Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 100

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin, 1837-1917; Hand, Alfred, 1835-; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921; Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1026

USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 100
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 100

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ALEX SHLANTA, postmaster of Mayfield, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, is widely and favorably known in that locality, having resided there since his emigration to this country from his native land, Austria, in 1882. During this period of twenty-two years he has witnessed its gradual growth and development, and has him- self contributed to its advancement.

He was born in Austria, April 7, 1866. He received a practical education in the public schools, and remained a resident of his native land until he attained young manhood. In 1882 he emigrated to the United States, arriving here on May 2, and he at once located in Mayfield, Pennsylvania, where he operated a store on his own account for four years with marked suc- cess. In 1900, in company with several of his countrymen, a company store was formed which was known as the Russian Store Company. This enterprise met with success from the beginning, and at the present time (1905) they are con- ducting a business which amounts to four thous- and dollars per month. In addition to his in- terest in this company store, Mr. Shlanta con- ducts a small store which is attached to his own dwelling, this being the most imposing structure in the neighborhood. He is agent for many of the ocean steamship lines, and he also conducts a large banking business.

Mr. Shlanta has served in the capacity of postmaster since 1897, and during this period the duties of the office have been performed in a highly creditable and efficient manner. He was

also a member of the council of Mayfield borough for six years, and a member of the school board for a number of years. He is a strong adherent of the Slavonian Organization. He is president instrumental in the naturalization of over two hundred foreigners. He is a member of the Rus- sian Catholic church, of which he is a trustee ; a member of St. John the Baptist Society ; a mem- ber of the Russian Brotherhood ; and a member of the Slavonian Organization. He is president of the "Pravda," a Russian publishing company that furnishes the Russians in the country with their own literature.

In 1890 Mr. Shlanta married Martha Kaws- man, of Jermyn, Pennsylvania, born in that town in 1877. Their children are: Walter, born 1893; Myra, born 1899; Olga, born 1901; and Barbara, born 1903.

THOMAS J. ARNER. One of the salf-made men of Lackawanna county is Thomas J. Arner. of Scranton. The great-great-grandfather of Mr. Arner emigrated from Holland more than a cen- tury ago. The grandson of this ancestor was David Arner, a carpenter. He was the father of five children, among them, Harrison, mentioned hereafter, David, and Kate A.

Harrison Arner, son of David Arner, was born in Carbon county, Pennsylvania, and like his father followed the carpenter's trade. He married Brehita Schnell, also a native of Carbon county, and of the children born to them the fol- lowing are living: Thomas J., mentioned here- after, anius, and Sarah. Mr. Arner, who was a worthy man, died while his children were still young, and his widow subsequently married again. Of this marriage one son was born who is still living.

Thomas J. Arner, son of Harrison and Brehita (Schnell) Arner, was born August 17, 1862, in Lehighton, Carbon county, Pennsylvania. Owing to the death of his father his education was some- what neglected, and in 1875 he left his native county and went to Wilkes-Barre, where he en- gaged in various pursuits. In 1889 he moved to Scranton, where for a short time he worked for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Rail- way Company. On leaving their service he es- tablished himself in business as a green grocer with a capital of forty-five cents. By adhering strictly to the principles of honesty he met with the success which his enterprising and cour- ageous spirit merited, and built up a flourishing business. For nine years he conducted his store, prospering beyond his most sanguine expecta- tions. As a result of this prosperity he was able

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to build the comfortable and attractive resi- dence which he now occupies. Mr. Arner had always been an ardent lover and close student of nature, and had thus acquired an extensive and thorough knowledge of botany. In 1888 he es- tablished himself in business as a florist and land- scape gardener, and is today in the enjoyment of an extensive and constantly increasing patronage. Not only is Mr. Arner a self-made man along financial lines, but along educational lines also, having studied to good purpose books as well as men.

Mr. Arner married in 1887, Carrie, daughter of Miles and Caroline Frey, and one child was born to them, Ira E., who died in infancy. The death of Mrs. Arner occurred January 2, 1891. In 1892 MFr. Arner married Bertha, who was born in 1871, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, daugh- ter of Henry and Catherine Warner, the former a native of Germany, the latter of Ashley, Penn- sylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Arner are without children.

