USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume IV > Part 35
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One particular result of energy displayed by the mother community as to a new court house had been a considerable opposition on the part of the newer Lackawanna district, and perhaps had even invited the hard word "upas" as de- scriptive of leading citizens of the older. Even then an undercurrent of feeling as to a proposed new county, with Scranton as its seat, was in agitation.
Luzerne's second court house completed, as has been seen, in 1804, had served nearly half a century of usefulness when the census of 1850 was reported. That census gave the county a population of 44,006 as against 12,389 upon which had been predicated the structure of the opening years of the nineteenth century.
Children. He was also a member of the vestry of St. Stephen's Church. Probably no one of General Ross's cotempor - aries had more to do with the various local associations of the town for a third of a century than he had. And he was remarkably punctual in his duties in all the labors these associations demanded and required of him.
He represented the Luzerne district in the Senate of this State during the session of 1845-6-7. The last year of his term he was the speaker of that body. He was also elected to the General Assembly for the session of 1862, and in this service his conduct and business capacity were marked with much ability and unblemished integrity. His charitable impulses were large. He ever had a generous heart and open hand. Those who appealed to him, in trouble and ad- versity, almost always met with a liberal response. Neither were his gifts limited or restrained; as they were the off- spring of a warm and impulsive heart, so they corresponded with its noble emotion. His donations to the Home for Friendless Children, considering the character of his estate, were indeed exceedingly liberal. Those amounted, from time to time, including the bequest of his last will of $5,000, to $10,000. The helpless and dependent condition of these poor friendless children made a deep impression on his mind. It was a theme that often engaged his thoughts and his conversations, and resulted in a liberality that should impose a subject for the reflection of others, who would do well to imitate his noble and praiseworthy example. Of this institution he was the firm and steadfast friend. His memory will long be revered by the forsaken objects of that noble enterprise; and many of them who shall hereafter reach manhood, and become respectable and useful citizens, will praise the name and honor the noble virtues of their friend and benefactor.
He was a man of unbending integrity and unblemished honor. His word was his bond. He was scrupulously exact in complying with all the engagements he made. He used no subterfuge to evade a promise, and his mind was above the contemplation of a wrong. In this particular his actions and life furnish a model worthy of imitation.
It was a generous act in his life which prompted the purchase of the "Chamber collection" of coins and other curiosities, at a cost of $2,000, and the presentation of them to the "Wyoming Historical and Geological Society." of this town. It was the grand nucleus around which other contributions gathered, and which really gave the society success. It gave the institution a prestige and a name, that commended it to the friends of science everywhere. The name of its most munificent founder will live with the institution.
These random and hasty reflections may not he closed without an allusion to his firm, unwavering love of country. The blood of his ancestors had sealed the bond of American independence. His birth was amid the closing scenes of the Revolution; his young mind had been elated with the rejoicings over the advent of a nation, flung into life from the ruins and fragments of one overthrown. From the lips of the same man who had produced this result he received the impression of the magnitude of the struggle and its cost. The subdued language of history had not dis- robed those events of the freshness and power with which they came from the men who had achieved them. They were before him in person, and they wore the marks and scars of the campaign-the soldiers of liberty-the men of the Revolution. When, therefore, treason walked ahroad in the land, and threatened the overthrow and destruction of the Federal Union, General Ross was among the first to rise up in its defence; his contributions in money were not stinted; he gave, and he gave with his accustomed liberality. He encouraged the enlistment of volunteers; he took an open and manly stand on the side of his country. And so he remained during the whole of that long and eventful strife. He lived to see treason discomfited, and the time-honored flag triumphant.
The death of a man thus connected with the various enterprises of his residence, its charitable and scientific associ- ations, its municipal and local institutions, is a public loss. It is a vacancy not easily to be supplied; a link broken in the social chain that many generations may not replace; to his family a severe affliction, but to the poor and desti- tute, the widow and orphan, it is a loss that language can but poorly express. To such he was a friend in need, and their prayers and blessings will long, long linger above his grave.
