USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Ransom > History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; > Part 25
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Newton > History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; > Part 25
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson settled and lived on the farm now owned by their grandson, F. L. Thompson.
Mrs. Jane Thompson or "Gran" as she was more commonly called and by which title she was best known. came to Newton with her pa- rents in February, 1821, when she was less than four years of age. In the field, which is now the Newton cemetery, "Gran's" father had sown rye, and as he owned no gum, she was sent with a large club to pound upon the rail fence to frighten the deer away from the grain. Her early education was received in the old log school-house, known as the "Morgan School- house," situated near where Thomas Veety's residence now stands. Her first teacher was Anthony Briggs, and the second Nancy Acker- Iy. After the death of her husband, Mrs.
Thompson lived in her own home, on what was a part of her father's farm, now owned by her son, Adam.
.Just below this home was a large spring, now drained, known as the Bear spring, so called be- cause in the pioneer days Zebulon and John Comstock came from Wyoming to trap bears. She says she remembers hearing Zebulon tell her father about bringing an old horse up for bait, and that they had to chop down trees to make a place for the trap. Six days later. when they returned, horse and trap had disap- peared, but there was a trail of blood, following which for about ten rods they found the trap and their game, a large bear.
ADAM THOMPSON, grandfather of our sub- ject, was among the first settlers of Newton. He came from Sussex county, New Jersey in 1819, and settled on the farm where George Biesecker is living. Here he made a clearing in the wil- derness and built a log-house. Later he erected an ashery and manufactured potash. He was a son of Andrew Thompson. who came from Scot- land. He was born in Sussex county, New Jer- sey, July 18, 1786 and died in Newton Oct. 4. 1833. His wife, Miss Sarah Cosner, was born Jan. 30, 1785 and died Feb. 2, 1853.
To Adam Thompson and wife five children were born, namely: (1) John, born April 26, 1808 and married Miss Harriet Smith, daugh- ter of Elias and Harriet (Ayers) Smith. (2)
Mina Jane, born June 21, 1811 and married Jacob Courtright. (3) Andrew, born Feb. 11, 1813 and married Miss Jane Litts. (4) Helen, born July 27, 1815 and married Jacob Smith. (5) Adam, born Feb. 17, 1822 and married Lydia Jane Rosenkrans, daughter of Levi and Rebecca (Williams) Rosenkrans.
All were born in New Jersey except Adam, the youngest.
ANDREW THOMPSON, the great grandfather of our subject, was born in Scotland, and later came to this country settling in New Jersey. He married Miss Margaret .
by whom he had five children: Adam, born Dec. 11, 1777 and died in infancy: Anne, born June 27. 1781; Jennet, born May 22, 1783; Adam, born July 18, 1786; Andrew, born July 24, 1788.
The above names and dates were copied from an old Scotch Bible which Andrew Thompson brought from Scotland. On the cover is writ- ten: "Andrew Thompson. His Book. Anno Domini, 1761."
F. L. THOMPSON
F. Leslie Thompson was born March 31, 1867 on the old Thompson homestead where he now resides. Ile is the oldest son of AAdam and Catherine (Smith) Thompson, and great- grandson of Adam Thompson, one of the Pio- neer settlers in Newton, who came from Scot- land and settled in 1819 on the farm where Geo. Biesecker now lives, near Newton Centre.
Mr. Thompson graduated from Keystone Academy in 1889. On the 13th of March, 1890 be purchased his father's farm where he has since resided. He taught several terms of school in Newton township, three terms at Glen- burn, and was principal of the Dalton High School for three terms. He was married Mar. 31st, 1891 to Miss Agnes Belle White of New- ton. To this union four children were born : Howard, Maurice, Roy and Robert. Howard died when eight years of age and Roy died when fourteen month old.
In 1907, Mr. Thompson tore down the old barn erected by his grandfather, Andrew Thompson, and erected a large modern struc- ture, 40x56 feet. with a concrete basement. equipped with running water and the latest improvements for extensive dairying. He is an up-to-date dairyman, truck farmer and hor- ticulturist; having a fine large apple orchard. He also produces large quantities of fine timo- thy hay for the local market.
Up to the year 1910, Mr. Thompson had been living in the old frame house erceted by his grandfather in 1844. During 1910, he had the old house torn down and built a fine twelve- room residence across the road from it.
