USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Families of the Wyoming Valley: biographical, genealogical and historical. Sketches of the bench and bar of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, vol. III > Part 17
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Mr. Mallery was an unmarried man, and died May 27, 1852.
CHARLES PHILLIPS WALLER.
Charles Phillips Waller, who was admitted to the bar of Lu- zerne county, Pa., August 7, 1843, was a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pa, where he was born August 7, 1819. He was the son of Captain Phineas Waller, a native of Massachusetts, who moved into the Wyoming valley in 1774 with his father's family. Cap- tain Nathan Waller, his father, a farmer, settled in the Wyoming valley when Phineas was a young man. The mother of C. P. Waller was Elizabeth Jewett, a daughter of Dr. David Hibbard Jewett, of Montville, Conn. (See page 842.) Mr. Waller spent his youth at home and in the schools of Wilkes-Barre until he entered Williams college in 1838, where he was a student for two years, but owing to weakness of his eyes he was obliged to discontinue his studies. In 1839 and 1840 he was principal of
I220
STEPHEN SEVERSON WINCHESTER.
the Bloomsburg, Pa., academy, and was the first to organize a classical school there. He studied law with Judge Collins in this city, and soon after his admission here he removed to Hones- dale, Pa., where he successfully carried on his profession until 1874, when he was elected president judge of Wayne county, Pa. He married, April 3, 1845, Harriet W., daughter of Henry W. Stone, of Mount Pleasant, Pa.
STEPHEN SEVERSON WINCHESTER.
Stephen Severson Winchester was admitted to the Luzerne county, Pa., bar November 6, 1843. He was a native of Balti- more, Maryland, where he was born in October, 1817. When he reached his majority he came to this city and was domiciled in the family of Thomas Myers, who at that time was sheriff of the county. For some years he continued with Sheriff Myers, act- ing in a clerical capacity in his office. He subsequently served for a short time as a teacher in the old Wilkes-Barre academy. He began his legal studies with the late Hon. Luther Kidder in 1841, and shortly after removed to Tunkhannock, Pa., and com- pleted his legal studies under the tuition of Hon. R. R. Little. He was admitted to the bar of Wyoming county at September term, 1843, and was shortly after appointed deputy attorney-gen- eral of Wyoming county, Pa. He served with distinction as Wyoming's attorney, and subsequently entered upon a very vig- orous and promising practice at Tunkhannock. In 1846 he purchased the Wyoming Democrat of William Bolton, and became its editor and publisher up to 1853, when the paper was disposed of to W. M. Piatt and John Brisbin. In the same year he was induced to return to Luzerne to accept the editorial manage- ment of the Luzerne Union (since merged in the Union Leader), which had just been started. In his editorial labors he found congenial employment, for he was naturally a newspaper man, and was as ready with his pen as he was with his speech in the defense of the principles of a political faith which he clung to until the last. It was while he was in charge of that paper that
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SAMUEL HODGDON.
he was commissioned a brigadier general of the state militia, and put in command of a military district in this section of the commonwealth. About 1855 General Winchester entered the political arena, having accepted the nomination of district at- torney. His opponent was Henry M. Hoyt, whom he defeated by a neat majority. He served the office with honor to himself and his party, and with true fidelity to the interests of the peo- ple. General Winchester was a hard, earnest worker. He had a powerful will, which enabled him to fight a malady which would have laid many another man aside. As a lawyer he was keen, shrewd and intelligent; as an editor he was ardent, honest and vigorous. In his relations with others he was ever suave, kindly, generous and benignant. In address he was pleasant and in manners polished. In debate he was ever earnest, his style being bold and aggressive. He was a firm believer in the political doctrines of Jefferson, and his position was never mistaken. Ten years before his death General Win- chester had amassed a comfortable fortune, but unfortunately it was in real estate, which depreciated in value with the passage of time, and so, in a measure, wrecked him. He passed away at a day when a loving family could illy afford to lose him, but fol- lowed by the heartfelt regret of relatives, associates at the bar and friends. He married, February 26, 1857, Anna L. C. Bur- dett, daughter of Jacob Burdett, and granddaughter of Stephen Burdett. Mr. Winchester died June 26, 1881, leaving to survive him his widow and two children, Martha C. Winchester, now the wife of William E. Speakman, of Woodbury, N. J., and Byron Bur- dett Winchester, now a young law student.
SAMUEL HODGDON.
Samuel Hodgdon, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, Pa., November 6, 1843, was the son of Major Samuel Hodgdon, quartermaster general and commissary general of mili- tary stores in the continental army, and Mary Hodge, his wife.
