Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 93

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 93
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 93

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COLONEL WILLIAM CARROLL' PRICE, a leading lawyer of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and a man prominent in mili-

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tary circies, being connected with the National Guard of Philadelphia, was born in St. Clair, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1858.

His parents were William and Rachel (Webb) Price. His father was the son of Rees and Anna Price and was born in Stalverah, Glamorganshire, Wales, April 15, 1815. He emigrated to America in 1833, taking up his res- idence in Pottsville. Later he moved to St. Clair, where he entered the coal business, in which employment he was engaged at the time of his death, April 9, 1864. The mother of Wil- liam Carroll Price, Rachel (Webb) Price, was born April 24, 1825, in Northmoreland, Luzerne (now Wyoming) county, the daughter of the late Henry and Abigail (Pike) Webb. She died in January, 1896. Her father, Henry Webb, was the editor and proprietor of the Columbia Democrat, a newspaper of Bloomsburg, Penn- sylvania, which had been in existence about one year when he purchased it. His ancestors came to this country in the seventeenth century and settled at Braintree, Massachusetts, afterwards moving to Windham, Connecticut. His parents were Joel and Caroline (Wales) Webb. Abi- gail Pike Webb was a daughter of Rachel Dor- rance, whose father was James Dorrance, a son of the Rev. Samuel Dorrance, who, about 1723, emigrated to America from Ireland and settled in Voluntown, Connecticut. He had two other sons, John Dorrance and Lieutenant-Colonel Dorrance, who was killed in the battle and mas- sacre of Wyoming. He was a great-grand- father of Benjamin Ford Dorrance, a member of the Luzerne bar. October, 1794, Rachel Dor- rance married Peter Pike, the father of the Hon. Gorden Pike, of Wyoming county, and grand- father of the late Charles Pike, a lawyer of Luzerne county.

William Carroll Price attended the Exeter (New Hampshire) Academy, and there prepared for Harvard University, which institution he entered in 1875, remaining there two years. In 1879 he went into the law office of George M. Dallas, in Philadelphia, and two years later, in June, 1881, was admitted to the Philadelphia county bar. He visited Europe the same year, traveling mostly on the continent and in Great Britain. He returned home in August, 1882, and located in Wilkes-Barre, and in October of that year was admitted a member of the Luzerne county bar. Mr. Price is an unusually hard worker and earnestly devoted to study, which, together with his unusual educational advantages, his travel abroad, and instruction under a lawyer of such note as George Dallas, has aided him in

achieving great success and prosperity in his chosen profession. Mr. Price is an unmarried man. In politics he affiliates with the Republi- can party. He is prominently connected in mili- tary circles. He enlisted in Company G, Seventh Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania, at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, September 27, 1877. Honorably discharged June 14, 1880. Enlisted as a private in Company D, Ninth Regiment, April 5, 1884, elected first lieutenant, May 3. 1884, captain, July 1, 1887, major, July 5, 1888, lieutenant-colonel, November 3, 1892, colonel, June 22, 1894, resigned in 1897.

HENRY E. CEASE, postmaster of Rhone postoffice, Hanover township, is a descendant of one of the old pioneers of the Wyoming Valley. His ancestors were of German stock and worthy citizens of their adopted country. The first of this family to come to Luzerne county was Henry Cease, the great-great-grandfather of Henry E Cease. He emigrated from Germany when eigh- teen years of age, landing in Canada, but later moved to New York city, from whence he came to Luzerne county, settling at Hunlock's creek, where he engaged in agriculture, and where the remainder of his life was spent. His family consisted of four children, three sons and one daughter.

Henry Cease, one of the above named family, and grandfather of Henry E. Cease, married Mary Sorber, who bore him fourteen children, twelve of whom attained years of maturity. In 1820 Mr. Cease located in Plymouth township, four miles from Nanticoke, where he remained until his death in 1856, at the age of sixty-seven years.

