Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 123

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 123
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 123

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).

Mr. Coon is of Holland descent, his grand- father being born, reared and educated there. About the year 1770 he emigrated to America, settling in Kinderhook, New York. Prior to his emigration he was united in marriage to Marga- ret Snyder, who bore him the following chil- dren : Maria, deceased, who became the wife of Jacob Swartz, they had : Daniel, deceased ; Sallie, deceased ; John, deceased ; Lyman and Margaret. They reside in Scranton, Pennsylvania. John, deceased, who married Sallie Lutz and the fol- lowing children were born to them: William, Margaret, Michael. Dianthy, David, John, Oliver and Abbie, all of these are now deceased. Jacob. mentioned hereinafter. Henry, who married

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Thankful Bolton, children: Daniel, deceased ; Content, deceased: Augusta, Amanda, Lewis, Morris, Julius, Henrietta, and Jessie, deceased. They reside in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Han- nah, who became the wife of Edward Lane and the mother of several children. They reside in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. William, who mar- ried Mrs. Stratton, now deceased, and their chil- dren were: Susan, deceased, who was the wife of Oscar Ferrel. and Esther, deceased, who was the wife of Dr. Brady. William Coon, deceased, resided in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. David, who married a Miss Hollister, of Hollisterville, Penn- sylvania, formerly of Virginia; children: Ada, who married Dr. Dous, and Elizabeth, deceased. They reside in Iowa. Anthony, who married An- geline Burlingame, now deceased : one daughter, Angeline, now Mrs. Murray. They reside in Wilkes-Barre. Pennsylvania. Thomas, who mar- ried a Miss Polemus, children : Thomas, de- ceased, was a lumberman residing in Clearfield, and one daughter. Thomas Coon, now deceased, resided for many years in Honesdale, Pennsyl- vania.

Jacob Coon was born in Kinderhook, on the Hudson, New York, February 17, 1805. He was educated in the public schools adjacent to his home, and engaged in farming with his father at the same place until about sixteen years of age, when he came to Pennsylvania and worked on different farms in this section of the state. Sub- sequently he acquired several farms in Wayne county, and also engaged largely in contracting and other work. He built several plank roads and among the first large contracts was one from Honesdale to Narrowsburg, Pennsylvania, about 1848. Among others he built the road from In- dian Orchard to Mast Hope, on the Erie Rail- road ; Scranton to Carbondale; Wilkes-Barre to Pittston ; White Haven to Bear Creek : Monti- cello to Wertsboro ; and others. All of his sons, including Alfred H., worked with their father on this and other work, including railroads and water works. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad from Beach Haven to Wyo- ming. Pennsylvania, was also a part of his work, he and his son Alfred H. building about one-half of it. He also built a part of the Brooklyn Water Works, his son Alfred H. assisting him there for a period of two years. Jacob Coon cleared up a laurel swamp on the present site of Carbondale and opened the first coal mine there. He also conducted a boarding house at this place at the same time (1826), which was the first house in Carbondale. He then entered the service of the 2-3912

Delaware & Hudson Company, opening coal mines. From Carbondale he went to Greenfield township, located on a farm and resided thereon for about nine years, and then moved to Hones- dale, where he was appointed overseer of turn- pikes for different companies and where he re- mained about five years. He then entered into several different ventures, contracting, farming, lumbering and the operation of two mills, in all of which he was highly successful. He was a great reader, took an active interest in educational affairs, and served in the capacity of school direc- tor. He attended the Episcopal church, was a member of the militia, a Democrat until Lincoln's time, later a Radical in politics, and a worthy and honored citizen, enjoying the acquaintance of a wide circle of friends. About 1825 Jacob Coon married Comfort Bolton, born in Portland, Maine, August 3. 1805, daughter of James and Martha (Pettingill) Bolton, of Portland. Maine, of Quaker proclivities, and one of a family of seven children, as follows: Solomon, Patience, Comfort, William, Daniel, Content, and Thankful Bolton. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Coon: Elizabeth, who became the wife of Daniel K. Long, deceased, children : Daniel, de- ceased : Alfred, Elizabeth, deceased, and Ella. The family reside in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Alfred H., mentioned hereinafter. Charles, de- ceased, who married Maria McMullen, children : Edward, deceased; and Henry. The family re- side in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Douglas, mar- ried Clara Carl, who bore him one son, Edward. They resided for some time in Kingston, Penn- sylvania, and then went west. Augusta. Giles, deceased, killed while working on one of the con- tracts with his father; George, deceased. Jacob Coon, father of these children, while on a con- tract on the Morris & Essex Railroad, Easton to Hackettstown, Pennsylvania, died at Port Mur- ray, February 17, 1865, aged sixty years, and was buried at Glen Dyberry cemetery, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. His widow, Comfort (Bolton) Coon. died 1878, aged seventy-three years, at Honesdale, and was buried by the side of her husband.

