History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 126

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

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JARED DAVIS was born in Rhode Island, September 25, 1795, a son of Daniel and Deborah (Talbot) Davis. He was reared in the town of Butternuts, Otsego county, New York, and spent his early manhood in Cortland county, New York, where he married Parmelia Fish, a daughter of Capt. Reuben and Betsey (Cleve- land) Fish. In 1840 he removed to Knoxville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he spent one year, and then returned to Cortland county. In 1846 he located in Gaines township, Tioga county, and engaged in lumbering until 1858, when he removed to Clymer township, where he cleared the land now the site of Davis Station, on the Addison and Pennsylvania railroad, which was named in his honor. He resided there until his death, November 22, 1882. His children were as follows: Wilson, Julia, wife of V. R. Gee; Reuben F., Fanny, wife of Rufus Rice; Jared, John, Betsey, wife of Benjamin Eldridge, and Silas B. Mr. Davis was a veteran of the War of 1812, and in politics, a stanch Democrat.

REUBEN F. DAVIS was born in Cincinattus, Cortland county, New York, Feb- ruary 3, 1824, and is a son of Jared and Parmelia Davis. He was reared in his native county, and obtained a common school education. In 1848 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and located in Gaines township, where he followed lumbering for ten years. He then exchanged his business for a farm, located in Clymer and Hector townships, in Tioga and Potter counties, respectively, which he cleared and im- proved. He resided upon it until 1884, then removed to Sabinsville, where he lived until the spring of 1895, when he returned to the old homestead. On March 25, 1846, Mr. Davis married Betsey Hickox, a daughter of Luther and Eunice (White) Hickox, of Cortland county, New York. They are the parents of three children, viz: Helen, wife of C. S. Rushmore; Charles M., and Ida, wife of Myron Barber. Mr. Davis is a stanch Democrat, in politics, and in religion, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

CHARLES M. DAVIS was born in Gaines township, Tioga county, December 31, 1851, and is the only son of Reuben F. Davis. He was reared upon the homestead farm, and was educated in the Westfield High School and Union Academy. Since attaining his majority, he taught school and followed agricultural pursuits up to 1891, in Hector township, Potter county. In the latter year he removed to Sabins- ville, Tioga county, where he has since been engaged in merchandising, and has

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filled the office of postmaster since May, 1894. Mr. Davis was married September 26, 1875, to Francelia, a daughter of Benjamin and Lavina (Miller) Eldridge, of Clymer township, and has three children: Bert E., Bessie L., and Mary H. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the E. A. U., and K. of H., and politi- cally, an ardent Democrat.

JOHH DAVIS, son of Jared Davis, was born in Cortland county, New York, September 24, 1831. He came with his parents to Gaines township, Tioga county, in 1846, and for a time was in business at Pike Mills, Potter county, where he was appointed postmaster when but twenty years of age. In 1856 he located in Clymer township, Tioga county, where he has since been engaged in farming and lumber- ing. Since 1882 he has also carried on the mercantile business. He was instru- mental in establishing the postoffice of Lansing, located at Davis Station, on the Addison and Pennsylvania railroad. He was postmaster at Pike Mills from 1851 to 1856, and has filled the same office at Lansing from 1856 up to the present. He has been postmaster ever since he was twenty years old. Mr. Davis was married April 15, 1859, to Parmelia Larrison, a daughter of William and Sarah (Stryker) Larrison, of Clymer township, and has one daughter, Sarah L., wife of William A. Ritter. Politically, he is a Democrat, has held the office of assessor of Clymer town- ship for many years, and is now serving his first term as justice of the peace. He is a charter member of Westfield Lodge, No. 477, F. & A. M.

CHARLES N. BUTTS was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1851, a son of Michael and Eliza (McCaslin) Butts, and is of English, French and Irish ancestry. He was reared in his native city, and obtained a limited education in the public schools. In boyhood, he drove mules on the canal, and was inured to habits of rigid industry. In the fall of 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Forty-eighth Penn- sylvania Volunteers, and participated in the battles of Five Forks, Petersburg, and Farmersville, and was present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He was hon- orably discharged from the service in July, 1865, and then returned to his home in Williamsport. He commenced learning the mason's trade, which he worked at up to fifteen years ago, and then embarked in business for himself as a contractor, for the erection of bridge abutments and all kinds of stone and brick work, excavating, etc. He has an enviable record for first-class work in his line, and has carried on quite a successful business. He has lived at Sabinsville, Tioga county, since 1872. On July 3, of that year, he married Adelia Newton, a daughter of Wesley and Sarah M. (Burdic) Newton, of Sabinsville. They have five children living, viz: Marcena, Hattie, wife of Wallace Burrell, Charles L., Michael and Rena. In politics, Mr. Butts is a Republican, and is connected with the G. A. R., the K. of H., the K. O. T. M., and the I. O. O. F. societies.

