Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 57

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 57
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 57
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 57
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 57

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Mrs. De La Fontaine was born in Providence, Penn., August 21, 1829, and first married Peter Halloek, by whom she had three children. - Mary is now the widow of Wright Campbell, by whom she had two children, Wright and Gertrude, and now resides in Carbondale. (2) Emma is the wife of Andrew Lindsley, of Jermyn, Penn .. and they have three children, Nellie. Sarah and Nettie. (3) Charles P .. a resident of Carbondale, married Lydia Smithi, and has one daughter. Mrs. De La Fontaine has five great-grandehildren. Her parents were William and Hannah ( Rivenburg) Connor, the former a native of Drinker's Beach, Luzerne Co., Pen., the latter of Dutchess county, N. Y. They spent their last days with their children in Scranton, where the father died in May, 1867, aged sixty-six years. the mother September 17, 1882, aged eighty-three. Their family consisted of Mahala, widow of Patriek Grattan. and a resident of Carbondale; Miner, deecased: Sarah. wife of our subject ; Lucy, widow of James Higgins, and a resident of Greenridge. Penn. : Hannah. wife of

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Lan Rolls, of Grassy Island, Penn .; Archelia, wife of Ulysses Campbell, of Scranton; and Jane, wife of Edward Shaffer, of South Canaan, Wayne coun- ty. Mrs. De La Fontaine's paternal grandfather, William Connor, spent his entire life in Luzerne county, Penn., and her maternal grandfather, Ja- cob Rivenburg, who was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., died in Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania.

JACOB LOUIS KEEN, a venerable gentle- man of over ninety years of age, who has played well his part in the development of the country of Wayne county, which has been going on through his little less than eighty-five years' residence here, was, during his active, busy life, one of the substan- tial men and leading farmers of Canaan township.

Born May 15, 1809, in the village of Mechan- icsville, Orange Co., N. Y. Mr. Keen is the son of Capt. Mathias Keen. The Keen family, it is thought, is of German origin, their ancestor having emigrated two centuries ago. Jacob Keen, the grandfather of · our subject, resided in Virginia, and was likely a native of that State, as was also his son, Capt. Mathias Keen, who went from Vir- ginia to Orange county, N. Y. About 1801 he moved to New York City, and for two years was engaged in the draying business. He then returned to Orange county, and for a time was at Middle- ton engaged in mercantile business, but he later sold out, and going to Mechanicsville, bought a farm. Unfortunately he lost this through having indorsed paper for others, the farm being sold under a mort- gage. He then moved to Milford, Pike Co., Penn., and for several years worked at the mason's trade. In February, 1815, he moved to what was then Elk Forest, now Canaan township, Wayne county, and here purchased 200 acres of land in its primitive state, which included Canoe Pond, which he in- tended to convert into a mill site. In the fall of 1814, he had, with the help of a hired man, built on his land a log house, or cabin, of the most sim- ple pattern possible; it had a bark roof, and for doors suspended blankets were used. To get to it ' he drove through the lumber roads and part of the way through an unbroken wilderness. Their house- hold goods and the family were drawn in a sleigh, and while it was being unloaded Mrs. Keen, who sat in the sleigh, could not keep back the tears- so dreary and wild appeared what was to be their new home. They at once began the improvement of the surroundings, but soon after their arrival Mr. Keen was badly wounded by the accidental dis- charge of a rifle while hunting. Among their im- provements was a log dam built across the outlet of the pond, thereby raising the water ten fect. In 1816 he completed the gristmill commenced the ycar previous, and this supplied a want which had been deeply felt by the inhabitants of the sur- rounding country for many miles. The stones for the mill were obtained in the mountains and shaped by Mr. Keen's own labor. In 1830 the gristmill was torn down and a sawmill built in its place. Mr.

Keen being by trade a stone mason worked at it after coming to Canaan. He had charge of the building of the locks on the Lehigh canal at Easton. He also built the lock at Durham on the Pennsyl- vania canal, and the locks on the Delaware & Hud- son canal. While in Orange county, N. Y., he raised a company of militia called the "Republican Blues," of which he was made captain. He became . proficient in military drill, and on his arrival in Wayne county he took an active interest in military affairs, and was commissioned, by Gov. Snyder, captain of the Eighth Company, 103d Pennsylvania Militia. Capt. Keen was an ardent Free Mason, and in 1816 was installed worshipful master of Freedom Lodge, No. 147, of Bethany, and he was its first master. Politically, he was an ardent Demo- crat of the Jackson type. He held at various times township offices.

