USA > Pennsylvania > Sullivan County > History of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania > Part 19
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
145
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
Martin Mullen, father of our subject, is a prominent farmer of Overton township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and is a native of county Mayo, Ireland, where he was born November 10, 1837, his parents being Bartholomew and Ann (Judge) Mul- len, who also were born in county Mayo. The family emigrated to Canada in 1847 and moved to Overton, Pennsylvania, in 1851, where they spent the remainder of their lives in agricultural pursuits. The fa- ther departed this life in 1862 and the moth- er in 1891. Martin Mullen received a com- mon-school education, and, following his father's example became a tiller of the soil. He married Miss Sabina Clark, a daughter of John and Barbara (Brown) Clark, both of them being natives of Ireland. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mullen: Mary A., who became the wife of John Welch; Edward J., the immediate subject of this sketch; and Barbara C. The Mul- lens have for many years been prominent farmers of Bradford county.
H ENRY H. GUNTHER, of Ricketts, Sullivan county, is an expert teleg- rapher and for some years has been in charge of the office of the Lehigh Valley Railroad at that point, his efficient discharge of duty winning the appreciation of his em- ployers and the general public.
Mr. Gunther is of German descent in both paternal and maternal lines. His father, Gotlieb Gunther, was born in Stutt- gart, Germany, March 31, 1839, and came to America in early manhood, locating first in Philadelphia, where he learned the butch- er trade, and for some time was employed as foreman over twelve other workmen in an establishment there. Later he removed to Catawissa, Columbia county, Pennsyl- 18
vania, where he carried on a general meat- market business for many years, his death occurring in 1878. Politically he was a strong Democrat and he and his wife were both devout members of the Lutheran church. He was married in Philadel- phia to Miss Mary Zeigler, a native of Munich, Germany, who was born March 30, 1837. and died October 13, 1897. Nine children were born in this family: Mary. Emma and Reuben C., who died in infancy; Elizabeth, who married H. T. Young, of Catawissa; William, who is a butcher in the same town; the next is one who died in infancy; Henry H., mentioned more fully further on; George, who was drowned at the age of four years; and A. T., who is in the laundry business at Catawissa.
The immediate subject of this review was born April 18, 1868, at Catawissa, where he attended the common schools for some. years. At the age of fourteen he be- gan to provide for himself and for about five years he worked in the meat business. While thus employed he determined to learn telegraphy, and by night study he prepared himself for that line of work. When nine- teen years old he secured a position as operator on the Pennsylvania Railroad at South Wilkesbarre, where he remained un- til 1890, and for three years he had charge of the office of the Lehigh Valley road at Penn Haven Junction, but since January, 1893, he has held his present position at Ricketts.
Mr. Gunther's marriage took place October 21, 1893, when he was united to Miss Annie H. Weaver, at Catawissa. She is a daughter of John Y. Weaver, of that city. Three children have blessed this union, namely: Elizabeth, Mary and Freda.
In his political opinion Mr. Gunther is a Democrat and he and his wife are leading
0
,
146
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
members of the Lutheran church at Ricketts. He is also identified with various social orders, having united with the Masonic fraternity at Monroeton, Pennsylvania, in 1895, the I. O. O. F., at Catawissa, in 1889, and in the saine year joined the P. O. S. of A., and he has held the office of com- mander in the latter order.
H JON. EDWIN MURRAY DUNHAM .- In the last half of the present century the lawyer has been a pre-eminent factor in all affairs of private concern and national importance. He has been depended upon to conserve the best and permanent inter- ests of the whole people and is a recog- nized power in all the avenues of life. He stands as the protector of the rights and liberties of his fellow men and is the repre- sentative of a profession whose followers, if they would gain honor, fame and suc- cess, must be men of merit and ability. Such a one is Judge Dunham, who now oc- cupies the bench of the forty-fourth judicial district of Pennsylvania, winning high com- mendation by his fair and impartial admin- istration of justice.
