Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 79

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 79
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 79

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

424

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Mr. Hopper represents old and honored Penn- sylvania families in both lines. His paternal grandfather, John A. Hopper, born July 29, 1782, in Mooresburg, Pennsylvania, was of German descent, and was a miller by occupation. He was married twice. First, March 28, 1805, to Eliza- beth Mertz, born May 16, 1780, who bore him the following children : born February 28, 1806; Joseph, February 26, 1807 ; Thomas, July 17, 1808; John, February 10, 1809; Catherine, June 14. 1811 ; Samuel, September 3, 1813; Maria, December, 1815; Susannah, January 20, 1817; Elizabeth, March 30, 1818; Jesse, May 19, 1819, and John Dobbs, November 6, 1820. Mrs. Hopper, the' mother of these children, died in 1820. Mr. Hopper married (second), January 23, 1821, Mary Peet. Mr. Hopper died at the age of seventy-five years.

John Dobbs Hopper, son of John A. and Elizabeth (Mertz) Hopper, and father of Frank P. Hopper, was born November 6, 1820, in Mooresburg, Pennsylvania. He was there edu- cated, and for some time conducted a lumber and milling business. In 1865 he removed to Lu- zerne county, locating in Kingston, and after- ward in Wyoming, and during all this time he occupied the position of foreman of the car shops of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad at Kingston. He married for his sec- ond wife Rebecca Heberling, who was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1819, and the issue of this union was eight children : Samuel, born December, 1843, engaged in the lumber business in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Peter Nilly, born January 9, 1846, died July 2, 1849. George Washington, born February 22, 1849, died September 2, 1850. Susanna, born March 15. 1851, died March 29, 1865. John Al- bert, born July 29, 1853, who is foreman of the shovel works in Wyoming. Joseph William, born January 26, 1857, who is superintendent in the boiler shops in Beaumont, Texas. Frank P .. born October 30, 1858, mentioned hereinafter. Helen Mary, born November 4. 1861, wife of J. M. Schooley, of Wyoming, Pennsylvania. The father of these children died March, 1884, aged sixty-three years, and the mother passed away April 15, 1881, aged sixty-one years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Frank P. Hopper, seventh child and young- est son of John D. and Rebecca (Heberling) Hopper, was six years old when his parents re- moved to Luzerne county. After attending the public school he pursued an advanced course in the New Columbus Academy, and in 1879 took

up work as a teacher, receiving a waze of seven- ty-five cents a day. Desirous of a more thor- oughi preparation for educational work, he en- tered the Bloomsburg Normal school, in 1883, and graduated in June of the following year. He then taught one term in Hanover township, an- other term in Kingston township, after which he was chosen principal of the Parsons public schools, in which position he served most accept- ably until 1894, when he was called to the princi- palship of the Dorranceton schools. Here he re- mained until 1899 when he was elected superin- tendent of schools for Luzerne county, and his usefulness in this important position finds abun- dant attestation in two successsive re-elections. The result of the last of these elections was pe- culiarly significant, his candidacy being contested by three others, some of whom were so anxious to obtain the office that they proffered their ser- vices at a salary below that which Superintendent Hopper was receiving. During his three official terms he has witnessed a broad expansion of edu- cational facilities in his county, and has contrib- uted in no small degree to the advanced efficiency of the school system. At his entrance upon his official duties the schools in the county numbered 663, with an enrollment of 30,000 children of school age, under his jurisdiction, and these num- bers have been increased to 740 schools, and 35,000 children. The arduous nature of his duties is witnessed by the fact that his visitations to the schools, made almost every ninety days, extend into sixty-nine school districts, and he examines annually about five hundred applicants for teach- ers' certificates. His initial salary was two thousand five hundred dollars per annum, and this sum has been increased and is now four thousand dollars. Highly regarded at home for his great capabilities in organizing and oversee- ing schools, he is also held in appropriate esteem in the highest educational circles in the state, as indicated by his being chosen to serve upon the executive committee of the State Educational As- sociation, which position he occupies at the pres- ent time. He takes a deep interest in the wel- fare of the community, and is numbered among its most enterprising members. He is a director in the Jackson Home Telephone Company. He is also connected with leading fraternal bodies, and is a past exalted ruler in Wilkes-Barre Lodge No. 109. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a member of May Lodge No. 767, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, of Wyoming, Pennsylvania. March 30, 1892, Mr. Hopper mar- ried Miss Clara B. Rouse, who was born in

:..:

