USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 49
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 49
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tive pursuits, and took up his residence with his daughter Sarah, Mrs. Oscar L. Colvin. His wife, Mary Ann Clark, who was born May I, 1830, died July 9, 1900, at the age of seventy years.
During the Civil war Mr. Guy was drafted for military service. His heart was entirely with his adopted country in its struggle for existence, but was not so situated as to be able to leave his family, and he provided a substitute. He was a man of strong and robust constitution, and always enjoyed excellent health until after the death of his wife. Her removal from his side was a sor- row from which he never recovered, and he rap- idly failed, though his devoted daughter rendered every loving aid in the hope of restoring him to his accustomed vigor of body and buoyancy of spirits. His death occurred July 6, 1904. He was from early manhood a member of the Baptist Church, and lived a most exemplary Christian life, and in that communion to the end of his days. In his later years he attended the Green Ridge Methodist Episcopal Church, but was too closely attached to his own beloved denomination to enter into membership with it. His remains were laid to rest in Forest Hill cemetery, a prop- city in which he felt a deep interest, and to whose care he had afforded liberal aid with his personal effort and means. On the occasion of his funeral the officiating clergyman, the Rev. Charles Ben- jamin, paid a feeling tribute to the memory of the deceased, dwelling upon his many personal excellencies, and holding up his character as well worthy of admiration and imitation. The serv- ices were attended by a large concourse of deeply affected neighbors and friends, who had held him in high regard, and who deeply sympathized wtih his bereaved children.
Mr. Guy was the father of three children : 1. Sarah A., who was twice married ; her first husband, John M. Acker, died leaving one child, John G .; she married (second) Oscar L. Colvin, a harness maker of Scranton. 2. Mary F., who died at the age of nine months. 3. George S. Guy. All these children were born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania.
JOHN ZEIDLER, deceased, one of the wealthy and influential citizens of the city of Scranton, to which he removed in 1854, a man of generous impulses, whose heart and hand were ever ready to assist those in distress and financial straits, was a native of Selb, Bavaria, born Jan- uary 15, 1828.
In 1846, at the age of eighteen years, John
Zeidler emigrated to the Unied States and at once set about making a home for himself amid new scenes and new friends. Eight years later he settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and estab- lished a bakery business at No. 217 Lackawanna avenue, removing later to Franklin avenue, and this vocation he followed until the time of his death, the business then being taken charge of by his daughter, Miss Maggie Zeidler. He built Germania block on Lackawanna avenue, where he also conducted what was known as Zeidler's Restaurant, and subsequently built the Zeidler or Valley Home block, also on Lackawanna avenue, which was the most extensive block in the city at that time. He went as endorser on many notes, and when the panic of 1873 came, he was compelled to make good these notes, with the re- sult that he lost all the property he had accumu- lated. Although disheartened and discouraged by this calamity he, with the characteristic deter- mination of his countrymen, at once set about to retrieve his lost fortune and succeeded so well that at his decease he left a large and valuable estate.
In 1857, at Pittston, Pennsylvania, Mr. Zeid- ler was united in marriage to Mary Bechtold, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, 1834, and in 1848 was brought to this country by her parents who located at Pittston. Six chil- dren were the issue of this union, five daughters and one son, Mrs. Rudolph Bloeser, Mrs. F. G. Diem, John L., of St. Joseph, Missouri; Miss Maggie Zeidler, Mrs. Louis Linder, and Mrs. Harry S. Poust. Both Mr. and Mrs. Zeidler were consistent members of Zion Lutheran Church on Mifflin avenue, Scranton, to which they contrib- uted liberally, also to various charities of the city, being noted for their generosity and kindheart- edness to the poor and afflicted. Mr. Zeidler died January 23, 1892, and the services in the Luth- eran Church were largely attended, among those present being many of the representative people of the city, who had known and esteemed him throughout his long residence there. The inter- ment was in Washington avenue cemetery. His widow passed away September 15, 1897, and her funeral services which were conducted from the same church were attended by many prominent in the business life of Scranton. Her pastor, the Rev. Mr. P. H. Zizelmann, preached an eloquent sermon in which he extolled the many virtues and graces of Mrs. Zeidler, and he spoke in highest terms of her generosity to the church of which she was a member. She was survived by her six children, above named.
