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 65
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Caradoc Rees was married, in 1904, to Olwen Howells, of Nanticoke, and they have four children: 1. Jane, teacher in high school. 2. Caradoc. 3. Ann. 4. Ralph. Mrs. Rees is a member of Nebo Baptist Church, and is active in its Ladies' Aid Society. She is also an active and interested member of the Pythian Sisters and of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Rees has his office at No. 320 State Street, in Nanticoke.
GEORGE W. WEAVER-One of the most interest- ing and soundly prosperous businesses in Nanticoke is that conducted by George Weaver and two of his sons, Harold and Jay Weaver, under the firm style of George Weaver & Sons, florists, at No. 700 East Main Street. This enterprise was founded in 1907, by Harry Cornell, who at that time constructed five capacious greenhouses. From him the business passed to other owners, and changed hands several times before 1921, when Mr. Weaver purchased it. He rebuilt the entire plant, put- ting under glass an area one hundred and fifty by one hundred and twenty square feet. Here are grown the finest flowers, notably chrysanthemums, potted plants of all kinds, and a choice selection of bulb stock. Mr. Weaver does business at retail for the most part, and caters to funeral displays and weddings. As horticul- turist and man of sound commercial judgment he enjoys a wide reputation in Luzerne County, and as a citizen of Nanticoke he is outstanding.
George Weaver was born at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, January 5, 1874, son of Henry and Maranda ( Smith) Weaver. He secured a good basic academic instruction in the public schools, and at the age of twelve years began to learn the culture of flowers and methods of nurseries. For sixteen years he worked in the firm operated by J. L. Dillon, and advanced from office boy and lad of all work in the greenhouses to the position of foreman. Then there followed several years in the employ of John Dooley, in Kingston, where Mr. Weaver continued in his horticultural work until he came to Nanticoke, and purchased the business of which he is the head. He is a member of the Wilkes-Barre Florist Club and Scranton Florist Club, the Wyoming Valley Club, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Patriotic Order Sons of America, of Plymouth. He is a communicant of the Christian Church, devout in its service, and an influence for good upon all, young and old, with whom he comes in contact.
George Weaver was united in marriage with Alice Holder, of Bloomsburg; and to this union were born children : 1. Mabel, wife of Raymond Jenkier. 2. Jay, who is associated with his father in George Weaver & Sons, Nanticoke. 3. Harold, also with his father in business. 4. Irene, at home. 5. Emily, at home. 6. Ray- mond, also at home. The family resides in Nanticoke and here Mr. Weaver is accounted an outstanding and public-spirited citizen. Mr. Weaver built a commodious residence adjacent to his plant in 1928.
CHARLES P. KRICK-One of the younger mem- bers of the legal profession in Wilkes-Barre is Charles P. Krick, who since 1921 has been engaged in prac- tice at No. 313 Dime Bank Building, in Wilkes-Barre.
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Mr. Krick is a graduate of Muhlenberg College and of Dickinson Law School, and in the six years which have passed since he opened offices here he has made for himself an assured place in his profession.
George Krick, father of Mr. Krick, was born in But- ler Township, Luzerne County, and is one of the success- ful real estate men of Hazleton, Luzerne County. He married Dorothy Zullig, and they became the parents of five children: George, Jr., who is a practicing physician of Reading, Pennsylvania; Adam H., who lives in Panama City, Florida; Charles P., of further mention ; Alfred, who is a practicing physician in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Howard D., who is engaged in the real estate business 'in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
Charles P. Krick was born in Hazleton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1895, and as a boy attended the public schools, taking a special course in the Hazleton High School. Later, he entered Muhlen- berg College, at Allentown, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the class of 1918, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. In June, 1918, he enlisted for service in the World War, and was stationed at various camps in the United States until the spring of 1919, when he was mustered out of service. He then began the study of law in the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, where he continued through the year of 1919-20, but the next year he entered Dickinson I.aw School, where he completed his course in 1921. He was admitted to the Luzerne County Bar in the fall of that same year, and since that time has been engaged in general practice at No. 313 Dime Bank Building, in Wilkes-Barre. He is at present (1929) United States Commissioner for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and was an alternate delegate to the National Republican Convention, Kansas City, Missouri, 1928. Fraternally, Mr. Krick is a member of the Delta Theta Phi National Law Fraternity ; also of Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; and Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar. His religious membership is with St. John's Lutheran Church of Wilkes-Barre.
