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 42
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His brother, William John Goeckel, was reared in Wilkes-Barre, and he spent some eight years as a student in the St. Nicholas Parochial School. He then attended the Canisius College at Buffalo (1885-92), grad- vating from there with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then enrolled as a student in the Law College of the University of Penn- sylvania, and graduated with the class of 1896, when he received his degree, Bachelor of Laws. He was also a talented musician and studied harmony for one year under Professor Clark of the University of Pennsyl- vania. He was a member of the Glee Club of that university, and it was he who com- posed the official song of the university, "The Red and the Blue." He was director of the St. Nicholas choir from 1911 until his death in 1922. This Mr. Goeckel was also an athlete of no mean ability, making an especial mark
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for himself in the sport of baseball, both in college and afterwards. He was a member of the Wilkes-Barre Baseball Club, and for one year he was its manager. He finished his baseball career as a member of the Phila- delphia National League team, in the year 1899, after which he returned to Wilkes- Barre and there took up the practice of his profession as a lawyer, a type of endeavor in which he continued until the time of his death. Mr. Goeckel was a member of the Knights of Columbus, of Wilkes-Barre, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 109, and the St. Conrad's Society of St. Nich- olas Parish.
William John Goeckel had married, October 30, 1901, at Wilkes-Barre, Louise M. Schap- pert, a daughter of Peter and Sophia (Schmitt) Schappert, of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Goeckel became the parents of four chil- dren: 1. Marion Louise, who was born De- cember 24, 1902, and who married Eugene Naith Mulligan, of Wilkes-Barre. 2. William Louis, who was born February 16, 1905, and who is now a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Penn- sylvania. 3. Catherine, who was born June 19, 1910. 4. Louise, who was born Septem- ber 20, 1914. As has been stated, William John Goeckel, the father of the foregoing children, and the brother of the Very Rever- end Monsignor Charles Joseph Goeckel, died November I, 1922.
ISAAC HUMPHREY, M. D .- Medical circles of Nanticoke have welcomed to their ranks another brilliant practitioner in the person of Isaac Humphrey, who although one of the youngest of the profession in active practice in the town, has already shown a rare ability and gives promise of unusual achievement in the science which he ornaments.
He was born in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1898, a son of Isaac and Mary A. (Davies) Humphrey. His father is a mechanic and a native of Luzerne County; his mother was born in Wales.
Issac JIumphrey, the son, was educated in the public schools of Nanticoke, graduating from high school in the class of 1916. For a time he continued his studies at Bucknell College, but the World War interrupted this and he enlisted in the army, being assigned to the Medical Corps. He served at Fort Slocum, Fort Hamilton and at Carlisle, Penn- sylvania, and was discharged from service on November 4, 1919. He returned to Buck- nell, from which he was graduated in the class of 1922 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. In the fall of that year he matric- ulated at Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia, and was graduated therefrom in the class of 1926 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then served as an interne in the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and in 1927 established himself in general practice in Nanticoke. He is a member of the Ameri- can Legion, the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and of the State, County and American Medical societies.
JOHN A. GRONTKOWSKI-Born in Plym- outh, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1897, son of Michael and Anna Grontkowski, both of whom are deceased, John A. Grontkowski has, in the comparatively few years of his active career, advanced to a position of prominence in the community matters of Nanticoke, as funeral director and tombstone manufacturer, with mortuary parlors and stone cutting establishment located at No. 57 West Green Street. Mr. Grontkowski's enterprises are equipped for all sorts of work
in monuments; he maintains in them a com- pletely appointed morgue, arrangements for embalming, and high powered ambulance cars for services. Both in his profession and as a citizen he is accorded the sincere esteem of associates.
Michael and Anna Grontkowski were born in Poland, and soon after their marriage came to the United States, locating, in Lu- zerne County. For many years, in Plymouth, until the time of his death, Michael Gront- kowski was engaged in the livery business. He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, a man exemplary in his private con- duct, kindly, devoted to his wife and family. Michael and Anna Grontkowski were the parents of thirteen children, of whom eight are now (1928) living: Michael J., Catharine, Stanley J., Francis C., John A. (of whom further), Anna, Margie, and Frank A.
