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 61
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His influences are not to be lost. Nelther sorrow shall dim, nor unbidden questions as to why this blow should fall, shall eclipse the ideals for which he lived and sacrificed.
FRED C. KIRKENDALL, JR., of the fourth gen- eration from William Wheeler Kirkendall, son of Frcd- crick Charles, Sr., (see preceding biography) and Elea- nor C. (Gearhart) Kirkendall, was born in Wilkes- Barre, October 10, 1897. He acquired his early education in the public schools of this city, graduated from high school in 1916, matriculated in Lafayette College, and from it took the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1920. Without delay, he returned from the college's halls to Wilkes-Barre, and here was given a position as a report- er on the staff of the "Times-Leader," under his father ; and upon the death of the latter he became, successively, associate editor and secretary of the organization. As were his father and grandfather, so, too, was he inter- ested in politics from earliest years of manhood, and he was selected Democratic City Chairman. This interest has tended to increase with time. In the November election of 1927 he cast his hat into the ring and was elected controller of the city for a four-year term. Dur- ing the period of America's participation in the World War he served in the United States Navy, being assigned to the Air Service, stationed at Boston, Massachusetts, and was mustered out with honor at the conclusion of hostilities. He is a member of Lodge No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons, of Wilkes-Barre; Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, Knights Templar ; Mount Horeb Council, Royal and Select Masters; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Irem Temple Country Club, Craftsmen's Club, Pen and Pencil Club, and Navy Club. Also, he belongs to Wilkes-Barre Post, No. 132, American Legion ; the Lions Club, and Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce. 'He is a communicant of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church.
HENRY A. GORDON, one of the active and well known members of the Luzerne County Bar, with offices at No. 34 Coal Exchange Building, in Wilkes-Barre, was born at Plymouth, Luzerne County, July 1, 1876. He is a son of Captain Henry M. and Henrietta (Tubbs) Gor- don, both of whom are now deceased. Captain Henry M. Gordon, the father, a son of James A. Gordon, an early member of the Luzerne County Bar, served with dis- tinction during the period of the Civil War. Captain. Gordon served as an officer of Company F, 143rd Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, taking part in many of the major engagements of this conflict, and being severely wounded during the first day of the Battle of Gettys- burg, July 1, 1863. He lived to the fine old age of seventy- six years, his death occuring in November, 1908, at Wilkes-Barre. He was the father of four children who grew to maturity : Elizabeth T .; Elsie B .; Henry A., of whom more follows; and William R., of Philadelphia.
Henry A. Gordon received his early education in the public schools of the community in which he was born and reared, Plymouth. When he was thirteen years of age, however, he removed with his parents to Dorrance- ton. now Kingston, Pennsylvania. He then attended the well-known Harry Hillman Academy at Wilkes-Barre, graduating from there in 1894. His legal training was chtained under the competent preceptorship of Anthony L. Williams and Henry W. Dunning, affiliated attorneys of Wilkes-Barre. When he had read law for a sufficient period of time and had become remarkably well versed in this difficult profession, he applied for and was admit-
Heury a. Gordon.
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ted to practice at the Luzerne County Bar in 1897, since which time he has carried on a successful general prac- tice in Wilkes-Barre. He is strictly a self-made man, and a highly successful lawyer esteemed in his own right and respected for his particularly high ideals. Such is his ability, that, today, at the date of the writing of this biographical history, 1929, Mr. Gordon is the legal repre- sentative for some of the largest corporations in the Wyoming Valley.
In his political views he is a staunch supporter of the Republican party, and it was upon this ticket that he was elected, from the Sixth Legislative District, to the Pennsylvania State Legislature, session of 1909. He has also served, for more than sixteen consecutive years, as a member of the School Boards of both Dorranceton and Kingston. He has been almost equally active in his club and social life, for he is affiliated, fraternally, with the Kingston Lodge, No. 395, Free and Accepted Masons ; and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows :
Henry A. Gordon married, July 1, 1913, Cordelia Owen, of Dorranceton, Luzerne County, a daughter of William B. and Mary ( Davis) Owen, of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are the parents of three children : Mary Henrietta, Jean Owen, and Henry A., Jr. Mr. Gordon and his family maintain their residence in King- ston, although they attend the Forty Fort Presbyterian Church in which Mr. Gordon is an elder and superinten- dent of the Sunday school.
