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 32
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Mr. Scureman, throughout his life, ranked high in the fraternal and social life of his community. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he was affiliated with the Kingston Lodge, No. 395; Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; the Dien le Veut Commandery, Knights Templar; and Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also was a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Franklin Club and other social organizations. He was a director of the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre; a director of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce . and the Wilkes-Barre Credit Men's Association; and a trustee of the Kingston Methodist Episcopal Church. Ever eager to promote the best interests of his city, he was especially active in work on the West Side; and perhaps his greatest social activity was that with the Community Wel- fare Federation, for which he served on dif- ferent occasions as West Side chairman.
On August 3, 1893, Mr. Scureman married Sarah E. Smith, of Shickshinny, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of A. L. and Mary (McAfee) Smith. Of this union there was born one son, Murray S. Scureman. His birth date was May 29, 1899, and he re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Luzerne and Dorranceton. Later he was graduated with the class of 1917 from Wyoming Seminary. He then attended Princeton University, at Princeton, New Jersey, where he was graduated in 1921 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Since leaving college he has been associated in the man- agement of the Scureman Milling Company, of which he is now the active head. In his political views he is a Republican, and his religious affiliation is with the Kingston Methodist Episcopal Church, of which church he is a steward. During the World War, he was a member of the Students' Army Train- ing Corps at Princeton. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which his affiliations are with the Kingston Lodge, No. 395: Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; the Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar; and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Central Board of Football Officials-a national organization, and during his college training was a member of the Princeton team. He was secretary- treasurer of the Princeton Alumni Associa- tion of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and is a member of the Terrace Club of Princeton University. In addition to his duties with the Scureman Milling Company, he also is treasurer of the Old Homestead Baking Com- pany, of Wilkes-Barre, a director of the Homade Baking Company, of Scranton, and director of the Homade Baking Company of Johnson City, New York. He is one of the
active and progressive young business men of Luzerne County.
The death of the father, Richard H. Scure- man, which took place on June 28, 1928, de- prived this community of one of its foremost members of the milling trade and of a citizen of outstanding qualities, solid and substantial and useful to his city and State. A man of achievement, helpful in his attitude toward other people, lovable in character, he lived a life whose influence was ever for good and whose benefits to the community were many; while in his own family circle he was fondly cherished as an excellent husband and father. Wilkes-Barre will find it difficult to replace a man of his type.
G. FREDERICK PARRISH is the repre- sentative today of a family which has been long associated with the progress and well- being of Wilkes-Barre. He is prominent in business circles and is one of the substantial citizens of that progressive town. He is the only son of Frederick Brown Parrish, who departed this life September 3, 1885, after many years of activity as a leading repre- sentative of the business interests of Wilkes- Barre and the vicinity. G. Frederick Parrish is unmarried and resided with his mother, Mrs. Ella Drake (Reets) Parrish, in their beautiful residence at No. 248 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, until her death on February 9, 1929. After his preliminary edu- cation at Pomfret School Mr. Parrish con- tinned his studies at Yale, graduating from that institution in the class of 1905.
Following his graduation from the famous university, Mr. Parrish for two years was employed by Madeira, Hill and Company, of New York City and Philadelphia, after which he returned to Wilkes-Barre and immediately entered into business life. The Parrish family has for several generations been connected with the coal industry in and around Wilkes- Barre, therefore it is not surprising that in a very short time Mr. Parrish was holding the position of president of the Red Ash Coal Company of Wilkes-Barre, which office he filled until the month of November, 1926. At the present time he is a director of Burns Brothers of New York, the largest retail coal corporation in the world. In addition to his other business interests Mr. Parish is a direc- tor of the Wyoming National Bank of is Wilkes-Barre. He affiliated with St.
Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Parrish spends much of his leisure in athletics and he is a prominent member of the Westmoreland Club, the Wyoming Valley Country Club and the North Mountain Club. He is also a member of the New York Rac- quet and Tennis Club, the Rockaway Hunting Club of Cedarhurst, Long Island, and the Yale Club of New York. In politics he is a Republican but he has never cared to hold office, although tendered the opportunity on several occasions.
