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 85
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Bleacheries Company, Saylesville. Later he removed to Bristol, Connecticut, where he had a place with the New Departure Manu- facturing Company, which has since become a subsidiary of General Motors Company. In 1911 Mr. James returned to Wilkes-Barre, and here joined in association with his father in contracting. The broader experience gained by him between 1906 and 1911 has served him and the contracting business most benefici- ally in the years that have followed. Mean- while his younger brother, David E. James, as noted heretofore, came into the organiza- tion. Since the death of the founder, the firm style has been retained, John E. James.
Although he has been busily engaged in the affairs of the contracting company, Mr. James has never failed to take part in public movements of worth to the community at large. Like his father, he is known as a citizen of public spirit. A Republican, he is loyal to the principles upheld by the party, and has within its circles a fair degree of influence. Fraternally, Mr. James is affiliated with Lodge No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons, Wilkes-Barre; Shekinah Chanter, Royal Arch Masons: Dieu le Vent Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar; Caldwell Consistory, at Bloomsburg, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and is a member of the Craftsman's Club and Trem Temple Country Club. He is a communicant of the Welsh Presbyterian Church, South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, and has filled several offices in the denomination.
On October 21, 1919, Mr. James was united in marriage with Florence Koch, of Wilkes- Barre, daughter of Henry P. and Mrs. Koch, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. James are the parents of two children: John E., 3d, and Mary Louise. They reside at No. 465 South River Street, Wilkes-Barre.
JEREMIAH ALEXANDER MeCAA-Few educators come to their tasks with better preparation or more enthusiastic ambition for improvement of system where improve- ment can be made than did Jeremiah Alex- ander McCaa, the present supervising prin- cipal of the public schools of Plains, Penn- sylvania. Mr. McCaa has been well known to the residents of this district from childhood, his steady progress noted by those who take the deepest interest in the cultivation of the youthful mind and in the development of all civic enterprise, with the result that his eligibility for leadership in the profession he has adopted was readily recognized. In addition to his other qualifications he pos- sesses a personality of unusual attractive- ness and has that elusive quality that readily makes and holds friends.
He was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsyl- vania, May 5, 1882, a son of Robert Dunn McCaa, a native of Hazleton, where he was born in 1852, and who is now a stationary engineer employed by the Lehigh Valley Coal Company at its Oakwood mines; and of Millie M. (Shiffer) McCaa, born in Hudson, Penn- sylvania, deceased in April, 1926. He received his education in the local public schools and was graduated from the Wilkes-Barre High School in 1900. He then attended Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts with the class of 1905. Entering the educational service, he became principal of Cunningham school in Wilkes- Barre, which position he held for five years, then being transferred as a teacher in the high school of junior and senior English. He
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performed the duties of that position with such satisfaction that, in 1924, he was called to take the position of supervising principal of the schools of Plains. These schools con- sist of thirteen buildings, with an enrollment of 5,000 pupils and students and a force of one hundred and forty-two teachers. The present high school was dedicated in 1926. Mr. McCaa is a Republican in politics and attends the Presbyterian Church.
GEORGE J. GABUZDA-In the land of op- portunity, to which he came when a boy, George J. Gabuzda quickly grasped a medium through which, within a period of sixteen years, he and a younger brother have estab- lished one of the most progressive commer- cial enterprises in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, with headquarters in Freeland. With aspirations of a high order, fine ability, accurate business judgment and tireless en- ergy he went to work with a will and early learned the lesson that independence of action is the watchword of success in the business world. During the period of his labors in the employ of others he acquired an intimate knowledge of the medium of trade in which he operated and brought this to bear when he eventually established an independent enterprise. He understood the priceless value of honesty in dealing and of pure wares for public consumption, of the virtues of cooperation with the general com- mercial machine and of mingling fraternally with his associates in and out of business. Applying the principles of positive honor in all his dealings, he achieved the esteem of his fellows and a resulting prosperity through a constantly developing trade. He has made himself one of the upstanding citizens of this community hy his devotion to sound prin- ciples, with a legion of friends in many walks of life.
