History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 97

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

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EDWARD D. FISHER, eldest son of Daniel Fisher, was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, January 18, 1845, was reared on the homestead and obtained a com- mon school education. At the age of eighteen he began working in the lumber woods in Delmar township, which business he continued for eighteen years. He then purchased a farm in Delmar, cultivated it for eight years, and then sold it and bought his present farm of 106 acres within the borough limits. Mr. Fisher was mar- ried March 30, 1876, to Maria A. Sturmer, a daughter of Ferdinand T. and Diana (Bernauer) Sturmer, of Delmar. She died May 22, 1879, aged thirty-two years. He was again married March 5, 1883, to Corrinne West, a daughter of Luther and

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Rosalthe (Keeney) West, of Middlebury township. They have an adopted son, Harry, born June 29, 1878. Mrs. Fisher is a member of the Christian church. In politics, Mr. Fisher is a Democrat, and has served as supervisor of Delmar and as- sessor of Wellsboro.

IRA D. HOTCHKISS was born in Harpersfield, Delaware county, New York, Oc- tober 16, 1825, and is the youngest in a family of six children born to Joseph and Lydia (Davenport) Hotchkiss, only two of whom are living. The father died in 1831, aged forty-one years, and his wife, in 1875, aged eighty-three. Ira D. was reared on a farm, and obtained his education in the public school of his native town. In 1845 he came to Knoxville, Tioga county, where he was engaged as a clerk in a general store for five and a half years. He then went to Hornellsville, New York, and followed clerking for three years, at the end of which time he opened a store in Jasper, New York, where he carried on merchandising for six and a half years. Selling out he returned to Tioga county and rented a farm in Deerfield township, which he worked for six years, and then located on his father-in-law's farm in Delmar township. At the end of one year he moved to Bath, New York, to take charge of the Davenport Orphan Girls' Home farm, his wife serving as matron of that institution. They occupied these respective positions for six and a half years, and in 1872 again returned to Tioga county and purchased his present farm of sixty-seven acres, a short distance south of Wellsboro. Mr. Hotchkiss was married in 1854, to Sarah Bulkley, a daughter of George Bulkley, of Deerfield township, and has two children by that marriage: Lucy, wife of E. J. Tuttle, of Delmar, and Carrie, wife of Orrin Penfield, of Delaware county, New York. Mrs. Hotchkiss died in 1859, aged twenty-seven years. In 1864, he married Lucy Moore, a daughter of Richard Moore, of Delmar township. She is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and both she and her husband belong to the Patrons of Husbandry. In politics, Mr. Hotchkiss is a Republican, and has filled the offices of assessor and auditor of Delmar township.

DARIUS B. FORD, a native of Smithfield township, Bradford county, Pennsyl- vania, born July 8, 1827, came to Tioga county in 1845, and purchased the present Ford farm in Delmar township. He cleared and improved this property, and de- voted the balance of his life to farming and lumbering. Mr. Ford was married May 5, 1850, to Sarah A. Symonds, born on January 29, 1831. Six children were the fruits of this union, named as follows: Laurena M., Caroline G., wife of Charles W. Fuller, of Charleston township; Emeline L., wife of Hiram Tomb, of Delmar; Cassius M. and Elmer E., both residents of Delmar, and Clara S., wife of Lee English, of the same township. Mrs. Ford died March 15, 1882, and her husband, November 7, 1889.

CASSIUS M. FORD, second son of Darius B. Ford, was born in Delmar town- ship, Tioga county, April 16, 1859, and has spent his entire life upon the home- stead farm, where he has devoted his attention to agriculture. He married Addie Dibble, a daughter of Calvin Dibble, October 27, 1877. Mr. Ford is a Republican, in politics, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Patrons of Husbandry.

VINE BALDWIN was born near Athens, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, in 1784, the first white male child born in that locality. He was a son of Thomas and a grand- son of Isaac Baldwin, pioneers of Bradford county. He married Sarah Burt, of

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Chemung county, New York, who bore him seven children, as follows: Thomas, a resident of Troy, Bradford county; Vine H. and Robert C., both deceased; Mrs. Martha Kress, deceased; Mrs. Mary Pickering, deceased; Miles C., of Chemung county, New York, and Morgan. In 1834 Mr. Baldwin came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and bought a large tract of land on the "Big Marsh," now the site of Stokesdale, but after a few years' residence here he moved to Chemung county, New York, where he died in 1872.

