Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 81

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 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 81
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 81

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Mr. Smith is a native of Smithfield township, born in January, 1833, son of Daniel, and grand- son of Isaac Smith, who settled in Smithfield

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township as early as 1786. He passed tlie re- mainder of his life here, dying on the home which he cleared out and improved by his own industry, for the region was then in its primitive condition. He left four children: Jacob, Charles, John and Daniel. Daniel Smith married Sarah Metzgar, daugliter of Jonas and Mary Metzgar, and the young couple settled on Mr. Metzgar's place, Mr. Smith following farming there until his wife's death, some few years after their marriage. She left two children-Mary and George M., who were reared by their maternal grandparents. Mary was born in 1835, in Smithfield, and received her edu- cation in the public schools of the township; on reaching womanhood she became the wife of Michael Detrick, of Smithfield, and they now reside in Russell Hill, Wyoming Co., Penn. ; they had a family of seven children -- Marshall, Sarah (who is married and lives in Russell Hill), Elmer, Nannie (Mrs. John Clark, of Pittston, Penn.), Ella ( MIrs. Reynolds, of Wyoming county), Judson (who is married and lives in Kingston, Penn. ) and Otis (married and living in Pittston).

George M. Smith passed his youth in the usual manner of farmer boys, assisting on the farm in the summer and attending the district schools in the winter. He was thoroughly trained to agri- cultural pursuits, which he followed for the most part until his enlistment, in 1862, in the service of his country during the Civil war. He became a member of Company C, 176th P. V. I., was sworn into service at Philadelphia and was sent to Nor- folk, Va., where his actual army life commenced. The command marched from there to Beaufort, where they were held as reserve by Gens. Foster and Hunter, thence moving to St. Helena Island, where Mr. Smith was taken sick. He was sent to Hilton Head hospital, where, in May, 1863, he was honorably discharged on account of physical disability, and he returned to Monroe county.

In 1856 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mar- garet McEwing, of Smithfield, daughter of George and Mary A. ( Miller) McEwing, who were natives of New York State and Northampton county, Penn., respectively. Mr. and Mrs. McEwing first settled in Northampton county, finally removing to Monroe county and locating in Smithfield, near Minsi, where he purchased a farm. He was a tanner by trade and followed that calling for the greater part of his life. He and his wife both died

& on the home in Smithfield, leaving six children, of whom Jane, the eldest, is unmarried : Sarah is the wife of John Hartman, of Smithfield ; John is mar- ried and lives at Water Gap, where he is employed as watchman on the Delaware, Lackawanna Western road ; Margaret is the wife of Mr. Smith ; Miller is a resident of Easton, Penn. ; Savannalı is the wife of George MeKinsey, of Newark, N. J. Mr. and Mrs. George McEwing were, in religious connection, members of the Presbyterian Church at Shawnee.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. George M.

Smith remained at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Metzgar, until after Jonas Metzgar's deatlı, in 1861, and upon Mr. Smith's return trom the army he took his wife and two children to Buttermilk Falls, in Smithfield township, where he bought the place known as the Lewis Williams property and there made a permanent home. He has made general improvements about the house and grounds, and his home is now one of the neat- est and best-kept places in the village, the owner's watchful care and interest in its appearance being apparent to all. As above stated, Mr. Smith has for the past twenty-five years been in the employ of Dr. Hurd, of the Water Gap Sanitarium, engaged in various duties about that institution, which he has discharged faithfully and capably. He has taken an active interest in local affairs generally. especially anything pertaining to Church and Sab- bath-school work, and he and his wife are regarded by all who know them as worthy Christian citizens. deserving of the highest respect from all with whom they come in contact. Mr. Smith began life without especially bright prospects, but he has suc- ceeded, by dint of industry and careful manage- ment, in accumulating a comfortable competence and providing his family with a most comfortable home. his worthy wife taking her share in the work with becomng faithfulness and proving a competent helpmeet to her persevering husband. They are de- vout members of the M. E. Church of Minsi, and in his political sentiments Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican.

To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born three chil- dren, of whom we give a brief record : Anna M. was born in 1857, receiving a good education in the pub- lic schools, and in 1883 married Lewis Overfield. of Middle Smithfield, by whom she has one child liv- ing-Margaret Hope ; they live on a farm in Smith- field township. Edward Smith, born in 1860, in Smithfield, learned the trade of painter, which he now follows, living in East Stroudsburg; he was first married to Miss Lizzie Place, of Middle Smith- field. who died a few years after marriage, leaving no children, and he subsequently wedded Miss Amanda Metz, of Middle Smithfield, by whom he has two children-Barnard and Russell. Amilla Smith was born in 1870. and died at the early age of fifteen years, a bright, promising girl. deeply mourned by her bereaved parents and many friends in the town.

