USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 21
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
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them skilled in their department of work. Descriptions of the various departments, such as the car-wheel foundry, pipe foundry, rolling mills, and car, casting, paint, car-building, and forging departments, are on other pages of this work in the biographical sketches of the different foremen and superintendents.
Mr. Woodin has lived the greater part of his life in Berwick, only making his home at Hazleton for a short time for the benefit of his health, as a high elevation was required. In 1890 he bought the Van Pelt and other farms located on an elevation north of the town of Berwick. A few acres having been cleared on the highest part of an elevation of 1,200 feet above the sea, and 700 feet above the railroad track at Berwick, Mr. Woodin decided to build residences for himself and son there. A fine graded road 2 8-10 miles in length leads to the summit from which a broad, open view of the Susquehanna Valley may be had, with mountain after mountain piled up for a background and with the fer- tile valley in which Berwick is located for an immediate foreground. Besides Berwick, which is one of the most progressive boroughs in the state, several small villages may be seen. To the southwest is a magnificent scene of for- est-covered peaks and cuts and ravines, that is scarcely surpassed in beauty and grandeur. To the north on a clear day can be seen the Glen Summit Hotel, 30 miles distant, and still farther the Pocono Mountains. In the sum- mer, one escapes the sultry valley air and en- joys the mountain breezes, receiving health and invigoration the year around. In 1891 Mr. Woodin built his beautiful home on this charming spot, constructing it of stone and wood, with spacious verandas. His son also built a residence near by, and both are of Queen Anne style. The houses are furnished with all the conveniences that minister to the
comfort of its occupants, both in summer and in winter. Three cottages were erected for his employees, and a water tower 50 feet high was built of stone and timber, stone being used for the first story; this tower is supplied with pure spring water which is forced to it by pumps located at the spring 1,600 feet below at the foot of the hill. Also attached to the tower, and located on its first floor, is a chemical engine and hose-cart, for emer- gency use in case of fire. A large barn was also built for each house; one of them burn- ing recently, it was rebuilt into a handsome structure, 33 by 40 feet, finished throughout with Norway pine. The borough of Berwick supplies the necessary means of illuminating the premises. Sixteen arc lights disposed about the house and on the walks and drives are lit every night, and give to one, who may be miles away, the impression that a city is located there. As many trees of the natural forest growth were left standing, the grounds do not lack for abundant shade. Beautiful lawns, tennis courts, flower gardens, fruit or- chards and gardens make up the rest of the prospect, which is truly a delightful one. Mr. Woodin lives quite closely at home through- out the year, except during the severest weather, when he makes a trip to the South to avoid the chilling blasts of winter. Mr. Woodin married Mary Dickerman, daughter of Dr. Charles and Adelia Dickerman of Hart- ford, Pa., and to them was born one son, Wil- liam Hartman, named after his noble grand- father.
William Hartman Woodin, the only child of our subject, was born May 27, 1868, in Berwick, where he received his early educa- tion in the public schools. At the age of fourteen years he entered the preparatory de- partment of the Woodbridge School of Mines, New York City, and completed his
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technical education in the School of Mines of Columbia College. Returning to Berwick, he made himself master of the practical work- ings of the great institution of which his fath- er was then president and acquainted himself with every detail, so that now he is the best informed of the stockholders. He was made a member of the executive committee, and, after two years in that position, became gen- eral superintendent of the plant and a director of the company. In 1896 he was chosen vice- president, and is most efficiently filling his father's place. He has won the highest es- teem of his employees and the residents of Berwick On August 25, 1898, Mr. Woodin was made the nominee of the Republicans of the Seventeenth Congressional District for Congress, Representative Monroe H. Kulp retiring at his own request. At the ensuing election in November, Mr. Woodin was de- feated. He represents the young element of his party, and also the business interests of Berwick, in which he figures both modestly and prominently. He was married October 9, 1889, to Annie Jessup, daughter of Judge William H. Jessup of Montrose, Pa., and to them two children have come, namely: Mary, Louise, born in Scranton, Pa., October 31, 1891; and Annie Jessup, born in New York City on April.10, 1894.