JOHN E. REGAN. Success is not a matter of spontaneity, but is methodical and consecutive, representing the well deserved results of well di- rected effort. He to whom this sketch is dedi- cated has risen to success through his own labors and energy, and in his career is represented the marked transaction from a boy working in the coal breakers of the mines of Lackawanna coun- ty to the prestige implied in being one of the suc- cessful and influential business men of the city of Scranton, where he is engaged in the livery and undertaking business, his finely equipped es- tablishment being located at 434 Railroad avenue.

Mr. Regan is a native of England, where he was born May 11, 1861, being the eldest of the seven children of Edward and Catherine (Rog- ers) Regan. The other children were all born in what is now the sixth ward of the city of Scranton, formerly the borough of Hyde Park. Their names in order of birth are as follows : Michael, Martin, Edward, Mary, Ella and Delia. The parents were born and reared in county Mayo, Ireland, whence they removed to Eng- land. where their marriage was solemnized and where they continued to reside until 1864, when they came to America, arriving in November. They forthwith came to Lackawanna county and located in the borough of Hyde Park, or the pres- ent sixth ward of Scranton, and the father se- cured employment in connection with the great coal mining industry. with which he continued to be identified during the remainder of his active career, his death occurring in 1892. He was hon-

est, upright and industrious, and his life was raised to the full level of its opportunities so that he commanded the respect of his fellowmen. His wife still survives and makes her home in Scranton. She is a devoted communicant of the Catholic church, as was also her husband, and the latter was a stanch Democrat in his political proclivities.

John E. Regan secured his educational dis- cipline principally in the stern school of adver- sity, since the family history could well be sum- med up in the words made memorable by the martyred Lincoln : "The short and simple annals of the poor." He attended the parochial schools of Hyde Park borough in an irregular way, and for a time was a pupil in the public schools, but he was called upon to face the practical duties and responsibilities of life when a mere child, since he became an employee about the coal breakers when about seven years of age. Every person reared in a mining town knows what such an introduction implies, and the boyhood days of Mr. Regan were given over to much work and little play. He passed through the various grades of promotion for which boys are eligible in a coal mine, having been doortender, driver, etc., and having finally risen to the posi- tion of driver boss, while he continued to be in active service in and about the mines for a per- iod of nineteen years. It seems almost impos- sible that under these conditions could have been evolved that energy and ambition which led him to seek a wider and more independent field of action, but his success in his present line of en- terprise best indicates the self-reliance and initia- tive ability of the man. At the time of severing his connection with the mining industry he was about twenty-six years of age, and his frugality and provident methods during his long years of service had enabled him to save the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, and this served as the nucleus on which he has built up his present prosperous and important livery and undertaking business. He has large and well equipped stables, and the livery department of his enterprises secures a representative support, while the undertaking department is confined to the furnishing of hearses and other concomitant equipments. He has not abated his energy and determination, but has made his success cumulative in character, be- ing at the present time the owner of three resi- dence properties in Scranton, besides other realty and valuable personal property, his valuation in financial way being placed at twenty-five thous- and dollars.

Mr. Regan is a loyal and public-spirited citi-

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zen, and in politics is a stalwart supporter of the Democratic party. For ten years he has repre- sented his ward in the city council, having been four years in the common council and having since been a member of the select council, of which position he is incumbent at the time of this writing (1905). He and his wife are com- municants of the Catholic church, and fratern- ally he is affiliated with the Improved Order of Heptasophs, St. Peter's Society, the Ancient Or- der of Hibernians, and the Catholic Benevolent Association.

Mr. Regan married, November 27, 1884, Ellen Moffitt, daughter of John and Catherine Moffitt, of Scranton, and of the eleven children of this union we record that only three are liv- ing-Agnes, born 1885; Frances, born 1900; and Edward, born 1902.

JOSEPH MORGAN. Among engineers of the very first class Joseph Morgan, of Scranton, easily takes his place. He is the son of Isaac Morgan, a native of Wales, who came to the United States in 1868, and settled in Pennsyl- vania, where he made a home for his family, who joined him in 1869. He was a master me- chanic and had charge of all the inside machinery of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Com- pany. This machinery is for pumping purposes and must be kept in perfect repair in order to prevent the mines from being flooded. This very responsible position was held by Mr. Mor- gan for fifteen years. He was a member of the Welsh Baptist Church and a staunch supporter of its doctrines. His wife was Letitia Davis, who was also born in Wales, and their children were: Thomas, Joseph, mentioned hereinafter ; Matilda, Moses, Jacob, who was killed in the mines ; Sarah and Rachel. Mrs. Morgan, the ex- cellent mother of these children, died in 1886, and the father closed his well-spent life in 1899.

