History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 113

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

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ROSWELL LUTHER, retired, Towanda, was born in Burlington, this county, December 12, 1820, and is a son of Enoch and Polly (Ben- nett) Luther. The paternal grandfather, Elisha Luther, was a native of Massachusetts, and settled in Canton township (now Alba), this county, about 1793, where he purchased nearly four hundred acres of land, built a log house and made a clearing ; in 1812 he removed to Dayton, Ohio, and later to St. Joseph county, Ind., where he resided until his death. The maternal grandfather, Amos Bennett, came with his father, Amos, Sr., to Wyalusing, in 1783; in 1790 he removed to what is now North Towanda township, where he cleared a farm, on which he resided until his death in 1839; his wife was Amy Wilcox, by whom he had six sons and two daughters. Enoch Luther, father of Roswell Luther, was a native of Gorham, Vt., and came to Bradford county with his parents, and removed with them to Dayton, Ohio, where he enlisted in the War of 1812. About 1816 he returned to Bradford county, and cleared a farm in Burlington township, on which he resided until his death. His children were Roswell, Enos B., David S., Myron, Hıram, Laura (Mrs. Elijah Granger), Amanda (Mrs. Benja- min M. Clark), Elliott, Samantha (Mrs. Erastus L. Price), Mary (Mrs. David Strope), Ransom W., Angeline (Mrs. Stephien M. Clark), Ade- laide (Mrs. L. F. Langford) and Burton K. Roswell Luther, who is

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

the subject of this sketch, was reared in Burlington township and received a limited education in the common schools; he spent most of his life in his native town, where he improved three farms, also engag- ing in milling, lumbering and bridge-building, and was an active busi- ness man. He married, in 1849, Rowena, daughter of Elisha and Han- nah (Carpenter) Foster, of Burlington township, by whom he had two children : Mary (Mrs. James McDonald, deceased), and Helen (Mrs. Charles Mace). Mr. Luther is a well-known citizen of Bradford county, and has been a resident of Towanda since 1884; politically he is a Republican.

HUGH M. LYNCH, dentist, Wvalusing, was born in German- town, April 29, 1840, a son of Robert and Mary (Tillman) Lynch, both of whom have been dead many years. The father, who was a gardener, had the following children : James, a lumber dealer in Phil- adelphia ; William, a drover in Delaware county; George, a lumber merchant in Clinton county; Margaret, a dressmaker in Norristown ; Hugh M .; Sophia, married to Mr. Rosenberger, whom she survives ; Rebecca, with her sisters Sophia and Margaret, conducting a dressmak- ing establishment at Norristown ; Robert, a lumber merchant in Clin- ton county. Hugh M. Lynch received his English education in the public schools of Philadelphia, and in 1861 began the study of den- tistry which he pursued until November 9, 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, Fifty-first P. V. I., of the Ninth Army Corps, serving faithfully through many long campaigns, and was present at Appo- mattox. He received two gunshot-wounds at the battle of Weldon Railroad, one through the left foot, which sent him to the hospital for about four months; after his recovery he rejoined his regiment and served until August 27, 1865, when he was mustered out. After studying his profession a short time, he began the practice of the same at Phillipsburg, N. J., and Phoenixville, Pa., until 1882, when he there entered the Pennsylvania College of Dentistry, and was grad- uated March 2, 1883. He resumed his practice at Phoenixville, remain- ing there until 1888, when he removed to Philadelphia, and remained until April 15, 1890, when he came to Wyalusing, where he has built up a paying practice. The Doctor was married, January 24, 1872, to Lucretia Ramsay, daughter of Samuel Ramsay, of Chester county, Pa., by whom he has five children : Mary E., Ida I., Della C., Robert L. and H. Blair. He is a member of Josiah White Post, No. 15, G. A. R., of Phoenixville, and also a member of the F. & A. M., Phoenixville, and has taken degree of K. T .; he is a member of the Lutheran Church and is a Republican. Dr. Lynch is a successful dentist, and has an office fully equipped for any kind of work.

