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 63
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"Recruits that joined June 17 at Chickamauga-Charles Boyle, Charles Brennan, Jeremiah Buckley, Patrick F. Callahan, Phillip A. Kearney, Thomas P. Cauley, William J. Curley, Charles A. Donnelly, Michael Fisher, Francis J. Flanigan, John J. Gallagher, Patrick J. Gallagher, Andrew Hoag, Michael J. Kehoe, Edward Joseph Kelley, Michael Leonard, John J. McDonnell, Patrick J. McCaffrey, Michael McHale, Michael J. McAndrew, Frank McHale, Patrick J. McHale, Michael Moran, Patrick Joseph Nona, James P. Newcombe, Michael O'Brien, James Reid, Dennis W. Ruane, John F. Walsh.
"Died-Corporal William Gilmartin. Transferred-Captain John T. Flannery to Major, First Battalion, Ninth Regt., Pa. Vols. Resigned-First Lieutenant Michael J. Brennan.
"Co. C. PITTSTON.
"Captain, Erastus G. Gage; First Lieutenant, F. C. Bennett; Second Lieutenant, Robert C. Holmes; First Sergeant, William Jones: Quartermaster Sergt., Thos. Lloyd, Jr., Sergeants, John H. Thomas, Wm. Owens, John H. Mahon.
"Corporals-John D. Morgan, Lewis S. Kishpaugh, Wm. A. Francis, John M. Ryan, Wm. I. Koons, James F. Jackson, Richard S. Brenton, David Morris, Byron Sickler, Wm. M. Sheetz, Iliff M. Simpson, Blakely H. Barber.
"Musicians-Geo. Cohen, Percy Grimshaw.
"Artificer, Ernest L. Sickler; Wagoner, Paul Martin.
"Privates-Fred Alfred, Arthur Barker, Wm. B. Blank, Geo. W. Belles, Daniel H. Berlew, Geo. S. Bigelow, Chas. H. Boone. Joseph Bosch, Harvey Cron, John G. Davis, Geo. W. Davis, Thos. A. Day, Thos. Dobbie, Jr., Thos. F. Dodson, John D. Zurgie, David W. Evans, Charles A. Engle, John Edmunds, Fred C. Eicke, John F. Allis, Jean Verne Ely, Frank Fairclough, John T. Fear, Walter Garman, Edwin L. Getz, John N. Gilchrist, Curtis J. Hewitt, Giles Hoover, Geo. M. Husselton, Daniel J. Hughes, Thos. James, John T. Jenkins, Thos. S. Jones, Wm. C. Jordan, Geo. W. Kern, Miner W. Krebs, Edmund J. Leroux, Win. Mahar, Evan L. Mead, Wm. H. Miller, Benj. F. Miller, Earl W. Miller, Wm. J. Miller, Phineas Morse, Edgar A. N. Nicholson, John F. Nicholson, Thos. Nicholson, Wallace Nimino, Geo. Olmstead, Floyd Olmstead, James Patterson, Richard J. Penn, Adam S. Porteous, David Price, Joseph B. Reed, Wm. W. Ryan, Albert B. Rice, Robert A. Richardson, Win. Robertson, John Rodgers, Jacob Schmaltz, Fred G. Schmaltz, Geo. P. Schwartz, Theodore P. Sheppleman, Robert Thompson, Lewis E. Ulrich, Edgar L. Van Valkenburg, Wm. S. Vanderberg, Harry G. Weaver, Geo. L. Weber, James A. Webber, Edward T. Wilbur, Lansford G. Wildoner, Thos. Williams, David Williams, Fred Williams, Leland W. Williams, Geo. Winn.
"Died-John J. Hosley, Wm. Pointon, John Powell.
"Transferred-Second Lieut. Chas. S. Colony to First Lieutenant Co. M. Ninth Regt., Pa. Vol.
"COMPANY I, PLYMOUTH.
"Captain, Harry W. Pierce; First Lieutenant, Adnah McDaniel; Second Lieutenant, Win. F. Powell; First Sergeant, Geo. W. Kistenbauder; Quartermaster Sergeant, John May. "Sergeants-David Percy, George W. Casey, John J. Cooper, James A. Williams.
"Corporals-Thomas Green, John Eddy, Isaac N. Fine, Emery Edwards, Chas. J. Renshaw, Ralph Cooper, Thomas H. Smith, Patrick J. Gallagher, William Finn, John S. Wildoner, Llewellyn Owens, Samuel Valentine.