JOHN J. CORRIGAN, M. D .- Prominent in med- ical circles in Hazleton and vicinity and coming from a family which has produced several physicians of note, Dr. John J. Corrigan, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, enjoys a large and growing practice of medicine and surgery and a host of friends in this community. He is the son of Martin and Mary (Walker) Corrigan, both natives of Ireland, one from the County of Carlow and the other from the County of Kilkenny. His father, Martin Corrigan, who died August 1, 1909, at the age of seventy-four years, learned the miner's trade in Wales, came to America in 1853 and in December of that year, he landed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and came to Summit Hill where he engaged in mining and followed that line of work up to the time of his retire- ment. Dr. Corrigan's mother makes her home in Hazle- ton. Martin Corrigan and his wife were the parents of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy. Those who lived to maturity were: 1. William H., a practicing phy- sician and surgcon in Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre for thirty-three years, with six years in lowa. He was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in the class of 1893. He died in July, 1927, at the age of sixty-three years. He specialized in surgery and spent one year in research work in Europe and one year in the Mayo Brothers Sanitarium in Rochester, Minnesota. He was surgeon of the medical staff of Mercy Hospital at Wilkes-Barre and was a member of the County Medical Society ; the State Medical Society; and the American Medical Asssociation. He gave all of his time to his profession. 2. Mary E. (deceased), was the wife of James P. Costello, an attorney of Hazleton. 3. Annie Etta, entered the convent, taking orders and became Sister Mary Benedict. She died in 1891 in the convent at Hazleton. 4. John J., of whom further. 5. Catharine, wife of James Guckavan, of Hazleton. 6. Martin F., entered the church and is pastor of St. Dominick's Parish at Parsons, Pennsylvania. He was ordained in 1900' and his first mass was the requiem mass for his father. 7. Esther G., is now the wife of Edward F. Barrett' of Buffalo, New York. 8. Ida M. (deceased). 1. James .1., a physician at Hazleton. 10. Theresa A., now Sister Maria Teresa at St. Mary's in Wilkes-Barre.
John J. Corrigan was born at Harleigh, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1870. He was edu- cated in St. Gabriel's Parochial School and at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in the class of 1896 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and in May of that same year, he began the practice of his profession and is now one of the leading physicians in the county. The Corrigan Maternity Hospital, established by Drs. John J., James A., and Lawrence F. Corrigan, was opened the first of October, 1928, and is located at No. 687 North Church Street. Dr. Corrigan is a member of the County Medical Society ; the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and president of the Hazleton branch of the County Medical Society. He is also a director of the Markle Bank of Hazleton. He is a member of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church.
In 1896, Dr. John J. Corrigan married Elizabeth
Hagarty, of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. They are the parents of nine children: 1. Lawrence F., a graduate of Jefferson Medical College in the class of 1925 ; served as interne at St. Agnes' Hospital in Philadelphia, and engaged in practice with his father. He was in the United States Navy service during the World War. 2. Benedicta, educated at St. Gabriel's Parochial School and the Bloomsburg Normal School in now a teacher in the city schools of Hazleton. 3. Martin A., a student in the College of Dentistry in Philadelphia in the class of 1928. 4. Elizabeth A., a graduate of St. Gabriel's Parochial School and the Bloomsburg Normal School, and is now a teacher in the city schools of Hazleton. 5. Ida May and 6. Mary B. arc students at Villa Marie College. 7. Timothy. 8. Esther. 9. John J., Jr. The last three are students in St. Gabriel's Parochial School. Dr. Corrigan maintains his offices at No. 336 West Broad Street, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and has his residence in this city.
JOHN H. BONIN-Efficient and able as an attorney John H. Bouin, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, enjoys a growing legal practice which has brought him into promi- nence m a number of instances. He maintains his office in the Markle Bank Building and in addition to being retained as solicitor for organizations does a gen- eral practice. He is the son of Hilary and Christina (Coutz) Bonin. His father who was born in Germany, came to America as a young man and established him- self in business in Hazleton where he was engaged as an undertaker for thirty-five years, and founded his business so well that, today, it is carried on by his sons. Hilary Bonin is now deceased. He and his wife had eleven children : Anthony, Hilary, Mary, Margaret, Frank, Julia, John H., of whom further ; Peter, Louis, Ernestine, and Edward.
