USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 24
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Alonzo J. Sult received his intellectual training in the public schools of Berwick, af- ter which he learned the trade of a stationary engineer. He was then in the employ of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Com- pany for thirty years after which, on January 1, 1893, he became proprietor of the steam
laundry which he has since conducted. The laundry occupies a two-story building, 35 by 43 feet, and is supplied with the latest-im- proved machinery which enables him to do first-class work in every respect. The plant is heated throughout by steam, and lighted by gas and electric lights. By his courteous and straightforward manner of dealing with every one, Mr. Sult has worked up a good patronage which will compare favorably with any in this section of the state. He employs only skilled workmen and the work turned out is always satisfactory to his customers. He has a comfortable home on the same lot with the laundry, which he has remodeled and sup- plied with all modern conveniences.
Mr. Sult was united in matrimonial bonds to Nancy J. Boyles, a daughter of James Boyles of Berwick, and they are the happy parents of six children, namely: Walter M., bookkeeper for the Lehigh Valley Coal Co. at Wilkesbarre, Pa., who married Elizabeth Campbell, and they have one daughter, Mar- garet; Daniel, assistant to his father, who married Ella Brown, by whom he had one son, Alonzo; Lloyd F., a bookkeeper and stenog- rapher for the P. & R. R. R. at Wilkesbarre, who wedded Elizabeth Stifnagle; William B., a laundryman, who married Ida Berkheimer; Robert E. P., who is a student; and Mar- garet, the first born, who died at the age of two years. On July 2, 1862, Mr. Sult enlisted in Company H. 84th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., but was discharged October 3. of the same year, owing to an attack of typhoid fever. He again enlisted with Company B, 194th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and received his dis- charge November 5, 1864. February 7, 1865, he re-enlisted in Company A, 74th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge August 29, 1865. In political views, he classes himself as an
ALEM BRITTON WHITE.
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Independent. Socially he is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and the Knights of the Golden Eagle of which he is past chief.
A LEM BRITTON WHITE, whose por- trait is shown on the opposite page, was successfully engaged in the mercantile business in Light Street, Scott township, Columbia County, Pa., for many years, and is now agent for the Bloomsburg & Sullivan Railroad at Light Street. He is a son of Joseph and Lydia Ann (Robbins) White, and was born in Fishing Creek town- ship, Columbia County, May 9, 1833.
The White family is of German extraction. Peter White, the grandfather of our subject, was a prominent agriculturist of Scott town- ship where he resided on a farm near Light Street which is now owned by the widow of H. C. Hartman. He passed to his eternal resting place in 1815 while yet a young man. He formed a matrimonial alliance with Eliza- beth Britton by whom he had eight sons and five daughters, a record of whom is here given: Harry, the only surviving member of the family, is a farmer residing in Indiana; Mary Maud married a Mr. Garrison, a farm- er of Salem township, Luzerne County; Ze- beth, who was a farmer and resided in Michi- gan: John, who was a farmer and resident of Richland County, Ohio; Joseph; William, who was a farmer on the old homestead; Sam- tel followed agricultural pursuits in Rich- land County, Ohio; Peter, who also made his home in Richland County, Ohio; Catherine, who was the wife of Samuel Oman, who was a farmer in Mt. Pleasant township, Columbia County; Sarah, who was the wife of Andrew Melick, also a farmer of Mt. Pleasant town- ship; Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Emerson, a farmer of Indiana; Isaac, who was a farmer
and lime-burner of Scott township; and Hen- ry, who was a resident of Indiana.
