History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 85

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

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SAMUEL J. DAVIS, farmer, and cooper, of Pike township P. O. Neath, was born in Middletown, Susquehanna Co., Pa., July 29, 1842, and is the eldest in the family of eight children of John S. and Catherine (Evans) Davis, natives of Wales. He attended district school, and assisted his father in clearing up the farm till the age of twenty-three, when he served a cooper's apprenticeship with David Campbell, of Owego, N. Y .; then started a shop of his own at Neath, which he has operated since in connection with his farm ; he also operated a sawmill several years, a portion of which is still standing near his residence. Mr.

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Davis was one of those who promptly answered the Governor's call for militia troops when the State was in danger at Gettysburg. He was married March 20, 1869, to Mary Jane, daughter of M. R. and Lucy (Sheldon) Spafford; her grandfather, Samuel Spafford, was one of the first settlers in Middletown township. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have too children : Clara E. and Lucy C. The parents are members of the Congregational Church at Neath, of which Mr. Davis is trustee. In his political views he is a Republican.

JOHN H. DEAN, commissioner's clerk, Towanda, was born in South Creek township, this county, January 26, 1853, and is a son of Peter and Mary A. (Bellis) Dean. His paternal grandparents, John and Eliza (Miller) Dean, who were formerly of New Jersey, and pioneers of South Creek township, cleared a farm and died there; their family consisted of three sons and five daughters, as follows : William, Caroline (Mrs. Lewis Mosher), Emily (Mrs. Martin Berry), Mary (Mrs. Hugh Findlay), Phebe (Mrs. Mortimer Harkness), Lydia, Peter J. and Elmer W. The maternal grandfather, who was a native of New Jersey, was among the first settlers of South Creek township, this county, where he cleared a farm and died. Peter J. Dean, father of our subject, was reared in Bradford county, a farmer, and improved considerable property in South Creek township; he held several offices during his lifetime-was constable twelve years; enrolling officer during the Civil War, and was sheriff of Bradford county during 1879, '80, '81. He died in South Creek township, in December, 1886. He had four children, viz. : John H., Edward C., William B. and A. Horton. John H. Dean was reared in South Creek township, receiving a common-school education, and was deputy treasurer of Bradford county, under J. C. Robinson, in 1876, '77 and '78, and deputy sheriff, under his father, in 1879, '80 and '81, and in 1882, '83 and '84; he was engaged in the lumbering business, at Towanda, from 1883 until the fall of 1890; traveling salesman for the Dayton Flouring Mills, of Towanda, and January 1, 1891, was appointed commissioner's clerk. He has been a resident of Towanda since 1876. . Mr. Dean was married, January 24, 1879, to Annie, daughter of Benjamin and Pamelia (Gardner) Kuykendall. of Towanda, and has two children: Katherine and Annie. He is a Sir Knight Templar, and in politics is a Republican.

REV. ALEXANDER D. DECKER, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Wyalusing, was born in Portland, Pa., July 21, 1860, and is a son of George and Caroline Decker. His father was a native of New Jersey and his mother of Northampton county, Pa. His parents were farmers, and have a family of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the fourth. He was educated at Montrose High School and Wyoming Seminary ; his first appointment as pastor was in May, 1885, at Harford Mills, N. Y., where he remained two years, and was admitted into the Wyoming Conference in April, 1886; in 1887 he was transferred to Tioga Centre, where he labored faithfully three years, and in 1890 he came to Wyalusing, where he has since been very successful. Mr. Decker was married March 10, 1886, to Ida M. Sumner, daughter of Rev. J. B. Sumner, now presiding elder of

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

Honesdale District, Wyoming Conference. She is a graduate of the art department of Wyoming Seminary. They have one child, Natalie, born June 23, 1890. As a pastor, Mr. Decker has been blessed with abundant success, and has the confidence and esteem of all.