"Musicians-John T. Hayward, George N. VanLoon
"Artificer, Clarence J. Fine; Wagoner, Christopher S. Hughey.
"Privates-Robert J. Allen, Thomas C. Berry, Lewis C. Banks, Howard Beck, William J. Burke, Samuel S. Carbaugh, Thomas H. Coxe, George H. Croop, George J. Carroll, Mont J. Cleary, John J. Cosgrove, David R. Davis, David L. Davis, Wm. D. Davis, John F. Dougherty, David Douglass, Evan J. Evans, William T. Evans, John Harvey Felter, David M. Fine, Claude W. French, Ernest G. Gray, Michael Gillen, Joseph Halstead, Patrick J. Hardiman, William Hattenn, William H. Hettinger, William K. Hobbs, William H. Hooven, John Hughes, William M. Hughey, Thomas J. Howells, John T. Jones, Henry R. Kittle, Stephen Konicka, John M. Kuntz, John E. Kelley, Hugh J. Kelley, Thomas Knox, William T. Lamoreaux, William LeGrand, Azzie Lewis, George W. Lewis, John A. MacFarlane, Thomas E. Manuel, James J. McCann, James F. McCloskey, David A. Melan, Charles Michael, William H. Miles, John Morgan, Silas Mostellar, Richard R. Martin, Robert H. Magee, Joseph W. Massaker, George P. Nagle, Edwin Partt, William J. Pearce, Edward S. Powell, William J. Parsonage, Walter I. Price, Guy F. Rawl- ings, John B. Reeves, Daniel J. Reid, Fred H. Renard, Albert Roberts, Michael Slattery, Harry
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Sorber, Richard Sires, George Sullivan, Bruce Shaw, Michael Sullivan, William H. Thomas, Charles Trebilcox, George A. Thomas, John I. Thomas, Thomas Thomas, Wm. H. Thomas, Wm. J. Thomas, Cornelius Van Buskirk, Christopher H. Wildoner, David Warlow, Alfred Warman, Delbert Wolfe.
"CO. E., PARSONS.
"Captain, Evan R. Williams; First Lieutenant, Arthur Everett; Second Lieutenant, Eb. Williams; First Sergeant, David Reese; Quartermaster Sergt, Wm. Morley.
"Sergeants-Fred Hausam, Michael Leco, Joseph Dunstan, Alfred H. Pero.
"Corporals-Henry Adolph, Fred L. Ross, Thos. Mooney, August Christopher, Albert Fassett, David Howells, Arthur L. Cresley, Chas. Watkins, Walter L. Quick, Frank Christopher, Frank Schinse, Joseph A. Olds.
"Musicians-Thos. J. Williams, Frank Howarth.
"Artificer, Augustus Sands; Wagoner, Lewis Tucker.
"Privates-Frank J. Allan, Otto Brilling, Wm. Barker, Geo. Brain, Anthony Carsfield, David Carey, Andrew J. Cawley, Harry W. Cardwell, Frank M. Coon, R. W. Chapin, John Daniel, Bernard Devaney, Fred Dugan, Norman English, Joseph Earley, Clarence Eiferd, Max Epstein, Grant Fatheringill, Reuben Fassett, Wm. S. Fassett, Robert Horn, James Harmon, James S. Hogan, Samuel Haney, John Hale, Thos. Jordan, Jr., Michael Kirk, Oscar Kein, James M. Keiser, Will F. Lincoln, Dennis Lawler, Henry Mentz, Daniel Morris, John McMillan, Joseph McGuire, Wilbur McMillan, Bernard McGuire, Evan Owens, Wm. Poff, Wm. Pero, Terrance Reilly, Martin J. Ruddy, Wm. P. Sherry, Isaac Salsburg, John G. Thomas, Wm. Turnbull, James Turner, John A. Williams, Harry Weidow, Chas. Yale. The following joined June 22, 1898, at Chickamauga Park :- David Bevan, Thos. F. Bossard, John F. Code, John J. Davies, Jr., Joseph Evans, Andrew J. Farrell, John Finnegan, Snowden C. Fletcher, Thos. J. Francis, Thos. J. Gray, John Johnson, Thos. L. Jones, J. Llewellyn, Wm. Loudenburg, Dennis Noonen, Michael O'Donnell, Archibald J. Ravert, Geo. W. Raudenbush, John Reinert, Geo. Rhodes, Philip R. Smith, Henry Stull, Joseph J. Thomas, Reese M. Thomas, Burt Vanleer, Chas. View, Ray J. Wells, Harry A. White, Geo. F. Williams, Andrew Yale, John Yale.
