USA > Pennsylvania > Lycoming County > Genealogical and personal history of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 34
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(Parks) Talley. Charles R. Talley was a native of Wilmington, Dela- ware, a millwright by trade, and his wife was a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. They were prominent members of the Presby- terian church.
George W. Talley (father) was born in Dauphin county, Pennsyl- vania, June 22, 1838. He was reared in the village of Dauphin, re- siding there until seventeen years old, and receiving his education in the common schools. For four years he served an apprenticeship at the trade of architect and builder under George H. Dougherty, of Phila- delphia, and for one year thereafter followed his trade in that city. He then went to Nashville and Columbia, Tennessee, and was living in the latter place at the breaking out of the rebellion. He was forced to drill with a mounted rifle company in Columbia, Tennessee, but finally suc- ceeded in getting his business in shape and left for the north on the last train leaving Columbia before the war had actively begun. He was living in Harrisburg from May, 1861, until 1865, when, in the latter year, he enlisted in Company I, Seventy-seventh Regiment, Pennsylva- nia Volunteers, and served until January, 1866, being with the Fourth Corps on its journey to Texas. Returning from the war he lived in Harrisburg until the spring of 1867, when he located in Williamsport, where he has built many of the best residences of the city, and has the reputation of being one of the best architects of the place.
George W. Talley was married, November 26, 1874, to Miss Augusta Miller, daughter of John Miller, of Philadelphia, by whom he had four children: Julia, died in infancy ; Wilson G., mentioned here- inafter; Ralph and Harvey. Mr. Talley is a member of the Masonic order, is a Democrat in politics, and with his family belongs to Pine Street Methodist Episcopal church.
Wilson G. Talley attended the public and high schools of Williams-
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port, graduating from the latter in 1897. He then accepted a position as reporter on the staff of the "Gazette and Bulletin," in which ca- pacity he served until his resignation, four years later. He then accepted a position as bookkeeper for Albert Wilson, a dealer in horses, and in 1904 went to Colorado Springs and there accepted a position as agent for the North Western Life Mutual Insurance Company, conducting business at Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado. Upon his return to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, he engaged in the fire and life insur- ance business, and March 1, 1905, purchased the insurance agency of Albert C. Sallade, with office in the Hays building, and is now devot- ing his attention exclusively to fire insurance. He is a member of Lodge No. 106, Free and Accepted Masons, Williamsport Consistory, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine. He is a Republican in politics. Throughout his entire active career Mr. Talley has exhibited wise foresight, great energy and strong common sense, which are the leading traits of his character.
Wilson G. Talley married, October 24, 1899, Miss Elizabeth Ellen Wilson, second daughter of Albert and Elizabeth (Brelsford) Wilson, and they are the parents of one son: George Wilson, born August 27, 1900. Albert Wilson, a sketch of whom precedes this, and his wife, Elizabeth (Brelsford) Wilson, are the parents of five children, namely : Charles, Frances, Albert, Elizabeth Ellen and Harry Wilson.
JOHN WEAVER.
The death of John Weaver, son of Yockom and Margaret ( Mitch- ler) Weaver, which occurred at his late residence in Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, his birthplace, October 2, 1901, re- moved from that vicinity one of its most esteemed and honored citizens.
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In his business transactions he was ever straightforward and upright, and during his life-long residence in this community built up for himself a reputation as a good citizen, giving cheerfully of his time and means to whatever tended to the general welfare, and by his industry and en- terprise afforded a worthy example to others.
He was united in marriage to Anna Brown, who was born in Williamsport, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1878, the only child of George Brown, who resides in Ashland, Wisconsin. She sur- vives her husband, and is now residing at No. 805 East Third street, Williamsport. Mrs. Weaver was again married, January 3, 1905, to George Calvin Reichner, of Williamsport.
JOHN SMITH KIRK.
John Smith Kirk, deceased, who was favorably known to great numbers of the best classes of summer visitors and tourists through his connection with the famous Lakeside hotel, at Eagles Mere, Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, which he established and successfully conducted for many years, was a native of the state, born in Kirkland, April 9, 1835, a son of Samuel R. and Elizabeth (Smith) Kirk.
