History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 97

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

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THOMAS MILLSPAUGH, manufacturer, was born in Sullivan county, New York, October 14, 1839, son of Marcus and Polly (Mills) Millspaugh. He resided in his native county until he was nearly seventeen years of age, and received a common

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

school education. He came to Williamsport, March 25, 1855, and became appren- ticed to John B. Hall, to learn the machinist's trade. After completing his trade he worked as a journeyman in different parts of the country. In 1870 he formed a partnership with his brother, John H., under the firm name of Millspaugh Brothers, and opened a machine shop on Third street, Williamsport. They were soon after- wards joined by E. A. Rowley, and the firm of Millspaugh, Rowley & Millspaugh began the manufacture of wood-working machinery. The plant was burned in 1875, and the Millspaughs bought Mr. Rowley's interest and rebuilt the works on the former site. They continued there for three or four years, then purchased their. present site, and began the manufacture of engines, etc. In 1882 the Williamsport Machine Company was organized, and the manufacture of wood-working machinery resumed, and since 1888 the whole plant has been devoted to that line of business. Upon the organization of the company our subject became secretary and treasurer, which position he has since held. Mr. Millspaugh is prominent in the Masonic order, and is a member of the lodge, chapter, commandery, council, and consistory. He is an active Republican, and was elected to the city council from the Fourth ward in 1890, and is chairman of the finance committee. Mr. Millspaugh was one of the organizers of the Williamsport Suspender Company, and is secretary and treasurer of the company. He was married, July 6, 1866, to Margaret A., daughter of Thomas and Catharine Mackey, of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Three children have been born of this union: Laura C .; Marcus, and Henry W. The family are members of the Mulberry Street Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is steward, and he is also president of the board of trustees of Park Avenue chapel.

JOHN H. MILLSPAUGH, manufacturer, was born in Sullivan county, New York, April 30, 1846, son of Marcus and Polly (Mills) Millspaugh, natives of Orange county, New York, and farmers of Sullivan county. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county. He came to Williamsport in 1863, and learned the machinist's trade under John B. Hall, afterwards spending one year in Binghamton,. New York. He next had charge of the Buckeye Machine Works of Toledo, Ohio, for one year. In 1870 he formed a partnership with his brother Thomas, under the firm name of Millspaugh Brothers, and opened a machine shop on Third street, Williamsport, and did a general repairing business. They were soon afterwards joined by E. A. Rowley, when the firm was changed to Millspaugh, Rowley & Mills- paugh, and they began the manufacture of wood-working machinery. Their shops were burned in 1875, and the Millspaughs purchased Mr. Rowley's interest and rebuilt the works on the former site. They continued the business up to 1878 or 1879, when they purchased their present site, enlarged the business, and began the manufacture of engines and circular and gang saw mills. In 1882 F. H. Sweet was admitted to partnership, and they resumed the manufacture of wood-working machinery, and since 1888 the whole plant has been devoted to that line of business. Their trade in this branch had so rapidly increased, that they were obliged to dis- continue . the manufacture of engines and saw mills. After the admission of Mr. Sweet the name of the firm was changed to the Williamsport Machine Company, and still goes under that title. Mr. Millspaugh is a director in the Merchants' National Bank, and is one of the most active business men in the city. He is a Republican in politics, and served as a member of the common council one term.

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He was married in 1870 to Alice, daughter of Edward Kramm. of Williamsport, and has three children: Mabel B .; Ella M., and Alice Elsie. Mr. Millspaugh is a member of Mulberry Street Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is steward, and a teacher in the Sabbath school. He is vice-president of the Young Men's Christian Association, and is a director in that body.

