USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 104
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 104
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successful propagation of which he has no sup- erior in this locality. In politics he is an un- compromising advocate of the principles of the Republican party, but has never been an aspirant for office, and both he and his wife are communi- cants of the Protestant Episcopal church.
Mr. Robinson married, in England, 1866, Ann Harrison, and of their five children four are living : Arthur, William H., married a Miss Parmalee, and they have one child, Russell ; Elizabeth M., a successful and popular teacher in the public schools of her home city; and Charles.
JAMES H. BRACE. The career of this loyal citizen of Scranton shows a mastering of expedients and a rise to a position of responsible order through the application of well directed individual endeavors. Mr. Brace is a skilled machinist in the employ of the Delaware, Lack- awanna & Western Railroad Company, in the Scranton shops, and his pleasant residence is lo- cated at 531 Garfield avenue.
James H. Brace is a native of Wales, born March 9. 1868, a son of James and Mary (Jones) Brace, both representatives of sterling Welsh families. In 1880 they emigrated to the United States and took up their abode in Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, where the father devoted his attention to the vocation of miner during the remainder of his active career, his death here occurring in 1902, at which time he was sixty- one years of age. He was a man of the most up- right character, was earnest and industrious and his life was one of devotion to his family. His widow survives him and still maintains her home in Scranton. Of their eleven children seven are living, namely: William, James, Mary A., Esau, Sarah E., Samuel and Ruth.
James H. Brace secured his preliminary edu- cational discipline in his native land, and was about twelve years of age at the time of the family immigration to America. Such were the exigencies of the case that he was soon called upon to take up the practical duties of life. After the family located in Scranton he forthwith se- cured employment as slate picker in the mines of the vicinity, and from this humble position he rose by degrees through various grades of promotion, his fidelity gaining to him this ad- vancement. Realizing that his qualifications were not adequate to enable him to make more than nominal wages, he, in connection with the mining industry, determined to fit himself for further advancement in the connection. This determination was one of action, since he availed
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himself of the best advantages accessible, enter- ing the Young Men's Christian Association night school, where he diligently applied himself to study and practical work for a period of two years, devoting himself specially to the studies intended to fit him for the technical work which he was to handle in connection with his chosen vocation, that of mining engineering. After thus equipping himself he secured a position in the Mount Pleasant mine of the Smith & Fuller Coal Company, with whom he remained for the long period of twenty years, during the last four of which he served in the responsible position of fire boss. In 1900 Mr. Brace secured the po- sition of inside foreman for the New York, Ontario & Western Company, retaining this in- cumbency until May, 1904, when he assumed the duties of his present responsible and profitable office of machinist with the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Company. In politics Mr. Brace is a stanch supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and in a frater- nal way is affiliated with the Slocum Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Brace married, April 27, 1894, Mary Price, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Price, of Scranton. Of the three children of this union Margaret and Alma J. are living, Mary, the second in order of birth, having died at the age of eight months, while Gertrude, an adopted daughter, died in 1904, at the age of sixteen years.
ABRAHAM F. WIEN. Among the many to whom the coal industry of Lackawanna county affords employment, none is more competent both in respect to ability and faithfulness to fill the position which he holds than is Abraham F. Wien, of Scranton. His father, Aaron Wien of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was a carpenter and a first-class mechanic, which accounts for the proficiency which his son afterward attained in that line of business. Mr. Wien moved to Lu- zerne county, where for fourteen years he held the position of foreman for the firm of Cox Brothers. He was a man in whom his employers had implicit confidence. He married Maria Focht, and of the nine children born to them seven are now living : Clayton, Ella, John, Abra- ham F., mentioned hereafter: Minnie, Emma, and Henry.
