History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 109

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections > Part 109

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).

J. W. COPE, farmer, P. O. Beach Haven, was born in Salem township, May 28, 1841, and is a son of John and Susannah (Seybert) Cope. His paternal grand- father, John Cope, a native of Germany, for a time resided in Salem township, and died on the farm now owned by Chester Cope. His children were Jacob, John, David, Annie (Mrs. Alexander Lockard), Eliza (Mrs. Joseph Stackhouse) and Catherine (Mrs. Joshua Kinny); of these John, who was a native of Bethlehem, Pa., settled in Salem township in 1827, where be cleared a farm and died. His wife was a daughter of Michael Seybert, of Salem township, and by her he had five children who grew to maturity: Caroline (Mrs. Samuel Pollock), Rebecca, Joshua, John W. and Henry E. Our subject was reared in Salem township, worked at the carpenter's trade twenty-six years, and since 1881 has been engaged in farming. In 1881 he married Frances E., daughter of George and Elizabeth (Sitler) Miller, of Briar Creek, Columbia Co., Pa., and has three children living: George W., Vida B. and Marvin F. Mr. Cope is a member of the M. E. Church; in politics he is a Democrat.

E. A. CORAY, Pittston. This gentleman, who stands among the many popular young politicians of the county without a superior, was born in Monroeton, Bradford Co., Pa., September 6, 1858, and is a son of George and Laura (Green) Coray. The father sprang from old pioneer stock of the Wyoming Valley, which lovely spot was the scene of his birth, and there he spent his boyhood days. He was a mer- chant by occupation, and died in 1883, aged fifty-nine years; the mother is still

803

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

living and resides in Pittston. They had a family of three sons: William H., a farmer of Exeter township; E. A., and George E., manager of a tea store at Altoona, Pa. Our subject passed his boyhood in this county, and was educated in the public schools and at the Keystone Academy at Factoryville, Pa. In 1878 he entered the office of the Pittston Evening Press, and began to learn the printer's trade. Here he worked for one year'; then was engaged in different occupations until 1880, when he became associated with the Pittston Gazette, and served on that paper as printer, reporter and assistant editor until 1888, when he was elected on the Republican ticket to represent the Second District of Luzerne county in the State Legislature; he was re-elected in 1890, and served in the Assemblies of 1889 and 1891. Mr. Coray has a host of friends throughout the entire country. He is a newspaper cor- respondent of pronounced merit, and is bound to succeed in that line.

JAMES CORBETT, foreman in charge of repairs on the Wilkes-Barre & Suburban Railway tracks, with residence in Plains, was born in Syracuse, N. Y., March 4, 1851, and is a son of John and Johanna (Kinney) Corbett, natives of Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland. The father, who was a farmer, came to America in 1842, and located near Syracuse, later moving into the city, where he reared a family of four children, two of whom are living: John, a conductor on the New York Central Railroad, and James. Our subject was educated in the public schools and in the Christian Brothers' school. He worked on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, and then engaged in braking on the New York Central Railroad, and was so employed two years. He then commenced teaming in Syracuse, which business he followed two years. In 1872 he came to Sugar Notch, this county, where he was a laborer in the mine nine months, after which he removed to Mill Creek, where he followed the same occupation two years. He was then engaged in track-laying in the Union Slope fifteen years, and in 1889 he secured his present position. Mr. Corbett was married, June 22, 1886, to Miss Margaret, daughter of Hugh and Margaret (Jones) Dougherty, natives of Ireland, and they have three children, two of whom are living, viz .: James and Ellen. Our subject and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a member of the Father Mathew Society and the C. M. B. A. In his political views he is a Democrat, and has held the office of school director in Plains township. His present residence he purchased and removed therein in 1888.

