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 67
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Mr. DeWitt, who was born March 29, 1892, at Wyoming, Luzerne County, is a son of George M. and Emma (Good) DeWitt, grand- son of Valentine and Margaret DeWitt, and third in descent from John DeWitt, son of Abraham (2), who was the son of Abraham (1). The DeWitt family history extends back to the early Dutch settlers of New Jersey, where they took a prominent part in public affairs. This branch moved from the vicinity of Harmony, New Jersey, to Wyoming Valley. It was John DeWitt and his wife, Elizabeth (Mutchler) DeWitt, who in 1800, purchased the DeWitt farm in Luzerne County, which remains in possession of that family. John and Elizabeth (Mutchler) DeWitt had three sons and three daughters. One son, Valen- tine, had seven sons and two daughters, of whom was George M., father of Herman B., of this review; Edmund and Ida.
Herman B. DeWitt was a student of the public schools at Wyoming and Kingston, Pennsylvania, graduated from Wyoming Seminary, in 1913, and completed his scholas- tic studies when he was graduated from Wharton Extension School, Wilkes-Barre. His school days were followed by a period of service as a salesman, at the conclusion of which he purchased an interest in the firm of Deemer & Company. For several years he functioned as treasurer of this company, and eventually was chosen vice-president. Deem- er & Company is agreed to be the largest establishment of its kind in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and in addition to the Wilkes- Barre house, operates a large store at Scran- ton and Hazleton. The company handles the numerous articles peculiar to a business of this type, furniture and supplies, and, to quote their own slogan: "Everything for
Your Office."
Mr. Dewitt is a Republican in political affili- ations, exercising his suffrage in support of that party, but only when he is convinced that the issues and principles of his chosen faith are honest and well-intentioned. His fraternal associations include the Free and Accepted Masons, he being a member of Wyoming Lodge, No. 468, of this organiza- tion. He is a member of the Forty Fort Methodist Episcopal Church and of the Lions' Club, but perhaps he is best known as one of the most progressive business men of his community, as evidenced by his whole- hearted efforts in the ranks of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce.
PHILIP L. DRUM-The roll of the members of the legal profession in Wilkes-Barre is long and honorable and includes the names of some who have distinguished themselves in more than one line of achievement, as well as those who have confined their atten-
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tions to the practice of their profession. Among those who are descendants of very old families of Luzerne County is Philip L. Drum, who has offices at No. 414 Coal Ex- change Building. Mr. Drum is a descendant of two old families of this section-Drum and Hess-both pioneers of Luzerne County.
The Drum family came to Luzerne County from Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in 1780, when George Drum, great-grandfather of Philip L. Drum, settled here as one of the group which included John Balliet, Andrew Maure, and John Woodring. George Drum, who was born in 1762, was a young man of less than twenty years at that time, and the group settled in Butler Township, on the site of what is now known as the Village of Drums, situated about nineteen miles south Philip L. Drum married, December 29, 1900, Vida Bowman, of Orangeville, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, daughter of Righter and Elizabeth Bowman, deceased, the father a soldier in the Union Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle. Mr. and Mrs. Drum have one daughter, Elizabeth, who was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1905, and is a graduate (1928) of Syracuse University, New York State, where she made a special study of the piano and of the city of Wilkes-Barre, on the line of . pipe organ. She is now (1929) a teacher of music.
the Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton Electric Rail- way. George Drum had a son, Philip Drum, who married Magdalena Beishline, and they were the parents of Nathan S. Drum, of whom further, and father of Phillp L. Drum.
Nathan S. Drum was born on the old Drum homestead in Butler Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1837, and died May 3, 1915. He received his education in the local schools and Selinsgrove and Lewisburg academies, and for many years was a merchant in Drums which was named for his family. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Elizabeth Hess, who was born April 21, 1847, a daughter of Philip and Hannah Hess, whose homestead, with that of the Drum family, at Drums, now (1929) comprises the housing and most of the grounds of the Kis-Lyn School for Boys. Nathan S. and Elizabeth (Hess) Drum (the 'latter having died January 26, 1912), were the parents of five children: Philip L., of further mention; Elmer E., deceased; Car- rie May, Nora Alice, Lottie Eva.
