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 76
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Dr. Baskett holds membership in the Lil- zerne County, Pennsylvania State, and the American Medical associations. Also in the Lehigh Valley Medical Society, the Pennsyl- vania Hospital Association and the American Psychiatric Association. He belongs to the college fraternity of Alpha Tau Omega and the medical school fraternity of Phi Alpha Sigma. A Mason, he belongs to the Nicollet Lodge of St. Peter, Minnesota, the De Payen Commandery Knights Templar of Willmar, Minnesota, and of the Osman Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at St. Paul. Dr. Baskett is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, belonging to the Willmar branch of this brotherhood and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Nanticoke and the Crafts- man's Club of Wilkes-Barre. He is a Re- publican by political affiliation and a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church.
In August, 1910, Dr. George T. Baskett married Olive Thorne, daughter of Alonzo M. and Ida B. Thorne of Lansing, Michigan. Mrs. Baskett is also a physician, graduate from the University of Cincinnati, in the class of 1906, and has specialized in mental and nervous diseases. She is attached to the staff of the Retreat Hospital.
CONRAD F. GOERINGER-The various in- terests of Conrad F. Goeringer rank him among the leading construction contractors and electrical contractors of the Wyoming Valley. Besides the C. F. Goeringer Con- struction Company, he is president of the Bertels Metalware Company of Kingston, president of the Davis Electrical Company of Wilkes-Barre, owner of the Pond Hill Crushed Stone Company with quarries at Pond Hill, Pennsylvania, and owner of the Moosic Sand and Gravel Company of Moosic, Pennsylvania. Of these interests, the C. F. Goeringer Construction Company is the larg- est, employing approximately 500 men and being equipped with the most elaborate and modern motorized transportation facilities and working equipment. Not only has this company executed most of the large sewer and paving contracts in Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County in recent years, but has had an equal success further afield. For the city of Dover, New Jersey, and the city of Jersey City, New Jersey, the firm recently completed a million-dollar sewer contract. They com- pleted sewer work for Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, costing $1,- 500,000. In the last eight years Mr. Goeringer and his contracting organization have done practically all the street paving for the city of Wilkes-Barre, as well as for Hanover Township. During the same period, more- over, he had done paving and sewer con- struction in every borough and township in Luzerne County. One of the main reasons for Mr. Goeringer's success has been his insistence on adequate and modern equip- ment. Few firms in the country can boast as complete machinery and tools. In 1927 he built what is one of the most modern asphalt plants in the United States, on Scott Street, Wilkes-Barre.
Mr. Goeringer is a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles, United States Chamber of Commerce, Lehman Rod and Gun Club and the National Road Builders' Association.
He was born in Wilkes-Barre, February 12, 1887, son of Ferdinand and Louise (Schmidt) Goeringer. He attended public schools, and as a young man worked in the mines and at blacksmith and rock contract- ing work. Later he learned the electrician's trade and in 1906 formed the electrical con- tracting firm of Baldwin and Goeringer. He bought his partner's interest in 1909 and from then till 1924 operated it as the Goeringer Electrical Company adding to the scope of the business by undertaking many sewer and paving contracts. In 1915 he formed the C. F. Goeringer Construction Company which he merged with the Goeringer Electrical Com- pany. Meanwhile he had expanded his inter- ests and properties, becoming successively president of the Bertels Metalware Company and the Davis Electrical Company. From the first it has been his policy to operate on a large scale, as attested by his purchase of the quarries at Pond Hill and Moosic. He is one of the country's most successful con- tractors. Mr. Goeringer resides at Lake Louise, R. D. No. 3, Dallas, and his office is at No. 296 Madison Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
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RALPHI LEWIS BRICKEL-The town of Dallas is fortunate in having so able and progressive an exponent of the furniture business and the mortician's profession as Ralph L. Brickel, the successor of his father, the late Bernhard W. Brickel, who conducted the dual establishment for half a century. The present proprietor is demonstrating to his public from long experience in the bank- ing field, his capacity for ministration to their needs for his services. Mr. Brickel is actively interested in financial, civic and fraternal activities and is a cordial sym- pathizer of all worthy projects that make up Dallas community effort.
