Sullivan County PA Biographies
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HENRY E. FAWCETT
HENRY E. FAWCETT, who is extensively engaged in general farming and dairying, is a highly respected citizen of Elkland township, Sullivan County, Pa. He was born on the farm on which he now resides, September 3, 1857, and is a son of John and Phoebe (Bird) Fawcett. His grandfather was Henry Fawcett, a native of England, who immigrated to America in 1819, locating on the farm now owned by J. Kline, Esq., in Sullivan County, Pa. It was a tract of timberland which had not undergone the improvements which civilization brings. He cleared a piece sufficient in size on which to build a cabin, and after its erection he and his wife lived there the remainder of their lives, working hand in hand, converting a vast wilderness into fields fit for cultivation. John Fawcett, the father of our subject, was born in England in 1817, and was two years of age when his parents came to this country. His opportunities for obtaining an education were few, but he made the best of them and acquired a good business training. Upon reaching maturity he purchased the farm now owned by our subject, built a good house, and during the remainder of his days followed farming, making great improvements on his property. In the latter years of his life he erected a new and modern home, the one in which Henry E. Fawcett now lives, but it was not entirely completed at his death. He was a man of excellent qualities and always aided those who had been less fortunate in life than he. He passed into the realms of the unknown September 21, 1881, and his death was greatly mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He married Phoebe Bird, a daughter of George and Sarah (King) Bird, who was born in 1813, and is now living with her son Asa in Elkland township, being a well-preserved woman for her years. The children resulting from this union were: Philinda, the wife of James Hart; Lydia, the wife of David McCarty; George; Asa, who married Lizzie Schrader; Sarah; Minerva, the wife of Wells McCarty; and Henry E., the subject of this personal history. Mr. Fawcett was a stanch Republican in his political affiliations; in religious views he was a Wesleyan Methodist.
Henry E. Fawcett was reared on his father's farm and educated in the district schools. The happiness and success of his father in the pursuance of agricultural pursuits influenced him in choosing farming as his life's work. He purchased the old homestead, improved it, and at the present time has a fine farm of 160 acres under a high state of cultivation. He is engaged in dairying and raises grain and other farm produce; and for many years he ran a threshing machine and was also engaged in the lumber and bark business. He is a man of good business capacity, and good results have attended his efforts on all sides. Mr. Fawcett was joined in hymeneal bonds with Arvilla Mullen, a daughter of John and Selena (Woodhead) Mullen, and a descendant of an old and well-established family in Sullivan Countv. Anthony Mullen, the earliest ancestor of whom there is any record, lived in New York City and was a drummer in the Revolutionary War. He was a sea captain and was finally lost at sea, leaving a very large property in New York City. His son, Charles Mullen, at an early day moved to Sullivan County, Pa., where he was given a tract of fifty acres by Dr. Joseph Priestley as an inducement for him to locate there. He cleared the land and built a log house, the work being greatly facilitated by the use of tools which he was enabled to make, as his trade was that of a blacksmith. He subsequently took up more land, but as he was at a distance of thirty miles from the nearest mill, he finally located on our subject's farm, where he died at the age of sixty-five years.
He married Elizabeth Hoagland, and they reared the following children: Hannah; Charles; Joseph; Martha; William; John; and Anthony. John Mullen, the father of Mrs. Fawcett, was educated in the district schools and in the college of Jersey Shore, in which he took a complete course under Prof. Nehemiah Ross, graduating at the age of twenty-two years. He came into possession of the homestead property, and has since followed farming. He married Selena Woodhead, and the following children were born to them: Almeda, Cecelia, Lettie, Rose, Frank, Lillie, Janie, Arvilla, Melville, Clara, Charles, Luella, and Ada. Mr. Mullen was born in Elkland township, Sullivan County, March 1, 1821, and is now an honored member of that community. Mr. and Mrs. Fawcett are the parents of two children: Lee and Lena. Politically Mr. Fawcett is very active and is one of the most popular men in the Republican party in Sullivan County. He was the party nominee for sheriff in 1895 and ran away ahead of his ticket, but was defeated by the small margin of sixty-five votes. He has served as constable, school director, and superintendent of roads. In religious views he is a Wesleyan Methodist, and he and his wife both take an active part in church and Sabbath school work.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 568 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
JOHN FLEMING
JOHN FLEMING, who for many years was a prosperous farmer near Campbell's Mills, Forks township, Sullivan County, Pa., is now living in happy retirement in the town of Forksville, where he is held in the highest esteem. He is a son of John and Ann (Curl) Fleming, and was born in the state of New Jersey, April 29, 1827. John Fleming, the father of our subject, located in Luzerne County, Pa., and there followed his trade as mason during the remainder of his life, dying at the age of fifty-five years. He married Ann Curl, who died at the age of about eighty years, and their children were as follows: Martha; Mary Ann; Rebecca; Julia; Rosella; Daniel, who was killed in war; John, the subject of this sketch; Russell, a resident of California; and two who died in infancy. John Fleming upon reaching the age of twelve years went to live with Joseph Warren of Forks township, a farmer by occupation, and after attaining man's estate, he purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of timberland and immediately set about to clear it. This land is located near Campbell's Mills, Forks township, Sullivan County. There he erected a house and other substantial buildings necessary for carrying on his business. He transformed the tract from a wilderness to a beautiful farm, and beginning with little or no means he applied himself with great energy and accumulated sufficient wealth to enable him to retire in 1889. He disposed of his estate to Edward Bahl, and purchased a valuable lot in Forksville at the corner of Water and Main streets upon which he built a handsome house and a good barn. He has since resided there and has gained a large number of friends who hold him in the highest esteem.
