History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 89

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

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GUY W. MAYNARD was born, November 28, 1828, in Hamilton, New York, son of Luke and Philena (Staples) Maynard, who were the parents of six children. The family migrated to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, when Guy W. was about two years

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old. He attended the public schools in that county until his nineteenth year, when he came to Williamsport and completed his education at Dickinson Seminary. He was afterwards employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in Philadelphia, and also did surveying for that corporation. After severing his connection with it he sold machinery on commission in various parts of the United States for two or three years. He was married, August 11. 1859, to Mary A. Crosby, a native of New York City. In 1860 they removed to Williamsport, where for about two years Mr. Maynard was employed by John White in the Inmber business. In 1862 he formed a partnership with Peter Herdic in the lumber business which existed for several years. He was also in partnership with J. W. Maynard in the manufacture and sale of lumber for some time. In 1SS7 he retired from active business, leaving the cares of his enterprises to his sons. On the 15th of February, 1892, he died, lear- ing a widow and four children: Louisa, who married E. M. Baldwin; Ransom C .: John W., and Encie E. Mr. Maynard was a member of Trinity Episcopal church. of which he was vestryman from the organization of the parish to his death. He was a man highly respected by all who knew him, and one who always gave assistance to everything which tended to build up the community in which he resided. His son, Ransom C. Maynard, was born and educated in Williamsport. He began his busi- ness life with his father and has succeeded to the business, now comprising lumber and coal. He was married, June 15, 1887, to Kate I. Barlow, who died in March. 1859, leaving one child, Helen Louise. He is a member of Trinity Episcopal church, and is a Democrat in politics.

JOHN R. T. RYAN was born in Trenton, New Jersey, September 4, 1839, and grew to manhood in his native town. He received his education at the Trenton Academy, after which he engaged in a wholesale and retail drug busines in Trenton, as a member of the firm of C. B. Vansyckel & Compamy, for a number of years. At the breaking out of the rebellion he recruited Company G, Tenth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and was commissioned lieutenant of the same in the spring of 1862. He was detached from his regiment, and served on the staff of Brigader General Wadsworth, and Brigader General Martindale as an acting aide, but was afterwards reassigned to duty with his regiment, which was then in Peck's division, Seventh Corps, and served with his command in the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Ryan was married, October 16. 1866, to Lina, only daughter of Garret Tinsman, of Williamsport, and has a family of three children: Garret T .; Florence T .. and Mary C. In 1867 he connected himself with the lumber firm of Woolverton & Tinsman, and was afterwards a member of the firms of Tinsman & Ryan. Ryan, Cochran & Company, and Ryan, Thompson & Company, all extensive lumber oper- ators. He is interested in numerous institutions connected with the social and material interests of Williamsport. He is president of the Lycoming Electric Light Company, of the Susquehanna and Buffalo Railroad Company, and of the Eagles- mere Land Company; he is a director in the West Branch National Bank, the Kettle Creek Coal Mining Company, the Williamsport Steam Company, the Will- iamsport Passenger Railway Company, the Williamsport Water Company, and the Williamsport Brick Company. He is president of the J. E. Dayton Company. manufacturers of boots and shoes, also of the firm of Lewars & Company, hard- ware dealers, and is largely interested in the Fisher & Hinkle Company and a

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director in the Williamsport National Bank. Mr. Ryan was one of the prime movers in the purchase of Eaglesmere, and it was largely through his untiring efforts that it became a successful summer resort. A soldier in the rebellion, he has always taken an active interest in military societies, and is a member of the G. A. R. and of the Loyal Legion. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as a member of the common council for three years. The family are members of the First Presbyterian church, with which organization he has been prominently identified several years. He was one of the promoters in the erection of the present church building, and served on the building committee. Every worthy cause finds in Mr. Ryan a warm friend and generons supporter, and he is recognized as one of the most enterprising citizens of his adopted home.

