Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 67

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 67
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 67

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).

The children of Stephen Jackson and Lydia Ann ( Major) Whiteman are as follows : I. Harry- Austin, born July 31, 1870, at Lehman, married October 25, 1900, Jane Lucas, of German- town, Pennsylvania, issue: James Lucas, born June 23, 1905. He was educated in the public schools of Wilkes-Barre and the Harry Hillman Academy. He is now engaged in the wholesale stationery business with his father, a member of the firm of H. A. Whiteman & Co. 2. Francis. Asbury, born January 24, 1872, at Lehman, graduated from Wilkes-Barre public schools, Wyoming Seminary and Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia. He was resident phy- sician one year in Hahnemann Hospital, Phila- delphia, and one year as resident physician in the National Homopathic Hospital of Washing- ton, D. C. He has been engaged in the general practice of medicine in Wilkes-Barre since July,. 1902. 3. Edmund Victor. born March 4, 1878, married Myra Gray, of Wilkes-Barre, June IO, 1903, issue : Ruth, born June 18, 1904. He en- gaged in the business of H. A. Whiteman & Co. He served in the Spanish-American war, Com- pany D, Ninth Regiment. 4. Ruth, born Jan- uary 4. 1890, a pupil in Wilkes-Barre Female -. Institute.

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FRANCIS MARION NICHOLS, a long- time resident of Wilkes-Barre, recognized as a most capable lawyer, and who has taken in pub- lic affairs a degree of unselfish interest which at- tests his true devotion to the duties of an ideal citizenship, is of English descent and traces his ancestry to Nichols.

Stephen Nichols (great-grandfather), a na- tive of England, settled in Connecticut. His son John (grandfather) removed from that state in 1819, locating in Albany township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. He was a basket maker, taking great pride in his work, his wares being the best that could be manufactured, and many beautiful specimens of his handicraft remain as evidences of his mechanical skill and artistic taste. On one occasion he constructed a basket having a capacity of one and a half bushels, and the splints were so closely woven together that it held water entirely without leakage. He married Margaret Potter, who was also born in England. and whose father. Robert Potter, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was with General Gates at the surrender of Burgoyne.

George W. Nichols ( father), son of John and Margaret ( Potter) Nichols, was born in Albany township, and passed his life in New Albany. He was a carpenter and millwright by occupation, and served as justice of the peace for about a · score of years. He was a man of excellent char- acter and of genial disposition. His wife was Elizabeth B. Hemingway, who was born in Rome. Pennsylvania, and who died May 3, 1872.

Francis Marion Nichols, son of George \V. and Elizabeth B. (Hemingway) Nichols, was "born in Smithfield, Bradford county, Pennsyl- vania, May 23, 1851. He remained at home until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered upon a career of his own. He had acquired an ex- cellent, practical education, of which he made ample use. Before he was of age he taught school in the townships of Athens and Ulster, in his na- tive county. He then went to Kansas, where he completed his education, entering the State Uni- versity at Lawrence in the sophomore year, and pursuing a three year course, at intervals serving as an instructor in mathematics in the Macauly Business College at Lawrence. In the same city he began his legal studies, having as preceptors Barker & Summerfield. He completed his read- ing under W. A. and B. M. Peck, of Towanda, Pennsylvania, and early in 1873 was admitted to practice in the courts of Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, and to the Luzerne county bar on Oc- tober 28 of the same year. He at once entered

upon practice, and drew to himself a clientele which has constantly increased in extent and im- portance. His professional ability has found numerous acknowledgments of much signifi- cance. In 1879 he received a high compliment in appointment by the court to the position of dis- trict attorney of his county to fill the vacancy occasioned by the elevation of its incumbent, Hon. Charles E. Rice, to the bench. In the same year lie received the Republican nomination for the same position for the full term, but was defeated and by only a few votes. In 1880 Attorney Gen- eral Palmer appointed him a special assistant attorney for Luzerne county. In 1882 he was again the Republican candidate for the district attorneyship, and was defeated by a plurality of less than one thousand. From 1891 to 1892 he served as stamp deputy in the revenue service for the United States, but resigned on account of his election in February of the latter named year to the office of mayor, which he held until 1902, a period of ten years. In 1902 he was appointed judge of the orphan's court by the governor of the state, but declined because he was at that time a candidate for re-election for the office of mayor, having been nominated in the convention of the Republican party, and therefore could not at- tend to the duties of judge and also to his can- vass. In the election the Republicans were di- vided into two separate and distinct parties, and on this account Mr. Nichols together with the other Republican candidates were defeated. Since his retirement from the office of mayor Mr. Nich- ols has been actively engaged in the practice of law.

