Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 8

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 8
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 8

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the early age of thirteen years he entered upon a. life of self-support, taking employment in a country store at Tunkhannock, and later was sim- ilarly employed at Kingston. In 1817, when wanting one year of attaining his majority, he opened a drug store in Wilkes-Barre. The fol- lowing year, on January 8, he married Miss Maria. Scoville, of Exeter township, Luzerne county, who was born in Connecticut in 1802. He sub- sequently disposed of his business and engaged in. farming, transporting his products over the Po- cono by team to Easton, then the only market for grain grown in the Wyoming Valley. In 1848 he located in Scranton and entered the em- ploy of Scranton & Platt, as bookkeeper, and later served for several years in the same capacity for- the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company. Dur- ing the later years of his life he was engaged in an insurance business. He was a man of great no- bility of character, distinguished for his integrity,. kindness of heart, fidelity to every duty and prac- tical philanthrophy. He was one of the original. members of the Presbyterian Church of Scranton, and took an active part in its organization, Octo- ber 14, 1848, and was one of its most devoted supporters until his death. The value of his work and example in connection with this pioneer tem- ple of worship, in which he faithfully served in every official position, is witnessed today in what: has grown out of the effort of himself and his fellows-one of the largest and most influential congregations of its denomination in all eastern Pennsylvania. The children of Charles and Maria (Scoville) Fuller were: James, Edward' C., Layton, John, Mary, Catherine, Penelope, Francis and Eudora.

Edward C. Fuller, second son of Charles and' Maria (Scoville) Fuller, was at the time of his death one of the veteran business men of the city of Scranton, and was held in peculiar honor for his life of usefulness and unblemished upright- ness. He was born in Wyoming, Luzerne. county, Pensylvania, June 8, 1826. He was fa- vored beyond his sire in the way of education re- ceiving academical instruction in Wyoming Sem- inary. He learned rope making with his father, and subsequently traveled for two years as sales- man of the factory products. Somewhat later he engaged in the study of pharmacy under the late- Dr. Throop, with whom he was afterward asso- ciated in a drug business. This partnership was: dissolved in 1851, and Mr. Fuller opened a sim- ilar establishment at Hawley, Pennsylvania, but retired therefrom in the following year and lo- cated in Scranton, where he resided thenceforth- until his death. In the year of his coming he en -.

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gaged in a drug business at No. 303 Lackawanna avenue, with a brother, under the firm name of L. S. and E. C. Fuller, and conducted the same until within four years of his death. A man of excel- lent business qualifications, he rendered efficient service to the community in various important positions. In 1860 he was elected school con- troller, and was continued in the office for a num- ber of years, being treasurer of the board during a considerable part of his period of service. May 16, 1881, he was made postmaster of Scranton by appointment of President Garfield, and was con- tinted in office during the administration of Presi- dent Arthur, acquitting himself most admirably in the discharge of his duties. In 1890 he was elected city assessor and served for a term of three years. He was warmly inclined to philan- thropic and benevolent objects, and served as a director and treasurer of the Lackawanna Hospi- tal from the time of its organization until his death. He was also president of the Dunmore Cemetery Association from its organization to the end of his life. He was one of the original mem- bers of the First Presbyterian Church, becoming connected with it in his young manhood. He bore an unblemished Christian character, and his genial personality endeared him to the entire com- munity. Affable and companionable, he ever had a kind word for all, and his sympathy for the dis- tressed and afflicted found expression in deed as well as in word. He took an active interest in political affairs, and was an acknowledged local leader in the Republican party, with which he affiliated from the time it was organized with Fremont as its first presidential candidate.

Mr. Fuller married Miss Helen Ruthven, who died in October, 1892. having borne to her hus- band the following children : I. Charles R., who married (first) Frances Penman, and ( second) Catharine Scranton, who bore him two children. namely: James Scranton and Charles R., Jr. 2. Edward L., to be further mentioned hereafter. 3. James A., who married Eva Davis, and their children are: Bertha and Selin. 4. Harry G., who married Ida Frink, and died in November. 1893, leaving one child, Harry.

