History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 121

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

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sketch was reared in his native land, remaining there until 1872, and then immi- grated to Sullivan county, New York, where he worked in a tannery three years. In 1875 he located at Westfield, Tioga county, where he has since been in the employ of the Cowanesque tannery, and has held the position of foreman since 1880. Mr. Eick married Augusta Taggie, a daughter of John and Dora Taggie, of Germany. Ten children have been born to this union, viz: Charles, Fred., Otto, deceased; Frank, Willie, deceased; Roland, Mary, deceased; Eddie, Johnnie and Essie. Mr. Eick is a member of the Lutheran church; is a Republican, in politics, and is connected with the K. of H., and the E. A. U. societies.

CLARK KIMBALL was born at Weare, New Hampshire, April 21, 1802, a son of Jonathan and grandson of Jonathan Kimball, both natives of Massachusetts. In 1825 he removed to Woodstock, New York, and in 1835 settled in Elkland, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for many years, and also in farming in what is now Osceola borough. He was twice married. His first wife was Clarissa Cilley, of Woodstock, New York, who bore him four. children, one of whom survives, Laverne L. His second marriage occurred in May, 1841, to Hannah, a daughter of Clark W. Whittemore, of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, and grand-daughter of Jonathan Whittemore, a son of Daniel Whitte- more. She bore him six children, three of whom survive, viz: Orville S., Alvin C., and Ida H. Although not a member of any religious denomination, he was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, he was for many years a Republican, but in later life he was a stanch Prohibitionist.

ALVIN C. KIMBALL, son of Clark and Hannah Kimball, was born in what is now Osceola borough, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, October 1, 1846, was reared on the homestead farm, and educated in the Osceola High School. He began teaching at the age of seventeen, and followed that vocation, off and on in Tioga county, and later in Wellsville, Missouri, for a number of years. In 1868 he removed to Wellsville, where he owned a prairie farm, which he cultivated up to 1876, when he returned to Tioga county and lived on the old homestead at Osceola until 1881, since which time he has been a resident of Westfield. From 1880 to 1890 he was engaged in the portrait and view business in various sections of the country. On January 1, 1890, he purchased the plant of the Free Press, at Westfield, which paper he has since made one of the brightest and newsiest papers in the county. Mr. Kimball was married October 5, 1867, to Lucy L., a daughter of Orrin P. and Sarah N. (Morse) Rice, of Farmington township, Tioga county. They are the parents of two living children: Claude C. and Orrin E. Mr. Kimball and wife are members of the Universalist church of Westfield. He is connected with the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. of Westfield. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist, and has served in the borough council of Westfield for three years.

ORVILLE S. KIMBALL, son of Clark and Hannah (Whittemore) Kimball, was born in Osceola, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, August 4, 1842. In 1847 his parents moved to the farm, where he practically resided until 1893. In February, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Third New York Volunteers, for three years or during the war. The regiment was a few days later ordered to Wash- ington, D. C., thence to Annapolis, Maryland, and embarked on the United States steamer Erricson. After a stormy voyage of five days it was landed at Hatteras

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Inlet, North Carolina, and the following day, April 1st, proceeded by a river steamer to New Berne. Mr. Kimball's company was on outpost duty at Evans' Mills, seven miles from New Berne, until April 20, 1862, and was then detached with two other companies and sent to Hatteras Island for guard duty. Corporal Kimball, with a detachment of twenty men, was sent to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, as guard. September 1st, they received orders and joined the regiment on the 29th, at Antietam Creek, Maryland, and marched with the Army of the Potomac to Fredericksburg, Virginia. The army crossed the Rappahannock on December 12, charged Marye's Heights on the 14th and recrossed the river on the 15th. In February, 1863, the regiment came to Newport News, and a month later to Suffolk, Virginia, where it was during the siege of that place, which ended in a hard fought battle, May 3, 1863, in which the regiment sustained heavy loss. It was near Portsmouth, Virginia, May 27, 1863; Yorktown, June 22; White House Landing, July 1; Taylor's Farm and Hanover Junction, July 4, and destroyed the railroad, cutting off Lee's communication with Richmond; returned to Portsmouth, July 13, and landed at Folly Island, South Carolina, August 2, 1863. Mr. Kimball re-enlisted in the field, in same company and regiment, at Folly Island, in February, 1864. He was at James Island, South Carolina, from July 2nd to the 10th, 1864, and while commanding a skirmish line, his boot sole was shot away by a grape shot. He was at Washington, D. C., in August, and later in the Shenandoah Valley until December, 1864. He was at Bermuda Front from January until April, 1865. After the close of hostilities, he was on detached service at Petersburg, and Surry Court House, Virginia, in the subsistence department, until mustered out, De- cember 16, 1865. He was promoted to sergeant in September, 1862, and to orderly sergeant in December, following. On October 24, 1866, he married Mary L., a daughter of Charles D. and Lucretia (Weeks) Cameron, of Osceola, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and went to housekeeping on the old homestead farm. Three chil- dren have been born to this union: Ernest Harlan, Ida Grace, and Bessie May. In 1880 he was commissioned a justice of the peace, and held the office for ten con- secutive years. He is a charter member of Capt. A. J. Sofield Post, G. A. R., of Osceola, of which he was commander four successive terms, quartermaster one term, and adjutant eight terms. In March, 1891, Mr. Kimball accepted a position with the Free Press, of Westfield, with which paper he was editorially connected for nearly five years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, also of the F. & A. M., and he and family are members of the Grange and the K. O. T. M. In politics, a Republican, he gives an earnest support to the principles of that party.

