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 87
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Politically Mr. Marinos is a member of the
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Republican party, and he has been for some years a member of the Luzerne Borough Council. In other capacities he has given Luzerne the benefit of his ability and serv- ices, and is now fire chief of the borough. Aside from his moving picture interests Mr. Marinos is a director of the Kingston Bank and Trust Company and was one of the original directors of the West Side Trust Company, which later merged with the King- ston Bank and Trust Company. He is affili- ated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, prominently identified with the activities of each, while he is also a member of Wyoming Ahepa Greek Lodge. Mr. Marinos worships in the faith of the Greek Orthodox Church, and has been most generous in his support of all worthy civic and benevolent enter- prises.
HENRY SIPPLE-As general manager of the water companies of Dallas and Shaver- town, Luzerne County, Henry Sipple holds an important and responsible position in his community. He is also secretary and treas- urer of the companies, which combined posts he has held with much credit since May, 1925.
Mr. Sipple was born in Upper Lehigh, Lu- zerne County, December 18, 1886, the son of John and Anna M. (Shaupe) Sipple, both natives of Germany, who came to this coun- try in their infancy. Mr. Sipple's father was born in Germany in 1850, and died in Novem- ber, 1906. He came to this country at the age of five years, and was a contract miner. His mother, Anna M. Sipple, was born in Germany in 1851, and passed away in Jan- uary, 1922. Following his early education in the local schools of Jackson Township, Lu- zerne County, Mr. Sipple took a course with the International Correspondence School, Scranton, and later with the Wharton School. His first position was with the Luzerne Mill- ing Company, of Luzerne, and with this con- cern he remained for some seventeen years, becoming local manager. In May, 1925, he resigned in order to take up his present offices with the water companies. Mr. Sipple is chairman of the advisory committee and one of the organizers of the Merchants' and Miners' Bank of Luzerne, and he served on the loan and discount committee until 1927. In political belief Mr. Sipple is a Repubican and fraternally he is affiliated with Toby Creek Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He is a charter member of the Dallas Rotary Club, has served on the program com- mittee of that body, and is treasurer of the organization. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On August 10, 1910, Mr. Sipple married Florence Corby, of Larksville, Luzerne County, daughter of William and Sarah Corby. Mr. and Mrs. Sipple are the parents of two children, as follows: 1. Glendon W., born September 28, 1911. 2. Leland H., born July 31, 1914.
JAMES WILLIAM PRICE-Although a na- tive of Wales, James William Price of Wan- amie, came to America in early manhood and, following in the footsteps of his father, en- tered the mining industry here. Although he had received a fair education in the public schools of his native country, he was not satisfied with his qualifications and, after coming to the United States continued his studies while employed In the mines. Through the aid of correspondence school courses he has added materially to his knowledge of
mines and mining, and from the humble posi- tion of slate picker has risen until now he is outside foreman for one of Luzerne County's largest mining companies. Mr. Price early became a citizen of his adopted country, and his life since has been devoted to maintaining the institutions and customs which are re- sponsible for the ideal conditions obtained in America. He participates freely in political and fraternal matters, and is a popular and respected citizen of Wanamie.
Mr. Price was born December 18, 1875, in Wales, son of William and Louisa (Owens) Price. William Price, a native of Wales and a sawyer by trade, passed away in 1900, while Louisa (Owens) Price, who was born in Wales in 1849, survived her husband until 1911. James William Price received a brief period of training in the public schools of his native country, which was interrupted by his coming to America at the age of twelve years, in 1887. After locating in Penn- sylvania, he studied at Plains (Pennsylvania) High School, and subsequently completed courses prescribed by correspondence schools in Scranton. Mr. Price's first employment was with the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, with which he remained for one year, work- ing as a slate picker. At the end of this time he entered the mines and continued as a miner with the Lehigh Valley Coal Company until 1900. In the last-named year he trans- ferred his allegiance to the Lehigh & Wilkes- Barre Coal Company, with which he has since remained. Discontented with the hard lot of a miner, Mr. Price studied during his spare hours in order to fit himself for a better position, and his ambitious conduct soon brought him to the attention of the officials of his company. In recognition thereof, on January 1, 1908, he became outside foreman and has filled that position most satisfac- torily. Mr. Price is a Republican, but not a bitter partisan, oftentimes voting for the man whom he deems best fitted for a public office. He has attained high rank in the Ma- sonic fraternity, being affiliated with Lodge No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons; Keystone Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, of Scranton; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and Wyo- ming Lodge, No. 927, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. James William Price married, in 1902, Alice Hudson, of Parsons, Pennsylvania, daughter of William and Mary Hudson, and they have four children: Cecil W., Thelma, now Mrs. Jones; Gladys, and James E.
