History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 142

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

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1871, to Adelia Lyon, a daughter of Stephen and Margaret Lyon, of Spring Hill, Bradford county. Four children have been born to this marriage, viz: Eva Grace, Hattie Blanche and Maggie Leone, all deceased, and Dora H. In politics, Dr. Moody is a Republican, and has filled the office of school director several years. In re- ligion, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been steward for a number of years. He is also connected with Mansfield Post, No. 48, G. A. R., of which he was commander in 1883 and 1896. Dr. Moody not only bears the reputation of being a skillful and successful physician, but is regarded as one of the leading citizens of Mansfield.

W. W. BENTLEY, third son of Bethuel Bentley, was born in Rutland township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, December 1, 1827. His grandfather, Major Bentley, came from Chemung county, New York, and settled on the Tioga river, near Mitchell's Creek, in April, 1806. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native township, and became a farmer and well-known bridge builder. He married Sarah Searls, a daughter of John Searls, and a native of Tompkins (now Schuyler) county, New York, who bore him the following children: E. N., of Mansfield; Helen, wife of E. M. Cass, of the same borough; Mary, wife of John H. Luckey, of Troy, Bradford county; G. W., a resident of Mansfield, and Susan, wife of R. E. Long- bothum, of the same place. In politics, Mr. Bentley is a Republican, and has served as a member of the borough council of Mansfield, where he has lived since 1877. In religion, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. A man of great energy and industry, he has been largely interested in real estate and build- ing enterprises in other places, in addition to his bridge building operations.

E. N. BENTLEY, oldest son of W. W. Bentley, was born in Rutland township, Tioga county, March 1, 1850, and obtained a common school education. In early manhood he became an iron-worker, and in 1875 entered the employ of the Athens Bridge Company, for whom he traveled two years. He next had charge of the erection gang for two years, and then entered the service of the Keystone Bridge Company. While in their employ as foreman, he built the bridge on the Mis- sissippi river at Keokuk, Iowa. He afterward worked for Dean & Westbrook, of New York City, and also for the Groton, New York, company, and for the Elmira Bridge Company. In 1892 he commenced business for himself, as a bridge builder and contractor, and the same year built the highway bridge across the Susquehanna river, at Jersey Shore, Lycoming county. Since arriving at manhood he has built thirty-six highway and several railroad bridges in Tioga county. On May 15, 1872, Mr. Bentley married Lois Booth, a daughter of Erastus Booth, of Troy, Bradford county, who bore him one daughter, Louisa, wife of A. M. Armour, of Morrisville, New York, a nephew of Philip Armour, the great pork-packer of Chicago. Mrs. Bentley died in January, 1880, and December 17, 1885, he married Elsie Odell. In politics, Mr. Bentley is a Republican. He devotes his whole attention and energy to bridge building, and is one of the most successful contractors and builders in that line in northern Pennsylvania.

D. C. BURNHAM, son of Halsey and Anna (Knickerbocker) Burnham, was born August 3, 1859, in Granville, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. His father was a native of Vermont, and his mother of Chemung county, New York. They located in Bradford county in the early forties, where his father followed the pro-

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fession of civil engineer. He died November 19, 1864, and his wife, April 7, 1891. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Burnham was connected with the Masonic order. The subject of this sketch was their only child, and was reared in his native county. He obtained a good common school education, and in 1877 came to Mansfield, Tioga county, where he found employment as a clerk in Dr. C. V. Elliott's drug store. He remained in that position until 1890, and then embarked in business for himself, and has since carried on a drug, book and stationery store in Mansfield, and enjoys a good trade. On April 15, 1891, Mr. Burnham married Addie E. Curtis, a daughter of Charles and Hannah Curtis, of Norwich, New York. In politics, Mr. Burnham is a Republican, and in religion, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is also connected with Mans- field Lodge, No. 526, I. O. O. F. Though one of the younger business men of Mans- field, Mr. Burnham enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people, and is recognized as a good business man and an enterprising citizen.

