History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 128

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

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JASPER B. PORTER, general merchant, Columbia township, P. O. Sylvania, was born at Rising Sun, Cecil Co., Md., June 20, 1849, and is a son of William and Mary E. (Rathbun) Porter, of English descent. He was reared in his native county, until thirteen years of age, when he removed to Washington, D. C., and was graduated from the public school of that' city, in the English, French and German branches. On account of ill-health he traveled extensively over the American continent for several years; and in 1883, locating in Syl- vania, this county, he embarked in the drug business, at which he continued two years. In 1890, he became proprietor of a general mer- chandising store, the principal one of Sylvania. On October 4, 1881, he married Stella F., daughter of Harry and Mary E. (Gregory) Coan, of Bloomville, Delaware Co., N. Y. Mr. Porter is a member of the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F .; he has served as burgess of Sylvania four years, and in politics is a Republican.

THEODORE F. PORTER, salesman, Elmira, N. Y., was born in Granville township, this county, September 5, 1844, and is a son of Minor T. and Anna (Ayres) Porter. His paternal grandparents, Zora

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and Anna (Keeler) Porter, formerly of Vermont, were pioneers of Granville township, where they cleared and improved a farm on which they lived and died. Their children were Seth K., Minor A., Major B. and Albert. Of these, Minor T., the father of Theodore F., was born in Troy township, in 1810; has always followed farming, and cleared and improved the farm he now owns and occupies in Granville town- ship; his wife was a daughter of Abijah Ayres, who settled in Gran- ville township in 1820. Their children, who grew to maturity, were Edward, Sally (Mrs. Fred Black), Roxie (Mrs. Seely Ayres), Nancy Mrs. John Grantier), and Theodore F., who was reared in Granville township, was educated in the common schools, and was engaged in farming there for twenty-four years, being now the owner of one of the best farms in Granville township, which was cleared and improved by his father-in-law, Dr. Bovier. Mr. Porter married, in 1866, Helen S., daughter of Dr. Solomon and Almira (Edsell) Bovier, of Granville township, and they have one daughter, Effie (Mrs. S. P. Tinklepaugh). Mr. Porter was in the Civil War, having enlisted, in 1864, in Company I, Fifteenth New York Engineers; participated in the battles of Fort Fisher, the Weldon raid and in other minor engagements, and was honorably discharged after eleven months' service. Mr. Porter has resided in Elmira, N. Y., since 1890. He is a Sir Knight Templar, and is a member of the G. A. R .; in politics he is a Democrat.

UEL C. PORTER, retired, Troy, was born in Troy township, this county, March 16, 1829, and is a son of John and Martha (Furman) Porter. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Porter, was of English parentage, and settled in Troy township in 1814, when he purchased about one hundred and fifty acres of land on the " Drinker tract," which was cleared by himself and sons; he taught school for many years, and was generally known as "Master Porter ;" he died in 1824. He married a widow, Mrs. Wiltsie (formerly Hannah Mosher), by whom he had three children: John, Uel and Betsey (Mrs. Warren Will- iams). The sons succeeded to the homestead, and for twenty years or more, worked the farm in unison, then divided the property on the best of terms. John, the father of our subject, was born in Bethlehem, Albany Co., N. Y., in 1798, and died on the homestead in Troy town- ship, in 1858. His wife was a daughter of William and Abey (Halleck) Furman, the former of whom was a pioneer of Columbia township, where he settled prior to 1810. The issue of this union was eleven children, of whom nine grew to maturity : Betsey (Mrs. Howard Tay- lor), Julia (Mrs. S. H. Hill), Electa (Mrs. C. T. Merry), Lyman, Uel C., George, Furman, William Burton, and Sarah (Mrs. F. P. Gates). Our subject was reared in Troy township, served an apprenticeship at the harness-maker's trade, in Burlington, this county, from 1847 to 1849, and from 1856 to 1866 was engaged in farming on the old Porter home- stead. At the latter date he embarked in the harness business at Troy, with B. H. Hobart, as Hobart & Porter, which they continued until 1888. In 1873 the firm built a tannery, and operated it for a period of three years, when they took E. VanDine in as a partner, and car- ried on the business for a period of four years longer, under the firm name of E. VanDine & Co., at which time (1880) the firm of E. VanDine

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

& Co. was dissolved, and Hobart and Porter retired, Mr. Porter having been in business a period of twenty-two years. He has been four times married : his second wife was Sarah E., daughter of Jacob and Olive (Williams) Linderman, of Troy township; his third wife was Laura, daughter of Ansel and Betsey (Case) Williams, of Troy town- ship, by whom he has a daughter, Martha E., and his present wife, Fannie M., is a daughter of A. M. Cornell, of Columbia township. Mr. Porter is a member of the Universalist Church, the F. & A. M. and R. A. M. Politically he is a Democrat.

