Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 90

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 90
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 90
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 90
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 90

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Mr. Ives' father has always affiliated with the Whig and Republican parties, and for a number of years he most efficiently served as school director in Great Bend township. Our subject is also identi- fied with the Republican party, and is now filling the office of poormaster. In religious faith the entire family are Presbyterians and in social circles they occupy an enviable position.

JAMES WELDON (deceased), for some time a popular and successful business man of Hawley, Wayne county, was a native of County Mayo, Ire- land, where his mother died. His father, Thomas Weldon, later came to America, and in New York . City spent his last days. In the family were three children, namely : James, the subject of this sketch; Thomas, who died on an American man-of-war while serving as a musician; and Mrs. Mary A. Garrity, who died in New York.

When a young man James Weldon crossed the Atlantic with the hope of benefitting his financial condition, as he believed that better opportunity was afforded ambitious young men in the New World than in his native land. He was first em- ployed in a cloth store in New York City until May 15, 1850, when he came to Hawley, Wayne county, Penn., and embarked in the hotel business. So successful was he in this undertaking, that at the end of three years he was able to erect a substan- tial brick building, in which he conducted a hotel up to the time of his death. He also became one of the prominent and influential citizens of the place. and was called upon to serve as supervisor. The Democratic party always found in him an earnest advocate and supporter, and in the Catholic Church he held membership. He left his family in comfort- able circumstances, and the success that crowned his efforts was due entirely to his own industry, perse- verance and good management.

In 1847, in New York City, Mr. Weldon was married to Miss Mary Stanton, who was born in Parsons Town, Kings County, Ireland. December 24, 1828, a daughter of Patrick and Ella ( Kemme ) Stanton, the former of whom died in Ireland, but the latter came to America and spent her last days with her daughter Mary in Hawley, where she died in 1853. In her family were seven children. as follows: Andrew died in St. Louis; William died in Carbondale, Penn. ; Simon, in Arkansas : Mary is the only one now living; Thomas and John died in Ireland; and Martin died while serving in the Brit- ish army. To Mr. and Mrs. Weldon were born three children: Mary A., who lives with her moth- er in Hawley: James, who died in infancy: and Ellen, now the wife of E. V. Murray. of Hawley.

In the fall of 1866. at Hawley, Mrs. Weldon was married to Edward Connel, Father Filand officiat- ing. Mr. Connel, who was a successful boot and shoe maker and merchant of Hawley, having several men working for him, died in 1870. aged thirty-ser- en years. Mrs. Connel and her daughter Miss MARY A. WELDON, now own and operate the "Con-

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nel Hotel," which under their able management, has become a great favorite with the traveling pub- lic and receives liberal patronage.

LAFAYETTE GRAHAM, who owns and op- erates a well-improved farm in Scott township, Wayne county, is a native of New York, born in 1837, and when a year old was brought to Wayne county by his parents, Leander and Rebecca ( Cole) Graham. For many years the father engaged in lumbering as a jobber in Lycoming and Tioga coun- ties, Penn., and dying at English, Lycoming county, was buried at the blockhouse there. The mother's death occurred in Wayne county some years ago. Our subject was the eldest of their seven children. the others being: Louisa, wife of Frank Hibbard, of Pennsylvania ; Lorenzo, who is married and lives in Lycoming county; Leonard, who was born in Wayne county, and now makes his home in Bing- hamton, N. Y .; Lydia, wife of Wycliff Burleigh, of Scott township, Wayne county ; Lewis S., who was living in Lycoming county when last heard from ; and Laura, wife of Leander Bisnet. of Lycoming county.

In Wayne county Lafayette Graham grew to manhood and was married in 1860 to Miss Eunice A. Bastow, of that county, a daughter of William and Eunice Bastow. They have become the parents of three children, of whom William died in childhood. Eliot, the eldest, was born in Delaware county, N. Y., and married Sarah Brown, of Starrucca, Wayne county. With their children they now reside in Sul- livan county, Penn. Orila, born on the homestead in Scott township, is now the wife of Stephen B. Lon- don, of that township, and has five children, Nettie, Mellie. Lizzie, George and Bessie.

