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 97
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1874. His early education in the Plymouth public schools was followed by a special course in banking in an institution which made that one of its principal subjects. At that time even, it seemed that he had his mind fixed upon a career in the financial realm, and he bided his time against the day when he should make the desired connection. For a short time he worked in a coal-breaker; this was employment ready at hand and his father was also engaged in coal mining. Next he accepted a position as clerk for the Bartel Brewing Company, with which he remained for one and one-half years. The conclusion of his service there marked his entrance upon the line of work upon which he had set his heart.
He was offered a clerkship in the Plymouth National Bank, which, needless to state, he readily accepted. Every step of the banking profession that he took in the line of promo- tion he covered with the intention of master- ing each detail. Such an exhibition of zeal, loyalty and thoroughness did not long go un- rewarded, and in due time he was advanced to the position of teller. He had been with the Plymouth institution five years when called to another field in a similar service, but on a more important scale.
In 1912, Mr. Rydzewski was called to Glen L: on to organize the Glen Lyon Bank, which crened for business in April of that year under a State charter. The first board of offi- cers comprised: President, Harry U. Nyhart; vice-president, John Barrett (since deceased) ; cashier, Benjamin C. Rydzewski. The insti- tution continued to function as a State bank until January 3, 1928, when reorganization was effected under the National Bank Act, and its present style was adopted. The present board of officers consists of Harry U. Nyhart, president; Sandor Engel, vice-president; Ben- jamin C. Rydzewski, cashier. The bank's quarters were built in 1912, and a remodeling of the building along modern lines was com- pleted in 192S.
Mr. Rydzewski is a member of the Wyo- ming Valley Country Club, and is a helpful and influential member of the Republican party, affiliated with the Knights of Colum- bus, the Z. N. P. and the Polish Union; a director and treasurer of the Federation of Charities of Nanticoke and vicinity; and was treasurer of St. Stanislaus' Orphanage at Shaytown, and a communicant of St. Stanis- laus' Roman Catholic Church at Nanticoke, in which city he and his family have their resi- dence.
Benjamin C. Rydzewski married, in 1915, Anna Groblewski, of Plymouth, daughter of Albert G. and Helen Groblewski. Their chil- dren are: 1. Benjamin A., born October 17, 1916. 2. Gertrude, born February 14, 1919.
A. PETER KANJORSKI-Associated with his brother, Bruno Kanjorski, in the practice of law with offices in the Kanjorski Building at Nanticoke and the Bennett Building in Wilkes-Barre is A. Peter Kanjorski, who was admitted to the Luzerne County Bar in 1922 and to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in January, 1923. He organized the Polish Miners Beneficial Society of the United States of North America, and is now its general counsel.
A. Peter Kanjorski was born April 5, 1897, in the city of Nanticoke, son of Peter and Constance Kanjorski. The father is identified with the mercantile and real estate business in Nanticoke; is a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church and in politics a Republican. The son was reared to man-
hood in his native city, attending the public schools until his graduation from Nanticoke High School in 1915 when he entered the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, from which he received the degree Bachelor of Science in Economics with the class of 1919. In the following autumn he entered the law school of the same institution and in 1922 was graduated with the degree Bachelor of Laws. While a student he was a member of the Philosophic Literary Society and was assistant business manager of the under- graduate literary monthly, "The Red and Blue."
He served in 1917 with the United States Food Administration under Howard Hinz and later in the course of the World War was transferred to the military intelligence staff and stationed in Washington, District of Columbia, until the declaration of peace. He is a member of Nanticoke Post, No. 350, American Legion; Kiwanis Club of Nanti- coke; Wilkes-Barre Lodge, No. 109, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks; Polish National Alliance of America; the Polish Fal- cons of America; the Polish Union of America; and he is a communicant of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church of Nanticoke. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Kanjorski married, April 13, 1925, Wanda Isabelle Nedbolski, of Lee Park, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Nedbolski of Hanover Township, Luzerne County. They have a daughter, Wanda Isabelle.