He was born in Czecho-Slovakia and emi- grated to America in 1904, when he was twelve years of age, first locating in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, where his brother joined him a year later. His first work was as a breaker boy at the mines, where he remained for two years, then coming to Freeland, where he obtained work in a meat market and where he learned the trade of butcher. For six years he worked at this occupation, then withdrawing and setting up his own establishment in partnership with his brother, Stephen. Since then they have built up a substantial business, which is growing with satisfactory strength. He has been a director of the Citizens' Bank since 1923 and is interested in other lines. When the United States entered the World War he enlisted and was attached to the Motor Mechanics School at Pittsburgh, later to be sent to the Motor Transport Corps, in which he served at Camp Johnston, Florida, and Camp Hum- phries, Virginia, until he was honorably mustered out, Fehruary 3, 1919. He then returned to Freeland and continued his busi- ness operations. He is a member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus and Benevolent and Protective of Elks and at- tends the Roman Catholic Church of St. John.
George J. Gabuzda married, August 6, 1916, Anna Silvase, of West Hazleton, Pennsyl- vania. Their children are: George, Joseph and Lawrence. The family residence is at No. 941 Center Street, Freeland.
ELIJAII M. ELLSWORTHI-Like many other successful business men of today, Eli- jah M. Ellsworth, real estate operator and
insurance representative of Kingston, fol- lowed many lines of endeavor before finally entering into the vocation for which he deems himself best fitted. His career, which has been confined in the main to this section of Pennsylvania, was started in the teaching profession, and during the years that have elapsed he was a post office employee, organ- izer and president of a financial institution, and unusually active in political and civic circles. Fraternal and social organizations also have benefited materially through hav- ing Mr. Ellsworth as a worker in their ranks, and he has been especially devoted to reli- gious enterprises.
Mr. Ellsworth was born May 28, 1864, in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, son of Elijah B. and Elizabeth (Switzer) Ellsworth. Elijah B. Ellsworth was born at Vernon, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, in 1835, and was a farmer during his life-time. Elizabeth (Switzer) Ellsworth, native of Larkville, Wyoming County, was born August 31, 1843.
After completing the prescribed courses of the public schools in Wyoming County, Elijah M. Ellsworth entered Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, and after being graduated there- from, became a post office clerk in Kingston, serving thus for four years. This was during the administration of Grover Cleveland as president, and Mr. Ellsworth was employed in the general merchandise store owned by N. J. Pringle, of Kingston, for eleven years. At the expiration of this period, he entered the ' real estate and insurance business, in 1905, and since has operated under his own name in Kingston. Previous to his employment in the post office, however, Mr. Ellsworth was engaged as a teacher for five years, serving as an instructor in the schools of Luzerne County. Another accomplishment credited to him was the organization of the West Side Trust Company, of Kingston. Mr. Ellsworth was the first president of this institution, which later was merged with the Kingston Bank & Trust Company. Thus it will be seen that his several contacts, professional and commercial, were so varied and comprehen- sive, that he was thoroughly fitted to take up the work he now (1930) carries on, inasmuch as insurance and real estate dealings are more or less identified with them, this being especially true of finance.
His early experience as an educator famil- iarized Mr. Ellsworth with the needs of this profession, and he since has maintained a deep interest in educational affairs. For four years he served as school director here and much of the development of the local schools was furthered through his stimulus and in- centive. A Republican, Mr. Ellsworth is loyal to his political convictions, but perhaps his main outside accomplishments have been achieved through his work and cooperation in the Methodist Episcopal Church of which he is a trustee, and for more than twenty years has been president of the board of trustees. Mr. Ellsworth's fraternal affiliations have been confined almost entirely to the Masonic order, he being a member of King- ston Lodge, No. 395, Free and Accepted Ma- sons; Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, No. 45, Knights Templar, and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Elijah M. Ellsworth married Dora Wilcox, of Kingston, daughter of James and Martha Wilcox, and they have a large circle of friends in this community. Mr. Ellsworth's offices are at No. 71 North Dorrence Street, while the family home is located at No. 76 North Dorrence Street, Kingston.
