Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 68

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 68
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 68

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).

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

his duties being limited to driving a team and carrying the hod. At the outset of his second year he gave vigorous expression to his dissat- isfaction and to his earnest desire to be given work, no matter how laborious, so long as it would afford him opportunity to really learn something of the trades with which he was con- nected. His solicitations met with a prompt ac- quiescence, and he was now advanced as rapidly as his developing abilities would justify, and at the age of twenty-two years was declared a fin- ished workman. He worked as a journeyman in Wilkes-Barre and vicinity until 1896, and this vear, when twenty-seven years old, embarked in the contracting business upon his own account, and has been so occupied to the present time, with the exception of brief periods when he served the Traction Company in the capacity of con- ductor, and when he took occasional employ- ment with George F. Dickover, a contractor of his own city. In all these years he has made an excellent record as a mechanic of real ability. and a business man of entire dependability, honora- ble in every particular, and in all things meas- uring up to the highest standards of personal in- tegrity.

Mr. Miller was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, affiliated with the lodge in Plymouth, and of the lodge of Patriotic Order of Sons of America, of Wap- wallopen, Pennsylvania. In the line of his oc- cupations he is a member of the Bricklayers' and Masons' Union of Plymouth, and the Street Carmen's Union and the Master Plasterers Union, both of Wilkes-Barre. He is also a mem- ber of the Order of Heptasophis, of Plymouth. and the Musicians' Union of Wilkes-Barre. He is a Democrat in politics, but sufficiently inde- pendent to cast his ballot with greater reference to the qualifications and character of the candi- date than to the political creed which he pro- fesses. With his family he attends the Plymouth Methodist Episcopal Church. and, possessing fine musical gifts, is a member of its Sunday' school orchestra.

November 14, 1893, in Scranton, Mr. Miller married Annie Louise Major. daughter of Will- iam F. and Sarah (Desmond) Major (both now deceased), of Plymouth. She was born April 20, 1868. and was educated at the old academy and the high school in Plymouth. Her father was a son of John and Anna (Case) Major ; for about twenty-five years he was a carpenter for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company at the Not- tingham mine, and was subsequently for a num-

ber of years a contractor in Plymouth, where he was well known and held in universal esteem. To Mr. and Alrs. Miller were born three chil- dren: Maud, born September 20, 1894: Hazel Marie, born December 18, 1896 ; and -, born April 22, 1905.

OSCAR MOORE LANCE, of Kingston, general manager of the Spring Brook Water Sup- ply Company, was born in Tremont, Pennsylva- nia, November 11, 1848, a son of William Lyman and Frances Mitchell ( Rose) Lance, the former named having been a half brother of John Fran- cis. the painter.

William Lyman Lance was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1817. In early life he was a partner of William Lyman in an iron works, and later he became a coal operator, first at Tremont, then in Wilkes-Barre, and last- ly at Plymouth. He was the first coal operator to pay his miners cash for their labor, and was the first man to use anthracite coal in the smelt- ing of iron. In 1870 he moved to Norfolk, Vir- ginia, and established the ship building works known as the Norfolk Manufacturing Company, which he successfully conducted for several years. He was progressive in his ideas, genial 'and court- eous in disposition, and therefore was respected in the various communities in which he resided. He was a chaplain in the army during the Civil war. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, superintendent of the Sunday school, and a Republican in politics. His death occurred in Germantown, where the latter years of his life were spent. His wife, Frances Mitch- ell ( Rose) Lance, was born in 1818; she was a Quaker in religion prior to her marriage. but later united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which she served very faithfully.

Oscar M. Lance was educated at Dickinson Seminary, Chester Military School and Lehigh University, graduating from the latter institu- tion in 1872. During his entire business career he has been especially interested in water works. serving for a number of years as superintendent of the water and light companies of Plymouth and at the present time is general manager of the Spring Brook Water Supply company. He main- tains a keen interest in all public matters and fa- vors schemes for the promotion of the welfare of the people. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a liberal contributor to- wards its maintenance. He is a Republican in politics.

At Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. Lance mar-

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ried Ellen Hancock, born in Kingston, June 30, 1868, educated at the Wyoming Seminary, King- ston, and at Vassar College. She is a daughter of William Hancock, born in Wilkes-Barre, Jan- uary 1, 1800, a son of Jonathan Hancock, who was a large property holder in Wilkes-Barre, having come to the valley from Snow Hill, Mary- land. He was at one time a school teacher. (See Hancock Family.) William Hancock was a very active and prominent business man, and was elected on the Democratic ticket to several po- litical offices, among them being associate judge He married (first) Laura Smith, of Wilkes- Barre, and their children were: 1. Henry, died in 1864. 2. Elizabeth, married J. Fuller Rob- erts, and their children are: Mrs. J. P. Dixon, of Scranton ; George B. Reynolds, of Virginia, married Mina Graham, a direct descendant of William Meredith, first treasurer of the United States, and their children are : Mrs. George Rice, of Scranton; Eleanor Reynolds. of Scranton ; Laura Reynolds, of California ; Jennie Reynolds, Clara Reynolds and Henry B. Reynolds ; Fuller, William and Frank Roberts. 3. Catherine Scott, married Dr. Samuel Blair, of St. Augustine, Florida. William Hancock, married (second) Elizabeth Denison, a daughter of Lazarus Deni- son, and granddaughter of Col. Nathan Denison. (See Denison family sketch which appears else- where in this work). William and Elizabeth (Denison) Hancock had four children: I. Hi- ram, born February 9, 1850, at Kingston, mar- ried Sarah Irvin, and their children were: Ellen, wife of George Rayner, and they reside at Will- iamson Training School near Philadelphia ; Mary Elizabeth, widow of Dr. Charles Bowman, of Philadelphia; and William. 2. Ellen, afore- mentioned as the wife of Oscar M. Lance. 3. Emily Juliette, widow of Simon Peter Hughes, who was born near Charleston, South Carolina, 1844, was a Lutheran clergyman, and died in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1904. 4. James, married Maria Mulford, of Exeter, Penn- sylvania, and their children were: Henry, de- ceased : William, of Wilkes-Barre; and John. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lance are as follows : Oscar M., Jr., born in Norfolk, Vir- ginia, died February 27, 1905: John Hancock, chief engineer for the Spring Brook Water Sup- ply Company ; Elizabeth Denison, a well known artist, who has performed considerable work for ‹different magazines; Katharine Blair, Ruth Mitchell, William Lyman, Emily Hancock. Hi- ram Hancock, Mary Hancock, deceased. All of

these children with the exception of the eldest were born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania.

ALBERT GOULD RICKARD, M. D., de- ceased, for many years a physician of Plymouth, also the proprietor of a well patronized drug store there, was born in Williamsport, Pennsyl- vania, September 27. 1829, died April 6, 1883. He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Gould) Rickard, who were the parents of several chil- dren, three of whom attained years of maturity. Elizabeth (Gould) Rickard was born in Penn- sylvania, daughter of Jacob Gould, who emi- grated to this state from Connecticut.

Dr. Rickard acquired his literary education in Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, and his prepara- tion for the practice of medicine was as a student in the Pennsylvania Medical College, from which he graduated. After conducting an office in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania. for some time, Dr. Rickard went south. but remained only a short period of time. Upon his return to his native state he located in Plymouth, where, by his pro- fessional skill and ability, he succeeded in build- ing up an extensive and lucrative practice, and in connection therewith established a drug store, which was equipped with a full line of reliable and pure drugs for the making up of prescrip- tions, the same being at the present time under the careful and efficient management of his son and is one of the leading establishments of its kind in Plymouth. Dr. Richard built the house in which his widow now resides, also the drug store, and his business affairs were conducted in a sys- tematic manner, thus insuring to him a goodly return for money and labor expended. He evinced a deep interest in all that pertainel to the welfare and growth of Plymouth, especially along educational lines, and for many years served as a member of the school board. He was a Republican in politics, and was actively identified with all the Masonic bodies.

Dr. Rickard married, November 13, 1866, Liva Albertina, born in Plymouth, Pennsylva- nia. December 25, 1845. daughter of John B. and Liva (Davenport) Smith, whose history ap- pears in full in the Smith Family sketch which appears in this work. Their children are : John Byron, born Plymouth, September 7, 1867, married Edith Mayor, two children ; Ellen Eliza- beth, born Plymouth, October 9, 1869, died Jan- uary 20, 1872: Stella, born Plymouth, June 25, 1872, married a jeweler at Johnstown, and their children are: Donald R. and Clara Albertina.

