History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 136

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania > Part 136

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*. Contributed by Mrs. M. L. Beaumont.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

September, 1847, he secured a clerkship with Bishop & Newell, a large grocery, grain and coal firm of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Five years later he bought the business and conducted it successfully for a long period. In 1855 he was appointed an agent for Asa Packer for the sale of coal in New York City. He shipped the first coal by rail to Newark, New Jersey, connecting the New Jersey Central, at Elizabeth, with the New Jersey railroad. These two roads having different gauges, he invented the broad tread-wheel, which permitted the cars to go direct through to Newark without unloading. Mr. Rusling was founder and president of the second building and loan association in the United States. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, he secured letters from President Frelinghuysen, of Rutgers College, to President Lincoln and Secretary Seward, and going to Washington, D. C., obtained a contract for supplying the government with forage. In October, 1861, he was appointed agent of the government to handle forage shipped over the Baltimore and Ohio railroad under Colonel Ingals. In the spring of 1862 he became agent of the government to purchase hay and oats in the west, ship them to the seat of war and oversee their transportation. While thus engaged he was taken sick and returned to his home in May, 1862, and for two years was unable to do any business. In 1864 he removed with his family to Lawrenceville, Tioga county, which continued to be his place of residence until his death, October 3, 1896. The first year of his residence in this village he bought hay and grain for the government. In 1868 he embarked in the hay business for himself, operating at times as many as fifteen presses, and continued the business up to 1873. In 1871 he invented a hay-tie, which is now in general use, and the same year he erected the Rusling block in Lawrence- ville. In 1878 he took charge of the cattle bill in Congress for the Humane Society, and finally secured laws for the better transportation of live stock from the west to the eastern markets. On December 23, 1857, Mr. Rusling married Stella Shoe- maker Orton, a daughter of Dr. M. P. Orton, and grand-daughter of Hon. James Ford, a pioneer of Lawrenceville. Six children were born to this union, as follows: Elizabeth L., wife of R. D. Brundage, of Wilkes-Barre; Charles S., Ford O., Frank D., Henry D. and Stella. Mr. Rusling was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was also connected with the I. O. O. F. and the F. & A. M. societies. In politics, a Republican, he was burgess of Lawrenceville and president of the school board in that borough at different periods.

JOHN B. SMITH, physician and surgeon, was born at Hornby, Steuben county, New York, March 14, 1838. His parents, Hugh and Lydia (Blendin) Smith, were natives of that State, and reared a family of five children, viz: David P., a deceased merchant of Riceville, Iowa; John B., of Lawrenceville; Harriet R., wife of Edward Markham, of Riceville; Edward E., a merchant at Brownville, Iowa, and Frank A., a merchant of Osage, Iowa. The father died in April, 1890, aged eighty-one years. His widow resides at Osage, Iowa, aged seventy-six years. John B. obtained his early education in the public schools of his native county, read medicine under Dr. Shannon, of Savona, New York, and Dr. Harrington, of Corning, attended lectures at the University of Buffalo, and graduated from that institution. He commenced practice at Hornby, New York, where he remained for eighteen years. In 1885 he located in Lawrenceville, Tioga county, and has since built up a lucrative practice. Dr. Smith married Lenora Chapman, a daughter of Samuel Chapman, of Law-

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

renceville, and has two sons, Lawrence C. and Hugh M. He is a member of the F. & A. M., and the Royal Arcanum; also of the Elmira Academy of Medicine; the Steuben County Medical Society, and the Tioga County Medical Society. In poli- tics, he is a Republican.

PELEG B. SANDFORD, retired grocer, was born near Newark, New Jersey, De- cember 8, 1814, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Back) Sandford, natives of New Jersey and Connecticut, respectively. He attended the public schools of New York City in boyhood, and when fifteen years of age became a clerk in the grocery house of James H. Cook, of New York, with whom he remained eleven years. He then formed a partnership with Edmund Driggs, and opened a grocery store at the corner of Twelfth and Broadway, where they continued in business two years, and then removed to the corner of Houston and Eldridge streets, continuing the business there up to 1856. In that year Mr. Sandford sold out and removed to Ridgebury township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and purchased a farm, upon which he lived up to 1879, when he sold a part of it and located at Somer's Lane, in Lawrence township, Tioga county, where he erected a store and carried on the mercantile business until 1891, when he sold out and retired to Lawrenceville, which has since been his home. On October 3, 1841, he married Keziah Malcomb, who bore him six children, viz: Susan A., widow of Samuel Wilson, of Clifton, New Jersey; Peleg, a resident of Caton, New York; Isabella, who resides at home; Catherine E., who died in infancy, and Francis and Clara J., twins, the former of whom died in in- fancy, and the latter the wife of P. L. Califf, of Lawrenceville. Mrs. Sandford died in 1873, aged fifty years. In politics, Mr. Sandford is a Democrat.

