Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 85

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 85
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 85

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H. J. DAVENPORT. One of the success- ful business men of Taylor is H. J. Davenport. Mr. Davenport is a son of Edward E. Daven- port, who was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, and in 1867 moved to Taylor, attracted

thither by the discovery of anthracite coal. His wife was Margaret Smith, also a native of Sus- sex county, New Jersey. Mr. Davenport died in 1875, and was survived by his widow, who re- sides in Taylor.

H. J. Davenport, son of Edward E. and Mar- garet (Smith) Davenport, was born October 19, 1860, in Sussex county, New Jersey, and was seven years old at the time of the removal of the family to Taylor. He obtained his educa- tion in the common schools of that town, and afterward worked in various capacities connected with the production of coal. He has been in the service of the Delaware, Lackawanna and West- ern Company for twenty-nine years, and for twenty-two years of that time has filled the po- sition of stable boss. He is a good citizen and has served two terms as school director. Mr. Davenport married in 1880, Anna R., born in 1860, daughter of Silas and Elizabeth (Gress) Randall, both of whom belonged to well known county families. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Davenport: Silas G., deceased ; Maud E .; Ralph R .; Earl H., de- . ceased, and Hanford J.

GEORGE W. BROWN. One of the worthy citizens of Old Forge is George W. Brown, the descendant on both sides of ancestors who were pioneers in the Lackawanna valley. On the pa- ternal side his progenitors came originally from Scotland. James Brown was born in 1813, in Pittston township, and all his life followed the trade of a patternmaker. He married Lavinia Carey, also a native of Pittston township, and of the ten children born to them three are living : Rozella, Mary, and George W., mentioned at length hereafter. Mr. Brown died in 1896, at the advanced age of eighty-three, having sur- vived his wife many years.

George W. Brown, son of James and Lavinia (Carey) Brown, was born February 22, 1847, in Old Forge, which was then Pittston town- ship. He was educated in the common schools of his birthplace, and adopted as his occupation that of a miner. On the breaking out of the Civil war Mr. Brown desired ardently to offer his services to the government by enlisting in the Union army, but this privilege was denied him on account of his youth until October, 1863, when he was enrolled as a member of Company G. Fifty-second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volun- tder Infantry. He participated in the battles of Fort Johnson, Charleston Harbor, and also in many minor engagements. Subsequently he joined General Sherman's forces, and at the

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

close of the war was honorably discharged. On his return to civil life he resumed his occupation as a miner, in which he is still actively engaged and in which he has achieved gratifying suc- cess. Mr. Brown married, March 14, 1873 Rosella, who was born August 31, 1855, in Wyo- ming, daughter of Silas and Elizabeth (Gress) Randall, and twelve children have been born to them: Elizabeth, Florence, Anna, deceased ; Eva, Maud, Lavina, Margery V., Orpha G., Silas, James, Arthur G., and Floyd, deceased. Elizabeth married David Olmstead, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, a coal inspector. Florence mar- ried William Richard, resides at Old Forge; their children are: George W., Rozella, Griffith, William, deceased. Eva married Harry Ha- ven, reside at Spring Brook, Pennsylvania ; issue : George W.

GEORGE R. COOPER. An experienced miner of thirty-two years' standing is George R. Cooper, of Throop. He was born in Eng- land, November 15, 1853, and is the son of John and Isabella (Lambert) Cooper, who both died in their native country, respected by all who knew them.

Mr. Cooper was educated in his native land, where for some years he worked as a miner, holding every position pertaining to the opera- tion of mining coal. In 1881 he emigrated to the United States and settled in the neighbor- hood of Throop, in which borough he has re- sided for a number of years. During this time he has been in the service of the Delaware and Hudson Company and the Scranton Coal Com- pany. He is active in township affairs, and his good qualities as a citizen are appreciated by his neighbors. He has for some time held the office of school director. He is secretary of the Ac- cidental Fund, and a member of the Independ- ent Order of Red Men. Mr. Cooper married in 1873 Mary J. Coates, born October 6, 1854, also a native of England, and of the eight chil- dren born to them seven are now living: George E., who is a miner ; Robert, who is a machinist, married Elizabeth Trutchey, and has one daugh- ter ; Joseph H., who is also a machinist ; John R., who is a miner ; Nicholas, who is an engineer, married Elizabeth Parry, and has one daughter, Jane ; Mary, who is the wife of John Balderson ; and Edith A. Mr. Cooper's house is one of the most attractive in the borough, its various ar- rangements and provisions for beauty, comfort and convenience bearing witness to the good sense and refined taste of the owner. During the great anthracite coal strike Mr. Cooper en-

tertained at his home John Mitchell, president of the United Mine Workers of America and vice-president of the Federation of Labor.

