Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 3

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 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 3

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Solomon Wademan was born October 5, 1818, and on August 13, 1846, married Mary A. Herlin- ger, who was born March 31, 1826, at Plainfield, Northampton Co., Penn., daughter of Francis and Frances ( Kindt ) Herlinger. Her father was a native of Germany, and came to America in an early day ; her mother was born at Plainfield, Penn., May 6, 1791, and died April 18, 1878; they settled in Easton, Penn., where they conducted a hotel for many years. In May, 1891, the parents of our sub- ject removed to Wayne county, and are now living retired in Fairview. In early life the father en- gaged in farming and lumbering. While a resident of Greenfield township, Lackawanna county, he filled the offices of assessor, collector and justice of the peace for five terms, and was at one time the nominee for circuit judge on the Democratic ticket. In his family were seven children: Julia A., born May 6, 1847, resides with her parents. Charles A. is our subject. Jacob Ward, born September 5, 1851, died on the old homestead, July 29, 1888. Emma, J., born February 24, 1854. is the widow of William F. Taylor, who died in Waymart. Penn., August 17, 1887. Frances Augusta, born July 24. 1856, of Greenridge, Penn., is the widow of David S. Cobb, who died April 15, 1899. George F., born September 9, 1862, is the proprietor of a hotel in Uniondale. Jesse R., born December 20, 1867, died June 25. 1869.

Charles A. Wademan remained on the home farm until 1881, during which year he visited near St. Paul, Minn .. and while there accepted a posi- tion with a civil engineer. He made his home in St. Paul for several months, returning to Pennsyl- vania in the fall of 1881, and locating in Green- field township. Lackawanna county, where in con- nection with farming he engaged in breeding horses. Coming to Uniondale in 1887. he pur- chased the "Uniondale Hotel" from J. C. Hughes. and successfully conducted it until August. 1892. when he sold out to his brother George F., and has since lived retired. though he has bought and sold real estate in Carbondale, and still has some in- terests in that place.

At Clifford. Penn., October 2. 1882, Mr. Wade- man was married to Miss Mary E. Snyder, a native of Greenfield township. Lackawanna Co .. Penn., by whom he has had three children: Ross W. ( deceased ). Grace E. and Lloyd C. Mrs. Wade- mian's great-grandfather Snyder. served as a soldier

...

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in the Revolutionary war .. He was'a native of New York State, and it is quite probable that the orig- inal Snyders and Ruperts, front whom she is de- scended, came over in the "Half Moon" with Henry Hudson. Mrs. Wademan's grandfather, Jacob 1. Snyder, was born probably April 15, 1788, and, it is thought, in Dutchess county, N. Y., and died March 2, 1879, in Lackawanna county, Penn. He came to this State in an early day from Columbia county, N. Y. By occupation he was a carpenter and farmer. He married Rebecca Niver, who was born April 9, 1792, also in New York State, and died February 20, 1866, in Lackawanna county, Penn. Her father, John Niver, was born June 13, 1757, and died April 8, 1827; her mother, Cath- erine Crisler (date of birth unknown), died De- cember 2, 1813. The Nivers first settled in Co- lumbia county, N. Y., and the town of Niverville was named in their honor. Both the Snyders and Nivers were of Holland-Dutch descent, and settled in New York State before it caine into possession of the English.

John G. Snyder, Mrs. Wademan's father, was born August 9, 1817, in Columbia county, N. Y., where he spent his entire life, engaged in farming. He married Sally A. Cobb, who was also born in Greenfield, daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Brun- dage) Cobb. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for ten years he acceptably filled the office of justice of the peace. He died in March, 1889, at the age of seventy-two years, the mother in July, 1879, at the age of fifty-four, and both were buried in Greenfield township. Their children were: Mar- tha A., born February 5, 1844, is the wife of Jolin Mclaughlin, of Forest City, Penn. John N., born January 15, 1846, died September 22, 1865. Mer- ritt W., born December 26, 1848. and Ira J .. born January 19, 1851, are farmers of Greenfield town- ship. Arabel, born October 12, 1853, died April 13. 1859. Georgie N., born November 21, 1857, died April 4, 1859. Josephine. born October 7, 1859, died January 6. 1864. Harriet C., born No- vember 23, 1855, is the wife of A. W. Kenyon. of Lackawanna county. Mary E., born November 2, 1861, is the wife of our subject. Emma U., born May 20. 1865. is the wife of William M. Ar- nold, who lives on the old Snyder homestead. Sally "A., born August 16, 1867, died June 9, 1871.

