Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 58

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 58
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 58

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).

Notwithstanding his close application to the duties of his calling, Mr. Young found time to take an active part in public affairs. He was elected a member of the school board of Dunmore in the early eighties, and served continuously for seventeen years. It was when Mr. Young started out to secure the office of treasurer of the county that he came prominently in the public eye as a politician. The fact that he came from such a strong Democratic stronghold was largely re- sponsible for the repeated defeats of that ambi- tion by the Republican leaders. He was first a candidate for the office of county treasurer be- fore the Republican convention that met in the summer of 1894, and was again in 1897, and in 1900 he came out as a candidate for the office against Hon. J. A. Scranton, and although he made a splendid showing in this fight was de- feated by a small margin. In June, 1903, he succeeded in securing the nomination, this time against Robert M. Scranton, and in November of the same year was elected to the office, and from the first Monday in January, 1904, when he took the chair of office, until his decease dis- charged the duties devolving upon him in such a manner as to give great satisfaction to all good citizens. As a citizen and public official, the rec- ord of Mr. Young was creditable to himself and profitable to others, setting forth very clearly that without the influence of wealth or prestige of family he attained to positions of usefulness and honor.

In 1863 Mr. Young married Lucretia Town- send, of Fulton, New York, and they were. the parents of one daughter, Helen E., who is now a resident of Baldwinsville, New York. Mrs. Young died in March, 1868, and on May II. 1875, Mr. Young married Charlotte Harrington, who bore him one son, James H., who is a grad- uate of the University of Pennsylvania, and is at present taking a special course on diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat in Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

JOHN J. AITKEN. Few of the men promi- nent in the mining regions of Pennsylvania have achieved more by their own unaided efforts than has John J. Aitken, of Priceburg. He is the son of John and Catherine Aitken, and was born in 1867, in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

In 1882 Mr. Aitken emigrated to this country and settled in Pittston, Pennsylvania, where he learned the blacksmith's trade and worked for the Pennsylvania Coal Company in connection with the Barnum colliery. At the end of four years he moved to Scranton, securing a position as blacksmith with the Fairlawn Coal Company. Perceiving the necessity of a knowledge of the machinist's trade he applied himself to the acqui- sition of it, and was soon able to practice it in conjunction with that of a blacksmith. In 1889 he was given a position as assistant foreman of the Clifford colliery at Forest City, for the Hill- side Coal & Iron Company of that place. In 1893 moved to Priceburg, where he received a posi- tion as outside foreman, serving under Mr. John Jermyn in Number Three colliery. He remained there until the colliery was purchased by the Scranton Coal Company in 1899. By this com- pany he was then promoted to be superintendent of the Johnson mines Number One and Number Two, and in 1901 became outside division super- intendent of the upper division or northern dis- trict of the company. He had six collieries and one washer under his supervision, and the uni- form justice and kindliness which he has dis- played toward his workmen have secured in all respects the most desirable results and have estab- lished the most satisfactory relations between em- ployer and employed. Notwithstanding the pressing demands of his calling, Mr. Aitken is active as a citizen, and has served for six years as councilman of Dickson City, and is chief of the fire department of that place. He is a mem- ber of Kingsbury Lodge, No. 466, F. & A. M.

Mr. Aitken married, December 6, 1893, Kath- erine Condon, of Sterrucca, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, and four children have been born to them, two of whom are living: William, born in 1897, and Mabel, born in 1901.

R. J. LLOYD, M. D., a young and promising physician, whose residence is in Blakely, but whose practice extends far beyond the boundaries of that borough, is thoroughly qualified for his honorable and humane profession by birth, educa- tion and disposition. He is a native of Lansford, Carbon county, Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being August 15. 1877.

