Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 16

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 988

USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 16
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 16

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Captain Stearns was by nature a soldier. Although trained to peaceful pursuits, the science of tactics was instinctive with him. He came from a line of ancestry distinguished for military capacity. His great-grandfathers, Eli- jah Shoemaker and Col. Nathan Denison, were soldiers of the Revolution, and participated in the Wyoming massacre, the former being killed in that dreadful struggle. Captain Stearns was in camp at Chickamauga with his regiment un- til August 14, when he was called home to at- tend upon his father, Major Stearns, who was suffering from a pulmonary affection of a seri-

I. Major Stearns' prominent revolutionary ances- tor was Lieutenant Abner Tyler, born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, 1710, died December 8, 1779; recorded as second lieutenant April 9, 1778, in Captain Cyrus Rich's company, Fourth Regiment Worcester County Militia, Colonel Converse commanding.

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ous nature. Typhoid fever was prevalent in the camp at this time, and no doubt the seeds of the dread disease were in his system at the time of his departure for home. He remained at home a few days and, his father improving in health. he decided to rejoin his regiment. which was about to change station at Lexington, Kentucky. His desire to be with his command at the time. that he might look after his men, rendered him careless of his own physical condition, and August 21 he departed for the south, arriving at Chickamauga on the 23d. The regiment left on the 25th, bivouac- ing at Rossville, Tennessee, that night and ar- riving at Lexington on Saturday, August 27th. The fever was upon him, no doubt, before he left Glen Summit, where his family was then staying. but he would not yield to what he thought was a temporary indisposition. A rally after he arrived in camp was succeeded by al- most a prostration, and on Sunday, August 28th. he was brought home from Lexington by Gov- ernor Hastings on a hospital train which the governor had provided to bring the sick of the Pennsylvania regiments from the camps at Chickamauga and Lexington. The hospital train arrived at Wilkes-Barre on August 30 at Io o'clock in the morning, and a week later he lay dead, one of the precious lives sacrificed that there should be no halt in American devo- tion to the interests of humanity, progress. hu- man liberty and righteousness. Death claimed many a shining mark as a result of the war with Spain, but none more lustrous than Capt. Laza- rus Denison Stearns.

As an officer of his regiment he was univer- sally esteemed, and his own men were devoted to him. During his illness there was a constant train of visitors and a stream of messages ask- ing for news of his condition. His youth, his brilliant future, his fine physical manhood, all seemed to draw sympathy, and the thought that the end might be near was too sad to entertain. Lying desperately ill himself, he still thought of his stricken companions, and asked after them with much solicitude. That seemed to be a key- note to his character, forgetfulness of self and

thought for others. Universally beloved, it was in the bosom of his own family that he was the devoted son and brother, the thoughtful child, dutiful and sympathetic, and later, as was proved, strong to bear and patient to suffer. Though just on the threshold of a useful and active man- hood, with his college days as a pleasant mem- ory to look back upon, his character was well matured. He was the soul of honor, and no one ever knew him to do anything mean or small. He had nothing of narrowness in his disposition, but an innate nobility which was fostered always by the attrition with men, for he chose good companionship. He had a liberal mind that frowned not on such amusements as young peo- ple enjoy, but he had also a well-defined power of knowing himself and being careful always to use and not abuse recreation and pleasure. All who came in contact with him were impressed with the unmistakable marks of a fine nature, full of manliness and nobility. These were striking traits, and they manifested themselves when he had scarcely entered upon his teens. He was industrious and faithful in business, faithful and true to whatever he undertook, and his business career, had he been spared, would have been a most creditable and brilliant one.

In his native town he was a great social fa- vorite and a leader in many of the affairs that go to make up the sum of relaxation and of pleas- ure in the hours given to such occupation. He was a member of the Country Club, the Wyo- ming Historical and Geological Society since 1895, and of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution. The qualities that dis- tinguished his bearing among friends were al- ways exemplified in his military routine. He was a strict disciplinarian, though always from the sense of duty, but as a commander always had the well being and comfort of his men near his heart. It is remarkable that one so young leaves behind such a maturity of the best traits, both in social and in business life. Memory stands tearful and pitying, where so short a time ago radiant Hope had seemed to stretch forth her hands. These mysteries of life and death are always present, but always baffle so-

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lution. His was patriotism of the real kind. He gave up everything that makes life worth living (see Collections of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, p. 249). H. E. H.

