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 15
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PATRICK ALOYSIUS ROAN-Among the leading druggists in this community is Pat- rick Aloysius Roan who has been in the drug business here for many years. He is the son of Patrick J. Roan, a blacksmith by trade, who was born in Schuylkill County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1860, died in October, 1926; and of Mary (Doyle) Roan, who was born in Schuyl- kill County in 1861 and is still living.
Patrick Aloysius Roan was born at Plym- outh, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1881, and began his education here in the public schools. After finishing his public school work he went to Philadelphia where he
entered the Philadelphia College of Phar- macy, graduating in the class of 1905, with the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy. He Imme- dlately entered the drug business and con- tinned in that line until 1908, when he opened a drug store of his own and has since then been engaged in the retail drug business at Plymouth. At first, Mr. Roan's drug store was located at No. 175 East Main Street, where he carried on his business for a period of six years with constantly increas- ing trade. His success was such that in 1914, he purchased the present building in which his store is located, No. 159 East Main Street and there has been established for the last fourteen years. In politics, Mr. Roan is a Republican. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Knights of Columbus and of Saint Vincent's Roman Catholic Church.
On October 3, 1916, Patrick Aloysins Roan married Josephine Brown, daughter of Thomas J. and Mary Brown of Plymouth, Pennsylvania. They have three children: Mary Rita, and Frank and Elizabeth (twins).
WILLIAM J. BURNETT-No man in Nan- ticoke, perhaps, better merited the respect of his fellow-townspeople, or received it in fuller measure, than did the late William J. Burnett, alderman from the Sixth Ward, dealer extensively in insurance with offices at No. 229 Prospect Street, and accorded the distinction of having been one of the com- munity's outstanding citizens. His record is an inspiration, of what can be done through inborn talent, intelligent application to prob- lems at hand, and industry. Mr. Burnett died January 26, 1928.
William J. Burnett was born in England, Angust 9, 1870, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Thorn) Burnett. Henry Burnett was for many years of his life, and, indeed, until the time of his death, engaged in business as building contractor. At this he was suc- cessful, but, as happens frequently, follow- ing his demise the estate was found to have dwindled considerably. His widow was a woman of courage, however, and looking boldly to the future took those funds remain- ing and her family of six young children aboard ship for America. With them she established a home in Nanticoke.
This was in 1879, when William J. Bur- nett was nine years old. Two years later he was at work as breaker boy in the mines, with the Susquehanna' Coal Company. By the time he had attained his majority he had likewise attained to a position of authority in the company, through regular promotions on the evidence of his never failing ability. Meanwhile he had saved his money, at the same time contributing to the support of the family, and felt encouraged to quit the mines for a course in business, at a commercial school in Wilkes-Barre. Upon completion of courses he found himself possessed of a good theoretical groundwork for a career at business, but lacking other opening accepted employment as time-keeper with the Simpson & Walkins Company, coal operators, of Car- bondale. There he remained one year only, then returned to Nanticoke and engaged in the grocery business, at which he continued for two years. A Republican, loyal to the principles of the party, he had participated for several years past in the activities of the party locally, and had attained to a strong influence in political matters. Toward the close of his second year in the grocery business he was elected burgess of the bor- ongh of Nanticoke, and that responsible office he filled most creditably to himself and party for a term of three years. Then, once more
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he engaged in business as grocer, again for two years, and was elected justice of the peace, which office he held until his death, his decisions having been upheld in all cases under question. In 1921 he opened an office to deal in insurance, as a parallel to his official duties, and carried all kinds of pol- icies, representing seven companies of the highest and safest reputations. In 1926 he was appointed alderman from the Sixth Ward, and in this office as in that of justice of the peace, he functioned admirably. He had been a delegate to the Republican state conven- tion. Aside from his business in insurance he maintained other interests, among which was membership on the board of directors of the Susquehanna Lumber Company. Fra- ternally active, he was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, and of the Owls. When the United States entered the World War he began at once to be of service to his coun- try, and acted tirelessly on the boards and committees in charge of war work, as well as in the campaigns of the several Liberty Loans. Mr. Burnett was a communicant of the English Baptist Church, a deacon and trustee thereof. Toward charity he was ever sympathetically disposed, and gave gener- ously of time and money to all worthy appeals. Of him it is said by those who know him personally that Mr. Burnett achieved a goodly position in life, through honorable means, the application of his talent, and in- dustry; that his principles always were of the highest; that, when in a position to do so, he accomplished well for the benefit of the community at large, and of its compo- nent parts separately; and that he was there- fore, a most valuable citizen of his com- munity, State and Nation.
