History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 64

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

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WILLIAM ANTISDEL, retired farmer, Warren, was born in Oswego county, N. Y., January 14, 1821, and is a son of Phenias and Dorcas (Fenton) Antisdel, farmers, natives of Connecticut, and of English descent. Phenias came to this county in 1827, locating in the wilds of Warren township, and was among the noted early pioneers ; he cut out the road leading from West Warren to Towanda. He made this his home until his death in 1861, aged eighty-five; his widow died in 1862; they reared eight children, of whom William was the sixth, who grew to his majority on the old homestead, on which he now resides, a beautiful farm of one hundred acres, with all modern improvements, buildings, and in a high state of cultivation. William Antisdel was married in Rome township to Charlotte M. Hill, daughter of John H. and Ruth (Butler) Hill. To them were born three children, as follows : Charlotte E., (Mrs. S. E. Bowen); William D., a farmer, of Warren township, and John B., a farmer of same place. Mr. Antisdel is a Republican in his party affiliations. He has lived among his present neighbors a long, useful and honorable life, and is one of the much esteemed men of Bradford county.

HENRY W. AREY, farmer, P. O. Wilmot, was born in Terry township, this county, July 2, 1855, and is a son of Richard and Celenda (Thompson) Arey, the former a native of England and the latter of Pennsylvania, both of English lineage. The subject of these lines began life for himself working on a farm at the age of twenty-two, and three years later he purchased his present home of one hundred and six acres. Mr. Arey was married July 4, 1878, to Miss Lydia, daughter of Henry and Harriet (Bloof) Mann, of Terry, and they have one child, Elmer G., born November 14, 1879. Mr. Arey in politics is a Republi- can, and is school director in his township.

JAMES L. AREY, merchant and postmaster, Wilmot, was born in Sullivan county, Pa., January 13, 1866, and was educated in the common schools. He commenced life for himself at the age of seven- teen in the mining business, at Hazleton, Pa., where he remained one year, and then removed to Dushore, same State, and engaged in the car-

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penter's trade, which he followed about four years ; then went to Lopez, same State, where he was interested in real estate speculation, and was also foreman in the Lopez Lumber and Kindling-wood Factory. In the Spring of 1890 he came to Wilmot, and opened a general store where he is now doing a thriving business. Mr. Arey was married March 26, 1890, to Miss Alice, daughter of Edward and Nancy (Mc- Pherson) Meeks, of Wilmot. Politically he is a Republican, and was commissioned postmaster at Wilmot, March 7, 1891.

A. ARMSTRONG, proprietor of the Ulster mills, Ulster, was born in the north of Ireland, September 17, 1834, the son of David and Mar- garet Armstrong, both natives of the north of Ireland, but of Scotch descent. He received his early education in the schools of Ireland, and when fourteen years old came with his brothers and sisters to America, and located at Watertown, N. Y. His father's family consisted of nine children, of whom two died in the old country, and of those who came to the United States our subject is the eldest boy, and the only one of the family to come to Bradford county. He had learned the trade of miller under his father, and first came to this county in the spring of 1881, locating at Towanda in the position of foreman of the Dayton mill, occupying that position four years ; then formed a part- nership with a Mr. Hagerman and rented the mill on Towanda creek, conducting the same three years. April 1, 1890, he obtained possession of the Ulster mill, the only one in the township; it has nine sets of rolls and two run of stone, the roller process and a capacity of thirty-five barrels every twenty-four hours, and of corn and feed fifteen tons ; it is operated day and night. Mr. Armstrong has built up a good trade, has now all the mill can do, and has been compelled to increase its capacity by putting in another set of rolls. He was married May 27, 1857, to M. M. Hanna, daughter of Samuel Hanna, of Cape Vincent, N. Y., and the children of this marriage were as follows: Alexander, died in infancy ; Francis J., engineer, married to Nellie Abbie and lives in Brookfield, Mo .; Flor- ence C., married to William H. Burton, a jeweler of Chicago, and Charles D., who with his father, is engaged in the milling business. Mr. Armstrong and family are members of the Episcopal Church ; be is a Master Mason, a member of Towanda Lodge, No. 128; politically his views are Democratic.