Capt. Keen was twice married, marrying his first wife, a Miss Muzzy, at Dolsontown before leav- ing Orange county for New York City, as stated in the foregoing. Two children-Jane and George -blessed this union. His second marriage was with Ann Reeves and their children were: Julia, James, Mathias, Elvira, Mary, Jacob Louis (our subject), Ann, Catherine, Rosetta, Louisa and Elizabeth. Capt. Keen died January 9, 1835.

Jacob Louis Keen, who was a lad of only five years when the family settled in Canaan township, recalls many incidents of his boyhood in the primeval forest. He remembers his father bring- ing fire from the last neighbor's house three miles from his home. There were no matches in Canaan then. He was reared amid rural surroundings and found plenty of hard work to be done in clearing away the forests and improving the land. Through the winter season he attended the primitive schools of that day in which, however, he obtained a fair education. On the death of his father Jacob pur- chased 114 acres of the homestead, of which five acres only had been cleared. Young Keen went to work with stout heart and resolute purpose, and transformed his land into beautiful, fruitful fields and placed thereon good buildings and other im- provements. He toiled on through a long life and reaped the reward that his well-spent time in honest effort and endeavor merited. Through his indus- trious habits and good management he became pros- perous, success crowning his labors. Having man- aged his own affairs successfully, his fellow-citizens looked upon him as a man capable to look after the business of the county, and they elected him one of the county commissioners of Wayne county, and in that office of responsibility he proved that in their sclection they had made no mistake. He, as was his father, is a Democrat of the old school. In his religious faith he is a Universalist. but is liberal toward other denominations, and has assisted them financially in the crcction of some of the church buildings in this locality.

On December 21, 1831, Mr. Keen was mar- ried to Miss Rachel Felton, born July 17, 1808, and

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to them came children as follows: (1) Aun M., born September 17, 1833, marricd S. Hudson, by whom she had one child-Josephine L., who now resides with our subject, tenderly caring for him in his old age, and rendering the evening of his life pleasant and happy with her cheery disposition and thoughtfulness. Ann M. was twice married, her second husband being William Hoyle. They reside at Prompton, Penn., where he is superintendent of the gravity railroad. Their children are: William, Mary, Samuel, Grace, Kate and Robert. (2) Mary M., born November 27, 1835, married A. R. Edgett, and they had one child-Lillian I., born May 4, 1858, now the wife of Rev. E. H. Whitman, the latter couple having one child, Nellie E. (3) George N., born November 27, 1837, married Jane Jenkins and had two children-Edward L. and William. (4) Jennette, born September 7, 1839, married J. R. Smith, and had one child -- Charles D. (5) Hethacatt M., born June 18, 1841. (6) Edwin R., born July 2, 1842, married Agnes Shuster and had children-Grace, Judson and Ar- thur. (7) James R., born August 18, 1845, mar- ried Theresa Weinmeyer, and had children- Charles, Miles, Harry and Pauline. (8) Sarah J., born May 22, 1848, married Walter Carr and had one child-Sadie. The mother of these children passed away April 16, 1888, and her remains rest in Keen's cemetery, Canaan township.

ISAAC CARTER (deceased) was for forty years a prosperous farmer of Auburn township, Susquehanna county, owning and operating the large farm which is now carried on by his son, John B. Carter, and on which his widow still makes her home. The family has long been identified with the county, the first of the name to settle here being Hiram and Hannah ( Daly) Carter, who came from New Jersey.

Samuel Carter, son of Hiram, was born in Sus- quehanna county, and carried on farming in Auburn township all his life. He married Dorcas Benscoter a native of Luzerne county, Penn., and they had a family of eight children, viz .: Isaac; Emeline, widow of Warren Tewkesbury: Rufus, living on the old homestead at South Auburn ; Volney, who is a farmer in Missouri; Samuel, who died in Cali- fornia ; Benjamin, a speculator, living in Missouri ; Harriet, who died unmarried ; and George, a banker, of West Plains, Mo. The father of these passed away March 29, 1863, aged fifty-five years, one month, twenty-seven days, the mother in 1867, when fifty-eight years of age : they were buried at South Auburn.