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WILLIAM H. FINE-Publisher of the lead- Ing weekly newspaper in Dallas, Luzerne County, William B. Fine may well be said to be one of the commanding influences of his community. Although but young in years, Mr. Fine had already made for himself an outstanding reputation in the field of me- chanical engineering, when he decided to enter the field of journalism, and purchased the "Dallas Post," the weekly referred to above.
Mr. Fine was born at Alden Station, Lu- zerne County, June 7, 1900, the son of Harvey and Hannah (Griffith) Fine, the former a native of Newport Center, Luzerne County, where he was born in 1875. His wife, the mother of William B. Fine of this record, was born in Alden Station in 1877. Mr. Fine is one of a family of eight children, seven of whom are living today.
The early education of Mr. Fine was ac- quired in Wanamie, Luzerne County, gradu- ating from the latter institution with the class of 1918. He then attended the Pennsyl- vania State College, in the town of State College, Center County, graduating in 1922 with the degrees of Bachelor of Science and Mechanical Engineer. In his early boyhood, Mr. Fine had been interested in newspaper work by selling the "Times Leader," and when he was fifteen years old showed his journalistic ability by acting as correspon- dent for that paper in Newport. It is there- fore not strange that after two years of work in structural engineering in New York State he returned to his native county, and finding the "Dallas Post" for sale, he pur- chased it. This weekly was started in 1891 by Mr. Holbrook, and associated with him were Harry Anderson and D. N. Blocksage. It was purchased by Mr. Capwell from Mr. Holbrook in 1893, and the former published it until 1900, when J. Harry Anderson, one of the originators of the publication, took it over and operated it until 1924, when he sold it to Mr. Fine. The paper is issued every Saturday morning and has a paidup subscrip- tion list of somewhere around two thousand copies per issue. It is Republican in politics, with which party Mr. Fine is in sympathy, although he had never sought for or held office. The college fraternity of Mr. Fine is Phi Kappa Psi, and he is also affiliated with the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Patriotic Order Sons of America. He is a member of the Dallas Rotary Club, and its vice-president in 1927-28, now a mem- ber of its board of directors. His religious connections are with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On October 15, 1924, Mr. Fine married Gessie Margaret Norton, of Nanticoke, Luzerne County, daughter of John and Elizabeth Nor- ton, of that township. Mr. and Mrs. Fine are the parents of two children, as follows: Lois Elaine, born August 21, 1925, and Gessie Han- nah, born July 5, 1927.
CHARLES P. BETZ-After several years in the grocery business with his father in Lu- zerne, Charles P. Betz decided to engage in undertaking as a profession, a course that proved his wisdom, for he has within a few years attained a position of importance in the field. He learned the trade of mortician thoroughly and conducts it with a sympa- thetic understanding that has won him the high regard of those whom misfortune has brought to his emporium and chapel. He is a citizen of upright character and civic virtues, commendable in his public enterprise and private life.
He was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1886, a son on Michael Betz, a native of Russia, and Mary (Yestrzemska) Betz, born in Poland, died in November, 1916. Charles P. Betz obtained his education in the public schools and the Sacred Heart institu- tion in Luzerne. For four years he worked in his father's grocery store here, then aban- doned that work to learn the undertaking profession. He attended the Eckles School of Embalming in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1906, when he returned to his home and until 1908 worked at it under others. His own establishment was opened in 1908, since which date he has constantly striven to improve his facilities, having today one of the most complete establishments of its character in the Wyoming Valley. In politics he is a Republican, his church being the Sacred Heart of Luzerne. Since July, 1927, he has been a director of the Kingston Bank & Trust Company.
Charles P. Betz married, June 29, 1909, Stella Summa, daughter of Peter and Ve- ronica (Passa) Summa, of Kingston. Their children are: Veronica, Charles and Joseph.
EDGAR ALBERT-Conducting one of the oldest mercantile establishments in Freeland, an enterprise founded here more than sixty years ago by his father, Edgar Albert, pro- prietor of F. H. Albert & Son, not only has demonstrated superior ability in trade and commerce, but has a meritorious record in endeavors designed for the public weal. His business ethics have been irreproachable; his conduct in non-commercial spheres has proven helpful to his colleagues, and his unaffected demeanor has brought him popu- larity and esteem in Freeland and surround- ing territory.