Charles P. Krick was married, July 17, 1921, to Flor- ence V. May, daughter of John and Emma May, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and they make their home at No. 195 West River Street. They have a daughter, Florence Victoria.
MICHAEL EDWARD WILKES, D. D. S .- For almost a decade, ever since his graduation from dental school in 1920, Nanticoke has been the scene of Dr. Wilkes' successful professional activities as a dental surgeon. There he has built up a large and lucrative practice and has made for himself an enviable reputation and position.
Dr. Michael Edward Wilkes was born at Wanamie, Luzerne County, July 23, 1893, a son of Martin and Josephine ( Petcavoge) Wilkes. His father, who was born in Luzerne County and who died there in 1900, was a miner and the son of a miner, who had come to this country from Poland. On his mother's side Dr. Wilkes is also of Polish extraction, his maternal grand- father, Adam Petcavoge, having likewise come to Luzerne County from Poland. He, too, was a miner and was active in this work up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was ninety-three years old. His widow, the maternal grandmother of Dr. Wilkes, is still living (1928) at the advanced age of ninety-nine years.
Dr. Wilkes was educated in the public schools and was graduated in 1910 from the Wanamie High School. Hav- ing learned telegraphy and having become an expert in this type of work, he followed it for several years, being engaged in various parts of the country in connec- tion with railroad, commercial, press and cable dispatch- ing. During this period he had the distinction of send- ing over the wires the inaugural address of Woodrow Wilson, when he became Governor of New Jersey, and later his speech at Baltimore, after he had been nomi- nated for President of the United States. Eventually Dr. Wilkes decided to give up this work and to resume his studies, for which purpose he entered the University of Pittsburgh. After having been graduated there with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1919, he took up the study of dentistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1920. In the same year he established himself in the practice of his profession at Nanticoke, where he has continued with great success. maintaining offices at No. 1 North Market Street. Besides attending to his large private practice, he is also dental school inspector of Newport Township. He is a mem-
ber of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania State and Na- tional Dental societies, as well as of the local Kiwanis Club, and formerly was a member of the Stickney Hose Company.
Dr. Wilkes was married, in 1921, to Charlotte Smith, a daughter of Jacob and Dorothy (Kashuba) Smith. Dr. and Mrs. Wilkes are the parents of two children : Charles Edward and Dorothy Wilkes.
DANIEL J. CRAY-In this contemporary history of Wilkes-Barre and centers nearby, a considerable space is devoted to the careers of educators. Among those educators of recognized standing and acknowledged tal- ent within this region is Daniel J. Cray, who has devoted the whole of his career to the present time ( 1928) to the profession, through a period in excess of thirty- five years. His experience has been not only long in point of time, but extensive, he having held varied posi- tions on several educational staffs, always with distinc- tion. Since 1918 he has served as superintendent of the public schools of Pittston, though he has maintained residence in Wilkes-Barre. In the educational circles of Luzerne County and the State at large he is well known and possessor of prestige. His biography is at once interesting as such and of itself, and an inspiration to youth and mankind.
Daniel J. Cray was born in Wilkes-Barre, son of John and Pridget (Kane) Cray, both of whom were natives of Ireland. John Cray came to this country as a young man, in the decade of 1850; Bridget (Kane) Cray came in 1853. They made their home in Wilkes-Barre some time before 1860. John Cray was a miner, and through- out his active years followed that work. He died in 1904, aged sixty-eight years. Bridget (Kane) Cray is living. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom five survive as follows: Daniel J., of whom further : Anna, Mrs. Mary Kernan, Mrs. Rose Mc- Donald, and William Cray.
In the public schools of Wilkes-Barre, Daniel J. Cray secured his basic academic instruction, then studied in Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, thereafter entered Mans- field State Normal School, and graduated from that institution with the class of 1891. Later, in the course of his career, he took the regular academic course of instruction in St. Thomas's College, at Scranton, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1911. In 1913, also, he took the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy, from Grove City College. His career proper began in the fall of 1891, when at the age of twenty-six years, he became principal of the public schools of Larksville and Ply- mouth Township, first of the grades and later supervis- ing principal. It was from this office that he was elected to the position of superintendent of the Pittston Schools in 1918. Mr. Cray has taken many summer courses in pedagogy, and has ever kept abreast of modern devel- opments in educational theory and practice. He is a member of the State Educational Association, the Na- tional Superintendents Association, the Educational Club of Wilkes-Barre, and other organizations connected with his profession. He was one of the organizers of the North End State Bank of Wilkes-Barre, and a vice- president, until the month of August, 1926, when he was chosen its president, in which capacity he has since con- tinued.
