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 31
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At the session of the Oneida Conference, held in Wilkes-Barre, August 9, 1843, the matter was fully discussed, and the necessary preliminary steps were taken by the appoint- ment of David Holmes, Jr., Lucian S. Bennett, Thomas Myers, Madison F. Myers, Lord But- ler, Sharp D. Lewis, and Silas Comfort as "Trustees of a contemplated seminary of learning to be located either in Wilkes-
Barre or Kingston," according to the amount of subscriptions obtained in each place with- in a given time. Kingston, providing the larger subscription, was the chosen locality. At the first meeting of the board of trustees David Holmes was elected president; Silas Comfort, secretary: and Madison F. Myers, treasurer. The first building, a brick struc- ture of three stories, thirty-seven by seventy feet, was erected and opened for students in 1844. The size of the chapel was twenty- four by twenty-nine feet; the recitation room, thirteen by twenty-nine feet; the room for the primary department, twenty by twenty- nine feet; with some twenty rooms in all for boarding students. The cost of the building was about five thousand dollars. Such was the beginning of this educational enterprise- one building, two teachers and fifty scholars. The trustees secured as their principal (see Bennett sketch) the Rev. Reuben Nelson, A. M., then a young man, but who afterward abundantly demonstrated his fitness to in- angurate and carry forward such an enter- prise to a successful consummation. Under such leadership, seconded by the energetic cooperation of a noble-minded and self- denying board of trustees and a corps of efficient teachers, the institution attained a popularity and influence second to none of its class in the land.
In half a dozen years after the erection of the first edifice, such was the patronage obtained that an additional building was demanded. In the spirit of an unselfish liberality, the late William Swetland volunteered to erect the projected additional building at his own expense. The second building was named by the trustees Swetland Hall, in memory of the respected donor. At the same time Hon. Ziba Bennett contributed one thousand dollars as a foundation for a library. This was there- after called, in honor of the donor, the Ben- nett Library.
In the early spring of 1853, additional fa- cilities were deemed essential, and the build- ing of a wing or wings to the main building was contemplated, with a view to affording accommodations to a larger number of students. On March 15, 1853, the seminary buildings were burned. While the brick and stone and ashes were yet warm, the trustees with undaunted heroism, in their meeting on the day of the fire, resolved that a committee of three be appointed to draw plans and specifications for the rebuilding of the semi- nary. This showed the stuff these men were made of. Again did the tried friend of the cause, William Swetland, come to the rescue, and he nobly undertook at his own expense the work of rebuilding and enlarging Swet- land Hall. Through the liberality of Payne Pettebone, George Swetland, A. Y. Smith, Isaac C. Shoemaker, and others, a third building was erected about the same time, to which the name Union Hall was given. Thus, through fire and disaster, larger and better buildings were erected, and the three blocks -Administration Hall in the center, with Swetland Hall on the left and Union Hall on the right-stood a noble monument to the energy and liberality of the men of Wyoming Valley.
A few years afterward the ladies' boarding hall was destroyed by fire. Then a fierce tornado swept over the place and unroofed a building. Then a flood did more or less dam- age to the seminary property. Yet with heroic spirit the board of trustees measured up to every exigency, so that repeated diffi- culties have been overcome, financial embar- rassments removed, and the entire machinery kept moving without intermission and with- out a jar.
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The Civil War seemed for a brief period to interfere with the wonted success of the institution. Yet even with this temporary drawback, the trustees projected other plans for the success of the school. A commercial department was added in 1863. Professor W. S. Smythe, afterward principal of Cazenovia Seminary, was secured to take charge of the commercial college, and under his efficient supervision it proved a decided success. Pro- fessor L. L. Sprague was the head of this department for many years, and under his management it became an institution equal to the best schools of the kind at that time in the country. In 1882 Professor Willis L. Dean, A. M., became principal. He skillfully developed this department in all its branches into the highest form of commercial training.
At the close of the war it was found that the enlargement of the seminary was abso- lutely required. The three buildings had al- ready been united by the addition of wings, yet this did not meet the demand for room. In the year 1866 it was determined to erect a memorial building to be named Centenary Hall, to commemorate the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America in 1766. This was completed in 1867, at a cost of about twenty-five thousand dollars. These buildings are all under one roof, three and four stories high, with three hundred and fifty feet frontage. The edifice as a whole is an ornament to the valley. There are ample accommodations for one hundred and seventy- five boarding students and three hundred and twenty-five day scholars.