JOHN K. JENKINS-One of the citizens of Wilkes-Barre whose services as a banker have been noteworthy is John K. Jenkins, who is assistant cashier of the Wyoming National Bank, of this city, with which firm he has been identified actively since 1907. He is keenly interested in the public affairs of his community, the inhabitants of which con- sider him as a leading figure here. He takes a prominent part in the club and fraternal life of this part of Pennsylvania, and is active in a political way.
Mr. Jenkins was born on July 29, 1887, in Wilkes-Barre, a son of George S. and Ida K. (Kinne) Jenkins. Although his father died at the age of sixty-nine years, his mother is still living, having been born in 1851. George S. Jenkins was during his lifetime a foreman at the Sheldon Axle Works, of Wilkes-Barre, a position which he held for many years. He and Ida K. (Kinne) Jenkins had four chil- dren: William A., of Wilkes-Barre; James W., of Newark, New York; Clara L., who is unmarried and is living in Wilkes-Barre; and John K., of further mention.
John K. Jenkins, while a boy, attended the public schools, and was graduated from the Wilkes-Barre High School in the class of 1905. Then he took a business course in the Wyoming Seminary, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1906. On February 4, 1907, he took a position with the Wyoming National Bank, of Wilkes-Barre, and since that time has been continuously employed with this company. He has served as junior bookkeeper, as teller, and, since 1923, as assistant cashier. His years of faith- ful service have brought him the esteem of his co-workers, and have given him an im- portant place in the banking circles of his community. Mr. Jenkins takes an active part in political matters, being a member of the Republican party, whose principles and can- didates he supports. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in which order he is affiliated with the Wilkes- Barre Lodge, No. 109; of the Wyoming VaHey
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Country Club; of the Franklin Club; of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce; and of the Memorial Presbyterian Church. Mr. Jenkins married, June 6, 1918, Jean W. Davis, daughter of J. Wallace and Martha (Nesbit) Davis. On her mother's side, Mrs. Jenkins is descended from a family which was one of the first to settle in the Wyoming Valley, originally having settled in Con- necticut when they came to the United States. The Jenkins family residence is situated on East Pettibone Street, in Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. John K. and Jean W. (Davis) Jenkins are the parents of one child, Elda Ruth.
WILLIAM BENJAMIN HOUSER-A busi- ness man of long experience and proved ability, William Benjamin Houser has been active in the life of Parsons and Wilkes- Barre for many years. Associated with sev- eral local ventures at various times, he is now chiefly interested in insurance and real estate, conducting a business in these fields under his own name. He has been very prominent in civic affairs and is now justice of the peace, an office to which he was first elected more than twenty years ago and which he has filled most successfully since that time.
Mr. Houser was born in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, on July 17, 1877, a son of Franklin Houser, a blacksmith by trade who died on December 5, 1898, and of Elizabeth (Keller) Houser, who was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and died in September, 1894. The father was a member of an old Schuylkill County family, the line running back in this section for more than two hundred years.
William Benjamin Houser came with his parents to Luzerne County in 1884, attended the public schools of Parsons, and was grad- uated from the local high school in 1892. With the completion of his academic train- ing, he followed the trade of carpenter for a few years, keeping alert for the larger op- portunities which might come to him. Event- ually he acquired the ownership of a hotel here which he conducted for a few years, before retiring in 1908 to begin his activities in the local real estate market and in insur- ance work. He possessed a remarkably sound judgment in the matter of business trends and property values which brought him immediate success in his new venture, to which he has devoted most of his time and attention since he established his business. A director since 1922 of the Liberty State Bank and Trust Company, at Wilkes-Barre, Mr. Houser is regarded as an authority on local business conditions and his advice in matters of importance is frequently sought and highly regarded.
He has always considered service in the public interest no less worthy of his best attention than his own affairs, and from the time he reached his majority he held public office continuously in the Borough of Par- sons until that borough was annexed by the City of Wilkes-Barre. It was in 1908 that he was first elected justice of the peace, an office which he still holds, while a few years later he served for a period as borough assessor of Parsons. In politics, Mr. Houser is a consistent supporter of Republican prin- ciples and candidates, while fraternally he is affiliated with the Patriotic Order Sons of America, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which body he is a member of Uri Lodge, No. 433.