Mr. Thompson is secretary of the backa-
158
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
wanna County Agriculture Society; secretary of the Lackawanna County Fair and Grange Poultry Association ; secretary of Lackawanna Pomona Grange, which office he has held for about five years. He is, also, secretary of New- ton Grange No. 251, and Third Vice-President of Lackawanna County Horticultural Society.
ANSON HENRY VAN CAMPEN
Mr. VanCampen was born near Falls, Pa., and is the youngest of six children, of Henry (1818-1883) and Phoebe (Bennett) (1829- 1876) VanCampen.
Anson VanCampen has only one brother and one sister living, Lester of Clark's Summit, and Mrs. John Kresge of West Pittston. Two
keeps a dairy of twenty cows and sells his milk to Scranton dealers. He also raises garden truck which he sells in Scranton.
Mr. Van Campen was married March 28. 1893 to Miss Ida J., the oldest daughter of El- nathan and Nancy ( Robinson ) Johnson of Dal- tou. Mr. and Mrs. Van Campen have two daughters living, Mabel and Orla. One daugh- ter, Ruth P., born June 20, 1896 and died July 31, 1909.
HORTON B. VAUGHN
Mr. Vaughn was born at Sciotavale, Sullivan county, Pa., April 17, 1863. He was the old- est. son of Benjamin R. and Sybil P. Vaughn. Horton B. Vaughn received a common school
RESIDENCE OF HORTON B. VAUGHN
brothers, Amzi and Theron, and one sister, Mrs. Emorgene Kresge, have been dead for several years. Mr. VanCampen received a common school education, and when sixteen years of age came to Newton township where he worked for John Kresge, his brother-in-law, for nearly two years. In 1885 he began working at the Hill- side Home, where he remained for nearly seven years, leaving the Home in June, 1892, going to Old Forge, where he held the position of barn boss with the Connell Coal Company for ten years until they sold out to the Lehigh Val- ley Coal Company. Here he continued work- ing four years longer.
While at Old Forge Mr. VanCampen was elected School Director for two terms, and served as treasurer of the board for two years. In March, 1906 he came back to Newton and rented the farm where he now resides. Ile
education, and when about twenty-two years of age went to work in the lumber woods in Tioga county, Pa., where he worked until the fall of 1893, when he returned to Sullivan county. In 1898 he entered the coal mines at Bernice, working there for six years. Mr. Vaughn moved to his present home in Newton township (part of the Peter Sutton farm) in 1904, and since then has been engaged in farming. Mr. Vaughn was married June 7, 1890 to Miss Elizabeth Holmes, the oldest daughter of Lewis and Mary (Green) Holmes. (See John G. Holmes). Mrs. Vaughn was born in Cherry township, Sullivan county, Pa., May 18, 1856. She taught eleven terms of school, teaching her first form when seventeen years of age and continued teaching until twenty-seven years old.
Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn have two children,
159
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
namely: Claud B., born June 28, 1891, and Ella W., born May 2, 1897. Both are living at home
BENJAMIN R. VAUGHN was a son of William L. and Martha (Ross) Vaughn and was born Sept. 1, 1832 in Vermont, moving to Sullivan county with his parents when four years of age. He was married April 17, 1862 to Miss Sybil P. Redfield, who was born in Chemung county, N. Y., Oct. 25, 1842 and was a daugh- ter of Levi Redfield.
CAPTAIN JOHN GREEN, grandfather of Mrs. Vaughn, was captured during the Revolution by the English and confined in Mill Pris- on in England. Later he was paroled and sent to France, whence still later he brought to this
owned by the State and not by the U. S. Gov- ernment.
Mrs. Vaughn's grandfather, John Sims Green, fought in the War of 1812, being a member of the State Fencibles, a crack regi- ment of Philadelphia.
PETER P. VOSBURG
Peter P. Vosburg attended the graded school at Wyoming and nearly one term at Blooms- burg, and from there was taken to the hospital where he underwent an operation. He was married Dec. 24, 1896 to Miss Maye, daughter of Joseph and Susan (Kern) Kircher. (Sec Edward A. Kern). They have one daughter, Alta Mae, born Aug. 21, 1909.
