History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 67

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

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one of a family of five children. There has been given to Mr. and Mrs. Beardsley one child, Annie Maud, born December 27, 1881. Mr. Beardsley came to this township thirteen years ago, and pur- chased what is known as the Ames (afterward the Peck) farm; he is a successful farmer, deals largely in cattle, buying and selling ; is a member of the Knights of Honor; is a Republican and active in politi- cal matters, and a man well informed on the subjects of the day. Mrs. Beardsley is an active and energetic business lady. The Beardsleys are descendants of William Beardsley, who came from England in the ship " Planter " to Boston, Mass., in 1635.

GEORGE G. BEARDSLEY, of Beardsley & Mckean, hardware merchants, Troy, was born in Sullivan township, Tioga Co., Pa., January 11, 1849, a son of Eden and Miranda (Tinkham) Beardsley, and is of Puritan and Pilgrim stock. He was reared and educated in his native county, served an apprenticeship of three years in Tioga, and afterward worked as a journeyman six and one-half years. He located in Troy, May 18, 1874, and August 1, 1878, embarked in the general hardware business in Troy, continuing alone until 1879 when Mr. H. M. Spalding became associated with him, and the firm did business as Beardsley & Spalding until February, 1884, when Mr. A. B. McKean was admitted to the firm, and as Beardsley, Spalding & Mckean continued up to the first of January, 1890, when Mr. Spalding retired, and the firm continues as Beardsley & Mckean. Mr. Beardsley was married January 11, 1882, to Alice E., daughter of Lewis H. and L. Susan (Pierce) Tears, of Troy. Mr. Beardsley is one of the sub- stantial and enterprising business men of Troy, and in politics he is a Republican.

CYRUS BECK, farmer, P. O. Fassett, was born in Pike county, Pa., June 30, 1820, a son of William and Mary Impson Beck; the former was born in Mount Bethel, Pa., the latter in Pike county, Pa. They removed to this county in 1835, locating in Ridgebury where they remained one year; then moved to South Creek, and settled where Mr. Beck purchased and cleared a most fertile farm, on which he afterward lived and died at the age of seventy years, and his wife at the age of eighty-seven years. They raised a family of eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity and three are now living. The subject of this memoir, who is the second in the family, came to this county with his father when fifteen years of age. He received his education in Tompkins county, N. Y., and afterward followed farming

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

at which he has proved a success. At the age of twenty-six he mar- ried Martha, daughter of Asa and Mercy Moore, by which union there were born seven children, all of whom grew to maturity, and of these six are now living, as follows : Elle R., M. Amelia, Catherine, William Henry, Grace E. and Hattie Louise ; Floravance A., now deceased, was the eldest. Mr. Beck is an extensive farmer and lumberman, not only supplying the home demand, but shipping to Elmira and other points. He has a fine assortment of blooded horses, from registered stock; is a successful and enterprising farmer, having the confidence of his fellow- citizens; has held the office of school director and also town commis- sioner for years with satisfaction to all, and honor to himself.

JOSEPH BECKER, farmer, P. O. Alba, was born in Kinderhook, N. Y., February 5, 1827, and is the adopted son of John S. and Hannah Becker, who settled in Armenia township in 1833, on the farm now owned by J. D. Becker. Our subject was reared in Armenia township from twelve years of age, and cleared and improved the farm he now occupies. In 1864 he enlisted in Company I, Fifteenth New York Engineers, and after nine months' service was honorably discharged. He married September 9, 1852, Mary, danghter of Hiram Miller, of Armenia, and has eight children, as follows : Morris, Anna, Clara (Mrs. Burton Rexford), Charlotte, Mary (Mrs. Charles Purvis), Florence, Jennie and Ella. Mr. Becker is one of the substantial farmers of Armenia township, and in politics is a Republican.

