Wyoming County PA Biographies
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Miles Avery Miles Avery was born December 28, 1791, at Tunkhannock, Pa. He was the eldest son of Cyrus Avery, who came from Norwich, Conn., to Pennsylvania about 1790, and there married Lydia Marcy, a daughter of Colonel Zebulon Marcy, whose father came from Dover, Dutchess county, N. Y., as early as 1770, with the Connecticut colony, and is said to have built the first cabin at Pittston, near Old Forge, in 1772. This claim he sold to Ebenezer, his brother, who came the same year to Tunkhannock, and aided in organizing Putnam Township and allotting it to the Connecticut settlers. Zebulon raised here a family of eight children, all of whom became prominent. Prior to the Wyoming massacre he moved his family to Forty Fort, and there his daughter Sarah, who married John McCord, was born June 4, 1778, nine days before the slaughter of the settlers by the British and Indians. After this event the family returned to Dutchess county, N. Y., using a cow as a beast of burden: as well as a milk-giver during the journey. A few days before the massacre, while Marcy and a few others were scouting for British or Indians, an English Tory's wife discovered them, and called to her husband, "Shoot, Adam, shoot!" That worthy fired and struck a tobacco box in Marcy's pocket, which box is now in Porter Marcy's family at Tunkhannock. The return fire wounded Adam, and he died soon after. As soon as safety was insured Zebulon returned and settled on the farm where Porter Marcy resides, and resided there until his death, September 2, '34. After the marriage of Cyrus Avery and Lydia Marcy they settled on 500 acres at the confluence of the Tunkhannock and Susquehanna, on the south and east sides of the respective rivers; and later inclosed "Avery Mountain". On this farm all their children were born - Miles, December 28, 1791; Zebulon, May 12, 1793; Zebulon (second), July 7, 1794; Solomon, July 28, 1796; Nicholas, September 19, 1797; Jerusha, December 3, 1798; . Sally, February 5, 1801; Cyrus H., November 14, '05; Humphrey, November 14, '05; Lydia, March 5, '08; Abel M., July 29, '11; Punderson, July 31, '14, and Joseph C .. June 9, '17. Miles Avery married Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan Smith, July 26, '12. He died April 28, '48, and his wife followed him May 16, '49, both being buried in Cyrus Avery's cemetery at Tunkhannock. After their marriage they bought of Joseph and Samuel Dailey 196 acres in Falls township, Wyoming county, Pa., six miles south of the mouth of the Tunkhannock on the east side of the Susquehanna, where their twelve children were raised. He was a farmer, but speculated in lumber, work cattle and real estate, at one time owning over 5,000 acres in the county and also a saw mill and foundry at La Grange. At the age of sixteen he joined a military company, and held every office from corporal to brigade inspector, the latter for seven years; was commissioned justice of peace by Governor Ritner and served twelve years, and was generally known as "Colonel" or "'Squire" Avery. The children of Miles Avery are named as follows: Lydia, Ann, born May 1, '13; Ziporah, October 28, '11-, died at Neponset: Ill.; Solomon, September S, '16, died April 6, '39; Esther. May 17, '18, died July 30, '83, at South Eaton, Pa,; :Major Cyrus, :March 8, '21; Miles, ,June 3, '23, died October 10, '84; Humphrey, July 4, '25, a resident of Penn township; Elizabeth, May 15, '27, died July 24, '29; Samuel G., May 3, '29; Hannah, November 4, '32, died November 14, '32, and Courtney, July 18, '34, died May '13, '36. Humphrey Avery, fourth son of Col. Miles and Elizabeth (Smith) Avery, was born July 4, '25, in Wyoming county, Pa.; received his primary education there and completed his studies at Madison Academy, Abingdon Centre, Luzerne county, Pa. After his father's failure in '43, Mr. Avery was thrown upon his own resources. At this time he was afflicted with the old-fashioned ague, which kept his purse down at low water-mark. He followed the fortunes of the North Branch Canal-running through Wilkesbarre and Pittston for several months, at the same time that the late president Garfield is said to have worked on it. Subsequently he was employed in Boukley & Prices' coal mine, and about this time received, by some accident, the first $100 he ever called his own. He was boarding at Pittston, and found on the street a purse containing over $5,000 in cash and notes. Searching for the owner, he found him in the person of George F. Knapp, of Carbondale, who pressed the $100 on the delighted young Avery. Mr. Knapp's mother proved to be an old friend of Col. Miles Avery, and insisted on a promise from the young man that he would invest the money in lands on which to make a home for himself. This promise was made and carried out. Mr. Avery purchased at sheriff's sale one hunched acres in his own county for ninety-one dollars, which he sold at a profit, and that $100 and the profits arising from its original investment, are in the pleasant home and farm which he owns today in Stark county. On April 27, '54, Mr. Avery arrived at Toulon with $530 in gold. For the first year he made his home with his brother, Samuel G. Avery, who had come hither five years prior to '54. In the fall of '54 he purchased forty acres of land in Osceola