Abraham F. Wien, son of Aaron and Maria (Focht) Wien, was born June 26, 1869, in Read- ing. Pennsylvania. While he was still an infant his parents moved to Luzerne county, where he was educated in the common schools. His first
employment was with the Cox Brothers as breaker-boy. He was instructed by his father in the carpenter's trade, which served him well in subsequent years. He afterward held for five years the position of locomotive engineer with the same firm. He then entered the service of a contractor and builder at Hazleton, and sub- sequently became engaged in bridge building. At the end of two years and a half he returned to Cox Brothers, by whom he was employed as breaker carpenter. For two years he worked as carpenter for the Lehigh Valley Company, and for a short time held the position of assis- tant carpenter foreman with Parker & Company. He then engaged for some time in house build- ing for contractors, by one of whom, M. Christ by name, he was sent on a business trip to Mahanoy City. In 1897 he moved to Scranton, where after a short time he was engaged as carpenter by the Delaware and Hudson Company. Subsequently he was employed by the Scran- ton Coal Company, by whom he was soon promoted to the position of locomotive en- gineer, which he held until 1903. In that year he was appointed to his present responsible office of outside foreman for the North End Coal Com- pany. This company was organized in 1902, and shipped its first coal April 1, 1903. The open- ings to the mine are two slopes, one of which is one hundred and fifty feet long and the other twelve hundred feet. The number of men em- ployed on the outside is about eighty, and of these Mr. Wien has entire control. He is a mem- ber of Washington Lodge, No. 16, Free and Ac- cepted Masons. the Patriotic Order Sons of America and the Junior Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics.
Mr. Wien married in 1893, Ruth Kleckner, a native of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, and of their four children three are living: Ralph, Ruth, and Ida. The comfortable and attractive dwelling in which Mr. Wein resides is his own property, and he is justly proud of the fact that he assisted in its erection with his own hands.
THOMAS GRIFFITH. Among those resi- dents of Lackawanna county who are selfmade men in the best sense of the term must be num- bered Thomas Griffith, of Scranton. He is an Englishman by birth and parentage, although his name would seem to indicate a Welsh ancestry.
Thomas Griffith, who was born in England, emigrated to the United States in 1849, landing in New York on June 4, of that year, after a six weeks' voyage. He settled in Scranton, Penn- sylvania, where he worked for the remainder of
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his life, his occupation being that of a puddler. He married Margaret Sinkler, also a native of England, and two children were born to them: Nellie, and Thomas, mentioned hereafter. Mrs. Griffith died in 1871, and her husband passed away in 1883. Both were sincerely loved and respected by all who knew them.
Thomas Griffith, son of Thomas and Mar- garet (Sinkler) Griffith, was born August 5, 1845, in Middlesborough, Yorkshire, England, and was less than four years old when brought by his parents to the United States. He re- ceived his education in the common schools of Scranton. At the age of thirteen he entered the service of the Lackawanna Iron Company, being employed in the rolliing milis as door- puller at twenty-five cents per day. So diligent and useful was he that his superiors testified to their appreciation of his services by advancing him from time to time until he reached the posi- tion of puddler. At the time of the Civil war, although still in his minority, Mr. Griffith felt impelled to offer his services for the preserva- tion of the Union, and accordingly in February, 1865, enlisted in Company B, Fifty-second Regi- ment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, serving until the close of the war, when he was honorably dis- charged. On his return to civil life Mr. Grif- fith resumed his work with the Lackawanna Iron Company, retaining his position for eight years. In 1873 he removed to Crown Point, New York, in order to enter the service of the Crown Point Iron Ore Company. With this company he re- mained seven years, holding after the first three years the position of engineer. Having been offered a similar position by the Delaware, Lack- awanna & Western Railroad Company, he re- turned to Scranton, and later became engineer for the Surquoit Silk Company, with whom he remained eight years. He then returned for two years to the Lackawanna Railroad Company, and in 1894 became engineer for the Scranton Axle Company, a position which he still holds. He is a member of Griffin Post, No. 139, Grand Army of the Republic, and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, James Con- nell Lodge, No. 170, and the Improved Order of Heptasophs, Roaring Brook Lodge, No. 214. Politically he is a stanch Republican and an ar- dent supporter of the principles advocated by the organization.
