Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 42

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 42
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 42

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JOSEPH BIRKBECK, prominently identi- fied with the business interests of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, for the past thirty years, and a citizen of high repute and irreproachable char- acter, died at his home, corner of Dana and Grove streets, November 14, 1900. He was born in Glenmore, Westmoreland county, England, December 27, 1830, a son of Joseph and Eliza- beth (Johnson) Birkbeck.

Joseph Birkbeck, Sr., was born in Westmore- land, England, May 2, 1802, and died April 19, .. 1872. He married Elizabeth Johnson, born at:

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Buck Hill, Stainmore, England, February 12, 1804, and died May 31, 1887; the marriage was celebrated at Broough's Church, England, in 1826. They emigrated to the United States, landing in New York City in 1834, whence they immediately proceeded to Minersville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. After about two years' residence in this place, during which time Mr. Birkbeck was employed in the mines, they re- moved to Hazelton, where he sunk the first slope in 1838 for Ario Pardee. Two years later he purchased a tract of land comprising four hun- dred acres in Denison township from Edward Lynch, which later became Foster township and is now the site of Freeland borough. He con- structed a rude log house on this land, into which he and his family removed. The surrounding .. country was a vast, uncultivated wilderness, and Mr. Birkbeck's purchase possessed all the char- acteristics of a pioneer farm. During the win- . ters the family spent their time in lumbering, clearing the forest, and manufacturing handmade shingles, which were carried to Conyngham, where they were exchanged for the necessaries of life, no cash being paid for such transactions at that time. In 1844 Mr. Birkbeck sold fifty acres of land to Aaron Howey, who was closely followed by many other settlers, but not until 1866 was the dense forest converted into excel- lent farming land. Not long after this coal fields were developed in the neighborhood, and new arrangements became a necessity owing to the rapidly increasing population. Mr. Birkbeck surveyed his land. converted it into town lots, which he sold to the new-comers, thus making the first move in laying out the towns of South Heberton and Freeland. Joseph Birkbeck was the first to prove coal at Highland and Upper Le- high, being well versed in the anthracite coal strata in the vicinity. He was the builder of many roads, and was pre-eminently the leading figure in the development of the new country. He and his family were subjected to all the trials, hardships and vicissitudes incident to a pioneer life, and a story is told of how Mrs. Birkbeck, during one of those early, trying days, with no other weapon than an axe, killed a full grown buck deer. Joseph and Elizabeth (Johnson) Birkbeck had thirteen children: I. John, born September 5, 1827, died in infancy. 2. Mat- thew, born June 28, 1829, deceased. 3. Joseph, born December 27. 1830, of whom later. 4. Jane, born October 31, 1832, deceased. 5. John, born April 26, 1834, deceased. 6. Matthew, born January 7. 1836, deceased. 7. Margaret, " born October 6, 1836. wife of William Johnston,

of Freeland. 8. Betsey, born May 14, 1840, deceased. 9. William, born October 26, 1843, died February 1I, 1846; the first death in the town of South Heberton. 10. Mary E., born January 25, 1845, deceased ; the first birth in the town of South Heberton. II. Thomas J., born June 6, 1845, of whom later. 12. Agnes, born August 4, 1848, deceased. 13. Anna Victoria, born May 12, 1850, deceased.

Joseph Birkbeck, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Johnson) Birkbeck, born December 27, 1830, died November 14, 1900, left the family home at the age of sixteen, and was apprenticed to his uncle, who was a machinist in Brooklyn, New York, but this occupation was not agreeable to his tastes and inclinations, and a few years later he left for England and subsequently made his way to Australia, and while in the latter country spent fourteen months on a sheep farm. In 1849 he caught the gold fever and started for California, where he spent seven years in "the diggings," but was not amply rewarded for his labors. He then returned to his old home in Freeland, Pennsylvania, but at the end of a year again went to the gold fields, traveling by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He remained for al- most five years and, while he did not strike pros- pectors' luck, managed to save a few hundred dollars. Returning east he embarked in the but- cher business at Eckley, Luzerne county, and here began the career which was destined to bring to him a large degree of success. He also received large returns from an investment in Coplay, (Lehigh county), Iron Works stock. Believing in a broader field for the exercise of his business abilities, Mr. Birkbeck came to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1860, and at once engaged in the grain business with Major Elisha A. Han- cock. now of Philadelphia, of whom see elsewhere in this work. Later he invested in other enter- prises, all of which proved highly remunerative. At the time of his death Mr. Birkbeck was presi- dent of the Freeland Water Company, the Free- land Citizens' Bank, the Wilkes-Barre Heat, Light and Motor Company, secretary of the board of directors of the Wilkes-Barre Deposit and Savings Bank, and treasurer of the firm of Paine & Company.

