USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Lodge no. 61, F. and A. M., Wilkesbarr?, Pa. with a collection of masonic addresses > Part 37
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"I pray that my health may be such as to enable me to be present, as I have been most flatteringly invited to be.
* * * With sincere regards, as ever, Yours,
"CHARLES MINER.
"Retreat, June Ioth, 1851."
"Mr. Miner, in youth and age, was the perfect gentleman -a true type of what is termed the gentleman of the old school. He was easy and winning in his manners ; scrupu- lously neat and precise in his dress, with ruffled shirt and
* See Chapter VI. for copy of address.
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white cravat ; courteous in demeanor to all who approached him ; open and generous with his purse, even to his own detriment ; and a lover of all those noble qualities which help to make up the true and honest man. In conversation he was peculiarly agreeable-no tongue more eloquent than his, so smooth its compliment, so polished its language ; and it is doubtful if any one ever left his presence without a feeling of self-satisfaction and of pleasure for the interview.
He never lost a friend-at least not by fault of his own. All who knew him intimately loved him dearly."
The Hon. Joseph R. Chandler, for many years editor of the United States Gazette, Philadelphia, and an old friend of Mr. Miner, visited the Wyoming Valley in 1844. In a let- ter to his paper he wrote :
"The next morning I set forth to 'the Cottage,' the residence of Mr. Miner, and soon found myself in front of a dwelling which, to me, seemed more sacred than the abode of Wordsworth at Windermere. Charles Miner is a part of the boast of the Valley of Wyoming, the pride of the Pennsylvania press, and the object of affectionate con- sideration of all who know him. John Quincy Adams considered a visit to the Valley doubly desirable in his old age, because it would enable him to pay his respects to Charles Miner."
Thurlow Weed, the veteran New York journalist, only a year before his death (1882), wrote of Charles Miner as having been "the model editor of a country newspaper." The Hon John W. Forney, in noticing his decease, said in The Press of Philadelphia : "Charles Miner was a model journalist and statesman ; the father of a school of sound thinkers, and the most practical philanthropist of his time."
The following encomium is from the pen of the late Hon. Eli K. Price, of Philadelphia, who knew Mr. Miner inti- mately for many years :*
* See note, page 409, ante, for notice of Eli K. Price. His father, Philip Price, died at West Chester, Penn'a, February 26th, 1837, and in the Wyoming Republican and Farmers' Herald (Kingston) of March 15th appeared an obituary penned by Mr. Miner. On the 4th
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"Permit me a brief space to pay a tribute of respect to one who was a beloved friend, and one of Pennsylvania's most worthy citizens. * * They of the present generation who would know Charles Miner should read his "History of Wyoming," to learn how much the truth of history and the character of the Connecticut settlers are in- debted to him ; and to know him yet better in his genial traits of char- acter, and pleasing style and beautiful fancies, yet profound practical wisdom, must read the many sketches of life, character and incidents with which he embellished the columns of his newspapers. These should be collected and printed in a volume.
" I am reminded by a quotation made in one of his letters written many years ago, that he acted through life with a view unto the end : ' Oh, that the winding up may be well.' And that he looked to the life beyond the winding up of this I am reminded by a letter of more recent date : 'I am deeply interested in the vast and sublime theme of our immortal nature. I cordially agree with you, if there be not a life immortal, and the great doctrines of Christianity be not true, then is life without fruits, and creation purposeless.'
"Seldom do we look upon one so good and perfect in character as was he of whom we now write. We rejoice that he completed so per- fect an example for his fellow men. He has departed from our view, and we shall behold never again his loved and venerable form ; yet will he live long in the memory and love of men ; yet does live, we cannot but believe, where the good shall again see, and love, and rejoice with him in an endless being. * * *
"In the Summer of 1855 Doctor Pancoast and wife, Doctor Throop, myself and wife, and others paid a visit to Charles Miner and family at his home in the Valley of Wyoming. He welcomed us into his house, and after the company were seated in the porch Charles Miner rose upon his feet, saying he was too deaf to hear his friends without exertion by them in loud speaking, but he felt that he owed them an apology for receiving them into so humble a dwelling. 'But when I
of March the latter wrote to Eli K. Price in part as follows : "To have been remembered and kindly spoken of by your beloved father, our most excellent friend, in his dying hour, was an affecting but pleasing proof of his affection for us. He always showed to us the considera- tion of a parent. The early friendship of your father and mother- they seemingly adopting us into their family-was not only a source of social gratification, but from their standing in society, it was a pass- port to public respect and favor, of the greatest value to us, and was entitled to our most grateful acknowledgment,"
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explain to you the reason,' he proceeded, 'I feel that you will all justify me. Indeed I feel attached to this old dwelling with its many associations, and it will last as long as its owner. I feel attached to it, too, from the same feeling that the commander after a successful and stormy voyage feels attached to the vessel that has brought him safely to port and to a good market, and who, though she be weather-beaten and unseaworthy, walks her deck with satisfaction and pride for the service she has done.
