Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 84

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 84
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 84
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 84
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 84

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George Ruegger began his business career at the age of fourteen as a railroad trackman, and was thus employed until 1888. He then went to Port Jervis. N. Y., and in December of that year was made fireman on the Erie railroad. After serving in that position for some six years, he was promoted to engineer on the Delaware division of the same road. and as such he has remained up to the present time. giving entire satisfaction to all parties concerned. In his social relations he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Brotherhood of Railway Fire- men, while in politics he is identified with the Democratic party. In all the relations of life he is a genial, pleasant gentleman, and has made a liost of warm friends.

At Bullville, N. Y., Mr. Ruegger was married. August 2, 1893. to Miss Jennie Ayres, a daughter of David and Rebecca ( Drake) Avers, the former a. native of Orange county, N. Y., the latter of Sulli- van county. The father, who spent his entire life in

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Orange county, and was an extensive lumberman and farmer, was killed by a train June 26, 1897, at the age of fifty-five years. Mrs. Ruegger, who was born November 11, 1870, is the eldest of his three children ; George, born May 26, 1874, operates the home farm at Bullville, Orange county ; and Lillian, born January 21, 1879, completes the family.

SIMEON BURDICK, inventor of the cele- brated Burdick Plow, is a leading citizen of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, and for many years has been actively identified with the agricultural and general business interests of this section. Born March 28, 1817, in Clifford town- ship, Susquehanna county, he has seen the region developed from a wilderness into a thickly settled community, and his own share in the work of trans- formation does him credit.

Mr. Burdick comes of hardy New England stock, and his grandparents, Billings and Hannah Burdick, were lifelong residents of Rhode Island, the grandmother attaining the remarkable age of 104 years. Simeon Burdick, our subject's father, was born and reared in Rhode Island, and came to Susquehanna county in 1816. locating in the wilder- ness in Clifford township. He built a log cabin, and he and his wife, Catherine ( Broton), who was also a native of Rhode Island, passed through all the hardships of the pioneer farmer's life, but their thrift and industry finally gained for them a com- fortable homestead. They were members of the Baptist Church, and did much to promote the cause of religion in this locality. The mother died in 1858, the father on December 24, 1870, at the age of eighty-two, and the remains of both were buried in Clifford cemetery. This worthy couple had twelve children, as follows: Louise (deceased) married Henry Reynolds; Simeon is our subject : Thomas is a resident of Clifford township; Caroline (de- ceased ) married Rufus Burritt; Mrs. Sarah Rich- ardson, a widow, comes next; Jeremiah married Sarah Stevens, and died in Scranton, Penn. : Alfred settled in the West: Elmira is the wife of Joseph Avery, of Carbondale. Penn .: Gilbert is deceased : Billings is a farmer in New Milford township ; Miss Fanny is a resident of Dundaff ; and Charles resides in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

Our subject was feared to farm work at the old homestead in Clifford township, and at the age of twenty-two he took charge of the place. When twen- ty-four years old he became interested in the mill- wright's trade, which he followed for eigliteen years, and for four years he also operated a mill he had built at Starrucca, Wayne county. His ability in mechanical lines won for him a high reputation, ex- tending far beyond local limits. Among mills con- structed by hin was a sawmill at Carbondale, and he was often called upon to assist on other buldings including the court house at Montrose. Since 1866 he has made his home at his present farm, an at- tractive place containing about 65 acres, where he is surrounded by well-earned comforts. In 1892 he

perfected his plow, a reversible one, which is highly commended in agricultural circles, and which took the premium at the Susquehanna County Fair. He has always shown keen interest in the questions of the day, and is a stanch Democrat ; but when urged to become a candidate for office he has invariably de- clined. On March 14, 1841, he was married at Star- rucca, to Miss Mahala Sampson, who was born in Wayne county, October 26, 1820, and died May 17, 1853. On November 24, 1858, Mr. Burdick mar- ried Miss Caroline Price, the ceremony being per- formed at the bride's home in Gibson township, Sus- quehanna county. By his first marriage he had three children : Coranna, Euphrosine, and Elnora (Mrs. Giles Stanton) all now deceased. There were also three children by the second marriage: Jennie, wiie of William Cobb, of New Milford township; Net- tie, who married Moses Cortright, a farmer at Hart Lake : and Miss Bertha, who is at home.

