History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 93

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

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

native town, and when seventeen years of age began clerking in a hotel at Jersey Shore, which position he filled for five years. He then located at Beech Creek, and later took a contract to build a portion of the Beech Creek railroad. He also served as a constable while there. In the spring of 1884 he came to Wellsboro, Tioga county, and conducted the pool and billiard room in the Coles House five years, and then went to Jersey Shore, where he carried on the Junction House for fifteen months, the Globe Hotel for one year, and the Hotel Dunkle eighteen months. On November 1, 1892, he returned to Wellsboro to take charge of the Wilcox House, which he has since conducted successfully. Mr. Dunkle was married in March, 1893, to Miss Anna Jackson, a daughter of John Jackson, of Wellsboro, and has one son, Donald Ross. Mr. Dunkle is a member of the F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., and the Knights of the Golden Eagle.

DELMAR TOWNSHIP.

DANIEL HARVEY BACON was born in Farmington, Litchfield county, Con- necticut, about the year 1764, and was a son of Daniel Bacon, a grandson of Daniel Bacon, and a great-grandson of Daniel Bacon, Sr., who came from England to America prior to the Revolution and settled in Middletown, Connecticut. Daniel H. married Lydia Ellis, a native of Massachusetts, at Owego, New York, where he located about the yeart 1796. Seven children were the fruits of this union, viz: Chauncey, Oliver, Hannah, Nancy, Lewis, Chloe and Daniel. Mrs. Bacon died, and he was again married, to Mary Zuber, who bore him five children, viz: Caleb, John, Lucy, Hector and Homer. Mr. Bacon and family came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1815, and located on Marsh creek, then within the limits of Delmar township. He remained there five years, and in 1820 purchased the farm on which his grandson, Oliver, now lives. On this farm he spent the remaining years of his life, dying in 1850.

OLIVER BACON, second son of Daniel Harvey and Lydia (Ellis) Bacon, was born in Candor, Tioga county, New York, in 1801, and came with his parents to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, when fourteen years of age, where he grew to manhood. He married Catherine Houghton, a daughter of Simeon Houghton, and settled on the farm in Delmar township purchased by his father in 1820. He reared the following children: Chauncey and Eunice, both deceased; Simeon, a farmer of Delmar; Eli, deceased; Ferris, a clerk in the railroad office at Newberry, Lycoming county; Daniel, deceased; Lydia, wife of George F. Butler, of Delmar; Esther, wife of James Vandergrift, of Delmar; Aseph, a resident of Missouri; Oliver, who lives upon the old homestead in Delmar, and Seth, a resident of Wellsboro. Mr. Bacon died upon his farm in Delmar, where the greater portion of his life was passed. His widow lives with her son Oliver. She was born in Otsego county, New York, August 26, 1805, and is one of the oldest residents in the township.

SIMEON BACON was born upon the Bacon farm, in Delmar township, Tioga county, June 12, 1830, and is the oldest living child of Oliver and Catherine Bacon. He obtained his education in the district schools of his native township, and with the exception of two years that he was engaged in operating a grist-mill, erected by himself in Delmar, he has devoted his whole attention to agricultural pursuits, owning a fine farm of 235 acres six miles southwest of Wellsboro. In 1864 he

Simeon Bacon

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enlisted in Company K, Two Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was honorably discharged from the service in June, 1865. On May 30, 1868, he married Frances Skelton, born July 8, 1841, in Wilberforce, England, a daughter of George and Elizabeth Skelton, and then located on his present farm, adjoining the old homestead. They have one daughter, May, now the wife of F. G. Nordstrom. Mrs. Bacon and daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politi- cally, Mr. Bacon is a Republican, has served nine years as a school director, one year as auditor, and five years as justice of the peace. He is one of the substantial, enterprising farmers of his native township.

OLIVER BACON, JR., son of Oliver and Catherine Bacon, was born November 14, 1845, upon his present homestead in Delmar township, Tioga county. He was educated in the common schools, and has devoted his entire attention to farming pursuits. September 5, 1869, he maried Elsie M. Bartle, a daughter of Andrew and Maria Bartle. She bore him one son, Walter A., born September 9, 1875, whc married Addie Callahan. He is a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Bacon died January 29, 1877, and he was again married February 14, 1882, to Jennie Bunnell, a daughter of James and Euretta Bunnell, of Chenango county, New York. In politics, Mr. Bacon is a Republican, and has served as a school director for three years and assessor one year. He is the owner of a farm of 335 acres, 300 acres of which are under cultivation. By the application of approved and scientific methods in its cultivation, and the exercise of good judgment in its equipment, he has made it one of the model and profit-paying farms of the county. Mr. Bacon is a thorough business man, and attributes his success to a strict adherence to sound business principles in the management of his farm. He gives his personal attention to every detail, and as a result, every tilled acre is in the very best possible condition for profitable production. In 1894 he purchased a property in Wellsboro, where he in- tends spending the evening of a busy and successful life retired from the cares of business.