FRED H. SWEET, general manager of the Williamsport Machine Company, was born in Athens, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1844. His parents, John S. and Mary (Carmon) Sweet, came to Williamsport in 1854, where the former became a promi- nent contractor and builder. He erected many of the prominent buildings of the city, but has now retired from active business. He is a member of Pine Street Methodist Episcopal church, in which faith his wife died in 1871. They reared a family of one son and three daughters, Fred H. being the youngest of the family. He was educated in.the city schools and at Dickinson Seminary. He learned the carpenter's trade with his falher, followed it for four years, and then engaged in contracting and building. He subsequently followed pattern making for one year, and then became foreman of the pattern shop of A. T. Nichols, with whom he con- tinued until the failure of that gentleman. For the succeeding six years he had charge of the pattern department in the machine works of Rowley & Hermance, and in 1883 he associated himself with the Millspaugh Brothers, and organized the Will- iamsport Machine Company, of which he has since been the general manager. Mr. Sweet is one of the organizers of the Williamsport Suspender Company, is a stockholder in the Lycoming Opera House Company, and is one of the direct- ors and a member of the building committee in the erection of the new opera house. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is connected with the lodge, chapter, commandery, and council. He is a Republican in politics, and an active supporter of that party. Mr. Sweet was married in 1869 to Mary Jane, daughter of William Sharar, of Williamsport, and has two children: Harry, and Alice.

WILLIAM P. RILEY, proprietor of the Valley Iron Works, was born in 1828 in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where his father, Patrick Riley, was at that time engaged as a contractor on the Lehigh canal. His parents were natives of Ireland; his father was a member of the Catholic church, and his mother was brought up in the Church of England. In 1830 his father secured a contract on the West Branch division of the Pennsylvania canal commencing a short distance below Williams- port and extending to Loyalsock creek, at which time his family removed to Lycoming county. Upon the completion of this contract Mr. Riley relinquished the business, which he had followed for several years, and purchased a farm in Hep- burn township, where the subject of this sketch, a child of two years when his father located in this county and the second in a family of six children, was reared and obtained his education at the local schools. In 1839 the family removed to Williamsport, where William, who was still quite young, was variously employed in summer and attended school in winter. In 1845 he engaged with John B. Hall to learn the trade of iron molder, which occupation he followed with but little inter- ruption until after the outbreak of the rebellion. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-second Regiment, and was discharged from the service in August, 1865. Very soon after his return he took measures for the establishment of the business in which he had been educated, resulting in the formation of the firm of Sechler, Riley

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

& Company, composed of Michael Sechler, W. P. Riley, and his brother Daniel. The works were adapted to the manufacture of stoves, plows, and light castings. During the first year the firm was changed to Heathcote, Riley & Company, and subse- quently to Riley & Maitland, who continned until 1878. Upon the retirement of Mr. Maitland in that year Mr. Riley assumed sole control, since which time the establishment has been known as the Valley Iron Works. The character of the product has also changed, stoves and plows having long since been superseded by machinery of various kinds. The leading specialty is the Valley Automatic

Engine, patented and placed on the market in 1886. The favorable reputation of this engine is attested by orders from every State and Territory of the Union, as well as Canada, Mexico, South America, India, and Japan. Mr. Riley was married in 1852 to Mary A., daughter of Harman Yost, of Lewisburg, Union county, and to this union four children have been born: Francis H., who died in 1856; Edward H. and William C., both of whom are employed with their father, and Walter Lee, who was accidentally killed in 1887 at the age of eighteen. Mr. Riley is a member of Reno Post, No. 64, G. A. R. He is a Republican in politics, but has never held or sought public office. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

ISAAC BARTON, treasurer of the E. Keeler Company, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1838, son of Isaac and Mary A. (Maitland) Barton, natives of that county. His father was a mechanic and worked at his trade all of his life. He died in Berks county, and his widow survives and resides in Reading. Isaac was reared in his native county and received a public school education. He lived prin- cipally with his grandfather, and after leaving school at the age of eleven years, he began work in a woolen factory in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he remained for three years. After boating on the canal for one season, he carried the mail on horseback for three years from Reading to Philadelphia and Sunneytown, making a trip every day in the week except Sunday. In 1854 he began the trade of boiler- maker with Thomas, Carson & West at Norristown. One year later this firm failed, and Mr. Barton worked at the following places: Tamaqua, Manch Chunk, Allen- town, Reading, Wetherly, Hazelton, Aurora, Illinois; Aurora, Indiana; Memphis, Tennessee, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. He came to Williamsport in 1864 and was with the firm of J. Heathcoat & Company until 1878 when the firm failed. It was subsequently reorganized under the firm name of the E. Keeler Company, of which he is at present the treasurer. During the war Mr. Barton served as one of the Emer- gency Men who assisted in repelling the invasion of his native State. He was married in 1866 to Susan Keeler, of Norristown, who died in 1881; they had one child, who was drowned in the Susquehanna river. Mr. Barton is a member of the I. O. O. F., the O. U. A. M., and the P. O. S. of A. He is a stanch Republican, and an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church.