THOMAS A. BAIR, physician and surgeon, was born in Mt. Pleasant township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 21, 1848, a son of Jonathan ard Harriet (Brinker) Bair, and is of Holland Dutch and German extraction. His parents were natives of Westmoreland county. His paternal grandfather, Adam Bair, was a Revolutionary soldier, and settled in Westmoreland county in 1783, receiving the deed for his land from John Penn, the elder, and John Penn, the younger. His wife was Catherine Reichard. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Henry Brinker, was also a pioneer of Westmoreland county. Thomas A. was educated in the com-

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mon schools and at Sewickley Academy. In 1875 he commenced the study of medi- cine, and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in March, 1879. He practiced at Holton, Jackson county, Kansas, for a year and a half, and in De- cember, 1880, located at Sabinsville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he has since been engaged in the active duties of his profession. Dr. Bair has been twice married. His first wife was Sarah J. Steele, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. His present wife was Ellen Rexford, a daughter of William and Betsey (Fish) Rex- ford, of Clymer township, Tioga county. She is the mother of one son, R. Rexford. In politics, Dr. Bair is a Democrat, and is a member of Westfield Lodge, No. 477, F. & A. M .; also of the K. O. T. M. and the Empire State Degree of Honor. He is medical examiner for the K. O. T. M. and the L. O. T. M .; also for the New York Mutual Life, New York Life, Aetna, Penn Mutual, New England Mutual and other insurance companies.

FRANK L. SEARS was born in Groton, New York, August 4, 1840, a son of Frank and Caroline (Rowland) Sears. He was reared in his native county, and educated in the public schools, and since sixteen years of age he has been dependent upon his own energies and resources. In 1861 he came to Wellsboro, Tioga county, where for two years he was employed in a foundry. He then purchased a half interest in the same, and for four years carried on the business, as a member of the firm of Sears & Brother. Returning to Groton, New York, he purchased a farm, lived there five years, and later spent one year in Wellsboro, Tioga county. In 1880 he located at Sabinsville, Tioga county, where he has since been successfully engaged in general merchandising. Mr. Sears was married September 15, 1869, to Josephine, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Doumaux) Riberolle, both natives of France. Her father settled in Wellsboro, Tioga county, in 1848, and died there in August, 1892. He carried on a tannery in Wellsboro for thirty years, and is one of its well-remembered citizens. Mr. Riberolle was married three times. His second wife was Mrs. Nancy Taylor, nee Brickley, and his third wife, Betsey Titus, who died in Wellsboro, No- vember 9, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Sears are the parents of two children: Walter J. and Eddie R., both of whom are dead. They are members of the K. of H., and in politics, he is a Republican.

EDWIN B. SCHOTT was born in Waterloo, Seneca county, New York, April 9, 1838, a son of Frederick and Miranda (Bellis) Schott, and is of German and Scotch descent. He was reared in his native town, and educated in the Union schools. In 1858 he went to California, where he spent twelve years in mining and ranching. In 1870 he returned to Waterloo, New York, where he engaged in the grocery busi- ness. In 1876 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, remained in Elkland six months, and then removed to Westfield, where he was engaged in the manufacture of cigars and other pursuits until 1884. In that year he located at Sabinsville, purchasing the Samuel Goodell mill property, which he has since operated as a saw and feed-mill, and also carried on a cheese factory, with a capacity for using the product of 600 cows. Since coming into the possession of this property, Mr. Schott has practically rebuilt and remodeled the mill, and is doing a good business. He was married July 16, 1884, to Flora O. Gill, a daughter of Charles and Eliza (Winchester) Gill, of Westfield. They have four children, viz: Miranda, Frederick, Walter and

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Ellen. Mr. Schott is a member of the F. & A. M., and the P. of H., and is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party.

ELIHU H. FAULKNER was born in Orange county, New York, January 15, 1814, and was a son of John Faulkner, his mother's maiden name being Horton. About 1845 he located on Pine creek, in Gaines township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in lumbering some twelve years. He then commenced farm- ing in the same township, and cleared and improved the farm now the home of his widow, where he resided until his death, July 23, 1885. His wife, Anna A., was a daughter of John and Mary Elizabeth (Alberta) Benn, of Gaines township. Her father was the first settler of Gaines village, cleared the land whereon it stands, and resided in the township until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner were the parents of five children, viz: John W., Leonard S., Lemuel M., Amanda E., wife of Edgar Hurlbut, and Pasco N.

