USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 36
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RANK R. KITCHEN. Prominent among the business men of the town of Berwick who have contributed largely to- ward the growth and prosperity of that town, is the subject of this sketch, who is justice of the peace and secretary of the council of the borough. He was born in Berwick and is a son of Oliver H. and Evangeline (Johnson) Kitchen, grandson of Amos and Margaret (Campbell) Kitchen, and a great-grandson of Enoch and Jerusha (Moore) Kitchen.
Enoch Kitchen's father was a native of England and of Quaker descent; he was the first of the Kitchen family to immigrate to America. Enoch Kitchen, the great-grand- father of our subject, was a chairmaker by trade and followed that occupation nearly all his life. In those days furniture was made principally by felling trees and making it up into chairs and other furniture by hand. Later in life Mr. Kitchen moved to Montour Coun- ty, Pa., and located six miles from the town of Danville, where he remained the remainder of his active days, dying at the age of eighty years. He was united in wedlock to Jerusha
Moore and four children were reared by them: Andrew; Uriah; Amos; and Jerusha.
Amos Kitchen, grandfather of our subject, during his early days learned the trade of a" tailor and conducted a tailoring establishment in the town of Danville, Pa. In 1823 he moved to Berwick, Columbia County, and for many years conducted a tailor-shop where Heller's saloon is now located. He married Margaret Campbell, a daughter of Alexander Campbell, and the following children blessed their home, namely: Matilda; Oliver 11 .; Pemberton; Edwin; Permelia; John; Clinton; William; Ely, who died young; and Ely. Mr. Kitchen passed from this earth aged forty- two years; his wife died at the age of eighty- three years.
Oliver H. Kitchen, the father of our sub- ject, when but a mere lad learned the trade of tailor from his father and when his father passed from this life he succeeded him in the business; his workmanship was of first- class order and he established a regular trade and was the leading tailor of Berwick. His establishment was located in the Seesholtz property on Market street, and in 1892 the building was burned down, and with his son, our subject, immediately rebuilt the present fine block. In 1868 he built a fine residence: later he built another residence on the rear end of the lot, facing the other street, and in 1898 our subject built another on the same lot. Mr. Kitchen has been in the tailoring business for fifty years and is now passing the sunset of life in retirement. He is truly a self-made man, having accumulated what he has of this world's goods through his own energy and good judgment, and is one of Berwick's recognized business men of push and tact. He has assisted in building up the county and community, and has watched with interest its progress. It has been an inter-
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esting review in which he may justly feel pride in having been a sharer. Mr. Kitchen has served thirty-eight years as overseer of the poor of Columbia County. He takes great interest in the old cemetery, and he formed a company and raised funds to put it in good shape, and built a fence around it. He was assisted by Leroy Thompson and E. A. Wilson, and the three gentlemen had charge of the cemetery until 1892. It al- ways has been one of the best kept cemeteries in Columbia County, and is such at the pres- ent time. Mr. Kitchen formed a matrimonial alliance with Mary Conyus and two children are the result of this happy union, as follows : Margaret, the devoted wife of E. Clinger, a resident of Berwick; and Annie, who mar- ried M. L. Thornton, and resides in Huntington, West Va. Mr. Thornton is general agent for the Ensign Car Works of Huntington. Mr. Kitchen's sec- ond union was with Angeline Johnson, daughter of Barter Johnson, of Briarcreek township, and by this union two children blessed their home: Frank R., the subject of this sketch; and Jennie E., who resides at home.
Frank R. Kitchen, the only son of his parents, was born in the town of Berwick, Pa., November 10, 1857, and received his in- tellectual training in the public schools and high school of Berwick; upon his graduation from the latter institution he clerked in a gen- eral merchandise store at Espy, Pa., for two years. Our subject then learned the trade of a molder which he followed until 1892, when he was appointed justice of the peace, the duties of which position he is honestly and faithfully discharging. He has also served as secretary of the town council. Mr. Kitchen is the manager of the P. O. S. of A. opera- house, a position he has held since the erec-
tion of that building. He has won the con- fidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens and is recognized as one of the solid citizens of Berwick. He possesses force of character, is decided in his opinions and fearless in the expression of that which he believes to be right. He is now attending to the care of his beloved parents.
