History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 96

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

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HERBERT ROBLYER was born in Sullivan township, Tioga county, July 16, 1856, eldest son of Hiram L. Roblyer. He was educated in the common schools, at the Mansfield State Normal, and Warner Business College, Elmira, New York. When twenty-one years of age he began teaching in winter, which he followed for seven years, working on the farm during the summer season. In the fall of 1881 he pur- chased his present farm of 100 acres in Delmar township, one mile north of Balsam, on which he has since resided. Mr. Roblyer was married to Lina M. Wilbur, a daughter of Nelson and Melissa Wilbur, of Wayne county, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1880, and has three children: Lulu May, Carrie Estella and Harvey Lewis. The family attend the Episcopal church. Mr. Roblyer is secretary of Pomona Grange, and also a director and secretary of the Tioga County Grange Mutual Insurance Company. He is a stanch Republican, has filled the office of school director in Delmar, and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of the township.

PETER BUCKLEY, a son of John and Hannah (Decker) Buckley, was born in Oxford, Chenango county, New York, November 23, 1809, and there grew to

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manhood. In 1839 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and purchased the present Buckley farm in Delmar township. He was a carpenter and millwright, and for many years devoted a portion of his time to the construction of mills. On November 26, 1837, he married Ruth A. Bartle, a daughter of Charles Bartle, and had one son, John H., when the family moved to this county. The following children were born after their settlement here: Byron C., who died in February, 1868, aged twenty-six years; Hulda A., who died aged two years; Charles A., of Delmar township; Jerusha A., wife of Charles Copestick, of Delmar; Uriah, tele- graph operator and station agent at Minoa Station, New York, and two that died in infancy. Mr. Buckley died November 8, 1856, from an injury received while work- ing on a saw-mill. His widow resides with her son, John H., in Delmar. In early life a Democrat, he later became a Republican, and was quite active in political affairs.

JOHN H. BUCKLEY was born in Oxford, New York, June 16, 1839, eldest child of Peter Buckley, who came to Tioga county five months after our subject's birth. He was reared upon his present homestead farin, and received a good education in the common and select schools of Delmar township, and at Oxford Academy. He worked at home until the death of his father, since which time he has had charge of the farm, with the exception of the period when he was serving in the Union army. On September 21, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, and participated in the battles of James Island, Blue Springs, Campbell Station, Siege of Knoxville, Siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Jamestown and the Wil- derness, where he was wounded. He was promoted to corporal in 1863, and was discharged at Mcclellan Hospital, Philadelphia, on account of a gunshot wound in the left hip, May 8, 1865. With the exception of the four years spent in the service, Mr. Buckley taught school nineteen consecutive terms, principally in his native township. He was married March 29, 1870, to Isabel, a daughter of Charles and Isabel Copestick, of Delmar. Three children have been born to them. viz: Ruth, a student at the State Normal School, Mansfield; Charles, a graduate of that institution, and now a teacher in the Philadelphia public schools, and Florence. Politically, Mr. Buckley is a Republican, and has filled the office of auditor three terms, and that of clerk and treasurer five terms. The family attend the Presby- terian church, and Mr. Buckley is one of the most intelligent farmers in Tioga county.

ALMON BROOKS, a native of New York state, was one of the early settlers of Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He purchased a farm in Delmar township, cleared and improved it, and passed the remaining years of his life in making a home for himself and family. He married Lena Miller, who bore him the following children: Anne M., wife of D. R. Null, of Williamsport; Frank W., of Delmar; Charles M., a resident of Williamsport; Emma E., wife of Z. O. Campbell, of Wellsboro; John W., a resident of Manhattan, Tioga county; Henry D., of Delmar, and Ada M., deceased wife of Elmer E. Striker.

FRANK W. BROOKS was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, February 26, 1850, and is the eldest son of Almon and Lena Brooks. He worked at home until he was sixteen years of age, when he went to Williamsport, where he lived several years, during which period he worked in a saw-mill. He then purchased a farm on Marsh creek, Tioga county, which he sold three years later to his brother-in-law

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and went to the Manhattan tannery, where he worked as a teamster four years. He was afterwards a hostler at the same institution for eight years. In the spring of 1893 he moved to his present farm in Delmar township, which he had previously purchased and has since followed agricultural pursuits. Mr. Brooks was married in Westfield, Tioga county, May 3, 1880, to Miss Etta Davis. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, he is a Republican, and gives his support to the principles of that party.