WILLIAM E. SPRAGUE, manufacturer and dealer in lumber, was born April 5, 1849, in Sullivan county, New York, son of David and Eliza J. (Adams) Sprague. His parents removed to Pennsylvania about 1855, and located in Monroe county, where his father engaged in the lumber business. Our subject was reared in Monroe and Luzerne counties, Pennsylvania, and attended the public schools until he was twelve years old. He then entered the employ of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, and remained with them until 1863, when he ran away and enlisted in Company A, Twenty-Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was seriously wounded at Peach Tree Creek, near Atlanta, Georgia, July 20, 1864, and was confined in the hospital until the fall of that year. He was then detailed on the recruiting service, and during this period he mustered his father into the army. He served until the close of the war, and then returned to Luzerne county, and entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railway Company as civil engineer. He remained with that company until 1868, and then removed to the West and engaged in business. In March, 1870, he located in Williamsport, where he found employment as shipper and manager of the Williamsport Iron and Lumber Company, and one year after- wards entered the employ of John A. Otto's Sons, with whom he remained nine years. In July, 1880, he formed a partnership with J. F. Strieby, under the firm name of W. E. Sprague & Company, and engaged in manufacturing and dealing in lumber. The firm has since been successfully engaged in the lumber business. Mr. Sprague is also a member of the firm of Strieby, Sprague & Company, organ- ized in 1888, and of M. T. Barry & Company, organized in 1891. They have large mills in Jefferson and Clarion counties, Pennsylvania, and carry on an extensive trade. Mr. Sprague is one of the original stockholders of the Lycoming National Bank, and has been a director in that institution for many years. He was one of the organizers of the Pennsylvania Hoop Manufacturing Company, and chairman of the company, and was also chairman of the Lycoming Fertilizer Company. He is a stockholder in the Central Pennsylvania Telephone and Supply Company, was one of the organizers of the Board of Trade of Williamsport, and is largely inter- ested in real estate in the city. Politically he is a Republican, and in 1883 he was elected sheriff of Lycoming county, by 1,000 majority, which was a tribute to his popularity in a Democratic county. In 1887 he was chairman of the Repub- lican county committee, and in 1890 he declined the senatorial nomination for this district. While absent from the city, however, his friends placed him in nomina- tion for the mayoralty, in 1890, but he was defeated by F. H. Keller. He has

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always taken an active interest in the public schools of Williamsport, and in 1874 was elected a member of the board, and served as president of the same. Mr. Sprague is a charter member of Reno Post, No. 64, G. A. R., and was Commander of the post in 1879, 1880, and 1SS1, and has been a member of the board of man- agers since its organization. He is also connected with the Soldiers' and Sailors Monumental Association, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum. MIr. Sprague was married, February 20, 1872, to Margaret Clementine, daughter of William Strieby, of Loyalsock township, who is the mother of two children: Adam Follmer, and Blanche Reno. Mrs. Sprague is a member of St. Panl's Lutheran church.

THOMAS LUNDY, manufacturer of lumber, was born in Eldred township, Lycom- ing county, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1844, son of Cornelius W. and Amelia (Bucher) Lundy. Thomas Lundy, grandfather of our subject, was a native of New Jersey, and settled in Eldred township, Lycoming county, about 1801, where he cleared and improved a farm upon which he resided up to his death. Cornelius W. was born and reared on the homestead in Eldred township, and died there in 1886. His widow still survives. He was a member of the Christian church, held the office of deacon for many years, and was superintendent of the Sunday school for a quarter of a century. In early life he was a Whig, and afterwards a Republican. His family consisted of eleven children, all of whom are living. The subject of this sketch is the third in the family, and was reared and educated in his native township. He learned the carpenter's and millwright's trades, and followed that business for fif- teen years. In 1876 he purchased the Lippincott mill, in Gamble township, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber, removing to Williamsport in 1882. Mr. Lundy is now one of the representative lumbermen of the city, and has mills at Renovo, Clinton county, and at Ralston, Lycoming county, and lumber interests iu Somerset county. He is a stockholder and director in the Merchants' National Bank, was a stockholder in the Packer Land and Improvement Company, and served as president of the latter institution. Mr. Lundy is an active Republican. He was auditor of Armstrong township for a number of years, and a school director in his district. He is a member of the Masonic order, and is connected with the lodge, chapter, and commandery. Mr. Lundy was married in 1868 to Margaret Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Southard, of Gamble township. Thirteen children are the fruits of this union: Henry C. deceased; Thomas Franklin; Charles E .; William W .; Lanra M. : Bruce P .; Theodore A .; George; Clyde; Raymond; Florence A. ; Harrison, and Marion Elizabeth.