The Kirk family is of Scotch origin, and of long establishment in Pennsylvania. The founder was Alphonsus Kirk, who came to this country during colonial times and settled in Pennsylvania in 1689. It is to be here noted that in later years the county of Chester was divided, that of Delaware being created out of it, and the Kirk homestead at East Nantmeal fell within the boundaries of Chester county. Alphonsus Kirk's descendants are widely dispersed throughout the United States, and have ever been held in respect as exemplary and enterprising citi- zens. Isaiah Kirk, paternal grandfather of John S. Kirk, was born at
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East Nantmeal, the old homestead. His sister Rachel, a prominent minister in the Society of Friends, married Phillip Price and was the mother of the famous Quaker lawyer of Philadelphia, Eli Kirk Price. His son, Samuel R. Kirk, was also born there, and was also a farmer. He married Elizabeth Smith, of Parksburg, and after a few years at Nantmeal they removed to Kirkland (near West Chester), named in honor of the family. They reared the following named children : I. Anna, married William P. Townsend, and resided in West Chester, Pennsylvania ; both are deceased. 2. William S., who resides in Phila- delphia; he married Anna Kite, and (second) Bettie D. Barnes, both of whom are deceased. 3. Margaret, married Thomas Thorpe, de- ceased, and resides in Wilmington, Delaware. 4. Isaiah, deceased, mar- ried Susan Starr, who resided in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 5. Eliz- abeth, who died, unmarried, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. 6. John S., the immediate subject of this narrative. 7. Alphonso, who resides in Canton, Ohio.
John Smith Kirk, the son of Samuel R. and Elizabeth (Smith) Kirk, was reared upon the farm at Kirkland, in Chester county, Penn- sylvania. He was educated in the schools of West Chester and at the famous Westtown Boarding school, conducted under the auspices of the Society of Friends, and which has had for students during the more than one hundred years of its existence many whose names have gone into history as among its most distinguished men. John S. Kirk entered upon life as a farmer. October 8, 1862, he married C. Anna Ecroyd, and a year and a half after their marriage (in 1864) he removed to a farm near Pennsdale, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming for several years. In 1874 he took up his residence at Williamsport. In 1880, in order to find relief from asthma, from which he was a great sufferer, he removed to Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, a most delightful
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spot, where he built a cottage which he developed into the stately edifice known as " The Lakeside," which he made a noted place of resort for the most genteel and cultured class of people, and this he conducted with signal success until his death, June I, 1904. He was a man of great enterprise, and was the pioneer in the work of improvement at Eagles Mere, with which his name will ever be intimately associated. He was a man of most exemplary character and lovable disposition. With his family, he held connection with the sect with which their ancestors were identified-the Society of Friends. He was originally a Republican in politics, and his first presidential vote was cast for the first presidential candidate of that party, John C. Fremont. Latterly he was affiliated with the Prohibitionists, ever being a staunch advocate of temperance.
To John S. and C. Anna Kirk were born two children: Katherine Ecroyd, who is unmarried; and Henry Ecroyd, who married A. Ger- trude Parker, daughter of Ira J. Parker, of Pennsdale, Pennsylvania, and of this marriage was born a son, Henry Ecroyd Kirk, Jr., March 19, 1900.
C. Anna Kirk descends from an old and honored Pennsylvania an- cestry. She was born in Muncy, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Whitacre) Ecroyd. The father was born in Philadel- phia in 1801, and came to Muncy Valley at the age of eighteen. He settled at Pennsdale, where he died in 1888. He was a farmer, and followed that occupation on his home place from the time of his mar- riage until the latter part of his life. His father, James Ecroyd, was a native of Lancashire, England. The seat of the Ecroyd family in England was Edgend, and this name Henry Ecroyd gave to his home in Pennsdale, Pennsylvania. James Ecroyd was a man of large means, and purchased several thousand acres of timber land in Sullivan county,
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a part of which is still in the hands of the family. The family have been members of the Society of Friends from its rise. Catherine ( Whit- acre) Ecroyd, mother of C. Anna Kirk, was born in Muncy township, a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Adlum) Whitacre. In both fam- ily lines her parents were of English extraction, and were Orthodox Friends. Henry and Catherine Ecroyd were the parents of six children : I. Susan, married James Lippincott, and lived in Philadelphia; both are deceased. 2. Mary W., married Jesse Haines, of Pennsdale, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. 3. Martha, died unmarried. 4. James, who resides on the old Whitacre farm in Muncy township. 5. C. Anna, who became the wife of John S. Kirk. 6. Richard, mar- ried Eleanor Starr, and resides near Pennsdale, Pennsylvania.
