History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 210

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

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A. J. STRAIT, farmer and lumberman, Hunlock Creek, was born in Franklin town- ship December 30, 1851, where he was reared and educated in the common schools. He is a son of Lewis and Amelia (Alling) Strait, both of whom were born in Morris county, N. J., the former in 1809, the latter in 1813. They removed to this county when they were both young, and located in Franklin township, where they lived a life of peace and quietness. Lewis died in 1874, his wife, Amelia, in 1890. They reared a family of seven children, four of whom are living. Our subject is the sixth in the family, and has always confined himself to farming and lumbering and rail- road bossing. On April 15, 1874, he married Miss Olive, daughter of James Lam- oreux, to which union have been born eleven children, all of whom are living: Cora S., Louise E., Harvey B., Amelia J., Priscilla M., Hiram J., Christina E., Emily A. Mahlon L., Jessie M. and Fannie A. Mr. Strait owns fifty acres of land in Hun- lock township, which he purchased in 1872, besides a mill property of twenty acres, known as the "Koons Mill." He is a member I. O. P. S. A. and Sons of Veter- ans. His father served his country in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for three years. He is a Republican in politics, and has held various township offices.

CAPTAIN NELSON STRANBERG, a prominent citizen of Parsons, and inside foreman at Laurel Run Mine, was born in Sweden, March 18, 1854, a son of Nelson and Bertha (Anderson) Stranberg. At the age of fifteen, he enlisted in the Royal Life Guards of Charles XV., at Stockholm, and after serving his Majesty for three years, the term

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of enlistment, came to America and engaged in mining at Kingston. In the fall of 1878, when he went to Wilkes-Barre, remaining there one year, and next came to Parsons, where he has since been engaged in mining for the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company. He was promoted to his present position in 1885. At the organi- zation of Company F, Ninth Regiment N. G. P., July 7, 1879, our subject was com- missioned first lieutenant; May 11, 1882, was commissioned captain, and is now serving his third successive commission as captain of that company, which amply demon- strates his aptitude to military life. Mr. Stranberg was married December 27, 1882, to Miss Jennie, daughter of John Anderson, of Parsons; and of this union has been born one child, Etta. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encamp- ment, and is one of those strictly independent political thinkers of which the present age is greatly in need.

WILLIAM J. STRANGE, a prominent citizen of Plains township, was born in Pittston, October 14, 1854, and is a son of William and Caroline (Sharren) Strange, natives of England. The parents came to America in 1844, and located in Pittston, where the father engaged first in farming and later in teaming around the mines; he was for several years stable-boss and veterinary surgeon, having charge of several barns, until he retired from active life and removed to Plains, in February, 1891. William and Caroline Strange were the parents of seven children, of whom William J. is the fifth. The last named was educated in the common schools and at Wyoming Semi- nary, where he completed the English and commercial courses. He began life for himself at Pittston, where he was successively engaged in painting, two and a half years; butchering, two and a half years; firing and stable-bossing, two and a half years; as stable-boss for Waterman & Beaver, one year. He then made an extended tour of the West: Going by the way of Canada, he traveled through Michigan, Indi- ana, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky, then back to Illinois, whence he returned to Pittston, where he resumed painting for a short time, and was afterward employed by W. J. Marvel, of Wilkes-Barre, as clerk in a green market, remaining as such about five months. He then entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, continuing eight years, during which time, while acting as brakeman, he received an injury whereby he lost his right arm; he then resumed butchering at Plains, which business he has followed to some extent since. Mr. Strange was married, March 27, 1886, to Miss Mary, daughter of Peter Neuman, of Plains, and they have three children, viz. : Maria, William and Rena. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F., P. O. S. of A., and the Jr. O. U. A. M. He is a Republican in politics, and renders his party much valuable service; he has held the office of assess- or, two consecutive terms, and, in February, 1891, was elected tax collector of Plains township.

GEORGE STROH, farmer, at Dorranceton borough, was born September 4, 1853, and is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Blanchard) Stroh, natives of Pennsylvania and of English and German origin, respectively. Our subject is the fourth in a family of twelve children, five of whom are now living. At the age of nineteen he engaged with Adam Heiss as farm hand, and remained with him for two years, after which he worked one year on the farm of Jacob Ely, also one year for John Dorrance. He then purchased the stock of the Dorrance farm, rented the land and farmed on same for eleven years, when he rented the Myers farm at Kingston, where he is now engaged in agricultural pursuits. He purchased a lot and built his present cozy home in 1888. In 1873 Mr. Stroh was married to Callie, daughter of David and Emily (De Long) Bryant, natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish and German descent, respectively. This union was blessed with one child, Daisy Maude, born December 19, 1874. She is a pupil at the Dorranceton high school, where she stands at the head of her classes, and has won the love and respect of her tutors and schoolmates alike. Mrs. Stroh is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Stroh is a sound Republican, and is a member of the Dorranceton school board.