W. S. ROBINSON, the well-known and pop- ular proprietor of "Hotel Clifford," at Clifford Cor- ners, Susquehanna county, is a native of that coun- ty, born at Lenoxville, September 11. 1867. and is a son of Daniel H. and Sarah ( Lott ) Robinson. who are now living retired at Lenoxville.

The family was founded in America by Rev. John Robinson, who came to this country in the Mayflower. The paternal great-great-grandfather of our subject was killed by the Indians in New York State. At an early day the great-grandparents,

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Bryant and Elizabeth (Scott) Robinson, removed from Lackawanna county, Penn., to Susquehanna county, and took up their residence in Lenox town- ship, where the former cleared and developed a farm. There he and his wife spent their last days, and their remains were interred upon the farm. " The paternal grandparents of our subject were Daniel and Clarissa ( Sweet) Robinson, the former a native of Lenox township, Susquehanna county, the latter of Nicholson, Penn. The grandfather was a farmer and also an inventor, having patented a self-acting brake for wagons, sleighs, water wheels, etc. He held several township offices. Both he and his wife died on the farm where the father of our subject now resides, the former in January, 1878, at the age of seventy-six years, the latter in 1884; at the age of seventy-six, and they were laid to rest in Clifford cemetery. Religiously they were mem- bers of the Universalist Church. Their children were Elias, who died in infancy; Elmira. deceased wife of Isaac M. Doud ; Daniel S., father of our sub- ject ; Mary A., deceased wife of Eli Decker ; John, a farmer of Lenox township; William B., deceased; James, a resident of Scranton, Penn .; Ambrose I., a farmer of Lenox township; Margaret, wife of A. P. Doud, a farmer of the same township; and Em- ory, an attorney of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.

Daniel S. Robinson was born on his present farm at Lenoxville, February 3, 1828, and through- out his active business life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was married, at Carbondale, Penn., September 1, 1863, to Miss Sarah Lott, and to them were born four children, namely: Daniel J.," clerk in the Anthracite Hotel at Carbondale; W. S., our subject ; George E., who conducts a boarding house at Dundaff, Penn .; and Leona M., who died young. The wife and mother was born in Clifford township, Susquehanna county, February 17, 1840, and is a daughter of Solomon and Phoebe A. ( Brun- (lage) Lott, the former a native of Orange county, N. J., the latter of Harford township, Susquehanna Co., Penn. Solomon Lott, who was a carpenter and farmer by occupation, came to Clifford town- ship, Susquehanna county, at the age of fourteen years, and died in Harford township, in 1878, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife departed this life in August, 1876, at the age of sixty-one. In their family were the following children: Ange- line, widow of L. Elsworth and a resident of Har- ford township; Catherine, widow of George Miller, and a resident of Lenox township; Saralı, mother of our subject : Collins. a carpenter of Forest City, l'enn. ; Sherman, a farmer of Harford township; Jerome, a carpenter of Franklin township; Mary, wife of D. P. Little, of Brooklyn township: Mar- tha, deceased wife of Haven Lewis: Alice, wife of Ernest Elsworth, of Harford township; Irban, a merchant of Harford township: and Melvin, who died in infancy. The parents of Solomon Lott were Ichabod and Sarah A. ( Roberts ) Lott.

W. S. Robinson was reared on his father's farm. At the age of fifteen he began the battle of

life for himself, working for two years in the luni- ber woods. For a few months he was interested in the meat business at Foster, Penn., and then returned home, where he worked at different occupations until 1888, when he purchased the stage route between Nicholson and Carbondale, which he conducted for four years. While thus employed he made his home with his parents in Lenox township, and in the spring of 1889 was elected justice of the peace, which office he resigned on disposing of the stage line, in 1892. He then went to Stull, Wyoming Co., Penn., where for thirteen months he conducted the "Mountain House," operated a farin and engaged in the lumber business, and on disposing of his inter- ests there he returned to Lenoxville. On April 1, 1896, he purchased "Hotel Clifford" of F. W. Ten- nant, and has since conducted the same with marked success. It is a pleasant, twenty-three-room house, conveniently located, being eight miles from Car- bondale, twelve from Nicholson, twenty-two from Montrose, and eight from Forest City. It is a popular resort, and well filled during the summer months. Mr. Robinson is a genial, pleasant gentle- man who makes friends readily, and is widely and favorably known. Socially he is a Master Mason, a member of the Lodge at Carbondale, and politically is identified with the Democratic party. He was married at Fleetville, Penn., in 1892, to Miss Lizzie E. Van Fleet, a native of that place, and a daughter of George N. and Lavina Van Fleet.

