USA > Pennsylvania > Sullivan County > History of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania > Part 10
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Henry Ritchlen was reared to manhood on his father's farm, trained to habits of industry and honesty, early becoming fa-
miliar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and acquired a good education in the public schools. He spent one season in the lumber woods near Os- kosh, Wisconsin, and for a number of win- ters worked in the lumber woods of Sullivan county, but has given the greater part of his time and attention to farming, and has now a valuable and productive tract of land, much of which is under a high state of cul- tivation. He manages his business inter- ests with system and energy, and in addi- tion to the cultivation of grain he raises horses and cattle of a high grade.
In 1884 Mr. Ritchlen was united in mar- riage to Miss Amanda Hostler, who was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Henry F. Hostler and Sarah (Solinburg) Hostler. The latter is now de- ceased. Four children have been born of this union: Alice M., William Henry, James Morton and Carl Francis, aged respectively thirteen, ten, six and two years. Mr. Ritch- len is one of the most active supporters of the Democratic party in his township and does all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. He is now serving as township tax collector, and discharges his duties in a most prompt and faithful manner. He is one of the intelligent and progressive citizens of the community, frank and genial in manner, and his genuine worth has won him the high regard of many friends.
P ETER BROWN .- For more than thirty years Peter Brown has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Sullivan county, and is numbered among the leading and influen- tial farmers of that locality. He is also one of the veterans of the Civil war, and through days of peace as well as days of strife is a
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loyal, patriotic citizen, giving his support to all measures and movements which he be- lieves will prove of public benefit.
A native of Fox township, Sullivan county, Mr. Brown was born on the 14th of April, 1841, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of the commun- ity. The Browns are of English descent, and the first American ancestors arrived in this country at an early period in American history. The grandfather of our subject was Aaron Brown, who, in order to make his home in a settlement that was unmo-, lested by Indians, came to Sullivan county, where both he and his wife spent their re- maining days. Their graves were made in the Brown cemetery, in Fox township, where Mrs. Luce, the mother of Mrs. Aaron Brown, was also buried. The father of our subject, Archelaus Luce Brown, was born near New Albany, Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, and on arriving at years of matur- ity married Miss Sarah Harris, daughter of Peter and Hannah (Battin) Harris, of Ly- coming county. He became one of the pio- neers of Fox township, Sullivan county. where he secured his land by patent from the government. He then developed the wild tract into a richly cultivated farm and carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1889. His wife passed away in 1893. In his political views he was a Democrat, but he was never an as- pirant for office. He was the father of sev- enteen children, fourteen of whom are yet living, namely: Peter, Hannah, William, George, Sylvester, Maria, Reuben, Rosetta, Chandler, Rosilla, Almeda, Salome, Murray and Judson. Annetta died at the age of four years, and two died in infancy.
On his father's farm in Fox township, Peter Brown spent his childhood days and aided in the labors of field and meadow. 10
At the age of twenty-one, on the 24th of October, 1862, he was drafted to serve in the civil war as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Seventy-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Drafted Militia, under Capt. Clinton E. Woods, and was stationed at Newbern, North Carolina, his command being attached to the Eighteenth Army Corps under General Foster. Later they were sent on transports up the Pamlico river and by sound to Washington, North Carolina, the journey occupying seven days. At Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. Brown received an honorable discharge, and on the 8th of August, 1863, returned to his home. Months passed and the war still continued. There was an urgent call for troops from time to time, and on the 15th of March, 1865, Mr. Brown enlisted, join- ing Company H, Fifteenth New York Regi- ment of Volunteer Engineers, under Cap- tain Andrew Mauger, in which command he served until the close of hostilities, when he was honorably discharge by special order of the government. During his second term of service he was stationed at City Point, Virginia, for a time, and afterward took part in the campaign against General Lee in Virginia-a campaign which re- sulted in the surrender of Lee and the down- fall of the Southern Confederacy. Mr. Brown then went to Berksville, thence to Clover Station and on to Washington by way of Richmond. He participated in the grand review at Washington, the most bril- liant military pageant ever seen on the west- ern hemisphere, and then making his way to the north received his discharge papers in Elmira, New York.