During the World War, although Mr. Cray was some- what above the age for military service, he did serve his country, devotedly, on the boards and committees of war work, and in the several campaigns of the Lib- erty Loan. He is a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, exemplary in personal bearing and an influence for good among the young persons with whom he comes in contact, either as superintendent of the schools or otherwise. In matters of charity Mr. Cray deals with large heart, giving generously within the confines of his means to all worthy causes, regardless of race or creed whence the appeal may come.
WILLIAM M. CROTZER-More than two cen- turies of Pennsylvania ancestry flows in the blood of the Crotzers, the forebears of the present generation having settled in this State that long ago. One of the worthiest representatives of this long line of pioneers, a man of . action, urbanity, ability and strong civic pride, is Wil- liam M. Crotzer, jeweler and optometrist, of Nanticoke. For upward of thirty years he has been engaged in the business of jewelry selling and the profession of optome- try in the heart of the city, during which time he has built up a commanding trade and, at the same time, endeared himself to his fellow workers by his personality
Charles W. Bushy
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and his undeviating uprightness as one of the leading business men of the community.
William M. Crotzer was born in New Berlin, Union County, Pennsylvania, December 18, 1872, a son of Thomas W., and Isabelle ( Morrison) Crotzer. The great-grandfather of William, Charles H. Crotzer, was a resident of Union County and engaged in the up- holstery business for many years. His son, who bore the same name, was born and reared and spent his life in Union County. Prior to the Civil War he was the proprietor of a hotel, but, enlisting in the Union Army and serving throughout the conflict, he returned and estab- lished himself in the manufacture of carriages and bug- gies in Mifflinburg, continuing in this business until his retirement from active life. Of his children, Thomas W., father of William M., was by trade a shoemaker, but came to Nanticoke in 1885 to accept the position of assistant postmaster under the Cleveland administration. He later went to Pittsburgh and established a real estate business, which he continued until his retirement, in 1921. He now spends his winters in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. His wife died in 1925, the mother of five chil- dren: William M., Charles, Margaret, Emma and Isabelle.
William M. Crotzer was educated in Union County and finished in the public schools of Nanticoke. When he was nine years of age he began work on a farm, herding cattle; at sixteen he undertook to learn the jewelry trade, getting a position in that line with R. C. Hitchler, of Nanticoke. Six years was enough to con- vince him that he could make his way alone and he opened a store of his own in Nanticoke. It was a small place, but he was a young man, ambitious and vigorous, determined to succeed. The store was in Market Street, not far from his present establishment. He began on a small scale, enlarging as the demand called for exten- sion, until, in 1909, he erected the front part of his pres- ent store, further enlarging this in 1921, to a total space of twenty hy eighty feet area. His line of jewelry and silverware is complete and modern in every respect, and his store is the largest and best equipped in Nanticoke. His activities in civic affairs may be measured by the fact that, since 1889 when he became a member of the Nanticoke Volunteer Fire Department, he has held every office in that organization. He is now chief of the depart- ment and for twelve years has been a member of the Nan- ticoke City Council. He is a Democrat and not only helped to organize the Fire Department but was largely instrumental in motorizing its equipment. He was the first member from Nanticoke of the Four County Fire Association, which now includes six counties of the State. He belongs to the Nanticoke Kiwanis Club, the Penn- sylvania State Athletic Commission, the Craftsmen's Club, the Fraternal Order of the Owls, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the Keystone Fire Association, the County Fire Association and the State Jewelers' Asso- ciation. He attends the Bethel English Congregational Church, is a member of the board of trustees and of the board of directors, and holds membership in the Penn- sylvania State Optometry Association. His fraternal organization memberships also include Lodge No. 541, Free and Accepted Masons, of Bloomsburg ; the Con- sistory ; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Lodge No. 331, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a director in the Peoples Savings & Trust Company, of which he was one of the organizers.
Mr. Crotzer. married, April 7, 1896, Margaret A. Jacob, daughter of Thomas F. and Cecilia Jacob, of Nanticoke. Their children are: Thomas Richard, educated in Nan- ticoke and at the College of Optics, in Philadelphia, and at Bowman's School of Technology, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania ; he is practicing optometry in Nanticoke ; has membership in the Eastern Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State Optometry associations, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, of Nanticoke, and the Bene- volent and Protective Order of Elks, of Wilkes-Barre. The other child is Muriel Jacob, adopted. The family residence is at No. 109 Market Street, Nanticoke.
