Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 73

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 73
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 73
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 73
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 73

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Sylvester L. Schoonover was reared and edu- cated in Lehman township, and remained under the parental roof up to the age of twenty-one years, learning agriculture in all its branches with his father. For three years after commencing life on his own account he worked among farmers, and, off and on, with his father, and when twenty-four years old he went to Williamsport, Penn., where he was engaged in lumbering for one season with Coch- ran & Co. The next year he was employed in lumbering in Pike county, and he subsequently spent three years in Sullivan county, and worked in dif-

ferent parts of New York and Pennsylvania. On March 12, 1892, he settled on the farm in Lehman township, which he still occupies, and which he pur- chased, and here he carries on general farming. He is thrifty and up-to-date in his agricultural work, and by steady industry and good management has increased the value and fertility of his property materially, now occupying an enviable standing among the prosperous farmers of the locality. He is well and favorably known to the residents of Leh- man township, and in 1898 he was elected to the office of assessor, which he is now filling in a most capable manner. In politics, like his father and grandfather before him, he is a stancli Democrat.

In June, 1892, Sylvester L. Schoonover was married, at Jersey, to Miss Mary Staples, and two children have blessed their union, Leanna and Willie. Mrs. Schoonover was born February 3, 1857, in Priceburg, Monroe Co., Penn., daughter of Moses P. and Ellen ( Posten) Staples. of Monroe county, who had five children, viz .: Richard E., who is employed in the railroad office at Scranton, Penn .; Frank, residing in Scranton; Jeremiah, of Minnesota; Moses, in the employ of the railway company at Scranton ; and Mary, Mrs. Schoonover. The father enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war, and was not heard from after going to the front. The mother subsequently married Peter Albert, who is now deceased, and they had one daughter, Blanche, who lives with her mother in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

CHARLES HALLET, one of the representa- tive and prominent citizens of Middle Smithfield township, Monroe county, with whose agricultural interests he has been identified for many years, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Mt. Bethel, North- ampton county, in September, 1830, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (La Bar) Hallet, the latter a daughter of Joseph and Margaret La Bar, early settlers of Northampton county. Our subject's father was born in 1797 in Orange county, N. Y., where his father, Isaac Hallet, spent his entire life, engaged in farming. In the latter's family were six children, namely: James, who became a resi- dent of Monroe county. Penn .; Daniel, who mar- ried and settled on the old homestead in Orange county, N. Y., where his death occurred; William, father of our subject; Charles, who engaged in the practice of law in New York City, and there died; Abby, wife of Thomas DeCoby, of New York City ; and Phœbe, wife of Horace Peck, a business man of the same place. At an early day William Hallet removed to Northampton county, Penn .. and lo- cated upon a farm, where he died in 1865. His wife, who was born in 1800, was called to her final rest in 1881.

In the family of this worthy couple were chil- dren as follows, all born in Northampton county : Joseph, born in 1822, is now a resident of Sprague- ville, Penn. ; John, born in 1837, is married and re- sides near Honesdale, Penn., where he is employed

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as walking boss on the railroad; Benjamin resides on the old homestead in Northampton county ; Mar- garet is the widow of James La Bar, and lives near Spragueville, Monroe county; Susanna, born in 1839, is the wife of Barnct Lambert, who lives at Delaware Water Gap, Smithfield township, Monroe county, and they have a large family ; and Charles is our subject.

In much the usual manner of farm boys Charles Hallet passed his early life upon the old home farm in Northampton county, receiving the benefits of a public-school education. When a young man he was employed as foreman for Ryman & Bros., and also for the Boston State Co. for eigliteen years, and as workman twelve years. After his first mar- riage he purchased a liome at Portland, Northamp- ton county, where he resided until 1866, when he bought a farm in Stroud township, Monroe county, living thereon for twenty years while engaged in agricultural pursuits.

