Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 23

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 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 23
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 23

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Albert B. Middaugh remained in his native place up to the age of fourteen years, when he came to Lehman township, Pike county, to live with his uncle, Albert G. Brodhead, with whom he remained for about nine years. After his marriage he commenced farming on his own account, at first in Lehman township, whence after several years he removed to Delaware township, settling on the fine tract of river-bottom land where he still resides. His farm, which is a most desirable piece of property, highly cultivated, and well laid-out and equipped with every convenience for modern agricultural work, contains two hundred and nine acres, to the operation of which he gives his entire time and attention. He also owns land in Lehman township, one and one-half miles from the Dela- ware river-one hundred acres, seventy improved, with good buildings. He has entirely, through his own efforts and ambition, won a high place among the substantial citizens of Delaware. Unlike most men of his standing, he takes little or no active part in public matters, although he naturally feels a deep interest in the welfare of the community with which he has been prominently identified for so many years. He served as supervisor one term,

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but he has invariably declined to accept office or similar honors ever since. His political sympathies are with the Democratic party.

On January 2, 1849, Mr. Middaugh was mar- ried, at Stroudsburg, Penn., to Miss Hannah A. Everett, a native of Lehman township, Pike county, who was born October 19. 1828, daughter of George B. and Jane (Hornbeck) Everett. Mrs. Middaugh's paternal grandparents. Isaac and Mary (Davis) Everett, were natives of New York state, where they passed all their days, following agricul- tural pursuits. Both lived to a ripe old age. They were the parents of ten children-John, George B., Allen, Isaac (of Pittston, Penn.), Findley, Jane, Mary (Mrs. Isaac LaBar, of Pittston, Penn.), Cath- erine (who married a Mr. Barlow), Elizabeth, and Hannah (who married Lash Depew).

George B. Everett was born in Montague, N. J., and died in Michigan in 1881, at the age of seventy-four years. He was a lifelong farmer. He married Jane Hornbeck, who was born May 26, 1805, in Pike county, Penn., and made her home with her granddaughter, Mrs. Isaac H. Smith, of Delaware township, until her death. November 12. 1898, aged ninety-three years, five months and sev- enteen days. Two children were born to this union, Francis and Hannah A. (Mrs. Albert B. Middaugh). Francis married Susan Schuyler, and died in Leh- man township. Mrs. Middaugh's maternal grand- parents, Everett and Jane (Van Auken) Hornbeck, came from Orange county, N. Y., to Pike county, Penn., in 1774, and here spent the remainder of their lives, Mr. Hornbeck engaging in farming. They had a family of seven children-Margaret, who married John B. Rosencrans; Daniel, who died young; Daniel (2), who is still living, un- married, at the age of seventy-two ; Leah, who died unmarried; John G., who died unmarried; Jane, Mrs. Everett; and Jacob, who married Eliza A. Hetzel.

To Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Middaugh were born four children, of whom we give a brief record. John H., born June 15, 1851, is conducting a sheep ranch in Wyoming; Mary A. is the wife of Isaac H. Smith, of Delaware township; Mary F. married James W. Van Gordon, who is an engineer at the oil wells in Wyoming.

Daniel H. Middaugh. youngest in the family of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Middaugh, was born February 22, 1857, in Lehman township, Pike county, and when a child came with his parents to Delaware township, being reared to farm life, which he has adopted as his principal vocation. He received a thorough practical education in the public schools. and he has always worked with his father, at present owning half of the homestead, which he has man- aged in a highly successful manner. Like his father, he is hard-working and thrifty, and pos- sessed of unusually good judgment in matters agri- cultural, evidences of which abound in every part of his fine property. He was trained to agriculture under the direction of his father, and profited well

by the advice of that able instructor, to whose teaching he has surely done credit. He occupies a prominent place among the representative well-to- do men of his township, and though, like his father, he takes no particularly active part in public af- fairs, he has served his fellow-citizens ably as super- visor and school director. In political sentiment he is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F.

In September, 1879, Daniel H. Middaugh was married at Port Jervis, N. Y., to Miss Sophia L. Beck, and nine children have been born to them, namely : Eli A .. George B., Maria, Andy, Charles, Hazel, Fred, Eva and Minnie.

THOMAS N. HOWELL, who, after the la- bors of a long and busy life, is spending his de- clining years in ease and retirement in Hawley, Wayne county, was born at Egypt Mills, Pike Co., Penn., February ;. 1834. a son of David and Cath- erine (Newman) Howell, the former a native of Philadelphia, and the latter of Milford, Pike county.