In politics Mr. Nichols has been a Republican from his youth, but his sense of propriety and right has at various times led him to withhold his support from candidates named by ring domi- nation, and even to antagonize them openly. He was prime leader in his county in the revolt against the Cameron domination, acted as chair- man of the independent organization in Luzerne county, and in that capacity exerted himself with great industry and rare ability, maintaining a voluminous correspondence, giving much time to the work of organization, and performing bril- liant service on the stump. After the emergency had passed he resumed his place in the Republi- can ranks (which, as a matter of fact, he had never deserted ), and has since given efficient sup- port to its principles, policies and candidates. Dur- ing the momentous campaign of 1884 he pre- pared a masterly exposition of the tariff, treat- ing the subject upon its merits per se, as dis-

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tinguished from the doctrine of incidental pro- tection. This he delivered before a large audi- ence in the court house in Wilkes-Barre, and its res gestae formed the gist of many less formal addresses delivered by him during the campaign which ensued. He possesses excellent oratorical gifts, which he has at ready command, whether ·On the hustings or in pleading a cause before court or jury.

Mr. Nichols' reverential spirit and literary ability are alike discernable in a noticeable work from his pen: "An Argument in Favor of the Bible Narration of Man's Creation, and Dreams in which Humanity's Future is Revealed and its Shadows Depicted." In this he touchingly nar- rates impressions which will appeal to many a heart in reminiscent thought of a sainted mother :

"Many years have elapsed since I received the farewell kiss and heard the dying prayer of my dear christian mother-the house in which she endeavored by her love and tenderness to guard the susceptibilities of my youth against evil temp- tations, and with an anxious heart saw me cross the threshold of manhood-all the associations in the midst of which she faithfully did her life's work. the grave within whose solemn walls her physical presence was hidden forever from my sight, are many miles away ; but, unconnected with all tangible objects I can sit here in the si- lence of the midnight hour and recall before my mind's eye her cheering countenance and hear again the kind and loving words with which she sought to comfort me in sadness, or make more gratifying the fruits of success. I can see her weeping over the missteps of my boyhood, and smiling her heart's joy when she saw the seeds of truth and virtue, which she had sown in my moral nature, beginning to sprout. I can see her, O, how distinctly, slowly and without a murmur fading away under the ravages of disease, and when the grim presence of death became visible to her consciousness, in the midst of the tears and sobs of children, friends and neighbors, with a calmness that the terrors of her approaching dis- solution could not disturb, and a reliance upon the promises of her Master, that was absolutely free from the weakness of doubt or uncertainty, beseeching God to pour into the broken hearts at her bedside the consolation of a christian's hope.

"But equally as distinct I remember the influ- ence of my mother's physical presence : I can re- experience the soothing sensations that came to me from the gentle stroke of her hand upon my

forehead, when sickness, anger or disappointment beclouded the pleasures and ambitions of my childhood. When the turmoil and greed of the business contentions of the world are hidden from my sight, and I am permitted to meditate in the quiet and inspiration of solitude, I can feel in the sensibilities of my soul the touch of her christian and moral instructions, and in the purest recesses of my heart the sacred influence of her last prayer."

Mr. Nichols married, February 1, 1874. Mary Corker, of Norwich, New York, who died Feb- ruary 2, 1883, leaving children as follows : Flor- ence Edmonda, Lyman Bennett, Lester Wilson and Leona M. Nichols. Mr. Nichols married (second), July 3, 1883, Almina Wilson, of Clif- ford, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, who died February, 1902, leaving the following chil- dren surviving her: Francis Marion, died De- cember 24, 1904: Ruth A., Alice E., William R., David James Wilson and Almina Nichols.

WILLIAM THOMAS PERKINS, a resi- dent of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was born July 29. 1867, in Plymouth borough, the son of Henry and Alice ( Fox) Perkins, natives of Not- tingham and Rutley, Derbyshire, England, re- spectively.

Thomas Fox, maternal grandfather, was a native of England and came to America about 1862, settling in Plymouth borough, Pennsylva- nia, on the Mountain road now known as Lee street. He was a farmer by occupation, and made a home for himself and family in this re- gion. His wife bore him children, as follows : I. Alice, married Henry . Perkins. 2. Samuel, born August 18, 1845, married Sarah Bailey, and they have children, as follows: Laura, Wil- liam, Zathan. Sara, Fannie, George, Samuel, Clara and James. Their residence is in Virden, Illinois. 3. David, deceased, born November 18, 1848, married Jeannette Lewis, daughter of Ben- jamin Lewis, and their children were: Frank, born April 28. 1876, married Alice Richards ; they have one son, Josiah, now deceased. Alice, born March 15, 1881, married Frederick Picket ; they have one child, a daughter. Jeannette. Cora, born December 13. 1882. Louis, born March 2, 1885. Jeannette, died May 9. 1890. Two other children who died in infancy. David Fox. the father of these children, died February 12, 1891, and his wife passed away May 9, 1890, and was buried in Shawnee cemetery. 4. Jo- seph. born April 12. 1851, died January 16,

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1854. 5. William, born March 24, 1856, mar- ried Sarah Deets; they reside in Braceville, Illi- nois, and had several children.