Mrs. Caroline (Price) Burdick was born in Wayne county, March 14, 1832, and belongs to a well-known family. Her paternal grandfather, Stephen Price, resided upon a farm in New York State, and her father, Stephen Price (2) was born in Cortland county, N. Y., in 1794, and was married there Triphena Green- man. In 1827 they removed to this section, settling in Wayne county, where the mother died in 1848 at the age of fifty-two. In 1855 the father made his home in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, and died there in 1865. His occupation -was that of a farmer and carpenter, and his ster- ling qualities as a citizen made him prominent in local affairs. At times he held office of various kinds, and he served as postmaster at Manchester, Penn., for some years. Mrs. Burdick was the young- est in a family of six children, the others being: Harvey L .. a farmer in New York State ; Jane, wid- ow of Jesse D. Bush, of Honesdale; Rowena (de- ceased), who married Cornelius Boalts : Stephen, a farmer in Illinois ; and Andrew J., deceased.

DYER LATHROP (deceased) was in his life- time one of the well-known and prosperous agricult- urists of Auburn township, and he belonged to a family which has been identified with Susquehanna county for almost a century. He was a grandson of Ezekiel Lathrop, and his wife, whose maiden name was Crocker, the former of whom came from his home in the vicinity of Norwich, Conn., to Penn- sylvania in 1801, taking up 225 acres of land in the wilderness in what is now Dimock township. Sus- quehanna county. He made a clearing and after building a log cabin returned for his family, bringing them hither in 1802. He was the fa- ther of seven children-Spencer; Nehemiah M .; Dyer, born near Norwich, Conn., who came to Sus- quehanna county with the family and married Eunice Smith : Ezekiel ; John, father of our subject ; Lydia, wife of John Newman : and Lois, who married Am- brose Gaylor. Ezekiel Lathrop followed farming all his life.

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John Lathrop was a lifelong farmer, for many years cultivating the place afterward owned by his son Dyer. He married Polly Cooley, and they both died on the farm, the father in 1873, at the age of sixty-four years, the mother in March, 1874, and the remains of both were interred in the Frink bury- ing-ground. To their union were born children as follows : Helen, who died at the age of twenty years ; Kinney, who died while serving in the Civil war ; Benton, who ded yiung ; Perinelia, who died young ; Adelaide, Mrs. Horace Conrad, deceased ; and Dyer, the subject proper of this sketch.

Dyer Lathrop passed his entire life on the farm where he was born January 2, 1844, and was reared to farm life, during his boyhood attending the com- mon schools. He was an industrious and systematic farmer, and by good management and hard work gained a comfortable livelihood from his land. He was highly respected for his many sterling traits of character and was well known and liked throughout the township, ranking among its substantial and progressive citizens. On February 18, 1874, Mr. Lathrop was married, in Auburn township, to Miss Ursula A. Lemon, daughter of Lewis S. and Theda (Cogswell) Lemon, farming people of the town- ship, and seven children blessed this union, viz .: Bertha, Benton, Leslie, Edward, Lewis, Lelia and Grace. The eldest daughter is the wife of Francis Mitchell, a farmer of Springville township; the others are living with their mother on the home farmi. . Mr. Lathrop passed away January 1, 1888, and was laid to rest in Bunnell's cemetery in Att- burn township. Religiously he was a zealous mem- ber of the M. E. Church, in which he held the office of steward. In political sentiment he was a Repub- lican. The family are prominent and widely ac- quainted in Auburn township.

CHARLES S. VAN WHY, the present pro- prietor of the "Lakeland House" and farm upon which that popular hostelry is located, in Middle Smithfield township, Monroe county, is a native of the township in which he makes his home. and a descendant of one of its first pioneer settlers. being a great-grandson of Henry Van Why, who after the close of the Revolutionary war, in which he served, came to Monroe county, Penn., locating in what is now Middle Smithfield township, near the Dela- ware river.

Arthur Van Why, son of Henry Van Why, was here reared to manhood, married, and was the fa- ther of five children-four sons and one daughter ; the daughter became the wife of John Walter, and they lived in Middle Smithfield township, where they died many years ago: Henry married and settled in Pike county ; Samuel made his home in Wilkes Barre, Penn., where he died: Arthur located in Pike county ; Benjamin was the father of the subject proper of these lines.

