Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 108

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 108
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 108

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).

(1904), aged seventy-six years, having passed the allotted scriptural time of three score years and ten. His wife, who was born in 1823 and died in 1898, bore him three children, as follows : Henry, deceased ; Augusta, deceased; and J. Fred, mentioned at length hereafter. She had also one son by a former marriage, namely : Charles F. Greenburg.

J. Fred Schwenk was reared in his native city, Scranton, attended the common and high schools thereof, graduating from Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, in 1884. He then entered the employ of the Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank in the capacity of clerk, thereby gaining a practical experience in busi- ness life. Later he was appointed tax collector, then received the appointment from Mr. Gib- bons as clerk to the city treasurer, and finally was appointed register clerk in the Scranton postoffice, which position he still holds. He served as a member of the select council from 1890 to 1896, discharging the duties with the utmost efficiency and credit. He holds member- ship in the Patriotic Order Sons of America. Mr. Schwenk resides in a modern and commod- ious house which he erected for his own use, and in addition to this is the owner of several houses, from the rental of which he derives a goodly in- come.

In 1890 Mr. Schwenk married Metha W. Homeryayer, born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a daughter of John and Dorothy Homeryayer. Their children are: Robert E., Alfreida N., Lucinda B., Lydia E., and Dorothy F. Mr. Schwenk and his wife are members of the Ger- man Presbyterian church, to the support of which they contribute liberally. They are highly respected in the community in which they re- side and enjoy the acquaintance of a wide circle of friends.

FRANK P. HENDERSON, of Lincoln Heights, Scranton, Pennsylvania, who during a long and active life has borne a most useful part in the community among whom his years have been passed, is a descendant of one of the old and respected families in the Lackawanna Valley. He was born in Scranton, January 7, 1853, a son of James and Mary J. (Knapp) Henderson.

Mathias Henderson, grandfather of Frank P. Henderson, a native of New Jersey, was a pio- neer Methodist preacher, who in addition to preaching the gospel of peace followed the quiet but useful calling of agriculture. He was among the early settlers of Scranton and aided materi- ally in some of the improvements of that section,

Garrett Smith

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

among his tasks being that of assisting in the cutting through of the woods of what is now Adams and Jefferson avenues ; he also cradled oats on the South Side. He finally moved to Daleville, where he purchased a farm, whereon he resided up to the time of his decease, 1875. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Kin- dred, a native of New Jersey, bore him the fol- lowing named children, all of whom are now deceased : Mary, who was the wife of John Travers, of Lincoln street, Scranton ; Anna, Har- riet, Sally, James, William and John.

James Henderson, father of Frank P. Hen- derson, was also a native of New Jersey. He removed to Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and resided there up to the time of his decease, Au- gust 26, 1900. He was a puddler by trade and worked for the Lackawanna Company for a number of years, subsequently becoming fore- man of the Iron and Steel Company. He was an industrious and upright man, and well merited the confidence and respect of his employers, neighbors and friends. By his marriage to Mary J. Knapp, a native of Moosic, Pennsylvania, two children were born: Harriet and Frank P.

The maternal ancestors of Frank P. Hender- son, the Knapps, were among the first settlers of the valley, and they owned coal lands upon which a portion of Pittston is now built. The first white man buried in the Marcy Cemetery was Hezekiah Knapp, in 1813, aged seventy-two years. He was a native of the valley, born in the year 1741. The family resided in the valley at the time of the Wyoming massacre, and were on the ground at that time. The name of Knapp can be found inscribed on the monument, a proof that they were there and that some of them were slain by the Indians. Not only the men but the women who resided in the valley during the early days of its history were courageous. A grand- aunt of Frank P. Henderson was known to ride on horseback from Moosic to Carbondale, re- turning the same night. The adventures through which they passed would make a very interesting history of itself. The Hendersons as well as the Knapps were staunch Republicans in their polit- ical views, and adhered to the doctrines of the Methodist Church.

Frank P. Henderson was reared, educated and has resided all his life time in the city of Scranton, where he is well known and respected. He became foreman of the street department, and subsequently was appointed inspector of pavements and sewers. In 1904 he completed the erection of a beautiful and modernly con- structed house on Reynolds avenue, Lincoln

Heights, where he and his family reside, and which is noted for the utmost hospitality.