THOMAS M. MARTIN-A native of Wales, but a resident of this country since his early childhood, Mr. Martin has been living in Kingston and has been connected with the Kingston Coal Company for considerably more than a half a century. With this com- pany he has worked his way up from breaker boy to the responsible position of assistant superintendent, which latter he has filled for many years with great ability and suc- cess. He is also prominently active in the civic, fraternal and religious life of the com- munity, where he is widely known and highly respected.
Thomas M. Martin was born in Wales, October 7, 1866, a son of the late David and Lydia (Williams) Martin. Both his parents were born in Wales, his father in 1844, his mother in 1845. The family came to this country, while Mr. Martin was still a small boy. His father was for many years actively engaged in coal mining and In farming and
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died after a long and useful life in 1913, being survived by his widow until 1915. The son attended the public schools of Luzerne County, but began to work in the coal mines in 1874, when he was only eight years old. His first position was that of breaker boy with the Kingston Coal Company. He has continued with the same company ever since, his connection with it covering the unusually long period of fifty-four years. Strict atten- tion to his duties and an ever-increasing knowledge of the practical side of coal min- ing gained him numerous promotions, until in 1916 he was made assistant superintendent, which responsible position he still holds. Though his own formal schooling was re- stricted to comparatively few years, Mr. Martin has always been keenly interested in the cause of education and has been a mem- ber of the Kingston Board of Education for the last thirteen years, his membership in this body still continuing. He is also a member of numerous fraternal organizations, including Lodge No. 395, Free and Accepted Masons; Shekinah Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons; Dieu le Veut Commandery, Knights Templar; Irem Temple of Wilkes-Barre, An- cient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Knights of Pythias; Edwardsville Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Craftsman's Club. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, while his religious affiliations are with the Welsh Con- gregational Church of Edwardsville.
Mr. Martin was married, in 1887, to Mar- garet M. Williams of Edwardsville, Pennsyl- vania, a daughter of Griffith P. and Mary Williams. They are the parents of four chil- dren: Stanley, Griffith, David and Mary, now Mrs. Lorence Spencer, her husband being a well-known and successful druggist of King- ston. Mr. and Mrs. Martin also have the pleasure of seeing two grandchildren grow up, Robert and Thomas Spencer. The family home is located at No. 389 Rutter Avenue, Kingston.
ARTHUR HENRY EDWARDS-One of the skillful druggists of Kingston, Pennsylvania, Arthur Henry Edwards, holds a prominent place in the life of his city and of Luzerne County. He has been engaged in pharmacy for a number of years in different capacities in this part of Pennsylvania, and since 1912 has owned a store in Swoyersville, although his residence is in Kingston.
Mr. Edwards was born on March 14, 1886, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a son of Henry Jones, a blacksmith who was born in Wales and died in 1888, and of Ann (Rees) Jones, also a native of Wales. When his mother was married for the second time, Arthur Henry changed his name from Jones to Ed- wards, the name of his stepfather. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, and also went to the high school there. After he completed this preliminary education, he be- came a student at the Medico-Chirurgical College, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1910 with the degree of Graduate in Pharmacy. When he finished his work in the professional school, he served for two years as clerk in drug stores in the Luzerne County district, and then in 1912 purchased the drug store of William E. Evans in Swoyersville. Since that time he has continued to conduct this store under his own name, and in the years that Mr. Edwards has had control of it, it has made great headway and has become one of the most popular establishments of its kind in the Wyoming Valley.
In addition to his own business activities, Mr. Edwards takes a keen interest in the public affairs of his city and community. He is a student of political developments, he himself being affiliated with the Republican party, for whose candidates he casts his vote and whose principles he supports by his vote and influence. For two years he was a mem- ber of the Board of Health. His religious affiliation is with the Presbyterian Church in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.