R OBERT D. LANCASTER, a highly esteemed resident of Forksville, Sullivan County, Pa., was for many years a prosperous merchant there, but since 1894 he has been living in practical retire- ment. He is a son of Richard and Fanny (McIlwain) Lancaster, and was born in South Sterling, Wayne County, Pa., December 13, 1825.
His grandfather was William Lancaster, a native of England, who immigrated to this country and located in Philadelphia, where he remained until 1821. In that year he moved to South Sterling, Wayne County, Pa., and there followed his trade as a carpenter until his death at the age of seventy-six years. He was joined in marriage bonds to Margaret Dunlevy, who also came of a well-known English family, and they reared three chil- dren: Richard, the father of our subject; Americus; and Clara.
Richard Lancaster was born in England and was nine years of age when he came to America with his parents. At an early age he and his brother Americus learned the jew- eler's trade and did job work for Mr. Duboys, a well-known jeweler of Philadelphia. In 1833 Richard turned his attention to agri- cultural pursuits and became one of the most prominent citizens in Wayne County. He was a man of more than ordinary ability and was well thought of by his fellowmen. In
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1840 he was elected sheriff of Wayne County and subsequently was chosen to represent his district in the State Legislature. He was also justice of the peace for many years and held many minor offices. He was united in marriage with Fanny Mellwain and the fol- lowing children were born unto them: Rich- ard; William; George; John; Franklin; Hugh A .; Robert D., the gentleman whose name heads these lines; Christopher C .; Margaret; and Jane. Mr. Lancaster passed away at the age of sixty-eight years and his wife at the age of sixty-five years.
Robert D. Lancaster attended the public schools and the Wayne Institute, receiving a good intellectual training, and then taught school for one year. He next went to Beth- any, Wayne County, and accepted a clerk- ship with E. W. Hamlin, Esq., with whom he remained for four years. He then pur- chased the store of his employer and suc- cessfully conducted it for four years, when he removed to Salt Rapids, Minn., as a land surveyor for the government, remaining there about three years. Upon returning East he engaged in the mercantile business in con- nection with his brother, William, at New Albany, Pa., and also in the lumber business at Cape Mills, from 1862 to 1867. In 1867 he moved to Forksville, Sullivan County, Pa., and purchased the store opposite what is now the Forksville House, and conducted it for two years alone. At the expiration of that time he took in G. A. McIlwain and they con- ducted the store for three years. His partner then retired and the store was conducted un- til 1875 by our subject. At that time he dis- posed of his store and went to Bethany, Wayne County, for one year. Upon return- ing to Forksville at the expiration of that time, he again took charge of his old store and engaged in general merchandising until
he retired from business in 1894. He has since assisted his son, Brenton S., who con- ducts a drug store in Forksville, and is also engaged in business in Towanda, Bradford County. He resides in a handsome home in Forksville and is surrounded by a large circle of friends.
Mr. Lancaster was united in marriage withi Serenda Mathers, who died in 1890 at the age of thirty-eight years, and they reared the following children: Hammond D .; Brenton S .; and Gertrude A. Our subject is a Demo- crat and has served as school director, county auditor and justice of the peace. In religious attachments he is an attendant of the Episco- pal Church, but his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
OHN B. ZIMMERMAN comes from a family which has long been noted for natural mechanical talents. At an early age he entered his father's shop to learn the blacksmith's trade. His father was a skilled blacksmith, as also was his grandfather.
As our subject grew older he became a skilled workman and displayed unusual apt- ness in his chosen trade. He erected a large and commodious shop in Shamokin, where he manufactures wagons, carriages, and all kinds of vehicles. Being sensible. upright and shrewd in his business affairs, he has built up a trade reaching over a wide expanse of terri- tory. New plans which promise any real ad- vance in his business are readily added to his present system, thus affording him facilities for carrying on an enterprise second to none of its kind in Shamokin. Mr. Zimmerman employs a force of ten or twelve men to assist him in furnishing his trade with celerity and promptness, and his present prospects point to a still greater expansion of the business.
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In the spring of 1899 our subject changed the location of his plant from the corner of Independence and Market streets, where he had carried on his business since 1868, to West Sixth street, in the vicinity of the high bridge.
