USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. VII > Part 21
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Dr. ยก Sprague married, December 22, 1869, Jennie E. Russell, of Otsego, New York, of a prominent central New York family. Children: Emory Russell and Laura. The son, Emory R., is a graduate of Wyoming Seminary, class of '97, Syra- cuse University, class of 1900, and of Hahnemann Medical College, Philadel- phia, Doctor of Medicine, class of 1904. He has since 1904 been engaged in the
practice of his profession at Syracuse, New York, where, on June 7, 1904, he married Helen Breese Graves, of that city. They have one child, Elizabeth.
HAND, Isaac Platt,
Representative Attorney-at-Law.
The years of the professional connec- tion of Isaac Platt Hand with Wilkes- Barre, Pennsylvania, number nearly half a century, a period in which he attained to proud and eminent position in the legal fraternity of the Wyoming Valley. While laying deep and firm the foundations upon which he has reared an extensive practice and worthy reputation, Mr. Hand readily accepted the duties and responsi- bilities, social, political and civil, that have bound him with strong ties to the life of Wilkes-Barre, and his service as private citizen, party leader, and public official has been the source of much good to his city and county. In the multiplic- ity of his associations and the absorbing nature of his professional activity it is most difficult to name his major interest, although it is a fair assumption that this is in matters educational, for with such affairs he has long been in close touch. Indeed, in his more youthful days, after the close of his college years, he spent two years in pedagogical pursuits, being from 1865 to 1867 principal of one of Scranton's schools. Later he manifested continued interest through his service in official capacity to two of Wilkes-Barre's educational institutions, long continued service on the city board of education, and his present office as trustee of his alma mater, Lafayette College, a position he has held since 1892. Nor is he the first of his name to yield loyal service to Lafa- yette, for his father, the Rev. Dr. Aaron H. Hand, was long a trustee of that insti- tution, which honored him with the de-
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gree of Doctor of Divinity. Mr. Hand serves Lafayette with fidelity and zeal, and in person and with his means, with every power at his command, advances the welfare of the college with which many of the best memories of his early life are inseparably intricated. In his active, useful life he has caused his asso- ciates and friends to expect much from him in many fields, and in earnest, pur- poseful, and upright effort he has ful- filled their aspirations for him.
Mr. Hand is a descendant of an old English family that has had a place in American history from the earliest colo- nial times, his American ancestor, eight generations removed, being John Hand, of Maidstone, County Kent, England. This John Hand was a landowner in two parishes of his county, and upon coming to America settled on Long Island, where there is record of him in March, 1644. Soon after this date he and others found- ed the town of East Hampton, Long Island, and the bequests provided for in his will, dated January 24, 1660, show him to have been a man of wealth and prop- erty unusual for that day. He married Alice Stanbrough, and died in East Hampton in 1663. From him the line of descent to Isaac Platt Hand is through his son, Stephen, who died in 1693; his son, Stephen (2), born in 1661, died in 1740; his son, John, baptized in 1701, died in 1755, and his wife, Hannah; his son, John (2), born January 31, 1725, and his wife, Rebecca ; his son, Aaron, born April 27, 1773, died October 27, 1832, who mar- ried Tamar Platt, born in 1773, died Janu- ary 16, 1854, daughter of Epenetus and Anna Bostwick Platt, the ceremony being performed at Kingsbury, New York, Au- gust 17, 1795. Their son, Aaron Hicks Hand, was the father of Isaac Platt Hand, of Wilkes-Barre.
and after there pursuing studies for a time entered Williams College, at Wil- liamstown, Massachusetts, whence he was graduated, class of 1831. Then matricu- lating at the Princeton Theological Semi- nary, Princeton, New Jersey, he was graduated from that institution in 1837, and from 1842 to 1845 was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Berwick, Colum- bia county, Pennsylvania, having been ordained into the ministry of the Presby- terian church upon the completion of his theological course. At the end of this time Rev. Dr. Hand's failing health neces- sitated a more favorable climate, and the family took up its residence in Florida. The warmth and mildness of the south- ern seasons so far recruited his physical forces that at the end of six years he was able to return to his work in the north, and was appointed to a charge at Green- wich, New Jersey, where he ministered for twenty years. He was a consecrated and faithful minister, an able and forceful preacher, and won loving place in the hearts of his parishioners and acquaint- ances. He was awarded the honorary de- gree of Doctor of Divinity by Lafayette College, whose destinies he helped to shape as a member of the board of trus- tees. He married, in Norwich, Connec- ticut, August 13, 1838, Elizabeth Boswell, whom he met in the year of his gradua- tion from Princeton Theological Semi- nary while visiting a brother, Bayard Hand, a leading lawyer of Savannah, Georgia. She was a daughter of John L. Boswell, who until his thirtieth year was a sea captain, when he left the sea and became a ship owner, gaining success, wealth and prominence. The Boswells' part in the early history of New Eng- land and Connecticut is one that well bears comparison with the leading names of that section.