HARVEY CORBY, farmer, P. O. Larksville, was born in Morris county, N. J., August 25, 1835, and is a son of Amisa and Eliza (Smaley) Corby, both of whom were also born in Morris county, N. J. By occupation they were farmers. They removed from New Jersey to Eaton township, Wyoming county, where they also followed agricultural pursuits. They owned about 300 acres of land, 150 of which were brought under cultivation during his lifetime. He was a worthy man of good habits and sound moral principles. He died in 1881 at the age of seventy years. Amisa Corby was married twice and reared a family of twelve children. Our sub- ject was nine years of age when he removed to Wyoming county with his father, and consequently received his first school training in New Jersey, finishing in Wyoming county. He began his active business life in Eaton township, Wyoming county, where he engaged in farming and lumbering. He was prosperous financially at both branches of business, and continued his residence there till 1870, when he removed to Plymouth township, near the west of Kingston line, on a farm of 107 acres of valuable land, made so by years of ceaseless activity on the part of Mr. Corby. On April 12, 1856, he married Miss Dorcas, daughter of William and Dolly Sickler, to which union have been born twelve children, nine of whom are living: Louisa, Aaron, Flora, Ida, James, William, Corey Harrison, Anna and Clarence. Six are married, as follows: Louisa, married to Moses Strunk; Aaron, married to Miss Carrie Jones; Flora, married to William Blarnett; Ida, married to Thomas M. Jenkins; William, married to Miss Sarah Lilly; Corey, married to Miss Hattie Dicker. Mr. Corby is a practical farmer of large experience, who enjoys the full confidence of his fellows. In 1861 he took up arms in defense of the Union, enlist- ing in Company B, Twelfth Pennsylvania Reserves, for the term of three years.

804

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

He participated in the following battles: Seven Days' Fight, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethsaida Church and others. In these bloody contests he displayed heroic courage and an indomitable nerve. He was wounded at the battles of Wilderness and Brandy Station. He was honorably discharged in 1864, serving longer than his stipulated time. He now enjoys a pension. He is a member of the G. A. R., a strict churchman and, politically, is a Republican.

M. F. CORCORAN, proprietor "Anthracite Hotel," Duryea, was born in Lacka -. wanna township, now Lackawanna county, but at that time a part of Luzerne. He is a son of ex-councilman Patrick Corcoran and Bridget (Manley) Corcoran, natives of County Mayo, Ireland. The parents now reside in Scranton, where Mr. Corcoran, in addition to being proprietor of the " Meadow Brook Hotel," is also a prominent contractor, and takes an active interest in the fortunes of the Demo- cratic party. Michael Corcoran, the uncle of our subject, is chief of police in Cincinnati, and his two sons are prominent members of the bar of that city. Michael F. Corcoran was educated in the common schools, and when but thirteen years of age went to work in the mines, where he stayed until 1882, when he engaged in the livery and hotel business in Scranton. By strict attention to the details of his business he has attained the prominence which he now enjoys, and he is well and favorably known by almost every traveling man in the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys. In January, 1890, being far-seeing enough to perceive that the tide of conquest was in this case pushing eastward, he built the "Anthra- cite Hotel," where now stands the thriving town of Duryea, but where at that time was nothing but a barren waste, his hotel being the first building erected here, so that Mr. Corcoran may justly be styled the pioneer of Duryea. In politics our subject is a Democrat. He is also a member of the Phil Sheridan Rifles of Scranton, and in religion is a Catholic.

DANIEL CORGAN, manufacturer, Luzerne. This gentleman was born in Carnar- vonshire, North Wales, May 10, 1841, a son of John and Mary (Dooly), and was educated partly in Wales and partly in this country. At the age of eleven years he came with his parents to America, and located at Summit Hill, Pa., where the lad of tender years went to work in a coal breaker, remaining there until he was old enough to work in the mines. He continued as a miner until 1888, when he astonished the mining community by his marvelous invention known as the " Light- ning Rotary Coal and Rock Drilling Machine." This invention was the product of twenty years' experience and study, for the busy brain of the hard-toiling miner was at work as well as the hands, and after much labor and many disappointments he at last accomplished the wonderful achievement that makes mining less danger- ous and much easier than the old method. Mr. Corgan and son have a large factory opposite the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, where hundreds of these machines are manufactured yearly. Our subject was married, January 6, 1865, to Miss Cecilia, daughter of John and Mary (Roach) McAndle, natives of Ireland, and nine children have been born to this union, viz .: John, in partnership with his father; Mary, residing at home; Daniel, a miner; Martin, an engineer at Waddell's Shaft; and James, Emily, William, Leo and Michael, attending the High School of Luzerne. Mr. Corgan and family are members of the Catholic Church, and, in politics, he affiliates with the Democratic party.