HENRY STROH, who was in his lifetime for many years sexton of the Forty Fort

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cemetery, was born in Luzerne, November 25, 1842. He was a son of Henry and Margaret (Kridler) Stroh, natives of Pennsylvania, the father a miller by occu- pation, and of German origin. They reared a family of eight children, of whom Henry was the fourth. At the age of ten years our subject began work on a farm, and followed same until the age of thirty-one years, when he moved to his late residence and engaged as sexton of the Forty Fort cemetery-the position he held until his death, which occurred January 17, 1892. He was married, July 9, 1863, to Martha A., daughter of Charles and Catherine (De Long) Wolfinger, natives of Monroe county, Pa., and of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Stroh had three children: William J., a butcher at Forty Fort, married to Helen Keeler; Maggie T., married to Samuel Marsden, a conductor on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad; and Katie W. Mrs. Stroh is a member of the Methodist Church of Forty Fort. Mr. Stroh enlisted in Company C, Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and after his discharge, re-enlisted in Company H, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, with which company he participated in the following battles: Richmond, Bowling Green and Perryville, all in Kentucky, and several other minor engagements; he was discharged in January, 1862, on account of disability. Mr. Stroh was a mem- ber of the G. A. R., and in his political views he was independent.

WILLIAM J. STROH, butcher, Forty Fort borough, was born April 1, 1864, at Forty Fort, and isa son of Henry and Martha A. (Wolfinger) Stroh, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. [See sketch of Henry Stroh.] Our subject, who is the eldest in a family of three children, was educated in the common schools and at the Wyoming Seminary. At the age of nineteen he engaged as clerk in the Wyoming Valley Coal Company's Company Store (E. A. Spaulding, manager) for three years, after which he opened a meat market in Forty Fort, where he is still in business. Mr. Stroh was married to Helen Keeler. He is a member of the I. O. G. T., and politically he votes the Prohibition ticket.

ALBERT STULL, lumberman, Moosic, Lackawanna county, was born in Buck township, September 29, 1830, a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Guinter) Stull, the former born in Philadelphia in 1797, the latter in Germany. The father came to Luzerne county about 1817, locating in Buck township, where he owned 166 acres of land, some of which he cleared, making also other needed improvements. He made his home there till his death, which occurred in 1867, when he was aged sixty- eight years. His family consisted of nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity, and six of them are now living, Albert being the sixth in the family. Our subject was reared and educated in his native township, and confined his labors to farming and lumbering. On June 21, 1857, he married Miss Elizabeth De Haven, who was born in Monroe county in 1830, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth De Haven, and there were ten children born to them, nine of whom are now living: Emma, Henry, Lydia, Elmer, William, Thomas, Alvin, George and Mame. Mr. Stull owns, in partnership with his son-in-law. J. W. Ziegler, 300 acres of valuable land, some of which is improved. Mr. Stull is a practical business man, hard-working, economical and industrious. Politically, he is a Republican.

W. D. STULL, miner, Larksville, was born in Plainsville, June 26, 1856, a son of David and Amanda (Smith) Stull, the former born in Easton, Northampton county, in 1826, the latter, in Stoddartsville, Pennsylvania, in 1836. David was a miller by occupation, but followed other vocations. He removed to this county about 1855, locating in Plainsville, where he purchased some property. In 1858 he sold his estate and removed to Larksville, where he purchased property and where he and his sons now reside. He and his wife are both living at this writing and enjoying good health. Their family consisted of six children, of whom five are living: J. O., Elizabeth, Hattie J., Ellen and W. D. The subject of this sketch, the eldest by birth, was reared and educated in Larksville, and has followed mining all his lifetime. . During his mining experience, he met with an accident which caused a permanent lameness in his hips, caused by being crushed between two cars. May 26, 1875, he married Miss Mary H., daughter of William and Mary A.

