USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 95
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 95
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William Prestwood was born in England and was by occupation a miner. In 1881 he came to the United States and settled in Dauphin county,
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Pennsylvania, whence he migrated in 1885 to the Lackawanna Valley, taking up his abode in Tay- lor. There he entered the service of the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Company, by whom he was soon promoted to the position of fire boss. His duty is to precede the miners to the mines and by a thorough investigation and all possible precautions make it absolutely sure that in no chamber or passage is there any danger from gas or fire damp. This is one of the most important offices connected with the production of coal, for on the faithful services of the fire boss depend the lives of the men who go down into the mines. This responsible position Mr. Prestwood has held for fifteen years, a fact which furnishes all-convincing evidence of his fidelity to duty. He has prospered financially and is the owner of a desirable residence in the sixth ward of Taylor. Politically he is a Republican. He holds the office of local preacher in the Primitive Methodist Church, in which for many years he has been a class leader.
Mr. Prestwood married, before leaving his native land, Sarah Laugharne, also a native of England, and they are the parents of the follow- ing children: J. H., mentioned hereafter ; Wil- liam M., Lilly, Sadie, Edith, Kathryn, and Char- lotte A.
J. H. Prestwood, son of William and Sarah (Laugharne) Prestwood, was born in 1882, in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and attended the common schools of Taylor, where he acquired a thorough education, fitting him for advancement along commercial lines. In 1897 he entered mer- cantile life and is now in business for himself. The store of which he is the proprietor, while not so large as some of those situated in great commercial centres, is extensively patronized,
being always well stocked with fresh and choice goods which are offered at reasonable prices. Like his father, Mr. Prestwood affiliates with the Republicans. He is a member of the Congre- gational Church of Taylor, in which he holds the office of chorister. He is an enthusiastic worker among the young people, and has been for four years superintendent of the Sunday school, filling the position in a manner which has given general satisfaction and has tended materially to the growth and in all respects to the best interests of the school.
HENRY E. HARRIS. Those residents of Lackawanna county who are engaged in the coal industry have a worthy representative in Henry E. Harris, of Taylor. His ancestors were among
those sturdy Welsh miners, who, more than any others, have been instrumental in developing and building up the coal industry of Pennsylvania.
Morgan J. Harris was born May 22, 1836, in Morganshire, South Wales, and in 1863 emi- grated to the United States. He settled in 1868 in the Lackawanna Valley, and being an experi- enced miner was appointed in 1869 foreman of the Taylor mine, a position which he held during the remainder of his life. His wife was Ann Price, born in 1837, in the same county as her husband. They were married in their native country, where two of their eighteen children were born. These two they brought with them to Minersville, Schuylkill county, which was their first home in the new land, and where they re- mained until they removed to Lackawanna coun- ty, and took up their abode in Scranton. Of their eighteen children the following are living: John M., an attorney in Scranton ; Sarah, Henry E., mentioned hereinafter ; David M., Susan, Lu- ther, Jennie and Lillian. The death of Mr. Har- ris, the father of this large family, occurred May 25, 1887. He left behind him a name respected by all who knew him, as that of a good and use- ful man. His widow is still living.
Henry E. Harris, son of Morgan J. and Ann (Price) Harris, was born March 8, 1865, at Minersville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. At an early age he began to attend the common schools, and when in his eighth year he was obliged to leave, had acquired a sincere desire for knowledge. This he manifested years later by taking a course at the Scranton Business Col- lege. being forced by reason of his daily occu- pation to attend the night session. From this institution he graduated February 9, 1887. He entered the service of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company as a slate picker, was next made door-boy in the mine, and then advanced to the post of timber-man. Thus step by step he rose, and in 1888 was made inside superin- tendent of Archbald colliery, a position which he still retains. This colliery has been in opera- tion since 1869. Mr. Harris has under his charge six hundred men and boys. During all the years in which he has held his present position he has never met with an accident. It is needless to say that such a man is highly appreciated by his employers. That he is appreciated no less by his fellow-citizens is evident from the fact that for eight years he served as a member of the coun- cil of the borough of Taylor, and during six of those years was president of that body, an office which he filled with much credit. He is
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a member of the Independent Order of Red Men and the Knights of Malta. Politically he is a Republican.
