Sullivan County PA Biographies
S
JOSEPH SADLER
Susanna (Hill - [See bio of John Hill]), born October 14, 1797, married Joseph Sadler, an account of whose life follows in this sketch.
Joseph Sadler, who married Susanna Hill in 1819, was a son of Samuel Sadler of Liverpool, England. Joseph Sadler established the Sadler family in Sullivan County, and lived there until his death June 3, 1820. His wife lived to the age of sixty-seven years and eleven months. Their only child was John J.
JOHN J. SADLER
John J. Sadler was born in Sullivan County March 21, 1820, and after growing up settled upon the old homestead left him by his father. He resided there and actively engaged in agricultural and lumbering pursuits until his death, September 12, 1890. He is survived by his wife, who now lives in the village of Hillsgrove. On November 3, 1853, he was united in marriage with Anna H. Bothwell, who was born in Canton, Bradford County, Pa., October 26, 1834, and they reared six children: Harriet W., born August 1, 1854. and died August 28, 1856; Claudius W., born November 14, 1856; Justin S., born August 22, 1859, and died March 1, 1860; Clara A., born April 22, 1861, is the wife of Malcolm McCormick, and lives at Wausau, Wis.; Alex. H., born April 22, 1864, died May 13, 1866; and Charles R., a barber by trade living in New Albany, Pa., born January n, 1866, and married to Philena Sherman.
CLAUDIUS W. SADLER
Claudius W. Sadler obtained a public school education and after leaving school engaged in working for the tannery in Hillsgrove, hauling bark and lumber. He followed that line of work for five years, after which he located on the Susanna Sadler property, where he has since resided. He has greatly improved the farm and has added to it, until there is now 100 acres in all. He has carried on general farming and has by good management been very successful. He is a man of honor and possesses the esteem of his neighbors and many friends throughout the township. On November 17, 1884, he was united in marriage with Laura Hoagland, who was born in the village of Shunk, Sullivan County, February 14, 1861, and is a daughter of Uriah and Electa (Peppers) Hoagland, both of whom now reside in Shunk. Politically Mr. Sadler is a Republican. He is a member of Hillsgrove Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Shunk Lodge, No. 220, P. O. S. of A. In religious attachments his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hillsgrove.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 634 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
GEORGE SCHILL
GEORGE SCHILL, a highly respected citizen and prominent farmer of Elkland township, Sullivan County, Pa., was born in Eisenoch, Saxony, Germany, January 2, 1830, and is a son of Gottleib and Christiana (Reindom) Schill.
George Schill, the subject of this biography, was reared and educated in Germany, immigrating in 1851 to New York City, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for three years. He then moved to Fox township, Sullivan County, Pa., where he bought 165 acres of new land; after clearing the land he sold 50 acres and the remainder he still owns. He built a plank house and later a complete set of farm buildings.
Mr. Schill married Sarah McCarty, daughter of Joel McCarty. This estimable lady died in 1891 at the age of seventy years, leaving one child, Christiana, who married John Cook. They live in Chester County, and have three children: Blanche; John Wesley; and Marshal. April 6, 1893,
Mr. Schill married Mrs. Esther Hart, widow of the late Robert Hart, who was born in the house now occupied by the subject of this sketch. He was a son of William and Charlotte (Bullyon) Hart, natives of England, who were among the earliest settlers of Elkland township, residing on the farm now owned by Mrs. Schill. Mr. and Mrs. Hart lived to be past sixty years of age and were the parents of six children, as follows: William; George; Maria; Ellen; Robert; and James". Robert Hart came into the possession of the old homestead and lived there until he departed this life at the age of sixty, leaving a number of children, namely: Ida, who married Albin Wilcox, and is the mother of three children,-Walter, Blanche E., and George Robert; Nettie, who married M. E. Wilcox, and they are the parents of two children, Wilmer R., and Wardie M.; Marilla, who married E. Norton, and has one child, Harry R.; and Clarence R., who resides with our subject.
Mrs. George Schill is a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Bird) Norton. Mr. Norton was born May 6, 1808, and died February 2, 1884. Mrs. Norton, who lives with Mr. and Mrs. Schill, was born November 8, 1816, and is the mother of ten children: Esther, the wife of the subject of this sketch; William, who resides in Fox township, has been three times married and has two children, Perry and Lydia; Powell, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work; Emeline, who died at the age of fifteen years; Ira, who died at the age of eight months; Lydia, who married Daniel Miller; Maria, who married W. S. Dieffenbauch; Washington, who died at the age of twenty-five; George B., who married Jennie Campbell of Estella, Pa.; and James, who died at the age of fourteen years.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 421 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
WILLIAM HENRY SMALL
WILLIAM HENRY SMALL, one of the enterprising farmers of Laporte township, Sullivan County, Pa., was born at Clifford Corners, Susquehanna County, this state, the date of his birth being August 8, 1835. He is a son of Bradner S. and Harriet (Hunter) Small, and a grandson of Matthew Small.
