Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 76

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 76
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 76

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John Bernet

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

broad chested, with compact muscles, large head and energetic motions, indicating great vitality and endurance, with a face indicative of intellec- tual power and great decision of character. In early life he was a practical surveyor and farmer ; friendly and faithful in all the relations of life, a man of extensive information, especially as a mathematician his fondness for the study of mathematics distinguishing him through life. Mr. Bennet was an active Freemason, and a member of Lodge 61. Free and Accepted Masons, Wilkes- Barre : admitted August 2, 1813. His wife Ma- tilda, born January 4, 1799, died August 11, 1879.

The following sketch of Mr. Bennet from the pen of Rev. E. H. Snowden, of Forty Fort, was written at the time of his death, February 10, 1863 :

"At his father's death Mr. Bennet became the head of the household, and rendered very efficient help. He brought up two of the chil- dren as his own, and introduced one of his broth- ers to a lucrative position in life. He reared to maturity nine children of other parentage. But this kindness of heart was not confined to his own family. It blessed the poor and wretched, without distinction, who did not appeal to him in vain. Those who have partaken of his liberal hospital- ity well know that he had a large heart. On such occasions he charmed the home circle of friends by his bright anecdotes and the humor and orig- inality of his conversation. We seemed to be listening to one who had lived in the stormy period of the Revolution, and had survived it to tell the tale. His native powers were of a high order, and with the culture which others had en- joyed he would have been distinguished.

"There were two branches, history and mathe- matics, in which he particularly excelled. Hav- ing a retentive memory and a diligence which never tired, he made himself familiar with the lessons of the past, and could freely draw from its treasures. Mathematics was his favorite study. He was enamored of it in early life, and in the evening of his days it was a pastime to him to work out the most abstruse problems. When put to the test he was never found want- ing, but came off with honors. He was always looking forward to events or something in the distant future, which, though dimly seen by others were clearly seen by himself, and which all see very visibly now. Every subject he took hold of he examined thoroughly, and going to the foundation of things, was able to enlighten others. Fifty years ago there was much greater simplicity of manners and economy of living than

there is to-day. Architecture here was in its infancy, buildings were very plain, and there was a corresponding plainness in dress and equipages. Carpets were seldom seen, they were as rare as silk stockings in the time of Queen Elizabeth. When society, as to refinement and wealth, was passing into a higher grade our friend came into notice. Of course hoth these states of society were represented in him. He had the frankness, and impulsiveness of the past and "go-aheaditive- ness" (If I may use the expression) of the pres- ent, and it would be doing injustice to his meiß- ory not to say that he had something to do in inaugurating the transactions to which I have just referred.

"Of course he was one of many, too numerous to mention, who acted a conspicuous part. Alas, how few of them remain. Associated with such men as these, first as surveyor, and afterward as chief engineer on the North Branch extension of the canal, he did much to develop the resources of the valley ; the railroad soon followed, and what was the result? Why, this beautiful val- ley, once isolated and unknown, save by one thrilling tragedy of the Revolution, is now open to all. Its productions, which had no outlet, have free vent, and all eyes are attracted to it. Where- ever the Anglo-Saxon language is spoken, its his- tory, which is the romance of truth, is known.

"While we render due honor to the heroes of the battlefield, who have won this noble heritage for us, let us remember also those who have car- ried out what they so auspiciously begun, who have beautified and adorned it, and thus given to the bright vision of the imagination the charm of reality. In this class we rank the one who is gone, and whose face we shall see no more on earth. He loved the humble doctrines of Grace, and the energy which raised him step by step to the desired position in society was, in his last days, applied to a nobler use, and it might be said of him, as of Saul of Tarsus 'Behold, he prayeth.' ' H. E. H.

EDWIN W. ABBOTT. The Abbott fam- ily from which was descended the late Edwin Walter Abbott, traces its lineage back to George Abbott, who emigrated from Yorkshire, Eng- land in the ship "Speedwell," and settled at An- dover, Massachusetts, in 1640. In this same fam- ily line are to be found the names of John and Jacob Abbott. the historians, and the Rev. Lvman Abbott, D. D., who succeeded Henry Ward Beecher in the pulpit of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, New York.