JOHN D. PRITCHARD, for the past twelve years engine dispatcher in the employ of the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad, is one of the promising young railroad men in the Lackawanna valley. He was born at Oly- phant, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1865.

Richard Pritchard, father of John D. Pritch- ard, was born in South Wales, in 1838. His boyhood and young manhood were spent in his native land, and in 1864 he decided to test the business opportunities of the new world and ac- cordingly emigrated to America. At first he lo- cated in Beacon, Iowa, and after a short resi- dence there went to California, where he was in the employ of the Wells-Fargo Construction Company, prior to its becoming the Wells-Fargo Express Company ; this company was construct- ing the great Northern Pacific route to Cali- fornia. He then settled in the state of Kansas, in the vicinity of Kansas City, where he took a government claim of one hundred and sixty acres, but ill health caused him to abandon this and migrate east. In 1876 he took up his resi- dence in Jermyn, Pennsylvania, where he chose mining as a means of livelihood, and this occu- pation he followed up to the time of his death, December 31, 1883, at the age of forty-six years. His wife, Mary Pritchard, was born March 16, 1843, in South Wales. In 1856, when thirteen years of age, she accompanied her parents to this country, and in the year 1864 became the wife of Richard Pritchard, that being the same year in which he emigrated to the United States. Five children were born to them, two of whom are living-John D. and Lizzie Pritchard.

The early educational advantages enjoyed by John D. Pritchard were limited to a two years' course in the common school of his native town, where he received an impetus to his subsequent education. He is not only a self-made man, but in the true sense a self-educated man. In a gen- eral way all men are self-educated, but they do not all acquire their knowledge under adverse circumstances. Seeing the great necessity of school advantages and realizing the difficulty of obtaining one for himself, he entered his name as a student in the Scranton International Cor- respondence School. Here he applied himself so assidudously as to make rapid advancement, and he thoroughly qualified himself for his pres- ent position, and also for higher offices, which:

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

will surely be tendered to him in his future ca- reer. He is highly respected by his fellow-citi- zens, who, as a mark of their confidence and esteem, elected him to the office of school di- rector. He is a worthy member of Aurora Lodge, No. 523, Free and Accepted Masons ; Eureka Chapter, No. 179; and Palestine Com- mandery, No. 14.

On March 11, 1891, Mr. Pritchard was united in marriage to Lizzie Thomas, who was born in South Wales, September 5, 1870, daugh- ter of Daniel and Mary Thomas, of South Wales. Two children were the issue of this union, one of whom is living-Fern. Mr. Pritchard erected a neat and comfortable house in Jermyn, Penn- sylvania, its surroundings being pleasant and peaceful, and here he and his family enjoy the delights and comforts of home.

WILLIAM G. HAILSTONE. The world has not yet appreciated the toil, inconvenience and risk the miners experience in the production of that valuable and indispensable commercial commodity, anthracite coal. Nor is there a class of men more maligned or underpaid than the miners, but still under these adverse circum- stances he keeps on contributing one of the most needed products of the earth. Among the miners there is scattered an uplifting element which acts as leaven to the whole body, or at least where it comes in contact with it, and that is the sons of Scotland, who have left their native highlands and sought their home in this great and glorious nation. No foreign element makes better citizens than do the sons of Scotland, who are proverbially known for their honesty and thrift.