township, and in '56 he bought the east one-half of the northeast quarter of section seven, in Penn township. On August 8, '58, he married Miss Emma J., daughter of Chauncey W. and Eliza E. (Wheeler) Davison, both of whom are noticed in other pages. After this marriage.Mr. Avery commenced the improvement of his farm in Penn township, engaging in agriculture and stock-growing, was elected constable the same year, which office he held for two years, when he resigned and went westward, in company with thirty men and thirteen teams, to the Rocky Mountains for his health. At Denver the company dispersed, Mr. Avery and a few others going to California Gulch, on the present site of Leadville, where they passed six months. On returning to Stark county he resumed farming, in '68 purchased 115 acres in section one, Toulon township, which is said to be underlaid by a vein of fine coal four and a half feet in depth. In '86 he sunk a double shaft to this vein, which is fifty-two feet below the surface, and introduced machinery of a capacity of 1,000 bushels per day. In '70 he purchased a store-building and lot at Castleton, and in '76 a lot adjoining. The former he rented out until '78, when he established his mercantile house there. This he carried on for three years in connection with his farm. During this time he served as justice of the peace. In' 82 he sold his business interests at Castleton to Ackley & Loper, and has since devoted his attention to agriculture and coal-mining The children of Mr. and Mrs. A very are named as follows: Clinton, born December 5, '59; Etta May, May 7, '62; Sherman, .May 25, '64, died May 6, '65; Milo, April 30, '68; Viola Virginia, July 9 '72; Lorance, December 21, '74, and Myron, August 7, '79, died September 9, '80. The eldest daughter, Etta May, married Daniel Bolt, of Castleton, January 5, '83, and is now a resident of Wyoming, Ill. Samuel Gates Avery, fifth son of Col. Miles Avery, was born in Falls township, Wyoming county, Pa., May 3, '29, completed his education at Madison academy, Luzerne county, Pa.; in '49 came to Stark county and soon after purchased the southeast quarter of section five, Penn township. As stated in the marriage record he married Miss Marrietta Day, October 23, '51. This lady was born at Niles, Mich., January 9, '31. Mr. Avery served as supervisor of Penn township, has been connected with the County Agricultural Society since its organization, and was for several years marshal of that society. In '68 he moved to Lamar, Barton county, Mo., where he is now extensively engaged in agriculture. His children are Alivilda, born July 20, '52, now Mrs. ,W. L. Mack; Udella, born January 31, '54, now Mrs. George T. Parry; Gates, born December 12, '55, married Mary Hazelette, all of Lamar, Mo.; Jerome, born August 21, '57, married Ellen Little, who died soon after marriage, and for second wife, Rosa Pringle; George, born July 29, '60, married Emma Webb; of Lamar, Mo.; Minnie H., born September 5, '62; Lillie G., who married Ernest A. Reed, November 1, '82, at Carthage, .Mo., a son of I. C. and Luna A. Reed, born at Toulon, October 26, '59, as noted in other pages; Bertrand, born July 1, '67; Beatrice, born July 14, '69, and Tallyrand, born July 30, '73. Joseph C. Avery, brother of Zebulon and Col. Miles Avery born June 9, '17, came from Tunkhannock, Pa., to Stark county, Ill., in '39, and here married Martha Marsh, a half-sister of the late Mrs. James Holgate, with whom she came to this part of Illinois, as stated in the general history. Here Mr. Avery purchased the east half of the southwest quarter of section five, Penn township, built a house and barn, then considered among the best improvements in the township, and a few years later, in '45, moved beyond the mountains to Oregon, where he died at Corvallis, November 18. '78. He was a surveyor and was engaged in this work here during his short stay in the county. -- Documents And Biography Pertaining To The Settlement And Progress Of Stark County, Illinois, Containing An Authentic Summary Of Records, Documents, Historical Works, And Newspapers Relating To Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization, And Politics, Courts And Bar, Citizen Soldiers, Military Societies, Marriages, Churches, Schools, Secret, Benevolent And Literary Societies, Etc. Together With Biography Of Representative Men Of The Past And Present. Written From Records and Personal Reminiscences, By M. A. Leeson. Chicago: M. A. Leeson & Co. , 1887, Biography And Reminiscences Of Penn 'Township, Page 617-619-- Transcribed by Nancy Piper |
BAKER, GERDON E. Principal of Union High School, Fishing Creek, Pa.: was born in Stull, Wyoming County, Pa., Dec. 5, 1879; was graduated from the Bloomsburg State Normal Schhol, 1901; Principal of Orange Borough Schools, 1902-1903; Suprervising Principal of Fishing Creek Township Schools during the fiscal year. Present address, Fishing Creek, pa. [Source: Who's who in Pennsylvania: a biographical dictionary of contemporaries, Volume 1, 1904, L. R. Hamersly Company, New York - Contributed by Nancy Piper]
