History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 102

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454

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JOHN ROE, a native of Vermont, came from Delaware county, New York, to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, about 1815, and located on Crooked creek, in Middle- bury township. He was married in New York state to Waitie Burdick, who bore him seven children, viz: Cornelius, Rosanna, Henry, Samuel, Mary, Elizabeth and Jonathan B. Mr. Roe and wife spent their declining years in this county, and died on their homestead in Middlebury township.

CORNELIUS ROE, eldest child of John Roe, was born in Orange county, New York, in 1794, there grew to manhood, and in 1833 came to Tioga county and located on the Tioga river, in Tioga township, where he found employment on a farm for a few months. He then purchased ninety acres of land in Middlebury township, on which he made his home the remaining years of his life. He married Betsey Mills, to which union were born eight children, as follows: Jane, widow of Jefferson Button, of West Avon, New York; James M., of Delmar township; Adelia and Andrew J., both deceased; John O. and Thomas E., of Middlebury township; Mercy R., widow of Joseph Haines, of Wilmington, Delaware, and Marian R., wife of Robert J. Hill, of Savannah, Georgia. Mrs. Roe died June 3, 1842, aged forty- three years, and her husband, June 25, 1861.

JAMES M. ROE was born in Delaware county, New York, August 18, 1822, and is the eldest son of Cornelius Roe, and grandson of John Roe. He was reared upon a farm, and was eleven years old when his parents came to Tioga county. He lived on the home farm until 1867, a portion of which he had owned since 1855. In April, 1867, he bought his present farm in Delmar township, one mile and a half west of Wellsboro, where he has resided up to the present, with the exception of a few years spent in Wellsboro. Mr. Roe was married July 1, 1847, to Harriet Paulina Hutchinson, a daughter of Solomon and Austania (Morse) Hutchinson. She was born June 29, 1826, in Guilford, Chenango county, New York; came to Pennsyl- vania in 1842, and is the mother of the following children: Julia M., born May 1, 1848, and died November 15, 1888; Lewis A., born December 22, 1849, and died November 28, 1892; Sheldon N., born January 3, 1851, who resides at home; Austania J., born April 2, 1854, and died September 10, 1877; Cornelius E., born July 2, 1857, married Ida Kizer, January 21, 1882, and has had two children, Guy H., deceased, and Lettie J .; James E., born June 8, 1862, and died August 16, 1864, and Byron L., born November 12, 1864, a practicing physician. The family attend the Presbyterian church, and both Mr. Roe and wife are members of the

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Patrons of Husbandry. In politics, he is a Democrat, and has served as a school director in Middlebury township twelve years.

JOHN O. ROE, a son of Cornelius Roe, and grandson of John Roe, was born in Delaware county, New York, October 24, 1828, and was five years old when his parents came to Tioga county. He was reared in Middlebury township, and has fol- lowed farming and lumbering all his life. With the exception of eighteen months spent in St. Paul, Minnesota, he has resided upon his present farm, a portion of which belonged to the old homestead, since his marriage. On March 12, 1864, he married Mrs. Ann Eliza Leeper, a daughter of Sands Springer. She was born March 24, 1834. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Roe is connected with the Patrons of Husbandry. Politically, he is a Republican.

THOMAS E. ROE, son of Cornelius and Betsey Roe, was born in Orange county, New York, September 30, 1832, and was about one year old when his parents came to Tioga county. He was reared upon the homestead in Middlebury township, and has lived upon the same place since early boyhood. He spent three years in Oregon, from September, 1891, where he owns 400 acres of timber land. For some years he has been engaged in selling wagons and farm implements, when not pursuing his farm duties. On January 13, 1854, he married Hannah Gee, a daughter of Joseph Gee. She was born April 30, 1838, and is the mother of nine children, viz: John C., who is engaged in the lumber business in Oregon; Fred S., deceased; Clark E., a carpenter and mill man; Thomas A., who died at the age of thirty; Amos, who died in infancy; Joseph W., a furniture dealer and undertaker at Keeneyville; Anna M., wife of Wallace W. Caskey, of Oregon; Hannah G., who died at the age of fourteen, and Mildred, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Roe are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is connected with the I. O. O. F. In politics, a Republican, he has filled the office of township supervisor fourteen years.

