History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 149

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

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PATRICK BANNON was born in Thurlas, County Tipperary, Ireland, in April, 1814. In 1827 he went to Wales, and worked in the iron furnaces there until 1836, when he immigrated to the United States and located in Troy, New York, but soon afterwards removed to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a moulder in a foundry. In 1840 he came to Blossburg, Tioga county, and during the remaining years of his life, until he retired, he worked in the mines at Blossburg and Morris Run. A few years before his death, which occurred September 17, 1894, at the age of seventy-nine, he was interested in developing a tract of coal land near Hoytville. His agreement with the owner was that if he struck the Blossburg vein he was to have one-half the land. He died before securing the deed, and the matter is now in the courts. Mr. Bannon came to Blossburg when there were but few families in that place. The railroad had just been completed and the work of developing the coal deposits begun. He soon became known as a man of enterprise and public spirit. It was through his efforts that the first Catholic church in the county was established in Blossburg. He secured the gift of the site from Hon. Horatio Sey- mour, and collected the money for the erection of the church building, which was afterwards dedicated as St. Andrew's Catholic church. He was a member of the C. T. A., and also of the K. of L. In politics, he was a stanch Republican, and served as a member of the council, supervisor and school director for a number of years. He was tireless in his efforts to secure the establishment of a public school in the village, in which project he was finally successful. He lived au earnest, useful life, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of the leading people of the county. Mr. Bannon was married April 14, 1839, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, to Joana Loner- gan, a daughter of William Lonergan, a merchant of Thurlas, Ireland. Mrs. Ban- non, who, notwithstanding her advanced age, preserves an active mind and a clear memory, was born April 7, 1816, and came to Canada with her parents when a child. Her father located on a farm near Montreal, where the family resided until 1834,

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when they removed to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Bannon met and married her late husband. Four of her brothers were in the Union army, viz: William, a deceased manufacturer of St. Louis, Missouri; James, a farmer of the same State; Patrick, who also resides in Missouri, and John, a resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Another brother, Michael, went to St. Louis at an early day, and died there of yellow fever in 1837. Mrs. Bannon is the mother of seven children, viz: Mary, wife of William Larkin, of Bradford, Mckean county; William, a resident of the same place, who married Lida English; Anthony, a resident of Bradford, ex-state senator of this district, to which office he was elected in 1892, having previously served as a member of the council of Kendall Creek, coroner of Mckean county, sheriff of the county, chairman of the Republican county committee, a delegate to the state convention, congressional conferee, reading clerk of the State Senate in 1889 and journal clerk of the same body in 1891; Joana, a resident of Bradford; Jane, who resides with her mother; Lizzie, wife of Christopher O'Connor, of Jefferson county, and Alice, who lives at home. Mrs. Bannon is a woman of edu- cation and refinement, and enjoys the regard and confidence of a large circle of friends. She is one of the oldest living residents of Blossburg.

HENRY KILBOURN, physician and surgeon, was born in Shrewsbury, Vermont, March 23, 1802. He studied medicine in his native State, at Castleton, and re- ceived his diploma in 1828. In December of that year he married Miss Fannie Briggs, to which union were born the following children: Henrietta, a resident of Portland, Oregon; Antionette, widow of S. B. Brown; Henry, deceased; Ferdinand, a resident of Sumnerville, Kansas; Catherine, a resident of Wellsburg, New York, and James V., who resides at Silverton, Colorado. The mother died, and he mar- ried for his second wife Lucy M. Dyke, who bore him two children, viz: Orpha, deceased, and Kenyon. His second wife died May 13, 1873, aged thirty-six years. In 1840 Dr. Kilbourn came to Tioga county and settled in Covington, from which time until his death, November 26, 1886, he continued the practice of his pro- fession. During this period he lived alternately at Covington and Blossburg, the last twenty years of his life being spent in the latter town. He traveled throughout the eastern part of Tioga county, where he is held in loving remembrance. He also practiced at Fall Brook, and for many years was the leading physician in that portion of the Tioga valley. Dr. Kilbourn was descended from one of the oldest families of New England, and brought with him to Tioga county a musket used by one of his ancestors in a desperate fight with Indians at Walpole, Connecticut, in 1755. It measured from muzzle to shoulder-guard five feet eleven inches, and carried an ounce ball. Dr. Kilbourn was a great story teller, and somewhat eccentric, but was respected by all who knew him.

