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 VI > Part 104
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Ziba Raymond Howell was born at Trucks- ville, August 17, 1880, son of Levi Thompson Howell, born at Orange, Luzerne County, in 1855, a retired farmer, and of the late Kate (Schooley) Howell, born in 1855 at Trucks- ville, and died in April, 1925.
After completing the curricula provided by the public school system of Kingston Town- ship, Mr. Howell, in 1900, was graduated from Bloomsburg Normal School, and for a period thereafter was engaged in teaching. This profession he alternated with further study in the higher institutions of learning, being graduated in 1907 from Lafayette Col- lege with the degree of Bachelor of Philos- ophy, and in 1915 he received the degree of Master of Science from that same college. This training proved of inestimable value to him during the fifteen years that he taught
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in the Tarrytown (New York) High School, known as Irving, and here he headed the Science Department. Returning to his native State, Mr. Howell then became connected with the schools of Kingston Township, hav- ing heen for several years supervising prin- cipal. At the time of his death in 1930, this well-versed educator occupied the post of assistant superintendent of schools of Lu- zerne County, with offices at Trucksville. A Republican in political beliefs, Mr. Howell contented himself with exercising his suf- frage for that narty, declining to enter the field of politics as an office-seeker. He allied himself with the Masonic organizations, and held membership in Dallas Lodge, No. 531, Free and Accepted'Masons, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Wilkes-Barre. He also was a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Follows, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Ziba Raymond Howell married, in 1908, Edna B. Boston, of Center Moreland, Wyo- ming County, Pennsylvania, daughter of Dr. C. L. and Anna (McKelvie) Boston. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Howell are: Clifford Boston, born September 9, 1911, and Marjorie Jayne, born July 28, 1924. Ziba R. Howell died February 15, 1930, and Mrs. Howell and her family continue to reside in Trucksville, where they attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM MeALLISTER DYATT-Associ- ated during. all his business career with va- rious public utility corporations, William Mc- Allister Dyatt has steadily advanced from positions of minor responsibility to those of great confidence and trust. As division man- ager at Hazleton of the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, his services have proved of decisive importance in the efficient func- tioning of the company's business in this section.
Mr. Dyatt was born at Catasauqua, in Le- high County, Pennsylvania, a son of James and Margaret (McAllister) Dyatt of old Pennsylvania families. His father was chief blacksmith for several manufacturing plants, and during the period of the Civil War, served in his country's cause as a member of the Northern armies.
William McAllister Dyatt, of this record, attended the public schools of his birthplace, and following graduation from -the Catasau- qua High School, he took up the study of telegraphy. Soon afterwards he entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and later rose to the position of manager and wire chief of the telegraph department at the general offices in Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Dyatt has always been alert for larger opportunities than those offered by the present situation, and with this in mind he became successively wire chief for the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, at Phila- delphia, representative for the lamp depart- ment of the Westinghouse Electric and Man- ufacturing Company, commercial manager of the Harwood Electric Company, at Hazleton, and finally, division manager here for the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company. His association with this company, continued over a long period, has been mutually satis factory, and Mr. Dyatt is widely considered one of the most valuable executives in the company's service.
In spite of a busy life, he has found time for participation in various phases of com- munity activity, especially in fraternal af- fairs. Mr. Dyatt is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, and in this order is a
member and Past Master of the Blue Lodge, at Catasauqua, Past High Priest of Catasau- qua Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, a mem- ber of the Commandery of the Knights Tem- plar at Allentown, Pennsylvania, and a mem- ber of Rajah Temple, at Reading, of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also affiliated with the Mahanoy City Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, while he holds membership in several clubs and associations, including, the Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, of which he was president for three terms, and the past president. At present Mr. Dyatt is lieutenant-governor of the Northeast Divi- sion of Kiwanis Clubs in Pennsylvania. With his family he worships in the Presbyterian faith, holding membership in the First Pres- byterian Church at Hazleton.
On June 15, 1898, at Mahanoy City, Penn- sylvania, William McAllister Dyatt married Susan Lentz Bowman Hermany, daughter of Dr. Phaon and Mary Jane (Bowman) Her- many. Mr. and Mrs. Dyatt are the parents of two children: 1. Phaon Hermany, born on April 2, 1899. 2. Margaret McAllister, born September 22, 1902. The family residence at Hazleton is situated at No. 216 North Laurel Street.