GEORGE B. ARMSTRONG, a popular druggist, of Troy, Pa., was born in McEwensville, Northumberland Co., Pa., August 10, 1847, a son of James T. and Mary (Reader) Armstong, and is of Scotch descent. He was reared in his native town and Lock Haven, Pa., and received an academical education at Lock Haven, where he served an apprenticeship of two and one-half years at the druggist business. On August 17, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty- first P. V. I., and served ten months, when he was honorably dis- charged, June 15, 1863 ; he re-enlisted in Company I, Twenty-eight P. V. I., and, after three months' service, was honorably discharged on account of disability. He participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and during the Peninsular campaign under Mcclellan was on detached duty as hospital steward. After his discharge, he returned to Lock Haven, read medicine with his brother, Dr. R.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Armstrong, two years, and for five years was clerk in Lock Haven drug store. In 1869 he embarked in business for himself at Lock Haven, continuing four years; in December, 1873, he went on the road as salesman for a New York drug house, and served in that capacity ten years. On October 22, 1883, he again embarked in the drug business in Troy, Pa., where he has since continued and built up a successful trade. He married April 13, 1869, Emma C., daughter of Curtis T. and Sarah L. (Robinson) Fitch. Mr. Armstrong is a member of Trojan Lodge, No. 306, F. & A. M .; R. A. M., Chapter No. 261, Troy, and Commandery K. T., No. 64, Canton; also of Gustin Post, No. 154, G. A. R., Troy, of which he is present commander; politically he is a Republican.

WILLIAM E. ARMSTRONG, Litchfield, was born in Pough- keepsie, Dutchess Co., N. Y., January 5, 1822, a son of Joshua and Susan (Hong) Armstrong, natives of New York, former of whom was a farmer, and spent the greater portion of his life in Allegany county, N. Y .; he was a soldier in the War of 1812, and received a bounty warrant, his widow received a pension after his death. In their fam- ily were seven children-two girls and five boys-(four of whom are yet living): Albert W., married to Lucinda Bartlette ; Alfred H., mar- ried to Caroline Bartlette ; Luther H., married to Amanda, Ward ; William E. (subject) and Martha Jane, George H. and Rebecca (deceased). William E. was reared on his father's farm, receiving his early education in the common schools, and later attending the Alfred Academy one year. At the age of sixteen he cominenced teaching school, which profession he followed continuously for seven years, after which he engaged in the grocery business at Angelica, N. Y., for four years. In the spring of 1849 he removed to Wellsville, Allegany Co., N. Y., and engaged in the grocery business for a period of ten years ; then followed farming eight years; removed to Waverly, N. Y., and in 1871 came to Litchfield, where he purchased the store he now occu- pies, carrying a general stock of merchandise. He has been post- master sixteen years, excepting three years during the administration of President Cleveland. Mr. Armstrong married, for his first wife, Elizabeth M. Rice, of Whitesville, Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1862; she was the daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Jones) Rice, natives of Ver- mont. Mr. Armstrong's present wife is Augusta B. (Morse), whom he married in 1869. To them has been born one child, Albert M., born in Litchfield in 1873. Mr. Armstrong has attained three degrees in Masonry, and is a member of Waverly Lodge, No. 104. In politics he is a Republican, and has been a member of that party since its organization, having voted for its first candidate, John C. Fremont.

CORINGTON T. ARNOLD, farmer, Windham township, P. O. Nichols, N. Y., is a Native of Bradford county, born in Warren town- ship, May 16, 1840, son of Benedict and Lucy (Billings) Arnold, natives of Pennsylvania. Benedict Arnold was the first white child to see the light in Warren township, and was born in the year 1800; he was a farmer and died in 1889, the father of twelve children of whom Corington T. is the tenth. He became a farmer in early life, and in 1864 he enlisted in the Fifth New York Cavalry, Company F, First

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Brigade, Third Division, under Gen. McIntosh. He was in the battle of the Wilderness, at Winchester, Cedar Creek, Arlington Heights, Stony Creek, altogether in over thirty battles and skirmishes ; while in Wilson's raid he was taken sick, and was two months in the hos- pital ; was seriously hurt by a horse falling on him at the battle of the Wilderness, and another horse was shot from under him in that battle. His health has never been good since the war, and he is now a pensioner; is a member of Warwick Post, No. 529, at Nichols, N. Y. He is a leading farmer, and has a fine farm of ninety-six acres, well improved and stocked. Mr. Arnold was married in Owego, in 1865, to Sarah, daughter of Francis H. and Aurelia (Canfield) Ellsworth, natives of Bradford county, of New York parentage. Of this union there are three children : Alice (wife of P. H. Taylor, of Rome), Carl and Ernest. The family worship at the Methodist Church, of which he is steward. In politics he is a Republican.