WILLIAM EBERENZ immigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1817, when he was but sixteen years of age, and soon after located in Tioga county. Here he married Mary Hoover, a daughter of Dr. Samuel Hoover, who lived near Wellsboro, and immediately settled on a tract of timber land which he purchased from Morris, paying $1.50 an acre for it in county orders, which he earned by clearing up the public square in Wellsboro, then covered with timber and underbrush. The young couple were very industrious and practiced the most rigid economy. They reared a family of six children, viz: Mary, wife of Edwin Matson, Sr .; John, who was drowned when twenty-one years old; Canelia, deceased wife of Elisha Brown; Margaret, deceased wife of H. Guernsey; Charles, who died in 1882, and Caroline, wife of James H. Smith. The wilderness condition of the country may be realized by the reader of to-day when informed that Mrs. Eberenz used to say that she did not see the face of a white woman for three years after moving into their cabin. She made moccasins for her children out of deer skins, and the family knew only bear and deer meat, while their couch at night was composed of the skins of wild animals. No luxuries entered that humble cabin. Grain was scarce and flour hard to obtain. At that time the county contained less than 500 taxable inhabi- tants and Wellsboro had less than a dozen log houses. Mr. Eberenz was a sub-

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stantial citizen and left to his son Charles one of the finest farms in Delmar. He was remarkable for his pleasant disposition and social qualities, and the quaint sayings and humorous anecdotes of "Uncle Billy Eberenz," as he was familiarly called, are well remembered by the older residents of Wellsboro. He spent three score years on the farm which he carved out of the forest with his own hands, and died May 31, 1880, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife died December 27, 1865, aged seventy years. They passed through the trials and vicissitudes of pioneer life, and when they died an abundance of the good things of life surrounded their home.

CHARLES EBERENZ was born on the Eberenz farm in Delmar township, Tioga county, youngest son of William Eberenz. He was reared upon the homestead, attended the common schools of the district in boyhood, and followed agriculture all his life. He married Sarah Brubaker, and reared three children, viz: Mary E., wife of John Brubaker; Julia, who died at the age of eighteen, and William B., of Delmar. Mr. Eberenz and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both died in that faith. He was one of the active Democrats of his township, and always took a deep interest in public affairs.

WILLIAM B. EBERENZ was born on the old homestead in Delmar township, Tioga county, September 1, 1856, and is the youngest child of Charles Eberenz, and grandson of William Eberenz, the pioneer. He attended the common schools during his boyhood years, and has since devoted his attention to farming. He has been twice married. His first wife was Carrie D. Bartle, and bore him one daughter, Sarah, born October 27, 1883. Mrs. Eberenz died September 27, 1884, and on December 15, 1886, he married Lettie Kizer, a daughter of William Kizer, of Wellsboro, who has borne him two children, viz: Harold, born April 24, 1889, and Florence Ione, born November 8, 1895. The Eberenz farm, containing 280 acres, is one of the model farms of Delmar, and Mr. Eberenz carries on a dairy in con- nection therewith. In politics, he is an ardent Democrat, and one of the respected farmers of the township.

ZENAS FIELD, a native of Massachusetts, born March 1, 1776, came from Ver- mont to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and purchased 154 acres of land in Delmar township. Building his cabin in the midst of the primitive forest he went bravely to work to make a home for himself and family. He was a stonemason and worked at his trade in connection with his farm duties. He was married in Vermont to Polly Follett, who bore him a family of seven children, viz: Eliphas, Isaac F., Roxeylana, Moses D., Nelson and Mary, all of whom are dead, and Lucinda, deceased wife of Charles Billings, of Nebraska. Mr. Field and wife continued to live on the homestead in Delmar until their death.

ISAAC F. FIELD, son of Zenas Field, was born in Vermont, August 9, 1805, and came with his parents to Delmar township, Tioga county, when about twelve years old. He assisted them in clearing and improving the old homestead, which became his property at their death. He married Catherine McCarty, and reared three chil- dren, viz: Daniel, of Delmar; Rispa, wife of Charles M. Dartt, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Everett, who died at the age of eighteen. Mr. Field continued to reside in Delmar up to his death, in 1878; his wife died in November, 1885.

