Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 96

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 96
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 96
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 96
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 96

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Upon the farm where he still lives the subject of this sketch was born December 26, 1841, a son of Asher and Polly ( Terry) Prentice, the former a na- tive of Connecticut (born in 1799), the latter in Massachusetts. At Long Meadow, in the latter State, they were married, and soon afterward ini- grated to Wayne county, Penn., locating in Scott township, a mile and a half from the New York. State line, near the Delaware river, where the father purchased 100 acres of government land. He built a log house and barn and made other improvements upon the place, and in connection with its cultiva- tion he engaged in lumbering on the Delaware river. He died there in 1865, his wife in November, 1878, honored and respected by all who knew hin.

Eight children constituted their family, and all were born on the old homestead in Scott township: (!) Cyrus, born in 1823, married Lydia Lee, who bore him four children. Jennie, Lewis, George and Emma. He died in February, 1892. (2) Sally W., born in 1825, is the wife of Charles Lee, of Sus- quehanna county, Penn. (3) William E., born in October, 1827, married Eunice Walker, of Balds Eddy, Wayne county, and has a large family. They now live in Susquehanna county. (4) Mary L., born in 1830, married George P. Dow, of Preston township, Wayne county, and died in 1864, leaving a large family. (5) Jane A., born in June. 1833, married H. Squires, of Georgetown, N. Y., and after his death wedded John Hand, of Melrose, Wayne county, where she now lives. She has a family. (6) Ethan S., born in September, 1837, died at the age of four years. (7) L. D. is next in order of birth. (8) Joseph G., born in May, 1844, married Phoebe Way- mond, of New Milford, Susquehanna county, who died leaving two children, and he later wedded Betsy Stemrod. They make their home in Scott township, Wayne county.

On the old homestead L. D. Prentice was reared

like most boys of his day, assisting in the arduous tasks of clearing and developing the farm, and at- tending public schools when his services were not needed at liome. The lumber industry has claimed much of his attention, and as a steersman he has taken rafts of both logs and sawed lumber down the Delaware river to the Trenton markets, making 175 trips in all, and as many of four trips some seasons. He has always lived upon the old home farmi, to which he added 120 acres after his father's death, and has cleared a large portion of the land. In 1861 he built a fine residence which he still uses, and since then has built another house upon the place, it being occupied by his son, George A.

Mr. Prentice was married January 31, 1861, to Miss Mary L. Gordon, who was born in Clifford, Penn., in 1846, a daughter of Russel and Permelia (Lee) Gordon, of Scott township. Her parents are now deceased, the father dying at the home of our subject in 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. Prentice have been born children as follows: ( 1) George A., born in April, 1862, lives on a part of his father's farm. He married Annie Gillan, of Deposit, N. Y., and has two children, George E. and Edna M. (2) Horace B., born February 21, 1866, died in childhood. (3) Erwin D., born September 14, 1867, is now located in Orange, Penn., where he is now serving as pastor of the Free Methodist Church. He married Lottie Sutton, of Vernon, Penn., and has one son, Harry. (4) Mary L., born November 12, 1869, is the wife of Abijah Green, of Trout Creek, N. Y., and has one daughter, Mattie. (5) Eugene, born in February, 1873. is now a barber at Deposit, N. Y. (6) Frederick O., Born February 10, 1878, is at home. (7) Nel- lie M., born March 6, 1881, died March 10, 1889.

In his political affiliations Mr. Prentice is a Democrat, and he has been called upon to serve as supervisor of his township three years. and as a member of the board of election. In his life work he has achieved success through his own exertions and the assistance of his estimable wife. so that he is now numbered among the prosperous and substan- tial citizens. No man in Scott township is more honored or highly respected.

JAMES MATTHEWS. The subject of this sketch is one of the prominent and influential busi- ness men of Cresco, Monroe county. He is the owner and proprietor of the "Cresco Hotel," and since he has taken charge of it. a few years ago, he has made many improvements in it.

