History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 133

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

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JOSEPH SMEAD was born in Massachusetts, in 1759, and removed to Swanzey, New Hampshire, at an early day, where he followed the blacksmith's trade. He was an ardent patriot and served with honor in the Continental army during the Revolution. He was twice married. His first wife, Sarah Lyman, bore him one daughter, Sallie, who died in youth. His second wife, was Mrs. Sarah Wetherell, nee Brown, widow of Ebenezer Wetherell. She became the mother of three chil- dren, as follows: Persis Lyman, who died in 1840; Joseph B., a retired machinist of Massachusetts, and Ephraim A., of Tioga. Mr. Smead died in 1834, and his wife in 1858.

EPHRAIM A. SMEAD, youngest child of Joseph and Sarah Smead, was born in Swanzey, New Hampshire, February 1, 1822, and there obtained a common school education. When seventeen years old he went to Boston and learned the tinner's trade, at which he worked until 1852, when he came to Tioga county and bought some land. Soon afterwards he secured a patent for making square pans, the right to use which he sold in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and other cities. In 1862 he came to Tioga borough and embarked in the hardware business, which he has successfully continued up to the present, and erected his present store building on Wellsboro street in 1873. On September 28, 1846, Mr. Smead married Susan Knight, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Knight. She was born in New Hamp- shire, November 6, 1826. In politics, Mr. Smead is a Republican. He was one of the signers of the petition asking for the incorporation of Tioga; served in the

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council from 1877 to 1881; was elected burgess in 1882, 1892, 1893 and 1894, and was borough treasurer from 1884 to 1887, and again in 1889. He is a member of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal church, of Tioga, and also of Tioga Lodge, No. 373, F. & A. M., and Tioga River Lodge, No. 797, I. O. O. F. Mr. Smead is one of the leading citizens and substantial business men of Tioga.

ELI S. FARR was born and reared at Windham, Vermont, and there married Mary Putnam. Four children were born to this union, as follows: W. O., a book- keeper in Seattle, Washington; Abram, superintendent of the Middlebury tannery, and a resident of Niles Valley; C. B., of Williamsport, and Leroy, a resident of Tioga. About 1854 Mr. Farr and family came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and located at the old railway station below Tioga borough, where Mr. Farr operated a saw-mill and carried on a grocery store for a short time. He then moved back to Vermont, where he stayed a year or two. About 1857 or 1858 he returned to Tioga county, and after a short stay in Tioga borough, located in Wellsboro, and conducted a hotel on the site of the present Coles House. About 1859 he removed to the site now occupied by the Wilcox House, where he kept hotel for several years. In 1863 he returned to Tioga borough, and took charge of the Goodrich Hotel. He retired from active business in 1880, and died October 8, 1890, aged seventy-six years. His widow is living in Tioga borough.

C. B. FARR, a son of Eli S. Farr, was born in Windham, Vermont, February 22, 1846, and was about nine years old when his parents came to Tioga county. He attended the common schools of Wellsboro and Tioga. He later clerked for A. P. Cone, on Pine creek, and next became a clerk for Reddington, Maxwell & Leonard, of Troy, Bradford county. In 1868 he took an interest in the mercantile business with T. A. Wickham, which then became Wickham & Farr. He remained in this firm until 1878, when he became interested with O. B. Lowell in the Tioga and Middlebury tanneries, which partnership was dissolved in 1884 and the business discontinued. Mr. Farr then embarked in the lumber business on Pine creek, under the firm name of C. B. Farr & Company. In May, 1893, the firm sold out to the Union Tanning Company, and he later removed to Williamsport, where he is engaged with that company. Mr. Farr was married December 13, 1870, to Ella A. Wellington, a daughter of Samuel B. and Amelia Wellington, and has two children, Lowell W. and Quincy W. The family is connected with the Protestant Episcopal church. In politics, Mr. Farr is a Republican, and was prominent in the local councils of his party. He served in the borough council in 1869, and from 1878 to 1883; also as burgess of Tioga from 1887 to 1891. He has also filled the office of school director, and is a man of commendable enterprise and public spirit.

