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 73
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
Harry W. Myers married, in 1892, Jean R. Neilson, of Pittston, who died in 1921, leaving three children: Rob- ert N .. partner of his father and married to Mabel Evans, by whom he has one child, Jeannette; Harry C., husband of Gertrudc Robinson; and Jean R. Mr. Myers' office is in the Old Post Office Building, and his residence is at No. 14' Nafus Street, Pittston.
ALBERT DUNCAN THOMAS, M. D .- Few men have taken a more lively and active part in the affairs of Forty Fort and Luzerne County than has Albert Duncan Thomas, who in recent years has been engaged in the realty business, although he was trained a num- ber of years ago for the medical profession and for a considerable period of his life actually practiced medicine. He has been responsible for the development of some of the most attractive parcels of land in this part of Pennsylvania, and for the erection and sale of a num- ber of important building projects. In the course of his busy and useful career, Dr. Thomas has acquired a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, all of whom have come to admire and respect him for his public- spiritedness and for the thorough integrity of the man in all his dealings.
Dr. Thomas was born in Llewellyn, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1858, a son of Duncan and Margaret (Scott) Thomas. Both of his parents were natives of Scotland, his father having been born in that land in 1818 and his mother in 1817, the father in Glas- gow and the mother in Hamilton. The elder Mr. Thomas came to the United States, where he was engaged for a number of years as a miner, and died in 1866. Mrs. Thomas died in 1901, after having attained to a ripe old age.
Albert Duncan Thomas attended the public schools in his birthplace, Llewellyn, and also received private tutoring when he was a small boy. Subsequently he went for his professional studies to the Hahnemann Medical College, in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in the class of 1881 with the degree of Doc- tor of Medicine. For two years he practiced in Shamo-
300
kin, Pennsylvania, and at the end of that period came to Forty Fort, where he practiced for twenty-five years. In 1905 he gave up his medical work entirely, and became interested in real estate development enterprises of the firm of Thomas and Welles, whose offices were established in Wilkes-Barre, where the organization did business for many years. Thomas and Welles later became the Thomas Realty Company, which is now con- ducting its affairs from its headquarters in the Brooks Building, Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Thomas is a pioneer in the development of the flat lands between Wilkes-Barre and Kingston, in which territory he has really opened up quite new fields to the general public. Among his other developments is that of Bytheburn, which is a mountain suburb of the city of Wilkes-Barre. In all his realty work, he has attracted the attention of some of the foremost operators in this region of Pennsylvania, in which he is highly regarded for his constant activities looking toward the growth and improvement of the community in which he lives and for his wisdom and splendid judgment in the planning and building of a number of the city's newer real estate enterprises.
In addition to his work as a realtor, Mr. Thomas is active in many other business organizations in Wilkes- Barre and vicinity, as well as in the fraternal life of his district. He is vice-president and a director of the Kingston Bank and Trust Company, in which he has held a directorship since 1902; one of the organizers and a director of the Forty Fort State Bank; an instru- mental factor in the building up of the West Side of Wilkes-Barre; and an active citizen in all matters per- taining to the welfare of Luzerne County and the Wyom- ing Valley. Independent in his political views, prefer- ring to cast his vote and direct his influence in favor of a deserving man to lending his allegiance to any petty partisanship, he has, nevertheless, done much to bring about the furtherance of prosperity and industrial and social well-being among his fellowmen. He helped, many years ago, to incorporate the village of Forty Fort, of which he is now a valued resident, and was the first treasurer of that village. For six years he was a member of its school board. Mr. Thomas also is actively affil- iated with the Presbyterian Church, in which he is regarded as one of the congregation's leaders.
