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 80
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JAMES G. JEFFREIS-Both for his work in the coal mining industry of Alden and the surrounding parts of Pennsylvania and for his participation in the public affairs of the community in which for so many years he has lived and worked, James G. Jeffreis is regarded highly by his fellowmen and his associates. He has acquired a wide circle of acquaintances, and is a member of one of the most respected families of this community.
Mr. Jeffreis was born in Scranton, Penn- sylvania, on March 25, 1884, a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Gliddon) Jeffreis. His father was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, in 1863, worked for the greater part of his life as a miner, and died in 1890; while the mother was born in England in 1866 and died here in 1891. James G. Jeffreis received his early education in the public schools of Nanticoke, attend- ing night classes, and at the age of nine years started work in a coal breaker. He actually was working in the mines at the age of ten. In 1898 he became associated with the Alden Coal Company as door tender; and, as the company officials recognized his abilities, they advanced him from time to time, so that in 1913 he became assistant foreman and in 1925 was made general foreman for the organization. In this work he has gained the confidence of company officials and of the men working under his guidance, and, in short, has fulfilled the promise which he showed early in his career and the hopes of those who placed their trust in him.
In addition to his work with the coal indus- try, Mr. Jeffreis takes an active part in the affairs of his community. In his political views he is identified with the Republican party, whose policies and candidates he regu- larly supports. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he is affiliated with Lodge, No. 541; and Keystone Consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He also is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1903, on December 31 of that year, he married Helena Hermansen, of Alden, Penn- sylvania, daughter of John and Emma Her- mansen. By this union there have been ten children, of whom eight are now living: 1. Charlotte Elizabeth, now Mrs. Charlotte Eliz- abeth Burn. 2. John E. 3. Helen, who died at the age of fifteen years. 4. Carl. 5. Irene. 6. James, Jr. 7. Keith. 8. Hazel. 9. Alice, died in infancy. 10. Richard. Mr. Jeffreis also has a grandchild, Elizabeth Burn.
REV. JOHN BURROUGHS CRAVEN-A leader in the religious life of his community, the Rev. John B. Craven has served for more than three decades as pastor of the Grant Street Presbyterian Church, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he has won the love and the esteem of the people. He has proven him- self to be one of those men who are thor- oughly interested in the welfare of the city and ready at all times to do whatever is in their power to improve conditions in every possible way. He has worked constantly with his congregation to build up the Grant Street Church, which holds a prominent place in the religious life of Wilkes-Barre and this vicin- ity; and furthermore, there is scarcely a phase of the civic or social life of the com- munity that has not received his careful and valued attention. He has participated to a considerable extent in the work of several societies and organizations, and is a gener- ally public-spirited citizen.
Descended from early colonial families in the United States, he is a son of Charles V. and Aramanda (Eagle) Craven, both of whom
are now deceased; a grandson of John and Elizabeth (Hart) Craven; and a great-grand- son of Giles and Ann (MacNalr) Craven, who were among the early settlers of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and were of English and Scotch descent. Charles V. and Aramanda (Eagle) Craven were the parents of four children: 1. Rev. John B., of whom further. 2. Frank B., who handles real estate in Ocean City, New Jersey. 3. George W., who is now deceased. 4. Bessie, who is the wife of Hugh T. Mason, of Churchville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Charles V. Craven was himself a soldier in the Union Army in the Civil War, a private in the 104th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and he served for three years the Union cause, in which he was a firm believer.
The Rev. John B. Craven spent the early days of his life on the old Bucks County farm; and while a lad he attended the public schools of his native district, having heen born at what was known as Washington's Crossing, in Bucks County, on November 7. 1866. When he finished his public school work, he went to Doylestown Academy, from which he was graduated in the class of 1888. Then he became a student in Lafayette Col- lege, from which he was graduated in the class of 1892 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. When he received this degree, he entered the Princeton Theological Seminary, from which institution he was graduated in theology in the class of 1895. Shortly after- ward he came to Wilkes-Barre, where he be- came pastor of the Grant Street Presbyterian Church, in which position he has served con- tinuously since that time. The Rev. Mr. Craven is interested in political matters as they affect his city, State, and Nation, and he supports the principles of the Republican party. Also active in fraternal work, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he is affiliated with the Land. mark Lodge, No. 442.
