History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 123

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

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RANDOLPH H. BUCK, second son of S. Austin Buck, was born in Elkland, Tioga county, November 25, 1852. He was reared in this county, obtained a common school education, and served an apprenticeship of five years at the tanner's trade, which business he gave up on account of ill health. Since 1879 he has been engaged in farming, and is now serving his fourth year as treasurer of the Cowanesque Valley Agricultural Society. Mr. Buck was married October 5, 1876, to Emily A. Wheaton, a daughter of Lewis and Rozetta (Whitcomb) Wheaton, of Pine Creek, Potter county, and has one daughter, Helen O. In politics, he is a Republican, and has been clerk of Westfield township for the past seven years. He has been financial secretary of New Hall Council, No. 846, Jr. O. U. A. M., of Potter Brook, since its organization, and secretary of Eulalia Grange, No. 1088, of West- field, for the past three years.

JAMES E. DODGE was born in Steuben county, New York, September 26, 1836, a son of Israel and Sally (White) Dodge, both natives of Oxford, Chenango county, New York, who settled in Harrison township, Potter county, Pennsylvania, in 1839. His father was a millwright, at which trade he worked, in connection with farming, until his death. He had a family of nine children, viz: Angeline, who married Henry Cummins; Martin, Franklin, Elizabeth, who married Horatio Aldrich; James E., Vincent, Clarissa, who married John Champlin; Anna, who married Eugene Stevens, and Eugene. The subject of this sketch was reared in Potter county, obtained a common school education, and began life for himself as a lum- berman, which business he followed four years. In 1860 he located in Westfield township, Tioga county, where he cleared and improved a farm which he still owns, and is now the owner of two farms in Westfield township, embracing 260 acres, and one of 111 acres in Harrison township, Potter county, besides some village property in Harrison Valley. Mr. Dodge was married October 28, 1860, to Alpha A. Champlin, a daughter of George and Loncy (Works) Champlin, of Westfield township. Politically, he is a Republican, and has held various township offices.

DEACON RICHARD ELLIS, sixth child of Reuben and Mehitabel (Scott) Ellis, was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, December 20, 1760. His paternal grand- father, Richard Ellis, born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1704, came to America in 1717, landing in Massachusetts, and in 1728 married Jane Phillips, a daughter of Capt. John Phillips, of Easton, that State. They had a family of nine children. Reuben Ellis, the father of Deacon Richard Ellis, was born in Easton, November 5, 1728, there grew to manhood, and served in the French and Indian War from 1754 to 1757. He was an ensign in the Colonial service, and three of his sons served in the Revolutionary War, the subject of this sketch being one of them. In 1811 Deacon Richard Ellis settled in Delmar township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, purchasing a large tract of land, upon which he later built two saw-mills and two grist-mills.

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He manufactured lumber on Pine creek, and was a man of great industry and enter- prise. In later life he removed to Ellisburg, Potter county, which was named in his honor, where he erected a saw-mill, a grist-mill and a tavern. He was twice married, his first wife being Eunice Chilson, who bore him six children. His second wife, Chloe Chilson, was a sister of his first, and to this union thirteen children were born. Mr. Ellis was a member of the Baptist church, to which denomination most of his children adhered. He died at Ellisburg, Potter county, May 14, 1841.

RICHARD ELLIS, JR., was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, December 6, 1795, a son of Deacon Richard and Chloe Ellis, and came to Delmar township, Tioga county, with his parents in 1811. He became a Baptist minister, though not or- dained for some years after he commenced to preach. He kept a general store and shoe shop at Wellsboro, for several years. His wife was Patience Herrington, who bore him four children, viz: Amasa, Consider, Samuel G. and John M. Mr. Ellis died in Wellsboro, in 1827.

AMASA ELLIS, eldest son of Richard Ellis, Jr., was born in what is now Shippen township, Tioga county, February 18, 1819. In 1840 he located in the town of Willing, Allegany county, New York, where he followed farming until 1865, when he removed to Westfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, which has since been his home. On September 29, 1849, he married Martha Schoonover, a daughter of Christopher and Chloe (Pemberton) Schoonover, of Clymer township, Tioga county. Five chil- dren have been born to this union, viz: Mary E., wife of E. A. Buck; Delos E., James D., Frank and Charles. In religious belief, Mr. Ellis is a Baptist, and in politics, a stanch Democrat. During his residence in Willing, New York, he held the office of supervisor for seven consecutive years.

