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 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
"Addresses, Orations, Poems, etc .- Edmund L. Dana, C. I. A. Chapman, John F. Barrett, George M. Richart, P. M. Osterhout, William A. Campbell, O. H. Worden.
"HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS, DATE, ETC .- Dr. Horace Hollister, Rev. Geo. Landon, William P. Miner, Dr. Harry Hakes, S. S. Benedict, Rev. David Craft, Rev. S. S. Kennedy, Ralph D. Lacoe and Hon. Sylvester Dana, Jr., Concord, New Hampshire.
2131
"MUSEUM OF ANTIQUITIES, ETC .- Steuben Jenkins, Edward Welles, Harrison Wright, Daniel S. Bennet, Porter Marcy, W. H. H. Gore, and George W. Beach.
"FINANCE-Payne Pettebone, Theodore Strong, Abram Nesbitt, Edward P. Kingsbury, George S. Bennett, Frank Turner, John W. Hollenback, George Sanderson.
"BUILDINGS-George Corey, William O'Malley, H. H. Harvey, J. D. Green, A. S. Daven- port, David Perkins.
"DINNER, REFRESHMENTS, ETC .- J. Milton Courtright, Jos. E. Patterson, K. J. Ross, Col. Harry A. Laycock, Samuel Raub, Addison Church, William S. Shoemaker, Marx Long.
"PROCESSION-Gen. Henry M. Hoyt, Gen. E. S. Osborne, Col. C. K. Campbell, Col. T. D. Lewis, Col. E. W. Pierce, Col. Chas. H. Wilson, Major T. C. Harkness, Maj. Oliver A. Parsons.
"RECEPTION-Hon. Hendrick B. Wright, Col. Ira Tripp, Dr. Andrew Bedford, Gen. E. W. Sturdevant, Hon. John Handley, Lewis Pughe, Edwin Shortz, B. A. Bidlack, John A. Carey, Peter Franklin.
"PREPARATIONS OF GROUNDS-James P. Atherton, Bradley Williams, David Blanchard, Daniel Searle, James S. Slocum.
"DECORATION-R. J. Wisner, William H. Butler, Jaines Searle, Benjamin F. Dorrance, James Sutton, E. A. Hancock, Bruce Price, Benjamin G. Cooper, Rev. Abel Barker, Bradley Downing.
"MUSIC-Calvin Parsons, E. C. Fuller, Aaron A. Chase, Henry Stark, Edward P. Darling, Robert J. James.
"RAILROADS, FARES, ETC .- Stanley Woodward, Victor E. Piolett, George L. Dickson, A. B. Dunning, Henry W. Palmer, Robert A. Packer, William R. Maffett, James Ruthven, William L. Conyngham.
"PUBLICATION-C. E. Butler, E. D. Barthe, J. A. Clark, E. A. Niven, G. Murray Reynolds, Robert Bauer.
From the very start, the movement gained encouraging momentum. Enthusiastic reports, particularly from the Invitations committee with Hon. Garrick M. Harding as chairman and the Parade committee with Hon. Henry M. Hoyt in charge and Hon. Stanley Woodward* as marshal, gave evidence that the celebration would outrun even the fondest expectations of its sponsors. Sub- scriptions for more than $6,000 to cover the cost of the undertaking were re- ported by the first of June, 1878, and the following letter received from President Hayes on June 22nd seemed to add the necessary capstone to the work of various committees:
"Executive Mansion,
"Washington, 20 June, 1878.
"My Dear Sir:
"I have delayed a definite reply to your esteemed favor of the 4th of May last until the adjournment of Congress. It now seems proper to say that I know of no public duty which will prevent me from attending your very interesting celebration on the 3d of July. It will give me great pleasure to be present.
"Sincerely, "R. B. HAYES.
"Hon. G. M. Harding."
