USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Families of the Wyoming Valley: biographical, genealogical and historical. Sketches of the bench and bar of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, vol. II > Part 32
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853
EDWARD MERRIFIELD.
called upon to address public assemblies in the interest of such reforms. Judge Ward, during the greater part of his practice, has always had some younger person as a partner. We can recall the firm names of Ward & Bangs, Ward & Harrington, Ward & Kulp, Ward & Mahon, Ward & Gunster, Ward & Edwards, and Ward & Horn. Judge Ward was twice married. His first wife was Maria White, of Columbia county, N. Y. She died Decem- ber 2, 1872. His second wife was Louisa Z. Hurlburt, of North Adams, Mass. She is also deceased. He has one son by his last wife, Douglass Hurlburt Ward.
EDWARD MERRIFIELD.
Edward Merrifield, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county August 6, 1855, is a descendant of Robert Merrifield, who was born in England in 1703, and emigrated with a brother or brothers to America, and settled in Rhode Island. William Merrifield, an only son of Robert Merrifield, was born in the latter state in 1752, and removed with his father to Dutchess county, N. Y. He was a school teacher, and continued to live in Dutchess and Columbia counties, N. Y .. until his death in 1836. Robert Merrifield, son of William Merrifield, was born in Columbia county, N. Y., in 1778, emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1819, and settled in the then township of Providence, subsequently Hyde Park, now a portion of the city of Scranton. Here he engaged in the business of clearing away the forest, and farming. He died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His wife was Catharine Wolsey, born in Columbia county, N. Y., January 12, 1786. William Merrifield, son of Robert Merrifield, was born at Pine Plains, Dutchess county, N. Y., April 22, 1806, and removed with his father to Pennsylvania. His education was limited to district schools, but his mind was sufficiently stored to enable him to teach, and for five winters he engaged in this occu- pation. He soon after engaged in the mercantile business at Cen- tremoreland, Luzerne (now Wyoming) county, Pa. Before going
854
EDWARD MERRIFIELD.
there he had been interested in getting a postoffice established at Hyde Park, and was appointed the first postmaster in 1831. He re- mained at Centremoreland about a year, returned to Hyde Park, was reappointed postmaster, and held the office about ten years. At the same time he erected a store building, and followed the business of a merchant almost uninterruptedly until 1864. He early foresaw the advantages of this section as a mining and manufacturing centre, and in 1837 became a joint owner of the main portion of the lands where is now built the central part of Scranton. He at once commenced operations through correspondence and other- wise towards calling the attention of capitalists to this point, and in 1838 the tract was disposed of to Colonel George W. Scran- ton and others, by whose energy and perseverance it received the impetus that has made it a flourishing city. In 1843 he was elected to the legislature of Pennsylvania, to which he was returned for three successive terms. As a legislator he was regarded as a safe adviser, his opinion being frequently sought for and highly respected. His struggles for the welfare of the Lackawanna valley exhibit him on the legislative records as the ablest champion ever sent from that locality. His greatest effort was in behalf of the proposed new county of Lackawanna-the bill for which he succeeded in passing through the lower house, and was defeated only in the senate by a tie vote. He was also an earnest worker in favor of the extension of the North Branch Canal, also for the project of slack water navigation on the Sus- quehanna and Lackawanna rivers, with a view of opening up the Lackawanna coal fields. He was an enthusiastic friend and sup- porter of the public schools of his neighborhood. He officiated as school director at the time of the building of the first frame school house in Hyde Park, and again during the construction of the more recent graded school building. He was among the first to give an impetus to the growth of the town by plotting his tract of land in the central portion thereof into village lots, subse- quently laying out another tract known as Merrifield's plot of lots in Keyser's Valley. In 1856 he was elected an associate judge of Luzerne county. In 1870 he was chosen president of the Hyde Park Bank. Judge Merrifield was the first burgess of the borough of Hyde Park. As a politician, he belonged to the
855
EDWARD MERRIFIELD.
