Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 77

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 77
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 77

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EDWARD W. THOMAS, of Nanticoke, a general and experienced blacksmith, was born in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1861, a son of Samuel R. Thomas, born in England in 1826, emigrated to this country in 1853, when twenty-seven years of age, settled in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he met, won and married Miss Emma Stone, also a native of Eng- land, in the year 1854. Shortly afterward they

MR. AND MRS. OSWALD ROGERS

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moved to Bloomsburg, same state, where he still resides. Their children were six in number, four of whom are living: Mary, an accomplished and experienced teacher of twenty-five years' practice ; George, a contractor by occupation ; Grace, wife of Charles L. Fairchild ; and Edward W., mentioned hereinafter. In his younger days Samuel R. Thomas was a first-class mechanic and well versed in the working of copper as well as iron. Mrs. Thomas passed away in 1900.

The common schools of his native town af- forded Edward W. Thomas an excellent oppor- tunity for acquiring a practical education. He early applied himself to his trade-that of black- smith and horseshoer-with his father, who, as aforementioned, was an experienced and expert mechanic. In 1881 he located in Nanticoke, where he has established himself in the confi- dence of his fellow citizens, employs four men, and by reason of the superiority of his work- manship has received a large and lucrative pat- ronage. He has prospered exceedingly in his business, and in addition to owning his own shop in Nanticoke owns another shop and va- cant lot in West Nanticoke, a double house and half of another double house, one single house, two lots in Nanticoke, besides his own palatial residence. In addition to his business Mr. Thomas is a stockholder in the Nanticoke Na- tional Bank. The regard in which he is held by his townsmen is evidenced by the fact that he was chosen a member of the council, serving at the present time (1905). Mr. Thomas is a member of Nanticoke Lodge, No. 541, Free and Accepted Masons; the Fraternal Order of Eagles ; Knights of Malta ; and the Heptasophs.

In July, 1881, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage to Martha J. Walters, daughter of Jesse and Kate Walters, and eight children were born to them, namely: Emma, Percy, May, de- ceased. and June (twins) : Mary, deceased ; Grace, Lawrence and Mildred.

OSWALD ROGERS. of Alden, is one of the many men in Luzerne county who by hard labor, honest endeavor and strict integrity, has made for himself a competency which will serve as a lasting monument to his memory. His ca- reer has been creditable as well as remarkable, and clearly demonstrates what can be accom- plished by remaining true to the best that is 111 11s.

Oswald Rogers was born in England, De- cember 15, 1844. He is son of Edward and Sa- rah (Turner) Rogers, the former named a na-

tive of Wales and the latter of England. Ed- ward Rogers (father) came to this country in 1841, returned to England the following year, remaining there until 1852, when he again crossed the Atlantic, his family joining him the following year. For a number of years he served in the capacity of mine foreman, and later turned his attention to contracting for rock and coal, both in England and this country, fol- lowing this to a considerable extent. Twelve children were the issue of this marriage, eight of whom are living at the present time ( 1905) : Robert, Oswald, of whom further mentioned ; Ishmael, Israel, Jane, Mary, Emma, and Ade- laide. Edward Rogers, father of these children, died April 27, 1890; his wife passed away in 1886.

Oswald Rogers, the second of the surviving children of Edward and Sarah (Turner ) Rogers, resided in his native land, England, until nine years of age, when he was brought to this coun- try by his mother, his father having preceded them, and they located at St. Clair, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. He entered the mines, serving in various capacities from slate picker to driver and engineer, thereby acquiring a thor- ough knowledge of the mining industry in all its details. In 1865 he came to Luzerne county and was employed for one year in the Avondale mines, then went to St. Clair, in 1866-67 he vis- ited England and later returned to St. Clair. In 1869 he removed to Luzerne county, locating at Plymouth, but after a short residence there moved to Scranton, where he resided for ten years, during which time he served as station- ary engineer for the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company. In 1882 he removed to Newport township, where he has since resided. More by accident than otherwise, he engaged in the drug business, purchasing a drug store from a relative who failed in the business, with the understanding that he (Mr. Rogers) would take charge of the same for him. This state of affairs did not turn out to the ad- vantage of Mr. Rogers, who later employed oth- er pharmacists, finally taking up the profession himself, and he is now (1905) conducting an extensive and lucrative business. With the cap- ital accumulated from the proceeds of his labor Mr. Rogers purchased ground in various places, being the owner of nineteen lots in Newport township, upon which he has erected five houses ; also five lots in West Nanticoke, with three houses on them: and one lot in St. Clair. He has held the office of postmaster of Alden

