USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 51
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Mr. Derby's father, Chauncey H !. Derby. was born in 1805. He was the first hardware merchant in Scranton. He is also recalled as the second Mason in Scranton, Joseph God- frey having been the first citizen of the town to enter the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Derby was a man of great energy and was fond of travel. He saw much of the world. He was one of the organizers of the Republican party and a colleague of that sturdy statesman. Galusha A. Grow. He never sought office. although he always was very active in party politics. He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church and a pronounced tem- perance man.
The family from which the mother of our subject descended, the Carys, may be traced back for several generations. The family originated in Somersetshire, England. The ancestor from whom the Carys date was Sir Lucius Cary, who was born in Somersetshire. England, in 1504. He married a sister of the celebrated Anne Boleyn, becoming by his marriage an uncle to Queen Elizabeth. In a direct line was the Earl of Hunsdon, a cousin of the queen. The next was Sir Rob- ert Cary, who was at the death-bed of Queen Elizabeth and was the first to convey the
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news of her expressed desire that her cousin, James I., should succeed to the throne. The oldest son became Lord Faulkner, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer under Charles II. One of the younger sons, John Cary, the immediate ancestor, was sent to France to complete his education. While he was in France his father died and there followed some difficulty in settling the estate. He took a younger son's part, fio, and in 1634 came to Connecticut where he joined the Pil- grims. He was among the original settlers and property holders at Duxbury and Bridge- water, Conn. The first purchase of lands was made from the native Indians in 1639 and the deed was made to four distinguished men, Miles Standish, Capt. Mayflower, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, as trustees for William Bradford, John Cary and fifty-two other settlers. The consideration named in the deed is interesting reading in this age. It was as follows: Seven coats, to contain one and a half yards of cloth to each coat; nine hatchets; eight hoes; twenty knives; four mooseskins; and ten and a half yards of cot- ton. John Cary married Elizabeth Godfrey in 1644. Their second child, Francis, was born in 1647 and he married Hannah Britt in 1676. They reared a family of five child- ren, the oldest, Samuel, born in 1667, married Mary Poole in 1704. Samuel and Mary (Poole) Cary came to this country after their marriage and located in Dutchess County, N. Y. They had eight children of whom the eighth, Eleazer, was born in 1718 and was a direct ancestor of the subject. Eleazer mi- grated from Connecticut in 1769, whither he had gone from New York, and located in the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania. He married a Miss Sturtevant and they had a family of six children. Their second child, John, was born May 7, 1756, and was the great-grand-
father of our subject. He was noted as a man of herculean build and strength. He served under Capt. Durkee in the War of the Revolution and was at the memorable Wyom- ing Massacre. He died in 1844 at the age of eighty-eight years and was buried in Wilkes- barre. One of his brothers, Samuel, a sma l. active man, was also in the battle at Wyom- ing and was captured by the Indians and held by them for six years, and was supposed by the family to have been killed. In 1744 Samuel returned to the Valley where he passed the remainder of his days. The great- grandfather of our subject had eleven child- ren, the sixth being the maternal grandfather of our subject, Miner Cary. He was one of the earliest settlers in the vicinity of what is now Scranton and owned a large part of the land which is now occupied by the site of the city of Scranton. He married Sarah Deans and to them were born eleven children, of whom Esther P. Cary, mother of our subject, was born in Scranton, Pa., March 17, 1817.
HOMAS J. PRICE. superintendent of the Mahoning Rolling Mill Com- pany of Danville, and a highly re- spected citizen of that town, was born at Tredegar, Wales, February 26, 1855, and is a son of Prof. John M. and Mary (Roberts) Price, and a grandson of Thomas Price.