JAMES BRYANT was born in Steuben county, New York, December 31, 1799, and came to Tioga county with his parents in the year 1800. Here he grew to man- hood and became quite a successful farmer, owning several hundred acres of land in Middlebury township. On October 24, 1824, he married Mary Rattze, who was born in Tioga county, November 20, 1806, and became the mother of the following children: Hiram, deceased; Ephraim J., who died in a rebel prison during the Civil War; Jabez Z., a farmer in the west, and Mary L., deceased. Mr. Bryant died on July 3, 1857. His wife survived him thirty-two years, dying August 27, 1889.

HIRAM BRYANT, eldest son of James and Mary Bryant, was born in Middle- bury township, Tioga county, June 24, 1825, there grew to manhood, and obtained a common school education. Mr. Bryant was married three times. In 1848 he married Jane Smith, who died soon after without issue. He was again married May 6, 1854, at Canton, Bradford county, to Cordelia Packard, a daughter of Silas Packard. She was born in Bradford county, October 10, 1833, and became the mother of six children, viz: Herman F., James E., Niles E., Rose B., wife of Parshall E. Wilcox; Millie A., who died at the age of seventeen, and John M. The five surviving children are residents of Middlebury township. Mrs. Bryant died Feb- ruary 8, 1881. His third wife was Sophia Scofield, nee Beach. Mr. Bryant died April 19, 1892. His widow resides in Middlebury township.

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JAMES E. BRYANT, second son of Hiram Bryant, and grandson of James Bryant, was born on the homestead farm in Middlebury township, Tioga county, November 17, 1857. When fifteen years old he began working out as a farm hand, which he continued until his twenty-fourth year. He then rented a place in Farmington township, and at the end of one year bought out the other heirs to the old home- stead, and now owns 150 acres of well-improved land. On November 13, 1881, he married Alice O. Niles, a daughter of Wallace Niles, of Middlebury township, and has two children, Olaf G. and Alaf G. Mrs. Bryant was a member of the Free Will Baptist church. She died June 29, 1895. Mr. Bryant is a member of the K. O. T. M., and in politics, a Republican.

NILES EMMER BRYANT, third son of Hiram Bryant, was born in Middlebury township, Tioga county, June 23, 1859. He worked at home until twenty-two years of age, and then found employment in the lumber woods. In the spring of 1885 he bought his present farm of 212 acres, a short distance north of Holiday, upon which he has since lived. On September 16, 1885, he married Ella Archer, a daughter of William Archer, of Middlebury township, and had one son, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Bryant are members of the Free Will Baptist church, also of the Patrons of Husbandry. In politics, he supports the Republican party.

ERASTUS NILES, SR., third son of Nathan and Irene Niles, was born in Connec- ticut, November 5, 1787, and was about nine years old when the family came to Tioga county. He remained with his parents in Tioga township up to 1820, when he and his brother Aaron located in Middlebury township, purchasing a part of the original Strawbridge warrant. He at once began the work of clearing and improv- ing his land, which is now owned by his son, Erastus M. He married Permelia Ferry, a daughter of Ebenezer Ferry, a pioneer of Tioga township, who bore him a family of seven children, viz: Aurilla, widow of Nathan T. West, of Middlebury; Mary, wife of Philander West, of the same township; Erasmus W., deceased; Nathan H., of Charleston township; Elvira, deceased wife of Harrison Combs; Cordelia, de- ceased wife of Richard M. Kinney, and Annetta, wife of Green Smith, of Middlebury. Mrs. Niles died in 1837, and he was again married, to Mrs. Austania Hutchinson, nee Morse, who became the mother of four children, as follows: James Homer, of Middlebury; Helen D., wife of D. P. Herrington, of Charleston; Dora, deceased wife of Harrison Combs, and Erastus M., of Middlebury. Mr. Niles died on his farm in Middlebury township, July 24, 1877, in the ninetieth year of his age.