In 1852 Mr. Hallet wedded Miss Catherine Neff, of Lehigh county, Penn., a daughter of George and Mary Neff, prominent early settlers of that county. Mrs. Hallet, who was a consistent Chris- tian woman, died on the farm in Stroud township, leaving eight children-six sons and two daugh- ters: (1) William, now engaged in railroading at Scranton, Penn., married Florence Carson and has two children. (2) Edward, born in Northamp- ton county, is also living in Scranton, where he is in the employ of the railroad company ; he married Susan Brown, of Pocono, Monroe county, and they have three children. (3) Frank, born in North- ampton county, married Amanda Plattenburg, of Stroud township, Monroe county, is a railroad man of Scranton, where he resides with his wife and two children : Laura and Stanley. (4) Lewis, born in Stroud township, Monroe county, is also a rail- road employe living in Scranton. (5) Daniel, a resident of Glenwood, Sussex Co., N. J., married Teressa Kishpaugh, of that State, and they have one daughter, Mabel. (6) Chester is still with his father on the home farm. (7) Elizabeth, born in Northampton county, is now the wife of Jackson Utt, chief of police at Slatington, Lehigh Co., Penn., and they have four children. (8) Isabel, born in Northampton county, is the wife of Mahlon Brish, of Stroud township, Monroe county, a son of Michael Brish.

In 1885, Mr. Hallet married his second wife, Miss Lavina Huffman, who was born in Middle Smithfield township, in February, 1841, a daughter of Abram and Mary R. Huffman. After the death of her father in July, 1884, she purchased the farm on which she and her husband now reside. She is an earnest and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes an active and promi- nent part in its work. Politically Mr. Hallet is a stanch supporter of the Democracy, and while a resident of Stroud township was elected to the of- fice of supervisor, which he filled with credit to him- self and to the satisfaction of the general public for

two terms. He also served as school director two terms. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Lehigh county. For the success that he has achieved in life he deserves great credit, for he has made his own way in the world unaided, overcoming all obstacles in his path by his perseverance and untiring industry.

WILLIAM D. WALKER, a well-known lum- bernian, is one of the strong characters who have become an integral part of the business life of Gouldsboro, Wayne county, and by the exercise of his powers he has not only advanced his individual prosperity, but has contributed to the welfare of his community.

A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Walker was born in Clifton, Lackawanna county, November 26, 1848, and is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Cam- eron) Walker, both natives of Scotland. The father was born in Berwick, July 19, 1810, and died March 2, 1878; the mother was born in Glasgow, August 13, 1818, and died March 28, 1897, the remains of both being interred in the cemetery at Clifton, Penn. They were highly respected by all who knew them, and were consistent members of the Lutheran Church. Their children were as follows: Mary A., born July 19, 1839, at Philadelphia, Penn., married Rudolph Grass and died at the age of twenty-five ycars ; Peter, born December 6, 1840, married Sarah Hess, of New Jersey, and is now a carpenter and farmer of Belvidere, that Statc; Elizabeth, born Jan- uary 3, 1843, is the wife of Albert Drinker, a brick manufacturer of Wisconsin; Jessie, born August 18, 1845, and Lydia, born in August, 1846, both died in infancy ; William D. is next in the family ; Mar- garet T., born October 5, 1852, is mentioned more fully below ; and Ellen R., born January 12, 1854, died August 6, 1862.

Our subject's paternal grandparents, John and Elizabeth Walker, were born, reared and married in Berwick, Scotland, whence about 1830 they emi- grated to the United States, locating in Philadelphia, where the grandfather was employed as a saddler for three years. He then removed to Clifton, Penn., and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In his family were three children: Peter, Elizabetlı and John. The elder son came to the United States at the age of twenty-one years and located in Phila- delphia, where he was married ten years later to Mary Hamilton. He was a Presbyterian in re- ligious faith, and was a member of the board of education in that city, serving as its president for many years prior to his death. Our subject's mater- nal grandparents, David and Elizabeth Cameron, spent their entire lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. They were the parents of thirteen children.

William D. Walker remained with his parents until they were called from this life, and on leaving Clifton in 1881, he came to Gouldsboro, where he has since made his home. His entire business life has been devoted to lumbering, and he lias met with a well-deserved success in his chosen calling, for he

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thoroughly understands the business in every detail, and is one of Wayne county's most upright and honorable business men. Being a great reader, he is well posted on the leading questions and issues of the day, and is also familiar with the best literature. Socially he is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and politically is a stalwart Republican. His pleasant home is presided over by his sister, Mrs. Margaret T. Rhodes.

