USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 96
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume II > Part 96
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Mr. Beardslee married Charlotte Clark. daughter of the late William Clark, of Abington township, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania. She came from one of the pioneer families of
Ger. to. Weiland .
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the valley. Her grandfather, Deacon William Clark, came from Plainfield, Connecticut, with his three sons-William ( father of Mrs. Beards- lee), Jeremiah and John-coming across the mountains with one horse drawing a drag bear- ing a few implements and some provisions. March 15, 1799, they made a stopping place near Leggett's Gap, and in the following sum- mer Deacon Clark planted the settlement known as Clark's Green. 1. The nearest market was Wilkes-Barre, nearly thirty miles southward, the pathway through the forest being infested with wolves. Deacon Clark's wife was the first white woman in Abington. She and her husband were among the first members of the first church (Baptist) formed in Abington, and the initial meeting was held at their house.
JOSEPH FREDERICK, of Pittston, is de- scended from ancestors who came from Holland to America during the pioneer epoch in the his- tory of Pennsylvania, and became identified with the early development and improvement of the state. George Frederick, his grandfather, was born in Northampton county and there spent his entire life, following the occupation of farming. He was the father of seven sons and two daugh- ters. The sons were: John, William, George, Charles, Reuben, Samuel and Jacob.
Jacob Frederick, father of Joseph Frederick, was born in Northampton county, February 4, 1816, died at Avoca, Pennsylvania, January 8, 1893. In early life he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for a few years, and then accepted a position with the Pennsylvania Coal Company, with which he was connected un- til his death, covering a period of about fifty years. He was a very active and helpful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a long period, and belonged to the Odd Fellows Lodge at Pittston. He married, November 26, 1837, Lizzie Ziegler, and they had nine children : Joseph, born March 29, 1839; Lizzie, born Feb- ruary 18, 1841, wife of John Routledgancy J., born September 9, 1844, married a Mr. Gor- don ; Maria, born November 4, 1846, the second wife of John Routledgarriett, born Novem- ber 17, 1849, the wife of Lewis Coon; George, born April 21, 1851 ; Jacob, born July 31, 1853 ; Ella C., born November 24, 1855, wife of John C. Bryden, and Ruth A., born June 14, 1861, married Frank Weeks.
Joseph Frederick was born at Port Blanchard, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1839, and remained upon the home farm until twenty-three years of age. After acquiring a common school educa-
tion he assisted in the work of the fields and also worked for a part of the time for the Pennsyl- vania Coal Company. In 1862 he responded to his country's call for aid and enlisted in School- ey's Independent Battery. Later he was trans- ferred to Company M, Second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. He serv- ed as a non-commissioned officer and was honor- ably discharged after the close of the war, at Petersburg, Virginia, June 20, 1865. After his return from the army Mr. Frederick entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, with which he remained until July 1, 1903, when he retired to private life, thuis severing a connection of almost half a century with that corporation. His interest in military affairs did not abate with the close of the Civil war, and from 1868 until 1873 Mr. Frederick served as captain of a com- pany that belonged to the state militia. He be- longs to Nugent Post, G. A. R., of Pittston ; to St. John's Lodge, No. 233, Free and Accepted Masons; and to Gahanto Lodge, No. 314, In- dependent Order Odd Fellows, both of Pittston.
Mr. Frederick married, January 17, 1868, Ettie Shannon, daughter of George Shannon, whose ancestors took an active part in the Revo- lutionary war. By this marriage there were five children : Mary S., born December 29, 1868, wife of George Nielson ; Bertha, born January 16, 1873, died August 21, 1875; Will J., born August 4, 1875 ; Lizzie, born November 29, 1878, died August 23, 1879; and Laura Electa Cole, born September 19, 1881, wife of Harry J. Bald- win. The family are all members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.
GEORGE W. WEILAND, contractor and builder, whose extensive establishment is situ- ated in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, is one of the most progressive and prosperous business men of the borough. From a small beginning, but equipped with that determination that sur- mounts all obstacles, he forged ahead and is un- willing to rest until he attains the topmost rung of the ladder, which he is fast approaching. His birth occurred in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1864.