May 2, 1874, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to May Green, of Otego, Otsego coun- ty, New York. Two children were born of this union : James, a lineman, a member of the A. B. Dennings Engineer Corps, and John, who lost his life in the South mills.

GARRETT SMITH, a prominent and influ- ential resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he has resided for more than half a century, traces his ancestry to a family which originated in England. He was born near Belvidere, War- ren county, New Jersey, September 17, 1830, a son of Jacob and Caroline (Axford) Smith.

Captain John Axford, maternal great-grand- father of Garrett Smith, was born in England, December 22, 1761, and died January 14, 1843. aged eighty-one years, four months and twenty- two days. He emigrated to this country pre- vious to the Revolutionary war, in which he took an active part and received a commission as cap- tain under General Washington. During the progress of the war he made his home at Ox- ford Furnace, New Jersey, where he owned a large tract of land, and when hostilities ceased this place became his permanent home. He sub- sequently became a drover, this occupation prov- ing a lucrative means of livelihood. He was an honest and upright man in all his transactions with his fellows, and was universally respected and esteemed. He was a Presbyterian in relig- ious faith, and a staunch Whig in politics. He married Miss Eleanor P. Polhemus, who was born in the colonies, April 7. 1767, and died June 22, 1848, aged eighty-one years. She was a daughter of John Polhemus, of English birth, and granddaughter of John Hart, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Their children were: Abraham, John, Charles, Montgomery and Eleanor.

John Axford, maternal grandfather of Garrett Smith, was a native of New Jersey, a farmer by occupation, and in 1829 removed from his native state to southern Michigan, locating in Oakland county, that section of the state being nothing then but a wilderness. He purchased six hundred and forty acres in the oak openings, and erected a log house near the center of the section. He was a practical and efficient farmer, and a man of keen business sagacity. Mr. Axford was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Mary De Que, of French extraction, bore him the following named children : Samuel T., John, Abraham, Caroline, Mary and Sarah. His sec-

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

ond wife, Charity Axford, bore him one son, William J. Axford.

Peter Smith, paternal grandfather of Garrett Smith, was a native of New Jersey. He followed the quiet but useful calling of agriculture, con- ducting his operations in Warren county, near Oxford Furnace, where he was the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of arable land. At the time of his decease the property came into the possession of one of his sons, and when the latter died Garrett Smith (subject) purchased the land from the heirs, still retaining the same with the exception of a few lots that have been platted in the village of Oxford Furnace, which was named by Captain John Axford, for Oxford, England. Peter Smith died at his home in Bel- videre, New Jersey, at the age of eighty-five years.

Jacob Smith, father of Garrett Smith. was born in Warren county, New Jersey. For a number of years he engaged in farming in the vicinity of Belvidere, removing from thence to the vicinity of Oxford Furnace. In 1855 he lo- cated in Michigan and purchased a farm near Rochester, Oakland county, where he remained until his death. He was united in marriage to Caroline Axford, who was born in New Jersey in 1810, and died in 1848. Among the children born to them are the following: Garrett, men- tioned hereafter : John A., a resident of Oakland county, Michigan; Samuel T., a resident of Rockaway, New Jersey, who served as private in a Pennsylvania company in the Union army ; P. J., a resident of Rochelle Park, New Jersey, who was a lieutenant in a New Jersey regiment in the Union army; Eliza, and Caroline, who be- came the wife of John Cole.

Garrett Smith was indebted to the common schools adjacent to his home for his educational privileges. During his boyhood days he learned the trade of miller. In 1849 he came to Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, with Mr. Landis, making the journey by wagon and team. This prosperous city was then in an embryonic state, and Mr. Smith well remembers hunting rabbits where the court house now stands. For a few months he was employed on a farm, which was on the pres- ent site of the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern depot and shops. His next position was in the old Slocum mill, for one year, 1849, which was operated by the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company, and afterwards in the bridge mill built by this company. he being appointed its foreman. The mill was built by Thomas P. Harper and for thirty years was run by water power, but finally steam power was introduced

from the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company's rolling mill. The term of Mr. Smith's service in the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company extended over a period of fifty-six years, he retiring from active service in 1901. Mr. Smith resided on one of the old Delaware, Lackawanna & Western farms near Bellevue Heights, where he superin- tended the two hundred acres comprising the place. He has been a member of the board of trustees of the Washburn Street Presbyterian Church for twenty years, and is now president of the board. His political affiliations have al- ways been with the Republican party.

