Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 79

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 79
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 79

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).

George Candee received but limited educa- tional privileges, but has an observing eye and retentive memory, and in the school of experience has learned many valuable lessons. He is now

667

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a practical, thorough-going business man, to whom success has come as the reward of earnest purpose and honorable industry. He early form- ed habits of economy and energy which have proved of advantage to him in his business career. On leaving Connecticut he removed to Dutchess County, N. Y., where he remained until the time of his marriage, engaged in the occupation of farming. He then removed to Providence, Pa., where lived his father-in-law, and forty-two years ago came to Wyoming County, which has since been his place of abode. He is now the owner of two hundred and ninety acres of rich land, which is in excellent condition and is im- proved with a pleasant residence and other build- ings of modern construction.

Mr. Candee was united in marriage with Ma- hala Stephens, and their union was blessed with four children, but Louisa, Susan and Georgiana are deceased. Andrew G., the only son, is liv- ing on the farm. He married Nellie Decker, and they have three children, Mildred, Susan and Fred B. Mr. Candee exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, with which he has affiliated since voting for Fremont in 1856. Previous to that time he was a Whig. In past years he was active in the councils of his party, and his opin- ions carried great weight with them. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and since the time of the erection of the house of worship, has served as a member of the board of trustees, and greatly assisted in the formation of the camp meeting organization, whose meet- ings are annually held in this locality. Widely known in the community, his upright life and sterling worth have gained him the confidence and good will of all.

S YDNEY F. MAJOR was born March 6, 1840, in Luzerne County, Pa. His par- ents were Frank and Louisa (Bencoter) Major, natives of England and Luzerne County respectively. Of their five children, Sydney was the eldest, the others being: Thomas A., Minor F., Elizabeth and Charlotte (both deceased). S. F. Major was reared to work on a farm, and was

fairly well educated. When he had passed his majority he married Louisa Lain, also of Luzerne County, and daughter of Ira and Maria (Reeves) Lain, natives of New York State. The four chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Major were Frank, Ira, Elizabeth (deceased) and Lois. The mother, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died in 1868. The present wife of Mr. Major was formerly Carrie Lyons, who was born in New Jersey.

From the time that he reached mature years Sydney Major was interested in lumber enter- prises. With the sole exception of the two years, 1878 and 1879, which he spent in mining in Hel- ena, Mont., he has resided in Noxen, Wyoming County, since 1880, and for sixteen years has operated a valuable homestead in this township. He is now justice of the peace, and has held this office for three terms of five years each, in this community. He belongs to Lodge No. 248, F. & A. M., of Tunkhannock, and is also connected with the Knights of Honor and Odd Fellows. Politically lie is a Republican, and has always been an ally of the party since its infancy.

H ARMON STARK. Among the leading and influential farmers of northeastern Pennsylvania who thoroughly under- stand their business and pursue their chosen call- ing in a methodical and workmanlike manner, is the subject of this biography, who is living just over the line from Wyoming County in Susque- hanna County, Pa. He belongs to the old Stark family, so well known in Wyoming County, with whose interests its members have been identified for many years.

The father of our subject, Seth B. Stark, was one of the early settlers of Tunkhannock, and a prominent farmer of this region. He married Fannie Squires of Wyoming County, who died at the age of eighty years, and he departed this life when seventy-three. In their family were the following children: Harmon, of this sketch; Mary, wife of M. O. Stark of Nicholson, Wyom- ing County; Rosetta, wife of Jerry Stephens, of the same place; Eliza, deceased; Bentley, who was a member of Company A, Fifty-seventh

668

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Pennsylvania Infantry, and died while in the army in 1862; Nathan, deceased; Zura, deceased; Dexter, a resident of Tunkhannock; A. A., and Delmar, both of Susquehanna County, and Cly- mer, of Nicholson.

