History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 100

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1340

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

born September 30, 1867; S. Mantie, born July 4, 1870, and J. Edward, born September 1, 1875. Mr. Hinds in his political relations affiliates with the Republican party.

ORLIN W. HOAGLIN, of Rome township. farmer and stock grower, P. O. Myersburg, was born on the farm he now occupies, March 11, 1867, a son of William and Harriet (March) Hoaglin, natives of New York, who came to Bradford county in 1852, and located where Orlin W. now lives. His father, who was accidently shot, was a farmer, and had three children, viz .: John M., a carpenter; Mary T., married to Pearly Simmons, and Orlin W. The latter was reared on his father's farm, and attended the common schools of Wysox until nineteen, when he began the occupation of farming, taking entire charge of the old homestead farm, which consists of 100 acres, finely improved, which he manages with great skill and good judgment ; he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a stanch Republican, and, while yet a young farmer, he is well and favorably known as a leading and influential man in the county.

BURDICK H. HOBART, of Hobart & Rockwell, harness-makers, Troy, was born in Amherst, Niagara Co., N. Y., December 1, 1833, a son of Harry W. and Augusta (Phelps) Hobart, and is of English and Welsh descent. He was reared in his native State, and served an apprenticeship of three years at the harness trade in Truxton, Cort- land Co., N. Y., after which he purchased the business of his employer and continued it for eight years. In March, 1866, he located in Troy as a member of the harness firm of Hobart & Porter, which partner- ship existed twenty-three years, where he built up an extensive and successful trade. Since 1888 the business has continued as Hobart & Rockwell. Mr. Hobart was married, January 1, 1862, to Susan, daughter of Leonard Bradford, of Rhode Island, and has one daughter, Alice L. (Mrs. Charles Cosper). Mr. Hobart is a well-known and respected citizen of Troy ; is a F. & A. M., and has served as a mem- ber of the council of the borough several terms ; in politics he is a Republican.

CHARLES M. HOFFMAN, mechanic. Wyalusing, was born in New York, October 21, 1850, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Sher- wood) Hoffman. His father was a lumberman and mill owner, but upon his wife's death, which occurred a few years after the birth of Charles M., he went to Kentucky, where he married the second time. Charles made his home with his uncle, Edward Skeel, of Pike township, where he resided on a farm about fifteen years, attending the common schools. When nineteen years old he became an apprentice in the harness shop of E. S. Fuller, of Camptown, where he remained five years ; he was then, for about eighteen months, a clerk in the store of C. S. Lafferty, of Camptown, then for several years worked at his trade in Stevensville and Elmira, after which he returned to Pike township and farmed a short time; then he worked for Mr. Fuller for a while, then came to Wyalusing, clerking first for John Howard, and afterward in the Wyalusing Creamery, where he yet remains, having been there over four years. He was married, January 14, 1877, to

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Subinah Bender, daughter of Jacob Bender, of Stevensville; they have one child : Allie E. Mr. Hoffman is a Republican in politics.

GEORGE M. HOFFMAN, farmer, of Terry township, P. O. Evergreen, was born in Terry township, this county, January 4, 1854, a son of Phillip and Margaret (Hinderer) Hoffman. His father was born in Monroe county, Pa., September 23, 1817; his mother was a native of Germany, born in 1829; they were married February 13, 1847. Phillip Hoffman removed to this county about 1836, locating in Terry township on the farm now owned by his son George M. At that time there was an old log house on it, with a clearing of three- quarters of an acre. He confined himself to agricultural pursuits, when by hard labor and economy he cleared a farm and made a pleasant home for himself and family, and lived on this same farm until his death in 1888, at the age of seventy-one years. He had seven children, five of whom grew to maturity, and four are now living. George M., the subject of this sketch, is the third member of the family, and was reared and educated at the common school, being a young man of energy and enterprise. At the age of twenty-two he married Miss Rosey, daughter of Shubel and Luretta Bowman, and by this marriage there were born to them four children, all living at present: Leon, aged thirteen; Susan, aged eleven ; Nancy, aged nine; Clarence, aged six. Mr. Bowman, father of Mrs. Hoffman, was a native of Terry township, and now resides in the house where he was born; he was at one time a hotel-keeper, and has been of great service to his township; has held the offices of constable and collector. Mr. Hoffman is a general and prosperous farmer, paying particular attention to grain-raising and hay-making ; he is of more of a speculative turn of mind than his father or brothers ; is a self-made man, having bought out the four living heirs by paying five hundred and forty dollars ($540) to each of them as their portion; he has been honored by his townsmen in electing him to offices of trust and responsibility, and is a genial man of sterling qualities.