Mr. Craven married, on July 10, 1895, Mabel Hulsizer, of Easton, Pennsylvania, who is a daughter of Peter and Rachel Hulsizer, both of whom are now deceased. This marriage has been blessed with the following chil- dren: 1. Charles Y., who is a farmer at Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, and who mar- ried Estella Williams, and they have two children, Jane Louise and John Charles. 2. John B., a mechanical engineer for the Hud- son Coal Company, of Scranton, Pennsyl- vania; he married Genevieve Hammond, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, by which marriage there is one daughter, Elizabeth Genevieve. 3. William D., of Wilkes-Barre, an electrical engineer, and is unmarried. 4. Rachel, who is unmarried, and is living at home.
JOHN E. PIATT-No group of persons holds a more responsible position in the progress of human affairs than that which is actively interested in the affairs of edu- cation. Particularly is this responsibility important for the principals of schools who have the duty of directing the teachers as well as pupils under their respective juris- diction. John E. Piatt, of Wyoming, Penn- sylvania, who holds the honorable position of supervising principal of schools here, is especially qualified for his office by reason of both experience and education. He is thor- oughly familiar with the educational needs of this vicinity, which is a qualification most essential to one who would be successful in public school work. He is the son of Edwin E. and Ellen (Tubbs) Piatt. His father, who was a lumber mill owner, was born in Lu- zerne County, Pennsylvania, in 1861, and died February 18, 1928. His mother, born in
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Luzerne County in 1860 continues to live in the county.
John E. Piatt was born at Broadway, Lu- zerne County, Pennsylvania, on July 23, 1885 and began his education in the county schools of Luzerne County. He then attended the Bloomsbury Normal School in Bloomsbury, Pennsylvania, from where he graduated in the class of 1908. He then taught in country schools for four years gaining by this ex- perience a rich fund of information as to needs of country schools. From this work, he taught in the schools of Franklin and Ross townships, respectively, and here learned the village school. In 1912, Mr. Piatt came to Wyoming to fill a position as teacher of an eighth grade and in 1913, he was made a teacher in the high school here and in No- vember, 1915, he was made supervising prin- cipal of the Schools of Wyoming and has continued to hold that position. He is a zealous student and keeps himself informed of all progressive methods of education. He has done extensive work in the extension department of the University of Pennsyl- vania and the State College, and graduated from the Susquehanna University in the class of 1928, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of Lodge No. 887, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church, where he is on the official board.
On June 24, 1916, John E. Piatt married Tacie K. Kittle of Sweet Valley, Pennsyl- vania, daughter of Robert E. and Alice Kittle. They had two children: 1. Evan Hale, who died at the age of sixteen months. 2. John E., Jr., born March 23, 1922.
JOHN S. LOPATTO-One of the distin- guished members of the legal profession in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, is John S. Lopatto, who has his offices at Nos. 703-711 Miners' Bank Building in Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Lopatto graduated from the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania, in 1907, and in 1919 was a member of the Lithuanian Commission to negotiate peace, which met in Paris, France, after the close of the World War and secured the recognition of the Lithuanian Republic. He is active in local public affairs in Wilkes-Barre and in Luzerne County, and is one of the well-known and highly esteemed members of his profession.