Joseph White, the father of our subject, was born on the old homestead March 15, 1800, and after attaining man's estate went to Pine township where he engaged in tilling the soil and was a very well-to-do farmer. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of which he was steward and trustee. He passed into the unknown beyond at Iola, Greenwood township, December 2, 1858, aged fifty-eight years. He took the marriage vows twice, his first union being with Lydia Ann Robbins, a daughter of John Robbins, a farmer of Greenwood township, and they became the happy parents of eight children, namely: Sarah C., the wife of John Johnson, a farmer of Greenwood township; Alem Brit- ton, the subject of this biographical sketch: Melissa J., deceased, who married Henry Mil- ler of Watsontown, Northumberland County; John A., a carpenter and mechanic of Rich - land County, Ohio; Mary E., deceased, who married David Oman of Mt. Pleasant town- ship, Columbia County; Anna A., widow of Samuel White of Fairmont township, Luzerne County; Harriet M., wife of Thomas Wright. a carpenter by trade and a farmer of Green- wood township; and Eliza R., the wife of S. B. Fornwald of Washington, Ind. Mrs. White died December 7, 1835, at the age of thirty-eight years. Joseph's second wife was Deborah Fowler and they reared two child- ren,-Florence P., the wife of N. H. White of Almedia, Columbia County; and Joseph, a merchant of Light Street.
Alem Britton White was reared on the farm and obtained his mental training in the public schools and Greenwood Seminary at Millville, Pa., after which he began teaching school at the age of fifteen years. He taught in the public schools, then for three terms was
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assistant in the Bloomsburg High School, and finally, for six months, taught in the Green- wood Seminary. In the spring of 1865 he accepted a clerkship in a store at Blooms- burg where he remained until August when he entered upon the duties of a similar posi- tion for H. W. Creasy, a merchant of Light Street, where he remained until April, 1866, when he engaged in the mercantile business on his own account at Ashland, Schuylkill County. He continued in business there un- til August, 1868, when he returned to Light Street and again clerked for Mr. Creasy until April, 1871, when that gentleman died. Our subject then purchased the general merchan- dise store of Peter Ent of Light Street and successfully conducted it until 1895 when he retired in favor of his brother Joseph, who has since managed it. Upon the death of Mr. Ent he purchased the property upon which the store is situated and has since owned it. He was also engaged in the lumber, coal and fertilizer business which he still conducts. He was made agent of the Bloomsburg & Sulli- van Railroad, when it was opened in 1888 and served as agent for the United States Express Company since it opened business in Light Street in 1892 until June, 1898. He is a man of superior business ability, and has been de- cidedly successful in all of his business ven- tures.
On March 23, 1869, our subject was united in marriage to Esther E. Geisinger, a native of Luzerne County and a daughter of the late Samuel Geisinger, by whom he had one daughter who was called home in infancy. They have since adopted a daughter, Bessie, who is living at home. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the Prohibition party. He is a member of Locust Mountain Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Ashland, Pa., and of Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M., of Bloomsburg.
Religiously he is a member and trustee of the Methodist Church, also superintendent of the Sunday School.
HE BLOOMSBURG STATE NOR- MAL SCHOOL at Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pa., is one of the largest and most flourishing schools of its kind in the United States. It catalogues each year some- thing over 600 students and has a faculty of about twenty-eight ladies and gentlemen, graduates of leading colleges, universities and training schools. Each year about 150 young men and women are graduated in the different departments of the school. Its alumni num- bers nearly 1.500, and, as may be seen by ref- erence to this list in the catalogue, a remark- ably large number of them occupy positions of influence and responsibility in Pennsylvania and other states. The school is one of the best disciplined in the country, while the edu- cational work has been so carefully supervised that a strong corps of university and college- trained teachers has been brought together to form a faculty. As a result, the young men and women graduated in the professional and college preparatory courses are taking high rank among their fellows, and reflecting great credit on their Alma Mater.
The school property attracts much atten- tion, being situated at an elevation of over 150 feet above the Susquehanna. The view from this elevation is almost unrivaled. The river, like a ribbon, edges the plain on the south, and disappears through a bold gorge three miles to the southwest. Rising imme- diately beyond the river is a precipitous ridge 400 feet high, backed by the majestic Cata- wissa Mountain. The town lies at the feet of the spectator. Hill and plain, land and water, field and forest, town and country,
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manufacture and agriculture, are combined in the varied scene. Fourteen acres of campus afford ample space for lawns and athletic grounds, and include a large and beautiful oak grove, while six large buildings are ad- mirably adapted to their different uses. There is not space here for a complete description of these buildings. Institute Hall is the oldest building (built in 1867), and contains six spacious class-rooms and a beautiful audi- torium which occupies the entire second floor. The Model School Building is a handsome two-story building, and is next to Institute Hall. It covers about eighty feet by ninety feet, and contains about twenty-six study and recitation rooms, well ventilated and supplied with light, blackboard surface, and the most improved furniture. The Dormitory is four stories high and was originally in the form of an inverted T, having a frontage of 162 feet and an extension of seventy-five feet. Ex- tending toward the river from the _ is a wing 104 by 40 feet in dimensions, thus: L. The North End Addition, while connected with the dormitory described above, is a dis- tinct four-story building, 130 by 50 feet in size. The Gymnasium is 90 by 45 feet in size, and is one of the handsomest and best to be found. The Employees' Dormitory is about 40 by 70 feet, three stories high, with a basement which contains the laundry. The top floor is fitte:1 up as an infirmary.
