USA > Pennsylvania > Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania biography : illustrated, Vol. X > Part 11
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the Free church and in that faith reared their seven sons. Their home was in the mining village of Wanlockhead in the county or shire of Dumfries, six miles from Sanquhar.
It was at Wanlockhead that their son, James Watson, was born, educated, and taught his father's trade, he serving the customary old country apprenticeship for seven years. He worked as a journey- man blacksmith in Scotland until 1854, then came to the United States, locating at Pittston, Pennsylvania, in 1855, and there resided until 1894, when he retired and spent the last two years of his life in contented ease. During this entire period in Pittston, forty-nine years, he was connected with the Pennsylvania Coal Company, in various capacities, being foreman for a number of years. Both he and his wife were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Pitts- town. His wife, Ann (Law) Watson, was also born at Wanlockhead, Scotland, died in Pittston, in 1900, aged seventy- four, a daughter of John and Jean (Hark- ness) Law. James and Ann (Law) Wat- son were the parents of eight children, seven of whom arrived at mature years, all residents of Pittston: William L., whose useful life is herein reviewed; Jean W., married John W. Thompson ; Margaret, married William Allan; Janet L .; John A., an engineer; Georgia A .; and James L., an engineer.
William L. Watson was born in Wan- lockhead, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, No- vember 6, 1850, but in 1854 was brought to the United States by his parents, James and Ann (Law) Watson. In 1855, Pittston became the family home and there William L. Watson has ever since resided. He attended the public schools, began business life with the Pennsylvania Coal Company, but after serving that corporation four years, be-
came bookkeeper for Law & McMillan, general store merchants, remaining with that firm until 1872. This brought him to the age of twenty-two, and then oppor- tunity knocked, finding the young man ready and waiting. He entered the em- ploy of the First National Bank of Pitts- ton in 1872, later was appointed teller, finally cashier, an important post he filled for a quarter of a century, 1877- 1902. In January, 1902, he was elected vice-president, and in July, 1905, by vote of the board of directors, was elevated to the presidency, a post of trust, honor and responsibility he was amply qualified to fill, as the years have proven. The years, forty-six, spent with the First National Bank have been years of mutual benefit, and while no man may regard himself as indispensable in the scheme of life, it is hard to imagine the First National Bank of Pittston without William L. Watson, and equally difficult to consider William L. Watson apart from the First National Bank. As cashier he was the responsible head of the bank's policy, and made few mistakes in his estimates of the reliabil- ity of men and the desirability of offered investments. As president he carries for- ward along the lines his experience as cashier had proved wise, and the First National of Pittston is one of the strong financial institutions of the Wyoming Valley. Other corporations in which Mr. Watson has taken official interest are: The Pittston Gas Company, of which he was secretary many years; The New York & Pittston Coal Company, a cor- poration of which he was director and treasurer, and until the sale of the New Mexico Railway and Coal Company, sold to Phelps, Dodge & Company, he was a member of its board of directors. He is also director of the Exeter Machine Company, Incorporated, holding the same office with the Kewanee Telephone Com-
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pany, and the Stonewall Iron Company, of Alabama. But his chief interest is and long has been the First National Bank of Pittston. A member and treasurer of the Presbyterian churches of Pittston and West Pittson, and to both a tower of strength, he served on the building com- mittee of the church erected in 1891; was treasurer of the building committee of the Young Men's Christian Association, when the present commodious structure which bears the association's name was erected, and for many years its treasurer, and has passed the chairs of Thistle Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows.
Mr. Watson married (first), June I, 1876, Jean H. Law, born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, daughter of Andrew H. and Helen (Aitken) Law. Mrs. Watson died June 8, 1908, and Mr. Watson mar- ried (second), June 2, 1910, Mary Dem- ing Strong, daughter of Theodore and Mary (Benedict) Strong, of West Pitts- ton, Pennsylvania.
STARK, Joseph Mallery, Financier, Man of Affairs.
Joseph Mallery Stark, prominent in the financial world of Luzerne county, vice- president of the Dime Deposit Bank of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and a suc- cessful business man in this region, is a member of an old family which was founded in this country early in the Col- onial period.