He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, while with his family he worships in the Reformed faith, attending St. Luke's Church of this denomination at Parsons.
In 1898, William Benjamin Houser marrled Ida Wandell, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John Roth and Mary Wandell of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Houser are the par- ents of one daughter, Anna, now Mrs. Wil- liam Hayes. There is also one granddaughter, Wilhelmina Hayes. The family residence in Parsons is situated at No. 217 Laurel Street.
ALBERT W. DRIESBACHI-Among the best known and most popular business men of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, is Albert W. Driesbach, trust officer for the Miners' Bank of that city.
Born at Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsyl- vania, December 10, 1895, he was the son of David and Bertha Driesbach. His father, now dead, was for many years stationary engi- neer of the Shovel Works at Pittston, Penn- sylvania. His mother is still living. Their children were: Eva, the widow of Dr. John M. Mulholland; Esther R., who married Stanley Smith, of Philadelphia; and Albert W., who was the youngest of the family, and of whom further.
Educated in the public schools of Wyo- ming, Luzerne County, Albert W. Drieshach then entered the Wilkes-Barre Business Col- lege, and was graduated in the class of 1916. For the next eighteen months he was em- ployed in a clerical capacity by the Vulcan Iron Works. In 1917 he went into the service of the Miners' Bank of Wilkes-Barre as clerk and bookkeeper, and was promoted to trust officer in 1925.
Mr. Driesbach is a Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Wyo- ming, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, of Wyoming Lodge, No. 468, Caldwell Consistory, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and has attained the thirty-second degree in the Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite.
On January 13, 1923, Mr. Driesbach married May E. Vance, daughter of John and Agnes (Elliott) Vance, of Wyoming, Pennsylvania. Their two children are William Vance and Robert Albert.
HARRY MICHLOSKY, once a newsboy on the streets of his native city, today carries the esteem of his fellow-citizens of Luzerne County. The fact that he is recognized as one of the leading jewelry and music mer- chants of Northeastern Pennsylvania is due largely to his dynamic personality and un- tiring perseverance in everything he asso- ciates himself with. He is a man who has depended entirely upon his own initiative. The county cannot boast a better citizen, as he gives unhesitatingly and unsparingly of his time and money to just causes. His name has been identified on numerous occasions where a committee of local men identify themselves for the promotion of better work- ing conditions-reconciliation of mining dis- agreements-a champion of the working man's rights-a man with the courage to back up his convictions to the end.
Mr. Michlosky is a member of Landmark Lodge, 442, Free and Accepted Masons; Key- stone Consistory at Scranton, Pennsylvania; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Mason, thirty- second degree; Irem Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the Shrine Country Club; Wilkes-Barre Lodge No. 109, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Young Men's Christian
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Association and Young Men's Hebrew Asso- ciation; one of the organizers and present directors of the Wilkes-Barre Industrial Loan Corporation; was an organizer and is a director of the Union Savings Bank and Trust Company of Wilkes-Barre. He has served three consecutive terms as president of the State Young Men's Hebrew Association.
Harry Michlosky was born in Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1884, the son of the late Jacob and Yetta Michlosky. Mr. and Mrs. Michlosky were the parents of six children: Peter and David, connected with their brother, Harry, in the pursuit of his business; Joseph, the proprietor of the Joann Dining Room at No. 33 West Northampton Street; Mollie, wife of Hyman Landau of Wilkes-Barre; and Sara, widow of Samuel Landau, the founder of Landau's Music and Jewelry Stores. Mr. Michlosky's sole educa- tion was received in the local public schools, for, as aforementioned, he made an early start in business selling papers while still in his teens and at the age of fifteen he en- tered the lunch and restaurant business with his brother, Joseph, purchasing a lot from Harold Rust on West Northampton Street. Together they built the Hampton Apartment Building which housed their dining room and public dance hall, at that time being known as one of the finest in the State. In 1913 he dissolved partnership relations with his brother, Joseph, and purchased an interest in the Landau Music and Jewelry Store at No. 34 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. In 1927 he bought out the other interests and is now the sole proprietor of the Landau Music and Jewelry Stores which are located at Wilkes- Barre and Hazleton, an institution catering to the jewelry, music, furniture and radio re- quirements of the public.