John A. Grontkowski received his academic training in the public schools of his native city, Plymouth, and studied embalming in the Eckels School. In 1921 he passed the examinations of the State Board of Emhalm- ers, and opened in business in Nanticoke. In 1926 he added the monument works and has since continued the profession and the stone manufactory jointly. He is a member of the Luzerne County Funeral Directors' Associa- tion, and also of Ksiaska Kwitowa Lodge, and the Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church. While the greater part of his time is of necessity devoted to the direction of fun- erals and to management of his business in monuments, Mr. Grontkowski does not neg- lect the matters of general significance to Nanticoke, and is known as one of the com- munity's most public-spirited citizens. He is possessed of a considerable political in- fluence in the organizations of which he is a member, or with which he has con- tact through acquaintances, and employs it quietly, always to the welfare of the people at large, and especially to the interests of those of Polish extraction, among whom he has numbers of friends, and is a leader. Toward charity his heart is large. He gives liberally to all worthy causes, both in money and in personal effort.
On June 10, 1923, Mr. Grontkowski was united in marriage with Josephine Shipow- ski; and they are the parents of two chil- dren: John A., Jr., and Dorothy. The fam- ily residence is on West Green Street, Nanti- coke.
ORION LEVI VAN AKEN, assistant post- master of Freeland, answered the insistent call to civic service, a response which has proved of benefit to the community. Busi- ness men concede that no department of public service is of greater importance to trade and general commercial progress than the post office, while those enterprises of this district that have had the cooperation of the local office gratefully acknowledge the beneficial part in the system played by the assistant postmaster. For more than twenty years he has been associated with the office in Freeland, filling the offices of clerk and carrier and eventually rising, by virtue of his qualifications, to the position as right hand man to the postmaster. He is a citizen whose interests always have been directed toward the administration of sound govern- ment, the maintenance of law and the gen- eral progress of the body politic, attributes that have drawn to him the wholesome regard of his fellows in governmental asso- ciation and the high esteem of the commun- ity. Also, he has found time and taken pleasure to affiliate himself with religious and recreational work, thus enlarging his
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circle of admirers and friends, which em- braces a heavy majority of the citizenry of this district.
Mr. Van Aken was born in Mongaup, New York, August 15, 1884, a son of Albert C. and Netta J. (Stroh) Van Aken, both deceased. His father was a quarryman in New York State, and in 1899 removed with his family to Pennsylvania, settling in Freeland, where he became engaged in the insurance busi- ness, following this for the balance of his life. He took an active interest in civic affairs here, served as health officer and was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred in Freeland in 1908 in his fifty-sixth year, his widow fol- lowing him May 27, 1912, at the age of fifty- three years. They were the parents of two children, the daughter, Mabel, who was born in 1886, dying at the age of fourteen years. The only son was educated in the public schools, graduating with the first class to be graduated from Freeland High School in 1902 and then attended the Mining and Me- chanical Institute, followed by a two-year course in the law school of the University of Pennsylvania. In the summer of 1905 he entered the service of the Federal Govern- ment as a clerk in the Freeland post office, where he worked in various capacities until 1916, when he was appointed assistant to the postmaster and so continues. He is president of Boys' Welfare Council of Freeland, Penn- sylvania: a director of the Freeland Build- ing and Loan Association; vice-president of the board of directors of the Young Men's Christian Association; secretary-treasurer of James G. Brookmire Camp, No. 188, Sons of Veterans of the Civil War; secretary of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and superintendent of its Sunday school, as well as teacher of its young ladies' class.
Orion L. Van Aken married, September 23, 1913, Ethel Phillips, of Freeland, daughter of David Phillips. Their children are: Muriel and Charles Orion. Mrs. Van Aken is treas- urer of the Ladies Aid Society of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church and a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association and of the Civic Cluh. Thelr residence is at No. 609 Main Street, Freeland.
