Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 103

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 103
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 103

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council from the fourth ward, having held office two years and a half. In 1890 he was appointed census enumerator for a portion of the same ward, and in 1894 received from this ward the Republican nomination for alderman in opposi- tion to the Democratic incumbent. He was elected by a majority of two to one and took oath in May of that year. His tenure of the office, which has lasted till the present time, is a suffi- cient testimony to the ability with which he has discharged its duties. In his intervals of leisure he has contributed aid in compiling city directo- ries. Mr. John has been for many years promi- nently identified with fraternal organizations. He holds the rank of past grand in Silurian Lodge, I. O. O. F., and in 1884 acted as delegate to the Grand Lodge. In 1862 he was largely instru- mental in organizing the American Ivorites, call- ing the lodge No. I, but hearing of an older one changed the designation to No. 2. In this lodge he has been honored with every office of import- ance. Mr. John married Mary A. Pembridge, a native of Monmouthshire, Wales, who at the age of eight years was brought to this country by her parents, who settled near Scranton. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John : Daniel A., de- ceased ; Sarah A., deceased ; Ellsworth E .; Hor- ace G .; Alfred C .; and Gertrude, who died in 1902. The two elder sons are machinists, and Alfred C. holds a position on the Scranton Tribune.

JOHN W. BAYLEY. This well known and highly respected citizen of Scranton, Lackawanna county, has had a simple but somewhat unique career since he initiated his independent efforts as one of the world's workers. He has been a resident of Scranton since 1867, is known as a loyal and worthy citizen, and holds the position of engineer in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company, in whose service he has been retained for the long period of forty- two years, within which it has been his good for- tune to avoid all accidents save one which oc- curred in September, 1872, while his labors have been consecutive save for the period of his service in the Civil war. The notable feature in his ca- reer is that he has never received compensation from any firm or individual save the company by whom he is now employed, while otherwise his only remuneration was that received from the federal government during his valiant service as a soldier in the Union ranks. Both of these state- ments are of significance as indicating the fidelity and ability of the man.

Mr. Bayley was born at Elk Lake, Wayne

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county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1846, and is a son of William and Eleanor ( McMullen) Bay- ley, the former of whom was born in Newbury- port, Massachusetts, and the latter in Wayne county, Pennsylvania. The father of John W. Bayley was likewise a valiant soldier in the Union ranks during the war of the Rebellion, having served as lieutenant in the One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and having been incapacitated by a wound in the hand, so that he received his honorable discharge before the close of the war. He was a musician of much talent, and for a number of years devoted no little attention to the teaching of both vocal and instrumental music, while he was also a successful teacher in the common schools. He removed to Elk Lake, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, when a young man and was there married. He removed from Elk Lake to Waymart, Wayne county in 1850, where he was principal of the academy for a period of thirty years. During his residence there he was for some time incumbent of the office of chief bur- gess, and was also a member of the borough council. In the early eighties he removed to Scranton where he became principal of one of the public schools, which position he held for fourteen years, making a total of forty-four years as teacher. William Bayley died May 17, 1892; Eleanor Bayley died April 30, 1902. William and Eleanor Bayley became the parents of seven children, four of whom are living, namely: John WV., Anson W., Judson O., and Nellie, who is the wife of Charles Shook.

The paternal grandparents of John W. Bayley were Rev. John and Mary (Cleary) Bayley, both of whom were born and reared in Newburyport, Massachusetts, while the former was an honored member of the clergy of the Congregational Church, to whose faith the greater number of his descendants have adhered. The Bayley family has been identified with American history from the earliest colonial epoch, since the original an- cestors came over in the historic "Mayflower," and were numbered among the founders of New- buryport, Massachusetts. Representatives of the name have had charge of the church music in that town for more than a century. The father of John W. Bayley was the only son of Rev. John and Mary Bayley, and a brother of this revered clergyman was a captain in the state militia of Massachusetts. The first representative of the Bayley family to leave the ancestral home in Newburyport was Captain William Bayley, who removed to Elk Lake, in 1814, journeying three · hundred miles on foot. John W. Bayley, great-

grandfather of John W. Bayley, was a sea cap- tain, sailing out of Newburyport, and had the distinction of entertaining at his home General Washington on the occasion of one of the latter's visits to Newburyport. The bed in which Gen- eral Washington slept is still owned by the Bay- leys of Newburyport and is in a fine state of pres- ervation. John W. Bayley, while on a visit to the ancestral home, in 1904, had the privilege and honor of sleeping in this historic bed.

