History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 128

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

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CHARLES H. WEST, son of James H. and Catherine (Lull) West, was born in Cortland county, New York, August 26, 1836, and there grew to manhood. About 1865 he went to Vermont, where on December 3, of that year, he married Lura E. Draper, a daughter of Daniel and Huldah (Kimberly) Draper, of West Haven, Rut- land county, Vermont. Four children were born to this union, viz: James H., who died October 20, 1895; Arthur, born March 21, 1869; Norman E., born October 7, 1871, and Lettie A., born May 19, 1873. In 1868 Mr. West removed to Westfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and the same year located in Elk township, where he purchased the farm, on the headwaters of Kettle creek, on which his family now reside. It was covered by an almost unbroken forest, which has since been cleared off, and here Mr. West died August 14, 1873. On October 9, 1874, Mrs. West mar- ried Wilbur Welch, and to this union have been born five children, as follows: Lettie A., widow of Claude Ellsworth, who died at Sunderlinville, Potter county, August 27, 1895; Albert J., born October 6, 1877; Sarah E., April 17, 1880; Huldah L., August 24, 1882; Annie E., March 21, 1885, and Henrietta A., November 28, 1887. Mr. Welch is employed in cutting and stocking logs during the lumbering season, and devotes his attention to farming the balance of the year.

JOHN C. TROWBRIDGE was born in Clymer township, Tioga county, Pennsyl- vania, April 14, 1847, a son of Caleb and Eliza (Losey) Trowbridge. He was edu- cated in the common schools and Union Academy, and assisted his parents on the

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farm until his marriage. On January 4, 1871, he married Carrie E. Maynard, a daughter of John and Abigail Maynard, of Elk township. who bore him two chil- dren, Edward C., and Grace A., the latter deceased. After his marriage Mr. Trow- bridge was engaged in lumber operations on Pine creek and its tributaries during the fall and winter seasons, but always returned to the old homestead to assist his parents in the duties of the farm, which he continued to do up to the time of his death.

EDWARD C. TROWBRIDGE, only living child of John C. and Carrie E. Trow- bridge, was born in Clymer township, Tioga county, November 21, 1871. He at- tended the common schools of his native township, and has since devoted his atten- tion to farming and lumbering. He makes his home with his mother, Mrs. John M. Purhen, in Elk township, where he is the owner of a farm and other property. He is a member of Marshfield Grange, No. 1113, P. of H.

JOHN M. PURHEN was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, March 3, 1854, a son of Frank and Dorothy (Franck) Purhen, of Elk township, Tioga county, whither the family removed during the childhood of our subject. He remained with his parents until 1883, when he purchased a saw-mill, which he has since operated near his present home. On February 27, 1884, he married Mrs. Carrie E. Trowbridge, widow of John C. Trowbridge, a daughter of John and Abigail Maynard, who has borne him two children, Marshall M. and Martha M., twins, born June 4, 1890. Mr. Purhen is engaged in farming, in connection with the manufacture of lumber. He is a member of Marshfield Grange, No. 1113, P. of H.

