USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume I > Part 4
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(VII) Jesse Munson, son of Rufus (VI), was born in Manches- ter, Vermont, on August 21, 1792. His father dying when he was but seven years old, he lived for a time with his uncle, John Burton, at St. Albans, Vermont, and at the age of thirteen made his home with an- other uncle, Curtis Burton, at Greenfield, Saratoga county, New York, who was engaged quite extensively, for those days, in the business of tan- ning and lumbering. When he was but nineteen his uncle died, leaving a widow and small children, and his business affairs in uncertain condi- tion. His executors entrusted the care of the whole property to the youthful Jesse, who was enabled by good management and hard work to pay all his uncle's debts and leave a comfortable support for his fam- ily. Jesse then became the owner of the property and very largely ex- tended it, adding the business of manufacturing boots and shoes from
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the leather made in his tannery, and engaging as well in a general mer- chandise business. One of his early successes consisted in opening a temporary store in Canada for the sale of his boots and shoes to the soldiers engaged in the war of 1812. For more than twenty years he conducted his various branches of business in eastern New York to complete financial success. His energy knew no bounds, it being re- lated of him that he would often drive to the Hudson River, a distance of twenty miles, arriving there so early in the winter morning that he would be obliged to waken some of the inhabitants to learn whether he could cross the river on the ice, which bent and swayed under its burden, but enabling him to find a market for his load of leather or lumber.
The timber lands of his section becoming denuded he sought new fields for his activities, and, in about 1834, removed to Steuben county, in the western part of New York, then a new and undeveloped county, where he purchased large forests of pine timber and became the owner + of saw mills and flouring mills, together with an extensive store and farms at Bradford. Still further extending his business, he began, in 1850, to purchase large tracts of timber lands on the waters of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, becoming in a few years the owner of more than 20,000 acres of valuable pine lands in Potter and Clinton counties, Pennsylvania, where, with his sons and son-in-law, he conducted large lumber operations.
During the War of the Rebellion he did much for the Union cause, raising the full quota of soldiers of his town and personally paying each man a bonus for his enlistment. In 1813 he married Sophia, daughter of Jonathan Tallmadge, a helpmate, indeed, and a lovely Christian woman. After her death, in 1871, he made his home with his son Edgar, in Williamsport, where he died of old age on October 13, 1879.
Jesse Munson was a man of great strength of character, of the
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highest honor and integrity, and successful in all his undertakings. He possessed the power of controlling the minds of others to a marked de- gree, and in politics was most influential, for many years being one of the leaders of the Democratic party in western New York. He was gen- erous in all his actions, and the appeal of the widow and orphans was never refused by him. His founding and sustaining the Bradford Academy was an instance of his love of education for the people, while the erection, at his cost, of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at Bradford, evidenced his care for religion.
(VIII) Edgar Munson, son of Jesse (VII), was born in Green- field, New York, on April 21, 1820, and received his education in the Academy at Bennington, Vermont, completing it in the well known Bur- ton Academy, Manchester, Vermont, founded by one of his ancestors, and still flourishing with great success. At the age of nineteen he be- came a clerk in a mercantile establishment in Saratoga Springs, and later followed his father's family to Bradford, New York, where he con- tinued to reside until 1870, when he removed to Williamsport. First serving as bookkeeper in the extensive lumbering and other business of his father, he became a member of the firm of Merriman, Munson & Com- pany in 1850. In about 1854 his firm purchased large tracts of timber land in Potter and Clinton counties, Pennsylvania, and in the care of the lumbering business connected with the operation of those lands he had a large share. He was at different times a leading member of the firms of John R. Cook & Company, Slonaker, Howard & Company and Starkweather & Munson, owning and operating large saw mills in Wil- liamsport, and about 1880 engaged in business alone, owning, and for more than twenty years operating, the well known Susquehanna Saw and Planing Mills at Williamsport, as well as branch mills in Clinton county, Pennsylvania. During his business career he manufactured and
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marketed more than 500,000,000 feet of lumber, chiefly pine, in addition to large amounts of planing mill materials, boxes, etc., employing hun- dreds of men, all of whom were at all times his friends, and to whom he ever showed generosity and kind consideration.
