History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 104

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

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SAMUEL A. CADY, a native of Jasper, New York, born March 15, 1810, was the fourth in a family of five children born to Abel Cady, viz: Michael, Daniel, Manassa, Samuel A. and Esther. He received a common school education, but was

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only four years old when his father died, and was compelled to make his own living from early boyhood. When twenty-five years of age he bought the Cady farm in Middlebury township, Tioga county, where he followed agriculture until his death, March 22, 1881. He was postmaster of Chatham Valley for a number of years, also at Holiday for two years, was an active Democrat, and one of the best business men in his section. In religion, he was an Adventist. On March 3, 1832, Mr. Cady married Adaline Cole, a daughter of Sala Cole, who was born in Vermont, March 3, 1815. Four children were born to this union, viz: Charlotte M., wife of Dennis Andrews; Celestia M., wife of Edward A. Keeler; Wesley P., who enlisted in Company G, Two Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed in the charge on Fort Mahone, in front of Petersburg, April 2, 1865, in the twenty- sixth year of his age, leaving a widow and two daughters, the former now the wife of M. B. Brown, of Lawrence township; and Sala V. Mrs. Cady died on December 26, 1874.

SALA V. CADY, youngest child of Samuel A. Cady, was born on his present farm in Middlebury township, Tioga county, July 18, 1851, was reared on the home- stead, and worked in the lumber woods during the winter seasons. He was married November 8, 1882, to Jane N. Clark, a daughter of Albert Clark, of Chatham town- ship, and has one child, Leo Netto, born April 3, 1884. In politics, Mr. Cady is a stanch Democrat, and is recognized as one of the progressive farmers of his native township, where he owns a well-improved farm of 137 acres, a part of it having belonged to the old Cady homestead.

ALEXADER A. MCLEAN was born in Yates county, New York, November 3, 1814, and learned the blacksmith's trade at Dresden, where he served an apprentice- ship of five years. In 1832, when but eighteen years of age, he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and worked for three years as foreman of a blacksmith shop in Tioga village. He then moved to Middlebury Center and carried on a shop for some ten years, at the end of which time he went to Indiana and remained in that state up to 1860. Returning to Tioga county, he established a shop at Hammond, and continued blacksmithing until 1880, when he retired from active business and was succeeded by his son, John A. Mr. McLean married Mary J. Potter, a daughter of Henry H. Potter. She was born October 25, 1820, and became the mother of thirteen children, viz: William and Marietta, both of whom died in early youth; Edwin, a resident of Indiana, who served three years and nine months in the Re- bellion; Sarah, deceased wife of James Marcus; Henry H., who died at Chattanooga, Tennessee, while a soldier in the Rebellion; Delia, wife of M. S. Potter, of Syracuse; Lewis G., a resident of Indiana; Alanson C., who lives in South Dakota; John A., a blacksmith at Hammond; Lizzie, wife of G. W. Groom, of South Williamsport; Emma, wife of Charles M. Jennings, of Charleston township; Ida I., deceased wife of C. L. Ferry, and Carrie, who died at the age of three years. Mrs. McLean died April 17, 1880. Her husband resides with his son, John A., at Hammond.

JOHN A. MCLEAN, son of Alexander A. McLean, was born at Rob Roy, Fountain county, Indiana, January 15, 1853, and was seven years old when his father located at Hammond. When thirteen years of age he went into his father's shop to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he has followed continuously ever since at Hammond, but has also been engaged in farming on a small scale on land owned by

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his wife. Mr. McLean was married October 6, 1881, to Ada B. Stevens, a daughter of Daniel G. Stevens, of Middlebury, to which union have been born four children, . viz: Henry H., Eveline J., Clara E. and Ida E. The family attend the First Bap- tist church, and in politics, support the Republican party.

CHARLES N. WILCOX was born March 29, 1815, and came to Tioga county in early manhood, locating in Middlebury township. He married Ruby Keeney, a daughter of Jesse Keeney, of that township, July 21, 1839. She was born May 18, 1822, and became the mother of five children, viz: Edward A., born April 19, 1840, who died in infancy; George E., born November 12, 1841, and died November 6, 1847; Jesse K., born November 12, 1843, and died in Andersonville prison, in October, 1864, while a Union prisoner; Catherine E., born April 12, 1846, and died December 24, following, and Ransom E., born March 24, 1848, a farmer of Middle- bury township. Mr. Wilcox was a stanch Democrat. He died July 11, 1854, at Waterville, Wisconsin, while on his way to visit a brother in the west. His widow survived him six years, dying December 4, 1860.

