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The Ace Farms
The Ace Farms

by Charles B. Woodruff
Last Update: 21 May 2005

This is a collection of photographs of the farm and family members of Charles Harrison Ace (1862-1951) and his wife, Alice Gress (1865-1959). They owned a 194 acre farm located on White Pond Road, near Retta, Auburn Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Charles and his brother, Sherman Ace, purchased the farm for $3000. on April 1st, 1901, from the heirs of John Tewksbury. Sherman Ace sold his share of the farm to Charles Ace on March 29, 1913, for one dollar. Charles Ace sold the farm to his sons, Floyd and Raymond Ace, on June 25, 1929, for one dollar. Floyd Ace sold his share of the farm to Raymond on April 18, 1935. It stayed in the family until Raymond sold it to Arthur Irwin on July 30, 1957. Mr. Irwin quit farming in 1972, and broke the property up to sell off. He sold the houses and 4.811 acres of land to McDonald Ball on May 26, 1973, who, in turn sold the property to Helen Hollowich on October 13, 1975. I purchased the property from her on May 11, 1985. More detailed information on the Ace family may be found posted at my family history website.

The Land, Buildings, and Family
Today...

The Charles Ace/Charles Woodruff house as seen from White Pond Road.
The stump is all that remains of a large tree cut down a few days earlier.
Photograph was taken in October 2001.

The ruins of the old wagon house looking toward the two houses across White Pond Road.
Photograph was taken on February 24, 2002.

The back side of the old Charles/Raymond Ace barn as seen from the pasture.
Photograph was taken on February 24, 2002.

...and in the Good Old Days.

Howard and Nina Smith, Alice (Gress) Ace, Carrie (Ace) Smith, Blair Smith,
Aubrey Smith holding Boyd Smith, and Alice and Arthur Smith in front yard of the main house in 1920.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Raymond and Floyd Ace along with milk tester, Mack Morton,
with horse and buggy in front of the main house in about 1921.
I have a copy of the original photo.

The wrap-around porch of the main house in the winter of 1920/1921.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Victor, Dorothy, Raymond, Floyd, Alice, and Charles Ace on their front porch in about 1921.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Charles Ace near the shed by the wagon house
carrying water for the chickens in about 1921.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Floyd and Raymond Ace in a buggy on White Pond Road near their parents' house in about 1921.
Dorothy (Woodruff) Ace told me that her brother Victor Ace was out of the photo on the left,
scratching the dirt to get the horse to point its ears forward.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Charles and Alice (Gress) Ace behind the small house where they lived in about 1943.
Grandson Howard Smith (wearing hat) and his children: Nathan, Jerry, June, and Eileen Smith.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Alice (Gress) Ace and her grandson, Richard Woodruff,
in the back yard near the smoke house and hog pen building in the late 1940s.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Richard Woodruff sitting on the steps to the back porch of the small house in the late 1940s.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Charles and Alice (Gress) Ace standing by the back porch of their little house
on White Pond Road, Retta, Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania in about 1948.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Charles and Alice (Gress) Ace standing in the back yard behind their little house
on White Pond Road, Retta, Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania in 1948.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Donald Ace, grandson of Charles and Alice (Gress) Ace, and Brownie the dog by the barn in 1948.
Original photo in the possession of Shirley Woodruff.

Donald Ace and "Old Sport" up by the cow barn in about 1948.
Original photo in the possession of Shirley Woodruff.

The Ace farm as seen from the pasture behind the cow barn in 1948.
I have the original photo.

The small and large houses on the Ace farm at about the time Raymond Ace sold the property in 1957.

Charles Woodruff by a cornfield with the barn in the background.
This photograph must have been taken about the time Raymond Ace sold the farm in 1957.

The houses on the old Ace farm.
This photograph was taken on July 31, 1974, as we drove by in our car.

Inside the House

Alice (Gress) Ace sitting in a rocking chair in the parlor of the main house in about 1920.
The rocking chair now belongs to granddaughter, Esther (Woodruff) Disch.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Bryce Woodruff sitting with Brownie the dog in the kitchen of the main house in December 1948.
He worked on the farm for his cousin Donald Ace at the time.
The kitchen is now the living room.
Original photo in the possession of Shirley Woodruff.

Donald Ace's father-in-law, Ned Lewis, in the kitchen of the main house in about 1948.
The kitchen is now the living room.
Original photo in the possession of Shirley Woodruff.

Donald Ace's mother-in-law, Mrs. Lewis, in the kitchen of the main house in about 1948.
The kitchen is now the living room. The doorways lead to the parlor.
Original photo in the possession of Shirley Woodruff.

Back in the Family...