Rev. George H. Rhodes, a prominent Lutheran minister (now deceased), was born near Strouds- burg, Penn., a son of Thomas W. and Mary A. (Heller) Rhodes, of Monroe county, Penn. His father, who was a millwright, farmer .and lumber- man, died in 1894, and his mother in 1852, both being buried at Cherry Valley, near Stroudsburg. They were members of the Lutheran and German Reformed Churches, respectively. The children born to them were: Sydenhan, Charles L., Marion W., Edward, George H., Martha and Johnson G. George H. Rhodes was educated at Mullenbury College, where he graduated in 1872, and three years later he completed the theological course and grad- uated from the Philadelphia Theological Seminary. For six years he successfully engaged in teaching school, and as a teacher he came to Gouldsboro in 1875. Here he established the first Lutheran Church ever organized in Wayne county, and while teach- ing he would preach in the schoolhouse on Sunday. He had charge of the congregation at Gouldsboro for two years, and was one of the most influential and highly respected citizens of the place. He died April 2, 1881, honored by all who knew him, and was buried at Gouldsboro. On December 3, 1879, he married Miss Margaret T. Walker, by whom he had one son, George H., now assistant postmaster at Gouldsboro.

WILLIAM B. KENWORTHY, M. D., of Milford, Pike county, is a talented young physician who has already made his mark in his profession, and his many friends look forward to a successful career for him.

Dr. Kenworthy comes of old English stock in the paternal line, and his grandfather, John Ken- worthy, a native of England, came to America at the age of eighteen, settling in Philadelphia, where he died. Doubtless our subject inherits from him his aptitude for medical science, as he prepared for the profession, although he did not practice. He married a Miss Randall, a native of Pennsylvania.

James Kenworthy, our subject's father, was born and reared in Philadelphia, and at the age of twenty-one was graduated from the College of Phar- macy in that city. During the last years of the Civil war he was placed in charge of a drug depart- ment, and this position he held until peace was re- stored. He then returned to Philadelphia and en- gaged in the drug business, conducting a store there for seventeen years. He died in March, 1882, at the age of forty, cutting short a most useful career. He married Miss Elizabeth Bartle, a native of

Frankfort, Penn., who is residing with our sub- ject. Her father, William T. Bartle, was a wealthy shipbuilder of Philadelphia, and was prominent in social life, being a member of various fraternal or- ders, including the I. O. O. F. He was also iden- tified with the Manufacturers' Club and the old William Penn Hose Company of Philadelphia. His wife, Emily A., was a native of Burlington, N. J.

Dr. Kenworthy, our subject, was born Novem- ber 18, 1872, in Philadelphia, Penn., and was the only child of his parents. His education was begun in the Friends School at Philadelphia, and later he attended the public schools, graduating from the high school. He took a course in the Prichett Busi- ness College, and then spent a year as a clerk in the drug store of G. Shinn, of Philadelphia. In 1891 he entered the medical department of the Univer- sity of Philadelphia, and on graduating in 1895 he passed the prescribed examination before the State board. He then located at. Dingmans Ferry, Pike county, but on February 1, 1898, he opened an office in Milford, where he lias met with gratifying suc- cess in his practice. The Doctor has not married ; he is much esteemed socially, and is a member of the Episcopal Church of Milford. He belongs to the A. C. Harmon Club of Philadelphia, and in politics is a stanch Republican.

FRANCISCO C. RISLEY, a representative farmer and stock dealcr. of Springville township, Susquehanna county, is a native of that county, born in Rush township May 22, 1849. Throughout life his father, Benjamin Risley, followed the black- smith's trade, and from Rush township he came to Springville, spending his last days, however, in Dimock township, where he died at the age of fifty- five years. The wife and mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Johnson, and was a daughter of Benjamin Amason and Zaloma (Lins- ley) Johnson, died at the age of forty-five. Both were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father affiliated with the Republi- can party. Their children were Rinaldo, who died young ; Zaloma, deceased wife of Hudson Gregory, of Wyoming county, Penn. ; Francisco C., our sub- ject ; Agatha, wife of George Aldrich, of Bingham- ton, N. Y .; Permelia, wife of Landus Meeks, of Binghamton : William, who died at the age of nine- teen years; James, a blacksmith, of Binghamton ; Julia, wife of Elijah Edward, of Binghamton ; and Seneca, a machinist, of the same place.

