USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 18
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 18
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The secret of the commanding success of this. eminently useful man is found in his personal character. Of a deeply religious nature, he be- came a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at the early age of fourteen years, and be- came a leading member of St. Paul's Church, Cincinnati. One of his cardinal rules was the set- ting aside of one-tenth of his profits for church and charitable purposes. He was particularly friendly to the Cincinnati Wesleyan College, especially after financial embarrassments came upon that institution, and was lavishly generous in his contributions to Wesley Chapel, in which he was a worshipper for forty years. The Love- land Camp-Meeting Association was also the ob- ject of his generous solicitude, and he furnished' the money with which to start the now famous Methodist Book Concern, also aided the Na- tional Association for the Promotion of Holiness of Philadelphia. He was one of the organizers. of the Freedmen's Aid Society, and largely ad- vanced its beneficent work. He was peculiarly abstemious from his very boyhood, and never in- dulged in any form of narcotics or spirituons.
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liquors. He made his residence at 14 Ellen street, Cincinnati, in a house built in 1841 by Ebenezer Wood, father of his first wife. He died in Newport, Kentucky, April 1I, 1902, uni- versally esteemed.
Mr. Larkin married in 1844. Miss Emeline Wood, who died in 1847. He subsequently mar- ried Miss Julia Ann Stark, daughter of William T. Stark, of Xenia, Ohio. She was a lineal de- scendant of the great Stark family, from which came John Stark of Revolutionary fame, and was a grandniece of John Marshall, the distin- guished chief justice of the United States. In her young womanhood she was an intimate com- panion of Lucy Webb, who became the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes, and their friend- ship was continued through life. To Mr. and Mrs. Larkin were born seven children, four of whom are living: Madison F., to be further re- ferrred to; Albert M. cashier of the German Na- tional Bank of Newport, Kentucky; Francis M., who was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity, and now pastor of Grace Methodist Epis- copal Church of San Francisco, California ; and Helen. The deceased children are Edgar D., Lydia S., and an infant daughter.
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Madison F. Larkin, third child of Joseph F. and Julia (Stark) Larkin, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 15, 1855. He began his education in the public schools, and completed it in the Ohio Wesleyan College. In his youth he became messenger in the private banking house of Larkin. Wright and Company (of which his father was senior member), at Cincin- nati, and was promoted to paying teller. In 1874 he was seriously affected by the death of a brother and sister, and left the banking business for outdoor occupation on account of impaired health. Going to Galveston, Texas, with a let- ter of introduction to the since famous banker, J. W. Seligman, that gentleman gave him a po- sition in a branch bank at Goliad, in that state. Shortly afterward Mr. Larkin returned to his original determination, and joined a company of thirty drovers and assisted in driving four thousand head of cattle from Goliad, Texas, to Waco, Texas, sleeping on the ground and cook- ing provisions by the roadside. During his so- journ in this region he experienced many vicissi- tudes, not the least of which was finding himself moneyless among strangers and also, at times, among desperadoes. At Shrevesport, Louisiana, with three companions, he constructed a flat boat and the party set out to float down river to New Orleans. They knew nothing of the dangers of the expedition, and were perplexed at one point
in the Red river to discover that the stream ran up hill. necessitating their paddling their un- wieldly craft for nine miles, where the Missis- sippi river backwatered, using improvised oars, the men working by relays all day until the crest of the river was reached. After many thrilling experiences and hairbreadth escapes, they reached New Orleans, entirely destitute, and quite shabby from their long voyage. Their illy-constructed craft, which had cost them arduous labor, they sold for one dollar, out of which they paid twen- ty-five cents for three loaves of bread which they, in their half-starved condition, devoured with avidity, having river water as their only drink, and were glad to find repose for the night in sugar hogsheads on the wharf. At this juncture there came into port the river steamboat "Charles Morgan," commanded by Captain Stein, a friend of his family, who fed and clothed him. Mr. Larkin returned to Cincinnati on Cap- tain Stein's vessel, reaching that place May TI, 1876, his trip having continued from December I, 1875, previous.
