Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 53

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 53
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 53

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BENEDICT J. WETHERBEE. Very little is known of the early history of the Wetherbees of this particular line. David Wetherbee was a farmer on Fishing creek, in Columbia county. Among his sons was William H. Wetherbee, who fought with the Union army throughout the war of 1861-65, first as private in Battery M. Second Pennsylvania Light Artillery, being pro- inoted lieutenant.

William H. Wetherbee was born in Jackson township, Luzerne county, about seventy years ago, and is a farmer. He had little opportunity to acquire an education during his youth, and when he returned from his army life was a man of sense, discernment and wide experience. He married Lucy Harding, who was daughter of Harry Harding, and a descendant of the New

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England Hardings, some of whom were pioneers in the Wyoming Valley, and patriots of the Rev- olution, heroes and victims of the historic Wyom- ing battle and massacre, and an account of which family will be found elsewhere in this work. William H. Wetherbee and his wife Lucy Hard- ing now live at Orange, Luzerne county. Their children were: Harry, born 1857 ; Benedict J., born 1859: Norman L., born 1861, now in Chi- cago, Illinois : Sally May, born 1870, widow of William Crossman. now living in West Pittston ; Mary and Delia, who died in infancy : John, now of Orange, Pennsylvania; George, living in Wilkes-Barre; and Lucy, wife of Floyd Nulton, living at Orange, Pennsylvania.

Benedict J. Wetherbee, second son and child of William H. and Lucy (Harding ) Wetherbee, was born in Exeter township. Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, August 2. 1859. and was reared on a farm. He attended the winter term of the common schools until he was nineteen years old, and then taught in Vernon, Wyoming county. thus earning the means necessary to provide himself with a better education. He attended Beaumont Academy one term, then returned to teaching, this time in his own home district : later he attended Orangeville Academy two terms, and then again became teacher. In 1879 he went to Illinois and began the study of medicine with his uncle. Dr. Everett, of Troy Grove : while there he taught a district school and also a singing school in order to maintain himself and provide the means necessary to complete his medical educa- tion. In 1880 and 1881 he was a student in the medical department of the University of New York: then again he had recourse to teaching ; later matriculated at the Rush Medical College, Chicago, and graduated there, M. D., 1884. Then for a time necessity compelled him to return to the pedagogue's desk, and after two years he located for medical practice in Hutchinson, Kan- sas, where he lived until 1897, when he removed to Wilkes-Barre and entered the ranks of the profession in his native county. While living in the west Dr. Wetherbee was president of the Reno County (Kansas) Medical Society, was secretary of the surgical section of the Kansas State Medical Society and a member of the South Kansas Medical Society. He is a member of the American Medical Association, of the Luzerne County Medical Society, and also of the fraternal society, Knights of Malta. Dr. Wetherbee mar- ried, at Orangeville, Pennsylvania, April 6. 1886, Della Patterson. daughter of Archibald Patter- son and Beulah (Welch) Patterson. Mrs. Weth- erbee is a graduate of Orangeville Academy, and

also a graduate. M. D., 1896, of Kansas Medical College. Dr. and Mrs. Wetherbee have no children. H. E. H.

EDWARD RHYS RODERICK, M. D., of Wilkes-Barre, born at Warrior Run. Luzerne county. Pennsylvania, April 20. 1872, is a repre- sentative of a family of Welsh origin. He is a grandson of Edward and Eleanor Roderick, na- tives of Cardiganshire, Wales, where the entire career of Edward Roderick was spent and his death occurred at the age of sixty years. Dr. Roderick is a son of James Edward and Sarah (Davies) Roderick, whose births occurred in Cardiganshire. Wales, December 10, 1841, and New York City, 1842, respectively.

James Edward Roderick (father) was edu- cated in the land of his birth, and in 1864 emi- grated to the United States, settling at Pittston, Pennsylvania. where he engaged in mining for the Pennsylvania Coal Company. After a short period of time he took up his residence in Wilkes- Barre and engaged with the Lehigh & Wilkes- Barre Coal Company, remaining with them until February, 1866. when he was appointed mine foreman at the Empire Shaft. In June, 1870. he accepted a position as general superintendent un- der A. J. Davis & Company, Warrior Run, with whom he remained until June. 1881, when he was appointed by the state to the position of mine in- spector for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania ; he served the term of five years, and at its expira- tion was reappointed, and served three years of his second term. He then tendered his resigna- tion in order to accept a more lucrative position as general superintendent for Linderman & Skeer, to which he was appointed in May, 1889 : he was in charge of six collieries, which gave employ- ment to fourteen hundred men, and the daily output was about two thousand tons of coal. Mlr. Roderick educated himself to qualify as mining engineer, and advanced gradually from the posi- tion of miner to that of chief of the Department of Mines of Pennsylvania, which position he holds at present (1906). Mr. Roderick took an active part in municipal affairs and the improvement of his adopted city, and his influence was of vast im- portance in the ranks of the Republican party. the principles of which organization he firmly advo- cated for many years. In 1879 he was a candi- date for county treasurer on the Labor-Green- back ticket. He is a member of the American Society of Engineers, and several mining so- cieties. He also holds membership in the Ancient Order of Foresters. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Free and Accepted Masons. He is