John S. Lopatto was born in Lithuania, September 16, 1882, son of Simon Lopatto, who came from sturdy Lithuanian stock, now deceased, and of Ursula Lopatto, who passed away February 8, 1929. Mr. Lopatto grew to manhood in Pittston, Luzerne County, where he attended the parochial school, and later became a student in Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, Luzerne County. When his pre- paratory course was completed he began pro- fessional study in the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the class of 1907, re- ceiving at that time the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the Luzerne County Bar soon afterward and at once opened his offices for practice in Wilkes- Barre. For the past twenty-one years he has been engaged in general practice here and during that time he has built up a large and still growing clientele. Mr. Lopatto has al- ways been actively interested in public affairs, local, national, and international, and has been willing to share in bearing the burdens of public office. He was assistant district attorney for Luzerne County from 1916 to 1920. He is attorney for the Heights Deposit Bank of Wilkes-Barre, in which capacity his legal knowledge and his good judgment enable him to render valuable
service. He is a member of the Luzerne County Bar Association, of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, and of the American Bar Association, and is well known among his professional associates. Politically, he gives his support to the principles and the candidates of the Democratic party, and his fraternal association is with Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Wilkes-Barre Council, No. 302, Knights of Columbus. He is attorney for the Lithuanian Alliance of America, for the Lithuanian Catholic Alliance of America, and is very influential among the Lithuanians of America, as well as among his associates in general. In 1915 he was candidate for the office of registrar of wills. Mr. Lopatto is a director of the Beneficial Loan Society of Wilkes-Barre; member of the Wyoming Val- ley Country Club, and the Tatra Club of Wilkes-Barre. He is a member of the Arbi- tration Commission to settle disputes between Lithuania and Sweden. His religious affilia- tion is with Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church of Wilkes-Barre.
John S. Lopatto was married, June 24, 1913, to Mary C. Skritulsky, of New Britain, Con- necticut, and they have four children: Mary, Edward Wilson, John S., Jr., and Richard. The family residence is at No. 136 Park Ave- nue, Wilkes-Barre.
JOHN F. KROPP-For about twenty years John F. Kropp was employed about the mines in Plains, Pennsylvania, hut he was one of the many of this State who make the mining industry a stepping-stone to other lines of activity, and after acquiring experience in several different capacities in the work of coal mining, he became a salesman. Since 1907 he has been in the employ of the Anchor Packing Company, of Philadelphia, and since 1920 he has held the responsihle position of district representative for that concern. Mr. Kropp is a member of several fraternal orders. He is a director and vice-president of the Plains State Bank.
John F. Kropp was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, April 21, 1875, son of John Kropp, who was a native of Wilkes-Barre, born in 1852, and who was engaged as a mine superintendent to the time of his death. which occurred at the age of forty-eight years, in 1900, and of Mary (Kridler) Kropp, also a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, born in 1854, died in May, 1923. School days for Mr. Kropp were brief, for when he was eight and a half years old he started work in the coal breaker, and around and. in the mines he remained for nearly twenty years, filling various positions and working at dif- ferent jobs until he was twenty-eight years of age, finally becoming outside foreman. At the age of twenty-eight he made a change and secured a position as salesman in the employ of the Garlock Packing Company, of Philadelphia. That was in 1903. Four years later, in 1907, he became associated with the Anchor Packing Company, of Philadelphia, and since that time he has been continuously identified with the interests of that concern. In 1920 he was advanced to the position of district representative, after a selling experi- ence of thirteen years, and his ten years as district representative have been as success- ful as his period of service as a salesman. In addition to his activities in the inter- est of the Anchor Packing Company, Mr. Kropp is interested in local affairs in Plains and in Plains Township. He supports the Republican party and for two terms served as a school director. When the Plains State Bank was under consideration as a possi- bility only, he was one of those who ably
John S Lopatto
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forwarded the project, becoming one of the organizers, a member of the board of direc- tors, and vice-president of the bank. He is a member of Lodge No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Frater- nal Order of Eagles.
John F. Kropp married, in 1899, Mary G. Hoban, of Plains, Pennsylvania, daughter of Dennis and Ann (Egan) Hoban, and they are the parents of five children: 1. Charles F., who is now (1930) twenty-three years of age, a graduate of the Philadelphia Col- lege of Pharmacy, class of 1928, 2. Anna L., aged twenty-one, is a graduate of the State Teachers' College, at Westchester, Pennsyl- vania, class of 1928. 3. Edward J., aged twenty, a student in the Pennsylvania State College. 4. Marion G., aged nineteen; mar- ried Peter Grimes, of Kingston. 5. Frances C., aged fifteen.
RICHARD HENRY MITCHELL-One of the prominent and progressive citizens of Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania, is Richard Henry Mit- chell, assistant cashier of the Miners' Bank, one of the largest in the State. Mr. Mitchell's success has come about as the result of his ability and hard work, and his advancement to his present position in the bank has been gradual and continuous since his humble beginning there as messenger boy. He is conversant with all departments of banking and finance, as well as with the resources of his section, and he takes a constructive part in all forward movements in Wilkes- Barre.