JOHN E. FRELIGH was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, April 22, 1841, a son of Moses J. and Harriet (Boughton) Freligh. When he was a child his parents removed to Delaware county, New York, where his father worked at the mason's trade, though devoting a portion of his attention to farming. John E. was reared on a farm. His mother having died when he was quite young, he was taken by a farmer of Delaware county, with whom he lived many years. After attaining his majority, he purchased a farm in Broome county, New York, and three years later went to Iowa, where he continued in agricultural pursuits. In 1876 he bought eighty acres of land in Floyd county, Iowa, on which he lived up to 1887, when he came to Elk township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and purchased his present homestead. On August 10, 1862, Mr. Freligh married Emma P. Howe, a daughter of Israel and Hannah (Childs) Howe, of Broome county, New York, and has four children, viz: Lillian E., wife of W. H. Brownell, of Elk township; Edgar R., John Wilbur and Elsie M. Mrs. Freligh owns 100 acres of land a short distance from their home, left her by her father. The homestead is nearly all cleared and im- proved, making a very pleasant place of residence. In 1892 Mr. Freligh became interested with his son, Edgar R., in the Star Washer, and purchased the rights to sell the same in New York and Pennsylvania. A year later they purchased eleven more States. In 1892 they began the manufacture of these machines at Westfield, which they carried on up to the spring of 1894, when they suspended work and Mr. Freligh returned to the farm. The family are all charter members of Marshfield Grange, No. 1113, P. of H. Mr. Freligh is also a member of St. Charles Lodge, No. 442, F. & A. M., of Charles City, Iowa, and in politics, is an ardent Republican.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ROBERT THOMPSON, third son of Samuel and Rachel Thompson, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, December 23, 1853. His parents were Scotch-Irish, and reared the following children: Jane, wife of Taylor Quade, a farmer residing near Buffalo, New York; James, a tannery foreman at Limestone, New York; John, a farmer of Green county, New York; Robert, of Leetonia; Rachel, who lives in Canada, and Margaret, deceased. The mother died in Ireland, and her husband subsequently came to the United States and settled on a farm near Kingston, Ulster county, New York, in 1862, where he still resides. The subject of this sketch came to the United States in 1871, and found employment in a tannery in Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania, where he learned the tanner's trade. In 1871 he re- moved to Leetonia, Tioga county, becoming an employe in the Cedar Run Tannery, which began operations that year. He has been foreman of the tannery for the past five years, and is one of the most thorough and practical men in the business. On June 14, 1880, Mr. Thompson married Addie Merrills, a daughter of Clum and Elizabeth Merrills, of Lycoming county, who has borne him seven children, viz: James, Effie, William, Nellie, Daisy, Robert and Olive. Mr. Thompson is the oldest citizen in point of residence in Leetonia, and enjoys the respect and esteem of his neighbors as well as the confidence of his employers. In politics, a Republican, he has filled the office of postmaster of Leetonia, and has served nearly eight years as school director.

SHIPPEN TOWNSHIP.

JOHN ENGLISH was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, June 9, 1809, a son of James and Margaret (McConnis) English, of that place. He was a weaver, and worked at that trade until 1835, when he immigrated to the United States and found employment with Hezekiah Stowell, on Pine creek, in Shippen township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He worked for Mr. Stowell about six years, most of the time in the grist-mill at what is now Ansonia. About 1841 he bought a farm in Delmar township, located near Dutch hollow, on which he settled the same year. At that time the country was sparsely populated, and the lands were covered by the original forest. He made the first clearing on his farm, and after a residence there of four or five years his wife died, and he then sold out and bought a house and lot in Wellsboro. He continued in agricultural pursuits in the vicinity of his first purchase for a few years, and then located on his father-in-law's farm in Delmar, on which he lived up to 1864, when he purchased a farm in Shippen township, near Delmar postoffice, where he possed the remaining years of his life, dying July 17, 1887. Mr. English followed farming steadily and persistently, but also engaged to some extent in the lumber business. In 1872 he was awarded a contract for the construction of a public road from Antrim to Morris, which is to-day one of the best roads in Tioga county. He was a stanch Republican, and in religion, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He served as supervisor of Shippen township three years; school director nine years, and assessor two terms. Mr. English was three times married. In 1833 he was married in Ireland to Catherine Glass, a daughter of John Glass, who bore him eight children as follows: Eliza, widow of Alonzo Ellis, of Westfield; Mary, deceased wife of Stephen English, of Lycoming county; Sarah, deceased wife of Stephen Campbell, of the same county; James, George, John, Richard and William, all of whom died before they reached the

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

age of ten years. Mrs. English died in April, 1846, and the following year he married Letitia Kelsey, a daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Merrick) Kelsey, of Delmar township. Eight children were born to this marriage, viz: Daniel and Benjamin F., both deceased; Eugene S., of Shippen township; Willis L., of Morris township; John F., a resident of Shippen; Anna C., wife of Frank Watkins, of Wellsboro; Mary L., a teacher in Shippen, and Grant, who has been adopted by Robert Kelsey, of Wellsboro, and has taken his name. Mrs. English died on June 12, 1870, dying as she had lived a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. About a year after her death Mr. English married his third wife, Mrs. Eliza Stevens, of Knoxville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania.

EUGENE S. ENGLISH, oldest living child of John and Letitia English, was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, January 3, 1852, and was educated in the com- mon schools, and Wellsboro High School, later attending Cook Academy, at Havana, New York, in which institution he spent three years. He earned money in lum- bering and at farm work to use in completing his education. After his return from school, he lived at home and cultivated the farm, caring for his parents and his in- valid brother, John. At the death of his father he inherited the old homestead, and has made farming his principal vocation. Mr. English is one of the progressive, en- terprising farmers of Shippen, and owns one of the best improved farms in the town- ship. On December 15, 1886, he married Rosetta M. Baldwin, a daughter of Vine and Cynthia D. (Boyden) Baldwin, of Delmar township, and has one child, Lottie M. Mr. English and wife are members of Shippen Baptist church, and also of Middle Ridge Grange, No. 384, P. of H. In politics, he is a Republican, and has filled the offices of supervisor, auditor, clerk and treasurer in Shippen township.

