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 V > Part 29
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Charles H. Biddle married, October 16, 1916. at Wilkes-Barre, Althea Mackenrow, of that city, daughter of Edward and Clara (Ford) Mackenrow, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Biddle maintain their residence at the Marion Apartments, No. 147 North Franklin Street, in
Wilkes-Barre, in which community they attend the Epis- copal church.
JOHN NOLL ESCHENBACH-Owner and pro- prietor of a prosperous company, the John N. Eschen- bach Lumber Company, with offices at 810-14 in the Second National Bank Building, Wilkes-Barre, John Noll Eschenbach is numbered prominently among the substantial and public-spirited citizens of the city, and in business circles here is regarded with both admiration and respect.
Mr. Eschenbach was born in Luzerne County on April 6, 1885, son of C. H. and Eva (Noll) Eschenbach, resi- dents of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. C. H. Eschenbach is a contractor and builder, and with his wife shares the distinction of membership in a family old in the annals of the county and State. The houses of Noll and Eschenbach have occupied honorable places in their communities since established in Pennsylvania in the days of the early settlers. C. H. and Eva (Noll) Eschenbach are the parents of four children: I. Martha, wife of Redmond Melvin, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. 2. Kathryn, wife of Ira Heller, of Stroudsburg. 3. Charles, a contractor and builder, associated with his father, at Stroudsburg. 4. John Noll, of whom further.
John Noll Eschenbach received his education in the public schools of Sullivan and Lackawanna counties, Pennsylvania, and received his high school diploma in 1902. He went immediately to work, on the Erie Rail- road, and became a telegraph operator for that com- pany, stationed at Clifton, Pennsylvania. Here he re- mained as telegrapher for six years, then relinquished his key to engage in the lumber business, in Wilkes-
Parre, operating retail and wholesale yards and main- taining saw mills at various points in the State. These he has continued to operate during years subsequent, mnaufacturing and dealing in all kinds of lumber. Al- though his many business affairs take the greater portion of his time, Mr. Eschenbach constantly participates in public programs for the development of the community, and his contributions to these enterprises, both in funds and direction, are greatly appreciated by the townsmen. A Republican, he is loyal to the party's principles of government and is possessed of a considerable influence in matters political in Wilkes-Barre. He is a member of the First Reformed Church of Wilkes-Barre, and his contributions to charitable and kindred causes of a worthy character are generous and ready in forthcom- ing. Fraternally he is very active, with membership in Caldwell Consistory at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, An- cient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the thirty- second degree ; the Wilkes-Barre Rotary Club, and the Franklin Club.
John Noll Eschenbach married, October 21, 1909, Edna Cole, of Ashley, Luzerne County, daughter of Emanuel Cole, of Ashley, and to this union have been born two children : Jack and Emily. Mr. Eschenbach is well acquainted at Ashley, where he is a member of Coalville Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons.
WILLIAM HILLARD CONYNGHAM-The fam- ily of Conyngham, of which William Hillard Conyngham, a prominent merchant and manufacturer of Wilkes- Barre is a worthy example, has long been distinguished in Luzerne and the contiguous counties of Pennsylvania. Of ancient Scottish origin, transplanted to the North of Ireland, and subsequently to America, it has produced patriots of the highest type, heroes of the Revolutionary and Civil wars, a famous judge of the State courts and members of the mercantile and industrial callings, all of whom have contributed strength and enterprise to the growth of the Nation and the Commonwealth.
Redmond Conyngham, the founder of this branch of the family in America, who had his roots in Scottish forebears, came very early to Philadelphia, where he be- came one of the foremost citizens. He was a devout religionist, and vestryman and warden of old Christ Church of that city. He was one of the founders of St. Peter's Church of Philadelphia, and continued as a member of the united parishes of Christ and St. Peter's until his death.
David Hayfield Conyngham, son of Redmond Conyng- ham, was born in the North of Ireland in 1750, or about that year, and was quite young when he arrived in Philadelphia. His patriotic instinct found expression early through his activity in military affairs, and he was one of the organizers of the first troops of the Philadel- phia City Cavalry. He became a prominent merchant of his city as a member of the firm of J. W. Nesbitt &
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Company, and as the senior partner of Conyngham & Nesbitt. This last-named house displayed a most glow- ing example of patriotism during the days when the clouds hung heaviest over Washington's enfeebled and poorly nourished army, in 1780, during the Revolution. The firm, sensing the great need in this crucial hour of American life, advanced some five thousand pounds, which went a very long way towards alleviating the sufferings of the soldiers. This gracious and patriotic act was most feelingly acknowledged by Washington him- self and also by that financial genius of the Revolution, Robert Morris. By it Washington was enabled to keep the field with a reinvigorated and heartened force and make successful headway against the British.
