USA > Pennsylvania > Sullivan County > History of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania > Part 21
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brother, Henry; Ann, wife of George Bender, a farmer of Cherry township, Sullivan coun- ty; Mary, who first married Solomon Hess and later Edward Diggin, of Northampton county; Elias, who married Sarah Biddle and lives in Northampton county; Henry, subject of this sketch; Samuel, deceased; and Hannah, wife of Daniel Babst, a farmer and butcher of Sullivan county.
Our subject has always remained upon the ancestral farm in Cherry township, where he has engaged successfully in fart- ing, besides filling various public trusts. He was married September 26, 1875, at Overton, Pennsylvania, to Ann M. Bahr, who was born in Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, January 18, 1835, daughter of John and Susannah (Hoffman) Bahr, and grand- daughter of John and (Reeser) Bahr,
and of Jolin and - - (Kruber) Hoffman. Both grandfathers were farmers of Berks county. In 1835 the paternal grandparents of Mrs. Reinbold removed from Berks county to Cherry township, Sullivan county. Two years later her parents, John and Susannah Bahr, also came to Cherry town- ship. John Bahr, the father of Mrs. Rein- bold, was a fariner and stone-mason. He died August 16, 1884, aged seventy-six years, nine months and eleven days. Ilis wife died April 26, 1884, aged seventy-seven years. Both are buried at Germany ceme- tery. The family of John and Susannah Bahr consisted of the following children: Charles, deceased; Ann M., wife of our subject; Julius, deceased; Mary, deceased; Jacob, deceased; Susan, who married John Hartzig and now resides in Cherry township; Catherine, wife of Jere Barth, a farmer of Cherry township, and Libbie A., wife of Louis Bender, afarmer of New Albany, Pennsylvania.
Henry Reinbold served as township as-
sessor for the years 1883 and 1884. In 1892 he was elected surveyor for the Farmers' Home Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany of Sullivan county, serving three years. In 1898 he was re-elected to the same position. Since he was eighteen years of age Mr. Reinbold has been a mem- ber of the Lutheran church. In politics he is independent. He has demonstrated his fondness and ability for an agricultural life by bringing his excellent farm under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Reinbold is re- garded as one of the leading men of the company, a reputation which has been won by the success of his life, by his advanced ideas, and by his interest and helpfulness in public affairs.
JEREMIAH DEEGAN is numbered among the pioneer settlers of Sullivan county. For sixty-five years he has re- sided in this locality, coming here long be- fore the county was organized, it then con- stituting a part of Lycoming county, while the town of Dushore was then called Cher- ry. He was born in Kingston, New Jersey, on the 7th of September, 1833, and is a son of Jeremiah Darby and Alicia T. (Bir- mingham) Deegan. His father was a native of county Kildare, Ireland, born in 1783. He acquired a fair education, and while a resident of the Emerald Isle engaged in boating. In 1827 he crossed the broad At- lantic to America and took up his residence in Easton, Pennsylvania, but soon after- ward removed to Kingston, New Jersey, where he was employed on the construc- tion of the state's public works until the spring of 1833. That year witnessed his arrival in Sullivan county. He purchased a farm in Cherry township, and in the fall of the same year brought his. family and
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household effects by wagon to his new hone. Here he cleared a small farm, and by dili- gent efforts and careful economy managed to provide his family with all the necessities and many of the comforts of life, and to give his children good common-school priv- ileges.
In his native county Jeremiah D. Dee- · gan was united in marriage to Miss Alicia T. Birmingham, a lady of excellent family and superior education, who was born in Dublin, 1799. His death occurred in 1851, and his wife, long surviving him, passed away on the 14th of April, 1886. To this worthy couple were born the following chil- dren: Mary, the eldest, a native of Ire- land, became the wife of Patrick Mooney, but both. are now deceased. James was born in Ireland, December 5, 1819, raised a company during the Civil war and went to the front as captain, gallantly serving his adopted country through that momentous struggle. Returning from the war, he be- came one of the leading and influential citi- zens of Sullivan county, was justice of the peace, associate judge for two terms, and for one term represented his county in the state legislature. He died in Hughesville, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1882. Cath- erine, the next of the family, was born in Ireland and is the widow of John Groves, her home being in Leadville, Colorado. Margaret, also a native of Ireland, died in infancy, while the family were crossing the Atlantic to the New World. William, born in Easton, Pennsylvania, died in infancy; John, born in New Jersey, served for three years in the Civil war and afterward went to the Indian Territory, where his death oc- curred. Jeremiah is the next of the fam- ily; William, born in Cherry township, Sul- livan county, died in infancy ; Thomas, born in Cherry township, April 22, 1839, 20
enlisted in the Union army, was wounded at Fredericksburg and died from his injury, January 9, 1863. William H., born in Cherry township, May 18, 1841, resides in Dushore, and is section foreman for the Le- high Valley Railroad Company. He was married October 23, 1877, to Miss Catharine Miner. and to them have been born seven children: John F., Viola, Alice, James H., Thomas A., William J. and Mary. The last named died in infancy.
