History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 119

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438

USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 119
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 119
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 119

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first officers of the Branch were Presi- dent, John Dougherty ; First Vice-President, M. Gilleron ; Second Vice-President, H. Or- ding ; Treasurer, James E. Farrell ; Recording Secretary, P. H. Harrington ; Assistant Secre- tary, J. J. Traynor ; Financial Secretary, J. H. Farrell ; Chancellor, S. V. Stockman ; Guard, Thomas Yates.

First representative to the Grand Council of Pennsylvania, James E. Farrell ; Alternate, James J. Traynor.

POST-OFFICE .- The first post-office at Star- rucca was established upwards of fifty years ago. The records now to be found at Starrucca do not give exact dates ; neither do they give the name of the first postmaster. However, tradition says that Thomas Carr was the first postmaster, and that in 1836 the mail was carried from Deposit, N. Y., to Echo, Pa. (now Thompson, Pa.), via Starrucca, by Nathan Dean, and after- wards by S. O. Dean, who at the time of. his death, in 1885, was president of the village of Deposit.

In 1850 the mail-route was changed, making

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

Lanesboro, Pa., the starting-point, and, going by the way of Starrucca, Thompson, Ararat, Jackson and Gibson, Pa., terminating at Har- ford, Pa. This route remained unchanged until the completion of the Jefferson Branch of the Erie Railroad, since which time the mail has been carried by D. T. Benedict from the rail- road station to the post-office.

The names of those who officiated as post- masters at Starrucca since 1836 are James Cow- an, James Howe, Lewis A. Osborn, Nelson M. Benedict (Mr. Benedict receiving his commis- sion from President Pierce, and retaining the position until 1869), Colonel George B. Osborn, Henry F. Aldrich and James E. Farrell, the present incumbent.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JUDGE JAMES MUMFORD.

The origin of this prominent Wayne County family is somewhat shrouded by the dust of the passing centuries, although there is reason to believe it to be of Welsh extraction, inasmuch as Thomas and Peleg Mumford, two brothers from Wales, settled in Rhode Island, the coun- try of the Narragansetts, just previous to 1700. Thomas had six children, one of whom, Jirah, born 1702, married 1721, was probably the progenitor of the family. In support of this theory we find Jirah born 1747, married March 14, 1776, to Deborah Lillibridge, born 1756, moved to the smiling valley of the Connecticut in 1780, and had thirteen children, Jirah, born February 16, 1778, being the eldest son.

On March 25, 1793, another removal was made, and the entire family settled in Mount Pleasant township, Wayne County, Pa., after the father had purchased land near Belmont and prepared a home for them. It would seem that Jirah was sent to Orange County, N. Y., probably to procure the education unobtainable here in those days, and on February 26, 1800, he there married Polly Baker, afterwards return- ing to Wayne County to commence lumbering. He was one of that association known as the " Nine Partners," their mill being located about

two miles north of Starrucca, at the point now called Melrose.

His children were Deborah (married James Diekison), John, James, Phœbe (married Joseph Hyatt), Thomas R. (a physician and county of- ficial of some prominence, who died in 1850), Stephen Decatur, Dolly Maria (married J. M. Sampson) and Sally Ann, who died young. Mary ("Polly "), one of the sisters of Jirah Mumford, was one of the participants in the first wedding in Mount Pleasant township, be- ing united to Silas Kellogg, on January 1, 1796, by Rev. Ezekiel Sampson, the pioneer pastor of Starrucca borough. His Uncle Thomas was married to Eliza Fisher, and had two children, one of whom, Thomas, born 1780, married The- odosia Carr, who bore him five children, Mary Ann, born August 9, 1811, being the youngest. Jirah Mumford, the third child of this couple, was born in Mount Pleasant township, on De- cember 20, 1805. Owing to the lack of educa- tional facilities in those early days of the county, he received but limited advantages, and has frequently said his education was obtained al- most entirely by the light of a pine knot, or seated before a blazing wood fire during the long winter evenings. When he was about nine years old the family moved to what is now the borough of Starrucca, and Jirah Mumford took up several thousand acres of land for farming and lumbering purposes, and his name appears on the tax-list of 1823 for a mill located on the Starrucca Creek proper. In this employ the youth of James was passed, and a hardy, self- reliant, energetic manhood obtained. In 1830 he bought a beaver dam, below his father's home, on which he put up a house in which he boarded the men working on his various busi- ness ventures. On December 8, 1831, he mar- ried his relative, Mary Ann, daughter of Thom- as Mumford, before mentioned, and, aided by her wise counsel and judicious advice, was en- abled to extend his operations and increase in value and standing. Taking an interest in public affairs, he was, in 1834, elected justice of the peace, and continued in such office until 1846, when he received from the Governor the appointment of associate judge. When, in 1850, the Constitution was amended providing for

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the election of judges by the people, Judge Mumford and T. H. R. Tracy were the first associate judges elected, and both served until the expiration of the term, in September, 1856.