His decease was sudden and unexpected, though he had all but reached the allotted age to man. Friends were not prepared for the event, but
"We know that moons shall wane, That summer birds, from far, shall cross the sea,
But who shall tell us when to look for death!" H. B. W.
He was married December 1st, 1825, to Ruth T. Slocum, niece of Frances Slocum, and a descendant of a pioneer family in Wyoming valley.
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In fact the growth of the county in one decade from 1840 to 1850, namely 12,066, had added almost as much population as the whole of the Susquehanna Purchase could boast when the second court house was constructed. Small wonder, therefore, that judges, grand juries and Wilkes-Barré in general should demand a new building more in keeping with the progress of community affairs and better suited to its purpose than was the dilapidated frame building which, with others almost as decrepit, shared most of the surface of the Public Square.
As early as 1832, the legislature had passed an act enabling Luzerne, if it so desired, to issue bonds for a new building. But the times were not tlien considered ripe for the venture. Little further mention of the subject seems to have commanded notice in local publications of the time until 1844, when a grand inquest made a mild reference to the condition of the old structure and submitted the whole matter to the county commissioners .* One reason assigned for a new building, in the jury's summary of the situation, was that the court house hall, long used as a community meeting place as well as a place of assembly for military, fraternal and musical organizations was no longer able to accommo- date those who sought admission. The commissioners, however, were not to be hurried. Other grand inquests repeated the demands of the first. That assembled at the April term of court in 1855, felt that it had a considerable portion of the community back of it in pointing out the absolute necessity of proper court facilities and in peremptory tones proclaimed the need of prompt action. In this view the court concurred and certified both the report and the court's opinions to the commissioners. Then began a popular and somewhat acrimonious discussion, as old as the court house itself and one that was revived with even greater bitterness nearly half a century later when the present River Street Court House was in prospect, as to a proper site for the building.
*A complete list of commissioners of Luzerne County from 1794, prepared by clerks of that office, is herein presented. No available records of the county disc ose the names of those who served from 1786, when the county was organized, until the date mentioned. An order, in possession of the Hon. Steuben Jenkins at his death, directed to Abel Yarington, treasurer, and reading: "Pay James Westbrook, or bearer, four shillings out of the county treasury" dated September 6, 1792, and signed Jno. Hagerman and J. Hollenback, Commissioners, appears to indi- cate that the signatories were then county commissioners and perhaps had been in office, as had the treasurer, from the erection of the county. The balance of the list follows:
1794-Jesse Fell, Alexander Jameson.
1795-6-John Philips, John Jenkins, Thomas Wright. 1800-1-Lawrence Myers, E. Blackman, Thomas Wright.
1803-E. Blackman, Arnold Colt, Oliver Pettebone. 1804-Arnold Colt, Ezekiel Hyde, Oliver Pettebone. 1805-Oliver Pettebone, Benjamin Dorrance, E. Hyde, Eleazer Blackman.
1806-E. Blackman, B. Dorrance, Elisha Harding.
1807-B. Dorrance, E. Harding, H. Tiffany.
1808-E. Harding, H. Tiffany, James Wheeler.
1809-H. Tiffany, J. Wheeler, Benj. Perry. Peleg Tracy was clerk of the board from 1804 to 1809.
1810-Benj. Perry, Thos. Welles, Noah Wadhams, Samuel Bowman.
1811-B. Perry, N. Wadhams, Thomas Park.
1812-B. Perry, N. Wadhams, Abiel Fellows.
1813-Cornelius Cortright, Napthali Hurlbut, Abiel Fellows.
1814-N. Hurlbut, C. Cortright, Benjamin Carey. 1815-C. Cortright, Benj. Carey, James Reeder.
1816-Benj. Carey. James Reeder, Lord Butler. Jesse Fell was clerk of the board from 1810 to 1816. 1817-Lord Butler, James Reeder, Isaac Hartzell. 1818-Lord Butler, I. Hartzell, E. Shoemaker. Arnold Colt was clerk of the board in 1817 and 1818.
1819-E. Shoemaker, I. Hartzell, Cyrus Avery. 1820-E. Shoemaker, C. Avery, Joel Roger :.