Albert Duncan Thomas has been twice married: ( first) to Elizabeth Denniston, of Forty Fort, a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Denniston, and by this marriage there 'were two children: 1. Ethel, who is now the wife of Dr. Julius Michailis, of Brooklyn, New York, where she resides. 2. Dr. Frank D., of Kingston, who was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College; married Frances Pier. Mr. Thomas married (second), in 1893 Leah Grover, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, daugh- ter of Paul and Harriet Grover, and by this union there were two children: I. Duncan Grover. 2. Harriet Scott, who is now the wife of C. C. Bowman, Jr., of Philadelphia. Mrs. Leah (Grover) Thomas died April 1, 1928.
Mr. Thomas also has two grandchildren, Albert Dun- can Thomas, Jr., and Elizabeth Thomas.
WILLIAM J. PARRY-In the insurance business of this county, William J. Parry, of Luzerne, has acquired a foremost position, which he has obtained by diligent observation, assisted by his native ability and fore- sight. Mr. Parry was born in Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1865, the son of John and Mary (Jones) Parry, the former born in Wales, October 25, 1841, and the latter a native of Cumbula, Pennsylvania, where she was born in 1842. The father of Mr. Parry was a foreman in the mines of Luzerne County and was recognized by his associates as a man of exceptional skill and ability.
Following his early education in the local schools of Luzerne County, and during the summer months of vaca- tion driving mules in the shafts of the coal companies for which his father worked, Mr. Parry spent ten years in the office of W. G. Payne & Company, coal operators at Luzerne. At the same time he opened an office for the transaction of the insurance business in which he had always been interested, and with it combined the business of a steamship ticket agent. This office he operated in the evenings, until in 1892 he felt justified in giving up all other work and devoting himself entirely to his insurance business, which he has continued since that time. In community affairs Mr. Parry has ever been to the fore, giving much of his time and attention to any projects which he thought would be of benefit to his fellow-citizens. He has held many local offices and was for a long time deputy recorder of deeds, act-
ing under L. P. Holcomb. He is affiliated with King- ston Lodge, No. 395, Free and Accepted Masons; with Keystone Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and with Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as well as of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Mr. Parry was one of the founders of the Luzerne National Bank, which opened for business in 1907; was appointed vice-president, and in 1910 was elected presi- dent on the death of Calvin Perrin, who had held that office up to that time. The religious affiliations of Mr. Parry are with the Presbyterian Church, of which de- nomination he is an elder.
In 1887, Mr. Parry married Marian McCulloch, daugh- ter of James and Ann McCulloch, of Luzerne. Mr. and Mrs. Parry are the parents of two children, as fol- lows: 1. Edith, now the wife of E. C. Gunster, of Kingston. 2. Dorothy.
J. H. LAHM-There is no phase of the community life of the city of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, that has not been touched and aided by the activities of J. H. Lahm, president of the City Bank and Trust Company and of the Lahm Real Estate and Insurance Company. Both of the organizations which he heads as president were sponsored by Mr. Lahm at the time of their organization, and these represent but a small portion of the various interests with which he has been identified and which he has materially assisted in developing. In civic and politi- cal life, in philanthropic endeavor, in the Red Cross, the Young Men's Christian Association and the Young Women's Christian Association, also in the work of the Presbyterian Church his enthusiasm, his ability, and his devotion have been strongly felt, and it is safe to say that no single individual has contributed more to the development of Hazleton than has Mr. Lahm. In the actral work of real estate development he has sponsored and directed the conversion of large tracts into beautiful residential sections or into dignified and modern business neighborhoods, and for many years he has been known as one of the "live wires" of this community.
Charles Lahm, father of Mr. Lahm, came to this coun- try from Germany and settled in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the brewery for some time. Later, he established himself in the restaurant business here and continued in that line of business during the remainder of his active life. He was prominent in local public affairs, giving freely of his time and his energy for the advancement of the interests' of the town, and had a host of. friends here. He married Elizabeth Boyer, a native of Hazleton, and they became the parents of eight children, among whom was the subject of this review, J. H. Lahm.