In 1840 he erected the grist-mill on the stream, and in 1850 had purchased three thou- sand acres of timber land at Melrose ; hence, on the expiration of his term of office, he de. termined to devote his life to his family and the large and constantly increasing demands of

band did not long survive, he dying August 18, 1873. At the time of his death he owned and operated two saw-mills and one grist-mill, and some twelve hundred acres of farm and timber land, and was employing considerable labor. He was a tender husband, a devoted fatlier, a firm friend and kind neighbor, ever ready with aid and advice, always foremost_in good works and honorable in all transactions, both public and private.

business. During the next sixteen years he engaged in cutting and manufacturing the tim- ber from his extensive tracts of land, and in 1872 sold the remaining bark to Major E. P. Strong, and the land to Bennett & Webster.

Then he bought some six hundred acres, nearly surrounding the Coxtown Pond, which now . is in the hands of Hon. Warren W. and Clinton D., two of his sons.

On August 9, 1870, the life's journey of Mrs. Mumford eame to an end and her hus- 71

The children of Judge James and Mary Ann Mumford were twelve in number, viz. : Oliver, born Deeember 10, 1832 ; Olive, born July 29, 1834, married V. M. Keene ; James L., born May 28, 1836 ; Mary Adelaide, born May 30, 1839, married Colonel George B. Osborn ; Warren W., born Deeember 5, 1840 ; Hattie E., born April 24, 1842, married Daniel Cargill, and died June 18, 1866, leaving one child (son), Daniel C .; Clarence G., born Marchi 2, 1844, married Susic Avery ; Clinton

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

D., born November 24, 1845, married Joanna Pickering and has one child, Louis; Urban B., born November 14, 1847, married Emma Ball ; Elwin C., born August 8, 1849, married Ella Sutton and has one child, Mary A. ; and Thomas J., born August 13, 1857.

Of this large family, two entered the army when the country needed their services during the late Rebellion, and gave their lives to per- petuate the Union,-Oliver, lieutenant Com- pany A, Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, being killed while leading the regiment into action at Petersburg, Va., and James L., cap- tain Company G, One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, losing his life on the field at Chancellorsville, Va. Clarence G. was one of the three months' men and went out in the State militia. Another son, Hon. Warren W., was elected to the State Legislature in 1874. Two other sons, Urban B. and Elwin C., chose the law, and are rapidly building a good name and lucrative practice in such profession, the first in Washington Territory, the latter at Honesdale, this county. Warren W. and Clinton D. arc heavily engaged in business here and elsewhere. They built and still operate the Starrucca Chemical Works, which were the first of such character in the county, and are prominent factors in the prosperity of the county at large. Mary Adelaide and Thomas J. still reside on the homestead, within the limits of Starrucca borough.

This sketch would be incomplete without a certain special mention. Oliver Mumford married Anne Legg, who bore him one child, whose life went out shortly after the death of the heroic father. The widow devoted her remaining years to the spreading of Gospel truths and has during the past fourteen years been located in Turkey in Europe, a highly successful missionary of the Presbyterian Church. Society. One church at Philippopolis has been erected through her, and much valu- able service rendered. During the Russo- Turkish War (during all of which she main- tained her position) she adopted two children, whose father had been slain in one of the num- erous fights, and has them in this country, undergoing a course of education with a view

to giving their life-work to the cause of Christianity in their native country. She it was who hung the American flag to the breeze from the window of her house in Philippopolis while the victorious Russian troops marched through the city, as was described by the corres- pondent of the New York Herald at the time.

HON. W. W. MUMFORD.

