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 67
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GEORGE N. DIETRICH-There is deeply im- planted in the personality of George N. Dietrich, of Hazleton, a spirit of public service and patriotism that has irresistibly drawn to him a vast number of close friends and admirers. Quiet in his manners, modest in his accomplishments, serious in his efforts to live up to the tenets of his code of labor for the general good of the community, his reward has been a broad recogni- tion of his value as a citizen, as well as of his ability as a business man and a trustee of the people who have imposed upon him the obligations of public office. His rise to this position has been steady and noteworthy, made possible hy his adaptability for the work he has entered into and by his thorough preparation for an active career in business, as well as in civic affairs. In fraternal circles he is popular and active, an organizer of strength and an assistant of value in those matters that appeal to the constructive element of the population. widely known and sincerely respected by citizens of all creeds and political trend.
He was born in Jeansville. Pennsylvania. August 20, 1885, a son of Henry and Elizabeth ( Eichler ) Dietrich, both living in Hazleton, the father being a retired mer- chant, who for many years conducted a meat market here. The son received his early education in the Hazle- ton public schools, graduating from high school and then entering the employ of the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, where he worked until 1016. As a member of the State National Guard, allocated to the 3d Penn- sylvania Field Artillery as first lieutenant of Battery A, he then went with that contingent to the Mexican border, where he served throughout the military necessity. He was promoted to the captaincy of Battery A, 109th Field Artillery and assigned to Camp Ricketts for train- ing, thence going to Camp Hancock, Georgia, where he attended the officers' school, thence to Fort Sill, Okla- homa, in March, 1918. One month later he accom- panied the American Expeditionary Forces overseas and saw active service at the front for the remainder of the World War, having been engaged on the Oise Aisne, Fismes Vesle, Ypres, Lys, the Meuse-Argonne and other vitally active fronts. Returning to the United States in 1919, he was mustered out at Camp Dix, New Jersey, in June of that year and returned to his occupation with the telephone company. his health in poor condition owing to poison gas received while in action against the enemy. Entering into the political area with spirit, he soon made a name for himself as an aggressive champion of the right and became the nominee of the Republican party for city treasurer of Hazleton, to which important office he was elected in 1923. and reelected in 1927. He is Past Commander of Hazleton Post, No. 76. American Legion; Past Chef de Gare, Voiture Locale, No. 206, Société 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux ; a member ol Hazle-
ton Lodge, No. 200, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks ; Azalea 1.odge, No. 687, Order of Free and Accepted Masons ; Hazleton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Mount Vernon Commandery, Knights Templar, also Mountaineer Lodge, No. 107, Knights of Pythias ( Past C. M.). His other memberships include the Young Men's Christian Association, Military Order of the World War, District of Columbia Chapter, Veterans of Foreign Wars; and the Hazleton Motor Club and Crafts- men's Club of Hazleton. He is president of the Ameri- can Legion Home Association and attends Emmanuel Reformed Church.
George N. Dietrich married, in 1910, Edna M. Shelly, daughter of Elmer W. and Estelle A. (Aeksrider) Diet- rich, of Hazleton. Their children are: George Shelly, Earl Henry, and Coral Edna. The family residence is at No. 333 West Diamond Avenue, Hazleton.
JAMES W. BOYLE-Building operations in Free- land have been carried on with notable success by James W. Boyle since his advent into the field here in 1903, during which period he has erected some of the finest structures in town. He is a man of exceptional ability and industry, ambitious to attain perfection in the work he undertakes and putting every bit of knowledge and strength he possesses into it. Jealous of a reputation for honest dealing, his works here all bear the stamp of satis- faction on the part of those for whom he has labored, for into each structure he has put the best of material and personally supervised the skilled labor that moulded it into the finished work. Aside from his business activi- ties he has ever taken a deep interest in civic affairs, ready to do his full share for the maintenance of law and order and the progress of the community. He is favored with a personality that attracts friends and. with a natural honesty that is one of the finest traits man can possess, a leading citizen of this district and a vital factor in its development.