PETTIBONE AND DICKSON FAM- ILIES. John Pettibone, of French extraction, came over from England, 1650. and was a pro- prietor in Windsor, Connecticut, 1658, removing to Simsbury, Connecticut, about 1669 and locat- ing on land which in 1880 was in possession of some of his descendants. He married. Feb- ruary 16, 1664, Sarah Eggleston, daughter of Begat Eggleston, and had nine children, three born in Windsor and six in Simsbury. Of these, Stephen, born October 3, 1669, died 1750, mar- ried Deborah Bissell. His third son was named Noah.

Noah Pettibone, son of Stephen and Deborah ( Bissell) Pettibone, born April 16, 1714, died Wyoming, March 28, 1791. He petitioned the Connecticut assembly in 1753 for permission to buy lands of the Indians at Wyoming. He mar- ried at Simsbury, 1745, Huldah Williams, by whom he had eight children, born in Connecti- cut. He was in Wyoming in 1769 with his sons, Noah, Stephen and Oliver. In 1772 he located on meadow lot No. 22, where some of his de- scendants have continued to reside for more than a century. His children were: Esther, born June, 1747, married William Alworth ; Hul- dah, born August, 1749, married Benjamin At- water; Noah, born November, 1751, married, May, 1778, Lucy Scott and was killed in the battle of Wyoming July 3, 1778; Hannah, born October, 1753. married Joseph Shaw ; Stephen, born September, 1755, served in Sullivan's army and was honorably discharged from service; he was killed by the Indians after his return to Wyoming, on Kingston flats, February 10, 1779: Dolly, born June, 1757, married, 1777, Timothy Stevens: Oliver, of whom later: Lydia. born December, 1759, married John Vaughn.

Oliver Pettibone, son of Noah and Huldah (Williams) Pettibone, was born May 13, 1762, died March 17, 1832. "He was in Forty Fort at the time of the massacre ; he counted the men

as they went out, and made the number three hundred and eiglity-two. He returned to Con- necticut after the battle, but later removed to Amenia, Dutchess county, New York, where, December 21, 1783, he married Martha, died December 25, 1833, daughter of Dr. Barnabas Paine, and settled on Livingston Manor, where three of his children were born. He returned to Wyoming in April, 1788, and bought lands adjoining his father, and there ten more chil- dren were born, all of whom, with the excep- tion of two who died, married and raised large families." Their children were: Oliver, born September 9, 1784; Esther, born September 15, 1785 ; Payne, born January 14, 1787, of whom later ; Joshua, born August 31, 1788; Marcia, born November 3, 1790; Lucy, born September 12, 1792; Mary, born October 21, 1794; Nancy, born November 13, 1796; Noalı, born July 27, 1798; Huldah, born February 14, 1801 ; Henry, born October 5, 1802; Martha, born December 30, 1804: Stephen, born February 2, 1807.

Payne Pettibone, son of Oliver and Martha (Paine) Pettibone. born January 24, 1787. died August 13, 1814; married, 1811, Sarah Tuttle, born April 4, 1793, died April 27, 1869, eldest daughter of Joseph and Mary (Lee) Tuttle. They had two sons : I. Stoughton, born April 9, 1812, married (first), 1835, Antoinette Dunning, who died March 9, 1845; married (second), 1846, Cornelia Bellamy. Children by first mar- riage: Emma C .; by second marriage, Lauren IV. Pettibone. 2. Payne, born December 23, 1813, of whom later. After the death of Mr. Payne Pettibone his widow became the wife of David Perkins. Joseph Tuttle, son of Henry. of New Jersey, and of Wyoming, Pennsylvania, 1785, father of Mrs. Pettibone, born in Rockaway, Morris county, New Jersey, January 19, 1772, died February II. 1849. He removed to Wyo- ming with his father. 1785. He was farmer, miller and merchant, being engaged in the lat- ter business several years with his son Joseph B. at Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. He held va- rious town offices and was county commissioner of Luzerne county three years. He married, September 26, 1792, Mary Lee, and her parents

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

removed to Wyoming before the massacre of July 3, 1778, and settled on a farm where the Wyoming monument now stands. Her father, Jesse Lee, was from Connecticut, and his wife, Sally (McDowell) Lee, was daughter of John McDowell, a Scotch-Irishman, who came to America in 1735 and married a Miss Depui, of Low Dutch (Holland) extraction.

