USA > Pennsylvania > Sullivan County > History of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
125
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
bermen and millers in Colley township, is one of the leading German-American farm- ers of Sullivan county. He was born in the province of Piess-Schleic, Germany, June 25, 1823, the son of John A. Behr, a draper and cloth manufacturer. The mother was Christina Marie Oelert, who was born in the same village as her husband. John Behr's family comprised eight children, one of whom died in childhood, the others being: Antonia, Wilhemina, Frederick August, Caroline A., Edward, Adolph and Anton. The parents were Lutherans in their relig- ious belief and both died in their native land.
The subject of this sketch received a good education in the public schools of Germany and when fourteen years old entered college, where he remained three years. At the age of twenty-four le sailed from Hamburg on the ship Caroline Marie and was forty-five days making the voyage to New York City. From the latter place Mr. Behr went to Philadelphia,, where he resided for thirteen years, carrying on a manufactory of picture and mirror frames. He was united in marriage, in Philadelphia, 1852, to Ottline Foerster, a native of that city, who bore him one child, now deceased, named Alvina, who died in 1855. Mr. Behr was subsequently married, on November 13, 1857, to Miss Anna Huch, a native of the duchy of Brunswick, Germany, whose par- ents were Carl and Sophia (Vendenburg) Huch, both born in the same village as their daughter, where the father was a custom-house officer. The family came to Philadelphia in 1855, and there the father died in 1858, the mother in 1873. Their children were four in number: Carl F., who is proprietor of a large type foundry at. Philadelphia; Anna (Mrs. Behr), Helen A. and Hermina.
Frederick A. Behr came to Sullivan county in 1860 and purchased five hundred acres of land, on which no clearing had been made. He at once began its improvement and by unceasing industry and a thorough knowledge of the art of agriculture he has succeeded in converting the one-time wilder- ness into fertile fields, green meadows, and orchards bearing luscious fruits. Here he has a beautiful residence, with grassy lawns, large barns and out-buildings and every- thing necessary to a well kept farm. He also has an extensive park, in which deer roam at pleasure, and in fact nothing is wanted to make this an ideal place. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Behr consists of seven children: Hedwig Sophia, wife of Ernest Troeger, living in Philadelphia; Otto Frederick, a lumberman and prominent business man of Colley township, who has held township offices for a number of years; Bertha, wife of Lowe Werner, of Philadel- phia; Hermann August, one of the firni of Behr Brothers, of Lopez; Sophie, wife of August Kramer, of Denver, Colorado; Helena, wife of Adolph Otten, of Wyoming county; and Minna, who is at home. . They also have an adopted daughter, Frances, whom they took when a babe two months old.
Mr. Belir is a Republican in his poli- tical views, as are all his sons, and he has held nearly all the township offices, to the satisfaction of the public. He was one of the founders of the Republican party among the Gennans of Philadelphia, and was a valued counselor among Republican lead- ers. The firm of Behr Brothers is composed of Hermann August Behr and Otto Fred- erick Behr, and owns thirteen hundred acres of land. They do an extensive busi- ness in lumbering and milling, employing from six to twenty-five men, and having a
126
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
high reputation for honesty and fair dealing. They received an excellent education in Philadelphia, are men of culture and are noted for their frank and genial disposition, their hospitality and for the interest they take in all that affects the growth and wel- fare of the community. They are both honorary members of the Delaware Ornitho- logical Club, of Philadelphia, which is con- nected with the American Academy of Natural Sciences, and are highly interested in the workings of this body.
UDSON D. COOPER, of Lopez, Sulli- J van county, Pennsylvania, was born in Elmira, New York, October 20, 1857, and is the son of William L. and Hannah (La- throp) Cooper, and a grandson of William Cooper, a pioneer farmer of Chenango county, New York. William Cooper was born in Orange county, New Jersey, in 1800, and remained there until he had attained his majority, when he located in Chenango county, New York, which at that time was an almost unbroken wilderness, inhabited by wild beasts and the fiercer redman. . Here he spent the remainder of his life, clearing and cultivating his land and caring for the wants of his family. He married Elizabeth Longcoy, and to them were born the fol- lowing children: William L., the father of our subject; Julia, wife of James Warren, of Chemung county; Charles, a farmer of Bulkhead, that county; Charlotte, deceased wife of Ray Warren, also of that county; Allen, a soldier in the Rebellion, and two terins sheriff of Chemung county, now a resident of Elmira, New York; and Mary Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Garrabrant, of Elmira Heights, New York. His wife dy- ing, William Cooper was united in mar- riage to Lydia Mudd, who was born in 1800
1
and lived to the extreme age of ninety- eight years. Mr. Cooper was called to his reward March 20, 1872.
