History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 91

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

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maining there until 1889. He then returned to Wellsboro, where he lived two years, and again took up his residence on his farm. In 1896 he returned to Wells- boro, and resumed the practice of medicine. Dr. Johnson has been married twice. In 1856 he married Elizabeth Lockwood, of New York. She died in 1857, and in 1866 he married Sarah E. Wilson, of Charleston township. They have an adopted daughter, Kate.

DR. JOEL ROSE was born in Roseville, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1820, a son of William Rose, a native of Rutland, Vermont, who came to Tioga county in 1806, and settled on the site of Roseville, in what is now Rutland township, being one of the first settlers of that part of the county. Joel attended the common schools in boyhood, and later studied medicine under Dr. Abel Humphrey, of Tioga, and graduated at Geneva Medical College, Geneva, New York. He commenced practice at Roseville, where he continued until 1863, in which year he removed to Detroit, Michigan, and followed his professional duties in that city until his death, July 9, 1868. Dr. Rose married Alvira Stevens, and reared a family of four chil- dren, viz: Celia D., deceased wife of J. H. Desrosiers; Frank H., a dentist of Wells- boro; Clara E., wife of Charles Pepper, of Chicago, and Elizabeth, deceased. Mrs. Rose resides with her daughter in Chicago.

FRANK HAMILTON ROSE, D. D. S., was born in Roseville, Tioga county, August 16, 1849, and was educated in the common schools of his native village, and in Detroit, Michigan. He studied dentistry and in May, 1876, opened his present office, where he has since made a specialty of operative dentistry, and has built up a successful practice. Dr. Rose married Emma Bush, of Wellsboro, September 29, 1875, and has one daughter, Kittie. The family are members of the Presby- terian church. Mrs. Rose is the only child of Isaac and Catherine (Borden) Bush. Her father was born in New York state, February 2, 1832, came to Tioga county, and located at Niles Valley, where he engaged extensively in the lumber business. He afterwards removed to Wellsboro, where he followed the boot and shoe business a few years, then returned to Niles Valley, and was killed in a saw-mill, March 11, 1872. His widow died in 1884, aged fifty-one years.

DR. JOHN HENRY SHEARER is one of the oldest practicing physicians in Tioga county. He was born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1827, a son of Henry and Catherine Shearer, natives of the same county. He was reared a farmer's boy, and at the age of nineteen enlisted in the Marine Corps, at Phila- delphia, for service in the Mexican War, and was assigned to the line-of-battleship Ohio. He was at the siege and capture of Vera Cruz, and served until the close of the war, when he took up his residence in the Quaker City and began his medical studies under Prof. A. E. Small. He graduated from what is now Hahnemann College, Philadelphia, in the spring of 1852, and opened an office at Wellsboro, Tioga county, where he practiced three years and a half. In 1856 he went to Springfield, Illinois, spent some time in travel through the west, and practiced at Sprinfield from the fall of 1856 until the spring of 1859, when, because of failing health, he returned to Wellsboro, which has since been his permanent home. Dr. Shearer was married in 1858, to Hannah Stanton Rathbun, of Springfield, who died October 20, 1878, and has one son by that union, William Lincoln, editor and publisher of the Republican Advocate. He married for his second wife, Margaret M.

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Wylie, a daughter of W. P. Wylie, a well-known citizen of this county. Dr. Shearer was a next-door neighbor of Abraham Lincoln during his residence in Springfield; a member of his presidential party; his guest at the White House in 1862, and one of his closest friends until his tragic end. Dr. Shearer has been in continuous practice in Wellsboro for nearly forty years.

WILLIAM LINCOLN SHEARER, only child of Dr. John H. and Hannah Stanton Shearer, was born in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, October 28, 1861. He received a good English education, graduating from the Wellsboro High School in 1881. After reading law under Judge Henry W. Williams and Hon. Horace B. Packer, he was admitted to the bar April 5, 1886, and practiced his profession about six months. On November 1, 1886, he bought an interest in the Republican Advocate and became a partner with James H. Matson. On March 10, 1891, he purchased Mr. Matson's interest, since which time he has conducted the paper alone. Mr. Shearer was married July 21, 1883, to Margaret L. Van Valkenburg, a daughter of C. G. Van Valkenburg, of Wellsboro. A Republican, in politics, Mr. Shearer has un- compromisingly maintained the principles of that party in the columns of his paper. He is a vigorous, incisive writer, and has conducted the Republican Advocate with ability and success. In religion he is an adherent of the Protestant Episcopal church.