On the 6th of October, 1837, Harmon Stark was born on the old farm in Susquehanna Coun- ty, where his father located at an early day and where the birth of all of the children occurred. He early became familiar with the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, but his school training was much more limited, the common schools of that early day affording him his op- portunities along that line. On attaining to man's estate, he married Miss A. R. Lockwood, a native of Lackawanna County, Pa., and they became the parents of five children: Ida and Helen, deceased; Carrie; Bentley, a resident of Susquehanna County; and Lillie, who died at the age of six months.

In his political affiliations, Mr. Stark is a Dem- ocrat, and socially he is a member of the Grand Army Post No. 93, in Susquehanna County. During the Civil War he was a faithful member of Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for nine months, and participated in a number of impor- tant engagements, including the battles of An- tietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

H ON. HUMPHREY D. TIFFANY. The world instinctively and justly pays defer- ence to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has acquired a high repu- tation in his chosen calling, and whose social prominence is not less the result of an irreproach- able life than of recognized natural gifts. It is pleasing, indeed, to write the biography of a man of this character, such as Mr. Tiffany is known to be. The country has produced many brilliant men who in military and civil life have won for themselves honor. Most of our noblest and best men are self-made, and Mr. Tiffany is a represen- tative of this class, for his life has been devoted to labors along different lines of endeavor. To- day he is not only a leader in commercial, but in political life as well, being one of the most prom-

inent citizens of Nicholson, with the interests of which he has been identified since fourteen years of age.

Mr. Tiffany is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this section of the state, his great-grandfather, Hosea Tiffany, being one of the nine partners who were the first set- tlers of Susquehanna County. They purchased nine square miles of land, for which they paid $2,400, and took possession May 16, 1790. That tract is to-day one of the most valuable and high- ly improved in the county. On the 2nd of Feb- ruary, 1792, Hosea Tiffany, with his wife and children, Hosea, Amos and Nancy, and Robert Follett, with his wife and daughter, Lucy, left Attleboro, Mass., with ox teams, and arrived at their new home in Susquehanna County during the first week in March. These were the first white women to settle in the county. The coun- try was still a vast wilderness, covered with a heavy growth of timber, and in the midst of the forest the pioneers constructed rude log cabins, which were furnished in the most primitive man- ner. The first season the little colony did not raise sufficient crops for their own subsistence. As we look back upon those early days and learn of the privations and difficulties with which the settlers had to contend, we cannot but marvel at their wonderful courage and perseverance. A stump near the doors of their cabins was hol- lowed out for a mortar, while a hard wood pestle was rudely fashioned, and with these they manu- factured the meal for bread. Fortunately, the forests abounded with game of all kinds, includ- ing deer, which furnished meat for the hardy pioneers. In 1794 several other families joined the little family in Susquehanna County, where Hosea Tiffany continued to reside until called to his final rest, April 9, 1833.

Orvil Tiffany, the father of our subject, was born and reared amidst the scenes of frontier life, and continued to make his home in Susque- hanna County until twenty-five years of age, when he came to Wyoming County, where he followed carpentering and farming throughout his active business career. At the age of seven- ty-two he was accidentally drowned by attempt- ing to cross a shallow stream, not more than

669

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

eighteen inches deep. He is supposed to have fallen, and, being somewhat infirm, was unable to rise. He married Polly Marcy, a daughter of John Marcy, one of the early settlers of Wyom- ing County, and she also died at the age of sev- enty-two, about six years after her husband's death. Their seven children were as follows: John Wallace, a resident of Benton Township, Lackawanna County; Simon Le Roy, a promi- nent lawyer of Nicholson, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Harvey E., a farmer of Nicholson Township; Clarinda, wife of Gideon Moses, of Scranton; Harriet A., who died at the age of two and a half; Humphrey D., of this sketch; and Emily D., wife of Hon. A. W. Ste- phens, of Nicholson.