William L. Cooper, the father, was born in Chemung county, in Baldwin town- ship, and was there reared to manhood. His first business venture was as proprie- tor of the hotel at Dean's Corners, where he remained several years. He chose for his life's partner, Hannah Lathrop, a daughter of John Lathrop, and to them were born three children: Judson D., our subject; John W., who died young; and George Franklin, a bookkeeper, thought to be living in Brooklyn. When the Civil war threw its dark cloud over our land, William L. Cooper was among those who sacrificed their lives for the national honor, enlisting, in 1862, in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-first Regiment, New York Volunteers, and contracting spotted fever, from which he died.
Judson D. Cooper was thrown upon his own resources at a much earlier age than the average boy. From the time he was twelve years old he has been obliged to pro- vide for himself, first as chore boy on the farm, and, as he became older, being em- ployed in milling and carpenter work. He has since continued in the milling business. In 18So he ca'ne to this county, where he and Josiah Hembury, his father-in-law, pur- chased a mill in the vicinity of Cherry Mills and for some five years operated it most successfully. The following six years were spent in a mill in Forks township, after which he came to Lopez, in 1892, to ac- cept the position of head filer for Jennings Brothers-a position he still holds.
He was married at Dushore, this coun- ty, to Adella E. Hembury, October 29, 1881. She is a daughter of Josiah and Mary (McCorrel) Hembury. Their chil-
.
.
127
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
dren were: Mary Elsie, who died at the age of one and one-half years; George Franklin, Cora Belle and Forest Judson. Mrs. Cooper is a member of the Evangelical church, and their religious faith is exem- plified by their daily lives. Mr. Cooper is a member of the Sawmill Experts' Associa- tion, of Minnesota, and also belongs to the Patriotic Order Sons of America, having united with that body at New Albany, in 1890, and is identified with the Knights of Maccabees, becoming a member in 1896, at this place. Mr. Cooper also expects soon to be initiated in the order of Free Masons, of which he intends to be a member through life.
C HARLES MORRIS CROLL, a popu- lar tonsorial artist of Dushore, Sulli- van county, is an excellent illustration of what fair dealing, strict attention to busi- ness, careful management and a genial dis- position will do toward the consummation of a successful business career. Mr. Croll was born in Columbia county. this state, October 22, 1854, a son of William and Jennie (Auman) Croll, and received a good common-school education in the public schools of his native county. When twenty-one years of age he started to learn his trade under the tuition of William Weary, of Dushore, after which he rented a. shop and on his own responsibility entered upon his chosen vocation. Three years later he purchased a lot and built his present place of business, one of the finest and most completely equipped in the county. He owns three houses in Dushore, and the one in which he resides is a handsome edi- fice, fitted up with every modern improve- ment and convenience.
Mr. Croll was united in marriage June
25, 1890, to Miss Carrie A. Taylor, a daughter of David Taylor, of Muncy Valley. She is a member of the Methodist church.
William Croll, the father of our subject and a native of Pennsylvania, was born January 22, 1819. He was a carpenter by trade and came to Sullivan county in 1860, locating at Dushore, where he followed his trade up to the time of his death, which took place in 1871. He married Miss Jen- nie Auman, of Columbia county, and to them were born seven children, namely: Annie, who is the wife of Willard Clayton, of Duluth, Minnesota; Clarence D., a car- penter of Athens, Pennsylvania; Charles M., our subject; William D., a hotel clerk in Athens; Freeman W., a finisher in an Athens furniture factory; George W., a clerk in a clothing store in Duluth, Minne- sota, and Elsie M., a stenographer in New York city. Mrs. Croll survives her husband and is a resident of Athens, where she has a large number of warm friends.
H ENRY G. HUFFMASTER. - Nowhere among the tillers of the soil who have made the virgin wilderness and broad prai- ries of our country to bloom and blossom as the rose can there be found more in- dustrious, upright and loyal citizens than those whose ancestors came at an early day from the fatherland. To the strong, thrifty character of the German they have added the push and perseverance of the native- born American, and under their busy hands the country has been developed and wealth and honors have become their portion.