LEMUEL M. FAULKNER was born on the old homestead in Gaines township, Tioga county, August 18, 1861, and is a son of Elihu H. Faulkner. He was reared upon the farm, and attended the common schools of the district. On attaining man- hood he engaged in farming in Clymer township, on a farm adjoining his father's place, which he still owns. In 1891 he removed to his present home, upon which he has since resided. Besides farming, Mr. Faulkner has been more or less engaged in the lumber business. He married Ida Briggs, a daughter of Robert W. and Eliza (Baker) Briggs, of Clymer township, December 25, 1884, and has two children: Lottie A. and Dulcie D. Mr. Faulkner is a stanch Republican, is connected with the P. of H., and is one of the progressive and enterprising farmers of his township.

ANDREW BRIMEGIN was born in County Clare, Ireland, November 20, 1844, a son of John and Ellen (Halland) Brimegin, natives of the same place. His parents had two children, Patrick and Andrew. The father died in Ireland, and the family immigrated to the United States in 1846 and settled in Steuben county, New York. Here the children grew to maturity and obtained a common school education. Patrick is now a jeweler in the city of New York. Andrew turned his attention to farming and lumbering. On July 22, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hun- dred and Sixty-first New York Volunteers, and served through the war. He par- ticipated in the battles of Port Hudson, Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hill and the Siege of Fort Morgan, and later was on guard duty over the assassins of Lincoln. He was wounded in the battle of Fort Morgan by a bullet through the left wrist, and was captured at Sabin Pass and served in rebel prisons at the mouth of Red river from September 8, 1863, to July 22, 1864. After the war he returned home, where he devoted himself to farming. In 1866 he came to Tioga county, Pennsyl- vania, where he engaged in lumbering and afterwards in agricultural pursuits. He now resides in Clymer township, where he has two farms, one of fifty and another of forty acres. Mr. Brimegin has been twice married. His first wife was Emma Swope, a native of Tioga county, and a daughter of Abiather Swope, of Shippen township, to which union were born two children: Frank E. and Nellie E. His second wife was Mrs. Eulalia Metcalf, a daughter of Joseph Lane, of Brookfield township. Two children are the fruits of this union: Lloyd E. and Nettie. In poli- tics, Mr. Brimegin is a Republican, and has held nearly every office in Elk, Shippen and Gaines townships, among them that of supervisor for ten years. In 1894 he

Hiram Inscho. c

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was elected a jury commissioner, in which office he is still serving. He is a member of R. C. Babcock Post, G. A. R., of Westfield, and takes a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the veterans of the war.

GAINES AND ELK TOWNSHIPS.

MARTIN W. FURMAN was born in Gaines township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1829, a son of William and Mary (Waldorff) Furman. His father came from Sunbury, Northumberland county, to Gaines township, Tioga county, about 1806, and settled on the south bank of Pine creek, a mile and a half east of the site of Gaines. He had been in this county several times prior to his final settlement; was a noted hunter and was employed with the surveyors of the Bingham estate. He was the father of ten children, and died in 1861. His widow survived him about two years. Martin W. was reared on the homestead farm, and was trained to habits of frugality and industry. In March, 1849, he married Eunice J. Dartt, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Dartt, of Delmar township. The following children were born to this union, all of whom arrived at maturity before they died: Evelina, who married Daniel Furman, of Delmar; Elizabeth, wife of Fred. Nobles, of the same township; Delphine, who married John Ackley, of Sabinsville; George Hurlburt, who married Julia Weeks; Manning, who married Hattie Dunbar, of Brookland, Potter county; Cyrus, of Cross Forks, Potter county; Julius, of Gaines township; Daniel, who lives in Corry, Erie county; Aurilla, wife of Charles McCoy, of Corry; Annie N., wife of W. Nathan Ladd, of Gaines township; John Norton, of Brook- land, Potter county, and Julia, wife of John Behrman, of Gaines township. About 1849 Mr. Furman bought a farm in Delmar, on which he lived up to 1861. He then sold it and returned to the old homestead to care for his parents in their declining years. After their death he took charge of the farm and cultivated it up to 1893, when he sold it and purchased his present homestead. Though farming has been his principal occupation, he has devoted considerable attention to lumber jobbing, in which he has been fairly successful. Mrs. Furman died in 1877, and about three years after her death, he married for his second wife, Viancy Hacket, of Sabinsville. She became the mother of two children who died in infancy. She died and June 30, 1891, he married Sarah J. Strait, a daughter of Stephen and Mabel (Omes) Strait, of Clymer township, Tioga county. In politics, he is a Republican, and is recognized as one of the substantial farmers of his native township.

