Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 103

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 988

USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 103
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 103

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Mr. Gross married, October 26, 1871, Mary Chahoon Lewis, daughter of Josiah and Arabella D. Lewis, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Mr.

Gross died at the residence of MIrs. Arabella D. Lewis on North street, Wilkes-Barre, August 16, 1899, aged seventy-one years. The interment was in Hollenback cemetery, Wilkes-Barre. He was survived by his wife, Mary Chahoon (Lewis) Gross, and two children-John Lewis Gross, who took the full course in mechanical engineering in Lehigh University, for three years thereafter was employed in Cramps' shipyards in Philadelphia, and since then has been connected with the New York Ship Building Company in the capacity of mechanical engineer; he resides in Philadelphia, and Arabella Lewis Gross, a graduate of the Nurses' Training School at the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital, who nursed her father through his long sickness. Mr. Gross left to his family an unsullied and exceptional record for strictest integrity and uprightness.

S. WARREN REICHARD, a practicing physician of Wilkes-Barre, 'was born June 8, 1878, in Mauch Chunk, son of William H. and Annie E. (Williams) Reichard. He received his early education in the public schools of Wilkes- Barre, later attended the Harry Hillman Acad- emy, and in 1897 entered the Chirurgical Col- lege at Philadelphia, from which he was gradu- ated in 1901. From 1901 to 1902 Dr. Reichard served in the Mercy Hospital at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and then engaged in the general practice of his profession, opening his office at No. 282 South Washington street, Wilkes-Barre, and has established for himself an excellent prac- tice. He is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society, and since 1902 has been physi- cian to the poor board of the Central Poor Dis- trict, and is surgeon to the Firemen's Relief As- sociation of Wilkes-Barre, and examiner for the Wyoming Valley Traction Company. He is a member of the Masonic Order, Lodge 442, F. A. and A. M., Wilkes-Barre. Dr. Reichard is a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Republican.

In 1900 Dr. Reichard was united in mar- riage to Miss Marie Bossert, daughter of Jacob. and Henrietta (Schaffart) Bossert, both natives of Germany. One child, a son, William Henry, was born to Dr. and Mrs. Reichard.

LIDDON FLICK, late president and editor of the Wilkes-Barre Evening Times, was a rep- resentative of an old and honored German line- age, tracing his ancestry to Gerlach Paul Flick, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 23, 1751, from Germany.

Gerlach Paul Flick settled in Northampton;

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

county, and followed his occupation as a miller. Notwithstanding the hardships incidental to the lives of the early settlers, combined with the struggles for American independence, the founder of the American branch of the family lived to be ninety-nine years of age. Indeed, this longevity has been a characteristic of the family, and there- fore, a matter of pride. He was the father of three sons-Paul, Martin, and Casper-all born in Monroe township, Pennsylvania. Casper Flick, the youngest of the above named family, served through the entire period of the Revolu- tionary war, and afterward followed the same occupation as that of his father, that of miller. He was the father of twelve children, all but one of whom lived to be more than eighty years of age. He died at the age of eighty-two years.

John Flick, eldest son of Casper Flick, born January 1, 1783, also followed the occupation of miller. He was a patriot, serving all through the war of 1812, being mustered out when peace was declared. He became a prominent citizen of Northampton county, and was several times elected to public office. He served as county com- missioner when Northampton, Monroe, Carbon, and Lehigh were one county, and was twice elected to the state legislature. He was a Demo- crat in politics. He married Eva B. Caster, daughter of Philip Caster, who was a revolution- ary soldier, and at one time a resident of the Wyoming Valley. John Flick died January I, 1869, aged eighty-six years.

Reuben Jay Flick, eldest son of John and Eva B. (Caster) Flick, was born at Flicksville, North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1816. In 1838 he came to the Wyoming Valley and at once engaged in mercantile business, later engaging in banking, was the first president of the People's Bank, and held this position twelve years, ending January 22, 1884, when he resigned. By patient industry and sterling integrity he became one of the most respected and influential citizens of Wilkes-Barre, being closely identified with every movement that tended to its advancement, com- mercially, religiously and charitably. Among the many positions of honor to which he was elected were trusteeships of Lincoln University, Ox- ford, Pennsylvania, the Harry Hillman Academy, Female Institute, City Hospital, and Home for Friendless Children. His benevolences were not bounded by the city nor restricted by creed or color. He was a generous benefactor to the col- ored race. He was averse to filling a public office, but once yielded to the solicitations of friends and became a candidate for congress, poll- ing a large vote, far ahead of any one on the same

ticket. In January, 1858, he married Margaret Jane, daughter of Adam and Margaret Arnold, of Hamilton, Monroe county, Pennsylvania. His death occurred December 18, 1890.