The father of our subject was born at Rhymny, Wales, in 1828, and came to the United States in 1854, locating in New York City. In the same year he moved to Dan- ville, Pa., where he became boss-roller of the Montour Rolling Mills. In 1865 he was em- ployed in the Rough and Ready Mills, now the Mahoning Rolling Mill Company, and two years later he went to Syracuse, N. Y .. where he accepted a position as superintend-
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RUFUS K. POLK.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
ent of the Syracuse Rolling Mill Company. In 1881 he retired from that line of business and devoted his time to music, having studied music when young and also while working at his trade. Mr. Price possessed a beautiful voice. While a resident of Danville, Pa., he organized a quartet composed of John A. Jones, Robert James, Joseph Parry and him- self. This quartet acquired an extended repu- tation, and in 1865 they took a trip to Eng- land, where they were cordially received. Mr. Parry received numerous prizes for his excel- lent compositions and was made professor of music in the College of Swansea, Wales. Mr. Price is now successfully engaged in follow- ing the musical profession in New York City. He was united in marriage with Mary Rob- erts, a daughter of Thomas Roberts, a native of Wales. The following children resulted from this union: John T., superintendent of the Spuyten Duyvil Iron Foundry of New York City; George T., assistant superintend- ent of the Spuyten Duyvil Iron Foundry of New York City; Ella J., wife of Thomas Hos- kins of New York City; Frank S., a sergeant of the New York City police; Mary A., a teacher in music; Sarah, who died at the age of three years; Jeannette, a music teacher and stenographer residing at Rome, N. Y .; and Thomas J., our subject. The mother of our subject died in 1867 at the age of thirty-four years.
Thomas J. Price came to the United States with his mother in 1856 and settled in Dan- ville, Pa., where he received his intellectual training. At Syracuse he assisted his father in the iron works, learning the iron and steel trade. He then went to New York City in 1879 and was engaged with the Spuyten Duy- vil Rolling Mill Company until 1883, when he returned to Danville to accept the position of boss-roller at the Glendower Rolling Mills.
In 1885 he went to Harrisburg, Pa., and en gaged as a boss-roller in the Lochiel Steel Works until 1886, when he resigned his posi- tion and returned to Danville to accept the position of superintendent of the Mahoning Rolling Mill Company, in which capacity he las since served.
Mr. Price was married to Sarah Foley, a daughter of Edward Foley of Danville. and to this union three children were born, name- ly: John, who died at the age of two years; Annie Florence; and Edward F. Our sub- ject served as chief burgess of Danville from 1890 to 1896, and was school director one year. He is a supporter of the principles ad- vocated by the Republican party. Socially he is a member of Danville Lodge, No. 780. I. O. O. F .; and of the Improved Order of Heptasophs. He was appointed postmaster of Danville, February 15, 1899, and took possession of the postoffice April 1, 1899.
R UFUS K. POLK, of Danville, Pa., is general manager of the North Branch Steel Company, Danville. and one of the firm of Howe & Polk, manu- facturers of structural tubing and special shapes in iron and steel products.
Mr. Polk was born in Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee, August 23, 1866, and re- moved to Pennsylvania when sixteen years of age; he was educated at Lehigh University. where he graduated, taking first the degree of B. S. and afterwards that of Mining Engineer. Immediately after his graduation he located in Danville, Montour County, where for many years he was chemist of the Montour Iron & Steel Company: he finally became assistant superintendent of this company, and left there to become the general manager of the North
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Branch Steel Company. On February 17, 1898, the firm of Howe & Polk was organized, after the purchase of the Mahoning Rolling Mill Company property. This plant is busily engaged in the manufacture of structural tub- ing and special shapes, and gives employment to several hundred men. Mr. Polk has taken an active part in politics, and in 1898 was elected to represent the Seventeenth Congres- sional District in the Fifty-sixth Congress. He has also taken an interest in the local affairs of the town, having served for several years as president of the board of water commis- sioners.
In 1892 Mr. Polk married Isabella Mont- gomery Grier, only daughter of Isaac X. Grier, of Danville. They have three children, namely: Emma Grier; Porter Grier; and Isabella Grier. Mr. Polk served as first lieu- tenant in Company F, 12th Reg., Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, in the late war with Spain. His portrait is presented on a preceding page.
PATTERSON MOORE, one of the progressive and substantial cit- izens of the village of Buckhorn, lias been successfully engaged in wagon-mak- ing there since 1862. He is a son of John and Joanna (Appleman) Moore, and was born in Madison township, Columbia County, March 17, 1824.
The paternal great-grandfather of our sub- ject was a native of England and came to America prior to the War of the Revolution. settling on the New Jersey side of the Dela- ware River just above Philadelphia, where he owned two farms. He reared a family, one of his children being Samuel Moore, the grandfather of our subject, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. He was a great
champion of Washington, under whom he served, and during his latter days would not stand by and hear the Father of his Country criticised. At the close of the war he settled on a farm near Petersburg, Northumberland County, and later in Madison township, Co- lumbia County, where he owned two farms, aggregating 224 acres. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he served as elder for many years.
