Biographies from Hector & Pike Townships, Potter Co., PASubmitted by Barb HydeHECTOR TOWNSHIP JAMES DOUGLAS, farmer, P.O. Hector, was born in Tompkins
county, N.Y., May 12, 1820. He attended school at Newfield, N.Y.,
and when not in school worked on the farm with his father. In 1841
his parents moved to Tioga county, near the county line, and that
same year he bought a tract of wild land in Hector township, Potter
Co., Penn., which he improved, and in 1850 bought the farm where he
now lives, which is one of the best farms in the township. He was
a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, serving from December 1, 1864,
until the close of the war. Mr. Douglas was married, March 14, 1848,
to Miss Sarah J. Breese, of Chemung county, N.Y. They have had nine
children, viz.: Charles F., of Hector; Mary A. (Mrs. Will Gilbert);
Josiah B., of Westfield; Royal, died, aged two years; John, died,
aged seventeen years; Carrie (Mrs. Dr. M.R. Pritchard, of Harrison
Valley, deceased); Henry, married Sarah Breese and lives on the homestead;
Kate C. and Aleda M., both at home. A. E. EATON, farmer, P.O. Ulysses, is a native of the
State of New York, born July 26, 1855, a son of Charles and Adensy
Eaton, also natives of New York. He was given good educational advantages,
attending the schools at Alfred Centre, Allegany Co., N.Y., and worked
on his father's farm when not in school. He worked for his father
until his marriage, and then took charge of the farm, remaining at
home until 1885. In 1881 he bought a farm in Hector township, Potter
Co., Penn., and in 1885 moved to it, and is now one of the prosperous
farmers of the township. He was married, in 1879, to Miss Lucinda
Bailey, of Hector, and they have two children, Maud and Flora. PERRY FILLMORE, lumber dealer, P.O. Sunderlinville,
a son of John and Marinda Fillmore, was born in Tioga county, Penn.,
March 6, 1847. He made his home with an uncle until twenty-one years
of age when he came to Hector township, Potter county, where he bought
a tract of land, and engaged in the lumber and bark trade, and is
now doing business at J.E. Wait' s mill, which has a capacity of 15,000
feet of lumber and 7,000 shingles, daily. He is also a dealer in general
merchandise. In 1868 he married Frankie Linderman, and they have two
children, Willard and Clare. Mr. Fillmore is a member of Westville
Lodge, No. 477, F. & A.M.; in politics he is a Republican. J. L. HAVENS, merchant, Sunderlinville, a son of John
and Catharine Havens, was born in Hector township, Potter Co., Penn.,
in 1836. His parents came from New York State, and were among the
first settlers in Hector township. Their family consisted of three
children: D.W., J.L. and M.V. J.L. Havens was married in 1857, to
Julia A., daughter of Joseph Sunderlin, the founder of Sunderlinville.
Mr. Sunderlin came here at a very early day, and built the first grist
mill on the present site of Sunderlinville, and when the town was
incorporated it was named in his honor. His children were Darwin,
Cyrus, Darius, Huldah, Daniel, Joseph, John, Samuel, Lydia and Julia
A. Mr. and Mrs. Sunderlin made this their home until their death.
Mr. and Mrs. Havens, after marriage, located in Hector township, and
for a time he was engaged in agriculture, but in 1883 he removed to
town and embarked in the mercantile business. Mrs. Havens died, leaving
two children: B.B. and Laura; the eldest, Alice A. having died about
three months previous to her mother' s death. Mr. Havens subsequently
married Mrs. M.H. Wilkinson, widow of Matthew H. Wilkinson, who died
from the effects of cancer. She has three children: W.R., Eva and
Satie. Mr. Havens is a Republican in politics, and has held various
official positions in his township. C. P. KILBOURNE, farmer, P.O. Sunderlinville, was born
in Wellsboro, Penn., March 9, 1822. His father died in 1825, and he
was taken to the home of a great uncle, with whom he lived until he
was fourteen years old, when his mother married Aaron Niles, of Niles
Valley, Penn., and he then lived with her until twenty-three years
old, when he came to Potter county, and worked as a laborer three
years. He then bought a tract of wild land in Hector township, which
he has improved, and although obliged to undergo hardships and privations,
has been successful, now having one of the best homes in the township.