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SAMUEL HODGDON.
She was the granddaughter of William Hodge and Margaret, his wife, who lived in the north of Ireland. They were the parents of four boys and two girls, of whom two died in early childhood, and one surviving to maturity left no record. The father died January 4, 1723, and the mother October, 15, 1730. Soon after the death of their mother the three remaining children-William, Andrew and Hugh-emigrated to America and settled in Phila- delphia, where they became successful merchants and men of influence in the community. Andrew Hodge, the second in order of age of the immigrant brothers, born in Ireland March 28, 1711, was the father of Mrs. Hodgdon. He soon became a successful merchant and acquired considerable property. His wharf and store and city residence, in which he spent his life, were on Water street, to the south of what is now termed Dela- ware avenue. His country seat was on Mead lane, now Mont- gomery avenue, and he possessed one of the only six carriages then in the city. He was active and influential in all the affairs of the church and of the community, one of the founders of and a liberal contributor to the Second church, and a member of its board of trustees to the day of his death. In 1739 he married Miss Jane McCulloch. Mr. and Mrs Hodge were the parents of fifteen children, of whom Mary was the fourth daughter. Hugh Hodge, brother of Mrs. Hodgdon, was the grandfather of Rev. F. B. Hodge, D. D., of this city. Samuel Hodgdon, son of Sam- uel Hodgdon and Mary Hodge, his wife, was born in Phila- delphia, Pa., September 3, 1793. He was educated in the schools of Philadelphia and at Rutgers college, New Brunswick, N. J. Early in life he entered into the mercantile business in Philadel- phia. About the year 1814 he married and removed to Silver Lake, Susquehanna county, Pa., where he undertook the man- agement and development of his father's lands. Subsequently he resided and carried on business as a merchant successively in Montrose and Carbondale, Pa. After reading law and his admis- sion to the bar he practiced in Carbondale. At the organization of the Presbyterian church in Carbondale, June 27, 1829, he and his wife joined the same by letters, and Mr. Hodgdon was made a ruling elder. He also filled the same position in one of the Presbyterian churches of his native city. He was elected
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1223
JAMES ROBB STRUTHERS.
prothonotary of Luzerne county in 1849, and held the office from December 1, 1849, to December 1, 1852. In 1853 he removed to Scranton from Wilkes-Barre, where he had resided during the time he held the office of prothonotary, and resumed the practice of his profession. Failing health induced Mr. Hodgdon to return to his native city, where he died January 17, 1865. Mr. Hodg- don was married three times. His children by his first wife were Samuel Hodgdon, late of Port Blanchard, and Captain James H. Hodgdon, U. S. N., of Philadelphia, both of whom died in con- sequence of disease contracted in the late civil war ; also Ed- ward, Alexander H. and Thomas H. Hodgdon, all of whom died unmarried in early manhood. By his second wife, Ann, daughter of Captain Henry Harris, of Long Island, he had eight children, the survivors being Mary A. Urquhart, wife of Dr. George Urqu- hart, of Wilkes-Barre; Hattie E. Meylert, wife of Dr. Asa P. Meylert, of New York; and Captain Henry C. Hodgdon, also of New York. His third wife, Margaret Keene, of Newark, N. J., survived him nearly ten years, dying December 17, 1876. Mr. Hodgdon is well remembered as an upright and honorable coun- sellor, a wise and prudent man, and in all points the gentleman. Timothy Pickering on leaving the army in 1785, went into busi- ness in Philadelphia with Major Samuel Hodgdon as a commis- sion merchant.
NATHANIEL JONES.
Nathaniel Jones was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, Pa., January 2, 1844. He read law with A. T. McClintock, and soon after his admission removed to Schuylkill county, Pa.
JAMES ROBB STRUTHERS.
James Robb Struthers, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, Pa., August 6, 1844, was a native of Paisley, Scotland. His grandfather, James Struthers, whose wife was Margaret Wal-
1224
CHARLES BENNET.