Among the early settlers of Sullivan county were Frederick and Christina Huffmas- ter, paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch, who emigrated from Germany in
-
128
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
1801, landing at New York, where they re- mained until 1825, when they came to Sulli- van county, Pennsylvania, settling on land which forms a portion of the present farin of Henry G. Huffmaster. On the maternal side Mr. Huffmaster's grandparents were Frederick and Mary Bartch, also natives of Germany. They came to America in 1821 and took up their residence in Sullivan county in 1828.
The parents of our subject were Henry and Barbara (Bartch) Huffmaster, both na- tives of Germany. Henry was but seven years old when his father emigrated to America and settled in New York. There he followed his trade of weaver and taught his son the same business. The family re- moved to Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, when Henry was about twenty-one years old and located on fifty acres of land in the wilderness. This was soon converted into fertile fields and is still in possession of the family. The father pursued his trade in connection with farming and reared his children to habits of economy and industry. He was a worthy member of the Evangelical church, and a good Republican. Hle died March 17, 1873, at the age of seventy-seven years, seven months and seven days, and was interred in Bahr Hill cemetery, Cherry township. His wife's death took place August 3, 1878, in her seventieth year, at Mapleton, Illinois, where she was buried.
To this worthy couple the following children were born: Joseph, who married Elizabeth Reeser and was killed at the bat- tle of Chancellorsville during the Civil war; Eliza, who married Rev. John C. Bolten, an Evangelical minister, and is deceased; Magdalena, who married Henry Stiff and is deceased; Frederick, who married Sallie A. Thrasher, and is a farmer in Cherry township; John, who served as a soldier in
the Civil war and now resides in Hancock county, Illinois; Henry G., subject of this sketch; Mrs. Nancy Hawk is next in order of birth; and Robinson, who lives at Cold- water, Kansas.
Henry G. Huffmaster was born in Cherry township, November 16, 1838, on the old homestead, where he still resides. His long life has been one of activity, and as a result of his thrift he has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods. Remain- ing at home, working upon the farm until reaching his majority, he then learned the carpenter's trade of his brother Joseph, with whom he worked for two years. He then went into business for himself, at the same time carrying on farming. In No- vember, 1896, Mr. Huffmaster was elected county commissioner for a term of three years and has now the esteem of the com- munity by the justness and fidelity with which he has discharged the duties of his office. He also filled the office of school director for six years, and took an active interest in the cause of education. He is a member of the Reformed church and in politics is a Republican. Mr. Huffmaster was married October 20, 1859, to Miss Ellen Yonkin, who was born in Cherry township June 17, 1837, and is a daughter of Henry and Barbara (Hartzigg) Yonkin. Her family is one of the best known and most prominent in Sullivan county, a full record of which will be found in the sketch of her brother, Judge John Yonkin. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Huffmaster: Edward, who is unmarried and is at home; Rudolph, who died at the age of three years; and Brush, who married Miss Minnie Vail and is farming in Cherry town- ship. The Huffmaster family stands high in the community socially and are excellent citizens.
129
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
J OHN ROBERTS .-- The subject of this sketch is one of the young men of Ber- nice who has become identified with the mining interests of that vicinity and who by his thrift, faithfulness, reliability and en- ergy is regarded as one of the prominent citizens of the county. He is foreman of the coal-breaker at Bernice and for nearly ten years has been connected with that in- dustry. receiving the promotion which from application and ability he has so well de- served. Mr. Roberts is prominent in social affairs and a thoroughly representative citizen.
He was born in Little Lizard, Susque- hanna county, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1869, the son of Nathan and Inez (Moyer) Roberts, natives. of Susquehanna county, where the father, a life-long carpenter, died, February 20, 1893. The mother, who was born February 10, 1846, now lives at Brad- ford, Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Evangelical church. To Nathan and Inez Roberts were born six children, as follows: Adon, who is fireman of the breaker at Bernice; John, subject of this sketch; Jennie, wife of Charles Quick, a miner of Bernice; William, a miner of Ber- nice; Belle, who is now residing at Susque- hanna; and Nettie, of Bernice.
