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 55
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As a man of high moral character, faultless integrity and great public spirit, Mr. Andreas held the respect and esteem of the entire community. He invariably gave generous support to all activities promoted for the good of the people and it was long a by-word that no man who appealed to him for counsel or material ald ever left his presence dis- appointed. He was an able and sincerely admired citizen of Luzerne County.
ABE ALBERT DATTNER, M. D .- That par- ticular branch of the medical profession which has claimed the attentions of Abe A. Dattner, M. D., is the diagnosis and treat- ment of children's diseases. Practicing in Wilkes-Barre over a period of several years, Dr. Dattner has created a well deserved repu- tation for leadership in this kind of medical work, and in it, combining skill with his naturally gentle and patient manner, he has rendered invaluable service to the community in which he has for so many years lived and worked. Also active in the general social life of Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County, he belongs to a number of important organiza- tions and is held in the highest esteem by his fellowmen.
He was born on December 28, 1891, a son of Adolf and Fannie (Singer) Dattner, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. His father, a native of Austria, where he was born in 1861, was, when he came to the United States to live, a merchant for many years in Lu- zerne County; while the mother, Fannie (Singer) Dattner, is also a native of Austria, where she was born in 1863. The son received his early education in the public schools of Luzerne, and attended the high school there,
from which he was graduated in the class of 1910. He then matriculated in Jefferson Medi- cal College, from which he was graduated In the class of 1915 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then became an interne at St. Mary's Hospital, in Philadelphia, where he remained for one year, until he began his general practice of medicine and surgery in Wilkes-Barre. Here he continued as general physician and surgeon until 1923, when he went to Europe for special study of children's diseases. Upon his return to the United States, he has specialized in this type of dis- ease. Gaining, with the passing years, a wide circle of friends, Dr. Dattner has succeeded in building up his practice to its present enviable state, and in creating in his pa- tients a feeling of complete trust and con- fidence-a feeling merited by the diligence and skill of this physician.
Dr. Dattner has always taken a prominent part in the affairs of his community and county, as well as in the broader phases of the medical profession. He is a member of the staff of physicians at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre; and is a member of the Lu- zerne County Medical Society, the Pennsyl- vania State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. During the period of American participation in the World War, he served with the Medical Corps from April, 1918, to December of the same year, having been commissioned as first lieutenant. He was stationed at Fort McPherson, Georgia, and Camp Lee, Virginia. In December, 1918, he was honorably discharged from the United States Army, and from that time onward has been practicing his profession in Wilkes- Barre. In addition to his medical work, Dr. Dattner is active in political affairs, being himself affiliated with the Republican party, whose policies and principles he regularly supports; and in fraternal activities, being a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which his connection is with Shekinah Lodge, No. 246, of Philadelphia. He is a member of Temple Israel.
In June, 1916, he married Elizabeth Apfel- baum, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Henry and Rose (Schweiger) Apfelbaum. By this union there have been two children: 1. Charlotte Jean, born July 14, 1919. 2. Alvin Leo, born November 23, 1926.
MURRAY ALBERT PADDOCK-An out- standing figure in business circles in Wilkes- Barre, Murray A. Paddock Is a leader in the glass industry of this section, being manager of the G. E. Paddock and Son, Inc., of which his father is president. This concern is one of the largest manufacturers and jobbers of glass in Northeastern Pennsylvania, special- izing in stained glass church windows, glazed in lead, zinc or copper; plate glass for auto- mobiles; wire and figured glass for building purposes and other varietles in which they excel. Mr. Paddock, through his initiative and keen business ability coupled with a thorough knowledge of his product, has been largely instrumental in developing the busi- ness to its present large proportions.
Murray A. Paddock was born in Kingston, January 28, 1885, son of George E. and Virgie C. (Prince) Paddock. George E. Paddock is the son of Lewis Paddock, who was killed during the Civil War at the battle of Reams Station, Virginia. Upon the death of his father, George E. Paddock was placed in an
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orphan's home, although shortly after, he was taken into the private home of Elvira Holcomb, who reared him to manhood and gave him the advantages of an excellent, comfortable home. Mr. and Mrs. Paddock are the parents of three children: 1. C. Blanche, married H. H. Schoser, of Kingston. 2. Mur- ray A., of whom further. 3. Grace, married Arthur Williams of Kingston. In politics, G. E. Paddock is a member of the Republican party and in religious affiliation, is a member of the Methodist Church. In his early life, he engaged in the butcher business and later learned the glazier trade in which he became extremely proficient, and in 1906, he opened a stained glass business at Kingston.