lace, and his father, Alexander Struthers, whose wife was Jean Sim, a daughter of John Sim and Jean Robb, were also natives of Paisley. James Struthers, the grandfather, came to this coun- try in 1816, where he and his brother John engaged in business as bakers in Baltimore. Alexander Struthers, the father, with his family, removed to Baltimore in 1818, where they continued to reside until 1823, when they removed to Philadelphia. James R. Struthers was born August 3, 1815, and graduated from Lafayette college, Easton, Pa., among its first students. He then entered the law office of James Madison Porter, at Easton, and was ad- mitted to the Northampton county bar. He first practiced law at Stroudsburg, and removed to Mauch Chunk in 1840, where he became a teacher. From 1843 to 1846 he was district attor- ney of Carbon county, and represented the same county in the legislature of the state in 1844 and 1845, and also in 1852 and 1853. In 1849 and 1850 he was treasurer of Carbon county. He frequently changed his locality and business, and resided at times in Iowa, Wisconsin, and New Jersey, sometimes following the profession of the law, sometimes publishing a newspaper, and at other times he engaged in farming. Mr. Struthers married, April 28, 1839, Ellen B. Tolan, a daughter of Hugh Tolan, who was born May 24, 1788, whose wife, Hannah Tolan, was born November 19, 1787. Mr. and Mrs. Struthers had a family of thirteen children. Simon Cameron Struthers, of this city, is one of his sons. James Robb Struthers died in this city May 8, 1885.
CHARLES BENNET.
Charles Bennet was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, Pa., April 7, 1845. He was the only son of John Bennett, who was a son of Andrew Bennett, and grandson of Thomas Bennett, of Kingston. (See page 361.) Charles Bennet was born in Kingston February 28, 1819. He received a liberal education, and read law with E. W. Sturdevant in this city. Preferring a life of out-door activity, he did not devote himself entirely to the
1225
WASHINGTON LEE.
practice of his profession, but turned his knowledge of its prin- ciples to good account in every day life. He commenced his career of usefulness at a time when coal had to be utilized for fuel instead of wood, which had nearly been exhausted. The mineral wealth was to be developed ; shafts were to be sunk and breakers built to prepare the new fuel for market; railroads and other ways of transportation must be started in all directions, and the difficulties to be overcome were formidable. Men were required to overcome these difficulties, and such a man was Charles Ben- net, who, by his pleasant manners and address, his thorough knowledge of human nature and his persuasive powers, enlisted capitalists in the large cities in the enterprise. The right of way for the various railroads was to be secured and the routes ascertained. Mr. Bennet took hold of the work with his characteristic energy and persistence, and success crowned his efforts. The valley which had been well nigh isolated and inaccessible, was thrown open, property advanced in value, and many in moderate cir- cumstances became suddenly rich. The actors in such scenes had need of well balanced minds, and such was Mr. Bennet's. Not elated by prosperity nor depressed by adversity, but hopeful in the midst of discouragement, he had the faculty of making friends and attaching them to him. He was liberal in his ex- penditures, generous in his benefactions, and abundant in his hospitalities. Mr. Bennet died August 6, 1866. His wife was Sarah Sly, a native of Franklin, Michigan, who died in this city June 16, 1887. Two children survive this union-Miss Martha Bennet and Miss Sarah Bennet, of this city.
WASHINGTON LEE.
Washington Lee, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, Pa., August 4, 1845, was a native of Hanover township, Luzerne county, Pa., where he was born May 8, 1821. He was the son of James Stuart Lee, who was the son of Captain An- drew Lee. (See page 1079.) James S. Lee was born in Harris-
1226
ASHER MINER STOUT.
burg in 1789, and came to Hanover with his father's family in 1804. His wife was Martha Campbell, who was a daughter of James Campbell and his wife, Margaret Stewart. She was the daughter of Captain Lazarus Stewart. (See page 844.) Wash- ington Lee was educated in the public schools of his neighbor- hood, and at Dickinson college, Carlisle, Pa., from which he graduated in the class of 1843. He read law with Charles Deni- son, in this city, and practiced his profession for a few years in Wilkes-Barre. While at the bar here he was elected district at- torney of the county. He subsequently left the bar and engaged in business enterprises elsewhere ; first with his uncle, Colonel Washington Lee, in the operation of coal mines at Nanticoke. He then removed to Baltimore, and afterwards to New York, where he died March 26, 1883. Mr. Lee married, June 29, 1846, Emily Laura Thomas, daughter of Abraham Thomas. (See page 835.) Mr. and Mrs. Lee had a family of five children. They are all married and reside elsewhere, except Charles W. Lee, who resides in this city. . His wife is Priscilla Lee Doolittle, a daugh- ter of Dr. J. L. Doolittle, of Ballston, N. Y.
ASHER MINER STOUT.
Asher Miner Stout, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, Pa., August 4, 1845, was a native of Bethlehem, Pa., where he was born in September, 1822. He was educated in Philadelphia, and at Yale college, from which he graduated in the class of 1842. He read law with Chester Butler, in this city, where he practiced until his death, in April, 1860. His father was Abraham Stout, M. D., of Bethlehem, and his mother was Anna Maria, daughter of Asher Miner. (See article headed Jos- eph Wright Miner.) Asher Miner Stout married, January 31, 1849, Ellen C. Gildersleeve, daughter of Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve, born in South Orange, N. J., son of Ezra Gildersleeve, of Orange. (See page 721.) The mother of Mrs. Stout, wife of Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve, was Frances Caroline Kennedy, born and educated in
1227
JACOB WAELDER.
