History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 174

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 174
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 174
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 174

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

D. D. DEWITT.

David D. Dewitt was born in Sussex county, N. J., December 11th, 1819. He was married December 16th, 1841, to Celestia Warren. Their children are William W., who was born March 30th, 1842, and died in infancy; Frank W., born March 14th, 1850, and Melissa, born August 21st, 1853. The subject of this sketch was one of the founders of the Wyoming National Bank, and its cashier at the time of his death, February 19th, 1880.

JONATHAN JENKINS.

Jonathan Jenkins is one of the most extensive and prosperous farmers in the county, owning a farm of six hundred acres. He was born in 1822. Mrs. Jenkins was Miss Eliza Lowman, of New York. They were married in 1856.

HON. R. R. LITTLE.

Hon. R. R. Little was born in Kortright, Delaware county, N. Y., March 13th, 1820. He commenced the study of law at Montrose, Pa., was admitted to the bar in September, 1842, and came to Tunkhannock in the spring of 1843. He was elected to the Legislature for the ses- sions of 1848 and 1849. In April, 1857, he was appoint- ed judge-advocate of the naval court of inquiry, at Wash- ington. The business of this court was completed in a little less than a year, and he returned to Tunkhannock and followed the practice of his profession until 1874, when he was again elected a member of the Legislature. His wife was Harriet E. Avery, of Tunkhannock.

HON. ZIBA LOTT.

Hon. Ziba Lott, prothonotary and clerk of the courts, formerly a farmer and lumberman, was born in . what is

now Mehoopany, July roth, 1818. He married Savannah Garvey, of Windham. He is serving the third three-year term of his present office, and has been a member of the Legislature one year and justice of the peace five years. He came to Tunkhannock in 1860.

SARAH OSTERHOUT.

The history of Wyoming county would be strangely incomplete should it fail to make honorable mention of the aged and respected lady whose name stands at the head of this article and whose life, for nearly a century, has been so closely interwoven with its growth and de- velopment. David and Sarah Mitchell, the parents of Mrs. Osterhout, came to the Wyoming valley from War- wick, Orange county, N. Y., shortly after the massacre, and settled at Capoose, near Scranton. From thence they moved to Falling Spring, in the township of Pitts- ton, Luzerne county, where, August 15th, 1787. Sarah was born, and where her father died. Subsequently the widow married Abraham Frear, and in 1797 the family moved to Tunkhannock, and resided for a number of years in a log house adjacent to the "Slocum Spring," where the tannery of Lapham & Co. now stands; thence to Eaton, and finally settled upon the Frear homestead, on the hill.

In 1807 Sarah was married to David Osterhout and in 1810 moved with her husband to La Grange (now in Wyoming county), where she has since resided. The fruits of the marriage were thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters, twelve of whom arrived at the years of maturity. Of these Thomas, the eldest, has been sheriff of the county and a member of the Legislature; Peter M. postmaster of Tunkhannock, prothonotary and member of the Legislature and Senate, and otherwise en- joyed the respect and confidence of the public as described elsewhere in these pages; George has been associate judge; Jeremiah treasurer of the county and John P. judge of a district comprising several counties in Texas, and each and all have been men of mark, ability and property.

Necessarily in this connection occurs a brief history of the Osterhout family, who emigrated from Holland and settled in Connecticut, moving from thence to Dutchess county, N. Y., and then to the Wyoming valley, at a time when the country was still suffering from a bloody war of extermination waged by the Indians; when life and property were more than uncertain, and men of resolution, mind and muscle were demanded, and none other dared to risk the perils and atteinpt to carve out a home and a future upon the spot where the camp fire of the red man might be relighted, the midnight air thrill with his savage battle cry, and the green earth again be- come sodden with innocent blood. It was no light un- dertaking, and proved the nerve and bearing of the settlers, and among them Peter Osterhout played an im- portant part. We find him as early as 1777 laying aside the implements of peaceful industry, taking up sword and musket, enrolled as a member of Captain Ransom's company (one of the two raised in Wyoming valley), and fighting bravely for the land of his adoption, his fireside, his loved ones and the old flag blazoned with its thirteen stars. He (Peter) was a brother of Jeremiah (the father of David), who came to Pennsylvania in 1778 in company with his brother Gideon, both settling upon the flat lands near the Susquehanna and now compassing the Jenkins and Osterhout farms at La Grange.

