History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 123

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

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SAMUEL T. EVANS, Wilkes-Barre, brakeman on the Pennsylvania Railroad, was born in Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., Pa., March 1, 1862, a son of George F. and Sarah A. (Transue) Evans, and is of French, German and Scotch descent. His paternal ancestor in this country came from Holland (where he was married), and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

settled in New York State; he was a soldier of the Revolution, died at Wolf Hollow, Pa., and is buried at Stroudsburg. Grandfather Samuel Evans was born at Strouds- burg, was killed at Ashley Plains, and is buried in the city cemetery at Wilkes-Barre; his wife was Mary Felker, of German parentage. The maternal grandfather, Abram Transue, was a native of Shawnee, Monroe Co., Pa., a son of Elias Transue, a native of France, and a pioneer of Shawnee. The father of our subject was born at Stroudsburg; was a brick contractor and cabinet maker in early life, later engaging in farming; he died in Wyoming county, Pa., and is buried in Overfield Green Cem- etery, in Meshoppen, that county. Our subject was reared in Luzerne county, and received his education in the public schools, and at Factoryville Seminary. He began. life as a clerk in a grocery store, but turning his attention to the science of electricity, he became an electrician, and built the Wilkes-Barre and Suburban Elec- tric Railroad, on which he served nine years. Since July, 1891, he has held his present position with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. On March 6, 1883, Mr. Evans was married to Ida Moyer, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and they have three children: Ruth, Samuel Le Roy and Ida Grace. Mrs. Evans died November 22, 1889, and is buried in Holland Back Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre.

PROFESSOR THOMAS EVANS, principal of the public schools at South Heberton, is a native of Llanfair-Caereinion, Montgomery county, North Wales, and was born August 1, 1845. He is a son of David and Mary Evans, both natives of North Wales, the former of whom was a painter and plumber. The father died August 6, 1856, at the age of fifty-seven years, and the mother in 1874, at the age of sixty- seven years. When Thomas was about three weeks old his parents removed to Llanfyllin, where he was reared. He was educated in Carnarvon College, where he was graduated in the class of 1865. He immediately engaged in teaching, which profession he followed in his native land ten years. In 1876 he came to America to attend the Centennial, and by chance came to Foster township, where he has since been engaged in teaching, much to the satisfaction of all those who are inter- ested in the welfare of our public-school system. Mr. Evans is an instructor whose competency has been well demonstrated by his work. He was united in marriage in 1878 with Miss Elizabeth Powell, second daughter of William Powell (Sr.), superintendent of mining. There have been born to Prof. and Mrs. Evans five children, viz. : Thomas, Jr., Lizzie, William, Mary and Beatrice. Our subject is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and the family are members of the English Baptist Church.

THOMAS F. EVANS, assistant foreman, Harwood Slope No. 5, Harwood Mines, Pa. This capable mins-boss was born in Monmouthshire, South Wales, March 16, 1851, and is a son of Richard and Mary (Williams), also natives of Wales, who came to America in 1851, and settled at Beaver Meadows, Pa. The subject of this sketch is the sixth in a family of nine children. After a short sojourn at Beaver Meadows, the family removed to Scranton, where the children were reared. Thomas F. began, as all miners do, by picking slate and doing general work connected with mining. In 1868 he was assistant foreman at River Slope, Scranton, where he remained one year. He then removed to Tresckow, where he worked as a car-runner one year, then came to Harwood Mines as inside stable-boss, in which capacity he served sixteen years, and in November, 1891, he was given the position of assistant inside foreman at No. 5 Harwood Mines. In the art of mining, Mr. Evans is well informed, and is capable of filling any position about the mines. On August 18, 1872, he was mar- ried to Miss Katis Betts, of Tresckow, Pa., and three children were born to this union, namely: William M., Richard J. (deceased), and Thomas. Mr. Evans is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of M. The family are members of the Baptist Church.

