Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 67

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 67
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 67
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 67
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 67

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).

The Republican party always finds in Mr. Tit- man a stanch supporter of its principles, and for six years he has most capably and satisfactorily served as supervisor of Auburn township. Fraternally he is a member of the Grange, and his sons belong to the Five States Milk Association. He is a courteous, genial gentleman, one who commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in con- tact, in either business or social life, and is justly deserving of the high regard in which he is held.

N. O. MAJOR, proprietor of the "Major Hotel," at Hallstead, Susquehanna county, is promi- nent in business life and as a citizen has proved him- self public-spirited and progressive. His genial nature has won him many friends and it would be difficult to find a better known and more popular man in private life in this section.

Mr. Major belongs to a well known family of this section, his grandfather, Wilson Major, having been a native of Monroe county, born in 1805. and became a farmer and miller by occupation. He took a leading part in the affairs of his locality, serving as supervisor and for forty years as poor- master. In politics he was a Democrat, and he was active in religious work as a member of the Baptist Church. He died in 1889. Among his children were: Helen, who married Henry Wilsey, and died some years ago at Tyler Hill: Hiram; Ger- trude, who married M. Fredenburg. of St. Paul. Minn. : William : Anna is the wife of a Mr. Wheeler, of Dakota : and Milton, who died in Honesdale.

1616

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Our subject's father was born in Wyoming county, Penn., and for some years followed farming in Wayne county, but in 1890 he sold his farm there and removed to his present home in Broome county, N. Y. He is a Republican in politics, and as a citizen is held in high esteem. In November, 1861, he enlisted in a company of Pennsylvania volun- teers, but after serving for a time in the defence of the Union the hardships of army life brought on inflammatory rheumatism, which so crippled him that he was discharged. He married and to the union were born children as follows: Sarah is the wife of George W. Burnside, of Alton, Ill .; N. O. is our subject ; Ida is the wife of E. E. Brown, of Tyler Hill; William, a glass blower, is located at Binghamton, N. Y .; Gertrude is the wife of Jacob Wallace, of Schoharie, N. Y .; George and Louis are both residents of Lestershire, N. Y.

N. O. Major, our subject, was born January 29, 1862, in Damascus township, Wayne county, and his education was completed in the academy in Damascus village. As a young man he spent two years in the oil fields of Bedford county, Penn., where he carried on a profitable business as a dealer in oil, and then, after three months at Tyler Hill, Wayne county, he went to Great Bend as a clerk in the ."Central House," where he remained eleven years. For some time he rented the house and con- ducted it on his own account, but in 1892 he located at Hallstead, purchasing property and erecting the "Major House." On September 25, 1889, he was married to Miss Anna Reinhart, who was born March 25, 1868, at Tannersville, Monroe county, and three children have blessed the union, namely : Charles, Helen, and Franklin. Mr. Major and his wife are prominent in the best social circles of their locality, and he is a leading worker in the Masonic fraternity, being an active member of Great Bend Lodge, No. 338, F. & A. M .; he is also a member of Chapter No. 210 at the same place, and of a Commandery of K. T., and at the various meetings and conventions of the order he is an honored visitor. Politically he is a Republican, but his allegiance does not depend on official rewards as he prefers to devote his attention to other interests.

SAMUEL S. DEUEL, a well-known and prominent business man of Rush, Susquehanna county, is successfully engaged in general black- smithing and wagonmaking, receiving a liberal patronage from the people of the village and sur- rounding country. Being a skilled workman and an upright and reliable business man. his success is well merited. A native of the county, Mr. Dettel was born in Friendsville. July 28, 1866, and is a son of William H. and Elizabeth A. ( Zeh) Denel, whose sketch appears elsewhere.

The first fourteen years of his life Samuel S. Dettel spent in much the usual manner of farmer boys, assisting in the labor of the farm and attending the local schools. After that he worked for neigh- boring farmers until he attained his majority and

then entered the blacksmith shop of F. W. Strange, at Birchardville, where he spent two years in learn- ing the trade. During the following six montlis he was in the employ of Asa Hickok at Rush, and then built his present shop at that place, where he has since successfully carried on operations as a general blacksmith and wagonmaker. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen.