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Kate Daisy, born Plymouth, August 2, 1874, married A. B. Dungan, an electrician of Allen- town. May Virginia, born Plymouth, Septem- ber 17, 1876; Emma Gould, born Plymouth, De- cember 6, 1878, married Harry W. Ruggles, and they are the parents of one child, Elizabeth Rug- gles.

JAMES KNOX POLK FENNER, insur- ance and real estate agent. Ashley, was born in Shawnee, Monroe county, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1844, son of Abraham and Catherine (Smoke) Fenner, natives of Pennsylvania, and of early German origin.

Abraham Fenner was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1796. Subse- quently he removed to Monroe county, Pennsyl- vania, and there spent the greater part of his life, devoting his attention to his trade of stone- mason and also to the tilling of the soil. He per- formed a large amount of the stone work of bridges, many of which are still standing, and being a thorough and competent workman was never out of employment. He held the office of county commissioner for a number of years. He married Catherine Smoke, a native of Mon- roe county, Pennsylvania, who bore him fifteen children, three of whom died in infancy, and two of whom are living at the present time. The children who reached maturity are as follows : Mary A., married Josiah Coleman, of Howell, Michigan ; Hiram, resided in Bucyrus, Ohio; George W., a resident of Bucyrus, Ohio; Ben- jamin P., who was a resident of Elmira, New York: Susan, the deceased wife of James H. Price, of Henryville, Pennsylvania ; David, de- ceased ; Amanda, married Philip W. Cyphers, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania ; Sarah, married John B. Wallace, of Ashley. Pennsylvania ; Will- iam, deceased, who was a teacher, justice of the peace, for twelve years, deputy prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Luzerne county, and one of the well known and influential men of Ashley ; Catherine, married Eldwood Gardner, of Ash- ley. Pennsylvania ; James K. P., mentioned here- inafter: John W., a commission merchant in Wilkes-Barre, with residence in Ashley. Mr. and Mrs. Fenner were members of the Reformed German Church. Their deaths occurred at their home in Monroe county, aged eighty-three and sixty-two years, respectively.

James K. P. Fenner received a common school education, and afterward taught school in Mon- roe county for two years. In 1863 he came to Wilkes-Barre, where he clerked in a drug store

for three years, and at the expiration of this period of time took up his residence in Ashley, Pennsylvania, and engaged in a general mer- cantile business. After conducting the same for seventeen years he embarked in his present busi- ness, insurance and real estate, in which he has achieved a large degree of success. In 1882 he built the portion of Fenner's block known as the "hotel block," and the rest, adjoining and includ- ing his residence, in 1885. Mr. Fenner has al- ways taken an active interest in public affairs. He succeeded his brother, William Fenner, as justice of the peace in 1891, and has continued up to the present time and by recent appoint- ment will continue up to the year 1909. His first appointment to this office was by Governor Pattison. He also served as postmaster of Ash- ley from 1885 to 1889 under President Cleve- land's administration, has been a member of the board of burgesses continuously since 1891, the oldest on the board, and for the past three years has served in the capacity of chief burgess. He has served as a member of the county and dis- trict committees, and in all ways has exercised an influence in behalf of the party whose prin- ciples he advocates. He is a member of Coal- ville Lodge, No. 474, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, of Ashley, in which he has passed all the chairs ; also a member of Rose Croix Chapter.

Mr. Fenner married, September 6, 1870. Car- oline P. Fellows, born in Hyde Park, now Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, daughter of J. Turvey and Marilla (Pettibone) Fellows, of Scranton, na- tives of Pennsylvania, and of English origin. J. Turvey Fellows, who was a merchant of Scran- ton, and Marilla (Pettibone) Fellows, a sister of the late Payne Pettibone (see Dixon family), were the parents of five children: Elizabeth Moser, of Scranton ; Caroline P., aforementioned as the wife of Mr. Fenner : Martha Heiser, of Scranton ; Frances Lewis, of Scranton ; and Ed- ward P., of Luzerne. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fenner are : James, Carrie May, married Dr. -, of Tunkhannock, and they are the parents of one child, George R. George L., a graduate of Hillman Academy, studied law with Judge Halsey, and is now practicing his pro- fession at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Sam- uel Rexford, a bookkeeper, resides in Washing- ton, Pennsylvania. Charles A .. died at the age of five months. Mr. Fenner and his family wor- ship at the Methodist Episcopal Church : Mr. Fenner served as superintendent of the Sunday school connected therewith for a number of years, and his son is now filling that office.

