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 58
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Charles C. Steinert received his education in the New York public schools and was graduated from high school. For four years he held a position as auditor for a company in New York, at the end of which period he became associated with his uncle, Herbert Grant, as a traveling salesman. Coming to Wilkes-Barre in April, 1921, he established a salesroom and automobile service station at No. 219 South Washington Street. He continued at that address until 1924, when he and his brother erected the building at No. 417 West Market Street, where they since have been. The principal output of the con- cern is the Hupmobile, for which they are
the local distributors. Charles C. Steinert is a Republican in politics, a Presbyterian in religion. His fraternal memberships in- clude the Boiling Spring Lodge, No. 152, Free and Accepted Masons, of Rutherford, New Jersey; Caldwell Consistory, of Blooms- burg, Pennsylvania; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Scottish Rite. He is a member of the Wilkes- Barre-Wyoming Valley Chamber of Com- merce, Irem Temple Country Club and the Wyoming Valley Country Club, of Wilkes- Barre.
Mr. Steinert married at Canton, Ohio, December 18, 1919, Carolyn Lindley, daugh- ter of Earl and Elizabeth (Manly) Lindley, of that place. They have one child, Jean Elizabeth. Their residence is at Dallas, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Clarence H. Steinert, brother and partner of Charles C., was born in 1896 and was educated in the New York public schools, graduating from high school. He followed bookkeeping as a profession until the en- trance of the United States into the World War, when he enlisted in the Navy and was attached to a submarine chaser, on which he served in the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas until the close of the conflict. He is a Republican in politics and a Presbyterian in religious faith.
He married Emma Brainard, of New York City. They are the parents of three chil- dren: Clarence J., Ruth, and Donald.
ALLEN E. BACON-The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial High School is one of the monuments deserving the civic pride of Wilkes-Barre, and great commendation should be given to the instigators of the plan and to those who have so nobly carried it through with financial aid and encourage- ment. Mr. Bacon, as a trained pedagogue and educational leader, was selected as its principal and has filled that position with distinction and marked ability since the building was completed. Mr. Bacon was born in Wilkes-Barre, August 19, 1890, son of Charles E. and Mae (Allen) Bacon. Both parents were born in Susquehanna County, the Allen family particularly dating far back into the days of the Indian wars in the pioneer period. Members of the family took part in the horrors of the Wyoming Massacre,
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which occurred in June, 1778, and the name of Hollenbeck appears on the Wyoming monument erected in commemoration of that direful historic event, and is that of the ancestor in direct line of Mr. Bacon's mother.
Allen E. Bacon attended school at Wilkes- Barre through the high school grade and then entered Lafayette College at Easton, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in 1911. He was then called to the Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre, where he taught math- ematics for five years, until, in fact, his career was interrupted as was that of most of the youth of our country, by call to mili- tary service. He was commissioned second- lieutenant and served at various camps in the department of the adjutant general. On his discharge in 1919, he returned to Coughlin High School and remained there until 1923. At that time the principalship of the Grant Street School of Wilkes-Barre was offered him, which he accepted. The G. A. R. Memo- rial High School was beginning to be under construction at that time and he entered heart and soul into plans for its completion and when it was finished he was made its head. This institution stands at the corner of Grant and Lehigh streets, and is com- pletely equipped as the most modern and scientific example of school architecture. It accommodates seventeen hundred pupils and eighty-four teachers and its large auditorium will seat fourteen hundred. There are two splendidly equipped gymnasiums, separate building for technical shops and its own cafeteria and kitchens.
Mr. Bacon is a member of the Lions' Club and belongs to the Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons. He and his family are communicants of the Episcopal Church and actively engaged in church matters. Mr. Bacon is a Republican in his political con- victions.
On June 20, 1920, Mr. Bacon was married to Lucy Dame, a daughter of Charles E. and Mary (Saunders) Dame, of Richmond, Vir- ginia, and they have one son, Allen, born December 17, 1926.