Dr. W. E. Lloyd, father of Dr. R. J. Lloyd, was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. He possessed talent of a high order and a wide range of knowledge outside of his profession. He was a druggist by profession before he turned liis at- tention to the practice of medicine, and operated

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a drug store at Lansford, Pennsylvania. While a resident of that town he took up the study of medicine and its application to disease, and was finally admitted to practice. In 1878 he took up his residence in Olyphant, and continued to prac- tice his profession, also to operate a drug store there until the year of his death, 1899, while yet in the vigor of young manhood. His widow sur- vives him. Dr. Lloyd was employed by the gov- ernment as pension examiner for several years. He was a stanch Republican, and upheld the prin- ciples of his party. He served as alderman in Olyphant, and was a representative of his party as a delegate to one of the state political con- ventions, giving entire satisfaction as a man who understood the rights and privileges of his party. His family consisted of three children : William E., now a physician at Poultney, Vermont, but was formerly a druggist in Scranton, Pennsyl- vania, his father having started him in the busi- ness there. Charlotte C., a successful educator and principal of the Blakely school. Dr. R. J., mentioned at length hereinafter. The mother of these children, whose maiden name was Minnie A. Ackerman, is a native of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania.

During his early childhood the parents of Dr. R. J. Lloyd took up their residence in Olyphant, Pennsylvania, where he enjoyed the advantages of the schools of that town ; he was also a student in the schools of Lackawanna. After three years in a drug store he entered the Baltimore College, and after pursuing the regular course was grad- uated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1897. He then located in Middletown Springs, Vermont, where he practiced medicine up to 1900, when he removed to Blakely and established a practice there, which has steadily increased as his skill and ability in professional matters were rec- ognized and appreciated. He registered as a physician during his short stay in the state of Maryland, being there as a student. He is now (1904) serving as a member of the board of health of Blakely. He is a member of the Im- proved Order of Red Men.

In 1899 Dr. Lloyd was united in marriage to Edith Clift, of Vermont. Their children are: Charlotte and Irene Lloyd. The Clifts are an old colonial family, whose ancestors took an ac- tive part in the Revolutionary struggle for free- dom. H. R. Clift, father of Mrs. Dr. Lloyd, was a veteran in the Civil war, was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, and while confined in the hospital fell in love with his nurse, Miss Emiline Ogden, who subsequently became Mrs. Clift and mother of Mrs. Dr. Lloyd.

JOSEPH G. BELL, a veteran of the Civil war, now living retired, formerly in the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Company, with which he served in various capacities since at- taining his nineteenth year with the exception of the three years and four months he fought for the honor and integrity of this great nation which he loves and reveres. He had charge of the Eddy Creek colliery, where he controlled and guided two hundred hands, and he enjoyed the distinc- tion of having the cleanest record of any man in the employ of that great company, which is a leading and prominent factor in the industries of that section of the state. He was born in Car- bondale, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1840, of Scotch parentage, from whom he derived the per- severance and thrift which has characterized his career.

Robert and Jane (Gillespie) Bell, parents of Joseph G. Bell, were natives of Scotland, their births occurring in 1792 and 1802, respectively. They emigrated to this country in 1840, the voy- age being both long and tedious, but they finally landed safely and made their way by canal boat and gravity road to Carbondale, where they spent a few years and subsequently located on a farm in what is now Mayfield, Pennsylvania. They re- sided there until 1852, during which year they re- moved to Blakely township, where a tract of land was purchased upon which they settled and there spent the remainder of their days. Robert Bell (father) was employed as foreman for a few years by the D. & H. Company. He was a worthy and conscientious man, a stanch believer in the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, and a man of strong mind. As an example of his. strength of mind and purpose the following fact will suffice. From the age of sixteen to sixty he had been addicted to the use of tobacco, but upon concluding that it was best for his constitution to abandon the use of the weed he put the tobacco jar on the shelf in plain view and there it remained untouched up to the time of his death, some twenty-four years hence. If he ever longed for it, no one was any the wiser. Of the six children born to Robert and Jane (Gillespie) Bell, all but Joseph G. were natives of Scotland. He and his brother William, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work, are the only surviving mem- bers of the family. Robert Bell died in 1872, age of eighteen years when he entered the em- eighty-six years.