JOSEPH HUSTED was born in Southport, New York, December 17, 1820, a son of James and Catherine (Miller) Husted. His father was born in Burlington, Ver- mont, August 3, 1782, and settled at Southport at an early day. In 1838 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and located on a farm in Covington, where he resided for a number of years. He afterward moved to Mansfield, where he died November 15, 1865. Joseph grew to manhood in Covington, and, August 24, 1843, married Juliet E., a daughter of Everett Winter and Lydia (Walker) Bloss, of Covington, who was born at Blossburg, Pennsylvania, on May 24, 1826. Her father was the oldest child of Aaron Bloss, a native of Killingby, Connecticut, born May 29, 1775, who settled in Chenango county, New York, whence he removed to Covington, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1801, and in 1802 located on the site of Blossburg, then a wilderness, which place was named in his honor. Upon his land was found bituminous coal, the first mine being opened by Mr. Bloss. He died at Covington, March 24, 1843. His son, Everett Winter Bloss, was born in Chenango county, New York, September 20, 1800, was reared in Blossburg, and removed to Covington in early manhood, where he resided until his death, Septem- ber 29, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Husted are the parents of four children, viz: Cordelia L., deceased wife of David S. Ireland; Wilmot D., of Mansfield; Lyman S., a resi- dent of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and Lelia I., wife of Burt Coe, of Covington. The parents are residents of Covington, and among the oldest citizens of that borough.

WILMOT D. HUSTED was born in Covington, Tioga county, April 15, 1856. and is the eldest son of Joseph Husted. He was educated in the public schools and the State Normal School, at Mansfield, and at the age of fifteen entered the employ of the Covington Glass Company, where he acted as office boy one year. He then became a clerk in the general store of Edwin Dyer, but in 1874 again entered the office of the Covington Glass Company. After attending the State Normal School until a member of the senior class, he taught school in the factory district of Cov- ington. He next worked a few months for the Tioga Railroad Company, and then became a book-keeper for the Covington Glass Works, and a few months later manager for that concern. In 1878 he came to Mansfield and entered the bank of Ross & Williams, as book-keeper, which position he filled with slight interruption

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until 1887, when he was promoted to head book-keeper, a position he still occupies. Mr. Husted was married January 20, 1876, to Kate Johnson, of Covington, Penn- sylvanfa. Five children have been born to them, viz: Ray, Harry Lee, deceased; Marcus F., Leah Margaret and Genavene Louise. In politics, Mr. Husted is a Republican, and has served one term as burgess of Mansfield and two terms as a member of the school board. He is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 247, F. & A. M., and a charter member of the Mansfield Hook and Ladder Company. He is secretary of the board of trade, and has always taken an active interest in promoting the general welfare of the borough.

JOHN HARMANUS VEDDER, son of Uri and Agnes Ellen Grieves (Joyce) Ved- der, was born in Niskayuna, New York, September 2, 1830, the sixth in the line of descent from Harmon Albertse Vedder, a native of Holland, who was a trader at Beverwyck, New York, prior to 1657, and later settled at Schenectady. In 1662, when Schenectady was first laid out, he became one of its landed proprietors. The line of descent runs as follows: Harmon Albertse; Albert, born May 10, 1671; Harmanus, born September 3, 1704; Johannes, born September 9, 1750; Uri, born April 12, 1808, and John Harmanus. Albert was captured by the French and Indians at the burning of Schenectady in 1690, but returned to his home in safety. 'The subject of this sketch was married at Duanesburgh, New York, October 3, 1853, to Catherine Elizabeth McFarlan, to which union were born three children, viz: Darcy Alexander, born July 26, 1854, and died March 9, 1855; Wentworth Darcy, of Mansfield, and Mary Isabella, a resident of Troy, New York. A few years after his marriage Mr. Vedder removed to Oxford, Wisconsin, where he lived about one year. About 1859 he returned to New York state and took up his resi- dence in Schenectady, where he died June 3, 1877. His wife died in the same place, July 19, 1861.

