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 38
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Stanley Carson Croop, son of Benjamin F. and Alveretta Jane (Eves) Croop, was born at Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1897. After attending the public schools here he continued his studies in Wyoming Seminary and the Business College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1917, after having prepared for his work at Blair Hall, Blairs- town, Warren County, New Jersey. When his education was completed he became his father's associate in the management of Croop's Glen, but the entrance of the United States into the World War brought many changes and in 1918 Mr. Croop enlisted for service in the United States Navy. He was assigned to Submarine Chaser No. 62, on which he served for a period of eighteen months, receiving his discharge July 2, 1919. Upon his return to civilian life he returned to Hunlock Creek and resumed his work with his father in Croop's Glen. There he remained for five years, but in 1924 he decided to en- gage in business for himself as a merchant in Hunlock Creek and established here a gen- eral store, which he has since successfully operated. In that same year he was appointed postmaster of Hunlock Creek, which office he is still (1928) filling to the satisfaction of all concerned. Mr. Croop continues to hold an interest in Croop's Glen, which has steadily increased in popularity and which has greatly increased in value merely as real property, as well. He is a member of the board of direc- tors of the Farmers' State Bank of Shick- shinny, Pennsylvania, and is actively inter- ested in the advancement of the general wel- fare of the community in which he lives. Mr. Croop is a Republican in his political beliefs and he is always ready to serve when he is sure that he can be of real use in public office. He served as a member of the board of school directors of Hunlock Township for two years, and has always been generous in supporting the various projects which have been launched for the betterment of the civic, social and economic life of this district. Fra- ternally, he is identified with Lodge No. 531, Free and Accepted Masons; Caldwell Con- sistory of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles or the Mystic Shrine; also with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. His religions membership is with the Protestant Church.
Stanley C. Croop married, August 31, 1922, Alice Hudock, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, daughter of Stephen J. and Mary Hudock, and they are the parents of one daughter, Alice Jane, who was born February 24, 1927.
EDWARD A. CRONAUER, D. D. S .- An im- portant member of the community life in Ash- ley, Pennsylvania, is Edward A. Cronauer. Coming here in 1919 to engage in dentistry, he quickly won the confidence of his patients and built up a very successful practice to which he has since devoted himself. Aside from his professional work, Dr. Cronauer is otherwise active in the civic and social life of Ashley. He was born February 1, 1894, in Gallitzin, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, a son of Frank Cronauer, a miner, who was born in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and who died in November, 1924, and of Minnie (Garman) Cronauer, who was born in St. Boniface, Pennsylvania, and is still living.
Edward A. Cronauer attended the public schools of his birthplace, and later entered St. Francis College, at Lauretta, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1916, and the Dental School of the University of Penn- sylvania, where he received the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1919. Soon af- terward, he came to Ashley to begin the prac- tice of his profession, which he has carried on uninterruptedly since that time.
Dr. Cronauer is a member of the Luzerne County Dental Association and of the Amer- ican Dental Association. He is affiliated fra- ternally with the Knights of Columbus. He and his family attend St. Leo's Roman Cath- olic Church at Ashley.
In 1920, Edward A. Cronauer married Bernadette Gunning, of Gallitzin, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Gunning of that place. Dr. and Mrs. Cronauer are the parents of three children: 1. Marjorie, born February 4, 1922. 2. Virginia, born February 14, 1926. 3. Edward, born June 27, 1927. The family home is at No. 37 North Main Street, Ashley.
EUGENE GOLDSTEIN-The oldest and the largest ice cream manufacturing concern in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, is the Golden Qual- ity Ice Cream Company, which was founded in 1903 by its present owner, Simon Gold- stein, father of Eugene Goldstein. When Eugene Goldstein, who was an infant two years of age at the time of the founding of the business, arrived at the age of dis- cretion and had completed his careful prep- aration for a successful active business career, he, therefore, found a place ready- made, waiting for him, and since 1924 he has been manager of the concern founded by his father. Mr. Goldstein is a grad- uate of the Wharton School and of the Pennsylvania State College, and during his school and college years was actively inter- ested in athletics. In 1927 he served as assistant graduate manager of the Plymouth High School football team.
