History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 90

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 90
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 90
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 90

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).

Benjamin Dorrance married Nancy Buckingham, of Windham, Conn., her native place. They had three children-Jolm, Charles and George, the latter of whom died young.

John Dorrance was a minister of the ; Presbyterian church, who after laboring for some time in other localities succeeded Rev. Dr. Nicholas Murray in the charge of the Presbyterian church at Wilkes-Barre in August, 1833, and continued in that charge until his death in 1861. Ile was a man of much more than ordinary talent and character, and was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by the College of New Jersey, at Princeton. He was born in 1800. IFe married Penelope Mercer, of New Orleans, by whom he had eight children, only two of whom (daughters) survive.

Charles Dorrance, born January 4th, 1805, married Susau E. Ford, youngest daughter of Hon. James Ford, of Lawrenceville, Peun., by whom he has five children living, four sons and one daughter.

Colonel Charles Dorrance was born and has lived on the old homestead farm of the family, which has lost none of its attractiveness or valne, but which has been largely added to in extent, taste and value since it passed into his hands. His home has ever been the abode of a large and generous hospitality, dispensed with all the grace and dignity befitting his surroundings. He has ever been a farmer, and, commencing his active business life with a liberal education, has kept up that intercourse with his fellow men and given that attention to the affairs of the day which bring out his genial and warm-hearted nature, and add a charm to his society.

The Dorrance farm has long been the model farm of the valley, and the colonel, farming for pleasure as well as profit, has succeeded in acquir-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

ing both results from his labors. He carly introduced the short horn cattle on his farm, and has taken great pains to keep the stock in its original purity. From his herd the strain has gone out into all the country round about, and a great improvement in stock is the happy result.,

lle has never sought official position, except possibly that of captain of the Wyoming volunteers, from which he rose through the varions grades to the rank of colonel, which title he has enjoyed for about forty years. It was a youthful fancy that led him into military life, awakened by fireside tales of the early days of Wyoming, in which were recounted the gallant deeds of his ancestor. Yet the colonel's life has not been barren of official honors. When the Luzerne county agricnl- tural society was organized, in 1858, by unanimous choice he was elected president of the society, which position he filled with honor and dignity for ten years, and its success during that period was largely due to his uniforin courtesy and his superior skill in disposing of knotty subjects, as well as in the management of the business affairs of the society. He was, in conjunction with A. C. Laning, appointed by the late Judge Conyngham, as his last official act, a commissioner of the Luzerne county prison, which position he held by successive yearly appointments until it was disposed of as a reward for political services. He was chosen and acted as president of the board during his entire official term.

When the patriotic citizens of Wyoming muet to effect an organization for the proper commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the battle and massacre of Wyoming Colonel Dorrance was, without a dissenting voice or thought, made the president of that organization. How well and with what grace and liberality he performed the duties of that po- sition, and how largely his means and his hospitalities were taxed to meet the requirements of the great occasion, is attested by all. It is a siugular coincidence that the father should have been the first president of the Wyoming Bank, and that after the lapse of half a century his son should now hold the same trust. Fifty years are said to bring great changes, but in this case it has but cast the mantle of the father upon the shoulders of the son, who wears it with equal grace and dignity with the ancestor. Time and space will not permit to name all the positions of trust and honor he has been called upon to fill in an active life of three score years. Whatever they may have been he has filled them all with honesty and fidelity, and now at the age of three score and fifteen he enjoys the reputation of an honest and honorable man, in whom dwell all the sweet and tender elements of humanity, which, as occasion has offered, have welled out to the comforting and blessing of all who have come in contact with him. Blest in his family, blest in his store and blest in all his surroundings, long may he live to enjoy the blessings of a well spent life, which has diffused its sweet savor on all who have enjoyed the pleasure of kindly intercourse with him.

