USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Families of the Wyoming Valley: biographical, genealogical and historical. Sketches of the bench and bar of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, vol. I > Part 22
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vania. To do the adjusting for so extensive a concern is suffi- cient to tax the energies of the most vigorous of men to their utmost. Mr. Shoemaker, however, discharges the responsibilities of the position without apparent effort and with unvarying satis- faction to the firm and its numerous patrons. His knowledge of the law is a great aid to him, of course, in the doing of this work.
Mr. Shoemaker has never mixed conspicuously in public affairs, but for his many kindly and companionable qualities is in great demand socially.
On February 6, 1879, he married Ella Schenck Hunt, of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Harold Mercer Shoemaker is their only child.
Mr. Shoemaker might have made a brilliant practitioner at the bar, but has been content with a life of usefulness in another sphere.
DANIEL LLYNG O'NEILL.
Of the O'Neills, Irish writers speak as "the once proudest and most powerful of the ancient Irish kings." They were kings of Tyrone, now a county in the north of Ireland, in the province of Ulster, bordering on Lough Neagh, which separates it from Antrim and the counties of Armagh, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Donegal, and Londonderry. It has an area of 1260 square miles, and in 1871 had a population of 215,668. The population to-day is not greatly more or less than that figure. The chief towns are Strabane, Dungannon, and Omagh, the capital. The surface is greatly diversified, and has many fertile plains and valleys, watered by the Foyle and Blackwater and their tributaries. Tyrone is one of the counties of Ireland in which coal is found, which, in part, explains why so many of the name who have come to this country have established their new homes in this part of Pennsylvania. Tyrone was once a powerful province, the sway of whose rulers was complete within its limits, and both feared and respected beyond them. Shane's Castle, the home of
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the fiery chieftain, Shane O'Neill, is a comparatively modern building, on Lough Neagh, now in ruins, having been burned by an accidental fire in 1816. The present proprietor, one of the descendants, resides in a temporary dwelling formed of one of the former outbuildings of the castle. From the ruins which remain, it is evident that it was a fine and spacious building. Several turrets and towers are still standing, and a number of cannon are still mounted on the fort, which is boldly situated. The vaults . are still entire, and extend to the very verge of the lake, and the gardens retain the beauty for which they have long been celebrated. The grounds are kept and cultivated with exceeding neatness and care. The trees are of magnificent growth, and the waters of the lake nearly enclose the demesne.
For centuries, Shane's Castle has been the chosen realm of the banshee, "a female fancy " literally, and variously called "the angel of death or separation " and "the white lady of sorrow." The banshee sometimes appears as a young and beautiful woman arrayed in white, but more frequently as a frightful hag, and often as a mere voice from nothing. She is supposed to come always for the purpose of forewarning death, which she does by melan- choly wailings. An ancient bard wrote :
" The banshee mournful wails ; In the midst of the silent, lonely night, Plaintive she sings the song of death."
Even to this day, to hint a doubt of the banshee of the O'Neills would, in the estimation of some of the people still in Ireland, be tantamount to blasphemy. There are those still living who heard the warning voice when the last lord died, and a few years ago there were not a few who were certain they had given ear to the fateful warning which fortold the killing of the former peer during the rebellion of '98 in the street of his own town.
The ruins, partly because of this belief, and partly because they link a splendid past (by reason of their great state of preserva- tion) more closely with the present, are a favorite resort for travelers, and not the least of the very interesting sights a town of Ireland affords.
