History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 88

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

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JOHN R. BOWEN was born in Owego, Tioga county, New York, December 15, 1818, a son of James and Jane (Westfall) Bowen. His father was a native of New England, but was reared in Warren township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where the family settled before 1800. James Bowen married Jane Westfall, who became the mother of nine children. He followed the sea for a number of years, but later

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became a farmer and lumberman, and died in Owego, New York, in August, 1847. His widow died in 1885, aged eighty-nine years. When John R. was five months old his parents removed to Warren township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, his father's former home, and when he was nineteen they returned to Owego, New York. In 1851 he came to Cedar Run, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, where he embarked in merchandising and lumbering. In 1853 Mr. Bowen located in Wellsboro, but for thirteen years afterward retained his interest in the store at Cedar Run. After coming to Wellsboro he opened a store on the site of the Wellsborough National Bank, where he carried on business for sixteen years. He then built what is known as the Jacobson block, in which he continued business for a number of years. In 1869 he became a member of the lumber firm of Truman & Bowen, proprietors of the old Bodine mill on Queen street, which they operated for about twenty years. For several years past he has lived retired from active business. Mr. Bowen was married October 16, 1849, to Maria Ann Howland, a daughter of Marsena and Eliza- beth (Holt) Howland. She was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, December 19, 1824. Two children are the fruits of this union, viz: James M., a resident of Wellsboro, and George W., of Rochester, New York. Mrs. Bowen's father died in Berkshire, New York, in 1844, aged fifty years, and her mother at Cedar Run in 1856, aged sixty. In polities, Mr. Bowen was first a Whig, but became a Republican upon the formation of that party. In 1869 he was appointed assessor of internal revenue for the Eighteenth district, which position he held four years. He was then appointed collector of internal revenue, but not desiring the office he resigned in favor of John Burrows. In 1876 he was a Blaine delegate to the National Republican Convention at Cincinnati. He was elected county treasurer in 1880, and served three years. He filled the offices of deputy sheriff and constable in Tioga county, New York; also assistant burgess, member of council and tax col- lector in Wellsboro. Mr. Bowen was one of the original stockholders of the First National Bank of Wellsboro, and for seventeen years a member of the board of directors. In religion he is a Presbyterian, and for thirty-four years he has been a member of the Masonic order.

CHARLES G. OSGOOD, a son of Hon. John and Olive (Grosvenor) Osgood, was born in Cincinnatus, Cortland county, New York, March 22, 1820, and is descended from John Osgood, a native of Hampshire, England, who settled in Andover, Massa- chusetts, about 1638. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in his native State, and there received a common school education. In 1840 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and located at Tiadaghton, on Pine creek, where he engaged in lumbering three or four years. In 1845 he removed to Wellsboro, and the follow- ing year purchased the mercantile stock of Henry Graves. For more than forty years he carried on merchandising successfully, finally retiring from active business in 1890, in which year he sold out the stock. Mr. Osgood was married May 23, 1861, to Mary Josephine Todd, a native of North Haven, Connecticut, born February 6, 1833. She is a daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Clinton) Todd. Her father was born in North Haven, Connecticut, in 1794, and was descended from Christopher Todd and Grace Middlebrook, who were among the original settlers of New Haven colony in 1638. He was married in 1816 to Elizabeth Clinton, and moved to New- ark Valley, New York, in 1834, where he was interested in the tanning business for some years, later purchased a farm and followed agriculture up to the time of his death. To Charles G. and Mary J. Osgood have been born three children. viz:

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Harry Winthrop, who is connected with the United Press office, in New York City; Mary Helen, wife of Dr. C. W. Webb, of Wellsboro, and Charles Grosvenor, a graduate of Yale College. Mr. Osgood united with the Presbyterian church of Wellsboro in 1856, and has filled the office of elder in that body since 1857. He has been super- intendent of the Sunday-school for many years, and mainly through his efforts and financial assistance the Presbyterian Sunday-school library has developed into its present proportions. Mrs. Osgood has taken an active interest in church work, and for twenty-seven years has been organist and chorister of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Osgood is a Republican in politics; has been burgess of Wellsboro twice, and is one of the substantial citizens of the county.