Mr. Albert is a son of Frank H. Albert, and a descendant of Peter Albert, who came to America during the Revolutionary War as a soldier in the Hessian forces. He settled at Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, where he mar- ried and became the father of Henry Albert, who was a school teacher, and the father of Frank H. Albert. Frank H. Albert was born at Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; was employed in lumbering at various points in this State until 1889, when he came to Freeland. He married and became the father of three chil- dren: 1. Edgar, of further mention. 2. Calvin, professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cor- nell University. 3. Howard, wholesale dealer in druggists' and physicians' supplies, located at Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Edgar Albert completed the usual courses in the public schools and soon thereafter began work in the undertaking and furniture concern established by his father in 1889, at Freeland. This enterprise, since its inception, on a small scale, had been devoted to under- taking and retail furniture. It experienced a sound and steady growth from the start, and in 1906, Edgar Albert was made a partner by his father, the firm bearing the title of F. H. Albert & Son, and expanding rapidly under the dual management until 1908, when the father died. From the time he assumed control of the firm, in 1908, Edgar Albert maintained the methods and practices estab- lished by the founder, but in 1921, he dis- posed of his undertaking department. Since then he has confined his operations to dealing in furniture and various other household fur- nishings. This concentration has proved justified, as is evidenced by Mr. Albert's present establishment, which now covers a trading area for thirty miles around Free- land. The concern utilizes an entire building at No. 526 Center Street, the structure meas-
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uring four stories in height and occupying ground space twenty-five by one hundred feet. A large, commodious basement also forms a part of the building, and the business admittedly surpasses all competition in Lu- zerne County.
With the expansion of his commercial en- terprise, Mr. Albert found himself gradually drawn into other interests, where his sagac- ity and acumen were desired, one of the more important being the First National Bank of Freeland, of which he is a director. Mr. Albert finds pleasant social contacts through his membership in the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and his religious affili- ations are with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Edgar Albert married, in June, 1904, Emma Zimmerman, native of Luzerne County, and they have two children: Mary E. and Helen. Mr. Albert and his family reside at No. 557 South Street, Freeland.
JOHN W. KIRSCHNER, M. D .- For over twenty years Dr. John W. Kirschner has practiced his chosen profession of medicine in Luzerne. Dr. Kirschner was born in this county, in the township of Hazleton, on Jan- mary 13, 1882, the son of George and Martha (Fisher) Kirschner, both natives of Germany, and the former for many years a mine fore- man in this section. The father of Dr. Kirschner, who was born in Germany in 1845, died here in 1924. His wife, the mother of Dr. Kirschner, was born in 1846 and died in 1917.
After receiving his preliminary education in the public and high schools of Luzerne County, Dr. Kirschner entered the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, from which he graduated with his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1905. For a year after his grad- uation, Dr. Kirschner was an interne in the City General Hospital at Wilkes-Barre, and in 1906 he located in Luzerne, where he quickly established a large practice. He is a member of the staff of Nesbitt West Side Hospital. He belongs to the County and State Medical societies, and is also a member of the American Medical Association. He is a member of the Luzerne Board of Health, and a director of the Merchants' and Miners' Bank. His fraternal affiliations are with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and he is also a member of the Patriotic Order Sons of America. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics he is a Republican,
In 1908, Dr. Kirschner married Bertha M. Denniston, daughter of John and Margaret Denniston, the latter members of a very old family in Luzerne County. Dr. and Mrs. Kirschner are the parents of one child, a daughter, Margaret Denniston Kirschner, born in 1910, a student at Wilkes-Barre Institute.
JOHN VAN BUSKIRK-Though John Van Buskirk learned the blacksmith's trade he has been engaged in business as a rock con- tractor during the greater part of his active business life. He followed his trade long enough to accumulate some capital, but with the going of the horse and the coming of the automobile a large proportion of the black- smiths in the country have found it profitable to turn to other fields of business interest and Mr. Van Buskirk turned to the rock con- tracting business. He is now head of the firm of Van Buskirk and Wasley, rock con- tractors, with offices in the Bennett Building, at Wilkes-Barre.