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Philip Abbott, grandfather of Edwin W. Abbott, came to the Wyoming Valley from To- land, Connecticut, in 1798. His son, Philip, Jr .. was then a young man of seventeen, and in later years he gave a vivid description of the journey. The family traveled the entire distance in "Cones- toga" wagons, ferrying on flat boats from the Connecticut to the New Jersey shore, and then traversing the old Easton turnpike to the Wyo- ming valley. The party included the Starks, and other well known families. Philip Abbott settled on land near where his uncle, John Abbott ( who lost his life in the Wyoming massacre) had lo- cated nearly twenty-five years before. The tract settled by Philip Abbott is now covered by por- tions of Westmore, Kingston and Edwardsville. Upon this land he farmed for a number of years until it passed into the hands of his son Abiel, who was a lad of eight years when the family came.

Abiel Abbott, son of Philip Abbott, lived a life of great usefulness, and was justly held in high respect by the community at large. and in genuine affection by his personal friends. On the occasion of his death Mr. Charles Miner, the historian, wrote an obituary, which was pub- lished in the Wyoming Republican ( 1838) and is made the basis of this narrative. Abiel Abbott served an apprenticeship to George Cahoon, a master carpenter of Wilkes-Barre, of whom in after years he was wont to speak with tenderness as "my old master." so cordial had been their re- tions. Soon after the expiration of his term of apprenticeship (in 1813) he went to Mauch Chunk where preparations were being made for the transportation of anthracite coal to Philadel- phia, by means of arks, this being the name of the boats in which the coal was to be shipped on the Lehigh river. August 9, 1814, he, ardent and fearless, volunteered to go on the first ark. The enterprise was of no slight peril, for the stream was crooked and rocky, and, when swol- len to a flood, boiled and raged with appalling fury. Small rafts had made the voyage in safety, but an ark carrying twenty-four tons was a new craft on the Lehigh, and the hardiest pilots and boatsmen viewed the venture with dread. Abiel Abbott cheered them by word and example. The ark shot off like an arrow, and within three min- utes had clashed against a rock. staving a hole in her bow. On the instant, Abbott had thrown off nearly all his clothing, which he thrust into the opening, stopping the leak, and enabling the craft to reach its destination. It was a momentous event. in itself and in its consequences. The coal was sold in Philadelphia and at some profit be-

cause of the cessation of the foreign supply owing to the war with Great Britain, then in progress. This may be set down as the beginning of the anthracite coal trade in l'enn- sylvania. As was remarked by Mr. Miner, in his article before referred to, "Had the ark of Au- gust, 1814, gone to the bottom, it is hardly prob- ble that another would have followed. Had no coal been then taken to Philadelphia, when neces- sity would compel the citizens to learn its use. our anthracite mines would most likely now be sleep- ing in undisputed and useless repose." These particulars are dwelt upon because to the pres- ence of mind and unconquerable spirit of Abiel Abbott is due the success of this first experiment -a success which had a material influence upon his future fortunes, and those of the anthracite region.

That the intrepidity of Mr. Abbott upon the occasion before narrated was in keeping with his character, and not a mere incident, is evidenced by his conduct upon another occasion. Novem- ber 5, 1829, the canal packet-boat "Swan" was proceeding up the Lehigh river, when the draw- ing horse was jerked from the tow-path. throw- ing the rider into the water, some fourteen feet deep. The boat was some one hundred feet be- hind, still in motion by its momentum, but before it reached the spot where the driver had fallen in. the young fellow, who could not swim, had disappeared in the water. On the boat were a number of the officers of the canal company, among them the agent at South Easton, Abiel Abbott. who, at the moment the boat neared the spot, pulled off his coat, boots and hat, and made a dive. He found the driver at the bottom of the canal, holding on with a death grip to a large stone. It · required strong effort to release his hold, but Abbott accomplished it. and brought the young man (Joseph Corey) to the surface. It was full five minutes before Corey came to consciousness, and his first words were: "Take care of the horse." In recognition of his gallant conduct on this occasion, the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company presented to Mr. Abbott a beautiful silver pitcher. upon which was inscribed a statement of the fact, and a dedication: "To show their sense of his humane and intrepid con- duct in rescuing a youth from drowning in the river Lehigh. in November, A. D .. 1829."

