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 21
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Nathaniel Ross was born in Scotland, Octo- her 7, 1867, a son of Nathan and Margaret (McLellan) Ross, both of whom are deceased. Nathan Ross, the father, came with his fam- ily to the United States in 1870, and located for a short time at Scranton, Pennsylvania, later removing to Plains, Luzerne County. By occupation he was a stationary engineer; and with his wife Margaret was the parent of five children: Nathan, of Plains; Dr. Nathan- iel, of whom further; Mary, married Wil-
liam K. Russell; living in Plains; Catherine, wife of George M. Wall; and Elizabeth. who died in infancy.
Nathaniel was only three years of age when his parents came to Luzerne County, and while he was a boy he attended the public schools, both day and night, at Plains. At the age of eight years he was put to work at the mines, as a slate picker, and con- tinued in this until he graduated from night school, when he got a place as soda dispenser and drug clerk which lasted four years, at Nanticoke, Luzerne County. In 1889 he en- tered the Jefferson Medical College at Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, and graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1892, and since that date has con- tinued to practice his profession. Dr. Ross is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical So- ciety, and the American Medical Association. He is a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 655, of the Free and Accepted Masons, at Wilkes- Barre; John Knox Commandery of the Knights of Malta of Wilkes-Barre, of which he is Past Commander; he is a Past Grand Commander of Pennsylvania and Past Su- preme Commander of the Continent of America of the Knights of Malta; he is a member of the Central Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkes-Barre, and a trustee of that church; and a member of the American Legion. Dr. Ross served in the Medical Corps of the United States Army from February, 1918, until February, 1919, stationed at Camp Morrison, Virginia, with rank of captain. After being discharged from the regular army, he was commissioned a captain of the Medical Corps of Pennsylvania, and was assigned to the 2d Infantry of the Pennsyl- vania Reserves. Active in time of war, Dr. Ross is no less active in time of peace, in the interests of Wilkes-Barre in general and in the health of his fellow-citizens in partic- ular. Always he has sought to perform whatever useful service was possible for the welfare of the thousands of school chil- dren to come before him for examination. Through the faithful office of this charge alone he has accomplished widespread bene- fits in improved health for the families of the children as well as for the children them- selves. Highly esteemed by his confreres in the medical profession, he leads a most useful life, and is rightly classed among the eminent men in Luzerne County.
Dr. Nathaniel Ross married, November 29, 1893, Martha Della Ritter of Wilkes-Barre, daughter of William T. and Mathilda (Bow- man) Ritter, both deceased. The union has resulted in the birth of three children, two of whom are living: 1. Elizabeth M., who died in her sixteenth year. 2. Lillian M., wife of Raymond H. Kropp of Wilkes-Barre. 3. Donald T., married Pearl Mattern of Allen- town, father of a son, Donald T. Ross, Jr.
PERRY W. DERSHIMER-In establishing himself in business in Pittston more than forty years ago, Perry W. Dershimer began a career here that has developed during the term of his labors and which has brought him prominently and favorably into the pub- lic eye of the community. Beginning with the carpentry trade, he founded a lumber and building supplies business that has become one of the leading enterprises of Pittston, while he himself has diverted his energies and keen mind into financial and other kin- dred fields. In his active interest in all civic activities that enlist the attention of the people he has displayed the best of citizen- ship, while his social and fraternal affiliations
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have added to a multitude of friends of loy- alty and devotion. He is a descendant of pioneer Pennsylvania ancestry who developed the country when it was young and lived lives of respectability and value to all.
He was born on a farm in Falls Township, Wyoming County, October 3, 1846, a son of Peter and Laura (Woodbridge) Dershimer, and a grandson of John Dershimer, who was a farmer and died at the age of sixty-nine years. He acquired his elementary education in the public schools and at the Binghamton Business College, after which he came to Pittston and here learned the trade of car- pentry under his uncle, George Saxe, with whom he worked until 1877, when he organ- ized the lumber firm of Dershimer & Griffen. This firm was dissolved with the death of Mr. Griffen, in 1916, the name then being changed to P. W. Dershimer & Sons, which it retains at present, the junior partners being A. M. and P. R. Dershimer, who conduct the business, their father having actively retired. He has served on the Pittston School Board, West Pittston Council, and is a director in the Peoples Union Savings Bank and a member of the Luzerne Avenue Baptist Church. He is fraternally affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Perry W. Dershimer married Mary Munro, of Pittston, descendant of pioneers of this district. They are the parents of the follow- ing children: 1. Archibald M. 2. Peter Roy. 3. Perry W., Jr., deceased. 4. Laura W. 5. Effie M., deceased.