John Zudler
DANIEL LANGSTAFF
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WALLACE ORMSTON. It may be as- serted without danger of contradiction that one of the most popular men in Lackawanna county is Wallace Ormston, of Old Forge. Mr. Orm- ston's father, Thomas Ormston, was born in Eng- land and married Ann Vickers, a native of the same country. Their children were: Anna, who became the wife of John Trotter ; William ; Wal- lace, mentioned at length hereinafter; Jane A., who married George Park ; and Jonathan.
Wallace Ormston, son of Thomas and Ann (Vickers) Ormston, was born August 31, 1845, at Durham, England. He was trained to the calling of a miner, having entered the mines as a door-tender at seven years of age, and for sev- eral years filled the position of fire-boss. In 1869 he emigrated to the United States and set- tled in Pennsylvania, taking up his abode in Jer- myn, where for several years he was employed as a miner. He had been preceded to this country by his uncle, Robert Carter, who was an experi- enced miner and for several years was employed as boss by the Jermyn Coal Company. In 1874 Mr. Ormston moved to Old Forge, where he has since resided continuously. For fifteen years he engaged successfully in contract mining, and during that period sunk several shafts for Wiliam Connell. He also engaged in rock mining as well as coal mining. His experience is far beyond that of the average miner, inasmuch as for fifty-two years he has been engaged in different capacities as a worker in ore. During all these years, to his credit be it said, he never met with an acci- dent. Since taking up his abode in Old Forge Mr. Ormston has built for himself a dwelling house, and has also erected the Durham Hotel. of which he has been the proprietor since 1891. His hotel is one of the finest in the borough of Old Forge, and of his popularity as a host it is needless to speak. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Knights of Pythias, and has passed the chairs of both orders. Mr. Ormston mar- ried, April 1, 1867, two years before leaving his native country, Mary A. Oliver, who was born in England, February 7, 1845, a daughter of Thomas Oliver, and they have one son, Wallace, who was born May 23. 1877. Wallace Ormston, junior, is an engineer in the service of the Jer- myn Coal Company. He married Amy Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, of Old Forge, a na- tive of England, who was born in England, No- vember 2, 1872, and they are the parents of two daughters: Esther and Florence.
DANIEL LANGSTAFF, deceased, was held in the highest estimation during his long and eventful life for his nobility of character, and broad public spirit. He was one of the foremost factors in the upbuilding of the city of Scranton and in the development of its great industries, and his worth and usefulness are attested by the fact that he had for his most intimate personal friends and closest business associates such fa- mous characters as J. J. Albright, James Blair, Thomas Dickson, Dr. B. H. Throop, and others of similar class.
Mr. Langstaff came of an English family of wealth and influence. His father, John Lang- staff, born in England, after completing his edu- cation traveled in South America, and finally lo- cated in New York. He was an accomplished musician and he gave instruction in the divine art in New York and in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, for sixteen years. In 1837 he took up his resi- dence in South Montrose, Susquehanna county, where he died in 1840. His wife, Rachel Bush, born in Stroudsburg, was a member of an old Pennsylvania family of German extraction. She was a woman of noble character, a devout Meth- odist, and survived her husband some thirteen years, dying in 1853, at the age of fifty-two years. She bore to her husband six children who came to maturity : John, who resides in Washington, New Jersey, and served with the rank of captain in the Civil war ; Daniel, to be further mentioned hereinafter ; Levi, who was an army officer in the rebellion, and resides in Dubuque, Iowa ; Thomas, who died in Rockford, Illinois ; Mrs. Sarah Cul- ver, of Mineral Point, Pennsylvania ; and Mrs. Mary Sterling, of Oneonta, New York.