His activities were not confined to the lumber business but extended to other fields and industries. He was the active spirit in its organiza- tion, and, during its construction, the president of the Syracuse, Geneva & Corning Railroad, now forming an important part of the Pennsyl- vania Division of the New York Central Railroad. He was also at one time president of the Williamsport National Bank and of the Citizens Water Company of Williamsport, and a director in the Lycoming Rub- ber Company, one of Williamsport's chief industries. He was the first president of the West Branch Lumbermen's Exchange, and was also interested in the Kettle Creek Coal Mining Company, a large bituminous company in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and operating 14,000 acres of coal lands owned by his father's estate, and through whose foresight they were secured more than half a century ago.
For many years he served as vestryman and warden, and, at the time of his death, as senior warden of Christ (Episcopal) Church, Wil- liamsport, while in the growth of that church and its financial advance- ment none other responded more graciously and liberally. No man ever lived in Williamsport who commanded and deserved greater respect from his fellow citizens than Edgar Munson: at all times and under all circumstances he was a Christian and a gentleman, generous and kind hearted, never refusing the call of charity and always devoutly religious, His honor and integrity were ever beyond reproach, and in all his busi- ness career he did no act that sullied his name or reputation in the slight- est degree. His was a character of gentleness and goodness, considerate of others, and ever ready to lend them a willing hand, no matter how
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humble their condition in life, while by precept, and none the less by example he was an influence to all men for Godly living and righteousness of life.
He was married June 15, 1852, to Lucy Maria, daughter of Amos and Louisa (Johnson) Curtis, of Meriden, Connecticut, and for nearly fifty years and until parted by death, their lives were united in love and devotion. His wife will long be remembered for her charm of manner and qualities of heart and mind, exhibiting talents of a literary order of high degree. Their children were Cyrus LaRue Munson, born July 2, 1854; Robert Hallam Munson, born January 27, 1857, and Edwin Curtis Munson, born November 10, 1858, who died February 9, 1865.
Edgar Munson died at Williamsport May 25, 1901, and his wife February 10, 1902. A beautiful monument marks their resting place in Wildwood Cemetery, and their memory is preserved by a stained glass window in Christ Church, Williamsport.
(IX) Cyrus LaRue Munson, son of Edgar and Lucy Maria (Curtis) Munson (VIII), was born in Bradford, New York, July 2, 1854. His earliest ancestors were leaders in the Puritan exodus to the Massachusetts and New Haven Colonies, and the man of whom this notice is written well represents the stalwart, aggressive and progressive type of manhood which predominated in those earlier centuries among the settlers of New England.
After receiving a good primary education in private schools he entered the Episcopal Academy of Connecticut, at Cheshire, in 1868, (numbering among its alumni J. Pierpont Morgan, General Joseph Wheeler, and other distinguished men), and there graduated as valedic- torian of his class in June, 1871. After leaving this school he entered his father's lumber office in Williamsport, and also commenced the study of law in the office of Allen & Gamble, then leaders of the bar of Lyco-
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1136131
ming county. In September, 1873, Mr. Munson entered the Yale Law School at New Haven, Connecticut, graduating from that institution July 1, 1875, receiving the degree LL. B., and the same day was ad- mitted to the bar of Connecticut, this being the day before he became of age. In September, 1875, he entered into law partnership with Ad- dison Candor, as Candor & Munson, who for more than thirty years have continued in the active practice of their profession at Williamsport. In 1890 Mr. Munson was elected by the corporation of Yale University a regular lecturer on legal practice, and has since continuously filled that po- sition at the Yale Law School. He received the honorary degree of M. A. from his Alma Mater in 1891. In 1897 he wrote a well known law book entitled "Manual of Elementary Practice," which is an authority as a text book in a number of law schools. In 1902 he was elected and served one year as president of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, and in 1904 was elected president of the Yale Law School Alumni Association. He is also associated with the well known lawyer, James B. Dill, Esq., and has an office with him at No. 27 Pine Street, New York City.
Mr. Munson is the senior warden of Christ Episcopal Church and is prominently connected with church affairs in the diocese of Harris- burg. Of his society relations it may be said that he is a thirty-second degree Mason and in 1902 was Eminent Commander of Baldwin II No. 22 Cominandery of Knights Templar. He is also a trustee of the James V. Brown Memorial Library of Williamsport, having been chosen to that position by the city councils of Williamsport. He is a member of the Ross Club, the Howard Club of Knights Templar, and of the Young Men's Democratic Club, of Williamsport, and also of the Manhattan Club and the Yale Club of New York and the University Club of Phila- delphia. He is also a member of the Bar Association of the City of
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New York, of the Society of Colonial Wars in Pennsylvania, and of the Pennsylvania Society in New York.
