Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 102

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 102
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 102

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).

In 1843 Mr. Morse married Eliza L. Parnell, who was born in Milford, Massachusetts, Jan- uary 24, 1822. On December 12, 1904, Mr. and Mrs. Morse celebrated the sixty-first anniversary of their wedding. This was an enjoyable occa- sion and was participated in by a host of friends, who tendered their well wishes to the happy, aged couple. Mr. Morse is remarkably well pre- served for a man of his years-eighty-two-and equals in energy and vitality many men twenty years his junior. He is still active and is con- stantly engaged in the business established many years ago, being about in all sorts and conditions of weather. He is a man of robust constitution and great strength, and an excellent representa- tive of the sturdy type of that rugged race that made the pioneers of our country famous, but a race that is fast passing away. He is also a man of strong character and personality, and ably represents the best citizenship of the city of Scranton. His mind is no less active than his body, and with faculties unimpaired he keeps thoroughly in touch with the swift march of the great happenings of the times. His wife, still at his side, bearing her three and four-score years

that weigh scarce less lightly, has been indeed a helpmeet throughout the sixty-two years of their wedded life. Active in mind and remarkably agile in body for her years, she enters into every- thing pertaining to the life and happiness of her husband, children and grandchildren, with the de- votion, affection and grace that only one of her beautiful and vigorous years is capable of enjoy- ing. Their children are:

Alfred M., born at Paxton, Massachusetts, December 19, 1847. He was educated in the public schools of Great Bend and Scranton, Pennsylvania, and in a college preparatory school at Great Bend. As a boy he was employed in his father's mill at Binghamton, New York, and Great Bend, Pennsylvania, and remained praeti- cally in the employ of his father until 1879, when, in company with his brother, he succeeded him in the bottling business. For a short period of time he worked for the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company, and for a short time during the period of the Civil war was employed on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. He was a member of the construction corps during the Civil war, employed in the construction of bridges and fortifications in the state of Tennes- see. He has served as treasurer of many organ- izations, including the Franklin Fire Company and the West Side Board of Trade. He was formerly in the famous and still popular band of Scranton, and also served in the capacity of treas- urer. He is a member of Lake Park Company, which owns sixty-five acres at that lake, on which are a grist mill, a beautiful grove and several cottages. In February, 1872, Alfred M. Morse married Sarah N. Carpenter, born June 15, 1849, a daughter of Henry Carpenter, of Cohoes, New York, three children: Arthur E., born June 4, 1875, a specialist in advertising, and a musician of considerable ability, holding membership in the famous band of Scranton. He married Miss Fellows, a daughter of ex-Mayor John H. Fel- lows, Esq .; May E., born February 24, 1879, deceased; Henry, born December 18. 1883, deceased.

Henry D., born June 3, 1852, is a member of the Scranton Carpet & Furniture Company. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum. He mar- ried in 1878, Cora M. Riker, of Scranton. three children : Laura I., born February, 1880, de- ceased ; Edward D., July 27, 1882, and T. Smith, July 23, 1886.

Eugene B., born August 10, 1854. He was educated in the public schools and at Gardner's Business College of Scranton. Prior to his be- coming a member of the firm of Lewis Morse's

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Sons he was employed by his father. For many years he was a member of Bauers' Brass Band of Scranton, of which he was one of the organizers. He is a member of the Rolay Arcanum. He mar- ried, October 14, 1879, Ella Christman, and their children are: Lester D., born June 7, 1881 ; Cinderella, April 7, 1884: and Clinton, Septem- ber 14, 1894.

FRANK COOPER. It is a melancholy but too frequently attested fact that descendants of a worthy lineage are sometimes false to the tra- ditions of their ancestors. This, however, as all who know him can abundantly testify, is not the case with Frank Cooper, of Taylor.

Price Cooper made his home in the Wyoming Valley some time previous to the Revolutionary war. He was one of the first settlers in the val- ley and also one of the first physicians. There, on the confines of civilization, he practiced his profession and reared his family, among whom was a son, Price, mentioned hereafter. The spot on the Wilkes-Barre side of the river where Dr. Price was buried is still pointed out and possesses a peculiar interest as the grave of one of the pio- peer physicians of the Wyoming Valley.

Price Cooper, son of Price Cooper, was born in 1755, and was a member of the Connecticut militia. During the Revolutionary war he served in a mounted troop, Captain Sampson's company, from August, 1776, till November, 1780. He was wounded at the battle of Monmouth. After the close of the war he moved to Tempkins county, New York, where he led the life of a farmer. His wife, Esther Cooper, bore him chil- dren : John Price, mentioned hereafter ; Henry, Alanson, Alfred, Esther, Mary, Sybil, and Sarah. Mr. Cooper died July 6, 1827, and was buried on his own farm.