N. R. SHAPPEE was born near Horseheads, Chemung county, New York, No- vember 24, 1833, a son of Abner K. and Polly (Brooks) Shappee. His parents resided in Chemung county until their death. They reared a family of seven chil- dren, as follows: David, a resident of Alpine, New York; Abner, who died in Nebraska in 1893; Thomas, a resident of Elmira, who died in 1895; Knapp, of the same city, who died in 1896; Nathan R., of Tioga; Mariett, deceased wife of Louis Larrison, of Horseheads, and Rebecca, wife of Burton Stanley, of Tioga. The subject of this sketch received a common school education, and came to Tioga

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in early manhood, where he followed the occupation of teaming for many years. By industry and prudence he has accumulated a valuable property. On May 17, 1852, Mr. Shappee married Julia Schoch, a daughter of Frederick and Rosina Schoch, who has borne him four children: Rosa, wife of F. C. Prutsman, of Elmira; Mollie, who died in infancy; Anna, who died March 17, 1892, and Frederick W., a sten- ographer of Tioga. During the Civil War Mr. Shappee served as a corporal in Company H, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and for a part of the time was quartermaster sergeant. In politics, a Republican, he has served in the council from 1890 to 1896, and also filled the office of street commissioner for three years. He is a member of Etz Post, No. 401, G. A. R., also of the E. A. U., and in religion, is an adherent of the Presbyterian church.

FREDERICK W. SHAPPEE, only son of N. R. Shappee, was born in Tioga, Penn- sylvania, July 27, 1872, and was educated in the Tioga graded school and at Miller's Business College, Elmira, New York. He clerked for G. G. Saxton for three years and in November, 1893, accepted a clerkship in the law office of F. B. Smith, of Tioga, Pennsylvania, where he has since been with the exception of about six months, when he was with the wholesale grocery house of C. R. Maltby & Brother, of Corning, New York. In June, 1895, he married Ann Wilkin, daughter of Daniel Wilkin, of Morris Run, Pennsylvania, who has borne him one daughter. Mr. Shappee is a Republican, and was elected auditor of Tioga borough in 1892, which office he filled for three years, and at the expiration of his term was elected a justice of the peace in February, 1895, which position he still holds. He is a charter mem- ber of Smead Hose Company, No. 1; also a member of Tioga Lodge, No. 373, F. & A. M., of Tioga. He is very fond of athletic sports and was a member of the Smead Running Team which gained an enviable reputation as sprinters in Tioga county in the summer of 1894. During the spare moments he finds time to pursue the study of law and gives promise of attaining a creditable place in the ranks of that profession.

JOHN J. DAVIS was born in Millbrook, Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 1837, and immi- grated to the United States when ten years of age. He became a door-tender in the coal mines at Hyde Park, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, and worked in the mines until eighteen years of age. He was then made a foreman, and later explored and put down a number of shafts for the company. He subsequently came to Blossburg, Tioga county, and was employed by the old salt company and its successor, the Morris Run Coal Company, in exploring and developing the mines at Morris Run. Mr. Davis opened up the East and Salt Lake drifts. He advocated and adopted the T rail for mine tramways, and was the first to introduce mules in the mines. He resigned in December, 1874, upon which, occasion he was presented with a gold watch inscribed as follows: "Presented to John J. Davis, by workingmen of Morris Run, Pennsylvania, as a token of their esteem, December, 1874." In 1876 he was appointed superintendent of mines at Arnot, by the Blossburg Coal Company, a position he held until the fall of 1880. While filling it Mr. Davis explored and re-opened the lower drift, experimented with the coal, and demonstrated its adaptability for coking purposes. In the fall of 1880 he resigned and removed to Mansfield to educate his children. In 1882 Mr. Davis was employed as superin- tendent of construction of the Tioga Coke and Coal Washing Plant, at Tioga, by

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the Fall Brook Coal Company, and upon the resignation of Hon. Simon B. Elliott, he became superintendent of the plant. He died while holding this position, January 21, 1891, after an illness of three months. He was succeeded by his son, James T., who held the position until July 1, 1894, when the plant closed down because of its inability to meet ruinous competition. Mr. Davis married Mary V. James, who was born in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, in 1837, and is now a resident of Tioga borough. Seven children were born to this union, viz: Alfred J., shipping agent at Philadelphia, of the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg Railroad Company; Rowland W., clerk in the office of the Fall Brook Coal Company, at Fall Brook; James T., of Tioga; Anna M., who died in September, 1885; Mary G., John J., a resident of Philadelphia, and Franchot R. In politics, Mr. Davis was a Republican, and cast his first vote in 1860 for Abraham Lincoln. In religion, a Baptist, he organized the Union Sunday-school at Morris Run, and was active in church and social affairs.

