Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 106

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 106
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 106

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).

Oh, the oak and the ash, And the bonnie apple-tree, They're all growin' green In my ain countree.

She knew how the boy must have heard that song, over and over-over and over. It had rung in his ears night and day. She seemed to see an endless vista of those patient hours of training-hours before work and hours at the close of day. With that hope of one day ap- peasing the longing in his mother's heart, the boy had labored and striven with his poor, worn-out, discarded dog, and brought him by dint of love and labor to the point-when in the face of victory the tragedy of defeat had overtaken him.

"Listen, boy," she said at length, steadying her voice; "don't despair. We'll see what we can do. I'll speak to the factor. Come, we'll help 'Robin,' too. Carry him up. I'll find a vet-we'll have his leg attended. Come, come, laddie, cheer up.'

THE boy raised his head and looked at her in wonder. "Yer verra guid," he said. "D'ye mean it?" She laughed and winked back her tears.

"Of course. Bring him up the hill; I'll meet you there. I'm going on ahead."

She turned from him and hurried up the rocky path. She could see the spokesman of the judges, who, mega- phone in hand, was about to announce the award of the day. Kenneth Kennedy, with his black "unbeaten Mc- Roarie," was shouldering forward to the markee, arrogant- ly elbowing the scowling shepherds aside. Lady Olive was gasping and breathless as she reached the summit of the rise.

"Yer ladyship is most generous, a popular award," he added. In his ‹ full of admiration for the American la local applause. "They'll be thinkin wooman, yer leddyship." He took and called for attention.

THE award of the day was made dead silence. Every one's sympa1 and his game "Methuselah" of a dog "Noo, leddies and gentlemen, I ha other prize," the spokesman roared of fifty pounds offered fer aged dog carden of Balnoch, and awarded to W year-auld collie, 'Robin Gray.'"

The rock cradle of Kingussie still r it echoed, for it rang to the very hea Lady Olive blushed like a schoolgi laughing happily.

"Fine, lassie, fine!" he called. thought to do it. I'm ashamed I dic shows it needs a woman to do a mar And it was like my little Yankee to- 'raise the ante'-fifty pounds for the laughed. "The factor will be down the rent the minute he hears."

"Oh, no, he won't," said Lady Gk‹ "You don't know him as well as Balnoch grinned. "If he was on t] started for Burnside cottage already "Oh, no," her ladyship repeated, at her, puzzled. "Must I always dc inquired. It was his turn to blush.

"If he goes near them I'll discharge She nodded. For a moment she the hills, absently, a strange, eager l "What are you thinking of?" he se of her abstraction.

"What is John O'Groat's like?" sh "Why," he answered, wondering, tip of Scotland-the bleakest, barest place in all the world."

She turned to him, her sweet mout' sical smile.

"Isn't it funny," she answered cı How the oak and the as And the bonnie apple-t Grow so exceedingly gree In everybody's ain cou

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

sided. He is a charter member of Bennett Lodge, No. 907, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of Moosic ; he is also past noble grand, and has been secretary of the lodge for a quarter of a century. In politics he is a Republican. In 1869 Mr. Tregellas was united in marriage to Delilah M. Stearns, daughter of E. H. and Caro- line (Sears) Stearns. Their children are: Jen- nie (Mrs. Snyder), Etta C. ( Mrs. Hines), Blanch L. and Ethiel C. Tregellas.

JOSHUA PALMER HOLLISTER. Among the many citizens of Lackawanna county who are engaged in the mining industry not one fills his position with greater capability or is more faithful to the trusts and responsibilities devolv- ing upon him than Joshua Palmer Hollister, of Peckville. Mr. Hollister comes of honorable lineage, and is a descendant of one of the oldest American families. John Hollister, the first known in America, was from Somerset county, England; he was Sir John Hollister, Lord of Litchfield Manor, England. He sailed from Bristol and settled in Weymouth, Massachusetts, in May, 1643, and was a representative in the general court of Massachusetts. In November, 1664, he moved to Wethersfield, Connecticut, and frequently represented that town in the general court. There was a John Hollister in the time of Henry VIII of England, a John Hollister, Lord of Manor of Linchcomb in 1608, and a Dennis Hollister, who was a member of Crom- well's privy council after the Protectorate was established. The name is derived from the two words Holly and terre and means Holly land or place of Holly trees. There is still a place in England bearing the name of Hollister. The Hollisters have a family history and there are more than five thousand American descendants of the first John Hollister, of America. They have the coat of arms, also the family motto, which is: "We have been, and by the grace of God we shall be."

