Portrait and biographical record of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties, Part 89

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 89
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 89

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Under his father's administration as sheriff, E. S. Kelly served as deputy for two years. In the fall of 1848 he went to Wisconsin, with a view to settling there, but in less than a year returned and opened a store in his native place. Selling out his interest in the business in March, 1851, he started for California, by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He had studied medicine with his father and found his services as a doctor called into use, and devoted himself to the profession about four years, after which he prospected for three years. In 1858 he returned to Pennsyl- vania, and for two years was engaged in medical practice in Lynn, Susquehanna County. Later he spent a year in New Milford, Pa., then went to California for fourteen months, and on returning settled in Tunkhannock. He went with the Union army to South Carolina as clerk in the quartermaster's department. After Lee's surren- der he was station agent at Lackawanna Junction for eighteen months, and at the end of that time invested his funds in the fine place where he has since resided. As his father before him, he is a Democrat; his first presidential ballot was cast for Franklin Pierce. He and his family attend

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the Presbyterian Church, September 15, 1858, he married Sarah F. Sherman, of Lynn, Susque- hanna County, Pa., who was born in New Mil- ford, Pa., the daughter of David G. and Mary E. (Parrish) Sherman, natives of Connecticut. They passed their last days at the home of our subject, where Mr. Sherman died at the age of eighty-one, and his wife when seventy-eight. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly. Mary Kate became Mrs. F. P. Ace, and had four children, only one of whom survives. Dr. Will Sherman Kelly, a graduate of the University of Pennsyl- vania, has been for some years engaged in the practice of his profession (dentistry) in Wilkes- barre. He married Kittie Wheaton, of that city.

F RANK H. MONTANYE. Wyoming County has been the home and scene of labor of many men who have not only led lives that should serve as an example to those who come after them, but have also been of im- portant service to the community through vari- ous avenues of usefulness. Prominent among the representative business men and agricultur- ists of Exeter Township is Mr. Montanye, who was for three years one of the brave defenders of the Union during the Civil War. He was born January 26, 1843, in Luzerne County, Pa., of which his parents, William and Elizabeth (Spencer) Montanye, were also natives. His grandfather, Joseph Montanye, a farmer by oc- cupation, was born in Connecticut, of French an- cestry. Our subject is one of a family of eight children, but he has only one brother now living, John S.

Upon the home farm, Mr. Montanye was rear- ed to habits of industry and economy, while his education was secured in the schools of the neighborhood. Prompted by a spirit of patriot- ism, he ran away from home at the age of six- teen years, and at Kingston, Pa., September 9, 1862, enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Infantry. He took part in a number of hotly contested battles, in- cluding Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wil- derness, Petersburg and Hatchie's Run, and in the last-named engagement had his jaw broken

by a shell. For brave and meritorious conduct on the field of battle he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant November 4, 1864. Subse- quently his company was sent to Hart's Island in New York Harbor, where he was mustered out, and going to Harrisburg, Pa., was honora- bly discharged June 12, 1865, as the war was over and his services were no longer needed.

Returning to his home in Dallas, Pa., Mr. Montanye found employment in a sawmill, and for thirteen years successfully followed that oc- cupation. Since that time, however, he has de- voted his energies to agricultural pursuits with gratifying success, so that to-day he is numbered among the most substantial and prosperous farm- ers of Exeter Township. On the 6th of March, 1885, he married Miss Elizabeth Coolbaugh, a native of Wyoming County, whose ancestors came from Germany to the new world at a very early day, and have principally followed farming as a means of livelihood. Two interesting chil- dren bless this union, Wilber W. and John.

Politically Mr. Montanye is a prominent mem- ber of the Republican party in his locality, and has faithfully served his fellow-citizens as judge of elections, school director six years and poor master. He affiliates with Cor. Rufus Frear Post No. 323, G. A. R., of Beaumont. An influential citizen, he commands the respect and confidence of all, and has the high regard of a large circle of friends. His residence in Wyoming County, covering several years, has numbered him among its valued citizens who have been devoted to the public welfare. He has manifested the same loy- alty in days of peace as in days of war, and is true to every duty, whether public or private.