He has erected good buildings, and has brought his land under a high
state of cultivation. Mr. Kilbourne was married in 1848, to Lovisa
Pemberton, a native of Mixtown, Penn., born October 31, 1829, and
they have four children: Delphine (wife of Clinton Dimon), Josephine
E. (wife of W.E. Ferris), Leon (married to Ida Beech) and Lucy (wife
of Otis Sunderlin). Mr. Kilbourne is a member of Eulalia Lodge, No.
342, F. & A.M., at Coudersport, and he and his wife are members
of the Westfield Methodist Episcopal Church. He has held various offices
of trust in his township and county, having been county commissioner
three terms. WILLIAM J. LOUCKS, farmer and lumberman, P.O. Ulysses,
was born in Oneida county, N.Y., July 18, 1834. In 1844 his parents
moved to Potter county, and settled in Hector township, where he was
reared, and on reaching manhood he embarked in the lumber business,
his father having purchased a saw-mill and a quantity of timber land
in Hector and Ulysses townships. He learned the use of tools easily,
and soon became a good carpenter. He also worked at repairing mills
until he became a good millwright, and put up two saw-mills, one a
water-mill for himself, in 1876, on what is called the Genesee forks
of Pine creek (now known as Loucks' Mills). At this place the first
settler was George Parker, who died in 1845. His farm was sold and
resold to a dozen different parties, until at last Mr. Loucks and
C.B. Watrous bought it for the purpose of building the above mentioned
saw-mill. Mr. Loucks has also been engaged in farming, and is now
one of the successful business men of the county. He was married,
May 20, 1854, to Miss Janet Glover, of Steuben county, N.Y., and she
died in January, 1875, leaving seven children-the eldest about sixteen
years old, and the youngest seventeen months. Mr. and Mrs. Loucks
had previously lost three children-two girls and one boy. The mother
of our subject died September 11, 1870, and the father, Cornelius
Loucks, a few years thereafter married Miss Huldah Sunderlin, an elderly
maiden lady, with whom nearly all in this vicinity were well acquainted.
The early settlers well remember her father, Joseph Sunderlin, who
built the first mill in Hector some time between 1835 and 1840. In
1844 the township of Hector had but thirty-six voters in it, and Cornelius
Loucks was elected constable and collector for a dozen years or more
in succession. When the Civil war broke out C.H. Loucks, the eldest
brother of William J., enlisted, and he lost his left arm in front
of Petersburg just at the close of the war. Stephen L. Loucks, the
youngest brother, died in the army in Virginia, January 9, 1864. He
was himself drafted twice, and reported at Williamsburg, Penn., but
on account of disability was rejected. At the close of the war C.H.
Loucks returned and lived on his farm for a number of years, then
built a house in Lewisville, where he now resides with his second
wife. William J. Loucks also married a second wife, November 16, 1879,
in the person of Mrs. Itta C. Barnhart, daughter of George Harvey,
of Clymer township, Tioga county, Penn. They have one child, a son,
named Ray Harvey Loucks. Mr. Loucks has seen deer and other wild animals
run through the woods and brush where now are large fields without
a stump in them; where forests were then, orchards are now. The parents
of W.J. Loucks, Cornelius and Naomi (Johnson) Loucks, were married
January 1, 1822, and their children were born in the following order:
Mary Jane, Cornelius H., Mehitable D. (deceased), Harriet R. (deceased),
Elizabeth A. (deceased), William J. and Stephen L. (deceased). The
children born to William J. and Janet (Glover) Loucks were named Mary
E., William J., Jr., Charles A., Janet E., George W., Hatta N., Henry
C., Jenny M., Peter S. and Alexander X. J. V. MILLER, of the firm of J. V. Miller & Co.,
merchants, Sunderlinville, is a son of William and Catherine Miller,
and was born at Clymer, Tioga Co., Penn., in 1842. His parents removed
to Spring Mills, Allegany Co., N.Y., where he was educated. He remained
with his parents until about 1862, when he removed to Yates county,
N.Y., and for a period of ten or twelve years was a commercial traveler.