Since the death of the husband and father, the only son, Henry Ecroyd Kirk, has conducted the splendid property which John S. Kirk created, and in which he took a laudable pride. Beautiful for situation, it entirely justifies the delicious verse of the gentle Quaker poet, Whit- tier :
" Tired of the long day's blinding heat, I rest my languid eye. Lake of the Hills, where cool and sweet, Thy sunset waters lie.
" Life's burdens fall, its discords cease, I lapse into the glad release Of nature's own exceeding peace."
Eagles Mere is unquestionably the most unique and enjoyable place in the Alleghanies for the real rest seeker, and he who would hold communion with nature in the most delightful of her visible forms. The lake of deep, clear water is spread out on the very peak of one of the loftiest mountains in Pennsylvania, at the great altitude of two thou-
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sand two hundred feet above sea level, in the very heart of dense hem- lock forests which on one side come down to the water's edge. A pure white sandy beach, gently shelving, makes bathing at once safe and an unalloyed pleasure. There are excellent boating facilities, and the mountains afford many delightful drives and walks. The Lakeside (owned and conducted by the Kirk family) directly overlooks the lake, commanding an unobstructed view of untiring beauty. It is provided with all modern equipments looking to comfort and security, for both adults and children, even to a carefully selected library for the use of the guests of the house. The founder of such a delightful resort, and those who have it in control, may properly be classed as public bene- factors.
JOHN E. CUPP.
John E. Cupp, son of William D. and Elizabeth (Faber) Cupp, was born August 11, 1876, in Williamsport, where he attended the common schools, graduating from the high school in the class of 1897. After his graduation he engaged in newspaper work, and during the years 1897 and 1898 was a reporter for the Williamsport "Times," during which period he read law with Otto G. Kaupp, and on July 7, 1900, was admitted to the Lycoming county bar. He began his prac- tice of the law as an assistant to Otto G. Kaupp, while the latter was district attorney of Lycoming county. Since August 15, 1903, he has been associated with C. E. Sprout, Esq., having offices at No. 317 Pine street. Mr. Cupp is a Democrat in politics, having served the organiza- tion two terms as secretary. He is a member of the Lycoming Presby- terian church of Williamsport.
On June 22, 1904, he married Anna, daughter of John H. Barbe, D. D., and Adelaide Barbe, of Hughesville, Pennsylvania.
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EDWARD D. LUMLEY, M. D.
Dr. Edward D. Lumley, a practicing physician of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was born in county Tipperary, Ireland, March 21, 1837, son of Patrick T. and Margaret (Dowling) Lumley.
Patrick T. Lumley ( father ) was also a native of county Tipperary, Ireland, born in 1796. He was a man of considerable means, possessed an exceedingly generous heart, and the greater part of his fortune was spent in assisting those in need and distress. He followed no particular vocation, and was what might be termed an Irish gentleman. He was a musician of note, and from this source derived a vast amount of pleasure and also contributed to the entertainment of his friends. In 1850 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Baltimore, Mary- land, in which city the remainder of his days were spent. He was united in marriage to Margaret Dowling, who was born about the year 1809, and fourteen children were the issue, eleven of whom died in early childhood, and the three who survived were: Edward D., men- tioned at length hereinafter. Margaret, a resident of Silver City, New Mexico, where she follows the profession of teaching music. Thomas Dowling, who was a civil engineer, and for a time chief engineer of the North Central Railroad. Patrick T. Lumley (father) died in 1860, and his wife died in 1854. Their remains were interred in a cemetery in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. They were members of the Roman Catholic church.
Edward D. Lumley was twelve years of age when his parents removed to this country, and he was reared to manhood in Baltimore, Maryland, receiving his education in the public and private schools of that city. He then pursued a course of study for civil engineer, and followed his profession nine years, a portion of this time being employed
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in the construction of the Northern Central railroad from Harrisburg to Sunbury. Having concluded to turn his attention to medicine, he entered the office of Dr. J. W. Peale, of Sunbury, and graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania at the session of 1870-71. He commenced practice in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, in partnership with Dr. J. W. Peale, prior to graduating, and practiced alone at Northumberland three years after his graduation, coming to Lycoming county in 1869. He located at Rocktown, south of the river, where he remained for fifteen years. At the expiration of this period of time he removed to Williamsport, where he has since enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Lumley has served in the capacity of surgeon of the Twelfth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania, for the past six years, and keeps in touch with the advanced thought along the line of his profession by membership in the Lycoming County Med- ical Society. He is a Democrat in politics, but takes no active part in political affairs other than casting his vote for the candidates of his party. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum.
