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 81
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Archie Woolbert married, in 1903, Millie Anderson of Carverton, Pennsylvania, daugh- ter of Asa M. Anderson, and this marriage has been blessed with three children: 1. Nelson, born in December, 1904. 2. Kenneth J., born in August, 1906. 3. Willard, born in November, 1916.
JOSEPH J. SUDNICK-There is an inspira- tion for the young man entering business life in the record of Joseph J. Sudnick, of Plains, who, in less than eight years from the day he left school and began his career, has risen to a post of high honor and responsibility in the financial circles of this district of Penn- sylvania. That he is unusually equipped in mentality for the work he has been called upon to do need not dishearten others, for success in life comes to the plodder as well as to the brilliant meteor. His own success may be attributed to an unflagging industry and a tireless devotion to the interests of those with whom he has been associated, as well as to certain natural endowments that were sympathetic with financial operations. And there is also the fortunate possession of personal attractions that are of great assistance in business life and which are outstanding in his case. He has many friends, for he has been known and observed in this district from his boyhood and has been pro- nounced a young citizen of ability and sound civic interest in whom the community takes pride.
He was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1899, a son of Charles Sudnick, a native of Russian Poland, now a retired mer- chant of Schuylkill County, and of Anna (Alberts) Sudnick, a native of the same country. Following the regular course in the public schools of Shenandoah, with two years of high school, he attended Wyoming Semi- nary, from which he was graduated with the class of 1920. He then obtained a position in the Second National Bank of Wilkes- Barre, where he remained until 1923, when he transferred his services to the Plains State Bank and was made assistant cashier, a post he held until February 1, 1928, when he was promoted to be cashier and assistant secre- tary, the posts he holds at this time. He is a member of the Republican party and at-
Josepho J. Sudwick
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tends St. Mary's Catholic Church. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Lodge No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Wilkes- Barre.
Joseph J. Sudnick married, May 22, 1927, Kathryn Zawolski, daughter of John and Mary Zawoiski, of Plains, Pennsylvania.
ASA ARTHUR RUTE-Like many other boys of the Wyoming Valley who began their life work at the coal breakers and rose to distinction, Asa A. Rute, of Freeland, found his way up the ladder of success by a native perseverance and keen intelligence in har- monious accord. Personalities such as his cannot be kept at low levels, for they bear the force of optimism in conjunction with in- defatigable industry, two attributes that are conducive to success. Aside from these, this boy grew to manhood with a firm determina- tion to win the just reward of constant ap- plication, never departing from the principle that there is always room at the top for him who climbs with persistency and skill. Step by step he rose, eventually finding himself upon a parallel with others of equal forti- tude and far above many who had fallen by the wayside because of less vigorous at- tainments and faith in themselves. He has always taken a sincere interest in the civic affairs of the community and also in fraternal and other organized activities, holding office with dignity and ability and gaining the esteem of the electorate by virtue of his fidel- ity to the trust. Having attained a position in commercial life of satisfactory height, he was moved to retire from active labor with the respect of all with whom he has been for years identified and associated.
He was born in Tunkhannock, Pennsylva- nia, November 25, 1878, a son of Benjamin F. and Sarah (Shive) Rute, and acquired a lim- ited education in the public schools of Free- land, going to work at the breakers at the age of thirteen years. During the course of the years he worked at various occupations, learned the fundamentals of the electrical business and became identified with that in- dustry by establishing himself in electrical contracting, which he followed for twenty- five years, until his retirement. He also travelled for twelve years as salesman for the Anchor Packing Company and founded the Freeland Bobbin Works, of which he was president for about five years. Investing in financial enterprises, he became a director of the Citizens' Bank and a member of its finance committee, and vice-president and director of the Freeland Water Company. In politics he is a Republican and has served as a mem- ber of the State and county committees of that party and as chairman for the first legis- lative district. During the legislative sessions of 1909-10 he was sergeant-at-arms of the State Senate. He is a member of the Free- land Fishing Club and fraternally affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Arbutus Lodge, No. 611, Order of Free and Accepted Masons; Lehigh Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He attends the Protest- ant Episcopal Church.