"'I came into possession of this place many years ago when I was poor and struggling with the world, and I could not have saved it if I had attempted to build a new house upon it. But I have been enabled to hold it and bring up my children upon it, thanks to my good friend here, Eli K. Price, who lent me money [$3000 in 1850] and allowed me to have it even when I did not pay him the interest for it. He enabled me to come into the port safely with my richly laden barque ; for these three hundred acres are underlaid with numerous veins of coal of almost countless value, and which now would bring about $300 an acre ; and while I am content to live the residue of my days in this humble dwelling, I have felt that I have done my duty to my children by saving for them a valuable inheritance.' "
Charles Miner died at his home in Plains township Octo- ber 26th, 1865, in the 86th year of his age. His good life had conformed to the laws of his being, and he died because he was very old. Among his papers was found a memoran- dum requesting that his body be laid in the old grave-yard in Wilkesbarré (at the corner of Market and Washington streets), where the mould was "soft and pleasant,' and where he would be "surrounded by dear friends" who had gone before. His burial took place October 29th, LODGE 61, and a large body of Free Masons from other Lodges, attending the funeral and performing the last solemn rites peculiar to our Ancient Fraternity. Above his remains there was placed, later, a plain stone with the inscription :
"CHARLES MINER, born in Norwich, Conn., February Ist, 1780. Died at the Retreat in Plains Twp. October 26th, 1865. "The Historian of Wyoming.' "
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Subsequently his remains were removed to the Hollen- back Cemetery, where they lie interred on the summit of one of the highest points of ground in that beautiful "city of the dead"-a point from which may be had a pleasing and extended view of "fair Wyoming," well-beloved for so many years by him whose body now rests there in her bosom, in "silence and eternal sleep." His monument, built of rough, red rocks from the near-by mountain, is gilded by the earliest light of morning, and parting day lingers and plays upon its summit.
The kindest and best words we can find to say over the graves of departed friends are, that they "rest from their labors and their works do follow them." And when it can be said, in truth and by way of commendation, of either the living or the dead, that their works do follow them-when any man's works are such as will bear inspection and merit praise, depend upon it he has lived a useful and an honor- able life. Such was the life of CHARLES MINER, who, when intelligence, ability, and services to the public are considered, must, without question, be placed foremost among the emi- nent men who have lived at any time in the Wyoming Valley.
It has often been said, and truly, that the lives or biogra- phies of individuals are the history of a State or country. The life of the humblest factor in public affairs has so much of worth, in getting that minute insight into the history of the times that is so important to the student, that even a poor biography of an obscure personage has its value. And, in greater ratio, a poor biography of an eminent personage has a greater value. I have been able to present in these pages nothing more than a sketch of CHARLES MINER's life, and to give only brief references to and extracts from his writings. As suggested by Eli K. Price, his writings should be collected together and published with a complete history of his life.
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CHARLES MINER was married at Wilkesbarré January 16th, 1804, to Letitia Wright, who had been one of his pupils in the old log school-house. She was a daughter of Joseph Wright,* and niece of Mrs. Asher Miner ; was born June IIth, 1788, and died in Plains township February 27th, 1852. She bore her husband seven children, of whom six grew to maturity, viz. :
I .- ANN CHARLTON MINER, born October 24th, 1804. March 3d, 1824, she was married at West Chester, Penn'a, to Dr. Isaac Thomas (born September 16th, 1797; died May 16th, 1879), a native of Chester county. She died March 23d, 1832. The younger of the two daughters of Doctor and Mrs. Thomas is the wife of the Hon. William Butler, of West Chester, Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
II .- SARAH K. MINER, born June 4th, 1806. She was blind from early childhood. Her father taught her to read by having her learn the shape of large wooden job-type in his printing office. When sent to an institution for the blind, her parents were informed that she was the first child ever admitted who was able to read. She was an exceedingly gifted woman-her deprivation of vision being counterbalanced by a marvelous memory. When her father was collecting data for his "History of Wyoming," she accompanied him on his visits to the survivors of the days of 1778-'88, listened closely to their narratives, and recalled them to her father when he wrote them down at home. He often referred to her as his "literary guardian." She died in Plains township January 14th, 1874.