William G. Hailstone was born in Scotland, July 27, 1861, a son of John and Christina (Green) Hailstone, natives of Scotland, whose family consisted of three sons: John, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Will- iam G., mentioned hereinafter ; and Thomas, de- ceased. John Hailstone (father) settled in Moosic upon his arrival in the United States, and until the time of his decease, in February, 1876, proved himself a loyal and worthy citi- zen of his adopted country. His widow survived him for a number of years, passing away in May, 1881. When William G. Hailstone was two years of age, in October, 1863, his parents emi- grated to the new world, settling first at Pitts- ton, Pennsylvania, and later removing to Moosic, same state. At the age of twelve he began work at the breaker, but was not employed regularly, as he attended school until seventeen years of

age, but since that time he has been engaged continuously in the production of coal, passing through all the various departments of mining. During the past twelve years he has held the position of inside foreman, his time having been divided between the following companies: Elk Hill Coal and Iron Company, two and a half years ; Stevens Coal Company, about three years, and the Lehigh Valley Company, his present po- sition, which he holds. Like the majority of his countrymen, Mr. Hailstone is a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, and in pol- itics is a strenuous Republican. He holds mem- bership in Livingston Court, Ancient Order of Foresters, at Avoca. In July, 1881, Mr. Hail- stone and Lillias Galbraith, a daughter of James and Helen (Smith) Galbraith, were united in marriage. To them have been born four chil- dren : James G., Lillian, Mary S. and Wil- helmina B. Hailstone.

JOHN ALLEN, one of the experienced sta- tionary engineers of the borough of Dunmore, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, where he has resided since his emigration to this country from England under the care of an uncle, in 1867, at the age of fourteen years, has proved himself a loyal, law-abiding citizen of this common- wealth, who is universally respected and es- teemed, as have so many other men of foreign birth who have adopted this as their country. He was born in 1853, a son of the late Richard and Margaret (Brooks) Allen, both natives of England, whose demise occurred previous to the emigration of their son John to the United States.

John Allen has faithfully served the Penn- sylvania Coal Company for the long period of thirty-four years, first beginning at Gypsy Grove mine in 1870. The position of engineer, es- pecially when connected with a mine shaft, is one of great responsibility and trust, for on the steadiness of nerve and thorough knowledge of his business hang the lives of men and the prop- erty of the company. Probably with one excep- tion, namely, fire-boss, there is no position re- quiring greater care and more watchfulness than that of engineer. For eleven years Mr. Allen has laid hold of the throttle valve of No. 5 shaft of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and during this time miners have descended and ascended with- out loss of life or limb. This is a very credita- ble record, and one which any man might well be proud of. Mr. Allen is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 816. Po- litically he is affiliated with the Republican party, whose principles he strongly advocates.

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Mr. Allen was united in marriage in 1876 to Margaret Stevens, also a native of England, and eight children were born to them, four of whom are living at the present time ( 1904) : John, William, Annie, and Thomas Allen. The family are highly respected in the community, and enjoy the acquaintance of a wide circle of friends.

JOHN HAILSTONE. John Hailstone, who has filled with entire satisfaction since 1901 the responsible position of fire-boss for the Pennsyl- vania Coal Company, is one of the few men ca- pable of fulfilling the duties pertaining thereto, as, on his watchfulness and strict adherence to the laws governing mines, depends the safety of the miner. A neglect of duty on his part means loss of life on the part of the miner. He was born in Scotland, November 19, 1852, a son of John and Christina (Green) Hailstone, natives of Scotland, to whom were born three children : John, Thomas, deceased, and William G. John Hailstone ( father) was a miner, employed by the Pennsylvania Coal Company. He removed from Pittston, where he first located upon his arrival in this country, to Moosic, in 1867, where he lived until his demise, February, 1876, fol- lowed by that of his widow in May, 1881.

John Hailstone attended the schools of his native land until 1863, his eleventh year, when he left the shores of his home country to find an abiding place in the Western Hemisphere. With his parents he located in Pittston, Penn- sylvania, where after one year in the schools of that town lie entered the employ of the Penn- sylvania Coal Company, and in 1867 removed to Moosic. He, like many men who have achieved success and risen to any prominence, began life at the lower round of the ladder. He was first breaker boy; next, driver boy, then loader of coal, and later, as years passed on and his physi- cal strength developed, he became a practical miner, which he successfully followed up to 1901, when he was promoted to his present po- sition, fire boss. While not actively engaged in the arena of politics, he was the incumbent of the treasurership of the borough of Moosic for three years, having been elected on the Repub- lican ticket. He is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 233, Free and Accepted Masons, of Pitts- ton, and of Nay Aug Lodge, No. 784, Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, of Moosic, of which he is past noble grand, having passed through all the chairs. Mr. Hailstone married, March 10, 1876, Eva Bouse, daughter of Simon W. and Rachel (Ferrel) Bouse. Four children were

born to them, as follows: John B., who married Nellie Frederick, of Avoca ; Wilfred W., Chris- tine E. and Hazel M. Hailstone.

