History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 139

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Tioga County > History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania > Part 139

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

CAPT. HOMER J. RIPLEY was born near Mansfield, Tioga county, December 8, 1839, and lived and worked on his father's farm until he reached man's estate. He was educated in the district schools and at Mansfield Seminary. In the summers of 1858-59, he assisted in laying brick in the erection of the Seminary building at Mansfield, and in 1860 did similar work upon the jail in Wellsboro. In the winter of 1861 he entered the store of A. J. & E. R. Webster, of Mainesburg, where he

1051

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

clerked until the spring of 1862, and then entered Binghamton Commercial Col- lege. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Fourteenth United States Infantry, then a part of the First Brigade, Second Division, Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac. In September, 1864, he was promoted to sergeant, and in November was made com- missary sergeant. Having passed an examination for promotion before General Casey's board, he was commissioned second and first lieutenant, successively, in the Fourteenth regiment, in June, 1865. Soon afterwards he was made adjutant, and left New York harbor with his regiment in November, 1865, for California. The command reached Camp Goodwin, Arizona, in May, 1866, and in July the Third Battalion of the Fourteenth became the Thirty-second United States Infantry. He was promoted captain in the new regiment on September 15, 1867, and com- manded at Camp Bowie, Arizona, until July, 1869, when he took a leave of absence for a visit home, and was married November 1, 1869, to Adalena Rumsey, a daughter of Aaron Rumsey, of Sullivan township. In February, 1870, Captain Ripley was assigned to duty as commissary for the Arapahoe and Cheyenne Indians, at Camp Supply, Indian Territory, and resigned from the service January 1, 1871. Upon his return to civil life Captain Ripley engaged in merchandising at Mansfield, subse- quently located on a farm, but seven years later again embarked in mercantile busi- ness at Mainesburg. He closed his store at the latter place in January, 1888, to enter upon his duties as register and recorder, in which office he served three con- secutive terms, and then settled on his farm in Sullivan township. He is a member of Mansfield Post, No. 48, G. A. R., and is also connected with the I. O. O. F., and the F. & A. M. societies. Captain Ripley is an ardent Republican, and one of the most prominent, popular and active members of his party in Tioga county.

VOLNEY RIPLEY was born on the old homestead in Richmond township, Tioga county, October 5, 1843, a son of Philip S. and Lorena Ripley. He was reared on the farm, and has made farming his life occupation. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Company K, Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and participated in the battle of White Oak Road. In July, 1865, he removed to Oneida county, New York, purchased a farm, and lived there until January, 1867, when he traded it for his present place of 100 acres, in the eastern part of Richmond township. On January 9, 1866, Mr. Ripley married Ameda Rumsey, a daughter of Aaron and Aurilla Rumsey, and has two children, Maude A. and Adeline May. He is a Republi- can, in politics, and a Baptist, in religion. He has served as school director of his district, and is connected with Mansfield Lodge, No. 526, I. O. O. F., also with Mansfield Post, No. 48, G. A. R. Mr. Ripley is one of the prominent farmers of the township, and is highly respected in the community where most of his life has been spent.

ELIJAH PINCHEON CLARK was born in Richmond township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1807, a son of Elijah and Lydia (Mixter) Clark. His father was born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, in 1783, married Lydia Mixter in 1803, and came to Tioga county in 1806. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Richmond township. His first wife died in 1833, and in 1835 he married Mrs. Hannah Jackson. He died January 5, 1864, aged eighty-one years. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native township, and followed farming and lumbering. On Octo- ber 20, 1834, he married Fanny Fitzgerald, a native of Orange county, New York,

1052

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

born December 28, 1803. The following children were born to this union: Daniel E., who died in Whitewater, Wisconsin, July 28, 1863; Warren M., a contractor and builder, of Waverly, New York; Frank W., a lawyer, of Mansfield; J. Miller, pro- prietor of the Corey Creek Stock and Dairy Farm, former superintendent of the State Orphan School at Hartford, Pennsylvania, and now superintendent of the State Industrial School at Scotland, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and Myron S., who died in 1865. Mrs. Clark died April 11, 1873, and in 1879 Mr. Clark married Mrs. Eliza Randall. He died October 27, 1884.