III .- MARY S. MINER, born in Wilkesbarre July 16th, 1808; died in West Chester, Penn'a, October 27th, 1860. She married, as his first wife, the Hon. Joseph J. Lewis of West Chester, who died in April, 1883, "full of years and
* See note, page 428, ante.
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honors." Charlton Thomas Lewis, Ph. D., of New York City, well known as a scholar, a lexicographer, an editor and a successful man of affairs, is a son of Joseph J. and Mary S. (Miner) Lewis. He was graduated from Yale Col- lege in the class of 1853-known as "the famous class," from the number of its members who have won distinction in the various walks of life. Several years later he was or- dained as a minister of the gospel, but his life since then has been devoted almost entirely to teaching and writing. He is the author of an admirable "Latin Dictionary for Schools." He has been President of the Prison Association of New York, and was a member of the International Congress of Charities, Correction, and Philanthropy, held at Chicago in June, 1893. He has written a good deal, and has delivered some valuable and interesting addresses, on the subject of penology.
The Hon. Wayne MacVeagh, U. S. Minister to Turkey in 1873, Attorney General of the United States in 1881, and now Ambassador to Italy, married as his first wife a daugh- ter of Joseph J. and Mary S. (Miner) Lewis. Mr. MacVeagh and Charlton T. Lewis were classmates at Yale, and both were members of the 4 K E Fraternity .*
IV .- CHARLOTTE MINER, born June 30th, 1810; died July 28th, 1859. She married Stephen Fuller Abbott (born July 14th, 1809; died February IIth, 1856) of Wyoming Valley. The Rev. William P. Abbott, D. D., a prominent minister of the M. E. Church, who died in New York De- cember 22d, 1878, aged forty years, was their son.
V .- ELLEN ELIZABETH MINER, the only child of Charles Miner now living, was born in Wilkesbarré August 14th, 1814. In June, 1838, she was married to Jesse Thomas, an iron manufacturer of Hollidaysburg, Penn'a. He was born in Chester county, Penn'a, October 27th, 1804, and was a
*See page 222, ante.
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brother of Dr. Isaac Thomas, hereinbefore mentioned. He died February 14th, 1876, at Wilkesbarre, where he had re- sided and been a prominent business man for a number of years. Isaac M. Thomas, now Treasurer of the City of Wilkesbarré, a director of the People's Bank, and identified with other important affairs, is a son of Jesse and Ellen E. (Miner) Thomas.
VI .- WILLIAM PENN MINER, born in Wilkesbarré Sep- tember 8th, 1816. He spent his youth in West Chester, Penn'a, where he was educated, and where he studied law with his brother-in-law Judge Lewis. He was admitted to the Bar of Chester county in 1840, and to the Bar of Lu- zerne county August 3d, 1841. In October, 1846, as the candidate of the Whig party, he was elected Prothonotary, and Clerk of the various Courts of Luzerne county, for a term of three years-defeating Samuel P. Collings, Esq.
Mr. Miner and his cousin, Joseph W .- son of Asher and Mary (Wright) Miner-purchased of Sharp D. Lewis, Esq., The Wilkesbarré Advocate. They changed the name of the paper to The Record of the Times, and issued the first num- ber April 20th, 1853. The paper was published for some years by the Messrs. Miner, and then by William P. alone until 1876, when the property was sold to a stock company. Mr. Miner established in October, 1873, The Daily Record, now The Wilkesbarré Record.
He married Elizabeth Dewart, who died March 26th, 1871, in the forty-seventh year of her age. He died at his ancestral home in Miner's Mills, Plains township, April 3d, 1892, and was survived by one son and three daughters.
ASHER MINER was the third child of Capt. Seth and Anna (Charl- ton) Miner, and was born at Norwich, Conn., March 3d, 1778. He learned the printer's trade under Samuel Green, New London, and in 1799 removed to Wilkesbarré. On the 6th of November of that year
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he opened a private school in Wilkesbarré, and notified the public that he had "undertaken to instruct youth in reading, writing, arith- metic and English grammar," and that proper attention would "be paid to the morals and manners of those committed to his care." This school was successfully conducted by Mr. Miner during the next four years-for the most of which period he was also engaged in editing and publishing the Federalist, as hereinbefore noted.
In May, 1804, having dissolved partnership with his brother Charles, he removed to Doylestown, Bucks county, Penn'a.
