History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 106

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

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GEORGE D. CLARK, farmer, P. O. Plainsville, was born in Plains township, August 19, 1842, and is the eldest of eight children born to Stephen and Mary A. (Wagner) Clark, who were of Dutch and English origin, respectively. He is a grandson of John and Elizabeth (Tompkins) Clark, and a great-grandson of John Clark, who, October 4, 1791, took possession of the farm where George D. now lives, removing from Wilkes-Barre, whither he had come from New Jersey. This farm has been occupied by the Clark family since it first came into their possession, but it is now owned by the Pennsylvania Coal Company. Our subject passed his boyhood on the farm and attended the common schools, embracing farming as his occupation; he removed to his present home in 1871. Mr. Clark was married, December 26, 1866, to Lizzie C., daughter of Frederick and Nancy (Camley) Tisdel, natives of Penn- sylvania, and of English and Spanish origin, respectively. They have three chil- dren, viz. : Anna M., Sadie E. and Sybil E. He and his wife and eldest daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he is a Republican.

G. J. CLARK, attorney at law, Luzerne. This gentleman was born at Beaumont, Wyoming Co., Pa., and is a son of Amos D. and Sarah E. (Shotwell) Clark, also natives of Pennsylvania. John Clark, the early pioneer of the Clark family in this county, came to Wilkes-Barre in 1783, and built a log house on the corner of what is now known as North Main and Union streets, the entire locality at that time being little less than a wilderness. He subsequently settled at Plains, also in this county, where the old Clark homestead, which was then established by John, has ever since remained in the Clark family. There are five children in the family of Amos D. Clark, viz .: G. J., Nettie M. (wife of U. J. Jaquish), Carrie A. (who resides at home), Leslie G. (station agent at Valley Junction, Wis.), and Jessie C. (wife of Frank Holschuh). The subject of this sketch was educated at Wyoming Seminary, and is a graduate of the Bloomsburg Normal School, class of '83. Soon after com- pleting his education, he became principal of the high school at Forty Fort, in which capacity he remained two years. He then accepted the principalship of the Luzerne High School, where he taught three years, during which period he studied law at chance intervals, thereby laying a solid foundation for his after profession. In December, 1888, Mr. Clark began a regular course of law study in the office of Alfred Darte, at Wilkes-Barre, and after two years of close application to " Black- stone " and "Coke upon Littleton," was admitted to practice at the Luzerne county bar, January 5, 1891. What degree of success Mr. Clark has attained in the legal profession is due entirely to his own exertions, as he had no willing friends to aid him in his study, financially, and so found it necessary to work his own way in the world, to "paddle his own canoe," which he has manfully accomplished, as is mani-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

fested by his ever-increasing clientage, and deserving popularity. Mr. Clark is at present acting in the capacity of assistant district attorney for Luzerne county. Politically he is a Republican. The Clark family are adherents of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

H. S. CLARK, pension agent, Shickshinny, was born in Laurens, Otsego Co., N. Y., June 27, 1829, a son of Truman H. and Elizabeth (Brown) Clark. The father, who was a teacher by profession, located in Union township, this county, about 1830, and taught school until 1840; was then elected a justice of the peace of Union township, holding the office ten years; then operated the Rocky Mountain Coal Mines in Salem township for several years. He died in Shickshinny, Novem- ber 15, 1865. Our subject, his only child, was reared in New York and Pennsyl- vania, receiving an academical education in Chenango county, N. Y., and also attended Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, three months. In 1839 he came to Luzerne county and located in Union township. After attaining his majority, he taught school about twelve years, and the year 1857 he passed on the Rocky Mountains. In the fall of the same year he located in Shickshinny, where he has since resided. Soon afterward he was elected a justice of the peace, and served one term. On August 24, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Ninety- ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was honorably discharged June 28, 1865; from November, 1864, until discharged, he was chief clerk Twenty-fourth Army Corps, and since the war has been principally engaged as pension agent. In 1850 Mr. Clark married Evaline, daughter of John and Mary (Austin) Blanchard, of Ross township, this county, and has three children: Charles B., Frank D. and Carrie (Mrs. Daniel Mckennon). Mr. Clark is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a Republican.

