USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. VII > Part 14
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hidden in the famous Oak Tree. Mr. Richard Treat, her father, baptized August 28, 1584, in Pitsminster Church, was a man of high social standing and in- fluence. Married, in England, 1615, Alice, daughter of Hugh Gaylord. First men- tion of Richard Treat in Connecticut is as a juror in 1643. In 1644 he was chosen deputy, and annually elected for fourteen years up to 1657-8; was elected magis- trate or assistant eight times, etc .; and held many other offices of trust. In 1662, when Charles II granted the colony a charter, he was named in that document as one of the patentees. He was also in 1663 and 1664 a member of Governor Winthrop's council. He was an exten- sive landowner. (From Weatherfield, Conn. Ancient History.)
Their son, Samuel Canfield, baptized at New Haven, October 19, 1645, died at Norwalk, Connecticut, in October, 1690. He married Elizabeth Willoughby, daughter of Deputy Governor Francis Willoughby, of Massachusetts and Con- necticut, who entered so zealously into the affairs of the colonies. He was deputy, 1642-1646-1649; assistant, 1650- 1651-1664; deputy governor, 1665-71. He died April 3, 1671. Their son, Jedediah Canfield, born August, 1681, at Norwalk, Connecticut, died at Bedford, New York, in 1770. He married and had a son, Jede- diah (2) Canfield, born about 1721, at Norwalk, died after 1805, at Minisink, New York. Jedediah (2) married, about 1756, Rose Ketchum, born September 5, 1736. Their daughter, Sarah Canfield, married, in 1786, Timothy (4) Wood, born July 31, 1740, died near Binghamton, New York. Their daughter, Sarah Jane Wood, married Henry Overton, and their daughter, Miranda Lee Overton, married Nathan Beach Crary. Mrs Crary was a member of Wyoming Valley Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
DERR, Andrew Fine, Financier, Man of Affairs.
From his German ancestors driven from the Palatinate for their Protestant re- ligious convictions, and from his Ameri- can forefathers, Andrew Fine Derr in- herited a deeply religious nature. To this was added careful Christian training, and the benefits of a broad classical edu- cation under inspiring teachers. These advantages enabled him to take large views of life and its problems, and gave point and strength to his efforts when he threw himself into the service of God and humanity.
In Wilkes-Barre his influence was strong religiously, socially and in busi- ness. As directing head of the Miners' Bank for many years, his singularly clear judgment and perfect mastery of details rendered him an ideal executive and able financier. These qualities also made his advice valuable both on public questions and for matters private and confidential. Perhaps his concentration and devotion to his large interests made him conspicu- ous as a business man before all else. Yet he had also an unusual instinct for the things that elevate, delight and give color to life. He was fond of the arts, a connoisseur of books, and possessor of a library collected with discrimination over a period of years, representing the best in literature, scientific, historical, biographical, and fiction. He was always a reader, absorbed the world's best thought both past and present, and was interested in the great problems which concern the individual, the community and the nations. It is such men who have given lustre to the citizenship of the Wyoming Valley. They represent de- votion to ideals, worthy standards of liv- ing, and by their influence have added a tremendous force to the vitality of a wholesome public opinion.
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Eng J W Father
Audrey Dess
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The Derrs (Dörr) were among the thirty thousand German Protestants ex- pelled from the Palatinates in the early part of the eighteenth century. One of this number, Heinrich Dörr, left Ger- many in 1742, as did his son, John Hein- rich Dörr. After coming to America, John Heinrich Derr (as the name was anglicized) married Hannah Moelich, a granddaughter of Johannes Moelich, of Bernsdorf, on the Rhine, Germany, who married Maria Cathrina, daughter of the burgomaster, Gottfried Kirburger. Johannes Moelich came to America, land- ing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his family, May 29, 1735. A few years later he bought a large tract of land in Warren county, New Jersey, abutting on the Delaware river. He built and operated the first tannery in that section, and later sold it and moved to Bedminster, Somer- set county, New Jersey, where he erected a substantial stone homestead. He also built there a mill and a tannery, both be- ing operated by his descendants for over one hundred years. He was a prominent member of the Lutheran church, sturdy in his integrity and unyielding in his con- victions. He had ten children, one of his sons, Andrew Moelich, serving as captain of the First Sussex (New Jersey) Regi- ment in 1776, and throughout the war of the Revolution.