Mr. Matthews is a native of England, born in Cornwall May 20, 1839, the son of John and Mary ( Nicholas ) Matthews, who were natives and life- long residents of Cornwall. John Matthews was a miner and died in 1858. His widow survived until 1891. They reared five children namely: ( 1) Mary A., born in 1837, married William Hoper, by whom she had four children-Mary, Emma, Jane and Will- iam. The mothier after the death of her husband came to America. married Richard Powell. a na- tive of Wales, and now both are residents of Morris

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county, N. J. (2) James is the subject of this sketch. (3) John, born in 1842, is married and re- sides in Cornwall, England. Some of his children came to America. (4) Honor, born in 1845, is the wife of Jacob Allen, of Cornwall, England. Mem- .. bers of the family reside in Australia, and one son, William, came to this country and is now a resi- dent of Colorado. (5) Henry, born in 1848, re- mained with his mother in England until 1870, then came to America. For a year he worked in the iron mines of New Jersey, then removed to Colorado, where he was engaged in mining for a few years, and also in the saloon and butchering business. Subsequently he returned to Cornwall, England, and married Miss Johanna Ellis. They came to Colorado, and after amassing considerable property recrossed the ocean and now live with their family in their native town.

James Matthews, our subject, when a boy worked in the china clay mines until eighteen years of age, then commenced work in the tin mines of Cornwall. In 1864 he came to this country, and became employed in the Hiberian Iron mines of Morris county, N. J., remaining six years. He was then for some years engaged in the saloon business. In 1875 he became proprietor of a hotel at Port Oram, N. J., continuing in charge for fifteen years. Selling out in 1890, Mr. Matthews, in April, 1891, came to Barrett township, Monroe Co., Penn., and purchased the "John Yetters hotel" at Cresco. He has been its proprietor ever since and by many improvements and his happy and energetic manner as a host he has made it one of the famed and popular hostelries of Monroe county.

In 1865, Mr. Matthews was married, in Morris county, N. J., to Miss Elizabeth Ellis, daughter of William and Elizabeth Ellis, natives of England. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Elizabeth Ellis came to America, thence to the New Jersey home of her son John, who had migrated thither some years earlier. The children of William and Elizabeth Ellis were William, John. Elizabeth, and Peter. Of these children William Ellis came to America and to Tennessee before the Civil war and in that war served as a soldier in the Confederate army. After the war he worked in the mines in Alabama until his death. He left one son. William, who is now a resident of Alabama. John Ellis moved from his New Jersey home to Colorado where he died. Peter Ellis, the youngest child, died in New Jersey leav- ing Elizabeth, the wife of our subject, the only sur- viving child, and with her the mother lived until her death.

To our subject and wife have come two children : Peter E. and Henry. Peter E. was born in 1865, in New Jersey, and when a boy through scarlet fever he was deprived of speech and hearing. He was educated in the mute schools of New York and of Trenton, N. J., receiving a fine edcuation in the mute language. He is unmarried and resides with his parents. Henry, the second son, was born in New Jersey in 1873 and was educated in the schools

of New Jersey. He married Miss Bessie Williams, of Morris county, N. J., daughter of Joseph R. Will- iams, a native of England. To Henry Matthews and his wife one child, Henrietta, has been born. The youngest son of our subject has always re- mained with his father, assisting in the manage- inent of the hotel.

In politics James Matthews is a Republican. He was reared under the influence of the Metho- dist Church and his family attended the services of that denomination. He is a member of the Ran- dolph (N. J.), Lodge of I. O. O. F., and of En- campment Lodge, of Dover, N. J. He is also a member of the lodge of Red Men at Port Oram, N. J. He is popular with the traveling public, and is highly esteemed by his friends and neighbors.

CHARLES S. SAMPSON, a leading resident of Matamoras, Pike county, is a representative of one of the old and highly esteemed families of this section of the State.

Henry Sampson, grandfather of our subject, was born in New England, February 23, 1767, and was probably married there to Sarah Whitaker, whose birth occurred April 26, 1768. Soon after their marriage they emigrated to Wayne county, Penn., locating at Starrucca, where he engaged extensively in lumbering. In their family were twelve children whose names and dates of birth are as follows : Elizabeth, December 6, 1787 ; Squire, September 6, 1789; John Northrope, our subject's father, Septem- ber 8, 1791 ; Rachel, September 3, 1793 ; Stephen W., October 13, 1795; Henry, January 8, 1798; Ben- jamin .W., July 1, 1800; Hapadyer, August 26, 1802; Mary, September 2, 1804; William, September 14, 1807; Sarah, February 4, 1810; and Margaret, June 22, 1813. All of the children remained in Starrucca until they reached years of maturity, but later, with the exception of one or two all went west, locating in Michigan, Illinois and Iowa. Squire remained in Pennsylvania, assisted in the construction of the Lehigh canal, and for inany years served as over- seer of the same.