HENRY M. OTTO was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1826, son of Dr. John B. and Esther G. Otto. He was educated in the schools of Reading, and removed to Barry, Schuylkill county, in 1845, and March 16, 1848, he was appointed the first postmaster of the town. He was married to Susan B., daughter of Jacob and Mary B. Goodhart of Reading, Jnne 3, 1850; she became the mother of two chil- dren: John B., of Williamsport, and Mary Irene, deceased wife of Dr. John W. Lowe of Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Otto opened a dry goods store in Reading in April, 1851, and continued in that business until April, 1863. When the State was threatened with invasion in 1862, he enlisted in Company G. Second Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, which marched to Williamsport on the Potomac, and was engaged in the battle of South Mountain and in the pursuit of Stonewall Jacksou's

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corps. He moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1863, and joined the lumber firm of John A. Otto & Company in 1868. He was a member of the firm of Filbert, Otto & Miller until 1876, when he became senior partner of the firm of H. M. & J. B. Otto, lumber manufacturers and dealers, now operating at Otto Glen, Elk county. In 1876 Mr. Otto was elected to the first select council of the city, and served one term. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland, in February, 1883, thence to Reading, Pennsylvania, in April, 1891, where he now resides. He became a member of Trinity Lutheran church of Reading in 1844; in 1864 he united with the Second Presbyterian church of Williamsport; in 1888 he joined Grace Meth- odist Episcopal church of Baltimore, and in January, 1892, he was elected an elder of Calvary Reformed church of Reading, Pennsylvania. He was a stanch supporter of the temperance cause all his life, and was a member of the Sons of Temperance many years.

JOHN B. OTTO, son of Henry M. and Susan B. Otto, was born in Reading, Penn- sylvania, March 9, 1851, and removed with his parents to Williamsport in November, 1863. He was a student at Dickinson Seminary, and afterwards attended Rensse- laer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, and graduated with the degree of civil engineer, June 28, 1871. In the fall of that year he assisted in the construction of the Reynoldsville division of Bennett's branch extension of the Allegheny Valley railroad. In the spring of 1872, while serving upon the engineer corps of Reading, he accepted a position of assistant engineer upon the location corps of the Philadel- phia and Reading railroad, and helped to survey the Perkiomen branch to Emmaus, also the Catawissa branch from Tamanend Junction to Williamsport. He left the Philadelphia and Reading Company in the spring of 1873 to accept a position on the engineer corps of a proposed railroad from Williamsport to Arnot, Tioga county, but after running the experimental line the project was abandoned on account of the panic of that year. He then opened a civil engineer's office in Williamsport. In 1875 he formed a partnership with his father, under the firm name of H. M. & J. B. Otto, manufacturers of hemlock and hard wood lumber, and dealers in hemlock bark. In 1876 he superintended the construction of J. K. Mosser & Company's tannery at Newberry, and May 1, 1876, he was elected to the office of city engineer, in which he served four years. During his term he made a topographical survey of the city, and designed a complete system of sewerage for the business portion, which received the approval of all who examined it. He was twice re-elected to the office of city engineer, and resigned the position, April 12, 1880. He accepted the superintendency of the South Williamsport Land Company, January 21, 1881, a position which he still holds. He was appointed trustee for the Mahlon Fisher estate, January 27, 1882, and in September of the same year he was elected secretary and treasurer of the Williamsport Gas Company, which he resigned, January 20, 1885. Mr. Otto superintended the rebuilding of Maynard street bridge, and had charge of the same from 1886 until February, 1891, when it was sold to the county commissioners. He was married, March 11, 1873, to Lillie M., a daughter of Sam- uel and Amanda S. Ladd of Reading, Pennsylvania. She died, March 6, 1891, leaving six children: Henry L .; Josie M. ; Lillie L .; Nettie I. ; Mary L., and John B. He was again married, May 24, 1892, to Ida F., daughter of Marcello A. and Mary T. Pray of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mr. Otto has been an elder in the

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Second Presbyterian church of Williamsport since April, 1885, and superintendent of the Sunday school since December, 1887. He is an ardent Prohibitionist, and a firm advocate of the cause of temperance.

