This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Fly.2ACEB/617 Message Board Post: Commemorative Biographical Record of N.E. Pennsylvania, J.H. Beers Co., 1900, p. 1035. Charles A. Masters After a varies but successful career the subject of this sketch finds rest and contentment in looking after his general merchandise business at Gravity, Wayne County. He was born at Dundaff, Susquehanna Cp., Penn., September 22, 1835, a son of Steven and Cornelia (Snyder) Masters, both natives of New York State, where they were married. About 1830 Steven Masters migrated westward and settled in Susquehanna county, where, as a laborer, he made a home for his family. In politics he was a determined Democrat, and during the War of 1812 served his country as a private for six months, at the end of which time he re-enlisted in the regular army and served five years. He died December 18, 1865, at the advanced age of seventy seven years, two months, and sixteen days, and his good wife passed away at the age of seventy, and was buried in Jefferson township, Lackawanna Co., Penn. In their family were the following children: Henry, who was a farmer and lumberman in Salem township, married Mary Borum, and died August 10, 1897; Charles A. is our subject; Joseph Bloomfield, a liveryman at Elmhurst, Lackawanna Cp., Penn., has been twice married, first to Sarah Forest, and second to Lydia Compton; Maria is the widow of Joseph LaFrance, a farmer of Lackawanna Co., Penn; James, who married Sarah Hinds , is superintendent of! breakers for the Pennsylvania Coal Co. Both the father and mother of this family (Steven and Cornelia) were twice married. By his first wife Mr. Masters had children as follows: Oren, deceased; Elias, a farmer of Connecticut; Steven, a watchman at Carbondale, for the Delaware & Hudson Co.; Lydia Ann, now Mrs. Stiles, of Carbondale, Penn. Mrs. Masters first married a Mr. Madison, and by this marriage had children as follows: George, last heard of in the army: Mary, who married Martin Houghtaling, both are now deceased; Matilda, who married Elisha D. Wightman, both are now deceased. Our subject’s grandfathers both served in the Revolutionary War, his paternal grandfather being a native of France, his maternal grandfather of Germany Charles A. Masters lived for a time at Hollisterville, Salem township, Wayne county, and then for a year worked on a farm for Elder Ferguson, while the latter was engaged in preaching. Returning home for a few months, he found employment on the farm of Amasa Jones, near the present site of Gravity, where for a year and a half he toiled at regular farm work. After a rest of a few weeks he went to New York State where he worked with a brother-in-law on a schooner on the Hudson river, being thus occupied one year, and the next thirteen years he worked on the Gravity railroad, running cars. In 1864 he enlisted at Scranton, and was assigned to the construction corps, Company B, First Division, going to Nashville, Tenn., whence the corps was sent to Chattanooga and other places, finally being assigned to the army under Gen. Sherman, where he remained until the close of the war. When peace had been declared he returned to Wayne county, and locating in Lake township purchased a sawm! ill and farm which he operated for five years. He then came to Gravity and purchased the “Hotel Fairview,” which he conducted with no little success for five years, at the end of which time he built his present place and rented it. A few years later he purchased the stock if Midland & Kipp, renting to George Patterson, to whom he sold the stock. Besides his store, Mr. Masters owns a hotel, which he rents, two fine farms, and several pieces of city property. He has dealt heavily in real estate, and at present is agent of the Wayne County Farmers’ Fire Insurance Co., and for twenty-six years was agent for the Monroe County Mutual Fire Insurance Co. He is also a stockholder, president and chairman of the board of trustees of the Gravity Creamery Association (of which Mr. Masters is the secretary), and he is vice president and appraiser of a Building and Loan Co., called the Pennsylvania Germania of Philadelphia, with a branch at Ariel. On July 26, 1856, Mr. Masters married Miss Phoebe Lafrance, a daughter of John Lafrance, a farmer of Luzerne county, Penn. She died October 11, 1875, at the age of forty-six years, and was buried at Salem. To this union came the following children: Joseph E., of Scranton, a conductor on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, married Belle Chapman; Frank died at the age of fifteen years; Arthur H., a conductor on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad at Binghamton, N.Y., married Abby Swingle; Ida B., died at the age of twenty-one; Fannie J., is the widow of William Medland, of Scranton, Penn.; and Allen B., is a brakeman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad at Binghamton, N.Y. Mr. Masters was married (2nd wife) August 6, 1882, to Mrs. Melissa D. (Enslin) Buckland, a native of South Canaan township. Politically our subject is a strong Republican, and has acceptably served his fellow townsmen as assessor. He is well informed on all the political questions ! of the day and his advice has great weight with the party leaders; for one year he served on the county committee. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the P.O.S. of A. and is P.H.C. at large. Both he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Church, and their bountiful charity have aided many an unfortunate brother or sister. Mrs. Masters is a P.H.C. at large, also an ardent worker in the cause of Prohibition and woman’s suffrage, and has done much to aid these causes. She believes that with the suppression of intoxicants and the ballot in the hands of women the home influence will be stronger.