The Judge was born at Windham, Brad- ford county, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1844, a son of Jolin L. and Laura M. (Cheney) Dunham, both of whom were descended from good old New England stock. (The latter belongs to the well-known Vermont family of that name.) Our subject's pater- nal grandparents were John and Drusilla (Brainard) Dunham, natives of Connecticut and early pioneers of Bradford county, this state. In their family were three children, namely: Cynthia, Jolin L. and Matilda. John L. Dunham was also a native of Wind- ham, born September 11, 1811, and re- ceived a very meager education in the dis-
trict log school-house. He followed his father's vocation, becoming a tiller of the soil. On the ist of January, 1857, he re- moved to Laporte, Sullivan county, where he was engaged in the lumber business, and while attempting to start a jam of logs on the river he was drowned August 31, 1861. In 1836 he married Miss Laura M., a daugh- ter of Abel Cheney, of Bradford county, and she long survived her husband, depart- ing this life February 26, 1894. The Judge is the youngest of their three children. Henry R., born April 22, 1838, died at La- porte, September 7, 1877. He was an at- torney-at-law, a lieutenant in the Civil war and for a time a farmer in Kansas. Benja- min M., born February 14, 1840, was also one of the boys in blue of the Civil war, a member of Company K, One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Chancellors- ville, May 3, 1863.
Judge Dunham acquired his early educa- tion in the public schools of Windham and Laporte, and later enjoyed the advantage of four years in a private school conducted at the latter place by Rev. Hallock Arm- strong. He then spent a few years in teach- ing school in Bradford and Sullivan coun- ties, Pennsylvania, and in Orange county, New York. In the meantime he registered as a law student in the office of Judge Ing- ham at Laporte and pursued his legal stud- ies during the vacations, and at such times as his duties permitted while engaged as a teacher. In 1866 he was admitted to the bar of Sullivan county at the May term of court, and at that time entered into part- nership with Judge Ingham, remaining with him until elected district attorney in 1870. Since his admission to the bar he has been continuously and actively engaged in the practice of his profession and has for many
1
147
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
years been one of the most prominent and distinguished attorneys of the county. He has been engaged on one side or the other of every important case tried in the county, and he has been remarkably successful in his chosen profession.
On the 19th of June, 1872, Judge Dun- ham was united in marriage with Miss Han- nah M. Crocker, daughter of Daniel Crock- er, of Deposit, New York, and to them were born four children: Ellen L., an invalid residing at home; and Charles, Benjamin and Edwin M., all of whom died in infancy. The wife and mother departed this life Feb- ruary 9, 1895, at the age of forty-seven years, fivem onths and fourteen days.
-
Judge Dunham is an ardent supporter of the Republican party, and has often publicly advocated his principles. On various occa- sions he has been called upon to stand as a candidate of his party, and has several times filled elective offices in a county which is more than two-thirds Democratic. He has served as burgess, school director and mem- ber of the city council, and was one of the first jury commissioners of the county. He was elected district attorney in 1870 and to the legislature in 1878. In 1882, and again in 1886, he was the choice of his county for congress but failed of nomination in the dis- trict conference in the latter year, lacking but one vote of being the successful 'candi- date. His election in the fall of 1894 as president judge in a district that .is Demo- cratic by a large majority was entirely due to his high reputation as a man of the strictest integrity, with a high sense of `honor and a past career marked by a con- sistent course of justice to all and malice toward none. On these principles the Judge was elected and his course since has borne out all that his most sanguine friends ex- pected of him. He possesses a mind prac-
tically free from bias, and he brings to his duties a most thorough knowledge of the law and of human nature, a comprehensive mind, and calm and deliberate judgment. His sentences are models of judicial fairness, and he is a type of the law that respects and protects, not condemns, humanity. In his career he has met with success finan- cially as well as professionally, and is a stockholder and director in the Dushore bank and also in the Lake Mokoma Land Company. During the Civil war he was a member of the Union League, and socially he now belongs to Evergreen Lodge, F. & A. M., of Monroeton, the Chapter at Towanda, and Laporte Lodge, No. 923, I. O. O. F.
M ANNING CHILSON .- Among the charming summer resorts which an- nually attract to this region a host of visit- ors is the North Mountain House, at Ga- noga lake, near Ricketts, Sullivan county, which the subject of this biography has lately opened to the public. The natural advantages of the locality are the best, the lake and numerous streams affording un- usually fine fishing and the buildings having been improved to suit the requirements of a refined class of guests. The house accom- modates about a hundred visitors and many of the best people of Wilkesbarre have chosen it as their favorite resting place dur- ing their vacation season, while a daily pas- senger train in each direction makes it easily accessible from all points. The enterprising proprietor is a native of the Keystone state and belongs to a well-known Bradford county family.