Mr. Smith married Mary H. Landis, who was born in Warren county, New Jersey, a daughter of John Landis, in whose company Mr. Smith came from New Jersey to Scranton, and who farmed the land upon which he worked. Mrs. Smith died at her home in Scranton, Octo- ber 9, 1891, leaving three children: Samuel I., a farmer of Lackawanna township; Lizzie B., wife of Frank H. Freeman ; their children are : Mary and Garretta; and Marvin Calvin, who now resides in Buffalo and is in the employ of the Lackawanna Steel Company; he has three children : Mary H., Myrtle, and Garrett.

GEORGE W. EVANS. Among the old and highly respected citizens of Scranton, Pennsyl- vania, whose business energy and industrious habits have done much to further the interests of the town in every direction, we may mention the name at the head of this sketch.

George W. Evans, son of William and Mary (Reese) Evans, both natives of Wales, was born on a farm named Cwmdyva, in the parish of Llanartheney, in the county of Caermarthen Caermarthentown, and had the advantage of an excellent education. He was graduated from Evans' College, where the father and three of his brothers taught. He was apprenticed to the carpenter and joiner trade, at which he worked for some time, but later devoted more time and attention to cabinetmaking, this being more to his taste. He learned this latter business at Swansea, and followed it for a number of years. Some time after he had acquired a thorough working knowledge of cabinetmaking he went to London, England, and accepted a position with the firm of Smith & Kelk, Pimlico. He was considered a very fine and accurate workman, and the first work on which he was engaged in London was for seven weeks on the casket where- in rested the remains of the Prince Consort. His work was of such excellence that he was pro- moted to the position of foreman of the shop, and

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he retained this until he left England. He emi- grated to the United States in 1865, settling in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Here he became ac- quainted with Joseph A. Scranton, manager of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company. This Charles Dakin, son of Charles and Elizabeth ( Parent) Dakin, was born in 1825, in Philadel- phia, where he learned the trade of ropemaking, which he followed for the greater part of his life. A remarkable testimony to his ability and faith- fulness is found in the fact that for fifteen years he was employed by the same establishment. He married Anna Richards, who was born in 1826, gentleman had done much to make Scranton the city of importance which it became. He was the father of W. W. Scranton, the owner of the water and gas works of the city, and it is in their honor that the city received the name which it bears. Mr. Scranton was very conservative in his ideas, and always held to the idea that ma- chinery products could not compete with those . in Philadelphia, and of their seven children three arrived at maturity and two are now living : Charles F., mentioned hereafter ; and Elmer, who was born in 1862, and since 1883 has been em- ployed as assistant superintendent by the Dupont Powder Company. He married Eliza McMains and they have one son, Walter. Mr. and Mrs. Dakin, the parents, are still living, happy in the affection of their children and grandchildren and the attachment of many friends.

turned out by hand. He engaged the services of Mr. Evans as cabinetmaker, and he worked for him for five years as foreman, to their mutual satisfaction. At this time Mr. Evans made a decided change in his business plans. He became the proprietor of what is now known as the Cen- tral City Hotel. He moved to Hyde Park in 1868 and there built the French Roof Hotel, of which he was the proprietor. Although he ac- commodated as many as twenty-five guests at a time, there never was the least irregularity in the conduct of the hotel. This was due to his excel- lent, systematic management, in which he was ably assisted and seconded by his wife, and which made all the household machinery run smoothly. His hotel was always well-stocked with the best the country and season afforded, and his guests, well satisfied, invariably returned to him when in that vicinity. He retired from this business in January, 1904, feeling that it was beyond his power to continue it without the co-operation of his faithful wife, whose death occurred in 1898. Mr. Evans married Elmira Rounds, born near Uniondale, Pennsylvania, January, 1832, and they had four children : Nel- lie, married J. F. Dolan : Arthur, Mary A., and George. Of these Nellie is the only one now living.

