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 90
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Harris Hamlin had lived in the Massachusetts Colony at Salem for a year or two before setting out for the trackless wilds of Pennsylvania, and while in Massachu- setts a son, named Harris, after his father, was born. He was hardly a year old when his parents moved to Pennsylvania and settled in Wayne County, where he grew up and married Margaret Ann Long, daughter of Jacob and Barbara Long, June 20, 1833, They settled on a farm and brought up a family of four children : Lyman W., Amelia, George E., and Mary Elizabeth.
The eldest child, Lyman W. Hamlin, was born in Wayne County, February 8, 1834 and died in Philadel-
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phia January 24, 1898. Captain Hamlin married twice; (first), October 26, 1862, Elizabeth Mary Baker, daugh- ter of Judge Isaac P. Baker. They had three children : Euzelia, wife of Milton Bieseker of Montrose, Pennsyl- vania; Edward Baker, of Kingston, Luzerne County ; and Harris Baker Hamlin, of whom further. Mrs. Hamlin died November 24, 1868, and Captain Hamlin married (second) Frances Emeline Hollister of Hollisterville, Pennsylvania. They had three children: Horace Hol- lister, of Clearwater, Florida; Bertha, deceased; and Paul Clement, now a member of the Philadelphia Bar. Captain Hamlin had joined the Union Army in 1861 and served as a sergeant, later as a lientenant through the principal campaigns of the Civil War, being mustered out of service as a captain.
Harris Baker Hamlin, now one of the elder mem- bers of the Wayne County Bar, was born in Hollister- ville, Wayne County, the residence of his father, October 27, 1868. Most of his boyhood and youth were spent in Susquehanna County and he was educated in the public schools of Montrose, Pennsylvania. He was graduated from the Towanda High School in 1887 and decided, at first, to enter business, so he took a com- mercial course at the Eastman Business School. The routine of his studies brought to his attention various aspects of business law, which so attracted him, that he decided to devote his energies entirely to the legal profes- sion. He entered the law offices of Allan H. Dickson and Thomas H. Atherton, as a student; completed the pre- scribed period of study and finally was admitted to the Bar of Luzerne County on January 5, 1891. Imme- oiately, he began a general practice of his profession, which he has continued ever since with marked success.
A Republican, he has always shown a particular inter- est in the political affairs of his county and was a candi- date for Congress from Luzerne County in 1922. He is a member of the Luzerne County Bar Association and many other legal, business and fraternal organizations. Mr. Hamlin married (first), May 23, 1893, Lillie Pabst, and after her death in 1915, he married (second) Pauline Kohler, of Lancaster. Mr. Hamlin's law offices are at No. 314 Second National Bank Building, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
MALCOLM BURNSIDE-One of the largest de- partment stores in the State of Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh is the Boston Store of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The firm which owns this well known concern, Fowler, Dick and Walker, is one of the very old ones of the State, founded in 1879 and incor- porated in 1906, and its present efficiency is due largely to the efforts of its president, Malcolm Burnside, who has been chief executive since 1924.