-
P. P. VOSBURG'S RESIDENCE
county the "Duc du Lansan," a French battle- ship, purchased from the French Government, which he later named the "Empress of China."
In 1784, Capt. Green, having left the navy to engage in private business, first carried the American flag in Chinese waters on the ship, the "Empress of China." Upon returning from this voyage he brought the first set of china- ware imported direct from China, and also the first Shanghai chickens. Dr. Harvey of Phila- delphia is the proud owner of three pieces of the chinaware.
Capt. Green was one of the founders of the "Society of the Cincinnati," and both Captain Green and Captain Craig were charter members. The "Sons of the Cincinnati" is one of the old- est organizations in this country.
Mrs. Vaughn is also a descendant of Capt. James Craig, Jr. of the Pennsylvania navy. Before the Revolutionary War the navy was
In 1897 he purchased the middle tract of the old Kern homestead where he now lives. Mr. Vosburg is an extensive grower of potatoes. hav- ing purchased all up-to-date machinery for planting, cultivating and harvesting the crop, producing from 1000 to 2000 bushels a year. He produces different kinds of vegetables which he sells in Scranton. He is also much interest- ed in the modern methods of growing fruit un- der scientific principles.
Mr. Vosburg is equipping his home with hot and cold water, bath and modern improvements. He is installing an acetylene gas plant.
Mr. Vosburg's parents moved to North Caro- lina in 1888. where he lived seven years. He was born Aug. 31, 1873. Mrs. Vosburg was born Oct. 7, 1874. Mr. Vosburg is a son of Joseph B. Vosburg.
Jos. B. VOSBURG enlisted in the army when young and lost his left arm in the Battle of the
160
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
Wilderness. Since his marriage in 1867 he has lived in thirteen different states. He was born April 13, 1845 and died Feb. 13, 1904. He married Miss Margaret A. Parrish. They were the parents of seven children, namely : George Corey, who is living in Lincoln, Del. ; Susie, who died in 1877: Mrs. Dora Sutton of Lincoln, Del .; Peter P. of Newton township: William P. of Lincoln, Del. ; Mrs. Anna Faux and Mrs. Rita Leach of Wyoming, Pa.
SAMUEL WALTER
Mr. Walter was born March 11, 1854 in a log house on the farm where he is now living. and where he has always lived except about one year. He is a son of John and Sarah (Rought)
farm with his mother. He built all the build- ings now standing on the place.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter have six children. five sons and one daughter. All are living at home.
HENRY and CATHERINE WALTER, grandpar- ents of Samuel Walter, came to Newton about 1832 and settled on the farm owned by Chas. H. Koerner, having a family of fourteen children. ITe had only six sheep, a farrow cow and three cents in money, but was saving and industrious and when he died owned over 200 acres of land.
JOHN EDWARD WARD
Mr. Ward was born in Tunkhannock Aug. 12, 1857, and is a son of John J. and Hannah M. Ward.
---
L
RESIDENCE OF J. E. WARD
Walter, being one of a family of thirteen chil- dren, only five are living at this writing: Mary. wife of William Gruver, living near Miner's Mill : Hila Ann, wife of John Huntzman of Scranton : Susan, wife of Judson Rosenkrans of Newton ; Rebecca. wife of John Stout, and lives in Sugar Notch, and Samuel, the subject of this sketch.
Samuel Walter was married Jan. 18, 1875 to Miss Elizabeth, the oldest daughter of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Rupp) Scherer, who were the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom are living: Christina, wife of Charles Blackwell of Ransom; William, who is living at Taylor; Jacob and Ama have never married and are living together in Taylor; Mary, wife of Win. Davis of Taylor: Yety, wife of Jesse Thompson. living in Newton.
Samuel Walter was only thirteen years of age when his father died. He remained on the
John Edward Ward was married Aug. 16, 1894 to Miss Minnie E. LaRue, daughter of Daniel W. and Abigail (Warren) LaRue. (Sce W. E. LaRue). Mr. and Mrs. Ward are bless- ed with two sons: John D., born June 16, 1895 and Charlie E., born May 3, 1903.