The immigrant ancestor was Aaron Starke, who was one of the early set- tlers of Connecticut, and served under Captain John Mason during the Pequot wars in 1637. We find his name in the old records of military service in the col- ony as having taken part in the Narra- gansett War of 1675 under the same com- mander. Aaron Starke resided at Mystic,
which was the eastern part of the town- ship of New London, Connecticut, as early as 1653; in 1666 he was made a freeman at Stonington, while in 1669 he became freeman at New London. There were a number of men of this name in the early New England colony, but the spelling was exceedingly lax and we find it under such forms as Start, Stark and Starke,- all of which have persisted in various lines of descent. Aaron Starke had much to,do with church affairs dur- ing his residence at Stonington, and appears to have been prominent in many ways in the community. His birth occurred in England, in the year 1608, but the year of his immigration and the first place of his settlement in the colony was uncertain. He died at New London, Con- necticut, in 1685, and was the father of the following children : Aaron, born about 1654, and married Mehitable Shaw ; John, born about 1656; William, men- tioned below; Margaret, who became the wife of John Fish; and Elizabeth, who married Josiah Haynes.
William Stark, son of Aaron Starke, was born in the year 1664, and died in 1730. He was reared in the faith of the dominant church in the colony (Congre- gational) but later became a Baptist, and was one of the most ardent advocates of its teachings and a deacon of the church until the time of his death. He married Elizabeth -- , who was as devoted a worker in religious matters as himself, and they were the parents of four chil- dren, as follows: William, born at Gro- ton, Connecticut, in 1687; Christopher. mentioned below; Daniel; and Phebe, who became the wife of Thomas Wal- worth.
Christopher Stark, son of William and Elizabeth Stark, was born in the year 1698, at Groton, Connecticut, and died at Wyoming, Pennsylvania, in 1776, to
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which place he removed later in life. He was one of the earliest purchasers of land in the Wyoming Valley from the Susque- hanna Land Company at Hartford, No- vember 20, 1754. He left Connecticut not long after, but did not go at once to his new property, settling for a time at Beekman's precinct, Dutchess county, New York, instead. Here he remained until 1772-73, when he removed with his three sons, to whom he had already deeded his property in Wyoming, to that place, and here shared with the other Connecticut settlers the privations of pioneer life in the wilderness of Pennsyl- vania. He and his sons joined also, in the defense of home and property, against the Pennamite authorities and were among the sufferers in the terrible Indian mas- sacre of July 3, 1778, when one of the sons, Aaron, fell a victim. Christopher Stark married April 1, 1722, at Groton, Joanna Walworth, a daughter of William and Abigail Walworth, of New London, where she was born in 1691. They were the parents of the following children: I. Aaron, born November 3, 1732, married Margaret -, and was slain in the Massacre of Wyoming, July 3, 1778; after the massacre his wife fled with her children back to Connecticut, but when Sullivan had driven the Indians from the Wyoming section, some of her children returned to Westmoreland county and founded branches of the family here. 2. James, mentioned below. 3. William, born about 1747, and died in Orange county, New York, in 1795; he married Polly Carey, and lived for a time in the Wyoming Valley, but returned to Orange county, where he left a large family of descendants. Other descendants of his remained in the Wyoming Valley.
James Stark, son of Christopher and Joanna (Walworth) Stark, was born May 22, 1734, and died July 20, 1777. He mar-
ried, in 1758, Elizabeth Carey, daughter of the Rev. Henry Carey, one of the first Baptist ministers of Dutchess county, New York. The life of James Stark fell on troubless times and he was one of those to take up arms in the call of Amer- ican independence against Great Britain. He entered the army under General Washington, but returned not long after to Wyoming Valley, where his death occurred of smallpox. James and Eliza- beth (Carey) Stark were the parents of a number of children, among whom were Henry, mentioned below; and Samuel, born October 8, 1771, in Dutchess county, New York, married, August 10, 1793, Polly Birdsall, who bore him thirteen children, and died September 30, 1840, in Michigan.
Henry Stark, son of James and Eliza- beth (Carey) Stark, was born April 19, 1762, in the Wyoming Valley, and mar- ried, November 3, 1791, Elizabeth Ken- nedy. He was the father of a number of children, among whom was John, men- tioned below.
