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 14

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 772

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 14

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).

Dr. Robert N. Clark married, August 22, 1922, Etna Frey, of Wilkes-Barre, daughter of Martin and Geraldine Frey, and of this marriage there are two children: 1. Mary Elizabeth, born September 25, 1924. 2. Rob- ert Nesbitt, Jr., born November 19, 1926. Dr. Clark and his family reside at No. 408 Wyo- ming Avenue, Kingston.

WILSON JACOB HAUSER-Starting life as a telegrapher, Wilson Jacob Hauser, now retired, is best known in Luzerne County through his construction and many years of operation of the electric light and power plant at White Haven, where he now resides. This plant, now owned by the Lehigh Power Securities Company, at one time was owned in its entirety by Mr. Hanser. A dominant factor in the Democratic party, locally, Mr. Hauser has never taken what might be called an interest in public office holding, although at one time he was a member of the school board. Mr. Hauser was born, April 16, 1867, at Slatington, Pennsylvania, son of William Henry and Priscilla (Bilheimer) Hauser. William Henry Hauser, native of Moore Township, Northampton County, was born in 1834. He attained prominence in com- mercial circles of SlatIngton through his dealings as a retail coal merchant, until his death in 1903. Priscilla (Bilheimer) Hauser, also a native of Northampton County, was born in 1837, and has been deceased since 1919.

Wilson Jacob Hauser received his elemen- tary education in the public schools of Slat-

418

ington, being graduated from the high school there. After completion of his studies he took up telégraphy, becoming quite proficient in this calling, and followed it for several years. He was first employed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad for one year and then, for eight years, was a telegrapher for the Cen- tral Railroad of New Jersey. In 1891, Mr. Hauser built the electric light and power plant at White Haven, then known as the White Haven Electric Illuminating Plant. After several years of untiring labor, Mr. Hauser brought this public utility up to a high standard of efficiency, and in 1923, the concern was incorporated. Mr. Hauser, who owned the entire stock of this industry, held the office of president, so continuing until 1926. In this year he received a generous offer from the Lehigh Power Securities Com- pany for his plant, sold it to this corporation, and retired from active business. Since that time he has lived in White Haven, enjoying the well-earned rest that is his due. As previously noted, Mr. Hauser is Democratic in political beliefs, but his public office hold- ing has been confined to twelve years dur- ing which he served on the White Haven School Board. He and his family are Pres- byterian in religious convictions and attend the church of that denomination.

Wilson Jacob Hanser married in 1890, Ger- trude Flock of White Haven, daughter of John and Alice Flock, and this marriage has been blessed by three children: 1. John Flock, born June 1, 1891; enlisted for service during the World War, and died of influenza, Octo- ber 24, 1918, while a member of the military forces. 2. Lenore G., married I. R. Schu- maker, of Kingston. 3. Muriel, married Peter Mogagna, Jr., of White Haven. There are four grandchildren in the family: I. R. Schumaker, Jr., Lenore Gertrude Schumaker, John Flock Schumaker, and Muriel Wilson Mogagna.

Mrs. Gertrude (Flock) Hauser, a graduate of White Haven High School, has been a. dominant factor in social circles of that town. In 1908 she organized the White Haven High School Alumni, in which she remains active, and also was the organizer of the first Red Cross Society here. A mem- ber of the American Legion Auxiliary, she was one of the foremost promoters of this social body, and for three years served as its president. Many other civic and social movements of White Haven have benefited through the participation of Mrs. Hauser in their ranks. The Hausers reside at No. 412 Northumberland Street, White Haven.

FRANK ELLSWORTH PARKHURST-The Parkhurst family, of which a leading member is Frank Ellsworth Parkhurst, president of the fire insurance agency of Thompson Derr & Brother, Inc., of Wilkes-Barre, appears in English records as early as the year 1000 A. D. Ahout two centuries ago a family of Parkhursts left Parkhurst Colony, on the Isle of Wight, and proceeded to Surrey, England, and it is from that branch that the American Parkhursts sprang. The original seat of the family was "Parkhurst Manor," between Guilford and Epsom; its proprietors were supporters of the exiled Stuarts, and it was confiscated in 1745 by the rising young dy- nasty. The Lord Mayor of London was a Parkhurst in 1635. Bishon Parkhurst, of Nor- wich, England, born in 1574, is believed to have been an ancestor of George Parkhurst, American founder of the family. Queen Elizabeth granted the Parkhurst arms in the second year of her reign, and they are as follows:

Arms-A shield silver, cross ermine, in each quarter a buck trippant.