Mr. Wademan always casts his ballot with the Democratic party, and he has creditably filled the offices of assessor of Uniondale since February, 1895. and school director since June. 1899. So- cially he is a member of Belmont Lodge No. 1070, I. O. O. F. Though he had no special opportuni- ties in youth, he has through his own well-directed efforts met with success in life, and is now one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of his community. He is regarded as a man of excellent business judgment, is highly respected, and enjoys the confidence of his neighbors and friends.

FREDERICK T. GELDER, JR., a member of the firm of Gelder & Murphy, proprietors and publishers of the Forest City News, of Forest City, Susquehanna county, was born in Carbondale, Penn., June 4, 1874, and is a son of Frederick '1. and Catherine ( Blake) Gelder.

The father was born in England, December 21, 1839, and is a son of George Gelder, who spent his entire life as a farmer in Pontefract, Yorkshire, England. Our subject's maternal grandparents were natives of Cornwall, England, and in 1834 came to the United States and settled in Dyberry township, Wayne Co., Penn., where the grand -. fatlier, John Blake, engaged in agricultural pur- suits, owning and operating a farm of 600 acres. His first farm consisted of but a small tract of land, to which he added from time to time as his financial resources increased. Through his own well-di- rected efforts he became quite prosperous, and was "also one of the prominent men of his community. His children were Mary J., deceased; Catherine, mother of our subject, who was born in Wayne county, January 18. 1843; John D. Blake, who was born March 2, 1846, and died April 25, 1894.

'At the age of twenty-one years the father of our subject crossed the Atlantic and took up his residence in Jersey City, and in 1864 moved to Carbondale, Penn., where he now resides. In New Jersey he engaged in merchandising, but at Car- bondale was proprietor of the Union Foundry for twenty-five years, and is now living retired. Dur- ing the Civil war he served in the 3rd New Jersey Infantry during the three months' service, and then re-enlisted in the Ist New Jersey Cavalry. In his family were seven children, namely: Alice B., who died young ; Bentley B., who is with the Dela- ware & Hudson Company at Carbondale; Freder- ick T., our subject ; J. Norman, city editor of the Evening News of Carbondale; Edwin P., deceased ; Kathryn Leona and Harold B., both at home.

Frederick T. Gelder, Jr., attended school in Carbondale until he entered the office of the Car- bondale daily Leader. During his eight years with that paper he worked in all departments. resigning the city editorship in May, 1898, when, in partnership with Matthew J. Murphy, he purchased the Forest City News, of Forest City, of which he is now editor. He is thoroughly familiar with every de- partment of newspaper work and has met with most excellent success ,in his chosen calling. His political support is given the men and measures of the Republican party, and in July, 1899, he was appointed by the Governor to fill an unexpired terni as justice of the peace, and in February, 1900, he was elected to succeed himself as justice of the peace for the term of five years, the duties of which office he is now most capably discharging.

J. M. BROWN, a leading eitizen and success- ful farmer and dairyman of Thompson township, Susquehanna county, was born in 1851, on the old homestead where he still resides, and is a son of

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J. W. and Sallie A. (Van Horn) Brown. The father was a native of Otsego county, N. Y., and a son of Elisha Brown, who was born in Rhode Island and at an early day came to Jackson town- ship, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he reared his family of five sons. The maternal grandparents of our subject were William and Betsy Van Horn, who in pioneer days removed from New Jersey to Montrose, Penn., by wagon, and after residing there for a few years took up their residence in Thompson township, Susquehanna county, where the grandfather purchased a tract of wild land and improved the place now known as the Nelson King farm. After his marriage J. W. Brown located near where our subject now resides, and upon his farm erected a barn, in which the family lived for some time, the oldest son being born there. Later he built the small frame house in which our sub- ject's birth occurred, and in subsequent years a more pretentious dwelling was erected, which still stands on the property. There the father died in 1877, at the age of sixty-one years, the mother in 1895, at the age of seventy-one. Both were con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and took an active part in Church work, Mr. Brown serving as class-leader for many years. In his political views he was a Democrat, and he credita- bly filled a number of local offices in his township. J. M. Brown is the second in order of birth in a family of three sons. William, the eldest, was born in 1849, was educated in the district and select schools of Thompson, and for several years was one of the successful teachers of his own dis- trict and also of Jackson township. He inarried Helen Kimber, of Heart Lake, and they now reside in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county, where he served as postmaster during President Cleveland's administration, and is now express agent at that place for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. He has one daughter, Pearl, at home. His only son, De Witt, died while a stu- dent at the Binghamton Business College. C. .Urbane Brown, the youngest of the family, was born in 1853, and married first Evelyn Davis, daughter of Hiram Davis, of Thompson. They located on his father's farm, where she died in Feb- ruary, 1888. Later he married Della Aldrich, of Thompson, and continued to reside on the old homestead, where his death occurred in February, 1897. He left a wife and one daughter, Fay E. He was one of the prominent Democrats of his township, and was called upon to serve his fellow citizens as constable and supervisor.