Joseph Morgan, son of Isaac and Letitia (Da- vis) Morgan, was born in 1853, in Wales, where he received his education. He was sixteen years old when the family came to this country, and the same year he went to work in the central shaft of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company. He began as fireman, and was sub- sequently promoted to run small engines, until he became capable of managing a double hoist- ing engine. In his thirty-two years of engineer- ing Mr. Morgan never made a mistake in oper- ating these engines. His present post of duty is at the central shaft, where he began his ca- reer. It would be difficult to exaggerate the importance and responsibility of his office, in- he feels in his native township and the public

asmuch as on his steadiness and coolness hang the lives of the men who are employed in the shaft. Mr. Morgan has shown his thrift by be- coming the owner of the comfortable and pleas- ant house in which he makes his home. He is a worthy citizen and enjoys the full confidence of his neighbors. He is a member of the For- esters of America.

Mr. Morgan married, January 13, 1876, Mary Jones, also a native of Wales, and they are the parents of one daughter : Sarah, who is the wife of William A. Benor, of Scranton.

CLARENCE F. DRAKE, a promising young business man who has established him- self in the confidence of the people of Carbon- dale, Pennsylvania, where he is actively en- gaged in the dairy business, which to him is both pleasurable and profitable, is a native of Wayne county, Pennsylvania, born April 5, 1879, a son of Peter A. and Amelia (Murphy) Drake.

Peter A. Drake (father) was also a native of Wayne county, Pennsylvania. He is the own- er of two hundred and twenty-five acres of choice land situated at Waymart, is one of the most practical and progressive farmers in his county, and his land being well tilled and cultivated, produces the best crops and yields a goodly re- turn for his labors. By his marriage to Amelia Murphy, whose father was the owner of four hundred acres of good farming land in Hemlock Hollow, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, and whose brother, Dick Murphy, was sheriff of Wayne county one term, and a man of considerable in- fluence in his community, the following named children were born: Clarence F., Herbert E., Raymond, Russell and Daisy G. Drake. The members of the Drake and Murphy families have ever been true, loyal and influential citizens of whatever state they took up their residence in.

Clarence F. Drake attended the comnon schools in his native town of Waymart, wherein he received a liberal and practical education. His early life was spent in agricultural pursuits and lumbering, and this training thoroughly quali- fied him for a useful and industrious life. In 1898 he established himself in his present busi- ness at Carbondale, where he has purchased a handsome and commodious home, and has all the facilities for a first-class dairy. He handles about two hundred and fifty quarts per day of the purest milk and the richest cream, which he disposes of to the residents of Carbondale. His cows are of a fine breed, are well fed and carefully attended to. The genuine interest that

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spirit that he manifests are among his noticeable traits of character.

In 1900 Mr. Drake married Sadie Faatz, a native of Wayne county, and a very estimable lady, and to this union was born one daughter, Thelma Drake, in 1902.

JASON J. MILLS is one of the representa- tive young business men of the city of Scranton, Lackawanna county, and is known as a skilled mechanic. His independent business career in his present connection dates back to the year 1902, when he established himself in a well equipped machine shop at 823 North Wyoming avenue, where he has the best of facilities for repair work of all kinds, while he is rapidly build- ing up a substantial enterprise, receiving a rep- resentative support. He learned his trade in the shops of the Eli E. Hendricks Company, of Car- bondale, this state, remaining in the employ of this concern for seven years.

Mr. Mills was born in Hawley, Wayne county, Pennsylvania. 1875. being a son of Will- iam and Julia (Baker) Mills, both of whom were born and bred in Carbondale, Lackawanna county. William Mills was for twenty years superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad shops at Hawley, and was a master mechanic of fine ability. In 1889 he returned to his native city. Carbondale, where he remained in the em- ploy of the Delaware and Hudson Company un- til his death. His wife died in 1894. Of their five children we record that Burtis W. is a rail- road conductor ; Edgar E., Jason J. and George W. are skilled machinists, and is the wife of C. A. Ford. The father was a member of the Knights of Honor.