In November, 1907, Mr. Burnett was united in marriage with Annie Bryden, of Pittston, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Burnett is a woman of refinement and charm, in every sense of the word a lady, and is active in a number of organizations. She is treasurer of the Wyo- ming Missionary Association, treasurer of the Ladies' Aid Society, and president of the Missions Society of the English Baptist Church. Mr. Burnett also was active in church work, and was treasurer and trustee of the Baptist Missionary Society, and presi- dent of the Lake Sillsworth Association. Mrs. Burnett resides at No. 138 East Green Street, Nanticoke.
MEBL BROWN BREESE-Engineer for Luzerne County and a public-spirited citizen occupying a place of esteem in the estima- tions of the people of Wilkes-Barre, Merl B. Breese was born at Hoadleys, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, September 11, 1886, son of Vint L. and Hattie A. (Brown) Breese, who live at Wyoming, Luzerne County, the father being a business man now retired, and a son of Lyman and Elizabeth (Woodhouse) Breese, deceased, both of whom were members of families old in the history of Pennsylvania. Vint L. Breese is a Republican of considerable influence, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Breese are the parents of two children: Merl B., of whom further mention; and Rena C., wife of Harry Rhoads, of Wyoming.
Merl B. Breese was six years of age when the family moved from Wayne County to Luzerne County. He received his early edu- cation in the public schools, graduating from the Wyoming High School in 1904: and spent three years in the Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, Pennsylvania. In 1907 he matricu- lated in Pennsylvania State College, where his interest in science and engineering was apparent in courses selected, and in four
years graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He then proceeded to Three Rivers, in Quebec, Canada, to work with an engineering corps, and was there employed for nine months. After this experience he returned to his native State, secured a posi- tion in Pittsburgh, and at the termination of a brief period there returned to Luzerne County, where he held a position with the Lackawanna Railroad. This, too, failed to hold him for long; he went into business on his own account, as an engineer, at Wyoming; then, in 1917, decided that his place was in the service of his country, and joined the Corps of Engineers at Madison Barracks, New York, where he was commissioned a first lieutenant and assigned to active duty in the 78th Division of the United States Army. He was ordered overseas during the early spring of 1918, and served in France with his division until the summer of 1919. In the spring of the following year he was appointed assistant county engineer, of Lu- zerne County; and, after having filled this office with ability, was in 1924 appointed by the County Commission to the office of county engineer, for a term of four years, and was reappointed in 1928 for four years. He is a director of County Officials Division American Road Builders Association.
In political decision a staunch Republican, Mr. Breese is also affiliated with a number of fraternal organizations. He is a member of the Wyoming Lodge, No. 468, of the Free and Accepted Masons, Caldwell Consistory at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite Masons of the thirty- second degree, Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Wilkes-Barre, and the Irem Country Club; member of the Junior Order of United Ameri- can Mechanics, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and of Delta Upsilon, col- lege social fraternity.
Merl B. Breese married, in 1926, Mary Cheeseman Rohn, of Philadelphia, member of an old Philadelphia family, daughter of Edward and Emma (Pollock) Cheeseman. Mr. and Mrs. Breese have no children.
THOMAS JOSEPH DAILEY, M. D .- As a leading specialist in the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, Dr. Thomas Joseph Dailey, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, enjoys a large clientele and is highly respected in the medical profession for his good work. He is the son of William and Nora (Connole) Dailey. His mother who was born in Plym- outh Township, Luzerne County, in 1855, died in 1910. His father, who is a retired business man, was born in Schuylkill County, Penn- sylvania, in 1851.