1821-C. Avery, Joel Rogers, Samuel Yost. 1822-Joel Rogers, Samuel Yost, Hezekiah Parsons. 1823-Samuel Yost, H. Parsons, Steuben Butler. 1824 H. Parsons, Steuben Butler, Elisha S. Potter. 1825-S. Butler, E. S. Potter, Deodat Smith. 1826-E. S. Potter, D. Smith, Arnold Colt. 1827-D. Smith. A. Colt, John Bittenbender. 1828-A. Colt, John Bittenbender, Isaac Harding.
1829-J. Bittenbender, I. Harding, Wm. Swetland. 1830-I. Harding, Wmn. Swetland, Cornelius Cortright Jesse Fell was clerk of the board from 1819 to 1830.
1831-Wm. Swetland, C. Cortright, Jacob Rambach. 1832-C. Cortright, J. Rambach, Luman Ferry.
1833-J. Rambach, Luman Ferry, Joseph Tuttle. E. Carey was clerk of the board from 1831 to 1833. 1834-L. Ferry, Joseph Tuttle, Sebastian Sybert. 1835-Joseph Tuttle, S. Sybert, Samuel Saylor. Thomas Myers was clerk of the board in 1834 and 1835.
1836-S. Sybert, S. Saylor, John Fassett.
1837-S. Saylor, John Fassett, Wm. Koons.
1838-John Fassett, Wm. Koons, Gorton Wall.
1839-Wm. Koons, Gorton Wall, Philip Yost.
1840-Gorton Wall, Philip Yost, Nathaniel Cottrill. Chester Tuttle was clerk of the board from 1836 to 1840.
1841-Philip Yost, N. Cottrill, Thos. Irwin. Chas. W. Potter was clerk of the board in 1841.
1842-N. Cottill, Thos. Irwin, J. Benscoter.
1843-J. Benscoter, Jno.Rosencranse, Jr., Thos. Irwin. 1844-J. Benscoter, J. Rosencranse, Jr., E. Chamber- lin. Edward Dolph was clerk of the board from 1842 to 1844.
1845-J. Rosencranse, Jr., E. Chamberlin, Charles Berry.
1846-E. Chamberlin, C. Berry, Philip Meixell.
1847-C. Berry, P. Meixell, Ira Branson.
1848-P. Meixell, I. Branson, Robert Eaton.
1849-I. Branson, R. Eaton, Jacob Besecker.
1850-Robert Eaton, Rowland Richards, Isaiah
Stiles. Jared R. Baldwin was clerk of the board from 1845 to 1850.
1851-L. H. Litts, Isaiah Stiles, R. Hutchins.
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The Record of the Times threw the whole weight of its influence against rebuilding on the Square and suggested that the old stone jail at the corner of Washington and East Market Streets be moved and the new building erected at that point. Others favored the present site of the Laning building upon which no structure had then stood since the destruction of the first Laning and Marshall foundry by fire in 1850. A main objection to the Square site, as the Record of the Times pointed out, was the necessity of providing a suitable facing to the structure of four sides to correspond with the approach of each of the four prin- cipal streets. This, the publication argued, would prove an unnecessary expense to taxpayers. A decision of the Borough itself turned the tide in favor of the Square. With no municipal building it could call its own and without funds sufficient to erect one, the council of Wilkes-Barré made a proposition to the commissioners that if suitable office space were provided for the Borough in the proposed building without rental charges, it would attempt the expedient of issuing bonds to share the cost of the structure. This offer, including the selec- tion of the site of the Square, having been accepted by the county, the legislature was immediately appealed to and on May 5, 1855, the Borough was empowered to issue bonds "in an amount not less than $10,000 or more than $20,000 and deliver the proceeds of same to the county treasurer for purposes of the building."
These bonds, to the amount of $10,000, bearing six per cent interest and payable twenty years from date were subsequently issued on April 1, 1857, bearing the signatures of Jacob Bertels, president, and E. B. Harvey, secretary of the corporation.