John Price Cooper, son of Price and Esther Cooper, was born October 2, 1789, and was a well-to-do farmer. He married. March 27, 1817, Miriam G. Smith, of Waterloo, New York, and their children were: Esther, Mary. Jane, John, Price, and Jabez, mentioned hereafter. The death of Mr. Cooper, who was a man of marked intelli- gence, occurred May 15, 1830, at Danby, New York.

Jabez Cooper, son of John Price and Miriam G. (Smith) Cooper, was born in New York state, and was a carpenter by occupation. He was a good workman and followed the trade all his life. In 1869 he moved to Taylor, where he made his home for the remainder of his days. He married Elmina Warfield, also a native of New York state : nine children, five of whom are living :

John W., Esther, Jennie, Frank, mentioned here- after; and Emma. Mr. Cooper died in 1884, while still in the prime of life, and his widow passed away December 1, 1895.

Frank Cooper, son of Jabez and Elmina (Warfield) Cooper, was born July 2, 1860, in Wayne county, New York, and was nine years old when the family moved to Taylor. In the common schools of that town he received his education, and at an early age entered the mines, beginning as a slate-picker and rising gradually by force of ability and merit. For thirty-five vears he has been in the service of the Deleware, Lackawanna & Western Company and now holds the position of engineer at the Taylor mines. This office he has filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his employers for twenty years. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Improved Order of Red Men.

Mr. Cooper married, November 9, 1887, Jo- hanna Clarey : three children : Elmina, Willard, and Harry. In. 1880 Mr. Cooper became by pur- chase the possessor of property which is now the comfortable and attractive family residence. The parents of Mrs. Cooper, William and Jo- hanna Clarey, both lived from early life in the Lackawanna Valley. Here they were married, and of the children born to them two are now liv- ing : Johanna, born 1865, wife of Frank Cooper, as mentioned above ; and Mrs. Apger.

JOHN R. FRANCIS. Throughout the county there can be found no more fathful and efficient man connected with the production of coal than John R. Francis, of Taylor, a son of John Francis,, who was born in Wales, and in 1861 emigrated to the United tSates. He in- tended to remain and to send for his family, but his wife so greatly dreaded a sea voyage that he was compelled to return and pass the remainder of his life in his native land. His wife was Han- nah Francis, and their children were: Annie. Mary, Elizabeth, David, and John R., mentioned hereafter, and the sole survivor of the family.

John R. Francis, son of John and Hannah Francis, was born May 14, 1854, in Wales, and received his education in his native country. There also he worked i nthe mines, in the posi- tion of fireman and engineer. In 1880 he emi- grated to the United States, settling in Dilroy, Ohio, where he remained two years, engaged in the production of bituminous coal. In 1882 he moved to Taylor, where he has since resided. He worked as a miner until 1889, when he was ap- pointed by the Delaware, Lackawanna & West-

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ern Company to the very responsible position of fire boss. For the last seven years his post of duty has been at the Taylor mines. On the faith- fulness of the fire boss depend the lives of the miners. His duty is to descend into the mines every morning at three o'clock, and to make a thorough inspection of every chamber, avenue and crevice in order to assure himself that no lurking gas or fire-damp threatens the lives of the workers. The length of time during which Mr. Francis has held this office proves suffi- ciently his strict fidelity to duty. His financial success is attested by the fact that he is the owner of four dwelling-houses, in addition to a building lot. The Improved Order of Red Men claims him as a worthy member. He belongs to the Welsh Baptist Church, of which he has been chorister for a number of years, possessing as he does a fine tenor voice, no unusual gift among his countrymen.

Mr. Francis married, October 18, 1884, Ame- lia Lewis. Of this marriage there is no issue. Mrs. Francis is a daughter of David and Ann Lewis, natives of Wales, who in 1869 emigrated to the United States and settled in Taylor. Mr. Lewis was by occupation a miner. He and his wife had children: Gwinnie, Amelia, born Jan- uary 30, 1858, and became the wife of John R. Francis, as mentioned above; and Jennie. Both parents are deceased.