John W. Bayley, to whom this sketch is dedi- cated. was a child at the time of his parents' re- moval to Waymart, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, and in this town he secured his early education and was reared to maturity, while he early iden- tified himself with railroading interests, entering the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company in 1862, when sixteen years of age, while he has ever since continued in the service of this corporation, as previously noted, and is one of its trusted and veteran locomotive engi- neers. On March 12, 1864. when but eighteen years of age, Mr. Bayley tendered his aid in defense of the Union, whose integrity was still in jeopardy through the rebellion of the Confed- eracy. He enlisted as a private in Company A, Third Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, with which he was on active duty until the close of the war, having participated in many spirited battles and skirmishes during 1864-65, including engage- ments on the James and Chickahominy rivers, including that of Bermuda Hundred and the capture of Fort Fisher. At one time he was de- tailed to duty on the United States gunboat "Mosswood," which plied the James river as far as Richmond, but save for this period he was continuously with his command until the war closed. He received his honorable discharge. July II. 1865. at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. He sig- nalizes his interest in his old comrades in arms by retaining membership in Ezra S. Griffin Post, No. 139. Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Bayley is affiliated with the Brotherhood of Lo- comotive Engineers; and for a number of years rendered most effective service as engineer in the volunteer fire department of Scranton. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republican party.

On June 25, 1874, Mr. Bayley was united in marriage to Miss Clara S. Robbins, who was born and reared in Montrose, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, and they have one child, Mertice A.

· JOSEPH HEIL. One of the most respected among the old residents of Scranton is Joseph

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Heil. He is a son of Henry Heil, who was born in Germany and about 1845 emigrated to the United States. After spending two years in New York he moved to the Lackawanna Valley, mak- ing the journey from Honesdale to Slocum Hol- low ( Scranton ) on a canal boat. At that time the only street in Slocum Hollow was Petticoat street. Mr. Heil had been a weaver in his own country, but abandoned his trade on coming to the United States. He settled with his family on Shanty Hill, and found employment in the old rolling mill on the south side. About 1854 he moved to Petersburg, where he purchased ten lots at twenty-five dollars per lot. He and his wife were members of the German Roman Cath- olic Church. His wife was Mary Kilbush, also a native of Germany, and their children were: Margaret, John, Joseph, mentioned hereafter ; Mary, Kate, Frank, and one who died in infancy. Frank accidentally shot and killed himself near Carterville, Illinois, in 1884, leaving a wife and one son, Henry, now of Scranton. He is mar- ried and has a daughter, Helena.

Joseph Heil, son of Henry and Mary (Kil- bush ) Heil, was born July 4, 1840, in Germany, and was five years old when brought by his parents to the United States. He received his education in the schools of Scranton and vicinity, and for many years was employed in the steel mills on the south side. He purchased the old homestead in Petersburg, but subsequently sold it and in 1869 moved to his present place of abode. He was at one time a member of Com- pany A, Thirteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Na- tional Guard. In politics he is an Independent.

Mr. Heil married Mary Dishler, a native of Germany, and fourteen children were born to them, ten of whom are living: Elizabeth, mar- ried William Hans, and is the mother of four children. Joseph T., married Luzetta Arandt and has four children: Charles, Lydia, Edwin and Weynot. Frank, married Gerty Brown. Mary, wife of Fred Butterman, and has four children. Henry, married Margaret Kline and has four children. Christina, wife of Benja- min Loeh, and has one son. Peter, unmar- ried. . John. unmarried. Louisa, unmarried. Leo, unmarried. Eight of the number are residents of Scranton. The house in which Mr. Heil resides was built under his per- sonal supervision. He has relinquished active labor and is living in retirement, reaping the fruits of his industry and entering heartily into the enjoyment of field sports and fishing, in which he has been the winner of many trophies.