MARIO PERUZZI-Success in the develop- ment of a big business enterprise pre-sup- poses abllity and more than average energy, but to establish a concern which manu- factures for a world-wide market also re- quires vision and foresight as well as execu- tive and administrative ability. As secretary and treasurer of the Planters Nut and Choco- late Company Mario Peruzzi is officially con- nected with a concern which, though its market is world-wide, was established only twenty-two years ago, a concern which was founded by Mr. Peruzzi and A. Ohici, as part- ners, and which now has large factories in varlous parts of the United States, and In Canada; and has branch plants and offices in the four largest cities in this country and In England. The Planters Nut and Choco- late Company manufacturers peanut special- ties, such as peanut candy, salted peanuts, and the various chocolate and peanut com- blnations. Mr. Peruzzi is also a director of the Wyoming Valley Trust Company at Wilkes-Barre.
Mario Peruzzi was born in Italy in 1875. He received his education in his native land, and then, In 1894, when he was nineteen years of age, left his native land and came to this country, locating in Hazleton, Penn- sylvania. For a few years he was variously employed, but he steadily looked forward to
the establishment of a business of his own. Opportunity for the realization of his dream came in 1906 with the formation of a part- nership with A. Obici for the purpose of manufacturing peanut specialties. The busi- ness was begun in a small way, manufactur- ing small quantities of peanut candy, salted peanuts, chocolate coated peanuts, and vari- ous peanut and chocolate combinations. The company now operates large plants and fac- tories, in addition to the parent plant at Wilkes-Barre, in Suffolk, Virginia; San Fran- ciso, California, and in Toronto, Canada, and also has branch offices and plants in New York City, Chicago, Illinois; Boston, Massa- chusetts; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and in Manchester, England. The concern employs two thousand people and sends its products to all parts of the civilized world, doing an annual business in $12,000,000. The present personnel is as follows: President, A. Oblci, who conducts the large plant at Suffolk, Virginla; vice-president, D. A. Driscoll, who is in charge of the San Francisco plant; sec- retary and treasurer, M. Peruzzi, who Is man- ager of the Wilkes-Barre plant. The mem- bers of the board of directors, in addition to the officials named above, are W. B. Shaffer, who is president of the Wyoming Valley Trust Company, of Wilkes-Barre; and Edward B. Morgan, city solicitor of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Peruzzi is well known as one of the most able business men of this city and he has long been one of the public-spirited citizens of the community, giving his support to all progres- sive movements for municipal welfare. Poli- tically, he gives his support to the principles and candidates of the Republican party and his fraternal affiliation is with Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His club is the Rotary Club. In addition to his responsibilities as secretary and treasurer of the Planters Nut and Choco- late Company, of Wilkes-Barre, Mr. Peruzzi is also a member of the board of directors of the Wyoming Valley Trust Company, of Wilkes-Barre.
Mario Peruzzi is married to Elizabeth C. Obici, and has two children: 1. Mario Peruzzi, Jr., who is a salesman in the employ of the Planters Nut and Chocolate Company. 2. Rita, who married Dr. Earl Ridgeway, a physician of Trenton, New Jersey. They have one son, Mario.
MORRIS MARTIN REAGAN-Few men take a more lively interest in the develop- ment of their community and its institutions than does Morris Martin Reagan, who for years has been a blacksmith in the shops of the Temple Coal Company, of Swoyers- ville, Pennsylvania. In the many years in which he has lived and worked in this region, he has acquired a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, who hold him in the highest esteem and consider him a valuable member of the community, both for his services per- formed in the course of his daily work and for the public offices which he fills in Swoyersville.
He was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1873, a son of Martin and Bridgett (Hughes) Reagan, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father came to the United States, and spent his life as a farmer. He died in 1890. The mother, Bridgett (Hughes) Reagan, died September 21, 1926. Morris M. Reagan received very little edu- cation, and at an early age learned the black- smith's trade. In 1889 he went with the Temple Coal Company, which at that time was known as the Swoyer Coal Company, working for this organization in the capac-
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ity of blacksmith. For the last eighteen years, he has been foreman in the shops of this company, and has at all times performed his duties in a way that has won the praises and admiration of his fellowmen.
Busy as Mr. Reagan has been with his own work, however, he has never failed to take an active part in the life of Swoyers- ville. In fact, he has shown himself ready ever to aid in any movements which he has believed designed to improve conditions here and to increase the prosperity of the com- munity. His political affiliation is with the Democratic party, whose policies and can- didates he regularly supports. He has been a school director here since 1900, and always has been keenly interested in the develop- ment of educational facilities in the local public schools. He also is active in the busi- ness life of Swoyersville, being a director of the Merchants' and Miners' Bank, in Lu- zerne, Pennsylvania. His religious affiliation is with the Holy Name Church, his faith being that of the Roman Catholic.
