History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 132

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

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WILLIAM A. ROCKWELL, farmer, Tuscarora township, P. O. Springfield, was born in Pike, May 22, 1826, and is the eldest of four children of William and Sally (Andrus) Rockwell, the former a native of Connecticut. the latter of Vermont, both being of New England parentage. Our subject was reared on a farm, educated in the com- mon school, and at the age of twenty-one began life for himself, working at the carpenter's and joiner's trade, with Wright & Green- ough, in Granville township. On April 15, 1853, he moved to Tusca- rora, where he worked at his trade, until he purchased his present home of 100 acres, and has since been chiefly engaged in farm- ing, occasionally working at his trade. Mr. Rockwell was married, February 11, 1851, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Montgomery) Taylor, of Rocksbury, Delaware Co., N. Y .; they have seven children, viz .: Ella C., born February 26, 1853, married to Aden Lyon, farmer, Tuscarora; Eliza I., born April 11, 1856, died June 16, 1875; Herbert V., born October 12, 1860; Angie H., born June 11, 1863, and died March 11, 1864; Fred A., born September 12, 1865 ; Bertha M., born November 11, 1867, married to Gilbert Sumner, Tus- carora, and Blennie O., born July 26, 1872. Mr. Rockwell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Spring Hill, and in politics he has always been honorably identified with the Republican party.

W. H. ROCKWELL, farmer and stock-raiser, Ulster, son of Chauncy and Wealthy (Gordon) Rockwell, was born in Cortland county, N. Y .. March 4, 1840. His father was a native of New York, and his mother was born and reared at Standing Stone, this county. His grandfather was one of the early pioneers of Cortland county. moving to that county from Massachusetts in the year 1778; all that is known of the early history of the Rockwells is that two brothers by the name of Rockwell came to Massachusetts from England in the

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

early Colonial times, and to these two brothers the present generation of Rockwells trace their descent. His father's family consisted of eight children, viz .: Charles (deceased), Henry, George, Emmet, Edward, Albert, Einma and Ella, of whom seven are living, six of them being residents of this county; his father removed from Cortland county, N. Y., to Ulster in the year 1850, and lived there until his deatb, in the spring of 1862; his mother survives, is in her seventy- sixth year, and makes her home with her son Edward. He received his early education at the public schools of Ulster, as a farmer's boy of his day, which was, of course, limited. He is one of the largest tobacco growers of the county, having supplied his farm with all the improved apparatus and machinery for raising that crop. On Decem- ber 12, 1872, he has united in marriage with Lavilla W., daughter of Lorenza and Matilda Watkins ; they have no children. In religions views the family are independent, and have never been associated with any religious organization ; in politics Mr. Rockwell is a Republican ; he has held numerous township offices; owns a fine farm, well improved, consisting mostly of river land, well watered by springs; besides culti- vating a large tobacco crop, he devotes considerable attention to sheep- raising, and keeps a small dairy; he has always been successful in his business, and owes his present prosperous condition largely to his own exertions.

WILLIS N. ROCKWELL, farmer, P. O. West Burlington, was born April 13, 1853, in West Burlington, this county, a son of Alvord P. and Achsa (Harrison) Rockwell, the former of whom was born in Troy township, this county, of English extraction, is a farmer in Burlington township, is now aged seventy years, and is a brother of the Hon. Delos Rockwell, of Troy. The mother of Willis N., whose family were from New England, and of English origin, died at the age of thirty years. There were only two sons, Willis N., and another who is a farmer in West Burlington township. The grandfather, Luther Rock- well, was one of the pioneers of the township. The subject of these lines was reared on the farm, and educated in the schools of the town and at Troy. He engaged in farming, which occupation he has fol- lowed, and is now the owner of a fine farm of 130 acres, one of the finest locations in the township, and his principal interests are dairying and sheep-raising. He was married, February 27, 1878, to Emma J. Phillips, of Burlington township, who was born February 27, 1852, in Charleston, S. C., a daughter of John M. and Sarah (Petsch) Phillips. Mr. Phillips was a planter in Charleston, S. C., after the Civil War, during which period he was in the employ of the United States Govern- ment, in Buffalo, in the transportation of arms from the North. At one time he was owner of a fine farm in West Burlington township, this county; he was born in New York State, of English parents, and died at the age of sixty-four years. Mrs. Phillips was a native of South Carolina, and her mother was also a native of South Carolina, of English origin. Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell have two children : Achsa, born Feb- ruary 28, 1883, and Jennie, born November 19, 1887. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and has held the offices of assessor, constable and collector, also other positions of public trust in the township. He is