Few men have been so intimately connected with the affairs of a community and yet remained so much out of the public eye. The simple tastes he acquired as a hard worker in his struggling years remained with him throughout his life, and he was ever the same approachable, kind-hearted gentleman in the days of prosperity as he was while busily laying the foundation for the con-

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petency which he enjoyed in maturer years. As a business man he was far-seeing and methodical, and his counsel and judgment were often sought by those associated with him in the several enter- prises that shared his attention. He was a man of sterling worth and truth, of retiring disposi- tion, and his wide circle of friends admired and regarded him as a man of the highest integrity. Though having numerous other responsibilities he never lost interest in church and charitable work. During his entire residence in the city of Wilkes-Barre he was a communicant of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church. He was frugal in his habits, thrifty and abstemious, not even using tobacco and withal he was a man of a high sense of honor. It was a pleasure to have business transactions with him. His only re- creation was traveling, of which he was very fond. He toured Europe twice, spent some time in the Bermudas, and attended all the expositions of recent years.

Mr. Birkbeck was twice married, (first), in 1860, to Elizabeth Blackburn, born March 9. 1839, in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, daughter of George Blackburn and Elizabeth Elliott Black- burn. She had one brother, Richard, who died leaving three children. She was reared in her native town, educated in the common and high school of the same, and for a period of time thereafter served in the capacity of teacher. She was of a very lovable disposition, devoted to her home and husband, and was held in high esteem by a large circle of admiring friends. Their married life extended over a period of thirty-two vears and was one of unbroken happiness. Mrs. Birkbeck died in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, September 27, 1893. She was a faithful com- municant of St. Stephen's Church, and a teacher in the Sunday school for years. She was a charter member of the Woman's Relief Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was elected treasurer in 1887, which office she filled until 1892, when she was elected president. At the general state convention she was elected senior vice-president for the state. She had but re- cently returned from the national convention of the Grand Army of the Republic at Indianapolis, at the time of her death. She had no children. Mr. Birkbeck married (second) in 1895, Mary (Summerscale) Wadsworth, whose first husband was a cousin of his first wife. She was born in Yorkshire, England, August 15, 1844, daughter of David and Rebecca (Tidswell) Summerscale, whose births occurred in Yorkshire, England, August 16, 1808, and July 16, ISII, respectively.

Mr. Summerscale was a coal merchant in Silsden, Yorkshire, England ; he and his wife resided near Skipton Castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned, and also in the vicinity of Bolton Abbey, where the present Duke of Devonshire resides in the summer. Mrs. Birkbeck was one of twelve children, nine of whom grew to ma- turity. She was an extensive traveler in this country as well as aboard. Her mother was a noble, christian woman, beloved by all, and many a deathbed was made happy by her presence. Mary (Summerscale) (Wadsworth ) Birkbeck married (first) John William Wadsworth, born April 4, 1839, in Leeds, Yorkshire county, Eng- land, son of William and Mary Wadsworth, by whom she had three children : Margaret Emma, born October 31, 1865, Leeds, Yorkshire, Eng- land, died March 7, 1868, buried in Melbourne, Australia ; Eleanor Anna, born July 31, 1867, who now resides in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, with her mother ; Florence Elizabeth, born Au- gust 21, 1869, in Leeds, England, died December 29, 1871. John William Wadsworth, the father of these children, died January 31, 1870, in his thirty-first year, in Bahia, Brazil, South America.

Joseph Birkbeck is survived by his wife; a brother, Thomas J. Birkbeck ; and a sister, Mrs. Margaret Johnston, of Freeland.

At a meeting of the board of directors of Wilkes-Barre Deposit and Savings Bank, the following resolutions on the death of Joseph Birkbeck was adopted :

"The Board of Directors of the Wilkes- Barre Deposit and Savings Bank - have heard with sorrow and regret of the death of their as- sociate, Joseph Birkbeck, which occurred in this city on Wednesday, November 14, 1900.