JOHN CLARK (deceased) was born in Wilkes-Barre February 28, 1791, a son of John and Sarah Clark, who came from Wilkes-Barre to Plains, October 4, 1791, and took possession of the farm, where George D. Clark now lives. Here John Clark passed his entire life, and gave his attention chiefly to the cultivation of his farm. He was married in 1815 to Miss Elizabeth Tompkins, and they had born unto them seven children, viz .: Stephen, Aaron, Edward C., Sarah, Parma and George (twins) and Sybil. The last named is now living in the house where her father passed the last few years of his life; her sister, Parma, who lived with her many years, died February 28, 1890. Mr. Clark and family were all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Plainsville, for the construction of which he manufactured the brick; politically he was a Republican, and held the offices of poor-master and super- visor for several years. He died at his residence in Plains township, December 6, 1878, greatly admired and respected by all for his characteristic integrity and uprightness.

JOHN W. CLARK, merchant, Ashley, was born in that borough February 22, 1864, and is a son of Samuel and Rosanna (Monahan) Clark, natives of Pennsylvania and New York City, respectively, and of Irish origin. The father was killed in the Hartford Mines June 30, 1870. They reared a family of four children, viz. : John W., Isabella (Mrs. Fred Lorenz), William, and Anna, who died at the age of eighteen months. Our subject was educated in the public schools, and at the age of twelve years began working in the breaker; later, laboring and nipping in the mines. On April 23, 1879, he was closed in the No. 10 Shaft of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, and was rescued April 29 by parties digging from the surface. He was accompanied in his frightful confinement by a Mr. Price, Charles Hawkins, Patrick and John Green (brothers), Barney Riley and William Kinney. Their hunger was to some extent appeased by the flesh of a mule, which they found in the mine and killed. He then attended school in Ashley two years, after which he drove delivery wagon for John Bowden six years, and then embarked in his present busi- ness. Mr. Clark was married October 8, 1890, to Miss Mary O'Donnell, who was born in Rockport, Pa., daughter of William and Bridget (Caffrey) O'Donnell, natives of County Longford, Ireland, who now reside in Ashley. Mrs. Clark is a

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Clark is a member of the F. & A. M., is a Republican in politics, and has held the office of auditor in Ashley borough.

RICH. CLARK, manager of Haddock's store, Luzerne, was born at Mon- aghan, Ireland, in 1865, a son of Thomas Clark, and was educated partly in Ireland, and partly in this country. Soon after coming to the United States he was employed as bookkeeper at the Black Diamond Mines, where he remained six years, after which he became manager of the Black Diamond Store, and has here been employed ever since. Mr. Clark is a supporter of the Presbyterian Church, and, in politics, although he takes no active part, he votes with the Republican party.

WILLIAM G. CLARK, engineer in No. 12 Slope, Susquehanna Coal Company, Nanticoke, is a native of the village of Wade, Schuylkill Co., Pa., born August 5, 1866. He is the son of John and Nora (McNamaral) Clark, who came to Pennsyl- vania in 1867, and located at Archbald, where they remained about three years; then moved to Dixon, same State, and here resided until 1874, when they came to Nanticoke, where the father died in 1887, and the mother is yet living. When our subject was a mere boy he commenced work picking slate at No. 2 Breaker, and there remained until he was thirteen years of age, when he went to work in No. 4 Tunnel as door-tender, a position he held for about eighteen months. He was then employed on the outside as driver, remaining as such about four months, when he returned to picking slate at No. 1 Breaker, continuing for but a short time, however, and afterward went to the Honeypot Mines, where he remained only a short time, as, owing to some difference between him and his boss he left and went to No. 2 Tunnel, at which he was engaged as driver about six months. He then was appointed to the robing of the pillars in the same tunnel, where he was engaged as driver and runner for about four months, when he was removed to the head of the plains as assistant plain run- ner, and remained there about three months; then was sent to the east side as driver, there being a fire in No. 1 Shaft. He was here but a short time, when, finding that the authority of the foreman conflicted with his absolute rights, he left that place. He then was engaged outside as stock coal driver, at which he worked a short time, and then went inside the mines as driver, and was at No. 1 Slope about one year; then was engaged on the west side as team driver one year. Here he and the fore- man again failed to agree, and he went to No. 2 Slope as runner and driver, remain- ing there about three months, when he was sent to No. 7 Slope in the same capacity. In the fall of 1885, Mr. Clark engaged as fireman at No. 1 Slope, where he remained until November, 1891, and during that time he was also pump engineer. He was employed at this place during the great mine disaster of 1885, which was in the form of a sand cave, where twenty-seven men lost their lives. In November, 1891, he accepted his present position, as described at the commencement of sketch. Mr. Clark's early educational opportunities were limited, but, by assiduous private study and attendance at night school, he has educated himself well beyond the ordi- . nary. He is a man of strict habits, and commands the respect of all who know him. He is a member of St. Aloysius Society and Father Mathew Society, and is a mem- ber of the Catholic Church.