HARRY MORGANS. One of the enter- prising and successful dairy farmers of the Lack- awanna Valley is Harry Morgans, of Scranton. Mr. Morgans is by birth and ancestry a Welsh- man. His father, John D. Morgans, came to the United States in 1868 and settled in Scranton, making his home in what is now Eynon street. Mr. Morgans was an oil dealer, and gas at that time being scarce and electricity still far in the future, oil was much in demand and Mr. Mor- gans found his business profitable. His wife was Rachel Morgans, and they were the parents of seven children, six of whom are living: Harry, mentioned at length hereafter ; Mary A., John J., Martha, Arthur, and George. The death of Mr. Morgans occurred in 1886. He was an honest and industrious man, highly respected by all who knew him. His widow, who is also a native of Wales, is still living.

Harry Morgans, son of John . D. and Rachel (Morgans) Morgans, was born January 4, 1868, in Wales, and was but four months old when brought by his parents to the United States. He received his education in the common schools of Scranton, and like all youths who are brought

up in a mining town he was made acquainted with a breaker. This acquaintance lasted for about two years, and he then entered the mines as door-boy, serving in that capacity for an- other two years. He ran the first electric motor ever operated in the anthracite coal region. In 1885 he left the mines and learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about seven years. In 1892 he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, but after a few years abandoned them in order to return to his old occupation of mining. Since 1900 he has been engaged in the dairy busi- ness, in which he has succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations. In 1898 he built for him- self a most attractive residence on Lincoln Heights, thereby adding greatly to the beauty of that part of the city. He and his wife attend the Presbyterian Church, in the benevolent work of which they are actively engaged.

Mr. Morgans married, June 16, 1897, Clara Davis, and two children have been born to them : Olwin and Rachel. Mrs. Morgans is a descend- ant of Samuel Davis, who with his wife and five children emigrated from Wales in 1831, and set- tled in Pike township, Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, where they prospered. One of their children, John S. Davis, married Catherine Evans, also a native of Wales, and their family consisted of nine children, five of whom are liv- ing : Samuel J .; Kate, who is the wife of David Jones; Ann, who married William C. Jones ; Jane, who became the wife of Edgar Jones ; and John J. Samuel J. Davis, mentioned above, married Mary J. Spofford, whose grandfather, John Spofford, was a native of Massachusetts, a member of a family which traces its origin from the time of William the Conqueror, and was transplanted from England to Massachusetts in 1638. Milton Spofford, son of John Spofford, married in 1837, Lucy Sheldon, of Friendsville, Pennsylvania, and their children were: Milton, born 1838; Abijah, born 1840; Lucy E., born 1842; Henry C., born 1844; Mary J., born June 27, 1847, and mentioned above as the wife of Samuel J. Davis ; and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of two daughters: Clara, who was born August 1, 1872, in Pike town- ship, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and be- came the wife of Harry Morgans, as mentioned above : and Lucy Catherine, who married George Ledyard, a farmer, resides in East Lenox, Penn- sylvania, and they have one child, Mary Isabel Leydard.

CHARLES H. SHIPPEY. One of the most respected citizens of Scranton is Charles H.

2-33

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Shippey. On the paternal side Mr. Shippey is a representative of one of the old families of the Lackawanna Valley, while through his mother he belongs to a well-known family of New York state. His ancestors on both sides rendered dis- tinguished service in the struggle for inde- pendence.

Charles Shippey, son of Joseph Shippey, a soldier in the patriot army of the Revolution, was born in Greene county, New York, and was a farmer in comfortable circumstances. In 1827 he moved to Pennsylvania and settled in Blakely township, where he purchased one hundred and thirty acres of land. He took a contract for the building of a portion of the D. & H. track between Carbondale and Honesdale, and also took a contract to furnish timber build- ing a saw-mill for the purpose. He had learned and thoroughtly understood the trade of a millwright. As a citizen he was much respected and was elected to several township offices. He served in the War of 1812 with the rank of first lieutenant. He married Hannah, born in 1798, daughter of Amos Allen, who was a soldier in the Continental army, and was killed while facing the enemy's guns at the battle of Fort Ticonderoga. He was a kinsman of Ethan Allen, the valiant leader of the enterprise which resulted in the capture of the fort. Mr. and Mrs. Chippey were the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom grew to maturity, among whom were: Polly, who became the wife of J. Hall ; Sarah, who died in December, 1904; she was the wife of Thomas Mattocks; James A., who died in September, 1905: Charles H., mentioned at length hereinafter; and John T., who was killed in July, 1905. Mrs. Shippey, the mother of this large family, died in 1861 at the age of sixty- three years. Her death took place in Wyoming county, as did that of her husband, who expired in 1879 at the advanced age of eighty-eight. He left an honored name.

