Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 44

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 44
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 44
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 44
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 44

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culated to advance the welfare of his town, county and State.

JACOB B. MEITZLER, justice oi the peace of Polk township, and a prominent representative of the agricultural interests of Monroe county. was born in Lehigh county, Penn., February 11, 1856, and is a representative of old and prominent fami- lies of that county.

His parents. Jacob and Sarah C. (Christman) Meitzler, were also natives of Lehigh county, the former born in 1828, the latter in 1831, and were married there January 26, 1851. On leaving Lehigh county they came direct to Polk township. Monroe county, and located on the farm where they still reside. The father is now living retired, while our subject operates the place. Both he and his wife are sincere and faithful members of the Re- formed Church, and are held in the highest respect by the entire community. The children born to them are as follows : James H., a farmer of North- ampton county, Penn .; Flerinda, who died young; Josiah B., a railroad man of Lehighton, Penn .; Jacob B., our subject ; Jonas L., a railroad engineer of Lehighton : Anna M., who died at the age of five years ; Ella Amanda P. T., wife of James Lantz. of Lehighton ; John, who is engaged in farming and the sawmill business in Polk township: Jerry F., who died at the age of thirteen years; Lucy, who died in iniancy; and Joseph O., a resident of Hazelton, Pennsylvania.

The paternal great-grandparents of our sub- ject were Henry Meitzler and his wife, whose maiden name was Gaumer, who spent their entire lives in Lehigh county, as did also the grand- parents, Henry and Catherine (Smoyer) Meitzler, who were farming people. Henry Meitzler died in 1869, aged eighty-three years, liis wife in 1873, aged eighty-six. Their children were Benjamin. Hannah and Henry, all deceased ; Daniel, a resident of Lehigh county: Catherine, deceased wife of Michael Kane : William, deceased ; Philip, who died in November. 1898: Jacob, father of our subject; John and Aaron, both residents of Lehigh county ; and David, deceased. Our subject's maternal great- grandparents were Henry and Catherine (Rader) Christman, who as farming people always made their home in Lehigh county. There the grand- parents, Henry and Lydia (Napenberger) Christ- man, also engaged in agricultural pursuits until called from this life. the former dying 1875. at the age of seventy-two years, the latter February 7. 1833, at the age of twenty-five years, two months and twenty-six days. To them were born two children : Sarah C., mother of our subject ; and Josiah, deceased. For his second wife Henry Christman married Elizabeth Weiler, by whom he had the following children : Frank, a resident of Allentown, Penn .: Mary A .. deceased wife of Henry Ritz; Adeline, wife of Herman Kramer: Amelia deceased wife of Adam Kline; Edwin, a resident of Allentown ; Allen. of . Allentown ; James, of Allen-

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town; Mena, widow of Joseph Barney ; Amanda ; and Ellen, wife of Gus Weaser.

Jacob B. Meitzler began his education in the public schools near his boyhood home, and at the age of seventeen entered the Fairview Academy at Brodheadsville, where he pursued his studies for two terms. Later he attended a select school at Pleasant Valley, and at the age of twenty com- menced teaching, a profession, which lie success- fully followed for five terms. He continued to make his home with his parents until his inarriage, which was celebrated at Brodheadsville, September 20, 1883, Miss Mary P. Gregory becoming his wife. Four children were born of this union, namely : Harvey Z .; Emma E .; William C .; and Edwin J., deceased. Mrs. Meitzler was born at Gilberts, Monroe county, April 27, 1861, a daughter of Will- iam Gregory, who is mentioned more fully below. For three years after his marriage Mr. Meitzler farmed in Polk township, Monroe county, and then moved to Mahoning Valley, on Joseph Obert's place, where he was engaged in farming and lum- bering for four years, when he returned to the old homestead in Polk township, Monroe county, which . he purchased of his father, and which he has since so successfully operated. He has ever taken quite an active and influential part in local politics, was serving as school director at the time of his removal to Mahoning Valley, having filled the office for two years of his term, and in 1897 was again elected for three years, and in 1900 re-elected with a good ma- jority. He was also elected justice of the peace in 1898, and is now filling that office with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the general public. Both he and his father are ardent sup- porters of the Democratic party, and he affiliates with the Farmers Association, of which he was president six years, and secretary for two years, which latter office he still holds. He is a prominent member of the Pleasant Valley Reformed Church, in which he served as deacon prior to leaving Mon- roe county, filled the same office in the church at Mahoning Valley, Carbon county, and has again served as deacon of the former congregation for the past two years. He is also superintendent of the Sunday school at Kresgeville, and takes an active part in all church work. His life has ever been in harmony with his professions, and he has the respect and confidence of all who know him.