H. L. BRADLEY is a wide-awake and ener- getic business man of New Milford. Susquehanna county, where he has for a quarter of a century successfully carried on operations as a contractor and builder, having erected the greater part of the buildings in that place.

Mr. Bradley was born in New Milford town- ship, Susquehanna county, in 1843, a son of H. H. and Mary K. ( Hendrick) Bradley. The father is a native of Cheshire, New Haven Co., Conn., and is a son of Asa Bradley, one of the honored pioncers of New Milford township, having driven across the coun- try with an ox-team from Connecticut and located in this region when the country was all wild and cov- ered with a dense forest. Here he opened up a farm, but later returned to Connecticut, where he and his wife both died. H. H. Bradley was a young man of about twenty-two years when he took up his resi- dence in New Milford township on the 200-acre tract which his father had sccured. and to the fur- ther improvement and cultivation of the place he devoted his energies throughout his active business life, but is now living retired in the village of New Milford. He is one of the well-known and honored citizens of the community, and in politics was orig- inally a Whig. now a Republican. In New Milford township he wedded Mary Hendrick. also a native of Connecticut, and a daughter of John Sheldon and Dorothea Hendrick, who were born in that State and came to Susquehanna county at an early day. spending their last years upon a farm which they

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improved in New Milford township. Mrs. Bradley died eight or nine years ago, and of her four chil- dren, William, who was born in New Milford town- ship, died in Connecticut at the age of twenty-two years ; and Margaret died some years ago. Those living are H. L., our subject; and M. O., a resident of New Milford borough.

H. L. Bradley was reared and educated in New Milford township, and continued to assist in the labors of the home farm until he attained his ma- jority, when he came to the village of Milford and learned the carpenter's trade, to which he has since · given his time and attention. At the age of twenty- five he began contracting on his own account, and has prospered in his undertakings.

In Franklin township, Susquehanna county, in 1875, Mr. Bradley was married to Miss Cynthia E. Smith, a native of that township, and a daugh- ter of Martin and Eliza (Cole) Smith, who were also born there, as was also the paternal grandfa- ther, Rufus Smith. The last named was a descend- ant of one of a family of seven brothers who set- tled in Franklin township in 1797, and took an act- . ive and prominent part in its development and pros- perity. Mrs. Bradley died in New Milford, No- vember 4, 1896, leaving one child, Corliss E. Mr. Bradley is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, and is one of the leading and influential mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church of New Milford, in which he is now serving as elder.

GEORGE T. CORWIN. The world bestows an involuntary tribute of respect upon a self-made man, showing that underneath the appreciation of wealth there lies the perception of the worth of the character which has been able to battle successfully with adverse circumstances. The subject of this biography, a prominent agriculturist of New Mil- ford township, Susquehanna county, has made his own way to success, and his life furnishes a hopeful object lesson in perseverance and industry.

Mr. Corwin was born in New Milford township, November 25, 1845, and comes of good pioneer an- cestry, his grandparents, Silas and (Little) Corwin, having settled in that locality at an early day. William Corwin, our subject's father, was born in Orange county, N. Y., and came to Susque- hanna county during boyhood with his parents, re- maining in New Milford township until 1851, when he went to Scranton to work in the shops of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. He was also engaged in the coal business for a time, but in 1855 he removed to Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county, where he followed farming and carpentering. His wife, Caroline (Sutliff), a native of Brooklyn township, Susquehanna coun- ty, died in 1860, and his own death occurred in 1873. They had the following children: Gilbert and Adelbert, both of whom met death while serving in the Union army; George T., our subject; David, who died in childhood; . M. Ellen, who married Eugene Leslie, and died at Montrose, Penn .; and

Libbie, who died in New Milford township at the age of fourteen.