On May 19, 1888, at Tracy Creek, N. Y., Mr. Deuel married Miss Ella Snell, who has been a true helpmeet to her husband, and has successfully con- ducted a dressmaking and millinery establishment in Rush for the past fourteen years. They have two children : Edith M. and Floyd S. Mrs. Deuel was born in Wyalusing, Bradford Co., Penn., a daugh- ter of Sylvanius and Elizabeth ( Franklin) Snell, the former a native of New York State, the latter of Wyoming county, Penn. The father, who was a sawyer and millwright by trade, resided in Rush, Susquehanna county, for eighteen years, and there died June 5, 1897, aged seventy-three years. The mother passed away in Milwaukee, Wis., January 3. 1892, aged fifty-five years. To them were born two children : Orand, a blacksmith of Fulton county, N. Y .; and Ella, wife of our subject. The father was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Bald- win, by whom he had five children: Libby, Polly, John, Lafayette and Charles.

JOHN P. CARMER, who has been closely identified with the business interests of Bossardsville for over twenty years, is prominent among the en- ergetic, wide-awake and successful business men of Monroe county. His career proves that true success in life is that which is attained by personal effort and consecutive industry, and it also proves that the road to success is open to all young men who have the courage to tread its pathway. The life record of such a man should prove an inspira- tion to the young of this and future generations, and teach by incontrovertible facts that success is an- bition's answer.

Mr. Carmer was born in Mauch Chunk, Car- bon Co., Penn., November 22, 1851, a son of Au- gustus and Mary A. (Palmer) Carmer, natives of Orange county, N. Y., and Monroe county, Penn .. respectively. In 1853 the father came to Monroe county, but in 1861 removed to Philadelphia, where he made his home for five years, returning to Mon- roe county in 1866. By occupation he was a car- penter. He died in Stroudsburg. in 1889, aged sixty-five years, and his wife passed away at Will- iamsport, Fenn., December 24, 1895. In their iam- ily were six children, namely : Anna, deceased wife of A. J. Stites: James F., a meat merchant ni Stroudsburg, who married Laura Myers: Edgar. who was drowned at the age of two years ; John l' .. our subject ; Eugene, who married Elizabeth Dan- iels, and is now agent at Binghamton, N. Y. : and Lillie, wife of J. McClintic, foreman for a refining company at Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.

---

1617

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Jolin P. Carmer was reared under the parental roof, and began his business career at the age of seventeen years, as a clerk in a grocery store in Philadelphia, where he was employed for a year and a half. For two years and a half he worked at the cabinetmaker's trade, but was obliged to give it up on account of ill health. During the fol- lowing eleven years he was engaged in the butcher business in Stroudsburg. Since 1877 he has been one of the leading business men of Bossardsville, at first carrying on only a general store, but he has gradually extended his operations, and is now inter- ested in several different enterprises, In 1883 he embarked in milling, and now owns and operates two gristmills, having purchased the second in 1898. He is also quite extensively engaged in the manu- facture of lime, having eight kilns in operation, and all of his business interests receive his personal at- tention. He is systematic and methodical in business affairs, and gives careful attention to details, with- out which success in any undertaking is never an assured fact. In 1879 he was appointed postmaster of Bossardsville, and is still acceptably filling that office. In his political views he is a Democrat, and in religious faith a Methodist.

On November 17, 1876, at Tannersville, Penn., Mr. Carmer was united in marriage with Miss Alice Bossard, and to them have been born twin daugh- ters, Laura May and Grace L., at home. Mrs. Carmer is a native of Bossardsville, and a daughter of Joseph Bossard.

SCHEMPFF BREWING COMPANY, of Honesdale, Wayne county, conducts one of the most important industries of that thriving place, and the Schempff brothers rank among its enterprising and intelligent young business men.

They are the sons of Leopold and Amelia ( Red- lich ) Schempff, the former of whom was born in Germany in 1826, and was a brewer by occupation. In 1860 he came to America, and for several years following lived in New York City, where he was in the employ of one of the leading brewing com- panies during the Civil war. Later he removed to Scranton, Penn., where for fifteen years he was superintendent of Robinson's brewery. He died in 1888. His family consisted of four children, of whom, William is engaged as teacher of mathematics in the Scranton high school; Theodore is at school ; Leopold and Leo are the partners in the Schempff Brewing Company. In religious connection the father was a member of the Lutheran Church.