Alfred H. Coon spent his early days at Green- field, Pennsylvania, accompanying his parents to Honesdale when eight years of age, in which city he resided until 1855 when he came to Wyoming Valley. He was educated in the public schools of Honesdale, and after completing his studies went to work with his father on a contract on the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg Railroad. now the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad,

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and continued with him on various contracts, meanwhile taking contracts with his father until 1865. In 1857 he built the Kingston Hotel, which he owned and leased, continuing on con- tracts until the death of his father in 1865, when he assumed the management of the hotel and con- dueted it for three years. At the expiration of this period of time, 1868, he leased the hotel and formed a partnership with his brothers under the firm name of A. H. Coon & Bros., same continu- ing until 1871. In 1866-67 they built and owned the Kingston & Wilkes-Barre Horse Car Rail- road, selling out in the spring of 1868. They continued contracting, some of their work being on the Delaware railroad. They also built the steamboat, "Colonel Wright," which was run on the Susquehanna river, and later disposed of their interests in the same. Alfred H. Coon has also performed a large amount of contract work for the government and on water works all over the country. He worked on the Washington, D. C. Water Works, dredged the Susquehanna, and built a dike at the head of W. B. Island for the government. Mr. Coon also owned a mill at Luzerne, now conducted by Granville Clark, and a feed and saw mill at Kingston, which was de- stroyed by fire, and in addition to these has con- tinued general contracting on various classes of work up to the present time (1905). The esteem in which he is held by his fellowmen is evi- denced by the fact that he was elected first presi- dent of the Kingston Railroad Company, director in the Steamboat Company, director in the Turn- pike Company, Dallas, and receiver of the Wyo- ming Valley Brewing Company. He has held membership in the Knights of Honor for a quar- ter of a century, and his political affiliation is with the Democratic party.

Mr. Coon married, July 17, 1856, Lorinda Marey, born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1833, daughter of Reuben, son of Jared, and Lucy Ann ( Wrenton) Marcy (See Marcy Family), of Kingston, Pennsylvania. Six chil- dren were the issue of this union: Charles, de- ceased, who was a resident of Pittsburg ; he mar- ried Josie Lloyd, and they were the parents of one child, deceased. Alfred, a resident of Kings- ton, Pennsylvania. Crittenden, a resident of Kingston, Pennsylvania. Bolton, a resident of Kingston, Pennsylvania, a well known contractor, married Edith M. Harden, who bore him two children : Harden and Harold. Frank, a resident of New Orleans. Oswald, a resident of Wilkins- burg. a suburb of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; he married Annie Costello, and they are the parents

of one child, Kathryn Lorinda. Mr. Coon at- tends the Methodist Episcopal church of Kings- ton, of which his wife is a member.

H. E. H.

ISAAC A. WEIL, a prosperous merchant of Plymouth, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, was born March 24, 1860, son of Abraham and He- lena (Weil) Weil, and grandson of Jacob Weil, a native of Alsace, Germany, born 1798, and was a solldier under Napoleon. He was present at the battle of Leipsic, in the German army, war of 1848. He emigrated from his native country in 1852, settling at Danville, Pennsylvania, where he was for some years engaged in the mercantile business, and was later in the same business in Wilkes-Barre. His first wife, Bertha Netter, bore him two children, namely: Abraham, of whom later ; and Joseph. After the death of his first wife, at Altdorf, Baden, he married (sec- ond) Caroline -, and of this union the fol- lowing children were born: Julius, John, Simon, Isaac, Caroline and Charlotte. His second wife died in Germany, and he married (third) Fannie -, who died in Wilkes-Barre in 1867. The death of Jacob Weil occurred in 1876 in Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, and his burial was at Wilkes- Barre.

