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 49

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 772

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 49

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Mr. Darte was born in Philadelphia, April 12, 1873. He is the son of Professor George Leonard Franck and Alwina (Eckert) Franck, the former being at the time of his death Professor of Civil and Dynamic En- gineering In the University of Pennsylvania. After the sudden death of his parents he was adopted at the age of three by Alfred Darte and Caroline (Seely) Darte. His father, Al- fred Darte, was born in Dundaff, Pennsyl- vania, and was for many years a leading attorney in this State, and served as judge of the Orphans' Court of Luzerne County; during the Civil War he fought for the Union with the Fourth Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Cavalry, and was severely wounded at Trevilian Station, Virginia; his mother, also the representative of ancestors of culture and accomplishment, was a native of Kingston, Pennsylvania, and died in 1892.

The education of Mr. Darte started in the Kingston Public Schools, and he made rapid progress as a student. He later attended Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, where he continued this record, and entered Yale Uni- versity at New Haven, Connecticut, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1896, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Instead of taking a law course at col- lege, he followed the plan of several others before and since this time of entering the law office of Honorable Henry A. Fuller of Wilkes-Barre, which he found to be a most excellent school, with Judge Fuller himself as preceptor; Judge Fuller later became a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Under the tutelage and friendly ministrations of this distinguished man Mr. Darte made rapid strides, getting a foundation that it would have been difficult to duplicate in any law school, and passed the bar examinations in 1899, whereupon he soon left Judge Fuller's

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office and struck out for himself on an inde- pendent schedule, and has been prospered in a gratifying degree. He practices beforo all the courts and is a member of the State and County Bar associations. He is vice-president of the Wilkes-Barre Can Company, president of the Title Guarantee Mortgage Company of Wilkes-Barre. His other principal financial associations are with the Miners' Bank, the Founders Investment Corporation both of Wilkes-Barre, the Hanover Fire Insurance Company and the Fulton Fire Insurance Company both of New York City, holding a directorship in the four concerns. In political affairs he is a Republican. He enlisted in the National Guard of Pennsylvania in 1896, and in the Spanish-American War in 1898 he served with the 9th Regiment of Infantry, Pennsyl- vania Volunteers. In 1899, after the war, he became a member of Company B, of the Na- tional Guard, with the commission of first lieutenant, then was made commissary officer with the 9th Regiment, ranking as captain. He was later promoted to the post of ord- nance officer of the 3d Brigade, with the rank of major, and then division inspector of rifle practice with the rank of lieutenant- colonel. He served as secretary of Draft Board No. 1 and as a member of the Legal Advisory Board of Luzerne County during the World War, and at the conclusion re- ceived a certificate of thanks from the Gov- ernment for this faithful service.

Mr. Darte is an alumnus of the Omicron Chapter of the Delta Phi Fraternity. His fraternal orders include Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Tem- plar; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Wilkes- Barre; and Caldwell Consistory, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, thirty-second degree, of Bloomsburg. His religious affilia- tion is with St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, where he serves as a vestryman. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is active in all civic matters, being president of the Board of Trustees of the Wyoming Semi- nary. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Wilkes-Barre Institute, Home for Friendless Children, Wilkes-Barre Gen- eral Hospital, United Charities and other or- ganizations. He is and has been since its organization in 1913 a member of the Wilkes- Barre City Planning Commission having acted as chairman of the commission for many years. His clubs include the West- moreland, Irem Temple Country, the Wyo- ming Valley Country, the North Mountain Club of Wilkes-Barre, the Racquet and Ten- nis and the Yale clubs of New York, the St. Regis River Golf Club, the St. Regis Yacht Ciub, Paul Smith's, New York, and the Lake Arthur Club of Louisiana.

Mr. Darte married, February 27, 1906, Dor- othy E. Dickson, of Wilkes-Barre, daughter of Allan H. and Kate (Pettebone) Dickson, members of a family of ancestors of promi- nence and achievement in their day. Mr. and Mrs. Darte are the parents of one daughter, Katharine Dickson Darte, born January 18, 1914; a son, Allan Dickson Darte, died in in- fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Darte reside at No. 37 North River Street. His business address is Miners Bank Building, Wilkes-Barre, Penn- sylvania.

