Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 118

Author: Chapman Publishing Company (NY)
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1068

USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties > Part 118
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties > Part 118

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B ENAJAH S. GARDNER. It is doubtless due to the industrious and persevering manner in which Mr. Gardner has adhered to the occupation of a farmer that he has risen to such a substantial position in the agricultural community of Lackawanna County. His life has been spent within the confines of Benton Town- ship, and, as a natural result, he is much interested in the progress and development of this section, which he has assisted in making the farming region it now is.

The father of our subject was Horace Gard- ner, who was born in Rhode Island in 1800, and the following year was brought to this country by his parents, George and Abigail (Dean) Gardner, also natives of Rhode Island, and deceased in Abington Township. Grandfather Gardner was

a farmer and tinner, a veteran of the War of 1812 and died when over eighty years of age. The father of George Gardner and the great-grand- father of our subject, was a captain in the Rev- olutionary War and came with his son, grand- son, and other members of the family to Abing- ton Township, being among the very first to set- tle in this section of the country. The trip was made over the mountains with ox teams, and on arriving at their destination they cleared the land and began the life of agriculturists at the commencement of the present century. The family was founded in America by three brothers, who came to this country from Scotland. The grandmother of our subject attained the age of one hundred and five years.

The marriage of Horace Gardner united him with Narcissa Bowen, who died on the home farm at the age of eighty-nine; he passed away in the spring of 1872 at the age of seventy-three. They were the parents of eight children, of whom only two are living. One son, J. C., who parti- cipated in the late war, died in 1896; the second son, Cyrus C., is a resident of Factoryville. Our subject was born in Benton Township, May 3, 1827, and was reared on the home farm, but at the age of twenty-five went to Scranton and was employed in the meat business. After his mar- riage he continued to live there for four years, then came to this place in the spring of 1856 and began agricultural work. About 1875 he built a saw mill, and three years later erected a grist mill, the dam of which was built in 1874. He has since operated these mills, with the as- sistance of his son, Miles, who at the present time owns a half interest in the mill.

September 7, 1853, Mr. Gardner married Miss Catharine A. Reynolds, daughter of Crispen and A. Melinda (Seamans) Reynolds. Her father was born in Rhode Island, and about 1798 settled, with his family, at Factoryville, and twenty-five years later purchased the farm where our sub- ject now lives. He enlisted as a soldier in the war in 1814 as a substitute for his father. He re- turned to Benton Township, residing here for many years afterward, and until his death in 1855 at the age of sixty-one; his wife died when sixty- six. They had a family of eight children, but

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only two are now living. The paternal grand- parents of Mrs. Gardner were Solomon and Frances (Northrup) Reynolds, natives of Rhode Island, who died in Factoryville, Pa. The Rey- nolds family cleared the first land in Benton Township and were among the earliest perman- ent settlers here.

The only son of our subject, Miles P., was given educational advantages in youth and has been of the greatest assistance to his father in the management of their business interests. He married Luzina Gardner, who though bearing the same name was not related to this family; they are the parents of three children: Mary H., Jack B., and Howard P. The only daughter of our subject is Lucetta, who received an excellent ed- ucation, has gained breadth of culture and re- finement by extensive travel throughout the United States, and is regarded as one of the most intelligent ladies of this locality. The family attend the Baptist Church and have assisted in the erection of houses of worship, besides aid- ing in other religious undertakings and charitable projects. Both father and son are Republicans in political belief and support the principles of that party. They willingly aid in local improve- ments and public enterprises, and have lent a helping hand in various township matters.

C HRISTOPHER A. SHERMAN. This county had its quota of men who enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War and endured all the hardships of forced marches, exposure to weather and on the tented field, be- sides the greater peril of open engagements with the Confederate forces. In this class of patriotic citizens belongs the name of Mr. Sherman, of Glenburn, who enlisted August 14, 1862, for three years, or until the close of the war. Company B, of which he was a member, was incorporated in the One Hundred and Forty-third Regiment of Pennsylvania Infantry. At the close of the Re- bellion he was honorably discharged, June 12, 1865, by reason of General Order No. 77, A. G. O., from headquarters. He took part in the various engagements in which his regiment participated and at Gettysburg was made a prisoner, but was

paroled while on the field. For three months he was on detached service, and was afterward mustered out in New York harbor. He is justly proud of the history of his regiment and the hon- orable part it bore in quelling the Rebellion. The nineteen engagements of the regiment were as follows: Pollock's Mills, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, South Mountain, Funkstown, Cen- treville, Thoroughfare Gap, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, Bull's Church, North Anna, Pamunkey River, Cold Harbor, siege of Peters- burg, Weldon Railroad, Petersburg, Weldon raid and Hatchie's Run. He was with the regiment in all these battles except the last, when, after start- ing out with his comrades, he was sent back by the adjutant, Charley Campbell, because of sick- ness.