The first newspaper in Bucks county was printed and published by Isaac Relston at Doylestown, July 22d, 1800. Its publication was continued only about one year. The second attempt to publish a paper in the county was made at Newtown in September, 1802, by Messrs. Dow and Coale; but after a brief existence the paper died. The third attempt was made by Asher Miner, who issued at Doyles- town, July 7th, 1804, the first number of The Pennsylvania Corre- spondent. The following is an extract from his salutatory : "Encour- aged by the prominent patronage of a very respectable number of the inhabitants of the county of Bucks, the subscriber has been induced to attempt the establishment of a weekly newspaper at this place. Should it be thought worthy of support, all who are pleased with the information, and all who are willing to encourage useful inventions, are solicited to lend their subscriptions and their influence to render the present undertaking permanent. In his public character, as the conductor of the only newspaper printed in the county, he will act with that impartiality which duty and prudence require."
For twenty years Mr. Miner edited and published The Pennsylvania Correspondent, and then he disposed of the establishment, and the name of the paper was later changed to The Bucks County Intelli- gencer. In that paper in July, 1859, a writer said : "Of all our early editors I must yield the palm for ability to Asher Miner. His articles, for originality, style, and learning, greatly surpass those of his time."
In 1805 Mr. Miner opened a book-store in Doylestown-probably the first in the county-and during several years he published a great number of almanacs. In 1806 he was Librarian of the Doylestown Library, and in 1817 was elected Auditor of Bucks county. August 3d, 1809, he was appointed Post Master of Doylestown, and he held the office until March 5th, 1821, when he was succeeded by Charles E. Dubois.
From 1825 to 1834 Mr. Miner resided in West Chester, Penn'a, the partner of his brother in editing and publishing The Village Record.
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In 1834 he removed to Wrightsville (now Miner's Mills), Luzerne county, where he died March 13th, 1841.
Asher Miner was married May 19th, 1800, to Mary, only daughter of Thomas and Mary Wright. (See note, page 428, ante). She died in January, 1830, and May 13th, 1835, he was married to Mrs. Thomasin H. Boyer, of West Chester, Penn'a.
ANNA MARIA MINER, born at Wilkesbarre in 1801, was the eldest of the thirteen children of Asher and Mary (Wright) Miner. April 18th, 1819, she was married at Doylestown to Dr. Abraham Stout of Bethlehem, Penn'a. They were the parents of Asher Miner Stout, born at Bethlehem in September, 1822; graduated (A. B.) from Yale College in 1842; admitted to the Bar of Luzerne county August 4th, 1845; initiated into LODGE 61 April 26th, 1847 ; Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1852 and 1853; died at Wilkesbarré in April, 1860.
THOMAS WRIGHT MINER, born in Wilkesbarre August 23d, 1803, was the eldest son and second child of Asher and Mary (Wright) Miner. He accompanied his parents to Doylestown, where he re- sided until about 1825, when, having been graduated from the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, he returned to Wilkesbarré to practice medicine, and resided here until his death. In addition to prac- ticing his profession he owned and conducted for several years a drug- store, located on the north side of the Public Square. He was a man of marked genius. He was not only a skilful and successful physician and man of business, but he was a pleasing writer and a graceful speaker. He wrote ably, and his ideas were always clothed in beauti- ful language. A lecture which he delivered upon several occasions, entitled "Our Country : its Dangers and its Destiny," was a masterly production. For many years he was active in politics-especially during the anti-Masonic era-and in 1832 was a candidate for Con- gress, but was defeated by Andrew Beaumont. He was an anti- Mason. He married Lucy E. Bowman (born October 12th, 1806; died May 15th, 1842), daughter of Ebenezer and Esther Ann (Watson) Bowman of Wilkesbarré. Doctor Miner died at Wilkesbarré October 2Ist, 1858, and was survived by his son, Dr. E. Bowman Miner, who was a practicing physician and the proprietor of a drug-store in Wilkes- barré for a number of years.
ROBERT MINER, born at Doylestown, Penn'a, August 17th, 1805, was the third child and second son of Asher and Mary (Wright) Miner. He married January 3d, 1826, Eliza Abbott (born October 2Ist, 1806 ; died August 18th, 1846), only daughter of Stephen and Abigail Abbott. For a number of years prior to his marriage he was a school teacher in Plains township, and then he engaged in coal mining, part of the
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time with the late Ario Pardee, at Hazleton, Penn'a. He died at Wilkesbarré December 9th, 1842.