The senior partner and manager of the Schempff Brewing Company was born November 26. 1870, in Scranton, Penn., and attended the public schools of that city, graduating in 1885. His first position was that of clerk in a wholesale commis- sion house in New York City, and after acquiring the necessary experience he returned to Scranton and established himself in the commission business there. continuing it until he embarked in the brew- ; ing business. Hc came to Ionesdale, bought the !

brewery which he has since carried on and called it Schempff's Brewery ; as above stated, his brother Leo has a partnership in the concern, and he looks after the books and similar work, while our subject acts as manager. The brothers have adopted and maintained a high standard of excellence in all the details of their work, and have shown a spirit of en- ergy and progress which entitles them to an hon- orable position among the rising business men of Honesdale. The output of their plant is 15,000 barrels per annum. Their residence here has been a comparatively brief one, but they have made a fa- vorable impression from the start and gained the good-will of the people in whose midst they have settled. They are equally popular in a social way, and take an active interest in the affairs of the younger circle. Mr. Schempff is a member of the Exchange Club of Honesdale, also of the Lieder- krantz Society, and in fraternal connection he is an Elk, belonging to the lodge at Scranton.

THOMAS ALTEMOSE, a well-known auc- tioneer and general farmer of Gilbert, Polk town- ship, Monroe county, is a native of that county, born in Ross township, May 9, 1829, and is a representa- tive of one of its honored pioneer families.

Nicholas Altemose, his great-grandfather, was at one time a large land owner in Monroe county, owning all of the lake property at Saylorsburg, in which village he spent his last days. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Michael and Elizabeth Altemose, were natives of Monroe county, but spent part of their lives in Northampton county, though both died in Saylorsburg and were there laid to rest. Their children were: Jacob, father of our subject ; Michael, who married Overpeck; Joseph,

who married Flight; Peter, who married Heda Shuch; and Nicholas, who died unmarried. Our subject's maternal grandparents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Weiss) Greenamoyer, spent their entire lives as farming people in Monroe county. Seven children were born to them, namely: Philip, Jacob, George (died unmarried), Julian, Ann ( died un- married), Elizabeth (mother of our subject ), and Katie A. (marricd Sebastian Frye).

Jacob and Elizabeth (Greenamoyer) Altemose. the parents of our subject, were natives of Ross and Chestnut Hill townships, Monroc county, which at the time of their births formed a part of Northamp- ton county. The father, who was familiarly known as "Farmer Jakc," followed agricultural pursuits throughout life, and in his younger days also en- gaged in lumbering. He was a Democrat in politics, and for three years most creditably served as com- missioner of Monroe county, while both he and his wife were earnest and consistent members of the Reformed Church. They died in Monroe county, and were buried in the Brodheadsville cemetery. The children of this worthy couple were as follows : Linford. deccased, married Susan Weiss : Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of George B. Weiss ; Thomas is the subject of this sketch ; Catherine, deccased,

102

1618

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was the wife of Henry Kimpst; Sarah J. is the widow of Charles Sencenbauch, and a resident of Scranton, Penn .; Ephraim; Lydia A. is the wife of Joseph Butz, of Hamilton township, Monroe coun- ty; and Adam, a blacksmith for the railroad com- pany, married Elizabeth Shaffer and resides in Car- bon county, Pennsylvania.

Thomas Altemose remained on the home farm with his parents until he attained the age of twenty- five. Five years before he began learning the car- penter's trade with Peter Gilbert, for whom he worked eight years, and then conducted the "Gilbert Hotel" for three years. At the end of that time he removed to Effort, Polk township, where he was also engaged in the hotel business for a year, and then returned to Gilbert, following the carpenter's trade there for eight years. Since then he has made his home upon his present farm at Gilbert, and until 1889 divided his time between carpentering and farming. At present, however, his attention is de- voted principally to agricultural pursuits, though as an auctioneer he cries many sales in this section of the State. Since the age of eighteen years he has been a consistent member of the Reformed Church, and since attaining his majority has been identified with the Democratic party. In 1889 he was elected commissioner of Pike county, and ac- ceptably filled that office for three years ; was elected poormaster of Polk township, Monroe county, in 1898; and has served as jury commissioner of the latter county to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned.