WENTWORTH D. VEDDER, M. D., was born in Oxford, Wisconsin, April 7, 1858, and is the only living son of John H. and Catherine E. Vedder. When he was about a year old his parents removed to Schenectady. He was educated in the common schools and at Union College, attending the latter institution from 1875 to 1877. At the death of his father he entered the office of Dr. Livingston Ellwood, of Schenectady, and subsequently took a course at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, Baltimore, Maryland, graduating in March, 1880, Prof. Oscar J. Coskery being his preceptor. He began the practice of medicine at Troupsburg, New York, the same year, whence he removed to Mansfield three months later, where he has since continued in the active duties of his professsion. Dr. Vedder has recently taken a post-graduate course in the New York Post-Graduate Medical School and Hos- pital; is a diligent student; keeps well abreast of the progress in medical and surgical science, and is recognized as a successful and skillful physician and surgeon. On January 6, 1885, he married Kate Baldwin, a daughter of Dr. Aaron and Fannie Baldwin, of Washington, D. C., who died April 26, following. On September 12, 1894, he married Cora Mahala Strait, a daughter of M. Sanford and Rhoda F. Strait, of Lawrence township, to which union has been born one son, Sanford Elihu, August 19, 1895. In politics, Dr. Vedder is a Republican, and in religion, a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. He is one of the most advanced Masons in this section of the State, being Past Master of Friendship Lodge, No.

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247, of Mansfield; Past High Priest of Westfield Chapter, No. 265, of Westfield; Eminent Commander of Tyagaghton Commandery, No. 28, of Wellsboro; a mem- ber of Caldwell Consistory, of Bloomsburg, and of Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Reading. He is also Past Noble Grand of Mansfield Lodge, No. 526, I. O. O. F., and Past Chief Patriarch of Sylvania Encampinent. Dr. Vedder is an ex-president of the old Tioga County Medical Society, as well as of the present medical society. He is a member of the Elmira Academy of Medicine, and also of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society. He has been a member of the pension board of Tioga county, appointed in 1888, and is one of the present consulting surgeons of the Cottage State Hospital, at Blossburg. Dr. Vedder is a member of the Holland Society of New York City, and is the owner of a Holland Dutch Bible that has been in the Vedder family since 1681. The Doctor is actively interested in the cause of edu- cation and is a member of the board of trustees of the State Normal School at Mans- field.

CEPHAS BAILEY was born in Andover, Vermont, May 16, 1806, there grew to manhood and married Caroline M. Wright, a native of South Londonderry, Vermont, who became the mother of the following children: Romanzo C., a resi- dent of Elmira; Harrison C., of Mansfield; Victoria C., wife of Oscar Simonds, of Middlebury; Joseph O. W., deceased; Nancy A., wife of Horace L. Stevens, and two that died in early youth. They had also an adopted son, Henry C., now de- ceased. Romanzo C. served in Company F, Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers, whose march through Baltimore was one of the memorable events of the first month of the Rebellion. He also served as first lieutenant in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers; as captain of Company A, Eighth United States Colored Troops, and as first lieutenant of Company E, Thirty-fifth Pennsylvania Militia. The subject of this sketch was a farmer and came to Middlebury township, Tioga county, in 1856. After retiring from active work, he made his home with his son, Harrison C., in Mansfield, where he died December 23, 1884. His wife died August 1,1878.