ARCHIBALD M. DERSHIMER was born in Pittston, March 31, 1878, and acquired his education in the public schools here and at Cornell University, from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1904, having specialized in architecture. He entered into association with his father in the lumber business, where he continues. He is president of the Pittston Rotary Club, president of the Franklin Thrift & Loan Corporation, chairman of the board of trustees of the Luzerne Avenue Baptist Church, recording secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, past president of the Fox Hill Country Club and is a thirty- second degree member of the Masonic fra- ternity. His affiliations in this organization include Valley Lodge, No. 499, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Pittston Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Wyoming Valley Commandery, No. 57, Knights Templar, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He married, in June, 1913, Charlotte Reese, of Pittston. They are the parents of two children: Mary Elizabeth and Anne Laura. The family home is at No. 113 Dela- ware Avenue, West Pittston.
PETER ROY DERSHIMER, second partner in the firm, was born in Pittston, June 20, 1880, and was educated in the public schools of West Pittston and at the Wyoming Valley Seminary. He first entered business as a clerk in the Pittston post office, where he continued for four years, then being invited to accept a partnership in the firm of which his father was the head and his brother a partner. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club, financial secretary of the Baptist Church of West Pittston and is a thirty- second degree member of the Masonic Order. In this last named organization he is affiliated with Valley Lodge, No. 499, Free and Ac- cepted Masons: Pittston Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Wyoming Valley Commandery, Knights Templar, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and belongs to the
Fox Hill Country Club. He married, June 17, 1913, Lonise Armhurst, of Scranton, Penn- sylvania.
CHARLES HAYDEN PHILLIPS, M. D .- With the exception of his term of service in the World War, Dr. Charles Hayden Phillips has been engaged in medical practice in Wilkes-Barre since 1915. He is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College. David Phil- lips, father of Dr. Phillips, was a native of Wales, who came to this country while still a lad, and at the time of his death, on Decem- ber 19, 1928, was an official of the Hudson Coal Mining Company, having served for thirty-seven years. He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. He married Margaret Jones, and they made their home in Edwards- ville, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of two children: Dr. Charles H., of further mention, and Laura May, who married Roscoe Williams, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Charles Hayden Phillips was born in Edwardsville, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1892, and attended the public schools of his birthplace, graduating from Edwards- ville High School with the class of 1908. In the fall of that year he matriculated in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, where he took a one year course. In 1910 he became a student in Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, where he completed his course with graduation in 1914, receiving at that time the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Dur- ing 1914-15 he was resident-physician in the Wilkes-Barre Hospital, now known as the General Hospital, and in the fall of 1915, he accepted a position as pathological chem- ist in the employ of the City of New York, stationed at the laboratory of the Kings County Hospital, in Brooklyn, New York. With this thorough preparation and extended experience, Dr. Phillips returned to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in December, 1915, and engaged in general practice, in association with the late Dr. W. Clive Smith. He enlisted in July, 1917, for service in the medical corps of the United States Army and was commis- sioned a lieutenant. Soon after his enlist- ment he was sent to England to join the fighting unit of the British Expeditionary Forces at the Front in France, where he served until December, 1917. Having been gassed, he was then sent back to England, where, after a few weeks of convalescence, he was assigned to duty at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley. In April, 1919, he returned to this country and was mustered out of service. He returned at once to Wilkes- Barre, and resumed the practice of his pro- fession. In 1926 he went to Europe for a special course in pediatrics, attending the University of Vienna, and also attended clinics in Liverpool, and London, England and in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society, of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association, also of the Lehigh Medical Society. Dr. Phillips is at- tending pediatrician at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, Florence Crittenden Home, and Chil- drens Home of Wilkes-Barre. He is a mem- ber of Alpha Kappa Kappa Fraternity; a member of Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Com- mandery, No. 45, Knights Templar; and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Wilkes-Barre. He is a mem- ber of the Irem Country Club, and of the Wyoming Valley Country Club, and has many friends in Wilkes-Barre.