Abraham Weil, son of Jacob and Bertha (Netter) Weil, came to this country with his father's family in 1852, and engaged with him in the general mercantile business at Danville. From there he went to Wilkes-Barre, where he re- mained until 1863, when he removed to Plym- outh. Abraham Weil married in 1854. Helena Weil, and of this union children were born as follows: Bertha, died in infancy. Mary ( Mrs. Strouse), Anderson, South Carolina. Jean- nette (Mrs. Heyman), New York. Isaac A., of whom later. Fannie, died at the age of eight years. Pauline ( Mrs. Lesser), Anderson, South Carolina. Rosalie, died in infancy. Julius H., a resident of Anderson, South Carolina. Abra- ham Weil died in Plymouth July 22, 1872.

Isaac A. Weil, fourth child and eldest son of Abraham and Helena (Weil) Weil, obtained his initial education in the public schools of Plym- outh, his intermediate education in Wyoming Seminary, and his higher education in Freiburg Gymnasium, Baden, Germany, in which institu- tion he spent two years. He entered into his first regular employment as clerk for B. Wurz- burger, successor to John B. Wood. Wilkes- Barre. After three years in this employment (1878) he and his mother formed a partnership,

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

and established themselves in the general mercan- tile business at Plymouth, conducting the estab- lishment under the firm name of H. Weil & Son. This arrangement existed until 1883, when Mrs. Weil retired from active pursuits. The business was continued until 1891 under the firm name of Weil & Strouse, and in that year Mr. Weil suc- ceeded to the entire business, and is now engaged in the conduct of the same, under name of Isaac A. Weil. He is a progressive, enterprising busi- ness man, and the excellent success with which he has been attended since the beginning of his business career is due in a great part to his straightforward, honest business methods and general fair dealing. Politically Mr. Weil is a supporter of the Democratic party, and is deeply interested in the welfare of that organization. He served his town as councilman for two years. He is one of the original members of the Ninth Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, and was quartermaster sergeant for three years and also treasurer of the company. He is now a trus- tee of the Armory Association. Isaac A. Weil married in 1890. Liva S. Van Loon, who was born February 26, 1871, daughter of Burton and Jennie E. (Pinder) Van Loon, of Plymouth. Mrs. Weil traces her ancestry back to three of the old families of the Wyoming Valley, the Davenports. Nesbitts and Van Loons. The Van Loons originally came from New York state and the Davenports from Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac A. Weil are the parents of five children, viz .: Helen, born December 23, 1892, died Au- gust 8, 1893: Jeannette, born November 13, 1893 ; Burton, born November 17, 1895; Donald, born September 1. 1898. died September 25, 1902 : and Harold, born June 8, 1901.

Robert Davenport, great-grandfather of Mrs. Wiel, was born in Plymouth, August 13, 1786. He married Phoebe Nesbitt, who was born in Plymouth, May 7, 1796, and had : Samuel, born September 25, 1813; Jane, born October 23. 1815 (to be further referred to) ; Elizabeth born August 2, 1818 ; Lydia, born November 17, 1820; Eliva, born December 28, 1822; Sarah, Septem- ber 17, 1826; and Harrison Newton, January 3. 1833. Jane, second child and eldest daughter of Robert and Phoebe (Nesbitt) Davenport, mar- ried Samuel Van Loon, a son of Samuel Van Loon, both of whom were born in Plymouth township. They both served as sheriffs of Lu- zerne county, the younger Samuel being elected in 1859. Of this union the following named chil- dren were born: Harrison Newton. Robert Davenport. Burton, to be mentioned further here-

Samuel, Jr., Mary, Everett and two others who died in infancy. The father of these children, Samuel Van Loon, died about 1888, and his wife passed away in April, 1905, aged eighty- nine years and six months, and was buried in the Davenport cemetery, Plymouth. Burton Van Loon, third son and child of Samuel and Jane (Davenport) Van Loon, was a farmer in Plym- outh township, and also conducted a general store in Plymouth the greater part of his life. He married Jennie E. Pinder, of England, of English descent, and they had children as fol- lows : Irvin S., died in 1898; Elizabeth May, married L. G. Rice, Wilkes-Barre, and has three children, Harry J., Walter and Helen; Liva S. ( Mrs. Weil) ; Charlotte, married Mark B. Lock- yer, and they live in Germantown, Pennsylvania.

JOHN T. PHILLIPS, of Dallas, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, was for many years ac- tively identified with the industrial and commer- cial affairs of the Wyoming Valley, and was held in high esteem for his ability and integrity in business affairs, and for his nobility of personal character.