Mr. Harris married, September 16, 1891, Sarah E. Dowse, and of the four children born to them three are living: Ethel, Helen and Miriam. Mrs. Harris is the daughter of Will- iam Dowse, who was born May 1, 1834, in Eng- land, and on coming to the United States settled in Lackawanna county, where he was foreman of the Continental mine. His wife was Ann Walters, born in 1829, in Morganshire, South Wales. Of their children the following are liv- ing: Mary J., Lizzie, James W., Alfred C., George, Emily, Edward and Sarah E., born in 1870, in Keyser Valley, Lackawanna county, and became the wife of Henry E. Harris, as men- tioned above.
WILLIAM H. WILLIAMS. Throughout the mining regions of Pennsylvania the Welsh element has long held the balance of power, and at the present day, in Lackawanna county at least, that element is rapidly coming to the front in financial circles as well as in the sphere of the coal industry, and promises to become in the future as influential in the former as it has heretofore been in the latter. Among those Welshmen who are recognized as belonging to the ranks of the rising business men of the county is William H. Williams, of Scranton. Mr. Williams was born in 1854, in South Wales, and is the son of Thomas and Margaret Williams, both natives of Wales, and who died in the land of their birth.
Mr. Williams was educated in his own coun- try, and in 1872 emigrated to the United States. He belonged to a family of six children, and with the exception of a sister, Jane T. Williams, was the only one to seek a home across the sea. He settled in Scranton, where he has resided ever since. His education was somewhat lib- eral, and by dint of further application after his arrival in this country he soon became an ac- complished clerk, and as such was employed by the Mount Pleasant Coal Company. He has now been thirty-two years in the office of this company, during which time he has served under four different managements. From 1872 to 1877 the mines were operated by the Mount Pleasant Coal Company. In the latter year they passed under the control of a Mr. Smith, whose death in 1898 caused them to return to the hands of the Mount Pleasant people. Since 1902 they have been owned and operated by the Scranton Coal Company. It is an eloquent fact that
through all these changes Mr. Williams has re- tained his position and with it the respect and confidence of the various companies. In 1902. he was promoted by the Scranton Coal Company from the position of clerk to that of superintend- ent of outside work. The colliery under his. management is one of the oldest in that part of the Lackawanna valley, having been in opera- tion since 1854. The shaft is now about six hun- dred feet deep, and employs, inside and outside, seven hundred and twenty men. The output of this breaker is ten hundred tons per day. Mr. Williams' administration of this responsible of- fice is as entirely satisfactory as was the manner in which he discharged the duties of his former position. As may readily be imagined, the de- mands of business absorb the greater portion of his time, but all his neighbors can testify that he never forgets to be a good citizen. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and the Knights of Pythias, in which lat- ter body he has held office.
Mr. Williams married, in 1874, Annie James, a native of England, and two children were born to them : William P., a machinist, married Anna Williams, and Margaret A., wife of a Mr. Storm. In 1890 Mr. Williams and his children were be- reaved by the death of the wife and mother, who passed away deeply lamented by a large circle of friends.
GEORGE B. REED. One cause of the financial prosperity of Lackawanna county may be found in the character of its business men of the younger generation. By these is pos- sessed and manifested in full measure that ac- tivity and spirit of progress which impart to. the atmosphere of affairs a vitality without which no community can prosper. In a list of these men the name of George B. Reed, of Peckville, would stand very high. His career, thus far, affords an exemplification of what may be ac- complished by men of the class referred to.
Alfred Reed was born in 1825, in Glenborne, Pennsylvania. He was a successful farmer, owning two hundred and fifty acres of well tilled land, which, under his energetic and skillful man- agement, were rendered abundantly productive. He was not only prosperous as a farmer, but also influential as a citizen, possessing the full and implicit confidence and high esteem of his townsmen, by whom he was elected to a num- ber of important borough offices. He was at one time prominently identified with the Grangers, in which body he held a conspicuous office. He married Rebecca J. Gardner, born in
t
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Glenborne, and their children were: Lillian, Bertha, Eugene, Clarence, George B., mentioned hereinafter, and Homer. Mr. Reed closed his long and useful life in 1898.
