History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 119

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

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HENRY M. DURLAND, carpenter and contractor, Wyoming borough, was born March 5, 1847, and is a son of William and Lena (Phillips) Durland, natives of Pennsylvania and of English and Irish origin, respectively, the former of whom is a carpenter by occupation, now living at Phillipsburg, Kans. They reared a family of three children, Henry M. being the youngest. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and at the age of fourteen began life for himself as a general workman, which occupation he followed four years; then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he has since continued. He was married, June 24, 1875, to Eliza- beth, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Barnes) Lamon, and by her he has one child, Bertha E. This wife died, and Mr. Durland was married May 7, 1884, to Ophelia, daughter of James and Mary (Shaver) Drake, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English origin. Mrs. Durland is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Dur- land is one of the leading carpenters of the borough; he is a sound Democrat, and enjoys the respect of a large circle of friends. In 1882 be built his comfortable dwelling, where he now resides.

CHARLES DUSHEK, hotel proprietor, Freeland, was born in Bohemia, Austria, December 31, 1844. He received a military education, and at the age of sixteen years entered the Austrian army. After serving one year as a cadet, he was com- missioned first lieutenant, and served fourteen years. He was in active service dur- ing the Austrian-Italian war, and the Austrian and Danish war, also in the war with Germany, and received two medals of honor for services in the battles at

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Konigsee and Koniggratz. As a distinguished soldier few men can claim the honors of war which crown Charles Dushek's military record. He was under fire seventeen times, and to-day, although apparently a young, robust man, his body bears the scars received in many a conflict. At the battle of Konigsee, Schleswig-Holstein, in 1864, he received two deep sabre gashes on the breast, and at the battle of Koeniggratz he received two gun-shot wounds, one in the side and the other in the left foot, also one shrapnel splinter in the left leg. At the close of his long military service he was appointed postmas- ter, and served eight years, or until 1879, in which year he came to this country, locating in New York. Here he was employed as salesman for a time, and then moved to Hazleton, this county, where he was engaged as a clerk until 1882; then came to Freeland; and here clerked also about two years, at the end of which time he embarked in his present business. Mr. Dushek's interests are not confined to the hotel alone, for he is manager of St. Mary's corporative store, and a director of the Citizens Bank of Freeland. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Ludmilla Kavecky, and they have four children, viz .: Julius (a student at St. Francis College, Loretto, Pa.), Tilli, John and Otto. Mr. Dushek is a member of the I. O O. F. and many other Societies. In politics he is a Democrat.

JAMES DYMOND, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born, May 1, 1850, reared and edu- cated in Franklin township. He is the son of Elihu and Nancy (Bates) Dymond, the former born in Franklin township, the latter in England. Elihu was the son of Matthew, who was of Dutch descent, and one of the very early settlers of the county. He was a farmer and lived all his life in this and Wyoming counties, in various townships. He was a worthy man and a patriotic citizen. He served two terms in the army, displaying courage and coolness in time of danger, thus showing his will- ingness to fight, suffer, or even die for his country. He was honorably discharged, and again returned to agricultural pursuits. His family consisted of thirteen chil- dren, by two marriages, eight of whom are now (1892) living. James is the fourth in order of birth by the first marriage; he has always confined himself to farming, and has lived most all his life in this county. In January, 1879, he was married to Miss Martha, daughter of Francis and Lydia Cook. There were seven children born to this union, six of whom are living: Nancy J., Alpha C., Urbane, Lydia B., Ernest L. and Mary A. . He has been living on his present place, a fine farm of ninety acres, since 1886. He is a practical farmer and an honest and industrious man. He has held several offices in the town, and is now serving as constable.

JOSEPH DYMOND, farmer, P. O. Lockville, Wyoming county, was born in Exeter township August 24, 1830, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Booth) Dymond, the former of whom was born in this county, the latter in New York. Joseph is a son of John Dymond, who moved to this county in its early settlement. He was one of its first pioneers, and did much for the growth and development of civilization. He lived to a ripe old age, and reared an interesting family. His son, Joseph, began life in Exeter township as a farmer, on a farm of ninety-three acres. Like his father, he was a hard-working and industrious man, and possessed considerable influence in the township, where he was honored with several offices of trust. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his life, though uneventful, was fraught with good to all. He lived to be sixty years of age, and reared a family, all of whom grew to maturity, and eight of whom are now living. Joseph is the fifth in the family. He has always confined himself to farming, and has passed all his life in the county. He lived at home until his marriage, May 19, 1861, with Miss Matilda, daughter of Morehouse and Hannah Smith. To this union were born nine children, six of whom are now living: Wilber, Hannah, Joseph, Zackariah, Harrison N. and Calvin. In 1861 Mr. Dymond removed to his present residence, a farm of 114 acres, which he has improved in every respect. He has erected a fine new house and commodious barn. Mr. Dymond is a practical farmer and a man of some influence in his neighborhood; he has been honored with several township offices.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