Isaac Platt Hand, son of Rev. Dr.
Rev. Dr. Aaron Hicks Hand was born in Albany, New York, December 3, 1811, Aaron Hicks and Elizabeth (Boswell)
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Hand, was born in Berwick, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1843. His preparatory study was at Media, Penn- sylvania, after which he entered Lafa- yette College. His work at this institu- tion was interrupted by a short term of enlistment in Company D, Thirty-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Emer- gency Militia, mustered in June 29, 1863, at Reading, and mustered out at same place, August 7, 1863, After his gradua- tion from Lafayette in the class of 1865, Mr. Hand accepted a position as princi- pal of the Hyde Park School, Scranton, Pennsylvania, an office he filled for two years, for the following two years, serv- ing as clerk of the Scranton City Council.
Reading law in the office of Hand & Post, he was on November 15, 1869, ad- mitted to the bar, and until December, 1870, practiced in Scranton, at that latter date moving to Wilkes-Barre, where he has since maintained his residence and his professional practice. For six years he was the junior partner of the law firm of Wright & Hand, and after the dissolu- tion of this partnership continued in inde- pendent practice. He has won standing in professional life, respect in the eyes of bench and bar, and confidence among a large clientele, whose causes he has rep- resented with success and ability.
Mr. Hand has always participated in public and political affairs, always as one interested in the welfare of city and party rather than as one desirous of personal prominence or position. For nine years he was a member of the Wilkes-Barre Board of Education, during that time serving one term as its president, and since 1884 he has been many times chair- man of the Luzerne county Republican committee. His political influence has been of value to his party, and for the strength and prestige of the Republican organization he has labored diligently and to good effect. In 1880 Mr. Hand be
came a director of the Harry Hillman Academy, an office he held for many years, and for twenty years he occupied the same position in relation to the Wilkes-Barre Institute, being all of this time secretary of the board. In the pres- ent service of Mr. Hand to Lafayette Col- lege as trustee there is continued more than sixty years of association between that institution and his family. Lafayette has in him a friend and supporter whose interest and concern for her lofty place in the scholastic world has no limits, a son and champion upon whom she can always rely. Mr. Hand's professional activity has curtailed his business inter- ests, which are summed up in his direc- torship of the People's Bank, of Wilkes- Barre, and his treasurership of the Dolph Coal Company. For many years he was trustee of the Presbyterian Church a (First), of Wilkes-Barre.
Isaac Platt Hand married, May 3, 1871, Mary Lyman Richardson, daughter of John Lyman and Catharine (Heermans) Richardson, her father a well-known edu- cator and first superintendent of the Lu- zerne county schools. Mrs. Hand is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Wyoming Valley Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Society of Colonial Dames, the Wyoming His- torical and Geological Society, and is prominent in Wilkes-Barre's social life and in the philanthropic and educational work of the Wyoming Valley. Children : Kathleen ; Isaac Platt, Jr., deceased ; Bay- ard, married Margaret Colton; Laura, married Hamilton Farnham, deceased; Richardson ; Joseph Henry ; Emily, mar- ried Olin Derr ; and Philip Lyman.
McALARNEY, Charles Wesley, Eminent Lawyer.
