History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 125

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

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JOHN W. FENNER, wholesale produce merchant, Wilkes-Barre, residing on Ross street, Ashley, was born in Shawnee, Monroe Co., Pa., June 27, 1846, and is a son of Abraham and Catherine (Smoke) Fenner. He was educated in the public school of his native town, and the Delaware Water Gap Academy; he then taught school two years in Monroe county and one year in Luzerne county, after which he clerked in the company store at the Franklin Mines three years, and in the store of his brother James, at Ashley, six years. He then served as deputy warden of Luzerne county prison, three years, after which he engaged in the hardware business in Ash- ley as the junior partner of Florey, Dreher & Co., and in 1881 engaged in his present business, which he has since successfully followed. Mr. Fenner was married November 5, 1874, to Miss Emma King, daughter of Levi and Julia (Greenamayer) King, natives of Monroe county and Holland, respectively; the King family have been in this country for many generations. Mr. and Mrs. Fenner have had four children: Edwin K., Warren B., Ernest, who died at the age of five and a half years, and Nellie. This gentleman is a member of the F. & A. M .; he is a Demo- crat in his political views, and has been a member of the council in Ashley borough.

JOHN A. FENSTERMACHER, farmer, P. O. Beach Haven, was born in Salem township, September 13, 1846, and is a son of John and Susan (Hess) Fenstermacher. His pater- nal grandfather, John Fenstermacher, formerly of Lehigh county, Pa., was one of the pioneers of Salem township, and his wife was Mary Andress, by whom he had nine children: George, John, Susan (Mrs. Michael Hess), Julia A. (Mrs. William Weiss), Polly (Mrs. Jacob Hasnacht), Nancy (Mrs. Andrew Seely), Kate (Mrs. Andrew Seely), Sarah (Mrs. Silas Rumbach), and Elizabeth (Mrs. Catline Stookey.) The father of our subject was a native of Conyngham township, and was a black- smith by trade, which occupation he followed for many years in Salem township, in connection with farming. He has been a resident of that township for seventy- five years, and is still living, now in his eightieth year. His wife was a daughter of Jeremiah and Catharine (Fenstermacher) Hess. Our subject, who was an only child, was reared in Salem township, where he has always resided; was educated in the common schools and New Columbus Academy, and has followed farming. He married February 23, 1868, Elizabeth, daughter of Francis and Hannah (Croll) Mifflin, of Salem township, and has five children; Minnie E., Fred H., Lizzie, John and Grace. Mr. Fenstermacher is a member of the German Reformed Church; is a Democrat in politics, and has been constable of Salem township nine years.

LEWIS D. FERRELL was born in Lehman township, this county, December 1, 1863, a son of Samuel R. Ferrell, who was of Irish extraction; his mother's people were of Dutch and German stock. His father was a farmer, and the lad's chances for securing a common-school education were very limited.

When Lewis D. was ten years of age his parents removed to Waverly, N. Y., remaining there, however, but a short time when they moved to Wilkes-Barre, where our subject attended the public school one term and a portion of another. About this time the boy's mother was left a widow with two children, and only her own resources to depend upon. Being possessed of that spirit which characterized her forefathers when they settled in the wilderness, she went to work, but the hard times of the " seventies " coming on, she was forced to take the boy from his studies and put him to work. A position as errand boy in the large dry-goods house of Isaac

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Long was secured for him, and here he remained a little over five years, when he was given an opportunity to learn the machinist's trade at Ashley. Here he served his full apprenticeship, remaining a few months over, when, desiring to see something of the country, he secured a promise of work in Denver, Colo., and so started west. In Denver he remained about fourteen months, and by practicing close economy he saved a neat little sum, most of which he gave to his mother. Meeting with a painful accident which cost him a finger, he returned to Luzerne county, and again secured a position at Ashley, but in a short time he embarked in the butchering business. In this not being successful, he accepted a position with the Sheldon Axle Company, in which he remained until November, 1887, when he took a trip through some of the

Southern States, locating in South Pittsburgh, Tenn., only for a short time, as in the latter part of December he received an offer of a position as assistant foreman in one of the departments of the Sheldon Axle Works, and he returned to Wilkes- Barre, but remained there only a few months. He next embarked in the newspaper business, being offered a position on the Wilkes-Barre Telephone, where his labors met with high appreciation, and April 14, 1890, he was called to his present posi- tion as editor and office manager of the Nanticoke Sun, where his abilities have had full play in successfully resurrecting the dead. October 14, 1889, he was married to Eva Jackson, of Wilkes-Barre, and he attributes much of his success to her assistance and advice.