DELOS E. ELLIS was born in Allegany county, New York, in the town of Will- ing, September 13, 1853, a son of Amasa and Martha Ellis. He came to Tioga county with his parents when about twelve years old, and obtained a common school educa- tion. Since early manhood he has been engaged in farming in Westfield township. On October 10,1882, Mr. Ellis married Harriet Bush, a daughter of Peter B.and Mary A. Bush, of Westfield township, and has three children: Fred, Bessie M. and Burt. In politics, he is a Democrat.

JOB REXFORD was born in Cincinnatus, Cortland county, New York, January 23, 1817, and was of Irish descent. About 1839 he came to Shippen township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and for twenty-eight years was engaged in lumbering on Pine creek. In 1865 he located in Westfield, and in 1877 removed to Harrison Valley, Potter county, where he died in 1880. His wife was Chloe Ellis, a daughter of David Ellis, of Shippen township. She became the mother of three children who grew to maturity, viz: Perry E., Nancy O., wife of J. W. Stevens, and Stella, wife of Dr. E. J. Shaw. Mr. Rexford enjoyed a wide acquaintance in Tioga county, and was one of its prominent citizens for many years. In politics, he was a Repub- lican, and filled the office of county commissioner for three terms, being the only man to enjoy that honor in the history of the county.

PERRY E. REXFORD, only son and eldest child of Job and Chloe Rexford, was born in Shippen township, Tioga county, February 22, 1845, and grew to manhood in his native county. He attended the common schools in boyhood, and began his business life as a farmer, which vocation he has followed up to the present. Since 1866 he has occupied his present homestead farm in Westfield township. In 1870

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he married Clara J. Swetland, a daughter of M. W. and Parmelia (Stevens) Swetland, of Harrison township, Potter county, and has three children, viz: Lillian, Edith and Lena. Mr. Rexford is a member of the Baptist church, in politics, a Republican, and has held various township offices.

JOHN P. STEPHENSON was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, August 13, 1826, a son of James and Elizabeth (Pool) Stephenson. He was reared upon a farm in his native land, and in 1852 immigrated to Pennsylvania and settled in Westfield town- ship, Tioga county, where he spent five years. For the following five years he was engaged in farming in Du Page county, Illinois. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany B, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteers, and participated in the battle of Stone River and all of the engagements on Sherman's March to the Sea. He was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., June 7, 1865. Returning to Westfield, Tioga county, he there engaged in farming, and was also employed in the planing mill at Cowanesque for eleven years. Here he lost his right hand, and has since lived retired from active life. Mr. Stephenson was married in 1845, to Agnes Lat- timer, a daughter of James and Helen (Haining) Lattimer, of Westfield township, all natives of Dumfrieshire, Scotland. They are the parents of ten children, viz: John, William, Mathew, Helen, wife of A. P. King; James, Archibald, Mary, Janet, Frank and George .. In politics, Mr. Stephenson is a Republican, has held the offices of school director and supervisor of Westfield township, and is a member of the G. A. R.

SAMUEL TUBBS was born in Elkland, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in February, 1823. His father, James Tubbs, was a son of Samuel Tubbs, Sr., a pioneer of Elk- land, who at one time owned the land upon which that borough stands. James was born in January, 1800, and came to the site of Elkland with his parents in 1811. He married Sally Coates, and they were the parents of two sons: Samuel and Benja- min. The former was reared in Elkland and Brookfield townships, and now resides in Brookfield, where he has been engaged in farming for more than half a century, having cleared and improved three farms in that township. He married Mary Lewis, a daughter of Simon Lewis, of Brookfield. Mrs. Tubbs became the mother of four children, and died December 9, 1872. The children are as follows: James B., Jeannette, wife of Morgan Kizer; Charles F., and Lucina, the last of whom died February 5, 1872. Mr. Tubbs is a stanch Republican, and one of the substantial farmers of his native county.

JAMES B. TUBBS, eldest son of Samuel and Mary Tubbs, was born in Brookfield township, Tioga county, July 3, 1844. He received an academical education in Union and Troupsburg Academies. He has followed agriculture as an occupation since boyhood, but has devoted some attention to teaching vocal and band music, and was chorister in the Methodist Episcopal church over twenty-five years. He located in Westfield in 1867, which has since been his home. In September, 1892, he was appointed superintendent of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, which position he still occupies. Mr. Tubbs was married March 16, 1867, to Mary Snyder, a daughter of John and Sally (Marble) Snyder, of Harrison, Potter county, and has two children: Carrie G., wife of Frank Wedge, and Lewis L. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; also of the Grange, and the E. A. U., and is Wigwam of Fleetfoot Tribe, No. 366, Improved Order of Red Men. In politics, he is a Republican, has held the office of constable, and is now serving his second term as assessor of Westfield township.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