The family residence (an engraving of which is else- where presented) is believed to be the first frame house ever erected upon the Susquehanna between Pittston and Tioga Point, now Athens, and all available testimony

PO. Osterhout

534 C

GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL RECORD.

proves it so to be. It was built in 1797 by Jeremiah Osterhout, taking the place of the log structure. Subse- quently it was enlarged by Isaac Osterhout, into whose possession the property came, and was a well known and favorite hostelry for many years. Isaac Osterhout was a man of broad, comprehensive views and enterprise; was largely engaged in lumbering and general merchandise, and drew around him trade until his establishment be- came the business center of a large surrounding country. His wife was Susanna Smith, the daughter of William Hooker Smith, a noted and skillful physician of the period throughout the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, and a surgeon in the Revolutionary war; the United States, after his decease, granting his heirs the sum of $2,000 in recognition of his valuable services as such. To him were born two children-Hon. Isaac Smith Osterhout, of Wilkes-Barre, a man of rare business and financial insight and capacity, at one time an associate judge of Luzerne county; and Mary Ann, who was educated at the famous female seminary of Mrs. Willard at Troy, N. Y., where she was for several years an assistant teacher, and later became the honored wife of Job Olin, a prominent law- yer and judge and a relative of the celebrated divine, traveler and historian of the Holy Land, Dr. Stephen Olin.

David Osterhout, the husband of Sarah, whose port- rait is given in this work, died in 1833, leaving to her care and direction twelve children, and how well she ac- complished her arduous task the history of their lives proves. He, the father, was a man universally held in esteem, strong and clear in mind, of more than ordinary physical powers, earnest in the establishment and sup- port of schools and a pioneer in all the good and useful- enterprises of the then sparsely settled neighborhood, as his father had been in subduing the wilderness and mak- ing for his wife and little ones a home safe from Indian attack and to be forever free from the galling yoke of foreign tyranny. At his death all of the cares of busi- ness and the rearing of a large family devolved upon his widow, and, with all of the comforts and conveniences of . the present wanting, we can scarcely overestimate or un- derstand the trials and the struggles she was forced to pass through. But in view of them, it is not to be won- dered at that her children and her children's children arise and call her blessed, watch her declining years with solicitous tenderness, and, although the sheaf has long been fully ripened and the head is weary with its nearly fifty years of widowhood and almost a century of life, will sorrow long and deeply at her departure from earth, and rear above her ashes a monument fitting to com- memorate her devotion to them and duties well and nobly accomplished. A remarkable woman is Mrs. Sarah Osterhout, especially when early privations, sorrows, trials, and the hard battles fought to feed and clothe so many little ones are taken into considera- tion. She yet retains her faculties in a surprising de-

. gree, is wonderfully sound in body and mind, bright of eye, firm of step, daily taking exercise out of doors; is cheerful in spirit, converses with clearness and precision, and in an animated and interesting manner, of the early days of the country, and shows but little the wear and strain of nearly a hundred years. She fully realizes that she is living upon "borrowed time;" that at any moment the silver cord, worn to extreme slenderness and brittle- ness, may be loosed-the golden bowl, weakened by years, be broken-and the most blessed of all words, rest, good and faithful servant," be whispered into her willing ears. But truly "her ways are pleasantness and all her paths are peace;" and calmly and trustfully she watches the going down of the sun, firm in the belief that it will arise again upon a glorious and unending day, and

to one who so long and faithfully and meekly has borne the cross the crown of roses shall be given.

PETER MITCHELL OSTERHOUT

is descended from the liberty-loving Mayflower stock upon the one side, and the sturdy burghers of Holland upon the other, and was born in Eaton, Luzerne (now Wyoming) county, Pa., May 21st, 18ro. During the fall of the same year his parents moved to the place now known as La Grange station, on the Lehigh Valley Rail- road, where he remained until his sixteenth year. Then he commenced his long, active and useful business life, as an employe of James Wright, at Tunkhannock. In 1828 he removed to Elmira, N. Y., and was a clerk in the establishment of John Arnot four years.

