USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. I > Part 22
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
covered a period of twelve years, was that of a teacher, at once original in method and success- ful in execution. From 1874 to 1878 he was principal of the public schools of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he was instrumental in mak- ing great advances in educational work, and in- troduced a thorough system of grading. He also organized the high school. From 1893 to 1899 he was state trustee of the State normal school at East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1885, after a course of legal reading he was admitted to the bar, and shortly after went to Bangor, Northampton county, where he entered upon the practice of his profession, and for two years, acted as principal of the local schools. As a lawyer he won for himself, before many years had passed, an enviable reputation, being pos- sessed of marked abilities both as a speaker and reasoner. His entrance into the political field was speedily followed, in 1892, by his election as district attorney of Northampton county, in consequence of which he removed to Easton. His administration of the office, which he held until 1896, was marked by independent fidelity to his convictions, regardless of self-interest. From 1897 to 1901 he served as a member of the Board of Control, and in May, 1903, entered upon the duties of the office of city solicitor. Mr. La- Barre is a stanch Democrat, and it is by the votes of his party that he has been placed in the various positions which he has been called upon to fill. Though not a member of any church, he is a be- liever in the doctrines of the Baptist denomina- tion, and is an ardent Sunday-school worker.
Mr. LaBarre married, August 22, 1886, in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, Laura Tolman, daugh- ter of John S. and Keziah (Tolman) Bowers. The former served several terms as mayor of Phillipsburg. Mrs. LaBarre was a graduate of the Phillipsburg high school, and had been a teacher in the grammar school. Mr. and Mrs. LaBarre are the parents of one daughter, Mildred, who was born May 21, 1889, at Bangor, and is now a pupil in the Easton high school.
Mr. LaBarre is a man of great personal popu- larity in the county, and is possessed of marked literary tastes and fine ability as a public speaker.
During his college course he took an oratorical prize, and was very active in the literary so- cieties, serving in 1881 (the year before his grad- uation), as editor-in-chief of the Melange.
JOHN R. BARR, now retired from active business pursuits, who is spending his declining years in the city of Easton, Pennsylvania, where fifty-three years of his busy and useful life were spent, is a lineal descendant of James Barr, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, who married Dorcas Jarquett, daughter of Major Jarquett, a distinguished officer in the Revolutionary army.
Major Jarquett, father of Mrs. Dorcas (Jar- quett) Barr, was born April 6, 1755. He entered the colonial army in 1776, and fought in every general engagement which took place in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and the eastern states under the command of General Washing- ton. He was also under the command of Gen- eral Gates, and with General DeKalb fought at Camden, where his regiment was reduced by loss of men in battle until the command devolved on Major Jarquett and his brave comrade, Kirk- wood. After independence was won he returned to his native state, and in 1782 was united in marriage to Eliza P. Price. He lived comfort- ably on the old paternal estate the remainder of his day's, and his death occurred September 13, .1834.
Samuel Barr, father of John R. Barr, was born in the state of Delaware, was a shoemaker by trade, and in connection with this occupation was the proprietor of a boot and shoe store which he conducted with a large degree of success for many years. He married Margaret Cummins, of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Joseph Cummins, who was an active participant all through the Revolutionary war. Mary A. Cummins, wife of Joseph Cummins, lived to be one hundred and four years of age, and they were the parents of four children-Peter, Abraham, Nathan, and Margaret Cummins. The Cummins family are of German descent, and the Barr fam- ily are of French-Irish lineage. The following named children were born to Samuel and Mar- garet (Cummins) Barr: I. William J., who
John R. Barr Sp
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served as captain of a company in the first regi- ment that left Philadelphia for the seat of war in the suppression of the rebellion; he served all through the Civil war and was honorably dis- charged from the service of the United States government, and died at the age of seventy-three years. 2. Joseph C., was a rope maker by trade, but died in early manhood. 3. John R. 4. Mary, wife of John Butland; she died in 1902.