MICHAEL YURKANIN-The entire mature life of Michael Yurkanin has been devoted to banking interests, and it is safe to say that no banker in this section of the State is more thoroughly acquainted with the va- rious departments and the general conditions of the business of handling and investing money than is he. Thorough training in the American Institute of Banking and in the Wharton School of Accounts and Finance, together with practical experience from the bottom up, have given him the best possible preparation for his work, and at one time he was the youngest bank cashier in the State of Pennsylvania, holding that position in the Heights Deposit Bank in Wilkes-Barre. He is now vice-president of the American Bank and Trust Company, of Hazleton.
Michael Yurkanin was born in Ashley, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1892, son of Joseph and Anna (Grosko) Yurkanin, natives of Czecho-Slovakia, both now deceased. He at- tended the public schools of his birthplace and Wilkes-Barre High School, and then, in 1910, when he was eighteen years old, secured a position as clerk in the Heights Deposit Bank of Wilkes-Barre. While there he de- cided to make an intensive study of modern methods of banking and successfully com- pleted the course in the American Institute of Banking. He also enrolled as a member of the first class of the Wilkes-Barre branch of the Wharton School of Accounts and Finance, while still holding his position in the Heights Deposit Bank, and in the course of five years he rose from the position of clerk to that of cashier of the bank, being at that time the youngest bank cashier in the State of Penn- sylvania. Shortly after his promotion to the important position of cashier of the Heights Deposit Bank, the American Bank and Trust Company, of Hazleton, then known as the Hazleton Slavonic Bank, was organized, with Mr. Yurkanin as treasurer, and his connec- tion with this successful banking concern has been continuous from that time to the present. He has been one of the important factors in achieving that success, and is well known throughout this section as an expert in banking affairs.
The present American Bank and Trust Company, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was
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founded April 2, 1917, under the title of the Hazleton Slavonic Bank, and chartered as a State bank, with a capital of $100,000, and a surplus of $25,000. Its first president was John Shigo, of Freeland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, who was associated with the following original official personnel: Michael Drosdick, first vice-president; Dr. J. C. Koch- czynski, second vice-president; and Michael Yurkanin, treasurer. Through the wise man- agement of its officials and its board of direc- tors the institution prospered and grew in strength and importance, continuing under its original name until 1921, when it was re-organized under its present title, the American Bank and Trust Company of Hazle- ton. The original capital of $100,000 has grown to $400,000, and the original surplus has increased to a surplus and profits total of $550,000. The officials of the bank at the time of writing are as follows: N. Yackanic, president; Michael Yurkanin, vice-president; Edward A. Byorick, treasurer; George A. Shigo, assistant treasurer; and Sidney A. Olden, second assistant treasurer. In 1924 the handsome and spacious building which the bank now occupies was erected by the bank on North Church Street. This is an eight-story building, thoroughly modern in all its equipment and appointments, and in this structure the bank occupies the first floor, which is fitted with every convenience for banking activities, while the upper floors are occupied as offices, furnishing houses to numerous professional and business concerns. The first floor ranks among the finest banking houses in Northeastern Penn- sylvania, and the officials and directors of the American Bank and Trust Company of Hazle- ton have reason to be proud of their business home. The board of directors consists of the following ten men: J. C. Kochczynski, M. G. Waschko, Andno J. Kotch, Andno Hourigan, Edmund Uffalussy, Michael Yurkanin, Louis Roman, Pasco Schiavo, N. Yackanic, and John Yannishin. The banks correspondents are the Tradesmen's National and Federal Reserve Bank, and the Market Street Na- tional Bank of Philadelphia, and the Guaran- tee and Equitable Trust companies of New York City. Mr. Yurkanin has devoted his attention to the advancement of the interests of this bank with great faithfulness and ability, and is very highly regarded by his associates. He is a member of the Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, and is active in civic affairs. Fraternally, he is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he is a member of the Kiwanis Club and of the Valley Country Club. His religious mem- hership is with the Roman Catholic Church of, the Holy Trinity.
Michael Yurkanin was married, in June, 1919, to Florence Mockaitis, of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of two children: Rita and Robert M. The family home is located at No. 64 North Church Street, in Hazleton.