Aside from his extensive legal practice, Mr. Munson is connected with and president of a large number of the most thriving business enterprises of his city and vicinity. Among these may be named the presidency of the Savings Institution of Williamsport, the E. Keeler Company, the Williamsport Iron & Nail Company, the Eagles Mere Light Company and the Scootac Railway Company. Among other cor- porations with which he is associated as a director are these: Lycoming National Bank, Williamsport Passenger Railway Company, Citizens Water & Gas Company, Williamsport & North Branch Railroad Com- pany, American Wood Working Machinery Company, John N. Stearns & Company, of New York, Burns Fire Brick Company, Demorest Sew- ing Machine Company, Royal Braid Manufacturing Company, Williams- port Wire Rope Company, and other enterprises of much financial im- portance and local pride.
Perhaps no one thing brought the present day prosperity to Wil- liamsport so much as did the organization of the Williamsport Board of Trade, which Mr. Munson and a few others formed, and through the methods they followed industry after industry was brought to Williams- port and a new life given a city once apparently retograding by reason of the waning of the lumber business upon which the place originally depended for support.
Mr. Munson married Josephine Anthony, daughter of Hon. Henry and Catherine ( Anthony) White, November 8, 1877. She died July 26, 1889. October 20, 1891, he married Minnie Wright, daughter of Ackley Post and Jennie (Bailey) Tuller, of Rome, New York. Mr. Munson's children are Edgar, born June 24, 1881, and George Sharp,
RESIDENCE OF ALLEN P. PERLEY
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born October 2, 1883, and both graduates of Yale College in the class of 1904, receiving the degree of B. A., and now students at the Yale Law School.
ALLEN P. PERLEY.
In past ages the history of a country was the record of wars and conquests ; today it is the record of commercial activity, and those whose names are foremost in its annals are the leaders in business circles. The conquests now made are those of mind over matter, not man over man, and the victor is he who can successfully establish, control and operate important commercial interests. Allen P. Perley is unques- tionably one of the strongest and most influential business men of Wil- liamsport, and his life has become an essential part of its history. Tire- less energy, keen perception, honesty of purpose, genius for devising and executing the right things at the right time, joined to every-day common sense, guided by resistless will power, are the chief characteristics of the man. As president of the West Branch National Bank and by his connection with other important enterprises, he today occupies a front rank in the business circles of Williamsport.
Mr. Perley was born in Oldtown, Penobscot county, Maine, on the 8th of March, 1845, and is a son of Daniel J. and Mary (Lovejoy) Per- ley, the former a native of Ipswich, Massachusetts, and the latter of Kennebec county, Maine. In the Pine Tree state the father practiced the profession of medicine for sixty years, and both he and his wife died in Penobscot county.
Allen P. Perley passed the days of his boyhood and youth in the county of his nativity, and is indebted to the schools of that locality for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He began his business career as a clerk in a mercantile establishment and was similarly employed for
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several years. Coming to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1865, he ac- cepted the position of bookkeeper at George Zimmer and Company's planing mills, and four years later purchased an interest in the firm, which he retained until 1873. Subsequently he was employed as book- keeper by Daniel W. Smith, and in July, 1874, entered the service of Slonaker, Howard & Company in the same capacity. In 1879 he pur- chased Mr. Slonaker's interest and engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of Howard, Perley & Howard until January, 1887, when C. B. Howard retired from the firm and Mr. Perley and William How- ard have since continued the business under the style of Howard & Perley. This firm ranks high among the lumber dealers of Williams- port. They have large interests in Clinton and Potter counties, Pennsyl- vania, and are the owners of twelve miles of railroad in the lumber field. Mr. Perley has long been a director of the West Branch National Bank of Williamsport, and in November, 1898, was chosen president of that institution, which is the largest and strongest financial concern in the city. The safe, conservative policy which he has inaugurated commends itself to the judgment of all and has secured for the bank a patronage which makes the volume of business transacted over its counters of great importance and magnitude. The success of the institution is certainly due in large measure to him, and through it and his lumber business he has promoted the welfare of the city.
Mr. Perley has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Clara Lovejoy, a daughter of Albert Lovejoy, of Gardiner, Maine. Their marriage was celebrated September 1, 1869, and was blessed with five children who are still living, namely: Margaret Lovejoy, married A. Thomas Page, Harriett Shaw, who married W. H. Crockett; Fred A .; Martha C., married Charles Cochran; and Allen P., Jr. The wife and mother died in January, 1886, and in 1888 Mr. Perley wedded Mrs.