Payne Pettebone, Jr., son of Payne and Sa- rah (Tuttle) Pettibone, born December 23, 1813, died March 21, 1888. He was taken in his infancy to the home of his grandfather, with whom he lived until he was eighteen, at which time he was offered a business partnership with Colonel Montayne. This he declined, and shortly afterward was employed as clerk by Swetland & Baldwin, at Wyoming, and in 1834 became a partner with Mr. Swetland, a relation that was maintained with mutual profit until 1864. He became variously identified with leading business enterprises, in a number of which he was a di- rector, among them the old Pittston Bank, the Wyoming Terra Cotta Works and the First Na- tional Bank of Pittston ; also the following banks in Wilkes-Barre: The Wyoming National Bank, the Miners' Savings Bank and the Wilkes-Barre Savings Bank, being president of the latter. He and his son were proprietors of the Wyoming Shovel Works. He was also a director of the Washington Life Insurance Company of New York; president of the board of trustees of Wyoming Seminary and the Wyoming Bible Society, the Wyoming Camp Meeting Associa- tion and the Forty Fort Cemetery Association ; a trustee of the Drew Theological Seminary and the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Con- necticut. In 1844, with Gen. William S. Ross and Jonathan J. Slocum, he was appointed un- der act of the legislature to sell the Delaware division of the state canal. He was treasurer of the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg Railroad Company from 1854 to 1863, until its consoli- dation with the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern Company, and afterwards a director of the company. He was appointed one of the com- missioners to complete the Wyoming monument. 1864, and in 1878 was chairman of the finance

committee of the Centennial Memorial Associa- tion, and as such he entertained at his residence President Hayes and his cabinet, Governor Hartranft and his suite, and other notables in public life. Early in life Mr. Pettebone was seriously impressed with religious thoughts, and from 1848 to the end of his life was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Wyoming Methodist Episcopal Church, dedicated July 18, 1883, was the gift of the Pettebone family and Mrs. William Swetland to that society. Mr. Pettebone was a member of the Wyoming Historical and Geological So- ciety and president, 1875.

Payne Pettebone, Jr., married, October 3, 1837, Caroline M., born October 17, 1820, daughter of William Swetland. Their children were: Mary S., born October 5, 1838, died De- cember 6. 1844; Frances, born September 5, 1842, died November 17, 1845 : William S., born July 2, 1844, died June 22, 1850; Edward, born December 2, 1848, died March 23, 1852; Kate S., born September 27, 1851, married, Novem- ber 12, 1874, Allan Hamilton Dickson, lawyer, born in Utica, New York, November 14, 1851, died January 21, 1893; Robert Treat, born De- : cember 12, 1858.

William Swetland, father of Mrs. Payne Pettebone, was born in Sharon, Connecticut, June 26, 1789. He was a merchant and exten- sive land owner and operator in the Wyoming valley. He was president of the old Pittston Bank, and subsequently a director of the First National Bank of Pittston. He was county com- missioner, 1828-31 : delegate to the constitui- tional convention of 1837 : an old-line Democrat. and a Republican after 1860. He was a son of Belding and Sally (Gay) Swetland. Belding Swetland was born January 14, 1763, and was with his father in Forty Fort at the battle of Wyoming. His father was Luke Swetland, the first settler from Connecticut, locating on the farm where his grandson William later resided ; in 1777 was a member of Captain Durkee's com- pany in Morristown, New Jersey, enlisting Sep- tember 17, 1776. At the battle of Wyoming, on account of disability, he was in Forty Fort and

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did not take part in the engagement. August 25, 1778, he was captured, with Joseph Blanch- ard, by the Indians and was held prisoner among the Senecas some time. In 1800 he removed with his family from Mehoopany to Wyoming, where he died January 30, 1823. H. E. H.

ALLAN HAMILTON DICKSON, born Utica, New York, Nov. 14, 1851, died Wilkes- Barre, Jan. 21, 1893. He traces his ancestry to David Dickson, born 1583, one of the regents of the University of Glasgow. His grandson, John Dickson. born about 1673. married Jane Dodd, emigrated to Ireland and settled in county Down. His eldest son James had eleven chil- dren, of whom Alexander, born 1776, was fourthi. He became involved in the Wolf-Tone rebellion, and was forced into hiding for a time. He re- appeared in 1799 and married Sarah McKee. by whom he had ten children. Sarah died in 1819, and in 1820 Alexander married Margaret Harring, who bore him six children. In June, 1827, he brought his family to America, settling at Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, New York. He removed in 1837 to Lansingburg, New York, and died there April 2, 1871. Hugh Sheridan Dickson, born 1813, was seventh child of Alex- ander Dickson. He married Sarah Margaret Stoever and had four children: Elizabeth, mar- ried the Rev. Samuel T. Lowrie ; Ellen, married Col. W. P. Wilson; Frederick Stoever, lawyer and author of "Dickson's Blackstone." an analy- sis of "Blackstone's Commentaries" and of "Dickson's Kent," and an analysis of "Kent's Commentaries.'