JAMES HOMER NILES, eldest child of Erastus and Austania Niles, was born at Niles Valley, Tioga county, January 7, 1839. He was reared on the homestead, and remained with his parents until twenty years of age, when he began in life for him- self. For a short time he worked as a teamster at Niles Valley, and later followed the same business at Salamanca, New York. Returning home, he went to Virginia in 1860, where he found employment as a railroad brakesman for six months. He again came home, but soon after went to Washington, D. C., and entered the govern- ment service as a member of a construction corps, and was sent to Tennessee, and later to Atlanta, Georgia. In the fall of 1864 he returned to Tioga county, and the following spring located on his present farm, then owned by his father. Here he erected a log house and followed farming one year. At the end of this time he moved to Niles Valley, bought a home and worked as a millwright for fifteen years at that

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

point. In 1880, his father having previously died and left him his present home- stead, he sold his property in Niles Valley and located on the farm, where he erected a fine residence in 1882. Mr. Niles was married March 5, 1865, to Emily L. Bene- dict, a daughter of Marcus Benedict, of Richmond township. She was born August 22, 1842, and has one daughter, Clara A., wife of W. W. Stevens, of Farmington. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, ad- herents of the Democratic party. Mr. Niles has filled the office of school director one term, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F., and the Patrons of Husbandry.

ERASTUS M. NILES, youngest child of Erastus and Austania Niles was born on his present homestead, in Middlebury township, Tioga county, March 8, 1846. He was educated in the common schools, and has devoted his entire attention to culti- vating the home farm at Niles Valley, which embraces 130 acres of well-improved land. He married Jane French, a daughter of Moses French, of Middlebury town- ship, and has two children, Marion P. and Angie. Politically, Mr. Niles is a stanch Democrat, and is recognized as one of the prominent farmers of his native township.

ERASMUS W. NILES, eldest son of Erastus Niles, Sr., was born in Niles Valley, Middlebury township, in May, 1827, and followed farming and lumbering all his life. He was well known among the lumbermen of Tioga county, and did a great deal of rafting down the Susquehanna river. In 1851 he married Catherine Backus, of Charleston township, who bore him the following children: Erastus, of Charleston; Parmelia Alvaretta, wife of Reuben Maynard, of Elk township; Annetta Louisa, wife of George Jackson, of Middlebury; Almeda, wife of H. T. Roe, of the same township; Nathan B., deceased; Alice Aurilla, wife of Edie Bryant, of Middlebury; Catherine, wife of J. E. Jackson, also a resident of Middlebury; Wallace L., of Chatham; Emma E., deceased, and Geary, who resides in Middlebury. Mr. Niles died April 9, 1871, and his wife, November 23, 1893. In politics, a Republican, he served as supervisor of Middlebury township fourteen terms.

ERASTUS NILES, eldest child of Erasmus W. Niles, was born on the homestead in Middlebury township, Tioga county, February 20, 1852, and has always followed farming and lumbering. He removed from his native township to Charleston town- ship, where he purchased his present farm. On March 3, 1882, he married Ella Guerin, a daughter of Edward Guerin, of Charleston, who has borne him three children: Harry E., Nathan L., deceased, and James Erastus. Mr. Niles is a Re- publican, and is now serving on the school board. He is also connected with the I. O. O. F. and the K. O. T. M.

