History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 114

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

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BENJAMIN S. BOWEN, a son of Emmer Bowen, Sr., was born in Deerfield town-

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ship, Tioga county, in 1807, and spent his entire life on the old homestead. He married Hannah C., a daughter of Jabez B. and Thankful (Champlin) Whitaker, who came from Rhode Island. Mrs. Bowen's brother, John C. Whitaker, was a leading physician of Tioga county, and also filled the office of associate judge. She became the mother of ten children, viz: Laura, who married J. D. Ray; . John, Samuel B., Mary, who married J. W. Allen; George C., Benjamin F., Sarah M., wife of Dr. A. J. Heggie; Emmer H., Ezra R. and William H. Mr. Bowen died in 1889, aged eighty-two years. From early manhood he was a member of the Free Baptist church, and in politics, a Republican.

GEORGE C. BOWEN, son of Benjamin S. and Hannah C. Bowen, was born in Deerfield township, Tioga county, November 11, 1838, and was reared in his native township. He was educated in the common schools and at Union Academy, then under the charge of Samuel B. Price, its founder. In 1859 he commenced clerk- ing, and followed that vocation until 1874. Politically, he has always been a Re- publican. In the winter of 1874-75, lie was doorkeeper of the Senate at Harris- burg. In 1875 he was elected register and recorder of Tioga county, and was re-elected three times in succession, filling the office four terms. During President Harrison's administration, he was private secretary for the Commissioner of Cus- toms two years, at Washington, D. C. Since 1892 he has made his home in Elmira, New York, and is at present a commercial traveler. In 1860, Mr. Bowen married Hannah P. Stebbins, a daughter of Ebenezer and Hannah (Pierce) Stebbins, of Jamestown, New York, and has three children: Charles R., Martha S., wife of G. J. Stewart, and Anna P. Mr. Bowen is a member of the I. O. O. F.,and the K. of H.

JOHN GOODSPEED, SR., was born in Vermont, in 1801, a son of Cornelius and 1 Phoebe Goodspeed, and grandson of Anthony and Abigail Goodspeed. In 1813 the family came to Knoxville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where the parents spent the remaining years of their lives. John grew to manhood amidst the scenes of pioneer days and acquired a good education for that period. He taught school and also followed surveying, being employed by the Bingham estate as one of their land agents and surveyors up to 1836. In that capacity he became widely known throughout the Cowanesque valley. About this time he engaged in merchandising at Knoxville, which business he followed many years, and also dealt quite extensively in lumber. His long residence in Knoxville and his business enterprise entitles him to recognition as one of its leading pioneers. Mr. Goodspeed died in that town, August 26, 1864, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. His wife, Orril( Scott) Good- speed, a daughter of Luke Scott, survived him one year, dying August 13, 1865, in the sixty-seventh year of her age. They were the parents of seven children, named as follows: Francis, John, Charles, Emily, Samuel, Charlotte and James.

JOHN GOODSPEED, JR., was born in Knoxville, Tioga county, November 15, 1822, second son of John Goodspeed, Sr. He was reared in his native town and there engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed until his removal to Sa- binsville, where he died August 23, 1895. He married Melissa A. Phillips, a native of Shippen township, Tioga county. She was born June 21, 1828, a daughter of Richard and Amity Phillips, a grand-daughter of Sylvester and Rachel Phillips, and great-grand-daughter of Richard and Mercy Phillips, and died in Sabinsville, Janu-

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ary 5, 1894. They were the parents of four children, viz: John Francis, James C., Mary and Ella.

JOHN F. GOODSPEED was born in Westfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, De- cember 8, 1854, and is the eldest son of John and Melissa A. (Phillips) Goodspeed. He was reared in Deerfield township, and educated in the public schools of Knoxville, Pennsylvania, and Elmira, New York. For two years he was engaged in the grocery trade at Knoxville, and in 1884 located at Sabinsville, where for ten years he was manager of a general store. In 1894 he embarked in the grocery, and boot and shoe business at Sabinsville, which he continued up to the spring of 1896. In politics, he is a Republican, and has filled the office of treasurer of Clymer town- ship since 1891. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and also of the K. of H. Mr. Goodspeed was married January 30, 1877, to Ida Johnson, a daughter of Joel and Caroline (Ives) Johnson, of Knoxville. They are the parents of three children, named as follows: Leon F., Charles L. and James G.

