Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 83

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 83
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 83
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 83
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 83

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).

CHARLIE C. HAWK (deceased) was one of the most extensive fruit growers and prominent citi- zens of Sterling township, Wayne county, and spent his entire life on the old Hawk homestead, where liis

birthi occurred July 8, 1861. His parents, William W. and Catherine ( Raub) Hawk, were natives of War- ren county, where they were married December 4, 1847. The first two years of their wedded life they spent in Columbus, N. J., and then came to Wayne county, Penn., where they lived for a year with Mr. Hawk's sister, Mrs. Jacob France, in Salem township. Going to Drinkers, Lackawanna Co., Penn., ne contracted to build the tresstle over the Wilber swamp for the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and when that was completed he removed to the present home of our subject in Sterling township, Wayne county. Here he purchased 180 acres from the old Torey estate, and to its cultivation and ini- provement devoted his energies until lite's labors were over. He died February 9, 1889, at the age of seventy-one years, and was laid to rest in the Hones- dale cemetery. By trade he was a carpenter and builder and erected all the buildings upon his farm. He was one of the leading and influential citizens of his community, but never an office seeker. Since the age of twenty-five years he had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his life was ever in harmony with his professions. His estimable wife, who was born January 19, 1827, made her home with her son Charlie, until his death. They were the parents of four children, namely : John E., born May 27, 1853, died December 4, 1853 ; Elba E., born May 14, 1856, is the wife of George E. Swartz, of Dunmore, Penn., an engineer on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad; William A., born May 20, 1858, died June 25, 1872; and Charlie C. completes the family.

Reared on the home farm, Charlie C. Hawk early became familiar with all branches of agricult- ure and also obtained a thorough knowledge of lum- bering, to which he devoted considerable attention. However, at the last, he gave a greater part of his time and attention to fruit culture, and met wih ex- cellent success in this branch of his business, his farm becoming one of the finest fruit farms in northeast- ern Pennsylvania. Upon the place he had 400 apple and 150 peach trees besides many other varieties of fruits. Annually he raised from one to three thou- sand bushels of apples and pears, and twenty bushels of cherries, for which he found a ready sale at $4 per bushel. He also raised gooseberries in abund- ance.

In Sterling township. June 30, 1888, Mr. Hawk was married, to Miss Lillie Musgrave, the ceremony being performed by Rev. R. B. Billows, a Methodist Protestant minister. They now have two children : Floyd W., born July 16, 1890; and Edna W., born May 31, 1893. Mrs. Hawk is also a native of Ster- ling township, born May 14, 1868, and is a daugliter of James and Jane ( Rawiston ) Musgrave, the form- er a native of Philadelphia, and the latter of Scot- land. For many years the father was actively iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Wayne coun- ty, and having prospered in his undertaking he is now enabled to live retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. His sketch can be found on another

1685

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

page of this volume. His children are as follows : Mary, wife of James McGuire, a railroad engineer of Amboy, Penn .; Andrew, who died at the age of five years ; Margaret MI., wife of Reuben Malson, a farmer of Sterling township; Isabella, who died when young ; Elizabeth, widow of James Thompson, and a resident of Amboy, Penn. ; William, who wed- ded Mary Lewis and is a railroad man of Dunmore, Penn .; Henry, who married Maggie Paul, and is a railroad engineer of Jersey City, N. J .; Emily, de- ceased wife of Otto Snyder, of Amboy, Penn. ; Thomas R., who married Mary E. Reed, now de- ceased; Walter, who married Elizabeth Spangen- berg, and is a farmer of Sterling township; and Lil- lie, widow of our subject.

Socially Mr. Hawk affiliated with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Patriotic Or- der Sons of America No. 959, both of Nobletown, and religiously was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which his widow is also a consist- ent member. He always cast his ballot in support of the Republican party, and had most efficiently served as school director for three years. As a citi- zen, friend and neighbor, he was worthy of the high regard in which he was held, and his early death caused genuine grief throughout his wide circle of friends.

JOSEPH A. WILKIN, engineer, residence Matamoras, Pike county, Pennsylvania.

JAMES M. WESTFALL. of New Milfordtown- ship, Susquehanna county, is a successful business man, and after years in the lumber and sawmill in- terest he has turned his attention exclusively to the ancient and honorable calling of agriculture.