Henry Perkins, father of William Thomas Perkins, was a son of William Perkins. He fol- lowed the trade of a basket-maker in his native country, and upon his arrival in the United States settled in Plymouth. There he found em- ployment in the coal mines and worked there until 1870, when he removed with his family to Streator, Illinois. He worked in the soft coal mines and was injured by an explosion of gas in the mines, which injuries resulted in his death seventeen days after the accident. His wife was Anna Fox, born February 5, 1843, the eldest daughter and child of Thomas and Ann Fox. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins had children, as follows : 1. Mary Ann, married William J. Owens, of Plymouth, and their children were: William, married Susan Michael, and had two children, Russel Conwell and William John; Alice, de- ceased ; Alice, Harry and Walter. 2. William Thomas, mentioned hereinafter. 3. Harry, born July 11, 1870, married Jessie Reynolds.

After the death of her husband Mrs. Perkins and her family returned to Plymouth and took up their residence on the old homestead with Mrs. Perkins' mother, Ann Fox. There she main- tained herself and children by dressmaking. Aft- er two years of widowhood she married John Rodgers, of Cornwall, England, and they had the following children : Elizabeth M., born April 15, 1873, died November 5, 1879; and Harriet, born December 26, 1876, died July 13, 1878. The death of John Rodgers occurred in 1875 after a lingering illness, and his wife passed away July 4, 1893, and was buried in Shawnee cemetery. She was fifty years of age at the time of her death.

William Thomas Perkins spent his early life on the old homestead and acquired his education in the common schools of the county. At the ten- der age of nine years he set out to make his own way in the world, entering into his first regular employment as a breaker boy, picking up slate in the mines. The following year, 1877, he was promoted to regular mine work, continuing in this employment until March 19, 1885, when he broke his arm. When he was again able to en- gage in active pursuits he turned his attention to the trade of cabinet-making, in which occupa- tion he became very proficient, and in which he engaged until 1888.

In 1887 Mr. Perkins took a business course under the instruction of Professor Mallery, of

Wilkes-Barre, thus laying a good foundation for a future business career. In 1888 he entered the employ of W. E. Renshaw, a wholesale flour and feed merchant, of Plymouth, and in one year had advanced to the position of general merchant. This rapid advancement attests to the confidence and trust reposed in him by his employers, and his ability and integrity as a business man. He continued very successfully as general manager for Mr. Renshaw for three years, when the busi- ness was closed up. In 1892 he entered the em- ploy of J. W. Bounds, of Plymouth, but at the end of one year thus engaged gave his atten- tion to the painting trade, which he had learned in connection with cabinet-making. He estab- lished himself with Mr. S. W. Campbell, of Plymouth, and remained with him for two years. For the succeeding four years he was occupied in the contracting business and attained excel- lent success in this line. In 1899 Mr. Perkins decided to engage in business on his own ac- count, and accordingly opened a store in Plym- outh at No. 124 West Main street. In 1900 he changed his location to No. 4 East Main street, and there he is now engaged in the conduct of a very successful business, carrying a full and complete line of paints, oils, etc., and enjoys an ever increasing patronage. In his political re- lations Mr. Perkins affiliates with the Republic- an party, and is deeply interested in all commu- nity affairs. Fraternally he is a member of In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, Wadhams Lodge, Plymouth, No. 826. In matters of re- ligion he accords with the doctrines of the Prim- itive Methodist Church, of which he is president of the trustee board, chorister and teacher in the Sunday school. He and his wife are both active and earnest church workers.