HENRY KIRKLAND was born in England, August 25, 1824, and came to New York with his parents when ten years of age, settling in Utica. After attaining manhood, he married Amanda Hutchins, who became the mother of one son, William Henry, now a resident of Goodyears, New York. Mrs. Kirkland died in July, 1851, and March 27, 1853, he married Mrs. Jane Ann Denton, widow of Lorenzo D. Denton. She is the mother of one son by her first marriage, namely: James H. Denton, a resident of Sayre, Pennsylvania. The children of her second marriage are named as follows: George, a resident of Sayre, Bradford county; Harriet Amanda, wife of Leroy Smith, of Smithboro, New York; Lorenzo D., who died in 1889; Francis G., of Lawrenceville, and Elmer, who lives in Elmira. In 1865 Mr. Kirkland removed from Painted Post, New York, to Blossburg, Pennsylvania, and became associated with Thomas J. Mooers in the Blossburg foundry, the firm being Mooers & Kirkland. In the spring of 1868 he sold his interest in the business, because of failing health, and died July 27, 1868. On February 5, 1872, Mrs. Kirk- land married John Hicks, of Cayuta, Schuyler county, New York, who died April 27, 1875. During the past seven years Mrs. Hicks has made her home with her son in Lawrenceville.

FRANCIS G. KIRKLAND, proprietor of the Hotel Kirkland, of Lawrenceville, was born in Blossburg, Tioga county, December 5, 1865, a son of Henry and Jane Ann Kirkland. When he was not quite three years old his father died, and his mother removed to Painted Post, New York, where he received a common school education. In July, 1882, he came to Lawrenceville and began clerking in the Daggett House. During the succeeding seven years he clerked in stores in Corn-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ing, Freeville, Elmira and Havana, New York, and for Wing & Bostwick, of Law- renceville; and also in the hotel at Lawrenceville, and the Wilcox House, Wellsboro. In February, 1890, he leased the hotel at Lawrenceville, and in January, 1894, purchased the property and changed the name to the Hotel Kirkland. Under his management the house has prospered, and is recognized as one of the best hotels in Tioga county. Mr. Kirkland is a Republican, in politics, and is now serving his second term as a member of the borough council. He is connected with both the lodge and encampment of the I. O. O. F., and in religion, is an adherent of the Protestant Episcopal church.

LEON A. CHURCH, editor of the Lawrenceville Herald, was born April 30, 1860, in Deerfield township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Theodore C. and Julia (Dailey) Church, residents of Deerfield. His father is a son of Daniel D. Church, who came from Troupsburg, New York, at an early day and settled in Deer- field, and his mother is a daughter of Willis B. Dailey, a pioneer of Charleston township. Leon A. was educated in the common schools and at the Mansfield State Normal School, and began teaching in 1877, which occupation he continued for thirteen years. In 1883 he entered the office of the Knoxville Courier, with the in- tention of learning the printing trade, and during the next two years he worked in Knoxville, Westfield and Elkland, when not engaged in teaching. On February 1, 1892, he became associated with W. P. Ryon, of Lawrenceville, in the publication of the Herald, which partnership still continues. Mr. Church was married September 28, 1880, to Eleanor C. Corwin, a daughter of Daniel and Martha Corwin, of Deer- field, and has three children: Myrtie E., Mabel I. and Herold E. In politics, Mr. Church is a Republican, and in religion, an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has served as township clerk and inspector of elections in Deerfield, and is now filling his third term as clerk of Lawrenceville borough.

ELEAZER BALDWIN, a native of Connecticut, came to Tioga county, Pennsyl- vania, in March, 1806, and located in Lawrence township, on the farm now owned by John Irvin. A few years later he purchased and moved to the property now owned by the widow of his son, Moses S. Baldwin. He married Betsey Stevens, February 2, 1803, who bore him five children, viz: Buell, Eleazer, Eunice, Moses S. and Thomas L. Mr. Baldwin died on the homestead, August 6, 1831, in the sixty-second year of his age.