William Gregory, one of the leading citizens of Polk township, was born May 8, 1836, on the farm where he still makes his home, and is a son of David and Catherine (Marstella) Gregory, who were born, reared and married in Berks county, Penn., and on leaving there in 1820 came to Mon- roc county and settled on the farm in Polk town- ship, now owned and occupied by their son. Tlie father was a farmer and lumberman by occupation, a Democrat in politics and held several township offices. He died in 1866, aged eighty-one years, his wife in 1860, aged sixty-seven, and both were buried in Pleasant Valley cemetery. Religiously

they were faithful members of tlie Reformed Church. Their children were Sally A., deceased wife of J. W. Kresge; David, who died unmarried when over fifty years of age; John, Reuben and Henry, all deceased ; Lydia, who married Thomas Kresge, and both are now deceased; Nellie, who married James Kresge, and both are now deceased ; Peter, a resident of Akron, Ohio; James. deceased ; Catherine, wife of Levi Slutter, of Hamilton town- ship, Monroe county ; and William, father of Mrs. Meitzler. The paternal grandfather of William Gregory was John Gregory, a life long resident of Berks county, Penn., who was buried at Huffs Church. He was a government official whose duty it was to look after the welfare of the Indians.

William Gregory has spent his entire life on his present farm and has given his attention almost ex- clusively to agriculture. He is quite prominent in his community, is a supporter of the Democratic party, and has served his fellow citizens in the capacity of school director and poormaster. He is a devout member of the Reformed Church. and has served as deacon and elder for several years. In the fall of 1856, he married Elizabeth Shaffer, who was born in Monroe county, in 1835, a daughter of Jesse and Marie (Kresge) Shaffer, who always made their home in that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Gregory were born the following children: Amos F. married Anna Berlin and is engaged in farming at Weatherley, Penn .; David, a farmer of Polk township, Monroe county, married Susan Berlin : Mary Permelia is the wife of Jacob B. Meitzler, our subject ; Edna is the wife of Cyrus Shupp, a farmer of Polk township ; William H., a farmer of Weath- erley, married Sarah Kresge; Agnes is the wife of Allen Barthold, a wire manufacturer of Philadel- phia ; and Lydia and John E. are both at home with their parents.

WILLIAM B. WEBB, a well-known wagon manufacturer, horseshoer and general blacksmith of Franklin township, Susquehanna county, is a prominent citizen of the community, winning this place by his superior ingenuity, mechanical skill and business ability, and the success that he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own well- directed efforts.

Mr. Webb was born in Franklin township, April 23, 1857, and belongs to one of its most honored and highly respected families. his par- ents being Capt. Joseph E. and Susannah ( Hinds) Webb. also natives of Susquehanna county. The father was born in Bridgewater township. October 2, 1817, later in life became one of the leading farmers of Franklin township, and there died March 4, 1882. but was buried in Bridgewater cemetery. As a Democrat he took a prominent part in loca. politics, and was honored with several township offices. Religiously, he was an earnest member of the Baptist Church, to which his widow also belongs. She was born in Bridgewater township, November 25. 1819, and now lives on the old home-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

stead in Franklin township. The children born to them were as follows: George W., deceased; Henry E., who lives with his mother ; Stephen G., a carpenter of Binghamton, N. Y .; Elizabeth P., who first married Asa Kenyon, and second H. E. Pittsley, a carpenter of Sayre, Penn. : Frederick M., who is also with his mother ; William B., our sub- ject ; Hulda M., who is the widow of Byron Green and also lives on the old homestead; and James Harry, a farmer of Bridgewater township. A more extended mention of the family is given in the sketch of Capt. Joseph E. Webb on another page of this work.

William B. Webb continued to make his home with his parents until his marriage, which was cele- brated at Montrose, December 25, 1879, Miss Ina A. Cosier, becoming his wife. They have had three children : Lloyd, at home ; Harry E., deceased, and Paul W., at home. Mrs. Webb was born in Apola- chin, Susquehanna county, May 7, 1860. and is a daughter of James S. and Mary A. (Bellerby) Cosier, the former a native of Middletown, Susque- hanna county, the latter of England. The mother died in Silver Lake township, in 1863, at the early age of twenty-seven years. and was buried in that township, while the father departed this life at Bing- hamton N. Y., May 23, 1893, at the age of fifty-nine. and was buried there. Only two children were born to them : Emily, wife of Harrison Darrow, of Bridgewater township; and Ina A .. wife of our subject. Mrs. Webb's paternal grandparents, Em- bra and Emeline Cosier, were born in Susque- hanna county, and died in Ohio. Her maternal grandparents, William and Mary E. Bellerby, were natives of England, and on their emigration to America located in Forest Lake township, Sus- quehanna county.

