History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 148

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

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JOHN W. ROGERS, son of Joseph E. Rogers, was born at Field's Station, Lycom- ing county, April 12, 1853. In 1869 he went to Pittsburg, and was employed by the Allegheny Valley Railway Company, with which he remained until the fall of 1870. He then returned to Williamsport and became foreman on Stonaker & Howard's mill, and was employed by them eighteen months. He was next engaged on the Northern Central railroad as a brakeman until 1876, and then became con- ductor and filled that position until August 1, 1883. He assisted in building the large tannery at Ralston, and became foreman in the liquor changing department of that institution. Mr. Rogers was married in 1875, to Mary Stapleton, and is the father of three children: Ida L., Joseph, deceased, and Edmund. Politically he is a Republican, and has been a school director four years. He is a member of Lodge No. 199, K. of P., and during his connection with the railway service he was a member of the Society of Railway Conductors.

ELIAS KILBORN was born in Litchfield, Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 1768. He was a stone mason by trade, and after leaving home first located at Milford, Otsego county, New York, where he remained until 1824. He then removed to Can- ton, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and purchased a partly improved farm from Nathan Tabor. He resided at Canton ten years, and then removed to Union township, Tioga county, where he died six years later. Mr. Kilborn was twice mar- ried. His first wife was Deborah Page, who bore him six children: Norman, who married Mary Stone and resides in Yates county, New York; Osiah, who married Electa Grantier; Henry, who married Roxanna Spencer; Rhoda, who married Davis Grantier; Anna, who married Elias Withey, and Caroline, who became the wife of James Warren. He married for his second wife Sadie Page, sister of his first wife, who became the mother of four children: Eliza, who married Hubbard Spencer; Thala, who married James Maddock; James, who married Margaret Clendenin, and Angeline, who married James W. Heylman. Mr. Kilborn was a member of the Reformed Methodist church. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and in politics was an old-line Whig.

JAMES R. KILBORN, son of Elias and Sarah Kilborn, was born in Canton, Brad- ford county, Pennsylvania, in 1824. At the age of seventeen he located at Penn's Dale, and there engaged in lumbering, which he followed fourteen years, the last five as a jobber for McIntyre & Robertson. He then purchased a farm which he cultivated until within a few years, and is now retired from active business, and resides at Canton, Pennsylvania. He married Margaret Clendenin in 1854, and is

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the father of four children: John C., who married Alida Keys; Peter T., who mar- ried Laura E. Hebe; James W., aud Ella. Mr. Kilborn is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church, and takes great interest in church affairs. He has been a steward and class-leader of the society for a number of years. He is a Republican in politics, and has filled all of the important offices of his township. For many years he has been a member of the I. O. O. F.

PETER T. KILBORN was born in Lewis township, Lycoming county, August 24, 1855, and is the second son of James R. Kilborn. He remained with his parents until his majority, when he was employed by Robert Innes in the railroad office at Bodines, removing to Field's Station iu 1880, where he remained nearly a year, and then returned to Bodines. He remained at the latter place four years, and thence moved to Ralston, where he has lived for the past six years. He was married in 1880 to Laura E. Hebe, and has a family of four children: Helen C .; Fred R .; Elsie M., and Leslie E. Mr. Kilborn is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church at Ralston, and is superintendent of the Sunday school. In poli- tics he is a Republican, was school director at Bodines about one year, was assessor of McIntyre township one term, and has filled the office of township treasurer and several minor positions.

JAMES W. KILBORN was born at Penn's Dale, Lewis township, Lycoming county, May 26, 1860. At the age of twenty he engaged in general merchandising at Marsh Hill, where he continued business four years. He then sold out to W. K. Heylman, and sold goods on the road one year for John Spellisy, cigar manufacturer. He again started in business for himself at Ralston, where he has since remained. Politically he is a Republican and was once a candidate for county commissioner on that ticket. He is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church of Ralston, and is prominently connected with the I. O. O. F. society. Mr. Kilborn is recognized as one of the leading young business men of the northern part of Lycoming county.

DANIEL MILLER was born in York county, Pennsylvania, about 1810, and at the age of twenty he removed to Lycoming county and located at Hepburnville. He was a stone mason by trade, but after a short time spent in this county he purchased a farm in Watson township, and followed agricultural pursuits about twenty years. He continued farming until 1863, after which he worked at his trade the balance of his life. Mr. Miller was married in 1830 to Elizabeth Miller, who bore him a fam- ily of twelve children, eleven of whom grew to maturity. They were as follows: Susan, who married Mr. Oakes; Elizabeth, who married John Kern; John, who mar- ried Annie Johnson; George, who married Louisa Clauser; Jacob, deceased; Michael, who married Phoebe Weaver; Peter, who married Carrie Weigel; Henry, who mar- ried a Miss Goff; Charles, deceased; Mary, wife of John De Remer, and Daniel. Mr. Miller was liberal in his religious views, and a Democrat in politics.