The O'Neills were kings in Ireland antecedent to Christianity. Camden says they "tyrannized it in Ulster before the coming of
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St. Patricke." One of the most interesting passages in Irish history is the record of what is called the Tyr-oen or Tyrone rebellion of Hugh O'Neill in 1597, who is described as a man " active, affable, and apt to manage great affaires, and of a high dessembling, subtile, and profound wit, so as many deemed him born either for the good or ill of his country." For some time he was considered a faithful subject of the crown, but on the death of Tirlagh O'Neill, to whose daughter Hugh was married, and who, being old, had resigned the earldom some time before in Hugh's favor, he took the title of " The O'Neill," which was in itself treason in the eyes of the English. For five or six years, he labored incessantly, organizing and equipping an army. He trained his men ostensibly to employ them against the Queen's enemies. He got license to cover his house at Dungannon with lead, and then moulded the metal into bullets. During all this time he was suspected of treasonable intent, but continued to visit Dublin, and, as definite suspicions arose, to allay them. In 1597, the Queen's forces, in an attempt to relieve the fort of the Black water, were attacked by the Kernes of Tyrone and utterly routed, losing "thirteen valiant captains and one thousand five hundred common soldiers," Sir Henry Bagnall, " marshall of Ire- land," being among the slain. Rebellion became rife, as a result of this, all over Ireland. Elizabeth's favorite, the Earl of Essex, was sent to quell Tyrone, but he was no match for the O'Neill, as his enemies in England well knew he would not be, else had they not consented to his going. Lord Mountjoy succeeded Essex. He pursued the rebels with fire and sword and pestilence, and by 1601 had compelled all to sue for mercy save Tyrone himself, and in that year the latter was signally defeated in an attempt to relieve his Spanish allies who were "walled up " at Kinsale. The following year, he made complete submission to the Queen, and went in person to London to ask forgiveness of King James the First. His rank, power, and estates were in part restored to him, and he returned to Ireland, but being afterwards suspected of attempting a new rebellion, he fled into Spain, and his enormous property was seized and parcelled out among English subjects, from whence arose " the plantation of Ulster," afterwards sold to "the London companies," who still hold it in
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possession. The O'Neills were finally driven from Tyrone by Cromwell's conquest in 1649, and fled mostly to the mountain fastnesses of Wicklow and Connaught.
The history of the race or clan O'Neill is full of incidents of great interest, which cannot, of course, be detailed here. Its descendants, like those of the other great Irish families of the past, are everywhere through the world, many of them occupying posts of high distinction under their several present flags. A not unworthy scion of this once proud stock is Daniel Llyng O'Neill, who was born December 10, 1835. at Port Deposit, Cecil county, Maryland.
His father was Daniel O'Neill, a son of Philip and Honora Llyng O'Neill, of Kilpipe, county Wicklow, Ireland, and the family there are known as the O'Neills of the Waste. Daniel emigrated to this country in 1829, and for many years was a contractor of some note on public works in Maryland and Pennsylvania. In 1842, he located at Overton, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he continued to reside up to his death, which occurred August 6, 1881. His mother was Bridget O'Neill, nee Hopkins. She was born in Ballymahan, county of Longford, Ireland, and was the daughter of Patrick IIop- kins. Daniel Llyng O'Neill was educated at the public and in select schools, and studied law with the late Hon. Hendrick B. Wright. He was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county April 4, 1864. In 1866 he was chosen a school director, and served on the School Board of the borough, city, and township of Wilkes-Barre for eight successive years, devoting much time and energy to the performance of his duties, and being in the fore front of every movement looking to an increase of the effi- ciency of the schools .. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1868, and therein applied himself assiduously to such matters as affected the interests of his constituents. Through his efforts, what was known as the " Potato law " was repealed. This was a statute which prohibited any person not a resident of Luzerne county from selling " any goods, wares, or merchandise, by wholesale or retail, within its limits," until they had paid a license fee for the privilege amounting to $300 per annum. Its operation had been clearly unjust, and its repeal brought Mr.
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O'Neill no little credit. He secured also the passage of an act providing for the indexing of the assignments of judgments, a measure which our lawyers and business nien have found vastly useful in expediting searches of title, and contributing to their accuracy when made. He made an effort to secure to the city statutory authority to sell the old jail lot, but this was without avail. It was during the session of 1868 that the fifteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States received the sanction of the Pennsylvania Legislature. Mr. O'Neill made an eloquent speech in opposition to it, taking the ground that it was purely a partisan measure, that no good would be done to the country by so suddenly and largely adding to the number of its illiterate voters, and generally questioning its wisdom. The speech was carefully considered, and at the time attracted much attention.
The following year he was re-nominated, but owing to com- plications which had not been foreseen, it proved a disastrous year for the democratic party of the county, and both he and his colleague on the democratic ticket, Mr. N. G. Westler, were defeated. In 1873, he was elected a member of the City Council of Wilkes-Barre, and served a term of two years in that body. He served also for four years as one of the directors of the poor for the Central Poor District of Luzerne county. In 1874, he was a candidate for the democratic nomination for additional law judge, and in the very heated controversy which followed showed himself possessed of much personal strength by securing sixty- eight votes in the convention. He has also been a notary public for some years.