JOHN ARTHUR, proprietor of the Park Machine Shops, was born in Scotland, in August, 1819, son of William, a ship carpenter, and Elizabeth (McConachy) Arthur. He received his education in the schools of his native country and learned the black- smith trade. In December, 1839, he immigrated to America and was first employed in Simmons's ax factory at Trenton, New Jersey. From there he moved to Bur- lington, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he cleared a farm, erected a steam

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and water mill on Brown's creek, and was extensively engaged in manufacturing lumber and shipping the same on rafts down the Susquehanna river and to New York and Philadelphia markets. He came to Williamsport in 1865, and one year later erected a blacksmith shop which has grown to its present size and capacity, and in which he makes a specialty of repairing and manufacturing saw mill machin- ery. In 1SS7 he established a similar business in Emporium, Pennsylvania, and conducted the same successfully until 1891, when he sold. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as a member of the common council for two years. He was married in 1841 to Miss Nancy A., daughter of William Knapp, of Burlington. Bradford county, and to this union have been born four children: Elizabeth, who married C. K. Whiting; William; Lawrence, and John. Mr. Arthur is a member of the Third Presbyterian church of Williamsport.

JAMES THOMAS was born in Liberty township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, December 31, 1848, and is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth Thomas, the former a native of Pembrokeshire, Wales, born May 16, 1813, and the latter born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1809, in the brick house that formerly stood on what is known as the Fritz property, East Third street, one of the first brick buildings erected in Williamsport. She was a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Landon, well known pioneers who stood high in the community. Isaac Thomas came to the United States in 1839, and located in Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He was an expert mineralogist, and was identified with the first mining interests near Bloss- burg and Morris Run. He afterward became extensively engaged in farming, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1888, he was the owner of a large amount of real estate in that county. Mrs. Thomas survived her husband only one year. They reared a family of six children: William L .; Margaret J., wife of Merrick Crandle of Bradford county, Pennsylvania; Samuel L., who died in 1885; John; James, and Henry. The surviving sons, excepting the subject of this sketch, are residents of Tioga county.

James received a public school education, and remained on his father's farm laboring hard in the interest of his parents until he attained the age of twenty-three years. In 1873 he engaged in the agricultural implement business, the territory in which he worked comprising Tioga and adjoining counties. He removed to Will- iamsport in 1878, where he enlarged and continued that business. Mr. Thomas is one of the pioneers of this branch of trade in central Pennsylvania, and has probably done more to give the business tone and character than any other man in the State. He commenced business on what would now be considered an extremely small capital, which money he earned while employed on his father's farm. His principle in life was, to go carefully and according to the amount of his capital, and it is admitted that he has built up through the passing years the finest wholesale and retail trade in his line in central Pennsylvania. In 1889 he realized the necessity of erecting a carriage and machinery repository on East Third street, known as Thomas's Block, giving him the most commodious quarters in the State.

In 1878 Mr. Thomas assumed the management of the business of the South Bend Chilled Plow Company in Pennsylvania and adjoining States, and by his sterling and persistent push he has organized a territory and established a trade equaled by but few manufactories in the country, and during the time he has com-

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manded the largest salary of any man connected with the company. He is strictly conscientious, as well as painstaking, has always looked after the smallest details of his business, and owes his success to his indomitable industry and keen business foresight. Mr. Thomas is one of the directors of the Williamsport Board of Trade, is a stockholder and director in the Merchants' National Bank, and is identified with many other leading enterprises of Williamsport. He is largely interested in real estate, and is recognized as one of the prominent and enterprising business men of his adopted home. He is a strong Republican, and though generally supporting the men and measures of his party, believes that only the best men should be elected to office. Mr. Thomas was married, October 7, 1874, to Clara A., daughter of S. H. Levegood of Liberty, Pennsylvania, who has borne him five children: Ward Lu Clair, a bright and promising boy whose young life was cut short by death, August 6, 1891, in the sixteenth year of his age; Romaine W .; Ruby E. ; James Raymond, and George L. Mr. Thomas and family are connected with the First Presbyterian church of Williamsport.