On June 24, 1855, Mr. Altemose was married to Miss Christiana Shupp, a native of Polk town- ship, daughter of Frederick and Susan ( Dreisback) Shupp, who spent their entire lives in Monroe county. Mrs. Altemose died leaving three children : James, deceased, who married Anna Kresge; Ema- linda, deceased, who married Daniel F. Rickard ; and Ira E., a painter and merchant of Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Altemose was again married, in Polk township, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah C. (Shupp) Kresge, a native of Luzerne county, Penn., and a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Dreisback) Shupp. Three children were born of the second marriage; Amsa, who is with a Kansas City smelting company at El Paso, Texas; Carrie, wife of Dr. George F. Peck, of Pennsylvania ; and Luella, who died at the age of ten years.

FRANK CRISSMAN, proprietor of the "Crissman House," at Milford, Pike county, has won the esteem of the traveling public by his effi- cient management of that well-known hostelry. A select class of guests from the larger cities make it their headquarters during the summer season, and at all times of the year parties of wheelmen and others find there a pleasant place for an even- ing's recreation. Mr. Crissman never seems satis- fied unless he is making changes which will add to the comfort and convenience of his patrons, and among his most recent improvements we may men-

tion the introduction of acetylene gas for lighting the premises. The house, which was originally called the "Pike County House," was erected prob- ably in 1818-19 by Timothy Candee. The records show that Frances A. L. Smith and Jonathan Brink conveyed the lots to him early in 1818, and the consideration named would indicate that there were no buildings on the place. In 1820 John Westbrook, sheriff, sold the property to John Clark, and it is described as having on it a large frame house and barn. Mr. Clark probably finished the building and began keeping a store and tavern in 1825. He continued until 1832, when William Dutcher became proprietor, and on the latter's retirement, in 1836, it would seem that A. B. Templeton had it for two years. H. S. Mott, a noted politician in his day, had charge in 1838 and 1839, followed by Ira Co- burn from 1840 to 1842. George Biddis was pro- prietor also in part of 1842 and 1843, succeeded by Charles F. Mott, in 1844 and 1845, and Jacob S. Sandt kept it until 1847. Oscar H. Mott had charge in 1848 and part of 1849, when he became an Argonaut, and H. S. Mott resumed control from 1850 to 1853, when Cyrus Crissman became the owner by purchase from O. H. Mott. Mr. Criss- man made many improvements, building a third story in 1857, and after his death in 1860 the busi- ness was carried on by various successors until 1876, when Frank Crissman, the present landlord, assumed the management.

Naturally the house many years ago became Democratic headquarters, and this brought it a large local patronage. Few, if any, important political meetings of the managers of the party in this county have been held elsewhere, and, could those venerable walls speak, many are the stories they could relate, of schemes and plots and counterplots which have been hatched beneath its roof for the promotion of the ambition of office-seekers of that stripe. One of the rooms, that on the northeast corner, and the one in which Ed Harold Mott, author of "Pike County Folks," was born, still has in it the original furniture, and the old clothes-presses and closets are models of oldtime finish and beauty. Milford Lodge, No. 82, F. & A. M., when Daniel Burrell was master and John Leforge secretary, held meet- ings in the room just over the present office. The reading room was always a favorite place for the village people, and here "Uncle Ira" and the several characters who go to make up "Childe Harold's" wonderful tales nightly assembled, chewed their tobacco, smoked their pipes and spun their yarns. Frank Crissman has spent a moderate fortune in additions and in efforts to make the house in all respects up-to-date. The dining-room is a model, and contains a large, open fireplace over which is inscribed :

"As ancient is this hostelry As any in the land may be."

Mr. Crissman comes of good old Holland stock, and his grandparents, George and Sarah (Diamond) Crissman, came to America early in the

---------

-----

1619

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

present century to settle upon a farm in Sussex county, N. J., where the grandfather became a prominent and highly respected citizen. This worthy couple had the following children: Clara, Mrs. Ezra Conkel; Ira (deceased), who never married; Lucinda, Mrs. Oakley Stoll; Cyrus, our subject's father; and Allen, who died in early manhood.

Cyrus Crissman was born December 26, 1816, in Sussex county, N. J., and in early life he followed farming there for some time. In 1844 he came to Pike county, and for six years he conducted the "Shohola House" at Shohola, previous to his pur- chase of the "Crissman House" at Milford. He was of a mild disposition, but he was a successful business man, and was also prominent in local pol- itics as a member of the Democratic party. His death occurred December 29, 1860, his remains being interred in Milford cemetery, and his widow, Mrs. Sarah (Jones) Crissman, resides in Milford. They had seven children: Frances died in child- hood; Armida, widow of Henry Bull, now resides with her mother; Blanche married George Mitch- ell, a merchant in Milford; Josephine, widow of George Bensell, an artist, resides with her mother ; Emily, widow of Edwin Baker, resides in New York City; Frank is the subject proper of this sketch; and Edgar, who is not married, is a pro- fessor of music in New York City.

