History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 119

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

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GEORGE CHAMPLIN, a native of Charleston, Rhode Island, born September 29, 1793, was a son of Joshua Champlin, and came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, about 1821. He worked a farm on shares in Deerfield township for one year, and in 1822 he purchased a farm in Harrison township, Potter county, cleared up a part of it, and resided there fifteen years. In 1837 he returned to Tioga county, and pur- chased the land in Westfield township now owned by his sons, James and John, upon which he resided until his death. On January 6, 1822, he married Loncy Works, a daughter of James and Rachel (Cass) Works, of Otsego county, New York, to

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which union were born eight children, viz: William, Robert H., Mary M., James, Emma A., wife of Stephen Sperry; Joseph W., John, and Alpha A., wife of James E. Dodge.

JAMES CHAMPLIN, son of George and Loncy Champlin, was born in Harrison township, Potter county, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1831, and was six years old when his parents located in Westfield township, Tioga county. He attended the pioneer schools of his neighborhood in youth, and assisted his father in clearing and im- proving the old homestead, of which he now owns seventy-eight acres. He also owns 187 acres adjoining, a good share of which he cleared himself, and erected thereon all of the buildings. He lived there until 1889, and then removed to Cowanesque, where he is now enjoying the fruits of his early industry. In 1861 he married Mary Lattimer, a daughter of James and Helen (Haining) Lattimer, natives of Scotland, who settled in Westfield township in 1853. Her parents died at the age of eighty-five and seventy-five years, respectively. Mrs. Champlin was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, April 10, 1841, and is the mother of five sons, viz: Harrison, Sherman, Luman, James and Elder, all of whom are dead. The three eldest and the youngest all died within five weeks with diphtheria, and a strange coincident is that each died on a Thursday. Mr. Champlin has an adopted daugh- ter, Hilda. In politics, he is a Democrat, and is recognized as one of the sub- stantial citizens of the township.

HOLLISTER BAKER, born in Rochester, New York, in 1816, a millwright by trade, settled in Westfield township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1839, and erected one of the first grist-mills in that locality. He afterwards lived on Pine creek for a time and later worked in a foundry and machine shop at Otsego, New York. In 1849 he returned to Westfield and built a foundry, which he operated until the sixties, when it was burned down. In 1865, in company with his son Albert, he rebuilt on the same site, and began the manufacture of carriages and wagons, which they manufactured four years, when the structure was again burned. Nothing daunted, they rebuilt and carried on the works for a short time and then sold out. Mr. Baker has since been engaged in farming. He married Dorlesca Phillips, a daughter of Richard and Amity Phillips, of Westfield, to which union were born six children, viz: Albert, Victoria, wife of Dr. Frank Buck; Cecil E., Viola, wife of E. M. Baker; Effie, wife of Herbert E. Baker, and Ora E. Mrs. Baker died November 10, 1888, aged sixty-six years. Mr. Baker has been rather independent in politics, and has filled the office of assessor.

ALBERT BAKER, eldest son of Hollister Baker, was born in Westfield, Penn- sylvania, June 16, 1842. He attended the public schools in boyhood, and later Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York. Being a natural mechanic, he adapted himself to the machinist's trade, though for some years prior to the Civil War he worked at carpentering. On May 30, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, First Rifle Regiment, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Reserve, widely known as the Bucktail regiment, and participated in fifteen battles and skirmishes. He lost his left arm at South Mountain, September 15, 1862, and was honorably discharged November 26, following. From 1865 to 1869, he was engaged in business with his father in Westfield, and later studied civil engineering. In May, 1880, he em- barked in business for himself in Westfield, where he has since successfully carried

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on a foundry, machine and general repair shop. Mr. Baker was married in 1864, to Sellie Smith, a daughter of E. G. and Betsey (Burdic) Smith, of Sabinsville, Tioga county, and has three children: Ilba, wife of Emil Buhr; Vida, wife of Edward Ladd, and Klein D. In politics, Mr. Baker is independent, and has held various local offices.

NEWBURY CLOOS, SR., a native of the Mohawk valley, New York, came with his father, Reuben Cloos, a native of Scotland, to the Cowanesque valley in 1807, and settled in what is now Deerfield township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he cleared and improved a farm. The records show that he acquired title to his land on January 1, 1808. He was twice married. His first wife, Esther Short, was the mother of eleven children, as follows: Reuben, Polly, who married George Parker; Abel, Matilda, whose first husband was William Falkner, and second husband, Barney Daniels; Sophia, who married Charles Avery, an early settler of Chatham township; Hannah, who became the wife of Daniel D. Church; Armon, David, Ambrose, Newbury, and Esther, who married Henry F. Daniels, all of whom are dead except Mrs. Daniels. Mrs. Cloos died October 2, 1829, and her husband mar- ried Mrs. Patty P. Reynolds, who survived him three months. He died May 7, 1853, in his eighty-first year, and his wife, Patty P., August 7, following, in the eighty-third year of her age.