The country no longer needing his serv- ices on the battle field, Mr. Brown returned to his home in Sullivan county once more to take up the pursuits of civil life. He was
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a brave and loyal soldier, always found at his post of duty, and well deserves the gratitude and praise of the nation which he helped to preserve intact.
On the 28th of May, 1863, F. B. Spinola, brigadier general, commanding the Keystone Brigade to which Mr. Brown be- longed, addressed the brigade as follows:
"I avail myself of this opportunity of saying to the officers and men of the Key- stone Brigade that the time has arrived for me to take my leave of you; and, as your term of service will soon expire, many of you, I presume, will abandon the scenes and excitement of the battlefield again to resume your usual pursuits of industry. In parting allow me to assure you that I enter- tain an exalted opinion of you both as offi- cers and soldiers; and, in my official char- acter, I thank you for the prompt and cheerful manner in which you have ever performed your arduous and dangerous duties, and I shall always look back upon my association with you as among the pleas- antest hours of my life. You were put under my command at the time when you were fresh from your native state, and, with a few exceptions, entirely unacquainted with the toils and dangers of war; you were placed in no 'school of instruction,' but marched directly to the front, where you have remained performing your duty in a manner reflecting great credit on yourself and great honor on your state.
"Your march from Suffolk, Virginia, to Newbern, North Carolina, has no equal since the war began, except in General Banks' retreat from Winchester, and that differed from yours in this important partic- ular-yours was toward the enemy and his was from them. Your conduct at Mill creek and White Oak river was equal to that of veteran troops; your march to Pollocksville,
for the purpose of encompassing the enemy at the second battle of Newbern, developed your powers of endurance and at once gave you a prominent place among the best troops in the service. While aboard of the trans- ports in front of the rebel batteries on the Pamlico river you were both willing and anxious to incur any risk or to encounter any danger necessary to relieve the be- leaguered city of Washington, North Caro- lina, and no troops in the army could have manifested greater willingness to make any necessary sacrifice to reinforce the garrison and to relieve it from the perils which sur- rounded it; but authority higher either than you or me checked your patriotic desires. Your conduct at Blount's creek fully devel- oped your impetuous desires to encounter the enemy, and no soldier ever retired from the battlefield with greater reluctance after it had been demonstrated that the column could not advance, owing to the destruction of the bridges which crossed the stream. Your reconnoissance to New Hope school- house was all that could have been asked of any troops; it was a success in every partic- ular. Your march to, and occupancy of, Swift Creek village, with its accompanying sharp skirmishing as you approached the place and drove the rebels from it in pre- cipitate flight at the dead hour of night, were worthy of the Old Guard' of Na- poleon.
" Your conduct throughout has been of a character that has placed the brigade in an en- viable position; intemperance and immoral practices, as well as vice in its various forms, have been strangers to the officers and sol- diers of the Keystone brigade. Instead of participating and indulging in the practices which are so prevalent and demoralizing among soldiers, you have invariably been found on the Sabbath day joining with each
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other in prayer and uniting your voices in singing praises to the Great Ruler of all.
"No cause can fail, my countrymen, when supported by such men as constitute the Keystone Brigade! You have done your whole duty to your country, to your state, and to your families in a manner that no man among you need be ashamed to acknowledge that he is one of the Keystone Brigade, while the authorities of your state can, with pride, point to you as an emula- tion for others who are to follow you to the field!
" We are all called upon to make some sacrifices in times like the present, but the American, who would not obey the call of his country in her hour of peril, is unworthy of enjoying the benefits and blessings of a free government, which cost many lives and much treasure to establish. No army ever suffered like that of Washington! No men ever bore their sufferings with less mur- inuring than the brave patriots who pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor that you and I might enjoy civil and religious liberty! You need go no farther than your own home to find the spot that gave shelter to the Father of His Country, together with the eleven thousand famish- ing patriots who wintered at Valley Forge, to which place they were traced by the blood which oozed from their unshod feet! "At the expiration of your term of service it is fair to presume that many of you. from age and other causes, will not again enter it; but in the name of liberty and a bleeding country, I not only appeal to the young men of the brigade to enlist again, but I implore you, in the name of the men who suffered every conceivable hardship and privation in order to show to the despots of the world that man is capable of self-government, that you will
prove yourselves the proud representatives of the patriots of '76, and never quit the field until this diabolical attempt to destroy the government which Washington and his associates gave us has been plowed out by the roots."
