Sullivan County PA Biographies
R
WALLACE JOSEPH RANDALL
DR. WALLACE JOSEPH RANDALL,* deceased, was a gentleman widely known throughout Sullivan County, and for many years was the only practitioner of medicine in the borough of Forksville. He was a son of Orrin Randall, and was born at Columbia Cross Roads, Bradford County, Pa., January 16, 1835.
Dr. Randall was educated in the public schools of Elmira. He took up the study of medicine with Dr. Axtel of Troy, Pa., later being admitted to practice. He then practiced with his preceptor at Troy until about 1860, when he located at Forksville, Sullivan County, continuing there until his death. Ambitious by nature, he continued to study during practice and obtained a wonderful knowledge of medical science and great skill in the treatment of his cases. Being the only physician in that vicinity, his practice assumed vast proportions. Many of his patients lived at distant places necessitating long and hard drives almost every day, but being of exceptionally strong constitution he withstood the strain for years. His constitution finally was impaired and typhoid fever setting in he was obliged to take to his bed, but he believed that it would be but a short time before he would be about again. However, he never rallied and passed away on October 3, 1881, leaving a family and scores of friends to mourn his loss. The doctor had been very successful financially, and was the owner of large real estate interests. As rapidly as he could earn the money, he would invest it to advantage and in this he always displayed the best of judgment and unusual foresight. At the time of his death he owned the noted hotel Eagle Mere, and many acres of choice land there. He owned what is known as the John Brown farm, which he improved in many respects, making it a very valuable property. He also owned a number of large timber tracts. He purchased the John Brown residence on Bridge street in Forksville. where Mrs. Randall now resides, and in which he had his office. Just prior to his last sickness he had a cellar almost completed for a new store and office building, which he planned to be built on a lot adjoining his residence. After his death Mrs. Randall carried out his plans and erected a fine business block, and also built a new house, which he expected to erect, on the farm.
Mrs. Randall was born January 26, 1843, and is a daughter of Wheeler and Hannah (Ball) Green of Hillsgrove, Pa., and her union with Dr. Randall was blessed with the following children: William F., a physician practicing at Dushore, who was born February 7, 1867, and married Delia Fleming, by whom he has a son, Ralph; Esther M., born November 16, 1869, who married Rev. Charles Schaubacher, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Pennelton Center; Moses L., of Lincoln Falls, Pa., born January 22, 1873, who married Nellie Osier, and they have one son, Milton; John W., born August 8, 1876; Washington E., a drug clerk, who was born November 9, 1878; and Maude, born March 26, 1880. Socially our subject was a member of Sullivan Lodge No. 522, I. O. O. F. In politics he was a Republican; in religious belief he was liberal.
* 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 756 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
MOSES AUSTIN ROGERS
MOSES AUSTIN ROGERS, whose portrait the publishers present on the opposite page, is the oldest merchant in Sullivan County, Pa., having established himself in business in the town of Forksville in 1855, and it may be easily said that no other store in the county excels his. He is the senior member of the well known firm of M. A. Rogers & Son, which was formed in 1882, his son, William C., being junior member, and he is respected as one of the valued men of his community. He has been a life-long resident of Forksville. He was born March 22, 1833, and is a son of Moses and Jane (Sadler) Rogers, and grandson of Samuel Rogers.
The Rogers family is of English descent and our subject traces his ancestral history back to William Rogers, who was a grandson of John Rogers, the martyr, who was born in 1505. The next in line of descent was Joseph, born in 1732; then Samuel, born in Standah, England, May 1, 1760; the next was Samuel Rogers, Jr., the grandfather of our subject, who was born December 6, 1762, at Bramley, three miles west of Leeds in Yorkshire, England. He learned the trade of a weaver in his early days and followed it in his native country until the summer of 1801, when he and his family joined his oldest son, Samuel, who had come to America in 1800, and had located in the city of Philadelphia, Pa. He rented a small farm near that city, but, wishing to make a larger settlement for his family, he went north and at the forks of Loyalsock Creek, in Sullivan County, Pa., he purchased of Dr. Joseph Priestley, a tract of land consisting of 124 acres, the price per acre being but $2.50. He then returned to his family, sending his son, Jonathan, to his new home to erect a log cabin and prepare for their coming; there he cleared a part of his land and in addition to farming and working at his trade manufactured neatsfoot oil. His estate is now in the possession of his grandson, John W. Rogers.