DAVID CLOOS, a son of Newbury and Esther Cloos, was born in Deerfield town- ship, Tioga county, March 7, 1809, and was reared on the old homestead. He cleared and improved a farm in his native township, and in December, 1840, removed to Westfield township, where, with the exception of two years that he occupied the old homestead in Deerfield, he resided until his death, July 12, 1863. From December, 1840, to April, 1847, he was proprietor of a hotel in Westfield, after which period he devoted his whole attention to farming. He married Maria Sweet, of Deerfield township, who bore him twelve children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, viz: Ambrose, Noah, Marietta, wife of Elias H. Clark; Amelia, wife of Robert R. Parshall; Matilda, wife of Albert W. Potter; A. Byron, Bernard, Burnett, Marie, wife of G. A. King, and Cora, wife of George Trim.

AMBROSE CLOSE, originally spelled "Cloos," is the eldest son of David and Maria Cloos. He was born in Deerfield township, Tioga county, March 4, 1835, and came to Westfield with his parents when but five years of age. He was reared in Westfield, and educated at the Union Academy and Alfred University. For twenty years he was engaged in the mercantile business at Westfield, and three and a half years at Elkland, and for forty years he has been more or less engaged in farm- ing. Mr. Close was married March 12, 1861, to Ann V. Secord, a daughter of Gil- bert S. and Sophia (Marsh) Secord, of Westfield, who bore him one son, Roy, who died February 2, 1881, in his fifteenth year. Mrs. Close died November 9, 1891, aged fifty-nine years. She was an attendant of the Universalist church, a charitable and kind neighbor, and a good wife and mother, who enjoyed the love and esteem of all who knew her. Mr. Close has liberally supported the churches of Westfield, more especially the Universalist church. He is an ardent Republican, has been burgess of Westfield for several terms, and has also filled other local offices. He is recognized as one of the representative citizens of the borough, in which the greater portion of his life has been passed.

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DANIEL McNAUGHTON, M. D., a son of Malcomb and Christie McNaughton, was a native of Howard, Steuben county, New York, and of Scotch descent. He studied medicine in Rochester, New York, and in 1845 began the practice of his profession at Westfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he resided until his death, which occurred December 24, 1883, aged sixty-five years. He always took an active part in public affairs, was a stanch Republican from the organization of that party, and was appointed postmaster of Westfield in 1861, which position he filled until 1872, when he resigned to take his seat as associate judge of Tioga county. He filled the latter office one term, and was then elected a justice of the peace for Westfield borough. Dr. McNaughton's wife was Ann Gray, a daughter of Abiathar and Amelia Gray, of Howard, New York. She bore him a family of three children, viz: Niles Wesley, Francis D., and Helen M., wife of B. E. Close. As a physician, Dr. McNaughton became prominent among his professional brethren of Tioga and adjoining counties, and as a citizen he was identified with the growth and progress of his adopted home for nearly forty years.

NILES WESLEY MCNAUGHTON, eldest son of Dr. Daniel McNaughton, was born in Westfield, Pennsylvania, September 4, 1845, and was reared in his native town. He was educated in the public schools and at Union Academy, Academy Corners, and at seventeen years of age began clerking in a drug store, which business he followed as clerk and proprietor from 1862 until 1893. During the incumbency of his father as postmaster of Westfield, he filled the position of assistant, and during President Grant's first administration he was appointed postmaster of Westfield, which position he filled continuously until the fall of 1885. Like his father, he is a stanch Republican, and gives his earnest support to the principles and measures of his party. In 1867 he married Emma L. Larrison, a daughter of William and Sarah (Stryker) Larrison, of Clymer township, Tioga county. Mr. McNaughton is a member of Westfield Lodge, No. 477, F. & A. M., Westfield Chapter, No. 265, and Tyagaghton Commandery, No. 28, of Wellsboro, in all of which he takes an active interest.