Isaac Carter was born August 30. 1828, in Au- burn township. where he passed' his entire life, engaged in farming. In 1853 he settled on the farm which the family have since occupied, and which he was obliged to clear before he could take up the regular duties of farming. His original purchase comprised 240 acres, forty-eight of which have been sold. His first wife was Aurelia Bun-

nell, by whom he had four children, namely : Ziba. a farmer of Bradford county, Penn. ; Mary Emo gene, who married .A. M. Parker, a farmer of lu- burn township; and Scott and Frank, both of whom died young. The mother passed away in October. 1866, at the age of forty-four years, and was buried in the cemetery at South Auburn. On November 7, 1870, at Clark Summit, Penn., Isaac Carter wedded Ellen Benscoter, who was born March 1, 1838, in Auburn township, daughter of John and Jane (Coates) Benscoter, and this union was blessed with three children : John B., who is men- tioned more fully below ; Samuel C., who died when two and a half years old; and Eva L., living at home. Mr. Carter passed away August 1, 1894. aged sixty-six years, and was laid to rest in the South Auburn cemetery. He was not a member of any church, but he-was a constant attendant at the services of the M. E. Society, and he was an honorable, upright man, highly estcemed wherever he was known. Politically, he cast his ballot witli the Democrats.

Mrs. Ellen ( Benscoter) Carter is the daugh- ter of John and Jane (Coates) Benscoter, and granddaughter of Abraham and Lois Benscoter. The name is Dutch, and was originally spelled Bensco. John Benscoter was born in 1801, in Lu- zerne county, this State, and in 1837 came to Susquehanna county, settling on a farm in Auburn township on March I, and there passing the re- mainder of his long and busy life, engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. He was married three times. first to Sally Master, by whom he had two children : Wesley, a farmer, who went to Idaho; Elizabeth. widow of J. Rauth, of Union county, Penn. He then married Ann Coates, by whom he had three children : Sylvester and Christopher, twins, who died aged twenty and twenty-one years, respec- tively ; and Sarah, widow of H. Vaughn, living in Iowa. His third union, with Jane Coates, sister of Ann, was blessed with eight children, as follows: Ellen, Mrs. Carter : Emily, who first married H. V. Hall, and for her second husband Samuel Vaughn : Maria, unmarried, living with her sister. Mrs. Car- ter: Arthur, a farmer of Auburn township; Mary. unmarried, Addison and Dora, unmarried, all liv- ing on the old homestead in Auburn township : and Isaac, who occupies part of the old homestead. The father of this family dicd March 2, 1898, aged ninety-six years, six months, the mother following liim to the grave on July 1, of the same year ; they were buried in the Jersey Hill cemetery. She was born in England and was brought to America by her parents when six months old.

John B. Carter was born August 24. 1871. On the farm where he has always made his home and where he received his training to agricultural life under his father's tuition. He attended the public schools during boyhood, gaining a good practical education, and during his active life he has devoted himself to general farming and dairying. He is progressive and up-to-date in his calling, and ranks

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among the intelligent as well as the prosperous farmers of the locality, his fine property giving ample evidence of the carc and thoroughness of method, which are characteristic of Mr. Carter in everything he undertakes. On February 21, 1894, he was married, at Waverly, Penn., to Miss Lena J. Taylor, and they have two children, Ruth A. and Hildreth J. Mr. Carter is a Republican in political preference, but he takes little active part in politics, though he has a public-spirited interest in the public affairs of the community in which he resides, and the general advancement of his town- ship and county.

Mrs. Lena J. Carter was born August 4. 1874, at Silvara, Penn., daughter of Andrew J. and Allie (Conderman) Taylor, the former of whom was born January 5, 1837, in New York State, son of Walter and Sally ( Montgomery) Taylor, the latter born July 27, 1841, in Iola, Ill., daughter of Solo- mon and Sally (McFall) Conderman. Mr. Taylor is a farmer by occupation. In 1867 he moved to Bradford county, Penn., and he now makes his home in Silvara. During the Civil war he served three years as a member of Company E, 75th Ill. V. I., escaping uninjured. Mrs. Carter is the youngest of three children-Linley, who is de- ceased; Minnie, who lives with her parents, and Lena J.

CHARLES KERN, SR. The salubrious air and picturesque scenery of this section annually attracts crowds of summer tourists, and the beautiful home- stead of our subject near New Milford is a favorite resort for an exclusive group of guests. His estate comprises 400 acres of land, and he also owns fourteen acres of "East Lake," a beautiful sheet of water about 100 acres in extent and very deep, where fishing and boating help to while away the time of visitors. Mr. Kern has built two cottages upon the place, the "Kerndorf" containing six and the "Laurel" Cottage six sleeping rooms, and each summer sees them filled with appreciative guests.