GEORGE O. MOTTER-The Motter family to which George O. Motter belongs, is one of

the old Huguenot French families that came to this country In the early Colonial days and settled in Western Maryland. Ile lg the son of Emanuel and Josephine (Workman) Motter. They had two children: 1. Carrie L. the wife of John Dyer of Williamstown, Pennsylvania. 2. George O., of whom further.

George O. Motter was born at Williams- town, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 13, 1879. After he completed the work in the grammar school, he entered the Wil- liamstown Iligh School from which he gradu- ated in the class of 1894. He then ontered the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Penn- sylvania, graduating from there in 1898. He then took a position with the Williams Valley Bank at Williamstown, beginning as a book- keeper. Later, he went with the Commercial Bank at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, following this by a position as cashier of the People's Bank at Duncannon, Pennsylvania. He re- mained with the bank at Duncannon for some time and was then made cashier of the Hanover Bank and Trust Company where he remained for fifteen years, serving as cashier and trust officer. In January, 1925, he was called to be the cashier of the Lincoln De- posit and Savings Bank and Trust Company at Wilkes-Barre. Through Mr. Motter's ef- forts and his thorough knowledge of the business of banking, the deposits of the insti- tution have steadily increased and the busi- ness of this new bank is showing a healthy condition and indicates a growth that is most satisfactory. Mr. Motter is the member of a number of fraternal and social organizations among which are the Masonic Order, in which he is a member of Ashler Lodge, No, 750, Free and Accepted Masons, of Lykens, Penn- sylvania; the Caldwell Consistory at Bieoms- burg, Pennsylvania; Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite Masons of the thirty-second degree; Irem Temple, of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Wilkes-Barre; Irem Country Club the Franklin Club the Craftsmen's Club; and the Greater Wilkes- Barre Chamber of Commerce. In politics, Mr. Motter is a staunch Republican, and he is a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Wiikes-Barre.

In June, 1908, George O. Motter married Emma Berry of Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, daughter of Themas Berry, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Motter have two children: Helen Louise and George O., Jr.

JOHN MALCOLM COBB-For the past thirty-two years, John Maicolm Cobb has been identified with the National Cash Regis- ter Company, representing them in various cities in the Middle West until 1911, when he came to Wilkes-Barre, in which city he has been located for the past seventeen years. His offices are at No. 49 South Washington Street, where he also has his sales room. Mr. Cobb is a member of the Greater Wlikes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and is one of the well- known business men of the Wyoming Valley.

The Cobb family is one of the old families which settled in Virginia in early Colonial days. David Cobb, grandfather of Mr. Cobb, was one of the enterprising men who went westward into the newly settled regions and located in Indiana, where he was a leading citizen and a member of the State Legisla- ture. Ile was Speaker of the House for many years and during the Civil War was a mem- ber of President Lincoln's secret service staff. Samuel H. Cobb, sen of David Cobb, joined his father-in-law, David Branham, in building

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office and struck out for himself on an inde- pendent schedule, and has been prospered in a gratifying degree. He practices before all the courts and is a member of the State and County Bar associations. He is vice-president of the Wilkes-Barre Can Company, president of the Title Guarantee Mortgage Company of Wilkes-Barre. His other principal financial associations are with the Miners' Bank, the Founders Investment Corporation both of Wilkes-Barre, the Hanover Fire Insurance Company and the Fulton Fire Insurance Company both of New York City, holding a directorship in the four concerns. In political affairs he is a Republican. He enlisted in the National Guard of Pennsylvania in 1896, and in the Spanish-American War in 1898 he served with the 9th Regiment of Infantry, Pennsyl- vania Volunteers. In 1899, after the war, he became a member of Company B, of the Na- tional Guard, with the commission of first lieutenant, then was made commissary officer with the 9th Regiment, ranking as captain. He was later promoted to the post of ord- nance officer of the 3d Brigade, with the rank of major, and then division inspector of rifle practice with the rank of lieutenant- colonel. He served as secretary of Draft Board No. 1 and as a member of the Legal Advisory Board of Luzerne County during the World War, and at the conclusion re- ceived a certificate of thanks from the Gov- ernment for this faithful service.

