USA > Pennsylvania > Sullivan County > History of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania > Part 24
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
at one time this firm owned forty-two thou- sand acres of land in Sullivan county, sell- ing the latter interests to the Union Tan- nery Company in 1893 and also closed their New York sales department. Mr. McFar- lane retained his extensive private interests, consisting of one of the largest tilled farms in the country, a large sawmill with a ca- pacity of ten thousand feet a day. a timber tract on Loyalsock creek and a large, well stocked general store.
Mr. McFarlane has always been one of the representative business men of Sullivan county. The interests which he represents have been of incalculable value to Laporte and he is still planning new improvements and extensions for the benefit of the farm- ing and working community. He is a stock- holder and director in, and for some years was president of, the Lake Macoma Land Company. In politics he is a Democrat.
On February 5. 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Lovell, daughter of John Lovell, of Hudson county, New Jersey, and to them have been born three children, namely: James J., born June 10, 1869, is in the employ of Austin Nicholas & Company, of New York; Ada, who is at home ; William, who died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. McFarlane owns a small farm and a handsome residence, * Glen Wild." in North Bergen township, Hudson county, New Jersey, where his family re- side.
A MOS COX .- After a long life of useful activity, in which he has accumulated a comfortable fortune, and by his uprightness, benevolence and genial manners has won the esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr. Cox is now spending his old age in happy retire- inent at his beautiful home near Dushore,
whose hospitable doors are ever open to his numerous friends and acquaintances. He was born in Anthony township, Columbia county. Pennsylvania, January 23, 1830, the . son of David and Mary (Buck) Cox, the foriner of whom was born in New Jersey and the latter in Berks county, Pennsylvania. David Cox was an extensive farmer and also a blacksmith by trade, and becaine a wealthy and prominent citizen of Anthony township, where he died March 3, 1879, at the age of seventy-nine years, one month and fifteen days. He and his wife were members of the Evangelical Association. He maintain- ed an untarnished reputation as a Christian for forty-three years, and he was a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party, to which he lent his hearty support. His wife died February 19, 1890, aged eighty- three years, and both are interred in White Hall cemetery in Montour county, Pennsyl- vania, which was formerly a part of Columbia county. To this worthy couple five sons and two daughters were born, namely: John B., deceased; Elizabeth, who is the widow of Peter Deal and lives in Montour county; Amos, our subject; Frank, deceased; Mary, who married Seth Bond and is deceased; William J., who is a farmer in Columbia county; and David A, a mer- chant and inspector of agriculture in Montour county.
Amos Cox was reared on the home farm, attending the dist. ict school and as- sisting his father in such occupations as usually fall to the lot of a farmer's lad, re- maining with his parents until twenty- eight years of age, when he took entire charge of the farin for his father, for two years, also renting and operating a place for himself for one year. At the end of this time his father-in-law, being very anxious for him to come to Sullivan county, he did
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so and purchased a farm in Cherry town- ship, on which he lived until 1888. In that year he gave up all active business and removed to his present delightful home, which is in the suburbs of Dushore and which he had erected under his personal supervision. It contains all modern im- provements and is in every way a model home.
The marriage of Mr. Cox and Miss Hannah J. Zaner took place at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1859, and of this union two children have been born: Elmira J., who married Frank C. Wele- ver, a machinist for the Lehigh Valley Rail- road Company, lives at Sayre, Pennsylvania, and has two children, Fred C. and Harry C .; and Eva Z., who married the Rev. S. S. Mumey, a United Evangelist clergyman at Espey, Pennsylvania, and they also have two children, Mildred H. and F. Euphemia. Mrs. Cox is a daughter of Lewis Zaner. Her mother's maiden name was Eve Chrish- er. She was married to Lewis Zaner at the family home in Berwick, Columbia county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are worthy members of the United Evan- gelical church and he is a Republican in his political views.
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JOHN LITZELMAN .- The man who starts out in life empty-handed, and with no wealthy or influential friends to aid him, finds that he has many difficulties to encounter, many obstacles to overcome; yet determination, perservance and energy will enable him to push aside all barriers which impede his path to success and to gain at last the goal for which he has striven. It is in this manner that John Litzelman has won a place among the prosperous and valued citizens of his native
country. Obstacles which would have dis- heartened a man less resolute spirit have. but nerved him to greater effort, and he now enjoys a handsome competence as the reward of his labors.