EDWIN W. DECKER, farmer, at Durell Centre, was born Decem- ber 11, 1833, in Standing Stone township, this county, on the Rummer- field creek, a son of Philip J. Keyzer, who came from Switzerland with his parents to Philadelphia, and first settled in this county in 1828. The subject of this sketch, his mother having died when he was two years old, was adopted into the family of Simeon Decker, at the time, and ever since assumed his name. He was educated in the district chools, went one year to college at Towanda and one year to Williamsport. He was reared on the farm on which he now lives, which is a very fine one under a good state of cultivation. He was married June 30, 1865, to Nancy Brown, who was born at Sugar Run, this county, April 27, 1845, daughter of John P. and Uraia Brown, natives of Wyalusing township. Mrs. Decker's mother is living with them at the age of eighty-one years, a well-preserved lady who has a great fund of historical reminiscences of the early times in Bradford ; her grandfather was one of the pioneers of Wyalusing. Mr. and Mrs. Decker have three children, as follows: Florence U., born January 25, 1869, wife of Edwin J. Benjamin ; Laura A., born April 2, 1871; Evan S., born March 2, 1881. Mr. Decker was in the Fifty-seventh P. V. I., Company G, in the War of the Rebellion, and was imprisoned in Libby prison many months. He is a life-long Democrat, and a square free trader, and always active to take part on discussing the issues of the times. He has always been held with respect and esteem by all his many friends for integrity, benevolence and his Christian virtues.

SAMUEL S. DEKAY, farmer and stock-grower, Ulster, was born in Sussex county N. J., December 19, 1813, son of Charles Dekay, a farmer, a native of New Jersey, and Clara Seely, of New York. He came from New Jersey in 1849, and located in Factoryville, Wyoming Co., Pa., and came to this county in 1869 and located at north Towanda. He has been twice married: the first time to Amanda Wright, a native of New York, December 7, 1848; by this marriage there were five children, viz .: Alice, (wife of Judd Smith); Charles (deceased); Fill- more; Emma and Eva (twins) (Emma married Everett Briggs, Eva is deceased). His wife died December 7, 1855, and September 10, 1857, he was united in marriage to Lydia, daughter of Holden and Sarah (Billings) Capwell, natives of this State; by this marriage there are six children, viz .: Clara, widow of James Madden, Sie and Uri (twins, deceased); Lura; William; and Jud. Mr. Dekay's early education was received in the country schools of Sussex county, N. J., and was quite limited. He now owns fifty acres of finely improved farm land, and keeps a small dairy ; he is a member of the Dem- ocratic party.

WESLEY H. DELANEY, engineer on the L. V. R. R., Sayre, is a native of Tioga county, N. Y., and was born November 14, 1850; a son of John and Sarah (Hartford) Delaney, natives of Orange county,

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

N. Y. The father was a farmer in early life, was a soldier in the Civil War, and is now in the employ of the railroad company, with residence at Waverly, N. Y. Wesley H., who is the eldest in a family of five children, was reared in Tioga county, N. Y., where he received a com- mon-school education. He came to Milltown in 1870, and worked in the L. V. R. R. engine house from the fall of 1872, until he was pro- moted to Locomotive Engineer in May, 1880, which position he has since held. He was married in Sayre, November 21, 1877, to Miss Sarah, daughter of John and Mary (Cochrane) Lamont, the former a native of Belfast and the latter of Coleraine, Ireland; they came to New York City in 1848, from there to Connecticut, then to Massachusetts, and removed to Sayre in September, 1873; the father resides in Savre and works in the foundry; the mother died in November 1885 in her sixty-fifth year. Mrs. Delaney is sixth in a family of nine children; and was born in Lime Rock, Conn., April 3, 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. Delaney were born five children: Louis E., Mary F., Wesley L., John A. (deceased) and George H. Mr. Delaney is a member of the Knights of Honor, Patriotic Sons of America and the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers, Division No. 380, and is a Republican.