He was born in Highland, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1876, a son of John H. and Wilson ( Stephenson) Boyle. both natives of Scotland, who came to America in their youth. Mr. Boyle was a miner here for many years, having been foreman of important mines, and also took a considerable interest in public affairs, serving on the local school board for six years in Foster Township. He and his wife were the parents of nine children: 1. Janet, married Harry Vernon, of Philadelphia. 2. Mariah, married Charles E. Killer, of Freeland. 3. Elizabeth, married Garfield Warner. 4. James W. 5. William G., of Philadelphia. 6. Wallace L., of Freeland. 7. John W., deceased. 8. Edward B., of Hazleton. 9. Margaret, mar- ried Ralph Wardell, of Seranton. The death of Mr. Boyle occurred in 1900, at the age of fifty-seven years, his widow surviving him until June 7, 1928, aged eighty- four years. They were both members of the Presby- terian Church and Mr. Boyle was a Republican in his political principles. Their son, James W., was educated in the local public schools and afterward became engaged in various business undertakings, establishing himself as a building contractor in Freeland in 1903. His begin- ning was modest, but trade grew and he became one of the leaders in the field, many of the finest residences and business buildings here being his work. Among them are the Freeland High School Building, the Citizen's Bank. the Freeland Overall factory and about twenty-five school buildings in Luzerne County, ranging in cost from $1,000 to $160,000. He also rebuilt the Freeland Presbyterian Church. In 1919 he became interested in coal mining by the stripping process and since then has enlarged his sphere of action, employing a force of some two hundred men and having an annual payroll of upward of $200,000. He also has constructed some of the finest highways in Luzerne County. He has served for six years as a mem- her of the Borough Council and has been tax collector, treasurer and justice of the peace of Foster Township. He is affiliated with Arbutus Lodge, No. 611, Order of Free and Accepted Masons; Caldwell Consistory of Bloomsburg. Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons : Irem Temple. Ancient Arahic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and Lodge No. 1145, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a trustee of Union Presbyterian Church and a member of the Freeland Fishing Club. He was one of the first automobile owners in this district and has held the Ford and Studebaker agencies here for year's.
Iames W. Boyle married, in September, 1002. Re- becca Walters. of Hazleton. Their children are: Mary and Rebecca. The family residence is at No. 420 Johnson Street, Freeland.
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NICHOLAS GIRARD-In 1914 Nicholas Girard established in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, the musical con- servatory now known as the Hazleton Conservatory of Music. A trained musician of brilliant talent he was aided in this enterprise by his wife, Edna ( Von Seefried) Girard, also an accomplished musician, and under their able direction this institution has grown and prospered, occupying an important place in the life of the com- munity.
Mr. Girard was born in Philadelphia, in 1888, a son of Charles Girard, now deceased, and of Raffaele (Lom- bardi) Girard. His father was born in Paris, France, and was there educated in music, becoming a harpist. The mother, a violinist and a native of Italy, was also ed- ucated in Paris, where she first met her husband. After their marriage they came to America, settling in Phila- delphia in 1888.
Nicholas Girard attended school in Philadelphia and later entered Philadelphia Musical Academy where he was thoroughly trained in all branches of music, spe- cializing in the study of the violin under Dr. Vanden- beent and Paul Meyers. Mr. Girard made his home in Philadelphia until the time of his coming to Hazleton, and in 1909 first began his work as a teacher of music. In the years 1909 and 1910, he also acted as musical director of Young's Million Dollar Pier, at Atlantic City, winning wide reputation for his work in this capacity.
On August 4, 1909, Nicholas Girard married Edna Von Seefried, daughter of Eugene and Rebecca ( Kelley) Von Seefried. Her father, born near Berlin, Germany, and educated in his native country, is the son of a noble- man, Wilhelm Von Seefried. He came to Philadelphia when only twelve years old, finished his studies, and is now engaged in the real estate and insurance business there. Rebecca (Kelley) Von Seefried, a Quakeress, is a member of the famous Kelley and Stockton families, prominent in Revolutionary times, with an ancestor of the Stockton line, being a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
In 1914 Mr. and Mrs. Girard came to Hazleton and established Girard's Studio of Music, at No. 401/2 West Broad Street, the present Hazleton Conservatory of Music being an outgrowth of this venture. Mrs. Girard had also studied at the Philadelphia Musical Academy under Dr. D. Kendrick Ezerman, and has carried on her full share in their joint work. The conservatory enrolls students for instruction in all string instruments, with special emphasis upon violin and piano playing and voice culture. Individual training is given each pupil and only the most modern methods are employed, while of further benefit to those enrolled is the connection maintained with the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music. Realizing the importance of music in the life of any community, Hazleton has been quick to support an institution whose mere presence brings prestige, and during a period of almost fifteen years the number of students at the con- servatory has constantly increased.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Girard are members of the Musi- cians' Union. He is also a member of the Men's Serv- ice Club. Mrs. Girard is a member of the Quota Club and the Women's Civic Club.