JOSHUA BERNAUER was born in Gaines township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1827, a son of Conrad and Maria (Zuber) Bernauer. His father emigrated from Germany to Philadelphia in 1814, where he met and married Maria Zuber. They lived in that section of Pennsylvania up to 1817, in which year they came to Tioga county and bought 175 acres of land in what is now Gaines township. Here his wife died, and he married Sarah Smith, who died on October 16, 1865. He cleared and improved his farm, and resided upon it until his death, August 1, 1870, in his eighty-first year. Joshua was reared upon the homestead, and attended the common schools of his district in boyhood. On attaining his majority he learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and subsequently the carpenter's trade, which he has followed more or less up to the present. September 16, 1864, he enlisted in Battery D, First Pennsylvania Light Artillery, and a month later joined his regiment at

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Cedar Creek, taking part in that battle. He was soon after sent to the general hos- pital, Philadelphia, and was finally discharged June 8, 1865. Mr. Bernauer has been twice married. His first marriage occurred June 8, 1854, to Irene A. Smith, a daughter of David and Lomanda Smith, of Gaines township, who bore him two children, viz: Anna Maria, deceased, and Ellen Irene, wife of C. C. Flynn, of West Pike, Potter county. Mrs. Bernauer died June 17, 1856. He was again married February 28, 1857, to Lucy R. Beach, a daughter of Johial and Sally Beach, of Elk township. Four children were born to this union, as follows: Sally Bethana, who died May 4, 1858; Mary Emeline, who died April 20, 1864; Morris John, of Gaines, and Herbert, at home. Politically, Mr. Bernauer is a Republican, and has filled several of the offices in his township. He is a member of the Free Baptist church, and fills the office of deacon in that body. He is also a charter member of Marsh- field Grange, No. 1113, P. of H., and is chaplain in the I. O. G. T.

ALEXANDER MATTISON, originally spelled "Matteson," was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1810, and came with his parents, Alexander and Lydia (Cleveland) Matteson, natives of Rhode Island, to the site of Knoxville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1811. His father's brothers, Jonathan and Solomon, also natives of Rhode Island, and their parents, came at the same time, from Herkimer county, New York, and all settled on the Cowanesque river, where Knoxville now stands. In 1815 Alexander and Jonathan Matteson, and Joshua Colvin, erected a saw-mill on the south bank of the Cowanesque, Alexander's wife sawing the first board. In 1817 Jonathan built a grist-mill on the north bank of the river, opposite the saw-mill, in connection with which was also a fulling-mill. The Mattesons were interested in the erection of a log distillery about the same period, which stood in the north part of the village. The subject of this sketch was reared at Knoxville, whence he removed to Westfield, and about 1840 purchased a large tract of land in Gaines township, containing a saw and grist-mill, where he later erected a hotel. Lumbering was his principal occupation the greater portion of his life, and he was a man of considerable enterprise and public spirit. He married Clara Potter, who bore him a family of twelve children. Mr. Mattison was one of the best known citi- zens in Gaines township, and died at his home in March, 1876.

SILAS B. MATTISON was born in Westfield township, Tioga county, April 26, 1835, a son of Alexander and Clara Mattison. When he was five years old his parents removed to Gaines township, where he assisted his father in lumbering and farming. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, Silas B. enlisted in Company D, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and participated in all of the battles in which his regiment was engaged up to Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, where he was taken prisoner. He was paroled three weeks later at Richmond, Virginia, was sent to Annapolis, Mary- land, and was soon after discharged from the service. Returning home he purchased a farm near Gaines, which he later sold and then bought his present home near Marshfield, on which he has since resided. In April, 1865, Mr. Mattison married Miss Lucy Coon, a daughter of Lyman and Lucy Coon. Seven children have been born to this marriage, as follows: Horatio, Grant, Howard, Andrew, Belle, Silas and Clara E., the last being dead. Mr. Mattison is a charter member of Marshfield Grange, No. 1113, P. of H., and in politics, a Republican.