In 1911 Mr. Edwards married Joanna Lewis, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William V. Lewis. By this marriage there were five children, three of whom are living, the other two having died in infancy. The three living children are: 1. Helen Louise, born in 1916. 2. William V., born in 1918. 3. Ann Romaine, born in 1923.
GEORGE RALSTON THOMPSON-Among the successful business men and widely liked citizens of Wilkes-Barre is George Ralston Thompson, who conducts a retail candy and ice cream establishment here, connected with which is a pool room. In the many years in which he has been working in Wilkes-Barre in one capacity or another, he has become widely known and respected; and, in addition to his business, he is active in the fraternal life of his city and community.
Mr. Thompson was born on May 22, 1874, a son of Albert Henry and Mary (Hummel) Thompson. His father, a native of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1851, was a miner throughout his long and active life, and died in 1914; while the mother, Mary (Hummel) Thompson, was born at Beach Haven, in 1852, and is now living in Wilkes- Barre. George Ralston Thompson, although he was born in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania, attended the Wilkes-Barre public schools, and then, when he completed his formal edu- cation, took up work in the mines in this vicinity, which he continued for fourteen years, working in various capacities as time went on. It was in 1905 that he purchased his present business enterprise from Charles Hooper, who until that time had conducted it; and since that year, Mr. Thompson has worked steadily to build it up into the flourishing State in which it now exists, so that now the establishment of G. Ralston Thompson is regarded as one of the foremost institutions of its kind in the city.
In addition to his work in establishing his own business enterprise, Mr. Thompson is active in all phases of community life, keenly interested in political developments, and ever ready to participate in the civic affairs of Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County. He is identified with the Democratic party, whose policies and candidates he regularly sup- ports. He also is a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is affiliated with Lodge No. 108 and is a Past Grand of this lodge; and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in which his lodge is No. 1138, and in which order he is a life member. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Thompson married (first), in 1895, Lilly Hooper, of Shickshinny, Pennsylvania, daughter of Henry and Anna Hooper. They had four children, two of whom, Elbert and Loraine, are living. Mrs. Thompson died in 1909, her death having occurred on May 22 of that year. Mr. Thompson married (sec- ond), in January, 1910, Elizabeth De Hart, of Catawissa, Pennsylvania, daughter of Calvin and Ada De Hart.
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DANIEL W. DAVIS-In the business of plumbing contracting Daniel W. Davis, of Plymouth, has reached a secure position and applies to his work an estimable quality of intelligent effort and high grade material and construction. He entered the business after a long and careful preparation, which is reflected in the class of work he has done for the huilders of this district, where many fine structures bear the mark of his industry and capability. Of the highest character as a citizen and business man, he has drawn a trade to his establishment which has brought him prosperity as well as fame. Of happy personality, engaging in his attractive qual- ities, he makes friends readily and holds them securely, being considered one of the leaders in the field in which he operates.
He was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1889, a son of William Davis, a coal miner, now deceased, and Elizabeth (Evans) Davis, both natives of Wales, living, and received his education in the public schools here and in Wilkes-Barre, where he also attended business college, taking a spe- cial course in accounting. He then took up the study of plumbing and followed this trade for five years, at the end of which period he established himself in contracting, opening his first store in Plymouth and an- other in Wilkes-Barre, at No. 331 Sonth Main Street, in 1925, employing an average of seven men. He is a Republican in politics and belongs to the Kiwanis Club, the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Malta and Patriotic Order Sons of America. He attends the Welsh First Baptist Church.
Daniel W. Davis married, in 1915, Stella Pilgret, daughter of John Davis, an electri- cal engineer, who died in 1901, and Mary (Knox) Pilgret, a native of England, still living. They are the parents of one son, Theodore A., born September 27, 1917.
WILLIAM L. STACKHOUSE-Steadfastness of purpose won for William L. Stackhouse more than economic independence. It brought to him the respect of all persons associated with him, and has made him one of the fore- most citizens of Shickshinny. His influence has made itself felt upon the community in a constructive manner through long years, and now, in retirement from the more vexatious of his career's affairs, he is enabled to give a full degree of time to public works as private citizen and man of means.