AUGUSTUS F. BARNES, of the firm of Barnes & Roy, editors and publishers of the Wellsboro Agitator, was born in Painted Post, Steuben county, New York, December 30, 1838, and is a son of Washington and Deidamia (Knox) Barnes. His mother died when he was but five weeks old, and he was cared for by an aunt in Knoxville, Steuben county, until four years of age, when, his father having re- married, he was taken to live with him in Bath, New York, and there grew to man- hood. His early education was acquired in the common schools. In 1859, after a preliminary reading under his father, who was a prominent lawyer of Steuben county, he completed his studies in the office of Spencer & Thomson, the leading law firm of Corning, New York, and was admitted to practice in 1860. During the next two years he filled the position of surrogate clerk under his father, who had been elected county judge and surrogate of Steuben county. From 1862 to 1872 he practiced law in Bath, with the exception of about twenty months, during 1864-65, when he was a clerk in the quartermaster general's office, Washington, D. C., and a portion of the winter of 1865-66, when he was engaged in editing the Havana Journal, Havana, New York. In January, 1872, Mr. Barnes bought a half interest in the Wellsboro Agitator of P. C. Van Gelder. In September following Arthur M. Roy purchased Mr. Van Gelder's remaining interest and the firm became Barnes & Roy, and has so continued to the present time. Mr. Barnes was married February 19, 1873, to Sarah Bull, a daughter of Col. William H. and Sarah (Whiting) Bull, of Bath, New York. The following named children have been born to this union: Sarah, Anna, Robert S. and Franklin A., both deceased; William Douglas and John Knox. In politics, Mr. Barnes is a Republican, and in religion, a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. As editor of the Agitator, Mr. Barnes has proven himself a clear and logical thinker and a vigorous, forceful writer. He wields a facile, graceful pen, and deals with all matters of public policy with frank- ness and fearlessness. Under his guidance the Agitator has become a power in this

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congressional district, and is recognized as one of the best-edited weekly papers in Pennsylvania.

ARTHUR M. ROY, of the firm of Barnes & Roy, editors and publishers of the Wellsboro Agitator, is the only living child of Dr. Robert and Irene M. (Dartt) Roy. He was born in Wellsboro, November 4, 1852, and was educated in the borough schools and in the Mansfield State Normal. At the age of twelve years he entered the Agitator office as an apprentice and served three years. He then went to school until he was nineteen years old. On September 1, 1872, he purchased the half interest of P. C. Van Gelder in the Agitator and became a partner of A. F. Barnes, the firm becoming Barnes & Roy. Entering the firm with a practical knowledge of the art of printing, Mr. Roy has devoted himself to the mechanical department of the paper and office, and has also discharged the duties of local editor. He has few superiors as a printer, having mastered the art in all its details. The neat typographical appearance of the Agitator, and the high class of work turned out by the jobbing department of the establishment, bear testimony to his skill. As a gleaner of local news he is industrious, and what he writes stamps him a first class newspaper man. Mr. Roy was married September 6, 1876, to Margaret L. Giles, a daughter of Benjamin and Rachel Giles, of Jamestown, New York. To this marriage there have been born three children, viz: Harold, Annie and Robert. Mr. Roy ranks among the prominent and respected citizens of Wellsboro. In politics he is a Republican, and has always been outspoken in the advocacy of the principles of that party. He is a deacon of the Presbyterian church of Wellsboro; is also superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday-school, and is an active supporter of everything tending toward the moral advancement of the community. He is a director in the First National Bank, and a member of the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. societies.