JOHN KELTS, a native of the Mohawk valley, New York, came to Tioga county, about 1804, with his brothers, Peter and Jacob, and settled on the site of Mansfield, being the first permanent settlers at that place. About 1813 he married Abigail Button, who became the mother of the following children: Sobrine, of Richmond township; Jerusha, deceased wife of Seth Rumsey; Mary Ann, widow of Shippen Eastman, of Lawrenceville; Edgar, a resident of Lawrenceville; Jacob, who resides in Westfield; John, deceased; Finley, who lives at Hornellsville, New York, and Horace, who lives in Knoxville. Mr. Kelts died in Knoxville at the age of eighty-five years.

SOBRINE KELTS, eldest son of John and Abigail Kelts, was born in Mansfield, Tioga county, December 6, 1814, and is the oldest living person born within the limits of that borough. He was reared on his father's farm and endured the usual privations of pioneer life. On August 27, 1837, he married Susan Middaugh, a daughter of Joseph Middaugh, who settled in Lawrence township in 1806, on the farm now occupied by Mrs. Elizabeth Knapp. Eight children have been born to this union, viz: Victor Leroy, deceased, who served in Company G, Fifty-first Penn- sylvania Volunteers, and died at Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland, May 12, 1863; Alexander Hamilton, a member of Company D, same regiment, who was killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; Isabel, wife of Valentine Reep; Catherine, widow of Daniel Clark; Della, wife of Horace Reep; Horace, a resident of Mansfield; Sarah, wife of Sperry Richmond, and Ida, wife of George W. Lenox. In politics, Mr. Kelts is a Republican, and is one of the oldest native born citizens in the county.

JUSTUS B. CLARK was born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, February 4, 1800, a son of Seth and Eleanor (Burr) Clark. His father was a soldier under Washington in the Revolution. When Justice B. was six years of age, his parents removed to Vermont, and in 1814, came to Tioga county and settled in the Tioga River valley, below Mansfield. A few years later they removed to a farm on Corey creek, two miles east of Mansfield. In 1821 Justus B. was married to Catherine Hart, who was born May 25, 1805. The following children were born to this union: John, Julia, who married Albert Sherwood; Lucinda, who married Lyman Beach; Justus B., Nancy, who married Hiram Middaugh; Daniel and Amanda, both deceased, and Morris B. Mrs. Clark died October 7, 1872, and her husband, June 24,1892. He was a typical pioneer and backwoodsman, and in early manhood spent much of his time on the chase, hunting the wild animals that then so thickly infested this region. He was a man of rugged physique and capable of great endurance, and retained his powers of mind and memory up to the time of his death, at the remarkable age of ninety-two years.

JUSTUS B. CLARK, JR., son of Justus B. and Catherine Clark, was born in

1053

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Richmond township, Tioga county, June 5, 1832, was reared on the homestead farm, on Corey creek, and obtained a common school education. On June 5, 1856, he mar- ried Susan H. Lucas, a daughter of James and Phoebe Lucas, who bore him two sons, Lyman, deceased, and George A., now a resident of Mansfield. Mrs. Clark died July 19, 1890, and he was again married, to Mary N. Johnson, nee Klock, widow of Henry Johnson, by whom he has one son, Lee Earl. In the fall of 1861 Mr. Clark enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and First Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served antil the regiment was discharged, participating in the various battles in which it took part. He entered the service as a private, and by successive promotions, for meritorious conduct, reached the rank of second lieutenant before he was mus- tered out of service. He was taken prisoner with his company at Plymouth, North Carolina, in April, 1864, and was confined in Andersonville and other southern prisons until February, 1865. In 1866 he bought his present farm of 275 acres, in the southeast part of Richmond township. From 1881 to 1885 he was engaged in the general mercantile business in Mansfield with his son, George A. In 1891 he established the Mansfield Carriage Repository, of which his son had charge, retiring to his farm in 1892. Mr. Clark is a stanch Republican, and is also a mem- ber of Mansfield Post, G. A. R., and of Sullivan Grange, of Mainesburg. He has served as a school director, and has been one of the trustees of the State Normal School for a number of years. In religion, he is an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church.

GEORGE A. CLARK, son of Justus B. Clark, Jr., and Susan H. (Lucas) Clark, was born in Richmond township, Tioga county, August 4, 1859, was reared on the homestead farm, and received his education at Mansfield State Normal School and Al- len's Business College. From 1881 to 1885 he was a member of the firm of J. B. Clark & Son, general merchants. In 1886 he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and engaged in the real estate and brokerage business, under the firm name of Abbott & Clark. In 1889, owing to the serious illness of his mother, he sold his western interests, returned to Mansfield, and later took charge of the carriage repository established by his father, purchasing the same in 1895. The business consists of dealing in carriages, wagons, harness, agricultural implements and machinery. On September 30, 1881, Mr. Clark married Fredrika B., daughter of Henry and Jean M. Allen, of Mansfield, who has borne him two children, viz: Frederic Blaine, deceased, and Irme Audrie. In politics, Mr. Clark is a Republican. He is treasurer of Mansfield Lodge, No. 5, S. F. I.