Our subject's mother was born in Sussex county, N. J., where her ancestors were early set- tlers. Her paternal grandparents, Jonathan and - (Aarons) Jones, were natives of Wales, whence they came to this country, their last years being spent in Sussex county, N. J., upon a farm. They had seven children: Hannah, Mrs. Michael Fry; Margaret, Mrs. Joseph Ink; Edith, Mrs. Thomas Taylor; Elizabeth, Mrs. William Taylor ; Rachel, Mrs. Yoder; Catherine, Mrs. Samuel Gu- lick; and Moses, Mrs. Crissman's father. Moses Jones was a farmer in Sussex county, N. J., and was a stanch Democrat in political faith. He died in December, 1848, aged sixty-three years, and his wife, Margerie Brocar, who was a native of Read- ing, Penn., survived him about five years, dying at the age of sixty-four ; she was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. They had the following children: Jane, who died in infancy; Cyrus, who married Rachel Buss; Sarah, our subject's mother ; Caroline, Mrs. David Morrow; Abraham, Aaron and Jackson, deceased, none of whom were married ; and Emily, who married Moses C. Westbrook, a farmer of near Blooming Grove, Pike county. The Brocar family originated in Holland, and Abraham and Cecelia (Westbrook) Brocar, natives of that country, came to America many years ago, locating upon a farm near Reading, Penn. They reared a family of five children : Jane, Mrs. Aaron Decker ; Mary, Mrs. John Decker ; Judith, Mrs. Lewis Lat- ten ; Margerie, who married Moses Jones ; and Sal- lie, Mrs. Cooens.

Frank Crissman was born December 26, 1854, at his present home, where his early life was spent.

When seventeen and a half years old he started out to make his own way in the world and, going to Port Jervis, N. Y., he secured a position as brakeman on the Erie railroad, which he held more than three years. At the urgent request of his mother he then returned home to take charge of the hotel, and in 1888 he purchased the property. He has always taken keen interest in local affairs, giving his in- fluence toward the improvement of the roads and other worthy movements, and he is prominent in political work in his county, being one of the lead- ing advisers in the Democratic organizations. His allegiance to his party is not based upon a desire for reward, however, and he has invariably declined to become a candidate for office. Socially, he is also prominent, and he belongs to the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., at Milford. His genial manners have brought him a host of friends, and among his other admirable traits of character a love of horses and dogs holds a place, his judgment as to their fine points being remarkably accurate.

On October 27, 1885, Mr. Crissman was mar- ried at Milford to Miss Frances M. Gulick, and two children, Millicent and Frank B., have blessed the union. Mrs. Crissman is a native of Benicia Island, Cal., and the only child of John C. Gulick, who was a wholesale grocer in New York in early manhood, but went to California in 1849 and established him- self in business.

JOSEPH BOYD. There is something about the active work in developing the material resources of a community which develops a strong American character. History abounds with examples of men who discover an opportunity for the exercise of their energies in some great enterprise, and who grow in ability as they rise and master the details and obstacles of that enterprise. Joseph Boyd, the subject of this sketch, has both by his own ener- gies and by the legacy of a successful life from his father been in position to wield a wide influence in the community in which he lives, and he is yet a comparatively young man.

John Boyd, his great-grandfather, was an American patriot who was killed while serving in the American navy under Commodore Decatur, during the bombardment of Tripoli, in 1804. His son, James Boyd, was born in Philadelphia, in 1795, and when thus orphaned in tender boyhood years was "bound out" to the Duffield family. He accom- panied this family to Damascus township, Wayne county, in 1808, and thus became one of the pioneer boys in the township. Handicapped as he was in life, he labored manfully under the adverse circum- stances of a new country. Being without capital he labored for others in clearing up the wild coun- try in which his lot was cast. Ambitious to succeed he made a trip to Michigan with the hope of locat- ing there, but his health failed him and, returning to Damascus, he died there in 1842, at the com- paratively early age of forty-seven years, leaving a widow, Nancy, daughter of David Canfield, of

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 67

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