He was for a time in Bradford in the oil trade, and in 1882 located
in Sunderlinville, where, with his brother, Byron, he embarked in
general mercantile business under the firm name of J.V. Miller &
Co. His father' s family consisted of nine children: George (deceased),
Mary J., J.V., Huldah (deceased), Almeda, Emmett, Byron, Harry and
Flora (deceased). The father died in January, 1887, and the mother
now makes her home with her son Emmett. J.V. Miller was married in
September, 1875, to Mary Coller. He is a member of Lewisville Lodge,
No. 556, F. & A.M., of Ulysses Chapter, No. 269, R.A.M., and of
Wellsboro Commandery, No. 28, K. T. In politics he is a Republican. J. S. REYNOLDS, M.D., Sunderlinville and Galeton, was
born in Troupsburg, Steuben Co., N.Y., June. 5, 1831, and there was
reared until seventeen years of age. He then attended the academy
at Deerfield, Tioga Co., Penn., for two years; then went to Lawrenceville,
Penn., where he clerked in a general store. Afterward he clerked in
a store at Williamsport, Penn., a year, and he then moved to Painesville,
Ohio, where he was employed in a drug store, and also studied medicine.
He afterward attended the Western Reserve Medical College, two regular
sessions. He purchased a drug store at Rochester, Olmsted Co., Minn.,
and conducted same for six months; then took in a partner and at the
close of two years sold out his interest in the drug store to his
partner, and returned to Ohio. Dr. Reynolds practiced medicine in
Cleveland and vicinity for several years; then moved to the oil country
in Western Pennsylvania, and practiced medicine for several years
in Oil City and other oil towns. In 1878 he moved to Sunderlinville,
Penn., where he bought a house and lot, and. also one at Galeton,
same state, at which places he has a large practice. The Doctor graduated
from the St. Louis (Mo.) College of Physicians and Surgeons March
8, 1889. He was married in Cleveland, Ohio, March 30, 1872, to Miss
Almeda E. Miller, of Spring Mills, N.Y., by whom he had two sons,
William and Juna, both of whom died of diphtheria in 1880. The Doctor
is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 28, F. & A.M., of Painesville,
Ohio, and of Painesville Chapter, No. 46, R.A.M.; he is a member of
Hector, Lodge, No. 526, at Sunderlinville, Penn., of the Equitable
Aid Union, and is medical examiner for the same. T. J. SURDAM, farmer, P.O. Sunderlinville, was born
in Virgil, Cortland Co., N.Y., July 26, 1835, and in 1841 was brought
by his parents to Potter county, Penn., where he was reared. June
15, 1861, he enlisted in defense of his country, in the war of the
Rebellion, and served until 1863. In September, 1864, he again enlisted
and served until the close of the war. He is a member of H.C. Ackley
Post, G.A.R. Mr. Surdam owns a good farm in Hector township, where
he lives, and is one of the representative citizens of the township. WILLIAM WILKINSON, farmer, P.O. Sunderlinville, a son
of Matthew and Ann (Rook) Wilkinson, was born in Seneca, Cayuga Co.,
N.Y., in 1837, the parents having come from Westmoreland county, England,
in 1836. In 1854 the family moved to Potter county, Penn., and settled
in Hector township, where Matthew Wilkinson was engaged in the practice
of medicine until his death, which occurred in July, 1869. Mrs. Ann
Wilkinson has since made her home with her daughter, Mrs. James Hart.
They had a family of six children: Matthew H., William, John, Rook,
Thomas and Mary (wife of James Hart). The sons were all soldiers in
the war of the Rebellion, going out in defense of their country. Matthew
H. died from the effects of exposure while in the service. John was
captured in front of Petersburg, and after enduring the horrors of
a Southern prison was finally exchanged, but died from the effects
of his terrible experience three days after reaching Annapolis. Book
died from the effects of a sunstroke received while in the discharge
of his duty. Thomas was killed in front of Petersburg April 2, 1865.