JOSIAH EMERY was born in Canterbury, New Hampshire, November 30, 1801, and traces his ancestry through Josiah, Moses, John, John, John, John, to Nathan Emery. He was the third of sixteen children born to Nathan and Betsy (McCrillis) Emery and attended Kimball Union Academy in his native State until the age of nineteen, when he entered Dartmouth College. Here he remained until reaching his majority, and then followed teaching for six years. He was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1828, and read law in Wellsboro, Pennsyl- vania, where he located in 1829 and practiced that profession from 1831 to 1871. He served as district attorney for Tioga county, and as commissioner of bankruptcy and of drafts during the war. He took an active interest in literary work, was trus- tee of the Wellsboro Academy for many years, frequently wrote for various literary journals, and published his recollections of early life in Tioga county, which attracted much attention. He came to Williamsport in 1871, practiced his profes- sion for a short time, and was for nine years a member of the school board, serving one term as president of that body. He founded the public school library in Will- iamsport, and the Emery school building was named in his honor. He was a self- made man in the strictest sense of the word; in politics he was a Whig, voted for William Henry Harrison, and became a Republican when that party was organized. He served as postmaster in Tioga county during the administration of James K. Polk. Mr. Emery was married, February 12, 1830, to Julia Ann, daughter of Hon. John Beecher, of Tioga county, who died, July 24, 1871, followed by her husband, April 28, 1891. Both were prominent members of the Episcopal church, and to them were born eleven children: Mary C .; Charles D .; Martha P., who was educated at Dickinson Seminary, taught school in the South prior to the rebellion, married Charles S. Bundy, and died, December 19, 1867; Eva V., who married Rev. E. J. Gray; Elizabeth E .; John Beecher; William V .; Clara B., who married John H. Price, and died June 7, 1884; Annie, deceased; George, deceased, and Frank B.

Mary C. Emery, the eldest of these children, was for many years a teacher at Wellsboro, and was teacher of mathematics in the Huntsville Female College, Huntsville, Alabama, when the rebellion broke out. She then returned to her home in the North. She was first married, December 21, 1854, to I. M. Ruckman,

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and to this union was born one child, Annie E., who died November 16, 1860, in Alabama. Mrs. Ruckman was married a second time, to George S. Ransom, who was born, July 1, 1820, in Warren county, New York, and died in Williamsport in 188S. Mr. Ransom received a common school education, and followed lumbering the greater part of his business life. He located at Montoursville in 1863 and embarked in lumbering on Loyalsock creek until 1865, when he removed to Williams- port. He was an elder in the Second Presbyterian church, and a Republican in politics. He was the father of one son, William E., who is a lawyer.

Charles D. Emery, son of Josiah, was admitted to the Lycoming county bar, and served as acting consul in South America. He now resides in Seattle, Washington, and was married, March 8, 185S, to Lavina D. Evans.

Elizabeth E. Emery, daughter of Josiah, was graduated from Dickinson Semi- mary, and February 10, 1863, was married to Joshua Knapp, who was born January 27, 1837, and died May 7, 1869. She went west in 1880 as a missionary under the auspices of the Episcopal church, and for a time was principal of Hope school, Springfield, Dakota.