SOLOMON WESTBROOK was born in Chemung county, New York, March 1, 1795, there grew to manhood, and served in the War of 1812. A few years later he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and purchased a farm on the Cowanesque river, some three miles west of Lawrenceville, in Lawrence township. Two years afterwards he sold this and removed to Middlebury township, where he bought seventy-five acres of land near Holiday. Here he resided until his death, August 1, 1863. He was married at Tioga, in 1823, to Betsey E. Prutsman, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Prutsman, who came from Easton, Pennsylvania, to Tioga county in the fall of 1804. She was born near Easton, March 3, 1803, and by her marriage to Solomon Westbrook became the mother of seven children, viz: Mary, born March 30, 1824, and died July 2, 1825; John A., born February 10, 1826, who resides in

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Middlebury township; Albert H., born May 8, 1828, and died in 1883; William J., born August 12, 1830, and died in 1878; Jacob H., born October 18, 1832, a farmer of Tioga township; Theresa A., born July 27, 1834, wife of George Stevens, of Galeton, and Abram L., a resident of Middlebury township. Mrs. Westbrook died on March 3, 1883.

ABRAM L. WESTBROOK, youngest child of Solomon Westbrook, was born in Middlebury township, Tioga county, October 18, 1836. He obtained a common school education, and remained at home until his father's death. He then bought" out the other heirs and became the owner of the old homestead. He subsequently purchased 125 acres adjoining, and later a farm of 130 acres, a short distance north of the home farm, upon which he resides, but cultivates both places. Mr. West- brook was married in 1875, to Miss Mary Harris, who bore him one son, Roy S. Mrs. Westbrook died in 1877. Mr. Westbrook is a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry, and in politics, a Republican. By rigid industry and close attention to his business, he has accumulated through the passing years a large property, and is to-day one of the leading farmers of his native township.

THOMAS LEETE was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, in 1790, and was a sailor in early life. He came to Tioga county early in the present century, and located on a farm in Middlebury township, where he cleared and improved a 100- acre tract, on which he resided up to his death. He possessed a good education, and a fair knowledge of surveying, which business he followed for many years. His wife, Sallie, was a daughter of Sala Cole, and bore him six children, viz: Fannie M., wife of James McWhorter, of Middlebury; Alfred and Clark, both farmers of that township; Orpha, wife of A. B. Rundall, of Mansfield; Katharine, deceased wife of Waldo White, and Helen R., deceased wife of William A. Mitchell. Mr. Leete died April 28, 1868, and his wife, November 2, 1876, aged seventy-two years.

CLARK LEETE was born in Middlebury township, Tioga county, March 25, 1837, a son of Thomas Leete. He obtained a limited education in the district schools of his native township, entering the lumber woods when he was sixteen years old, which business he followed for twenty years. In 1872 he purchased the Dunham farm, which he traded two years later for his present homestead. In 1883 he bought another farm of 125 acres, northwest of Hammond, and now cultivates both. On October 24, 1860, he married Sally, a daughter of Abram and Catherine (Cole) Adams, to which union have been born five children, viz: Arthur A., Albert and George W., all deceased; Frederick H. and Frank T. Mr. Leete is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics, a stanch Republican.

ELPHEUS BUTTON was one of the early settlers of Tioga county, Pennsylvania, having located in Middlebury township about 1820. He was born February 7, 1787, and died March 26, 1870, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He married Betsey Hill, to which union were born the following children: Jehiel, Jefferson and Charles, all deceased; William, a resident of Keeneyville; Hiram, a farmer of Mid- dlebury township; Ralph, deceased; Polly, widow of P. V. Houghtaling; Harvey, a retired farmer; Henry, Alonzo and Melissa, all of whom are dead, and Miles, a resident of Hornellsville, New York. Mrs. Button died March 30, 1869, aged eighty years.

HARVEY BUTTON was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1827, eighth child of Elpheus and Betsey Button. He attended the pioneer schools of his

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neighborhood, and subsequently engaged in farming, which he followed until 1890. He then sold his farm to his son, Charley B., and now lives with his son, Ellis P., in Chatham township. He married Emily Hamm, in 1852, and has three children, viz: Marshall, of Chatham township; Charley B., of Middlebury, and Ellis P., a resi- dent of Chatham. Mrs. Button died on June 21, 1889, in her fifty-eighth year.