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Smith, and of this union were born eix children, one of whom is living, James E. For his second wife Mr. Stull married Miss Smith, a sister of his former wife, September 27, 1886, and by her had tive children, all now living, viz .: Jennie, Howard, Warren, Charles and Hattie. Both hie wives were born in Larksville. Mr. Stull is a member of the I. O. O. F., I. O. R. M., and of the Golden Eagle.

COLONEL SAMUEL H. STURDEVANT, lumber dealer, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Braintrim township (now in Wyoming county, Pa.), March 29, 1832, and is a son of Laverius D. and Ada (Morley) Sturdevant. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Sturdevant, was a native of Connecticut, as was also the great-grandfather, Rev. Samuel Sturdevant, both of whom were among the pioneers of Black Walnut Bottom, in Braintrim township, where they died. The father was born and reared in that township, and was successively a farmer, hotel-keeper and merchant; he died there at the age of eighty-three years. His wife was a daughter of John Morley, a pioneer of Tuscarora, Wyoming county, and by her he had eight children: Samuel H., Ebenezer W., Elizabeth M. (Mrs. James M. Robinson), Martha (Mrs. Frank Ames), H. Sinton, Dunning, Ella (Mrs. Jerome Swartwood) and Harriet Morley (Mrs. W. F. Goff). Our subject was reared in Luzerne county, and educated in the common schools and at Wyoming Seminary". In 1851 he began his business career as a merchant in Wilkes-Barre, in which he continued until 1855, when he embarked in the lumber business, at which he remained until 1861. On August 3, of that year, he was appointed, by President Lincoln, captain of C. S. of U. S. Volunteers; was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and later to colonel, and September 15, 1865, was mustered out of the service. He has since been in the lumber business at Wilkes-Barre, since 1869 as a member of the firm of Sturdevant & Goff. Col. Sturdevant was married November 9, 1853, to Leah, daughter of John and Emily (Naylor) Urquhart, of Lambertville, N. J., and has five children living: Harry, Ella, George, Samuel H., Jr., and Robert. Mr. Sturdevant is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre. Politically, he is a Republican, and has held the office of school director, six years, and councilman, three years.

DANIEL A. SULLIVAN, proprietor of the "Eagle Restaurant," Miners Mills, was born in Hackettstown, N. J., December 26, 1862, and is a son of Michael and Honora (McTigue) Sullivan, natives, respectively of Counties Kilkenny and Mayo, Ireland. His father, who was a brewer by trade, came to New Jersey in 1858, and reared a family of nine children, seven of whom are living, viz. : Mary, married to Herman Riechardt, hotel-keeper, Chicago; James, brakeman on the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Delano, Pa. ; Catharine and Michael, residing with Mr. and Mrs. Riechardt, in Chicago; Ann, living with Daniel A .; and Patrick, attending school in Cleveland, Ohio, living with his mother. Our subject received a common-school education, and at the age of eleven years began working about the mines, which he has followed as the chief occupation of his life; while tending door in the Mid- vale Shaft, he was driven through a double door by a loose car, and had both arms and one leg broken, hip disjointed, and received a gash in the head which required twenty-four stitches in sewing up; when he was somewhat recovered, his hip was again displaced by a kick, and he was disabled, in all, about eighteen months. He worked in many different places, and in nearly every capacity about the mines. After serving four years as brakeman, fireman and conductor on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, he again engaged in mining, and at the same time had a grocery and confectionery store in Parsons for one year. He engaged in his present business in 1889. Since then he has contracted and acted as foreman to some extent for the Abbot Coal Company; he passed the examination as mine foreman, July 6, 1891. Mr. Sullivan was married, June 18, 1885, to Mary E., daughter of John and Maria (Welch) Sheridan, natives of Ireland and Archbald, Pa., respect- ively, and of Irish origin. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan had four children, viz. : Mary M. (who died at the age of seventeen days), Anna, John L. and Ellen. Mr. Sullivan and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a member of the C. M. B. A., A. O. H., B. of V., and formerly belonged to the B. of R. R. T .; in politics he is a Democrat, but votes for principle aside from party liues.