Murray A. Paddock received his education in the public schools of Kingston, and while a boy, became a clerk in the hardware store of C. Morgan's Sons at Wilkes-Barre, where he remained for six years, acquiring a splen- did reputation for his quick perception and energetic interest in his work. In 1907 he became associated with his father and they formed a concern under the name, G. E. Paddock and Son, for the manufacture of high quality stained glass and other glass products. The excellence of their output created a great demand throughout the country among contractors and various other users, and their motto is truly a fact, that "none can surpass Paddock Glass." Mr. Pad- dock is a remarkable example of a self-made man, having risen to his present position by his untiring energy and an unshaken deter- mination to succeed. In politics, he is a member of the Republican party and takes a deep and active interest in the affairs of the city. In fraternal connections, he is a mem- ber of the Kingston Lodge, No. 395, Free and Accepted Masons; Kingston Lodge, No. 709, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Lodge, No. 426, United Commercial Travelers of America.
Murray A. Paddock married, on January 10, 1912, Eunice McCall, daughter of Patrick and Mary (Clements) McCall, the father engaged in business in Wilkes-Barre for nearly fifty years. They are the parents of three children: Murray Albert, Jr., died at the age of three years; Robert Clements, and George Murray.
WILLIAM GWYNNE WEAVER, M. D .- A notable physician who will long be remem- bered as one of the ablest and best-loved citizens of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was the late William Gwynne Weaver, M. D. In addition to his important professional activi- ties, Dr. Weaver served as school director of the city for thirty years, having never been defeated for this office and his service being continuous.
William Gwynne Weaver was born March 11, 1850, in Rush Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, son of Jesse and Eliza- beth (Bassett) Weaver, of the same locality, grandson of Henry and Elizabeth (Campbell) Weaver, who lived in the same section, and great-grandson of Michael and Margaret Weaver. The great-grandfather, Michael Weaver, came from Germany about 1769 and settled finally in Northumberland County; he was a captain in the Revolutionary Army, in service for seven and a half years; and he became a man of wealth and much local im- portance. His son was a substantial farmer, and his son, father of our subject, also fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. Jesse Weaver was a Democrat and a prominent Methodist. His second wife, Elizabeth Bassett, was born
in New Jersey but grew up in Rush Town- ship, Northumberland County. The family was of old English stock, and several ances- tors participated in the Revolutionary War. To this union were born the following chil- dren: Marietta, George B., Luther B., William G. of further mention: John P. and Ruth A.
William Gwynne Weaver spent his early days in his native township and attended the local public schools. The early death of the father had impoverished the family, and the boy limited his schooling to the winter months in order to help on the farm in sum- mer. At seventeen, he began teaching in the country school in Montour County, in order to get money to complete his education. He attended Elysburg Academy, taught during four months of the following winter in Northumberland County, and resumed his studies in the Klines Grove Academy. At twenty he began teaching in Shamokin where he remained until 1872, when he came to Wilkes-Barre and took up the office of prin- cipal of a city school.
By the year 1875, when he was twenty-five, the ambitious young man was ready for the study of medicine. He pursued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, in the medi- cal department, and graduated in 1878. Re- turning to Wilkes-Barre, he built up a large practice and served as surgeon for the Lehigh Valley Railroad and staff-surgeon for the Wilkes-Barre City and Mercy hospitals. So great was the confidence in his ability that Dr. Weaver was made president of the Nanti- coke Light, Heat & Power Company, of which he was also a director.