CHARLES ABBOTT MINER, a prominent citizen of Wilkesbarré, is the second child and eldest son of Robert and Eliza (Abbott) Miner, and was born at Plains, Luzerne county, August 30th, 1830. He mar- ried, January 19th, 1853, Eliza Ross Atherton, daughter of Elisha and Caroline Ann (Ross) (Maffet) Atherton (see note, page 388, ante), and they have four children living. Mr. Miner represented the City of Wilkesbarré in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1874- '78; was a member of the City Council of Wilkesbarré in 1871-'74 and 1886-'87, and served as President of the body in 1874. He has been President of the Wilkesbarré City Hospital for about twenty years. Since 1868 he has been a director of the Wyoming National Bank, and is now Vice President. He was made a Free Mason in Landmark Lodge No. 442, F. and A. M., Wilkesbarré, March 2Ist, 1873, and was Treasurer of the Lodge in 1880 and 1881. He has been a Companion of Shekinah Chapter No. 182, R. A. M., since Septem- ber Ist, 1874, and a Sir Knight of Dieu le Veut Commandery No. 45, Knights Templar, since February 12th, 1875.
HON. HENRY PETTEBONE.
John Pettebone, a native of England, settled in Hartford county, Connecticut, about 1657, and was, probably, the an- cestor of all the Pettebones in this country. One of his de- scendants was Noah Pettebone, who was born at Simsbury, Conn., in 1716, and who married in 1745 Huldah Williams, and had five daughters and three sons-the names of the latter being Noah, Stephen, and Oliver.
Noah Pettebone, Sr., was one of the settlers who came to Wyoming from Connecticut in the Spring of 1769, but who were driven from the Valley by the Pennemites in Novem- ber of the same year. He came back July 8th, 1771, as one of the company of New Englanders commanded by Capt. Zebulon Butler, which had been organized in pursuance of a vote of the Susquehanna Company to retake possession of the Wyoming lands. August 16th, 1773, at Wilkesbarré, Noah Pettebone received payment of his "bounty of five dollars" for "assisting" in that successful work. In 1772 he brought hither from Connecticut his wife and children, and took up his residence in Kingston township. Accompanied by all the members of his family except his sons Noah, Jr., and Stephen, he fled from the Valley after the battle and massacre of July 3d, 1778, and journeyed to his old home in Connecticut. About 1780 he returned to his deserted farm in Kingston, and there resided until his death, March 28th, 1791.
Noah Pettebone, Jr., the eldest of the three sons of Noah, Sr., was slain in the battle of July 3d, 1778.
When Captains Durkee and Ransom raised their com- panies in Wyoming in the Autumn of 1776, Stephen Pette- bone, second son of Noah, Sr., enlisted in Durkee's company and marched with it to join Washington's army in New Jer- sey. When the remnants of these two companies were con-
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solidated under Captain Spalding in the Summer of '78, and marched to Wyoming after the massacre of July 3d, Stephen Pettebone was one of the little band; but he came back to the desolated Valley only to be murdered by a band of Indians on the Kingston flats opposite Wilkesbarré in the Spring of 1779.
Oliver, the youngest son, was born in Simsbury, Conn., May 13th, 1762. He was sixteen years of age at the time of the Wyoming massacre, and was in Forty Fort when it was surrendered. He fled from the Valley with his parents and sisters, and went to Connecticut with them, where he spent a few years and then removed to Amenia, N. Y. There he married, December 21st, 1783, Martha Payne (born July 25th, 1763 ; died December 25th, 1833), daugh- ter of Dr. Barnabas Payne. In 1787, having purchased a tract of land near his father's farm in Kingston township, he removed thither. That he was a resident of Luzerne county in the Spring of 1788 is evidenced by an original document in the possession of the writer of this, which reads as follows :
"We the subscribers according to the powers in us vested do here- by discharge Oliver Pettibone from a militia fine incurred by not at- tending military duty in May, A. D. 1788.
"[Signed] CHRISTOPHER HURLBUT, Į "SAM'L ALLIN, COMMISSIONERS.
"Luzerne County 9th July, 1789."
In 1799 and 1800 he was a member of the Kingston Town Committee for the sale of public lands. In 1802-'5 he was one of the Commissioners of Luzerne county. In 1813 he was a captain in the State militia. "He was,"wrote Charles Miner, "a vigilant and faithful officer ; and as a private gentleman liberal and kind, ever assiduous to please. He was a man of perfect integrity and honor." He died at his home in Kingston March 17th, 1832. He was the father of thirteen children, the eldest of whom was Oliver, Jr., born in Septem- ber, 1784, and died December 6th, 1813. His third child,
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