Mr. O'Neill married May 16, 1864, Annie, daughter of Patrick McDonald, of Union township, in this county. The couple have eight children-six sons and two daughters-living, the oldest of whom, Anna C., is at this writing a young lady of seventeen, at present a pupil in the Mansfield Normal School.
As will abundantly appear from the foregoing outline record of his life, Mr. O'Neill has been a busy and useful man. He is a lawyer of excellent abilities, and gives faithful attention to his cases, whereby he has secured himself a practice which, while not overtaxing his energies, yields him and his family a comfort-
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CLARENCE PORTER KIDDER.
able sustenance, and is enabling him to make reasonable provision for old age. He is a man of correct habits and domestic tastes, albeit, genial in disposition, and in no wise inclined to seek a selfish privacy when there is rational enjoyment to be had with companions other than those of his own family. He is a regular attendant at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, and one of the most active of the parishioners in all matters affecting its care and growth. In politics, he has always been a Democrat of pro- nounced views, ever ready with voice or pen to aid in its councils. He has given much time in the various campaigns both to cam- paign work and to stump speaking, and in each capacity has worked zealously and to good purpose.
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CLARENCE PORTER KIDDER.
Clarence Porter Kidder was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., May 10, 1839. He is a descendant of James Kidder, jun., a native of East Grinstead, county Sussex, England, who was born there in 1626. James Kidder's wife was Ann, daughter of Elder Francis Moore. Mr. Kidder emigrated to New England in 1649, and settled in Cambridge, Mass. He had a son, John, born in 165-5, who had a son, Thomas, born October 30, 1690, who had a son, Aaron, born December 22, 1719, who had a son, Luther, born June 29, 1767, who had a son, Lyman Church Kidder, the father of the subject of our sketch, who was born in Wood- stock, Vermont, in April, 1802, and emigrated to the valley of Wyoming with his father at an early day. The mother of Clarence Porter Kidder was Mary, daughter of Anderson Dana, jun., a son of Anderson Dana, a native of Ashford, Conn., and a lawyer of handsome attainments. Immediately on his removal to Wilkes-Barre, he took a decided lead in the establishment of free schools and a Gospel minister. Before the first stump cut on his plantation had begun to decay, his son, Daniel Dana, was placed at school at Lebanon, Conn., to prepare himself for a collegiate education at Yale. It is
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here worthy of remark that he was the first student sent from Wyoming to Yale college, since which time scores of her sons have been educated at that institution. Mr. Dana returned from the assembly at Hartford near the close of June, 1778, where, at that most trying period, the people had chosen him to represent them. The enemy having come, Mr. Dana mounted his horse and rode from town to town, arousing, cheering for the conflict. Though by law exempt from militia duty, he hastened to the field and fell. Mrs. Dana, with a thoughtfulness nowhere equalled, knowing that, as her husband was much engaged in public business, his papers must be valuable, gathered up all she deemed most important, took provisions, and with her widowed daughter, Mrs. Whiton, and the younger children, fled. Like hundreds of others, they sought their way to their former home in Connecticut, where, while Anderson, jun., was put out an apprentice, Daniel was sent to college, and the rest turned their hands to such labor as could best sustain them. The independent spirit exhibited, all unconquerable, is itself a beautiful illustration of the Yankee character. Anderson Dana returned to Wyoming and recovered the patrimonial estate. Daniel, as designed by his father, was educated at Yale college. He lived many years in the state of New York, was judge of the court, and held other official stations. Rev. Sylvester Dana, another son, imbued, like his martyred father, with a zeal for religion and love of learning, sold his patrimonial right, obtained a liberal education, and entered the Christian ministry. Eleazer, the youngest son, resided at Owego, New York, where he had an extensive legal practice, and accumulated a handsome independence.
