Sullivan County PA Biographies
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JOHN J. WEBSTER
JOHN J. WEBSTER* is one of the largest lumber dealers of Sullivan County and is practically a resident of Estella, Elkland township, Sullivan County, Pa., where he owns a handsome residence, a large and well improved farm and other valuable property; he is temporarily located, however, in Forks township. He is the eldest son of Jonathan and Harriet (Blakeley) Webster, and was born at White Deer Creek, Montour County, Pa., October 8, 1836.
Jonathan Webster was born in England, where he learned the weaver's trade. Coming to this country he located at Philadelphia, where he worked at his trade for a short time. Being a skilled and successful workman he soon obtained a more lucrative situation in a large woolen factory at White Deer Creek. By unceasing labor and close economy he saved a considerable sum of money which he invested in land, which at that time was very cheap. He purchased 100 acres in Elkland township, where his son William now resides. In summer, by patience and great effort, he slowly cleared the timber from the land that he might cultivate the soil. Out of the logs he built a log house, where he and his wife lived in true pioneer fashion. In winter he worked at his trade for Thomas Engham at Monroeton. In this way by unceasing toil in both summer and winter he was soon able to build larger and more substantial buildings, the same now standing on the farm. In his house he put up a loom on which, during spare time, he wove cloth for his family, and also for his neighbors. He made a specialty of weaving handsome shawls, which were a source of wonder and delight to all his neighbors and friends; thus he was more prosperous than many in his vicinity and accumulated a nice property, the benefits of which he enjoyed to the day of his death, which occurred on the farm at the age of seventy-three. His religious life was based upon the doctrines of the Anglican Church. He was a Whig in politics and later a Republican. His wife died at the home of our subject in 1896, aged eighty-four years. Their children were: John J., the subject of our sketch; George, now deceased, who served in the Union Army in the Rebellion; Ellen, deceased; William, of Elkland township; Jonathan, who was killed in the War of the Rebellion; James, of Sugar Run; Elizabeth, now deceased; and Marsden of Bradford County.
John J. Webster was brought to Elkland township by his parents when he was six months old. There he was reared as a farmer and at the age of twenty-one bought eighty acres of the George Molyneux tract near what is now Estella, it being at that time an untouched wilderness. There he built a small boarding-house and kept a country tavern, at the same time commencing the work of clearing his farm. This venture was so successful that eighty acres more of the same tract were added to his farm. Being a man of energy and enterprise he was desirous of obtaining the most possible good from the natural resources of his land, so he built a saw-mill on his grounds and manufactured lumber from the timber in his own forest, also sawing for his neighbors who came from miles around bringing logs to his saw-mill. After years of toil and industry he succeeded in improving his farm to his own taste and now enjoys the honor and distinction of being one of the most prominent agriculturists in his section of the state. One of the noted features of this elegant farm is a fine apple orchard of 150 trees. Mr. Webster has given the care of this splendid farm of 160 acres to a tenant, for he is so busily engaged elsewhere that it is impossible for him to give his personal attention to farming; he realizes, however, that much more money can be made in the lumber business than in farming, consequently he is extensively engaged in lumbering on the large tracts of timber land owned by the Union Tanning Company in Forks township.
Mr. Webster has been twice married. His first wife was Jane Kaye, daughter of William Kaye of Elkland township. She died about the age of twenty-five leaving four children: Carrie, who married Frank May and is the mother of seven children, Bertha, Millie, George, Lloyd, Merton, Dorothy, Lorine; Charles G., who married Ella Brown and has five children, George, John, Seth, Delia, and Blanche; Anna, who married A. F. Molyneux, and also has five children, Tina, Revival, Ada, Walter and Wetsel; and Walter, a carpenter and wagon-maker by trade. Mr. Webter's [sic] second wife was Mrs. Catherine Campbell, daughter of Samuel Norton and widow of Henry Campbell. Mrs. Campbell had two children by her first husband, viz.: Jennie, who married George Morton and bore him two children, Essie and Nellie; Irene, who married Lyman Caufer, and also had two children, Katie and Violet. Our subject and his second wife have been blessed with a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, namely, Merton, who married Rosa Brown, and had a family of seven children, Fanny, May, Helen, Frank and Frances, twins, and Georgie and George, also twins, now deceased; Nellie; and Harry. Few men many years older than our subject can boast of such a numerous family of children and grandchildren.
