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 79
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Theodore Sterling Ellis married Vera L. Pneuman, and they are the parents of three children: Addison Sterling, William Pneu- man, and Elizabeth Pneuman. The family resides at No. 20 Park Place, Kingston.
STANLEY W. WARAKOMSKI-A life of purposeful effort and of worthy achievement has been that of Stanley W. Warakomski, secretary and general manager of the Polish Union of the United States of North America. Although Mr. Warakomski came to this coun- try at the age of seventeen, unable to speak English, he has become one of the important men of the State among his compatriots in this land, and has rendered service of a high order in several different Polish organiza- tions. He is an effective and pleasing public speaker, with the gifts of the natural born orator, and during the World War he was one of the speakers who most effectively placed before the Polish people of this coun-
try the case of the United States Government and of the Allies.
Stanley W. Warakomski was born in Po- land, June 15, 1888, son of Wladyslaw and Mary Warakomski, who still reside in Poland, and who are the parents of eleven children. His father was for many terms the mayor of his native town succeeding his grandfather who likewise served in the same capacity for many terms. Stanley W. Warakomski attended schools in Poland until he was seventeen years of age, and then in 1905, accompanied his uncle to this country, where he first found work as a hreaker-boy, or slate picker, in the employ of the Susque- hanna Coal Company, Nanticoke, Pennsyl- vania. While employed in this humble capac- ity he entered evening school and soon learned to speak the language of the country in which he had planned to spend his future. For two years he continued as a breaker-boy, and then secured work in the mines of the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company as a day laborer and miner's helper. Two years later he left the mines, and secured a position as clerk in the grocery store. In 1912, at the age of twenty-four, Mr. Warakomski was married, and after his marriage he secured a position as a bookkeeper for a lumber con- cern, and while filling this position he be- came auditor for the Polish Union of the United States of North America, in which office he continued until 1921, when he was made secretary and general manager of that union, a beneficial and fraternal organization for the general aid of Polish residents and citizens of the United States. The organiza- tion has a membership of 50,000, and is one of the largest, best known and most popular Polish organizations in the country. The duties connected with his office have necessi- tated extensive travel by him throughout the United States and Canada. His intense in- terest in organization and public affairs man- ifested itself in his having written many articles on those subjects for the Polish newspapers.
He is secretary of St. Stanislaus Orphanage of the Diocese of Scranton, and is also a member of the Polish National Alliance of America, Polish Falcons of America, Frater- nal Order of Eagles, and other organizations, and has been a delegate several times to Conventions of the National Fraternal Con- gress with which the Polish Union of the United States of North America, is affiliated. as well as of those of which he has been a member.
Stanley W. Warakomski was married, July 7, 1912, to Mary Novicki, daughter of Felix and Pelagia Novicki, a resident of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, for over forty-five years, and they are the parents of three children: Va- leria M., Alphonse S., and Chester. The fam- ily home is at No. 154 East Greet Street, in Nanticoke.
HOWMAN CURWOOD-In 1919 Bowman Curwood, who was widely experienced in the plumbing and heating trade, established the firm of Curwood and Kleckner, plumbers, and retail dealers in hardware, in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania. His thorough training in this work together with the sound business judg- ment and executive ability which he dis- played, made this venture very successful, a success which has continued through subse- quent reorganization in which Beach Shoe- maker succeeded Mr. Kleckner in the firm.
Mr. Curwood was born in Shickshinny, on March 18, 1886, a son of Samuel K. Curwood, a miner, born in Devonshire, England, in 1837, died in 1910 at the age of seventy-three, and of Mary Estella (Drum) Curwood, born
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in Huntington Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in 1850, died in 1923.
Bowman Curwood attended the Shickshinny public schools, and while still a boy began work in a local woolen mill, where he re- mained for about six months. At the end of that time, in his thirteenth year, he took up the plumbing and heating trade, and in this work as apprentice, journeyman, and master plumber, he has continued since, starting with I. H. Wilkinson for three years, and with J. D. Woodworth's Son until in 1918, Mr. Curwood, having had then some seventeen and a half years' experience, hegan contract- ing under his own name, and in the follow- ing year, the partnership of Curwood and KIeckner was formed. In 1920 Mr. Shoemaker purchased Mr. Kleckner's interest, and this arrangement has been continued to the pres- ent time. Few firms in the vicinity have so high a reputation for the consistent excel- lence of their products and their work.