No history of Wilkes-Barre would be com- plete without some mention of the father of Mr. Parrish, the late Frederick Brown Par- rish. Up to the time of his death in 1885 the latter was prominently affiliated with the coal interests of Wilkes-Barre, holding the office of president of the Hillman Vein Coal Company and the Hanover Coal Company when that sad event occurred. Mr. Parrish was at the same time vice-president of the Red Ash Coal Company, director of the Pitts- ton Engine and Machine Company, and a member of the Western Anthracite Joint . Committee. Born at Piermont, Rockland County, New York, November 27, 1849, he spent his early youth in the Middle Western
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States owning to the fact that his father's business as railroad contractor kept his fam- ily almost continuously on the move. It was in 1862 that the family moved to Wilkes- Barre, where he attended the Wilkes-Barre Institute, later going to the Lawrenceville (New Jersey ) Academy. During one of his school vacations he worked with the en- gineering corps in charge of the construction of the Lehigh and Susquehanna Railroad from Mill Creek to Green Ridge. In 1869 and 1870 he served as apprentice in the machine shops of the Lehigh and Susquehanna Rail- road and in the latter year he started work with the engineering corps of the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company. Within two years he was advanced to the responsible post of assistant superintendent and the fol- lowing year he was named superintendent. It was in 1881 that Mr. Parrish assisted his father, George H. Parrish, and the Hon. Morgan B. Williams, in the organization of the Red Ash Coal Company, of which his father was elected president. His uncle, Charles Parrish, was head of the firm of Charles Parrish and Company and he ap- pointed Mr. Parrish general superintendent of that concern about this same time. The general recognition of his sound business ability and excellent judgment by his busi- ness associates led to his appointment to the presidency of the Hillman Vein Coal Com- pany and the Hanover Coal Company, to- gether with the other responsible offices he held to the day of his death.
THOMAS RAY DORRIS, M. D .- A promi- nent factor in the medical profession, Dr. Thomas Ray Dorris occupies a high place in the estimation of his fellow-citizens of Nanti- coke, being one of the youngest and most advanced physicians practicing in the State. In recent years there have been so many remarkable discoveries in the medical world, some of them highly revolutionary as com- pared with the practice and teaching of pre- vious decades, that medical and surgical science has reached new heights, and the people of Nanticoke are to be congratulated upon having in their midst a physician like Dr. Dorris, who follows carefully the latest developments in the realm of medicine and utilizes the newest and most modern methods and appliances in his noble work of minister- ing to the needs of suffering humanity.
Dr. Dorris was born in Shenandoah, June 10, 1899, son of Dennis and Mary (Brennan) Dorris. He was educated in the public schools of Nanticoke, graduating from high school with the class of 1917. He entered Bucknell University, from which he received his degree of Bachelor of Science, in 1921. He then matriculated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and diligently applied himself to the long and arduous studies in prepara- tion for a medical career, distinguishing him- self by his intimate knowledge of the various subjects and his thorough attention to detail. He received his degree of Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1925, and served as interne at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, until 1926, and he is still a member of the staff of this institution. In 1926, he came to Nanticoke, opened an office, engaged in the general prac- tice of his profession, and soon acquired a large and important following, which in- creased steadily as people recognized his splendid qualities and superior ability. In the short time that Dr. Dorris has been lo- cated in this town, he has won the respect and esteem of the entire townspeople, as he takes a deep and sincere interest in the civic affairs of the community, and his advice and support are eagerly sought in questions re-
lating to improvement and public welfare. He is a member of the county and State medical associations, the American Medical Association, and the American Legion. His fraternities are Sigma Chi, and Kappa Beta Phi, of Jefferson Medical College. His re- ligious affiliations are with St. Francis' Roman Catholic Church.
