History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 113

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

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which he owns. He was married September 30, 1868, to Miss Cassie E., daughter of Perry and Mary Ann Wilkenson. By her he has had two children: Frank L., aged twenty-one; and Dana W., aged fifteen. Mrs. Cassie (Wilkenson) Davenport was born in Ross township May 8, 1848. Mr. Davenport is a practical farmer, who, since he has owned the homestead, has made marked and visible improvements, not only improving the farm, but also building extensively. He has held the office of constable and other offices. He was justice of the peace ten years. On March 24, 1864, he became a member of Company B, Second P. V. C., for the term of three years. He served to the close of the war, and received an honorable discharge. In politics he is a Democrat; he is a member of the G. A. R. He, with his wife, is a member of the M. E. Church, in good standing.

THOMAS DAVENPORT, proprietor of the " Union House," Shickshinny, was born in Huntington township, Luzerne Co., Pa., June 12, 1829, a son of Stephen and Eliza- beth (Tubbs) Davenport. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Davenport, a native of Connecticut, was a pioneer farmer of Plymouth township, where he died. His sons were Robert, Samuel, John, Oliver, Daniel and Stephen; the latter, who was born in Plymouth, settled in Huntington township in 1829, where he was engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1885, when he was aged eighty-five years. His wife was a daughter of Earl Tubbs, of Huntington township, where he had eight children born to him: Hanford, William, Thomas, Earl, Samuel, Ada (Mrs. Charles Good), Charlotte (Mrs. Righter Swingle), and Elizabeth (Mrs. Wells Wagner). Our subject was reared in his native township, and in 1850 embarked in merchandising at Town Line, where he was in business five years, and also at

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Shickshinny from 1835 to 1862. In fall of the latter year he joined Company I, One Hundred and Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, as lieutenant, and, after two years' service, was honorably discharged; during that term he was also engaged in the lumber busines in Fairmount township, in which he still continues. Before the war, he boated on the canal several years, as well as being engaged in various other enterprises; since 1891 he has been in the hotel business at Shickshinny, in the hotel erected by himself in 1858. Mr. Davenport was twice married, his first wife being Diana, daughter of Jacob Good, of Huntington township, and by her he has three children living: Rosa (Mrs. William Eckroth), Gertrude (Mrs. George Grose), and Samuel. His present wife was Mrs. Parmelia (McCafferty) Coons. Mr. Davenport is a member of the G. A. R. and, in politics, is a Democrat.

WILLIAM DAVENPORT, merchant, Town Line, was born in Plymouth January 14, 1827, and is a son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Tubbs) Davenport, the former born in Plymouth August 14, 1800, the latter in Huntington in 1802. Stephen was a son of Thomas, who, with his brother Robert, took an active part in the Wyoming Massa- cre, having just moved from Connecticut into the Valley that day. They escaped to Plymouth after shooting two Indians who pursued them. The brothers immediately returned to Connecticut, where they remained a few years, when they returned again to the Wyoming Valley, and located in Plymouth, where some of their descendants now reside. Thomas owned considerable land in Plymouth, being one of the first pioneers in that part of the Valley. He died at an advanced age. His family consisted of twelve children, who in their turn became sturdy pioneers in the Wyoming Valley. Stephen, his son, began active business in Plymouth. His prop- erty was extensive, and under it were valuable coal beds, consequently in those days he was an active coal operator; he shipped his coal down the river in arks, owning two, and running them himself. In 1829 he removed to Town Line, where he pur- chased 300 acres of virgin soil, on which he built, improving about 200 acres during his life-time. He was a thorough-going business man as well as a practical farmer; everything he touched seemed to prosper. Mr. Davenport was a strong Democrat and a man of influence in his party; during 1862-65 he was elected county commis- sioner. He died August 22, 1885, aged eighty-five years, after an eventful, busy and useful life. His family consisted of eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity, and six of whom are living now. William is the third in order of birth, and was reared and educated in Huntington township, spending two terms in Kingston. In early life he followed farming, and at one time was engaged as clerk, when he learned the secrets of the mercantile trade, and in 1850 entered the mercan- tile business for himself, having carried on the business successfully ever since. He has a large store-room filled with the choicest of goods, believing in selling goods cheap, though not in selling cheap goods. Under his business tact aud judgment he has succeeded in establishing a large and lasting trade. Five years after he began his storekeeping, he married, on February 25, 1855, Miss Adeline, daughter of A. and Sarah Harrison. To them has been born one son, L. B., who is married to Miss Rose Wilkinson. Mrs. Adeline (Harrison) Davenport was born in Huntington in 1835. Mr. Davenport has held the postoffice for the last thirty-six years under every administration, and is a Democrat in politics. He is universally liked as a thorough- going business man.