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BARNARD SUTLIFE, retired farmer, Huntington township, P. O. Town Line, was born August 28, 1810, on the property he now owns. He is the only son of Darius and Rosanna (Hungerford). Sutliff, who were natives of Waterbury, Conn., of English origin, and came to Huntington about 1795. Our subject was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and has followed agriculture all his life. He was married, September 17, 1835, to Miss Elizabeth Walton, who bore him eight children, six of whom are living, viz .: Darius C., Isabella (Mrs. Harrison Wilkin- son), Theodocia (Mrs. Edward Remaly), Josephine (Mrs. William A. Masters); Chester B., born December 27, 1846, married to Hattie M. Benscoter November 2, 1879, which union was blessed with four children, viz. : Daisy M., born January 25, 1880; Gussie J., born September 18, 1881, died August 1, 1883; Francis B., born October 14, 1883; and Gertie A., born March 31, 1887 (the father of this family is a member of the P. of H., and politically is a Republican); and Rebecca J. (Mrs. Joseph Wilkinson, of Colorado). Mr. Sutliff is a member of the I. O. O, F .; he has held all the township offices in his day, and in politics is a good Republican.

D. C. SUTLIFE, farmer, Union township, P. O. Town Line, was born August 26, 1836, in Huntington township, this county, and is a son of Bernard and Elizabeth (Walton) Sutliff. He is the eldest in the family, was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and began life for himself at twenty-two years of age, working the homestead on shares for two years. He then moved to Stillwater, Columbia county, and worked a rented farm for five years, when he returned and bought his present property in Union township, where he now resides. He was married, February 22, 1860, to Maria, daughter of Andrew and Sarah Whitesell, of Monroe county, Pa., by whom he has had seven children, five of whom are living: Lizzie (Mrs. John Williams, of Huntington township); Ida (Mrs. D. M. Hobbse, of Kingston, Pa.); William, a teacher in the State Normal School, Bloomsburg; Fred, attending same school; and Stanley, at home. Mrs. Sutliff is a member of the M. E. Church. In politics he is a Republican, and has held the offices of school director and supervisor.

J. B. SUTLIFF, a prominent farmer of Huntington township, P. O. Huntington Mills, was born in that township November 20, 1839, and is a son of Darius S. and Lydia (Dodson) Sutliff, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English origin. The father was a son of Miles and Phoebe (Culver) Sutliff, who came from Connecticut to the Huntington Valley among the first settlers. Our subject is the third in a family of twelve children, seven of whom are now living. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-two rented a farm and began life for himself. He farmed on rented lands for about twelve years, and in 1873 pur- chased his present property of 156 acres, on the Shickshinny and Huntington Mills turnpike, about one-half mile from latter place, and in the spring of 1886, built his fine residence thereon. Our subject was married, October 13, 1861, to Miss Eveline Culver, which union was blessed with five children, two of whom are living, viz. : Mary E. (Mrs. E. E. Trumpore) and Ida. The family are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Sutliff enlisted, December 8, 1864, in Company B, Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers; was in the battle of Petersburg and various minor engage- ments, and was discharged June 28, 1865. He is a member of the P. of H. and G. A. R .; in politics he is a Republican, and holds the office of school director.

JAMES M. SUTLIFE, farmer, Huntington township, P. O. Waterton, was born July 8, 1844, a son of Abel and Lydia (Brader) Sutliff, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and German origin. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, and died June 28, 1867, aged sixty-two years, was a son of Miles and Phoebe (Culver) Sut- liff, natives of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, respectively, and a grandson of Abel and Charity (Barber) Sutliff, natives of Connecticut. Our subject is the ninth in a family of fourteen, nine of whom are living. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and when twenty-three years of age began life for himself by working the homestead farm on shares, and after a year went to the Lehigh tannery, and worked a year in the lumber woods. He then returned to his native

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township and worked one year as a laborer, after which he moved to New Columbus and worked a year for D. L. Chapin, as farmer and huckster. He next followed huckstering for three years on the Eli McDaniels farm; returned to the homestead, where he has since resided. He was married, July 3, 1868, to Martha M., daughter of Christian L. Moore, by whom he has five children, viz. : Nora M., born May 12, 1870; William H., born April 3, 1872; Edward E., born January 10, 1875; Maggie M., born September 16, 1878; and Phoebe A., born June 20, 1883. Mrs. Sutliff died February 28, 1890. She was a member of the M. E. Church, and a devoted wife and mother. Mr. Sutliff is a member of the K. of H .; in politics he is a Repub- lican, and has held the office of supervisor.