FRANK CONEVERY, editor and publisher of the Wellsboro Gazette, was born in Bath, Steuben county, New York, July 16, 1855, and is a son of Patrick and Sarah Conevery. While he was yet an infant, his father was accidentally killed. His mother, who is still living, is a resident of Bath. Mr. Conevery's early education was acquired in the common schools. In 1869, when but fourteen years old, he became a printer's apprentice, and completed his trade in 1872, in the office of the Bath Advocate. During the next two years he worked as a journeyman printer in the Advocate office, the Buffalo Courier and other papers. In the fall of 1874 he took charge of the mechanical department of the Hammondsport Herald, continuing until April, 1877, when he came to Wellsboro and in the following August bought out the interest of F. G. Churchill in the Wellsboro Gazette and became a partner in its publication with S. N. Havens, under the firm name of Havens & Conevery. This partnership was terminated in November, 1881, when Mr. Havens sold his interest to Herbert Huntington, and the firm became Huntington & Conevery. In No- vember, 1885, Frederick K. Wright bought the interest of Mr. Huntington, and continued as a partner until January 1, 1895, since which time Mr. Conevery has carried on the enterprise alone. On December 9, 1880, Mr. Conevery married Helen Bullard, a daughter of M. S. and Mariette Bullard, of Wellsboro. Two children, a daughter, Mary, and a son, Robert G., have been born to them. In politics, Mr. Conevery is a Democrat, and in the presidential campaign of 1896,

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his paper gave Bryan and Sewall and the Chicago platform, able, earnest and un- swerving support, and especially that plank of the platform which declared for the free coinage of silver. Under Mr. Conevery's management the Gazette has acquired a well-deserved reputation as an ably-edited and well-conducted newspaper. Its editorials are strongly written and party and public questions are dealt with in a fearless manner. Local news from all parts of the county is industriously gathered, the Gazette being especially noted for the excellence of its local news department. Being the only outspoken Democratic paper in the county, it has a large circulation, and is regarded as one of the leading Democratic journals of the northern tier. Mr. Conevery is a member of Alert Hose Company, and also of the K. of P. and K. O. T. M. societies.

SAMUEL MORGAN, SR., born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1803, was educated in the common schools, and learned the blacksmith's trade in his native county, which he followed there until 1837. In that year he came to Tioga county and located at Covington, then a hamlet of only a few buildings, called "The Corners," where he followed his trade for seven years. He then pur- chased a farm in the Frost settlement, and followed farming in connection with his trade until 1855, when he sold the farm and removed to Round Top, Charleston township; bought a property, and followed blacksmithing, lumbering and farming, up to his death, February 10, 1875. Mr. Morgan was married in 1824, to Ann Kimble, a daughter of Albert and Hannah Kimble. Ten children were born to this union, eight of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, as follows: Sarah A., wife of Jesse Bryant, of Charleston township; H. Elizabeth, deceased wife of Jon- athan Everetts; Daniel M., of Olean, New York; William M., who died in a southern prison during the Rebellion, from a gun-shot wound; Jonathan V., of Wellsboro; Seth, a farmer in Arkansas; Samuel, a resident of Charleston township, and Ephraim, deceased. With the exception of the last mentioned, all of the sons were soldiers in the Union army, and all but Samuel served from the beginning to the close of the war. Mrs. Morgan died in 1872. Mr. Morgan was a member of the Baptist church in early life, but later united with the Wesleyan Methodist church, in which faith he died.

JONATHAN V. MORGAN, ex-treasurer of Tioga county, was born in Covington township, Tioga county, March 1, 1838; was reared upon a farm, and was educated in the public schools and at Wellsboro Academy. On April 22, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, First Pennsylvania Reserve, known as "The Bucktails." He was taken prisoner at Gaines' Hill, June 28, 1862, and was confined in Libby, Castle Thunder and Belle Isle prisons, and later paroled, and rejoined his regiment at Alexandria, Virginia. With the exception of the period when he was a prisoner, he served in all the engagements in which his regiment participated. He was wounded at Gettysburg, and was several times promoted for gallant and meritorious conduct on the battle-field. He commanded his company through most of the Wilderness Campaign, as first sergeant, and was first lieutenant by brevet when his regiment was mustered out of service, in June, 1864. Mr. Morgan then returned to Tioga county, and resumed farming in Charleston township. He was married February 25, 1869, to Melvina L. Shumway, a daughter of Joseph J. and Margaret C. (Peake) Shumway, of Charleston township. Mrs. Morgan had three brothers: Charles L.,

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Hiram P. and William P. Charles L., was a soldier in the Civil War, and died August 22, 1864. Hiram P. is a resident of Olean, New York, and William P. is dead. Politically, Mr. Morgan is an unswerving Republican. He served two terms as township treasurer, two terms as supervisor, and one as school director. In 1887 he was elected a jury commissioner, in which office he served three years, and in the fall of 1892 he was elected county treasurer, which position he filled in an acceptable manner until January, 1896. Mr. Morgan is a member of Tyoga Lodge, No. 230, I. O. O. F., also of George Cook Post, G. A. R., of Wellsboro. He has held all the important offices in the latter, and has been state aid-de-camp two terms. He is a member of the Union Veteran Legion, and the Association of Prisoners, and takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the old veterans.