On the President's first call for volunteers to assist in putting down the Rebellion, Mr. Graham enlisted in 1861 for three months, and on the ex- piration of that term he re-enlisted in August, 1861, in the 50th New York Engineers for three years or during the war. As a member of Company F he proceeded to the front, and while engaged in building a bridge at Chickahominy Swamp he was so injured that he was confined in the hospital at Fortress Monroe for three months. On rejoining his command, he participated in all the engagements in which his regiment took part, including the siege of Yorktown, and the seven-days' fight on the Po- toniac. On account of physical disability he was honorably discharged in 1865, and returned home. He has since lived in Scott township, where he has cleared and developed a good farm, on which he has erected a good house and barn, and made many other improvements which add to its value and attrac- tive appearance.

, Reared as a Whig Mr. Graham joined the Re- publican party on its organization, and has since been one of its stanch supporters. He is an honored member of Capt. Oliver Mumford Post No. 373, G. A. R., of Starrucca, and he and his wife are both connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their support is always given those objects which

they believe are calculated to advance the moral or material welfare of their community, and they are accordingly numbered among the valued and hon- ored citizens of Scott township.

PETER A. HELLER, a prominent resident of Paradise township, Monroe county, is the owner of a fine farm near the village of Paradise Valley. and ke and his son David N., an enterprising and able young man, have made the estate a model of scien- tific agriculture. While our subject is approaching the age when most men desire freedom from care, he has not lost his interest in affairs, and he main- tains to a remarkable degree his strength of mind and body.

Peter A. Heller was born in November, 1826, in Lehigh county, Penn., and is a descendant of good pioneer stock, the Heller family having been identified with the best interests of the State for generations.

Adam Heller, our subject's father. was a native of Bucks county, Penn., where he grew to manhood. He married Miss Mary M. Lowgenstine, and soon afterward removed to Plainfield township. North- ampton county, where he followed the shoemaker's trade for many years. Both are now dead, and of their ten children two are now living. Their children were: (1) Sarah, born in Lehigh county, married Samuel Mill, of that county, and removed to Bucks county, but later they settled in Northampton coun- ty, where they died leaving two children-Matilda, a resident of Pen Argyl, Penn .. and one whose name is not given. (2) Betsy married David Min- inger and resided in Allentown, Penn., where both (lied some years ago. (3) Patty married Joseph Mininger, of Bucks county, and both are now de- ceased. (4) Ellen married Nixon Shaw, of Bucks county, and resided in Bangor, where she died leav- ing a family. (5) Terrissa married Jacob Knicht, now deceased, of Stroudsburg, and she still resides in that city. They had three daughters-Cecelia. Annie and Eliza. (6) Lydia married Samuel Hartzel, of Northampton county, and there they died leav- ing five children. two of whom are now living in Ohio. (7) Hannalı, born in Lehigh county, was the wife of Theodore Davis. of Wilkes Barre. Penn .. and resides in Easton, where she died a few years ago. (8) Eliza married Reuben Salt, of Northamp- ton county, where they died leaving five children- Jefferson, Benjamin, James, Enos and Mary. (9) Peter A. is mentioned more fully farther on. (10) Adam, born in Bucks county in 1829, married Miss Sabina Trach, of Northampton county. He was a car- penter by trade and after his marriage he settled in. Easton, where he died in 1894. They had six chil- dren-Irvin. Edward, Archer, William, Emma ( de- ceased ) and Louisa, who married and resides in New Jersey.

Our subject's youth was chiefly spent in North- ampton county, where he learned the cooper's trade, a business which he followed for twenty years. In 1871 he came to Monroe county and found employ-

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ment at his trade at Mountain Home, where he and his family resided for nine years. In 1876 he pur- chased the Henry Sipe farm in Paradise township where he has made many improvements. Later i.c and his son David purchased five acres near the homestead where they have cleared up land and made general improvements. Politically Mr. Heller is a Democrat, and while he is not inclined to official life he has never shirked the duties of citizenship, hav- ing served as tax collector and judge of election in Paradise township. He has always been interested in religious work, and he and his wife are leading members of the German Reformed Church in their locality.