Josiah Cease, father of Henry E. Cease, was born in Plymouth township, March 3, 1833. He was reared and educated in the vicinity of his birthplace. He engaged in farming and lumber- ing, which gave him a knowledge of machinery, at which he became an expert. Later he operated for many years a saw mill, located on the site on which his father built in 1825. He engaged in the manufacture of lumber and rollers for mine purposes, and he derived therefrom a profit- able livelihood. He became one of the promi- nent and influential citizens of his native place, and the respect in which he was held was evi- denced by the fact that he was chosen to many offices of responsibility and trust, namely : jus- tice of the peace, which he held many years ; school director, clerk of the township, and post- master at Cease Mills postoffice, the latter being named in honor of the family. In August, 1854,

John F. Haller

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Mr. Cease married Sarah Jane Ide, daughter of Oliver and Amanda Ide. To this union six chil- dren were born: Celesta A., Henry E., Morgan A., Emma L., Thomas J., and Edith M., de- ceased. The demise of Mr. Cease occurred Aug- ust 8. 1904: his wife preceded him in death, passing away April 9, 1898.

Henry E. Cease, eldest son of Josiah and Sarah J. (Ide) Cease, was born at Cease's Mills, Pennsylvania, 1857. He was there reared and educated, and later was engaged in business with his father until about 1880, when he took a posi- tion with John R. Lee & Co., merchants, at Avon- dale, where he remained five years. He then engaged with Conrad Lee, in Wilkes-Barre, re- moving to that city, where he resided until 1896. He then took up his residence in Hanover town- ship, where he became manager for Lee & Scout- en, extensive merchants in general merchandise. In 1901 he received the appointment of postmaster of Rhone postoffice, and is still (1905) the in- cumbent of the same, discharging his duties in such a manner as to win the approbation of the citizens. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and his political views coincide with those advocated by the Republican party. He is a member of Shawnee Lodge, No. 225, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Plym- outh ; Fraternal Order of Eagles, Nanticoke ; and the Knights of Maccabees, Nanticoke.

Mr. Cease married, June 27, 1880, Dora Jane Hughes, daughter of Henry and Jane (Jones) Hughes, natives of Wales, who emigrated to this country in early life. They purchased a farm in Plymouth township, at what is now Hughes postoffice, about 1861. Mr. Hughes is one of the most worthy citizens of his township, has filled various positions of responsibility and trust, among them being postmaster at Hughes post- office, which he held several years. Four chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cease: Alfred R., who serves as assistant to his father in the management of his business ; Edna M., graduate of the Stroudsburg Normal school, now a teacher in the Hanover schools; Ethel L., and Edith J. Mrs. Cease performed the duties of wife and mother in a most exemplary manner.

JOHN F. WALTER. In the financial cir- cles of Lackawanna county, no member of the younger generation is more favorably known than John F. Walter, of Dunmore. He is a descendant of old Pennsylvania and revolution- ary stock. His great-grandfather, Henry Wal- ter, was a farmer by occupation, and resided at Newton Center, Lackawanna county, Pennsyl-

vania. His grandfather, Michael Walter, was a native of New Jersey, but shortly after his mar- riage moved to Pennsylvania, locating at Falls, Wyoming county. He was a farmer. He was a man much respected by all who knew him. He was an active member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He died at Mill City, Wyoming county, 1891, aged seventy-seven years. His wife, whose maiden name was Esther Hough, died 1877, aged sixty-three years. Of the eight children born to Michael and Esther (Hough) Walter, seven are now living: Clara, wife of H. W. Rozelle; Delia, wife of J. W. Clark; William H. ; Eleanora, wife of G. W. Sherwood; Melvin M .; Melissa, wife of J. S. Davis, and Peter B.

Peter B. Walters, son of Michael and Esther (Hough) Walter, was born August 4, 1838, in Falls township, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania. For a number of years he was engaged in the livery business in Factoryville, Pennsylvania, and at the present time (1906) is serving as post- master of the same town. Early in the Civil war he enlisted in the Fifty-second Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and by meritorious conduct on the field of battle was raised from the rank of private to that of commissary sergeant. He participated in the battles of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, Antietam, seige of Charlestown and many others. He married Mary, daughter of Noah Patric, and granddaughter of Abel Patric, who served in the Continental army under General Washington. Noah Patric was born in 1804, was a farmer by occupation, and was one of the first settlers of Wyoming county. Only two children were born to Peter B. and Mary (Patric) Walter. Charles M., who has been con- nected with the Delaware and Hudson coal sales department for a number of years, and John F., mentioned in the following paragraph. Mrs. Mary ( Patric) Walter, wife of Peter B. Walter, died June 14, 1905.