JAMES L. WIIITE, ex-postmaster of Wellsboro, is a son of the late Judge Robert G. White, and was born in Wellsboro, Tioga county, October 23, 1849. He was edu- cated in the High School, and when eighteen years of age went to California and worked two years in the silver mines. Returning to Wellsboro, he clerked for C. C. Mathers six years, and in the spring of 1876 he was appointed inspector of customs at Philadelphia. In the spring of 1877, he and his brother Frank purchased a grocery store in Wellsboro, and one year later he bought his brother's interest. He conducted the business until 1883, when he bought ont the store of F. K. Wright, consolidated the two stores, and carried on merchandising until 1884, when he was burned out. He immediately re-stocked his store, and then sold the business to Saxton, Seely & Company, in the fall of 1886. In the autumn of 1889 he went to Pittsburg, where he acted as state agent for the Edison phonograph for one year, returning to Wellsboro in the fall of 1890. In 1891 he was appointed postmaster of Wellsboro, which position he occupied four years, and is now holding the responsible position of cashier of the House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. Mr. White was married November 24, 1875, to Adelaide Wilbur, a daughter of Col. Aaron Wilbur, of Savannah, Georgia, and has three children, viz: Adelaide Louise, Sarah Bache and Mary Wilbur. The family attend the Protestant Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. White is a Republican, and has been a member of the school board, president of the board of education, and a member of the borough council. He is connected with the F. & A. M., and is Past Commander of the Knights Templar.

HORACE A. DEANS was born in Montrose, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1824. His father, James Deans, was a native of Lebanon county, Con- necticut, born in 1794, and removed with his parents to Montrose when ten years of age. He there learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years. In 1819 he married Abigail Cornwall, and reared two sons, Horace A. and Willis B., the latter a merchant of Montrose. Horace was reared in his native town, and there commenced his business career. He enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, served nine months, and then re-enlisted in the Signal Service, and was stationed at Georgetown Heights until the close of the war. Returning to Montrose, he worked at paper hanging, painting and carpentering until his death, in July, 1877. He married Frances E. Stroud, March 29, 1848, and reared two sons, Frank A., of Wellsboro, and Edward C., a resident of Scranton.

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FRANK A. DEANS was born in Bridgewater township, Susquehanna county, January 22, 1849, and is the eldest son of Horace A. Deans. He spent his boyhood days in Hyde Park, Lackawanna county, where he was educated in the graded school. When fifteen years of age he entered a printing office in Montrose, where he worked for two years. He subsequently clerked in the postoffice in that town for two years, and then engaged with C. M. Crandall, of Montrose, to learn the turner's trade, at which he spent three years. He later entered the insurance office of Billings Stroud, and on June 1, 1870, came to Wellsboro, Tioga county, to clerk in the land office of the Bingham estate. He occupied that position until Mr. Simpson's death, April 15, 1893, when he succeeded him as agent of the trustees of said estate. Mr. Deans was married December 9, 1873, to Mary E. Guernsey, a daughter of H. A. Guernsey. He is a member of Tyoga Lodge, No. 230, and Wellsboro Encampment, No. 78, I. O. O. F. For the past twenty years he has been Scribe of the lodge, and has filled the chair in both branches. He is also colonel of the Second Pennsyl- vania Regiment of Patriarchs Militant. He is a member of Ossea Lodge, No. 317, F. & A. M .; Tyoga Chapter, No. 194, R. A. M., and Tyagaghton Commandery, No. 28, K. T. Mr. Deans is the leader of Wellsborough's Military Band, which owes its present efficiency to his efforts. He was also a leading spirit in the organi- zation of the Alert Hose Company, and has ever been active in promoting the best interests of the borough.