His parents were George and Margaret Weil- and, natives of Germany, who emigrated to this ·country at an early day. They located in Hazle- ton, Pennsylvania, where they resided until 1863 in which year they changed their place of resi- dence to the borough of Dickson, remaining there until their demise in May, 1884, and February, 1903, respectively. They were the parents of six
2-31
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children, ant of whom attained years of maturity, and the five surviving members reside in Dick- son City, being loyal citizens of the common- wealth and devoted to the best interests of their native town.
George W. Weiland received a meagre edu- cation in the common schools of his birthplace, but this does not imply, however, that he is an illiterate man by any means, as all through life he has been a close student of books and men and is well posted in current events. At the early age of seven years he entered the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company, re- maining with them for the long period of twenty- one years. From breaker boy he passed through the various grades, but always in promotion, un- til he reached the position of machinist. In the meantime he saw the necessity for the establish- ment of a lumber yard in his borough, and dur- ing the latter years of his employment acquired a general knowledge of building, so that when the opportunity came he was able to avail him- self of its entering into his present enterprise in 1891. He has constantly on hand large quan- tities of the best material of builders' supplies in order to meet the demand of his growing trade, and in addition to this extensive plant em- ploys a force of forty men in the erection of buildings throughout the Lackawanna valley, which stand as monuments to his handicraft.
Mr. Weiland strongly advocates the princi- ples of the Prohibition party, but in national is- sues is in sympathy with the Republican party, in whose ranks are to be found many active ad- vocates of the temperance cause. In 1888 he was honored by election to the office of chief burgess of the borough of Dickson, members of botlı parties having combined to place him there. He also served two terms as assessor, and at the present time (1904) is a member of the borough council. He is a member of Golden Chain Lodge, No. 945, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all the offices. He now holds the distinguished position of district deputy grand master. His lodge conferred upon him the honor of delegate to represent them at the Grand Lodge, which convened at Reading, Penn- sylvania, 1892.
Mr. Weiland married, November 24, 1884, Catherine E. Morgan, daughter of Philip Mor- gan, of Dickson City. Their children are: Ed- mund F., who is a graduate of Buck and Whit- more Business College, of Scranton, and now assists his father in his business; Theodore C .. a student at Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia ; Stanley M., a student ; Beatrice, a stu-
dent ; Flossie, George, Jessie, Beda, Florence Lee, deceased ; Russell and Floyd. Mr. Weiland takes great pride in his children and he is de- termined that their education shall be up to the standard of modern methods.
JOHN F. O'HARA, a loyal. public-spirited and worthy citizen of the borough of Dickson, Pennsylvania, in whom his neighbors and friends place implicit confidence, is a native of Scotland, born in 1852, a son of Bernard and Mary O'Hara, also natives of Scotland. Bernard O'Hara emi- grated to America in 1853, one year after the birth of his son John F., and was followed by his family in the year 1857. He located in Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, and for many years was em- ployed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and West- ern Coal Company. He died in 1882, and his wife survived him many years, passing away in 1897. Six children were born to them, four of whom are living, as follows: James A., Agnes, wife of Thomas Welch : John F. and Theresa.
John F. O'Hara attended the public schools of Scranton, but at the tender age of seven years began work as a breaker boy. For thirty years he was employed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Coal Company in various capaci- ties, from breaker boy to foreman. He began at the Diamond Mine in Scranton, and from there went to Avondale, Halstead and Duryea. In 1891 he was appointed to his present position as inside foreman of Johnson No. I, situated in the borough of Dickson. At that time this was the John Jermyn Company, subsequently became the Johnson, and finally was owned and con- trolled by the Scranton Coal Company. He has under his control three hundred and fifty men, but is thoroughly qualified for this responsible position by his long connection with the produc- tion of coal. He is a man of clear understand- ing and sound judgment, industrious and pru- dent. and well endowed with energy. The able manner in which he manages his large force of men denotes ability of a high order, and by tak- ing an interest in each and every one he has won and retained their confidence. For two terms he has held the office of school director, and is a member of the borough council. He is a Re- publican in politics, and very liberal in his views. He holds membership in the Knights of Colum- bus, Scranton Council, and is president of the St. Thomas Temperance Society, in the cause of which he takes an active interest and is an earnest advocate.