ORRIN L. DELANO, of DeLano & Campbell, grocers, Towanda, was born in Westmoreland, Oneida Co, N. Y., in 1825, a son of Saf- ford S. and Clarissa (Cook) DeLano, and is of Huguenot stock. His ancestors came to America in 1680 and settled in Massachusetts. He was reared in his native State, educated in the high school of Rome, N. Y., and at the age of twenty removed to Brooklyn where he was engaged in the dry-goods business with his father until 1858; he then spent two years in the dry-goods business in Oneida county, N. Y., and in 1860 located in Bath, N. Y., where he was engaged in the dry- goods business ten years. In 1870 he came to Towanda, where he took charge of the grocery department in the store of Joseph Powell, in which capacity he served eighteen years. In 1889 he formed a partnership with J. W. Campbell in the grocery trade, under the name of DeLano & Campbell, in which they have since continued. Mr. De- Lano was married, in 1849, to Ann, daughter of John and Margaret (Robertson) Downie, of Leslie, Scotland, by whom he has five children, viz .: Margaret, Safford S., Florence, Alice and Julia. Mr. DeLano is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

R. B. DENMARK, proprietor of saw and planing mill, Grover, is a native of Chemung county, N. Y., and was born March 10, 1851, a son of J. J. and Cornelia (Smith) Denmark, natives of Chemung county and of near West Point, N. Y., respectively. J. J. Denmark was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and died in Canton township in 1882, in his sixty-third year; Mrs. Denmark still survives him and resides in Canton. The grandfather, Christopher Denmark, settled in Che- mung county, N. Y., and died in Union township, Tioga Co., Pa. The paternal grandfather, Nathan Smith, was a native of New York, and died in Tompkins county; he was a soldier in the War of 1812. R. B. Denmark, who is the sixth in order of birth in a family of seven children, was reared in Chemung county until three years of age, when the family removed to Union township, Tioga Co., Pa., where

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they resided seven years ; then went to Fallbrook, and from there to Grover, where they resided about four years, and then came to Canton. Our subject was in N. S. Denmark's furniture factory nine years, and in S. J. Hickcox's planing-mill, also nine years. He then removed to Grover, and built a sawmill, but, selling his interest, he went to Ken- tucky and was foreman for the Hixson & Roddourn Lumber Company one year; then moved to Newfield, N. Y., and was in the lumber busi- ness there six months. Returning to Grover, he has since resided here. Mr. Denmark was married in Monroeton, in 1871, to Anna, daughter of James and Maria (Williams) Jones, natives of Pennsyl- vania ; she is the seventh in order of birth in a family of eight chil- dren, and was born in Canton township, March 27, 1850. To Mr. and Mrs. Denmark were born four children : Myrtie, Ralph (deceased), Carrie May and Jennie. Mr. Denmark is a member of the I. O. O. F., Canton Lodge, No. 321, and also of the Encampment, No. 185, Can- ton. Politically he is a Republican.

D. D. DEPUE, proprietor of the Seeley House, Towanda, was born in Vestal, Broome Co., N. Y., in 1854, a son of James and Eliz- abeth (Rose) Depue, and of French descent. He was reared and edu- cated in his native county, and began his business career in the hotel business. He conducted the " Cottage House " at Great Bend, Susque- hanna Co., Pa., three years, and in 1881 erected the "Keystone (now Sawyer) House" at that place, which he successfully conducted until 1886. In September, 1889, he purchased the "Seeley House" at Towanda, a neat and commodious hotel, with accommodations for 100 guests, and has built up a successful business, which is daily increas- ing. In 1878 Mr. Depue married Miss Carrie B., daughter of John G. Throp, of Candor, N. Y., and has one son, Harry.

