USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 27
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 27
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Mr. Amerman died suddenly, presumably from heart failure, October 7, 1897, at Bloss- burg, Tioga county, whither he had gone on a business engagement the day before. The. remains were at once conveyed to Scranton by special car. Probably there never was a similar instance in the city where a death an- nouncement occasioned such a general shock and such deep unfeigned regret. A meeting of the Lackawanna Bar Association (of which the deceased was a leading member) was called, and fervent tributes were paid to his memory by Judge Edwards, ex-Judge W. H. Jessup, ex-Lieutenant Governor Watres, and others. Suitable resolutions were adopted, and the association attended the funeral in a body. Among other grieving mourners were the of- ficers of the Penn Avenue Baptist Church and Sunday school, and the children of the Nay Aug Falls Mission, of whose welfare the de- ceased was deeply solicitous. The funeral
discourse was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Dixon, pastor of the Penn Avenue Church, who re- ferred in touching terms to the christian life of his beloved parishioner and friend. In the course of his remarks he alluded to the fact that the last business which Mr. Amerman had transacted in the city prior to his death was the completion of the details of the plans which he had formulated for the enlargement of the mission of which he was the superintendent. This last labor of love which engaged the at- tention of Mr. Amerman was brought to a suc- cessful consummation by his widow, and is his most impressive memorial. Mr. Amerman be- came superintendent of the Nay Aug Falls Mission at its formation, May 27, 1897. He pressed the Penn Avenue Church to provide a mission chapel for it, and with such success that he was enabled to close a contract for a building site on October 6, the day previous to his death. Mrs. Amerman at once took up the un- completed work of her husband. One week after his death (October 14) she was made co-trustee with William McClave in the
EMUDBY HAS.B HALL NEW YORK
Chas a Buna
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purchase of the site, and on October 18 ground was broken, Isaac Post and Mrs.
Amerman removing the first earth. The corner stone was laid October 26, and Novem- ber 3, the Penn Avenue Church, by unanimous vote, named the mission "The Amerman Mem- orial Tabernacle of the Penn Avenue Baptist Church." At the dedicatory services addresses were delivered by Deacon Fillmore, in behalf of the church ; J. W. Browning, superintendent of the mission ; ex-Lieutenant Governor Wat- res, speaking for the business associates of the deceased ; and Judge Edwards speaking for the bar. The pastor, the Rev. Joseph K. Dixon, D. D., delivered an in memoriam address. gathering up the life lessons of the deceased, and speaking of that for which the building stands. And the church records contain this minute: "In love for the beloved dead ; with a large hearted munificence and a tender gen- erosity ; with a high purpose to glorify God and help men-Mrs. Ella May Amerman, the widow of our beloved brother, discharged every obligation, and the Tabernacle was dedicated free of debt.'
The character of the lamented deceased was most touchingly summed up by his pastor, the Rev. Dr. Dixon :
" To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God," is heaven's require- ment. This he did. In his home he ever mani- fested a tender and self-denying affection. Those who were so fortunate as to come within its walls found a summer atmosphere. In his public life he was industrious, faithful, success- ful, reaping well-earned laurels. He was sought after as the steward of great trusts- universally esteemed, holding always to his clear perceptions of right and duty. Men of brains and men of genius sought his compan- ionship as birds seek the hospitality of sum- mer. He loved his church. He loved the chil- dren. Sunday school work was a passion with him, and his noble nature, his cordial and lov- ing presence, his instructive and inspiring ex- positions, brought the children to his side as the flower brings the bee. He was the pastor's unfailing friend and helper. We shall miss you, brother ; but you have triumphed ; we still linger in the shadows.
"'Something has gone from nature since he died, And summer is not summer, nor can be.
"God bless the dear wife and children-God bless the aged father, and help the church to be wise and pure and faithful."
CHARLES ALEXANDER BURR was born in Gilbertsville, Otsego county, New York, February 22, 1846. He was the son of a long line of sturdy stock, and of pre-revolu- tionary ancestry. His father, Alva, was the son of an Ebenezer Burr, who many years ago lived in Saugatuck, Connecticut, the earlier encestors of whom it is believed were of the same line as that of Aaron Burr, the once bril- liant lawyer, whose rare talents and extraordi- mary attainments secured for him a position of eminence among the distinguished men of his generation.
