Resseguies in South Gibson

The Resseguies
Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

The following excerpt is taken from

Commemorative Biographical Record
of Northeastern Pennsylvania
including the Counties of
Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Monroe
containing Biographical Sketches of
Prominent and Representative Citizens
and many of the Early Settled Families. Illustrated.
Beers, J. H. & Co., 1900, Chicago
pp 1223, 1369

Beers is long out of print, though originals may occasionally be
found on the rare book market; a reproduction may be ordered.

WILLIAM EMORY RESSEGUIE

. . . a well-known merchant of South Gibson, is also engaged in agricultural work to some extent, being the owner of a fine farm near the village. He was born June 26, 1841 in Gibson township, Susquehanna county, where his parents, Fitch and Mary (Tewksbury) Resseguie, were early settlers, and of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume.

Our subject was reared at the old homestead, received his education in the common schools and was engaged in farming there on his own account for a number of years. Wishing to enter mercantile business he rented a store in South Gibson in 1894, his son taking charge for a time, however, and in May 1895, he removed to the village in order to give personal attention to the business. Politically he is a Republican and he is active in promoting the educational interests of his community, having served as school director for the past six years. He is a leading member of the M. E. Church at South Gibson, in which he has served as steward for ten years and trustee for twelve years. In November, 1868, he was married in Gibson township to Miss Helen L. Denny and they had three children: Olin F., who resides in Scranton, married Kate Watrous, and has two children - Leona and Helen; Franklin F., who operates the old homestead in Gibson township, married Lucille Manzer, and has two children - Cecil and Madaline; and Homer J., who resides with our subject.

Mrs. Resseguie belongs to one of the most highly respected families of Gibson township, where she first saw light November 7, 1849. Her paternal grandparents are Richard and Sarah (Steenback) Denny, settled on a farm in Gibson township at an early day, and her father John Denny, was born and reared there, and becme a well-known agriculturist of the locality. He died June 4, 1864 aged thirty-eight years. His wife, Anna E. Tiffany, was a daughter of Nathan and Nancy (Pellett) Tiffany, of Lenox township, Susquehanna county, and later of Gibson township, the father being a farmer by occupation. She survived him and married John B. Steenback, and her death occurred in September, 1897, at the age of sixty-nine, the remains being interred in Manzer cemetery, Gibson township. She had three children, all by her first marriage: Clarissa, who married Willard Gillett, contractor and builder at Kearney; Helen L. wife of our subject; Emma E., who married Edward Wilmarth, and died in 1889.

GEORGE E. RESSEGUIE (deceased)

. . . was for some time a prominent and successful educator and journalist of Susquehanna county. He was born in Gibson township, that county, July 12, 1862, a son of Charles W. and Angeline (Woodward) Resseguie, natives of Gibson and Clifford townships, Susquehanna county, respectively. The father followed farming until the death of our subject, when he took up the work left by his son, and was engaged in the newspaper business until he, too, was called to his final rest. He was born June 2, 1834, and died May 21, 1898; the wife and mother was born October 21, 1837, and died August 16, 1899, at Susquehanna. In their family there were only two children, the younger being Gertrude E., who resides in Susquehanna.

Our subject's paternal grandparents, Fitzpatrick and Mary (Tewksbury) Resseguie, were natives of Brooklyn township, Susquehanna county, the former born February 13, 1805, the latter August 17, 1813. They were married October 23, 1832, and died in 1889 and April 28, 1876, respectively, the remains of both being interred in the old Resseguie cemetery, in South Gibson where their deaths occurred. The great grandfather, Samuel Resseguie, was born in Ridgefield, Conn., March 12, 1776, and was married in Westport, that State, November 2, 1797, to Freelove Disbrow, who died in South Gibson, Penn., April 28, 1830 aged forty-nine years. In Clifford, Susquehanna county, he was again married, June 22, 1831, his second union being with Mrs. Nabby Miller, widow of David Miller, and daughter of Jotham and Elsa Pickrine, of Clifford. She was born May 4, 1786, and died in Lenox, March 22, 1867. Samuel Resseguie died in South Gibson September 12, 1858.

George E. Resseguie, our subject, was well educated, and from the age of sixteen until the winter of 1888-89 successfully engaged in teaching, being at different times principal of several graded schools in Susquehanna county. He then purchased the Susquehanna Transcript and the Susquehanna Ledger, and was engaged in journalistic work as editor and proprietor of the Transcript and Ledger until his death, which occurred at Susquehanna, June 9, 1891. His remains were interred in South Gibson cemetery. As a Republican he took quite an active and influential part in local politics, and socially he was a man of prominence in his community, a member of Jackson Lodge, F. & A. M., and the Odd Fellows Lodge of Brooklyn township.

At the home of the bride, in Clifford township, Mr. Resseguie was married, August 27, 1888, to Miss Adah E. Chamberlin, and to them came one son, Wiles W., born in Susquehanna June 1, 1889. Mrs. Resseguie was a lady of culture and refinement, and was also a successful and popular teacher, following that profession from the age of nineteen until her marriage, and after her husband's death again taught for two and a half years, in 1893, 1894, and a part of 1895, being at length forced to resign her position on account of ill health. She was principal of the graded school of Forest City in 1884, 1885, and 1887, and after her marriage often assisted her husband in the newspaper office. She died September 10, 1899 and was buried in South Gibson cemetery. Religiously she was a member of the Evangelical Church of West Clifford.