Mr. Litzelman was born in Cherry town- ship, on the 24th of October, 1847, and is a son of Mathias and Mary (Yenne) Litzel- man, both natives of France. In that. country they were reared and married, but in 1822 severed all ties which bound them to their native province and sailed for the new world. Landing in New York they spent two years in the metropolis and then came to Sullivan county, locating in Cherry township, where the father purchased a farm of Mr. Cadwallader, a land agent, buy- ing one hundred acres at two dollars and a half per acre. In France Mr. Litzelman had engaged in the manufacture of soap, but now turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. His property was a wooded tract, but with characteristic energy he began to clear away the trees, and in course of time where once stood the forest were seen wav- ing fields of grain. His death occurred in 1846, at the age of fifty-four years, and his wife passed away in 1888, at the advanced age of eighty-nine. They were devout members of the Catholic church, and were buried in St. Basil's cemetery.
They had a family of eleven children, as follows: Mary, who was married and died in Illinois; Mathias, who wedded Mary Baumgartner, and died in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania; George, a retired farmer of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, who mar- ried Lavina Hollenback; Christina, who be- carne the wife of Nicholas Young and died in Lycoming county; Magdalena, who mar- ried Benedict Ordlick, and died in Dushore, where her husband's death also occurred; Michael, who married Elizabeth Yonkin,
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and is a carpenter of Sayres, Pennsylvania; Louisa, wife of Peter Moshineau, a stone mason of Lycoming, county, Pennsylvania; Gabriel, a farmer of Cherry township, who first married Mary White, and after her death wedded Elizabeth Baker; Adeline, wife of George Sollinger, a farmer of Oregon; Raphael, who married Lydia Sick and follows farming on the old family homestead; and John, of this review.
During the greater part of his minority John Litzelman resided under the parental roof, and in the district schools of the neighborhood acquired his education. At the age of twenty he began learning the carpenter's trade under the direction of his brother Michael, with whom he worked for five years, thoroughly mastering the busi- ness. He then went to Towanda, Pennsyl- vania, where he spent two years in the em- ploy of Henry Lamereaux, after which he began contracting and building on his own account. He has since followed that pur- suit and has met with excellent success in his undertakings. He has erected many buildings, including the following school- houses in Sullivan county: Ringer Hill, Shrimp, Jordan Hill, the King, Barth, Lammer, Cherry Mills, Quinn, Bernice and repaired the Wampool school. He also erected two school-houses in Bradford county, and these substantial structures stand not only in evidence of the educa- tional progress of the community, but are as monuments to the thrift and enterprise of Mr. Litzelman. In connection with his building interests, he also operated a planing-mill on Lard creek, in Cherry town- ship for ten years, from 1871 until 1881, and while thus engaged a belt caught his sleeve, drawing his arm into the machin- ery and severing his left hand at the wrist. He afterward had an iron hook at-
tached to his arm, and in this way accom- plishes almost as much as though he had the use of both hands. This certainly indi- cates the indomitable enterprise and energy of the man, for many others would have become disheartened under such circum- stances. In 1885 he purchased of John Bahr his present farm in Cherry township, and with the aid of his children is now car- rying on agricultural pursuits in connection with contracting and building.
On the 7th of November, 1853, Mr. Litzelman was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sick, a native of Cherry Mills, born in July, 1852, and a sister of Charles Sick, the postmaster of Cherry Mills, and one of the most prominent citizens of Sullivan county. An extended notice is given of his life on another page of this work. Twelve children have been born of this union, namely: Samuel, now deceased; Agnes, wife of John A. Yonkin, proprietor of a restaurant in Lopez, Pennsylvania; Stephen, Windsor, Clara, Amelia, Charles, Thada, Mary, William, Jennie and Elizabeth, all yet at their parental home.
Mr. Litzelman is a member of the Cath- olic church, and in his political associations is a Democrat, but has had neither time nor inclination to seek public office. His duties of citizenship, however, are always faithfully performed, and he supports all progressive measures for the public good. His life has been well spent, and his honor- able business career has brought him the high regard of many friends as well as gained for him a desirable property.