PETER MILLER, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Miller, was born on the homestead farm in Watson township, May 2, 1845. He remained at home until he was eight- een years old, when he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Third Artillery, for three years. After serving twenty-two months, the war was brought to a close by the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, and Mr. Miller was mustered out of the service. In 1866 he formed a partnership

John y Barto

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

with D. H. Weigel, in the grocery business, and after five years they sold out their stock and he removed to Union township, Tioga county, and engaged in the lumber business, under the firm name of Weigel & Miller. They conducted business at that point until 1883, and then removed their mill to Ralston. Mr. Weigel retired from the firm, and our subject continued the business alone. In 1884 his mill was destroyed by fire and rebuilt the same year. By the flood of 1889 he sustained a severe loss, but with characteristic energy he rebuilt his mill and continued the lumber business successfully. He married Carrie Weigel, but has no children. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which body he has been a deacon a number of years. Politically he is a Republican, has been township treasurer four years, and is at present serving in the office of road commissioner. Mr. Miller is a member of Amazon Lodge, I. O. O. F., and was at one time connected with the United American Mechanics.

JOSEPH GOSLINE was born near Bordeaux, France, about 1745, and came to the United States with his father, who was compelled to leave his native land on account of a political disturbance. He located at Watertown, near Boston, Massachusetts, where our subject grew to manhood. About 1767 Joseph Gosline married Mary Gilbert, a daughter of a well known physician of Boston. He was afterwards sent by an English stock company to Vermont, to superintend the erection of charcoal furnaces for the manufacture of pig iron, which position he held until after the war of 1812. In 1822 he removed to Oneida with his son-in-law and engaged in the manufacture of stoves, which business he followed until his death. Mr. Gosline was reared in the Catholic faith, but after his marriage he became a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. He was an old-line Whig in politics, and always supported that party. He died at the advanced age of ninety years. To Joseph and Mary Gosline were born the following children: Abiah; Mary; Sarah; Thomas; Joseph; Pomeroy; Enos; Gilbert, and James L.

POMEROY GOSLINE, son of Joseph and Mary Gosline, was born at Watertown, Massachusetts, about 1791. In early boyhood he was bound out to learn the hatter's trade, and remained with his master until he was nineteen years old. He after- wards went to New Orleans, where he spent ten years, and thence to Geneva, New York, where he entered into partnership with A. and I. Tolcott in the manufacture of hats, and remained a member of the firm four years. Selling his interest to his partners, he removed to Newark Valley, and carried on the same business for a short time, and thence came to Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the hotel business. In 1844 he sold his hotel and removed to Wysox, Pennsylvania, and engaged in farming and there died, February 17, 1860. He married Charlotte Lawrence in January, 1826, who bore him the following children: Mary; Andrew; Angeline; Gilbert; Pomeroy; Charlotte, who married I. W. Carl; Abel; Lucina, who married Sylvinus Brown, and Joseph. Mr. Gosline was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics supported the old-line Whig party. He 5 served in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Plattsburg under Captain Fleming of the volunteer service.

ANDREW J. GOSLINE, eldest son of Pomeroy Gosline, was born in Newark Valley, February 17, 1828. He learned the carpenter's trade, and at the age of twenty-one he engaged in the lumber business, which he has continued up to the present. In

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

1861 he enlisted in the Union army and served three years. After his discharge, in 1864, he resumed work at his trade and followed it until 1875. He then purchased a saw mill and a tract of 400 acres of timber land, which he converted into lumber. In 1883 he transferred his mill and land to his son, Andrew J., who has conducted the business since that date. Mr. Gosline has been twice married. His first wife was Harriet Johnson, whom he wedded in 1851. She became the mother of three children: William E., deceased; Mary, who married John P. Brainard, and Andrew J. His second wife was Annie E. Gordon, whom he married in 1869. He is a Democrat in politics, and served as postmaster of Roaring Branch during Cleveland's administration.