J. M. Brown was educated in the public schools of Thompson and select schools of Jackson. He remained on the home farm with his father until 1872, when he went to Iosco county, Mich., where he worked in the pine woods for two seasons. In 1876 he married Miss Ella Cargill. of Thompson, a daughter of Parley and Betsy ( Shafer) Cargill, prominent citizens of that township. Mrs. Brown was born in Preston, Wayne Co., Penn., in Novem-

ber, 1856, but was reared and educated in Susque- hanna county. Our subject and his wife began their domestic life upon a part of the old Brown homestead, which he purchased, and upon which he has erected a fine modern residence, a large barn and other outbuildings. He has cleared a large portion of the farm, which at the time of his pur- chase was woodland, and now has one of the most desirable places of the locality.

To MIr. and Mrs. Brown were born four chil- dren, namely: (1) Madge E., born in December, 1876, graduated from the graded schools of Thomp- son, and later attended the State Normal at Potts- dam, N. Y., where she was graduated with the class of 1899. She has taken up the profession of teacher and now holds a responsible position in the high schools of Fultonville, Montgomery Co., N. Y., for which she is well fitted. (2) Monroe C., born in November, 1879, died in childhood. (3) Wendell, born in April, 1888, is at home. (4) Clara F., born in March, 1890, is one of the bright- est little girls of this section, having read the entire New Testament and book of Psalms before she was nine years old and is far advanced in her studies at school. She has a remarkably active mind for one of her age.

HARMON A. STONE, although at this writ- ing young in years, is one of the most energetic and enterprising agriculturists of Susquehanna county, where he operates a good farm in Dimock town- ship. He was born in Liberty township, January 26, 1877, and belongs to one of its honored pioneer families, which is of English extraction, but founded in this country during Colonial days. Some of his ancestors took an active part in the Revolutionary war, and the family has always been a patriotic and loyal one.

During his boyhood and youth Mr. Stone at- tended the public schools of Silver Lake township. and his knowledge of business was obtained by practical experience. As a boy he was quite large for his age, and appeared much older. He began life for himself by working in a sawmill at the age of twelve years, and then went farther west and began lumbering in the Alleghany mountains, being employed in a sawmill at 75c per day. At the end of three months his wages were increased to $1.50 per day. At this work he remained for over a year, and then went still a little farther west. and found work in a mill where he was paid from $1.75 to $2.25 per day. In 1893 he was employed for a short time by the Western New York & Pennsyl- vania R. R., but as he was found to be under age he was laid off. This was a sad blow to the ener- getic, ambitious boy, and was his first experience of the kind. Always ready and willing to do any and everything asked of him. lie felt the gross in- justice of the dismissal. In 1894, while running an engine in a sawmill, he was badly burned by the steam and obliged to give up work for some time. He then returned to Susquehanna county, where,

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on March 19, 1894, he began work for Truman Stone, and there continued.

On December 17, 1895, Mr. Stone was mar- ried to Anna E., daughter of Truman Stone, and they have become the parents of two children: Frances Marie, born January 31, 1897; and Leon Oscar, born October 13, 1898. Mr. Truman Stone died the spring following his daughter's marriage, and since then our subject has operated the large property he left. The buildings are of a substan- tial character ; there is a good orchard, and the land is divided into pastures, meadows and fields of con- venient size, and in the management of the place he shows himself to be a man of energy, enterprise and thrift. He has recently built one of the largest and best barns in the vicinity, and is at present erecting a fine dwelling. In connection with gen- eral farming he is also interested in stock raising and dairying, keeping a high grade of Jersey, Holstein, Devonshire and Durham cattle, and Ches- ter-white hogs, and has carried off the first pre- mium at the county fairs. Mr. Stone is six feet in height and of fine physique, weighing from 185 to 195 pounds, and enjoys the best of health. He is frank and jovial in manner, and honorable in busi- ness. He is not identified with any. political or- ganization, but votes for the man whom he believes best qualified to fill the office.