V. P. CLEAVELAND, farmer, P.O. Huntsville, was born December 22, 1825, and was reared and educated in Abington, Pa. He is a son of Parley V. and Catharine (Wiess) Cleaveland, the former born in Connecticut, the latter in Easton, North- ampton Co., Pa., and descended from German parentage. Parley V. was one of the early settlers in Abington, where he owned a farm of 150 acres of land, on which he lived about thirty years; he died at the age of eighty-four years. His family num- bered ten children, nine of whom grew to maturity, and eight of them are now living. His son V. P. always lived and worked on the farm on which he was born until he reached his majority, when he married Miss Esther, daughter of Haveland and Phobe Hinkley, and by her he had five children, two of whom are now living: George and Alice. For his second wife Mr. Cleaveland married, May 8, 1862, Mrs. Delia M., widow of Henry Backer, by which union he has had six children, four of whom are'living: Martha, Mary, Sandford and Dora. Mrs. Cleaveland had one

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

child by her previous marriage. She is a daughter of Jacob Garrison, of Delaware, N. Y., who was a son of David (2), a son of David (1), a native of England, who, had he lived longer, would have inherited two million dollars left him. His niece and nephew, who were living at the time, were sick and unable to attend to the matter. Mr. Cleaveland moved from Tunkhannock to Jackson township in 1872, where he has ever since lived continuously. He is a retired man of honest princi- ples, and a member of the Christian Church, to which his wife also belongs. Politically, he is a Democrat.

CHRISTOPHER COATES, farmer, P. O. Larksville, was born in Westchester, N. Y., November 29, 1812, son of John and Elizabeth (Summergills) Coates, both of whom were natives of Yorkshire, England. They emigrated to this country July 5, 1811, locating in Westchester, N. Y., where they resided six years, as farmers and milk dealers. They removed from Westchester to Ross Hill, where he remained a short time, finally removing to Newport, where he resided eight years. He sold his Newport property and bought a farm of fifty acres in Plymouth township, remain- ing thereon till his death, which occurred in 1862, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife died the same year, at the age of eighty-three. Their family consisted of eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity. Three remain alive to-day (1892): Jane, Christopher and William. Christopher is the second in the family. He was reared and educated in Wilkes-Barre, and confined himself principally to agricult- ural pursuits, though he has occasionally followed other vocations. In March, 1846, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Charles and Rebecca Bryant, and to them have been born eleven children, six of whom are now living: Christopher, Mary, William, Walter, Ida and Estella. Walter is the only member of the family who is still unmarried. Since 1862 they have resided on their farm of ninety-nine acres, which Mr. Coates has wonderfully improved. He is a practical farmer, a good citizen, and an obliging neighbor. He has a valuable conglomerate rock quarry on his farm. Mrs. Coates was born in Luzerne borough. Her parents owned the land where the old fort, which was burned in 1776, at the time of the Wyoming massa- cre, stood. Politically, Mr. Coates is a Republican.

B. J. COBLEIGH, M. D., Kingston. Among the leading physicians and surgeons of Luzerne county, who are thorough masters of their profession, may well be classed the gentleman whose name appears here. He was born near Pottsville, Pa., January 10, 1863, and is a son of William and Helen Cobleigh, natives of England. He was educated in Hillman Academy, Wilkes-Barre, and at Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia, where he was graduated in the class of 1883; and next year he took a special course on the eye and ear, under the celebrated specialist, Dr. Fox, of Philadelphia. In 1885 he began the practice of medicine at Scranton, where he remained about two years, and then came to Kingston, where he has built up a large general practice, including an extensive patronage as a specialist on the eye and ear, a branch of science in which he has been very successful. He was the first to transplant the cornea of a rabbit's eye to the human eye, which operation was performed in September, 1891. Dr. Cobleigh was married January 1, 1889, to Miss Margaret, daughter of Daniel and Margaret Edwards, of Kingston, and one child has come to this union, Anna, born July 7, 1891. The Doctor is a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and in 1886 was the party candidate for coroner, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket. He is an interesting conver- sationalist, a close reasoner, and an ardent worker in his chosen profession.