CHARLES H. MARTIN was born in Erwin, Steuben county, New York, August 2, 1850, a son of Alfred and Mary J. (Onan) Martin. His paternal grandfather, Hiram Martin, was a son of John Martin, a pioneer of Addison, New York. His maternal grandfather, James Onan, was born in Ireland September 15, 1785. In 1806, being then in his twenty-first year, he left his native country for America. While on his way across the ocean he was taken by a British man-of-war and held prisoner three years, when he effected his escape. After remaining secreted in Porto Rico three months, he made his way to the United States, and was naturalized in Philadelphia, September 20, 1815. He afterwards removed to Cattaraugus county, New York. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county, and there received a common school education. In 1869 he located at Cowanesque, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and began work in the sash and blind factory at Cowanesque, afterwards owned and operated by him for two years, and of which he has held the position of foreman for eighteen years. Mr. Martin married Olive Luce, a daughter of Ira and Isabel (Pease) Luce, of Cayuga county, New York, September 30, 1874, and has one son, Randall. In politics, he is a Democrat, has held various township offices, and is now postmaster of Cowanesque. He is a member of Jemison Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Westfield.

DANA LEARN was born in Groton, Tompkins county, New York, May 31, 1849, son of Daniel J. S. and Catherine (Houser) Learn. Both his paternal and ma- ternal grandfathers, John Learn and Samuel Houser, lived at Lansing, Tompkins county. Our subject was reared in his native county, and obtained a common school education. In 1870 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and for two years worked on a farm and in the lumber woods. In 1873 he engaged in farming in Clymer township, and the following year was elected constable of that subdivision. In 1875 he removed to Woodhull, Steuben county, New York, but returned to Tioga county in 1876, and located in Westfield township, where he followed agriculture for three years. In 1879 he purchased a farm in Brookfield township, and lived upon it two years. In 1880 he bought 110 acres in Westfield township, to which he afterwards added fifty-seven acres adjoining, making a total of 167 acres, seventy of which he cleared and improved himself. Mr. Learn married Anna Baker, a daughter of Sylvanus and Sally (Guiles) Baker, of Westfield township, February 5, 1873. Six children have been born to this union, viz: L. Claude, Alta J., George W., Grace, Clair and William. In politics, Mr. Learn is a Democrat; has held the office of school director of Westfield township for two years, and is one of the sub- stantial farmers in his locality.

PETER RUSHMORE came from Dutchess county, New York, to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, early in the present century, and settled at Knoxville, removing at a later day to Clymer township, where he cleared and improved a farm, upon which he spent the remaining years of his life. His wife was Amelia Wyatt, and their children were as follows: Samuel, Amelia, who married George Campbell; Elsie, who married Elihu Wixon; Abbey, who married Arch Knox; John, Silas, Emily, who married William Tate; Joshua, Lizzie, who became the wife of Joseph Sunder- lain, and Watson R.

SILAS RUSHMORE, son of Peter and Amelia Rushmore, was a native of New York state, and came to Tioga county with his parents. He was a tanner and

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currier, and operated a tannery in Clymer township about fifteen years, where he also cleared and improved a farm. His wife was Hannah Baker, a daughter of James and Deborah Baker, of Warsaw, New York, who became the mother of eight children, viz: Watson R., James B., Peter, Silas, Levi, William, Deborah, who mar- ried Wallace Wheaton, and Frank. Mr. Rushmore was a Democrat, in politics, and filled various offices in Clymer township. He died upon his farm in that township, August 7, 1878, at the age of sixty-four years.

WATSON R. RUSHMORE, eldest son of Silas and Hannah Rushmore, was born in Warsaw, Yates county, New York, September 16, 1843, was reared in Clymer township, Tioga county, and obtained a common school education. In 1869 he commenced farming for himself in Clymer township, which occupation he has since successfully continued, owning two fine farms in Westfield township, where he per- manently located in 1877. Since the fall of 1892 he has been a resident of West- field borough. On October 20, 1869, he married Sophena Cottrell, a daughter of Dr. W. S. Cottrell, of Whitesville, New York, and has four living children, viz: William, Celestia, wife of Ira Sherwood; Albert E. and Nina May. On August 18, 1864, Mr. Rushmore enlisted in Company D, Two Hundred and Seventh Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and was in the battles of Hallett House Battery, Hatcher's Run, Fort Steadman, Stony Creek, and Petersburg. He was wounded in the last men- tioned engagement, April 2, 1865, and was honorably discharged, May 27, follow- ing. Mr. Rushmore is a member of the Baptist church, and is connected with the K. of H., the Grange, and the G. A. R. In politics, he is an ardent supporter of the Republican party.