Simon Goldstein, father of Mr. Goldstein, was born in Europe, in 1868, of Jewish ances- try. In 1887, when he was nineteen years old, he came to this country and settled in Plym- outh, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in business as proprietor of a retail grocery business. About 1903 he added to his grocery concern another department, by engaging in the manufacture of ice cream. Beginning in a small way, he increased his output as his market increased, continuing the grocery business until the ice cream output and sale had reached proportions which warranted his giving up the former part of his activities and devoting his whole attention to the man-
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ufacture of the Ice cream which had become so popular. Eventually, a company was or- ganized under the name of the Golden Quality Ice Cream Company, of Plymouth, and the demand for the product of the company con- tinued to grow until at the present time (1928) Golden Quality Ice Cream is sold throughout the entire Wyoming Valley. The concern is now, as has been stated, the oldest and largest ice cream manufacturing concern in Plymouth, and during the summer season it employs the services of twenty people. Simon Goldstein is a Republican in his poli- tical sympathies, and he has for many years been active in local affairs, giving special attention to the Jewish school here, which he served as a member of the board of directors at one time. His religious affiliation is with the International B'nai B'rith organization. Simon Goldstein was married, in 1886, to Lottie Silverman, a native of Poland, and they became the parents of eight children, of whom four are living: I. Benjamin H. 2. Reuben. 3. Helen, wife of Nathan Hale Meyer. 4. Eugene, of further mention.
Eugene Goldstein, the son of Simon and Lottie (Silverman) Goldstein, was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1901, and attended the public schools of Plymouth, graduating from Plymouth High School with the class of 1919. He then entered the Pennsylvania State College, where he completed the agricultural course, graduating with the class of 1924. In that year he became associated with his father's business as manager of the Golden Quality Ice Cream Company, and since that time he has been devoting his attention to the de- veloping of the already extensive interests of that concern. In order to better prepare himself for the successful handling of the growing manufacturing interests he, while attending to his duties as manager of the company, found time to take a course in the Wharton School at Wilkes-Barre, where he completed a commercial course in 1927. Politically, Mr. Goldstein supports the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, the Junior Order United American Mechanics, Patriotic Order Sons of America, No. 1, Fire Depart- ment of Plymouth, and also of the Kiwanis Club and of the Little Theatre Club, and an actively interested member of all these or- ganizations. While in the Wharton School he was president of the Senior class, and he has been prominent in athletics in all the schools and colleges in which he has studied, being especially fond of baseball, football, and basketball. As assistant graduate manager of the Plymouth High School football team In 1927 he rendered most acceptable and suc- cessful service, and he still retains his inter- est in all athletic sports. His religious mem- bership is with B'nai Israel Synagogue. Mr. Goldstein is unmarried. His offices are located at No. 130 West Main Street, in Plymouth, and his home at No. 128 West Main Street.
JOHN J. CAFFREY, M. D .- A physician of wide experience and a large general practice, John J. Caffrey has followed his profession In Sugar Notch, Pennsylvania, since 1919. His careful preparation for his career was com- pleted a few years before the United States entered the World War, and when this event occurred, Dr. Caffrey Immediately enlisted and remained in the service until the con- clusion of hostilities. In Sugar Notch, where he has made his home In recent years, he has a large circle of friends who welcome him as much as a trusted advisor as in his profes- sional capacity. His father, Patrick J. Caf- frey, was born in Sugar Notch, and is now
retired. His mother, who before her marriage was Mary Corrigan, dled in 1908.
John J. Caffrey was born in Sugar Notch August 25, 1894. He attended the public schoole of his birthplace and was graduated from the Wilkes-Barre High School in 1911. Later he entered Jefferson Medical College, and the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1916, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Soon afterward, he entered St. Joseph's Hos- pital in Philadelphia, and also served for a time in the Medico-Chirurgical Hospital there, after which for six months he acted as medical examiner for the Pennsylvania Rall- road, and for the Washington Terminal Com- pany In Washington, District of Columbia. He is also medical examiner for the United Life and Accident Insurance Company, Standard Life of America, and International Insurance Company, and also for the Pittston Coal Com- pary. During the war years he served as cap- taln in the Medical Corps of the Army, sta- tioned at Washington, and at Newport News, Virginia, and in 1919, secured his discharge. In that year he returned to Sugar Notch and has since practiced there, and in Nanticoke.