JESMOND T. NICHOLSON-For the past forty years Jesmond T. Nicholson has been in the employ of the Vulcan Iron Works, of Wilkes-Barre, and for a quarter of a century he has filled his present responsible position as superintendent of the South Wilkes-Barre plant. He was born of a family of expert mechanicians and learned his trade in the Vulcan Iron Works, with which his entire active career has been identified. Mr. Nichol- son is of English ancestry and has always lived in Wilkes-Barre.
Septimus Nicholson, father of Mr. Nichol-
son, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Eng- land, where he received his education and where he learned the trade of the machinist, becoming an expert in that fleld: 1n 1863, during the second year of the' Civil War, he came to this country with his brothers, WIl- liam H. and Robert, both of whom also were expert machinists, and soon after their ar- rival the three hrothers began making guns for the United States Army. They had located first in New York State, but later William H. and Septimus came> to: Wilkes-Barre, where for many years both were well known manufacturers of various kinds of machinery. Septimus lived to the age of eighty-six years. He married Margaret Harle, who was also a native of Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, and is now deceased, and they hecame the par- ents of five children, of whom only two lived to maturity: Jesmond T., of further mention; and Robert H.
Jesmond T. Nicholson was born in Wilkes- Barre; Pennsylvania, November 18, 1871, and has spent his life in this city. After attend- ing the public schools, he learned the trade of the machinist in the Vulcan Iron Works, of Wilkes-Barre, and after working as a machinist for five years was promoted to the engineering department of the Vulcan Iron Works, where he remained for about ten years. At the end of that time he was made superintendent of the shops at the South Wilkes-Barre plant, and has since continued to fill that responsible position. In his politi- cal allegiance, Mr. Nicholson is a Republican. He is a member of the Franklin Club, and his religious affiliation is with the West- minster Presbyterian Church, of Wilkes- Barre. Mr. Nicholson is greatly trusted by his employers, who have learned through the long years of his connection with the con- cern that Jesmond T. Nicholson can always be depended upon, both in emergencies, when such occasions arise, and through the routine of the common every days.
Jesmond T. Nicholson married Fannie Bate, of Wilkes-Barre, and they are the parents of two sons: 1. Bruce Jesmond, who is a sales- man in the employ of the Westinghouse Man- ufacturing Company, of Wilkes-Barre. 2. Paul Harle, who is employed as a bookkeeper in the Second National Bank of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson make their home at No. 112 Grant Street, in Wilkes-Barre.
ALBERT N. TIMBERMAN-Equipped with a natural industry and endowed with a keen mentality, especially adapted to business, Albert N. Timberman, of Wilkes-Barre, is one of the prominent young units of this district of Pennsylvania that are making themselves felt in the general progress of the community. Observation by his elders in the field has brought the unanimous conclu- sion that he and the enterprise with which he is associated are of great value to the industrial activities of the Wyoming Valley, while his personal attributes are such as to commend him highly to all and which have brought him a legion of close and sincere friends. His citizenship has been thoroughly tested in time of his country's peril, and he is intense in his interest in all civic works that are promoted with a view to the im- provement of general conditions and to the contentment of the people with whom he is associated, socially and commercially.
He was born in Wilkes-Barre, August 17, 1893, a son of Dr. James H. Timberman, a native of Glassboro, New Jersey, where he was born in 1858, his death occurring in Wilkes-Barre, in 1919. He was a veterinarian
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and one of the pioneers in that profession of the Wyoming Valley. His wife, mother of Albert N., was Louise (Harbauer) Timberman, of Philadelphia, born in 1863, and now a resi- dent of Wilkes-Barre.