Ralph Lewis Brickel was born in Dallas, March 8, 1881, son of Bernhard W. and Mary (Honeywell) Brickel. His father, born in Catasauqua, Lehigh County, in 1853, was reared in Bethlehem, Northampton County. When twenty-one years of age he opened his undertaking establishment in Dallas and added a furniture department. He became one of the most successful and best-respected of the Dallas merchants. He died April 14, 1927. His wife, born in Dallas, in 1850, passed away September 28, 1922.
His preliminary school training was re- ceived in the public schools of his native town, from which Ralph Lewis Brickel passed to the Harry Hillman Academy, Wilkes- Barre. He completed his academic course at Wyoming Seminary, class of 1902. His first formal business connection after leaving the seminary was with the Second National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, where he served as book- keeper for eighteen years. It was supposed by friends and associates that he was a fixture for life in the banking profession, and it is reasonable to conjecture that he would have remained such, with merited rise in rank, if the advancing age and attendant ill- ness of his father had not intervened to influence a change in his career.
In 1922, Mr. Brickel abandoned the financial field as a means to a livelihood, and with a praiseworthy sense of the dutiful to his aging parent, he took over the furniture and undertaking business, with which his father's name had been so conspicuously and worth- ily identified for the period beginning in 1875. He is maintaining the prestige, quality of service and dependability for which the house of Brickel has been so well and favor- ably known to the people of Dallas and the vicinity.
Mr. Brickel is a man of influence in Dallas affairs outside his own immediate business. He has been a director of the First National Bank since January, 1922. He is an esteemed member of the Republican party, and has served the town as school director for two years. He is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons Lodge, No. 531; Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. His religious association is with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Ralph L. Brickel married, in 1910, Jessie P. Austin, of Parsons, Pennsylvania, daugh- ter of Leonard and Isabel Austin. They are the parents of a son, William A., born May 18, 1913.
EMRYS RICHARDS, M. D .- Well known in Wilkes-Barre and vicinity as a physician. Emrys Richards has shown himself willing and desirous at all times to give freely of his time and talents for the aid of the ill and injured. Since he opened his offices here at
the beginning of the century, the confidence and the esteem which his skill has won in the community have created for him an envi- able practice.
Dr. Richards was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, on September 20, 1874, the son of David and Ann (Bevan) Richards, who came from Wales to Luzerne County in 1880, when he was only six years old. For many years the father was a mine foreman for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company. Then both David and Ann (Bevan) Richards died at the age of sixty-eight years. David Rich- ards had eight children: Catherine Smith, of Wilkes-Barre, daughter of a former mar- riage; Evan Richards, of West Pittston, engi- neer on the Lehigh Valley Railroad since 1896, a son by a former marriage; J. Tal. Richards, structual iron engineer and contrac- tor; J. Llewilyn Richards; Emrys, of whom further; William, of Wilkes-Barre, an assist- ant mine foreman for the Delaware and Hud- son Coal Company; Margaret, who married Henry Sayes; and Mrs. Myfanwy Johns, a widow, of Wilkes-Barre.
Dr. Richards, as a boy, attended the pub- lic schools of his native city, then went for four years to the Wyoming Seminary, in Kingston. In 1896 he matriculated in the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1900 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then re- turned to Wilkes-Barre, where he began the practice of his profession. Dr. Richards is keenly interested in political matters, being a member of the Republican party. In his religious affiliations he is identified with the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of Wilkes- Barre. He is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Association, the Pennsylvania Med- ical Society, and the American Medical Asso- ciation. Active in the fraternal life of the community, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he is affil- iated with the Landmark Lodge, No. 442, of Wilkes-Barre; the Shekinah Chapter, No. 182, Royal Arch Masons; the Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar; the Keystone Consistory, of Scranton, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in which he holds the Thirty-second degree; Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Wilkes-Barre; and the Shrine Country Club. He is a member of the Frater- nal Order of Eagles. Active in the work of his profession, Dr. Richards was a member of the United States Voluntary Medical Serv- ice Corps during the World War, and served as acting assistant surgeon in the United States Public Health Service in the New Eng- land States at the outbreak of the influenza epidemic of 1918. He was acting assistant surgeon to the Lehigh Valley Coal Company during the Mexican border trouble and the World War. In the World War he endeavored to enlist in the Reserve Medical Corps, but was physically disqualified for entrance into the United States Army.