John R. Barr, youngest son of Samuel and Margaret (Cummins) Barr, was born in Phil- adelphia, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1829. After completing his education in the schools of that city, he learned ornamental painting and became one of the most expert and accomplished artists in that line of business. In 1850 he removed to Eas- ton, Pennsylvania, and entered the employ of David Garris, with whom he remained for twenty years. At the expiration of this period of time he entered the service of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, and by the faithful and painstaking performance of all duties allotted to him retained his position with this corporation for thirty years, from 1870 to 1900. During his entire active career Mr. Barr has only been empolyed by three parties-the firm he learned his trade with, Mr. Garris, and the Lehigh Valley Company, but he had various and flattering invitations to work for other firms, which he declined, owing to the fact that his employers paid him the highest wages which his skilled labor demanded, his work be- ing of a high grade and executed in a masterly way. Mr. Barr has always been a loyal and pub- lic-spirited citizen, and he was chosen to serve his town in the capacity of councilman for twelve years. He is a worthy and honored member of Easton Lodge, No. 152, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Order of United American Mechanics, and the Independent Order of Red Men.
In 1852 occurred the marriage of John R. Barr and Sarah A. Weaver, the latter having ben born near the town of Freemansburg, Penn- sylvania, in 1832. Seven children were born of this union, four of whom are living at the present time-William, John, Rebecca, and Mary Barr. The family are prominently identified with the
social interests of South Side, Easton, and occupy a handsome and commodious residence at No. 811 Berwick street.
J. T. WILLIAMS. In compiling a history of the leading and progressive men of the Lehigh Valley whose marked business force has gained them prominence and success and has won them the admiration of the public, it is necessary that we make mention of one, J. T. Williams, who is actively connected with industrial interests in Easton. He stands as one of the prominent rep- resentative business men of the Lehigh Valley, forming his plans readily and carrying them out with determination and energy. His integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his business career, which has gained him the respect of his fellow men to a remarkable degree.
Mr. Williams was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and his parents were An- thony and Sarah Thompson Williams, both of whom were natives of that county, and were largely interested in agricultural pursuits on some of the richest and finest agricultural land in the state, a few miles north of Philadelphia, which lands have since been selling at prices from three hundred to six thousand dollars per acre. The grandparent, whose name was Joseph Williams, and whom our Joseph T. Williams was named for, was also largely interested in the agricul- tural pursuit in the same section, and amassed a fortune of much over one hundred thousand dollars from that calling alone. This grandparent lived to a good strong age of eighty-four years, and survived his first two wives, while the third, who was much younger than he, survived him by several years. He was known all through his business life as being one of the most enterprising and energetic business men of his community, and while he was much admired for his resolute and firm will power and great undisturbed nerve, ambition, and his untiring energy, he was admired also for his close adherence to integrity and up- rightness.
During one cold winter season, when he was about the age of fifty-five years, he employed some timber cutters on one of his farms to cut and pre-
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
pare lumber for the markets. While he
assisted with one of his four-horse teams in carting the timber out of the woods, when everything in the woods was a glare of ice, his team wagon, heavily loaded with timber, slipped or slid sideways on the hillside, and caught him in such a manner as to crush one of his limbs so badly that amputa- tion became necessary. In that case and under those conditions he exhibited his strong will power and resolution, as, when the amputation was to take place, he simply sat himself in an ordinary chair and ordered the amputation to be done, nor would he take a nerve bracer or opiate of any kind, nor allow any one to hold or steady him. The cutting and sawing off the thigh bone, without a murmur and without any pain deadener, displayed greater nerve power and resolution than is often if ever found among the human family.
He was of the third generation of this particu- lar Welsh family, the first generation having come to this country about the same time as did William Penn, emigrating here from England. Strange to note, both of those families settled about the same time near where Philadelphia is now located, at the junction of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers, in the state of Pennsylvania, and there raised their families in the religious faith of Quakers. The founder of Philadelphia, William Penn, was then and thereafter continued to be one of the leaders and a spiritual light in that religious faith or doctrine. The history of William Penn is likely to live as long as the city of Philadelphia, as being its founder.