WILLIAM E. COBLEY, miner, Plymouth, was born October 26, 1827, in Somerset- shire, England, and is the third in the family of ten children of Richard and Mar- garet (Barnes) Cobley, the former also a native of Somersetshire, the latter of Glou- cestershire, England. The father of William Edward Cobley was a soldier in the British army, and was engaged in the fierce battles of Toulouse and Salamanca, against the French. Our subject has in his possession a silver medal awarded Richard Cobley by Queen Victoria for bravery, the same bearing the dates 1795- 1814, the inscription, "Regina Victoria," and the soldier's name. The subject of

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

this sketch was educated in Wales, and in 1848 came to America, locating in Schuyl- kill county, Pa., Glendower Colliery, where he was employed four years. In 1866 he came to Plymouth, this county, and worked eleven years; held the position of inside foreman at Shaft No. 1 and 2, Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. Mr. Cobley has been thrice married: first time, in 1853, to Eleanor, daughter of Hannah and Charles Savory, natives of Gloucestershire, England, to which marriage were born five children, viz. : Elizabeth Ellen, Hannah, Alice, Emily and Bennett J. The mother of this family died February 21, 1865, and Mr. Cobley then married, in 1870, Ann, daughter of Charles and Rebecca (Bevan) Gauntlett, natives of Mon- mouthshire, Wales. This wife died in August, 1875, and our subject was married, the third time, to Mrs. Margaret Powell, daughter of Samuel Jenkins, natives of Wales. Mr. Cobley has only two children living, viz .: Bennett J., a physician at Kingston, Pa., and Elizabeth Ellen, wife of Jonathan W. Davis, a pharmacist in Plymouth, Pa., who was born in Wales, June 30, 1854, the eldest in the family of five children of William S. and Ann (Williams) Davis, also natives of Wales, who came to Amer- ica and settled in Schuylkill county, Pa., where Jonathan was reared and educated. He early began life as a slate-picker in the breaker, and at the age of eighteen years had been promoted to driver-boss of the Wadesville Shaft. He subsequently came to Plymouth, and was driver-boss of Shaft No. 1 & 2 Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. for nine years, at the end of which time he opened his present business, in which he has since continued. He was married to Miss Cobley, March 5, 1876, and six children have blessed their union, viz .: William, Laura, Henry, Eleanor, Clarence and Sheldon. In politics he is a very active Republican. The family attend the Presbyterian Church.

PETER COGGINS, miner, Inkerman, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in March, 1830, and is the eldest in the family of Anthony and Bridget (Gordon) Coggins. He labored, while in Ireland, in a stone quarry, and came to this country in 1850. In New York he worked at his old employment as quarryman for a few months, and then came to this county, where he was engaged until 1854 in sinking the shafts of Mines No. 5 and No. 7, since when he has been employed by the Pennsylvania Coal Company as miner. He was united in marriage January 1, 1856, with Mary, daughter of Peter and Margaret (Lavelle) Morris, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, and they have been blessed with the following children: Bridget, born December 20, 1856; John, born February 16, 1860; Annie, born January 12, 1863, married to John Burke, carpenter, Carbondale; Katie, born May 23, 1865, married to James Corrigan, railroad fireman, Carbondale; Anthony, born July 5, 1867; Hannah, born September 14, 1870, and Rose, born December 16, 1872. Our subject is an adherent of the Roman Catholic faith, and a member of the St. John's Literary and Benevo- lent Association. In politics he is a Republican.

ISAIAH G. COLBORN, druggist, Mountain Top, in Fairview township, was born December 8, 1862, in Ashley borough, this county, and is a son of John W. and Mary E. (Keiser) Colborn, who reared a family of five children, viz .: Robert M., who is married and resides in Pittston; William T., married and living in Ashley; Emma, wife of Rev. James Benninger, a Methodist clergyman, stationed, at present, in Ashley; Isaiah G., and Charles W., unmarried, and living in Ashley. The sub- ject of this sketch attended the common schools of Ashley until he was seventeen years old, when he entered his brother's (William T.) drugstore in Ashley in order to study pharmacy, and there remained until 1884, in which year he entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which he graduated in 1886. Returning to Ashley, he again accepted a position from his brother as druggist, remaining, how- ever, but a few months, when he secured a position as manager of a drugstore in Nanticoke. After working there but a short time, he came to Fairview and opened a drugstore for his brother. In 1888 he purchased the Fairview store, and is at present conducting the same. He has, on a lot adjoining the store, built a beauti- ful cottage, where he now lives. On August 4, 1886, Mr. Colborn was married to Ella, daughter of John and Anna (Russell) Jones, of Ashley, which marriage was