ABNER M. BEEBE, retired merchant, Rome, was born in New York City, August 28, 1832, and is a son of Martin H. and Eliza (Meserole) Beebe, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of Brooklyn, N. Y., and of Dutch descent. His paternal ancestors were from Connecticut, dating back generations. His father, who was a copper-smith, and a successful business man, died January 1, 1840, aged thirty-three ; he had a family of five children, viz : Martin H., of Brooklyn ; Margaret M., married to William H. Van Vorhis, both now dead ; Abner M. ; Harriet M., married to William H. Barnes, of New York City ; Elizabeth, died in infancy. Abner M. Beebe passed his boyhood in the city of Brooklyn, attending the public schools until twelve years of age, after which he was thrown on his own resources. He secured a position as errand boy in a store in New York, and was clerk in different stores, finally becoming a head book-keeper, and was thus employed until the panic of 1857, when he opened a fruit store on his own account, and conducted the same until 1863, when he was appointed commissioner of enrollment by President Lincoln, and during the draft riots he was in frequent danger of his life from assassination. In 1865 he came to Bradford county and purchased a farm of fifty-five acres in North Rome ; after eight years he removed to Wysox, and three years afterward he proceeded to Springville, Susquehanna county, and was there three years when he went to Brushville, opened a general store and remained two years; while here he lost his first wife ; tben he removed to Myersburg, and merchandised for about five years, and from there came to Rome borough; then in 1887 he retired from active life. Mr. Beebe has been twice married, the first time April 26, 1854, to Mary A. Dains, daughter of William H. Dains, of Brooklyn, by

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

which marriage he had four children, viz. : Francis E., married to E. T. Bull ; Hattie M., married to J. Wilbur Dunn ; Mary E., married to E. R. Myer, Jr., and Isaac M. She died March 16, 1882, and May 27, 1884, he was married to Emma Compton, daughter of William H. Compton, of New York City. Mr. Beebe takes a great interest in church matters, and is a Republican. He has been three times appointed postmaster of different offices in the county ; he has also served as council and on the election board of Rome borough. In his business career Mr. Beebe has always been successful, and left a large circle of friends wherever he has resided ; he commands the esteem and respect of a large circle of friends in this his adopted county.

JOSEPH B. AND GEORGE M. BEIDLEMAN, merchants, Wila- wana, were born in Wilawana, this county, Joseph B. on January 25, 1853, and George M. on March 23, 1862. They are the sons of Anson and Eunice (Seeley) Beidleman, natives of New York. Anson was the son of Isaac Biedleman, who moved to this county about 1816 or 1817, when his son was seven or eight years of age, began keeping house in a log house in the northwest corner of the township of Athens, where he followed farming. Anson followed the same vocation as his father in Athens township until 1847 when, in company with D. S. Brown, he entered into mercantile business ; after three or four years under the firm name of Beidleman & Brown, Mr. Beidle- man purchased Mr. Brown's interest, which he continued with much success until his death, which occurred in 1880, when he was in his seventy-first year ; he was in the mercantile business thirty-two years, carrying a general stock for country trade. His family consisted of three sons: Joseph B., George M., and Benjamin F. (deceased). Joseph B. and George M. Beidleman were reared and educated at Wila- wana; Joseph B. is yet unmarried ; George M., at the age of twenty- two married Hattie L., daughter of G. H. and Catherine Sible, of Wilawana, Pa., January 21, 1884, by which union there was born to them one daughter, Mildred B. Mrs. Anson Beidleman carried on the business in her own name ten years after the death of her husband ; in 1890 J. B. and G. M. took the store in their own name, and are doing a prosperous business ; besides a full line of groceries and pro- visions, thev handle extensively farming machinery, and are known under the firm name Beidleman Brothers. They are both musicians of some merit, and are much respected by their townsmen. Joseph B. has held the office of constable two terms, and now holds the im- portant position of justice of the peace. Mrs. Beidleman, Sr., is nearly sixty-five years of age, and enjoys good health. James Seeley, her grandfather, was a Revolutionary soldier.

ALONZO E. BENJAMIN, farmer, Albany township, P. O. New Albany, was born in Asylum township. this county, May 5, 1838, a son of John V. and Betsey Elizabeth (Bennett) Benjamin, natives of Albany township and of English descent. His father was a farmer and lumberman. His grandfather, John Benjamin, also a farmer and lumberman, was a native of Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y., and was one of the pioneers of Asylum. It is thought that the great-grandfather was also a resident of Asylum, and died there at a very old age; he was a

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

soldier of the Revolutionary War, and a pensioner ; he was a man of influence. Benjamin Bennett, the grandfather on the mother's side, at one time owned a grist and saw mill at the mouth of the creek near where W. R. Storrs now resides ; he died at the age of ninety-eight years, a pensioner of the War of 1812. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and engaged in farming in Asylum; he was ten years in Monroe township and removed to his present farm of one hundred and fifty acres, in 1881, one of the finest properties in the township. In October, 1861, he enlisted in the Civil War in Company G, Fifty- seventh P. V. I., was in active service three years and two months, and was under fire a large number of times, receiving one slight wound. He was a prisoner in Libby prison about six months ; had also four brothers in the war, making five of the family serving their country all at one time. He was married March 20, 1866, to Eliza Mingos, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of Towanda township. To them have been born one daughter (now deceased) and one son, Almond H., who resides with his father. Mr. Benjamin is a member of the G. A. R .; politically he is a Republican, and he is one of the most successful farmers in the township.