LUTHER DYMOND, farmer, Lockville, Wyoming county, was born in Exeter town- ship August 25, 1822, a son of Joseph and Mary (Booth) Dymond, the former born in this county, the latter in Ulster county, N. Y. Joseph is a son of John and Mary (Lauson) Dymond, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, and the first settlers in this county, locating first in Keelersburg, now in Wyoming county; from there he removed to Sickler's Hill, where he remained for a number of years, and finally removed to his grandson's present residence, Dymond Hollow, where he occupied a farm of 150 acres of unimproved land, thirty-five of which he cleared. He was a hard-working man of pure principles, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He lived to be one hundred years of age, his wife to be one hundred and four. His son, Joseph, resided on the old homestead in Dymond Hollow until he was of age, and then went to New York State where he married; after two years' absence he returned to Dymond Hollow, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1857, when he was aged sixty-two years. He reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are living. He was a man of muscular. frame, who toiled late and early for the improvement of his farm, and the onward march of civilization and Christianization of his country. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Whig in politics. Luther, his son, began life in Dymond Hollow, where he was reared and educated, and always confined himself to farming. On October 4, 1856, he was married to Miss Rebecca, daughter of Samuel and Susanna Snell, and by this union were born nine children, seven of whom are now living: Joseph, Samuel, Abraham, Daniel, Luther, Phebe and Rebecca. Of these, Joseph married Miss Emily Seitzer; Abraham married Miss Lizzie Jackson; Luther married Miss Minnie Jackson, and Rebecca married Corey Van Tyle. Mr. Luther Dymond is a hard-working, honest, and upright man who, from a small beginning with a farm of thirty acres, has, by economy and prudence, kept clearing, beautifying, and adding to his farm acre after acre, until now he owns 180 acres, in good condition, and all accomplished by his own hands. He is a general and practi- cal farmer, and looks well to the latest improvements in his calling. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and has held several town offices with credit. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a local preacher, and has been a member forty years, and class-leader for twenty-eight years.

ROBERT M. EARNHART, undertaker and furniture dealer, White Haven, was born in Port Carbon, Schuylkill Co., Pa., June 15, 1852, a son of George and Lavina (Miltonburger) Earnhart, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and German origin, respectively, the former of whom was a cabinet-maker by trade. He reared a family of five children, three of whom are now living, Robert M. being the second in order of birth. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-one began work as a cabinet-maker and carpenter, which trades he followed until the spring of 1886, when he purchased from Aaron Eddinger his present business, which he has since followed. He was married, January 30, 1876, to Miss Louisa Feil, who was born February 15, 1858, the eldest daughter of John and Christiana (Drumm) Feil, natives of Germany. This union was blessed with ten children, viz. : Catharine and Louisa (twins), both deceased in infancy; Clara M., born August 30, 1877; John E., born March 28, 1879; Jennie L., born September 25, 1881; Mary E., born Sept. 21, 1883, died -; Eva A., born September 21, 1885; Christiana F., born February 16, 1886, died -; Allen L., born March 13, 1888, and Clarence M., born July 1, 1889. The family attend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Earnhart is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Royal Arcanum. He is a Democrat, and was a member of the town council from 1889 to 1892.

JOHN EATON, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born in Franklin township, August 28, 1837. He is the son of Robert and Mary (Winters) Eaton, the former born in 1796, in County Antrim, Ireland, the latter in Orange county, N. Y. Robert removed to this country in 1820, locating in Franklin township, where he bought a farm of fifty acres of uncultivated land on which he built a house, and to which he continued to add until he owned a hundred acres of well-improved land. Robert was a man of

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

intelligence and enterprise, who had considerable influence with his fellow citizens. In 1847-50 he held the office of county commissioner, and at various times held several township offices with great credit. He reared a family of six children, three of whom are now living, two sons and one daughter. John is the fifth of the family, and was reared and educated in Franklin township, where he has always resided, and has always confined himself to farming. He occupies the same farm on which his father settled, and which now comprises 140 acres. Mr. Eaton is a prosperous and industrious man and keeps abreast of the times. He is a general farmer, not confining himself to any special line. He has held several township offices, having served as supervisor three times, and school director for fifteen years, as well as in other minor offices. He is a member of the Grange. On July 4, 1864, Mr. Eaton married Miss Hannah, daughter of Jacob and Mary Nulton, by whom he had seven children, six of whom are now living: Robert, Maggie, Elizabeth, Jennie, Benja- min and Emma. Mrs. Eaton was born in Kingston township, August 9, 1844.