Many years ago, when Mr. McAlarney was in active legal practice a contempo-
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rary said of him : "He is a safe counsellor, a zealous advocate, with the result of se- curing to himself the advantage of a large and constantly increasing clientage." As the years progressed he grew in power and rose to the front ranks of his profes- sion, known not only in his own county of Luzerne but to the legal fraternity throughout the State. The same con- temporary continues: "His temperament is of the conservative order, modified by only so much of the sanguine as is neces- sary to the prosecution of all work delib- erately undertaken. To the client who trusts him he is the soul of faithfulness, a fact that accounts in part for the lucra- tive practice he enjoys and for the grati- fying success that attends his efforts in the courts." To fidelity was added learn- ing, quick perception, zeal, and eloquent speech, all uniting in a most charming personality. His persuasive eloquence and convincing delivery was not confined to the court room, but in political cam- paigns he was one of Democracy's most sought for orators. No man was more highly esteemed and none possessed a more devoted circle of friends.
Mr. McAlarney was a son of John Mc- Alarney, born December 8, 1805, in the parish of Streat, County Longford, Ire- land, died in Mifflinsburg, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1876. He came to the United States in 1819, a lad of fourteen years, found a home in Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania, and there passed his youth acquir- ing an education. He taught school in early life then engaged in lumbering and manufacturing. He resided in Harris- burg, Milton, Selinsgrove, and Mifflins- burg, his death occurring in the last named town. He married Catherine Wil- son, born in Donegal township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, died in February, 1891, daughter of Thomas Wilson, and granddaughter of Thomas Wilson, a de- scendant of an old Maryland family.
Charles Wesley McAlarney, seventh child of John and Catherine (Wilson) McAlarney, was born in Mifflinsburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1847, died in Plymouth, Luzerne coun- ty, Pennsylvania, October 1, 1904. He was educated in the public schools and Mifflinsburg Academy, pursuing a four years' course at the latter institution. He engaged in mercantile life in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, for one year after leaving school, then for six years taught in the public schools. His elder brother, Joseph C. McAlarney, was then one of the fore- most young lawyers of the Dauphin county bar, another brother, Dr. William M. McAlarney, was a successful physician, and their influence or example no doubt decided Charles W. to adopt a profession. He began the study of law in the office of his brother, Joseph C., at Harrisburg, and under the preceptorship of that eloquent young pleader spent two years in hard legal study. On May 13, 1873, he passed the required examination successfully and was admitted to the Dauphin county bar. He continued in legal association with his brother, in Harrisburg, until 1875, then began independent practice in Plym- outh, becoming a member of the Luzerne county bar, February 7, 1876. His rise at the bar was rapid, and soon his prac- tice was very large in Luzerne county courts, frequently calling him to argue cases in neighboring counties, the Su- preme Court of Pennsylvania and other States. He held to the strictest of legal ethics, was the soul of devotion to clients' interests, was highly esteemed by his pro- fessional brethren and fully trusted by those for whose rights he contended under the law. His arguments were models of clearness and eloquence, his facts fairly stated, his deductions drawn from the soundest legal basis. Cultured, eloquent, logical, and unfailingly courteous, he was an ideal advocate and a dangerous
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opponent. "Safe and sound" could have been coined for him, so truly do those terms apply to his legal quality.
A lifelong Democrat, he was a bulwark of strength to his party, and but for i health would have accepted a proffered elevation to the county bench. He worked for party success in the council chamber and on the platform, his eloquence and popularity having turned the balance in close campaigns. He was a member of the County and State Bar associations and among his hosts of friends none held him in more devoted esteem than those of his own profession. In 1904 he made an extended tour of the west, hoping to re- gain health and strength, but the vita! forces were exhausted and death came on October I of that year. He always cher- ished an affection for the town of his birth and the home of his youth, Mifflins- burg, and at his request he was there laid at rest.
Mr. McAlarney married, May 27, 1826. Clara R. Shonk, who survives him, a resi- dent of Plymouth. Children: John, died in infancy, and Helen Amanda.
Mrs. McAlarney is the youngest child of John J. Shonk, who died May 1, 1904, aged eighty-nine years, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens, of German descent paternally and of Welsh lineage maternally, his mother's family tracing to the year of 900. John and Dor- othy (Rosky) Shonk, both born in Ger- many, came to this country in 1790, set- tling at Mount Hope, Warren county, New Jersey. Michael Shonk, the second son of John and Dorothy Shonk, was born on the ocean in 1790, and until 1821 lived with his parents at Mount Hope and there married. In 1821 he settled in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, where he lived the remainder of his life. John J. Shonk, second son of Michael Shonk, was born at Mount Hope, Warren county, New Jer-
sey, March 21, 1815, died in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1904. From boy- hood he was a worker, passing through all phases of a coal miner's life. In 1854 he began in business for himself, was a lumberman, engaged in tanning, finally devoted himself to the operation of coal properties and became one of the largest operators of his day. He was also largely interested in railroad enterprises and was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He was a man of large fortune, highest integrity, broad intelli- gence and public spirit, aiding all good causes and generous in his benefactions. He was a Republican in politics, a de- voted Methodist, and prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. John J. Shonk married (third) Amanda, daugh- ter of Thomas Davenport, of French- Dutch lineage, who died December 8, 1892, aged seventy-three years. Chil- dren : Albert D., George Washington, of whom further; Elizabeth, married E. F. Stevens; and Clara R., married Charles Wesley McAlarney.