William Hartman Woodin is a director of the Berwick Water Company, is secretary and director of the Berwick Electric Light Com- pany, and takes an active interest in every public-spirited movement directed toward the benefit of Berwick and its commercial devel- opment. It has been a pleasure to him to support liberally all churches, charitable in- stitutions and schools in Berwick, and no worthy cause need lack in him a friend in need and a friend indeed.
On March 1, 1899, the entire plant of The
Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company was sold to the American Car & Foundry Company, an organization with $60,000,000 capital, practically embracing all the car man- ufacturing companies in the United States. The new company took possession on that date, and is now operating the business. Fred'k H. Eaton, Esq., nephew of C. R. Woodin, and former president of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, was elected vice-president of the new company with headquarters at New York City, and William H. Woodin was elected district man- ager to operate the plant at Berwick. Thus the great organization, founded by William Hartman Woodin and M. W. Jackson in 1842, passes out of existence, and C. R. Woodin, after an active and successful busi- ness career, permanently retires from car man- ufacturing.
The publishers of this work take pleasure in announcing that a portrait of William Hart- man Woodin, the founder of The Jackson & Wocdin Manufacturing Company, appears on a preceding page, in connection with the above sketch.
ILLIAM H. SLATE, a progressive and energetic business man of Bloomsburg, is a member of the Hawley-Slate Furniture Company. He was born at Williamsport, Pa., March 13, 1866, and is a son of George Slate, now deceased, who was the proprietor of a large tannery and was also engaged in the manufacture of leath- er belts.
The father of our subject was a self-made man and after accumulating a fortune he re- tired from active life in 1885. He entered the world of rest at the age of seventy-five years. Our subject was educated in the public
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HON JOHN B. PACKER.
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schools of Williamsport. He was a dutiful son and remained at home during his younger days. Starting out to battle against the tide of life, he engaged as a clerk for the Penn- sylvania Railroad, and after clerking for four years he worked in the engineer's department, where he remained three years. In November 1893 our subject moved to Bloomsburg and purchased an interest in the book and station- ery store on Main street owned by W. H. Brook & Co. He continued in that line of business until September, 1897. When the North Branch Furniture Company was or- ganized he sold his interest in the book-store and became assistant manager of that com- pany.
July 1, 1898, the Hawley-Slate Furniture Company was organized and succeeded the North Branch Furniture Company. The com- pany employs over 100 skilled workmen, who turn out fine work, and ships its goods all through the Eastern States. It operates two plants, one 60 by 80 feet and the other 50 by 100 feet; the machinery is operated by an engine of one hundred horse-power, and the company also supplies its own power for the electric lights by which the buildings are lighted.
Mr. Slate was united in the bonds of mat- rimony to Nellie C. Packer, a daughter of John B. Packer of Sunbury, Pa. They reside in a neat little home at No. 27 Fifth street.
ON. JOHN B. PACKER, deceased, whose portrait is shown on the oppo- site page, was at his death the Nestor of the Northumberland County Bar. During the period of forty-seven years in which he was actively engaged in practice there was scarcely a case of any prominence in that section of the state in which he was
not retained as counsel for one party to the suit. His knowledge of law was comprehen- sive and, being a man of commanding appear- ance and pleasing personality, he always cre- ated a favorable impression on court and jury. As a speaker he was both argumentative and eloquent in style, and he entered upon a case with enthusiasm and energy which could but bear good results to the cause of his client. He gained renown as a lawyer and financier and at his demise he was counsel for several prominent railroad corporations, and was also president of the First National Bank of Sun- bury. It has been well said that no man pos- sessed the respect and confidence of the citi- zens of Sunbury to a greater extent than did John B. Packer.