SOPHIA MARY RICARDA O'HARA, born November 13, 1882, at Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, the third child of Patrick J. and Catherine (Cavan) O'Hara, re- ceived her education in the public schools of Wilkes-Barre, and studied law in the law office of Martin and Trescott, Wilkes-Barre. She is a member of the bars of the local and appellate courts of Pennsylvania and of the District Court, Middle District of Pennsyl- vania, and Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States, having been admitted to the bar in March, 1913. On February 7, 1927, she was appointed, by Governor John S. Fisher, Deputy Attorney-General of Pennsyl- vania under Hon. Thomas Jackson Baldridge, Attorney-General, now associate justice of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. She has been vice-secretary of the Republican County Committee of Luzerne County; a vice-presi- dent of the Community Welfare Federation; a vice-president of the Wyoming Valley Women's Club; president of the Wilkes- Barre Quota Club; is president of the Penn- sylvania State Council of Republican Women; is a. director of the United Charities of Wilkes-Barre.
J. CARPENTER MeNELIS, M. D .- Among the professional men of Wilkes-Barre who have taken up medicine for their life work,
J. Carpenter McNelis, M. D., is one of the younger group. In the years in which he has heen practicing, Dr. McNelis has built up for himself a well deserved reputation for leader- ship in his kind of work, for thorough skill, and for a pleasant personality, which Is so essential in the type of activity in which he is engaged, and has acquired a wide circle of friends and loyal supporters in this city and, for that matter, throughout the Wyo- ming Valley. He is actively interested in all phases of community development, and is generally regarded as one of Wilkes-Barre's outstanding citizens.
Dr. MeNelis was born in Hazleton, Pennsyl- vania, on September 18, 1898, a son of Frank and Ann (Carpenter) McNelis. His father, a contractor dealing in general huilding activi- ties, was born in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania, in 1855, and died in November, 1925; while the mother, Ann (Carpenter) McNelis, was born in Hazleton and died in August, 1907.
J. Carpenter McNelis, the son, received his early education in the public schools, and then attended the high school of his native city, Hazleton, from which he was graduated in the class of 1914. For his pre-medical course he studied at the University of Penn- sylvania for two years, and then became a student in the medical school of that univer- sity, from which he was graduated in the class of 1919 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He also received a post-graduate course at Medico-Chirurgical College, Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. From that time he served as interne in the Wilkes-Barre Gen- eral Hospital for a period, afterward having become resident physician there and finally chief resident physician. His services to the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital occupied most of his attention for thirty-one months. He served then for six months as physician for the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad, having been stationed for that work in Yatesboro, Pennsylvania. It was following this prelimi- nary medical work that he took up his gen- eral medical practice in Wilkes-Barre, which he has continued since that time. With the passing years he has added consistently to his list of friendships, as well as to the services that he is able to render to the people of Wilkes-Barre in the capacity of physician and to the size and extent of his practice.
In addition to his own practice, Dr. Mc- Nelis is active in the medical affairs of his community and county and State. He is a member of the staff of Mercy Hospital, where he is orthopedist and obstetrician. He also keeps in touch with all the newer discoveries and theories of his professional colleagues through memberships in the Luzerne County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medi- cal Society and the American Medical Asso- ciation. He also holds membership in the Wyoming Valley Country Club. Dr. McNelis' church affiliation is with St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
SAMUEL MILES BARBER-Railroads, news- papers and rubber manufacturers have re- ceived the services of Samuel Miles Barber of Wilkes-Barre, at various times during his career, but perhaps he is best known for his accomplishments in public life, which re- sulted in his election as a member of the Board of Alderman here, an office he now (1930) is filling, as a representative of the Fourth Ward. Mr. Barber has been associated with the city of Wilkes-Barre since 1905, with the exception of a period during which
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he was connected with a prominent rubber manufacturing concern, and his personality, high ethics and abilities have combined to make him one of the city's most popular and respected officials. His official record has been materially enhanced through his deep devotion to other spheres of activity in Wilkes-Barre.
Mr. Barber's parents, both natives of Penn- sylvania, were I. Grier and Katherine E. (Wittenmeyer) Barber, the mother having been born in 1861, at Middleburg. 1. Grier Barber was born in 1851, at Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, and was a medical practitioner of note during his life. He passed away in February, 1926, at Wilkes- Barre.