"Died-Captain Darius L. Miers, Barney Cohen, George Rhoads.
"Transferred-Wm. Bowman, to U. S. V. Signal Corps in Porto Rico.
"SECOND BATTALION, CO. F., WILKES-BARRE.
"Captain, George S. McCleery; First Lieutenant, Geo. R. McLean; Second Lieutenant, F. W. Innes; First Sergeant, Joseph McCleery; Quartermaster Sergeant, Geo. A. Phillips. "Sergeants-Charles Anderson, Claude E. Zuber, John Ledhner, Thomas Downs.
"Corporals-Harry B. Alworth, Charles M. Culver, Charles M. Turpin, Nicholas M. Ber- tels, David M. Thomas, Hugh R. Mccleery, Joseph A. Phillips, Charles M. Jeffries, Anthony J. Twarowski, William M. Williams, Simon C. Reichard, Fred A. Grunert.
"Musicians-Charles W. Campbell, John Duddy.
"Artificer, John Crawford; Wagoner, Edward Kibler.
"Privates-John A. Anderson, Edward P. Barton, Truman W. Barker, Fred Christianson, James Cooper, Charles J. Connolly, Crittenden J. Coon, Lawrence Cafferty, Charles Crawford, Phillip Dawson, Hendricks Dubrick, Frank Drum, Edwin J. Davis, Harry Emerson, Thomas D. Evans, Martin Foy, James Gildea, Claude Heberling, Patrick Hennessy, Hugh Harrison, David J. Hancock, Edward Houston, Jonah A. Jenkins, Geo. S. W. Kolb, Arthur E. Koons, William Linzey, William D. Lenahan, Wm. F. S. Leibengood, Wm. C. Lord, Andrew Lewis, Patrick Lavelle, Charles F. Mahon, George Murphy, John S. Metzgar, John Milligan, Geo. Priestman, Rob't Price, Chas. H. Powell, Thomas Stroh, William H. Seibert, Jacob A. Schmidt, Christian Smith, Charles F. Schlingman, Fred Shiber, Frank P. Stauffer, Frank Sornborger, Matt Tabor, Edwin S. Trimmer, Frank Vose, Geo. A. Welch, Harry B. Warnich, Edward Wilton, Irvin N. Zuber.
"The following joined at Chickamauga Park, Ga., June 21, 1898: . Thos. H. Beddow, Charles Conrad, John Costello, Thomas Dougherty, George Doran, Thomas Floyd, Frederick Geesey, Otto F. Greuner, Peter I. Grover, Peter Harley, Thomas J. Jones, Eugene J. Kline- smith, Emil Klixbull, Thomas Lane, James Lyons, Thomas A. McAvoy, Patrick J. McGee, James F. McGinness, Hugh May, Andrew Moore, Aaron Pifer, Frank Runkavitz, Harry R. Sorber, Oscar B. Sorber, Thomas Sommerson, Michael Trainor, Frank J. Thomas, David O. Thomas, Geo. F. Virtue, John Walsh, Anthony Yastronsky.
"Resigned, First Lieutenant, Harry G. Roat. Died. J. Augustus Schmidt, Jonah A. Jenkins, Michael Trainer. Transferred, Otto F. Gruener, to Third Division Hospital, First Army Corps.
"CO. B., WILKES-BARRE.
"Captain, James C. Kenny; First Lieutenant, John A. Kenny; Second Lieutenant, Gordon Scott; First Sergt, Peter Bauer; Quartermaster Sergt., Edmund B. Fritz.
"Sergeants-Griffith Griffiths, Charles F. Bolde, Wm. Keithline, Brice B. Dimmick. "Corporals-Martin Olds, John F. Mentz, Herman A. Dean, Fred A. Johnson, Thomas P. Riddle, Jacob Silverstein, Raymond Tennant, Benjamin F. Jones, Michael A. Shea, Abner T. Jones, Wm. C. Stiff, John F. Eroh, Charles W. Freeby.
"Musicians-Chas. J. Dougherty, Walter Simpson.
"Wagoner, Wm. H. McDougall; Artificer, Chas. W. Eldridge.