MOSES S. BALDWIN was born on the Baldwin homestead in Lawrence township, Tióga county, September 22, 1815, attended the pioneer schools of his neighborhood, and endured the hardships and privations of those early days. He made lumbering and farming his principal business through life, and was an ener- getic, progressive man. He married Millicent H. Wylie, a daughter of Daniel B. and Betsey Wylie, July 26, 1846. She was born in Susquehanna county, Penn- sylvania, November 5, 1825. Eight children were the fruits of this union, viz: Mary E., a physician of Newport, Rhode Island; Buell, and another son, both of whom died in infancy; Mose S., of Lawrence township; Kate W., a physician of Philadelphia; Daniel W., a well-known lawyer of Westfield; Lucy D., and Lemuel G., a physician of Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Baldwin died December 12, 1867. In politics, he was a Republican, filled all the township offices at different periods, and took a very active interest in public affairs.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

MOSE S. BALDWIN was born on the Baldwin farm in Lawrence township, Tioga county, September 28, 1852, and is the oldest living son of Moses S. Baldwin. He was educated in the public schools and the State Normal School, at Mansfield, and has followed agriculture on the home farm up to the present. He married Miss Rose Osborn. In politics, he is a Republican, and has filled the offices of township clerk and school director.

EPHRAIM THOMAS was born in Ireland, in 1788, immigrated to the United States about 1805, and finally located on the present Thomas farm in Lawrence township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. His wife, Sally, bore him six children, viz: Sally, who married John Mourhess; Betsey, who married Luman Peck; Wil- liam, Ephraim, Mary, who first married George Madison, and for her second hus- band, a Mr. McClure, and Ezekiel, a farmer of Farmington township. Mr. Thomas was a carpenter, and followed that trade in connection with farming. He was also. a local Methodist preacher, and died on September 8, 1852.

WILLIAM THOMAS, eldest son of Ephraim Thomas, was born in Lawrence township, Tioga county, April 15, 1818, was reared on the homestead, and fol- lowed farming during his lifetime. He purchased additional land to that taken up by his father, and was quite a prosperous man. His wife, Mary Ann, was a daughter of John and Caroline Crippen, of Farmington township. They were married September 22, 1844, and had one son, William R. Mrs. Thomas died August 10, 1866, and her husband, February 17, 1892. In early life Mr. Thomas was a Democrat, but later united with the Republican party.

DR. WILLIAM R. THOMAS, only child of William Thomas, was born on the homestead farm in Lawrence township, Tioga county, February 28, 1858, attended the district schools in boyhood, and has spent his entire life on the place of his birth. He married Flora J., a daughter of Amos and Harriet Wingate, the young- est in a family of five children. She was born February 11, 1858, and is the mother of four children, viz: William R., Caroline C., Charles E. and Walter E. In 1881 Dr. Thomas began the study of medicine with Dr. Lewis Darling, of Lawrence- ville, and the following year entered the Medical Department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The next three years he spent at the University of Buf- falo, where he graduated in 1886. He practiced successfully for five years, when failing health compelled him to abandon his profession. Dr. Thomas and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, he is a Republican. He is also connected with the I. O. O. F., both lodge and encampment. He is one of the substantial farmers of his native township, where he owns a well-improved farm of 185 acres.

JULIUS TREMAINE was born in Steuben county, New York, October 4, 1814, and was the second son of Lyman Tremaine. He was reared in his native county, and followed lumbering and farming the greater portion of his life. He came with his father to Lawrence township, Tioga county, where the family settled on the present Tremaine farm. He married Anna Roff, a daughter of Henry Roff. She was born September 30, 1814, and became the mother of seven children, as fol- lows: Susan A., wife of W. M. Winter, of Lawrence township; Sarah J., wife of Allen T. Porter, of the same township; Charles H., a farmer of Lawrence; George M., a resident of Troupsburg, New York; William B., who lives in Lawrenceville;

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Levi J., a resident of Lawrence township, and Mary E., widow of E. J. Grant. Mr. Tremaine was an upright, Christian man, a successful farmer, and a prominent Democrat. He died December 29, 1882. His widow survived him over nine years, dying January 31, 1892.

CHARLES H. TREMAINE, eldest son of Julius Tremaine, and grandson of Ly- man Tremaine, was born on the homestead farm in Lawrence township, Tioga county, February 4, 1841, and has spent his entire life upon the same place. He obtained a common school education, and worked with his father in the lumber business until the death of the latter, when he bought out the other heirs and con- tinued the business alone. On November 21, 1865, he married Thyrza M. Guile, a daughter of Joseph Guile. She was born December 18, 1841, and has two chil- dren: Frank B., a farmer on the old homestead, who married Maria Kelts, a daugh- ter of Delos and Maria Kelts, of Lawrence township, and has two chidren, Charles D. and Gilbert E .; and Julius E., who resides at home. The family are members of the Protestant Episcopal church, and in politics, adherents of the Democratic party. Mr. Tremaine is a member of the F. & A. M., and of the I. O. O. F., both lodge and encampment. He has served as a school director, and township supervisor, and is one of the well-known citizens of the township.