That the event was generously advertised is evidenced by a copy of a poster, hung in every railroad station of the systems approaching Wilkes-Barré and decorating every other vantage point of neighboring counties and states, which outlined the program of events that the visitor might expect in store upon his arrival.
*JUDGE STANLEY WOODWARD came from a hardy pioneer stock, tracing his American ancestry back to Richard Woodward, who emigrated to America from Ipswich, England on April 10, 1634, nearly 272 years ago. This Richard Woodward brought with him his wife and two sons, George and John, and became one of the earliest "proprietors" of the town of Watertown, Massachusetts. Enos Woodward, great grandfather of Judge Woodward, about a year
2132
All features of the program appear to have been carried out on even a more generous scale than the Committee promised. The Pres- ident and members of his cabinet were met at Northumberland on the night of July 2nd by a dele- gation of citizens and the entire party proceeded next morning by special train to Kingston where blasts from whistles and the firing of the presidential salute by the Wyoming Artillery indicated the safe arrival of the distinguished guests at nine o'clock on July 3rd. In the party were Mrs. Hayes, two members of the cabinet and the President's two sons as well as Governor Hartranft, his wife and four children, and Justice James P. Sterrett of the Supreme Court.
Hon. Henry M. Hoyt, on behalf of a large reception com- mittee and a huge throng of spectators, extended a brief wel-
ANOTHER VIEW OF PRESIDENT HAYES AND PARTY
before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, removed to Pike County, Pennsylvania, from his Connecticut home. During the Revolutionary War he was frequently driven from his home by the Indians, but as frequently he returned, and finally died and was buried there. Abisha Woodward, his son, was born at Canterbury Connecticut. but removed to Pennsylvania with his father seven years later. A few years after his marriage in 1787, he lost his left hand by an accident, and being thereby unfitted for the life of a farmer, set himself to acquire the knowledge necessary for school teaching. This he did, and moved to Bethany, Wayne County, where he opened a school. Here he was elevated to various positions of honor, including that of sheriff and associate judge.
His son, George Washington Woodward, father of Judge Woodward, was born in Bethany and was educated at Geneva Seminary and Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., being transferred later to the Wilkes-Barre Academy. He also practiced law and was elevated to many important offices. For a time he was president judge of the Fourth Judicial district of Pennsylvania and in 1853, was appointed by Governor Bigler a judge of the Supreme Court of Penn- sylvania, to which position he was elected in the fall of that year, for the full term of fifteen years. In 1863, he ran against and was defeated by Andrew G. Curtin for governor of Pennsylvania, although his high personal rating was attested by the handsome majority he received in Luzerne County. For four years prior to the expiration of his term on the Supreme bench he acted as chief justice, by virtue of the seniority of his commission. In 1867 and 1868 he was elected to represent the Twelfth district of Pennsylvania in the Fortieth and Forty-first Congress, and in 1873 was elected delegate-at-large to the last con- stitutional convention on the Democratic ticket. He died in Rome, Italy, in May, 1875, and a handsome memorial pulpit to his memory has been erected in the Protestant Episcopal Church in Rome.
JUDGE STANLEY WOODWARD was the eldest son of Chief Justice Woodward. He was born in Wilkes-Barre on August 29, 1833, on the property now owned by Dr. Matlack on Northampton street. He was educated at the Episcopal High School of Virginia, located near Alexandria, and at Wyoming Seminary, where the late Governor Hoyt was his instructor in Latin and Greek. He was one of a family of nine children. Ellen Woodward at 18 years of JUDGE G. W. WOODWARD age was drowned while skating. Brig. Gen. George A. Woodward, U. S. A., of Washington, D. C., died in 1917. He was a graduate of Trinity College. Elizabeth Woodward Scott, wife of Eben Greenough Scott, of this city, survives. Lydia, a sister long since deceased, was the wife of Col. E. A. Hancock of Philadelphia. William Woodward, a brother
2133
come to the party, to which the President replied and presented Attorney- General Devens as well as Secretary of State John Sherman who bowed their acknowledgements.