BENJAMIN DAVEY, SR., mine contractor, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Cornwall, England, November 28, 1846, a son of Benjamin and Ann (Firstbrook) Davey. He was reared and educated in his native country, where he began life in the mines at twelve years of age, and followed the different grades of mining from a beginner up, until 1866. He then came to America, locating in northern Michigan, where he was employed in the copper mines for five years. In 1871 he located in Wilkes-Barre, and has since been continuously engaged in mining, contracting, sinking shafts, etc., with the exception of one year spent in California in the gold mines. In 1887 Mr. Davey formed a partnership with John Wasley, under the firm name of Davey & Wasley. Mr. Davey has been twice married: first in 1866 to Caroline, daughter of

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Bartholomew and Mary (Ninners) Youren, of Cornwall, England, by whom he had three children, Benjamin, Jr., Carrie and Thomas; his second wife was Anna, daughter of George Stockham, of Plymouth, Pa., and by her he has two children, Hannah and George. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and of the I. O. F .; in politics he is a Republican.

BENJAMIN DAVEY, JR., architect, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Marquette, Mich., November 17, 1867, and is a son of Benjamin and Caroline (Youren) Davey. He was reared in Luzerne county, Pa., from four years of age, and educated in the pub- lic schools of Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth. In 1880 he began the study of archi- tecture in the office of J. H. W. Hawkins, of Wilkes-Barre, and has since followed the business, forming a partnership with Stanley W. Walker, in 1890, under the firm name of Davey & Walker. In 1892 he succeeded Mr. Walker, and has built up a successful business, not only in the city of Wilkes-Barre, but in the entire State. Mr. Davey married June 30, 1891, Mary I., daughter of Asa L. and Mary (Kutz) Gardner, of Wilkes-Barre, and by her has one child, Benjamin. Our sub- ject is an active member of the U. R. and K. of P .; politically, he is a stanch Republican.

REV. JACOB E. DAVIES, pastor of the Welsh Baptist Church, Plymouth. This energetic young minister was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, May 22, 1855, and is a son of Esau and Ann (Evans) Davies, natives of Carmarthenshire, South Wales. He is the third son of a family of six, four of whom are living. He came to America in 1872, and first settled in Frostburg, Md., where he remained but a short time, moving from there to Lewisburg, Union Co., Pa. Heimmediately there- after entered Lewisburg (now Bucknell) University, where, after six and one-half years of close study and constant application, he graduated with high honors in the class of 1884. He then commenced the ministry at Providence, Pa., where he was ordained August 22, 1884, remaining there four years, at the end of which time he came to Plymouth, where he has since been pastor of the Welsh Baptist Church. Mr. Davies has been twice married: first to Miss Anna Jane, daughter of John A. and Margaret (Arthur) Williams, natives of Glamorganshire, South Wales. To this union was born, December 1, 1886, one child: Marguerite, who was not destined to know a mother's love long, as the latter died October 19, 1889. Mr. Davies married for his second wife, September 2, 1891, Jennie E., daughter of David P. and Eliza- beth (Edwards) Edwards, natives of Wales. In politics our subject is a stanch Pro- hibitionist. He is a member of the Tonti and Ivorites.

JAMES B. DAVIES, general superintendent of Plymouth Coal Company, Plymouth. Among the many men who have done much in developing the mines of Luzerne county, none are more prominent or have been more successful in their efforts than the one whose name opens this sketch. His experiences in the coal regions of Penn- sylvania have been vast, and during the troublesome Molly Maguire period, his position was not an enviable one. He at that time was inside foreman at the famous Nottingham Shaft. The subject of this sketch was born in Llangammarch, Breconshire, South Wales, April 26, 1840, and is the eldest in the family of four children of John P. and Mary (Bevan) Davies, natives of Wales. James B. Davies in 1856 moved to Aberdare, in Glamorganshire, where he was engaged in mining until 1868, in which year he came to America, locating at Wilkes-Barre, and engaged at mining in the Hollenback and Kidder and No. 4 Slopes. At the latter place he remained but a short time, however, as he was given a position as fire-boss at the Empire Shaft, and he had held this position for a short period only, when he was appointed foreman at what is known as the "great mine fire," which position he held until February 1, 1874, when he took that of inside foreman at the Nottingham Shaft, where he remained nine and one-half years. When he took this position, the mine was yielding 450 tons of coal daily, and after nine years under his manage- ment, it was brought up to the capacity of 2,000 tons daily. In 1883 he was chosen by the Plymouth Coal Company as general superintendent, which position he has since creditably filled. He has under his charge about 1,050 hands, mining