(

CHARLES F. DAKIN. Few men in Lack- awanna county have had wider or more varied experience in powder-making in all its branches than Charles F. Dakin, of Peckville. Mr. Dakin is a representative of a family of English origin which is asserted on good authority to be of noble extraction. The Lackawanna county branch has long been resident in Pennsylvania.

Charles Dakin was born in 1788, in Phila- delphia, and married Elizabeth Parent, also a na- tive of that city. Their family consisted of the following children: John, who was a veteran of the Civil war; Thomas, who was also a veteran of that war, having held the rank of sergeant and

received a wound at the battle of the Welden Railroad ; Samuel ; Peter, who died of disease in the army during the Civil war: Charles, men- tioned at length hereafter ; and Matilda.

Charles F. Dakin, son of Charles and Anna (Richards) Dakin, was born December 8, 1849, in Philadelphia, and was educated in the common schools of White Haven and Bear Creek, to which places his parents successively removed. As a youth he sought employment in various directions, and at an early age entered the repair shop of the Warrior Run Coal Company, where he was for some time engaged in the repairing of mine cars. After working for a time in Wilkes-Barre he went to Fairview, where he op- erated a sawmill. He then engaged in business as a millwright in the employ of John Levan who is well known as the builder of nearly all the mills in the county. At the end of seven years he went to Moosic, where he worked as a millwright for the Moosic Powder Company, and after two years entered the service of the Laflin Powder Company. With this organization he remained ten years, from 1872 to 1882, and in the latter year was engaged by the Dupont Pow- der Company to build their present mill. This structure was begun inside of what are now the city limits, but in consequence of opposition this site was abandoned and the building was erected where it now stands. It is situated on a branch of the Delaware. Lackawanna & Western Rail- road, at a place called Storr's Junction. The mill is built on a tract of sixty-nine acres, and on the ground are twelve commodious and com- fortable dwellings, including the residence of the superintendent. Mr. Dakin planned and super- intended the erection of the mills, and after their completion was appointed to the office of superin-

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

tendent. Since that time he has been the active and operative head of the establishment, which he has conducted with rare skill and judgment. He has not been exempt from the perits incident to his calling, but the excellent management of the company nas rendered accidents in their mills of comparative rare occurrence.

Mr. Dakin married, in 1870, Alice Farringer, of Catawissa, l'ennsylvania, and of the six cnil- dren born to them tour are now living : Elmer, who is an engineer in the service of the powder company ; John ; Estella ; and Bertha.

RICHARD A. HOLLY. At No. 1617 Ca- pouse avenue in that section of the city of Scran- ton which is known as Green Ridge is located the attractive residence of Mr. Holly, who may well be termed one of the pioneers of this por- tion of the city, since he here erected his hand- some residence in 1873, at which time Green Ridge was considered an isolated suburb, "out in the country," being sparsely settled and out- side the corporate limits of the city. The district is now considered one of the most attractive and desirable residence sections of Scranton. Mr. Holly is one of the well known and honored citi- zens of this community, and is well entitled to representation in this compilation.

Richard A. Holly was born in Middletown, Orange county, New York, March 4, 1841, being a son of Daniel T. and Maria (Carpenter ) Holly, both of whom were born and reared in that same county, of which the respective families . were pioneers, while the lineage on the paternal side is traced to the patrician stock of the Old Domin- ion state. The father of our subject devoted the major portion of his life to agricultural pursuits, having passed the closing years of his life upon a farm in Benton township, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, whither he came from his native county in the year 1857. He died in 1876, and his devoted wife passed away on the same farm in 1882. They were persons of high mentality and sterling traits of character, and were held in respect and confidence by all with whom they came in contact. Their religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in poli- tics the father was a Republican. They became the parents of seven children, namely: Charles E., Richard A., Moses C. (deceased), Nathaniel (deceased), fra B., Samuel and Sarah E. Na- thaniel sacrificed his life on the altar of his coun- try, having been a member of the One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania Regiment of Volunteers in the Civil war, and having lost his life while assisting in the storming of a Confed-

erate stronghold in the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, Virginia, in 1864. Richard A. Holly, grandtather of Richard A. Holly, came from Greenbrier, Virginia, when a young man, to Orange county, state of New York, and re- sided there at the time of his death. The maiden name of his wife was Courtright, and they reared a large family of children. Their descendants may be found in divers sections of the Union, useful and reputable citizens of their respective commonwealths.