JOHN B. EMERY was born, December 28, 1843, son of Josiah and Julia Ann (Beecher) Emery. He was educated in the common schools and the Wellsboro Academy. He enlisted in Company I, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and saw service through the entire war, participating in the battles of Hilton Head, South Carolina, and with the Army of the Potomac at the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, and Antietam. He was promoted corporal for meritorious conduct at Antietam, and was with the Ninthi Corps in their operations in Kentucky and Mississippi, and with the Army of the Potomac from Cold Harbor to Petersburg. December 14, 1863, he was captured at Flat Gap, Tennessee, and confined in Belle Isle and Richmond prisons until April 2, 1864, when he was released. He was tendered the position of first lieutenant of Company G, Twenty-fifth Regiment, in December, 1864, but declined the responsible position. Returning from the war he became a clerk in the freight office of the Northern Central railroad at Williamsport. In March, 1866, he went to Kansas, and in company with thirteen others crossed the plains with a wagon train destined for Salt Lake City. They were attacked by Sioux Indians, September 4th, on Lodge Pole creek, and all their stock was driven off by the savages, who surrounded them until the 11th of September, when troops from Fort John Buford, on Laramie plains, came to their relief. Mr. Emery acted as night herder for a Mormon mule train from September 16th to October 16th, when they reached Salt Lake City. He returned to Williamsport in the spring of 1867 and became clerk for the Northern Central railroad. In 1870 he went to Wisconsin in the employ of a large lumber firm. In the spring of 1871 he was appointed agent for the Catawissa railroad at Tamaqua, and in 1872 he became general agent for the West Branch Lumber Company, and freight solicitor for the Pennsylvania railroad. In 1881 he established the lumber firm of J. B. Emery & Company, which was merged into the Emery Lumber Company, December 7, 1891. Mr. Emery is one of the founders of the Daily Republican, was one of the organizers of the Ross Club, is a stockholder in the Athletic Park Association, and is a charter member of Reno Post, G. A. R., and of the Union Veteran Legion. He is a stalwart Republican, has been chairman of that party's county committee, and

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has served as auditor, school director, and select councilman for the city of Williams- port. April 1, 1890, he was appointed postmaster of this city, and has greatly improved the service, having added two mounted carriers and established a sub- postoffice and two stamp offices. He married Helen A. Otto, and to this union have been born two children: Frank O. and Julia. His brother, William V. Emery, is a member of the Emery Lumber Company, and was married to Emily S., daughter of W. B. Leas, and to them have been born three children: William L .; Mary S., and Eugene M.

GEORGE S. EvEs, retired, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, May 22, 1825, son of John and Jemima (Woolever) Eves. John Eves was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1795, and married Jemima Woolever, a native of New Jersey. They moved to Lycoming county in 1847, settling on a farm near Montoursville known as the Governor Shulze farm; there they remained six years and then returned to Columbia county, where he died, September 12, 1856. His father, William Eves, was a native of Dublin, Ireland, and settled in Columbia county before the beginning of the Revolutionary war. Three of John and Jemima Eves's children are living, and residents of Williamsport: William; George S., and Clark W. George S. received his education in the common schools, and in 1852 located in Montoursville, where he followed the blacksmith trade until 1863, when he removed to Williamsport. He was elected county treasurer in 1863, filled that office for one term, and afterwards engaged in the mercantile business with J. C. Green and did an extensive business under the firm name of Green & Eves for fifteen years. In 1880 he was elected to the State legislature and was a very creditable and valuable representative. He sold his mercantile business in 1883, and has lived a retired life ever since. He was married in 1869 to Miss Ada, daughter of George and Cornelia Cramer, of New Jersey. Mr. Eves was reared in the faith of the Quaker church, and is a Democrat in politics.

EMANUEL PIDCOE was born in Hepburn township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1817, and is the youngest son of Benjamin and Anna Pidcoe. He was reared on the homestead farm, and received a common school education. He followed agricultural pursuits in his native township up to 1890, when he moved into the city of Williamsport and retired from active business. He has conducted a milk route for twenty-two years and is still the owner of the same. Mr. Pidcoe was married, January 24, 1841, to Amy, daughter of James V. Marshall of Hepburn township, and has one son, Milton S., who was born in 1843, and is a member of the milling firm of Hayes, Pidcoe & Company of Montoursville. He was originally a Whig, and subsequently a Republican, and filled the office of assessor in Hepburn and Eldred townships. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church, in which denomination he fills the position of elder.

HORACE H. BLAIR was born in Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1814, son of Samuel and Rebecca (Hetherington) Blair. His father was a native of Ireland, and came to America with his parents in childhood. At the age of eighteen years he enlisted in the army of the Revolution, and served for five years. Upon the close of that struggle for liberty he engaged as a boatman on the Susquehanna river, and also followed farming. Blair's Gap was named in his honor. His wife was a native of Northumberland county, and reared a family

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 97

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