In 1907, Morris M. Reagan married Kath- erine Moran, of Parsons, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Margaret Moran. By this marriage there were three children, two of whom are living: 1. Maurice, born June 22, 1909. 2. Mary, born December 8, 1913.
DELBERT BARNEY, M. D .- For more than forty-two years Dr. Delbert Barney, descendant of one of the oldest families in the United States, has practiced medicine in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, devoting the greater part of his life to the advancement of his profession and the leadership of med- ical affairs in his part of the State.
The Barney and Carey families, from which Dr. Barney's father was descended, go back to the days of the "Mayflower" and the early Puritan settlements of Massachusetts. Wilkes-Barre today bears an indelible print of the early lives and influence of these families. Dr. Barney's great-great-grand- father, John Carey, lived at Careytown, now a part of Wilkes-Barre; and Carey Ave- nue, in Wilkes-Barre, was named after him. Nathan Barney, Dr. Barney's paternal great- grandfather, came from New England and settled in Plymouth, but after his marriage with Hannah Carey, daughter of John Carey, he remained in Wilkes-Barre for the rest of his life. Milan Barney, oldest son of Nathan Barney, was a blacksmith and the father of a large family. From him Barney Street, Wilkes-Barre, received its name. His oldest son, John Carey Barney, father of Dr. Delbert Barney, also was a black- smith, who married Sarah Van Dermark, of Newport, Hanover Township, Pennsylvania. They had four children: 1. Elberta, later the wife of Harrison Garinger, of Wilkes- Barre. 2. Oren Wade, now a machinist em- ployed by the Hazard Manufacturing Com- pany of Wilkes-Barre. 3. Mary E., who married Niles Rozelle. 4. Dr. Delbert Barney, of whom further.
In a house on the Public Square of Wilkes- Barre, Dr. Barney was born, November 29, 1859, next to the old building of the Wilkes- Barre Deposit & Savings Bank. He went to the public schools and grew to manhood in his native city. He was graduated from the high school in 1878 and taught two years after leaving high school. He then entered Lafayette College, graduating with the class of 1884 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and three years later received the degree of Masters of Arts from his alma mater. He then matriculated in the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated
with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in the class of 1887. He returned to Wilkes-Barre, and served as interne for a year in the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital. In the spring of 1888 he began a general practice of his profession, which he has continued ever since, with unusual success. He is regarded today as one of the city's most learned physicians and has served on the medical staff of the City Hospital, later called the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, for many years, and is still a member of the staff.
He has always taken an active part in the development of his profession and is a former president, and previous to being president, was secretary for twelve years, of the Luzerne County Medical Society; he is a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and a Fellow of the American Med- ical Association. He has always been deeply interested in civic affairs.
On November 3, 1909, Dr. Barney married Mrs. Margaret (Moore) Enterline, daughter of Henry L. and Lavinia (Dickover) Moore, members of two of the oldest and most highly respected families in Wilkes-Barre. Dr. and Mrs. Barney have a son, Delbert Barney, Jr., now a student in Lafayette Col- lege. Mrs. Barney, by her former marriage, has a son, Henry Moore Enterline, chemical engineer, with the City Service Corporation, living at Elizabeth, New Jersey. The fam- ily home is at No. 55 North Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
HALE SEWARD COUGHLIN-As a junior member of the insurance firm of Shaw and Coughlin, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Hale Seward Coughlin is one of the most capable and active life insurance men in this com- munity. He. is the fourth son of James Martin Coughlin, whose record as superin- tendent of schools in both Luzerne County and the city of Wilkes-Barre and whose further fame as an educator is identified with the history of Wyoming Valley.