John F. Walters, son of Peter B. and Mary ( Patric) Walter, was born July 4, 1878, at Mill City, Pennsylvania. He received his education at Keystone Academy, Factoryville, whither his parents moved in 1884. From that institution he graduated, and while still a very young man was appointed assistant postmaster under the ad- ministration of the late William McKinley, and the manner in which he discharged the duties devolving upon him was satisfactory in the high- est degree both to his townsmen and to the gov- ernment. Subsequently he went to Scranton, was employed as messenger in the Third National Bank of that city, and after a short

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period of time was given the position of book- keeper, which he retained for five years. In 1903 he was elected cashier of the Fidelity De- posit and Discount Bank of Dunmore, and the fact that he still retains this position is sufficient evidence of his fitness for the same. This bank, which is one of the substantial and flourishing financial institutions in the Lackawanna Valley, was granted its charter in 1902 and opened for business in May, 1903, with the following offi- cers: P. J. Horan, president ; F. E. Swartz, vice-president ; and John F. Walter, cashier. The directors are as follows: P. J. Horan, F. E. Swartz, J. E. Swift, F. W. Winters, T. J. Hughes, R. C. Wills, Henry Beyea, A. H. Bern- stein, John Carney, D. Powell, William Schultz and M. J. Murray. Aside from his connection with the Fidelity Bank Mr. Walter is also vice- president and director of the First National Bank of Walton, one of the solid old institutions of southern New York state. He is a director of the Cain Brothers Coal Company of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and largely interested in semi- bituminous coal companies of West Virginia. Mr. Walter is a member of the Masonic order, affiliating with Factoryville Lodge, No. 341, of which he is past master.

Mr. Walter married, May 21, 1903, Grace Barbour, daughter of George F. Barbour, of Scranton.

LOUIS ENGLE. Among those old resi- dents of Lackawanna county who have retired from active life after making for themselves honorable records as business men and citizens is Louis Engle, of Dunmore. He is the son of Louis and Philipine (Brill) Engle, and was born in Germany, February 25, 1842.

Mr. Engle was brought to the United States while still a boy, and has passed the greater part of his life in Pennsylvania. He was at one time employed on the Pennsylvania Gravity road, and for several years was a locomotive engineer on the Central Railroad of New Jersey. In his business relations he was a man who commanded the respect of all, and always bore the reputation of a good citizen. He has now relinquished his labors. Mr. Engle married in 1867, Gertrude Engle, and they have one daughter, Eliza P., wife of Thomas Warner, of Dunmore. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Warner: Louis W., deceased ; David A., Ruth A., Emma S., and Naomi J. Mrs. Engle be- longs to one of the old pioneer families of the Lackawanna Valley, who have been prominent in the development of the coal industry. Her

grandfather, John Secor, was a native of France, and emigrated to the United States some time prior to 1804. He settled first in New York state, but subsequently migrated to the Lacka- wanna Valley, where he became a large land-' owner in Blakely township. He married Polly Fowler, and they have four sons: Allen, men- tioned hereinafter; Asbury, John and Isaac.

Allen Secor, son of John and Polly (Fowler) Secor, was born March 31, 1804, in Blakely township, and during his early life was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He afterward became identified with the Pennsylvania Coal Company and also acquired an interest in the ice business. He was an enterprising and sagacious business man, whose advice was sought by many. He married Eliza Dolph, granddaughter of Moses Dolph, who served in the revolutionary army under Captain Graham. He married Anna Mc- Arthur, a native of Scotland, and they had a son, Alexander Dolph, who was born in Blakely town- ship. He was a farmer and the owner of a number of acres of coal land, the value of which was not then estimated very highly, but which has since proved profitable to his descendants. He married Susan London, of Egg Harbor, and they had sons and daughters: Eliza, born 1804, in the Lackawanna Valley, became the wife of Allen Secor, as mentioned above ; Emeline, Moses, Anna, Ruth, Edward, Alfred, Warren, Laura, and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Secor were the parents of ten children, six of whom grew to maturity : Alexander, Edward, Ruth A., Allen, who served as a soldier in the Civil war, was hon- orably discharged at the close of his term of service, and is now deceased ; Gertrude, men- tioned hereafter ; and Francis E. In 1848 these children were deprived of their estimable mother, who passed away at the comparatively early age of forty-four. Her husband survived her nearly forty years, dying in 1883, at the age of seventy- nine. He left an honored name.

Gertrude Secor, daughter of Allen and Eliza (Dolph) Secore, was born in 1841, in Blakely township, where she received her education, and became the wife of Louis Engle, as mentioned above. Mrs. Engle is interested in the produc- tion of coal, having a share in a mine from which she receives a royalty. For twenty-two years Mrs. Engle has resided on the site occupied by the beautiful house in which she now lives, and which she erected in 1889. She is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution.