Politically, Mr. Curwood supports the prin- ciples and candidates of the Republican party, He is a member of the Sons of Veterans organization, and a member of Lodge No. 180, at Shickshinny, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the local fire department and of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and has always been vitally interested in civic affairs in the community.
In 1910, Bowman Curwood married Della Irene Eckrote, of Wilkes-Barre, a daughter of Nathan and Rosanna (Fletcher) Eckrote of that city. Of this marriage there are no children.
BEACH SHOEMAKER-A resident of Shick- shinny, Pennsylvania, for many years, Beach Shoemaker has come to occupy a position of importance in the business life of the com- munity. As a member of the firm of Cur- wood and Shoemaker, retail dealers in hard- ware, plumbers, and heaters, he has devoted his attention to providing the residents of Shickshinny with a hardware and plumbing service of high quality, while in the various civic and social activities of the city he plays a prominent part.
Mr. Shoemaker was born in Shickshinny, September 16, 1883, a son of Daniel H. Shoe- maker, a miner, who was horn at Fairview, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in 1849, and died in April, 1922, and of Anna (Smith) Shoemaker, born in Lehman Township, Lu- zerne County, in 1859, died in January, 1927.
Beach Shoemaker attended the public schools of his birthplace, and later took the business course of the Scranton Correspond- ence School. As a young man he worked for a few years in a local coal breaker, and also acted as clerk in a grocery store. For five years thereafter he was assistant pay- master of the West End Coal Company, rendering entirely satisfactory service in this position. As a result of his diligence and thrift, Mr. Shoemaker was able, in 1920, to purchase Mr. Kleckner's interest in the firm of Curwood and Kleckner, plumbers, and dealers in hardware, the name of which thereupon hecame Curwood and Shoemaker. In the employ of this firm there are now five men, who devote their attention to satisfying the many demands made on their services.
Politically, Mr. Shoemaker is a member of the Republican party, and for several years he was a member of the local school board. He is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Masons, in which organization he is a member of Shickshinny Lodge, No. 354, and is also a member of Lodge No. 180, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of Shickshinny Council of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
Mr. Shoemaker is also a member of the Shickshinny Fire Company, and of this organ- ization he has been treasurer since 1913. He is a director of the Farmers' State Bank, of Shickshinny. Mr. Shoemaker worships in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, and no movement designed to promote the growth and welfare of the community lacks his hearty support.
DANIEL R. PEFFER-Born of old Penn- sylvania stock, of the pioneer blood that has made the State one of firm stability and unshakeable foundation, Daniel R. Peffer, horn at Locust, May 20, 1876, is the son of George and Elizabeth (Ramey) Peffer. George Peffer was born at Covode, Indiana County, in 1842 and died in June, 1925. He was a successful builder and contractor. Mrs. Peffer was born at Smicksburg, also in In- diana County, in 1837 and passed away in January, 1919.
Daniel R. Peffer was educated at the public schools at Punxsutawney and graduated from its high school with the class of 1898. After a year at Dickinson College he entered the employ of the Adams Express Company in their Philadelphia office and remained there for five years. In 1904, he organized his own business, dealing in wholesale oil, at Punxsutawney, continuing the firm of Peffer Oil Company until 1911, when he sold it and came to Wilkes-Barre to associate himself with the oil firm of Payne and Com- pany, as its manager. In 1913, he again organized his own company in the wholesale oil commerce, which firm he located in King- ston and continued until 1927 when he gave up the oil business for good in favor of a general insurance business which he has car- ried on ever since, under his own firm name. With a wide connection over the State and a reputation for business integrity as assets, his business has grown to a gratifying extent. Mr. Peffer is a member of the King- ston Business Men's Association, the King- ston Chamber of Commerce and of the United Commercial Travellers. He is a Republican politically, and takes an interest in city affairs, without holding office. He and his family are attendants of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
Daniel R. Peffer was married, in 1903, to Jessie R. Gilliland of Sharon, a daughter of Matthew and Adeline Gilliland. They have two children: Clara Frances, who married William S. Stephens, and Daniel R. Jr., born in 1914.