The paternal grandfather, Dr. Abraham How- ell, was born in Scotland, and with two brothers came to the United States when a young man, lo- cating in Philadelphia, where he successfully en- gaged in the practice of medicine. He married a Miss Nyce, who became the grandmother of our subject, and after her death wedded a French- Canadian lady. The maternal grandparents. Ira and Mary (Bross) Newman, were natives of Hol- land, and came to America prior to the Revolu- tionary war, in which the grandfather participated. They made their home near Milford, Penn., where he worked at the blacksmith's trade. Gov. Bross, of Illinois. was a nephew of Mrs. Newman.

During his boyhood David Howell (our sub- ject's father) served a four-years' apprenticeship at sailmaking in Philadelphia, at the close of which he shipped as sailmaker on a whaling vessel. After several years he was promoted to second mate and harpooner, following the sea fifteen years in all. On abandoning that calling he located in Pike county, Penn., where for a few years he engaged in the distilling business, but as that did not prove a paying investment he turned his attention to grist- milling, renting and operating different mills for about thirty years. For two years he rented and operated the old stone mill at Port Jervis, known as the Dr. Ball mill, and the balance of the time the mills between Port Jervis and Egypt Mills. His last days were spent upon a farm in Pike county, where he died in 1861, aged seventy-four years. The mother of our subject died in Sep- tember, 1891, aged seventy-six years, and both were laid to rest in the Milford cemetery. Of their children, David is deceased; Thomas N. is second in the order of birth : George is a retired merchant, living in Port Jervis, N. Y .; Charles B. is a printer of Rahway, N. J .; Mary is the wife of John Mc- Carty, a farmer of Raymondskill, Pike county; H. Foster makes his home in Pen Argyl, Northampton

-. .

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Co., Penn .; Esther J. lives in Milford; and James M. is a retired merchant of Pen Argyl. The father was twice married, his first wife being Jemima Van Gordon, by whom he had one child, Ann Eliza, who died at the age of nine years.

During his youth Thomas N. Howell served an apprenticeship to the miller's trade with his father, and on leaving home, at the age of eighteen, went to Milford, where he conducted a gristmill for one year. Subsequently he operated De Witt's mill for several years, and then carried on business as a miller at Colesville (N. J.), Millville and Ding- man's Ferry, for one year each. Returning to Milford, he operated mills for different parties until the fall of 1863, when he went to Washington, D. C., and obtained a position in the Construction Corps, remaining in that city until April 1, 1864. He was then sent to Chattanooga, Tenn., where he assisted in building a bridge across the river, and on its completion, in July of that year, he returned home on a furlough. A few weeks later he was drafted, joining the Construction Corps at Nash- ville, Tenn., and at the last battle of Nashville he was working on a fort and an entrance to a powder magazine on the outskirts of the city when the battle commenced. He followed the army as far as Franklin, building bridges, etc. After the close of the war he worked for the Nashville & Chatta- nooga Railroad Co. until the fall of 1865, either in the shops or on the wrecking train. Going to Memphis, Tenn., he next obtained a position on the wrecking train of the Memphis & Charleston railroad, with which he was connected until the spring of 1867, when he returned to his home in Milford, Penn. A few days later he entered the service of the New York & Erie Railroad Co., building bridges for them for a few months. He next worked at the carpenter's trade for a few months in Paterson, N. J., and after spending the following winter in leisure at home, he went to Jer- sey City, where he worked at the same trade until 1870, in that year establishing a spoke factory on the Raymondskill, a few miles below Milford. This he successfully operated until the plant was destroyed by fire, in 1882, when he turned his attention to farming, but in 1890 he laid aside all business cares, and has since lived retired in Hawley, enjoying the fruits of his former toil.

Mr. Howell was married at Port Jervis. N. Y., August 26, 1878, to Miss Rose Berstein, Rev. J. D. Crane. D. D., a Methodist Episcopal minister, offi- ciating. She was born September 17, 1860, in the house at Hawley where she now makes her home. Her father, William Berstein, was a native of Prus- sia. Germany, and a son of Aaron and Amelia Ber- stein, who in 1840 emigrated to the New World and located in Honesdale. Wayne Co., Penn., where Aaron Berstein carried on business as a merchant. William Berstein came with his parents to America, and in 1842, after a short time spent in Narrows- hurg, N. Y., removed to Honesdale, clerking one year in a store at that place for a Mr. Snyder.