John and Hannah (Moelich) Derr had a son, Jacob, who was a soldier of the Revolution, serving under General An- thony Wayne. Michael Derr, son of Jacob, the Revolutionary soldier, served in the War of 1812, and with his family of ten children lived in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he died. John Derr, eldest son of Michael Derr, married Hannah Fine, who bore him five children, all born in Bucks county, except Andrew Fine Derr, the youngest child. Hannah (Fine) Derr died near Kline's Grove,
Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, at the Derr farm, on the Sunbury road, April 2, 1864; her husband, John Derr, died twenty-four days later in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, at the residence of his daughter, Mary Catherine, wife of John P. Richter, she the only daughter of her parents.
Andrew Fine Derr was born at the Derr farm near Kline's Grove, Northum- berland county, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1853, and died at his home in Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania, November 19, 1915. He lived with his parents on the farm, and attended public schools until April, 1864. Both his parents died in that month, and from his thirteenth until his twentieth year he lived with his sister, Mary Catherine, whose husband, John P. Richter, was his legally appointed guardian. After public school courses, he entered the Missionary Institute at Selinsgrove, Snyder county, Pennsylva- nia (now Susquehanna University), there prepared for college, and in the fall of 1871 entered Lafayette College, taking the classical course. He was graduated Bachelor of Arts, class of 1875, then re- turned for a post-graduate course, special- izing in German, French and English literature, under Professor Bloombergh. He continued post-graduate study one year, then bade farewell to college halls.
In the fall of 1876 he began the study of law in the office of George W. Biddle, at that time one of the foremost lawyers at the Philadelphia bar. He was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in 1878, and later in the year to the Luzerne county bar. He began practice in Wilkes-Barre, and until his death, thirty-seven years later, was a member of that bar.
In the fall of 1882, his brother, Thomp- son Derr, head of the insurance firm, Thompson Derr & Brother, of Wilkes- Barre, was in such a precarious state of
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health that he asked his brother, Andrew F., to enter the firm and to assist him in his other concerns. As he became interested in the insurance business, Andrew Derr gradually withdrew from the practice of law and finally devoted himself entirely to various corporations in which he be- came interested as stockholder and official.
The firm of Thompson Derr & Brother is widely known as one of the largest general insurance agencies in the country. It was founded by Thompson Derr in 1858, and has since that date represented in Pennsylvania the largest and best of foreign and domestic fire in- surance companies. As the elder brother, Thompson Derr, and the second brother, Henry H. Derr, passed away, the burden of management fell upon Andrew F. Derr. He became a director of the Miners' Savings Bank, later was elected vice- president, then was chosen president, and for many years was its able executive head. He was also a director and vice- president of the Anthracite Bank, and one of the active promoters of the plan which merged the Miners' and the An- thracite banks. Much of the credit for the creation of so potent a financial force has always been awarded Mr. Derr, who although connected with many promi- ment business propositions, gave his closest attention and greatest efforts to his insurance and his banking interests.
He was a director of the Sheldon Axle Company, serving on the executive com- mittee ; director of the Hanover Fire In- surance Company of New York City, and chairman of its finance committee; di- rector of the Franklin Fire Insurance Company, and chairman of its executive committee; trustee of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society; di- rector of the Osterhout Free Library ; president of the board of trustees of the Young Men's Christian Association ;
secretary and trustee of the Home for Friendless Children ; original member of the Westmoreland Club; member of the University and the Lawyers clubs of New York City, the Presbyterian Histori- cal Society of Philadelphia, the Archaeo- logical Institute of America, the Prince Society of Boston, the American Eco- nomic Society, the American Bar Associ- ation, the Historical Society of Pennsyl- vania, the Pennsylvania-German Society, Pennsylvania Chapter Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution, and New Jersey Chapter of the same; Society of the War of 1812; elder and trustee of Memorial Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre. He was one of the small coterie that saw the great good of developing the Country Club idea, and, when such institutions were just starting in Pennsylvania, brought the Wyoming Country Club into being and selected its site on historic Inman's Hill. For a long time he served the club either as director or president.