KENYON KILBOURN, only son of. Dr. Henry and Lucy M. (Dyke) Kilbourn, was born in Covington, Tioga county, June 1, 1862, and received a common school education. After leaving school he worked for a time on the coal chute at Arnot, and later as a brakeman on the Tioga railroad. In the spring of 1885 he was employed in the freight office at Blossburg, remaining until March, 1888, when he secured his present position as weighmaster for the Erie Railroad Company, his duties being to weigh the coal mined at Arnot and Landrus. The position is one of much responsibility, but during the past eight years he has proven himself

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faithful and efficient. Mr. Kilbourn was married July 19, 1885, to Elnora N. Fulkerson, a daughter of Enoch and Mary Ann Fulkerson, of Blossburg, and has four children: Edna K., John M., Cora B. and an infant son. In politics, he is a Republican, and is recognized as an enterprising citizen.

LUTHER JOHNSON was born in Vermont, in 1790. In 1812 his parents came to Tioga county, and settled on a farm near Wellsboro, in Charleston township. Here he grew to manhood and married Zilpha Shumway, born June 11, 1796, a daughter of Peter Shumway, to which union eight children were born, as follows: Silas, Eli, and Jacob, deceased; Sarah, wife of Elmer Bacon, of Nebraska; Moses and Luther W., deceased; Lydia, wife of Curtis Culver, of Middlebury, Tioga county, and Alonzo, a farmer residing in Wellsboro. Mr. Johnson died October 17, 1849; his widow survived him until February 17, 1877, dying at the age of eighty-one years.

DR. LUTHER W. JOHNSON, son of Luther and Zilpha (Shumway) Johnson, was born in Wellsboro, May 4, 1833. His early education was acquired in the Wells- boro Academy, from which he graduated in 1852. He next took a course in the classical and medical department of the State University at Ann Arbor, Michigan, graduating in 1856. In 1857 he began the practice of medicine in Liberty, Tioga county. He continued the practice of his profession at that place until 1883, when he removed to Blossburg, where he practiced without interruption until his death, June 29, 1896. He was one of the oldest physicians in years of practice in Tioga county. He was formerly a member and one of the organizers of the Tioga County Medical Society. Dr. Johnson was married June 7, 1858, at Wellsboro, to Mary C. Mathers, a daughter of John Mathers. To this union were born the following children: Edward W .; Nettie V., wife of Dr. U. G. Beck, of Elmira, New York; Helen E., wife of Edward Saks, of Milton, Pennsylvania, and Gracie. Dr. Johnson was a life-long Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In addition to his extensive practice he also conducted a drug store. He was recog- nized as an able and experienced practitioner and as one of the progressive and en- terprising citizens of Blossburg.

JOHN COOK was born at Stockton-on-Tees, County of Durham, England, Janu- ary 24, 1831, and is a son of Isaac and Ellen (Roe) Cook. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom six grew to manhood and womanhood, viz: Elizabeth, deceased wife of Phineas Harrington; Isaac, deceased; Jane, wife of Joseph Baker, deceased; John, the subject of this sketch; Hannah, wife of George Watson, and William, who died at Morris, Tioga county, in September, 1892. John came to Pennsylvania in 1847, and spent a few months in Reading, locating at Bloss- burg, Tioga county, April 5, 1848. He had learned the bricklayer's and plasterer's trades in England, and followed the same after coming to Pennsylvania. He also worked in the coal mines at Arnot, Barkley, Fall Brook and Morris Run for about six years; but his trade has been his life vocation, and he has worked on a majority of the buildings erected in Blossburg since 1848. Mr. Cook was married May 24, 1851, to Mary Harris, a daughter of Rev. Henry Harris, a native of Haber- suchan, Monmouthshire, Wales, who came to Pennsylvania in 1837, resided for a time in Minersville, and then located in Blossburg, Tioga county. He afterward went to Providence, Rhode Island, to work, and was fatally injured by a boiler ex-

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plosion, living but a few days. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are the parents of eight chil- dren, viz: William H., Isaac Herbert, deceased; Phoebe Ellen, widow of David Botchford; Hannah Mary, wife of James S. Kirkwood; Isaac Herbert (2nd), George Edward, Alice Jane, deceased, and Elizabeth Jane, wife of Henry H. Reese. In politics, Mr. Cook is a Prohibitionist, has served as treasurer of the borough for several years, also as judge and inspector of elections, and is now serv- ing a second term as justice of the peace. For a number of years he has been a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for ten years or more superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. He is one of the oldest citizens of Blossburg, and has lived a life of quiet industry. A man of high moral character and deep religious convictions, he has exemplified his principles and his belief in his daily life, winning thereby the respect and esteem of his fellowmen.

