USA > Pennsylvania > Book of biographies; This volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of the Seventeenth congressional district, Pennsylvania > Part 71
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W. Joseph Harrison attended the public schools of his native city until he was twelve years of age, when he began working in the knitting mills, entering the employ of J. J.
Glazier & Co., where he took advantage of every opportunity offered for advancement. After gaining a thorough knowledge of the business he accepted a position as foreman of the Love & Company Knitting Mills of Phil- adelphia, which he held in a satisfactory man- ner for a period of four years, when he be- came manager of the Thomas West Mills, in that city. At the expiration of five years time he became foreman of the Taylor & Haw- thorne Company of Wilmington, Del., re- maining with that firm until 1896, when he came to Danville and became stockholder and general manager of the Danville Knitting Mill Company, which was formerly the Equitable Stocking Company. At that time the plant was located on West Center street in an old school-house which was rebuilt to meet the requirements of the business. In July, 1898, the company erected a three-story brick build- ing, 48x84 feet, on Church street, which they now occupy. It is well lighted with electricity and heated with steam and equipped in every way for the convenience of carrying on the business. They make a specialty of gentle- men's fine hose, and, as the demand for their goods is exceedingly large, 300 skilled hands are constantly employed. This was the first factory in the vicinity of Danville to employ female help, thereby effecting a great good by giving employment to many needy persons.
Mr. Harrison was united in matrimonial bonds with Mary D. Farrell, a daughter of Edwin W. Farrell, a machinist of more than ordinary skill, of Philadelphia, and they are the happy parents of five children, namely: Annie; William; Lillie; Joseph; and Thom- as. Socially he is past sachem of Mahoning Tribe, No. 77, I. O. R. M .; and was the or- ganizer of Ialtah Tribe, No. 115, and of Men- eola Tribe No. 187. Politically, our subject is a Democrat.
REV. ROBERT N. HARRIS.
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
EV. ROBERT N. HARRIS. It is a pleasure to write the review of the life and work of a man such as is the subject of this sketch, however brief and inadequate it may be in some details. Clothed in the spirit as well as the garb of the min- istry, naturally modest and unassuming, Rob- ert N. Harris is not the man to tell much of his deeds nor to take unto himself as much credit as is cheerfully given to him by those who know him best and who are most inti- mately associated with him in his church work. Higher compliment need not be paid our subject than to characterize him as a strong, eloquent man of God as pastor and Christian, and as an equally strong, self-pos- sessed, helpful man as citizen, neighbor and friend.
Rev. Robert N. Harris is a son of Robert N. and Mary A. (Kees) Harris, and was born in West Philadelphia, Pa., October 28, 1866. He is the popular, scholarly and successful pastor of the First Congregational Church of Mount Carmel, a church which has constantly increased in numbers and influence for good under his ministrations.
Our subject was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia and also had the bene- fit of instructions by Rev. P. J. Kain of Phila- delphia, under whose guidance he well pre- pared himself to enter the ministry as he had determined to do when quite young, which decision was made upon his conversion. Af- ter devoting himself to evangelistic work for some time our subject was made associate pastor with his tutor and friend, Rev. P. J. Kain, and was placed in charge of the First Congregational Church at West Pittston, Pa., in September, 1891. He remained in charge of that church until March, 1894, when he accepted a call to the Second Congregational Church at Coaldale, Schuylkill County, Pa.,
where he remained until September, 1896, during which time the membership of the church was increased twelvefold and a beau- tiful house of worship built and dedicated, free from all debt. He then removed to Mount Carmel and assumed the pastorate of the church of which he is now the head. He presides over the largest Protestant congre- gation in the town, his church has all the cus- tomary working societies and the increase in membership has been large and rapid since he became pastor. When he was called to Mount Carmel the church was in quite a sad state in many respects and the few surviving members, who had stood by it for many years, were much discouraged but agreed to still hold on and to try once more, provided our subject could be secured as their pastor. Mr. Harris accepted the call and with his char- acterestic energy set to work and aroused such interest and attracted people so gener- ally by his powerful and eloquent preaching and his many good traits of personal charac- ter, that the church is to-day on solid foun- dations and a new and much larger edifice, costing about $6,000, stands a fitting monu- ment to the energy and popularity of the pas- tor and the love and respect in which he is held by his congregation.