Liddon Flick, eldest son of Reuben Jay and Margaret Jane (Arnold) Flick, was born in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 29, 1858. He received his early education at the public schools in the city of his birth, and after a short preparatory training entered Prince- ton University, graduating therefrom as a Bach- elor of Arts in June, 1882. He then entered the law school of Columbia College, New York city, graduating in June, 1884, with the degree of LL. B., cum laude. After spending a year in the office of ex-Judge Lucien Birdseye, he was ad- mitted to practice in all the courts of New York in January, 1885. Later he returned to Wilkes- Barre, and after six months in the office of Alex- ander Farnham, Esq., he was admitted to prac- tice in the courts of Luzerne county. He at once commenced to look after his father's many invest- ments, and developed an active interest in com- mercial affairs, especially banking, and subse- quently successfully promoted and assisted in the development of numerous enterprises, both finan- cial and industrial.

While a student at Princeton he displayed a penchant for journalism, and was an active pro- moter of the illustrated weekly called The Tiger. Later, with a few associates, he purchased the Wilkes-Barre Evening Times, making it a stock company, he being president and editor, and in spite of predictions to the contrary he placed this enterprise on a successful basis. From a little weakling with a small circulation, it has become the leading afternoon paper of interior Pennsyl- vania, with a circulation exceeding the combined issues of all the afternoon papers of Luzerne county. The paper is located in a handsome and commodious building, three stories high, fitted with modern machinery, including Mergenthaler type-setting machines, a three-deck Goss press operated by electricity, and with a telegraphic service unequalled. In politics Mr. Flick was an ardent Republican, a great admirer of Mckinley and Roosevelt, and often filled important posi- tions during campaigns, thus rendering effec- tive aid to his party, but in the columns of the Times, he was thoroughly independent in his support of men and measures. Mr. Flick's sud- den death was a severe shock to his business as- sociates who had not known that he was seriously ill. He was loved and respected not only for his sterling qualities, but because he was a consid- erate employer and a wise friend and counsellor.

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Though but in the prime of manhood, he had already attained an independence, and looked for- ward to spending many years of useful work in congenial journalistic labors, and in the midst of a happy family and social life. Notwithstanding the fact that he was but a young man, compara- tively, he had striven hard to build up many en- terprises, and had succeeded in planning many others which have benefited the community greatly, both commercially and industrially. He was of a bright and hopeful temperament, and never admitted that there could be a possibility of failure in any of his undertakings. Of ex- ceedingly quick perception, it was this faculty, more than anything else, that tended to make a success of any enterprise with which he was con- nected. Idleness was an unknown quality to him, and it was probably the intensity with which he devoted himself to all he undertook that helped shorten his life. As a journalist he was liberal- minded, being an American of the best type, and his paper was used for the promotion of any cause that had for its object the betterment of humanity. His paper was never made the ve- hicle to crush a personal opponent or for ill-na- tured criticism. All churches and educational movements had his earnest support without dis- tinction. provided their purposes were honest and beneficent. He was an earnest student, possess- ing a well selected library, and especially inter- ested in the fine arts, being the owner of very fine paintings, and etchings, also some beautiful bronzes by celebrated artists. Mr. Flick was a member of the Westmoreland and Country Clubs of Wilkes-Barre: the University Club of New York City : and several others in different parts of the country. He had traveled extensively in America and abroad, and was an excellent ra- conteur.

Of the enterprises with which Mr. Flick was connected officially the following may be men- tioned : Vice-president of the Wyoming Valley Trust Company : vice-president of the Muskegon (Mich.) Traction and Lighting Company ; pres- ident of the Bethlehem Consolidated Gas Com- pany. Bethlehem. Pennsylvania ; president of the People's Light Company. Pittston. Pennsylvania ; president of the Vineland Light and Power Com- pany. Vineland. New Jersey: director in the Weatherly and Benton National Banks, and in the Wilkes-Barre Lace Manufacturing Company. He was also one of the organizers of the Grand Opera House Company.