The parents of our present J. T. Williams were close adherents to that same religious faith, and the father was also a model agriculturist, and a strong admirer of valuable driving or work horses in his business or agricultural pursuits ; therefore he made much study of them, and through such spirited horses which he was train- ing to harness while cultivating crops, he met with an accident, which proved so serious as to require the amputation of a limb, and before amputation could take place the pain and suffer- ing became so extreme and intense that it threw
him into lockjaw, and from that condition caused life to become extinct, at the youthful age of thirty-eight years. While he had not reached the meridian of life, yet he left five children and a very capable mother and widow to survive him. She had previously inherited a valuable farm property whereby she had means to raise and educate her children. Moreover, the same mother of our present J. T. Williams was of a very strong religious turn of mind, and became a minister in the religious faith of Quakers at the young and tender school age of fifteen years. Later, when she became grown and of more mature years, she traveled through various parts of the United States, casting oil upon the troubled waters, and spreading the seed of righteousness through and by the gospel ministry. She was known to be a fervent and constant worker in such religious duties and labors until but a few days preceding her death, which came upon her at a fairly mature age of seventy-three years. She survived three husbands, they all being of the better families in her community. Her important and valuable work has since been taken up by others, yet for many years the effects of her labors in the min- istry were very much felt, and later on were much missed through various parts of the United States.
Our present J. T. Williams married at the youthful age of twenty and one half years, and took for his companion Miss Margaret Butler, of .Montour county, Pennsylvania, and she raised to him four children, two sons and two daughters. After or about the time these four children be- came educated, married and settled down in busi- ness life, the mother became afflicted . with a tumor growth, and after a couple of years in suf- fering and sickness departed this life, leaving the four children and several grandchildren to sur- vive her. Our J. T. Williams has continued a widower for several years. He is still quite ac- tive in and about his manufacturing, importing and merchandising business, of which he was the most active, as well as the forerunner and sole promoter in bringing about and building up, and his firm has since, in connection with his son Charles K., become one of the largest and most
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enterprising and successful business firms of its kind in the United States.
In beginning this business in Easton, J. T. Williams was known to be from home the greater part of the time for many years, introducing and selling pulverized mineral goods, and working up this business until he reached nearly all the American and some of the Canadian markets; moreover, at the time of his starting, what made it more difficult was that neither the firm nor their make of goods was known, or had ever been heard of in any of these markets. Yet his constant persistent efforts in travelling and selling gradu- ally brought the goods and the business before the public in great favor, until increase and expan- sion of facilities to producing and manufacturing the goods to meet the demands became the greater necessity. From that time forward the firm of C. K. Williams & Company rapidly increased the size and capacity of their plants, until they became almost foremost in the importing as well as manu- facturing of their class of goods. The first growth of demand for the goods, however, has been attributed entirely to the stringent and con- stant efforts of J. T. Williams, and his strong will to introduce and sell, when there was on all sides the most stubborn obstacles and inter- ruptions to interfere. But a large business was the object, and success has crowned his efforts.
He has known to have used his influence to- wards the location of the Easton silk mill, since it has been in active operation, on North Thir- teenth street, Easton, Pennsylvania, and he agreed to contribute and deliver six hundred perches of the foundation wall or building stone for its erection, free of charge. It was considered that the liberal contribution of J. T. Williams at that early stage of the enterprise settled and fixed the location of that large and important manufactur- ing plant, which has since proven to be of so much value to the community of Easton, having em- ployed as many as two thousand or more hands daily, and many of them at large salaries. The product of this enormous silk manufactory usu- ally takes the lead in the higher grades of silk goods throughout the American markets. Also
that through the influence of J. T. Williams, the former wooden structure known as the Thirteenth street bridge over the Bushkill stream was re- moved, and a three arch substantial stone struc- ture built there in its stead by the county com- missioners. It is thought the same old wooden structure might possibly have been left until the high waters had carried it away and probably have done much damage.
From a Christian point of view, Mr. Williams has always adhered to the same Quaker religious faith of his ancestors, yet in that respect he is most liberal in his views, and attends meetings of nearly all sects or demonstrations of religious doctrines, and is more interested in religious study and thought than in any other outside of his regular legitimate business enterprises. Most people have a fad or hobby of one kind or an- ยท other, but Mr. Williams has but few fads or hob- bies. He has no desire for theatrical amusements, horse racing, card playing, or any of the time- killing amusements of the popular kind, neither for any stock speculating business, while religion and square business operations are his favored lines of thought and study.
