History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 98

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

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Delmar; Daniel and Evelyn, both deceased; Alexander A., a resident of Minnesota, and Samuel W., of Delmar. His second wife was Axey Hugg, who bore him eight children, viz: Stephen F., of Wellsboro; Russell, of Middlebury; Olive, wife of Robert Francis, of Shippen; William, deceased; Lydia, wife of Dickison Francis, of Delmar; Hosea, of the same township; Jennie, wife of Thomas Ashley, and Letitia, wife of Frank Kennedy, both residents of Delmar.

SAMUEL W. KENNEDY, youngest child of Avery and Julia A. (Wilcox) Kennedy, was born in Springfield township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, February 28, 1834. He followed farming in his native county until the removal of the family to Delmar township, Tioga county, where he subsequently purchased his present farm of 132 acres, upon which he located in 1866. In 1855 he married Emma E. Wright, a daughter of James Wright, of Rutland township, Tioga county. She was born January 20, 1838, and is the mother of five children, viz: Charles E., a farmer of Shippen township; Amanda F., wife of Willard Ashley, of Shippen; Fannie M., wife of Isaac B. Horton, of Delmar; Lewis W., who was born July 31, 1862, pur- chased the homestead from his father in 1893, and has since cultivated it, and Delia M., who lives at home. Mrs. Kennedy is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both she and husband, also their son, Lewis W., are connected with the Patrons of Husbandry. In politics, the family are adherents of the Democratic party.

CHARLES GOODREAU was born in St. Hyacinthe, Canada, March 22, 1818, a son of Charles and Mary (Labeaux) Goodreau, and the eldest of a family of five children. When nineteen years of age he went to Saratoga county, New York, and followed farming some fifteen years. He then removed to Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the lumber business some years, and afterwards operated a tannery at Canton, Bradford county, from 1849 to 1852. In 1856 he came to Tioga county and located at Wellsboro, but three years later bought his present farm in Delmar township, where he has since devoted his attention to agriculture, with the exception of a short time that he owned and operated a saw-mill at Stony Fork. Mr. Goodreau was married June 9, 1875, to Maggie Kennedy, a daughter of George W. Kennedy, of Delmar. Five children are the fruits of this union, viz: William L., born October 6, 1876; Mary L., September 9, 1878; Charles L., Sep- tember 13, 1880; Mortimer E., November 19, 1882, and Rex E., February 9, 1886. Mrs. Goodreau and children are connected with the Baptist church, and also with the Patrons of Husbandry. Politically, the family is Democratic.

SIMON GROSS, a native of Connecticut, born in 1782, came from Chenango county, New York, to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1840. He was a shoemaker, but followed farming in this county for two years, then removed to Potter county, purchased a farm, and was accidentally killed in 1848. He married Clarissa Starkey, who bore him nine children, viz: Abraham, Lucy, Currency, Morilla, Loduskey, Angeline (all of whom are dead), California, Ersula and William S. Mrs.Gross died in 1839, aged sixty years, and he subsequently married Julia E. Taylor, but had no issue by this marriage.

WILLIAM S. GROSS was born in Oxford, Chenango county, New York, May 11, 1825, and was fifteen years old when his parents came to Tioga county. Two years later he went with them to Potter county, where he followed farming up to 1857,

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when he sold his property and bought a farm in Shippen township, Tioga county, on which he lived three years. He then sold it and purchased his present home- stead in Delmar township, where he has devoted his attention to farming and the carpenter's trade, which he learned in early manhood. In 1847 he married Martha Taylor, who bore him three children, viz: William D., a blacksmith and farmer of Delmar; John D., a merchant, and Martha C. Mrs. Gross died in April, 1862, aged thirty-three years. In September, 1863, he married Julia E. Kennedy, and has two children by this union: Hiram A., of Delmar, and Emma, wife of Avery Francis, of Delmar. Mr. and Mrs. Gross are members of the Free Will Baptist church, and in politics, he is a Republican.

WILLIAM D. GROSS was born in Potter county, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1850, and followed farming until he was twenty-five years of age. He then learned the blacksmith's trade, to which he devotes his principal attention, though he also gives some attention to agriculture. He is the owner of two farms in Delmar township.

HIRAM A. GROSS was born in Shippen township, Tioga county, September 4, 1863, a son of William S. and Julia E. Gross. He has followed farming and lum- bering the greater portion of his life. On September 28, 1885, he married Rosa Francis, a daughter of Robert Francis, of Shippen township, and has two children, Samuel L. and Robert W. Mrs. Gross is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics, Mr. Gross is a Republican, and is also a member of the K. of G. E. He resides on the old homestead with his parents.