RANSOM EUGENE WILCOX, only living child of Charles N. Wilcox, was born at Keeneyville, Tioga county, March 24, 1848. He received a common school educa- tion up to the age of twelve years, when the death of his mother compelled him to go out into the world to make his own living. He worked as a farm hand until he was twenty-three years old, when he went to learn the carpenter's trade. He purchased a home in Keeneyville, followed his trade there until 1877, and then bought his present farm of eighty acres northeast of that village. He still continued to work at his trade for some ten years, but has since devoted his whole attention to agri- culture. Mr. Wilcox was married March 24, 1869, to Mary L. Dickinson, a daughter of Nathaniel Dickinson, of Middlebury township, where she was born August 13, 1844. Five children have been the fruits of this union, viz: Jesse N., born February 10, 1870, and died September 5, 1889; Raymond C., born January 19, 1873, and died March 6, following; Agnes M., born January 5, 1875, wife of Warren Colgrove, of Savona, New York; Charles E., born June 28, 1878, and Ruby L., born August 23, 1880, and died October 14, of the same year. Mr. Wilcox is a Prohibitionist, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F., and the Patrons of Husbandry.

NATHANIEL DICKINSON, a native of New York state, was born September 18, 1818, a son of Arnold and Mary (Sutton) Dickinson. His father was a son of Nathaniel Dickinson, who came with his brothers, Francis and Arnold, from England to America about 1770. Nathaniel, Sr., and one of his brothers were soldiers in the Revolution. The subject of this sketch was reared in New York and came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1839. He purchased a farm four miles north of Holiday, in Middlebury township, but was obliged to cut a road through the forest from Holiday to his farm before he could reach the latter. He cleared and improved this property, and resided upon it up to his death, July 7, 1869. He married Eliza L. Smith, a daughter of David Smith. She was born in Hartford, Connecticut, Jan- uary 2, 1819, and is the mother of five children, viz: Mary L., wife of R. E. Wilcox; George W., a farmer of Middlebury; Fidelia I., wife of Albert E. Hackett, of Smeth- port, Mckean county; John J., of Middlebury, and a daughter that died in infancy. Nathaniel Dickinson was a well educated and public-spirited citizen, and quite ac-

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tive in public affairs. Politically, a Republican, he filled nearly all of the town- ship offices at different periods. His widow resides with her son, John J.

GEORGE W. DICKINSON, eldest son of Nathaniel Dickinson, was born in Mid- dlebury township, Tioga county, November 15, 1845. He was educated in the com- mon schools and the academies of the county, and also attended Bryant and Strat- ton's Commercial College, Binghamton, New York. When nineteen years of age he commenced teaching, and taught at Losey Creek, Keeneyville, Shortsville, Roe and Treat's. He remained on the home farm until twenty-three years old, and then became book-keeper for a lumber firm in Shippen township. Soon after he pur- chased his present farm of fifty acres, which was then covered by the primitive forest, and has since resided upon it. In 1887 he bought seventy-two acres more, a short distance northeast of the original homestead, and has devoted his attention principally to farming. Mr. Dickinson was married November 15, 1868, to Myra J. Keeney, a daughter of Richard M. Keeney, of Middlebury township. They are the parents of two children, viz: Anna M., born March 19, 1871, and died June 21, 1880, and Burton N., born June 24, 1881. The family are members of the Free Baptist church, in which Mr. Dickinson has been choir leader for many years. In politics, a Republican, he has held all the township offices except constable and justice of the peace, and has been clerk for many years. Mr. Dickinson is president of the Tioga County Grange Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and a member of the executive committee of the State Grange. Both he and wife are members of the P. of H., and he has always taken a deep interest in the growth and prosperity of that society, to which he has devoted a great deal of valuable time.

JOHN SHAFF, a native of Saratoga Springs, New York, born in 1776, was a . son of William Shaff, who came from Germany to America and fought in the Revo- lution. John was reared in New York state, and married Annis McCarty, who bore him a family of eleven children, viz: Nancy, widow of Darius Dickinson; Stephen C., a resident of Middlebury; Betsey, William, Margaret, Jane and Angeline, all of whom are dead; Rosanna, widow of Moses French; Lucinda, deceased; Welling- ton, a farmer in Lawrence township, and John H., a resident of Potter county. Mr. Shaff and family came to Tioga county in 1839, and located on a farm in Mid- dlebury township. Here his wife died in 1857, and himself in 1871.