William Thomas Perkins married, January 9, 1881, Emily Grace Savage, daughter of Rev. Daniel and Maria M. Savage, who were then residents of Plymouth, now of Girardsville, Penn- sylvania. Mrs. Perkins was one of the following children : Lydia Grace, Benjamin, Rebecca, Alice Clara, married George S. Stewart, a resident of Meyersdale, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and they have children as follows: Francis Albert, Clyde Edgar, Lester, deceased ; Daniel, Robert. Lester, Marion, Dwight and Helen Margaret. Maria Lonisa, married Absalom Lambert, a resi- dent of Philadelphia, and had : Gertrude. Annie, deceased ; Eva Jennie, Annie, Albert and Irene. Of these children Gertrude married Charles Wal- ton, a resident of Philadelphia, and has three children : George, Harvey and Laura May. An-

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nie (second), married Walter Brilland, also a resident of Philadelphia, and had one child, Will- iam Samuel. Lydia Rachel, married Rev. W. J. Richards ; they reside in Coaldale, Pennsylvania, and have children: Walter Roland, resides in Coaldale ; Estelle May, married Daniel Jones, and they reside in Coaldale: Edna Grace, William Ray. Frank and Vera Pearl. Thomas English. married Mrs. Minnie Russell, and had two chiil- dren, Susie Russell and Myrtle. Emily Grace, now Mrs. William Thomas Perkins. Ida May Dennison, married Arthur Maul, and has one child, Lewis Daniel. Florence Lucretia. Will- iam. Edwin.

Mr. and Mrs. Wiliam Thomas Perkins are the parents of the following children: Florence, Louise, Alice, Clara, William Daniel, Sheldon, Arthur, Walter Thomas and Henry George.

PETER SHUPP, deceased, who was a de- scendant of an old and honored German ances- try, was born August 16, 1822, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on the old Shupp homestead, which was located on the present site of the Boston breaker. He was a son of Philip and Susan (Krupp) Shupp, and grandson of Col. Philip Shupp, of Revolutionary fame.

Philip Shupp ( father) followed the occupa- tion of farming, conducting his operations on the homestead in Luzerne county. He married Su- san Krupp, who bore him the following children : I. William,' unmarried, who died at Rolling Prairie, Indiana, about the year 1893. 2. Mary, married Miner Nesbitt, a farmer of Plymouth borough, and went to Rolling Prairie, Indiana, where Mr. Nesbitt followed farming and where lie died about the year 1885. Their children were: Elizabeth, James, a farmer near Denver. Colorado; Louisa, Emily, who resides in Cali- fornia : Stella ; Katherine, who died in 1904 : George, deceased. All of these children were married with the exception of Katherine. 3. Pe- ter, mentioned hereinafter. 4. Elizabeth, mar- ried John Flanigan, of Plymouth, issue : Emily, who became the wife of David Bishop ; Lonisa ; Mary, who married and settled in Bergen Hill, New Jersey ; Elizabeth, who married and resides in California ; and Stella. 5. John, who married and went to La Porte, Indiana. 6. Andrew. married Sarah Gardner, issue : Thomas, John. George, Harry and Walter. A sketch of Andrew appears also in this work.

Peter Shupp was educated in the common schools of Plymouth. His father died in 1834, when he was twelve years of age; and he then

began working on the farm during the summer months and attended school during the winter months, pursuing his studies at night, and thus he acquired a good practical education which prepared him for the active duties of life. He followed farming until 1854, when he formed a partnership with Draper Smith and opened the first general store in Plymouth, they enjoying for ten years a large share of the patronage of the town. At the expiration of the above men- tioned period of time the partnership was dis- solved, and Mr. Shupp engaged in business on his own account, erecting a building at Main street and Centre avenue, Plymouth, where he opened a general store. He contintied the man- agement of the same for a quarter of a century, or until 1889, when he turned the business over to his sons, who conducted it for several years. Mr. Shupp again assumed the management of the above store, which he conducted for another five years, after which his son, Charles Shupp, took charge and conducted it until the death of his father, which occurred December 10, 1897, when the business was closed out.

In addition to the management of his gen- eral store Mr. Shupp was for many years and up to the time of his decease president of the Heat, Light and Water Company, and vice-pres- ident of the First National Bank of Plymouth. For many years he was a member of the Chris- tian Church, in which body he held the offices of treasurer and trustee. He was a Republican in politics. He was a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and a member of the Home Guards of Pennsylvania at the time of the Civil war, serving for a short period of time, until the necessity for service was over, when he, with the others, were discharged.