Although his health had been greatly im- proved. it was deemed best that Mr. Larkin should abide yet longer in a newer country. Having an uncle, a prosperous trader, in Arizona, he took the journey across the plains to Phoenix, consuming seventeen days, six days and nights of the trip being by stage coach from San Diego to Phoenix, Arizona. At one time Mr. Larkin, unarmed and on his way to Florence, Arizona, was surrounded by a dozen or more savages, and escaped only by the fleetness of his horse. Know- ing that they would await him on his return next day, he determined to take the night for his trip, which he safely did. At Phoenix he clerked in a store, and also served as agent for the Wells Fargo Express, being one of its first agents in Arizona. While here he narrowly escaped the fate of a companion with whom he was sleeping who was crushed to death during a tornado which brought down upon their bed a portion of the roof of the store in which they were sleeping.
In January, 1877. Mr. Larkin accompanied King Woolsey, president of the Upper House of the territorial legislature, to Tucson, and in the session that year served as secretary on the committee on territorial affairs, to which was referred the request for franchise of the South- ern Pacific Railway, the road receiving its fran- chise through the recommendation of the com- mittee. It was in the formative days, and Mr. Larkin witnessed many a scene similar to those portrayed by Mark Twain in his "Roughing It," among them being the committee meet-
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ings in the leading saloon with all its fron- tier clientele, primitive furnishings and "bad liquors," leading to frequent deadly encount- ers. In 1879 he went to Prescott and through the aid of John J. Valentine, president of Wells, Fargo and Company Express, he be- came employed in the Bank of Arizona, and while serving in that capacity had a unique (and only) experience as a theatrical impres- sario. A company playing the then favorite comic opera, "Pinafore," with Pauline Mark .- ham as leading lady, had stranded in Tucson, and Mr. Larkin brought the company to Pres- cott, where he managed it under a two weeks engagement to the vast enjoyment of the in- habitants and the great financial advantage of the company. Acquitting himself in his bank duties to the great satisfaction of his employers, he was offered a position in the Bank of Arizona at Phoenix, also agent of the stage company and agent of the Wells, Fargo and Company's express. He resigned his position at Prescott and went to Phoenix, only to learn that his letter of acceptance of the position at Phoenix had been lost, and another had been called from California to take the position. After the shock of finding himself in such a predicament, he returned to Prescott and entered the service of the chief quartermaster's department at Whipple Barracks under Major Grimes, an old school- mate of his mother, and served in that capacity until 1881.
In 1881 he returned east, with health re- gained, and a vast knowledge of human nat- ure in its most varied aspects-a knowledge which was to prove an invaluable portion of his equipment in his future career. In 1882 he entered the United States National Bank of New York, one of the leading financial insti- tutions of the metropolis in that day, and was three times promoted in one year, up to the post of individual bookkeeper. The same vear he returned to Cincinnati to become president of the East End Lumber Company, which he conducted for seven years, until the lumber- men's war of 1890, which the East End Lum- ber Company could not survive, and he was compelled to quit business. Going back into the banking business, he entered the employ of the Market National Bank of Cincinnati, and remained with them until the first of Jan- uary, 1897. In January. 1897, he went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he first served with the National Surety Company, (now of
New York City) and subsequently with Swift and Company, the great meat packers. While connected with the latter house there came a crisis in his life, a conflict with his conscience and the service required of him. Holding the convictions he did, he could not conscienti- ously perform labor on the Sabbath. On the other hand. stern necessity admonished him to forego his scruples and retain his employ- ment, for he was facing poverty and could not look for help to his father, whose fortune had gone down in the bank closure at Cin- cinnati. Moreover, he was in a "boom town" from which the glory had departed, and he knew not where to turn for other employment. At this critical moment his devoted wife was a tower of strength to him, and she cheerfully offered to share any fate and face any depriva- tions rather than that he should consent to a sacrifice of a principle which was as dear to her as to him. Under all these circumstances, verging closely upon the tragical, it was not strange that the devoted pair, in their deeply religious natures, should regard it as a provi- dential interposition when on the very day of his resignation of his position with Swift and Company he received a telegram from T. J. Foster, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, proffering him an important place in connection with the International Text-Book Company. Entering the service of this great corporation in the capacity of bookkeeper, he gave to his duties such conscientious devotion and large abili- ties that he was speedily promoted to the place of chief accountant, then assistant treasurer, and finally, December I, 1902, controller. Than this recital of fact nothing is needed to attest his worth. The educational institution with which he is so prominently identified is of world-wide fame, and the simple state- ment of occupancy of such a place with it is fuller assurance than would be pages of eulogy.