Mr. Webster is a leading spirit in the Methodist Church and has served as a member of the building committee ever since joining the church. Politically lie is a Republican, and has served in many township offices and one term as county commissioner. Socially he is past grand of Sullivan Lodge No. 522, I. O. O. F.; also a member and past president of the Elkland Grange.
* The information contained in this biography was supplied by the subject of this sketch. A type-set copy of the biography was sent to the subject to be proof-read, but the subject did not edit and return the copy, so this biography may contain typographical errors.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 763 Transcribed by Tammy Clark
JOHN WHITELEY
JOHN WHITELEY, one of the most progressive residents of Elkland township, Sullivan County, is a man of sterling worth and integrity, and is one who has won his way to a high station in life through his individual efforts. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Hague) Whiteley, was born in Lancastershire, Eng., March 31, 1838, and was christened in the Olden Episcopal Church.
Joseph Whiteley, the father of our subject, was born in England and was a cotton manufacturer by trade, being an expert in his line. In 1841 he emigrated from his native land to this country, locating in the city of Philadelphia; but, desirous of having a home of his own, he later removed to Sullivan County, where land could be obtained at a reasonable price and where many of his friends had previously located. In 1846 he bought fifty acres of land which had been little changed from its primitive state by the hand of man. After making a partial clearing he purchased an adjoining fifty acres which had been partly cleared by Mr. Ainworth, and upon which had been built a house. Into that he moved with his family and subsequently purchased a third tract of fifty acres, all of which he cleared up and turned into valuable land. On this third tract one of the first clearings in the county had been -made; at the time of its purchase it contained a log house, the floors of which were made of split hewed planks, and it contained the first panel door in the township. Our subject has about four feet of this planking and he prizes it very highly. This land has been divided and is now owned by three persons: J. Barnes, who has the homestead; A. Dey, Esq.; and Mrs. Bryan. Joseph Whiteley was a man of great industry and untiring in his energy. In the summer months he lived upon the farm and cultivated the soil, whilst during the winter he worked at his trade in Philadelphia, following that plan for several years. When he came to Sullivan County he was not very well provided with the world's goods, owning a grey horse, a wagon, and fifty cents, but he led an exemplary life and at the time of his retirement to Forksville, a short time prior to his demise, he was a well-to-do man. The only part remaining of the wagon in which our subject came to Sullivan County is the singletree bolt. Both Joseph and his wife lived to reach an advanced age and lie buried in the Bethel Cemetery. His union with Mary Hague resulted in the following offspring: Ann, wife of John Wright; John, our subject; William, a veteran of the Civil War; Elizabeth, wife of William C. Marsden; Martha, wife of Daniel Bedford; and Mary, wife of E. W. Snell. In religious views he was strongly attached to the established English Church. Politically he was a Whig and later a Republican, serving as school director, supervisor, and in minor township offices.
John Whiteley, the subject of this sketch, attended the public schools and farmed with his father for a time, after which he peddled Yankee notions with much success. He next bought a farm near Bethel Church consisting of 114 acres, erected new buildings, and has since followed farming. He is a hustling and energetic man, and in whatever line he has engaged has been very successful. He is a man of strong character, leads an honest life, and has a large circle of acquaintances and friends.