Charles H. Shippey, son of Charles and Han- nah (Allen) Shippey, was born in 1833, in Blakely township, Lackawanna county, Pennsyl- vania, and in 1842 was taken by his parents to Wyoming county. He learned the carpenter's trade, but had not practiced it long when the out- break of the Civil war aroused within him the fighting blood of his ancestors. In 1862 he en- listed as a private in Company A, Sixteenth Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Cavalry: He participated in the battles of Mine Run, Gettysburg, the Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, Richmond, Cold Harbor, and Trevilian Station. At the last named place he was wounded and taken prisoner, and after re-

maining six months in captivity succeeded, in company with a comrade, in escaping to the Union lines. In August, 1864, he was honorably discharged. On returning to civil life he took up agricultural pursuits in conjunction with his trade, and in 1869 entered the service of the Le- high Valley Company as a carpenter. He re- mained with the company twenty years, and from 1889 to 1901 was employed by the firm of West- cott & Kingsley, breaker builders. July 7, 1903, he entered the service of the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Company as boss carpenter, which position he still holds. He is a loyal mem- ber of the G. A. R. Mr. Shippey married, in 1868, Augusta Oister, and six children were born to them, namely: Helen Amelia, wife of Edward Beals, a broker; they reside in New York city. Samuel J. Josephine, wife of E. R. Lacy ; they reside in Scranton. Frederick F., who married Minnie Jones, issue, one son, Frederick. Lulu M., died 1889 at the age of seventeen years. Katie, died 1893, aged twenty-one years, six months and seventeen days.

FRANK ZIMMERMAN. Among the many men identified with the great anthracite coal in- dustry in Lackawanna county there is none who is more highly respected or better known in and around the city of Scranton than Mr. Zimmer- man, who is the oldest mine foreman in active service now in the employ of the Delaware, Lack- awanna & Western Company. He has held this responsible office for the long term of thirty-two consecutive years, and his record is one notable for faithfulness and ability in the discharge of duty, while to him is accorded the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact during these long years of active identification with one of the leading industrial enterprises of the old Keystone state. He began to work for the above mentioned company in 1867, in the old Bellevue colliery, where he remained until 1873. when he was transferred to the Brisbin mines. where he has since served as mine foreman. He has charge of the work of five hundred opera- tives, all of whom are subject to his orders and who respect him for his manly and humane char- acter and his abiding interest in them, while they realize that with him there is no subordinating of his fidelity to the great corporation in whose em- ploy he has so long been retained. He began to work in the mines when a mere boy. and his rise to his present responsible position has been the result of his zeal and fidelity and his marked executive ability. He is an authority in all details of the practical mining business, and this pres-

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tige comes through the strenuous training which he has received as one of the world's grand army of workers.

Mr. Zimmerman comes of stanch German an- cestry and is a native son of the Keystone state, having been born in Schuylkill county, Pennsyl- vania, June 10, 1843, being a son of Henry and Julie Zimmerman. He was reared to maturity in his native county and there worked in the mines from his boyhood up, as has been already intimated. He was there residing at the time of the outbreak of the war of the rebellion, and in response to President Lincoln's call for volun- teers he enlisted, in 1863, as a member of Com- pany E, Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, which was assigned to the Army of the South, and later transferred to the Army of the James. His regiment was first attached to the Tenth Army Corps, was later transferred to the Eighteenth and was finally consolidated with the Twenty-fourth Army Corps. He was with his command during the great campaign of 1864, in- cluding the siege and capture of Petersburg, while previously he had taken part in the various battles in which his regiment was involved. At the battle of Hatcher's Run, March 31, 1865, he received a severe wound, a rifle ball passing entirely through his body. He continued in the service until the close of the war, having received his honorable discharge August 31, 1865, as cor- poral of his company. He then returned to his native state, where his career has ever since been identified with the coal mining industry, as al- ready stated, while he has been a resident of Scranton since 1867. He is a member of Hyde Park Lodge, No. 339, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Lodge, No. 976, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and is one of the honored com- rades of Ezra Griffin Post, No. 139, Grand Army of the Republic, being proud to take his stand among the veterans of this noble organization, whose ranks are rapidly being decimated by the one invincible foe, death. In politics he has ever accorded a stalwart support to the Republican party, of whose principles he is an earnest advo- cate. In August, 1867, Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Rachel Hughes, of Schuyl- kill county, and of their eleven children only five are living : Margaret A., Susan, Jessie, Inez and Maud. Mrs. Zimmerman was summoned into eternal rest in 1887, having been a faithful help- meet and wife and a devoted mother. In 1889 Mr. Zimmerman married his present wife, whose maiden name was Isabelle Stevenson, and they have one son, David.

