ADAM SERFASS, a well-known resident of Brodheadsville, Monroe County, is one of the thrifty and enterprising agriculturists whose industry has made that region a veritable garden spot, and at present he is the owner of two fine farms, both under good cultivation. He is also engaged in business as a wheelwright and blacksmith, and in these lines of work he has shown unusual ability, having largely learned the details of both trades through his own unassisted efforts.

Mr. Serfass was born November 9, 1845, in Polk township, Monroe county, and belongs to an old and highly-esteemed family of that Locality. His great-grandfather, John Serfass, came from Germany about 1750, and after a brief residence in Lehigh county settled in Monroe county, purchasing a large tract of land in Polk township, which is still owned by his descendants. He married Miss. Susannah Hone, of Lehigh county, and had thirteen children, of whom the following mention is made: I. John married Elizabeth Kunkel, and settled in Polk township, Monroe county. II. Joseph married Eliza Kunkel, and also made his Home in Polk township. III. Adam is more fully spoken of further on. IV. George married Elizabeth Christman, and had five children, John; George; Susan married John Kerchner, Elizabeth married Amos Everett; Hannah married Peter. Smith. V. Peter married Catherine .Storm, and they had seven children, Anna married Jacob. Christman, of Eldred township; Andrew settled in White Haven Penn.; Sarah (deceased) married Henry Hawk; Hannah married Lewis Hawk and resides in Iowa; Elizabeth married Samuel Hawk, of Allentown Penn. ; Franklin resides in Northampton county and Nathan occupies the old homestead. VI. William, who lived to middle age, never married. VII. David married Sally Everett, and had four children,. Henry, Barton, Solomon and Frederick; VIII. Hannah married William Kresge, and they had eight children as follows: William married Sallie Storm; Jacob married Sarah Gregory; George married Sarah Kunkel; Joseph W. married Lucinda Andrew; Hannah married Reuben Gregory; Elizabeth married John Bonser; Sarah married John Serfass; and Susan .married Peter Kunkel. IX. Sallie married George G. Hawk. X. Catherine became the second wife of George Kresge, and had seven children, Thomas settled in Luzerne county, Penn.; James settled in Chestnut Hill township; Joel conducted a hotel at Kresgeville and had four children; David married and died in 1876 leaving six children; Reuben married Susannah Kiper, and had two children ; Sallie, married John Kunkel; Katie married John Gregory. XI. Christianna married Conrad Driesbach. XII. Elizabeth married John Eshen, of Northampton county XIII. Thomas married a Miss Dolter, and a few of his descendants are now to be found in Polk township, Monroe county

Adam Serfass, the grandfather of our subject; was born in Polk township, and became a farmer and shoemaker by occupation. He died in 1875 aged. seventy-two years, and his wife Christina (Berger), died in1873, at the age of Seventy-nine years, and they were both buried in Gilbert's cemetery, in Chestnut Hill. They had eight children: Aaron, our subject's father; Joel, who married Elizabeth Hess; Charles, who married Doshie Barlen; Ephraim who never married; Linford, who married (first) Sally Beers and (second) Polly Getz; Emanuel, who married (first) Lucinda; Erhardt, (second) Sarah Shupp, and (third) Eliza Kleintop; Elizabeth, widow of John ,Schmale of Chestnut hill township; and Fanny, who married Aaron Heiny