THOMAS KNAPP was born in Connecticut, in 1801, and the following year his parents, Elijah and Currance (Barnes) Knapp, removed from Connecticut to Lind- ley, New York. Thomas was the eldest in a family of eleven children, viz: Thomas, Seldon, Frederick, Abraham, Jacob, Shadrack, Derrick, Betsey, Polly, Sally and Lemiza. The father was killed by a rolling log, about 1838. The sub- ject of this sketch was reared in New York state, living there until 1832, in which year he removed to Tioga county. He married Emily Cady, a daughter of John and Amelia Cady, who bore him the following children: George, deceased; Mary, wife of J. W. Jackson, of Wyoming county, New York; Thomas C., of Lawrence township; Ira B., a carpenter of Steuben county, New York; John C. and Lewis J., both deceased; Andrew M., a resident of Caton, New York; Theresa P., wife of Daniel Stoddard, of Steuben county, and Martha, widow of Abraham Knapp. Mrs. Knapp died April 15, 1875, and her husband, September 24, 1889.

THOMAS C. KNAPP, oldest living son of Thomas Knapp, was born in Lindley, New York, June 27, 1831, and grew to manhood in this county. In 1850 he pur- chased twenty-five acres of land in Lawrence township, and an additional tract of fifty acres in 1861, on which he has been engaged in farming up to the present. In 1855 he married Julie Cady, a daughter of Samuel and Diantha Cady, of Lawrence township, who bore him one son, Thomas, who died in infancy. In September, 1864, Mr. Knapp enlisted in the First New York Cavalry, and was later transferred to the Second New York Cavalry. He participated in the battles of Cedar Creek, Warm Springs, the capture of Early's command at Bladenburg, and Five Forks, and was discharged from the service on June 5, 1865. Returning home, he re- sumed his duties on the farm. Mr. Knapp is a member of the G. A. R., and in poli- tics, a stanch Democrat. He has filled the offices of supervisor, constable and col- lector of Lawrence township.

SAMUEL ROCKWELL, retired farmer, was born in Tariffville, Hartford county, Connecticut, May 21, 1816, a son of John T. and Amanda (Cowles) Rockwell, na-

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

tives of that State. Samuel is the eldest in a family of six children, and the only survivor. He received a common school education in Connecticut and New York, his parents removing to Southport, New York, when he was about nine years old. He learned the chairmaker's trade, and in February, 1839, located in Lawrence- ' ville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade eleven years. He then bought his present farm four miles east of Lawrenceville, on which he set- tled, continuing to work at his trade for about twenty years, at the end of which period he gave up that business and devoted his entire attention to farming. In September, 1839, he married Johanna Hunt, a daughter of Hosea. Hunt, to which union were born ten children, as follows: Hosea H., a lawyer of Elmira; Edward E., a farmer of Lawrence township; Anna, wife of George Mitchell, of Jackson town- ship; John P., a resident of Minneapolis; Julia M., wife of Charles Seely, of Caton, New York; Sarah J., wife of D. L. Mulford, of St. Paul; Joseph W. and Josephine, twins, the former a resident of Lawrence township, and the latter died in infancy; Nellie M., wife of Chester Blanchard, of Farmington township, and Gertrude A., wife of R. W. Clark, of California. Joseph W. was born November 2, 1851, was educated in the district schools and the State Normal School, at Mansfield, and taught for seventeen terms, since which time he has followed farming. He was mar- ried September 19, 1883, to Mrs. Lucy Chase, widow of William H. Chase, and daughter of William W. Warren. He has served as constable and collector of the township for seven years, and is the present township clerk. The mother of these children died March 23, 1884, aged sixty-nine years. Mr. Rockwell is a member of the Lawrenceville Presbyterian church, of which he has been ruling elder since June, 1840. Politically, he is a Republican, and has been a school director for fifteen years, secretary of the school board for twelve years, and township assessor four years.