THOMAS M. EVANS, engaged in Company work at the Oakwood Mine, Miners Mills, was born in Breckonshire, South Wales, October 10, 1847, and is a son of Evan M. and Mary (Williams) Evans, the former of whom was a greengrocer. They reared a family of twelve children, six of whom are living, and Thomas M. is the fourth, and the only one iu America. Our subject began working in the mines at

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

the age of six years, and has made that the occupation of his life. He came to America in 1869, and was engaged in miuing at North Point, Pa., six weeks; Ash- land, twenty months, and Mill Creek, three years. Then, in 1874, he returned to his native country, where he also worked in the mines five years, after which he again came to America, locating at Miners Mills. Mr. Evans was married Septem- ber 9, 1872, to Miss Mary, daughter of Joseph and Frances Parry, the former of whom died in Australia, the latter in Wales; she came to America in 1870. The fruit of this union has been eight children, two of whom are living, viz. : Evan M. and Jenkin. Mr. and Mr. Evans are members of the Welsh Presbyterian and Welsh Congregational Churches, respectively; he is a member of the Ivorites, and his son, Evan M., is a member of the Sons of Temperance. In politics the family is Repub- lican. In 1889 Mr. Evans purchased his present residence.

THOMAS R. EVANS, general inside foreman, Parrish Mines, Plymouth, is a native of Caermarthenshire, South Wales, born October 10, 1842, a son of David W. and Ann (Richards) Evans, also natives of Wales. Our subject was reared and educated in Glamorganshire, Wales, and quite early in life learned the moulder's trade, which he followed for five years. He then engaged in mining, which he followed in his native country until 1866, in which year he came to America, locating at Swa- tara, Pa., and engaging in mining at that place, remaining there until 1868, when he came to Plymouth, and began work at the Gaylord Mine, then at the Jersey, operated by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Company. He remained at these places until 1875, when he went to the Nottingham, working there as fire-boss and assistant inside foreman until May 7, 1884, when he accepted the position of general inside foreman at the Parrish Colliery, which position he has since creditably filled. He has under his charge about 400 men, and the average daily output of coal is 1,200 tons. Mr. Evans was united in marriage May 26, 1869, with Elizabeth W., daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Brareton) Parry, natives of Brecknockshire, Wales. Ten children have been born to this union, viz. : Joseph P., Annie J., Lillie M. (deceased), Arthur (deceased), David R., Elmer (deceased), Edwin (deceased), Milton R., Lillian (deceased) and Leroy (deceased). Mr. Evans is a Republican and a member of the following orders: Ivorites, I. O. O. F., and Knights of Honor. The family attend the Welsh Presbyterian Church.

THOMAS R. EVANS, florist, Wilkes-Barre, was born March 1, 1845, in South Wales. His father, Thomas E. Evans, was also a native of that place. Mr. Evans came to Wilkes-Barre June 18, 1886, and secured employment in the Blackman Mines, at Ashley. He was a most expert miner, and speedily secured more remunera- tive employment in the Stanton Colliery, of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Com- pany. He left the mines three years ago to engage in the culture of flowers. Mr. Evans is an expert horticulturist and florist, and is on a fair way to build up an extensive business. He was married July 16, 1872, to Miss Annie Hughes, a native of South Wales.

WILLIAM EVANS, proprietor of the " North Branch Hotel," Wilkes-Barre, was born in Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., January 24, 1846, and is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Jones) Evans, natives of Wales, who came to America in 1842, and located in Pottsville, Pa., where the father worked as a miner four years; then removed to Summit Hill, Carbon county., and mined two years; thence proceeded to Middle- port, Schuylkill Co., where he resided until 1852, in which year he was accidentally drowned. His children were four in number: Margaret (Mrs. Daniel Daniels), Daniel, William and Alfred. Our subject was reared in Pennsylvania and educated in the common schools. He worked in the mines of the anthracite region, fifteen years, and in January, 1871, located in. Wilkes-Barre, where he has since been the owner and proprietor of the "North Branch Hotel." Mr. Evans is a member of the I. O. O. F. and I. O. R. M. ; in politics he is a Republican.

WILLIAM B. EVANS, proprietor of the "Evans' Hotel," Edwardsville, is a native of Carmarthenshire, South Wales, born July 29, 1845, and is a son of William and Rachel (Davies) Evans. He was educated in his native land, and in 1864 emigrated

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

to America, locating at Pittston, Pa., where he engaged in mining, and where he remained nearly four years, when he removed to Plymouth and embarked in the hotel business. After residing in the last-named place about three years, he went to California, and engaged in gold, silver and coal mining in various places in that State, during which time he made San Francisco his headquarters. In 1874 he returned to Luzerne county and located in Wilkes-Barre, where he again entered the hotel business, which he followed in that city for ten years, at the end of which time he removed to Edwardsville, and opened his present popular " Evans' Hotel," where he has deservedly won the patronage of the traveling public. Mr. Evans belongs to a family of considerable note in American history, as his mother was a niece of John Adams. He married, for his first wife, Margaret Davies, of Carmar- thenshire, South Wales, by whom he had two children, viz .: Thomas, a clerk in New York City, and Rachel (deceased). The mother of this family dying, Mr. Evans was married in February, 1882, to May Ann, daughter of William Morgans, of Parsons, Pa., and they have two children: Elizabeth and Oliver Cromwell. In his political preferences Mr. Evans is a Republican.