GEORGE W. WILLIAMS, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Tabor Williams, was born in Tioga, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1859. His parents removed to Wellsboro when our subject was less than one year old, and he there grew to man- hood, receiving his education in the public schools. When sixteen years of age he commenced clerking in the store of C. C. Mathers, and later clerked for Young & Miller. He was next employed in the commissioners' office by Leonard Harrison, at the time he was commissioners' clerk. On January 1, 1880, he accepted a position as clerk in the office of the Bingham estate where he has since been employed. Mr. Williams has taken considerable interest in public affairs, has served as a member of the borough council, and also as burgess of Wellsboro, and at different times has been chairman of the Republican county committee. He was married March 12, 1883, to Ida A. Horton, a daughter of Capt. A. B. Horton, formerly of Wells- boro, and has two children, Clinton T. and Joseph H.

WILLIAM E. CHAMPAIGN, sheriff of Tioga county, was born at Cedar Run, Brown township, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1861, son of Peter B. and Hannah (Sechrist) Champaign. His father was a native of Soriel, which is located at the mouth of the outlet of Lake Champlain, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, while his mother was born in Liberty township, Tioga county, Pennsyl- vania. His father served in the Two Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and is now a resident of Elk township. William E. was reared in Lycoming and Tioga counties, and has been a permanent resident of this county since his seventh year. He obtained a common school education and labored at lumbering until after his majority. In 1886 he engaged in the life and fire insurance business, which he still carries on in connection with his duties as sheriff. Mr. Champaign married Emma N. Neal, daughter of Daniel Neal, September 12, 1884, and has two children, Nellie and Earle. The family are Presbyterians. He is an ardent Re-

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publican, and has always taken an active part in local politics. He was postmaster at Gaines for two years; was elected sheriff of Tioga county in 1894, and was a delegate to the State Convention in 1896. Mr. Champaign is a Knight Templar in the Masonic order, and is one of the popular officials of Tioga county.

MILFORD H. STEBBINS was born at Sabinsville, Tioga county, September 3, 1860, and is the eldest child of Elijah H. Stebbins. He was reared and educated in his native township, and later attended the Knoxville graded school, and Wood- hull Academy, at Woodhull, New York, where he passed a regent's examination. When eighteen years of age he began assisting his father in the store and lumber business, and at his father's death he took charge of the same. In December, 1883, he bought his uncle's interest in the lumber business, and was made guardian for the other heirs. He conducted the business under this arrangement until April, 1884, when the estate was divided, he and his brother George taking the mill property, the store having burned in 1881. They conducted the business up to 1886, in which year he purchased his brother's interest and operated the mill until its destruction by fire in 1893. In November, 1890, Mr. Stebbins was elected a county commissioner, on the Republican ticket, and removed to Wellsboro in January, 1891. He also served as auditor of Clymer township for ten years, assessor one term, assistant assessor two terms, and census enumerator in 1890. Upon the expiration of his term as county commissioner in January, 1894, he formed a partnership with C. N. Butts, of Sabinsville, and has since been engaged in con- tracting for stone and brick work, bridges, pile driving, etc. He is also proprietor of the Wellsboro Cigar Factory, where he is engaged in the manufacture of cigars for the trade, and is an active, energetic and enterprising business man. On January 19, 1879, he married Addie C. Newton, a daughter of Moses and Sally Newton, of Sabinsville, and is the father of five children, as follows: Gordon E., Clayton M., Hugh W., Ila, deceased, and Arland E. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Stebbins is a member of Westfield Lodge, No. 477, F. & A. M .; West- field Chapter, No. 265; Tyagaghton Commandery, No. 28, and Wellsboro Lodge, No. 374, K. of P.

FRANCIS BEAUGE, a wine merchant of Paris, France, came to the United States in 1836, and located on a farm near Utica, New York. Three years later he re- moved to Charleston township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm and resided until his death in August, 1862. His wife, whose maiden name was Marie Moucours, was also a native of France. Two children were born to them: Hippolyte, since deceased, and Eugene, a resident of Wellsboro. Mrs. Beauge survived her husband over thirty years, dying May 30, 1893.

EUGENE BEAUGE was born in Charleston township, Tioga county, March 26, 1840, and is the only living child of Francis and Marie Beauge. He was reared on the homestead farm, and attended the common schools of his district. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was later promoted to sergeant, and served with his regiment until the close of the war. He participated in most of the battles and long marches for which the regiment was noted, and was honorably discharged July 17, 1865. Returning to Tioga county, he soon after entered Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, where he graduated in April, 1866. He then purchased a farm in Charleston township, and followed

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 91

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