John Nesbitt Conyngham, son of David Hayfield Conyngham, was born in Philadelphia, December 17, 1798. He was given every advantage by his wealthy father of a liberal education. Having received his prepar- atory training in schools of his native city, he entered the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with high honors in the class of 1817. Hav- ing elected the law as his profession, he became a student in the office of Hon. Joseph R. Ingersoll, of Philadelphia. He was an apt student, and was admitted to the bar in that city February 12, 1820. Removing in that year to Wilkes-Barre, he was admitted to the bar of Luzerne County April 3, 1820, and without delay he engaged in practice. He was energetic and possessed an active and discriminating mind. Patient, thorough and methodical, he did not appear to be making rapid headway at first, but with the passing of the years his practice took on increasing volume, until he was in the ranks of the leading members of the bar of the juris- diction. For nearly twenty years he ahly cared for the interests of his valued clientele, and for two years of that period he represented his district in the Pennsyl- vania Legislature.
In 1839 he was appointed by Governor D. R. Porter to the office of president-judge of the Thirteenth Judi- cial District of Pennsylvania, which then comprised the counties of Susquehanna, Bradford, Tioga, Potter and Mckean. This honor, conferred as an honor upon the recipient, was cordially received by bench and bar and the laity. He formally ascended the bench at the first sitting of his court in Tioga, and this was a red-letter event in his long and useful legal career. Under an act of the Legislature, passed, April 13, 1840, Luzerne was added to the district, and Susquehanna was transferred to the Eleventh District, and by this arrangement, Judge Conyngham was enabled to live at his home in Wilkes- Barre. Although his commission expired in 1849. in the fall of 1851, under the amended constitution he was elected president of the Eleventh District. then consist- ing of Luzerne, Wyoming, Montour and Columbia coun- ties. In 1853 and 1856 changes were made in the dis- trict, which eventually consisted of Luzerne County only. Regardless of the fact that he held political opinion differing in many points from those espoused by the Federal administration, he was reelected to office in 1861. With the beginning of hostilities by the South in the Civil War, Judge Conyngham threw party lines and feel- ings to the winds and exerted all his powerful influence as leading judicial officer of the Eleventh District in behalf of the Union cause. His support was whole- hearted. substantial and sustained, and constituted a splendid example for his fellow-citizens. On his resigna- tion from the bench in 1870, he was signally honored by the bar of Luzerne County. in a unanimous and most cordial manner. Sixteen judges, members of the United States Supreme Court and the judiciaries of this State gave their tribute in manuscript of his character and qualifications as a judge.
Judge Conyngham married, in 1823. Ruth Ann But- ler, daughter of General Lord- Butler, and granddaughter of General Zebulon Butler, Revolutionary hero. Of their seven children, six arrived at maturity: 1. Colonel John Butler, United States Army. 2. Thomas D. 2. Wil- liam Lord, of whom further. 4. Mary, married Charles Parrish. 5. Anna Maria. married Right Rev. William Bacon Stevens. of Pennsylvania. 5. Major Charles Miner, who distinguished himself as an officer in the Civil War, and became prominent in the mining, manufacturing and mercantile interests of his section of Pennsylvania. Judge Conyngham died February 23, 1871, aged seventy-two years, the victim of a railroad accident at Magnolia, Mississippi.
William Lord Conyngham, born November 21, 1829, son of Judge John Nesbitt and Ruth Ann ( Butler) Conyng- ham, was a product of the Wilkes-Barre school system. For many years he was engaged in the coal business as
merchant and operator, and at one time was a very powerful principal in that line, controlling all the anthra- cite that was moved over the lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He was a lifelong and loyal Republican and a vestryman of St. Stephen's Church, Wilkes-Barre. He married, December 6, 1864, Olivia Hillard, of Wilkes- Barre, a daughter of Oliver Burr Hillard, who was a native of Charleston, South Carolina. To them were born children: 1. John N., a leading citizen of Wilkes- Barre, an appreciation of whom appears in this work. 2. William Hillard, of this review. 3. Ruth Butler, who died in childhood. William L. Conyngham died Decem- ber 29, 1907.