Alpheus Hollister was a cabinetmaker and a man of influence in the community. He was the founder of Hollisterville, and it was in honor of him that the place received its name. He mar- ried Mary Palmer, and after her death took for his second wife her sister, Mrs. Parmelia ( Pal- mer ) Page, a widow. On being left a widower for the second time he married Sarah Jones, of Lake Ariel, Wayne county, Pennsylvania. He was the father of four children, three of whom reached maturity, among them William, men- tioned at length hereafter. Alpheus Hollister was a true pioneer, a natural leader, and one of

the men born to make paths for others to walk in.

William Hollister, son of Alpheus Hollister, was born in Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, and all his life followed the trade of a millwright. He was prosperous in worldly matters, and was a man of the strictest integrity of character, pos- sessing the highest respect and most implicit con- fidence of his neighbors. He married Nancy Mitchell, a native of Lackawanna county, and the following children were born to them: Ger- trude, who became the wife of Arthur West ; Joshua Palmer, mentioned at length hereafter ; Della ; and Earl E.

Joshua Palmer Hollister, son of William and Nancy (Mitchell) Hollister, was born in 1857, in Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, where he obtained his education in the common schools. Early in life he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a number of years. He entered the service of the Delaware & Hudson Company as head of the department of carpentry, and after a time was appointed outside foreman of Grassy Island colliery. This position involves the oversight of two shafts of eight hundred and three hundred and fifty feet respectively, in addi- tion to that of two shops fifteen hundred feet in -length and one hundred and fifty feet in depth. He has under his control no fewer than eight hundred men. For this position Mr. Hollister is peculiarly fitted, possessing as he does tact, discretion and sound judgment. His strong sense of justice and freedom from prejudice cause him to consider with rigid impartiality the interests of employers and employed, and to ad- minister the trusts of his office with strict fidel- ity to both. He has been in the service of the company twenty-two years, and thus in addition to his other qualifications possesses the inestima- ble advantage of long experience. During the whole period of his service there has never been any other feeling toward him but that of entire satisfaction either on the part of his superiors or of those under his control. Mr. Hollister is related to the late Dr. Horace Hollister, the author of the History of Lackawanna County, and a collector of Indian relics, and is also re- lated to Colonel Watrous, of Scranton, Pennsyl- vania. After his removal to Peckville Mr. Hol- lister married Margaret Burrows, of Peckville, Pennsylvania, and their children are: Jessie, Lionel P., and Gerald W.

EUGENE TAYLOR. Among the large number of those associated with the Scranton Coal Company none is more respected both for ability and worth of character than Eugene Tay-

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

lor, of Peckville. He is the son of William Tay- lor, who was born in Susquehanna county, Penn- sylvania, and followed agricultural pursuits. He married Mary E. Kelly. Mr. Taylor possessed the sincere regard of all who knew him as a man whose conduct was marked by strict adherence to principle.

Eugene Taylor, son of William and Mary E. (Kelly) Taylor, was born April 30, 1851, in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, where he obtained his education in the common schools. During his boyhood and youth he was engaged in farming, and in 1869 went to Kansas where he worked with his brother, who was a carpen- ter and from whom he learned the trade. At the end of two years he moved to Minnesota, where he worked for three months, and then went to Dakota Territory, where he was engaged for two years in bridge-building for the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. In 1872 he returned to Pennsylvania, and for one year again became a farmer. In 1874 he moved to Scranton where he worked as a house carpenter until 1875, when he became carpenter for the Fairlawn Coal Company. In 1876 he moved to Winton and there worked as a carpenter for the Pierce Coal Company, and in 1883 he was made outside fore- man, a position which he retained until 1898. In 1900 he entered the service of Dr. J. N. Rice, as outside foreman, who owned and operated the Riverside colliery. In 1903 he was promoted to superintendent of the colliery, inside and out, and held that position until the year 1904. The same year the Scranton Coal Company became owner of the Riverside Colliery, and Mr. Taylor remained as outside foreman. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Taylor married in 1873, Ophelia Collum, and they are the parents of one son ; George F., who is now chief clerk for the Hillside Coal & Iron Company at Pittston.