HON. JOSEPH POWELL, Towanda. The good brethren of the Moravian Church were among the earliest pioneers to settle along this branch of the Susquehanna river. These people came as early as 1742, in chartered ships, under the supervision of Count Zinzerdorf and Brother Spangbrother, and every ship-load would organize church soci- eties; hence they were known for a long time as " Die See Gemeinen," or " Sea Congregations." One of these ships so laden was the " Cath- erine," that sailed from Holstein to London, where they were joined by seven families, of whom were Samuel Powell and wife, Martha, and Joseph Powell and wife, Martha, who were from Shropshire, England, on the border of Wales. The Powells first preached at New Haven. They visited Yale school, and went on foot from Greenwich to New York, where they joined their ship's company, and proceeded to Phila- delphia, and finally to Bethlehem, the Chief Moravian settlement. Of these two men, Joseph Powell was the great-grandfather of the gen- tlemen whose name opens this sketch. At Bethlehem the great-grand-

mother died. He was sent by his church to Wechquadnach, Conn., and died in Sharon, Litchfield county. In 1859 the Moravians erected a suitable monument over his grave. His son, Stephen Powell, was a soldier of the Revolution, and in 1798 he removed from Dutchess county, N. Y., to Bradford county, settling in Ulster, bringing with him his young son, Joseph C. Powell, the father of Joseph Powell. Joseph C. Powell became one of the leading men of Bradford county, and was very prominent as an organizer in the political movements of that day. He was a farmer and merchant, was elected to the Legis- lature and filled several county offices, such as sheriff and prothono- tary, and died at Towanda, in 1854, leaving a large and eminently respectable family. His wife was Selina Phillips, whose father was a native of York and mother of Vermont.

Hon. Joseph Powell was born in Towanda, this county, June 23, 1828, was reared on a farm and attended the common schools, also the academy at Athens. At the age of eighteen he became a clerk in a general store, and had learned the trade well enough, in 1852, to engage in it on his own account, soon becoming one of the leading business men of the county. He was an extensive farmer and merchant, deal- ing heavily in coal and timber lands, whereby he aided greatly in developing the resources of his native county. He was one of the organizers of the coal company, of which he was treasurer for many years, and he contributed to the building of a large tannery to con- sume the bark from the timber manufactured in the mills. As a busi- ness man he was broad and generous, ever alert in promoting the pub-

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

lic weal, and helpful toward not only friends, but all whose claims or wants appealed to his charitable and kind nature. He was one of the original stockholders in the First National Bank of Towanda, in 1863, and in 1870 he became its president, in which position he served nearly twenty years. He was interested in establishing the Towanda Agri- cultural Implement Factory, and was a director of the Towanda Bridge Company, besides being associated in many other important enter- prises. In all these varied industries and pursuits he was eminently conservative and successful. While he was first in enterprise and in public spirit, when war came, although he was from cause exempt froni service, yet he claimed the privilege of sending a substitute to the front, while he, at home, was one of the most liberal contributors to the cause, giving both time and means thereto, and his contributions to the different commissions in aid of the soldiers and their families were many and always liberal.

When the war was over he took issue with the Republican party on its reconstruction measures, and in 1874, almost without his knowl- edge, he was made the Democratic nominee for Congress. and in the face of a heavy adverse majority was triumphantly elected. He served his term with wisdom and fidelity, and every measure of econ- omy presented found in him a hearty supporter. He was re-nomi- nated in 1876, but being a Presidential year the opposition was ena- bled to hold enough of their party in check to defeat him. In 1883 he was nominated, in the face of his earnest protest, by the Democratic State Convention, for State treasurer, and he yielded to the wish of his friends all over the Commonwealth only when he became con- vinced it was his duty. In 1885 he was appointed, under President Cleveland, deputy collector of the Port of Philadelphia, and served a full term in that high and responsible office. In that great city of rich Republican merchants he discharged every personal and official duty sans peur et sans reproche; and, on resigning his office, in 1889, he carried with him the unqualified respect and approbation of all. In 1890 he was named by the Democratic County Convention for sheriff, and, in the face of a Republican majority, at the preceding election, of 4,200, he was elected by the unprecedented majority of 1890- exactly one vote for each year of the Christian era, to the date of this extraordinary political triumph ; in this particular case, not so much a political triumph as a tribute by his old neighbors and friends to his personal worth. This simple statement of his private and public record clearly indicates that no man in Bradford county ever gained a more sincere and cordial respect of all the people than has he. He had buillt up a great private fortune, and when a series of the most untoward circumstances swept away that fortune, while holding in his hands many private trusts, yet so clean, honorable and clear was his every move that his personal popularity among all men was only added to, when it had already seemed to have reached the extreme high tide. He was married, February 2, 1859, to Miss Hannah Noble, step-daughter of Hon. H. W. Tracy, a member of Congress, in 1862, and by this union there are four daughters and one son, as follows : Henrietta Page, Frances Theresa, Joseph, Hannah and Mary.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