Daniel Langstaff, second of the four sons of John and Rachel (Bush) Langstaff, was born in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1828. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to a carpenter. On coming of age he located in Providence (now a part of Scranton) and engaged in working at his trade. In the following year he went to Hawley, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in car building for the Pennsylvania Coal Company. In 1851 he returned to Scranton, where he entered the service of the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern Railroad Company, and aided in completing their shops and building their turntables. An in- cident of this time was his assisting in building the first car constructed for this road. While he was thus engaged, the Civil war was at its height, and in response to the emergency call of 1862
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Mr. Langstaff enlisted in the Keystone Guards (commanded by his brother, Captain John P. Langstaff), and was mustered into service with the rank of second lieutenant. The company was stationed at Hackettstown and Newcastle during its ninety days' term of service, and during this period Lieutenant Langstaff acquitted himself as was becoming in an officer and soldier, and re- ceived the warm commendation of his superiors.
Returning home, he resumed his work, in which he continued until 1864, when he was made superintendent of the Diamond mines of the Del- aware, Lackawanna & Western Company, with charge of two breakers. It is a tribute to his capability to note that he was continued in this position for the long term of twenty-four years, and it is also worth stating that on his retirement he was succeeded by his son, W. S. Langstaff. Meantime Mr. Langstaff had become interested in the firm of Tripp & Company, retail coal deal- ers on the Providence road, and when he left the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna and West- ern Company he gave his entire attention to su- perintending the Tripp mine business, and was so engaged until 1895, when he retired from ac- tive pursuits. He continued, however, to give careful supervision to his financial interests, but refraining from any such prolonged duties as would interfere with one of the principal pur- poses of his life at this time-to seek physical in- vigoration and mental improvement by travel in his own country and congenial foreign climes, to his own great advantage and to the infinite satis- faction of his family and friends, who rejoiced in the improvement thus brought to him.
While Mr. Langstaff was widely successful in his own affairs, and acquired a handsome es- tate, he was not at all neglectful of the interests of the community, but exerted himself in its behalf zealously and with a large degree of use- fulness. He was particularly friendly to the cause of education, and for four years as member of the board of school control rendered intelligent service in the development of the public school system, and for many years was a trustee of Key- stone Academy at Factoryville. With his wife he was a member of the Penn Avenue Baptist Church, and for eighteen years served faithfully as a member of its board of trustees. In politics he was an ardent Republican, his connection with the party dating from its formation in 1856, when he cast his vote for its first presidential candi- date, John C. Fremont. Throughout his life he held to his party faith, and was known as a force- ful and influential exponent of its principles.
Among the various properties which he owned was his handsome residence at 101 Mulberry street, Scranton, and an elegant summer resi- dence adjoining the Keystone Academy in Fac- toryville, on the boundary line of Wyoming and Lackawanna counties. Fond of outdoor pursuits, he took particular delight in finely bred horses, and was the owner of "Russell," a Kentucky horse with a record of 2:24, said to be the hand- somest and speediest animal in Wyoming county.
In June, 1851, at Montrose, Pennsylvania, Mr. Langstaff married Miss Sarah E. Shipman, a native of that village, daughter of William and Sarah (Vaughn) Shipman. Her father was born. in Chester, Connecticut, and was a carpenter and builder by trade. In youth, with others of his. family, he came to Pennsylvania, making the journey with wagons, and guided at frequent in- tervals by blazed trees. They reached Sus- quehanna county, where they built a log house. William Shipman resided in this place until his. death, at the venerable age of eighty-two years. His wife, Sarah Vaughn, was born in Rhode- Island, and died in Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- vania, at the age of seventy-five years. She was a descendant of Revolutionary patriots, and a daughter of Jonathan Vaughn, a pioneer farmer of Susquehanna county. Her mother was a daughter of Captain Henry W. Congdon, an old sea captain.
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Langstaff were the par- ents of three children. 1. William S. is superin- tendent of the Diamond mines, and was for sev- eral years a member of the Scranton board of school control. Edward was for two years en- gaged as an engineer in South America, and since his return home has been engaged in the same capacity with the Kings County ( New York ) Elevated Road. The only daughter, Cor- nelia, was highly educated, and graduated from the Keystone Academy and the Bloomsburg Nor- mal School. She became the wife of O. B. Schreifer, who was superintendent of the coal waybill office of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railway Company at Scranton, and has served as president of the Scranton board of school control.