STEPHEN C. SHAFF, oldest son of John Shaff, was born in Schoharie county, New York, April 4, 1809, and came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in January, 1836. He purchased eighty acres of timber land in Middlebury township, and set to work clearing and improving it, making agriculture and lumbering his life vocation. He married Cynthia West, a daughter of John West. She was born February 19, 1806, and became the mother of nine children, viz: Mary A., wife of A. E. Rowley, of Middlebury township; Henry J. and Porter D., both residents of Middlebury; Lois, wife of John E. Roe, of the same township; Asa, James A. and Hulda, all of whom are dead; Matilda, wife of Jacob Schaffner, of Lindley, New York, and Alonzo D., of Middlebury. Mrs. Shaff died September 24, 1875. In July, 1862, Mr. Shaff en- listed in Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served until February, 1863, when he was discharged on account of sickness. In politics, he is a stanch Republican.

HENRY J. SHAFF, eldest son of Stephen C. Shaff, was born in Madison county, New York, September 10, 1834, and was less than two years old when his parents

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came to Tioga county. He was reared on the homestead in Middlebury township, and in the spring of 1854 went to Wisconsin, and worked in the lumber woods of that State a few years. In 1858 he and his brother, Porter D., purchased the old homestead of 205 acres, on which they both now reside. Here he followed farming up to 1866, when he and Newbury Cloos, Jr., built a saw-mill on Losey Creek. He followed that business up to December, 1894, quite successfully. Mr. Shaff has been identified with many of the leading industries of the county, and every dollar he now possesses was earned by hard work and rigid economy. He was mar- ried September 6, 1861, to Amarilla Cloos, eldest child of Newbury Cloos, Jr. She was born in Deerfield township, April 1, 1844, and is the mother of three children, viz: George, deceased; George N., a resident of Belmont, New York, and Sophia E., wife of Matthew Haskell, of Middlebury township. In politics, Mr. Shaff is a Democrat, and has served as a school director three years. He is a member of the K. of H., and one of the enterprising farmers of the community.

PORTER D. SHAFF, second son of Stephen C. Shaff, and grandson of John Shaff, was born in Madison county, New York, October 13, 1835, three months prior to the coming of his parents to Tioga county. He was reared in Middlebury township, and attended the common schools of his district in boyhood. With the exception of a few months in 1865, when employed by the United States government, and about one year spent in Illinois and Wisconsin, he has always been engaged in farm- ing and lumbering in this county. His homestead farm contains 207 acres, and he also owns 1,193 acres of timber land in Lunanburg county, Virginia. On September 7, 1861, he married Mary J. Dickinson, a daughter of Darius Dickinson. She was born December 20, 1835, and has five children, named as follows: Stephen C., a resident of South Dakota; James R., of Middlebury; Ida A., wife of Burt Sherburn, a resident of the same township; Clarence E., and Nettie J., wife of Orrin Doan, both residents of Middlebury. In politics, Mr. Shaff is a stanch Republican, and has been a school director for the past twenty-five years, and assistant assessor three terms. Mr. Shaff and sons, James and Clarence, are members of the I. O. O. F., and themselves and wives are connected with the Patrons of Husbandry. He is one of the progressive, enterprising farmers of the county.

ALONZO D. SHAFF, youngest son of Stephen C. Shaff, was born in Middlebury township, Tioga county, April 9, 1851, obtained a common school education. and worked for his brother, Porter D., until his majority. He then began working out as a farm hand, and at the end of six years purchased the farm on which he now re- sides. Eight years later he sold a part of it to his father, and again went to work as a laborer, lumberman, and farmer, on rented farms, returning to his old property in 1894, which is owned by his father. Mr. Shaff was married January 15, 1876, to Louise Eggleston, a daughter of E. H. Eggleston, of Middlebury township. She was born April 23, 1856, and is the mother of nine children, as follows: Cynthia, Edwin, Mary, Iva, Grant, Grace, Burr, who died in infancy; Ethel, and Harold. Mr. and Mrs. Shaff are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, he is an independent voter.

GILBERT B. OWLETT, SR., was born in Kent county, England, April 11, 1799. His father, Thomas Owlett, was a farmer, and the son adopted the same vocation. In 1822 he married Miss Martha Pope, and in 1831 came with his family to the

