History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 111

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.

THOMAS CROSS, fire-boss, Lance No. 11, Plymouth, was born in Yorkshire, Eng- land, January 17, 1857, and is the second in a family of seven children born to Robert and Mary A. (Barker) Cross, natives of England. Thomas was educated in his native land, and took up civil and mining engineering which he followed in England until 1881, when he came to America and engaged in engineering at Mon Caprice, Conn., where he worked until 1882, when he came to Plymouth, Pa., and did con- tract work at tunneling until 1887. He then went to Scranton and took charge of the works operated by the Elk Hill Coal & Iron Company. Here he remained about one year, when he accepted a similar position at Hartshorn, I. T., for the Choctaw Coal & Railroad Company, remaining there six months. He then returned to Plymouth, and did contract work for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company until July, 1891, when he accepted the position of fire-boss at No. 11, where he has since been engaged. Mr. Cross was married April 5, 1883, to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Rodgers of Plymouth, Pa. Two children have blessed this union: Eva May, born September 26, 1884, and Maud, born December 14, 1890. Our subject affiliates with the Democratic party. The family attend the Episcopal Church.

AUGUSTUS CROUSE, carpenter, P. O. Rock Glen, was born in North Union, Schuyl- kill Co., Pa., February 2, 1850, a son of Peter and Matilda (Pennybaker) Crouse. His great-grandfather, Samuel Crouse, a native of Germany, was a Revolutionary soldier, serving throughout the entire war. His grandfather, Frederick Crouse, a native of Pennsylvania, was a pioneer of Black Creek township, where he cleared a large farm and died. He had a family of nine children, of whom six grew to maturity. Peter, the father of our subject, was the eighth child, and was reared in Black Creek township. In 1851 he removed to Auglaize county, Ohio, where he still resides. His children were Mary A., Augustus, John, Sarah, Cynthia, Gabriel and Clara. Our subject was reared in Auglaize county, Ohio, serving an appren- ticeship of two years at the carpenter's trade, and in 1875 located in Black Creek township, where he has since resided and followed his trade. He married Hannah, daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Eroh) Shellhammer, of Black Creek township, and he has five children living: Clara May, Bertha Maud, Stella Elizabeth, Mintil Pearl and Mabel Grace. Mr. Crouse is a member of the Reformed Church; in politics he is a Democrat, and is now serving his first term as school director of Black Creek township.

CHARLES CROUSE, mine-foreman, Stockton, was born at White Haven, Pa., in 1863, and is the seventh in the family of nine children of John W. and Anna (Dick) Crouse, natives of this county. When Charles was quite young the family located at Wanamie, and there he was reared. He began working about the mines at an early age, and, with the exception of three years spent in the Wilkes-Barre shops and one year railroading in New Mexico, has followed mining all his life. In 1883 he worked as a miner for the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, and continued with them until 1890 when he was appointed mine-foreman at No. 6 Stockton mines, operated by Linderman, Skeer & Co .; he has charge of 125 men. In 1886 Mr. Crouse was married to Miss Rachel, daughter of James G. and Lucy (Fritz) Brookmire, of Upper Lehigh, Pa., and one daughter, Alvena, has blessed this union. Politically Mr. Crouse casts his vote with the Republican party. Socially he is a member of the F. & A. M.

JAMES CRULIP, retired farmer, P. O. Idetown, was born in Roxbury, Warren Co., N. J., and is a son of Samuel and Zenah (Bonward) Crulip; the latter was an early citizen of this county, and a hard-working, industrious and honest man. His son James came to this county in 1843, locating in Lehman, where he has since remained. On May 16, 1846, he married Miss Martha, daughter of Simon P. and Catherine Sites, by whom he has had five children, one now living, Sarah L. (Mrs. Flynn, the mother of four children). James Crulip enlisted in 1861, becoming a member of Company F, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for the term of three years; he served his full time, was honorably discharged, and then re-enlisted in the

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

same command, serving to the close of the war. His son, W. B., was also a mem- ber of the same command, and was shot at the battle of Cold Harbor, for which loss his mother draws a pension. The Crulips are living on a neat little farm belong- ing to Mrs. Martha Crulips, on which they raise a " mixed crop." Politically he is a Republican.

JOHN J. CULP, Lake, P. O. Silkworth, was born in Hunlock township, this county, January 15, 1866, and is a son of Lewis and Matilda J. (Owens) Culp, who for many years were residents of Hunlock township, where the father died in 1872. Their children were George, Maggie (Mrs. Robert Hunter), Florence (Mrs. A. C. Kitchen), John J., William and Fredrick. Our subject was reared in Hunlock township, where he now resides; was married June 18, 1891, to Hattie E., daughter of William and Priscilla (Cragle) Hunter, of Hunlock township, and has one daughter, Edna V.