EDWARD E. ROCKWELL, second son of Samuel Rockwell, was born in Lawrence- ville, Tioga county, September 4, 1841. He attended the district schools in boy- hood, and when nineteen years of age went to Cameron county and worked one year in the lumber woods. He then enlisted in Company K, Twenty-third New York Volunteers, and served in General Pope's campaign, participating in the bat- tle of Second Bull Run, and also at South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericks- burg. He was honorably discharged in May, 1863. Returning home, he followed lumbering up to 1870, when he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, four miles east of Lawrenceville, and has since been engaged in farming. Mr. Rock- well married Martha Tilford, a daughter of Charles Tilford, of Lawrence township, November 15, 1865. They are the parents of two children, viz: Frank A., who was accidentally killed while attending school at Hornellsville, New York, and Charles S., a farmer of Lawrence. Politically, a Republican, Mr. Rockwell has been a school director for twelve years, and is now serving his third term as township assessor. Like most old soldiers, he is a member of the G. A. R. He is a member of the East Lawrence Christian church and has been Sunday-school superintend- ent twelve successive years.

WILLIAM H. EVANS, a native of New Hampshire, came to Tioga county in 1836 and located in Elkland, where he was engaged in merchandising four years. He then purchased a farm in Lawrence township, and died there in 1846. He mar-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ried Sallie Parkhurst, who bore him five children, viz: Maria, deceased wife of Dr. R. P. Brown, of Addison, New York; Allison H., deceased; Martha, wife of Thomas J. Lake, of Barto, Florida; William M., a farmer at Amherst Court House, Virginia, and Curtis P., a carpenter of Elkland.

ALLISON H. EVANS was born in Springfield township, Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, May 4, 1821, and was fifteen years old when his parents came to Elkland, Tioga county. He was employed as a clerk in his father's store in that town, where he also worked for a time in a distillery. In 1840 the family located in Lawrence township, where Allison H. was engaged in agricultural pursuits to the time of his death, March 16, 1881. In 1846 he married Abigail Haven, who bore him one daughter, Allena, who married J. M. Harrison, deceased, and is now the wife of Marcus Nye, of Whitesville, New York. Mrs. Evans died in 1848, and in 1849 he married Laura M. Haven, a sister of his first wife. Five children were born to this union, as follows: Alton C., of Lawrence township; Edgar F., a contractor and builder of Elmira; Hattie R., wife of E. G. Haven, of the same city; Nettie L., wife of Dr. M. R. Pritchard, of Harrison Valley, and Nellie H., deceased. Mrs. Evans died November 19, 1882, aged fifty-three years.

ALTON C. EVANS, oldest child of Allison H. and Laura M. Evans, was born in Lawrence township, Tioga county, March 9, 1852. He received a common school education, and worked on the home farm until twenty-three years of age, when he purchased a farm in Lawrence township, but sold it four years later and moved to Farmington township. He cultivated rented farms in that township eight years, and then returning to Lawrence township, bought his present farm of sixty acres, five miles west of Lawrenceville, on which he has since lived. Mr. Evans married Phebe D. Lugg, a daughter of Robert and Rebecca Lugg, of Nelson. She was born August 6, 1859, and has two children: Leah R., a teacher, and Dollie. The family are members of the Presbyterian church, and politically, Mr. Evans is a Democrat.

JOSEPH GUILE, a native of Vermont, born July 23, 1813, was a son of Leonard Guile, who was born in the same State September 24, 1793. Joseph was reared in Vermont, and came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1840, locating on Lamb's creek, where he operated a saw-mill for about seven years. He then removed to Mid- dlebury township and purchased 300 acres of timber land, from which he cleared a farm of 150 acres. He next removed to Lawrence township, rented a saw-mill, and followed lumbering there for five years, at the end of which time he removed to Tioga township, leased the DePui saw and grist-mills, and carried on a large and lucrative business for five years. Becoming a member of the firm of Tubbs, Ransom & Guile, he engaged extensively in the lumber business in Lawrence town- ship and vicinity for upwards of ten years, then sold his interest to his partners and purchased a farm at Somer's Lane, where he also built a store and carried on the mercantile business up to the time of his death, July 24, 1885. Mr. Guile married Susan Leonard, a daughter of Ebenezer Leonard. She was born on February 15, 1813, and bore him a family of eleven children, viz: Marietta, born February 15, 1831, and died October 7, 1889; John R., born January 5, 1833, and died February 14, 1854; Martha J., born January 23, 1835, and died March 27, 1842; Curtis C., born April 17, 1837, a farmer just across the line in New York state; Adeline E., born July 9, 1839, and died in August, 1885; Thyrza M., born December 18, 1841,

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 136

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