Thomas Joseph Dailey was born in Plym- outh, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1884. He was educated in Saint Vincent's Parochial School of this place and later attended the Blooms- burg State Normal School where he finished with the class of 1905. He then entered the University of Pennsylvania where he studied medicine and graduated in the class of 1909 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After finishing his college work in medicine, he was an interne at the Mercy Hospital at Wilkes-Barre for one year and then entered the general practice of medicine in Plym- outh which he carried on until 1917 when he studied eye, ear, nose and throat diseases by taking a special course at the New York Post-Graduate Hospital in New York City. After this work was completed, Dr. Dailey gave up the general practice of medicine and has since then specialized in the treatment of eye, ear, nose and throat afflictions, car- rying on a private practice in these branches.
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He is a member of the Luzerne County Med- ical Society: the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and the American Medical Associa- tion. He is also a member of the Shawnee Club, the Knights of Columbus, Saint Vin- cent's Roman Catholic Church, and in politics, he is a Democrat.
In 1918, Dr. Thomas Joseph Dailey mar- ried Agnes Law of Kingston, Pennsylvania, daughter of Frank and Jane Law. Dr. Dailey is a member of the staff of the Mercy Hos- pital at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
DANIEL SYLVESTER PENSYL-As an educator and an attorney, D. Sylvester Pensyl of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, has been influ- ential in this community for many years. His early ancestry in this State dates back to 1776 when Jacob Pensyl came from either Germany or Holland and settled in Pennsyl- vania. This Jacob Pensyl was the owner of fifty acres of land which is now the site of the city of Shamokin, his homestead being on the exact lot where now stands the Eagle Hotel. He is described as being a man who was honest, sober, industrious and economi- cal, possessing considerable educational and intellectual vigor. He was unaware of the fact that his land was rich in coal; in fact, he owned fifty acres of the richest anthracite coal land in Pennsylvania and bought and sold this treasure at the price of ordinary farming land. After he sold his Shamokin land, he purchased two hundred acres of farming land in Ralpho Township, in North- umberland County, for which he obtained a warrant, lived upon it until his death, when it passed to his only son, John (1) Pensyl.
John (1) Pensyl was nine years of age when his father moved to the farm in Ralpho Township, Northumberland County, and there he spent the rest of his life. He received a religious training from his parents and like his father was a deep student of the Bible. He donated an acre of land for church pur- poses and upon it stood the German Reformed Blue Church of Ralpho Township, of which he was one of the organizers and original members. He died in 1849 at the age of eighty-two years, a highly respected and honored citizen. John (1) Pensyl, married Barbara Hinkle. Their children were: Kate; Leah; Leonard; George; and John (2) Pensyl.
John (2) Pensyl was born at the Ralpho Township homestead in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, 1797, and died there in 1873. He married (first) Lydia Kaseman. Their children were: George; Daniel; Bar- bara; Hannah; Catherine; and John (3) Pen- syl. He married (second) Mary Arter. Their children were: Jacob; William; Samuel: Adam; Margaret; Henry; Daniel; Adam; and Francis, all of whom are deceased except Francis, who lives at Avis, Pennsylvania.
John (3) Pensyl, son of John (2) and Lydia (Kaseman) Pensyl was born on the Rush Township homestead in 1819. He was known as a substantial farmer and resided in North- umberland County all of his life, living to the age of eighty-seven years. His death occurred in 1906. He married Lovina Reed. Their children were: Oliver; Silas R .; Hester; Sarah: Miles; Theodore; Emerson; Valentine; Eli; Elizabeth; and Lovina. All are now deceased.
Silas R. Pensyl, son of John (3) and Lovina (Reed) Pensyl was born on the homestead farm in Rush Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1848. He later lived in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsyl- vania, where he died September 21, 1921. He lived for a while in Mayberry Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania, where he re- sided at the time his son, D. Sylvester Pen-
syl, was born. He afterward removed to Rush Township in Northumberland County, where he had a farm near Union Corners five miles south of Danville. He spent most of his active years in Northumberland County but the last years of his life he spent in Luzerne County. Silas R. Pensyl married Priscilla Slagle, who was born in 1850, and died at Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, in 1911. She was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Kline) Slagle, of Snydertown, Pennsylvania. They had three children: 1. Daniel Syl- vester, of whom further. 2. John Valerius, born in 1875, now living in Wilkes-Barre. 3. Daisy, born in 1877, wife of M. M. Knoebel, residing in Shamokin, Pennsylvania.