C. & Becker, 7,8,80
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Dr. Charles Hayden Phillips was married in Neston, Cheshire, England, August 3, 1921, to Joyce Marjorie Whineray, daughter of William Edward and Katherine (Whitehead) Whineray. Dr. and Mrs. Phillips are the parents of three children: Anne Dorice, Roger Whineray, and Joan Mary.
CARL JOSEPH SCHMITT-From World War service as a ship's draftsman, Carl J. Schmitt returned to civil life in his native Wilkes-Barre and bloomed as a commission architect, and he has ever since practiced his profession in that city. He has dem- onstrated to an increasingly large clientele, drawn from among the most discriminating people of the Wyoming Valley, that his ideas of design and his supervisory knowledge of construction are sound and developed along approved and progressive lines. Mr. Schmitt is a close and interested student of Wilkes- Barre, municipal and physical, and he main- tains a helpful contact with the progressive element of the city, heing in harmony with their ideas of a bigger and better municipal- ity.
Carl Joseph Schmitt was born in Wilkes- Barre, January 12, 1894. His father, John A. Schmitt, was born in Germany, in 1848. He came early to America and settled in Wilkes- Barre, where he followed the trade of mason and builder, and was engaged as one of the leading contractors here for many years. He died in September, 1902. He married Victoria Ruf, who was born in Germany, in 1854, and survived her husband at his death. The son Carl made a fine record as he passed through the public schools of Wilkes-Barre, and into the Harry Hillman Academy, where he took his preparatory training, with an advanced scholastic standing, graduating in 1913. He then studied the full course at Syracuse University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor in Architecture in the class of 1918.
He had hardly left behind the walls of his alma mater when the World War had drawn in the United States as a participating nation. Without delay he signed for service, and was accepted for the Navy, being assigned to the post of ship's draftsman, since it had been discovered that he possessed talent for archi- tectural design. After ten months of meri- torious service in the naval arm of the gov- ernment, he received his honorable discharge, in April, 1919. In that year, allowing no time for iespite, he opened an office in Wilkes-Barre for the general practice of architecture. He has since been charged with numerous commissions for designing and supervising of buildings of various char- acter for different uses, and these he has executed with that originality and finesse that are among the elements of his profes- sional success. Examples of his art are to be seen here and there at advantageous points in the city proper and through the Wyo- ming Valley-in homes, business buildings and structures of importance, adding to the beauty and commercial advance of the city at large.
Mr. Schmitt's interest of a practical sort in the fortunes of the Republican party is highly commended by his fellow-members of the local political organization. He is affiliated with Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, Lerevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Wilkes-Barre Aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. His social organizations are the Lions Club and the Franklin Club. His re- ligious preference is Roman Catholic, his fellowship being with the Church of St. Nicholas.
Carl J. Schmitt married, in September, 1913, Kathryn Hughes, daughter of John and Eliz- abeth Hughes, of Wilkes-Barre. They have three children: 1. Betty Victoria, horn in December, 1919. 2. Carl J., Jr., horn in May, 1925. 3. Richard Frederick, born in July, 1927.
CONRAD JOSEPH BECKER. M. D., D. O .- Beginning his professional career as an osteo- path, Conrad Joseph Becker, of Wilkes-Barre, elected a different branch of the medical pro- fession and specialized in dermatology, with the result that he has established for himself a position of much importance here and has been long looked upon as one of the shining lights of the medical world. He is a man of erudition, skilled in his practical knowledge, of pleasing personality and a citizen of up- right character and intense interest in the activities of the hody politic wherein he has practiced for almost thirty years. Possessed of those qualities that attract people and make friends, he is kept busy attending to a large practice, both at his offices, in the same house in which he was horn, and abroad. His reputation is of the highest, his place secure in the regard and esteem of his fellow- citizens.