DANIEL HOLDEN was born in Barre, Massachusetts, September 1, 1784. In 1809 he married Lydia Lownsbery, and they became the parents of nine children, viz: Eliza, wife of Martin Stratton, of Blossburg; Lucy, deceased wife of Robert Bailey; Daniel L., born February 10, 1814, and died June 17, 1892; Isaac, born August 13, 1816, and died March 8, 1893; DeWitt Clinton, born October 14, 1818, and died in 1872; John A., born December 20, 1821, now the oldest native-born resident of Mansfield; George R., a resident of Charleston township; Horace W., a druggist of Elmira, New York, and Reuben N., a resident of Reed City, Michigan. A few years after his marriage, Mr. Holden removed to Albany, New York, where he kept a hotel. In 1819 he came to Tioga county and located at Canoe Camp, removing to Mansfield the following year. He settled on the land now owned by

1054

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

P. V. VanNess and D. H. Pitts. In 1826 he built a store opposite his residence, the first one in the village, where he carried on business up to his death, September 4, 1830. His widow and son, Daniel L., continued the business until 1834. At the time of his death he also owned a store in Sylvania, and was a partner with Thomas K. Mitchell in one at Mitchell's Creek. He was a man of great energy and enterprise, and occupied a prominent place among the pioneers. His widow died in 1874, aged eighty-three years.

ISAAC HOLDEN was born in Albany, New York, August 13, 1816, a son of Daniel Holden, and came with his parents to Tioga county in 1819. He grew to manhood in Mansfield, and March 4, 1841, married Lydia Phelps, a native of Che- nango county, New York. Her parents came to Tioga county in 1827, and set- tled at Beecher's Island, where she grew to maturity. She became the mother of six children, as follows: Delos W. and Ada C., both of whom died in childhood; Charles A., of Mansfield; Addie, wife of George Dorsett, of Jersey Shore; Carrie, and Eva, wife of Leonard Grover, of Buffalo. Mr. Holden was in the grocery busi- ness in Mansfield before the war, but subsequently engaged in farming. He died March 8, 1893. Politically, he was a Republican, and in religion, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

CHARLES A. HOLDEN, oldest son of Isaac Holden, was born in Mansfield, Tioga county, December 30, 1849. He was educated in the common schools and the State Normal School. After arriving at manhood, he gained a practical knowledge of business as a clerk in Mansfield and Blossburg. On August 12, 1879, he embarked in business for himself in Mansfield, where he opened a fruit and confectionery store, which he has successfully conducted up to the present. Mr. Holden married Catherine A. Dorsett, a daughter of P. R. and Sophronia Dorsett, of Mansfield.

JOHN A. HOLDEN was born in Mansfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 20, 1821, and is a son of Daniel and Lydia (Lownsbery) Holden. He received such education as the common schools afforded, and in early manhood learned the carpenter's trade with his brother-in-law, Martin Stratton, of Blossburg. He worked in the latter place about two years, from 1840 to 1842, and then returned to Mans- field. Up to 1860 he had either built or helped build over one-half of the houses then in Mansfield. In 1861 he went to Fall Brook and worked two years, putting up buildings there. He again returned to Mansfield, which has since been his home. In 1880 he had charge of the work on the public school building of Mansfield. In 1885-86 he built his present home and the house adjoining, since which time he has lived retired. He is now the oldest resident of Mansfield born within the bor- ough limits. On May 24, 1848, Mr. Holden married Betsey Davis, a daughter of Capt. Ezra and Betsey (Walker) Davis, natives of New Hampshire, and early settlers in Mansfield. Mrs. Holden was born in Londonderry, Vermont, December 14, 1825, and came with her parents to Mansfield in the spring of 1838. To Mr. and Mrs. Holden have been born the following named children: Josephine Adelia, wife of Asa L. Wilcox, of Canoe Camp; Nellie, deceased; Daniel Alfred, a resident of Pittsburg, and Lydia Delphine, wife of Frank Wright, of the same city. In politics, Mr. Holden was originally a Democrat, then a Free Soiler, and has been a Re- publican since the organization of that party. He was the second burgess of Mans-

1055

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

field, has been constable, and has served six terms as assessor, and eighteen years as school director.