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

one of the rising young men of the community. Mrs. Rockwell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

MRS. BETSEY J. RODGERS, Litchfield township, P. O. Litchfield, widow of Johnson Rodgers, who was a farmer, was born in Orange county, N. Y., May 19, 1818, a daughter of Samuel and Betsey Ball, natives of Orange county, who settled in Litchfield in 1825, and engaged in farming. Their family consisted of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity. Betsey J.was the eighth in the family, and was reared and edu- cated in Litchfield at the common school. On December 28, 1840, she mar- ried Johnson Rodgers, and to them were born the following children : Hudson, born June 17, 1841; Mary, born March 12, 1843, married to Joshua Teerk ; John, born January 15, 1845 ; Taylor, born November 7, 1848, married to Orphie Ellis; Johnson, Jr., born March 15, 1850, married to Julia Maston ; Allen M .. born July 1, 1853, married to Jane Goodsell ; Martha, born August 8, 1858, married Wells Horton; Samuel, born December 1, 1860; Sarah A., born March 31, 1863, and Ann, married to Edward Maynard. Johnson Rodgers was a mill-wright of vast ex- perience in his day, and also a competent pilot on the Susquehanna river ; he was a soldier in the Civil War, and served three years in the Army of the Potomac, Company D, Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry ; he held the office of lieutenant and was honorably discharged. Mrs. Rodgers is now drawing a pension of fifteen dollars a month, and lives on a farm of 260 acres.

RURR ROGERS, painter, Sugar Run, was born in Wyoming county, Pa., October 11, 1850, and is a son of William and Olive (Crawford), Rogers, the former a native of Steuben county, N. Y., born of Irish lineage; the latter a native of Pennsylvania, born of New England origin. Burr Rogers began life for himself at the age of twenty, farming, and two years later learned the cooper's trade, which he followed six years ; then worked at painting two years, after which he commenced clerking, which business he has since followed. Mr. Rogers was married, November 19, 1870, to Miss Gertrude, daughter of Sterling and Sallie (Williams) Quick, of Wilmot, and this union has resulted in the birth of five children : George F., born October 26, 1871; David M., born October 20, 1876; Jacob J., born May 5, 1879; Henry A., born June 5, 1881, and Anna L., born March 5, 1884. Mr. Rogers is a firm adherent to the principles of the Republican party.

CHARLES S. ROGERS, D. D. S., Towanda, a native of Forks- ville, Sullivan Co., Pa., was born February 5, 1864, a son of Moses A. and Abigail (Potter) Rogers, and of English descent. His maternal grandfather, George W. Potter, was a native of Cooperstown, N. Y., and was a pioneer foundryman of Towanda; in later life he removed to Sullivan county, Pa., and died there. Charles S., the subject of this memoir, was reared in Sullivan county, and received an academical education at Vineland, N. J. In 1881 he began the study of den- tistry, with Dr. Pepper, of Forksville, Pa., and graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College, in the spring of 1884. He immediately began the practice of his chosen profession at LeRaysville, this county, and in December, 1885, removed to Towanda, where he has been very successful, and built up an extensive practice. He married, September

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

24, 1884, Mary, daughter of William C. and Elizabeth (Whitley) Mars- den, of Towanda, and has two children: Charles S., Jr., and Marsden A. Dr. Rogers is a member of the Susquehanna Dental Association, and the Alumni of Philadelphia Dental College; is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Republican.

JAMES C. ROGERS, Litchfield township, P. O. Athens, was born December 25, 1824, in Sheshequin township, this county, on the farm now owned by James Newman; he is a son of John S. and Maria (Campbell) Rogers. John S. Rogers was a native of Sheshequin town- ship, born October 17, 1795 ; his father removed to this county imme- diately after the Revolutionary War, and lived most of his life in Sheshe- quin township; he was a soldier for a time in the Revolutionary War, but the records were destroyed. In his father's family there were five children (three of whom are yet living): Almira and Almera (twins, the latter of whom survives and resides on Babb's creek, Tioga county); James C., the subject of this sketch; Eliza M. was married to W. S. Park, and now resides in Colorado; Orlando S. died in 1875, at Athens. James C. Rogers, the subject of the sketch, was reared on his father's farm in Sheshequin township, and received a common- school education. He finished school when seventeen years of age, and moved from Sheshequin to Litchfield, April 18, 1840, and resided on the farm now owned by Chas. Green, seven years, then purchased a farm, which was then a wilderness, which he cleared and improved. His first business was lumbering, which he followed twelve years. He now owns seventy-five acres, about sixty-five of which are culti- vated ; he keeps a dairy for family use, and has accumulated the prop- erty by his own exertions. His parents moved with him and resided there until their death. He was married, February 15, 1860, to Jane A., daughter of Benjamin F. and Sarah (Depne) Watkins; she died August 31, 1890. To them was born one child, O. S., now twenty- eight years of age, who resides at home with his father. Mr. Rogers is a member of the I. O. O. F., Valley Lodge, No. 446 ; in politics he affiliates with the Democratic party; he has held the offices of assessor, road commissioner, auditor, and judge of election.