JAMES T. DAVIS was born at Morris Run, Tioga county, February 19, 1865, a son of John J. Davis. He was educated in the common schools and at the Mans- field State Normal, and read medicine with Dr. H. H. Borden, of Tioga. In the autumn of 1886 he entered the Medical Department of the University of New York, and in 1887 became a student at Columbia College. Ill health compelled him to abandon his studies and forego a professional career. Returning home he clerked for his father, and February 10, 1890, was appointed postmaster of Tioga, which office he resigned February 10, 1893. In January, 1891, he succeeded his father as superintendent of the Tioga Coke and Coal Washing Plant, which position he filled until the business was abandoned. On July 1, 1894, he succeeded R. P. H. McAllister as local ticket and freight agent of the Fall Brook Railroad Com- pany, at Tioga, which office he still holds. In politics, a Republican, he has filled the offices of constable, school director, collector and township clerk. He is a member of Tioga Lodge, No. 373, F. & A. M., and is one of the most popular men in the community.

S. P. HAKES, physician and surgeon, was born in Parish, Oswego county, New York, June 2, 1861, a son of Richard and Minerva (Mack) Hakes. He is one of nine children, named as follows: Montrose, a resident of Parish; Lucius A., of Syracuse; Harriet J., wife of Frank Jones, of Utica; Marie H., wife of Charles Aldrich, of Parish; Rollin, deceased; Catherine, wife of John Crim, of Parish; Nettie, deceased; S. P., and Ella, wife of John Dennis, also a resident of Parish. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, and after pursuing a course of study at Mexico, New York, he came to Tioga, Pennsylvania, and entered the drug store of Philo Tuller, where he clerked three years. He then began reading medicine under Dr. Robert B. Smith, of Tioga, and later became a student in the Medical Department of the University of New York, from which institution he graduated in the spring of 1888. Returning to Tioga he at once began the practice of his profession, which he has continued up to the present. Dr. Hakes was married April 2, 1891, to May Cole, a daughter of A. C. Cole, of Hammond, Tioga county, to which union has been born one son, Howard. In politics, Dr. Hakes is a Republican, and is also a member of Tioga Lodge, No. 373, F. & A. M., and of Tioga River Lodge, No. 797, I. O. O. F. He is the local medical

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examiner of the Equitable, New York Life, Prudential, Mutual Benefit, Odd Fel- lows, and other insurance companies and associations, and is also a member of the board of pension examiners of Tioga county. Dr. Hakes has built up a large and lucrative practice by close attention to his professional duties and persistent industry. His success is a merited recognition of his personal integrity and professional honor. He is progressive in his ideas, and keeps himself fully abreast of the improvements in medical science.

WILLIAM KIMBALL, son of Dayton C. and Mary (Dunham) Kimball, was born in Catlin, Chemung county, New York, April 18, 1848. ) He was reared on a farm, and when fifteen years of age ran away from home and enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Sixty-first New York Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. Returning home he engaged in farming and lumbering. On January 1, 1869, he married Sarah Dunham, a daughter of Wright Dunham, deceased, of Bradford county, to which union have been born the following children: Jesse, Grace, Harry and Frank. From 1881 to 1893, in addition to his lumber interests, Mr. Kimball also kept a general store at Mitchell's Creek. In the early part of January, 1895, he purchased the hardware and tinsmithing business of Jacob Schieffelin, in Tioga, which he carried on in connection with lumbering, until January, 1897, when Jolin L. Inscho purchased an interest in the business, and the firm became Inscho & Kimball. Mr. Kimball is an ardent Republican, and has filled the office of county commissioner and also that of road supervisor. Jan- uary 1, 1897, he was appointed superintendent of the county almshouse and farm, which position he still holds. He is a member of Tioga Lodge, No. 373, F. & A. M .; Tioga River Lodge, No. 797, I. O. O. F., and Etz Post, No. 401, G. A. R., in all of which he takes an active interest.

WILBUR BROWN was born in Tioga township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1829, a son of Joseph and Eva Brown. His father, a native of Connecticut, came to this county at an early day, where he followed farming and lumbering. His mother died when Wilbur was a child, and his father remarried, and died in 1849, aged seventy-two years. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and throughout his earlier years followed farming and lumbering. He served in Company H, Two Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and took part in the battles of Fort Steadman, Port Royal, Spottsylvania and Petersburg. In 1866 he located in Farmington township, on a farm which he still owns, remaining there until 1892. In that year he removed to Tioga village, where he owns a resi- dence and a small tract of land, and is living retired from the active duties of life. Mr. Brown was married August 17, 1849, to Lucy Sharp, a daughter of Philip and Catherine Sharp, and a native of Campbell Town, Steuben county, New York. Her ancestors came from France and settled on the Delaware river, and later became pioneers of Steuben county. Her father died in 1849, aged seventy-five years, and her mother, in 1873, at the age of eighty-eight. Mrs. Brown is the mother of four children, viz: Della, wife of Thomas Spencer, of Farmington; Frances C., who died at the age of thirty-five; Reuben T., of Tioga township, and George, of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, he is a Republican, and is also a member of Etz Post, No. 401, G. A. R.