Malcolm Burnside was born in Scotland, June 17, 1873, son of J. B. and Mary (McNair) Burnside, both of whom are deceased. He came to Wilkes-Barre as a young man of nineteen years and secured a position as clerk in the Boston Store, operated by the firm of Fowler, Dick and Walker. He was a young man of unusual energy and ability and from the beginning gave close and careful attention to the business in hand. As clerk he gave such efficient service that he was soon noticed by his employ- ers who decided that he possessed administrative and executive ability which they could put to good use. He was promoted from the position of clerk to that of floor manager and in this position, too, he maintained his high standard of work and more than met the expecta- tions of those who had promoted him. When his ability in "handling men" had been thoroughly demonstrated he was again promoted, this time to the position of superin- tendent. Being not only a man of ability but having a goodly share of thrift which is so commonly attributed to his countrymen, he, during this time, was not only gather- ing experience but he was also saving a fair proportion of his earnings. He was made manager after a time and eventually was elected vice-president of the company. During these years he had been purchasing stock and in 1924 he was elected president of the firm of Fowler, Dick and Walker. This important executive position he has been filling with characteristic efficiency since that time, and every department of the big Boston Store has felt the effect of his vigorous administration. Canny in his busi- ness administration, thrifty and frugal, but wise in the handling of the stock of his various departments he manages to give the highest satisfaction to his patron while at the same time eliminating every possible waste in all of the many departments of his big business. He has the faculty of keeping in mind not only the general plan of every department but his memory of details is
unusual and it is a well-known fact that Mr. Burnside practically knows what is being done at every counter in his store. The Boston Store is one of the oldest and best known concerns of its kind in the city of Wilkes-Barre and takes care of a very large patronage drawn from all the city and from a wide area surrounding the city. In his political affiliations Mr. Burnside is a Republican. He is a member of the Prison Board of Luzerne County and discharges the duties of the office faithfully and well. He is a member of Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons of Wilkes-Barre and of all the Scot- tish Rite bodies; also of Keystone Consistory of Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, in which he holds the thirty-second degree; and of Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Wilkes-Barre. He is a member of the Irem Temple Country Club, of the Wyo- ming Valley Country Club, also of the Franklin Club, of which he is past president, of the Westmoreland Club, and he is a member and past president of the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club. Mr. Burnside is a mem- ber of the Young Men's Christian Association, He is also a member of the Wyoming Valley Motor Club and of the Old Colony Club of New York City; also a mem- ber of the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia. He is well known as one of the leading citizens of Wilkes-Barre and has a host of friends in this city.
Malcolm Burnside was married, in 1925, to Mrs. Helen De Remer Boyle of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of one daughter, Mary McNair Burnside.
ANDREW J. HEFFERNAN, D. D. S .- Born in Plymouth but having lived in Wilkes-Barre a greater part of his life, Dr. Heffernan may be said to be a definite part of community life of the city. After many years of devotion to the requirements of his profession, he is well known for his skilful and able ministrations and he has made friendships that are no less than State- wide in professional and business association.
Andrew J. Heffernan was born on February 27, 1881, a son of Andrew Heffernan, who came here from his birth- place in Ireland as a young man and died in 1912. His mother, Mary (Connole) Heffernan, was born in Elmira, New York, in 1852 and died in May, 1928. Dr. Heffernan attended the public school for a time and then went to the Wyoming Seminary. He took his degree in dental surgery at the Philadelphia Dental College, receiving it in 1907 and coming directly to Wilkes-Barre to practice, where he has been ever since. He has built up an envi- able clientele and has kept in close touch with the newest, most scientific developments in his work and is recognized as one of the keen minds of his profession. He is presi- dent of the Susquehanna Dental Society, and a member of the Luzerne County Dental Society and of the National and the State Dental associations; a member of his college fraternity, the Psi Omega, and State Grand Master of that group. Dr. Heffernan belongs also to the Knights of Columbus, the Westmoreland Club, the Cham- ber of Commerce, and the Wyoming Valley Country Club. He has his offices in the Heffernan Building, which he had built after most approved construction methods a few years ago.
Dr. Andrew J. Heffernan married, on November 26, 1914, Lillian T. MacDonald, a daughter of John T. and Sarah J. (Ferguson) MacDonald of Philadelphia. Mr. MacDonald, now deceased, was a prominent figure in Philadelphia, a director of the Corn Exchange National Bank there, and formerly president of the Beneficial Savings Fund.
GEORGE ELWOOD SHEPHERD-President of the Shepherd-Rust Electric Company, Wilkes-Barre, one of the largest contracting and electrical supply houses in Northeastern Pennsylvania, also president Glen Summit Springs Water Co., Inc., George Elwood Shepherd is of the fourth generation of Shepherds of Pennsylvania.
Matthew Shepherd, head of the American branch of the family, was a native of England who came to Penn- sylvania during the latter part of the provincial period, but at what particular time is not known. He settled in Philadelphia, established himself in the trade of linen weaving, and founded one of the respected pre-Revolu- tionary families in that city. Descendants of his were in service during the Revolution, on the American side ; and history records that they fought well, just as in the varied associations of domestic life those same patriots and their descendants wrought well, and established an honorable maine in all generations from the time of Matthew Shepherd to the time of those of his surname
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who are a part of the life of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the second quarter of the twentieth cen- tury. Records extant furnish reasonably complete in- formation of the descendants of Matthew from genera- tion to generation, but say little save in a general way of those who have been factors in the life of their respective communities until somewhat before the last half century.