Matthew Small was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., and died at Havana, N. Y., at an advanced age. His wife died aged eighty years. Little is now known of Matthew Small, but that he was a soldier of the Revolutionary War and saw active service on Staten Island, N. Y. He was the father of Bradner S., our subject's father; Jane; Sarah Ann; Hannah; Lydia Ann; and Elias. In politics our subject's grandfather was an active Democrat; in religious belief he was inclined to be liberal.
Bradner S. Small was born in Orange County, N. Y., where he grew to maturity; he learned the trade of a miller and wood-carver and, practically, followed these lines of business all his life. He passed from this world at the age of sixty years. In politics he firmly upheld the principles advocated by the Democratic party. He was the father of the following children: Asneth, now deceased; our subject; John Thomas, deceased; Esther, who married Henry White and resides in Virginia; Mary married Elmer Shewmann, and they reside in Corning, N. Y.; Julia, who resides in-Ithaca, N. Y.; Sarah Eliza, who married Byron Rogers, now deceased, and lives in Elmira, N. Y.
William Henry Small was but seven years of age when his parents became residents of Ithaca, N. Y., and there he received his mental training and grew to manhood. Leaving home he went to Benton, Luzerne County, Pa., where he apprenticed himself to the blacksmith's trade for three years. From Benton he went to Laporte, his present adopted town, and there carried on his trade until 1861, the beginning of the most disastrous and bloody war of modern times. In response to a call issued by President Lincoln for troops to put down the Rebellion, our subject immediately enlisted in the 11th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., for a term of three months. He took part in the skirmishes at Haines Run, near Williamsport, Md., and later his regiment camped within four miles of Martinsburg; there our subject was ill a short time before his term expired and was sent to the hospital at Hagerstown, from which place he was honorably discharged. He then went to Harrisburg, Pa., where he was again taken sick, and upon his recovery he returned to Laporte, where he took up his former trade.
In 1864 he moved upon the farm owned by the father of his wife, and upon Mr. Clark's death she fell heir to her present fine mountain-top or tableland farm of eighty-eight acres. Mr. Small has since purchased twenty acres of timber-land adjoining the estate, and on the Clark part of the farm has since been erected a fine two-story, modern farm-house and a commodious barn. He is a hard-working, careful farmer and his home and surroundings show that he is prosperous and progressive.
Mr. Small was united in marriage in 1863 with Florence Clark, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Van Fleet) Clark of Laporte,, Pa., and they are the proud parents of six children, namely: Hattie, deceased; Andrew married Millie Fritz and at present resides at home; Emmet, deceased; Edward, Frank, and Merlin, all single. Politically Mr. Small is a Republican. In his religious views he is liberal.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 392 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
JACOB L. SNYDER
JACOB L. SNYDER, a large landowner and one of the representative men of Elkland township, Sullivan County, resides on his farm most of the time, but also is practically a citizen of Forksville. He is a son of Adam L. and Louisa (Eichenlaub) Snyder, and was born in New Bavaria, on the Rhine River, Germany, November 27, 1834.
Adam L. Snyder, the father of our subject, was born in Germany and there learned the trade of a button and loop-maker, which he followed until 1836, when he came to America, landing in Baltimore, Md. He again took up his trade in Harrisburg, Pa., with that of tailoring, and continued at those occupations until after his removal to Pottsville, Pa. He next moved to Sullivan County, where he purchased a tract of timberland off the Ward tract in Cherry township, on which he resided ten years. He then moved to Dushore, in 1849, and erected the second house built in that town, which is now owned by James Farrell. He remained in that section until 1852, when he purchased the Eldred farm in Elkland township, one of the earliest settled farms in that locality, but in a short space of years he returned to Dushore and engaged in the grocery business. Later he purchased a small farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits until he removed to Campbellville, where he purchased a water privilege and built a grist-mill, which is now the property of Norton & Hotteinstein. He also built a house and barn and lived there until he removed to New Albany, Pa., where he bought a farm and followed farming until 1871, when he retired from active labors and moved to California, where he finally died. He was united in marriage with Louisa Eichenlaub, and the following children blessed their home: Henry, deceased; Jacob L., the subject of this personal history; John, a fruit-grower of California; Nicholas, a farmer of Canton; Louise, the wife of Benjamin Faustner of Salem, Ore.; Mary (McGeorge), of California; Adam, a farmer of Salem, Ore.; Christian, a farmer of Elkland township, Sullivan County; Caroline, deceased, who was the wife of Frederick Wiggen; and Angeline, the wife of John Knight, who resides in Salem, Ore. Politically Mr. Snyder was a strong Democrat, but never held nor sought office. Religiously he was reared under German Catholic influences in his native country, but upon coming to America he joined the Albrights.