CHRISTOPHER H. FASSOLD is one of the respected men of Moosic borough who by energy and good management has surrounded himself with the comforts of life. No better il- lustration of good character can be had than love of home and the ample provision made for the loved ones there. While Mr. Fassold is not in affluence, he is comfortably and pleasantly lo- cated in the borough, where he is held in high esteem by all with whom he comes in contact. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1852, a son of George and Mary (Keam) Fassold, and grandson of Adam Fassold, who emigrated to this country from Germany in the year 1854 and settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where his death occurred the following year.

George Fassold (father) was a native of Germany, in which country he was reared, edu- cated and resided until 1854, in which year, ac- companied by his wife, children and father, he set sail for the new world in order to improve their fortunes. He located in Minooka, Penn- sylvania, and there spent the remainder of his days. They reared a family of eleven children, three of whom are living at the present time : John, Christopher and George. Mr. Fassold be- came a loyal and true citizen of his adopted coun- try, and in every relation of life performed his duties to the best of his ability.

Christopher H. Fassold was brought to this country by his parents when only two years of age. He attended the public schools of Minooka, Pennsylvania, and by close application to his studies laid the foundation for a deeper knowl- edge of things in general. When his years and strength would permit he entered the coal break- er as a slate picker, this being the occupation of most boys in the mining districts. He passed through the various positions from breaker boy to miner, serving in the latter capacity until about twenty-five years of age. At this time, 1877, being endowed with the spirit of Colum- bus. and hearing of the great western world, to him unexplored, he resolved to see for him- self what he had heard related by others. He went to Montana and at once engaged in gold and silver mining, was connected with various mines in Montana and South Dakota, and for nine years was employed in Butte City and ad- jacent camps. For five years he was in Bear Paw and Little Rocky ranges, where he had many interesting and thrilling experiences with

Thomas Gerson

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

the Indians, and unlike many others he escaped unharmed and returned to his eastern home after an absence of fourteen years. He then resumed his former occupation of mining, in which he is still engaged. In 1895 Mr. Fassold married Clarissa Hobbs, daughter of William A., who died in 1899, and Clarissa (Holden) Hobbs, who now ( 1904) resides in Kingston, Ontario, Can- ada, of which town they were natives. Five children were the issue of this union, namely : Mary A., born September 8, 1896; Anna, born January 15, 1898; Lottie, born August 3, 1899 ; William, born September 22, 1900, died Octo- ber II, 1904; and Clarissa, born August 10, 1902. The death of their only son William has been the one shadow that has darkened this oth- erwise happy home, and this blow was the more severe by the manner of his death.

THOMAS H. BRAY. If any man may be said to have thoroughly mastered every detail of his business that man is Thomas H. Bray, of Scranton. Mr. Bray comes of English stock and might almost be said to be a miner by hered- itary right. John Bray was born in England, and from his youth was a miner. In 1874 he emigrated to the United States, and settled at Freedonsville, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in ore mining. In 1884 he moved to Hazleton, Luzerne county, in the same state, and there worked at coal mining by con- tract. He married Grace Dawe, also a native of England, and they were the parents of eight children, all but one of whom are now living : William, Thomas H., mentioned at length here- after ; John, Harry, Albert, Charles, and Fred- erick. Mr. Bray, the father of these seven sons, was a worthy and upright man, and his wife a woman admirable in every domestic relation.

Thomas H. Bray, son of John and Grace (Dawe) Bray, was born in 1866, in England, and was eight years old when brought by his parents to the United States. He was educated in the common schools of Hazleton and Scranton, where he made the best use of his opportunities. Like all boys in a mining district, his first ex- perience in the production of coal was through the breaker. He subsequently went into the mines as driver, and later worked with his father, becoming in the course of time thoroughly con- versant with mining in all its branches. All this time he was in the service of the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company, who, recognizing his worth, took him out of the mines and gave him a clerkship in their office. He was promoted from the office to be outside foreman, a posi-

tion which he held with much credit to himself and profit to the company for six years. For a short time he held the same position with the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and in February, 1903, was made superintendent of the Nay Aug Coal Company, a position for which he has al- ready demonstrated his peculiar fitness. His devotion to business leaves him little time for social recreation, and the only fraternal organ- ization in which he holds membership is the Knights of Malta. Mr. Bray married in 1888 May Airey, of Hazleton, and two children have been born to them, one of whom is now deceased. The other, who is named Helen, was born in 1895.

