History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 137

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

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WILLIAM SHUMWAY, one of the prominent citizens of Spring Hill, was born, January 17, 1841, on the farm where he now resides. He is a son of Cyrus and grandson of Reuben Shumway, who came from Steuben county, N. Y., in 1803, and settled near the present vil- lage of Wyalusing. The grandfather spoken of was an old Revolution- ary soldier. When the commander of the Continental forces needed the most trustworthy of his men to guard Maj. Andre, he was the one selected. At another time, when it was deemed necessary that he should perform picket duty at a place where several preceding him had been shot, he said to the officer in charge: "You will hear my gun before morning." That night an Indian, covered with a hog-skin, cautiously approached the sentry, and became a corpse. In every respect a thorough pioneer, he built for himself fourteen log houses, and, as some one has said, " moved into all the empty ones he could find."

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He located, in 1805, where William now resides, and took from the land office a Government land warrant for 436 acres, a considerable share of which is still owned by the subject of this sketch, the same having never passed out of the possession of the family.

Cyrus Shumway was a man of great physical and mental force. His ambition did not allow him to reach middle age, before he had wrested from the wilderness a valuable home for himself and for those who might succeed him. A large part of this, together with much of his native energy, he transmitted to his son. But he gave him a still better inheritance in training him, by hoth precept and example, to a life of integrity and usefulness.

The settlement of Reuben Shumway is believed to have been the first one made in the township of Tuscarora. The descendant occupy- ing these ancestral acres is a man of a thoughtful caste of mind, and of pure truthfulness and honor. Only the generosity of his character has prevented him from being the possessor of large means. Though never an aspirant for public recognition, he has held such positions as are within the gift of his friends and neighbors. In 1874 he materi- ally aided in organizing a Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, which now, among the citizens of eastern Bradford, has risks in force to nearly $3,000,000. This enterprise has been so conducted as to save its members many thousand dollars. At that time he was given a place at the head of the company as president, a position which he has ever since continued to fill. In 1863, he married Addie, daughter of Ferris Ackley, by whom he has two surviving children, the elder one, Daisy, being a graduate of the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute, in the class of '91. His wife dying in 1877, in 1884 he was re-married, this time the partner of his choice being Minnie, daughter of George Sumner. Their union has been blessed with three children. In poli- tics, by daring to act "upon the courage of his convictions," Mr. Shum- way has become a leading "Independent " Republican, and is recog- nized, also, wherever known, as one of Bradford county's most progressive farmers. The family are of French extraction, the original ancestors in this country having been Huguenots, who, on account of religious persecution, came to America in about 1695. It should be added, that in every war waged for the creation or preservation of our institutions, its blood has been represented.

HENRY R. SIBLE, railroad watchman, Wysox township, P. O. Wysox, was born in Rome township, Bradford Co., Pa., July 16, 1862, and is the youngest of the four children of Isaac and Alma (Lent) Sible, natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common school and in the Towanda graded schools, and began life at the age of sixteen at farming, but at twenty began braking on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. While coupling cars at Sugar Run, November 14, 1885, he received an injury by which he lost the two first fingers of his right hand, and on December 14, 1886, his left arm was badly crushed while working in the yard at Towanda. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, he was employed as watchman by the rail- road company, and is now stationed at the East Towanda crossing. Mr. Sible was married June 27, 1883, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Isaac

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

and Elizabeth (Walker) Schoonover, of Standing Stone, this county, natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Sible have had born to them two children : Edna L., born January 19, 1888, and Pearl M., born July 29, 1890. Mr. Sible has always been identified with the Republican party.