ERNEST HARLAN KIMBALL, only son of Orville S. and Mary L. Kimball, was born at Osceola, Tioga county, March 22, 1868. In early life he showed an aptitude for photography, and has always been identified with that business, which he has prosecuted quite successfully at Elkland, Tioga county, also in Kentucky, Indiana, and different counties of Pennsylvania, as well as at Camden, New Jersey, and other places. In January, 1894, he located permanently at Westfield, where he has established a fine studio and has built up a successful business. Mr. Kimball was married April 23, 1891, to Miss May L. Davies, of Westfield, to which union has been born a son, Harlan D. In politics, he is a Republican, and is also a member

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of Westfield Tent, No. 155, K. O. T. M., and a charter member of Fleetfoot Tribe, No. 366, I. O. R. M., of Westfield.

WILSON DAVIS, eldest son of Jared and Parmelia Davis, early settlers of Clymer township, was born in Cortland county, New York, and came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, with his parents early in the century. He began his business career as a lumberman on Pine creek, which business he continued for many years. He later engaged in farming in Tioga and Potter counties, and died in the latter July 12, 1877, in his sixtieth year. His wife was Esther Pease, a daughter of Abram and Cynthia (Bowen) Pease, of Westfield township, who bore him three children: Frank M., Emmett, and Hattie, wife of Uri Lucas. Mr. Davis was a Democrat in politics, and was a member of the I. O. O. F.

FRANK M. DAVIS, eldest son of Wilson and Esther Davis, was born in Clymer township, Tioga county, August 14, 1853. He grew to maturity in Potter and Tioga counties, attending the public schools during boyhood, and after attaining his majority he followed lumbering for seven years, and for five years was a farmer in Westfield. He was a clerk ten years at the Westfield House, in West- field, and served one year in the same capacity at the Coles House, in Wellsboro. In 1893 he embarked in the grocery and bakery business at Westfield, in which he still continues. Mr. Davis was married June 10, 1883, to Ida Hoffman, of Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and has three children, viz: John W., Perley, and Hazel. In politics, Mr. Davis is a Democrat. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., of West- field; Westfield Encampment, No. 272; Canton Keystone, No. 5, of Wellsboro; also of the K. of P., and the K. of H., and is First Sachem of Fleetfoot Tribe, No. 366, I. O. R. M.

ELISHA S. HORTON was born in Spring Mills, Allegany county, New York, July 10, 1842, a son of Elias and Almira (Knox) Horton, and is descended from Puritan ancestry. His ancestors on the paternal side, tradition says, came to America in the Mayflower, in 1620. His father was a native of Wolcott, Connecticut, was a millwright and carpenter, and settled in early manhood in the Cowanesque valley. He married there and later located at Spring Mills, Allegany county, New York, where he reared his family. In 1865 he returned to Tioga county, locating at Lawrenceville, where he resided until his death, in 1882, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife was a daughter of William Knox, a pioneer of Tioga county, in whose honor the borough of Knoxville was named. Eleven children were the fruits of this union, viz: Alonzo B., Ira, Elias, William, Sarah, who married Christopher Prutsman; Elisha S., John C., Myra, who married J. C. Doane; Chauncey, Emily and Mary. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood at Spring Mills, New York, and received his education in the public schools and at Ulysses Academy. On August 25, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Forty-sixth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and was promoted to second sergeant in 1864. He served in the battles of Winchester, and Chancellorsville, and was with Sherman on his celebrated March to the Sea. He was taken prisoner twice, first at Winchester, where he spent two months doing hospital duty, and was then exchanged. He was again taken prisoner at Chancellorsville, and after spending two months in Libby, Castle Thunder and Belle Island prisons, was paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland, where he was exchanged. He rejoined his regiment at Dechard Station, Tennessee,

