History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 110

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

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JAMES COURTRIGHT, proprietor of Courtright's Livery and Sale Stable, in rear of the " White Horse Hotel," West Market street, Wilkes-Barre, with residence in Plains, was born in Plains, Pa., October 30, 1831, and is a son of Benjamin and Clarissa (Williams) Courtright, natives of Luzerne county and of English origin. In their family there were six children, of whom James is the fourth. Our subject began practical life in a small grocery where the "Plainsville Hotel " now stands, and here he remained several years, when he commenced farming, which he followed, however, but a few years. He then resumed the grocery business in company with his brother, John M., on West Market street, Wilkes-Barre, and after four years thus engaged he was elected county treasurer, in which capacity he served three years. During the next four years he made three trips to Colorado, for the pur- pose of digging gold, and in 1884 he embarked in his present business. Mr. Court- right was married, September 19, 1854, to Ruth G., daughter of John and Mary (Stark) Searle, natives of Luzerne county and of English lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Courtright have two children: John S., married to Ella V. Lathrope, of Montrose, where he is engaged in the practice of law, and where he has been justice of the peace for ten years (they have one child, Sarah L.), and Harry B., employed with his father (he married Ida C. Welles, of Wilkes-Barre, and they have three chil- dren: Ruth S., Josephine W. and James W.). Mrs. James Courtright is a cousin of Justice Searle, of Philadelphia, and a cousin of Judge Searle, of Montrose; her grandmother Searle was among those whom flight saved from the terrible massacre of Wyoming, at which time she was seven years old. Mr. Courtright's political convictions have always been in accord with the principles of the Republican party.

JAMES A. COURTRIGHT, merchant, and proprietor of the " Midvale Hotel," Plains, was born in Wolverhampton, England, December 25, 1862, a son of Frederick and Julia (Gill) Adey, and an adopted son of Richard and Eliza (Gill) Courtright, with whom he came to America in 1870. He located at Pittston, Pa., where he obtained a common-school education, and then drove in the mines two years, after which he was employed as brakeman on the Lehigh Valley Railroad two years, and then assisted Mr. Courtright in coal operating. They erected the "Midvale Hotel" in 1885, and the store adjoining in 1888. Our subject was married, October 9, 1883, to Miss Matilda, daughter of Michael and Ann (Quinn) Donnelly, natives of Ireland, and the fruits of this union were four children, three of whom are living, viz .: Elizabeth M., Frederick R. and Bertha V. Mr. James A. Courtright is a member of the I. O. R. M., the K. of P. and the Golden Conclave; in his political views he is a Republican.

SEYMOUR COURTRIGHT, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born in Exeter township, July 29, 1845, a son of Burton and Lucy (Larned) Courtright, the former of whom was

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

born in Plains township, March 15, 1814, the latter in Exeter, October 13, 1818. Burton Courtright is a son of Heury Courtright, who was born in 1786, and who was one of the early settlers in Plains, where he owned a large tract of coal land before that article of commerce was discovered, and which he disposed of prior to that time. He removed from Plains to Exeter, where he bought another farm, on which he remained about fifteen years, after which time he removed to Franklin, where he bought yet another farm of 166 acres, some of which was improved, and it is to-day one of the oldest farms in Franklin township. He was a man of force and influence, of sterling qualities, honest and industrious to a fault, never aspired to office, yet bore his share of responsibility his way. He died March 27, 1864, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He had born to him eight children, seven of whom he reared to maturity, and all of whom are now dead. Burton Courtright, the youngest of the children born to Henry, always lived with his father, and was about thirty-three years of age when he, with his father, in 1847, moved to Frank- lin township. After the death of his father Burton took charge of and fell heir to the property which he caused to improve under his magic touch, as long as he lived. He was not one to court favors, yet he always received them. He had great influ- ence in his party (Democratic), and held most of the township offices. He was mar- ried December 19, 1838, to Miss Lucy Ann, daughter of Theophilus and Elizabeth Larned, by which union there were born seven children, all of whom grew to maturity, viz. : Mary C. (married S. D. Lewis, and died August 3, 1886, leaving five children: Oscar C., Frances E., Everett, Alice and Blanche, all now living in Odell, Ill.); Adelaide C. (single); Oscar L. (who married Miss Sophia Stephens, by whom he has two children, Laura A. and Everett P.); Seymour (married Miss Hattie E., daughter of Charles Heft, by whom he has had one child, Alice Louisa, a charming and promising girl of sixteen summers); Everett (married Miss Lizzie Posten, by whom he has one child, Archie B.); Alice is yet single; Frank (married Miss Ida Posten, by whom he has two children, Burton A. and Nina M.). These comprise the children and grandchildren of Burton Courtright, who are now living. Burton died, 1888, in his seventy-fourth year. Mrs. Hattie E. Courtright, wife of Seymour Courtright, died May 21, 1889. Seymour is the only son at home, and attends to the farming. He is a worthy young man, and has held several township offices, which he filled with credit to himself and his fellow citizens. Politically he is a Democrat.