The ancestors of Hale Seward Coughlin occupied places of usefulness and influence in their respective communities. His pater- nal grandfather, John Coughlin, son of Den- nis and Mary (O'Brien) Coughlin, of Irish lineage, was born in Kilrich, County of Clare, Ireland, in 1810. He was reared and educated in his native land. At the age of nineteen years John Coughlin came to the United States and located in the State of Pennsyl- vania. For some time he was in the employ of Titus Seward, a contractor for the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and later married Diana Seward, daughter of Titus Seward and Clarissa (Forbes) Seward, and granddaugh- ter of Caroline (Hale) Forbes. He also dealt in real estate, buying and selling farm lands. John and Diana (Seward) Coughlin moved to Huntington Township where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and worked as fire- man and engineer of the various sawmills in that part of the State. They had eight children: 1. Mary Anne. 2. Caroline. 3. Titus, died in infancy. 4. James Martin. 5. Clarissa. 6. Dennis O'Brien. 7. Henrietta. 8. Nan Silvia.
During the Civil War John Coughlin served under Captain Hughes in Company I, 153d Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. After two years of active military service he was honorably discharged with a sergeant's certi- ficate.
James Martin Coughlin, eldest son of John and Diana (Seward) Coughlin, and father of Hale Seward Coughlin, was born at Red Rock, Fairmont County, Pennsylvania, No- vember 12, 1848. Although his early instruc- tion was limited to the public schools of his
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native village before the days when village public schools were equipped as they are today, he qualified for a teacher's certificate at the age of twenty years. He began his carcer as a teacher in Montgomery and Moss- ville schools of Fairmont County, The long list of public and private schools Mr. Cough- lin taught includes schools at Red Rock, McHenry, Union Township, Butler Township, Muhlenbury, Kingston, and Bennett gram- mar school. He was also principal of New Columbus Academy.
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In 1878 Mr. Coughlin was elected superin- tendent of the schools of Luzerne County, which position he held by reelection for twelve years. The jurisdiction of superin- tendent of schools at that time extended over what is now Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. Eight hundred schools came under his supervision. During the years 1890-91 Mr. Coughlin was vice-principal of the Bloomsburg State Normal School and pro- fessor of civics and history. He resigned this position to become superintendent of the Wilkes-Barre Public Schools. During the following years he delivered a course of lectures at Lebanon Valley College and ad- dressed educational assemblages in New Jer- sey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina Ohio, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. He served as president of the State Teachers' Associa- tion of Pennsylvania under the appointment of Governors Hastings, Stone and Penny- packer. He was also a member of the com- mission appointed by the Governor of Penn- sylvania to revise and codify the school laws of that State. James Martin Coughlin re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Pedagogy from Grove City College and an honorary degree of Ph .. D. from Bucknell University. He was a member of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons and of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkes-Barre. On De- cember 26, 1878, Mr. Coughlin married Mary Esther Welter, daughter of Joseph Fulkeson and Barbara (Laurence) Welter. They had eight children: 1. Ellen Martin. 2. Florence Rowena, deceased. 3. Clarence D. 4. James Martin, Jr. 5. Joseph Welter, deceased. 6. Mildred Marion. 7. Hale Seward. 8. Robert Lawrence.
Hale Seward Coughlin, fourth son of James Martin Coughlin, was born at New Columbus, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1895. He was reared in Wilkes-Barre and was graduated from the high school in 1911. He entered Pennsylvania State College in the fall of 1913; volunteered in the World War in the spring of 1918 and was overseas thirteen months, assigned to the 20th Engi- neers. After receiving an honorable dis- charge, Mr. Coughlin returned to State Col- lege and graduated in 1920. In 1921 he entered the insurance business and is now one of the leading men in that line in Lu- zerne County. In 1926 he became the sole agent of the firm of Shaw and Coughlin. His territory covered twenty-seven counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Coughlin is also district general agent of the Con- necticut General Life Insurance Company. He is a member of Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons, Dieu le Veut Commandery, Knights Templar, Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Wilkes-Barre, and a mem- ber of Kingston Post, No. 395, American Legion. He is a Republican and a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkes-Barre.
On June 5, 1922, Hale Seward Coughlin married Margaret A. Hoffa, daughter of John Hoffa of Wilkes-Barre. They have two chil- dren, Marilyn Hoffa and Hale Seward, Jr.
EMIL MALINOWSKI-No history of this section would be complete without recording something of the achievements of Emil Mali- nowski, who for many years has made his home at Nanticoke, and its vicinity. He is a native of Poland. His parents, John and Catherine Malinowski, owned and operated a farm in Poland where they always made their home.
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