Crest-A demi-griffin with wings addorsed in black, holding in the dexter paw a cutlass in silver, with hilt and pommel of gold.

Motto-The Cross Our Stay.

Frank Ellsworth Parkhurst is in the tenth American generation from George Parkhurst, whose name appears on the records of Water- town, Massachusetts, in 1643, and from George Parkhurst the descent is through the following line:

George Parkhurst's son, George, born in 1618, also of Watertown, who took a promi- nent part in town affairs during his day. His son, John, born in 1644, likewise of Water- town. His son, Deacon John, born in 1671, a resident of Weston, Massachusetts. His son, Josiah, also of Weston, born in 1706. His son, Josiah, born in 1736, lived in Weston but in 1762 removed to Framingham. His son, Ephraim, born in 1765 in Framingham. His son, John Look. His son, Leonard Woods, born March 31, 1836, in Standish, Maine, ninth child of John Look Parkhurst and fourth by his second wife, Marcia C. (Harriman) Park- hurst. He engaged in farming, but later in the manufacture of clothing. He married, June 7, 1860, Mary P. Knapp, of Chelsea, Massachusetts, and they had the following children: John J., born March 31, 1861, mar- ried Gertrude Nason; Frank Ellsworth, of whom additional; Shirley Lincoln, died in childhood: Ella Florence, married Frank E. Sargent; Albert Grant, died in infancy; May Louise, married Frank E. Bridgman; Marcia, married Fred Chamberlain.

Frank Ellsworth Parkhurst, second son of Leonard Woods and Mary P. (Knapp) Park- hurst, was born October 26, 1862, at Gorham, Maine. He attended the grammar and high schools of Gorham, and completed his educa- tion at the Phillips Andover Academy at Andover, Massachusetts. In 1883, on becom- ing of the age twenty-one, he removed to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and there estab- lished a new store as manager of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. He re- mained here a year, until the store had hecome firmly established, then proceeded to Wilkes- Barre, where he opened another as the com- pany's only local establishment. His energetic administration of his duties made him popu- lar in a wide circle of friends, and he made a notable success of the business until 1891. By this time he had attracted such attention in older business circles that a brilliant fu- ture was predicted for him, and he was per- suaded to give up the store and accepted a responsible position with the fire insurance firm of Thompson Derr and Brother, which at that time was doing a general insurance business. A decade later, in 1901, he was made a member of the firm, and this proved to be a fortunate turning point in his career, for he made such strides that in 1915, when Andrew F. Derr died, he was made the head of the concern. This concern had been found- ed in 1858 and has continued successfully in business ever since, until it is probably the most important fire insurance agency in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Parkhurst's progress has been commensurate with that of the firm; for twenty years he was a mem- ber of the Underwriters' Association of the Middle Department of Pennsylvania. On January 15, 1914, he was elected president of the Franklin Fire Insurance Company of Philadelphia, and creditably discharged the duties of that office for two years, at the end of which time he was retained on the Board of Directors. He is also a director of the Miners' Bank of Wilkes-Barre, and a

شوية

F. G. Parkhurst

419

director of City of New York Insurance Company.

There is decidedly another side to Frank E. Parkhurst than the business side. It con- cerns his activities in lines of educational, religious and civic endeavor, especially Sun- day school affairs. He is not only an influence in the local religious life but is connected prominently with an organization whose ac- tivities extend to every habitable part of the globe. He is a member of the Executive Com- mittee of the World Sunday School Associa- tion, and takes great pride in the work which thus devolves upon him. Locally, he is presi- dent of the board of trustees of the Memorial Presbyterian Church, superintendent of the Sunday school of this institution and vice- president of the Pennsylvania State Sunday School Association. He is a director of the Young Men's Christian Association of Wilkes- Barre and trustee of the Young Women's Christian Association. He holds membership in the Corporation of the Wilkes-Barre Gen- eral Hospital, and recreates himself in the pleasing atmosphere of the Westmoreland and Wilkes-Barre Country clubs. He is also a member of the New England Society and the Pennsylvania Society, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club.

Mr. Parkhurst is a valued and popular member of the Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 442, of the Free and Accepted Masons, and in the Caldwell Consistory of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons at Bloomsburg he has taken the thirty-second degree.

