter of Great Bend township, and died leaving one son, Jolin, now conductor on the Erie railroad. (3) Mary, born in 1826, married Nelson Fox, of Great Bend township, and lived in the town of Susquehanna, where both died. Their

1811

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

four children all died of consumption. (4) Delia, born in 1829, married Lawson Stoddard, of New York State, and they are now residents of Windsor, N. Y. (5) Gary R., born in 1831, married Mar- tha Smith, of Great Bend township, and they resided for some years on the old Lane homestead, but he is now living in Union, N. Y. His first wife died in Owego, N. Y., leaving one son, Frederick, a resident of Broome county, N. Y. For his second wife he married Elizabeth Shipley, of Susquehanna, and by her had two children: Joseph, a resident of Albany, N. Y .; and Daisy, of Windsor, N. Y. (6) Caroline, born in Great Bend, in 1832, married Hiram Gay, of New York, and located in Broome county, that State, where he died. Later she wed- ded Joshua Lavere, and they now make their home in Susquehanna.

John N. Lane was the second in the order of birth in this family. He was reared upon his fa- ther's farm and educated in the district schools of the neighborhood. At the age of twenty he went to Ohio and spent one year near Cleveland. In 1844 he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Stoddard, who was born in Great Bend township, Susquehanna. county, in 1828-her parents, Sheldon and Ruth Stoddard, natives of Connecticut, being pioneers of that township. For two years after his marriage Mr. Lane lived on the old homestead. In 1851 he purchased his last home, known as the Thomas Wilmot property, and upon the place he erected a fine two-story residence, a large barn and other outbuildings, and made many other improvements which add to its value and attractive appearance .- It is now one of the best cultivated farms in the township.

On January 5, 1899, Mr. Lane was called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife. At an early age she had united with the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and was always a consistent Chris- tian woman, a devoted wife and loving mother. The six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lane were as follows: (1) Willie died in childhood. (2) Libbie died at the age of eight ycars. (3) George D., born in 1849, grew to manhood upon the home farm and attended school in Susquehanna and Mansfield, Penn., graduating at the latter place, after which he taught one term in a district school. While young he traveled extensively all over the world, visiting New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Canada, and every State in the Union. While a resident of Toronto, Canada, he was married, in 1891, to Miss May Furbor, of that city, and they now reside in Buffalo, N. Y .; where he is en- gaged in the manufacture of furniture. He is a man of large business experience and has met with good success in his undertakings. (4) Mary, born March 12, 1853, was educated in the higher schools of Susquehanna, and for a number of terms suc- cessfully engaged in teaching in the public schools of Susquehanna county. She married Ard Bene- dict, of Starrucca, Wayne Co., Penn., who is now engaged in merchandising in Susquehanna. She

died in 1892. (5) Ida, born in December, 1855, is now the wife of Julius A. Smith, a leading boot and shoe dealer of Susquehanna, and they have two sons, George A. and Ard. (6) Katherine, born in 1868, received a good education in the schools of Susquehanna. She married Charles Perrine, of that place, a civil engineer by profession, now de- ceased.

Politically Mr. Lane was a pronounced Repub- lican, and most capably and satisfactorily filled a number of local offices, including that of school di- rector, which he held for twelve years, and collector for a number of years. He and his family were all active and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in his district, and he not only gave liberally toward its support, but his home was al- ways headquarters for the local ministers. At one time he was also a member of the Odd Fellows Fra- ternity. His life was ever above reproach, and he was highly esteemed for his many charitable acts and his sterling worth.

H. WOODMANSEE. Success is determined by one's ability to recognize opportunity and to pursue this with a resolute purpose and unflagging energy. It results from continued labor, and the man who thus accomplishes his purpose usually becomes an important factor in the business circles of the community with which he is connected. Mr. Woodmansee, through such means, has attained a leading place among the representative men of Starrucca, Wayne county, and his well-spent and honorable life commands the respect of all who know him.