He then came to Hawley, to take charge of a store for his employer, and after conducting same for two years purchased the stock, carrying on business there on his own account from 1854 until 1868, when he moved to Corning, N. Y. There he also engaged in merchandising, until 1874, when he returned to Honesdale, living retired until 1879, in which year he came again to Hawley, where he died February 8, 1885, at the age of seventy years.

William Berstein was married, in 1854, to Miss Margaret Longstreet, who was born in Hawley, a daughter of Louis and Elizabeth (Goble) Long- street, natives of Pike county, Penn. Her father, who was a carpenter by trade, died in Prompton, her mother in Hawley. Mrs. Berstein passed away November 14. 1865, at the age of thirty-two years. She was the mother of five children, namely : Elizabeth, who died at the age of six years ; Charles W., who is engaged in the plumbing business in Warren, Penn .; Amelia, a successful music teacher, and widow of Frederick D. Smith; Rose, wife of our subject; and Arthur, a physician of Scranton, Penn.

Mr. and Mrs. Howell are leading members of the Presbyterian Church of Hawley, and hold a position of prominence in social circles. Politically he is identified with the Democratic party, gives his support to all measures which he believes cal- culated to prove of public benefit, and is justly regarded as one of the valued and useful citizens of the community.

PRITCHARD FAMILY. Whether in a new or an old country, qualities of merit and progression will inevitably assert themselves, and attain for their possessors a proper station in life. Less than a half century ago the Welsh family to which this brief sketch is inscribed became domiciled in America. It has here thrived to a most notable degree, and its representatives are among the most substantial and successful citizens of Susquehanna county.

In February. 1856, David Pritchard and family landed in America, emigrating from Nantyglo, Wales. Having been a coal miner from the age of ten years, he found occupation in the mines at Scranton, Penn., whither he removed after a resi- dence of some eight months in Schuylkill county, Penn. Thrifty, industrious and persevering, he prospered in that community, and, ambitious to own property and conduct his own affairs, he in 1865 came to Gibson township, Susquehanna county, and engaged in farming. When he came to America he could neither read nor write the English language. but he can now do both well. He has served as school director for several terms, and is regarded as a citizen of superior intelligence, commanding the wide influence which is his due. David Pritchard was born in Wales, March 30. 1830, and in his native land married Mary Jones, daughter of John and Rachel Jones, who came from Wales to America in 1859, settling at Scran-

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ton, Penn., where they died. Their son Abraham was minister to Mexico under President Mckinley, and died in that country, his remains being re- turned to Brooklyn township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., for interment. To David and Mary (Jones) Pritchard were born five children, namely: John H., a sketch of whose life appears below; Eliza- beth, who married John J. Davis, a farmer of Mid- dletown township; David W., a farmer of Gibson township; Mary A., who died aged sixteen years ; and Thomas, a farmer of Gibson township. Mrs. Mary Pritchard died July 26, 1866, aged thirty-two years, and was buried in the Welsh cemetery, in Clifford township. She was a member of the Welsh · Congregational Church, to which Mr. Pritchard also belongs. For his second wife he married Mrs. Mary (Davis) James, a native of Middletown township, Susquehanna county, and widow of Evan James. By this union there was one son, Arthur, who now lives on the old homestead with his father ; he married Myrtle Holmes, daughter of Samuel Holmes, of Gibson township (they had no children). For his third wife David Pritchard mar- ried Mrs. Elizabeth (Owens) Williams. He is now a resident of Gibson township, and one of the wealthiest and most prominent citizens, owning two fine farms-the tract of one hundred and twenty- eight acres upon which he makes his home and another of two hundred and seventy acres. He at one time owned six farms, but he gave four of them to his sons. Mr. Pritchard is a Republican in political faith.

DAVID PRITCHARD, the father of David Pritchard, mentioned above, came to America in 1873, and settled in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, where his wife, Betsey Davis, died. Their three children were: David, mentioned above; Jane, born in July, 1832, who lives in Nanticoke, Penn., unmarried; and Ann, born in 1834, wife of Benjamin Jenkins, a miner of Nanticoke.

