Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 37

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 37
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 37
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 37
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 37

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Peter Dunn, father of our subject. was born in Delta, Delaware Co., N. Y., in 1815, and was about five years of age when the family took up their residence in Ararat township, Susquehanna county. He remained on the old homestead at Dunn Lake throughout life and followed the vocation of farm- ing. In 1858 he was married in New York State to Miss Sarah Tobey, a native of Morris, Otsego Co., N. Y., and a daughter of Zacheus and Mary (Gifford) Tobey, lifelong residents of the Empire State. In 1877 Mr. and Mrs. Dunn left the old farm and moved to the other end of the lake, where our subject now resides. This place the father in- proved and converted into a fine farm. There his wife died in February, 1895, and his death occurred at the same place August 8, 1898. He was widely known and highly respected, and occupied a promi- nent position among his fellow-citizens. He served as supervisor of his township and was a member of the school board, always taking an active interest in educational affairs. He had the honor of nam- ing Ararat township and also Sugar Loaf Mountain, the highest point in the township. In his family were three children: Elma Maria, now Mrs. Bor- der, of Binghamton, N. Y .; J. Pierce, our subject : and Mercy Rebecca, who resides with our subject on the home farm.

J. Pierce Dunn has spent his entire life at Dunn Lake, and in the public schools of Ararat township he received his literary education. As soon as old enough to be of any assistance he began to aid in the farm work and has always engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He now owns the old homestead

of 400 acres. under excellent cultivation, and suc- cessfully follows dairy farming and sheep raising. Many years ago, on his grandfather's farm at the south end of Dunn Lake was captured the vaga- bond murderer of Col. Brooks, Evan Matthews, who came from Wayne county, fleeing from his pursuers. He was given his supper at the old homestead, where he was carefully watched and later arrested. His captors were on horseback, and binding the prisoner securely on another horse, they set forth, accompanied by some of the Dunn broth- ers as far as Belmont, and as they left the prisoner extended them an invitation to his hanging.

FRANCIS EMERY PUTNAM. Only those lives are worthy of record that have been potential factors in the public progress by promoting the gen- eral welfare or advancing the educational or moral interests of the community. Mr. Putnam has ever been faithful to his duties of citizenship, and by the successful conduct of his business interests not only promoted his individual success, but also advanced the general prosperity. His influence is always on the side of right, and he is justly regarded as one of the most useful and honored citizens of Scott township, Wayne county.

Mr. Putnami was born January 9, 1838. at Colesville, Broome Co., N. Y., and is a representa- tive of the same branch of the family to which Gen. Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame, belonged. His grandfather, Seth Putnam, who died in Broome county, N. Y., at the age of eighty years, was an old line Whig in politics, and was a devout Chris- tian-a consistent member of the Methodist Church. His word given in business transactions was never questioned, but was considered as good as any bond. Joshua L. Putnam (father of our subject) was a native of Vermont, and after reach- ing man's estate began his career as a teacher in the schools of Broome county, N. Y., taking up the profession with the object of fitting himself for the ministry, for which calling he was most eminently adapted. He married Miss Lorinda, daughter of David Wedge, and she, like her husband, was a school teacher. Her life. as wife and mother, was most exemplary, always gentle and patient, lending a helping hand to her neighbors, regardless of re- ligious differences or conditions. It is said of her that her amiable manner and cheerful conversa- tion cheered the most despondent, while her Chris- tian teaching and influence was widespread. From his youth Joshua L. Putnam was a zealous exhorter in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and it is much regretted that he never entered the ministry. In the family of this worthy couple were three chil- dren : Francis Emery ; Mary Eliza, wife of George Buck, a prominent merchant of Binghamton. N. Y. ; and Charles Wesley (deceased).

The boyhood and youth of Francis E. Putnam were passed in his native county, and in 1859 he moved to Scott township, Wayne Co., Penn. His carly education was obtained under the direction

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of his mother, and from her he also received those precepts of rectitude, the observance of which has won for him the esteem and respect of all who know him. During the war of the Rebellion, he was a member of the Construction Corps, and after his return from the army he located permanently in Scott township, Wayne county, where he now re- sides. He first purchased the mill owned by Brandt & Schlager, which was for years known as the Put- nam mill, and for several years lie engaged in the lumber business, manufacturing it and running it down the Delaware river to Philadelphia, becoming well known ali along the river, and also in the city. In 1885, he erected a steam sawmill a short distance from his residence, but over the line in Susquehanna county. Some time after this he purchased the property known as the kindling wood factory and store at Stevens Point, Penn., and removed to that place, where for eight years he was engaged in mer- cantile business and also served as postmaster for five years. In 1894 he was elected justice of the peace in Susquehanna county, but in the winter of that year his property at Stevens Point was de- stroyed by fire, and he returned to his farm in Scott township, Wayne county, where he still resides. During his business life he has engaged in clearing and improving land, and still operates two farms in Susquehanna county, besides the one in Scott town- ship, Wayne county, and is yet operating his saw- mill.