JAMES C. GOODSPEED, now a prominent insurance man of Rochester, New York, was born in Deerfield township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, November 2, 1858, the second son of John and Melissa A. (Phillips) Goodspeed, and is a de- scendant of one of the oldest families of the county. He was reared in Deerfield, attended the public schools of that township, and later the Elmira Academy, and graduated from Warner's Business College, Elmira, New York, in the class of 1879. In 1881 he embarked in the general insurance business at Knoxville, which he successfully prosecuted here in connection with dealing in real estate, until his re- moval to Rochester, New York. Mr. Goodspeed was married December 15, 1880, to Gertrude Crandall, a daughter of Silas G. and Mary (Weeks) Crandall, of Nelson township, Tioga county. They are the parents of seven children, viz: Mary M., Eva G., Helen C., Grace, Gertrude, Irving and Jeannie S. In politics, Mr. Good- speed is a Democrat, and has filled several local offices in Knoxville. He is a R. A. M. in the Masonic order, also a K. T. of Tyagaghton Commandery.

CHARLES CARPENTER, a native of New England, was one of the first settlers of the Cowanesque valley. He located on the site of Osceola, but a few years later removed to Deerfield township and settled on the farm now occupied by the widow of Lorentes Carpenter, which he partially cleared and improved. He died upon that farm, as did also his parents, who came with him to Tioga county. His wife was Lucy Darling, and they had a family of six children, viz: James, Abijah, Charles, Sylvia, who married N. P. Robinson; Lyman, and Samuel.

LYMAN CARPENTER, a son of Charles Carpenter, was born May 5, 1796, and was reared to manhood in Deerfield township. After his father's death, he suc- ceeded to the homestead farm, but later in life sold it and moved to Brookfield township and thence to Farmington, where he died February 19, 1873. He was twice married. His first wife was Almira Cook, a daughter of Levi and Elizabeth (Calkins) Cook, who bore him a family of twelve children, as follows: Elizabeth, who married Curtis Tiffany; Lorentes, Arthur, Polly, whose first husband was Eldridge Rathbone, and second husband John Casner; Levi, Celestia, who married Caleb Stadon; Sylvia, who married Charles Cronrath; Charles, Valores B., Maxey B., Samantha, who first married Wallace Green and afterwards Norman Bovee, and George B. Mr. Carpenter's second wife was Mrs. Alta Elwood.

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LORENTES CARPENTER, eldest son of Lyman and Almira Carpenter, was born in Deerfield township, Tioga county, April 4, 1822. He was reared on the homestead, and during the sixties located on the farm now the home of his son, Willard S., where he resided six years. He then purchased the Carpenter homestead, and lived there until his death, October 7, 1893. He married Lois Seelye, a daughter of Elan- son and Mercy (Howland) Seelye, May 14, 1846. On the paternal side, she was a grand-daughter of Ebenezer and Mahetabel (Todd) Seelye, and on the maternal side, of John and Lois (Eddy) Howland, all pioneers of Tioga county. She bore him the following children: Mercy S., deceased; Willard S., A. Delphine, who married Ephraim Shaut; Della, who married Grant Seely; Hattie, Belle, widow of C. Ells- worth Clark; Clara, deceased wife of John Northrop; Frank, and Frances, twins. Frank married Mamie Harrison, and Frances is dead. Mr. Carpenter was a mem- ber of the Free Will Baptist church, and in politics, a Democrat. His widow lives on the old homestead.

WILLARD S. CARPENTER, eldest son of Lorentes Carpenter, was born in Deer- field township, Tioga county, November 24, 1848. He was reared upon the home- stead farm, and obtained his education in the public schools and Union Academy. He has spent his entire life in Deerfield township, and has resided upon his present farm of 225 acres since 1886, sixty acres of which he cleared. Mr. Carpenter was married May 14, 1873, to Emma Daniels, a daughter of Henry F. and Esther (Close) Daniels, of Deerfield township, who has had four children, viz: Leah, wife of Frank J. Doan; Fred L., Ada E., and Walter L., deceased. In politics, he is a Democrat, and in religion, a member of the Baptist church. He is one of the representative farmers of Deerfield township, as well as a descendant of two of the oldest families of Tioga county.