ALEXANDER G. BENNETT. Through- out the length and breadth of Luzerne county no more enterprising or efficient mining engineer could be found than Alexander G. Bennett, of Scranton. He comes of English stock. His an- cestors emigrated to the American colonies before the Revolutionary war, in which they partici- pated, striking many a blow in the cause of in- dependence.

Stewart Bennett was born in New Jersey, but passed a great part of his life in Pennsyl- vania, conducting for a number of years an ex- tensive building business in Wilkes-Barre. As a business man he had a high reputation both for sagacity and rectitude, being notably just and fair in all his dealings. Belonging as he did to a class of men who, in whatever community they may be found, constitute by reason of ability, sound judgment and strict integrity of character a peculiarly and essentially valuable body of citi- zens, he was frequently urged to accept office, but invariably declined. So unalterable was his decision that when on one occasion his towns- men, despite his opposition, elected him justice of the peace he refused to qualify. He married Mary A. Lyon, a native of New Jersey, and of the seven children born to them only one re- mains, Alexander G., mentioned hereafter. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have both passed away and have left behind them the memory of sincere, simple and virtuous lives.

Alexander G. Bennett, son of Stewart and Mary A. (Lyon) Bennett, was born in 1867, in Wilkes-Barre, and received his education in the public schools of his native city. At an early age he was appointed clerk in the Wilkes-Barre postoffice, a position which he retained for two years, discharging the duties which it involved in a manner satisfactory alike to the community and to the government. Feeling, however, that the knowledge of some trade was necessary to his financial advancement he applied himself to the acquisition of those branches essential to the calling of a machinist, and having thor- oughly mastered the trade followed it assidu- ously for several years. He then applied for and obtained a position in the engineer corps, which was at that time actively engaged in railroad work. Shortly after he took as his assistant Henry Reese, of Wilkes-Barre. In 1889 he was sent to Alabama to prospect for coal and iron for the Fort Payne Iron & Coal Company, and was given entire charge of the corps. After the completion of this enterprise he took charge for a time of a mining force in Farmsville, Virginia,

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where he prospected for coal and iron. In 1893 he returned to his native city, worked as engineer on the Wilkes-Barre & Easton Railroad, and was subsequently employed by the Philadelphia, Ilonesdale & Albany Railroad, finally going to New York state on another survey. In 1896 he became associated with Simpson & Watkins as superintendent of the forty-first division of the engineer corps, remaining with them for three years. It was in this position that the ability of which he had all along given ample evidence was manifested in a peculiarly striking manner, and in 1898 he was called by the Delaware & Hud- son Company to fill his present position of min- ing engineer of several of their large mines. It is needless to say that this is an office of great responsibility, requiring in its incumbent the pre- cise qualifications of which Mr. Bennett has proved himself possessed. Although taking no active part in public affairs -- inheriting in this respect his father's predilection for retirement- Mr. Bennett never forgets to be a good citizen. He is a member of the Civil Engineers' Club of Scranton.

Mr. Bennett married in 1893, Margaret Tritchler. of Lehigh, Pennsylvania, and they have three children : Agnes, Jessie and Stewart.

THOMAS O'CONNOR. In all Lacka- wanna county there is no more experienced miner or worthy citizen than Thomas O'Con- nor, of Scranton. His grandfather, James O'Connor, was a native of Ireland, and in 1801 emigrated to the United States. He was accom- panied by two brothers, Thomas and John, both of whom did valiant service in the War of 1812. James O'Connor was a farmer and a worthy citizen. He married Mary Reap, also a native of Ireland, and their children were: Jane, John, Thomas, James, mentioned hereafter; Mary, Kate, and Bridget. Of this number James, Bridget and Thomas are still living.