Mr. Stackhouse was born at Berwick, Penn- sylvania, September 25, 1864, son of Charles Stackhouse, a carriage maker, who was born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, and died in 1865, and of Mary (Lockherd) Stackhouse, native of Luzerne County, who died in 1903.
In the public schools of New Columbus, Pennsylvania, Mr. Stackhouse secured his academic training, and until he was seven- teen years of age worked upon his father's farm and other agricultural tracts, his father's death having occurred when he was one year of age. When he left farming he came to Shickshinny, and here went to work in the mines, in which he was employed for thirty-two years as a company man. In 1902 he retired from mining and became clerk in a local hotel, which position he retained four years, afterward leasing and operating the Eagle Hotel of Shickshinny. As proprietor of this hostelry he continued through four years with round profit, then purchased the Cope- land Hotel, and ran it sixteen years, under the name style of the Stackhouse Hotel. In
1924 he disposed of the hotel, and retired from business, a successful man.
While his career as outlined has clalmed the major part of his activity, Mr. Stackhouse has at all times participated in movements designed to further the interests of the Shickshinny community. A Republican, he has supported the party's principles and can- didates with consistency, and at the present time is street commissioner of the town. For a year he was school director, and his finan- cial interests include directorship of the State Bank of Shickshinny, together with other affiliations. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Berwick Lodge No. 1138, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Shickshinny Lodge, No. 36, Patriotic Order Sons of America. Hs is a communicant of the Pres- byterian Church. During the war he was of valned assistance in the drives of patriotic appeal.
Mr. Stackhouse married, in 1892, Jennie Sorber, of Shickshinny, daughter of Isaiah and Barbara Sorber. Mrs. Stackhouse died on December 19, 1927, in Shickshinny. The residence is at No. 30 North Main Street, Shickshinny.
BRUCE MILLER ESPV-As a native of Wilkes-Barre who has made a notable record in real estate transactions, Bruce M. Espy, with offices at Nos. 418-22 Second National Bank Building, has played a commendable part in community growth and development, and has won high place in the estimation of his neighbors.
Mr. Espy was born in Wilkes-Barre, De- cember I, 1886, son of the late Barnet Miller and Caroline (Wood) Espy. His father, born in Nanticoke, Luzerne County, May 16, 1846, died at Wilkes-Barre in 1926, thus closing an unusually active and well-spent life, prin- cipally spent in a law practice covering half a century. This branch of the Espy family is descended from George Espy, a native of Hanover Township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) County, in 1729; his parents were among the first settlers of Pennsylvania. George Espy removed with the Paxton Rangers to the Wyoming Valley prior to the Battle and Massacre of Wyoming, which event will al- ways be remembered in this section as hav- ing transpired July 3, 1778. He located on a tract of land not far from the city of Nanti- coke, and built a log house in which he and his family resided until his death in 1814. He was commissioned justice of the peace. May 30, 1800, for the district of Hanover Township and Wilkes-Barre; he was a stone mason by trade and he built, among other important structures, the old stone jail at Washington and East Market streets. Ilis wife was Mary Stewart, cousin of Captain Lazarus Stewart, who fell at the Battle and Massacre of Wyoming, and a granddaughter of the Lazarus Stewart who settled on the Swatara River in Hanover Township, Lan- caster County, in 1729. John Espy, son of George Espy, was born July 26, 1776, and died February 3, 1843; he was a farmer and prominent man of his day; he married, April 5, 1809, Lovina Inman, a daughter of Colonel Edward Inman, and she died February 19, 1874. James Espy, a son of John and Lovina (Inman) Espy, was born in 1811 in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, and died at Rum- merfield, Bradford County, June 16, 1872. He married, in 1840, Mary A. Miller, daughter of Barnet and Mary (DeWitt) Miller.
Barnet Miller Espy, son of James and Mary A. (Miller) Espy, was educated at Wilkes-Barre Academy and Wyoming Semi-
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nary, which latter institution he finished in 1869. He then read law in the office of Edwin S. Osborne, and was admitted to the Luzerne County Bar September 25, 1873, two days after he had married Caroline Wood, a daughter of Abraham Wood. Thus started a career of legal practice which extended fifty- three years. During the Civil War, in 1863, Mr. Espy served as a member of Company F, 41st Pennsylvania Militia. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Espy: 1. Blanche, who died at the age of twenty-five. 2. Gertrude, died in childhood. 3. Ridgeway B., member of the Luzerne County Bar. 4. Bruce M., of whom further. 5. Helen, died in childhood. 6. Dr. Carl W., physician, who resides at Potts- ville.