Mr. Parkhurst married, June 3, 1886, at Philadelphia, Mary Platt, daughter of Thomas D. and Mary Hunt (Carson) Platt, of that city, and they have had four children: 1. Mildred Hunt, born July 17, 1887, married Arthur W. Kuschke, of Wilkes-Barre, and they have a son, Arthur W., Jr., and a daughter, Mary Carson. 2. Cornelia Carson, born July 14, 1889, married Joseph W. Cough- lin, now deceased, of Wilkes-Barre, and they had two children, Joseph W., Jr., and Bar- bara L. 3. Frank Ellsworth, Jr., born Novem- ber 27, 1895, married Elsie Palmer, and they have three children, Cornelia, Frank Ells- worth, 3d, and John J. 4. Leonard Woods, 2d, born September 27, 1902, married Martha B. Schaller. Mr. Parkhurst's offices are in the Miners' Bank Building and he and his family reside at No. 170 North Franklin Street.

E. D. SNYDER was born in Friedensburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1873, son of Mahlon and Margaret (Dnibervicse) Snyder. He attended school for a few years, but when he was a boy of twelve years he left the school room behind him and began to prepare himself for the task of earning a living by apprentic- ing himself to a butcher. He learned the meat business in all its branches, and for twenty busy years continued in that line of business activity. In 1905, when he was thirty-two years of age, he decided to estab- lish a milk business of his own, and the fact that he must start in a small way did not dis- courage him. He began by delivering twenty- four quart bottles a day, but he was alive to the fact that the time had come when the pub- lic health was to be the first consideration of the man who would serve the people with this staple food. Health departments of many States were looking into the milk business as never before and special attention was devoted to it by the agricultural bureaus of both State and Nation. The need of know- ing more about the article in which he dealt became apparent to Mr. Snyder, and with his usual promptness and directness he set about the task of learning all there was to be known about milk as a food. He had built

up his retail business to satisfactory propor- tions, but still he was not satisfied to stop with less than the best possible equipment, and after an exhaustive study of the prob- lems of human health which may be affected by milk, he decided to give Hazleton its first pasteurizing plant. So it was that he became the founder of the Home Pasteurizing Dairy, of Hazleton.

The plant of the Home Pasteurizing Dairy, located at Nos. 404-416 West Hemlock Street, in Hazleton, is a model in scientific perfec- tion, modern in every detail, scientific in all its appointments and processes of sterilizing and handling, and carefully plotted building arrangements, refrigeration, storage, housing of equipment, and accommodation for em- ployees. The plant is a space of one hundred and forty-two by forty-two feet, with ample room for teams and trucks whether arriving with supplies or loading the finished product on the other side of the plot, to remain under roof storm proof in winter and dust proof in summer. Every precaution is taken, in architectural arrangement, to meet the needs of advanced dairy operation, and the plans include all that is best in designs prepared by the experts of agricultural and hygienic schools.

Mr. Snyder's son has been his assistant in developing this splendid modern dairy, and who, himself an electrochemist, has charge of the Bloomsburg plant. About six thousand bottles of milk go out to the people of this locality each day, and Mr. Snyder's patrons have long ago learned that the products of the Home Pasteurizing Dairy can be relied upon implicitly.

In addition to the management of his dairy business, Mr. Snyder is interested in the real estate business and in the City Bank and Trust Company. He is treasurer and a direc- tor of the Anthracite Chain and Engineer- ing Company, and along with all his busi- ness responsibilities takes an active inter- est in civic affairs. He is acting president of the Hazleton Motor Club, a member of the Men's League, also of the Chamber of Com- merce, the Valley Country Club, and the Kiwanis Club. Fraternally, he is identified with Lodge No. 200, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks; and the Fraternal Order of Eagles; and his religious membership is with the Presbyterian Church.

E. D. Snyder married Anna Dietrich, of Hazleton, and they have one child, Roy, who has charge of the Bloomsburg plant. He has three children: Richard, James and Roy. The family home is located at No. 573 West Diamond Street, in Hazleton.

WILLIAM E. JOYCE-During the greater part of his active life William E. Joyce has been connected with newspaper work, and the range of his experience has been such as to give him more than the average prep- aration for his present business interest as owner and publisher of the Freeland "Press." Beginning with News Press Association work, he has steadily widened his experience. He has been connected with the Wilkes-Barre "Record," has been editorial writer for the Hazleton "Sentinel," and has done a large amount of Press Association work for the metropolitan papers. Since October, 1927, he has been owner and publisher of the Free- land "Press," a Republican weekly, which he is continuing along the lines developed by its founder and former owner, William R. Flad. Mr. Joyce is both publisher and author, for he has to his credit two well written and interesting books, one a biog- raphy, and the other an industrial history of the Lehigh coal fields.