We appeud the following obituary notice, which appeared in the United States Gazette, of Philadelphia, of September 6th, 1837, copied from the Wyoming Republican :

Colonel Benjamin Dorrance is no more. The place on earth that once knew him shall know him no more forever. On Thursday, August 24th, while conversing cheerfully at his own house with a member of his family, he was seized with an apopleetic fit ; he fell, and in a mo- ment the vital spark was extinct. There are few indeed whose de- parture could have occasioned so deep a void, so wide a chasm in so- eiety. Universally known, everywhere respected and beloved, not by his relations alone, but by a numerons circle of friends, the bereave- ment is deeply felt. Yet why should sorrow prevail ? Who in life has beeu more successful? Who more useful in his day and generation ? How tew, with his fine health, live to so great an age? Colonel Dor- rance was about seventy years old. He was born in Plainfield, State of Connecticut, in 1767, and came to Wyoming when quite a lad with his father's family. In the Indian battle his father, Lieutenant Colonel George Dorrance, who was third in command, standing next to Butler and Denison, was slain. The day after, when Forty Fort was surren- dered, the object of this notice was in the fortifieation, and used to de- scribe with graphic clearness the entry of the British at one gate and of the Indians at the other. But this belongs rather to his biogra- phy than to an obituary paragraph. Colonel Dorrance was a man of sterling good sense, remarkably pleasing in his manners, eminently hospitable, liberal and benevolent. The offices of sheriff, commissioner and member of Assembly, as often as he would accept a seat, show the estimation in which he was held by his fellow citizens. No man enjoyed society and the good things of this life with a higher relish than Colonel Dorrance; yet using them as subservient, and never allowing pleasure to mislead from the moral path, or to interfere with health or business. If asked who, for the last half century, has been the happiest man in the county, the county, I think, would say Colonel Dorrance, Yet was he careful, active, intelligent and shrewd in business-a strict economist- and was abundantly blessed with this world's good. In fine, Colonel Dorrance was an extraordinary man-mingling in his character the pleasant and the useful, liberal expenditures with fair and steady ae- quisition, sweetening labor with enjoyment, and heightening pleasure by a prompt. and energetie devotion to business; and throughout life popular without envy, without an enemy, and never yielding his inde- pendence or integrity. Honor and affection to his memory. llis funeral took place on Saturday the 26th. A sermon suited to the sol-

en occasion was preached by the Rev. Mr. Snowden. The remains were attended to their last resting place by a very large concourse of friends. It is said to have been the largest funeral procession ever seen in the valley,

THE JENKINS FAMILY.

The Jenkins name has been intimately connected with the history of Wyoming from its first attempted settlement by the whites. John Jen- kins the elder was here in the fall of 1753, on a trip of exploration; was at Albany in 1754, when the purchase of the country was made from the Indians, in the negotiations for which he took an active part ; was in the valley in 1755, making surveys, taking latitude and longitude; was at the head of the settlement made in 1762, and was driven ont at the massacre October 15th, 1763. Ile returned again in Jannary, 1769. as one of the committee who brought in the forty settlers of the town of Kingston, and was conspicuous in the Pennamite war and struggles previous to the Revolutionary war. He called the first meeting, August Ist, 1775, to declare the position of the settlers on the controversy with Great Britain, in which they resolved " that they will unanimously join their brethren in America in the common cause of defending their liberty." Ile was the chairman of that meeting and drew its resolu- tions. The war over, and liberty and independence assured, the Penna- mite war again assumed an unpleasant shape, and put on all the heat and strife of actual conflict. He took an active part in behalf of the settlers in this war ; was their principal scribe and counselor ; was five times their representative in the Legislature of Connecticut, and in every respect a leading man among them. Driven out by the Penna- mites in May, 1784, in a cold spring storm, he took a severe cold, which taking the form of rheumatism and settling in a wound in his knee which he received from a ball at the taking of Louisburg in 1745, he suf- fered on until the month of November following, when he died, a victim to Pennamite injustice and cruelty. He was born in East Greenwich, R. I., February 15th, 1728, and was the son of John Jenkins, of that place, who was a justiee of the peace under George II. and member of the colonial Legislature of that colony for three years, and also a cominis- sioner of boundaries of the colony. His three brothers, Jonathan, Palm- er and Stephen, also came to Wyoming in 1769-70, but did not make a permanent settlement. He married Lydia, daughter of Stephen Gard- ner, of New London, previously of East Greenwich, in February, 1751, and had seven children, the oldest of whom was John, known to the history of Wyoming as Colonel John Jenkins He first settled in Kings- ton, February Ist, 1769, and then in Exeter (now West Pittston), about the first of May, 1772, which town was granted to him with others about that time. He was a school teacher, surveyor and conveyaneer, justice of the peace and president judge of the first county court of Wyoming in 1777.