John Van Buskirk was born in Larksville, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1883, son of Loren Van Buskirk, who was born in Larks- ville in 1861, is a blacksmith by trade, still living, at the age of sixty-seven, and of Emma (Walton) Van Buskirk, who was born in Pittston in 1863 and died in 1910. After attending the Larksville public schools, in- cluding the high school, Mr. Van Buskirk followed in the footsteps of his father and learned the trade of the blacksmith, which he followed for eight years. That trade had been a good one for many years, but back in 1895 an occasional curious looking motor vehicle began to appear upon the highways in in- creasing numbers, frightening the horses and arousing the ire of careful drivers of spirited animals. To some the appearance of this new invention was but a passing incident which aroused curiosity and ridicule, or even hope and conjecture. But innocent and apparently harmless as was its solitary appearance among a host of horses, it was sounding the call to a new day in transportation and the knell of the horse-drawn vehicle for general use. Slowly but surely, as time passed, it dawned upon the consciousness of the many blacksmiths, livery men, and others whose business affairs had to do with the old order of things, that some of them, and, perhaps, eventually, all of them, must seek new ways of serving the public in return for a living. Mr. Van Buskirk had learned his trade at the end of its era of greatest usefulness, and after eight years of blacksmithing he asso- ciated himself with Davey and Wasley, rock contractors, of Wilkes-Barre. In 1921, after the death of Mr. Davey, Mr. Van Buskirk became the partner of the remaining member of the firm, John Wasley, under the firm name of Van Buskirk and Wasley, and this association has been successfully continued to the present time. The business has steadily grown until the firm has found it necessary to employ seventy men in order to meet the requirements of the rapidly increasing de- mands made upon them. They have estab- lished a reputation for sound business prin- ciples and for skillful and honest work, and the already large concern of Van Buskirk and Wasley is still steadily developing. Polit- ically, Mr. Van Buskirk supports the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and holds membership in the Kiwanis Club. He is identified with several fraternal organiza- tions, including Lodge No. 332, Free and Accepted Masons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, Knights Templar; and Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; also Lodge No. 109 Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Fraternal Order of Eagles; and the Patriotic Order Sons of America. His religious membership is with the Presby- terian Church of Plymouth.
John Van Buskirk was married, in Decem- ber, 1913, to Clara Glidden, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Clara Glidden. Mr. and Mrs. Van Buskirk have their home at No. 548 Rutter Avenue, in Kingston, Pennsylvania.
JOHN CHARLES MeALARNEY-The pres- ent deputy warden of the Luzerne County prison is the son of the late James and Mary (Longenberger) McAlarney. James McAlar- ney was born in the County of Longford, Ireland, in 1815, He was a merchant in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, where he carried on a general merchandise business for a num- ber of years. He died in 1898. His wife, Mary Longenberger, was born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in 1825.
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John Charles McAlarney was horn at Plym- outh, Pennsylvania, on March 22, 1877. He got his education in the public schools of Plym- outh and when he finished school, he entered the employ of A. L. Davenport and Company, who conducted a general merchandise store in Luzerne and there remained for eight years. Before this time, when he was just a small boy, he had worked in the Ambrose West Knitting Mills, being Mr. West's first employee, His experience in the general mer- chandise store of A. L. Davenport and Com- pany was very valuable to him for in that he learned the fundamentals of selling and the business of merchandising. By being thus prepared, he was able to successfully manage the general store of Haddock, Fowler and Company at Plymouth where he was for another eight-year period. After this, he obtained a position with Paine and Company of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in the capac- ity of traveling salesman. This concern deals in meats and provisions and after carrying on this work for several years, Mr. McAlar- ney took employment in the Courthouse in the transcribing department where he was occupied for one and a half years when he was transferred to the Luzerne County Prison where he is deputy warden. He has held this position with great satisfaction to the authorities since 1914. In politics, Mr. McAlarney is a member of the Democratic party. He is also a member of the Kiwanis Club and of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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