The Record of the Times, still complaining of the selection of the Square for building purposes, mentions in its issue of November 28, 1855, that "plans are now in the hands of D. A. Fell." The architect of the building was J. C. Wells of New York, Mr. Fell later assuming the general contract for the building's erection.
1852-Isaiah Stiles, R. Hutchins, Peter Winter. 1853-R. Hutchins, Peter Winter, Abraham Smith. Chester Tuttle was clerk of the hoard from 1851 to 1853.
1854-Peter Winter, A. Smith, Daniel Vail.
1855-A. Smith, D. Vail, Silas Dod-on.
1856-D. Vail, S. Dodson, W. A. Tubbs.
1857-S. Dodson, W. A. Tubbs, Benj. F. Pfonts.
1858-W. A. Tubbs, B. F. Pfouts, Jno. C. Dunuing. 1859-B. F. Pfonts, J. C. Dunning, John Blanchard 1860-J. C. Dunning, J. Blanchard, Daniel Rambach. 1861-John Blanchard, D. Rambach, Samuel Vaughn.
1862-D. Rambach, S. Vaughn, Nathan Kocher.
1863-S. Vaughn, N. Kocher, Stephen Devenport. Chas. T. Barnum was clerk of the board from 1855 to 1863.
1864-N. Kocher, Stephen Devenport, Uriah A. Grit- man.
1865-S. Devenport, U. A. Gritman, William Wolf.
1866-U. A. Gritman, W. Wolf, William Franck.
1867-W. Wolf, W. Franck, W. W. Smith.
1868-W. Franck, W. W. Smith, Michael Raber.
1869-W. W. Smith, M. Raber, B. F. Louder. Steuben Jenkins and Geo. M. Nagle were clerks of the board in 1870, the former having been in office since 1864.
1870-M. Raber, B. F. Louder, G. W. Bailey.
1871-B. F. Louder, G. W. Bailey, Chas. F. Hill.
1872-G. W. Bailey, C. F. Hill, A. J. Williams.
1873-A. J. Williams, C. F. Hill, R. Gersbacher. George M. Nagle was clerk of the board from 1871 to 1873
1874 and 1875-A. J. Williams, R. Gersbacher, N. Sibert. P. F. Lynch was clerk of the board in 1874 and 1875.
1876, 1877 and 1878-N. N. Dean, Samuel Line and Peter Jennings. H. C. Jones was clerk of the board in 1876.
1879, 1880 and 1881-L. C. Darte, Stephen Turnbach, James D. Harris. S. A. Whitebread was clerk of the board from 1877 to 1881.
1882, 1883 and 1884-Thos. W. Haines, Casper Oberdorfer, Henry Vanscoy. S. A. White- bread and H. W. Search were clerks of the board in 1882. H. W. Search was clerk of the board in 1883 and 1884.
1885, 1886 and 1887-Thos. W. Haines, Thos. English, Cyrus Straw. Robert P. Robinson was clerk from 1885 to 1901.
1888-'89-'90-Thomas English, John Hart and Henry Evans. R. P. Robinson, chief clerk. 1891-'92-'93-Henry Evans, Thomas Smith, Thomas M. Dullard. James M. Norris, chief clerk. 1894-'95-'96-P. T. Norton, T. M. Dullard and Thomas Smith. James M. Norris, chief clerk. 1897-'98-'99-A. D. Hay, John M. Jones and John Guiney. M. L. Dreisbach, chief clerk. 1900-'01-'02-A. D. Hay, John M. Jones and Patrick Finn. T. R. Peters, chief clerk.
1903-'04-'05-Jacob Schappert, Thomas Smith and Patrick J. Finn, James Holman, chief clerk. 1906-'07-'08-Walter McAvoy, George Smith and Silas E. Jones. Crawford C. Smith, chief clerk.
1909-'10-'11-Walter McAvoy, George Smith and Silas E. Jones. Crawford C. Smith, chief clerk. 1912-'13-'14-'15-John J. Moore, John Todd Walsh and William C. Brenton. Charles
Mackin, chief clerk.
