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 33
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On December 9, 1908, Mr. Swainbank was united in marriage with Florence Wise, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, daughter of William E. and Sarah (Campbell) Wise; and they are the parents of two children, Sarah and Louise.
EDGAR LYONS KLIPPLE-Conducting a prosperous business on the place where his father established himself three-quarters of a century ago, Edgar Lyons Klipple is the head of the oldest establishment in Wilkes- Barre which has been operated under the same name for such a period. Like his father, he has won from his fellow-citizens their recognition of a citizenship of high value to all, his character and life of sincerity and fair dealing being a proud escutcheon. Aside from his business affairs he has always taken a deep interest in all civic matters that are a part of communal life and in those fra- ternal organizations that bring into closer contact the individuals with whom he is associated otherwise. These varied forms of his activities have made him one of the most substantial of the citizens of this section of the State of Pennsylvania, holding the re- spect and admiration of all.
Edgar Lyons Klipple was born in Wilkes- Barre, July 19, 1867, a son of Conrad and Mary Ann (Hutchins) Klipple, both deceased. Conrad Klipple was born in Germany in 1817 and died in Wilkes-Barre, September 2, 1885. His wife was a native of Wilkes-Barre, born here in 1827 and deceased here, June 12, 1906. They were the parents of six children: Thomas, Sarah, James, Elizabeth, and Lillie, all deceased: and Edgar Lyons, of this re- view, the only survivor. Conrad Klipple, the father, was a Democrat in politics and was one of the first vestrymen of St. Stephen's Church, in Wilkes-Barre. He came here from Germany when a young man and, after a few years of varying work, established himself in the shoe husiness in 1854 at the place where his son now conducts his own business
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of sporting and athletic goods and general stationery supplies.
Edgar L. Klipple was educated in the public schools of Wilkes-Barre, and at the Wilkes- Barre Academy. He is a Republican and in 1905 was elected on that ticket to the Common Council from the Seventh Ward of Wilkes- Barre, in which body he served during 1906 and 1907. He belongs to St. Stephen's Episco- pal Church and has membership in the order of Free and Accepted Masons, Fidelity Lodge, No. 655; to the Consistory, Scottish Rite Ma- sons, of Bloomsburg, holding the thirty-second degree. He is also a member of the Craftsmen's Club, Franklin, and the Wilkes-Barre Auto- mobile Club and is a life member of the Wyo- ming Historical and Geological Society, also belonging to the United Sportsmen's Club of Pennsylvania, and a member of the John Burroughs Association of New York City. He is very fond of hunting and fishing.
In 1890, Edgar Lyons Klipple adopted his nephew, Edgar Klipple, born in 1886, who, for the last twenty years has been associated with him in business. He also is a member of Fidelity Lodge, No. 655, Free and Accepted Masons, having the thirty-second degree; also of Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Vent Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar; Caldwell Consistory, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Scottish Rite Masons. During the participation of the United States in the World War he served as regimental sergeant major and was sta- tioned at Camp Grant, Illinois. The paternal ancestors of himself and his uncle, Edgar Lyons, came from Germany and on the ma- ternal side originated in England and both were among the earliest settlers of Wyoming Valley.
Edgar Klipple, his nephew and business as- soclate, married Fannie Smith, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, daughter of Andrew C. and Mae (Carey) Smith. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and died without issue in 1913.
CHARLES W. HONEYWELL-A descendant of one of the early families in Luzerne County, Charles W. Honeywell, president of the Deemer and Company, dealers in office supplies and banking equipment, at Wilkes- Barre, is one of the enterprising younger men of this community. His general experi- ence in business here and elsewhere has given him a wide grasp on the commercial conditions and equipped him for progress in his particular line of endeavor. He is the son of Lincoln D. and Elnora (Wolfe) Honey- well.
Lincoln D. Honeywell, who is now retired from active business and making his home in Wyoming, is the son of Samuel Honeywell, whose ancestors were among the pioneers who settled Wyoming Valley at the time of the Indian Massacre, which event, with all its horror, has such an important place in history of our country showing as it did the great difficulties those brave men and women had to overcome in order to make a settle- ment in the wilderness. This family not only braved the dangers of attacks from savages, but when the time came to fight for freedom, they took part in the Revolutionary War and thereby proved their loyalty to the ideals of the Republic and left to their descendants a heritage of honor and fame. Lincoln D. Honeywell and his wife were the parents of two children: Charles W., of whom further; and Margaret, who is now the wife of T. J. Aston. Mrs. Elnora (Wolfe) Honeywell died at the age of fifty years.