Bruce Miller Espy grew to manhood In Wilkes-Barre and received his education in the public schools and Wyoming Seminary at Kingston. After he had left school he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, in which he has been consistently successful.
Mr. Espy early volunteered for World Wr service; on May 25, 1917, he was mustered into Battery E, 3d Field Artillery, Pennsyl- vania National Guard, as a private, later he became corporal and then acting sergeant, having transferred to this command from the old 9th Regiment of Infantry, Pennsyl- vania National Guard. In August, 1917. he was promoted to the rank of second lieu- tenant, and later to first lieutenant of Bat- tery E, 109th Field Artillery, serving at Camp Ricketts and later at Camp Hancock, Au- gusta, Georgia. He was trained at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to be an aerial observer. On July 1, 1918, he was ordered to the port of embarkation, New York, and sailed from New York July 15 for overseas duty, first landing in England before going to France for active service. He was sent for a while to an avia- tion school at St. Maxient, and later to the 2d Aviation Instruction Center at Tours. On September 1, 1918, he was ordered to the Argonne front, and attached to the 1st Aero Squadron of the 1st United States Observa- tion Group, in which duty he remained in active service until the Armistice on Novem- ber 11, 1918. After the Armistice had been signed he was ordered into Germany as a member of the Army of Occupation, and was located near the City of Coblenz on the Rhine to protect the bridge head there, and was town mayor of the towns of Weissen- thuren and Kettig. Returning to the United States, he was mustered out of the service October 31, 1919. After his return home he again enlisted in the National Guard and served as captain of his old Battery E, 109th Field Artillery, and resumed his former busi- ness with success.
Mr. Espy is a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the United Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He married, August 11, 1925, Florence T. Frey, daughter of Martin Frey, of Wilkes-Barre, and their union has been blessed with three sons, Bruce Miller Espy, Jr., Edward Inman Espy, and Peter Warner Espy.
WILLIAM A. JACKSON-An expert in the production and preparation of coal for the wholesale and retail markets, who is widely known in the anthracite region, William A. Jackson occupies the important managerial position of general outside foreman for the Jeddo Highland Coal Company at its col- lieries at Harley and elsewhere that the con- cern operates. He is a professional civil
engineer who has practiced for many years in connection with coal mining, and is rated as one of the best-equipped men in the hard coal field. As a citizen he is keenly interested in the promotion of the welfare of the people resident in his village of Ebervale and in the entire region given up to the chief indus- try of coal mining.
Born in New York City, September 28, 1872, William A. Jackson is the son of William and Fannie (Stone) Jackson. His father, born in Connor, Ireland, in 1843, finished his educa- tion at Pocock College, Dublin. He came to this country when a young man and entered the coal mining industry. For more than forty years he was in charge of outside work and breaker operations at the Upper Lehigh Colliery. He died in 1917. His wife, born in Connor, Ireland, in 1839, died in this country in 1913. The family lived for some time in New York City, where the son, William A., attended the public schools, and studied civil engineering at Cooper Union in that city. For some five years he pursued his profession in coal mines of Upper Lehigh, Pennsylvania, and then returned to New York City, where he was a traveling salesman for the Denni- son Manufacturing Company, remaining with that concern for about five years. The lure of the coal mines again found him in the Upper Lehigh region, and in 1910 he joined the forces of the Jeddo Highland Coal Com- pany, being installed in the position of gen- eral outside foreman. This rating he has ever since held, having charge of the col- lieries of the company at Harley and other points of the concern's operations. He is an important contributing factor in the concern's sustained reputation for standard quality of coal in a well-nigh ceaseless flow of the mines' products from the colliery to the railhead. By his seniors and the company he is esteemed very highly for his technical ability and per- sonal integrity, his capacity for the handling of men and his skill in advancing the mine output through its different grades and sizes in the management of the collieries.
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