FRANK HERMAN FRITZ-An educator of wide experience and thorough training, Frank Herman Fritz has been superintendent of schools in Ashley, Pennsylvania, since 1925. In his administration, he has adopted a con- sistent, progressive policy which has proved very successful in operation and has won him the complete confidence of teachers, pupils, and the community at large.
Mr. Fritz was born on January 21, 1883, at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, a son of Andrew L. Fritz, who was born in Benton, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, and died in 1913, and of Frances Endora (Evans) Fritz, who was born in Bloomsburg, and who is still living. Andrew L. Fritz was a lawyer, having read law with United States Senator Buckalew after his graduation from Bloomsburg State Normal School.
Frank Herman Fritz attended the public schools of Bloomsburg, and the State Normal School there, from which he was graduated in 1900. For five years he taught school at Berwick, Pennsylvania, and at the end of this time, entered Bucknell University, where he
Michalarehokey
ST. MARY'S GREEK-RITE CATHOLIC CHURCH WILKES-BARRE, PA.
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was graduated in 1909 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Soon afterward, he came to Wilkes-Barre as principal of the Union Street School, remaining for four years, after which, for three years, he acted as dean of the Pennington School for Boys, at l'enning- ton, New Jersey. For nine years, he was director of English in the schools of Spring- field, Massachusetts, and for three years he taught public speaking in several cities in Massachusetts for the Massachusetts State Department of Education. For three sum- mers he taught in Bates College at Lewis- ton, Maine. Meanwhile, in 1921, he had re- ceived the degree of Master of Education from Harvard University, and in 1925 he took charge of the Ashley school system, com- prising four school buildings with accom- modations for more than sixteen hundred pupils, and in this position he has since remained.
Politically, Mr. Fritz is a member of the Republican party. He is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Masons, in which organization he is a member of Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Wilkes-Barre. He and his family attend the local Methodist Episcopal Church, where Mr. Fritz is active in choir work.
In 1920, Frank Herman Fritz married Mar- jorie Ladd, of Springfield, Massachusetts, a daughter of Charles E. and Mary E. Ladd of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Fritz are the parents of two sons: 1. Frank Herman, Jr., born February 4, 1922. 2. Charles Ladd, born December 11, 1925.
THOMAS C. CARR-Throughout the many years of his business experience, Thomas C. Carr has been connected with the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company. His ability and the value of his services have been recog- nized by this company, and Mr. Carr has risen gradually in their employ to his present posi- tion as outside foreman, in which capacity he has acted with conspicnous success.
He was born in Mauch Chunk, Pennsyl- vania, on August 14, 1866, a son of Thomas Carr, a rock contractor, who was born in Mauch Chunk in 1838, and who died in 1891, and of Nancy (Shields) Carr, who was also born in Mauch Chunk, in 1840, and who died in 1897.
Thomas C. Carr attended the public schools of his birthplace, and later entered Wyoming Seminary. When he completed his education, he began work for the Lehigh and Wilkes- Barre Coal Company, as a clerk in their Wilkes-Barre office, and in this association which has continued for so many years, was immediately successful. In the course of the years merited promotion came to him, and he is now one of the company's most valued and trusted employees. Mr. Carr is also vice-president and a director of the Peoples State Bank of Newtown, in Wilkes- Barre, giving to this organization the bene- fit of his keen business judgment. Politically, he supports the principles and candidates of the Republican party, and he is a member of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church.
In February, 1890, Thomas C. Carr married Nellie Farrell of Wilkes-Barre, a daughter of Dennis and Ellen (Moran) Farrell, of that place. Her father, a carpenter by trade, was born in Wilkes-Barre in 1835, and died in 1913. Her mother was born in Ireland on April 11, 1835, and died in 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Carr are the parents of four children: 1. Irene, born November 15, 1894. 2. Thomas, Jr., born May 19, 1896. 3. Helen, born March 2, 1901. 4. Shields, born May 22, 1903. The family home is at No. 415 Hazle Street, Wilkes-Barre.
BENJAMIN LEONARD HAUS-In a variety of capacities Benjamin Leonard Haus has served the Wilkes-Barre public from his desk in the county courthouse and, whether it was as clerk in the county treasurer's office, deputy controller, as deputy clerk of the courts, or as deputy county treasurer, he has always discharged his duties efficiently and with conscientious regard for the interests of the people.