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

and was honorably discharged from the service at Washington, D. C., June 30, 1865. He then located at Lawrenceville, Tioga county, and was engaged in farming two years; next went to Blossburg and entered the hardware business, which he fol- lowed four years, and then embarked in the furniture and undertaking business, in which he continued for the same period. He later engaged in general mer- chandising for two years, when he was appointed administrator of his father-in- law's estate. After settling it up he again engaged in farming, but in December, 1882, was appointed station and express agent at Westfield, for the Fall Brook Rail- road Company, a position he still holds. Mr. Horton was married in 1872, to Kate Campbell, a daughter of William and Helen (Peaslee) Campbell, of Nelson, and has four children: Frank G., Nellie C., Harry J. and Arthur E. In politics, Mr. Horton is a Republican. He is a member of Babcock Post, No. 258, G. A. R., of Westfield, and Westfield Lodge, No. 477, F. & A. M.

ASAPH T. KUNKEL, M. D., was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1859, a son of Daniel S. and Catherine (Trexler) Kunkel. He was reared upon the homestead farm, and after obtaining a common school education, he attended the State Normal School at Kutztown, and Muhlenburg College, at Allentown, Penn- sylvania. In 1880 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. L. Bottum, of Westfield, Tioga county, and afterwards read under Dr. J. W. Chambers, of Balti- more, Maryland. He was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the latter city in 1883, and at once located in practice at Westfield, Tioga county, where he has since prosecuted the duties of his profession. On September 25, 1884, he married Dollie Parker, a daughter of Isaac P. and Ruth (Kelley) Parker, of Brookfield, Pennsylvania. Two children have been born to this union: Ruth and Kate. Dr. Kunkel is a member of the Hornellsville Medical Society, Steuben county, New York, and the Tioga County Medical Society. He is a member of Westfield Lodge, No. 477, F. & A. M .; Jemison Lodge, No. 332, I. O. O. F., of Westfield, and Westfield Encampment.

JOHN R. DENGLE was born in Wellsboro, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, October 28, 1860, a son of John and Mary (Blinn) Dengle, both natives of Germany. His father came to the United States about 1850, and located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, but removed to Wellsboro prior to 1860, where he still resides. For some years he was engaged in farming in Delmar township. His children were John R., Louisa, wife of Herbert Severson; Samuel L., and Anna, wife of William F. Jordan. Our subject was reared in Wellsboro, and was educated in the public schools. In 1877 he entered the employ of White Brothers, grocers, of Wellsboro, in whose services he remained until the fall of 1883. He then removed to Gaines, where he was manager of the store, warehouse and lumber business of Charles H. Rexford, until May, 1885, when he located at Westfield, and has since been successfully engaged in the grocery and crockery business. Mr. Dengle was married February 21, 1883, to Elizabeth U. Rexford, a daughter of Charles H. and Alwilda (Vermilyea) Rexford, of Gaines, and grand-daughter of Horace Vermilyea, one of the first settlers of that section of the county. One daughter, Alwilda M., was born to this union. Mr. Dengle is a member of Jemison Lodge, No. 232, I. O. O. F., of Westfield; Westfield Encamp- ment, No. 272, and Canton Keystone, No. 5, of Wellsboro; the Grand Lodge of

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Pennsylvania, and of Westfield Lodge, No. 477, F. & A. M. In politics, he is a stanch Democrat, and was elected burgess of Westfield in February, 1897.

JOHN C. EDGCOMB, conductor on the Addison and Pennsylvania railroad, was born in Westfield township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1865, a son of Orson and Almira (Tremain) Edgcomb. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Edgcomb, came from Broome county, New York, to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, at an early day; was a cooper by trade, and one of the pioneers of the Cowanesque valley. His maternal grandfather, John M. Tremain, was one of the pioneers of Tioga county, as was also his maternal great-grandfather, Lyman Tremain, both of whom have sketches in this chapter. Orson Edgcomb was engaged in lumbering in early manhood, and was later a farmer and hotel-keeper at Cowanesque. His children were as follows: Hester A., wife of George Daugherty; John C., and Charles W. Our subject was reared in Westfield township, and obtained his edu- cation in the public schools. He then became an employe of a sash and blind factory at Cowanesque, where he worked for three years. In 1884 he entered the employ of the Addison and Pennsylvania Railroad Company, as a brakeman, and in the fall of 1891 was promoted to passenger conductor, a position he still holds. Mr. Edgcomb was married April 24, 1889, to Kittie Melvin, a daughter of Edward and Catherine (Loftus) Melvin, of Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania, and has one daughter, Faye A.