Our subject was reared at the home of his parents in Susquehanna county, where he received a common-school education. In 1889 he came to Bernice, where he se- cured a position as fireman in the present breaker, which position he filled until his promotion in 1895 to foreman of the breaker. Adon, brother of our subject, is now fireman at the breaker and has been in the. service of the company for the past five years. Heis the patentee of an anthracite- slate picker, which is a most valuable in- vention.
On November 18, 1892, at Bernice, was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Miss Bertha Snowsky, who is the danghter of Henry and Agusta (Gnoskey) Snowsky. To Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have been born two children-Ruth and Eunice.
Mr. Roberts is a prominent member of the P. O. S. of A., of which he is treasurer. He is also a member of Camp Bernice, I. O. P. M. In politics he is a Republican. He is progressive and enterprising and is held in high esteem by the community in which he lives.
C' HARLES N. PORTER .- Among the brave men who helped to make up the quota of soldiers sent by Pennsylvania to the defense of the Union in the dark days of the Rebellion was the subject of this sketch, now a leading agriculturist of Fox township, Sullivan county. He made an honorable record by his gallant service and in the paths of peace he has proved himself equally worthy of the confidence and es- teem of his fellow citizens.
He was born in Schoharie county, New York, where his ancestors made their home many years ago. Latney D. Porter, our subject's father, was born and reared in the town of Broome, that county, and was mar- ried there to Miss Mahala Loose, a na- tive of the same county. In 1842 he re- moved to this section, having received by will a tract of land in Sullivan county, from a relative of his wife. Later he bought other tracts in Fox township, and at the time of his death he owned a large amount of land. His wife died when our subject was but three years old. Of their other children the first died in infancy; Will- iam is a farmer in Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania; Nathan, formerly a resident of
16
-
180
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
Fox township, who was killed by a falling tree; Daniel, a farmer in Fox township. who died in 1897; Harvey, a farmer in Fox township; Densey, wife of B. S. Porter, a farmer in Lycoming county; and Miner, who married Annie Brown and settled in Fox township, Sullivan county, but met a soldier's death at Fort Garrison. on Octo- ber 1, 1864; while serving in Company B. Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry.
Our subject was brought to Sullivan county when a babe and was educated chiefly in the schools of Fox township. On Oc- tober 18, 1861, at the age of twenty, he en- listed in Company B, Fifty-eighth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, for three years, under Captain Metcalf, and during his term he took part in many severe battles in Virginia and North Carolina. He returned home in the fall of 1864 and in the following year went to Minnesota and spent a winter work- ing as a lumberman in the woods. Since that time he has been engaged in general farming in Sullivan county and has besides conducted a grocery store in Shunk for a year and lias filled numerous contracts for buildings and similar work. He owns about one hundred and fifty acres of land, much of it under cultivation, and has devoted considerable attention to stock-raising. Po- litically he is a steadfast Republican, and among the offices which he has held we may inention those of constable, overseer of the poor and commissioner of the township; and he lias served on the election board at va- rious times as judge and clerk, while his interest in educational affairs has been shown by several years of effective work as school director. Socially he and his family are prominent and he belongs to the P. of I. and the P. O. S. of A., being a charter member of the latter society at Shunk.
Mr. Porter was married to Miss Henri- etta Williams, November 5, 1866, in Fox township. She was a daughter of Henry Williams, and her death took place in 1871. Our subject was married a second time, his bride on this occasion being Miss Rebecca Kilmer, a native of Fox township, Sullivan county, and a daughter of Peter Kilmer. By the first union he had two children: Myrtie, the wife of Morris E. Morgan, a fariner in Fox township; and Henry, who died in infancy. By his second marriage there are three children: Otus, a fariner living on the homestead; Orwell, who mar- ried Miss Eva Brown and resides on a farm in Fox township; and Harry E., at home. Mrs. Myrtie Morgan has six chil- dren: Lenora, eleven years of age; Floyd, nine years; Henrietta, seven years; Daniel, four years; Leon, two years; and Agnes, three months.