Mr. Darte is an alumnus of the Omicron Chapter of the Delta Phi Fraternity. His fraternal orders include Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Tem- plar; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Wilkes- Barre; and Caldwell Consistory, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, thirty-second degree, of Bloomsburg. His rellgious affilia- tion is with St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, where he serves as a vestryman. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is active in all civic matters, being president of the Board of Trustees of the Wyoming Semi- nary. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Wilkes-Barre Institute, Home for Friendless Children, Wilkes-Barre Gen- eral Hospital, United Charities and other or- ganizations. He is and has been since its organization in 1913 a member of the Wilkes- Barre City Planning Commission having acted as chairman of the commission for many years. His clubs include the West- moreland, Irem Temple Country, the Wyo- ming Valley Country, the North Mountain Club of Wilkes-Barre, the Racquet and Ten- nis and the Yale clubs of New York, the St. Regis River Golf Club, the St. Regis Yacht Club, Paul Smith's, New York, and the Lake Arthur Club of Louisiana.

GEORGE O. MOTTER-The Motter family to which George O. Motter belongs, is one of

the old Huguenot French families that came to this country in the early Colonial days and settled in Western Maryland. IJe is the son of Emanuel and Josephine (Workman) Motter. They had two children: 1. Carrie L. the wife of John Dyer of Williamstown, Pennsylvania. 2. George O., of whom further.

George O. Motter was born at Williams- town, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Feh- ruary 13, 1879. After he completed the work in the grammar school, he entered the Wil- liamstown High School from which he gradu- ated in the class of 1894. He then entered the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Penn- sylvania, graduating from there in 1898. He then took a position with the Williams Valley Bank at Williamstown, beginning as a book- keeper. Later, he went with the Commercial Bank at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, following this by a position as cashier of the People's Bank at Duncannon, Pennsylvania. He re- mained with the bank at Duncannon for some time and was then made cashier of the Hanover Bank and Trust Company where he remained for fifteen years, serving as cashier and trust officer. In January, 1925, he was called to be the cashier of the Lincoln De- posit and Savings Bank and Trust Company at Wilkes-Barre. Through Mr. Motter's ef- forts and his thorough knowledge of the business of banking, the deposits of the insti- tution have steadily increased and the busi- ness of this new bank is showing a healthy condition and indicates a growth that is most satisfactory. Mr. Motter is the member of a number of fraternal and social organizations among which are the Masonic Order, in which he is a member of Ashler Lodge, No, 750, Free and Accepted Masons, of Lykens, Penn- sylvania; the Caldwell Consistory at Blooms- burg, Pennsylvania; Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite Masons of the thirty-second degree; Irem Temple, of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Wilkes-Barre; Irem Country Club the Franklin Club the Craftsmen's Club; and the Greater Wilkes- Barre Chamber of Commerce. In politics, Mr. Motter is a staunch Republican, and he is a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre.

In June, 1908, George O. Motter married Emma Berry of Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, daughter of Thomas Berry, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Motter have two children: Helen Louise and George O., Jr.

JOHN MALCOLM COBB-For the past thirty-two years, John Malcolm Cobb has been identified with the National Cash Regis- ter Company, representing them in various cities in the Middle West until 1911, when he came to Wilkes-Barre, in which city he has been located for the past seventeen years. His offices are at No. 49 South Washington Street, where he also has his sales room. Mr. Cobb is a member of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and is one of the well- known business men of the Wyoming Valley.

The Cobb family is one of the old families which settled in Virginia in early Colonial days. David Cobb, grandfather of Mr. Cobb, was one of the enterprising men who went westward into the newly settled regions and located in Indiana, where he was a leading citizen and a member of the State Legisla- ture. He was Speaker of the House for many years and during the Civil War was a men- ber of President Lincoln's secret service staff. Samuel H. Cobb, son of David Cobb, joined his father-in-law, David Branham, in building

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the first railroads in the State of Indiana. He married Mary Branham, now deceased, and they were the parents of five children: Cynthia, deceased; George, a resident of Mat- toon, Coles County, Illinois; John M., of fur- ther mention; and Samuel H., of San An- tonio, Texas.