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a member of the Presbyterian Church. He re- sides in Hazelton, Pennsylvania.

James Edward Roderick married Miss Sarah Davies, a native of New York City, and a des- cendant of a Welsh ancestry, who bore him the following children : Nellie, born September 25. 1869, wife of D. C. Jones, a grocer, and they re- side in Wilkes-Barre. Edward Rhys, mentioned hereafter. James Edward, Jr., born January 28, 1875, a lawyer, resides at Harrisburg. John D., born February 28, 1878. died 1888, interred at Hollenback cemetery. Mrs. Roderick, who prior to her marriage was a teacher and member of the choir in the Presbyterian Church, died in 1880.

Dr. Edward Rhys Roderick, son of James Ed- ward and Sarah (Davies) Roderick, resided until eight years of age at Warrior Run, his birthplace, and then went to Hazelton. He was educated in the public schools of Hazelton, and the Nazareth Moravian School, from which he was graduated in 1888, then Princeton University, from which he was graduated A. B. in 1892, after which he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating M. D. from the same in 1895. He then came to Wilkes-Barre and served as house surgeon of the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital during the years 1895-96, and filled a similar position in the Wills Eye Hospital, Phila- delphia, 1896-97, and Manhattan Hospital, New York City, 1898. Since 1898 to the present time ( 1906) he has been the attending oculist to Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, and since 1903 at Pittston Hospital. In 1902 he was appointed division oculist for the Lehigh Valley Railroad, in which capacity he is still serving. Dr. Rod- erick is a member of the Medical Society of Lu- zerne County, State Medical Society, and Ameri- can Medical Society. He is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and the West- moreland Club. His politics are Republican.

Dr. Roderick married, June 1, 1898, Kath- leen Leonard Reichard, daughter of Henry C. and Jennie (Griffin) Reichard, and granddaugh- ter of Colonel John Reichard, who served as col- onel of the "Bucktails" during the Civil war, was prominent in military and lodge affairs in the city of Wilkes-Barre, and died in 1884, aged seventy-five years ; his remains are interred in Hollenback cemetery. Henry C. Reichard ( see Reichard Family), who was also prominent in military and lodge affairs in Wilkes-Barre, died in 1894, aged fifty-six years, and was buried in Hollenback cemetery. Mrs. Roderick was edu- cated in the schools of Wilkes-Barre, and the Moravian Seminary, at Lititz, Pennsylvania. Dr. and Mrs. Roderick had three children : James

Edward, born in Wilkes-Barre, December 22, 1899: George Reichard, born in Wilkes-Barre, October 19, 1901; and Edward Griffin, born in Wilkes-Barre, June II, 1903. Dr. and Mrs. Roderick are members of the Presbyterian. Church. H. E. H.

JOHN PARRY POLLOCK. of Wilkes- Barre, who at the present time ( 1905) is alder- man of the fourth ward of the city, this being his second term of office, was born in Corning, New York, February 6, 1851. a son of Allan and Susan E. (Parry) Pollock. Allan Pollock was born at Boston, Massachusetts, November 28, 1805, a son of Thomas Pollock, who served as teller in the Royal Bank of Scotland. Allan Pollock was a speculator in real estate, published a magazine- at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for many years resided in Washington, D. C., and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died in the year 1889. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan E. Parry, was born in Lexington, Virginia. She was the mother of four children: John P., Effie B., wife of E. C. Prendergast, of Scranton : Susan C., of Scranton : and William B., who died in infancy.