William enlisted in Company D, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers
in 1861, and in 1863 re-enlisted, and was assigned to Company F. He
was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, but after his recovery
rejoined his regiment, took part in thirteen battles, and served until
the close of the war. He then returned home, and has since been engaged
in farming in Hector township, buying the farm he now owns, which
he has improved, and on which he has erected fine buildings. He was
married, February 5, 1866, to Margaretta Harrington, and they have
four children: Susan A., Nettie M., Roy L. and William M. In politics
Mr. Wilkinson is a Republican. EPHRAIM S. WORDEN, proprietor of the Worden House, Sunderlinville, son of Charles and Clarissa (Bice) Worden, was born in Bingham Township, Potter Co., Penn., in 1845. His grandfather, Benjamin Worden, came to Potter county in 1818 when Charles was nine years old, and was one of the first settlers of Bingham Township. He reared a family of ten children, all of whom are deceased but Dorinda, the youngest daughter. Charles made his home with his father until latter's decease, when he lived with his uncle, Ashbel Monroe, until the age of twenty-one, when he married Clarissa Bice, after which they located in Bingham township. Their children were Erastus (deceased), Ephraim S., Aaron, Charles V. (deceased), Emma and Ella. Mr. Worden died in Bingham township, and Mrs. Worden then removed to Lewisville, where she still lives. Ephraim S. Worden was married in 1864 to Lizzie E. Surdan. He enlisted in the defense of his country and was assigned to Company D, Fifty-first New York Volunteers; he was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness May 6, 1864, and was in the hospital for a time. On his recovery he rejoined his regiment, and remained until the expiration of his term of enlistment. Returning home he located in Hector township, where he has followed the occupation of a farmer. He was elected sheriff in 1883, and served one term. In 1886 he removed to Sunderlinville, and has since been proprietor of the Worden House. Mr. Worden is a member of Lewisville Lodge, No. 556, F. & A. M. and of O. A. Lewis Post, No. 279, G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican. PIKE TOWNSHIP Back to Top CHESTER L. CORSAW came from Owego, Tioga Co., N.Y.,
and located in Sweden township, Potter Co., Penn., in 1824, where
he was one of the first settlers, and was also proprietor of the hotel,
making this his home the rest of his life, his death occurring in
1886. He married Matilda Phenix, in 1828. She died in 1835, leaving
three children: Hamilton, now deceased; Emily and Phenix. Mr. Corsaw
married for his second wife Sarah A. Harrington, and their children
were Henderson (deceased), Devillo, Edson (deceased), Clarence, Warren,
Chester and Frederick. His daughter, Emily, was married. in 1849 to
M.J. Flynn, and located in Chenango county, N.Y., but in 1857 returned
to Potter county, and located in Jackson township, where Mr. Flynn
was proprietor of a hotel and was also engaged in farming. Their hotel
property was destroyed by fire in 1882, and, Mr. Flynn being in ill
health, they moved to the farm where they now live in Pike township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Flynn were born eight children: Rhoby, Emma, Edward,
Marcus, Charles, Ida S., George, and Maud (deceased). Ida S. married
S.J. Acker, a merchant, and they located for a time at Gold, but removed
to West Pike, where he died, and she afterward married Mr. T.E. Baldwin.
She is now engaged in the general mercantile business, and is a lady
of rare business qualifications and a successful merchant. Her children
are Virgil and Ethlyn. Mrs. Baldwin is a member of the Baptist Church. J. O. EDGCOMB, proprietor of the Ansley House, Galeton,
was born in Maine in 1846, and was there reared and educated, making
his home with his parents, James and Joana Edgcomb, until seventeen
years of age when he came to Potter county, Penn., and was engaged
in the lumber business on Kettle creek, where he remained until 1880,
when he removed to Galeton, where he is now the proprietor of the
Ansley House, a hostelry noted for the excellency of its cuisine and
the perfection of its internal management, while its genial host,
no less noted, officiates in the office. He was married, in 1868,
to Sophronia S. Conable, daughter of S.M. Conable, and they have five
children: Minnie A., Ralph C., Joseph, Amos R. and Clara B. Politically
he is a Republican. OWEN D. HAMMOND, farmer and lumberman, P.O. Galeton,
was born in West Branch township, Potter Co., Penn., in 1848, son
of Lemuel and Jane Hammond, former of whom was a native of Cortland
county, N.Y., and latter of Tioga county, Penn. His father came to
Gaines, Tioga county, where he followed hunting and trapping, having
been one of the noted hunters of the county, and also worked in the
woods. He finally located where he now lives in West Branch township.