This gentleman, the oldest living son of the late Judge James Mumford, was born on De- cember 3, 1840, in that section of Preston town- ship which now is incorporated as Starrucca borough. When in his seventh year he was sent to the district school and remained an at- tendant upon its teachings until eighteen years old, when he went to the academy kept by the then County Superintendent of Schools S. A. Terrell and Professor Briggs, at Prompton, Wayne County. After one term's tuition there a season as teacher followed, that being succeed- ed by a course of study at the Montrose Acad- emy. In 1862, he attended the State Normal School at Millersville, Pa. While there, in 1863, the call for troops to defend the State against the rebels was made, and Mr. Mumford joined the special company raised by Professor* J. P. Wickersham among the Normal students. The alarm having subsided, the company was disbanded and our subject attended Lowell's Business College, Binghamton, N. Y., for a term, on conclusion of which he returned to Star- rucca and entered mercantile business as elerk with Major E. P. Strong. His services proving valuable, at the end of one year, in 1865, he be- came partner in the business, under firm style W. W. Mumford & Co. Five years later the interest of Major Strong was purchased by Colonel G. B. Osborn and the firm became Mumford & Osborn.

This continued some three years, until the death of Judge Mumford, in 1873, necessitated the retirement of Mr. Mumford for the purpose of settling up the extensive business interests of his father. This step was accomplished by the purchase of his interest by Major Strong. Dur- ing the fall of 1874 his nomination for repre- sentative of the State Legislature was made un- known to himself ; but buckling on the Repub-

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lican armor, he entered the lists to overcome a Democratic majority and succeeded by a hand- some surplus. In Starricca his popularity was so great that but three votes were cast against him. In the House he was placed upon three committees and served the people faithfully and well. During his membership he had deter- mined upon a future course and had erected a large store for mercantile purposes near his residence in the borough ; so upon retirement

was erected and the Starrucca Chemical Com- pany was put in operation, the pioneer of an industry in Wayne County which now engages five large works, heavy capital and employs a large list of men in its various departments, making pyroligneous acid and wood alcohol from the abundant beech, birch and maple for- ests of the country.

Mr. Mumford was elected school director in the spring of 1874, and recognizing the immense

HW Mumford

from the halls of legislation he at once placed a varied stock of goods in the building and recom- menced business life in 1876. About this time, having given considerable thought and atten- tion to the question of the manufacture of chemi- cals, and in company with his brother, C.D. Mum- ford, having purchased eight hundred acres of timber land, it was decided to establish works for the purpose. Associating with them a prac- tical and experienced manufacturer, the factory

advantage of a liberal education, he has always given support to matters looking to the pushing forward such ability. The school-house had long been insufficient for the numbers seeking its doors, and was, in addition, old and dilapi- dated, and the energics of Mr. Mumford were turned towards remedying such defect. After several years' effort, appropriations were made and increased by subscription lists circulated by the members of the board, and by a fair under-

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

taken for such purpose, until a sum sufficient to cover the cost of the present handsome struc- ture (finished in the fall of 1881) was made up.

At the outset it was said " 110 use for a larger house ;" now of the present edifice, "'tis not large enough for all;" still all classes are proud of the building, and the attendance has rapidly increased.

On October 16, 1868, Mr. Mumford was united in wedloek with Miss Laura A., daughter of Theodore Swift, of Ulster County, N. Y., and the union has resulted in the birth of six children-Lorena, Hattie E., Jennie E., Minnie Belle, Harry W. and Iva Louise.

The Swift family, formerly from Connecti- cnt, have long occupied an honorable position in Ulster County, N. Y., having, for several generations, been extensive farmers and bridge- builders, the majority of the bridges in the vicinity of Gardiner having been put up by the present Mr. Swift or his deceased father. The wife's family name, Bradley, is also prominent in that county, identified with farming in- terests.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Mumford have long been members of the Baptist Church, and their aid and support to the society and Sunday-school have always counted heavily.

Mr. Mumford is connected with various secret societies ; became a member of Susque- hanna Lodge, F. and A. M., in 1866 ; of the Great Bend Chapter in 1871, and of the Great Bend Commandery in 1872. When the lodge of Knights of Honor was organized (1882), at Starrucca, he became one of its charter members, and was its chief officer during the term of one year since then. These affiliations he con- tinued to find pleasure in, and from his various business enterprises takes time to attend their requirements. A thorough business man, he is never content unless up and doing ; as a certain seqnence, is prosperous and happy.

HON. E. P. STRONG.