The mother of Mr. Burr was Esther Hurl- butt, a woman of admirable personality, who ivas of a line of highly respected forefathers. Her father was Daniel Hurlbutt, Jr., who was born in Wilton, Connecticut, 1740; was twice married; first, to Naomi Stuart, who died in 1764, and then to Esther Patrick, a daughter of one Captain John Patrick, who as a soldier of the Revolution achieved distinction. His father, Daniel Hurlbutt, was the son of a Thomas Hurlbutt, distinguished from others of the same name as "Thomas 4th," and who hav- ing married a Belden, lived at Wilton, Con- necticut, after the year 1710, in the neighbor- hood of what has since been known as the "Old Hurlburtt Homestead." Going backward then comes his father, "Thomas 3rd," his grand- father "Thomas, Jr.," and his great-grand- father, Thomas. This last was the emigrant ancestor of Mr. Burr's mother. He came to the colonies in 1635, and from all accounts must have been a man of strong character. He was prominent among the Indian fighters of the day, and was associated with Lion Gardiner. of much renown as such, and who erected the fort at Saybrook. While there, in an engage- ment with the savages, in 1637, he was serious- ly wounded. He subsequently established himself in business at Wethersfield, where he seems to have grown prosperous. A man of good standing in the community, public- spirited, and of some education, he was clerk of the "Train Band" in 1640, and a deputy to the general court in 1644. He appears also to have been the owner of a considerable landed estate, having received various tracts in the several divisions of the town in 1647: and for his services in the Indian wars, was later, in 1671, voted a grant of one hundred and twenty acres.
Charles A. Burr, the subject of this sketch, was left fatherless in infancy. Reared, how-
.
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ever, in the place of his birth, with painstaking attention to his moral and mental growth, he acquired a liberal education, fitting himself to become a student of medicine, for which pro- fession he had a decided liking. This design. however, he was compelled to abandon ; and a mere youth, at about the age of sixteen, he turned to mercantile pursuits. Finding his way to Scranton, he there obtained a position of minor importance in the general store of the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company. In this em- ployment, by efficiency and fidelity, he soon won promotion, and while still in years a mere boy was placed in absolute charge of the company's store at Shickshinny. There he remained for three years, confining himself strictly and industriously to the development of the business under his care. But here ill-health came to him, and he was com- pelled to resign that he might find other employ- ment, in which he could obtain physical exercise in the open air. For a time he managed the coal station at Mt. Hope, where he remained for awhile, acquiring a knowledge of and experience in the coal business which was in after years of much benefit and of great advantage to him. With his work finished at Mt. Hope, he returned to Scranton, and soon formed business relations with the late Mr. William T. Smith, then laying the foundation of the large fortune which he sub- sequently acquired by his successful coal opera- tions. With that gentleman he conducted the stores of the Mt. Pleasant Coal Company, in which he had a substantial interest, acting as the general manager thereof until the mines passed into other hands and the stores were closed. Here he obtained the nucleus of an independent for- tune, with which he was enabled to engage in the coal business on his own account. He, with Mr. D. J. Whiteford and some others, then organized the Bull's Head Coal Company, and for several years profitably operated that company's plant in Scranton. He was the active spirit of this enter- prise, and the president of the corporation until the day of his death. In addition to his coal bus- iness he was a banker, a director of the North Scranton Bank, an institution which owed much of its exceptional success to his business know- ledge, sound sense, and discriminating judgment. He invested also largely in other promising enter- prises, some in this state and others in the south, in coal and timber lands : and in so doing neces- sarily formed intimate business relations with prominent and substantial citizens, whose respect, confidence and good-will he compelled by the rectitude of his conduct, his high moral standards, and his knowledge of men and affairs.
On October 10, 1876, Mr. Burr married Miss. Emma J. Roberts, a daughter of Dan S. and Elmira (Lamereoux) Roberts. The mother, as her name would indicate, was of French descent, Her ancestors were among the early settlers of Pennsylvania, and several of them are numbered with the victims of the Wyoming massacre.
On June 23, 1904, Mr. Burr died suddenly, in the very midst of a useful and prosperous career, at his beautiful suburban home in the city of Scranton, leaving behind him, well fixed in the memory of all who knew him, the record of a gen- tleman and a Christian. At the time of his death he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Scranton.