At the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held in Brooklyn, New York, in May, 1872, Rev. Dr. Nelson, after serving as principal for a period of twenty- eight years, during which time he developed his skill as an educator and financier, was elected senior book agent at New York, and resigned his position as principal. He was succeeded by Rev. David Copeland, A. M., president of the Female College of Hills- boro, Ohio, a gentleman whose literary tastes and attainments and acknowledged abilities and extended experience as an educator ren- dered him preeminently fitted for the impor- tant and responsible position of principal of an institution of this grade. Dr. Copeland remained at the head of the seminary until 1882, when Dr. L. L. Sprague became the principal. He was eminently a Christian gen- tleman and ripe scholar. He enlarged the curriculum of the school and prepared the institution to do the advanced work that it has been able to do in later years. Never was the seminary more successful than now. The course of study is most thorough and com- prehensive, and will compare favorably with that of the highest institutions of its class. This time-honored and deservedly popular in- stitution receives its full share of patronage, and under its present efficient management is destined to exert a still more potent influence in the education of the youth of our land.
The system of instruction adopted is thor- ough and designed to prepare students for the active duties of life or for a course of professional or collegiate training. There are seven departments of study provided, for each of which a diploma is awarded, namely: College preparation, literature and science, commerce, music, art, oratory, and home economics. As an evidence of the high grade of scholarship of young people prepared here for college today they stand among the first at the best colleges in the country. Many prominent people distinguished in church. State and the home have been educated in this seminary.
In 1887, through the liberality of friends of
the Seminary, Nelson Memorial Hall was erected in memory of Dr. Nelson, the first principal, at a cost of $30,000. In 1894 Abram Nesbitt, a resident of Kingston, who had shown already his friendship for the school in many ways, with large beneficence erected Nesbitt Science Hall, at a cost of $35,000. During this year, also, the Wyoming Field was purchased, through the gifts of many friends of the seminary, and fitted up for athletic purposes at a cost of $22,000. In 1897, Mrs. Caroline M. Pettebone (daughter of William Swetland, mentioned before in this article) who had been for many years a most liberal supporter of the school, erected the Caroline M. Pettebone Gymnasium at a cost of $33,000.
The fine material equipment of the semi- nary, with its high reputation as an educa- tional force, places it, in rank, among the first half dozen preparatory schools of the country, and makes it an ornament to Wyo- ming Valley and a factor of inestimable value in developing and maintaining its so- cial and intellectual life, The graduates of the seminary, from all departments, number about forty-five hundred. The present (1928) attendance averages seven hundred students each term, and the number of students from the beginning have been about eighteen thousand. The faculty numbers thirty-seven. The endowment has now reached about one million seven hundred thousand dollars. The friends of the Seminary are hoping that this amount will soon be increased to three mil- lions in order to provide for larger salaries for teachers and pensions for those teachers who give a large proportion of their life- work to the seminary.
The Sprague Memorial, now erected in honor of Dr. Sprague's service as a teacher in the seminary for more than sixty years (completed in 1928), provides administration rooms, accommodations for the Bennett Li- brary, twenty-one recitation rooms, the art room, the four literary society rooms, the swimming pool, and the girls' gymnasium. This is the most imposing building on the seminary campus, is fireproof and modern in every detail.
JAMES J. TORMAY-The man who is ven- turesome enough to attempt small things, regardless of consequences to himself, and who is not afraid of hard work, is usually the one who soars ahead in the business world. Such a person is James J. Tormay. Today, when still young in years he is head of a successful warehouse business dealing in food products; and he is also a sugar broker, familiarly known as "Jim" Tormay, "the sugar man." The success which has attended his efforts thus far has come to him solely through his own initiative and resourceful- ness, and from present indications will con- tinne. The slogan on which his business has grown is "Building for permanency-on honesty."