RUSSELL LAWTON was born in Chenango county, New York, November 21, 1816, a son of Gideon and Polly (Dodge) Lawton, and grandson of Noyes and Cynthia (Rathbone) Lawton, all natives of Rhode Island. Russell was the fifth in a family of nine children, named as follows: Eliza, Thomas, Harry, Lucinda, Russell, Almira, William, Charles and Ira. The father was born November 11, 1786, and died February 13, 1841. The mother was born May 25, 1793, and died October 31, 1861. Russell was reared on a farm, obtained a common school education, and came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, about 1839. He purchased a farm in Delmar township, and followed agricultural pursuits up to his death. He married Susannah B. Hardy-born in Delmar township January 19, 1823,-a daughter of Levi and Sally (Borden) Hardy, natives of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, respectively, and early settlers of Delmar township. They were the parents of five children, viz: Levi E., who died at eleven years of age; Gilderoy H., Warren, Francis R., and Edgar, all residents of Delmar township. Mr. Lawton departed this life October 29, 1888. His widow resides with their son, Francis R.

GILDEROY H. LAWTON was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, February 20, 1843, a son of Russell Lawton, and was reared upon the homestead, and attended the common schools of his district. On August 8, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad and Hatcher's Run. He was wounded at Spottsylvania, and was honorably discharged at Elmira, New York, with the rank of corporal, June 24, 1865. Returning to Delmar township, he bought his present farm of 100 acres, and has devoted his attention to its cultiva- tion. On January 22, 1866, he married Mrs. Lydia M. Berry, nee Lawton, who had two children by her previous marriage, viz: Mary S., wife of E. E. Sherman, of Delmar, and George L., of Stony Fork. Mr. Lawton is a member of George Cook Post, G. A. R., and his wife is connected with the Woman's Relief Corps, of that post. In politics, he is a stanch Republican.

WARREN LAWTON was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, October 31, 1844, a son of Russell Lawton, was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools. On March 6, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Harbor and Siege of Petersburg, and was discharged from the service July 18, 1865. He returned to his home in Delmar township, and settled upon his present farm of 125 acres, purchased while he was in the service, and has since made farming his vocation. Mr. Lawton was married February 13, 1867, to Clarissa L. Townsend, a daughter of Jacob F. Townsend, of Delmar, and has two children: Noyes, who married Clara Lyons, and has two sons, Perley W. and Russell P .; and Clara L., wife of William A. Luddington, of Delmar township, who has one daughter,

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Clarissa M. Mrs. Lawton died April 22, 1892, aged forty-five years. Mr. Lawton is a stanch Republican, and is a member of the G. A. R., the I. O. O. F., the K. of G. E., and the P. of H.

EDGAR LAWTON, youngest son of Russell and Susannah B. Lawton, was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, January 21, 1849. He was reared on the home- stead farm, attended the district school in boyhood, and when twenty-three years of aged purchased the C. G. Osgood farm in Delmar township, which he cultivated twelve years. He then sold it and purchased his present farm of ninety acres, a half mile west of Stony Fork, upon which he has since resided. He also followed the stonemason's trade in connection with his farm duties for ten years. He makes dairy farming a specialty, keeping on an average ten cows. Mr. Lawton was mar- ried February 20, 1872, to Agnes Orr, a daughter of Thomas Orr, of Delmar, and has two sons, Thomas R. and Frank R. Mrs. Lawton is a member of the Presby- terian church, and their son, Thomas R., is connected with the Patrons of Husbandry and the I. O. O. F. In politics, Mr. Lawton is a Republican.

LEVI HARDY was one of the early settlers of Delmar township, Tioga County, where he purchased a farm about 1827. He was a native of New Hampshire, a son of Rufus and Lucy (Livermore) Hardy, natives of New England. He married Sally Borden, who became the mother of nine children, viz: Rufus, John, William, Lorenzo, Dexie, Henrietta, Annie, Susannah B., who married Russell Lawton, and Adaline. Mr. Hardy was a blacksmith, and followed his trade in connection with agriculture up to his death, September 18, 1859. His widow survived him only a few months, dying February 27, 1860.