John M. Cobb, son of Samuel H. and Mary (Branham) Cobb, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and received his education in the public schools of that place. After leaving high school, he entered the employ of the National Cash Register Company at Indian- apolis, in 1895, and his connection with that concern has been continuous ever since that time, a period of thirty-two years. During that period he has represented the company in various cities of the Middle West, includ- ing, Grand Rapids, Michigan; St. Louis and Kansas City, in Missouri; Fort Wayne, in Indiana; and Cleveland, in Ohio. In 1911, he came to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, from which center he has represented the Wilkes- Barre district for the past seventeen years. His district covers Northeastern Pennsylvania and his office and sales room, as previously stated, are at No. 49 South Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre. In his political affiliations, Mr. Cobb is a Republican and he is a Protestant In religious faith. He is well known in club circles here, being a member of the Wilkes- Barre Rotary Club, Westmoreland Club, Wyo- ming Valley Country Club and the Wilkes- Barre Motor Club. As a member of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, he is active and interested in the advance- ment of the civic and economic welfare of the city and contributes freely of his business experience and of his general ability.

John Malcolm Cobb was married to Jane Cotten, of Indianapolis, Indiana, daughter of Perry Cotten. Mr. and Mrs. Cobb are the par- ents of two children: 1. John Malcolm, Jr., who married Margaret Hoffman, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and has two children, Jane and John M. Cobb, 3d. 2. Elizabeth, who is un- married. It is interesting to the historian to record the fact that the estate on which the Cobb house was built came into the pos- session of the Cobb family some time during the middle of the fourteenth century, by the marriage of one of the Cobb daughters to an heir of one, John Riviet. This house was built by William Cobb, of New Church in 1542 and was repaired about twenty years ago by the present owner, the "Prince of Wales," with very little alteration of its original state. This information is found in the Cobb records from 1324 to 1686.

ELMER L. MEYERS, A. B., A. M., M. D., F. A. C. S., a practicing physician in Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania, was born near Bangor, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, on Oc- tober 29, 1864. He was the third child of Peter G. and Margaret (Stocker) Meyers, to whom eight children were born, four boys and four girls, all of whom are living at this date, 1930. Both of his parents were de- scended from Moravian stock, his paternal ancestors having settled near Easton, Penn- sylvania, early in the eighteenth century. His maternal ancestors came from Switzer- land in about 1730 and settled at Stocker- town, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, which town was named after the Stocker family.

Dr. Meyers spent his boyhood days on hls father's farm near Bangor, Pennsylvania, and for a few winter months each year in early

youth attended the community school. After reaching young manhood, he prepared himself for a business career by taking a commer- cial course in a private business school at Easton, Pennsylvania. During the year 1886 he held a position in his home town as a clerk and bookkeeper in a general store. During the school session of 1887-88 he taught a grammar school at South Easton, now a part of the city of Easton, Pennsyl- vania, and while thus engaged in the teach- ing profession, he prepared himself for col- lege, with the aid of a private tutor. In Sep- tember, 1888, he matriculated as a student at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, where he became a member of the Theta Delta Chi Greek letter fraternity. He spent two years at this Institutlon, and In Sep- tember, 1890, he transferred to Princeton University where he pursued a course pre- paratory to studying law. He was graduated from Princeton In June, 1892, with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts. The same institu- tion conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree in 1895.

During the two years after graduating from Princeton, Dr. Meyers held the position of supervising principal of the public schools in the Borough of White Haven, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. While thus engaged he registered as a student at law in 1893 in the office of Edwin Shortz, Sr., of Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania. In order that he might have better advantages in the prosecution of his law studies, he accepted the position as head of the College Preparatory Depart- ment in the Wilkes-Barre High School in 1894, where he spent three years.