Charles W. Honeywell was born at Carves-
ton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, on Feb- ruary 10, 1884. He was educated at the local publio schools and at the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, graduating in the class of 1905. After leaving school he went to Youngstown, Ohio, where he took a post- tion with the General Fireproofing Company where he remained as a salesman for seven years. After this experience, he made a change and went into Canada locating at Montreal where he remained until 1916, at which time he returned to Wilkes-Barre and became a member of the firm of Deemer and Company. He has given himself a thorough training in the details of this organization, filling all positions from clerk to that of his present office, president of the company.
In politics, Mr. Honeywell is a Republican and his religious affiliation is with the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. He is interested in all matters pertaining to the community's welfare and is an active participant in pro- moting its interests. He is a member of the Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar; Caldwell Consistory, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the thirty-second degree Masons: Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Wilkes- Barre.
On April 22, 1914, Charles W. Honeywell married Edna Austin, daughter of Miner B. and Ella (Welsh) Austin. They have two children: Charles Clinton and Donald Lee.
JOHN STEVENS NIVER-The business career of John S. Niver was a varied one during his early years, but since 1909 he has been engaged in the lumber business in Wilkes-Barre, first as a member of the con- cern known as the Anthracite Lumber Com- pany, and since 1919 under his own name, with offices at Nos. 718-22 Second National Bank Building, Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Niver is a thirty-second degree Mason, and has many friends in the city of Wilkes-Barre.
John Niver, grandfather of Mr. Niver, was for many years the proprietor of the old, well-known "Niver House," located in Nichol- son, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, an old hotel, a historic landmark which is still standing (1929) and which is locally known as the "Old Niver House." John Niver reared a family of children among whom was George W., father of Mr. Niver.
George W. Niver followed in the footsteps of his father, as far as occupation was con- cerned, and during the greater part of his life was engaged in the hotel business. In 1885 he sold the hotel and at the time of his death, which occurred June 13, 1887, he was proprietor of a livery stable in Scranton, Lackawanna County. He and his wife, Mrs. R. Emma (Stevens) Niver, who survives her husband and is now living at No. 185 Acad- emy Street, Wilkes-Barre, aged seventy-six years, became the parents of two children, Dora, who died at the age of eight years; and John S., of further mention.
John S. Niver, son of George W. and R. Emma (Stevens) Niver, was born in Provi- dence, now Scranton, March 1, 1881, and was a child of six years when the death of his father brought change of residence and an alteration in general family conditions. After the death of the father the mother took her son to her girlhood home at Nicholson, Wyo- ming County, and there the child attended the public schools until he was fourteen years old. At that early age he found em- ployment in the store of G. S. Woolworth, working as driver and delivery boy, and when
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he was sixteen years of age he commenced to learn the die-making and mechanic's trade with the Scranton Foundry Company. For about six years he continued in this line, but in 1906, at the age of twenty-five, he came to Wilkes-Barre and engaged in the retail grocery business.
The automobile was rapidly coming into general use at this time and, after three years as proprietor of a prosperous grocery business, Mr. Niver decided to try his ability at selling cars. Two years of experience in this field gave him the self-confidence and determination which made him anxious to own a business upon his individual respon- sibility. He formed, therefore, a partnership with John Eschenbach to deal in lumber. They operated under the firm name of the Anthracite Lumber Company, with offices in the Second National Bank Building, Wilkes- Barre. In 1919 Mr. Niver withdrew from the partnership and has since engaged in the lumber business under his own name, with offices at Nos. 718-22 Second National Bank Building, Wilkes-Barre. He handles all kinds of lumber and mining timber, and is known as an able and reliable business man. The varied experiences of his earlier years have brought valuable returns and are still yield- ing the benefits of many and diverse lessons learned in the hardest and best of all schools.
