Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 66

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 66
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 66
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 66
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 66

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Rcared on the home farm in Pocono township, our subject assisted his father in his farming and lumber operations, and attended the neighboring schools during the winter months. War having been declared between the North and South, hc enlisted in October, 1862, at the age of nineteen years, in Company C, 176th P. V. I., under Col. A. A. Leckley, and Major Schoonover, of Pike county, and was sworn into the United States ser- vice at Philadelphia. As a part of the Army of the

Potomac the regiment was under the command of Gens. Peek and McClelland, but it was later trans- ferred to the Army of the South, under Gen. Gil- more. On the expiration of the nine months of his enlistnient our subject was mustered out August 2, 1863, Soon after his return home he went to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, where he enlisted as guard for a colony crossing the plains to California, but the company was soon disbanded and he re-enlisted in the United States service for the remainder of the war. With his regiment he went to Nashville, Tenn., then on to Chattanooga, where an engage- ment was brought on. With the Army of the Ten- nessee under command of Gen. Sherman he took part in the battle of Savage Station and later in the battle of Atlanta, where Gen. MePherson was killed, and where both armies lost heavily, After the evacuation of that city they went on the cele- brated march to the sca, then marched to Savannah and on to Columbia, S. C. From Newark, N. C., they were transported to Washington, D. C., where they participated in the Grand Review. Returning to Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Henry was honorably dis- charged May 1, 1865, and in October of that year he was again in Monroe county.

For two years Mr. Henry engaged in lumber- ing in Elk county, Penn., and from there went to Johnsonburg, Mckean county, where he worked for Gen. Kain as a contractor in road building, and in this undertaking he was remarkably successful. He continued in the lumber business throughout the western part of the State until 1870, when he re- turned to Monroe county. On the 14th of Septem- ber, of that year, he married Miss Elizabeth La Bar, daughter of Robert and Mary A. La Bar, repre- sentative of one of the old and prominent families of the county. Soon after his marriage he pur- chased 150 acres of land in Paradise township, which he lias transformed into one of the well culti- vated and highly improved farms of the locality, it being supplied with good buildings and all the accessories found on a model farm of the nineteenth century.

To Mr. and Mrs. Henry have been born five daughters, as follows: Annie is now the wife of Theodore Berry, of Stroud township, Monroe county, and among their children are named Thomas. Mertie, and Nettie. (2) May is the wife of David Hallett, a farmer of Smithfield township. Monroe county, and they have two children-Thomas and one whose name is not given. (3) Susan was edu- cated in the local schools and is now at home. (4) Mellie, and ( 5) Blanch, born in 1885, are still under the parental roof, and are attending the district schools.

In his political affiliations Mr. Henry is an un- compromising Republican. and in his social rela- tions he is a member of Wadsworth Post. No. 150. G. A. R., of Stroudsburg, and also the Patriotic Order Sons of America. As a citizen and neighbor he is respected and estcemed by all. his genial. kindly disposition making him a favorite among the

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people of the community, while as an honorable and upright man, as well as a brave soldier, hc has no superiors in Monroe county.

JAMES STIRK. The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual, and is the means of bringing to man success when he has no advantages of wealth or influence to aid him. It illustrates in no uncertain manner what it is pos- sible to accomplish when perseverance and deter- mination form the keynote to a man's life. Depend- ing upon his own resources, looking for no outside aid or support, Mr. Stirk has achieved success in his chosen calling, and is to-day one of the sub- stantial citizens of Sherman, Wayne county, where he successfully operates both a woolen factory and sawmill.

Mr. Stirk was born in Bradford, England, in 1834, a son of Henry and Alice ( Herd) Stirk, who spent their entire lives in that country. In their family were nine children, the others being William, Samuel, Sarah, Henry, Thomas, John, Joseph and Frederick, all of whom remained in England. Our subject attended the schools of his native land to a limited extent, and in that country learned the trade of manufacturing woolen goods. In 1853 he came to America, and in Lawrence, Mass., erected and put in operation the Pacific Mills, the ma- chinery for which he had brought from England, it being the first manufactory of the kind in the country. At the end of three years he severed his connection with that mill and went to Philadelphia, where he started the mills for the McCalmus Com- pany. Subsequently he worked for Yudels, of Phil- adelphia, for seven years, and was next in the employ of Manual Hay & Co., owners of worsted mills near that city. In 1869 he began buying and selling wool, and was thus employed for a number of years.