L YMAN BROS., publishers of "The New Age," at Tunkhannock. Berkley L. and Victor H. Lyman, composing the firm of Lyman Bros., are the only children of Gideon Clark and Jemima (Knapp) Lyman. Gideon Clark Lyman, son of John Bennett Lyman, son of Gideon Lyman, was born at Lymanville, Sus- quehanna County, Pa., January 13, 1828, and died near the same place at the age of thirty years. He taught school for several years, and

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studied law with Hon. B. S. Bentley, at Mon- trose, Pa. May 26, 1852, he married Jemima Knapp, and afterward removed to Whiteside County, Ill., where he engaged in large real es- tate transactions, both in that state and in Wis- consin and Iowa. After a time his health failed, and he returned to his native place, where he purchased a farm, but died of consumption about a year afterward. His wife was born near Lynn, Pa., January 27, 1829, and died in Tunkhannock, December 28, 1887.

The paternal grandparents of Berkley L. and Victor H. Lyman were John Bennett and Sarah Almira (Brace) Lyman. The former was the ninth in a family of eleven children, and was born in Claremont County, Vt. When he was a child of about five years his parents removed to Pennsylvania and settled in the wilderness at the place now known as Lymanville. There he died February 6, 1890, aged nearly ninety-two years. His father, Gideon Lyman, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and was present at the sur- render of Burgoyne. The ancestral lineage of the Lyman family has been traced back to the Norman conquest in Great Britain and directly connected with the Malcolms, kings of Scotland, A. D. 1000 to 1057. The numerous members of the family now scattered throughout the United States have mostly descended from Richard Ly- man, who emigrated to this country in 1696 and settled at Lebanon, Conn. Sarah Almira Brace, daughter of Marvin Brace, was born at Benning- ton, Genesee (now part of Wyoming) County, N. Y., May 14, 1806. She became the wife of John Bennett Lyman March 8, 1827, and died August 20, 1891. Nine children were born to them, five of whom are still living, viz .: Marvin Brace, James Hodge, Thomas Wilcox, John Oakley and Abigail, who married Anson A. Maryott.

The maternal grandparents of Berkley L. and Victor H. Lyman were Justus and Anna (Spen- cer) Knapp. The former was born in Chester, Warren County, N. Y., October 13, 1799, and for a short time lived in Saratoga County, N. Y., whence he came, at the age of seven years, to Lynn, Pa. November 30, 1817, he married Anna Spencer, and nine children were born of their

union. In 1846 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for many years. He died in December, 1870. His wife died Febru- ary 6, 1859, aged sixty-two years.

Berkley L. and Victor H. Lyman married El- len and Mary Lucinda Atkinson, respectively, who were sisters, the daughters of Robert Hart- well and Ellen (Broughton) Atkinson. Robert H. Atkinson, son of Rev. George and Lucinda (Russell) Atkinson, was born in Washington Township, Wyoming (then Luzerne) County, Pa., February 4, 1828. He is a farmer by occu- pation. In September, 1862, there being a call for troops for the federal army, he recruited a part of Company A, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, the balance of the company being raised at Oil City, Pa. He was given a first lieutenant's commission, but was obliged to resign the fol- lowing year on account of permanent ill health, and was honorably discharged from the service. Ellen Broughton, his wife, was born near Johns- town, Pa., January 15, 1828, and was a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (McCarty) Broughton. She was married to R. H. Atkinson October 23, 1850. They had nine children, seven of whom are still living, viz .: Hannah Laura, Mary Lu- cinda, Ellen, John Broughton, Robert, Sarah and Emma Patmore. Berkley L. Lyman was born at Lymanville, Pa., June 5, 1853. He was edu- cated in the common schools at New Milford, Pa., and at Keystone Academy, Factoryville, Pa. While yet in his teens he served an apprentice- ship to the plaster mason's trade with his uncle, Pardon Knapp, at Factoryville, which trade he continued to follow in various localities up to the time of his marriage, December 12, 1876. About January 1, 1880, he removed to Gibson, Pa., where he clerked in a mercantile establishment for several years, finally embarking in the news- paper business at Tunkhannock, where he still continues.

Victor Hugo Lyman was born in Lee County, Ill., March 12, 1856. His parents returned to Pennsylvania when he was about one year old. He was educated in the common and select schools at New Milford and in Wyoming Sem- inary, Kingston, Pa. He served an apprentice- ship at house, sign and wagon painting, and fol-

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lowed that occupation for a number of years. He was married February 8, 1881, and purchased a home in Lemon Township. October 1, 1886, in company with George J. Young, he purchased "The New Age," a weekly newspaper plant at Tunkhannock, and assumed a position as editor, reporter, proof reader and general utility man, as all country newspaper men must do. The partnership continued for one year, when Mr. Young's interest was purchased by Berkley L. Lyman, and the firm became Lyman Bros., which it still remains.

