Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 86

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 86
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 86

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October 10, 1866, Mr. Flumerfelt married Min- nie Jenkins, who was a native of Tunkhannock, and who died at the age of thirty-three years, leav- ing two children, Eliza J. and James B., both of whom are now in Arizona, on their father's large ranch. The present wife of our subject, whom he married March 28, 1882, bore the maiden name of Mary B. Bunnell, and their only child is Maria Grace. The family are members of the Free Methodist Church, and are highly respected by all who are brought into association with them.

E DWIN D. FURMAN has been a resident of Tunkhannock for some eleven years, and since 1895 has held the office of court- crier of the county court. A man upright and honorable in even the smallest affairs of life, true to what he believes to be right, he well merits the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow- townsmen, and by all who have come across his pathway. From boyhood he seems to be en- dowed with those qualities that command admi- ration, for he has never sought for his own aggrandizement, but rather for the advancement of the public welfare.

During the Revolutionary War four brothers

by the name of Furman came to the United States from Germany; one settled in Rhode Island; one in Vermont; one in Ohio or New York, and the remaining one in Louisiana, where he founded Furman University, a Baptist insti- tution, still in existence. From one of these brothers was descended Ezra, grandfather of our subject. He was born in New England, March 7, 1788, and chose for his wife Laura Adkins, whose father, Samuel, served in the War of the Revolution. Ezra Furman was a hero of the War of 1812.

Allen F., father of Edwin D. Furman, was born in Greenwich, N. Y., December 8, 1811, and came to Wyoming County when about twenty years old. He bought a tract of land, which he cleared and greatly improved. Here he dwelt until shortly before his death, and besides keep- ing up his farm, followed the carpenter's trade to some extent. He died in Tunkhannock at the ripe old age of eighty-three and a half years. His wife bore the maiden name of Jerusha A. Tick- nor, her parents being Ashael and Thankful (Par- rish) Ticknor. She was born in Clyde, N. Y., November 28, 1813, and after having reared a family of twelve children, was called to her re- ward, August 16, 1887. All but two of the num- ber are still living, and are as follows: Foster, of Mehoopany, Pa .; Judson, of Texas; Granville, of Kansas; Edgar, of Rockford, Ill .; Edwin; Luana, wife of C. R. Burgess, of this city; Louisa, wife of George Waller, of Iowa; Julia, wife of Joseph Green, of Spearfish, S. D .; Horace H., of Danville, Pa .; and Wilmot M., of Berwick, Pa. Sylvester was a soldier in the United States regular army, and died of yellow fever in Fort Moultrie, Charleston, S. C., in 1856. Granville, Judson and Jerome T. served in the Union army during the Civil War, and the first named was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. Jerome T. first enlisted in the Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, but later was transferred to Company I, Thirty-third Regiment of United States Col- ored Troops, and was commissioned lieutenant. At the close of the war he was foully assassinated by two unknown men, August 25, 1865, in Wal- halla, S. C., before he had been discharged from the service. He was one of the most popular

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officers in the command. To all who knew him, Susannah (Young) Rinker, who were born in Northampton County, Pa., August 7, 1809, and his superiors and inferiors in rank alike, the blow was felt most keenly, and resolutions of sympathy . January 11, 1810, respectively. The former was were at once drawn up by the citizens of the town, whose high regard he had won by his manly and kindly manner; others, including his captain, wrote letters expressing the deepest sympathy with the relatives of the unfortunate young man and the greatest indignation at the dastardly crime. A reward of $1,000 was immediately of- fered to any one capturing the murderers, but they were never brought to justice. It appeared that there had been a plot on foot to assassinate the captain also, but it was not carried out, for some reason.

Edwin D. Furman was born October 5, 1844, in Mehoopany, Pa., and was brought up on a farm. With his father, he learned the carpenter's trade, as did all of his brothers as well. This business he has followed, in conjunction with painting, most of his life, and has been very suc- cessful. From 1865 to 1869 he resided in Wyo- ming, Luzerne County, Pa., after which he pur- chased the old homestead near Mehoopany, and continued to cultivate the place until 1882. The next four years he passed in the town of Wyo- ming, but finally, in March, 1886, came to Tunk- hannock, settling on property situated at the cor- ner of Harrison and Slocum Streets, which he had bought. He is a good Republican, as was his father before him, and fraternally belongs to Tunkhannock Lodge No. 699, I. O. O. F. In company with his wife he is also a charter mem- ber of Lady Esther Lodge No. 74, Daughters of Rebekah.