In December, 1833, he returned to Tunkhannock, and in connection with George M. Hollenback, of Wilkes- Barre, opened a large mercantile establishment for the times, and continued in trade there until 1845. In 1835 Mr. Osterhout was appointed justice of the peace by Governor Ritner, and he held the office to the satisfaction of the public until a change in the constitution made it elective. In 1841 he was appointed postmaster at Tunk- hannock under the Harrison administration, but upon the ascendancy of John Tyler was deposed, charged with having assisted in the circulation of the New York Tri- bune, and a Democrat was appointed in his place. In 1845 he was the candidate of the Whig party for the of- fice of prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Wyoming county, and was elected by a majority of two votes. In 1848 he was re-elected to the same important positions by an increased majority of twelve, and faithfully and for the best interest of the public served out his term. While engaged in the arduous duties of his official life Mr. Os- terhout commenced the study of law, under the instruc- tions of Hon. R. R. Little, and in 1852 was admitted to practice in the several courts of Wyoming county.

Upon the dissolution of the old Whig party Mr. Oster- hout became a staunch Republican and was chosen as a delegate to the national convention that nominated John C. Fremont for the presidency. In 1860 he was a dele- gate to the national convention at Chicago, assisted in the nomination of Abraham Lincoln, and took an energetic and important part in the canvass that resulted in his election. In 1864 Mr. Osterhout was elected a repre- sentative to the State Legislature, the district then being composed of Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, and his re-election the following year proved the estimation in which he was held and the confidence reposed in him bv his constituents. During all the exciting phases of the late war Mr. Osterhout took a strong and decided stand in favor of the Union and bent all his energies in that direction. He was appointed enrolling officer by Governor Curtin for the county of Wyoming for the first draft ordered by the government, and successfully and with credit to himself fulfilled its trying and delicate duties.

In 1868 he was elected to the State Senate from the district composed of Bradford, Susquehanna and Wyom- ing counties, and served upon the committees of judici- ary and railroads. During his senatorship he was very active in carrying out necessary reforms in the law of evidence and gaining for parties accused the right to testify in their own behalf, the beneficial results of which will be a lasting tribute to his memory as a man, and his clear discrimination of right as a lawyer. Mr. Osterhout was a delegate to the national convention of 1872, and assisted in the nomination of U. S. Grant for re-election as President.

Mr. Osterhout has been twice married-first in 1835, to

534 D

HISTORY OF WYOMING COUNTY.

Frances Slocum Carey, daughter of Eleazer Carey, of Wilkes-Barre, who died in 1839, childless ; and on March 4th, 1841, to Eunice Marcy, daughter of Colonel Abel Marcy, of Tunkhannock (and a descendant of one of the oldest settlers of the country), who died in 1878, leaving two daughters, Frances S., the wife of E. S. Handrick, and Sue L., wife of Seth L. Keeney, of Brooklyn, N. Y.

The early education of Mr. Osterhout was necessarily limited by the want of proper conveniences in the then comparatively new country. Such knowledge as the im- perfect common schools could give was eagerly sought, and later he studied for a time at the academy at Mon- trose, Susquehanna county, under the instructions of Franklin Lusk. 'In person Mr. Osterhout is large, his mood jovial and his mind well stored, especially with historical events. He bears his seventy years well, for the hand of time has been unable to bow his stalwart frame or dim the working of his active mind. Though retired from his profession, living a life of plentiful ease and largely indulging his antiquarian tastes, he still mingles actively with his fellow man and bears his part on all public occasions, takes a warm interest in political and national affairs, and bids fair to vigorously survive many who now look up to and speak of him as " old." And when at last the stern suminons of death shall come, the record he leaves behind will be an honorable one and of him it may well be written :

" Of no distemper, of no blast he died ; He fell like autumn fruit that mellowed long, Even wondered at because he dropt not sooner."

Of such men were the pioneers of the country, who carved a nation out of a wilderness, and as long as the records of the early days of Wyoming county remain will be found prominent therein, as a guide and a shin- ing example, the name of Peter Mitchell Osterhout.

STEPHEN H. SEACORD.

Stephen H. Seacord was born in Bovina, Delaware county, N. Y., and married Emma, daughter of J. B. Sands, a native of Meredith, in the same county. He served as a member of the 144th New York volunteers in the war for the Union. He came to Wyoming county in 1875, kept the Sterling House, at Meshoppen, three years, and since 1878 has been keeping Wall's Hotel in Tunkhannock.

SAMUEL STARK.