The school was originally called the Bloomsburg Literary Institute and was opened and dedicated in 1867. In 1868 a proposition was made to the board of trustees by the State Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion, Hon. J. P. Wickersham, to organize the school into a state normal school. After much heated discussion, the board of trustees passed1 the following resolution: "Resolved that the trustees of the Bloomsburg Literary Institute
agree to establish in connection with the same a state normal school under the Act of the 2d of May, 1857, and to procure the grounds and put up the necessary buildings, etc." It will be seen by this resolution that none of the functions of the Literary Institute were canceled when it became a normal school. The charter name is "The Bloomsburg Liter- ary Institute and State Normal School," and the courses of study originally provided for the Institute are still maintained, according to the terms of the original agreement with the Commonwealth. As a consequence of this action the school is perhaps different from other normal schools in that it prepares more students for college, and maintains courses in both vocal and instrumental music. The work of the Institute has not in any way interfered with the training of teachers. In fact, the necessity of keeping well-trained instructors in the sciences, languages, mathematics, his- tory, and literature to comply with the ad- vanced requirements of the Literary Institute. has provided better instruction in the elements of these branches for students in the normal department. The school at all times has at least 125 representatives in the various col- leges and universities.
The first principal of the school was Prof. Henry Carver, who held the position until 1871. He was an excellent disciplinarian and organizer and had the happy faculty of in- spiring young people to make the most of themselves. After his withdrawal from the principalship, the school passed through a financial struggle that is best described in the words of Col. John G. Freeze, in his "History of Columbia County," as follows :
"The very large amount of money required. the falling off of subscribers, the want of prompt payment of those which were good. the talk of those who were not in sympathy
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
with the movement, were all discouraging cir- cumstances. The trustees were therefore ob- liged to assume personally the cost of carry- ing on the work. They have had upon them- selves at one time, as a personal obligation, more than $20,000. Repairs, expenditures, and deficiencies to the amount of from $1,000 to $3,000 annually, have been provided for by them, on their personal responsibility. They have given days and nights to the busi- ness of the school, they have borne, for the public and general good, burdens which no man in the town has struggled under in his own business. When state aid came slowly or not at all, when subscriptions failed, when the daily pressure of debts was almost un- bearable, the trustees shouldered the work and accepted the responsibility."
The second principal of the school was the well-known lawyer, Charles G. Barkley, Esq., who accepted the position temporarily and on condition that he would be relieved as soon as possible. His principalship extended only from December 20, 1871, to March 27, 1872, but a marked improvement in the school in all respects was apparent at the time of his resig- nation, and the trustees would have been glad to retain him at the head of the institution. He is at present, and has been for years, one of the leading trustees of the school, being chairman of the committee on instruction and discipline.
Mr. Barkley's successor was Rev. John Hewitt, rector of the Episcopal Church of Bloomsburg, who held the position until the end of the school year in June, 1873. Im- provement continued, but still the income did not meet expenses and the struggles of the board of trustees continued. Mr. Hewitt was succeeded by Rev. T. L. Griswold, who con- tinued as principal until June, 1877. Under his administration the school first paid ex-
penses. In the fall of 1877, Rev. David J. Waller, Jr., assumed the duties of principal and his administration was very successful. It was during his administration that the Model School Building and the east wing of the Dormitory were erected. Throughout the thirteen years of his connection with the school there was a constant growth in the ma- terial equipment, size, and efficiency of the school; and when, in 1890, Rev. Waller was appointed State Superintendent of Public In- struction the school was in a most prosperous condition.