JAMES W. MUSKETT. No resident of Scranton is better entitled to be called a useful citizen than is James W. Muskett. Mr. Muskett is a son of Henry Muskett, who was born in Eng- land and is a machinist by trade. In 1883 he emi- grated to America, landing in Montreal, Canada, where he remained but a short time, and then moved to Scranton. There he found employment in the Scranton Steel Works. His wife was Martha Heaton, also a native of England, and their family consisted of the following children : Agnes; James W., mentioned at length here- after ; Elizabeth ; Gertrude ; and Thomas H. Mr. and Mrs. Muskett, the parents of these children, are now residents of Scranton.

James W. Muskett, son of Henry and Martha (Heaton) Muskett, was born December 23, 1872. in Manchester, England, and was in his eleventh year when the family sought a home across the sea. He received his primary education in the common schools of Scranton, and afterward took a course in the Scranton International Corre- spondence School, which included mechanical drawing. At the age of eleven years he entered the mines as door-tender, being perhaps the youngest miner then in the anthracite belt. The work, however, was uncongenial, and after the lapse of one year he found employment in the Steel mills on the south side, and during his term of service there was engaged in operating the generator which furnished the plant with elec- tricity. Since 1900 he has been employed by the James Simpson Silk Mill Company, of Scranton, as machinist. Mr. Muskett is possessed of much inventive genius, and on February 10, 1903, had issued letters patent, No. 720.373, on an improve- ment on the little giant ratchet wrench, which simplifies and cheapens the original. On May 31. 1904, he had issued letters patent, No. 761.389, on a pipe wrench, which for simplicity and durability excels anything of its kind in the market. He has now in process a barn windmill, which promises to be in all respects a decided im- provement on its predecessors. In 1899 Mr. Muskett built for himself a commodious and at- tractive home, furnished with every improvement and convenience. In the cellar are two ma- chinists' lathes, a forge and a gasoline engine of four horse power. Here Mr. Muskett does all his experimenting and brings to perfection his different inventions. He is a member of the Na- tional Association of Stationary Engineers. Mr. Muskett married, August 25, 1897. Lizzie Schwin of Scranton, and they have one son and three daughters: Martha May, born May II, 1898;

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Herbert W., born March 25, 1900; Mildred E., born September 28, 1901 ; and Ada G., born May 4. 1903.

OWEN D. JOHN. No man was ever more thoroughly identified with the best interests of the community in which he lived than is Owen D. John with all that makes for progress and improvement in the city of Scranton. To say that by birth and parentage Mr. John is a Welsh- man is equivalent to saying that his nationality . is one which has done and is still doing much to shape the future and mould the destinies of the ancient province of Penn.

Daniel John was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and subsequently moved to Caermarthen- shire. His life was spent in agricultural pursuits. He married Frances Davis, also a native of Pem- brokeshire, and they were the parents of ten chil- dren, the youngest of whom was Owen D., men- tioned at length hereafter. Mrs. John, the mother of this large family, died at the compara- tively early age of fifty-six. She was survived many years by her husband, who at the time of his death was eighty-six years of age.

Owen D. John, youngest child of Daniel and Frances (Davis) John, was born September 6, 1834, near St. Clair, Caermarthenshire, Wales, and at the age of thirteen went to work in the mines of Glamorganshire. In 1856 he left Liver- pool on the sailing-vessel "Jolin Bright," and after a pleasant voyage of thirty-five days landed in New York. Thence he proceeded to St. Clair, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the mines, but within a year was en- gaged in mining coal on contract. He carried on a jobbing business until October, 1859, when he moved to Scranton, where he secured a position in the Hampton mines. Since that time he has chiefly engaged in the production of coal, having been employed twenty-four years by the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Company in Dia- mond shaft. In 1884 he relinquished the labors of mining, and has since then devoted himself to a variety of interests. His fellow-citizens have frequently called upon him to serve them in dif- ferent capacities, and have always found their confidence more than justified. In 1884 he was appointed by the council of Hyde Park to collect bounty taxes to the amount of several thousand dollars, and in the fourth and fourteenth wards this difficult task was successfully accomplished in the years 1884, 1885 and 1887. Meanwhile he was chosen assessor or collector of county taxes, an office which he held until 1890. Mr. John has also served as a member of the common

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 102

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