Mr. Griffith married in 1871, Harriet Amelia Burnish, and they have children: Genevieve Margaret, married Richard E. Brown, of Dover. New Jersey ; Mary, married Arthur E. Fuller, of Scranton ; Guy, Thomas, Henry Burnish, and
Leslie Rupert. Mrs. Griffith is the daughter of Henry and Mary (Jenkins) Burnish, who emi- grated from England in the early forties and settled in Scranton. Mr. Burnish was a furnace- builder, and to him belongs the distinction of having erected the first blast furnace ever used in Scranton. He was an able, industrious and worthy man, whose integrity of character com- manded the respect of all who knew him. His death occurred in 1884. His estimable wife survived him ten years, passing away in 1894, sincerely lamented by a large circle of relatives and friends.
WILLIAM ROBERTSON. Probably 10 citizen of Lackawanna county engaged in the mining industry is more admirably fitted for his position than is William Robertson, of Scranton. Mr. Robertson is of Scottish parentage, his an- cestors on both sides having been denizens of the. "land of brown heath and shaggy wood." Adam Robertson was born in Scotland. Decem- ber II. 1832, and in 1864 emigrated to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania and making his home at Dunmore. For fifty-six years, without interruption, he was engaged in mining. He married Margaret Henning, who was born in Scotland. in 1842, and their children numbered twelve, eight of whom are living: Margaret, William, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Ann, Florence, Robert,' John, Jennie, and Archibald. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, the parents of this family, are living to-day, happy in the memories of well-spent lives and in the affection of their children and grandchildren.
William Robertson, son of Adam and Mar- garet (Henning) Robertson, was born June 27, 1867, in Scranton, where he received a common school education. At the age of ten years he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Coal Company as a slate-picker, and after an experi- ence of one year in the breaker was promoted to the office of door-boy, which he held for six years. He next became a laborer in the mines, and at the end of five years was a full-fledged contract miner. After working for eight years in this capacity he was promoted to one of the most responsible positions in the production of coal, namely that of fire boss. His duty was to enter the mines in advance of the miners and in- spect every chamber and avenue for fire-damp or gas, by the explosion of which the life of the miner is endangered. This office he held until August. 1892, and the same year was given his present position, which is that of inside foreman at No. 5 colliery. In addition to having entire
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charge of the output of the colliery he has con- trol of the three hundred miners and boys em- ployed therein, and is fitted by his experience of mining in all its branches, his discretion and trustworthiness, for his arduous and responsible office. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 291, F. and A. M., and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Robertson married in 1890 Louise, daughter of Frederick Farber, of Scranton, and four children have been born to them : Minnie, Adam, Louise, who is deceased ; and another who died in infancy.
WILLIAM REPP. There is probably no name represented in Old Forge which would in- spire in that community more sincere respect than the name of William Repp. Mr. Repp is the grandson of Mathias Repp, a native of Prussia, who in 1833 emigrated to the United States, arriving in the city of Baltimore after a three months' voyage in unpleasant weather. He finally settled at Oxford Furnace, New Jer- sey, where he passed the remainder of his life. His wife was Anestina Bremer, and they were the parents of the following children: Henry ; Frederick, mentioned at length hereafter : Philip: Catherine ; and Mary. After the death of Mr. Repp, which occurred in 1844, his widow and children moved to Slocum Hollow, now the city of Scranton. Mrs. Repp died in 1890, at the venerable age of ninety-one.
Frederick Repp, son of Mathias and Anes- tina (Bremer) Repp, was born in 1828 in Prus- sia. and was still a boy at the time of his arrival in this country. He and his brothers were all identified with the development of coal in the . Lackawanna Valley, some of them holding re- sponsible positions, such as those of superin- tendent and district superintendent. Frederick Repp entered the service of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, with whom for twenty-seven years he held the position of foreman. During his experience as a practical miner lie sunk sev- eral shafts, among them the Marvin shaft for the D. & H. Company, the Roaring Brook shaft at Dunmore, and the Sibley shaft at Old Forge. He also opened the mine under the furnace in Scranton. In 1872 he resigned his position with the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company and there- after engaged in contract mining, in which he was very successful. Mr. Repp was one of those foreign-born citizens who took up arms in de- fense of the government of their adopted coun- try. He was a member of Company C, Forty- first Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, and in 1863 was one of the emergency men who volunteered
to repel the Confederate invaders from their state. He was honorably discharged August 9, 1863. To Mr. Repp belongs the distinction of having been the first jury commissioner in Scranton, a fact which testifies to the regard in which he was held as a citizen and to his per- sonal popularity. Mr. Repp married Elizabeth Wolfinger, and the following children were born to them: William, mentioned at length herein- after; Eugene; Sarah, who became the wife of J. M. Rosenkrans ; Philip H., who is an inspec- tor at Pittston ; Joseph H., who is an engineer ; Charles : George W., and Minnie: the two last named being now deceased. Mr. Repp, the father, died March 18, 1902. In all the relations of life he was a thoroughly good and useful man. His widow is still living, being now seventy-five years of age.