Edward Laton Fuller, second son of Edward C. and Helen (Ruthven) Ftiller, was born Octo- ber 7 (or 10), 1851, at Hawley, Pennsylvania. He came to be known as one of the most active and useful men of large affairs in the entire val- ley. He was at one time one of the largest individ- ual coal operators in the anthracite region, hav- ing formerly owned the Mt. Pleasant Colliery at Scranton, the Seneca Coal Company's properties and those of the Newton Coal Mining Company,

the old Forge Coal Mining Company at Pitts- ton, Pennsylvania, and the Girard Coal Company at Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania. He is also largely interested in railway affairs. He organized what is known as the Fuller Syndicate, which secured control of the Western Maryland Railroad and the West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Rail- road, he being a director in both these companies. He is also president of the Genesee & Wyoming . Railroad. He is president of the Empire Lime- stone Company of Buffalo, the Retsof Mining Company, and the Avery Rock Salt Mining Com- pany. His principal interests are connected with the salt industry, as represented by that mammoth corporation, the International Salt Company, of which he is president, and in the development of whose business he has been a leading factor and the dominating figure. To the direction of this great business he adds a careful oversight of var- ious other enterprises of moment, and is known as one of the most industrious men in all this busy region. His attention has been directed most usefully to matters aside from his own immediate interests, and he has worked innovations which have been of general benefit. Among these was accomplished largely through his effort, through the New York state board of railroad commis- sioners, the purchase by the Erie Railroad Com- pany of the Pennsylvania Coal Company and the Erie and Wyoming Valley Railroad, and obtain- ing for the individual operators a contract for the sale of their coal to the railroad companies on the basis of sixty-five per cent. of the tide-water price. This was one of the most momentous events in the history of the anthracite coal busi- ness in recent years, inasmuch as it guaranteed cheapened transportation to tidewater, a great boon to the coal industry.

Mr. Fuller has ever taken a deep interest in the city of Scranton, and has contributed efficiently to the advancement of those interests which make for healthful social conditions. His lofty human- itarianism is witnessed in the aid which he has constantly extended to the State Hospital at Scranton, formerly the Lackawanna Hospital, to which he was a generous contributor before it be- came a state institution ; he took a prominent part in bringing it to its present status, and for some time he has been president of its executive com- mittee and treasurer of its board of trustees. He is also deeply interested in the Young Men's Christian Association, to which he has ever been a willing and liberal donor, and he renders to it his personal service in the capacity of president of its board of trustees. He also occupies the same position in the Second Presbyterian Church, of

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

which he is a member. His benevolences through these and other bodies, as well as his many per- sonal benefactions, are bestowed with unassuming modesty. He is a highly regarded member of numerous leading scientific, commercial and so- cial bodies, among them the following: The So- ciety of American Engineers, the Transportation Club of New York, the Union League Club of New York, the Lawyers' Club of New York, the City Midday Club of New York, the Scranton Club and the Country Club of Scranton. At his home he is held in special admiration for his large achievements and his excellent traits of personal character. As has been well said of him: He has not been spoiled by success ; he is today to his friends as he was before the goddess Fortune smiled upon him, and it is the wish of those who know him best that his bright career may con- tinue with undiminished prosperity for many years-a wish for whose consummation there ap- pears to be ample assurance.

Mr. Fuller married Miss Helen M. Silkman, daughter of the late Daniel Silkman, of Scranton. Of this marriage was born a son, Mortimer Bar- tine, who is associated with his father in all his various business enterprises. Mortimer Bartine Fuller married Kathryn Steell, who bore him a son, Edward Laton Fuller, second.

THOMAS H. WATTS. The Watts family, of which the late Thomas H. Watts was a worthy representative, is of Scotch-Irish origin. The pioneer ancestor of this branch of the family was Henry Watts, father of Thomas H. Watts, who in early manhood emigrated to the United States, locating in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, about the year 1848. He secured employment as coal sales agent for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Com- pany, retaining the same until the year of his death, 1888, he being then sixty-four years of age. By his marriage to Isabella Miller, a resi- dent of Carbondale, seven children were born, six of whom are as follows: William J., Thomas H., Frank D., George A., Mary, wife of L. A. Roberts of Carbondale ; and Margaret Watts.