HARRY HARTLAND ROTH-One of the well-known and outstanding business men of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, is Harry H. H. Roth, whose business, electrical contract- ing, has been established for many years at No. 75 North Main Street, where he also car- ries a full line of electrical supplies and equipment. Mr. Roth also conducts a key and gun shop and is a locksmith along with his other skill as a mechanic and electrician. He is the son of Ernest F. and Eliza D. (Ton- kin) Roth. His father died on August 10. 1917, at the age of seventy-one years. His mother passed away October 17, 1928, aged seventy-six years. Ernest F. Roth was the son of Charles Christian Roth, who built the three-story brick building now occupied by his grandson, Harry H. Roth. This is one of the oldest brick buildings in Wilkes-Barre. The Roth family is one of the oldest families here and Mr. Harry H. Roth's mother, Eliza D. (Tonkin) Roth, is a daughter of John and Nancy (Jeffrey) Tonkin, who were natives of England. The Tonkin family was origi- nally French when the name was spelled Tonquin. The Jeffrey family is one of the old English families dating back before the days of Oliver Cromwell. Ernest F. and Eliza D. (Tonkin) Roth were the parents of five chil- dren: 1. Harry H., of whom further. 2. Carl, died in childhood. 3. Raymond R., of New York City. 4. Ernest, of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. 5. Helen Louise, the wife of Edward Goldsmith of New York City.
Harry H. Roth was educated in the public schools and then at the Wyoming Seminary. After he finished his school work, he imme- diately entered business by working in his father's store at the old stand. When his father died in 1917, he took over the business and has since conducted it. Under Mr. Roth's management, this business has progressed and shown a steady prosperous growth which can easily be attributed to the foresight of its manager in keeping it abreast of the times.
Mr. Roth is a member of Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons; he is a member of Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar; the Consistory of Scranton, thirty-second degree; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks; the Irem Country Club and St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Demo- crat.
On August 18, 1920, Harry H. Roth married Hilda Nelson of Wilkes-Barre, the daughter of John A. and Martha (Davis) Nelson. Mr. and Mrs. Roth have no children.
M. A. OPPENHEIM-During the greater part of the time which has passed since he was seventeen years of age, M. A. Oppenheim has been engaged in the retail clothing busi- ness. He has also for many years been inter- ested in the furniture business, and at the present time (1929) he is president of the People's Outfitting Company, whose estab- lishment is located at Nos. 99-105 South Main Street, in Wilkes-Barre; a member of the board of directors of. the Associated Furni- ture Corporation, of Wilmington, Delaware:
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and vice-president of the Wilkes-Barre Mort- gage Company.
Mr. Oppenheim is one of the eight children of Max Oppenheim, who was a merchant, and of Yetta (Ansense) Oppenheim, both of whom are deceased. The children were: M. A., of further mention; Delia, who married A. Sil- verman, a Chicago merchant; Alex, who is a merchant in Rockford, Illinois; Anna, de- ceased; Mamie, deceased; Reuben, deceased; Lillian, deceased; and Isadore, who is a merchant in Gary, Indiana. Born in Detroit, Michigan, May 3, 1867, M. A. Oppenheim was still an infant when his parents removed from Detroit to Peoria, Illinois, and in the last named city he grew to be a lad of seven- teen years, attending the public schools. When he was seventeen he went to Gridley, McLean County, Illinois, where he began his long connection with the clothing business. After gaining the necessary experience he became a traveling salesman in South America, and this enlarged field gave him ample opportunity to see many places and to become acquainted with the business oppor- tunities of numerous cities and towns. At the age of twenty-four years he located in Des Moines, Iowa, and again engaged in the clothing business. After a few years of suc- cessful operation there, he again made a change, this time going to Quincy, Illinois, where he changed his line of business activ- ity, by engaging in the furniture business. Later, he removed to Chicago, Illinois, and continued in the furniture business there until 1915, when he came to Wilkes-Barre, where he has since been located. In 1915 he purchased an interest in the People's Out- fitting Company, then located at No. 10 South Main Street, but later removed to the pres- ent location at Nos. 99-105 South Main Street, and he has since that time devoted his at- tention largely to the development of the interests of that concern. As president of the company he is giving to his work the bene- fits of his experience gained in several dif- ferent localities, and the People's Outfitting Company has developed into one of the well- known and largely patronized establishments of the city. Along with his activities in this connection, Mr. Oppenheim has retained his interest in the furniture business, and is a member of the board of directors of the Associated Furniture Corporation, of Wil- mington, Delaware; and has also extended his business interests, serving as vice-president of the Wilkes-Barre Mortgage Company. He is a member of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce. He was one of the leading factors in the reorganization of the old Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, of which he is now a director, and takes an active part in the civic and philanthropic work of the city, being a member of the Wyoming Valley Associated Charities, which organization he serves as president; and a member of the board of directors of the Young Men's Hebrew Association. He is a member of the Masonic Order and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks: vice-president of the Wyoming Valley Auto- mobile Association; a past president of the Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis Club; and a member of the Fox Hill Country Club. He is also an active and interested director of the Wilkes- Barre Playground Association, which he helped to organize.