VINE H. BALDWIN was born in Ridgebury township, Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, in 1815, second son of Vine Baldwin. He was reared on a farm, and ob- tained a common school education. In 1847 he came to Tioga county and purchased eighty acres of land in Delmar township, to which he subsequently added by other purchases until he owned 365 acres. On May 27, 1853, Mr. Baldwin married Cynthia D. Boyden, a daughter of Addison Boyden, of Canada, to which marriage were born five children, viz: Thomas, a farmer of Delmar township; Charlotte, who died November 17, 1883; Rosette, wife of Eugene English, of Shippen; Alfred M., of Delmar, and Charles V., of the same township. Mr. Baldwin filled the offices of overseer of the poor and supervisor, and in politics, was a Republican. He died May 3 1887, and his wife, November 9, 1890.

ALFRED M. BALDWIN was born upon the present homestead farm, in Delmar township, Tioga county, July 4, 1864, a son of Vine H. Baldwin. He attended the district school, and when twenty-one years of age took charge of a farm in Delmar township given him by his father, where he has since lived. On December 17, 1887, he married Ella Ainsley, a daughter of Marvin Ainsley, of Potter county. In politics, Mr. Baldwin is a Republican.

JOSEPH MITCHELL was born in Yorkshire, England, December 24, 1832, a son of James and Martha (Driver) Mitchell, natives of Scotland and England, respectively. James Mitchell was a miner by occupation, and was a foreman of inines in England and Nova Scotia during the greater portion of his life. He was the father of the following children: Robert, William, Jeremiah, James S. and Charles, all of whom are dead; Henry, a retired mine owner of Nova Scotia; Grace and Thomas, both deceased, and Joseph, of Delmar. Mr. Mitchell died in Nova Scotia, aged fifty years. His widow came to the United States with her three sons, Henry, Thomas and Joseph, and located in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, whence they removed one year later to Blossburg, Tioga county, where the sons found employment in the mines. She died at the home of her son Joseph, in Delmar town- ship, aged ninety-three years. The subject of this sketch was fifteen years old when his mother came to Pennsylvania. He worked in the mines near Blossburg four years, and later five years in the mines at Morris Run. He then moved to Liberty township, purchased a farm, and lived upon it ten years. Selling out, he bought coal lands in Morris township, now known as the "Mitchell Mines," and operated them for twelve years, at the end of which time he sold the property and bought his present farm in Delmar township, on which he has since resided. Mr. Mitchell was married July 15, 1854, to Sarah Langwith, a daughter of Henry Lang- with, of Nova Scotia, who has borne him seven children, viz: Henry J., of Delmar township; Martha, who died at the age of four years; Grace, wife of Ford Kings- bury, of Hoytville; Jennie, wife of William Shaw, of Elmira, New York; Annie,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Sadie and Elizabeth, all of whom live with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell and their three youngest daughters, are members of the Patrons of Husbandry, and in politics, the family is strongly Republican.

HENRY J. MITCHELL, eldest child of Joseph Mitchell, was born in Morris Run, Tioga county, May 4, 1855, and was reared beneath the parental roof. From the age of twelve years he worked in his father's mines in Morris township, at which business he continued until he was twenty-four. He later conducted a hotel at Sand Run, Tioga county, for two years, and then purchased a farm on East Hill, Delmar town- ship, which he cultivated five years. At the end of this time he sold out and bought his present farm, which originally embraced 172 acres, off which he has since sold seventy-two acres, leaving 100 acres of well-improved land, to which he has recently added thirty-one acres. He makes a specialty of dairy farming, keeping about six- teen cows. Mr. Mitchell was married July 29, 1879, to Adaline Bartle, a daughter of J. C. Bartle, of Delmar township, and has three children, viz: Martha, Harry B. and Eunice. Mrs. Mitchell is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics, Mr. Mitchell is an ardent Republican, and has been assistant assessor of Delmar one term. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and he and his wife are members of the Daughters of Rebekah, and also of Stony Fork Grange, No. 1033, P. of H. They have always taken a deep interest in the growth and progress of Pomona Grange.

AUGUSTUS P. AND CHARLES KREISLER were natives of Bremen, Germany. The former came to the United States alone and located in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, purchasing the present Kreisler farm in Delmar township. Charles came out a few years later to visit his brother, and concluded to remain here. He married Martha Putman, a daughter of John Putman. She was born August 22, 1828, and became the mother of six children, as follows: William A., a lumberman on Marsh creek; Andrew J., a farmer in Nebraska; Eliza, deceased; Elias E., of Delmar; Nettie M., wife of William Vandergrift, and Franklin L. Charles Kreisler died in 1867, and his widow married his brother, Augustus P., who died April 6, 1884. Mrs. Kreisler lives with her son, Elias E., on the old homestead.