Philip L. Drum, son of Nathan S. and Eliza- beth (Hess) Drum, was born in Drums, But- ler Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1871, and, after attending the local public schools, continued study in Wyo- ming Seminary, at Kingston. Then after teaching two years in the public school at Upper Lehigh, Pennsylvania, he entered the Bloomsburg State Normal School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1893. The following year he was a teacher in the Carlisle Indian School, at Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania, and then for a short time he was en- gaged in the lumber business. In 1895-96, he taught in the Bloomsburg State Normal School. Then, after a year at Lafayette Col- lege, he determined to enter the legal pro- fession, and the following fall enrolled in the Law School of the University of Penn- sylvania, from which he graduated with the class of 1900, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In the fall of 1900 he was admitted to the Luzerne County Bar, and in November was elected, as a Republican, to represent his district in the State Legislature, where he served during the session of 1901. He is a member of the Luzerne County Bar Assocla- tion, and has built up in Wilkes-Barre a very satisfactory clientele. He has been chairman of the County Board of Viewers fifteen years and is known especially for his interest in good roads. His offices are located, as has al- ready been stated, at No. 414 Coal Exchange Building. Mr. Drum is a member of Land- mark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons; of the Scottish Rite bodies, in which he holds the thirty-second degree taken at
Keystone Consistory, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and is a member of lrem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Craftsman's Club, and his religious affiliation is with the First Pres- byterian Church of Wilkes-Barre, which he serves as a member of the board of deacons.
WILLIAM BREWSTER was born June 23, 1877, at Brooklyn, Susquehanna County, Penn- sylvania. His father, Charles Miner Brewster, was ninth in direct descent from Elder Wil- liam Brewster, who came on the "May- flower"; and his mother, Mary Bagley Brew- ster, was a descendant of the eighth genera- tion of Orlando Bagley, who was one of the original proprietors and settlers of Ames- bury, Massachusetts, in 1653. Her grand- father, Orlando Bagley, was one of the min- ute men who fought the British when they retreated from Lexington; and was a soldier at Bunker Hill and Saratoga.
William Brewster was educated at the East Stroudsburg State Normal School, and the University of Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the Bar of Luzerne County in July, 1900. Previous to his admission to the bar, he was engaged in newspaper work for several years, being employed as a reporter on the Stroudsburg "Daily Times," the Wilkes-Barre "Times," and the Wilkes-Barre "Record." He has practiced his profession at Wilkes-Barre, and is a resident of Kingston. Mr. Brewster was a member of the school board of King- ston Borough for a number of years; and is a member of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, the New England Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.
JUDGE ALFRED DARTE-Here we write briefly concerning four generations of the Darte family, touching especially on Alfred Darte, Sr., and on his distinguished son, the late Judge Alfred Darte of Luzerne County, well known citizen of Kingston. The family is among the oldest in the United States. Be- fore its appearance in Luzerne County, the house was old in the State of Connecticut. Its traditions are replete of honor; its ances- try is the finest. For the purposes of this chronicle, we begin with Elias Darte, of whom further, grandfather of Judge Darte.
(I) Elias Darte, with six brothers, served in the war of the Revolution. In line of duty he received a severe wound from a bayonet, at the attack on Fort Griswold. Native of Connecticut, he typified the stern and upright courage of the times. He had a son, Alfred, of whom further.
(II) Alfred Darte, Sr., was born at Bolton, Tolland County, Connecticut, July 14, 1810. He secured his education there, and in 1829, when nineteen years of age, settled at Dun- daff, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He married, December 30, 1830, Annie E.
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Cone, daughter of Dorastus Cone, himself a member of an old Connecticut line. Alfred Darte, Sr., was for many years a teacher. In 1844 he took up the study of law, and later was admitted to practice in Kentucky, but still later, returning to Susquehanna County, opened offices at Carbondale. Carbon- dale then was situated in Luzerne County, but now, through realignment of county boundaries, lies in Lackawanna County. Here he followed his chosen profession until the outbreak of war between the States. On April 18, 1861, he was commissioned captain of Company K, 25th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. On October 30, 1861, he was commissioned captain of Company M, 64th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and served in command of this com- pany until December 4, 1862, when he re- . signed his commission, being succeeded by his son, Judge Darte. Alfred Darte, Sr., took part in the great battle of Antietam. He was wounded in that engagement, and died August 13, 1883.