A. J. SILVARA, merchant, Silvara, was born in Tuscarora town- ship, this county, August 18, 1828, a son of Manuel and Janette (Marsh) Silvara, the former of whom was born in Portugal, and, when about seventeen years of age, came to America, and worked for a man by the name of Nichols, learning the mason's trade, which he continued about three years, and then removed to the then wilderness of Bradford and located on what is now Spring Hill ; there he cleared up a farm, which after a few years' residence he exchanged for wild land around where the hamlet of Silvara now stand. Here he resided nearly fifty years, and was largely instrumental in clearing up and settling the country about him ; he has always been a farmer and lum- berman, and built two of the first sawmills of the section ; by the time of his death he had accumulated a considerable fortune in money besides a large tract of land containing over 800 acres. His family consisted of the following children: Joseph, a doctor (now deceased); B.M., a merchant and banker of Dushore, Pa .; Eliza Ann, married to Robert Cooley (deceased); Theodore,a retired farmer, of Tuscarora township; A.J .; John, who was accidentally drowned in Muncy creek, Pa .; Emily, married to Charles Davidson (deceased); L. B., a traveling salesman, residing in Sil- vara; E. L., speculator and broker, of Perry, Mich. A. J. Silvara passed his boyhood on a farm, and received a limited common-school educa- tion ; at his majority he began business for himself, adopting farming as an occupation. After fifteen years he entered mercantile business in the hamlet of Silvara, opening a store in a building where he con- tinued about five years, and then built the room he now occupies, where he has continued in business to the present time, conducting a general store. Besides his mercantile business he owns about 230 acres of valuable land and various building lots, etc. Mr. Silvara was united in marriage, October 31, 1855, with Margaret E., daughter of Thomas Taylor, a prominent farmer of Tuscarora, and has a family of five children : Cora Edna, married to B. P. Raub, a steam sawmill owner, of Emporium, Pa .; M. T., married to Francis Bunnell, a farmer, of Wyoming county ; T. A., married to Ethna Bennett, a farmer, of Silvara; Lillie E. and Hinkley S. Politically Mr. Silvara is a Republi- can, and has filled the various town offices ; in 1870 he was appointed postmaster at Silvara, and with the exception of four years under Cleveland's administration has filled the office since. Mr. Silvara ranks well toward the front among the successful men of the county.

WILLIAM R. SIMS, farmer, P. O. Troy, was born in Troy town- ship, this county, November 26, 1842, and is a son of John and Char- lotte (Case) Sims, the former of whom, a farmer by occupation, was born in Wells township, but spent most of his life in Troy township, where he died at the age of sixty years; his wife was a daughter of Reuben and Statira (Hugg) Case, and granddaughter of Reuben and Experience (Nichols) Case, who settled in Troy township in

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

1798; her father was the first white male child born in Troy township. To this union were born seven children: William R., Jerusha (Mrs. James Worden), Laura (Mrs. B. Frank Newberry), James, Jane (Mrs. Jobn Mershon), Mary (Mrs. John Soper) and Charles. William R. Sims was reared in Bradford county, and educated in the common schools. In the Civil War he enlisted, October 14, 1861, in Company C, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry; he participated in all the experiences of the regiment, with the exception of six months he was on detached duty; he was promoted to corporal, then to sergeant, and was honorably discharged as second lieutenant at Macon, Ga., August 27, 1865, and mustered ont at Harrisburg, Pa., September 14, 1865. He then returned to Troy, where he was engaged in farming until 1884. He was then appointed superintendent of the insane department of the County Poor House, which position he filled acceptably six and one- half years. On March 1, 1891, he located in Columbia township, on the farm he now occupies. He married, September 26, 1867, Phebe A., daughter of William and Lucy (Barber) Brewer, of Wells town- ship, and has one son, Frank E. Mr. Sims is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., G. A. R. and the Patrons of Husbandry; politically he is a Republican.

CHARLES J. SLEEPER, farmer and stockman, Warren township, P. O. Warren Centre, one of the prominent citizens of the county, was born September 9, 1827, a son of John and Abigail (Lathrop) Sleeper, natives of Vermont and Connecticut, respectively, farmers. John Sleeper came to this county in 1820, and located in Warren township, where he married Abigail Lathrop in 1826 ; he died, August 25, 1865 ; his widow died January 9, 1889; their family of children were three in number, viz .: Charles J., John F. (married to Susan Stevens, has two children and resides in the township) and Caroline (Mrs. James A. Nichols), of Warren township. Charles J. Sleeper grew to strong manhood in the old family home, learning more of work than books, and early commenced farming on his own account ; he has prospered well and now owns 100 acres of highly-improved and well-cultivated land, finely equipped with good and substantial build- ings. He was married in Susquehanna county, December 23, 1855, to Jane E., daughter of Robert and Parmela (Baily) Sleeper, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire, respectively, and of English extraction ; they had only one child, Jane E. The family came to this county in 1865 ; the father died May 20, 1865, the mother on July 4, 1882. To Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Sleeper were born three children, viz .: Vielda (Mrs. Alfred Day), of Susquehanna county, Silas and Fred. Mr. Sleeper is a Democrat, and during President Cleveland's term he was postmaster at Warren Centre. The Sleeper family have an ancient and honorable record, dating back to the early and prominent people of Bradford county. Mr. Sleeper's father, John, was the son of Robert and Catherine (Fox) Sleeper, natives of Vermont, who both died in 1850; their family of children were ten in number, of whom John was the fifth, in the order of birth.