PATRICK POWERS, blacksmith, P. O. East Smithfield, was born in Athens, January 29, 1850, a son of Thomas and Alice (Bollon) Powers, natives of County Waterford, Ireland, who came to this county when young, and settled at Athens, about forty five years ago. Mr. Powers, who is the youngest of eight children, commenced to learn his trade at fourteen years of age, and when eighteen started in the busi- ness for himself at Athens, which he has continued since. He married, November 6, 1875, Catherine, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Farr) Buck, natives of Ireland, who came to this country in early life (she was the third in a family of twelve children, and was born in Ridge- bury, this county, May 28, 1854). Mr. and Mrs. Powers have had born to them two children: Thomas F., born August 6, 1876, and Isabell, born June 22, 1878. Mr. Powers has been a successful business man, and has accumulated a nice property; he is a Democrat in politics. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

DAVID S. PRATT, M. D., Towanda, one of the leading and eminent physicians of Bradford county, is a native of the State. born in Susquehanna county, December 16, 1826, and is a son of Russell and Olive Towner Pratt. His paternal grandfather removed from Connecticut to Middleton in 1799, and purchased a quarter section of land, and died there. Dr. Pratt's father, who was a farmer, merchant and manufacturer, removed to Towanda in 1848, and resided there until his death. His children were nine in number, as follows: Matilda (Mrs. Lyman E. De Wolf), Leonard, Calvin, Mary (Mrs. A. J. Easterbrook), David S, Angeline (Mrs. H. A. Burbank), Julia (Mrs. Rev. Timothy Olmsted), Sophronia (Mrs. S. W. Rogers) and Joseph T. Dr. Pratt was reared in his native town, and educated in the common schools and at Susquehanna Academy. He read medicine with his brother, Dr. Leonard Pratt, now of San Jose, Cal., was graduated from the Homeopathic Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1851, and immediately located in Towanda, where he has since been in active practice. His youngest brother, Joseph T., who died twelve years ago, when but thirty-eight years of age, had, by his own unaided exertions, attained the honorable position of judge of the court of common pleas, at Philadelphia. In 1849 Dr. Pratt married Catherine, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Allen) Abell, of Warren township, this county, and niece of A. S. Abell, of Baltimore. He has four children: Ella (Mrs. W. G. Gordon), Dr D. Leonard, Isabella (Mrs. Simon Randall), and Dr. C. Manville. The Doctor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the F. & A. M., and in politics he is a Republican. The practice of homeopathy, at the time of his opening an office here, was somewhat new to the people, but his remarkable success is the best evidence that it did not long thereafter remain so. Profession- ally, socially and financially Dr. Pratt has long been easily recognized as one of our foremost citizens, and has reared his family eminent in all the social qualities that are the make-up of this favored community. He has passed the three-score mile-stone on life's highway, but is strong, active, and as busy, professionally, as in his younger and probably more combative days, and with his extensive practice has accumulated a handsome competency.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

D. LEONARD PRATT, a well-known physician and surgeon of Towanda, was born in Towanda, this county, December 6, 1853, and is a son of Dr. David S. and Catherine (Abell) Pratt. He was reared in his native town, and received an academical education at Susque- hanna Collegiate Institute, Towanda, and Waverly Academy, Waverly, N. Y., where he passed the regent's examination, which admitted him to any university in the State, when but fifteen years of age. He then studied medicine with his father, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in March, 1875, and in 1878, graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, Chicago, Ill. Dr. Pratt began the practice of his profession in Towanda, in 1878, removed to Minnea- polis, Minn., in 1886, and while there was elected presiding officer and medical examiner in the Knights of Honor of that city: was four years Medical Director of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, and also State examiner for the Knights of Pythias. He returned to Towanda in 1888, where he has since been in active practice, giving his especial attention to surgery. On May 12, 1875, the Doctor married Mary, daughter of Sherman M. and Helen (Myer) Aspinwall, of Towanda, and by her he has three children : Catherine H., Joseph G. and Sue M. The Doctor is a member of the Western Academy of Medicine, the Minnesota State Medical Society of Homeopathy, and also belongs to the K. of H. and K. of P .; in politics he is a Republican.