JOHN RIEPPEL was born in Hopfau, Bavaria, Germany, June 8, 1837, a son of Albert and Theresa (Schrembs) Rieppel, who came to the United States in 1872 and located in Renovo, Pennsylvania. His mother died there, and is buried in North Bend Cemetery. His father was an iron worker, and was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for several years. After eleven years' residence in Renovo, he returned to Germany, and died there in 1889, aged seventy-nine years. Our subject was reared in Bavaria, Germany, and was educated in the Industrial and Polytechnic School, and by profession is a mechanical engineer. For seven years he was connected with his father in the machinery and foundry business in Germany. In 1871 he immigrated to Pennsylvania, and entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Renovo, where he worked as a machinist for twelve years. In 1883 he removed to Gaines, Tioga county, and carried on a ma- chine shop four years, when he was burned out, and then located in Westfield town- ship, establishing his present foundry and machine shop, which he has since success- fully conducted. In 1871 he married Anna Koller, a daughter of Christopher Koller, of Renovo. They are the parents of five children, viz: George, Maggie, Martin, Emma and John. Mr. Rieppel is a member of Renovo Lodge, No. 495, F. & A. M., and in politics, he is independent.

NIMROD STOTT, senior member of the firm of Nimrod Stott & Sons, was born in Yorkshire, England, May 8, 1836, and is a son of Hartley and Nannie (Peal) Stott. He was reared in his native land, and at the age of eight years began working in a stone quarry, at which he served a thorough apprenticeship in all its branches, and has followed the business for over half a century. In 1891 he came to the United States, and located at Westfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and in part- nership with his sons, George, Harry and Nimrod, purchased the stone quarry at that place. They have since so successfully developed and operated it, that it now produces the finest grade of stone for building and flagging purposes. Their

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

product finds a ready market in Westfield and nearby towns, while large shipments are also occasionally made to Elmira, New York. The handsome new Episcopal church at Westfield is constructed of stone from this quarry, and it has been used in many other buildings in Westfield, while all the stone sidewalks in the borough have been taken from this quarry. The business has become one of the leading industries of the borough. Mr. Stott was married in England, to Maria Jewett, a daughter of John Jewett, of England, and has four living children, viz: George, Harry, Nimrod, and Lucy, wife of John Beach. The firm of Nimrod Stott & Sons is one of the prosperous and substantial ones of Westfield.

JOHN N. MEAD was born in New Jersey, in 1810, and in early manhood lived in Ludlowville, New York, where he was engaged in contracting and in the car- riage and foundry business. In 1857 he came to Tioga county and settled on a farm in Chatham township, where he was engaged in farming until his death, April 1, 1872. He was a son of Robert and Rebecca (Nichols) Mead. His first wife, Sarah, was a daughter of William Brown, of Tompkins county, New York, and had two children: William B. and Emily C. His second wife was Maria H. Newton, of the same county, who became the mother of seven children, viz: John N., Celia A., wife of Egbert Woodcock; Sarah L., wife of Horatio Chisholm; Marian A., Maria B., wife of Homer Hawley; Ada R., wife of Alfred Short, and Ward. Mr. Mead was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, an adherent of the Republican party.

WILLIAM B. MEAD, only son of John N. and Sarah (Brown) Mead, was born in Ludlowville, Tompkins county, New York, April 11, 1839, and was eighteen years old when his parents removed to Chatham township, Tioga county. He attended the common schools, and also Union Academy, at Academy Corners, and in 1862 be- ' came an apprentice in a sash and blind factory, which business he has since followed. He has been a member of the firm of Plank, Krusen & Company, of Westfield, since 1893 .. Mr. Mead was married in 1867, to Viola, a daughter of Hiram and Cynthia L. (Thompson) Freeborn, of Knoxville. His second wife was Eva M. Benedict, a daughter of Dr. Elisha and Emily (Ryon) Benedict, of Elkland. They have had two children, only one of whom, Harry, is now living. Mr. Mead is a member of the Presbyterian church, and also of the K. of H. In politics, he is a Republican, and during his residence in Elkland he was a justice of the peace for two years.