Referring to the present generation of the Williams family, which had the commencement of its business career about the commencement of the nineteenth century, we find in the sixth, or present generation, that there are four children of this J. T. Williams, as before stated, two sons and two daughters. The daughters are of a fer- vent and earnest business turn of mind, and they are also Christian women and mothers, whereby their Christian association, both in public and pri- vate life is encouraged and praised throughout the length and breadth of their acquaintance in their community. The two sons are well and favorably known among the business circles among which they move.
Charles K. Williams, the younger of the two sons is closely associated with his father, being a partner in the paint colors and pulverized mineral business. He has displayed great business ability, and to him is partly due the success and growth of their business.
The other son, Frank C. Williams, entirely
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
alone, operates one roller process flour mill known as the Lehighton Mills, which were installed with all modern improved machinery for making the better grade of wheat flour, the quality and brands of which are classed and known as of the best in the. Easton market. He has been known to conduct and carry on the largest flour milling business in the city of Easton. The busi- ness grew to this magnitude during a remark- able brief space of time, and the cause of that growth is known to be largely due to his good business like manner of conducting a large busi- ness, together with the cleanly and tidy condition in which his flour mill was always known to be - kept from one end of the year to the other, and continually from year to year.
NATHAN GLOVER MANSFIELD, de- ceased, for many years a prosperous business man of Easton, Pennsylvania, and a potent and influential factor in the public affairs of the borough, was born at Great Hill, Derby, Con- necticut, February 23, 1812. He was a lineal descendant of Richard Mansfield, of Exeter, Devonshire, England, who was one of the first settlers in New Haven, Connecticut, coming to "Quinnipiac" in 1639. "In the list of the one hun- dred and twenty-three first grantees. 'Mr.' is affixed to his name, only seven others having that title." The rest are styled "goodman." Gov- ernor Theophilus Eaton gave them the oath of fidelity, July 1, 1644. Although the owner of two tracts of land duly recorded, one located on the northwest corner of what are now Elm and Church streets, in 1641, he established himself on a plantation about four and a half miles out- side the town. He was appointed one of two viewers to determine the place for a bridge over the East River; and at general court, "Maye," 1648, was to "finde a man to watch at the towne in regard to his houselots heare." His wife's name was Gillian. Of their two sons, Moses, the younger, was the lineal ancestor of Nathan G. Mansfield. After her husband's death, which occurred January 10, 1655, Gillian married Alex- ander Field, survived him, and in 1699 died at
the homestead on Elm and Temple streets, built by Moses Mansfield.
When an infant, Moses Mansfield, had been taken to the town to be christened Richard after his father. East river at that time was much swollen, and in crossing it the boat was upset and the much swaddled infant floated into a clump of sedge, hence his Hebrew name. On his tomb- stone is the following: "Here lyeth interred the body of Major Moses Mansfield, Assist, aged 63. Deceased ye 3rd of October, Annodom, 1703." "Major" was then the highest military title. He defeated a body of Indians in King Philip's war, near the present town of Mansfield, named in his honor. He was a member of the general court, or assembly, for twenty-four years, and also served as probate judge. When Sir Ed- mund Andross landed in Boston, March 3, 1689, it was voted that he "view the arms according to this order or command as there shall be oc- casion for the common safety of the Place." Oc- tober 25, 1697, he was chosen trustee of the Hop- kins grammar school fund; March 26, 1703, "Ye worshipful Moses Mansfield deeds some land." On the death of Colonel John D. Dix- well, the only one of the regicide judges who lived in quiet after reaching New Hampshire, Major Mansfield was chosen one of the apprais- ers of his estate. He was not, however, too much occupied with public concerns to neglect his pri- vate affairs, having in 1644 taken to wife Mercy Glover, mother of all his children, and after her death he married Abigail Yale. One of his de- scendants, Margaret Mansfield, in 1775 married Benedict Arnold, but her death occurred before he had sullied his name.