Their son's education was acquired in the local public schools and he was graduated from high school in 1912, after which he went to work for the Wilkes-Barre "Record," re- maining on the staff of that daily newspaper for six years. With the entry of the United States into the World War, he joined the American Expeditionary Forces and was sent overseas with the 1st Division, attached to Battery C, 6th Field Artillery, holding the commission of first lieutenant and serving on the St. Mihiel and Argonne fronts for one year. At the conclusion of hostilities with the signing of the Armistice, he was detailed to the Army of Occupation and served with that unit until June 1, 1919, when he was honorably mustered out. Returning to busi- ness life in Wilkes-Barre, he became one of the founders and incorporators of the first photo-engraving plant to be established here, the Fahringer Engraving Company, with which he was identified for eighteen months. He then purchased a one-half inter- est in the Ryan Advertising Service and the name was changed to Ryan and Timberman, remaining such until January, 1926, when it became the Timberman Advertising Agency, Incorporated, with Mr. Timberman president of the corporation. The concern specializes in merchandising anthracite coal. Mr. Timber- man is a Republican in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkes- Barre, having membership on the official board of that organization. He is affiliated with Landmark Lodge, No. 442, order of Free and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, Knights Templar, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Albert N. Timberman married, December 31, 1919, Nancy Mai Harsh, of Gallatin, Ten- nessee, daughter of Nathan J. and Louise M. Harsh.
CHARLES WOOD-When Charles Wood, now a resident of Kingston and one of its substantial business men, was seven years of age he was using his tiny hands to separate the dross from the coal in the breakers of this county. For more than a year he con- tinued in that humble employment, helping the family with his pittance in wages. From that beginning he rose through many stages of industrial production to his present posi- tion of independent real estate operator. Such industrious individuals are worthy repre- sentatives of a hard working community and there is none here who commands a higher respect than he in the opinions of his fellow- citizens. Staunch in his fidelity to the dis- trict that gave him the opportunity to ad- vance in life, he holds the admiration of the community and the intimate friendship of a wide circle.
He was born in Cornwall, England, March 5, 1875, a son of Charles and Annie (Tredin- nick) Wood. His father was also a native of Cornwall, having been born in Charlestown there, May 14, 1848. For many years he fol- lowed the sea, later coming to America and locating in Wilkes-Barre, where he was a rockman in the mines until his death in Jan- uary, 1888. His mother was born in Mt. Charles, Cornwall, September 30, 1850.
For six years more this boy worked in the breakers at Wilkes-Barre, then obtaining employment with the Sanson Cutlery Com-
pany, where he remained from 1888 until 1905, holding the post of general foreman of the works for twelve years. His other em- ployment in the production field included three and one-half years with the Edison Phonograph Works, in Orange, New Jersey, three years with the Wales Adding Machine Company, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, where he was associated with the nickel plating de- partment; eighteen months with the Wyo- ming Cutlery Company, which had been the Sanson Cutlery Company, as foreman. In 1914 he abandoned these occupations and established himself independently in the real estate and insurance business in Kingston and has since continued to operate it success- fully. He is president of the West Side Build- ing and Loan Association, director of the Kingston Bank and Trust Company, vice- president of the West Side Mortgage Com- pany and a trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Dorranceton. In politics he is a Republican. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Kingston Lodge, No. 395, order of Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is Past Master; Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar; Caldwell Consistory, of Bloomsburg, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 709.
Charles Wood married, in June, 1908, Emma Moss, of West Orange, New Jersey, daughter of Frederick Moss.
EDWARD MORRIS-One of Wilkes-Barre's most energetic and up-to-date merchants is Edward Morris. A fine business executive and the owner of a keen advertising sense, Mr. Morris is a man who has worked his own way through life to a position which is a great credit to himself and his ability.
Mr. Morris was born at Hazleton, Pennsyl- vania, on May 14, 1900, and is the son of Isador and Tenna Morris, who are the par- ents of six children. The father of Edward Morris is a retired merchant of Luzerne, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Edward Mor- ris was educated in the public schools at Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. At the age of twelve years, he came with his parents to the city of Wilkes-Barre and here he went to school and worked in different jewelry stores at night during the week and on Saturdays. Later he obtained a position in Hazleton, where, at the age of only six- teen, he became the manager of a store known as the Finn Jewelry Store of Hazle- ton, Pennsylvania. After a time in that con- nection he returned to Wilkes-Barre and took charge of a jewelry department in a local store on South Main Street, and eventually he went to New York City and became con- nected with a wholesale jewelry house. Then Mr. Morris, who is a man with a vision, and one who is not content to know merely what is right at hand, realized he must, in order to rise in his profession, have more experience of the jewelry business and more of a thor- ough knowledge of loose diamonds. So he became connected with Milton L. Ernst, Inc., of New York City. After receiving the train- ing that he needed in the diamond trade, Mr. Morris returned to Wilkes-Barre in 1924 and opened his well-known store at No. 70 South Main Street, where he has been ever since successfully engaged in the credit jewelry business. It was his idea to serve the people that he knew best and to enable them to buy jewelry and credit at cash prices.