Mr. Tormay is a native of the little town of Plymouth, where he resided until three years ago, before moving to Wilkes-Barre. He was born August 5, 1893, the son of Hugh J. Tormay, a native of Ireland, born there in 1873, and his wife, Elizabeth Cassidy, who was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Both parents are living, the father engaged in business as a salesman.
James J. Tormay, after completing the elementary and high school courses of study, took up a business course at the Wharton School of Business, after which he began business as a shipping clerk for Clark Broth- ers Stores. He remained at this employment for a number of years, then entered the
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employ of Armour and Company as a sales- man. After two years, he severed his connec- tion with this firm and found the same kind of work with the H. O. Cereal Company, where he remained for another two years. At the end of this time he felt confident that he had the necessary experience for entering upon a business of his own, and in 1923 started a food products and sugar brokerage business under his own name. This was located in Plymouth, but in 1924 he moved to Wilkes-Barre, with his office in the Merchants' Warehouse Building. His business outgrowing these quarters, he moved, in 1926, to his present office and warehouse at Penn Avenue and Union Street. His business is steadily growing, six being the number of employees now on his payroll.
Mr. Tormay's political views are those of the Democratic party. He belongs to the Kiwanis Club, and the Wyoming Valley Country Club, and his religious affiliation is with St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Tormay married, in 1914, Marie G. O'Connell, of Plymouth, daughter of Charles S. and Anna (Cahalan) O'Connell, to whom was born six children: Thomas, Marie, James, William, Edward, and Claire.
LEON KURTZ WILLMAN, D. D .- Pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkes-Barre, which, under his ministry, has grown and prospered until its membership numbered more than 1,600 persons (1927), and Sunday school attendance in proportion. Leon Kurtz Willman, Doctor of Divinity, is a native of the State of Pennsylvania, born at Pottstown, July 26, 1873, a son of Mabery and Esther G. (Dry) Willman, deceased.
Mabery Willman was for many years a merchant of produce and groceries in Potts- town; in all he engaged in this enterprise for some twenty-five years in that commun- ity, and was there high in the estimation of mercantile associates and the public. He took part in communal projects whenever the request was made, and was accounted one of the public-spirited citizens of the town. Mabery Willman married Esther Gul- din Dry, and they became the parents of two children who grew to maturity: Eliz- abeth Maude, who married Wallace W. Dill, Doctor of Medicine, of Pottstown, and who died in 1916; and Rev. Dr. Leon Kurtz.
Rev. Dr. Leon Kurtz Willman attended the public schools of Pottstown, and grad- uated from high school with the class of 1890. Then for three years he attended the Hill School, completing his studies in this in 1893, when he matriculated in Wesleyan Uni- versity, at Middletown, Connecticut, whence he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1897, holding membership in Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity. For a year, then, he undertook courses in the Drew Theological Seminary, at Madison, New Jersey, and in the fall of 1898, at the age of twenty-five years, took charge of his first post as minis- ter, at Waterhury, Vermont, under the Ver- mont Methodist Episcopal Conference. Here he was pastor, to the great pleasure of the parish, members of which appreciated his devotion to the Gospel and their spiritual Welfare, for a period of four years; and when, in 1902, he was transferred to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Montpelier, Vermont, his loss was keenly felt in Water- bury by those with whom he had been in contact. The same was true in Montpelier, when, after two years of faithful service, he was transferred to the Philadelphia Con- ference, and was granted leave of absence to join the faculty of the Hill Preparatory School at Pottstown, in which he had been
a student. Here he taught Biblical history, with interpretations, for three years, and in 1907 was reinstated as minister, appointed by the Philadelphia Conference to the Spring Garden Methodist Episcopal Church of Phila- delphia, where he served for seven years. In the last year of this charge, his health, which had been taxed in exercise of theolog- ical duties, began to fail; and on this account he was appointed to pastorship of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Asbury Park, New Jersey, and there remained four years. But in 1918, his health having mended, he gave up this charge to become associate field director of the American Red Cross, in charge of the Embarkation Hospital at New- port News, Virginia, until 1919, when he was appointed to the pastorate of the Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church at Camden, New Jersey; and in 1920 he was transferred to the pastorate of the First Methodist Epis- copal Church of Wilkes-Barre, under the Wyoming Conference.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkes-Barre is one of the three oldest churches in the city. These three churches joined together for services in the "Old Ship Zion," a devotional structure which in early colonial days stood on the public square, and thereby formed an interesting highlight in religious history. In the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, Dr. Willman has a place of active service as chairman of the com- mission on social service. He is a trustee of Wyoming Seminary.