WALTER C. ADAMS was born in Tioga, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1868, a son of

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Frank H. and Ellen M. (Carpenter) Adams. He was educated in the common school's and Selwyn Hall Military School, Reading, Pennsylvania. He learned telegraphy and worked in the office of the Fall Brook Railroad Company at Tioga, four years, and later for some time in Buffalo, New York, in the Western Union Telegraph office. He then clerked in his father's store in Tioga for two years. In June, 1894, he engaged in the meat market and grocery business in the Park Hotel block, Tioga, continuing until June, 1895. Since July, 1895, he has been employed in the passenger service of the Fall Brook Railway Company, and now resides in Wellsboro. Mr. Adams was married September 18, 1886, to Nettie Van Gorder, a daughter of George and Derinda VanGorder, and has one child, Dorothy. In politics, he is a Republican, and in religion, a member of the Protestant Episcopal church.

DANIEL L. NOBLES, son of Loron and Jane C. (Russell) Nobles, of Delmar township, Tioga county, was born in Delmar, November 16, 1850, and is the fifth in a family of seven children. He received a common school education, was reared upon the homestead, and after arriving at manhood followed lumbering about ten years. He next kept the Guide Board House, on the Wellsboro road, in Delmar township, for four years. In 1890 he came to Tioga borough and em- barked in the livery business, which he still carries on. Mr. Nobles was married April 22, 1872, to Emma J. English, a daughter of William and Mary Ann English, and has had two children, William H. and Charles Wesley, the latter of whom died at two years of age. Mrs. Nobles' father died February 4, 1890, and her mother, May 26, 1870. She is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and with her husband has been connected with Keystone Lodge, No. 105, Order of the World. He is a member of Tioga Tent, K. O. T. M., and in politics, a Republican.

THOMAS GRAVES was born near Covington, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1820, a son of Josiah and Polly Graves, pioneers of that locality. He there grew to manhood, and for a number of years afterwards conducted a hotel in Covington, keeping at different times the Covington and Mansion Hotels. He married Samantha Howe, who bore him the following children: Esther M., wife of Ed- ward Doane, of Mansfield; Harry T., editor of the Millerton Advocate; Frederick L., editor of the Tioga Argus; Fannie, wife of W. J. Keeney, of Southport, New York, and Walter A., a resident of Seely Creek, in the same State. Mr. Graves is still living, at the ripe age of seventy-seven years.

FREDERICK L. GRAVES, editor of the Tioga Argus, was born in Covington, Tioga county, April 8, 1852, second son of Thomas Graves. He received a com- mon school education, and in October, 1870, began learning the printing trade in the office of the Blossburg Register, then conducted by his brother, Harry T. He later acquired an interest in the paper, the firm becoming Graves Brothers. In the spring of 1875 he sold his interest to I. R. Doud, and continued in the office as an employe. In 1878 he became Doud's partner, and two years afterwards they sold the plant to John L. Sexton, Mr. Graves continuing to work in the office. From 1882 to 1884 he published the Elkland Journal and then worked at his trade in Mansfield for a time. He next became interested in the Blossburg Register, as a partner of S. N. Havens, and subsequently with C. H. Ely. He afterwards worked in Mansfield, remaining in that place until July 22, 1892, when he came

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to Tioga and established the Argus, which he has since edited and published. Mr. Graves was married January 29, 1879, to Maggie Lanane, who died December 10, 1893, leaving a family of six children, viz: M. Flora, Fred L., Lulu E., Raymond J., Max V. and T. Walter. In politics, Mr. Graves is a Democrat. He is a member of Tioga River Lodge, No. 797, I. O. O. F., and of Tioga Tent, No. 176, K. O. T. M.