Tracing the genealogy of the Sherman family, we find that Philip Sherman was born in July, 1610, and married Sarah Potter. Their son, Sam- uel Sherman, was born in February, 1648, and · married Martha Tripp, whose birth occurred Au- gust 31, 1663. Their descendant, John, born May 25, 1725, had a son, Job Sherman, who was born May 20, 1752, and married Lydia Cundale, born July 7, 1751. Next in line of descent was John Sherman, born May 25, 1786, died September 21, 1870; his wife was Mary Norton of Tiverton, R. I. Their son, John C., was born January 10, 1814, in Rhode Island, and at the age of two years was brought to Pennsylvania, where he married Ruth Phillips, born in this state July 28, 1815. Their children, ten in number, were born as follows: Mary, May 13, 1834, died May 18, 1834; William Norton, born May 13, 1835; Ezra, born December 16, 1837, died May 20, 1840; Jencks, born September 2, 1839, and died June 24, 1840; Christopher Alon- zo, born May 17, 1841; Celestia, born May 19, 1843, died July II,

I879; George, born May 17, 1845; Ruth Ellen, born November 29, 1848, died March 18, 1851; Zachary T., born April 9, 1849, died March 15, 1851; and John C., Jr., born October 5, 1854, died January 10, 1856. The father was a man of energetic and in- dustrious character and great kindness of heart, a consistent believer in the principles of Christi- anity and the doctrines of the Baptist Church,

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which he proclaimed from the pulpit. His was a busy and useful life and his death was deeply mourned. He passed away November 27, 1873, at which time he was pastor of Pequa Church in Lancaster County, Pa.

In South Abington Township, this county, Mr. Sherman was born May 17, 1841, a son of J. C. and Ruth (Phillips) Sherman. During his ab- sence in the war, he was cheered by letters from his sweetheart at home, and the year after his return they were married. She was Miss Amanda Brooks, a native of New Jersey, but from four years of age a resident of Carbondale, where she was reared by an aunt. Their marriage, January 8, 1866, was blessed by five children, namely: Charles, who is married and has one child; Al- bert, who lives in Scranton; Hurley; Arthur and Amy, twins.

From 1865 until 1868 Mr. Sherman worked for his father, after which he spent two years in Newton Township, then returned to South Ab- ington Township (now Glenburn borough), and afterward went to Tunkhannock, where he was engaged at cabinet work for five years, also gave some attention to wagon-making. From that place he came back to the family homestead, where he has since resided. He has served as burgess, justice of the peace and held the most of the offices in the borough. While in the army he voted for Abraham Lincoln, on the occasion of his second election to the presidency, and since then he has always supported the ticket of the Republican party. His family are connected with the Baptist Church, in which he has held various official positions. He is a pensioner of the war and an active member of the Grand Army Post in Waverly, of which he was the second com- mander.

C. J. WILBUR, M. D. The calling of a physician is one of the most important to which a man can devote his life. It is one that calls for physical strength and power of endurance, and for keenness of intellect and mental acuteness. Fortified with these qualities a physician will attain success in the profession, without them his hopes will never be realized.

When Dr. Wilbur started out in the practice many years ago, he was a young man of robust constitution, strength of character and discrimi- nation of mind. More than this, he had the great- est faith in the possibilities of his profession, and the strongest determination to succeed in it. The passing years brought him prominence as a phy- sician and financial success; it being a notable fact that of the eleven hundred cases of obstetrics he attended he lost but one and this speaks much for his skill and ability as a physician.