JOHN A. ROGERS, farmer, Wilmot township, P. O. Elwell, was born December 26, 1827, at Pillar Point, N. Y., and is a son of Hugh and Caroline (Sage) Rogers, the former a native of New York, and of Irish descent, the latter a native of Massachusetts, and of New England parentage. His paternal ancestor in this country (Rogers) was a pas- senger onthe "Mayflower." John A. Rogers was educatedin the common school and Wyoming Seminary, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-six, lumbering in Wyoming county, Pa., where he remained five years; then removed to his present home, and has since given his attention to farming chiefly, occasionally to lumbering. Mr. Rogers was married, December 15, 1857, to Miss Phebe L., daughter of John and Louisa (Stannard) Brizse, of Chenango county, N. Y., and they have one son, John B., born August 5, 1859, and married to Mary I., daughter of A. Porter and Sarah (Crandall) Oliver, of Wyoming county, Pa .; he is engaged with his father on the farm. John A. Rogers

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Wilmot Centre, and in politics is a Republican.

HENRY C. ROLISON, proprietor of Farmers' Mills, Troy, was born in Alba, this county, March 13, 1853, and is a son of Nathan and Arminda (Riggs) Rolison, natives of Sussex county, N. J., who settled in Canton township, this county, about 1835, and cleared and improved a farm, on which they lived until the death of Mrs. Rolison, in 1864, when Mr. Rolison returned to New Jersey, he came back to this county and died here in 1888 ; he had eleven children who grew to maturity : Martha (Mrs. G. H. Nelson), John, Lewis, Ruth (Mrs. J. S. Wilcox), Squire and Uriah (twins), Cornelius, Jane (Mrs. A. J. Hume), Alanson, Henry C. and Perry. Henry C. Rolison, the subject of the sketch, was reared in Canton, educated in the common schools, and, at the age of fourteen, was apprenticed to the miller's trade, which occupation he has followed to the present time, and, since 1883, has been the proprietor of the Farmers' Mills, at Troy. He was twice married : first time to Emma J., daughter of Asa and Mary (Harding) Pratt, of Canton, by whom he had two chil- dren : Florence A. and Herbert H .; she died January 1, 1888, and Mr. Rolison afterward married Nell E., daughter of Rev. A. M. and Julia (Pardee) Weston, of Indiana, and by her has one daughter, Grace I. Mr. Rolison is a member of the Disciple Church ; in politics he is a Republican.

JOSEPH L. ROOF, farmer, Franklin township, P. O. Franklindale, was born in Franklin, this county, February 11, 1847, a son of James and Emeline (Lantz) Roof, the former of whom was born in Newton, Sussex Co., N. J., and the latter in Franklin. The father was a son of Jacob and Mary (Struble) Roof, natives of Germany, who came to this country about 1785, locating in Sussex county, N. J., near the banks of the "Paulius Kill," where he (Jacob) died about 1860; his family consisted of nine children, of whom James, the fifth in order of birth, removed to this county in 1830, and in 1843 married Miss Emeline Lantz, which union resulted in the birth of three daughters and one son, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Roof, the mother of Joseph L., died February 15, 1889. James Roof and his wife lived on their present place nearly fifty years, where she died. Our subject was reared and educated at Franklin, excepting one term at the State Normal School, Mansfield, Tioga Co., Pa., and one term at the Susque- hanna Collegiate Institute, Towanda. On March 24, 1874, he married, at Franklindale, Miss Ella, daughter of Stern and Wilmina McKee, and to this union were born two children: J. Raymond, born October 3, 1875, and Mina Emeline, born December 23, 1878. Mrs. Roof is a great-granddaughter of Leonard McKee, one of the first settlers. Mr. Roof is a thrifty farmer and is successful in his enterprises; he has owned some very fine-blooded horses ; he lives on a farm of 106 acres, and has a peach orchard of 500 trees ; he is a Democrat in politics.

