History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 116

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

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WARREN W. DISTELHURST, undertaker, Conyngham, was born in the village of Conyngham, this county, October 17, 1864, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Harmon) Distelhurst, the former of whom was born in Hanover, Germany, July 14, 1812, a son of Henry and Louisa Distelhurst. William Distelhurst came to America in 1834, and in 1837 settled in Conyngham, where he followed his trade of cabinet- maker, and embarked in the undertaking business, in which he continued until 1889, when he retired. His wife was a daughter of Samuel Harmon, whose wife was a Drumheller, and by her he had six children: Mary (Mrs. Frederick Franklin), Doretta (Mrs. B. F. Dreisbach), Augustus, Francis L., George E. and Warren W. Our subject was reared and educated in Conyngham, and served an apprenticeship to the trade of cabinet maker and carriage painter. At the age of fourteen he entered the undertaking business with his father, whom he assisted until the retire- ment of the latter in 1889, when he succeeded to the business, which he still success- fully continues. On June 13, 1884, Mr. Distelhurst was married to Grace I., daughter of James D. Harris, of Wilkes-Barre, and they have three children: Will- iam H., Kittie E. and Amelia L. Mr. Distelhurst is one of the live, enterprising citizens of Conyngham; in politics he is a Republican.

ELIAS B. DODSON, farmer, P. O. Prichard, was born in Hunlock township, Febru- ary 2, 1833, a son of George and Hannah (Seeley) Dodson, the former born in 1805 in Huntington township, where he was reared and educated; the latter born in Salem township in 1806. George was a son of Elias Dodson, who was also a native of Huntington township, and Elias was a son of a Dodson who removed from Ken- tucky in a very early day, locating in Huntington. Elias Dodson was an extensive farmer, owning for several years 100 acres of land, which he sold in order to purchase a more desirable property, on which he built a gristmill and sawmill, which he operated to a great extent and with marked success. Not only was he a thorough- going man of business, but an able preacher in those days. His exhorting was practical, and while his life and heart expressed his words and thoughts, his hands were not slack in good works on the principle that " it is more blessed to give than to receive." He caused to be built in Huntington one of the first Baptist churches in the township. He lived a life of usefulness, reared a family of seven children, and died at the age of eighty years. His son George began life as a farmer in Columbia county (having removed from Huntington township), and here he made his home until his death, which took place in 1888, when he was aged eighty-three years. He was a good man, and believed in a universal salvation as the free gift of a loving God. He was a stanch Whig and a strong man in his party, from his majority till his death never missing an election. His farm contained 175 acres, and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

was a model in perfection and beauty. He reared a family of ten children all of whom grew to maturity, and eight of them are now living, Elias B. being the third in the family. Our subject was educated at the common schools of Columbia county, and in his younger days followed the lumber business, like other young men working out by the day and month. This he followed successfully, from a financial point, until he reached his twenty-eighth year, at which time his country was threat- ened with the dark clouds of Rebellion, causing every lover of the Union to defend the integrity of his country and save the flag. He was mustered into the United States service as a member of Company F, Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves, in which he displayed acts of daring heroism, during his term of service participating in all the principal battles of the army of the Potomac. After his term expired, he returned to enjoy a citizen's life. During his army experience, and in some of his wanderings outside of camp, he was captured by a fair daughter of the South, who allowed him to go on parole on promise of returning to her quarters to report peri- odically; and like all good soldiers he obeyed his commander in the letter and spirit. As soon as Mr. Dodson was discharged from the United States service he- surrendered himself to his fair custodian, Miss Mary A. Brooks, daughter of George and Elizabeth Brooks, of Virginia, and was married to her July 5, 1864. The happy couple then removed to the more peaceful North, remaining until the close of the war, when they returned to Virginia, where they resided five years, Mr. Dodson being engaged as a lumber manufacturer. They then came to Luzerne county, where he continued the manufacture of lumber. In 1881 he bought a tract of 180 acres of timber land on which he built a sawmill, and became extensively engaged in the business. After the timber is exhausted he will turn his attention to farming, with a view to stock raising. Our subject is a courteous, genial companion, enjoying life and making the best of everything. He is a member of the G. A. R., and has held several township offices. The family born to Mr. and Mrs. Elias B. Dodson consists of three daughters: Hattie, Nettie and Alice, cultured and refined ladies.