Thomas H. Watts was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, 1855, and there resided until 1872 when he came to Scranton as an employe in the freight office of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. Three years later he severed his con- nection with this corporation and entered the em- ploy of Forrester Brothers, wholesale flour deal- ers, with whom he remained a number of years, during which time he gained a thorough knowl- edge of that line of business. In 1880 he estab- lished a business on his own account at No. 22

Lackawanna avenue, Scranton, and five years. later, on account of better railroad facilities, re- moved to Nos. 723-725 West Lackawanna avenue. In 1893 the business was incorporated under the firm name of the T. H. Watts Com- pany, Limited, Mr. Watts serving in the capacity of manager. They conducted a large wholesale trade in flour and provisions, and were supplied with the best products of the large flour mills throughout the country, among them the Consoli- dated Milling Company of Minneapolis, and the R. D. Hubbard Milling Company of Mankato, Minnesota. Later Mr. Watts became interested in the Enderley Dairy Company, with which he was connected at the time of his decease, and shortly afterward his widow purchased the stock of the company and has continued the business. up to the present time ( 1905) under the same name. Her herd consists of fifty-two cows, the production of which she disposes of in the Scran- ton market, keeping in constant use three wagons for that purpose. Mr. Watts was a member of the Scranton board of trade, and during his life- time maintained an interest in all enterprises for the benefit of the people. In 1886 he was elected on the Republican ticket, a member of the common council from the ninth ward and served for three terms, during one of which he was president of the council. Many improvements were affected during his connection with the same, among them the introduction of electric lights, asphalt paving and city sewerage.

Mr. Watts was united in marriage to Annie Carling, daughter of John and Louise Carling, natives of Scranton, and granddaughter of Peter Carling, one of the pioneer settlers of the city of Scranton, there being but a few houses in that section when he located there. Mr. Watts died January 15, 1903, and was survived by his widow and two sons-Henry. C., who is employed in the First National Bank, and Howard. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Watts has clearly demonstrated that a woman can take a position beside that of a man in all the lines of work, whether professional, clerical, commercial, mer- cantile or manufacturing.

DOLPH FAMILY. The original family name was De Wolf. William De Wolf is men- tioned as one of the followers of William the Con- queror in 1066, and the name is found in English history from that time down. The name has also. been prominent in German and French history from very early times. The common ancestor of the American De Wolfs (now Dolphs) was Bal- thazar De Wolf. He seems to have been an Eng-

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

lishman, as his penmanship was that of an edu- cated Englishman. The best authorities seem to indicate that Balthazar was born about the year 1620. Just when he came to Connecticut is not known, but he owned property in Lyme and in Saybrook early in the history of the colony. Court records of Hartford mention his name in 1656. Balthazar was living in Lyme in 1668, for the records show that he and his three sons, Edward, Simon and Stephen, were then members of the train band. One child of Balthazar was said to have been bewitched to death in 1661. A daugh- ter, Mary, was the grandmother of Governor Matthew Griarvold, of Connecticut. Balthazar was several times elected to the town committee and held many positions of trust.

Edward, his oldest son, was in 1682 selected as an arbitrator in the adjustment of the difficul- ties between the people and their contractors for building their new church at Lyme. In May, 1686, the town of Lyme laid out twenty-two acres of land to Edward De Wolf on account of his work for the town in the matter of the new meeting house. In 1688 Edward located upon Eighth Mile river, and was granted the privi- lege of erecting a gristmill. He afterwards bought a saw mill near the same locality, and lived near by his mills, not far from the present village of Laysville. The tombstone over Ed- ward's grave in the Duck river burying ground is the oldest one now to be found in the De Wolf family. The inscription reads: "Here lieth the body of Mr. Edward De Wolf, who died March ye 24th, 1712, in ye 66th year of his age." He left a widow and five sons. The name was grad- ually changed to Dolph, some using the form De Wolph, others D'Olph, and finally the present Dolph. Moses Dolph, the ancestor of the Dolphs in this sketch, was a member of a company in an Albany regiment.

Alexander Dolph, one of the sons of Moses Dolph, was born in New York state, and migrated to the Lackawanna Valley prior to 1812. He settled in Blakely township, east of Olyphant, on a tract of one hundred acres, which he subse- quently reduced by advantageous sales to fifty- five acres. He was a man who commanded the esteem of all who knew him. His wife was Su- san London, the descendant of English ancestors who were among the early settlers of Cape May, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Dolph had children : Moses, Edward, of whom later ; Alfred, Warren, Eliza. Caroline, Laura, and Mary.