Mr. Abbott subsequently established carpen- ter shops in Wilkes-Barre, which were destroyed by fire. With entire loss of all the results of his earnings for several years, he went with buoyant spirit in search of employment. Under the direc- tion of a master carpenter he undertook getting

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

out timbers for the framing of a building of stated dimensions. He had each timber hewn, mortised and tenoned on the spot, ready for put- ting together. The day came for the raising and the master carpenter said, "You had better get your frame on the ground and fit the joints and see that it will come together ; it can't all come right, and we shall have only delay and confu- sion." Said Abbott, "I will take the responsi- bity ; I'll warrant it will come right." "Very well ; the responsibility is with you," was the answer. It was as Abbott had said. Every stick fitted to its proper place, like cabinet work. All were sur- prised ; none more so than the master carpenter, who gave Abbott due credit, and mentioned him favorably to White & Hazzard, coal operators at Mauch Chunk. The incident was of great im- portance to Mr. Abbott, and laid the foundation of his prosperity. White & Hazzard soon learned to appreciate his merits. They found in him, in addition to a correct knowledge of his trade, a sound judgment, enlarged and liberal views in respect to business in general, quiekness to dis- cern, prompitude to act, and skill to execute : and. to combine with these qualities, strict integrity and spotless honor; and he became one of the most steady, faithful and efficient servants of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, which bore such a mighty part of the industrial development of Pennsylvania. He became superintendent of the company, and was so serving in 1838, when his health failed, and he died in the autumn of that year, on the David Corey (now known as the Isaac Tripp farm in Forty Fort), which he had purchased some time before. Ex- cept for the disease that assailed him as the result of a fall which occurred while he was inspecting the canal, he was in the . prime of life. He was occupying a re- sponsible and lucrative position, affording wide scope for increased usefulness ; had acquired a most comfortable home; and was happy in the companionship of his wife and a promising family of children. His unconquerable spirit, his deter- mination to accomplish whatever he undertook, was manifested just before his dissolution. He asked of a friend the hour, and was handed a watch. With painful effort he raised himself upon his elbow, and held the watch before his eye. His friend noted that his sight was failing. and that his eve was glazing with departing life, and would have taken it from him. "No." he said, "I'll find the hour," roused himself until he named it almost accurately, and shortly after- ward expired. As his biographer notes, Abiel

Abbott may with propriety be held up as an example to young men coming on the stage of action. By industry, probity and perseverance, he acquired wealth, character and confidence. In the domestic circle he was kind, amiable and obliging. As a son, husband, father and brother, his virtues were pure, without blemish, and were responded to by the warmest affection.

"The seasons as they fly,

Snatch from us in their course, year after year, Some sweet connection-some endearing tie.

The Parent, Son or Husband. ever dear,

Claims from the wounded breast the pious sigh ; Or brother's urn demands the kindred tear,

And gentle sorrows gush from friendship's eye."

Mr. Abbott married Sibyl Wheeler, whose father, James Wheeler, was sheriff of Luzerne county about 1810. After the death of Mr. Ab- bott the farm was managed by his widow and the two sons, James Wheeler and Edwin Walter. After the death of the mother, the family was broken up, the daughters (Celinda, Ann and Louise) marrying and locating in Michigan. while the sons went to Tamaqua, where both married, their wives being sisters, the daughters of James and Catherine Latimer, formerly of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, known as the Irish Settlement. so named because of its having been first settled by North of Ireland em- igrants. James Wheeler, the eldest son, was as- sistant superintendent of the Wiggan colliery, and afterward was cashier of the First National Bank of Tamaqua. To him and his wife, Olinda ( Latimer) Abbott were born : Katherine; Anna : Mary Latimer, who became the wife of W. W. Grover, of Luzerne; James Wheeler, Jr., Jessie Ralston, and Edwin Walter.

Edwin Walter, the subject of this sketch, second son of Abiel and Sibyl ( Wheeler ) Abbott, was born at Mauch Chunk, October 2, 1827. He was educated at the Wyoming Seminary for sev- eral terms. His first active employment was with the engineer corps of the Little Schuylkill Rail- road Company at Tamaqua, which was engaged in surveying a branch which afterward became a part of the Reading Railroad system. He re- turned to the valley in February, 1859, first oc- cupying the old homestead, from which he re- moved to the Tuttle farm. In 1863 he purchased the Greenleaf Cottage in Luzerne, or Mill Hol- low, as it was then called, where he resided until his death, May 26, 1905. He was the first post- master of Mill Hollow, and also carried the mails to Dallas, Huntsville, and the Harvey's Lake re-

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

gion for a number of years. After the death of Charles Bennett, Mr. Abbott took charge of the extensive land interests of the estate, which posi- tion he held at the time of his death, and Miss Martha Bennett found in him one who sympa- thized with her in her many acts of generous kindness to the widows and orphans and the worthy poor. In politics he was classed as an independent voter, with a leaning toward the Re- publican-Prohibition ticket. He always refused to be a candidate for office, but held the position of councilman at the time of his death, having been appointed, with others, by the court, to fill vacancies occasioned by a deadlock. To him and his wife Amelia ( Latimer) Abbott, whom he married at Tamaqua, in 1859, were born three children, Mary Latimer, Edwin and Alice Carey, none of whom are now living.