In 1872 Mr. Stirk was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Jane McDowell, of Massachusetts, a daughter of Francis McDowell, who was born in Scotland and belonged to an old and highly re- spected family of that country. Hcr maternal grandfather was a relative of Sir Isaac Newton. On coming to the New World Mr. McDowell first located in New York, and from there removed to Massachusetts, where he spent the remainder of his life. In that State Mrs. Stirk was reared, edu- cated and married to our subject. They have be- come the parents of two children: ( 1) John, boris in Providence, R. I., was cducated in the schools of Windsor, N. Y., and is now connected with his father in the operation of the woolen-mill at Sher- man, Wayne county. He married Carrie Jacobs. of Sherman, and has two children. (2) . Alicc, born in Lawrence, Mass., in 1876, completed her educa- tion in the high school of Windsor, N. Y. She mar- ried Edward Miller, of Walton, that State, who is now attending medical lectures in Baltimore, Md .. but makes his home in Windsor, N. Y. They have three children, Ethel, Alice and Hannah.

After his marriage, Mr. Stirk located in Provi- dence, R. I., where he continued the business of buying and selling wool for three years, and then was similarly employed by A. Sprague & Co., in Cincinnati and other western cities. Later he erected a woolen-mill in Montgomery, N. Y., for Edward Acres, and afterward was employed in a woolen factory at Great Bend, Susquehanna Co., Penn., for three years, during which time he erected a factory at Windsor, N. Y., remaining there five years. On selling out he came to Sherman, Wayne Co., Penn., in 1892, and erected his present woolen factory, which he has since run in connection with the operation of a sawmill.

Since becoming an American citizen, Mr. Stirk has always affiliated with the Republican party, and he and his wife are active and prominent members of the Presbyterian Church. He started out in life for himself as a poor boy in a strange land with only a knowledge of the woolen trade, but being indus- trious and enterprising he steadily worked his way upward, and is to-day the owner of one of the largest woolcn-mills in the county, besides other valuable property. He owns not a dollar that he has not honestly acquired by himself, and his suc- cess should furnish both lesson and incentive, as does his life an example of honest worth and un- swerving integrity.

FREDERICK S. PRICE, a blacksmith and dealer in wagons, buggies, carriages, sleighs, tools, etc., has been in business at Tyler Hill for a third of a century, and is well-known all over Wayne county. IIis life has been one of industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable business methods which he has followed have won him the support and confidence of many. He is a man of broad capabilities, carrying forward to successful comple- tion whatever he undertakes, and has succeeded in accumulating a handsome property.

Mr. Price was born in Manchester township, Wayne county, June 21, 1848, and belongs to one of the old and prominent families of the county. His grandfather, Samuel Price, also a blacksmith by trade, settled here at an early day, coming from the southern part of the State. He was of Ger- man descent, and was a noted hunter. During pioneer days his wife was a prominent midwife, and assisted at the birth of many who have since become leading citizens of the county. Often at night when her services were needed she would take a light and paddle across the Delaware river in a canoe, At one time she had an encounter with a bear that was trying to secure a calf near the bank of the river, and shc and her husband tasted the bitterness as well as the sweets of pioncer lifc. This brave couple rcared four sons, three of whom died in defense of their country during the Civil war, the father of our subject being the only one to sur- vivc. They were George, Job, Henry and Paul P.

Paul Price, our subject's father, was born and rcared in Wayne county, and when the war of the

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Rebellion broke out he joined Sherman's army, be- coming a brave and gallant soldier. For a time he served as orderly, and when finally discharged re- turned home with a war record of which he could be justly proud. As a life work he also engaged in blacksmithing, and lie was a man admired and respected by all. He wedded Mary. Anne Taylor, daughter of James Taylor, a native of England, and to them were born two children: Frederick S., of this review ; and Dora, wife of George Good- rich, a railroad man of Aurora, Ill. The father died in Wayne county at the age of sixty-five years.

Reared under the parental roof, Frederick S. Price early became familiar with the blacksmith's trade in his father's shop, and at the age of eight- een years he was admitted to partnership. He has since carried on operations at Tyler Hill, and is an expert workman in iron and steel. Besides his place of business he owns a valuable farm of 300 acres on the turnpike road, which is improved with a good residence, barns, etc. Financially he is re- garded as one of the solid men of the county.