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CHRISTIAN SOFIAN ERNEST SPO- ERL, general manager of the Collins-Hall Man- ufacturing Company, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylva- nia, is a native of Neila, Bavaria, born January 13, 1847, the son of Christoph George and Char- lotte Susanna Simonin (Knopf) Spoerl, also natives of Neila. The earliest ancestors of this line of the family of whom there is knowledge were of French extraction, and left France in the sixteenth or seventeenth century, settling at Neila, Bavaria, where the later generations con- tinued to reside. This family have been manu- facturers for generations.

(1) Johann Philip Spoerl (grandfather ) was the son of Philip Spoerl. He was a citizen in Neila, Bavaria, and he and his son Christoph George followed the manufacture and dyeing of cloth goods in their native place for many years. For twenty-seven years Johann held the office of burgomaster of Neila. His wife was Minna (Freanf) Spoerl. Johann died in Neila at the advanced age of ninety-one years, and his wife passed away at the age of ninety years.

(2) Christoph George, son of Johann and Minna ( Freanf ) Spoerl, was born in Neila, No- vember 7, 1811. He obtained a good education in the public school and gymnasium (corre- sponding to our seminaries), and upon leaving the schoolroom engaged in business with his father, continuing until 1853, when he and his family set sail for America. They sailed in the ship "Herminia," leaving Neila May 27, and Bremen, June 15. The journey was a long and tiresome one, and they landed in New York city, August 13, 1853, remaining there but a short time. They then removed to Leeds, New York, where Mr. Spoerl was employed in a mill for a time. Their next removal was to Watertown, where the father followed his business of manu- facturer and dyer until 1856, when he returned to New York, engaging in the furniture business until 1860. Mr. Spoerl lived a retired life until 1864, when he again embarked in the manufac- titre of furniture in New York with his sons, which business was successfully conducted until 1883, when Christoph G. Spoerl retired per- manently from active pursuits. The remainder of his life was spent at the home of his son John George at Pearl River. Christoph G. Spoerl was the founder and one of the directors of the Neila Hospital, Neila, Bavaria, and also a direc- tor in a brewing company there. He was also a member of the town council in Neila for a num- ber of years prior to his coming to America. Dur- ing his residence in this country he was a Repub-

lican in politics, and all his life affiliated with the Dutch Reformed Church, New York, of which he was an elder for over thirty years.

He married, June 10, 1835, Charlotte Susan- na Simonin Knopf, born October 6, 1813, daugh- ter of Johann Nicholas Wolfgang and Johanna Marie (Hagan) Knopf, of Neila, and grand- daughter of Andreas and Regina Knopf, also of Neila. The following named children were the issue of this marriage: I. Christoph Henry born in Nelia, December 7, 1836, died in Brook- lyn, New York, December 6, 1894, aged fifty- eight years. He married Elizabeth Barth, in Brooklyn, and they were the parents of Henry A., Clara, Emil, Selma, Susan and Albert Spoerl. 2. Christian Sofian Ernest, mentioned herein- after. 3. John George, born at Neila, March IO, 1849. He was twice married, first in Brooklyn, June 10, 1873, to Eliza Whitaker, who died in 1878; secondly, July 1, 1880, to Phoebe Furman, of Albany, New York. They reside in Pearl River, New York. 4. Barbara, born in New York, 1857, died in infancy. The father of the above named children died at Pearl River, Jan- uary 13, 1898, aged eighty-seven years, and was buried at Cypress Hill cemetery, Brooklyn.

Christian S. E. Spoerl, second son of Chris- toph George and Charlotte S. S. (Knopf) Spoerl, was but six years of age when his father's family left their native country. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Leeds, Watertown and New York City, being fifteen years of age when he was graduated from the Ninth street school. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the cabinet-making trade with Frank Spatts, Rivington street, New York city, and has the record of this indenture still in his posses- sion. During his term of apprenticeship he took the Cooper Union preparatory course in English and drawing, becoming well versed in these sub- jects. At the termination of his term of service, when he was nineteen years of age, Mr. Spoerl entered into partnership with his brother Henry and his father in the manufacturing business, this being conducted under the firm name of Henry Spoerl & Brother, manufacturers of furniture, locating on Stanton street, New York. This arrangement existed for five years, when another brother, John, was admitted to the firm, and the three brothers conducted the business for two years, at the expiration of which time ( 1873) Henry withdrew from the firm and went into business for himself in New York. Christian and John moved their plant to Brooklyn and put in considerable machinery, continuing the business