In 1874 Mr. Webb entered a blacksmith shop at Montrose to learn the trade with A. Jackson Brewster, remaining with him two years, and he continued to work for others along the same line until 1879, when he opened a shop of his own in Bridgewater township, carrying on business at that place for fifteen months. During the following fourteen months he was in partnership with Mr. Brewster at Montrose, and at the end of that time removed to Franklin Forks, where he conducted a shop for four years. In 1885 he commenced business at liis present place in Franklin township. and was not long in building up a good trade. which he still enjoys. He casts his ballot with the Demo- cratic party, and has most creditably and satisfac- torily filled the offices of constable five years, tax collector five terms. and assessor for the past six years. In religious faith they are Baptists.

HERBERT EIKE, one of the most reliable and liglily esteemed citizens of Jackson township, Monroe county, belongs to an old New Jersey family, which was founded in that State by his paternal grandfather Eike. who was born, reared and married in Germany. On his emigration to

America he located in Somerset county, N. J., where he engaged in farming and where both he and his wife died at a ripe old age. Their children were Jacob, the father of our subject ; William, still a resident of Somerset county, N. J .; John, who died in that county ; Herbert, a resident of White House, N. J. : Catherine, who married and removed to New York State; Effie, wife of William Murf, of Somerset county, N. J. ; and Elizabeth, who mar- ried and lived near the old homestead.

Jacob Eike, our subject's father, was a native of Somerset county, N. J., where he grew to man- hood and married Miss Sarah Tagger, a daugliter of George Tagger. Her mother lived to the ex- treme old age of one hundred and ten years. After his marriage Mr. Eike engaged in farming in Mor- ris county, N. J., near the Warren county line, and there died at the age of eighty-four years. His political support was always given the Whig party. The children born to himself and wife were as follows : Jacob, a retired farmer of Lanark, Ill., died in 1896: William, a laborer, died at Waterloo, N. J., in 1868; George, a tanner in carly life and later a laborer, lived in Sussex county, N. J., but died in Morris county ; John is a farmer of Carroll county, Ill .; Herbert, our subject, is the next of the family ; Isaac, a laborer in a powder mill, resides in Morris county ; Sarah died in infancy, and was buried in the Methodist Episcopal Church yard at Hackettstown, N. J. : Sarah (second) is the widow of Nathaniel Best. of Dover, N. J .; and Margaret, deceased, married George Money and lived in Mor- ris county.

Herbert Eike was born in Morris county, N. J., near the Warren county line, October 10, 1822, and as there was a large family and his parents were in limited circumstances, he was provided with very meager educational privileges. At the early age of eleven years he began to provide for his own maintenance, and has since made his own way in the world unaided. When a boy he came to Lu- zerne county, Penn., where he spent the winters in the lumber woods for some time, and later was made a mule driver on the Morris canal, the con- struction of which he well remembers. He con- tinued to work on the canal until 1844. when he came to Monroe county, where as a farm hand he was employed for some years. His first purchase consisted of three and a half acres of land in Jack- son township, to which he has added until he now. owns twenty-seven acres. on which he is now en- gaged in general farming and stock raising. He does not follow lumbering at present as he did in years past.

In 1843. in Monroe county, Mr. Eike was mar- ried to Miss Catherine Miller, who was born in Baden, Germany. July 18. 1824. and when a child of seven years came to the United States with her parents, George and Elizabeth (Hemberling) Mil- ler. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eike, namely: Jacob R .. now a farmer of Butler county, Kan. ; George H., an engineer of

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Ashley, Luzerne Co., Penn .; John T., a resident of White Haven, Carbon Co., Penn. : Samuel Herbert. of Ashley, Penn .; Annetta, wife of Oliver Pease, of Topeka, Kan .; Alice, who married John Singer, of Jackson township, Monroe county, and died in 1892; Edward, who died at the age of twenty- three years; Sidenham, who lives in Scranton, Penn .; Ira, who married Ida Bellis, a representa- tive of a pioneer family of the county, and is en- gaged in farming in Jackson township; Jennie, at home; and Franklin, who died in infancy. The Republican party always finds in Mr. Eike a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has been hon- ored with a number of local offices, serving as supervisor two terms in Monroe county ; school director in both Luzerne and Monroe counties for three years ; and supervisor of Luzerne county. He has also been a member of the election board sev- eral times. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Evangelical Church, in which he has been class leader for a number of years, and has also served as trustee and steward. His life has ever been such as to commend him to the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact, and his friends are many throughout Monroe county.

