History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 101

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

In December, 1861, Aaron Burket enlisted under Capt. Jackson, in Company I, Fifty- eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, and served for four years and eight months; he has received two honorable discharges for his service, and draws a pension under the law which went into effect June 27, 1890. He has been a member of the G. A. R. for a number of years. In religious faith he is a member of the Methodist Church; polit- ically he is a Democrat.

ALFRED E. BURNAFORD, merchant, Nanticoke, was born in Cornwall, England, February 2, 1869, and is a son of William and Eliza (Copp) Burnaford, also natives of England. When he was about one year old his parents came to America and located at New Exeter, Canada, a short time, and then removed to Ashley, this county. After remaining in America about four years, they returned to their native land. They resided at various times in Cornwall and Bristol (England), and Glas- gow (Scotland), then in Millom, County of Cumberland, England, residing in these places, in all, about eight years. They then returned to the "land of the free," locating first in Peale, Clearfield Co., Pa., whence, after a short sojourn, they moved to Nanticoke, where they now reside. There were eight children in the family, seven of whom are living, Alfred E. being the eldest. Our subject worked about the mines in the neighborhood of one year, and then engaged as clerk in a grocery store at Nanticoke. . Here he worked nearly a year, and then entered the employ of Hildreth & Co., as clerk in the shoe department, where he remained until April, 1890, when he embarked in the boot and shoe business for his own account, and is now sole owner and manager of the "Keystone Shoe Store," at Nanticoke, which is as well stocked as any store in the county. Our subject was united in marriage, October 6, 1891, with Miss Christian, daughter of Charles Nelson, of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. and Mrs. Burnaford are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the K. of M., the L. K. of A. and the I. O. H. In politics he is governed by principle and not by party prejudice. .

ALFRED H. BURNS, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born on the Mongaup river, in Sullivan county, N. Y., August 1, 1819, a son of George and Jane (Drake) Burns, the former born in the State of New York, and the latter in Deckertown, N. J. George Burns was a son of John Burns, a native of Scotland, and a descendant of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet. He settled in New York State as a farmer, a prosperous one in those days, and reared a family of nine children, all of whom are now dead. George, his son, removed to Wayne county, Pa., when his son Alfred was nineteen years of age. He was a farmer of some means, and a man of intelli- gence; was justice of the peace, and held many minor offices. In his early life he taught school, and was considered one of the best school-teachers of his day. He lived to be eighty-four years of age, and reared a family of ten children, nine of whom are now living, Alfred H. being the eldest son. Our subject was reared and educated at Port Jervis, N. Y., and in early life learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1870, when he became an agriculturist. He resided in Wilkes-Barre for twenty years, and in the spring of 1891 he bought of A. Hunlock a farm of 140 acres in Franklin township, to which he moved. Mr. Burns is a self- made man, and what he has accumulated was by hard work and an economical life. He is a man of worth, and an excellent mechanic. Mr. Burns was married to Miss Helen S., daughter of Willis and Lucia Hosford, and by her he had three children: Lucy, Frank and Arthur, all yet living. Lucy married James McDonald, a real estate agent. Mrs. Burns was born in Greene county, New York.

B. J. BURNS, of the firm of Burns & O' Neil, furniture dealers and undertakers, Pittston. This enterprising young business man is a native of Port Griffith, and is a son of Thomas and Bridget (DeLaney) Burns, natives of Ireland. The father came to America in 1845, and now resides at Avoca. Our subject received his edu- cation in the common schools of Luzerne county, and at the age of eight years began working around the mines. He followed the mines in various capacities until he was fourteen years of age, when he commenced clerking, at which he was engaged two years, and then took up the butchering business. One year later he went to

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Colorado, where, for three years, he worked on the engineer corps of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company, then to the anthracite coal regions, and engaged in running a locomotive at Avoca. During the smallpox epidemic of 1881 at.Pittston, he entered the employ of C. Donnely as undertaker, and a short time after this he worked in the machine shop at West Pittston, and then on the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad as locomotive engineer. In 1884 he came to Pittston and embarked in his present business. On November 29, 1883, Mr. Burns was married to Miss Lulu B. Maher, of Moosic, and they have two children, Charles and Leo. Our subject is a prominent member of the A. O. H., and his political views are decidedly Democratic.