W. D. EVANS, wholesale and retail dealer in cigars and tobacco. This gentle- man, who is among the active and successful young business men of Pittston, was born in that town December 17, 1855, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Howell) Evans, both natives of Wales. His parents came to the United States in 1844, first located at Carbondale, Pa., where the father was engaged in mercantile business. In 1857 he removed to Pittston, and became a member of the firm of Charles Law & Co., a large dry-goods concern of that city. He was connected with that firm until his death, in 1864. Mr. Evans was one of the pioneer citizens of Pittston, and to such men as he the city owes its growth and prosperity. He was always active in all measures tending to the advancement of the interests of his adopted city. As a business man he was eminently successful, and his clear and penetrating business ideas made sure the success of any venture he might have the control of. He was past master of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., and past grand of Carbondale Lodge, I. O. O. F. He was a charter member and one of the organizers of St. James Episcopal Church of Pittston. He had a family of four children, viz .: Louis H., a salesman for A. J. Medlar & Co., of Philadelphia; W. D .; Mary Jeannette; John Howell, deceased. Our subject passed his boyhood in Pittston, and was educated in the public schools of that city, also in private schools of Wilkes-Barre and the Wyoming Seminary. At the age of twenty he entered upon his business career, embarking in the grocery business, being associated with D. B. Shelly. He was in this business one year and sold his interest, and, with Mr. Hagedorn as partner, embarked in the wholesale tobacco and cigar business, occupying the store rooms at present occupied by himself and the one occupied by H. Ruggles. Mr. Hagedorn retired in 1890, and Mr. Evans has continued the business. He was united in mar- riage with Agnes McDougall, a daughter of John McDougall, a former merchant of Pittston. Mr. Evans has been manager of the Music Hall since 1880, and it is to his good taste and management that the theater-goers owe the first-class entertain- ments that this Opera House offers to the public. Mr. Evans is a member of Valley Lodge, No. 499, F. & A. M., and is past master of the same; and is past high priest of Pittston Chapter, No. 242, R. A. M. He is a member of Trinity Church of West Pittston. Politically he has cast his lot with, and is a stanch worker for the interests of, the Republican party. He was tax receiver for Pittston borough for the years 1888, 1889 and 1890, and on September 6, 1892, at the Republican convention held at Wilkes-Barre, he was nominated for sheriff of Luzerne county.

WILLIAM T. EVANS is a member of the firm of Hill & Evans, the leading hardware dealers of Nanticoke. They deal in all the branches and specialties of the trade, giv- ing special attention to plumbing, in which they do an extensive business. Mr. Evans was born in Tresckow, Carbon Co., Pa., May 22, 1871, and is a son of Owen R. and Margaret (Rosser) Evans, natives of Wales. When his parents came to this coun- try they located in Schuylkill county, Pa., where they remained about seventeen

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

years; then removed to Carbon county, and here have since resided. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Carbon county, and at the age of thirteen engaged as door-tender in the mines. He followed mining until he was about seven- teen, when he came to Nanticoke and learned the plumber's trade, serving his apprenticeship with R. W. Thomas. After completing his trade he entered the employ of the Welleber Hardware Company, where he remained three years, and in January, the present firm, of which he is a member, was formed, since when they have had a constantly increasing trade. Mr. Evans is an enterprising young man, and is much respected by all who know him.