JOSEPH M. DECKER, a native of New York state, was a son of Henry Decker, and was reared in Chemung county. He learned the carpenter's trade, followed it in Breesport, New York, and in 1870 settled in Rutland township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he continued working at his trade in connection with farming. In 1882 he removed to Westfield township, and resided there until his death, which occurred on January 25, 1892, in his sixtieth year. Mr. Decker was thrice married. His first wife was Jane Benson, who bore him one son, John. His second wife was Minerva Wood, a daughter of Stephen H. Wood, of Rutland town- ship, to which union were born three children, viz: Addie J., wife of Edgar Smith; Charles F., and Anna, deceased. His third wife was Eliza A. Ackley, of Westfield township. Mr. Decker was a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics, a stanch Republican.

CHARLES F. DECKER, son of Joseph M. and Minerva (Wood) Decker, was born in Chemung county, New York, April 30, 1862, and was ten years old when his parents came to Tioga county. He attended the common schools, and also Mans- field Business College, and has been a farmer since attaining his majority. He owns a farm in Rutland township, but has resided in Westfield township since 1885. He married Hattie Ackley, a daughter of Henry C. and Eliza (Sweazy) Ackley, of Westfield, to which union have been born three children: Maude, Charles H. and Joseph Walter. Mr. Decker is an adherent of the Republican party.

WALTER C. KENDALL was born at Altay, Schuyler county, New York, October 22, 1858, a son of Merritt and Adeline (Carmichael) Kendall, and is of New England and Scotch descent. He was reared in his native county, and educated in the public

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schools. He engaged in merchandising in 1877, at Kendall Station, Chemung county, New York, where he carried on business two years, and then removed to Moreland, Schuyler county, where he continued as a merchant three years. In 1882, he located at Potter Brook, in general merchandising, where he has since successfully carried on business, having to-day one of the finest stores in the county. From 1882 to 1889 he was also extensively engaged in lumbering, and for five years has been a member of the firm of Kendall & Wyckoff, proprietors of the Kendall House at Potter Brook. In January, 1886, he married Maude Derr, a daughter of David and Alice (Schrayer) Derr, of Hector, Potter county, and has two sons: Clarence and Arthur. Mr. Kendall is a Democrat, in politics, and has been post- master of Potter Brook since June, 1894. He is a member of the K. of H., and is recognized as one of the enterprising citizens of the county.

CHARLES D. MARKHAM was born in Knoxville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1854, a son of William and Betsey Markham, a sketch of whom will be found in this chapter. The subject of this sketch was reared in Knox- ville, and obtained a common school education. He began his business career as a clerk in a drug store at Knoxville, in which he served three years, when he purchased the business of his employer and carried it on four years. The year 1882 he spent in the South, and in 1883 he located at Potter Brook, Tioga county, where he has since carried on general merchandising. In 1879 Mr. Markham married Emma J. Martin, a daughter of William and Mary A. (Johnson) Martin, of Knoxville, and has one son, Carl W. Mr. Markham is a member of the Christian church, and also of Cowanesque Lodge, No. 351, F. & A. M. In politics, he is a Republican, and served as postmaster of Potter Brook five years.

MATTHEW EUGENE MONINCH was born in Conesus, Livingston county, New York, March 5, 1851, and is a son of John and Clarissa (Cruger) McNinch. He grew to manhood in his native county, and there received a common school educa- tion. In 1876 he located in Clymer township, Tioga county, where he was en- gaged in farming until 1883, in which year he removed to Westfield township, where he has continued in agricultural pursuits, and also conducted a milk route in Westfield borough. Mr. McNinch was married January 1, 1874, to Amanda A. Brownell, a daughter of Rev. Veranus Brownell, of Livingston county, New York, and has one daughter, Ada Louise, wife of Delos Cooper. In politics, he is a Re- publican, and is one of the enterprising young farmers of the township.

WILLIAM CHAMPLAIN, a son of George and Loncy (Works) Champlain, was a native of Potter county, Pennsylvania, but in early life removed to Westfield town- ship, Tioga county, where he spent the remaining years of his life engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. His wife was Nancy Verguson, and they were the parents of two sons, George and Robert.