Richard Henry Mitchell was born in Par- sons, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 30, 1877, son of William and Elizabeth (Davies) Mitchell, both deceased. Born in England, the parents came to America in 1871, and the father, a master mechanic, conducted a machine shop at Parsons and was also, for some years, a mechanic for the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company. He died at thirty-eight: his widow, at sixty- seven. Children: William J., who died in 1892 at the age of eighteen; Joseph C., who died in childhood; Richard Henry, of further mention; James Samuel, who died at ten years of age; Frederick A., who died in childhood; Susan Mary, who also died in childhood; Anna Louisa, wife of Oscar B. Ross, and now deceased, having died in Wilkes-Barre at the age of forty-two; Ada B., wife of Harry R. Bettenbender, of Wilkes- Barre.
The boyhood of Richard Henry Mitchell was spent in Parsons, where he attended public schools. When he was thirteen, he found employment at the Westmoreland Club. Thence he went to a grocery store operated by William Miller and Company, located on the site of the thirteen story Miners' Bank Building today. It was on August 1, 1897, that Mr. Mitchell took a position with the bank as messenger boy. He worked his way up through the various bank departments, winning steady promotion through his ap- plication to business, his alertness, his readi- ness to assume responsibility, and his faith- fulness in its discharge. He is now a popular and much trusted official of this wealthy and important bank. He is also prominent in other departments of local affairs. A Repub- lican in politics, he is an outstanding Mason; a member of Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Accepted Masons; Caldwell Consistory. Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in which he holds the thirty- second degree; lrem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Wilkes- Barre; and of the Irem Country Club. He belongs also to the Concordia Singing Society
and is chairman of the Music Committee, and to the Franklin Club. He is a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, the Church Choir and is treasurer of the Kindergarten Federa- tion of Wyoming Valley.
ARCHHE L. PARRISH-A member of one of the oldest families of the Wyoming Val- ley, Mr. Parrish himself is a native and life- long resident of that section of Pennsylvania. Throughout his active life, ever since hav- ing completed his education, he has been identified with that region's leading indus- try, the coal mining industry, and for the past twenty years he has been associated in responsible positions with the Kingston Coal Company. In that industry he is widely known as a man of wide practical experience and as the inventor of several important devices used extensively by many of the most successful coal mines. For many years a resident of Kingston, he has been promi- nently active in that community's fraternal, civic and religious life and is considered one of its leading and substantial citizens.
Archie L. Parrish was born at Beaumont, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1869, a son of John F. and Almira E. ( Frear) Parrish. His father, who was a native of Evansfalls, Pennsylvania, and who died in 1904, was for many years successfully en- gaged in the lumber business, while his mother, who is still living, is a native of Beaumont, Wyoming County. Mr. Parrish is of very distinguished ancestry on both sides of his family. The Wyoming Monument, erected at Wilkes-Barre to commemorate the Battle of Wyoming, one of the important battles of the Revolutionary War, contains no less than three names of men who fought there to establish this Republic and of whom Mr. Parrish is a direct descendant; John Williams, Daniel Downing and Asa Stephens. Another active participant in the Revolu- tionary War, who is an ancestor in the direct line of Mr. Parrish, was Ebenezer Parrish. On his mother's side, too, he is descended from pioneer stock, the Frear family having been settled in this country for about three centuries.
Mr. Parrish received his education in the public schools of Le Grange, Pennsylvania. After leaving school he learned the construc- tion of coal breakers and ever since then it has been chiefly with the construction end of coal mining that he has been identified. In the beginning of his career he was a foreman for the Lehigh Valley Coal Com- pany for several years, after which he held similar positions with a number of other important coal mining companies. In 1908 he became connected with the Kingston Coal Company, a connection which has continued without interruption since then. For many years he was superintendent of construction for this company, but since 1927 he has been its outside superintendent. In these several positions of great responsibility he has al- ways shown notable ability and fidelity, gain- ing for himself alike the confidence of his employers and the liking of those who worked under his direction, At different times dur- ing his long connection with the coal min- ing industry he has designed and patented several devices for use in coal mining and preparation. The most notable of these, perhaps, is the Parrish Shaker, known throughout the industry as one of the most effective devices of its type and used exten- sively today by many of the largest coal mines in this and other countries. Mr. Par- rish has been very active for many years in Masonic affairs and he is a member of Lodge No. 474 at Ashley, Pennsylvania, Free
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and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and Dieu le Vent Com- mandery, No. 45, Knights Templar. In poli- tics he is a supporter of the Republican party, while his religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian Church of Kingston.