The wife of Anderson Dana, jun., was Sarah, a daughter of Asa Stevens, a native of Canterbury, Conn. He removed to Wyoming in 1772, and lived a portion of his time at the mouth of Mill Creek. Mr. Stevens was a lieutenant in one of the com- panies that marched out from Forty Fort July 3. 1778, and was slain in the massacre that day. Thus it will be seen that both of the great grandfathers of the subject of our sketch were slain in the massacre of Wyoming. The wife of Asa Stevens was Sarah Adams, whom he married in Canterbury, October 1, 1761. She was born January 17, 1768. Mr. Stevens was a descendant of
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Colonel Thomas Stevens, of Devonshire, England, and subse- quently of London, England. He was an armorer in Buttolph lane.
Cyprian Stevens, son of Colonel Thomas Stevens, was born in London, and emigrated to Lancaster, Mass., about 1660. He mar- ried, January 22, 1672, Mary, daughter of Major Simon Willard.
Simon Stevens was a son of Cyprian Stevens. He was married to Mary Wilder in 1701.
Jonathan Stevens was a son of Simon Stevens. He connected himself with the church at Lancaster, Mass., April 16, 1710.
Asa Stevens, the great grandfather of Mr. Kidder, was a son of Jonathan Stevens, who was born in Canterbury, Conn., in May, 1734.
Mr. Kidder was educated at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa .; Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn .; and at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., where he took a degree. In 1862 he served in Captain Stanley Woodward's Company H, Third Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia, during the Antietam cam- paign ; and in 1863, in Captain Finch's Company K, Thirteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, during the Gettysburg campaign. In the last named company, Mr. Finch became the captain after the regiment arrived at Harrisburg, upon the refusal of Mr. Ricketts, who had been elected captain, to be sworn into the service of the United States. Mr. Kidder read law with Caleb E. Wright and David C. Harrington, and was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county April 4, 1864. In 1865 Mr. Kidder was elected one of the councilinen of the borough of Wilkes-Barre, and served in that position for six years. In 1871, when Wilkes- Barre was made a city, Mr. Kidder was again elected a council- man for three years. In 1879 he was nominated for register of wills by the republican party, but was defeated by Charles C. Plotz, his democratic opponent, by a majority of only two hun- dred and sixty-five votes, although the democratic candidate for governor had a majority of 1006. Mr. Kidder is prominent in the Grand Army of the Republic, and delivered the poems on Decoration Day in 1879 and 1881.
Hon. Luther Kidder, a brother of Lyman C. Kidder, the father of Clarence Porter Kidder, who was admitted to the bar of Luz-
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CLARENCE PORTER KIDDER.
erne county November 5, 1833, represented Luzerne county in the State Senate from 1841 to 1844. He was subsequently president judge of the judicial district composed of the counties of Carbon, Monroe, and Schuylkill. He was a son-in-law of the late Hon. David Scott, president judge of Luzerne county.
Mr. Kidder married, May 24, 1864, Louisa Amelia, daughter of Captain Calvin Parsons, of the borough of Parsons, Luzerne county, Pa. She is a descendant of Deacon Benjamin Parsons, a native of Sanford, Oxfordshire, England, where he was born March 17, 1627. He probably accompanied his father to New England about the year 1630. Deacon Parsons was among the first settlers of Springfield, Mass., and a prominent citizen, a gentleman of exemplary moral character, of great worth and respectability. He was a chief instrument in the formation of the church in Springfield, as appears from his correspondence with the Rev. Dr. Increase Mather. In the civil affairs of the town, no one held more responsible offices, or discharged them with greater fidelity. He died August 24, 1689. His brother, Joseph Parsons, was a principal founder of Northampton, Mass., extensively engaged in the fur trade, and acquired a large estate.
Benjamin Parsons, son of Deacon Benjamin Parsons, was born in Springfield, Mass., September 15, 1658. He married, January 17, 1683, Sarah, daughter of John Keep, of Springfield. Her mother was Sarah, daughter of John Leonard, of Springfield. Her father was killed by the Indians, at Long Meadow, 1676, probably on the 26th March, as on that day six men were killed at Springfield, three of them near Pecowsick brook as they were passing from Long Meadow to the town with an escort under Captain Nixon. The circumstance was long perpetuated by the following distich :
"Seven Indians, and one without a gun,
Caused Captain Nixon and forty men to run."
Mr. Parsons died at Enfield, Conn., December 28, 1728.
Christopher Parsons, son of Benjamin Parsons, was born in Enfield, Hartford county, Conn., January 28, 1691, and died September 10, 1747.