Aaron Serfass, the father of our subject was born February 22, 1823, in Polk township, and for many, years followed farming in connection with the blacksmith's trade. He died at. the, age of seventy-two years, three months and thirteen days, He was a man of high standing in the community, his sterling qualities of character winning the esteem of all who knew him. He married Elizabeth Hawk, a native of Polk township, and had children as follows: Elizabeth, wife of J. D. Smale, of Polk township; Joseph, who died unmarried; Adam, our subject; Christiana, deceased; Peter, who married (first) Rebecca Kridler, (second) Mary Ecxhart, and (third) Amanda Frantz; Kate, who married Edwin Prutzman, of Eldred township; Mary Jane, who married William Roth, of Polk township, a musician by profession, and also proprietor of the "Mansion House" at Kresgeville. The mother of this family died at the age of fifty-six years. Our subject's early life was spent at the old homestead in Polk township, and at the age of twenty-four he engaged in business on his own account, in that locality, as a farmer, blacksmith and wheelwright. In 1892 he removed to Brodheadsville, where he has since continued all these lines of business. Politically he is a Democrat, and he and his family are prominent in religious work as members of the Lutheran Church at Brodheadsville. On October 15, 1868, he was married at Brodheadsville to Miss Malinda Gregory, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Charles Baker, a minister of the Reformed Church. Children as follows have brightened their home: Clara f., a resident of Nazareth, Penn. ; Eugene A., who married Miss Anna S, Bonser, and resides at Brodheadsville; Jeremiah W., who died at the age of eleven months; Miss Mary E, a popular and attractive young lady, who is still at home; Eli E., James and Rosa J. Mrs. Malinda (Gregory) Serfass, whose mental gifts and force of character make her a valued helpmeet to her husband, was born September 28, 1852, in Polk township, Monroe county, a daughter of James Gregory, and a granddaughter of David and Susannah Gregory. Herr father, who was born in Monroe county, and was a farmer by occupation, married Miss. Mary Fisher, daughter of Abraham and Margaret (Smith) Fisher. He died two years later, in August, 1853, at the early age of twenty-three, his remains being interred in the Pleasant Valley cemetery. Two children were born of this union: Malinda (Mrs. Serfass), and Mary A, wife of Levi D. Frable, of Kunkletown. The mother subsequently married George Smale, who died in 1886, aged sixty-seven, and her death occurred March 1 1889, at the age of sixty-five, both being buried at Kunkletown. By this marriage there was one daughter, Emma J., who married Peter Bollinger farmer in Polk township, Monroe county

NATHAN SERFASS. The Serfass family is entitled to be permanently associated not only with the industrial but also with the intellectual development of our time; and of those who the name it may be said that there is none more worthy whose memory should be thus preserved. The first of this family to come to America was John Serfass, a native of Germany, who came about the year 1750, and soon afterward settled in Polk Township, Monroe county, where he purchased large tracts of land, which are still owned by his descendants. He married Susanne Hone, a native of Lehigh county, Penn., and had thirteen children, of whom the following mention is made:

I. John married Margaret Kresge Kunkel, and settled in Polk Township. II. Joseph married Eliza Kunkel, and made His home in Polk township. III Adam married Christina Berger, and had eight children: Aaron married Eliza Hawk; Joel married Elizabeth Hess; Charles married Dosie Barlen; Ephraim never married; Linford married (first) Sally Beers, and (second) Polly Getz; Emanuel married (first) Lucinda Erhardt, (second) Sarah Shupp, and ( third) Eliza Kleintop; Elizabeth. born June 12, 1854 married John Schmale, in his day a well-known agriculturist (is now deceased), and resides at the Schmale homestead in Chestnut Hill township. Monroe county; and Fanny married Aaron Heiny. IV. George married Elizabeth Christman, and had five children, John, George. Susan (married to John Kerchchner), Elizabeth (married to Amos Everett), and Hannah (married to Peter Smith).

V. Peter is more fully referred to farther on. VI. William. who lived to middle age, never married. VII. David married Sally Everett, and had four children, Henry, Barton, Solomon and Frederick. VIII. Hannah married William Kresge, and they had eight children, William (married to Sallie Storm), Jacob (married to Sarah Gregory), George (married to Sarah Kunkel), Joseph W.(married to Lucinda Andrew), Hannah (married to Reuben Gregory), Elizabeth (married to John Bonser), Sarah (married to John Serfass), and Susan (married to Peter Kunkel). IX. Sallie married George G. Hawk, and they had children. X Catherine became the second wife of George Kresge. and had seven children, Thomas (married Elizabeth Dotter, and settled in Luzerne county), James (married; settled in Chestnut Hill township, Monroe county), Joel (married; had four children, Charles A., Henry, Tilghman, and Emaline (Mrs. James Berlin), David (married; died about 1876, leaving six children, Peter, Josiah, Absalom, Catherine (Mrs. William H. Small), Sallie (Mrs. Melchoir Silfiese), and Elizabeth), Reuben (married; bad two children, Alfred and Catherine), Sallie married to John Kunkel); and Katie (married to John Gregory). XI Christianna married Conrad Driesbach. XII Elizabeth married John Eshen, of Northampton county. XIII. Thomas married Mrs. Dotter, and a few of his descendants are now to be found in Polk township, Monroe county.