JESSE B. DODSON, farmer, P. O. Shickshinny, was born in Salem township, this county, November 3, 1822, and is a son of John and Cynthia (Callender) Dodson. His paternal grandfather, James Dodson, formerly of Lehigh county, Pa., first settled in Salem in 1777, but was driven back by the Indians. He returned. thither in 1786, and cleared a farm, as also did his father, John Dodson, who was a native of England. The wife of James Dodson was Susannah Beach, and their children were: Betsy (Mrs. William Henry), Polly (Mrs. Abram Van Court- right), John, Eleanor (Mrs. Amos Van Horn), Nathan B., Thomas, Hannah (Mrs. D. H. Goodwin), James, Sally (Mrs. U. O. Barnes). The father of subject was born in Lehigh county, came to Salem with his parents in 1786, and cleared a part of the farm now occupied by subject, where he died September 13, 1859, at the age of seventy-six years. He was twice married: His first wife was Abigail, daughter of Darius and Lydia (Woodruff) Callender, of Huntington township, and by her he had two children: Lydia (Mrs. D. S. Sutliff), and Abigail (Mrs. Warren Benscoter). His second wife was Cynthia Callender, sister of his first wife, by which union there were nine children: Susannah B. (Mrs. Caleb Williams), Mabel C. (Mrs. William D. Wells), Jesse B., J. Wesley, Esther C. (Mrs. Dorrance Harvey), Rachel B. (Mrs. G. R. Widger), Charles A., Hannah G. (Mrs. Stephen D. Stiles), and George W. Our subject was reared in Salem township, where he has always resided, engaged in farming, lumbering, and in the manufacture of char- coal. He occupied the old homestead settled by his father in 1813. On September 26, 1856, he married Susau J., daughter of William and Nancy (Watson) Meloy, of Clark county, Ind., and he has six children: W. Frank, J. Stanley, Belle A. (Mrs. J. M. Trivelpiece), U. Grant, J. Edgar, and E. Kate. Mr. Dodson is a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics is a Republican.

JOHN DODSON, the subject of this sketch, was the son of Samuel Dodson and Elizabeth (Rhoades) Dodson, and was born in Mahoning Valley, Penn township, then Northampton Co., Pa., on the 26th day of February, A. D. 1771, being the

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

fourth child and the second son in a family of ten children. After attaining the age of twenty-one years he left his father's home, and moved to Huntington town- ship, Luzerne county, and purchased and settled upon a farm, which he continued to occupy during his long life, dying May 9, 1859. In 1796 he was married to Miss Clarissa Harrison, a daughter of Stephen Harrison, who had recently emi- grated to this vicinity from Canaan, Litchfield Co., Conn. She died in 1820, leav- ing eight children, and he afterward married Miss Sophronia Monroe, a native of the same town, county and State as his former wife; she died in the year 1841, leaving him nine children. He was an active, energetic, industrious man, greatly valued and admired by his neighbors, friends and acquaintances for his sterling honesty and strict integrity. He took an especial interest in public affairs, and in promoting the welfare of that section of the county; aiding greatly in securing and maintaining public and private schools; the opening, extension and improve- ment of public roads, and the encouragement of local industries. For many years he held the office of justice of the peace by appointment of several governors, irrespective of politics. After this office became an elective one, he continued, by almost unanimous choice of the citizens of the township, to hold it until advancing years rendered it necessary for him to decline further service. In politics he was an ardent Old-line Whig until the organization of the Republican party when he joined its forces. His wise counsel and advice were eagerly sought by his neighbor and acquaintances. His hospitality became proverbial, while his unbounded charity to the poor and the unfortunate was limited only by his means. Indeed, no appli- cant left his presence without substantial assistance.

JOSEPH B. DODSON, retired, P. O. Hunlock Creek, was born in Union (now Hun- lock) township, June 4, 1805, where he was reared, and received his education at the common schools. He is a son of Joseph and Susanna (Bennet) Dodson. The former was born in Northampton county, in 1771, the latter in Luzerne county. Joseph Dodson removed to this county about 1797. He was married in Plymouth, but located in Union township. He owned about eight hundred acres of land, and was extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber. He was a hardy pioneer and did much for the advancement of agriculture in Luzerne county, in his locality. He was found to be a man who would serve his township well and faithfully, and therefore received many offices. He was a conscientious Christian, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His property, which consisted largely in land, he kept until his death, which occurred in 1827, after which it was divided between his family of ten children, Joseph B. getting a title to one-half of it. Joseph Dod- son lived to be only fifty-six years of age; his wife died at the age of eighty-four. His father, Richard, was a descendant of English parents, and was an early pioneer in Salem, but was so annoyed by the Indians that he was compelled to go to North- ampton to evade their savage attacks. When Richard died his son Joseph was a very small lad, who had to live with strangers and suffer the hardships incident to an orphan's life; but he survived all hardships and privations, succeeded in accumu- lating a large tract of land, rearing an interesting family, and handing his name down through the pages of history to a long line of descendants, who shall call his name blessed.