ELIAS E. KREISLER was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, September 10, 1854, a son of Charles and Martha Kreisler. He was reared on the farm, and attended the common schools of his district. Since the death of his step-father, Augustus P. Kreisler, he has owned and cultivated the homestead, which embraces eighty-seven acres. On October 28, 1885, he married Mary J. Bartle, a daughter of Ransford D. and Cordelia Bartle, and has two children, Della A. and Otto R. Mr. and Mrs. Kreisler are members of the Patrons of Husbandry, and he is also connected with the I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM STATTS was born in Darmstadt, Germany, June 21, 1799, there grew to manhood and married Maria Doahvengen. In 1841 he immigrated with his family to Baltimore, Maryland, where he worked as a laborer seven or eight years, at. the end of which period he came to Shippen township, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and worked in the saw-mills for about fifteen years. He then removed to Delmar township, and made his home with his children until his death, May 2, 1870. To William and Maria Statts were born the following children: Johann, a resident of Richmond, Virginia; Margaret, deceased; John, of Delmar township; Henry W., of

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the same township; Anna K., and James, both deceased. Mrs. Statts died November 7, 1885, aged eighty-six years.

JOHN STATTS, eldest son of William Statts, was born in Germany, February 28, 1825, and came with his parents to Tioga county. He worked in saw-mills for fifteen years, during which time he bought his present farm of ninety-two acres, four miles west of Wellsboro. The land was then covered by the primitive forest, but by hard and diligent labor he has converted it into a fertile farm. In 1852 Mr. Statts married Mary Smith, and has reared three children, viz: Margaret, de- ceased wife of Charles Balfour; William A., who lives on the home farm, and Mary, wife of Joseph E. Fishler, of Delmar. Mr. Statts is a member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife is an adherent of the Catholic church. Politically, he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM A. STATTS, only son of John Statts, and grandson of William Statts, was born in Shippen township, Tioga county, May 6, 1854. He attended the com- mon schools of this county, and has spent his entire life with his parents on the home farm. He was married September 28, 1875, to Anna Rosette Fischler, a daughter of John Fischler, of Delmar township. Six children have blessed this union, viz: Laura M., John W., Edward Lloyd, William Leon, deceased; Albert Joseph and Leo Leonard. The family are members of the Catholic church. In politics, Mr. Statts is a Democrat, and has served as clerk of Delmar for three terms.

HENRY W. STATTS was born in Germany, March 29, 1831, and came to Balti- more, Maryland, with his parents when about nine years old, and subsequently to Shippen township, Tioga county, where he worked in the saw-mills of that locality for eight years. He afterwards came to Delmar township, bought twenty aeres of land on the Pine Creek road, and began farming. In 1884 he purchased his present farin of sixty-seven acres, on the Stowell road, four miles west of Wellsboro. Mr. Statts was married October 15, 1853, to Maria E. Kiphart, who has borne him four children, viz: Annie I., who died June 13, 1862; Carrie Viola, wife of M. W. Carpenter, of Cedar Run, Lycoming county; Rose who died in infancy, and Maud Ellen, a student at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, Lima, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Statts are members of the Presbyterian church, and in politics he is a Democrat.

ALLEN WEBSTER, a native of Massachusetts, born November 22, 1805, came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, about 1825, and purchased a farm in Sullivan township, where he resided until his death. He was twice married. His first wife, Thanks Norton, was born September 5, 1806, and bore him six children, viz: Alvin N., of Delmar township; Solomon, deceased; James D., a farmer in Shippen township; Triphena, wife of Noah Bradway, of Richinond township; William, a farmer of Sul- livan, and Ellen, deceased. His second wife was Laura Tinkham, who became the mother of three children, viz: Rhoda, Orso and Berdett, all residents of Sullivan township. Mrs. Webster died upon the homestead in that township.

ALVIN N. WEBSTER, eldest child of Allen and Thanks (Norton) Webster, was born in Sullivan township, Tioga county, April 5, 1829, was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty-one he began working out as a farm hand and in the lumber woods, which he followed one year. In 1851 he purchased his present farm in Delmar township, of 103 acres, then covered with the primitive forest, which he has since cleared and improved, devoting his entire

David Gorrie

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attention to agriculture. On July 8, 1856, he married Esther M. Wooster, a daughter of Moses Wooster, of Chenango county, New York. She was born March 8, 1832, and is the mother of four children, viz: Ellen E., deceased; Violetta, wife of Luther Walbridge, of Delmar; Carrie M., wife of Arthur Stratton, of Niles Valley, and Sarah L., wife of William F. Gitchell. Mr. Webster and wife are members of the Baptist church, and politically, he is a Republican.