James O'Connor, son of James and Mary (Reap) O'Connor, was born in 1830, in Carbon- dale. For thirty years he was in the service of the Delaware & Hudson Company. He married Julia Nolan, also a native of Ireland, and their children were: Thomas, mentioned hereafter ; James, John, Stephen, deceased ; Mary, Annie, Kate, Julia, Margaret, and Bridget. Mrs. O'Con- nor, the mother of these children, died in 1885, deeply lamented by her family and friends. Mr. O'Connor is still living, respected by all who know him.

Thomas O'Connor, son of James and Julia ( Nolan) O'Connor, was born January 5. 1856,

in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. When he was four years old his parents moved to Providence, where he was educated in the common schools. At an early age he began to work in the mines as breaker-boy for the Delaware & Hudson Com- pany, and after working in this capacity for four years entered the service of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company, with whom lie remained thirty-five years, twenty-five of which he held the position of mine foreman, an office which he now fills with the North-End Coal Company, having two hundred and fifty men under his control. He is perfect master of all departments of the work and is most highly esteemed by his employers. Mr. O'Connor is active as a citizen, and has received from his neighbors various proofs of the confidence which they repose in him. For two years he was a member of the city council and for four years held the office of school director. He is a vet- eran in the cause of temperance, having been since the age of twelve years a member of the Father Matthew Temperance Society, and as an ardent and indefatigable worker in the cause has won honorable distinction.

Mr. O'Connor married in 1881, Bridget, daughter of Thomas and Bridget Murphy, and their children are: Thomas, Annie, Stephen, Jerrold, Julia, Mary, and Eveline. Mrs. O'Con- nor is a native of Scranton.

GEORGE W. POWELL. Of the many nationalities represented by Scranton citizens none has done more for the advancement of the city than has the Welsh element, and of this type, so numerous and so influential, George W. Powell is a worthy representative.

William Powell was born in Wales and fol- lowed the calling of a miner. In middle life he emigrated to the United States and found em- ployment in the mines of Pennsylvania, making his home at Plymouth. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a member of the Welsh Baptist church. His wife was Elizabeth Newman, also a native of Wales, and their children were: James, Mary, John W., George W., mentioned hereafter ; Sarah A., wife of George T. Tifft, of Colorado; and Wil- liam Henry. With the exception of Mrs. Tifft and George W., all these children are now de- ceased. Mr. Powell, the father, at the age of forty-nine was killed in a mine accident, and his son, James, then a young man of twenty-two, lost his life on the same occasion. The disaster which was of a peculiarly fearful character, oc- curred April 6, 1869. at Avondale. Mr. Powell

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was in all respects a most worthy man. His widow passed away in February, 1877.

George W. Powell, son of William and Eliza- beth ( Newman) Powell, was born December 28, 1854, in Wales, and was in his fifteenth year when his parents sought a home on this side of the Atlantic. At Plymouth he engaged in mining, which he made the calling of his life, and can now look back upon thirty-five years of ser- vice in both valleys. Six years of that time he filled the position of foreman, and for the last three years has been mine foreman at the Holden mines operated by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company. Mr. Powell has under his charge three hundred men, and is equally es- teemed by employers and employes. He and his wife are members of the Welsh Congregational church.

Mr. Powell married, October 28, 1874, Sarah J., daughter of William J. and Jane Hughes, both natives of Wales. On their emigration to the United States they settled in Carbondale, where Mr. Hughes was for a number of years track- boss for the Delaware and Hudson Company, his work taking him over a large portion of the Lackawanna Valley. He also held for some years the position of foreman with a company in Northampton county. During the civil war he enlisted in the One Hundred, and Eighty- seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service. He and his wife were charter members of the Providence Welsh Congregational church. The death of Mr. Hughes was caused by the hardships which he endured while serving in the army. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hughes two are now living : Lizzie, wife of F. D. Brundage, of Scranton, and the leading soprano in the Pres- byterian church ; and Sarah J., born in 1856, in Scranton, wife of George W. Powell, as men- tioned above. Mrs. Powell leads the singing in the Sunday school, of which she is. assistant superintendent and in which she is the teacher of a class of young men. She is a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, Re- lief Corps, No. 37, of Wilkes-Barre. and the Young Women's Christian Association. Mrs. Powell is an author, whose productions both in prose and verse have met with a favorable re- ception from the public, to whom she is known as "Murfudd." The home of Mr. and Mrs Powell is one of the most attractive in Scranton. in which city, as well as in Nanticoke, Mr Powell is the owner of considerable property.