The educational advantages enjoyed by Jo- seph G. Bell were limited to those acquired in the. common schools of his township. He was em -. ployed on his father's farm until he reached the-

2-19

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age of eighteen years, when he entered the in- ploy of the D. & H. Company, driving a team. He continued at this work until the breaking out of the Civil war when his patriotism inspired him to enlist his services in defense of his country, as should have been the case with every loyal citizen. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Fifty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for three years. He was soon promoted from pri- vate to corporal, then to sergeant in 1862, the fol- lowing year to orderly sergeant, and as such was honorably discharged in 1864, having served four months over his time. On receiving his discharge he was offered a captain's commission if he saw proper to continue in the service, but longing to see the loved ones at home he rejected the com- mission, and later when he would have changed his mind the war was ended. His regiment fought all through McClellan's campaign, which included Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, Seven Days Retreat, in which every day had its battle. His regiment was then sent to Folly Island, from there to Morris Island, where a battle ensued, and then to James Island where one hundred and sixty-seven of their men were taken prisoners ; at this battle Mr. Bell re- ceived a slight wound in the shoulder.

Upon his return to civil life, Mr. Bell again entered the employ of the D. & H. Company and drove a team for one year. In 1866 he went to Grassy Island colliery, where he worked at various jobs around the breaker for another year. He was then sent into the car shop where he re- mained up to 1872, and during that year he was promoted to outside foreman of Grassy Island colliery, which office he held for twenty-seven years, and in 1899 he was placed in charge of the Eddy Creek colliery. He was elected the first constable of Blakely when it was made a borough, was a member of the school board for three years, president of the council for five years, councilman for fifteen years, and burgess of Blakely borough for two terms. He is an earnest and strong ad- vocate of the principles of Republicanism, and is deserving of all honors that his fellow-citizens can confer upon him. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, in which body he has served in the capacity of trustee for twenty years. He is affiliated with Oriental Star Lodge, No. 688, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has served as master, and James E. Stevens Post. No. 304, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he served as commander.

Mr. Bell was united in marriage in 1867 to Eveline Silsley, who bore him one son-George-

a carpenter by trade. Mrs. Bell died in 1899. Mr. Bell married for his second wife Mrs. Mary Barney, the ceremony being performed in 1902.

WILLIAM VANDERVORT. The business men of Lackawanna county have a worthy repre- sentative in William Vandervort, of Peckville. Mr. Vandervort is descended, as his name de- notes, from ancestors who emigrated from Hol- land to America. It is probable that they found a home in the province of New York, and that they came thither during the early period when the government was in the hands of the Dutch and the city of New York was called New Am- sterdam.

Jacob Vandervort was born in New York state, and in 1873 moved to Glenwood, Susque- hanna county, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer in comfortable circumstances, passing his time in the labors of his calling and in the discharge of his duties as a citizen. He married Hannah Brewer, also a native of New York state, and they were the parents of two children : William, mentioned at length hereinafter ; and Frederick, a carpenter, residing at Dolph, Pennsylvania. Mr. Vandervort, the father, led the somewhat une- ventful life of a prosperous farmer, respected by all for his quiet usefulness and unobtrusive worth. He died in 1899 and his estimable wife expired the same year.

William Vandervort, son of Jacob and Han- nah (Brewer) Vandervort, was born May II, 1862, in Delaware county, New York, where he received his primary education. After the re- moval of the family to Glenwood, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, his scholastic training was completed in the schools of that region. In 1883 he went to Peckville and entered into partnership with I. S. Ferris & Company, of that place. His sole reason for taking this step was his strong inclination for a commercial career, inasmuch as he had for the five years previous been in the service of the Lackawanna Coal Company. The partnership with I. S. Ferris & Company contin- ued for twelve years, and in 1897 Mr. Vander- vort formed a partnership with A. F. Kizer, un- der the firm name of Kizer & Vandervort, gen- eral contractors and dealers in builders' supplies. This connection lasted for two years, at the end of which time another partner was taken into the firm in the person of D. J. Beardslee. Three months later Mr. Kizer's share in the business was purchased by the other partners, the firm thus becoming that of Vandervort & Beardslee,

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under which name the business is still con- ducted. Their trade is large and contsantly in- creasing. The demands of business leave Mr. Vandervort little time for political duties or social ·enjoyments. He is, however, never wanting in the obligations of a citizen, and maintains his con- nection with the Oriental Star Lodge, No. 588, F. and A. M., of which he is a charter member.