420

William E. Joyce was born in Ashland, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1866, son of Peter and Margaret (Harrity) Joyce. He received his education in the local public and private schools, and then, having from his earliest years been interested in newspaper work, took work with the News Press Association, in the telegraph depart- ment. Later, he was associated with the Wilkes-Barre "Record," and in 1895 he was editorial writer for the Hazleton "Sentinel." After five years in this connection he devoted his time to general correspondence work and to Press Association work for the larger metropolitan newspapers, and in these lines of activity he continued until October, 1927, when he purchased from Mr. Flad the Free- land "Press," which he has since operated. The publication retains its original character as a Republican news sheet, following the policies established by its founder, and giving to its reading public the fine service which it has tendered for so many years. Mr. Flad changed both the size of the sheet and the number of issues from time to time, de- veloping it from a paper of six pages, seven columns each, to a ten-page weekly, and at times issuing semi-weekly. It was founded in 1895, and for thirty-two years had been catering to the news demands of the people of Freeland and vicinity before it became the property of Mr. Joyce. The general char- acter, therefore, is well established and will remain practically unchanged under the new régime. Mr. Joyce is a member of the local Business Men's Association, and has long been active in the affairs of the Republican party, but he is not, and never has heen, an office seeker. He is rather the seeker after news, the editorial thinker and writer, the literary man, whose interests are versatile. Along with his general and varied newspaper work, Mr. Joyce has found time to write and pub- lish an interesting biography of Rev. Father Philips, and also to write an industrial his- tory of the Lehigh coal fields, both of which have been of interest and use to special sec- tions of the reading public.

William E. Joyce is married to Hannah Boyle, of Ashland, Pennsylvania, and they have three children: 1. Stanley, who has fol- lowed his father's calling, and is a newspaper man in New York City. 2. Mary, who is a trained nurse in Philadelphia. 3. Helena, a student, who is living at home. The family residence is located at No. 354 East Muir Avenue, in Hazleton.

LEO C. MUNDY. M. D .- For the past twenty years, Dr. Leo C. Mundy has guarded the health of the people of Wilkes-Barre in his private practice as a physician, and now that he holds the post of city health officer, his supervision covers the entire city. Dr. Mundy has an excellent military record for overseas service during the late war and has always been a man of great patriotic feeling and practices.

He is the son of the late John and Susan (Moore) Mundy. His father, who was a native of Ireland, for many years carried on a mer- cantile business and he and his wife were the parents of fourteen children. Of this re- markable family, ten lived to maturity: 1. Mary, the wife of Charles Mackin. 2. J. F., a member of the Wilkes-Barre City Commis- sion. 3. Thomas A., a real estate dealer. 4. Dr. C. A., a dentist in Wilkes-Barre. 5. John, in the insurance business. 6. Sallie, unmar- ried. 7. Susan, unmarried. 8. Edward, with the Wilkes-Barre fire department. 9. Cath- erine, the wife of John Turnbach, superin- tendent of the Vulcan Iron Works at Pitts-

ton, Pennsylvania. 10. Leo C., of whom further, is the youngest.

Leo C. Mundy was born at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on June 2, 1887. He was edu- cated in the Wilkes-Barre public schools and graduated from the Wilkes-Barre High School in the class of 1904. He then entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in the class of 1908 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Since his graduation, he has continued to carry on a private practice of medicine and with the exception of his time overseas dur- ing the World War, has been in Wilkes- Barre.

In 1917, Dr. Leo C. Mundy volunteered his services for the Medical Corps of the United States Army. He entered the service in April and was stationed at Camp Oglethorpe, Georgia, for a period of three months and then transferred to Camp Meade, Maryland, for a period of three months. Then after spending two months on duty at Laurel, Maryland, he was sent to France. He sailed in March, 1918, and served at the front, at the Base Hospital, and was commanding officer of Camp 85, and surgeon of the Montoir district in France until the close of the war. He was mustered out of the service in 1919. For his gallantry he has received several marks of honor and distinction. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Citation for evacuation of the wounded by General John J. Pershing, and recognized as one fearless in dangers and unselfish in his serv- ices to those who needed aid. Dr. Mundy was brevetted lieutenant-colonel of the Re- serve Corps.