JOHN W. SUTLIFF, farmer, Huntington township, P. O. Waterton, was born March 12, 1837, and is a son of Abel and Lydia (Brader) Sutliff, natives of Penn- sylvania, and of English and German origin respectively. Abel Sutliff was a farmer by occupation, and died June 28, 1867, aged sixty-two years; he was a son of Miles and Phoebe (Culver) Sutliff, natives of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, respectively. Miles Sutliff was a son of Abel and Charity (Barber) Sutliff, of Connecticut. Our subject, who is the fifth in a family of fourteen children, nine of whom are now liv- ing, was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and when twenty-two years of age, bought his present farm. He has devoted his entire life to farming pursuits. Mr. Sutliff was married June 25, 1859, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Amy (Chapin) Zimmerman, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and English origin respectively. This union has been blessed with six children, viz. : Alden M., born August 26, 1860, a farmer at Town Line (he married Della Wolf, and they have one daughter, Addie E., born March 24, 1891); Abia C., born April 29, 1863 (she married J. M. Kline, and they have one daughter, Pearl I., born March 15, 1886; Mr. Kline is a music dealer at Benton, Pa.); Geraldine E., born July 18, 1866 (she married E. F. Williams, and they have two children: Ethel M., born June 10, 1889, and Helen C., born August 5, 1891; Mr. Williams is a butcher at Glen Lyon, Pa.); Elsie M., born June 2, 1869, married to M. F. Harrison, a farmer of Huntington township; Van Duyne A., born February 6, 1872, attending school at Benton, Pa .; and Myra A., born November 7, 1873, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Sutliff are members of the Baptist Church. Socially, he is a member of the K. of H. and P. of H. Politically, he is a Republican, and has held the office of school director.

STERLING D. SUTLIFE, farmer, Huntington township, P. O. Waterton, was born September 21, 1842, in that township, son of Abel and Lydia (Brader) Sutliff, natives of Pennsylvania, of English and German origin respectively. The father was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1867, and his wife, Lydia, survived him till 1887. Abel was a son of Miles and Phoebe (Culver) Sutliff, natives of Connecticut. Ster- ling D. Sutliff, who is the eighth in order of birth in a family of fourteen children, nine of whom are now living, was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools. On August 18, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty- third Pennsylvania Volunteers, Capt. Tubbs. He participated in the following bat- tles: Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Antietam, Weldon Railroad, Spottsylvania, Chan- cellorsville, and minor engagements. He was disabled at Fort Slocum, and dis- charged June 12, 1865, at Hart Island, N. Y. He then returned to his native town- ship and purchased his present farm of forty-seven acres, situated one mile from Waterton postoffice. On December 25, 1866, he married Miss Mary A., daughter of John and Amy (Van Horn) Killion. She was born January 13, 1849, the fourth in a family of fourteen children. This union has been blessed with seven children, viz .: Blanche E., born November 19, 1867 (now Mrs. George Moonie, of Berwick); Mattie M., born March 5, 1870; Annie A., born April 24, 1872 (Mrs. Benjamin Wineings, of Union township); Charles W., born October 14, 1875; Cora A., born October 31, 1878; Gracie V., born November 4, 1881; and Mason B., born October 24, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Sutliff and their four eldest children are members of the M. E. Church. He is a member of the G. A. R., and politically is a Republican.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

OLIVER S. SUTLIFF, merchant, Bloomingdale, was born February 10, 1869, a son of Blooomfield and Martha R. (Seward) Sutliff, the former of whom was born in Hunt- ington township, this county, the latter in Sugar Loaf township, Columbia county, Pa. Bloomfield is the son of Stiles Sutliff, who was one of Huntington's early set- tlers. He was a worthy man, highly esteemed by his fellow citizens, and lived to a good old age. His son, Bloomfield, began his active business career in Huntington township as one of its prosperous farmers. During his life, which was brief, he was a successful, practical farmer. He died in 1874, aged thirty-five years. He had only one child, Oliver S., who was reared and educated in Ross township. Our subject worked on a farm until 1886, when he began clerking in the "Boston Store" and other places in Wilkes-Barre. In 1892 he embarked in mercantile business on his own account in Bloomingdale, where he keeps a general and well regulated store. On February 20, 1891, he married Miss Susie E. Hontz, who was born in Ross town- ship in 1866, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Hontz. Mr. Sutliff is a worthy young man, possessed of good business abilities-sure to succeed in his chosen call- ing. His store is well kept, and his goods are first-class and of good quality. He believes in and practices the cash system. His motto is "Goods cheap for cash, but not cheap goods."

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 210

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