Comparatively few weeks have passed since a terrible event occurred which was the means of forever linking with the local history of Mount Carmel and its residents the name an:1 the deeds of Rev. Robert N. Harris. It was in the disastrous railroad wreck at Dunellen, N. J., that the greater, the more conceale.1. manly character of our subject was revealed. He was among those on the ill-fated train and was seated in the midst of the victims of the wrecked coach; unlike many of the offi- cials and others, he retained his self-posses- sion, and, therefore, was able to do what was
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
to be done quickly and effectively. It fell to his lot to assume charge of the rescue and to aid in their exacting work the physicians who first arrived. The details of the terrible catastrophe need not be recounted here, nor is it possible to adequately describe the quiet dignity, the helpful and consoling spirit in which Mr. Harris went among the dead and wounded and ministered to their comfort, bodily and spiritually. Among the passen- gers were a number of the citizens of Mount Carmel, eight of whom yielded up their lives, and to the wounded Mr. Harris spoke words of cheer, gave nourishment, and through all the terrible ordeal, in the midst of the moans of the dying and the pitiful appeals and pray- ers of the suffering, bore himself like unto the true man of God that he is. His was a cheer- ful presence, a ray of gladsome light shedding itself upon the darkness which dread disaster had lowered over many homes in Mount Car- mel. Appreciating his efforts, the railroad company placed free telegraphic communica- tion and a special car at his disposal, and, thus, Mr. Harris was enabled to quickly per- form the sorrowful duty of notifying loved ones of the terrible blow which had fallen. His messages, whether bearing the tidings of death or the notice of injury, were so written that they ever will be remembered as those of a man with a manly and sensitive heart and filled with the tender Godly spirit. His services at the wreck endeared him to those not only within his church but to those who differ with him in belief but unite with all in recognizing his, assistance in a time of need and in loving him for the kindly, effective and gentle manner in which it was given; and, not until after the arrival of the other rescuers, whom Rev. Mr. Harris gave all the credit for their noble work at the wreck, was as- certained the valuable service which Rev. Mr.
Harris had rendered in the terrible hour of need.
On August 17, 1893, our subject married Emma B. Brown, daughter of Charles Wes- ley Brown of West Pittston, Luzerne County, Pa. To the happy couple have been born two children : Wesley Kain, born May 25, 1894, and Eleanor May, born June 25, 1896.
The parents of the subject of this review came of sturdy Scotch-Irish stock, both hav- ing been born in County Donegal, Ireland, where they were reared. The mother of our subject came to this country in 1849, locating in Philadelphia, and the father followed in the succeeding year. The couple were married in 1855. The father in his native country was a farmer and landowner. He located in Phil- adelphia where he was connected for some years with Wetheril & Co., manufacturers of lead, and where he now resides at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife died in July, 1893. In politics the father always has been a Republican. Religiously he is one of the three surviving charter members of the Princeton Presbyterian Church of which Rev. Dr. Addison Henry is pastor. He has always taken active part in the work of that church in which he has long served as an elder.
Robert N. Harris and his wife, Mary, parents of our subject, had given unto them six children: Albert E., William A., and Katharine J., who are deceased; our subject; Annie E., wife of James E. MacIntyre of Germantown, Pa., who is a drummer by oc- cupation; and Charles K., who is a resident of Philadelphia and a brassworker by occu- pation.
To the many friends and well-wishers of Rev. Robert N. Harris, it will be a pleasure to learn that his portrait is shown on a pre- ceding page, in connection with the above account of his life and works.