WILLIAM SIMMONS was born in Benton, Yates county, New York, December 12, 1827, eldest son of Peter and Sarah (Perry) Simmons. His paternal grand- father, Joseph Simmons, was a pioneer of Yates county, where his father was born. Peter Simmons was twice married. His first wife, Sarah Perry, bore him four children, viz: William, Joseph P., Charles H., and Della, who married Alvah Hurlbut. His second wife, Cynthia Lilley, became the mother of six children, as follows: Leonard, Peter, Wilbert, Lafayette, Triphena, and Elizabeth, who mar- ried William Wood. When the subject of this sketch was a child his parents moved to Independence, Allegany county, New York, and a few years later to West Union, Steuben county. In 1845 he came to Westfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he became a clerk in the store of Russell & Hunt, then in charge of Richard Krusen. About five years later he formed a partnership with Mr. Krusen, and they carried on business in the original store building for two years. In 1855 he purchased a part of the farm in Westfield borough on which he now resides, and has made addi- tional purchases from time to time, erected a commodious residence, and made many other improvements. Mr. Simmons has been connected with the mercantile busi- ness more or less for a number of years. He was a member of the firm of E. E. &

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William Simmons, of Westfield, for about seven years, and carried on the business for two years alone after his son's death. He has since devoted his principal atten- tion to his farm. On November 3, 1850, he married Annice C. Boardman, a daugh- ter of Elkanah and Clarissa C. (Benedict) Boardman, of Otsego county, New York. Five sons were born to this union, as follows: Esson E., born January 26, 1852, who married Addie L. Smith, and dicd November 26, 1882; Charles B., born January 19, 1862, who married Lena R. Patten, and lives in Westfield; Frank W., born March 6, 1864, a resident of Buenos Ayres, South America; Fred P., born April 29, 1867, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, who married Ida Louns- bery, and Arthur J., born May 27, 1869, a resident of Westfield. They have also reared an adopted daughter, Mrs. Henry Hyde, of Groton, New York. The family are adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, support the Republican party.

FRANK W. SIMMONS, a son of William Simmons, was born in Oswayo, Potter county, March 6, 1864. He attended the common schools of Westfield and grad- uated at the State Normal School, Mansfield, in the class of 1882. He then entered the law office of Maj. George W. Merrick, of Wellsboro, but was compelled to dis- continue his law studies because of failing eye-sight. He later became book-keeper in the office of H. H. Crary & Company, tanners, of Westfield, and subsequently went to Salamanca, New York, to fill the position of general business manager for the same people, under the firm name of James Horton & Company. In July, 1894, he was sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee, by the United States Leather Company, as super- intendent of two tanneries in Tennessee, one in Georgia, and one in Kentucky. In March, 1895, he was sent by the same company to Buenos Ayres, to represent them in South America, where he is at present living. Mr. Simmons was married January 10, 1892, to Fannie W. Seidler, of Leroy, New York, who accompanied him to the southern hemisphere.

ARTHUR J. SIMMONS, youngest son of William Simmons, was born in Westfield, Tioga county, May 27, 1869, and was educated in the Westfield public schools. He later found employment in the tannery of H. H. Crary & Company for a short time, and then went to Salamanca, New York, where he filled the position of book-keeper in the tannery office for some two years. Returning to Tioga county, he became book-keeper in the tannery office at Tioga. In July, 1893, he was ap- pointed traveling auditor of the United States Leather Company, for the tanneries controlled by that company in New York, Wisconsin and Maine, which position he still occupies, though making his home with his parents in Westfield.

LYMAN TREMAIN was born in Connecticut, October 29, 1786, a son of Julius and Lucy Tremain. His father was a son of Joseph and Mary (Shapley) Tremain, and grandson of Joseph and Eliza Tremain, who came from England to America in 1666, and settled at New London, Connecticut. Their grandson, Gaines Tre- main, was a soldier in the Revolution. Lyman Tremain was a pioneer of Lawrence township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he improved a farm, and died in Westfield, January 13, 1864. He was married January 16, 1811, to Sophia Mer- sereau. She was born August 24, 1786, and died August 10, 1880. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Edward, Julius, John M., Joshua, Martin, Theodore and Arthur.