JOSEPH A. DARLING was born in Otsego county, New York, July 5, 1827. His parents, Joshua and Robay (Millard) Darling, were originally from Rhode Island, and settled in Otsego county, New York, at an early day, whence they came to Shippen township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where they lived from 1850 to 1854. In the latter year they removed to Nebraska, and resided in that state until their death. Joseph A. was reared in his native county, and worked with his father at the carpenter's trade until he was eighteen years of age. In 1846 he came to Shippen township, Tioga county, and found employment with Hezekiah Stowell, mostly in lumber jobbing. On August 19, 1850, he married Helen M. Swope, a daughter of Abiather and Julia Anna (Sherman) Swope, of Shippen township, who has borne him six children, as follows: Alice E., wife of Vine R. Pratt, of Reynolds- ville, Jefferson county; Anna M., widow of Lafayette Wetherbee, of Shippen town- ship; Walter C., a resident of Elk township; May J., who died January 22, 1863; Joseph E., a resident of Gaines township, and Grace E. M., wife of Byron Ford, of Shippen. About 1855 Mr. Darling purchased a farm on Pine creek, in Shippen township, known as the Pine Grove farm, which he cleared and improved. He lived there up to 1883, when he sold the property and bought 200 acres of land on Darling run, in the south part of Shippen township. It was then covered by the original forest, which Mr. Darling has since cleared off, erected commodious build- ings, and otherwise improved the property. In 1890 he purchased 127 acres in the southeast part of Shippen, known as the R. W. Wheeler farm, both of which he still owns. During these years Mr. Darling has jobbed more or less in connection

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with farm duties, and has been quite successful in his business ventures. In politics, a Republican, he has served as a justice of the peace for twenty years continuously, and has also filled nearly all of the other township offices. He is a member of Mid- dle Ridge Grange, No. 384, P. of H., of Delmar township, and has also been con- nected with the I. O. O. F. Mr. and Mrs. Darling are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is one of the progressive farmers of Shippen township.

HORACE BROUGHTON was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, Pennsylva- nia, September 1, 1818, a son of Nathan and Sally (Walker) Broughton, who came from Delaware county, New York, to Tioga county in 1817. He was reared upon a farm and learned the blacksmith's trade, which occupation he followed the greater part of his life. He also acted as a lumber pilot on Pine creek, and was engaged during the rafting season of each year in piloting lumber to the markets in central Pennsylvania. He finally purchased a farm on Pine creek, in Shippen township, Tioga county, where he resided until his death, July 5, 1893. His wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Greenleaf) Sly, of Shippen township. They were married August 19, 1838, and were the parents of nine children, as follows: Amelia, wife of Isaac Holmes, of Michigan; Maria, wife of Ambrose Dimmick, of Shippen township; Juliet, wife of George Dimmick, of Shippen; Sarah E., who died in infancy; Lucy, deceased wife of Edwin T. Everett, of Covington; Richard H., a resident of Mckean county; Job R., of Westfield borough; Emmet W., of Shippen township, and Rosabella, wife of Matthew Luxenberger, of Mckean county. Mrs. Broughton died on January 1, 1877, in her fifty-seventh year. Both she and her husband were members of the Presbyterian church, of Ansonia, and are buried in the cemetery at that place. In politics, Mr. Broughton was a Republi- can, and filled the offices of supervisor, auditor, inspector and judge of election at different periods. He was also connected with Tyoga Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Wells- boro.

EMMET W. BROUGHTON, a son of Horace and Elizabeth Broughton, was born on the homestead in Shippen township, Tioga county, November 8, 1858, and at- tended the common schools of the district in boyhood. He has always lived upon the old homestead, assisting his parents in the duties of the farm, which he took charge of at his father's death. On September 24, 1882, he married Anna M. Britting, a daughter of Conrad and Catherine (Wingerter) Britting, of Germania, Potter county, who has borne him one daughter, Ruth A. They also have reared Maggie Pletcher, a niece of Mrs. Broughton, whose father, George Pletcher, lives. in Galeton, Potter county. Politically, Mr. Broughton is a Republican, and has served as township clerk, treasurer, inspector and clerk of election for many years.