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Mr. Morris, who had a clever sense of the art of advertising, originated several slogans which have been adapted by many jewelry stores. Among his slogans are "On My Toes, but Never on Yours." "Pay From Your Pay," and "Meet Morris and Wear Diamonds." He believes in advertising. He uses more space in the newspapers of Wilkes-Barre than all the other jewelry stores of that town. He has had articles in magazines and trade journals. One of these articles, "Getting What's Right By Doing What's Right," ex- presses some of Mr. Morris' ideals, and in it are those slogans which have been such a help to him in his business.
After all, a good advertisement is no good unless it brings home the bacon. Our bacon is sales to people who pay their bills-people to whom credit can be extended without sleepless nights. People who buy merchan- dise because it is merchandise and not terms.
The gutter doesn't come to our store, for we don't appeal to the gutter. We get rea- sonable prudent minded people who appre- ciate credit from a clean operating institu- tion who prides itself on the class of mer- chandise it sells.
There is no necessity to offer everything under the sun to get the account. The mere fact that you offer ten cents a week may make people buy-yes-but it doesn't neces- sarily hold that they pay. Then again with such terms, comes small sales and in order to reach volume-more sales are necessary with a greater increase in overhead for advertis- ing, salesmen, credit men and collection men. Clean business costs less, gives less to worry about and insures a future foundation.
Money spent on advertising presents an investment. The gutter is no such investment for such as these are merely flotsam. Today they're here-tomorrow there. When I invest I want something substantial-and when I get the class of accounts we do-people who live here and will live here-raise families and be respected citizens-my advertisements present investments in future business.
. Mr. Morris has a store only eight feet wide, but he employs eleven people. Mr. Morris is in politics a Republican, a member of Wilkes- Barre Lodge, No. 109, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, member of the Temple Israel, the Young Men's Hebrew Association. Mr. Morris is unmarried.
HARRY T. BUTTS-Native of Luzerne County, in his youth a slate picker in the mines and as a young man employed in va- rious industrial capacities, Harry T. Butts in 1898 entered upon a career of teaching which lasted twenty-two years, and he is one of the best known and most highly respected men in the Wyoming Valley.
Harry T. Butts was born at Plains, on April 19, 1874, son of Thomas and Julia (Langdon) Butts, deceased, his father having been a mining contractor. Thomas and Julia (Langdon) Butts were the parents of six children: I. Harry T., of whom further. 2. Joseph L., engaged in construction work. 3. Edith, wife of David Fetterman, of Wanamie, Pennsylvania. 4. Elizabeth, wife of John Brush, of Nanticoke. 5. Frederick, engineer with the Pennsylvania State Highway Asso- ciation. 6. George E., of Illinois, a master plumber.
Harry T. Butts attended the public schools at Plains, and at the age of ten years went into the mines in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company. He continued to work in and around the mines until he was seven- teen, when he went to work for the Sheldon
Axle Works at Wilkes-Barre, as steam ham- mer man, making axles for wagons; and in 1903, on October 30, while on duty as brake- man for the Lehigh Valley Railroad, figured in a serious accident which resulted in the loss of his right foot. Thus incapacitated for the sort of work he had been doing, he entered the Bloomsburg State Normal School and prepared himself to be a teacher, and graduated in the class of 1898. He taught until 1920, a member of the faculty of the high school at Plains; and in 1921 was ap- pointed State mercantile appraisor by Samuel S. Lewis, auditor-general of the State of Pennsylvania. Mr. Butts held this position for four years, winning high commendation for his ability and execution of duties, and in the fall election of 1925, was elected comp- troller of Luzerne County, to serve a term of four years. Mr. Butts has been an active worker in the interests of the Republican party since 1902, and was a candidate for the Senate from the 21st Senatorial District of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church of Plains, and a mem- ber of Wyoming Lodge, No. 39, of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Loyal Order of Moose.
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