With a pleasing personality Mr. Burr's con- duct was always dignified and courtly. Unas- suming in manner, he was free from obtrusive self-assertion, and in his intercourse with his friends and familiars was delightful in conversa- tion ; fond of anecdote, and possessing, with a rare store of information, a gentle humor that al- ways bore testimony to his kindliness of disposi- tion, he was in his social life a most interesting and attractive companion. By such manners and qualities-by such a life, he made for himself an honorable career, and, dying, left no stain nor tarnish upon the imperishable monument which he himself, while living, erected to the memory of a just man.
PROFESSOR WILLIAM A. KELLY, of Archbald, Pennsylvania, is one of the young and popular educators of Lackawanna county. He is serving in the capacity of superintendent of the Archbald schools, which comprise six buildings, with a force of twenty-one teachers and one- thousand pupils, besides the high school, which has thirty-one pupils enrolled and is taught by Miss Mary Mullen, principal.
He was born at Treverton, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1867, a son of John G. and Julia (Gaughan) Kelly, both of whom were natives of Ireland, and emigrated to this country when young and unmarried. John G. Kelly (father) is de- ceased, but his wife is living, a resident of Par- sons, Pennsylvania. Their family consisted of ten children, three of whom are living, namely : Mrs. B. E. Ward, William A., mentioned at length hereinafter ; and Dr. J. J. Kelly, who was born in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, in 1858, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and is now the leading physician of Archbald. In 1893 Dr. Kelly married Annie Cowley, and their children are: John F., Mary, Anna, Julia, Robert, and Evelyn Kelly.
H. M. Hannah
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Professor Kelly attended the public schools of his native town, Wyoming Seminary, at Kings- ton, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated in 1885, and the Mansfield State Nor- mal School, from which he was graduated in 1888 after completing the regular course. At the age of twenty-two years he began the work which he had chosen for his active career, the profession of teaching, and up to the year 1901 served as prin- cipal of the various leading schools of Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. In that year he was chosen superintendent of the above mentioned schools, which position he has filled to the entire satisfaction of patrons, teachers and pupils. Along with the other accomplishments acquired and in- herited by Professor Kelly is that of singing. His reputation as a baritone is widely known not only in his own, but in other states. He sang at the World's Fair. Chicago, Illinois ; in the city of Baltimore, Maryland : and as a member of the Scranton Oratorio Society he took a conspicuous and prominent part. He is leader of the choir of the Church of St. Thomas the Divine, of Arch- bald, Pennsylvania. In the present year ( 1904) he received a distinction above his fellow profes- sors in being the winner of a prize to the World's Fair at St. Louis. the same having been won by contest. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and he upholds the principles of Democracy. In 1901 Professor Kelly was united in marriage to Jennie O'Boyle.
HUGH M. HANNAH, who choosing the law as a profession has also extended his activities to various enterprises that have contributed to the upbuilding of the city as well as to his individual success, was born in Harford, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1842. The family is of Scotch-Irish lineage. The grand- father, Walter Hannah, born in Scotland, removed thence to Ireland, settling upon a farm near Ballymoney, in county Antrim. He had a brother, Daniel Hannah, who was a member of the Eng- lish army and for many years was stationed at Gibraltar.
Archibald Hannah, son of Walter Hannah, was born and reared upon the home farm in county Antrim, but the business op- portunities of the new world attracted him in early manhood, and in 1836 he crossed the Atlantic. A short residence in New- burg. New York, was followed by removal to Harford, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, where he made purchase of a tract of land, to the further development and improvement of which
he gave his attention for a number of years, his farm becoming one of the best cultivated in the district. In 1849 he purchased a farm at New Milford. Pennsylvania, whereon he resided until his death, which occurred in 1872, when he was seventy-eight years of age. In early manhood he wedded Mary Leslie, born near Coleraine, county Antrim, Ireland, a daughter of John Leslie, a farmer of that locality. She was of Scotch line- age, however, for her grandfather, Malcolm Les- lie, was a highlander of Scotland. Mrs. Hannah departed this life in 1877, at the age of seventy- six years. Ten children were born to Archibald and Mary (Leslie) Hannah: William J., died in Plymouth, 1872; Margaret, married William Ross, and died at Newburg, New York: Alex- ander, a farmer of New Milford, Pennsylvania ; Daniel, who engaged in the practice of law in Scranton from 1867 until 1884, and is now living retired at New Milford; Leslie, died in 1863; Hugh M., of whom later ; Fannie, died at the age of eighteen years; Mary A., died at the age of fourteen years : James, departed this life at the age of fifteen years ; and Elizabeth, wife of David McConnell, of New Milford.