JAMES BENNETT, chief of police, constable and tax collector, Athens, is a native of Pike township, Bradford Co., Pa., born June 23, 1858, and is a son of Miles and Lucy (Bishop) Bennett; his father is also a native of Pike township; his mother of Susquehanna county, Pa .; the latter died June 23, 1858, in her twenty-fourth year. Miles Bennett is a farmer and veterinary surgeon, was in the service during the Civil War. Ferris Bennett, the grandfather of James Bennett, was a native Connecticut, and came to this county in an early day; he died in May, 1890, at the advanced age of ninety years. James Bennett is the youngest of three children (the second child died in infancy). He received a common-school education and followed farming until 1882, when he came to Athens and was appointed chief of police, the next year he was appointed constable, has been elected since that; in 1887 he was elected tax collector, and has held that position since. He was married at Skinner's Eddy, July 19, 1879, to Miss Josephine H., daughter of Abraham M. and Melissa A. Kramer, natives of Wysox township. Abraham Kramer was a machinist and foreman in Kellogg & Maurice's machine shops when they first started in Athens; he died in November, 1882, in his sixty-fourth year, and Mrs. Kramer resides with her daughter, Mrs. Bennett, who is the second in a family of three children; she was born in Ulster township, March, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have an adopted daughter, Mabel L. Mr. Bennett, who is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, Rural Amity Lodge, No. 70, and of the Royal Arcanum, Sexennial League and Province and Shield; in politics he is a Republican.

W. A. BENNETT, stone dealer, Silvara, was born in Wyalusing township, this county, April 20, 1850, and is a son of Levi and Cor- nelia J. (Baker) Bennett. Of a family of seven children he is the third; his father is still a resident of this county. The boyhood of our subject was passed on a farm, and he had the advantages of a good common-school education ; at the age of eighteen he began

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

to learn the carpenter's trade with James Sharer, of Pike township' and after being in his employ about one year he began contracting on his own responsibility, following that occupation until 1889. In 1867 he removed to Silvara, which has been his home since; in 1882 he built a steam saw and planing and feed mill in that village, which he still operates. In the fall of 1888 he began his stone operations, leasing a tract of land close to the village, and opened what is now known as Bennett's quarry ; this is the Blue Stone Quarry where he quarries a superior article of flag and curb stone; he operates this during the summer and lumbers in the winter, thus furnishing steady employment for about twelve men. In his work in the quarry he cuts and ships on an average four car-loads of stone per week, finding mar- ket for the same in the cities of the Lackawanna Valley and New Jersey. Mr. Bennett is also an extensive land owner, having a tract of about one hundred and eighty acres of land mostly covered by a growth of fine timber. IIe was united in marriage, December 17, 1870, with Susan Smith, a daughter of William Smith, of New York, and this union has been blessed with three children : Frennie, Elgie and Clair. Politically Mr. Bennett is a Republican, and has filled the various township offices. He is decidedly a self-made man, and by hard toil and close application to business he has amassed a considera- ble fortune which under his careful guidance is constantly increasing.

JOHN GASKIN BENSLEY, farmer, Wysox township, P. O. Towanda, was born in Tioga county, N. Y., July 30, 1831, and is a son of John and Mary (Ross) Bensley, natives of Pennsylvania. In his father's family there were five children, of whom our subject is the fourth. John Gaskin Bensley began life for himself at twenty-one, and was engaged in lumbering fifteen years upon the West branch of the Susquehanna; then located on a farm in Pike township, where he remained five years, and was then engaged in the mercantile business at LeRaysville five years, and in 1879 he removed to his present home. Mr. Bensley was married October 1, 1864, to Miss Althea L., daughter of George and Lydia (Dwight) Judd, and they have had born to them three children : George Judd, born August 4, 1865 (is professor in Lowell's Commercial College, at Binghamton, N. Y.); Mertie Belle, born August 5, 1868, and Ward Eugene, born October 28, 1872, and died September 16, 1884. Mr. Bensley is a Sir Knight Templar, and in politics he is a Republican.