Jacob J. Mills secured his early education in the public and select schools of his native town, and he was fourteen years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Carbondale, where he continued to attend school for some time. Later he entered upon an apprenticeship in the shops of the Eli E. Hendricks Company, well known manufacturers of engines and other machinery, and in due course of time, by making good use of his opportunities, became a skilled artisan. During the progress of the Spanish-American war the company sent him to superintend the in- stalling and operation of an ice freezer on one of the government steamships, and in this con- nection he instructed the ship engineers in the operating of the machines. He made the trip to Cuba on this vessel and was absent for three months. In 1897 Mr. Mills came to Scranton,

and here he secured employment in the Finch shops, while a few months later he secured the position of toolmaker, retaining this position three years and up to the time of engaging in business on his own responsibility, as noted earlier in this sketch. On August 7. 1904, he ad- mitted John O'Tool to partnership, and they have since continued the enterprise under the firm name of Mills & O'Tool, both members be- ing expert workmen and being young men of energy and sterling character, so that their suc- cess is certain to be cumulative in character.

COLONEL ROBERT BOLLING, the first of the name in Virginia, was the son of John and Mary Bolling, of All Hallows, Barkin parish, Tower street, London. John was of the Bollings of Bolling Hall, near Bradford, England, who trace their descent from Robert Bolling, Esquire, who in the reign of Edward I\ owned that beat- tiful seat, and who, dying in 1485, was buried in the family vault in Bradford Church. His coat- of-arms is affixed on his tomb, and being the only one in the church he was presumably the builder or chief benefactor of it.

(I) Col. Robert Bolling, born 1646, died 1709, came to Virginia in 1660, when not yet fifteen years of age, seems to have early attained to fortune and prominence, and at twenty-nine married Jane Rolfe, died 1676, daughter of Thomas and Jane ( Poythress) Rolfe, and grand- daughter of John Rolfe, first secretary and re- corder general of Virginia, and a member of the council, who married Pocahontas, the daughter of the Indian chief Powhatan. Robert Bolling lived and died at "Kippax." a fine seat on the James river, below Petersburg, now in ruins. He had one son

(II) Col. John Bolling, born 1676, died 1729, married Mary Kennon, daughter of Dr. Kennon, of Virginia. John Bolling was a member of the Virginia house of burgesses, 1710, 1718, 1723. 1726. His eldest son was

(III) Major John Bolling, born 1700, died September 6. 1757. married, August 1, 1728, Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Archibald Blair, founder of William and Mary College. Major John Bolling inherited his father's love of pleas- ure and his business qualifications, but without his appetence for trade. His energy and sagac- ity were displayed in long (and in those days per- ilous) journeys through a wilderness country, and the judicious choice of valuable unappropri- ated lands, with which he afterwards richly en- dowed his large family. He was "fond of fine

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horses, hounds, hunting, fishing, fowling, feast- ing and dancing, yet doted on his wife and chil- dren," was of an even temperance in all things, as well as of an admirable vein of humor, public- spirited, hospitable and popular. Major Bolling was county lieutenant of Chesterfield county, and as such commanded the militia. He was also a justice of the peace, and for thirty years rep- resented his county in the house of burgesses.

(IV) Archibald Bolling, born March 20, 1750, married (first) Sarah Cary, 1770; (sec- ond), February, 1774. Jane Randolph ; (third). Widow Byrd, 1797: (fourth), Widow Clark, 1802. He had by his second wife

(V) Captain Blair Bolling, born 1792. He was a captain in the state guard. He married (first) M. A. Webster; (second), Penelope Storrs, 1827. His soul

(VI) John Bolling, married (first), October 1855, Maria Page Armistead : (second) Julia B. Tinsley.