As a boy our subject was trained to habits of industry, and at nine years of age he began work- ing for farmers. At thirty-two he married, and soon afterward purchased a farm in Benton town- ship, Susquehanna county, where he remained one year. On selling that property he rented a farm in New Milford township belonging to Dr. D. C. Aincy, and six years later he bought his present homestead. As time passed he invested in another farm in that township across the road from the homestead, then occupied by his father-in-law, and he still owns both places. For some years he has been extensively engaged in threshing during the season. Mr. Corwin is a man who does his own thinking, and politically he is an Independent. So- cially he and his family are much esteemed, and he is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at New Milford.

On February 1, 1877, Mr. Corwin was mar- ried, at Montrose, to Miss Ida Ely, who was born January 14, 1858, in Lemon township, Wyoming county, Penn. In the paternal line she is descended from New England stock, and her grandparents, Erastus and Hannah ( Powers) Ely, were both na- tives of Connecticut, but made their home in later vears on a farm in Wyoming county. Her father, Gabriel J. Ely, was born in the latter section in 1831, and removed in 1867 to New Milford town- ship, Susquehanna county, locating upon a liome- stead mentioned above; since 1894, however. lic has resided in Franklin township, Susquehanna county. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Aldrich, was born in 1837, in Springville township. Susquehanna county, a daughter of Gaylor and Caroline Aldrich. Both are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they united many years ago. Of a family of six chil- dren, Mrs. Corwin is the eldest ; Gilbert is a farmer in New Milford township; Mary married Perry Harding, a farmer in the same neighborhood : Chris- tie died at the age of twelve years ; Charles is a stone mason at Tingley, Susquehanna county ; and Mu- zette married Edward Shaw, of Buffalo, N. Y .. a railway conductor.

JAMES K. JACKSON. With the stern reai- ities of life the subject of this sketch, a highly- respected citizen of Great Bend township, Susque- hanna county, has had an intimate acquaintance. At the age of sixteen years he was bereit of the care of a father, who fell in battle before Peter .. burg in 1864, leaving a widow and nine children. The management of the farm fell upon the shoul- ders of James K .. which for years he successfully conducted until his brothers and sisters grew to adult life.

Our subject was born in October, 1847. in Great Bend township, the son of James and Nancy ( Wharton) Jackson. Both parents were natives of Schoharie county, N. Y., where they were reared

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and married, and whence in 1842 they removed to a pioneer home in Great Bend township. Susque- hanna county. The father had purchased a large tract of wild land and erected a log cabin, in which the family began their residence in Susquehanna county. The father worked steadily at the forest un- til he had cleared quite a farm. Some years later he removed to the opposite side of the Susquelianna riv- erer, where he erected a good, substantial home and made other improvements and where he continued to reside until his enlistment in the 50th P. V. I. He fell in battle in front of Petersburg and died June 18, 1864, from the wounds there received. His be- reaved widow remained on the home farm, where she reared her young family to become worthy and respected members of society. She died in 1889. The nine children of the family were as follows: (1) Elizabeth, born in 1840, is unmarried and resides at Great Bend. (2) John, born in 1843, married Maria Brewster, a native of Susquehanna county, and they settled at Red Rock, where he became foreman of the Clark Tannery Co., and where he died. His five children were-Dewitt, Arthur, Flora (deceased), Laura (deceased) and Charles, a resident of Binghamton. (3) Mary J., born in 1845, married Isaac June, an oil operator. They have a large family, and reside in Michigan. (4) Ellen is the wife of Theo. Musick, of Great Bend. (5) James K. is the subject of this sketch. (6) Josephine, born in 1848, is the wife of Henry Snow, of Binghamton, and has two children- George and Alfred. (7) Juliette, born in 1851, died in 1860. (8) Louise, born in 1853, was edu- cated in the higher schools of Great Bend, and mar- ried Charles Hazzard, of Broome county. They now reside at Cooperstown, N. Y., where he fol- lows lumbering, and they have five children-Mary, Maud, Charles, Ruth, and one whose name is not given. (9) Arabell, born in 1856, is the wife of William Preston, of Binghamton, N. Y., and has five children-James, Lewis, Harrison, Mary and Dolly.

James K. Jackson grew to manhood on the home farm in Great Bend township. He attended the dis- trict schools, and after the death of his father he assumed the management of the farm, where he remained in charge, taking care of the younger chil- dren until they were grown and had homes of their own.