Mr. Abbott died as above, May 26, 1905, and the following is from his obituary notice of that clate :

His early life was formed and fashioned by Puritan influence-an influence that gave him a character respected and honored for honesty, in- tegrity, temperance and those virtues that make men trained by such influences the ones to be trusted and honored. A kind and sympathetic friend, an honest, trustworthy citizen and gen- erous supporter of the Presbyterian church, his presence will be missed by the whole community. He is survived by his wife, who still resides at their later residence in Luzerne borough. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. W. J. Day, of the Luzerne Presbyterian church. The interment was private in Forty Fort cemetery. H. E. H.

HENRY BLACKMAN PLUMB. The Plumbs are of Norman descent, and can be traced back in Normandy to Robertus Plumme, [ 180. and Robert Plome, 1195, whose names appear on the "Great Rolls of Normandy." The family was numerous in England, and there were among its descendants in the sixteenth and seventeenth cen- turies those who bore titles of distinction, noble birth and high breeding. In ancient times the name was variously spelled, without arbitrary rule, and the immediate ancestor of the American immigrant signed his name Robert Plume, Gent. His wife was Grace Crackbone. This Robert Plume, of Spaynes Hall, Great Yeldham, Eng- land, 1558-1628, was son of Robert Plume, veo- man, and wife Elizabeth Purcas, of Great Yeld- ham, Essex. Robert Plume, of Spaynes Hall, was born, married, lived and died in Great Yeldham ;

his son Robert, eldest son and heir, inherited the paternal estates, and his second son, John, re- ceived nothing but a small estate with Ridge- well Hall, in Essex. This John was the progeni- tor of the American line here considered; he was born July 28, 1594, and came to America in 1635, with his wife Dorothia.

John Plume, last mentioned, was a resident of Wethersfield, Connecticut, 1635, and died in Branford, Connecticut, July, 1648. He was evi- dently a man of consequence in the Connecticut colony, frequently chosen to public office, and facts indicate that he served in Captain John Mason's little army that vanquished the offending Pequots in 1637. He and his wife Dorothy (or Dorothia) were the parents of nine children : the children known that survived him were Robert, Samuel and Dorcas.

Robert Plume, eldest son of John and Dorothy Plume, born 1617, died 1655, was a resident of Milford, Connecticut. He married Marv Bald- win ; they had five sons, Jolin, Robert. Samuel. Samuel and Joseph : and one daughter, Mary. The sons, except John, died childless.

John Plume, eldest son of Robert and Mary (Baldwin) Plume, born 1646, died 1728. He married Elizabeth Norton : they had four sons and six daughters.

Joseph Plumb, son of John and Elizabeth (Norton) Plumb, born 1683, died 1742. He mar- ried (first) Elizabeth Bailey, who bore him nine children, and (second) Thankful Gaylord, who bore him seven children, sixteen children in all.

Waitstill John Plumb, fourth child of Joseph and Elizabeth (Bailey) Plumb, baptized in 1718. was probably born in 1715. He died subsequent to 1805. He married. July 28, 1737, Rhoda Cur- tis, who bore him nine children, among whom were : Charles, born June 10, 1749. married, June 19, 1769, Susanna Starr, and died in Ohio, in 183[, aged eighty-two years ; and Jacob, see for- ward.

Jacob Plumb, sixth child of Waitstill John and Rhoda (Curtis) Plumb, was born 1751. in Middletown, Connecticut, died in Kingston, Lu- zerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1822. He was a shipmaster in his younger days, and sailed as cap- tain of a privateer during the Revolutionary war, and was captured and taken a prisoner to Ber- muda, being retained there until peace was de- clared. Subsequently he was a cabinetmaker in his native town, Middletown, and Chester, Mas- sachusetts, whither he removed about 1791 : to Springfield. New York, about 1806: to Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, about 1812; and to

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, about 1814. In Middletown, Connecticut, he married Pru- dence Powers, and the following children were born in Middletown: Prudence, married John Sizer ; Esther, married William Sizer ; Jacob, see forward; and Comfort, born 1778, married Bet- sey Black.