701
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
ETER BALDY, Sr., who was one of the most prominent men of Danville, was a son of Paul and Catherine (Beam) Baldy, and was born in Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pa. In 1814 he left the town of his nativity and located in Dan- ville where he followed his trade, that of a blacksmith, for several years. He subsequent- ly engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness, at which he was very successful and at which he continued the rest of his life. He was a public-spirited man and did much for the borough of Danville. He organized the first bank of Danville in 1848 and served as its president until his demise. He was a liberal supporter of the volunteer soldiers of Dan- ville, especially of the Baldy Guards under Capt. Ramsey, and the Fencibles under Capt. Shreeve. He did considerable building in the village. He retired from active business du- ties some twenty years before his death, which occurred November 24, 1880. He was al- ways deeply interested in religious works. When young he was an active member of the Lutheran Church, but in 1828, when Christ Episcopal Church was built, he became one of its first vestrymen. His son, Peter Baldy, Jr., was the first to be baptized in the church, and afterwards he became the organist. Peter, Sr., was one of the main supporters of the church and in 1844 presented it with a large bell. He bequeathed $5,000 for the support of the cler- gy of that church, $500 to the Sunday School, and $50,000 for a suitable memorial to him- self and his beloved wife. His will was exe- cuted to the letter, and as a result one of the most beautiful churches in Eastern Pennsyl- vania was erected at Danville. His companion in life was Sarah Hurley, a daughter of Dan- iel and Martha Hurley, who passed to her eter- nal rest in November, 1875, in the eighty-fifth year of her age. They were the parents of the
following children: Edward Hurley, Martha Hurley, Mary Catherine, Peter, Jr., Hurley, and Ellen Ann.
Edward Hurley Baldy was a man of schol- arly attainments and graduated from Prince- ton College before he was of age. He then took up the study of law with Josiah Comly, and was admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-two years. He then began to practice in the village of Danville, and was one of the most successful lawyers of the county. He was a shrewd and energetic man and was an elo- quent orator. His reputation extended throughout the state and he acquired high standing in the foremost ranks of his profes- sion. He was an enterprising man, and, like his father, took an active interest in the wel- fare of Danville. He succeeded his father as president of the Danville National Bank. In company with Charles Paxton he laid out a tract of land which is to-day within the cor- porate limits of the borough. He was attor- ney for all of the early manufacturing plants in the eastern part of the state. He accumu- lated a fortune. In 1872 he erected a hand- some stone residence on West Market street, one of the finest in the town at that time. After living a long and useful life he was called to his final rest in 1891, at the age of seventy years. He was united in the bonds of wedlock to Mary Jennison, a daughter of William Jennison, who was for many years connected with the Pennsylvania Iron Works of Philadelphia, but finally located in Danville, residing on the site of the present Methodist Episcopal parsonage. Five children blessed this union, namely: Mary J. (Grove); Kate G. (Watson); Edward H., Jr., and Emily, deceased; and William Jennison, a well-known attorney and real estate dealer of Danville. who succeeded his father as president of the Danville National Bank. Mrs. Baldy died at
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
the age of twenty-six years. Her husband formed a second matrimonial alliance with Henrietta C. Montgomery, who came from one of the early families of Pennsylvania. She is descended from one Robert Montgomery, who, with his wife Sarah, emigrated from Ire- land at the age of thirty-two years and located on the present site of the city of Harrisburg, Pa., where he engaged in the cultivation of the soil. His son, John, was born in County Ar- magh, Ireland, and was but four years old when he came to America with his parents. He lived in the vicinity of Harrisburg all his life, and his death resulted from an accident in 1792, at the age of fifty-eight years. As a result of his union with Christina Foster he became the parent of a son, David, the grand- father of Mrs. Baldy. David Montgomery married Agnes Shaw, by whom he had the fol- lowing children: Eliza; John G., the father of Mrs. Baldy; Margaret; William S .; David B .; Robert F .; Christina; Nancy; and Caro- line B. John G. Montgomery was born on January 28, 1805, and after reaching maturity studied law under the direction of Judge Cooper of Danville. He was a prominent law- yer of Danville and lived an active life until his demise, in 1857. His first marriage was with Deborah B. Kerr, a daughter of Jacob Kerr, and after her death he married Hen- rietta Cooper, a daughter of his former pre- ceptor, Judge Cooper. This union resulted in the following issue: Agnes; Alice; Elizabeth; Henrietta C .; Margaret; John C .; and Car- oline. Mrs. Baldy died in 1864, leaving five children: Sarah Hurley, the wife of Dr. Irving H. Jennings, a record of whose life appears below; Dr. John Montgomery of Philadel- phia, who is without doubt one of the best physicians of the state of Pennsylvania; Alice, who married a Mr. Hartman; Henry Waller; and Henrietta Cooper. Edward H.
Baldy was again married, his third union be- ing with Alice Montgomery, a sister of his second wife.