On December 31, 1860, Mr. Putnam married Miss Theodosia Victoria Graves, of Conklin, Broome Co., N. Y., and to them have been born the following children: Edna, now the wife of A. M. Slocum, of Heppner, Oregon ; H. E., of Hart- ford, Conn., an extensive dealer in building and flag stone; Theodore, who married Anna Maude Hunt ; Nellie, wife of E. J. Slocum, a druggist of Heppner, Ore .; Macey, wife of Grant Cook, for- merly of Susquehanna county ; and Louis, Norman, Maude, George, Benjamin, Walter and Douglass, all at home.

Mr. Putnam is a man of fine personal appear- ance, of courteous manner and kindly disposition, and makes friends wherever he goes. He is an active member of the Free Methodist Church, con- tributed liberally toward the construction of two houses of worship in Stevens Point, also at Dan- ville and Hales Eddy, N. Y., and does all in his power to promote the religious and moral welfare of the community. In politics he was a steadfast Re- publican till the war was over and peace once more restored. Then finding that he could not fully agree with the Republican party in regard to the liquor traffic, he felt it due to himself and to his convictions to cast his ballot in support of the Pro- hibition party. He has ever been known as a tem- perance worker. When engaged in lumbering. up and down the river, he took a firm stand against the universal practice of treating workmen and others who might offer some trifling assistance. Mr. Putnam made it his invariable rule to pay good

wages, and by precept and example endeavored to lead them to spend their earnings for better things. During the last six or seven years he was on the river, no sober man asked him to buy a drink, so well had his opinions and practice be- come known. He is naturally a charitable man, but believes rather in that charity that assists mentally and morally, than that which pauperizes, and has, in consequence, often given work to men, when it meant loss to himself.

RUDOLPHUS SCHOONOVER DAVIS was for many years a prominent citizen and well- to-do agriculturist of Auburn township, Susque- hanna county, and the neighboring region, passing the greater part of his active life there. He was born January 1, 1819, in Middle Smithfield town- ship, Monroe county, son of Isaac Davis and grand- son of John Davis, who was born in Wales some 150 years ago, and came to the United States in an early day. He married Sallie Bebee.

Isaac Davis was born in June, 1777, in New London county, Conn., and was married in 1812 to Mary Schoonover, who was born April 16, 1792, daughter of Rudolphus Schoonover, a native of Holland. Of their family, all now deceased, Doro- thy was twice married, first to a Mr. Smith, of Mon- roe county, and second to James Pratt, of Bradford county; Sarah married Joseph Ellis, and they migrated West; John resided in Meshoppen, Wy- oming county ; Rudolphus Schoonover is the sub- ject proper of these lines ; Hannah became the wife of Samuel Van Gorden, of Auburn township; Charles R., and Daniel are the next mentioned ; Clark E., was a resident of Auburn township. The father of these died in 1839, while visiting in Phila- delphia. the mother surviving until November II, 1879. Isaac Davis made his home in Middle Smith- field, Monroe county, Penn., near Bushkill, for some years, and worked at blacksmithing. at which trade he was an expert, and in 1831 the family located in Wyoming county, where they lived for about five years. In 1836 they settled in Auburn township, Susquehanna county, and here the sons took up sixty-six acres of wild land, which re- mained in the possession of our subject, who put the greater part of it under cultivation, for only a half acre was cleared at the time of his arrival here : he afterward bought fifty-five acres more.