Our subject is a son of Jeremiah and Har- riet (Bright) Zimmerman, and was born in Sunbury, Northumberland County, May 22, 1851, receiving his education in the public schools of Shamokin. His paternal grand- father, George H. Zimmerman, was a native of Berks County, but subsequently located in Sunbury, Northumberland County, where he was a prominent blacksmith. He rendered valuable service to his country during the War of 1812. His maternal grandfather, Ja- cob Bright, was a jeweler by trade; he, too, fought bravely during the War of 1812, and afterward died at Sunbury.
Jeremiah Zimmerman, father of our sub- ject, was a man of such unusual prominence that a brief sketch of his life deserves men- tion here. He was born in Berks County, l'a., in January, 1820, and was brought to this county with his parents at the early age of seven years. His advantages for securing an education were of the poorest and he re- ceived but three months' schooling. In his father's shop he learned the blacksmith's trade, which business he followed in Sunbury for many years, discontinuing it after being elected justice of the peace, which position he retained for several years. Later he moved to the borough of Northumberland and was collector for the Pennsylvania Canal, at which time the management was under the control of the state. He served in this capacity three years, after which he engaged in business as a coal operator, being a member of the firm of Zimmerman & Purcell. This business was carried on very successfully for a few years,
but the company met with reverses and finally failed in 1856. While in the coal business Mr. Zimmerman was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature and served two terms; he was also president of a Shamokin . Banking Institute. After going out of the coal business he was engaged by various firms as bookkeeper, also as superintendent for various coal operators, and in 1864 he located permanently in Shamokin. He was a Demo- crat of the most ardent type and was active and untiring in the interests of his party. He served as burgess for the town of Shamokin for three terms, rounding out his closing years as an efficient public servant whose record of- fers a splendid example of what may be ac- complished in the voyage through life with- out educational advantages in youth. He died in 1893. He had been a Mason for over fifty years. Nine children blessed the union of Jeremiah Zimmerman and his excellent wife, two of whom died in infancy, and the following grew to manhood and womanhood : Ella Lucy, now deceased; Harriet, wife of Paul Roth of Shamokin; John B., subject of this sketch; George, a painter by trade, in the employ of our subject, and lives in Shamo- kin; Rosa, wife of Samuel Haas, also of Sha- mokin; Milton, an attorney of note, residing in Danville; and William Cameron, who is a painter and resides in Philadelphia.
On April 5, 1874, our subject was united in marriage with Jane Newberry of North- umberland borough, and six children were born to bless their home: Ida May; Edward B., now his father's able assistant as book- keeper; Harriet M .; John; Clara; and Gro- ver Cleveland. Mr. Zimmerman, like his fath- er, is a strong believer in the principles of Democracy, but has not sought political hon- ors. He was persuaded to serve as assistant burgess of Shamokin, which position he filled
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with credit and distinction. He is a pleasant gentleman and is a valued member of his com- munity.
REDERICK GROSS, a successful and prosperous general merchant of Mount Carmel, Northumberland County, is a man who began life on a farm, but worked his way up until now he is one of Mount Carmel's leading business men, while at the same time retaining his fondness for and interest in farming. He was born in Union County, this state, January 9, 1846, and is a son of Charles and Annie (Forsyth) Gross. The great-grandfather of our subject was a native of Germany, and when he came to this country settled in one of the eastern counties of Pennsylvania, finally locating in Union County, where he died.
The father of our subject was born in Ly- coming County, Pa., and when a young man he removed to Union County, where he fol- lowed his trade as a shoemaker and also en- gaged in farming. He died in the spring of 1864, at the age of seventy-two years. Mr. Gross' mother was a native of Union County. She died in 1891, at the age of nearly eighty- five years. The family of Charles and Annie Gross consisted of ten children, as follows: Jackson, who resides in Union County, this state; Margaret, who died young; Martha, who is a resident of Fulton County, Ill .; Charles, Catharine and Mary, who reside in Union County, Charles occupying the old family homestead; two, who died in infancy; Frederick, the subject of our sketch; and Samuel, who resides in New Berlin, Union County, Pa.