JOHN EVARTS, farmer, P. O. Hunlock Creek, was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1844, a son of John and Lucy (Stevens) Evarts, both of whom were born in Con- necticut. They removed from that State to Wayne county, Pa., when their son John was six months old. The father died when the son was very young, and the mother married again; she reared a family of eight children by both marriages, John being the fourth in order of birth by the first. Our subject was reared and educated in Wayne county, and always followed agricultural pursuits. He entered the army in 1864, enlisting in Company F, Ninety-seventh P. V. I., for one year, served faithfully during the term of service, and was honorably discharged. On his return from the army he located in Plymouth township, where he and his brother Simeon purchased a farm of one hundred acres of unimproved land, and by hard toil, and close appli- action to business, they have succeeded in making the forest "to blossom as the rose," having now forty acres under the plough. They are practical farmers and good citizens. John Evarts married, May 28, 1871, Miss Emma T., daughter of Joseph Nevel, and eight children have been born to them, as follows: Joseph, Alfred, Girtie, Myrtle, Ada, Arthur, James and Susan, all yet living. Mrs. Evarts was born in Ross township in 1854. Mr. Evarts is a member of the G. A. R. ; his religious belief is that known as "Christian Science." Politically he is a Republican.

WILSON EVELAND, carpenter, Plymouth. This skillful young mechanic was born June 30, 1863, in Luzerne county, Pa., and is the youngest in the family of ten children of John and Clarissa (Marr) Eveland, also natives of Luzerne county, and among the pioneer families of this historic Valley. Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native place, was reared on a farm, and followed agricultural pursuits until 1882, when he began carpenter work at Berwick, Pa., remaining there two years, and then going to Hazleton, same State. Here he worked at his trade until 1888, when he came to Plymouth and entered the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, with whom he has since been engaged. Mr. Eveland was united in marriage, in 1886, with Rosa, daughter of John and Mary Fink, natives of Plymouth, and one child has blessed this union, named Earl, born in August, 1888. Mr. Eveland is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the P. O. S. of A. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

GEORGE EVERHARD, retired merchant, Inkerman, was born in Carbondale, Lacka- wanna Co., Pa., March 25, 1830, and is a son of William and Martha (Wallace) Everhard, who were of Puritan New England origin. They had a family of six children, of whom George is third in order of birth. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and learned the trade of upholsterer and cabinet maker. He worked at his trade in Carbondale, and in 1855, by his industry, was enabled to go into business for himself. In 1869 he sold out to good advantage, and removed to Pittston, where he went into the furniture business again, from which he retired in 1885. Mr. Everhard was united in marriage, May 12, 1855, with Jane, daughter of Isaiah and Mary A. (Henderson) Tasker, natives of Carbondale, and of English extraction. In his political preferments our subject is a Republican.

ANDREW S. EVERT, store-manager and postmaster, Lattimer Mines. This thorough business man was born June 10, 1855, at Lithopolis, Ohio, and is the son of John and Julia (Graver) Evert, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania. He was reared and educated in Luzerne county, where the family located when he was but a child. After receiving a good business training, he 49

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worked in a sawmill for a period of nine years. In 1882 he engaged with A. Par- dee & Co., of Hazleton, as entry clerk, in which incumbency he remained six years. In 1888 he was given full charge of the company's store at Lattimer Mines, which position he now occupies. In January, 1892, he was appointed by Postmaster-Gen- eral Wanamaker, postmaster at Lattimer Mines. Our subject has been twice mar- ried, first to Miss Lillian Kohl, of White Haven, Pa., who died in 1884 leaving two children, Ruth and Lillian. On February 18, 1887, Mr. Evert married Miss Lillian Doubt, of Hazleton, Pa. The subject of this sketch has, by his own efforts, suc- ceeded in placing himself at the head of the list as a competeut and energetic busi- ness man.

C. EDWARD FAAS, dealer in stationery, cigars and tobacco, Freeland. This ener- getic young business man is a Philadelphian by birth, in which city he began his earthly existence, January 11, 1871. He is a son of Anthony J. and Mary (Weygandt) Faas, who now reside in Philadelphia, the former being a native of that city, the latter of Easton, both coming of German origin. In their family there are two children, C. Edward and Bertha, the latter of whom now resides with her parents. Our subject received his education in the High School of Philadelphia, and then went into the stationery business under Chas. J. Cohen, of No. 617 Market street, Philadelphia. From there he entered the employ of the Ledger job office as letter artist, where he remained until the summer of 1892, when he came to Freeland and established his present extensive stationery and tobacco business, in the conducting of which he commands a justly-merited large public patronage. Mr. Faas was married November 5, 1891, to Miss Edith Davis, one of Audenried's most accomplished young ladies. Our subject is a strong supporter of the principles of the Republican party.