"Privates-Fred A. Beaumont, Harvey Benscoter, Thos. Benson, Clarence E. Blaine, Edward J. Boyle, Frank Brislin, Geo. E. Bullock, Michael R. Carey, Frank H. Charles, Walter Conety, Thomas Davis, James A. Domer, John Donlon, Charles F. Edwards, Henry F. Eisen- hauer, Arthur E. Evans, Edward T. Evans, Alexander H. Farnham, Thomas F. Floyd, Wm. Floyd, Patrick Foy, Geo. H. Gaffney, John J. Gogerty, George L. Hann, Pierce J. Hennessey,
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Edward Hoffman, Frank L. Howey, Wm. J. James, Patrick J. Joyce, John Keegan, Wm. Kidney, Charles J. Lundbeck, Jr., Andrew D. May, Fabian J. Mikulewicz, Peter Miller, Chas. S. Morgan, David Morgan, Edward Morgan, Frederick Moser, Patrick F. Murphy, Enos McAllister, Harry McCarty, Michael McCarty, Wm. McCasey, John McHugh, Geo. G. McKilvey, Benj. E. Mc- Kennon, John J. O'Neill, John H. Padden, Isaac Posner, Wm. Purvis, Henry A. Schaeffer, Royal G. Schollenberger, Frank Schong, Roy Schooley, Clarence L. Schwartz, Walter A. Slider, Rudolph S. Small, Charles Smith, Harry V. Smith, Edw. W. Stevens, Wallace C. Stewart, Chas. A. Stin- son, Jacob Stubert, Jr., Arch Swortwood, Robert B. Wallace, Jr., David G. Watkeys, Albert Whipple, Harry Whipple, Ulysses G. Wilcox, Elijah Williams, John H. Williams.
"Honorably discharged before muster out-Sergt. James Hughes, Corp. Frederic J. Samp- son, Corp. Wm. H. Laciar.
"Transferred-Privates Louis Frank, John S. Eick, Edgar C. Taggart, to Third Division Hospital, First A. C .; Private Addison M. Rothrock to Reserve Ambulance Corps; Charles K. Foster, U. S. V. Signal Corps.
"Died-Captain L. Denison Stearns, Private Henry A. Dietrick, Private Carver W. Jackson.
"CO. A., WILKES-BARRE.
"Captain, Harry R. Williams; First Lieutenant, John MacCallum; Second Lieutenant, W. R. Phillips; First Sergt., Obadiah T. Jones; Quartermaster Sergt., L. C. Honeywell.
"Sergeants-Frank C. Neimeyer, Grant Courtright, Clyde M. Rishel, Thomas E. Kenworthy.
"Corporals-Philip F. Dindinger, Frank Wertz, John Freeby, Charles Johnson, Clarence E. Brown, Chas. W. Stewart, Fred G. Denn, Alvin Walton, Eugene V. Frace, Guy A. Krause, William A. Rainow, Willis S. Henry.
"Musicians-Daniel K. Hay, James W. Maughan.
"Wagoner, Archie Irwin; Artificer, Frank A. Tremper.
"Privates-Charles E. Austin, William H. Brace, Daniel Baker, David L. Biggs, William B. Brittain, Elliott H. Boyer, Joseph L. Butler, John V. Caffrey, Frank P. Conniff, Geo. W. Coslett, Geo. H. Cox, David L. Davis, Wm. Davis, John B. Denn, Jr., Theron C. Dersheimer, James Douglas, Jr., Harry J. Dunbar, Wm. H. Dunn, Arthur E. Durant, Albert F. Edwards, Adrian V. Fairchilds, Edward France, Hiram J. Fisher, Samuel Ford, Wm. H. Glasse r
9TH
REGIMENT INFANTRY,
NATIONAL GUARD OF PENNSYLVANIA
FLAG OF 9TH REGIMENT
Royal L. Greene, Reese Griffiths, Albert E. Hamilton, Wm. Heidenreich, John F. Hettler, John F. Higgs, Robert M. Johnson, Theophilus R. Jones, Robert Kneas, Thomas W. Knecht, Adam S. Klidarline, Charles J. Kline, John Kromer, Jacob Lahr, Sterling Lahr, Louis F. Landmesser, Reese Lewis, Guy C. McDonald, James J. McDade, Bernard A. May, Harry C. Meeker, Edward Melody, Stewart Miall, Garrison Miller, Geo. W. Miller, Wm. L. Mitchell, Wm. J. Moore, Richard A. Morris, Joseph Murray, August Peterson, Charles W. Reinig, Harry Richards, Patrick C. Riley, Chas. S. Roat, Chester B. Root, Thomas L. Rowe, Christopher Russ, Edwin J. Ruth, Jacob E. Steele, Frank Sellers, George H. Shelton, Oscar W. Slocum, Edward Thomas, Frederick W. Wachterhauser, John H. Watters, David B. Williams, David L. Williams, Geo. S. Williams, Frederick E. Wilson, William Zeuris.