This was how the main house looked on February 17, 1985.
Esther (Woodruff) Disch and I heard it was for sale and went to look at it.
It apparently hadn't seen a paintbrush since the Ace's sold it nearly three decades earlier.

This was how the two houses looked on February 17, 1985, when Esther (Woodruff) Disch and I went there.
The houses and nearly five acres of land were for sale and I made a down payment on the property that day.

I learned the hard way not to park in the yard during a January thaw.
It took a neighbor's tractor to pull my '51 Hudson back out into the road on January 20, 1986.

White snow and new coat of paint certainly make a world of difference.
This is how the big house looked on February 16, 1986, nearly one year to the day from when I first looked at it.

The old tractor shed and wagon house were also part of my property.
Unfortunately, the buildings were too far gone to repair.
This is how they looked on May 26, 1986.

Charles and Alice (Gress) Ace and Their Family

Charles Harrison ACE was born 1 Aug 1862 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 14 Apr 1951 in Retta, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He was buried 16 Apr 1951 in Jersey Hill Cemetery, Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Peter Cress ACE (1830-1891) and Emeline F. PLACE (1839-1888).

Note: Charles was a farmer. He hated weeds and could often be seen pulling them out in his yard. He was a hard worker but wouldn't do farm work other than necessary chores on the Sabbath. Charles didn't care for foolishness and had no use for lazy people. His farm was on White Pond Road, a dirt road that apparently was on the path of an air route during World War I. He remarked at the time that he saw more airplanes flying overhead than cars driving by. He died at home a few hours after suffering a heart attack.

Alice GRESS was born 21 Sep 1865 in Hanover Twp, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and died 17 Feb 1959 in Meshoppen, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. She was buried 20 Feb 1959 in Jersey Hill Cemetery, Auburn Twp, Susquehanna, PA. She was the daughter of Henry GRESS (1824?-1901) and Susanna BURRIER (1833-1885).

Note: Alice was deaf most of her adult life. She was a meticulous housekeeper. She fell out of bed and broke her hip in 1955, and was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Children of Alice GRESS and Charles Harrison ACE are:

i. Carrie Emeline ACE was born 14 Sep 1886 in Vosburg, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, and died 4 Sep 1954 in Avon, Livingston County, New York. She married Aubrey Benjamin SMITH on 21 Mar 1906 in Waverly, Tioga County, New York. He was born 8 Mar 1886 in West Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 3 Oct 1949 in Avon, Livingston County, New York.
ii. Fred Henry ACE was born 17 Oct 1890 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and died 20 Sep 1976 in Dansville, Livingston County, New York. He married Polly Maude MERICLE on 26 Nov 1913 in Auburn 4 Corners, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. She was born 4 Jul 1889 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 13 Mar 1955 in Avon, Livingston County, New York.
iii. Floyd LeRoy ACE was born 1 Nov 1896 in Vosburg, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, and died 30 Nov 1969 in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. He married Ethel Cleo YOUNKER. She was born 11 Oct 1904 in West Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 19 May 2005 in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, at the age of 100.
iv. Raymond Earl ACE was born 18 Jan 1900 in Lehigh, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 29 Dec 1963 in Meshoppen, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. He married Genevieve Ruth LAFRANCE on 15 Oct 1921 in West Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. She was born 7 Mar 1904 in Pennsylvania, and died 13 Jun 1997 in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania.
v. Dorothy Helen ACE was born 28 Dec 1902 in Retta, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 29 Jun 1986 in Binghamton, Broome County, New York. She married Claude Howard WOODRUFF, son of Levi Venorman WOODRUFF and Elizabeth HOWARD, on 30 Oct 1922 in Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He was born 19 May 1905 in Lynn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 20 Jun 1983 in Chenango Bridge, Broome County, New York.
vi. Charles Victor ACE was born 10 Feb 1905 in Retta, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 2 Mar 1991 in Vestal, Broome County, New York. He married Virginia TINKLEPAUGH on 17 Aug 1927 in Sodus Point, Wayne County, New York. She was born 18 Feb 1911, and died 31 Aug 1997. They divorced and he married Gertrude Elizabeth MCCONIGIE on 15 Apr 1933 in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. She was born 24 Sep 1910, and died 8 Jul 1950.

The Peter Ace Farm
Today...

The old Peter/Fred Ace farm as seen from Treible Road.
The modular home sets on the same location at the original house that was torn down in 1979.
Photograph was taken on February 24, 2002.

The barn that was once part of the Peter/Fred Ace farm
on Ace Road near South Auburn, Pennsylvania.
The house is located behind the two pine trees.
Photograph was taken on February 24, 2002.

Yesterday...

Fred Ace's son, Ray, in the front yard of the old Peter Ace home shelling corn for the chickens.
Photograph taken in about 1921.
I have a copy of the original photo.