Jacob Plumb, eldest son of Jacob and Pru- dence ( Powers) Plumb, was born in Middletown, Connecticut, 1776. He removed to Chester, Mas- sachusetts, with his parents in 1788, and in 1801 built in that town the first carding machine that was built in the United States. He re- moved to Springfield, New York, on Ot- sego lake, about 1806, from there to Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, about 1812, and there built carding machines. He removed to Pitts- ton, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1813 or 1814, and is believed to have built the first carding machines in the Wyoming valley. He built carding machines for the Shoemakers at Wyoming (then called New Troy), and at Par- sons. in Wilkes-Barre, and he built the first carding machines in Hanover township, at Be- hee's mill, where he resided during the years 1825-26-27. He married his cousin, Rhoda Plumb, born 1778, died 1872, daughter of Charles and Susanna ( Starr) Plumb, aforemen- tioned, the former named having been a marine on the state man-of-war, "Oliver Cromwell" dur- ing the Revolutionary war. Their children : Maria, born 1795, married Ira Stearns, and died January 14, 1886. Harriet, born 1797, married William Joseph, and died 1880. Clara, born 1800, married George Joseph, and died 1881. Charles, born 1802, married Julia Anna Blackman. died 1831. Simon H., born 1805, married Abbie Greeley, died 1871. Almira, born 1807, married William Morey, died 1827. Lovina, born 1814, married (first) Hosea Aldrich, and (second) Rockwell Bunnell. Hiram, born 1818, married Emma Jenkins, died March 31. 1902. Jacob Plumb, father of these children, died in Promp- ton. Wayne county, Pennsylvania, in 1853.

Charles Plumb, fourth child and eldest son of Jacob and Rhoda (Plumb) Plumb, was born in Chester, Hampden county, Massachusetts, 1802, and died in Harford, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, 1831. He removed with his father from Chester to Springfield, New York, 1806; thence to Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, in 1812; thence to Pittston. in 1814 ; and to Hanover, Lu- zerne county, in 1825, where with his father he built carding machines at Behee's mill. He mar- ried Julia Anna Blackman, daughter of Elisha

Blackman, of Hanover township: they had one son, Henry Blackman Plumb; see forward.

The Blackman family, of which Mrs. Charles Plumb was a representative, was prominently identified with early Wyoming Valley history. John Blackman, from whom the Wyoming Val- ley family is descended, was a native of Eng- land, and came to America prior to 1640. The Rev. Adam Blackman, with his family, came to. America about the same time, both landing at Boston, Massachusetts, the latter settling at Strat- ford, Connecticut, and served as minister there when the town was settled. John Blackman took up land at Dorchester, Massachusetts, now a part of Boston. He married Mary Pond, and their children were: John. born August 10, 1656; Jon- athan, born January 1, 1658 (O. S.) ; Joseph, born June 27, 1661 : Benjamin, born December 25, 1665. His wife died about 1667, and he mar- ried Sarah - , by whom he had : Adam, born December 9. 1670; and Abraham, born Febru- ary 8, 1674-75. John Blackman (father) died. April 28, 1675.

Joseph Blackman, third son of John and Mary ( Pond) Blackman, married, at Dorchester, Mas- sachusetts, November 12, 1685, Elizabeth Church, a daughter of Joseph Church, of Little Compton, a brother of the redoubtable fighter and lively chronicler, Captain Benjamin Church, who on. August 12, 1676, with his gallant band pursued King Philip, the son of Massasoit, and ended the life of that crafty barbarian, as well as King Philip's war. Joseph and Benjamin were sons of Richard Church, a soldier in the Pequot war, which ended in the extermination of the Pequot Indians and their raids on the settlers. The wife of Richard Church was Elizabeth Warren, daughter of Richard Warren, one of the passen- gers on the "Mayflower." which landed at Ply- mouth Rock, December II. 1620. O. S. Thus comes descent from the pioneers of the valiant and mighty host who have had so much to do with founding and peopling the United States. Richard Warren was one of the forty-one sign- ers to the compact drawn up on board the "May- flower" before landing, said to be the first con- stitutional covenant ever written by men for the government of a people. Joseph Blackman and his wife Elizabeth (Church) Blackman moved to Little Compton, Rhode Island.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 76

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