ELEAZER CLARK was born in Burrellsville, Rhode Island, October 6, 1788, a son of Capt. Eleazer and Prudence Clark. His father was a farmer and cooper, was captain of a company during the Revolution, and lived and died in Rhode Island. Our subject was reared in that State, was a cooper by trade, and came to Deerfield township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, about 1817, locating on the farm now owned and occupied by his son, Elias H. It embraces 200 acres, which he cleared and improved. He followed his trade in connection with agriculture for upwards of forty years, and was regarded as the best mechanic in his line for miles around. Mr. Clark was twice married. His first wife was Abigail Armstrong, of Rhode Island, who became the mother of five children, viz: Nancy, who married Emmer Bowen; Roswell, William, Eleazer, and Abigail, who married Enoch Steere. His second wife of Rosamond Salisbury, a daughter of John Salisbury, of Elkland, Tioga county. Five children were born to this union, viz: Erastus, George W., Sarah J., wife of Franklin Fairchilds; Elias H. and Susan H. Mr. Clark died on the old homestead in Deerfield township, October 7, 1862, being one day over seventy-four years old. He was an enterprising and progressive farmer, a good citizen and kind neighbor. In politics, he was a Democrat, and always took a com- mendable interest in public affairs.

ELIAS H. CLARK, youngest son of Eleazer and Rosamond Clark, was born on the old homestead in Deerfield township, Tioga county, April 28, 1836, and ob- tained his education in the common schools and Union Academy. He has spent

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his entire life upon the old homestead, which he inherited from his father. He has been an extensive tobacco grower since 1882, and is a breeder of Holstein cattle, and has been a breeder of Hambletonian and Percheron horses. Mr. Clark was mar- ried May 11, 1862, to Marietta Close, a daughter of David and Maria (Sweet) Close, of Westfield, Tioga county. Six children have blessed this union, viz: Byron L., Cecil A., Rosamond M., Clare E. and Horton E. In politics, Mr. Clark is a Re- publican, is connected with the E. A. U., and is recognized as a progressive and enterprising farmer.

CECIL A. CLARK, son of Elias H. and Marietta (Close) Clark, was born on the old Clark homestead in Deerfield township, Tioga county, February 13, 1864, where he also grew to manhood. He was educated at the Osceola High School, and since attaining his majority has been engaged in farming. In 1884 he removed to Brook- field township, remaining there until 1894, when he located in Westfield town- ship, where he has since been engaged in farming, making a specialty of raising potatoes and buying and selling stock. Mr. Clark was married December 21, 1885, to Ida Grist, a daughter of Chester and Amanda (Bowman) Grist, of Athens, Penn- sylvania, and has four children, viz: Earl E., Marietta, Ivan L., and Manning. In politics, he is a Republican; is a member of the F. & A. M., and the I. O. O. F., and is one of the successful farmers of the township.

C. ELSWORTH CLARK was born in Osceola, Tioga county, August 25, 1861, a son of Eleazer and Julia (Johnson) Clark, of Steuben county, New York. His father was a native of Tioga county, Pennsylvania, a son of Eleazer Clark, Sr. Elsworth was educated in Osceola and at the business college in Elmira, New York, graduating in both places. He later took charge of the old Clark homestead in Steuben county, and afterwards of the old Carpenter homestead in Tioga county, and was a thrifty, prosperous farmer. He married Belle Carpenter, a daughter of Lorentes and Lois Carpenter, who survives him. Mr. Clark died November 29, 1893, leaving two children, Clarence E. and Loren C.

JOSEPH FALKNER, SR., a native of New York state, was one of the early settlers of Deerfield township, Tioga county, where he cleared and improved a farm now the home of the widow of his sons, William and Joseph. Here he died in 1838. He married Phoebe Monroe, and reared a large family, eight of whom grew to maturity. William served in the Civil War and died in a hospital at Washington, D. C., June 21, 1864; Margaret, married William Hoskins; Levi, died in Knox- ville; Elizabeth, married Silas Finch; Mary J., married John Cook; Lucinda, mar- ried Smith Cornell; Joseph, died in Deerfield township, and Phoebe, married Miles Finch.

JOSEPH FALKNER, JR., was born on the old homestead in Deerfield township, Tioga county, April 25, 1829, and spent the greater portion of his life thereon, making farming his vocation. On June 29, 1865, he married Mrs. Eleanor Falk- ner, widow of his brother, William, and daughter of William and Polly (Humphrey) Wass, pioneers of Chatham township. Mrs. Falkner was born near Elmira, New York, but was reared in Chatham township, Tioga county. She was married at her father's home to William Falkner, after whose death she became the wife of his brother, Joseph, who died March 16, 1895. In politics, Mr. Falkner was a Democrat.