S. Miles Barber was born February 15, 1885, at Middleburg, Snyder County, Pennsyl- vania, and his preliminary education was gained in the public schools, ending in 1904, when he was graduated from the Danville (Pennsylvania) High School. The following year, in 1905, he accepted employment with the Pennsylvania Railroad, being assistant cashier in the Wilkes-Barre offices of this company. He remained thus occupied until 1912, and in the meantime had become a zealous follower of sporting events. His natural talents and deep studies of this field were recognized in local newspaper circles, and in the last named year Mr. Barber went with the Wilkes-Barre "Times-Leader," being sports editor of this newspaper until 1917. He found this work interesting, but as many other journalists will testify, not the most remunerative occupation in the world, and as a consequence, in 1917, he abandoned news- paper work and accepted a position with the Miller Rubber Company, as district manager for the State of Michigan. His duties in this capacity were to occupy Mr. Barber for ten years, and he attained material success therein, until May, 1927, when he was first appointed by Governor Fisher to represent the Fourth Ward as Alderman. A short time later, Mr. Barber was elected Alderman for a six-year term, expiring in 1933. His wise counsel and business judgment have been of inestimable worth in the conduct of official affairs in Wilkes-Barre, and his constituents are well satisfied with their representative's record as Alderman.
Mr. Barber, who is a Republican, has ex- erted no little power in the affairs of his party, and has had much to do with forming the policies of the local political organization. He is ever faithful to his fellowmen, and mingles freely in social and fraternal circles. He is a member of Lodge No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons; Valley of Williamsport Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and contributed materially to the benevolences of his church, the Memorial Presbyterian, of Wilkes-Barre. He is a member of the Wilkes-Barre Press Club, and one of the board of governors.
S. Miles Barber married, May 8, 1929, Julia B. Burdock, of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Barber's address is No. 30 Public Square.
FREDERICK CHARLES TONGUE, M. D .- Specializing in nervous and mental diseases, Dr. Tongue is one of the leading neurologists in the State, combining hospital work in that branch of his profession, with a private gen- eral practice in Wilkes-Barre. Dr. Tongue was born in Philadelphia, July 23, 1894, son of George G. and Esther (Pretty) Tongue,
both of whom were born in Philadelphia. The former, born in 1867, was one of its leading merchants when he died, in July, 1917.
Dr. Tongue attended the public schools of Philadelphia, going through the high school there and then took a year's course in the Peirce Business College. He entered the Hahnemann Medical College for his training and graduated from there with his degree with the class of 1917. This famous Phila- delphia college is the original exponent of the school of homeopathy and it has been Dr. Tongue's aim to become known as a worthy interpreter of this great institution's teachings. Dr. Tongue remained at the Hah- nemann Hospital as interne for the usual year and then was taken on the staff of the State Hospital for Nervous and Mental Dis- eases at Allentown, where he remained for two and a half years. In 1921, he came to Wilkes-Barre where he has taken up a gen- eral practice, with psychlatry as a specialty, and at the same time, is doing useful work on the staff of the Wyoming Valley Homeo- pathic Hospital. Dr. Tongue is a member of the Wyoming Valley Homeopathic Society, of the Luzerne County Medical Society, of the State Medical Association and of the American Institute of Homeopathy. He is a Republican in his political affiliations and beliefs and a member of the fraternal order of Eagles, Brotherhood of America, and of the Baptist Church.
Dr. Frederick Charles Tongue was mar- ried, on October 14, 1927, to Anna K. Dymond of Orange, a daughter of Zachariah and Della (Sickler) Dymond.
WILLIAM JOSEPH ROONEY-Born Janu- ary 20, 1890, at Port Griffiths, Luzerne County, Mr. Rooney is now one of the prominent citizens of Wilkes-Barre, with a restaurant business that caters to the best of the towns- people and that he has built up himself with energetic ability and sure insight into the needs of a first-class clientele. William Rooney is a son of Owen and Mary (Calla- han) Rooney, the former born in Plymouth and the latter in Port Griffiths. Mr. Rooney, Sr., was also an owner of a restaurant, in connection with his hotel in Vandling, Lacka- wanna County.