Richard A. Holly was reared to maturity in his native county, in whose common schools he secured a good practical education. In his youth he learned the trade of brick mason, to which he continued to devote his attention as a vocation until 1897, when he turned his attention to con- tract teaming, in which he is still engaged. He has been a resident of Scranton since 1857, hav- ing come to the Lackawanna Valley about the same time as did his parents.

He was one of the loyal and patriotic youths who went forth in defense of the Union when its integrity was jeopardized through armed rebel- lion. In response to the first call for volunteers he tendered his services, enlisting on the 27th of April, 1861, as a private in Company D, Eighteenth New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he proceeded to the front, his regiment being assigned to the Army of the Potomac and having participated in many of the notable battles of the great internecine conflict. Among the principal engagements in which Mr. Holly thus took part may be mentioned: First Bull Run, Gaines' Mill, South Mountain, Antietam, Fred- ericksburg and Chancellorsville. He was pro- moted first sergeant of his company for merito- rious conduct on the Ist of July, 1862, and as such he received his honorable discharge on the 28th of May, 1863. He maintains a deep interest in his old comrades and signifies the same by his membership in Ezra Griffin Post, No. 139, Grand Army of the Republic, while in a fraternal way he is also identified with Union Lodge, No. 291, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, having been raised to the sublime degree of master mason in 1864. In politics he gives an unqualified support to the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

On December 2, 1863, Mr. Holly married Estella Reaves, of Middletown, and her death occurred May 30, 1867. She is survived by her two children : Elizabeth, who is the wife of John D. Matteson, of Scranton, and they have three children, Holly, Estella and Guy. Fannie, the younger daughter, is the wife of Grant Lowery,

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

of Scranton, and they have two children, Hazel and Florence. On March 16, 1870, Mr. Holly consummated a second marriage, being then united to Mary White, who was born and reared in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and they have one son, Frederick L., who was graduated in the Scranton Business College and who is now book- keeper for the Pennsylvania Telephone Company in Scranton ; he married Lucy Ludt, November 28, 1901.

MICHAEL J. BOURKE, one of the leading business men of Dunmore, was born March 17, 1847, in Killala, the oldest seaport town in county Mayo, Ireland, and was the only child of Walter J. and Catherine (Dimond) Bourke, both natives of Ireland, who spent their lives and died in that country.

Mr. Bourke learned the tailor's trade, and in 1858 went to England, where for twenty years he was engaged in business. In 1878 he emi -. grated to the United States, and July 16, of that year arrived in Dunmore, where he has since resided and prospered in his business. During this time he has built three houses, two in the third and one in the sixth ward. Both as a busi- ness man and a citizen he is extremely popular, his genial temper and courteous demeanor secur- ing for him hosts of friends. He belongs to the Order of Heptasophs, and is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Bourke married in 1858 Winifred O'Donnell, a native of Ireland, and the following children have been born to them :

I. John F., deceased 1900, married Frankie. Coon, and they had children as follows: May, married and has a daughter ; Winifred ; Walter, deceased ; Lizzie, Ellen, Loretta, Hattie and Fredericka.

2. Mary Ann, married Ralph Harwood, a florist of Dunmore, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work.

3. Kate, married John Lynch, a miner ; they reside in Dunmore and have the following chil- dren : Joseph, Walter, deceased ; Mary, Milton.

4. Hannah, married John Gearity; he is a miner ; they have the following children: Mary, Euphrosyne, Winifred.

5. Michael, a tailor by occupation, married Margaret O'Hara, and their children are : Thomas, deceased ; Frank, Ray, Helen, Margaret and May. They reside in Scranton.

6. Thomas, who died in childhood. 7. Thomas (2), a tailor by trade, of Car- bondale, married Mame Leonard, and they have 2-35

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 108

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