1916-'17-'18-'19-M. J. McLaugh lin, John Todd Walsh and Alvin Beiscl. Hugh McGeehan, chief clerk. 1920-'21-'22-'23-Ambrose West, Peter A. Meixell and Con J. Gallagher. Bruce Malkames, chief clerk.
1924-'25-'26-'27-Ambrose West, David M. Rosser and Michael J. McLanghlin. (Chief clerk to be appointed).
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Complaints as to delays in proceeding with the work of the erection of all public buildings, extravagance in expenditures, usually attending, may be traced in press report during the ensuing year. Excavations for foundations were begun in February 1856, and midsummer saw preparations completed for the laying of the corner stone on August 12th of the same year. A program of the event, in possession of the present writer, discloses the following:
PROGRAM
TO BE OBSERVED
AT THE LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE
OF THE
LUZERNE COUNTY COURT HOUSE, AT WILKES-BARRE,
AUGUST 12TH, 1856.
The procession will be formed at 1012 o'clock, A. M., on the River Bank-the right resting on Northampton street-in the following order:
MUSIC.
Members of the Order of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons.
Orator and Chaplain. Clergy.
Judges of the Courts. Officers of the Courts and County Officers.
Mayor of the City of Carbondale and Burgess of the several Boroughs. Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association *. Members of the Luzerne County Bar. Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Citizens.
J. L. BUTLER, CHIEF MARSHAL.
N. PIERSON, W. H. ALEXANDER, ASSISTANT MARSHAI.S.
*The Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association was organized April 6, 1859, and had maintained a continuous and distinguished existence since that time. Its first officers were: Hendrick B. Wright, president; George B. Nichol- son, secretary; Andrew T. McClintock, treasurer. In addition to the above, the charter members were: John N. Conyngham, V. L. Maxwell, Harrison Wright, Horatio W. Nicholson, Henry W. Fuller, Warren J. Woodward, Jonathan J. Slocum, Charles Denison, L. D. Shoemaker, Asher M. Stout, and Elisha B. Harvey. The Association owns and maintains an extensive and valuable law library.
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On the opposite page from the formal program, as indicated above, appears the following ode, the name of its author being unmentioned :
Odes to be sung at the laying of the Corner Stone of the New Court House at Wilkes-Barre, on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1856.
I.
When earth's foundation first was laid, By the Almighty Artist's hand; 'Twas then our perfect laws were made Established by his strict command.
In vain mankind for shelter sought, In vain from place to place did roam,
Until from heaven he was taught To plan, to build, to fix his home.
Illustrious hence we date our art, And now in beauteous piles appear, We shall to endless time impart, How worthy and how great we are.
Nor we less famed for every tie, By which the human thought is bound; Love, truth and friendshit socially, Join all our hearts and hands around.
Our actions still by virtue blest, And to our precepts ever true,
The world admiring shall request To learn, and our bright paths pursue.
II.
Deep in the quarries of the stone, Amid vast heaps of other rock; In darkness hid, to art unknown, We found this rude and shapeless block.
Now shaped by art, its roughness gone, And fit this noble work to grace; We lay it here, a corner stone, Chosen and sure in proper place.
Within this stone there lies conceal'd What future ages may disclose, The sacred truths to us reveal'd, By him who fell by ruthless foes.
On Him this corner stone we build, To Him, this edifice erect: And still, until this work's fulfill'd May Heaven the workmen's ways direct.
The original owner of the program noted in pencil on the cover, "singers for the occasion as follows: B. A. Barnes, E. P. Darling, W. F. Dennis, E. L. Dana, H. M. Hoyt and Wm. Ridall."
The address, delivered by the Hon. John N. Conyngham,* has been pre- served in pamphlet form, an intr. duction to which, on behalf of the committee in charge reads as follows:
"The Commissioners of Luzerne County having invited LODGE No. 61, FREE AND ACCEPTED ANCIENT YORK MASONS, to lay the Corner Stone of the New Court House, now in progress of erection at the County Seat, August 12th was selected as the day on which to perform the cere- mony, and preparation was made to secure as general attendance as practicable of the Citizens of the County. Hon. John N. Conyngham was selected and invited by the Lodge to deliver an Address on the occasion.