From the station the presidential party was driven to the home of Colonel Dorrance where they rested until the afternoon program began.
In the meanwhile, a concourse of people, estimated at 50,000, assembled on the West Side where, after inspecting the reproduced Forty Fort and other historical displays on exhibition, the crowd reassembled on the fair grounds then situated in Wyoming borough where formal exercises of the day were scheduled.
After prayer by the Rev. Mr. Waller, Colonel Dorrance as chairman, presented Rutherford B. Hayes who spoke at some length in reference to the occasion of the gathering.
The President's speech was listened to with marked attention, and at its close Mr. Steuben Jenkins presented him with a handsome buck-horn wood cane, having a solid gold head, engraved with the words, "Presented to the President of the United States by the Ladies of Wyoming, July 3d, 1878," and the gift was gracefully acknowledged by the recipient.
Hon. Hendrick B. Wright was next introduced by the Chairman. Colonel Wright had prepared the address of welcome, but at this point in the proceedings so great a hub-bub and commotion was caused by the appearance of eighteen Onondaga Indians in full war paint and feathers, direct descendants of the redskins, some of whom assisted in the massacre, that to attempt an address of welcome, or anything else, seemed a hopeless task. These distinguished braves took seats on the floor, and everybody seemed to be impelled by a desire to get a sight of them in their normal simplicity of attitude.
During the height of the excitement the speaker said the white people making all the racket and confusion behaved more like savages than did these children of the forest, from whom lessons in decorum were to be learned by many present. At length order was restored, and Colonel Wright proceeded.
died at the age of 35. John K. Woodward, for many years identified with local musical circles, died in 1885. A window in St. Stephen's Church is erected to his memory. Charles Francis Woodward, a brother, and graduate of Princeton, died many years ago. A sister, Mary Woodward, was married to J. Pryor Williamson.
From Wyoming Seminary, Judge Woodward went to Yale College, where he distinguished himself by winning several prizes for excellence in English composition, and he was honored by being elected editor of the Yale Literary Monthly, the oldest college magazine in the United States. He was also a member of the famous Senior Society at Yale known as the "Skull and Bones". He was graduated from Yale in 1855. He began the study of law while still at New Haven and after his graduation entered the law office of his cousin, Hon. Warren J. Woodward, afterward judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
On August 4, 1856, he was admitted to the bar of Luzerne County, the motion for his admission being made by Hon. A. T. McClintock. Warren J. Woodward had just been appointed to the president judgeship of the district composed of the counties of Wyoming, Columbia and Sullivan, and Mr. Woodward succeeded at once to a large practice. During the Civil War, he served for some time as Captain of Co. H. Third Pennsylvania Regiment of Militia, and later as captain of Co. A. Forty-first Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia.
In 1865, he was defeated by Hon. I. D. Shoemaker when running for the State Senate on the Democratic ticket and in 1870, when a candidate for Congress, was again defeated by Mr. Shoemaker. In 1879, he was appointed ad- ditional law judge of Luzerne County by Governor Hoyt, and in 1880 received the nomination for additional law judge from the Democratic party and was triumphantly elected. In 1890 he was re-elected, and served ont that full term of ten years.
Judge Woodward at one time had an active interest in the affairs of the Wilkes-Barre fire department and helped to make it one of the most efficient in the State. He joined the Good Will Fire Co. in 1857 as a private, two years later was made assistant engineer, and upon the retirement of Walter G. Sterling was made chief engineer, in which capacity he continued until his resignation in 1879, the department in the meantime having been reorganized as a paid department. During his administration the department was classed by the board of underwriters as being among the most efficient in the country, being placed by them with six other cities, in the first class.
From 1860 to 1863, Judge Woodward represented the Second Ward in the council of the borough of Wilkes-Barre, and at one time edited the Luzerne Union. In 1876, Governor Hartranft appointed Mr. Woodward one of his aides, with the rank of colonel, and in 1878 he was a member of the executive committee having charge of the Wyoming Centennial celebration.