Newbern, N. C., whose father, John Kennedy, was born and edu- cated in the north of Ireland. Three children-John Stout, Kennedy Stout, and Katharine H., married to Henry M. McCart- ney,-survived Mr. Stout. Mrs. Stout resides in Spokane Falls, Washington Territory.
JACOB WAELDER.
Jacob Waelder, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, . Pa., August 4, 1845, was a native of Weisenheim, province of the Rhine, Germany, where he was born May 17, 1820. His father emigrated to this country in 1823 and settled in this state. Mr. Waelder emigrated with his parents, and continued his studies here until he was fifteen years of age, when he was placed in a printing office to learn the art preservative. He continued in this position for two years. He then received an appointment as proof reader for the constitutional convention of Pennsylvania in 1837. In 1838 he returned to Germany, where he remained over two years and completed his general education. In 1841 he returned to America and established the Democratic Waechter, a German newspaper, in this city, of which he was editor and pro- prietor. This publication has been continued until the present, under the proprietorship of Robert Baur. From 1855 to 1858 his brother, Charles Waelder, and Mr. Niebel were the editors and proprietors of the Luzerne Union, a democratic newspaper, in this city. In 1842 he began studying for the bar in the office of L. D. Shoemaker. Shortly after he began the practice of the law the Mexican war was engaging the attention of the country, and he enlisted in the First Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving through the war. He was elected second lieutenant of Company I of that regiment. He was afterwards appointed adjutant of battalion, then acting assistant adjutant general of the army, by General Childs. After the war ended he returned to his practice in this city, and was elected district attorney of Luzerne county. He was also brigade inspector of the militia. In 1852 he removed
1228
JOHN WILLIAM MYERS.
to San Antonio, Texas, on account of the failing health of his wife. In 1855, 1857 and 1859 he was a member of the Texas legislature. During the late civil war he was a major of the Con- federate army, serving first as general enrolling officer, afterwards as assistant purchasing commissary. In 1875 he was a member of the convention which framed the present constitution of Texas, and exerted a prominent influence in the formation of that instru- ment, which ended his political career. After the war he returned to this city, and subsequently removed to New York, where he practiced one year with M. C. Riggs in Wall street. In 1868 he returned to San Antonio and entered into partnership with Hon. C. Upson, under the firm name of Waelder & Upson. Mr. Waelder was married twice. His first wife was Lizzie Lamb, of this city, a daughter of the late Colonel Henry F. Lamb. One child was the fruit of this union-Mary Louise, now the wife of E. B. Chandler, a prominent citizen of San Antonio. His second wife was Mrs. Ada Maverick, the widow of Louis Maverick, (nee Ada Bradley). Mr. Waelder died at White Sulphur Springs, in Virginia, August 28, 1887. The immediate cause of his death was a throat affection. Eight sons and daughters survive Mr. Wael- der. He was a prominent member of the Protestant Episcopal church of San Antonio, and was buried according to the ritual of that church. He was for thirty years a vestryman in the above named church. He had a military funeral, the long cortege com- prising a battery of artillery, three troops of cavalry, besides nu- merous civic, beneficial and musical associations. The Beetho- ven Maennerchor sang at the grave, and the Belknap rifles fired a farewell salute.
JOHN WILLIAM MYERS.
John William Myers, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, Pa., April 7, 1846, was a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where he was born October 7, 1824. He was the son of John Myers, and grandson of Philip Myers, whose wife was Martha Bennett Myers. (See page 630.) His mother was Sarah Stark
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1229
JOHN KOONS.
Myers, a daughter of Henry Stark, who was born April 19, 1762, and who was driven from the valley at the time of the massacre, but returned and became the owner of a large tract of land in the now township of Plains, in this county. Henry Stark was the son of James Stark, who was the son of Christopher Stark, who removed to the Wyoming valley in 1769. (See page 566.) J. W. Myers was educated in this city, and at Wyoming semin- ary, at Kingston, Pa. He read law with Charles Denison, in this city. When the Mexican war broke out he enlisted as a private in company I, First regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, captain, E. L. Dana. He died at Perote, Mexico, November 25, 1847. He was a brother of Lawrence Myers, of this city.
JOHN KOONS.