DANIEL FIELD, only living son of Isaac F. Field, and grandson of Zenas Field,

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was born in Delmar township, May 1, 1824. He was reared on the homestead, obtained his education in the common schools, and has followed farming and lum- bering since early manhood. In 1857 he purchased from his father 150 acres of land southwest of Wellsboro, upon which he has since resided, but has sold off forty acres of the original tract. On July 14, 1852, he married Lovisa F. Webb, to which union have been born eleven children, viz: Wilbur I., of Wellsboro; Otis, who died at the age of twenty-three; Frank E., of Delmar; Ferdinand R., Orrin D., and Ransford W., all residents of Wellsboro; Arthur G., of Delmar; Harry B., weighmaster for the Fall Brook Railroad Company at Corning, New York; Perley W., who lives in Wellsboro; Minnie C., wife of Elwin Steele, of Delmar, and Vinnie C., who lives at home. Mr. Field is a member of the I. O. O. F. and also of the Grange. In politics, a Republican, he has filled the offices of supervisor, justice of the peace and collector.

FERDINAND R. FIELD was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, June 5, 1859, a son of Daniel Field. He was educated in the common schools, and for sev- eral years after arriving at manhood devoted his attention to farming in summer and working in the woods in the winter season. He also operated a threshing ma- chine for six years. In 1890 he and S. L. Herrington built the Wellsboro Roller Mills, but in 1893 he sold his interest and engaged in mercantile business with W. A. Hammond, continuing it eighteen months. He has since followed farming and shipping, commencing the latter business several years ago. In July, 1896, his brother, Ransford W., became his partner, and the firm has since been F. R. & R. W. Field. On September 3, 1873, Mr. Field married Mary L. Mills, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Mills, of Round Top, Charleston township, and has one daugh- ter, Addie M. Politically, he is a Republican, and has filled the offices of assessor, constable and collector of Delmar, holding the latter office from 1886 to 1890. In religion he is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is connected with the I. O. O. F., both Lodge and Encampment, and also with the K. O. T. M. and the P. of H.

RANSFORD W. FIELD was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, June 23, 1861, and is a son of Daniel Field. He was reared on the home farm and obtained his education in the common schools of Delmar, the High School of Wellsboro and Williamsport Commercial College, from which he graduated in 1884. He taught school and farmed until January 1, 1895, when he was appointed a deputy sheriff, which position he filled until July 1, 1896, at which time he became a member of the present firm of F. R. & R. W. Field, wholesale dealers in hay, grain and general produce. Mr. Field was married April 26, 1887, to Jennie M. Roland, a daughter of H. C. and Sarah Roland, of Delmar, and has one son, Fay. In politics, he is a Republican, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and the P. of H.

MOSES D. FIELD was born in Vermont, March 18, 1810, a son of Zenas and Polly Field, and was about seven years old when his parents came to Tioga county. He was reared on the homestead, and devoted his entire life to farming and lumber- ing, a portion of the time on the home farm settled by his father. He married Amy Walker, a daughter of Joseph and Loretta (Greene) Walker, November 9, 1834, and to them were born the following children: Delos and Ethan, both deceased; Darwin S., of Delmar; Charles, who resides in the west; George, of Lawrence township; Flora L., deceased; Henry, who lives in the west, and Herman, deceased. Amanda

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

M. Dewey was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Field when an infant, and is the wife of John Butler, of Delmar. Mr. Field died May 14, 1888. His widow resides with her son, Darwin S. The family are adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which faith Mr. Field lived and died. In polities, he was a Republican, and filled the office of constable, also collector, in Delmar.

DARWIN S. FIELD, oldest living child of Moses D. Field, was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, July 13, 1842. He grew to manhood upon the homestead farm, and was educated in the common schools and Wellsboro Academy. He worked on the home farm and in the lumber woods until his majority, and then continued to cultivate rented farms on shares for sixteen years. In the meantime he had purchased his present farm in Delmar, and settled upon it in the spring of 1883. It is located at the southern limits of Wellsboro, and contains sixty-seven acres. Mr. Field has operated a threshing machine during the fall seasons for the past fourteen years, and also runs a hay press and power wood-saw. August 2, 1863, he married Lurania Torpy, a daughter of Joseph and Artemishia (Balch) Torpy, and has two children, viz: Stella J., wife of Delbert H. Darby, of Hoytville, and Ella M., wife of Charles Benauer, of Delmar township. Mr. and Mrs. Field are members of the Patrons of Husbandry, and he is also connected with the I. O. O. F., both Lodge and Encampment. In politics, a Republican, he has served as township supervisor two terms.