In 1855 Mr. Heller was married to Miss Caro- line Metz, who was born in 1831, the daughter of David and Anna Metz, of Northampton county, Penn., and a member of a prominent family of that section. Until 1871 they resided in Plainfield town- ship, Northampton county, and their five children were born there, and were as follows: (1) Edna died when twelve years of age. (2) Miss Annie, who is at home, was educated in the public schools. Her earnest Christian character has won her a large circle of friends. (3) Ellen died when nine years of age. (4) Emma is now the wife of W. A. J. Beaty, of Philadelphia, and they now reside in Bryn Mawr, Montgomery county, Penn., where he owns a home. (5) DAVID N. HELLER, the only son, was born in 1864, and when eight years of age came to Monroe county with his parents. He received a good public-school education and he remained with his parents on the farm taking the management of the business. He has been a dutiful son and is a young man of good moral habits, being much respected and honored in the community.

I. G. WILLIAMS, a reliable and intelligent agriculturist of Sterling township, Wayne county, was born in that township. July 27, 1866, and is a son of A. B. Williams, whose sketch appears on an- other page of this volume. He attended the common schools near his boyhood home until fourteen years of age, and on attaining his majority embarked in the butchering business at Honesdale, Wayne county. Later he was interested in the same business in Lack- awanna county, Penn., and was then employed in a sawmill in Sterling township. Wayne county, for two years. Purchasing a portable sawmill he operated the same for about three years, and on selling it bought his present farm consisting of ninety-three acres, nearly all of which is cleared. Upon the place is a fine residence, commodious barns and other ini- provements which make it one of the best farms of its size in the locality. In connection with general farming, Mr. Williams is also interested in dairying and shecp raising, having a flock of fifty-four shecp, and upon his farm are about 200 maple trees, from which he makes several hundred pounds of sugar each year.

On January 1, 1895, in Columbia, N. J., Mr. Williams was married by Rev. W. C. Trimbrell, a

Methodist Episcopal minister, to Miss Edna Nau- man, a native of Monroe county, Penn., and a daugh- ter of George and Wilhelmina ( Koerner ) Nauman, also natives of Monroe county, the former born in Stroudsburg, and the latter of German ancestry. In the Nauman family were the following children : Elizabeth, wife of Joseph B. Williams, of Mt. Po- cono, Monroe county ; Theodore N., a conductor on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, liv- ing at Scranton, Penn .; William, who died at the age of thirty-four years; James, a wheelwright and blacksmith, of Paradise, Monroe county; Lydia A., wife of William Welchler, of Clark's Summit, Lack- awanna Co., Penn .; Samuel, a carpenter living near Stroudsburg, Monroe county ; Charles, of Daleville, Lackawanna county; Josiah D., a clerk in the coal office of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Rail- road Co., at Scranton; and Edna, who was born March 20, 1869, and is now the wife of our sub- ject ; Arminda, wife of Allen Nauman, of Mt. Po- cono, Monroe county ; and Ira D., who is still with his parents.

In his political affiliations Mr. Williams has always been a stanch Republican, and he has most acceptably filled the offices of constable for three years, and collector for six years. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Richley Protective Association; and religiously is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a very industrious, wide-awake and progressive man, of known reliability, who has the good will of his neighbors and the friendship of all who know him.

MICHAEL HERMAN, the well-known manu- facturer of carriages and wagons, is one of the leading business men of Honesdale, and an account of his career should find a prominent place in a volume which is designed to preserve for future generations an accurate view of the men who are developing and sustaining the chief activities of this section to-day.

Mr. Herman was born February 12. 1839. in Honesdalc, but is descended in both paternal and maternal lines from German ancestry. His father, Frederick Herman, who was born in Bavaria in 1793. was a soldier in the Bavarian ariny in 1813 during the campaign against Napoleon and was wounded at the battle of Leipsic, one limb being so injured that he was discharged from further service. Later he married Margaret Feldem, a native of the same province, born in 1802, and in 1837 they came to the United States, landing in New York City. From that point they made their way by canal to Hones- dale, and for some years the father was employed by the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. In 1843 he purchased a tract of forest land in Wayne county , in the northeastern part of South Canaan township. where he cleared a farm and built a log-house for a residence. He was a man of high character and he and his worthy wife were devout members of the Lutheran Church, to which he gave liberally of

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his time and means. His death occurred in: 1852, his wife surviving him with four children until Feb- ruary 8, 1886. Of the children, ( 1) Margaret, who was born Bavaria, married Jacob Lauer, of New York City, where she died in 1886. She had five children-Annie (now the wife of August Kremp, of Middle Village, N. Y.), Lizzie, Amelia, Jacob and August. (2) Barbara, who was also born in Bavaria, married Louis Krietner, a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, who died some years ago at Honesdale, where she now resides. She has the following children-Lewis, Jacob, Fred- erick, William, Theodore, and Annie. (3) Mary, born in 1830, in Bavaria, married Frederick Loliman, a wealthy real estate dealer at Honesdale, who died in 1890. They had six children-Maggie married Henry Sweger, of Honesdale, and both died some years ago leaving two children ; Lizzie, Dora, Katie, Frederick, and Mary are living. (4) Michael is our subject.