2-25

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Station four years. He is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, of Pottsville, and also of the Encampment of Providence. He is an honored member of Nanticoke Lodge, No. 541, Free and Accepted Masons: Bloomsburg Consistory, in which he has attained the thirty- second degree; Irem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine, of Wilkes-Barre; Knights of Pythias, Sovereign Patriotic Knights ; Improved Order of Red Men ; the Druids, and Workingmen's Benevolent Association. He is a Republican in politics.

Mrs. Mary Rogers died October 24. 1902. She was formerly Mary Halsby, daughter of Charles and Sarah Halsby, both of England. To this union there were no children. Mrs. Rogers had two children by a former marriage, Ellis J., who married Effie Haynes; they have one daughter, now sixteen years of age. Han- nah E., who became the wife of Thomas James Richards, who has served as clerk in the Alden Company's store for twenty years. Mrs. Rich- ards is a pharmacist and ably assists Mr. Rogers in his business. They have one child. Isabella Richards, now eleven years of age.

OLIVER S. KERSTETTER. One of the successful men in Nanticoke is Oliver S. Ker- stetter. His ancestors on both sides were of German origin, and his grandfather, Michael Kerstetter, was a well-to-do farmer of Snyder county. Michael Kerstetter, son of Michael Kerstetter, mentioned above, was born in Snyder county, where he was a farmer of ex- perience and ability, owning a farm of one hun- dred and fifty acres of good land. He held sev- eral township offices. He married Susan Minig, a native of Schuylkill county, and a daughter of Jacob Minig, a mechanic of some repute. Mr. and Mrs. Kerstetter were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are living: Oliver S., mentioned at length hereafter ; Jane ; Emma, who lives in Scranton : Oscar, who is also a resident of that city: Sarah, Lucy, Edwin, and Cora. Mr. Kerstetter died in 1902, and his widow is still living on the homestead.

Oliver S. Kerstetter, son of Michael and Susan ( Minig) Kerstetter, was born October 8, 1858, in Snyder county, and received his ednica- tion in the common schools of his native town- ship. With the exception of one year spent in mercantile business he has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. In 1891 he moved to Nanticoke, where he has since made his home. He is proprietor of the Wyoming Valley Can-

ning Company, an enterprise which he began on a small scale in 1895, and which has since grown to large proportions. He tills one hundred acres of land and raises annually about seventy-five thousand cabbages, two thousand five hundred bushels of onions, and tomatoes in correspond- ing quantities. He also buys extensively of the farmers. In 1904 he put up ten thousand cases of tomatoes, peas, corn, beans, and other vege- tables. His cannery is an extensive one, hav- ing a one hundred horse power boiler, and giv- ing employment to sixty hands. In 1905 Mr. Kerstetter became identified with the Susque- hanna Lumber Company of Nanticoke, and the Glady Lumber Company of West Virginia. He is a director of and treasurer in both corpora- tions. He is a member of Nanticoke Lodge, No. 541, Free and Accepted Masons, and in politics is an advocate of the principles held by the Dem- ocratic party. He is a member of the Meth- odist Church.

Mr. Kerstetter married, in 1885, Sarah Ar- bogast, of Snyder county, and they have three children : Susan J., Frank L. and Stella B.

WILLIAM J. JAYNE, an insurance and real estate agent at Nanticoke, is a worthy rep- resentative of that class of men who, with lim- ited advantages both in education and finances, have been able to adopt the ways, customs and manners of a strange country and become loyal citizens thereof. His parents were James and Mary (Williams) Jayne, natives of England, whose deaths occurred in 1869 and 1867, re- spectively, when William J. was a mere child, thus throwing him upon the mercy of strangers at a time when he needed most the care of par- ents.