The early life of William J. Rooney was passed in Vandling, where he attended the local schools and then worked in the mines for a while as breaker-boy. Growing older and of responsible years, he was given a position with the American Locomotive Works at Scranton and there learned the trade of machinist, and finished his appren- ticeship in this line after four years, although he did not untilize his knowledge in his adult life, choosing instead a different field of endeavor. After the Scranton experience, he came to Wilkes-Barre and was a salesman with the Kolb Bakery Company for two years, and, then, in 1915, he made his begin- ning in the restaurant business, starting with a lunch wagon on Scott Street. Making a success of this small beginning, he branched into a wider field and took over a part of the old Windsor Hotel and converted it into a business lunch place, calling it the "Mer- chants Lunch." In 1920 he discontinued this lunch room and opened a modern and thor- oughly up-to-date restaurant on North Mar- ket Street, known as the "Clover," which is still operated under that name, and here he built up a pleasant reputation for good food
Fred b. Jongue M.D.
Formes T. Williams.
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and management. While still retaining an interest in the "Clover," Mr. Rooney took over a partnership in the restaurant known as "The Barre" and was secretary of that com- pany. In March, 1925, he sold his connection with the "Clover" and devoted all his en- ergies and time to "The Barre." In 1928 he acquired all the stock of this company and renamed the restaurant "The Rooney." He reorganized the company and established methods of the best efficiency in restaurant management and has created a place that is regarded in the highest light in the city. He employs about forty people and the restau- rant has a seating capacity of a hundred and, in detail, it is modern in every respect. Mr. Rooney expresses himself as independent in his political thought, but at all times, has the best interests of the community at heart. He is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and of the Knights of Columbus; and is a communicant of St. Patrick's Church.
On December 15, 1912, William Joseph Rooney was married to Mary E. Loughney of Pittston, a daughter of John and Mary Loughney. They have been the parents of six children, one of whom, Evelyn, they un- happily lost by death. The others are: Mary, Rita, William, Peggy and Thomas.
ROGER J. DEVER-From the lowly post of slate-picker in a coal mine to a recognized and commanding position as a prominent member of the Luzerne County bar is a rec- ord of which any man could be justly proud. Such was the progress of Roger J. Dever whose career furnishes a splendid example of what can be accomplished by tenacity of purpose, backed by native ability. Mr. Dever was born at Jeddo, a small town in Luzerne County, on July 19, 1873. He is the son of Hugh and Annie (O'Donnell) Dever. Hugh Dever was a worker in the coal mines of Luzerne County and the father of eleven children of which Roger J. was the third. The elder Dever's family was as follows: 1. Frank. 2. Mary. 3. Roger J., of whom further. 4. Annie, now known as Sister Bonaventure in St. Mary's Convent at Wilkes-Barre. 5. Patrick J. 6. Margaret. 7. Charles. 8. Cath- erine. 9. Dominick J., who served in the World War in the One Hundred and Four- teenth Field Artillery; two who died in in- fancy.
Roger J. Dever had little opportunity to ac- quire an education in his early boyhood and he was forced to take a job as slate picker at an age when most lads are just starting their scholastic career. He managed to snatch a few opportunities of attending the public schools in Luzerne County and eagerly absorbed what knowledge he could obtain from his textbooks. He soon qualified as a mine employee and worked as such for sev- eral years until at length he determined to try his fortunes in another occupation. The machinist trade attracted him and he took a position in the shops of G. B. Markle Com- pany at Jeddo, Pennsylvania, and from there to the Railroad Shon at Delano. He was em- ployed for a short time by Coxe Brothers & Company at Drifton as machinist and it was while in this position that his attention was attracted by the night school operated by the Mining and Mechanical Institute at Freehold, Luzerne County. He completed the course of instruction given by the institute and re- ceived the first diploma issued by the night school. His ambition fired, Mr. Dever matric-
ulated at the Jefferson Medical College, Phil- adelphia, intending to take up the healing art, but a little consideration convinced him that his talents were more fitted for the law than for medicine and he very quickly changed his plans. He entered the Dickinson Law School, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from that institution he graduated in the class of 1903 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the Luzerne County bar in January, 1904, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of his chosen profession with offices in the Miners Bank Building at Wilkes-Barre. In 1912 he was appointed general counsel for the United Mine Workers in the anthracite field of Pennsylvania, which position he has held con- tinuously since that time. He was one of the principal workers for the Workmen's Com- pensation Law, which measure was passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1915 and was author of the amendments to this law as passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1919, 1921, and 1927. He is a leading member of the Luzerne County Bar Association and an active worker with Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought office. He worships at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church of Wilkes-Barre and finds recreation in his lodge and clubs.