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BRUNGES, STANLEY R. Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Wyoming County: was born in Eaton Township, Wyoming County, Pa., Feb. 8, 1852: moved with his parents to Tunkhannock Township, same county in 1871, where he has since resided; educated in the public schools and at Keystone Academy, Factoryville, Pa.; moved upon the farm where he now resides in 1878; has always been actively engaged in farming and identified with farmers' interests; is at present President of the Agricultural Society of Wyoming County; has always been interested in the public schools and was for many years a member of School Board; was Supervisor, Poormaster, Township Treasurer and Clerk; was a member of the House of Representatives, session of 1897; re-elected in November, 1902. Address, Tunkhannock, Pa. [Source: Who's who in Pennsylvania: a biographical dictionary of contemporaries, Volume 1, 1904, L. R. Hamersly Company, New York - Contributed by Nancy Piper]
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DAVIS, R. H.: Principal of schools; principal of Dunmore High School; born in Wyoming County, Pa.. 1858; educated in common schools. Keystone Academy, and Wyoming Seminary, graduating In 1880: for thirteen years principal of Archibald High School and for the past seven years principal of Dunmore High School; is considered authority upon the botany and geology of Northeastern PennsylvaniaAddress, Dunmore, Pa. [Source: Who's who in Pennsylvania: a biographical dictionary of contemporaries, Volume 1, 1904, L. R. Hamersly Company, New York - Contributed by Nancy Piper]
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FURMAN, Miss Myrtie E., professor of elocution, born in Mehoopany, Pa., 8th November, 1860. Losing her sight in her fourteenth year, she went to Philadelphia and entered upon the seven-year course of study in the Educational Institution for the Blind. In a little more than four years she had finished the studies in that institution. She entered the National School of Elocution and Oratory in Philadelphia, from which she was graduated in two years with high honor, receiving a diploma, a silver medal and the degree of Bachelor of Oratory. A few days afterward, in June, 1884, she received a diploma and the highest honors awarded for scholarship from the Institution for the Blind, having finished the curriculum of studies in both educational institutions in less than the seven years usually given to the latter. Miss Furman enjoys the peculiar distinction of being the only blind graduate from the School of Elocution and Oratory, and it is believed that she is the only blind person in this country, or in the world, who ever accomplished a similar course of study and physical training. For two years after her graduation she gave many successful elocutionary entertainments in various cities and towns of Pennsylvania and New York. In 1886 she accepted the position of professor of elocution in a young ladies' school in Ogontz, near Philadelphia. She remained there two years. For the past four years she has filled the chair of elocution in Swarthmore College. (Source: American Women by Frances Elizabeth Willard, Mary Ashton Rice Livermore, Vol. 1, 1897. Transcribed by Marla Snow)
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PIATT. JAMES WILSON Lawyer: born at Tunkhannock, Wyoming County. Pa.. Feb. 9. 1850: is a son of William M. Piatt, who was Speaker of the Pennsylvania Senate in 1856: educated in the public schools at Tunkhannock: was a student at Susquehanna Collegiate Institute. Towanda. Pa.; entered Lafayette College. Easton, Pa., at the age of sixteen years, and was graduated in 1870, receiving the degree of B. S. and three years later the degree of A. M. Taught school one term; read law in the office of his father, and was admitted to the Wyoming County bar Nov. 28, 1871; was elected and served as District Attorney for Wyoming County, 1875-1878; was member of the Borough Council. Borough Auditor, School Director and Burgess in 1890; has been admitted and practiced in all the surrounding counties; also admitted and argued cases In the Superior Court and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; also in the Circuit and District Courts of the United States. Has been prominent in Masonry In his State, and is at present District Deputy Grand Master of the Sixteenth Masonic District of Pennsylvania. Address, Tunkhannock, Pa. [Source: Who's who in Pennsylvania: a biographical dictionary of contemporaries, Volume 1, 1904, L. R. Hamersly Company, New York - Contributed by Nancy Piper]
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NORVAL W. REYNOLDS. Norval W. Reynolds is actively connected with a profession which has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of every community, being a representative of the bar at Kemmerer. He was born in Factoryville, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1849. His father, Joseph W. Reynolds, also a native of the Keystone state, came of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the family having been founded in America by four brothers who came to the new world from England prior to the Revolutionary war, and among the ancestors of Norval W. Reynolds were those who participated in the struggle for independence. His father was a millwright and later in life turned his attention to carpentering and to farming. He enlisted for service in the Civil war and went to the front, his death resulting from wounds which he had received in a battle near Petersburg. He had joined the army as a member of Company H of the