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LEVI FAULKNER was born in Deerfield township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, November 21, 1814, and died at Knoxville, January 20, 1889, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. He was a son of Joseph and Phoebe (Monroe) Faulkner, of New York, who were among the early settlers of Tioga county. He was reared in Deer- field, and after his parents' death had charge of the homestead farm until his mar- riage, when he started out in life for himself, settling on a farm immediately east of Knoxville, which is yet in possession of his widow. Mr. Faulkner was twice married. His first wife was Polly Butler, of Otsego county, New York. She died September 1, 1863, in her fiftieth year. In September, 1864, he married Miss Sarah A. Dearman, a daughter of George and Olive (Beach) Dearman, and sister of Albert and Justus Dearman, a sketch of whom appears in this chapter. She is the mother of two children: Mary I., and Wilson, the latter of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Faulkner resides in Knoxville. Mr. Faulkner dealt quite ex- tensively in live stock, was a careful, honest business man, and was respected most by those who knew him best.

SILAS BILLINGS took a conspicuous part in the lumbering business on the Cowanesque river and Pine creek in early days, and for many years was one of the leading operators in this section of the State. He was born in Amherst, Massa- chusetts, May 23, 1790, and in 1820 settled on Seely creek, in Southport township, Chemung county, New York, where he operated a linseed oil and wool-carding mill. In 1822 he sold his factory and removed to Knoxville, Tioga county, Penn- sylvania, purchasing large tracts of timber lands on the Cowanesque. Here he built an extensive pearl ashery in 1823, and the same year he and his brother-in- law, Col. Hiram Freeborn, erected a distillery, which business he carried on several years. He also opened a store in the village and was the leading merchant of Knoxville for a long period. In 1824 he erected a linseed-oil mill, and the follow- ing year a grist-mill; operated several saw-mills and a tannery at different periods, and conducted a hotel for the accommodation of travelers from 1826 to 1840, thus setting an example of business enterprise to the people of the valley. During this period he made extensive purchases of timber lands on Pine creek, operated saw-mills in what is now Gaines township, and rafted the lumber down Pine creek to Har- risburg and other southern markets. Mr. Billings was one of the most prompt and reliable lumbermen that did business on the Susquehanna in those days. In many respects he was quite eccentric, but was frank, outspoken and scrupulously honest. When he came into Tioga county the forest along Pine creek was almost unbroken, and no man of his day in the county made a better record in the de- velopment of its great lumber interests. For seventeen years he labored in the mill, in the woods and on the river, getting his lumber and timber to market. In 1840 he removed from Knoxville to Elmira, New York, and purchased the first brick building erected in that city, in which he lived the remaining years of his life, dying August 28, 1853, in his sixty-fourth year. While residing in Elmira he still kept an eye on his business affairs in Tioga county, and after recuperating his broken health, he returned occasionally to Gaines township, where his sons, Silas X. and Charles F., and son-in-law, P. S. S. McNeil, were living, and prose- cuted his business with increased vigor up to the time of his death. Mr. Billings was married four times. His first wife was Lauriette Freeborn, a daughter of

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David Freeborn, of Cazenovia, Madison county, New York. She died in Cazenovia, leaving three children, viz: Lauriette, David and Nancy. His second wife was Abby Freeborn, his first wife's sister, who became the mother of Silas X., Abbie B., widow of P. S. S. McNeil, who lives in Elmira, and Charles F., a resident of the same city. Mrs. Billings died at Knoxville, February 16, 1831, and he was again married to Rosette Chapman, who bore him one daughter, Mary, now the widow of John Dexter. His last wife was Rachel Sloan, a native of Philadelphia, who survived her husband three years.