425

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Hartford, Connecticut, daughter of the late Cas- per M. and Weltha J. (Venandan) Rouse. Her father was a native of Bennington. Vermont, whence he removed to Connecticut. He became an expert gunpowder manufacturer, and con- ducted business in that line in Moosic, Pennsyl- vania, and subsequently at Laflin, Pennsylvania, . where he erected the Laflin powder mills, of which he was superintendent at the time of his death in 1890, at the age of fifty-eight years. Mrs. Rouse was born in Fair Haven, Vermont, and died at the age of fifty-six years. She bore to her husband four children, of whom three are living : Frank, residing in Plains, Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Thomas Barrett, of Wilkes-Barre ; and Mrs. Frank P. Hopper. To Mr. and Mrs. Hopper was born January 17, 1893, a daughter, Ruth. Mr. Hopper resides on Wyoming avenue, Dor- ranceton.

H. E. H.

PHINEAS M. CARHART. In the Wyo- ming valley in Pennsylvania the history of the Carhart family dates back hardly half a century, but in the annals of the American colonies the name is known among the families of prominence and official station during the later years of the seventeenth century, and in those of the colony of New York soon after the final overthrow of the dominion of the Dutch in New Amsterdam and New Netherlands. The immigrant ancestor of the family of the line here treated was An- thony Carhart, of Cornwall, England, who was private secretary to Col. Thomas Dongan, gov- ernor of the colony, 1682-1688. Anthony came to New Amsterdam in 1683 and received a grant of land in 1691. This Anthony Carhart had a son Thomas Carhart ( 1650-1696) who married Mary Lord, and this Thomas and Mary had a son Robert Carhart, who had a son Cornelius Car- hart, whose wife was Willimpia Coleman.

The period of Cornelius Carhart's life was 1729-18IO, and he attained distinction during the revolutionary war, first as captain of the Third Regiment of Militia of Huntingdon county, New Jersey, 1777 ; and as major of the Second Regi- ment of Huntingdon county troops under com- mission of April 20, 1778. Major Cornelius Car- hart and Willimpia Coleman had children, among whom was Robert Carhart, 1760-1834, who was a soldier of the revolution, 1775-1783, serving throughout the war with the New Jersey militia. This Robert had a son, William P. Carhart, born I779, died 1863, who was of New Hampton, New Jersey, and whose son Theodore, of Belvidere, New Jersey, married Rachel Albright, and had a

son, Phineas MacMiller Carhart, born in Belvi- dere, New Jersey, September 21, 1842, died in Kingston, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1901.

Phineas MacMiller Carhart entered the Wyo- ming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, as a student in 1865, and from which he graduated in 1867. Soon afterward he was employed first as clerk, then teller, and afterward as cashier in the banking house of Bennett, Phelps & Com- pany, Wilkes-Barre, where he remained until the business was closed in 1879. In 1880 he accepted clerkship in the Wyoming National Bank, Wilkes-Barre, which position he held until Octo- ber, 1885, when he was made teller in the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre. He became cashier of the same bank April 12, 1887, and held that position to the time of his death May 2, 1901. Mr. Carhart's connection with banking in Wilkes-Barre in one capacity or another. cov- ered a period of thirty-five years, a service as long and honorable and as faithful as that of any person in the same avocation in business life in the Wyoming valley. In 1865 he became a mem- ber of the Kingston Methodist Episcopal Church, and from that time until his death was active in church and Sunday school work. He taught suc- cessfully for several years the adult Bible class ; was superintendent of the Sunday school several years ; was trustee of the society ; secretary and treasurer of the board, and also was class leader. Mr. Carhart was a member of the Royal Society of Good Fellows, No. 19, of Wilkes-Barre, and a member (elected October 4, 1895) of the Wyo- ming Historical and Geological Society. Phineas MacMiller Carhart married at Kingston, Penn- sylvania, May 23, 1872, Elizabeth Helme, daugh- ter of Frank Helme, of Kingston, and to them one daughter was born, Helen Helme Carhart, wife of Jared Warner Stark, who is connected with the Dupont Powder Company at Hazelton. Mr. and Mrs. Stark have two children, Edward Carhart Stark, born November 20, 1903, and Elizabeth Helme Stark, born March 27, 1905. The bodies in which Mr. Carhart was most deeply interested paid touching tribute to his memory shortly after his demise. The directors of the First National Bank prepared and transmitted to Mrs. Carhart a beautiful brochure, bearing upon the cover the words "In Memoriam" in let- ters of gold, and upon the last page the seal of the bank and the signatures of William McLean, president, and Charles P. Hunt, secretary, and containing the following resolutions :