DANIEL JOHN GILMARTIN. The gen- eral intelligence, high moral character and busi- ness ability of Daniel J. Gilmartin, a resident of Archbald, Pennsylvania, and weighmaster for the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad, are such as to entitle him to the respect of the entire community and the deeper esteem of those who are brought in contact with him, either in business or social life. He was born in New York city, in 1844, a son of Patrick and Ellen (Cook) Gilmartin, the former named being one of the pioneers of Archbald. Patrick Gilmartin (father) was born in Ross, county Mayo, Ire- land, in 1808. He emigrated to the United States in 1830, locating in Maryland. After re-

maining seven years in the country he returned to Ireland in order to marry the lady of his choice, Miss Ellen Cook, and in 1840 he and his wife returned to this country. He resided at various places up to the year 1845, at which time he removed his family, which consisted of his wife and three children, to Archbald, Pennsyl- vania. He settled in what is now the third ward, and built the first house in town. He also erected three other houses in the town, one of which was subsequently burned, but another was erected in its place by his son, D. J. Gilmartin, and thus he contributed to the growth and development of that section. He was an extensive contractor in the construction of various roads at that time, and on his arrival in Archbald contracted for the construction of the Gravity Railroad and built the Plains No. I and No. 2. He was the first weighmaster for the Delaware and Hudson Company, entering their employ in 1846, and was succeeded by James Hosie. For twelve years he was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, and was highly prosperous in his manage- ment of a general store, this enterprise being in addition to his other line of work. He was a man of some local influence, as well as an active business man. In 1859 he held the office of su- pervisor of the township. In 1862 Mr. Gilmartin met his death in a draft riot, in which he took no part whatever. The soldiers, driven to des- peration by the acts of violence on the part of the mob, shot promiscuously, killing Patrick Gil- martin and wounding six or seven others, includ- ing his wife who was shot through the leg. Mr. Gilmartin was peaceably attending to his work when seven balls passed through his body. His wife, Ellen (Cook) Gilmartin, died on Good Friday of the year 1894. Their family consisted of seven children, as follows: John, born in New York city: Daniel J., mentioned hereafter ;

Bridget, deceased, was born in Carbondale ; Mary, deceased, was also born in Carbondale; William A., born in Archbald ; Thomas F., born in Archbald; and Patrick C., also a native of Archbald. All of the above named children were reared in Archbald, are now following various and honorable pursuits, and `are worthy citizens of our sommonwealth.

Daniel J. Gilmartin obtained a common school education, and subsequently started out to earn a livelihood for himself. Like his father, he served in the capacity of weighmaster for the Delaware and Hudson Company, an office he held for several years and afterward served six years as foreman for Jones, Simpson & Company at Archbald, and he is now filling the position

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

of weighmaster for the New York, Ontario and Western Company at Archbald. The esteem and confidence in which he is held by his fellow- townsmen is evidenced by the fact that he held the office of school director for nine years, and borough councilman for seven years. He and his family are members of the Roman Catholic church, Mr. Gilmartin having been the secretary of the building committee during the erection of the edifice in the years 1873-74. Before a house of worship was erected in the town, his father's house was the second place in which the members met for divine service. June 25. 1884, Mr. Gilmartin was married to Catherine Man- ley, the accomplished daughter of John and Ann Manley, of West Virginia. Their children are : Jenevive A., Bertha C., a graduate of Archbald high school ; James A., and Jerome D. Gilmartin.

H. F. MARSHALL. It may safely be as- serted that no resident of Lackawanna county who is engaged in the coal industry fills his office with more ability than does H. F. Marshall, of Dunmore. He comes of English ancestry, his grandfather, Henry Marshall, having been brought to the United States when an infant.

Edwin A. Marshall, son of Henry Marshall, was born in New York state. He was a carpen- ter by trade, and in early life moved to Pennsyl- vania, where he was employed by the Delaware & Hudson Company on the canal. In 1861, on the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in Com- pany B. One Hundred and Forty-ninth Penn- sylvania Reserves, and after three years' service was honorably discharged. After this he was employed until the close of the war by the United States Construction Corps. He then returned to his old place with the Delaware & Hudson Company, where he remained until 1900, when the canal was abandoned. He was popular as a citizen, and was several times elected to the of- fice of school director. He married Mary, a native of White Mills, Wayne county, Pennsyl- vania, and daughter of George and Nancy Arm- strong, the former a native of Pennsylvania. Their other children were: Milton, Libbey, William, Lina, Harriet, Charles, deceased : Anna, deceased ; and Zerbey, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall had chilldren: Cornelia B., Josephine, Charles, Mary, deceased ; and H. F .. mentioned hereafter. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are now (1906) living in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, enjoying the fruits of well-spent lives.