The subject of this sketch was one of that family whose name is early found in the records of New Eng- land, and who occupied so prominent a place and par- ticipated so actively in the early events of our infant republic. From 1685 down through all the struggles of the Revolution and the terrible Wyoming massacre, the Starks are found defending with brain and blood the everlasting principles of liberty and truth. Of such an ancestry Samuel Stark was an honorable and honored descendant. Born at Cherry Valley, Otsego county, N. Y., on the 9th of June, 1810, he was one of a family of fourteen children. For seventeen years he remained there, spending his boyhood days as was characteristic of the frugality and simplicity of that early time. If was during those years, when the rearing of so large a family demanded the strictest economy and industry on the part of each of its members, that those habits were formed which signalized his whole life and crowned it with suc- cess. In January, 1827, this large family was called to endure the sad bereavement of a mother's loss; but though she was then taken from her children, there re- mained to them as their only heritage the advice and

example of pure and noble womanhood. Thus equipped -with habits made industrious and frugal by necessity, with principles made honest and true by the influences of home-at the age of seventeen he-bade adieu to his childish associates and associations, and struck out man- fully and bravely in life's great battle. In the fall of the same year he found his way to Tunkhannock, with only twenty . shillings in money, but with a stock of energy and determination that knew no defeat and met no failure. He soon obtained a position in the store of his cousin (the late Henry Stark), but at wages hardly more than his board. For his honest and faithful dis- charge of duty in this subordinate position he was destined soon to be rewarded, and in 1833 he was ad- mitted into partnership with his former employer. In 1837 Henry Stark, having been elected to the Legisla- ture, sold out his interest in the partnership to Samuel, who thus became sole proprietor of a large and grow- ing business, which he continued for nearly thirty years, and which was pursued during the whole time with a degree of industry and perseverance rarely equaled. The twenty shillings which he brought with him to the home of his adoption forty-seven years be- fore had not been "hid in a napkin "; the observance of the divine mandate had been rewarded, and he re- tired from the active and laborious duties of mercantile life. During all this busy life he had sought guid- ance for his feet and strength for his heart from Him of whom in early life he became a follower ; to Whose cause he was a liberal contributor, and in Whose saving grace he faithfully confided to the end of life. On the 29th of March, 1838, he married Lydia Marcy, a daughter of Colonel Abel Marcy. then in her twenty-first year. For over forty years did they pursue life's journey together, she doing all that the interest and sympathy of a loving wife and faithful mother could suggest to illumine and smooth his pathway ; and though he has "gone on before" she yet remains a joy and comfort to the five surviving children of that happy marriage. In the fall of 1840 he occupied the house he had erected for a home, and in that house he continued to live up to his death. This home was to him a haven from the trials of busi- ness for almost half a century-the home where he and his companion had together rejoiced as children came to them and together wept over their departure to the other shore, the home which had resounded to the merry chime of the marriage bell, and had been hushed in the sombre garb of mourning. Many and hallowed are the surroundings of the "old homestead!" Mr. Stark was one of the founders and principal stockholders of the Wyoming National Bank, which was organized in 1865 and of which he was the first cashier, which posi- tion he continued to occupy for twelve years. With his retirement from the bank in 1877 closed the active duties of his business life. The remainder of his days was passed in the calm retirement of a home made happy to him by the attention of a loving family, and the respect of an appreciative community. Then he trustingly awaited the call of that Master whom he had so long and faithfully served, to " come up higher." That call finally came ; and on the 15th of December, 1879, at 5 o'clock in the morning, went out that life which industry and perseverence have characterized, which honor and truth had actuated, and which a pure Christianity had em- bellished and adorned. To deeply mourn a father's death there remain two sons and three daughters, Kate M., the wife of John Day ; Abel M., Affa C., and S. Judson, all of whom now reside at Tunkhannock ; and Eleanor G., the wife of Stanley W. Little, who resides at Towanda, Pa., who faithfully cherish and honor his counsel and his memory.

534 E

GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL RECORD.

ABRAM ACE was born in Delaware, Pa., in 1822, and married in 1847 Julia A., daughter of Jacob Dorshei- iner. Mr. Ace was a farmer and a mason by trade. He died in 1866, leaving a widow and eight children.

WILLIAM ANDERSON is a native of Dallas, Pa. He was born in 1836, and married in 1861 Anna E., daughter of W. C. Miller. She died March 19th, 1870, leaving two children, and he married in 1871 Rhoda Reeves, of Kings- ton, Luzerne county.

FELIX ANSART was born in New London, Conn., Jan- uary 28th, 1837, but has lived in this county since 1867. Mrs. Ansart was Miss H. Rowena Loomis, of Springville. Mr. Ansart was formerly a civil engineer. Since 1870 he has been engaged in the practice of law. He was elected district attorney of Wyoming county in 1871.