Jolın H. Bonin was horn at Hazleton, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1894. He began his education in the local schools and then went to St. Stanislaus College in Chicago where he graduated in the class of 1913 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then went to Northwestern University and later to Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn- sylvania, where he attained the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1917. He was admitted to the Luzerne County Bar in the same year and began the practice of law at Hazleton. In July, 1918, he was called to the service of the country and assigned to the 18th Infantry train- ing and replacement at Camp Lee, Virginia, where he entered as a private and was later raised to the rank of sergeant, being mustered out of the service on Decem- ber 23, 1918. He returned to Hazleton and resumed the practice of law which he has continued. In 1928, Mr. Bonin was appointed an assistant district attorney for Luzerne County.
Mr. Bonin is a member of the County Bar Associa- tion ; the State Bar Association and the American Bar Association ; he is president of Lions' Club, which office he has held for the past four years, being the longest time any one has held the office continuously in the his- tory of the organization. He is a member of the Frater- nal Order of Eagles; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Chamber of Commerce; the Pioneer Fire Company, No. I .; the Valley Country Club; and he is active in the Republican party of the county and of the State Mr. Bonin was one of the organizers of the Citizens' League of Luzerne County and chairman of the First Legislative District of the League. He is a member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church and the claim adjuster of the Wilkes-Barre Railway. He is also a director and solicitor of the City and Trust offices of the City Bank of Hazleton.
JUDGE JOHN S. FINE, who has served his State and country in numerous important ways, and who now holds the important position of associate justice of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Judicial District of Wilkes-Barre, is one of that notable group of men who make up the Bar of Pennsylvania. For many years Judge Fine made a splendid record as a member of that bar. A deep student of human nature, he bids fair to make a reputa- tion in the position to which he has recently been elected. Evidencing his intense love of country he volunteered for World War duty in 1917, and served actively abroad. Returning home at the conclusion of hostilities he picked up the broken ends of his practice, builded anew, and soon was more prosperous and successful than ever. His appointment to the bench came in 1927, and was a source of much gratification not only to his friends and sup- porters, but to his associates of the profession and the community generally. He was elected in November of
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the same year for the full ten-year term, receiving the largest number of votes of any opposed candidate aspir- ing for office. Judge Fine has taken a keen interest in politics as a member of the Republican party, and was named alternate delegate to the 1920 convention of his party at Chicago, in which the votes of his delegation, along with the majority vote, went to the nominee and electee, President Warren G. Harding. He was also district chairman, secretary, and county chairman of the Republican party, being the youngest person to hold the latter office.
Judge John S. Fine was born at Alden Station, in Newport Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1893, son of Jacob W. and Margaret (Croop) Fine, who now reside at Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, having been spared to see and participate in the success of their son. Jacob W. Fine's father, Jacob M. Fine, was a farmer of Newport Township and belonged to one of the country's oldest and most respected families. Jacob W. Fine, the father of Judge Fine, was born in 1859, and married Margaret Croop, and they became the parents of eleven children: Calvin C., Claud R., Bertha, Wil- liam, John S., William; Edward, Dr. Franklin L., a practicing dentist of Kingston, Luzerne County ; Harold, deceased at twenty-one years of age; Evert, and Carl, the last two of whom died in childhood. Jacob W. Fine is an engineer for the Glen Alden Coal Company at Nanticoke; a member of the Republican party, and of the Protestant Episcopal church.
When Judge Fine was two years of age, his parents located in Nanticoke. It was at this place that he began his education in the grammar schools, where he proved a very apt pupil; after this he entered the high school, from which institution he was graduated in 1911. He then matriculated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, in the Department of Law, having determined to become a lawyer, and he was awarded his degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1914. On completing the requisite examinations he was admitted to the Luzerne County Bar in 1915, and prosecuted his profession until May 3, 1917, when he was assigned to the war training camp at Madison Bar- racks. After a period of training he was assigned as sergeant to a transport with his command and went to France, where he continued training under the French conditions, having located at Nancy. After the World War he spent one term at Trinity College, Dublin, Ire- land, extending his studies measurably. Then he returned home, in August, 1919, and vigorously resumed the prac- tice of law.