M. A. Oppenheim was married, March 24, 1896, to Jene Danenbaum, of Des Moines, Iowa, and they make their home at No. 155 West River Street, Wilkes-Barre.
JOHN B. WALLIS, JR .- Retired from active business January 1, 1929, John B. Wallis, Jr.,
formerly district manager for the Hercules Powder Company, has taken an active part in the business, social and fraternal life of Wilkes-Barre, and was vice-president of the First National Bank of Ashley, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Wallis was born on January 23, 1876, at Ashley, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, the son of John B. and Sallie (Fenner) Wallis. His mother died when he was only eight years old. His father, a native of England, came to Luzerne County in his eighteenth year, and was a prominent citizen of Ashley Borough for over fifty years. He died in 1915, at the age of eighty years, while on a visit to England.
John B. Wallis, Jr., entered the public schools of his birthplace, and later he at- tended Woods Business College. When he completed his education he entered business with his father, who was the agent and dis- trict manager for the Climax Powder Com- panv, and this arrangement continued until his father's death. Since that time Mr. Wallis has carried on alone the business of his company, the oldest and one of the largest dealers in powder and explosives in Luzerne County.
By political inclination Mr. Wallis is a member of the Republican party, but he has never sought nor cared for public office. He is affiliated fraternally with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of Coalville Lodge, No. 474, of Ashley. In this organization he is also a member of Caldwell Consistory, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the thirty-second degree. He is a member of the Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and of the Irem Country Club, the Westmoreland Club, the Scranton Club, the Fox Hill Country Club, and the Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of Grace Protestant Episcopal Church of Kingston, Pennsylvania.
In 1915, Mr. Wallis married Anna Doney, who was born at Ashley, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Elijah and Mary Elizabeth (Par- sons) Doney, both deceased, the father form- erly engaged in the hotel business in Ashley.
WILLIAM L. GRALA, M. D .- The healing of the sick and maimed has been the life work of Dr. William L. Grala, one of Hazle- ton's leading physicians, and he is noted throughout Luzerne County for his skill, his fine ability and his kindly manner. Dr. Grala was born in Scranton, Lackawanna County, June S, 1889, the son of Peter and Mary (Morcinick) Grala, both natives of Poland, who came to this country in their early youth. After a few years in Scranton, the father of Dr. Grala located in Hazleton, where he was employed in the mines. He passed away in Hazleton at the age of fifty- seven years.
The early education of Dr. Grala was ac- quired in the public schools of Hazleton, after which he assumed a clerical position at the First National Bank, in Hazleton, Penn- sylvania, for three years. He then entered the State Normal School at Bloomsburgh, gradu- ating in 1914. Deciding to become a doctor he then took the medical course at Temple University, from which he received his de- gree of Doctor of Medicine in 1919. He served for a time as interne at St. Agnes' Hospital, Philadelphia, and in 1920 entered the Civil Service, taking a post with the Bureau of War Risk. He was first stationed in Phila- delphia and was later transferred to Wash- ington, District of Columbia, where he was for some six months in the Veterans' Bureau. In 1922 he returned to Hazleton, where he
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started in practice, which speedily grew to be an extensive and remunerative clientele. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical societles and associations, the Kiwanis International, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He is an active mem- ber of the Crippled Children's Association, and is active in all work for the miners and their families. He is affiliated with the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, and is very prominent in all civic and community affairs. Dr. Grala has a pleasing personality and is well liked throughout the community. His own early struggles have given him a kindly feeling for others and a broad understanding which he might otherwise have failed to possess. His patients are of the highest standing in the community, but he ever finds time to give of his skill to relieve the suffer- ings of all who appeal to him, whatever their rank or station.