"Friday, May 3rd, 1901. "Mr. Carhart has been connected with this

426

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

bank for more than fifteen years; first as teller, on October Ist, 1885 ; then assistant cashier, June 12th, 1886; and cashier from. April 13th, 1887, to the time of his death. Since September, 1889, he has been a constant patient sufferer, and, while we deplore his death just in the prime of life, yet we feel that it must have been a great relief, and that our loss is his gain. Throughout his con- nection with this bank, Mr. Carhart has always been characterized by the manners of a Christian gentleman, conscientious and faithful in all the duties appertaining to his position, intelligent and clear-headed, understanding well the business over which he presided, with dignified urbanity. We feel it is but proper and fitting to place upon our minutes the following resolutions :

"Resolved, That while we are again called upon to record the death of an officer of this bank, we would most seriously add our estimation of his worth and character to his family and con- vey to his family our deepest sympathy under this severe affliction."

The following resolutions adopted by the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Kingston were beautifully inscribed with pen and ink, bound in leather and embossed in gold, attested by the signatures of Abraham Nesbitt. C. Bach, W. R. Billings, C. W. Laycock and Leonard Murdock :

"Quarterly Conference of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Kingston. Pennsylvania, which was held in the church edifice Monday evening, May 13th, 1901, unanimously author- ized the following resolutions regarding the de- cease of Brother Phineas M. Carhart.

"Whereas. Our Heavenly Father, in His wise providence, has removed from our midst Phineas M. Carhart, a brother respected and beloved, we desire to express our sorrow in this bereavement, and our appreciation of the life and character of the deceased, and our Christian sympathy for his afflicted family. Brother Carhart was a man whom all that came to know must respect. His life appeared to be above reproach. We shall miss his counsel in our official meetings, his prayers and testimony in the prayer circle, and his sound advice and ardent exhortation in the class. We know, however, that, most of all, he will be missed from the home. Our prayers are offered for the consolation of Divine grace in behalf of those who were so dear to him, and we wish to record that in our sorrow we find comfort in the memory of so good a life, and his life a benediction to us. In Christian influence he still lives among us, while in the new and Heavenly

kingdom we trust that he lives a citizen, faithful,. obedient and happy. For these comforting as- surances we are grateful to our blessed Lord.

"Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the Conference and that an engrossed copy be presented to the family."

H. E. H.

ELISHA A. CORAY. Throughout the county the name of Elisha A. Coray, of Wilkes- Barre, is recognized as that of a progressive citi- zen and extensive dealer in real estate. He was born at Monroeton, Bradford county. Pennsyl- vania, September 6, 1858. He is a lineal de- scendant of Elnathan and Abigail (Green ) Coray, residents of Goshen, Connecticut, where they were respected and honored for their lives of usefulness and activity. They were the par- ents of five children, as follows : Gabriel, Abigail. Isaac, John 'and Silas.

John Coray, second son of Elnathan and Abi- gail (Green) Coray, was born at Goshen, Con- necticut, but came to Wyoming valley as one of the early settlers. He was an upright, worthy citizen, and achieved a large degree of success as the result of his well-directed efforts. His death was occasioned by an accident ; while in the. woods he was mistaken for a deer by some hunt- ers by whom he was shot and killed. His wife, whose maiden name was Phoebe Howe, bore him four children : Silas, born 1788; Ira, born 1791 : David, born 1794: and John, born 1796.

David Coray, third son of John and Phoebe. (Howe) Coray, was born January 15, 1794. He followed the occupation of lumberman, and while. engaged in that pursuit on what was called "up on the Lehigh" was accidentally killed April 24. 1833, by a log striking him. He married Re- becca Atherton, who was born March I, 1797, and they were the parents of four children : Ce- linda, wife of the Rev. Job Harvey : Elisha, who married Mary Perkins, and resides in New York ; George, mentioned hereinafter ; and Helen, wife. of Jerome Salsbury. The mother of these chil- dren passed away May 15, 1827.

George Coray, second son of David and Re- becca (Atherton) Coray, was born in Luzerne. county, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1824. He was educated in the public schools in the neighbor- hood and Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, having been the first registered student of the latter in- stitution. His active career was devoted to mer- cantile pursuits, milling and real estate transac -- tions. During the years 1869 and 1870 he was a member of the legislature, representing the coun --

427

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

ty of Luzerne, this being prior to the division of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, being elected one of the three representatives. He married, January 24, 1849, Laura Greene, born April 18, 1822, daughter of Robert and Melissa (Rice) Greene, and their children were: David E., born August 16, 1852, died in infancy ; William H., born August 27, 1854, married Mary Wilson ; Elisha A., mentioned hereinafter ; and George E., born January 16, 1863, at present ( 1905) a resi- dent of Wheeling, West Virginia. Mr. Coray, the father of these children, died December 28, I883.