JAMES PLAYFOOT was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1815, a son of David and Elizabeth (Day) Playfoot, and was the eighth in a family of nine children, named as follows: David, Daniel, David (2d), Sarah A., John, Martha, Elizabeth, James and Jonathan, all of whom are dead except Elizabeth and James. The mother died in 1846, and the father, in 1856. James was four years old when his parents removed from Cincinnati to New York City, where his father engaged in the milk business. He attended the public schools of that city, and when fifteen years of age came with his parents to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where his father purchased 150 acres of timber land. The family staid but a couple of months, and then went to Sullivan county, New York, where James learned the blacksmith's trade. Two years later he went to Athens, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, to which place his father had previously moved, and followed his trade there five years. After a couple of months spent at Columbia Flats, he came to Covington, Tioga county, and continued to work at his trade for three years. Returning to Athens, he followed blacksmithing for about five years, with the exception of one year spent on his father's farm, and again came to Tioga county. He worked at his trade on Pine creek a few months, in Sullivan township three years, and at Covington fourteen years. At the end of this period he purchased a farm, which he subsequently traded for his present farm in Delmar, on which he has since lived. Mr. Playfoot was married February 12, 1843, to Susan A. Chapin, who has borne him the following children: David, who died while a soldier in the Rebellion; Mary, who lives with her mother in Wellsboro; Annie, deceased; Edward J., of Delmar; William, a minister residing in Monroe county; George J., of Delmar; Charles, deceased, and Sarah, who lives in Wells-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

boro. Mr. Playfoot resides with his son Edward J., while his wife makes her home in Wellsboro with her two daughters. Both are members of the Baptist church, and in politics, he is a Republican.

EDWARD J. PLAYFOOT was born on November 24, 1849, a son of James and Susan A. Playfoot, and has made farming his life vocation. He worked in the lumber woods during the winter seasons from 1869 to 1879, since which time he has devoted his whole attention to the home farm. On April 17, 1879, he married Emma Grosjean, a daughter of Edward Grosjean, of Delmar, and has two children, Earl W. and Viva M. Mr. and Mrs. Playfoot and their son, Earl W., are members of the Baptist church, and also of the Patrons of Husbandry. In politics, he is a Republican.

CYRUS HEATH, born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1785, came to Tioga county in about 1840 and purchased a farm in Chatham township, where he followed farming and lumbering until his death, in 1857. He married Prudence Pierce, who bore him two children, Levi P. and Mary A., wife of William T. Hardin, of Wells- boro. Mrs. Heath died in 1866, aged seventy-five years.

LEVI P. HEATH, only son of Cyrus Heath, was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1822, and was eighteen years old when the family came to Tioga county. He found employment in the lumber woods on Pine creek, which business he fol- lowed two years. He then bought a farm in Chatham township, which he later traded for one in Delmar. This he afterwards sold and moved to Wellsboro, where he died in 1878. He married Harriet Amelia Humphrey, a daughter of James V. and Harriet Humphrey, of Chenango county, New York, who bore him three chil- dren, viz: Georgianna, wife of William Avery, of Delmar; Thomas J. and Frank P., both residents of the same township. Mr. Heath was an ardent Democrat, and always gave his support to that party. His widow, who was born June 2, 1833, re- sides with her son, Frank P., in Delmar township.

FRANK P. HEATH, youngest child of Levi P. Heath, was born in Delmar town- ship, Tioga county, January 30, 1869. He was reared on a farm, and was educated in the district schools of his native township and at Wellsboro High School. Since his father's death he has cared for and supported his mother, working on a farm and in the lumber woods until November, 1893, when he settled on his present farm in Delmar township. Mr. Heath was married November 15, 1893, to Miss Stella M. Bernauer, a daughter of Samuel Bernauer, of Delmar township, and has one daughter, Hazel Gertrude. In politics, he is a Republican.

AUGUSTUS BARTLE, a native of Chenango county, New York, born June 19, 1796, was a son of John Bartle, a native of Massachusetts, and the father of seventeen children, of whom Augustus was the fourth child and oldest son. He learned the stone cutter's trade in boyhood, and followed it until 1841. In that year he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and purchased the farm now owned by his son, Jacob C. He married Cynthia Buckley, a daughter of John Buckley, of Oxford, New York, who bore him ten children, viz: Augustus C., who died in 1890, in Texas; John, deceased; Jacob C., of Delmar township; Peter W., a resident of Arkansas; Hannah L., wife of George W. Williams, of Arkansas; Mary J., wife of Emanuel Impson, of Potter county; William V., who died in early youth; Emily E., widow of J. C. Wheeler, of Wellsboro; Ann A., wife of Lewis P. Hastings, and Amy

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C., wife of Floyd Taylor, both residents of Delmar township. Mr. Bartle died in 1875, and his wife, in 1891, aged ninety years.