During his boyhood and youth Francisco C. Risley attended the common schools of Susque- hanna county, and he worked under his father in the blacksmith shop until he attained his majority. He began life for himself as a farmer in Springville township, where he operated rented land for some years. Soon after his marriage he purchased a farm, which he unfortunately lost. His present home, consisting of six acres, he bought in 1897, and besides this he owns forty-three acres in Spring- ville township. He is now successfully engaged in

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general farming and dairying, and also speculates in stock, which he sells at Tunkhannock. He has ten cows, and a flock of sheep.

On December 17, 1871, Mr. Risley was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Aldrich, who was born February 3, 1849, a daughter of Isaac and Matilda (Philips) Aldrich. Her father was born in Massachusetts, and died in Susquehanna county, Penn., December 10, 1879, at the age of eighty-four years; her mother, who is a native of Lackawanna county, Penn., is still living. In their family were seven children, namely: James K., a resident of Springville township, Susquehanna county ; Joseph- ine, wife of our subject; George, a stone-cutter of Binghamton, N. Y .; Catherine, widow of Charles Warner, and a resident of Tunkhannock, Penn .; Byron, a farmer of Dimock township, Susque- hanna county; Susan, wife of N. H. Sherman, of Springville township; and Aaron, who died at the age of three years. Mr. and Mrs. Risley have three children: Walter, born September 14, 1872, is clerking in Lynn, Penn .; Myrtle, born September 2, 1877, is a resident of Binghamton, N. Y .; and

Lee, born April 4, 1881, is attending school. Mrs. Risley is an earnest member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Our subject is identified with the Republican party, but takes little interest in politics aside from voting. He gives his support, however, to those measures which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit, and is recognized as a valued citizen of his community.

RICHARD T. PIERCE, a prominent repre- sentative of the agricultural interests of Prompton, Wayne county, was born in Plymouth, Cornwall, England, January 7, 1842, a son of Thomas and Ann (Pike) Pearce, also natives of that country. The father spelled the name Pearce, but our subject changed to the present mode, as it was spelled in that way on many of his papers, including his dis- charge from the army.

In 1832 Thomas Pearce came to the United States, and took up his residence in Clinton town- ship, Wayne Co., Penn., where he made his home for about ten years while in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson railroad. He then returned to England, where he was married and continued to reside until 1847, coming to this country again in that year. As before, he located in Clinton town- ship, Wayne county, but in 1866 came to Prompton. where he made his home with our subject until called to his final rest December 9, 1875, at the age of seventy-seven years. The mother died in 1890, aged seventy-four years, and was laid by his side in the Honesdale cemetery. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and on that ticket was elected supervisor of his township.

In the family of this worthy couple were the following children: Richard S., born June 1, 1839. died in England, November 10, 1840; Richard T .. our subject, is next in the order of birth ; James P.,

born November 19, 1843, died in England, Novem- ber 29, 1844; James H., born May, 19, 1845, is an engineer on an elevated railroad of New York City; George T., born August 6; 1848, died in Texas, September 17, 1897; Rebecca J., born December 22, 1850, is deceased; Sarah A., born January 27, 1853, died December 9, 1867 ; and Margaret J., born May 23, 1854, is now the wife of J. J. Whitaker, a farmer of Wayne county.

Upon the home farm Richard T. Pierce grew to manhood, assisting his father until twenty years of age. In the winters of 1859-60 and 1860-61, he also worked for William Foster, at Honesdale, haul- ing bark with his own team. On July 2, 1863, he enlisted in Company G, 141st P. V. 1., under Capt. James L. Mumford, and took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. and in various skirmishes. At Gettysburg he wa, seriously wounded by a minie ball, which broke his jaw, knocking out all of his lower teeth and some of the upper ones. For ten months he was con- fined in hospitals in Philadelphia, and was then honorably discharged in September, 1864. He now receives a good pension as a partial compensation for his injuries. Returning to the old home in Clinton township, he there remained until 1866, when he removed to his present farm in Prompton. In 1867 he entered the employ of the railroad. but after a year gave his entire time and attention to the cultivation and improvement of his farm until 1887, when he became connected with the Gravity railroad, being employed either as brakesman or night watchman until 1894.

On October 26, 1870, in Prompton, Mr. Pierce was united in marriage with Miss Martha M. Mc- Reynolds, who died September 15, 1892, at the age of forty-five years, and was buried in Prompton. Her parents were Benjamin and Mary McReynolds. of Dyberry township, Wayne county. Mr. Pierce was again married at Prompton, this time in April. 1894, to Mrs. Rosa A. ( Keesler) Carter, and to theni were born two children, who died in infancy. Prior to her second marriage she was the widow of Jo- seph Carter.