WILLIAM ROBERTS, son of William and Betsey (Pratt) Roberts, was born at Canton, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1826. His father was a son of Nathan Roberts, and a native of Connecticut, born in January, 1796. In 1799 the family came to Canton, Pennsylvania, where William Roberts, Sr., grew to man- hood and married Betsey Pratt. To this union were born sixteen children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Mehitabel, wife of David R. Cole; Hannah, wife of Edward Mcclellan; Julius, deceased; William, who died in Wellsboro; Lyman, deceased; David P., a resident of Emmettsburg, Iowa; Mary Jane, who lives in Canton, Pennsylvania; Mariette, wife of Erastus Putnam of the same place; Asa, deceased; Viola, wife of Russell Ross, of DeSmet, South Dakota, and Valeria, wife of F. M. Baldwin. The parents both died on the homestead farm at Canton, in April, 1865, their deaths occurring within two days of each other. The subject of this sketch obtained a common school education, and spent his youth and young manhood on the home farm in Bradford county. In 1852 he went to California, remaining there two years. In the autumn of 1854 he came to Wellsboro and opened a hardware store in partnership with his brother, David P., the firm being D. P. & W. Roberts. In 1857 his brother retired from the business, which, with but a slight interruption, was carried on by our subject up to his death, March 22, 1897, being at the time the oldest merchant in Wellsboro. Mr. Roberts was married October 22, 1857, to Margaret Sturrock, a daughter of David and Jane Sturrock. Nine children have been born to this union, as follows: William H., deceased; Charles HI., May B., wife of Alexander P. Cameron, of Manor, Pennsylvania; Lyman, a com- mercial traveler, who resides in Elmira; Edwin M., Margaret, Minnie Jane, deceased, Sarah, and Jessie, the last deceased. Mr. Roberts was a Republican since 1856, but was not active in politics, though he served in the borough council and as a school director. In religion, he was a member of the Presbyterian church. He was the last charter member of Ossea Lodge, No. 317, F. & A. M., and was also a charter member of Tyoga Chapter, No. 194, R. A. M., and of Tyagaghton Commandery, No. 28, K. T. Mr. Roberts' long and successful business career was marked by a strict adherence to honorable business methods. He enjoyed the respect and esteem of the community, and during the forty-two years he lived in Wellsboro he was an active supporter of nearly every enterprise calculated to forward the growth and prosperity of the town.

WILLIAM H. ROBERTS, son of William and Margaret (Sturrock) Roberts, was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1858, and was educated in the borough schools, and graduated from the Pittsburg Commercial College. After his return to Wellsboro, he assisted his father in the store. He was an expert book-keeper

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and accountant, and soon obtained recognition as a wide-awake, public-spirited citizen, and a foremost advocate of everything tending to advance the place of his birth. In 1889 he was elected burgess and made a most excellent official, his duties being very arduous, owing to the disastrous June flood of that year. In 1891 he was elected a councilman and was filling that position at the time of his death. He was a prominent Mason, and a member of a number of other secret and civic societies. Mr. Roberts possessed, in a marked degree, those sterling traits of char- acter that command respect and esteem. He was married October 12, 1882, to Dora Coles, a daughter of W. R. Coles, of Wellsboro. He died October 21, 1893. Two sons, William and Leon, and their mother survive the loss of a kind father and husband.

M. M. CONVERSE was born in Palmer, Massachusetts, February 15, 1822, and learned the tailor's trade in his native State. He came to Wellsboro in 1843, where be continued to work at his trade. In 1848 he opened a clothing store and offered to his patrons the first stock of ready-made clothing brought to Wellsboro. After conducting business alone for some years, he formed a partnership with Mr. Osgood, and the firm of Converse & Osgood continued the business. About 1880 Mr. Con- verse retired, and died June 27, 1895. In 1865 he married Mrs. Juliet Sherwood, oldest daughter of Chester Robinson, to which union was born one son, Chester R. His widow died in Pasadena, California, April 24, 1897.

CHESTER R. CONVERSE, only child of M. M. and Juliet Converse, was born in Wellsboro, 'Tioga county, October 21, 1869. He attended the common schools of the borough and later took a course in Phillips' Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, and in the Elmira Business College. In 1889 he engaged in the hardware business in Wellsboro as a member of the firm of Nichols & Converse, but within a year he pur- chased his partner's interest and continued the business alone for five years. On January 1, 1896, he became a member of the firm of Bailey & Converse, dealers in agricultural implements, etc. Mr. Converse was married June 27, 1893, to Emily Nichols, a daughter of Alfred I. Nichols, of Wellsboro. In politics, he is a Demo- crat, and is recognized as one of the substantial young business men of the borough.