democratic school, and was ever known as a conscientious advo- cate of purity in public affairs, his wishes being always for the welfare and prosperity of the country. The public offices that were conferred upon him were given in every instance without solicitation upon his part, and were invariably administered to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. Merrifield married in early manhood Almira Swetland, daughter of Belding Swet- land. (See page 464). William Merrifield died June 4, 1877. Ed- ward Merrifield, the only child living of William Merrifield was born at Wyoming, Pa., July 30, 1832. His education was received in the public schools of Hyde Park, and in an attend- ance of about two years at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pa., and between two and three years at Oxford (N. Y.) Academy, where he prepared for college. On account of impaired health the idea of a college course was abandoned. Upon his return from Oxford he engaged, in company with his father at Hyde Park in mercantile business, in which he continued but one year. In the spring of 1852 he entered the law academy at Easton, Pa., Judge McCartney, principal, where he remained one term. In 1853 he entered the law office of Harrison Wright, in this city, where he remained two years. He opened an office in Hyde Park, in 1855, the same year that he was admitted to the bar. In 1861 he removed from Hyde Park to Scranton. In 1867, for the pur - pose of recruiting his health, he purchased a farm on the Raritan river, Somerset county, N. J., which he carried on for two years. Having fully recovered his health, he returned and again opened a law office in Scranton, where he has since practiced. In poli- tics Mr. Merrifield has always acted with the democratic party. For a number of years he was president of the Scranton Law and Library Association. He was very active in securing the for- mation of the county of Lackawanna, and to no man was due more credit for the final success of that project. In 1884 he was the democratic candidate for assistant law judge of Lackawanna county, but was defeated by Robert W. Archbald-republican. Mr. Merrifield married, November 25, 1855, Jennie Eldridge, of Owego, N. Y. Her grandfather, Robert Eldridge, was born in New London, Conn., and her father, James N. Eldridge, was born at Denmark, N. Y. Her mother, the wife of James N. Eldridge,
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856
PHILIP MYERS.
was Elvira C. Patrick, of New Preston, Conn., and her grandfather was Henry Patrick, of Norwich, Conn. His wife was Dotha Clemons, of Litchfield, Conn. The wife of Robert Eldridge was Sally Sylvester, of Copenhagen, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Merrifield have one child, Jessie Merrifield.
PHILIP MYERS.
Philip Myers was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county August 8, 1855. He is the grandson of Philip Myers, who was born in Germany in 1756, came to this country with his parents in 1760, settling in Frederick, Maryland. Philip Myers' grandfather came to Wyoming in 1785 and married Martha Bennet, daugh- ter of Thomas Bennet, July 15, 1787. Lawrence Myers, brother of Philip Myers' grandfather, was one of the trustees of the Wilkes-Barre Academy. He was elected in 1808 and served until his death. He was an officer of the Maryland line during the revolution, and was stationed at the fort here in 1779. Thomas Myers, son of Philip and Martha (Bennet) Myers, was born in Kingston February 15, 1802, and died at Williamsport, Pa., December 3, 1887. (See page 629.) The first wife of Thomas Myers, and the mother of Philip Myers, was Sarah Borbidge, born in Dublin, Ireland, April 23, 1808. She was the daughter of James Borbidge, born in Dublin in 1757. His wife was Maria Borbidge (nee Bowers), a native of county Wicklow, Ire- land. Philip Myers, son of Thomas and Sarah Myers, was born in Kingston, Pa., November 28, 1830. He was educated at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, and at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1851. From 1851 to 1854 he was one of the professors in the Wyoming Seminary. He read law with George W. Woodward, in this city. The second year after his admission here he removed to Oska- loosa, Iowa, where he practiced his profession until 1866. In 1868 he removed to Chicago, Ill., where he now resides. From 1873 to 1875 he was one of the professors in the Union College of Law, in Chicago. Mr. Myers married, November 20, 1866,
857
CHARLES EDWARD LATHROP.