He was born in Washington, D. C., October 3. 1857, son of C. F. and Mary E. (Holtzman) Phillips. The parents lived, in turn, in Pawling. Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in the latter place residing at the corner of Main and Union streets, and where the father carried on an extensive trade in horses and mules. Mr. Phil- lips died about 1813 : his widow yet survives, and with her two daughters-Mrs. Andrew W. Mc- Alpine and Miss Annie Phillips-resides in Wilkes-Barre.

John T. Phillips received his education prin- cipally in Wilkes-Barre high school and Wyo- ming Seminary. Then he secured a clerical posi- tion in the office of the Lehigh Valley Coal Com- pany, and developed such excellent business abil- ity that he was soon called to a place of larger usefulness and greater responsibility as confi- dential clerk to Albert Lewis, in his extensive lumber business at Bear Creek, and subsequently became the general manager. While occupying the latter position he was associated with Mr. L. B. Hillard and E. G. Mercur in a lumber busi- ness which he established at West Pittston, under the corporate title of the Wyoming Valley Lum- ber Company. He subsequently removed to Dal- las, where he built a comfortable home, and en- gaged in a lumber and railroad tie business. In 1899 he withdrew from his lumber interests in the Wyoming Valley, and went to Mt. Sterling, inafter : Livia, Wayman, Ziba. Thomas, James, Kentucky, where he was associated with the

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Oneonta Lumber Company. He retired fron. this corporation shortly before his death, to en- gage in lumber business upon his individual ac- count, and which he was prosecuting with grati- fying success and constantly expanding, until he succumbed to an illness contracted in the lumber camps. He was at the north when he first felt his illness coming upon him, and which on his reaching his home at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, de- veloped into typhoid fever, and it is pathetic to note that his devoted wife was prostrated at the same time. His death occurred October 2, 1901, at the age of forty-four years. Although pass- ing away thus early, he had demonstrated re- markable business ability, and had he lived would doubtless have been numbered among the most extensive lumber dealers in the United States.

Mr. Phillips was a man of most amiable dis- position, and was regarded with confidence and esteem in all circles in which he moved. He bore an unblemished christian character, and was an active member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, of Wilkes-Barre, and later of the church in Dallas, where he served for a number of years as a member of the board of trustees, and also superintendent of the Sunday-school. He had taken high rank in the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with the various bodies up to and in- cluding the Commandery and the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He held official stations in several of them, among others being worshipful master of George M. Dallas Lodge at Dallas. He was also a member of the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics. He was an efficient member of the Lu- zerne County Agricultural Association, and one of its board of directors, and president a number of terms.

September 30, 1879, Mr. Phillips married Miss Marie Louise Kirkendall, a daughter of the late George W. Kirkendall, (see sketch else- where), of an old and honored Pennsylvania fan- ily, and who survives him, making her residence in the handsome home in Dallas, which he erected in 1888, and which is endeared to her by count- less tender associations. They had one son, Claude Fenton, who died in infancy.

H. E. H.

JOSEPH PARKS DELAHUNTY. The first representative of the Delahunty family in Amer- ica was Joseph Parks Delahunty, the grandfather of his namesake, whose name heads this review. He came to America from France, but after re- maining there six or seven years returned to his

native land. On his voyage to the new world James Delahunty, the father of Joseph P. Dela- hunty, was born. He returned with his parents to France, but when fifteen years of age ran away from home and again came to America, set- tling near Boston, Massachusetts. There he be- gan working for Joseph Parks, and his em- ployer's daughter, Mary, instructed him in the English language. After attaining their major- ity they were united in marriage. Some time after this Mr. Delahunty went south, where he engaged in silk weaving. In 1825 he received news of the illness of his wife, but ere he could reach her bedside she had passed away, dying in Brookfield, Massachusetts. He afterward had the body removed to its last resting place and then returned to the south, after which he was never heard from but once. There were two chil- dren, Joseph and Thomas, twins, but the latter died at the age of three years. Mrs. Delahunty had belonged to one of the old Scotch families that had been established in Massachusetts prior to the revolutionary war, and her father had served as a soldier in Washington's army.