ALBERT 1. ACKERLY. In every com- munity there are men so thoroughly identified

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with all projects for the preservation and ad- vancement of the best interests of their fellow- citizens, that the mention of the place immediate- ly recalls the image of the man. Such a man is Albert I. Ackerly, of Chinchilla. He is a repre- sentative of a family which for three generations has been residents in the Lackawanna Valley.

John Ackerly (or Akerly, as the name was originally spelled), was born in Westchester county, New York, and moved to Delaware county, New Jersey, whence he migrated to Abington township, Luzerne county, now Lacka- wanna county. He was a carpenter by trade and a good mechanic. His wife was Elizabeth Townsend, and thirteen children were born to them : Isaac T., mentioned hereafter ; Eliza, Mary P., Justus, Nancy, Kate, Jane, Olive, Ada. Elsie, Laura, Hiram and another son who died early in life. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerly, the parents of this large family, were sincerely re- spected and cordially liked by all who knew them.

Isaac T. Ackerly, son of John and Elizabeth (Townsend) Ackerly, was born in 1804. in Delaware county, New York, and was about twenty-three years old when he accompanied his parents to their new home in Abington town- ship. There he became, in the course of time, the owner of three hundred acres of land, which, being a practical farmer, he in a great measure brought under cultivation. At one time he held a position with the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. He was a popular citizen and was elected to many township offices. In his younger days he was captain of a militia company. In politics he was a Whig, and in religious belief a Methodist.

Mr. Ackerly married Mary Ann Leach, a descendant of New England ancestors. Jabez and Sarah (Chilson) Leach, natives of Connec- ticut, were the parents of a son, Ephraim, who was also born in Connecticut. Jabez Leach met the death of a patriot soldier on the field of Monmouth, and his widow passed the remainder of her life in her native state. In 1800 Ephraim Leach settled in Lackawanna county, on land, the title of which was found to be defective. The man to whom Mr. Leach gave power of attorney to sell the land and also the personal property ran away with the proceeds, and Mr. Leach was thus left in a new country in well-night destitute circumstances. The courage with which he faced and overcame the difficulties which beset him proved him to be a worthy son of his soldier father. By dint of industry and perseverance he succeeded in retrieving his fortunes, and became

the possessor of land in South Abington town- ship. Here he passed the remainder of his life as an energetic and prosperous farmer. His daughter Mary became the wife of Isaac T. Ack- erly, as mentioned above. Mr. Leach closed his life of usefulness and endeavor at the age of eighty-one.

Mr. and Mrs. Ackerly were the parents of six children : Mary E., widow of John Keller ; Albert I., mentioned hereafter; Byron F., Bal- sora, and two who died in early youth. The death of Mr. Ackerly occurred October, 1882. In his domestic and social relations his conduct left nothing to be desired, while as a citizen he bequeathed to the communtiy the example of one whose influence was invariably exerted on the side of right and justice. His widow passed away March, 1891.

Albert I. Ackerly, son of Isaac T. and Mary Ann (Leach) Ackerly, was born August 18, 1834, in South Abington township, where he received his early education in the common schools, afterward attending the Wyoming Semi- nary. Until reaching his twenty-seventh year he remained on the farm, during a portion of this time taking charge of the school belonging to his district. He also studied and practiced civil engineering to a considerable extent, and during the construction of the Summit lake and Griffen lake dams he had charge of that work, which he executed to the entire satisfaction of the company. He has been in their service more or less for a number of years.

On the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Acker- ly was among those who hastened to take up arms for the preservation of the Union. He en- listed August 18, 1861, and on August 31 was mustered into service for three years as captain of Company K, Eleventh Regiment, Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Cavalry, having been promoted from the rank of lieutenant. The reason for this lay in the fact that the captain who was to have organized the company being physically unable to do so his place had been taken by Lieutenant Ackerly. With the exception of six men he or- ganized the entire company, and then by the unanimous consent of the men was made captain. The company spent one day in Philadelphia, after which they went to Washington, District of Co- lumbia, and thence to the front, participating in the following battles : Ball's Cross Roads, Camp Palmer, siege of Suffolk and Franklin, and also in many minor engaments. May 4. 1864, Cap- tain Ackerly was promoted to the rank of major and on June 25 of that year, at the battle of Staunton River Bridge, received a wound in con-

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

sequence of which he was honorably discharged September 25, 1864.