Peter Ace (1830-1891) bought a farm outside of South Auburn, PA in 1860, where he lived until his death. He died of pneumonia presumably in that house. Bryce Woodruff said Charles Ace told him that Peter got sick while leading a bull home in the rain from Meshoppen, PA. Sherman Ace later lived there and it was the site of the first Ace reunion on Aug. 21, 1907. Fred Ace then lived and farmed there until 1943, when it was sold to the Carlin family. The house later stood empty for many years and fell into serious disrepair. It became part of a pasture and cows roamed in and out of it. A large flat stone sat in the middle of the kitchen floor for the stove to set on. It was cracked when I saw it. The house was torn down by Gilbert Carlin in the summer of 1979. I salvaged some Civil War era newpapers that were glued to the kitchen walls under the wallpaper. A modular home now occupies the site. The original barn still stands and is in use. The road is called Ace Road. Peter Ace was called up for the Civil War and paid $300. for a substitute to take his place according to what Charles Ace told Bernice Warrington.

Emeline F. PLACE was born 11 Jun 1839 in Mehoopany, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, and died 21 Sep 1888 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. She was buried in 1888 in Jersey Hill Cemetery, Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of George PLACE (1815-1901) and Mary Polly JAYNE (1814-1841).

Note: Emeline was an invalid for many years. I have the transcription of a letter she wrote to son Charles in 1884.

Children of Emeline F. PLACE and Peter Cress ACE are:

i. Amanda Elizabeth ACE was born 25 Apr 1858 in Pennsylvania, and died 13 Aug 1942 in Jerome, Jerome County, Idaho. She married Charles Nesbitt OVERFIELD on 1 Jun 1879 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He was born 5 May 1850 in Pennsylvania, and died 14 Dec 1911.
ii. George Frank ACE was born 14 Jun 1860 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 30 Aug 1913 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He married Lucy E. SETZER on 31 Jul 1883. She was born about 1861. He then married Chloe ROBINSON.
iii. Charles Harrison ACE was born 1 Aug 1862 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 14 Apr 1951 in Retta, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He married Alice GRESS, daughter of Henry GRESS and Susanna BURRIER, on 24 Sep 1885 in Ashley, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. She was born 21 Sep 1865 in Hanover Twp, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and died 17 Feb 1959 in Meshoppen, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania.
iv. John W. ACE was born 14 May 1865 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 6 Apr 1918 in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth KINTNER on 14 Dec 1885.

Sherman Ace sitting on the porch of his house
near South Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, in about 1910.
Original photo given to me by Dorothy Ace Woodruff.

v. William Sherman ACE was born 21 Aug 1867 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 20 Mar 1955 in Meshoppen, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth WINANS on 27 Mar 1889 in South Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. She was born 18 Jan 1870 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 2 Feb 1906 in South Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He then married Margaret A. HUFFORD on 31 Mar 1909 in St. Paul's Methodist Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was born in 1865, and died 13 Oct 1961 in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania.
vi. Mary Emeline ACE was born 17 Feb 1870 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 7 Sep 1945 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. She married Harry RUSTAY on 25 Jan 1909 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. He was born 4 Jul 1864 in Mauch Chunk, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, and died 2 Apr 1930 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
vii. Arthur Sterling ACE was born 8 Mar 1873 in Auburn Twp, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 23 Sep 1950 in Clifton Springs, Ontario County, New York. He married Elizabeth Stephens BOVEY on 26 Oct 1895 in the Methodist-Episcopal Parsonage, Brooklyn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. She was born 13 Jul 1870, and died 26 Jul 1905. He then married Stella Scott BAYLESS in October 1907 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. She was born 8 Feb 1878, and died 28 Apr 1951.
viii. Minnie Rebecca ACE was born 25 Jun 1877 in South Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 18 Sep 1948 in South Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. She married Charles Aaron MCMICKEN on 3 Oct 1900 in Moosic, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. He was born 11 Feb 1877 in South Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 26 Jan 1958 in Mehoopany, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania.
ix. Jennie M. F. ACE was born 25 Dec 1881 in South Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, and died 24 Apr 1970 in South Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. She married Edgar Bolles JUDSON on 14 Feb 1904 in South Auburn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He was born 2 May 1879 in Pennsylvania, and died 3 Aug 1931.

Here are some of my favorite websites:

RootsWeb.com (free genealogical site).
Ancestry.Com (genealogical site).
Mormon Genealogical Research Site.
Cyndi's List of over 121,000 Genealogical Sites.
Find a Grave Website.
Cemetery Transcription Library.
"From Cemetery to Tree" Mary Jean's Susquehanna County, PA Genealogy Sites.
Binghamton (NY) Press.

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This page belongs to Charles B. Woodruff.