Peter Serfass son of the pioneer, was a well-known resident of Polk Township, and for some years was engaged in farming at the homestead now owned and occupied by his son Nathan. He was a leading member of the Lutheran Church at GiIberts, and was a lifelong Democrat in politics. He died at the homestead in July 1844, at the age or thirty-six, his remains being interred in Pleasant Valley Cemetery. His wife, Catherine, who died in 1875, aged seventy-two years, was a daughter of Andrew Storm, and a member of a leading pioneer family of this section. Of their seven children, the eldest, Anna, married Jacob Christman, of Eldred township, Monroe county; Andrew settled in Whitehaven, Penn,; Sarah. (deceased) married Henry Hawk; Hannah married Lewis Hawk, and resides in Iowa; Elizabeth married Samuel Hawk, of Allentown, Penn.; Franklin resides in Northampton county; and, Nathan occupies the old homestead.

Nathan Serfass was born January 9, 1842, on the present farm, where he grew to manhood. At the age of twenty-one he went to Carbon county, engaged in lumbering and teaming, but after three years he returned to the homestead, and has since given much attention to its management. He has also been engaged in surveying for twenty years past, and for fifteen years he served as treasurer of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Monroe county, his integrity and sound business judgment being a tower of strength to that corporation. His influence is felt in local politics, as he is an active worker in the Democratic party, and at times he has held township offices, including nine years as school director, four years as constable, and four years as. auditor. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, and for many years he has been identified with the Church at Kresgeville, serving three years as deacon and six years as trustee. In 1862 he married Miss Susannah Hawk, who was born in 1842, in Carbon county, a daughter of David Hawk, who afterward removed to Monroe county, where he became a prominent citizen. She died in September 1876, age thirty-four years, and her remains now rest in Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Nathan Serfass married (second) Miss Fannie Fisher, daughter of Charles A. and Anna (Dorsheinier) Fisher and a native of Polk township, Monroe county. By the first marriage there were three children; Jerome, of whom further mention will presently be made; Louisa, who married Milton Lurch, of PoIk township; and James J., who married Miss Jennie George, and resides at the homestead with his father. By the second marriage: there is one son, Francis F., who is still at home.

JER0ME SERFASS, an enterprising and successful young agriculturist of Polk township, Monroe county, was born August 4, 1862, at the old family homestead in Polk township, Monroe county, where, he grew to manhood, his early training in, farm work establishing habits of, industry which have contributed largely to his later success. In 1885 he engaged in farming on his own account' near Kresgeville, and his estate shows the progressive management of the modern scientific farmer. As an intelligent and public spirited citizen, he has always been active in local movements, and for six years he served ably as school director. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, while he is also actively interested in religious work as a member of the Lutheran Church at Kresgeville, in which he held the office of deacon for six years. On August 8; 1885, he was married at Gilberts, by Rev. A.M. Strauss, a Lutheran minister, to Miss Emma Kunkel, and three children have blessed the union Spener J. born; February 15, 1887; Harvey N., born May 24, 1889; and Byron H., born September 33, 1892. , Mrs. Serfass, who is highly esteemed by her circle of friends, was born June 12, 1865, in Polk township, Monroe county, where, her family, has long been prominent, her ancestors having settled there as early as 1740. Her father, John Kunkel, was a prominent resident of Kresgeville and her mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Kresge, is, still living at that place; a more complete account of the family is given elsewhere.

WILLIAM SEARFASS who is now successfully engaged in -- farming at Brodheadsville, Monroe county, was born on the old Searfass homestead in Chestnut Hill township, Monroe Co.; Penna; March 12, 1841, and is a worthy representative of one of the old and honored families of that locality.

William and Catherine. (Bond) Searfass parents of our subject, were natives of the same own ship, the former born August 13, 1973, the latter on March 12, 1814. The paternal grandparents, William and Margaret (Everitt) Searfass, spent their entire lives in the same township, where the grandfather, who was a farmer and blacksmith by occupation, owned a very large tract of land which included most of the present sites of Brodheadsville, and gave to each of his children a farm. - The children were Juliann, who married Abraham Shiffer; Catharine, who married Peter Fraley; Mary, who married Michael Getz; Margaret, who married Jacob Dorsheimer; Daniel, who married Lucinda Seigle; Charles, who married Hannah Kresge; William, father of our subject; Samuel, who died unmarried; Sallyanne, who married Peter Burger Elizabeth, who married (first) Peter Shupp, and (second) John Swartz. The paternal grandparents, George, and Christianna (Hoodmaker). Bond, were also lifelong residents of Chestnut Hill Township, where the former engaged in farming and coopering. In their family were nine children: Christianna, wife of John Shiffer; Catherine, mother of our subject; George; Sarah; Mary A.; Charles, married to Sally A, Krutz; Jacob, married to Levina Metzgar; Joseph, married to Sarah Stainer; and Simon married to Annie Frey.