THOMAS JEFFERSON ROOF, farmer, Standing Stone town- ship, P. O. Rummerfield, was born in Wysox township, this county, July 11, 1835, son of Charles Roof, who was born in Sussex county, N. J., February 12, 1809, and was a son of Jacob Roof, also a native

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

of New Jersey, who married Hannah Struble. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Roof had a large family: the eldest son, Charles, married Maria, daughter of Peter Lantz, another native of New Jersey, and they had three children: Sophie Elizabeth, who was twice married, her first husband being Joel Huff, and the second, Jonathan Stevens; Thomas Jefferson and Hender- son. When Charles Roof first came to this county he lived in Wysox three years, then removed to Frenchtown, where he lived until 1842, and then purchased a farm in this township from H. W. Tracy, of about one hun- dred and fifty-four acres, and in 1857 added thereto 186 acres ; he was a very successful farmer, and a member of the Baptist Church. Thomas J., the subject of this sketch, attended the district school until his twenty- first year, then worked at home until 1860, when he began for him- self, on a portion of his father's farm, 186 acres, which was willed to him at his father's death. He purchased, in 1869, of William Hager- dorn, sixty-four acres, and in 1881, of Miles Ried, sixty-two acres, and in 1883, of Joseph Powell, fifty-four acres. He has been very success- ful in all his undertakings, has been school director twelve years, also road commissioner twelve years, and, as his name indicates, is a Demo- crat. He married, March 18, 1860, Elizabeth Roe, daughter of David and Saphire Dennis Roe (she is the eldest of seven children, natives of New Jersey), and of this marriage there are nine children, as follows: Emma, Ella, Chauncey, Mary, Samuel, Frederick, Sarah, Denton and Susie.

ALBERT S. ROSS, merchant, Wyalusing, was born at Rockey Forest, Wyoming county, January 25, 1848. and is a son of George G. and Melissa (Myers) Ross, the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of Pennsylvania. His mother was of German origin, and her grandfather was a soldier in the Hessian Army, during the War of the Revolution; he deserted, and to avoid capture concealed himself in the woods, where provisions were carried to him by the maiden who after- ward became his wife. After their marriage they settled in Wyoming county, about eighteen miles back from Laceyville. Albert's ancestors, on his father's side, were Scotch, and his great-grandmother was a Duball, sister of the author of Duball's Arithmetic. George G. Ross was a blacksmith, and worked at various points in Bradford and Wyoming counties, and in Wyalusing, over thirty-five years ago; he died in Wyoming county, February 7, 1890, aged seventy-three, his wife having died about two years previously. They had three children, of whom the eldest died in infancy. Anise was married to a Mr. Lee, and died in the West. Albert S. is the youngest and only living member of the family; he passed his boyhood in different localities in Bradford and Wyoming counties, and was educated in the common schools. When only sixteen years old, March 8, 1864, he enlisted in Company G, Fiftieth P. V. V. I. He was discharged, with his regi- ment, July 5, 1865, having participated in the following engagements: Weldon Railroad, Hatcher's Run, Peebles Farm, Petersburg and the Siege of Petersburg; then was sent to Broad's Crossing, on the South Side Railroad, where he remained until after the surrender of Lee, when he started for the front. Upon enlisting, through some mistake, he was sent to join the Army of the West, at Nashville; was stricken

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with the measles, and sent to hospital, and was shortly after transferred to Louisville, Ky., and then to New Albany, Ind. After his recovery he again started to the front, and joined Sherman's army, at Atlanta, and from there he was sent to his regiment at Horse Shoe, close to Peters- burg. After his return home he worked with his father in the shop, and learned the blacksmith's trade, and worked at it until his failing health compelled him to abandon this labor, and for about six years he followed huckstering and teaching, after which he resumed his trade. and followed it about two years; then gave it up, as his health was undermined by his military hardships, and would not permit his fol- lowing manual labor. After working at various places in Wyoming and Bradford counties, in 1887, he came to Wyalusing, and entered the grocery business, where he has since been, and has a complete line of groceries and provisions, cigars, tobacco, smokers' supplies, lamps and fixtures. He was united in marriage, January 1, 1875, with Helen Gory, and they have one child, Jessie L., born November 13, 1881. Mr. Ross is a member of the Republican party, but does not take an active interest in politics.