Mr. Fleming formed a marital union with Zilpha Ann Rogers, who was born August 2, 1829, and is a daughter of Moses A. Rogers, a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this Book of Biographies. This union resulted in the following issue: Isaac R., born October 25, 1854, a merchant of Picture Rock, and who married Minerva Matthews, by whom he has three children, Ora, Carl, and Bruce: Annie J., born April 7, 1856, married Charles Nye, and has one son, Claire; Clara B., born October 7, 1860, married to O. H. Gardner of the city of Minneapolis; Melvia A., born December 15, 1861, married Barton Molyneux of Buffalo, N. Y., and they have three children, Lee, Myrtle, and Chester; Mary S., born January 2, 1863, married George Snyder of Forksville, and they have two children: Marion, and Lou; Delia J., born February 14, 1868, married Dr. William F. Randall, a resident of Dushore, and they have a son, Ralph; William R., born August 18, 1865, resides in Grafton, N. D.; C. Q., born October 14, 1870, who lives in Scranton, Pa.; Bertha, born September 21, 1872, lives at home with her parents; and Blanche R., who was born March 28, 1875, and died January 17, 1897, aged twenty-two years.
Politically Mr. Fleming is an independent Republican and has held several minor offices of the township, such as assessor and tax collector. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 311 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
JOHN R. FLEMING
JOHN R. FLEMING, who is prominently known as the proprietor of the old Rogers Woolen Mills near Forksville, Sullivan County, Pa., is also engaged in farming, owning a fine farm adjoining the mill. He is a man of great industry and his success has been due to his own efforts. He was born in Elkland township, Sullivan County, November 10, 1862, and he is a son of Daniel and Catherine M. (Osier) Fleming. Daniel Fleming, the father of our subject, was a prosperous farmer of Elkland township at the beginning of the Civil War and in 1864, when the duration of the war was uncertain and the successes of the South had cast deep gloom over the loyal states, he, like many another brave man, willed that his country should live, and he immediately offered his services. He enlisted in Company D, Heavy Artillery, leaving a happy home, a family and many friends. At the battle of the Wilderness, on June 17th, he was wounded and three days later passed into the unknown world. He was united in marriage with Catherine M. Osler, by whom he had one son, John R., our subject. She is a daughter of John H. and Jane (Myers) Osier, and her grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, in which he was killed. After the latter's death his wife married a Mr. Bryan and settled in Sullivan County, Pa., where John H. Osler was reared. After reaching manhood he moved to Elkland township and engaged in farming; later he moved to what is now Forksville and engaged in woolen manufacturing, purchasing the mills our subject now owns. These he conducted for a period of thirty-five years. He died at the age of eighty-four years and his wife at seventy-nine. The children born to them were: Jeremiah M., of Elkland township; Sarah Jane, deceased; Catherine M., our subject's mother; John S. of Elkland township; Clay M. of Forks township; Lydia, who married Perry Benfield of Forksville; David W. of Lycoming County; and Edwin R. of Halestown, Md. The widow of Daniel Fleming formed a second alliance with Daniel T. Huckell, deceased, a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this Book of Biographies.
John R. Fleming was reared on a farm and obtained a good common school education, after which he took up the occupation of a farmer and followed it until 1884. He then, in association with D. W. Osler, Esq., bought the old Rogers Woolen Mills in Forksville of J. H. Osier and purchased a tract of fifty acres adjoining. In 1887 the firm dissolved partnership, our subject retaining the farm and Mr. Osier the mill. Since then Mr. Fleming has leased the mill and is engaged in the manufacture of woolen yarns and doing general custom work. He has a full set of cards and the capacity of his factory is seventy-five pounds per day. The Rogers mills were established early in the Nineteenth Century, and are widely known throughout the county, as they were for a time the only woolen mills in that section. Mr. Fleming still owns the farm, with the exception of one lot, which he disposed of to his wife's mother, Mrs. F. B. Glidwell, on which she has erected a handsome residence. He is a man of thorough business habits, enterprising and industrious, and has led an exemplary life.