George B. Reed, son of Alfred and Rebecca J. (Gardner) Reed, was born October 23, 1870, at Glenborne, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, and received his primary education in the pub- lic schools of his native town. He subsequently attended Keystone Academy, from which insti- tution he graduated, and then entered Lowell's Business College, Binghamton, New York, where he studied the art of telegraphy and from which he graduated. In 1890 he moved to Peckville, where he became assistant to U. V. Mace, whom, in 1893, he succeeded as chief agent and op- erator, thus proving how thoroughly he had mas- tered his art. This position he still retains, and is to-day one of the most efficient representatives of the New York, Ohio & Western Railway Com- pany. In all community affairs Mr. Reed mani- fests a laudable public spirit, and his townsmen have testified to their appreciation of his quali- ties as a citizen by electing him borough audi- tor, in which office he served three terms with much satisfaction to his constituents. In 1892 he held at the same time the offices of borough clerk and electric light collector. He is a mem- ber of Oriental Star Lodge, No. 588. Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is past master. He also belongs to Harper Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Peckville Conclave, No. 368, Camp 880, Modern Woodmen of America. and the Order of Heptasophs. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has the honor of being president of the Epworth League.
Mr. Reed married, in September, 1895, Katie M., daughter of William Bell, of Peckville, and they are the parents of two sons: Robert S. and Roland B.
JAMES DANIEL STOCKER, prominently identified with various important commercial and financial enterprises in Lackawanna county, and who has rendered great service to the community at large by promoting and effecting the construc- tion of some of the principal waterworks in the valley, is a native Pennsylvanian, born in Salem township, Wayne county, March 9, 1850.
He is a representative of a family of pre- sumably Scotch origin, which was planted in America in the seventeenth century, and whose members in their various generations rendered to their country faithful service during the war
of the revolution and that of the rebellion. TThe founder of the Stocker family in this country was John Stocker (or Stalker), of Fairfield county, Connecticut. In 1746 he married Mary Moore- house, who lived to the phenomenal age of one hundred and seven years, retaining in remarka- ble degree her physical and mental powers al- most to the day of her death. John and Mary Stocker were the parents of four sons: Thad- deus, Seth, John and Peter. The three first named all bore arms during the Revolutionary war: John never returned home, and his fate is only a matter of surmise, the presumption being that he was killed in battle, or died a prisoner of war. This John Stocker, prior to entering the army, married Ruby Parks, and to them were born two sons, James Hill and John, the last named never married. James H. Stocker was tanner, currier and shoemaker. About 1800 he married Abigail Pepper, and resided in Kent township, Litchfield county, Connecticut. His sons were: Anson, Almon and Albert; and his daughters were: Alma, Anna and Susan. Anson was a pioneer settler at Meshoppen, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania. He was a miller by occu- pation, and was highly respected as an exemplary citizen. He reared a large family, and two of his sons participated in the war of the rebellion. Almon died a young man. The daughters of James H. Stocker married in Connecticut; of these, Susan Meeker is the only one living, aged ninety years. Albert Stocker, son of James H. and Abigail ( Pepper) Stocker, was born in Kent, township. Litchfield county. Connecticut, July 18, 1811. He received a common school educa- tion. He became part owner of a sawmill in which he worked until 1840, when he removed to Salem, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm upon which he resided until his death, March 23, 1878. He was an honest and industrious man, deeply conscientious, stern in his family discipline, and exacting unquestion- ing obedience from his children. In 1838 he married Lydia Rebecca Peet, a native of New Milford, Litchfield county, Connecticut. She was a most excellent wife and mother, and her integrity, truthfulness and virtue were inefface- ably impressed upon the hearts and minds of her children. She came o fa most honorable an- cestry, among whom were, besides the Peets, the Lithartons and Fairchilds. The Fairchilds arc known in Scotland as Fairbairns, and their coat- of-arms indicates that they were in the crusades from 1096 to 1291. The Peets were from Duf- field parish, Derbyshire, England. The first of
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the family in America was John Peet, the lineal ancestor of Lydia Rebecca (Peet) Stocker, who came to Stratford, Connecticut, in 1635. He rang the bell of the Congregational church of that town for twenty years, during a period when there were very few church bells in the colonies. There were seven generations of the Peets in America, and many of the family saw service during the Revolutionary war. On both sides the progenitors of Mrs. Stocker were patriots.