HARRISON C. BAILEY was born in Athens, Vermont, October 4, 1837, a son of Cephas Bailey, and came with his parents to Middlebury township, Tioga county, in 1856. He obtained a common school education, and was reared on a farm. On April 21, 1861, within a week of the fall of Fort Sumter, he enlisted in Company G, First Pennsylvania Rifles, known as Bucktails. His regiment was assigned to McCall's Division, of the Fifth Army Corps. ' On June 6, 1862, at the battle of Harrisonburgh, West Virginia, he was wounded four times, one of which necessitated the amputation of his left arm. Being thus incapacitated for further service, he remained in the hospitals at Mt. Jackson and Winchester, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland, until convalescent, and was honorably discharged at Harrisburg, July 21, 1862. Returning to Tioga county, he served as enrolling officer in Middlebury in 1862 and 1863, and as second quartermaster of the Eighteenth Congressional dis- trict, at Williamsport, in 1864-65. His grandfathers, Cyrus Bailey and Joseph Wright, served in the War of 1812, and his great-grandfather, Sylvester Bailey, served in the Revolution. Mr. Bailey was married October 19, 1863, to Minerva L. Stoddard, a daughter of George G. and Louisa (Jackson) Stoddard. She was born in Swansea, Vermont, November 11, 1839, and is the mother of six children,

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viz: Frank H., a civil engineer, Elmira, New York; Eula I., wife of Frank A. Beach, of Elmira; May H., wife of L. A. Trowbridge, of Jackson township; Earl C., Joseph O. W. and Ralph J. Mr. Bailey is a stanch Republican, was treasurer of Tioga county in 1868-69, and has also served as constable of Middlebury town- ship, and as a member of the borough council of Mansfield, where he has lived since 1877. He is a member of Mansfield Post, No. 48, G. A. R., in which he has filled the office of commander, while his wife is connected with Mansfield Corps, No. 6, W. R. C.

ISAAC STRAIT was born in Vermont, and came with his parents to Columbia township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, about 1812, and there grew to maturity. About 1830 he removed to Potter county, and became its first prothonotary. In 1841-42 he returned to Bradford county, where he resided until his death, in 1874. Mr. Strait was twice married. His first wife was Maria Benson, a daughter of Doctor Benson, who bore him the following children: Cornelia Sophia, wife of Edmund Case, a resident of Bradford county; William B., who died in early man- hood; George France, who died in Minnesota, in 1888; Charles L., and Edward E., a resident of Topeka, Kansas. His second wife was Elizabeth Ayres, a daughter of Abijah Ayres, who bore him four children, viz: Churchill B., deceased; Maria, wife of Edward Reddington, of Bradford county; Lois L., wife of Nelson Maynard, a resident of the same county, and Mary, wife of William Bradford, who lives near Sylvania.

CHARLES L. STRAIT, a son of Isaac and Maria Strait, was born in Coudersport, Potter county, September 20, 1835. When eighteen years of age he began clerking in the store of A. D. Austin, of Austinville, Bradford county. In 1859 he came to Roseville, Tioga county, where he carried on a general store for about twenty years. Coming to Mansfield in 1879, he became a member of the hardware firm of Strait & Kohler, with which he was connected up to 1886, when he went to Carter county, Tennessee, and engaged in lumbering, his family, however, remaining in Mansfield. In 1890 he returned to Mansfield, where he has since lived. Al- though not actively engaged in business, he is interested in the hardware store con- ducted by his son, George L. Mr. Strait was married September 10, 1860, to Cordelia M. Watkins, a daughter of W. B. Watkins, of Bradford county, who has borne him four children, viz: George L., Thad B., Edith M., wife of Thomas D. Farrer, of Boise City, Idaho, and Fred W. Mr. Strait is a member of the Universalist church, and in politics, an adherent of the Republican party, his first presidential vote being cast for Abraham Lincoln.

GEORGE L. STRAIT, eldest son of Charles L. Strait, and grandson of Isaac Strait, was born in Austinville, Bradford county, December 2, 1865. He obtained a com- mon school education, and became familiar with the practical details of business while clerking in his father's store. On October 24, 1888, he married Anna E. Westbrook, a daughter of J. H. Westbrook, and has two children, Walter C. and Blanche. Mr. Strait is the head of the hardware and tinsmithing house of George L. Strait, of Mansfield, and is noted for his energy and enterprise. In politics, a Republican, he has served as a member of the borough council. He is also connected with Friendship Lodge, No. 247, F. & A. M.