A native of Wayne county, Mr. Woodmansee was born April 30, 1832, in what was then Preston township, but is now a part of Buckingham town- ship. His father, James Woodmansee, was born in 1786, in Rhode Island, but was reared in Con- necticut, and as early as 1816 came to Wayne county, Penn., accompanied by his brothers, Thomas and Jeremiah, and also by their father, Gideon Wood- mansee, who died and was buried here. He had aided the Colonies in their struggle for independ- ence. and for his services as a soldier in the Rev- olutionary war he drew a pension. His son James took part in the second war against England-the war of 1812. The latter and his brother-in-law, Rufus Green, were among the first to locate in Preston township, Wayne county, their nearest neighbor at that time being four and five miles dis- tant, while wolves and other wild animals were quite numerous. James Woodmansee married Miss Polly Underwood, who was born in 1792, and they became the parents of fourteen children, namely : James MI., Jedediah, Samuel. Betsy, Carlos, Caro- nine. Phoebe, Lyman, Amy Susan, Mary Jane, Huldah, Rhoda, Mahala and our subject. In polit- ical faith the father was a Whig, and in his religious views was independent. while his wife was iden- tified with the Baptist Church.

In an old log school house near his boyhood

1812

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

home Mr. Woodmansee pursued his studies, but his training in farm work was much more proficient than his literary education. He early became an ex- pert hunter, and many a deer has fallen before his rifle. For some time after starting out in life for himself he engaged in rafting on the Delaware river, making about 100 trips, and for forty years he also successfully followed the carpenter's trade, being one of the leading contractors and builders of his community. During that time he constructed many of the bridges in both wood and stone, of Wayne county, and his work, being of a substantial kind, always proved satisfactory. He is now the owner of the Woodmansee Switch stone quarry, and for the past seven years lias been a successful dealer in both flag and building stone. He furnishes employ- ment to ten men, and in promoting his own inter- ests thus materially advances the general welfare of the community.

In 1853 Mr. Woodmansee was married to Miss Mercy Williams, who has proved a true helpmeet to him. She was born in Porter township, Susque- hanna Co., Penn., a daughter of S. B. and Vic- torine (Kingsbury) Williams, early settlers of that county. * She is the eldest child in their family, the others being M. F., a resident of Buckingham town- ship, Wayne county; C. H., of Preston township; Mrs. Sophrona Monagh, of Lake Como, Wayne county ; Mary, wife of J. H. Taylor, of Lake Como; and Maria, wife of Mr. McAvoy, of Mt. Pleasant, Wayne county. The father died in Preston town- ship, where the mother is still living at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood- mansee are as follows: ( I) Polly married E. A. Sherwood, of Parksburg, Va., and died leaving two children-Ruel E., of Parksburg; and Edith May, who finds a pleasant home with her paternal grand- parents. (2) Dell is the wife of James Kelly, of Honesdale, Wayne county, and has six children- Lotta, Daisy, Minda, Ralph, Etta and Ivy Louise. (3) S. B. is married and has two children-War- ren Webster and Edith Lucinda. He operates the old home farm of 116 acres of well-improved land, on which is located High Lake. (4) John mar- ried Lena Koehler, and is engaged in the stone busi- ness with his father in Starrucca.

Since 1862 Mr. Woodmansee has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and has been hon- ored with most of the offices in Buckingham and Preston townships, as well as those of Starruca, serving as constable two years, collector three years, a meniber of the school board fifteen terms, and auditor of Starrucca two terms. Socially he affiliates with Lake Como Lodge No. 965, I. O. O. F.

JACOB SCHANTZ (deceased), who in his lifetime was one of the leading business men of Wayne county, having for several years successfully conducted a chair factory at Maplewood, was a na- tive of Wurtemberg, Germany, born in the year 1846.