GEORGE O. HOLCOMB, capitalist, Troy, was born in the town of Lewis, Essex Co., N. Y., April 25, 1851, and is a son of Obed G. an Sophronia (Phelps) Holcomb, and is of English descent. His earliest known ancestors was one of three brothers who came to America in the ship "Mary and John," in Puritan times, and was left an orphan when five years of age. At the age of sixteen George began life for himself as a farm hand, and worked for $16 per month. From his eight months' wages of $128 he put $125 at interest at 7 per cent, and the year following worked at the same wages, and during the winter worked for his board and attended the district schools. In 1867 he attended the union school, at Elizabethtown, N. Y., and in the fall of 1868 began teaching, and followed that occupation four years. In the fall of 1869 he passed an academical examination ; also studied law three years with Hon. A. C. Hand & Son, of Elizabethtown, and in 1874 went to Philadelphia to fill a position as corresponding clerk for several Insurance companies, but soon after was engaged as a clerk in the importing department of a Fancy Notion store, and held that position one year. In April, 1876, he was employed by the United

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

States Centennial Commission, under Henry Pellitt, chief of the Bureau of Installation, as general clerk, and remained with that commission until April, 1877, when he was appointed chief clerk of the department, which had charge of all applications for tickets by exhibitors in the main building, and also had charge of all goods received, both American and foreign, throughout the exhibition. After the close of his labors there, he accepted a position in the law and collecting agency of McKillop & Co., of New York, with whom he remained two months, then located in Troy, Pa., where he was station agent for the Northern Central Railroad until 1883, and, for nearly five years, Express Agent for the Central (now Adams) Express Company. December 19, 1878, he married Annie E., daughter of Eleazer and Rhoda(Leonard) Pomeroy, of Troy, by whom he has two children : Harry P. and Dwight H. Since 1883 Mr. Holcomb has assisted his father-in-law in his business affairs, and, since 1878, has been engaged in the brokerage business. He is the owner of and has conducted a stock farm in Troy since 1887, and is a breeder of Hereford cattle, registered in the American Herd Book, and is also a breeder of French coach horses. and trotting stock from the C. J. Hammond farm, near Buffalo. Mr. Holcomb is a member of the Congregational Church; though solicited to run for several State and county offices, he has always refused the honor ; he has served as burgess of Troy one term, and is a member of the present council ; politically he is a Republican.

HARVEY HOLCOMB, farmer, of Franklin township, P. O. Franklindale, was born in LeRoy, this county, May 29, 1816, is the son of Hugh and Prudence (Bailey) Holcomb, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of Massachusetts. Hugh and his brother, Sterling, when they came from the East, located in Ulster, from which place they removed about 1796, locating in LeRoy, each purchasing 400 acres on both sides of the Towanda creek, Hugh Holcomb had nine children-seven sons and two daughters-all of whom grew to maturity. Harvey, who is the sixth in the family, was reared and educated at LeRoy, and always worked on a farmi. On January 23, 1840, he married Miss Diana, daughter of Samuel and Betsey Rock- well, and to them were born nine children, eight of whom are now living; the other son was killed in the army at the battle of Spottsyl- vania after a service of nearly three years. Mr. Holcomb moved from LeRoy to Franklin, his present home, in 1884; his wife died June 10, 1880, and he married (for his second) at Smithfield, August 26, 1882, Mrs. Perlina Pierce, widow of William Henry Pierce, and daughter of Mrs. Selina (Holcomb) Dibble, who came from Broome county, N. Y. In 1844 she removed to this county, where she now resides at the advanced age of ninety-five years, and is able to work about the honse; she began and completed a quilt of 3,000 pieces after she was ninety-three years of age. Mr. Holcomb as a farmer confines himself to raising grain and hay; he has been honored with the offices of assessor, school director (twelve years) and road commissioner; is a member of the Church of Christ, and is a Republican, politically.