CHARLES CULVER, farmer, Forty Fort, was born August 8, 1846, in the town where he now lives, and is a son of William and Rachel (Culver) Culver, natives of Luzerne county, and of English and Dutch origin, respectively. The father, who was one of the best carpenters in the Valley, reared a family of eleven children, four of whom are living, and of whom Charles is the youngest. Our subject was reared on the farm, educated in the common school, and, embarking in life at the age of twenty-one, he followed the example of his father and chose carpentering for his trade. This he followed eight years, and then began farming on rented farms, at which he has since continued. In 1887 he removed to the farm where he now lives, and which is owned by Robert Shoemaker. Mr. Culver was married, January 17, 1868, to Miss Ann, daughter of Thomas and Ann (Jordan) McGarry, na- tives of Ireland. Our subject and wife have had five children, two of whom are living, viz .: Mary C. and Charles M., both living with their parents. Mrs. Culver is a mem- ber of the Catholic Church at Kingston. Mr. Culver is justly proud to say that in political matters he votes strictly according to the dictates of his own conscience.

D. O. CULVER, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born in Exeter (now Franklin) town- ship March 4, 1832, a son of John and Maria (Besteder) Culver, the former of whom was born in Tunkhannock, Pa., in 1802, the latter in Orange county, N. Y., in 1807. John Culver was a prosperous farmer in what is now Franklin township. As a farmer he was practical, always looking to the improvement of home and environments, and was a man of intelligence and influence in his day. He reared a family of four children, viz. : Mary J. D., D. O., John B. and Phoebe A. Of these, Mary J. D. is an accomplished lady who graduated with honors from Wyo- ming Seminary (she is now Mrs. Evans, whose husband owns a lumber-mill in West Virginia); D. O. is the subject of this sketch; John B. was also educated at the Wyoming Seminary, attended the Medical College at Ann Arbor, Mich., subse- quently studied medicine under Dr. Buckley, of Wilkes-Barre, and in 1860 began the practice of medicine (in 1863 he entered the army as a private in the One Hun- dred and Forty-ninth Regiment, P. V. I., known as the "Bucktails," and in the same year became surgeon of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth P. V. I., serv- ing in that capacity until the close of the war; he is now practicing medicine in Kansas); Phobe A. is an educated and refined lady, making her home with her brother, D. O. John Culver died in March, 1877, aged seventy-five years; his wife, Maria, died in April, 1869, at the age of sixty-two years. John Culver was a son of David and Eunice (Osburn) Culver, the former of whom was born on Schooley's Mountain, N. J., from whence he removed to this county, where he bought a tract of 300 acres, 100 of which he cleared and improved during his busy life. He was a hard-working man and a worthy citizen. He lived to be sixty-three years of age, and reared a family of nine children, one of whom now lives named Lewis. David Culver was a son of David Culver, also a resident of Schooley's Mountain. The latter David was a son of Robert Culver, and also a native of New Jersey, a descendant of one of two brothers who came over to this country in the "Mayflower."

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

D. O. Culver was educated at Wyoming Seminary, and in early life taught school with marked success. He is also a natural mechanic and practical farmer, always keeping abreast of the times. He is a man of intelligence, with a fund of knowledge always on hand, and the ability to explain himself to the simplest mind. His farm consists of eighty acres of fertile land well improved; and, while his crops are "mixed," he pays special attention to potatoes. He has made many neces- sary improvements on his farm and buildings; his house is neat and beautifully arranged; his outbuildings are commodious, while his farm is in perfect order. In 1859 Mr. Culver was married to Miss Phebe D., daughter of Samuel and Su- sanna Snell, by which union there were born children as follows: Schuyler W., Geraldine W., Stanley P. (deceased), Viola M., Emily G., Edith S., Daisy B. and D. O., Jr., all of whom are accomplished in music and other arts, and are mem- bers of the M. E. Church in good standing. Mrs. Phebe D. Culver died June, 1888. She was born in Exeter township, Wyoming Co., Penn., in 1838. The Culvers are numerous, their name being represented in various parts of the country in connection with offices of trust and responsibility in the various stations of life; but, practically, they are rather producers than consumers. Politically they are Republicans.