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

2,000 tons daily. It can be truthfully said that Mr. Davies has the entire confidence of his employers as well as the respect of those who are under his supervision. He was married January 10, 1871, to Miss Annie, daughter of Capt. William and Eliza- beth (Cavalry) Smith, natives of North Wales. Nine children have been born to this union, namely: Mary (a teacher in the Plymouth schools), Emily (also a teacher in the Plymouth schools), Gertrude, Cora (deceased), Ernest (deceased), Mabel Louise (deceased), Lenore, Bruce and Stanley. Mr. Davies is a Republican. He is deacon of the Welsh Presbyterian Church, and always very ready to defend Cal- vinism at any cost.

JOHN B. DAVIES, inside foreman at the Dodson Colliery. This pleasant and in- telligent gentleman was born, November 4, 1845, in Breconshire, South Wales, the third in a family of four children born to John P. and Mary (Bevan) Davies, natives of Wales. The family removed to Aberdale, Wales, where the children were edu- cated and reared. John B. at an early age began work in the iron ore mines, doing almost everything that pertained to mining. In 1868 he came to America, locating at Wilkes-Barre, where he was engaged at mining in the Old Kidder Shaft, remain- ing there about seven years. He then came to Plymouth and worked at the Notting- ham for five and one-half years, first as timberman, then as fire-boss, and lastly as as- sistant inside foreman. After quitting the Nottingham, he took charge of and opened up the Dodson, which at that time was " squeezed" or "caned," and he has since 1882 acted in the capacity of inside foreman at that colliery. There are under his charge about 250 men, who take out 700 tons of coal daily. Politically Mr. Davies is a Republican; he attends the Presbyterian Church. He and his sister are living with and caring for their aged and honored father, our subject having never yielded to Cupid's charms.

L. J. DAVIES, merchant tailor. This popular business man of Hazleton is a native of Bettews, Glamorganshire, South Wales. When he was an infant, his par- ents remove to Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, South Wales, and here he was reared and educated to the age of thirteen, serving an apprenticeship at tailoring and cutting. He then went to Aberavon, where he remained for a time, continuing to follow his trade there and in various towns throughout England and Wales until 1887, when he came to America and Pennsylvania. He worked in Shenandoah, Bethlehem, and Freeland, and in August, 1892, established his present business in Hazle- ton, where he is doing an extensive business, and keeps constantly in his employ from twelve to fifteen tailors. It may here be truly and appropriately said of Mr. Davies, that he is master of his art. As a cutter he is equaled by few, and excelled by none. He has taken a course in cutting in the London Cutting School, where he graduated; and he also graduated at the Cutting School of J. J. Mitchell, New York. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is a very close student of the Scriptures.

REESE DAVIES, inside foreman at Tomhicken Colliery, for Coxe Bros. & Co., Sugarloaf, was born in Yetradgynlais, Glamorganshire, Wales, March 22, 1842, a son of William and Magdalena (Lewis) Davies. He was reared in his native coun- try, began work about the mines at eleven years of age, and at sixteen engaged in mining in Wales, at which he was employed until 1865. In this year he came to America and located in Luzerne county, Pa., where, with the exception of seven years spent at Honeybrook, Schuylkill Co., Pa., he has since resided. Since 1881 he has been inside foreman of the Tomhicken Colliery. In 1861 Mr. Davies mar- ried Ann, daughter of Reese and Mary (Jones) Morgan, of Wales, by whom he had seventeen children, ten of whom survive: Jeannette (Mrs. Watkins Buckland), Reese, Maggie A. (Mrs. James Maffan), Winnie, Gomer, Gwilym, Daniel, Isaac, Lizzie and Arthur. Mr. Davies is a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics is a Pro- hibitionist.

REESE M. DAVIES, justice of the peace, Edwardsville. The gentlemen whose name heads this biography was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, and is a son of David and Sarah (Jones) Davies, both natives of that country. In his father's

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family there were four children, viz. : David (deceased); Eliza (deceased); Mary, who married Abram Jones, a native of Wales, and now a resident of Scranton; and Reese M. (the subject of this memoir). Mr. Davies came to America in 1870, locat- ing at Pittston, where he remained about eight months engaged in mining, and removed from there to Olyphant, Pa., where he also engaged in mining and remained four years, thence going to Duck Pond, where he remained but a short time. He next removed to Plymouth, coming from there to Edwardsville, where he has since resided. Mr. Davies was married May 15, 1874, to Miss Mary Davies (now deceased), of Olyphant, and a native of Wales, by whom he had three children, viz. : David, John Daniel (deceased) and Daniel. He married, for his second wife, Mrs. Sarah (Hughes) Williams, widow of Thomas Williams, of Tay- lorsville. Our subject is a member of the Congregational Church, the I. O. O. F., and K. of P., and in his political views is a Republican. He has been burgess of Edwardsville four terms, and assessor one term, and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace.