Benjamin Van Why was born in 1817 in Middle Smithfield township, received such education as the schools of that early day afforded, and here passed

his entire life. He was engaged in the butcher busi- ness and also dealt largely in cattle, succeeding by dint of industry and good management in building up a profitable trade and making a comfortable living for himself and family. He married Miss Susan Buss, by whom he had sixteen children, all of whom grew to maturity, and the family lived in Middle Smithheld until 1872, the year after Mr. Van Why's decease, when the moth- er moved to East Stroudsburg, in which city she died in 1886. Of their children, (1) Margaret re- ceived a public-school education, as did all her broth- ers and sisters, became the wife of Peter Garrias, of Flatbrook, N. J., and has a family of five children, Jennie, Cyrus, Rosie, Edith and Lester. (2) Jacob married Miss Sallie Barton, of Philadelphia, and they resided in Stroudsburg, where he died in April, 1898, she in 1888; they left one daughter, Nettie. (3) Lizzie is the wife of a Mr. Harris, of Newark, N. J., and has four children, Elmer, Susie, Mary and Lizzie. (4) Lucinda married James Banker, of Branchville, N. J., where they both died, leaving three children, Elizabeth, Sarah and Eva. (5) Sarah married Martin Chambers, of Smithfield, and they resided at Stroudsburg, where she died leaving two children, Elmer and Allie. (6) Mary is the wife of Edward Stack, who is engaged as a hatter in Newark, N. J .; they have one daughter, Hattie, who is married. (7) Jane married Elias Chambers. of Stroudsburg, and has three sons, John, George and one whose name is not given. They reside in New- ark, -N. J. (8) John married Miss Rosie Derrick, of Stroudsburg, where they make their home, and has- one son, Eugene. (9) Calvin married Miss Mina Coffman, of Stroud township, and they have four children, Floyd. Hall, Grace and Benjamin. The family live in Stroudsburg, where Mr. Van Why is engaged in business. (10) Arvilla married Theron Smith, of Stroudsburg, who died some years ago: she has four children, Clinton, Bertha and Bessie (twins) and one whose name is given. ( II ) Henry married Miss Alvina Detrick, who is engaged in business in East Stroudsburg, and is at present tax collector of that town, where they make their home. They have one daughter, Susan. (12) Susan is the wife of Edward Gennons. a resident of Newark, N. J., who is engaged in contracting and building and has had charge of the "Metropolitan Hotel" of New York City for a number of years. ( 13) Catherine is the widow of Jacob Ruster, who died in East Stroudsburg ; they had no family. ( 14) George married Miss Clara Cresge. of Chestnut Hill township, and they live in East Stroudsburg ; they have no children. Mr. Van Why lost an ari during his service with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western road. (15) Frank married Miss Annie -, who died in Stroudsburg, leaving two chil- dren, Myrtie and Willie.

Charles S. Van Why was born in August, 1853, acquired his schooling in Middle Smithfield town1- ship, and there remained until about nineteen years I of age, when he removed with his mother to East

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Stroudsburg. Here ne commenced railroading, at which he continued for many years, as brakeman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western road, his run being between Stroudsburg and Scranton, and by the time he left that employ, in 1885, he had been promoted to conductor of his train, serving in that capacity for three years. For the first four years after he abandoned railroading he was engaged in lumbering, subsequently following the contracting business for some time in Stroudsburg, and for one year carrying on a livery business in partnership with Jesse Ransberry. In 1893 he received the United States mail contract between Stroudsburg and Dingmans, running the route for two years, when he sold out and started in business for himself, opening the saloon and restaurant in East Strouds- burg which he continued up to April, 1898. He has since occupied the Joseph Overfield property (formerly one of the old Coolbaugh places) in Middle Smithfield township, which he has pur- chased, and his house, known as the "Lakeland House," is worthy of special mention, being one of the best patronized of the many summer resorts which are scattered over Middle Smithfield. It is thoroughly equipped for the purpose to which it has been turned, being provided with every modern improvement for the comfort and convenience of the guests, and the rooms, all large and airy, have been recently refurnished and decorated bv the en- terprising proprietor, who has spared neither pains nor expense to make "Lakeland House" a resting- place to be rmembered by those who have had the pleasure of even a brief sojourn there.