JASPER N. HOLCOMB, farmer, P. O. LeRoy, was born in LeRoy township, Bradford Co., Pa., March 27, 1846, a son of Harvey

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and Diana (Rockwell) Holcomb, natives of LeRoy, former of whom was a son of Hugh Holcomb, one of the early settlers, and who built the first saw and grist mill in LeRoy, also the first still in the town. Harvey Holcomb's family consisted of eleven children, nine of whoin grew to maturity, eight yet living. The eldest son was killed in the army, on May 12, 1864, in the battle of the Wilderness. Jasper N., who is the third in the family. was reared and educated at LeRoy, which has always been his home. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company L, Third Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, serving until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged, and he now draws a pension. On October 21, 1879, he married, at Monroeton, this county, Rosilie, daughter of Robert and Hannah (Holcomb) McKee. The Mckees are descended from Leonard McKee, who settled in Franklin in 1822. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb have been born five children, viz .: James E., Ray M., Carrie E. and Minnie F. and May F. (twins). Alpheus Holcomb, the maternal grand- father of Mrs. Jasper N. Holcomb, was born January 10, 1779, died January 19, 1849, and his wife, Hannah (Kingsbury) was born April 17, 1783, died October 18, 1846; they were married, October 22, 1801, in Connecticut, whence they removed to Ulster, and from there to LeRoy. Mr. Holcomb is a general farmer, producing stock, grain, wool and butter. He has been honored by being elected to the offices of town clerk, commissioner, school director and census enumerator; is a member of the Church of Christ, and in politics is a Republican.

HALLECK L. HOLCOMB, of the Bradford Republican, Towanda, was born in Bradford county, at LeRoy, April 25, 1862, a son of Harvey and Diana (Rockwell) Holcomb, of English descent, and among the early settlers of this county. His father was born in LeRoy township, May 29, 1816, where he married and reared an interesting family of nine children ; his wife and helpmeet died June 10, 1880. Two of the sons were in the Civil War: J. E. Holcomb was killed at the battle of Spottsylvania, the other, Jasper N., is a farmer in LeRoy. H. L. Holcomb is the youngest of the family, and gave attendance in his youth at the public schools, and graduated at the Elmira School of Commerce in 1886. He learned the printer's art, entering the office of the Republican at the age of nineteen, and is to-day, in the absence of his uncle, general manager and local editor of the Republican. He was married June 12, 1889, to Charlotte, daughter of E. C. and Harriet (Dodge) Dewers, of English descent. The family worship at the Presbyterian Church; he is past grand in the I. O. O. F.

JUDSON HOLCOMB, one of the proprietors and the editor of the Bradford Republican, Towanda. This gentleman is at present filling the office of index clerk in the Lower House of Congress, Washington, a position to which he was appointed in 1863, and served through five Congresses, and in 1874 returned to Towanda and established his paper, placing it on a prosperous basis; he was again in the XLVIIth Congress, appointed to his old position, and is now in that place, having just served through the LIst Congress. He is a native of Bradford county, born in LeRov, July 25, 1819, a son of Hugh and Prudence (Bailey) Holcomb. Thomas Holcomb, who came from

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Devonshire, England, in 1630, and settled at Dorchester, Mass., begat Nathaniel, who had a son, Nathaniel, Jr., who begat David, who begat Eli, the grandfather of our subject. Eli Holcomb was one of the pioneers, who came to Bradford county in 1784, and settled in Sheshe- quin (now Ulster); he was one of the soldiers in the War of 1812. His son, Hugh Holcomb, built the first grist and saw mill in LeRoy township, and grew to be a man of wealth, for his da y, and died the possessor of 200 acres of valuable land, originally settled by him. His son, Judson Holcomb, grew up on a farm at a time when to plant and reap were the chief ideas of education, and in this line he is a fine type of the self-made men of our country. At the age of nine- teen he went to Standing Stone, in this county, and found employment as a clerk in a store, and was there six years, and then opened a store of his own in Rome; in 1854 he was elected as a Whig to the Legisla- ture, and at the end of his term of office, when the Republican party was just formed, he was elected by that party to the Legislature, and was the first Republican that ever represented Bradford county in that body. As a farmer, newspaper man, law-maker and office-holder, he has been one of the county's eminently successful men. He was mar- ried at Standing Stone, this county, in 1845, to Maria Nobles, daughter of Jonathan Nobles, of Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and they have two children, as follows : Clara (Mrs. Henry C. Porter), and Fannie (Mrs. Charles L. Tracy). Mrs. Holcomb is a niece of the late Hon. H. W. Tracy.