HENRY C. ARNOLD, general blacksmith, Granville Centre, was born in New London county, Conn., July 4, 1840, a son of William and Mary Arnold. He was reared in his native county where he learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of three years. In May, 1861, he enlisted under Capt. Clark, for Bartlett's Naval Brigade. The company he was with was from New London county. Then he joined the organization at New York, in which city he remained three weeks, at Staten Island, after which the organization sailed for Fortress Monroe, after a long delay. After being at Fortress Monroe, Capt. Bartlett was deprived of his command, and was put on the " ribracks," by order of Gen. Butler, for some cause unknown. Thecompany then disbanded, some joining other regiments. Mr. Arnold was employed inside the fort as general blacksmith, and worked there until the close of the war, when he moved to Granville Centre. He was the man who put the shackels on Jeff. Davis. At Granville Centre he established himself in business at his trade, in which he has since successfully continued. His wife was Sarah Knowles Scully, of Germantown, Pa., and they have seven children : Harry, Willard, Lee, Lucy, Lena, Rose and Judson. Mr. Arnold is a popular blacksmith, and well-known citizen of Granville. He is a member of and an elder in the Church of Christ. He is a friend of the soldier, and in politics is a Republican.

SENACA L. ARNOLD, livery and sale stables, Towanda, was born in Warren township, this county, February 10, 1837, a son of William and Debby Arnold, who were early settlers in that place, where the son grew to manhood and passed his school days. In early life he commenced farming, and was thus engaged when the Civil War came upon the country, and he promptly volunteered in the noted One Hundred and Forty-first Regiment, P. V. I., and was in the service about six months, participating in all the hard marches, sieges, and battles of his command, and was discharged from Fairfax Hospital, near Fairfax Court-House, Va., on account of disability. After his return home and recovery, he again enlisted, this time in the One Hundred and Seventy-ninth, N. Y. V. I., and served with this command six months, when he was honorably discharged on account

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

of disability. The war being over, Mr. Arnold commenced business in Towanda, and has built up his present extensive business as proprie- tor of a livery stable. He has been married twice, his first wife being Lydia E., daughter of Jabez Sexton, of Orwell township, and by her he had two children, Eugene and Emma, (Mrs. Lewis Fitch) ; his sec- ond wife was Elizabeth, daughter of William Booth, of Forest Lake, Susquehanna Co., Pa., by which marriage has been born one child, Nettie H. Mr. Arnold is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a Republican.

LEVI G. ARNOUT, farmer, P. O. Liberty Corners, was born March 6, 1832, in Monroe township, this county, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Irvine) Arnout, natives of Northumberland county, who came to this county when they were young, and were of the pioneer settlers of Monroe township. The Arnouts are of Dutch extraction, and the Irvines of Scotch-Irish. The father, who was a wagon-maker, settled in the forest and improved the place on which his son Levi resides, who was then but two years old. Levi G. Arnout was edu- cated in the schools of his town, and attended the old academy at Towanda, afterward teaching school. He was married March 15, 1855, to Mary J. Emery, who was born December 10, 1831, the second in the family of twelve children of Jacob R. and Sarah Ann (Ennis) Emery. To Mr. and Mrs. Arnout have been born four children, as follows : Julia M., born November 24, 1858, wife of John Elliott; Cora M., born February 7, 1860; Eliza, born September 5, 1864, a teacher, bidding fair for a future literary career (she recently graduated at the Collegiate Institute, Towanda), and Jennie, born March 15, 1871. Mrs. Arnout died October 1, 1890, deeply mourned by her family and a wide circle of loving friends; she was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, nearly forty years. Mr. Arnout is a Democrat, and has been justice of peace several terms, and school director many years. He has carried on an extensive lumbering business in connection with general farming, and at the present time owns a sawmill located on his farm which he successfully operates.

ELMER J. ATWOOD, farmer and stock-grower, Pike township, P. O. LeRaysville, was born in Camptown, this county, August 23, 1855, a son of George C. and Henrietta (Taylor) Atwood, natives of Pennsylvania, and of New England origin. His paternal ancestor, Reuben Atwood, was born November 1, 1782, and died October 25, 1878 ; Abiah (Platt) Atwood came to Bradford county from Water- town, Conn., in 1832, traveling all the way in an ox cart, and located on the farm now owned by P. J. McAuley ; the family consisted of five children, of whom George C., the youngest, was, during his life, one of the most widely known men of Bradford county, one of those positive, energetic characters who always took time and circumstances by the forelock. He was married July 3, 1852, to Henrietta, daughter of Aaron and Armanda M. (Watson) Taylor, natives of Connecticut ; she was born April 3, 1833, in Springfield, Pa. This happy union was blessed with the following children : Ella J., born August 16, 1853, married December 31, 1872, to Elihu W. Buttles, a farmer, of Orwell