He married Jane Crippen, and they have a family of three children:
Laduskie (now Mrs. Monroe G. Whedon), Owen D. and David. Owen D. was
reared and educated in his native township. After reaching man's estate
he engaged in lumbering, and in the manufacture of flour, locating
at Galeton, where he had a grist-mill. In 1883 he bought the place
he now owns, and engaged in farming, also, to some extent in lumbering.
He was married in 1886 to Mary Ansley, and they have three children:
Leone, Edna and William A. In politics Mr. Hammond is a Republican,
and at this writing is auditor of his township. When his maternal
grandfather, E. Crippen, came to Potter county, his family was the
most remote on West Branch creek, and their home was established in
the dense woods. E. E. HYER, druggist, Galeton, a son of Charles flyer,
was born in Halsey valley, Tioga Co., N.Y., October 23, 1863. He was
reared and educated in his native town, and after leaving school was
employed in different branches of business at Waverly and Hornellsville,
N.Y., starting in the drug business at Elkland, Penn., October 1,
1884. In September, 1886, he removed to Galeton, Penn., and opened
a drug store, which he has since conducted. He is a young man of fine
business ability, and is one of the leading merchants of the town.
He was married in June, 1885, to Carrie L. Humphrey, at Elkland, Penn.,
and they have two children: Ethel and Anna. Mr. Hyer is a member of
Westville Lodge, No. 477, F. & A.M. In politics he is a Democrat.
As an evidence of his popularity we need only record that he is the
present treasurer of Pike township. JAMES IVES, farmer and lumberman, P.O. West Pike, son
of John and Martha Ives, was born at Pike Mills in 1830. His father,
who was a native of Connecticut, came here when a young man, and was
engaged in the lumber trade during his lifetime. He was one of the
early settlers here, and found Jersey Shore his nearest source of
supply, a trip he had to make with oxen. His children were Riley (in
Illinois), Lester, John, Harriet (Mrs. B.B. Whitmore) and James. Both
parents are deceased. James Ives made his home with his parents until
about twenty years of age, and was engaged in various occupations
until 1866, when he located at his present residence, where he is
extensively engaged in the lumber trade, as well as attending to his
farm. He built a mill on his place, which he is still operating. He
married Miss C.H. Burns, a daughter of Lorana Burns. In politics he
is a supporter of the Republican party. He is one of the sterling
men of Pike township. MAJOR J. M. KILBOURNE, merchant, lumberman and farmer,
P.O. West Pike, son of John M. and Elizabeth (Butler) Kilbourne, was
born at Wellsboro, Tioga county, Penn., January 30, 1816. His father
was a native of Vermont, and his mother of New Hampshire; both died
in Tioga county, the father in 1824 and the mother later. The Major,
after his father's death, made his home with an uncle, David, of Wellsboro,
the first merchant there, who had also a distillery, and was a manufacturer
of potash. He lived with his uncle until 1838, when he married Martha
J. Bellows, and to them were born four children: John W., who died
when seven years of age; Lydia Ann, deceased; Elliott A., who was
wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania, and died from the effects
of the amputation of his right leg, and was buried at Arlington; and
Eldred M., now of West Pike. Mrs. Kilbourne died, and the Major married,
for his second wife, Mrs. Orel Marlatt. They had two children: Harriet,
now Mrs. F.A. Crowell, and Albert Butler. Maj. Kilbourne is now living
with his third wife, who was formerly Mrs. Orcelia Breese. The Major
located in Pike township in 1834, and ten days after he came of age
he was made a supervisor. He was also a constable, also justice of
the peace, a position he has held for forty years. He is a lumberman,
farmer and merchant, and is one of the prominent citizens of the county.