LUCIUS L. RUSSELL was born in Hector, Tompkins county, New York, August 14, 1819, a son of Elijah and Esther (Austin) Russell. He obtained a common school education, and learned the carpenter's trade with his father, which he fol- lowed in New York until 1858. In that year he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and purchased 100 acres of land two miles west of Wellsboro, upon which he settled and resided until his death, November 11, 1872. He followed his trade in connec- tion with agriculture throughout his residence in this county. Prior to his settle- ment in Tioga county, he was superintendent of the public schools in Catlin, Che- mung county, New York. Mr. Russell was married October 23, 1845, to Ann E. Morse, a daughter of Barak Morse, of Broome county, New York. She was born January 20, 1825, in Tully, Onondaga county, New York, and is the mother of seven children, viz: William O., of Wellsboro; Alice A., wife of Thomas D. Marsh, of the same borough; Kate E., wife of Henry Grosjean, of Stokesdale Junction; John M., of Delmar; Hattie U., wife of Edwin Matson, Jr., of Marsh Creek; Lucius L., of Delmar, and George M., of the same township. Mr. Russell was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which denomination his widow also belongs. She resides in Wellsboro.

JOHN M. RUSSELL, son of Lucius L. Russell, was born in Catlin, Chemung county, New York, July 17, 1853, received a common school education, and grew to manhood on the homestead farm. When twenty years of age he began working in the lumber woods on Marsh creek, at which he continued five years. He then bought two tracts of timber land on Heise run, and was in the lumber business up to 1889, when he rented the Edwin Matson, Sr., farm, and has since cultivated it. On April 25, 1877, Mr. Russell married Marian C. Derbyshire, a daughter of William T. Derbyshire, of Delmar township, to which union have been born four children, viz:

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Harry H., Kate E., Charles F. and Lura D. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are members of the Protestant Episcopal church. In politics, he is a Republican, and is connected with the I. O. O. F.

ROBERT ORR, a native of Wigtonshire, Scotland, born in 1807, and a son of James and Catherine (Kenmure) Orr, was reared and educated in his native land, and there learned the weaver's trade. In 1828 he immigrated to New York City, where he worked at his trade a few years, and then removed to Onondaga county, New York. He continued working at his trade in that county up to 1849, in which year he removed to Wyoming county, where he spent ten years, only part of the time following his trade. In 1859 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and rented a farm one mile south of Wellsboro, in Delmar township, which he cultivated for two years. He then bought a farm adjoining that now owned by Thomas J. Orr, on which he passed the remaining years of his life, dying in September, 1891. He married Delia Cook, and to them were born four children, viz: Catherine, wife of W. E. Tyler, of Minnesota; Thomas J., of Delmar; Robert S., who was killed before Petersburg, September 9, 1864, while serving in the Union army, and Alice, deceased wife of A. C. Mack. Mrs. Orr died in 1887, aged seventy-nine years.

THOMAS J. ORR, only living son of Robert Orr, was born in Onondaga county, New York, May 2, 1842, and was educated in that county and Wyoming county. When seventeen years old he came to Tioga county with his parents, and worked on the homestead farm up to 1885, when he purchased his present property of 217 acres, a short distance northwest of Stony Fork, where he makes a specialty of dairy farming, usually keeping twenty-five cows. Mr. Orr was married March 8, 1864, to Ruth Willard, a daughter of Joseph Willard, of Delmar township, and has three children, viz: Robert J., Kate E. and Neva A. A daughter of his deceased sister Mrs. Mack, Laura D., also lives with them. Mr. Orr is a stanch Democrat, is a member of the K. of G. E., and both he and wife are connected with the Patrons of Husbandry. He is one of the substantial and progressive farmers of his township.

REUBEN HERRINGTON, a native of Owego, Tioga county, New York, born in 1785, came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1821, and located on Pine creek, in what is now Shippen township, where he followed lumbering and farming. He married Eunice Ellis, who bore him nine children, five of whom are living, viz: Jacob, a resident of Potter county; Sally A., wife of C. L. Carsaw; Charles, of Delmar; Deroy, who lives upon the old homestead in Shippen township, and Har- riet, wife of J. T. Purvis, of Niles Valley. Mr. Herrington died in 1861, and his wife in 1866.