His participation in civic affairs was active. Dr. Weaver was for eighteen years a mem- ber of the 9th Regiment National Guard of Pennsylvania, for seven years with the rank of captain, later becoming regimental sur- geon, with the rank of major, and he served as assistant surgeon and acting surgeon of the regiment in the Spanish-American War. His wife, then Miss Abbott, was a volunteer nurse in this war. Dr. Weaver belonged to the American Medical Association, the Penn- sylvania State, the Luzerne County, the Le- high Valley Medical societies, and the Asso- ciation of Lehigh Valley Railroad Surgeons. His fraternal affiliations were with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 39, of Wilkes-Barre, of which he was a Past Grand, Lodge No. 174, Knights of Pythias; Lodge No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was a member also of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Westmoreland Club. In politics he was a Republican. Dr. Weaver was the original advocate of the con- solidation of the separate school districts of the city and a prime worker in the consoli- dation movement of 1890. He was appointed one of the original trustees of the East Stroudsburg State Normal School at its organization and was reappointed by the superintendent of public instruction for many subsequent terms. He also warmly advocated the change of municipal government from a special to a general charter and had the satisfaction of seeing his efforts successful in 1898. He was a communicant of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church of Wilkes-Barre.
William Gwynne Weaver married, Decem- ber 6, 1898, in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Abbott, daughter of Rev. B. H. and Sarah Elizabeth (Farnham) Abbott, and de- scendant on both sides of the family from
Williamly Neaver
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old American families. The paternal ances- try was from Massachusetts, the father being an Episcopal minister. To Dr. and Mrs. Weaver were born two children: William Abbott, born April 19, 1900, now a physician of Wilkes-Barre (see following biography); Elizabeth Bassett, born September 21, 1903.
Dr. Weaver died in December, 1908, after a career which was at the same time highly successful and broadly useful. His leader- ship made itself felt not only in professional progress, but in the general advancement of Wilkes-Barre along educational and munici- pal lines. His memory will long be a part of the history of the city.
WILLIAM ABBOTT WEAVER, M. D .- The son of a physician with traditions of splen- did service and highest professional stand- ards to live up to, Wilkes-Barre expects noteworthy achievements from the training and background of William Abbott Weaver. He was born in Wilkes-Barre April 19, 1900, a son of Dr. William Gwynne Weaver (see preceding biography) and Elizabeth (Abbott) Weaver.
William Abbott Weaver received his aca- demic education in the schools of Wilkes- Barre and then at the Wyoming Seminary, graduating from the latter with the class of 1918. He attended Lehigh University, tak- ing his pre-medical course at that institution and followed this with a medical course at the Jefferson Medical College, taking his degree from that institution in 1925. He entered the General Hospital as interne directly after graduation and remained there for a year, and is now on the surgical staff of that hospital. He is also actively inter- ested in other institutional work, being assistant surgeon for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company; physician on the Poor Board of Wilkes-Barre and regimental surgeon of the 109th Field Artillery, Pennsylvania National Guard with the rank of major. This latter post was held by his father for over eighteen years. Dr. Weaver, with all these manifold duties, still finds time and opportunity to develop a private practice. He is affiliated with the important groups that are of sig- nificance in his profession, the Luzerne County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Medical Association and the American Med - ical Association. He is also affiliated with the Phi Chi medical fraternity, the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution, and is a member of Wilkes-Barre Post, No. 132, American Legion. He declares himself a Republican in politics and is a Free and Accepted Mason, Wilkes- Barre Lodge, No. 61: Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and Dieu le Veut Com- mandery, Knights Templar; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. A member of the Lions Club and of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.
Dr. William A. Weaver married, February 12, 1929, Ruth S. Mengel, daughter of Dr. Samuel P. and Sarah (Slater) Mengel. A son, William Abbott, Jr., was born to Dr. and Mrs. Weaver, December 28, 1929.
FRANK GEORGE RECKUS-Prominent among the successful young business men of Wilkes-Barre is Frank G. Reckus, head of the Frank G. Reckus Company, realtors and in- surers, whose offices are at Nos. 442-444 Miners Bank Building. The concern handles all kinds of insurance, buys, sells, and man- ages real estate, and negotiates mortgage loans. Mr. Reckus is a graduate of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and was president
of the Wilkes-Barre Real Estate Exchange in 1928.
Frank G. Reckus was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1895, son of William P. and Mary (Koons) Reckus, both of whom are deceased. He was one of six children, namely: Joseph M., who Is chief of police for Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsyl- vania; William P., who is In the employ of the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company; John A., of Uniontown, Pennsylvania; Frank G., of further mention; Annie E., who is teaching in the Hanover Township public schools; and Rose S.