John Stark, son of Henry and Eliza- beth (Kennedy) Stark, was born Janu- ary 4, 1795, and died June 22, 1878. He lived in the Wyoming Valley and was a prominent figure there, taking an active part in the life of the place. He married, November 4, 1815, Cornelia Wilcox, born March 24, 1797, died May II, 1884, a daughter of Isaac and Nancy (New- combe) Wilcox, and they were the par- ents of the following children: Hiram, born February 9, 1817; G. W. Dinsmore, born April 16, 1818; Elizabeth, born Feb- ruary 3, 1820, died November 17, 1852, married, June 23, 1839, Samuel Billing ; Nancy, born December 8, 1821, became the wife of Elijah Conard; Jane, born May 3, 1827, married, April 22, 1857, Gar- rick Mallery Miller; Henry, born Octo- ber 10, 1831; Mary Almeda, born Feb-
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ruary 16, 1833, married, April 26, 1855, Stephen N. Miller; John R., mentioned below; and Martha W., who became the wife of Major Oliver J. Parsons, whom she married in 1865, and died in 1904.
John R. Stark, youngest son of John and Cornelia (Wilcox) Stark, was born December 15, 1834, at Plains, Pennsyl- vania, and died there October 17, 1901, at the age of sixty-seven years. He received his education at the public schools of his native town, and resided on the old Stark property at Plains throughout his entire life. He was very successful in his pur- suit of agricultural occupations and was altogether a very capable business man. He was a Methodist in his religious belief, and a Republican in his politics, and took an active part in local public affairs. Mr. Stark married (first) November 3, 1863, Phoebe Jane Swallow, a native of Plainsville, born September 18, 1830, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Cooper) Swallow. They were the parents of two children, Joseph Mallery, with whose career we are especially concerned, and Cornelia M. Joseph Swallow, the father of Mrs. John R. Stark, was born July 7, 1781, at Brick Church, New Jersey, and later came to Plainsville, where he engaged in farming. Mrs. Stark died at the Stark residence, December 6, 1875, at the age of forty-five years, and her remains were interred in the Hollenback Cemetery. John R. Stark married (second), June 6, 1877, at Rockdale, Pennsylvania, Re- becca Wharram, born at Plymouth, Penn- sylvania, May 26, 1842, a daughter of Emanuel and Charlotte (Evans) Whar- ram, also of Plymouth. Emanuel Whar- ram was of English descent, and came from North Berton, Yorkshire, England, in the year 1830.
Joseph Mallery Stark, only son of John R. and Phoebe Jane (Swallow) Stark. was born August 28, 1868, at Plains,
Pennsylvania. His childhood was spent in his native town, and it was there that he gained the elementary portion of his education, attending for this purpose the local public schools. He afterwards entered Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, and after completing his studies at this institution secured a cleri- cal position with the Delaware & Hudson Company, and worked in the office of this concern at Plains for a period of some six years. He was very anxious to be inde- pendent in his business and accordingly, as soon as it was possible, embarked in a general mercantile enterprise at Hud- son, Pennsylvania, where he remained for twelve years and won a notable success. At the end of this period he disposed of his business there and gave his entire attention to the mining operation in which he had become interested some time before. During this time, however, he had been very active with local pub- lic affairs and had made himself well known to the community generally, espe- cially in connection with local politics. He served as postmaster at Hudson for ten years, being first man appointed by President Mckinley, and during this service did much to improve and develop that important office. While still engaged in the mercantile business, Mr. Stark became interested in the mining industry, which was then in the period of its most rapid development, and about 1900 opened the slope on the old Stark estate which he continued to operate until 1912, when he disposed of his interests to some Phil- adelphia capitalists. Since that time Mr. Stark has devoted himself to banking and other business affairs, and in 1916 was elected vice-president of the Dime De- posit Bank, a position which he holds at the present time. He is also president of the Kitsee Battery and the Standard Top Company, both of Wilkes-Barre. He is
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also a prominent figure in the social and fraternal circles here, and is a member of Landmark Lodge, No. 442, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and of the Westmoreland and Craftsman's clubs. In his religious belief he is a Methodist and attends the church of this denomination at Plains.
Joseph Mallery Stark was united in marriage, June 25, 1891, at Bradford county, Pennsylvania, with Elizabeth A. Stewart, a daughter of Charles L. and Sarah L. (Billings) Stewart. Charles L. Stewart was a prominent citizen of Brad- ford county, and had been engaged in a variety of business pursuits there ever since the Civil War, in which he served.