JAMES OLMSTEAD, a native of Ireland, came to the United States in early man- hood, and learned the blacksmith's trade, in which business he became quite pro- ficient. He worked for many years at Milltown, near Waverly, New York, and came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1865. He purchased a farm near Wellsboro, upon which he passed the remaining years of his life. Mr. Olmstead was the father of five children, viz: Henry, a resident of Great Bend, New York; Stephen, deccased; Ashmond, a resident of Sayre, Bradford county; Jane, widow of George Ayres, of Sayre, and Clement P. He also reared two adopted daughters, viz: Mrs. Kate Denmark, of Wellsboro, and Mrs. Sarah Russell, of Delmar.

CLEMENT P. OLMSTEAD was born at Milltown, near Waverly, New York, in 1824, there grew to manhood, and in 1852 purchased the present Olmstead farm of 120 acres in Delmar township, Tioga county, upon which he settled the same year. Some years later he lost his mind, and in 1876 wandered away from home and never returned. It is supposed that he died in the dense forest then covering this portion of the county. He married Sarah J. Townsend, who reared three children, Jacob R., Francis H. and Charles E., all farmers of Delmar township. Mrs. Olmstead resides with her son, Jacob R., on the old homestead.

JACOB R. OLMSTEAD, eldest child of Clement P. and Sarah J. Olmstead, was born in Delmar township, Tioga county, September 24, 1855. From the age of seven to fourteen years he worked out for his board and clothes, and had very little advantage to obtain an education. When fourteen years old, he commenced working as a farm hand in summer and in the lumber woods during the winter seasons, which he followed until 1881. He then rented a farm, which he cultivated four years. In 1885 he and his brother, Charles E., bought his present farm, but in 1889 he pur- chased his brother's interest. This is the same property owned by his father, which had passed out of the family's possession. Mr. Olmstead was married February 2, 1887, to Olive V. Stradley, a daughter of Archibald T. Stradley, of Lycoming county. They have four children, Lealon C., Cleovia J., and Gail A. and Gladys L., twins. Politically, Mr. Olmstead is a Republican.

RANSFORD D. BARTLE was born in Chenango county, New York, February 20, 1832, a son of John W. and Arvilla (Hill) Bartle. His father was born in Che- nango county, January 28, 1804, a son of David Bartle, and married Arvilla Hill, a daughter of Chauncey Hill, in 1831. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Ransford D., of Delmar township; Erwin D., who resided on the old home- stead in Chenango county, until his death, January 29, 1896; John S., deceased; David W., who died at Oxford, New York, February 3, 1897, and Newton D., a resi- dent of Guilford, Chenango county. The father died November 7, 1871, and the mother, October 14, 1890, aged seventy-eight years. Ransford D. was reared on a farm, and worked at home until he was twenty years old. In 1852 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, purchased a farm in Covington township, and culti-

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vated it eight years. He then sold it and came to Delmar township, where he pur- chased his present farm of 156 acres, on which he has since resided. Mr. Bartle was married June 22, 1854, to Cordelia Allen, a daughter of Thomas and Deborah (Walker) Allen, of Cazenovia, New York. Ten children have been born to this union, viz: Sophia A., wife of Edwin Campbell, of Delmar; Sarah Phinnie, wife of William Campbell, of the same township; Carrie D., deceased wife of William B. Eberenz; Thomas W., a miller at Stony Fork; Mary J., wife of Elias Kreisler, of Delmar; Alanson F., Birdie A., Arthur S., who married Isabel Copestick, a daughter of Charles Copestick, and Earl L., all of whom reside at home, and Lewis V., who died February 2, 1892, in his twelfth year. Mr. Bartle is a stanch Democrat, and one of the progressive farmers of Delmar.

LEWIS P. HASTINGS was born in Smithville, Chenango county, New York, May 2, 1833, a son of William P. and Diana (Johnson) Hastings. He is the youngest in the family of seven children, named as follows: Sarah A., Clarinda and John S., all of whom are dead; Elizabeth, widow of Lucius Campbell, of Stony Fork; Edward, deceased; Catherine, wife of C. E. Whitman, of Oswego, New York, and Lewis P. The subject of this sketch obtained a good common school education, and came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, when nineteen years of age. After working nine years as a farm hand, he bought his present farm of eighty acres in Delmar township, where he has since devoted his attention to farming. Mr. Hastings married Ann Augusta Bartle, a daughter of Angus Bartle, of Delmar township, and has three children, viz: Elva D., Fred B. and Charles L., all residents of Delmar. In politics, Mr. Hastings is a Democrat, and is also a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.