John Koons, who was commissioned an associate judge of Lu- zerne county, Pa, April 22, 1846, was a native of Monroe county, Pa., where he was born August 23, 1795. He was the son of Daniel Koons, who removed from near Stroudsburg, Northamp- ton (now Monroe) county, in 1816, to Huntington township, in this county. John Koons removed to what is now the borough of New Columbus, in this county, in 1819, and soon after com- menced to clear up the wilderness on the site of the now bor- ough. He became one of the most prominent men in the lower part of the county. In his early days he was largely interested in the Nanticoke and Hughesville and the Susquehanna and Tioga turnpikes. In 1836 he was appointed postmaster of New Columbus, and in 1858 he became interested in the building of the academy and normal institute at that place. He built that portion of the Wyoming canal from Shickshinny to the Search farm. He was a justice of the peace of the borough of New Columbus from 1866 to 1876. He was a merchant and also a surveyor. In 1830 the North Branch canal was completed to the Nanticoke dam, and the first boat, named "The Wyoming," built by John Koons at Shickshinny, was launched and towed to Nan-
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1230
PETER J. BYRNE.
ticoke, where she was laden with ten tons of anthracite coal, a quantity of flour and other articles. Her destination was Phila- delphia. The North Branch canal being new and filling slowly with water, the "Wyoming" passed through the Nanticoke chute and thence down the river to Northumberland, where she entered the Susquehanna division of the Pennsylvania canal and proceed- ed with considerable difficulty by the way of the Union and Schuylkill canals to Philadelphia. The "Wyoming" received in the city fifteen'tons of dry goods, and commenced her return trip ; was frozen up in the ice and snow at New Buffalo in Janu- ary, 1831. From this place her cargo was transported to Wilkes- Barre on sleds. The voyage of the "Wyoming" was attended with many difficulties and detentions, and embraced a period of upwards of three months. Mr. Koons married, June 21, 1819, Anna A. Fellows, a daughter of Abiel Fellows by his second wife. (See page 711.) Mr. and Mrs. Koons raised six children -Elvira, wife of Rev. J. S. Haynes; Eveline, wife of Amos J. Hess; Marquis L. Koons, F. A. B. Koons, E. L. Koons, and J. R. Koons. Judge Koons died February 13, 1878. William Koons, who was sheriff of Luzerne county from 1847 to 1850, and one of the commissioners of the county in 1837, 1838 and 1839, was a brother of John Koons.
PETER J. BYRNE.
Peter J. Byrne, who was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county. Pa., August 3, 1846, was a native of Eniscorthy, Wexford coun- ty, Ireland, where he was born in the year 1799, and graduated at St. Peter's college. After coming to America he resided in the city of New York, where he held numerous positions of trust. He was commissioned by Governor Marcy, in the year 1835, first lieutenant of the Eleventh regiment of artillery of that state, and in the following year captain of the same regiment. Having removed with his family to Silver Lake, Susquehanna county, Pa., he was elected a justice of the peace of that township in 1840 without solicitation on his part. In 1844 he was tendered by Gov-
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1231
JOHN MARION ALEXANDER.
ernor Porter the commission of captain in the Montrose and . Bridgewater artillery, which he held for many years during his residence at Montrose, as well also the position of notary pub- lic of the commonwealth. In the year 1841 he was admitted to the bar at Montrose before Judge Conyngham. The same year he was appointed by Governor Shunk aid-de-camp to his excellency, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, by which honor- able title he was known during the remainder of his life. In the year 1853 the Christian college, at New Albany, Indiana, con- ferred upon him the degree of doctor of laws. He was elected to the legislature of this state in the year 1860, and also in 1861, and served with credit to his constituents, to himself, and to the land of his nativity, being the first Irishman elected to the posi- tion from Luzerne county. That being the time of the com- mencement of the late civil war, his voice was among the first to advocate vigorous means for its suppression. He was tendered a commission by Governor Curtin, but old age and its infirmities compelled him to decline. As a lawyer for many years he stood at the head of his profession, advocating the rights of his client with energy and zeal. As a counselor he was profound, able, and strictly conscientious, always preferring the interests of his client to that of his own. Although a man over seventy years of age, he was, up to the time of his death, in the fullest enjoy- ment of mental and bodily vigor. His education was far better than most men of his time. His culture was proverbial, and his urbanity and courteous demeanor won for him a distinction in the elegances of life which few men hold. He was naturally a gentleman, and he never allowed himself to be carried away from his strict notions of gentility by even the most aggravating cir- cumstance. He died at Carbondale, Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county, June 30, 1875.
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