Joseph B. Dodson, the son of Joseph and subject of this sketch, always followed agricultural pursuits. He was always a resident of the county and township wherein he was born, and lived on the property on which his father settled until a few years ago, when he removed to Crooptown, in which place he has a neat little home, where he enjoys himself in his old age in reading God's Word and dwelling upon its sacred truths. Mr. Dodson has held several township offices, and has a clean record to leave behind to his numerous posterity. He is patriotic and loyal. He sent three sons to the defence of his country's flag, in our "Civil unpleasantness." Mr. Joseph B. Dodson was twice married, first to Miss Martha, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Park, in 1834, by whom he had nine children, seven of whom are living. In 1848 he married, for his second wife, Miss Rebecca, daughter of Fredrick and

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Elizabeth Naugle, to whom were born five children, four of whom are living, making eleven living, out of fourteen births by both wives. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ALEXANDER DODSON, merchant, P. O. Hunlock Creek, was born, September 9, 1835, reared and educated at the common school in Union (now Hunlock) township. He is a son of Joseph B. and Martha (Park) Dodson. He lived at home with his parents until he reached his majority, when he went to Michigan, and there spent three years at various occupations; in 1860 he returned home, where he spent one year working at undertaking. In June, 1861, he was mustered into the United States service as private in Company F, Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves (Thirty- sixth Regiment of the line) for the term of three years, in the army of the Potomac. He participated in the battles of Mechanicsville and Gaines' Mills, being made a prisoner of war at the latter place June 26, 1862. Here he was confined three months, when he was released on parole and sent to Washington. He returned to his command in November, 1862, and participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, where he received a flesh wound, which has proved to be a source of great annoy- ance to him, disabling him for life; yet wounded, and suffering as he was, he served out his time like a true soldier. His last battle was fought under Grant at Bethesda Church. His time expired, and he received an honorable discharge. After his return to citizenship he took up his chosen occupation again, that of cabinet-mak- ing, which he followed for a number of years. On February 15, 1866, he was married to Miss Rachel, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Davenport, residents of Hunlock township, who bore him four children, two of whom are living: Mary E. and Cora. Mary E. married D. Rittenhouse. Mrs. Rachel (Davenport) Dodson was born in Union township, June 21, 1845. Mr. Dodson removed to his present place of residence in 1876, on a farm of eighteen acres, on which he built a fine house, barn and store-house. About this date he embarked in the mercantile busi- ness, at which he has proved successful. He has a general line of goods and a fine assortment. He also deals in lumber to some extent. Previous to 1876 he was employed to oversee the lumber manufacture of Hiram Croop, for two and one-half years. Mr. Dodson is a useful and trustworthy man in his township; he has been elected to the offices of township treasurer, treasurer of school board and township clerk. He and his aged wife are members in good standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which body he is trustee, class-leader and superintendent of Sunday-school; in fact he is a pillar in the church, on which it rests many burdens. He is also treasurer of the building committee for the erection of a new Methodist Episcopal Church at this place, which is now nearly completed. Politically the Dodsons are Republicans.