CHARLES HERRINGTON, second son of Reuben Herrington, was born in Shippen township, Tioga county, December 23, 1821, was reared upon the home- stead, and obtained a good education in the district schools and at Wellsboro Academy. When twenty-one years of age he opened a store near Gaines, in Potter county, but one year later removed to Middlebury, Tioga county, where he continued merchandising four years, when the store was burned. He had also followed lum- bering in Potter county, which business he continued up to 1859, when he pur- chased his present farm in Delmar township. Mr. Herrington was married in 1849, to Sarah J., a daughter of John Mathers, who has borne him seven children, viz:

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William M., a traveling salesman; Charles L., deceased; Happy, wife of Edward Bryden, of Wellsboro; Sadie, John P., Carrie, and Jennie, wife of Dr. Charles Main, of Clearfield county. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, adherents of the Republican party.

JOHN BURNETT was born in Ontario county, New York, April 18, 1821, a son of Frederick and Rachel (Wooden) Burnett, the former a son of Major Burnett, a Revolutionary soldier. John was the fifth in a family of nine children, named as follows: James, a resident of Orleans county, New York; Patrick and Lucelia, both deceased; Abigail, wife of Milo Bronson, of Brockport, New York; John, of Delmar township; Albert, Elizabeth and Louisa, all deceased, and Clinton, a farmer near Brockport. The father died in 1831, and the mother in 1854. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and came to Tioga county in the winter of 1859, prior to which time he had worked in a foundry. He rented a farm in Delmar township, and for the following seven years continued to cultivate rented farms on shares. He afterwards kept a boarding house at Blossburg one year, and ran a saw- mill at Tiadaghton the following year. In May, 1868, he purchased his present farm of ninety-three acres in Delmar township, and has since devoted his attention to its cultivation. Mr. Burnett was married in January, 1845, to Delia A. Sears, a daughter of Leonard Sears, of Brockport, New York, who died May 15, 1893, leaving a family of four children, as follows: Franklin A., who lives at home; George F., a merchant and real estate dealer at Galeton; Viola, wife of Edward D. Crippen, and Louisa, wife of Jay Crippen, both residing in Galeton. In politics, the family support the Republican party.

HARRY DANIELS WHEELER was born in Oxford township, Chenango county, New York, June 20, 1839, a son of Harry D. and Lucina (Race) Wheeler, natives of New York and Massachusetts, respectively, and of English, Irish and German an- cestry. His father was born in Chenango county, New York, in 1800, was a car- penter, and died in his native town in 1850. His mother died in June, 1892, aged eighty-six years. The subject of this sketch went to work for a farmer in Coventry, Chenango county, when fourteen years of age, and remained with him until he was twenty-one. In 1860 he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and located at Stony Fork, in Delmar township, and engaged in lumbering. In 1864 he purchased thirty- five acres of land in Delmar, upon which he settled in 1866. He continued in the lumber business until 1875, when he went to Wellsboro as a clerk in the grocery store of his brother, J. C. Wheeler and C. L. Wilcox, with whom he remained two and a half years. He subsequently traveled three years on the road selling cigars and tobaccoes for Thorn Brothers, of Binghamton, New York, and afterwards filled a similar position with George A. Kent & Company, of the same city. Returning to his farm in Delmar, he was soon after appointed collector of the township, and served ten years, and later served nine years as constable. In the fall of 1888 he was elected, on the Democratic ticket, a county commissioner, served three years in that office, and has since given his attention to farming. He purchased his present farm of 120 acres in 1874. Mr. Wheeler was married June 16, 1864, to Ruth E. Horton, of Green township, Chenango county, New York, who bore him five children, viz: Edward M., Ruth E., Lucina, Arthur B and Grace M. Mrs. Wheeler died December. 4, 1882, and he was again married September 2, 1885, to

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Ida T. Butler, of Delmar township, who is the mother of one child, Bertha. Mrs. Wheeler is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both she and her husband are connected with the P. of H. In politics, he is an unswerving Democrat.

THOMAS ORR was born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, August 12, 1812, a son of James and Catherine (Kenmure) Orr, the former a sailor by occupation. Thomas was educated in the common schools of his native country, and there learned the stonemason's trade. In September, 1851, he immigrated to Arcade, Wyoming county, New York, where he worked at his trade until April, 1865, when he came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and purchased a farm in Delmar township, upon which his son Charles now resides. He followed farming there until 1888, when he re- tired and bought his present home at Stony Fork, where he and his wife are passing their declining years in peace and comfort. Mr. Orr was married January 25, 1842, to Charlotte McLees, a native of Scotland. They are the parents of nine children, viz: Elizabeth J., Sarah, Charles, Charlotte, Agnes, Mary A., Margaret, Maria and Isabel. Mr. Orr and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and in politics, he is a Republican. He has served three years as a school director, and has always taken a deep interest in educational matters.