The first man hired by Mr. Stone was Charles E. Parmer, a boy about his own age, and he has never had reason to regret it. During the Span- ish-American war he took leave of absence and served his country as best he could, and when hon- orably discharged returned at once to Mr. Stone.

AUGUSTUS BEESECKER. Prominent among the residents of Paradise township, Mon- roe county, who have, by honest toil and industry, succeeded in acquiring a competence, and are now able to spend the sunset of life in ease and retire- ment, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch.

Mr. Beesecker is a native of the county, born in Price township, in August, 1840. and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Kitchline) Beesecker. The father was a native of Scranton, Lackawanna Co., Penn., and a son of Conrad Beesecker. He was reared in Moscow, the same county, and when a young man went to Easton. Penn., where he was married and worked in a distillery for some years. On leaving that place he moved to Priceburg, Penn., where he cleared a farm now owned by the widow of Samuel Posten, making that place his home until 1858. Selling out he purchased a farm near Swift- water, in Paradise township, Monroe county, on which he erected a good barn and made many other improvements. He also purchased an adjoining farm, now owned by Mr. Gamble, of New York, and on that property also made many improvements. He died at the latter place in 1890, his wife in 1887. Both were earnest Christians, worthy members of the Lutheran Church.

In the family were nine children : ( 1) Mary A., born in Mt. Bethel, Penn., was reared in Price town- ship, Monroe county, and married Daniel Price, a resident of the county, who died leaving three chil- dren : Warren, Albert and Daniel. Later she mar- ried Nicholas Hahn, and moved to Crawford, Wis., where he died leaving four children: Joseph; Ida, Nellie and Maurice. She still makes her home in Crawford. (2) Reuben, born in Mt. Bethel, Penn., died when a young man. (3) Jackson, born in Price township, Monroe county, married Elizabeth Pos- ten, of that township, where they continued to live for a number of years, and moved to Wisconsin, where he still resides. He has a large family. (4) Caroline, born in Price township, is the widow of Levi Sandt and a resident of Mt. Bethel. She has one daughter, Ella. (5) William, born in Price town- ship, married Rachel Storm, now a resident of Bar- rett township, Monroe county, but he was killed by lightning a few years ago, leaving her with a family of children. (6) Margaret is the wife of Lorenzo Staples, of Stroudsburg, and has eight children : Alice, Chester, Jacob, Elizabeth, Katie, Myrtie, Charles and-Elmer. (7) Susan, born in Price town- ship, is the widow of Jeseph Berry, and a resident of Pocono township, Monroe county. Her children are Howard, Oren, Sarah, Lizzie, Maggie, Lila, Adda, Olive, Milton, Jennie, Herbert, Berton and William. (8) Frank died at the age of two years.

Augustus Beesecker, who completes the fam- ily, was provided with a common school education during his youth and assisted in the work of the home farm until his marriage in 1861. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Amanda Storm, was born in Paradise township, Monroe county, in 1840, and had fourteen brothers and sisters, the parents being Andrew L. and Elizabeth ( Rhodes.) Storm, prominent citizens of that township. To Mr. and Mrs. Beesecker have been born seven chil- dren: (1) Stewart, born in 1867, received a good education and is now employed as assistant cashier of the freight office at Scranton, Penn., for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. He married Katie Cranacher, of Pocono township, Mon- roe county, and to them were born four children: Earl ; Byron ; Homer : and Ethel, who died in child- hood. (2) George, born in 1872, married Rachel Gallagher, of Parkside, Monroe county, and they live on his father's old homestead. 'They have one son, Clarence. (3) Daniel, born in 1876, works for the D. L. & W. R. R. at Scranton. (4) Charles died in childhood. (5) Mamie and Mahlon, twins, were born in May, 1878. The former was educated in the schools of Paradise township. and is now the wife of Milton Hardenstine, of East Stroudsburg, by whom she has one daughter. Ruth. Mahlon completed his education at the East Stroudsburg Normal, and is now an orperator and electrician of Edison's Kinetoscope. (7) Carrie L., born in 1881, received a good education in the local schools and re- sides at home.