It was in 1867 that Peter Brown located upon the farm in Fox township, which he now owns and occupies, and since that time he has carried on agricultural pursuits, meet- ing with good success in his undertakings. His early boyhood training well fitted him for the work. He has upon his place a large and substantial residence, good barns and other necessary outbuildings, and an orchard which yields choice fruits in season. He manifests both industry and progressiveness in the management of his property, and is therefore deriving therefrom a good income.
On the 12th of March, 1865, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Susan Mills, who was born in Towanda, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and prior to her marriage was a successful teacher. She is a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Savacool) Mills. Her fa- ther was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, and was descended from New England an- cestry. He first married Sophia Savacool, and they had three children -Mary A., Do- rinda and Martha. By his second marriage, to Mary Savacool, there were eight children, of whom four are living: Ambrose Abbott, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Amanda Griswold and Mrs. Cythera Black. Four of the children died in infancy. The father of these chil- dren, a fariner and carpenter by occupation, died in Leroy, Bradford county, Pennsyl- vania, at the age of fifty-two years. His wife died in Madison county, New York, near Oneida, in 1898, at the age of seventy- eight years. They were faithful members of the Methodist church. Mrs. Brown is an accomplished and cultured lady and has
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been to her husband a faithful helpmeet. To them have been born three children, but Scott, the only son, died in childhood. The daughters are Frances Martha and Edyth Evelyn; the former is the wife of R. T. Beers, and the latter the wife of W. H. Salisbury. of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, by whom she has one child, Monna Larue. During his early business career he was for twelve or fifteen years employed as travel- ing salesman by the White Sewing Machine Company, and was quite successful in that line of business.
Mr. Brown usually gives his political support to the Republicen party, but does not consider himself bound by party ties. He has filled nearly all of the township offices, and is ever faithful and conscientious in the discharge of his duties. He gave to his daughters good educational privileges -- Frances Martha having finished an excellent education at the Dover Institution, Dover, New Jersey, and Edith Evelyn having graduated at the State Normal school, at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, in the class of 1893. Both were numbered among the most successful teachers of Sullivan and adjoining counties. To all movements and interests calculated to prove of public bene- fit Mr. Brown lends his aid and influence, and is widely recognized as a valned citizen and a man of sterling worth, straightfor- ward in business and reliable at all times.
DAM H. ZANER .- The great-grand-
A father of our subject, Adam Zaner, who was a native of Prussia, came to America about 1731 and settled in Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania, where he en- gaged in agriculture. He had received an excellent education in his native land and was a successful farmer. He served seven
years in the Revolutionary war and lived to be nearly one hundred years old. He was the father of eight children, two daughters and six sons, the latter being John, Peter, George, Abraham, Adam and Daniel.
Adam Zaner, the second, grandfather of our subject, was born in Schuylkill coun- ty, where he became a successful farmer and held many of the local offices. He also carried on the trade of a tailor and lived an industrious and useful life. He married a Miss Buck, who bore him five children- Nancy, Lewis, Rebecca, Morris and Jerusha. Both parents lived to a very old age.