GEORGE B. SLEEPER, farmer, Warren Centre, is a native of Warren township, this county, born April 28, 1844, and is a son of

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Josephus and Maria (Bowen) Sleeper. His father was a native of Ver- mont, and his mother of Warren township, a daughter of George Bowen. The father, who was a farmer, came to this county in 1818, when it was still a wilderness, and hewed away the dark woods to make his farm on which he lived; he died January 8, 1889; the mother died September 5, 1860. Their family consisted of eight chil- dren, viz .: Catherine, Olive, George B., Thomas J., David A., Laura, Robert F. and James D. Their father was twice married, his second wife being Mary E. Bowen, a sister of the first wife, and by her there were two children: Willie and Mabel. The subject of this sketch, who is the third child in the family by the first wife, grew to manhood in his family, was educated in Warren Centre, engaged in farming and has followed same with eminent success, clearing his own way to fortune, and is the possessor of 140 acres of well-tilled and improved land, one of the finest farms in the county ; has also a fine residence in the Centre, where he now lives. He was married here to Mary L., daughter of Caleb and Rebecca (Goff ) Abell, natives of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, respectively ; they had five children, as follows : Nancy B., Sarah A., Caleb T., Mary L. and Lois R. To Mr. and Mrs. George B. Sleeper were born three sons, viz .: Merton A. (a clerk in New York), G. Milton and Roy A. Mr. Sleeper is a Republican, has been elected a justice of the peace for two terms, and has been assessor twice. This is one of the much esteemed families of Bradford county, well known for integrity and industry.

JOHN JAY SLOCUM, farmer, Pike township, P. O. LeRaysville, was born in Herrick, this county, September 16, 1848, a son of Micajah and Mary E. (Fairchild) Slocum ; the father was a shoe-maker and farmer, native of Connecticut and of New England origin ; the mother a native of Pennsylvania and of New England lineage. In Micajah's family there were six children, of whom John Jay is the third. He was reared on the farm, educated in the common school, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-one, retailing milk in Bingham- ton, N. Y., where he remained six months; then worked for P. J. McCauley six months, and worked on the farm with his father, who died September 21, 1877, at the age of eighty-one. Our subject pur- chased the homestead consisting of 165 acres of well-improved land, known as the "Perley Buck farm;" and has since built two large barns and a dwelling-house. Mr. Slocum was married, February 26, 1875, to Helen A., daughter of Joel and Celinda ( Acla) Chilson, of Durell. Her parents and grandparents were early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Slocum have one child, Hattie A., born January 8, 1877. Mr. Slocum is a brother of Oscar B. Slocum, baggage master for the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Wilkes-Barre. In politics he is a Republican.

WINFIELD S. SLUYTER, farmer, P. O. Towanda, was born February 24, 1855, a son of William A. and Polly (Bennett) Sluyter; his father was a native of Allegany county, N. Y., and his mother of this county, whose ancestors were among the earliest settlers, and of German and Irish extraction. Winfield S. was born in this county, and reared on his father's farm, the one on which he now lives. He was married, August 25, 1880, to Mary J., daughter of John and Emma L.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

(Adams) McQueen, who were of Scotch and English ancestry. Mr. Sluyter is the seventh in a family of ten children, two of whom, Sylvester and Alonzo, were in the Civil War, where they both died. Mrs. Sluyter is third in a family of ten children, four of whom are living. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sluyter five children, as follows : Anna (died in childhood), Edwin H. (born June 5, 1882), Frank M. (born July 15, 1883), John B. (born December 14, 1884), Bertha M. (born October 19, 1886). Mr. Sluyter is a Republican, and takes an active interest in public affairs. He has a fine farm, under a good state of cultivation, and has combined with general farming that of market gardening and the raising of tobacco. The family are widely esteemed and prominent in the social affairs of the county.

DAVID SMILEY, farmer, P. O. West Franklin, was born in Can- ton, Pa., September 7, 1822, the son of John and Susannah (Stone) Smiley, of whom the former was born near Lewisburg, Pa., and the latter in this county. John Smiley was the son of Thomas Smiley, one of the early settlers in West Franklin; John had a family of eight children, all of whom grew to maturity, and six of them are now living. David is the eighth in the family, and was reared and edu- cated in Canton and Franklin ; he always lived and worked on a farm ; he commenced with nothing and now has a farm of 120 acres of fer- tile land. On September 23, 1846, he married, in Towanda, Miss Phebe Ann, daughter of Alpheus and Hannah (Kingsbury) Holcomb, natives of Connecticut, and who belong to the old class of settlers of LeRoy. To Mr. and Mrs. Smiley have been born four sons and two daughters : Oscar, married to Hattie Newell; Flora, married to B. M. Walters; Augusta, married to M. R. Foster; O. L., married to Lizzie Taylor; O'Mera, and Jay, married to Blanche Andress. Mr. Smiley entered the army in 1864, and served during the remainder of the con- flict, attached to Company L, Twelfth N. Y. C .; Col. Savage com- manding, and now in his old age draws a pension. He has retired from business in favor of his sons, O'Mera and Jav. His son O. L. has been honored with the office of deputy register and recorder, while he himself holds some important town offices; he is a member of the G. A. R., in faith a Baptist, and a Republican in politics.