Edward Dolph, son of Alexander and Susan (London) Dolph, was born December 16, 1814, in Blakely township, Lackawanna county. In

early life he had few educational advantages, but by a close study of mankind and a daily observa- tion of current events he kept in touch with the age, and became one of the self-educated men of whom this country is so justly proud. He was possessed of fine conversational powers, and was noted for his agreeable qualities. For several years he followed agricultural pursuits success- fully, and then engaged in the lumber business, supplying the new railroads with timber, and prospering beyond his most sanguine expecta- tions. In common with other capitalists he be- came interested in mining, and rendered great service in prospecting and developing the coal industry. In this line of endeavor he was much assisted by his intimate acquaintance with geology. He was engaged with other men of means in copper and silver mining in the Lake Superior country, and was one of the organizers of a company known as the Scranton Mining Company. He also had an interest in large tracts of timber lands in Randolph county, West Vir- ginia. His fellow-citizens reposed in him the ut- most confidence, and in compliance with their urgent entreaties he assumed the office of com- missioners' clerk at Wilkes-Barre, Lackawanna county, being at that time Luzerne county. This office he held for three years, and also served one year as recorder's clerk. In politics he was an ardent Whig, and subsequently became a Repub- lican. Although never an office-seeker he took an active part in the affairs of the organization. His religious views partook of the liberality and benevolence of his nature.

Mr. Dolph married in 1845. Elizabeth Kocher, of an old and well-known family, and their chil- dren were : Louis, deceased ; Edward S., of whom later : Florence E .; Blanche L. : and N. Josette. Of these the last named married W. G. Robert- son, and had seven children. five of whom are living : Charles E., Florence E., John L., Annie E., and Josette. The death of Mr. Dolph, which occurred April 4, 1890, was felt as a loss by the entire community. His sterling integrity of character and truly charitable disposition had won the love and respect of all, and his friends could be counted by the hundred. His widow expired in 1898, deeply mourned by her family and sin- cerely regretted by a large circle of friends.

Edward S. Dolph, son of Edward and Eliza- beth (Kocher) Dolph, was born in 1855, in Pitts- ton township. Luzerne county, and enjoyed all the advantages of the Scranton common and high schools. He is a graduate of the Poughkeepsie (Dutchess county, New York) College. His training for the legal profession was received in

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

the office of Isaac P. Hand, and in 1880 he was admitted to the Luzerne county bar. Mr. Dolph, as did his father before him, leads a busy life. Although devoted to the duties of his profession, in the ranks of which he has made for himself an honorable place and an assured standing, he yet finds time for attention to other interests. He is largely engaged in the production of coal in what are known as the Dolph mines, which have been in operation since 1884. While not a participant in the stirring scenes of the political arena, Mr. Dolph is in every sense of the word a model citi- zen, invariably seeking to promote to the utmost of his powers the best interests of all classes in the community. Since 1888 he has been a resident of the city of Scranton. Mr. Dolph married, De- cember 23, 1883, Sarah M., daughter of William Norris, of Poughkeepsie, New York, and they have two sons : Stanley E. and Harold W., both of whom are students.

WILLIAM F. HALLSTEAD, numbered . among the oldest, and most thoroughly equipped masters of railway transportation in the state of Pennsylvania, has been intimately associated with these interests from his early boyhood, and his experience has covered practically every de- partment. The success which he has achieved has been due to no fortuitous advancement, but each upward step has logically grown out of his high self-developed ability.

He was born March 22, 1836, in Benton town- ship, Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county, Penn- sylvania. His parents were Orin L. and Mary (Rivenburg) Hallstead. His father was origin- ally a farmer, but later entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Com- pany ; he served in the position of justice of the peace for some years ; in politics he was a Repub- lican ; he died at the age of eighty-two years. The mother was reared in Susquehanna county, and died at the age of seventy-two years. These par- ents had thirteen children, of whom but three are now living-Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Walker, and William F. Hallstead.