Dr. Becker was born in Wilkes-Barre, at No. 679 Hazle Street, October 24, 1877, a son of Anthony W. Becker, a native of Germany, born in 1838, and who died in Wilkes-Barre, where he had been a successful carpenter for many years, on January 23, 1914, and of Matilda (Reinhart) Becker, born in Wilkes- Barre in 1848 and deceased here, August 9, 1914. Their son was educated in the local public schools and at the Atlantic School of Osteopathy, from which he was graduated in 1901. From February of that year until June, 1902, he practiced osteopathy in Pottsville, then entering the Medico-Chirurgical College in Philadelphia, from which he was gradu- ated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1906. He then took the usual term as an interne, serving as such in Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre and then establishing him- self in general practice, with dermatology his specialty. He is a member of the American Medical Association, of the Pennsylvania State and Luzerne County medical societies and is a member of the courtesy staff of Nanticoke Hospital. He is a Republican in politics, helongs to the Woodmen of the World and attends St. Nicholas Roman Catho- lic Church.
BUTLER 0. BOWER-Fifteen years ago Butler O. Bower was beginning his banking career as a messenger boy in the employ . of the Hanover Bank and Trust Company of Wilkes-Barre. He is now (1929) treasurer of the South Side Bank and Trust Company of Wilkes-Barre and one of the well-known men of the city. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, is prominent in several other frater- nal organizations, and has a host of friends here in Wilkes-Barre.
Mr. Bower is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grandfather, J. Frank Bower, was engaged in farming in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, and his parents, J. Frank Bower and Fannie E. (Gensel) Bower, are residents of Wilkes- Barre. Mr. Bower has a brother, Alfred Bower, who is fire boss in the employ of the Hudson Coal Company; and a sister, Bessie E., who is the wife of Stanley E. Warner, of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Butler O. Bower was born in Dorranceton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, November 1, 1891, and received his education in the public schools, graduating from the high school with
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the class of 1909. After graduation, he con- tinued study in the Wilkes-Barre branch of the Wharton School of Commerce of the University of Pennsylvania, completing a three-year course, and then, in 1913, he secured a position with the Hanover Bank and Trust Company, of Wilkes-Barre, as messenger boy. From this modest place he worked his way up to the responsible office of assistant cashier, and then, in 1922, made a change, going to Plains, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, as cashier of the Plains State Bank. On February 1, 1928, he accepted his present position as treasurer of the South Side Bank and Trust Company, of Wilkes- Barre, and is bringing to this work the ex- perience gained during fifteen years of close application to the banking business. He is one of the able and progressive men of the city and will doubtless contribute materially to the prosperity of the bank as the days and years pass. He is a director of Wyo- ming Valley Building and Loan Association. Mr. Bower is well known in fraternal circles. He is a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 655, Free and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chap- ter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar; Key- stone Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, of Scranton, in which he holds the thirty-second degree; and lrem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of Irem Temple Country Club, and is treasurer of the club and Shrine. He is also a member of the Knights of Malta, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and Lodge No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He holds membership in the Craftsmen's Club, the Lions Club, of which he is treasurer, and is identified with other organizations. Polit- ically, he gives support to the principles of the Republican party, and his religious affil- iation is with the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre.
Butler O. Bower was married, September 6, 1917, to Helen Black, daughter of John L. and Clara (Watson) Black, of Ashley, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of two children: Ruth B., and Butler O., Jr.
ROGER J. O'DONNELL-The descent of Roger J. O'Donnell, prominent member of the Luzerne County Bar, of Wilkes-Barre, with offices at No. 502 Bennett Building, is through the late Patrick and Mary O'Donnell, his par- ents, and their progenitors of Ireland. Pat- rick O'Donnell was born in Kellybegs, County Donegal, Ireland, April 10, 1837, and died March 7, 1911, aged seventy-four years. His wife was born in Adara, County Donegal, Ireland, in 1835, and died October 31, 1926, at the ripe old age of ninety-one years. Patrick O'Donnell and his wife were mar- ried in Luzerne County, having come to America when they were young. They be- came the parents of eight children: I. Mary A., deceased, was the wife of W. J. Purcell, of Freeland, Pennsylvania; she died at the age of thirty-five, having become the mother of four children. 2. Roger J., of whom fur- ther. 3. Patrick H., general foreman for the Newport News Shipbuilding Company at New- port News, Virginia, who died at the age of thirty-five years. 4. William, died while a student at Villanova College, Villanova, this State. 5. Rev. B. J. O'Donnell, died Janu- ary 31, 1926; a member of the Order of St. Augustine at New Orleans, Louisiana. 6. Joseph, died in childhood. 7. Peter R., prin- cipal of the public schools at Spangler, Penn- sylvania. 8. Catherine, single, engaged in business at Allentown, this State.