JACOB WEISSMANN, the able and faitli- full keeper of the county prison of Lackawanna county, at Scranton, is one of the trusted officials of the county, and one who has been peculiarly successful in his handling of the malefactors as- signed to his charge. He has under his care an average of about two hundred and fifty prison- ers, and during the summer months gives per- sonal direction to the work of the gangs of prisoners who are employed outside the prison walls. He has served loyally and well under the sheriffs who have had control of the prison for the past eight years.

Mr. Weissmann was born in Germany, 1852, and is a son of Philip and Mary ( Wilking) Weissmann, who are now deceased. He duly availed himself of the advantages of the excellent schools of his native land, and there learned the trade of cabinetmaking. of which he is a master and at which he worked for more than a quarter of a century. In 1871, at the age of nineteen years, he immigrated to the United States. first locating in Louisville, Kentucky, where he re- mained three years. He then went to Alabama and shortly afterward was found located in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, while in 1875 he made his advent in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he secured employment at his trade in the car shops of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western rail- road, his superior skill as an artisan enabling him to find a good position with satisfactory pay. He continued in the employ of the company for the long period of twenty years, and this record stands as voucher of his ability and fidelity, as does also his official record since that time. In 1898 Mr. Weissmann was appointed deputy sheriff of Lackawanna county; in which capacity he has served until the present time. He is a Republican in his political adherency, and in a fraternal way is affiliated with the Bavarian Beneficial Society and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which latter he be- came a member in 1877. He has been provident and industrious and is the owner of a consider- able amount of property in Scranton, including his attractive residence, which is located in South Irving avenue. He is one of four chil- dren and is the only representative of the family in America.

Mr. Weissmann married, September 15, 1878, Kate Neu, of Germany, and their children are : Annie, Ardi, Jacob, Jr., Lena and Carl.

RICHARD ROBINSON, one of the sub- stantial and highly esteemed citizens of the Green

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Ridge division of the city of Scranton, where he, has maintained his home for nearly two score years, has gained independence and prosperity through his own well-forward efforts, and he has proven himself worthy of the implicit confidence and regard so uniformly accorded him by his fellowmen. His attractive residence property is located at 1558 Capouse avenue, corner of Green Ridge street, and is one of the fine homes of this section of the city. He has made judicious investments in real estate in this portion of the city, where he is the owner of two valuable resi- dence properties aside from that occupied by himself, while he is known as a loyal citizen and progressive business man.

Richard Robinson is a native of England, born in 1841, a son of Isaac and Mary Robinson, who passed their entire lives in that country, and who were devoted communicants of the Established Church of England. They became the parents of eleven children, Richard being the only one of the number representing the family in America. Mr. Robinson was reared and edu- cated in his native land, where his marriage was solemnized in the year 1866. In November of the following year, accompanied by his young wife, he set forth to seek his fortunes in the United States. He first located on Long Island, New York, where he engaged in gardening, for which pursuit he had a natural predilection, while he had had considerable experience in the line prior to coming to America. He there re- mained until March, 1868, when he came to Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, and took up his residence in Scranton. He secured land in the Green Ridge section, which was then sparse- ly settled, and there engaged in the horticultural and floricultural business, applying his energies with indefatigable zeal and making the enter- prise an unqualified success. He built up a large and prosperous business in this line, cultivating a considerable area of land in supplying vege- tables for the local market, and continuing to be actively engaged in this business for about twenty years. He retained marked affection for the industry of cultivating vegetables and flowers, and on his grounds at the present time he has a large and finely equipped hothouse. Bringing to bear excellent judgment Mr. Robin- son made good investments from the profits of his business, and thus he has accumulated a com- petency and is one of the substantial men of the city, being now practically retired from active business, save for superintending his various real estate and capitalistic interests and diverting himself with his vegetables and flowers, in the

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 103

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