Mr. Fleming was united in marriage on June 6, 1888, with Delia Glidwell, a daughter of Franklin B. and Malinda (Boyle) Glidwell, and a granddaughter of William and Mary (Little) Glidwell. James Glidwell was the earliest ancestor in this country and came from England, locating in Sullivan County, Pa., where he was among the early settlers. He married a Miss King and six children blessed their home: John; Thomas; Betsey; Sally; David; and William. William Glidwell was born in Northumberland County, Pa., where his parents stooped a short time prior to locating in Sullivan County. He grew to manhood and purchased a farm in Elkland township where he followed farming and ran a threshing machine for some years. Then, selling out, he bought the stone gristmill with Dr. Randall as a partner and was engaged in operating the mill during the remainder of his days. He married Mary Little, and their children were: Daniel; Sarah Ann: Sarah Ann; Esther: Daniel: Elizabeth; George; William K.: Franklin B.: and Salinda B. The first three named died in their infancy. Franklin B. Glidwell took up agricultural pursuits at an early age, purchasing a farm in Elkland township, but later operated a mill at Forksville for twenty years, owning it for seventeen years of that time. Having sold that, he engaged in market gardening in partnership with our subject, taking produce to Forksville and Eagles Mere, principally to the latter place. He was united in marriage to Malinda Boyle, a daughter of John Boyle of Elkland township, and they have two children: Delia; and Ivy, who died at the age of twenty-four years. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Grace, who was born August 11, 1889. Politically he is a firm Republican. He is a school director, and for the past nine years has been a member of the town council.
Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 14 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
JOHN W. FLYNN
JOHN W. FLYNN, who has been engaged in the tanning business more or less all of his life, is at present superintendent of the Union Tanning Company of Laporte, Pa., one of the largest industries of its kind in Sullivan County, and he has proven himself well worthy of a position of so great responsibility. He is of Irish extraction, was born in Sullivan County, N. Y., March 22, 1856, and is a son of Michael and Mary Agnes (Nolan) Flynn, and a grandson of Roger Flynn. Roger Flynn was the founder of this well-known family in this country. He was born in Leansborough, County Roscommon, Ireland, immigrated to the United States about 1848, and settled in Sullivan County, N. Y., where he followed the pursuits of an agriculturist the remainder of his active days. He was the father of the following children: Bridget; James; Michael; Catherine; Mary-Ann; and Jane. Michael Flynn, the father of our subject, was also born in Ireland, and was a young man when his parents came to America. He engaged in the tanning business during his early manhood and a few years later purchased a farm in Sullivan County, N. Y., carrying on general farming until his death at the age of eighty-four years. He was united in the bonds of wedlock with Mary Agnes Nolan, a native of Ireland, who died at the age of sixty years, leaving the following children: Joseph, who most of the time has been engaged in the tanning business, and married Adelia Clark; John W., our subject; Busie; Michael, who also is connected with the Union Tanning Company; Thomas, a farmer on the old homestead; and Edward J., a woodsman.
Our subject acquired a liberal education in the common schools of his native township, attending school during the winter months and working in a tannery during his spare time. In 1882 he and his brothers, Joseph and Michael, went to Thorndale, Pa., and took contracts for finishing leather for the Laporte Tanning Company. In the year following, John went to Laporte for the same company and two years later was advanced to bookkeeper, remaining in that capacity for one year, when he entered Warner's Business College at Elmira, N. Y., graduating from that institution on January 16, 1888. He then accepted a position as bookkeeper for Boak, Woddrop & Co., of Hughesville, Pa., where he remained until the following fall. He then bought an interest in the Muncy Manufacturing Company at Muncy, Pa., which he held until July, 1889; in August, following, he again entered the employ of James McFarlane & Co. of Laporte, as bookkeeper and remained until June, 1890. Mr. Flynn then went to Jamison, Pa., where he accepted a position as bookkeeper and manager of the company store for Thomas E. Proctor, a well-to-do tanner of that village. Remaining in the latters employ until he sold his tannery to the Union Tanning Company, our subject then engaged as bookkeeper for the new company until February, 1894, at Jamison, when he was transferred to Laporte as superintendent of the company's interests in that borough. Our subject has remained in this employ up to the present time and has won the confidence and good-will of both his employers and the men under him. The Union Tanning Company owns and operates several tanneries in that section of the state and is composed of the following officers: C. S. Horton, president; M. F. Hammond, secretary; W. H. Newton, treasurer; A. S. Buckley, general superintendent of the tanneries: and C. B. Farr, general superintendent of bark and timber. The officers are all prominent residents of Williamsport, Pa., with the exception of Mr. Buckley, who resides at Athens, Pa.
Mr. Flynn, while a resident of Jamison, was appointed postmaster of that village and held that office until 1897. He was wedded September 25, 1894, to Mary A. Breiger, a daughter of Charles and Frances Breiger of Laporte. Two children bless their home, namely: Joseph, born December 31, 1895; and Charles, born June 6, 1898. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Flynn are prominent members of the Catholic Church. He has served as a member of the borough council, has been member of the school board and board of health for the past five years, and in his political affiliations is a supporter of the Democratic party. He has been a member of the Democratic standing committee for the past three years; he served as delegate to the state convention held at Altoona, Pa., in 1898.(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 400 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
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