GEORGE S. FERRIS, attorney at law, Pittston, who is among the most prominent attorneys of the Luzerne county bar, was born in Pittston, Pa., April 28, 1849. He is a son of Edwin F. Ferris, who was born in Unadilla, N. Y., February 19, 1822; he came to the Wyoming Valley in company with the late Rev. Reuben Nelson, D. D., and after the opening of the Wyoming Seminary, September 24, 1844, was a teacher in that institution. He resided in Pittston many years, and in 1847 was made superintendent for Lord and John L. Butler during their early coal operations. He subsequently engaged in the milling business, and was in partnership, at various times, with James Mott, Theodore Strong, J. A. Wisner and Charles Steel, until the summer of 1861, when he accepted a civil service position at Washington. He died at Pittston, June 7, 1877. Edwin F. Ferris married, December 7, 1877, at Han- over, Margaret, daughter of Joseph Steel. Our subject was educated at Columbia College, Washington, D. C., and at Allegheny College, Meadville. Pa., graduating from the latter in 1869. In 1870 and 1871 he was clerk in the Treasury Depart- ment at Washington, and while in that position studied law in the Columbia Law School of that city, graduating from that institution in 1871, and being at once admitted to the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. He now returned to Pittston and entered the law office of the late C. S. Stark, and was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, February 19, 1872. He soon entered upon the practice of his profession in the Luzerne county courts, and shortly won for himself a position among the first attorneys of the county. Mr. Ferris was married, September 1, 1875, to Ada, daughter of Lewis G. Stark, of near Nicholson, Pa. This union has been blessed with one child, Edwin F. Mr. Ferris is a member of the West Pitts- ton Presbyterian Church, and politically is a stanch Republican.

HOMER B. FERRY, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born in Eaton, Wyoming Co., Pa., December 1, 1841, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of Alonzo and Catharine (Garrison) Ferry, both of whom were born in Wyoming county. They removed to this county in 1869, locating in this township, where they remained about two years, then moving to Iowa, where the father farmed for twenty years, after which he came east again, but feeling dissatisfied with the country returned to Iowa, where he now resides. His family consisted of ten children, eight of whom are now living. Homer B. is the second in order of birth. He has always con- fined himself to agricultural pursuits. In 1862 he enlisted for three years in Com- pany A, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, but, on account of disability, was dis- charged from the service. In 1864 he again enlisted, this time in Company G, Two Hundred and Tenth P. V. I., and served to the close of the war. In 1866

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Mr. Ferry was married to Miss Olive, daughter of George and Sally Ann Munson. There were five children born to them, four of whom are now living: George M., born October 28, 1871; Harry W., born August 15, 1875; Walter L., born Decem- ber 14, 1883; and Homer B., born June 21, 1889. Mrs. Olive (Munson) Ferry was born April 26, 1844, in Franklin township, on the farm adjoining her present resi- dence. She is a daughter of George, who is a son of Walter and Mehetable Mun- son. Walter was a son of Obadiah, who removed from Connecticut to this county in about 1772, and owned a large tract of land. He was a son of Obadiah Ferry,

and was descended from Danish stock. Walter located in Exeter in 1806, where he owned six hundred acres of land. The Munsons were among the first settlers, but are fast dying out. Homer B. Ferry is an enterprising farmer, always keeping abreast of the times. In 1866 he moved on his present farm, which formerly belonged to the Munsons. It consists of seventy acres, and is mostly cleared. He has made many improvements in the line of buildings and farm improvements. He and his worthy wife are consistent members of the M. E. Church.

JAMES FERRY, proprietor of the "Ferry House," Hanover township, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, October 26, 1852, a son' of Patrick and Sophia (Coyle) Ferry. The family came to America in 1869, two years after the arrival of Michael and Daniel, and consisted of five sons, viz. : Michael, employed in the Ashley shop; Hugh, who is in Australia; Daniel, who lives in Scranton; James, and John, who works with a steamfitter in Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Ferry's education was limited to the meager advantages afforded in Ireland, where he worked on a farm, and after reaching America he commenced mining. He followed this occupation for seven- teen years, but in that interval engaged in braking on the Central Railroad. He turned his attention to his present business in 1888. December 16, 1878, Mr. Ferry married Miss Mary, daughter of Patrick McCloskey, of Port Carbon, Pa., and of this union have been born five children, viz .: Sophia, John, Patrick, Sarah, and Mary. The latter died November 25, 1891, at the age of three years, seven months and fourteen days. Our subject and his family are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a Democrat in his political views.