Patrick O'Donnell was a molder by trade and followed his trade for many years at Foundryville, Foster Township, Luzerne County, and later went with Coxe Brothers' Foundry at Drifton. He was consistently a member of the Democratic party and of the Roman Catholic Church.
Roger J. O'Donnell was born at Foundry- ville, Foster Township, near Eckley, Penn- sylvania. He attended public school until he was ten years of age, at which time he commenced work as a slate picker. He fol- lowed slate picking until he was thirteen years of age, when he began to learn the trade of a molder at Drifton, in Coxe Broth- ers' Foundry, where, as stated, his father had preceded him. He followed the trade of molder about eleven years, four years of which were put in as an apprentice. and seven years as a journeyman; being ambitious to add to his education, he attended night schools at Freeland, while working during the day time. In 1892 he entered Villanova College. He made the most of his opportunities here, and graduated in 1896 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. After finishing his college course he returned to Luzerne County and became a newspaper reporter on the Hazle- ton "Plain Speaker," a daily paper. Still ambitious to advance himself, he alternated between reporting and the study of law, mostly at night, and advanced so rapidly that he was enabled to pass the bar examina- tions and obtain admittance to the Bar of Luzerne County June 19, 1899. In the mean- time he had been reading law in the office of C. O. Stroh, of Freeland, this county. He entered upon the practice of his profession in Freeland and at that place maintained his law offices until 1906, when he established an office at Wilkes-Barre, which is now his main office; he also maintains a third office at White Haven, and through this combina- tion he has built up a clientele which covers a wide territory and has yielded him con- siderable prosperity.
Mr. O'Donnell has won high place among his associates and contemporaries. He is a leading member of the Luzerne County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania State Bar Association. In politics he is consistently a member of the Democratic party organiza- tion, although he has never offered his name for office. He belongs to the Freeland Coun- cil of the Knights of Columbus, and is a member of the Holy Savior Roman Catholic Church of Wilkes-Barre. His position at the bar may be imagined from the statement that he is the solicitor for the First National Bank of Freeland and the North End State Bank of Wilkes-Barre. He is a hard worker for civic movements of all kinds, and his purse is always open for worthy charities. During the World War he performed essential service and received the thanks of a grateful government.
Mr. O'Donnell was married, June 25, 1903, to Mary E. Kane, daughter of Edward and Alice Kane, of White Haven, both members of an old-established connection, and their union has been blessed with thirteen chil- dren: I. Joseph, educated in the public schools, graduated from the Wilkes-Barre High School at the age of sixteen years, from the Law School of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, at the age of nine- teen, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and at twenty years of age was the youngest man ever to have been admitted to the Bar of Luzerne County; he is truly a remarkable student, and has a promise of an exceedingly bright future before him. 2. Mary. 3. Roger J., Jr. 4. Geraldine. 5. Edmund. 6. Justine.
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7. Martha. 8. Clement. 9. Ruth; and four children died in infancy.
Mr. O'Donnell's standing in business, pro- fessional and social life is of the highest, and he enjoys the confidence and respect of the leaders in every walk of life in Wilkes- Barre. His career has been marked by strug- gles at every turn, as witness his exertions to rise above the station of a manual laborer, to get an education in the common schools, and then to obtain admittance to the bar that his splendid native ability might obtain full sway. It might be thought that having accomplished so much by his own efforts he would be satisfied to take life easier, but he has always said he expected to keep in the harness to the last. He is full of dynamic energy, a man of pleasing personality, many friends, and together with Mrs. O'Donnell is the center of a delightful home life. The Democratic party organization values his services highly in Luzerne County, and indeed, his influence extends in a quiet way over the State, for he is known to thousands of people whom he counts as his warm personal friends, and who know that when he speaks to them of men and measures he is actuated by the highest principles of good to the State and Nation. It is this type of citizen, who has dug in the earth with his hands, has combined brain with brawn, and finally has coordinated the works of hand, brain and heart, that democratic America proclaims as her very best.
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