Born in Lewistown, Mifflin County, De- cember 6, 1879, Mr. Haus is the son of Wil- liam and Ellie M. (Sills) Haus, the latter horn in Lewistown, in 1843, died in February, 1894. The father, born in Mifflinburg, in 1840, died in December, 1893, served in the Civil War with the Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was a printer by trade, but spent part of his life as a railway postal clerk. His son attended the grammar schools in Sunbury, Pennsyl- vania, then went to the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. For four- teen years he was with the Pennsylvania Railroad in various capacities stationed at Sunbury and Nanticoke. It was in 1909 that he came to Wilkes-Barre as a clerk in the county treasurer's office, later receiving his appointment as deputy controller from Comp- troller Fuller Hendershot. For four years Mr. Haus served as deputy clerk of the courts, and since 1925 has been deputy county treasurer. Politically, Mr. Hans is Republican and his fraternal affiliations are with Nanticoke Lodge, No. 541, Free and Accepted Masons; Keystone Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, of Scranton; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; the Knights of Pythias, and the Craftsman's Club. With his family Mr. Hans is a communicant in the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In 1898 Mr. Hans joined the 7th
Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, but was later transferred to the 12th Regiment. During the World War he was with the 2d Pennsylvania Regiment of the Reserves.
In 1908, Mr. Hans married Anna Elizabeth Kelley, daughter of William and Margaret (Bicham) Kelley of Nanticoke. Their two sons are: William Leonard, born June 15, 1915; and John Benjamin, born in July, 1919.
REV. NICHOLAS CHOPEY-Few men are better known or more sincerely respected in Wilkes-Barre than is the Rev. Nicholas Chopey, rector of St. Mary's Greek-Rite Catholic Church of this city. Father Chopey has been caring for this parish since 1903, and during his rectorship the church membership has increased from 74 families to 600 families, with a total membership of 3,500 communi- cants. A new church building has been erected and many other improvements made, while the spiritual life of the parish has been greatly stimulated and developed. St. Mary's Greek-Rite Catholic Church is located at No. 695 North Main Street in Wilkes-Barre.
Rev. Nicholas Chopey was born in Ungvar, Hungary, January 2, 1876, son of Gabriel and Carolina Chopey, both of whom are deceased. Father Chopey received his early education and his college training in his native town, and then, as he had decided to enter the service of the church, matriculated in Eszter- gom, and later in Budapest University. He was ordained a priest at Ungvar, Hungary, December 18, 1898, and five years later, in 1903, came to this country and located in Wilkes-Barre, where he took charge of St. Mary's Greek-Rite Catholic Church, where he has since been rendering most valuable service. When Father Chopey came to Wilkes-Barre, the St. Mary's Greek-Rite Catholic Church was meeting in a small frame building which stood at No. 668 North
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Main Street. The building had been erected in 1887, and at the time Father Chopey took charge the membership of the parish includ- ed only seventy-four families. In 1907, just four years after his arrival, Father Chopey built the present large brick church and the parish house. In 1910 he built the parish school, and in 1923 he built the convent for the housing of the Sisters who teach in the parochial school. From the beginning, Father Chopey has devoted his energies to the up- building of the spiritual life of the church as well as to the work of developing its ma- terial equipment. Under his leadership the membership of the parish has increased steadily and rapidly and the seventy-four families which represented the total member- ship in 1903 has now grown to six hundred families with a total membership of thirty- five hundred communicants. While thus building up so successfully the church which is his special charge, Father Chopey has also been very active in the general work of the Greek-Rite Church in the county and in the State. He is a member of the Greek Catholic Union in America, also of the Union of Greek Catholic Priests, and is Dean of the Greek Catholic Priests in Luzerne County, and con- sultant of the Greek Catholic Bishops, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and an honorary consultant of Ungvar, his native town in Hungary. Although the improvements which Father Chopey has made in the parish have been so extensive, he is still hard at work, and recently he purchased sixty-five acres of ground which tract has been dedicated for the cemetery of St. Mary's Greek-Rite Catho- lic Congregation and parish.