"The New Age" was founded upon the ruins of "The Standard" and "The Worker," two small sheets that had run brief and somewhat vicissi- tudinous careers. Mason Stark was the origina- . tor, and it was launched as an independent-Dem- ocratic journal. Lyman Bros., not being imbued with Democratic principles, soon changed it to an independent publication. It enjoys a liberal patronage and exerts a wide and wholesome in- fluence throughout the county.

C LARENCE J. PHOENIX, one of the na- tive sons of Monroe Township, Wyom- ing County, is a representative young man, and is justly entitled to the high respect and esteem which is accorded him by those who have known him all his life. He has always been greatly interested in country pursuits, and until recently has engaged solely in the management of his fine farm in this locality. His grandfa- ther, Matthew Phoenix, was a native of Connec- ticut, and was one of the pioneers of this town- ship in remote days. His life long occupation was that of farming, and his regular, outdoor ex- istence prolonged his days to the remarkable old age of one hundred and eight years, his death taking place in Luzerne County. His son, James, married Mary A. Rice, and of their six children, our subject was the youngest. The others were Delphine, Annette, Elizabeth, Charles M. and one who died in infancy. C. M. is a minister of the Methodist denomination, and at present has a pastorate in Havelock, Iowa. He is well off, financially, and is a local justice of the peace. His tendency toward the

ministry was probably the result of the example set him by his respected father, who was also a preacher in the Methodist Church, though unor- dained. Besides this he was a farmer, a lumber dealer, and served as a justice of the peace.

Clarence J. was born in Monroe Township, as previously stated, the date of the event being May 8, 1856. His boyhood was quite unevent- fully passed upon his father's farm, and there he learned lessons of obedience, respect, patience, industry, etc., which are now the groundwork of his character. When he was twenty-five years old he married Lizzie Harrison, who was born in Wyoming County. Their only child is Grace, a very bright and promising girl. Mrs. Phoenix is a daughter of James W. and Mary P. (Heaton) Harrison, the former a native of England, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father of James was Samuel H. Harrison, who canie from Eng- land in 1839, and settled permanently in these parts. Two of his sons participated in the strug- gle for the Union. Mr. Phoenix is a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and also be- longs to Beaumont Creek Range No. 820, of Beaumont. In his political ideas he is a Demo- crat. Not desirous of holding public office, un- less urged thereto by the earnestly expressed wishes of his fellows, he has acted in the capacity of assessor for two years.

J OHN B. MILLER is an honored veteran of the Civil War, and aided in preserving the Union when the dissatisfied south would have overthrown the republic. Deeds of valor have formed the theme of story and of song throughout all ages, and the heroism of him who will face danger and death for a principle is wor- thy of the highest praise. As a follower of the starry banner, Mr. Miller met the enemy on many a southern battlefield, and to-day well mer- its the gratitude of the nation. He was born in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pa., Oc- tober 28, 1844, and when six years of age ac- companied his parents on their removal to Wy- oming County, where he was reared to man- hood. The common schools afforded him his early educational privileges, and he later pur-

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sued his studies at Wyoming Seminary, Kings- ton, being a student there in the winters of 1863 and of 1865 and 1866. His education, however, was interrupted by his army service.

When twenty years of age, Mr. Miller enlisted as a private of Company H, One Hundred Nine- ty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, on the Ist day of September, 1864, and was mustered in at Phil- adelphia. He participated in a number of im- portant engagements, including the hard fought battle of Peebles Farm, Va., September 30, 1864; South Side Railroad, Va., October 27-28, 1864; Warren's raid to Weldon Railroad, December 6- 12, 1864; Hatchie's Run, February 6, 1865; and White Oaks, March 29, 1865. At the last-named battle his regiment opened the engagement and supported General Sheridan through the fight. April 1, 1865, Mr. Miller participated in the bat- tle of Five Forks, and then with his command followed the army of Lee until the surrender at Appomattox. He was promoted to the rank of corporal. His service was arduous, and he many times narrowly escaped death, his blanket being pierced by a bullet, leaving seven holes in the same. His duty was faithfully performed with a loyalty that knew no wavering, and he received an honorable discharge at Arlington Heights, Va., June 3, 1865.