Mr. Langstaff died November 28, 1901. His death was widely mourned out of respect for his high character, usefulness of life, and the urban- ity and generosity which marked his dealings with all men. Eminently successful in the acqui- sition of personal fortune, he had made the com- munity sharers in it by his labors in promoting its various interests, multiplying and broadening the-
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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.
avenues of employment, enhancing the value of properties, and aiding to make the city a desirable residential spot through the greater excellence of its churches, schools and charitable institutions, and all other agencies which stand for bodily comfort and mental improvement. Hence he is properly to be classed among the most efficient of public benefactors, and the present pre-eminent position of importance and fame which is enjoyed by the city which was his home and the scene of his effort, is in some degree a monument to the memory of his own well spent life.
WALTER L. SCHLAGER, president of the Traders' Coal Company and of the Federal Gran- ite Brick Company, and prominently identified with many other business and financial institu- tions of Scranton and vicinity, is a native of that city, being a son of Charles Schlager, one of the prominent business men of Scranton half a cen- tury ago.
Charles Schlager was born at Wiltstedt, near Strasburg. Germany, and was the youngest son in a large family of children who came to Amer- ica at different periods, Charles accompanying his parents about 1840, and locating with them at Honesdale, Pennsylvania. In the early fifties, with an elder brother, he located in Scranton, where he established a bakery, at the corner of Lackawanna and Washington avenues, in the building now occupied by Watkins' carpet store. This bakery was for many years the leading one in Scranton, doing a large and prosperous busi- ness, and also operating a cracker bakery at Pittston. Through industry and economy Mr. Schlager acquired considerable property on Washington avenue, Spruce street and Lacka- wanna avenues. His own residence was the sev- enth brick building erected in Scranton, and stood next to the Mears building, the site of the present Burr building. He also owned other property on Lackawanna avenue and Spruce street, including the site of the present Pauli building, then occupied by several frame build- ings sold to the late Francis Pauli, and at the time of his death was regarded as one of the most extensive real estate owners in Scranton. In his later years he became interested in coal lands at Heidelberg (a place which received its name from him, since known as Dupont), and just prior to his death was preparing to develop these prop- erties, which have become very valuable, worth more than a million dollars. Had he lived he doubtless would have shared well in the immense accumulation of wealth from the development of
the coal industry in the region, and would have been one of Scranton's wealthiest citizens of this, as he was of his own day. He was interested in all that pertained to the best interests of the growing town of Scranton, and was closely asso- ciated with the solid substantial men of that day. He was a contributing member of the congrega- tion of the First Presbyterian Church, which then stood on Washington avenue on the site now oc- . cupied by J. D. Williams & Brother Company. Mr. Schlager, though of foreign birth, was a thorough American, early adapting himself to the customs of his adopted country, and sincerely en- tering into the spirit of its institutions. In poli- tics he was a stanch Republican, taking an active interest in the success of his party. He was a charter member of Schiller Lodge (German), Free and Accepted Masons, and was affiliated with various social organizations of his day. He was a man of domestic tastes, and devoted to his home and family. In personal appearance Mr. Schlager has been likened, by those who remem- ber him best, to the familiar characterization of "Uncle Sam," or Lincoln. Tall, straight, and of commanding appearance, having performed mili- tary service in Germany, he had a fine military bearing. While accumulating a competency he lived in a becoming manner, and surrounded his family with all the comforts that means could procure.
Mr. Schlager married (first) Salome Fritch, a native of Germany, and they were the parents of eight children : Emma, Salome, Louise, Ruth, Carl, Minnie, Charles and Walter L. He mar- ried (second) Julia Schaffer, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and had two children who died in infancy. Mr. Schlager died in 1870, when a comparatively young man, and in the zenith of his usefulness.