Dr. Wilbur was born March 23, 1836, at Car- bondale, to the union of Eseck Tabor and Mary S. (Kennedy) Wilbur, being the fourth of ten children. He is the descendant of one of three brothers, who settled in Massachusetts in early colonial times, being Quakers by faith, and endur- ing all the hardships of early settlers. His grand- father, Christopher E. Wilbur, was born in New York State and removed from there to Carbon- dale in the year 1810, where he purchased a large tract of land, becoming one of the first settlers of that place.

The father of our subject was born in Genesee County, N. Y., January 20, 1806, and accom- panied his parents to Carbondale at the age of four years. There he grew to manhood and was employed as contractor and lumberman. About 1842 he removed to what is now North Scranton (then called Razorville and afterwards Provi- dence), and became the owner of one of the finest flour mills in the Lackawanna Valley, also a val- uable tract of land upon which he opened a coal mine called Leggett's Gap. In 1844 he removed to Susquehanna County, and purchased one of the finest farms in that section of the country, upon which he remained until his death August 7, 1865. He was a successful business man, having started without means and leaving at his death an estate valued at $60,000. His wife was born in Rhode Island July 4, 1809, and died at Moscow at the home of her son, Dr. Wilbur, March 16, 1891, at the age of eighty-two.

The early years of Dr. Wilbur were passed upon a farm. He obtained a primary education in the district schools. At the age of nineteen he began to read medicine with Dr. A. C. Blakes- lee of Springville, and in 1857 he attended a

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course of lectures at the medical department of Yale College. In the spring of 1858 he entered the office of Dr. David James of Laceyville, where he assisted the doctor in his large practice, re- turning in the fall of 1858 to attend his second course at Yale College. In 1860 he opened an office at Moscow, where he continued in active practice until 1887, with the exception of a short time spent in the army during the Rebellion. In September, 1864, he was appointed surgeon at Hampton Hospital, Fortress Monroe, where he remained for three months, being transferred to Point of Rocks Hospital on Appomattox River, near City Point. He remained here but a short time; receiving orders to report at Norfolk, he was appointed to take charge of the Delemator Post Hospital, where he remained until the close of the war. His services were volunteered, leav- ing a lucrative practice to endure the perils and hardships of an army life, believing that thereby he could be of service to his fellowmen and coun- try.

May 1, 1873, Dr. Wilbur married Miss Sarah J. Dixon, an estimable lady, who died April 9, 1892, leaving two daughters, Mary Valeda and Romie Marion.

In early manhood Dr. Wilbur was an active Republican, but for the past twenty years he has taken no part in politics. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Order of Odd Fellows. He has always been a man of temperate habits and firm character with strong likes and dislikes, expressing his opinions with a fearlessness that is one of his pronounced traits and condemning under all circumstances the de- ceit and hypocrisy that too often mar the char- acter of men and women.

H ON. WILLIAM HUNTTING JESSUP, senior member of the well known law firm of Jessup & Jessup, of Scranton, is a distinguished descendant of a celebrated fam- ily. John Jessup, the first of the family of whom there is any authentic record, is said to have set- tled in Massachusetts as early as 1620, the year of the landing of the Pilgrims. In 1637 there are records of the family living in Hartford, Conn.,

but before 1640 they had removed to Wethers- field, in the same state, and in the latter year had again removed, this time to Stamford, one of the oldest Connecticut towns, of which they were among the first settlers. In 1649 the father re- moved his family to Southampton, Long Island, where descendants have continued to live.

John Jessup, the member of this family from whom Judge Jessup is descended, was married June 16, 1669, and had a son Henry, born March 12, 1681. Thomas Jessup, a son of Henry, was born February 28, 1721, and in later life held the office of deacon of his denomination. One of his sons, Zebulon, was born September 15, 1755, and was consequently in early man- hood when occurred the great struggle between the mother country and the American colonies, in which contest, it may be presumed from his title of major, he took an active part. December 6, 1780, he married Zerviah, daughter of Samuel Huntting, a merchant of Southampton, whose family came from England in August, 1638, the family of the present generation being therefore able to trace its descent, through two branches, to over three hundred years of unbroken Ameri- can ancestry.