June 2. 1903. Mr. Flick married Henrietta M. Ridgely, of Benton. near Baltimore, Maryland, daughter of Dr. N. G. Ridgely, and granddaugh-

ter of Commodore D. B. Ridgely, and one daugh- ter was born to them-Margaret. May 31, 1905. Besides leaving a widow and child, Mr. Flick is survived by one sister, Mrs. Charles O. Perkins, of Glen Summit, and three brothers, Harry and R. Jay. of Wilkes-Barre, and Warren J., of Beth- lehem.

JOHN L. BATTERTON, M. D., medical practitioner of Wilkes-Barre, is a native of that city, born December, 1869, son of John H. and Elizabeth (McDonald) Batterton, and grandson of Lawrence Batterton, who was born and died in Ireland, and who was a mahogany worker by trade.

John H. Batterton (father) was born in Ban- non. county Wexford, Ireland, was reared and educated in his native land, and worked in the sil- ver mines in Bowestown. He then went to the Highlands of Scotland, where he followed the same vocation, then to England, and in 1858 emigrated to the United States. Here he fol- lowed mercantile pursuits up to 1897, conducting the same in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, for many years, after which he led a retired life, enjoying to the full the consciousness of duties faithfully performed. On April 19, 1861, he enlisted in the first call for volunteers under the immortal Lin- coln, three months men, and was assigned to- Company D, Eighth Infantry, as musician. After his discharge he re-enlisted in the Ninth Penn- sylvania Cavalry, but was transferred to the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry and served one year. During this time he had some very narrow es- capes from death ; although not compelled to do so he always accompanied the regiment on all its marches. One night they were surrounded and ordered to surrender ; he refused and ordered his men to ride as fast as possible : a fight took place in which his head was badly cut by a sabre. He served the remainder of his time (after one year with the Fifty-third Infantry, and was dis- charged June 20, 1865. He was connected with the Second Army Corps, formerly under General Brooks, and later under General Miles, and par- ticipated in many skirmishes. He served as post- master of Forty Fort for four years, and for a similar period of time at Loflin. He was a Dem- ocrat in politics. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

John H. Batterton married. June 25. 1868, Elizabeth McDonald. born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and one child was the issue. Jolin L., whose name heads this sketch. Mrs. Batter- ton is one of thirteen children born to Patrick McDonald and his wife, the latter a daughter of

John Batterton

Dr J. L. Battention

James Hancock

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Daniel L. Hart, the playwright, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, and the former died in 1894. Among the children of Mr. and Mrs. McDonald were the following: Joseph, resides in Ireland ; Charles, of Wilkes-Barre; Mrs. Patrick of Wilkes-Barre; Mrs. Patrick Lynch; Mrs. P. H. Campbell: Mrs. D. L. Hart, who is men- tioned elsewhere; Mrs. M. H. Cannon. John H. Batterton died at his late residence, corner of North Main and Beaumont streets, after a short illness of pneumonia, aged sixty-nine years. Be- sides his wife he is survived by the following children: Dr. J. L. Batterton ; a stepson, James P. McNally, and stepdaughter, Mrs. James Canouse.

John L. Batterton attended the schicols of Wilkes-Barre, St. Mary's School, and Wyoming Seminary, from which he was graduated. He be- gan his medical studies in the Baltimore Medical College, graduating in 1893, and pursued a post- graduate course at Jefferson Medical College, 1894. Since that year he has practiced his pro- fession in the city of Wilkes-Barre, and now en- joys an extensive and lucrative practice. He is a member of the staff of Mercy Hospital, Wilkes- Barre. Dr. Batterton has a natural talent as an architect, and he drew the plans for the fine house erected by his father in 1903 on North Main street, Wilkes-Barre, in which the family now reside.

In 1895 Dr. Batterton married Catherine Cas- sidy, born in Reading, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Quinlan) Cassidy, natives of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and Ireland, respec- tively, and the parents of eleven children. John Cassidy followed railroad business for forty years, was superintendent of the Central railroad of New Jersey, and is now a resident of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania.

THE HANCOCK FAMILY, one of the old pioneer families of this country, have, for many generations, been justly proud of the fact that the various members have been enabled to render signal service to their country, in military, pro- fessional and commercial life.