In 1876 Mr. O'Hara married Mary Gilboy, daughter of James and Margaret Gilboy, and
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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.
the issue of this union was seven children, five of whom are living, namely: George V., sur- veyor for the Erie Railroad and Coal Company ; Mary L., Elizabeth P., J. Bernard, a member of the surveying corps of the Scranton Coal Com- pany ; and Agnes. By economy and thrift Mr. O'Hara has been able to erect for himself and family a beautiful and commodious home, which adds to the beauty of the borough and also to the comfort of its inmates.
ELIAS S. REYNOLDS. Among the old and respected residents of Factoryville must be numbered Elias S. Reynolds. He traces his de- scent from New England ancestors who emi- grated from Rhode Island to Pennsylvania not long after the Revolutionary war. Robert Rey- nolds, one of his forefathers on the paternal side, served in the Continental army with the rank of captain.
Stewart Reynolds was born in Factoryville, where he spent his life as a farmer. He married Diana Stanton, a native of the same place, and they were the parents of three children: Elias S., mentioned hereinafter ; Adelbert and Jerusha. Alr. and Mrs. Reynolds, the parents of these chil- dren. are now deceased. They were respected by all for their genuine and unostentatious worth.
Elias S. Reynolds, son of Stewart and Diana (Stanton) Reynolds, was born in 1835 on his father's farm in Factoryville, and' obtained his education in the district school belonging to his native town. In 1851 the death of his father obliged him to leave school and assume the man- agement of the farm, a responsibility which he discharged with a steadiness and fidelity hardly to be expected from one of his years. Of this estate he is now the owner, maintaining it in a flourishing and profitable condition. With the exception of twelve years' residence in Abington township his entire life, thus far, has been passed on his paternal acres. In connection with his agricultural pursuits he has followed the trade of a carpenter. Mr. Reynolds is a good citizen, ever ready to lend his aid and influence to any plan having for its object the advance- ment of the best interests of the community. Po- litically he is an adherent of the Republican party, whose principles find in him an ardent supporter and a strenuous advocate. He is a member of the Baptist Church, in which his zeal and steadfastness have caused him to be recog- nized as one to be implicitly relied on for aid and counsel in all good works.
Mr. Reynolds married, November 30, 1854. Caroline, daughter of Francis Spencer, of Springville, Wyoming county, Pennsylvania, and three children have been born to them: Stewart, Frederick and Emma Evelyn, wife of Frederick Bailey.
JOHN MARSHALL. Among the enter- prising and respected farmers of Lackawanna county John Marshall, of Dalton, occupies a fore- most place. He is the son of Andrew and Mary (Owen) Marshall, of England, whose five chil- dren, with the exception of their son John, still reside in their native country.
John Marshall was born in 1847, in England, where he received his education and learned the trade of a machinist. He was employed by a company who manufactured the machinery used in silk and flax mills, and was sent by this com- pany to various cities in France and Italy to erect the machinery and put it into practical use. He put up the machinery for one of the largest mills in Bologna, Italy, where he remained for five years as assistant superintendent. In De- cember, 1881, he emigrated to the United States, and after staying for a short time in Philadelphia settled in Scranton in 1882. He found employ- ment as a machinist in the Surquoit silk mills of that city, remaining there for eleven years. In 1893 he resigned his position and moved to the farm which has since been his home. His land, while not including a large number of acres, is highly productive, and supplies the Scranton market with some of the choicest fruits there offered for sale. He is extensively engaged in the poultry business, the fowls raised on his farm commanding the highest prices and his eggs being noted for their fine flavor. He is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 170, of Scranton, and in the sphere of politics is a firm believer in the doctrines of the Republican party, giving practical expression to his belief by words and deeds. In matters of religion he adheres to the teachings of the Bap- tist Church, of which he is an active and de- voted member.
Mr. Marshall has been twice married. His first wife bore him two children: Charles Eu- gene, who is married and lives in Scranton, and John W., a resident of Wilkes-Barre. After the death of his wife Mr. Marshall married Eliza- beth, daughter of George and Elizabeth Daw- son. Both his marriages were contracted in England. Mr. Marshall enjoys the reputation of one of the most loyal and patriotic citizens in Lackawanna county.