William Jessup, son of Zebulon and Zerviah Jessup, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Southampton, Long Island, June 21, 1797, and removed to Montrose, Pa., in 1818, entering the law office of A. H. Read, and also teaching for five terms in the town academy. February 2, 1820, he was admitted to the bar of Susquehanna County, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession. Being a man of ability and force of character, he took the lead in many matters of public import in his adopted town, and especially in military matters as col- onel of his regiment, gained a reputation for the high degree of skill his troops attained under his well-directed discipline. From 1824 until 1833 he served as register of wills and recorder of deeds for his county, but declined re-appoint- ment to the position in the latter year. April 7, 1838, he was commissioned judge of the Eleventh Judicial District of Pennsylvania, serving by re- appointment until November, 1851. His career as a judge was marked by great wisdom and im-

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partiality. In the temperance movement he was one of the earliest leaders, at a time when public sentiment needed a great deal of arousing as to the sinfulness of the traffic in liquors. He joined the Presbyterian Church of Montrose Septem- ber 3, 1826, and August 2, 1829, was made a ruling elder. Two sons were foreign mission- aries of the Presbyterian denomination in Syria. In politics he was first a Democrat, then a stanch Whig, and later took a prominent part in the or- ganization of the Republican party. At the Chi- cago convention of 1860, when Lincoln was nominated for the presidency, he was chairman of the committee of resolutions, and when in his speech before the convention he said, "Freedom is the normal condition of the territories," he was greeted with thunderous applause and cries of "Read that again" from the different parts of the house.

July 4, 1820, Judge Jessup married Miss Amanda Harris, of Southampton, Long Island, and to this union were born ten children: Jane R., a daughter, married Col. J. B. Salisbury, of New York, but is now deceased; Mary S. became the wife of F. B. Chandler of Montrose, and is deceased; Harriet A. married Isaac L. Post, of Scranton, and is likewise deceased. Of the sons, William H. is the subject of this notice; Rev. Henry H. Jessup, D. D., has, with his brother, Rev. Samuel Jessup, D. D., been a missionary to Syria, stationed at Beirut, for many years, the former since 1856 and the latter since 1862. Of the remaining children of the family, Phoebe A. married Alfred Hand, of Scranton, and is now de- ceased; Fannie M. is unmarried; George A. is a resident of Scranton, and Huntting C. is the law partner of his brother, William H. The father died in Montrose September 1I, 1868, his death resulting from a stroke of paralysis. The mother died in August, 1883.

William Huntting Jessup was born in Mont- rose, Pa., January 29, 1830, and was educated at Cortland Academy, in the town of Homer, N. Y. In 1846, at the age of sixteen, he entered the sophomore class at Yale College, and on his graduation in 1849, chose the practice of law as a profession. After two years of hard study he was admitted to the bar at the last term held

by his father, who, finally severing his connection with the bench just then, re-entered, the profes- sion of law as a partner with his son. Under the father's experienced management the fame of the firm spread, and their practice extended throughout the state, and included practice be- fore the state and the United States courts. After the death of the, father, the son continued in the business, a worthy successor, being accu- rate, thorough, conscientious, and of unimpeach- able honor and integrity. His judicial ability was recognized when, in 1877, he was appointed presiding judge of the Thirty-fourth Judicial Dis- trict, a position he held until 1879. As a judge, he was remarkable for clearness of comprehen- sion of all intricate and difficult points of law and for his promptness of decision. Upon his retire- ment from the bench, he resumed the practice of law. In 1881 he opened an office in Scranton, having as partner the late Isaac J. Post. Their practice became one of the largest in the place. After the death of Mr. Post, in 1886, Judge Jes- sup's son, William H. Jr., became a partner in the practice of law. The latter was born in Montrose in 1859, and graduated from Yale Col- lege in 1884 with the degree of A. B. In 1886 he was admitted to the bar and since that time has practiced continuously with his father. He possesses the same qualities of mind which made his father and his grandfather famous in their profession, and is well qualified to be the partner of his brilliant father.

In October, 1853, Judge Jessup married Miss Sarah W. Jay, of Belvidere, N. J., by whom he had two sons and four daughters.