C. MANVILLE PRATT, M. D., Towanda, is a native of Bradford county, a son of the well-known Dr. D. S. Pratt, his mother. being Catherine (Abell) Pratt. The ancestors of this gentleman were among the early pioneers of Bradford county, and the family are remotely of English descent. In Dr. D. S. Pratt's family were four children-two sons and two daughters. The subject of this sketch was born in Towanda, October 26, 1859, passed the rooms of the public schools and then became a student in the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute, where he was graduated in 1875, and was then in attend- ance at Princeton University, three years, entering sophomore year, and was graduated in 1879. He then became a medical student in the Pennsylvania University, and received the degree of M. D. in 1882, and in 1885 he was graduated in the Homeopathic School of Medicine, at Chicago, and practiced one year in his father's office, in Towanda, since when he has been alone; and, while not one of the oldest in the profession. he has a practice that is as extensive as many who have long outranked him in years in the borough. While his practice is in physic and surgery, yet it is probably in the line of sur- gery that he excels, as to this branch of his profession he is earnestly devoted, and has performed some noted and difficult operations. The doctor was united in marriage, in 1885, with Louise, daughter of Ster- ling Woodford, who was of English descent. The children born to Dr. and Mrs. Pratt are: David S., Sterling Woodford and Russell Bovd. Mrs. Pratt is a member of the Episcopal Church ; Dr. C. Man- ville Pratt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics is a Republican.

SOPHRONUS S. PRATT, farmer, Pike township, P. O. Brushville, was born in Prattville, Bradford Co., Pa., April 4, 1836, a son of

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James W. and Ruth (Canfield) Pratt, natives of Connecticut, in whose family there were eleven children, of whom Sophronus is the sixth. He purchased his present home of seventy-two acres in 1861, and has since given his undivided attention to farming. Mr. Pratt was married, January 2, 1859, to Lucy, eldest daughter of Giles N. and Emeline De Wolf, natives of Pennsylvania and of French origin. This happy union has been blessed with four children, as follows: Leslie M., born June 2, 1860, died June 23, 1863; Sylvia May, born November 27, 1862, was married, September 16, 1883, to Irad Doan (they have one child: Ella C., born November 2, 1885); Arthur V., born November 17, 1865, was married September 1, 1885, to Lottie Wyley (they have one child, George S., born November 20, 1887) and Clara V., born June 12, 1868, died October 13, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Republican.

EBEN L. PRESTON, general blacksmith, P. O. Columbia Cross Roads, was born in Troy township, this county, April 24, 1848, a son of Jabez and Elvira (Ayres) Preston. His paternal grandfather, Eben Preston, formerly of Vermont, was one of the pioneers of Troy town- ship, and cleared and improved the farm now owned by Benjamin Webber and the Levi Preston estate; he married Lucy Baldwin, by whom he had three children : Jabez, Nancy (Mrs. Andrew Decker) and Levi, who married Susan Webber. The father of our subject was born in Troy township, always followed farming as an occupation, and died, in 1865, at the age of forty-six years. His wife was a daughter of Lorenzo and Abigail (Smith) Ayres, of Columbia township, by whom he had four children : Eben L., Lucy (Mrs. Julius Adams), Lewis and Emma (Mrs. George Ross). Eben L. was reared and educated in Troy township, and followed farming until 1885. For several winters he worked at the blacksmith's trade, and in 1886 located at Columbia Cross Roads, and embarked in the general blacksmith business, in which he has since successfully continued. In July, 1868, he married Phebe M., daughter of Myron and Phebe (Rundell) Luther, of Burlington town- ship, and has four children living: Elmer, Bertie, Elsie and Lucy. He is a member of the I. O. O. F .; politically he is a Republican.