SILAS X. BILLINGS, for many years one of the most prominent and successful citizens of Tioga county, was born in Knoxville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 2, 1826, a son of Silas and Abby (Freeborn) Billings. His father was an extensive lumberman on the Cowanesque river and Pine creek, and Silas X. thus became acquainted with the details of the lumber business. In 1840 his father removed to Elmira, New York, where our subject acquired a good English educa- tion in the Elmira Academy. In 1847 he was sent to take charge of the timber lands owned by his father in Gaines and Elk townships, located on Pine creek, and Cedar and Slate runs. Here a steam saw-mill was erected under the management of Mr. Billings and P. S. S. McNeil. In 1853 his father died, and Silas X. was appointed one of the administrators to settle the estate, which he successfully car- ried out at the end of two years, taking his own share of the estate in wild lands in Tioga county. In 1855 he located permanently at Gaines, where he continued to reside until his death. January 5, 1865, he married Miss Sarah M. Locke, a daugh- ter of Jesse and Lura Locke, who survives him, and now resides in Wellsboro. Mr. Billings was a man of great energy, methodical business habits, and unsullied integrity. He purchased large tracts of coal and timber lands, erected mills, stores, tanneries and hotels, and was eminently successful in all his undertakings. He was prominently associated with the early struggles to obtain and keep alive the charter for the Jersey Shore, Pine Creek and Buffalo railroad (now the Pine Creek), which in the face of great opposition succeeded, though he did not live to see the road built. A few months before his death, he was prevailed upon by his friends to seek medical relief and repose, and went to New York City to consult eminent physicians. On his return, while visiting his sister, Mrs. McNeil, at Elmira, New York, he was stricken with an attack of Bright's disease, from which, however, he rallied and returned to his home in Gaines. Some three weeks later he was again prostrated by the same insidious disease, and on the morning of October 13, 1879, his spirit took its flight. His remains were interred in the Wellsboro Cemetery, where a beautiful granite monument, erected by his loving wife, marks his last resting place. Politically, he was a life-long Democrat, but aside from performing the duties of citizenship, took no active interest in public affairs. Mr. Billings was a genial companion, a true and steadfast friend, an affectionate husband, generous and open hearted to the poor and suffering, and ever ready to give his encouragement and support to the upbuilding of the social and material interests of his native county.

CHARLES FREEBORN BILLINGS was born in the old Billings homestead at Knoxville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, erected by his father in 1823, and yet standing in the western limits of the borough, February 16, 1831, and is the young-

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est son of Silas and Abby Billings. He spent his childhood in his native town. and removed with his father to Elmira, New York, in 1840, where he attended school until sixteen years of age. He then returned to Tioga county to assist his brother, Silas X., in the lumber business established by their father, where his delicate constitution rapidly improved, drinking in the pure air of the pine forest and eating the homely fare of camp life. After becoming familiar with the lumber business, he had charge of various departments, finally returning to Elmira and spending two years at school. After his father's death he gave his attention to the farming interests of the large estate, while his brother had charge of the lum- ber business. In the winter of 1858 Mr. Billings met Miss Helena Sweet, fourth daughter of Rev. Elisha Sweet, a Methodist Episcopal minister then laboring in the circuit embracing Knoxville, and September 13, 1859, the young couple were married and settled on a fine farm of 225 acres on Troup's creek, in Deerfield town- ship, a short distance from Knoxville. Here they resided some twenty years, when the death of his brother placed an estate of about 40,000 acres of timber, coal and farm lands, lying in Tioga and Potter counties, under his control, besides one-half of the personal property. Removing to Elmira, he has since devoted his attention principally to the management of the property which then came to himself and sister, Mrs. McNeil. Mr. Billings has been identified with the development of his native county since early manhood, and usually spends the summer months in Knoxville. He assisted in securing the construction of the Addison and Penn- sylvania railroad, which has proven a great benefit to the Cowanesque valley and the vast lumbering and coal interests of western Tioga. Mr. and Mrs. Billings are the parents of four daughters, viz: Carrie, wife of Preston Gilbert, of New York City; Jessie, wife of Willis Beach, of Knoxville; Abbie, wife of Horace Brewster, of Elmira, and Louise, wife of Edward T. Youmans, a resident of the same city. Politically, Mr. Billings voted with the Republican party until after the presidential election of 1876, when believing that Samuel J. Tilden was the legally-elected president of the United States, and was defrauded out of the office by the Republican leaders, he left that party and has since been an independent voter, though he generally supports the Democracy on state and national issues. Possessing large means, he gives liberally to religious, charitable and educational objects. The Billings Park at Knoxville is one of his gifts to the people of his native village.

COL. HIRAM FREEBORN was born in Cazenovia, New York, in 1799, a son of David Freeborn, and there grew to manhood. He came to Tioga county in 1822 with Silas Billings, his brother-in-law, and located at Knoxville, where he became a partner of Mr. Billings in a distillery, which he subsequently carried on by him- self for many years. He also engaged in farming, clearing up the land now occu- pied by his son, D. L., upon which he lived and died. He married Cynthia Lorinda Thompson, a daughter of Joseph Thompson, and a native of Otsego county, New York. To this union were born three children, viz: Levantia W., who married Levi B. Reynolds; DeLancy, of Knoxville, and Viola, who married William Mead. Colonel Freeborn held various township offices, and was prominent in the militia during the early years of the county's history. He was a Democrat until the breaking out of the war, when he became a Republican. In religion, he was a

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 114

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