JOHN MATHERS, SR., a native of County Londonderry, Ireland, immigrated to Chester county, Pennsylvania, about the close of the last century. Early in the present century he came to Tioga county and settled in Broughton Hollow, in the southeastern part of Delmar township, removing some years later to a farm about a mile southwest of Wellsboro. He married Jane Mckeever, who bore him the fol- lowing children: Charles, James, William, Robert, John, Jane, who married Gay- lord Judd; Mrs. Daniel Kelsey; Eliza, who married Gates Wilcox; Mary, who mar- ried Benjamin Gitchell, and Rebecca, who married Frank Wetherbee, all of whom are dead. The parents passed the closing years of their lives on the homestead farm near Wellsboro.

JOHN MATHERS, son of John Mathers, Sr., was born in Chester county, Penn- sylvania, June 10, 1799, removed with his parents to Tioga county when about eleven years of age, and grew to manhood in Delmar township. In 1829 he went to Evans- ville, Indiana, and there married Eliza Jane Beecher, a daughter of Hopestill and Abigail (Rathbone) Beecher, pioneer settlers at Beecher's Island, Tioga county. She was born in this county February 13, 1806, and became the mother of eleven

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children, viz: Sarah Jane, wife of Charles Herrington, of Delmar; William T., of Wellsboro; Mary Clorinda, widow of Dr. Luther W. Johnson, of Blossburg; Happy- lonia, deceased wife of H. H. Gibson, of New York; Emily B., wife of George Sulli- van, of Cincinnati; Helen E., wife of Lewis Tompkins, of Fishkill, New York; Abigail B., a resident of Wellsboro; John, Jr., a resident of New Orleans, Lou- isiana; Phoebe A., deceased wife of B. F. Werline, of Liberty; Charles C. and Marion H., both of whom are dead. Soon after his marriage Mr. Mathers removed to Shippen township, Tioga county, and settled on Pine creek, above Ansonia. Here for a number of years he operated a saw-mill and a grist-mill and also kept a wayside inn. When the postoffice of Shippen was established he became the first postmaster. In 1849 he was elected sheriff of Tioga county, and was elected a second time in 1855. After his retirement from office he bought a farm in Charleston township, near Round Top. Here he made his home until 1876, when he went to New York for medical treatment and resided in that city until his death, May 29, 1879. His wife died August 11, 1887.

WILLIAM T. MATHERS, oldest son of John and Eliza Jane Mathers, and grandson of John Mathers, Sr., was born in Shippen township, Tioga county, August 8, 1832. He obtained his education in the common schools and at the seminary in Lima, New York. In 1858 he opened a general store in Wellsboro, which he carried on for twenty-five years, and was one of the leading merchants of the town during this period. For several years past he has been engaged in selling goods as a commercial traveler, though retaining his residence in Wellsboro. On June 7, 1855, Mr. Mathers married Mary Rose Merrick, a daughter of Israel Merrick, Jr., and has four children, viz: George Beecher, who lives in Delinar; William John, Horace Maine and Mary Beulah, all residents of Wellsboro. In politics, Mr. Mathers is a Republican, and in religion, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

CHARLES COOLIDGE MATHERS, youngest son of John and Eliza Jane Mathers, and grandson of John Mathers, Sr., was born in Shippen township, Tioga county, November 4, 1846, and received a common school education. He began his business career as a bank clerk in Evansville, Indiana, before he was twenty-one years of age. He subsequently returned to Wellsboro and in June, 1870, bought out the mercan- tile business of Laugher Bache. He continued in business by himself until 1878 when F. W. Graves purchased an interest and the firm became C. C. Mathers & Company. In 1885 F. W. Siemens was admitted to the partnership and the firm name was changed to Mathers, Graves & Company. Mr. Mathers continued in the successful prosecution of his business until his death, July 4, 1894. The firm name remains un- changed. On June 19, 1873, he was married to Mary Bryden, a daughter of James and Mary Bryden, of Wellsboro, to which union was born one son, George R. In politics, Mr. Mathers was a Republican, and though not an active politician he filled the office of burgess and took a commendable interest in public matters. In religion, he was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was also connected with the I. O. O. F. and the F. & A. M. societies. His successful career was due to his own untiring energy and natural aptitude for business. His judgment and knowledge of men and affairs made him one of the most complete men of his day. His integrity and fairness won the confidence and love of all who knew him. As a citizen he was progressive,

Frederick K. Anight

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public spirited, enterprising and liberal, and his death was a severe loss to the busi- ness interests of the community.