Dr. Irving H. Jennings, whose office is lo- cated at No. 104 Mill street, Danville, Pa., is one of the leading dentists of Montour County. He was born in Harrisburg, Pa., and is a son of John C. Jennings. He obtained his intellectual training in the public and high schools of Harrisburg, after which he was prepared for the dental profession in the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1883. Immediately there- after he began practice in Harrisburg and continued until 1885, when he moved to Dan- ville, where he has since continued to prac- tice.
Dr. Jennings was joined in hymeneal bonds with Sara Hurley Baldy, and they are the hap- py parents of a bright and interesting son, Edward Baldy Jennings, who was born in Danville, September 4, 1897. Religiously, Dr. and Mrs. Jennings are consistent members of Christ Episcopal Church of Danville.
ILLIAM F. HALEY, a leading merchant of Locust Gap, who is proprietor of one of the largest gro- cery stores of that place, is known for his hon- est and upright dealings with all and is a man of the strictest integrity. He is a son of Pat- rick and Barbara (Meisberger) Haley, and was born in Coal township, Northumberland County, Pa., August 14, 1871.
Patrick Haley, the father of our subject. was born February 22, 1835, at Mount Laffer, Schuylkill County, Pa., and moved to North- umberland County at the age of nineteen and located in Coal township. Although a prac-
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
tical miner, he followed contracting among the mines nearly all his life time, and it was in the mines at Coal township that he lost his life, August 20, 1884. He was a life-long Democrat, and he never cared for public life for himself, but he was untiring in his efforts for the success of his friends. He married Barbara Meisberger, a native of Germany, who came with her parents to this country when but five years old. She was born Jan- uary 3, 1850, and her father was Michael Meis- berger. Her parents were among the earliest settlers of Coal township, and were highly re- spected in the county. Our subject's parents reared eight children, as follows: William F., the subject of this biography; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Peter Duppy of Locust Gap, and whose daughter, Margaret, is being reared by our subject; Michael, who was kill- ed in the mines at the age of twenty-one years, nine months and three days; Margaret, the wife of Walter Bosine, who resided at Locust Gap; Elizabeth, the wife of Frank Brecker of Locust Gap; Eugene, who is in the employ of our subject; Victoria, who is at home; and Patrick, who died at the age of three years. Our subject's mother is still living and is spending her declining days at the home of her son.
William F. Haley, the subject of this biog- raphy, was educated in the schools of Coal township, but at the age of nine years he be- gan picking slate, continuing his schooling during the summer. At the age of eleven years he went into the mines, remaining there until he was nineteen years old; he then worked for two years in the grocery store of his aunt, Mrs. Enoch Shoda of Mount Carmel. At the end of that period he engaged in the huckstering business for three years, having a large patronage and being very successful; in connection with that business he became
proprietor of the grocery store which he now conducts.
On November 22, 1897, our subject mar- ried Elizabeth Rourke. Mr. Haley has a large and hicrative business and he is an active and interested citizen of Locust Gap. In politics he is a Democrat.
GDEN H. OSTRANDER, one of the most widely known citizens of North- umberland County, is a highly es- teemed resident of Riverside, where he is en- gaged in civil engineering, in the real estate business, and as an expert accountant. He was born in New York City, October 12, 1837, and is a son of Philip H. and Julia A. (Van Loon) Ostrander, both of whom were natives of New York City.
Our subject was reared and educated in New York City, learned the profession of a civil engineer, and then spent six years in the employ of the New York & Hudson River Railroad. He then gave up his profession and moved to Danville, Pa., to accept a posi- tion in a large general store; later he spent one year in Philadelphia; then he returned to Danville and became accountant for Grove Bros., of that town, which position he held for a period of seven years. This position he re- signed to accept an appointment as postmas- ter of Danville, and at the expiration of his term, in 1869, he again took up his former profession as a civil engineer. In 1869 he laid out the village of Riverside, which lies on the bank of the Susquehanna River, opposite the borough of Danville, and is located in Rush township, Northumberland County. Our subject built a handsome brick residence, with a brown-stone front, on the corner of Avenue
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.