Rev. Dr. Willman participates actively in the material as well as the spiritual welfare work of Wilkes-Barre, and during the years of residence here has occupied a distinctive place in a number of progressive enterprises, which his effort physically and mentally has done much to further. A Republican and staunch in support of the party, still he is not greatly concerned with exercising the influence that he may hold in political mat- ters. Fraternally, however, he is most active. He is a member of the Wilkes-Barre Rotary Club, the Greek Letter college fraternities of Psi Upsilon and Phi Beta Kappa (which last is an honorary scholastic organiza- tion), Lodge No. 61, of the Free and Ac- cepted Masons, Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, of the Royal Arch Masons, Dien le Veut Com- mandery, No. 45 of Knights Templar, Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the Shrine Country Club. In literary fields Dr. Willman has achieved a dignified position through author- ship of a volume, "Men of the Old Testa- ment," and the "Pastor's Vade Mecum," a hand-book for ministers. Based upon the merit of this work, his alma mater conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1914.
Rev. Dr. Leon Kurtz Willman married, January 17, 1901, Anne Lydia Judkins, of Bristol, New Hampshire. Mrs. Willman is a daughter of Rev. George Janvrin and Myra (Dolloff) Judkins, of Bristol.
MAX TISCHLER, M. D .- Since the close of the World War Dr. Max Tischler has been engaged in medical practice in Wilkes- Barre. In addition to his general practice he has specialized in obstetrics and in gyne- cology. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Clinic No. 1, and of the obstetrical staff of Wilkes-Barre Gen- eral Hospital. During the world war he was a member of the Medical Corps, stationed at Fort Oglethorpe, at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Joseph Tischler, father of Dr. Tischler, located in Wilkes-Barre in 1895, and was for a quarter of a century one of the active
St. Irvin Cans. M. D
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business men of the city, continuing active to the time of his death, which occurred when he was fifty-three years of age. He married Fannie Braun, and they were the parents of six children: Dr. Max, of further mention: Oscar S .; Ethel A .; Sarah R .; Cecil; and Emma M.
Dr. Max Tischler was born in New York City, April 13, 1892, and was brought to Wilkes-Barre by his parents when he was about three years of age. As a boy he attended the public schools, graduating from Wilkes-Barre High School in 1909, and the following fall he entered Lafayette College, at Easton, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the class of 1913, receiving at that time the degree of Bachelor of Phil- osophy. In the fall of that same year he began his professional study in Johns Hop- kins University, of Baltimore, from which he was graduated in 1917, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then returned to Wilkes-Barre and became an interne in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, but in April, 1917, he enlisted in the Medical Corps and was called to active duty in May, 1918, sta- tioned at Fort Oglethorpe, at Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he remained for fourteen months, being mustered out of service June 15, 1919, with the rank of first lieutenant of the Medical Corps. Upon his return to civilian life he came back to Wilkes-Barre, took the State board examinations, which he successfully passed in July, 1919, and opened his office at No. 66 South Washing- ton Street and later moved to No. 132 South Franklin Street, in Wilkes-Barre, where he has since been engaged in practice. In addi- tion to a very large and steadily growing general practice, Dr. Tischler is a specialist in obstetrics and in gynecology. He is a member of the Luzerne County Medical So- ciety, of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Asso- ciation. Fraternally, he is identified with Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and with Fidelity Lodge, No. 655, Free and Accepted Masons. He was appointed chairman of Child Health activity in Luzerne County in 1928. He has served as a member of the board of directors of the Young Men's Hebrew Association, and is one of the active citizens of this city.
Dr. Max Tischler was married, April 30, 1918, to Helen B. McClosky, of Wilkes-Barre, and they are the parents of two children: Lewis Jay, and Asher Aba.
HARLEM IRVIN EVANS, M. D .- Thoroughly trained in his profession, Dr. Harlem Irvin Evans has practiced medicine in Ashley, Pennsylvania, since 1921. During this period of service, he has been active at all times in the care of the sick and injured, building up a very successful general practice to which he has given much of his time. He is other- wise active in the community life, however, serving as medical adviser of the Ashley Board of Health, and he is a member of many local clubs and fraternal organizations.