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HENRI REIMAN. Among those loyal foreign-born citizens of whom Lackawanna county has just reason to be proud, Henri Rei- man, of Dalton, holds an honored place. He is one of those true patriots who combine a warm affection for their native land with the truest allegiance to the country of their adoption.
John Reiman was born in Switzerland and married Annie Fuller, a native of the same coun- try. They were the parents of five children : Helena, Annie, John, Michael and Henri, men- tioned hereinafter. The three sons are now good and useful citizens of the United States.
Henri Reiman, son of John and Annie (Ful- ler) Reiman, was born December 14, 1838, in Switzerland, and received his education in the common schools of his birthplace. He followed agricultural pursuits until 1863, when he emi- grated to the United States. His first place of abode was in Sullivan county, New York, where he worked at the stone mason's trade in conjunc- tion with farming. In 1873 he migrated to Penn- sylvania and settled in Wayne county, where he was engaged for ten years in the lumber busi- ness. At the expiration of that time he returned to his home in Sullivan county, New York, re- maining there five years. In 1888 he came to Lackawanna county and settled in Dalton bor- ough, where he purchased the farm which is now his home. Under his skillful cultivation the land is rendered very productive. He makes a specialty of vegetables and also of the raising of poultry, and in both these lines has achieved marked success. In connection with his agri- cultural labors he follows the stone mason's trade. Politically Mr. Reiman is a staunch Re- publican. He is a devoted member of the Pres- byterian Church.
Mr. Reiman married in 1860, Annie, daugh- ter of John and Margaret (Fisher) Moore. Of the nine children born to them four are now living: John, Michael, Bertha, wife of George Kromer; and Henry. John Reiman is a resi- dent of Scranton. His brother Michael is a farmer in Dalton borough, and in 1900 married Hulda Morris. They have two children: Eliza- beth and Agnes.
EMMETT BRODHEAD. We are living in one of the greatest, if not the greatest countries on the globe. This greatness is due to several causes, one of which is not always before the public eye, that of the sturdy character of the first settlers in our country. The Dutch were the people who settled New York, spreading out into the great state of Pennsylvania, and laid the
basis for a firm form of social and moral gov- ernment. Some of our best citizens of today have sprung from Dutch ancestry, as has En- mett Brodhead, whose name appears at the head of this memoir. No more fitting memorial can be erected to the memory of the early settlers than the reproduction of their own character- istics exemplified in the lives of their descend- ants.
In the early history of this great and glorious country three brothers by the name of Brodhead emigrated from Holland and settled in the state of New York. One of them, the grandfather of Emmett Brodhead, located in Ulster county, and among his children was a son, Charles A. Brounead, father of Emmett Brodhead, who was born in Ulster county, New York, in 1810. He was a farmer by occupation, practical and pro- gressive in his methods, and by dint of perse- verance and close application became one of the prosperous men of his county, where he re- mained up to the year of his decease, 1901, at the advanced age of ninety years. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Van Wagenen, daughter of Jacobus Van Wagenen, passed away in 1855. They were the parents of nine children, only four of whom attained years of maturity, namely : Emmett, mentioned hereinafter ; Simon, who died during the period of the Civil war : Amanda, and Angela, now Mrs. Van Demark, of Ulster county, New York.
Emmett Brodhead was born in Ulster county, New York, April, 1837. He was reared and edu- cated near the scene of his birth, and in early life served an apprenticeship at the trade of tan- ner, at which he worked as journeyman in his native place until about 1873. He then removed to Nicholson, where he engaged as foreman in the tannery of Childs & Bloomer, remaining with them several years. He then went to Elm- hurst as foreman of the Jackson Shultze tan- neries, and served in that capacity for about sev- en years. At the expiration of this period of time, 1885, he purchased from Jackson Shultze the Spring Brook tannery, near Moosic, Penn- sylvania, which he successfully operated for about ten years, after which he disposed of the property to the Spring Brook Water Supply Company, and in 1898 retired from active busi- ness pursuits. This does not signify that Mr. Brodhead's life of usefulness is over, as in this case as well as in many more the real and social abilities of men become more prominent as the strain of business pressure ceases. He takes an active interest in all measures and enterprises pertaining to the welfare of his borough, of
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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.
which he is the first chief burgess. He is a staunch Republican in politics, the principles of which party he has advocated since attaining his majority. He is a member of Moscow Lodge, No. 504. Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a member of the chapter and commandery at Mos- cow.