(III) Judge Alfred Darte, son of Alfred and Annie E. (Cone) Darte, was born at Dundaff, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1836, and died at his home in Kingston, July 20, 1901. He received his preparatory instruc- tion in the common schools and in Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, then studied the law in his father's offices, being admitted to the bar of Luzerne County, May 12, 1859. At the start of the Civil War, he was commis- sioned first lieutenant in Company K, 25th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under his father's command. He served therewith for three months, until, August 13, 1861, he was commissioned lieutenant of Company M, 64th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He served with this company until his fath- er's resignation in October, 1862. Later he was commissioned a captain, served in the 4th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Cav- alry, and was on active duty until September 19, 1864. He was then mustered out on ac- count of disability, caused by wounds re- ceived at the battle of Trevilian Station, Vir- ginia. His record as a soldier was of the best. He saw continuous action at the front for four years, taking part in many of the hard-fought battles. He was a man of splen- did form and carriage, above six feet in height with broad shoulders held squarely, a perfect specimen of manhood and a perfect soldier.
After the war, Judge Darte, then known as Captain Darte, returned to Luzerne County and took up the practice of his chosen pro- fession. In 1879 he was elected on the Re- publican ticket to the office of district attor- ney for Luzerne County, and filled that office with ability. He later was justice of the peace at Kingston, for Kingston Borough, and still later was elected judge of the Orphans' Court, Luzerne County. As judge he served with his usual ability in all things undertaken, to the satisfaction of all persons interested. He was a member of the Presby- terian Church of Kingston, and was a trustee for many years.
Judge Darte married, June 11, 1863, Caro- line Seely, of Kingston, daughter of Robert Seely, who was born in Ireland. Their only son, Franck G. Darte, is one of the leading citizens of Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County.
Judge Darte was one of Luzerne County's most outstanding citizens through many years. He was a splendid citizen, a brave soldier, a good lawyer and judge, and while
filling the several offices of public trust con- ferred on him served always for the public benefit. His name is perpetuated in the an- nals of community, county and State, as be- longing to one whose life was lived in the service of mankind.
JOHN HUGHES BLACKMAN, JR., was born in West Pittston, January 15, 1893. His father, John Hughes Blackman, Sr., has been for years manager for The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania and Northern New Jersey, with offices at Scranton. His ances- tors were among the early settlers of the valley, his great-grandfather, Elisha Black- man, having fought in the battles at Wyo- ming in 1778. His mother, May Allen, was daughter of William A. Allen, native of Glas- gow, Scotland, and Amelia (Stark) Allen, whose ancestors were members of the Con- necticut Company, settling in Wyoming County. He has one sister, Marjory Black- man, who resides in New York City.
John Hughes Blackman, Jr., was educated at Harry Hillman Academy, Wilkes-Barre, Lawrenceville Preparatory School, New Jer- sey, and Yale University, class of 1914. After graduation, he took up life insurance under his father and is district manager of the company with offices in Miners' Bank Build- ing, Wilkes-Barre. He received his commis- sion at the first officers' training camp at Madison Barracks, New York, and served with the 109th Field Artillery overseas, par- ticipating in five major offensives, receiving a citation. At present time he is captain and operation officer of the regiment.
Mr. Blackman married, November 17, 1917, Emily Lindsley Fuller, daughter of Judge Henry A. Fuller and Ruth (Parrish) Fuller, and has two children, Joan and Ruth.
Mr. Blackman is a life member of Wyoming Valley Country Club, Yale Club of New York City, St. Elmo Club of New Haven, Connect- icut; vice-president of the Yale Alumni Asso- ciation of Wyoming Valley; member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre, Black Diamond Post American Legion, and Lodge No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons: director of Dime Bank, Pittston; trustee of the Wyoming Valley Historical and Geolog- ical Society, and trustee of Wilkes-Barre Institute.