John P. Pollock was educated in the public schools at Philadelphia, after which he took up the drug business and followed the same for a number of years. In 1867 he removed to Scran- ton, where during his two years residence he fol- lowed his profession. He then located in Wilkes- Barre, and for two years served as prescription clerk for P. M. Barber, on Public Square, where the Wilkes-Barre Deposit and Savings Bank is now located, but resigned from this position in order to accept that of deputy recorder of deeds, and was subsequently a clerk in the office of the prothonotary, which he held until 1878, discharg- ing his duties with credit and efficiency. He- was then appointed deputy treasurer of Luzerne county, which responsible position he filled until 1882, in which year he entered the employ of the- government at Washington, D. C., and was spec- ial examiner of pensions up to 1885. Four years later he returned to Washington and filled the same office again, having been appointed by Presi- dent Harrison, and when Hon. George W. Shonk was elected to represent the twelfth district of Wilkes-Barre at Washington, Mr. Pollock served as his private secretary, continuing in that capac- ity up to 1893. He then returned to Wilkes- Barre, and in 1898 was elected alderman of the fourth ward, re-elected in 1903, and during his tenure of office has won the approbation of his. colleagues and supporters for the excellent judg- ment displayed in the discharge of the varied'

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duties pertaining thereto. His influence as a citizen has been felt in all measures having for their object the welfare of the people and the in- terests of the community. He is a staunch ad- herent of the principles advocated by the Repub- lican party. In 1899 Mr. Pollock was married to Mrs. Jessie C. Johnston, widow of the late An- drew C. Johnston, of Philadelphia, who was born in 1868, was married to the above named in Janu- ary, 1887, died 1890, and was buried at Middle- ton, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Pollock had one child by her first marriage, Clarie, born 1889, who is now attending the high school at Wilkes-Barre. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pollock. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pollock are members of the First Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Pollock is a daughter of the late Van Campen Coolbaugh, who was born at Middle Smithfield, Monroe county, Pennsylvania, 1830. died at Wilkes- Barre, 1889. He was engaged in the lumber bus- iness, and for many years owned and operated a large mill at Middletown, Pennsylvania. In 1888 he moved his residence to Wilkes-Barre, retired from business, and his few remaining years were spent in ease and comfort. In 1865 he was united in marriage to Clara Kendig. born in Middletown, 1837. daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Rutherford) Kendig ,and four children were the issue: Edwin, an electrician of New York City : Jessie C., wife of John P. Pollock ; John, a mining engineer of Wilkes-Barre; and Sarah K., who resides with her mother in the city of Wilkes-Barre. H. E. H.

THOMAS R. CONNOR, truant officer of the public schools of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylva- nia, in which capacity he has served since 1897. was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1841. His parents were John and Rozilla ( Madison) Connor, and his ancestors were na- tives of Ireland, they having left to their descend- ants many of the admirable characteristics of that race of people.

His paternal grandfather, James Connor, was born in Ireland, November 27, 1788. Upon his emigration to this country he located first in Poughkeepsie, New York, and later moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and the tract of land whereon Thomas R. Connor now resides was taken out of the patent office by Hugh Con- nor and his brother. This tract of land extend- ed from Northampton to Market streets, and from Washington to Canal streets, being now valued at a very high price. He gave his atten- tion to the tilling of the soil, from which he de- rived a comfortable livelihood. He was one of

the early founders of the Presbyterian Church, in which he served as deacon for many years. James Connor was married three times : his first wife, who was the grandmother of Thomas R. Connor, was a Miss Wilse, whose father was a very wealthy man in his day, owning a number of sloops that plied between Albany and New York. James Connor died in 1834. His son, John Connor, father of Thomas R. Connor, was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. Dur- ing his boyhood he accompanied his parents to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and there received lis education. After his marriage to Rozilla Madison (a descendant of the Madisons who were in the Wyoming massacre and who fled to Easton, together with a large number of the early settlers, fourteen of whom died from fa- tigue in this flight to escape the savages), he re- moved to Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. Mr. Connor was superintendent of the Lehigh and Navigation Coal Company, and built the locks in the canals, also the "planes" which are used for hoisting coal over the mountains, and in addition to these built "arks" to carry coal to Philadel- phia. He was formerly a Whig and later a Re- publican in politics. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, in which faith they reared their children, eight in number : William J., Uranah M., who mar- ried Thomas Connor and is mother of one child ; Wilson B., Hugh C., Emily H., David C., John NI. and Thomas R. John Connor died at his home in Wilkes-Barre, whither he had removed from Mauch Chunk, in 1867, aged eighty-two years. His wife, Rozilla (Madison) Connor, was born at Lake George, New York, January 24, 1799, and died May 5, 1865, in the sixty-sev- enth year of her age.