GEORGE H. RITTENHOUSE, head clerk for Isaac Stauffer, at Houser Mill, Monroe county, was born at Milford. N. J., September 5, 1856, and is a son of Charles Rittenhouse, who was born and reared in Philadelphia and received a good educa- tion in the city schools. When a young man the latter removed to Milford, N. J., where he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Kemery, a native of that place and a daughter of Wilson and Annie Kemery.

Charles Rittenhouse began his business career as an employe in a hotel, and later in partnership with William Runyon dealt in horses, making large sales in Philadelphia and New York City. Subse- quently he conducted a restaurant in Milford, N. J .. and was engaged in that business at the time of his death, which occurred in 1883, when he was forty- cight years of age. His wife passed away in 1889, at the age of sixty-seven years. They attended and supported the Presbyterian Church, and their chil- dren were reared in the same. In national politics the father was a stanch Republican, but at local clections usually voted independent of party ties, endeavoring to support the best man for the office. In his family were five children, namely: George H., our subject : Ella, who died at the age of four ycars ; Oran and Jennie, twins, the former of whom is now employed in a hardware store in Milford, N. J., while thic latter is the wife of Joseph Heed, of Philadelphia; and Margarct, also a resident of Philadelphia.

During his boyhood and youth George H. Rittenhouse pursued his studies in the common schools, and at the age of sixteen accepted a posi- tion as clerk in the general store of William Cole,

with whom he remained for ten years. At the end of that time he went to Delaware Station. N. J., where he was employed in a mercantile house for three months, and from there came to Tobyhanna Mills, Monroe Co., Penn., where he secured em- ployment in the store of the Tobyhanna & Lehigh Lumber Company for six years. For the past four vears he has made his home in Houser Mili and has filled the position of head clerk in the store of Isaac Stauffer. Politically he is identified with the Demo- cratic party, and socially has affiliated with the Masonic Lodge of Moscow, Penn., for the past ten years, and is a charter member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America at Houser Mill. As a busi- ness man he is prompt and notably reliable, and he has made many warm friends during his short resi- dence in Houser Mill.

In Milford, N. J., Mr. Rittenhouse married Miss. Ella De Roach, a native of Bridgeton, Penn., . and they have become the parents of four children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows : Charles, September 25, 1882: Roscoe, March 9, 1884; Hazel, October 23, 1885 ; and Coral, Novem- ber 3, 1887. Roscoe is deceased, and the others are all at home.

Joseph De Roach, father of Mrs. Rittenhouse, was born and rearcd ncar Milford, N. J., for many years was engaged in the confectionery business and also followed boating on the canal, but is now interested in farming. He married Jane Foor, a daughter of Michael and Jennie (Holdren) Foor, and they became the parents of the following chil- dren : Jennie, deceased; Annie, wife of Levi Van Syckle; John, who married Emma Zimmerman ; Peter, who married Mary Shupp; Ella. who was born in 1861, and gave her hand in marriage to our subject July 6, 1880; Mary, wife of John Hoffman ; Livera, wife of Julius Hammerman; Amelia, wie of George Hurstine ; Alma, wife of Lloyd Cramer ; and Willie, who married Lizzie Shively.

SANFORD S. CODDINGTON is success- fully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Oakland township, Susquehanna county, and is also serving as justice of the peace. a position which lie fills witli credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the general public. He is thoroughly impartial in mcting out justice, his opinions being unbiased by either fear or favor, and his fidelity to the trust reposed in him is above question.

Mr. Coddington was born in Bridgeville, Sul- livan Co., N. Y., in June, 1858, and is a son of Benjamin S.and Martha J. ( Miller) Coddington. also natives of that State, the former born in Burling- ton. Ulster county, the latter in Orange county. During the Civil war the father enlisted in the 123d N. Y. V. I., and was in the service for three years and three months, doing his duty as a faithful soldier. After his marriage he lived for a short time in Orange county, N. Y., and then moved to Bridgeville, Sullivan county, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade for a number of years.