He is the surgeon for the Hudson Coal Company; the Delaware and Hudson Railroad and Conlan Coal Company. He is also sur- geon of the Mercy Hospital staff at Wilkes- Barre. He is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society; the State Medical Society; the American Medical Association; the Le- high Valley Medical Association; and the New England Railroad Surgeons Association. He is a member of Lodge No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. In politics, Dr. Mundy is a Republican.

In June, 1922, Dr. Leo C. Mundy married May Conlan, daughter of John and Mary (Clarke) Conlan, the former a coal operator at Hudson, Pennsylvania. Dr. and Mrs. Mundy have one son, John Conlan. They make their home at No. 391 Scott Street, Wilkes- Barre.

WALTER E. KAHLEN-Since 1913, Walter E. Kahler has been cashier of the Citizens' Bank, of Freeland, Pennsylvania, filling this position in a most successful way. Widely experienced in banking and financial affairs, he brought to his work at Freeland a fine ability and energy which have made him most valuable to his institution and to the community which he serves.

The Citizens' Bank was organized on Janu- ary 31, 1890, with a capital stock of $50,000 and the following officers: Joseph Birkbeck, president; Edward Snyder, secretary; and Thomas Wilson, cashier. The directors were: Joseph Birkbeck, Thomas Birkbeck, Charles Dusheck, John Smith, T. E. Snyder, H. C. Koons, William Kemp, Joseph Rudiwick, John Wagner, Alfred Shive, and Anthony Rudi- wick. B. R. Davis, who took office in June, 1890, was its second cashier, and in 1901 H. C. Koons became the second president, filling this position until 1915, when William Birk- beck succeeded him. Finally, in 1926, the present incumbent, Condy O. Boyle, was

Leo C. Mundy

421

elected president, the other officers, besides Mr. Kahler as cashier, being: E. J. Edwards, vice-president; C. O. Stroh, solicitor, and S. J. Neuberger, secretary of the board of direc- tors. The members of this board are: Condy O. Boyle, E. J. Edwards, C. O. Stroh, S. J. Neuberger, Condy J. Boyle, Wil- liam M. Daugherty, M. S. DePiero, Jonah Evans, J. M. Gallagher, George J. Gabuzda, E. P. Humphrey, C. B. Kunkle, W. E. Ober- render, and Asa A. Rute. The first bank building was situated on Front Street, later the institution occupied the building now used by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and finally, in 1912, the present modern structure was erected on Center Street, at a cost of $60,000. The record of the Citizens' Bank has been one of constant expansion and growth. In 1910 its capital stock was increased to $100,000, in June, 1923, to $150,000, and in November, of that year, to $200,000.

Walter E. Kahler, its efficient cashier, was born in Millersburg, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1875, a son of William and Frances (Musser) Kahler, of that place. He received his educa- tion in the public schools of his birthplace, after which he began his banking career in the employ of the First National Bank of Millersburg. During a period of years he rose through various positions in this bank, gaining a thorough knowledge of the opera- tion of all departments, and winning his way, solely through his own ability, to posi- tions of confidence and trust. In 1896 Mr. Kahler helped to organize the Tower City National Bank, and of this institution he be- came the first cashier, continuing in the posi- tion until September, 1913, when he was chosen cashier of the Citizens' Bank, of Free- land. Mr. Kahler's sound business judgment and executive ability are well known in Free- land, and he is frequently called into con- sultation in large matters of policy. He is a member of the Pennsylvania, American and Lower Anthracite Bankers' associations, and active in affairs among the men of his pro- fession.

Mr. Kahler has always been vitally inter- ested in the problems of government and in the welfare and progress of the community in which he has made his home for more than fifteen years. He has been prominent in various civic and social enterprises, and has contributed liberally to worthy charitable movements, although never at pains to reveal the extent of his generosity in this regard. He and his family worship in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are members of the local church of this denomination.

In 1900 Walter E. Kahler married Etta McCarty, of Millersburg, and they became the parents of one child, Clyde, who was grad- uated from the public schools of Freeland, the University of Pennsylvania, and is now teaching in the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at Philadelphia. The family residence at Freeland is situated at No. 816 Center Street.

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.

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 14

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press Number of Pages: 772

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 772