HARRIS DARTT was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, February 11, 1830, a son of John and Betsey E. (Butler) Dartt, early settlers of that township. He was reared upon the homestead farm, and attended the district school of his neighborhood until old enough to earn his own living, when his father gave him his time and he afterwards made his own way in life. He learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at that business in connection with farming. Soon after attaining his majority, he purchased a farm on East hill, Delmar township, and cleared a portion of it. A few years later he sold it and purchased a tract of timber land in the south part of Shippen township, which he sold about 1858 and bought 138

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acres two miles westward, where his widow and son, John B., now reside. This farm was at that time unimproved, and Mr. Dartt began at once the erection of a log house, and devoted his energies toward clearing and improving the land. On September 30, 1860, he married Mary Caroline Wilcox, a daughter of William and Lydia (Buckbee) Wilcox, of Delmar township, who bore him one son, John B. Mr. Dartt enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Pennsylva- nia Volunteers, February 4, 1864, and served in the Army of the Potomac. He was taken sick with fever while on his way to the front, and was sent to the hospital at Philadelphia. He later rejoined his regiment, but was again returned to the hospital as unfit for duty, and was finally discharged, June 28, 1865. He returned to his home in broken health, to resume the duties of the farm. In 1888 he re- placed the old log house with a more modern structure, also erected better out- buildings, and continued to reside on this farm up to his death, December 28, 1895. In politics, he was a Republican, and in religion, a member of the First Baptist church, of Shippen township, to which his widow also belongs. He served as school director nine years, also as collector, judge of election, etc. He was a member of Cook Post, No. 315, G. A. R., of Wellsboro, and one of the respected citizens of the community.

JOHN B. DARTT was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, January 24, 1863, and is the only child of Harris and Mary C. Dartt. He has spent his entire, life on the homestead farm, which he took charge of at his father's death. On July 2, 1889, he married Lillian Wilcox, a daughter of Dennis and Sarah (Wilson) Wilcox, of Delmar township, and has two children, Nora and Harvey. Mrs. Dartt is a member of the First Baptist church of Shippen, and in politics, the family ad- here to the Republican party.

ELIHU J. DORT, originally spelled "Dartt," was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, January 15, 1832, a son of John and Betsey E. (Fuller) Dartt, early settlers of that township. Before attaining his majority he learned the blacksmith's trade, which business he has followed more or less in connection with agriculture. About 1862 he purchased an unimproved tract of 104 acres, in the south part of Shippen township, on which he now resides. There was no settlement in that part of the township at that time, and Mr. Dort was obliged to travel three miles through the woods every night and morning while engaged in clearing a place for his dwell- ing and in erecting the same. By rigid industry he gradually cleared off the dense forest, year by year, and has lived to see that section thickly settled and converted into productive farms. On January 1, 1858, he married Aurilla Sherman, a daughter of Tile and Lurinda (Babcock) Sherman, of Shippen township, who has borne him three children, viz: Lurinda G., wife of Daniel L. Plumley, of Shippen; Frankie E., wife of Darius Plumley, of the same township, and Porter J. Mr. Dort enlisted in Battery D, First Pennsylvania Light Artillery, September 15, 1864, and was under Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley until January 1, 1865. The battery was then sent to winter quarters at Maryland Heights, and the following April to Arlington Heights, and was finally discharged in June, 1865, when Mr. Dort returned to his home in Shippen and resumed work on the farm, to which he has since given his principal attention, but has also kept a blacksmith shop for his own convenience, as well as for the accommodation of his neighbors. In politics,

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a Republican, he has served as school director and assessor of Shippen. He is a member of George Cook Post, No. 315, G. A. R. of Wellsboro. Mr. and Mrs. Dort are members of the Free Baptist church, at Kennedy, Delmar township.

PORTER J. DORT, youngest child and only son of Elihu J. Dort, was born on the homestead in Shippen township, attended the common schools of the district, and learned the blacksmith's trade with his father, at which he has worked in the lumber woods to a considerable extent. On February 22, 1893, he married Laverne G. Townsend, a daughter of Edward and Jennie (Hastings) Townsend, of Tia- daghton, Tioga county. She was a native of Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, where she was born July 26, 1874. Mrs. Dort died March 20, 1894. In politics, Mr. Dort is a Republican.