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United States, locating in Saratoga county, New York. Later he removed to Otsego county, New York, and in 1840 came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and purchased a farm of 140 acres on the line of Chatham and Middlebury townships. Here he resided until his death, August 22, 1877. His farm then passed into the possession of his son Benjamin, and is still owned by him. Mr. Owlett was thrice married. His first wife died in 1851, leaving eleven children, as follows: Thomas M., a deceased farmer of Chatham township; Martha, wife of Edwin Temple, of Corning, New York; Gilbert B., a retired farmer, Keeneyville; Jane, widow of Charles Close; Mary Ann, wife of Albert Foote; Mrs. Rebecca Foote, of Elkland; Susan, wife of James Hamilton, of Jackson township; John, a deceased farmer of Chatham; Sally A., wife of Charles H. Van Dusen; Benjamin, a retired farmer, Keeneyville, and Joseph, a farmer of Chatham township. His second wife, Mrs. Phila Lee, was a daughter of Julius Seely. She died in 1860, leaving two chil- dren: Henry J., of Horseheads, New York, and Edward Howland, an attorney of Wellsboro. His third wife, Mrs. Adelia Van Osten, nee Ford, survived him a few years. Mr. Owlett was a representative pioneer farmer. Rugged physical powers, practical wisdom and strict integrity were his distinguishing characteristics. When he came to Tioga county he took possession of an uncleared tract of land in an almost unbroken wilderness. At the time of his death five of his sons were set- tled on adjoining farms, the family possessions embracing over 1,000 acres of land.

GILBERT B. OWLETT, retired farmer, Keeneyville, was born in Kent county, England, June 26, 1826, and was five years old when the family came from England to the United States, and fourteen when they settled in Middlebury township, Tioga county. Here he grew to manhood, and at the age of twenty-two years pur- chased a farm of eighty-two acres of heavily timbered land in Middlebury town- ship. This has since been cleared, added to and improved, until his present farm embraces 225 acres, and is one of the best in this part of the county. In 1890 Mr. Owlett rented his farm and moved to Keeneyville, where he purchased a hotel prop- erty, which he has since remodeled and fitted up as a residence. Mr. Owlett has been twice married. In 1848 he married Sarah Temple, a daughter of Maj. Russell Temple, of Chatham township, who bore him three children, viz: Jane, wife of Lawrence Martin, of Farmington; James H., a farmer of Chatham, and Madella, wife of Charles O. Churchill, of Chatham township. Mrs. Owlett died June 9, 1888. On March 14, 1895, Mr. Owlett married Julia Roushy, a daughter of Jacob Roushy, of Chemung county, New York. In politics, a Republican, he is one of the prominent and substantial citizens of Middlebury.

CALVIN HAMMOND, a son of Ebenezer and Sally Hammond, was born in War- ren county, New York, November 1, 1820. He attended the common schools of his native county, and on attaining his majority came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and found employment in a saw-mill at Hammond. A short time later he bought the plant and carried on quite an extensive lumber business, subsequently purchas- ing the farm which his two sons now own. Mr. Hammond was an energetic business man, upright and honest in all his dealings, and had many friends in the community. He was married in Warren county, New York, to Louisa Wells, who bore him five children, viz: Janette, wife of Andrew Briggs, of Wellsboro; Alice M., widow of Henry Hymes; Emmer, wife of Frank Steele, of Bradford county; Frank, and

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George, the latter deceased. Mrs. Hammond died August 29, 1860, and her husband was again married, to Emma A. Stone. Three children were born to this union, viz: Arthur G., of Middlebury; Jennie and Ida. Mr. Hammond died May 5, 1876, and his widow, December 21, 1891.

FRANK HAMMOND, superintendent for J. B. Weed & Company, at Slate Run, Lycoming county, was born in Middlebury township, Tioga county, and is the only son living of Calvin and Louisa (Wells) Hammond. He obtained a good education in the public schools of Tioga and Wellsboro, and at Mansfield Business College. He worked on the home farm until twenty years of age, and then followed lumbering in Middlebury township for two years. He next cultivated a farm for three years, and conducted a store at Hammond for two years. At the end of this period he was appointed foreman with J. B. Weed & Company, lumber operators, and was soon after made shipping clerk. He worked for that firm three years, and then entered the employ of C. B. Farr & Company, lumber dealers, and later engaged with the Union Tanning Company. After a year spent with the latter, he returned to J. B. Weed & Company, with whom he has since filled the position of superintendent at Slate Run. He owns and lives on a part of the old homestead, and also owns an additional tract of seventy-eight acres in Middlebury township. Mr. Hammond was married August 20, 1876, to Amy Thurston, a daughter of A. K. Thurston, of Middlebury, and has two children, Keith C. and Callie M. The family belong to the First Baptist church, at Hammond. In politics, Mr. Hammond is a Republican, and has filled the office of school director one term. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the F. & A. M., and the K. O. T. M. societies, and is recognized as one of the enterprising citizens of the community.