Frank G. Reckus grew to manhood in the city of his birth, attending the public schools and then becoming a student in the Mansfield State Normal School, at Mansfield, Pennsyl- vania. In July, 1917, soon after the entrance of the United States into the World War, Mr. Reckus enlisted in the Medical Corps of the regular United States Army and was sta- tioned at Columbus, Ohio, then at Fort Riley, Kansas. Later, he was transferred to the Officers' Training School, at Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas. This transfer was made February 15, 1918, and on June 1, 1918, he was commissioned second lieutenant of in- fantry and was stationed at Camp Lee, Vir- ginia, where he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant of infantry in September, 1918. He was mustered out of service Sep- tember 15, 1919, after twenty-nine months of service. After his return to civilian life he matriculated in the University of Pennsyl- vania, at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated with the class of 1923, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science, having majored in Economics. Since his graduation he has been interested in real estate and insurance, and as head of the successful con- cern which operates under his name, he is making an enviable reputation in that field of business activity. He was a most able and efficient president of the Wilkes-Barre Real Estate Exchange in 1928, and is also a member of the Luzerne County Real Estate Exchange. In politics, he supports the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He Is a mem- ber of Wilkes-Barre Post, No. 132, American Legion; the Knights of Columbus, and be- longs to the Wilkes-Barre-Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce; and his religious affiliation is with the Roman Catholic Church of St. Ignatius, of Kingston, Pennsylvania. During his college years he became identified with Theta Delta Chi college fraternity, and he has continued his membership with that fraternity. He is a member of the North- eastern Pennsylvania Football Association, and was a member of the football and wrest- ling teams during his college days. Mr. Rec- kus is one of the very well known young business men of this city, and is very highly regarded by his numerous friends and asso- ciates.
Frank G. Reckus was married, November 19, 1925, to Dorothea R. Burke, daughter of Martin F. and Margaret (McGinty) Burke. Mr. and Mrs. Reckus have two children, Jean Marie, and Marguerite. The family home is located at No. 214 Butler Street, Kingston, Pennsylvania.
FRANCIS TIMOTHY O'DONNELL, M. D .- One of the younger members of the medical profession in Wilkes-Barre is Dr. Francis Timothy O'Donnell, a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, who has been engaged in general and special practice here since 1923.
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His offices are located at No. 345 North Main Street, and in addition to the care of his general practice he makes a specialty of children's diseases. Dr. O'Donnell, though hut seven years in practice has already made for himself an assured place in his profession, and his clientele is steadily growing.
Dr. Francis Timothy O'Donnell was born in Parsons, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, De- cember 28, 1898, son of Timothy Francis O'Donnell, a native of Wilkes-Barre, Penn- sylvania, born in October, 1866, who was a druggist in Parsons for many years and is still living (1930), and of Catherine (Whalen) O'Donnell, who was born in Avoca, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in April, 1868, also living. Dr. O'Donnell attended St. Mary's pa- rochial school, graduating with the class of 1916, and in the same year passed the State pharmaceutical examination and qualified for assistant pharmacist. He then began his pre- medical course in St. Thomas College, at Scranton, Pennsylvania. When his course there was finished he entered Jefferson Medi- cal College, in Philadelphia, where he was graduated, class of 1922, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. An interneship served in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital gave him one year of practical experience preparatory to opening an office of his own, and in 1923 he engaged in general practice here in Wilkes- Barre, where he has since been making him- self known as an able physician. Always interested in the hygiene and the diseases of children, Dr. O'Donnell has made a special study of pediatrics, and is pediatrician in the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. He has been very successful in treating children's dis- eases, and is steadily adding to his skill and his knowledge in this special field. Dr. O'Don- nell is a member of the Luzerne County Medi- cal Society, of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Associa- tion; and he is also a member of the Phi Alpha Sigma medical fraternity and an hon- orary member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Fraternity of Jefferson Medical College, and belongs to the Knights of Columbus. In politics he gives support to the Democratic party, and his religious affiliation is with St. John's Roman Catholic Church.