Harlem I. (H. Irvin) Evans was born March 7, 1895, at Wilkes-Barre, a son of Daniel H. Evans, a mason and contractor, who was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and of Mar- garet Evens, who was born in Wales. Har- lem Irvin Evans attended the public schools of Wilkes-Barre and the high school there, from which he was graduated in 1913, and later entered Jefferson Medical College, where he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1920. In 1921 he was an interne in the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital coming, soon afterward, to Ashley, where he has since made his home. From 1923 until 1927 he was
a member of the medical staff of the Wilkes- Barre General Hospital, and in 1927, he was appointed assistant surgeon there, a position which he still holds. Dr. Evans is medical examiner for the Travellers Insurance Com- pany, the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Connecticut General Life In- surance Company, the Prudential Insurance Company, the Metropolitan Insurance Com- pany, the Lincoln Insurance Company, the National Life Insurance Company, the Balti- more Life Insurance Company, and the Mon- arch Life Insurance Company. He is also on the medical staff of Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Dr. Evans is also captain in the 103d Medical Regiment of the Pennsylvania National Guard.
Politically, he is a member of the Repub- lican party, and he is a member of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania State, and the Ameri- can Medical associations. He is affiliated fra- ternally with the Knights of Pythias, and with the Free and Accepted Masons, in which organization he is a member of Lodge No. 655, Shekinah Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, of the Knights Templar, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Lions Club and of the Franklin Club. He attends the Pres- byterian Church of Wilkes-Barre.
RICHARD H. SCUREMAN-For years as- sociated prominently with the milling indus- try of Pennsylvania, Richard H. Scureman was regarded as an outstanding figure in the business and industrial life of Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County, having maintained his place of business for years in Wilkes-Barre and lived in Kingston. He took a lively interest in all affairs of his town, county and State, and in the course of a busy and useful career acquired a large number of faithful friends and acquaintances, all of whom learned that they could thoroughly trust him in transactions of any sort and came to admire the man's splendid qualities of character and to love him dearly. His death, needless to say, was an occasion of deep and sincere sorrow in Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding towns and countryside.
Mr. Scureman was born in Sullivan County November 25, 1860, son of Apollos E. and Lydia (Wilt) Scureman. His father, a drover and stock dealer, owned a large butchering establishment in Sullivan County, where he was a widely known and highly respected citizen, having been a son of Henry Scure- man, the original settler of the family in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, who came here from New Jersey in the early years of the last century. Apollos E. and Lydia E. (Wilt) Scureman were the parents of seven children: 1. Richard H., of whom this is a record. 2. Anna, who married John J. Lantz. 3. Alice, who is the widow of Langley C. Smith, of New York City. 4. Emma, who became the wife of G. J. Clark, a leading attorney of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 5. Francis, who married H. M. Kellogg, of Lopez, Sullivan County. 6. Charles G., a resident of Jersey Shore, Lycoming County. 7. George W., of Brockton, Massachusetts.
Richard H. Scureman received his early education in the public schools, and grew to manhood at Dushore. Later he clerked in McKnight's store, in Plains, and in 1878 entered the employ of Thomas Waddell at the Waddell colliery in Luzerne, where he was for nearly fifteen years chief clerk. Then, in 1892, he entered the milling busi- ness in that city, becoming associated with A. T. Gangloff and G. J. Clark in an enter-
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prise known as Scureman, Gangloff and Com- pany, merchant millers. Six years later, in 1898, he joined forces with E. S. Millard, forming the firm of Millard and Scureman, also merchant millers, in Kingston. This partnership lasted until 1919, when Mr. Scureman purchased the milling business of the late John Fennimore, on South Pennsyl- vania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, forming what is now known as the Scureman Milling Com- pany. In all his work in the milling trade, Mr. Scureman showed himself to be a man of outstanding talents and business capabil- ities, and built for himself a large business in this part of the State. After he formed his own company, he admitted his son, Mur- ray S. Scureman, into the enterprise, and this son now is at the head of the business.
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