Allan Hamilton Dickson was during his life- time one of the bright lights of the Luzerne county bar, but he was cut down in the prime of his career. He fitted for college at Wyer's pre- paratory school in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and entered Yale in September. 1868, but left college at the end of the first half of the sopho- more year on account of ill health. He traveled in Mexico, and returning home re-entered col- lege in January, 1871, and finished his sopho- more year in July. Soon afterward he went to Germany. learned the German language in Heidelburg, and then went to Berlin, where he

attended university lectures. He traveled ex- tensively in Switzerland and Italy and returned to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in the latter part of 1872. In January of the following year he began reading law under the preceptorship of Hon. Henry M. Hoyt, (having previously registered as a law student with Hon. Wayne McVeagh, in West Chester) and September 14, 1874, was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, From that time until his death he was promi- nently identified with the legal profession in the city and county.

Allan Hamilton Dickson married, November 12, 1874, Kate Swetland Pettibone, and their children were: 1. Caro Pettibone, born October 15, 1877, died January 10, 1883. 2. Dorothy Ellen, born December 12, 1883. She was mar- ried, February 27, 1906, to Major Franck Darte, a rising young attorney of Wilkes-Barre, Penn- sylvania, son of Judge Alfred Darte, of Wilkes- Barre. Major Darte is a graduate of Yale, and a brigade staff officer in the Pennsylvania Nat- ional Guard. 3. Hugh Sheridan, born April 24, 1889, died January 17, 1893.

Franck G. Darte was born in Philadelphia, April 12, 1873. He is the son of George Leonard Franck, who was at the time of his death, profes- sor of civil engineering in the University of Penn- sylvania. Upon the death of his parents he was adopted when a small child by the late Judge Alfred Darte. He prepared for college at Wyom- ing Seminary, Kingston, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Yale University with the class of 1896. He became a member of the Ninth Regi- ment, N. G. P., December, 1896, and served dur- ing the Spanish-American war as corporal in Company D, Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol- unteers. Upon being discharged from the vol- unteer service he reenlisted in National Guard, and is now major and ordnance officer, Third Brigade, N. G. P. He was admitted to the Lu- zerne county bar in June, 1899, and since that date has been in active practice.

The death of Mr. Dickson created a profound sensation of loss in the community, and many fervent tributes were paid to his memory as a

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

citizen and neighbor of the highest character. The court and members of the bar of the county of Luzerne took fitting cognizance of the sad event. January 24, 1893. Hon. Charles E. Rice, president judge, presided, and on motion of Hon. Henry W. Palmer the following resolutions were adopted :

Resolved, That the intelligence of the sud- den death of Allen H. Dickson was so unexpected and shocking as to cast a gloom of unusual char- acter over the members of the Association and the whole community.

Resolved, That Mr. Dickson was a man of acknowledged ability, which was exhibited in his profession as a lawyer, and in all his respon- sible business relations and in the public and private offices he held. He was possessed of fine literary and artistic tastes; was strictly honorable in every post and station ; of courage- ous determination in the defense of what he adjudged right : was a progressive, enterprising member of society, and in every relation of life a good citizen.

The salient points in the character of Mr. Dickson dwelt upon by various members of the bar are well presented in the following epitomiza- tion :

Hon. Henry W. Palmer said: "Very soon after he became a resident of Wilkes-Barre he was instrumental in unearthing and bringing to justice a bold and influential band of criminals who, holding official positions, had plundered the county and state of large sums of money. As public officers and local politicians of high stand- ing they had friends who would be quite apt to resent the interference of the young lawyer and visited him with punishment in every way pos- sible ; but he pressed forward, and never rested until the prison doors closed on the chief of- fenders and honesty was restored to the adminis- tration of county affairs. It was not policy in the customary sense, but it was courageous, and exemplified a trait which was admirable. In the campaign undertaken to carry a constitu- tional amendment prohibiting the accursed traf- fic in liquors in the whole state, he was not only a sympathizer and friend, but an eloquent and efficient advocate and a large contributor of time and money to the cause. He hated shams and pretenders of high and low degree, whether at the bar, on the bench, or in politics or the pul- pit, and had no hesitation in making his opinions known.

"Of his taste for literature and art, his public

spirit, his charities, his beautiful family life, his generous hospitality and his faithfulness as a friend, a volume might be written. Nothing of it will be forgotten by those who knew and loved him. He is gone : it seems impossible to believe that his footsteps will never more be heard in this court of justice where he labored; in the places of business he frequented ; or in the beau- tiful home to which he was so devoted".