LIEUT. JACOB ALLEN was born in Massachusetts, in 1763. He served as aide- de-camp to his father at the beginning of the Revolution, and after his father's death in battle, he continued in the service until the close of the war. He was married in his native State and became the father of seven children. In 1818 he removed to Tioga county and settled on the old Elijah Clark farm, in Richmond township, where he died December 11, 1836.

ALMON ALLEN, second son of Jacob Allen, was born in Massachusetts, in 1798. He married Polly Bates, to which union were born seven children, Fordyce Almon, being the eldest. He came to Mansfield with his family in 1822, from Cummington, Massachusetts, and in 1824 he and his brother-in-law, Solon Richards, erected a woolen factory in the village, which they operated several years and then sold. After living for some years in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Chautauqua county, New York, Mr. Allen returned to Mansfield, where he spent the remaining years of his life. He died in 1871, aged seventy-three years.

PROF. FORDYCE ALMON ALLEN, eldest son of Almon Allen, and grandson of Lieut. Jacob Allen, was born in Cummington, Massachusetts, July 10, 1820, and was two years old when his parents settled in Mansfield. As a boy, he attended the old plank school house near the railroad bridge, on Wellsboro street. His youth and early manhood were spent in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Chautauqua county, New York. While in Massachusetts he learned the clothier's trade. At nineteen years of age he began life for himself, clerking in Coudersport, Potter county, where he remained until 1844, clerking, attending school and teaching. He next attended the classical school at Alexandria, New York, one year. In 1845 he married Sarah Caldwell, of Coudersport, Pennsylvania, to which union was born one son, Clarence E., now of Elmira. From 1845 to 1848 he taught in the public schools of Jamestown, New York. In the latter year his wife died. He next filled the position of principal of the Fredonia High School, Fredonia, New York, for two years and a half, re- signing on account of ill health, upon the recovery of which he accepted the prin- cipalship of the academy at Smethport, Pennsylvania. On December 22, 1852, Professor Allen married Jane M., a daughter of Alexander and Eveline Martin, of McKean county, Pennsylvania, to which marriage were born four children, two of whom survive: Frederick M. and Stella R. In 1853 Professor Allen became editor of the Mckean Citizen, and the following year he was elected superintendent of schools of Mckean county, the first to hold that office, which he filled until the spring of 1858, when he established a normal school at West Chester, Pennsylvania, of which he was principal six years. In July, 1864, he came to Mansfield and took charge of the State Normal School, and was principal of that institution five years. He established the Soldiers' Orphan School in the autumn of 1867, the management of which he retained until his death. In the fall of 1877 he again became principal of the State Normal School at Mansfield, being elected for a term of five years, and while still occupying that position, he died at his home in that borough, February 11, 1880. It was as a conductor of teachers' institutes, however, that Professor Allen achieved his greatest reputation. So successful was he in this department of normal school work, that his services were in constant demand in all parts of the

1056

HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

country. He devoted one winter to holding institutes in Wisconsin, and the sum- mers of 1869 and 1870 to the same work in Maine. In the spring of 1871 he held institutes in Vermont, New Orleans, and Mississippi, and in 1876 in Virginia. In 1879 he made a trip to California, and on the way home held institutes in Kansas. In early life Professor Allen was an Abolitionist, and supported James G. Birney for the presidency, and later cast his fortunes with the Republican party. In religion, he was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. His widow, who still occupies the family home in Mansfield, treasures among her most valued pos- sessions the large and well-selected library which her husband collected during his life. Professor Allen was not only a leader in educational work, but was a powerful moral force in the community. He was strongly opposed to the liquor traffic, and bent his energies towards having it so far suppressed as to prohibit its sale within a certain distance of the State Normal School. His untimely death caused general sorrowing, for he was loved and respected by old and young. His ever cheerful smile and encouraging words were an inspiration to all, and few educators could develop the higher qualities in youth to a greater degree than he. So closely iden- tified was Professor Allen with the leading interests of Mansfield, that he is still re- membered as one of its most progressive, useful and public-spirited men. As a Christian, friend, husband and father he was above reproach. He lived close to Nature's great heart, which enabled him to understand the hearts of others and teach them the purer, nobler paths of life that alone lead to happiness and con- tentment.