Among the earliest settlers in the colonies, the ancestors of this family, emigrating from Shropshire, England, and locating in Connecti- cut, require mention. The years passed and

progress was made, until, in 1785, Elisha Strong, with wife ( Anna Pinneo, of French Huguenot descent) and son Jairus, moved farther west and took up a liome in Greene County, N. Y.

Hon. Jairus Strong, born at Sharon, Conn., May 4, 1774 (married, January 9, 1799, Dosha Bissell, of East Windsor, Conn.), became an important factor in business and political affairs, and retained large interests in mercantile and tanning operations until his death, in June, 1838, aged sixty-four years. His family consisted of ten children, -Austin, born December 14, 1799 ; married Elizabeth Bigelow Morss, and died March 16, 1872. Olivia, born November 3, 1801 ; married Hon. Henry Kinsley, and died October 22, 1850. Clarinda, born Janu- ary 7, 1804; married Loring Andrews, and died April 9, 1828. Aurelia, born May 4, 1806; married Hon. Albert Tuttle. Minerva and Maria, born March 7, 1808. Minerva, married Hon. Albert Tuttle, and died June 23, 1833. Maria, married Colonel George Robert- son, and died April 17, 1877. Elvira, born February 10, 1810; married Dr. Josiah H. Stedman. Daniel Bissell, born July 4, 1812; married Mary Ann Peck, was colonel of the One Hundred and Sixteenth New York Militia for many years, and died May 22, 1874. Louisa, born December 1, 1814. Elisha Pinneo, born August 4, 1818. The mother of this large family died June 6, 1865, aged eighty-eight years. E. P. Strong, born at Ash- lan, Greene County, N. Y., received his educa- tion at the common school of the district and at the Durham Academy, and in 1842 became interested in the tannery business at Wood- bourne, Sullivan County, N. Y., with his eldest brother. Retiring from this connection in 1851, in the fall of that year he was nomi- nated by the Democracy and elected to represent Sullivan County in the State Legislature. At the end of his term a home was once again made in Greene County and retained until his removal to Wayne County, Pa.

On attaining his eighteenth year, Mr. Strong had entered the State Militia, becoming lieu- tenant in the One Hundred and Sixteenth New York Regiment, commanded by Colonel D. H.

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Snyder, of which he became major some time afterwards. After holding a commission there- in four years, he retired in 1840.

In 1852, in company with Mr. Guernsey Osborne, Major Strong purchased the Starrucca tannery property, and the first-named gentleman managed the works until 1862, when Major Strong took control of the interest and made a home in the borough, as aforesaid. Shortly after the purchase above mentioned, and while

honorable office, and, recognizing the strength of the opposition, made a vigorous effort to overcome the majority which they had regular- ly rolled up.

In this he was so far successful that, although his opponent was elected to the position, yet it was with such a small majority (about twenty) as to leave but little room for congratulation, and afforded abundant testimony of the esteem of the citizens for the subject of our sketch.

8. AStrong

engaged in getting its affairs into running order, Major Strong was notified of his nomination for member of Congress from Grecne and Ulster Counties, N. Y., but owing to the pres- sure of business affairs he could not give personal attention to the canvass and was defeated by the candidate of the Whig party, aided by tlie Know-Nothing branch.

At the next nominating convention, in 1854, he was again the choice of his party for this

On July 6, 1846, he married Caroline Peck (born March 17, 1824), who bore him Henry Peck, born June 10, 1847, married Amelia Dietrich, of Dresden, Germany, while visiting in that empire. One child, William Dietrich, born August 18, 1879, has resulted from this union, and the family arc residents of Boston, Massachusetts, interested in the New England Conservatory of Music. Daniel Bissell, born July 23, 1849, chose a medical carcer, and after

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passing through Claverack (New York) Acad- emy was educated to such end at Paris and Marseilles, France. In 1871 he located at the latter place and has since practiced there with great success, attaining a position of prominence in the medical profession of our sister repub- lic. He married a daughter of France, who has borne him four children-Caroline Steph- anie, Mary Magdalene, Elisha Emanuel and Emma Louise (died in childhood). The death of Mrs. E. P. Strong occurred October 14, 1863, and on November 26, 1877, Major Strong was united to Estelle E., daughter of Elisha and Maria Brown, of Jackson, Susque- hanna County, Pa., who has borne him one child, Louise, born May 16, 1879.