Throughout life the father of our subject carried on farming in his native township, and as one of its Leading and influential citizens he was called upon to fill many local offices of honor and trust. In the reformed Church both he and his wife held membership. He died May 28, 1883, and she passed away February 12, 1893, the remains of both being interred in the Brodheadsville cemetery. In their family were the following children Christianna, born September 11, 1832, married John Andrews, and died in May, 1875; Margaret, born January 18, 1834, is now the widow of L. Overpeck; Mary, born November 15, 1835, married William Adams, and died July 23, 1881; Jacob. Born, November 14, 1837, died in 184o; George, born November 9, 1839, is a farmer of Ross township, Monroe county; William, our subject, is next in the order of birth; Maria, born March 19, 1843, married Daniel Andrew, and died March to, 1881. (Daniel Andrew was born January 16, 1835, and died March 31, 1885); Charles, born March 19, 1845, is a resident of Scranton, Penn. (he married America L. Krese); Simon, born March 15, 1847, was a soldier of the Civil war, and died November 5, 1866 Sally A., born June 29. 1849,married Amos Rhodes, and died in August, 1886; Joseph, born February 18, 1852, is a' resident of Hamilton township; Franklin, born September 3, 1854, is a farmer of Chestnut Hill township; and Catherine, born August 8, 1857, is still living on the old homestead

William Searfass passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm, and in 1856 began learning the shoemaker's trade with Thomas Evans, serving a two-years'. apprenticeship. He then worked as a journeyman for a few months. At Tobyhanna, Penn., March 29, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, 51st P. V. I. I. , under Capt. Daniel Nicholas, and remained in the service until hostilities ceased, being honorably discharged at Alexandria, Va., August 15, 1865 He participated in the battles of the Wilderness (May 6 and 7, '64), Spottsylvania (May 12), Cold Harbor (two days, June 1 and 3), Petersburg (three days, June 17, 18 and July? 30), Weldon Railroad (August 19 and 21), South Side Railroad (August 27) and Hatchr's Run. On April 1865, his regiment was engaged in the battle at Petersburg; on the morning of the 3rd it entered Petersburg, and on the 9^th Gen. Lee Surrendered. When he found time, our subject Was engaged in shoemaking, but at times was forced to throw away his tools, and afterward was compelled to make new ones. During the explosion at Petersburg he was slightly wounded, and at Cold Harbor came nearly losing his life. While lying down in the act of firing, a ball fell at his side passing under his limbs. In the same engagement his `colonel was killed. On his return home he worked for Mr. Evans another year and then went to Tobyhanna, where he followed his trade for a few months, later working in the lumber woods, In 1870 he embarked in business on his own account as a shoemaker, carrying on operations at Brodheadsville, for three years. He then located on his present farm, where he continued to follow his trade for a few years, and subsequently worked at carpentering until 1894, when ill health caused his retirement from that occupation Since then he has devoted his time and attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits.

In August, 1869, in Chestnut Hill township, Mr. Searfass was united in marriage with Miss Ann M. Kresge, a native of Ross township and a daughter of Joseph and Lucinda (Andrews) Kresge, in whose sketch may be found the history of the family. The children born of this union are Lucinda, born May 27, 1870, wife of Edward Jones, of Carbon county; Augusta; born February 15, 1872, died May 24, 1873; Nathan, born July 2, 1873, died September 6, 1873

Eugene, born January 31, 1875. who is engaged in school teaching and resides at home; Catharine J., born December 4, 1876, a resident of Philadelphia; and Mary A:, born (?) 20, 1878, Carrie, born July 29, 1880, Emma, born August 29, 1884, Joseph, born January 9, I887, and Pearl M., born January 29, 1890, are all at home.

Fraternally Mr. Searfass is an honored member of the Knights of Pythias, the Patriotic Order Sons of America and the Grand Army Post of Sciota, while religiously he holds membership in the Reformed Church. His political support is always given the Democracy, and he has most creditably filled the offices of constable three years and school director two terms. In days of peace as in days of war he has always been found patriotic and loyal citizen willing to support every measure for the public good