Mr. Whiteley was joined in wedlock with Elsie Dikeman, a daughter of Parks Dikeman of Tompkins County, N. Y., and they have five children: Joe, a stock dealer, who married Ada Walker, and has two children, Renie and Vibert; Mary, who was a school teacher and postmistress for several years and is the wife of Orville Bartow, and has three children, Earl, LaRue, and Brice; Ora, wife of Eugene Avery, who has one child, John Roy, and taught school for three years; Susie, a musician; and Roy, fourteen years old, who lives at home. Mr. Whiteley is a Republican in politics and has served several years as auditor and poormaster.(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 578 Transcribed by Tammy Clark
G. ELDAAH WILCOX
G. ELDAAH WILCOX, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Fox township, Sullivan County, Pa., is a son of Gideon and Mary (Hoagland) Wilcox, and was born on what is known as the F. Morgan farm, in that township, April 18, 1859. Our subject's great-grandfather was John Wilcox, who was more familiarly known as "Dr. John." He was a native of New York State, but at the time of his death resided in Fox township. During the War of 1812 he shouldered a musket and marched to the front, and in one of the battles was severely wounded, but recovered and lived to reach a ripe old age.
Our subject's grandfather was John D. Wilcox, who moved to Fox township, Sullivan County, from New York State soon after his marriage, taking up a tract of 400 acres of land, for which he paid a nominal sum. After erecting a log house he went back to New York for his wife, and returning, they settled in the wilderness, carving a home out of the forest, and enduring many of the hardships incident to pioneer life. In a few years they cleared many acres and toward the close of their lives were in comparatively comfortable circumstances. His wife's maiden name was Deborah Stewart, and they reared a family of eleven children, namely: Deborah: John; Charles; Gideon; William; Sally; Chloe; Nancy; Mary J.; Joseph; and Rheuamy. Mr. Wilcox never carried on any other business than farming, but he took a part in politics, and was looked upon as one of the most fair-minded as well as one of the most just men in the county.. He was one of the commission appointed to decide the location of the county seat, his choice being Forksville, but as history and facts show he was overborne by a majority. He was a Whig in politics until that party met its death in the great anti-slavery storm, and when the Republican party was formed he used his influence in its favor until death called him away. He lived to a good old age, and dying was laid to rest in the cemetery at West Franklin.
Gideon Wilcox, the father of our subject, was born in Fox township, Sullivan County, August 11, 1827, and was educated in its public schools and lived there throughout his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits, owning at the time of our subject's birth some 250 acres of the best land in the township. He was active in local politics, holding successively many of the town offices and fulfilling his duties to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. In religion both he and his family were members of the Society of Friends. He was first united in marriage with Mary Hoag-land, on January 27, 1853, and the following offspring resulted: Sarah, the wife of Joseph Henderson; Martin C., who is still unmarried; G. Eldaah; and Maurice Ellis, who married Nettie Hart. Mr. Wilcox formed a second union with Lucy Lilly, on April 28, 1870, and their children are: Belle, who married Enos Tremain; Lottie; Helen, the wife of George Caseman; Seymour.; Franklin; and Eleanor A.
G. Eldaah Wilcox, whose name heads these lines, was educated in the common schools of his native township until he was fourteen years of age, after which he attended the Westtown Academy for two and one-half years; being precocious by nature, his intellectual development was above the average. His bent of mind, however, was mechanical and not caring to teach until he had learned a trade, he served four years' apprenticeship at carpentering. He then entered upon a successful career, teaching school during the winter months and following his trade during the milder seasons, for a period of eleven years. He then turned his attention to farming, at which he has continued up to the present time. He purchased a farm of in acres of John H. Wilcox and Lorenzo Brown, and he has never ceased to beautify and add improvements to this land, on which he still resides. He is a very popular man and has many friends throughout his section.
Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage with Lizzie Cook, a daughter of William Cook, a prominent farmer of Chester County, and Margaret (McConomy) Cook, and they are the parents of the following children: Lizzie; William; John; Robert; Jennie, deceased; George; James; Walter; Anna M.; Maria; Mabel; Chester; and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox are the parents of the following children: Jesse J., Clara M., Jennie B. and Edwin H. Mr. Wilcox does not take an active interest in politics, yet he has served his township seven years as auditor, and has been school director for two terms, being elected on the Republican ticket. Religiously he is a member of the Society of Friends.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 340 Transcribed by Tammy Clark
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