JACOB C. BARTLE was born in Oxford, Chenango county, New York, June 29, , 1825, and lived in his native county until 1843, when he came to Tioga county, whither his father had preceded him some two years. He labored at farm work in the summer and in the lumber woods during the winter seasons, for six years. In 1849 he purchased 240 acres of land in Delmar township, but subsequently sold the greater portion of it, retaining seventy-two acres, upon which he has since lived. He operated a grist-mill on the place for twelve years, when it was burned. He then ran a mill in Charleston township for three years, at the end of which time he erected a mill upon the old site, conducted it four years, when it was again burned, and he has since devoted his whole attention to farming. Mr. Bartle was married April 6, 1848, to Eunice Bacon, a daughter of Oliver Bacon. She was born January 15, 1828, and bore him a family of seven children, viz: Henrietta H., who has been twice married, first to P. G. Lyon, by whom she had four children, and afterwards to J. T. Wortendyke, of Delmar township; Clara J., who died April 9, 1890; Eli, a resident of Shippen township; Adaline, wife of Henry J. Mitchell, of Delmar; Nellie E., wife of Wilbur F. West, of Delmar; Lottie T., wife of Charles L. Miller, of Addison, New York, and Eloise, wife of Clinton West, of Delmar township. Mrs. Bartle died September 7, 1890, aged sixty-two years. The family are adherents of the Presbyterian church, and in politics, Republicans. Mr. Bartle has been a school director for three years, and is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.

WILLIAM TAYLOR, born in Chenango county, New York, June 29, 1807, was a son of Andrew and Julia (Stephens) Taylor. His father was a native of Scotland, and his mother the first white female child born in Otsego county, New York. They were the parents of five children: William, Andrew, James, Cornelia and Martha, all of whom are dead. William was reared upon a farm, and married Caroline Webb, a daughter of James Webb, of Chenango county, New York, who bore him two children: William A., of Delmar township, and Julia A., wife of W. S. Moore, of the same township. In 1844 Mr. Taylor and family came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased the farm in Delmar township now owned by his son, William A. Here he resided until his death, June 19, 1877. His widow resides with William A. upon the old homestead.

WILLIAM A. TAYLOR, only son of William and Caroline Taylor, was born in Chenango county, New York, August 23, 1833, and was eleven years old when his parents settled in Delmar township. He attended the public schools, and also the Deerfield and Wellsboro Academies, and has since devoted his attention to agri- culture, inheriting the farm purchased by his father in 1844. He commenced teaching school when nineteen years of age, and taught for twenty winters, seven- teen of them in Delmar township. The Taylor homestead contains 150 acres, and is located one mile north of Olmsville. Mr. Taylor was married January 20, 1868, to Sarah M. Horton, a daughter of George and Harriet (Flagg) Horton. She was born June 21, 1843, and is the mother of four children, viz: Edith R., William R., Caro- line H. and George L. Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, Mr. Taylor is a Republican, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. of G. E. societies.

LORON NOBLES, retired farmer, was born in Westfield, Massachusetts, February

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11, 1812, a son of Elijah and Martha (Drake) Nobles. He was reared in his native town, and when eighteen years of age began work in a cigar factory, where he re- mained two years. For the succeeding five years he found employment in a brick- yard, and afterwards worked two years in a butt factory. He worked five years in an ax factory, and for a short time as a farm hand. In 1844 he removed from Massachusetts to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and purchased a farm of ninety-two acres in Delmar township, which he disposed of six years later and bought 100 acres in the same township. He sold the latter in 1887, and purchased his present farm, some five miles west of Wellsboro. On July 13, 1836, Mr. Nobles married Jane C. Russell, to which union were born the following children: Mary J., wife of Ira C. Wilson, of Delmar; William and George A., who enlisted in Company A, One Hun- dred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died in the service; Ella, wife of William M. Wilson, of Delmar; Daniel L., of Tioga; Julia, wife of George W. Balfour, of Antrim, and Ferdinand E., a farmer of Delmar. In politics, Mr. Nobles is a Republican, and both he and wife are members of the Baptist church, and also of the Patrons of Husbandry.