CHARLES W. BIXBY-The paternal ancestry of Mr. Bixby traces to Joseph Bixby, an Englishman, and maternally, to Thomas Welles, both of whom came from England in the year 1637, the former settling in Mas- sachusetts, the latter in Connecticut. Thomas Welles, whose English ancestry dated to the tenth century, came as secretary to Lord Saye and Seal and later became very prominent in the public life of the Colony of Con- necticut, serving in many high positions, and for a period
of five years, 1655-59, inclusive, was deputy-governor and governor.
Joseph Bixby, the founder of his line in America, was born in Little Waldenfield, Suffolk, England, about 1620, and in 1637 came to New England, settling at Ipswich. Massachusetts, where he lived until 1660. He then moved to Rowley, a village that later was incorporated as Box- ford. He was a large landowner, selectman, sergeant of Rowley "train band" and in 1675 fought with his company in King Philip's War. He died April 19, 1700, leaving a widow, Sarah ( Wyatt-Heard) Bixby, who died June 3, 1704. The records of that period refer to the Bixbys, Joseph and Sarah, as "noted people for the day," and that Bixbys were remarkable for great energy, force and moral purity. The name Bixby is given as of Danish origin.
Benjamin Bixby, son of Joseph and Sarah Bixby, lived with his wife, Mary, at Topsfield, Massachusetts, where he died about 1725, leaving among other children a son, Samuel, who was baptized June 12, 1689, and died in 1741. He settled, about 1716, in what is now Millbury, Massachusetts, then Sutton, and is named as one of the eighteen original heads of families that settled in that town and as a landowner. He married, May 14, 1718, Martha Underwood, granddaughter of Joseph Under- wood and daughter of Thomas Underwood.
Samuel (2) Bixby, son of Samuel (1) and Martha (Underwood) Bixby, was born September 9, 1721, and is said to have been the first white child born in Sutton. He married (first) Lydia . Bond, daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Fuller) Bond; (second) Mrs. Rebecca Bartlett ; ( third) Mrs. Huldah Towne, who died Feb- ruary 4, 1843. aged one hundred and four years. He died in 1800.
Sampson Bixby, son of Samuel (2) and Lydia ( Bond) Bixby, was born in 1759, died February 11, 1847. He was a soldier of the Revolution as shown by the records of the War Department at Washington, and according to family tradition attained the rank of lieutenant. In his application for a Revolutionary pension-which was granted-made on October 16, 1832, he stated that he was born at Sutton, Massachusetts, May 3, 1759, and that he was living in Sutton when he first entered the army and until 1785. He then moved to Stratton, Vermont, where he lived about thirty years, then moved to Painted Post, New York. He enlisted in the latter part of August, 1776, serving until November. In December of that year he volunteered, serving six weeks. In August, 1777, he was drafted for service in the militia and during his four and a half months spent with the army under this enlistment saw hard service in the field, being at Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered. In July, 1778, he again volunteered for a term of six months. At the time of making his application for a pension he was seventy- three years of age, and with the application presented affidavits signed by men who had served in the army with him. Sampson Bixby was a farmer. In Stratton he aided in organizing the First Congregational Church, serv- ing as one of the deacons, and at Painted Post, New York, he also served the church as deacon. His first set- tlement at Campbell, New York, was in 1812, and there he and his sons began several new settlements. In 1816 he located at Painted Post, where he probably was living at the time of his death. He married, April 27, 1786, Sarah Richardson, born in Sutton, Massachusetts, No- vember 16, 1762, died September 15, 1819, daughter of Ralph and Sarah (Bartlett) Richardson.
Salmon Bixby, son of Sampson and Sarah (Richard- son) Bixby, was born in Stratton, Vermont, in 1792, died in Steuben County, New York, in 1843. He came to Steuben County in 1812 with his father, and was one of the pioneer settlers of that section. He married Lucy French.