With the death of Andrew Derr, on November 19, 1915, in the sixty-third year of his age, Wilkes-Barre lost one of her most loyal and progressive citizens. In spite of ill-health which grew into en- forced invalidism during the last year of his life, Mr. Derr has been unsparing of himself in the service of others. His singularly clear judgment and shrewd mastery of detail, made his advice valu- able both for public affairs and for matters personal and confidential. He had a heart at leisure for the joys and for the sorrows of others, and a personal rectitude and simplicity that was unques- tioned. His Christianity was of the sort that made for sincerity and purity and justice towards others, and for a gener- ous and faithful adherence to duty. He could be depended on to do more than he was asked, and to accomplish more than he promised.
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14 LUTH
Frederic Cores
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
As a friend he was as true as needle to pole, and though he judged men by rigid standards, he was capable of the kindest judgments, of the largest sympa- thies and he had the grace of being able to put the best construction on human conduct. For a man of his intensely strong convictions, he alienated no friend but was respected the more because he was steadfast.
Resolutions adopted by the Miners' Bank, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on the death of Andrew F. Derr:
Wilkes-Barre, Pa., November 20th, 1915. A special meeting of the Board was held this day at 2.00 p. m. for the purpose of taking ap- propriate action on the death of Mr. Andrew F. Derr.
On motion, duly seconded, the following reso- lution offered by Mr. A. H. McClintock was unanimously adopted and ordered placed upon the records of the bank:
The Directors of the Bank have heard with deep sorrow of the death, last evening, of the vice-president, Andrew Fine Derr, who, for a long period was a director, and from April 23, 1913, until his resignation on September 29, 1914, made necessary because of his failing health, the president of this Institution.
During all the years of his connection with this Bank, and with both of the banks from which this one was formed, he gave his earnest, con- scientions, and most efficient attention to their best interests.
His extensive business experience, critical acumen, sound judgment, and clear understand- ing of our needs, made his talents of especial value here.
But above and beyond his business ability and skill, Mr. Derr stood for the higher things of this life. He was always alert and active for the moral and religious advancement of our community, and his heart and purse were ever open to the appeals of charity and suffering.
With these many and varied gifts of mind and character, he was crowned with a charm and grace of manner that came from his pure life and from the education and refinement that years of study and cultivation had given him, which rounded and completed his personality, and marked him as a true man among his fel- low men.
Resolved, That we tender to his bereaved family our heartfelt and truest sympathy, and that we attend the funeral in a body.
Mr. Derr married, June 23, 1896, in Philadelphia, Harriet Lowrie, daughter of Reverend Samuel T. and Elizabeth (Dickson) Lowrie. They had four chil- dren: Elizabeth Lowrie, Katherine, Thompson, and Andrew Fine Derr, Jr.
CORSS, Frederic,
Physician, Author.
For nearly half a century Dr. Corss went in and out of the homes of Kingston as a healer and as a friend, bidden to the birth, the christening, the bridal feast, and to the last sad rites. As a physician he ranked with the most eminent; as a friend his throne the hearts of young and old alike ; while as a man and as a citizen his record shone brightly. He won all hearts, and was the warm personal friend as well as the trusted medical adviser who brought back health whenever possi- ble, but brought hope and comfort always. His contributions to the literature of the Wyoming Valley brought him reputation as a learned, graceful, accurate and always interesting writer; while his long years of practice and his service to the cause of medicine were invaluable. In citizenship, friendship and neighborliness, he lived up to the fullest requirement of even the spiritual law, for every one was literally his "neighbor," every just civic cause was his cause.
Dr. Corss sprang from a long line of American ancestors, the first of whom was James Corse, a settler of Deerfield, Massachusetts. He married, in 1690, Eliz- abeth Catlin, who was captured by the French and Indians in the sack of Deer- field in 1704, and later murdered while on the march to Canada. She was the daugh- ter of John Catlin, head of one of the
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original thirty families of Branford, Con- necticut, that settled Newark, New Jer- sey, in 1666. The line of descent to Dr. Corss was through James (2) Corse, son of the founder, who was a noted hunter and scout, a soldier in the French and Indian wars, 1743 to 1763, and who on May 1, 1775, then aged eighty-one years, enlisted as a minute-man at Greenfield, raised a company, and fought at Bunker Hill. He married Thankful Munn. Asher, son of James (2) Corse, the patriot soldier, changed his name to Corss, and so it has remained in this branch. He married (first) Submit Chapin, descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin, the Puritan. Asher Corss was a soldier of the French and Indian War, and the owner of a large farm on the west bank of the Connecticut river. His son, Asher (2) Corss, married Lucy Grinnell, and they were the parents of Rev. Charles Chapin Corss, father of Dr. Frederic Corss.