E. J. NEAL, proprietor of livery stables, was born in Ulysses, Potter county, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1870, a son of John W. and Mary J. (Bailey) Neal. He was reared in his native county, and obtained a common school education. On attaining his majority, he engaged in the grocery business at Mills, Potter county, Pennsylvania, and in 1893, he located at Westfield, Tioga county, where he has since been connected with the livery business. In June, 1893, he married Miss Bertha Stone, of East Charleston, Tioga county. In politics, Mr. Neal is a Repub- lican.

ASA HILL, proprietor of the American House, Westfield, was born in Ulster county, New York, July 9, 1856, a son of John and Harriet (Bowers) Hill, and of English descent. He was reared in his native county, where he attended the public schools, and in 1879 removed to Laporte, Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, where he was employed by the Laporte Tannery Company, for two years. In 1880 he located

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

at Coudersport, Potter county, where he worked one season in the lumber woods, and after a varied business career, he started a restaurant and billiard hall at Gale- ton, Potter county, in 1886, which he conducted seven years. In February, 1894, as a member of the firm of Hill & Rohrbach, he purchased the American Hotel property at Westfield, which has since been thoroughly remodeled and fitted up with modern improvements, and under Mr. Hill's mangement has obtained a fine reputation. He married Carrie Rohrbach, a daughter of John Rohrbach, of Ger- mania, Pennsylvania, in April, 1887, and has one daughter, May. Mr. Hill is a member of Galeton Lodge, No. 1014, I. O. O. F .; Westfield Encampment, No. 272, and Canton Keystone, No. 5, of Wellsboro. Politically, he is a Republican.

JOHN ROHRBACH was born in Sullivan county, New York, May 6, 1862, a son of John and Catherine (Yagge) Rohrbach, both natives of Germany. In 1886 the family located at Germania, Potter county, Pennsylvania, where the father, who was a carpenter, died in 1889. He had a family of ten children, of whom six are now living, viz: Kate, wife of Michael Kerry; Mrs. John Applalf, Lucy, Andrew, John and Michael. Our subject was reared in Sullivan county, New York, and came with his parents to Potter county, Pennsylvania, in 1886, where he worked as a lumberman for six years. In February, 1894, in partnership with Asa Hill, he purchased the American Hotel at Westfield, which they conducted together, under the firm name of Hill & Rohrbach, until Mr. Rohrbach's removal to Addison, New York, in 1895. He was married in 1884, to Libbie Abbel, of Germania, Potter county. In politics, Mr. Rohrbach is a Democrat, and is a member of the A. O. U. W.

GEORGE O. MANWARING was born in Smyrna, Chenango county, New York, March 10, 1863, a son of Daniel O. and Helen A. (Wilber) Manwaring. The family is of English descent, and of Puritan stock. Our subject was reared in his native county, attended the common schools in early boyhood, and at the age of eleven years began working by the month on a farm, in which vocation he continued nine years. He then went to Syracuse, New York, where he was engaged in clerking for five years, and in 1888 came to Potter county, Pennsylvania. For a short time he was employed as a book-keeper in a lumber office, and was en- gaged in lumbering on his own account for one year. In 1892 he located at Brookfield, Tioga county, where he conducted a general store, and also filled the position of postmaster, up to April 1, 1894, when he removed to Westfield borough, where he has since carried on one of the leading grocery stores of the town. Mr. Manwaring was married November 11, 1891, to Lizzie M. Pedley, a daughter of John and Martha (Malone) Pedley, of Baldwinsville, New York. In politics, he is a Prohibitionist, and in religion, an adherent of the Baptist church.

JOHN YOUMANS, SR., was born in New Jersey, May 12, 1811, and came in boyhood with his parents to Chatham township, Tioga county. They were for- merly from New Jersey, and were among the pioneers of this section of the county. John was reared on the homestead farm in Chatham township, and later cleared several farms, one in Covington, and one in Richmond, and also jobbed for others. His wife, Sarah, was a daughter of Jacob A. I. Johnson, of Covington township, and they were the parents of eight children, viz: Harriet, who married Harry Cleveland; Miles, Martha, who married, Z. M. P. Baird; John, William, Alphonso

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

J., Charlotte, wife of Edwin Klock, and Adelaide, who married Contine Connelly. Mr. Youmans died January 26, 1859. His wife died in the fall of 1862.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 121

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