JACOB MYERS was a native of one of the eastern States, where he was born about 1767. After reaching manhood he removed to Wyoming valley, in this State, bring- ing his young wife with him. He purchased a farm immediately above the mouth of Mahoopenny creek, but because of some flaw in the title he finally lost his land. He thence moved to Towanda, Bradford county, near which he purchased 400 acres upon which he resided until his death. His wife was Martha Basset, whom he married about the year 1791. They were the parents of the following children: Eliza, who married Peter Jones; Henry; Jeremiah; Luther; Anna, who married F. F. Fairchild; Mahala, who married A. Y. Ellsworth; John; Simon C .; Martha, who married Nelson Graham, and Harriet. Mr. Myers was a member of the Baptist church. He died at the age of sixty-seven years; his widow survived him nineteen years.

SIMON C. MYERS, youngest son of Jacob Myers, was born in Wyoming valley, June 22, 1824. His father died when he was ten years old, and he then went to live with his brother Henry, with whom he remained some four years. At the age of sixteen he engaged in Inmbering. He took his first contract from Elias Hawley, on Towanda creek, and worked for Mr. Hawley several years. He afterwards kept hotel at Leroy two years, and thence removed to Canton, where he lived five years. He then removed to Ralston, Lycoming county, where he was engaged in the hotel business thirty years. He is now retired from active business life. In 1855 he married Jane B. Simpkins, who bore him two children: Fannie L., wife of James Fender, and Jennie L. Mr. Myers has been actively identified with public affairs at Ralston and vicinity for many years. Two years after settling at Ralston he became auditor, and subsequently school director. He has been a justice of the peace for several years, and has always taken a deep interest in the social and material development of his adopted home, giving his hearty and earnest support to educational matters. Retired from active business, he is now enjoying the com- forts of a home and a competence which he accumulated through the passing years.

THOMAS DUNLAP was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, where he was born about the beginning of the present century. When twelve years old he ran away from home, took passage on a vessel, and came to America. He served an apprenticeship on board the ship, and after his term expired he returned to his native land, where he remained the balance of his life. He married Margaret Smith, whose father, Hugh Smith, was town clerk of Dundonald, Scotland. She became the mother of twelve children, only seven of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Hngh, who mar- ried Jennie Spence; Margaret, who married John Boyle; Mary, who married John

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Brown; Jeanetta, who married Davis Steele; Archibald, who married Lizzie Hol- land; Thomas, who married Jennie Smith, and Martha, who became the wife of James Hines. Mr. Dunlap belonged to the Church of Scotland, what is known in this country as the Presbyterian denomination. He learned the miller's trade after reaching manhood, and followed that occupation up to his death, which occurred at the ripe old age of eighty-five years.

THOMAS DUNLAP, youngest son of Thomas and Margaret Dunlap, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, April 7, 1839, and grew to manhood in his native land. He learned the miller's trade, and in 1868 immigrated to Pennsylvania and located at Snow Shoe, Centre county. He followed milling and coal mining, and two years after coming to Pennsylvania he removed to Lycoming county and found employ- ment with the McIntyre Coal Company. He remained with that firm about five years, and then purchased the hotel property of George Calhoun, at McIntyre, remaining there until 18S5. He removed to Peale about the time the coal company transferred their business to that point, and continued the hotel business there nearly six years, when he located at Ralston and has since conducted the Ralston House, which he purchased from S. C. Myers. Mr. Dunlap was married in 1862 to Jennie Smith, and both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is quite prominent in the local councils of the Republican party, and always supports the candidates and measures of that organization. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P.

DANIEL C. FLANAGAN, M. D., was born at Astonville, Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, September 1, 1854, son of Patrick and Catherine (Driscoll) Flanagan. He remained with his parents, attending the public schools of Cascade township, -until 1873, and then entered the Montoursville Normal School, where he continued his studies until the fall of 1879; he was then appointed a teacher in that institution, and continued to fill that position for one term. He then began the study of medi- cine in the office of Dr. Edward Lyon, of Williamsport, and in 1SS1 attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Maryland, where he graduated in March, 1883. For about six months he was associated with Dr. Lyon, and in the fall of 1883 located at Liberty, where he continued to practice until 1884, when he removed to Ralston. For the past eight years Dr. Flanagan has continued in the active duties of his profession, and has built up a lucrative practice in Ralston and the northern part of Lycoming county. In the fall of 1884 he was elected on the Democratic ticket county coroner, and served in that capacity three years. He has also filled the position of surgeon on the Northern Central railroad for three years. The Doctor has served on the school board for six years, and has been a director, treasurer, and secretary of the board. He has also filled the position of clerk of McIntyre township one year. Politically he is an ardent Democrat, and since reaching his majority he has been actively identified with that party. He has been a delegate to the county and State conventions several times, and is recognized as one of the prominent young men of his party. Dr. Flanagan was married, October 15, 1885, to Catharine Reilly, a sister of C. J. Reilly, the district attorney of Lycom- · ing county. They have had two children: Herbert, deceased, and Elizabeth. Dr. Flanagan and wife are practical members of the Catholic church.