CHARLES H. ROSS, farmer, Ulster township, P. O. Ulster, was born in Burlington, this county, August 11, 1864, and is the son of Benjamin and Ennico (Swain) Ross, farmers. Charles H. Ross was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools and the Susque- hanna Collegiate Institute, Towanda; he then taught school six months, and engaged as traveling salesman for the Eureka Mower Company, three months, then began farming. He was married, April 8, 1886, to Mable, daughter of Isaac and Adaline (Myers) Carpenter, and the fruits of this marriage are : Winnie, born February 20, 1887, and Madge, born July 6, 1891. Mr. Ross is a member of the Iron Hall, No. 886, and fills the chair of accountant; is also a member of the Golden Cycle, and fills the chair of chaplain. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he holds the office of steward, and he is a Republican in politics.

HENRY A. ROSS, merchant, Pike township, was born in Pike township, this county, September 22, 1835, a son of Nelson and Eliza W. (Bosworth) Ross, the former of whom was a native of Connecticut, of New England origin. In their family there were five children, of whom Henry A. is the second. Our subject was reared on a farm, educated in the common school, LeRaysville graded school, and Hol- land Patent Academy. He began life for himself at the age of twenty- five, and for six years was occupied in farming ; in 1867 he engaged with E. B. Stone in the mercantile and milling business, and in 1870 he built his present store. He was in business alone, six years, then with R. Stevens, four years, afterward with Lacy Stevens, seven years, and in 1887 the firm of Ross, Stevens & Jones was organized. Mr. Ross was married October 8, 1861, to Sarah V., daughter of Myron and Susan (Bosworth) Stevens, and they had two children : George H., born March 11, 1863, died August 24, 1864; Nellie, born June 26, 1866, married Charles F. Jones. Mrs. Sarah V. Ross died July 5, 1885, and Mr. Ross was married June 6, 1888, to Miss Maggie J., daughter of John and Nancy (Irwin) Haney, natives of Ireland. Mr.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

and Mrs. Ross are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is elder and trustee; he is a Republican, and has held the offices of con- stable and collector; was appointed postmaster in 1871, released in 1885, reappointed in 1889, and is now in possession of that office.

WILLIAM F. ROSS, farmer, Smithfield township, P. O. Burling- ton, was born, April 21, 1821, in Burlington, this county, a son of John and Hannah (Head) Ross, natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish and Dutch ancestry. The father was a blacksmith in Burlington borough many years, and died in Granville, at the age of ninety-three; the mother died in Ulster, at about the same age. The grandfather, David Ross, was a pioneer of Burlington, settling, in the early part of this century, about one and one-half miles east of the borough, where he cleared a large farm; he died in Granville at the age of sixty-four years. William F. Ross learned the blacksmith's trade with his father, which he has continued most of his life; recently he purchased a farm in the south part of Smithfield, where he now resides. On February 15, 1842, he married Clarissa, daughter of Thomas and Betsey (Law) Smith, natives of Newburg, and of Welsh and Irish origin (she was born in Newburg, N. Y., February 23, 1820; her parents came to Bradford county, in 1825, settling in Burlington, and on a claim at Mountain Lake, and cleared the farm now owned by David S. Lenox, where the father died at the age of eighty-one years, and the mother aged eighty-two). Mr. and Mrs. Ross have had six children, as follows : Marion, Wilmot (deceased), Devellum, Edith, Isabell and Arthur. Wilmot was a soldier in the Civil War, and lost his life there, and the mother now draws a pension on his account. Mr. Ross is a Republican. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

DEVELLUM ROSS, farmer, P. O. Burlington, was born in Colum- bia township, this county, July 29, 1849, a son of William F. and Clarissa L. (Smith) Ross, the former of English and Irish extraction, a native of Burlington, and the latter of Welsh origin, a native of New- burg, N. Y., both of whom are living. The father had been a black- smith a great many years, mostly at Burlington, but is now a farmer in Smithfield ; his parents were John and Hannah (Head) Ross, the father a native of Pennsylvania. The paternal great-great-grandfather of our subject was David Ross, one of the pioneers of Burlington, and experienced all of the privations of the early settlers; he settled on a claim about one-half mile east of the village, and was a farmer all of his life. Our subject was reared on a farm, and when he reached his majority was engaged in farming on his own account. He is now the owner of a fine farm in a beautiful location on a high elevation in the north part of the township; he is mostly engaged in raising borses, with a general farming business. He was twice mar- ried ; his first wife was Elizabeth Fletcher, of Smithfield, born in 1851, died August 6, 1887, and on May 27, 1888, he married Mrs. Nellie (Camp) Gustin, of Burlington (she was born in Herrick town- ship, April 21, 1856, a daughter of Hiram and Margaret (Lum) Camp, old settlers of that township). Mrs. Ross has one daughter by her former husband, Florence M., born July 16, 18 -. Mr. Ross is a Republican in politics, but takes no great interest in the affairs of the

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 132

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