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township, and died February 8, 1883 ; Elmer J .; Alice H., born Octo- ber 6, 1856, married to Henry H. Coleman ; Ida L., born June 4, 1862, married September 30, 1882, to Frank H. Abbott, of New York; Georgiana, born October 15, 1865, was graduated from Wyoming Seminary and Mansfield State Normal School, now in Syracuse Uni- versity ; Sarah E., born March 3, 1867, was graduated from Kingston Commercial School and State Normal ; Frederick G., born August 27, 1868, married Anna Overpeck September 17, 1890; Rollin C., born April 28, 1870, a graduate of the commercial course, also telegraphy and stenography, at Wyoming Seminary ; William L., born February 9, 1872 ; Cora J., born May 1, 1874 ; and Leon M., born May 5, 1877. Elmer J. Atwood spent his boyhood on the farm, was educated in the common school and Wyoming Seminary, and began life at nineteen on a farm in Herrick township. He bought his first farm of fifty-eight acres in 1877, and lived there until 1886, when he purchased his pres- ent home of three hundred acres, known as the Alonzo Smith farm. He has converted it into one of the best stock farms in Bradford county, and constructed a driving course upon it. At present he has twenty-one good blooded farm and driving horses and colts, nine of which are carefully bred Hambletonian colts. All but twenty-five acres is in an excellent state of cultivation. Mr. Atwood was married March 12, 1873, to Jennie S. Nichols, who died November 2, 1877, and he after- ward married, March 4, 1878, Sarah J. Avis, daughter of Leverett Avis, a native of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Atwood have the follow- ing named children : Walter E., born January 26, 1879; Nellie I., born Movember 25, 1881; Vernon J., born June 2, 1884; and Grace I., born June 7, 1888. Mr. Atwood is a Republican, and takes an active interest in educational and all benevolent enterprises.

FREDERICK GRANT ATWOOD, farmer, Herrick, was born in Herrick township, this county, August 24, 1868 ; his father, George C. Atwood, was born in Pike township, May 17, 1825 ; his grandfather Reuben Atwood, was born in Watertown, Conn., November 1, 1782. George C. Atwood attended the district school at South Hill until he was sixteen, when he started for himself, peddling in this and adjacent counties, in which he continued until his twenty-seventh year, when he opened a store in Camptown, dealing in general merchandise. In 1854, he sold out and began farming, also doing a banking business in his neighborhood ; his first purchase was seventy-five acres where the present Atwood homestead stands ; his was a very successful life, and his death occurred October 19, 1889. He married, July 3, 1852, Henrietta, daughter of Aaron and Amanda (Watson) Taylor, who was the second of a family of four children, and was born in Connecticut. There were fourteen children by this marriage : Ella, wife of E. W. Buttles; Elmer J .; Alice H .; Delia F., wife of E. A. Howe; Ida L., wife of Frank H. Abbott; Georgiana; Sarah E .; Frederick Grant ; Rollin C .; William L .; Cora J. and Leon M., and two others died in infancy. Frederick G. Atwood attended school at Herrickville until he was seventeen, and then went to the Normal School two years, and returned home. In the spring of 1890 he purchased from his father's estate ninety-seven acres, eighty of which was improved, and began farming.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

On September 17, 1890, he married Anna U., daughter of Leander and Ethalinda (Gustin) Overpeck, natives of this State, Mr. Atwood is a member of Wyalusing Lodge, No. 503, I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Republican.

ROLLIN C. ATWOOD, a prominent farmer of Pike township, Herrickville, was born in Pike township, April 28, 1870 ; the ninth in the family of twelve children of George C. and Henrietta (Taylor) Atwood, natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Bradford county, and the latter in Susquehanna county. They were married July 3, 1852, and first located in Camptown, this county, and then, in 1864, moved to Herrickville, where they settled. The record of their twelve children is as follows: Ella J. married Elihu W. Buttles, of South Hill, and died February 8, 1883 ; Elmer J. resides near LeRays- ville ; Adelia F. married E. A. Howe, of Orwell Hill, and they reside at Rome; Ida L. married F. H. Abbott, of Homer, N. Y., where they live ; Alice H. married H. H. Coleman, of Pike, and they reside there ; Georgiana, Elizabeth S., Cora J., Rollin C., William L. and Leon M. live in Herrick ; Fred. G. married Annie Overpeck, and they also have their residence near Herrickville. The father, who was by occupation an agriculturist, died October 19, 1889; the mother still lives, and resides near Herrickville. Rollin C. Atwood, the subject proper of this biographical sketch, attended LeRaysville graded school, and then, in the year 1890, took a commercial course at Wyoming Seminary, Kings- ton, Pa., after which he returned home and commenced farming. Mr. Atwood is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of East Herrick, belongs to the Alpha Phi Fraternity, and in politics is a Republican.