LEROY HOLCOMB, farmer and miller, LeRoy township, P. O. LeRoy, was born October 14, 1830, a son of Eli and Harriet (Bailey. Holcomb, who were the first settlers on the south side of Towanda creek, The father was a native of Connecticut and son of Truman Holcomb of New England, who removed to Ulster in the early settlement of the county. Harriet (Bailey) Holcomb was a native of New York. Eli Holcomb located in LeRoy in 1801, taking possession of 200 acres on either side of the Towanda creek. In those days their facilities were limited, compelling them to go eighteen miles to mill. Eli built the second gristmill in 1827, and the first on the south side of the creek (Hugh Holcomb built the first); it was a log structure, in which LeRoy, when a small lad, learned his trade. In 1844 Eli Holcomb builta mill which was damaged by the giving way of the dam; it was rebuilt and is now owned and operated by his son LeRoy. Eli was the father of thirteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, LeRoy being the seventh member of the family. He was reared and educated at LeRoy, and learned the miller's trade of his father, beginning at the age of fourteen. When twenty-one he married Roena R., daughter of Ansel and Anna Tillotson, June 13, 1852, at LeRoy. To them were born ten children- five sons and five daughters- eight of whom grew to maturity and are now living in this county. prosperous business men. Mr. Holcomb was twice married, his first wife died on January 10, 1880, and he married, March 9, 1886, Nettie, daughter of William and Maria Scott, of Monroe township. He is a man of business and enterprise ; in 1855 he built a sawmill north of the present mill; but, on account of the water-power failing, he abandoned it, attaching one to his gristmill, both of which

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

he runs by steam. This mill has the capacity of 10,000 feet per day, and the gristmill averages 15,000 bushels per year. `In addition to this Mr. Holcomb oversees a neat farm. He has been entrusted with various offices during his life time ; was constable two years ; school director six years ; judge of elections ; town clerk four years ; he is a member of the Church of Christ, and has held the position of superintendent of the Sunday-school sixteen years ; politically he is a Republican.

H. A. AND H. B. HOLDRIDGE, farmers, P. O. Fassett, were born in Elmira, N. Y .; Henry A., September 24, 1861; Howard B., Decem- ber 17, 1857; are sons of Harrison and Caroline Holdridge, natives of Onondaga county, N. Y. Harrison Holdridge purchased 120 acres of land in South Creek township, this county, about the year 1874, which was without any improvement until he gave it to his sons, the subjects of this sketch, who have resided on it since ; they have made numer- ous improvements in clearing the land, erecting buildings and putting up fences, etc. Mr. Holdridge has four children, all of whom are living. Henry A. was reared and educated in Elmira, N. Y .; Howard in Onon- daga county, N. Y., and they moved to this county in 1876; although the land was divided between them, yet, as brothers, they live and work together in harmony. Henry A. married, July 3, 1887, at Elmira, Louisa, a daughter of B. and Anna Hughes, and there was born to them one child, Robert. Howard B. is unmarried, and lives with his brother. They are general farmers in South Creek township, and make a specialty of hay-making and wool-growing, and are young . men who will make their mark in the world. About the year 1882 there was quite an excitement on the farm adjoining theirs, over the sinking of a shaft prospecting for lead ore, which was found in small quantities, although no further developments have been made since. DANIEL O. HOLLON, retired, residing in North Towanda, was born in Chemung county, N. Y., August 23, 1819, a son of Jeremiah and Betsy (Orcutt) Hollon, who settled in Monroe township on what is now known as Hollon Hill, in 1835, where the father cleared and improved a farm on which he lived and died. He had ten children, all of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Sally (Mrs. Joab Summers), Charles, Deborah (Mrs. Guy C. Irvine), Daniel O., Lyman, Eliza (Mrs. William W. Irvine), Lydia (Mrs. Daniel Cook), Harry S., Almira (Mrs. J. W. Irvine) and William. Mr. Hollon, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Chemung county, N. Y., and Bradford county, Pa. ; educated in the common schools, and learned the carpenter's trade in Bradford county, which he followed upward of fifty years, and since 1869 has been a resident of North Towanda. He married twice: his first wife was Lorany, daughter of Henry and Mary (Everett) Overton, of Milford, Pike county, by whom he had four children, viz .: Mary E. (Mrs. F. E. Bush), Guy C., Harriet A. and Dora D. His second wife was Nettie L., daughter of Hugh and Caroline (Scovell) Frazer, of Wyalusing. Mr. Uollon is a well-known and prominent citizen of North Towanda, and is a member of the F. & A. M., and in politics he is a Prohibitionist.