December 7, 1864, occurred the marriage of Mr. Furman and Mary E. Rinker. They have had two children: Joseph E., who is in the "Re- publican" office here, and Eliza Barclay, who died March 7, 1893, aged fifteen and a half years. Mrs. Furman is an active member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and a great worker in the Ladies' Aid Society and the Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Union. Mr. Furman has been an earnest member of the Methodist denomina- tion since he was fourteen years of age, and gives librally of his means to further its prosperity.

The parents of Mrs. Furman are Abram and

a son of George and Elizabeth (Moyer) Rinker, the first mentioned a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Susannah Rinker was a child of John and Susannah (Shafer) Rinker, the former of whom participated in the War of 1812. Abram Rinker, who has been a farmer most of his life, though a tailor in early manhood. is still living, his home having been with his son, Abram, Jr., in Wyo- ming, Luzerne County, since the death of his faithful wife, May 30, 1890. From 1835 until 1867 he was a resident of this county, after which he dwelt in the town of Wyoming, Pa. His chil- dren are: Emily A., Martha A., Mary E., John W., Sarah J., Abram and Helen R., and three have passed to the silent land. The devoted wife and mother was a loyal member of the Methodist Church for upwards of sixty years, and her lovely Christian life is an inspiration to all who came within the range of her uplifting influence.

S TEPHEN DYMOND has been a resident of Monroe Township, Wyoming County, twenty years, and is universally respected by his neighbors and all who know him. He passed through the rugged school of experience and self-dependence in his youth, only to meet with much greater trials and losses in after years, but with heroism and noble courage has made the best of everything and cultivated a spirit of cheer- fulness and patience. When we meet a man who has suffered such a misfortune as fell to his lot, we have a fuller realization of what the Union cost the brave soldiers who laid their lives, their hopes, their all, upon the altar of our country's liberties.

The paternal great-grandfather of our subject was a native of Ireland, and became a settler in New York State during its early history. Grand- father John Dymond was born and reared in New York, and there married Polly Lawson. In later life they removed to Luzerne County, Pa., where our subject's father, Matthew, was born. He chose for his wife Jane Montanye, also a native of Luzerne County, and twelve children were

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born to the worthy pair. His grandmother lived to attain the remarkable old age of one hundred and six years, and his own mother reached the ripe old age of ninety-two years. The parents of Jane Dymond were Andrew and Amy (Harding) Montanye, natives of New York State and Pennsylvania respectively.

Stephen Dymond was born in Luzerne Coun- ty, Pa., April 22, 1836, and from boyhood became accustomed to the pursuits of country life. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Company K, Two Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry, and served until the great disaster of his whole life came to him, in the loss of both his eyes, result- ing from fever while in the army. He was hon- orably discharged from the hospital in West Phil- adelphia, June 3, 1865. In such few words can be summed up a tragedy, but who can estimate the good, the benefits enjoyed by succeeding gen- erations on account of such sacrifices.

January 2, 1860, Mr. Dymond married Mahala Sickler, who was born and brought up in Wyo- ming County. Her father, Isaac Sickler, was shot by a United States marshal in Exeter Town- . ship, Wyoming County, in 1864, entirely without cause or justification. Of the five children who came to bless the union of our subject and wife, all survive, save the eldest son, Levi. The others are Andrew, Clarinda, Mary and Rachel J. In politics, Mr. Dymond is an earnest Republican. He acted most efficiently as township treasurer for one year and served his fellow-citizens in the capacity of tax collector two years. . Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

S TEDMAN HARDING, deceased, was one of the sterling old pioneers and agricul- turists of Eaton Township, Wyoming County, and the records of this locality would be> very incomplete should the history of himself and devoted wife be omitted for any reason. Faithful to every duty which came to him, whether as a citizen, neighbor, business man or in family re- lation, he won the respect and love of all with whom he came in contact. A self-made man, in the strictest sense, as he was obliged to battle

alone in the world from the time that he was eleven years old, he nevertheless achieved suc- cess in spite of all the obstacles that he encoun- tered, and too much credit cannot be given him for the honorable, manly way with which he con- fronted life's problems.