In July, 1890, the present principal, Judson P. Welsh, Ph. D., assumed the duties of the position. The National Educator in its issue of March 18, 1896, says of the prosperity of the school under his administration : "Through the influence of Dr. Welsh, the growth and prosperity of the school have been phenomenal. We will briefly enumerate some of the material changes which have gone hand-in-hand with the educational improve- ment. New furniture came first, then the beautiful auditorium was modeled. Next the large four-story dormitory and the gymna- sium were built. Electric lights, the new li- brary, the elevator, and the servants' dormi- tory soon followed. The new athletic field is another remarkable feature of this growth. In short, the school has grown so wonder- fully that those who have not visited it in five years would be astonished to see the transformation."
The State Normal School is under the care of a board of trustees of eighteen members. Six of these represent the Commonwealth and twelve represent the stockholders. The stockholders are the contributors of the origi- nal $30,000 which the state requires to be furnished by the community in which a nor- mal school is established. They are not stock-
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
holders in the sense of being participators in the earnings of the school, but they elect the trustees annually and suggest to the Com- monwealth those who may be appointed to represent the state. The trustees of this school have upon more than one occasion fur- nished funds to the institution from their pri- vate means, and have frequently compromised their personal estates by placing their names on paper to help the school out of financial embarrassment, when the state failed to ap- propriate sufficient funds, or withheld pay- ment of funds appropriated. The annual ap- propriation of the state to the school at pres- ent is $7,500, a sum not large enough to pay one-half the sum paid in salaries to the in- structors.
The state also makes an appropriation of fifty cents per week to students of the school, to aid them in defraying their expenses. This aid is given to students seventeen years old, who take the teacher's course of instruction and declare their intention to become teachers in the public schools of the Commonwealth. At graduation, those who promise to teach two years in the Commonwealth receive fifty dollars additional. This aid to the students is of no direct value to the school, as it does not furnish any additional funds.
The following well-known business and professional men constitute the present board of trustees : A. Z. Schoch, president; John H. Clark, secretary; William Neal; John Wolf; L. E. Waller; F. P. Billmeyer; George E. Elwell; N. U. Funk; James C. Brown; W. M. Reber; Paul E. Wirt; A. L. Fritz; Hon. Robert R. Little (state); C. G. Barkley (state); Charles W. Miller (state); G. Herring (state); John A. Funston (state); and C. C. Peacock (state). Of these Mr. William Neal and Mr. John Wolf have been members of the board almost continuously since the organiza- tion of the school.
The value of the school to Bloomsburg in a business way is probably not realized even by the most sagacious business men. During the scholastic year of 1896-97, $56,000 of the income of the school was spent in the town and immediate neighborhood of . the school. This is about four-fifths of the entire yearly income of the school. In addition to this, it is estimated that the students of the school in their personal expenditures bring from $12,000 to $15,000 into the town each year. During the seven years preceding the school year of 1897-98, the annual income of the school increased from $42,000 to over $69,- 000, or nearly 65 per cent. During those seven years the school has expended of its in- come in the town, for running expenses, $346,000. Add to this (according to the above estimate of the amount spent by stu- dents), the sum of $85,000 for the seven years, and the total is $431,000. But this is not all : During this time $70,000 was expended in buildings, which amount is not included in foregoing amounts, which represent only the running expenses of the school. The grand total, therefore, of over $500,000 (a half mil- lion dollars, in other words) has been spent in the town during the seven years mentioned. It is no wonder that Bloomsburg is a pros- perous town, since she has such an institution, pouring $70,000 per annum into her business life.
ILLIAM R. KOCHER. There are few who would recognize the beauti- ful and thrifty town of Bloomsburg, with its many factories, business houses, and other plants, as the little village which was founded in 1810 and then contained a postoffice, a store, and a few dwelling houses. The steady growth and rapid development of the town
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
reflects great credit upon the men who have had charge of its affairs, but none deserve greater praise than William R. Kocher, who is at this date president of the town council. Since assuming the duties of that office in 1897 he has instituted many reforms, and has been instrumental in bringing a number of important enterprises to the town. He is also general freight agent for the D., L. & W. R. R. at Bloomsburg, and operates a large coal yard and a retail store. He was born in Luzerne County and is a son of Thomas T. Kocher, a millwright and farmer of Harvey Lake, Luzerne County.