JOHN LAWRENCE SEXTON was born in Veteran township, Chemung county, New York, July 13, 1830, a son of John Lawrence and Hannah (Kenyon) Sexton. He is a descendant of one of the oldest Scotch-Irish families of the United States, his paternal ancestor having located in the valley of the Connecticut in 1637. His grandfather, Elijah Sexton, was a soldier in the French and Indian War and an officer in the Continental army. When John L. was quite young his parents re- moved to Big Flats township, Chemung county, New York, where his father pur- chased 700 acres of white pine timber land, erected saw-mills and engaged in lum- bering. Young Sexton was reared on the farm, was principally educated at the fireside and in the common schools, but received special training in elocution, logic and rhetoric. Before he was twenty years of age he had read Blackstone, Kent, Storey and Marshall and the standard English poets, and had mastered "Town's Analysis of the English Language." On May 28, 1851, he married Grace Adelaide Patterson, a grand-daughter of Robert Patterson, a Revolutionary soldier, and a daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Jones) Patterson, of Lindley, Steuben county, New York. For ten years thereafter he pursued farming and lumbering, in the meantime serving six years as superintendent of township schools of Big Flats, and several years as deputy United States marshal. Meeting with reverses, through the failure of the Bank of Corning, he came to Fall Brook, Tioga county, and was em- ployed by Hon. John Magee, first as a laborer in the forest and subsequently as store clerk, weighmaster and shipper of coal. He also filled the offices of assessor, school director, justice of the peace, burgess and principal of the public schools, receiving provisional, professional and a permanent certificate from the school department of Pennsylvania, as a teacher. In 1875 Mr. Sexton was selected by Gen. William McCandless as clerk to assist in organizing the bureau of labor and industrial statis- tics of Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, and almost the entire labor of formulating, classifying and arranging the details of the bureau devolved upon him. At the close of his four years' term he returned to Tioga county, located at Blossburg, and established the Blossburg Industrial Register, which he continued to publish for two years. The next five years he devoted to literary pursuits, during which time he wrote the histories of Tioga and Bradford counties, Pennsylvania, and Steuben, Chemung, Tioga and Schuyler counties, New York; "The White Slaves of Monopo- lies," "Uncle Jonas Lawrence's Letters," and numerous articles for the Sunday

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Telegram of Elmira, the New York Sun, the Harrisburg Patriot and other news- papers.

In December, 1885, his son, Benjamin P. Sexton, established the Blossburg Advertiser, of which the subject of this sketch is business manager and a general contributor to its columns. Under Mr. Sexton's management the Advertiser has attained a large circulation, and it wields a strong influence throughout the Bloss- burg coal region. Mr. Sexton is a fearless and able writer, and has delivered many public addresses, among them the Centennial address in the House of Representatives, at Harrisburg, July 4, 1876, on the progress and development of Pennsylvania for 100 years; two Centennial addresses at Painted Post, New York; an address at the unveiling of the monument erected to the memory of William Mapes, a Revolutionary soldier, by the counties of Steuben and Chemung, at Big Flats, in August, 1873; the Centennial address on the establishment of the Grand Lodge of Free Masons, and the Centennial address at the Polish celebration in Bloss- burg, May 3, 1891. Mr. Sexton is a member of the Dauphin County Historical Society, of Harrisburg; an honorary member of the Historical Society of Pennsyl- vania, at Philadelphia, and is well versed in the history of the State, and well ac- quainted with its geological formations and its varied mining, manufacturing, agri- cultural, railroad and industrial interests generally. Mr. Sexton's family consists of his wife, Grace Adelaide, three sons and four daughters, viz: Samuel M., Ben- jamin Patterson, John Lawrence, Grace Adelaide, Mary B., wife of Levi Plummer, of Findlay, Ohio; Jane P. and Susie T.

JACOB B. MERRICK was born in Wellsboro, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1825, a son of Isaac Merrick, and grandson of Israel Merrick, Sr., and obtained a common school education. Upon arriving at manhood he adopted dentistry as his profession, and resided and practiced at different times in Charleston township, Tioga county; Troy, Bradford county; Blossburg and Mansfield, Tioga county, and in Elmira, New York. He removed from the latter place to Mansfield in 1875, and made it the place of his residence until his death, March 1, 1878. Dr. Mer- rick married Lucy A. Burns, a native of Oppingham, Fulton county, New York, to which union were born three children, viz: A. R., a dentist of Millerton, Tioga county; D. O., a dentist of Blossburg, and. Walter T., attorney-at-law of the same borough. On December 5, 1883, Mrs. Merrick married for her second husband, Rev. Hiram Short, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. They reside in Bloss- burg.