George R. Bedford said: "To him more than any other is due the great stride in municipal improvements witnessed in this city. In all his conduct it can be said with absolute truth that he was always actuated by principle, and never by policy."

A. R. Brundage said : "His daily life, in the court house and out of it, was pure and ex- emplary. His intercourse with the bar was char- acterized by singular urbanity and kindness. Always the gentleman of kindly impulses, he never compromised fidelity or duty, or swerved from courageous advocacy of his client's cause. His pure public and private life has made an impression upon us and the com- munity, and that impress is clean and clear cut. The world has been made better for his having lived in it. He has gone to his reward; let us profit by his example."

William S. M'Lean said: "Mr. Dickson was not only a resolute man and full of moral courage, but he was an excellent lawyer. He was also a scholarly man and a great reader of good books."

T. H. Atherton said: "He was intensely in earnest in desiring and working for the best development and progress of the community and commonwealth in which he lived, whether that progress and improvement was social and intel- lectual, material or political, and to aid and ac- complish it he gave freely of his thought, time and means."

E. G. Scott said: "Mr. Dickson was one of our good examples- let it be borne in mind and carried in the heart, that the reason he was a good example to others is, that he had a standard of his own, and that he lived up to it."

H. E. H.

MINER FAMILY. In Pennsylvania history the Miners of the Wyoming valley trace their an- cestry to pioneers Asher and Charles Miner. In America the family dates back to the time of Thomas Miner, the immigrant ancestor who landed at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1630, in the time of the colony. In England, from whence

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Thomas, the immigrant, came, the history of the family is traced from Henry Miner, who died A. D., 1359. Among the ancient archives of the Miner family there is preserved a document which shows something of the history of Henry, his loyalty to his sovereign, Edward III, and also gives an account of the origin of the Miner arms, and how the distinction accompanying them was earned in Edward's time. "He had his coat alımorial gules, *

* fesse id est., cin- gulum militare, because obtained by valour) be- twixt three plates Argent, * the crest being a battle axe, armed at both ends Minerall.' (From "An Herauldical Essay upon the Surname of Miner.") (See N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg., vol. XII, p. 161).

"This Henry died in the year 1359. leaving behind him Henry, Edward, Thomas, and George Miner, of whom little is to be said, save only that Henry (2) married one Henreta Hicks, daughter of Edward Hicks, of Gloucester, of whom, as appears by the paling of their arms, are the Hicks of Beverston Castle in Gloucester, des- cended ; and had issue, William and Henry." A further continuation of this line of narrative is not deemed necessary in this place, however in- teresting the subject may appear. The line of descent is from Henry (I). the valiant follower of Edward III. through Henry (2). William (3), Thomas (4). Lodovick (5), Thomas (Mynor) 1 (6), William (Myner) (7), William (8), and Clement (9), to Thomas Minor (10), the immi- grant ancestor of the family in America.

Clement (9) was the father of four children- Clement, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Mary. He was born in England about 1546. and died there March 31. 1640. In the early part of the year 1630 Thomas, second son of Clement, sailed from England in the ship "Arabella," and landed at Salem, June 14. He went thence to Charles-

town, joined the planters there, subscribed to the covenant and was admitted to membership in the church, for in that plantation the affairs of tem- poral government were administered under au- thority of the Established Church. April 29, 1633, Thomas married Grace Palmer, daughter of Walter Palmer, who came from England to Charlestown in 1629, with his daughter, Grace, his wife having died before the year of his de- parture. In 1634 Thomas Minor and his wife Grace removed to Saybrook, in the colony of Connecticut, with the younger John Winthrop and company. In 1643 he accompanied Winthrop to Pequot ( afterward New London) but probably did not take his family there until 1646, when he was elected a townsman and admitted to the rights accorded freemen who were approved. In 1647 he was chosen one of five selectmen "to act in all township affairs," and in the same year he was appointed by the general court as assistant with others to have power as a court "for the set- tling of some way for deciding small differ- ences." In the same year also he was appointed military sergeant, commanding "a squadron" in the town of Pequot, with power to call forth and train soldiers. In 1650 and 1651 he was deputy to the general court. In 1653 he joined the set- tlement at Stonington, and subsequently served as magistrate, deputy to the general court, select- man, and chief military officer, and held in turn every important office in the town. In 1677 he was one of the founders of the Church of Christ at Stonington, and was one of its first two dea- cons. He died October 3, 1690.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 16

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin Publication date: 1906 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 988

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 988