JOHN H. BARNHART was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, Octo-

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ber 17, 1817, a son of Adam and Rachel (Anderson) Barnhart, originally from Union county. He was reared on a farm, and learned the carpenter's trade, which was his principal occupation the greater part of his life. In 1843 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and settled on a farm in Gaines township, immediately west of the present Barnhart homestead, on which he located a few years later. At that time Gaines was a comparative wilderness, with very few settlers and little or no improvements. Mr. Barnhart assisted in building the first saw-mill on Elk run, as well as the first house erected in that locality, that of David Smith, which is still standing. By industry and economy he managed to clear and improve his farm, on which he resided up to his death, May 18, 1894, being then one of the oldest citizens in the township. On February 18, 1843, Mr. Barnhart married Sarah Harrison, a daughter of John and Rachel (Freese) Harrison, who became the mother of ten children, viz: Ann Elizabeth, wife of Justus D. Strait, of Gaines; Darwin, of the same township; John M., Rachel O., deceased; Amanda, wife of Oscar Macumber, of Wisconsin; Julia, deceased; Idessa M., wife of N. L. Hanscom, of Marshfield; Justus W., deceased; Otis, and Ambrose B., the last two of whom reside with their mother on the old homestead. Mr. Barnhart took an active interest in the affairs of his township, and served as collector and treasurer. He was a kind husband and father, a good citizen, and an honest, worthy man.

DAVID SMITH, a son of David Smith, Sr., was a native of New Haven county, Connecticut, and came from Chenango county, New York, to 'Tioga county, Penn- sylvania, in the fall of 1833. Thirteen years later he and his son, Octavius A., came to the place now called Marshfield, Gaines township, cleared a piece of land, and made other preparations for building a home. In February following he came again and built a log house, which he occupied the following spring. This was the first permanent settlement made on Elk run, though there was at the time a saw-mill in operation about a mile from the mouth of that stream, of which John L. Phoenix, Sr., was proprietor. Mr. Smith lived on this farm up to the fall of 1869, when his feeble health compelled him to take up his residence with his son, Octavius A, at whose home he died March 15, 1870, aged eighty-eight years. His widow, whose maiden name was Lomanda Wright, survived until April 30, 1875. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity.

OCTAVIUS A. SMITH, son of David and Lomanda Smith, was born in Chenango county, New York, May 5, 1833, and was only a few months old when his parents came to Tioga county. Here he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the public schools and Wellsboro Academy. About 1854 he located on a tract of timber land near the site of what is now Marshfield, in Gaines township, and commenced clearing and improving it, teaching school during the winter seasons. He has con- tinued in agricultural pursuits on this farm up to the present, which he cleared principally by his own individual efforts, and now in his riper years is enjoying the fruits of a life of honest, persistent labor. Mr. Smith was married May 26, 1863, to Hannah Kleinhans, a daughter of Carl and Wilhelmina (Hoeppe) Kleinhans, who has borne him two children, viz: Marshall M., a merchant of Gaines, and Wilhel- mina, wife of Prof. W. O. Robinson, supervisory principal of of the Athens High schools, Athens, Pennsylvania. Mr. Smith has been township auditor for thirty years, has filled the office of county commissioner one term, and that of county

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auditor for three years, and has also served the people in other capacities. In poli- tics, he is an ardent Republican. Mr. Smith possesses considerable poetic and literary ability, and is the author of quite a number of worthy productions that have been extensively copied in the public press, some of which have been copyrighted.

MARSHALL M. SMITH, son of Octavius A. Smith, and grandson of David Smith, was born in Gaines township, Tioga county, March 7, 1864. He was educated in the common schools and Wellsboro High school, and is also a graduate of Mansfield Business College. He taught in the winter and worked on the farm at home during the summer seasons for several years, and was also employed as a clerk in a store at Leetonia and in the Galeton tannery store. In 1889 he came to Gaines, Tioga county, and formed a partnership with William H. Vermilyea, in the mercantile business. Three years later he purchased the interest of his partner and continued the business alone. He has since purchased the store building and residence, has remodeled the same, and has enjoyed a lucrative trade. On December 4, 1889, he married Nellie E. Watrous, a daughter of William H. and Emma (Williams) Watrous, of Gaines township, who has borne him two children, viz: Sadie M. and Carl W. Mr. Smith is a member of Tyadaghton Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Gaines, and of Gaines Encampment, and has passed the chairs in both lodges. He is also a member of Ossea Lodge, No. 317, F. & A. M., of Wellsboro.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 126

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