"Mr. Birkbeck was first elected a director of this Bank on July 12, 1880, and from that date he served the bank continuously up to the time of his death. He was secretary of its Board of Di- rectors from September 2, ISSI, to this date.

"His ability, fidelity and character eminently fitted him for his position on our Board. By his death we have lost a counselor whose advice showed his familiarity with the business interests of the community and the prudence which begets success. His affability endeared him to all men and gave him a place in the affections of his as- sociates. He was an upright man, progressive citizen, true to his adopted country, faithful in the discharge of duty and constant in his endeavor to promote the good of those who committed trust to his keeping.

"We hereby express our appreciation of the

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quality and attributes manifest in his life, and extend to those who were dear to him our con- dolence and sympathy in their bereavement and sorrow. H. E. H.

BUTLER FAMILY. Professor Frank D. Butler and Dr. William John Butler, of Wilkes- Barre, are sons of Michael Pierce and Mary A. (O'Sullivan) Butler, natives of Ireland, the for- mer named having been a son of Pierce Butler, who was one of the great scholars of the day, be- ing well versed in languages, and a grandson of Capt. Edmund Butler, Earl of Mount Garret, and cousin to James Butler, Earl of Ormond. This Branch of the family clung to the Roman faith in religion, and though of English descent were in sympathy with the Irish race and fought for the freedom of that country.

Michael Pierce Butler (father) was born in Ireland, and was a graduate of Queens College, Dublin. He emigrated to the United States and settled in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He was ap- pointed professor of mathematics in the Orwigs- burg Academy, resigning that position to take charge of the Minersville high school. He was considered a great instructor of youth, and ex- celled in classics and mathematics. He was a broad-minded man and took a great interest in churches of every denomination, also all institu- tions devoted to the education of youth. In 1875 he became a resident of the Wyoming valley. He married Mary A. O'Sullivan, daughter of Justin and Margaret O'Sullivan, the former named hav- ing been a son of Sylvester and Lucy (McDon- ald) O'Sullivan, and the latter a daughter of Capt. Daniel O'Sullivan, who was the son of Eu- gene O'Sullivan, the son of Daniel O'Sullivan, Prince of Beare and Bantry. Lucy ( McDonald) O'Sullivan was the only daughter of Captain Mc- Donald, of Castleton. Nine children were born to Michael Pierce and Mary A. (O'Sullivan) Butler, five of whom are living and resi- dents of Wilkes-Barre, namely: Eugene Justin, M. D., a graduate of Baltimore University ; Frank D., mentioned hereafter : Anna W., wife of John P. Hannon : Elizabeth Amanda, and Will- iam John, M. D., mentioned hereinafter. Mich- ael Pierce Butler (father) died in 1891, and his demise was deeply regretted by a large number of friends, who had cause to remember his noble traits of character. His wife, like her ancestors, was a strict adherent to the Catholic faith, and was noted for her many virtues. She passed away in 1905.

Professor Frank D. Butler was born at Branchdale, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, July

8, 1848. He was educated under the tuition of his father, in the common schools of Pottsville and Minersville, and graduated from the Pough- keepsie (New York) Commercial College at the age of twenty-four years. Prior to this, at the age of eighteen years, he taught school at Hig- gins township. Schuylkill county, and for a per- iod of twenty years after his graduation taught school at MIt. Carmel, Northumberland county, and in Butler township. £ In 1894 he came to Wilkes-Barre and for a number of years taught the Georgetown school, and at present (1905), is serving in the Hillards Grove night school. The esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens is evidenced by the fact that he was chosen to fill the offices of justices of the peace, school director, borough treasurer and councilman at Girardville, Schuylkill county. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, a Republican in politics. He stumped the county during the presidential cam- paign of James A. Garfield, and exercises a potent influence in behalf of the party whose prin- ciples he advocates.

Professor Frank D. Butler married, October 9, 1871, Bridigia Brennan, daughter of the late Patrick F. and Mary (Purcell) Brennan, the former named having been a contractor for the Hickscher Coal Company. Nine children were the issue of this union : Walter A., born in July, 1872, and was educated in the Schuylkill public school. He served in the Spanish-American war, enlisting in April, 1898. in the Third Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Company L. under Capt. R. M. Rose, Col. Augustus C. Tyler. served as corporal and was discharged as such. Mary, who died in infancy. Frank Alonzo. Mar- guerite. William J., a graduate of the Wilkes- Barre high school, studied law with Hon. H. W. Palmer, and was admitted to the Luzerne county bar in July. 1903. Adelaide R., Elizabeth A., Irene Florence.