Dr. Caffrey is a member of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania State, and the American Med- ical associations. In politics he is an inde- pendent voter. He is affiliated fraternally with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a member of Lodge No. 109, and he is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He attends St. Charles Borromeo's Roman Catholic Church.
WILLIAM H. COCKING-When the automo- bile started to come into general use in place of the old-time horse, it did not take William H. Cocking, of Luzerne, very long to change his harness business over to an auto acces- sory supply store, in which line he has made much of a success, employing five men and giving a service which is known throughout the countv.
Mr. Cocking was born In Kingston Town- ship, December 10, 1889, the son of James and Elizabeth (Henderson) Cocking, the former of English birth, who died here in 1901. Mr. Cocking's mother was a native of Scotland, and she resides with her son in Luzerne. After receiving his early education in the public schools of his native town, Mr. Cock- ing took a position as breaker boy in one of the local coal mines. When fifteen years of age he left this employment and learned the trade of harness-making, at which he con- tinued until he attained his majority, when he purchased the harness business of Alonzo Lockard, in Shickshinny, Luzerne County, which he operated for six years with much success. He then returned to Luzerne, where he was engaged with the Metropolitan Insur- ance Company for about eighteen months, at the end of which time he purchased the har- ness business of W. E. Brodmarkle. This he turned almost at once into an auto accessory store, which he still continues to operate under his own name, at No. 125 Main Street. Mr. Cocking is affiliated with Sylvania Lodge, No. 354, Free and Accepted Masons; with Keystone Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite Masons, of Scranton, and Irem Tem- ple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and of the Luzerne Fire Department, of which organization he was for some time president. He is a director of the Kingston Bank, at Kingston, Luzerne County; his religious affil- iations are with the Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Cocking is a Republican.
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In 1913, Mr. Cocking married Purces Koons, of Shickshinny, daughter of George and Mar- garet Koons. Mrs. Cocking passed away in February, 1920, leaving three sons: Byron, Wayne and Hayden.
JOHN REPA-Prominent citizen, for many years active in the business life of Wilkes- Barre, John Repa was born April 4, 1867, in Austria. His father, Joseph Repa, was a native of that country, a farmer, born in 1831, died in 1889. His mother, Mary (Hoshko) Repa, of Austrian nativity, was born in 1843, and died in 1873.
John Repa received little schooling in Austria, and came to the United States when he was seventeen years of age, here to seek his fortune. He arrived at the port of New York, March 31, 1883. For a time he worked as slate picker, at Jeddo, Pennsylvania, and worked in and around the mines until 1890. But he was frugal in ways of living, had ambition and intelligence, and in 1890 became owner of a hotel, at Hudson, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the business for five years successfully. In 1895 he came to Wilkes-Barre. For twenty-five years, until 1920, he was active in the hotel business here, Repa's Hotel having been situated in Coal Street. In 1920 he changed his line of busi- ness, now entering into realty and fire insur- ance operations under the firm style of his own name. In this he has been markedly successful through the years that have fol- lowed. He is a director and vice-president of the Heights Deposit Bank of Wilkes-Barre, himself having been an organizer of the com- pany, and is treasurer of the Russian Ortho- dox Catholic Mutual Aid Society of the United States of America. Of the aid society he has been treasurer since 1907. He is a communicant of the Russian Orthodox Cath- olic Church. Active in diverse directions, Mr. Repa is a Republican, consistent supporter of the party's principles. He is affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
John Repa married, in 1889, Julia Wanat, of Austria, daughter of Simon and Christina Wanat, and their children are: 1. Mary, wife of Rev. Father John Krashkevich, priest in the Orthodox Russian Catholic Church. 2. John, Jr. 3. Michael, graduate of Lehigh University, degree of Mechanical Engineer- ing, class of 1917. 4. Anna, wife of Robert L. Williams, of Kingston. 5. Julia, unmar- ried. 6. Joseph, medical student, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. 7. George, student at Wyoming Seminary. There are five grandchildren: George, Natalie and Mar- guerite Krashkevich; and Elaine and Robert Williams.