The birth of Stedman Harding took place De- cember II, 1808, in Susquehanna County, he be- ing a son of Thomas and Martha Harding, na- tives of Pennsylvania. The mother died when Stedman was but eleven years old, and then he was thrown upon his own resources. Finding employment with farmers for several years, he worked faithfully in return for his board and a few clothes, and persisted in the determination, which assumed form in his young mind at a very early age, that he would have a good education and thus be fitted for business life. Thus, during his teens, he earnestly applied himself to the ac- quisition of knowledge during the winter months in the district schools, and the remainder of the year studied eagerly the few books and news- papers that fell across his pathway. Being gifted with a quick and active mind, he learned readily, and at length took a teacher's examination, and was given charge of a school. Then we find him teaching very successfully for a number of terms, and the money which he earned in this manner was carefully laid aside until such a time as he should find it profitable to invest the sum. He was offered several opportunities for employ- ment upon public works, and realized fair amounts from that branch of enterprise. At the time of his death, he owned about one hundred acres of land, this representing years of toil and ·patient perseverance on his part. From time to time he was requested by his fellow-townsmen to occupy local offices, which he did, to the en- tire satisfaction of all. Finally he was elected to the responsible position of county auditor, and creditably discharged the duties of the place. In politics he was a Republican. A zeal- ous member of the Baptist denomination, he car- ried his Christianity into his every-day life, and was ready to depart when death summoned him to his reward, March 12, 1891.

April 20, 1834, Stedman Harding married Martha A., daughter of Thomas and Polly Mitch-

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ell. Her father was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1780, being a son of David Mitchell, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Harding is a native of this township, and was born March 21, 1812, the fourth in a family comprising ten children. Her three elder brothers and sisters, Sarah, David and Elisha H., are deceased, and also Mary E. and William P. Those living are Abner, Thomas, Esther, and Emilia. The eight children born to Mr. and Mrs .. Harding were named as follows: Horace C., Esther, Mary S., Anson A., Martha E., Thomas M., Melissa M. and Frank S. They are all living and married, save Anson A., who enlisted in the late Civil War, and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, when only twenty-two years of age. Mrs. Harding was reared to womanhood in Eaton Township, and here received her education. After she had exhausted the resources of the district schools, she began teaching, and was very suc- cessfully employed in that profession some five or six terms. Though she is now in her eighty- sixth year, she enjoys fair health, and her mind is as keen and bright as it ever was. She has a great many friends, and all regard her with the high- est esteem and reverence. She continues to live on the old homestead, which is now managed by her son, Frank. For many years she has been a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

H ENRY L. HARDING, the popular agent at Factoryville for the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad, is a native of Susquehanna County, Pa., born on the 22d of October, 1834. His parents, Lemuel and Polly (Wheat) Harding, natives of Orange County, N. Y., came to this state in 1832, and located upon a farm in Susquehanna County, where the father died at the age of sixty-five. The mother was called to her final rest at the age of seventy-three years, while in Nicholson, Pa.

The first thirteen years of his life our subject spent upon the home farm, and then started out to make his own way in the world, at first clerk- ing in the postoffice at Pittston for two years. He next secured a position as clerk in a general store at Summerville, Pa., and on leaving that place

went to Susquehanna, where he was employed in a drug store until 1858, which year witnessed his arrival in Nicholson. There he was married in 1864 to Miss Elizabeth Langforth, a native of Cooperstown, N. Y., who died in Nicholson at the age of twenty-two, leaving one child, Carrie E.

Mr. Harding continued to clerk in a drug store in Nicholson until coming to Factoryville in 1869, since which time he has acceptably filled his present position, that of agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. His services have proved most satisfactory to the company, and he is an obliging, courteous gentleman, well liked by the traveling .public. Besides his rail- road duties, he is also interested in the coal busi- ness. In 1867 Mr. Harding was again married, his second union being with Miss L. I. Maynard, a native of Susquehanna County, by whom he has one son, Louis A., now pursuing his studies at State College, Pa. The daughter has also been provided with an excellent education. The family occupy a pleasant home in Factoryville, which Mr. Harding erected in 1888. He and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he has been an unswerv- ing Democrat since casting his first vote for James K. Polk.