JOHN J. WARD, born in Duchess county, N. Y., Aug. 4, 1833 and died in Newton Ang. 11, 1885. He married Miss Hannah M. Mullison who was born July 24, 1831 near Tunkhannock and died in Newton March 6, 1908. He was a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting in June, 1864, serving eleven months in Co. K. 203 Reg. Pa. Vol. Was also a sharpshooter. After contract- ing typhoid fever, he was discharged July 3, 1865. He was a moulder by trade and worked about seven years in Gerhart's Foundry at Tunkhannock. He moved from Tunhannock to Seranton in April, 1861, and to Old Forge
161
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
about 1868, and five years later came to Newton. Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ward were the parents of four children, namely : Flora, John Edward. Bertha and Ernest R. Flora is a waitress at the Keystone Academy; Bertha, born July 23, 1863 and died Sept. 21, 1886; Ernest, born in Old Forge. Aug. 4, 1869, and was married Nov. 28. 1894 to Miss Anna Van Buskirk. They are living in Newton.
JESSE WARE
Jese Ware was born in Somerset county, England. Feb. 28, 1871, and came to this coun- try when abont seventeen years old. He is the son of Thomas and Salena Ware, who live in England and have five children, three sons and two daughters: Frederick, Jesse, Ernest E., Mrs. Emma White and Mrs. Dareas Carey.
Jesse Ware had only 75 cents when he came from England. He worked in mines in Seran- ton for two years, after which he hired out to Freeman Leach at Chinchilla, where he worked five years. He returned to England Dec. 11, 1895, where he was married to Miss Alice Rice. March 10, 1896. He returned to this country with his wife, March 25, the same year. He purchased the farm where he now lives of David Kern in April, 1906. Mr. Ware, with his wife and son, made another trip to England Dec. 3. 1908. returning three months later.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ware four children were born, namely, Arthur J .. born March 9, 1898 and died four months later ; Walter J., born Aug. 7, 1899 and died in Sep- tember, the same year: Floyd J .. born June 28. 1903: Leta. born Dec. 6. 1910.
JAMES M. WHITE
Mr. White is the son of John (born in Seot- land in April, 1834 and killed in Colorado in 1876) and Elizabeth (Thompson) White, to whom seven. children were born, five of whom are living: Anna (Mrs. Henry Burrough) John, James, Robert and Agnes (Mrs. Leslie Thompson ).
James White was only nine years old when his father was killed. Then he began living with John Coon, where he lived until twenty- one years of age. He was married Dec. 27. 1887, to Miss Edith P .. daughter of Harry (1822-1905) and Lucy (Snover) Smith of Newton township.
In 1911 Mr. White purchased and moved to the farm where he now resides. He was elected school director for one term, and in February, 1900 was elected tax collector, serving for six years. In 1906 he was elected supervisor and served two years.
Mrs. White has three brothers and three sis- ters living: Mrs. Maggie Sarles, Ziba S., Sey- mour, Marilla (Mrs. Paul Heidt), Harry and Alice (Mrs. Wm. Langenbach ). Two brothers died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. White have one son. J. Van Noy, born Feb. 3, 1895.
HORACE WILLIAMS
Mr. Williams was born in Ransom township. Feb. 22, 1846, and was the son of James and Anna (Roloson) Williams, who were the par- ents of twelve children : Perry, Isaiah, Lydia, Maria. Britton, Catherine, Eveline, Harriet, Andrew, Sarah, Amanda and Horace. Only three are now living: Harriet. married Benj. Relph. and lives in Dalton ; AAmanda, married Jepthie Dady and lives in Bradford county : and Horace.
Horace Williams was married Jan. 21. 1874 to Miss Mallie Milligan, the sixth child of Tho- mas and Elizabeth (Lacoe) Milligan. To them three children were born : Frances. born May 23, 1874, who married Herman Moser Feb. 20. 1895, and are now living in Seranton. Eugene was born Jan. 21, 1879 and died July 12, 1880. Almeda was born Sept. 6, 1881 and died July 20, 1883.
DANIEL WINTERS
Mr. Winters was born Dec. 15, 1880 in Mil- wankie. Ile has been employed as blacksmith at the Hillside Home since April 4, 1904. He is a son of Manley and Minnie ( Ace) Winters. He was married Sept. 18, 1907 to Miss Belle. daughter of Solomon and Amelda (Decker) Avery of Mill City. She was born Feb. 24, 1886 near Mill City.