JOHN M. CULVER, farmer, P. O. Hunlock Creek, was born, January 28, 1842, reared and educated at Forty Fort. He is the son of William and Rachel (Cul- ver) Culver, the former of whom was born near Inmans Ferry, in Hanover town- ship, the latter in Exeter (now Franklin) township. William was a son of George Culver, who was a native of Connecticut and a pioneer settler of Hanover township. He was by occupation a shoemaker and an excellent mechanic. George Culver reared a large family, and lived to be a good old age. His son William removed from Inmans Ferry to Forty Fort when a young man, and there bought a property on which he lived all his life. There he married Rachel Culver, and there reared a family of ten children out of twelve born to them, four of whom are still liv- ing. William Culver was a carpenter by occupation, and built a number of arks, on board of which coal was shipped down the river. He was a consistent mem- ber of the M. E. Church, and was respected for his moral worth by all who knew him. John M. is the eleventh child in order of birth. In early life he learned the painter's trade, at which he worked for eighteen years. During the Civil war he entered the U. S. service, enlisting in Company C, Forty-ninth O. V. I., army of the Cumberland, for three years. He participated in several important battles, Chattanooga, Stone River, Shiloh and others, being made prisoner at Stone River and was paroled, after which he returned home. During his visit home, while on parole, Mr. Culver was employed to assist in the arrest of a notorious character, who was a member of the "Golden Circle." The desperado was arrested, and for Mr. Culver's complicity in his arrest his companions shot and wounded him, at another time trying to poison him. He finally returned to the army for another term of service in the same command, serving altogether four years and four months, receiving an honorable discharge and now enjoying a pension, to which he is fully entitled. After his return from the scenes of war, Mr. Culver resided in Ohio for two years and then removed to Forty Fort, his native place, where, in 1868, he married Miss Anna, daughter of Adam and Hannah Rennard. To this union have been born six children, four of whom are living: Ida, Archie, Bessie and Edith. Mrs. Anna Culver was born at Kingston in 1844. In 1886 Mr. Cul- ver removed to Hunlock township on what is known as the Hunlock property, a farm of ninety-nine acres. He is a practical farmer and a loyal citizen. Polit- ically he is a Republican, and has been elected to several township offices, showing the confidence his fellow-citizens repose in him.

LEWIS CULVER, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born February 16, 1811, in Exeter township, this county, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of David and Eunice (Osburn) Culver, the former born in Hunterdon county, N. J., the latter in Elizabethport, same State. David Culver was a son of David Culver, who was also

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

a native of Hunterdon county, N. J., descending from English people on the Cul- ver side, and from Scotch ancestry on the other side. It is given by some authority that the Culvers sprung from two brothers who came to this country about 1763, settling in the State of Connecticut, and whose descendants subsequently removed to Schooley's Mountain, New Jersey. David (first) and his son David (second), migrated to what is now Wilkes-Barre, this county, in April, 1797, and in June of the same year they moved to Exeter township, after having built them a cabin on 300 acres of land purchased from the Bebee Bros. After David (first) had made provisions for his sons, he returned to New Jersey where he died at the age of sixty years. David, his son, always lived on the place on which he settled, a hard-work- ing, honest yeoman, and a man of marked brilliancy; was a stanch Democrat, and a man of some influence. He was born November 21, 1769, and died in November, 1831, aged sixty-two years. He reared a family of nine children, all of whom grew to maturity, Lewis, the subject of this sketch, being the only one living. Our sub- ject, early in life, learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for some seven- teen years, during which time he was not on his farm; but on account of poor health he gave up shoemaking, and is now living on part of the old homestead, consisting . of sixty-five acres. He is a general farmer, and a man of marked intelligence; one who exercised much influence in his younger days. On December 28, 1837, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Elizabeth Hadsell, and by her he had nine children, four of whom are living: Harriet, William H., Evangeline and Mir- iam. Of these, Harriet married George Dymond; Evangeline married Thomas Tracy, and Miriam married T. J. Miller. Mrs. Culver was born in Exeter, June 16, 1815. Her grandfather, James Hadsell, and her great-grandfather were both slain by the Indians, the former at the Wyoming massacre, the latter at another time and place. Lewis Culver is a stanch Democrat, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the M. E. Church.