Jonathan Mansfield, youngest son of Moses and Mercy Mansfield, succeeded his father in the homestead located on Elm street. He was mar- ried to Sarah Alling, whose father was treasurer and recorder to Yale College. Her gravestone in Grove street cemetery testifies that she was the "vertuous consort of Deacon Jonathan Mans- field, and had served God to the age of eighty." Her husband served in many positions of honor, succeeding his father as trustee of the Hopkins
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Frank Mansfield
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
grammar school fund. In this position he was empowered to sell the "oyster-shell field" lands of the school. He is recorded as buying a lot from John Dixwell, son of the regicide.
Lieutenant Nathan Mansfield, "a sincere friend to his country," was born in 1718, and died in 1783. His dwelling house north of the New Sheffield scientific building stood until 1871. His gravestone was moved from the "Ancient Burying Ground" to Grove street cemetery. His wife was Deborah Dayton, and her tombstone records her age as ninety-three years, and it is a fact that she lived to pronounce a blessing upon a descendant of the fifth generation (afterward the wife of Rear Admiral Foote). For several years she had been the eldest person in New Haven, and could remember the time when that place contained no painted house or pane of glass, and only one riding-chair. She had con- versed with General Washington, and had heard Whitfield. She was original, independent, hu- morous and well-read in the "Bible, Baxter and Edwards," and was admired by all who knew her. The brother of Lieutenant Nathan Mans- field was Richard Mansfield, D. D., a graduate of Yale, and at one time president of the Hop- kins grammar school. He was ordained in Eng- land, there being no bishop in America, and served as rector of one parish, Derby, for seventy- two years.
Nathan Mansfield, son of Lieutenant Nathan Mansfield, was born in 1748. In 1773 he mar- ried Anna Tomlinson, of Derby. He was the proprietor of an inn much frequented by fash- ionable folks from New Haven, which was lo- cated at Squantuck, in the vicinity of Derby. He died in the Episcopal faith, November 5, 1835, and was buried in a graveyard given by him to the public on condition that the bodies of his descendants could rest there.
Jared Mansfield, son of Nathan Mansfield, was born in 1774, and upon attaining young man- hood served in the capacity of school teacher, and later turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits. In 1807 he married Mrs. Eunice Lumm, daughter of Nehemiah Jennings, of Weston,
Connecticut, one of the numerous claimants of the great Jennings estate. Jared Mansfield died at the age of fifty-four, and his widow at the age of ninety-four.
Nathan G. Mansfield, son of Jared Mansfield, was born February 23, 1812. About 1846 he lo- cated in Easton, Pennsylvania, and became a member of the firm of Mansfield & Conover, wholesale dealers in notions, their place of busi- ness being located on Northampton street, two doors from the southwest corner of the Square. After the death of his partner, Mr. Mansfield continued the business alone and at the same place; and in connection with this enterprise he was appointed the first agent in the city of Easton for the Adams' Express Company. He was a recognized authority on the detection of coun- terfeit money, then much more in evidence than at the present time. Mr. Mansfield won and re- tained a reputation in the commercial world for business ability and integrity, took a keen and intelligent interest in public affairs, and in fact was a thorough kindly Christian gentleman, who performed all the duties of life in a conscientious and faithful manner. Although an Episcopalian, he was a regular attendant upon the service of what is now the Third Street Reformed church.
Mr. Mansfield married, April 7, 1842, Theo- docia Parker, a daughter of William and Ann Everitt Parker. Their children were-Henry, deceased; Mary E., a teacher in the Easton High School; Julia, who was married to James J. Cope ; Fannie, wife of Edwin S. Walton, de- ceased; Frank, mentioned hereinafter ; and Lizzie Glover Mansfield. Nathan G. Mansfield, father of these children, died March 12, 1855. Theo- docia (Parker) Mansfield was born near Bloomsbury, in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, June 11, 1819. She was the last survivor of the ten children born to William and Ann Everitt Parker. William Parker was a Friend by de- scent, an amiable and hospitable man of spotless reputation, and his two sources of pride were his resemblance to Andrew Jackson and his ten Democratic sons-in-law. His wife, Ann Everitt Parker, was a descendant of Colonel
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