Active in the life of Wilkes-Barre and the neighboring community, he holds a member- ship in the Lehigh Valley Medical Associa- tion; from 1920 to 1925 was supreme medical examiner for the Greek and Roman Catholic societies of Pennsylvania; and is now med- ical examiner for the John Hancock Life Insurance Company, of Boston. He was a candidate for the office of county coroner in the 1927 elections.
In April, 1902, Dr. Richards married Leona G. Learn, a daughter of Charles O. and Isabella Learn, of Wilkes-Barre. They be- came the parents of two children: Thelma, who died in childhood; and Margaret L., who
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graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in the class of 1928, from Wilson College, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
CLINTON S. CALLAHAN-Mr. Callahan was formerly manager of the branch office of the C. I. T. Corporation at Wilkes-Barre, is now assistant vice-president of this corporation, with home office at No. 1 Park Avenue, New York City. Commercial Investment Trust, Incorporated, or C. I. T., as it is known, is the largest independent financing concern of its kind in the world, having a capital and surplus of over one hundred million dollars. Mr. Callahan has charge of the corporation's business in the southeastern States.
Mr. Callahan is the son of D. G. Callahan, residing at No. 73 Park Place, Kingston. Pennsylvania, his mother, Mary A. (Kintz) Callahan, having died some years ago.
Anne L. and Doris J. Callahan are his daughters; Anne L. Callahan is attending Arlington Hall at Washington, District of Columbia, and Doris J. Callahan is attending school at Kingston, Pennsylvania.
With his family Mr. Callahan attends the Methodist Church, and in politics he has al- ways voted the Republican ticket.
FRANK KETTLE-To the men who are detailed for mine inspection in the various districts of the busy fields is given much responsibility. They must have clarity of vision, a speedy grasp of conditions and a farseeing view of possibilities. Of those who fill this important post in the Wyoming Val- ley, none is more highly honored than Frank Kettle who, in the year 1926, had ten thou- sand men under his personal and careful supervision.
Mr. Kettle was born in Plymouth, Luzerne County, October 17, 1877, the son of Franklin Alonzo and Louisa (Stuart) Kettle, both na- tives of Wyoming Valley, the former being horn in Nanticoke, Luzerne County, and hav- ing engaged in mining all his life. He is still living at the time of this record (1928) and is employed as watchman in one of the largest mines of the valley. He was the son of Henry R. Kettle, in his day a well-known mine- carpenter.
The early education of Frank Kettle was obtained in what can be described as the "School of Hard Knocks," for he worked in the breakers when but seven years of age. He was released from his toil when the law was passed compelling children under the age of twelve years of age to cease such work and he took advantage of the time at his dis- posal to obtain the education he so earnestly desired. When he reached the age of twelve years the went to work as a "breaker boy," and soon afterwards rose to the post of door boy in the mines. From that position he worked up through the various grades until he attained his present post. He took a mining course through a correspondence school in 1905, and in 1916 he was appointed to the office of mine inspector. He officiates as Inspector of the Thirteenth Anthracite District, located at Nanticoke and covering eleven collieries. In local affairs, Mr. Kettle has always been most active. He was one of the promoters of the Mining School and In- stitute, and for two years he acted as a teacher of mining, prior to the State taking charge thereof.
In 1896 Mr. Kettle married Mary Ellen Hen- nessy, of Plymouth. Mrs. Kettle passed away August 7, 1922, being survived by her hus- band and five children: Fred, Jr., Abbie, Helen, Gerald, and Franklin. Mr. Kettle re- sides with his family at 151 State Street, Nanticoke.
VICTOR E. LEWIS-For twenty-two years Victor E. Lewis has been identified with the public schools of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, as a teacher in the grades, as a high school teacher, as principal of the high school, and, since 1923, as. supervising principal of all the Edwardsville schools. He began teaching in the grades before his academic course was finished, and has through all the years of his teaching continued to study, keeping in touch with the most advanced and efficient methods and materials of educational en- deavor and also keeping closely in touch with the interests of the students whose work he has been directing.