In 1859 Dr. Lumley married Martha Jane, daughter of Dr. J. W. and Martha Washington (Stirges) Peale, of Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Dr. J. W. Peale was a very prominent physician in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, for three decades, and his death occurred at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Among the children born to Dr. and Mrs. Peale were: Martha Jane, wife of Dr. Lumley, and Senator Peale, of Lock Haven. Four children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Lumley, as follows: Joseph, a resident of New York city, where he is engaged in the coal business, and is also secretary and treasurer of the firm of Peale, Peacock & Karr; he married Martha Logue, a descendant of Williamsport's oldest families; no issue; Jennie L., Anna P., and Mar- garet D., who reside at home with their parents.
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MOSES ULMAN.
During the many years in which Moses Ulman had been a resident of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, he not only witnessed its progress from a comparatively unimportant town to its proud position as one of the foremost cities of this part of Pennsylvania, but he also aided in its de- velopment and progress along many lines. His life was a busy and use- ful one, and his death, which occurred August 20, 1905, removed from his adopted city one of its most influential and wealthy citizens, and one of its best illustrations of America's opportunities to those possessed of energy, thrift and experience.
Moses Ulman was born in Manheim, Germany, July 3, 1830, a son of Hiram and Rosetta Ulman, whose deaths occurred at the ages of ninety-three and sixty-eight years, respectively, and who were the parents of fourteen children, the two surviving members of whom are Mrs. Stras- burger, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Kander, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When eighteen years of age, after acquiring a practical edu- cation in the schools of his native land, Moses Ulman came to the United States and at once located in the state of Pennsylvania. Quickly fore- seeing the possibilities of success which were offered to young men in this country, he immediately engaged in such trade as his limited capital permitted, and gradually increased his business until in 1850 he estab- lished a country store at Liberty, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. Continu- ing to prosper, he came to Williamsport in 1856 and opened a clothing store in the old Arcade building, the site of which was later occupied by the Ulman Opera House, now the remodeled Tinsman block. Success still attending him, he moved his store in 1862 to 37 West Third street, and in 1865 to 39 and 41 West Third street, where, in 1878, he admitted his two sons, Hiram M. and Lemuel M., to partnership under the firm
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name of Moses Ulman & Sons, which firm continued in business till 1888, when it became, by his practical retirement, Moses Ulman's Sons. In the meantime Mr. Ulman acquired large real estate holdings, and be- came a stockholder and director in the Merchants' National Bank, then one of the foremost banking institutions of the city, and had become interested in the Lycoming Electric Light Company and other enter- prises. In addition to being one of the largest taxpayers of the city he acquired and managed property outside the city, including his valuable farm at Muncy and a large farm in Minnesota. Mr. Ulman never really retired from business, as he always gave personal supervision to all his holdings and advised his sons in all their undertakings. Mr. Ulman was what might be termed a selfmade man; he started out in life empty- handed, with no capital save a pair of willing hands and a young man's bright hope for the future, and from a humble position steadily worked his way upward to wealth and affluence.
Mr. Ulman was possessed of more than ordinary business ability, but he had other commendable qualities. He was always courteous and considerate to those in his employ, charitable in his opinion of others, and dispensed with a liberal hand the wealth which he had accumulated during his many years of business life. In his gifts to charities and to the poor and needy he followed the scriptural injunction, "Let not thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth." Of a retiring disposition, he never sought preferment, political or other ; indeed, declined places in deference to others less able many times to discharge the duties involved, doing so not because he saw that he must give time and money, but be- cause of his natural disposition to lead a quiet life. Still, he was inter- ested in every public problem, in every popular enterprise, in every move- ment for the improvement of the municipality, and so mastered every detail that he was fully qualified to give wise counsel and helpful advice.
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He was one of the founders of Temple Beth Hashalom, in the work of which he took an active interest and to the support of which he con- tributed most generously. At his decease his remains were placed in the Ulman mausoleum in Wildwood cemetery.