JAMES THOMAS WILLIAMS, M. D .- Striv- ing at all times· to do whatever lies in his power to improve the health of his com- munity, James Thomas Williams, M. D., holds a prominent place in the estimation of his fellowmen, and is a recognized leader in the medical profession in Wilkes-Barre. Engaged in a general practice of medicine and surgery, he also is active in hospital work, and de- votes not a little of his time and energies to the furtherance of his community's social and civic life. There is practically no public enter- prise of importance in which he is not inter- ested, and as a consequence of his public- spiritedness and the varied nature of his activities he is held in the highest regard among his fellow-citizens, a large number of whom he lists among his personal friends.
Dr. Williams was born on July 31, 1878, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the city of his present home and work, a son of Richard S. Williams, who was born in Wales in 1845, came to the United States and is now engaged in Wilkes-Barre as a wholesale grocer, and of Mary (Thomas) Williams, a native of Pottsville, who also is now a resident of Wilkes-Barre.'
Dr. James Thomas Williams received his early education in the public schools of this, his native city, where he remained until he was ten years of age. Then he went to Cali- fornia with his parents, and there attended the public schools. Subsequently he studied at the Polytechnic School for a period of three years, and then became a student at the Jefferson Medical College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1904 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. From that time he served for two years as an interne at the Presbyterian Hospital, and then for a year took post-graduate medical work in Vienna. Ever since he completed those academic studies, he has been practicing his chosen profession in Wilkes-Barre, where he has done much to alleviate human suffering and disease and has listed among his patients some of the most substantial citizens of the Wyoming Valley.
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In addition to his regular practice, Dr. Wil- liams is chief surgeon of the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, in which he serves in April, May and June of each year. He keeps in close touch with the newest development in medicine and surgery through memberships in the Luzerne County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His political affiliation is with the Republican party, whose policies and candidates he regularly supports; while he holds memberships in the Westmoreland Club and in the Free and Accepted Masons. In the Masonic order he is Identified with Lodge No. 442, the Keystone Consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Scranton, and Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His religions faith is that of the Presbyterian Church.
In 1918, Dr. Williams married. Ruth Lewis, of Audenried, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Philip Lewis. By this union there have been two children: 1. Betsy Jane, born June 8, 1921. 2. Ruth Lewis, born March 29, 1924.
ROGERS J. KIRKHUFF-With a wide va- riety of community interests, Rogers J. Kirk- huff has been for a number of years one of the best known citizens about Forty Fort, Pennsylvania. He was one of the organizers and is a director of the Forty Fort State Bank and is a charter member of the Forty Fort Fire Company, as well as playing an important part in fraternal and church activi- ties. In 1918 he was elected for a term of four years as tax collector of Forty Fort.
Born at Sciota, Monroe County, Pennsyl- vania, September 9, 1883, Mr. Kirkhuff is the son of Stogdell L. and Emma E. (Levering) Kirkhuff. The father was born in Snyders- ville, Monroe County, in February, 1858, and was a grain miller in Stroudsburg for twenty-five years prior to his retirement. The mother was born in Sciota in 1864 and died March 31, 1921. Their son attended the public schools of Forty Fort, working on dairy farms of the neighborhood of evenings and during his vacation periods. From 1900 until 1909 he clerked in a grocery store, then be- came associated with Millard and Schurman, wholesale grocers, acting as traveling repre- sentative for them for about seven years. In 1919 he accepted a position with Sutherland and McMillan, wholesale grocers of Pittston, as a traveling representative, with which concern he has since been identified. It was on the Republican ticket that Mr. Kirkhuff was elected to the office of tax collector, in which he discharged his duties with excellent results. Realizing the need for a banking institution in Forty Fort, where he makes his home at No. 19 Ransom Street, Mr. Kirk- huff cooperated with other financially estab- lished citizens of the town to found the Forty Fort State Bank. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Shekinah Chapter 448, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Wyoming, and since 1901 has been a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America. He has also been affiliated with the United Commercial Travelers of America, Council No. 426, of Wilkes-Barre, for the past eighteen years. He is active in the work of the Forty Fort Methodist Epis- copal Church.
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