Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 97

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 97
USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 97
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 97
USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4 > Part 97

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· Mr. Kunkel is a representative of one of the oldest and most higlily estcemed families of this sec- tion, being a descendant of John Kunkel, the first settler at Kresgeville, who came from Germany about 1740. This worthy pioneer married Catherine Dot- ter, and had children, as follows: Elizabeth, who married Joseph Serfass; Katie, Mrs. Knesht ; Maria,

Mrs. Solomon Christmen ; Bevy, Mrs. Jolin Shafer ; Susan, Mrs. John Smith ; Margaret, Mrs. Jolin Win- ters; Christiana, Mrs. Abraham ; Peter, Joseph, Adam, and John.

John Kunkel, our subject's father, was born at Kresgeville, February 14, 1815, and received a lim- ited education in the schools of that day and local- ity. He was a man of marked ability and held a prominent place in the local Democratic organiza- tion, serving in different township offices, while he was especially active in religious work as a member of the Lutheran Church. At the death of his parents he became the owner of the old homestead, where he followed farming and lumbering for many years. He operated the sawmill on the estate, and built the present gristmill, which he rented out to other par- ties. He died December 7, 1896, his remains being interred at Kresgeville. His wife, Sarah ( Kresge). who is still living in Kresgeville, was born September 16, ISI8, the daughter of George Kresge. Of their ten children, (1) William, a farmer in Polk town- ship, Monroe county, married Elnora Keller. (2) James is our subject's partner in business. (3) Ja- cob, our subject, is mentioned more fully further on. (4) George, a Lutheran minister, residing at Trevorton, Penn., was graduated from the Muh- lenberg College, Allentown, Penn., and taught school successfully for eight years, founding Fairview Academy, at Brodheadsville. In 1880 and in 1881 he was principal of the public school at Bethlehem. Penn. He married ( first) Miss Maggie Storm, and ( second ) Miss Sarah Christman. (5) David. a farmi- er at the old homestead, married Miss Emma J. Berlin (6) Catherine married Sebastine Kresge, a farmer in Ross township, Monroe county. (7) Saralı married Mahlon Serfass, a farmer in Polk township. (8) Mary Ann married Reuben Kunkel, of Slatington. Penn. (9) Ellen married E. P. Kresge, a blacksmith at Kresgeville. (10) Emaline married Jerome Serfass, a farmer in Polk township, Monroe county.

Our subject was born January 19, 1845. at the old home at Kresgeville, and until he reached the age of twenty-one he assisted his father in the work of the farm and sawmill. In the spring of 1871 he formed a partnership with his brother James and engaged in business under the firm name of Kun- kel Brothers. Since 1883 they have operated the gristmill on the estate, while their farming. micr- cantile and lumbering interests have constantly in- creased in extent and value. Mr. Kunkel, like all his family, is public spirited and his influence is felt in social, religious, educational and political lines. Ile is a stanch Democrat in politics, and he has served nine years as school director, and for ten years pas! has held the office of township auditor. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, and his long services as treas- urer of the Church at Kresgeville show his de- votion to thic welfare of that society.

The Kresge family, towhich our subject's estima- ble mother belongs, has been prominent in Monroe county since pioncer times, the first ancestor being

....

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

William Kresge, who settled in what is now Polk township about 1765, on a farm which is still owned by his descendants. He and his wife, Christianna Ser- fass, both lived to the advanced age of eighty-eight years. They had the following children: Jacob; William ; George; Joseph; Sallie, who married John · Serfass; Elizabeth, who married John Bouser ; and Susan, wife of Peter Kunkel ; and Hannah, who mar- ried Reuben Gregory.

George Kresge, Mrs. Kunkel's father, was a prominent farmer in Polk township. He married (first) a Miss Dreisbach, by whom he had two sons, Philip and Samuel, both deceased, who were resi- dents of Monroe county. By his second marriage, to Niss Catherine Serfass, he had seven children: Thomas, who died in Lackawanna county; David, who died in Monroe county ; Joel, a retired resident of Kresgeville; Reuben, who resides at Lehighton, Penn .; Sarah, our subject's mother; Catherine, widow of John Gregory, of Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county ; and James, who died December 26, 1898.

H. S. QUICK. The pioneers of Pennsylvania. were a race of men fitted to grapple with the tasks of felling forests and of bringing to a state of cul- tivation the broad and fertile acres thus cleared. The shirk had no place in an early settlement. The man of industry, enterprise and energy was the man of success. The old families have thus transmitted sterling qualities from father to son to the third and fourth generations and the solid substantial men of Susquehanna to-day are largely those whose for- bears were primitive and tireless immigrants, seeking future homes and willing to earn them.