Mr. Westfall comes of good pioneer stock. as his paternal grandparents, John and Jennie Westfall. came from Dutchess county. N. Y., at an early day and settled upon a tract of 1,000 acres across the river from the city of Susquehanna. They were the parents of the following: Elijah, Jennie ( who mar- ried William Greek), Daniel, James. Katie, John and Livia. Elijah Westfall, our subject's father, was born in Broome county, N. Y., and his wife, Martha J. (Sleighter), was a native of Dutchess county, N. Y. He came to Susquehanna county in 1820. locat- ing in Harmony township, opposite what is now Lanesboro, where he followed the cooper's trade in connection with farming. The present village of Oakland stands upon a portion of his old farm, and a street was named Westfall avenue in hon- or of the family. He died August 8, 1867. aged seventy-seven years : his wife died Janu- ary 1, 1871, at the age of sixty-seven, and their remains were interred in MeCune's Cemetery. Of their four children, the eldest, Caroline married Charles Tompkins, and died May 10, 1893 ; James M. was second in the order of birth ; Isabella, widow of John Gregory, resides in Idalio; and M. Lafayetta died at the age of nineteen.

Our subject was born August 31, 1833, at the

present site of Oakland borough, and was trained to industrious habits in his youth, being set to work at his father's cooper shop when fourteen years old and continuing six years. At the age of twenty-one he left home, and for some time worked at his trade in Oakland and New Milford township, and in 1863 he entered the Union army, where he served as fore- man of a construction corps until the close of the war. He then settled upon his present homestead, but much of his time was given to conducting a saw- mill until 1890, when he retired from that business. Mr. Westfall has always been prominent in local affairs and in the Grange, and for two years he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church at New Milford. Politically he is a strong Democrat, as are all his relatives, and he has served seven years as school director and three years as supervisor. He has been prominent in the Grange. being overseer two years and trustee one year. On July 4. 1855, he was married at Lanesboro to Miss Olive J. Keach, and two children have blessed the union : ( 1 ) Charles V. is a railway engineer residing in Buffalo, N. Y .; he married Miss Ida Van Marter, and has two chil- dren, Ernest and Lafayette. (2) Madge Eva mar- ried Edward Ott, of Buffalo, N. Y., a railway en- gineer.

Mrs. Olive ( Keach) Westfall, whose efficient aid has done much to promote her husband's success, was born September 13, 1836, at the present site of Hallstead. Penn. Her paternal grandparents. Will- iam and Martha Keach, were residents of Connect- icut, and the grandfather was a painter by trade. Harvey W. Keach. Mrs. Westfall's father. a native of Windham county, Conn., came to this State about 1825. locating first at New Milford and later at Great Bend. By occupation he was a carpenter, and as a citizen he was highly esteemed. his sound judg- ment giving him much influence in the local Demo- cratic organization. He died Angiist 28. 1874. at the age of sixty-seven, and his remains rest in the ceme- tery at Hallstead. He was married at Montrose to Miss Ann E. Bennett, who died July 11, 1884. aged seventy years. Her parents. Asa and Ann Bennett, came from Dutchess county, N. Y .. in 1813. and set- tied on a farm near Corbettsville. Mr. and Mrs. Keach had the following children: Mary, who died in childhood : Andrew J .. a carpenter at Binghamton. N. Y .: Olive J. (Mrs. Westfall : Cynthia A .. who married William Stevens, and died in 1808: John H .. an engineer, who was killed in 1806 by a b aler explosion : George L .. a railroad engineer residing at Lyons. N. Y. : James M., a railway engineer, who re- sides in Buffalo, N. Y .: and Emma, who died in childhood.

REUBEN SIEG. The man who was content to go through the Civil war as a "high private." doing his duty nobly and antiinchingis on the field of battle or in camp, is to-day one of the most high's respected and honored citizens of Newfoundland. Wayne county. As a blacksmith and farmer. he was for many years actively identified with the business

1686

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

interests of the community, but is now living retired in the quiet enjoyment ot a well-earned rest.

This honored veteran. was born at his present home, September 19, 1844, a son of Jacob and Eliza (Sult) Sieg, natives of Germany and Weissport, Penn., respectively. In 1838 the father came to America and first located at We.ssport, but at the end of two years came to Newfoundland, where he made his home throughout the remainder of his lite. His father, Jacob Sieg, also came to the New World at an early day, but subsequently returned to Germany, where his death occurred. In his native land Jacob Sieg learned the blacksmith's trade, which he tol- lowed as a life work, and also served some time in the German army. He died in january, 1887, aged seventy-two years, his wife in March, 1889, aged. seventy-one, and both were laid to rest in the Al- bright Methodist Episcopal Church burying ground. The children born to this worthy couple were as follows: John. who died in infancy: Jacob, who married Sarah Hazelton and is a blacksmith of Sul- livan county, Penn. ; Reuben, the subject of this re- view ; Louisa, wife of Samuel Sholl, a retired farm- er of Daleville, Penn .; Mary, who died at the age of two years; Louis, who married Louisa De Witt and is now deceased ; Lavine, who wedded Mary Crazer and is a farmer and blacksmith, of Greentown, Pike Co., Penn .; Emma, widow of Frank Climer, and a resident of Philadelphia ; Caroline, deceased wife of James Dawson ; and Salinda, deceased wife of Frank Berger.