CHARLES D. DERRAH, editor of the Canton Sentinel, born at Rockport, Carbon Co., Pa., September 4, 1858, a son of Joshua and Lavina (Krum) Derrah, natives of Norristown and Carbon county, Pa., respectively, of Scotch-Irish and German descent. Joshua Derrah was engaged in the meat business most of his life, at Maunch Chunk, Rock- port, Troy and Canton. He died at Canton in 1889, in his seventy-ninth year. Mrs. Derrah still resides in Canton. They had a family of four children, of whom three are now living. Charles D. Derrah, who is the youngest in the family, was reared in Rockport until six years of age; removed to Troy and was there about three and one-half years, when he came to Canton. He received his education in the public school and Troy Academy, and at the age of thirteen began an appren- ticeship at the printer's trade, and helped on the first issue of the Can- ton Sentinel. At the age of sixteen he finished his trade, serving for three and one-half years in the Troy Gazette office. In April, 1878, he went to Detroit, and worked on the Detroit Free Press as compos- itor for eighteen months, and was then appointed traveling agent for the same paper ; was then given a position in the job room, and had charge of the shipping stock and show printing, where he remained until January 1, 1883; then returned to Canton and purchased the Canton Sentinel. Mr. Derrah was married July 6, 1886, to Fannie P., daughter of Hon. B. S. Dartt, of Canton, a hardware merchant; her

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mother was Achsah E. (Manley) Dartt, and resides in Canton (they had a family of five children, of whom Mrs. Derrah is the fourth, and three are now living ; she was born in Troy, August 24, 1863). They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee. He is a member of the F. & A. M., Canton Lodge, No. 415, and of the I. O. O. F., No. 321; is secretary of the Union Agricultural Association, and has held that position for five years. Politically he is a Republican.

ANDREW DESMOND, of Rome township, farmer and stock grower, P. O. Myersburg, was born in County Cork, Ireland, December 25, 1844, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Cotter) Desmond, both natives of County Cork, Ireland ; his father was a farmer ; he had two children, born in Ireland; Mary the eldest married Timothy Desmond ; his parents are both living, and make their home with Andrew. His father's family came to this country in 1846, and resided in several differ- ent localities before coming to Bradford county to make their home; reaching this county on Friday, the day of President Lincoln's assass- ination, and located where they have since resided. Andrew spent his boyhood in Chemung and Lycoming counties, where he attended the public schools until nineteen years old, and then worked on the rail- road two years; came to Bradford county, and now owns 100 acres of good land, all under cultivation; the house is a frame one with all the conveniences, two stories, and was built in 1867; the farm is well stocked. He was united in marriage in October, 1880, to Hannah, daughter of John and Hannah (Sullivan) Hayes. Her father and mother, who were born in Cork, Ireland, were married September 8, 1846, and had a family of fourteen children, viz .: Daniel, born July 6, 1847; William, born July 4, 1848; Michael, born February 24, 1850, died January 13, 1854; John, born January 11, 1852; Ellen, born January 18, 1853, married to Thomas Dolan ; Mary, born February 24, 1855; Charles, born July 6, 1856; Hannah, born March 8, 1858; Eliz- abeth, born January 28, 1860, died in infancy ; Julia, born April 17, 1861, married to Peter Hurly; Dennis, born April 2, 1863; Michael, born June 6, 1865; James, born May 6, 1868; and Catherine, born February 8, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Desmond have had born to them one child, Thomas, born November 6, 1883. The family are all members of the Catholic Church. of Towanda. He is a Democrat, and a mem- ber of the Farmers' Alliance. He is among the best farmers of this county, and came to this section when the country was almost a wil- derness ; yet, by untiring industry, he has carved from the dense hem- lock forests a beautiful home, and with no assistance has secured a fair amount of this world's goods ; he is looked upon as a model farmer and enjoys the love and respect of all who know him.