"Died-Frank J. Fry, John R. Thomas, William F. Thomas.
"Transferred-Corporal William S. Norton, Bert Cornelius, Harry S. Huff, to Reserve
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Ambulance Corps; Harry J. DuBois, Louis Howells, to Third Division Hospital, First Army Corps. "Discharged-Robert A. Cuff.
"CO. D., WILKES-BARRE.
"Captain, Edmund D. Camp; First Lieutenant, William S. Hart; Second Lieutenant, Morris M. Keck; First Sergt., E. L .. Soloman; Quartermaster Sergt., C. S. Case.
"Sergeants-Wm. Weitzel, Frank Meck, Chas. F. Feuerstein, Geo. E. Jones.
"Corporals-Frank G. Darte, Wm. Meck, Harry Keiser, Fred W. McPike, Valentine Schuyler, Fred Reubethuber, James Colvin, Chas. G. Hitchler, Wm. A. McCarthy, Chas. N. Loveland, John G. Mason, Nicholas Bauer.
"Musicians-Claude Smythe, Chas. N. Leyh.
"Privates-Chas. Anderson, John D. Birmingham, Jr., Edward C. Boss, Geo. T. Bache, Edmer Bennett, Thos. E. Beddow, Harry M. Bloom, Daniel Burns, Ernest Brown, Wm. Boyle, Preston Clarke, Elmer E. Cramer, John Condren, Samuel W. Craig, Albert Dando, Levi Dymond, John H. Davis, Leonard Deegant, Geo. L. Dailey, Victor Deisroth, Harry W. Day, John Danovitz, Chas. Dunstant, Jr., Harry Eike, David Eynon, John Eynon, Ross Fehr, Henry P. Frantz, Chas. A. Franklin, Morgan R. Griffith, Mitchell C. Galagher, Wilbur Griffith, Harry Gruver, Chas. J. German, E. Frank Hartland, Thos. W. Hegarty, Wm. Horton, Wm. Hamilton, Lyman G. Hann, Lee G. Hess, Thos. Hamilton, Wm. H. Hughes, Harry Howell, Chas. W. Jones, Geo. M. Kramer, Harry E. Kulp, David J. Llewellyn, Harry E. Landay, Howard R. Lazarus, Henry Leggatt, Handel Lewis, Mozart Lewis. David R. Morris, John McMannamon, John A. McNellis, David Miller, Simon J. Newberger, Edward J. Owens, Thos. J. Protheroe, Paul Prusakowski, Harry Rhoades, Stanley Robinson, Fred W. Reese, Idris Rees, Wm. Richards, Joseph H. Schling- man, Robert E. Schultz, Knight Sterling, Ernest Struthers, Chas. E. Shannon, Lorenzo D. Smith, Henry C. Smith, Wm. G. Thomas, Wm. R. Talbot, Wm. C. Vose, Harry Vandermark, Edmund V. Whiteman, Thos. A. Winder, Wm. R. Yohey.
"Died-Captain O. Hillard Bell, J. Leonard Deegan.
"Discharged-Private S. J. Newberger, at own request.
"Transferred-Corporal A. A. Mitchell, to second lieutenant, Co. K. Ninth Regt., Pa. Vol .; Corporal Harold G. Frantz, to sergeant major; Private F. House, to Third Division Hos- pital, First Army Corps .; Bert Houser to Reserve Ambulance Corps.
"THIRD BATTALION, CO. M., TOWANDA.