George Washington Shonk, son of Hon. John J. and Amanda (Davenport) Shonk, was born in Plymouth, April 26, 1850, died August 14, 1900. He was educated at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Penn- sylvania, and Wesleyan University, Mid- dletown, Connecticut, class of '73. He read law in the office of the Hon. H. B. Payne, and was admitted to the bar, Sep- tember 29, 1876. Mr. Shonk was suc- cessful in business and legal practice, was a prominent Republican in his day and took active interest in the party's affairs. In 1880 he was chairman of the Repub- lican county committee and in 1890 was the Republican nominee for Congress and was elected over his Democratic oppo- nent, John B. Reynolds, notwithstanding the county was strongly Democratic, in which office he served with distinction
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and honor. On August 15, 1880, he mar- ried Ida E., daughter of Joseph Klotz, of West Pittston, by whom were two chil- dren : Herbert Bronson and Emily W.
SNYDER, John T., Successful Business Man.
The success that marked the life of John T. Snyder did not come from in- herited wealth, unusual opportunity, or fortunate speculation, but from natural ability, combined with industry, economy, good business management, and upright- ness. For thirty-five years he was en- gaged in the hardware business in Lu- zerne, Pennsylvania, and during that time he was rarely absent from his post of duty. He possessed a strong will and a strong mind, was ambitious, not to amass great wealth, but to transact an honorable business, to lead a clean life, and to merit the confidence of his fellowmen. He dealt justly with all, ordered his life according to Divine teachings, and when the end came he was ready. The good man leaves many invisible monuments to his memory, deeds of kindness, words of encourage- ment, a helping hand extended, and the memory of John T. Snyder is hallowed by many such. His life is an example to young men who would rise in the world upon the sure foundation of character, industry and economy, for these were the virtues upon which John T. Snyder built.
This branch of the Snyder family came to Pennsylvania from New Jersey, George and Sarah (Robinson) Snyder, locating in the Wyoming Valley at a time when settlers were few. Samuel Snyder, third son of George Snyder, was born in Plym- outh township, Luzerne county, Pennsyl- vania, March 31, 1826. The first twenty- five years of his life were there spent, farming being his occupation. In 1851 he located at Lehman, Luzerne county, and there for five years engaged in lumbering
operations. In 1856 he returned to Plym- outh and afterward went to Poke Hol- low, there engaging in mining enterprises. In 1868 he built a shop in Plymouth and there conducted a tinsmithing business for several years prior to his retirement. He prospered in his various activities and acquired extensive property interests in Plymouth. He married, April 22, 1848, Susan Rittisbaugh, who bore him five children : George R., Charles P., John T., of further mention ; Stella S., and Cora H.
John T. Snyder, son of Samuel and Susan (Rittisbaugh) Snyder, was born at Plymouth, Luzerne county, Pennsylva- nia, July 17, 1856, died at his home in Luzerne, in the same county, December 30, 1914. He pursued courses of study in the public schools, then entered Wyo- ming Commercial College, and there com- pleted his educational preparation for the battle of life, graduating February 19, 1874. He learned the trade of tinsmith and in 1878 opened an establishment in Luzerne, Pennsylvania, devoted to tin- smithing in all its branches and the sale of hardware. His beginning was modest, but by hard work and perseverance he gradually built up a good business that finally expanded to very large propor- tions, the largest of its nature in that sec- tion of Luzerne county. Outside of his hardware business he had many interests, one of which was the Luzerne Manufac- turing Company, builders of the Electric Lighting Rotary Coal and Rock Drilling Machines. He acquired large real estate holdings, and several years prior to his death erected the largest brick building in Luzerne, the home of the Honeywell Furniture Company, also the buildings of the First National Bank, the United States Post Office, Luzerne Hardware Company, Frantz & Son, grocers; Haight's Drug Store, and the Haddock's Supply Company. He was public spirit- ed, aiding to bring prosperity to Luzerne
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in every legitimate way, and as one of the most influential and prominent men of that section bore well his part. Mr. Sny- der was an attendant of the First Church of Christ (Scientist) and did a great deal for the promotion of that faith. He be- longed to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was interested in all that pertained to the social and religious life of the town.