Victor E. Lewis was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1889, son of Jonah Lewis, a stationary engineer, who was born in Wales, in 1856, and died in 1894, and of Mary (Roblin) Lewis, who was born in Wales in 1868, and survives her husband (1930). Though born in Kingston, Professor Lewis received his early education in the public schools of Edwardsville, graduating with first honors from the high school here with the class of 1906. This same year (1906) he began teaching in the grades in Edwardsville for five years as a grade principal. Later he entered Bucknell Academy, from which insti- tution he was graduated with the class of 1912 with honors. Upon his return from col- lege he was appointed a teacher in the high school. After seven years of successful ex- perience as a high school teacher, he was made principal of the high school, and in this executive and administrative position he proved his ability as conclusively as he had done in his various teaching positions here. In 1923 he was appointed supervising prin- cipal of the Edwardsville schools, and is acting in that capacity at the present time. Mr. Lewis is one of the progressive school men of this part of the State, and as his responsibilities have been increased, he has always kept his preparation and further equipment for his work abreast of his oppor- tunities. Though busy with his teaching and with his supervisory work he has continued his studies and in 1926 he received from the Pennsylvania State College the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Education. During the summer of 1929 Mr. Lewis received his Master of Arts degree in Education from Susque- hanna University, graduating from that insti- tution with honors. He has exerted a strong influence over the development of the schools and over the lives of the boys and girls with whom he has been associated as teacher, friend, and counsellor, and the community owes much to the man who is devoting his years to the most important work that can be done for them, the development of the abilities and the directing of the formation of the characters of the youth of the place. Mr. Lewis has won the sincere regard of his many students, as well as of the school directors and the teachers, also of the com- munity at large, and as the years pass he is making his service increasingly valuable. Politically, he is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No. 395, Free and Accepted Masons; and of Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons: also of the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and educationally a member of the State Teachers' League, P. S. E. A. and National Education Association. His religious interest is with the Edwards' Memorial Congregational Church at which he has served as corresponding secretary for thirteen years and as a Sunday school teacher for fifteen years. As has already been stated, Mr. Lewis possesses literary ability, and is more than a mere lover of the literary prod-
Frank Kettle
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lets of others. He devotes considerable time to creative work in this field, being especially successful in the writing of verse. He has written several prize-winning poems, among which are "In Memoriam" to the late Dr. T. C. Edwards; "Lest We Forget," and an epic poem on the growth of the Edwards' Memorial Church. Mr. Lewis writes chiefly lyric and epic poetry. He is also interested in the compilation of various reference works, and his work as recording secretary of the Edwards' Memorial Congregational Church for the past thirteen years placed him in touch with material which he felt should be placed in accessible and permanent form, so he wrote the second volume of the history of that church. He is also the author of a Teacher Objective Efficiency Scale, and a co-author of a card to evaluate text books. As a citizen and as a kindly and wise friend and associate, Mr. Lewis has long been highly esteemed in Edwardsville, and he numbers among his former students a host of friends.
Victor E. Lewis was married, June 4, 1914, to Jemima Pratt, of Nanticoke, daughter of Robert and Mary Pratt, and they have one son, Thorwald E., who was born here in Edwardsville, October 15, 1915. The family home is at No. 185 Green Street, in Edwards- ville, Pennsylvania.
JOHN L. SULLIVAN-The first modern building to he erected in Dallas in more than a decade, was the structure at the corner of Main and Rice streets, built in 1923 by John L. Sullivan, the prominent real estate operator of that town, who has also held the office of State Fire Marshal for Dallas since 1919. Another of the public offices held by Mr. Sullivan is that of high constable of Dallas.