Hiram Chilson, our subject's father, was born in 1833 in Bradford county and is now residing upon a farm of seventy-four acres
1
148
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
on the river flats near Owego, New York, where he is engaged in the cultivation of tobacco, celery, vegetables and small fruits. He was married in Bradford county to Miss Jane Neiley, a native of that county, and both are held in high esteem among their circle of friends. They have had five chil- dren: Manning, our subject; Horace, a mechanic in Athens, Pennsylvania; Celia, the wife of Charles Patterson, a mechanic in Elmira, New York; Burley, a telegraph operator on the Lehigh Valley Railroad at Falls, Pennsylvania; and Stuart, now re- siding at Owego, New York.
Manning Chilson was born January 13, 1858, in Frenchtown, Bradford county, and at the age of fourteeen went to Towanda, Pennsylvania, where he attended the gram- mar school for some time. At twenty-four he entered the employ of the Barclay Rail- road as brakeman, remaining eight years and a half, and on April 14, 1890, he took a position as brakeman on a freight train on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. On August 14 of this same year he was promoted to the post of brakeman on a passenger train, and this he held until October 1, 1898, when he left the employ of the company to engage in the hotel business. He rented his present hotel for one year, together with the fishing rights in the lake and neighbor- ing trout streams, and has the privilege of renewing his lease for five or eight years. He has made extensive preparations for an enlarged business and his plans will doubt- less be realized.
Mr. Chilson is a Republican, his father being also affiliated with that party. So- cially he and his wife are prominent in so- ciety and both are members of the Episco- pal church at Towanda. He is also identi- fied with the I. O. O. F., having joined Towanda Lodge, No. 167, in December,
1892, and in 1896 he united with the Knights of the Maccabees, Towanda Lodge.
On September 6, 1882. Mr. Chilson was united in marriage to Miss Frances L. Northrup, who was born in Bradford coun- ty, November 4, 1862, the daughter of Marion Northrup. Three children have been born of this union, namely: Lena, born July 23, 1887; Walter, May 2, 1893; and Margaret, January 12, 1896.
A NTHONY SCHOCH, a well known resident of Ricketts. Sullivan county, has held for many years a responsible po- sition with the Trixler & Terrill Lumber Company, of that place, and at present is foreman of their extensive mills. He is a member of a highly esteemed family of Car- bon county; Pennsylvania, his ancestors having settled there at an early period.
Philip Schoch, our subject's father, was born and reared in Carbon county and fol- lowed farming there for many years, his death occurring in 1886. He married Miss Lydia Klindup, who was born in 1819 and whose death took place September 22, 1898.
Anthony Schoch was born in Carbon county and grew to manhood on the old homestead. His first employment was as a lumberman, but after some years he left his native county and removed to Hazelton, Luzerne county, being employed for a time in that city. On his return to Carbon county he resumed his former work, some time being speut at Hickory Run; later he went to Goldsboro, Pennsylvania, and en- gaged in the manufacture of wintergreen and birch extracts. After a few years he sold this business and took a contract as mail-carrier, while he also followed lumber- ing at the same time at Harvey's Lake,
149
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
.
Pennsylvania. He then went to Lopez, Sullivan county, to enter the employ of a milling company, and since leaving that place he has held his present position at Ricketts. He is a much esteemed citizen and is a leading member of the Lutheran church of his town. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, but he does not aspire to official honors. In 1870 he married Miss Catherine Meckes, a native of Carbon county and a daughter of Philip Meckes. She departed this life May 19, 1889, and of their large family of children only three lived to maturity: Adam, who is an enterprisiug and popular citizen of Ricketts; Emory, who married Gertrude Bealıner and resides at Ricketts, an ein- ploye in a lumber mill; and Eugene, who resides at Ricketts.
A' NTHONY SCHOCH, more familiarly known as Adam Schoch, is a young man of undoubted integrity who has secured his present position of foreman in the yards of Trixler & Terrill, at Ricketts, Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, through his industry and energy. He is a son of Anthony Schoch and was born February 5, 1873, in Carbon county, this state. At the age of twenty he came to Ricketts to work for himself and began as a laborer for the firm in whose service he is still engaged. So diligently did he apply himself to the duties in hand that at the expiration of three years he was made foreman, a position for which he has shown himself well qualified.