Jolin N. Sampson, our subject's father, engaged in lumbering in Wayne county for many years, and after his removal to Susquehanna in 1845 continued to follow the same occupation for twelve years, lay- ing aside all business cares at the end of that time. He was killed on the Erie railroad in April, 1865. and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Rachel Seward, died in 1856, at the age of sixty-one years. The children born of this worthy couple were as follows : Permelia (deceased) married Seymour Seeley, and resided at Walden, Delaware Co., N. Y., where they reared a large family: Nelson, a re- tired lumberman residing at Binghamton, N. Y., married (first) Pauline Williams, and (second) Prudy Kingsbury; Rensselaer ( deceased), who was a millwright and carpenter by trade, and built the first tannery at Starrucca, Wayne county, making his home at that place; George died at the age of twelve years; Charles S., our subject, is next in the

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

order of birth; James (deceased) was for many years chief operator on the Erie railroad; Sally is the wife of Justine Squires, a retired farmer and lumberman of Hancock, N. Y .; Clarissa is the wife of Silas E. Dickenson, a farmer living near Hill City, N. Y .; and Margaret is the wife of Charles Cresson, of Hancock, New York.

Charles S. Sampson was born at Starrucca, Wayne county, and when a child was brought, by his parents to Susquehanna county, Penn. When only eleven years old he was obliged to provide for his own maintenance, which he did by assisting the farmers in light work, and in return he received his board and clothes. In the fall of 1858 he secured employed on the Erie railroad, fist as a laborer later as a brakeman, and by attending strictly to business he was in due time promoted. In 1865 he became engineer, and still remains with the road in that capacity, having been in the company's employ continuously for the past forty years, his service giving the utmost satisfaction. He is an honored member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engin- eers, and is a stanch supporter of the Republican- party.

At Port Jervis, N. Y., Mr. Sampson was united in marriage with Miss Abbie, daughter of Alec and Julia (Chaffey) Simpson. Her father was born in Greene county, N. Y., January 9, 1814, and died November 13, 18 -; the mother was born in Ken- tucky, September 11, 1816, and died in September, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Sampson have seven children, namely: Charles, born in 1863, is a resident of Middletown, N. J., where he married Margaret Walling; George, born in 1864, is an employe of the Erie Railroad Co .; Edward, born in 1865, married Mamie McGreal, and resides in Paterson, N. J .; Emma, born October 2, 1876, is the wife of Charles Cook, of Matamoras, Penn .; S. Van Etten, born January 29, 1879, is employed by the Erie Co., at Middletown, N. J .; and Nellie, born July 18, 1883, and Jennie, born February 26, 1885, are at home.

HENRY COX (deceased) was for many years one of the honored and highly respected citizens of Thompson township, Susquehanna county, where he carried on operations as a farmer. He was born in Otsego county, N. Y., in 1825, the only son of Joseph and Sarah Cox, natives of England, who on their emigration to the New World located in Otsego county, where the father followed farming during the remainder of his life. There both parents died many years ago. They had one daughter, Jerusha, who now lives in Gibson, Pennsylvania.

In the county of his nativity Henry Cox grew to manhood and acquired his education. In 1850 he was united in marriage with Miss Roxy Pope, a daughter of William and Irene Pope. She was also reared in Otsego county, where they continued to make their home for one year after their marriage and then came to Jackson township, Susquehanna Co., Penn., where the following four years were passed. In 1858 they removed to Thompson town-

ship, where Mr. Cox purchased a tract of wild land and cleared and improved a farm, erecting thereon a good house and barn. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company G, 43rd P. V. I., and remained in the service until the conflict was over. As he was physically disabled for active duty on field of battle, he was assigned to the hospital corps during the latter part of his service. He never fully re- gained his health after his return home and in 1888 he passed away, leaving a wife and two children, besides many friends, to mourn his loss. ( I) Jan- ette Cox, the elder, was born in Gibson township, in 1851, married Robert Gill, of New York State, who is a carpenter by trade and was for four years a soldier of the Civil war. They have two daughters : Mertie, wife of Linford Fuller, of Delaware county, N. Y., by whom she has three children, Guy, Vera and Clara ; and Fannie, wife of Alphonse St. Mark, of Hancock, N. Y., by whom she has one daughter. (2) Emory C. Cox, the only son of our subject, was born in August, 1854, and has spent his entire life on the home farm, which he assisted in clearing and transforming into a highly cultivated place. Since his father's death he has looked after his mother's interests, and has made many improvements upon the farm, which has been made to yield bountiful harvests in return for the care and labor he bestows upon it. In June, 1890, he married Miss Annie Symons, of Bethlehem, Penn., a daughter of William H. and Harriet (Thomas) Symons, the former a native of Cornwall, England, the latter of 'Australia. Mrs. Cox was born in Cornwall. Eng- land, in 1864, and was a child when brought by her parents to this country. They located in Bethlehem, Penn., where they still reside and where the daughter was educated in the public schools. Emory Cox and his wife have two children: Willie H., born in September, 1891 ; and Joseph, born in 1898.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Cox were reared in the Protestant faith, and although not members of any religious organization, always supported Church work. He was a man whose integrity was never questioned, and was a law-abiding, peaceful citizen. who had many friends in the community where he so long made his home. His political support was given the Republican party, with which his son also affiliates. The latter still resides with his mother on the old homestead, and no family in the township is held in higher respect and esteem.