GOMER GAMES. One of those thoroughly capable and perfectly trustworthy men, who whatever may be the position they hold are felt to be indispensable, is Gomer Games, of Scran- ton. By birth and ancestry Mr. Games is a Welshinan. He is the son of David Games, who was born in South Wales and came to the United States in 1860. His calling was that of a butcher which, on settling in the coal regions of Penn- sylvania, he abandoned for mining, becoming a contract miner. He was a loyal citizen of his adopted country. He was an active member of the Miners' Union, of which for a number of years he was president. His wife was Margaret Morris, also a native of South Wales, and their children were: David W., , who became the wife of Banfield ; Gomer, mentioned hereinafter ; and two others who are deceased. The mother of the family died in 1863, some of her children being little more than infants when they sustained this great loss. The father sur- vived his wife many years, passing to the spirit world in 1886.

Gomer Games, son of David and Margaret (Morris) Games, was born February 28, 1857, in South Wales, and was but three years of age when brought by his parents to their new home. At the age of ten'he began to work for the Dela- ware & Hudson Company as a breaker-boy. In a short time he was promoted to the post of door- tender in the mines, subsequently becoming a driver. While holding this position he was trans- ferred from the Leggett's Creek colliery to the Van Storch colliery, where for two years he was

employed in the same capacity. He then worked at the Cayuga colliery of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Company, but soon returned to the service of the Delaware & Hudson Company, for whom he worked a few years, and was then induced to enter the service of John Jermyn, by whom he was employed as pumper. This position he filled until 1881, and then went to Priceburg with Mr. Jermyn, where he was en- gaged until 1883 in running a slope engine. He thien for a short time operated a pump engine, and in 1884 was appointed engineer at Van Storch colliery. The shaft is six hundred feet deep and is the property of the Delaware & Hud- son Company, who purchased it from the Van Storchs in 1858. In this position Mr. Games has for many years served the company faithfully and well, his value meeting with the high appreciation which it deserves. He has prospered to such a degree as to be the owner, not only of the house in which he lives, but of an entire lot. He is a faith- ful citizen, always acting with due regard to the best interests of the community. He belongs to the I. O. O. F., and the Brotherhood of Odd Fel- lows. His political affiliations are with the Re- publicans. He attends the Baptist church.

Mr. Games married, August 17, 1881, Eliza- beth M. Baker, of Cornwall, England, and their children are: Hattie, deceased ; David W., born February 22, 1885, an electrician ; and Irene, born May, 1893.

JOEL BRENTON, who for fifty years has been engaged in painting and decorating in Pitts- ton, Pennsylvania, was born in Cornwall, Eng- land, December 4, 1829, whence he came to America in 1848. Ater spending a short time at Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, he went to New York City, where he learned the trade of paint- ing and decorating, after which he went to Port Jervis, New York, where he followed his chosen vocation for a year. In 1854 he came to Pitts- ton, Pennsylvania, and as a painter and decora- tor he has carried on business for fifty years, be- ing one of the oldest artisans in this part of the state still in active business. Mr. Brenton is a Mason and became a charter member of Valley Lodge, No. 499, Free and Accepted Masons. He also belongs to Gahonta Lodge, No. 314. In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed all the chairs.

In February, 1853, Mr. Brenton married Alice Stewart, of Sussex county, New Jersey, born 1831, and they have six children: I. Frank, born December 11, 1853, is chief accountant for the Pennsylvania Central Brewing Company, at

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Scranton, Pennsylvania, married Laura Balliet ; four children, Helen, Raymond, Alice, Walter. 2. Willis L. 3. Eva G., the wife of Archibald F. Law, of Scranton, Pennsylvania ; two children, Frank and Grace. 4. Carrie M., the wife of John Flanagan, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; one child, Edwin. 5. Ada L., who died at the age of twenty years. 6. Amelia, who died in infancy.

COLONEL JACOB F. GRAEBER, one of the successful business men of Shickshinny, was born in 1856, in Tuscarora township, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, the son of Hon, Conrad and Catherine (Mouse) Graeber. His father, Hon. Conrad Graeber, was an extensive coal operator, a man prominently and actively inter- ested in community affairs, and was twice elected to a seat in the state legislature. He married (first) Catherine Mouse, and (second) Sarah Myers, of Pottsville, and was the father of the following children : Jacob F., George C., cashier of the Frst National Bank of Shamokin ; Charles A., a merchant of Salt Lake City, Utah ; Minnie (Mrs. P. Brew), of Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania ; and Frederick R., retired.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 100

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin, 1837-1917; Hand, Alfred, 1835-; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921; Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1906 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin, 1837-1917; Hand, Alfred, 1835-; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921; Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1026