James Daniel Stocker thus unites in his veins the blood of representative families of two domi- nant races. He was reared in his native county of Wayne, Pennsylvania, and received his educa- tion in the common school and academy at Wayne. June 12, 1872, he located in Jermyn. where he conducted a meat business until 1884, when he added a general line of merchandise. He conducted this business successfully until 1904, when he relinquished it to give his undi- vided attention to more important enterprises -the installation of waterworks at various points throughout the valley-and which have contributed in marked degree to the development of every material interest in that region, and in all of which Mr. Stocker took the leading part. These include the Jermyn and Rush Brook Water Company, of which he is president ; the Montrose Water Company of Susquehanna county, of which he is president ; the Honesdale Water Company of Wayne county: the Taren- tum, Harrison and East Deer Townships Water Company; the Huntington Water Company, of which he is treasurer; the Armstrong Water Company, of which he is president ; and the Latrobe Water Company. He was the principal factor in perfecting the organization of the Na- tional Water Works and Guarantee Company (capital $1,000,000), of which he is vice-presi- dent. He recently visited Monterey, Mexi- co, in the interest of the last named company, with a view to opening up water- works in that city. The large accomplishments of Mr. Stocker, as herein enumerated, afford ample evidence of superior qualifications as a civil engineer. and of commensurate mana- gerial abilities. He is also connected with other interests, among them the Wilson Lumber and Milling Company of Lenoir, North Carolina. of which he is president. Essentially a man of large business affairs, he has been too closely occupied to admit of his engaging in the political arena, even were he so disposed. His career has been fully as useful as it has been active, and he has contributed in large degree to the extension of every industrial and commercial interest in
every region where his effort has been exerted, to the enlargement of their facilities, and to the increase of their wealth.
In 1872 Mr. Stocker married Frances Ray- mond, daughter of the Rev. A. R. Raymond, a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Two chil- dren were born of this marriage: Stella B., de- ceased ; and Frank R., a graduate of Yale, now a lawyer in Scranton, and connected with the Pennsylvania Casualty Company. Mrs. Stocker died, and in 1882 Mr. Stocker married her sister, Gertrude L. (now deceased), and to them was born a son, Claude P., who is engaged in edito- rial pursuits. In 1899 Mr. Stocker married Miss Octavia Morrison, of Statesville, North Caro- lina, and they are the parents of a daughter, Eleanor Gertrude.
SAMPSON HUTCHINGS. A striking proof of the benefits resulting from self-educa- tion when joined to industry, integrity and force of character, is furnished by the career of Samp- son Hutchings, of Olyphant, who, both as a business man and a citizen, occupies a high place in the regard of his neighbors.
Mr. Hutchings was born in 1839, in England. His boyhood was passed on the farm which had been his birthplace, and his educational oppor- tunities were necessarily limited. He early per- ceived, however, the great importance of mental culture to the man desirous of advancement in any walk of life, and on reaching his seventeenth year began to attend night school, where he availed himself of every opportunity for improve- ment, and gave special attention to mathematics and civil engineering. At the same time he learned the miller's and millwright's trade, which he followed for some years, but finally abandoned it in consequence of injury to his lungs caused by the dust of the workshop and the mill. He then engaged for a time in mining. working in coal, copper, tin, lead and iron.