JOHN HENRY PRITCHARD, who is the eldest son of David and Mary (Jones) Pritchard, was born in Nantyglo, Wales, May 3, 1855. He was brought to America by his parents in February, 1856, and remained with them at Scranton until their removal, in 1865, to Gibson township, where he was reared upon the farm from the age of ten years. He worked at home, and among the neigh- boring farmers, up to the age of twenty-two years, when he began a successful career as a blacksmith. For six months he worked in the shop of Willianı Thom, at Herrick Center, and then for two years with Charles W. Conrad, of Glenwood. Establish- ing a shop of his own, at Glenwood, he operated it successfully for one year, and then removed to Neath, Bradford county, where he was in business for a year. Removing to South Gibson in 1879, he there conducted a shop until he was unfitted tem- porarily for the prosecution of his trade by an accident, having been thrown froin a horse and suffered a fractured leg. Upon his recovery Mr. Pritchard commenced the sale of road machines,

through Wayne, Susquehanna and Bradford coun- ties, and he has since been engaged as wagon and implement agent for the Deering Harvester Co., doing a large and prosperous business.

Our subject married, at Susquehanna, on May 19, 1876, Miss Mary J. Maxey, who was born in Schuylkill county, Penn., in 1855, daughter of George and Mary Maxey, and sister of Hon. W. E. Maxey, of Gibson township. George Maxey, her father, is a native of Wales, and a retired miner of Forest City, Penn. To John H. and Mary J. Pritchard were born four children : Mary, who died aged six months; George D., who died aged two and a half years; Frank M., an engineer of Forest City ; and Mary J., at home. The mother of these died March 20, 1887, aged thirty-two years, and for his second wife John H. Pritchard married, on January 16, 1889, at Binghamton, N. Y., Jennie M. Pickering, who was born in Gibson township, January 4, 1870, daughter of Henry and Estella (Howell) Pickering, prominent residents of Gibson township. To John H. and Jennie M. Pritchard have been born five children: George C., born April 13, 1890 ; Gaylord \V., born October 17, 1892; Gomer J., born May 6, 1895 ; Ruth E. ; and Rachel, all living but Gaylord W., who was drowned at South Gibson in 1899, at the age of six years and four months. He was one of six boys who were sleighing on a pond when the ice broke, and five of the six were drowned.

In politics John H. Pritchard is a Republican. He has served the township two terms as treasurer, and is now assistant assessor, is an active, progres- sive and successful business man, and a political factor of great influence, a worthy representative, not only of his family and ancestry, but of the best type of American citizenship.

A. F. LOBEZ, a leading lumberman and dairy- man of Preston township, Wayne county, is num- bered among the most progressive, far-sighted and successful business men of his community. By his well-directed efforts he has succeeded in accumu- lating a handsome property, and his straightfor- ward, honorable course has won for him the confi- (lence and esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

Mr. Lobez was born in Wayne county, June 24. 1855, a son of A. F. and Caroline (Lloyd) Lobez, natives of France, who in June, 1849, came to this country. Reared in Preston township, our subject began his education in the local schools, and later attended the graded schools of Afton, Broome Co .. N. Y. On leaving the school room he engaged in farming in Preston township for a number of years, and after his marriage located upon his fathi- er's old homestead, where he continued to reside until 1894, making many improvements upon the place, including the erection of good building -. In 1887 he purchased the Beaver Meadow Farm. then known as the Moore farm, upon which he has built a comfortable residence, a good barn and

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a large creamery, 24x32 feet, supplied with the latest improved machinery. For dairy purposes he keeps a herd of ninety-five cows, and does the largest business along this line of any one in his part of the county. His entire time, however, is not devoted to this enterprise, for he has cleared and improved a large tract of land and now has one of the most desirable farms in Preston town- ship. His elegant residence, supplied with all mod- ern conveniences, was erected in 1895, and the other buildings upon the place are in perfect har- mony with it.

In April, 1878, Mr. Lobez was united in mar- riage with Miss Alice Bryant, of Prompton, Wayne county, a daughter of William and Clara Bryant, well-to-do people of that place. After one year of happy married life, she died in 1879, leaving one son, Anson B., who is still with his father. Mr. Lobez was again married February 24, 1884, his second union being with Miss Esther Axtell, of Deposit, Delaware Co., N. Y., who was educated in the high school of that place, and is a daughter of Joseph and Caroline Axtell, honored pioneer farmers of Delaware county. She is a consistent member of the Baptist Church and a most estim- able lady. In his political affiliations, Mr. Lobez has always been a Republican, taking a commend- able interest in public affairs. In manner he is pleasant, genial and approachable, and all who know him esteem him highly for his genuine worth.