Mr. Michlosky married Tiba Rosenblatt on June 6, 1911, at Elmira, New York, the daugh- ter of Charles and Minnette Rosenblatt. They have three children: Minnette, Roslyn and Charles.
REV. EMIL SEMETKOVSKY-Coming to the pastorate of St. Mary's Greek Catholic Church at No. 321 Chestnut Street, Kingston, Pennsylvania, in 1922, the Rev. Emil Semet- kovsky quickly won the affection and esteem of his people, a condition so necessary for progress in the work of a parish. He has shown himself to be a man of fine spirit, cul- tured, tolerant, firm in the discharge of his duties, and with an executive capacity which has brought to the church a fine new school and parish and parish house, and a growing membership of three hundred families, total- ing some fifteen hundred souls.
Dr. Semetkovsky was born in Austria- Hungarian territory, which is now a part of Czechoslovakia, on January 20, 1884, a son of Michael and Olga Semetkovsky, and their only child. The mother is now dead, but Michael Semetkovsky is still living in his native country. .
Emil Semetkovsky attended the schools of Hungary and after further training was or- dained to the priesthood in August, 1907, serving in Hungary in this capacity until 1921, when he came to the United States. His first charge in America was the rectorship of a Catholic church in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and here he remained for one year. At the end of that time he was appointed rector in charge of St. Mary's Greek Church at King- ston, and in this position he has since re- mained.
The first St. Mary's Church was erected in Kingston in 1886 by the Rev. Nicholas Zu-
brisky, but the present structure of fine press brick with all modern improvements and a seating capacity of nearly one thousand, was built in 1913 by the Rev. Nicholas Molchany. To this work of his predecessors, Rev. Emil Semetkovsky has added the new church school and parish house, erected in 1923, and these are modern in every respect and worthy additions to the group of buildings which occupies one of the most beautiful locations in Kingston. While the material growth of the parish has heen rapid, the spiritual growth is no less noticeable, and the present rector has been at pains to make one as much his care as the other. In this he has been entirely successful as the large church membership shows.
On July 16, 1907, the Rev. Semetkovsky married Mary Martak, who was also born in Austria, and they are the parents of two children: Mary and Edith, both of whom live at home with their parents.
FRANK PUCKEY-For more than half a century Frank Puckey was an active member of the firm of William Puckey and Brother, of Wilkes-Barre, dealers in art goods, books and stationery, the house having been estab- lished here by the elder brother in 1866. Frank Puckey was born in England and came to America when a young man, settling in Wilkes-Barre. He died here on August 2, 1925, aged seventy-seven years. He was a man of the highest character in business, social and religious circles and was a mem- ber of many fraternal organizations. During the course of his long business life here he had endeared himself to his fellow-citizens through his upstanding probity and real value to the community, as an exponent of the movements that have been made for the improvement of the social and business struc- ture. His activity in civic matters was no less keen than his business studies, in both of which he maintained the highest standards and followed the Golden Rule to the letter.
Located at No. 54 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, the establishment founded by William Puckey in 1866 is the largest and oldest business of its kind in the Wyoming Valley. Frank Puckey was a Republican in politics and a leading member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, in which organization here he had served for many years as secre- tary of the board. He was a thirty-second degree member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in the lower ranks as well as in the exclusive Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belonged to the Young Men's Christian Association and for more than fifty years was a leading citizen of this community, being at the time of his death the oldest merchant in active business in the city.
Mr. Puckey married Emily H. White, a native of England, living in Wilkes-Barre at the time, the couple becoming the parents of two children: Francis Willard, of Chicago; and Grace White, now the wife of Randall Salisbury of New York City.
MAMIE A. GAPINSKI, D. D. S .- As the first Polish dentist to locate in Northeastern Penn- sylvania, Dr. Mamie A. Gapinski has abun- dantly demonstrated the fact that the dental profession is one in which a woman may achieve pronounced success. A graduate of the Philadelphia Dental College, Dr. Gapin- ski received the degree of Doctor of Dental surgery in 1920, and since the fall of that year has been engaged in practice in Nan-
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ticoke, where her offices are located at No. 104 South Market Street.