EDWARD JAYNE EVANS-Proof that the fortunes of men are largely in their own hands and that grit and determination are rewarded is finely illustrated in the case of Edward J. Evans, of Kingston, who rose from the humblest of beginnings to a place of high importance in the financial field of this district of Pennsylvania. Here was a boy whose lot it was to begin life picking slate in the coal breakers, yet he managed to find time to attend school beyond the elementary grades and to put the education thus attained to good advantage in busi- ness. Originating from a hardy Welsh and native Pennsylvania stock, he inherited the fine qualities of his parents and throughout his active life here has been one of the most energetic and industrious of our citizens. Painstaking with his work, he is by no means a grind, but finds time and pleasure in fraternal, social and civic associations, bringing to each a geniality and cordiality that is one of his most engaging qualities. He is interested in all public affairs that appeal to the progressive element and is one of the most valued citizens of this community.
He was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, a son of John J. Evans, born in Wales, British
John Fierro
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Isles, who came to the United States in his youth, and who died here. His mother was Sarah J. (Esau) Evans, a native of Danville, where she was born. After a common school education in Danville young Edward J. Evans went to work in the breakers but remained at that occupation for only one year, then becoming a clerk in a wholesale notion house in Wilkes-Barre, where he con- tinued for five years. In the meantime he attended Wyoming Seminary, where he took the business course and on May 10, 1899, was engaged by the Kingston Bank and Trust Company, where he held several posi- tions until his promotion, in August, 1927, to active vice-president and his election as a director of the institution. Ten years after he entered the bank he was made cashier, holding that important position until his appointment to the vice-presidency. For four years he served as school director here and for several years was a trustee of the Presbyterian Church, which he and his fam- ily attend, and is now president of the West Side Business Men's Association. In politics he is a Republican. Affiliated with the order of Free and Accepted Masons, he has been treasurer of the association here for twelve years, his lodge being Kingston, No. 395. He also belongs to Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, Knights Templar; and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Edward J. Evans married, in November, 1913, Helen Newitt, daughter of George R. and Diana (Greene) Newitt, of Kingston.
JOHN FIERRO-Twenty-four years of con- tinuous service as alderman of the Twelfth Ward of Hazleton is but a part of the hon- orable record of John Fierro. Up to the time of his election to the board of aldermen he was a member of the firm of Fierro Brothers, owners of a flourishing wholesale bottling business, but he withdrew at the time of his election to that office in 1904, and since that time has been very active in local public affairs. He has served the city of Hazleton with notable efficiency and has rendered most valuable service to his countrymen and the Poles and Slavs and also Italians of the city and township. He has brought Italian and Polish teachers into the schools and has se- cured for others of these nationalities respon- sible positions-and the proof of the wisdom of his course is found in the fact that all those whom he has been influential in placing in positions of trust have proved worthy of confidence and able to serve the best interest of the city and of the township.
Frank Fierro, father of John Fierro, was born in Italy and came to this country in 1881, locating in Lattimer, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a miner. Later, in 1884 he returned to his native land, married, and remained there for some years. In 1887 he came again to America, and again settled in Lattimer, Pennsylvania. But this time he came not as a stranger in a strange land, but as one who knew his way quite thoroughly and kept a watchful lookout for a good business opening. Two years after his return to this country, in 1889, he engaged in the wholesale bottling business here in Hazleton, where he made his home to the time of his death in 1912. He and his wife, Anna, had two sons who were admitted to the business as soon as they were old enough, and they organized the company known as Fierro Brothers, which continued and enlarged the wholesale bottling business.