FERDINAND E. NOBLES, youngest child of Loron and Jane C. Nobles, was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, July 28, 1859, and obtained a common school education. When eighteen years of age he rented a farm, which he cultivated one year, and then went to Michigan and worked in the lumber woods for eighteen months. At the end of this time he opened a boarding house, which he carried on for a year and a half, and then returned to Tioga county. He worked for his father a short time, then purchased fifty acres of land from the latter, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In the spring of 1894 he opened a small grocery store, which he conducts in connection with his farm. Mr. Nobles was married February 19, 1890, to Lida Boyden, a daughter of Charles F. Boyden, of Delmar, and has four children: Jesse L., Bessie J., Zorado Mildred and Clara Lydia. Mrs. Nobles is a member of the Baptist church. He is connected with the P. of H., and politically, is a Republican.

GEORGE VALSING was born in Germany, July 22, 1835, a son of Martin and Anna Valsing, who immigrated from Germany to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, with their family, consisting of three children, George, Walter and Veronia, and located on the present Valsing farm in Delmar township, Here Mr. Valsing died May 14, 1855, aged forty-nine years. His wife died May 17, 1870, aged sixty years, after an illness of four years. George was seven years old when the family came to this county, and grew to manhood on the homestead farm. On November 25, 1868, he married Clara Dartt, a daughter of Russell Dartt, of Delmar township, to which union were born four children, viz: Walter, born September 1, 1872; Nellie J., March 4, 1875, a graduate of the State Normal School at Lock Haven, and a teacher by profession; Hattie, October 24, 1878, and Russell, March 30, 1881, all of whom reside with their mother on the old homestead. Mr. Valsing died January 3, 1883. He was an ardent Republican, and an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family attended that church, and Mrs. Valsing and her two oldest children are members of the Patrons of Husbandry. Walter has charge of the farm, and has proven himself a good son, and an energetic farmer.

FERDINAND T. STURMER was born in Prussia, Germany, January 10, 1803, there

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learned the harness maker's trade, which he followed in his native land up to 1836. In that year he immigrated to New York City, worked at his trade there for a short time, and then came to Manchester, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in saw-mills for eight years. At the end of this time he purchased eighty acres of land in Delmar township, and devoted his attention to farming in the summer seasons and working at his trade in Wellsboro during the winter. In 1844 he married Diana Bernauer, who became the mother of five children, viz: George, of Delmar; Mary L., deceased wife of Walter Wetherbee; Maria A., deceased wife of Edward D. Fisher; Frances, wife of Robert L. Wilson, of Delmar, and Fer- dinand, who died at the age of twenty. Mr. Sturmer died February 5, 1873, and his wife, December 13, 1887.

GEORGE STURMER, eldest child of Ferdinand T. Sturmer, was born in Shippen township, Tioga county, December 26, 1845. He was reared on a farm, attended the district school in boyhood, and worked for his parents until he was thirty-one years old. He then purchased the homestead farm from the other heirs, and operated it until 1886, when he sold the property and purchased his present farm of eighty- seven acres in Delmar township. He also owns fifty-three acres of timber land in Shippen. On June 13, 1877, Mr. Sturmer married Eliza Root, a daughter of George and Polly (Wilson) Root, of Liberty township. They are the parents of four chil- dren, viz: Ray V., deceased; Rank V., Ross M. and George E. He is a member of the P. of H., and politically, a Republican.

DANIEL FISHER was born in Germany, in 1815, a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Lininger) Fisher. He grew to manhood in his native land, and in 1837 immigrated to the United States and found employment on a farm in New Jersey for three years. He subsequently clerked in a grocery store in New York City for several months, and then removed to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he spent one year. The following year he lived in Susquehanna county, on a farm, and then came to Tioga county. After working one year as a farm hand, he purchased 100 acres of land in Delmar township, located upon it, and has since been engaged in farming and lumbering. In 1842, he married Catherine Sticklin, a daughter of Henry and Mar- garet (Grosjean) Sticklin, to which union have been born nine children, viz: Mar- garet, wife of James English, of Kansas; Edward D., of Wellsboro; Adelia, wife of Nelson Wedge, of Kansas; Carrie, deceased; Mary, wife of Frank Parks, of Delmar; Henry, who lives with his parents; Annie, wife of Lewis Deane, of Delaware county, New York; John, a farmer of Shippen township, and Albert C., at home. Mrs. Fisher is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. In politics, Mr. Fisher is a Democrat, and has filled the office of school director.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 96

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