He married, June 14, 1905, Agnes M. Llewellyn, daughter of David N. and Sarah (Phillip) Llewellyn, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, of Welsh ancestry. Mrs. Snyder survives her husband with one daughter, Evelyn J.
JENNINGS, William N., Octogenarian, Capitalist.
A wonderful life is that of William N. Jennings, of Wilkes-Barre, octogenarian, traveler, successful lumberman and capi- talist. Wonderful in its beginning, in its achievement and in its present unusual activity. When a young man of twenty- one he made a wonderous journey by raft, railroad, packet boat, portage rail- road, steamer and ox team from his home in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania, to Nevada City, California. This journey took him by rail and river to St. Louis, Missouri, across the states of Kansas and Nebraska, before there was a farm house in either state; along the Platte river valleys up the Sweetwater river valley, through the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, across the Little and Big Sandy rivers, across the Green river desert to the Bear river at Soda Springs; from the head- waters of the Humboldt to the Sink, then across the sixty miles of desert to the Truckee river and from the source of that river across the Sierra Nevada to Nevada City, having been four months on the journey and arriving September 15, 1850. California was admitted a state in that
year, and shortly after his arrival Mr. Jennings cast his maiden vote for state officers and for a capital location. Four months more in California made his Pennsylvania home very attractive to his vision, and going to San Francisco he took passage in a sailing vessel for Pana- ma and home. Forty-one days later the vessel put into a Central American port, Realijo, where with several others he went ashore. From thence he journeyed by horseback to Grenada on Lake Nica- ragua, thence by small steamer to San Carlos, down the San Juan river in a dugout to Greytown, thence by steamer "Crescent City" to New York, calling at Kingston, Jamaica. From New York he proceeded to his Pennsylvania home, hav- ing been gone about one year.
This wonderous journey was but the beginning of a long life of activity and success, but it gave him an experience, a breadth of vision, a conception of the greatness of his own land, of its people, its resources and its opportunities, that henceforth nothing small, nothing trivial, was worthy of his notice. He dealt largely and prospered abundantly, accu- mulated a fortune through his own efforts, and when the success he had so fairly won came to him, the spirit that sent him on a voyage of investigation to California led to more extended travels. He has visited nearly every state in the Union, the islands of the Carribean sea, England, and the countries of Conti- nental Europe, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Five states, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Minnesota, have had his name among their owners of real estate and many places have known him as a resident. His principal business for many years was the manu- facture and sale of lumber and in this he was very successful. Now at the age of eighty-six years he has a wealth of ex-
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perience in many lands, accumulated under varied conditions, to draw upon for the entertainment of his many friends, and a retrospective view accorded to few men.
He is a son of Paul Bishop Jennings, born at Holt, Wiltshire, England, in July, 1795, who, like his son, was a man who won fortune through his own tireless efforts. He earned the money that brought him to this country; worked his way to near Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. and there began lumbering operations as a hired hand. He became foreman of a gang of men putting logs into the Le- high ; then a small contractor in the same line; moved to Luzerne county, bought a farm, grist and saw mill; worked the timber on his purchase into lumber; finally owning a large cleared farm and general store at what is now North Me- hoopany, Wyoming county, Pennsylva- nia. He was a valued citizen of the town in which he lived and public-spirited to a marked degree. Originally a Democrat he voted for Abraham Lincoln and hence- forth acted with the Republican party. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Elizabeth (Tuttle) Jennings, born in 1796, died in 1893, was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Lee) Tuttle, her father a farmer and business man. They were married in 1826 and were the parents of seven children, three of whom died in early life. Two sons, Joseph T. and Wil- liam N., and daughters, Caroline and Mary Ann, all living to become the heads of families. Paul Bishop Jennings died in December, 1864.
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