Daniel Sylvester Pensyl, eldest son of Silas R. and Priscilla (Slagle) Pensyl was born on the home farm in Mayberry Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1870. Shortly after his birth, his par- ents moved to Rush Township, in Northum- berland County, Pennsylvania. There, the home farm was located near Union Corners, Pennsylvania, and at the country schoolhouse at the Cross Roads, he obtained his early education. He remained at the home farm and in attendance at public school until he was sixteen years of age. He then spent a year in the preparatory department of Cen- tral Pennsylvania College. At the age of seventeen, he began teaching school. His first work as a school teacher was at Reeds Station in Ralpho Township not far from the farm first settled by Jacob Pensyl. He was not satisfied to amble along as an ordi- nary country school teacher, so at the age of eighteen, he took a course at the Blooms- burg State Normal School, where he qualified as a teacher and, when nineteen years of age, he was elected principal of Elysburg Academy, at Elysburg, Pennsylvania. He continued to advance in his profession of school teaching and at the age of twenty- one, he graduated with honors, from the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and from 1892 until -1898, he was engaged in various positions as an edu- cator. In 1892, the year of his gratluation, he was made principal of the grammar school at Catawissa. He remained here for , two years and was then made principal of' the high school at Snydertown, Pennsylvania; where he spent two years. In 1896 he began the study of law in the offices of Rhawn, and Small, a law firm at Catawissa. In 1898, he was admitted to the Bar of Montour, ,Colom- bia, and Luzerne counties, and, in March; 1898, he definitely settled in Nanticoke :and began the practice of law. He had been in the practice for only six months when the disastrous coal strike took place. This caused him to temporarily give up his law practice and to study the prospective advantages of Nanticoke, which was then being exploited- as a trade center of the anthracite coal tis -: trict. He had come to Nanticoke' a total, stranger, but this did not deter him from taking the initiative in his own behalf and. he applied for the position of principal .of. the West Main Street Public School, and. upon his previous high record as an educator, he was chosen for that position. "He held:a. place in Nanticoke's public school system for" six years, and in the meantime kept faith- fully to his law studies. In 1903, he was admitted to practice at the Bar of, the Su- preme Court of Pennsylvania. During the six years that Mr. Pensyl was principal of the school in Nanticoke, he made many friends, was well liked and had thoroughly mastered the conditions as they then existed. When he felt the time had come for him to take up again the practice of law, he opened an
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office in the Enke-Bennett Building. This was in 1904, and he has been in the practice of law ever since. He has won a high place of distinction at the Luzerne County Bar, and his clientele includes some of the most influential citizens. His determination to advance and to more thoroughly understand his profession was the same in his law as in his teaching and being a diligent student in all that he undertakes, he enrolled for an extension course with the Hamilton College of Law at Chicago, and at the end of three years' had completed this University Ex- tension Course and was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In his study of condi- tions at Nanticoke, he saw the need for an- other national bank and, in 1904, took the preliminary steps toward the organization of the Nanticoke National Bank, which was opened for business on October 12, 1904. He was made a member of the board of direc- tors and in 1916 was elected president of the institution, a position which he has filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the bank and its customers. He was also one of the organizers of the Susquehanna Lumber Company, of which he is a director and sec- retary. He is a director and secretary of the Nanticoke Construction Company. He is also interested in other Nanticoke business enterprises and is an active member of the Kiwanis Club. He is a man of remarkable energy and versatility and during the last fourteen years, in addition to his other af- fairs he has carried on a very prosperous real estate and insurance business. His pub- lic service has been varied and valuable. His most conspicuous work in this line was in connection with the war activities. Dur- ing the great drive for funds for the Young Men's Christian Association work among the soldiers at home and abroad, he was a direc- tor of the forces at Nanticoke, and his work resulted in raising a large sum of money. In 1918, he was appointed Federal Food Inves- tigator for Nanticoke and Newport Township. His duties in this work had to do with the conservation and equitable distribution of food under the Hon. Herbert C. Hoover, of the National Food Administration during the World War. He is a member of the Nanti- coke Lodge, No. 541, Free and Accepted Ma- sons; a thirty-second degree Mason, of Key- stone Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish R'te, Scranton; Nanticoke Royal Arch Chap- ter. No. 287; and is a Noble of Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Wilkes-Barre. He is a member of Endertown Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Nanticoke. He has always been a mar. of great activity, with an ambition to accomplish, whom no obstacle can deter nor any difficulty daunt. He has won his way to distinctive positions by proven ability along certain lines that have fitted him to fill these positions. He has not dissipated his efforts although he is one of the most versatile men In the community. His ability has at all times been well directed. He has the faculty of making many friends and keeping them and is hell in the highest respect by his busi- ness associates.