at Ottawa, Ill., Mary Isabella Cowen, of Ottawa. Her grandfather was Robert Cowen, born in Maryland and died in Ohio. His wife was Mary Cowen (nee Davis), born near Hagerstown, Mary- land. The father of Mrs. Myers was Walter Cowen, who was born at or near Hagerstown in 1813. He died at Ottawa August 18, 1867. Her mother was Matilda Cowen (nee Strawn). She was born near Zanesville, Ohio, November 6, 1823, and died at Magnolia, Putnam county, Ill., in 1848. Her grandfather was Jeremiah Strawn, who was a soldier in the Black Hawk war, was born in Somerset, Pa., in 1795, and died at Ottawa in 1883. His brother, John Strawn, was colonel of a regiment during the Black Hawk war. The wife of Jeremiah Strawn was Hannah Strawn (nee Bouscher.) She was born in Somerset in 1799 and died at Ottawa in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have but one child living-Elizabeth Vanderbelt Myers.
CHARLES EDWARD LATHROP.
Charles Edward Lathrop, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county January 12, 1857, is the descendant of Rev. John Lothropp, a native of Etton, Harthill wapentake, East Riding, Yorkshire, England, who was baptized at Etton December 20, 1584, and became the pioneer and founder of the Lothrop- Lathrop family in America. He was educated in Queen's Col- lege, Cambridge, where he was matriculated in 1601, graduated B. A. in 1605, and M. A. in 1609. Authentic records next locate him in Egerton, forty-eight miles southeast from London, in the Lower Half hundred of Calehill, Lathe of Scray, county of Kent, as curate of the parish church there. To this living he was ad- mitted about 1611 by the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul. He was there from 1614 to 1619. It was probably his first and only parish charge as a minister of the English Church. Here Mr. Lothropp labored faithfully as long as his judgment could approve the ritual and government of the church. But when he could no longer do this, we find him conscientiously renouncing his orders
858
CHARLES EDWARD LATHROP.
and asserting the right of still fulfilling a ministry to which his heart and his conscience had called him. Accordingly, in 1623, his decision is made. He bids adieu to the church of his youth, and with no misgivings, now in the fullness of his early man- hood, subscribes with a firm hand to the doctrines and espouses with a courageous heart the cause of the Independents. Hence- forth his lot is with conventicle men in his mother land and with the exiled founders of a great nation in a new world. The date of his leaving Egerton is 1623, and the next year he is called to succeed the Rev. Henry Jacob, an independent minister, who, having been for eight years the pastor of the First Inde- pendent Church in London, resigned his place- to remove to Virginia. At that date the congregation of dissenters to which he ministered had no place of public worship, their worship itself being illegal. Only such as could meet the obloquy and risk the danger of worshipping God in violation of human statute were likely to be found in that secret gathering. Yet in goodly numbers, in such places in Southwark as they could stealthily occupy, they held together, and were comforted and instructed by the minister of their choice. For not less than eight years they so worshipped. No threats of vengeance deterred, and no vigilance of officious ministers of the violated law detected, them. More watchful grew the minions of Laud. Keen-scented church hounds traversed all the narrow ways of the city whose most secret nooks could by any possibility admit even a small com- pany of the outlaws. One of the wiliest of these pursuivants of the bishop, Tomlinson by name, tracked Mr. Lothropp and his followers to their retreat. They had met for worship, as had been their wont, little thinking that it would be their last gathering with their beloved minister. How far they had gone in their service we shall probably never know. What words of cheer they had spoken or heard we may not repeat. Their private sanctuary, a room in the house of Mr. Humphrey Barnet, a brewer's clerk, in Black Friars, is suddenly invaded. Tomlinson and his ruffian band, with a show of power above their resistance, seize forty-two of their number, allowing only eighteen of them to escape, and made that 22d day of April, 1632, forever memorable to those suffering christians by handing them over in fetters to
859
CHARLES EDWARD LATHROP.