Mr. Ulman was married in 1854 to Caroline Strasburger, of Balti- more, Maryland, who survives him. She is a daughter of Isaac and Matilda Strasburger; the former died in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in August, 1861, at the age of eighty-three years, and the latter died in Manheim, Germany, at the age of sixty-six years. The children of Moses and Caroline (Strasburger) Ulman are as follows :
Hiram M. Ulman, born in Liberty, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, October 7, 1855. He received his education in the Williamsport high school and Dickinson Seminary, and has been engaged in business in Williamsport in the firm of Moses Ulman & Sons, and later Moses Ulman's Sons. He is one of the most influential citizens of Williams- port, and was unanimously nominated for mayor by the Democratic party in 1899; he has served in the city common council since 1892, and is now serving and has been president of that body for six years. He is a member of the Board of Trade, the Industrial Board, and Temple Beth Hashalom, in which he serves as trustee. He was made a Mason in Ivy Lodge No. 397, of Williamsport, September, 1877; received the capitular degrees in Lycoming Chapter No. 222, Royal Arch Masons, 1896; received the cryptic degrees in Adoniram Council No. 26, Royal and Select Masters, 1896; the Consistory, 1901, thirty-second degree; Irem Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wilkes-Barre, September, 1901. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No. 173, of Williamsport, and trustee of the same; a member of the Williamsport Democratic Club since its organization; and a member of the Turn Verein. He is a Democrat in politics.
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Lemuel M. Ulman was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 4, 1857. He was educated in the Williamsport schools and com- mercial college, and his business career has been the same as that of his brother, Hiram M. Ulman. Socially he is of a retiring disposition, and has refused honors of various natures. He is a member of Temple Beth Hashalom, and the Young Men's Republican Club of Williamsport. In January, 1887, he married Fannie Wittenberg, of Elmira, New York, daughter of Joseph and Mollie (Mack) Wittenberg, and one child was born to them, Harold W., who died in 1891, aged two years and nine months.
Rosetta M. Ulman resides at home. The family residence is at 634 West Fourth street, Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
JOHN D. KELLEY.
The father of John D. Kelley, of Williamsport, was David Kelley, who was born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States. He set- tled in Frenchtown, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and built all the aqueducts and masonry on the North Branch canal. He was a man of great bodily strength and an expert rifle shot, taking much pride and pleasure in target practice. He was a Democrat in politics and a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church at Towanda, Bradford county.
Mr. Kelley married, in Ireland, Ellen Donacher, and their children were : I. Nancy, who was born in Ireland and died young ; 2. Margaret, who is the widow of John Buckley, of Galeton, Pennsylvania, who was well known in Lycoming county, being in partnership with John A. Gamble, at Jersey Shore; 3. John D., mentioned at length hereinafter ; 4. William, who died in Frenchtown in 1859, at the age of twenty years; 5. Mary, who was the wife of Edwin Cotter, and is now deceased ;
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6. Elizabeth, who is married to Thomas Farrell, of Baltimore; 7. James, who died at the age of five years; 8. James (2nd), who was operator and agent for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, and is now deceased; 9. George, who was for many years machinist for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Renovo, and now resides in Potter county; 10. Re- becca, who was the wife of James Craig and is now deceased; II. David, who died aged five years. Mr. Kelley, the father of this large family, died in the prime of life, being but fifty years of age. His death oc- curred in 1865, in Frenchtown, where he had spent the greater part of his life since his arrival in this country. His widow passed away in 1876, at the age of sixty-five.
John D. Kelley, son of David and Ellen (Donacher) Kelley, was born August 15, 1848, in Binghamton, New York, and received his primary education in the common schools of Frenchtown. He after- ward attended the Towanda Seminary and Dickinson Seminary at Wil- liamsport. In 1860 he went to Baltimore, where he served an appren- ticeship with John W. Maxwell at stonecutting, and with Rigber in the other branches of masonry. In 1865, his time having expired, he went to Renovo and accepted a position with the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, under Engineer Robert Nelson, taking charge of all the masonry work at Renovo, and later for the company between Erie and Rock- ville. Until 1875 he held the position of master mason, and has since worked for the company by contract. He has erected fifty-five arches over different runs, and has constructed the masonry work on the War- ren bridge over the Allegheny river, as well as that on the Montgomery bridge, and on two bridges over the Susquehanna river at Sunbury. In 1879 he contracted and built all the masonry and brick work level with the ground on the middle penitentiary in Huntingdon and on the Min-
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