William Repp, son of Frederick and Eliza- betlı (Wolfinger) Repp, was born April 7, 1850, in Scranton. and received his education in the schools of his native city. Mr. Repp is one of those men whose activity of mind and desire for knowledge are not to be controlled or thwarted by circumstances, and the limited opportunities of his boyhood served but as a stimulus to larger acquirements in later life. At an early age he began to work in the mines, and has all his life been engaged in the coal industry, having filled every position from that of slate-bov to superin- tendent. He has been identified with the lead- ing coal companies of the Lackawanna Valley, such as the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, the Roaring Brook Coal Company, the Pennsyl- vania Anthracite Coal Company, the Lehigh Valley Company and the Old Forge Coal Com- panv. Limited. Since 1874 he has been connected with the Miles Land Company, representing their interest in Old Forge. He is a worthy citizen, and is so esteemed by his neighbors, who have chosen him to fill the offices of school director and township auditor. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church.
SILAS GRIFFIN. None of the residents of Lackawanna county can claim a more honor- able ancestry than belongs to those who trace their descent from those sturdy pioneers who laid foundations for the welfare and prosperity of those who were to come after them. Among those who come of this stock none is more worthy of his progenitors than is Silas Griffin, of Chinchilla.
The Griffin family was founded in Pennsyl- vania by four brothers, Thomas, Joseph, James and Stephen Griffin, natives of Dutchess county,
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New York, who migrated to the Lackawanna Valley near the close of the eighteenth century. They were all farmers and prominent men in the communities which they helped to build up. Joseph settled at Hyde Park and was the first representative of Luzerne county. He was twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Thorne, by whom he had one child, Thorne. His second wife bore him eight children : Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, Byron, Henry, John, Adam and Joseph. James was one of the original settlers of Providence, and there married. Among his children was a son, Elias, who was born in 1805, in Providence, and was a practical and success- ful farmer. He married Esther Clark, of Clark's Green. Of their children the following grew to maturity : Polly A., Emily, Sarah, Elizabeth, Jennie, and Silas, mentioned at length herein- after. There were two others who died in child- hood.
Silas Griffin, son of Elias and Esther (Clark ) Griffin, was born August 4, 1843, at Clark's Green, where he received a common school edu- cation. In early life he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits which he followed success- fully. The outbreak of the Civil war found him ready to respond to the call of his country. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company K. Eleventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, par- ticipated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, and was honorably discharged in 1864. On his return to civil life he again became a farmer. He is the owner of a fine farm in South Abington township, on which he raises the best product of the soil. In 1887 he entered the service of the Providence Water Company, which was afterward merged into the Scranton Water Company. He has charge of the various reservoirs of the company, being overseer or foreman of their entire water-way. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a strenuous upholder of the principles of the Re- publican party. Mr. Griffin married Sarah C., daughter of Benjamin Swallow. There were no children by this marriage. Mrs. Griffin died April 3, 1900, sincerely mourned by all who knew her, the many estimable traits of character by which she was distinguished having endeared her to a large circle of friends.