Michael Herman was educated in Wayne coun- ty, in the schools of South Canaan and Honesdale, and in 1853 he and his mother removed from the latter city to New York, where he was employed as a baker for one year. In 1854 he left his mother in New York and returned to Honesdale to learn the blacksmith's trade with Corry & Estabrook, with whom he served an apprenticeship of four years and ten months. On completing his term he was em- ployed by the same firm as a journeyman, and in 1861 he entered the employ of Jacob C. Vetter of East Honesdale. In 1865 he engaged in business on his own account in partnership with George Councilman, a brother-in-law, and they conducted a shop successfully until 1868 when Mr. Herman sold his interest. In 1876 our subject purchased the property known as the Jacob C. Vetter place, located on the east side of the Lackawaxen river at Honesdale, where he has since been engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages of all kinds. He is thoroughly acquainted with every branch of the trade and constructs any vehicle from the "rough to the finish," while he also deals extensively in wagons and carriages of other makes. From eight to ten men are constantly employed in his plant and his trade is steadily on the increase, his name be- ing widely known as a guarantee that the vehicles sent out from his shop are as good as skill can make them. In 1895 his entire plant burned down with a large amount of lumber, machinery and stock. the latter including thirty-one new wagons and fifteen new sleiglis. The buildings, paint shop and all, were totally destroyed, causing a loss of $12,000, but in the same year he re-built on a larger scale, introducing various improvements in the plant. He also erected in the same year a large three-story dwelling house with all modern improvements, and at present lie uses the lower story or basement, as a depository and office. Mr. Herman is a man of genial nature and is much esteemed by his fellow- townsmen, who have frequently chosen him to office. He has served as school director eleven

years ; overseer of the poor for six years, and town- slip assessor for three years, having been elected to the latter post in 1891. He was formerly a member of the Democratic party but he lias always reserved the right of independent judgment and of late has affiliated with the Republican party. In religious faith he is a Lutheran and he and his family are prominent workers in the Church at Honesdale. In 1865 he was drafted as a soldier but by paying commutation he secured exemption from service.

In 1863 Mr. Herman married Miss Selma Reichbackter, of Honesdale, who was born in Sax- ony, Germany. They have had nine children, of whom seven are living, making a family that would do honor to any parents. The children were: (1) Frederick, born in 1864, was educated at Honesdale and is now engaged in his father's shops as a painter. He is not married and resides at home. (2) Edward, born in 1866, learned the blacksmith's trade with his father and is now engaged in business with him. (3) George died in childhood. (4) Annie. born in 1872, was educated in Honesdale, completing a high school course, and resides with her parents. (5) William, born in 1874, is a young man of excellent ability in mercantile lines and for five years past has been in the employ of Warren Schenk as a clerk in his general store. (6) Charles, born in 1877, is now working as a blacksmith for his father, with whom he learned the trade. (7) Amelia, born in 1879, is attending school at Honesdale. (8) John died at the age of two years. (9) Horace, born in 1888, is studying in the Honesdale schools. Mr. Herman belongs to the Legion of Honor, an in- surance order.

MARTIN LEICHT is one of the prominent young business men of Matamoras, Pike county, and is now successfully managing a hotel at that place.

Mr. Leicht was born there March 15. 1877, a son of Charles and Christiana ( Huffman ) Leicht. His maternal grandfather was George E. Huffman, a native of Germany, where he learned the miason's trade. At an early day he came to the United States and settled in Westfall township. Pike Co., Penn., where he soon became widely and favorably known. He was a stanch Democrat in political sentiment, and was elected to nearly all the township offices. in- cluding that of justice of the peace, which he most acceptably filled. In his family were eight chil- dren, namely: Annie, wife of Henry Nehemver. of Westfall township, Pike county; John, who died at the age of twenty-seven years: Christiana. mother of our subject : Minnie, wife of David Gantz. a tailo! in Stroudsburg, Penn. : George, deceased: Mary. wife of George Gaylord. of Germantown. N. Y., Tilly, wife of William Van Dine, of East Orange, N. Y. : and Carrie, wife of Jolin Lane, ot Port Jer- vis, New York.