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JOHN M. TREMAIN, third son of Lyman and Sophia Tremain, was born Decem- ber 2, 1816, was reared on a farm, and commenced life for himself at Lindley, Steuben county, New York. He was a pioneer of Lawrence township, Tioga county, where he cleared and improved a farm. In 1858 he removed to Westfield, and died in that borough, January 15, 1878, in his sixty-second year. He was twice married, his first wife being Abigail B. Goodwin, of Lowell, Massachusetts, who bore him ten children, namely: Almira M., who married Orson Edgcomb; Seth K., Lyman J., John A., Gilbert H., Warren H., Abigail, who married George W. Neely; Orrin A., Maria L., who married Robert Walker, and Theodore M. His second wife was Mrs. Betsy Whipple, nee Pierce, of Westfield, who bore him two children, Willis J. and Luther D. Six of his sons by his first marriage served in the Rebellion, namely: Seth K., Lyman J., who is supposed to have been killed in the war; John A., who was killed at Gettysburg; Gilbert H., Warren H., and Orrin A. Mr. Tremain was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, an ardent Republican.

GILBERT H. TREMAIN, fourth son of John M. and Abigail Tremain, was born in Lindley, Steuben county, New York, December 26, 1843, and is of the sixth generation from Joseph and Eliza Tremain, who settled at New London, Connecti- cut. He was reared in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the com- mon schools. He enlisted in Company D., One Hundred and Forty-first New York Volunteers, August 14, 1862, and served in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Mis- sionary Ridge, Dalton, Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, Resaca and other engagements. He was wounded at Resaca May 15, 1864, and was honorably discharged from the ser- vice May 27, 1865. On his return home he engaged in lumbering up to 1873; later served as constable and collector of Westfield, and in 1882 was appointed agent for the Addison and Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Westfield, which position he still occupies. Mr. Tremain was married May 26, 1869, to Adelia, a daughter of James and Louisa (Hoover) King, of Westfield. He is a member of Babcock Post, No. 258, G. A. R., of Westfield; also of Westfield Lodge, No. 477, F. & A. M., and Westfield Chapter, No. 265, of Westfield, and Tyagaghton Commandery, No. 28, of Wellsboro. In politics, he is a Republican, and has taken an active interest in local political affairs for many years.

THEODORE TREMAIN was born in Lindley, Steuben county, New York, April 10, 1825, a son of Lyman and Sophia Tremain. He removed with his parents to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and for many years was engaged in farming in Law- rence and Westfield townships. He has been a resident of Cowanesque valley since 1877. Mr. Tremain has been twice married. His. first wife was Josephine Sprague, a daughter of Thomas and Keziah (Warren) Sprague, of Westfield, who became the mother of three children, viz: Herman, E. Augustus and Samuel. His second wife was Hannah Reynolds, who bore him two children: Josephine, wife of William Kress, and Lyman HI. Politically, lie is a Prohibitionist.

JAMES MASTEN, M. D., was born in Penn Yan, New York, May 26, 1827, a son of Cornelius and Maria (Vosburg) Masten. His father was a prominent lawyer of his day, and during President Van Buren's administration he was president judge of Yates county, New York, and was also for a number of years president of Yates County Academy. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Gen. Peter I.

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Vosburg, of Stuyvesant, New York, who distinguished himself in the War of the Revolution. Cornelius Masten at one time was the owner of valuable tracts of timber lands in Warren county, Pennsylavnia, which have since become valuable as oil producing territory. Dr. Masten was educated at the Yates County Academy, and the Military University at Norwich, Vermont. He commenced the study of medicine with Drs. A. F. & W. Oliver, of Penn Yan, New York, and attended lectures at Buffalo Medical College. He began the practice of his profession at White's Corners, Potter county, Pennsylvania, in 1849, remaining there for eleven years. In 1860 he located at Westfield, Tioga county, where he has since resided, having attained a front rank in the practice of his profession. Dr. Masten was married April 9, 1851, to Nancy C. Manning, a daughter of Lewis and Amanda M. (Gilbert) Manning, of Harrison Valley, Pennsylvania, and grand-daughter of Rev. John D. Gilbert, a distinguished divine of the Protestant Episcopal church. Dr. Masten and wife are the parents of six children, five of whom grew to maturity, viz: Nor- man L., Ida E., wife of Dr. W. R. Francis; Edward S. and Effie, twins, the latter the wife of Isaac Taft, and Frank G., a graduate of the University of Buffalo, and the Western Pennsylvania Medical College of Pittsburg. He also has a diploma from the New York Polyclinic School, and began the practice of medicine in 1891, and is now located at Westfield. He was married February 18, 1896, in New York City, to Miss Amy Stead. The subject of this sketch is an active member of the Masonic order, with which he has been prominently connected since 1852. He is a member of Westfield Lodge and Chapter, being secretary of the latter, and is a charter member of both organizations. Dr. Masten was censor, vice president, and president of the old Tioga County Medical Society while it was in existence, and is at present a member of the State Medical Society and the Elmira Academy of Medicine. In 1884 he was appointed postmaster of Westfield by President Cleveland, and filled the office four years. He has been a life-long Democrat, as was his father, and a stanch advocate of Democratic principles. He has done considerable work as a correspondent of various newspapers, and has also written a history of Westfield. During the Rebellion he drilled the first members of the famous Bucktail regiment in Tioga county, and has always taken a deep interest in military affairs. As a physician, Dr. Masten is widely known, being the oldest practitioner in the north- western part of Tioga county, where he has enjoyed for many years a large and lucrative practice. He is now president of the Cowanesque Valley Agricultural and Fair Association, and has given much attention to the growth and progress of agriculture.