Hugh M. Hannah, reared in his native town- ship, was educated in the public schools of Har- ford and New Milford until 1863, when he at- tended the Millersville State Normal School, spending a portion of the three ensuing years in that institution. When not engaged in the pur- suit of knowledge himself, his time was devoted to instruction in the schools of New Milford and Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and following his normal course he became principal at Schuylkill Haven, where he remained for five years. He regarded his educational labors, however, merely as an initial step toward the practice of law, and in 1869 he became a student in the office of Loomis and Hannah, well known attorneys at Scranton, the junior partner being his brother. Careful preparatory reading was followed by his admission to the bar at Wilkes-Barre in 1870, and im- mediately thereafter he joined his brother in the formation of the firm of D. and H. M. Hannah, with offices at 222 Lackawanna avenue, Scran- ton. Their business relationship was maintained until the retirement of the brother from active law practice in 1884. since which time Hugh M. Hannah has been alone. His reputation as a law- ver has been won through earnest, honest labor, and his standing at the bar is a merited tribute to his ability. He now has a very large practice, and his careful preparation of cases is supplemented by a power of argument and a faithful presenta- tion of his points in the courtroom, so that he
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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.
never fails to impress court or jury and seldom fails to gain the verdict desired. He has more than local reputation as a lawyer. and although his devotion to his client's interest is proverbial he never forgets that he owes a higher allegiance to the majesty of the law. For three years he oc- cupied the position of city attorney of Scranton, and he is connected with the Lackawanna County Law & Library Association. While the practice of law has been his real life work, he has also become identified with public enterprises having important bearing upon the substantial improve- ment of Scranton. He was one of the promoters of the movement resulting in the laying out of twenty acres on Washington avenue to be devoted to park and residence properties known as Rich- mond Park, and he has derived 110 personal bene- fit, but which have been of marked value to the city.
Mr. Hannah married, in Philadelphia, Eliza- beth Hindman, born near Oxford, Chester county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of David Hindman, who followed the occupation of farming there, and who was of English and Scotch descent, while his religious faith was that of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Hannah have two chil- dren : Fannie, educated in Wilson College at Chambersburg : and Fred, who is now attending Mercersburg Academy. The family attend the First Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Hannah served as trustee for a number of years. His political allegiance is given to the Democracy, but the demands of a large and constantly increasing - law practice have left him little time for political activity.
SAMUEL G. BARKER, deceased. during a long and active career was widely known as a man of varied abilities and unusual enterprise. He was actively identified with some of the most important manufacturing interests of the valley, and was held in honor for his many excellencies of personal character.
Mr. Barker was born in Kingston, Pennsyl- vania, May 22, 1821. He inherited mechanical tastes and abilities of a high order. His father, William Barker, was a pioneer scale maker, set- ting up shops in Kingston as early as the year 1800, and the son, as a lad, became interested in the operations which engaged the attention of the sire, and in his dav (as did his own son after him) aided in making the family name synony- mous with perfection in scales. Samuel G. Barker graduated from his father's shops an ac- complished mechanic, and in 1847 was called to
Scranton to take charge of the machinery in the muiills of the Lackawanna Iron and Steel Com- pany. The mills were of a primitive description, but Mr. Barker developed them into a condition of marked efficiency, by the introduction of new methods and the construction of machinery of his own designing for special purposes. He re- mained with the Lackawanna Company for sev- eral years, and on leaving it entered the service of the Pennsylvania Coal Company at Dun- more, with which he remained for four years, ending in 1865, his retirement being for the pur- pose of giving his entire attention to scale man- ufacturing.