Mr. Vandervort married, August 12, 1884, Nora Ferris, of Peckville, and they were the par- ·ents of one daughter, Anna B. Mrs. Vander- vort died January 15, 1899, and May 29, 1902, Mr. Vandervort married Mrs. Bessie F. (Drake) Taylor.

J. F. JACOB, M. D. One of the ablest and best known physicians of the county is Dr. J. F. Jacob, of Throop. By birth and ancestry Dr. Jacob is a Welshman. His grandfather, Daniel Jacob, married Margaret - , and they were the parents of two sons, both of whom emigrated to the United States: Thomas F., mentioned at length hereinafter: and Richard, who held the position of a bookkeeper and is now deceased.

Thomas F. Jacob, son of Daniel and Margaret Jacob, was born in 1848, in Wales, and in 1871 came to the United States. He settled in Nanti- coke, Pennsylvania, where for twenty-seven years he was employed as bookkeeper by the Susque- hanna Coal Company. At the end of that time he opened a general store which he conducted during the remainder of his life. He took an ac- tive part in township affairs, and was honored by his neighbors with several offices of trust and re- sponsibility. For twelve years he was secretary of Nanticoke, for four years treasurer, for five years held the office of notary public, and he also served as postmaster for some time under President Mckinley. He was president of the First National Bank of Nanticoke, of which he was one of the first stockholders, and was also president of the Electric Company of Nanticoke, of which he was indeed the principal promoter. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Honor. Politically he was a stanch upholder of the prin- ciples of the Republican platform. He was a member of the Welsh Congregational Church, and in 1884 founded in the face of great oppo- sition the English Congregational Church. That church is to-day in a flourishing condition.

Thomas F. Jacob married Cecilia Davis, also a native of Wales, and of the thirteen children born to them six are now living : J. F., mentioned at length hereinafter : Margaret, who is the wife

of William Crotzer: Edwin: Archibald, who is the principal of the Nanticoke school ; Laura ; and Thomas. The death of Mr. Jacob, the father, which occurred in 1903, was mourned by the whole community as that of a man so useful and so justly honored deserved to be.

Dr. J. F. Jacob, son of Thomas F. and Cecilia (Davis) Jacob, was born October 23, 1870, in Wales, and the following year was brought by his parents to the United States. He received his primary education in the common schools of Nan- ticoke, and then entered the Bloomsburg State Normal School, from which he graduatd in 1889. He was prepared for his chosen profession at Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia, from which institution he received in 1893 the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He began practice the same year, opening an office in Forest City, where he remained until 1897, in which year he moved to Throop. His practice is large and con- stantly increasing. In 1903 he opened a drug store in connection with his office, thus supplying a long-felt want, a kindness which the people of Throop were not slow to appreciate. He is a member of the Lackawanna Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Jacob married in 1892 Eva, daughter of David M. Rittenhouse, of Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. The Rittenhouses are one of the old families of the Keystone state, the members of which have filled many responsible town and county offices. Dr. and Mrs. Jacob are the parents of one daughter, Anna Cecelia, born June 12, 1895.

GEORGE H. HAVERLY. Among the well known and respected business men and citizens of Throop is George H. Haverly. He is the son of Leroy and Eliza (Place) Haverly, and was born in 1859, at Overton, Bradford county, Pennsylva- nia.

He was educated at various places in his na- tive state to which his parents removed, finally going as far as Iowa, where they remained six years, and where Mrs. Haverly died. In 1872 Mr. Haverly brought his family back to Pennsyl- vania, and settled at New Albany.

In 1884 George H. Haverly went to Throop. where he was employed as a clerk by T. H. Wat- kins & Company, and was subsequently promoted to the position of head clerk, a place which he re- tained for ten years. The entire period of his serv- ice with the firm was seventeen years. In 1901 he resigned his position and opened a store of his own which he conducted for two years. In 1903

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he went into the livery business, and also became a general contractor, and these two lines of busi- ness he still follows with much success. During his residence in Throop he has built two houses and become the owner of nineteen building lots in the borough. He has taken an active part in township affairs, and his neighbors have testified to the confidence with which they regard him by electing him to various offices. He has served as councilman for five years, clerk of the council for three years, for one year was chief of police, and for three years filled the office of tax collec- tor. He is a member of the Heptasophs of Prov- idence, and the Royal Arcanum of Pittston. His political principles are those advocated and up- held by the Republican party. He attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Haverly married, in 1880, Reah Merrill, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, and of the six children born to them four are now living : Clarence M., who is a druggist at Archbald; Georgia G .; Harvey M. ; and Reah M. Mrs. Haverly died in 1898, and in 1900 Mr. Haverly married Mary Bramer, of Mill City. They have one daughter, Helen May, who was born in 1904.