After his marriage Mr. Beesecker continued on

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the home farm for one year, and then moved to Cool- baugh township, Monroe county, where he was en- gaged in lunibering for eight years. Returning to Paradise township in 1869, he engaged in the butch- ering business there for two years, and at the end of that time purchased the farm now owned by Amos Smith. On selling that place he bought the Heller farm, where he lived for some years, and then purchased the two farms belonging to his father, to the cultivation and improvement of which he de- voted his energies until 1896, when he sold one of these to his son George, and bought the David Ar- nold farm near Paradise Valley, where he is now liv- ing retired from active labor. He is a man of broad and liberal views and a large experience in general business, and successfully followed lumbering for a number of years, devoting the greater part of his life to that occupation, though he has given some attention to agricultural pursuits and butchering. Politically he has always been identified with the Dentocratic party, and he has most acceptably served as school director thirteen years, overseer of the poor four years, and supervisor five or six years. Religiously he and his family hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he and his wife take an active part in Church work. They are highly esteemed by all who know them and have a host of warm friends.

NELSON SPEDDING. To the students of biography there is nothing more interesting than to examine the life history of a self-made man, and to detect the elements of character which have en- abled him to pass on the highway of life many of the companions of his youth, who at the outset of their careers were more advantageously equipped or en- dowed. The subject of this review has through his own exertions attained an honorable position and marked prestige among the representative busi- ness men of Clifford township. He is the senior member of the firm of Spedding & Sons, proprietors of the Thorn Hill Stock Farm, which comprises 260 acres of land lying partly in Lackawanna and partly in Susquehanna counties, his home being on the county line. The farm is conveniently located one mile from Clifford Corners, nine miles from Carbondale and twenty miles from Scranton.

Mr. Spedding was born in Clifford township, October 8, 1835, and is the only child of John and Deliverance ( Foster) Spedding. The father was a native of Westmoreland county, England, and a son of Isaac Spedding, a baker by trade, who spent his entire life in that country. In 1830 John Sped- ding emigrated to America and located on a small farm in Clifford township, Susquehanna Co., Penn. In connection with its operation he also worked at the stone mason's trade to some extent, and he lield several township offices. He died July 17, 1856, at the age of seventy-three years, honored and.re- spected by all who knew him. His estimable wife, who was a consistent member of the Baptist Church, died in December, 1872, at the age of seventy-nine,

and was laid to rest by his side in Clifford ceme- tery. She was twice married, her first husband be- ing Adam Miller, a native of Ireland, by whom she liad seven children : Emily, deceased wife of Har- rison Doud; Redmond, who enlisted in the 107th P. V. I. during the Civil war and died while in ser- vice ; and John, who died unmarried; Merrick, de- ceased, who married Jane Ferris; Samuel, who en- listed in the 14th U. S. Regulars in the Civil war, and was never heard from; Gould P., a prominent farmer of Clifford township; and Waity Ann, who died unmarried.

During his boyhood and youth our subject re- mained at home, and at the age of twenty-one com- menced to operate a small portion of the farm on his own account. As the years passed and his financial resources have increased, he has added to it from time to time until it is now one of the largest and best farms in Clifford township. He has always given considerable attention to stock raising, and in 1885 commenced importing fine stock, such as Poland China hogs, Cleveland Bay horses, Shropshire sheep and Norman and Percheron norses. He is the only importer of pure bred horses in Susquehanna coun- ty, and has been remarkably successful in this branch of his business. He is independent in politics and has never sought or desired public office, preferring to devote his entire attention to his business inter- ests. He is a member of the Alliance and has served as supervisor of his township for six years.

On February 25, 1858, at Lenoxville, Mr. Sped- ding married Miss Mahala Cobb, and five children have been born to them : Nellie J., born February 2, 1859, now the wife of Frank Tennant, hotel pro- prietor at Clark Summit, Penn .; Walter S., born March 31, 1861, who married Ella Slocum and is engaged in business with his father; Amy A., born September 26, 1864, wife of William Hasbrook, a prominent farmer of Clifford township ; Frank W., born February 22, 1870, who married Agnes Stevens, and follows farming in Lackawanna county; and Eva M., born July 9, 1875, at home.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 3

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