Dr. William John Butler was born at Branch- dale, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1863. He was educated under the tuition of his father, and at the age of fourteen years en- gaged in the drug business, serving an apprentice- ship of five years, and in the meantime studied medicine with Dr. W. G. Weaver, of Wilkes- Barre. He graduated from the medical depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania. 1885, when in the twenty-first year of his age. In 1884. prior to his graduation. he was a resident phy- sician physician of the Wilkes-Barre City Hos- pital for a term of six months. He began the active practice of his profession in Pittston. but after a residence of one year there, in 1886, per-

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manently located in Wilkes-Barre, where he has built up an extensive and lucrative practice. He devotes special attention to surgery, and is will- ing to make any sacrifice to aid mankind. He is a member of the surgical staff of the Mercy Hos- pital. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, and a Republican in politics. His resi- dence and office is at No. 68 South Washington street, Wilkes-Barre. H. E. H.

JAMES M. FRITZ was born in Orangeville. Columbia county, Pennsylvania, on the Ioth day of March, 1857. He was the son of William Fritz, a merchant at that place, and Margaret (Jones) Fritz. William Fritz was born in Sugarloaf township, Columbia county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1823. He was the son of Henry Fritz and Margaret ( Roberts) Fritz.

Henry Fritz was born in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, June 28, 1786. He was the son of Philip Fritz and Charlotte (Deaberger) Fritz. From the records of the First Reformed Church, of Philadelphia, it appears that Philip Fritz and Charlotte Deaberger were married on the 11th day of August, 1785 ; who the parents of Philip Fritz were is not clear, but from the records of the same church it appears that on March 28, 1762, was born John Philip Fritz, son of Hartman Fritz and his wife Catharine ; sponsers at baptism, John Philip Sensfelder and his wife. It cannot be proven that this John Philip Fritz is identical with the later Philip Fritz, but it is at least pos- sible, because Germans are in the habit of drop- ping the first name, the second Christian name be- ing the call name. A certain Hartman Fritz qualified in Philadelphia on October 4. 1751, and it is possible that he is the first immigrant in the line of descent in ancestry of James M. Fritz.

In 1795 Philip Fritz, who had been a merchant in Philadelphia, and a man of good abilities and a fine education, becoming disheartened by the bad financial conditions of that period, accepted the invitation of an uncle of his wife. John God- frev, to remove to Columbia county, Pennsyl- vania, with other relatives named Hess, Cole. Laubach and Kile. They settled in what is now Sugarloaf township, and many of their descend- ants live there to this day. From letters written by relatives, found many years afterward, it seems that Philip Fritz desired to return to Phil- adelphia, and business offers of a good kind were made to him, but he evidently was unable to ac- cept them as he remained in Sugarloaf township. following the occupations of farmer, justice. of the peace and school teacher until his death. He was one of the founders of St. Gabriel's Episcopal

Church in Sugarloaf township, and for many years a vestryman. Henry Fritz, his son, who. married Margaret Roberts, who had come to Sugarloaf township with her parents from the. large Welch settlement in the neighborhood of Philadelphia when she was quite young, lived in Sugarloaf township and was a farmer. He was. also a vestryman of St. Gabriel Episcopal Church and he and his wife and their thirteen children were all members of that church. Henry Fritz died in 1866.

William Fritz went to Orangeville while a young man as a school teacher, but afterward followed store keeping. Here he met Margaret Jones, whom he married in 1851. He joined the Presbyterian Church at Orangeville and was an elder in that church. He was postmaster for several years, and justice of the peace at the time of his death in 1864. He was an earnest christ- ian man, honest and upright in all his dealings, and loved and respected by all who knew him. Margaret Jones was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the daughter of Benjamin H. and Sarah (Harriott) Jones, the latter named having been a descendant of David Harriott, of Middle- sex county, New Jersey, who was born in 1718 and died in 1792. He was a private soldier in the Revolutionary war, and in the records of dam- ages by the British, 1776 to 1782, preserved in State Library at Trenton, there is an inventory enumerating over one hundred articles stolen and destroyed, sworn to by him amounting to £262 IIS., 4d. Alfred Harriott, his son, born Woodridge, New Jersey, 1746, and died 1812. He married Sarah Griffith, of Piscataway, New Jer- sev. Their son, James Harriott, was born at Bedminister, New Jersey, in 1783, and he was married to Ann Van Nest, of the same place. They had five children : John, who died when a young man. Margaret, who married Ferdi- named S. Cortelyou. Catharine, who married Henry Blumer. Eliza, who married Cornelius Powelson, all of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Sarah, the mother of Margaret Jones.