Mr. Quick, the subject of this sketch, possesses an inheritance of that description. His grandfa- ther, Jacob Quick, a native of the Delaware Valley, born in Orange county, N. Y., migrated with his wife Rachel to what is now Susquehanna county, Penn., but was then Greenfield township, Luzerne county. He took up a tract of land and spent his life in farming, living to a good old age and rearing a family of industrious and capable children, six sons and four daughters, namely: Jacob, Solomon, Joseph, Jolin, Timothy, Stoddard, Rachel, Ann, Mar- garet, and Jane.

Joseph, the father of our subject, was born in Susquehanna county. He was reared on a farm and married Sarah Hartley, daughter of Mark Hart- ley, of Scotch descent, but of Irish birth, who in 1792, with his wife and infant son William, mi- grated from Northumberland county to the south- ern part of what is now Brooklyn township. Several years later the Hartleys moved to what is now Lenox township. Mark Hartley became a prominent property holder. After his marriage Joseph Quick moved to Nicholson township, Wyoming county. He there followed blacksmithing and died leaving two sons-H. S. and Darius, the latter a resident of Wyoming county. The mother afterwards married Robert Jackson, by whom she had one son, Andrew 110

Jackson, now living in the State of Kansas. Her third marriage was to David Kniver, by whom she had one child, Justus Kniver, of Uniondale, Pennsyl- vania.

H. S. Quick, our subject, was born March II, 1825, in Nicholson township, Wyoming county. He there grew to manhood and at the age of sixteen began farm work. Then for twelve years he fol- lowed lumbering in Falls township, Wyoming coun- ty. He was married in Lenox township to Miss Es- ther A. Tiffany, daughter of Milton and Annie (Rynearson) Tiffany, and granddaughter of Thom- as and Chloe (Tingley) Tiffany, he a prominent pioneer of Lenox township, and a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Annie Rynearson was the daugh- ter of Isaac and Margaret (La Grange) Rynear- son. The children of Milton and Annie Tiffany were Thomas W., of Wyoming county, Penn .; Isaac R. (deceased), formerly of Wyoming county; Esther A., wife of our subject, born October 30, 1835; Adelbert M., who moved west and was never heard from; Mary P., wife of C. W. Conrad, of Nicholson, Wyoming county, Penn .; George P., of Kansas; Demonge La Grange, of Wyoming coun- ty; Sarah, widow of Gilford Tingley, of Jackson township; and Irwin Dewayne, of Kansas.

To our subject and his wife have been born five children, namely: Devele S., a railroad em- ploye of Hopbottom; Harriet, wife of Bert Van Gorden ; Josephine, wife of J. S. Hetter, of Hopbot- tom; Arthur ( deceased ), formerly of St. Louis and later of Moberly, Mo .; and Sadie, wife of William Betts, of Scranton, Penn. When he finished his lumber work in Wyoming county, Mr. Quick re- moved to Lenox township, Susquehanna county. There he enlisted, during the Civil war, in 1863, in Company B, 177th P. V. I., under Capt. B. F. Gard- ner, serving for nine months. After the war he lo- cated at Hop Bottom and for many years followed very successfully the carpenter and joiner trade. In recent years he has retired from active life. His pleasant home at Hopbottom he erected in 1865. In politics Mr. Quick is a strong Democrat. He has served on the borough council, and for many years has been overseer of the poor. Himself and wife are prominent members of the Universalist Church, in which he has served for several years as trustee and deacon.

J. H. COCHRAN, a worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Ararat township, Sus- quehanna county, was born in 1854, in Sull van coun- ty, N. Y., a son of Reuben and Margaret ( Scribner ) Cochran, also natives of that county. The grandfa- ther, Robert Cochran. was a native of Connecticut and a pioneer of Sullivan county, where he continued to make his home until called from this life. The fa- ther was born in 1818, and throughout his business career followed farming in his native county, where he died in 1867. The mother of our subject died in 1862.

J. H. Cochran was also reared and educated in

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the county of his nativity and when a young man came to Ararat township, Susquehanna county, where for some time he engaged in lumbering, oper- ating a sawmill. In that township, in 1880, he was married, to Miss Lillian E. Washburn, who was born on the farm in Ararat township where they now reside, a daughter of Lyman and Electa ( Wash- burn) Washburn. Her father was also a native of Susquehanna county, and was a son of Lyman and Rebecca (Sparks ) Washburn, who came here from Connecticut and were among the earliest settlers of Ararat township, settling in the woods on the farm where our subject now lives .. Both died in Susquehanna county, as did also the father of Mrs. Cochran. He was one of the best known men of the county and was highly respected by all. Our subject and his wife have four children, namely : Grace, Mabel, George and Fannie.