Founder of the American line of the family, Matthew Shepherd married, in Philadelphia, on March 13, 1773, Jane Johnson, and the union resulted in nine children : James, John, Jacob S., Matthew, George N., Thomas, Elizabeth, Emeline, and Alamanthia. Matthew Shepherd, son of Matthew Shepherd and his wife Jane Johnson, married, on January 4, 1830, Anna Yeager, and thus joined with one of the old and highly respected German families of Pennsylvania, her father and mother having been John Yeager and Catherine ( Pepperly) Yeager ; and to the second Matthew and his wife were born four chil- dren : Albert Gallatin, Harriet Yeager, Edward Yeager, and William Henry. William Henry Shepherd, son of Matthew and Anna (Yeager ) Shepherd, was born in Philadelphia and spent his early life in that city. He was a mechanic, accountant and school teacher. A practical workman at more than one trade, when he came to Wilkes-Barre in 1855, he was perhaps the first gas fitter having knowledge of that trade in the then borough. He founded the business of W. H. Shepherd and Sons in 1870, and continued actively engaged in the development of it until his death in 1917, when he was seventy-eight years of age, with the record of having been longer in business than any other citizen of the town. During the years that preceded his demise he was a most active fac- tor in the industrial life of Wilkes-Barre. Prior to the establishment of his own business he was senior member of the contracting and building firm of Shepherd and Dalley, but during the year that followed he became sole proprietor and continued it until November 1, 1891, when, with his sons, William C. and Harry C. Shepherd, he organized the firm of W. H. Shepherd and Sons, whose name and reputation in business circles was well known throughout the state from its background from that time onward. During. Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania he went out with Company E, Ist Regiment, Gray Reserves, of Philadelphia, and was present at the battle of Antie- tam. He had extensive fraternal connections. William Henry Shepherd married, on January 31, 1859, Lydia A. Ziegler, daughter of Amos Ziegler, of Zieglersville, Penn- sylvania, and their union resulted in seven children: I. Alice Harriet, wife of William H. Gibbs of Wilkes- Barre. 2. William C., president of the Shepherd Con- struction Company of Wilkes-Barre. 3. Harry C., the vice-president and treasurer of the Shepherd Construc- tion Company. 4. Edward S., secretary of the Shepherd Company. 5. Albert Daniel, died in infancy. 6. George Elwood. 7. Arthur Yeager, who died at the age of twenty-one years. William H. Shepherd was a lifelong Republican, and a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, of Wilkes-Barre.
George E. Shepherd, sixth child of William H. and Lydia A. (Ziegler) Shepherd, was born May 1, 1873. He was educated in the public schools of Wilkes-Barre, and at the Harry Hillman Academy, from which he was graduated at the age of seventeen. He then entered the Lehigh University, graduating with the degree of elec- trical engineer in June, 1894. He followed that profes- sion in Wilkes-Barre until November, 1896, when in con- nection with Harold N. Rust he organized the firm of Shepherd and Rust, electrical engineers and contractors, and rented a small store at No. 12 North Franklin Street, where was laid the foundation for the present large and prosperous business. Their trade constantly increased in volume, and the location was changed to Nos. 19 and 21 North Franklin Street, to Nos. 22 and 24 North Wash- ington Street, thence to No. 42 West Market Street, and finally to Nos. 11 and 13 West Market Street. In March, 1904, W. D. McClain and H. N. Rust, and Mr. Shepherd formed the Pennsylvania Armature Works, located . at No. 17 North Franklin Street, where the rebuilding, re- pairing and manufacturing of electrical machines and appliances of all kinds was undertaken. The Shepherd- Rust Electric Company conduct a large retail business, also enjoy an extensive wholesale and jobbing trade throughout Pennsylvania. In July, 1917, Mr. Shepherd enlisted in the United States Army in the Engineers Corps, with the rank of captain, and served in the En- gineer Officers Training Camp at Washington, District of Columbia, and Belvoir, Virginia, and subsequently at Camp Sherman with the 308th Engineers. Ordered over- seas, he sailed on January 31, 1918, landing at South- ampton, England. Crossing to Havre, France, he pro-
ceeded to Angers, joining the 116th Engineers at that place. On April 1, 1918, he was ordered to Allerey, where he served as engineer officer in charge of construc- tion of the 10,000 bed Allerey Base Hospital, from April, 1918, until June, 1919, returning to the United States July 4th. Proceeding to Washington, he was mustered out of service a few days later.