(I) Jonathan Hancock was a native of Snow Hill, Maryland, and came to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, shortly after the Revolutionary war, and there died in 1829, at the age of sixty years. He married Katherine Young, of Dau- phin county, Pennsylvania, and their children were : James, see forward: Katherine, married Judge David Scott, of Wilkes-Barre; Caroline, married James Denton Haff ; William. He mar-

ried (second) a Miss Wright, and their children were Frederick, Charles, George, Jonathan, Mary and Martha ; the last named daughter mar- ried James P. Atherton.

(II) James Hancock, son of Jonathan Han- cock (I), was born in Wilkes-Barre, Penn- sylvania, July 16, 1792. His father pur- chased for him (about 1825) a farm in Plains, one of the best in that section, and was occupied with its cultivation until 1854, when he leased his land for the coal rights, and removed to Wilkes-Barre, living there in retirement for some years. Later he removed to Wyoming, where he purchased another property, on which he lived until his death, which occurred in 1880. At the age of sixty years he became totally blind and badly crippled as the result of gout, and al- though he was a constant sufferer for twenty- eight years, he retained complete possession of all his faculties. He was a man of indomitable will and courage, of fine mind, and highly respected. He was a strong Democrat, fearless of opinion, and thoroughly versed in the topics of the day. He married (first), December 25, 1828, Mary Perkins, whose father, John Perkins, was one of the early Connecticut settlers, a member of one of the companies formed in Wyoming Valley for the Continental armny, and was killed on Plym- outh Flats by Indians shortly before the battle of Wyoming. Both David Perkins and his father, John Perkins, were large landholders, owning at one time nearly all the land from Exe- ter to and including the Monument at Wyoming, and from the river to the mountains, in length about six miles, and about one and a half miles in width. David Perkins married Sarah Ferrier, daughter of Thomas and Hester (Lucky) Fer- rier, who came from Holland to Orange county, New York. Thomas Ferrier was born 1705. and died 1792 ; Hester died 1796, and must have been about one hundred years old. Mary (Perkins) Hancock died 1842, and James Hancock married (second), 1844, Elizabeth Hibler, of Milton, who died 1872. Their children : I. Jonathan,

see forward. 2. William, of whom sketch on another page. 3. David P., died 1880; he was a graduate of West Point, a classmate of Gen- erals Sheridan, J. E. B. Stewart and Gregg ; served as lieutenant-colonel in the Civil war, and commanded the Seventh United States Infantry, and was a brilliant officer. His children: Mrs. D. L. Hunt, of Boston ; Mrs. Harlow, of Mil- waukee; David J. and Catherine. 4. Sarah P., married Dr. B. F. Miles. a physician of Peoria, Illinois, died in 1881. Her children : John B.,

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

of Philadelphia ; James H., of Chicago; Elizabeth H. 5. James Denton, see forward. 6. Elisha Atherton, see forward.

(III) Jonathan Hancock, eldest child of James (2) and Mary (Perkins) Hancock, was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1829, died in Philadelphia, April 9, 1891. His boy- hood days were spent on the farm, and at the age of twenty-two years he went to California, where he remained for about two years, returning then to Wilkes-Barre. He went to Peoria, Illinois, in the same year, to visit his aunt, Mrs. John C. Grier, nce Elizabeth Perkins. While he was in Peoria he entered into a business association with Mr. Culbertson, and with him opened a lumber office in Peoria. In addition to this he entered into a' partnership with Grier & Com- pany, in the grain business, under the firm name of Hancock, Grier & Company, which later be- came Hancock & Company, having a western office in Peoria, and an eastern one in Philadel- phia. Mr. Hancock was actively connected with both these enterprises until his death. He was president of the Peoria Board of Trade, a direc- tor of the Merchants' National Bank and of the Peoria National Bank, and president of the Peoria Club. Though suffering greatly from ill health during the last eight years of his life, he still re- tained an active interest in all his business af- fairs, more particularly those in Peoria and the west. He was connected with the leading Pres- byterian church in Peoria, and a liberal contrib- utor to its charities and its building fund. He was a man of distinguished appearance and of courtly manners. He married, January 15, 1863, Elizabeth Reynolds, daughter of John Reynolds, of Peoria, Illinois, a well-known and prominent man of that town, and they had one child : Eliza- beth R., who married June 8, 1886, William Woodward Arnett, a stockbroker of Philadel- phia, and has three children: Willliam J., Jona- than Hancock, and Eleanor.