SIMON ARMSTRONG, born in Falls, in 1826, was mar- ried in 1844 to Jemima W. Stanton, of Abington. They have four children. Two of Mr. Armstrong's sons were in the war for the Union. One, wounded and taken prisoner, died at Andersonville.

THOMAS R. ARMSTRONG, born in Overfield, in 1846, married Salome, daughter of Charles Kirkhoff, of Falls, in 1869. They have four children. Mr. Armstrong is a justice of the peace and United States pension agent and attorney, and is the township clerk and treasurer of Tunk. hannock.

E. F. AVERY, dental surgeon, is a native of Falls. He studied with Dr. Smith, and married Mary Esther, daugh- ter of Gardner Harding, of Eaton.

HON. IRA AVERY was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1804; came to Tunkhannock in 1819, and in 1830 mar- ried Philena, daughter of Oliver Gustin, of Waterloo, N. Y., and has one son. He was elected associate judge in 1856, and served five years; has been assistant revenue assessor for his district, aad forty years a deacon in the Presbyterian church.

DANIEL A. BARDWELL was born in Wysock, Luzerne county, October 27th, 1799. He came to Tunkhannock in 1814; November 7th, 1819, married Susan Jones, and is now the oldest citizen of the borough whose life has been passed here since boyhood. Of his children Wil- liam L., his oldest son, is a produce dealer of this place. Catharine married Charles Marsh. He died and she is living with her parents. H. W. Bardwell, another son, is postmaster of Tunkhannock, and senior partner of the insurance form of H. W. Bardwell & Co. He served as major during the war for the Union. Harmon W. is a resident of Washington, D. C. Maria married a Mr. Terwilliger, of Meshoppen, and Daniel J. married in 1863 Francis J., daughter of Elijah Jenkins; he has seven children, and resides on the old homestead in Tunkhan- nock. He is a supervisor and school director.

EDGAR BILLINGS was born in Tunkhannock, in 1842, and married in 1872. He has one child. He has served his town as assessor, school director, and in other official capacities.

ZIBA BILLINGS was born in Tunkhannock. He was in trade at West Nicholson six years; afterward in the hotel business at Pierceville, Carbondale and Great Bend. In 1857 he was elected sheriff of this county. In 1872 he built the Packer house, and he has since been one of its proprietors. His daughter Ida Ella married William N. Reynolds, a native of Clinton, now a business partner of Mr. Billings.

DRAPER BILLINGS, a native of Tunkhannock, served in the United States army during the late war. He is a son of Daniel and great-grandson of Caleb Billings, who came to the Wyoming valley during the Revolutionary war.

RICHARD BOLSON was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1819, and in 1849 married Sarah Lewis, of that county. He came to this place in 1854. Taking up a tract of wild land he made the first clearing and raised the first crops on what is now a well tilled farm. He has a family of five children.

STANLEY R. BRUNGES, a native of Eaton, was born in 1852, and married in 1874 Sarah, daughter of Elisha Jenkins. His father, Jacob M. Brunges, was born in North Moreland, in 1824, and in 1849 married Rebecca, daughter of Timothy Jayne, of Eaton. He was accident- ally killed by his son while shooting at a mark, July 4th, 1878.

JAMES BUNNELL was born April 10th, 1814, in Meshop- pen. He lived principally in Washington township until 1873, when he came to Tunkhannock. October 15th, 1837, he married Mary, daughter of George Harding, by whom he had four children-Savannah, born March 5th, 1840; Frank C., March 19th, 1842; Nelson, January 19th, 1846; Mary, October 25th, 1850 (died in infancy). Mrs. Bunnell was born January 11th, 1817.

CYRUS D. CAMP, publisher of the Republican, was born in Camptown, Bradford county, Pa., May 17th, 1853, and married A. Marion Angle, of the same county. He came to Tunkhannock January Ist, 1876.

HENRY CHASE, M. D., was born in Abington, Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county. His mother was a Miss Cannon, of Tompkins, Delaware county, N. Y. Dr. Chase studied with Dr. Cannon at Mill City; graduated in March, 1869, at Michigan University, and married Mar- tha J. Grenville, of Ann Arbor, Mich. He has been in practice here since 1872. He has one child, Harris E., born July 11th, 1872.

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History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 174

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York Publication date: 1880 Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co. Number of Pages: 900

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900