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on more modern lines until 1889 when the part- nership was dissolved and the business closed out. John then located at Pearl River, New York, and Christian in Nanuet, a short distance from Pearl River, where they spent several years free from the cares of business. Christian, tiring of a life of inactivity, assumed charge of the up- holstery department of J. W. Mason & Company, New York, remaining there until 1897. His next removal was to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he helped to organize the Collins-Hale Manu- facturing Company. Mr. Spoerl is an excellent business man and holds the position in this firm of general manager, and is also director and treasurer. In 1899 the plant was removed to Wilkes-Barre, where Mr. Spoerl continues to hold the same offices of trust and responsibility. In political relations Mr. Spoerl generally votes the Republican ticket, but reserves the right to cast his vote for the man whom he considers best fitted for the office. Fraternally he is a member of the Royal Arcanum, joining in December. 1879. In matters of religion he and his family are supporters of the First Presbyterian Church.

Christian S. E. Spoerl married, June 10, 1873. Mary Whitaker, daughter of Joseph and Mary Whitaker, of Brooklyn, New York. She was one of five children, as follows: Mary; Eliza, mar- ried John George Spoerl, brother of Chris- tian S. E. Spoerl; Rachel, married Henry C. Auterbridge, and they had five children, among whom were: Blanche, Emma, Jo- seph : their residence is Bermuda; Maria, mar- ried Frank H. Miller and had four children ; they reside in Rutherford, New Jersey; Emma, mar- ried George F. Reed, and had three children ; they live in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Christian S. E. Spoerl were the parents'of the following named children : Charlotte Marie, born June 27, 1874; she was educated in the Brooklyn public and high schools, and her resi- dence is in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She is now traveling in Europe. George Christian, born Au- gust 25, 1881 ; he was educated in the Brooklyn public schools, the Scranton high school, and the University of Pennsylvania, department of archi- tecture, from which he was graduated in June, 1903. In 1904 he won the Stewartson Memorial scholarship prize in architecture. He resides in Scranton, but is now in Europe. The mother of the above named children died May 3, 1894.

Mr. Spoerl married for his second wife Mrs. Jennie Alfretta (Smith ) Veeder, May 30, 1898. She was born February 21, 1857. the daughter of Horace E. Smith, of Johnstown, New York,

and was one of four children : Borden Dodge, married and is the father of two children- Horace and Katherine. Annette, married Dan- iel Moore ; they reside in Atchison, Kansas. Jen- nie (Mrs. Spoerl). Agnes Margaret, married William L. Kennedy ; they reside in Johnstown, New York, and have two children, William and Horace. Horace E. Smith, father of Mrs. Spoerl, was dean of the law department of Al- bany Law School, Union College, for ten years. He practiced the legal profession in Boston, New York, and Vermont, whence he originally came. He was twice elected to the Massachusetts legis- lature, and was one of the commission on the constitution of New York with S. J. Tilden and others. His death occurred in Johnstown, New York. Mrs. Spoerl's first husband was James A. Veeder, a member of the Chicago bar. By him she had a son, Borden Smith Veeder, born August 23, 1883, and educated at the Johnstown public schools, Colgate Academy and Colgate University, Hamilton, New York. He studied also in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Spoerl was a member of the Wyoming Chapter, Daughters of the Ameri- can Revolution, Wilkes-Barre, being descended on the maternal and paternal sides from old New England colonial families. She was a regular and consistent attendant of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre, was in charge of the Industrial School for four years, and one of the vice-presidents of the Women's Home and For- eign Missionary Society. Her death occurred December 30, 1904, and was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends.

MATTHEW STANLEY KEMP, a preacher of note, is a descendant of old English and Hu- guenot families. The Kemp family trace their name to Saxony, where it originated and meant warrior. During Henry the Second's time Lord Chancellor Kemp was a man of reputation, and General Kemp commanded in Wellington's army in the battle of Waterloo. Admiral Kemp and Sir Kemp were also well known in their time. The Kemps were yeomen and freeholders in Eng- land prior to the last law which gave everyone a franchise. The earliest information we have of the Huguenot ancestry is that Andrew Wartha came from France with the Huguenots and set- tled in Cornwall, England.

Mark Kemp, from whom Matthew S. Kemp traces his descent in a direct line, was engaged in mining tin, iron and copper near Helston, Corn- wall, and his ancestors had lived near there for

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 68

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