Colonel John Jenkins, his son, was born November 27th, 1751, at Gard- ner's Lake, in New London, Conn. He also was a surveyor and convey- ancer, and school teacher, constable, ageut of the Susquehanna Company at Wyoming, farmer, merchant and ironmonger. He came to the valley with his father in 1769, and at once took an active part in the Pennamite and Revolutionary wars. He was taken prisoner by the Indians and tories in the latter part of November, 1777; carried to Niagara, and in the spring to Montreal and Albany, whence they pro- posed taking him to Kanadaseago to a grand council for disposition. On the way he escaped, and after great fatigue and suffering from hunger reached home on the 2nd of June, 1778, before the advent of the force under Butler and Grant, and of whose eoming he brought intelligence. Ile was in command of Forty Fort when the settlers marched out to meet and turn back the invaders. He subsequently joined Captain Spalding's company as a lieutenant; went with Colonel Hartley to Tioga Point in the latter part of September, 1778, through an almost impenc- trable wilderness, with streams, swollen by the equinoctial rains then prevailing, and was an active participant in the battle at Indian Hill, below Wyalusing. The next year, in April, he waited on General Washington and with him planned the Sullivan campaign. He served throughout that campaign as chief guide of the army, and received the thanks of Sullivan in general orders for his gallant conduct and im- portant services in the battle of Newtown, August 29th, 1779. On the 25th February, 1781, he set out with his company to join General Washington at headquarters on the Hudson, and arrived on the 11th of March; was engaged in the battle of King's Bridge July 3d, 1781 ; and when the army marched for Yorktown accompanied them; was at the surrender of Cornwallis, October 17th,1781, serving under Baron Steuben. Returning with the army to the Hudson that same fall, and the war being really at an end, and becoming tired and disgusted with the inactivity and wear- iness of eamp life, he, on the 1st of March, 1782, resigned his commission and returned home to the defense of his family and friends from the barbarity of the savages and Pennamites, who still infested that locality. He was an active leading man in all the struggles of the settlers against the Pennamites, firm and unyielding in his adherence to their rights, never compromising, never surrendering; and when the rights of the settlers were in good part gained he refused to accept because it was not all lie claimed and believed their due. He was one of the most popular men of his day. Under the artful lead and intrigue of Colonel Timothy Pickering, who showed that the way to preferment at Wy-

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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL RECORD.

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oming was through the Federal party, Luzerne county set off with a vote of two to one in its favor. Calonet Jenkins was a Democrat of the straitest seet, and was a leader in the party; and notwithstanding the heavy odds against him he was elected high sheriff of the county (though a Federalist, who was second on the return, received the commission), county commissioner and member of Assembly. He was several times nominated and run for other offices, and though defeated ran far ahead of his ticket. After the Revolutionary war he settled in Exeter, on the battle-field, where he died on the 19th of March, 1827. He married Bethiah Harris, of Colchester, on the 23d of June, 1258, and had eight children. The oldest, Lydia, married Jabez Hyde, jr., a native of Norwich, Conn. He was elected sheriff of Luzerne county in 1810, member of Assembly in 183; was prothonotary, register, recorder and clerk of courts of Susquehanna county from 1816 to 1820; member of Assembly in 18222 and 1823; delegate to constitutional convention in 1837, judge of Susquehanna county in 1810 and died holding that office.

Harris Jenkins, son of Colonel John Jenkins, was a merchant and farmer, colonel of militia, collector of l'. S. internal revenue in 1815, re- corder of deeds and register of wills and justice of the peace.

James Jenkins, his youngest son, was a farmer and merchant, post- master at. Wyoming, ant a leading founder and ten years viee-presi- dent of the Luzerne County Agricultural Society. Ile was the largest contributor to the bnikling of the Luzerne Presbyterial Institute; a man of sterling qualities and unimpeachable integrity.