WILLIAM DAVIES, farmer, P. O. Avoca, was born in England, December 19, 1847, a son of Joseph and Mary (Scovil) Davies, both also natives of England. Joseph followed mining in his younger days, but when age " grew on apace" he took to other vocations. He was a hard-working and industrious man, and died in October, 1882, at the age of seventy years. There were ten children born to him, nine of whom grew to maturity, and seven of them are now living, four being in the country. Our subject, who is the fifth in the family, was reared and educated in England, and was twenty-two years of age when, in 1870, he emigrated to this country. He located in Moosic, Pa., where he followed mining, at which he worked till 1890, when he purchased a farm of thirty-five acres of well-improved land, which he crowds to the utmost capacity, his principal produce being "truck." At the age of twenty-one, August 24, 1868, he married Miss Emma, daughter of John and Charlotta Whitlock, and by her he had seven children, four of whom are living: Joseph E., Elizabeth A., Charles C., and James H. Mrs. Emma Davies was born in England, April 7, 1848. Mr. Davies is a practical man and a hard worker. He has held some township offices. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Ancient Order of Foresters.

WILLIAM E. DAVIES, road-master of the D. S. & S. R. R., Drifton. This popular railroad man is a native of Merthyr Tydvill, South Wales, and was born June 18, 1850, a son of Thomas and Mary (Price) Davies. His father is now a section fore- man on the D. S. & S. R. R., and resides at Drifton; the mother died in the old country. Thomas came here in 1862, and his son William E., came five years later. Our subject had worked in the mines in his native land from his boyhood days, and when he came to America he naturally followed that business. He commenced work in the mines at Providence, and worked in Mill Creek, Avondale, Nanticoke, Wilkes-Barre and Parsons, in these places following mine contracting. In 1877 he came to Drifton, and was engaged in rock mining, track laying, coal mining, etc. After remaining here over three years, he was sent to Deringer, where he had charge of the construction gang for a time, and then came to Drifton, continuing in the same capacity until the year of 1890, when he was appointed road-master of the D. S. & S. R. R., where he has since been engaged. Mr. Davies was married in 1870 to Miss Amelia Deets, of Nanticoke. They have had thirteen children, six of whom are living. We deem it true to say of Mr. Davies, that he has had more mining and construction experience than any other man in the anthracite regions. When only eight years of age he went into the mines in Wales, and has since made mining his sole occupation. He has wholly educated himself, not only in the com- mon branches, but also extensively in the higher mathematics and sciences to such an extent, that he is, in fact, master of all the mathematical technicalities of mining and civil engineering. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and the I. O. O. F., and K. of P.

B. F. DAVIS, dealer in flour, feed, hay and grain, Freeland, is a native of Buck

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY. .

Mountain, Carbon county, born March 4, 1859. He is a son of David W. and. Elizabeth (Williams) Davis, both natives of Merthyr Tydvill, South Wales. Mr. Davis was educated in the public schools, and at the age of nine began picking slate at Laneford, Carbon county. He worked around the mines about three years, when he received employment as clerk in the store of A. M. Newmiller, at Lansford. He worked there about two years, when he returned to the breaker, working there another year and a half, when, in 1875, he came to Freeland, and entered the employ of H. C. Koons as clerk, remaining with him two years. He then entered the Kutztown State Normal School, in Berks county, and attended this Institute one year, after which he returned to the employ of H. C. Koong, where he remained until January 1, 1887, when he engaged in clerking for J. C. Berner. He remained with him until April of that year, when he bought out the flour, feed and hay busi- ness of Kalbfas & Jones, which he has since successfully conducted. Mr. Davis was married in 1882 to Miss Lizzie Monroe, of Hazleton, and they have four children, viz .: Walter, William, Jennie and Bessie. Our subject is a member of the P. O. S. of A., the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and the Knights of Malta. He has been burgess of Freeland one term, chief of the Freeland Fire Department two terms, and chief of police one term. His political preferences are Republican.