Since 1879 Mr. Cochran has resided upon his present farm, where he has 100 acres under a high state of cultivation and well improved, and is suc- cessfully engaged in general farming. Socially he is a man of prominence in his community, and he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows at Uniondale, Penn .; the United Order of American Mechanics ; and the Improved Order of Red Men, at Burnwood, of which he is a Past Sachem.

JOHN J. STECHER, a well-known pension agent and business man of Brodheadsville, Monroc county, was born in Hamilton township, that county, September 17, 1846, a son of Mathias and Chris- tianna (Dreher) Stecher, natives of Northampton county, Penn. The paternal grandparents were also born in the latter county, but at an early day removed to Hamilton township, Monroe county, where both died. The maternal grandparents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Storm) Dreher.

When a young man Mathias Stecher, our sub- ject's father, who was born June 3, 1816, came to Monroe county, where he carried on shoemaking for forty years, but he is now living retired in Hamil- ton township. In early life he was an active worker in the Lutheran Church, in which he still holds membership, and his life has ever been in harmony with his professions. His wife died in 1892, at the age of seventy-four years ; her remains now rest in St. John's Church cemetery, Hamilton township. The children born to them are as follows: Sevilla is the wife of Adam Walter, a painter of East Stroudsburg; Christiana is the deceased wife of Josialı Frantz ; Lydia A. lives with her father ; John J., our subject, is the next of the family ; Abraham, a painter, married Margaret Alberson and lives in Hamilton township; Sarah A. died unmarried ; Joseph, a carpenter, wedded Mary Lynn and resides in East Stroudsburg : Peter, a painter, married Lydia Hartman, and also makes his home in East Strouds- burg : and Isaac, a clerk, married Ella Miller, and lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

John J. Stecher remained on the home farm withi

his parents until nineteen years of age, and then be- gan his business career as a clerk in a store at Sud- ersville, where he remained for three years. The following year he conducted a hotel in Kresgeville, Monroe county, and then removed to Carbondale, Penn., where he engaged in merchandising for four years. Coming to Brodheadsville in 1875, he opened a mercantile store, which he carried on until 1890. He is a shrewd business man, enterprising and saga- cious, and the success that he has achieved is due entirely to his own well-directed efforts. He has devoted considerable time to buying lumber, and he is now interested in the produce business at Brod- headsville, buying eggs, butter, etc.

On February 22, 1866, in Hamilton township. Mr. Stecher was united in marriage with Miss Emma Heller, and to them have been born nine children, namely: Amanda J., now the wife of Stewart Nyehart, a farmer of Hamilton township; Mary, wife of George Hinton, a machinist of the same township; Ella L., deceased; Edward M .. a brickmaker of Lancaster, N. Y .; Llewellyn, de- ceased; and Erastus E., Susan R., Clewey P. and Sterling S., all at home.

In his political views Mr. Stecher is a stalwart Democrat, and in 1879 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he acceptably filled for a term of five years, during which time he often acted as an attorney, appointed by the court, and his advice be- ing often sought. He served as postmaster for one vear, and has ever been one of the prominent and influential citizens of the community. Socially he `affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Knights of Pythias and the Farmers Alli- ance. Although not a member of any religious denomination, he usually attends the services of either the Lutheran or Reformed Churches, and gives towards their support.

FRANKLIN VAN VLIET, a prosperous lum- berman and agriculturist of Stroud township, Mon- roe county, is a representative of one of the most prominent and highly-esteemed families of that lo- cality. For five generations its members have been prominent in business and social life and in local affairs, and the name has been associated with en- terprise, thrift, and public spirit. The family is of Holland descent.

Derick Van Vliet, our subject's grandfather. wa- born December II, 1776, and made his home near Stroudsburg, where he owned a large tract of land and engaged in farming, becoming quite well-to-do. He married Rachel Smiley, who was born December 19, 1779, and they died there many years ago. Their children were: Miriam, born May 3, 1799: Amanda. June 4, 1801 ; Ann, January 11, 1804: Charick April 7. 1806; Jolm S., November 9, 1808; Rebecca. Juiv 7. 1811 ; Richard, November 24, 1813 : and Elizabeth. February 28, 1816. The father was a Whig and later a Democrat in politics.