Rudolphus S. Davis was trained to farm life as the pioneers in this region found it during his early days-a life of constant toil with at first only meager rewards, and he made it the principal busi- ness of his life. He cleared and paid for the place mentioned. He was a man of intelligence and ster- ling integrity, one in whom his neighbors and friends could place full confidence, and he attended to considerable law work in the locality, also hold- ing various township offices with ability and credit. He was school director, supervisor and auditor, and as a stanch Republican represented that party at various public gatherings, being honored by his

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fellow citizens in many ways, and receiving many flattering tributes of the esteem and respect which they felt for him. A man of decided opinions, he had the courage of his convictions, and possessed most broad and liberal views. He had a firni faith in the universal brotherhood of man, and the duty of the strong towards the weak. He was a strong abolitionist in the days of slavery, and also de- nounced capital punishment as a relic of barbarism and a reproach to civilization. He was always ready to assist the needy or unfortunate, and will long be remembered for his many acts of kindness. He passed away December 6, 1875. In June, 1848, Mr. Davis wedded, in Meshoppen township, Wyo- ming county, Miss Rebecca Bunnell, and we have the following record of their children : Annie died at the age of sixteen years ; Orra, unmarried, lives at the old home; Theodore Cuyler is a resident of Auburn township; Bertha, unmarried, lives at home; one died in infancy; Henry Winter died at the age of twenty-five years.

Mrs. Rebecca (Bunnell) Davis was born May 23, 1822, in Meshoppen township, Wyoming county, Penn., and is a great-granddaughter of Solomon and Mary (Holdren) Bunnell, natives of Rhode Isl- and, whose ancestors came from England in 1632. Solomon Bunnell and his son Benjamin both served in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Davis' grandpar- ents, Benjamin and Catherine (Berry) Bunnell, were natives of Monroe county, Penn., and her father. Isaac Bunnell. was born February 18. 1795, in the same county. He married Miss Annie Overfield, who was born March 13, 1796, in Meshoppen township, Wyoming county. daughter of Paul and Hannalı (DePew) Overfield, and granddaughter of Nicholas DePew. Several members of the DePew family served in the Revolutionary war, and one was killed in the "Wyoming massacre," others escaping. Isaac Bunnell passed away June 26, 1832, his wife fol- lowing him to the grave on October 10, 1842. This worthy couple had children as follows: Hannah. deceased, was the wife of Samuel Howard, of Broome county, N. Y .; John W., deceased, lived on the old homestead in Wyoming county; Mar- garet was drowned at the age of sixteen years : Re- becca was next in the order of birth : Charles, born in 1824, died in 1854; Edmund lives at Skinners Eddy, Wyoming county ; Isaac, deceased, married Marilla Place, and they reside in Wyoming county ; Annie is the wife of Dr. Sydney Campbell, of West Pittston, Pennsylvania.

ROBERT ROGERS, who is now living a re- tired life in Susquehanna, was born in the southern part of Scotland, May 31, 1823, and in 1831 was brought to America by his parents. Alexander and Isabella (McMillen) Rogers, who first located twenty miles from Albany, N. Y., where the father engaged in farming for six years. At the end of that time they removed to Delaware county, that State, where he died in 1850, at the age of sixty- three years. Two years later the mother with two

of her daughters, came to Susquehanna, Penn., and she died at the home of her daughter, Isabel. in 1878. at the age of eighty-eight years. Both parents were devout members of the Presbyterian Church, and were held in high regard by all who knew then1. In their family were the following children : Ellen. deceased wife of John B. Kittle; Robert, our sub- ject ; Mary, widow of Daniel W. Squires, of Wind- sor, N. Y .; Alexander, who died in Susquehanna ; Margaret, widow of Anthony C. Parliman, and a resident of Susquehanna; John, a farmer of South Windsor, N. Y .; and Isabel, wife of E. I. Carr, a farmer of Lanesboro, Susquehanna county.

Robert Rogers was reared upon the home farm and aided in its operation until nineteen years of age, after which he worked in a tannery in Middle- town, N. Y., for three years, and another at Star- rucca, Wayne Co., Penn., for the same length of time. After his marriage, he engaged in farming in Scott township, Wayne county, for seven years. and on selling his property there, he went to Har- lem, Ill., six miles from Chicago, but after eight months spent at that place, he removed to Wash- ington county, Iowa, where he lived for two years. Returning to Harlem, Ill., he engaged in the gro- cery business there for three years, and then sold out and again came to Susquehanna, Penn., where for five years he was employed by the Erie Rail- road Co., as car reporter. At the end of that time he again went West, but after spending three years in farming in Missouri, he returned to Susque- hanna, where he was engaged in the commission business for seven years, and then. in partnership with Charles Lyons, built a grist mill, which they operated for two years, when it was destroyed by fire. During the following two years he again engaged in the commission business, and after liv- ing retired for four years, he conducted a hardware store for three years, since which time he has lived retired, enjoying a well earned rest in the midst of all the comforts which make life worth the living. Since the formation of the Republican party he has been one of its stanch supporters, and he gives his support to every enterprise which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit. He is a Master Mason and a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