J. H. Lahm was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 7, 1874, and received his education in the local public schools. When his school training was finished he learned the harber's trade, which he followed for some years. Being a man of initiative and of ambition, how- ever, he had no intention of remaining always behind his chair. That was a means of earning the necessary funds for further progress, and in this business, as in all other activities in which he has engaged, he gave his best to the work in hand. After a few years he entered the employ of the Hazleton "Evening Sentinel," as collector and solicitor, and that connection was maintained for a period of five years. Even in those early years Mr. Lahm was no drifter, and he was always able to hold himself to one job as long as it was the part of wisdom to do so. At the end of five years he made a change and for six months was employed with the "Plain Speaker," an- other local publication. By this time he was definitely seeking his own particular field of business interest, and though he had not yet become aware of his versatile abilities, he was willing to change until he found what he was looking for. Accordingly he soon made another change, this time entering the employ of Mr. MacAllister, whom he assisted in his real estate office for several months. On October 1, 1901, he opened a real estate office of his own, and from that time to the present he has been actively and successfully engaged in real prop- erty transactions of all kinds. He began operations under his own name. alone, conducting a general real estate and insurance husiness, and as this enterprise grew and proved successful he became interested in real estate de- velopment. He was one of the partners in the develop- ment of the Wilde & Lahm tract, located on South Church and Laurel streets, and comprising twelve city blocks, on the site of the Pardee Company's property. All the old huildings were razed and Mr. Lahm and Mr. Wilde
Jacobsthalm
301
built many new structures and sold many lots, under wise and well thought out restrictions. That section now in- cludes one of the best sections of the city and is worth several fortunes. Mr. Lahm also acted as agent for the Duplan tract, owned by the Duplan Silk Company, which was developed under his direction. For years he was manager of the Hazleton Heights Land Company, which developed Hazleton Heights, and he has handled large amounts of property in this city of Hazleton. A man of versatile powers, Mr. Lahm has always been able to give close attention to the details of several enterprises while directing the work of others, and his energy and strength have always been sufficient for the realization of the myriad plans with which his original mind teemed. By 1922 both the real estate and the insurance departments of his business had reached proportions which made in- corporation desirable, and the concern was incorporated under the corporate name of the Lahm Real Estate and Insurance Company, with a capital of $25,000. The con- cern does a general real estate and insurance business, handling all kinds of insurance except life insurance. His offices are located at Nos. 502-03 in the Hazleton National Bank Building, and the corporation is still in- creasing the volume of its business (1928).
Along with his real estate and insurance activities, Mr. Lahm found time to give careful attention to the matter of the investment of his profits and earnings, and he became one of the organizers of The City Bank and Trust Company, which he served as vice-president from the time of its organization to December, 1926, when he was elected president of the bank, which official position he is filling with his customary ability.
Some men achieve business success at the expense of all other interests, but Mr. 'Lahm is not one of these. On the contrary, as business success widened his oppor- tunities for service, he has given larger and larger shares of his interest and his service to the various civic and philanthropic movements of the place, and has been one of the strong factors in the promotion of every good work. He is a Republican in politics, and is active in public affairs generally. He served as a representative of the First Ward on the City Council, was one of the members of the first board for the assessment and revi- sion of taxes for Luzerne County, serving for three years with Jonathan R. Davis and W. I. Hibbs. This is a most important board, and he has been active in county as well as in city affairs. He served as president of the Hazleton Chamber of Commerce for two terms, and during that time contributed much to the advancement of the business life of the place. He was active in the organization of the United Charities Association, serv- ing as its vice-president, and for many years has continued his interest in its affairs. The Young Men's Christian Association and the Young Women's Christian Associa- tion were aided in their organization by this same many- sided man of business, and, with Senator C. W. Kline. he was one of the original organizers of the Boy Scout movement in Hazleton, in which he has been active to the present time, serving as a member of its council and aiding the work in every possible way. He is president of the Mountain View Cemetery Association, also secre- tary of the Anthracite Chain and Engine Company, along with his other business connections mentioned above, and both in business and in civic and philanthropic organizations gives freely of his time and of his per- sonal attention. He was one of the organizers of the local Red Cross chapter, and during the period of the participation of the United States in the World War was one of the most active in the various drives and cam- paigns, devoting most of his time to that work. Frater- nally, he is identified with the Benevelont and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Knights of Pythias, in which last he is a member of the Grand Fraternity, and his religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian Church, which he serves as head usher. He was one of the organizers and is a past president of the Men's League of that church, and a generous helper in all its affairs. His club is the Rotary Club.