John Moore, the father of our subject, the youngest of a family of ten children, was born in Northumberland County, Pa., in 1797. He was one of the prosperous farmers of West Hemlock township, Montour County, where he owned a farm of 124 acres of good land. During his early life he was for a short time engaged in distilling. Religiously he was an adherent to the faith of the Presbyterian Church. In political views he sided with the Democratic party. He was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Joanna Appleman, a daughter of Mathias Appleman, a farmer of Benton township, Columbia County, and they are the happy parents of seven children: N. Patterson, the gentleman whose name appears at the head of these lines; Mathias; Samuel; John; William Boyd; Sarah Cox: and Mrs. Mary Ellen Purcel.
N. Patterson Moore received his intellect- ual training in the public schools and at Bloomsburg Academy, after which he taught school for one term. He then learned the wagon-making trade, which he followed first in Northumberland County and then in Hun- terdon County, N. J., where he was employed in a first-class shop. In 1848 he moved to Benton, Columbia County, where he con- ducted a shop in connection with agricultural pursuits until 1862, when he moved to Buck- horn, and has since been engaged in the wagon-making trade. During his many years
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at his trade he has acquired great skill and his services are always in demand. He is hekl in high esteem by his fellow-citizens.
On June 6, 1840, our subject was united in marriage to Araminta Kline, a daughter of Isaac Kline, who was for many years a justice of the peace in Orange township, Columbia County, and they are parents of three daugh- ters and two sons, namely: Mary Joanna, wife of John Shultz, a farmer of Madison township, Columbia County; John, a wagon- maker of Wilkesbarre; Lavina, who was for- merly a teacher but is now a milliner; Charles H., ex-county surveyor of Columbia County. and now a teacher and principal of the Nesco- , peck schools; and Elizabeth, a graduate of the State Normal School of Bloomsburg and for seven years a successful teacher, who is now the wife of John H. Wingert, a promi- nent farmer and teacher of Lewisburg, Pa. Politically Mr. Moore is a Democrat and was elected justice of the peace in May, 1869, which office he has since satisfactorily filled. Socially he is a member of Catawissa Lodge, No. 349, F. & A. M .; Catawissa Chapter, No. 168; Crusade Commandery, No. 12, Knights Templar; and a member of the Masonic Con- sistory, of which he is past high priest and eminent commander.
EORGE A. ERIEG, the efficient manager of J. M. Otto's baking es- tablishment at Shamokin, Northum- berland County, Pa., is a son of John G. and Catherine (Kiehl) Erieg, and was born in April, 1859, at Williamsport, Pa. He received his education in his native place and learned the trade of a baker from his father. In 1875 he became a partner with his father, their business being conducted under the firm name
of John G. Erieg & Son. This firm continued until the death of his father, after which our subject managed the business for his mother until her death. The business was then sold to settle the estate. Three days after the sale Mr. Erieg engaged to work for George .A. Kiehl, who at that time purchased the Sha- mokin Bakery of William Henry & Son. Not desiring to continue the business longer. Mr. Kiehl sold out at a very large profit to J. M. Otto, the present owner, and Mr. Erieg was retained as manager. Under his splendid management the business has increased in val- ue and prospered until the present output is enormous, being estimated at $100,000 worth of stock sold a year. On December 27. 1898. Mr. Erieg took a Southern trip, arriving on the Island of Cuba on January 2, 1899, and there he remained for five weeks. Imme- diately after his arrival there he became a member of the Casino Espanol, a very fash- ionable club, and received the benefit of its hospitality while in Havana. In connection with this organization is a hospital of seven wards, employing thirty-two physicians and one hundred nurses, and the membership of the club numbers 12,000. The grounds sur- rounding the club-house are most beautiful. being set out with trees and shrubbery of var- ious kinds. Mr. Erieg combined business with pleasure on this excursion and secured an option on two of the finest tobacco planta- tions in Cuba, one of which he has since bought. This trip was one of greatest pleas- ure and one to which our subject will always look back with enjoyment, as it was one of the most interesting events in his life.
Bertha M. Hagenbouch, a daughter of Sam- uel Hagenbouch of Bloomsburg. Columbia County, Pa., became the wife of our subject and their home has been blessed by one son. Charles \. Mr. Erieg is a worthy member of
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the Lutheran Church and is quite liberal in the support of the same. Socially he is a member of the Cresco Club of Shamokin.