Mr. Larkin is a devoted Methodist and an active member of the Elm Park Church, being secretary of the official board of the church. His piety, without display, is something vital and pervasive, more nearly resembling that of the early days than is often known in this age of worldliness and cynicism.
In 1889 Mr. Larkin married Miss Hattie E. Harrington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Chase Harrington. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A woman of lovely character and pure christian principle, she was the sym-
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pathetic companion of her husband during his most trying days, as she is at present the bright sharer of his life of success and broad usefulness. They have a son, Curtis H., four- teen years old. attending the Bordentown Military Institute, Bordentown, New Jersey.
CONRAD FRUEHAN. There is no ele- ment which has entered American civic and in- dustrial life which has been of greater practical strength, value and utility than that furnished by the sturdy, persevering and honorable sons of Germany. Intensely practical and ever hav- ing a clear comprehension of the ethics of life. the German contingent has wielded a powerful influence for good and has permeated all depart- ments of our national existence.
Among the worthy representatives of the German-American stock in the city of Scranton, Lackawanna county, is found him whose name initiates this sketch, who has here maintained his home for more than a half century. In the year 1853 George Fruehan and his good wife, Eliza- beth, in company with their three sons, George, Jr., Henry and Conrad, immigrated from the ·German fatherland to the United States, making Scranton their ultimate destination and establish- ing a home in the south part of the city. Here George, Jr., died a few years ago, having been a representative business man and honored citi- zen, and the other two sons still abide here, the subject of this review being the younger. The father secured employment in the rolling mill soon after his arrival in Scranton, and in the same his three sons also worked for a number of years. The honored father, an honest. up- right and God-fearing man, timed his life to in- sistent and well directed industry, and through this gained a competency, having accumulated a considerable property before his death, including the substantial family home in Cedar avenue. There his death occurred in 1897, his loved and devoted wife having passed away in 1889.
Conrad Fruehan was born in Harpsheim, Germany, July 3. 1844, and was thus but nine years of age at the time of his parents' immigra- tion to America. He early began to assume the active responsibilities of life, and in addition to securing the advantages of the common schools of Scranton was signally favored in having a home of comfort and grateful affection and com- munity of interest. His career has been marked by no incidents or events to challenge the de- scriptive powers of the writer of sensational ar- "ticles, but it has been one of consecutive appli-
cation along those lines which conserve the well- being of the community and make for personal stability and success. His active career has been to a large extent given to the vocation of wood- worker, and he has been fortunate in his labors and has made due provision for the declining years of his life, which he will be enabled to pass in peace and comfort, having accumulated a competency. He is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of the south side division of Scranton, his attractive residence being located at 626 Cedar avenue, on which thoroughfare is also located the old homestead of his parents. of which he came into possession at the time of their death, and of which he is still owner. In his political proclivities Mr. Fruehan is a stanch Republican, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian Church, while in a fraternal way he is identified with both the lodge and encampment bodies of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Improved Order of Red Men. For twenty years he was a member of the Centen- nial Band, in which he played the bass drum. On August 12. 1876, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Fruehan to Miss Christine Metz, who was born in Germany, February 13, 1859, being a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth ( Weil) Metz. who immigrated to America and settled in Lack- awanna county, Pennsylvania, when she was a child. To Mr. and Mrs. Frnehan were born six children, of whom five are living, namely: Con- rad, Jr., Peter, William F .. Ludwig, Rudolph H. and Frederick W. In the family circle are also to be found four children of Mrs. Fruehan's de- ceased sister, Mrs. Mary Werner, and their names are as follows : Charles, Kate, August and Christine. Mary, a sister of these four, is a mem- ber of the home circle of her uncle, Henry Frue- han. Conrad Fruehan, Jr., eldest son of our subject, was a member of the Thirteenth Regi- ment of the Pennsylvania National Guard, serv- ing two enlistments. He is the only one of our subject's sons who has assumed connubial re- sponsibilities. He married Miss Elsie Edwards, and they have three children, August, Mayda and Harold.