FREDERICK W. GRAVES, of the firm of Mathers, Graves & Company, was born in Ithaca, New York, May 5, 1852, and is a son of Rev. Frederick W. and Susan E. (Hayt) Graves. He is a descendant, on his father's side, from Thomas Graves, who came to America from England before 1645, and settled at Hartford, Connecticut. His grandfather, Col. Rufus Graves, and great-grandfather, Stephen Hayt, were sol- diers in the Revolutionary War, the former serving in Captain Merriman's company, and also in Capt. John Bacon's company, from Connecticut. His father was born in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1806, graduated at Amherst College in 1824, and followed the ministry all his life, dying in Canandaigua, New York, in 1864. His mother was a daughter of Dr. John C. Hayt, of Corning, New York, and died in 1890. They were the parents of four children, viz: Helen A., wife of Andrew Parker, of Buffalo; Edward P., president of the Corning Manufacturing Company, of Corning; Mary E., also a resident of Corning, and Frederick W. The last men- tioned was educated in the Corning public schools and Alfred University. When fifteen years of age he entered the employ of S. T. Hayt, proprietor of a flouring mill at Corning, for whom he worked three years." In 1872 he engaged with Phelps, Dodge & Company, and in 1874, when they opened their Wellsboro office under the title of the Pennsylvania Joint Land & Lumber Company, he was given employment there, and remained with them up to 1878. He then purchased an interest in the store of C. C. Mathers, and the firm of C. C. Mathers & Company existed until 1885, when another partner was admitted, and the firm has since been Mathers, Graves & Company, Limited. Mr. Graves was married April 28, 1881, to Nellie, youngest daughter of John N. Bache, of Wellsboro, and has two children, Martha B. and Sarah S. In politics, he is a Republican, and has been borough auditor six years and school director three years, and is one of the leading merchants of Wellsboro.

FREDERICK K. WRIGHT was born in Athens, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, March 11, 1835, a son of Capt. Jason K. and Maria (Ely) Wright, of that place. He was reared in his native county, removed to Tioga county in 1859, and in 1861 formed a partnership with John W. Bailey, under the firm name of Wright & Bailey, and carried on a general store in Wellsboro for twenty years. In 1873 he became inter- ested with others in establishing the tannery at Stokesdale, with which he was con- nected some years, during which period he was also interested in the lumber business. In 1883 Mr. Wright practically retired from active business, but is still interested in several business enterprises in Wellsboro. From 1885 to 1894 he was one of the proprietors of the Wellsboro Gazette. He is a stockholder in the Wellsborough Na- tional Bank, and was vice-president of that institution from January, 1896, up to January, 1897. He is also president of the Wellsboro Water Company and a director in the Wellsboro Building and Loan Association. On February 11, 1862, Mr. Wright married Ellen M. Lowrey, a daughter of Hon. James Lowrey, of which union two daughters survive, Mary L. and Louise. The family are adherents of St. Paul's Pro- testant Episcopal church. Mr. Wright has always been one of the leading Democratic politicians in the county, and in 1892 was his party's candidate for Congress in the Sixteenth Congressional district. Though defeated, he polled the full vote of his party, and drew a considerable vote from the opposition. As a slight recognition

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of his services, he was appointed postmaster of Wellsboro in 1895, which office he has since filled in a satisfactory manner. Enterprising, progressive and public- spirited, he has always taken a deep interest in the growth and prosperity of his adopted home.

WILLIAM VAN HORN was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and there learned the blacksmith's trade, later removing to Blooming Grove, Lycoming county, where he followed his trade until his death in 1836. He married Susan Thompson, and reared a family of five children, viz: Benjamin T., of Wellsboro; Phineas, deceased; Nancy, wife of John Bliss, of Charleston township, and William B. and Deborah, both deceased. Mrs. Van Horn survived her husband over forty years, and died in 1882, aged seventy-five.

BENJAMIN T. VAN HORN, eldest child of William Van Horn, was born near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1815, and was educated in the common schools and the Wellsboro Academy. When fifteen years of age he entered the cabinet shop of David Caldwell, to learn that trade, and after a five years' apprenticeship opened a shop of his own in Wellsboro. Here he continued for fifteen years manufacturing all work by hand. In 1850 he fitted his factory with machinery, and continued the business until 1872, when he sold it to his son, Rankin L., and son-in-law, N. T. Chandler, who carried on the business up to 1894. Mr. Van Horn married Nancy Bliss, and reared six children, viz: Mary J., wife of N. T. Chandler, of Wells- boro; William D., who was killed while a soldier in the Union army; Rankin L., of Wellsboro; Benjamin C., deceased; Helen, wife of James Shaw, of Wellshoro, and Charles, a resident of Moberly, Missouri. Mrs. Van Horn died February 17, 1870, and her husband married Mrs. Harriet Stevens. Both he and his wife are members of the Protestant Episcopal church, and he is connected with the Masonic order. In politics, he is a Republican, and has served on the school board and bor ough council.