FRANCIS HENRY was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, in 1840, and came to

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Lycoming county with his father when a boy. They settled in Cascade township, where his father purchased a farm. He was a blacksmith by trade, and worked at that business while his sons cleared and improved his purchase. Francis remained with his parents until after his marriage, and then began life for himself. He fol- lowed the lumber business in Rose valley for several years, and then removed to Warrensville, where he engaged in butchering. After a few years in this business he returned to the lumber trade, at which he was engaged three years on Pleasant stream. He then went to Block House settlement, purchased a saw mill, and engaged in custom sawing. He afterwards bought a farm a short distance below his . mill, and followed farming in connection with lumbering. He subsequently took contracts for peeling tan bark for John Innes and furnishing logs to C. S. Green, which continued several years. He finally purchased the timber on 800 acres of land from Mr. Griggs of Montoursville, and is now engaged in getting out his pur- chase. He married Malinda Bloom, in 1861, who has borne him seven children: Annie, and William E., both deceased; George H .; Edward; Laura; Mary, and Daniel. Politically Mr. Henry is a Republican, and is liberal in his religious opinions.

GEORGE H. HENRY, eldest living son of Francis and Malinda Henry, was born in Warrensville, Lycoming county, December 6, 1866. He was married, December 20, 1887, to Jennie Secrist, and has two children: Bertha E. and Joseph F. Up to within the last two years he assisted his father in farming and lumbering, and has since devoted his attention to farming for himself. He is a graduate of Williams- port Commercial College, and in politics he is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party.

ELI McNETT was born in Massachusetts, December 4, 1775, and removed to. Pennsylvania in 1804. He settled in Tioga county, within a few rods of the Lycoming county line, where the village of Carpenter is now located. He was mar- ried in 1802 to Perthena Newell, who bore him six children: Samuel; Andrew ;. John; Roswell; Eli, and Electa. He purchased several hundred acres of land in Tioga and Lycoming counties, upon which he erected a brick house and opened a hotel. It was called the Halfway House, because it was halfway between Elmira, New York, and Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mr. McNett was widely known as. "Uncle Mac," and was highly respected for his genial qualities and charitable dis- position. He never turned a deaf ear to the requests of suffering humanity, and his door always swung on easy hinges. Politically he was a Democrat, and liberal in his religious opinions. He spent the latter years of his life on the homestead farm.

ANDREW MONETT, second son of Eli and Perthena McNett, was born on the homestead in 1805. He remained under the parental roof until 1831, in which year he was married to Marcella Keys. Six children were born of this union: Henry H .; Mary, who married Beatty McDowell; Juliet, who married John C. Reed; Electa, who became the wife of E. W. Sweet; Eli L., and Frances, who married L. D. Jackson. After his marriage Mr. McNett removed to Lycoming county, and settled on a part of his father's land, also purchasing a small tract from a Mr. Scott. While liberal in his religious views, he was quite prominent in all local charitable movements. He was a Democrat in politics, and though filling some minor offices took no active interest in political affairs.

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HENRY H. McNETT, eldest son of Andrew and Marcella McNett, was born in Lycoming county, September 18, 1832. After reaching manhood he removed to Wisconsin, where he remained two years. Returning to his home he engaged in surveying, and surveyed nearly all of the lands along the line of Lycoming and Tioga counties. Mr. McNett established an apiary several years ago, and has devoted much attention to the culture of honey and bees, in connection with farm- ing. He was married in 1864 to Emma Newell, and has two children: Frederick, deceased, and Harry. Politically an ardent Democrat, he has filled all of the offices in his township, and has been a justice of the peace for thirteen years. He is one of the leading Democrats in the upper end of Lycoming county, and wields considerable local influence. He is a member of the Masonic order, also of the Grange and Farmers' Alliance, and has always taken a prominent part in advocating the principles of temperance.