HENRY S. FAIRCHILD, retired, Nanticoke. This gentleman is a descendant of early pioneer families of the locality of Luzerne county. He was born March 18, 1839, in the portion of Newport township which is now a part of Nanticoke borough, and is a son of John and Martha (Line) Fairchild. Our subject's father, also his grand- father, Solomon Fairchild, were born in Luzerne county. As far back as we are able to trace the Fairchild family, of which our subject is a member, is to three brothers of early New England stock, who lived in Connecticut. They all emigrated westward, one of them locating near the present site of Nanticoke, where he lived the remainder of his days in the unbroken wilds of the Keystone State, and there reared a family, one of whom was Solomon Fairchild, grandfather of the subject of this memoir. Martha Line, the mother of our subject, was born in Hanover town- ship, and was a daughter of Henry Line, a native of New England, and who settled in Luzerne county at a time when there were more Indians than coal miners. Mr. Fair- child was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native town.

WILLIAM FAIRCHILD, a prominent retired farmer, Nanticoke, was born February 7, 1837, in Newport township, Luzerne county, and is a son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Alden) Fairchild, both of whom were natives of this county, and descendants of some of the earliest settlers of this Valley. Mr. Fairchild was educated in the common schools of his native town, and at the tender age of eight years commenced work on the canal, which business he followed until 1872. He was chiefly engaged in boat- ing between Nanticoke and Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, and various other shipping points in the locality of Chesapeake Bay. In 1864 he commenced business for himself on the canal, and it may well be said of him that he made boat- ing a success. Upon abandoning the canal in 1872, he purchased a farm in Hanover township, where he resided until 1888, in which year he sold his farm and removed to Nanticoke, where he now resides in his handsome and cozy residence on West Main street. He was one of the promoters of the First National Bank of Nanticoke, and is at present a stockholder and a director in same. In the spring of 1860 Mr. Fairchild was married to Miss Anna, daughter of John Fairchild, of Newport. They have had five children, viz. : Monroe, who died at the age of twenty-four; Harvey, a machinist in Berwick, Pa .; Edith; Edna, who is a student at the State Normal School, at Bloomsburg, Pa. ; and Byron. Our subject is a supporter of the Presby- terian Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Republican.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

GEORGE FAIROLOUGH, dealer in boots and shoes, Yatesville, was born in Monmouth- shire, England, December 20, 1840, and is a son of William and Fannie (Harding) Fairclough, natives of the same place. He received his education in his native country, and in 1863 came to the United States, residing in Tioga county, Pa., nearly a year, and moving in 1864 to Yatesville, this county. He had learned his trade of shoemaking in England, but for six years after coming here he worked as a laborer in the mines of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. In 1870 he opened a workshop, and now has as finely a stocked store and shop, equipped with all the latest improved machinery, as any country town in the State can boast of. Our subject was married in England June 16, 1861, to Sarah, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Dando) Greenwood, natives of Gloucestershire, England, which union was blessed with ten children, eight of whom are living, as follows: Fannie, born October 31, 1862; Nellie, born April 26, 1870, married to Joseph Kenny, clerk, Binghamton, N. Y .; Eliza- beth, born December 3, 1872; Susan, born January 3, 1875; George, born June 18, 1877; Charles, born May 30, 1880; Alfred, born July 1, 1883, and Rena, born March 28, 1884. Our subject is a Republican, and was a member of the borough council for two terms; school director from 1885 to 1891, and was elected justice of the peace in May, 1891. for a term of five years.

JACOB FALK, butcher, Wilkes-Barre, was born near Cologne, Prussia, December 8, 1831, a son of Daniel and Eva (Marcus) Falk. He was reared and educated in Prussia where he learned the butcher's trade, and where he served three years in the Prussian army. In 1856 he came to America and worked at his trade as a journeyman one and a half years in New York City. In the fall of 1857, he located in Wilkes-Barre, where he opened a meat market, and has since conducted a successful business. In March, 1859, Mr. Falk married Miss Helen, daughter of Lyman and Mary Sulzbacher, of Bavaria, Germany, and by her has four children, Samuel, Matilda, Sarah, and Harry. Mr. Falk is a member of the Jewish Reformed Church, of the F. & A. M., and of the I. O. O. F. Encampment and Canton; and politically he is a Democrat, and served one term of three years as member of the Wilkes-Barre city council.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 123

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