In 1864 Mr. Hutchings emigrated to the United States, where, by reason of his occupa- tion, he was naturally attracted to the mining regions of Pennsylvania. For three years he worked in the mines at Dunmore and in 1868 moved to Petersburg, where he opened a mine of his own which he operated for one year. In 1870 he removed to Olyphant, and until 1884 was engaged in mining there. He then decided to turn his attention to another line of endeavor. and opened a blacksmith's shop. In this venture he was very successful. His business increased and is still steadily enlarging its scope and pro- portions. It includes, in addition to blacksmith-
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ing, woodwork and painting. His shops are large and commodious, the main building being of cut stone. Their equipment is complete, in- cluding a ten-horse-power engine and all other necessary machinery. He gives constant em- ployment to six men, who are all skilled work- men. Throughout the two boroughs of Blakely and Olyphant he is recognized as the leading blacksmith. Mr. Hutchings is active in all the duties of citizenship and possesses the fullest confidence of his neighbors, as was manifested by their electing him to serve three years in the council of the borough of Blakely. He was a member for two years of the civil engineer corps, and during that time was engaged in general work in and about mines and on railroads.
Mr. Hutchings married in 1870, Sarah Deven, of Blakely, and four children have been born to them: Mary E., wife of George Rull, a ma- chinist ; E. S., who is in business with his father, and Alretta and Euretta, twins.
HOWKIN BULKELEY BEARDSLEE, of Wilkes-Barre, though a lawyer of ability, was more widely known and admired for his excel- lent powers as a journalist, and for his useful public services. His active career covered more than a half century during the most eventful period in the history of the nation, and it was the fortune of comparatively few to have borne such a prominent part during that time.
Mr. Beardslee was born in Mount Pleasant, Wayne county, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1851. His father, Bulkeley Beardslee, was a native of Fairfield, Connecticut, whence he removed at an early day to the place which witnessed the birth of his son. He was a householder in Mount Pleasant township, Pennsylvania, as early as 1818, and became a man of prominence, holding several important offices, among them that of county commissioner. His wife was a daughter of Walter Kimble, who was a son of Jacob Kim- ble, one of the pioneers in the Paupack region. He was among those who were driven away about the time of the Wyoming massacre, and who returned after the Revolution, dying in 1826, at the remarkable age of ninety-one years.
Howkin Bulkeley Beardslee entered upon a public career at the early age of twenty-four years, the fact attesting his business ability and reputation. He was register and recorder of Wayne county from. 1845 to 1848; a member of the legislature in 1860; and of the state senate in 1864, 1865 and 1866. In 1864 he was actor in a dramatic scene, which brought upon him the attention of the people of the entire state.
There was at the time an equal political divis- ion of the senate, and the Democrats, among whom Mr. Beardslee was a leader, inaugurated an opposition to the election of a Republican speaker which was continued through several weeks. This was only made possible by Mr. Beardslee's prompt decision and aggressive in- dividuality. In alphabetical order on the first roll call, his was the first Democratic name called for, and his instant response pitched the key for all his colleagues.
While a resident of Wayne county Mr. Beardslee was for many years owner and editor of the Wayne County Herald. Seeking a broad- er field of labor, in 1871 he removed to Wilkes- Barre and became part owner and the editor of the Luzerne Union, subsequently purchasing the entire property. For many years, and under his sole management, the Union was the only Dem- ocratic newspaper printed in English in the en- tire county, which then included the present county of Lackawanna. Mr. Beardslee brought to his task what proved to be journalistic ability of a high order, and he made his journal one of the influential ones in the state, wielding an influence so altogether powerful as compared with the rural press of the present day as to be incomprehensible to one who did not live under the old conditions, now forever passed away. After conducting his newspaper for about ten years, the Union was consolidated with the Leader, Mr. Beardslee retiring, and in 1882 lie established the Luzerne County Herald. The ne- cessity for a strong, aggressive party organ had now passed away, and, while using his columns to advocate the political principles dear to his heart, as seemed to warrant from time to time, Mr. Beardslee made it his chief concern to pro- duce a journal for the family circle, an object which he so successfully accomplished as to make it a first favorite in scores of homes which were entirely antagonistic to him politically. During his career as an editor he wrote what would occupy several book shelves if put into book form, covering the entire range of subjects which interest the American people, and ranging "from grave to gay, from lively to severe." With an abundant knowledge of the best in literature, and keeping ever in touch with advanced thought and action, he added that charm of graceful writ- ing which is scarcely to be acquired, but comes to one as does the divine afflatus to the poet.
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