H. F. Marshall, son of Edwin A. and Mary (Armstrong) Marshall, was born May 9, 1867, in Hawley, Wayne county, Pennsylvania. He

was educated in his native town, and after leav- ing the common schools turned his attention to various pursuits until 1887, in which year he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Coal Company as weighmaster, an office which he filled until 1891. He was then promoted to the post of station agent at Dunmore, where he remained until 1894. In that year he was made breaker boss at No. 8 breaker, where he remained one year. He was next sent to the freight department in Scranton, and after one year was promoted to the general office of Dunmore. After remaining there as clerk for two years, he was, in 1896, made su- perintendent of breakers, an office which he held until the company abandoned it. After spend- ing some time in the office he was made superin- tendent of No. I and Gipsy Grove collieries. The latter shaft was sunk about 1870 and the former some years later. The output of these two shafts is twenty-three hundred tons daily. There are under Mr. Marshall's control two hundred and sixty men, and all property on the surface is under his supervision. This respon- sible position he fills to the entire satisfaction of the company. Mr. Marshall is a faithful citizen, and for four years held the office of borough auditor. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has attained the rank of past grand, and he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a steadfast advocate of the principles of the Re- publican party, and in matters of religion ad- heres to the Presbyterian church, in which he holds the office of elder. Mr. Marshall mar- ried, February 23, 1893. Matilda, daughter of Tames O. and Sarah J. Masters, of Dunmore, and their children are: James E., Cyrus M., and Helen L.

TIMOTHY McGARRY, of Carbondale, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, is a citizen whose integrity and uprightness cannot be gain- said and whose loyalty to his adopted country is beyond question. He is a native of county Ros- common, Ireland. born June, 1841, a son of Pat- rick and Mary (Kennedy) McGarry.

Patrick McGarry (father) was also a native of Roscommon, Ireland, born March 20. 1816, and his educational advantages were of the most meager character. In early manhood he emigrated to the United States, accompanied by his wife. Mary (Kennedy) McGarry. also a native of Ireland, and after a voyage of three weeks on a sailing vessel they arrived in New York city, where he secured employment as

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

watchman for a ship company. Later he located at Morse Tannery in Fell township, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, where they remained for a period of forty years. For ten years he worked as a coal breaker, and by hard labor and economy accumulated sufficient money to purchase a farmi of three hundred acres of land located in Fell township. At that time many Indians frequented the neighborhood and Mr. McGarry associated with them and was on such friendly terms with them as to warrant the nickname of "Chief," which clung to him up to the time of his death. He was a reliable, trustworthy man, commanded the respect of his fellow citizens, and was the incumbent of the offices of justice of the peace, supervisor and school director. He was an active and consistent member of the Roman Catholic Church. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McGarry, namely: Michael, Timothy, Mary, deceased, who was the wife of J. H. Bren- nan, and Patrick, who is foreman for the D. & H. Company. "Chief" McGarry died at his home in Carbondale, in 1900, at the age of eighty-four years, and his good and faithful wife passed away during the same year, aged eighty-two years. They were respected by all who knew them, and their children have retained the same standing in society, being worthy neighbors and loyal citizens whose word is as good as their bond.

Timothy McGarry, second son of Patrick and Mary McGarry, was reared and educated in Fell township, Lackawanna county. At the age of fourteen years he entered the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Company as stable boy, and from that time to the present, a period of forty-three years, has served the same company, being promoted from stable boy to stable boss with a salary commensurate with his position. During that long period of time he has never been absent from his post nor has he received a reproof for neglect of duty. He is one of the men on whom the company can thoroughly de- pend, and whether the men are on strike or labor- ing in the mines, Mr. McGarry is always at his post and he has never been interfered with in the discharge of his responsible duties. He cheerfully performs all the obligations of a good citizen, and takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his community. Since the organization of Father Matthew So- ciety, of the Roman Catholic church, Mr. Mc- Garry has been a member, and he is also a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, No. 5.