William F. Hallstead was reared upon the farm, performing such labor as he was able. He attended the public schools, and afterward Har- ford Academy. At the age of sixteen he worked upon the railroad then in course of construction between Scranton and Great Bend. When this section was completed he was given employment as brakeman on a gravel train, but was soon pro- moted to conductor, and a few months later was made yard dispatcher at Scranton. In 1856 he became assistant superintendent, and in 1868 was

advanced to the position of superintendent of the northern division, from Binghamton to Main Line Junction. Shortly after he was placed in charge of the line from Syracuse to Binghamton, and its two hundred and twenty-five miles came under his personal supervision. Later he was appointed superintendent of the Utica, Chenango & Susque- hanna branch, and several years afterward was given charge of the construction of the line from Binghamton to Buffalo which he completed in 1883. In 1886 he was appointed general manager of the entire system. He subsequently became second vice-president and later president of the Lackawanna and Montrose Railroad.

In addition to his active connection with these large affairs, upon which depend in large degree the industrial and commercial interests of the Wyoming Valley, Mr. Hallstead has extended his activities to various other large enterprises which contributed materially to the same ends, belonging to the directorate of the following named corporations: The First National Bank of Scranton, the County Bank, the Pennsylvania Casualty Company, the Clark & Snover Tobacco Company. the Suburban Electric Light Company, and he is vice-president and a director of the Title and Guaranty Company. He holds membership in the Scranton Club, the Country Club and the Engineers' Club.

Mr. Hallstead married, in June, 1858, Miss Mary Harding, of New Milford, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. One child was born of this union-George M. Hallstead, who married Miss Stella Coleman and of this marriage were born three children: Mary. George and William F. Hallstead.

CYRUS D. JONES, whose great business ability has found attestation in the success which he has achieved in the founding and development of various enterprises of great importance, and of which a conspicuous example is found in the Grand Union Tea Company, most unique in its beginning and phenomenally successful in its career. is of Welsh descent. Early members of the family. in the most dramatic and important epochs in English history, were men of strong character, unfaltering devotion to principle, in- vincible courage and great intellectual attain- ments.

Colonel John Jones, who married a sister of Oliver Cromwell, was the immediate ancestor of that branch of the family from which is descended Cyrus D. Jones. Colonel Jones was governor of Anglesy : member of parliament from Wales : col- onel in the parliamentary army, and one of the

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judges who with Whalley, Goffe and others de- cided the fate of Charles I. After the restoration of the Stuarts to the throne in the person of Charles II, parliament pardoned all who took part in Cromwell's dynasty except the judges, who were condemned to the block. Three of the number-Whalley, Goffe and Doxwell-escaped to America, William Jones, son of Colonel Jones, coming in the same vessel with the two first named. William Jones had assisted in secreting the regicides named from the king's officers, who were in close pursuit. The record states that on May 13th Whalley and Goffe were conducted by Jones and his friends some three miles into the wilderness beyond the mill, where, a booth having been constructed, the colonists spent two nights.

William Jones was born in London in 1624, and there became a barrister of some repute. July 4, 1659, he married Hannah Eaton, of the parish of St. Andrew, Holborn, London, young- est daughter of Theophilus Eaton, governor of the colony of Connecticut. Jones came to Amer- ica the next year, arriving in Boston on July 27, 1660, bringing with him his wife and their sons William and Nathaniel. He went immediately to New Haven, where he resided with his father- in-law, Governor Eaton. He took the oath with the following qualifications: "That whereas the king hath been proclaimed in this colony to be our sovereign, and we his loyal subjects, I do take the said oath with the subordination to his majesty, hoping his majesty will confirm said government for the advancement of Christ's gos- pel, kingdom and ends in this colony upon the foundation already laid ; but in case of the altera- tion of the government in the fundamentals thereof, then to be free from said oath. The same day he was admitted freeman, and five days afterwards was chosen magistrate at a court elec- tion. In May, 1664, he was chosen deputy gov- ernor of the colony. When the first meeting "house was built "in the long seat" were William Jones, John Davenport, Mr. Yale and William Gibbard, all men of dinstinction, seated according to their social position. In the deed of trust given by the Rev. John Davenport he "conformed unto Mr. William Jones, assistant of the colony of Connecticut," certain property stipulated therein. Deputy Governor William Jones, by his wife, Hannah (Eaton) Jones, had issue : Theophilus, born October 2, 1661: Sarah, born August 17. 1662 : Elizabeth, baptized October 23, 1664 : Sam- uel, baptized July 27, 1666: John, born October 4, 1667: Devodat, born March I, 1670; Isaac, born June 21, 1671; and Abigail Rebecca, born .November 10, 1679.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 8

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