the executioners of a law which was made for godly men to break. In the old Clink prison, in Newgate, and in the Gate- house, all made for felons, these men, "of whom the world was not worthy," lingered for months. In the spring of 1634 all but Mr. Lothropp were released on bail. He, their leader, the chief offender, was deemed too dangerous to be set at liberty. Like the gifted Hooker, it was felt that his words and his example had "already more impeached the peace of our church" than the church could bear. "His genius will still haunte all the pulpits in ye country, when any of his scolers may be admitted to preach." And so his prison doors swung to again, and seemed to leave him no hope of release or escape. During these months a" fatal sickness was preying upon his wife and bringing her fast toward her end. The "New England Memorial," by Nathaniel Morton, published in 1669, and then near enough the date of the incidents given to be a credible witness, gives us these touch- ing incidents of that imprisonment : "His wife fell sick, of which sickness she died. He procured liberty of the bishop to visit his wife before her death, and commended her to God by prayer, who soon gave up the ghost. At his return to prison his poor children, being many, repaired to the bishop at Lamberth and made known unto him their miserable condition, by reason of their good father's being continued in close durance, who commiserated their condition so far as to grant him liberty, who soon after came over into New England." In 1634 he arrived in Boston with that portion of his London flock who had accompanied him. He found already the preparations begun to welcome him to a new home in Scituate. At least nine pioneers had built their houses in that new settlement, and to it, with such of his people as were ready to accompany him, he repaired September 27, 1634. He remained in Scituate as the pastor of the church there until 1639, when he removed to Barnstable. During the fourteen years that he was pastor of the Barnstable church, such was his influence over the people that the power of the civil magistrate was not needed to restrain crime. No pastor was ever more beloved by his people ; none ever had a greater influence for good. To be- come a member of his church no applicant was compelled to sign a creed or confession of faith. He retained his freedom. He
860
CHARLES EDWARD LATHROP.
professed his faith in God and promised that it should be his constant endeavor to keep His commandments, to live a pure life, and to walk in love with the brethren. He died in Barn- stable November 8, 1653.
Joseph Lothropp, son of Rev. John Lothropp, was born in Eng- land, probably in Lamberth, London, in 1624. He probably also came over to America with his father in 1634. He married, December 11, 1650, Mary Ansell. He settled and lived in Barn- stable, where his name on the local records shows him to have been an enterprising and honored man. He was a deputy for the town in the general court of the state for fifteen years, and for twen- ty-one years served as one of the selectmen of the town. On the organization of the county he was appointed the register of the pro- bate court, and recorded in 1666 the first deed put on record in the county. The court appointed him in 1653 to keep the ordinary of the town. He was admitted freeman June 8, 1655. In 1664 we find him as acting constable, and in 1667 as receiver of excise. That he was also in the military line is shown in the titles of lieu- tenant and captain. He died in 1702.
Hope Lothrop, son of Joseph Lothropp, was born July 15, 1671 ; married, November 15, 1696, Elizabeth Lathrop, who was born in Barnstable November 15, 1677, a daughter of Melatiah Lothrop. They settled first in Barnstable, where he is enrolled among the townsmen in 1695, and where the eldest of their children were born. He subsequently removed to Fal- mouth, Mass., and still later to Connecticut. He died October 29, 1736, and his wife died February 21, 1763. Melatiah La- throp, son of Hope Lothrop, was born February 20, 1714; mar- ried, probably in Tolland, where the record was made, Novem- ber 15, 1738, Mercy Hatch, daughter of Joseph Hatch, one of the pioneers of Tolland, where she was born Angust 23, 1717. A record made by her son Josiah states that "this family, [that of his father Melatiah] commenced in Connecticut, whence they removed in 1755 into Dutchess county, N. Y., then town of Dover, where they were chiefly brought up." He died Septem- ber 5, 1787. Ezra Lathrop, son of Melatiah Lathrop, was born August 19, 1751, in Kent, Conn .; married, 1779 (?), Miriam, daughter of "old Dea. Thurston," whose fame for piety was in
861
CHARLES EDWARD LATHROP.