CHARLEY B. BUTTON, a son of Harvey Button, and grandson of Elpheus Button, was born in Middlebury township, Tioga county, August 26, 1859. He worked on the home farm until his twenty-fourth year, and then found employment in the Niles Valley tannery four years. He later followed lumbering one year, and in March, 1890, purchased the old homestead of eighty acres from his father. He cul- tivated this farm two years, and then went to Newark, New Jersey, where he was em- ployed for two years in a retail grain and feed store. At the end of this time he returned to his farm in Middlebury, and has since devoted his attention to agri- culture. On July 21, 1883, Mr. Button married Helen L. Brown, a daughter of Orlando and Jane A. (Marvin) Brown. Her father was born in Tompkins county, New York, in 1829, came to Tioga county in 1853, and followed stationary en- gineering and farming to the time of his death. Her mother reared three children, viz: Helen L., Lillie A., wife of E. B. Chambers, of Newark, New Jersey, and H. Arthur, the last of whom resides with his mother in Middlebury township. To Mr. and Mrs. Button has been born one child, Alma L., who died in infancy. They have an adopted son, George H. White, born April 6, 1884. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and also of the K. & L. O. T. M. Mr. Button is also connected with the I. O. O. F., and the P. of H., and in politics, a supporter of the Republican party.

SALA COLE was born in Windham, Vermont, there grew to manhood and mar- ried Sallie Stevens, who bore him seven children, six of whom grew to maturity, viz: Heber, Maria, Adaline, Sallie, Catherine and A. Clark. In the summer of 1824 the family came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and settled on a farm near Hammond, in Middlebury township. Here Mr. Cole and wife passed the remain- ing years of their lives.

HEBER COLE, eldest child of Sala and Sallie Cole, was born in Windham, Ver- mont, September 13, 1802, there grew to maturity, and in February, 1824, came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, preceding the other members of the family a few months. He worked three years for fifty acres of timber land, on which he located, clearing and improving what is now known as the Cole homestead. On April 17, 1836, he married Louisa Stevens, a daughter of Martin and Polly Stevens. She was born in Vermont, May 12, 1813, and became the mother of six children, viz: Celestia M., born February 9, 1837, and died August 25, 1858; George L., born December 25, 1838, a farmer in Middlebury; Oscar E., born May 10, 1841, and died May 5, 1864; Katie, who died in infancy; Eveline S., born July 2, 1843, and died November 14, 1848, and Delia E., born August 8, 1849, wife of W. D. Sim- mons, of Middlebury township. Mrs. Cole died on November 17, 1863, and April 16, 1865, he married Mrs. Charlotte Welch. Mr. Cole followed farming all his life, and died on his farm in Middlebury, August 24, 1891. His widow resides in Tioga. In politics, a Republican, he was collector of the township in 1840, and was a liberal, active and successful man.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE L. COLE was born on his present farm at Hammond, in Middlebury township, Tioga county, December 25, 1838, obtained a common school education, and has always followed farming. June 4, 1864, he married Laura A. White, a daughter of George White, of Farmington township, to which union have been born three children, viz: Oscar E., a farmer of Middlebury; Celestia M., and Katie L., both of whom died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are members of the First Baptist church, at Hammond, in which he fills the office of deacon. Politically, he is a Republican. He owns a farm of 130 acres one mile north of the old homestead,. which is cultivated by his son, and is one of the successful farmers of his native township.

EBENEZER FERRY, a native of Massachusetts, whose ancestors came from Eng- land to America at an early day, was one of the first settlers of Tioga county, Penn- sylvania. He served in the War of 1812, from Massachusetts, and in 1818 purchased a farm near Tioga, in Tioga township, where he resided up to 1839. He then sold his farm and removed to Charleston township, where he and wife both died at a ripe old age. He married a Miss Bruce, of Massachusetts, and they were the parents of seven children, all of whom are dead, viz: Valona, Permelia, Louisa, Fidelia, Sally, Chauncey and Charles.