CHARLES C. EBERLY, furniture dealer, Plymouth, was born February 22, 1861, and is a son of Jacob and Mary A. (Cooke) Eberly, natives of Pennsylvania. This self-made young man was educated at the public schools in Northumberland county, and after receiving his early training, he learned the bricklayer's trade, which he followed for seven years. At the end of that time he engaged in the furniture business at Catawissa, Pa., where he remained for about three years, going from there to Wilkes-Barre, where he remained until he established his present business, at No. 28 West Main street, Plymouth, which is one of the leading industries of the borough. Mr. Eberly was married December 22, 1887, to Mary E., daughter of Davin and Matilda (Reichelderfer) Hollingshead, natives of Catawissa, Pa. One child, Alena Florence, was born to this union, November 23, 1889. In politics, Mr. Eberly is a Democrat, and in religious belief a Methodist.

A. M. EBY, cashier of the Hazleton National Bank, was born at Selin's Grove, Pa., May 23, 1843. After receiving a common-school education in his native town, he was apprenticed in May, 1859, to Barrett & MacDowell, publishers at Harrisburg, Pa., where he learned the printer's trade, working at it until 1862, in which year he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, P. V., serving with distinction until June, 1865. He participated in the following battles: Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and Ringgold, besides other minor engagements. After returning from the war, Mr. Eby taught school until 1866, when he secured a position as transportation clerk for the Hazleton Rail- road Company. In this position he remained until 1868, when he was employed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company as station agent at Hazleton, Pa., which incumbency he filled until 1873, when he engaged with Pardee, Markle & Grier as bookkeeper and cashier. By this firm he was employed until 1882, when he accepted the position of general bookkeeper with A. Pardee & Co., remaining as such until June 4, 1891, when he was called upon to accept the position of cashier of the Hazleton National Bank. Mr. Eby was united in marriage, July 14, 1868, with Martha E., youngest daughter of Lewis and Mary (Jacobs) Davenport, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey, the latter, of the historic Wyoming Valley. The Davenports were among the first families who settled in Hazleton, coming here in the year 1833, when there were but two houses in what is now the city. Mr. Eby's father-in-law built and kept the first hotel in the place, then a stage stand on the turnpike, and erected the present "Hazleton House," the well-known hotel on the corner of Broad and Wyoming streets. It is supposed that the eldest sister of Mrs. Eby, Emma Davenport, was the first child born in what is now Hazleton. There were four girls in the Davenport family, namely: Elvira E. (Mrs. Lewis W. Drake); Mary M .; Emma J. (Mrs. C. B. Brundage), and Martha E. To Mr. and Mrs Eby have been born two children, namely: Fannie B. and Charles S. Mr. Eby is a member of the Union Veteran Legion; is a F. & A M., member of Hazle Lodge No. 327, Lilly Chapter, Packer Commandery and McNair Council, of Mauch Chunk.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

GEORGE W. EBY, proprietor of the " Amam House," Hazleton, was born in Jun- iata county, June 23, 1864, and is the fourth in a family of nine children of John W. Eby and Mary J. (Row), natives of Pennsylvania. The family removed to Schuylkill county when George W. was eleven years of age, and he at once began working about the mines, which occupation he followed until eighteen years of age, when he took charge of the stage line running from Lykens to Tower City. He drove on this route for about one and a half years, at the end of which time he was engaged by G. B. Brubaker, hardware dealer of Lykens, Pa., as a bookkeeper, an incumbency he filled eighteen months, when he secured a position as traveling sales- man for M. J. A. Keen, wholesale brush dealer. He represented this concern for four years, and then became manager for this State, of the Auburn, N. Y., Copying House. With this firm he remained two years, and on January 28, 1891, he became proprietor of the "Amam House," which he has since conducted with great success, In political matters Mr. Eby is independent. Socially he is a member of Lykens Lodge, No. 106, Knights of Pythias, and of Wisconisco Lodge, No. 148, Sons of America.