D AVID S. HILDEBRANT, an agricul- turist of energy and ability residing in Monroe Township, Wyoming County, began his earthly career on the 8th of October, 1850, in New Jersey, where his ancestors had located in a very early day in the history of the state. There his paternal great-grandfather was born and followed the occupation of farming throughout his active business career, as did also the grandfather, John C. Hildebrant, a native of the same state. The parents of our subject, John A. and Mary (Shannon) Hildebrant, were also born in New Jersey, and reared a family of six children, namely: David S., John B., Mary C., James E., Angeline S. and Sherman.

Our subject was reared in much the usual man- ner of farmer boys, and in 1875 at the age of twenty-five years was married, the lady of his

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choice being Miss Annie C. Straley, a member of an old New Jersey family, and a native of Wyo- ming County, Pa., where she acquired a good cominon school education. Of their union were born five children: Minnie A., deceased; Mamie E., Myrtie, Lina and Howard J. The wife and mother, who was a faithful member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, died at the early age of twenty-nine years, respected by all who knew her. On the 15th of July, 1888, Mr. Hildebrant was again married, his second union being with Miss Jennie M. Scott, whose birth occurred in Luzerne County, Pa., of which state her ancestors had long been residents.

Since casting his first vote Mr. Hildebrant has been an uncompromising Republican in politics, and he has served his fellow citizens in the capaci- ty of supervisor of Monroe Township one year and school director four years. He belongs to the Grange, No. 1026, of Center Hill, Luzerne Coun- ty, and with his wife and children holds member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The family is one of the highest respectability and prominence in the community, occupying an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Hilde- brant is a successful farmer, and his life is a liv- ing illustration of what ability, energy, and force of character can accomplish. It is to such men that the county owes its prosperity, its rapid pro- gress and its advancement. Of a genial dispo- sition and affable manners, he has gained a host of warm friends and has the respect and confi- dence of all who know him.

D ENNIS D. GARDNER, one of the en- terprising business men of Factoryville, combines the virtues of energy and pluck with excellent judgment, which have brought great success to his efforts and labors. In 1863 he embarked in the milk business, six quarts a day at that time supplying all his customers, but two years later he began sending milk to Scran- ton, and now sells from fifty to sixty cans, or over four hundred quarts per day. His son, who is now connected with him in business, takes the milk to Scranton every day.

In the same house in Factoryville where he

now lives, Mr. Gardner was born September 5, 1839, a son of Erasmus D. and Mercy (Reynolds) Gardner. His father was a native of one of the New England states, but in early life went to New York, and as a young man came to Wyoming County, about 1822. His death occurred at the present home of our subject when he was seventy- seven years of age. The mother, who was born in Factoryville, died at the same place aged fifty- eight years and six months. In the family were nine children, of whom five are yet living. The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed in the place of his nativity, and the public schools of the village afforded him his educational privi- leges. On the 26th of November, 1863, he mar- ried Miss Johanna Green, a native of Wyoming County, and a daughter of Lyman and Mary (Chase) Green. Two children graced this union, namely: Jennie L., now the wife of Frank Gard- ner, by whom she has one son; and Alviza R., who married Maud M. Wrigley, and also has one son. He is connected with our subject in business.

After his marriage, Mr. Gardner settled in Fac- toryville and gives his entire attention to the milk business and his farming interests. Like his father, he is a progressive business man, and both of them filled the same local offices to the satisfac- tion of all concerned. Politically he has been identified with the Republican party since cast- ing his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He was one of the brave boys in blue during the Civil War, having enlisted August 7, 1862, in Company B, One Hundred Thirty-second Penn- sylvania Infantry, under command of Capt. S. W. Ingham. For a time he was in the hospital on account of malaria, and was subsequently detailed for hospital duty. After ten months of faithful service he was honorably discharged at Harris- burg, and is now a prominent member of the Grand Army Post at Factoryville. At one time he also held membership in the Masonic frater- nity. The family, which is one of prominence in the community, attend the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Gardner is an active member, having served as deacon and treasurer for many years. Both he and his wife have been members of the church choir for many years. Mrs. Gardner, in

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connection with her church work, was for sev- eral years president of the Ladies' Aid Society and treasurer of the Mrs. Sarah Wright Circle No. 104, of Factoryville.