Our subject was reared on a farm, but when young left his parental roof and entered the employ of the railroad. He became assistant station, freight and baggage agent on the D., L. & W. R. R., from Scranton to Blooms- burg, and served in that capacity for two years, performing his duties in such a manner as to gain the approval of his superior officers; his faithfulness to the interests of the company was rewarded by promotion to the office of general freight agent at Bloomsburg, which is one of the largest shipping points of the division. He also conducted a retail coal sup- ply-house for the company for several years. but in 1889 he embarked in the coal business on his own account, forming the firm, W. R. Kocher & Company. He built an office and a coal yard on Seventh street, between Iron and Catherine streets, and a large coal-house on the corner of East Sixth and Iron streets. The latter has a capacity of 300 tons, twenty shutes for quick loading, and has an elevated track leading up to it which is connected with the main line by a switch, and the facilities for shipping are of the best. This business has been under the management of David M. Sheep, who by giving his prompt attention to all orders received, and by his courteous treat-
ment of customers has established a large re- tail trade. The firm is one of the largest in Columbia County and its members are de- serving of the success with which they are meeting. Mr. Kocher was one of the or- ganizers of the Bloomsburg Creamery, formed in 1896, and is its treasurer. He is also sec- retary of the Bloomsburg Ice Company, an- other of the leading enterprises of the town.
Mr. Kocher formed a matrimonial alliance with Geraldine Benscoter, a daughter of Jos- eph R. Benscoter of Luzerne County, Pa .. and they are the proud parents of two child- ren, Hazel and Myron, both of whom are attending school. He is a stanch Prohibition- ist in his political belief; in 1896 he was elected to the council and in 1897 was made president of that body. Many noted improvements have been made since Mr. Kocher entered the council, chief of which is the general mail de- livery for the entire town of Bloomsburg. So- cially our subject is a member of the Knights of Malta, and the Heptasophs. Mr. Kocher lives in a fine residence at No. 15 East Sixth street, and also owns two tenement houses on Eighth street. He is a man well and fav- orably known throughout Columbia County.
OSEPH RATTI, whose name is well- known throughout the states of Penn- sylvania and New Jersey, and in New York City, where he has been associated in business since his residence in this country. is the treasurer and manager of the Blooms- burg Silk Mills, one of the leading industries of the thriving town of Bloomsburg.
The subject of this biographical review was born in Como, Italy, and after reaching ma- turity he began his career in the employ of Ceriana Bros., one of the largest banking firms and silk-reelers of Italy. After becom-
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ing a skilled workman at his trade he came to America and was employed to throw raw silk for the weaving looms at Hoboken, N. J., where he worked up a good patronage. Ile moved to Bloomsburg in 1888, taking his ma- chinery with him, and built a large three-story brick factory, 150 by 50 feet, where he man- ufactured silk.
In 1891 Mr. Ratti began the manufacture of dress-goods, making a specialty of black silk dress-goods, and the business increased so rapidly that it was necessary to build an additional building, equal in size to the struct- ure first used. The mills are heated by steam and lighted throughout by gas and electric lights. Four hundred men are employed, all being skilled workmen, many of whom learned the trade under our subject. The mill is one of the best equipped mills in the state, being well-lighted and having the latest improved machinery and other modern facilities for the convenience of the employees and for the man- ufacture of a perfect product. Our subject is a man of sterling worth and integrity and al- ways has the interests of his employees at heart, as he has built twenty handsome brick houses about the factory, in which many of them reside.
Mr. Ratti is assisted in the management of the business by Frederick G. York, whose name is also familiar to the people of Colum- bia County. He is a native of Paterson, N. J., and since he was eighteen years of age has been connected with the manufacture of silk. He was general superintendent of the Meding Manufacturing Company of Paterson, N. J., for many years, and in 1893 removed to Bloomsburg to accept his present position with the Bloomsburg Manufacturing Com- pany, of which he is also a stockholder and director. He is also a partner in the firm, the Elkland & Graystone Company.
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