William J. Jayne was born in Cornwall, England, October 18, 1862. He remained in his native land until 1883, in which year he crossed the Atlantic Ocean, locating upon his arrival in the United States in Iron Mountain, Michigan, where he engaged in ore mining. After a short period of time he removed to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, but shortly after- ward returned to Michigan, where he resided four years. He then took up his residence again in the city of Wilkes-Barre, but later returned to Michigan, remaining this time eight years. In 1894 he finally settled in the borough of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, where he has since re- sided, and where in 1901 he built for himself a most beautiful home on East Main street. For six years he has acted as representative of the

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Metropolitan Insurance Company, and for three years of that period has also conducted a prof- itable real estate business. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Nanticoke, serving as a member of its musical committee. He is a member of the Nanticoke fire department, in which he served as foreman and assistant chief. He casts his vote with the Prohibition party, the principles of which he firmly advocates and adheres to.

In June, 1890, Mr. Jayne was married to Mrs. Mary Heller, who bore him three children : William, Eleanor, and Roy, deceased. Mrs. Jayne had a daughter by her former marriage, Mary A. Heller, who adopted the name of Jayne after the marriage of her mother to Mr. Jayne. -

JEREMIAH ALGAR. A leader among the florists of Lackawanna county is Jeremiah Algar, of Avoca. Mr. Algar is one of the thirteen children born to James and Susan ( Blomfield) Algar, both of whom were natives of England. Of these, eleven grew to maturity and eight are now living : Harriet, Delilah, James, Ann, Jere- miah, mentioned at length hereinafter; Eliza. Alice, and William. Among those who are de- ceased was Henry, who emigrated to the United States. All the other members of the family, with the exception of Jeremiah, remained in their native land.

Jeremiah Algar, son of James and Susan (Blomfield) Algar, was born April 28, 1851, in Suffolk, England. . He was educated in his na- tive country, and at an early age displayed an inclination for the occupation of a florist. He soon became engaged in gardening and in the raising of plants and flowers, being a close com- petitor with some of the best and most noted in the business and receiving many tokens of appreciation of his ability. In 1881 he emi- grated to the United States, and one year after his arrival in this country settled at Avoca. He immediately entered the mines, and is still en- gaged in the coal industry despite his devotion to his original and chosen calling. Six years ago he established himself as a florist, be- ginning with only three hundred and fifty square feet of glass, whereas, he now has three thousand square feet of glass and his business is still growing. He has no specialty, but deals in cut flowers and potted plants, also cultivating vegetables. His success has been signal and undisputed. In 1888 he built the comfortable and attractive dwelling which has since been his home. He is a member of the Sons of St. George and the Knights of Malta.

Mr. Algar married, in 1870, Maria Howard, and they are the parents of the following chil- dren : Caleb, who did not accompany the fam- ily in their emigration and is now in England. William, who married Annie Baker, and has four children : Emmerson, Clyde, Jeremiah, de- ceased ; and Annie. Mary A., who became the wife of Thomas Miller, and is the mother of twins : Howard and Thomas. Frederick. James. Arthur, who married Maude Toaa, and has two children : Arthur and Rosamond. Mrs. Algar is the daughter of William and Ann ( Bond) Howard, natives of England, whose family con- sisted of the following children : Sarah A., Mary A., James, Maria, who was born in 1850, in Suffolk, England, and became the wife of Jere- miah Algar, as mentioned above; Eliza, and Epsibah. Sarah A. and Maria are the only mem- bers of the family who emigrated to the United States.

JACOB WILLIAM WEBSTER. One of those men whose occupation was the choice of natural inclination and aptitude is Jacob Wil- liam Webster, of Avoca. Mr. Webster was born in 1851, in Bristol, England, where he learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he became ex- tremely proficient.

In 1884 he emigrated to the United States and took up his abode in Avoca, of which he has since been a continuous resident. The year of his arrival he established himself in business as a florist, beginning with only fifteen square feet of glass. At the present day he carries on business in buildings erected by himself, has over two thousand square feet of glass and con- ducts a large and constantly increasing trade. He makes a specialty of cut flowers, plants, dec- orations and funeral designs. In addition to his business as a florist Mr. Webster is still success- fully engaged in the practice of the shoemaker's trade. He is a good citizen and has been chosen by his neighbors to fill the office of school di- rector. He is a member of the Sons of St. George. Politically he is a staunch Republican. In matters of religion he adheres to the Protest- ant Episcopal Church. Mr. Webster married, in 1868, Eliza Hawkins. also a native of Eng- land, and of the four children born to them two are living: Thomas, who is a grocer in Pitts- ton, married Jennie Campbell, and has four chil- dren ; and Ada, who is the wife of William Ben- nett and the mother of two children.