Asa A. Rute married, October 3, 1904, Elthea Johnson, daughter of William and Margaret (Burkbeck) Johnson, members of a. pioneer family of this district.
RUSSELL C. DAVIS-Among the business men of Luzerne none of equal duration in the field is entitled to greater credit than Russell C. Davis, who, since the close of the World
War, in which he was actively engaged, has established himself firmly in a prosperous and growing business. He is a young man of happy personality, engaging manners, sym- pathetic nature and honorable character, bound to enlarge the circle of his friends as he journeys through life. His business, that of mortician, is an essential in every civilized community, its details solemn, yet Mr. Davis so conducts it as to minimize its solemnity and assuage the sorrows of his patrons. He is a worthy and valuable citizen of the com- munity.
He was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1895, a son of William R. Davis, en- gaged in mining, deceased in 1915, and of Jane (Reese) Davis, a native of Wales. He was educated in the Plymouth public schools and at Wyoming Seminary. When called to the service of his country because of the World War, he was attached to the 311th Machine Gun Company and served overseas for eleven months with the American Expe- ditionary Forces, being honorably mustered out June 19, 1919, when he returned to his native county. Determining upon his career, in which his brother Harry was already en- gaged, he took the course of embalming at the Eckles school in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated. Entering the business with his brother as an employee, he continued there until May, 1926, when he purchased the Honeywell Undertaking Company, established in Luzerne in 1885, and changed the name to Honeywell & Davis. He has every modern equipment for the work, with private chapel and other conveniences. Mr. Davis is a mem- ber of the Republican party and attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Walnut Lodge, No. 953, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Kingston Post, American Legion.
Russell C. Davis married, October 10, 1921, Argenta Linskill, daughter of David and Fannie Linskill, of Plymouth. Their children: Clara Jean and Carley Jane, twins, and Rus- sell C., Jr., born August 31, 1929. Clara Jean died January 22, 1929.
NICHOLAS P. LUCKENBILL-Finely equipped for the life task which he has allotted him- self, both by training and natural attributes, Nicholas P. Luckenbill, supervising principal of the Freeland Public Schools, is one of the foremost educators in this section of Penn- sylvania. Possessed of a judicial mentality, which inspires him to weigh with care every individual problem that comes before him for adjudication, he has won the esteem of all who have come within the purview of his professional activities, because of his unwa- vering fairness in treatment and his sound sense of justice. Fundamentally a student himself, he implants in developing intellects a desire to acquire knowledge and communi- cates to those teachers under his jurisdiction similar characteristics in their treatment of students. Additional to these qualities, he has been active in patriotic work and in his interest in social, religious and civic enter- prises, making him an estimable citizen and a leader in his professional field.
He was born in the village of Virginville, Berks County, Pennsylvania, a son of Cyrus and Elizabeth (De Turk) Luckenbill, was educated in the public schools and was grad- uated from Normal School at Kutztown in the class of 1902. For the following five years he taught in the public schools of the county and then devoted one year to preparatory study at Perkiomen Seminary, where he also
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taught in the interval. This was followed by a course of three years at Franklin Mar- shall College, from which he was graduated in 1911 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then accepted the principalship of the Nesquehoning High School and remained in that office for six years, during which time he took special courses in pedagogy, receiv- ing for these the degree of Master of Arts and a special diploma from the Teachers' College of Columbia University for speciali- zation. He then moved to Freeland, in ac- ceptance of the position of supervising prin- cipal of schools here. He is a member of the National Education Association and of the Pennsylvania State Education Association ; of the Young Men's Christian Association; of the executive committee of the local branch of the American Red Cross, and is a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of Freeland. During the participation of the United States in the World War he was an active worker in various fields. Under his supervision the Freeland High School won the State scholar- ship for its district three times out of four examinations.
Nicholas P. Luckenbill married, June 15, 1913, Elizabeth Donald, of Nesquehoning, a teacher and for eleven years organist of the Methodist Episcopal Church there. She is a member of the Civic Club and of the Mission- ary Society and was superintendent of the pri- mary department of the Sunday school of the Presbyterian Church for a number of years. She and her husband are both members of the choir. Their children are: Donald, a pianist of much promise; Robert, and John.