On September 26, 1922, Dr. Grala married Magdalene Saffran. Mrs. Grala died Septem- ber 29, 1923, following the birth of their child, William L., Jr. Dr. Grala and his son reside in their very pretty home' at No. 101 North Church Street, Hazleton.
HARRY HARLAN SWAINBANK-Account- ed prominent among the citizens of Wilkes- Barre and in this city proprietor of a phar- macy comparable in size, service and extent of business with any retail arng enterprise in Luzerne County, Harry Harlan Swainbank is widely known and respected in the Wyo- ming Valley, wherein the family has been represented honorably for more than one hundred and fifty years.
Mr. Swainbank's ancestors were of the first settlers in the Wyoming Valley, and after the dreadful battle and massacre of July 3, 1778, were forced to flee for safety. They returned, however, reestablishing them- selves with good foundation in the fertile soil of the valley. In 1804 was born Jefferson Swainbank, Mr. Swainbank's grandfather, who, for many years, drove the old stage coach between Wilkes-Barre and Easton, Pennsylvania, some hundred years ago. Jef- ferson Swainbank was father of a large family. Three of his sons served under the Union's colors in the Civil War; namely, Miller H., of whom further; John, and Samuel Swainbank. Samuel was killed in battle in Virginia; for a long time John was held pris- oner at Andersonville. Miller H. Swainbank, father of Mr. Swainbank, was by trade a wagon-maker and blacksmith; a brave man in war, serving with the rank of first ser- geant in Company K, 104th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Prior to 1880 he plied his trade at Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, and in that year came to Wilkes-Barre. He married Sarah Barber. They had children: 1. Jennie, who died in childhood. 2. Ella, who died in 1913, and was unmarried. 3. Harry Harlan, of whom directly. 4. Charles Miller, in the elec- trical supply and repair business at Williams- port, Pennsylvania. 5. Lillian, who married George F. Powell, Rochester, New York. 6. George Guthrie, merchant, dealer in furni- ture, Kingston. Miller H. Swainbank died May 2, 1927, at the age of eighty-six years. The death of his good wife preceded his own, in 1919, she having attained the age of seventy-eight. Both parents early incul- cated in their children those habits of thought and conduct which have remained with them into manhood and womanhood, and to which are attributable in great measure their characters, and their substan- tial positions in their respective communities. Harry Harlan Swainbank, third child and
eldest son of Miller H. and Sarah (Barber) Swainbank, was born at Tunkhannock, De- cember 23, 1870, and there had his earliest years in grammar school. He was nine years of age when his parents came to Wilkes- Barre. Here Mr. Swainbank continued his education. At sixteen he went to work in the drug store operated by Wolfe & Company, later entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and from it graduated, in 1890, at the age of twenty years. Mr. Swainbank re- turned to Wilkes-Barre, and soon went into business for himself. His first drug store was at No. 82 South Main Street; his second, and present establishment, is at No. 29 West Market Street, to which address he removed in 1925. Here he conducts one of the most modernly appointed and stocked of drug houses in the city, and himself in point of experience is one of the oldest pharmacists in the community. Politically Mr. Swainbank is allied with the Republican party, finding its principles most satisfactory. He is a member of Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Com- mandery, 45, Knights Templar; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and the Irem Temple Country Club, Wilkes-Barre. During the World War Mr. Swainbank was active on the various com- mittees and boards in charge of war work, and took part in the several campaigns of the Liberty Loan. He is a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. His charitable inclinations are highly sympathetic, and his contributions to all worthy appeals generous.
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