WILLIAM H. NAYLOR. Among the act- ive and energetic business men of Duryea must

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be numbered William H. Naylor, who is a son of Frederick and Sarah A. Naylor, both natives of Norfolk, England. They are the parents of the following children : Jane, Frederick W., Wil- liam H., mentioned at length hereafter ; George F., Charlotte A., Charles, deceased ; Walter J., Emma J., and one who died in infancy. Of this number Frederick W., William H., George F. and Walter J. emigrated.

William H. Naylor, son of Frederick and Sarah A. Naylor, born 1858, in Elsing, Norfolk, England, was educated in his native county, where he grew to manhood. He commenced work at the early age of seven years and six months on a farm, and was employed there un- til seventeen years old. He then started to work in the mines as a driver boy, worked as a driver for four years, and then was a driver boss for seven years, making in all a service of eleven years. In 1884 he emigrated to the United States and immediately took up his abode in Duryea, where he has since continuously resided. For the first nine years he was a miner, but sub- sequently turned his attention to general team- ing and store contracting. In 1896 he engaged in the meat business, both wholesale and retail. He has built up a flourishing trade which ex- tends through Luzerne and Lackawanna coun- ties, and obliges him to keep two teams con- stantly on the road. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of Old Forge: the Mystic Chain, of Moosic ; and the Butchers' Union. His political affiliations are with the Republican party.

Mr. Naylor married. November 30, 1878, Martha Sanderson, and the following children have been born to them: Sarah A., deceased ; Charles F., married in August, 1903, Gertrude Penhale ; Richard H .: George S .; John; James ; William G., deceased ; Albert H., deceased ; Ar- thur F., deceased ; Walter H. ; and Thomas W., deceased. In addition to their own family Mr. and Mrs. Naylor have an adopted daughter named Jennie. Mrs. Naylor is a daughter of Richard and Ann Sanderson, of Yorkshire, England. Their family consisted of the follow- ing children : Hannah ; Thomas F., deceased ; Jo- seph, deceased; Ann: Martha, born 1860, be- came the wife of William H. Naylor, as men- tioned above : John : Thomas ( second), deceased ; James, deceased ; Richard ; and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Naylor and her brother John were the only members of the family who emi- grated. Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson, the worthy parents, both died in their native land. In 1904

Mr. and Mrs. Naylor visited the parents of the former in England, and spent four delightful months in the society of relatives and old friends, in noting the changes made by time in the places familiar to them in childhood, and in recalling events of the past. Mr. and Mrs. Naylor joined the Primitive Methodist Church in 1884, and when they came to the United States, in the same year, sent their letter to the Methodist Episcopal Church and have attended the same ever since.

DAVID WILLIAM THOMAS, of Nanti- coke, is a son of David Thomas, a sea captain, who visited all the principal ports of the world. His wife was Sarah Morgan, and of their eight children, four grew to maturity: Martha, Will- iam, David W., mentioned at length hereinafter, and John. In 1843 Captain Thomas was drowned at sea. Martha Thomas died and was buried at sea while on her way to this country, and her brother John lost his life in the mines in Lands- ford, Pennsylvania.

David W. Thomas, son of David and Sarah ( Morgan) Thomas, was born April 30, 1838, in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, and when his school days were over engaged in mining. In 1863 he emigrated to the United States and set- tled in Ashland, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in the mines. In 1869 he moved to Landsford, where he remained until 1875, when he went to Nanticoke, where he has since resided. During all this time he has been successfully engaged in the grocery business, which he is gradually merging into trade in china and glass. He is a stockkholder in the Nanticoke National Bank. Like most of his countrymen Mr. Thomas is a natural mu- sician. He does not remember when he could not sing, and for thirty years he has been a teacher of music. He generally organizes for competition a choir numbering from fifty to eighty voices. This choir has competed thirty- three times and has won twenty-seven prizes, some of them ranging from twelve hundred to five hundred dollars. Among the valuable gifts which Mr. Thomas has received from his pupils are a gold medal of beautiful design, a gold watch and chain, and a gold-headed ebony walk- ing-stick. Mr. Thomas has been honored by his fellow-citizens with election to various offices of trust and responsibility. From 1879 to 1882 he served on the school board, and for two years held the office of tax collector, being one year collector for the borough and the other for the school. He has served four years as member of

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the council, and during one of these years was president of that body. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Thomas married in 1862, Ann, daughter of William and Mary Treharne, and eleven chil- dren were born to them, six of whom grew to maturity : Mary A., who is the wife of Samuel D. Thomas: Sarah J .; Lizzie, who is married to Edward Williams ; Mafanwy ; Brinley R., who is coal-shipper for the Pennsylvania Coal Com- pany ; and Theodore W. In 1897 Mr. Thomas and his children sustained a great bereavement in the death of the wife and mother.