TITE REV. JAMES EDMUND GRYCZKA- In his twenty years as a priest of the Roman Catholic Church, the Rev. James Edmund Gryczka has achieved a record of notable distinction. He has become a leader in the Polish Roman Catholic Church. His congre- gation numbers thirty-one different societies; he is recognized as a man of wide culture, an eloquent orator, and a vigorous and capable executive. But the record can never show or explain the affection and esteem in which he is held by his parishioners of St. Hed- wig's Church, Kingston, Pennsylvania, and indeed by all those with whom he comes in contact. This can come only from a personal knowledge of the man, his fine spirit, his devotion to his charge and to the best inter- ests of his community.
Father Gryczka was born July 22, 1883, at Blossburg, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, a son of Martin and Catherine Gryczka, both of whom were natives of Poland, who came to the United States about 1880. The father died at the age of forty-six, but Mrs. Gryczka lives at Kingston. There were seven chil- dren in the family: 1. James Edmund. 2. Luke, who is in the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company. 3. Stephen, physician at Reading, Pennsylvania. 4. Francis, who lives at Kingston. 5. Leon, the organist of St. Hedwig's Church. 6. Connie, an attorney of Detroit, Michigan. 7. Victor, who is a student at the Wharton School.
James Edmund Gryczka attended the pub- lic schools of Hoytville, Pennsylvania, and later entered St. Stanislaus College, at Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1901 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He entered the Polish Seminary at Detroit, to pursue the course of philosophy and theology. Finally, he entered St. Bonaventure College, where he completed his course in theology, and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on June 30, 1906. Soon afterward, he became assistant pastor of the church at Duryea,
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, but served in that capacity for only seventeen days before he was promoted to the rectorship of the Roman Catholic Church at Forrest City, Pennsylvania, where he remained as rector for a little over ten years. During this time he entirely built the Sacred Heart Church, the school and parish house and the Sisters' house. In 1916, he was transferred to St. Hedwig's Polish Roman Catholic Church at Kingston, and here he has also built the parish house and school and the Sisters' house, as well as improved and redecorated the interior of the church. Under Father Gryczka's inspirational direction the spiritual growth of the parish has kept pace with the material. He has taken a special interest in the welfare of the young, and believing that healthy minds are best de- veloped in healthy bodies he has made it his business to provide facilities for phys- ical exercise and recreation. At the Silver Jubilee of St. Hedwig's Congregation, Father Gryczka was especially honored for this work. Of all the Polish American priests in the diocese of Scranton it was he who first established and equipped a parochial club for his young people. At a cost of nine thousand dollars, one-half of which he him- self paid, he provided billiard tables, bowl- ing alleys, a grill room and the magnificent parish hall. This example was soon fol- lowed by the other reverend gentlemen of the diocese. He next organized a baseball team, securing a park, the necessary para- phernalia and a county league franchise. Father Gryczka has also organized troops of Boy Scouts, both in his own and in neighboring Polish parishes and has com- pleted recently a great Scout camp at Dor- rance Corners.
Politically, he is a member of the Repub- lican party, and he is also a member of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Com- merce. His influence and his work extend beyond the church, for he has at heart all projects for the best interests of the peo- ple of Luzerne County. He has assisted in the making of over fifteen hundred Ameri- can citizens, and this record alone would assure him a grateful rememberance in his community.