WELDING M. SWALLOW, one of the practical and progressive agriculturists of South Abington. township, where he was born in 1854, is a descendant of a long line of sturdy, God- fearing people, noted for their honorable deal- ings with all men and their unquestioning allegi-
ance to whatever they believe to be the true and right. The earliest ancestor of whom there is any record, was Joseph Swallow, grandfather of Welding M. Swallow, who was one of the pio- neer settlers in the Wyoming Valley, a repre- sentative of a class of men who endure trials and hardships without number in their endeavor to make for themselves and families a home. He was the father of seven children, namely: Eliza- beth, Phebe, Mary A., Minor, George, Benja- min and Daniel.
Daniel Swallow, father of Welding M. Swal- low, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1813. Here he was reared, educated and made his home until the year 1853, when he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres of land in South Abington township, twenty- three acres of which was covered with water, and which was subsequently purchased by the Providence Water Company. About one-half of this land was covered with timber, the tract be- ing a part of the four hundred acres purchased from the government by George Myers. On this land Mr. Swallow erected a fine dwelling and corresponding out-houses, which gave the place the appearance of thrift and comfort. He stood high in the community in which he resided, and was honored by election to several township of- fices, the duties of which were performed by him in a creditable and satisfactory manner. He was united in marriage to Mary Knapp, who was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, in 1821. Their family consisted of five children: William H., Mrs. Minerva Leach : Welding M., Alberta, de- ceased ; and Webster, deceased. Mr. Swallow died in 1877: his widow is still living ( 1905).
Welding M. Swallow attended the common schools of South Abington township and the knowledge thus gained was supplemented by a course at the Keystone Academy, Factoryville. Pennsylvania. Like his father, he has turned his attention entirely to agricultural pursuits. The farm on which he conducts his operations is one of the finest in the township, made so by the com- bined efforts of his father and himself. He be- lieves in raising the best of everything, and therefore his crops find a ready sale in the mar- ket and realize the highest prices. While his land is devoted to a general line of produce, yet he makes a specialty of fruit growing and dairy- ing, both of which lines of industry he is bring- ing to a more perfect state. For several years Mr. Swallow was a member of the school board of his township. He is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows. He holds membership' in the Methodist Episcopal church, and his political al-
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legiance is given to the Prohibition party. In 1890 Mr. Swallow was united in marriage to Elizabeth Dean, daughter of Monroe B. and Louise M. Dean, who were the parents of three other children, namely: Jeffrey R., Jennie and John C. Dean. Monroe B. Dean was a son of Jeffrey and Sybil (Hall) Dean, whose family consisted of four children : Mary, Davis, Louise and Monroe B. Dean. Jeffrey Dean was a son of Jonathan Dean, a resident of Rhode Island, from which state in 1803 he removed to Pennsyl- vania, purchasing there a tract of land consist- ing of eight hundred acres. He was accom- panied by his wife and three sons-James, Ezra and Jeffrey Dean.
EUGENE A. MYERS. In recording the history of men and the events which they brought to pass, the name and deeds of George Myers, grandfather of Eugene A. Myers, must not be overlooked. George Myers was a native of Ger- many, from which country he emigrated to the new world at an early date, settling in Chest- nuit Hill, Philadelphia; Pennsylvania, where so many of his countrymen made their home. He was one of the first settlers in Abington town- ship, having purchased four hundred acres of land from the government. He was a thrifty, hardworking man, who during his lifetime ac- cumulated considerable of this world's goods. He was a Democrat in politics. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Bond, a native of Ger- many. bore him the following named children, all of whom were born in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania : Jacob, John, Samuel, Adam, George, Andrew, Betsy and Peter.
John Myers, second son of George and Susan (Bond) Myers, and father of Eugene A. Myers, was born in the year 1823. Like his father he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he conducted in a practical and scientific manner, and which were therefore highly pro- ductive. He was the owner of one hundred and nine acres of land, which he brought under sub- jection to the plough, and on which he resided up to the time of his decease. He took an active interest in local affairs, was the incumbent of several township offices, including those of super- visor and school director. He married Miranda J. Ross, of Schultzville, Newton township, Penn- sylvania, and the issue of this marriage was nine children, all of whom were born in Abington township, in the house in which Eugene A. Myers now resides. Seven of these children at- tained years of maturity, namely: George, Orpha, deceased ; Susan. Engene A., Otto, Os-
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