ALVAH C. SMITH, of Smith Brothers & Turner, furniture deal- ers and undertakers, Towanda, was born in Wysox township, this county, January 19, 1845, and is a son of John B. and Lucinda (Hor- ton) Smith. He was educated in the common schools and Susque- hanna Collegiate Institute at Towanda, and since attaining his majority has been engaged in farming and dairying. In 1886 he became a member of the firm of Smith Brothers & Turner, leading furniture dealers of Towanda, and has been a resident of the borough since 1887. Mr. Smith has been twice married; his first wife was Louisa Sanders, and his second wife was Isabel, daughter of Darius R. and Anna S. (Merwin) Manley, of Monroe county, Pa., and by her has one son, Randolph A. Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist Church and of the K. of P. In politics he is a Republican, and he held several offices while a resident of North Towanda.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

CADY SMITH, physician and surgeon, Alba, is a native of Ames, Montgomery Co., N. Y., born July 11, 1849, a son of Charles and Ellen (Bowman) Smith, natives of Herkimer and Flat Bush, N. Y., respect- ively. Charles Smith was a mill-wright by trade, and died in Schuyler county, N. Y., October 28, 1890, in his seventy-fourth year. Mrs. Smith still survives him, and resides in Schuyler county, N. Y. The subject of this memoir is the youngest in order of birth in a family of four children, viz .: Dr. O. W. Smith, of Union Springs, N. Y .; Mary A. Wellar and Elsie Willer, of Monterey, N. Y., and Cady. He was reared in Schuyler county, N. Y., from the time he was five years of age ; received a public-school education, read medicine for three years, and was graduated from the Eclectic Medical College of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, in 1879; also attended the Medico-Chirurgical College, of Philadelphia, during the winters of 1887 and 1888. The Doctor began the practice of his profession in West Burlington, where he remained three montlis ; then removed to Schuyler county, N. Y., and was there until February, 1881, when he came to Alba, and has since been practicing his profession in that place. Dr. Smith was married, July 5, 1869, to Julia E., daughter of R. H. and Eliza D. (Goddard) Ward, natives of Troy and West Burlington townships, respectively. R. H. Ward was a blacksmith by trade, and died in West Burlington, June 7, 1888, in his seventy-fifth year. Mrs. Ward still survives him, and resides in West Burlington. Mrs. Smith is the third in order of birth in a family of six children, and was born in Burlington, August 15, 1849. The family are members of the Disciple Church. The Doctor and wife are members of the Equitable Aid Union ; he is also a member of the Schuyler County Medical Association ; is justice of the peace, also school director, a position he has filled seven years, and has been secretary of the board during that time; politically he is a Republican. He is liberal in religion, medicine and politics.

C. C. SMITH, merchant, Camptown, was born at Skinner's Eddy, Wyoming Co .. Pa., June 30, 1855, a son of Leon and Mary (Bryant) Smith. His father was born in New Hampshire, and learned the trade of a blacksmith, in the shop of his father; he followed that business until forced from active life on account of failing health, and removed with his parents to Wyoming county, in 1828, and still resides there, being now in his sixty-eight year; was a soldier of the Rebellion, and served his country faithfully throughout the war. He had a family of five children, viz .: C. C .; Lillie C., married to Arthur L. Vander- voort, of Skinner's Eddy; Prescott A .; Leonie, married to G. P. Stal- ford, agent for the L. V. R. R., at Laceyville; and Edward E. Our subject passed his boyhood at Skinner's Eddy, and received a good common-school education; when twenty years of age he entered the office of the L. V. R. R., at Skinner's Eddy, and learned telegraphy ; when twenty-one was appointed night operator at Tunkhannock, and, remaining there three months, was then appointed day operator at Wyalusing. where he remained from 1875 to 1881; then spent a short time in Colorado, but returned to Bradford county, and in con- nection with his brother, P. A. Smith, purchased the mercantile busi- ness of C. S. Lafferty, of Camptown, where they have since continued