.
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Anne Stowell, a native of New York. They are prominent members of Christ's Episcopal church, in which he holds the offices of vestryman and warden, and he is also a member of Lodge No. 106, F. & A. M. Politically he is a stanch Republican and served one term as a member of the city council. Mr. Perley stands high in the esteem of his business associates, as a man possessing excellent business ability and sound judg- ment, being particularly successful in the management of large business enterprises. In manner he is courteous and considerate, and is a most respected, congenial and kind-hearted citizen, who is held in the highest regard by all with whom he comes in contact either in business or social life.
LATEN LEGG STEARNS.
Prominent among the energetic, far-seeing and successful business men of Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, is Laten L. Stearns, whose life history most happily illustrates what may be attained by perseverance in carrying out an honest purpose. Integrity, activity and energy have been the chief characteristics in his success, and his connection with various business enterprises and industries has been of decided advantage to this section of the state, promoting its material welfare in no uncertain manner. He was born in Hopkinton, Middle- sex county, Massachusetts, April 3, 1823. He comes of good old revo- lutionary stock, his great-grandfather on the maternal side having fought for the independence of the colonies.
Charles Stearns, the founder of the American branch of the family, the date of whose birth is unknown, married Hannah who died June 30, 1651. He married (second), June 22, 1654, Rebecca Gibson, daughter of John and Rebecca Gibson, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their children were: I, Samuel, born June 2, 1656, in Watertown,
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Massachusetts; 2, Shubael, September 20, 1655, in Cambridge, Massa- chusetts ; 3, John, January 24, 1657, in Cambridge, Massachusetts; 4, Isaac, born 1658; 5, Charles, Jr., was slain in the King's service prior to 1695; 6, Rebecca, born 1661, married, January 25, 1693, Thomas Traine, born in 1653, son of John and Margaret (Dix) Traine, of Watertown, Massachusetts. She was admitted to full covenant August 15, 1698, and died September 23, 1746, aged eighty-five years. He was fined ten shillings by the Court, April 17, 1674, " for selling strong water." He died January 23. 1739, an aged man. Their children were: Benoni, born and died in November, 1693; Rebecca, born in April and died in May of the year 1696; Deborah, born December 16, 1698, died May 25, 1718; and Rebecca, born December 1, 1701, mar- ried, December 17, 1726, Deacon John Bright, who died January 24, 1754; she died in 1736. There was no issue of this marriage. 7, Mar- tha, became the wife of a Mr. Hutchinson.
John Stearns, born January 24, 1657, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a son of Charles and Rebecca (Gibson) Stearns, was a housewright by trade. He married (first) in 1681, Judith Lawrence, born May 12, 1660, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Crispe) Lawrence. He mar- ried (second), April 2, 1713, Mary Norcross, born July 10, 1663, daughter of Richard and Mary (Brooks) Norcross, of Watertown, Mas- sachusetts. The birth of one child, Rebecca, probably the eldest, was recorded in Watertown, but he resided within the limits of Lexington, Massachusetts. His eldest five children were baptized June 22, 1690, by the Rev. John Bailey, of Watertown. The next seven were baptized by the Rev. Mr. Angier, May II, 1710, of the West or Second church of Watertown, who also baptized the thirteenth child, February 28. 1703. The births of the youngest two are recorded in Lexington, Mas- sachusetts, where he died February 22, 1722. The names of his chil-
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dren are as follows: Rebecca, born March 21, 1683; Judith; Sarah ; George and Benjamin, twins; John, Jr .; Thomas; Daniel; Isaac; Mary; Elizabeth; Abigail, who became the wife of Jonas Harrington, issue, ten children; and Charles, who followed the occupation of cord wainer in the city of Boston, Massachusetts.
George Stearns, born in 1688, son of John and Judith (Lawrence) Stearns, of Lexington, Massachusetts, married, October 23, 17.12, Han- nah Sanderson, born May 31, 1689, daughter of Deacon Jonathan and Abia (Bartlett) Sanderson, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. They set- tled in the west precinct of Waltham. He died June 26, 1760, and his widow passed away May 21, 1770. Their children were as follows: Abigail, who became the wife of Samuel Pierce, of Waltham, June 3, 1739, and nine children were the issue of this union; Jonathan, born December 26, 1713; Judith, who became the wife of Jonathan Ham- mond, and mother of three children; David; Hannah, who became the wife of John Hagar, January 14, 1746, and six children were born to them; Lydia, who became the wife of Samuel Fuller, October 9, 1746; John, unmarried; and Daniel, unmarried.