GEORGE CORONWAY, assistant shipper, Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., was born in Liverpool, England, February 6, 1842. When one year old he was taken to the house of his grandmother in Wales, where he remained until nine years of age, and received all the schooling he ever had. He then returned to Liverpool, aud was employed in the mercantile establishment of an uncle until nearly eighteen years of age. Through the influence of this uncle he received the appointment of assistant steward on the steamship "Europa," of the Cunard Line, running between Liverpool and Boston, and served in that capacity, and as under purser, four years, crossing the Atlantic over fifty times, when he

805

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

was transferred to the Mediterranean Line of the same company, as steward, in which he remained about a year. In November, 1864, he went to Pernam- buco, Brazil, and while on a voyage from that place to Baltimore, Md., was ship- wrecked, in consequence of which he spent three months in a hospital in the latter city. On his recovery he concluded to remain in America, and has since been a resident of Pennsylvania, coming to Wilkes-Barre in 1868, where he entered the employ of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, in whose service he still continues, and in his present position since 1882. In 1870, Mr. Coronway mar- ried Margaret, daughter of Richard and Mary (Conway) Jones, of Harding town- ship, Luzerne Co., Pa., and they have four children living: Mary Isabella, Ethel, Hugh Roy and Archie Todd. Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of the Royal Society of Goodfellows, and is bard of the Cambro-American Society of Wilkes-Barre. He is a poet and writer of note. In politics he is a Republican.

FREDERIC CORSS, M. D., physician and surgeon, Kingston, was born in Bradford county, Pa., and is a son of Rev. Charles C. and Ann (Hoyt) Corss, natives of Mas- sachusetts and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father studied theology at Prince- ton, and has preached at Kingston, Wyoming, Athens and East Smithfield, all in Pennsylvania, at present located at the last-named place. James Corss was the first of the Corss family, so far as is known, in this country. He made his appearance in New England about 1690, and the entire family of that name in this country are descended from him. Dr. Corss is the third of five children, viz. : Charles, a lawyer in Lock Haven, Pa., born July 20, 1837 (was twice married); Nancy, born October 9, 1839; Frederic; John H., born April, 1847, died in 1866; and Ann, born July 4, 1851, married to William F. Church. Dr. Corss was educated in the Wyoming Seminary and the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute, and was a graduate from La- Fayette College in the class of '62. He then commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Holmes, and was with him until 1863, when he entered the medical col- lege of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1866. He then began the practice of his profession at Kingston, where he has since successfully pursued it. He was married June 19, 1872, to Miss Martha S., daughter of John D. and Elizabeth A. (Goodwin) Hoyt. Dr. Corss is a member of the F. & A. M. and of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and the Luzerne County Med- ical Society, having been president of the latter one term. He is also a member of the faculty of Wyoming Seminary, where he delivers a course of lectures on hygiene, and has always been a persistent worker for the advancement of education. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Republican.

BOWMAN CORTRIGHT, clerk, Shickshinny, was born at Beach Grove, Salem town- ship, Luzerne Co., Pa., September 19, 1856, and is a son of Jesse D. and Martha J. (Turner) Cortright. The paternal grandfather, Andrew Cortright, was a pioneer farmer of Salem township, and his wife was a Miss Bowman; their children were Christian B., Dingman, Morris, Fletcher, Jesse D., Susan A. (Mrs. Wilson Holloway) and - (Mrs. Moses Davis). The maternal grandfather of subject was George Turner, also a pioneer of Salem township. Jesse D. Cortright was for many years a general merchant on the Pennsylvania & Lehigh Canal, and the later years of his life were spent in Salem township where he died. His children were Bowman, Ben- ton, Alice and Lizzie, who grew to maturity. Our subject was reared in Salem township, was educated in the common schools, and when fourteen years of age began work about the mines, where he worked six years. In 1876 he located at Shick- shinny, where he has since been in the employ of N. B. Crary, general merchant, and has been manager of his store since 1886. He was twice married: first time to Laura, daughter of Milford and Susan (Kocher) Kingsbury, of Shickshinny, and by her he had one son, Lawrence; His second wife was Merinie E., daughter of J. T. and Elizabeth (Fisher) Fox, of Bloomsburg, Pa. Mr. Cortright is a member of the M. E. Church and, in politics, is a Republican.