MATHEW COYLE, Ashley, conductor on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, was born in Utica, N. Y., May 3, 1837, a son of Michael and Mary (O'Neill) Coyle, natives of County Cavan, Ireland. His father, who came to America in 1828, reared a family of five children, four of whom are living, and of whom he is the second in order of birth. The family came to Wyoming county in 1844, settling near Meshoppen, where they took up a farm, and in 1847 came to Ashley, where the parents died. Here our subject began working about the mines, which occupation he followed ten years. He enlisted at Wilkes-Barre in April, 1861, in Company D, Eighth P. V., and served three months, when he was honorably discharged. He then entered the Government employ as a fireman in the transport service, were he performed his duties valiantly till the fall of 1865. He then returned to Ashley, and after braking three years was promoted to his present position. He purchased his present residence in 1887, and established a mercantile business in the front portion in 1888. Mr. Coyle was married April 22, 1866, to Miss Bridget, daughter of William and Mary (Kane) Dillon, natives of County Westmeath, Ireland. They have had six children, one of whom is living, Michael F., brakeman on his father's train. Mr. Coyle and family are members of the Catholic Church. He is a Demo- crat in politics.

NATHAN B. CRARY, general merchant, Shickshinny, was born in Salem township, Luzerne Co., Pa., a son of Dr. Mason and Deziar (Beach) Crary. His maternal grandfather, Nathan Beach, was a native of New York and a son of Nathan and Deziar (Herrick) Beach, who were among the pioneers of Salem township. The .

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

great-grandmother is said to have been the first white woman to cross the Blue Mountains, was driven back by Indians, but later returned, and settling in Salem township, this county, died there. Nathan (the great-grandfather) was a farmer, and Nathan (the grandfather) was also a farmer and dealer in real estate, dying in Salem township in 1847. He was a wagon driver in the Revolutionary war, under Gen. Washington, from whose hande he received his pay. He was thrice married, his first wife being Susan Thomas (grandmother of subject), and by her he had children as follows: Thomas, Josiah, Nathan, Hannah, Ann, Mary and Deziar. His second wife was Rachel Wilson. Thomas Crary the paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, was a native of Stonington, Conn., and died in Albany, N. Y. Dr. Mason Crary, who was also a native of Stonington, Conn., was reared in Albany county, N. Y., and in 1804 settled in Salem township, this county, where he practiced medicine, and also at Wilkes-Barre until his death in 1855. By his wife, Deziar (Beach) he had eight children, viz. : Erasmus D., Beach T., Mason, Nathan B., Ellen H., Susan, Caroline and Hannah B. The subject proper of this memoir, was reared in Salem township, receiving his education in the common and select schools, and at Berwick Academy. After attaining his majority, he followed farming in Salem township until 1857, when he embarked in mercantile business at Shickshinny, in which he has since successfully continued. In 1859 he married Miranda L. Over- ton, of Wilkes-Barre, by whom he had the following named six children: John W. deceased), Anna, Lenna, Sarah, Natalia, and Minnie (deceased). The paternal grand- mother of Mr. Crary was Mehitable Mason, a descendant of Capt. John Mason, who took an active part in the Pequod Indian war, and to whose memory a monument was erected in 1889 at Mystic, Conn. Mr. Crary is one of Shickshinny's prominent merchants and citizens, and was one of the four purchasers of the present site of Shickshinny, which was bought for the purpose of laying out the town.