A LPHONSUS WALSH, one of the most prominent men and leading citizens of Sullivan county, was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, August 16, 1854, receiving
Alphones Walsh
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
his education in the public and private schools of Sullivan county, which he at- tended until sixteen years old, when he be- gan teaching and followed that vocation for fourteen years. In 1878 he took up. the study of law in the office of Thomson & Col- lins at Dushore, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1884. In the fall of 1886 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of prothonotary, register and recorder, and clerk of the court, holding office for nine consecutive years, during which time he was also burgess of Laporte borough. On retiring from these incumbencies he opened an office in Dushore, where he has built up a large and lucrative law practice. He is one of the leading Democrats in the county, was the party nominee for congress in 1896 and the county nominee for the same honor in 1898. He is a stockholder and director in the First National bank at Dushore, for which he is also attorney.
Mr. Walsh was united in marriage June 10, 1893, to Miss Elizabeth Donahoe, daughter of Thomas Donahoe, of Cherry township, and to them has been born one daughter, Helen. The family are members of the Catholic church.
John Walsh, father of our subject, was born in 1810, in county Kilkenny, Ireland. received a meager education in the public schools and earned a livelihood by tilling the soil. He emigrated to Canada in 1840 and a few years later came to the United States, locating in Albany, New York, whence, after a short sojourn, he removed to Potts- ville, Pennsylvania, and in the fall of 1856 came to Sullivan county and purchased a farm in Cherry township, continuing to fol- low agricultural pursuits until his death, October 19, 1886. He married Miss Anna Burk, a native of his own country, and of this union were born. nine children, as fol- 23
lows: Catherine, who became a Sister of Charity; Ella, Mary, James, Anna, Alphon- sus, Teressa, Michael (who died on the eve of being ordained a priest), and Agnes. Alphonsus is the only living member of this family. John Walsh was an honest, hard- working farmer, respected by all who knew him. In his political principles he was a stanch Democrat and in religion a sincere ineniber of the Catholic church. Mrs: Walsh was a woman of sterling qualities who devoted her married life to the welfare of her family and whose death occurred January 11, 1894 ..
JOHN B. COX, who was born in Derry J township, Montour county, Pennsyl- vania, April 3, 1826, was a son of David and Mary (Buck) Cox, natives of the state of New Jersey, and of Berks county, Penn- sylvania, respectively. He was a brother of Amos Cox, in whose sketch on another page is given some of the family history.
Mr. Cox, during his early days, assisted his father upon the farm and in his black- smith shop, but he was a studious lad whose ambitions led him to a different field of work, and when eighteen years of age he began to prepare himself for the ministry. Unfortunately his health failed him, and he was obliged to give up all his hopes and prospects in that direction and to turn his attention to some means of making a livli- hood. He went to Philadelphia, where he learned the art of photography, and for many years followed that business with suc- cess. In 1862 he came to Sullivan county, locating in Dushore, where he combined the business of photography with those of black- smithing, wagon-making and undertaking. In 1874 he removed to the farm in Cherry township, where he spent the remainder of
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his life. He was well known and highly esteemed in his community, was a court officer for twelve years and justice of the peace four years. It was while holding the latter office that his death took place, on October 13, 1892.
Mr. Cox was twice married, his first wife being Miss Mary A. Eisenbrown, by whom he had six children, of whom five died in infancy; the remaining daughter, Mary L., married Bigler Andy and lives in Bernice, Pennsylvania. For his second wife Mr. Cox married Miss Hannah Heppler, to whom he was united March 22, 1862, in Montour county, Pennsylvania, by Rev. John Thomas. Of this union the following children were born: David F., born March 12, 1863, married Miss Emma Kinsley, and is farming in Cherry township; Levi N., born July 26, 1864, married Miss Jennie Baker, and is a track-layer in a mine at Bernice; A. Lincoln, born Sep- tember 18, 1866, is unmarried, and lives with his mother; Rev. William B., born May 9, 1863, is a United Evangelical min- ister at Newberry (Williamsport), Pennsyl- vania, his wife being formerly Miss Anna Farley, of Buffalo Valley, Union county, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Hannah Cox was born September 26, 1841, a daughter of George and Hannah (Kruser) Heppler, who were farmers in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. Her father died April 15, 1847, aged about thirty-five years, and the mother February 28, 1857, aged fifty-two years. They were members of the Lutheran church. Their family con- sisted of the following children; Catherine, widow of John Burrier, lives in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania; Andy, who married Eliza Daniels, and died at the age of thirty- five years; Isaac, who is a merchant and farmer, and who formerly kept a hotel, and
is living at Gratztown, Pennsylvania; he has been twice married; Polly, who died when six years old; Hannah, the wife of our subject; Elizabeth, who is the wife of David Willard, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania; George, who has been twice married, and whose present home is at Rocktown, Schuyl- kill county, Pennsylvania; John, who mar- ried Miss Harriet Keller, resided in Ashland, Schuylkill county, where she died in 1888; he now makes his home at Springtown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Cox were Stoeffel and Catherine (Wagner) Heppler, of Schuylkill county, where their entire lives were spent.