HENRY P. DAVIES. HENRY P. DA- VIES, JR. Henry P. Davis is one of the best known men who have been interested in the pro- duction of coal in the Lackawanna valley, and he is also the oldest foreman in point of contin- uous service in the employ of the Delaware. Lackawanna and Western Company in the vi- cinity of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was born
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in Monmouthshire, South Wales, July 1, 1838.
He was reared and educated in his native country, and in early life took up mining as a means of livelihood. In 1859, being attracted by the possibilities offered to young men in the business world of the United States, he emi- grated thither and located in Baltimore, Mary- land, where for four years he was employed in the Canton Copper Works. During this period of time the Civil war broke out, which caused a disturbance in that city, and about the same time the Massachusetts troops were shamefully treated by the Rebel element there. Mr. Davies made an attempt to go north, whereupon he was taken by the Rebels for one of "Lincoln's men," and he had a very narrow escape. During the above disturbance he was drafted twice to burn down bridges so that the northern troops might not pass over on their way down south. Sub- sequently, when the state was voted in as one of the Union, he returned to the city of Baltimore and remained there two years. In 1863 he re- moved to Ashland, Schuylkill county, Pennsyl- vania, where he engaged in mining four years, and at the expiration of this period of time re- moved to Scranton, same state, where he has since made his home. His residence is one of the finest on South Main avenue, and he is uni- versally honored and esteemed throughout the city. For the long period of thirty-seven years he has served faithfully and efficiently the Dela- ware, Lackawanna and Western Company, thir- ty-one years of which has been spent in the ca- pacity of foreman, and during all this time he has never met with any accident while in the dis- charge of his duties. Like most of the people of his native country, South Wales, both men and women, Mr. Davies formerly possessed a fine musical voice. This rare gift he cultivated in a high degree, his instruction being under the preceptorship of the great and world-renowned Professor Caradog, of South Wales. His abili- ity in this direction was quickly recognized in this country, and his services were eagerly sought as an instructor. His singing was generally confined to sacred music. When Dr. Parry vis- ited this country he was accompanied on his trip through the state of Pennsylvania by Mr. Davies in the capacity of a singer of recognized merit. Mr. Davies has traveled extensively both in this country and in Europe, and during his trips he gathered a fund of useful information, which later was prepared in lecture form and served to enlighten and entertain those whose privileges were less limited. His themes were principally
on scenery and geology. He is a prominent and consistent member of the First Baptist Church of Scranton, in which he holds the offices of elder, deacon and trustee. For six years he was the leader of the choir, but was forced to resign. on account of removal to Kingston. For twenty- seven years he has taught a young men's Bible class in connection with said church. He is an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1859 Mr. Davies was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jenkins, who bore him eleven children, seven of whom are living at the present time ( 1905), namely : John, a drug- gist of Scranton ; Mary ; Philip, a practicing phy- sician of Scranton ; Sadie, wife of J. Rees ; Henry P., Jr., mentioned hereinafter : Lillie and How- ard. The mother of these children died May 7, 1885, aged forty-six years. In August, 1885, Mr. Davies married Miss Anna Evans, no issue, and her death occurred in 1896. On October 20, 1904, Mr. Davies married Mrs. Elizabeth Beddoe, who brought to him two children by her former marriage, George and Lois Beddoe.
Henry P. Davies, Jr., was born in Larks- ville, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1877. He was reared and educated in the city of Scranton, and shortly after completing his studies entered the drug store conducted by his brother, John J. Davies, where he obtained some general knowledge of the business. In 1899 he entered the University of Buffalo, from which institution he was graduated in 1901, and since then he has been actively engaged in that pro- fession in the borough of Taylor, Pennsylvania, opening a first-class drug store, thoroughly equipped with a fine assortment of the best and purest drugs, on December 15, 1904. He is an active and intelligent young man, and his future career should be crowned with a large measure of success. Like his father, he is a consistent member of the Welsh Baptist Church. He is a member of the West Side Republican Club, and a member of his college fraternity. Henry P. Davies, Jr., married, June 6, 1903, Miss Sarah Davis, daughter of John S. and Mary Davies.