ELI L. McNETT, youngest son of Andrew McNett, was born upon the homestead farm August 12, 1842. At the age of twenty he left home and spent one year at Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport, and then became shipper for the lumber firm of Brown & Early, which position he held four years. In 1872 he entered the employ of the Northern Central railroad, as station agent at Carpenter, and has ever since filled that position. Mr. McNett is a man of good education, and was connected with the Lycoming Gazette under Thomas Smith, and also a correspond- ent of the New York World. He was the first Master Workman of District 135, K. of L., of Tioga and Bradford counties. He compiled the ritual for the Patrons of Temperance, and is an ardent supporter of that cause. He is postmaster of Car- penter, has been a school director for a number of years, and was largely instru- mental in obtaining the free book system in the schools of McNett township. He has been treasurer of the township since its organization. Mr. McNett has been twice married. In 1866 he married Crissie Parsons, who became the mother of seven children: Irene; Maude; Mary, deceased; Florence; Beatrice; Andrew, and Annie, the last two mentioned being twins. His second marriage occurred in 1887, to Hattie Spalding. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and was a candidate on that ticket, and ran 200 votes ahead of the gubernatorial candidate of his party.

CHAPTER LVII.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

COGAN HOUSE, JACKSON, CUMMINGS, MCHENRY, BROWN, AND PINE TOWNSHIPS.

JAMES WOOD, retired lumberman and farmer, was born in Yorkshire, England, June 2, 1809, son of John Wood. In 1842 he emigrated to this country and set- tled in Wilmington, Delaware. He was a wagonmaker by trade, and engaged in that business in that city until 1844. In this year, in company with James Bards-

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

ley, William Aveyard, and Thomas Matrom, they came to Lycoming county to pur- chase 1,000 acres of land. They settled upon a tract of land belonging to Robert Ralston, in Lewis township, but being unable to get a title to this land they returned to Wilmington. In 1849 Mr. Wood returned to Lycoming county and purchased 400 acres in Cogan House township, where he now resides. In company with his two sons, Robert and Joseph, he erected a saw mill and they sawed the first lum- ber and were the pioneers of that branch of business in Cogan House township. In early life Mr. Wood married Mary, daughter of Joseph Caldwell, of Yorkshire, England, and to this union have been born six children: Robert; Joseph; Richard, who died in February, 1892; James; Ambrose, and Sarah, wife of Charles Ayers. In his religious faith Mr. Wood was trained in the Church of England, but in his latter years he became attached to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a consistent member. In his political affiliations Mr. Wood is a Democrat, and while he neither sought nor would accept office outside of his township, he has always taken an active interest in his party. At the age of twenty-one he joined the Man- chester union of Odd Fellows, and subsequently became a member of Lycoming Lodge, No. 112, I. O. O. F., of Williamsport. In 1870, after an active business life of forty years, Mr. Wood retired, and now, at the ripe old age of eighty-three, he resides upon his homestead in Cogan House township, where he settled nearly half a century ago, surrounded by his children and grandchildren, and respected by all who know him.

ROBERT WOOD, the eldest son of James and Mary (Caldwell) Wood, ,was born, December 3, 1832, in Yorkshire, England. He received a common school education and after he grew to manhood, in connection with his brother Joseph, he formed the firm of R. & J. Wood and engaged in the manufacture of lumber, at which he was employed until 1864. At this time his brother sold his interest to James Wood, Jr., and this firm existed until 1876. In 1881 Mr. Wood was elected register and recorder. of Lycoming county, and filled the office in a creditable manner for three years. In 1864 our subject was elected a justice of the peace for Cogan House township, which office he filled until 1882. In 1891 he was again elected to the same office, which he still retains. Mr. Wood has always taken great interest in educational matters, and has filled the office of secretary to the school board of his township for fourteen years. In his religious faitlı he is a Methodist, and is a mem- ber of the Summit Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a trustee and steward for thirty years. Mr. Wood was married in January, 1857, to Esther D., daughter of Charles Straub, who died February 27, 1890. To this union were born thirteen children: Charles H. ; Mary R. ; Amelia, deceased; James A. ; Emily H .; Robert E. ; William O., deceased; Joseph B. ; George L. ; Annie M. ; Sarah M. ; Clarence E., and Olive W. Politically Mr. Wood is a life-long Democrat and a leading member of his party. He belongs to Salladasburg Lodge, No. 751, I. O. O. F., and also the K. of P. He also belongs to the P. of H. and the K. of L., and is secretary of the White Pine Alliance, No. 138. Mr. Wood was one of the original stockholders and a director in the old Plank Road Company. He has retired from active life and resides upon a part of the original tract purchased by his father, and also owns a fine farm of about 220 acres. He is known as one of the enterprising citizens of his- county, enjoying the confidence and respect of the citizens.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 148

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650