HEYER, Edward G., M. D., Physician, Surgeon.
When a child, John G. Heyer was brought to the United States from Ger- many, and at Hazleton, Pennsylvania, has passed the years which have since inter- vened. There his son, Dr. Edward G. Heyer, was born, and from there went out to his present responsible station as superintendent of the State Hospital of Nanticoke.
The father, John G. Heyer, came to Hazleton directly from New York City, the landing place, and was taken into the home of a friend of the family. After attendance at public schools he became an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade, under Philip Lindenman, completing a full term and becoming a skilled worker in metals. In time he rose from journey- man to shop proprietor, and yet continues in business at Hazleton, successful and contented. He is a Republican in poli- tics, a Lutheran in religious faith, and a member of the Knights of Malta. He married Sophia Krapf, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Bergman) Krapf, one of Hazleton's pioneer settlers. Mr.
and Mrs. Heyer are the parents of: Au- gusta, deceased; Edward G., of further mention ; and Fred W., an M. D., prac- ticing his profession now in Evacuation Hospital, No. 3, France; was graduated in 1912 from the Medico-Chirurgical Col- lege, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and - was assistant to his brother in the State Hospital of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, for five years prior to entering the Govern- ment service.
Dr. Edward G. Heyer was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, December 26, 1882, and there completed full public school courses. He entered business life as a member of the firm, Krapf Brothers & Company, hardware merchants of Hazleton, and as an active partner in that business continued for five years. He then withdrew from business life and began the study of medicine, entering the Medico-Chirurgical College, Philadelphia, in 1906, receiving his degree M. D. four years later with the graduating class of 1910. He at once secured a position as interne at the State Hospital, Hazleton, continuing in that relation for one year, then advancing to the position of assist- ant surgeon under Dr. Lathrop. He con- tinued as Dr. Lathrop's assistant until April 2, 1914, when he was appointed superintendent and surgeon to the State Hospital of Nanticoke, a position he has ably filled and yet retains.
Dr. Heyer is one of the men who have had his dreams of a future come true. From boyhood he had a desire and an ambition to become a physician and sur- geon, and while for a time his way led along mercantile lines, the ambition never weakened, and when finally the way opened he seized the opportunity, and at the age of twenty-seven received the cov- eted M. D. His advance in rank has been rapid, he being but thirty-one when appointed superintendent of the State
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Hospital of Nanticoke, and since assum- ing the responsibilities of that position has added to his reputation as physician and surgeon, that of a capable, executive manager. Since becoming superintendent the capacity of the hospital has been doubled through the erection of two addi- tions, seventy beds now being available for patients, and the entire equipment of the hospital has been modernized. Four hundred patients were cared for in 1914, while the report for the last year, 1917, showed that between sixteen and seven- teen hundred sufferers were treated in the enlarged quarters. The success Dr. Hyer has achieved in his profession comes not alone through his acknowledged skill as physician and surgeon, but a great aid is his intense devotion to his profession and his deeply sympathetic nature. He has won particularly high reputation in his section as a surgeon, and holds the high regard of all who are associated with him. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, Lu- zerne County Medical Society, and the Lehigh Valley Medical Society, and through the medium of these associations of medical men he keeps in touch with all advance in medicine or surgery. He is a member of Nanticoke Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; and Bloomsburg Con- sistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.
Dr. Heyer married, June 27, 1910, Har- riet C. Mayer, born February 10, 1884, daughter of John L. Mayer, of Lakewood, New Jersey.
SHOEMAKER, Samuel R., Business Man, Agriculturalist.
When Michael Shoemaker left his Ger- man home and sought a location in the New World he chose lands near Easton, Pennsylvania, and there settled early in
the nineteenth century. His son, Isaac Shoemaker, settled in the Wyoming Val- ley, coming thence from Northampton county, the original family seat. Isaac Shoemaker had a son, Jacob I. Shoe- maker, who moved to New York State, where he learned the saddler's trade. Later he returned to Wyoming, there purchasing a farm and conducting Shoe- maker's Hotel (later known as the Pol- lock House). Jacob I. Shoemaker was the father of Isaac C. Shoemaker, who was for years his father's business asso- ciate, they owning the woolen factory built by Benjamin Carpenter in 1780, and a grist mill. The locality at the lower end of the Gorge, where Abrams creek breaks through the Kingston Mountain, was first known as Carpenter Mills, but later as Shoemaker's Mills. The family was influential and substantial, having large and varied business interests which were well managed. Isaac C. Shoemaker married Catherine Shoemaker, they the parents of Samuel R. Shoemaker, to whose memory this review is dedicated.