ARTHUR G. HAMMOND, only son of Calvin and Emma (Stone) Hammond, was born on his present farm, in Middlebury township, October 20, 1867, and obtained a good education in the district schools and Tioga graded schools. He is living on the old homestead, a well-improved farm of 160 acres near Hammond, and has devoted his attention to agriculture. On February 22, 1888, he married Martha Simonds, a daughter of Oscar Simonds, of Middlebury township, and has one daugh- ter, Hazel. The family are members of the First Baptist church, at Hammond. In politics, Mr. Hammond is a Republican, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. He is one of the substantial young farmers of Middlebury.

HENRY H. POTTER, a son of Benjamin Potter, was born in Rhode Island, Sep- tember 15, 1791, and removed with his parents to Onondaga county, New York, in 1804. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving under General Scott, and partici- pated in the battle of Lundy's Lane and other engagements on the Canadian fron- tier. He was thrice married. His first wife was a Miss Ketchum, who bore him one son, Alanson E., now a resident of Spring Lake, Minnesota. His second wife was Abigail Maxwell, to which union were born three children, viz: Howard H., who died in Wisconsin in 1878; Jane, deceased wife of A. A. McLean, and Delia A., widow of A. C. Cole. About 1824 Mr. Potter removed to Spring Mills, Allegany county, New York, and built the first mill at that place, thus giving the hamlet its name. In 1827 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and kept the tavern at Lawrenceville, afterwards known as Slosson's Hotel. Here his second wife died, December 17, 1828. On March 12, 1829, he married Malinda G. Stevens, a daughter

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of Martin Stevens, an early settler of Middlebury township. To this union were born eight children, viz: Harriet, deceased wife of the late W. H. Currier, of New Hampshire; Jerome B., and Angie, wife of H. E. Potter, both residents of Wells- boro; Benjamin B., who lives in St. Clair, Michigan; Julia A., wife of L. A. Potter, and George W., both residents of Middlebury; Albert W., of Mansfield, and Alice, wife of Poleman Brown, of Middlebury. In 1830 Mr. Potter removed to Tioga and for several years kept the old Willard Hotel. During the building of the Corning and Blossburg railroad in 1839-40, he took contracts for two sections of the road bed, on which he lost over $4,000 by the failure of the party with whom he made the contract. Mr. Potter, however, paid his employes to the last cent. For several years afterwards he was seriously embarrassed, but eventually succeeded in recovering from his financial troubles. In 1843 he located at Middlebury Center, where he kept hotel for many years, the place becoming widely known as "Potters." He was elected county commissioner in 1843, and sheriff of the county in 1846. For thirty years he was postmaster at Middlebury Center, the office originally being named "Potter" in his honor. He died March 24, 1879, in the eighty-eighth year of his age, and his wife, January 8, 1886, in her seventy-ninth year.

JEROME B. POTTER was born in Tioga, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1833, and is the eldest son of Henry H. and Malinda G. Potter. He was educated in the common schools and at Alfred Seminary, in Allegany county, New York. About 1855 he embarked in the mercantile and lumber business at Middlebury Center, continuing four years. In the spring of 1861 he was appointed to a clerkship in the United States treasury department, Washington, D. C., which position he resigned four years later on account of ill health. Returning to his home, he was elected sheriff of Tioga county in 1867 and served one term. He next engaged in the real estate and lumber business which he followed up to 1880. In 1876 he was appointed one of the inspectors of internal revenue during the Centennial Exposition at Philadel- phia. In 1878 he was elected sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives at Harrisburg and served through two sessions. In 1881 he became private secretary to Hon. John I. Mitchell, United States Senator from Pennsylvania. He was also appointed clerk of the Senate committee on pensions, serving in that capacity nine years. In December, 1895, he was appointed one of the assistant door-keepers of the House of Representatives at Washington, a position he still holds. Mr. Potter re- tains his residence in Wellsboro and owns the old homestead in Middlebury town- ship. He was married December 3, 1858, to Amy E. Rockwell, a daughter of Nor- man and Sophia Rockwell, of Cherry Flats, to which union have been born nine children, as follows: Cora L., wife of T. C. Sullivan, of Wellsboro; May M., de- ceased; Burton M., an attorney of Wellsboro; Edwin S., editor of the Pathfinder, Washington, D. C .; Margaret S., a physician of the same city; Maud A., wife of C. H. Seaton, of Washington; Frances W., a teacher in the Washington public schools; Helen H. and Shirley B. Mr. Potter has been a life-long Republican and a stanch adherent of the principles and measures of that party. He was a delegate from this congressional district to the National Republican Convention in 1856, and also to the National Republican Convention of 1872.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 104

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