GAVIN BURT, merchant, Miners Mills, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, July 10, 1829, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Andrew) Burt; the father, who was a miner, was twice married, and had six children by each wife, our subject being the second in the first family. He came to America in 1868, working about the mines a few weeks at Hazleton, afterward, till 1889, in Plains township and Miners Mills. In 1870 he built his present residence, and in 1882 the adjoining store. Mr. Burt was married December 31, 1851, to Miss Hannah, daughter of Dugald and Jeanette (Sampson) Clark, the fruit of this union being nine children, seven of whom are liv- ing, viz .: Jeanette, married to Charles Aikman, a mine-boss at Moosic, Pa .; Peter, a carpenter by trade, residing in Parsons, Pa. ; George; Mary A., married to George Walker, a plumber for the Steam Heating Company, Wilkes-Barre; Margaret, mar- ried to Reuben Edwards, a locomotive fireman of Miners Mills; Marion, married to Thomas Nankivel, a miner at Green Ridge, Pa., and John H., engaged with George in the hardware business. Dugald was killed in the Waddell Mine at the age of twenty-nine years, by a fall of coal; Gavin was killed in the Pine Ridge mine at the age of twenty-four in an explosion. Mr. Burt and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church; he is a member of the Caledonian Club at Wilkes-Barre; in his political views he is a Republican, and has been burgess of Miners Mills borough three times, at present serving on the council.

GEORGE BURT, hardware merchant, Miners Mills, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, May 26, 1860, and is a son of Gavin Burt. He commenced active life working at the tinner's trade with W. R. Williams, of Wilkes-Barre, with whom he remained seven months, and was then in the same business with Mills & Billings, of Tunk- hannock, same State, two years, and with B. G. Carpenter & Co., of Wilkes-Barre, one and one-half years, after which he engaged in business for himself in the store which his father now occupies. He built his present store and residence com- bined, and removed therein in 1890. Mr. Burt was married, November 25, 1886, to Miss Sarah Tague, of Avery, Pa., who died June 30, 1891, leaving one child, Raymond, and on July 27, 1892, Mr. Burt wedded, for his second wife, Miss Liz- zie A. Moore, of Alden, Pa. Our subject was baptized in the Presbyterian Church; he is a member of the K. of P., the I. O. R. M., the Pocahontas, and of the Cale- donian Club at Wilkes-Barre. In his political views he is a Republican, and is at present treasurer of Miners Mills borough.

WILLIAM BUSH, engineer in the Wyoming Colliery, Plains, was born in Scran- ton, Pa., May 25, 1867. His mother dying when he was an infant, his father left him in the care of the family of Fuller Miligan, of Plains, and then disappeared forever. Being thus left in non-kindred hands, our subject, as a consequence, received but few educational advantages, and at the age of eight years he embarked on life's great voyage, working in the breaker. He has since followed the various kinds of work about the mines, chiefly outside, until, by untiring application and honest effort, he has worked himself up to his present position. Mr. Bush was married, September 29, 1887, to Mary A., daughter of Frank and Ann (Kildea) Murphy, of Plains, natives of Ireland. Her father, who was a miner, reared a family of eight children, of whom are living, John J., a brakeman on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, and residing in Philadelphia; Ellen E., married to Edward F. McGovern, an attorney at law at Wilkes-Barre; Theresa L., one of

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the successful teachers of Luzerne county, now holding a position in the Plains high school building (at the Teachers' Institute, held in Wilkes-Barre in December, 1891, she was voted by her fellow-teachers the handsomest lady teacher in the county, a title which she justly deserves, especially as her beauty consists not only in her pretty face and symmetrical figure, but in her genial disposition, warm heart and sweet, generous soul); the youngest, Mary A., is the wife of our subject. Some time after the death of Mr. Murphy, his widow married Gregory Flynn, by whom she had four children, two of whom are living, viz .: Bridget and James. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bush is made bright by the prattle of two sweet-faced children, Anna and Theresa. Our subject and family are members of the Catholic Church; politically he is in sympathy with the Republican party, but votes accord- ing to the dictates of his own reason, irrespective of party lines, thus setting a fit example for every upright citizen.

G. F. Buss, of the firm of Buss & Proud, merchant tailors, Pittston, was born in Hesse, Germany, September 23, 1866, a son of Karl and Anna (Buller) Buee, residents of Germany, where his father is engaged in farming and butchering. They have a family of eleven children, of whom two-George F. and Tobias-are residents of Pittston, the latter being employed as a butcher. Our subject was educated in Germany, and at the age of fourteen was apprenticed to the tailor'e trade. In 1884 he came to America, locating at Manch Chunk, Pa., where he worked as a journeyman up to May 10, 1886, when he moved to Pittston, this county, and entered the employ of Sacks & Brown, with whom he remained eleven months. He was then employed by several other firms in Pittston, and later as cutter for J. W. Minno, with whom he remained until June 20, 1891, when he embarked in business for himself as a member of the firm of Buss & Proud, having had a succese-

ful trade from the commencement. Mr. Buss is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment; of the Patriotic Militant Canton Union, of which he is second lieutenant; has been chairman of the Tailors' Union No. 103 from its organization, and is sergeant of company C. N. G. of Pennsylvania Ninth Regiment; is also a member of the Presbyterian Church, and of the Y. M. C. A.