In 1872 Mr. Price was united in marriage with Miss Mary Anne Thompson, a lady of intelligence, who has proved to her husband a true helpmeet. She was born, reared and educated in Sullivan county, N. Y., and is a daughter of Alexander and Jane (McGaw) Thompson, natives of Belfast, Ire- land, who were of Scotch-Irish parentage. While crossing the ocean the vessel on which her parents sailed was wrecked during a storm and they took refuge on an iceberg, from which they were sub- sequently rescued by another ship. Their son William was drowned at this time. Their children were: John, Eliza, James, William, Samuel, Mary Anne, Susan and Alexander. Both parents were faithful members of the Presbyterian Church, and died in Sullivan county, N. Y. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Price, four of whom are now living: Lorenzo B., who married Libby Bird Tyler, and has one child, Florence; Sidney ; Mabel and Marvin. Bertie died at the age of six years.

In politics, Mr. Price was originally a Repub- lican, but lately has cast his ballot in support of the Prohibition party, as he is a strong temperance man. Still in the prime of life, he is very strong, and is keenly alive to the pleasures of outdoor life, being a devotee of the rod and gun. He is jovial and genial with lots of Irish wit, and few men in Wayne county have a wider circle of friends than he.

JOHN J. ERVIN, a well-known and honored citizen of Rush township, Susquehanna county, is the possessor of a comfortable property which now enables liim to lay aside all business cares and spend his remaining days in case and quiet. It is to his perseverance, indomitable energy, close application and untiring industry that he owes his success in life, for at the outset of his career he was not aided by wealth or influence.

Mr. Ervin was born in Warren county, N. J., June 7, 1833, a son of James and Mary A. ( Angle )

Ervin, also natives of that county, where the mother died in October, 1849, at the age of fifty years, being laid to rest in Delaware cemetery, Warren county. In 1865, the father accompanied our sub- ject and family on their removal to Susquehanna county, Penn., but ten years later he returned to his native county, where he died in 1887, at the age of eighty-six years, and his remains were interred be- side those of his wife. Both were consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were held in high regard by all who knew them. Their children were: William, a cooper, of Warren coun- ty, N. J .; Margaret, who died young; Ann. M., widow of John Beck, of Warren county ; John J., our subject : James, who died in Ohio; Elsa, widow of Edward Bean, of Ohio; and Mary E., wife of James Van Kirk, of Warren county, New Jersey.

In early life John J. Ervin attended the dis- trict schools near his boyhood home and at the age of eight years entered his father's cooper shop, where he learned the trade, working there unin- terruptedly until he attained his majority. The fol- lowing four years he was employed as a farm hand, and then conducted a cooper shop of his own in Warren county, N. J., for seven years. As pre- viously stated he came to Susquehanna county, Penn., in 1865, and after renting a farm in Auburn township for six years, he purchased his present farm of 1613 acres in Rush township, known as the Redding farm. Although but seventy-five acres had been cleared at that time, now the entire tract with the exception of thirty acres is under a high state of cultivation. In connection with farming, he carried on operations as a huckster for some years, hauling his produce to Scranton, but in 1885 he retired from that business, and has since de- voted his attention solely to agricultural pursuits. Success has crowned his well-directed efforts, and he is now one of the well-to-do and prosperous farmers of the community, owning one of the most beautiful and desirable places in Rush township. He is now sixty-six years of age, but is well pre- served and enjoys remarkably good health, having never but once been confined to his bed by sickness, that being January 1, 1899.

On July 2, 1859, in Warren county, N. J., Mr. Ervin married Miss Ann M. Henry, and they have become the parents of five children: Jabez, who married Merilla Titman, and is engaged in farming in Warren county, N. J. ; Mary E., wife of George Hibbard, a farmer of Auburn township, Susque- hanna county: John M., who married Augusta Brotzman and is engaged in farming in Rush town- ship, Susquehanna county : Warren, a clerk in Rush, Penn .: and Luvern, a fur dealer residing at home. Mrs. Ervin, who is a most estimable lady, was born in Warren county, N. J., July 10. 1842, and is a daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Cawl) Henry, also natives of that county, whence they removed to Sus- quehanna county, Penn., locating first in Auburn township. Later they went to Bradford county, Penn., where the father died in October. 1868, after

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which the mother returned to Susquehanna county and made her home with a son in Bridgewater town- ship, where she passed away in April, 1878. The remains of both were interred in Jersey Hill ceme- tery. They were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and had the respect and esteem of all who knew them. In their family were the fol- lowing children: Elizabeth (deceased), who mar- ried (first) David Kitchen, and (second) Isaac Brown; George, who died in Bridgewater township; Margaret, widow of Isaac Kitchen, and a resident of Warren county, N. J .; Alfred, who died in War- ren county ; Hester, wife of John Ralston, a farmer of Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county ; Joseph, a farmer of Liberty township, Susquehanna county; Mathias, a farmer of Kansas; David, a farmer of Bedford county, Penn. ; and Ann M., wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Ervin are also con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and occupy an enviable position in the esteem of their neighbors and many friends. In political sentiment he is a Democrat, and has served as poor director for three years, but has never aspired to office.