Jeremiah Deegan was only a few days old when brought by his parents to Sulli- van county. Here he obtained a good com- mon-school education, and when sixteen years of age began driving a team used in connection with the construction of the New York & Pennsylvania canal. He was thus employed for about two years, after which he learned the wagonmaker's trade, although he never followed that pursuit. He found employment in the lumber woods and on the river booms for about four years, and was then, by his brother, placed in charge of some contract work on the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad, being thus engaged until Oc- tober 28, 1861.
On that date Mr. Deegan offered his services to his country and enlisted in Com- pany C. One Hundred and Seventh Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry. On the 28th of November, 1861, he was made second lieu- tenant of his company, at Camp Curtin, was promoted first lieutenant January 16, 1863, and on the 13th of March, of the same year, took command of the company with the rank of captain. He participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancel- lorsville, Cedar Mountain, the second battle of Bull Run and many other engagements, and won his promotion as the result of gal- lant and meritorious conduct while under fire. He resigned from the service and re-
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ceived liis honorable discharge May 10, 1863.
Returning to the north, Mr. Deegan pur- chased a farm in Cherry township, Sullivan county, and engaged in its cultivation for two years. He then disposed of that prop- erty and entered the employ of Hon. George D. Jackson as clerk in his general store, where he remained two years. Through the succeeding five years he was with the State Line & Sullivan Railroad Company, prospecting for coal. He then resumed farming, purchasing a tract of land in Cherry township, which he operated for eighteen months, when, selling, he removed to Dushore and worked for one year as a la- borer on the railroad. He next rented the Dushore House, then the leading hotel in the town, conducting the same for ten years, when he embarked in the confectionery busi- ness. Selling that enterprise a year later, he established a livery stable, which he sold after six months. In partnership with Am- brose Ferrell he purchased the Hotel Lopez, at Lopez, Sullivan county, and together they carried on business until the death of Mr. Ferrell. Mr. Deegan then rented his interest in the hotel to Mrs. Ferrell and aft- erward sold to her, in May, 1898, since which time, on account of delicate health, he has lived in Dushore, retired from active business.
Mr. Deegan was married, April 5, 1863, to Miss Ella B. Smith, who was born in Monroeton, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1843. Her father, Jonas P. Smith, was born in Camden, Oneida county, New York, June 25, 1810, and at an early day located in Monroeton, where he engaged in merchan- dising and later conducted a hotel. He was married July 1, 1840, to Miss Fidelia S., daughter of Jared and Sophia Woodruff, and to them were born two children: Ella
B., now Mrs. Deegan; and Emma B., who married W. K. Taylor, and after his death married Jesse Schoonover, of Towanda, Pennsylvania. Mr. Smith died December 1, 1849; his wife, March 23, 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. Deegan have been born nine chil- dren: George T., whose sketch follows; W. Francis, who was born May 25, 1865, and died on the 9th of October of the same year; Alice P., who was born September 27. 1866, and is the wife of Henry J. Castle, of Lopez, Pennsylvania; Emma B., who was born May 8, 1868, and is the wife of James P. Carmody, of Towanda; M. Eugene, who was born September 12, 1869, and is a locomotive fireman on the Lehigh Valley railroad, his home being in Sayre, Pennsyl- vania; Oscar J., who was born November 1. 1873, and died March 30, 1874; J. Leonard, whose sketch appears on another page of this work; Margaret E., who was born April 22, 1877, educated in St. Elizabeth's Col- lege, of Allegany, New York, and is now in the employ of Jonas Long and Sons, of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania; and Bessie A., who was born November 22, 1882, and is still with her parents.