WILLIAM H. DODSON, farmer, Muhlenburgh, was born August 12, 1834. He was reared and educated in Union township, and is the eldest child of Joseph B. and Martha (Park) Dodson. William H. Dodson from his earliest days has followed agricultural pursuits. He lived on his father's property until he had reached his twenty-sixth year. May 12, 1859, he married Miss Lucinda, daughter of Anthony and Solmy Sorber, and to this union were born seven children, five of whom are living: Anthony F., James, Mary M., Martha J. and Philip, all of whom are unmarried. In the following year, on March 6, 1860, he removed to his present place of resi- dence, near Muhlenburgh, consisting of ninety-six acres of land, at that time wild and unreclaimed, but by hard labor and untiring energy, he has succeeded in bringing harmony out of chaos, and he now has a most fertile farm. He is a man of good judgment, pure morals and strict integrity. When rebellion threatened our coun- try's safety, Mr. Dodson left home and family to offer himself on his country's altar. He was mustered into the United States service as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Ninety-ninth P. V. I., for the term of one year, in which command he did good service. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged, and now enjoys a pension. On his return to citizenship he followed his old vocation of farming. He has been elected to various offices of trust and responsibility in his

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own township, having served as assessor, supervisor and constable. He and his wife and family are members in good standing in the M. E. Church, in which he is trustee, Sunday-school superintendent and assistant class-leader.

O. S. DODSON, farmer P. O. Hunlock Creek, was born in Union (now Hunlock) township, March 18, 1825. He is a son of Richard and Rhoda (Goss) Dodson, the former born in Bucks county, the latter in Huntington township, this county. Richard was a son of Joseph, who removed from Bucks county to Luzerne about 1797, locating in Union township. He married his wife, Miss Susanna Bennett, in Plymouth. He owned 800 acres of land. He built a sawmill, which he operated for a number of years, and was a practical business man and a hard working, ener- getic pioneer. He was a strict churchman, having for a number of years been a member of the M. E. Church. His benevolence was proverbial. He died in 1827, followed by his widow in her eighty-fourth year. They reared a family of ten chil- dren, two of whom are now living. His son, Richard Dodson, began life in Union (now Hunlock) township, on a farm of 200 acres, situated about four and one-half miles from Hunlock Creek on the turnpike. He was a man of good, sound judg- ment, a practical farmer and a loyal citizen, on whom were conferred various town- ship offices, which he filled with credit. Like his father, he was a Methodist of high standing, and a stanch Republican in politics. He died in September, 1863. Richard and Rhoda Dodson reared a family of nine children, seven of whom are living. O. S. is the sixth of the family, and was reared and educated in his native town. He has always resided in the townships of Union and Hunlock, on his present farm-forty-three years. He has always followed a farmer's life, and like his father before him, is an adept at the business. In 1844 he married Miss Mary, daughter of George and Anna Cease. To them have been born five children, four of whom are living: Leander, Josiah, Rhoda A. and Addie. Leander is married to Miss A. Davenport; Josiah is married to Miss Jennie Shupp; Addie married Frank Small, and Rhoda married Thomas Major. Mr. Dodson was mustered into the United States service in 1864, as a private in Company E, Two Hundred and Third P. V. I., for the term of one year, participating in several of the leading battles of that year. He was honorably discharged and returned to enjoy his citi- zenship; he now receives a pension. Mr. Dodson, although much shattered by his army experience, is still young-looking. He owns seventy-five acres of valuable land, upon which he carries on general farming. He has a relic of pioneer life yet in his possession, a weaver's loom, made by his grandfather in early life, before saw- mills were in that country. It was made entirely of white oak and with an axe. Mr. Dodson and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, in which body he has been deacon for over forty-five years. Politically he is a Republican.

STEPHEN H. DODSON, a prominent farmer of Huntington township, P. O. Hunt- ington Mills, was born where he now resides June 8, 1818, and is a son of John and Clarissa (Harrison) Dodson, natives of Northampton county, Pa., and Litch- field county, Conn., respectively, the former of whom was of English origin and by occupation a farmer. He was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Dodson, and came from Northampton county to the Huntington Valley in 1796, where he purchased the farm now owned by our subject. He was married to Clarissa Harri- son, July 6, 1797, and they reared a family of eleven children, viz .: Nancy, born June 17, 1798, married to John N. Weston, M. D., a prominent physician of Towanda, Pa. (she died in May, 1888); Ann (Mrs. Gideon Post), horn September 7, 1800, died December 6, 1875; Amanda (Mrs. Solomon Taylor), horn December 20, 1802, died February 19, 1875; Susan (Mrs. Daniel J. Labar), born December 9, 1804 (deceased); Samuel, born January 31, 1807, married Miss Ann Fell, of Baltimore, Md. (he died March 2, 1874); Elizabeth (Mrs. Charles Millard), born August 28, 1809, died April 3, 1851; Sarah (Mrs. William B. Chamberlain), born October 19, 1811 (deceased); Stephen H., born December 27, 1813, died August 11, 1817; Miner, born August 14, 1816, died June 28, 1817; Stephen H., our subject, and Clarissa (Mrs. Matthias Huffman), born December 21, 1820 (deceased). The mother