PATRICK H. SCANLIN was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1832, a son of Thomas and Mary (Hennessy) Scanlin, natives of Ireland. Patrick is the third in a family of five children, viz: John, a resident of Bradford county; Annie, who died when six years old; Patrick H., of Delmar township; Thomas, who lives in Bradford county, and Mary, wife of James Hyde, of Sullivan county. Both the parents are deceased. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, attended the public schools of his native county, and when twenty-one years of age came to Tioga county and worked in the lumber woods five years. He then purchased his present farm of 160 acres in Delmar township, on which he has since lived. Mr. Scanlin was married February 1, 1861, to Ellen Johnson, a daughter of Abraham and Maryett Johnson, of Delmar township. Six children are the fruits of this marriage, named as follows: Charles, who married Dela Marshall, and lives in Wellsboro; Thomas, Mary, Annie, John, who died March 17, 1895, and Daniel, the last two being twins. Mr. Scanlin is a stanch Republican, and one of the sub- stantial farmers of his township.

SYLVANUS MOORE was born in McDonough, Chenango county, New York, June 7, 1812, a son of Sylvanus Moore, a native of Connecticut, who came to Che- nango county in early manhood, where he followed farming and was also agent for the Ludlow Land Company. He was twice married, and reared quite a large family, only five of whom are living. The parents died in New York state. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, and attended the common schools of his native county. He followed farming and lumbering there until 1854, when he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and purchased the farm in Delmar township on which

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his son, William S., now resides. He married Mary D. Wilcox, a daughter of Simon and Anna Wilcox, to which union were born eight children, viz: Charlotte, widow of J. S. Coles; Henry, deceased; William S., of Delmar; Louisa, wife of Frank Dodge, of Elmer, Potter county; Uriah B., deceased; Adelbert, of Delmar; Emeline, deceased, and Herman S., a resident of Elmer, Potter county. Mrs. Moore died July 24, 1878, aged sixty-nine years. Her husband died March 27, 1895, in Outa- gamie county, Wisconsin.

WILLIAM S. MOORE was born in McDonough, Chenango county, New York, April 18, 1838, was reared upon the farm in his native county, and received his education in the common schools. He was sixteen years old when his parents located in Delmar township, Tioga county, and he remained at home assisting in the duties of the farm until his majority. He then began working in a saw-mill on Pine creek, but at the end of six months took a lumber job and rafted the lumber down Pine creek and the Susquehanna to Columbia, which business he followed two years. He then purchased 400 acres of timber land in Delmar town- ship, and devoted four years to clearing and improving it, still continuing in the lumber business. In 1867 he moved on his present farm, once owned by his father, on which he has since resided. In 1865 he mar- ried Julia Adelaide Taylor, a daughter of William and Caroline (Webb) Taylor, of Delmar, and has two children, viz: Wilburn T., born December 26, 1867, who married Hulda Devowl, and has four children: Carl, Asyrius, Cleris and an in- fant daughter; and Marian, who married Alfred Walbridge, had two children, Marian and Florence, and died May 3, 1892. Mr. Moore and son are members of the I. O. O. F., and in politics, adherents of the Republican party.

JOHN FISCHLER was born in Germany, in 1832, a son of Joseph and Margaret (Hoagg) Fischler. He attended the public schools of his native land, and in 1854, when twenty-two years old, immigrated to the United States, coming soon after- wards to Wellsboro, Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He worked on a farm for Samuel Dickinson one season, and then went to Charleston township, where he worked for James Kelley seven years. In 1862 he purchased his present farm of 112 acres, four miles west of Wellsboro, which he cleared and improved and upon which he has since lived. In 1856 Mr. Fischler married Wilhelmina Kohler, who is the mother of the following children: Anna R., wife of W. A. Statts, of Delmar; Lena, wife of Lewis B. Smith, of Delmar; Joseph E., a farmer in the same township; Louisa, wife of Joseph Glass, of Wellsboro; Sarah, wife of Daniel McCarty, of the same place; Maggie, wife of Otto Martz, also a resident of Wellsboro; Samuel and Mary, both living at home. The family are members of the Catholic church, and in politics, adherents of the Democratic party.

AVERY KENNEDY, a son of Alexander and Catherine (Brown) Kennedy, was born in Vermont, in 1800. He was reared on a farm, and made farming his life vo- cation, first locating in Springfield township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, whence he came to Tioga county about 1856. He purchased a farm in Delmar township, upon which he resided until his death, in 1870. He was a local preacher in the Free Will Baptist church, and preached the gospel in Bradford and Tioga counties. Mr. Kennedy was twice married. His first wife, Julia A. Wilcox, was the mother of seven children, viz: Philura and Mary A., both deceased; Avery J., of

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 97

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