Peter Shupp married (first), January 7, 1849, Martha Bangs, born January 4, 1829, at Plymouth, Pennsylvania, daughter of Alba and Hannah Bangs. Their children were: I. Flora, born October 30, 1849, married James G. Mar- tin, of La Porte, Indiana : issue: Flora, wife of Philip Rice, son of Judge Rice, of Wilkes-Barre, and Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Martin reside in Wash- ington, D. C. 2. Irvin, born March 29, 1851, married and went to Philadelphia, where he re- mained about twenty-five years, engaged in the textile business. Their children are: Irvin, Jr., married a Miss Patton, of Philadelphia ; Mary and Dorothy. 3. Charles, born September 7, 1852, married Hannah Levi, of Plymouth : issue : Helen. Kenneth and Ruth. He engaged first in the mercantile business in Plymouth, was then

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partner in a china and glassware store in Phila- delphia, later conducted his father's store in Plymouth until it was closed, then engaged in dry goods and furnishing business in Rochester, New York, and is now engaged in the same line of business in Plainfield. New Jersey. 4 and 5. Alba and Emily (twins), born May 25, 1854: the former died September 25, 1854, and the fat- ter September 19, 1854. Mrs. Shupp, the moth- er of these children, diel August 25, 1854, aged twenty-five years, seven months and twenty-one days.

Peter Shupp married (second), November 8, 1860, Ellen Remmel, born November 30, 1832, in Ross township, Monroe county, Pennsylva- nia, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Gress) Remmel. Mrs. Shupp was educated in the com- mon schools in Kingston and Wyoming Semi- nary. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in the work of which she takes an ac- tive interest, being a member of the Foreign Missionary Society and the Ladies' Aid Society. George Remmel, father of Mrs. Shupp, was born near Easton, Pennsylvania, followed agricultural pursuits throughout the active years of his life, and his father was a lumberman in Ross town- ship. Andrew Remmel, uncle of George Rem- mel, was a soklier in the war of 1812, and set- tled near Easton, Pennsylvania, which fact was unknown to his relatives for several years. Eliza- beth (Gress) Remmel. mother of Mrs. Shupp, was born in the vicinity of Stroudsburg, Penn- sylvania.

GILBERT CAMPBELL MILLER, con- tracting builder of Plymouth, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, was born in Beach Haven, Penn- sylvania, March 9. 1869. son of Peter and Ma- tilda (Smith) Young Miller. both of whom were of German descent, although Peter Miller was born in France.

Peter Miller came to America when thirteen years old, and in his mature manhood settled near Dorrance Corners, Wyoming, on the old homestead now known as the Rheinhammer farm. He was an owner of boats which plied the old canal and the Susquehanna river, and his brother was also a boatman on the same waters, making long journeys to Baltimore, New York and other ports. Peter Miller rendered faith- ful service to his adopted country during the Civil war, serving throughout the entire strug- gle as a member of what was known as the "Acorn Regiment," the Sixteenth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was a member of

Conyngham Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He died October 2, 1903, aged eighty-four years, at the home of his daughter Mary, at Dorrance Corners, and his remains were interred in the Slocum cemetery. He was twice married. His first wife. Phoebe Miller, died September 7. 1864, aged forty-two years, one month and twen- ty-one days, while they were living on the Rhein- hammer farm, and she was buried in the Slocum cemetery. Of this marriage were born the fol- lowing children: Samuel H .. born December 4. 1851 ; David R., born June 6, 1855. died at Nes- copeck, Pennsylvania, 1829 ; Daniel R., born Au- gust 5, 1857, died 1904 : Mary, Sarah, Benjamin, born 1862. Peter Miller married ( second ) Ma- tilda (Smith) Young, widow of William Young, in 1866, and of this marriage was born one child, Gilbert Campbell Miller. By her first marriage Matilda (Smith) Young Miller had one child, William Young, Jr., deceased.

Gilbert Campbell Miller passed his early years in Beach Haven, and at the early age of nine years began as a mule driver on the canal for his uncle, making on an average nine round trips a year between Nanticoke and New York, the trip each way usually occupying a period of thirty days. On occasion the trip was varied to Phila- delphia, Baltimore, Havre de Grace, Harrisburg, Columbia, Wrightsville, Elkton, Maryland, Del- aware City, Trenton, New Jersey ; New Bruns- wick, and other points. The arduous nature of his calling, and its unremitting labor, are discern- ible in the fact that on frequent occasions the lad made the trip to Havre de Grace with only such sleep as he could catch in the saddle on the mule's back, and while walking alongside the an- imals with his hands on the traces to support him. It was while thus engaged that he estab- lished those habits of industry and persistency that in after life made him successful in a larger and more active career. Meantime he was not inattentive to the necessity for some educational preparation, and during the midst of the winters, when navigation was suspended, he attended the Beach Haven school, from which he graduated at the age of seventeen years. Mr. P. A. Meix- ell, of Wilkes-Barre, a practicing attorney, and then serving as school director, became attracted to the young man, and, recognizing in him qual- ities which if rightly directed would direct him into a career of large usefulness, secured his ap- proval to being apprenticed to John Hamilton, a contracting builder of Nanticoke, to learn brick- laying, plastering and stone masonry. His first year was not conducive to much advancement,

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 67

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