Samuel R. Shoemaker was born in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1841, and there died May 2, 1901. He grew to manhood at the home farm, was educated in the public schools and Wyoming Sem- inary, and upon reaching legal age was admitted to a partnership with his father and brother, they henceforth operating as I. C. Shoemaker & Sons. The firm owned and operated a large milling plant known as the Shoemaker's Steam Grist Mills, and were also engaged in manu- facturing cloth at the Wyoming Woolen Mill, which they owned. In addition, they owned and cultivated a large farm. The firm operated their varied enterprises very successfully until January 18, 1875, when the death of the father, Isaac C. Shoemaker, brought about a reorganiza- tion, the sons continuing as Isaac Shoe-
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maker's Sons. They continued along the same lines until 1881, when Samuel R. sold his interest in the business to his brother, Jacob I. (2) Shoemaker, and thenceforth devoted himself to the culti- vation of his half of the homestead farm. That was in 1881 and for the succeeding twenty years he lived the quiet life of the farm, its improvement and management completely satisfying his ambition, for he loved the old farm, and in his home life found his greatest joy. During those years he traveled a great deal both at home and abroad, but was always accom- panied by his family.
He was most friendly and cordial in disposition, and greatly enjoyed social intercourse with friends. He was a mem- ber of Valley Lodge, No. 499, Free and Accepted Masons, of Pittston, being one of the honored past masters of that lodge ; he was also a member of Chapter, Council and Commandery of the Masonic order, and was held in the highest esteem by his brethren. He belonged to the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, to the Knights of Honor, and the Royal Ar- canum; was secretary of the Luzerne County Agricultural Society in 1891, and held the same position with the Wyom- ing Cemetery Association. Both he and his wife were attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church of Wyoming.
Mr. Shoemaker married, January 7, 1868, Jennie Carver, daughter of Rufus and Nancy (Harding) Carver. Mrs. Shoemaker survives her husband and continues her residence at Wyoming. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker were the par- ents of a son, Archie C. Shoemaker, D. D. S., born August 18, 1869; and of a daughter, Amy E., born February 17, 1871, died August 28, 1872.
The following resolutions were adopted by Valley Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, in honor of the memory of their fallen brother and past master:
In fraternal memory of Brother Samuel R. Shoemaker, who was suddenly called from labor, May 2, 1901. In his death his family lost a kind husband and father; the Masonic fraternity in general miss from their ranks a member whose daily walk and conversation could but reflect credit to the craft and honor to his fellowmen; the community in which our brother lived loses an exemplary citizen. He was in the true sense a manly man, and consequently a good Mason. In humble submission we bow to the mandate of the Grand Master of the Universe, and hereby extend to the bereaved family of our brother our sincere sympathy, knowing that words at this time, when the heart is full of sorrow, seem cold and cheerless, but commend you to the source of all comfort. He who is too wise to err, and too good to be unkind.
The honorable, upright life of our deceased brother is a precious legacy to his family, and to the Masonic order. May we all emulate his ex- ample and remember that:
So should we all live, that every hour, May fall as falls the natural flower, A self-reviving thing of power; That every thought and every deed, May hold within itself the seed Of future good and future need.
Resolved : That this tribute of respect be spread upon the minutes and a copy suitably engrossed be presented to his family.
F. WILBUR KYTE, CHARLES SCHUMACHER, CHARLES H. MEMORY, Committee.
CASSELBERRY, Harry Brundage, M.D. Physician, Public Official.
In the city of Hazleton, two doctors bearing the name of Casselberry have been distinguished members of the medical profession, Dr. Jesse R. Casselberry, a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, class of "56," and his son, Harry Brundage Casselberry, a graduate of the same insti- tution, class of "86." The father special- ized in surgery, the son after special preparation at home and abroad choosing as his special line of practice diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. The father has long been gathered to his reward, dying in October, 1892; the son pursuing
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