He was married at Waverly New York, on March 9, 1892, to Miss Annie F. Sliker, a daughter of W. M. Sliker. She was born at Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. They have had three children, namely: Florence, de- ceased; Esther and Lawrence. Mr. Schoch
is a strong Democrat and takes an intelli- gent interest in the workings of his party. He was made a Mason at Monroeton, Penn- sylvania, in 1897.
TILGHMAN D. SCHANTZ, a proini- nent resident of Ricketts, Sullivan county, is a descendant of a well known pioneer family of this state, his ancestors having come from Posen, Germany, at an early date to settle on the present site of Egypt, Lehigh county.
The first of the family of whom we have an extended account was Jacob Schantz, the grandfather of our subject, who was born and reared in Lehigh county, where he was engaged in business as a iniller for many years, his death occurring in 1843. He married Hiss Sarah Fogle, a member of another pioneer family of Lehigh county, and they had the following children: H. J., father of our subject; T. P., formerly a physician at Allentown, who died shortly after beginning practice of his profession; F. J. F., who has been for many years a Lutheran minister and who is now (1898) pastor of the church at Myerstown and a trustee of Muhlenburg College; L. J., who was accidentally killed in boyhood; Aman- da, who married Rev. Aaron S. Leinbach, formerly pastor of the Reformed church at Reading, Pennsylvania, and both are now deceased; and C. Eleanor, deceased, who married Dr. Thomas B. Cooper, of Coop- ersburg, Lehigh county, whose death oc- curred while he was in congress. .
H. J. Schantz was born on the old home- stead at Schantz's Hill, Lehigh county, June 27, 1820, and remained on the home place during his entire life. By occupation he was a miller, but he retired from active business about ten years before his death,
,
150
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
which took place at Allentown, Pennsyl- vania, January 13. 1893. He received a good practical education in his youth and was always a leader in his community. He was the founder of the Allentown bank, the first in the county, and rode on horseback to Harrisburg to get the charter. In his later years he took a keen interest in agricultural progress and was the second president of the Lehigh County Agricultural Society. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, in which he held many offices; and politically he was a Democrat, as was his father before him. He was married in Le- high county, in January, 1847, to Miss Caroline Schall, daughter of David Schall, her grandfather, also named David Schall, being a leading pioneer of Berks county, where he was a merchant, farmer and hotel keeper. Her mother, Mary Rupp, was a granddaughter of Jacob Rupp, a prosper- ous farmer of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where he was probably born. Mrs. Schantz, the mother of our subject, is still living at Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Schantz became the parents of two sons: C. H., who is unmarried and resides at Ricketts; and T. D., our subject.
T. D. Schantz was born February 4, 1852, at Schantz's Mills, and his education was begun in the public schools of that locality. Later he attended Wyoming Seminary and Nazareth Hall in North Hampton county, Pennsylvania, where lie acquired a knowledge of military tactics. In early manhood he became a traveling salesman for a Reading firm, remaining with them eleven years, and for five years he operated the mill at the old homestead. He then spent two years at Newfoundland, Wayne county, as proprietor of a hotel, and in 1893 settled in Ricketts, where he opened another hotel, which is largely patronized
by lumbermen. In politics Mr. Schantz is a stanch Democrat and he and his wife are leading members of the Lutheran church at Ricketts. Socially the family is much es- teemed and Mr. Schantz has been identified with the Masonic fraternity since 1874.
On February 24, 1888, Mr. Schantz was married in Philadelphia to Miss Alice R. Culvertson, daughter of John L. and Re- becca (fluffman) Culvertson, and three chil- dren have blessed the union: Helen M., born September 3, 1887; Carrie R., May 23, 1892; and Marie I., May 15, 1894.
FRANK G. RICE, who is general man- ager and buyer for the firm of Jennings Brothers at Lopez, is a man who has at- tained his present responsible position by his own exertions, having been first em- ployed by this firm in a smbordinate ca- pacity and earning his promotion by the faithful discharge of his duties. The firm have a general store and are also proprie- tors of the Jennings Lminber Mill and deal- ers in all kinds of mill' goods. Mr. Rice was with this firm for two years before com- ing to Lopez, his connection with them covering twelve years in all. His ability as both buyer and salesman and his genial and accommodating manner, combined with his honorable dealings in all business transac- tions, have made him invaluable to the firm and placed him in high favor with all who patronize the establishment.