NATHAN CULVER, farmer, P. O. Irish Lane, was born July 14, 1844, in Ross township, where he was reared and educated, a son of Joel R. and Ann (Wandel) Culver, the former born in Union township in 1817, the latter in Ross township in 1820. Joel R. was a son of Simeon Culver, who removed from Connecticut to this county with his father, Reuben Culver, they locating near Town Line, Union town- ship. Reuben had a family of ten children-five sons and five daughters. Simeon had a family of seven children, and died in 1820, aged thirty-five years. They were sturdy pioneers. Joel R. began his active business life as a farmer in Ross township, owning a neat farm of sixty acres, which he worked in a practical man- ner. This farm was taken out of the wild woods, showing him to have been a hard- working and industrious man. He was a member of the M. E. Church, of which he was a class-leader for a number of years, and was a man of intelligence and influ- ence. He died April 10, 1889, aged seventy-two years. His family consisted of eight children, six of whom are yet living, Nathan being the third in the family. Our subject has always confined himself to farming, and is a practical agriculturist. He owns thirty-five acres of land, on which he moved in 1871, and has made thereon many needed improvements in buildings and fences, etc. On March 5, 1868, he married Miss Rebecca, daughter of Joseph and Sarah A. Nevel, and to this union were born six children, four of whom are yet living: Millie A., Wilbur H., Joel R. and Lena B. Mrs. Rebecca Culver was born in Ross township, September 19, 1846. Our subject and wife are both members of the M. E. Church, in good standing. They are well respected' for their worth as good neighbors and loyal citizens of the common wealth.

WILLIAM CULVER, breaker-builder, Forty Fort borough, was born June 3, 1828, at Forty Fort, and is a son of William and Rachel (Culver) Culver, natives of New Jersey, of English descent. The father came to Pennsylvania when young, and engaged in farming. Our subject is the fourth in a family of fourteen children, four of whom are now living; he was educated at the public schools, and at the age of twenty engaged as boatman on the Morris Canal for two years. He then came to

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Luzerne county and worked as boat-builder for sixteen years. He then became a breaker-builder, and has followed that business ever since. He was married April 5, 1850, to Mary A., daughter of Richard and Effie (Miller) Crosby, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and German descent, respectively. By this union he had four children, two now living: Mylert L., a painter, married Loretta Rennard, daughter of Adam Rennard (they have nine children: Lizzie, Dewight, A. Cora, Maud, William, Jane A., Robert P., Edwin and Mary); and Lutisha J., married William O. Thomas, an engineer at Plymouth (they have two children: Emma S. and William C.). Mrs. Culver is a member of the Methodist Church, and in politics Mr. Culver is a stanch Democrat.

PATRICK CUMMINGS, a prominent citizen of Inkerman, Jenkins township, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, December 25, 1831, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Brown) Cummings. The father, who was a farmer, reared a family of four chil- dren, two of whom are living, viz. : Mary (Mrs. Patrick McCauvic) and Patrick. Our subject came to America in 1847, first locating in New Jersey, where he followed farming two years, after which he removed to Pottsville, Pa., and here worked about the mines for one year. He was then employed on the Pennsylvania Gravity Rail- road for about six months after which he was engaged in farming in Wyoming five years. He then removed to Jenkins township, where he has since resided, having been engaged in mining in all thirty-three years, during a great portion of which time he also operated a farm. Besides his property in Jenkins township, Mr. Cum- mings has property in Pittston, and a valuable farm in Newton county, Mo. He is a fair example of what enterprise and honest effort will do in this great land. Mr. Cummings was married January 1, 1854, to Miss Bridget, daughter of Richard and Catherine (Kirwan) McGrail, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, and they have five children, viz .: John, who is somewhere in Colorado; Michael, a merchant in Inker- man; Catherine (Mrs. Martin Gilroy, in Pittston); Mary (Mrs. Frank Boughan, in Pittston); and Thomas, who is engaged with the Acme Oil Company, Pittston. Mr. Cummings and family are members of the Catholic Church. He is a Democrat in his political views, and has held the offices of constable and supervisor in Jenkins township.

MICHAEL CUNNIFF, hotel-keeper, Wilkes-Barre, was born in County Galway, Ire- land, May 17, 1855, and is a sou of Patrick and Bridget (Reynolds) Cunniff. In June, 1859, he emigrated to America with his parents, locating in Schuylkill county, Pa., where he was reared until seventeen years of age. In July, 1872, he came to Wilkes- Barre, where, with the exception of five years spent in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Mexico and Arizona, he has since resided, and with the exception of three years engaged at railroading, he was employed at mining from twelve years of age until 1877. He then embarked in the hotel business, in which he still continues. Mr. Cunniff was married September 6, 1877, to Bridget, daughter of Edward and Catherine (John- son) Leslie, of Summit Hill, Carbon Co., Pa., and has one daughter living, named Annie. He is a member of the Catholic Church and of the A. O. H .; in politics he is a Democrat, and in 1890-91 was supervisor of Wilkes-Barre township.