Mr. and Mrs. Girard are the parents of one child, Eugene Nicholas Stockton, who is now a student at Princeton University.
PATRICK J. COYLE-Trained from boyhood in the silk manufacturing business, Patrick J. Coyle, since the organization of the Washington Silk Company, of Free- land, in 1911, has occupied the important post of superin- tendent of the enterprise. Under his expert management it has shown a great development and its output extended into ever widening channels of distribution. Mr. Coyle has been favorably known to the residents of the Wyo- ming Valley of Pennsylvania for many years, has here established a high reputation for business ability, indus- try, good fellowship and civic interest, won by his fidelity to the best traditions that govern good citizenship. In advancing the prosperity of the enterprise with which he is most concerned he has given a continuous illustration of the value of cooperation with other business interests in promoting the general commercial development, a code that has brought him many friends in and out of business life. He is a man of the people and an ardent worker for the contentment and happiness of those who make up the productive element of the community.
Mr. Coyle was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1884, a son of Owca and Mary ( Kennedy ) Coyle, and was educated in the public schools, graduating from high school and then entering the silk manufactur- ing business as a loom fixer. He made a close study of
the business and was promoted from time to time, eventually reaching the post of superintendent of the Washington Silk Company. This corporation began with a capitalization of $35,000 and the proposition to manu- facture broad silk and auxiliary products with an origi- nal installation of forty-eight looms. Since 1911 it has grown to two hundred and fifty looms and two plants, cne hundred and fifty being in Freeland and one hundred in Berwick, where a subsidiary mill was established in 1923 and an additional plant in Freeland, the last named being located at No. 435 Ridge Street, which occupies three floors and operates one hundred looms, and at No. 818 Front Street, where two floors are occupied and fifty looms engaged in production, the total force of employees averaging one hundred and sixty persons.
Outside of his business Mr. Coyle is especially inter- ested in the conservation of game and natural resources, devoting himself to such through membership in the United Sportsmen's Club, the Pennsylvania State Sports- men's Club and the Fish and Game Club of Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 1145. His church is St. Ann's Roman Catholic. His residence is at No. 1016 Ridge Street, Freeland.
N. J. DEVERS, M. D .- The profession of medicine is honored by the practice of a skillful and progressive physician and surgeon, Dr. N. J. Devers, of Freeland.' In the municipal life and civic activities of the com- mupity he devotes much of his time to the furtherance of all worthy movements.
Born in Honeybrook, Schuylkill County, March 4, 1887, Dr. N. J. Devers is the son of Daniel and Mar- garet (Call) Devers. He attended the public schools of Andenried, Carbon County, graduating from the high school in 1904. In 1905 he entered St. Gabriel's Paro- chial School at Hazleton, afterwards taking a course in the Hazleton Business College. For some time he assisted his father in the management of the latter's hotel and grocery business, but the call to the medical profession had been distinctly heard by him and he was unable to give himself to a mercantile career. In 1907 he enrolled at a pre-medical school and after two years of study there, he entered the American Medical College at Balti- more, Maryland, from which he was graduated in the class of 1912 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He passed the tests before the State Medical Board of Pennsylvania. July 6, 1914, and settled in Freeland as assistant to Dr. H. M. Neal. In that same year he opened an office of his own for general practice, which he has built up to large proportions through skillful attention and willingness to be of service. He is affiliated with the American Medical Association, Pennsylvania State Medical Society and Luzerne County Medical Society. Dr. Devers has been a member of the Freeland School Board since his election in 1926, and his presence and counsel are highly valued by his fellow-members in their proceedings. He is a director of the Freeland Building and Loan Association and Medical examiner for the local aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, chief examiner for another fraternal organization and a former physician to Greek Catholic societies. He is a member of the firm known as Devers Pharmacy at Bethlehem. His fraternal relations are with the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. His religious fellowship is with St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church at Freeland.