During his boyhood and youth Reuben Sieg learned the blacksmith's trade with his father and remained with him until he reached the age of twen- ty-two years, when he took charge of the shop and carried on operations alone for many years, meeting with a well-deserved success, for he was a skilled mechanic, and upright and honorable in all his deal- ings. Recently he sold out his business to his son-in- law, Andrew Beisecker.

On December 24, 1866, Mr. Sieg was married, to Miss Angelica Beelin, the ceremony being per- formed by Rev. Mr. Detterer, a Moravian minister. Five children blessed this union, namely: Effic. now the wife of Andrew Beisecker ; Franklin, who married Phoebe Beisher, and is engaged in black- smithing and farming in Greene township, Pike Co., Penn. ; Angeline, deceased wite of Horace Beisecker, of Tobyhanna, Penn., by whom she had one daughter who is now living with our subject : Charles A., who married Eliza Marsh, and is engaged in blacksmith- ing in Newton, N. J. ; and Reuben, who died in in- fancy. Mrs. Sieg was born on the old Beehin home- stead in Drcher township, Wayne county, April 9, 1844. a daughter of John and Angeline ( Belling) Bechn, the former a native of Baden, Germany, the latter of Northampton county, Penn. The father was a wheelwright by trade, but after coming to Wayne county gave his attention principally to farming. He was born in 1812 and died in March, 1887, and the mother was born in 1815 and died in March, 1855, both being buried in the Moravian Church cemetery.

They were members of that denomination and most highly respected people. Their children were Charles A., of Dreher township; Frances, who died in in- fancy; Amelia, who lives with her brother Charles, Adelaide, wife of Philip Eck, of Dreher township; Angelica, wife of our subject ; Henry A., who died in 1873; John W., who lives with Charles; Edward and Lewis, who both died young ; and Caroline, wife of William Graser, of Greene township, Pike county,

In August, 1862, when not quite eighteen years of age, Mr. Sieg manifested huis love of country by enlisting in Pike county in Company B. 151st P. V. 1., under Capt. Oscar Mott, and was ater under the command of Capt. Lafayette Westbrooke. He participated in a number of important engagements, including the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettys- burg, and at the latter he was taken prisoner, being held during the first day of the battle, but he was afterward released by some of his comrades. During that engagement his company lost more men than any other company on the field. Mr. Sieg was honora- bly discharged at Harrisburg, in 1863, and returned . home with a war record of which he may be justly proud. He is an ardent Republican in politics. but has never aspired to office, though he has been a member of the election board. Socially he belongs to Wallenpaupack Lodge, I. O. O. F., and religious- ly is a member of the Moravian Church.

WALLACE CASE, a well-known resident of - Waymart, Wayne county, has for half a century been a. trusted and faithful employe of the Gravity Railroad Co., now serving as foreman of a gang of carpenters. He is a native of Wayne Co., Penn .. born in Prompton, September 25, 1829. His par- ents. Ralph and Maria ( Jenkins) Case, were natives of Winsted, Conn., but became acquainted and were married in Prompton, Penn., and both died on the present site of Aldenville, the father in January, 1866, aged sixty-eight years, the mother in 1874. aged sixty-seven years, the remains of both being interred in the cemetery at that place. In religious faith they were Universalists. During his youth the father served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade, and after coming to Wayne county was made foreman of the men who built the reservoir for the Gravity Railroad Co. At one time he served as postmaster of Aldenville.

Our subject was the oldest of the children born to his parents, the others being: John. who died at the age of two years : Georgiana, who died in child- hood : Lucy, who died unmarried: Benjamin F .. a retired horse dealer of Brown county. S. Dak. : Elizabeth J .. who married Frank Gernell. now a resident of Bay City, Mich. ( she died in Arizona ) : and Agnes, wife of Charles Taylor. a jeweler, of Binghamton, N. Y. The paternal grandparents of our subject. Fisher and Lucy ( Roberts ) Case, were natives of Winsted, Conn., but in 1813 came to Wayne county, Penn., locating on the present site of Aldenville, where the grandfather engaged in farming. The maternal grandparents, Benjamin

.. -

1687

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and Elizabeth (Boyd) Jenkins, were natives of Massachusetts, and became pioneer settlers of Wayne county, Pennsylvania.