Mr. Kern was born August 3, 1845, in Wur- temberg, Germany, where his family has resided for many generations. John George Kern, our sub- ject's grandfather, was a farmer by occupation, and passed liis life in Germany. John G. Kern, the father of our subject, opcrated a farm and vineyard there, and his death occurred in 1855 at the age of seventy-one. Our subject's mother, whose maiden name was Dora B. Oehm, was born August 24, 1816, the daugliter of Michael and Ann MI. ( Hcatline) Ochm, of Germany, and her father was also a farmer and vinc growcr. She came to America in 1871 to make her home with a daugh- , ter in Port Jervis, N. Y. Of the children of John G. and Dora Kern, the oldest, John, owns a farm and stoncquarry at Long Eddy, Penn. Charles was the second in order of birth : Margaret is thic wife of Charles Eschchaun, a machinist at Port Jervis; and George is a mcat dealer at Sparrow Bush, New York.

Our subject remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of thirteen, when he went to Bavaria to serve an apprenticeship in a tannery. He remained three years, receiving no pay, and later he worked as a journeyman tanner at Wur- temberg, and other places. In 1866 he started for America, spending one week in England while on his way, and on liis arrival here he settled in Spar- row Bush, N. Y., where he found employment as a currier in a tannery. After fourteen days in this position he removed to New Milford, and for seven years was employed in a tannery in that village, but he then purchased the Brennan farm and en- gaged in agriculture. A few years later he bought the Finney farm, adjoining his previous purchase, and his estate is now one of the best in the town- ship. Mr. Kern is much esteemed as a citizen, and takes a keen interest in all that concerns the public welfare. He belongs to the Masonic order, having attained the third degree, and is also an active mem- ber of the local Grange and the I. O. O. F., Cono- wachta Lodge, No. 287. As a young man of twen- ty-one, he was chosen trustee of the Lutheran Church at Port Jervis, but he resigned after three years' service. In politics he is a Democrat, but he does not seek prominence in party affairs. For one year he taught a class in German in New Mil- ford, his pupils appreciating the opportunities for gaining a practical knowledge of the language un- der such able guidance, but the pressure of other business interfered with further work in that line.

On March 14, 1868, Mr. Kern was married at Port Jervis to his first wife, Miss Fredericka Schlecht, who was born September 10, 1840, in Ger- many, and came to America in 1844 with her par- ents, Louis and Wilhelmina (Bayer) Schlecht, her father becoming interested in business as a tanner in Sullivan county, N. Y. Five children were born to our subject: (1) Augusta married William Huntley, a farmer at East Lake, New Milford township. (2) Charles F., who operates a part of our subject's homestead, married Miss Myrtle Shay. (3) Lizzie died at the age of six years. (4) George resides in Binghaniton, N. Y. (5) Augustus is a farmer in Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, and is unmarried. The mother of this family died in January, 18SI, hier remains being interred at Sparrow Bush, N. Y. On October 2, 1883, Mr. Kern was again married in Port Jervis, this time to Mrs. Carrie ( Hamlin) Wilbur, who was born Octo- ber 6, 1855, at Brackncyville, Susquehanna county. Her uncle Isaac and aunt Betsy Hamilin were resi- dents of Montrose, Penn. Her father. John Ham- lin, was a native of Binghamton, N. Y., born Feb- ruary 15, 1825, and in early life followed the currier's trade at that place, but later hc engaged in agriculture at Conklin, Broome county, N. Y .. as a falling tree crippled liim permanently and made other work difficult. Hc dicd Junc IS, ISto, and was buried at Conklin cemetery. His wife, Har- riet Platt, to whom he was married at Brackncy- ville, was born Novembe: 11, 1825, in Schoharie

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county, N. Y., daugliter of Jolin and Polly Platt, and her death occurred July 12, 1887. This worthy couple had eight children, namely: Charles, a resi- dent of Binghamton, N. Y .; Edward, who died in 1876; George, who resides at Fisher's Eddy, N. Y .; Carrie, wife of our subject ; John, deceased ; Mary, who married Edward Finch, of Peakville, N. Y .; Amanda, wife of William Muckey, of Brookdale, N. Y .; and Hattie, who has been twice married, first to Emmet Parks, of East Branch, N. Y., and after his death to A. P. Cook, of Cook's Falls, N. Y. By her first marriage Mrs. Kern had one son, Ernest, now residing at Fisher's Eddy, N. Y. He married Miss Fanny Demott, and has two children -Florence and Clifford.

ISAAC DEUEL. In all the history of Susque- hanna county, there is no name more frequently found than that of Deuel. It stands forth promi- nently identified not only with the agricultural in- terests of the county, but with all movements tending toward higher civil and moral develop- ment. Isaac Deuel, the well-known and venerable dairy farmer of Forest Lake township, Susquc- hanna county, was born in Middletown township, that county, December 16, 1817, son of Ira and Sophia (Stoddard) Deuel.