C HARLES EMERY JACKSON, pro- prietor of Hotel Jackson, at Mildred, Pennsylvania, was born in Ithaca, New York, May 20, 1865, and is a son of Cornelius W. and Elanora (Stevens) Jackson, both na- tives of New York state. His father was a dealer in, and breeder and trainer of horses. Our subject, the only child, was princi- pally educated in the public schools of his birth-place, and for a time he attended a business college. At the early age of twelve years he began tallying lumber for McGraw & Company, of Tonawanda, New York, and a year later entered the employ of F. N. Dounce, a coal dealer of Elmira, New York, as bookkeeper, remaining with him four years. He then assumed the management of a branch coal office at Elmira for W. H. Blight, and in October, 1884, came to Ber- nice as confidential clerk, bookkeeper and
181
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
assistant postmaster for Mr. Blight, with whom he remained for ten years. In 1894 he erected the Hotel Jackson, a small but modern hostelry at Mildred, Pennsylvania, since which time he has given his personal attention to the hotel and proved himself a genial and obliging host. His place has become a great favorite with the traveling public, particularly with hunters and fisher- men, and is well patronized.
On the 10th of April, 1886, Mr. Jackson led to the marriage altar Miss Emeline E. Utz, daughter of John Utz, of Dushore, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Three children have been born to this union: Charles U., Robert E. and Richard W.
Socially Mr. Jackson is prominent, and is to-day an honored member of Bernice Lodge, No. 962, I. O. O. F .; Katonka Tribe, No. 336, I. O. R. M .; and Wash- ington Camp, No. 481. P. O. S. of A. He is a recognized leader in the ranks of the Democracy in his community, and takes an active and influential part in local positions, was congressional conferee in 1893, a dele- gate to two county conventions and secre- tary of both, and was a Democratic candidate * for congress in 1898. He has served one term as auditor of Cherry township, Sulli- van county, and was justice of the peace in the same township for a term of five years. In all the relations of life he has been found true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, and his official duties have been most satisfactorily discharged.
BENJAMIN C. STEPHENSON, a well- known citizen of Elk Lake, Fox town- ship, is a veteran soldier. who is justly proud of his record during the Civil war. He was a member of Company G, Forty-
ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, First Division, Third Brigade, under Colonel Hickman and Captain James T. Stuart. Mr. Stephen- son took part in the battle of the Wilder- ness and the seven-days fight, into which the regiment entered with eight hundred and eighty-seven men, and at the close of the seven days not one hundred responded for duty. They succeeded, however, in driving the rebels from the vicinity of Wash- ington. District of Columbia. This regi- ment was also in the battle of Winchester, Virginia, after which it went to Petersburg and served at Fort Hill. Our subject was present at the surrender of General Lee to General Grant at Blackwater Run, which ended the war. He also took part in a skirmish at Hall's Hill, and in fording the Potomnac river caught a severe cold, which brought on the rheuma- tism and caused him great suffering. When he entered the service he was physically one of the best men in the regiment, weighing one hundred and eighty-five pounds, but after his attack of rheumatism was reduced to less than one hundred pounds! He was honorably discharged in July, 1865, and re- turned to Bradford county, stopping at Harrisburg to procure a pair of crutches, as he was so badly crippled that he could not walk without them. He has suffered much from his experience in the army, but has never regretted the sacrifice he made for the good of his adopted country.
Our subject was born in Liverpool, England. January 1, 1834, a son of Benja- min and Jane (Watson) Stephenson, na- tives of Yorkshire, England. He was brought to this country by his parents when a small boy and they settled in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where his mother died in 1849 and his father in 1804. The latter was a farmer and lumberman by occupation
182
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
.
and was a member of the Episcopal church, while his wife was a Catholic. . They were the parents of four children: William, liv- ing in Sheshequin, who was a soldier in the same company and regiment as our sub- ject; Anastatia (Mrs. Horton), deceased; Mary (Mrs. Rice), deceased; and Benjamin C., our subject.
Mr. Stephenson was married July 15, 1855, to Miss Sarah Jane Dickens, who was born in Ulster county, New York, a daugh- ter of Stephen E. and Mary (Miller) Dick- ens. They are the parents of the following children: Dorrance Ulysses, who died when twenty-nine years old, unmarried and living with his parents, to whom he was devoted; Ann Eliza, wife of John D. Kunzman, of Elkland township; Kate (Mrs. Warner), who died at the age of twenty years; Joseph Ed- ward, who was born in 1876 and inarried Miss Grace E. Martin, and they have one ยท daughter, Sarah Elmina; John Franklin, who was born December 18, 1877, and lives with his parents.
Mr. Stephenson is a Democrat but lib- eral in his views, voting for the men he deems the most suitable for office. He was for many years a member of the G. A. R., is a loyal citizen and good neighbor and well thought of by all.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.