CHAUNCEY FERRY was born in Massachusetts, April 3, 1800, and was the eldest son of Ebenezer Ferry. He was eighteen years old when the family came to Tioga county, and having received a good education in his native State, fol- lowed school teaching in this county for several years. He later purchased a farm in Sullivan township, cultivated it for a few years, and then sold out and bought one in Middlebury township. Soon after he sold this also and purchased a property in Tioga township, whence he removed into Charleston township, where he bought quite a large tract of land. His wife, Stella, was a daughter of Samuel Van Gorder, of Lawrence township, and bore him a family of eight children, viz: Catherine, deceased wife of Alfred Schieffelin; Charles D., a farmer of Charleston; Sarah, wife of James Mack, of Elmira, New York; Mary, deceased wife of George Kohler; Robert B., of Middlebury; Hannah, wife of Dennis Gorsline, of Kansas; Elizabeth, wife of Theodore Wright, of Philadelphia, and one that died in infancy. The parents spent the remaining years of their lives in Charleston township, both dying on the old homestead.

ROBERT BRUCE FERRY was born near Tioga, Tioga county, August 8, 1838, youngest son of Chauncey Ferry. He worked at home until twenty-one years of age, and then found employment in the lumber woods until the breaking out of the war. On September 17, 1861, he enlisted at Wellsboro, in Company L, Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served in many of the fiercest battles of the war, such as Standardville, Rappahannock Station, Second Bull Run, Brandy Station, German- town, Gettysburg, Aldee, Middleburgh, Mine Run, Wilderness, Siege of Peters- burg, etc. His horse was shot from under him June 23, 1863, near Middleburgh, and he was severely injured by the fall. He was successively promoted to first duty sergeant, orderly sergeant, second lieutenant, and captain. In the spring of 1863 he was detaailed as guide for the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, and was discharged at Brandy Station, December 16, 1863. He re-enlisted the following day in his old company, and served until mustered out, June 26, 1865. Returning to his home in

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Tioga county, he cultivated a rented farm for a short time, and then bought one on Losey creek, in Middlebury township. After living upon it three years, he sold it and purchased a farm in Richmond township, which he cultivated four years. Selling out he went to Kansas, but returned to this county at the end of a year, and worked rented farms for eight years. In the spring of 1890 he bought his present home at Niles Valley, where he makes a specialty of tobacco growing. Mr. Ferry was married February 1, 1866, to Flora Wilson, a daughter of Luther and Amarett (Upton) Wilson. She was born at Stoddard, New Hampshire, April 28, 1841, and has three children, viz: Leon B., an attorney at Wellsboro; Ralph W., a medical student, and Clive C. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics support the Republican party. Mr. Ferry is a member of the K. of H., and the G. A. R.

REUBEN TOWER PALMER was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, in 1814, a son of Abram and Hannah Palmer. His father was a native of Vermont, whence he removed to Bradford county at an early day, coming to Tioga county about 1830 and locating on a farm in Middlebury township, where both he and wife died. They were the parents of thirteen children, Reuben T. being the eighth in the family. He was reared on a farm, and first came to Tioga county in boyhood to burn char- coal. In 1835 he purchased a farm in Middlebury township, and henceforth de- voted his attention to agriculture. He subsequently married Mary Ayres, a daughter of Marcus Ayres, of Bradford county, lived in that county for a short period, and then took up his residence on his farm in Middlebury. Nine children were born to Reuben T. and Mary Palmer, as follows: Otis G., a resident of Michigan; Chauncey King, deceased; Addie, wife of William Carr, of Michigan; Delila, deceased wife of William Holt; Emma, wife of James Shutter, of Tioga township; Hannah, de- ceased; Alzuma, wife of Silas Holt, of Canton, New York; Lucian B., of Farming- ton township, and Laura, wife of Orson Daggett. Mr. Palmer died March 31, 1893. His widow is in her eightieth year, having been born September 11, 1817.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 102

Author: Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1454

Author:
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Harrisburg : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1454