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

as the firm of Smith Brothers. They have one of the most commodi- ous stores in the county, and have it stocked with general merchan- dise, hardware, stoves and tinware, drugs, etc. They carry the greatest- variety of goods of any firm in the county, and besides their mercan- tile interests have invested largely in real estate in California and Col- orado, the investments being made under the direct supervision of Mr. C. C. Smith, who spent some time in those localities, in 1889. Mr. Smith has also made numerous inventions, among which we may men- tion a revolving baggage check, patented both in the United States and England (in the former, April 20, 1884, and in the latter, March 15, 1884), which check is now in use on the Queen & Crescent route; also a spring for buggies and platform wagons, patented in 1884; a sure cure for sick headache, which remedy was a discovery of Dr. P. H. Sumnee, but Mr. Smith owns a one-half interest in the patent; a ribbon clasp, patented in 1891, and "Crownet,"a game to be played with disks and board, and one of the most interesting games ever invented, patented in 1889. He has pushed most of these articles to a successful issue. He was united. in wedlock, October 23, 1885, with Mary E. Avery, daughter of Major Avery, of Camptown, and this union has been blessed with two children, Raymond, born September 25, 1886, and Bryant E., born December 29, 1889. Mr. Smith is a member of the Baptist Church, of Camptown; of the I O. O. F. Lodge, No. 503, and is past grand; politically, he is identified with the Prohibition party; is one of the successful business men of the county, and has made a record of which he may be justly proud.

CLARK H. SMITH, superintendent of the Sayre Steam Forge and Iron Works, Sayre, is a native of Paterson, N. J., born January 20, 1852, and is a son of Henry and Lucinda (Babcock) Smith, natives of New Jersey. His father was a farmer, and died in his native place, in 1865, in his fortieth year, while his mother died in 1885, in her fiftieth year. His great-grandfather, Babcock, was a soldier in the Revolution- ary War. Clark H. Smith is the second in a family of four children ; he received a common-school education, and learned the iron-worker's trade in Paterson, N. J., with the Paterson Forge and Iron Works, and worked there until 1873, when he went to work for William S. Sizer, in Buffalo, N. Y. He worked there about eight years, and the last three years was superintendent of the mill. When he left there he went to Boston, in the employ of Fisher & Son, Locomotive Forge Works, and was there about three months when he returned to Buffalo and was superintendent for the Henry Childs Buffalo Steam Forge Company for about fourteen months. He then gave up the forge business, about two years, on account of his health, and went to Pittsburgh. He worked in the Locomotive Works about a year, then returned to Buf- falo, and was superintendent for the Buffalo Steam Forge Company about fifteen months; thence went to Kingston, Canada, and worked in the Locomotive Works there, about two years, after which he returned to the Pittsburgh Locomotive Works, then came to Sayre, and accepted the position he now has. He married, in Paterson, N. J., April 13, 1873, Miss Margaret, daughter of James and Margaret (Taylor) Feeney, natives of Ireland (she is the second in a family of six children, and

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was born in Paterson, N. J., in July, 1851). To them were born seven children, viz .: Henry C., Frank E., Joseph (deceased), Charles, Lucy, Mable and William. Mr. Smith is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and votes the Republican ticket.

GEORGE G. SMITH, farmer, of Windham township, P. O. Wind- ham Centre. This gentleman has worked his way slowly but surely from the very first round in life's ladder, and is surrounded with a large and influential family and a sufficient competence of this world's goods. He was born in Parry, New York, January 2, 1820, and is a son of Robert and Katie (Shaw) Smith, natives of the same State, and of remote German origin. The father, who was a farmer, departed this life in December, 1826, and the mother in August, 1827; their children were three in number, George G. being the second in order of birth. He had but limited school advantages up to the age of twelve, when he came to Windham township, Bradford Co., Pa., where he worked on a farm five years, and then went to Athens, where he learned mill- ing, and remained two years; then tended mill in Windham, three years; then bought a farm on which he staid two years; when he sold and commenced milling again, tending Russell's Mill two years ; then moved to Susquehanna county and tended mill three years, at the end of which time he bought the place where he now lives. resumed agricultural pursuits, and now is the owner of a fine farm of 150 acres, having divided his land with his children, giving them the same amount as he retained for himself. Mr. Smith was married in Windham to Annie Webster, daughter of Joseph Webster, and she bore him children, as follows : Robert, Joseph W., Jasper, Elenor (wife of Abel Bordman), Achsa W. (who married Samuel Harding, died in 1882), George and Annie (wife of Edward Jakeway). The mother of these children dying, Mr. Smith, married, in 1881, at Rock Creek, Ill., Mrs. Ruth E. Ellsworth, of whom the following is a brief record :

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 137

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