EDMUND GRIFFIN BUTLER is a son of Lord Butler, and was born June 11, 1845. Being a lineal descendant of Col. Zebulon Butler, and of the Slocums, and uniting in his veins the blood of other of the early settlers of the Valley, it may fairly be said that a complete genealogical history of the family would be in effect a complete history of Wyoming, and since that is essayed to be given elsewhere in this book, it will not be attempted here. Suffice it to say, that Mr. Butler is in every way worthy the inheritance of the good name and fame of his brave ancestors. He was educated at the Waverly Institute, Waverly, N. Y., and at the Wesleyan University, Middleton. Conn., having graduated from the last named institution in 1868. He immediately afterward entered the law office of the late E. P. Darling, and was admitted to practice, November 17, 1869. Mr. Butler married, December 22, 1869, Clara F. Cox, daughter of H. W. H. Cox, of Friendsville, Susquehanna Co., Pa., who was a native of England and emigrated to Susquehanna county. Mr. and Mre. Butler have three children, all daughters. Mr. Butler is a member of the Methodist Church, and a Republican in politics, though he has never sought office and does not take an especially active part in campaigns.

THOMAS BUTTS, miner, Plains, was born in Devonshire, England, December 18, 1846, and is a son of Thomas and Mary A. (Ball) Butts, the former of whom was a carpenter by trade. They reared a family of seven children, six of whom are living, and Thomas is the fifth. After the father's death, the mother managed the estate with a marked degree of success, and with the assistance of her sons, operated a large flouring-mill for several years. Our subject followed farming chiefly in his native country, but learned the trade of miller, and worked some time about the mines. He came to America in 1872, and located at Scranton, Pa., where he was engaged in sinking a shaft; subsequently he was in the same business at Plymouth, and in 1873 he came to Plains, this county, where he worked three years in rock,

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afterward in coal. Mr. Butts was married February 11, 1852, to Miss Julia, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Marten) Langdon, and they have had eight chil- dren, six of whom are living, viz .: Thomas H., Joseph L., Edith, Elizabeth, Fred and George E. Mr. Butts and family attend the Primitive Methodist Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., the A. O. K. of M. C., and the Sons of St. George; politically he is a Republican, and has held the office of school director in Plains township three years.

JAMES BUZZA, miner, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Cornwall, England, December 16, 1851, a son of William and Elizabeth (Wyatt) Buzza. He was reared in the counties of Cornwall and Cumberland, England, and, October 1, 1858, when less than seven years of age, began life in the mines, where he served in different capacities until 1882. He then came to America, and spent one year and seven months in the iron ore mines of northern Michigan. In November, 1884, he located at Wilkes-Barre, where he has since been employed as a miner, chiefly at Hollen- back Shaft No. 2, for the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company. On November 27, 1873, Mr. Buzza married Annie, daughter of William and Elizabeth Jackson, of Manchester, England. Our subject is a member of the Primitive Methodist Church, and Sons of St. George; in politics he is a Republican.

CON BYRNE, wholesale liquor dealer, Hazleton, was born in County Donegal, Ire- land, June 24, 1836, and is the sixth in a family of twelve children born to William and Catharine (McHugh) Byrne, also natives of Ireland. He was educated in Ire- land, and reared on a farm, following that vocation until 1862, when he came to America and settled at Audenried, where he worked as a miner until 1866. In this year he came to Hazleton and embarked in the liquor business with a Mr. Brown, under the firm name of Brown & Byrne. This partnership was continued until 1872, when the business was sold, and Mr. Byrne made an extended visit to his native land. After his return he became interested in a distillery at Conyngham, which was operated by his former partner. He was silent partner for two years, and, at the end of that period, the old firm of Brown & Byrne resumed the wholesale liquor business, which they continued until the spring of 1885, when Brown retired from the firm, leaving Mr. Byrne sole owner and proprietor. Our subject was united in marriage, December 26, 1872, with Miss Mary, daughter of Dennis and Sallie (Haggerty) Kennedy, native of Hazleton, and nine children have been born to this union, namely: Kate, Dennis (deceased), Willie, Sarah (deceased), Nelly, Mary R., Belle, Bridget and Margaret. Mr. Byrne is a stanch Democrat; the family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