Mr. Miller then returned to the farm in Over- field Township, where he has since made his home, devoting his life to the honorable and quiet pursuits of agriculture. He owns one hun- dred and thirty-four acres of land, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates the careful supervision of the owner, who is a pro- gressive farmer, having all the modern improve- ments upon his land. January 18, 1870, he mar- ried Miss Nancy R. Baxter, and they have two children: A. Baxter, who is now a medical stu- dent in the University of Pennsylvania; and J. William, at home.

Mr. Miller has served as auditor of Overfield Township for four years, and is the present in- cumbent, and was school director for four years. He takes a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the community, and is active in sup- port of those enterprises which are calculated to prove of public benefit. In politics he is a Re-

publican. He belongs to Rice Post No. 211, G. A. R., of Factoryville, and holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee. Social in manner, genial in disposi- tion and true to all the duties of both public and private life, his circle of friends is limited only by the circle of his acquaintances.

A ARON BROWN, of Tunkhannock, is as energetic and enterprising a young busi- ness man as can be found for his age. On account of his father's poor health, he was very early forced into the commercial arena, and from the first manifested unusual aptitude for financial matters. Through his own unassisted efforts and natural qualifications he is steadily rising toward the pinnacle of success, and it is not venturesome to predict for him a most prosperous future. In this glorious land of ours, young men have fine opportunities for showing what mettle enters into their composition, and if they are so fortunate as to possess pluck and perseverance, other things being equal, they are bound to succeed in spite of adverse circumstances.

In social circles, as well as in the world of business, he is prominent, and is a general favor- ite. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic or- der, and also to the Knights of Pythias. As every patriotic young man should do, he takes an active interest in public and political affairs, and does not believe in sitting down, in a wearied manner, saying that as politics are now so corrupt he will have nothing to do with the subject. On the contrary, he feels that if such is the case it lies in the hands of the young men of this generation to set matters right, and he proposes to help take up the burden. He was elected by his fellow-citi- zens to serve them in the common council, and their wisdom in this respect cannot be doubted. Higher honors will come to him without ques- tion, because he always endeavors to keep his personal interests secondary to that of the peo- ple.

In tracing the history of Mr. Brown, we find that he is one of Pennsylvania's native sons, as his birth occurred in Exeter, Luzerne County, February 8, 1868. His parents were Aaron and Esther (Atherton) Brown, both now deceased.

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Our subject undoubtedly inherited from his fath- er his rare good judgment, tact, and general mastery of business details. The senior Brown followed various avocations in his busy life. was a blacksmith, a miller, and also engaged in general merchandising, and in all of these lines met with distinct success. He was very active in giving his influence and support to worthy industries and enterprises and at different times invested con- siderable money in real estate. He was born near Pittston, Pa., and died in Exeter, Pa., when almost sixty-five years old. His wife, Esther, whose father was a sheriff in the early days of Luzerne County, was a native of Plymouth, Pa., and died in Pittston. She was the mother of five children.

After completing his elementary education Aaron Brown, Jr., went to the Keystone Acad- emy, where he pursued higher branches. Then he returned home to assist his father in his mill, and in 1888 bought the property, and has since been the sole owner. He at once instituted many improvements, practically rebuilding the old plant, and erecting a fine new elevator. Every- thing is now in good running order and the busi- ness is constantly increasing.

January 26, 1893, Mr. Brown and Miss Bertha J. Avery were united in marriage at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Avery. The young couple have a very tasteful, com- fortable home, which is further brightened and cheered by the presence of two daughters, Esther A. and Frances E. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are always ready to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than themselves.

H ON. FRANK H. PIATT, who so effi- ciently served the citizens of Tunkhan- nock as postmaster during President Cleveland's first term, and who had previously won distinction in numerous minor offices, was further honored in 1893, when his hosts of friends and admirers called upon him to represent their interests in the state legislature. That he was true to the trust thus reposed in him is a fact that has become a matter of history, and that he is a

man worthy of all confidence and faithful to the duties that fall upon every good citizen and pa- triot, has never been called in question.