JOHN BARCLAY CRAWFORD, physician and surgeon, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Crawford, Orange Co., N. Y., January 2, 1828, and is a son of John B. and Elizabeth (Thompson) Crawford. His paternal grandfather, John Crawford, of Scotch-Irish descent, and a soldier of the Revolution, was, with his parents, among the pioneers of Orange county, N. Y., and his father participated in the French war, being with Gen. Wolfe at the capture of Quebec by the British. Our subject was reared near Havana, Schuyler Co., N. Y., where he received an academical education, his medical training being obtained at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City. In 1850 he began the practice of his chosen profession at Holly, Wayne Co., N. Y. In 1851 he located at Wyoming, this county, where, with the exception of three years during the Civil war, when he was surgeon of the Fifty-second P. V., he remained until 1870, in which year he removed to Wilkes-Barre, where he has since been in active practice. In 1852 Dr. Crawford married Sarah, daughter of Martin and Mary (Chapman) Hammond, of Big Flats, N. Y., and has one daughter, Hattie L. The Doctor is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society and American Medical Association. He is consulting surgeon of the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital Staff; has served as president of the U. S. Pension Examining Board, and one term as coroner of Luzerne county. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R .; in politics, he is a Republican.

JOHN M. CRESSLER, M. D., a prominent physician of Wilkes-Barre, was born in Conyngham township, this county, March 27, 1852, a son of Alonzo L. and Caroline (Heller) Cressler, natives of Cumberland and Luzerne counties, respect- ively. The father, a physician by profession, and a graduate of Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia, settled in Luzerne county about 1851, and has been a resident of Wilkes-Barre sixteen years. The mother was a daughter of Michael Heller, a farmer of Conyngham township. The only issue of their marriage was John M., our subject. He was reared in his native county, and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1874. After practicing one year in Philadelphia, two years at Pittston, one year at Lynn, Susquehanna Co., Pa.,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

and two years at Mountain Top, he located in 1880 in Wilkes-Barre, where he has since resided and built up a successful and lucrative business. In 1877 Dr. Cress- ler married Emma, daughter of Nathan and Rachel (Egbert) Stiles, of Wilkes- Barre, and has three children: Edwin, Mary and John. Dr. Cressler is a mem- ber of the Luzerne Medical Society, and in politics is a Democrat.

WILLIAM H. CRISPELL, farmer, P. O. Outlet, was born in Ulster county, N. Y., December 2, 1816, son of Thomas S. and Sarah (Wicks) Crispell, both of whom were born in New York State. Thomas was a son of Solomon, who was a son of John, who was a native of Holland, his wife being a native of France. They emi- grated to this country in its early history. Five of their sons served in the Revolu- tionary war; one of their sons was taken captive by the Indians, and they never could get any trace of him. They always made the State of New York their home. Solomon Crispell was a carpenter and wagon-maker as well as an extensive farmer in those days. He was a good man who followed the laws of health, and lived to the age of one hundred and two. He had two hundred and fifty acres of land, which he improved to a great extent, and left to his children. His children numbered three, one of whom is now (1892) living. Thomas, son of Solomon, removed to Luzerne, now Wyoming county, in its very early settlement. He settled on fifty

acres, to which he added 100. After disposing of his first farm he moved to Bowman's Creek, dying at that place in 1862, at the age of seventy-three. His family consisted of eight children, all of whom grew to maturity and three of whom are now living. William H. is the eldest of the family. He was reared and edu- cated in Ulster county, N. Y., and always confined himself to farming. In 1854 he was married with Miss Sarah, daughter of Johu Wright. Eight children were born to this marriage, all of whom grew to maturity; four are now living: Severn B., Gertrude, Zibe M. and Mary E. For his second wife he married Mrs. Priscilla Neely, by whom he had four children, two of whom are living: William H. and Corey L. Mr. Crispell removed to Lake township about 1872, settling on a small farm. He is a man of sound and clear principles, a good citizen, and member of the Baptist Church. Politically he is a Democrat.