"Captain, Frank N. Moore; First Lieutenant, Charles S. Colony; Second Lieutenant, Chas. A. Corcoran; First Sergeant, John H. Parker; Quartermaster Sergeant, Mahlon Shores. "Sergeants-Leon H. Stedge, William A. Meehan, Frank E. Boardman, B. F. Winnie. "Corporals-Thomas M. Stalford, Otis H. Horton, Alfred M. Jones, C. B. Wilmot, Doctor Kipp, W. C. Goetchins, Charles R. Green, Stephen Proof, William G. Ferrell, Fred H. VanDuzer, Edward J. Barnes.
"Musicians-Wilmot J. Rundell, Fred H. Bradley. Artificer, Myron Wood. Wagoner, P. S. Hansell.
"Privates-Daniel M. Adams, Charles H. Adney, Walter Alger, Herbert Ammick, G. L. Atwood, Charles F. Barclay, William Bennett, J. D. Bidlack, Herbert E. Bradley, Archie Brainard, Job Brown, O. W. Brown, Edw. J. Butler, Geo. V. Butler, Wm. M. Cheney, Chas. S. Clark, Frank Cole, Fred. Corbin, John W. Davidson, Wm. J. Davidson, C. E. Decker, John Dickerson, G. T. Drake, J. A. Elkins, C. W. B. Fiester, Geo. Fitch, Geo. W. Fivie, B. F. Francisco, H. C. Gates, Chas. F. Glady, S. D. Hand, John F. Hazzard, Martin Heath, D. H. Heim, W. D. Hines, Arthur Johnson, Dale Kirby, Charles Lake, Elmer Lamphere, Ernest E. Landon, J. W. Lathrop, Edgar Laymon, Charles Lockwood, Derman Loewus, John T. Lynch, Jos. P. Lynch, Harry Manley, Dayton W. Mills, Arthur Miner, Frank Monroe, R. B. Moody, Geo. E. Morris, John Murphy, Fred Northrop, Earl J. Oliver, Allen L. Pruyne, Arthur Quick, Grant Quick, O. B. Rake, Lymon Richards, A. H. Russell, C. F. Secore, L. D. Sweet, John Jay Swetland, Geo. N. Tanner, Albert Tanner, W. K. Terrey, Burton J. Tripp, Wilson Vanderpool, J. E. VanSickle, Willis E. Vought, Geo. E. Walters, Jesse D. Weaver, Harry G. Wells, G. Wetmore, Charles F. Wheaton, E. Lorenzo White, Fred C. White, Jerome White, Arthur H. Whiggins, Geo. F. Williams. "Died-Corporal T. Terry Draper, Glenn B. Chilson, Charles F. Moore, James Mahoney.
"CO. G., READING.
"Captain, Henry D. Green; First Lieutenant, John K. Stauffer; Second Lieutenant, Robert H. Large.
"CO. K., SOUTH BETHLEHEM.
"Captain, Harry Adams; First Lieutenant, L. N. D. Mixsell; Second Lieutenant, Allison A. Mitchell.
"CO. L., SUMMIT HILL.
"Captain, Robert S. Mercur; First Lieutenant, William H. Clewell; Second Lieutenant, George P. Brown."
Following a custom of treating the more recent history of the Wyoming Valley by decades, it is worthy of mention that surprising ratios of population gains continued to be evidenced by the census of 1900. The county had crossed the quarter million mark, showing 257,121 for 1900 as against 201,204 for 1890. Wilkes-Barre was encouraged by a showing of 51,721 population by the new census. Ten years before it had been 37,713.
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In a general way the decade now under consideration lived up to expecta- tions as to material advances, keeping pace with population growths.
In many ways, however, the decade stood out prominently. The historian has but little difficulty in selecting the three major events of that period whose influences and effects have come down to us of the present. First, the general anthracite strikes of 1900 and 1902. Secondly, the Centennial of the incorpora- tion of Wilkes-Barre as a borough. Thirdly, toward the close of the decade, the completion of the present Luzerne County court house after nine years of misconception, misfortune and misfeasance.
These will be considered in order, with a running account of lesser events connecting the three.
Scarcely had the year 1900 been ushered in before a wreck occurred on the Central Railroad of New Jersey unusual even in a district accustomed to the curves and grades of a mountainous country. On January 25th, the brakes of a freight train descending the long grade of that railroad into Ashley refused to work properly and the train, running at a dangerous rate of speed, struck two locomotives standing on the same track near the Ashley station. What added to the general destruction of the impact was the explosion of a car of dynamite carried by the runaway train. Three men and two boys were killed instantly and many bystanders, some at considerable distance from the scene, were wounded by flying debris. The property damage reached a total not approached by any other wreck in the County's history.