Mr. Packer was a son of Samuel J. and Rachel (Black) Packer, and was born at Sun- bury, Northumberland County, Pa., March 21, 1824. He received a high classical educa- tion under the excellent tutorship of Cale Pel- ton and Frederick Lebrun in the Sunbury Academy, which had been established but a short time previously. In 1839 he was ap- pointed a member of a corps of engineers em- ployed in the survey and construction of pub- lic improvements for the state, continuing in that capacity until 1842, when he entered upon the study of law under the direction of Ebenezer Greenough. He made rapid ad- vancement, being admitted to the bar of Northumberland County August 6, 1844, and then began his practice. He received an ap- pointment as deputy attorney general and served as such for a period of three years, the position giving prominence to his ability. His clientage soon grew to large proportions and he practiced not only in his native county but in various counties in the state and also before the Supreme Court. He was one of the or- ganizers and a director of the Susquehanna
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Railroad (now known as the Northern Cen- tral), and during the remainder of his life served as its counsel. He served in a like ca- pacity for many years prior to his death for the Philadelphia & Erie, the Pennsylvania and other railroad companies. He was also con- cerned in the sale and reorganization of the railroad properties of the Shamokin Valley & Pottsville Railroad. In 1855 he identified himself with the Bank of Northumberland, be- coming president of the same in 1857, and continued as president until his demise, al- though in 1864 the bank was merged into the First National Bank of Sunbury. He was connected with banking interests at Selins- grove and Lewisburg, Pa. He was also a very large landowner, in fact one of the largest landowners in this section of Pennsylvania.
Politics entered largely into Mr. Packer's career and he was called upon to fill many offices of trust. He was originally a Tariff Democrat; he represented his party in the State Legislature two terms, 1849 and 1850. He was actively connected with that organi- zation until 1856, when he allied himself with the newly-organized Republican party, and in 1868 was elected to Congress from the Four- teenth District of Pennsylvania. He served four terms which were marked by the greatest activity on his part, being a member of many committees, among them being the commit- tees on banking and currency; railways and canals, of which he was chairman; postoffices and post-roads, of which he was also chair- man; and the committee on foreign affairs. He declined a nomination for a fifth term as representative.
On May 22, 1851, Mr. Packer was joined in hymeneal bonds with Mary M. Cameron, a daughter of the late William Cameron of Lewisburg, and they became the happy par- ents of five children : William C., who died
June 4, 1886, was born May 1, 1852, and be- came one of the leading young barristers of the county; Rachel, who is the wife of F. K. Hill of Sunbury; James C., an attorney-at-law at Sunbury; Mary; and Nellie C. Although much of his life was given to business affairs, Mr. Packer found his greatest pleasure in the companionship of his family; he was a true husband and a kind father. He had many friends, and at his death, on July 7, 1891, Sun- bury mourned the loss of a public benefactor.
Samuel J. Packer, a brother of the late Hon. John B. Packer, is president of the First Na- tional Bank of Sunbury and also one of the first citizens of the borough. He was born on June 19, 1831, and is a son of Samuel J. and Rachel (Black) Packer. He obtained his education in the public schools and in Sun- bury Academy, acquiring a good intellectual training. Subsequently he read law under the preceptorship of his brother, John B. Packer, deceased, and was admitted to the bar of Northumberland County on April 4, 1860. Immediately thereafter he entered actively upon the practice of his profession and con- tinued until his election as cashier of the Bank of Northumberland, November 19, 1863. When the bank was merged into the First Na- tional Bank of Sunbury in 1864 he accepted a similar position with the new organization, and continued until his brother's death, in 1891, when he was elected to succeed him as president. He continues in that capacity, and conducts the affairs of the bank with the judg- ment and foresight which have always char- acterized his business transactions.
RANCIS P. DRINKER, one of the honored and highly respected citizens of Bloomsburg, who is spending his latter days in enjoying the labors of his past, was
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born in Covington township, Luzerne Coun- ty, now Lackawanna County, Pa., November 16, 1832, and is a son of Richard and Lydia E. (Wragg) Drinker, and grandson of Henry Drinker.
Edward Drinker, the great-great-grand- father of our subject, was the first white child born where the city of Philadelphia now stands. His ancestors were natives of Eng- land who came to America about the time of William Penn.
Our subject's great-grandfather, Henry Drinker, resided in Philadelphia all his life and was cashier of the Bank of North America of that city. He was united in marriage to Mary Howell and they reared a large family of children. He passed from this life about 1830. Henry Drinker, Jr., grandfather of our subject, purchased a tract of 25,000 acres of land in Luzerne County, which was taken care of by his two sons, Henry W., and Richard, the father of our subject.