all the churches ; died February 12, 1825, in Ontario county, N. Y. Salmon Lathrop, son of Ezra Lathrop, was born in New Concord,. Columbia county, N. Y., January 5, 1781, and married, August 28, 1805, Aurelia Noble, eldest daughter of John and Lydia Noble, who were born in Benson, Vermont, July 18, 1790, and died in Carbondale, Pa., April 13, 1872. Salmon Lathrop, at an early period in his life, removed with his father's family to the town of Sherburne, Chenango county, N. Y., then a comparatively wild and unknown region of country. Here his youth was spent on his father's farm, clearing away the wilderness and developing the resources of that now most beautiful and pro- ductive region of the Empire state. He removed to Carbon- dale in 1827, and erected the first frame building in that place, being an addition to the log structure known for many years as the "log tavern." He died in Carbondale November 4, 1868. For the facts herein enumerated we are indebted to the Lo-La- throp Family Memoir, by Mrs. Julia M. Huntington, Ridgefield, Conn., 1884.
Charles E. Lathrop, son of Salmon Lathrop, was born in Bloomingburg, Sullivan county, N. Y., March 5, 1827. He was educated in the schools of Carbondale and Wilkes-Barre, and read law with his brother, Dwight Noble Lathrop. He has practiced in this city, Carbondale, Scranton, Independence, Iowa, and Washington, D. C. He was educated as a printer, and was editor and publisher of different newspapers for about ten years. During these years he was prosecuting the study of law. He was ¿ school director in Scranton in 1855, 1856 and 1857, clerk in navy department in Washington, D. C., 1861, 1862 and 1863, naval storekeeper, navy yard, Washington, D. C., 1863, 1864, 1865 and 1866, superintendent of government printing, Washington, D. C., 1867, 1868 and 1869, and superintendent of schools, Buchanan county, Iowa, 1859 and 1860. He now resides in Carbondale. Mr. Lathrop married, February 18, 1849, Charlotte Dilley, the great- granddaughter of Richard Dilley, a native of Cape May county, New Jersey, who removed to Hanover, in this county, in 1784. His son, Richard Dilley, removed with his father to Hanover and lived at Buttonwood. His wife's name was Polly Voke. Jesse Dilley, son of Richard Dilley, was born in Hanover in
862
EDWARD NEWELL WILLARD.
1794. His wife was Hannah K. Lueder, a daughter of Christian F. Lueder, who was born in Germany in 1769. He settled first in Northampton county, where he married Mary M. Ryswick, and from there removed to Hanover. The father of Mrs. La- throp was Jesse Dilley. Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop have a family of four children living-Helen Augusta Lathrop, wife of Ur- bane C. Rogers, Edward Dilley Lathrop, William Monroe La- throp, and Mary Jennette Lathrop.
EDWARD NEWELL WILLARD.
Edward Newell Willard, who was admitted to the bar of Lu- zerne county, Pa., November 17, 1857, is a descendant of Major Simon Willard, a native of the parish of Horsmonden, in the southwesterly part of Kent, England, where he was baptized April 5, 1605. He embarked from England in April, 1634, and arrived in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony, about the middle of the month of May. He was a merchant, and one of the most prominent of the early Puritans. The grandfather of E. N. Wil- lard was Jehiel Willard, of Madison, Conn., whose wife was Eunice Blatchley. The father of E. N. Willard was James Willard, also a native of Madison. The wife of James Willard, and mother of of E. N. Willard, was Susan Clanning, a daughter of Edward Clanning, of Newport, R. I. E. N. Willard was born in Mad- ison, April 2, 1835. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and also at Lee's Academy, in Madison. He studied law with Ralph D. Smith, of Guilford, Conn., and subsc- quently entered the New Haven (Conn.) Law School, from which he graduated. He was admitted to the New Haven county bar in September, 1857. He was sworn in as an attorney by Major General Alfred H. Terry, who was then clerk of the courts. Mr. Willard has been a resident of Scranton since his admission to the bar here, and is one of its most prominent attorneys and busi- ness men. In 1867 he was appointed register in bankruptcy for the twelfth congressional district, and has held the office since. He is president of the Scranton Savings Bank and Trust Com-
863
EDWARD NEWELL WILLARD.