The family are devout members of the Catholic church, while socially Mr. Deegan is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, and politically is identified with the Democratic party. He is one of the prominent and highly esteemed citizens of the county, and has most capably served as school director and a member of the town council. He is highly esteemed for his sterling worth, and in the community where his life has been passed has many warm friends.
G EORGE T. DEEGAN is an enterpris- ing business man of Dushore. He is there conducting a confectionery store and.
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is also proprietor of a livery stable. He was born in the town, December 28, 1863, and is a son of Jeremiah Deegan, an hon- ored pioneer of the county. In the public schools he acquired his education, and after putting aside his text-books he worked for eighteen months in the employ of C. S. Fitch, a confectioner, of Towanda, Penn- sylvania. On the ist of April, 1883, he took charge of his father's confectionery store in Dushore, establishing his present business one year later. In 1890 he opened his livery stable and has since enjoyed a lucrative trade in both his ventures. He is an enterprising, progressive young business man, of known reliability, and the success that he has achieved is well merited.
Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Sons of Veterans; politically he is a stanch Demo- crat; and religiously he is a member of the Catholic church. He was married Febru- ary 15, 1887, to Miss Bertha J. Pealer, a daughter of Jacob M. Pealer. of Dushore.
J LEONARD DEEGAN was born in Du- shore, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of Sep- tember, 1875. His father, Jeremiah Deegan, is a son of one of the pioneers of Sullivan county, and at the opening of the Civil war enlisted for service among the Pennsylvania Volunteers. In recognition of his military worth he was made second lieutenant of Company C, One Hundred and Seventh Regiment, receiving his commission Novein- ber 28, 1861. He was made first lieuten- ant of the same company on the 16th day January, 1863, and was promoted to the captaincy on the 13th of March of the same year. His wife was Ella B. Smith, and she belongs to an old, wealthy and respectable family .. She bore her husband nine chil-
dren, namely: George T., Francis, Alice, Emma, Eugene, Oscar, J. Leonard, Mag- gie and Bessie.
Of the family Leonard was especially endowed with talent. He attended the parochial school conducted by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart until sixteen years of age, when he was sent to the St. Bonaven- ture College and Seminary, at Allegany, New York, where he studied for two years. There he laid the foundation for the grand manhood that so signalized him; there he imbibed the principles of morality and re- ligion that he so faithfully practiced and that endeared him to all who knew him. Completing the commercial course at the above named institution, he accepted a po- sition with the firm of Jonas Long's Sons, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. It was while he was discharging his duties there that the tocsin of war was sounded, and he heard the voice of executive authority issuing from the national capital calling the sons of the nation to do battle for the flag. The war with Spain had been declared, and young Leonard laid down his merchandise upon the counter, donned a suit of blue and went forth to do battle for the cause of human freedom. On the 8th of May, 1898, he enlisted as a private in Company D, Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, at Wilkes- barre, and was sent to Chickamauga, Geor- gia. There he was made regimental post- master, a position that he ably filled, en- dearing himself at the same time to his coin- panions. While in the discharge of the ex- acting duties of this office he was stricken with typhoid fever, which resulted in Iris . death on August 9, 1898. The first to leave his native county, he was the first to die- the first to offer up his young life, so full of promise, on the altar of liberty. Amidst all the trials and hardships of camp life,
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patriotism was his guiding star to duty. "Who has a better right to defend the flag than the son of a soldier," was his answer to a protest against entering the army. .. if I die-well ' 'tis sweet to die for one's country.'"
His remains were borne home to Dushore by way of Wilkesbarre. At the latter place a vast concourse had assembled to do honor to the dead soldier, while at his home the entire place was in mourning, flags at half mast, business places closed, and every evi- dence of grief and sympathy made mani- fest. The obsequies were held on the 1 3th, and were very largely attended. Practi- cally the entire population of the county was present, while Wilkesbarre, Kingston, Au- burn, Pittston, Towanda and New Albany sent representatives. Numerous and beau- tiful floral tributes told eloquently the story of the young hero's worth, and the place that he held in the heart of his friends. The local post of the Grand Army of the Republic attended as a gnard of honor. A requiem high mass was celebrated by Rev. X. A. Kaier, and Rev. J. A. Enright preached an affecting sermon from the text, "A good name is better than precious oint- ment, and the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth ." The warmest friendship had ever existed between young Leonard and Father Enright, who thus officiated in compliance with the request of the dead hero. The vast andience was in full sympathy with the eloquent priest, and sobbed when his voice, broken with emo- tion, described the life and death of his friend or grew quiet and hushed when he uttered words of consolation. Later the flower-strewn grave in the churchyard re- ceived the coffin, and there now rests in an eternal sleep under the blue skies of his childhood's home and beneath the folds of !