MICHAEL KELLY was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1832. He came to the United States in 1853 and located in Gibson, Steuben county, New York, at which place he resided for three years. In 1856 he removed to Gang Mills, in the same county, where he remained two years, and then located in Corning. Here he embarked in the grocery business, which he carried on in that city up to 1866. In June of that year he came to Blossburg, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and bought the building then owned by Daniel Williams, formerly occupied by the store of the Arbon Coal Company, in which he opened a grocery. He continued in business until 1870, when owing to failing health his wife took charge of the store, which she still carries on under the name of Mrs. M. Kelly. It is now the oldest business house in the borough. Mr. Kelly was married August 10, 1856, to Bridget Healy,

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a native of County Kerry, Ireland, to which union were born ten children, as fol- lows: John W., Mary A., widow of James Kirwan, of Blossburg; Johanna E., Michael F., who married Mary Downs, daughter of William and Mary (Diggins) Downs, of Washington, D. C., and has two children, William D. and Walter L .; Bridget and Kate, twins; Thomas F. and Peter D., both deceased, and two that died in infancy. Mr. Kelly died December 19, 1888. In politics, he was a Demo- crat, and in religion, a member of St. Andrew's Roman Catholic church of Bloss- burg, to which his widow and children belong. John W. has served one term in the borough council. He is an adherent of the Republican party, a member of St. Andrew's Catholic Total Abstinence Society, and is regarded as one of the public- spirited and progressive citizens of the borough.

DAVID R. EVANS, son of Richard A. and Mary Evans, was born in Capcoch, South Wales, February 28, 1859. His parents immigrated to Pennsylvania, and located in Morris Run, Tioga county, in December, 1870, where his father mined coal until 1874, when he moved to Round Top, where he still resides. The subject of this sketch is the fourth of six children, named as follows: Mary Ann, wife of Daniel Griffiths, of Antrim; Evan R., of Blossburg; John E., of Antrim; David R., of Blossburg; Catherine, wife of Robert Carpenter, of Antrim, and Elizabeth Jane, wife of Arthur Bowen, of Round Top. At the age of eight years David R. entered a tea store in Wales, remaining there until the family came to the United States. He worked five years in the mines at Morris Run, and in 1876 began clerking in the store of the Fall Brook Coal Company, at Antrim. In 1879 he went to Cleveland, Ohio, was there employed for a year as a salesman, and later worked two years in a rolling mill. In 1882 he returned to Antrim, re-entered the service of the Fall Brook Coal Company, was employed three months exploring for coal, and was then given the position of boss mule driver in the mines. This he filled for several years, and then resumed mining. He next was employed as a traveling sales- man for the Grand Union Tea Company. In 1889, in connection with J. J. Mills, he bought out the tea, crockery and glassware firm of Hyde & Cowley, of Bloss- burg. The business was carried on under the firm name of Evans & Mills until 1890, when it was consolidated with that of Daniels & Newport. In October, 1894, Mr. Evans bought out Mr. Daniels' interest, and has since conducted the business in his own name. October 16, 1879, he married Jane Davis, a daughter of John and Ann Davis, of Cherry Flats, Tioga county, to which union have been born six children, viz: Gwennie, Mary, deceased; Annie, Jane Victoria, deceased; Ethel, deceased, and Rena. In politics, Mr. Evans is a Republican, and in religion, a member of the Welsh Congregational church. He is also connected with Blossburg Lodge, No. 167, K. of H.

MATTHEW C. BLAIR, merchant tailor, was born in Cumbernauld, Dumbarton- shire, Scotland, June 2, 1841, and is one of nine children born to James and Mary (Crawford) Blair. The other members of the family are as follows: Eliza, wife of John Russell, a resident of Scotland; Marian, wife of Alexander Allen, a resident of the same land; James, who resides in Anita, Pennsylvania; William and John, both residents of Scotland; Mary, wife of a Mr. Murray, of Scotland; Janet, wife of James Wiley, of Liberty township, Tioga county, and Jennie, who lives in Scotland. Mr. Blair's father came to Arnot, Tioga county, in 1873, worked in the coal mines for a