ALVIN L. BERRY, farmer, Springfield township, P. O. Berry- town, was born January 16, 1836, on the farm where he now resides, a son of Almond and Clarissa (Severance) Berry, the former of whom was reared in Otsego county, N. Y., and removed to this county in 1825 from Danby, Tompkins Co., N. Y., with his brothers, Woodard and Leaman, and they each cleared large farms. The father was a man of sterling worth and influence in his time. He had a family of seven children, and died at the age of sixty-seven years; the mother also died at the age of sixty-seven. Mr. Berry's grandfather, Severance, was cook for Gen. Washington in the beginning of the Revolutionary War, when only seventeen years of age, and was afterward a soldier in the ranks

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

serving in the war seven years. Alvin L. Berry was married to Eunice Harkness, who was born February 12, 1840, a daughter of Hiram and Lorinda (Boughton) Harkness, of South Creek township. Her father was the first white male child born in the town of Spring- field, and his father, John Harkness, was the first settler in the place, having come here from Massachusetts in 1803. Mrs. Berry's father died October 23, 1866, at the age of sixty-one years, and her mother in April, 1890, at the age of eighty-two. Mr. and Mrs. Berry have had two children : Grace E., born December 9, 1869, and Mattie L., born December 6, 1873. Mr. Berry lives on the old homestead, a fine farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres ; his principal business is dairying, and he has one of the finest herds of Jersey cows in the county. Politically he is a Republican, and takes an active interest in the affairs of his party ; has held several positions of public trust, and is considered one of the substantial men of the county.

WOODARD BERRY, farmer, P. O. Berrytown, was born March 29, 1830, on the farm where he now resides in Springfield township, a son of Woodard and Rhoda (Cass) Berry, natives of Otsego Co., N. Y., and who came to Springfield township, this county, from Danby, Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1825. The grandfather, who was a native of Vermont, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died in Spring- field township, this county, at a very old age; the father, Woodard Berry, with his two brothers, Almond and Leaman, were the first settlers in this part of the township, and each cleared large farms. The father, who was one of the substantial men of Berrytown in his day, was twice married. His first wife died at the age of fifty-eight years, and he then married Anna Cass, who died at the advanced age of eighty-one years, he himself passing away when aged seventy-six. Mr. and Mrs. Berry were consistent Christians, he a Baptist in belief, and she a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Our subject, who is the fifth in a family of seven children, all living, was reared on the farm. On May 19, 1855, he was married to Mary A. Smith, who was born April 21, 1836, a daughter of Nicholas and Anna (Avery) Smith, of Springfield, this county, natives of New York, former of whom, who was a farmer, died aged eighty-one, and the latter at the age of forty years. Mr. and Mrs. Berry have had born to them four children, as follows: Ida A., born March 11, 1856, wife of John Gor- don ; Jay W., born May 30, 1859, married to Laura Cornell ; Ruth, born December 31, 1869, and Lamont, born April 21, 1874. Mr.

Berry has a prime farm of 160 acres (the old homestead), has a dairy and raises some fine horses and Short-horn cattle. In politics he is a Republican, and takes an active interest in the affairs of his party; has held several offices of public trust ; has been postmaster since 1889. The family are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

JOHN BESLEY, farmer, P. O. Columbia Cross Roads, was born in Columbia township, this county, February 3, 1851, and is a son of John W. and Hettie M. (Swayze) Besley. His paternal grandparents were Oliver and Rhoda (Westbrook) Besley, natives of France and New York, respectively, and who were pioneers of Columbia township. settling on the farm now owned by subject, which they cleared and

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

improved and there died. John W., father of our subject, who was also a native of Columbia township, always followed farming, and died on the farm now occupied by his son Gabe C., his wife was a daughter of Obadiah and Elizabeth (Beamer) Swayze, of New Jersey, and by her he had three sons : Oliver B., John and Gabe C. John Besley was reared in Columbia township, and resides on the old homestead of the paternal grandfather. In 1876 he married Mertie, daughter of O. B. and Emily (McClelland) Howland, of Columbia township, and they have four children : Lena E., John O., Edith L. and E. Gabe. Mr. Besley is a member of the Presbyterian Church ; in politics he is a Republican.