(III) James Denton Hancock, son of James (2) and Mary (Perkins) Hancock, born June 9, 1837, in Wilkes-Barre (afterward Plains township), Luzerne county. He received his early education at the common schools and at Wyo- ming Seminary. In 1855 he entered the fresh- man class at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, and graduated in 1859. As an alumnus of that institu- tion he delivered the Phi Beta Kappa address in 1872, and in 1899 he delivered the alumni ad- dress. He has received the degrees of A. B., A. M., and LL. D. from that institution. After graduating he became first tutor and then pro- fessor of mathematics in the Western University

of Pennsylvania, retaining that position until 1862. In the meantime he studied law with Wil- liam Bakewell, of Pittsburg. After practicing about three years in Pittsburg, he removed to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he has had a suc- cessful practice at the bar. He was appointed by Governor Hoyt one of the trustees of the State Hospital for the Insane at Warren, Pennsylva- nia, which trust he held for thirteen years. He was for ten years solicitor for the Allegheny Valley Railroad Company, and for six years gen- eral solicitor for the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which position he resigned in December, 1891. In 1892 he was nominated by the Democratic party of his dis- trict for congress. In 1894 he was nominated for congressman-at-large in the state by the same party. In 1896 Mr. Hancock was nominated for elector-at-large on the Democratic ticket, but de- clined to be a candidate on account of his oppo- sition to the position of the party on the silver issue. He afterwards went as a delegate to the convention which nominated Palmer and Buck- ner. In 1883 he wrote a paper entitled "Petro- leum Against Protection," which received a sil- ver medal from the Cobden Club, and he was subsequently elected an honorary member of that club. In 1893 he wrote a paper entitled "The Evolution of Money," which was adopted and published under the auspices of the National Board of Trade of the United States. Since 1896 Mr. Hancock has not been in active busi- ness, but has filled the position of bank director, and is still a director of the Pittsburg, Youngs- town & Ashtabula Railway Company. For a number of years he wa's been an active member of the Society of the Sons of the American Rev- olution, and was its president-general during the year 1904-05.

Mr. Hancock married, in 1865, Ella C. Hitch- cock, of Pittsburg, by whom he had one son, Lawrence P. Hancock, now a lawyer in Buffalo. He was married (second) in 1873 to Mary Kate Hitchcock, sister of his first wife, by whom he had four children : Ella C., Mary E., James Denton and Philip Gaylord, the last two of whom died in early childhood. Ella C. married in Feb- ruary, 1903, Frederick L. Williamson, cashier of the Lamberton National Bank of Oil City. They have one child, Katherine Hancock Williamson.

(III) Colonel Elisha Atherton Hancock, youngest child of James (2) and Mary (Per- kins) Hancock, was born in what was then Wilkes-Barre, now Plains township, a few miles from the city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1839; died in Philadelphia, May 18,

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THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

1906, buried in Wilkes-Barre. His boyhood days were spent upon the farm and in farm occupa- tions, and he was educated in the public schools and Wyoming Seminary. When he was fifteen years of age his family removed to Wilkes- Barre, where after two years spent in school he entered a machine shop as an apprentice. Upon attaining his majority he commenced work as a journeyman, but his career as a machin- ist was abruptly terminated in 1861, when he enlisted in a military company at Wilkes- Barre. When this organization arrived at

Harrisburg his services were declined because the state's quota of troops had been filled, but after the first battle of Bull Run, Presi- dent Lincoln issued a call for additional troops, and Mr. Hancock again entered the service of the country as first lieutenant of Company H, Ninth Pennsylvania (Lochiel) Volunteer Cavalry. During his almost four years of ser- vice in the army he was many times commended by his superior officers, both for personal gallan- try and for able and efficient discharge of duties, was promoted through the various grades until he held the rank of major, and his name was fre- quently mentioned in the dispatches to the War Department. He participated in more than fifty battles, principally while in the Department of the Cumberland, serving on the staffs of Generals R. B. Mitchell and E. M. McCook. He took an active part in the operations against the forces of Morgan in his several raids, and in the battles of Perryville and Chickamauga. He was with the Federal army in its victorious march to the sea under Sherman, and was wounded while in com- mand of the Third Battalion at Averysborough, North Carolina, March 16, 1865, the wound necessitating the amputation of his left leg. He was mustered out at the close of the war, in July, 1865, with a record equalled by few of the many who willingly sacrificed their all for the preser- vation of the Union.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 103

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin Publication date: 1906 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 988

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 988