In 1874 Mr. McGarry married Mary A. Mc- Hale, born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, 1848,

daughter of James and Sarah McHale, who were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living at the present time, as follows: Jane, Bridget, Anna, James, and Mary A., aforemen- tioned as the wife of Timothy McGarry. The McHale family are from county Mayo, Ireland, and were among the pioneer settlers of Carbon- dale. Seven children were the issue of the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. McGarry, four of whom are living, namely: Mary, born 1879; Joseph, born 1881 ; Sarah, born 1884; and William, born 1885. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

JOHN LAVIN. Comparatively few men have enjoyed the advantage of as thorough an experience in the labors of their chosen calling as has fallen to the lot of John Lavin, of Oly- phant. To quote his own words, he has "done everything that is done under ground." His father, Thomas Lavin, was a native of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States and made his home in Pennsylvania. His wife was Ann McHall, born in 1822, in Ireland, and they were the parents of five children, four of whom are living: Thomas, Michael, John, mentioned here- after; and Alice. Mr. Lavin, who is now de- ceased, was an honest, upright and industrious man. His widow is still living at the advanced age of eighty-two.

John Lavin, son of Thomas and Ann (Mc- Hall) Lavin, was born in 1859, in Throop, and received his education in his native town, where he has resided ever since. He entered the service of the Delaware & Hudson Company as breaker- boy, and rose step by step until he reached the position of fire boss, which he held for eleven years. This is one of the most important and responsible offices connected with the mining of coal, for on the fidelity of the fire boss hang the lives of hundreds of men. In 1889, while serving in this capacity, Mr. Lavin had a most perilous and memorable experience. In company with four other officials he was examining a mine when there was an explosion of gas. He was the only one of the party who escaped. In justice to Mr. Lavin it should be stated that he was not at that time fire boss of that particular mine. In 1896 Mr. Lavin became foreman, and in 1898 was placed in charge of Olyphant mine, belong- ing to the Delaware & Hudson Company, in whose service he has been for thirty-five years. This mine is four hundred feet below the surface. Mr. Lavin has under his control four hundred men and boys, and fills his position to the entire satisfaction of his employers, who place implicit

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

confidence in him. He is a good citizen, and has served the borough of Throop as a member of the school board. He belongs to the C. M. B. A. Society, and is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

Mr. Lavin married, April 27, 1884, Sarah A., daughter of Patrick Murphy, and they have chil- dren : Anna A., a graduate of the East Strouds- burg State Normal School, is now a successful teacher ; Clara, a student at the Mansfield State Normal School; Alice, Thomas, and Hortense. Mr. Lavin's residence, which was ereeted in 1899, adds much to the beauty of the borough.

THOMAS H. JENKINS, one of the trust- worthy and esteemed citizens of Taylor, who for thirty-one and a half years served in the capacity of fire boss in the Taylor mines, this office of responsibility requiring men who are sober, cour- ageous and faithful to the trust reposed in them, for upon their faithfulness to duty depends the lives of the miners, was born in Wales, January 19, 1837, a son of James and Rebecca (Davis) Jenkins, natives of Wales, who were the parents of three other children, namely : Priscilla, George and William, Thomas H. being the only survivor at the present time.

Thomas H. Jenkins was reared and educated in his native country, and for fifteen years after the completion of his studies filled the position of stationary engineer. In 1863 he emigrated to the United States, locating at Minersville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where for three years he engaged in the production of coal. In 1869 he removed to Taylor, erecting a residence for him- self in 1882, and from June, 1869, to October, 1900, was employed in the Taylor mines by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company. This mine has been the most gasious in the valley and on that account demanded more careful atten- tion from the fire boss, and during the thirty-one years of Mr. Jenkins' service as such he never met with any accident attributable to his eare- lessness, being one of the few men whose record is elear of reproach. The dangers to which miners are exposed from the various causes, whether fire, water or gas, require the closest attention and the most careful security on the part of the operators of mines, and the state law is strict in the enforcement of certain rules being carried out in the inspection of mines before the men are allowed to enter. No man could have been more faithful or given better satisfaction in guarding against any possibility of danger than did Thomas H. Jenkins, who, were it not for his advanced age, would be in the same position to-

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 106

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