LEVI HUBBARD SHATTUCK was born at Fayston, Vermont, September 1, 1816,

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a son of Henry and Olive P. (Turner) Shattuck, natives of Massachusetts. He was but two years old when his parents located in Massachusetts, where he received his primary education in the common schools, later supplemented by terms at Deer- field, Hopkins and Amherst Academies. In the meantime he taught school a part of two years. In 1836 he removed to New Brunswick, New Jersey, and three years later to Plainfield, where he found employment as a locomotive fireman on the Elizabethtown and Somerville railroad, now the New Jersey Central. Within three months he became an engineer on the same road, and later took the position of station agent and contractor at Bound Brook, and followed the same business at Somerville, spending two years in this line of work. For the succeeding nine years he filled the position of conductor, three years on freight and six years on passenger trains. On the completion of the road to Easton, in July, 1852, Mr. Shattuck was appointed station agent at that place, which position he filled until November fol- lowing, when he was tendered that of superintendent of the Corning, Blossburg and Tioga railroad. He accepted the office and made his headquarters at Corning, New York, for nearly fifteen years. In 1866 he removed to Blossburg, Tioga county, where he continued acting as superintendent of the Tioga road. That part of the road from Tioga Junction to Elmira was built under the management of Mr. Shat- tuck, as was also the section extending from Arnot to Hoytville, of which he was president. On December 1, 1883, he resigned the superintendency of the Tioga road for the purpose of recuperating his failing health, and retired to Mansfield in October, 1884. In a letter announcing the resignation of Mr. Shattuck, J. C. Guthrie, vice-president of the road, said:

For thirty-one years-with zeal, energy and honesty, through changes of ownership and administration-Mr. Shattuck has faithfully served the interests of the company, and in retiring bears with him its best wishes for his health and prosperity.

On December 16, 1884, he was again elected to his former position and resumed the duties of superintendent, but finally gave up the office towards the .close of 1885. Retiring to his home in Mansfield he resided there up to his death, November 1, 1888, aged seventy-two years. In 1841 Mr. Shattuck married Sarah L. Pack, and reared a family of five children, all of whom are living, viz: Mrs. William F. Fox, of Albany, New York; Mrs. Charles H. Verrill, of Franklin, New York; Henry F., a resident of Buffalo; Mrs. Charles L. Shattuck, of Elmira, and Alfred J., a lawyer of Wellsboro. Mr. Shattuck was originally a Presbyterian, but united with the Baptist church after his marriage. He always took a prominent part in church work, as teacher of an adult Bible class, and was a deacon in the Mansfield church at the time of his death. He was a man of strong character, strict integrity, and love of truth. Possessing excellent business methods, whatever his hands found to do he did with all his energy, and his success in life was principally due to his industry and faithfulness in the discharge of every duty. Upright and hon- orable in all his dealings with the men under his charge, he merited and won the confidence of the company and their employes.

EBER VANKEUREN, M. D., was born in Showangunk, Ulster county, New York, January 25, 1821. He studied medicine and became a physician of the regular school, and for over forty years practiced in Hammondsport, Bath, Corning

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and Painted Post, New York. On November 20, 1846, he married Sarah H. Baker, a descendant of Samuel Baker, the first settler of Tioga county, Penn- sylvania. She was born in Pleasant Valley, New York, October 7, 1823, and be- came the mother of three children, viz: Frank, who died in childhood; Nellie B., wife of Samuel J. McCulloch, an attorney of Kansas City, Missouri, and a son of Rev. Samuel J. McCulloch, the first pastor of the Presbyterian church at Tioga, and Frank E., editor of the Mansfield Advertiser. Dr. VanKeuren died in Corn- ing, New York, April 7, 1887, and his wife, December 3, 1886.