ALLEN BUTLER, a native of Vermont, born May 14, 1771, married Susanna Borden, of New Hampshire, and in 1817 came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and settled on the present Butler farm in Delmar township. Here he resided until his death, January 9, 1846. His wife died January 15, 1850. They were the parents of nine children, named as follows: Belinda, Betsey, Allen, Hartford, Wellman, Eunice, Dolly, Selden and Crete.

WELLMAN BUTLER was born in New Hampshire, October 29, 1801, a son of Allen and Susanna Butler. He was sixteen years old when the family came to this county, and the balance of his life was spent on the old homestead in Delmar town- ship, where he devoted his entire attention to agriculture. In 1823 he married Naney Rhoads, a native of New Hampshire, who bore him five children, viz: Well- man S., a resident of Nebraska; Nancy J., deceased wife of Benjamin Wilcox; John M., of Delmar township: George F., a resident of Stokesdale, and Daniel, who lives in the west. Mrs. Butler died July 30, 1834, and he was again married February 22, 1835, to Margaret M. Steel, who bore him two children: Harlon, deceased, and Margaret B., wife of Alva Kennedy, a resident of Minnesota. Mr. Butler and wife were members of the Free Will Baptist church, in which he filled the office of dea- con. They died upon the old homestead in Delmar township.

JOHN M. BUTLER was born upon his present farm in Delmar township, Tioga county, January 15, 1830, attended the district schools in boyhood, and has always lived upon the same place. In early life he spent his winters in the lumber woods, and was well known as a pilot on the West Branch of the Susquehanna. With the exception of that period, he has devoted his whole attention to agricultural pursuits. The Butler farm contains 144 acres, and he makes dairying a specialty. Mr. But- ler was married June 10, 1852, to Amanda M. Dewey, an adopted daughter of Moses D). Field, who has borne him four children, viz: Allen, Amy Adella, who married

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Adelbert Warner, of Morris, and has one daughter, Grace; Charles G., who married Jennie Allen, and has had six children, Hazel, Dewain, Bernice, Ruth, one that died in infancy, and Fay J .; and Grace, wife of Miles Blackwell, of Blackwells, Tioga county, who has one son, Milon E. Mrs. Butler is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both she and her husband are connected with the Patrons of Husbandry. Their sons, Allen and Charles G., live upon the home farm and assist in its cultivation. In politics, the family are supporters of the Republican party.

SIMEON HOUGHTON, a native of Massachusetts, and by trade a carpenter, came to Otsego county, New York, where he followed his trade for some years. On April 10, 1818, he located on the present Houghton farm in Delmar township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, which was then covered with the primitive forest. He erected a cabin and began the work of making a home for himself and family. He had previously married Rachel Dean, who bore him a family of six children, viz: Cath- erine, widow of Oliver Bacon, who resides with her son Oliver in Delmar township; Ferris, Jemima, Jeremiah, Olive and Esther, all of whom are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Houghton passed the remaining years of their lives in this county.

JEREMIAH HOUGHTON, born in Otsego county, New York, April 10, 1813, came to Tioga county with his parents when five years old. He was reared on the farm in Delmar, and spent his entire life in this county on the same property, settled by his father in 1818. He married Susan F. Horton, a daughter of Thomas Horton, of Delmar, who bore him five children, viz: Charles, a wagonmaker at Tiadaghton; Sylvester, a wagonmaker in Wellsboro; Edgar, a resident of Morris; Thomas, of Delmar, and William L., who died at the age of twenty-seven years. Mr. Houghton was an active Republican, in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church. He was a justice of the peace for some twelve years, and died on his farm, April 30, 1886. His widow resides with her son Thomas in that town- ship.

THOMAS HOUGHTON, youngest living child of Jeremiah Houghton, was born on his present homestead in Delmar township, Tioga county, April 23, 1847, there grew to manhood, and purchased the farm from his father in 1876, since which time he has devoted his attention to its cultivation. On October 9, 1888, he mar- ried Mary Vandergrift, a daughter of James Vandergrift, of Delmar, and has two children, Mazie and Blanche. Mrs. Houghton is a member of the Baptist church. In politics, Mr. Houghton is a Republican, and has filled the offices of township clerk and treasurer one term cach. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the P. of H., in which he takes an active interest.

JOHN FELLOWS, a native of Connecticut, born in 1774, came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, about 1824, and purchased a farm near Wellsboro, where he resided until his death, in 1853, aged seventy-nine years. He married Edna Dabold, of Connecticut, who bore him seven children, viz: Erastus, Asahel, Edwin, Horace, Hulda, widow of David Heise, Merrit and Eliza. Mrs. Fellows died at the home of her daughter, Hulda, in 1876, aged ninety-three years.