Mr. Ackerly has always taken an active in- terest in political affairs. His first presidential vote was cast for John C. Fremont, and in 1856 he was instrumental in organizing the Republi- can party in his section of the country. In 1876 he was elected by the Republican vote to a seat in the state legislature, and in 1873 was re-elected. He served as a member of the appropriations, agriculture and judiciary committees, and during his second term was chairman of the new county committee. He took an active part in the divis- ion of Luzerne county ont of which was formed Lackawanna. Mr. Ackerly has filled all the town- ship offices. He has served as a member of the local militia, in which he was commissioned lieu- tenant by Governor Parker.

Mr. Ackerly took an active part in the organ- ization of Captain Hull Post. G. A. R., and upon its disbandment was instrumental in the organ- ization of Sergeant George Fell Post at Waverly. He was a charter member of both organizations and served as first commander of the former. He is a master Mason of the lodge at Waverly, has passed all the chairs in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and encampment at Clark's Green.

Mr. Ackerly married, December 24, 1861, Elizabeth A., born July 5, 1838, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Price) Swallow, and a graduate of Wyoming Seminary. Of the six chil- dren born to them the following grew to matur- ity: I. Albert S., of Hempstead, Long Island, a railroad engineer, married Wilhelmina Griffin, and has two sons, Sumner C. and Kenneth C. 2. George A., lives at Sheridan, Wyoming state, married Rose Dunlap, and has three children, Bessie, Allen D., and Harold. 3. Harry B., a resident of Chinchilla, married Amy Cosner, and has two children, Aileen and Luree. 4. Howard S., of Rockville Center, Long Island, New York, served in the Spanish-American war, married Minnie Hulett, and has one child, Dorothy A During the Civil war Mrs. Ackerly was an active member of the Woman's Relief Corps.

HENRY BRUNDAGE CASSELBERRY, M. D., of Hazleton, born in the village of Co- nyngham, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 19, 1863, is the only child of the late Dr. Jesse Roberts and Amanda ( Brundage) Cassel- berry, and grandson of Richard and Elizabeth (Miller) Casselberry, on the paternal side, and of Moses S. and Jane ( Brodhead) Brundage, on the maternal side.

Richard Casselberry (paternal grandfather)

was a native of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and there for many years followed his trade of tan- ner. He married Elizabeth Miller, a native of Evansburg, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and their children were: John, Philip. Jesse, Thomas, Marmaduke, Jane and Katherine. Mr. Casselberry came to his death by drowning in an old well, he falling in where the boards had rotted, while in the act of getting a drink of water. His wife died at her home in Pottstown. 1894, having attained the advanced age of ninety-four years. Moses S. Brundage (mater- nal grandfather) formerly resided in Conyng- ham and later in Hazleton, where his death oc- curred on March 17, 1873. (See Brundage gen- ealogy.) His wife, Jane ( Brodhead) Brundage, bore him several children. (See Brodhead gen- ealogy.)

Dr. Jesse Roberts Casselberry (father) was born at Pottstown, Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania. In early life he was apprenticed to a butcher, but his tastes and inclinations being averse to that line of work, he abandoned it and earned a livelihood by teaching music. During this time he saved sufficient capital to enable him to enter Jefferson Medical College, and in order to pursue his course there was obliged to teach school and music, thus earning the necessary funds, and in 1856 graduated from that institu- tion with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He located in the village of Conyngham where he continued to practice his profession until 1875, when he removed to Hazleton and continued to practice medicine and surgery, particularly the latter, until the date of his death. He was a director in the Hazleton Gas Company, of which he was one of the founders, until his death when he was succeeded by his son, Henry B. Cassel- berry. He was a member of the First Presby- terian Church of Hazleton, in which he was a trustee for a long period of time, a member of the A .F. and A. M. and the I. O. O. F., of Haz- leton. He was a Republican in politics. Dr. Cas- selberry married, February 21, 1862, Amanda Brundage, born in Conyngham, Pennsylvania, daughter of Moses S. and Jane (Brodhead) Brundage, afore mentioned, and one child was born to them, Henry Brundage Casselberry. The deaths of Dr. Casselberry and his wife occurred October, 1892, and December 4, 1875, respec- tively, and their remains were interred in the Old Brundage Casselberry plot.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II, Part 93

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