Samuel was married June 1, 1782, to Ann Gaunt, who was born in 1762, and they reared the following children: Samuel, born December 6, 1782, died February 14, 1857; Joseph, born August 1, 1784, died April 3, 1847; Jonathan, born October 7, 1785, died August 20, 1830; John, born February 11, 1787, died March 1, 1858; William, born March 17, 1788, died November 19. 1872; Hannah, born February 13, 1790, died October 13, 1848; Richard, born July 15, 1791, died November 15, 1875; David, born January 9, 1793, died February 10, 1840; Abram, born February 28, 1794, died March 6, 1794; Elizabeth, born April 9, 1795, died on the day of her birth; Martha, born May 8, 1796, died February 1, 1798; Benjamin, born September 28, 1797, died May 7, 1851; Reuben, born December 8, 1798, died July 24, 1850; Jacob, born January 31, 1800, died in June, 1801; George, born December 9, 1802, died October 24, 1804; Isaac, born July 26, 1804, died February 15, 1856; Moses, our subject's father; and Martha, born May n, 1808, died February 18, 1879. Our subject's grandfather died January 29, 1828, and his grandmother died in 1823.
Moses Rogers was born on his father's homestead April 14, 1806, and worked with his father during his youth, assisting him in farming and the lumber business. He also worked in the woolen factory which was erected in 1803 by his brothers, Jonathan and Samuel. It was the first factory of its kind in that section of the state. They bought their wool in Philadelphia, hauled it over the mountains by teams, and manufactured it into cloth, which was then taken back to Philadelphia where it was made into clothing for the soldiers of the War of 1812. In 1817 the factory was destroyed by a flood and was never rebuilt. Moses later took possession of the homestead upon which he built a fine house and outbuildings and increased the acreage of the farm to 400 acres. He died February 18, 1879.
His wife was Jane Sadler, a daughter of Joseph Sadler, and she was born August 20, 1810, and died February 6, 1892. The following children resulted from this union: Zilphia, born August 2, 1829; Samuel S., born September 22, 1831; Moses A., our subject; Isaac, born August 19, 1834; William, born October 8, 1836, was killed at the battle of Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864; Mary Jane, born February 8, 1838; and John W., born January 2, 1845. In politics Mr. Rogers was a Republican.
Moses Austin Rogers attended the common schools and then started in business as a clerk in the store of Alonzo Potter, who owned the first store in Forksville, and later was with W. J. Eldred, remaining with him for four years. In June, 1855, he erected a building and buying a complete line of general merchandise began business for himself; in 1874 he built on a new front to the store and to-day has one of the most complete general stores in Sullivan County; his store occupies two floors, both being stocked with all the articles which tend to make his stock of goods complete. He gives his customers the closest attention and by honesty and courtesy to his patrons has built up a very large trade.
In 1882 he took his son William C. into the business, and the firm has since been known as M. A. Rogers & Son. In 1866 our subject erected a handsome home in the town; he also owns considerable other property in the township. Mr. Rogers is one of the most enterprising and progressive business men in the town of Forksville, always interested in any movement which tends to advance and build up his adopted town.
Mr. Rogers was wedded to Abigail Potter, a daughter of George W. Potter, a retired machinist of Towanda, and this union resulted in the following offspring: William C.; Charles S.; Josephine married R. W. Stephens, by whom she has two children, Leon-and Carlton; George Arthur; and Mary Eva, deceased.
William C. Rogers was born December 4, 1859, and was educated in the high school at Vineland, N, J., and at the Poughkeepsie Business College, graduating from the latter institution in 1882; upon returning home he entered the store of his father as a partner. He married Mary E. Wright, a daughter of John Wright, and to them one child has been born, Guy W., born March 31, 1884. He is a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 163, F. & A. M.; No. 161, R. A. M., of Towanda; and No. 16, K. T., of Towanda. He served in the State Legislature in 1887-88 and has also served in the town council. He is vice-president and a director of the National Bank of Dushore. Charles S. Rogers is a dentist of Towanda and married Mary Marsden, by whom he had three children: Stanley, Marsden, and Helen.