Our subject was born in Lenox Township, Susquehanna County, September 10, 1846, and grew to manhood on the home farm, aiding in its cultivation until he had attained his majority. In the common and select schools of the locality he obtained a fair literary education, and with his father learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for about five years. He then ob- tained an appointment as postal clerk on the Del- aware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, run- ning from Binghamton to New York most of the time for eight years. He then located in Nichol- son, where he has since successfully engaged in quarrying and contracting in the famous blue stone of Wyoming County. Mr. Tiffany married Jane Marcy, of Nicholson Township, and to them was born one son, Courtland P., who was provided with excellent educational privileges, and is now a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Foster, Susque- hanna County. He married Gertrude Koffman, a graduate of the Millersville Normal School, and they now have one child, Courtland P.

Politically Mr. Tiffany has always been an ar- dent Republican, and his fellow-citizens, recog- nizing his worth and ability, have called upon him to serve in almost all of the local offices of importance, including those of constable, school director and member of the town council. In 1894 he was also elected to the state legislature, and ably represented his district in that body. Since the age of nineteen he has taken an active

part in political matters, and is now a recognized leader in the ranks of the Republican party in his community. Fraternally he is a member of the blue lodge in Nicholson, No. 438.

M ARK KEENEY. This gentleman, who spent his early manhood in active busi- ness, and mainly in agricultural pur- suits, is now living retired at his pleas- ant home in Windham Township, Wyoming County. A man of great energy and more than ordinary business capacity, his success in life has been largely due to his own efforts and the sound judgment by which he has been enabled to make wise investments and take good advantage of his resources.

In the township where he still resides, Mr. Keeney first opened his eyes to the light August 8, 1825, a son of Seth L. and Mary (Wall) Keeney, who were worthy representatives of honored pioneer families of this section of the state. His father was also a native of Wyoming County, born in Braintrim Township, where his parents, Joshua and Phebe (Sturdevant) Keeney, spent their last days. They were natives of Con- necticut, who migrated to Wyoming County about 1780, and became prominently identified with the development of this region. The ma- ternal grandparents, Bartlett and Mary (Wil- liams) Wall, were also early settlers of this lo- cality, where they continued to make their home until called to the world beyond. The mother of our subject was born near Scranton, in Lack- awanna County, and died in Windham Town- ship, Wyoming County, at the age of eighty- three years, while the father passed away in the same township a number of years previous, at the age of fifty-one. Of their ten children three yet survive.

Amid the scenes of frontier life upon the old homestead farm, Mark Keeney spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and as soon as old enough began to aid in its operation. He still resides in this place, which has now been his home for over seventy-two years, and in its culti- vation met with a fair degree of success, but has now laid aside all business cares, enjoying a well

670

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

earned rest. On the 24th of December, 1855, he married Miss Amanda Tewksbury, who died No- vember 10, 1863, at the age of thirty-three years. Three children were born of that union, but only one is now living, Mark, Jr., a widower who has one child. Mr. Keeney was again married May II, 1865, the lady of his choice being Augusta S. Camp, by whom he had five children, one now de- ceased. Those living are Miles C., who is mar- ried and has one child; Abner C. and Wall L., who are married, but have no children; and Bur- ton T., at home. Our subject's eldest son now operates the farm, leaving his father to spend his declining years in peace and retirement.

Until 1860 Mr. Keeney was a Democrat in politics, but since that time has been an ardent supporter of Republican principles. A leading and representative man of the community, he has been called upon to fill all of the township offices, holding some of them for the long period of forty years, and serving as justice of the peace for twenty years. He and his family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and merit and receive the warmest confidence of their fellow-citizens.

J OSEPH T. JENNINGS. The records of the lives of our forefathers are of interest to the modern citizen, not alone for their historic value, but also for the inspiration and example they afford; yet we need not look to the past. Although surroundings may differ, the es- sential conditions of life are ever the same, and a man can learn from the success of those around him if he will heed the obvious lessons contained in their history. Turn to the life record of Mr. Jennings of Mehoopany, study carefully the plans and methods he has followed, and you will learn of managerial ability seldom equalled. A man of keen perception, of great sagacity, of un- bounded enterprise, his power nevertheless lies to a great extent in that quality which enables him to successfully control men and affairs. He is one of the representative business men of Wy- oming County, and is prominently connected with her lumber interests.