GEORGE N. ATWOOD, farmer and mechanic, of Wyalusing township, P. O. Camptown, was born December 5, 1848, in the house where he now resides, a son of Nelson R. and Sarah Ann (Camp) Atwood. Nelson R. Atwood was born in Herrick, January 3, 1811, and died May 5, 1869, and Sarah Ann (Camp) Atwood was born in Camptown, September 22, 1814, died April 17, 1867; they were the parents of three sons, viz .: Stiles H., born August 15, 1844, died Feb- ruary 23, 1879; George N. and Dudley C., born October 7, 1850, and now a farmer residing in Wyalusing township on a portion of the old homestead. Nelson R. Atwood in early life learned the trade of car- penter which he followed some time; abandoned it for the wagon- maker's trade which he followed until his death, working in a shop which stood on the spot now occupied by the residence of George N .; he also owned a farm of fifty acres which he cultivated ; was an earn- est member of the Presbyterian Church, an honest, industrious, and highly respected gentleman, and was strongly attached to his home and family. Being a frugal man and a good financier he was in good circumstances at the time of his death, having accumulated his fortune entirely by his own exertions. George N. Atwood was born and reared on the farm he now occupies, and was educated in the Camp- town Academy and Collegiate Institute of Towanda. After reaching his majority he began to learn the carpenter's trade, working at same four years with Martin Fee. After his father's death he assumed

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control of the old homestead farm, and has since devoted his time to his trade and to farming; his farm of thirty acres making him a pleasant and cosy home. Mr. Atwood was united in marriage, Sep- tember 10, 1873, to Elizabeth A. Alger, a daughter of Nelson Alger of Greene county, N. Y .; she was born August 27, 1843, and died Jan- uary 29, 1888. Their union was blessed with two children : William N., born October 7, 1874, and George L., born February 12, 1880. Politically Mr. Atwood is a stanch Republican and an active advo- cate of the principles of his party ; he has largely made his own way through life and been very successful.

MAJOR CYRUS AVERY, Camptown, while one of the elderly, though not old men of the county, has for years been one of our most prominent citizens, and of whose useful life the universal testi- mony of all acquaintances is that his is one notably characterized " with charity for all-malice toward none." In the prime of his active life he passed through the great era of stormy politics, the troublous decade from 1860 to 1870, a firm and consistent Democrat, when many of that party were misread, and others incurred even the implacable enmity of old neighbors and sometimes former friends ; but this man moved with calm serenity, and could always command the confidence and respect of all who knew him. He was born March 8, 1821, in Falls township, Luzerne (now Wyoming) Co., Pa., and spent his boyhood days on a farm, a son of Miles Avery, who was born December 28, 1791, son of Cyrus Avery, born May 12, 1771, son of Solomon, born June 7, 1729, son of Humphrey, born July 4, 1699, son of Samuel, born August 14, 1664, son of James, born December, 1646, son of Capt. James, born in England in 1620, son of Christopher Avery, of England, who came to Massachusetts in company with his son James, whose descendants now spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific shore.

Cyrus, when a lad between fourteen and twenty-one, served as bugler in a militia company. In 1842 he was commissioned, by the Governor, major in the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Second Battalion of the militia of Pennsylvania, which was the Second Brigade of the Divi- sion, and served seven years. He spent the summer of 1848 in Illinois, and, returning to Camptown the next year, he formed a mercantile part- nership with A. R. Brown, and in 1851 he purchased his partner's interest and built the store and dwelling he now occupies. Under the admin- istrations of Pierce and Buchanan he served seven years as Camptown postmaster. For many years in his younger life he shipped lumber down the river, and on the return brought goods via the canal as far as Pittston, and from there to Skinner's Eddy by boat, and wagoned from there to Camptown. On invitation of Col. Victor E. Piollet, he was a passenger on the first train over the Lehigh Valley Railroad to Waverly and return, September 9, 1869 ; he sent the first baled hay from the county that was shipped by the railroad. During the past thirty years he has cleared and improved his beautiful valley farm, over whose smooth surface the "song of the reaper " may go over nearly every acre, on which are his extensive stock pastures with their beautiful valley brooks rippling forever over the white pebbles. Here

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 64

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