At the early age of twelve years Wallace Case began earning his own livelihood by driving a team, .. and was thus employed until he attained the age of twenty-three. Since 1848 he has been in the em- ploy of the Delaware & Hudson Company, at first working under his father, but at the age of twenty- three was given charge of sixty-five men engaged in building the reservoir. Since then he has been with the company uninterruptedly with the excep- tion of the years 1865 and 1866, when he engaged in lumbering at Aldenville.

On March 17, 1853, in Mt. Pleasant, Wayne county, Mr. Case was married to Miss Lillis Jane Hawkins, Rev. Wilcox, a Methodist Episcopal min- ister, officiating. She died at that place in 1866. Her parents, Samuel and - - (White) Hawkins, died in Valparaiso. Ind. For thirty-two years her father was in the employ of the government, being with the regular army in Massachusetts. By this union Mr. Case had the following children : Georgi- ana is now the wife of Charles Fowler, a farmer of Lake Ariel, Wayne county : John B., a conductor on the D. &. H. R. R., married Sarah Heistead and lives in Carbondale, Penn .; Maria is the wife of Clarence Shaffer, a carpenter in the employ of the Gravity Railroad Company, residing in Waymart, and with them our subject now resides ; Miles T., a conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern rail- road, is married and lives in Minnesota : Henrietta is successfully engaged in teaching in the Waymart Normal School ; and Jane is teaching in Minnesota. On June 4, 1868, at Waymart, Mr. Case was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Emily (Bennett) Stanton, by whom he had one son, Ed- ward, who died at the age of nine years. The wife and mother died July 8, 1892, aged sixty years. She passed away at Bozeman, Mont., where she had gone for her health. By her first husband, Harvey Stanton, she had one son, Berwin T., now a mer- chant and implement dealer of Bozeman, Montana.

Mr. Case has made his home in Waymart since 1867, and as one of the leading and influential citi- zens of the place, lie has been prominently identified with its upbuilding and prosperity. He was one of the organizers of the Waymart Normal School, and hias most acceptably served in many official positions, including those of councilman. poormaster, and school director for two years while in Aldenville. The cause of education has always found in hiin an earnest advocate, and he provided his children with excellent advantages along that line, all becoming successful teachers with the exception of two sons. He has been a member of the F. & A. M. for almost thirty years, joining the order at Salem, Wayne county, and he is now a Knight Templar. Politic- ally he is identified with the Republican party. Among his valued possessions is a sea chest, which once belonged to his great-grandfather Boyd in Ireland, and which was given him with the under-

standing that lie would hand it down as a relic to one of his children-the one who would take best care of it. .

CHARLES DANIELS has throughout the greater part of liis life been prominently ident- tied with the growth and devolpment of Hawley, Wayne county, and few, if any, have done more for for its advancement.

Mr. Daniels was born March 1, 1820, in an old log house on the present site of the village, where had been celebrated the marriage of his parents, Lemuel and Anna (Chapman) Daniels, natives of Connecticut. The father was born April 1, 1786, of English ancestry, and came to Wayne county, Penn., with his parents, who were among the earliest set- tlers of this region, the country at that time being an almost unbroken wilderness. Lemuel Daniels was a good mechanic, and for many years was en- gaged in contracting and building in Wayne county. In 1852 he removed to Michigan, where he died April 28, 1858. He was a Democrat in politics, and both he and his wife were faithful members of the Baptist Church, earnest Christian people. After the father's death, our subject brought his mother back to Hawley, where she spent her remaining days. She was born April 28, 1795, and died March 3, 1868.

Their family numbered the following children : Durinda first married a Mr. Hoddenkaup, and after his death wedded again, but she and her husband are now deceased. Daniel died in New Chicago, Kans. Chauncey died in Hawley. William died in childhood. Charles is next in the family. Ellen, who married, is deceased. Lemuel was drowned in the Lackawaxen river. Lemuel (2) died in Michigan. Cortland is a contractor and builder of Three Rivers, Michigan.

The subject of this sketch was reared amidst pioneer scenes in Wayne county, and as his parents were in rather limited circumstances he started out early in lite to make his own way in the world. At the age of fourteen he began boating on the canal, and after being thus employed for five years he was given a position as lock tender, having charge of the second lock above Hawley for two summers. One winter he made a contract with Mecago Wise to put lumber into Middle creek for the sawmills, and in this venture cleared about S400. He then pur- chased a yoke of oxen, and engaged in lumbering for Joseph Atkinson for three years. After his mar- riage Mr. Daniels purchased a sinall farm tor $350 at the present site of Shanty Hill, Wayne county, and when the Pennsylvania Coal Co. built their railroad through that place they paid for his farm $3,000. For seven years he worked at the carpenter trade for that company, receiving at first only twelve shill- ings per day, and later was appointed foreman of a crew of men. In 1854 he embarked in merchan- dising in Hawley, but three years later sold out and bought two farms in Pike county, Penn., tor specu- lation, selling them at a good profit at the end of six

1688

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years. Contrary to the advice of his friends, he then invested $4,000 in the lumber business, and a few months later sold, realizing $4,000 on the investment. Returning to Hawley he began loaning money and speculating in general, and is now doing a profitable business along that line.