CHRISTIAN CADWALADER, farmer, P. O. Hunlock Creek, was born in Chester county, Pa., March 19, 1825, a son of Adam and Christina (Ladner) Cadwalader, both of whom were born in Germany; they emigrated to this country in 1820. Adam located in Chester county, Pa., where he lived until his children were all grown up, when he broke up housekeeping and made his home with his daughter. He was a miller and millwright by occupation, and a business man of good sound judgment. His farm was small, but well cultivated. He died in Shickshinny in 1870, aged eighty, the father of six children, three of whom are living.

Christian Cadwalader was reared and educated at the common school in Chester county, near Phoenixville, and in early life learned the stonemason's trade, at which he worked for twenty years. In 1861 he migrated from Chester county to Shickshinny, and after three years removed from there to Larksville, where he resided fourteen years. He then came to Hunlock town- ship, settling on a farm of 150 acres, forty of which are improved. Mr. Cad- walader married, January 13, 1850, Miss Catherine, daughter of Amos and Mary Richardson, and twelve children have been born to them, nine of whom are liv- ing: George W., Anna R., Joseph H., Sarah. C., James A., Rosetta E., John A., Amos C. and Elizabeth I. Seven of this number are married and well-to-do in this world's goods. On September 5, 1864, Mr. Cadwalader was mustered into the United States service as a private in Company K, Two Hundred and Third P. V. I., and 41

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proved himself a valiant soldier for his country's cause. He was wounded at Port Fisher, at the close of the war was honorably discharged, and he now enjoys a pen- sion. Mr. Cadwalader is a practical farmer, a good neighbor, and enjoys the full confidence of his fellow-citizens. Politically he is a Democrat.

JAMES CAHALAN, retired miner, Luzerne, was born in County Roscommon, Ire- land, July 6, 1835. He is a son of William and Sarah (Mangan) Cahalan, both of whom were born in Ireland, where their entire lives were passed. They were peo- ple of respectability, and much thought of in their native place. They reared a family of five children, four of whom are now living. James is the third in the family in order of birth. He was reared and educated in his native land, emigrat- ing to this country in 1864, at the age of twenty-nine years. He engaged in farm work for a short time in New York, and also in New Jersey. In 1865 he removed to Wilkes-Barre, where he embarked in the mining business, at which he has proved financially successful, in 1882 retiring from active life. His mining experience was uneventful with the exception of two accidents of an unimportant nature. In 1869 Mr. Cahalan bought himself a home in Jenkins township, where he resided seven years. In 1876 he sold it, and bought a property in Kingston township, where he now resides; he also owns a lot in Pleasant Valley. In 1866 he married Miss Mary, daughter of John and Bridget Kearney, by whom he has had six children, all of whom are living (1892): William, John, Mary E., Sarah, James and Margaret. All are single, and members of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Cahalan has held several township offices with entire satisfaction, and enjoys the full confidence of his fellow-citizens. He is an honest and trustworthy man of sound principles. Polit- ically he is a Democrat.

HARRY E. CAIN, the popular proprietor of the " Hess Hotel," Beach Haven, was born in Centre township, Columbia Co., Pa., January 23, 1868, and is a son of Philip and Hattie (Hoptler) Cain. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Cain, was a native of the Isle of Man and an early settler at Lime Ridge, Columbia county. His wife was Jane Strawbridge. The father of our subject, who is a native of Columbia county, Pa., for forty-seven years followed the Pennsylvania Canal, and for the past eight years has been lock-tender at Beach Haven. His children are five in number, viz. : Clara (Mrs. Henry Farringer), John B., Annie (Mrs. Harry Pringle), Harry E. and Bessie (Mrs. Harry Rabert). Our subject was reared in Danville, Pa., and educated in the common schools. He has been a resident of Beach Haven since 1884, and proprietor of the " Hess Hotel" since 1890. He mar- ried August 21, 1888, Florence, daughter of John I. and Elmira (Everhard) Hess, of Beach Haven, and has one daughter, Louise. Mr. Cain is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and is president and leader of the Beach Haven band. In politics he is a Republican.