IRWIN E. FINCH, coal and iron police, Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, was born in Wilkes-Barre February 20, 1845, a son of Silas and Minerva (Horton) Finch. His paternal grandfather, Darius Finch, a native of New York State, and a stone mason by trade, settled in Wilkes-Barre in 1822, where he resided until his death. Silas Finch, his son, was also a stone mason by occupation, and has been a resident of Wilkes Barre since 1822. He has reared a family of five children, namely: Edwin, Deborah (Mrs. William Stevens), Emily (Mrs. P. L. Hoover), Irwin E. and Ada (Mrs. Elgin May). Irwin E. Finch was reared and educated in Wilkes- Barre, and is a plasterer by trade, which occupation he followed for ten years. For six years he has been in the employ of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, as coal and iron police. He enlisted, April 16, 1861, in Company F, Eighth P. V., and was honorably discharged after three months' service. He re-enlisted August 16, 1864, in Company A, Fifty-second P. V., as fourth sergeant, and was honor- ably discharged as second sergeant in November, 1864. During the years 1875 to 1886 he was a member of the Wilkes-Barre police force. In 1868 he married Mar- illa, daughter of David and Sarah (Preston) Wise, of Wilkes-Barre, and has four children living, viz. : Williston W., Bertram K., Anna and Monroe. He is a mem- ber of the G. A. R., and in politics is a Republican.

PATRICK FINN, proprietor of hotel, Miners Mills, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, June 25, 1861, and is a son of Martin and Ellen (Wallace) Finn. His father, who was a farmer, came to America in 1863, and located in Wilkes-Barre, where he worked in the mines until his death, which occurred in 1881. The family consisted of seven children, viz. : Bridget (died at the age of twenty-three), Thomas, Patrick, Anna, John, Dennis and Martin. Our subject began life working about the mines, which vocation he followed twenty-one years, and in 1867 engaged as clerk in Michael Mayock's store, where he remained eight years, and then improved his

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

place to its present condition, and engaged in the hotel business. Mr. Finn was married, April 13, 1887, to Miss Catharine, daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Kane) Corcoran, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, and they have three children, viz. : Alice, Anna and James. Our subject and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a member of the C. M. B. A. and the A. O. H. In his political views he is decidedly Democratic, and has rendered his party much valuable aid; he is jury commissioner of Luzerne county at present, and has held the offices of school director, assessor and collector in Miners Mills.

CAPT. FRANK N. FINNEY, Ashley, was born at Bristol, Addison Co., Vt., March 19, 1834, a son of Noble and Maria (Smith) Finney. He was reared and educated in his native State, where he learned a general mechanical trade, and was in the employ of the Howe Scale Works at Brandon, Vt., for five years. On November 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Seventh Vt. V., and was promoted from the ranks of Company B to Company G as second lieutenant, from this to Company D as first lieutenant, and then to Company H as captain, and was mustered out of the service April 2, 1866, having served four and one-half years. After the mustering out of the regiment, he was retained as assistant mustering officer, military division of the Gulf. After his discharge he located at Great Bend, Pa., where he was in the employ of the American Scale Company three years, coming with them on their removal to Wilkes-Barre in 1868, and remaining with them there for three years. From 1870 until 1883 he was foreman of the Wyoming Valley Pattern shops and foundry, and then entered the employ of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, Hollenback Shaft No. 2, serving as outside foreman one year. He was then trans- ferred to Ashley, holding the same position for same company at New Jersey Coll- iery, No. 8, until February, 1891, since which time he has been in their general supply store in Wilkes-Barre. He was married, July 12, 1857, to Sarah J., daughter of James and Mary Kelly, of Vergennes, Vt., and has one son, Will N., born February 12, 1859, now a resident of Delano, Schuylkill county, and in the employ of the L. V. R. R. Company as pattern maker. Capt. Finney is a F. & A. M., R. A. M. and K. T., also a member of the G. A. R. and Royal Arcanum; in politics he is a Democrat.