Mr. Niver is Republican in his political allegiance, and is well known in Masonic circles, being a member of Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Ma- sons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar: Keystone Consistory, An- cient Accepted Scottish Rite, of Scranton, in which he holds the thirty-second degree, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Irem Temple Country Club, of the Franklin Club and the Kiwanis Club, and is Protestant in his religious beliefs and allegiance. Twenty-six years of residence and of busi- ness experience in the city of Wilkes-Barre have brought to Mr. Niver a large circle of friends and associates, as well as a full share of material success. The death of Mr. Niver occurred April 12, 1928, his sudden and un- anticipated demise from heart failure bring- ing profound sorrow far and wide, for, of an amiable and pleasing disposition, and pos- sessed of sterling character, he made a legion of friends in every section of the county and valley. With large delegations of both Ma- sonic and Kiwanis organizations and a host of friends present, the funeral was held amidst a wealth of flowers that testified to the esteem in which he was held. Mr. Niver was a capable and successful business man, but he was infinitely more than that. He was possessed of a fundamental goodness and kindliness that endeared him to rich and poor alike. He was devoted to his mother and made her life bright by his tender care and solicitude. The early death of his father thrust John Stevens Niver out into the world of men and affairs at an age when most boys are still concerned with books and play, but with smiling courage and joyous enthusiasm he met difficulties and overcame them, and who shall say but what his life was richer, his personality finer, for the trials by fire he was forced to go through in his impression- able years?
CHARLES LONG, M. D .- Preeminent in the medical profession of Wilkes-Barre since 1884, when he began practice, Dr. Charles Long is a member of an important and well- known family of Luzerne County. He is the son of Simon and Yetta (Coons) Long, the
father having come to the United States from Bavaria, Germany, In 1846, associating him- self immediately with the mercantile life of Wilkes-Barre as clerk in the store then con- ducted by his brother, Martin, a year later opening a store of his own on the north side of the Public Square. The first enterprise was sufficiently successful to insure his busi- ness future in Wilkes-Barre, and after a few years he re-located, to the west side of the square. His third move was to the west side of South Main Street, and his fourth and last address, now occupled by the firm, at Nos. 10 and 12 South Main Street, on the east side. Simon Long continued actively in business for more than fifty years, and at the time of his death, December 31, 1901, at the age of seventy-six years, was widely known as the oldest merchant in Wilkes- Barre. The death of his wife antedated his own nine years, her demise having occurred on February 19, 1892, at the age of sixty- six. Simon Long was a dominant citizen in the city, and until death took a personal and active interest in all things directed toward the general good of the people; also, at the time of his death, he was the oldest member of Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 61, of the Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Long and his de- voted wife were the parents of ten children, of whom nine reached maturity: 1. Caroline, deceased, was the wife of Simon Ulman, of Salisbury, Maryland. 2. Edith, widow of Henry Schwarz of New York. 3. Lena, de- ceased, was the wife of Isaac Ulman, of Salis- bury, Maryland. 4. Isaac S., a retired mer- chant of Wilkes-Barre. 5. Charles, of whom further. 6. Hannah, wife of Joseph S. Coons (q. v.) of Joseph S. Coons and Company, de- partment store, of Wilkes-Barre. 7. Rosa, wife of Louis Schloss, deceased, of Wilkes- Barre. 8. Millard F., whose biography accom- panies this. 9. Cosmar P., see accompanying biography.
Dr. Charles Long attended the public schools of Wilkes-Barre and Philadelphia, graduating from Philadelphia High School. In 1879, at the age of eighteen, Dr. Long matriculated in Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, where he graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1882, after which he spent a year as interne in the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital. In 1883 and 1884 he took courses in special post-graduate work in Vienna, Austria, returning to the United States immediately thereafter to take up the practice of his profession, in Wilkes- Barre, where he has since been actively en- gaged. He is affiliated with a number of fra- ternal organizations, among them being the Luzerne Medical Society, the Lehigh Valley Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medi- cal Society, the American Medical Associa- tion, Lodge No. 61 of the Free and Accepted Masons, Wilkes-Barre, Keystone Consistory of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Ancient and Ac- cepted Scottish Rite Masons of the thirty- second degree, Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Irem Tem- ple Country Club, the Concordia Society, and the Jewish Orphans' Society of Luzerne County, of which last he is president. Dr. Long Is likewise president of the medical staff of the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, and a consulting physician of the Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre. He was a member of the Wilkes-Barre School Board for ten years. He is a Democrat.