Richard Drinker studied law and was ad- mitted to the bar at Philadelphia; he and his brother Henry received a charter for the railroad from Great Bend to the Delaware River, now known as the D., L. & W. R. R. They also built fifty miles of turnpike in Lu- zerne County. Richard served over twenty years as justice of the peace; he was a large landowner and in 1846 bought a farm near the town of Bloomsburg, now known as the Troup farm. In 1854 he moved to Scranton, Pa., where he remained until his death, which occurred in November, 1861. He was wedded to Lydia E. Wragg, a daughter of John Wragg, a native of England who came to America about the time of the French Revo- lution; he was captured and was thrown into prison for a long time and upon his release located in Luzerne County, Pa. Later he moved west to Beloit, Wis., where he died at
the age of ninety years. To Mr. and Mrs. Drinker were born the following children : Richard W., Eliza M., Edward R., Francis P., Alfred C., Rebecca H., Charles N., and Mary A.
Francis P. Drinker was educated in the Bloomsburg Academy. In 1846 he accepted a position as bookkeeper and superintendent of the Bloomsburg Iron Company; he re- mained in the employ of that company until 1888 when he retired from active life. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, 6th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., for a term of three years. Later he was attached to Anderson's Cavalry, and at the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., he was taken a prisoner by Wheeler's Cavalry; after being in their hands a short time, and being stripped of his uniform, he was paroled and turned loose to do the best he could. He was stricken by typhoid fever after being in Nashville, Tenn., and was in a hospital for some time. He finally reached his regiment and was discharged in 1863; he re-enlisted in the Emergency Militia, served a short time and was discharged in 1863. Mr. Drinker was united in- the bonds of matrimony to Mary Chamberlin, a daughter of John M. Chamber- lin of Bloomsburg. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Drinker, as follows: Martha C., who is the wife of E. N. Perrin and they have one child, Edwin O .: William W., a civil engineer in the employ of the D., L. & W. R. R., who resides at Scranton; Margaret. wife of W. P. Meigs of Bloomsburg, and they are the parents of one child, Margaret; and Francis P., Jr., a draftsman in the car-shops of Bloomsburg.
Our subject resides in his beautiful home at No. 211 Main street, which he built in 1886. In politics he is independent : in 1892 he was elected president of the town of Bloomsburg. and was re-elected to the same office at the
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following two elections. Religiously Mr. Drinker is a member of the Episcopal Church, although he was reared a Quaker. Socially he is a member of the P. O. S. of A.
NDREW D. ROBERTSON, a busi- ness man who is of high standing among his fellow-citizens of Sha- mokin, is a son of Andrew Robertson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, and Phoebe (Barlow) Robertson, and was born July 31, 1853, in New Philadelphia, Schuylkill County, Pa.
Up to the age of ten years our subject at- tended the public schools at his birthplace, and at that age he started out to earn some- thing on his own account, going to work at the Eagle Hill Colliery near Port Carbon, which was then conducted by his father and Thomas Beddall. Our subject worked as a slate-picker for some time until his father re- moved to Pottsville. Young Andrew at- tended the public schools in Pottsville for a short time and then went to Mill Creek where he worked in and about the mines in the summer and later attended the select schools in West Chester until he reached the age of seventeen years. He then returned to Potts- ville and entered the Washington Iron Works in which he worked for three years, learning the machinist's trade under the direction of James Wren. After learning his trade Mr. Robertson migrated to Mahanoy City where he entered the employ of his uncle, Daniel Barlow, who ran a wholesale flour and feed business, remaining with Mr. Barlow until 1875 when he removed to Ralston. At Ral- ston he was in the employ of his father and Alexander Fulton, who then were mining coal under a large contract with the McIntyre
Coal Company, our subject being bookkeeper for the firm. Subsequently our subject re- turned to Mahanoy City and engaged in the flour and feed business in which he was very successful and which he continued until April, 1880. He then removed to Excelsior where he became assistant superintendent of the Ex- celsior Colliery, of which his father, Andrew Robertson, was part owner and superintend- ent. He subsequently took an interest in the company and continued as its assistant su- perintendent. He is also assistant superin- tendent of the Corbin Colliery which has long been operated in connection with the Excel- sior Colliery.