Lewis Zaner was born in Briar Creek township, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1804, where he attended the common schools and spent his youth in as- sisting his father on the farm. In 1828 he came to. Lycoming, now Sullivan county, and settled on a tract of wild land in what is now Cherry township. He began the struggle of life single-handed and alone, and by patience, perseverance and economy amassed a fortune of no mean proportions. He was blunt of speech and manners, but possessed sterling qualities of heart and mind which won for him many friends in spite of his rough exterior. He was the second sheriff of Sullivan county, an office which he filled with great ability, and was for a long time prominent in the adminis- tration of local affairs. After the death of his wife, in 1883, he moved to Muncy and purchased a beautiful home, where, sur- rounded by all the comforts and luxuries of life, he passed the remainder of his days, dying October 27, 1887. His wife's maiden name was Eve Chrisher, a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and to them were born the following children: Elizabeth, the wife of Jonathan Colley, of Muncy, Penn- sylvania, Adam II., our subject; Elijah W.,
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who died in the service of his country during the Civil war; Rebecca, widow of Henry Whitmire, of Muncy; Hannah, wife of Amos Cox, whose sketch will be found on another page of this work; Levi, a farmer in Mon- tour county; Loretta, wife of Daniel E. Dieffenbach, of Cherry township; Lewis M., who served three years in the Civil war and died while in the army; and Amanda, de- ceased. The mother of these children died August 20, 1883, aged eighty-one years.
Adam Henry Zaner is one of the promi- nent citizens of Dushore and for many years was a successful farmer until old age forced him to give up active life and retire. He was born in Briar Creek township, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1827, and had all the advantages of an ed- ucation in the public schools possible at that time, which were few as compared with those of the present day. His entire life has been spent in Sullivan county, on the farm which was originally purchased by his father and which he operated until 1887, until he moved to Dushore, the property then being sold to his son. During all these years he has led an exemplary life and has set an example of industry, integrity and liberality which can safely be followed by his descendants. He has been a Republic- an ever since the formation of that party and has held several local offices, such as school director, constable, etc. He has been vice-president, stock-holder and direc- tor of the National Bank at Dushore, and his opinion was highly valued by all con- nected with that institution. Mr. Zaner was married March, 27, 1853, to Miss Fietta Wentzell, a daughter of Jacob and Susan- nah (Bahr) Wentzell, who was born in Berks county, February 27, 1834. Of this union six children have been born: Mary A, the wife of William Bahr, of Cherry town-
ship: Amanda, at home; Jerome, employed in an excelsior factory at Ricketts, Pennsyl- vania; Nelson H., living on the old home . farm; Lewis B., also residing on a part of the farm; and Bernice, the wife of Addison Yonkin, of Cherry township. The family holds a high position in the community and the children are worthy descendants of their estimable ancestors.
EWIS B. ZANER, who carries on L general farming in Cherry township, was born December 31, 1863, on the old Zaner homestead, a part of which he now owns, and is the son of Adam H. Zaner, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Our subject spent his boyhood and youth in attending a district school and as- sisting his father on the farin, until 1888, when he went to Overton, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the manufacture of wintergreen extracts for nearly two years. He then removed to Proctor, Lycoming county, where he carried on the same busi- ness for three years, and later went to East Canton, Pennsylvania, where he remained two years. He then sold out his factory and returned to Sullivan county, purchasing from his father the farm on which he now lives. This he has brought to a high state of cultivation, and is justly proud of his fertile fields, excellent stock and pleasant home. He is well known throughont the community as an intelligent and enterprising man, and he and his family are highly re- spected by all who know them. He is a member of the German Reformed church and a Republican in politics.
Mr. Zaner was married April 8, 1896, to Miss Minnie Benjamin, of Dushore, and they have one child, Miriam. Mrs. Zaner is a daughter of Edward and Salinda
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(Colley) Benjamin, and was born at Dushore, September 9, 1867. Her father was born in Michigan, and when three years of age was brought by his parents to Sullivan county. They settled at Dushore where the family have since resided. Mrs. Benjamin died in 1881, at the age of thirty- three years. Mr. Benjamin, who is a painter and decorator by trade, is still liv- ing. and resides at Dushore. Their children were four in number: Minnie, wife of our subject; William F., deceased; Emily and Deborah, who are living with their father.
W ILLIAM H. YONKIN .- With other prominent members of the Yonkin family whose histories will be found in this biographical record of Sullivan county, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch has made for himself a well earned reputa- tion as a man of ability, enterprise and in- telligence. To such there is always open a field of action. in which their talents may be brought into play, and used, if they soelect, to further the best interests of their com- munity. That has been the case with Mr. Yonkin, as a brief relation of the chief events in his life will prove.