JEFFERSON THEODORE JACKSON, late a leading citizen of Lopez, Sullivan county, was prominently identified with the business interests of that locality for many years. He belonged to a well known family of this section and his father, Alexander Jackson, was born and reared in Cherry township, where he became a prosperous farmer, owning a valuable tract of land within four miles of Dushore, and there his death occurred in 1888, fromn heart disease. He was married to Miss Mary Arey, a native of Lancastershire, England, who came to America in childhood with her parents, John and Margaret Arey. Her father became interested in farming and mining in Bradford county, where his last years were spent. Mrs. Jackson survived her husband four years, her death occurring in 1892. The following children were born to Alexander and Mary Jackson: John, who is engaged in farming on an extensive scale in Wilmot township, Bradford county; Robert, a miner at Beaver Meadow, Lu- zerne county; William, a farmer near Hollenback, Bradford county; Louisa, who
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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.
became the wife of Henry Frailey, residing near Hollenback; J. T., our subject; Well- ington, who occupies the old homestead in Cherry township; George, a lumber worker at Lopez; Henrietta, the wife of Henry Smith, a hardware dealer at Wyalusing and a stockholder in the bank at that place; and Abbie, who is unmarried and resides in Sullivan county.
J. T. Jackson, the immediate subject of this meinoir, was born September 14, 1859, on the old homestead in Cherry township, Sullivan county, and his educational oppor- tunities during boyhood were limited to the district schools of that vicinity. At the age of fifteen he began working for neighboring farmers, continuing to be thus engaged for the following three years, when he went to Hazelton, Luzerne county, and found employment in the mines, where he worked for two years and was promo- ted to an outside position, retaining the latter for two years, when, having a desire to see something of the country, he took a trip through Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. During his tour he visited many points of interest, including the famous battle-fields of Gettysburg, Bull Run and Antietam, together with the country around Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley. On his return he spent a year on the home- stead at Dushore and a year as a farm la- borer in Colley township, Sullivan county. Later he was employed in a tannery at La- porte, and for a short time he kept a board- ing house there for the men who worked in the tannery. For three years he conducted a similar establishment at Thorndale, and then, removing to Lopez, he built a large hotel, with accommodations for about ninety guests. This he operated alone for five years, but at present it is managed by a tenant.
The marriage of Mr. Jackson took place on August 26, 1885, when he was united to Miss Julia Erb, a native of Cherry town- ship and a daughter of Frederick Erb, who was born in Germany. Of this union five children were born, namely: Virginia, No- vember 9, 1886; James, April 3, 1888; William, September 15, 1889; Arthur, August 11, 1891; an infant girl, Mary, born in February, 1892, died in infancy; and lzetta, born August 23, 1898.
Mr. Jackson was a Democrat in politics and at times has taken an active part in lo- cal affairs, serving one year as constable in Colley township. He was, and his family are, popular socially, and during the exist- ence of the branch of the P. O. S. of A. at Lopez he was an active member.
On October 18, 1898, Mr. Jackson was found dead in the dining-room of his own hotel, where he had been lifeless for several hours from heart disease, leaving his wife to manage all affairs, with a family of small children.
JOHN P. KILMER & SON, proprietors of the sawmill at Shunk, Fox township, are men who thoroughly understand their business and consequently have a large patronage and are making a success of their enterprise. Their mill was built in 1892, is run by steam, and is of thirty-five horse power. They do all kinds of sawing, turn- ing out large timbers for building, laths, shingles, etc. Everything about the place is in good shape and shows excellent mian- agement.
John P. Kilmer was born in Fox town- ship, this county, December 30, 1844, and is a son of Peter Kilmer. The latter was a native of Schuyler county, New York, and was eight years old when he came to Sullivan
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county with his father, Philip Kilmer, one of the earliest settlers, who located here about 1812. Philip was a native of Ger- many and was twice married, the names of his wives being Hannah McMullen and Mrs. Anna Brown.