Thomas R. Connor was reared and educated in Wilkes-Barre, and in 1854, when thirteen years of age, began learning the bakery and con- fectionery business, working at the same for a period of four years. He then clerked in a dry goods store for one year, and the following three years was employed as a stationary engineer by the Empire Coal Company. April 13, 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he enlisted in Com- pany F, Eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Volun- teers, known as the Wyoming Artillery; upon arrival at Harrisburg he was appointed a drum- mer, and at Chambersburg was transferred to Company B, same regiment. After a service of three months he was honorably discharged Au- gust 14, 1861. Later he re-enlisted as a private. September 7th, in Company L, Twenty-third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and March

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I, 1862, was transferred to Company D, Sixty- third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Hc participated in all the battles of this regiment from Fortress Monroe to Richmond, as follows : Williamsburg, May 6; Bottoms Bridge, May 19; Fair Oaks, May 31, where he was wounded ; the seven days fight before Richmond, June 25 to July 1; the Seven Pines, July 2 and 7 : White Oak Swamp and Turkey Bend, July 30; Mal- vern Hill, August I to August 5; Maryland, September 16 and 17; Williamsport, September 19 and 20; expedition on the upper Potomac and Hancock, Maryland, in October. He was trans- ferred from the Second Division, Sixth Corps, to the Fourth Division, Sixth Corps, known as Harris's Brigade, and participated in the follow- ing battles : Storming of Maryland Heights, September 3, 1863; reconnoissance of Rappa- hannock river, May 3 and 4; Gettysburg, July 5; Fair Field Gap, July 5; Rappahannock Sta- tion, November 7; Manassas Gap Railroad, No- vember 27 ; repulse of Mosby's cavalry on wag- on train, November 26 to 30, and Luscent Grove, November 27; was wounded at Spottsylvania, May II. 1864. He was honorably discharged from the service of the United States govern- ment September 2, 1864. The five brothers of Mr. Connor (William J., Hugh C., David C., Wilson B. and John M.) also served during the Civil war. John M. rose to the rank of first lieu- tenant, and participated in the following battles : Bloody Angle, where he was wounded: Cold Harbor; siege of Petersburg: Green Station ; Charleston and a number of others.

Upon his return to Wilkes-Barre, Mr. Con- nor was employed as a stationary engineer for the Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, remaining from 1865 to 1868, and the following two years was engaged in the local express business between Wilkes-Barre and Kingston. On July 1, 1870, he received the appointment of outside foreman at the Gray Breaker of the Wilkes-Barre and Lehigh Coal Company on Coal street, where he remained one year. He then went to the No. 5 breaker, remaining until 1873, then to the Dia- mond breaker in 1881, then as superintendent of the Empire division for three years, then as outside superintendent of the Hollenback shaft from 1884 to 1887. In 1897 he was appointed to his present position o' truant officer of the public schools. Mr. Connor has always taken a keen interest along educational lines, and served in the capacity of school director from 1884 to 1887. He is a Republican in politics and a mem- ber of Conyngham Post, Grand Army of the Re- public.

Mr. Connor was married February 20, 1867, to Jennie Pruner, who was born in Dundaff, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Henry A. and Har- riet ( Brink) Pruner, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsyl- vania. Their children are: Hattie MI., Harry P., Ruth B. and Daisy. They also have an adopt- ed daughter, Helen. Mr. Connor and his fam- ily are members of Franklin Street Methodist Episcopal Church. H. E. H.

HARRIE BENJAMIN COURTRIGHT, a - prosperous business man of Wilkes-Barre, was born in Plains township, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1857, a son of James and Ruth Gore ( Searle) Courtright.

James Courtright was born in Plains. During the active years of his career he was extensively engaged in the buying and selling of western horses, deriving therefrom a goodly income. He is now leading a retired life at his home in Kingston, surrounded with peace and plenty, and enjoying the fruits of many years of toil and activity. On September 19. 1854, he was united in marriage to Ruth Gore Searle, who was born January 16, 1832, a daughter of John and Mary (Stark) Searle, a granddaughter of Roger Searle, and a great-granddaughter of Constant Searle, who migrated from Connecticut to Penn- sylvania, and who was killed in the Wyoming massacre. (See Greene Family. ) His son, Roger Searle, aforementioned, was then sixteen years of age and also participated in the battle but escaped from the terrible slaughter of the Indians.