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few years, and then returned to Scotland, where he died in 1878. The subject of this sketch received a common school education, and served an apprenticeship to the tailor's trade in Scotland. In June, 1869, he immigrated to Pennsylvania, and located in Arnot, Tioga county. He worked in the mines for thirteen years and later at his trade in Arnot for eight years. In 1890 he came to Blossburg and opened a merchant tailor's establishment over Roberts' store. In the spring of 1891 he moved further south on the same street, renting for a year and then purchasing the building. Here he remained until the fall of 1895, when he removed to the building previously occupied by H. H. Roberts. He carried on merchant tailoring exclusively until 1894, when he added ready-made clothing, hats, caps and furnishing goods. Mr. Blair was married December 31, 1861, to Susan Arthur, a daughter of John and Susan (Carrick) Arthur, of Cumbernauld, Scotland. Fourteen children have been born to this union, all of whom are living, viz: James, Kate, wife of John Hutchinson, of Houtzdale; Mary, wife of N. R. Mitchell, of Blossburg; Susan, Eliza, Elizabeth, Marion, John, Agnes, Janet, Jennie, Ada and Emma, twins, and Mat- thew. In politics, Mr. Blair is independent, and in religion, a member of the Church of Christ at Arnot. By unremitting industry and prudence, Mr. Blair has not only reared and educated his large family, but has built up a profitable and growing business. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen, and has achieved a well-earned reputation for honesty, industry and integrity.

ANDREW ANDERSON, merchant tailor, was born in Dolsland, Sweden, January 25, 1859, and is a son of Andrew and Cagsa Anderson. He learned the tailoring trade in his youth, and in June, 1881, immigrated to Pennsylvania, remaining a short time in Antrim, Tioga county. He then came to Blossburg and worked for L. Meyers until 1886, when he started in business for himself in the Odd Fellows' Hall block. In 1887 he removed to his present location. He has two brothers in this country, Eric, a coal miner at Antrim, and Frank, employed in the tailor shop. His father died in 1878, aged fifty-three years. His mother is still living in Sweden. Mr. Anderson was married in October, 1882, to Annie Carlson, a native of Sweden, to which union two children were born, viz: Kate and Gustav. Mrs. Anderson died December 25, 1884. On August 15, 1887, he married Mary N. Hyland, a daughter of Joseph Hyland, of Blossburg, and has three children by this mar- riage, as follows: Ruth, Arthur and DeSeales. In politics, Mr. Anderson is a Republican, and in religion, a member of the Lutheran church. He is also con- nected with Blossburg Lodge, No. 167, K. of H. He is popular both as a business man and citizen, and during the years he has been in business for himself as a mer- chant tailor, has built up a profitable trade.

WILLIAM R. LOGAN was born February 9, 1849, and in 1857 came with his par- ents, Robert and Barbara (Shaw) Logan, to Morris Run, Tioga county, Pennsyl- vania. His father was a coal miner and worked in the mines at Morris Run, Fall Brook and Arnot, until 1875, when he removed to Jackson township, where he fol- lowed farming until his death, September 15, 1884, at the age of sixty-nine years. His widow died March 23, 1895, aged seventy-three years. William R. was one of fourteen children, viz: James, who enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was killed at Gettysburg; Alexander, a chute foreman at Arnot; Robert, manager of Bell & Lewis' stores, Dubois, Penn-

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sylvania; John S., an engineer on the Northern Central railroad, who resides in Elmira; Sarah, deceased wife of James Stevenson, of Cherry Flats, Tioga county; William R., of Blossburg; Margaret R., wife of John E. Brown, of Covington; Jacob, who died in October, 1881; Charles S., a physician of Arnot; Barbara, de- ceased wife of E. J. Payne, of Jackson Summit, Tioga county; Jennie R., a resident of Blossburg; Agnes N., a school teacher of Arnot; David Y., a farmer at Jackson Summit, and Lizzie W., who died November 14, 1895. From 1860 to 1871, Mr. Logan worked in the mines, but in the latter year he entered the store of the Bloss- burg Coal Company as a clerk, and continued in the employ of their successors, W. W. Bradbury, and the W. W. Bradbury Company, until January, 1897, when he located in Blossburg and there opened a grocery store, which he has since carried on. His long experience in Arnot has given him a thorough knowledge of the busi- ness, which will prove valuable to him in his new field of effort. On October 24, 1872, he married Elizabeth Prethero, a daughter of Charles and Ann Prethero, of Morris Run. To this union have been born six children, viz: Robert E., a book- keeper in the office of the Bossburg Coal Company, at Arnot; M. Gertrude, William R., deceased; Charles P., deceased; James R., and Laura M., deceased. In politics, Mr. Logan is a Republican. He served as justice of the peace from 1889 to 1894, and has filled the various township offices. In religion, he is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is also connected with the K. of P., of Arnot.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 149

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