On June 15, 1899, Daniel Sylvester Pensyl married Mary Small, born October 17, 1878, daughter of Christian and Louise (Bonard) Small. Mf. and Mrs. Pensyl have had four children. 1. Alta (deceased). 2. Lester (de- ceased). 3. Viola (deceased). 4. Daniel Small, Jr.
CHARLES E. CHAPMAN-Filling the posi- tion of division passenger agent for the Le- high Valley Railroad, Charles E. Chapman
has had ample opportunity over a period of many years to prove his business ability and to demonstrate those fine qualities of char- acter which make for success and accom- plishment. He goes about his duties in a quiet and unassuming way, but efficiently and in a manner that is certain to win the esteem of everyone who has much to do with him. The result is that today Mr. Chapman is highly regarded by his fellow-citizens, and especially by those who have occasion to come into daily contact with him in the Wilkes-Barre station of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, where his offices are situated.
Mr. Chapman is a son of George O. and Margaret (Harley) Chapman, who were both born in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. His father's father was Oliver W. Chapman, a native of Connecticut and a member of an old New England family. George O. Chap- man, a staunch Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church through- out his life, was a cabinet maker for more than fifty years, and died, January 1, 1927, at the age of seventy-three. His widow, Mar- garet (Harley) Chapman, who was born in 1857, lives still in Carbondale. They were the parents of three children: Charles E., of further mention; Eugene L., who is engaged in business in Hamlin, Wayne County, Penn- sylvania; and Laura B., who is the wife of Charles Hoffman, of Carbondale, Pennsyl- vania.
Of these children, Charles E. Chapman was the eldest, having been born on April 25, 1878, in Wayne County. While a boy, he attended the public schools. At the age of thirteen, he went with his parents to Car- bondale, Pennsylvania. Although he left the public schools early, he later took a busi- ness course at Wood's Business School, in Scranton, Pennsylvania; and, after that, learned telegraphy with his brother by studying at night. At the age of eighteen years, he took a position as operator for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad, in Carbon- dale, where he continued in this capacity for two years. Then, when he was twenty, he took a position tendered him by the United States Government at the time of the Spanish- American War, being stationed first in Washington, D. C., and subsequently at Puerto Principe, Cuba, where he remained for two years. Returning to the United States, he took a position again with the Delaware and Hudson Railroad as ticket agent in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where he stayed for eight years. In 1907, he accepted a position with the Lehigh Valley Railroad as ticket agent in Wilkes-Barre. This posi- tion he filled creditably for twelve years; then, on March 1, 1920, he was made division passenger agent, with offices in Wilkes- Barre, where he has remained up to the present time.
Mr. Chapman at all times takes a keen interest in public affairs, and is especially active in political matters, having been long identified with the Republican party, whose principles and candidates he supports. He is a member of the Firwood Methodist Epis- copal Church, of Wilkes-Barre. Active in fraternal affairs, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he is affiliated with the Honesdale Lodge, No. 218; the Keystone Consistory, of Scranton, Penn- sylvania, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, in which he holds the thirty-second degree; and Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs also to the Irem Temple Country Club and the Rotary Club, and holds mem- bership in the New York Passenger Ticket Agents Association.
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