Elisha A. Coray, third son of George and Laura (Greene) Coray, passed his boyhood in Luzerne county, and was educated in the public schools and at the Keystone Academy at Factory- ville, Pennsylvania. In 1878 he entered the office of the Pittston Press and began to learn the trade of printer. He remained there one year, and then was engaged in different occupations until 1880. when he became associated with the Pitts- ton Gazette, serving on the paper as printer, re- porter and solicitor until 1888. In that year he was elected on the Republican ticket to represent the second district of Luzerne county in the state legislature. He served from 1889 until 1891, later was re-elected and served during the years 1897-99-1901, and in the latter year was a candi- date for state treasurer on the Fusion ticket com- posed of independent Republicans and Demo- crats. In 1903 Mr. Coray opened an office at the corner of West Market and Franklin streets, Wilkes-Barre, and has since conducted an exten- sive real estate business. He is a man of merit and ability, and enjoys the acquaintance of a host of friends throughout the entire county and state. He takes a deep and active interest in re- ligious work, especially that connected with the Methodist Episcopal church of West Pittston, Pennsylvania, of which he is a member. Mr. Coray married, January 29, 1896, Sallie Warner, who was born May 15, 1871, daughter of Henry Lupton and Sarah G. ( Barnes) Warner, and they are the parents of the following children : Sallie, born December 24, 1896, died December 26, 1896; Eleanor W., born August 2, 1898; Ed- ward Atherton, born August 24, 1901; and Henry Warner, born June 23, 1904. Henry Lup- ton Warner, father of Mrs. Coray, was born May 6, 1833, at Canaan, New York, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Lockwood) Warner. He married, March 10, 1858, Sarah G. Barnes, daughter of Daniel D. and Lydia (Douglas) Barnes, and their children were: Anna, who lives in Nashua,

New Hampshire ; Harriet, widow of the late A. A. Chapin, of Flushing, New York ; Daniel D., a resident of Portland, Oregon ; Henry J., a resi- dent of Spokane, Washington; Sallie, wife of Elisha A. Coray, as mentioned above ; Frederick G., who resides in Portland, Oregon; and Charles J., who lives in Nashua. New Hamp- shire. Mr. Warner died July 20, 1897, at Canaan, New York. The family trace their an- cestry back to Elder Brewster, one of the passen gers on the "Mayflower. H. E. H.

SUTHERLAND FAMILY. William Suth- erland was in Dutchess county, New York, in the early years of the eighteenth century. Evi- dently he was of New England ancestry, as the surname had representatives among the Yankees of both Massachusetts and Connecticut. But of William's antecedents little is now known, ex- cept that he was of Dutchess county, New York, and married there, 1720, Hannah Avery.

William and Hannah had a son David, born, Crown Elbow, Dutchess county, 1722; married Judith Griffin, who died in Bangall, Dutchess county, April 10, 1790. This David was colonel of the Sixth Regiment of New York militia from October 17, 1775, to March 20, 1878. He died March 15, 1794. Colonel David and Judith Suth- erland had a son Joel, born in Dutchess county, 1752 ; married Mary Brush, born 1757, died Feb- ruary 8, 1832.

Brush Sutherland, son of Joel Sutherland and. his wife Mary Brush, was born in Stamford, New York, June 5, 1785, and died there March 3, 1832. He married, January 3, 1812, Deborah Sutherland, born Greenville, New York, July 26, 1787, died West Pittston, Pennsylvania, Novem -. ber 16, 1863, daughter of Smith Sutherland, who. was a captain in the Sixth Regiment of New York state troops during the Revolutionary war.

Smith Sutherland, son of Brush Sutherland, was born in Stamford, New York, October 21, 1818, and was educated at the once famous old Gilbertsville Academy, in Gilbertsville, New York. When a young man he moved to Pittston,. Pennsylvania, and was in mercantile business there from 1850 to 1862. He took an active in- terest in public affairs and was recognized as one of the leading men of that locality : was justice of the peace at West Pittston from 1869 to 1879; served as member of the borough council and also as borough clerk. Previous to his removal to Pennsylvania he held a captain's commission in the One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Infantry, his appointment having been made Au --

-428

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

gust 25, 1841, and by Governor Seward. Smith Sutherland married (first), Otego, Otsego county, New York, June 3. 1846, Lucy P. Fuller ; married (second), Exeter, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 16, 1861, Laura Loomis Stanton, born Exeter, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1825, daugh- ter of Asa and Lydia Stanton, of New London, Connecticut, who removed in 1810 to Pennsyl- vania with an ox team and settled in Northmore- land, Luzerne county. Lydia was a small child when Arnold burned New London, Connecticut, and distinctly remembers seeing the smoke arise from the burning town. Smith Sutherland's chil- dren, issue of both marriages were as follows : Charles Francis, born May 25. 1848. George Henry, born January 5. 1850. Walter Coray, born Exeter, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1862. Lucy Fuller, born Exeter, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1864.