William H. Youkin was born Jannary 13, 1838, in Cherry township, Sullivan county, on a farm acjoining the one on which he now resides. His parents, Henry and Barbre (Hartzigg) Yonkin, were old settlers of the county and highly respected citizens. A full sketch of their lives and record of their ancestors and immediate family will be found in the history of their son, Hon. John Yonkin, on another page of this book. Until reaching his majority William re- mained at home, assisting his father in farming, then started out on his own ac- count. In some seven years he was em-
ployed on various farms in the vicinity and then went to Elk county, where for three years he 'was engaged in lumbering. At the end of that time he returned to Sullivan county and purchased fifty acres of his pres- ant property, from Frederick Miller, to which a few years later he added fifty more acres.
Of this he has made a fertile, well-ordered farm, where with his family he enjoys life in a comfortable home, and entertains his many friends with genuine hospitality.
On June 30, 1869, Mr. Yonkin was united in icarriage with Miss Hannah A. Fairchild, and this union has been blessed with two children-Otis F. and Mina Claire -both of whom are at home with their par- ents. In 1874 Mr. Yonkin was elected to the responsible office of sheriff of Sullivan county, which he held for three years, ful- filling its duties to the satisfaction of all concerned. That his fellow citizens appre- ciated his ability and faithfulness in posi- tions of trust is further shown in the fact that he has served them as collector for two years, constable for five years, town- ship clerk for four years, and township treasurer for two years. At present (1898) Mr. Yonkin is holding a government posi- tion, having been appointed in 1895 United States store-keeper and ganger at Mildred, Sullivan county. In this office, as in others, he has demonstrated his fitness for the place by his honesty, tact and courtesy.
Mr. Yonkin has been a Master Mason since 1867 and is an honored member of Lodge No. 387, at Dushore. He has also been a member of the Farmers' Alliance since 1890. He belongs to the Lutheran church, and in politics is a Democrat.
Mrs. Youkin was born in Cherry town- ship, September 23, 1847, and is a daugh- ter of Steven and Nancy (Thomas) Fair-
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child, the father having been born in New Jersey and the mother in Cherry township, Sullivan county. Mr. Fairchild came to Cherry township with his parents in 1819, they being pioneers of this region. He fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer and also operated sawmills. He died April 5, 1880, aged seventy-five years, his wife surviving him until July 20, 1890, when she, too, passed away, at the age of sixty-seven years. Their remains are interred in Cad- wallader cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Fair- child four children were born, namely: Car- oline, who died when three years old; Han- nah A., wife of our subject; Charlotte A., residing on the old homestead; and William T., who married Miss Anna Hall and who also lives at the old home.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Yon- kin were Freeman and Hannah (Ketcham) Fairchild, who removed from Morris county, New Jersey, and in 1819 to Cherry township. The mother was born in May, 1784, and died October 16, 1872. The father was born in 1782 and died in 1834. To this couple were born the following chil- dren: Steven, married to Miss Nancy Thomas; Harriet, who became the wife of Wells Willocks; Caroline M., who married John W. Martin; and Daniel, who married Miss Elizabeth Richard.
The grandparents on the maternal side were Samuel T. and Charlotte (Huffmaster) Thomas, natives of Germany, who came to the United States and to Sullivan county at an early day. In accordance with an old custom, Mrs. Thomas, then a young girl, not having money enough to bring her over, ·was sold on her arrival in this country, the purchase money defraying her passage. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were: Nancy, mother of Mrs. Youkin; Caroline, who died when fifteen years old;
Margaret, the wife of Adrian Van Houten; William, who is married and lives at Ber- wick, Pennsylvania; and Mary M., who married Frank Parsons and also lives at Berwick.
G EORGE W. YONKIN-Among the enterprising and successful farmers of Sullivan county, may be numbered the gen- tleman whose nanie heads this sketch and who is well known throughout Cheery town- ship. He is a son of Henry and Barbre (Hartzigg) Yonkin, the father a native of France and the mother of Switzerland, whose history is given at length in the sketch of Hon. John Yonkin on another page of this volume. The family has for years re- sided in this county and its members are . among the most prominent and well-to-do citizens.
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