DANIEL D. DAVIS, miner, Plains, was born in South Wales, August 1, 1847, and is a son of Urias and Ann (Enyon) Davis; his father, who was a quarry contractor, reared a family of fourteen children, of whom eight are living, and of whom he is the eleventh. When our subject was seven years old his mother died, and two weeks later his father, who had previously made two trips to America, left his fam- ily, and nothing was ever again known of him by any of them. This of course left the children to make their own way in the world, the elder assisting the younger. In 1861 Daniel D., three brothers and a sister came to America and found a home with their elder brother, John D., who lived at Scranton. Our sub- ject began life in the New World driving a mule, and has worked his way through the various stages until now he is a full-fledged miner, at which occupation he has worked twenty-four years. Mr. Davis was married, February 27, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Jenkin B. and Elizabeth (Parry) Jones, and they have one child, Peury J., they also have an adopted daughter, Emily. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Welsh Congregational Church in which he is financier; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., I. O. R. M. and Ivorites, and he is a Republican.

E. M. DAVIS, physician and surgeon, Glen Lyon, Newport township, was born in Johnstown, Pa., January 14, 1861, and is a son of David P. and Rachel (Lloyd) Davis, the former of whom is now a merchant in Plymouth, Pa. The family con- sists of six living children, viz .: John L., Edward M., Elizabeth (Mrs. John Edwards), Frisswith (Mrs. David Roderick), Sarah (Mrs. Thomas Williams) and Ida May, who is unmarried. Our subject received his primary education in the public schools and in Wyoming Seminary, and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., in 1886, after which he began his pres- ent practice. Dr. Davis was married, September 29, 1889, to Jane J., daughter of Josiah Hughes, of Wilkes-Barre (now of Alabama), and they have two children, Frisswith and Ellsworth. He is a member of the F. & A. M., Jr. O. U. A. M. and the I. O. R. M .; he is a Republican in his political views, and was appointed postmaster July 11, 1889.

GEORGE DAVIS, farmer, Fairmount township, P. O. Fairmount Springs, was born in that township July 27, 1863, a son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Cole) Davis, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Welsh and German origin, respectively. The father was also a farmer, and departed this life June 28, 1888, aged seventy-four years. He was a son of Solomon and Margaret (Hartman) Davis, natives of Penn- sylvania. Solomon, Sr., was also a farmer, and was a son of Reuben and Ellen (Fitzimmons) Davis, natives of Wales and Ireland, respectively. Our subject is the youngest in order of birth in a family of five children, was reared on a farm and

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educated in the common schools. When fourteen years old he started out for him- self, working a time at farm work, then in the car shops at Berwick, and later in a harness shop at Light Street. In 1888, owing to the sickness of his father, he was called home, and at his father's death inherited eighty-two acres of the homestead, where he now resides. He was married, December 18, 1890, to Miss Willetta, daughter of Isaiah and Lottie (Lutz) Harrison. Mr. Davis is a member of the I. O. O. F., and politically is a Democrat.

GEORGE DAVIS, justice of the peace, Parsons, was born in Monmouthshire, Eng- land, April 20, 1838, and is a son of Noah and Sarah (Shintan) Davis. His par- ents came to America in 1846, settling at Scranton, Pa., being among the early settlers of that place; and his father was about the first Methodist in Scranton, and was a local minister for twenty-four years. Mr. Davis was educated in the com- mon schools, and at the age of eighteen learned the cabinet-maker's trade, working at it in Scranton until 1861, when he enlisted in Company I, Fifth United States Artillery, and in February, 1862, was promoted to sergeant; he was in the follow- ing engagements: Gaines' Mills, Malvern Hill, Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. At the last named place he was taken prisoner, and confined in Libby prison for a short time, being then taken from there to Belle Isle, where he was imprisoned until December 10, 1863; he was then paroled and sent to Annapolis, Md., and was shortly after exchanged, rejoining his regiment in time to participate in the siege of Petersburg. He was discharged October 9, 1864, at the expiration of his term of service. He then returned to Scranton and engaged in the furniture business until 1868, when he went to Wilkes-Barre, con- tinuing in the same business until 1873, when he came to Parsons, where he has since remained; he has been engaged in painting and paper hanging, and still carries on a very extensive trade in that line. On April 1, 1865, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Morgan Davies, of Scranton, and they have five children: Anna, Walter, Ruth, Gertrude and Alice. Mr. Davis and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been Sunday-school superintendent for twelve years. In his political views he is a Republican, and he was the first constable of Parsons; has been borough secretary six years, burgess one term, and has served as justice of the peace nine years.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 113

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