J. H. Lahm was married, September 11, 1896, to Myrtle C. West, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, and they have one child, Thelma, who married Ralph K. Smith, an attorney-at-law, and resides in Ambridge, Pennsyl- vania. They have four children: Geraldine, Ann Eliza- beth, Ralph, Jr., and J. Lahm. J. H. Lahm and his wife make their home at No. 150 South Church Street, in Hazleton.
WILLIAM J. DOYLE, M. D .- In the medical pro- fession of Luzerne County a prominent place is occupied by William J. Doyle, of Wilkes-Barre, who has been
established in practice here since 1913. Dr. Doyle has conducted his practice with such careful attention to its manifold details and has been so successful in his work that he has won both the respect and full confidence of those who have had occasion to call upon him pro- fessionally. He keeps in constant contact with the advan- cement of medical knowledge and is affiliated with the societies of his profession that seek to promote the scientific information that accrues through investigation and practice. He is a citizen who takes a deep interest in the operations of the local government and has been ever ready to lend his hand in any works that appeal to the better element, although he has not departed from his personal work to enter the political field in any way. His friendships are many and substantial, won through a personal charm and professional ability, while his posi- tion in the ranks of both the medical and civic bodies is high and secure.
He was born in Waymart, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1886, a son of Edward C. Doyle, a native of Wayne County, a retired manufacturer of wagons and sleighs, and of Ellen (Kelly) Doyle, born in Honesdale, Penn- sylvania, deceased in September, 1927. He acquired his education in the local public schools, was graduated from high school and then attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1912 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For the following year he was an interne in St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia, after which practical experience he came to Wilkes-Barre and established himself in practice. He is a member of the American Medical Association and of the Pennsylvania State and Luzerne County societies, as well as of the Lehigh Medical Society. He is one of the surgical staff of the Mercy Hospital, surgeon for the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company; is inde- pendent in politics and belongs to the Knights of Colum- bus, with membership in the Roman Catholic Church of St. Leo. He is a director in the Peoples State Bank of Newtown and belongs to the Wyoming Valley Country Club. During the participation of the United States in the World War he served nearly two years, and served overseas for nine months as first lieutenant and captain, with the 312th Supply Train and was honorably mustered out January 24, 1919. His favorite recreation is golf.
William J. Doyle married, in 1925, Alice Smith, daugh- ter of Joseph Smith, of Wilkes-Barre.
NATHANIEL G. ROBERTSON-Backed by a preparatory technical education and an experience In great industrial enterprises that had broadened his knowl- edge of his profession, Nathaniel G. Robertson came to Wyoming thirty-five years ago in association with the Wyoming Shovel Works, of which he has been the president since 1917. In his long period of labor here Mr. Robertson has established for himself and the enter- prise of which he is the head, a high reputation for successful achievement and industrial merit. He has set his mark upon the quality of the output which he controls and has given to the community a standard of excellence in that and in his personal character that is a guiding light for those rising in the field of manu- facture or barter, or who deem citizenship a worthy cause in which to engage one's talents. He is a man of irrefutable honor, indefatigable industry and engaging personality, whose works will live and thrive as a monu- ment to his labors over the years which he has devoted to their building.