JOHN A. CORTRIGHT, locomotive engineer, Nescopeck, was born in Salem town- ship, this county, July 11, 1860, a son of Morris H. and Lydia (Titus). His pater-

806

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

nal grandfather, Andrew Cortright, was one of the pioneers and prominent citizens of Salem township, and served several terms in the State Legislature. His wife was Matilda Bowman, and his children were, Christian B., Jesse D., Dingman, Ashfill, Fletcher, Morris H., Pemelia, Rebecca and Susan Ann. Of these, Morris H., born in Salem township, this county, was a railroad man, and lost an arm and leg by an accident; afterward for twenty years he was in the employ of the Jackson & Wooden Company, at Berwick. His wife was a daughter of Adam Titus, of Union, this county, formerly of Northampton county, Pa., and his children were Eugene W. (drowned at Lyons, N. Y., September 19, 1884), John A., Stephen H., Lizzie M., Clarence J. and Susan A. (Mrs. Frank M. Wooley). The father died July 8, 1892. Our subject was reared in Salem township and educated in the public schools. In 1882 he began railroading as a brakeman, from which position he was promoted to baggageman and fireman, and in 1889 to engineer, in which he has since continued, running between Pottsville and Nescopeck for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Mr. Cortwright has been a resident of Nescopeck since 1888. On November 25, 1882, he married H. Melly, daughter of John H. and Elizabeth (Bond) Harter, of Nescopeck, and they have three children: Edna M., Earl M. and Mabel E. Our sub- ject is a member of the Evangelical Association and Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen; in politics he is a Prohibitionist.

WILLIAM S. COULTER, civil engineer, Ashley, was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, September 14, 1827, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Hammond) Coulter. His father, who was a surveyor and land agent, and later a train despatcher, came to America in 1842, and located in Schuylkill county, Pa., but later removed to Pottstown, where he and his wife died, also their only other child, Thomas, who was draughtsman in the Reading Railroad office. Our subject received his education in his native country, clerked one year, and worked at the blacksmith's trade three years in Pottsville. In 1846 he engaged with Samuel B. Fisher to learn surveying and engineering, and remained with them five years; was then engaged by the Mine Hill & Schuylkill Haven Railroad Company, as assistant engineer, till 1865, when he removed to Ashley and entered the employ of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company. He engineered the rebuilding of the three planes, and the building of the Central shops. In 1876 he retired from active life, and since 1889 he has been employed as borough engineer. Mr. Coulter was married October 24, 1853, to Miss Catherine Evans, of Pottsville, Pa. They are members of the Episcopal and Baptist Churches, respectively; in his political views he is a Republican.

J. G. COURSEN, merchant, Plymouth. This enterprising gentleman was born, April 6, 1833, in Sussex county, N. J., and is a son of Samuel J. and Hannah (Cougleton) Courson, also natives of New Jersey. There were nine children in the family, James E. being the sixth in order of birth. Our subject was educated in the public schools, and after completing his course of study entered the employ of Ruip & Shaffer, wholesale hardware dealers, of Newburgh, N. Y., as traveling salesman. He remained with them two years, and then was engaged with a Pater- son, N. J., firm, in the same capacity for one year. . He then followed agricultural pursuits for about a year, in the meantime being elected constable, on the Inde- pendent ticket, for a term of service. Removing to Wayne county, Pa., he again engaged in farming, which occupation he followed two years. When the Civil war broke out, he enlisted August 19, 1861, in Company D, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Western Division, under command of Col. Williame, and he participated in the following battles: Perryville, Stone River, and Roloford Creek, Tenn., besides several skirmishes, being wounded in the engagement at Franklin, Tenn. His term of service was for three years and four months, during which time he was a faithful and tried soldier. Mr. Coursen was married, August 19, 1865, to Laura, daughter of Jacob and Susan Myers, natives of New Jersey, and to this union have been born four children, viz. : Orell E., born April 4, 1868; William A., born January 29, 1870; Robbie, born March 4, 1874, and Harry, born March 29, 1875.

807

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

In political matters Mr. Coursen is a Republican. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A., O. U. A. M. and G. A. R. The family attend the Presbyterian Church.