JOHN M. CUNNIUS, proprietor of the Freeland Planing-mill, builder and contract- or, and dealer in all kinds of building material, Freeland. is a native of Drum's, this county, and is a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Michael) Cunnius. His father, who was a native of Butler township, was a carpenter and builder, and still, at the age of seventy-two years works at his trade. In the family there were two children: Lydia (now Mrs. Nathan Snyder, of Fairview, Pa.), and John M. The mother died when the latter was fourteen days old. Our subject was reared and educated in Conyngham Valley, and labored on a farm until he was sixteen years of age: He then worked with his father at carpentering for two years; he then did journey work at Ashburton and Yorktown, in all three years. On March 6, 1866, came to Upper Lehigh, and there worked at his trade a short time, and where he has since remained. In 1872 he engaged in contracting and building, which he has since successfully pursued. He makes a specialty of building contracts, and constantly

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

employs from fifteen to twenty mechanics. In 1890 he purchased the Freeland Planing-mill, and has since utilized that institution to great advantage in his business. Mr. Cunnius was married in 1868 to Miss Laura Jane Santee, of Butler Valley, which union has been blessed with five children, viz .: Oscar Elsworth, Charles E., Calvin T., Alfred R. and Anna L. "By industry we thrive" is an expression which peculiarly covers the case of this gentleman. When he came to this locality he was scarcely worth the coat he wore, but to-day he is the owner of a great deal of property in Freeland aud vicinity. He is a citizen of much worth to the com- munity where he lives.

W. DAVID CURNOW, proprietor of meat-market, Hazleton. This popular young business man was born in Hazle township, a short distance from the city of Hazle- ton, January 17, 1868. He is a son of William and Anna (Holman) Curnow, natives of England, who came to America in 1866, locating at Beaver Meadows, where they remained a short time, subsequently removing to Stockton, where the subject of our sketch, who is second in a family of four children, was born and reared. After the close of his short school life, Mr. Curnow, worked in the mines, and has done all the work pertaining to mining coal, from slate-picking to cracking coal. He also ran a stationary engine for several years. Tiring of the mines, he engaged with Henry & Curtis in the meat business, and learned the trade. He then opened his present market, where he commands a very profitable and flourishing trade. Mr. Curnow votes the Republican ticket, and was brought up in the Methodist Episco- pal faith. He is, at present, unmarried.

GILBERT V. CURRY, principal of schools, Mill Creek, was born in Denny, Scot- land, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Granahan) Curry, natives of Fermanagh and Tyrone Counties, Ireland. The family came to this country in 1865 and located at Buttonwood, where the father was engaged as fire-boss for one year; from there they removed to Wilkes-Barre, and for four years kept hotel. In 1870 they came to Plains township, where the widow and surviving children now reside. The family consisted of eleven children, four of whom are living, and of whom Gilbert V. is the seventh; the surviving ones are John J., who is engaged with Gilbert V. in the bottling business at Plains; James, who is a blacksmith for Simpson & Watkins, Duryea, Pa .; Gilbert V., the subject of this sketch, and Thomas, a carpenter, at Plains. Our subject was educated in the public schools of the township, and is a graduate of the State Normal School at Bloomsburg, class of 1886. He has taught for seven years in the public schools of Plains, and is now principal of schools at Mill Creek, Plains township. He is now registered as a student at law in the office of James L. Lenahan, Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Curry is a prominent member of the A. O. H., and of Father Mathew Society. . The family are supporters of Catholicity and Democracy.

JAMES CURRY, hotel proprietor, Edwardsville, was born. in England, May 10, 1843, and is a son of Henry and Martha (Harris) Curry, both natives of Cornwall, England. Our subject was educated in his native country, and came to America at the age of twenty-three, locating at Dover, N. J., where he was engaged in mining about three years. He then moved to Schuylkill county, Pa., where he also fol- lowed mining, remaining a little over a year, after which he came to Kingston, where he still followed the same business, being thirteen years in the employ of G. W. Payne & Co. In 1872 he came to Edwardsville, then a part of Plymouth town- ship, and embarked in the hotel business, of which he has made an eminent success, as he is a typical, courteous and obliging landlord. Mr. Curry was married in 1866 to Miss Mary Reard, of Dover, N. J. He was one of the first councilmen of Ed- wardsville, and was president of the council. He is a highly respected citizen of the locality and a prominent supporter of every worthy, popular enterprise.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 111

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