Mr. Daniels was married July 4. 1840, to Miss Mary Smith, who was born in Purdytown, Palmyra township, Wayne county, August 25, 1815, and died January 2, 1864, her remains being interred in the cemetery at Hawley. Her parents were John and Betsy (Everts) Smith, natives of Connecticut and early settlers of Wayne county. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniels : Lott, born May 20, 1841, married Mariette Yale, has a large family and is engaged in farming in Pike county, Penn .; Elizabeth, born August 22, 1843, died February 18, 1844; George, born March 25, 1845, died October II, 1861 ; Janet, born July 19, 1847, is the wife of William Shardt, a merchant of Hawley ; Charles, born July 18, 1850, married Maria Simison, and is engaged in farming in Wayne coun- ty; William, born August 27, 1853, married Sarah Rosekrants, has ten children, and is engaged in farming in Wayne county; Mary A., born February 28, 1855, died October 10, 1863; and Emma J., born August 2, 1860, died August 7, 1861. In 1870, Mr. Daniels was married to Miss Mary E. Moore, a native of Canaan township Wayne county, who died int 1872, aged fifty years. Her father, James Moore, was also a native of Connecticut and an early settler of Wayne county. The third wife of our subject was in her maidenhood Miss Alvina Schardt. She was born in Germany, in 1847, and is a daughter of Martin Schardt.

In his political affiliations, Mr. Daniels is a pronounced Republican, and he has often been called upon to serve in official position. In 1864, on his return to Hawley, he was elected justice of the peace, but at the end of five years declined a re- election in order to give his undivided attention to his business interests. He has served as supervisor, auditor, and in 1893 was burgess, discharging the duties of these various position in a prompt and able manner that has won the commendation of the entire community. He has been a champion of every movement designed to promote the public welfare, a supporter of any enterprise for the general good.

GEORGE RUEGGER, a leading and represen- tative citizen of Matamoras, Pike county, who for the past four years has held a position as engineer on the Delaware division of the Erie railroad, is a na- tive of Pike county, born in Shohola township, May 26, 1864. His paternal grandparents, Abram and Elizabeth Ruegger, were both natives of Switzer- land, and there remained until death claimed them, the grandfather following his trade of weaving the greater part of his life. He died in 1846, his wife a few years later. Their children were : Jacob, Samuel and Abraham, who all died of consumption; Isaac;

Jolin, deceased; Elizabeth ; and John W., the father of our subject.

John W. Ruegger was born May 21, 1829, in the northern part of Switzerland, where he grew to manhood and was united in marriage with Walborga Schnadt, who was born in Germany, January 17, 1832, a daughter of Albon Schnadt, a cabinet maker by trade. Her parents were both natives of Baden, Germany, and she was the only one in the family of eight children to come to America. By her mar- riage she has become the mother of six children: Mary, born November 16, 1859, is now the wife of William Keller, of Barryville, N. Y .; George, our subject, is second in the order of birth ; Valentine J .. born July 27, 1866, married Hattie Hornbeck, and is an engineer on the Erie railroad with residence at Matamoras ; Jacob J., born August 23, 1870, and married to Katie Eckhart, is also connected with the Erie railroad and makes his home in Matamoras ; Charles H., born July 4, 1875, married Bertha Hips- man, and like his brothers resides in Matamoras and is in the employ of the Erie railroad; and Emma A., born March 18, 1878, is at home. In the fall of 1857 the parents emigrated to America, landing in New York, where they remained for about six months, and then moved to Pike county, Penn. The father secured employment on the Erie railroad as repairman along the line, and purchased his present home near the village of Shohola, in the township of the same name, his place comprising six and two- thirds acres of land. For many years he remained in the serviceof the railroad company, but is now practi- cally living retired from active labor, contenting himself principally with gardening. Upon his place he has erected a substantial barn and pleasant home. where he is now enjoying a well-earned rest, sur- rounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He is a great reader, is well in- formed on the leading questions and issues of the day, and in political belief is a Democrat. Himself. wife and daughter all hold membership in the Ger- man Lutheran Church.

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 83

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