Three generations of the family residing at Wyoming have been treat- ed of and we now come to the fourth. Of this generation Steuben Jenkins, of Wyoming, is the best and most widely known, and a brief notice of him minst close this sketch. He was born on the 28th of Sept- ember, 1819, on the Wyoming battle-field. The tales of carly tiques to which he listened around the fire-side of his grandfather, and on the field as recounted to and by visitors, gave his mind a bent in the direc- tion of gathering up the sad and mournful history of the suffering's of the carly settlers. His knowledge of the events of those times is perhaps more intimate and correct than that of any other person living. He has written much for the periodicals of the day, and for various historical publications, besides addresses; and he indulges the hope, which other people have long since yielded up, that he will yet write a history which shall contain all that anyone may wish to know of the early days of Wy- oming. He prepared and delivered the historical address at the monn- inent on the occasion of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the massacre of Wyoming, in which he gave the most complete account of that occurrence that has yet been given to the publie. It has been used as the text of the account of that event contained in this work. The historical and genealogical material gathered by him is immense, and enables him to furnish informatiou on these subjects when all other sources fait.

lIe is a lawyer by professiou ; has held many publie offices and trusts, all of which he discharged with signal ability, fidelity and honor. It is hoped that he may be spared to complete the history for which he has labored so many years in gathering the material, and that it may be all that can be desired both in manner and matter,

WILLIAM LOVELAND.

William Loveland was born in Kingston, Pa., August 5th, 1821. His father was Elijah Loveland, one of the early settlers of Kingston and an energetic and publie spirited citizen. On his mother's side he is of the ninth generation of descendants of Thomas Buckingham, a Puritan settler in America, who came from England to Boston, Mass., in June, 1637, and who was the ancestor of all of the American Buckinghams. Mr. Loveland has always been a farmer. At his father's death he assinned control of the family homestead, in Kingston. He has aided to develop and sustain the most important local interests. As a business man he has ever been active and prominent. The Loveland family are and have for years been connected with the Presbyterian church. Eli- jah Loveland was an elder in the Kingston church, and all of his sons- Thomas B., of Lock Haven, Pa., William and George, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Henry, of Steuben county, N. Y., and the late John Loveland, of Pittston-have at different times held the same position in societies of that denomination. Of the Kingston church William has long been an influential official member and a liberal supporter. Formerly a Whig politically, Mr. Loveland identified himself with the Republican party at its organization, and has been deeply interested in its progress to the present time, though since 1862 he has not been an active politician. June 17th, 1856, Mr. Loveland married Lydia Hurlburt, of Arkport, N. Y., who was born there May 20th, 1829, and is a granddaughter of Chris- topher Hurtburt, a surveyor well known in the Wyoming valley in the pioneer days. They have had seven children, of whom four survive. George E., son of Henry B. and Nancy Loveland (brother of William Loveland and sister of Mrs. William Loveland respectively), has been a member of the family of his uncle and aunt from infancy. The only daughter of Mr. Elijah Loveland not previously mentioned is the wife of Governor Henry M. Hoyt, now a resident of Harrisburg, Pa.

REV. REUBEN NELSON, D. D.