Walter Coray Sutherland was born in Exeter township, Luzerne county Pennsylvania, No- vember 7. 1862, and acquired his early education in the public schools of that town, and at Wyo- ming Seminary in Kingston. He was a commer- cial traveller from 1882 to 1892, and in the latter year formed a partnership with Charles L. Mc- Millan, the style being Sutherland & McMillan, wholesale grocers, doing business in Pittston, Pennsylvania. Mr. Sutherland is a business man and a busy man at all times ; yet he has found time to take a public-spirited citizen's part in the affairs of his town. He is a Republican, but without political ambition. He was a member of the West Pittston borough council from 1897 to 1904, and president of the council during the last year of his term of office. He was instrumental in organizing the Luzerne County Good Roads League, holding the office of secretary. He is a member of the Wyoming Historical and Geo- logical Society, of the Pennsylvania Sons of the Revolution, of St. John's Lodge, No. 233. F. and A. M., of Pittston Chapter. No. 242, R. A. M., of Wyoming Valley Commandery No. 57. K. T., and of Irem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Walter Coray Sutherland married, West Pittston, Penn- sylvania. April 17, 1889, Grace Klotz, born West Pittston, January 1, 1865, daughter of Joseph Klotz and his wife Mary A. Grube. Their chil- dren : Martha Chapman, born West Pittston, January 12, 1890. Marian Grace, born West Pittston, January 4, 1892. Esther Klotz Suther- land, born .West Pittston, November 3, 1895. Grace (Klotz) Sutherland was educated in the West Pittston high school, and was graduated there. Her father, Joseph Klotz, served with the

militia forces called into action to repel the Con- federate invasion of Pennsylvania during the war of 1861-1865; and her uncle, Robert Klotz, served in the war with Mexico, with the rank of major, and held a colonel's commission in the war of 1861-1865. He was twice member of congress ; died at Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. H. E. H.

DANIEL DENNIS WILCOX. Among the names of the pioneers who helped to make history during the dark days of the Wyoming valley may be justly mentioned that of Wil- cox. The first of the name of whom there exists any authentic information was Isaac Wilcox, Sr., born about 1730, who upon his arrival in New York state from Rhode Island went to live with his son in Dutchess county, and there married Desire Crandall, who was born June 16, 1738. She was probably the daughter of Eber and Mary Long Crandall, granddaughter of Eber Crandall, and great- granddaughter of John Crandall, of Wester- ly, Long Island, commissioner and deputy, 1658-71. Their children were: Isaac, men- tioned hereinafter : Crandall, born in Dutchess county, New York, July 7, 1771, married Joanna Stark; Thankful, born in Dutchess county, New York, August 24, 1774. married Daniel Rosencrans, and died in Knox county, Ohio. Daniel and Thankful (Wilcox) Rosen- crans were grandparents of Major-General William Stark Rosecrans, U. S. A., 1861-65, and of Right Reverend Sylvester Horton Rose- crans, D. D., Roman Catholic Bishop of Co- lumbus, Ohio, 1868-78: Isaac and Crandall Wilcox were in Wyoming in 1794. Isaac Wil- cox, Sr., was an active participant in the Revo- lutionary war, and during this period was se- riously hurt in the back. Later he removed to Ohio, where he died January 26, 1813. His wife died in the Wyoming valley, and her tombstone, now destroyed, bore the following inscription : "Desire Wilcox, wife of Isaac Wilcox, departed this life March 23, 1810, aged sixty-five years, five months and fifteen days."

Isaac Wilcox, eldest son of Isaac and De- sire (Crandall) Wilcox, was born in Dutchess county. New York, about 1760. It appears that April 1, 1794. Amos Wilcox, yeoman, of Orange, New York, sold to Isaac Wilcox, husbandman, and Crandall Wilcox, black- smith, of Wilkes-Barre, lots No. 34, 35 and 36 on Jacobs Plain. (Harvey book, p. 304.)

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 79

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