The Republican party finds a stalwart sup- porter in Mr. Pierce, who has capably served as supervisor of his township, and is now school direc- tor. He is an honored member of the G. A. R. Post of Honesdale, and is a leading and active member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is now trustee. Being public-spirited, he takes great in- terest in all the moral, religious and educational matters of the township, and always lends encour- agement and support to whatever appears to be for the best interests of the community.

A. L. MILLARD, a leading citizen of Bridge- water township, Susquehanna county, was born April 23, 1845. in Lenox township. the same county. and is a son of Abiatha Millard, who was born .Au- gust 19, 1809, in Otego, Otsego Co .. N. Y. The grandfather. Joshua Millard, was born in Schoharic

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county, N. Y., of English ancestry, and on coming to Pennsylvania, took up his residence in Lenox township, Susquehanna county. He married Lydia McLean, who was also a native of New York, and died at the age of sixty-three years. They became the parents of the following children: Stephen, Abiatha, Mary, Elizabeth, Jerusha, Henry, Joshua, Sarah and Joseph. The parents of these children were both sincere Christians, the father a member of the Baptist Church, the mother of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he was a Demo- crat.

Abiatha Millard was quite young when the family removed to Susquehanna county, and in Lenox township he grew to manhood. On Decem- ber 31, 1840, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary R. Case, who was born in Lathrop township, Susquehanna county, March 10, 1817, and prior to her marriage was a popular teacher. Her father, Capt. Belva Case, was a music teacher by profes- sion, and was an officer in the Revolutionary war. He married Miss Rowena Moore, a native of Con- necticut, and to them were born the following chil- dren: Edith, Orson, James, Louisa, Artamesia, Ju- lia, Wellington, Mary R., and Rowena. The follow- ing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Millard: Lusetta ; Fred H. : A. L. ; Durand B., a prominent artist of Scranton, Penn .. who died in 1891 ; Ayer H .; Arthur M .; Solomon; Frank E .; Myrtle H .; Herbert L., a resident of Michigan; and Ed A. In early life Abiatha Millard was foreman of a quarry at Scranton for some years, and was also connected with a coal company at that place, but in 1863 he located on a farm in Bridgewater town- ship and turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits. In politics he was a stalwart Democrat, and in religious belief both he and his wife were Meth- odists. He died at the age of fifty-three years, and she passed away at the age of seventy-three.

Reared on the farm, A. L. Millard early be- came familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and acquired his literary education in the public schools of the neighborhood. He was married, September 17, 1872, to Miss Car- rie A. Ludington, a popular and successful teacher, and a daughter of Samuel T. Ludington. Her paternal grandfather. Harry Ludington, was one of the men who fought so bravely for the freedom of the Colonies during the Revolutionary war. Samuel T. Ludington married Jenctta Lenox, who was born in Perthshirc. Scotland, a daughter of James and Jane (Grey) Lenox, also natives of that country. Mr. Ludington, who was a faithful mem- ber of the Baptist Church, died in October, 1847, at the age of thirty-five years. leaving a widow, and the following children: Sarah J .: Henry J .. a teacher : Samuel A., a soldier of the Civil war : W. T., who was also a soldier in the same war, and died in 1897; Elizabeth, and Carrie A. Mrs. Ludington was again marricd. her second husband being John Kinch. and she died in Tioga county, N. Y., at the age of seventy-three.

Mrs. Millard was provided with excellent edu- cational privileges, attending school in Delhi and Andes, N. Y., and for fifteen terms she successfully followed the teacher's profession. By her marriage to our subject she has beconic the mother of four children : Raymond A., who has also become a suc- cessful teacher of Susquahanna county; Jessie L., a graduate of the Montrose High School; Mary Agnes ; and Bertha K. In his political affiliations Mr. Millard is a Democrat, and he gives his sup- port to all measures which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit.

JOHN H. COOK is one of the enterprising citizens of Bushkill, Pike county, where various business affairs engross his attention. His business ability is by no means limited to one line, and he is now successfully engaged in general farming, in the plumbing and tinsmith business, and in the con- duct of a large boarding-house, in which he can accommodate twenty-five people. His capable man- agement, sound judgment and industry are bringing him well-deserved success.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 73

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