SAMUEL WEYMOUTH, superintendent of the Edgar Munson mill, was born in Car- roll county, New Hampshire, November 29, 1826, son of Andrew W. and Mary (Lary) Weymouth, natives of that State. He moved with his parents to the State of Maine at the age of four years. He received a common school education, and learned the blacksmith trade with his father. In 1858 he located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in lumbering, and in 1864 came to Williamsport, and was employed as foreman for E. B. England for two years. In 1866 he was employed by Edgar Munson as superintendent of his mills, which position he has held ever since. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1878 was elected a member of the common council of Williamsport, served ten years, and was chairman of the gas and water, fireman and supply, and the highway committees. In February, 1890, he was elected a member of the select council, and chosen chairman of the highway committee of that body. He was married in 1852 to Miss Emily J., danghter of Henry Houscom, and to this union have been born four children: William C .; Mary E., who married P. E. Bishop; Ida J., who married Robert Thorne, and Clara, who married R. P. Blackburn.

JAMES MANSEL, lumber dealer, was born in Eldred township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1847, son of William B. and Rebecca (Southard) Mansel, the former a native of Chester county, and the latter of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. William B. Mansel came to this county in 1840. He was a poor man, and worked as a laborer, finally purchasing a farm in Eldred township, where he has since resided. His family consists of three children: . George, of South Williamsport; James, and Hannah, wife of Hiram Mosteller, of Eldred township. The subject of this sketch received a common school education in the township schools and at Lewisburg, and afterwards attended Dickinson Seminary. Prior to his attendance at the last mentioned institution he was engaged in teaching school, and after leaving Dickinson he began clerking in a grocery store in Williamsport. He followed that business three years, and then became connected with the Standard Nail and Iron Company, with which he remained two years. He next took charge of the lumber business of Corcoran, Richards & Company, with whom he remained six years, and was afterwards associated with Thomas Lundy under the firm name of Lundy & Company for three years. He then engaged in business for himself, has been quite successful, and handles nothing but hardwood lumber. Mr. Mansel is a member of the Cross Planer Knife Company, and one of the originators of the same; he is also a stockholder and director in the Royal Braid Works. He is a Republican with Prohibition tendencies, but takes no interest in public affairs. He was married in 1874, to Maggie, daughter of John Hartswick, of Centre county, Pennsylvania, and has two children: Bernard H. and Harry S.

THOMAS DUFFY, lumber manufacturer, was born in County Meath, Ireland, in 1845, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Clarke) Duffy, natives of the "sea-girt isle." He came to the United States with his brothers and sisters, when he was ten years old, and located in Corning, New York. He received a limited education in the common schools, and grew to manhood in New York State. In 1869 he came to

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Williamsport, and engaged with a Mr. Parker in the manufacture of shingles for two years, and was employed by various other parties until 1873. He then became connected with his present shingle mill, where he has since carried on quite an extensive business in the manufacture of white pine shingles. In 1891 he purchased an interest in the West End mill, and has since been manager of the business. Mr. Duffy is a stockholder and director in the Susquehanna Trust and Safe Deposit Company, is a stockholder in the Lycoming Rubber Company, and is interested in real estate in the city. He was married in 1872 to Ellen, daughter of George Mahar, of Williamsport. She is the mother of six children, as follows: Ann: Harry; John; Joseph; Mary, and Elizabeth. The family are members of the Annunciation Catholic church, and Mr. Duffy is one of the liberal supporters of that organization. He is a Democrat in politics, and one of the active, enterprising business men of Williamsport.

MAURICE H. LUNDY, lumber dealer, was born in County Sligo, Ireland, March 16, 1833, son of Patrick and Winifred (Henry) Lundy. The family came to America in 1845, and after remaining in New York for about six months they migrated to Canada and thence to Corning, New York, where the parents died. Our subject was principally reared in Steuben county, New York, and was educated in the common schools. He came to Williamsport in 1850, where he was employed by Samson & Ballard as lumber counter for a number of years and remained with their successors until joining Fletcher Coleman in the same business. Mr. Lundy has therefore been in the lumber business in the city of Williamsport for over forty years. He built the second house on Third street west of what is known as West street. He is a member of the Lycoming Real Estate Association, is a Democrat in politics, has served as United States marshal for this district under President Cleveland's administration, has also been a member of the common council six years, and is now serving his second year in the select council. He was married in 1854 to Mary, daughter of John Merren, and to this union have been born nine children: Thomas; Mary, who married Thomas Mulligan; Maurice; Eliza, who married James Burrows; Henry; Frank; Kate, who married John Coleman; Agnes, and George. Mr. Lundy and family are members of the Catholic church.