The legal profession not appealing to him as he had anticipated, in 1897, he resigned his teaching position, and in September of that same year, he registered as a medical student in the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While in medical school Dr. Meyers held many positions of honor and trust. He was chairman of the Student Advisory Committee in his senior year, was the editor-in-chief of the annual year book of his class, and was voted by his classmates the best all round man among them. He was a charter member of Phi Alpha Sigma Fraternity, the first Greek letter society established at Jefferson in 1898. The most distinguishing feature of his medical course was the fact that he completed his course in three years, finishing in 1900. Directly after completing his medical studles at Jefferson, he entered the office of Dr. D. Braden Kyle as his private assistant. Dr. Kyle was at that time the professor of dis- eases of the nose and throat at Jefferson. During the time of his association with Dr. Kyle, Dr. Meyers did research work in the cause and treatment of hay fever. In 1901 he was made assistant demonstrator of anat- omy and at the same time was associated in the department of surgery under Dr. W. W. Keen and the department of obstetrics under Dr. Edward P. Davis. Both of these men were professors in Jefferson Medical College at that time. These positions Dr. Meyers held un- til the spring of 1902, when he resigned these several different appointments and located in Wilkes-Barre, where he opened an office on April 15, engaging in the practice of general medicine, but gradually devoting most of his time to obstetrics and the diseases of chil- dren. In 1908 he was appointed a member of the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Staff where he organized the Department of Ob-

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stetrics. He was the chlef of this department until 1925 when he resigned from his active dutles on the Staff, and was made an honor- ary attending physician. He is now, 1930, a member of the Board of Directors with the title of consulting physician on the staff.

He has held many positions of honor and responsibility both in his profession and In civic life. He has been secretary and is now, 1930, president of the Staff of the Wilkes- Barre General Hospital, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Kirby Health Cen- ter, now In course of construction. Dr. Meyers has served continuously since 1908 as a member of the United States Pension Board in Luzerne County, and has been the president of this board from the beginning of his appointment. He has for a long period of years been a surgeon for the Lehigh Val- ley Railroad Company and surgeon for the Bell Telephone Company. He was president of the Luzerne County Medical Society dur- ing the World War, 1917, and its secretary for three years, 1919-23. In addition to the local County Medical Society, he holds mem- bership in many other medical organizations, among them: The Lehigh Valley Medical As- sociation, the New England and New York Association of Railway Surgeons, the Ameri- can Medical Association, the Philadelphia Ob- stetric Society, the Philadelphia Pediatric Soclety, the Philadelphia Medical Club, and the Medical Society of the State of Pennsyl- vania, and he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is now, 1930, the president of his medical class 1900, and presi- dent of the general Alumni Association of Jefferson Medical College.

In civic life he was formerly a director of the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, and has been a member of the Wilkes-Barre Clty School Board since 1911 to this date 1930. On this board he has served at different times as its president. A new high school in Wilkes-Barre in course of construction, which is to cost upwards of two million dol- lars, has been named by his fellow directors, "The Elmer L. Meyers High School."

Dr. Meyers has contributed numerous arti- cles to medical literature and is the inventor of the "Meyers" obstetrical forceps, which instrument is extensively used by the medi- cal profession.

Dr. Elmer L. Meyers married, April 22, 1903, at Wilkes-Barre, Grace H. Morgan, who was native-born to Luzerne County, a daughter of Edward S. Morgan of Wilkes-Barre. Dr. and Mrs. Meyers are now the parents of two children, both of whom are daughters: 1. Margaret Foulke, who was graduated from Vassar College with the class of 1926. 2. Helen Wells, who was graduated from the Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in 1927, and is now, 1930, a student at New York University. Dr. Meyers maintains his principal residence in Wilkes-Barre, and is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of that city.

FRANK BARRY BROWN-To his steadily Increasing practice of law in Wilkes-Barre and throughout Luzerne County, Frank Barry Brown has brought a decided inclination for the profession for which he obtained through his own incentive and effort a thorough training. Politically active, he has for a quarter of a century moved in the executive front rank of the Democratic interests of the county, with an influence that has made it-

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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 49

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press Number of Pages: 772

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 772