E. E. FISHER, butcher, P. O. Sybertsville, was born in Hazleton, Pa., March 19, 1864, a son of Anthony and Mary (Henry) Fisher. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Fisher, a butcher by trade, was a resident of Hazleton and Conyngham for many years, and died in Hazle township. His wife was Mary Charles, and his children were Anthony, Emeline (Mrs. Theodore Soliday), Martha (Mrs. John Wil- liams), Rose (Mrs. Lewis Reed), Bella (Mrs. David Dodson), Eliza, Maria (Mrs. Samuel Fetter), Matilda and J. Frank. The paternal great-grandfather of subject was Anthony Fisher, a pioneer of Nescopeck township, and at one time a resident of Sugar Loaf township. The maternal grandfather was Jacob Henry, a pioneer of Nescopeck township. Anthony Fisher, father of subject, was a native of Luzerne county, a butcher by occupation, and for many years in business at Hazleton, and now a resident of Sugar Loaf township. The children yet living are six in number, viz. : Viola (Mrs. William L. Beisel), Ida, Elmer E., Annie (Mrs. Eugene Beisher), Mary (Mrs. G. P. Beisher), and Theodore. Our subject was reared and educated in Sugar Loaf township, and has followed the butcher business sixteen years. On May 1, 1888, he married Lizzie, daughter of Evan and Mary Reese, of Sugar Loaf township, and has two children, Viola M. and Carrie L. Mr. Fisher is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.

GEORGE W. FISHER, proprietor of the "Beach Haven Hotel," Beach Haven, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., a son of Jacob Fisher, and of German descent. He was reared in his native county, and is a millwright by trade, which occupation he followed sixteen years. In 1852 he settled in Salem township, where he has since resided. He helped to erect the " Old Josiah Beach Gristmill " (since burned down), and which he operated in 1854-5, after which he was engaged in the grocery and canal supplies businesses for several years. In 1856 he built a hotel at Beach

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Haven, which burned down in 1857, but he rebuilt same year, and has since been engaged in that line of business. On January 18, 1852, he married Caroline E. Nolf, of Salem township, by whom he has four children, viz .: Anna M. (Mrs. Dr. William Morris), Lydia (Mrs. Michael Frett), Ellen (Mrs. John White), and Mar- garet. Mr. Fisher is a a member of the F. & A. M., and he is a Republican.

HENRY I. FISHER, salesman, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Gordal, Staffordshire, England, December 21, 1851, and is a son of Isaac and Maria (Marinin) Fisher. They came to America in 1853, and located in Nesquehoning, Carbon Co., Pa., where the father engaged in mining and died in August, 1891. His children who grew to maturity were five, viz .: Anna I. (Mrs. B. F. Holvey), Henry I., George, Maria (Mrs. R. L. Thomas) and Hannah (Mrs. John Cox). Our subject was reared from the age of two years in Carbon county, where he received a common-school education, and at the age of fourteen began work about the mines, where he was employed in various capacities until 1873. He then engaged in the greengrocery trade at Nesquehoning, continuing until 1876, when he located in Wilkes-Barre, where he has since resided; up to 1880 he was helper in a blacksmith shop; was for two years in the book and sewing-machine business, and since 1882 has been employed as salesman in a leading tea house of his city. Mr. Fisher was twice married; his first wife was Elda Barnes. She dying, he married, for his second wife, Effie M., daughter of Jesse and Louisa (Squier) Silvius, of Susquehanna county, Pa., and by her he had three children: Edna M., who died May 29, 1892; George S. and Emma L. Mr. Fisher is a member of the M. E. Church, and of the Y. M. C. A. In politics be is a Republican.

PATRICK FISHER, tax collector, Nanticoke, was born in Donegal, Ireland, and is a son of Hugh and Ann (Scanlan) Fisher. Our subject was educated in the national schools of Ireland, and at the age of twenty-four came to America, locating at Summit Hill, Carbon Co., Pa., and began working in the mines. Here he remained about eighteen months, when he removed to Trenton, N. J., where he was engaged as an iron worker, remaining from January 1, 1867, until June, 1871. He then came to Nanticoke, and engaged in mining in the employ of the Susquehanna Coal Company until August, 1866, where he was elected tax collector of Nanticoke, which office he has since held by reelection; he was also assessor during the year 1888. Mr. Fisher was united in marriage, July 16, 1865, with Miss Ellen Sweeney, of Summit Hill, and they have six children, viz .: Miles, Mary, Hugh, Margaret, James, and Patrick. Mr. Fisher and his family are members of the Catholic Church; in politics he is a Democrat.