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After the war he bought property in Glen Wild, Sullivan county, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in March, 1866. He left his wife with six children, and as a trne inother she reared them in a most careful manner at her home in Glen Wild. She now resides with one of her sons at Circleville, Orange Co., New York.

The children were as follows: (1) Jolin, born in Orange county, married Libbie Smith, of Sulli- van county, N. Y., and located in Brownville, where he died, leaving one son, H. S., now a resi- dent of Susquehanna, Penn., who is married and has a son-Harold. (2) William, born in Ulster county, N. Y., married Rachel Dowlway, of Orange county, and located in Circleville, where she died, leaving one daughter, Nellie, now the wife of Frank Brown. For his second wife William Coddington married Maggie Decker, of Orange county, N. Y., by whom he has two children-Emma and Ira. He now resides in Pine Bush, N. Y., where he owns a fine property. (3) Minnie, born in Sullivan coun- ty, N. Y., married Luther Weld, of that county, and they now live on his farm in Fair Oaks, Orange county. They have three children: Jennie, wife of Judson Gillen, of Fair Oaks; Freddie and Luther, both at home. (4) Eugene, born in Bridgeville, Sullivan county, married Lizzie Lozall, of Circleville, N. Y., where he now follows farming. (5) Frank, born in Sullivan county, was princi- pally educated in the schools of Glen Wild and is now engaged in business as a carpenter and builder, making his home with his mother in Circleville. He married Mary Babcock, of Orange county.

Sanford S. Coddington, the subject of this sketch, completes the family. He was only eight years old when his father died, but remained with his mother until old enough to start out in life for himself, his education being obtained in the schools of Glen Wild. He first worked as a farm hand by the month, and during early life also picked up a good knowledge of the blacksmith's trade, which he followed to some extent. In 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss Amelia Miller, of Orange county, N. Y., a daughter of Levi and Araminta (Travis) Miller. Her father, who is a farmer by occupation, is a representative of an old and promi- nent family of Wallkill, Orange county. Our sub- ject and his wife have two children: Frank M., who was born in Susquehanna, Penn., in October, 1881 ; and Cora M., born in Oakland, in December, 1883. Both are now students in the home schools. .

After his marriage Mr. Coddington located in Susquehanna, Penn., where for a year and a half he worked at the carpenter's and mason's trades, and then, in 1883, purchased the A. K. Perine farni in Oakland township, Susquehanna county. Until 1897 he devoted considerable attention to the dairy and milk business, which he disposed of during that year, and has since successfully engaged in general farming. He has remodeled his barns and erected new buildings upon the place, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the farm plainly indicates his

careful supervision and shows him to be a man wlio thoroughly understands his chosen calling. He commenced life for himself without capital, but being honest, upright and industrious he has be- come the owner of a good property. Politically he follows in the footsteps of his father, always voting the Republican ticket, and in 1896 he was elected justice of the peace in Oakland township for a term of five years. Religiously he and his wife are faithful members of the North Jackson Mieth- odist Episcopal Church, and socially he belongs to Cannawacta Tribe, No. 246, I. O. R. M., of Sus- quehanna.

GEORGE A. WRIGHT. Five generations of the Wrights have lived in the southern portion of Susquehanna county, clearing and cultivating the soil and successively presented to their fellow- citizens characters exemplary and inspiring. The great-grandfather of our subject was Samuel Wright, who had been a captain in the Revolution- ary war, fighting its battles while in charge of a Connecticut company. He had three sons, An- thony, Wise and Samuel, who prior to 1809 migrated from Somers, Conn., and settled in Lathrop township, the father coming a little later.

Anthony Wright, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, about 1784. He married Sally Swetland, of Chau- tauqua county, New York, occupied his farm in Lathrop township, Susquehanna county, for forty- eight years, dying in December, 1857, aged nearly seventy-four years. Himself and wife were among the pioneer Methodists of the township and he was one of its most enterprising citizens. He selected his own burial spot, which has since become the beautiful Lathrop cemetery. The children of An- thony and Sally Wright were as follows: Loren. father of our subject; Caroline, who married D. Davis and moved to Illinois; Doctor Samuel: Amanda, who married George Sweet, of Lathrop township, and now resides at Bridgewater; Lois. who married James Conrad, of Lenox township; Polly, who married Lewis Baker and died in South Dakota ; and Salley, who married Joseph Hawley. and died in Lenox.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 44

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