JERRY J. LYNCH, teacher, Rome, was born in Standing Stone township, this county, March 15, 1868, and is a son of John and Cath- erine (O'Connor) Lynch, natives of County Clare, Ireland. His pater- nal grandparents were Martin and Bridget (Hourigan) Lynch, and his great-grandparents were Patrick and Mary (Hough) Lynch; his maternal grandparents were Jeremiah and Bridget (McNertiny) O'Connor, and his great-grandparents were Philip and Hanorah (Collins) O'Connor. His grandfather, Jerry O'Connor, died in Cen-

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

tralia, Pa., at the age of one hundred and three years. His father was a shoemaker by trade, but abandoned that calling, and set out to make his fortune in the New World, in 1860; he settled on a farm in Standing Stone, where he remained twelve years, and then purchased a larger farm in Rome township, which he changed from a dense forest to a state of cultivation, and lived upon it until his death, which occurred May 8, 1881, at the age of sixty-nine years; Mrs. Lynch is still living on the old homestead, with her son, Michael. There were six Lynch brothers and one sister who immigrated to Bradford county, viz .: Michael, Patrick, James, John, Thomas, Catherine (who married Andrew Brennan), and Martin. John's family contained seven chil- dren, four of whom were born in Ireland, viz .: Mary (deceased wife of John C. Cuffney. of Athens; she left one child, William, born April 6, 1883), Michael, Martin, Bridget (deceased), Bridget E., John J. and Jeremiah J. The last-named gentleman spent his boyhood on the farm, and attended school at the Rome Springs school-house. At thirteen he was left an orphan, with no means of supporting and edu- cating himself, not even a robust physical constitution. In 1882 he secured a place in the family of A. J. Whitney, working for his board, and attending school at the Rome graded school, and next year he was in the family of A. W. Woodburn. At fifteen he was granted a certificate to teach, and next year began teaching; he taught in all six terms, the last as principal of Rome graded school, 1890-91. In the spring of 1891 he engaged with S. B. Nelson & Co., of Chicago, in the historical business. By teaching, and various other occupations, he worked his way through the Latin Scientific Course at the Susque- hanna Collegiate Institute, and was graduated in 1889. His poor Irish parents had not the means of privileging their son an education, but they left him thoroughly imbued with the desire for education, and many noble Christian aspirations. Mr. Lynch has surmounted every difficulty, and commands the respect and love of all who know him, and is one of the leaders in all educational matters in the county, having been chosen president of the Bradford County Teachers' Asso- ciation when but twenty years of age; in his religion he is a steadfast Catholic, and his political views are decidedly Democratic.

THOMAS P. LYNCH, proprietor of the "Cummiskey House," Towanda, was born April 14, 1860, a son of Martin and Mary (Doherty) Lynch, natives of Ireland. His father came to America in 1856, and worked on the canal, and later engaged in farming in Rome township; afterward in Standing Stone township, where he died, January 3, 1879. In his father's family there were eight children: Bridget, married to Michael Scannell, employed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Towanda, and has five children; John, died at two years of age; Thomas P., the subject of this sketch ; Martin E., fireman on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, at Sayre; James F., brakeman on the Union Pacific, at Sprague, Wash .; Michael J., employed by the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad, at Buffalo; Mary C. and Peter J., the two last men- tioned living with their mother on the old homestead in Standing Stone township. Thomas P. began life for himself at fourteen, and worked for M. H. Laning on a farm, where he remained five years,

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

and, after one year spent at home, engaged in lumbering on the West branch, where he remained three years, then returned home and stayed there three years; then was employed on the G. I. & S. R. R., about a year; then took charge of D. C. Dewitt's livery stable at Towanda for two years; was employed as foreman by the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad Company about two years, and afterward embarked in his present occupation, where he is doing a good, thriving business. He married, May 11, 1887, Elizabeth, only daughter of Michael and Julia (Hurley) Collum, natives of New York, and of Irish origin. This union has been blessed with two children; Kate, born July 5, 1888, died April 9, 1889, and Matthew, born February 6, 1890, at Ricketts Station, and was the first child born at that place. Mr. and Mrs. Lynch are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and though he has been identified with the Democratic party, he votes purely on principle.

GEORGE F. LYON, furniture manufacturer, Athens, is a native of Athens, this county, and was born May 1, 1854, a son of Frederick R. and Nancy (White) Lyon, the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of Liberty, N. Y. The father, who was a furniture dealer and undertaker, was born February 26, 1884; his widow survives. George F. Lyon, who is the eldest in a family of four children, served an apprenticeship at the cabinet-making trade, from the time he was sixteen until he was twenty-one years of age, and remained with his father until 1876, when they began the manufacture of furniture, under the firm name of F. R. Lyon, Son & Co. On June 17, 1885, the factory burned, and they moved to Waverly, N. Y., where the factory has been since located. In 1883 the firm name was changed to Hall & Lyon. They make fine and medium grade chamber suits, and employ about 100 men.