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the flag for which he died, Sullivan county's sole representative in the ranks of the dead of the Spanish-American war.
" Your cry was the lag, yes, the flag of the brave; To sustain it forever, death, glory, the grave;
May it wave o'er the land, the dear red, white and blue,
May it wave o'er the graves of the gallant and true.
Then rest, soldier boy, in thy garment of blue; To the star-spangled banner, you've proved your- self true:
May il wave o'er your grave, o'er the land, v'er the free,
And remind us forever, dear Leonard, of thee."
C HARLES LOREN WING, the popular postmaster of Laporte, Pennsylvania, and editor of the Republican News Item, was born in Binghamton, New York, June 13. 1871. a son of George T. and Mary (Porter) Wing. He received his education in the public schools of Tioga and Sullivan counties, Pennsylvania, and when thirteen years of age entered the office of the Salli- van Republican at Laporte, to learn the printer's trade. Three years later he went to Buffalo, New York, where he worked on a paper for five months. The following five years he spent in Chautauqua. New York, Laporte, Pennsylvania, Manch Chunk, Pennsylvania, and New . York city. and one year in Europe, after which he re- tunied to Laporte. . Here he formed a stock company and, as editor, began the publication of the Republican News Item May 8, 1890. He is a supporter of the Re- publican party, and on the ist of April, ISos, was appointed postmaster of Laporte, being the present incumbent. Socially he. is identified with the Patriotic Order Sous of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Although a young man, he has
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already attained a prominent and influential position in the community, and in journal- istic work has met with marked success.
J JOHN ELMER MCLEOD, a prominent resident of Lopez, Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, was born in Susquehanna county, near Skinner's Eddy, July 15, 1857. The family are of Scotch extraction, the great-grandfather coming from Scotland to America and locating in the state of New York. He was a weaver by trade and was forced to work three months after reaching this country to pay his passage over. Ile eventually became a farmer in Genesee county, New York. John McLeod, the grandfather, was born in that county. While yet a young man he came to Tunk- hannock, this state, and secured employ- ment. He married Hannah Gregory, a native of Connecticut. Her father was Levi Gregory, of Montrose, Susquehanna county, this state, at which place the wed- ding was solemnized, and which was also the scene of her death. Her husband died in Wisconsin. They were the parents of the following children: Nancy, deceased wife of William LaFrance, of Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania; Parney, wife of William Burris, of Wisconsin; Caroline, wife of Norton Bald- win, near Skinner's Eddy, Susquehanna county; Calvin, who has retired from busi- ness and lives in Rush township, Susque- hanna county; Levi, killed by guerrillas while on fatigue duty in the Civil war, while a member of the Forty-eighth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, a wife and five children survived him in Wyoming county; Daniel G., the father our subject; Sarah, wife of Solomon Gay, of Harford, Wyom- ing county, this state; Maria, wife of James Turrell, a farmer of New York; and Lucy,
widow of William Satcher, now residing in Minnesota.
Daniel G. McLeod, the father of our subject, was born near Skinner's Eddy. in Susquehanna county, February 5, 1831, and there grew to manhood. He secured employment in the lumber mills of that county, and later went to Wyoming county, where he was engaged in agriculture for five years. In 1863 he enlisted to serve in the Civil war until its close, in Company F. Fifty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- teers. He was in the battle of the Wilder- ness, and on the second day's fight received two wounds almost simultaneously, one in the leg, another in the hand, while a third bullet passed through the crown of his cap. He was sent to the hospital, where he re- mained some time and was afterward sent home on a furlough. He then returned to the front of battle and saw the surrender of General Lee. He has always been an ardent Democrat and has acceptably filled a number of town offices, having been tax collector, school director, constable, over- seer of the poor, and postmaster at Lehigh Tannery, at which place he operated a saw- mill for a period of eight years. In 1890 he took the census of Carbon county. For several years past he has resided at Lopez, where he is foreman of the bundling room of the kindling works. He was married at Alli- son, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, Janu- ary 24, 1855, to Lydia Frear, a daughter of Abram Frear. She died September 28, 1882, leaving, besides her husband, three children, as follows; Edith, who married E. W. DeWitt, of West Pittston, Pennsyl- vania, and died in her thirty-eighth year; Florence, the wife of J. S. Friant, of White Haven, Pennsylvania; John Elmer, the sub- ject of this biography, who was the eldest of the family.