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY,

made happy by four children, viz. : Oscar G., Ethel M., Harry R. and Walter R. Mr. and Mrs. Colborn are not members of any church, but attend the Methodist services. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN W. COLBORN, postmaster, Ashley, was born in Lycoming county, Pa., June 10, 1831, a son of John and Sarah (Burgett) Colborn, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and German origin. His grandfathers were Robert Colborn and John Burgett. The father, who was born March 30, 1808, died May 3, 1892, near the place of his birth in Lycoming county; the mother is now living with her daughter, Jane. The family consisted of the following: Two children who died in infancy; John W .; Robert, a printer in Pottsville, Pa. ; William E., a mine operator in West Virginia; Mary, who died at the age of twenty-two; Hannah, married to Boyd Richie, a farmer in Lycoming county, Pa. ; A. F., an electrical engineer residing at Forest City, and Jane, who lives with her mother. Our subjeet was educated in the public schools of Schuylkill county, and then learned the carpenter's trade. He removed to Ashley December 26, 1855, where he helped to build the first breaker. At the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in the three months' service, and again at Scranton, September 4, 1864, in Company E, One Hundred and Eighty-eighth P. V., and was discharged at Fortress Monroe in June, 1865. He then resumed his trade at Ashley, which he followed till he was appointed postmaster, in 1882, which position he held until 1885, and was reappointed in 1889. He built his present residence in 1861. Mr. Colborn was married October 12, 1856, to Mary E., daughter of Thomas and Emily (Downing) Keizer, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and English origin. She died December 27, 1890, at the age of fifty-three years. The issue of this union was five children, viz .: Robert, who is engaged in the ice business at Pittston; William T., a druggist at Ashley; Isaiah G., a druggist at South Fairview; Emma (Mrs. Rev. James Benninger), and Charles, clerk in his brother's (William T.) store. Mr. Colborn and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of the board of trustees of which he is president. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment. In his political views he is a Republican, and has held the offices of school director, assessor, tax collector, and he took the census of Ashley borough in 1890.

W. M. COLDREN, head miller in Miner & Co.'s Mills, Miners Mills, was born in Lower Augusta township, Northumberland Co., Pa., February 5, 1860, and is a son of Peter and Louisa (Feaster) Coldren, natives of Pennsylvania. The father, who was a farmer, reared a family of seven children, of whom W. M. is the fourth. He spent his boyhood on the farm, received a common-school education, and at the age of nineteen engaged in the Turtle Creek Mills, Winfield, Pa., to learn the miller's trade; here he remained two years, and after one year spent at home, went to Lew- isburgh, Pa., where he worked at his trade five years, and accepted his present posi- tion in 1887. This mill has a daily capacity of one hundred barrels of flour, forty tons of feed, five tons of buckwheat flour or thirty barrels of rye flour; the grains are obtained from Pennsylvania and the West, chiefly the latter, the wheat of the former being preferred, however. The products of the mill are disposed of chiefly in the coal regions of Pennsylvania. Mr. Coldren was married, August 2, 1883, to Anna L., daughter of John and Susanna (Hunty) Coldren, natives of Pennsylva- nia, and of German origin; they have one child, Gertrude A. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church of Lower Augusta township, Pa .; he is a member of the P. O. S. of A., aud a Democrat in his political views.

ALVIN P. COLES, the popular and genial proprietor of "Harvey's Creek Hotel," West Nanticoke, was born at Beach Haven, Pa., May 8, 1852, and is a son of Sam- uel H. and Martha (Hauz) Coles, also natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject, who is the youngest in a family of three, was reared and educated in the public schools of Luzerne county, and learned the blacksmith's trade at Beach Haven, at which he worked until 1883. He then commenced in the hotel business at Crooptown, same State, where he was the leading hotel man for seven years. He then came to West Nanticoke, and assumed the management of the " Harvey's Creek Hotel," the

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 106

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