The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-10

In Mr.. Deans early life horses and
wagons were few in his home locality
and most of the travel was done by
horseback or with teams and hand
made sleds and many inconvcnicnccs
We're experienced in making journeys
over the new and rugged roads. When
the construction of the Abingdon ana
Wakeforl turnpike was completed in
the early thirties Mr. Dean. accom-
panied by his cousins. Ira and Isaac
Tripp, each with load of coal in a
sleigh from the coal bed of his uncle,
Stephen Tripp. went with it to Ithaca,
y. V. where they sold it for S13 ton.
When Mr.. Dean was quite a young
man he purchased grain and hauled it
to Carbondale and Honesdale, where
he sold it to the Delaware & Hudson
company. He also spent considerable
time at numbering and rafting down
the Susquehanna from 1880 to 1897.
Mr.. Dean has always been a great
walker. and is yet. On one day he
walked sixty miles. and fourteen of
this was done before BREAKFAST. In
1S43 Mr.. Dean was married to Polly $.
Heermans, daughter of Henry Heer-
mans, the first merchant of Provi-
dence. He bought land in the vicinity
Of his birthplace and began with his
accustomed energy to make for him
self and wife home. In connection
with farming he butchered and bought
live stock. which he frequently drove
TO New Jersey for the city markets.
When the Second National Bank of
this city was organized Mr.. Dean was
an active promoter of the enterprise
under the lead of his brother-n law.
w. W. Winton. Though some of his
investments did not prove as profitable
as anticipated and many losses Of
money We're incurred. he never lost his
usual cheerfulnesS and observance of
the bright side of life.
After the death of Mr.. Deans wife
on July S, 1868. Mr.. Dean left the farm
and moved to Providence. his oldest
daughter becoming his housekeeper.
Since her death in 1896 Mr. Dean has
made his home among his children and
has made visits among his relatives
scattered over large part of the
United States. Three times he has
crossed the continent and visited var
ious states on the Pacific coast. When
50 years of age he spent six months
on the Pacific coast and travelled over
1000 miles through portions Of twenty
five states and territories. Mr.. Dean
still cultivates his own garden and
takes an active interest in the bust
ness and political affairs of the coun-
try. There is probably no person liv
ing in this county who has so cXten-
sive an acquaintance with the families
of the older settlers. Nothing affords
him more pleasure than to hitch up
his horse and take Il drive of from
twenty to forty miles and make short
visits among his numerous friends of
earlier days. He is a pleasing enter
tainer. his wonderful memory brings
forth facts of great interest to one who
converSeS with him. He has seen
changes which those Of the present
generation never will see. Wilder
nesses have been tErned into fertile
farms, country towns have been
reared. the stage coach and on teams
have given place to steam cars, elec-
trio railways. bicycles and horselcSs
carriages. The telephone and tele-
graph have been invented In his time,
seen this city grow from two or three
houses to its present size. Mr. Dean
has not lived a selfish life. for no one
has been more obliging and ready to
do a favor to IA friend or neighbor
than he. The wish of his many friends
is that he may live to celebrate his
hundredth anniversary.