GEORGE A. CROCKETT, farmer, P. O. Irish Lane, was born in Ross township, July 15, 1815, a son of James K. and Hannah (Alexander) Crockett, both of whom were born in Ireland and emigrated to this country about 1801, locating in Ross township, this county, in 1809. James Crockett, Francis Evins and Thomas Holmes jointly bought a tract of land in Ross township, each taking a third, becom- ing the first real pioneers in that part of the township. They ran a road by their place which they called " Broadway," but the name has been finally changed to "Irish Lane." James was a hardworking, honest, and industrious man, who did much for the advancement of agriculture in Ross township. He was a cousin of "Davy" Crockett, the celebrated trapper and hunter. James died in 1856, aged eighty-nine years. There were three children born to him, one of whom is living- the subject of this sketch. George A. Crockett was reared and educated in Ross township, where he has always resided, respected as a worthy man whose influence was ever on the side of right. He always confined himself to farming, and has proved himself to be a practical agriculturist. He is the oldest man in the town- ship, and was one of the first to be appointed a justice of the peace after the township was set off; he also held the office of county treasurer in 1864. He owns three hundred acres of valuable land. Their family consisted of eleven children, seven of whom are living, viz. : James, Charles, Robert P., Hannah (Shaw), Ether (Rum- mage), Martha (Wolfinger), and Sarah (Wandell).

ROBERT P. CROCKETT is working the farm which is a very extensive one. He has devoted forty acres to fruit, and intends in the future to confine himself to fruit growing. He is also in the lumber business, furnishing rollers for the various mines in Wyoming Valley. On August 18, 1862, he was mustered into the United States service as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Forty-third P. V. I., for three years, and was soon promoted to second lieutenant. In 1864 he was commis-

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sioned first lieutenant, which rank he held to the close of the war. He acted as captain for twenty-two months, and had the full confidence of both men and officers. He was a good soldier who never shirked his duty, participating in all the leading battles from Chancellorsville to Hatcher's Run, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. As he had the confidence of his comrades during the time of war, so now he enjoys the full confidence of his fellow citizens in time of peace. He held the postoffice at Bloomingdale for eleven years, and has been postmaster at Irish Lane since its establishment. In 1876 Mr. Crockett married Miss Catherine, daugh- ter of J. R. and Hannah Sutliff, and to them were born four children, one of whom is living, Maye E.

James Crockett, the eldest son of George A. Crockett, was also born, reared and educated in Ross township. He is a surgeon by profession, and has been county surgeon six years. He has held the office of justice of the peace twenty-three years. He resides on part of the old homestead, and his farm comprises 160 acres. He is also a practical farmer, and lives in the house built by his grandfather, James Crockett. In January, 1863, he married Miss Mary M., daughter of John and Harriet Wandell, and four children were born to them, all yet living: Harriet A., Charles, George, and David. The Crocketts are Democrats in politics.

CHARLES A. CROOP, powder maker, Belbend, was born in Newport township, this county, July 28, 1859, and is a son of Allen B. and Margaret (Obitz) Croop. His paternal grandfather, George Croop, was a pioneer farmer of Newport township, where he died; his wife was Rebecca Thomas, by whom he had two children: Allen B. and Phoebe A. The father of our subject was a native of Newport township, where he was reared and educated, and is now a resident of Brier Creek township, Columbia Co., Pa., where he has lived since 1865, engaged in farming. His wife was Margaret, daughter of Peter and Maria (Steiner) Obitz, of Newport township, by whom he had nine children: Charles A., Susan (Mrs. L. M. Hicks), Ella, Nettie (Mrs. Frank P. Bloss), Phoebe, Ray, George, Blanche and Mary. Our subject was reared in Brier Creek township from six years of age, and after clerking in the store at Berwick, and later at Wapwallopen, he entered the employ of the Dupont Powder Company, with whom he has been connected since 1882. Mr. Croop was married October 21, 1886, to Lettie, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Swank) Baucher, of Salem township, and has one son, Thomas B. Mr. Croop is a member of the F. & A. M. and P. O. S. of A., and in politics is a Democrat.

HIRAM CROOP, lumberman and justice of the peace, P. O. Hunlock Creek, was born in Union (now Hunlock) township, July 15, 1832, where he was reared and received a common-school education. He is a son of William and Mary (Sorber) Croop, the former born in Newport township, the latter in Northampton county. William was a son of John Croop, also a resident of Northampton county, who removed to this county in its very early settlement, and was one of the pioneers of this section. He located in what is now Hunlock township, on a lot of 200 acres, which he brought to some degree of subjection. He was a man of energy and push, who did with his might whatsoever he put his hand to. He reared a family of ten children, seven of whom are yet living. William began his active life in Union (now Hunlock) township, where he married Miss Mary Sorber. By occupa- tion he was an extensive lumberman, as well as farmer. He owned 250 acres of land, also a sawmill, which he had purchased, and in which he manufactured lumber. He was a man of influence, holding several township offices, and was much respected by all who knew him. He died in 1889 aged eighty-four years. He reared a family of seven children, six of whom are now living, Hiram being the eldest in the family. Our subject has confined himself to lumbering to a great extent, and once owned and operated four mills at one time. He owns two farms in Hunlock town- ship, of 130 and 125 acres, respectively, and at one time he owned two thousand acres of timber land. In 1854 he married Miss Susanna, daughter of Joseph B. and Martha Dodson, and to this union were born five children, three of whom are now living: Martha, Joseph H. and Fredrick W. Of these, Joseph H. is fitting