During his entire continuance with the two corporations before named. Mr. Barker main- tained his connection with the scale manufactory at Kingston. After the death of his father he suc- ceeded to the sole management, and removed the works to Scranton. For several years the Sev- enth street site was occupied, but the business ex- panded to such proportions that larger facilities were imperatively demanded, and as preliminary to the contemplated enlargement Mr. Barker brought into partnership with himself his son, Frank S. Barker, in the firm of S. G. Barker & Son. A new location was decided upon, at Car- bon street, near its junction with the Providence road, and on the line of the Ontario & Western Railroad, and here was built up a plant covering about three acres of ground. The line of manu- facture included coal screens and railroad track scales, and the latter soon came into almost ex- clusive use throughout the anthracite coal fields, besides extending into all parts of the country, and particularly in the mining regions. The man- agement of Mr. Barker extended to every detail of the business, and he was continually seeking for improved methods of production, at various times designing machinery to facilitate its man- ufacture, and constantly adding to the life of the product by improvements of his own working out. The remainder of his life was occupied in this industry, and he gave to it his unabated in- terest and oversight until within a year of his death, when his waning powers admonished him to dismiss as a burden the pursuit which in his vigor he had regarded almost as a recreation, however heavy the burden of labor and responsi- bility may have been. October 18, 1890, he ex-, perienced a stroke of paralysis. His recovery in some degree quickly followed, and he resumed his duties in the office of the manufactory, but with diminished energy, and it was evident to his fam- ily and friends that his health had been per-
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manently impaired. From this time he gradually failed, and his death occurred November 2, 1891, in the seventy-first year of his age.
Mr. Barker was prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, in which he was held in peculiar honor. He was one of the oldest mem- bers of Peter Williamson Lodge, No. 323, Free and Accepted Masons, and was affiliated with Lackawanna Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 17, Knights Templar. He was held in high regard through- out the community, not alone for his excellent business abilities and stirring enterprise, but for those traits of personal character which win the confidence and esteem of all who come within reach. He was in all ways loyal to his city, and exerted himself earnestly in advocacy of what- ever would add to its prestige and extend the range of its importance. In his home circle he was the model husband and parent, unwavering in his devotion, and unsparing in his solicitude for the comfort and happiness of wife and chil- dren.
In 1856 Mr. Barker married Miss Susan E. Kidder, of Wilkes-Barre, who, with two sons and two daughters survive the lamented head of the family. The children are: Mrs. William H. Taylor, Miss Alice Barker, Frank S. and Harry C. Barker. Mr. Barker had two brothers who were widely known clergymen: the late Rev. Abel Barker, whose ministrations extended to various portions of the Wyoming Valley ; and the Rev. Thomas B. Barker, now both deceased.
FRANK S. BARKER. Young in years, Frank S. Barker is widely known as head of one of the most important industrial enterprises of the valley, and which is of note as having been founded by a member of his own family, in so early a day that its record covers a period of more than a century, without ever once passing out of the control of a Barker. Mr. Barker has not only proven himself a worthy successor to those who have gone before him, but he has de- veloped such public spirit and business-like qual- ities that he has been for several years an im- portant factor in the general affairs of the city of Scranton.
He was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1863, son of Samuel G. and Susan E. ( Kidder) Barker. He was a mere child when his parents removed to Scranton, and he there re- ceived his education in the public schools. He early gave evidence of having inherited the me- chanical qualities which distinguished his grand- parent, William Barker, founder of the Barker
Scale Works, and his father, Samuel G. Barker, who, following in the footsteps of his sire, pushed the enterprise into a larger field of usefulness. In his boyhood Frank S. Barker was employed for about three years in weighing coal for the Dela- ware & Hudson Company, but left this occupa- tion when his father dropped otlier business en- gagements in order to devote himself entirely to the conduct of the Barker Scale Works. It was then that young Barker came into the shops, and under the skillful and sympathetic mastership of his father, (who was already regarding the youth as his own worthy successor) gained a thorough practical knowledge of every detail of the business, whether in the factory or office. 'I nere was entire accord and community of pur- pose between the two, and the son early proved himself a most efficient aid to the father, assist- ing him in the working out of his new designs, mechanical and managerial, and introducing in- novations of his own, and whose practicability won for them immediate adoption. And so, in considerable degree, each was an aid to the other, and the younger man was in all practical regards a partner of the elder long before the name of S. G. Barker & Son became known to the business world, as it did when young Barker attained his majority. The two were equally concerned and labored with equal zeal and unanimity of pur- pose in the larger development of their manufac- turing enterprise, including the erection of the new plant and the consequent extension of its manufacturing facilities. Since 1891, when oc- curred the death of the elder Barker, Frank S. Barker has borne the labors and responsibilities of the business, together with his brother, H. C. Barker, and has witnessed a continued expansion as the result of their efforts. Among the inno- vations of his own making was the adding of structural iron to the list of products of the Barker works, and which has already found a large and constantly increasing market.
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