Charles Leicht, our subject's father, was also a native of Germany, born in Saxony, whence when a boy of ten years lie came to America and secured eni- ployment in New York City, where he learned the ci-

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gar maker's trade. There he was married, May 12. 1876, to Miss Christiana Huffman, a native of West- fall township, Pike county, and to them were born two children : Martin, our subject ; and Minnie, who died at the age of two years. The father passed away in 1881, and the mother. afterward married Frank Miller, whose death occurred in October, 1896. She now makes her home with our subject. Martin Leicht was reared in Matamoras, Pike county, and is indebted to the public schools of the village for his education. At the age of fifteen years he began assisting his stepfather in the hotel work. and soon became familiar with every department of the business, so that he is now fully competent to fill his present responsible position as manager of the hotel now owned by his mother. Like his ances- tors, he is a supporter of the Democratic party, and he is also a member of the Maennerchor, a German singing society of Port Jervis, N. Y. He was mar- ried, July 21, 1896, to Miss Agnes Gibhart, a daugh- ter of Nicholas Gibhart, and they have a daughter, Sophia Margaret, born September 11, 1897.

LEVI L. LE ROY, a well-known horticulturist of New Milford township, Susquehanna county, is a representative citizen, and in his career there is much that is worthy of emulation. His thrift and enterprise have won for him a high standing in busi- ness circles, while his public spirit was shown by service in the Union army from 1862 to 1865, a por- tion of the time being spent in special hospital dutv.

Mr. LeRoy was born August 22, 1831, near gent and progressive citizens. The Lott family has Albany, N. Y., and is of French descent in the pa- ternal line. His grandfather, John LeRoy, came. from France with two brothers, owing to religious troubles, and settled in Albany. Tunis S. LeRoy, our subject's father, was born at Le Roy, N. Y., and was married at Stephentown, N. Y., to Miss Asenath Knappen. In 1856 he removed to Wyoming coun- ty, Penn., where he was engaged in business for many years as a farmer and blacksmith. He died in 1876, aged eighty-one years, and his wife passed away in June, 1886, at the age of eighty-six years, their remains being interred in Wyoming county. They had a large family of children as follows : William, who died in Michigan in 1898; Sarah, who married Jere Wells, and died in Chicago, Ill .; Mel- vina, who married Daniel Prosser, and died in New York State; Simon, a retired merchant at Utica, N. Y .; Jackson, who died in Pennsylvania ; Sheribiah, who died in childhood : Levi L., our subject ; Asen- ath, who married W. Chapman, of New Milford; Tunis, a machinist; Delavan, foreman on a canal in New York State; and Hellen, who died in child- hood.

Our subject was thirty years old when he left home, his assistance upon the farm being of value to his father. He purchased a farm in New Milford township, Susquehanna county, and has ever since been engaged in agriculture with the exception of the time spent in the army. In December, 1862, he enlisted in Binghamton, N. Y., in Company G, N.

Y. H. A., under Capt. Jones, "for three years or the war." He served until the close of the struggle, being discharged at Alexandria, Va., in 1865. and saw some severe fighting in the battles of the Wilder- ness and Alsop House and various skirmishes. At the battle of the Wilderness he was taken ill and sent to the hospital, and on his recovery he was placed in charge of Aurger's hospital baggage. In politics he is a strong Republican, but he does not aspire to office. He and his family are prominent socially, and he is identified with the Congregational Church at New Milford, also with the F. & A. M., in which he holds the rank of master. On Novem- ber 16, 1861, he was married at New Milford town- ship to Miss Mahaley Watson, who was born in that township April 30, 1837, a daughter of John W. and Mary Ann ( Tennant ) Watson. Of their five chil- dren the eldest, John D. (deceased) married Miss Dela B. Braman, of Forest City, Penn. (2) Mary married Adelbert Braman, justice of the peace at Forest City. (3) Wellington H., a tailor and wholesale clothing merchant at Nicholson, Penn., married Miss May Clinton. (4) Charles is a tailor and clothier at Factoryville, Penn. (5) Grant re- sides at home.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 90

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