LORIN BUTTS was born in Windham county, Connecticut, October 28, 1796, there grew to manhood and learned the carpenter's trade. On May 5, 1819, he married Harriet Hyde, a native of the same county, born April 18, 1800. In the fall of 1829 he removed to Lawrenceville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he built the Presbyterian church, said to be the first church building erected in the county outside of Wellsboro. In February, 1833, he removed to Richmond township and settled on a farm now within the borough limits of Mansfield, on which stood a small house and a log barn. In the summer of 1854 he built the present residence of his daughter, Byrissa B. Butts, where he died August 16, 1874. His wife died June 17, 1837. She was the mother of six children, as follows: Byrissa B., of Mans- field; Harriet, who died October 4, 1847; Jean M., deceased wife of Henry Allen, deceased; Lucy A., widow of Spencer McIntyre, of Blossburg; Dyer J., of Mans- field, and Lorin Hyde, who resides in New York City. Mr. Butts was an elder in the Presbyterian church and a tireless, enthusiastic worker in both church and Sunday-school. By his personal example and efforts, he did much to forward the cause of religion and morality, and was especially prominent in temperance work. His wife, too, was an earnest and devoted Christian, and was active in the charitable work of the church. During the dark days of the Rebellion, he was ever loyal and devoted to the government and sent two sons into the army to assist in defending the Union. In politics, Mr. Butts was a Republican, served five years as a justice of the peace, and also held various other township offices. He was practically the founder of Friendship Lodge, No. 274, F. & A. M., and an active and conscientious Mason.

BYRISSA B. BUTTs, oldest child of Lorin Butts, was born in Canterbury, Wind-

1057

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ham county, Connecticut, March 31, 1820. When nine years of age she came with her parents to Lawrenceville, Tioga county, and four years later to Mansfield. Her mother died when Byrissa B. was seventeen years of age, and the care of the younger children fell upon her. She has remained unmarried, was the companion of her father during the declining years of his life, and now occupies the old homestead on South Main street, in Mansfield. This and the fifty acres of land adjoining she owns and manages. Though advanced in years, she is still vigorous and active, and gives her personal attention to the management of her property. Her memory of events and incidents connected with the earlier history of the township and bor- ough is clear and accurate. She is known in the community as a very charitable woman, who is always kind and helpful to the poor and needy-a woman whose enterprise, public spirit and charity are well known in the Tioga valley, where she has lived for almost seventy years.

APOLLOS PITTS, son of Hanover and Mollie (Cudworth) Pitts, was born in Sul- livan township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1810, and spent his early years in that township, with the exception of a few years after his mother's death that he lived with a family named Reynolds, in Hector, New York. His opportuni- ties for obtaining an education were limited to the pioneer schools of that period, and he was reared to habits of industry and economy. On May 10, 1832, he married Phoebe M. Mudge, a daughter of Aaron Mudge, an early settler of Sullivan town- ship, who bore him a family of eight children, four of whom are living, viz: Pem- broke P., a resident of Belmont, New York; Mrs Mary P. Smith, of Osawatomie, Kansas; Daniel H. and John F. The deceased are: Charles M., Aaron M., Emma Josephine, who married J. W. Bailey, and Lucinda H., who married J. S. Mur- dough. In 1837 Mr. Pitts came to Mansfield, and engaged in mercantile business; was also postmaster of that borough, and filled the office of justice of the peace so many years that he was always addressed as 'Squire Pitts. He was instrumental in building the Seminary and served as a trustee. He finally settled on a farm east of Mansfield, since known as the Voorhees place, and lived there many years, farm- ing, lumbering and operating a saw-mill. In 1855 he sold this place and bought a farm four miles southeast of Mansfield. Here he lived until 1865, when he bought the next farm below, now owned and occupied by his son, John F. Pitts. On this he resided until his death, March 9, 1895. His wife died in December, 1873. A life- long Democrat, he was as faithful to the principles of his party during the long years since it lost its ascendency in this county, as when it was the majority party, and never missed an opportunity of recording his convictions at the polls, his last visit to Mansfield being on election day, in November, 1894.

CAPT. AARON MUDGE PITTS, son of Apollos Pitts, was born in Sullivan town- ship, Tioga county, October 27, 1834, and came with his parents to Mansfield in 1837. He was educated at the common schools, the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, Lima, New York, and Mansfield Classical Seminary. In 1858 he removed to Doniphan county, Kansas, and while residing there served as constable and deputy sheriff. On August 10, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company A, Seventh Kansas Cavalry, and rose by successive promotions until he was commissioned captain of Company D, in 1862. He served principally in Mississippi and Tennessee, and was highly complimented by the commanding general for discipline and gallantry. In 1865

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 139

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