Rev. Charles Chapin Corss was a de- voted minister of the Presbyterian church, his work for humanity covering a period of sixty years. He was a graduate of Am- herst College, Bachelor of Arts, 1830, and studied theology at Princeton. He was ordained by the Susquehanna Presbytery, August 27, 1836, and until his death in 1895 was active in pastoral work. He married (first) September 1, 1836, Ann Hoyt, who died August 9, 1851, aged thirty-four years, leaving five children.
Frederic, third child and second son of Reverend Charles Chapin and Ann (Hoyt) Corss, was born January 16, 1842, died April 1, 1908. He was prepared for col- lege at Susquehanna Collegiate Institute, Towanda (a school that largely owed its establishment to his father), and Wyo- ming Seminary, Kingston, then entered Lafayette College, whence he was gradu- ated A. B., class of '62, receiving his Master's degree in 1865. Deciding upon
the profession of medicine, he entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating M. D., in 1866. He began practice at Kingston, March 17, 1866, and for nearly half a century prac- ticed his healing art, gaining skill and fame as a practitioner, love and gratitude as a friend, and true honor as a man and citizen. He loved the Wyoming Valley, and in the intervals of professional toil delved deep into her geological secrets, preserving the results of his explorations and study in printed form. His contribu- tions to the literature of the Valley, read before the Wyoming Historical and Geo- logical Society, and later published, were weighty and exceedingly valuable. They include: "Drift Mounds of the Susque- hanna River", "Fossils in the River Drift at Pittston, Pennsylvania", "Buried Val- ley and Pot Holes in the Wyoming Valley Coal Fields", "Buried Valley of Wyo- ming", and "Glacial Rock of Shawnee Mountain".
Dr. Corss was a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society, Lehigh Valley Medical Association (president, 1903- 1904), Pennsylvania Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, his standing among his professional brethren being the highest. His Revolutionary an- cestry admitted him to Pennsylvania So- ciety, Sons of the Revolution, his per- sonal character to the Masonic order ; his college life to the fraternity Phi Beta Gamma; while his religious preference was for the Presbyterian church, of which he was a lifelong member. He was one of the active members of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, and supported with his influence all that was good and for the elevation of his commu- nity and his fellows.
Dr. Corss married, June 19, 1872, Martha Sarah Hoyt, born October 14, 1849, who survives him, daughter of John
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Dorrance and Martha (Goodwin) Hoyt, granddaughter of Ziba and Nancy Hoyt, and niece of Henry Martyn Hoyt, Gov- ernor of Pennsylvania.
GAYLEY, William Creighton, M. D., Physician, Philanthropist.
Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Gayley ministered to the souls and moral well-being of his congregation at Lock Haven, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, for a period of two years, then removed to West Notting- ham, Cecil county, Indiana, where he exerted a powerful influence for good for three decades, after which he took up his residence in Wayne, near the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he lived a retired life for the remainder of his days, his death occurring at the age of eighty-two years, long past the allotted scriptural age of three score years and ten.
His son, Dr. William C. Gayley, also ministered to the bodies and physical well-being of the people at Hazelton, Pennsylvania, for about thirty years, and both found their greatest reward in the knowledge that they accomplished great and lasting benefit to those they served. Rev. Samuel A. Gayley came to the State of Pennsylvania from the North of Ire- land, and became a graduate of Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, and of Princeton Theological Seminary, Prince- ton, New Jersey. After taking holy orders as an ordained clergyman of the Presbyterian church, he was settled as pastor of the church at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, as above noted. He mar- ried Agnes Malcolm.