John Parsons, son of Christopher Parsons, was born in Enfield December 27, 1716.
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John Parsons, jun., son of John Parsons, was born in Enfield April 4, 1744.
Captain Hezekiah Parsons, son of John Parsons, jun., was born in Enfield, March 25, 1777. He emigrated to Wyoming in 1813, and located at Laurel Run, now borough of Parsons. He was a clothier by trade, and erected the first fulling mill or factory in Luzerne county. The factory ran from 1813 to 1852, when the machinery was sold to John P. Rice, of Truxville. The wife of Captain Parsons was Eunice, daughter of Stephen Whiton, a young schoolmaster from Ashford, Windham county, Conn., and who was killed on the day of the massacre, July 3, 1778. Mr. Whiton had but recently married the daughter of Anderson Dana, sen., and Mr. Whiton and Mr. Dana fell together in the battle and massacre. Mrs. Parsons was born September 25, 1778, nearly four months after the death of her father. She died in 1853. Mr. Parsons died April 17, 1845.
Captain Calvin Parsons (son of Captain Hezekiah Parsons), the father of Mrs. Kidder, who is still living, was born at his present residence in the borough of Parsons, then township of Wilkes- Barre, April 2, 1815. He was commissioned captain of the Wilkes-Barre and Pittston Blues by Governor Ritner in 1835, he being but twenty years of age at the time. ' The borough of Parsons was named after Captain Parsons. He is thoroughly well known throughout the valley, is prominent in temperance circles, and takes a deep interest in historical matters, being one of the most enthusiastic and hard working of the members of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. Mr. and Mrs. Kidder have a family of three children-Calvin Parsons Kidder, Mary Louise Kidder, and Clarence Lyman Kidder.
From the foregoing facts, it will be observed that Clarence Porter Kidder unites in his veins the blood of some of the stur- diest and best of the old New England stock, which has done so much to develop the natural riches of the Wyoming valley, and make its name and people honored throughout the country, and that of his children is further enriched by contributions from another line of distinguished ancestry. He is yet a young man, and his fine natural qualities and excellent education fit him for important achievements at the bar. For a number of
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years he was the senior member of the firm of Kidder & Nichols, which came to be well known and highly respected, but for some time past he has been practicing singly, being engaged frequently in cases of unusual consequence, and requiring a thorough knowledge of the law, and careful and ingenious application of its principles.
In politics, he is a Republican, and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his party, having frequently contributed to its cam- paigns by effective efforts from the stump. He is a pleasing speaker, though he aims rather at argument than oratory.
During his connection with the borough council, and after- wards with that of the city, he served on important committees, and took a decided stand for or against every proposition of importance that arose during his term affecting the interests and well-being of his constituents.
He is of stalwart build, and has a fine presence. He enjoys association with "good fellows," and his genial manners and lively conversation is enjoyed by them.
EDWARD KENDALL MORSE.
Edward Kendall Morse, only son of Aldson Morse, was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., March 16, 1843. He is a descendant of John Moss, one of that noble band who founded the colony of New Haven, Conn. Mr. Moss's foresight, courage and enter- prise in the work; his wisdom and prudence ; his self-denial, firmness and perseverance in carrying it on, are well attested by records, when read in connection with the history of his times, and the privations and trials of his situation. Of the time and place of his birth, and the date of his arrival in New England, we have no certain information. If he had attained his majority when admitted a member of the General Court, 1639-40, he was born as early as 1619. He doubtless arrived at New Haven, 1638. The first record of him is dated February 18, 1639-40, when he signed a social compact as one of the proprietors and
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planters. He resided in New Haven thirty years, and was a prominent man there, frequently representing the people in the General Court. As early as 1667 we find him in what is now Wallingford, Conn., perambulating the county in that region for the purpose of settling a village there. In 1670 we find him ex- erting himself, before the General Court at Hartford, to procure an act of incorporation, changing the name of the village to that of Wallingford, which was carried into effect the 12th day of May, 1670. At this time he was a member of the General Court for New Haven. Afterwards he was frequently a member of said Court as a representative from Wallingford. He was a very active member of the company, and a leader among the settlers. His name was early placed on the committee for the distribution of the common lands, where it remained for a succession of years, and he was placed at the head of a committee to gather and organize a church. He died in 1707.
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