T. J. CARR, a leading and representative citi- zen of New Milford, Susquehanna county, was born in Wilkesbarre, Penn., in February, 1837, a son of Edward and Susan ( Kepple) Carr.

The father was born July 4, 1804, in Philadel- phia, where he was reared and married, it being about 1832 when the family removed to Wilkes- barre, where he engaged in the harness business throughout the remainder of his life, dying there in 1889, at the age of eighty-five years. The mother died in the same city in 1854. In their family were children as follows: William, a harness maker by trade, died in Harford, Susquehanna county, in 1863; George is engaged in the same business in Independence, Iowa ; Charles, also a harness maker, died in Factoryville, Wyoming Co., Penn., in 1870; T. J. is next in order of birth ; Sarah is the wife of Riley Loomis, of Wyoming county ; Margaret died in Wilkesbarre at the age of twenty-two; Emma married Dennison Large. and died in Lenox town- ship, Susquehanna county, in 1872: Edward makes his home in Iowa ; and John, also a resident of Iowa, was married in Trenton, N. J., and is a farmer by occupation.

T. J. Carr was reared and educated in his na- tive city, where he also learned the harness maker's trade with W. W. Loomis, and on coming to Sus- quehanna county, in 1857. he engaged in that busi- ness in Harford for eight years. He was then in- terested in merchandising for seventeen years at the same place, and in 1888 came to New Milford and purchased the general store of MIr. Van Bus- kirk, which he condueted for three years and a half. He has since been interested in farming and the real cstate business, and is now the owner of three valu- able farms in New Milford township: one of 250 acres, which is one of the best dairy farms in the township, being well improved and well stocked

with a high grade of cattle; another of 166 acres; and the third of 122 acres. He also owns property in the village which he rents, and has two farms in Harford township, one of fifty acres, the other of 100 acres.

In 1858, Mr. Carr was married in Harford to Miss Eleanora Very, who was born in that place. a daughter of Zerah and Lavina ( Richardson ) Very, natives of Vermont and pioneers of Harford town- ship. Four children were born of this union : Mrs. Lavina Hollard, now a resident of Los Angeles, Cal .; Ida, deceased; Anna, wife of William B. Mil- ler, of Moscow, Penn .; and Clarence, who died in Harford. The wife and mother departed this life at the same place in October, 1869, and there in 1870 Mr. Carr was again married, his second union being with Miss Evaline Sweet, a native of Sus- quehanna county, and a daughter of Stephen Sweet. She died in Harford, in 1874, leaving one child, William S., now a resident of New Orleans. In New Milford Mr. Carr wedded Miss Mary Adelia Phillips, who was born in that village, a daughter of William and Mary J. (Campbell) Phillips, both now deceased, the former dying in 1883, the latter in 1888. By this marriage Mr. Carr has four chil- dren : Frank, who is married and lives in New Milford; Leo; Harry and Ella.

In his political affiliations Mr. Carr is a Demo- crat, and he has served his fellow-citizens as con- stable of his township. Socially he is a member of New Milford Camp, No. 589, P. O. S. of A., and merits and receives the respect and esteem of all who know him, for his career has been an honorable and upright one.

ELIAS T. TITMAN, one of the most promi- nent and influential agriculturists of Springville township, Susquehanna county, is a native of New Jersey, born in Blairstown township, Warren coun- ty, March 15, 1838, and is a representative of one of the old and honored families of that county, where his grandparents, George and Mary Titman. farming people, spent their entire lives. They reared a large family of children, namely: Elias, father of our subject; Baldus, who died on the old homestead in Warren county; John, who died in the same county ; Philip, who died in Auburn town- ship, Susquehanna Co., Penn .; William, who died in Michigan; George, who died in Warren county, N. J .: Isaac, who died in Montana; Mary Ann. widow of Lemuel Wilson, of Warren county. N. J .; Abraham, who died in that county; and Jacob, a resident of Montrose, Pennsylvania.