CHARLES ORR was born in Scotland, February 11, 1847, and is the only son of Thomas and Charlotte Orr. He was in his fifth year when the family came to the United States, and he obtained his education in the common schools of Wyoming county, New York. He learned the carriagemaker's trade, but after the family came to Tioga county, he worked upon the farm in Delmar township. In 1870-71, he worked at his trade, and in 1875 purchased his present farm from his father, and has since devoted his attention to agriculture. Mr. Orr was married December 15, 1871, to Mary A. Symonds, a daughter of Job W. Symonds, of Delmar town- ship, to which union have been born six children, viz: Harry E., William M., Charles T., Grace C., deceased; Ella M. and Charlotte S. Mr. Orr is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics, a Republican. He has served as a school director for the past fifteen years. He makes dairy farming a specialty, keeping twenty-five cows, the product from which he sells to Stony Fork Creamery Company, in which he is a stockholder and director.

JOHN M. GENTRY, physician and surgeon, of Stony Fork, was born in Green county, Virginia, February 26, 1843, a son of John and Caroline (Douglass) Gentry, and of English and Scotch extracation. His father was born in Virginia, in 1812, was a farmer by occupation, and died in June, 1888. His mother, born in 1813, lives with a son on the old homestead farm in Virginia. John M. was reared on the homestead, and was educated in the public schools of his native county. He came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1869, and in 1872 purchased a farm in Delmar township, upon which he worked until 1881. He then commenced the study of medicine with Dr. C. W. Webb, of Wellsboro, attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from that institution in the spring of 1884. He then sold his farm, and commenced practice at Stony Fork in June, 1884, which he has successfully continued up to the present. Dr. Gentry was married July 13, 1869, to Miss Emma Herrington, a daughter of George W. Herrington, of Shippen township, and has two children, E. Blanche and George

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W. Dr. Gentry is the only physician in Delmar township outside of Wellsboro, and enjoys a lucrative practice.

SAMUEL NAVIL was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1831, a son of John and Rebecca (Kline) Navil. His father was born in Lycoming county, in 1808, and was twice married. By his first wife, Rebecca Kline, he reared five chil- dren, viz: Jacob, of Lycoming; George, of Wellsboro; Samnel, of Delmar, Andrew, who lives in Lycoming county, and Rebecca, deceased. His second wife was Elizabeth Gamell, who bore him the following children: Emily, James, who was killed in the Civil war; Ellen, Albert, Robert, who was killed in the war; Elizabeth, John, Philip, Harriet and Mary. Samuel received a common school education, and when twenty-one years old began farming on shares, which he continued up to 1872. In that year he came to Tioga county and purchased a farm in Delmar town- ship on which he has since lived. In 1851 he married Anna Eliza Bevier, of Lycoming county, and has three children: Hannah E., wife of Daniel Horton, of Delmar; Orrin J., and Lois A., wife of Lorenzo Tomb, of Delmar. Mrs. Navil is a member of the Free Will Baptist church, and both she and Mr. Navil are con- nected with the Patrons of Husbandry. In politics, he is a Democrat.

ORRIN J. NAVIL, only son of Samuel Navil, was born in Cummings town- ship, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1854. He obtained a common school education, and when twenty-one years old purchased sixty-one acres of tim- ber land, in partnership with E. J. Playfoot, from which they sold the bark. He then rented a farm in Delmar, which he cultivated three years, and later carried on a grocery store at Kennedy five years. He afterwards conducted a restaurant at Westfield one year, then returned to Kennedy, where he resumed the grocery busi- ness, in which he continued three years. In 1890 he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, and has since devoted his attention to farming. On November 3, 1876, he married Marian Grosjean, a daughter of Edward Grosjean, of Delmar. Mr. Navil was postmaster at Kennedy from 1881 to 1892. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of G. E., and the P. of H.