Mr. Shepherd is a member of various organizations, among these the Westmoreland and Franklin clubs, the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, New York Zoological Society, Lehigh University Club of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Association of Electra- gists, International, and others. In the last mentioned organization he has served as executive committeeman, member of the Electragists Standards Wiring Committee, member Industry Wiring Conference, and in various other official capacities. He is Republican in politics, and a communicant of the Presbyterian Church.
George E. Shepherd married, October 23, 1900, Kalista A. Reese, of Wilkes-Barre, daughter of Thomas and Sarah L. Reese of Luzerne County. The marriage has resulted in three children : Dorothy, Marjorie Helen, and Martha Ellen.
FRED THEIS-Mr. Theis is one of Wilkes-Barre's oldest and best known citizens. It is doubtful if there is anyone in the Wyoming Valley that has been longer or more actively identified with business in this section; and he occupies an unusual position among its citizenry. He has been continuously engaged in the insurance busi- ness in Wilkes-Barre for more than fifty-seven years, and beyond this he has been prominently concerned with banking in the city for more than thirty-seven years. He was president of the Wyoming Valley Trust Com- rany from the time it was organized, in 1893 to January, 1927, when he became chairman of its board of directors.
Mr Theis came to the United States in 1862 and his home nas been in Wilkes-Barre continuously since that time. He was born in the Prussian-Rhine Province of Germany, not far from the French border, May 20, 1840, the son of Nicholas and Margaret ( Aulenbacher ) Theis, and he spent his boyhood and early manhood in his native community. He was also married there, and it was with his young bride that he came to the United States and established Wilkes-Barre as his home.
In his early enterprise in the city he was engaged iu foundry work, as an employee of the Laning-Marchell Foundry. Possessed of a determined ambition, he took a course of night study and entered business for himself, opening offices in the Wyoming National Bank Building and engaging in general insurance. Later, as his busi- ness succeeded, he purchased property at No. 25 West Market Street. Here he maintained his business for sev- eral years, occupying the entire first floor. Since 1910, however, he has had Stanley J. Theis, a grandson, a biog- raphy of whom follows this, as a partner, and for the past several years the business has been located in Miners' Bank Building.
As a result of his long identification with the field of insurance, Mr. Theis has the distinction of being the old- est active representative of several insurance companies. In banking he also remains active. Although in 1927 failing eyesight caused him to request relief from the presidency of the Wyoming Valley Trust Company, he attends all official meetings of the bank and, as chairman of the board is much interested in its progress. Frater- nally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He also belongs to the Craftsmen's Club and the Concordia Sing- ing Society of Wilkes-Barrc.
Fred Theis has been twice married. His first wife, Carolina Schmitt, whom he married in Germany, died four years after coming to this country. His second wife was Anna Maria Kehr, of Wilkes-Barre, also deceased.
In family life, however, he has the pleasure of a son and two daughters, children of his second marriage; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His son is Jacob Theis and his daughters are Margaret, the wife of Alvin Beisel, of Hazleton; and Katherine, widow of the late Wilson Hill Rothermel, of Wilkes-Barre. Another son, Fred Theis, son of his first marriage, died several years ago. His grandchildren are Marie Hill ( Mrs. Donald Fogel Innes, of Kingston) daughter of Mrs. Rothermel; Fred Wilson Theis, Emilie Marie Theis, Mary Theis, and Carlton Jacob Theis, children of Jacob Theis ; Marjorie Mary Beisel, daughter of Mrs. Beisel and Stanley J. Theis, son of Fred Theis. His great-grandchildren are the children of Stanley J. Theis ; Stanley, Jr., and John, and Donald, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald F. Innes.
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Mr. Theis make his home at No. 142 North Franklin Street, while his offices are in the Miners' Bank Build- ing, Wilkes-Barre.