THOMAS CARSON. One of the oldest miners now living in the Lackawanna valley is Thomas Carson, of Scranton. Mr. Carson is the grandson of Thomas Carson, who was a native of Scotland, where he followed the calling of a shepherd. John Carson, son of Thomas Carson, was born in the highlands of Scotland, where he spent his youth and early manhood as a shep- herd. He then went to Wales, where he lived in Breconshire and Glamorganshire. In 1864 he emigrated to the United States and settled at Hyde Park, where he was employed by the Del- aware and Lackawanna Railroad Company. His wife was Ann, daughter of Reese Powell, and they were the parents of six children, four of whom came to this country : Thomas, mentioned at length hereafter ; Margaret, Reese and Cath- erine, the two last named being deceased.

Thomas Carson, son of John and Ann ( Pow- ell) Carson, was born June 11, 1827. near Brecon, Wales, and was two years of age when the fam- ily moved to Neath, Glamorganshire, where he received a limited education. At a very early age he began to work in the mines, and on March 22, 1848, embarked at Liverpool on the sailing- vessel "Henry Clay," bound for New York. After a voyage of twenty-eight days he reached his destination, whence he proceeded to Tamau- qua, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, remaining there two years. In 1849 he moved to Wilkes- Barre and in 1850 to Carbondale. He was em- ployed by the Pennsylvania & Reading Railroad Company. Some of the first shafts developed in the Lackawanna valley were sunk by Mr. Car- son, among them being the Hampton shaft, which he sunk in 1855. In 1857 he worked at the Bellevue. In 1859 he was made mine foreman of the Hampton colliery, a position which he held thirty-seven years. In 1855 he moved to Hyde Park, Scranton, where he has since re-

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

sided. Financially he has been very successful and is now the owner of seven houses. He is a useful and respected citizen, and has served as a member of the council of Scranton. He be- longs to the Masonic fraternity, affiliating with Hyde Park Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and is also enrolled among the Knights of Pyth- ias and in the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. His political principles are those advo- cated and supported by the Republican party. He is a member of the Welsh Congregational Church, in which since 1861 he has held the of- fice of treasurer. He has also served as super- intendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Carson married in 1849, Catherine Eynon, a native of Caermarthenshire, Wales, and sister of Thomas Eynon, in honor of whom Eynon street was named. Mr. and Mrs. Carson were the parents of eight children, five of whom grew to maturity : Margaret, John, William, George and Albert. Of these all but the two last-named are now de- ceased. Albert is a merchant in Hyde Park. Mrs. Carson, the excellent mother of these chil- dren, died June 3, 1886, at the age of forty- seven. Mr. Carson married, December 23, 1887, Mrs. Jane Davis, of Carbondale. Of this mar- riage there is no issue. In 1896 Mr. Carson re- signed his position as mine foreman of the Hampton colliery and retired from active labor, followed by the good wishes of all who had ever in any way been associated with him, in whom his marked abilities and upright character had inspired sincere respect and cordial regard. Mrs. Carson was born in 1839, and is the daughter of Daniel Sweeny, who came to Carbondale as early as 1832, being one of the pioneer miners of the place. He served for a number of years as mine foreman, and was an experienced man in the production of anthracite coal. His death occurred in the Lackawanna valley, where he left an honorable reputation.

W. J. BURKE. There is probably no more popular man in the county than. W. J. Burke, of Minooka. Mr. Burke is a son of John Burke, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to the United States in 1851, and settled in Minooka, where he passed the remainder of his life. His wife was Annie Judge and they were the parents of nine children, six of whom are now living, among whom is a son, W. J., mentioned at length hereafter. Mrs. Burke died in February, 1877, and her husband did not long survive her, pass- ing away in June, 1878.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 85

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