After the death of the father of James M. Fritz and the settlement of his estate, it was found there was very little left for the support of his widow and six small children. Mrs. Fritz bravely took up the burden of their support. James, at the age of eleven, was sent to work for a farmer of Mount Pleasant township, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, where he remained one vear. Then his mother, thinking it best, in 1869, removed back to her kinsfolk in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Here, at the age of twelve, James was employed as errand boy in the grocery store-

FOR USE IN LIBRARY ONLY

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of I. L. Martin, afterward state senator ; one year later he entered the employ of The New Bruns- wiek Hosiery Company, where he remained four months. He was then employed as errand boy by W. K. Lyons, a dry goods merchant of that place, and with the exception of a few months spent in the employ of the Mason's Fruit Jar factory, he remained until August, 1875, when his mother died after an illness of nearly a year. She had been a brave, determined, hopeful and faithful woman whose life had begun with bright prospects but ended amid toil and long sickness, ere she could receive from her children, for whom she had labored, the care they would have gladly given her to repay the sacrifices she had so nobly made for them. The merchant for whom J. M. Fritz worked at this time, being in failing eir- cumstanees, he was thrown out of employment soon after the death of his mother. The coun- try was still feeling the effects of the panic of 1873 and employment was hard to find. At the sug- gestion of his cousin, then a school teacher, now Honorable A. L. Fritz, of Bloomsburg, Pennsyl- vania, he returned to Columbia county, passed the examination for a teachers' certificate from knowledge obtained by self-teaching, and took charge of a small school at Coles Creek, Colum- bia county, Pennsylvania. He returned to New Brunswick in the spring of 1876, and was again employed by W. K. Lyons, but preferring an educational line, returned to Orangeville, his old home, entered the academy there and by teaching school in winter and attending the academy in summer, managed to pass the examination for the classical course of Lafayette College in 1879. During his preparatory studies he was for some time with the family of D. J. Waller, Jr., after- ward state superintendent of schools of Pennsyl- vania, then a minister of the gospel at Orange- ville, and by working for him helped in obtaining the means to carry on his studies. The Orange- ville Academy was under the principalship of the Rev. C. K. Canfield, a noble man and an ex- cellent teacher, to whom many young men owe their inspiration for college education. He en- tered Lafayette College and graduated in 1883. supporting himself by working for and running boarding clubs, ringing the college bell and teaching. After graduating he taught school at Shickshinny, New Columbus Academy, and other places until the money borrowed to pay his college expenses was paid, when he studied law with Charles G. Barkley, of Bloomsburg. Dur- ing his studies at Bloomsburg. he was a member of the family of William Neil. a prominent busi- ness man, who with his wife, Mary ( Boyd) Neil,

a noble Christian woman, were then residing at. Bloomsburg.

He was admitted to practice in the courts of Columbia county in December, 1886, and to the courts of Luzerne county, January 29, 1887. He immediately began practicing at Nanticoke, and has resided there and at Wilkes-Barre ever since, having law offices in both places. His practice has increased steadily during that period, so that his time is fully occupied with the business of his profession. He was elected to the legislature as a Democrat in 1900, and served one term, not running for a second term. He was for several years attorney for the Nanticoke school board ; : is now attorney for the First National Bank of Nanticoke. Has a large Orphans' court and real estate practice and has considerable practice in civil matters in the courts, but does not take much part in criminal practice, although he has been employed in quite a number of cases in that court. He is a member of the First Presbyter- ian Church of Wilkes-Barre. He was superin- tendent of the Sunday school of the Presbyterian Church of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. also at Nanticoke Presbyterian Church for a time, and taught Sunday school class there for a long time. He also was trustee and elder of the Nanticoke Presbyterian Church for several years. He is a member of Nanticoke Lodge, No. 541, Free and Accepted Masons, also of Nanticoke Lodge, No. 886, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of whichi lodge he has been one of the trustees for several years.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 42

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