Mr. Jennings was born May 20, 1827, in Penn-

sylvania, a son of Paul B. and Elizabeth (Tutel) Jennings. The father was a native of York, England, where he was reared until about sixteen years of age, when he came to America, first lo- cating in Philadelphia. There he worked for a lumberman for a number of years, but in 1831 came to Grist Flats, Mehoopany Township, Wy- oming County, and purchased a farm about three miles from the village of Mehoopany, on which he resided only a short time. He then bought the tract where North Mehoopany is now lo- cated, it being at that time all timber land, on which had been erected a small grist and sawmill. These he operated for many years, or until his sons were old enough to take charge of the busi- ness. He extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber and rafted the same down the river. Energetic and progressive, he met with excellent success in his undertakings, and left a valuable estate at the time of his death, which occurred on the old homestead in December, 1864, when he had reached the age of seventy-two. As a lead- ing Republican of his township, he was elected to nearly all the local offices. He was one of the valued citizens and honored pioneers of the coun- ty, and was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Mehoopany, to which his estimable wife also belonged. She was a native of Luzerne County, Pa., and died in 1893, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. In their family were seven children, namely: Joseph T., of this review; William, a prominent resident of Wilkesbarre, Pa .; Worthy, who died at the age of eight years; Caroline, wife of E. W. Sturdevant of Wilkesbarre; Mary Ann, who became the wife of J. C. Kentner, and died at the age of fifty-six; Maria, who died in childhood; and Charles, who was drowned at the age of eight.

Joseph T. Jennings was about four years of age when brought by his parents to Mehoopany Township, Wyoming County, and he remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-two, clerking in his father's store and assisting' in the mills. He and his brother William N. then rented all their father's interests here, with exception of the farm, and purchased about one thousand acres of heavily timbered land at what is now known as Jenningsville.

671

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

There they erected a sawmill, which our subject still successfully operates, and they have added to their land until they now have sixteen hun- dred acres, upon which are three good ponds. In 1880 they disposed of the store, but are still extensively interested in the lumber business.

On the 25th of October, 1849, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Jennings and Miss Sallie Ann, a daughter of Maj. John Fassett, of Me- hoopany Township, who was born in Connecti- cut and brought to Wyoming County when only a year old. The major was a successful farmer and lumberman of this community; where he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the age of ninety-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings have two sons, Harry S. and John B., who are engaged with their father in business.

Mr. Jennings is unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party, and has filled all of the township offices with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. In 1863 he was nominated as representative, and was defeated by a majority of only five hundred, although the Democrats usually carried the district by a ma- jority of three thousand. This fact plainly indi- cates his personal popularity and the confidence and trust his fellow-citizens repose in him. Char- itable and benevolent, he gives freely to all wor- thy enterprises for the good of the community, and he and his estimable wife are active and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

I RVIN WHEELOCK has held the office of postmaster at Eatonville since the adminis- tration of President Grant, and for many years was actively engaged in the mercantile business here. He is well known in Wyoming County, and especially in the township of Eaton, where much of his life has been passed. He was born near Eatonville January 3, 1829, and is a member of a family long connected with the his- tory of this locality. The first of the name to set- tle in America was one who crossed the ocean from England in 1741 and located in Massachu- setts. Esock, son of Daniel Wheelock, was born in Gloucester, Mass., and removed from there to

Pennsylvania, settling in Washington Township, Wyoming County. His family consisted of elev- en children: Daniel, Adin (our subject's father), Hannah, Polly, Theron, Myra, Eliza, Alzada, Keziah, Eliza and Augustus.

In Washington Township, Wyoming County, Adin Wheelock was born in 1797, and in this lo- cality his entire life was spent, engaged in gen- eral farming. In his youth settlers were few and advantages limited, but he lived to see, and him- self contributed to, the development of the re- sources of the county and its increase in pros- perity. He married Eleanor Frear, and they became the parents of eight children, of whom our subject was the fourth in order of birth. Of this family all are deceased ex- cept our subject, Charles and Daniel. Charles resides on the old homestead in Eaton Town- ship, and Daniel is a retired merchant of Tunk- hannock.