JEROME W. ECKENRODE, contractor and builder, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Car- roll county, Md., February 1, 1843, a son of Samuel W. and Margaret (Althoff) Eckenrode, and is of German descent. His paternal grandparents were Jacob W. and Mary (Weivell) Eckenrode, and his maternal grandfather was John Althoff. Our subject was reared in Frederick county, Md., from seven years of age, received a common-school education, learned the carpenter's trade with his father, and worked as a journeyman in Frederick county ten years. In 1870 he located in Wilkes-Barre, where he worked as a journeyman until 1876, in which year he embarked in business for himself, as a contractor and builder, in which he has since successfully continued. On October 23, 1872, he married Jane L., daughter of Charles and Mary (Straughsbaugh) Wierick, of Frederick county, Md., and they have five children living, viz .: Edith, Lawrence, George, Charles and Alice. Mr. Eckenrode and family are members of the German Catholic Church; in politics he is a Democrat.

REV. JOHN G. ECKMAN, Methodist Episcopal minister, Kingston, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., and is a son of Jacob and Emma (Gulick) Eckman, natives of New Jersey, and descendants of original New England stock. Our sub- ject was educated in the common schools of his native county, afterward at the Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y., and in 1859 began the ministry at Stoddarts- ville, Luzerne Co., Pa., remaining two years; then removed to Lehman, where he also resided two years, and from there proceeded to Plymouth, and there remained the same length of time. He also preached in North Moreland one year; Wilkes- Barre, three years; Waverly, three years; Ashley, one year-all in Pennsylvania; then went to Norwich, N. Y., and was presiding elder in the Chenango district four years; thence proceeded to Scranton, Pa., where he was pastor of the M. E. Church three years, after which he went to Binghamton, N. Y., in which district he was presiding elder four years. At West Pittston he engaged in the ministry three years, and in 1887 he removed to Kingston, where he has since resided, engaged in his calling. Mr. Eckman was married, September 25, 1856, to Miss Margaret, daughter of George Hile, of Northumberland county, Pa., and they have four children, viz .: George P .; a minister at Orange, N. J .; P. N., a physician in Philadelphia; S. W., a clerk in Binghamton, N. Y., and Horace M., at home. Mr. Eckman represented his Conference as a delegate to the General Conference of the M. E. Church in 1876, 1880, 1884 and 1888. He has devoted his life exclu- sively to the advancement of Christianity, and is a strong advocate and supporter of the doctrine of Prohibition.

W. H. ECKROTH, clerk at the " Union House," Shickshinny, was born at Mifflinville, Columbia Co., Pa., February 27, 1843, a son of Peter and Lydia (Ritchie) Eckroth. He was reared in his native State and St. Joseph county, Michigan, remaining in the latter State from 1854 to 1874. Later he spent two years in Illinois. In 1876

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

he returned to Columbia county, Pa., where he was engaged in farming until 1885, in which year he came to Shickshinny, where he has since resided, and has been clerk of the " Union House " since 1892. Mr. Eckroth was married twice, his first wife being Anna Pullen. His second wife is Rose, daughter of Thomas and Diana (Good) Davenport, of Shickshinny.

GEORGE W. EDDINGER, carpenter for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, at Sugar Notch, with residence on Ridge street, Ashley, was born in Northampton county, Pa., January 7, 1836. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Mildenberger) Eddinger, natives of Pennsylvania and of German extraction. His father, who was a lumberman, is now carrying mail in Luzerne borough at the age of eighty- four years; his mother died in 1872, at the age of fifty-nine years. The family con- sisted of ten children, viz. : George W .; Samuel, a millwright at Allentown, Pa .; Sarah L. (Mrs. Edwin Mills); William, who was killed at Antietam September 17, 1862, at the age of nineteen years, while a member of Company N, Twenty-eighth P. V. I. ; John N., carpenter for the Central Railroad Company at Ashley; Susan (Mrs. Charles Bennett), who died at the age of thirty-two, leaving a husband and four children; Mary (Mrs. Hiram Hawk), of Freeland, Pa .; Aaron, a real estate agent at Riverside, Cal .; Rachel J. (Mrs. John Nice, of Philadelphia), and Rebecca (Mrs. Charles A. Johnson, of Freeland, Pa.) After leaving Allentown the family removed to White Haven, where they lived for thirty-eight years. George W. attended the public school at that place, and then engaged in lumbering, which he followed for six years; then boated on the Lehigh Canal for two years, and afterward worked as a mill- wright and lumberman four years. He enlisted at Hazleton on June 12, 1861, in Company A, Twenty-eighth P. V. I., and re-enlisted at Wauhatchie, Tenn., Decem- ber 26, 1863; he received a gunshot wound at Chancellorsville, and was discharged July 18, 1865, near Alexandria, Va., with the rank of sergeant. He then began his present trade, which he has since followed, except for one year that he leased a mill at White Haven; he has occupied his present residence since 1877. Mr. Eddinger was married February 17, 1866, to Miss Amelia, daughter of Hiram and Finna (Curtez) Beers, natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin. They have one child, Charles H., clerk in Miller & Co.'s store, Wilkes-Barre. Our subject and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church; he is a member of the K. of H , P. O. S. of A., and the G. A. R .; he is a Republican in politics, aud has held the office of school director in Hanover township.