The subject of this article was engaged in mercantile business in the borough, and with- drew in 1884 after a career of some fifteen years. During a period of about thirty years he carried on a heavy business in the tanning of sole leather for the New York market and in making and shipping lumber, in which operations he necessarily employed considerable numbers of men, and through which the re- sources of the county were greatly developed and benefited. The depletion of the bark sup- ply caused the closing of the tannery in 1882. During the long business career of over thirty years Major Strong never had a contested law- suit. It is said of him " he has always been kinder to others than to himself," and senti- ments of respect and esteem are heard on all sides.

He has served in various offices to help for- ward the interests of the borough, and in June, 1884, was appointed by Governor Pattison to the position of associate judge of Wayne County, and in the following November was elected by the people to fill such office for the regular term of five years.

Major Strong has largely interested himself in the dairy question and has gathered a fine herd of Jerseys and Jersey grades, while he is also endeavoring to bring the farming and dairying community to a conception of the greater proportionate value of blooded stock for such purposes.

Regarding the church as a motor necessary

to the well-being of civilized people, he gave to the Methodist Episcopal Society of Starrucca a plot of ground and was mainly instrumental in the erection of their building in 1871, and las since been identified with its workings.

When the Catholic society became sufficiently strong to put up a building for church pur- poses, he again came forward, presented them with a piece of land and gave financial aid in the erection of their place of worship.

Many years ago he joined the Masonic fra- ternity and holds membership in the Susque- hanna Lodge and Great Bend Chapter and Com- mandery.

ROBERT K. KING.

In the general history of Mount Pleasant township, and also of Starrucca borough, will be observed considerable mention of this family, which, originally from New England, settled in the first-named township late in the last cen- tury.

Benjamin King was born in Rhode Island May 23, 1777. During early manhood he ac- companied his parents, who were blessed with a large family, to Pennsylvania, and made a home in Mount Pleasant township, as stated. On December 15, 1798, he married Eunice, daughter of David Kennedy, who was born September 25, 1775, whose family also receives. proper mention in the history of their town- ship. Their children were Cynthia K., born November 24, 1799, married Peter C. Sher- man ; Sally Ann, born April 24, 1801, mar- ried Reuben Peck ; Hawkins, born May 18, 1803; Lucinda, born June 9, 1805, married C. Palmer Tallman ; Durinda, born September 25, 1808, married David H. Clough ; Pamelia, born November 25, 1812, married Squire Crater; Robert Kennedy, the subject of our sketch ; Benjamin C., born April 15, 1818.

Mr. King, in addition to farming, engaged largely in lumbering on the Lackawaxen, near Pleasant Mount village, and on the Starrucca Creek, within the present limits of the borough, and, after a long and useful life, passed away on June 15, 1860, having survived his partner, who died March 18, 1848.

Robert Kennedy King, born August 27,

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WAYNE COUNTY.

1815, spent his first nineteen years on the homestead, and the following three or four years learning more of life among his surround- ings. On June 9, 1838, he was united in mar- riage to Minerva H., daughter of Elihu and Lucretia Tallman, of Preston township, Wayne County, and three days after set out for the then far West, bringing up in McHenry County, Ill., where he began farming. Chi- · cago was then but an infant, and Mr. King

township, and made a home in the woods, on that beautiful elevation since known as King's Hill. For some twelve or fifteen years, until the land was cleared of its timber, he cut logs and sent them down the Delaware River to Philadelphia, to market, since which time his days have been spent upon the farm, improving it year by year, until the present handsome ap- pearance has been reached.

Mrs. King also claims New England descent,

R K Ring

says he could have visited all the houses it con- tained in any one day desired. There were no more stores, etc., then in the future metropolis of the West than are now found in Starrucca borough, and yet the new-comers were con- pelled to go to that place from their home, forty miles north, in order to obtain household sup- plies. Tiring of this, and finding the climate very malarial, after a year's experience they re- turned East, and, in 1842, they bought property near the northwestern corner of Preston

on both paternal and maternal sides. Her grandfather, Ebenezer Tallman, born at Bed- ford, Mass., removed to Utica, N. Y., and ef- fected a settlement there. He married Rhoda Akins, and had a numerous family, and many descendants still reside in that part of the beau- tiful Mohawk Valley. Elihu, their eldest son, was born March 28, 1780, and in 1799, having just been married to Lucretia Perkins, near Ballston Springs, N. Y., moved to Wayne County and made a home in Mount Pleasant

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 119

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 1438

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438