Mr. Rice was born at Monroe, Bradford county, July 27, 1865, the son of Joel Rice, who was a gallant soldier during the Civil war, where his health was injured by ex- posure, which later caused his death. He was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Miss Mathena Kellogg, who is still living,
1
151
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
and three children were born to them: Mary I., who has for a number of years been a popular and successful teacher; Frank G., our subject; and Willard, who resides. on the old homestead in Monroc, where the family have a good farm and a pleasant home. Our subject obtained a good educa- tion in the common schools and at Susque- hanna Collegiate Institute, and later en- gaged in teaching for a short time. He then went into the store of Jennings Broth- ers, in whose employ he has remained ever since. In 1887 the firm removed to Lopez, as has been stated, and are doing an exten- sive business there.
Mr. Rice was united in marriage Jannary, 22, 1892, at Athens, Pennsylvania, to Miss Adelaide Kinney, a daughter of Frank G. and Harriet (Mineer) Kinney, of Athens. Mr. Kinney was a lumberman, but is now de- ceased. Mrs. Kinney is now living with Frank G. Rice, in Lopez. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have three children-Frank Richard, Elizabeth K. and Joel K. Mr. Rice is a stanch Re- publican and a loyal citizen, who takes a deep interest in all public questions of the day and lends his aid to all progressive movements. He is frank and genial in his manners and is one of the popular men in Lopez.
G EORGE H. HUFFORD. - Longfellow wrote: " We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing. while others judge us by what we have already done." .If this golden sentence of the New England poet were universally applied, many a man who is now looking down with haughty stare upon the noble toilers on land and sea, sneering at the omission of the aspirate, the cut of his neighbor's coat or the hum- bleness of his dwelling, would be voluntarily
doing penance in sackcloth and ashes, at the end of which season of self-humiliation he would handle a spade, or, with pen in hand, burn the midnight oil in his study in the endeavor to widen the bonds of liberty or to accelerate the material and spiritual progress of his race. A bright example of one of the world's workers is the man whose name introduces this review. Com- paratively young in years, he occupies a re- sponsible position with the firm of Jennings Brothers at Lopez, holding this place by reason of ability, his faithfulness to duty and his industry ..
George Henry Hufford was born in Me- hoopany, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of December, 1868, and is a son of Jeffrey Hufford, who was born in Stroudsburg, Monroe county, this state, and was of German descent. When the Civil war was ushered in between the north and the south, he offered his services to the government in defense of the Union, and served for three years as a valiant defender of the cause represented by our starry ban- ner. He was never wounded, and with an honorable military record returned home on the cessation of hostilities. He married Addie Dull, and they had seven children --- five sons and two daughters.
The subject of this review was reared on his father's farm, and in addition to his labors in field and meadow he worked in the lumber woods: He was early trained to habits of industry and honesty, which have ever been salient points in his charac- ter. For twelve years he worked in the lumber woods, and there is now no more proficient judge of hard woods than Mr. Hufford. For some time he has occupied the responsible position of hardwood in- spector for the firm of Jennings Brothers, . proprietors of the extensive hardwood mills
-
1
152
HISTORY OF SULLIVAN, COUNTY.
and plant at Lopez. He has served in this position since 1889, and is certainly well qualified to fill it. Much depends upon his se- lection of lumber, else the product of the mills would be unsatisfactory and the patronage of the firm would decrease. Mr. Hufford, however, has the full confidence of his employers and enjoys their warin regard.
On the 3d of July, 1895, Mr. Hufford was joined in wedlock to Miss Kate Froun- felker, who was born, reared and educated in the Keystone state. They have two children, Grier and Ross. In his political views Mr. Hufford is a stanch Republican, unswerving in support of the principles of the party. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a frank, genial gentleman, honorable in all business deal- ings, and a favorite among his large circle of friends.
BENJAMIN M. SYLVARA .- The de- served reward of a well-spent life is an honored retirement from business, in which to enjoy the fruits of foriner toil. To-day, after a useful and beneficial career, Mr. Sylvara is quietly living at his pleasant home in Dushore, Pennsylvania, surrounded by the comforts that earnest labor has brought him. He is one of the most promi- nent men of Sullivan county.
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.