In his contact with his people and with other citizens of the city, Father Chopey has shown rare sympathy and understanding. His work has been of a character which has commanded the respect not only of his own parishioners but of all with whom he has been associated throughout the city. Politi- cally, he gives his support to the Republican party, but his chief concern is the spiritual and material welfare of the parish of which he has had charge for the past twenty-four years. The welfare of his people has come to be his first thought, and his consecrated serv- ice has called forth from his people respect and devotion, which is a source of power in the parish.
BRUNO GORSKI-Through years of indus- try and toil, Bruno Gorski has advanced steadily until today he is a leader in the business and financial life of Nanticoke, own- ing and operating an important bakery and grocery at No. 126 East Ridge Street. He was a director of the Miners' Trust Company from its inception, in 1920 to 1928 and was one of the founders. Mr. Gorski is a splendid example of a self-made man, having come to this country with his only assets, a remark- able energy and a determination to succeed, and his present high position in the com- mercial world shows to what extent he took advantage of all the opportunities offered by this great land.
Mr. Gorski was born in Poland, March IS, 1877. He learned the bakery trade in his native land, and for two years, was employed at this work in Warsaw, Poland. On Novem- ber 1, 1900, he arrived in New York City, and coming to Luzerne County, was employed by various bakers in Wilkes-Barre for five years, having at first been engaged in min- ing for four months. He operated a hotel in the Plains for one year, and in 1906, opened his first bakery shop in Nanticoke. He was successful from the beginning, due to his admirable policy of quality and service, build-
ing up an enviahle reputation for the excel- lence of his products. The organization ex- panded and trade increased steadily, and at the present time, he conducts a thriving wholesale and retail business, employing eight people in its proper operation. The shop enjoys the steady patronage of hundreds of satisfied customers, who can always de- pend upon receiving products of the highest purity and quality and courteous and agreea- ble service. In addition to his bakery and grocery business, Mr. Gorski is a prominent factor in the financial life of the community, being active in the affairs of the Miners' Trust Bank, as aforementioned. He takes a deep and sincere interest in civic affairs, giv- ing active and generous support to all pro- jects for community welfare and advance- ment. He is a member of the Z. and P. Lodge, No. 145, and its treasurer. His reli- gious affiliations are with St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church.
Bruno Gorski married, in 1901, Velaria (Zielinski) Struzwski, a native of Poland, whom Mr. Gorski knew in that country, and who came to the United States about six months after his arrival in his adopted land. They have one adopted daughter, Julia, who married Stanley Yuzviak, of Hudson.
HARRY E. SMITH-Actively engaged in business in Shickshinny since he was eight- een years of age, Harry E. Smith has estab- lished a fine reputation in the field of his efforts and is making commendable progress with each passing year. He is a man of much ability, absolute honesty, indefatigable indus- try and enterprise of an unusual quality. His interest in civic affairs has been notable and he has served in both public and asso- ciation office with satisfaction to those who gave him their trust and votes. This sort of citizen is of great value to a community and the district in which he operates is to be congratulated in his possession.
He was born in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania, December 5, 1878, a son of Lemuel E. Smith, a native of Brier Creek Township, Columbia County, who became superintendent of a coal company and whose death is recorded as of March, 1900. His mother was Catherine (Kaylor) Smith, born in South Wilkes-Barre and died in 1916. He attended the public schools and was graduated from high school, after which he established himself in the business of manufacturing and retailing lum- ber, in which occupation he remained until 1914, when he discontinued this for the auto- mobile trade, and opened the Smith Garage in Shickshinny, handling the Chevrolet car. In 1916, he obtained the agency for the Studebaker and is still associated with that automobile, employing several men at his plant. For sixteen years he has been a member of the local school boards and is now the president of the Rotary Club. He is a director of the First National Bank of Shickshinny and attends the Methodist Epis- copal Church. In fraternal circles he is affil- iated with Lodge No. 180, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; with Lodge No. 354, Free and Accepted Masons; Bloomsbury Consis- tory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, having the thirty-second degree of the order.
Harry E. Smith married, June 30, 1897, Grace M. Smethers, of Berwick, Pennsyl- vania, daughter of George and Harriett (Edwards) Smethers. Their children are: 1. Fred E., born in 1901. 2. Ray F., born in 1903. 3. Claude E., born in 1906. Their only daughter, Maude C., died at the age of six- teen years.
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