Joseph P. Delahunty of this review was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, August 24, 1822, and was left an orphan when only three years of age. He lived with his grandfather Parks until fourteen years of age, when he started out to earn his own living in a cotton mill, being thus em- ployed for four years. He afterward spent two years in learning the woolen manufacturing busi- ness, and worked at his trade in New York, Mas- sachusetts and Vermont until 1862, when he es- tablished a factory of his own in Fair Haven, Vermont. In 1864 he removed the machinery and business to Westchester county, New York, and there conducted a cotton mill under the name of Ells & Delahunty. In 1873 they came to West Pittston and established the Wyoming Valley Knitting Mill, which he successfully conducted for fifteen consecutive years. Since selling out his interest, he has given his attention entirely to the development of the business conducted by the Delahunty Dyeing Machine Company, of which he is the president. He is the inventor of the machine which has already gained favor with the trade, and in connection with its manufacture the company also turns out mining machinery, in- cluding engine pumps. Mr. Delahunty was mar- ried May 2, 1846, to Emeline Pollock, who was born June 6, 1828, a daughter of Abraham Pol- lock, of Hughsonville, Dutchess county, New York. Their children are: James E., born No- vember 9, 1849, died June 4, 1888; Mary J., born

P. P.Delahunty

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October 18, 1851, now deceased; Winfield P., born October 4, 1853, now deceased; Joseph P., born January 9, 1855, is vice-president and gen- eral manager of the Delahunty Dyeing Machine Company ; and George B., born March 3, 1858, in the employ of the government as letter carrier in Pittston. Mrs. Delahunty passed away De- cember 6, 1897. H. E. H.

WILLIAM H. WHIPP, farmer, was born in Exeter township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1848. His father was Joseph Whipp and his mother was Hannah Dugdale, both of English birth and parentage. They had three children, of whom two are now living: Jane, who married Joseph Ellsworth, of Dallas, and William H. Whipp, also of Dallas. Joseph Whipp was by trade a weaver, but on coming to America in 1841, he abandoned that occupation as soon as possible and turned his attention to farming, at which he was fairly successful, al- though his early life in Luzerne county was ac- companied with many hardships and vicissitudes. He purchased land in Exeter township, and to reach the tract he was obliged to cat a road through the woods. He first built a log house, which was made to answer the requirements of the family until his means warranted the erection of a more substantial dwelling of stone. The elder Whipp died in Exeter at the age of seventy- three years, and was a man much respected in the township, a Republican in politics, and a devout Methodist in religious belief. In England he held membership in the Odd Fellows fraternity.

William H. Whipp was brought up to farm work. He married, August 13, 1874, Elizabeth Vincent, a native of Luzerne county, and daugh- ter of Joshua Vincent, who was a miner in Eng- land and a successful farmer after his immigra- tion to America. Mr. Whipp has three children : J. Nelson Whipp, Charlotte F. Whipp, and Beu- lah M. Whipp. Mr. Whipp began active work for himself soon after his marriage in 1874. He first worked the old home farm, and later took charge of the Wyoming Camp Meeting Associa- tion's land, which he worked seven years. In 1883 he purchased his present farm of ninety acres in Dallas, where he has since lived. He is known as a practical farmer, whose efforts in life have been rewarded with a fair degree of suc- cess. His early education was limited, but he is interested in the education of others, and is re- garded as a progressive, public spirited man in the community. Politically he is a Republican, and for four consecutive terms served as council-

man. At one time he was township auditor, and for several years was a member of the Dallas school board. He is a member of George M. Dallas Lodge, No. 531, F. and A. M., and a prominent member of Centre Hill Grange, No. 1026, Patrons of Husbandry.

H. E. H.

LEONARD MACHELL was born in West- moreland, England, October 27, 1825, and came to America in 1850, in the sailing vessel, "Racer," from Liverpool bound for New York. The voy- age was made in about twenty-four days, and upon landing the young English immigrant "went west" to Indiana, where he found em- ployment as a farm hand. In the course of a few months he went to Logansport, and in company with Thomas Parks (now of Lehman) and Jon- athan Shepherd took a contract for construction work on the old Wabash and Eel River Railroad. A fair profit resulted from this undertaking, and upon its completion Mr. Machell and Mr. Shep- herd decided to travel eastward in quest of a lo- cation for a permanent home and also to see something of the country in the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania. They visited Scranton, when that now splendid city was only a settle- ment of thirty-six houses and was known as Slocum's Hollow, which they found to be an un- inviting place of abode. They next visited the Wyoming Valley and found land more to their liking in the old township of Lehman, Luzerne county. There Mr. Marshall secured work at his trade, for he was a mason, having served his ap- prenticeship in England, although he was the son of a farmer and sheep grower. From that time for several years he worked both by the day and by contract, and being industrious, temperate, and of frugal habits, he prospered ; and as his means increased he made investments chiefly in lands, and the return from this source together with the profits of his own toil in due course of time gave him a comfortable fortune.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 123

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