Elias Titman, father of our subject, was a life- long resident of Warren county. N. J., and followed the occupation of farming, owning and operating a fine farm of 250 acres adjoining the old homestead. which comprised 300 acres. Politically lic was a stanch Democrat. and he served on the election board. He married Miss Phoebe Harris, aiso a na- tive of Warren county. and a daughter of John ITarris. He dicd May 3, 1884, aged seventy-six

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years, and she passed away January 23, 1891, in Susquehanna county, Penn., at the age of eighty-six. To this worthy couple were born the following chil- dren: George, a carpenter of Blairstown, N. J .; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Elijah Crane, of Auburn township, Susquehanna Co., Penn .; Jacob, who died in New Jersey ; Mary, wife of A. N. Stone, a farmer of Springville township, Susquehanna county ; John, who was in Kansas when last heard from; Alex- ander, a machinist of Scranton, Penn .; Elias T., our subject; Lucy Jane, deceased wife of Marshall Reed, of Blairstown, N. J .; Lemuel, who died of smallpox at Columbus, Ohio, while serving in the regular army during the Civil war ; and Elijah, who died at the age of two years.

In the county of his nativity the subject of this sketch remained until twenty-one years of age, acquiring his education in the common schools. He then came to Auburn township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where he first worked for $5 per month. During the war of the Rebellion he manifested his patriotism by enlisting, September 15, 1862, in Com- pany A, 151st P. V. I., under Capt. G. L. Stone, and was discharged July 29, 1863. Going to Iowa, he enlisted, March 14, 1865, in Company H, 58th Ill. V. I., and was honorably discharged February 3, 1866, with the rank of corporal. He was on duty in Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia, was on the skirmish line much of the time, and partici- pated in the battle of Chancellorsville. He was ill in the hospital at Montgomery, Ala., for a time.

Returning to Susquehanna county at the close of the war, Mr. Titman resumed farming. In 1862 he had purchased a partially improved farm of fifty acres, which he sold a year later, buying 100 acres in Auburn township, which he owned for two years. His next purchase consisted of fifty acres in the same township, and on disposing of that at the end of two years, he bought 120 acres in Auburn town- ship, which he operated for ten years. Subsequently he owned a tract of 100 acres there for seventeen years, and when he sold that place he came, in 1888, to Springville township, and purchased his present fine farm, consisting of 312 acres, of which only seventy-five acres are now covered with timber. Here he has a fine maple grove of 1,000 trees. from which he manufactures 300 gallons of syrup each year, and he could make three times as much if more help was available. He is engaged in general farm- ing, raising corn, oats and buckwheat. and also gives considerable attention to sheep raising (hav- ing upon his place thirty-five head ) and dairying. keeping thirty milch cows. Besides these he has fifteen head of young stock. There are two fine residences upon his farm, commodious and sub- stantial barns and outbuildings, and he intends to creet a hotel, at a cost of $2,500, upon a tract of ten acres in Springville township. He is an enterpris- ing, progressive citizen, of more than ordinary busi- ness ability. and carries forward to successful com- pletion whatever he undertakes.

On May 12, 1861, Mr. Titman was united in

marriage with Miss Almira Lowe, a daughter of Cornelius and Elsie H. ( Brown) Lowe, who lived in Auburn township for many years, dying there. Her paternal grandparents, Cornelius and Mary Lowe, were residents of Blairstown township, Warren Co., N. J., as were also her maternal grandparents, Nich- olas and Keturah Brown. Mrs. Titman was born January 12, 1845, and is one of a large family of children, in order of birth as follows: Josiah, de- ceased; Margaret, deceased wife of Nathan Ber- dick, of Dimock township, Susquehanna county ; Keturah, deceased wife of James Kynion, of Rush township, Susquehanna county ; Harrison B., who died in Auburn township: George T., a resident of Elk Lake, Dimock township; Mary A., who mar- ried Horace Dewel (both are now deceased) ; Sarah, wife of Amos Bennett, of Sayre, Penn .; Leander, a huckster of Auburn township; Almira, wife of our subject; Benjamin B., a farmer of Auburn township; and Emma, wife of Jeremiah Hyde, of Auburn township. To Mr. and Mrs. Titman have been born six children, namely: Leander, who died at the age of twenty-two years; George F., who died on a ranch in New Mexico, at the age of twen- ty-eight ; Orvilla, wife of Henry Love, of Auburn township; Elsie, wife of Frederick Yates, of Pitts- ton, Penn., who has one daughter, Rhea; John R., who married Cora Smith, and has two children, Harold Lee and Raymond Miles; and Nicholas, a farmer, who married Lilly Johnson.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 66

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