JOHN N. EDDINGER, carpenter, Hanover township, was born near Sciota, Monroe Co., Pa., March 27, 1843, a son of William and Elizabeth (Mildenberger) Eddinger. [See sketch of G. W. Eddinger.] He was educated in the public schools at White Haven, and then worked three years in the sawmills at that place, after which he boated on the Lehigh Canal from there to New York for seven years. On Septem- ber 24, 1862, he enlisted at Allentown in Company C, Fifty-fourth P. V. I., and was the only one out of eighty who was discharged with the regiment at Parole camp, near Annapolis, May 30, 1865, twenty-nine of their number having been killed at New Market, the first battle in which they took part. He was slightly wounded in the ear by a piece of shell at Lynchburg, also receiving a scalp wound at Cedar Creek, and was shot through the clothes and cartridge box. April 5, 1865, he was takan prisoner at High Bridge, and held by the enemy till the surrender of the Southern army. After the close of the war Mr. Eddinger returned to White Haven, where he engaged in rafting logs for eighteen years, three years of the time as con- tractor, in September, 1889, removing to Ashley, where he has since worked in the carshop. Mr. Eddinger was married, July 4, 1866, to Miss Mary, daughter of Dr. Francis and Matilda Brotz, of Monroeton, Bradford Co., Pa. They have had three children, two of whom are living: William N., a brakeman on the Central Railroad of New Jersey (he is married to Miss Mary Devitt, of Solomon Gap), and Edwin J., a tinner by trade, working in the carshop with his father. Our subject is a member of the G. A. R., P. O. S. of A., and R. R. T. A., and is a Republican in his polit- ical views.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

C. R. EDER, proprietor of restaurant, Nanticoke, was born March 1, 1862, at Buckhorn, Columbia Co., Pa., and is a son of James W. and Helena (Bom- boy) Eder, also natives of Columbia county. Our subject is the second in a family of four children, and is the only son. He was educated and reared in his native county, and in 1880 came to Nanticoke, where he was employed as a clerk by Hil- dreth & Co., remaining with them two years. He then opened what is known as the "Star Pool and Billiard Rooms," which he carried on for five years. In Febru- ary, 1888, Mr. Eder opened the "Broadway House," and conducted it one and one- half years. He then went on the road as a commercial drummer for the House Supply Company, of Wilkes-Barre, representing this company for about one year, after which he opened up his present business, which he has successfully conducted since. Mr. Eder was married, April 7, 1886, to Miss Gertrude, daughter of George P. and Ann (Broliest) Varner, natives of Luzerne county, and this union has been blessed with one child, Roy V., born September 6, 1888. Mr. Eder is a Democrat. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., O. U. A. M., Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Sovereign Patriotic Knights. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JAMES EDGAR, a retired veteran of the Civil war, now residing at Freeland, was born at Summit Hill, Carbon Co., Pa., August 16, 1840, a son of James and Bessie (Martin) Edgar, natives of Ireland. The former died March 17, 1848, the latter October 26, 1862. In their family there were five children, two of whom were older than James. Our subject was reared and educated at Summit Hill, and when a boy began working around the mines, picking slate, but at the age of nineteen he was running an engine. When the Civil war broke out he was working in the shops at Mauch Chunk, and on August 6, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Eighty- first P. V., participating in the following engagements: Antietam, Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, besides several minor skirmishes. He received a very severe gunshot wound in the jaw at Gettysburg, which disabled him for military service thereafter. He was taken to the Philadelphia Hospital and placed under the care of James G. Eagleson, who gave him the very best treatment, which alone saved his life. At the close of the war he returned to Mauch Chunk, entering the machine shop, and was there but a short time when he was sent to Lansford as foreman of the machine shop at that place. Here he remained five years, and then came to Drifton, where he worked four years, at the end of which time he removed to Freeland and retired. Mr. Edgar was married August 9, 1862, to Miss Harriet Dodson, of Mauch Chunk, and they have had five children, viz. : William, a molder at Reading; James (deceased); Walter, a molder at Drifton; Abel, an operator in Jersey City, and Margaret Elizabeth (deceased). Mr. Edgar is a stanch Republican.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 119

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