Mr. and Mrs. Winters have two children, one son and a daughter, namely : Harold W., born Ang. 13. 1908 and Gwendolin A., born Sept. 24, 1910.
MANLEY WINTERS, born in 1847 in Milwau- kie and died June 27, 1905 at Square Top, Falls township. He married Miss Minnie, daughter of Adam Ace. She died July 4, 1902. They had four children, namely: (1) Charles H .. married Miss Dora Cook. He is a blacksmith at Square Top. (2) Wesley A., married Miss Mary Fahs. He is a blacksmith at Schultz- ville. (3) Daniel, the subject of our sketch. (4) Bertha, married John Butterfield. They live in Schultzville.
SOLOMON AVERY, born May 26, 1859 near Mill City. He married Miss Amelda, daughter of Isaac and Eliza (Williams) Decker. She was born May 3, 1862 and died Sept. 25. 1893. They had two children : Andy L., born May
162
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
[2, 1884 and married Miss Lena Sonsky : Belle, born Feb. 24, 1886, the wife of Mr. Winters.
PETER C. WINTER
Mr. Winter was born Feb. 9, 1863 in the house where he is living, and is a son of Merritt and Jane (Thompson ) Winter. Ile attended the Newton school until about twenty years of age. In June, 1884 he went West where he spent several months visiting in Illinois. Iowa and Dakota.
Mr. Winter was married April 25, 1888 to Miss Georgia A .. daughter of Mortimer and Lousia (Hoover) Fulkerson of Wayne county.
Peter and Elizabeth (Courtright) Winter. Peter Winter was born in 1785 in Belvidere, New Jer- sey, and came to Pittston in 1807 where he set- tled on a farm and conducted a blacksmith shop. He served his township as Justice-of-the- Peace for fifty years. In 1850 he was elected Commissioner of Luzerne county. Hle was re- spected by all, and lived and died a good Chris- tian. He died Feb. 27, 1872. His family con- sisted of six children. namely: Polly, Haines, llarriet, Merritt, Eliza and Ziba. Merritt Win- ter was married Feb. 13, 1848 to Miss Jane, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Wilcox) Thomp- son of Pittston. Mrs. Winter was born August 7. 1820 and died March 4, 1895. Mr. and
4
P. C. WINTER AND HIS RESIDENCE
Mrs. Winter was born June 22, 1870 in Moosic.
MORTIMER FUEKERSON was born May 12, 1822 in Pleasant Mount township, Wayne county, and died Sept. 16, 1905. Ile was mar- ried in 1862 to Miss Louisa, daughter of Mi- chael and Maria (Lampman ) Hoover. Mrs. Fulkerson was born Sept. 3. 1842 and died June 22, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Fulkerson were the parents of four children : Virginia, Isabelle, Georgia and Harvey. Virginia and Isabell died in infancy. Harvey married Miss Dora Allen who died June 21, 1901, leaving two small children, Hattie and Belva. They are living in Wayne county. The Fulkerson's are of French descent.
MERRITT WINTER Was born May 1, 1818 at Inkerman and died Jan. 18, 1899 on the farm now owned by his son, Peter. He was a son of
Mrs. Merritt Winter were the parents of ten chil- dren, namely: Joannah, Alva, Alonzo, James, Edson. Melisa, Emma, Jennie, Peter and Claude. Only four are living: Alva, James Emma and Peter.
ISAAC THOMPSON, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was born near Pittston, Nov. 18, 1796, his parents moving to that place from Philadelphia about 1770. In June, 1818 he was married to Miss Maria Wilcox whose par- ents were among the first settlers. At the time of the Wyoming Massacre they escaped to Duch- ess county. N. Y., where they remained until after the Revolutionary War, when they re- turned to their ruined homes. Mr. Thompson died in October, 1900, aged 104 years. He had a family of fifteen children.
163
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
REV. WALLACE CLIFTON WOLCOTT
Rev. W. C. Wolcott was born in Delphi, Onondaga county, N. Y., May 19, 1875. In 1886 he moved with his parents to Cortland, N. Y., where he lived for nineteen years. Dur- ing this period of his life he attended the State Normal School at Cortland. took a business course in the Cortland Business College and spent a few years as clerk and bookkeeper.