PETER DENNIS ROE, an honored veteran . i the Civil war, and a leading and representative ag- riculturist of Jessup township. Susquehanna county. was born in Sussex county, N. J .. January 18. 1842. a son of David and Sevial (Dennis ) Roe, also na- tives of Sussex county. In 1847 the family came to Susquehanna county, Penn., and located in Jessup township, where the father carried on operations as a farmer until called from this life in 1885. at the age of eighty years. The mother died in 18ss, at the age of eighty-three, and was laid to rest by his side in Bowles cemetery. Both were sincere Chris-

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tians, members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In their family were the following children: Eliz- abeth, deceased wife of Jefferson Roof; Mary, wife of Scott Baldwin, a farnier of Wyoming county, Penn .; Peter D., our subject ; Catherine, wife of Ed- . gar Bowles, a farmer of Jessup township; Sarah, widow of Paul Overfield, of Meshoppen, Penn .; David M., a prominent merchant of Fairdale, Sus- quehanna county ; and Emma, wife of Thomas Pet- titt, of Susquehanna county.

The subject of this sketch has spent almost his entire life upon the farm in Jessup township, where his parents located on coming to the county. As soon as large enough to be of any assistance he began to aid in its operation, and since attaining to man's estate has successfully carried on the same. At the age of nineteen years he responded to the President's call for volunteers to assist in putting down the Rebellion, becoming a member of Company H, 38th N. Y. V. I., under Capt. William Baird. He was mustered into the United States service on Long Island, and for two years followed the old flag to victory on Southern battle fields, partici- pating in the engagements at Bull Run, Yorktown, Williamsburg and Seven Pines, but fortunately he was never wounded. He was honorably discharged at Park Barracks, New York City, June 23, 1863, and returned to his home to resume farming. Six years later he traveled quite extensively over the West, but since his return has carried on the old homestead uninterruptedly.

On February 2, 1874, in Jessup township, Mr .. Roe married Miss Susan Downer. who was born in that township, November 29, 1850, a daughter of R. B. Downer, who is represented elsewhere. To them were born two children : Denton D., who mar- ried Emma Berthold, and is engaged in farming in Jessup township; and Hettie. who died at the age of fourteen years. The family is quite prominent socially, and they have a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county. Frater- nally Mr. Roe affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Grand Army of the Republic. and politically he is identified with the Republican party. He held the office of overseer of the poor tor twelve years, and has been collector and supervisor.

ADAM UHL, a well-known merchant of Gree- ley, Pike county, was born February 19, 1857. in Bavaria, Germany. His grandfather, Lawrence Uhl, was also born in Bavaria, and spent his en- tire life in his native province, where he married Mary Zink.

Our subject's father, William Uhl, was born in Bavaria, June 7, 1820, and there engaged in farin- ing and stock dealing throughout life. He wedded Christiana Veolpel, a daughter of Jacob Veolpel, and she died in 1885. aged sixty-three years, his death occurring September 8, 1894. Of the children born to them, four died in infancy : William ( deceased) married Elizabeth Schroeder, came to America,

and engaged in the grocery business in New York City; Lawrence married Charlotte Hepley, and en- gaged in business at Haverhill, N. Y., where he died ; Henry, who married Barbara Huf, is a manu- facturer of fancy wood boxes in New York City; Adam is next in the family ; Christiana is the widow . of George Williams, and resides in New York City.