Judge Fine has been extremely active in the ranks of the Republican party. He served as legislative chair- man for four years, 1916-20; secretary of the Repub- lican County Committee, 1920-21 ; and as alternate dele- gate to the Republican National Convention, as said above, in 1920. He was elected Republican county chair- man in 1923. He was appointed additional law judge, January 3, 1927, by Governor Pinchot, for the Eleventh Judicial District, embracing Luzerne County. He is a member of the Luzerne County Bar Association, and Nanticoke Post of the American Legion; in club life a member of the Craftsman's Club of Nanticoke and the Shrine Country Club; in fraternal order affairs, a member of Nanticoke Lodge, No. 541, Free and Accepted Masons; Caldwell Consistory of Bloomsburg; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Wilkes-Barre; and is a thirty-second degree Mason ; a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Loyal Order of Moose; Knights of Pythias ; Junior Order United American Mechanics; Patriotic Orders Sons of America; and Delta Theta Phi, legal fraternity (at law school). He is a vestryman of St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Nanticoke.
JOHN J. BOYLE-Practically the only modern un- dertaking parlors in Hazleton, Luzerne County, are those owned and operated by John J. Boyle, who has put much thought, time and money into the equipment of his cstab- lishment. Mr. Boyle's business concern is housed in a very fine two-story brick structure, containing a morgue, garage, display rooms and funeral parlors. He also has the only privately-owned ambulance in the city of Hazleton, together with a complete equipment of motor and horse vehicles. Mr. Boyle was born in Hazleton, January 22, 1885, the son of John and Mary ( McCue) Boyle, both natives of Donegal, Ireland, who came to Hazleton while young, where the former operated a most successful dry goods business. They were members of the St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church and were highly respected and esteemed in their community. They were
the parents of four children, Annie, Philip J., Mary J., and John J.
John J. Boyle received his early education in the Parochial School at Hazleton, and afterwards entered St. Michael's College, at Toronto, Canada, where he took a literary course. After his scholastic training, Mr. Boyle returned to Hazleton, where he became asso- ciated with the undertaking business which had been established by his brother in 1881. He took an embalm- ing course at the Barnes School, in New York City, and on the death of his brother in 1923, took over the business. Mr. Boyle is an active member of the Luzerne County Funeral Directors' Association, as well as of the National Association. He is very active in civic affairs and his fraternal affiliations include membership in the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a leading member of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church, and in political faith is of the Democratic party. Mr. Boyle is a director of the City Bank and Trust Company of Hazleton.
On January 24, 1913, Mr. Boyle married Mary G. Murphy, of Pittston, Luzerne County. Mr. and Mrs. Boyle are the parents of four children, as follows: I. John J., Jr. 2. Philip J. 3. James A. 4. Nan. Mr. and Mrs. Boyle and their family reside at No. 100 South Wyoming Avenue, Hazleton.
JOHN H. BIGELOW-As an attorney and active. in both State and national politics, John H. Bigelow, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, is one of the most prominent men in the State. He has held a number of important positions in the Democratic party and as attorney for- different corporations has been widely known for his legal ability. He is the son of John and Margaret (Trevaskis) Bigelow, both of whom were natives of England. His maternal grandfather was a noted edu- cator.
John H. Bigelow was born at Beaver Meadow, Penn- sylvania, April 17, 1875. He was educated in the public schools of Hazleton. When he finished his school days, he assumed a position with the Lehigh Valley Railroad as ticket agent, serving in that capacity from 1890 to 1898. During this period, he applied himself to the study of law under the tutelage of Judge Troutman, and in 1897, he was admitted to the bar. In 1898, when he gave up the railroad work, he opened an office and began to practice law and has continued to carry on a general prac- tice since that date. He held the position of city solicitor for the city of Hazleton from 1902 to 1928. From 1912 to 1916, he was district attorney for Luzerne County and in 1916, he was delegate to the National Democratic Convention at St. Louis, Missouri, where he was selected to second the nomination of Woodrow Wilson for Presi- dent. He was a delegate-at-large and national commit- teeman in 1920 at the Democratic Convention at San Francisco where he placed in nomination for President, Attorney General Palmer. He was also State chairman of the Democratic Committee from 1924 to 1925. He is a director in a number of banking enterprises and public utility corporations and also several manufactur- ing enterprises for which he is counsel.