Near Starrucca, Wayne county, in April, 1849. Mr. Rogers was married to Melvina Sampson, a native of that county and a daughter of Henry HI. Sampson, of Susquehanna county. She died in Susquehanna, December 17. 1879. and Mr. Rogers was again married, March 24. 1881, in Susque- hanna. his second union being with Mrs. Mary (Straight) Gilbert. She was born in Otsego county. N. Y .. April 5. 1842, and first married Franklin Gilbert, by whom she had one con. Lloyd S .. a dentist of Denver. Colo. Mr. Gilbert. a butcher by trade. was born in Otsego county. N. Y., and died in Susquehanna. Penn.

Samuel and Harriet (Eldred) Straight, the par- ents of Mrs. Rogers, were farming people and life-

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long residents of Otsego county, N. Y., where the former died in October, 1878, aged seventy-three years, the latter in December, 1893, aged eighty- five. The children of this worthy couple were as follows: Eliza, wife of F. Harrington, a farmer of Clinton county, Iowa ; Mehitable, deceased wife of Abel Harrington ; Harvey, a farmer of Otsego county, N. Y., who was killed in the first battle of Bull Run during the Civil war ; Susan and Edgar, who both died in infancy; Clarissa, the second wife of Abel Harrington; Mary, wife of our subject ; Hannah, a resident of Otsego county, N. Y .; Phoebe, deceased wife of Albert Beers, a tanner of Newark, N. J .; and Josephine, who died at the age of three years. Mrs. Rogers' paternal grandpar- ents were Rev. Calvin and Phoebe (Sleeper) Straight, the former a native of New York State, the latter of Philadelphia, Penn. Both died in Otsego county, N. Y. The grandfather was a Quaker clergyman. His father, with two of his brothers, emigrated to America from Spain at an early day and located in Otsego county, while one of the brothers settled in Pennsylvania and the other returned to Spain. The maternal grand- parents of Mrs. Rogers, Nathan and Hannah (Cole) Eldred, were both born in Vermont and died in Otsego county, N. Y. By occupation Nathan El- dred was a farmer.

FREDERICK A. ABBEY, a leading farmer of Hamlinton, and the present assessor of Salem township, Wayne county, was born August 2, 1849, in that township, where the family was founded in 1833 by his grandparents, Anson and Clarissa (Tay- lor) Abbey, natives of Portland, Conn. Here the grandfather purchased a tract of eighty acres and upon that place both he and his wife died, the former in December, 1865, aged sixty-five years, the latter in December, 1894, at the extreme old age of ninety-three. He was drum major of a pri- vate company in Connecticut. Their children werc as follows : Henry A., the father of our subject ; Harriet A., who married Edwin Bell, and both are now deceased; Hancy S., who married James R. Dayton, and both are now deceased ; Julia, deceased wife of Andrew Spangenberg. a retired shoemaker and farmer of Hollisterville. Wayne county ; David, deceased, who married Lucina Andrews, a resident of Salem township; Russell P., a merchant at Grand Junction, Colo., who married first Jennie Shepard, of New Haven, Conn., and later Elizabeth Burns; Ralph G., whose sketch appcars on an- other page of this volume; Victoria, deccased ; Anna M., who first married William James. and is now the wife of a Mr. Allen. of La Crosse. Wis .; and Lucy E., who first married George W. Walker. and is now the wife of Jerome T. Stocker, a farmer and merchant of Salem township.

Henry A. Abbey, our subject's father. was born in Portland, Conn., and came to Wayne county, Penn .. in 1833, where he gave his attention to farming. Here, on November 3. 1846, he mar-

ried Sarah A. Morgan, a daughter of Aaron and Rubie W. (Rathbone) Morgan. Her father was a native of Salem, Conn., where he was married, and at an early day became a resident of Salem town- ship, Wayne county, Penn. In 1838 he erected the present stone residence of our subject. It contains thirteen rooms, and is one of the most de- sirable homes in the locality. After his marriage Henry A. Abbey returned to Connecticut and worked for some time in a cutlery shop, but in the spring of 1849, he returned to Wayne county, and engaged in farming until his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Abbey were born two sons: Frederick A., of this review ; and Clark H., who married Ade- laide Potter and is engaged in farming in Salem township. Their father died May 3, 1853, at the early age of twenty-nine years, the mother on Oc- tober 18, 1879, aged fifty-five, and both were buried in Salem cemetery. In addition to the management of her farm, Mrs. Abbey conducted a millinery store for many years previous to her death, and was a woman of more than ordinary business ability.