William Hillard Conyngham, son of William Lord and Olivia ( Hillard) Conyngham, was educated in select schools of Wilkes-Barre and at Yale College, when he was graduated in the class of 1889. Mercantile and manufacturing pursuits on a large and important scale have since commanded his attention. He is president of the Eastern Pennsylvania Supply Company, president of the Hazard Manufacturing Company, president of the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, and a director of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, Morris Run Coal Mining Company, the Wales Adding Machine Company, the Spring Brook Water Supply Company, Burns Brothers, incorporated, of New York, the Sheldon Axle and Spring Company and the Pennsylvania Power and Lighting Company. In politics he is a Republican of life- long affiliation. He is a member of Wilkes-Barre Lodge, Loyal Order of Moose; and is connected with the fol- lowing clubs : Westmoreland, Franklin, North Mountain, Wyoming Valley Country, Scranton, Graduate of New Haven, Connecticut ; Rittenhouse, of Philadelphia ; Uni- versity, of New York; Racquet and Tennis, of New York; New York Yacht, Saddle and Sirloin, of Chicago, Illinois ; and Wyoming Valley Motor. His religious fel- lowship is with St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Wilkes- Barre.
Mr. Conyngham married (first), February 17, 1897, Mae Turner, who died February 22, 1902, daughter of Samuel G. and Ella Turner. He married (second), April 10, 1918, Jessie Wright Guthrie, daughter of Dr. George W. and Sarah Guthrie. Children, all by second marriage : William Lord, 2nd, born September 1, 1920; George Guthrie, born October 31, 1923; and John Nes- bitt, 3rd, born September 17, 1925.
JACOB S. PETTEBONE-Prominent in the pro- fession of architecture in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Jacob S. Pettebone for more than a quar- ter of a century has been active and has won the high regard and confidence of the various other members of the industrial commercial and building enterprises of the city, and carries on a substantially successful and dis- tinguished business. Mr. Pettebone is a man of wide and varied interests and enjoys an honored and estimable position in the social and fraternal as well as business circles of the community. The Pettebone family of the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania, has been long resident there. and its records fully justify the high regard in which it is held hy neighbors and friends. Mr. Pette- bone at a family reunion aptly referred to his ancestors and distinguished descent as follows: "The family took an active part in the struggle for freedom, in which struggle many of them lost their lives. Since that time, 1 am happy to say, the history of the family has been on the whole, equally honorable." . The carly form of the name was Pettibone, but the Wyoming branch, whose record is herein contained, changed it to Pettebone.
John Pettibone, the founder and first progenitor of the family in America, was born in France, and was among the Huguenots who forsook their native land to escape religious persecution. He took refuge in the British Isles, where he allied himself with the Royalists, thus incurring the displeasure of Cromwell and the Eng- lish Parliament. Once more he was forced to flee for safety and this time came to America sometime between 1640 and 1650, to find the freedom and opportunities which the New World offered. His name appears as a freeman at Windsor, Connecticut, in 1658, and in 1669 he was among the first settlers at Simsbury, Connecticut, where he died July 15, 1713. He married, at Windsor, in 1664, Sarah Eggleston, a daughter of Bigot Eggleston, and they were the parents of nine children. Their son, Stephen Pettebone, through whom the line is traced, was born October 3, 1669. His son, Noah Pettebone, was horn April 16, 1714, and died March 25, 1791. He came to Wyoming Valley from Simsbury, Connecticut, in 1769. His was the hardy life of the rugged frontiersmen and he was ever in danger of his life from the ravaging
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of the Indians. He survived the massacre at Forty Fort in which his son, Noah, was slaughtered. Another son was in the Continental service and later in Sullivan's Army engaged in driving the Indians out of the valley, and upon his discharge from service was way-laid and killed by the Indians. He married Huldah Williams who predeceased him by many years. Their son, Oliver Pette- bone, who also survived the maraudings of the Indians, was born May 13, 1762, and died March 17, 1832. He was in Forty Fort at the time of the attack, and was one of the three hundred and eighty men who escaped. He went to Amenia, Dutchess County, New York, and married December 21, 1783, Martha Payne, a daughter of Dr. Barnabas Payne. Thereafter they returned to Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, and lived on a site adjoining that which his father had owned. They were the parents of thirteen children. From them is traced their son, Noah Pettebone, and his son, Stephen Pettebone. Stephen Pettebone was born in Kingston, Luzerne County, August 11, 1829, and died October 4, 1905. He was reared on the family homestead and began his education in the public schools, continuing an advanced course in the Wyoming Seminary. At the age of twenty-six, he rented a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. Hc then removed to Orangeville, Columbia County, where he remained for five years and thence to Kingston Township where he continued for seventeen years. He finally located at Kingston where he occupied a part of the old homestead. Stephen Pettebone was active in community affairs and served his township estimably. On January 24, 1854, he married Lucinda C. Pettebone, a daughter of Joshua and Eleanor (Gay) Pettebone, a descendant of the same immigrant ances- tor, John Pettibone. Their children were: 1. William, born December 12, 1854, retired at Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. 2. John B., born February 13, 1856, and died March 12, 1890. 3. Margaret E. (twin), born February 8, 1859, died in 1928. 4. Mary E. (twin), born February 8, 1859, died September 6, 1859. 5. Annie M., born April 7, 1861, living at Forty Fort. 6. Edgar R., born November 24, 1863, deceased. 7. Jacob S., of whom further.