CHARLES G. CORSON, M. D., a leading physician of Rileyville, Wayne county, has not only won a high reputation in his chosen profession, but he and his brother, Dr. Frank W. Corson, are active and influential in business circles, having done much to develop the newly discovered gold mines in Maryland.

Dr. Corson comes of an excellent ancestry, and on the paternal side is descended from a fam- ily which has long been identified with the medical profession, while on the maternal side he is of Revolutionary stock. Hiram Corson, our subject's grandfather, was a farmer in Canada. He had three sons, two of whom became physicians, and the other held for some years the position of principal in a Philadelphia school. Dr. Henry Corson. the father of our subject, was born in 1793, and, at the remark- able age of 104 years, is still in active practice as a specialist, his residence being at Hancock, N. Y. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Lu- cretia Glatt, was born in 1818, and is also living. Her paternal grandfather was captain of a ship during the Revolutionary war, and her father. Rob- crt Glatt, was one of the early settlers of Susque- hanna county. This estimable couple had four children : Henrietta, now Mrs. Richmond, of Car- bondale; Charles G., our subject : Lavina, wife of Rev. George Merrill. of Bethany, Penn .; and Frank W., a physician at Waymart.

Dr. Charles G. Corson was born March 6, 1854. in Harmony township, Susquehanna county, and

resided with his parents until he attained his ma- jority. He began his medical studies with his father, and later entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1879. He then returned home, and after assisting his father for some time engaged in independent practice, continuing thus successfully for about three years. The next two years he spent at Winwood, Wayne county, and in 1898 he located at Rileyville, where he now has a lucrative practice. He is highly es- teemed as a citizen, and is a member of various social orders, including the Order of Red Men, at Orson, Penn. While he is not a politician, in any sense, he takes keen interest in public movements, and affiliates with the Republican party.

In 1877 the Doctor was married, at Jackson, Penn., by Rev. Mr. Prescott, to Miss Emma Toby, who died in December, 1881, at the age of twenty- four, her remains being interred at Thompson, Penn. Her parents, Alfred A. and Lucy (Austin) Toby, reside in Harmony township, Susquehanna county, where her father is a prominent farmer. By that marriage Dr. Corson had one daughter, Miss Bertha, now residing at Bethany, Penn. On December 27, 1888, he was married, at Thompson, by Rev. Mr. Cole, a Methodist minister, to Miss Lois Miner, by whom he has had three children : Frank, Jesse, and Pearl, all at home. Mrs. Lois Corson was born May 23, 1870, in Clinton .town- ship, Wayne county, where her grandparents, Dan- iel and Rachel Miner, settled at an early day. Rob- ert Miner, her father, was born in Clinton town- ship, Wayne county, and now resides near Forest City, Susquehanna county. For many years he followed farming as an occupation, but at present he is engaged in lumbering. In politics he is a Democrat. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Eliza Smith, was born in Prompton, Wayne county, and their family consists of four children, as fol- low's : Anna, wife of Philo Gunsaulus, a barber at Forest City ; Lois, wife of our subject ; Nettie, who married George Rouey, a farmer in Wayne county, Penn .; and Earl, who resides with his parents.

WILLIAM TRANSUE. Old age is not ne- cessarily a synonym for weakness or inactivity. It need not suggest, as a matter of course, want of oc- cupation or helplessness. There is an old age that is a benediction to all that come in contact with it, that gives out of its richest stores of learning and experience, and grows stronger intellectually and spiritually as the years pass. Such is the life of Mr. Transue, an encouragement to his associates, and an example well worthy of emulation to the young.

Our subject's grandfather, John Transue, was a native of Williams township, Northampton Co., Penn., and was married in that county, but at an early day removed to Smithfield township, Monroe county, taking up his residence there in 1787. He purchased land, and engaged in farming until called from this life. His remains and those of his wife

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were both interred at Shawnee, Monroc county. Their children were: Susana, wife of William Smith ; Barbara, wife of John Smith ; Abram, father of our subject; Margaret, wife of Peter Albert; Jacob and John, both residents of Smithfield town- ship; Lana, wife of Elihu Posten ; and Rachel, wife of Henry Strunk, of Smithfield township.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 23

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