Dr. Charles Long married, June 2, 1897, Fannie Sax, daughter of Julius and Florence (Ezekiel) Sax, of New York, now deceased. The union has resulted in three children: 1. Charles Francis, who is a physician in Phila- delphia; and a graduate of Haverford College
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and the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, class of 1923; married Hazle Aaron of Philadelphia, from which union was born a son, Charles Long, 2d. 2. Julian Sax, also a graduate of Haverford College and the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, class of 1925. Both sons have spent two years as internes in the Philadel- phia General Hospital. Dr. Julian S. is now (1929) practicing in Wilkes-Barre. 3. Alice Sax, wife of John J. Goldsmith, of New York City, New York. Mrs. Long, wife of Dr. Charles Long, daughter of Julius and Flor- ence (Ezekiel) Sax, as above noted, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and for years has been one of the leading women of Wilkes- Barre in civic, educational and welfare or- ganizations. She was a member of the group which organized the Wilkes-Barre Civic Club, and the organizer and first president of the. Visiting Nurse Association of Wilkes-Barre. (The Civic Club was later called The Wyo- ming Valley Women's Club.) Associated with Mrs. Henry L. Palmer and Mr. Lincoln Brown, Mrs. Long organized the first recreation and playground centers of Wilkes-Barre; and out of those early efforts has emerged the exten- sive and well planned playground system of 1927. Mrs. Long was also a founder and the first president of the College Women's Club of Wilkes-Barre, and actively concerned in the organization of the local Parent-Teachers Association, as well as its first president. She has served as chairman of education on the local council of Jewish women, and as chairman of the national council as well, of which she was Pennsylvania State president; and as a director of the national council. In the General Federation of Women's Clubs she has served as chairman of the Committee on Illiteracy; in the Pennsylvania State Fed- eration of Women's Clubs she is a director and chairman of the Department of Educa- tion and Fine Arts. She was an organizer and the first president of the Community Round Table, which was fostered by the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce. To round out completely this long roster of club and social and welfare connections, Mrs. Long is very favorably recognized and ap- preciated in her connections with the Wilkes- Barre Girl Scouts; she was president of the Wyoming Valley Kindergarten Federation, and constantly has devoted the utmost of time to those works that tend toward the up- lift of mankind.
MILLARD F. LONG-Member of the old established firm of Simon Long's Sons, retail establishment located in South Main Street, Millard F. Long is a highly respected mer- chant of Wilkes-Barre.
Millard F. Long was born in Wilkes-Barre on August 27, 1867, a son of the late Simon and Yetta (Coons) Long. A short review of Simon Long's life will be found in the pre- ceding biography, Dr. Charles Long. Simon Long and his devoted wife, Yetta (Coons) Long, were the parents of ten children, of whom nine reached maturity: 1. Caroline, deceased, was the wife of Simon Ulman, of Salisbury, Maryland. 2. Edith, widow of Henry Schwarz of New York. 3. Lena, de- ceased, was the wife of Isaac Ulman, of Salisbury, Maryland. 4. Isaac S., a retired merchant of Wilkes-Barre. 5. Dr. Charles see preceding biography. 6. Hannah, wife of Joseph S. Coons (q. v.) of Joseph S. Coons and Company, department store, of Wilkes- Barre. 7. Rosa, wife of Louis Schloss, de- ceased, of Wilkes-Barre. 8. Millard F., of whom further, is a member of the old estab- lished firm of Simon Long's Sons, of Wilkes- Barre. 9. Cosmar P., see following biography.
Millard F. Long grew up in Wilkes-Barre, receiving his education in the public schools and in Wilkes-Barre Academy. When he was only sixteen years old he entered the mer- cantile field in his father's store, and later became a member of the well-known firm of Joseph S. Coons and Company, which for many years has been one of the leading de- partment stores of Wilkes-Barre. On April 1, 1926, he disposed of his interest in the Coons Company and returned to Simon Long's Sons, which he now (1929) directs, associated in this direction with his brother, Cosmar P. Long. Simon Long's Sons carries a high- class line of clothing and men's furnishings, together with a spacious store devoted to men's, women's and children's shoes, exclu- sively. One of the most extensive mercan- tile houses in Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming Valley, Simon Long's Sons has dealt in finest quality goods for more than three quarters of a century. Millard F. Long is in close association with the political and social leaders of Wilkes-Barre, and is affiliated with Lodge No. 61 of the Free and Accepted Ma- sons, Consistory of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the thirty-second degree, Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine of Wilkes-Barre, the Irem Country Club, Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Concordia Club, the Fox Hill Country Club, the Craftsmen's Club, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce. Also, in connection with his managerial and finan- cial interest in Simon Long's Sons he has other and extensive business interests; he is a member of the board of directors of the Liberty State Bank and Trust Company of Wilkes-Barre.