GEORGE F. HOLMES, plumber, Towanda, was born in Towanda, October 6, 1866, and is a son of John and Lucinda (Strickland) Holmes,

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His father was a native of Chittenango, Madison Co., N. Y., a son of Jonas Holmes, and was left an orphan at an early age; he was reared in Bradford county, and on attaining his majority located in Towanda, and embarked in the livery business, in which he continued for many years. He has also been in the brokerage business for upward of thirty years, and twenty years has been a dealer in pianos and organs. He was twice married : his first wife was Lucinda Strickland, by whom he had two sons, viz .: John and George F .; and his second wife was Mrs. Mary Kittridge, by whom he has four children, as follows: Carrie, Edna, Gertrude and Ulysses M. George F. was reared in his native county and educated at Susquehanna Collegiate Institute, and on attaining his majority associated with his father on the farm in Wysox township. In April, 1890, he opened a plumbing establishment in Towanda, which he has since successfully conducted. November 20, 1889, he married Mary, daughter of Edward N. and Ann Decker, of Towanda. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in politics is a Republican.

C. S. HOMET, farmer and stock-grower, Wyalusing township, P. O. Wyalusing, was born in Asylum township, this county, May 20, 1830, a son of Charles Homet, who removed to the farm now occupied by Seth Homet, soon after his son's birth, and there C. S. passed his boyhood, attending school at the Fairbanks school; he also attended the Towanda Academy and select school at Merryall. He remained on the old place until 1861, and was engaged in farming, lumbering and milling, besides teaching school several winters. He secured a position as rodsman in the engineer corps surveying the North Branch Canal in 1850, and was there several years. With his brother, Edward, our subject secured a large contract on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and since then has devoted his attention chiefly to farming. He removed to his present home in 1861, having built his house and barns prior to this, and now owns 125 acres; 100 acres of this land he cleared himself. He has his farm well stocked with cattle and horses. He was united in marriage, June 11, 1861, with Julia Horton, daughter of Dr. George Horton, of Terry township. To Mr. and Mrs. Homet have been born three children: W. H. (married to Adelia Mitten, and residing on Lime Hill, where he is engaged in the manufacture of shingles), Eliza (a graduate of the Mansfield Uni- versity, and at present engaged as teacher in the public school of Sayre), and Frank (now a student in the Mansfield University, from which he will soon be graduated). Mr. Homet is a Republican, and has held the various township offices.

EDWARD HOMET, farmer and stock-grower, Homet's Ferry, was born at Frenchtown, this county, May 3, 1826, a son of Charles Homet (see sketch of C. S. Homet, above). Of a family of nine chil- dren, he is the fourth in order of birth. His father was one of the prom- inent pioneers of this section, and his family of eight sturdy boys all remained at home and worked in common until mature manhood; the father owned about 1,000 acres of land, and was also engaged extensively in lumbering and milling. It was in this cradle of increasing industry that Mr. Homet reared his boys, and that early training has made itself

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manifest throughout the course of their long and busy lives; indeed, the county has produced no family that have proved so universally successful as this one. Edward was the mechanical genius of the family; he could shoe a horse or adjust a transit; build a house or mill; sur- vey a railroad or build a bridge, and was equally efficient behind the compass, in the mill, or following the plow. He attended school at Frenchtown, Homet's Ferry and Towanda Academy, and his boyhood was passed at hard work ; he even made a few trips down the Susque- hanna river, as raftsman on board his father's lumber rafts. In June, 1850, he took a position in the engineer corps, on the North Branch Canal, which was then being relocated and constructed. That position he held till June, 1853, when he accepted a position on the Phila- delphia & Erie Railroad, which was then being located, where he remained to the end of the year; then came home, and was engaged with his father and brothers in rebuilding the mills at Homet's Ferry, and in the erecting of a house on his present farm, to which he removed in the spring of 1857, and where he has since resided. His farm first consisted of only twenty-four acres, to which additions have been made, making it now 150 (with commodious and substantial buildings), and an interest in 320 acres more. He has followed active farming since 1857 to the present time, besides various other duties and occupations, such as settling estates, contracting and building. Mr. Homet was united in wedlock, November 13, 1856, with Maria Minnis, M. D., of N. Y. This union was blessed with one child, Lucy J. Mr. Homet is identified with the Republican party, and has filled various town offices.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 100

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1340