In 1882 Mr. Robertson purchased the in- terest of Nathan J. Robertson, now deceased. who owned a flour mill in Shamokin and conducted the business successfully for about a year when the firm became Robertson & Parmley. This firm occupied the present mill property, a three-story brick structure, 40 by 75 feet, which was erected by our subject's father. The firm also has a grain elevator in the rear of the flour mill which is 100 by 35 feet. The capacity of the mill is 100 barre's of flour per day. In 1887 the firm became Robertson, Parmley & Co., and a year later became Robertson & Osler as it is to-day, Mr. Parmley retiring.
An active man of great energy, our subject has devoted much of his time and talents to local enterprises to which his business ability and energetic direction have been of great benefit. Mr. Robertson is secretary and treas- urer of the Elkhorn Coal & Coke Company of Mayberry, W. Va., of which he was one of the incorporators, and has held those of- fices since the organization of the company. The company operates mines in the famous Flat Top or Pocahontas region of West Vir- ginia, which were opened in 1888. The
MATTHIAS CRONINGER.
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company was one of the first operators to ship coal through the Mill Creek Tunnel. The Pocahontas coal is known as the best steam- producing coal mined and it is used by the Cramps, the noted shipbuilders, on all vessels which are being tested or are tried for speed. Our subject is a director of the Shamokin Coal & Coke Co .; a stockholder in the Booth-Bowen Coal & Coke Co. of West Vir- ginia; vice-president of the Shamokin Pow- der Co .; a stockholder in the Edison Electric Illuminating Co. of Shamokin; and a stock- holder in and vice-president of the First Na- tional Bank of Shamokin.
Mr. Robertson is a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of Shamokin of which he is an active member.
In May, 1882, Mr. Robertson took as his life-partner Clara A. Heffner, daughter of Charles Heffner of Pottsville, Pa., and to them have been born two children: Chester Kings- ley, who is at home; and Mary Margaret, de- ceased.
ATTHIAS CRONINGER, who is recognized and greatly admired by 5 his fellow-citizens as one of the most enterprising men in Shamokin, is a son of Jacob and Magdalena (Kretz) Croninger, and was born January 18, 1846, in Germany. With a common school education Mr. Cronin- ger started out to win success and -fortune, beginning his active career at an early age as a slatepicker in a coal-breaker, then working as a miner of coal, and by assiduous effort and perseverance he worked to the top and to-day is one of Shamokin's most prosperous and en- ergetic leaders in business.
The father of our subject, Jacob Croninger, was a native of Germany, who came to the United States when a young man, located at
Tremont, Schuylkill County, and subsequent- ly resided at Trevorton, Northumberland County. He responded promptly to the call for troops soon after the breaking out of the Rebellion and was killed at Reams Station, Va. His family subsequently moved to the vicinity of Shamokin, and his mother is a resi- dent of that town.
After attending the public schools our sub- ject, when quite young in years, obtained em- ployment as a slatepicker and later as a miner, working in the mines in the vicinity of Sha- mokin for about sixteen years. Determined to be something more than a miner, Mr. Cro- ninger abandoned the work beneath the hills and learned the trade of butchering, and eventually went into business on his own ac- count as a butcher. Then he again followed the bent of his ambition and became a drover, buying cattle and shipping them to the East- ern markets, continuing as a buyer and sel'er of cattle for about thirteen years. In 1892 our subject resumed business as a butcher and re- established his individual market, which has so grown in proportions and trade that it is now one of the largest and leading commer- cial interests of Shamokin. In 1893 Mr. Cro- ninger associated himself with the Shamokin Packing Company, and the firm now consists of Holden Chester and our subject, who man- ages the live-stock branch of the immense business. It is estimated that the business of the company averages about $1,000 per day. In addition to looking after his department of the packing concern, our subject also con- ducts his personal business, which occupies an extensive plant on West Walnut street. consisting of a slaughter-house, shop and a modern equipment with which is manufac- tured artificial ice.
Our subject is a Democrat and has been active in the interests of the party in whose
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principles he is an enthusiastic believer. His popularity was forcibly demonstrated in 1884 when he was the nominee of his party for county treasurer and was defeated by a ma- jority of 300 votes. Mr. Croninger frequently has served as delegate to local conventions and he has been overseer of the poor and a councilman. He is a member of Shamokin Lodge, No. 664, I. O. O. F., and also is prom- inent as a member of the local tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men and of the Knights of the Mystic Chain.
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