Jacob L. Snyder attended the public schools and, being bright and industrious by nature, he obtained a good education. His father's success as an agriculturist aided him in choosing his occupation, and he followed fanning after leaving school. He acquired part of the Eldred farm, some fifty acres, on which a Mr. Houck now resides, and on this he continued to live for some years, building a new house and making many other substantial improvements. He then went to Montoursville, where he purchased a canal boat and followed boating for one year, after which he again took up his former occupation. In 1867 he moved to Forksville, purchased the Forksville Hotel, which was being built at the time, and after completing it conducted it with the highest success for a period of twenty-one years, with the exception of two years, which he spent in the West.
It was in the spring of 1870 that John Huckell came East as agent for the Cawker, Huckell, Kaskinka & Rice Colony in Kansas. He described in glowing terms the inducements and benefits of the Western country, and during the summer succeeded in getting sixty of the citizens of Sullivan and Bradford counties interested in the project. Each member, upon the payment of $75, became a member of the colony, $15 of which sum was to go to the government. These men selected the land and upon the arrival of the colonists each was told where his tract was located. During the summer of that year all plans were laid, and in October, 1870, our subject and the other members bade good-bye to the East and started for the then far West. At the end of a week's travel they reached Solomon City, Kan., and at that point Mr. Snyder, together with John Huckell, William Brown, Francis Warren, Cheat Craven, William Warren, Rudolph Kaskinka, and William Huckell, engaged a team and together they travelled up the Solomon River Valley to the forks of the Solomon River, where the town of Cawker City was located. The journey covered 100 miles, taking three days to traverse the distance.
The second night after leaving Solomon City a very amusing incident occurred which is of interest. As the party was traveling along wondering where they would spend the night, they discerned a light on the prairie, and with prospects of a good meal ahead and a warm place to sleep, they made for the light. Upon reaching it they were somewhat surprised to find that it was a mere hut constructed of sod, ii by 13 feet in size, and occupied by a man, his wife and three children. Advancing to the door our subject inquired if he and his party could be put up for the night. The proprietor, who was an Eastern man, replied that he would give them the best possible accommodations. So the team was outspanned and after partaking of a comfortable supper the balance of the evening was spent in telling the various experiences through which they had passed, and at an early hour they prepared to retire. Taking their blankets they made themselves as comfortable as possible on the floor, and there spent the night. During their journey it was not an uncommon sight to see many newly made graves, the result of the Indian outrages that had taken place the June before. In the third night the party reached the end of their 1,424-mile journey and were greatly surprised to find that Cawker City consisted of two houses or shanties, one being used for a hotel and the other occupied by Mr. Snyder's brother-in-law, Francis Best, who had arrived there about a month previously with his wife and nine children.
It may be well to mention here that the party of ten of which our subject was a member left their families in the East. The day after their arrival the party proceeded to look up their land. All readers of history and those in touch with current events are presumably familiar with the ins and outs of what was called the Homestead Grant. Mr. Snyder received his grant of 160 acres, which had been selected by the above-mentioned company, but at the end of four days his idea of Western life underwent a decided change and remarking to the others that he would not bring his family to such a wilderness, he picked up his few belongings and with Francis Warren returned to Solomon City, and from there back to Forksville. In the spring of 1871 he purchased a hotel in Solomon City, Kan., for $4,000, and together with his family moved to his new purchase, where he conducted a hotel for about one and one-half years. At the expiration of that time, owing to ill health, he disposed of his property, but in the end lost his entire investment.