One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and although a musician, he went into the ranks and was wounded, his death resulting on the 10th of March, 1866. His political endorsement was given to the republican party and he was a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In early manhood he had wedded Phebe Stark, who was also a native of Pennsylvania and a descendant of General John Stark of Revolutionary war fame. Her death occurred in 1898, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-one years. In the family were eight children, all of whom are yet living. Norval W. Reynolds was the fifth in order of birth and while spending his youthful days in his mother's home he pursued his education in the public and high schools at Nicholson, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania. He started out to provide for his support when a lad of eighteen years. His early experiences were those of the farmbred boy and after leaving home he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for five years in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. He then entered the lumber business, which he followed for five years. While engaged in teaching he had devoted the hcurs that are usually termed leisure to the study of Blackstone and other commentaries on law and later in life he systematically took up the study of law in the office of Stanley Harding in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania. After his admission to the bar he practiced law for a short period in the east and then came to Wyoming, settling in Lincoln county on the 12th of May, 1907. Here he turned his attention to ranching and the raising of live stock near Cokeville, where he secured a desert claim and also homesteaded. He is now extensively engaged in farming and in raising live stock as well as practicing law and is regarded as one of the foremost business men of this section of the state. On the 20th of May, 1871, in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, Mr. Reynolds wedded Miss Emma Squier, a native of the Keystone state and a daughter of Arah Squier. They have two living children: Effie P., the wife of George F. Alleman, who is a ranchman residing near Cokeville: and Marshall Stark, who is an attorney at law, having graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with the LL. B. degree in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Alleman have six children: Emma D. and George Reynolds, who were born in Wyoming county, Pennsylvania; Winton H., who was born in Rock Springs, Wyoming; and Norval W., Susan and Arthur Marshall, all born in Cokeville. The son, Marshall S. Reynolds, following his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, began practicing law at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he remained for a year, after which he returned to Wyoming and opened an office in Cokeville. For two years he served as county attorney. He later located for practice in Kemmerer on the ist of January, 1914, and was in active practice until August 25, 1917, when he joined the Third Company of the Coast Artillery in the Officers Reserve Corps and is now stationed at Fort Scott, having been promoted to judge advocate, attached to the First Company of Coast Artillery. His father has taken over his practice and is handling important interests at the bar, being connected with much litigation that figures prominently on the court records. In his political views Mr. N. W. Reynolds is a republican, having always supported the party since reaching adult age. He was made a Mason in Kemmerer and is a loyal follower of the craft. He belongs to the Methodist church and is serving on its board of directors. His military record covers service in the Spanish-American war, at which time he organized Company M of the Ninth Regiment of the Pennsylvania militia, which later became Company K of the Thirteenth regulars. This regiment was organized at Scranton, Pennsylvania, but never entered active service. Mr. Reynolds, however, was made captain of the company, which stood ready to go to the defense of the colors at any time called, but the early close of the war led to the regiment being mustered out without having seen service at the front. Mr. Reynolds was for six years clerk of the courts of Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, occupying that position from January 1, 1893, until January 1, 1899. He also served as constable for six years and was chief of police for a period of three years. His activity in politics has been a potent force in the attainment of republican successes in the communities in which he has lived. He is an active supporter of all progressive civic measures and at all times he keeps thoroughly informed concerning the vital and significant problems of the age, political or otherwise. He is a thoroughly proficient lawyer, careful and systematic in the preparation of his cases, strong in argument and clear in his reasoning, and at the same time he has that keen business discernment which has promoted his success in connection with live stock raising and ranching. In a word he is one of the representative men of his section of the state. [Source: History of Wyoming, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1918, pg. 484, 484-Contributed by Nancy Piper]
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