George Arthur Rogers was born March 28, 1873, and is a graduate of the School of Electricity of Washington, D. C. In 1897 he bought out B. W. Fawcett of Forksville and now conducts a jewelry store. He is a member of Lodge No. 522, I. O. O. F., and is also past grand of the same. On January 17, 1899, he was united in marriage with Mazie Shafer, a daughter of Jesse Shafer of Forksville. Our subject is a strong Republican in politics, as are all his sons, and served as postmaster thirty-one years; he has also been .school director and overseer of the poor. He was treasurer of the Home Insurance Company, but resigned in 1897, having held that office for eighteen years. In 1876 he was elected associate judge of Sullivan County and held the office for a period of five years. His associate on the bench was F. B. Pomeroy of Dushore, now deceased. In 1884 he was alternate delegate to the national convention in Chicago which nominated James G. Elaine. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Church and has served as trustee, steward and superintendent of the Sunday School. Socially he is a member of I. O. O. F. (Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 669 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
JOHN HENRY ROTHROCK
JOHN HENRY ROTHROCK, M. D. We have the pleasure to present to our readers the biography of one of Sonestown's foremost physicians, whose excellent reputation for professional honor and skill has been acquired through a general practice of about fifty years. Dr. Rothrock possesses that peculiar insight into the hidden causes of various forms of disease which will ever be the greatest recommendation of a successful physician. A case once definitely diagnosed loses much of the dread that surrounds it, and the mistakes that are occasionally made by even the best of practitioners result from incorrect diagnoses.
Dr. Rothrock was born at Shrewsbury, Pa., seventy-eight years ago, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Yost) Rothrock. Jacob Rothrock was born at York, Pa., and early in life learned the trade of a saddle and harness-maker, and followed that occupation at Williamsport, Pa., the rest of his active career. He died at the age of fifty-eight years. Mr. Rothrock was united in marriage to Sarah Yost, who died at the age of seventy-eight years, and this union was blessed by the birth of the following children: Elizabeth, deceased; Emeline; Susan; John H., the subject of this narrative; Abraham; Joseph; James; George; Sarah; Jacob; Mary; and two who died in infancy.
Dr. John Henry Rothrock completed his elementary education in the public schools of Williamsport and, preferring the profession of medicine to any other vocation, he directed his studies in that direction in the office of Dr. Samuel Pollock. Later he graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia and, returning to Williamsport after his graduation, he practiced with his preceptor one year. His next field of usefulness was at Block House settlement, near Liberty, Tioga County, Pa.; then he practiced at Mifflinburg, Union County, Pa.; next at Hughesville, where he remained for twenty-five years. Dr. Rothrock was not long in that community before his skill as a physician became known. He rapidly grew in the confidence of the people and soon possessed an enviable reputation.
In 1878 Dr. Rothrock, on account of failing health, removed to the mountainous regions of Sonestown, where his health has since been greatly improved and he has built up a large and lucrative practice in the vicinity. He purchased the estate of the Lorah Brothers, which consists of eighty acres of good land, and carries on farming to a large extent. For the last nine years the Doctor has given up driving through the country to make his calls, but his valuable advice is still sought by many and will be as long as he is able to give it. He has spent much time and money in fixing up his farm, and is rewarded by having one of the most beautiful homes in the township.
Dr. Rothrock was joined in matrimonial bonds with Margaret Robb, a daughter of James Robb of Muncy township, Lycoming County, Pa., and she passed from this life at child-birth. Politically our subject always has been loyal to the Democratic party, and has served in many township offices; religiously he is liberal in his views, while fraternally he is a member of the Masonic Order. Dr. Rothrock is a well-read and unusually intelligent citizen, and stands high in the esteem of his fellow-men, who respect him as one who has filled all the requirements of a true citizen.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 592 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
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