FRANK E. VANKEUREN, son of Dr. Eber VanKeuren, was born in Ham- mondsport, New York, October 26, 1861. He received a common school education and learned the printing trade in the office of the Steuben Courier, Bath, New York, where he worked four and a half years. He then found employment in the job department of the Elmira Advertiser, Elmira, New York, and was afterwards fore- man of the same office. Returning to Bath, he worked there for a time, and then went to Wellsboro, Tioga county, where he had charge of the mechanical depart- ment of the Advocate. In the spring of 1885 he came to Mansfield and purchased the Advertiser from W. A. Rowland. In July following Sheridan E. Coles became his partner, and the paper has since been published by VanKeuren & Coles. The Advertiser is neutral in politics, and is devoted to the local interests of Mansfield and the eastern portion of the county. It is ably edited, its local columns readable and interesting, and it receives a liberal support. Mr. VanKeuren is well known as a practical printer, and in the spring of 1896 he received the appointment as instructor of the art of printing in the New York Trade School. On September 6, 1888, Mr. VanKeuren married Catherine E. VanNess, a daughter of P. V. and Celia (Reynolds) VanNess, to which union have been born two children, Ralph H. and Helen. In politics, Mr. VanKeuren is a Republican, and has served as burgess of Mansfield. In religion, he is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and is Past Master of Friendship Lodge, No. 247, F. & A. M.

SHERIDAN E. COLES was born in Elmira, New York, June 14, 1854, a son of Samuel and Sarah J. (Ferry) Coles. His father is a native of England, and his mother of Tioga county, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of six children, viz: Stella, wife of L. L. Flower, of Lamb's Creek; Sheridan E., of Mansfield; Arthur and Samuel, both of whom are in the marble business in St. Louis, Missouri; Mary, wife of J. O. Spelman, of Rochester, New York, and William, with Rogers, Peet & Company, of New York. The subject of this sketch was two years old when his parents removed from Elmira to Wellsboro, Tioga county, where they remained until he was twelve years of age. He learned the printing trade in the offices of the Titusville Courier and Oil City Derrick, afterwards worked in Elmira, and for a time in the state printing office, Topeka, Kansas. In December, 1882, he came to Mansfield, and worked in the office of the Advertiser until July, 1885, when he became a partner of Frank E. VanKeuren, under the firm name of VanKeuren & Coles, who have since owned and published the paper. On March 23, 1881, Mr. Coles married Nora A. Stacey, a daughter of Mrs. M. A. Stacey, of Leona, Bradford county, who has borne him four children, viz: Edwin S., Percy A., Inez M. and Lora Aline. In politics, Mr. Coles is a Republican. He is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 247, F. & A. M., and of Mansfield Lodge, No. 526, I. O. O. F.

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JOSEPH SCHUSLER was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, May 27, 1839, a son of Frederick and Sarah (Sofield) Schusler. His father was a native of Germany and his mother of New Jersey. The former was born August 1, 1801, came to America in 1819 and worked in a sugar house in New York City for many years. He then removed to Beaver Dam, New York, where he farmed until about the year 1836, when he came to Tioga county. Here he still continued to follow agriculture. He died in Mansfield, February 11, 1890. His wife was born in 1804, and died April 14, 1892. By a former marriage, he was the father of one son, Frederick, who now resides near Wellsboro. Six children were born of his second marriage, viz: Susan, Julia, Joseph, Sarah, Ella and Alice. The subject of this sketch was reared in Tioga county, and in early manhood engaged in railroading, first as fireman for two years and subsequently as engineer for six- teen years on the Tioga railroad. He then settled on a farm in Richmond town- ship, where he lived ten years, when he traded it for property in Mansfield, which has since been his home. Mr. Schusler also owns a farm of forty acres near that borough. On March 4, 1897, he married Mrs. Amy D. Taylor, of Mansfield. In politics, he is a Republican, and has been a member of the borough council four years. He is connected with the Masonic order, and in all the relations of life is an exemplary citizen.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 142

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