JOHN WESLEY MAYNARD was born, May 18, 1806, at Springfield, Massachusetts, second son and third child of Lemuel Maynard, a native of Sunbury, in the same State. In 1823 his father's family moved to Hamilton, New York, where young Maynard spent one year in attendance at the Hamilton Academy. In 1827 he began the study of law in the office of William G. Angell and George C. Clyde, in Otsego county, New York. Here he spent three years, after which the family located in Lawrenceville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he was admitted to the bar in 1831. Until 1840 he was engaged in practice in Tioga, Bradford, Potter, and Mckean counties. In the summer of that year he located in Williamsport. In 1859 he was appointed assistant law judge for the Fifth judicial district of Pennsylvania, then consisting of the county of Allegheny, including the city of Pittsburg. In 1862 he was elected president judge of the Third judicial district, composed of the counties of Northampton and Lehigh. This position he filled with eminent ability for nearly six years. In the autumn of 1867, owing to the death of his son-in-law and former partner, W. W. Willard, and also on account of his own

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ill health, Judge Maynard resigned and returned to Williamsport. He was nominated for Congress by his Democratic friends from Lycoming county, but declined to run. Judge Maynard had a legal experience of half a century, during which time he was called upon to conduct many of the most important cases in Pennsylvania and New York. March 18, 1830, Mr. Maynard was married to Sarah Ann, daughter of Thomas and Nabby Mather, of Burlington, New York; they were the parents of one daughter, Sarah Ann, who became the wife of W. W. Willard. Mrs. Maynard died, December 25, 1832, and Judge Maynard was again married, December 29, 1834, to Alvira C., daughter of Elijah De Pui. The offspring of this union were four sons and three daughters, of whom three sons and one daughter died young. The survivors are: Encie Eliza, who married Peter Herdic, and is now the wife of Henry Rawle; James W., and Clara. Mrs. Maynard died, April 1, 1881, and in November, 1883, he married Cordelia Bellows, who survives him. Judge Maynard was educated in the Methodist faith, but subsequently united with the Protestant Episcopal church, and when Christ church was organized in Williams- port, in 1841, he was chosen a vestryman. He died, May 8, 1885, at his summer cottage at Minnequa Springs, Bradford county, Pennsylvania.

HON. HENRY JOHNSON was born, June 12, 1819, at Newton, Sussex county, New Jersey. He received in the schools of that place his primary education, and in 1837 was graduated at Princeton College. He read law for three years with Hon. Whit- field S. Johnson, afterwards Secretary of State of New Jersey, and was admitted to the bar in 1841, after an examination before the Supreme Court judges of New Jersey, as required by the rules of that State. His father, Samuel Johnson, died in 1820, and his only brother, John Brodhead Johnson, while temporarily in New Orleans, died of yellow fever in 1825. His mother, with her five surviving children, moved to Muncy in 1841, she having acquired as one of the divisees of her grandfather, Gen. Daniel Brodhead, considerable real estate in Pennsylvania which required attention. June 19, 1841, Henry Johnson's law office was opened in Muncy, Penn- sylvania, which he occupied for over fifty years, enjoying a successful and lucrative practice. In 1856 he married Margaret, youngest daughter of Enoch Green, and sister of Hon. Henry Green, now a justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. In November, 1890, he removed to Williamsport, and now occupies the mansion on the corner of West Fourth and Maynard streets, which he had erected for his subse- quent home. He continues in the practice of law, of which he was always devotedly fond. From the time of his settlement in Lycoming county he has been prominent in political and public affairs, first as a Whig and afterwards a Republican. In 1848 he was among the earliest supporters of Gen. Zachary Taylor; as such he was elected one of the Presidential Electors of Pennsylvania, and voted directly for Taylor and Fillmore. In 1861 he was elected to the State Senate for the counties of Lycoming, Union, Clinton and Centre, and served during the war times of 1862-63- 64. He served on various committees during his term. In 1864 he was chairman of the Judiciary committee, and thus became political leader of the Senate. He was also for a considerable period Speaker pro tem. of the Senate. The Supreme Court . of Pennsylvania having decided that the Act of 1812, which authorized and regu- lated elections by soldiers in the field, was unconstitutional, thereby depriving a very large number of citizens of the right of suffrage, and endangering the re-elec-

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 89

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