Adam Gapinski, father of Dr. Gapinski, now deceased, was of German-Polish birth. With his wife, Frances (Maciewski) Gapin- ski, he came to this country and settled in Nanticoke, where they made their permanent home, and where they reared a family of four children, two of whom are now (1928) living: Dr. Mamie A., of further mention; and Frank.
Dr. Mamie A. Gapinski was born in Nanti- coke, and attended the public schools of this city. Always an able and ambitious girl, she early determined to prepare herself for the practice of a profession, and finally chose that of the dentist. In 1916, she graduated from the Nanticoke High School, and four years later in 1920, she received the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Phila- delphia Dental College. In the fall of that year she located in Nanticoke, the place of her birth and of her childhood and youth, and here she has remained, filling a place of usefulness and of honor, and making a financial success of her profession. She has the distinction of being the first dentist of Polish birth to practice the dental profession in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and this, together with the fact that she is a skilled dentist, has brought her marked success. Skilled, tactiful, faithful, and enthusiastically interested in her work, she has the full con- fidence and trust of her many patients, and is performing a valuable work among her fellow-countrymen, as well as among many others who have tested her skill and found her amply prepared for her work. She is a member of the Luzerne County Dental As- sociation, of the Pennsylvania State Dental Association, and of the American Dental Society, and among her colleagues is known as an able member of the profession.
Outside her profession, Dr. Gapinski is a woman of culture and refinement, much loved by her friends, and greatly respected by all who know her. For seven years she has been building the large practice which she now cares for, and as those years have passed, she has steadily grown in favor, both among her patients, who regard her as a friend in need, as well as a good dentist, and among her colleagues, whom time and experience have fully convinced and recon- ciled.
WARREN E. SWANK, D. C., Ph. C .- Thor- oughly trained in his profession, Warren E. Swank is now a chiropractor at Hazleton, Pennsylvania, with offices at No. 305 Hazle- ton Bank Building. Mr. Swank furnishes to this district a chiropractic service of the highest type, usually obtainable only in the largest cities, and by his own efforts he has built up an extensive practice.
Dr. Swank was born in Sunbury, Penn- sylvania, on October 15, 1895, a son of E. W. and Annie M. (Snyder) Swank, of that place. He attended the public schools of his birthplace, and the local high school, from which he was graduated in 1915. In 1917, when the United States entered the World War, Mr. Swank immediately enlisted, was assigned to Headquarters Troop, 28th Divi- sion, and stationed for a time at Camp Han- cock, in Augusta, Georgia. In the spring of 19IS, Dr. Swank went to France with his division as a member of the American Ex- peditionary Forces, was present at the en- gagement at St. Mihiel, the Argonne Offen- ive, and participated also in other major operations of the war. In the summer of 1919, while still in France, Dr. Swank at- tended the University of Beaume, and upon
his return to the United States he took up the study of chiropractic, at the Palmer School of Chiropractic, Davenport, lowa. From this institution he was graduated in 1921, and soon afterwards began the prac- tice of his profession in Hazleton. Quickly winning the confidence of the community, he built up a prosperous practice to which he has since devoted his time and attention with complete success.
Dr. Swank is active in the various civic enterprises of Hazleton, and he is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Ma- sons, in which order he is a member of Maclay Lodge, No. 632, at Sunbury, and a member of Lehigh Consistory. Dr. Swank is also a member of Lodge No. 200 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a member of the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America, and of the American Legion, Young Men's Christian Association, Crafts- men's Club, and Motor Club. He is a mem- her of the Pennsylvania State Chiropractors Association and of the Universal Chiroprac- tors Association. He and Mrs. Swank attend the local First Presbyterian Church.
On June 27, 1923, Warren E. Swank married Elsie E. Morgan, of Hazleton, daughter of Mrs. Lillian Morgan of this place. Mrs. Swank was educated at Bloomsburg Normal School and in Columbia University, following which she taught for a time in the Hazleton schools. She is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and is active in primary church work. Dr. and Mrs. Swank make their home at No. 127 West Magnolia Street, Hazle- ton.
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