JOSEPHI MORRIS-One of the principal funeral directors of Luzerne County, where his establishment is accounted third largest, Joseph Morris operates a funeral home at Nos. 625-27 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, and in this community is considered to be a substantial citizen. He is a veteran of the World War.
Joseph Morris was born at Edwardsville, Luzerne County, on March 7, 1894, a son of Michael and Anna (Putprush) Morris, both of whom are deceased. Michael Morris was a coal miner during many years, a temperate man, and respected by those who knew him. By his wife, Anna, he was father of four children, all of whom are now living (1929) and occupying responsible positions in so- ciety: 1. Joseph, of whom here below. 2. Rev. Michael, pastor of the Greek Catholic Church at Monesson, Pennsylvania. 3. Mary, wife of John Duda, of Larksville, Luzerne
County. 4. John, who is also a funeral direc- tor, at Exeter, Luzerne County.
After receiving his elementary academic education in the public schools of Edwards- ville, Joseph Morris entered high school at Larksville, whence he graduated in 1913. Next he entered Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, Pennsylvania, and from that insti- tution graduated in 1915. Since childhood he has been most interested in athletics, and at high school in Larksville was captain of the football team for two seasons, 1912 and 1913. Also during these years, as junior and senior in high school, he was elected captain of the track team. In 1912 there was an athletic meet in the old armory, .Wilkes-Barre, in which he won the one hundred-yard cham- pionship for Luzerne County. He played basketball, and in 1914, as freshman in the seminary, was class champion in the hundred- yard dash. When the United States entered the World War, in April, 1917, Mr. Morris was among the first of patriots to volunteer for duty in the Army, and was stationed at Kelly Field, where he was in the medical hospital of the aviation department. Here he served honorably and with distinction, and is now an active member of the Wilkes-Barre post of the American Legion. Mr. Morris has mem- bership in a number of fraternal organiza- tions, including Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Wilkes-Barre Council, No. 302, of the Knights of Columbus, and the Tatra Club. He is a supreme officer in the Greek Catholic Union, having served for the past nine years. A Republican and staunch adherent to the party's principles of government, Mr. Morris owns a considerable influence in local mat- ters of politics, which he exerts quietly and to an effect calculated to be for the welfare of the community. In addition to his large concern in the mortuary profession he has some commercial relationships, among them
membership on the board of directors and vice-president of the Pennsylvania Liberty Bank and Trust Company of Wilkes-Barre, and is well and favorably known in business circles of the town as possessor of sound judgment in financial circles. He is a com- municant of St. Mary's Greek Catholic Church, devout in its service, and generous in contri- butions to charitable appeals and other causes of like worthy character, regardless of race or creed from whom emanating.
Joseph Morris married Mary V. Pacovsky, of Wilkes-Barre, and they are the parents of three children: John, Dolores and Joseph, Jr.
LeROY DIEFENDERFER-Since commenc- ing his business activity, LeRoy (Roy) Dief- enderfer has been employed by the Central Railroad of New Jersey, now holding the position of station agent in Ashley, Pennsyl- vania, where he has lived for many years. Mr. Diefenderfer is financially interested in various local enterprises, and has always been highly regarded in Ashley as a public- spirited citizen. He was born in Ashley on October 10, 1891, a son of John S. Diefen- derfer, a machinist, who was born in 1865 in Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, and who died in June, 1927, and of Margaret (Breon) Diefenderfer, who was also born in Lewisburg in 1865, and who is still living.
LeRoy Diefenderfer was educated in the Ashley public schools and the high school, from which he was graduated in 1910. In the same year he began work with the Cen- tral Railroad of New Jersey as a clerk in Ashley, and so satisfactory was his work over a period of years that in October, 1919,
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he was appointed station agent, a position which he has held since that time. Aside from this work, he is a director and was one of the original stockholders of the Peoples' State Bank of Newton, in Wilkes-Barre.