When our subject was some five or six years old his father, John G. Schantz, brought the family to America, arriving at New York in 1852, whence they proceeded to Hunter, Greene Co., N. Y., there remaining until about 1866. In the meantinic, in 1864, both father and son enlisted in the United States service, the former in Company A, 20th N. Y. State Militia, the latter being enrolled, Septem- ber 25, 1864, in Company F, 120th N. Y. V. I. At that time he was only eighteen years of age, and he remained in the service until the close of the war, when he and his father returned to their home at Hunter, N. Y. Soon afterward they moved to Brandt, Susquehanna county, and it was there that young Schantz first became interested in the manu- facture of chairs. A company was formed under the firm name of the Harmony Center Chair Co., and, being a young man of considerable push and en- ergy, he soon became the business man of the firm- in fact, it was then and there that he got his first real solid start in life. Desiring, however, to expand his business and opportunities, Mr. Schantz in 1869 or 1870 moved to Maplewood, then known as Forest Mills, and soon afterward a company was formed under the name of the Forest Mills Manufacturing Co., which later on was changed to the Maple Clair Company.

During the last ten or fifteen years of his life Mr. Schantz had the exclusive control and manage- ment of the entire business, the result being that it became one of the leading factories in the State. He passed from earth at Maplewood June 25, 1896, and by his taking off the community lost a good citizen, one who was regarded as strictly honest and straightforward. and possessed of sterling prin- ciple. He was known by his neighbors as a whole- souled man, and by his unassuming manners made many true and warm friends, His remains were interred in the M. E. cemetery, at Maplewood. the funeral services being held at the M. E. Church, Maplewood, and the Freemasons, who had charge of the burial, deposited the remains of their depart- ed brother in their last resting place according to the customary rites and ceremonies of that Fra- ternity.

Mr. Schantz in religious faith was a member of the Presbyterian Church ; in politics he was a Repub- lican, and for twenty years was school director in Wayne, most of the time president of same: so- cially he affiliated with the F. & A. M., the order of Red Men, and G. A. R.

On December 31. 1891, at Mt. Cobb, Lacka- wanna Co., Penn., by Rev. D. J. Reinhold, a min- ister of the United Evangelical Church, and a brotli- er-in-law of Mrs. Schantz, our subject was mar- ried to Miss M. Louisa Mack. She is a native of Lackawanna county, Penn., and a daughter of John M. and Louise ( Laiblin ) Mack, of Wurtemberg. Germany, who were married in Jefferson township. Lackawanna county, where Mr. Mack followed farming and lumbering. He died October 25. 1880, aged fifty-six years, deeply mourned by all

1813

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

who knew him, and much respected for his many virtues. He was very prominent in the community, prosperous in all his undertakings, and he was a consistent member of the United Evangelical Church. His widow. who was born November 19, 1828, now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Schantz. They were the parents of children as follows: Louisa, widow of our subject; William C .; Charles W., a farmer and justice of the peace, residing on the homestead, Jefferson township, Lackawanna county ; Lena, married Rev. D. J. Reinhold, of Weissport, Penn .; John; Joseph, cashier for the Sanguoit Silk Manufacturing Co., at Scranton, Penn .; Augustus ; and Lillian and Harper, both de- ceased. Of these, William C., John and Augustus are partners in a carriage and wagon manufactur- ing business in Brooklyn, N. Y. To the union of Jacob Schantz and M. Louisa Mack were born two sons, Gordon, born November 16, 1892, and Mack, born June 13. 1895.

Jacob and Margaret (Kurtz) Mack, paternal grandparents of Mrs. Schantz, came from Germany to America, settling in Jefferson township, Lacka- wanna county, Penn., in 1851, and there he died- November 13, 1880, aged eighty-eight years. Christian and Christiana ( Reed) Laiblin passed all their lives in Germany, where he was principal of public schools, and also professor in a college. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Schantz has continued to reside in Maplewood, where she is uniformly held in the highest esteem by a wide cir- cle of relatives, friends and acquaintances.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 112

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