Mr. Sullivan was born in Miners Mills, Luzerne County, on August 14, 1890, the son of Daniel A. and Mary (Sheridan) Sullivan, the former a well-known mine superinten- dent of this section, who was born at Dover, New Jersey, in 1863; died April 28, 1902. The mother of Mr. Sullivan was born in Archbald, Lackawanna County, June 26, 1864. Mr. Sullivan acquired his early education in the public and high schools of Forty Fort, Luzerne County, graduating from the latter institution in 1906. He worked in the mines for two years, and then took a position with the Matheson Automobile Company, at Wilkes- Barre, where he became thoroughly ac- quainted with the mechanics of that trade. In 1911 he started an automobile school under the name of the Sullivan Automobile School, which he continued with much success until 1917. In the meantime, in 1913, he moved to Dallas, where he was appointed post- master by the Late President Woodrow Wil- son, serving in that capacity until 1921. In the latter year he entered the real estate business, which he still conducts. The reli- gious affiliations of Mr. Sullivan are with the Roman Catholic Church.
In December, 1913, Mr. Sullivan married Minnie H. Pettibone, of Wyoming, Luzerne County. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan were the par- ents of seven children, of whom two, John L., Jr., and William Carl, died in infancy. The five now living are as follows: 1. Anna Mae, born October 22, 1914. 2. Madeline C., born April 4, 1916. 3. Gerald J., born July 20, 1918. 4. Helen A., born June 30, 1920. 5. Dorothy R., born August 7, 1922.
WILLIAM B. CLEARV-At fifty-seven years of age, William B. Cleary is one of the oldest and most active members of the reportorial profession in the Wyoming Valley. Having
served continuously for more than forty years, he is the veteran newspaper cor- respondent of the region, at once the envy and the admiration of many a scribe, his junior by a score or more of years. Uhiqui- tous, regular as the United States mail or the daily paper itself, ever loyal to his con- nections and his constituency, Mr. Cleary furnishes an outstanding example to the peo- ple of Plymouth of the newswriter of the old school-active, accurate and conclusive in the work he loves so well. A former State Representative, he is ever mindful of the larger affairs and responsibilities of citi- zenship, and he still is a valued puhlic serv- ant, occupying the office of president of the Board of Health of Plymouth.
Born in Scranton, August 30, 1872, son of William and Ann (Flanagan) Cleary, Wil- liam B. Cleary at an early age manifested those traits that showed he was headed in the right direction. He was nine years old when he signed the pledge in the St. Vincent Cadets, a junior temperance order, from which he took a demit, at the age of four- teen, to the Father Mathew Society. The original pledge remains unbroken, and Mr. Cleary is known to his friends and asso- ciates as an enthusiastic and consistent total abstainer.
Character building of the quality that has marked Mr. Cleary's private life could but have a corollary in his contacts with the public as he made his own way in the world. In 1889 he was assigned by the old "Times" to the post of Plymouth correspondent. At that time there were but twenty-three names on the books in Plymouth. For twenty years approximately he covered his assignment with an ability and a faithfulness that he- came a tradition in Wyoming Valley news- paper circles. He was more than a scribe- he was a figure in the community, an indis- pensable servant of the public, which came to claim him as its very own. He combed his territory with the care and precision of a tried and true resident correspondent and landed many a scoop for his paper. He became an invaluable member of the "Times" staff, and that journal's synonym of regular- ity and dependability to the people of Plym- outh.
With the consolidation of the "Times" and the "Leader," in 1908, there was not the slightest thought of dispensing with Mr. Cleary's service in the Plymouth field. Rather was it to be readily perceived that he was a contributing factor there to the retention of the enlarged newspapers local clientele. When the combination went into effect and the "Times-Leader" sought to hold the good- will that belonged to the papers as indivi- dual organs, there were one thousand and two hundred names on the books in Plym- outh. Today the Plymouth list alone com- prises more than three thousand-a figure which speaks well for the wisdom of the "Times-Leader" management in making no change of correspondents in Plymouth. The fact of the increased circulation is also elo- quent as showing the expansion of the com- munity itself as a residential borough and in real property and commercial values.
The Republican party is fortunate in hav- ing in Mr. Cleary's long-time adherence that of a broadly active man in his district. Many years ago he was esteemed by the voters to be of legislative caliber, and the Fifth Rep- resentative District sent him to Harrisburg as a member of the House for the 1911-13 session. The interests of his constituency were carefully looked after during his term of office. Mr. Cleary also served as State
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