OLIVER D. LYON, cabinet-maker, Towanda, was born in Law- renceville, Tioga Co., Pa., December 1, 1835, a son of Frederick R. and Mary H. (Rood) Lyon, and comes of Pilgrim stock. He was reared in Chemung county, N. Y., and Bradford county, Pa., and has resided in the latter county since 1846. His father, who was a native of Connecticut, and a cabinet-maker by trade, died in Athens, this county, in 1885; his children who grew to maturity were nine in number, as follows: Oliver D., Elizabeth (Mrs. George Morgan), Susan (Mrs. Leon Hoyt), Clara (Mrs. Hemingway), Edward, George, Charles, Frank and John. Of these Oliver D. received a high-school education at Syracuse, N. Y., also at Athens, Pa., and learned the cabinet-maker's trade with his father at Athens. He worked as apprentice and jour- neyman eleven years prior to the war, and April 22, 1861, enlisted in Company F, Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves (Thirty-fifth Regiment in the line), and by reason of re-enlistment was honorably discharged at Bristol Station, Va., February 11, 1864; on February 12, same year, he re-enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Ninety-first, P. V. V. I., and was honorably discharged, June 28, 1865, the war having closed. He participated in all of the principal battles of the Army of the Potomac (not including Chancellorsville), except while he was a pris- oner of war, and was on the skirmish line at Lee's surrender; he was captured on the skirmish line, at North Anna River, May 24, 1864, and

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

was confined in the prisons at Libby, Danville, Andersonville, Savannah and Milan ; was paroled, November 24, 1864, exchanged, December 6, 1864, and rejoined his regiment in front of Petersburg in February, 1865. Since the war he has followed his trade of cabinet-maker, and been a resident of Towanda. Since August, 1871, he has been contin- uously in the employ of one firm. Mr. Lyon was married, August 16, 1865, to Harriet A., daughter of Julius and Freelove (Lyon) Morgan, of Allegany county, N. Y., and has had ten children, viz .: Mary F., Frederick (died in infancy), LeRoy, Walter, Charles, Edward, Robert, Susan, Richard and Maud. Mr. Lyon is a prominent member of the G. A. R., and is one of the charter members of Watkins Post, No. 68, Department of Pennsylvania, at Towanda, and has held every office in the Post, from commandant down, and is now adjutant, which position he has held three years; and is also a member of the Union Veteran Legion, Encampment No. 28, Athens, Pa. He has been a member of the Franklin Fire Company, of Towanda, since 1856; is also a member of the K. of L., and politically he is a Republican.

SAMUEL LYON, retired farmer and capitalist, East Towanda, was born in Seekonk, Mass., September 28, 1807, and is a son of Samuel and Olive (Perry) Lyon, natives of Massachusetts and of New England origin ; his grandfather, great-grandfather and great- great-grandfather were all named Samuel Lyon. In his father's family there were four sons and four daughters, viz .: Benjamin (deceased), Nancy (deceased), Olive (deceased), Samuel, Amy (deceased), George (a retired farmer, Owego, N. Y.), Cynthia (widow of Elijah Reed, and living with her son in East Greenwich, R. I.), and Ezra P. (who is very wealthy, and is living a retired life in Providence, R. I.). Samuel, who was reared on the farm and educated in the common school, began life for himself at the age of seventeen, work- ing a turning lathe, which he followed two years, and then went to work in a machine shop in Slatersville, R. I., where he remained four years. In 1830 he came to Bradford county, and located in Warren township, buying 200 acres of land from Cyrus Grant for $1.50 per acre. This farm he reduced from a dense forest to an excellent state of cultivation, and lived thereon thirty-two years; then sold it to his brother, Benjamin. After living in Potterville one and one-half years, he purchased the Belding farm, north of LeRaysville, where he lived nine years, and then removed into LeRaysville and lived there eight years, after which he removed to his present home, which he purchased of E. C. Gridley. Mr. Lyon was married, September 23, 1830, to Miss Asenath P., daughter of Howlen Slade, of Slatersville, R. I., and of English-Quaker origin. Their family consisted of two children: Samuel, born May 15, 1833 (was a dry-goods merchant in Owego, and died December 21, 1872, leaving one child, Carrie); Caro- line C., born November 27, 1835 (was married to James Elsbree, of Windham, who died, leaving two children: John F., (deceased), and Nelson N .. of Orwell; she married, for her second husband, S. N. Bronson, of Orwell). Mrs. Asenath P. (Slade) Lyon died August 23, 1843, and Mr. Lyon married, July 11, 1844, Hannah H., daughter of Noah and Alice (Taylor) Makinson, natives of England. By this

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

union there were three children: William M., born February 6, 1851, died March 2, 1851; Margaret A., born November 8, 1852, married Henry I. Hutchinson, of Pike; and Sarah Ann, born October 22, 1854, married Percival P. Watson, with whom she lived but one year (they had one child, Alice H., born March 24, 1877; Sarah Ann and her daughter are now living with Mr. Lyon, at East Towanda). The Lyon family are all connected with the Presbyterian Church, and in politics are Republicans.