Our subject, Frederick Gross, was reared on the homestead of his parents in Union County and obtained a common school edu-
cation. He remained on the farm until lic was eighteen years of age, when, having an ambition to be something more than a farmier, he set out on his own account. He learned the trade of harness-maker, at which he worked for some time. In 1865 he removed to Mount Carmel, where he secured an ad- vantageous opening as a clerk in a general store. He remained in the store for several years, mastering every detail of the general- merchandise business, and finally engaged in business for himself. By his energy, careful attention to small details and his uniform courtesy he immediately placed himself on a popular basis with the purchasing community and was very successful from his start in busi- ness on his own account. He has since fol- lowed the mercantile business and now has one of the largest and principal stores in Mount Carmel. In addition to his store, Mr. Gross owns a farm in the Buffalo Valley. Union County, which contains 130 acres and to which he gives considerable attention.
In politics our subject always has been an ardent Republican and, although he never has cared for or sought office, he has been called upon to fill the offices of school director and councilman, in which he displayed the same ability which has made his business so successful and served to the entire satisfaction of his friends and constituents. Religiously Mr. Gross is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Mount Carmel, of which he has been a member for twenty-five years and in which he was for several years an active leader and an ardent worker. Mr. Gross is a member of Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 630. I. O. O. F., which he joined in 1868, and for seventeen years he has been secretary of the lodge.
In October, 1863, Mr. Gross was united in marriage to Susan Heim, daughter of John
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Heim. To them have been born these chil- dren : Charles S., who resides in Mount Car- mel, and who married Hattie Fisher, and is engaged in the mercantile business with his father; Calvin E., who also resides in Mount Carmel and married Della Klase, who died at the birth of her first child; Agnes, unmarried; Alice, who died at the age of eleven months; and Annie, who is the wife of Frank Christ of Mount Carmel.
ON. HENRY M. HINCKLEY, one of Danville's most eminent and hon ored attorneys, and ex-judge of Montour County, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., June 2, 1850. He is a son of Joel and Theodosia (Graydon) Hinckley, grandson of Charles Hinckley, and great-grandson of Joel and Hopestill (Brewster) Hinckley.
Hopestill (Brewster) Hinckley, the great- grandmother of our subject, was born in Leb- anon, Conn., May 27, 1760, and was a daugh- ter of Ichabod Brewster. Ichabod Brewster was born in Saxony, Mass., in 1710, and his wife was Lydia Barstow; he was a son of William and Lydia (Partridge) Brewster, and a grandson of Truelove Brewster. Truelove Brewster was a son of Elder William Brewster, who was born in Wales in 1560; he, with his wife Mary, came to America on the May- flower, in 1620, and he was the first minister in the New England States. Joel Hinckley, the great-grandfather of our subject, resided at Lebanon, Conn., all his life. His son Charles was born in Lebanon, Conn., April 26, 1786, and moved to Weathersfield, Vt., where he lived a number of years, then mi- grated to Harrisburg, Pa., where he followed his trade as a blacksmith the rest of his active days. He retired from active labors, moving to Danville, where he passed from this life
at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife was born in 1788 and died in 1836. They were the parents of the following children : Joel; Lucretia, who died in infancy; Julia Ann; Charles, who died in infancy; and Lucretia.
Joel Hinckley, the father of our subject. was born at Weathersfield, Vt., January 19, 1809, and moved to Danville, Pa., in 1860, for many years being connected with the well- known firm of Waterman & Beaver. His latter days were spent in retirement. He was united in marriage with Theodosia Graydon, who was born November 1, 1812, and who was the daughter of William and Eleanor Graydon. Eight children blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hinckley, namely: Ellen: Wil- liam, and Andrew, who died in infancy: Julia. who died unmarried; Charles, deceased, who married a Miss Travis; Alice and Helen, who died in infancy; and Henry M., our subject. The father of our subject entered the world of rest at the age of eighty-four, and his wife died at the age of forty-three years.
Henry M. Hinckley received his primary education in the public schools of Harrisburg. Pa., and then entered Princeton College. from which he was graduated in 1874. In addi- tion to his regular course he studied law and upon his graduation he returned to Danville and became a student of law with Isaac X. Grier. He was admitted to the bar of Mon- tour County in 1875 and to the Supreme Court in 1878; he immediately began prac- ticing his chosen profession with I. X. Grier, and continued with him until the latter re- tired from business to pass the sunset of life in quietude and peace. Hon. Henry M. Hinckley has a fine suite of rooms at No. 350 Mill street, and also has one of the best pri- vate- libraries in Eastern Pennsylvania. He is one of the foremost attorneys of Montour
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WILSON U. JURY.