HARRISON DETRICK (deceased), who, in his lifetime, was among the most successful and prosperous of Bradford county's farmers, was born on a farm in Monroe county, Pa .. June 14, 1834, a son of John E. and Mary M. (Morrey) Detrick, also natives of Monroe county. Ile was reared on the farm, educated in the common school, and, as soon as he reached his majority, came with his sister to this county, where lie managed his father's extensive landed interests. He located on the

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

farın now occupied by his family, and there passed the rest of his days. After his father's death he purchased the farm and improved it until he had a beautiful home, containing one 160 acres of exceedingly fine farm land. Mr. Detrick was married April 24, 1861, to May Anne, only daughter of Philip and Jane (Lamb) Sullivan, former of whom was born in Ireland, latter in Wyalusing. To Mr. and Mrs. Detrick were born two children: Earnest H., born May 9, 1877, and Jennie M., born March 31, 1881. Mr Detrick died in 1883 from injuries received through being thrown from a wagon. He was a careful, neat and successful farmer, and a very hard worker. Since his death, his widow has had full charge of the farm, and its neat and tidy appearance, which compares most favorably with that of her neighbors, shows abundantly that she has the skill to manage success- fully. Mrs. Detrick is a member of, and liberal contributor to, the Methodist Episcopal Church of Spring Hill.

CHARLES J. DETTRA, carpenter and farmer, P. O. Ulster, was born in Montgomery county, Pa., February 12, 1850, and is a son of Christian and Martha (Davis) Dettra, natives of Montgomery county, Pa., his father of German and his mother of Welsh descent ; his grand- father was a miller and one of the pioneers of Montgomery county. His parents came to Bradford county in the year 1870, locating in Ulster, where his father yet lives at the age of eighty-seven, being the oldest inhabitant of the township ; his mother died in Montgomery county in 1887, aged seventy-four ; they were farmers. Charles attended the common schools of Montgomery county until sixteen years old, and received a good common-school education, and worked on his father's farm until nineteen years old; then secured a position on the Lehigh Valley Railroad as carpenter, building bridges, depots, etc, and has continued in the employ of the railroad twenty-two years. He owns thirty-eight acres of finely improved land, which he cultivates himself, growing tobacco and other crops ; he also keeps a small dairy. Mr. Dettra has been remarkably successful in business, and has secured an independence entirely through his own exertions. He was married December 14, 1875, to Agnes, daughter of William and Jessie (Gallespie) Irving ; they have no children. His father's family consisted of twelve children, eleven of whom survive, four of whom, live in this county, viz .: Louis, Joseph, Catherine (wife of H. J. Shaw) and himself, he being the tenth in order of birth; is a member of the Rural Amity Lodge of Athens, F. & A. M., and Union Chapter, No. 161, R. A.M., and of Northern Commandery, No. 11. K. T., of Towanda Lodge of Perfection, No. 140; also a member of the Iron Hall, Sex- ennial League, order of the Royal Ark, and of the Peoples Benefit Association. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Dettra is an elder and holds the office of trustee ; his polit- ical views are Republican.

A. J. DEWEY, farmer, of South Creek township, P. O. Wells- burg, N. Y., was born in South Creek, May 20, 1835, a son of James and Mahetable (Van Camp) Dewey, natives of Vermont and Canada, respectively. His father was the son of James Dewey, who removed from Vermont, near the Green Mountains, in the early history of this

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

county, locating on Bentley's creek, where he built one of the first mills in that section of the county, being one of the pioneers. James, Jr., his son, settled on a new farm of 200 acres of wood land, on what is now called Doty hill, he being one of the first settlers on that hill. His family consisted of six children who grew to maturity, three of whom are now living, as follows: Levi and Andrew J., and Eliza A. Callen. James, Jr., died August 14, 1872, at the age of seventy years. A. J. Dewey, the subject of this sketch, is the fifth in order of birth. At the age of twenty-three he married Sarah E., daughter of Charles and Lydia Loveland, on December 26, 1858, at Nichols, N. Y. There were born to them four children, all of whom grew to maturity and are now living, viz .: Eliza A., married to Dwight S. Parsons, deputy postmaster at Ansonia, Conn .; Floyd H., Cora I. and Mary Elizabeth. Mr. Dewey has 100 acres of rich fertile land, which he bought of George Suffern, then known as the "Hillman place." He follows a mixed line of farming, and is an extensive butter maker; his stock is fine and graded ; he is a natural mechanic, doing all of his own building. The family are members of the Baptist Church ; in politics he is a Republican.