JEPTHA HUGHES was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, where his father, Thomas Hughes, settled before the Revolution. On March 26, 1816, he purchased of John Harrold, a tract of land in Lycoming county, on which he laid out the village of Hughesburg, now the borough of Hughesville. He sold out his interests in July, 1820, to Daniel Harrold, and removed to Tioga county, locating finally at Beecher's Island, where he remained until April 12, 1838, when he settled at Mitchell's Creek, in Tioga township. Here he passed the remainder of his life. While a resident of Lycoming county, Mr. Hughes married Betsey Hill, to which union were born eight children, three in Lycoming and five in Tioga county, as follows: Rachel, who married Charles Button; Sallie, wife of James Dewey; Frederick, a resident of Tioga township; Polly, widow of John Van Wey; Betsey, who married Charles Gray; Rebecca, who married David Cunningham; George, a resident of Jackson township, and Catherine, who lives with her brother George.

FREDERICK HUGHES, oldest son of Jeptha Hughes, was born in Hughesville, Lycoming county, November 13, 1820, and came with his parents to Mitchell's Creek in 1838. He remained with his parents on the homestead farm until he was twenty-three years old, and thus assisted to rear and support his younger brothers and sisters. He then worked out by the day for one year, and by prudence and economy saved enough from his earnings to give him a start in life. He bought 130 acres of the Bingham estate, near the head of Mitchell's creek, containing some improvements. With this as a beginning, he farmed in summer and followed lum- bering in winter, investing his earnings in land. By the exercise of good judgment he eventually acquired 1,600 acres lying along Mitchell's creek, thus becoming one of the largest land owners and leading farmers in Tioga county. On June 17, 1847, Mr. Hughes married Harriet Van Wey, a daughter of Henry and Betsey Van Wey, who bore him the following children: Henrietta, Benjamin, who died March 9, 1896; Betsey, wife of George Meeker; Phoebe, wife of Alonzo Gage; George A., of Tioga township; Frank, a resident of Lawrence township; Sim, Charles, John, Hattie, who died in childhood; Frederick, a resident of Denver, Colorado, and William K. Mr. Hughes has divided his land among his children, giving to each a liberal amount of his large estate, retaining for himself only 100 acres surrounding the family home at Mitchell's Creek. In politics, he is an ardent Democrat, and takes a deep interest in public affairs. He is recognized as one of the leading and public-spirited citizens of the township, of which he has been a resident for nearly sixty years.

GEORGE A. HUGHES, oldest living son of Frederick Hughes, was born in Tioga township, Tioga county, June 28, 1853. He was reared on the homestead farm and remained with his parents until his twenty-second year. In 1875 he rented a farm from his father, which he cultivated up to 1887, and then purchased the old Peter Guernsey farm of 103 acres, on the Tioga river, one mile south of the borough of Tioga, upon which he still lives. Mr. Hughes was married October

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7, 1890, to Ruby Smith, a daughter of Garrett and Abigail Smith, and has three children: George, Thomas and Alfred. Mrs. Hughes' parents are residents of Jackson township. In politics, Mr. Hughes is a Democrat, and is one of the pros- perous and progressive farmers of Tioga.

C. F. MILLER was born in Big Flats, Chemung county, New York, July 12, 1825, a son of John S. and Ruth (Larison) Miller. His father was a native of New Jersey, and his mother of Connecticut. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, as follows: Horace D. and J. Foster, both deceased; Maria, wife of Austin Reeder, of Big Flats; Enoch Ward, deceased; C. F., of Tioga township; De- borah, a resident of Elmira; John A., deceased; Orpha, and Hester, wife of John Campbell, of Chemung county. Mr. Miller was reared on a farm, and when thir- teen years old began to earn his own living, working out as a farm hand. In the fall of 1844 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and located on the Major Bent- ley farm, in Tioga township, purchasing 100 acres of it, to which he added 200 acres more in 1883. Mr. Miller was married in 1847, to Mary D. Lawrence, a daughter of Minard and Clarissa (Mix) Lawrence, which union has been blessed by five children, viz: Charles L., of Wellsboro; Frank S., a resident of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Waldo W., a resident of Wellsboro; Simeon P., who lives at home, and Thomas M., who died in childhood. Mr. Miller has one of the finest and best im- proved farms in the township, and the family residence is a substantial and hand- some structure, built with a view to making it a cheerful, homelike abode. In politics, Mr. Miller is an ardent Republican, and a prominent member of his party in Tioga county. He served as one of the county commissioners from 1862 to 1865, when he was elected county treasurer and filled that office one term. He has also served as supervisor, assessor and school director in his township. He is a member of Tioga River Lodge, No. 797, I. O. O. F. In religion, the family are Presbyterians, and liberal supporters of the church. Mr. Miller is not only a suc- cessful and progressive farmer, but is recognized as a popular and public-spirited citizen, who gives his support to every worthy project.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 133

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