The middle initial in the name of Mr. Thomas is connected with a noteworthy episode in his life. In 1864 he was drafted by mistake for an- other David Thomas, who had been dead five years, and he had some difficulty in convincing the authorities that he was not the man who was drafted, and that neither was he a citizen of the United States, having been but one year in this country. His name hitherto had been simply David Thomas, but after the experience we have related he inserted the W. and has since been known as David W. Thomas.

JOHN M. STARK was born in Plains town- ship, February 23, 1819, son of James and Mary (Michael) Stark, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and German origin, respectively. John M. Stark was educated in the common schools, and at twenty-one years of age began working his father's farm on shares. After la- boring thus for seven years he became superin- tendent of the North Branch Canal Company, serving in that capacity ten years, and the fol- lowing eight years filled a similar position with the Penn Coal Company. He then turned his attention to farming, conducting his operations on his farm in Franklin township for six years, after which he purchased a large farm at Wyo- ming, where he spent his remaining days. He operated the first gas works in Pittston, and manufactured gas from rosin in the year 1861. For a number of years he was a school director in West Pittston, supervisor of Franklin town- slip, and a member of the council of West Pitts- ton borough. He was a Democrat in politics.

Jolın M. Stark married, October 16, 1841, Sarah Davison, daughter of Morris and Ann (Nun) Davison, natives of New Jersey, of Eng- lish origin. Their children were: George M., was a manufacturer of iron roofing in Pittston ; Harriet E. (Mrs. E. M. Coolbaugh), Joanna ( Mrs. Miles Stevens), Mary L. (Mrs. William Shoemaker), Lydia E. (Mrs. Frank Mosier),

Charles B., died July 27, 1882 ; Jennie E. ( Mrs. Dr. J. N. Warner). Mrs. Stark is a member of the Methodist Church.

WILLIAM A. EVANS was a member of the firm of William A. & M. Evans, of Nanti- coke, the other member of the firm being his sister Margaret. Their general store was lo- cated on the corner of Prospect and Broad streets.

Evan Evans, father of William A. Evans, was born in Wales, in which country he resided up to 1880, when, accompanied by his family, he emigrated to the United States and located in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, where he followed mining. His life in this country was brief, for in September, 1881, he lost his life in the Grand Tunnel disaster. His wife, whose maiden name was Catharine Jenkins, also a native of Wales, bore him thirteen children, three of whom are living : Mary A., wife of Llewell Williams, Jr., Margaret A., and William A. Evans. In 1883 his widow became the wife of William Jenkins, who died in 1886.

William A. Evans was born in Wales in 1876. At the age of four years he was brought to this country by his parents, who as above related settled in Nanticoke. He attended the common schools of that borough, supplementing this by attendance at the Nanticoke high school, from which he was graduated, and pursued a course at the Keystone Academy, at Factoryville, where he graduated in 1897. The following year he was engaged as school teacher, and in 1899 he matriculated at Yale College, graduating from that institution in 1902 with the degree of Bach- elor of Arts. In 1901, in partnership with his sister Margaret, he opened a general store at the corner of Prospect and Broad streets, on a small scale, but the business rapidly developed in volume and importance, and became one of the leading establishments of that borough. They conducted business on strictly business princi- ples, their goods were the best on the market and fresh from the producer, everything was of the best quality, hence their large and increasing patronage.

On October 21, 1903, Mr. Evans married Sarah Wood, of New Haven, a graceful and highly accomplished lady. They have one son, Forrest Tiffany, born October 21, 1905.

WILLIAM N. GREGORY, one of the sub- stantial business men of Nanticoke, where he has resided for more than a quarter of a cen- tury, during which period of time he has built

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up for himself a business of considerable mag- nitude and gained an enviable reputation for in- tegrity and honor, is a native of Muhlenburg, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, born April 27, 1856.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 77

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