On June 3, 1857, Judge Woodward married Sarah Richards Butler, daughter of Col. John Lord Butler, and great- granddaughter of Col. Zebulon Butler, of Revolutionary War and Wyoming Massacre fame. The first court held in Luzerne County was held at his home at the corner of River and Northampton streets, until his death occupied by Judge Woodward. Mrs. Woodward survived her husband some years. John Butler Woodward, eldest son, one of the ablest lawyers of the Luzerne County bar, died in 1926 while serving his second term as Judge of the Common Pleas. One other son survives, Dr. George Woodward of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. Ellen Woodward, a daughter, died in childhood. Judge Woodward was the last living founder of the Wyoming Historical Society and had been Its president for a number of years.
2134
At the conclusion of Colonel Wright's address, the committee, as is usually the case, found that the program, if carried out as contemplated, would extend well into the night. Conse- quently, after the singing of an ode, the words by Mrs. Stella Watres of Scranton set to music by Mr. C. B. Den- man who directed a chorus of some five hundred voices, the addresses of C. I. A. Chap- man, Esq., Hon. Steuben Jenkins and Judge E. L. Dana FROM THE TOMB, THE VOICE OF FREEDOM FEN IN THEIR ASHES, LIVES THEIR SACHED FIRE. CRIE as well as the reading of poems commemorative of the occas- ion prepared by Rev. Charles D. Barrows of Lowell, Massa- chusetts, Rev. Henry Coppee, president of Lehigh Univers- ity, Mrs. Mary B. Richert of Pittston, Jesse Harding and others, were omitted .*
The evening and night following these ceremonies WYOMING MONUMENT IN READINESS FOR THE CELEBRATION OF 1878 near the monument proved to be about as exciting and hilarious as any period of Wilkes-Barré's history, if press reports are reliable. From the columns of the Leader, the following of the colorful events of July 4, 1878, is taken:
"As joy follows mourning, so the second day's services in Wilkesbarre partook more of an old fashioned 4th of July cele- bration, than the one that preceded it at Wyoming on the 3d. The city was full to overflowing with strang- ers on the night of the third, and the gay bunting that so conspicuously floated to the breeze in all the prin- cipal streets, was relieved by the dark green festooning that was so important a feature in the decora- tions, the whole scene being lighted up by thousands of gas jets in the various windows; and the four cal- cium lights placed at the four sides of the Court House tower, rendered North and South Main street and the East and West portions of Market street as light almost as at noon-day. At intervals the prin- cipal druggists would display red and green lights in front of their stores giving a weird and unearthly glow to all surrounding objects. Little sleeping was done by the ma- jority of the visitors, who had come for a few days of pleasure, and they were determined to make the most of their privileges. At sunrise, the battery of the Wyoming Artillerists under Capt. Thos. C. Parker, thund-
ARCH-WILKES-BARRE, JULY 4, 1878
*All the addresses, odes and poems prepared for the celebration are published in Johnson's Wyoming Memorial, a volume issued from the press at the conclusion of the Centennial.
2135
ered forth their one hundred rounds as a morning salute, and all the bells in the city simultaneously sent forth their merriest peals to greet the natal morn of our nation.
"Soon the people began to gather and each train on the several railroads brought in its cars over-freighted with expectant humanity, who long before the hour of mid-day filled the streets to overflowing, and it would be safe to estimate the throng at, certainly not less than a hundred thousand souls, and it may have been even greater than that. At about eleven o'clock a gun from the Battery broke upon the still air, and the assembled pageant, consisting of seven divisions, began to move down River street, in the following order:
"First, the Wilkesbarre city police mounted on fine horses and headed by John W. Gil- christ; next Rieg's Band playing a patriotic air; after the music, chief Marshal Woodward and aids, fifty in number; next, Maj. Gen. Edward S. Osborne and staff followed by the First Regiment Veteran corps of Philadelphia's Band in brilliant scarlet coats and white pantaloons, J. S. G. Beck, band master.