RANKIN L. VAN HORN, of the firm of R. L. Van Horn & Son, booksellers and stationers, was born in Wellsboro, Tioga county, November 16, 1843, and is the oldest living son of Benjamin T. and Nancy Van Horn. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and when fifteen years of age began painting furni- ture in his father's factory, and so continued up to January, 1872, when he and his brother-in-law, N. T. Chandler, purchased the business, which they continued up to 1894. On February 7, 1872, Mr. Van Horn bought the book and stationery store of B. C. & L. R. Van Horn, since carried on by himself and son under the firm name of R. L. Van Horn & Son. On September 19, 1866, Mr. Van Horn married Cornelia E. Chubbuck, a daughter of Col. Levi Chubbuck, of Wellsboro. Two chil- dren blessed this union, viz: Sadie, who died at the age of one year, and Lewis R., manager of the book store of R. L. Van Horn & Son. Mr. Van Horn is a member of the I. O. O. F .; is a Republican, in politics, and has served in the borough council.

WILLIAM B. VAN HORN, youngest son of William Van Horn, was born near Williamsport, Lycoming county, in 1822, and learned the cabinet maker's trade in youth. He came to Wellsboro in 1842, followed his trade a few years, and then learned shoemaking, which he continued to work at the remaining years of his life. He married Amanda Green, of Charleston township, to which union were born three children, viz: Nancy, who died at the age of two years; Jenetta, who died at the

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age of eleven years, and William D., now president of the Wellsborough National Bank. Mr. Van Horn died in April, 1893; his widow resides with her son.

WILLIAM D. VAN HORN, president of the Wellsborough National Bank, was born in Charleston township, Tioga county, October 31, 1862, was reared in Wells- boro, and obtained his education in the High School of that town and at Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, graduating from the latter institution in December, 1879. He then became book-keeper for Mathers, Graves & Company, January 1, 1880, and remained with them for three years. He next accepted a position as book-keeper in the First National Bank, of Wellsboro, where he remained up to October, 1888, when he was appointed cashier of the Wellsborough National Bank. He filled that position until January 14, 1896, on which date he was elected president of that institution, one of the leading banks in northern Pennsylvania. Mr. Van Horn was married April 12, 1887, to Miss Carrie R. Allen, a niece of Hon. Henry Sherwood, of Wellsboro. They are the parents of three children: William A., Edith and Howard E. Mr. and Mrs. Van Horn are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is one of the enterprising, progressive, and substantial business men of Wellsboro.

NORMAN T. CHANDLER, undertaker, was born in Granville, New York, December 8, 1833, a son of Charles and Clarinda B. (Averill) Chandler. His father, a son of Daniel Chandler, was born in New York state, June 13, 1794, learned the wagon- maker's trade in boyhood, and followed that business until his death, June 21, 1837. His mother was a daughter of Jesse Averill, of Granville, and had the following chil- dren: Charles M., Minerva and Lyman A., all of whom are dead; John J., of New- ark, New Jersey; Edgar D., a merchant of Cambridge, New York; Daniel L., Evelyn and Robert S., all deceased; Norman T., and Frederick I., a merchant of Granville, New York. When eight years old Norman T. went to live with his eldest brother, Charles, at Elba, New York. There he received his early education in the public school and when fifteen years of age engaged in clerking in a general store in Brock- port, New York, where he remained three years. He next clerked in a drug store in Elmira one year, and in September, 1852, came to Wellsboro, Tioga county, and clerked for John R. Jones two years. Going to Rockford, Illinois, he clerked there one year and then returned to Wellsboro, and continued the same occupation for John R. Bowen for two years. The following year he worked in Fredonia, New York, and later was station agent at Oneida, Illinois, for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad. Returning to New York state, he clerked in Watertown for nine years, in Penn Yan for one year, and then went to Lansing, Michigan, and later to Detroit. In 1870 he returned to Wellsboro, and entered the store of his father- in-law, Benjamin T. Van Horn, for whom he clerked two years. In January, 1872, he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Rankin L. Van Horn, and they continued in business as manufacturers and dealers in furniture and undertaking until January 1, 1895, when W. D. Van Horn acquired R. L. Van Horn's interest. In March, 1896, when the furniture business was purchased by Fred W. Siemens, Mr. Chandler continued the undertaking business. Mr. Chandler was married August 22, 1862, to Mary J. Van Horn, a daughter of Benjamin T. Van Horn. In politics, he is a Republican, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F., both Lodge and

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 88

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