Ira Deuel was born near Albany, N. Y., and soon after taking unto himself a wife came to Penn- sylvania and settled in the woods in Middletown township, Susquehanna county, where he cleared the land, and cultivated the soil of a large farm, which is yet in the possession of one branch of the family. In 1837 he sold this farm and sought a new home on the prairies of Illinois, buying land near Lanark, and there made his home until his death. He was married in New York State to Miss Sophia Stoddard, who was born in the State of Rhode Island, a daughter of Samuel Stod- dard, also a native of "Little Rhody." To their union came nine children who grew to manhood and womanhood: (1) Mary, born in New York State, received a good education in the schools of Middletown and for some years taught school : she marricd John Birge. and they settled in Middletown township, but after a few years moved to Illinois, where they both died, leav- ing no family. (2) Mercy, also born in New York State, married Uriah Terry, of Rush town- ship, in which township they lived and died. They were the parents of four children-Isaac and John- ney, both deceased; Delphine, wife of Svivester Powers, of Rush township; and Wilson. also of Ruslı township. (3) Gideon, born in Middletown township, in 1814, married Orinda Deuel. and set- tled on a farm. After the death of his wife he went to live with his daughter, Mrs. Charles Car- ter, of Bradford county, Penn .; he has two sons living-Benjamin and Myron, who reside in the West. (4) Isaac, mentioned below. (5) Sophia, born in 1819, has been twice married. Her first husband was David Baker, by whom she became

the mother of a son now living in Iowa. Her present husband is Augustus Bigsbec. (6) Sarah A., born in 1821, married Daniel Terry, but both are now deceased. They left three children-Mary, now Mrs. Parker Devine; William and Daniel, both of Rush township. (7) Ira, born in 1824, married Miss Mary Seely, and for a time lived in Rush township, but later moved to Lanark, Ill., where they still reside. They have four children- Angeline, Walice, Flora and Levica. (8) Horace, born in 1826, went in early manhood to Lanark, Ill., where he owned a large farm. He married Miss Amanda Low, of Rush township, who died, leaving one daughter, Emily, who accompanied her father to the West and there married Mark Kenny, a wealthy resident of Illinois. Mr. Deuel later married Miss Bell Leach, and by her became the father of three children-Horace, Frank and Heartly. (9) Hannah, the youngest in the family, married Parker Devine, and died, lcaving two chil- dren-George and Elizabeth ( Mrs. Burton Tupper, of Illinois ).

Isaac Deuel grew up on the home farm in Middletown township and acquired such education as the district schools afforded in those early days. He gained a practical knowledge of agricultural pursuits and assisted his father in cutting down the forests, and opening up a pathway for the ad- vance of civilization. The hard work and the sturdy determination to accomplish the end, developed the manly self-reliance, and strict attention to duty

that has characterized his after life. His character, his nature, he himself, stands forth amid the younger generations of the present, like some lone and mighty oak of the forest, a solitary sentinel keeping watch over the Present, exemplifying the well-grasped opportunities of the Past, and point- ing out the path for the Future. After his marriage Mr. Deuel bought a sawmill in Rush township, and located there, for twenty years engaging in the manufacture of lumber. In 1869 he sold his mill and purchased his present farm in Forest Lake, where he has cleared land and added all the im- provements needful for a modern farm. His well- tilled fields and neat out-buildings bespeak the careful, thrifty farmer and dairyman that he is.

In 1842 Isaac Deuel was united in marriage with Miss Orinda Pepper, a daughter of Philander and Mary ( Mead) Pepper, of Rush township, but formerly of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Pepper were natives of, and married in, Connecticut, whence they came to the Keystone State with their three children in 1814. Mrs. Deuel was born in Pennsylvania in 1820. She is a sister of Jackson Pepper, who was so brutally murdered in 1898 while husking corn in his own barn. The perpe- trators of this crime were duly tried and convicted in the Montrose courts. To Mr. and Mrs. Deuel were born three children: ( 1) Mary, born in 1843. was cducated in the district schools and married to Ira Brister, a blacksmith of Bradford county, Penn. They settled on a part of the Detiel estate

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and there she died May 12, 1892, leaving two daugliters, Eva and Clara, the former the wife of Alison Birchard, of Birchardville, Penn., and the latter the wife of George Buffum, of Union Center, N. Y. (2) Ira B., born in 1845, married Helen Boyd, and moved to North county, Ia., where he is engaged in farming. He has four children: Hat- tie, Dora, William Isaac and Walace. (3 ) Jane, born in 1846, married Nathan Miller, and they now reside on Mr. Deuel's first home, at the mill in Rush township. They had three children-Fred- erick and Isaac, who both died of fever in young manhood, and Mary, wife of Ferris Powers, of For- est Lake.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 57

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