John G. Erieg, our subject's father, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, as was also his father before him, and learned the trade of a baker most thoroughly in his native country by passing through the different grades of apprenticeship. After immigrating to this country he located in the city of Lan- caster, Pa., but shortly after removed to Co- lumbia, where he engaged in his chosen occu- pation. He was subsequently at Sunbury, then at Williamsport, where he enjoyed the distinction of being the first baker in the city. In 1865 he removed to York, Pa., where he assisted in operating the mineral water estab- lishment of his brother-in-law, George Kiehl. After pursuing that occupation for a couple of years he branched forth as a lumber and real estate dealer in York, but subsequently re- moved to Williamsport in 1870 and engaged with the insurance firm of McVeigh & Sny- der. But he was not satisfied to remain at that, so he tried his luck at dealing in gro- ceries and queensware for about three years, but finally returned to his former trade as baker. He added a new branch to the busi- ness which greatly increased the magnitude of his stock as well as his profit. He included with bread-making the manufacture of crack- ers and all kinds of fancy cakes. Previous to that time both crackers and cakes were strict- ly home-made articles and a bakery where such edibles could be purchased was quite a novelty. From that time on he followed this occupation continuously until his death, after which his widow operated the same business. with the able assistance of our subject, unti! she died. In order to settle the estate the es- tablishment was sold to the United States Baking Company.
Our subject's father was a stanch Democrat and was active in party affairs, being always pleased at the success of his party. He was a member of the school board for a number of years and served in the common and select councils for about thirty years. At his death he was a member of the select council. He was a valued and consistent member of the Lutheran Church and was for many years su- perintendent of the Sabbath School of that denomination. He and his worthy wife had a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely: William G., a resident of Shamokin; George, subject of this sketch; Mary; Kate S .; Louis E., of Shamokin; Eliz- abeth, the wife of John M. Otto, proprietor of the Shamokin Bakery; and Frank, who is attending the University of Pennsylvania.
ARCUS D. HORN. This prominent and enterprising young farmer is successfully engaged in the culti- vation of the soil in Davidson township, Sul- livan County, Pa., where he owns a handsome farm, which ranks among the foremost in the township. He was born in Laporte township. July 27, 1861, and is a son of Daniel Horn and grandson of Andrew Horn.
Andrew Horn, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was one of the pioneer settlers of La- porte and was the owner of the Rogers prop- erty; shortly after purchasing the property he set about clearing a portion of the farm, and engaged in tilling the soil. Later in life he moved to Waller, Columbia County, Pa., and died there at the age of eighty-two years. He was joined in the bonds of matri- mony with Eve Rorach, and a family of nine children was born to them, namely: John;
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Daniel; Freeman; Benjamin; William; Bet- sy; Angeline; and Sarah.
Daniel Horn, the father of our subject, was born in Columbia County, and lived in that county until sixteen years of age, when his parents removed to Laporte township. His younger days were spent in assisting his father in clearing the homestead and in attending the common school. He was educated in ag- ricultural pursuits and carried on that voca- tion all his active career. He bought a farm in Laporte township, which consisted mostly of timber land, and cleared the same, making it one of the best farms in his neighborhood. He was well-known throughout his township and possessed the confidence and esteem of a host of acquaintances. He entered the world of rest at the age of thirty-four years. He was the father of a family of five children, as fol- lows: Malinda; Alveretta; Keturah; Jean- nette; and Marcus D., the subject of this per- sonal history. The mother of our subject formed a second matrimonial alliance with Levi Hess, and they became the parents of four children: Ella; Harvey; Hugh; and Clarence.
Marcus D. Horn was intellectually trained for the battles of life in the public schools of his native township, and spent his leisure hours aiding his father in the work about the farm, thus acquiring a good education in farming. Upon attaining his manhood he purchased a tract of land in the wilderness of Davidson township and began lumbering and farming, in which occupations he has been very suc- cessful. He has cleared a part of his pur- chase and made many other improvements upon it, such as erecting a new house, out- buildings, and putting the land under a high state of cultivation. When our subject's time is not occupied in clearing the farm or har- vesting he is engaged in selling nursery
products, being a salesman for the C. W. Stewart & Company and the Perry & Com- pany nurseries; he is also engaged in the in- surance business, representing the New York Life Insurance Company. Mr. Horn is widely known throughout Sullivan County as an en- terprising and progressive citizen and enjoys the respect and good will of his many friends.