"Next came the Scranton Battalion, Col. Boies, two hundred and fifty strong, with a beautiful Gatling gun drawn by a pair of splendid gray horses, George Sanderson of Scranton, commander of gun squad. The Plymouth Cornet band, led by Editor Barthe of that Borough came next; close following marched the McClellan Rifles of Pittston, commanded by Capt. Ginley, accompanied by the Port Griffith band; and then the Wyoming Artillerists, Capt. Parker with their Battery of four effective six pound brass guns. This organization carried the old flag that they had when marching on to the 'Halls of the Montezumas' in 1846-7; now a mere tatter, but enough of it left to show its deep blue ground and the arms of our beloved Common- wealth emblazoned thereon.
"THE SECOND AND THIRD DIVISIONS,
"Were united and consisted of the veteran corps and members of the Grand Ariny of the Republic, with Major Charles M. Conyngham and Col. Harry Laycock as marshals, with mounted aids, and headed by the New Milford Cornet band. In this division marched the survivors of the Andersonville Prison, a melancholy array of brave men who had suffered perhaps the inevit- able hardships of war as Federal Prisoners during the late interstate strife. Here came Capt. P. DeLacey at the head of the Veteran Soldiers Association of Luzerne; these were followed by a drum corps. A pleasant feature of the parade coming in here was the Grand Army Cadets, of few companies of boys enlisted and trained by Capt. Charles Brodhun.
"THE FOURTH DIVISION
"Composed of the various Fire Company organizations of Wilkesbarre and other places represented, was headed by Bristol's Band, and with Charles Law of Pittston, and Thaddeus S. Hillard of Wilkesbarre as marshals. The companies in line were the Franklin of Hyde Park, Liberty Hose Jr. of Providence, Rescue Hose, with Brother Jonathan as footman; the horses attached to the carriage were led by tastefully arrayed colored grooms, dressed in Oriental costume. At the head of the Eagle Hose from Pittston marched the Thistle Band, and Leonard's Opera Band leading the Niagara Hose, whose Engine was drawn by four beautiful white horses with trappings of blue. The Tunkhannock Band and Triton Hose company made a good display. Next came a company from Montrose, after which the Kingston Mechanics Band and Hose No. 1 of Kingston. Wyoming Hose No. 3 from the Empire mine and Columbia Hose of Carbon- dale followed, and then the Young Men's Silver Cornet Band of Pittston. These were all visiting companies. Of Wilkesbarre companies, were the Lanning Steamer No. 2; Mechanic Steamer Company No. 1; Hose No. 3, Eagle Hook and Ladder No. 5 and Hose Companies Nos. 6, 7, 8, and 9-Phinney No. + Engine Company of Green Ridge closed the Fire Division.
"THE FIFTH DIVISION,
"With Capt. James P. Dennis and Dr. Olin F. Harvey as Marshals was composed of Civic and Benevolent Societies. Following ten mounted aids, was Dieu Le Veut commandary, Knights Templar of Wilkesbarre, and Coeur de Leon commandary of Scranton in their gay uniforms, with knightly badges and small arms, presenting a picturesque and martial appearance. Here followed a colored Band at the head of a small colored delegation.
"THE SIXTH DIVISION,
"Was made up of a series of historical tableaux, and was the feature of the procession. The marshals were George H. Parrish and James P. Dickson. This department consisted of ten sub divisions portraying in a striking manner the past, present and future of Wyoming. First came a delegation of Onondaga Indians, genuine sons of the forest, marching in the traditional Indian file: Next came a representation of Count Zinzendorf in his tent, with a rattle snake crawling over his feet, two would be Indian murderers looking in at the opening, and who appear to be awe stricken at the spectacle-Here followed Mr. Hazletine's representation of the battle of Wyoming appropriately modeled in clay.