Dr. N. J. Devers married, April 22, 1913, Gertrude Cullen, of Hazleton. Children: Mary, William, Kath- leen and Margaret (deceased). Dr. Devers' professional- address is 610 Centre Street, and the family residence is 819 Front Street, Freeland.
WILLIAM ROBERT FLAD-Since he was twelve years of age William Robert Flad has been associated with the printing and publishing business, first in White Haven, Pennsylvania, in the employ of a cousin, and since 1895 as an independent publisher, operating his own business in Freeland. For thirty-two years he published the Freeland "Press," which he founded and which is now (1928) owned by Mr. W. E. Joyce. Mr. Flad owns the plant in which his printing plant is located, No. 820 Main Street. He has served continuously as factory inspector for the past ten years, and was at one time postmaster of Freeland.
Michael Flad, father of Mr. Flad, was born in Würt- temberg, Germany, and after coming to this country settled for a short time in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. Soon he removed to White Haven, same State, where he worked as a stonemason and as a builder of culverts
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and bridges. He built many of the culverts and bridges of the Lehigh Valley Railroads, and was a workman of true German skill and ability. He was one of the many of his nationality who served in the Civil War, and in 1872, only seven years after the close of that conflict, he died, still a young man. He was one of the promoters and builders of the Lutheran Church at White Haven, and throughout his life was known for his sturdy, honest qualities of character, and for his deep devotion to the principles of his religion and of his country. Able and energetic, he brought to his work in the church the same solidity and persistence of purpose which marked all his activities, and was a tower of strength in any cause which he espoused. He married Pauline Feist, also a native of Württemburg, Germany.
William Robert Flad, son of Michael and Pauline (Feist) Flad, was born in White Haven, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1868, and attended the local public schools until he was twelve years of age. Then, in accordance with the thrifty habits and principles of his father's race, he was expected to begin the task of learning a useful trade. He entered the printing office of W. A. Feist, publisher of the "White Haven Journal," and so his early experience was a preparation for his later suc- cess as a publisher, even while he was a "printers devil," making himself useful to everybody and incidentally mastering the art of printing. In this connection Mr. Flad remained, and when the concern was transformed into a show printing and government printing house, he was made foreman of the plant, which position he retained until 1895. In that year he came to Freeland and established the "Freeland Press," a Republican week- ly. At the start this was a six-page paper, seven columns each, and during the time of Mr. Flad's ownership of the periodical which he had established, changes were made from time to time, sometimes the paper was pub- lished semi-weekly, and at times it was a ten-page weekly instead of a six-page publication. It attained a circula- tion of about two thousand, and made for itself a firm place in the regard of the people of this section of the county. Mr. Flad retained the ownership and manage- ment of the paper until October, 1927, when he sold to Mr. W. E. Joyce, of Hazleton, who is still (1928) the owner and publisher. The printing plant is housed in a building owned by Mr. Flad who also owns his home.
As is fitting for one who keeps the public well informed concerning political and civic affairs, Mr. Flad has al- ways taken an active interest and kept personally in touch with the affairs of the Republican party, and of civic affairs in general. He has served as Republican State delegate, was postmaster of Freeland under Presi- dents Roosevelt and Taft and served for two more years under President Wilson. He has been factory inspector for the past ten years, having served under Governors Broomburgh, Sproul, Pinchot, and Fisher, and is still (1928) holding that position. Mr. Flad's interest in public affairs has not lessened since he sold the Free- land "Press," and his personal interest in the economic affairs of the town and county are as keen as ever, for since selling his paper he has maintained his gen- cral job and book printing business, which is the larg- est job printing establishment in Upper Luzerne Countv. His plant is modern in all its appointments, and as it is housed in Mr. Flad's own building he has taken care that no useful device is lacking to complete the possi- bilities for efficiency which the building affords. Mr. Flad is a member of the Freeland Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Social and Community Welfare committees of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and is well known in Masonic circles, being a member of Arbutus Lodge, No. 611, Free and Accepted Masons ; and of Lehigh Consistory ; also of Ircm Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also an interested member of the Sons of Veterans, and of the Young Men's Christian Association; and he is secretary and treasurer of the Freeland Fishing Club. His religious membership is with the Lutheran Church.