BENJAMIN R. COURTRIGHT, proprietor of the "Courtright House," Wilkes-Barre, was born in Plains township, June 25, 1853, a son of William H. and Clara (Swallow) Courtright. The father of our subject was born in Plains township, and in early manhood was engaged in merchandising in same, and also in Hanover, as manager of a company store. In 1864 he removed to Illinois, and later to Palmyra, Mo., where he now resides, engaged in farming. He was twice married: First to Clara, daughter of Joseph Swallow, a pioneer of Plains township, by whom he had four children: Josephine E., Benjamin R., Clara G. (Mrs. J. G. Mentz) and Joseph M. His second wife was Mary Morgan, of Plains, by whom he had five children: William A., Gertrude, Roy, May and Nellie. Our subject was reared in Plains and Wilkes-Barre, being educated in the public and private schools. After attaining his majority he began life as a hotel clerk, continuing in that capacity seven years. Since 1888 he has been the popular proprietor of the " Courtright House," Wilkes-Barre, which has been conducted by the Courtright family, most of the time, for thirty-five years. In April, 1888, he married Lena, daughter of Samuel Goble, of Tunkhannock.

FRANK COURTRIGHT, manufacturer of and dealer in all kinds of harness, Nanti- coke, was born in Orange, Luzerne Co., Pa., August 9, 1853, and is a son of Burton and Lucy Ann (Leonard) Courtright, the former of whom was born in Plains township, Luzerne county. Burton Courtright passed his entire life in this county, and died in Orange, in 1862, at the age of seventy-three years. He was a son of Henry Courtright, who was one of Luzerne county's pioneers, having settled in the unbroken wilderness of the Wyoming Valley at a very early date, and he was. a descendant of one of two Courtright brothers who came to this country from Holland, Henry Courtright died at the age of ninety-eight years. Our subject's. mother was also a native of this county, a daughter of Theopolis Leonard, a native of Germany, and another of the pioneers of Wyoming Valley. The family, of whom the subject of this sketch is a member, consisted of seven children, viz .: Cormella. (deceased); Adelaide, living at Orange, Pa .; Oscar L., in Rockaway, N. J .; Seymour, in Orange, Pa; Charles B., in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. ; Alice, in Orange; and Frank.

Frank Courtright began life as an apprentice to the harness-making trade, in the employ of G. W. Fritz, of Scranton, Pa., who has the largest harness supply store in northern Pennsylvania. After serving an apprenticeship of four years there, Mr. Courtright entered the employ of T. J. Detweller, of Providence, Pa., where he worked at his trade about three years and a half. He then came to Nanti- coke in November, 1880, and began business in the same line for himself, which he has since successfully followed. In 1881 he was united in marriage with Miss Ida Maud, the accomplished daughter of M. B. Posten, of Wilkes-Barre, and there have been born to them three children, viz .: Burton Alen, Nina Maud, and Elias W. (deceased). During his stay at Providence Mr. Courtright was first lieutenant of Company H, Ninth Regiment, N. G. P. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, the I. O. O. F., and Encampment, the K. of H., R. S. of G. F., and S. P. T. In politics, he is a Democrat.

GEORGE COURTRIGHT, farmer, P. O. Luzerne, was born in Plains, April 26, 1818, where he received his primary education, obtaining the rest in Kingston township. He is a son of John and Louisa (Searles) Courtright, the former of whom was born in Plains township in 1790, the latter, in Pittston township. John was a son of Cornelius Courtright, a native of New Jersey, descended from Dutch parentage. He removed to this county previous to the Wyoming Massacre, locating in Plains township, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a man of more than ordinary education, whose influence was used in the advancement of everything beneficent to his fellow-men. He held nearly all the leading offices in the township, having been justice of the peace for a number of years, and was elected by his fel- low citizens to a seat in the Legislature. He lived a life of usefulness, whose every 44

808

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

effort was devoted to goodness to his fellows. He was a stanch adherent to the Whig party, which received his strong support for seventy years, he being over ninety years of age at the time of his death. He reared a family of ten children, one of whom is now living. John began his business career as a farmer. His property was a very valuable one, and he was a man who took the lead in every improvement and enterprise that tended to advance the interests of the county. He owned the first steel spring top buggy in his township. His life, though brief, was a useful one; he died in 1830, at the age of forty years. His family consisted of four chil- dren, two of whom are now living. George, being the second in order of birth, was twelve years of age when he came on the west side of the river in Kingston town- ship, where he has since lived the busy life of a farmer. In 1847 he married Miss Mary, daughter of James and Mary Mathers, and to this union were born six chil- dren, four of whom are now living: James, John, William and Fidelia, all of whom are married. Mr. Courtright is a farmer of some means, owning a valuable farm of 145 acres; he is not only a practical farmer, but a practical man. Politically he is a Republican, and has held the office of school director for thirteen years, and now holds that of auditor.

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.

History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 109

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