MRS. LYDIA FISK, widow of the late S. A. Fisk, farmer, Sweet Valley, was born in Exeter township November 26, 1842, a daughter of Israel and Maria Letteer. S. A. Fisk was born at Abington, where he was reared and educated. He was a son of Welcome Fisk, a native of Rhode Island, and removed to this county about 1847. He located in Ross township, near the North Mountain, where he purchased 150 acres of woodland, out of which has been produced, by the combined efforts of himself and sons and grandsons, a most beautiful and productive farm. Mr. and Mrs. Fisk were married in 1863, and they had eight children, seven of whom are living: Ida M., Loxley W., Alfred M., Sarah R., Dora R., Alice B. and Sydney D. Of these, Ida M. married Steven D. Lord. Mr. Fisk was an active man and a practical farmer, enjoying the full confidence of his fellow citizens. He held several township offices with credit. He died September, 1890, aged fifty years. His widow is a most estimable woman, carrying on the farm with the aid of her sons, two of whom are young men.

ANDREW FITZSIMMON, stable-boss at No. 6 Colliery, Inkerman, Jenkins township, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1842, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (McDermot) Fitzsimmon. The father, who came to America about 1857, worked in New York City thirteen years, and then removed to Pittston, Pa., where he died in 1877, being survived three years by his widow. The family consisted of six children, one of whom died in Ireland, and four are yet living, viz .: Mary, Walter,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Ann, and Andrew. Our subject embarked in life working about the mines of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, doing all the various kinds of work, and was promoted to his present position in 1880, when he removed to Inkerman. Mr. Fitzsimmon was married November 3, 1887, to Miss Maria Langan, who was born February 2, 1857, a daughter of Patrick and Catherine (Langan) Langan, natives of Ireland. Our subject and wife have two children, Walter and Andrew. Mr. Fitzsimmon and family are members of the Catholic Church. He is a member of the Father Mathew Society, and in his political views is a Democrat.

THOMAS J. FITZSIMMONS, jeweler, Pittston. Distinction and universal recognition is attained by some men through the efforts of their political friends; others become subjects of public notice by virtue of the unavoidable drifte of circumstances which force them to be factors in mighty national or social events. But there is a class of men who, by their own constant efforts and their high standard of intellectual acquisitions, justly merit the praise and admiration of the whole world. These are the inventors, the mechanical geniuses, who have made the nineteenth century the great epoch of electricity. In this list of marvelous men the name of Thomas J. Fitzsimmons may appropriately be recorded. He was born at Pittston, January 17, 1865, and is a son of Simon and Hannah (Cawley) Fitzsimmons, natives of Ireland. He attended the public schools of Pittston, and from his early childhood evinced a strong desire for the use of tools, and for mechanical work of all kinds. When he was but a mere child he would frequent some workshop, and there would spend all his leisure hours instead of at play. He would get watches and clocks and repair them, make his own tools, etc .. At the age of fifteen he began the construction of the celebrated "Fitzsimmons Automatic Clock," which in its mechanical construc- tion was certainly astonishing, ranking second to none of the great mechanical wonders of the age. He was about seven years engaged in its construction, for it was a tedious piece of work, and he made every piece in the whole structure with his own hands. The clock was about eleven feet in height and eight feet wide, and, along with its complicated machinery for recording time, numerous automatons rep- resenting various characters performed their several offices with more than human precision. Among them was a train of cars which at regular intervals dashed along a railroad-the movements of the engine and car wheels being perfect. At the approach of the train a gate-tender came out of his shanty, lowered the safety gates, and after the train passed hoisted them and again returned into the shanty. Stars rose and fell, and the movements of the sun and moon were correctly imitated. The clock kept perfect record of the minutes, hours, weeks, months and years until 9,999, thus necessitating an extensive and nice calculation in adjusting the requisite wheels, cogs, pulleys, etc. The clock was completed January 10, 1890, and the next day its inventor placed it on exhibition at Pittston, where its movements were wit- nessed by thousands of people. After showing it for a week at this place, Mr. Fitz- simmons started on a tour through the principal towns of the country, where he purposed placing it on exhibition. His trip was most successful; but just as he was fast earning a fortune from the clock upon which he had labored so long, and which he loved so well, disaster overtook him. At Owego, N. Y., March 9, 1890, the building in which the clock was on exhibition was destroyed by fire, and the result of his seven years' thought and labor was reduced to ashes. The disaster almost rendered him disconsolate, and for a time it seemed as if malicious fate had con- spired to rob him of that which his genius had called into existence. Shortly after the destruction of the clock he returned to Pittston and engaged in the jewelry and watchmaking business, in which he has since enjoyed a lucrative public patronage. Mr. Fitzsimmons was united in marriage October 27, 1891, with Miss Sarah J. Rielley, an accomplished young lady of Pittetou.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 125

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