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John Elmer McLeod attended the com- mon schools of Carbon county, where he grew to manhood. He secured employment in the sawmill at Bridgeport when twenty- one years old and remained there seven years, when he accepted a position with the kindling-wood factory at the same place. He was with this firm but a short time, and in 1889 came to Lopez to work for the Lopez Kindling Wood Company. under Mr. McCartney. He was foreman of this plant seven years, and resigned to accept a similar position in the Fisher Kindling Wood Fac- tory. In 1897 he was promoted to the po- sition of general superintendent and con- tractor of the entire plant. They furnish employment to a large number of persons, giving work to eighteen men and about sixty boys and girls, the latter being employed for the most part in tying bundles. They find in New York city a ready market for the entire product of the factory.
Mr. McLeod was married September 16, 1886, in White Haven, Pennsylvania, to Miss Laura Morris, who is a daughter of Enos P. and Rose (Fairchild) Morris, and who is a native of that city. Four children have blessed their home: Harry, born in 1882, lives at home and is employed in the mill with his father, and Joy Fletcher and Jessie, all at home. Mr. McLeod is a Democrat. He is a zealous and conscien- tious member of the Methodist Protestant church, and his wife is a communicant in the Presbyterian church.
H JENRY OBERT is the genial and popu- lar proprietor of the Obert House, of Dushore, one of the best-known hostelries of Sullivan county, of which he took charge in March, 1894. Since taking possession he has practically rebuilt the whole struct-
ure, turning the old-fashioned house into a modern hotel that is first-class in every particular. On the interior it is finished in hard wood and presents a pleasing appear- ance. The office is large and well furnished, the bar occupies a handsome room and is stocked with the choicest of liquors; the dining-room is large, well lighted, cheerful and fitted for the accommodation of the many guests of the house; the kitchen is well appointed and convenient, while the rooms of the house are all newly finished and furnished, the entire building being airy and cool in sumner, and heated throughout by steain in the winter. Mr. Obert gives special attention to the service at his table, which in its way is unexcelled. He makes a popular and courteous landlord and the many patrons of the Obert House are al- ways sure of every attention conducive to their comfort and convenience.
A native of Sullivan county, Mr. Obert was born in Colley township, April 10, 1863. and is a son of Mathias Obert, a re- tired fariner of Mildred, Pennsylvania, who was born in Baden, Germany, February 22, 1818, a son of Frederick and Rosa (Dutter) Ober, of Baden, where the grandfather fol- lowed the occupation of a weaver. Ma- thias was the youngest of a family of five children, the others being Bernard, Celes- tine, Charles and Catherine. In 1851 he came to America and purchased a farm in Colley township, Sullivan county, where he resided until October, 1898, when he re- moved to Mildred and laid aside all busi- ness cares. He wedded Mary Hulsert, who was born in Baden, Germany, June 20, 1820, a daughter of Anthony and Mary (Auldhouser) Ifulsert, and ten children have been born to this union: Mathias, deceased; Adeline, now Mrs. William Widdicks; Car- oline, Mrs. Samuel Saxe; Rose, Mrs. Jacob
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Dice; Pauline, Mrs. Emil Biehler; Mary, Mrs. Frank Baker; Elizabeth, Mrs. Jerry Donovan ; Emma, Mrs. Timothy Ryan; John, a farmer of Colley township; and Henry, our subject. The family are con- nected with the Catholic church, and the father is identified with the Democratic party. He has been honored with a num- ber of official positions, including those of school director and path-master, and for fifteen years was supervisor of his town- ship.
The common schools of his native town- ship afforded our subject a good practical edu- cation and he was later graduated at Pierce's Business College, in Philadelphia. He worked on the home farm until twenty years of age and then engaged in the lumber busi- ness, carrying it on quite successfully in Cherry and Colley townships until he pur- chased his present home, on the Ist of March, 1894. He has since given his en- tire time and attention to its management and has met with most gratifying success.
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