JOSEPH L. CAKE, president and general manager of the Clear Spring Coal Com- pany, West Pittston. This successful and energetic coal operator was born at Port Republic, N. J., and is a son of Joseph P. and Anna E. (Blackman) Cake, also natives of New Jersey. Our subject, who is the eldest son in a family of three chil- dren, was reared in his birthplace, and educated at the Pennington New Jersey Seminary and the Polytechnic Institute, Philadelphia, Pa. In 1866 he came to Pittston in the interests of the West Pittston Coal Company, and remained here two years, when he became identified with the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, with whom he continued ten years, at the end of that period taking a contract with the Bound Brook Railroad Company for the construction of their division. The work was com- pleted in sixteen months, and Mr. Cake immediately went South, locating in North Carolina, where he was engaged in mining for two years, afterward coming to West Pittston, where, in 1882, with A. McDe Witt, opened up the Clear Spring Coal mines, and Mr. Cake has also recently assumed the management of the Stevens Coal Com- pany. The success of the Clear Spring Coal Company is due largely to the good management and business tact, combined with the large experience of its two princi- pal stockholders. Mr. Cake was united in marriage September 24, 1868, with S.

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Helena, daughter of Joseph B. Cramer, of Burlington county, N. J., and this union has been blessed with two children, namely: Anna and J. Paul. In political matters our subject is an ardent Republican; socially he is a member of the F. & A. M. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Cake is a repre- sentative self-made man, having made his own way in the world, and commands the respect and esteem of all with whom he associates, both in a business and social way. He has made West Pittston his home for the last ten years.

JOHN CALLAGHAN, miner, Port Blanchard, was born June 29, 1843, in County Mayo, Ireland, and is the youngest of ten children; his parents were Patrick and Mary (Robinson) Callaghan, who owned a farm in that county. The subject of our sketch was educated in the Irish national schools, and when old enough worked on the farm; he emigrated to this country early in 1861, settling in Pittston, this county, on May 30, of that year, when he went to work in the mines; here he labored until 1869, and then worked as a miner in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, in which capacity he is still employed by this firm. On July 19, 1864, Mr. Callaghan was united in marriage with Ann, daughter of Edward and Sarah (Brennan) McNulty, natives of County Sligo, Ireland. Their union has been blessed with the following children: Mary T., born June 27, 1867, married on April 4, 1888, to Owen Rooney, of Pittston, this county; Patrick J., born April 1, 1867; Ann J., born April 23, 1869; Edward F., born May 23, 1871; John S., born December 1, 1873; Catherine B., born January 6, 1876; Elizabeth, born August 4, 1880; and Ellen, born July 28, 1883. Our subject is an active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Catholic Total Abstinence Society. In religion he is a Roman Catholic, and in politics a Democrat.

JOHN C. CALLAHAN, miner, Plains, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1846, and is a son of Michael and Bridget (Pryor) Callahan, the former of whom was a farmer. They reared a family of ten children, of whom John C. is the fifth. Our subject came to America in 1861, and located first at Boston, Mass., where he was employed in a cotton-mill for one year. He then came to Wilkes-Barre, this county, and secured employment about the mines. He followed mining for twenty - five years, and in 1868 removed to his present residence. In 1869 Mr. Callahan married Miss Bridget, daughter of Thomas and Mary (McCole) More, natives of County Donegal, Ireland, and they have five children, viz. : Mary A., James A., John J., Sarah A., and Patrick M. Mr. Callahan and family are members of the Catholic Church; politically he is a Democrat.

P. P. CALLARY, merchant, Plymouth, was born at Oldcastle, County Meath, Ire- land, March 17, 1851, and is a son of Robert and Bridget (Sheridan) Callary, also natives of Ireland. There were seven children, four boys and three girls, in the family, of whom our subject is the eldest. He was educated at St. Finian's Sem- inary, located at Navan, County Meath, Ireland, receiving a very thorough course of instruction at this famous seminary. In 1869 he came to America, and first engaged as a clerk with Patrick Smith, of Newtown, Luzerne Co., Pa., remaining there three years. He was then appointed teacher of a school in the second district of the city of Wilkes-Barre, which position he occupied six years, and at the end of that time he came to Plymouth and established his general store, where he now carries on a very extensive business. Mr. Callary was united in marriage October 16, 1874, with Miss Ella C., daughter of Peter and Ann (Hart) Morrow, natives of Sligo, Ireland, and there have been six children born to this union, the three eldest, Robert M., Frank and Jessie, being deceased, and the three youngest, Edwin M., Stanley and Gerald M., yet living. Mr. Callary and family are members of the Catholic Church, and our subject is a Democrat.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 101

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532