Their son, Dr. William Creighton Gay- ley, was born at West Nottingham, Cecil county, Maryland, November 13, 1857, died at Hazelton, Pennsylvania, August 16, 1913. His public school education was supplemented by a full course in advanced
study at West Nottingham Academy, his course terminating with graduation. He decided upon the medical profession as his life's activity, entered the medical de- partment of the University of Pennsylva- nia, whence he was graduated M. D., 1882, taking a scholarship, and president of the class. He began the practice of his profession at Jeddo, Pennsylvania, as as- sistant to Dr. George Wentz, continuing there for two years. He then located in general practice at Deringer and Tom- hicken, Pennsylvania, serving those towns for one year. He then selected Hazel- ton, Pennsylvania, as his permanent seat of practice and there his after life was passed, 1885-1913.
Those were twenty-eight years of bless- ing both to the good doctor and those he served. He developed a wise professional skill and served a numerous clientele, who as the years passed were bound closer and closer to him in bonds of per- sonal friendship entirely aside from the high regard in which he was held as a physician. He gave unsparingly of him- self to alleviate human suffering, kept abreast of all modern medical thought, and in his own sphere led that thought. Hazelton is located eighteen hundred feet above sea level, and in that pure clear mountain atmosphere is located the Hazelton Tuberculosis Dispensary, the second to be established in the State of Pennsylvania. That it is located there is primarily due to Dr. Gayley, who was foremost in creating the sentiment that inspired its establishment, foremost in securing its erection. The Hazelton Fresh Air School is another of the modern institution Hazelton has to be proud of, which was established largely through Dr. Gayley's public spirited ac- tion. He gave much time to the "Fresh Air School," and was one of the physi- cians in charge until ill health caused him
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to lay aside some of his burdens. His charitable work was a very heavy burden laid upon himself, for he refused his pro- fessional service to none, no matter how poor they might be, serving as faithfully as where he was sure of his fees. The amount of free professional service he rendered will never be known, for he was one who never let his left hand know what his right hand was doing; but, although there is no earthly record of his good deeds in that respect, there are hun- dreds of God's poor in whose hearts there is a quiet sacred corner in which the memory of the good doctor who be- friended them is preserved.
He was one of the organizers of the Hazelton Medical Association, and served a term as its president. He entertained the highest respect for his professional brothers, and in turn possessed their con- fidence, love and respect. He was kindly- hearted and social in disposition, and loved to mingle in friendly acquaintance with his fellow-men, joining with them in all the city's organizations to which he could give a portion of his valuable time. He valued this intercourse with men, for it broadened his own views and gave him opportunities for greater usefulness. He joined with them in founding the Hazel- ton Country Club, was its president until his death, and preached the gospel of out- of-doors recreation to members; he was a member of the Board of Trade, the Hazelton Library Association, Masonic order, University Club of Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre Country Club and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was brought up under the teachings of his honored Presbyterian father, and was ever true in his allegiance to that church. He took no part in political con- troversies, but was keenly alive to his re- sponsibilities as a citizen, and none was more progressive or aggressive in their
advocacy of all that would benefit, nor in their opposition to all that would retard progress. So a useful life was passed. He brought healing to the sick, hope to the discouraged and comfort to the poor. All men admired and loved him and freely aided him with funds when he would come to them with tales of suffering he could not personally relieve.
Dr. Gayley married, November 18, 1886, Mary W. Leisenring, of an old and promi- nent Pennsylvania family, daughter of Walter and Mary (Price) Leisenring, of Upper Lehigh. Mrs. Gayley survives her husband, a resident of Hazelton. They were the parents of the following chil- dren : Jeannette, and Samuel Alexander Gayley, both living; and two deceased, Walter L. and Mary A.
DICKSON, Allan H., Lawyer, Enterprising Citizen.
Twenty-three years ago there passed from earth a man whose death created a profound sense of loss to the Wilkes- Barre community, and to whose memory the most fervent tributes were paid, Allan Hamilton Dickson, who during his life- time was one of the shining lights of the Luzerne county bar. From his profes- sional brethren, who knew him best, can the most correct estimate of the value of his life and services be obtained. His death was formally announced in court on January 24, 1893. Charles E. Rice. then President Judge, who was on the bench, immediately adjourned the court as a mark of respect to Mr. Dickson's memory. Immediately after the adjourn- ment of court the members of the bar as- sembled, being called to order by Alex- ander Farnham, the president of the as- sociation, who on taking the chair spoke most feelingly of the circumstances of Mr. Dickson's death and of his qualities as a
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