Mr. Bigelow has been engaged either as chief coun- sel, or in an associate capacity, in many of the most important cases tried in the various courts of the county in recent years. He has won especial distinction as a jury pleader, although it is well known that he prefers the quietude of office consultation and adjustment. In matters of municipal law and of corporate formation and management he is regarded throughout the State in a highly favorable light; and in litigation before the Public Service Commission has been signally success- ful. He had been at the bar but ten years when made a member of the Committee on Court Rules and at the same time a member of the Board of Law Examiners, in which capacity he still serves.
John H. Bigelow married Mary Kard Tait, of Weath- erly, Pennsylvania. Their children are: I. John J., a sales manager at Scranton. 2. Mary T., now the wife of Edwin P. Morris, a member of the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. 3. Eugenia, a student at Barnard College, New York City. Mr. Bigelow is a member of the County Bar Association and the State Bar Association. His residence is at No. 163 North Church Street, Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
RICHARD L. BIGELOW-One of the foremost attorneys in this section is Richard L. Bigelow, son of John and Margaret Bigelow, who was born at Beaver
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Meadow, Pennsylvania, February 7, 1880. He was edu- cated in the Hazleton public schools, Conway Hall Prep- aratory School, and Dickinson College where he grad- uated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in the class of 1908. He was admitted to the bar in that same year and since then has been engaged in the general prac- tice of law at Hazleton, Pennsylvania. He represents as solicitor the following: Lehigh Valley Railroad Com- pany, Wilkes-Barre & Hazleton Railroad Company, First National Bank, Hazle Hall Association, Tax Payers' Association of Lower Luzerne and Upper Carbon County ; a director of the Hazleton Manufacturing Company ; director and vice-president of the Hazle Hall Association ; and a number of other corporations and enterprises have called upon him for legal advice.
Mr. Bigelow is a member of the County Bar Asso- ciation and the State Bar Association; and of the fol- lowing Masonic bodies: Charter member and Past Master of Azalea Lodge, No. 687; member of Royal Arch Masons, Mount Vernon Commandery, Knights Templar, Caldwell Consistory, thirty-second degree, Irem Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Craftsmen's Club, and a director and solicitor of the New Masonic Temple Asso- ciation of Hazleton. He is a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, being a member of the vestry of that church. He is a Demo- crat in his political views and has been very active in many public affairs and held some public offices, among which he has been assistant district attorney of Luzerne County. He is also a member of the Country Club and City Club of Hazleton.
Richard L'. Bigelow married Bessie A. Lambert, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of two children, Richard L., Jr., and John. Mrs. Bigelow died in 1927. Mr. Bigelow makes his residence and main- tains his offices in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, near Wilkes- Barre.
JOHN DORRANCE FARNHAM-The Farnham family, of which John Dorrance Farnham, Wilkes-Barre attorney, is a worthy member, came from England and originally settled in New England, where they achieved an unusual degree of prominence and prosperity. There are variations of the name, such as Farnum and Farnam, but they are all doubtless descended from the earliest known ancestor, Ralph Farnham, who it has been estab- lished was the source from which sprang the Farnhams under consideration herein. The descent is traced through the following line :
Ralph Farnham, born in 1603, sailed from Southamp- ton, England, April 5, 1635, in the Brig "James" and landed June 3, 1635, at Boston, Massachusetts, with his wife, Alice.
Their son, Ralph Farnham, born in England, 1633, died in Andover, Massachusetts, January 8, 1692; mar- ried at Andover, October 26, 1658, Elizabeth Holt, daugh- ter of Nicholas Holt, who came to America in the Brig "James" with the Farnhams.
Their son, Ralph Farnham, born June 1, 1662, mar- ried at Andover, October 9, 1685, Sarah Sterling.
Their son, William Farnham, who was born August 5. 1693, married at Windham, Connecticut, 1715, Hannah Flint, of Salem, Massachusetts; they were the parents of the Farnhams, who, with their sons, became such patriots during the Revolutionary War; little is known of him except that he was probably a mechanic; he resided at Windham, Connecticut.
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