The subscription schools of Eaton Township, which he attended three months each winter, af- forded our subject all the educational advantages he ever enjoyed. A walk of more than a mile each morning brought him to the school, which was held in a log house, destitute of all comforts, and with few of what are now considered necessi- ties in the work of teaching. The knowledge ac- quired there, while limited, was substantial and furnished the basis upon which was built the su- perstructure of the broad information he now possesses. In 1850, when twenty-one years of age, he began for himself, and for a time worked at the carpenter's trade, but afterward went to Vicksburg and engaged in cutting timber in the swamps. In the spring of 1853 he returned to Wyoming County, and from that time until the fall of 1855 was principally employed as clerk in a store. With a desire to see more of the world and gratify his taste for adventure, as well as se- cure financial success, he determined to go to California, and at New York took passage on a ship bound for the Isthmus of Panama. He spent twenty-five days on the water, finally land- ing in San Francisco, after which he immediately began prospecting for gold. For seven years he engaged in mining, and met with fair success in his ventures. In the winter of 1862-63 he re-

672

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

turned to Pennsylvania, and for six years was en- gaged in the mercantile business in Rush, Sus- quehanna County. Returning to Eatonville in 1870, he opened a store here, and of this he was proprietor until 1896, when he turned the busi- ness over to his son, Fred. However, he still continues to act as postmaster.

In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock are earnest workers in the Baptist Church, and he has been a deacon for years. He cast his first presidential vote for General Scott, and is a pro- nounced Republican in his views. He has kept well posted concerning national and foreign af- fairs, and is an interesting conversationalist. De- cember 6, 1866, he was united in marriage with Rebecca Reynolds, and they became the parents of three children, Fred, Eleanor and William, of whom the older son is the only survivor. Mrs. Wheelock is the daughter of C. W. and Amanda (Denton) Reynolds, natives of Dutchess County, N. Y., where Mrs. Wheelock was also born. They came to Bradford County, Pa., in 1847. The fa- ther died in Montrose in 1888; the mother, in Bradford County in 1884. Mrs. Wheelock has the following brothers and sisters living: Mrs. Frank Story, of Elizabeth, N. J .; W. D., of War- saw, N. Y .; Mrs. Leroy Coleman, of Bradford County; W. C., of Scranton, Pa., and Lottie, of Montrose.

C HAUNCEY SHERWOOD, of Falls Township, Wyoming County, is one of the original pioneers of this valley, and has spent his entire life of eighty-five years in this immediate region. For that reason, he, perhaps more than any other person living, realizes what great and important changes have been brought to pass during the span of his life in this portion of the state. How the wilderness has been lev- eled, fertile farms and happy homes have sprung up; churches and schools, living examples of civ- ilization; and thriving towns and villages are now to be seen where savages and wild beasts prowled in his infancy. To the grand result of to-day, Mr. Sherwood has certainly contributed a fair quota. For years he held local offices of re- sponsibility, if small remuneration, in the en-

deavor to place things in the community on a safe basis of law and order, and in many other ways assisted in developing the young country.

His father, Phineas Sherwood, was a native of Connecticut, and with his parents came to found a home in the forests of Wyoming County in the fall of 1789. He took up, or rather bought out a man who had recently taken up a tract of two hundred acres in what is now known as Falls Township, and diligently proceeded to literally hew ont a farm. Little, indeed, can the words convey to those who have been so fortunate as to enter into the possessions of the honest, indus- trious, hard working pioneers of a century ago, nor can even the "advance-guard of civilization" on new land in the west, a land of rolling prairie already cleared for farming, comprehend what it means to make a farm in the heart of the forest. As a companion and helpmate, Phineas Sher- wood chose Virgina Kellar, whose family had settled in Falls Township about 1789, and to the couple nine children were born, viz .: Chauncey ; Almira; Victor; William; Lucy; Louisa; George, who resides on the old homestead; and two who died in infancy.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 79

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