L. D. PRINCE, mechanic, Rome, was born in Orwell township, this county, December 1, 1830, and is a son of M. B. and Harriet (Russell) Prince, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Orwell township, a daughter of Dan Russell, one of the early pioneers of that township. Their family consisted of ten children, three of whom died in infancy, and one was killed by a rolling log; but four of the family survive, viz .: Polly, wife of Merritt Cole; Marthy, wife of Kirby Smith ; David, a wagon-maker, and L. D. The boyhood of our subject was spent on a farm; he attended the common schools until eighteen, acquiring a fair knowledge of the common branches. He began as a farmer on the old homestead at twenty-two ; then learned the trade of mason, and has worked at the same in connection with farming until the present time. He was united in wedlock, October 21, 1855, with Elizabeth, daughter of Martin and Polly (McGill) Moore ; she was born in Towanda township, December 8, 1828, the eldest in a family of ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Prince have had four

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

children, as follows: Polly, born September 13, 1856, married to L. D. Strope; J. M. Prince, born in Rome township, August 12, 1858, educated at Rome Academy, Collegiate Institute, of Towanda, and was graduated Doctor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science at National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio, 1890, and is now a student at a Polyclinic school at Cincinnati. He taught several years in the common and graded schools of this county, and though using the pro- fession as a stepping stone to something better, and to wider fields for his future career, has made a marked success of teaching; Levi L., musician, born April 7, 1870, educated in the common schools, Rome Academy, Monroeton High School, and the National University of Lebanon, Ohio; Lizzie, born September 4, 1867, educated at Rome Academy, and has adopted teaching as her profession. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. L. D. Prince fills the position of trustee, treasurer and superintendent of the Sabbath- school ; he is a Republican, and has filled the office of assessor many years ; is now serving his second term as burgess of Rome borough. Mr. Prince has passed his life so far in Rome township, and has always commanded the esteem and respect of all his neighbors.

MILES PRINCE, farmer, of Warren township, P. O. Cadis, a native of Windham township, was born January 1, 1822, a son of Joseph and Lucinda (Bates) Prince, natives of New Hampshire and Connecti- cut, respectively, who were married in this State, and were farmers. The father was a son of Abell Prince, who was a son of Lieut. Joseph Prince, of King George's army, and fought the Indians of New Hampshire, in early days. Abell Prince died in 1832; he had reared a family of ten children, of whom Joseph, who was the fifth, came to Bradford county in 1810, with his brother Abell, and improved the farm where his son Miles now resides. He was an early pioneer, strong and vigorous, and planted a seedling orchard, one of the first in the township; he died April 16, 1844, while his widow survived until November 12, 1852. They had four children, as follows : Miles, Mvron, Joel (died March 24, 1859, aged twenty-five), Lucinda A. (Mrs. Edwin Williams), died September 22, 1871, leaving two children, Alice and James. Miles, the eldest, was reared and educated at his home in Wind- ham and Warren townships, and when a young man taught several terms of school in the winter, and farmed in the summer ; he has been one of our most successful farmers, and owns 150 acres, with ample build- ings, and in an excellent state of cultivation. He lias his farm well stocked, and his accumulated capital is loaned out. February 20, 1847, in Warren township, he married Charlotte, daughter of Manson and Elmira (Mackey) Elsbree, natives of Albany county, N. Y., who came to this county in 1830, and had three children, of whom Mrs. Prince was second. Mr. and Mrs. Prince have four children as follows : Joseph M., a resident of West Warren ; Emmogene (Mrs. Warren Elsworth), of Albany, N. Y., who has one child, Webster H .; Laura E. (Mrs. Emerson Taylor), of Nichols, N. Y., and James W., married to Grace E. Berk, of South Creek township, and has a son, Miles G. Mr. Prince is a member of G. T. and the I. O. O. F. and is a Free- mason of Westbrook Lodge, No. 333, a master of the third degree;

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has filled the office of justice of the peace three terms, school director, etc., and is a Republican.

JAMES T. PRITCHARD, foreman in the Lehigh Valley Railroad boiler shops, Sayre, is a native of Schenectady, N. Y., born September 22, 1857, and is a son of Richard and Annie (Tyler) Pritchard, the former a native of Middlesex, England, and the latter of Aberdeen, Scotland. The father is a boiler-maker and resides in Scranton. James T. is the second in a family of nine children, of whom four are living. At the age of ten he went to work in the boiler shop, in Jersey City, and then moved to Scranton, and served an apprenticeship with the Dickson Manufacturing Company, where he remained about seven- teen years; thence went to Rome, N. Y., where he worked at his trade until the fall of 1886, when he came to Sayre, and in April, 1890, he was promoted to the position of foreman of the boiler shops. Mr. Pritchard was married in Scranton, in 1875, to Miss Mary, daughter of Harry and Mary Rodgers, natives of Pennsylvania; she is the third in the order of birth in a family of nine children, and was born in Scran- ton, in 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard were born eight children, of whom seven are living, as follows: James D., Ellen J., Jessie L., Mildred E., Alfred L., Ernest E. and Eugene E., the two latter being twins. The family worship at the Episcopal Church ; in politics Mr. Pritchard is a Republican.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 128

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