BENJAMIN F. KNOWLTON, eldest son of Timothy Knowlton, was born in Sulli- van township, Tioga county, December 6, 1822, and remained with his parents until his majority. He afterwards worked in different portions of the county as a farm hand for a few years. On September 10, 1845, he married Lydia Ames, of Sulli- van township, and in November removed to Lake county, Illinois, where he pur- chased a farm on which he lived up to 1850. He then returned to Sullivan town- ship, Tioga county, and bought a part of the old homestead, which he cultivated in partnership with his brother, Andrew J., until 1862. In that year he sold his in- terest in the homestead farm and purchased 150 acres in the south part of Shippen township, which at that time contained little or no improvements. He has since cleared and improved the property, erected a modern residence, substantial out- buildings, and reared a large family, being to-day one of the pioneer landmarks of Shippen township. Mrs. Knowlton was born November 15, 1820, in Sullivan town- ship, Tioga county, and is the mother of eight children, as follows: George O. and Leander A., of Shippen township; Phoebe A., wife of Abram M. Sherman, of Shippen; Eugene F., of Delmar; Herbert A., of Clymer; Lydia J., wife of Rev. William J. Playfoot, a Baptist minister; Julian P., of Shippen, and Frank H., who lives with his parents. Mr. Knowlton is an ardent Democrat, and has served as supervisor, school director and treasurer in Shippen township. His sons, Leander and Frank, carry on the old homestead farm, and thus assist their parents in their declining years.

SAMUEL SCRANTON was born in Schoharie county, New York, September 27, 1820, a son of Lyman and Elizabeth (Cronkrite) Scranton. He attended the common schools of his native county, and removed with his parents to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, thence to Ralston, Lycoming county. About 1835 they located in Blossburg, Tioga county, where the father engaged in jobbing, clearing land and lumbering. Samuel worked with his father until his majority, and then settled in Union township, Tioga county. From 1844 to 1849 he lived at Tiadaghton, where he was employed by Wilcox & Robinson, of Wellsboro. He then moved to Stony Fork, in Delmar township, where he had purchased a tract of land, and lived there up to 1864, in which year he removed to Marsh creek, near the Shippen line. Two years later he purchased 200 acres in Shippen township, on which he has lived up to the present. He followed the lumber business in connection with farming up to a few years ago, but now devotes his entire attention to agriculture. On October 15, 1843, Mr. Scranton married Almira A. Wheeler, a daughter of Joseph B. and Laura

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M. (Smith) Wheeler, of Delmar township. Seven children have been born to this marriage, as follows: George M., of Shippen; Lauretta, wife of Amasa Gee, of Del- mar; Arthur J., deceased; Stephen S., and Chester L., both residents of Shippen; Anna M., wife of Charles L. Baker, of the same township, and Mary I., deceased. Politically, Mr. Scranton is a Republican, and has served as supervisor of Shippen two terms. He is a member of Shippen Grange, No. 902, P. of H., and is also an adherent of the Free Baptist church.

GEORGE M. SCRANTON, eldest son of Samuel Scranton, was born in Delmar town- ship, Tioga county, July 20, 1844; was educated in the common schools, and remained with his parents on the homestead until after his majority. On July 4, 1870, he married Rebecca R. Campbell, a daughter of King Jerome Campbell, of Delmar, to which union have been born three sons: Arthur L., Walter L., and Samuel J. For several years Mr. Scranton worked at different places. In 1875 he purchased a tract of land on Marsh creek, in Delmar township, and lived upon it seven years. He then sold it and purchased an improved farm in Shippen, where he has since resided. In 1881 he was elected constable and collector of Shippen and has held these offices continuously up to the present. He is a member of Shippen Grange, No. 902, P. of H., of Ansonia, and both he and wife are members of the Free Baptist church.

STEPHEN S. SCRANTON, second son of Samuel Scranton, was born in Delmar township August 1, 1850. On April 6, 1891, he married Jennie Hunt, a daughter of William R. Hunt, of Delmar, and has one child: Lyman H. Mr. Scranton owns a part of the old homestead, where he now resides. In politics, a Republican, he has been constable and collector, and also supervisor and inspector of elections.

CHESTER L. SCRANTON, youngest son of Samuel Scranton, was born in Delmar township, January 4, 1854, and lived with his parents until his marriage. He owns a part of the old homestead on which he now resides. On October 28, 1880, he married Luella E. Holiday, a daughter of Delos Holiday, of Delmar, and has two children: Homer L. and Benjamin M. Mr. Scranton has been connected with the lumbering interests more or less since boyhood, and has also worked at blacksmithing and farming. In politics, a Republican, he has been supervisor and inspector of elections in Shippen township.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 128

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