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

of the above enumerated children died December 22, 1820, the day following the birth of her last child, and Mr. Dodson married, November 1, 1821, Sophrona Monroe, by whom he had nine children, viz. : Miner D. (deceased), Weston D. (deceased), Nathan M. (a physician in Berlin, Wis.), John Q. A. (deceased), Tru- man (a coal operator at Bethlehem, Pa.), Franklin (a physician at Berlin, Wis.), Mary (wife of Robert Hicks, M. D., deceased), Charles M. (a coal operator at Beth- lehem, Pa.), and Joseph S. (a farmer in Kansas). The second Mrs. Dodson died March 7, 1841, and Mr. Dodson was again married, on this the third occasion, to Susan McCafferty, who bore him no children. He died May 9, 1859.

Stephen H. Dodson, the subject proper of this memoir, was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and at twenty-two years of age engaged as bridge builder for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, at which occupation he remained two years. He then went to Towanda, Pa., and for two years acted as deputy for his brother-in-law, Dr. John N. Weston, then sheriff of Bradford county; then for three months in a similar capacity for John F. Means. Moving to Mauch Chunk, Pa., he was there engaged as a breaker builder a few months; then worked one year for D. J. Labar, a brother-in-law, as foreman in his lumber woods at Rockport, Pa. Returning home he worked on the farm until 1870, and then went to Kingston, Pa., as foreman of a mine for two years, at the end of which time he returned to the farm, and has since resided thereon. Mr. Dodson was married December 27, 1846, to Miss Lydia, daughter of Robert (a farmer) and Phoebe (Nesbitt) Davenport, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and Irish origin, respectively. Mrs. Dodson is the fourth in a family of eight children, four of whom are now living, and was born November 17, 1820. This union has been blessed with six children, viz .: Robert M., born February 11, 1848, died August 21, 1849; Clara J. (Mrs. J. C. Hutchison), born July 26, 1850, died November 20, 1875, leaving one child, Harrison D. Hutchison; Robert H., born April 5, 1852, a bookkeeper at Morea, Pa., married to Eureka Ludlow, of Summerville, N. J. (they have one child, Laura B. Dodson); Samuel A., born March 5, 1855, is a partner with J. C. Hutch- ison in a general store at Morea, Pa., and travels on the road with mine supplies (he married Frances Watson, of Delano, Pa.); Phoebe E., born August 2, 1857, and Emily I., born September 18, 1859, both at home. The Dodson farm is situ- ated one-half mile below the town of Huntington Mills, on Huntington creek, and contains 142 acres. The house, built in 1891, is a model of elegance, and one of the finest in the Huntington Valley. The family is one of the oldest in the Valley, and they have a host of warm friends. They attend the services of the Methodist Church.

MICHAEL DOHERTY, saloon keeper, Plainsville, was born in the parish of Adderi- gool, Ireland, in the year 1840, and is a son of Anthony and Maud (Kelly) Doherty, the former of whom was a farmer. They reared a family of nine children, of whom Michael is the fourth. Our subject came to America in 1866, and worked at mining successively as follows: At Pittston, four months; Wilkes-Barre, eight months; Miners Mills, two years; Mitchell's Shaft, Plainsville, six years; Port Bowkley, two years; then in the Enterprise Shaft till 1886, and in the Henry Shaft till 1889, when he built his residence, since which time he has been engaged in his present business. While working at Miners Mills, Mr. Doherty was very severely burned, which disabled him for some time, in fact, nearly causing his death. He was mar- ried, April 5, 1872, to Miss Bridget, daughter of Dennis and Sarah (Mangan) Carey, natives of Ireland, and this happy union has been blessed with five children, four of whom are living, viz. : Mary, Bridget, John and Anthony. Mr. Doherty and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a member of the A. O. H. and the Nationalists; in politics he is a Democrat, and has held the office of school director in Plains township.

REV. TIMOTHY JOSEPH DONAHUE, pastor of St. Vincent's Church, Plymouth, was born in New York City, May 16, 1839, and is a son of Cornelius and Mary (Sheean) Donahue, natives of Cork, Ireland, who came to America in 1835. The subject of

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 116

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532