pany, president of the Stowers Pork Packing and Provision Com- pany, president of the Bridge Coal Company, and a director and one-fifth owner of the Lackawanna Coal Company, Limited. He has served as notary public for nine years, attorney and secretary or the borough of Scranton four years, and for four years he was attorney for the city of Scranton and secretary of select council from date of organization of the city. He is counsel and attorney for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, the Pennsylvania Coal Company, the Hillside Coal & Iron Com- pany, the Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Company, the Lacka- wanna Iron & Coal Company, the Scranton Steel Company, the Scranton Gas and Water Company, the New York, Susquehanna, & Western R. R. Co., and other corporations. On September 1, 1864, he entered the United States army as captain in the One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Regiment of United States Colored Troops, and served in the army until December, 1865. After the surrender of General Lee, he was judge advocate in the Second Division, Twenty-Fifth Army Corps. Mr. Willard mar- ried, June 4, 1860, Ellen Hower, a native of Lock Haven, Pa., a daughter of Cain Hower, a native of Roaring Creek, Columbia county, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Willard have but one child-Nellie, wife of Everett Warren, of the Lackawanna county bar.
Mr. Willard's professional career, during all the years he has lived in Scranton, has been marked by great ability as an advo- cate, untiring zeal for his clients, and the most sterling integrity of character. These qualifications, together with his great indus- try, have enabled him easily to acquire a large and lucrative practice, which he has frequently refused to relinquish for judicial and other official positions. Among the many excellent traits of his character may be specially mentioned his kindness and con- sideration for younger members of the bar, many of whom have, in the most trying period of their professional career, been helped by his generosity. His nature is open, frank, and social. He carries about with him a hearty, good humor, which makes him a prime favorite with all classes ; aud he is especially and deser- vedly popular with the members of the bar, who, young and old, find in him a companion, a friend in need, a brother in the law, and hold for him the esteem which his manly qualities ever inspire.
864
PAUL ROSS WEITZEL.
PAUL ROSS WEITZEL.
Paul Ross Weitzel, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, August 17, 1858, is a descendant of Johan Paul Weytzel, who emigrated, September 3, 1742, in the ship " Loyal Judith," James Cowie, captain, from Rotterdam, Holland. Some time between 1742 and 1750 Paul Weitzel and Charlotte, his wife, settled in the town of Lancaster, Pa. Here all their seven children were born. Paul was doubtless born before 1717, as his name does not appear on the list of males between the ages of sixteen and fifty in Lancaster in 1776. He died about September, 1797. John Weitzel, second child of Paul and Charlotte Weitzel, was born in Lancaster, December 30, 1752. He received the rudi- ments of a good education with his brother, in his native town, and at an early age was sent to Philadelphia to learn the mer- cantile business. About 1771, when but nineteen years of age, he removed to Fort Augusta (near where the town of Sunbury, Pa., now stands), opening one of the earliest mercantile stores established at that point. When the war of the revolution began he became a very prominent actor in county affairs. In those days the county offices were held by the best men Before he was of age he was appointed, in 1772, one of the first county commissioners of Northumberland county. To this office he was reappointed January 22, 1776, and also under the constitution of 1790, in 1790, 1791 and 1792. He was appointed justice of the peace for the same county, respectively March 9, 1774, July 29, 1775, June 19, 1777, and June 20, 1789. The General Assem- bly appointed him, July 25, 1775, a " justice of the Court of Quar- ter Sessions, and of the county Court of Common Pleas for the county of. Northumberland. He was also a member of the com- mittee of safety of the same county from February 8, 1776, to August 13, 1776. Judge Weitzel was a member of the provin- cial conference of June 18, 1776, as a deputy from the county of Northumberland. This conference was held in Philadelphia to take into consideration the resolutions of the continental con- gress recommending the total suppression of all authority under
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