In 1904 he was granted his first license to preach. and took his first charge. Fleming- ville, N. Y. He afterwards spent nearly two year's at Wyoming Seminary and has taken some work with the University of Chicago. Mr. Wolcott was appointed to the Ball Mount charge at the session of the Wyoming Confer-
Flemingville, N. Y., 1904; Old Forge, 1906 Eatonville, 1907 ; Mehoopany, 1908-1911; Bald Mount, 1912.
MRS. CATHERINE MONAY
Mrs. MeNay was born in Ireland Nov. 27. 1838, and came to this country in 1860. She is a daughter of John and Margaret (Conners) Connors. She was married in 1864 to James MeNay, who died about 1880. Mr. and Mrs. McNay were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, namely: John, James, Thomas and Margaret. James died in Febru- ary, 1887. Margaret married Thomas MeDon- ald and is living in Scranton. Thomas is living with his mother, working the farm recently pur-
RESIDENCE ON THE FARM OWNED BY THOMAS McDONALD
Better known as the Theodore Stone Farm, which was settled in 1803 by Barronet Rodney. Built about 1855 by Theodore Stone.
ence held in Elm Park church, Scranton, in March, 1912.
On May 18, 1898, he was married to Miss Anna Belle Snyder of Ithaca, N. Y. She was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., May 19, 1875 ( the same day as her husband). She attended the Cortland Normal School. and taught in the Tompkins county schools for five years. Pre- vious to her normal course she attended the Ithaea High School.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott; a son, Harold, born March 21, 1907, and a daughter, Mildred, born April 14, .1911.
Mr. Wolcott has served the following charges :
chased by Thomas McDonald.
THOMAS MCDONALD was born March 20, 1875, in Dunmore, where he lived until eigh- teen years of age. Then he went to Scranton, where he worked for M. J. Bird, proprietor of the Globe Hotel, for one year. After that time he was employed for thirteen years by P. J. Con- way, proprietor of the Ariel Hotel. On the 21st day of September, 1908, Mr. MeDonald pur- chased the Armory Hotel, at 919 Washington Avenue, where he now lives. He purchased the Theodore Stone farm in Newton township. Jan. 27, 1910. Mr. McDonald was married June 17, 1904 to Miss Margaret MeNay, daughter of Mrs. Catherine McNay.
16:4
HISTORY OF NEWTON TOWNSHIP
CEMETERIES IN NEWTON AND RANSOM
The first burying ground in Ransom is lo- cated near the Ransom Home, on the bank of the river. The first interment was that of Richard Gardner, Jr., a son of Richard Gard- ner, who died March 3, 1797, aged 3 years, 1 month and 22 days. Mrs. John Gardner is bur- ried here. It was fenced in 1901 by the descend- ants of John Gardner, and placed in charge of Dial Rock Chapter, D. A. R.
The cemetery at the Lutheran church near the village of Ransom, was donated in 1846, by Jacob and John Dersheimer. The first inter- ment was that of Conrad Shafer, a soldier of the Revolution, who died in 1846. The first burial in the cemetery at Milwaukie was that of Ar- thur M. Skinner, an infant son of Daniel S. and Rebecca M. Skinner, who died March 30, 1859, aged 1 year, I month and 3 days.
Margaret Ann Litty, daughter of Henry Litts. died Ang. 30, 1824 and was the first person buried in the cemetery at Newton Centre. In the fall of the same year an infant child of James Williams was buried.
PETER BEDELL
Peter Bedell was born in Sussex county. N. J. April 9, 1803 and died in Milwaukie June 9, 1874. Ile came to Newton about 1826, and settled on the farm where Charles Finkler now lives. His wife was Susannah Caus, who was born April 9, 1801, and was murdered in her home on the night of June 28, 1876.
Peter Bedell, when a young boy, was bound out to John Wyker of Wykertown, Sussex coun- ty, N. J., who was an applejack distiller. Young Bedell received a suit of clothes and $60.00 in money when he was twenty-one years of age. He purchased a yoke of steers and worked on a farm in New Jersey for about two years. He was advised by Henry Litts, who had come to Newton in 1816, who gave such glowing ac- counts of this section, and the grand opportuni- ties awaiting a young man, that he decided to inove to Newton. He traded his steers .for a
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.