COLONEL IRA TRIPP, deceased, whose nobility of character and usefulness of his life endeared him to the hearts of a multitude of friends, was a representative of the oldest and most honored families in the Lackawanna Val- ley. Its forbears were blameless and upright men and women, and the ancestral traits of character have been preserved in pristine pur- ity by their descendants.
THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.
The founder of the family, Isaac Tripp, great-grandfather of Colonel Tripp, came from Providence, Rhode Island, and settled at Wilkes-Barre in 1769. He was a Quaker, and his pacific disposition and uniform kindliness to the Indians made them his steadfast friends. At one time, taken prisoner with other settlers, his Indian captors gave him his freedom as soon as they discovered his identity, taking the precaution to paint him in order to ensure his safety should he encounter other Indians. British soldiers asked of the Indians why Tripp was not killed, and they always answered, "He is a good man." At a later day, in seeking to maintain the interests of the Wyoming colony at Harford, he incurred the enmity of the Tor- ies, who put a large price upon his life, and he was shot and scalped by one of their Indian allies.
Isaac, son of Isaac Tripp, the immigrant, settled in the Lackawanna Valley about 1774 and took up a tract of land of about a thousand acres, upon a part of which the central portion of the city of Scranton now stands. He reared numerous children, all of whom reared families -William, Amasa, Stephen, Isaac, Holden, Polly, Patty, Betsey, Catherine, Susan and Nancy. Of these, Isaac inherited from his father and purchased from his brothers and sisters lands until he owned six hundred acres, now in the central part of Scranton. He mar- ried Catherine La France, who was born in Province township, and to them were born nine children : Benjamin, Ira, Isaac, Holden, Diana, Phebe, Maria, Catherine and Mahala.
Colonel Ira Tripp was the second child in the family last named. He was born in Province township, January 6, 1814, was reared on the home farm, and acquired a limited education in the poorly equipped common schools of that day. On reaching manhood he became a mer- chant at his birthplace, and afterward was similarly engaged in Scranton. He also man- aged his farm, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, and he devoted much of his attention to breeding better grades of horses and cattle that the country had before known .. Early in life he had driven horses and cattle to New York city, and marketed them there. On his farm he kept a number of sup- erior standard-bred horses, and in addition he had a large herd of Alderney cattle, and main- tained dairies on his homestead farm and on the stock farm at Dalton. At all local affairs where he exhibited, his animals were awarded
first premiums. He maintained a fine speed- track and driving park on his farm, and the- state fair was held thereon more than once. He stood deservedly high among farmers and' stock breeders who recognized in him a public benefactor. In other ways he added to the value of his property and made it an object of beauty in an already beautiful landscape. He remodeled the old family home which was built by his father, and in which he himself was born, and it is now the home of his widow .. He opened a coal mine in the place, and oper- ated it until the vein was exhausted. He took an active part in advancing the interests of the community, among other enterprises aiding in the building of the old Peoples' Street Rail- way, in which he was a stockholder. In poli- tics he was a Whig, and on the dissolution of that party he was one of the organizing mem- bers of the new Republican party, voting for its first presidential candidate, John C. Fremont, in 1856, and ever afterward gave to it a cordial and active support, but without any thought of personal political ambition. A devoted Unionist, in 1861, when the rebellion broke out, he enlisted in the Eighth Regiment Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, and during his nine months" term of service acquitted himself most creditably in the position of hospital steward. His stand- ing as a man of ability and character is at- tested by the fact that Governor Pollock com- missioned him as aide-de-camp on his staff, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Colonel Tripp died August 3, 1891, at the age of seven- ty-seven years. Widely known throughout the state, and widely recognized as a most useful and exemplary citizen, the leading jjournals of the day paid to his memory glowing tributes, holding him up as a pure type of a race now extinct, and which stood for the best there is in manly character, untainted by: the. later-day commercialism which esteems a grace or virtue or public service as valueless unless it can be made a profit-earning commodity.
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