Mr. Brodhead married Sarah Van Luzen, daughter of John and Catherine Van Luzen, na- tives of New York state. Their children are : Neal, of Philadelphia ; Charles S., of Moosic ; Ira, of Moosic ; Carrie and John L., who reside with their parents.
PROFESSOR JAMES J. POWELL, super- vising principal of the Moosic borough schools, which responsible position he has filled since 1896 to the entire satisfaction of the patrons and edification of the scholars, this being due in a great measure to the fact that he possesses the ability to convey clearly to others the knowl- edge acquired by himself, was born in Minooka, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1874. It is a foregone conclusion that the education of a child begins one hundred years before it is born, yet how large a share of the moulding of character, train- ing of thought and development of the mental faculties are left for the teacher in our public schools to carry out. The most illustrious and leading minds of today can trace back to their school days to some particular time when a bright idea flashed from the mind of the teacher, illuminating the soul of the pupil, a light which in their subsequent life has never grown dim. Indeed the successful teacher, either consciously or unconsciously, stamps his impress to · some extent on the mind of his pupils.
The parents of Professor Powell were Rich- ard and Rose (Flynn) Powell, natives of Ire- land, who emigrated to this country in the early forties. Their deaths occurred in October, 1888, in that memorable railroad disaster at Mud Run. They were the parents of six children. namely : Mary E. (Mrs. Walsh), Annie ( Mrs. Sullivan). James J., mentioned hereinafter ; Patrick, Rose and John.
Professor Powell was reared in his native town, in which he has always resided, and his education was acquired in the schools adjacent to his home and in the city of Scranton. In 1896 he began his career as teacher in one of the township schools, a position he filled for two vears. At this time Moosic borough was organ- ized and he was at once appointed supervising principal, the duties of which responsible posi- tion have been discharged with the utmost ef-
ficiency and capability. He has under his super- vision four school buildings, which accommo- date the five hundred and seventy pupils in the borough, and these are under the preceptorship of fourteen teachers. The high school course qualifies the graduates for teachers, or the sec- ond year course in the State Normal School. Mr. Powell is serving the third year as chair- man of the Permanent Certificate Committee of Lackawanna county. He is president of the Young Men's Institute in Scranton, and is a member of Knights of Columbus, No. 280, Scranton. He is unmarried.
OWEN TIBBETT. Among the various ele- ments which contribute to the foreign popula- tion of the Lackawanna Valley no nationality produces better citizens than the Welsh, and no citizen presents a truer type of the naturalized Welshman than does Owen Tibbett, of Avoca. He is a son of William and Mary (Hughes) Tibbett, natives of Wales, who had children : Ellen, Anna, Sarah, Owen, mentioned herein- after ; and William. Mr. Tibbett, the father. died in 1898, at the age of seventy-five years, having passed his entire life in his native land, where his widow still survives at the advanced age of eighty-four.
Owen Tibbett, son of William and Mary (Hughes) Tibbett, was born March, 1861, in Wales, where he received a common school edu- cation, and was afterward engaged in railroad work. In 1883 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Luzerne county. He there entered the service of the Delaware and Hudson Company as a miner, an occupation in which he has continued from that time until the present. In 1890 he took up his abode in Avoca, thus adding to the number of the good citizens of that place. He is a member of the Ancient Or- der of the Knights of the Mystic Chain, of Moosic. The Republican party finds in Mr. Tib- bett an earnest upholder of its principles and doctrines. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Tibbett married, April 25, 1887, Alice, daughter of Robert and Jane ( Jones) Lewis, and their children are: Robert, William, Griffith, Margaret J., Mckinley and Roosevelt.
WILLIAM C. MONIE,' district superintend- ent of Spring Brook Water Supply Company, was born in Denny, Scotland, May 3. 1859. Probably no country on the globe has so inter- esting, thrilling and romantic history as Scot- land. The Scot is proverbially known for his
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