DEWEY BROTHERS, merchants, Gillett, were born in South Creek township, Bradford Co., Pa., C. P., in December, 1862, and E. O., in March, 1865. They were reared and educated in Ridgebury township, this county, C. P. taking a course at Warner's Commercial College, in Elmira, N. Y. They are the sons of Walter and Parentha (Sutliff) Dewey, both of whom were born in New York and removed to this county about 1850, locating on what is now known as " East Hill," but subsequently removed to Ridgebury, where the father now resides, a prosperous farmer in easy circumstances ; his family consists of eight children by two marriages, seven of whom grew to maturity, and six are now living. C. P. and E. O., who are the seventh and eighth respectively in the family, began mercantile business in Gillett on March 4, 1889, with a full line of goods adapted to country trade, and by their gentlemanly bearing to all they have won the esteem of their neighbors, and by close attention to business they have won the con- fidence and trade of many. Their stock consists of a general supply of the best quality, and they handle a variety of agricultural imple- ments, such as mowers, reapers, etc., also harness, and are extensive dealers in butter. C. P. Dewey has held the office of postmaster nearly two years. The brothers are both married, C. P. having wed- ded May 20, 1885, May, daughter of A. E. and Marion Striton, and there were two children born to them, Blanche and Agnes. E. O. married, in January, 1890, Rose, daughter of Reuben and Clara Gris- wold. The brothers are members of the International Fraternal Alli- ance of Baltimore, Md., and politically are Republicans.

GEORGE F. DEWING, farmer and stock grower of Warren township, P. O. Warrenham, was born in Warren township, April 29, 1846, and traces his ancestry back some generations, as follows : An- drew Dewing came from England and became a freeman of Dedham, Mass., in 1646, and is so registered in Farmers' Geographical Register, Barker's Historical Collections, page 456; his son Andrew Dewing

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

was born November 26, 1655, according to the Dedham records; his son Edmund Dewing was born September 9, 1694, according to the same record; he married Ruth Dunklee, March 26, 1723, as noted in the records of Needham, and they had seven sons and daughters. The youngest was Hezekiah Dewing, who was born September 9, 1740, as is shown by the records of Needham; his son Michael Dewing was born in Wood- stock. Conn., in May, 1765; he married Ruth Coburn, and they had six children, of whom Andrew Dewing was second, born July 19, 1792, in Salisbury, Conn., and was the father of George F. Dewing, our subject. Andrew married twice, first Elizabeth Fahnestock, in 1820. She died in 1821, and in 1845 he married Nancy Dobson, who bore him four children, viz .: George F., Elizabeth F. (Mrs. Dr. J. M. Newman, whose husband died in 1880, leaving her with two daugh- ters), Anna C. (Mrs. I. M. Young), who has three sons, and Andrew, who married Esther R. Coburn, and has four sons and a daughter. Andrew came to this county with his maternal grandfather in 1802, and died August 26, 1883, aged ninety-one years ; his widow died July 24, 1887, aged sixty-nine. George F. Dewing spent his early life in Warren township, and farmed and tanght school for a number of years and now owns a farm of 180 acres, that is well cultivated, and has elegant and commodious farm buildings on it and a residence which has just been completed. He was married in Wysox, March 22, 1876, to Abigail, daughter of Albert and Susan (Bull) Lent, natives of Pennsylvania and New York, respectively, and of Dutch and English extraction. To them were born ten children, of whom Abigail, a native of Wysox, was the eighth. To Mr. and Mrs George F. Dewing were born five children, who are the eighth generation of Americans of that name and family. They are as follows : Nancy, Francis T., Geo. Albert, Anna and Elizabeth. The family worship at the Presbyterian Church ; Mr. Dewing votes the Republi- can ticket.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 85

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