John Searle (father) was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania. February 15, 1795, died October 20, 1863. He was the owner of stage lines from Wilkes-Barre to Montrose, that being the means of travel in those early days, and was actively interested in stage and mail routes until his de- cease. In September, 1822, he married Mary Stark, who was born at Plains, Pennsylvania. February 16, 1800, died April 16, 1891, a daugh- ter of the late Henry Stark. (See Stark Fam- ily.) All the years of her life were spent on the farm where she was born, where the shaft of the Enterprise colliery is sunk. The house in which she was born was built by her father, who was one of the early settlers of the town- ship of Plains. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Searle are as follows :

I. James, born July 8. 1823. died Novem- ber, 1863; his wife, Candace (Green) Searle, died November, 1859.

2. Clarrissa, born November 14, 1824. mar- ried. April 24, 1850. Nelson N. Dean, now de-

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ceased. and their children are: James Elmer, born September 10, 1851, and Willis L., born February 5, 1857. (See Dean Family.)

3. Kathryn, born July II, 1827, married, April 24, 1850, Edwin Williams, and their chil- dren are : James, born September 9, 1851, mar- ried Ella Dumbould; George W., born May, 1855, married Eva L. Shoemaker: Mary, born November 22, 1858, wife of D. Rouse, M. D .; Martha C., born April 22, 1861, wife of William Burner ; Ruth C., born October 22, 1863, wife of Lewis Yost; Helen, born August 24, 1866, and Elizabeth V., born June 24, 1869, wife of John T. Yoakım.

4. Elizabeth M., born October 5. 1829, mar- ried, April 25, 1853, Norman T. Vorse, and their children are: Charles, born September 24, 1854, married Augusta Tyrrell, August 24, 1878, and Frank W., born February 5, 1856, married Ag- nes Nuten, October 27, 1877.

5. Ruth Gore, born January 16, 1832, wife of James Courtright, as aforementioned, and their children are: John S., born July 21, 1855, married Ellen Lathrop, January 17, 1877, and their children arc: Sarah L. and Florence : they reside in Montrose, Pennsylvania ; Harrie Ben- jamin, born February 19, 1857, mentioned at length hereinafter.

6. John R., born July 30, 1835, was a lieu- tenant in the Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Regi- ment, United States Volunteers, and died in the .service at Camp Suffolk, Virginia, December 13, I862.

7. Martha M., born May 29, 1838, wife of James D. Green, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work.

8. May, born September 13. 1833, became the wife of the Rev. J. K. Peck, and their chil- dren are: Carrie, born February 28, 1857. wife of J. Wood Piatt, and mother of two children : William and Ruth Piatt ; Mary A., born Novem- ber 28, 1861: Jesse L., born March 28, 1864, married Jeanette Bryden and they have one child, Kenyon Peck; and Ruth C., born August 14, 1873. wife of Charles C. Hurd.

Harrie B. Courtright, son of James and Ruth Courtright, received his preliminary education in the public schools adjacent to his home ; this was supplemented by attendance at Kingston Semi- mary and Starkie Seminary, at Seneca Lake, New York. He gained his first experience in business life by working for his father, and later served a clerkship in a grocery store and for G. L. Palmer, a hatter. In 1874 he entered into part- nership with James T. Murphy, brother of the late Dr. J. A. Murphy, and in 1876 they dis-

posed of the business to Kirkendall & White- man. He then engaged in the livery business, disposing of the same in 1880 to George Niver, after which he went to Leadville and Brecken- ridge, Colorado, and for two years prospected for silver. He then located in Wilkes-Barre, and January 1, 1883. was appointed super- intendent of letter carriers, the first in- cumbent of the office, under A. S. Orr, postmaster. He retained the position under Postmaster Joseph K. Bogert, who died in of- fice, Asa R. Brundage serving as acting post- master until the appointment to office of Mrs. Bogert, widow of Joseph K. Bogert. On July 15, 1887, after serving over four years, Mr. Courtright resigned from his office and engaged in the livery and sales stable business with his father, James Courtright, who was an extensive dealer in western horses. Upon the retirement of Mr. Courtright, Sr., in 1897, his son contin- ued the business and is engaged in it at the pres- ent time (1905). Mr. Courtright believes that the principles laid down in the Republican plat- form are the best adapted to the needs of the nation and he therefore votes that ticket. Mr. Courtright married, March 7, 1876, Clara Ida Wells, daughter of William S. and Jane A. ( Jack- son) Wells. Their children are: Ruth Searle, born January 24, 1877; Josephine Wells, born July 17, 1878, and James Wells, born February 2, 1887. The family attend the Methodist Epis- copal Church. They reside in a comfortable home at No. 41 North Franklin street, Wilkes- Barre. H. E. H.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 53

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