JONATHAN H. CALLENDER, of Blake- ly borough, Pennsylvania, is a worthy descendant of a highly respected Scotch-Irish family, who previous to the Revolutionary war emigrated to America, settling in Virginia. The progenitor of this family was a member of the Established Church of England, was what was then called a Tory and he was loyal to King George of Eng- land. One of his sons, Samuel, declared for the colonies and took up arms in defense of the new cause, and this action so enraged the father that he disowned and disinherited him. After serving under General Washington as a sergeant in his life guards up to the close of the war, he was honorably discharged. Samuel Callender mar- ried Martha Slosson, and they subsequently moved to Orange, New York. To them were born the following named children : Samuel, Na- than, Stephen, Sally, Betsey, Rhoda and Mary Callender.

Samuel Callender, eldest son of Samuel, the Revolutionary soldier, and Martha Callender, was born in Connecticut, September 10, 1783. He lo- cated in Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, and took up one hundred acres of land running from the mountain through Peckville to the Lackawan- na river. For a period of time he resided in Greengrove, same county. He was a stanch Bap- tist, serving as deacon in that body, and he was

familiarly known as "Deacon Samuel." Being of a genial and cheerful disposition, he was a great favorite with all who had the honor of his ac- quaintance. He was united in marriage to Eliz- abeth London, daughter of Edward London, the: ceremony being performed in 1806. Mr. Callen- der died in 1857. They were the parents of the following named children :

I. Laura, who became the wife of Jabez Hall, and they were the parents of twelve children and. grandparents of six; they had six sons in the Civil war. 2. Stephen, mentioned at length in the following paragraph. 3. Lovice, who became the wife of Levi Silvius, and their family con- sisted of twelve children, two sons of whom served in the Civil war. 4. Rhoda, who became. the wife of the Rev. J. B. Kenyon, a minister of the Baptist church, and eight children were born to them, five of whom are living, namely: Mrs .. S. D. Kingsly, Mrs. J. T. Howe, Charles P., Car- rie A., and Mrs. J. R. Jones. Rev. J. B. Kenyon, was a native of New York state. He located in the Lackawanna Valley in 1841, was married in 1846, was appointed the first burgess of Blakely in 1867, and also held the offices of poor director and school director. His home is one of the oldest in the Lackawanna Valley that is in a good state of preservation. He died in 1883, his wife- in 1897. 5. Rev. Newell, who married Harriet Ferris, who bore him seven children. 6. Loucina, who became the wife of Benjamin Bowen, and they are the parents of three children. 7. Har- riet, who became the wife of Theron Ferris, and five children were born to them.

Stephen Callender, eldest son of Samuel and Elizabeth Callender, was born in the borough of Blakely, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1809. He was a man of sterling qualities and unimpeachable char- acter, and served in the capacity of justice of the. peace for the long period of thirty-six years in Blakely township. By his marriage to Lephe. Hall seven children were born, as follows: Jud- son, who married Abbie Snedifor, and their chil- dren are Melvin W., Franklin and Mary Etta ;- Jonathan H., mentioned hereinafter ; Emma (.Mrs. Henry Plummer) ; Ella, deceased ; Wil- liam H., deceased ; Eliza J., deceased ; and Charles deceased.

Jonathan H. Callender, second son of Stephen and Lephe Callender, was born in the borough of Blakely in which he now resides, December 29, 1833. He was reared and educated there. and early in lif served an apprenticeship at the trade- of carpenter. For twenty consecutive years he was in the employ of the D. & H. Company, eleven-

Jonathan A Callender

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 58

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