In 1879 our subject was married to Miss Ida E. Shaw, daughter of Samuel and Nancy ( Sterns) Shaw, one of the prominent old families of Susque- hanna county. Samuel Shaw was a native of Con- nccticut, where he was born in 1819. He is yet living (at this writing), at the advanced age of eighty years. His wife, Nancy, was born in Alden- ville, Wayne Co., Penn., in 1826, and died in Great Bend. They had a family of eleven children, of whom Ida E. ( Mrs. Jackson) received a good edu- cation in the schools of Great Bend township. To our subject and wife have come three children, namely : Bertha, born in 1881, in Great Bend town-

ship, is a student at the Hallstead High School; Grace, born in December, 1883, in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., is a student of the home schools; and James K., born in October, 1889, in Great Bend township, is also a student at home.

After his marriage our subject settled on a farm in Great Bend township, where he yet remains. He has there followed farming continuously, ex- cept for several years when he was engaged in farm- ing in Cattaraugus county, N. Y. In politics he is an advocate of Prohibition principles and a sup- porter of that party. He is a member of the Royal Good Templars of Binghamton, and himself and wife are active workers in the Baptist Church of Hallstead. He is an enterprising farmer and stock- man and public-spirited citizen, taking an active part in the affairs of the county and supports all worthy public causes.

EDWARD SCOTT LOOMIS, a prosperous farmer of Auburn township, Susquehanna county, is the descendant of an early settler. Polly and Porter Loomis, his paternal grandparents, migrat- ed in 1818 from Lowell, Mass., and settled in Spring- ville township near where an uncle, Porter Loomis, had settled two years earlier. To Porter and Polly Loomis were born the following children: Jasper ; Charles; Porter; Samuel, father of our subject; Hannah, who married Sidney Warner; and Farlie, who married Moses Overfield.

Samuel Loomis, the father of our subject, was born in Lowell, Mass. He married, at Selins- grove, Penn., April 18, 1835, Amelia Lambert, a native of Snyder county, Penn., daughter of Cas- per and Amelia Lambert, of that county, where her father was a merchant. In 1837 Samuel Loomis settled in Springville township, Susquehanna county. He was a contractor on the old Pennsylvania canal for twenty years. He built the canal and dam at Mehoopany, Penn. He also engaged in farming, and through life practiced veterinary surgery in connection with his other business. He died at the hotel at Springville, April 9. 1868, aged sixty-eight years. His wife died December 26, 1887, aged sixty- nine years. The children of Samuel and Amelia Loomis were as follows: Casper, born September 23, 1839, died young ; Horatio U .. born November 9, 1841, was a railroad engineer and was killed on his engine in 1869: P. W .. of Montrose, was born in 1843: Edward S., our subject, born May 26, 1846: Geraldine, born July 11, 1848, died at the age of twenty-four years; Charles M., born September 20, 1850, died at the age of twenty-four years ; Dora S., born April 11, 1853, widow of William Beards- ley, of New York; Miriam C., who married Lewis Tiffany, and is now dcccased.

Edward S. Loomis remained with his parents on the home farm until February 1, 1864, when. at the age of cigliteen years he enlisted at Scranton in Company C, 6th P. V. C .. under Capt. Isaac Mof- fatt. of Hagerstown, Md. He saw active service at once in the Virginia campaign. He was at Lou-

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den's Valley, Two Forks and other engagements, and assisted in driving Lee from Richmond, follow- ing him to Matamoras Court House. Mr. Loomis was wounded three times-at Pleasant Valley, Md., he was wounded in the head and confined to the hos- .. pital for one month ; at Cedar Creek, April 7, 1865, he was wounded in the right rip, part of a bursting shell piercing his groin, and he had a middle finger broken by a saber stroke : at Louisville, Ky., he was permanently injured, his horse throwing and fall- ing on him. He was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., and discharged at Harrisburg, August 31, 1865.

Returning home, the crippled young soldier sold patent rights for a year, and was then with his father in the hotel at Springville three years. He then returned to the old homestead, which he oper- ated in connection with a stone quarry for four years. Later he purchased a farm in Springville township which he occupied for eleven years. Selling this place he rented a property for eight years, and in 1892 purchased the farm of sixty-eight acres which he now occupies. Mr. Loomis has been supervisor for four years, and is a member of the G. A. R. He was married, August 18, 1870, at Tunkhannock, Penn., to Sarah C. Lott, a native of Auburn town- ship, daughter of Milton and Anna M. ( Cool) Lott. To our subject and wife have been born two children-Jesse W. and Blanche E.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 81

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