He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in June, 1864, a son of Richard A. Robertson, an art collector, who died in 1894, and Nancy ( Banks) Robertson, of Orleans, deceased in 1865. Educated in the Boston public schools and graduated from the Latin School in that city, he then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, after which he became associated with the Aspen Min- ing & Smelting Company, of Aspen, Colorado, where he remained for three years. He then came to Penn- sylvania, where he entered the service of the Lackawanna Steel Company, at Scranton, continuing there for eight years, when he transferred to the Pennsylvania Steel Company, which sent him to its plant at Sparrow's Point, Maryland, where he was made superintendent of the Bessemer department and conducted that responsi- ble post for three years. He was then invited to become treasurer of the Wyoming Shovel Works here and in 1893 accepted the position. In 1917 he was elected presi- dent of the company, which post he still retains and administers. This company was established in 1873 by Payne Pettybonc & Son for the manufacture of shovels and was operated by that firm until 1893, when the business was incorporated as it now stands. It is one
302
of the largest concerns of its character in the country and employs an average of two hundred and fifty per- sons to operate it. The present officers are: Nathaniel G. Robertson, president; G. D. A. Belin, treasurer ; H. T. Potter, vice-president. The present complete plant was erected in 1920. Mr. Robertson is a Republican and a director of the First National Bank of Wyoming. His church is the St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal.
Nathaniel G. Robertson married, in 1893, Mary Belin, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, daughter of Henry Belin, Jr., and Marguerita Belin. Their children are: 1 Henry B., graduate of Yale University, class of 1914. 2. Nathaniel G., Jr., graduate of Yale University, class of 1916. 3. Richard A., graduate of Yale University, class of 1920.
THOMAS W. TURNER-Numbered among the substantial business men of Nanticoke is Thomas W. Turner, member of the plumbing, heating and sheet metal works that operates under the style of John L. Turner & Company, No. 118 South Market Street. Mr. Turner takes part in all affairs of Nanticoke, and is here known as one of the community's most public-spirited citizens. He is high in the estimation of his associates fraternally, politically and commercially.
Thomas WV. Turner was born in Newport Township, in the village of Alden, June 30, 1889; attended the public schools; graduated from high school in 1906, and ten years later, in 1916, graduated from the Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania. In 1906 his brother, John L. Turner, also born in Newport Town- ship, founded the plumbing house of his name, and be- tween that year and the year when Thomas W. Turner matriculated in university he frequently was employed in it. Accordingly, upon graduation in 1916, he returned to Nanticoke and gave his whole time to the business, which had expanded considerably in the years since its organization. In 1919 the brothers removed the company from its first quarters, then inadequate, and erected the two-story structure now (1928) occupied. It is modern in every way, forty by seventy feet in its outside dimen- sions, and has in the rear a capacious tin shop and garage. The company engages in a contracting business in sheet metal and iron work and the installation of heating plants. It is one of the largest of its kind in Nanticoke, and employs eighteen to twenty men the year round. In addition to membership in John L. Turner & Company, Mr. Turner is likewise interested with his brother in the J. L. Turner Brick Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Pennsylvania with charter to manufac- ture and to deal in bricks. Of the brick company he holds office as vice-president ; his brother as president.
While the greater part of his time has been and is devoted to the plumbing and brick enterprises, Mr. Turner has not failed to participate actively in the politi- cal and fraternal life of the community. A Republican, consistently in support of the principles of the party, his influence is strong in the township, and since 1923 he has served as secretary of Newport Township. In time past, also, he has served on the Republican County Com- mittee for Luzerne County. Fraternally his connections are extensive. He is a member of Nanticoke Lodge No. 541, Free and Accepted Masons; Caldwell Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; and Irem Temple, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics ; the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Past Noble Grand; the Patriotic Order of Sons of America ; and in the last two named is very active, having held the majority of chairs in the Nanti- coke lodges. Mr. Turner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1908 Thomas W. Turner was united in marriage with Fannie Womelsdorf, and they are the parents of three children: 1. Ray W., student in the University of Pennsylvania, class of 1928, specializing in merchandis- ing. 2. Dorothy M., student in high school. 3. Thomas J. Mrs. Turner is a woman possessed of those fine qualities of charm and refinement which make her much sought after in the circles in which she moves. She is constantly devoted to church work and to the activities of the so- cieties to which she belongs.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.