S. W. LYON, of the firm of Lyon & Watts, dealers in groceries, queensware, boots and shoes, Canton, is a native of Armenia township, this county, born August 25, 1840, a son of William and Rachel (Scouten) Lyon, natives of Delaware county, N. Y. The father was a farmer, and died at Canton in 1886, in his sixty-third year ; the mother still survives and resides in Canton. Mr. Lyon, who is the second in a family of five children-three sons and two daughters-was reared in his native place, went to Sylvania where he resided two years, from there to Ward township, Tioga Co., Pa., where he remained until 1877, when he removed to Towanda, and ran the stage line between Towanda and Canton for four years, then moved to Canton and engaged in his present business, in August, 1881, with W. L. Seldon. On January 8, 1891, the firm changed to Lyon & Watts. In December, 1871, in Troy, Mr. Lyon married Laura, daughter of DeWitt and Clarinda (Wood) Morgan, natives of Connecticut and this county, respectively (she was born in Armenia township in July, 1856, and is the third in order of birth in a family of seven children-three sons and four daughters). To Mr. and Mrs. Lyon were born three children: Lewis, Walter and Ralph. Mrs. Lyon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Lyon is a Democrat.

ISAAC LYONS, retired farmer and mill-owner, P. O. Allis Hol- low, was born in Sheshequin, this county, December 1, 1815, and is a son of John and Jemima (Horton) Lyons, the former of whom was born in September, 1875, in the first house built in Ithaca, N. Y .; he was married at the age of twenty-eight, and came at once to this county, his wife being a daughter of Richard Horton. The father was a farmer and lumberman, and had a family of eight children, viz .: Isaac, Richard (died April 10, 1859), John, Elizabeth (married to Mahu Horton), Rachel (married to John Bish), Anna J. (married to Christ- mas Hanesworth), Diana (married to Alonzo Barns) and Mahala (mar- ried to F. M. Maynard). Isaac Lyons spent his boyhood in Standing Stone, attended the district schools, his first teacher being Abraham Westbrooks; he remembers the building of the first school-house, which was erected when he was aged ten years. He improved over 200 acres of land, and now owns about 400 acres; he has always owned his own sawmill, which has stood on the spot it now occupies about forty-three years. He commenced his struggle with fortune, with no capital. except good health, strong arms and a stout heart, and has an ample fortune. Mr. Lyons was united in marriage, November 12, 1837, with Minerva, daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Norton) Grif- fin, and to them have been born three children, viz .: Adelbert G., born in 1838, died in infancy; Sarah, born June 9, 1843, married to Joseph

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Tuttle [see sketch of Joseph W. Tuttle] ; Angenora, married to George Allis. Mrs. Lyons died March 7, 1872, since which tine the daughter has kept the household. Mr. Lyons is in faith with the Universalist Church ; is a member of the National Grange, and of the F. & A. M. Politically he is a Republican, and has been constable and collector, assessor and school director. In 1861 he was elected county commis- sioner. Mr. Lyons has always been a careful and conscientious busi- ness man, and made his fortune by the slow and sure way of hard labor, not by speculation; is scrupulously honest, and is probably as well known as any resident of this county, and commands the respect and esteem of all.

HUGH MoCABE, farmer and stock-grower, P. O. North Rome, is a leading farmer of Rome township, and of the county. He was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, May 8, 1831, and is a son of George and Nancy (Donaldson) McCabe. His boyhood he spent on a farm in Ireland, attending schools of his native county, where he received a good knowledge of the common branches. He came to this county in 1849, and worked for his brothers, James and George, on the farm he now occupies ; then rented the farm and worked it five years, when he purchased it, and now owns about 290 acres, well improved; the house, which contains fifteen rooms, was built in 1868; he has culti- vated about 150 acres, and the farm is well-stocked, in fact one of the best in the township. He enlisted, September 5, 1864, in Company K, Fifteenth New York Volunteer Engineers, serving until the close of the war, being discharged June 13, 1865; then returned home and resumed farming. He was united in wedlock, May 12, 1853, with Harriet P., daughter of James and Katie (Vasbinder) Layton, of this county, whose family comprised seven children, of whom Mrs. McCabe is the sixth. Our subject and wife have been blessed with eight children, viz .: Mary E., born April 2, 1854, married in June, 1883, to Reuben Horton ; Levi, born March 12, 1856, married to Clara J. Stoll; Harrison R., born August 27, 1858, married to Sidney Brainard ; Olin, born February 3, 1862, married to Fannie Harvey, August 22, 1883; William J., born June 7, 1865, married to Lottie A. Russell, January 20, 1886; George L., born August 19, 1867, married to Anna Bush, September 24, 1888; Cora E., born October 11, 1872, and Lester H., born June 22, 1876. Mr. McCabe is a member of Stevens Post, No. 69, G. A. R., of Rome; is a Republican, and has been called by his friends and neighbors to fill various township offices. Mr. McCabe, from a poor, struggling lad, has developed into a wealthy and highly respected citizen.