The Rev. Reuben Nelson, D. D., was born in Andes, N. Y., December

16th, 1818, and died at his home in New York city, February 20th, 1879. He joined the Methodist Episcopal church when sixteen. In 1840 he snecessfully commenced the work of the ministry in the Oneida Coufer- ence. Hle soon left the pastorate, however, and gave his attention to teaching. For about two years he was principal of the Otsego Aead- emy, at Cooperstown, N. Y. He commenced his work as principal of the Wyoming Seminary in the fall of 1844, and with the exception of one year held the position till the close of the academie year of 1872. Under his guiding hand a great school grew up from small beginnings. As the chief executive officer of the seminary he manifested unusual taet and sagacity in availing himself of the resources within his reach for the upbuikling of the institution. During the years that the school was struggling with adversity he thought and planned and labored from carly dawn till late at night, never abating his tireless labors till success was assured. When new buildings were to be erected he planned them, purchased the materials and superintended the work. In addition to all this almost every Sabbath found him in the pulpit earnestly preaching the gospel. As a teacher this one idea was always dominant iu his mind-to make ont of his pupils strong and noble men and women. In his estimation, to be learned and not religions was to be a failure; and so he labored most assiduously for the conversion of the youth who were placed under his care. As an educator Dr. Nelson had few equals. Un- der his management the seminary became one of the largest and best sustained academic institutions in the land, and to-day it stands as a worthy monnment of his wise forecast, patient toil and tireless energy. As a preacher Dr. Nelson was always interesting, and often eloquent. There was a tender emotion running through his sermons which gave them great power over the masses. He was ten times elected secretary of his conference. Five times he was sent at the head of his delegation to the General Conference. In each of these General Conferences his influence was prominently felt. In May, 1872, he was elected to succeed Dr. Carlton in the charge of the church publishing interests in New York. Under the careful management of Dr. Nelson and J. M. Phillips the great publishing house of the Methodist Episcopal church main- tained its eredit so as to command the confidence of both the church and the business publie. A unanimous re-election of both agents in 1876 by acclamation showed how fully the church appreciated and trusted thein. Dr. Nelson also was treasurer of the missionary society of the church, serving with signal success till his death.

HON. HUBBARD B. PAYNE.

The subject of this sketch was born in Kingston, Pa., where he now resides, July 20th, 1839. His parents were Bester and Polly Payne, and he is the only one of their children now living, His father was very generally known throughout the counties of Luzerne, Columbia, Wyoming, Susquehanna and Bradford, Pa., as a lead water pipe layer. Until he attained the age of eighteen Mr. Payne lived at home, working with his father in the lead pipe manufactory, or by the day for the farmers of his neighborhood, or attending the schools in Kingston. He prepared for college at the Wyoming Seminary, Kings- ton, and in August, 1857, entered the Wesleyan University, at Middle- town, Conn. There Ins life struggle really began. The means of his parents being limited, he sought to aid them, and during his college course taught distriet school three successive winter terms of eighteen weeks each, at Rocky Hill, Conn., keeping up his studies at the same time. In college he took an active part in the literary societies. He was a member of the Psi Upsilon secret society and the Pythologian Society, and by the faculty he was chosen a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. In June, 1851, he gra Inated, standing number four in his class.

In August following his graduation Mr. Payne entered the office of Hoa. Charles Denison, of Wilkes-Birre (afterwards a member of Con- gress for three terms), as a law student. While pursuing his legal read- ing he taught a district school during the winter of 1861 in Ciuder Alley, Wilkes-Barre, and a public school of boys in a store-room of the Hillard block during the winter of 1852. In August, 1863, he was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, and at once secured a desk in the office of Hon. W. W. Ketchum, then solicitor of the United States Court of Claims and entered upon that struggle known ouly to a young lawyer who. without means or influential friends, attempts to build up a practice. With the closest attentiou to business and with a strong determination to deserve snecess, it was yet four years before his income equaled his ex- penses, small though they were. But, as they invariably do, industry, integrity and Frugality prevailed finally, and with Mr. Payne it became a question not how to get business but how to attend to that he had, and his practice has been Ierative and successful.

Politically, Mr. Payne has been from the first a decided, active and outspoken Repablien. Beginning with the Presidential campaign of isst, he has since taken an active part for his party in local and general elections, working on committees and publicly addressing the people. In 1874 he was nominated withont opposition for the State Senate, and, to his own surprise and that of many others, was elected by over 1,200 majority. During his term in the Senate he was active in The business of the session, serving on the committees on " judiciary general," "ju- dieiary local," " mines and mining," and " new counties. In 1876 he was

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nominated without opposition for Congress in the 12th Congressional dis- triet of Pennsylvania, and at the time of his nomination had every pros- peet of election. But his opponent, Hon. Hendrick B. Wright, endorsed by both the Democratic and ¿ Greenback parties, was elected by a sinall majority. In June, 1880, Mr. ¿ Payne, having passed the interval in the practice of his profession, was nominated without opposition by the Republican party for the office of law judge, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of president judge Garrick M. Harding, and his prospects for election ( September, 1880) seem as promising as those of any of his opponents.

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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 90

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