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himself for the medical profession, in Philadelphia. Hiram Croop is a thorough- going business man, and enjoys the full confidence of his fellow citizens. He has held the office of justice of the peace for twenty-five years.

ANDREW CROOP, farmer, P. O. Hunlock Creek, a brother to Hiram, was born in Union township, August 5, 1843, where he was reared and educated. He lived at home until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he was mustered into the United States service August 22, 1862, as private in Company F, One Hundred and Forty- ninth P. V. I., for the term of three years. He served to the close of the war, having participated in the various engagements of the last three years. He was mustered in as a musician, and did good service in his corps. Mr. Croop is a shoemaker by occupation, and after the war followed it, together with other callings. In Septem- ber, 1866, he married Miss Sophia, daughter of Joseph and Christine Bonham, to which union were born six children, two of whom are living: George M. and Maud. In 1876 he removed from his father's farm, to his present place of residence, con- sisting of eighty acres; he also owns a thirty-acre lot, with a half interest in forty acres more. Mr. Croop, like his brother Hiram, is in the lumber business also, and owns a portable sawmill. He is a practical farmer, a genial companion and a gentleman of sound judgment. He has been honored with several township offices, such as school director, fifteen years, also secretary of the board, township clerk, etc. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R., and the Jr. O. U. A. M. There were three brothers who served in the Civil war, viz .: Alvin, Andrew and Simon Croop, all stanch Republicans.

WILLIAM H. CROOP, loading-boss, Nottingham Colliery, Plymouth, was born at Lime Ridge, Pa., March 14, 1858, the only child of Lyman and Susan (Lohman) Croop, also natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject was educated and reared in Co- lumbia and Luzerne counties, and after receiving a liberal common-school education he studied and mastered the art of telegraphy, serving an apprenticeship at Hun- lock Creek, Pa., and working at same there for seven years. He then removed to Nanticoke, Pa., and was employed as shipping clerk by the Susquehanna Coal Com- pany, until 1876 when he returned to Hunlock Creek, and for one year taught in the public school at that place. Coming from there again to Plymouth, he here engaged with the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Company, first as general outside hand, then as clerk in the supply store, and later as loading-boss. Mr. Croop was married, in 1888, to Miss Nellie, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Engle) Croop, natives of Pennsylvania. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church; in politics Mr. Croop is a Republican.

WILLIAM CROSBY, merchant and postmaster, Forty Fort borough, was born Jan- uary 2, 1830, in Wilkes-Barre, and is a son of Richard and Euphemia (Miller) Crosby, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and German origin, respectively. Richard was a shoemaker by occupation, who reared a family of nine children, four now living, of whom our subject is the second. He was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twelve learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, and was the main support of the family after his father's death, which occurred in 1853. He purchased a property on Wyoming avenue, in Forty Fort, in the fall of 1857, where he lived until 1877, when he traded his property at Forty Fort for a farm at Bowman's Creek, Wyoming Co., Pa., where he moved one year later, and engaged in farming for ten years. He was also postmaster for six years while at that place. He then returned to Forty Fort, purchased a lot on Walnut street, and built his present residence. In 1888 he was appointed postmaster of Forty Fort, and he also owns and runs a general store, in which he has his office. Mr. Crosby was married November 26, 1856, to Esther W., daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Drecher) Pugh, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Welsh and German origin, respectively. By this union they have six children now living: Olive A., married Fredrick Dimmick, a farmer of Bowman's Creek, Pa. (they have three children: William C., Shelby D. and Oscar L.); Ernest G., Richard S., Charles P., Carrie B. and Sadie S. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Forty Fort, and politically Mr. Crosby is a sound Republican.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 110

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