JAMES MoCABE, grocer, Towanda, was born in Anaghan, County Monaghan, Ireland, April 8, 1816, and is a son of George and Rosa (Stockdale) McCabe. He was reared in his native place and with two brothers and a sister-George, William and Elizabeth-came to America in 1836. He spent one year in Philadelphia, and in 1837 came to Bradford county, where, in 1839, he purchased a farm in Rome township, which he cleared and improved, and on which he resided until 1853; then removed to Towanda, where for twelve years he was the proprietor of the principal meat-market in the place. After again engaging in

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

farming two years, in Rome township, he returned to Towanda in 1867, and embarked in the grocery business, in which he has since continued. In 1839 he married Polly, daughter of Rev. Joseph and Amelia (Pratt) Towner, of Rome, this county, by whom he had four children, as follows : Joseph G. (deceased), Rosa (Mrs. John N. Califf), Elizabeth A. and Joseph T. (deceased). Mr. McCabe is a prominent grocer of Towanda, and one of its most enterprising citizens. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and has served ten years as councilman of Towanda borough, and three years as burgess; politically he is a Republican.

RICHARD McCABE, farmer and stock-grower, in Rome town- ship, P. O., North Rome, was born in County Monaghan. North Ire- land, January 5, 1834, and is a son of George and Nancy (Donaldson) McCabo, natives of that country. His father was twice married, and by his first wife, Rosa (Stockdale), he had four children : James (of Towanda), George (deceased), William and Elizabeth; by his second wife were Hugh [see sketch of Hugh McCabe]. Mary (died in Ireland) and Richard. The father was a farmer during the latter portion his life, but had learned, and for many years had worked at, the weaver's trade; he died when Richard was about six months old. When Richard was about fifteen years old, he accompanied his mother and Hugh to the United States, and came at once to Rome township, where James and William had already located, prior to his immigration. George and Elizabeth lived in Philadelphia, Pa. He had attended public schools in Ireland, also the public schools of Rome township, and secured a good common-school education; he worked for and resided with his brother, William, one year ; then worked by the month for different men, until the fall of 1854, when he rented a sawmill, which he operated until 1859, when he purchased the farm he now lives on ; the first piece comprised seventy-three acres, and afterward he bought other land, making in all in the farm 160 acres. He cleared and improved the land, and converted the trees into lumber. The present house, built in 1883, is a modern building, handsomely finished inside and contains seventeen rooms. Mr. McCabe is one of the model farmers. He enlisted August 18, 1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-first P. V. I., being the last man to enlist in that company ; he made a good military record, and served until October 19, 1864, when he was discharged on account of disability accruing from a gun- shot wound received at the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863 ; the ball, which he still preserves, struck him in the arm, close to the wrist, ranged upward and lodged near the bone, close to the elbow, where it was cut out ; he was in the hospitals many weeks, and was at last discharged, having so far recovered as to be able to return home, but the wound permanently disabled him. He was promoted to corporal, January 2, 1863, and to sergeant, January 1, 1864. Returning home he resumed farming. He is one of the charter members of Stevens Post, No. 69, G. A. R., has held different offices in the Post, but holds none at present time. Mr. McCabe was united in wedlock, July 3, 1860, with Almira Towner, daughter of Philander and Clarissa (Davidson) Towner, of Rome township, this county ; she was born February 23,

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

1836, the second in a family of nine children. To Mr. and Mrs. McCabe have been born six children : Joseph G., born October 21, 1861; Ella M., born May 5, 1863, married to J. K. Drake, December 3, 1884 ; Douglass T., born October 7, 1865, died October 2, 1868; Clara V., born August 3, 1869; Berton R., born September 6, 1871 (is a teacher); Lannie T., born November 4, 1877. In his political views, he is a stanch Republican, and has held various township offices. Mr. McCabe with nothing but industry and determination, and out of the wilderness, has carved himself a home, with no assistance, except that of his faithful and devoted wife. He has a beautiful home, surrounded by a lovely family, and is enjoying the esteem and respect of all who knew him.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 113

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