ROBERT B. WILSON was born in Harford county, Maryland, September 7, 1817, a son of William K. and Sarah (Miller) Wilson. When eight years old he began a seafaring life as cabin boy, and finally rose to the captaincy of a sailing vessel on Chesapeake bay. In 1839 he gave up that occupation and came to Tioga county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in lumbering on Little Pine creek, continuing that business for eighteen years. He afterwards acted as a pilot on the West Branch of the Susquehanna river up to 1881, when he engaged in farming in Delmar township. He had previously purchased the Dr. Archer farm in Morris township in 1859, but sold it in 1885 and bought his present farm in Delmar. Mr. Wilson married Jane McMasters, who bore him six children, viz: William Mc., of Delmar; Kenly, who died at the age of forty-three years; Anna, wife of John Black, of Liberty town- ship; Mary Etta, wife of William Blackwell, of Morris township; Robert L., of Delmar, and Frank, who died in infancy. Mrs. Wilson died in 1852, and he was again married, to Mary Kriner, to which union were born seven children, viz: Sarah J., wife of Thomas Blackwell, of Morris; Frank and Ida, both of whom died in childhood; Libbie, wife of B. C. Fish, of Morris; Ulysses G., of Delmar; Samuel D., of Delmar, and Mina, wife of Samuel Campbell, of the same township. Mr.

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HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.

Wilson now resides with his son, Robert L., in Delmar township. His wife died in May, 1896, aged sixty-eight years.

ROBERT L. WILSON was born in Morris township, Tioga county, August 17, 1850, and is the youngest living child of Robert B. and Jane (McMasters) Wilson. He was reared on the farm, attended the district schools in boyhood, and on obtain- ing his majority worked in the lumber woods four years in Tioga county. He then located on his present farm, which he had purchased in 1872, and has since been engaged in farming. He owns twenty acres in Delmar, and fifty in Shippen township, and has cleared and improved most of his present property. Mr. Wilson was married June 1, 1875, to Frances Sturmer, a daughter of Ferdinand T. Sturmer, and has one daughter, Edith M. Politically, he is a Republican, and is also a mem- ber of the Patrons of Husbandry.

GEORGE W. WEST was born in Southport, New York, December 12, 1818, a son of Jonathan West, a Baptist minister. Before reaching manhood he came to Penn- sylvania, locating in Troy, Bradford county, where he lived until twenty-six years of age. He then came to Wellsboro, Tioga county, and followed the shoemaker's trade, but was soon afterwards elected constable and made a faithful and fearless officer. He also served as deputy sheriff and was instrumental in breaking up the band of horse thieves and counterfeiters on Pine creek, and arrested the noted counterfeiter, Winslow. He removed to Michigan and remained there a year and a half, and then returned to Wellsboro. On February 4, 1846, he married Abigail Ritter, a daughter of Daniel and Lydia Ritter. To this union were born ten chil- dren, viz: Henry Dallas, a resident of Nebraska; Georgiana, deceased; Mary, wife of Orr Kennedy, of Wellsboro; George, who lives in Seattle, Washington; Clinton, a resident of Delmar township; Alice, wife of Warren Callen, of Michigan; Wilbur F., a resident of Delmar; Hannah, wife of M. Ogden, of Cedar Run; Adney, a resi- dent of Idaho, and Allen, deceased. Mr. West followed farming for a number of years and also kept a hotel at Stony Fork. In 1879 he removed to Nebraska, re- mained there until 1888, and then returned to Tioga county, locating in Charleston township, where he resided until his death, May 9, 1896.

CLINTON WEST was born in Shippen township, Tioga county, April 7, 1857, a son of George W. West. When fourteen years of age he began making his own living, working as a farm hand and in the lumber woods of his native county for several years. He then went to Bradford county, where he worked upon a farm two years. Returning to Tioga for a short period, he afterwards went to Nebraska, but came back a year later and continued working on a farm and in the lumber woods. He finally rented a farm, and in the spring of 1887 bought forty acres of his present homestead, to which he added fifty-one acres more in the fall of 1888, on which he has since resided. Mr. West was married June 29, 1884, to Eloise Bartle, a daughter of J. C. Bartle, of Delmar, who has borne him four children, viz: J. Frederick, Lottie, Harvey D., deceased, and Harold J. Mr. West is a member of the Grange, and also of the K. of G. E. In politics, he is an independent voter.

WILBUR F. WEST was born in Wellsboro, May 2, 1860, a son of the late George W. West, of Charleston township. When sixteen years of age he began working out as a farm hand, which business he followed several years, and subsequently bought sixty acres of land in Delmar township. He sold this farm later and pur-

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chased his present farm of ninety acres, on which he has since lived. Mr. West was married May 11, 1881, to Nellie F .. Bartle, a daughter of J. C. Bartle, of Delmar, to which union have been born five children, viz: Flora E., Nellie M., Eunice, Wilbur T., and Allen J. Mr. West and wife are members of the Grange, and ad- herents of the Baptist church. He is connected with the K. of G. E., and in politics, he is a Democrat.

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History of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, Part 98

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