At the age of thirteen years Adam Uhl came to this country in company with his father, brothers and sister, and first found employment as errand boy in a gilder's shop in New York, learning the trade of a picture frame gilder, at which he worked some time; meantime he also attended night school. There he was married, December 3, 1883, by Rev. Busse, a German Lutheran minister, to Sophia, daughter of William Smith.

After working at his trade some years Mr. Uhl becanie interested in the butcher business, which he continued for twelve years. On selling out. he came to Lackawaxen township, Pike Co., Penn., September 27, 1893, and bought a store at Gree- ley ( named for Horace Greeley, who once owned property there). He has since given his time and attention to mercantile pursuits, and to the operation of a small farm, and has met with a fair degree of success in his new home. Politically he is a Demo- crat, though somewhat independent in his views. and religiously he and his wife hold membership in the German Lutheran Church. They are held in high regard by all who know them, and have made many warm friends since coming to Pike county.

ROBERT NEILD. In the respect that is ac- corded to men who have fought their way to success through unfavorable environments we find an un- conscious recognition of the intrinsic worth of a character which can not only endure so rough a test. but gain new strength through the discipline. The following history sets forth briefly the steps by which our subject, now one of the substantial agricultur- ists of Preston township, Wayne county. overcame the disadvantages of his early life.

His father, William Neild, was a native of Manchester, England, whence when a lad of sev- enteen years he came to the New World, locating on the Hudson river, in New York State. In 1840 he married Miss Rebecca Reynolds, of Delaware coun- ty, N. Y., and upon a farm in that county they spent their remaining days, his death occurring in Janu- ary, 1868, hers two years later. Our subject is one of their family of four children, the others being as follows: ( I) Elisha, born in Andes, Delaware county, in 1841, married Helen Worden, of that county, and is engaged in farming in Sullivan coun- ty, N. Y. Their children were Harvey. Robert. Thomas and Ira (both of whom died in child- hood ), Thomas, and Jessic. (2) Jane I. is the wife of John Winnie, of Ulster county, N. Y .. and their son Elisha is the only one of their nine children now living. (3) John makes his home in Livingston Manor, New York.

In 1843 Robert Neild was born in Delaware

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county, N. Y., where he grew to manliood, acquir- ig his literary education in the public schools ncar his early home. When a young man he came to Wayne county, Penn., where for some time he en- gaged in lumbering. Here he was married in 1868 to Miss Marian Mallory, of Wayne county, a daugh- ter of Thomas and Christina Mallery, natives of Wales, who on coming to America located in Dela -- ware county, N. Y., whence they removed to Wayne county, Penn. After his marriage Mr. Neild pur- chased fifty acres of timberland in Preston town- ship, Wayne county, and at once commenced to clear and improve his place, erecting thereon a residence. Subsequently he owned and occupied another farm in the same township, and for a time lived in Scott township. In 1897, with his sons, he bought the property known as the C. P. Tall- man farm, in Preston township, comprising 512 acres, on which are three dwellings and substantial outbuildings. Here they are now successfully en- gaged in dairy farming.

To Mr. and Mrs. Neild were born six children : (1) Ira, born in May, 1869, received a good com -- mon-school education, and he and his brother Rob- ert, with their father, now own the present home- stead of the family. (2) Willard, born in 1870, mar- ried Maggie Brush, of Delaware county, N. Y., and has one son, Harold B. He lives on a part of the home farm. (3) Osmer R., born in December, 1871, married Florence Kimble, of Wayne county, and has two children, Leslie A. and Violet M. : they are residents of Wayne county. (4) Robert B., born" in 1873, (5) Roy B., born in 1879, and (6) June R., born in 1885, are all at home. Edna E., an adopt- ed daughter, was born in 1883, in Delaware coun- ty, N. Y., and is now pursuing her studies in the home school. Mrs. Neild, who is one of a family of fifteen children, was educated in the high school of Hancock, N. Y., and prior to her marriage success- fully engaged in teaching.

By his ballot Mr. Neild supports the principles of the Prohibition party, and his influence is always given to those measures which have for their object the betterment of mankind. He and his family are all earnest and consistent members of the Baptist Church, take an active and prominent part in its work, and have the respect and esteem of all who know them.

JACOB KUNKEL, a wealthy business man of Kresgeville, Monroe county, is extensively en- gaged in agricultural and mercantile operations and also owns and operates a sawmill and gristmill at that place, his success in these varied enterprises showing rare sagacity, thrift and foresight.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 96

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