The birth of F. H. Piatt occurred in this city November 25, 1848. His parents were Hon. William M. and Rebecca H. (McClintock) Piatt, who came from good old families, associated with the upbuilding and growth of this section of the country. (For further information regarding the ancestral history of our subject, please refer to the sketch of his brother, Joseph W., which appears on another page of this volume.) Wil- liam and Rebecca Piatt were the parents of four sons, all of whom are enterprising business men to-day. They are named respectively: Robert McClintock, Frank H., James Wilson and Jo- seph Wood Piatt.

In his boyhood our subject was an industrious student in the excellent public schools of this place, after which he pursued the higher branches of learning in Lafayette College, graduating therefrom in the class of 1870. Subsequently he turned his attention to various occupations; was a successful teacher and civil engineer and mer- chant. For some twelve years he was an active member of the school board, and held the offices of president, secretary and treasurer with that honorable body. In 1871 and 1872 he was ap- pointed superintendent of the county schools by Gov. John W. Geary. The cause of education has ever found in him an ardent supporter, for he firmly believes, with the leading minds of the period, that here lies the remedy for many of the evils that threaten our national life and prosper- ity. While a member of the legislature, he acted on the committee of congressional apportion- ment and on the committee on militia and rail- roads.

For many years Mr. Piatt has devoted a share of his time to several of the leading fraternities, in whose ranks he is greatly esteemed. With the Masons, he belongs to Temple Lodge No. 248, F. & A. M., being past master of the same; is past high priest of Temple Chapter No. 172, R. A. M .; past excellent commander of Temple Commandery No. 60, K. T. In 1893 he was past grand captain of the guard in the grand commandery, and is now a member of the com-

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mittee of correspondence in the grand lodge and commandery. He is past commander of Tunk- hannock Lodge No. 254, K. P., and was district deputy grand chancellor for Wyoming district for the years 1893-94. For two years he was grand trustee and also served as dictator and dis- trict deputy grand dictator in the Knights of Honor. He is identified with the Patriotic Order Sons of America, and was president of the local lodge.

In 1878 Mr. Piatt and Miss Mary A. Dana, daughter of Asa S. Dana, of Eaton Township, were united in marriage.

E DWARD PREVOST, one of the sterling old pioneers of Washington Township, Wyoming County, has been an important factor in the development of the wilderness, famil- iar to his early recollections, into the high state of civilization which it enjoys at the present time. The generation now entering into the fruits of his and his colleagues' toil and patient persever- ance through long, weary years of effort, have small idea of what was borne by their fore- fathers, and it is well that the subject should be brought to their notice by the written history of noble lives such as that of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this biography.

John A. Prevost, father of the above, was a na- tive of Paris, France, born in 1777. When he was twenty-three years of age, he came to Ameri- ca and landed in New York City. The ocean- voyage, which was made on a sailing-vessel, took seventy days. From there he went to Nantucket Island, where he was employed for several years in the whale oil business. Afterward he lived in New York City again, and then, for a time, in Philadelphia. About 1814 he went to Allegheny County, Pa., then for a short time to Bradford County, Pa., and in 1815 became a resident of Washington Township, Wyoming County. He purchased four hundred acres of land, now owned by our subject and the latter's sons. He married Celia Le Fevre, and four children were born to them. Angelica, the only daughter, became the wife of Mr. Micks. Theophilus died in 1882 and one died in infancy. The father kept an inn

and place of entertainment during the early days, and was a general favorite with all of his ac- quaintances. He departed this life in 1868, be- ing survived by his wife, who lived until May, I876.

Edward Prevost is a native of Washington Township, having been born on the old farm in the forest, December 1, 1817. He attended the district schools, which were held in log cabins and were of most limited scope at that time. With the exception of three years spent by him in Philadelphia, he has always resided in this neigh- borhood. With his father he learned practical lessons of thrift and good business management which have been of untold value to him in the active battle of life. After his marriage he moved upon a portion of the old homestead, and from that time forward, devoted himself to its improve- ment and cultivation. In 1889 he removed to his present home and is practically retired from ac- tive work on his farm. During a period cover- ing fifteen years he was a justice of the peace and has served as school director and in other local township offices. He was formerly a stanch Whig, cast his first vote for "Tippecanoe" Harri- son and is now a loyal Republican. The poor and unfortunate find in him a warm friend, and neigh- bors and his fellow-citizens know that if they are in difficulty, they can turn to no one more kind, sympathetic and glad to assist them, if it lies in his power.

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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 89

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