Jacob S. Pettebone, the youngest son of Stephen and Lucinda C. (Pettebone) Pettebone, was born at Orange- ville, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1866. He was reared on the family farm in Dorranceton, and at- tended the public schools of that district. Thereafter he went to the Wyoming Seminary and later graduated from Cornell University, at Ithaca, New York, with the class of 1893, receiving his degree of Bachelor of Science in Architecture. Upon the completion of his course he re- turned to Luzerne County where he has since been identi- fied in the practice of his profession. From 1893 until 1901 he was in the business as a general architect, and at the end of that period formed a partnership with Robert Ireland under the style, Pettebone and Ireland, specialists as breaker architects. This partnership was dissolved in 1912.
In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Pette- bone is affiliated with various fraternal bodies, among which are the Landmark Lodge, No. 412, of Wilkes- Barre, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Chapter, Council, as well as the Dieu le Veut Commandery, Knights Templar. He is also a member of .the Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Wyoming Valley Historical Society and the Wyoming Valley Commemorative Asso- ciation. In religious faith he is communicant of the Methodist Church of Dorranceton, Luzerne County, and is serving as a member of the board of trustees of the institution.
Jacob S. Pettebone married (first), August 9, 1804, Minnie Lutz, of Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsyl- vania. Mrs. Pettebone died November 2, 1896. He mar- ried (second), September 25, 1901, Lucy Hershberger of Plymouth, Pennsylvania. The children of the first marriage are: Hattie (twin), born May 28. 1895, died in infancy, and Harlow (twin), born May 28. 1895.
JAMES H. SHEA-With recognized standing in legal circles of Luzerne County, where he has practiced the profession of law with gratifying success for many years, James H. Shea also has assisted materially in the conduct of financial affairs of his native city, Wilkes- Barre, having organized the Heights Deposit, of which he is president.
Mr. Shea was born on July 7, 1865, at Wilkes-Barre, son of Patrick and Mary (Burke) Shea, both of whom are now deceased. Patrick Shea was, for an extended period, manager of the retail coal business of F. J.
Leavenworth, of Wilkes-Barre. He was a Democrat and a devout member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. By his marriage to Mary Burke he became the father of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity : I. Mary, married Joseph Keller. of Wilkes-Barre. 2. Ellen, married John Hughes, of Wilkes-Barre. 3. James H., of further mention. 4. Frank, now deceased. 5. John, deceased, was for many years prominent at the Luzerne County Bar. 6. Alice, who married Thomas Lawler of Wilkes-Barre. Patrick Shea died in the cighty-second year of his age; a man beloved by those who knew him well and respected by all with whom he came in con- tact.
James H. Shea was reared in Wilkes-Barre, and when he was eight years of age, became a "breaker boy" at the Wilkes-Barre coal inines. He was variously em- ployed about the mines, and while attending public school, but later obtained an unbroken education at the parochial schools and the Knight School for Boys. He later studied at the Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Penn- sylvania. After leaving the coal mines for good, he began the study of law in the office of James L. Lanahan, and in February, 1894, was formally admitted to practice at the Luzerne County Bar. He has since carried on a general practice of the law in Wilkes-Barre, and has won notable success in this profession. He is a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association and the Luzerne County Bar Association ; and he is admitted to be one of the most active lawyers in the eastern part of this State.