William Robert Flad was married, in 1891, to Emma Elizabeth Frasher, of White Haven, Pennsylvania, and they have three children: I. Ruth, who is a graduate of Freeland High School and of West Chester State Normal School, also of Cornell University, was engaged in teaching for six years, and is now (1928) private sec- retary to Professor Seward, astrologer, of Atlantic City. 2. William, Jr., a graduate of the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, is an accountant and advertising manager for a chain of hotels in Los Angeles, California. 3. Pauline, a graduate of Fairfax Hall, Waynesboro, Virginia, and of Temple University, in Philadelphia, is engaged in teaching kindergarten and
first and second grades in the public schools. Mr. Flad resides at No. 960 Center Street, in Freeland.
BEIDER WELLINGTON WILDE-For more than fifty years the name of B. W. Wilde of Hazleton has been known in the business, political and religious life of the Anthracite coal regions.
Known widely for his position of prominence In busi- ness and financial circles of Wilkes-Barre and environs, Beider Wellington Wilde was during its existence, a member of the firm of Wilde and Company, manufac- turers of knit goods. He was identified with the textile industry for twenty years, Wilde and Company having enjoyed an enviable reputation and fortune through more than a double decade. He was connected, also, with A. Pardce and Company. Both of these enterprises con- tributed much to the prosperity of Hazleton.
Mr. Wilde is of the third generation of his family in America, the progenitor having been his grandfather, George Wilde. The line follows :
(1) George Wilde was born in Yorksire, England, April 17, 1785, and sailed from Liverpool for the United States, May 15, 1826. Until 1828 he was engaged as a farmer at Crums Creek, Delaware County, Pennsylvania ; in that year removed to Norristown, and there followed farming until 1830, when he again removed, to Potts- ville. At Pottsville he worked about the mines, living there until his death, April 28, 1833. He had married, December 26, 1811, Sarah Hardy, daughter of John and Nancy (Greenwood ) Hardy.
(11) Joseph Wilde, third child and son, was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, February 22, 1816, and came with his parents to America in 1826. Shortly after arriving he located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, and resided there until the time of his demise, November 22, 1866. He was in turn a farmer, merchant and lum- berman, influential in affairs of his community, follower of Henry Clay, intense partisan for the Republicans, but refused time and again to accept nomination for office. He married early in 1845, Elizabeth Beck, born Septem- Ler 15, 1820, died October 3, 1899, daughter of Jacob and Anna ( Beider ) Beck, of Cressona, Schuylkill County. Their children: I. George J. 2. William J. 3. John H. 4. Joseph B. 5. Beider Wellington, of whom further. 6. Ida V. 7. Elizabeth. 8. Charles L.
(111) Beider Wellington Wilde, fifth child and son, was born in New Castle Township, near Pottsville, December 22, 1854. He received his academic instruc- tion in the public schools of Pottsville, learned the trade of machinist in the railroad shops of Hazleton, and was thus employed for twenty years, until 1890, resigning position of assistant general foreman to become for four years postmaster of Hazleton. From 1893 to 1901 he acted as general purchasing agent for the A. S. Van Wickle interests, and from 1901 to 1916 was manager of the stores conducted by A. Pardee and Company. With his brother, Charles L. Wilde, he founded Wilde and Com- pany for the manufacture of knit goods in 1898. This firm was markedly successful, as were also the stores of the Pardee Company under his direction. In 1916 when the A. Pardee and Company mining interests were dis- rosed of to the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, Mr. Wilde purchased the improved property of the A. Pardee Company, in the city of Hazleton, consisting of some eighty lots, with the company houses thereon. Also the company store property at Broad and Wyoming streets. The latter he sold to the Markle Banking Com- rany in 1917, and the company houses were converted into modern dwellings, many of them disposed of and « thers rented, thus making a fine residential section of Hazleton City. A Republican, Mr. Wilde has served the party in several capacities : as delegate to conventions, member of the Hazleton Borough Council in 1886, post- master, 1890-94 (as recounted), one of the Mckinley presidential electors in 1896, and messenger from that body to carry the returns to United States District Court. In 1880 Mr. Wilde was chairman of the local Republican committee and was instrumental in sending W. A. M. Grier as delegate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago, where for thirty ballots he was the lone (Ielegate to vote for James A. Garfield, who was nomi- nated for President on the thirty-fifth ballot. A com- municant of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Wilde has been an elder since 1897, superintendent of the Sunday school from 1901 to 1916 and continuously active in its works. Since its organization in 1877 he has been affili- ated with the Young Men's Christian Association.
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