He returned to Forksville, and in the spring of 1873 became proprietor of the Forksville Hotel, establishing a great reputation for himself and the establishment throughout that section of the county. Disposing of this finally, he built the store now conducted by A. L. Smith, which he still owns, and also three tenement houses. In 1893 he built the Snyder Hotel which he conducted for five years. He purchased the Daniel Little farm, located in Elkland township, consisting of 190 acres, on which he erected a new house and barn, and there he has since resided with the exception of the time which he spends in Forksville. He is also owner of numerous landed interests throughout that section. Always industrious and energetic, he has won his way to the front ranks of the business men. On January 1, 1857,
Mr. Snyder married Sarah Ann Huckell, who was born in Elkland township, October 22, 1830, and was a daughter of William Huckell. They had two children: William H., who was born August 24, 1858, and died January 18, 1864; and George W., a commercial man of Forksville and owner of the old Ridgeway Farm in Elkland township, who was born September 7, 1860. He married Mary Fleming and has two children: Marion and Lou. Mrs. Snyder died November 26, 1861, and our subject formed a second alliance with Sarah Ann Huckell, who was born August 24, 1831, and they had one son: Charles L., born September 16, 1863, died September 18, 1863. Politically our subject is a Democrat and has served as a member of the borough council of Forksville, as supervisor and school director.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 680 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
WILLIAM ELLIS STARR
WILLIAM ELLIS STARR has followed the milling business ever since starting out in active business life, and is the lessee of the oldest mill in Sullivan County, Pa., the Lewis mill. He manufactures a high grade of buckwheat flour and wheat-flour, also does a large amount of custom milling. He is a native of Lycoming County, Pa., and is a son of Anthony and Hannah (Berger) Starr. Our subject was intellectually trained in the schools of his native township and early in life learned the trade of a miller, which he has since pursued. In 1875 he located in Hillsgrove township, Sullivan County, and leased the old Lewis mill on Loyalsock Creek; the mill was erected by Charles Snell, our subject's ancestor. Mr. Starr has placed a new foundation under the mill and added another story; it has three sets of stones used for grinding. Our subject does all kinds of custom work and his flour always commands a good price on the markets, which tends to demonstrate its high grade. Mr. Starr has made many friends and customers by his strict attention to business and honest dealings and is performing all the duties of a good citizen. Mr. Starr formed a matrimonial alliance with Maria J. Green, a lady of many excellent virtues, and a daughter of Wheeler Green, whose sketch also appears in this Book of Biographies. As a result of this happy union a family of six children blessed their home, as follows: Wheeler Lloyd, a miller by trade; Florence and Leon Anthony, deceased; Hattie Irene; Clyde Raymond; and John Sidney. Mr. Starr is Republican in politics and has served as school director for fifteen years; religiously he and his family are attendants and liberal supporters of the Methodist Church.
(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 558 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)
JAMES STROUP
JAMES STROUP, deceased, was one of the prominent and influential agriculturists and citizens of Davidson township, Sullivan County, Pa. He was very industrious and successful in his business affairs and resided on the estate which is now owned and cultivated under the supervision of his wife. He was a son of Eli and Rebecca (Newman) Stroup, and was born in Davidson township in 1842. Eli Stroup, the father of our subject, was born in Lycoming County, Pa., but after his marriage moved to Shrewsbury township, Sullivan County, where he followed his trade as a carpenter. He was a skilled workman and built many of the old mills now standing in that locality. His father put him out to work at an early age and he followed his trade until his demise. Mrs. Stroup now resides in Davidson township and is enjoying life at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. Her maiden name was Rebecca Newman, and her marriage with Mr. Stroup resulted in the birth of eight children: Mary Elizabeth; Amanda (Mrs. Cox), a resident of Elmira, N. Y.; Amelia, the wife of Daniel O'Brien of Sayre, Pa.; Anna, who was the wife of James Gould, and both are now deceased; John, a carpenter of Chicago; Alfred, deceased; and Monroe, who resides with his mother.
James Stroup obtained his intellectual training in the common schools, after which he began working on the farm of James Taylor, who subsequently became his father-in-law. After his marriage in 1867 he remained with Mr. Taylor until December 8, 1872, when he moved to the farm, upon which he died on March 27, 1886. He made many improvements upon the property and became one of the most successful farmers in that section. He was a man of high character and good habits and was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. In August, 1867, Mr. Stroup was united in marriage with Catherine H. Taylor, who was born on October 20, 1837, a daughter of James and Delia (Edkin) Taylor. Mr. Taylor was born on January 5, 1808, and his wife on May 22, 1810. He was a farmer in Davidson township nearly all of his life, and was a very prominent man. Both Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are now deceased. Our subject and his wife had five children, namely: Maggie, the wife of George Crawley, a farmer of Davidson township; Jonah, who died at the age of six months and five days; Curtis Delmar, who lives with his family on the home farm with his mother, married Laura Brink, who was born September 3, 1871, and they have three children,-James L., Harry Donald, and George Dewey; Taylor Mendey, a farmer by occupation, who married Addie Starr, by whom he has one daughter, Catherine Clarissa; and Delia, who died in infancy. Politically Mr. Stroup was a Democrat and held several township offices. Since his demise his wife has owned and cultivated the old homestead, consisting of 150 acres of land, and has displayed rare judgment in the manner in which she has managed her affairs. She is a woman of many virtues and has many friends.(Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY 1899 Page 559 Transcribed by Tammy Clark)