John Fierro, son of Frank and Anna Fierro, was born in Italy, February 22, 1877, and
attended the schools of his native land until he was eight years of age, when he came to America. The boy attended the schools of Lattimer, Pennsylvania, until 1888, when his father removed to Hazleton, where the boy completed his education. As soon as he was old enough he was admitted to the business, and he continued the association with his father and with his brother until 1904, when he was elected alderman of the Township of Hazleton. Since that time Mr. Fierro has de- voted the greater portion of his time to public work and has made for himself a high repu- tation as a progressive and public-spirited official. In 1914 he served as acting mayor of Hazleton, and through the twenty-four years of his continnous service as an alderman he has been constructive in his aims, taking a deep interest in the Americanization of his fellow-countrymen and of the Poles and Slavs of the township and city. His personal ex- perience, as well as his personal qualifica- tions peculiarly fitted him for the work which he has done, and his understanding of the problems of those who come to this country from another land has enabled him to serve both the newcomers and the city and town- ship in which they settled. He has been very active in the affairs of the Republican party, but in September, 1927, he was nominated on the Socialist ticket and elected by eight hun- dred and twenty-six Socialist votes, a fine testimonial to the character of the work which Mr. Fierro had done as a Republican. It was he who first saw the advantage of placing in the schools of the township, which were attended by foreign-born children or by children of foreign-born parents, Italian and Polish teachers to work side by side with the American teachers in the public schools of Hazleton Township. It was he, too, who first secured the appointment of Italian teachers in the public schools of Hazleton. He also secured the appointment of the first Italian policemen in the city of Hazleton, thus giving the Italian people a definite share in the responsibility of maintaining law and order. Furthermore, it was John Fierro who went further than civic affairs and was instru- mental in securing the award of free scholar- shins to Polish and Italian students, thus offering an incentive to advanced scholarship and also opening a way for those who could not afford such opportunities. He was also the pioneer in securing the first position in the city government for Slavs and Italians, and secured for them positions in the city banks. Thus through the efforts of Mr. Fierro the foreign-born and children of foreign- born parents are taking their places as in- tegral parts of the civic, business, and intel- lectual life of the land, and are becoming true American citizens. It is worthy of note that in each case, to the present time, those se- lected by Mr. Fierro for positions of trust have proved worthy of the confidence placed in them and are rendering genuine service to the city and to the township. The fact that these men are holding positions of honor and trust is in itself an incentive to their fellow- countrymen, and the Italian, Polish and Slavic officials, and teachers have been able to help as no others could do in the task of smooth- ing the way to un-hyphenated Americanism. Mr. Fierro's brother, Joseph, has continued the wholesale bottling business successfully, and as a progressive business man is also contributing a valuable share to the life of the city. Since 1898 John Fierro has been interested in political affairs, and thirty years of experience have made him expert in the splendid kind of public work which he is doing.
John Fierro was married in Hazleton, Octo-
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ber 26, 1904, to Anna Hanisck, of Hazleton. She died in 1920, leaving four children: Gene- va, Anna, Frank and George. Since 1892 Mr. Fierro has made his home at No. 645 North Vine Street, in Hazleton. His offices are located in the Markle Bank Building.
WILLIS H. MILLER-One of the energetic and outstanding business men of Kingston and Wilkes-Barre is Willis H. Miller, sales representative and manager of the district unit of the American Radiator Company. He was born at Archbald, Lackawanna County, on May 14, 1869, and educated in the public schools of that place, until the family re- moved to Kingston, when he attended the Wyoming Seminary. His mother, Anna C. (McLeod ) Miller, daughter of Captain Evander McLeod, was born in Carbondale, in 1843 and died in May, 1910. Mr. Miller's father, H. C. Miller had been a prosperous business man of Kingston for forty years, when he died in 1912, he was identified in the furniture and undertaking business on the West Side, a business established by him, and which one of his sons, Albert E. Miller, carried on after his death. Both father and son were deeply interested in civic affairs, were counted as useful citizens and served the community in various of its town's activities, notably on the School Board and in the Council. The elder Mr. Miller was born in Germany in 1836 but was brought to this country when he was a lad of thirteen. Willis H. Miller became identified in the early part of his business life with the B. G. Carpenter Company in plumb- ing and heating construction work. He was still a young man when he was taken into the American Radiator Company, manufac- turers of boilers and radiators, as a sales rep- resentative and has steadily advanced in re- sponsibility in that organization and now, after almost twenty-five years with them, he is manager of this important unit, which covers a particularly fertile industrial ter- ritory, and as a result many of the impor- tant buildings and residences throughout our valley are equipped with this product.
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