ROBERT CHAMPLAIN, youngest son of William and Nancy Champlain, was born in Westfield township, Tioga county, September 2, 1846, and lived in his native township until his death, September 24, 1879, caused by being accidentally shot while cutting corn on his farm. He dwelt on a part of the old homestead, and also owned a farm on Broughton hill, which he cleared and improved. His wife, Helen Eliza, was a daughter of Hiram and Catherine Graves, of Otsego county, New York,

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and bore him two children, Joseph and Emmett. The widow of Robert Champlain married I. P. Van Zile, and now resides in Osceola.

JOSEPH CHAMPLAIN, eldest son of Robert and Helen E. Champlain, was born in Westfield township, Tioga county, October 1, 1867, and attended the public schools of Westfield and Osceola in boyhood. He served an apprenticeship of four years at the blacksmith's trade, and has worked as a journeyman since 1885. He is a member of the K. O. T. M., and in politics, an adherent of the Republican party.

BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM SIMMONS was born April 7, 1804, in Delaware county, New York, and removed to Brookfield township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1816. In 1819 he married Mary A. Brown, a daughter of John H. Brown, a Revolutionary soldier, and one of the first settlers in Brookfield township. The following children were born to this marriage: John, Ebenezer, Lucinda, who married Rev. William G. Raymond; Elizabeth, who married Joseph Montague; Andrew J., and Mary, wife of William Bullock. Mr. Simmons first settled on the farm now owned by John Dougherty, made a small clearing there, and later removed to the farm now owned by his son, Andrew J., which, with the assistance of his sons, he cleared and im- proved. He died upon the homestead January 17, 1880, aged nearly seventy-six years. He kept a general store for many years, and for fifteen years filled the office of justice of the peace. He was one of the leading Republicans of his town- ship, and a very worthy citizen.

ANDREW J. SIMMONS, youngest son of William Simmons, was born upon his present homestead in Brookfield township, Tioga county, December 12, 1835. He attended the common schools of his neighborhood, and later Union Academy, at Academy Corners. He owns and occupies the old homestead, and since 1858 has been engaged in farming, though he also conducted a general store in Brookfield for twenty years, and held the office of postmaster for the same period. December 9, 1858, Mr. Simmons married Martha Hunt, a daughter of Richard and Phoebe Hunt, of Brookfield township. They are the parents of eight children, viz: Gaylord B., Fred C., Rose, wife of G. A. Kelley; Mary, wife of Kirk Perry; George W., Amanda, wife of Schuyler Lozier; Willie, and Lena, wife of P. E. Parker. Mr. Simmons is the possessor of a valuable relic, consisting of a hollow pewter tube, with a plunger or rod for compressing air, which was used by his grandfather, John H. Brown, during the Revolution, for lighting punk with which to build fires. In politics, he is an independent voter, and is an active member of the Farmers' Alliance.

DANIEL SCHOONOVER, a son of Richard and Mima (Bailey) Schoonover, was one of the early settlers of Brookfield township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. His father was a native of Massachusetts, whence he removed to Lower Canada and later to Troupsburg, New York, where he died at the age of eighty-seven years. In 1814 Daniel settled on a piece of forest land in Brookfield, which he cleared and improved. It is now owned by Jonas G. Kilburn. In 1865 he removed to McKean county, where he died in 1867. His first wife was Minerva Seely, a daughter of Cornelius and Sally Seely, and bore him three children: Anson, Benjamin and Richard. His second wife was Dama Warner, to which union were born three children, viz: Ezra, Charlotte, who married Joseph Fairbanks, and Daniel.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

RICHARD SCHOONOVER, youngest son of Daniel and Minerva Schoonover, was born in Brookfield township, Tioga county, August 6, 1826, there grew to ma- turity, and obtained a common school education. He began his business life as a jobber in lumber, but in 1847 located on a farm in Steuben county, New York, and engaged in farming. He returned to Brookfield township in 1875, since which time he has occupied the farm upon which he now lives. For many years he dealt in agricultural implements, beginning in New York state, and has also been engaged in merchandising at Austinburg for several years in company with his son, Richard P. Nearly all his life he has been more or less engaged in lumbering, which busi- ness he has found congenial. In April, 1848, he married Sophronia Schoonover, a daughter of Christopher and Chloe (Pemberton) Schoonover, of Clymer town- ship. They have reared five children, viz: Chloe, deceased; Richard P., Lucina, deceased wife of John D. George; Hiram B., deceased, and Elizabeth. In politics, he is an independent Democrat, and has held various local offices in Brookfield.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 123

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