ASAHEL FELLOWS was born in Canaan, Litchfield county, Connecticut, Novem- ber 23, 1803, and came with his parents to Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He soon after bought a farm in Delmar township, upon which he resided until his death,

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March 2, 1889. He married Elvira Fuller, December 14, 1825. She was born November 26, 1810, and became the mother of six children, as follows: Elijah J., who died December 15, 1854, in his twenty-seventh year; Eliza J., wife of Fred Stickley, of Wellsboro; Polly M., who died June 27, 1861, in her twenty-fourth year; George Leroy, of Delmar; Sarah M., wife of Melvin Boyden, and Edna, wife of Joseph Benauer, both of whom live in Delmar township. Mrs. Fellows died April 5, 1893, in her eighty-third year.

GEORGE LEROY FELLOWS was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, Novem- ber 9, 1839, and on attaining his majority took charge of the homestead farm, upon which he has spent his entire life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. On November 26, 1863, he married Rhoda Hoag, of Delmar, and has one son, Edwin D., born January 28, 1867. The latter married Carrie Holiday, and has two children, Bernice and Errick. Mrs. Fellows died November 27, 1896, aged fifty-one years.

BENJAMIN FURMAN, a native of Pennsylvania, born May 4, 1771, came from Northumberland county to Tioga county, about 1823, and located on Pine creek, at what is now known as Furmantown. Three years later he purchased a farm in Delmar township upon which he passed the remaining years of his life. He mar- ried Jane Wilkinson, who bore him six children, named as follows: Harkley and Edie, both deceased; Coleman, a resident of Corning, New York; Wilkinson, and Daniel, both farmers of Delmar, and Jane, deceased. The mother died upon the old homestead in Delmar.

WILKINSON FURMAN was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 21, 1821, and was about two years old when his parents came to this county. After attaining his majority, he purchased fifty-three acres a short distance north- west of Stony Fork, where he has since devoted his attention to farming. Mr. Furman was married May 11, 1844, to Caroline Morsman, a daughter of Silas Mors- man, of Charleston township. She was born September 11, 1824, and is the mother of three children, viz: George Bertron, born April 25, 1846, who was killed by the cars in St. Louis, Missouri, January 16, 1873; Mary J., wife of Thomas Horton, of Shippen township, and Sarah A., who married Charles A. Buckley, and died October 20, 1888. In politics, Mr. Furman is a Republican, and is also a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.

WILLIAM HOWE was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, August 28, 1806, a son of Nathan and Catherine (Furman) Howe, of English and German ancestry. He was reared and educated in his native county, and when twenty-two years of age came to Tioga county, where he purchased 100 acres of forest land in Delmar township, now known as the Howe farm. He cleared and improved his property, and resided upon it until his death, June 23, 1887. He married Chloe Bacon, a daughter of Daniel Bacon, of Delmar township, who bore him five children, viz: Lydia, wife of W. W. English, of Delmar; John W., who died at the age of nineteen; Emma F., deceased wife of W. W. English; Morris D., of Delmar, and Oliver B., who died at the age of eleven years. Mr. Howe was a member of the Methodist church, and in politics, an ardent Republican. Mrs. Howe was a mem- ber of the Baptist church. She resided with her son, Morris D., on the old home- stead until her death, December 29, 1894, at the age of eighty-two years.

MORRIS D. HOWE, only living son of William Howe, was born upon his present

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

farm in Delmar township, Tioga county, June 23, 1850, and has spent his entire life thereon. He attended the public schools of his district, and when twenty-one years old began working the farm on shares, which he continued for six years, and then purchased it from his father. In 1884 he rented a hay press, and in 1886 purchased one, which he has operated each fall and winter season since. He has also worked at lumbering more or less for some years. In 1891, in partnership with J. Bottom & Company, he purchased a timber tract of 657 acres on Cedar run, and they have taken the timber off about one-half of it. In 1892 he built a feed-mill, to which he added a shingle-mill in 1893, both of which he has operated since their erection. Mr. Howe was married January 26, 1870, to Isabel Willard, a daughter of Joseph Willard, of Delmar, to which union have been born five children, viz: Ruth, Homer B., Rena B., Fred, and one that died in infancy. Politically, Mr. Howe is a Republi- can, and has been a justice of the peace since 1890. He is a member of Stony Fork Lodge, No. 564, I. O. O. F.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 93

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