The house faces Coolbaugh Lake, which is on the farm, and is pleasantly situated on the Milford road, one of the most beautiful drives in Monroe county, between Delaware Water Gap and Bush- kill, within easy driving distance of Hygiene Park, Trees Park, Bushkill Falls, Dingmans, Lake View, the Water Gap, and many other famous sights in the Delaware Valley, which nowhere affords such attractive scenery as may be found in Monroe coun- ty. A telephone in the house, with church and post- office near by, well-shaded lawns laid out for croquet, tennis and other sports, charming walks, good fish- ing, especially in June and September (and in wint- er, on the ice), and boating are some of the numer- ous allurements held out to those who wish to spend the summer season in delightful recreation or to those in broken health who wish to recuperate in a region beautiful as it is healthful. "Lakeland House" has accommodations for about sixty-five guests, and the farm and good-sized dairy, which Mr. Van Why runs in connection, supply them with all the ne- cessities and many of the luxuries of the table, the host and his wife seeing to it that an abundance of good food, well cooked, is always provided. There is no doubt that the ease with which this charming locality may be reached from the large cities has also much to do with its popularity, for trains on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western road run directly from New York and on the

Pennsylvania road from Philadelphia to Strouds- burg, and Mr. and Mrs. Van Why number many residents of those cities among their patrons, whom they endeavor to entertain after the most hearty fashion.

In 1879 Mr. Van Why wedded Miss Annie Long, who is the daughter of Daniel and Sarah Long and belongs to one of the respected old fan- ilies of Stroudsburg, and the young couple made their home in East Stroudsburg, where Mr. Van Why purchased a dwelling, which he still owns. He made a number of changes in the place during his residence there, and there they remained until their removal to the farm in the spring of 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Van Why have had two children, both of whom were born in Stroudsburg-Melvin in 1883. Foster in 1893. The eldest is now attending school in Stroudsburg. The family attended the M. E. Church, in the faith of which our subject was brought up, his parents having been earnest mem- bers of that denomination. Politically he has been a lifelong Democrat, and from early manhood a zealous worker in the interests of his party ; he has served several ternis as judge of election and in 1891 was honored with election to the council of East Stroudsburg, of which he was a member for three years. He is regarded by all as one of the most wide-awake business men and progressive cit- izens of Middle Smithfield township, and he is pop- ular with those who share his hospitality, and is re- spected by all who know him.

OLIVER F. BOWEN, one of the most relia- ble and highly respected agriculturists of Scott township, Wayne county, was born June 8, 1847, in Jackson township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., of which county his grandfather, Oliver Bowen, Sr., was an early settler. His father, William M. Bowen, was there born, in 1821; he married Miss Sallie Washburn, a native of Connecticut, and a daughter of Stephen Washburn, who was also born in the Nutmeg State. They became the parents of chil- dren as follows : William B., who was a Union sol- dier during the Civil war, and is now a resident of Buckingham township, Wayne county; Oliver F., the subject of this sketch; Horace B., of Niagara Falls, N. Y. : Polly Ann, wife of S. J. Quick, of Windsor, N. Y .; Jane ( deceased ) ; Nathan L., of Sherman, Penn. ; and Rose, wife of J. M. Quick. The mother of these children died .in 1894, but the father is still living upon the old home farm in Scott township, honored and esteemed by the entire com- munity.

Mr. Bowen, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood and youth in much the usual man- ner of farmer boys of his day, and in connection with agricultural pursuits he also became familiar with lumbering in its various departments. He is one of the few remaining pilots or raft steersmen, and at an early day was well and favorably known among the lumbermen along the Delaware river. The first home of his own was a small farm on the

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road leading from Starrucca to Hales Eddy, N. Y., and he afterward purchased an adjoining farm, known as the Martin Gardiner farm, making in all 186 acres of fertile and productive land, which he has improved with good and substantial buildings.

In 1865 'Mr. Bowen was married to Miss Lou- isa Hobbs, of Benton township, Luzerne Co., Penn., a daughter of Alanson and Irena Hobbs, both now deceased. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowen, two died in infancy, and three when nearly grown, while those still living are Mary, wife of E. Henderson, of Starrucca, Wayne coun- ty ; and Elsie L.

In the community Mr. Bowen is a recognized leader in the Democratic party, and has often rep- resented Scott township in the county conventions of his party. As a public-spirited, progressive citi- zen, he is willing to aid all movements for the good of the community, and has accordingly been fre- quently elected to public positions of honor and trust, being at present a member of the board of school di- rectors. He is a practical, intelligent farmer, and one of the leading citizens of the township, hav- ing the respect and esteem of all.

BROWN SMITH is the owner of one of the finest farms in Smithfield township, Monroe county, where he has for many years been successfully en- gaged in general agriculture and dairying, and he is one of the leading members of the community in 'which he resides, active in its religious, social and political circles and an exemplary citizen in every respect.