MINOT E. GRAY-In his store at No. 3 North Main Street, Minot E. Gray has built up one of the most impressive retail drug businesses in Wilkes-Barre, a business that testifies in no uncertain terms to the ability and industry and wide-awake comprehension of modern economic conditions of its propri- etor. A native Pennsylvanian, Mr. Gray is a Mason of distinction who has progressed through the various orders to membership in the Shrine, and in fraternal circles, as well as in the business and civic life of Wilkes- Barre, and he enjoys the sincere respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
Mr. Gray was born in Dimock, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1879, the son of James E. Gray, a carpenter by trade and a native Pennsylvanian, born in 1854, died in August, 1924, and Arletta L. (Osborne) Gray, born in 1856 in Pennsylvania, died in July, 1925. Their son attended the public schools in Kingston, graduating from the high school there with the class of 1897. He entered the employ of a Kingston druggist with a view to learning pharmacy and the conduct of the drug trade. After spending sixteen years as a druggist Mr. Gray pur- chased, in 1914, the retail drug store that had belonged to B. F. Maxey at No. 23 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, and established
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his own business under the name of Gray and Company. At this address he constantly expanded his business until 1920, when he moved to the more desirable location at No. 3 North Main, where the Gray and Company drug store has hecome one of the established centers of the town. Mr. Gray is the sole owner of the place, in which he employs five persons, pharmacists and clerks. He is also a director of the Pennsylvania Wholesale Drug Company of Wilkes-Barre. Republican in his political affiliations, Mr. Gray is also a member of Kingston Lodge, No. 395, Free and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons: Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar, Caldwell Consistory, Bloomsburg, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. With his family, Mr. Gray is a member of and worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On April 25, 1906, Mr. Gray married Fannie Clark, daughter of Arthur and Grace (Brad- ford) Clark of Luzerne, Pennsylvania. They became the parents of three children: Doro- thy, born August 18, 1907; Arletta Osborne, horn July 9, 1911; and Minot, born November 6, 1914.
LOUIS J. STASKIEL-Merchandising in Glen Lyon has been given a marked uplift through the progress and enterprise of Louis J. Stas- kiel, who was at the head of his own estab- lishment for ten years and president of the board of commissioners for four years, a man of influence in business and civic circles of the community. He is especially interested in the work of musical organizations and as a director of a charitable institution.
Born in Glen Lyon, February 16, 1889, Louis J. Staskiel is the son of Peter and Pauline (Kolwitz) Staskiel, the former, as was his wife, a native of Russian Poland, a coal miner, and died in February, 1928; the mother died in October, 1918. He received his educa- tion in the Glen Lyon public schools, and at the age of thirteen started to work in the coal mines. He pursued that occupation un- til he was thirty-one years of age, when he established himself in business as a merchant in 1920, and was thus engaged until 1929, when the business was discontinued. He en- joyed a large and desirable good-will from among his people of the village. Upon the termination of this business he was elected tax collector of Newport Township.
Early casting in his lot with the Demo- cratic party, Mr. Staskiel has steadily mounted in the favor and confidence of his fellow-townsmen. In 1921 his party put him forward as their representative on the Glen Lyon Board of Commissioners, in which office he served continuously, having been reelected for his second term, and since 1924 holding the highly important position of president of the board, having held office for the years 1921-30. In 1929, as has been previously stated, he was elected tax collector and treas- urer of Newport Township for a term of four years. For two terms he was a member of the board of directors of the Orphanage at Shaytown, and his presence and counsel in the proceedings of that body were highly prized by his colleagues. He is also of great assistance to the aims and purposes of the Paderewskiego Polish Society and the Mlod- ziezy Polish Society, of which he is a men- ber. He affiliates with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Independent Order of Moose, having his religious connection with St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, and was chairman of the church for five years.
Louis J. Staskiel married, in 1914, Sophia
Andrechak, of Glen Lyon, daughter of Harry and Sophia Andrechak, and they are the par- ents of five children: Louis, Anna, Pauline, Josephine, and Mary.
HARRY J. HARTER-One of the most ex- tensive dairy farms in Luzerne County is owned by Harry J. Harter, who, since he first started in this business, on April 23, 1907, has Feen most successful. He employs twelve people on his extensive dairy farm at Trucks- ville, and supplies the wholesale and retail trade with milk, cream and other dairy prod- ucts, to the amount of four thousand quarts per day.