D and Sixth street; the house is surrounded by a well-kept lawn and beautiful shade trees and shrubberies. He also built and sold some twenty other model residences, and induced many people to make Riverside their home. Mr. Ostrander has supervised the erection of many of the residences and business structures of. Riverside, including the bridge that was built in 1875, which connects Danville and Riverside, and the Danville Water Works. In 1871 he erected the Union School building, paid the bills and carried all indebtedness for several years, when it was transferred to the school district. He has been interested in the growth of both Danville and Riverside, has served as president of the Glendower Mills, now known as the Mahoning Rolling Mills, and has served as accountant for nearly all the mills and manufacturing establishments in Danville. He has also served as justice of the peace, as school director, and has been a member of the village council of Riverside.
In 1898 the borough of Sunbury made a contract with George F. Steefer and Mr. Os- trander for the making of an official map of the borough, and in 1899, after about a year and a half of labor, the work was completed, at a cost of about $2,000.
Mr. Ostrander was wedded to Melissa D. Brown, a daughter of George B. Brown of Danville.
George Brown was born in Columbia Coun- ty, now Montour County, September 13, 1816, and is a son of Samuel and Dorothy (Neice) Brown, the former a native of Eng- land and the latter a native of Holland. George Brown engaged in farming until he was seventeen years of age and then began clerking in a store at Mifflinville, Pa. In 1834 he moved to Danville and purchased the store of S. M. Bowman & Company; he then stud- ied dentistry and later opened a dental office.
In 1856 he opened and conducted a stationery store, and to him belongs the honor of estab)- lishing the first daily newspaper of Danville. He was united in marriage to Sarah A. Gear- hart, a daughter of John Gearhart, and as a result of this union four children were reared, namely: Benton B .; Melissa D., our subject's wife; John G .; and William G.
Mr. and Mrs. Ostrander are the parents of the following children: George B., a clerk re- siding at Wilkesbarre, Pa .; Walter S., a civil engineer and surveyor of Riverside; Sarah B., who is attending school; and Henry and Mary, who died in infancy. Mr. Ostrander is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is the oldest past master living of Danville Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M .; is past high priest and past commander of the Knights Templar; also a member of Danville Chapter. Our subject is a member of the Baptist Church and has served as trustee many years; he also aided in the building of the Episcopal Church of Riverside. Mrs. Ostrander is a member of the Methodist Church.
In politics our subject is a Democrat, but was formerly a Republican, having cast his first vote for Lincoln.
R. SAMUEL B. ARMENT, a well- known physician and surgeon of Co- lumbia County, is one of the popular and highly esteemed residents of Bloomsburg. He was born in the city of Philadelphia, Au- gust II, 1852, and is a son of Oliver H. P. and Mary Govett (Whitehead) Arment, and grandson of Benjamin Arment.
The grandfather of our subject, with his widowed mother, removed from New York City to Delaware County, Pa., where Benja- min was bound out to learn the trade of a
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
shoemaker, which vocation he followed a short time; he then purchased a farm near Middletown, Delaware County, and engaged in the cultivation of the soil. When the West Chester Division of the Pittsburg & Western Railroad was laid across his farm he erected 'a fine house near the track, which the railroad company afterward bought and transformed into a station, calling it Greenwood Grove. Benjamin Arment passed from this life aged eighty-two years; he was the father of the following children: William Henry; Oliver Hazard Perry; Benjamin Franklin; Henry Harrison; Margaret; and Sarah. The grand- mother of our subject died at the age of fifty- six years.
Oliver Hazard Perry Arment was born on his father's farm in Delaware County, Pa., and when he attained his manhood he learned the carpenter's trade and worked with Joseph West of Philadelphia for several years. Later he was a builder and contractor, in which busi- ness he was very successful; he was a very act- ive man and was held in high esteem by his neighbors and acquaintances. He entered the world of rest, September 19, 1878, at the age of sixty-six years. Mr. Arment chose for his companion in life Mary Govett Whitehead, a daughter of John Whitehead of Philadelphia, and to them the following children were born: Annie, the wife of Charles H. Bridenhurst; Samuel B., the subject of this narrative; Mary, who died in her infancy; and Ella Lucretia, the wife of Dr. A. S. Koses, a prominent den- tist of Harrisburg, Pa. Our subject's father was a member of the Episcopal Church; in politics he was a stanch Republican. Socially he was a member and treasurer of Veritas Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Philadelphia, and of Moscosca Lodge, I. O. R. M.
Dr. Samuel B. Arment, at the age of eleven years, went to live with his grandfather, Ben-
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