Politically, he is a member of the Repub- lican party, and he is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Masons, in which organization he is a member of Lodge No. 471. He is also a member of Lodge No. 689, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Ashley Lodge, No. 149, Junior Order United American Mechanics, and of Lodge No. 245, Patriotic Order Sons of America. He and his family attend the Ashley Presbyterian Church, where Mr. Diefenderfer is secretary of the Church Board.
In 1914, LeRoy Diefenderfer married Flor- ence Ichter, of Hanover Township, Luzerne County, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Anne Ichter. Mr. and Mrs. Diefenderfer are the parents of two children: 1. Elizabeth Ichter, born in Angust, 1916. 2. Ruth Marion, born in May, 1920. The family home is at No. 81, Ashley Street, Ashley.
FRANK M. DALLY-Esteemed by every good citizen of Ashley, loved by those with whom he was officially associated for many years, Frank M. Dally was one of the most popular citizens of this district, as well as one of the important factors of its com- mercial life. For more than forty years he had been actively engaged in railroad work here, during which period he made on envi- able name as a man of justice, industry and accomplishment. Nearly half a century was the record of his labors for one corporation, which recognized his worth by promotions as he made his progress in life. Constant to his trust, faithful and devoted to his friends, his removal from life's activities left a va- cancy not readily filled, while his army of friends will feel his loss to be an irreparable calamity that must be accepted with philoso- phy.
He was born in White Haven, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1867, a son of George Dally, a pioneer of the district, and began his active career at the age of thirteen years, when he went to work in the Ashley shops of the Central Rallroad of New Jersey. He rose to be general foreman of the shops, a position from which he was forced to retire, after forty-four years of continuous service, be- cause of ill health, December, 1926. He had for a short time been assigned to White Haven and Mauch Chunk, but by far the greater length of service was in Ashley. He was a member of the Ashley Presbyterian Church and belonged to the Jersey Central Veterans' Association and to the L. & S Divi- sion Foremen's Club of that railroad. He was affiliated with Coalville Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Caldwell Consistory of Bloomsburg, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also had served as a member of the Ashley School Board. His death occurred in Ashley, in the sixty-first year of his age.
Frank M. Dally married, April 25, 1889, Anna McIntosh, of Ashley, Pennsylvania, daughter of Stewart and Annetta (Frederick) McIntosh, the father a native of Scotland, the mother of. Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of one son: Carl Mc- Intosh, born July 4, 1894, a machinist in the Ashley shops of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. He married, November 17, 1920, Eleanor Dugan, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of one daughter: Gloria Romaine.
EMORY LUTES, D. V. W .- A representative. citizen of Wilkes-Barre, who is also well known in the city and vicinity for his large practice as a doctor of veterinary medicine, Emory Lutes, D. V. M., has interested him- self in a number of activities that count for community advance in the city of his choice.
Born in Benton, Columbia County, Pennsyl- vania, February 20, 1886, Emory Lutes is the son of Daniel T. and Elizabeth W. (Emory) Lutes, his father, born in Centermoreland, Pennsylvania, in December, 1832, died in 1897, was a farmer, and the mother, born in Town Hill, Pennsylvania, in 1843, died in 1900. The son, Emory, received his early and prepara- tory training in the district schools of Colum- bia County. He then enrolled at Valparaiso (Indiana) University, and was graduated from its School of Pharmacy in the class of 1907. Subsequently he studied for the pro- fession of his choice at McKillip Veterinary College, Chicago, Illinois, whence he received his degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (now known as D. V. M.) on graduation in 1911.
Dr. Lutes came to Wilkes-Barre directly from college and established an office for the practice of veterinary medicine in this city, where he has ever since been thus engaged. From 1916 to the present time (1929) he has also held the office of city food inspector, and in that capacity he is rendering a fine service to the people in the health-conserva- tion movement. In politics, he is a Repub- lican and active in his party's local organiza- tion. He served as Republican committeeman in Wilkes-Barre's Tenth District for four years. His financial standing is indicated by the fact of his being a director in the Wilkes- Barre Mortgage Company. In his profes- sional associations, he enjoys the esteem of his fellow-practitioners, members of the Northeastern Veterinary Association of Penn- sylvania and the Pennsylvania State Veteri- narians Association.
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