Mr. Smith is a great-grandson of Adam Smith. one of the earliest settlers of Smithfield township, a native of Germany, who after coming to this coun- try located in Monroe county, Penn., purchasing extensive tracts of land in Smithfield, where he made a permanent home on the farm which has de- scended through successive generations to his great- grandson, Brown Smith. He made various improve- ments and erected buildings on different parts of his land, which upon his death became the property of his son Christian, the grandfather of our subject.

Christian Smith married Margaret Stiner, and they reared a family of eight children, three sons and five daughters, namely: Sallie, Charles, Mar- garet, Mary A., Lavina, Daniel, David and Han- nah. Of these Sallie became the wife of John Ace, of Susquehanna county, Penn., by whom she had two children-Urias and Lavina; the son is still a resident of Susquehanna county. Charles Smith married Miss Julia A. Workhauser, and they set- tled in Smithfield, where they both died; they left four children-Samuel, Valentine. Frank (who is married and lives in East Stroudsburg) and Ella (Mrs. Frank Transue, of Scranton, Penn.). Mar- garet is the wife of Daniel Tribell, of Susquehanna county, and they have four children-Frank, La- vina (Mrs. Wesley Jenning), Otto and Hester (Mrs. Van Yoe). Mary A. married A. Miles Bush, of Shawnee, and she and her husband have both

passed away; they left a family of five children- Mary ( Mrs. Christian Cover, of Smithfield) ; Gaine, who is married and residing in Smithfield ; Martha. wife of Henry Eilenburger, of East Stroudsburg: Maggie, Mrs. Eugent Heller, of Smithfield; and Frank, unmarried, who lives in East Stroudsburg. Lavina Smith was the wife of Charles Keller, of Cherry Valley, Penn. Daniel died on the Smith homestead in early manhood.

David Smith, the father of the subject proper of these lines, was born in 1830, one-half mile east of Stroudsburg, and grew to manhood on the Smith homestead. During his boyhood he attended the public schools, where he received all his education, and he was engaged in helping his father on the home farm up to the time of his marriage, in 1854. to Miss Sarah P. Brown, daughter of John and Jane Brown, who is also a descendant of one of the old pioneer families of the township. The young cou- ple took up their residence in Stroud township, where Mr. Smith followed agricultural pursuits for five years, at the end of that time purchasing a farm at Brodheadsville, in Monroe county, upon which he remained four years. Selling this property, he re- turned to Smithfield and bought the old home place of his father, upon which he made his home for the remainder of his days, dying there in March, 1891. He devoted all his time to the work upon the farm, making many changes which added to its material value and greatly improved its appearance, and at his death the place was under a fine state of culti- "vation and good order, neatness in every detail being one of the characteristic features about the Smith farm. He cleared about twenty-five acres of the land. and put up a good two-story dwelling and various outbuildings, all except the large barn, which was built by the original owner, Adam Smith. Mr. Smith was a prosperous farmer, and one of the most act- ive citizens of his locality during his lifetime, taking a lively interest in local politics and church matters. in which he was a zealous and influential worker. Politically he was a Democrat of the old Jacksonian stripe, as were his father and grandfather before him, and he held various offices of importance in his township with the same fidelity which he displayed in every trust. He was a consistent member of the M. E. Church, uniting with the Society at Strouds- burg, where he assisted in building the first house of worship, and he was always an energetic worker in religious or charitable enterprises. His wife. wlio survives him, is also a member of that Church, and she has all hier life been a devoted Christian worker. Since her husband's decease she lias made her home with her son Brown, who was the only child born to their union.

Brown Smith was born in August, 1857. in Stroud township, Monroe county, and he was still a child when his parents came to live on the homestead where he has passed the greater part of his life. He attended the Stroudsburg schools, where lie re- ceived a good practical education, and he was thor- ouglily trained by his father to general agriculture,

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which he has made his principal vocation in life. The farm passed into his possession on the death of his father, and in 1893 he built the handsome and commodious residence which he and his wife now occupy-a home fitted with every modern im- provement and convenience for comfort and utility. Mr. Smith has II0 acres of land, on which are five good houses and all the outbuildings which the up- to-date farmer considers necessary for the proper equipment of his land. The property is conceded by all to be one of the most valuable in Smithfield township, and the present owner is a worthy suc- sessor to those who cultivated the place before him, for he is progressive and energetic in all his work and he keeps everything in the best order, sparing no pains to make his farm equal in appearance as well as productiveness to any in the neighborhood. In 1886 he commenced the dairy business, in which he has since continued, and he keeps a large herd of fine dairy cattle, supplying milk and cream to the markets of East Stroudsburg.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 84

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