Frederick A. Abbey obtained his education in the public schools of Wayne county and Port- land, Conn. He remained with his mother until he had attained the age of fourteen years, when he went to Portland, Conn., where for four years he worked on the farm of Nelson Shepard. He then spent one year at home, but at the end of that time returned to Portland, where he found employ- ment in the Middlesex stone quarry during the summer, after which he operated his mother's iarm until the fall of 1870. For six months he worked on the farm of his uncle, Ralph G. Abbey, and then went to western Pennsylvania. and later to Detroit, Mich., where he was connected with the Michigan Stove Manufacturing Company for a few months. Returning to Wayne county, he located upon his present farm of sixty-two acres, and to its im- provement and cultivation lias since devoted his energies with most gratifying results.

On January 21, 1880, in Ariel, Lake town- ship, Wayne county, Mr. Abbey was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Edwards. a daughter of George W. and Eudora Edwards. She died December 21, 1892, at the age of thirty-five years, leaving no children. At Daleville, Penn., Mr. Ab- bey was again married, December 25. 1893. his sec- ond union being with Miss Lillian A. Wardell, by whom he has one son, Clyde Wardell, born Novem- ber 27, 1894. Mrs. Abbey was born in Daleville, March 30, 1865. a daughter of Major M. and Susan W. (Buckingham) Wardell, natives of Daleville, Lackawanna county, and Paupack, Wayne county. respectively. The father. who was a farmer by oc- cupation, dicd in Daleville, December 5. 1897, but the mother is still living in that placc. Their chil- dren were Zaidec M., now the wife of C. A. Nau- mann, a blacksmith and wheelwright. of Paradisc. Penn. : Lillian, wife of our subject ; Edward M .. a railroad fireman at Moscow, Penn., who married

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Flora E. Miller ; E. Ambrosc, a farmer of Moscow, who first married Jennie R. Stein. and after her death wedded Mrs. Hattie Wombacker; Lena and Edith M., both deceased ; Susie E., wife of Peter Lamm, a carpenter of Scranton, Penn. ; and Estella M., at home. Mrs. Abbey's paternal grandparents were Edward and Elizabeth (Major) Wardell, the former a native of England, the latter of Lehman, Wyoming county, Penn. At the age of eight years the former came with his parents to the United States, and they were among the first settlers of Daleville, Penn. Her maternal grandparents, Am- brose W. and Mahala (Kellee) Buckingham, were natives of Connecticut and New York, respectively, and the foriner died in Paupack township, Wayne county, in 1877, the latter (at the ripc age of ninety- two years) residing in Hamlinton with her daugh- ter, Emma May Buckingham, an authoress.

Fraternally Mr. Abbey is a Master Mason, and politically affiliates with the Republican party. Hc has served as inspector and judge of elections. and in 1895 was appointed assessor of Salem township. to which position he has been re-elected each suc- ceeding year, being the present incumbent. He is quite active and influential in local political affairs, and has done all in his power to promote the inter- ests of his party. Socially, Mr. Abbey is a member of the I. O. O. F., having joined the order at the age of twenty-one years, and took an active part in the work for a number of years, and in the May sessions, 1875, at Williamsport. Penn., was admitted to the Grand Lodge. He is well posted on the lead- ing questions and issues of the day, and is one of the most prominent men of his community.

THOMAS A. PETTIT. a leading citizen of Liberty township, Susquehanna county, whose life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, was born in Sussex county, N. J., in June, 1852, a son of Nathaniel and Annie (Morris) Pettit, also natives of that county. There the paternal grandfather. Rob- ert Pettit, a farmer by occupation, spent his entire life. In his family were six children, three sons and three daughters, all of whom remained in New Jersey, with the exception of two daughters who married and went to Ohio.

Nathaniel Pettit, the father of our subject. in- herited the old homestead at Newton, N. J., but in 1836, he sold that farm and rented a place in his native State, until coming to Jessup township. Sus- quehanna county, in 1869. Here he purchased a farm, but at the end of six years returned to New Jersey, where both he and his wife dicd, the former in 1801, the latter in 1893. They were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. and had the respect and esteem of all who knew them. Their family consisted of six sons and one daughter, all born in New Jersey, namely: (1) Phoebe :1. Na married William Clark, of Sussex county, that State, and they now reside in Harnesville, N. J .. where he owns a finc farm. Tlicir children are Jeptha. Susan, Nathaniel, Emma, Minnie. Frank,

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 37

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