Millard F. Long married, on March 7, 1893, Minnie Mayer, daughter of Marx and Fannie Mayer of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This union has resulted in the birth of three children: Simon, associated with the firm of Simon Long's Sons; Clinton, also with the firm: and Ruth, wife of Everett G. Frank, of New York City.
COSMAR P. LONG-An outstanding citizen in commercial and fraternal affairs of Wilkes-Barre is Cosmar P. Long, member of the firm of Simon Long's Sons, dealing in clothing, furnishings and hats for men, boys, and children, and shoes for everybody. For forty years (1929) he has been one of the principal merchants of the city.
Cosmar P. Long was born in Wilkes-Barre on March 26, 1870, the youngest son of Simon and Yetta (Coons) Long, deceased. He is the brother of Isaac S. Long, a retired merchant, of Dr. Charles Long, practicing in Wilkes- Barre, and of Millard F. Long, with whom he conducts the business of Simon Long's Sons. (See accompanying biographies of the latter two.)
Cosmar P. Long took his early education in the local public schools, undertook courses of a commercial character in the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, and at the age of eighteen went to work in his father's store at No. 12 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. Since then he has been asso- ciated continuously with the firm of Simon Long's Sons, and has taken part whole- heartedly in local affairs. He is affiliated with Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 61, of the Free and Accepted Masons, Keystone Consistory, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the thirty-second degree, Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Wilkes- Barre, the Irem Temple Country Club, the
Brice S. Blair
Lovisa 9, Blair.
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Fox Hill Club, the Concordia Club, and Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. He has taken part in all movements which, in his judgment, were for the best interests of fel- low-citizens, and occupies a high place in the estimation of his many friends.
Mr. Long married, June 5, 1907, Florence L. Ansbacher of New York City, daughter of S. L. and Rachel (Schwab) Ansbacher, of New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Long are the parents of two sons: Henry Ansbacher, a graduate of Yale College; and John Ans- bacher, now (1929) a junior at that in- stitution.
LOVISA IDA BLAIR, M. D .- It is said "blood will tell," and if this is true, it is entirely fitting that Dr. Lovisa 1. Blair should be one of the leading members of the medical profession in Wilkes-Barre, for her ances- tors on both the paternal and the maternal sides have for generations been prominent in the settlement and the development of the Wyoming Valley region. Dr. Blair comes from a race of pioneers and men of action, and has inherited much of the ability and the sturdy initiative of her forebears. She is a graduate of the Women's Medical Col- lege, of Philadelphia, where she received her medical degree in 1912, and after serving her interneship she returned to Wilkes-Barre, where she has since been successfully engaged in practice, with offices at No. 342 South River Street, where she also makes her home.
Dr. Lovisa I. Blair was born In Plymouth, Luzerne County, and is a daughter of Brice S. and Florence (Davenport) Blair, both de- ceased, and a granddaughter of Francis and Ellen (Slavin) Blair, of New York. She is also a granddaughter, on the maternal side, of Samuel and Louisa (Smith) Davenport, of Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, The Davenport family is an old Connecticut fam- ily, and they were among the first settlers in Wyoming Valley, under the Susquehanna Company. Its members took part in the bat- tle and massacre of Wyoming, July 3, 1778, and its members also fought in the Revolu- tion. One Thomas Davenport was the first of the name to settle in the Wyoming Valley, and Abijah Smith, great-grandfather of Dr. Blair, on the maternal side, was also one of the early settlers of this region. In 1807 he opened the first coal mine in the Wyoming Valley, at Plymouth, Luzerne County, and in that same year he mined and shipped the first fifty tons of anthracite coal from the Wyom- ing Valley, shipping this consignment from Plymouth on a little ship called "The Ark," to Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This shipment was not only the first from the Wyoming Valley, but the first to be shipped from any point in the State. Abijah Smith's ancestor, Lieutenant Abraham Smith, came from England to Boston in 1663. Dr. Blair is also a direct descendant of Colonel George and Captain Samuel Ransom, both of whom fought in the battle of Wyoming, July 3, 1778. and both of whom also fought in the Revolu- tionary War, serving under General Wash- ington. Another of Dr. Blair's noted ances- tors was Judge James Nesbit, the first judge of Luzerne County.
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