WILLIAM W. BESLEY, farmer and stock dealer, of Columbia town- ship, P. O. Columbia Cross Roads, was born in Columbia township, this county, November 16, 1849, and is a son of Oliver O. and Susan (Wolfe) Besley ; his paternal grandparents were Isaac and Rebecca (Watkins) Besley, and his great-grandparents were Oliver and Rhoda (Westbrook) Besley. Oliver and Isaac Besley, who were both pioneers of Columbia township, cleared farms and died there. The children of Oliver and Rhoda (Westbrook) Besley were as follows : John W., Isaac, Elias, Susan (Mrs. Bateman Monro), Sophia (Mrs. James Fries), Elthera (Mrs. Peter S. Furman), Mary A. (Mrs. William Strait) and Catherine (Mrs. Jacob Fries). The children of Isaac and Rebecca (Watkins) Besley were Oliver O., Philo W., George N., Clayton O., Polly (Mrs. Elnathan McClelland), Ada (Mrs. Albert Campbell), Esther A. (Mrs. William H. McClelland). Oliver O., the father of our subject, was born in Columbia township, and died there ; he cleared several farms, and was also a dealer in stock; his wife was a daughter of George and Leefe (Kennedy) Wolfe, and granddaughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Furman) Wolfe, who settled in Columbia township in 1813. Oliver O. and Susan (Wolfe) Besley became the parents of seven children, of whom three grew to maturity : William W., George D. and Isaac. William W. Besley was reared in Columbia township, where he has always resided, and since attaining his majority has been engaged in business for himself as a farmer and stock dealer. He married June 3, 1886, Hiza, daughter of Andrew Fraley, of Springfield township, and has one son, Frank. Mr. Besley is one of the prominent and enterprising citizens of Columbia township, and in politics he is a Democrat.

FRANCIS EUGENE BESSEY, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Rome, was born in Monroeton, this county, November 22, 1850, and is the son of George and Amanda (Staples) Bessey, the former of whom was a farmer and lumberman, a native of New York, and the latter a native of Connecticut, both members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church ; their family consisted of three children : Albert, a machinist ; Herman, superintendent of schools at Delaware, and Francis Eugene. The father came to this county about the year 1846, and resided here until his death in 1866 : the mother died one year before him in Fairfax county, Va., aged fifty. The boyhood of our subject up to his twelfth year was spent in Monroeton township, where he attended the public schools; then removed with his mother to Washington, D. C.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

and studied in Columbia University three years, after which he entered the Crazer Theological Seminary, and was graduated in May, 1876. Then went to Union, N. Y., where he remained about two years, after which he removed to Hancock, N. Y., whence after four years he came to Rome where he has since remained. Mr. Bessey was united in mar- riage, April 17, 1888, withi Sophronie R., daughter of Hiram and Jane (Ridgeway) Woodburn, of Rome township, this county. Mr. Bessey's present charge includes Rome and Orwell. As a minister he has been very successful in winning the love and esteem of his congregation where he has been. He isa member of the International Fraternal Alliance, of Baltimore, Md., and in his political views was formerly a Republican, but now leans strongly toward the Prohibition party.

JEROME E. BEST, merchant, South Warren, is a native of Potter county, Pa., born September 3, 1861, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Epley) Best, natives of New York, farmers, born of German extraction ; the father died in 1863; the mother is a resident of War- ren Centre. They were the parents of five children, of whom Jerome E., the fourth in the order of birth, was reared in Jackson Valley, Susquehanna Co., Pa., where he received his education, but was more at work than in the school books, and when old enough he was apprenticed and learned the blacksmith's trade, but in time he quit the anvil and commenced merchandising in South Warren, which he has carried on very successfully, and now has the only store in that part of the county, keeping a general assortment suitable to the surrounding country trade, and a full and general assortment for all his custom. He was married in LeRaysville in 1884, to Abbie Currier, daughter of David and Jane (Gamble) Currier, natives of this State, and of English and Irish descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Best were born two children : Maud and Lorena. Mr. Best is a Republican in politics, and is recognized as one of the eminently respectable citizens of Bradford county.

JOHN A. BILES is a farmer and teacher, of Wyalusing township, P. O. Homet's Ferry. The family from which this gentleman is descended has occupied a prominent position in the pioneer history of the State, as well as of Bradford county. The names first sprang into notice in 1678 or 1679, two brothers, William and Charles, coming from Dorchester. England, and settling in Bucks county. The elder brother, William, was an extensive land holder there, and occupied a prominent position in early Colonial times; he brought with him his wife and a family of seven children, and two servants, settling close to the falls of the Delaware. He purchased a large plantation from William Penn, also an island in the Delaware river, of the Indians, the deed being confirmed to him March 19, 1729. He was elected to the council of Philadelphia in the spring of 1682, and his name is also found among the signatures of the Great Charter. The first meeting of the Friends in that county was held May 2, 1683, at his house, which was con- structed of brick, imported from England. He died in 1710, and was succeeded by his son William. The family have occupied prominent positions in different sections of the State.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 67

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