The Major's uncle built the first mill in Pike township, and the Major,
in 1846, built another, where he manufactured lumber, and rafted it
down the Susquehanna river to Chesapeake Bay and Baltimore. He enlisted
April 21, 1861, as private; was at this time brigade inspector, Third
Brigade, Eleventh Division, Pennsylvania Militia; went into Camp Curtin
with 200 men; was commissioned by Gov. Curtin as major of the Forty-fifth
Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered into the United States service
at Harrisburg, October 21, 1861. He was discharged by reason of disability,
August 1, 1862, being then in command of the regiment which he commanded
at battle of James Island, June 15, 1862. He was sent to New York,
and was eight days getting home. He was for a year an invalid, but
was retained as provost-marshal of Potter county two years, and was
mustered out at the close of the war. He is a member of E.A. Kilbourne
Post, No. 491, G. A.R., the only instance in the United States where
a father is commander of a post named in honor of a son killed, in
the army, and a member of the same regiment. The Major is also an
Odd Fellow. He is a Democrat in politics. He was elected a member
of the legislature, and served in 1852 and 1853, and was chairman
of the committee on ways and means in the last named year. In 1853,
also, he was commissioned by Gov. Bigler, lieutenant-colonel of Pennsylvania
militia, as aid- de-camp to the governor. In 1856 he was the Democratic
nominee for sheriff of Potter county, but was defeated by Alva Taggart,
Republican. He was elected associate judge in 1871, and served five
years in the various courts of Potter county. He now has his residence
at Pike Mills, and of the old pioneers on Pine creek he is the only
survivor. AUGUST LEHMAN, merchant, Galeton, was born in Baden,
Germany, December 21, 1856, and came to Wayne county, Penn., in 1868.
At the age of twenty-one he left his parents and went to Letonia,
Tioga county, where he helped to build a tannery in which he was afterward
employed. From there he went to Galeton, and was with W. & L.R.
Gale in their tannery as beam hand, remaining with them five years.
In 1888 he embarked in mercantile business, building a store in Galeton,
and has since been one of its prominent business men. He married Mary
C. Henry, of Germania, and they have one child, Albert A. Mr. and
Mrs. Lehman are members of the Lutheran Church. GEORGE W. SUTTON, proprietor of saw-mill, and farmer,
P.O. Sunderlinville, was born in Cayuga county, N.Y., November 19,
1846. When he was a child, his parents, Isaiah and Hannah (Pease)
Sutton, moved to Lawrenceville, Penn., where he was educated, and
in his youth began working for his father, who was a miller. After
living at Lawrenceville ten years, they moved to Wellsville, N.Y.,
and from there to Oswayo, Penn., where they lived two years, and then
returned to Lawrenceville. George W. Sutton was a soldier in the war
of the Rebellion, serving from September 4, 1864, until the close
of the war. He participated in the battles at Fort Steadman, and in
front of Petersburg. After the war he returned home, and in 1870 bought
a farm and saw-mill at Sunderlinville, Penn., where he has since lived,
and is now one of the successful men of the township. He has taken
an interest in public affairs, and has held various township offices.
Mr. Sutton was married, in August, 1874, to Miss Emma Kilbourne, of
Sunderlinville, and they have two children: Jennie and Lemuel. He
is a member of the F. & A.M., Westfield Lodge, No. 477; Westfield
Chapter, No. 265, and Tyagaghton Commandery, No. 28. H. M. TICE, merchant, Galeton, son of Philip Tice,
was born in Elmira, N.Y., in 1839. In his childhood his parents removed
to Tioga county, Penn., where he was educated and remained until he
was about twenty-two years old, working in the lumber woods until
about 1861. He then located in Hebron township, Potter Co., Penn.,
engaging in the lumber trade, and in 1872 embarked in the mercantile
business. He was married, December 25, 1867, to Julia A. Bishop, and
they have seven children: Charles H., Edith L. (now Mrs. W.F. Hamilton),
Minnie C., Claude, Lena Belle, Vernie C. and Jessie. Mr. Tice enlisted
in the war of the Rebellion in August, 1862, in Company A, One Hundred
and Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He re enlisted September
5, 1864, and was assigned to Company D, Two Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania
Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He is a member
of E.A. Kilbourne Post, No. 491, G.A.R., of Galeton. Mr. Tice is a
Republican in his politics, and has held various official positions
in his township. He was postmaster at Galeton for nine years, but
resigned during Cleveland's administration. |
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