With that year also came signs, which grew more and more abundant as the year progressed, of a wide-spread industrial unrest throughout the thriving anthracite community. As the first general strikes which paralyzed the business of mining were to follow because of the rise of a new union and new leadership, a sketch of the union labor movement as it affected Luzerne County is given somewhat in detail.
As early as 1849 an attempt to organize workers in the anthracite field had been made by Jolin Bates, an Englishman. Being confined to merely local groups which lacked cohesion, the movement soon spent itself. Again in 1861, an organization known as the American Miners Association came into existence in the bituminous districts of Illinois. This organization established branches in the anthracite field. While the union inade but little progress during Civil war years, its membership increased to such an extent that a general strike in both fields was authorized in 1867. Neither were the times ripe for union recognition nor was the temper of the public in harmony with the movement. The strike was lost and the union rapidly disintegrated.
John Siney seems to have been the next figure in the anthracite country who attracted attention as a labor organizer. In 1869 he formed the Miners' and Laborers' Benevolent Association. This grew rapidly and maintained a considerable influence in anthracite circles until 1875 when it, too was crushed in a strike declared against a well financed operators' organization.
Almost immediately the Knights of Labor undertook the task of upholding the union cause. In 1887, the Knights, under the leadership of T. V. Powderly, felt strong enough to try conclusions with the operators in the Schuylkill, Carbon and Lehigh county districts. Jealousies, inter-racial misunderstandings and other causes made influences of the organizations but little felt in the northern field of which Luzerne County was a part. This strike lasted for six months,
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however, in the districts affected, but on strike leaders reaching an unsatisfactory conclusion with operators, individually rather than collectively, the power of the Knights declined steadily thereafter. The Miners National Progressive Union was a next step in development. It became a powerful factor in bitumin- ous fields and accomplished much in bettering conditions of employment in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and eastern Ohio. In the anthracite section, however, it came in bitter conflict with the remnants of the Knights of Labor, the conflict resulting in more or less chaos to the union cause.
The year 1900 was to see a new union movement, greater than any of its predecessors, launched throughout the east. Using the remaining elements of the Knights as well as the dwindling organization of Miners' National Progres- sive Union as foundation stones, the United Mine Workers of America became a going concern. Organizers of the new union appeared in various parts of the anthracite country and while its actual membership was less than 8,000, United Mine Worker leaders were led to believe that a large percentage of non- member workers could be induced to leave their posts provided definite reasons and definite leadership were assigned for the betterment of conditions.
The year 1900 marked the peak of "pluck-me" stores, exorbitant rent charges and other abuses of capital against which miners held bitter grievances. In July, 1900, a convention of miners was called at Hazleton. Their demands were formulated and the operators' organization invited to attend a joint con- ference. In their turn, the operators gave no heed to the invitation. On September 7th, representatives of the miners again met and gave the operators ten days in which to discuss the questions at issue or a strike would result. Nothing tangible came by way of securing a joint conference, and on September 17th, the first test of strength between capital and the United Mine Workers came to pass. It was a presidential year and naturally leaders of the Republican party, particularly, were anxious to see the strike averted or, when once begun, ended as satisfactorily as possible. Senator M. A. Hanna of Ohio, undertook to adjust the differences and on October 3rd, the operators indirectly offered a ten per cent. increase in wages by posting the new scale at their colleries. This failing to secure a return to work, the operators, under political pressure, added further concessions in a lowered price for powder, adjustment of rents and a bi-monthly payroll in cash. Notice to this effect were again posted and the executive committee of the miners decided to accept. Work was resumed on October 29, 1900.
The settlement of 1900 was felt by both parties to the controversy to be rather in the nature of a truce than a final adjustment of grievances. Each side immediately strengthened its position for the future. A real test of strength came in 1902. In February of that year the first of a series of meetings was held by the miners. As before, they requested a joint meeting between their delegates and the operators which was refused. When the blow of another strike seemed imminent, representatives of the National Civic Federation requested that they be allowed to act as intermediators. Both sides agreed to this and for a month joint conferences in some form or another were arranged. But the stage was set for a desperate struggle, and on May 9th, after a district conference at Scranton, a temporary suspension was ordered by the Mine Workers beginning at midnight, May 12th. On May 15th, a decision was reached by the miners to make the suspension a permanent one by a vote of 46134 to 34914. The most
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