Mr. Harter was born in Trucksville on Au- gust 15, 1888, the son of Walter and Estella D. (Shaver) Harter, the former a native of Trucksville, who is with the Spring Bronk Water Company. Mr. Harter's mother, who was born in Dallas, Luzerne County, passed away on November 2, 1925. Mr. Harter re- ceived his early education in the public and high schools of the county and later took a commercial course at the Wyoming Academy. He graduated from the latter institution in 1906 and at once started in the dairy busi- ness, with the success which has already been related. Mr. Harter stands high in the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with Trucksville Lodge, No. 561, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; with Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; with Dieu le Veut Com- mandery, Knights Templar, and with Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of Toby Creek Lodge, No. 1078, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Republican in politics and a member of his local Methodist Epis- copal Church.
In 1917, Mr. Harter married Marion Hilde- brant, daughter of Sherman . W. and Jane Hildebrant, of Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. Harter are the parents of one child, a son, Sherman H. Harter, born April 3, 1918.
CONSTANTV TARNOWSKI-From slate picker in a coal-breaker to head of his own grocery establishment and postmaster of his town of Glen Lyon, meanwhile having served his community as school director, constitutes a part of the career wrought by Constanty Tarnowski, who is a fine example of a foreign boy who has come to this country and made good all along the line. While earning his livelihood by the hardest work at the coal mines, this ambitious native of Poland was going to school at night, thus laying . the foundation of his future of usefulness to the town of his adoption.
Constanty Tarnowski was born in Poland, April 23, ISSO, the son of John and Valeria (Zoluska), his father Polish-born, was a coal miner, who died in October, 1926; and his mother, also a native of Poland, survives her husband. The son Constanty came to the United States at the age of ten years, in 1890. His education was received in the night schools, where he made the most of his op- portunity to learn English and the rudiments at least of other subjects necessary to his getting on in his new relations. For two years he was employed in a coal-breaker, and sub- sequently worked in various capacities in the mines.
At the age of thirty-four, he thought to better his circumstances, and in 1914 left his job at the mine to open a grocery under his own name at Glen Lyon. The business at this store he has built up to goodly proportions during the some fifteen years that have elapsed since he made the brave beginning
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that has resulted so satisfactorily to himself and his patrons. Before he engaged in mer- chandising, Mr. Tarnowski had come to be looked upon as a helpful citizen, who had a broad outlook on affairs, and was desirous of cooperating in any department of civic life where his services might be required. In 1911 he was elected school director of Glen Lyon and served in that office until 1915, manifesting a keen and intelligent interest in the operation of the local educational sys- tem. President Coolidge honored him with appointment as postmaster of Glen Lyon, his commission dated September 17, 1923, and his incumbency has been featured with efficiency in the dispatch of the business of the post and uniform courtesy to the patrons of the office and the public in general which it serves.
As will have been surmised, Mr. Tarnowski is a Republican and a man of large political influence in the community of Glen Lyon. He is a member of the Paderewski Glee Club; the Church Society of St. Barbary, and of St. Al- bert's Roman Catholic Church, with which he has his religious affiliation.
Constanty Tarnowski married, in 1903, Lot- tie Grabinski, of Glen Lyon, daughter of Frank and Kathreen Grabinski, and they have a daughter, Josephine, born in May, 1915.
HENRY GEORGE-Starting in business with a capital of one hundred dollars, Henry George was one of the most inconspicuous merchants of Freeland at the time, buying his goods in small lots. By indefatigable in- dustry and a regard for that precept of mer- cantile life that demands a recognition of the rights of others, he built up his enterprise to one of the largest in this district, and, after twenty-four years and when he was buying in carload lots, was able to retire with a com- petence and the esteem of the entire com- munity. It was no freak of fortune that brought about these conditions, but the opera- tion of a keen business mind and an under- standing of the desires of those who gave him their trade. He treated them as he would have them treat him and exacted nothing that he was not ready to extend in reci- procity. Deeply interested in the prosperity and happiness of the people among whom he lived, he took an active part in civic matters and accepted the call to public office as a part of his duty, administering his affairs with ability and to the advantage of the entire cit- izenry. He made friends easily and retained them securely through the attractions of his magnetic personality, taking the good wishes of all with him into his well earned retire- ment.
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