At the early age of thirteen years, following the strong religious bent of many of his ances- tors, Judge Jessup joined the Presbyterian Church, and has ever since lent that denomin- ation his active support. For thirty-six years he served as superintendent of the Sunday-school, and since 1868 he has been one of the ruling elders. In all the forward movements of the day he has taken an active part, and especially in the cause of temperance, like his father before him, he has worked untiringly. In politics his influence has been one of the upward factors of the community. In early manhood he assisted

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in forming the Republican party, and since that early day has been unwavering in his support of its principles. He has been chosen many times to represent his district in political conventions, and has done so with an energy and enthusiasm which have helped carry the day for his party. During the war of the Rebellion, he saw active service as major of the Twenty-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, campaigning through 1862 and 1863. In the latter year he was appointed by President Lincoln assessor of internal revenue for the Twelfth Collection District of Pennsyl- vania, and held the position for three years. In 187I he was commissioned by Gov. John W. Geary as major-general of the Tenth Division of the Pennsylvania National Guard. For many years he served as president of the Susquehanna Agricultural Society, one of the oldest organiza- tions of the kind in the state. That his ability does not lie along one or two lines, is shown by the fact that he has been one of the foremost men in his county to introduce valuable farm stock, and has stood sponsor to many of the most advanced methods of farming that have been adopted in the state. Lately, however, his legal business, which includes the charge of the legal affairs of many large corporations, has en- grossed most of his time, leaving him little leis- ure for anything outside of that arduous profes- sion.

C ALVIN E. STONE, foreman of the black- smith shop of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western car department at Scranton, is a member of one of the pioneer families of Scott Township. The family is of English origin and was represented among the early settlers of Massachusetts, his great-grandfather having been born in Boston, that state. His grandfather, Benoni Stone, was born in Pawtucket, R. I., and about 1800, at the age of twenty-one years, he came to Scott Township, where he afterward made his home upon a farm. The nearest milling town was Wilkesbarre and he was accustomed to make trips to that place on horseback. The lady whom he married resided in that city. In early life he bought six hundred acres of land

there, but this he afterward disposed of, selling some and giving the remainder to his children. He died on his homestead at the age of eighty- five.

The father of our subject, H. L. Stone, was born in what is now Scott Town- ship, Lackawanna County, and there grew to manhood, serving an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade in Providence. After his marriage he removed to Hollisterville and started a blacksmith shop, which he has since carried on with success. Both his shop and residence were built by himself. During the Civil War he served for three years as a mem- ber of the One Hundred and Twelfth Pennsyl- vania Infantry, and at the close of the conflict was honorably discharged. In younger years he was actively identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and an active work- er in its behalf.

January 30, 1897, was celebrated, with accom- panying wishes of good cheer and congratula- tions, the golden wedding of H. L. Stone and Sarah M. Myers. He was born December 10, 1826, and she, December 3, 1827, and both en- joy fair health for people of their years. She is a native of Sussex County, N. J., the daughter of Squire Jacob Myers, a farmer, who settled in Jefferson Township, this county, when she was a child of nine years. Of her nine children, five are living, namely: J. W., who resides at Elk River, Minn .; Calvin E .; Charles E., of Tioga County, Pa .; William H., who lives in Huntingdon, Pa., and Carrie L., Mrs. George O. Brown, of Hollisterville, Pa.

In Hollisterville Academy, then a very pros- perous and popular institution, the education of our subject was obtained. His boyhood years were passed in that place, where he was born April 3, 1854. When quite young he began to assist his father in the shop and soon acquired a thorough knowledge of the blacksmith's trade. At the age of sixteen he began to work steadily in the shop and after a few years was made his father's partner in the business. In 1879 he came to Scranton as an employe in the black- smith shop of the Delaware, Lackawanna &

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Western car department, and after long and faithful service, recognition of his merit was shown by his promotion, in January of 1896, to the position of foreman of the shop, for which his duties as assistant foreman had prepared him.

The marriage of Mr. Stone, which occurred in Scranton, united him with Miss Mary E. Hard- ing, a native of Newburgh, N. Y., and daughter of Theodore Harding, who came to the States from Nova Scotia and was an employe of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company in their blacksmith shop. Mr. Harding was a mem- ber of the Grace Reformed Episcopal Church. He died in July, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are the parents of two children, Carrie Evelyn and Marion Agnes, who reside with them at No. 535 Harrison Avenue. Mr. Stone devotes his entire time and attention to the duties of his position, and has never identified himself with public affairs, other than to keep posted concern- ing the issues of the age and vote the Republican ticket at all elections.

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Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 118

Author: Chapman Publishing Company (NY) Publication date: 1897 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1068

Author: Chapman Publishing Company (NY)
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1068