STANLEY J. THEIS-One of the leading insurance inen of Wilkes-Barre is Stanley J. Theis, active mem- ber of the firm of Fred Theis and Son, insurance under- writers, with offices at Nos. 206-219 Miners' Bank Build- ing, Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Theis completed his education in the University of Pennsylvania and after leaving col- lege became associated with the firm of Fred Theis and Son, of which he is now the active member.
Fred Theis, grandfather of Mr. Theis, has been one of the prominent business men of Wilkes-Barre for the past sixty years and now ( 1929) at the age of eighty- nine years, is chairman of the board of directors of the Wyoming Valley Trust Company, one of the leading financial houses of this city, a brief resume of his life preceding this biography.
Stanley J. Theis was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsyl- vania, December 10, 1887, the only child of Fred and Nollie ( King) Theis, the first mentioned of whom died at the age of thirty-three years and the last mentioned of whom died at the age of thirty-nine years. Mr. Theis received his early training in the public schools of Wilkes- Barre and then prepared for college in Wyoming Semi- nary. When his preparatory course was completed he became a student in the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed his preparations for active life. As a young man he became a member of the insurance firm of Fred Theis and Son, and his connection with that firm and that business has been continuous to the present time (1929). Since 1910 he has been the active member of the firm, being well known as one of the leading insurance men of the city of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Theis is a Republican in his political faith, and is actively inter- ested in the general welfare of Wilkes-Barre. He is a member of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Com- merce, of which he was formerly a director ; member of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania ; a Deputy Insurance Commissioner of the State of Pennsylvania ; and formally served as president of the North Branch Insurance Advisory Board. Fraternally he is well known, holding membership in Lodge No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons; and in all the bodies of the Scottish Rite, also in Keystone Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and of Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Lodge No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; of the Concordia Society, Kiwanis Club, Westmoreland Club, and the Wyoming Valley Motor Club. His religious affiliation is with the Kingston Presbyterian Church.
Stanley J. Theis married, February 20, 1912, Lucy Fleming, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, daughter of the late Dr. John R. Fleming and Johanna ( Cordery) Flem- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Theis have two children : Stanley Fleming, and John Frederick.
FRED J. MACK-As an exponent of the profession of architecture, Fred J. Mack, senior member of the firm of Mack and Sahm, takes first rank in Wilkes- Barre and its zone of influence. He and his partner have executed some of the most important commissions in the designing and construction of leading residences com- mercial structures and school buildings. In the latter class belongs the new one million dollar high school in Kingston, a suburb of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Mack is a civic leader of his community and is prominently identi- fied with the Masonic and other organizations.
Born in Wilkes-Barre. June 16, 1878, Fred J. Mack is the son of Henry S. and Anna Eliza ( Barnes) Mack, his father, born in Wilkes-Barre, in 1833, died there in 1892, a direct descendant of John Mack, a Moravian missionary who, together with Count Zinzendorf, were the first white men to visit the Wyoming Valley en- deavoring to Christianize the Indians. He was superin- tendent of the Wilkes-Barre Coal Company. The mother, who was born in Wilkes-Barre. in 1844, died in 1912. The son, Fred, attended the public schools of his native city. Later he attended Wyoming Seminary, where he took the business course. He then took up the duty of architecture and was employed by various architectural firms in Wilkes-Barre, New York City and Philadelphia, for various lengths of time totaling about seven years.
Mr. Mack made a beginning as a practicing architect in his own name. in 1908, at Hagerstown, Maryland, where he was in practice mmtil 1921. having risen in the favor of the people of that city generally. He then re- turned to his native Wilkes-Barre and purchased the office equipment of the late George S. Welsh, carrying
on the business in his own office here for two years. His next move was to form a partnership with Frank B. R. Sahm ( see accompanying biography ), under the style of Mack and Sahm, and this arrangement has ever since con- tinued in effect with salutary results. Monuments to Mr. Mack's professional skill are a goodly number of the residential showplaces in the Wyoming Valley, and in the fine array of business blocks, designed for various pur- poses, while the firm is known throughout the section for one of its fortes, that of educational buildings. When the Kingston authorities were casting about for a desir- able firm to which to award the commission for design- ing and supervising the construction of the modern high school in that borough, their choice fell to Mack and Sahm, who already have demonstrated their ability and finesse in an unusual degree, as the accepted design and the satisfactory processes of huilding attest.
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