Jonathan Stearns, son of George and Hannah (Sanderson) Stearns. of Waltham, Massachusetts, was born December 26, 1713. He married, February 27, 1736, Beulah Chadwick, born October 14, 1719, a daugh- ter of Ebenezer and Abigail (Grant) Chadwick, of Weston, Massachu- setts. They settled in Milford, same state, where he purchased a farm of sixty-seven acres, the deed thereof being dated a few days prior to his marriage. Later, from time to time, he added to his estate as shown by numerous deeds on record. He was a man of enterprise and thrift, and his wife was an efficient help-mate. He died in the latter part of the year 1758, before the birth of his last child. His widow became the wife of James Battle, of Hollis, New Hampshire, May 8, 1766; she
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died March 31, 1804, after a short illness, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. The following named children were born to Jonathan and Beulah Stearns: Jonathan, Jr., born August 26, 1737, died in infancy ; Beulah, who became the wife of Major Zebediah Dewey, and they were the parents of nine children; George, born April 16, 1741 ; Lydia, born February 27, 1743, became the wife of Ichabod Marshall, and mother of fourteen children; Ebenezer, born January 26, 1745; Abigail, born March 8, 1747; Lieutenant David, born February 24, 1749; Captain John, born April 30, 1751; Mary, born February 6, 1753, became the wife of Nahum Clark, of Hollis, New Hampshire, July 9, 1772; Han- nah, born January 30, 1755, became the wife of Deacon Edmund Bow- ker, a soldier in the revolutionary war, and five children were the issue; Abraham, born April 2, 1757; and Jonathan, born January 10, 1759 (posthumous).
Jonathan Stearns, youngest son of Jonathan and Beulah (Chad- wick) Stearns, of Milford, Massachusetts, was born January 10, 1759. He was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and at one time escaped from a British man of war in a leaky boat with a companion named Corbitt, one rowing the boat while the other bailed water with his shoe. On May I, 1783, he married Hannah Thayer, daughter of Colonel Ichabod and Polly Thayer. Their children were: Mary, born February 8, 1784, became the wife of Zebulon Hooker, April 22, 1804, and thirteen chil- dren were born to them; David, born November 12, 1785, married Lydia Bowker; Beulah, born February 26, 1787, became the wife of Jedutham Bullin, and mother of seven children; by her second husband, Dr. Clark, she became the mother of two children; Alexander, born April 12, 1789, married Sarah Brownell, and one child was born to them; Mary Ann became the wife of S. Austin Vaut, and their family consisted of two sons; Alanson, born January 1, 1790, died March I,
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1796; Jotham, born August 20, 1791; Jonathan, born May 31, 1793 ; Emmeline, born April 15, 1795, married Jane Crooks, and three chil- dren were born to them; John, born May 30, 1797; Hannah, born June 15, 1799, became the wife of Luther Bridges, and mother of ten chil- dren; Charlotte, born September 15, 1801, became the wife of Edward Pond, and eight children were born to them; Alanson, born May 12, 1803. Jonathan Stearns, father of these children, died at his home in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, January 3, 1804.
John Stearns, son of Jonathan and Hannah (Thayer) Stearns, was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, May 30, 1797. He was a farmer by occupation, conducting his operations in the town of Speedsville, New York. He married, March 27, 1822, Abigail Legg, of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, born May 8, 1803, died December 8, 1839. He mar- ried for his second wife, Caroline Muir, who was born November 27, 1813, at Candor, New York. He was the father of four children, two by his first wife and two by his second. Laten Legg, born April 3, 1823, at Hopkinton, Massachusetts, mentioned at length hereinafter; Eliza- beth, born September 7, 1836, at Speedsville, New York, became the wife of Solomon K. Blackman, a farmer of Speedsville, January 1, 1857; their children were: John K., born September 15, 1858; and Charles L., born December 5, 1861; California, born January 26, 1844, at Speedsville, New York, became the wife of Judson Blackman, a broker of Bloomington, Illinois, December 19, 1867, no issue; Hannah, born May 17, 1849, at Speedsville, New York, became the wife of Wilmer S. Boyer, of Townsendville, New York, December 23, 1868, no issue. The father of these children died at his home in Speedsville, New York, February 22, 1879.
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