Mr. Parris married, in 1889, Margaret Get- tinger, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, a daugh- ter of William and Katherine Gettinger. Mr. and Mrs. Parrish are the parents of seven children: Ida, Floyd, Calvin, Lola, Martha, Esther, and Archie L., Jr., and also have one grandson, Daniel Glass Parrish. The family home is located at No. 378 Chestnut Street, Kingston.
WILLIAM SAMUEL RITTER-From the day that he began work as a breaker boy in the coal mines of the Wyoming Valley William Samuel Ritter showed that he would reach a prominent place in the business. He was industrious, ambitious, willing and capa- ble and faithful to the interests of his em- ployers, while his interest in civic matters was recognized by his selection for office of honor and responsibility, which he filled to the complete satisfaction of his fellow-citi- zens. He is an upright member of the com- munity and an honor to the calling which he has followed all his life.
He was born in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1879, a son of Henry Ritter, a miner, deceased June 2, 1891, and Anna Martha (Moyer) Ritter, a native of Shick- shinny, who died here in 1925. Until he was ten years of age he attended the public schools, then going to work picking slate from the coal that went through the break- ers. He was promoted from place to place and finally became outside superintendent in 1911. This post he held until 1920, when he was made general superintendent and served in that capacity until 1924, when failing health compelled him to abandon it and return to outside work entirely as superin- tendent of the E. S. Stackhouse Coal Com- pany. He served on the city council for eight years and in November, 1925, was elected a burgess for a term of four years. In politics he is a Republican, in religion a Protestant. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and the Grange and is affiliated with the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, with membership in Lodge No. 354. He has the thirty-second degree and as such is a member of the Bloomsbury Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, and of Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Junior Order United American Mechanics.
William Samuel Ritter married, in August, 1906, Mary C. Geist, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Geist, of Shickshinny, Pennsylvania. Their children are: I. Ralph Raymond, born in 1907. 2. Charles E., born in 1910. 3. Lester W., born in 1913.
ARCHIE WOOLBERT-After having spent thirty-two years in the dairying industry, Archie Woolbert abandoned this pursuit for that of retail merchandising, and for more than four years has conducted a retail grocery and meat business in Trucksville, the scene of his nativity. Already well versed in busi- ness processes, through his long career as a dairyman, Mr. Woolbert has utilized this experience for the benefit of his patrons in Trucksville and surrounding territory.
Mr. Woolbert was born April 12, 1878, in Beaumont, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. son of the late Almon Woolbert, who was born at Carverton, Pennsylvania, followed agricultural pursuits throughout his life,
which ended in 1898, and of Sarah (Phoenix) Woolbert, who survives her husband. She, too is a native of the Keystone State, having been born at Noxen, Wyoming County.
Archie Woolbert, like many other success- ful business men of this country, launched upon his commercial career with the close of his studies in the public schools of Trucks- ville. His first venture was an independent one, and the scene of his operations was Plymouth, Pennsylvania, where, in 1892, he established the dairying concern that was to occupy him for thirty-two years. While located in Plymouth, Mr. Woolbert strived earnestly to conduct his enterprise on a high plane, and as a result, when he entered the grocery and meat business, in 1924, his repu- tation for honesty and square dealing brought him many customers in this establishment. Here he has taken his place in the ranks of the respected and substantial business men of Trucksville, and at the same time assumed all the responsibilities of the public-spirited citizen. He is a Republican, and for nine years worked diligently for the betterment of the local schools in his office as school director. His civic interests are expressed to a great extent through the Kiwanis Club of Mount Greenwood, and in the affairs of his church, the Methodist Episcopal, he is a familiar figure, being a member of the official board.
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