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County and has established a large practice; he possesses a large fund of knowledge, is fluent in speech and a pleasant talker. Our subject was appointed judge of the Montour courts in 1888 by Gov. James A. Beaver, which evidenced his popularity in the com- munity. He is president of the Danville Y. M. C. A.
Hon. Henry M. Hinckley was united in marriage with Minnie S. Gearhart, a daugh- ter of Maybury Gearhart of Roaring Creek, and they have reared the following children : Sarah G .; John M., a student at Lafayette College; Eleanor; Edna, who attends Wilson College at Chambersburg, Pa .; and Elizabeth S. He is a member and elder of the Mahon- ing Presbyterian Church and is superintend- ent of the Sabbath School. Our subject has a handsome residence at Riverside surrounded by a beautiful lawn. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
ILSON U. JURY, whose work as an architect is unexcelled in Columbia County, has an established reputa- tion and is one of the most enterprising and progressive citizens of Bloomsburg. He is a son of Benjamin W. and Susan (Wirt) Jury, and was born in Millersburg, Dauphin Coun- ty, Pa., August 1, 1866.
Benjamin W. Jury, the father of our subject, was also born in Millersburg, but has resided in Bloomsburg since 1891. He is well and favorably known throughout the county as a contractor and builder, and many of the principal buildings of the vicinity were erected by him. Among his first contracts was the erection of the Bloomsburg Silk Mills, which are the largest in Central Pennsylvania, and he fulfilled his contract to the letter, thereby winning not only the confidence of his em-
ployers but others who were in nowise finan- cially concerned. He also built the Metho- dist Episcopal Church of Bloomsburg, one of the most beautiful edifices in this section of the state. It is constructed of gray stone and with its irregular and deeply-indented sides presents a very attractive appearance, which is in keeping with the handsomely finished in- terior. He received contracts for many of the principal residences in Bloomsburg, and their beautiful appearance bespeaks the excel- lence of his work. The following are among the most important: the homes of W. H. Slate, E. C. Wells, R. R. Little, Rev. Dona- hue, Paul E. Wirt on Fifth street, J. H. Maize, Mr. Frymire, and twenty houses which were built for Joseph Ratti. He pur- chased the former home of L. N. Moyer, which he enlarged, remodeled and fitted up with all modern conveniences, and in which he has since resided. He is now living in practical retirement and enjoying the fruits of his early industry, but he is still a large stock- holder in many of the leading manufactories of Bloomsburg.
Benjamin W. Jury twice took marriage vows, his first wife being Susan Wirt, a native of Dauphin County, and they became the par- ents of nine children : Wilson U., the gentle- man whose name appears at the head of these lines; Alda, who married F. E. Enery; How- ard, a carpenter of Bloomsburg; Israel. a hatter of Philadelphia; Aaron, a carpenter of Scranton, Pa .; Dora and Ira, students; and Abner. His second union was with Mrs. Ka- tie (Crist) McHenry, and they reared one son. -Benjamin.
Wilson U. Jury received his mental train- ing in the public schools of Millersburg and Williamsport, Pa., and when a very small boy began working with his father during vaca- tions and spare moments, thus acquiring a
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good knowledge of building. He was a nat- ural mechanic and draughtsman and went to Philadelphia, where for three years he served an apprenticeship to an architect, after which he engaged as an architect in Norristown for four years. In July, 1892, he moved to Bloomsburg and was decidedly successful from the start. Most of the residences erected by his father and many others were built from plans prepared by him, and he is firmly es- tablished in the confidence and good-will of the citizens of Bloomsburg. As an architect he has no superior, and his work gives gen- eral satisfaction. He is not only efficient in draughting but can aptly follow a descriptive idea and draught it on block as a means of illustration. He performed the architectural work for a number of public structures, among them the First National Bank of Bloomsburg: Catawissa High School; Nes- copeck High School; and the residences of C. B. Lutz, Dr. J. W. Bruner, Prof. F. H. Jenkins, and J. G. Harman. He has a large and well-equipped office in the First National Bank building on the corner of Main and Market streets, and owns and lives in a handsome residence on Jefferson street. Al- though he is a young man just entering the prime of life, Mr. Jury's success has been lit- tle short of phenomenal, and he has hosts of friends who wish him continued prosperity and happiness.
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