WILLIAM N. HURLBUT was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1835, third son of Lyman Hurlbut. He came with his parents to Tioga county in the spring of 1856, and five years later removed to Lawrence township. He was edu- cated in the public schools of his native county and at Wyoming Seminary. In 1862 he embarked in merchandising at Westfield, as a member of the firm of R. Krusen & Company, which partnership lasted two years. He then removed to Cowanesque village and formed a partnership with R. Skinner and Ira Edgcomb, under the firm name of R. Skinner & Company, general merchants, and manu- facturers of doors, sash and blinds, in which he was engaged for ten years. He then returned to Westfield as a member of the firm of R. Krusen & Company, and

JAMES CHAMPLIN.

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followed the lumber business until July, 1889. At that time he was appointed postmaster of Westfield, was re-appointed on December 27, 1891, and filled the position up to the close of 1895. Mr. Hurlbut was married January 18, 1869, to Helen Close, a daughter of George and Rachel (Miller) Close, of Westfield, and has three children, viz: Satie B., Nellie and Fred. In politics, a Republican, he has been a school director of Westfield for twenty consecutive years. Mr. Hurlbut is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is one of the enterprising, well-known citizens of Westfield.

ISAAC PLANK, third son of Lovel Plank, Sr., was born at Perris Hill, Oneida county, New York, in 1817, and removed with his parents to Brookfield township, Tioga county, where he received a common school education. He cleared a farm in that township, and followed agriculture until 1875, when he removed to West- field and embarked in merchandising, which he followed for two years, and then retired from business. He married Sally Ann Smith, a daughter of David and Catherine (Duscheimer) Smith, of Harrison township, Potter county, to which union were born five children, viz: Catherine, wife of Henry Wood; Lovel, Devalience, Harvey, and Lydia, wife of Tyler Spaulding. Mrs. Plank was a mem- ber of the Methodist church, and died July 24, 1859, aged forty-two years. In politics, Mr. Plank was a Republican, and held various offices in Brookfield and Westfield, and always took an active interest in public affairs. He was constable and collector for many years, and at one time was personally acquainted with nearly every voter in the county. He was a great favorite with the young, and was familiarly known as "Uncle Isaac." Mr. Plank died May 6, 1883, aged sixty-seven years, dying as he had lived, a consistent member of the Baptist church.

LOVEL PLANK, eldest son of Isaac and Sally Ann Plank, was born in Brook- field township, Tioga county, July 26, 1843, and grew to manhood upon the old homestead. Shortly after attaining his majority, he enlisted in Company D, Two Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, which was assigned to the Third Brigade, Third Division, Ninth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battles of Fort Stedman, Petersburg, Hatcher's Run, and other minor engage- ments, and was honorably discharged from the service May 13, 1865. In 1866 he located in Westfield, Tioga county, where he embarked in the grocery business, which he continued for ten years, when he added thereto a stock of dry goods and carried on a general store until 1882. In that year he engaged extensively as a dealer in all kinds of agricultural implements, wagons, buggies, harness, etc., in which he has since successfully continued. The firm of L. Plank & Company also carries on the leading undertaking and furniture establishment in this section of the county, keeping as fine a line of goods as is usually found in large cities. Mr. Plank is also interested in other industries of Westfield. He owns and occupies for business purposes the finest block in the borough, which he erected in 1885 on the same site where he commenced business nearly twenty years before. On August 27, 1868, Mr. Plank married Mary A. Hancock, a daughter of Warren and Clarissa (Hill) Hancock, of Clymer township, and has three children: Lydia, Burt B. and Isaac W. In politics, Mr. Plank is a Republican, was the first burgess of Westfield, and has served three consecutive terms in that office. He is a member of Babcock Post, No. 258, G. A. R., of Westfield; Westfield Lodge, No. 477, F. & A. M .; West-

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 119

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