Walter L. Schlager, youngest son of Charles and Salome (Fritch) Schlager. was born in Scranton, October, 1864. He was left an orphan at an early age, his mother dying when he was but three months old, and his father when he was at the age of six years. He attended the Merrill Academy and the high school at Scranton, and later the public schools of Philadelphia, where his step-mother resided, and later attended the Pennsylvania State Normal school at Blooms- burg. His step-mother having married his uncle, Jacob Schlager, he went to Lanesboro, Pennsyl- vania, where his uncle resided. After two years employment in a chair factory at Brandt, in which he was financially interested, he learned the drug business and later conducted drug stores
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at Moosic, Avoca, and Olyphant, in turn. Re- linquishing this business, he bought the insurance agency of Charles Schlager, and conducted it for some time, then selling out to engage in the coal business, having purchased the Keystone Coal Company's plant, now known as the Traders' Coal Company, of which he became president and manager. He later became identified with a number of other industrial and business institu- tions in his. native city. He is treasurer of the Scranton Yarn Finishing Company, and president of the Federal Granite Brick Company, and was one of the organizers of the Traders' Real Estate Company, of which he is vice-president ; and was also one of the organizers of the Nay Aug Lum- ber Company, and is president of the Reliance Coal Company, and connected with several other important business and financial enterprises.
Mr. Schlager is a member of Kingsbury Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at Olyphant ; past high priest of -Lackawanna Chapter, No. 185, Royal Arch Masons, and is a past eminent commander of Melita Commandery, No. 68, Knight Templars, and a member of Irem Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In poli- tics Mr. Schlager is an Independent, but sup- ports the principles of the Republican party. In religion he is a contributing member of the First Presbyterian Church. He is a man of broad in- formation, genial disposition, and tender suscep- tibilities. He is a loyal supporter of all move- ments of advantage to the community in a mate- rial way, and extends cordial and liberal aid to religious, educational, and charitable institutions. In social circles he is as highly esteemed for his personal worth as he is in the business community for his masterly abilities, sagacious enterprise, and earnest public spirit.
Mr. Schlager married, June 4, 1884, Miss Ruth Church, daughter of Almon Church, one of the pioneer settlers of Luzerne county, Penn- sylvania, and they have two children : Helen and Emma, both of whom are students at Wells Col- lege, Aurora, New York.
JAMES P. LAW. In every town or city that has attained any prominence along any par- ticular line of industry there has always been a leading spirit, a standard bearer, as it were, who possesses wisdom, forethought and courage to lead to victory and success. Such a person is James P. Law, one of the progressive men of Taylor, where he has made his home since 1886. He was born in Honesdale, Wayne county, Penn- sylvania, March 28, 1861.
Alexander Law, father of James P. Law, was one of the pioneer settlers of Wayne county, Pennsylvania, enduring all the hardships and privations incident to those early times. He held a position with the Delaware and Hudson Com- pany, and was faithful in the discharge of his duties. In Honesdale, Pennsylvania, he was united in marriage to Mary McKeon, a sister of Patrick McKeon, who built the first frame house in Honesdale, and their family consisted of twelve children, nine of whom attained years of maturity and are living at the present time (1905) : John, Thomas, James, Alexander, Ber- nard, Charles, Francis, Margaret and Lizzie. The sons are employed on the railroad, five of them serving in the capacity of conductors.
James P. Law was reared in Kingston, Penn- sylvania, to which place his parents removed dur- ing his boyhood, and his education was acquired at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. He gained® his first practical experience in business life as station agent and telegraph operator for the Del- aware, Lackawanna and Western Company at Taylor, which position he resigned in 1893 after seventeen years connection therewith. During that period and up to the present time ( 1905) he has acted as agent for all the Atlantic Steamship lines, and is also the proprietor and manager of a foreign and domestic exchange. Whatever en- terprise that tends toward the development and progress of the town of Taylor receives from Mr. Law a hearty and earnest support. He was one of the promoters and is now a director in the Taylor Building and Loan Association, was in- strumental in the bringing of the two silk mills to Taylor, in each of which he is a stockholder, is. part owner in the Taylor Coal Company of Scranton, and is the owner of extensive real es- tate holdings in the town. The esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens is evidenced by the fact that he was elected to the office of treas- urer of Lackawanna township. He is a Demo- crat in politics. He is a member of the Catholic Mutual Benevolent Association, and of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America. May 10, 1887, Mr. Law was united in marriage to Miss Anna Gro- gan, daughter of Patrick and Margaret Grogan, and their children are as follows: Mary, Mar- garet, James, Annie, Francis, Joseph and John.
WESLEY A. FATZINGER, a prominent business man of the borough of Taylor, where he crative trade, was born in Catasauqua, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, December 8, 1864, a son of Uriah and Sarah (Stout) Fatzinger, grandson
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