In his political views he is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party as was his father, and during his early days in business he was quite active in party politics. One of the outstanding achievements of this Mr. Shea's life came in 1907 when he organized the Heights De- posit Bank of Wilkes-Barre. He is the first and only president of this highly successful institution, having filled that office since the bank was established. This is one of the most conservative banking houses in the city, having a capital and surplus of more than two hundred thousand dollars. John Repa is vice-president while Leo J. Moore and Charles A. Dana serve as cashier and assistant cashier, respectively. Mr. Shea has also been active in social life, being affiliated, fraternally, with Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Order of Eagles.
James H. Shea married, November 10, 1897. at Wilkes- Barre, Margaret Jane McDade, a daughter of James and Mary ( McGuigan) McDade of Wilkes-Barre, both de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Shea maintain their residence at No. 299 East South Street, Wilkes-Barre, in which com- munity they attend the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
JOHN WELLES HOLLENBACK-The city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, located in Wyoming Val- ley, a valley far-famed because of its historic associa- tions, natural resources and industrial development, owes its growth and present prestige to the vision and brain of big-hearted and public-spirited men.
Prominent among those who contributed to the devel- opment of the city and one whose service extended to the entire country and many lands beyond the seas was John Welles Hollenback. Business executive, public- spirited citizen, churchman, philanthropist, and always, a courteous, approachable friend, for more than half a century he was busied with the affairs of the town. He watched the Modern grow out of the Victorian Age. He observed the simplicity of living and the frugal busi- ness ways of an earlier period of American life give way to luxury and the complication of present-day indus- try. Almost in direct touch with the Revolutionary War through his maternal grandfather (who was a survivor of the Battle of Wyoming and who was still living when Mr. Hollenback was born), he also lived through the cataclysms of the Civil War and its great successor. the World War. Through all the changes of the years he retained certain fundamentals of plain living, high thinking, love for his fellowman, and faith and loyalty to God, and throughout the entire period of his mature life he was occupied in constructive service.
Mr. Hollenback, on both paternal and maternal lines, inherited historical traditions and lofty idcals. His ances- tors were among early prominent Colonial families of Pennsylvania and New England. The Pynchons ( from William Pynchon, founder of Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1634), the Holyokes, the Hollisters, the Talcotts and the Welles family, all of whom were among the earliest settlers of Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The Hollenback ancestor was George Hollenback, born
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in Germany, who came from there in 1717. His son, John, took up land in Lebanon County, and John's sec- ond son, Matthias Hollenback, came to Wyoming Val- ley in 1770, settling in Wilkes-Barre in 1774 on land now on the west side of Public Square, the site of the present "Welles Building." Later, he built a large frame house for a combined store and dwelling on South Main Street.
Matthias Hollenback was appointed ensign in the Con- tinental Army and fought in the battles of Millstone, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Wyoming, and was later several times appointed on special commissions by General Washington. After the local battle of Wyoming he narrowly escaped massacre, being pursued by the Indians and escaping by swimming the river. He grew in importance to his county after the war as merchant and land owner, serving as justice of the peace, judge of common pleas and associate judge for the thirty- eight years, and he was first treasurer of Luzerne Coun- ty and burgess of Wilkes-Barre. In 1787 he was com- missioned lieutenant-colonel Ist Battalion Luzerne County Militia, was reelected in 1792 and in 1793. Colonel Hol- lenback married Sarah Burritt Hibbard, and it was his second daughter, Eleanor Jones Hollenback, who became the mother of John Welles Hollenback, marrying, in 1816, Charles Fisher Welles.
Charles F. Welles was born in Glastonbury, Connec- ticut, and was brought to Pennsylvania at the age of nine, growing up in Bradford County. He was promi- nent in public affairs, filling the positions during the years 1812 to 1822 of prothonotary, clerk of courts, reg- ister and recorder, and acquiring an extensive legal knowl- edge. During the remainder of his life he devoted much time to the care of his large estate at Wyalusing, Penn- sylvania, dying there in 1866, almost seventy-six years of age. His father, George Welles, had graduated from Yale University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1799, and was directly descended (in sixth line) from Thomas Welles, the fourth Colonial Governor of Connec- ticut.
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