Dr. Francis Timothy O'Donnell was mar- ried, August 8, 1923, to Elizabeth Irene Bar- nett, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, dangh- ter of James C. and Stella (Siglin) Barnett. Dr. and Mrs. O'Donnell have four children: 1. George J., who was born July 10, 1924. 2. Francis T., Jr., born November 29, 1925. 3. Raymond J., born June 22, 1927. 4. James, born November 29, 1928.
EDWARD HENRY KENT-Financial fra- ternity of the Wyoming Valley of Pennsyl- vania have in their membership no more capable man in. his line than Edward Henry Kent, resident partner in Wilkes-Barre of the New York Stock Exchange house of Green, Ellis & Anderson, which position he has occupied since the formation of the firm here, February 1, 1922. From boyhood, im- mediately after leaving school, Mr. Kent has been intimately associated with financial ac- tivities, for the last decade of that period having been so engaged in this city, where he long since attained the esteem of his asso- ciates and the clientele he drew through his enterprising operations and the success that attended them. Energetic and industrious, keen of mind and equipped with a broad knowledge of the business in which he is
engaged, he has also won the friendly regard of his fellow-citizens through his interest in civic activities and their approbation for the conspicuous part he played in answer to the call of his Country during the period that the United States was engaged in the strug- gle of the World War. He also has been a staunch churchman and an ideal citizen in his social and fraternal recreations, making him altogether a valuable unit of the pro- gressive community that makes up the popu- lation of this district of the State.
Born in North Tarrytown, New York, May 19, 1884, he is a son of Edward Henry Kent, born in New York City in 1842, engaged there in the life insurance business, where his death occurred, January 29, 1905, and Mary Cornelia (Bostwick) Kent, also horn in the metropolis, where she died, August 19, 1927. He was educated in the Tarrytown, New York, public schools, after which in- struction he began work in a Wall Street bond brokerage house, remaining in the financial mart of the country until the entry of the United States into the World War, when he entered the military service with the 107th Infantry, was commissioned a captain and appointed regimental adjutant and served ·overseas, having sailed May 13, 1918, with the American Expeditionary Forces, there serving in cooperation with the British Army in the Somme Offensive, and Ypres-Lye Offensive. He had been a member of the orig- inal famous Seventh Regiment of New York since January 2, 1906, and during his mem- bership of that organization at the French front received a division citation for excel- lent record. He was honorably mustered out, April 6, 1919, and the following day found him in Wilkes-Barre, where he represented the bond house of Calloway, Fish & Company. This association continued until February 1, 1922, when he hecame resident partner of the financial firm already named. In addition to his management of this house he acts as a director of the Haddock Mining Company and the Candlemas Collieries Company. He is director and treasurer of the Red Cross, and director of the Georgetown Settlement. He is a Republican in politics and a member of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church, where he taught Sunday school for several years. He belongs to the American Legion and the Scranton and Westmoreland clubs.
Edward Henry Kent married, February 21. 1918, Sara C. Evans, of Augusta, Georgia, daughter of Lawton B. and Florence (Camp- bell) Evans.
LELAND STANLEY PIERSON-The name which heads this review represents one of the younger business men of Wilkes-Barre, who with his father, A. L. Pierson, conducts a successful real estate business under the title A. L. Pierson & Son. Leland Stanley Pierson was born April 10, 1881, in Auburn Center, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, but at a subsequent date moved with his parents to Luzerne County, where he is making his home. His father, Andrew L. Pierson, is a highly esteemed citizen of the same com- munity, though he was born in Auburn Cen- ter in 1856. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to Fidelity Lodge, No. 655, of Wilkes-Barre. Since coming to Luzerne County, he has spent much of his time in the real estate business. He married Lillian Wilcox, who was also a native of Auburn Center, having been born there in 1859.
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Leland Stanley Pierson was educated in the public schools of Dallas, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; the Wyoming Seminary, from which he graduated in 1899; and the Wes- leyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. His first position was as an accountant with the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and in this ca- pacity he served for a period of two years. Following this, he obtained entrance in the Wyoming Valley Lace Mills, becoming office manager and paymaster, and remained with this company for eight years, when he severed his connection in order that he might assist his father in his large real estate and insur- ance development business. He has continued with his father to the present time, under the name of A. L. Pierson and Son.
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