J ESSE R. HUBLER, is the proprietor of the Mill City flour mills and planing mills, which he has carried on for thirteen years uninterruptedly, and he has been a resident of Wyoming County for twenty-one years. He pos- sesses just those qualities which ought to insure success, and which bring the respect and high esteem of one's fellows. Sound and honorable in all his business transactions, reliable and punc- tual, industrious and persevering, such are the epithets applied to him by those who know him best.

Mr. Hubler's maternal great-grandmother and her husband, Christopher Frank, were natives of France, and came to America about 1770. He was killed by Indians on the Potomac River, a short distance above the city of Washington, but the wife previously mentioned escaped with one of her children in a canoe, and when next heard of, had taken up land in Centre County, Pa. There she afterwards became the wife of a Mr. Weaver, and her son, Philip, married, and had nine daughters and one son, viz .: Margaret, Catherine, Mary, Monona, Elizabeth, Jane, Har- riet, Susan, Annie and William. The parents of our subject were Jacob and Catherine (Frank) Hubler, whose marriage was celebrated in 1837. The father died in 1894, when nearly seventy- seven years of age, and the mother died Decem- ber 31, 1896, in her eighty-first year. She was a resident of Mill City from 1876 until 1892, when she removed to Pittston, where she remained until her death. Of her eight children, Charles died suddenly thirty years ago; and Perry, who was hospital steward of the Sixty-seventh Penn- sylvania Volunteers, died in 1863 while in the army. The others are: Elizabeth, Alfred, Simon, Jennie, Frank and Jesse.

J. R. Hubler was born July 19, 1852, in Hunt- ington, Luzerne County, Pa., and went to the dis- trict schools until he was seventeen years of age. When he was eighteen he entered the employ-

ment of his father, working in his grist mill and factory, and farming at intervals up to 1876. In that year he came to Mill City and took charge of the flouring mills here, owned by his father. Nine years later he purchased the planing mills of which H. M. Seckler was the proprietor, and embarked in business independently. In 1889 he added a grist mill, and little by little he has ad- vanced toward the goal of success.

In 1877 the marriage of Mr. Hubler and Eliza- beth Keim took place in Mill City. Her great- grandfather was one of the Hessians captured by General Washington at Trenton, N. J., during the War of the Revolution. To Mr. and Mrs. Hubler two children were born, Charles and Rosa B. Charles is now clerking for the firm of Vosburg Brothers, of this place, and Rosa is at home. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Hubler being superin- tendent of the Sunday-school and president of the Epworth League. He is also an Odd Fellow and a Mason, being connected with Lodge No. 341, F. & A. M., of Factoryville, and Mill City Lodge No. 890, I. O. O. F. In political matters he is a true blue Republican, and as a citizen of this great and grand country he believes in doing everything possible to promote peace, order and sound government. A friend to education, from which source much of our superior civilization has sprung, he earnestly advocates more and bet- ter schools, and in short, may be confidently re- lied upon to be ever found on the side of pro- gress.

B ARCKLEY HIGHT is now living a re- tired life in Tunkhannock, in the enjoy- ment of the comforts which years of thrift and honest toil have brought him. Thirty years and more did he and his estimable wife cheerfully and loyally meet the duties, often apparently thankless, which fell to their lot. Yet year by year, they added a trifle to the store which they were so wise as to lay aside for old age, and now, the arduous strife ended, their large circle of friends hope that they may be spared many years to bless those who come within the reach of their acquaintance.

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Robert Hight, father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was born in Hightstown, N. J., which place was called in honor of his father. Robert Hight lived past the three-score and ten years of the Psalmist, his death occur- ring in his seventy-sixth year, at the home of his son Barckley. He was a tailor by trade, and was a successful man of business. His wife was Miss Anna Willsey, also a native of Pennsylvania. She died at the age of thirty-eight years, in Lagrange, Pa. She was the mother of seven children, three of whom now survive.

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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 86

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