"This was followed by a company of young men in the costume of revolutionary times. The Frigate Hornet mounted on trucks and drawn by four horses was manned by American Jack Tars, and bearing several Quaker guns, with the traditional 'Long Tom' as a bow chaser. The vessel was fully rigged and attracted a good deal of attention.
"Shawney a hundred years ago, was represented by a domestic scene of the period, on wheels drawn by a span of horses and yoke of oxen harnessed to a heavy wagon. Another wagon showed 'How we made cloth ninety years ago' in which a number of comely maids and matrons were engaged in spinning and weaving flax and wool into cloth for domestic wear. This repre- sented the peace period.
2136
"One wagon represented a quaint kitchen scene, (they didn't have drawing rooms in those days,) in which a number of people in the happiest of moods, caused a good deal of merriment to the lookers on, as they observed the fiddler close to the hearth furnishing most excruciating music for a number of young persons who were dancing away as if for dear life.
"The 'Threshing floor' came in for its share of admiration where two stalwart young fellows were pounding away in dead earnest, with real old fashioned flails on a quantity of straw spread on the wide threshing floor on wheels.
"Following this was another wagon wth a happy farmer and his son breaking and 'Scutch- ing' flax on a scutching board and hackling it on a sharp toothed hackle. Next came an old grandmother drawing out the threads on an old fashioned 'Little Spinning wheel' propelled by foot power, while the young belle of the neighborhood was fashioning stockings with busy needles. And then came a sight never seen before-a real 'Apple Cut' on wheels, in which the country lads and lasses were having a jolly time of it, having disposed of all the 'quarters' by hanging them up to dry on strings around the old fire place in which a wood fire was burning.
"An old freight line over the mountains to Philadelphia was represented by the remains of an old Canestoga wagon, and the staging business over the same route by an old Stage Coach that had been used by Mr. Searle of Montrose, more than fifty years ago.
"The Mexican war was illustrated by a detachment of veterans who had served in the war, known as company K, consisting of Capt. E. L. Dana, Lieuts. Robert Klotz and Henry Coppee; Sergeants Thomas R. Crellin, John W. Pryor; Corporals D. C. Kitchen, Joseph Heilman; Privates Edward Remel, Edward R. Blaine, E. N. Banks and William Wilhelm. These were the titles borne by the gentlemen named while in the service in Mexico. With the party was genuine Mexican, E. L. Granedos, dressed in com- plete Caballero costume and armature, Lance, Lasso and all. A Mexican flag, cap- tured at the Garita de Belen was carried in this procession.
"The first attempt of Jesse Fell to burn anthracite coal in an open grate, made in this valley February 11th, 1808, was ad- mirably represented in the parade.
"The Brooklyn Band of Susquehanna County had the honor to lead a tableau repre- senting the future of Wyoming, and as our future is undoubtedly shrouded in mystery, so was this emblematic representation, being about as unintelligible as are some of the tea leaf fortunes that old ladies forecast with so much accuracy in their cups.
GOVERNOR HOYT'S HOUSE, Kingston, Pa .- 1878
"A team of sixty mules ridden by driver boys, and hauling a mine engine in full motion, belonging to the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, mounted on heavy trucks, and attached to two loaded coal cars, was supposed to typify the new order of things to follow the labor of mule power in the mines at this work twenty-six years was the precursor of this new motive power which was labeled 'Old Tom's Successor.'
"Then followed a miniature coal breaker in full operation, which terminated the historical parade.
"THE SEVENTH DIVISION
"This illustrated the business interests of the valley, with Col. W. N. Monies and Joseph W. Patten as marshals with mounted aids.
"The display of the Dickson Manufacturing Company was mounted on three heavy wagons The first was drawn by four horses showed a large pile of patterns for machinery castings. Next a wagon showing the company's foundry at work, and the other wagon showed boiler makers at work closing rivets up and banging away on the hollow iron cylinders.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.