Peter married Mrs. Lutica Letts, a wid- ow with three children: James, who died in service; Elizabeth, whose husband, Usual Wheeler, a soldier in the Civil war, died in service, of the measles, and his wife, of the same disease, contracted from him, on the day before; and William, also a soldier of the Civil war. Mrs. Letts' parents were John and Axa (Ryder) Scudder. Of her marriage to Mr. Kilmer two children were born, -- John P. and Rebecca, who became the wife of Charles N. Porter. Peter Kil- mer died in 1897, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. He was a farmer and in politics was a Republican. Mrs. Kilmer died in 1887, aged seventy-three years; both were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John Philip Kilmer was brought up on the home farin and learned the blacksmith's trade, to which he added that of carpenter and cabinetmaker. He was married No- vember 1, 1868, to Miss Samantha R. Williams, who was born in Ridgebury town- ship, Bradford county, November 6, 1849. Her parents were Henry and Christina (Rightmire) Williams. Both died in Fox township, the mother when thirty-five years old and the father when seventy-three. Henry Williams was a very prominent man in the county, a leading Democrat in a Dem- ocratic county. He stood high in the councils of his ¿party and was often called on to hold important trusts, among them being that of county cominissioner. For many years he was justice of the peace in Fox township and was universally known as
"Squire" Williams. He also was a noted hunter, -in fact his choice of a home in Sullivan was largely due to the advantages it afforded for hunting.
Their children were: Sanford R., who died in service in the Civil war; Henrietta, deceased, who was the wife of Charles N. Porter, of Fox township, this county; Ma- tilda, now Mrs. Frank A. Boyle, of Elk- land; Mortimer, of Auburn, New York; and Samantha R., the wife of J. P. Kilmer. For his second wife Mr. Williams married a Miss Shadduck, and by this marriage there were four children, namely: Rosetta Ful- ler and Homer K., both of Ithaca, New York; Evert S., of Michigan; and Mary, the wife of Jacob Bohn, of Dushore.
John P. Kilmer and wife are the parents of five children, namely: Francis L .; Claude, who died when nearly six years old; Maude E., Nancy E. and Jesse R. Mr. Kilmer is a prominent citizen of Fox town- ship, of which he has been the overseer of the poor and also a member of the school board. He is a charter member of the lo- cal lodge of the P. O. S. of A., whose meetings are held in Kilmer hall at Shunk. The family is highly esteemed throughout the community.
Francis L. Kilmer, junior member of the firm of J. P. Kilmer & Son, was born in Fox township, February 26, 1871. He was married January 6, 1892, to Miss Ora Foster, also a native of Fox township and the daughter of Rial and Aun (Cranmer) Foster. Of this marriage three children have been born, namely: Howard D., Carl- ton R. and Orley Fred.
Mr. Kilmer is an intelligent, industrious and enterprising young man, who bids fair to make his mark in the world and who has a fine reputation among business men for his honesty and fair dealing. He is a.
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charter member of the local lodge of the P. O. S. of A. and is greatly interested in the object for which the order was estab- lished.
JOHN MARTIN UTZ has . for many years been one of the most highly re- spected and valued citizens of Sullivan county. He is of foreign birth, but his duties of citizenship have been performed with a loyalty equal to that of a native son of America. In early life he was promi- nently identified with the industrial and political interests of this section, but is now practically living retired at his present home in Dushore.
Mr. Utz was born August 30, 1834, at Hengestfeld, kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, and is the eldest of the eleven children born to George Andrew Utz, a blacksmith. Our subject was educated in his native place and learned the black- smith's trade with his father. He came to America in August, 1853, and located at Towanda, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he worked at this trade until May of the following year, when he became a resi- dent of Dushore, continuing to follow his chosen occupation here until the close of the Civil war. During that struggle he served as deputy marshal, and later became interested in the stock business with Isaac Reitz, buying horses and cattle for the gov- ernment and also for the city and local markets. After nine years of successful business in this line Mr. Reitz retired from the firm, but our subject continued operation alone and also engaged in the real-estate business. Mr. Utz has ever taken an active and commendable interest in public affairs, and entered the field as an independent candidate for sheriff of Sullivan county, and
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