George M. Bixby, son of Salmon and Lucy (French) Bixby, was born in Steuben County, New York, October 30, 1820, died at Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, July 26, 1880. At an early age he went to Rochester, New York, there was educated and lived until his marriage, being engaged for several years in operating a hardware store which he owned. After his marriage, in 1852, he moved to Wyalusing, where for many years he conducted a lum- ber manufacturing and general store business. He then became interested in banking and for several years prior to his death was engaged in that business. He married, May 3. 1852, Jane Mary Welles, born December 8, 1820, died May 3, 1869, daughter of Charles Fisher and Ellen J. (Hollenback) Welles, of Wyalusing. Children: May- nard, now residing in Salt Lake City, Utah ; Charles W., of further mention; George H., deceased; Ellen W., de-
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ceased. These children are descendants in the eighth generation of Joseph Bixby, Governor Thomas Welles, William Pynchon, the founder of Springfield, Massachu- setts, and in the third generation of Colonel Matthias Hollenback, an early settler of Wyoming Valley and a survivor of Wyoming battle and massacre.
Charles W. Bixby, son of George M. and Jane Mary (Welles) Bixby, was born in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1854. His early education was obtained in public and private schools but his preparation for college was under the instruction of Rev. David Craft, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Wyalusing. In Sep- tember, 1872, he entered Lafayette College, where he was graduated Analytical Chemist, class of 1876. For one year after graduation Mr. Bixby traveled in the far west, then returned to Pennsylvania, located in Wilkes-Barre and began his business career that he has continued with- out interruption in that city until the present time. He entered the employ of the Second National Bank of Wilkes-Barre in January, 1879, as deposit bookkeeper, later became general bookkeeper, holding these positions until October, 1882. In January, 1884, he accepted the position of general bookkeeper with the People's Bank, of Wilkes-Barre, continuing with that institution until March, 1896, when he resigned his bank position, becom- ing treasurer of the Hollenback Cemetery Association, forming a connection with his uncle, Edward Welles, as secretary and agent. For twenty years this association continued and was only dissolved by the death of Edward Welles, March 8, 1914. Since that date Mr. Bixby has been trustee of the Edward Welles estate. During these years of active business life he has held positions of trust other than those named. He was treasurer of the Glen Summit Association and Glen Summit Company, and for six years was treasurer of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. He has been a member of Phi Delta Theta college fraternity for the past forty-two years, member of Wyoming Valley Country Club, deacon of the First Presbyterian Church, Wilkes-Barre, and independ- ent Republican.
Mr. Bixby married, June 25, 1883, Anne B. 'Davis. Children : Ellen Welles, born December 4, 1884, married Robert F. Carpenter, of Cleveland, Ohio; Edward Welles, born August 3, 1886, now a practicing physician of Wilkes-Barre. Edward Welles Bixby was educated at Hillman Academy, Wilkes-Barre, and Princeton Uni- versity, being a graduate of the latter, Bachelor of Arts, class of 1907. He then pursued a course of study in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, when he was graduated Doctor of Medicine, class of 1911, standing second in a class of one hundred and fifty stu- dents and winning the F. A. Packard prize of one hundred dollars for excellence in clinical medicine. He then spent nearly three years in professional work at Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, then located for the practice of his profession in Wilkes-Barre, where he is laying a firm foundation for a career of future usefulness. He is one of the public school medical inspectors and for a year has been regimental surgeon of the 9th Regiment, Penn- sylvania National Guard, ranking as lieutenant. At the United States examination during the last drill season his rating was the highest attained by any regimental surgeon in the National Guard.
JACOB MARTIN-One of the steady and reliable automobile dealers in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, is Jacob Martin, whose good judgment of a car is always depend- able and who is also a very active man in civic affairs taking his place as a commissioner of public safety, and enjoys the honor and respect of the entire citizenry. He is the son of Christian and Margaret (Maus) Martin, both of whom were born in Germany. Christian Martin came to this country when he was a young man and was a blacksmith by trade and always engaged in his trade and in taking active part in civic affairs of Hazleton Township. He was at one time treasurer of the town- ship and also served as member of the Hazleton School Board and was generally active as a citizen. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Royal Arcanum; and an officer of Grace Reformed Church. He died March 15, 1899, at the age of fifty- two years. He and his wife had nine children: I. George, assistant cashier in the First National Bank. 2. Jacob, subject of this sketch. 3. Elizabeth. 4. Wil- liam, a clerk in the post office. 5. Martha. 6. Anna, wife of Walter Robbins. 7. Catherine, wife of Arthur Klimfer. 8. Edith, wife of Mathew Gimiper. 9. Arthur, with the Wyoming Valley Water Company.
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