Jolin S. Van Vliet, the father of our subject. was born near East Stroudsburg, in the old stone

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

house which has sheltered so many of the name. He married Susan LaBar, who was born February 27, 1807, and they settled upon a farm near Sprague- ville belonging to his father. He made numerous improvements in the place, the greater part of the land being cleared by him. Mrs. Van Vliet died there in 1861, and his last years were spent with a son in East Stroudsburg, his death occurring in 1894.

Our subject is the eldest of a family of eight children, the others being: (2) Evaline, widow of Jacob Phillips, resides in Stroudsburg. She has children-John and Susan (now Mrs. Able, of Scranton). (3) Emily married Alexander Loder, a merchant of East Stroudsburg, and has four chil- dren-Milton, William, Vinton and Laura (wife of a Mr. Bush, a druggist of East Stroudsburg). (4) David married Miss Maneda Allenburger, of Smith- field township, Monroe county. They now reside in East Stroudsburg, he being a conductor on the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. (5) Abram, a miller by occupation, died at the age of thirty-six years. (6) Rachel is unmarried, and resides with her sister, Mrs. Phillips, in Strouds- burg. (7) Samerfield married Miss Emily Sha- fer, of Stroud township, and now resides in Sprague- ville. (8) Edmund married Miss Maggie Beecher, of Wayne county. They now reside in Michigan, where he followed the milling trade for a great number of years, but is now retired ; he is justice of the peace of his village. They have three children- Stanly, Dowling and Georgianna.

Franklin Van Vliet was born August 10, 1830, in Stroud township, and grew to manhood at the old homestead, his schooling being limited to three months each winter. In July, 1854, he married Miss Anna Kinney, and settled at the old homestead. which he purchased in 1868. In 1869 he built a comfortable two-story residence and a good barn, besides other good buildings, and his place is now one of the best of its size in the township. In 1873 he bought 200 acres of woodland in Price town- ship, Monroe county, adjoining Stroud township. and he and his sons have followed lumbering there for some years. Politically Mr. Van Vliet is a Democrat of the old Jacksonian stripe, and at vari- ous times he has held office, serving nine years as school director. In 1897 he was elected tax collector of his township, and he now holds that position. He and his estimable wife have had eight children. as follows : (1) Martha, born March 19, 1855. married Hiram Transue, of Lower Smithfield town- ship, Monroe county, and has one son. Lewis. (2) Erastus, born June 7, 1857, married Miss Frances Dean, of Barrett township, Monroe county ; they now reside in Spragueville, where he is serving as justice of the peace. They have two sons-Frank and Robert. (3) Ella G., born December 8, 1858, is now the wife of David Bush, of East Strouds- burg. (4) Susannah, born January 15, 1862, mar- ried Joseph Pencil, of Stroud township. and they now reside in Pocono, Monroe county. They have

two children-Albert and Skelly. (5) Frank Oscar, born November 10, 1865, is single. and re- sides with his parents on the old homestead. (6) Oras, born August 14, 1867, married Miss Emma Schaffer, of Stroud township, and they now reside in Spragueville. (7) Maggie B., born May 10, 1869, married Frank Barry, of Stroud, and they now reside at Spragueville, where he is engaged in rail- roading. They have one daughter, Ruth. (8) Sherman, born May 17, 1878, is single, and resides with his parents on the old farm. Our subject is identified with the A. P. A. and the P. O. S. A., and he and his family are prominent members of the M. E. Church of Spragueville, which he joined some forty years ago. His son Sherman has been Sab- bath-school superintendent for a number of years.

Mrs. Anna (Kinney) Van Vliet belongs to a well-known family, and her father, Moses Kinney, a native of New Jersey, became a prominent agri- culturist of Stroud township, Monroe county. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Sallie La Bar, died there some years ago. This worthy couple had eight children, of whom Mrs. Van Vliet was the youngest, the others being: James, Peter, Will- iam, Joseph, Maria (wife of Philip Neihart). Jane ( wife of Abram Bush), and Maggie ( who married George Anderson, of Lackawanna county). Mr. Van Vliet has the old family Bible of Derick Van Vliet, which was published in 1815.

JOHN HAND, a prominent agriculturist of Harmony township, Susquehanna county. is the owner of an attractive homestead on Starrucca creek, which by his able management is kept in an excellent state of cultivation. As a citizen he is held in high esteem, and during the Civil war he made an honorable record as a soldier, serving from 1861 to 1865.