Mr. Horn formed a matrimonial alliance with Eunice Foust, a daughter of Amos Foust of Davidson township, Sullivan County. Two sons blessed the happy home of our subject and wife, namely: Roland, and Herbert. In po- litical views our subject firmly supports the Democratic party, and has served as school di- rector and in minor township offices. Reli- giously he and his family are devoted members of the Evangelical Church. Socially he is a member of the local lodge of the I. O. O. F., and the Encampment of Laporte.
IEUTENANT ANDREW JACKSON STROH, one of the oldest and most energetic and progressive citizens of Sunbury, Pa., was born on February 21. 1828, in Upper Augusta township, and also was reared in that township. He is a son of Philip and Margaret (Farrow) Stroh. A vet- eran of the Civil War, Mr. Stroh has an ex- cellent record as a soldier of which he and his family are justly proud.
Seeking a suitable field for his energy and industry, Philip Stroh, father of our subject. removed from Canistoga Center, near Lan- caster, in 1808 and settled in Upper Augusta township where he engaged in farming. a distilling enterprise, and also added to his occupations that of butcher. A cooper by trade he had practically abandoned the occu- pation which he had followed in his youthful
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days. In politics Mr. Stroh was allied with the Whigs and he filled several local offices to the entire satisfaction of his neighbors. At the age of seventy-eight years he died in Upper Augusta township on January 23, 1838. Our subject's father twice entered the bonds of matrimony, his first wife being Miss Spindler and the union resulting in a family of six children. His second marriage was to Margaret, daughter of James Farrow who migrated from "Jugtown," now the "West End," in New Jersey near Eastern Pennsyl- vania, and settled in Upper Augusta town- ship where he followed blacksmithing all his life. Mr. Farrow ended his earthly journey in 1840 at the age of sixty-five years. His wife was Miss Lacy and their family consisted of nine children. Our subject's mother was born in Upper Augusta township, February 28. 1802, and died in the same township in 1867, leaving two sons, George W., and An- drew J.
After receiving a public school education the subject of our sketch, Andrew Jackson Stroh, learned his trade as a harness and sad- dle-maker at Danville, finishing his appren- ticeship in three years. In the spring of 1849 he engaged in business for himself in Sun- bury continuing there until the spring of 1857. He then went to Bremer County,. Ia., where he followed farming and also his trade, mak- ing saddles on the prairie. Internal strife threatened the destiny of the nation and the first drums of war had sounded their alarms. Among the first to respond to his country's call was our subject who, in July, 1861, en- listed in the 9th Iowa Vol. Inf., serving one year as orderly sergeant of Company G. He served in the Army of Southwest Missouri under Gen. Samuel R. Curtis and participated in the important and severe battle of Pea Ridge which victory for the Union troops
had so important bearing upon the subsequent movements of the Union forces; and subse- quently our subject fought with Gen. Franz Sigel when the threatened invasion of Wash- ington by Gen. Lee's army was prevented. At the expiration of his first year's service Mr. Stroh was discharged because of sickness and returned to Sunbury. While the excite- ment preceding the battle of Antietam was greatest he assisted in raising an emergency company of prominent citizens of Sunbury of which he was first lieutenant under Capt. Charles Bruner, the company being desig- nated as Company D, 3d Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf. The company did duty at Hagerstown, Md., witnessing the battle of Antietam within plain hearing of the fearful cannonading, and was on duty for eleven days. When the Confed- erates made their raid which culminated in the sanguinary struggle at Gettysburg our sub- ject again promptly aided in raising an emer- gency company which was known as Com- pany F, 36th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., under com- mand of Col. H. C. Alleman. The company went to Gettysburg and was in service from July 5th to August 1Ith, 1863.
Returning to his home after the services stated, Mr. Stroh engaged in business which has grown constantly until it is now among the most important in Sunbury. He acts as an auctioneer, is proprietor of the "Eagle Livery," is a wholesale manufacturer of har- ness and horse collars and jobber in wagons, buggies and sleighs on East Market street, doing an extensive and lucrative business. He is an honored member of William A. Bruner Post, No. 335. G. A. R., and of Fort Augusta Lodge, No. 620, I. O. O. F., and also is a past grand in the order named and has served as representative in the grand lodge of the state.
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