"The Committee of Arrangements, appointed by the Lodge, tendered invitations to the Clergymen of the Borough-to the Officers of the County-to the several Masonic Lodges in
*HON. JOHN N. CONYNGHAM, LL. D. The Conynghams originally went from England to Scotland with King Malcolm. One of their number in later years was William Conyngham, Bishop of Argyll, A. D. 1539.
The first of the family who settled in America was Redmond Conyngham. a native of Letterkenny, Ireland, and a descendant of Bishop Conyngham. He was a large landed proprietor, and about the year 1749 emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. Some years later he became a member of the 1.rm of J. M Nesbitt & Company, of Philadelphia. He was connected with old Christ Church of Philadelphia, and.
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the County-to the Members of the Bench and Bar of Luzerne-to the Lodge of Odd Fellows- to the Municipal Officers of the City of Carbondale, and of the several Boroughs within the County and to the Citizens generally, to be present and witness the ceremonies. The day was favorable. A procession was formed on the river bank, and, preceded by the German Band, marched to the site of the building. After prayer by the Chaplain of the day, Rev. Dr. George Peck, the ceremony of laying the Stone was gone through with.
"There was deposited in the Stone:
"A copy of the Holy Bible;
"An American Dollar and its parts;
"Lists of the names of Members of the several Lodges of Masons in the County;
"List of names of the County Officers;
"List of names of Members of the Bench and Bar;
"List of names of the Municipal Officers of the Borough of Wilkes-Barre;
"A copy of each paper published in the County.
"After the Stone was laid, an excellent and pertinent Address, fraught with highly in- teresting local historical facts, was delivered by the Orator of the day, to a large concourse of citizens, whose pleasure in listening thereto was shared by a number of Ladies in attendance. The proceedings closed with prayer by Rev. Mr. Hickock. By request of the committee, Judge Conyngham furnished them with a copy of his Address, which they deem well worthy of pub- lication in a form convenient for reading and preservation, and here present it, dedicated to the Citizens of Luzerne County.
"G. B. NICHOLSON, JAS. P. DENNIS, S. D. LEWIS. "Committee of Arrangement. "Wilkes-Barre, Aug. 13, 1856."
with William Shippen, Elias Bondinot, Charles Meredith, and others, aided that church substantially when it was deemed advisable to provide it with a steeple and a set of bells. Subsequently he was elected Vestryman and Warden of Christ Church, and in 1758 was one of the foremost to assist in the erection of St. Peter's Church, at Third and Pine streets, Philadelphia.
January 13th, 1750, Redmond Conyngham married Martha, daughter of Robert Ellis, Esq., of Philadelphia. They had six children, of whom the eldest was David Hayfield Conyngham, born March 21st, 1756, in the North of Ireland, where his parents were then temporarily residing. About the year 1775, Redmond Conyngham ieft Phila- delphia and returned to Ireland, where he died in 1784.
David Hayfield Conyngham remained in this country, and took his father's place in the house of J. M. Nesbitt & Company, then and for many years afterwards, one of the most extensive mercantile establishments in Philadelphia. After the War of the Revolution the name of the firm was changed to Conyngham & Nesbitt.
David H. Conyngham was an original member of "The Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia" (subsequently the "First Philadelphia Troop of Horse," and now the "First City Troop"), organized in November, 1774, under Capt. Abraham Markoe. It was the first organization of volunteers in the Colonies for the purpose of armed resistance to British oppression.
In 1777, while in France, Mr. Conyngham was engaged, in connection with William Hodge, a merchant of the same class, in fitting out an armed vessel to cruise against the British, under the command of his cousin, Capt. Gustavus Conyngham. At the request of Lord Stornmount, Mr. Hodge was thrown into the Bastile, and Mr. Conyngham only escaped similar misfortune by the management of his father's great friend, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, who sent him off with dispatches. Returning to America, Mr. Conyngham devoted largely of his means and personal services in aid of his country in the struggle for independence.
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