Mr. Hand was born in 1833, near Mauch Chunk, Penn. He left home during boyhood to make his way in the world, being employed for some time on the Gravity railroad. between Carbon- dlale and Honesdale. In 1857 he married Miss Lucetta Compton, of Carbondale, and made his home in that town. In 1861 he enlisted in the 57th P. V. I .. under Capt. Pierson, of Wilkes Barre. his regiment being assigned to the 10th Army Corps. He was with Mcclellan during 1861 and 1862, and took part in a number of engagements under Burn- side, including the seven days' fight. In December, 1863, he was honorably discharged at Morris Island. S. C .. his term having expired, and after a visit home. on a furlough, re-enlisted in the same com- pany, "for three years or the war." During his second term of service he saw much fighting, being in the battles of Williamsburg. Seven Pines and other engagements. and was finally mustered out on July 20, 1865, at Salisbury, N. C. On his return home he engaged in farming, and since purchas- ing his present homestead he lias made many im- provements thereon. In politics he is a steadfast Republican, and his interest in military affairs is

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

still keen, as is shown by his active work as a mem- ber of Mumford Post, G. A. R., at Starrucca. His first wife died while he was in the army, and in August, 1884, he married Mrs. Jane ( Prentice) Squires, widow of Horace Squires, of Scott Center, Wayne county. Mr. Hand has two children, both by the first marriage: Mattie married James Jen- nings, of Carbondale ; and Osman went to Montana.

Mrs. Jane Hand is a native of Wayne county, and comes of good New England ancestry, her par- ents, Asher and Polly ( Terry) Prentice, being na- tives of Connecticut. They came to Wayne county in 1857, with two children, and spent their remain- ing years upon a farm at Scott Center. As devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church they did much to promote the welfare of the community, and their family was reared in that faith, Mrs. Hand being an active worker in the Church. Of their seven children: (1) Cyrus B. married Miss Lydia Lee, and settled at Scott Center, where he died leaving three children-Jennie, now the wife of William Wayman; Lewis, a resident of Jackson, Susquehanna county ; and Emma, wife of William Pond, of Sanford. (2) Sallie M. married Charles Lee, of Harmony township. (3) William mar- ried Emma Walker, and resides in Susquehanna county. He has several children. (4) Lavina, deceased, married George Dow, of Preston, Wayne county. (5) Jane, our subject's wife, is next in the order of birth. (6) Lorenzo D. married Miss Loretta Gorton, of Carbondale, and now lives on the old Prentice homestead. (7) Joseph G., a res- ident of Scott township, Wayne county, married Miss Phoebe Wayinan, who died leaving no family.

Mrs. Hand was educated at Scott Center, and was married first to Horace Squires, of Madison county, N. Y. He died in 1864, leaving her with five children : (1) George, born in New York State, married Miss Inez Rosencrans, and is now a merchant of Herkimer county, N. Y. (2) Polly, born in Georgetown, Madison Co., N. Y., is now the wife of William Edwards, of Harmony town- ship. They have ten children-Cora, Fred, Hattie, William, Ira, Edward, Florence, Floy, Malecut and -. (3) Edward, born in Scott township, Wayne county, married Miss Estella Holiker, of Mount Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., daughter of John and Ruth Holiker. They reside in Harmony township, Susquehanna county, and have three children- Rose, Pearl and Horace, all born at Sherman, Wayne county. (4) Roselia, born in Wayne county, is the wife of James Smith, of Harmony township, and has six children-Mary, Philip, Lyman, Nora, Frank and George. (5) William, born in New York State, married Louise Johnston, of that State, and now resides in Lanesboro. They have two chil- dren-Theodore and Jennie.

ANDREW J. RUTLEDGE. Prominent among the farmers of South Canaan township, Wayne coun- ty, who have by honest toil and industry succeeded in acquiring a competence, and are now able to spend

the sunset of life in quiet and retirement. is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch.

Mr. Rutledge was born in County Limerick, Ireland, November 10, 1840, but in 1844 was brought to America by his parents, Patrick and Juna (Tesque ) Rutledge, who spent their remaining days upon a farm in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne Co., Penn., where the mother died in January, 1802, the father in the spring of 1868, at the age of six- ty-four years, bothi being laid to rest in the Canaan township cemetery. They were devout members of the Catholic Church, and he was a Democrat in politics. Their children were: Margaret, who mar- ried Michael Regane, and both are now deceased ; Hugh F., who was wounded during his service in the Union army, and is now living retired in Elmira, N. Y .; Patrick, a farmer of South Canaan township, Wayne county; Andrew J., the subject of this sketch ; and William, deceased. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Hugh F. and Mary ( Burke) Rutledge, emigrated from Ireland to America in 1827, and spent their last days upon a farm in Cherry Ridge township, Wayne county.

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Commemorative biographical record of northeastern Pennsylvania, including the counties of Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe, Pt. 4, Part 97

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