History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 126

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

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MARTIN FLANAGAN, miner, Kingston, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in March, 1826, and is a son of John and Mary (Welsh) Flanagan, both of whom were also born in that county. They were honest and industrious farmers, and lived and died in their native isle. They reared a family of three children, two of whom are

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

now living: Bridget and Martin; the former is still a resident of Ireland. The lat- ter, the subject of this sketch, emigrated to this country in 1857, and located in Pittston, soon removing to Wilkes-Barre, and thence to Kingston township, where he has since resided. He was thirty years of age when he came to this country, and has followed mining continuously from that time to this, during which period he has met with no serious accidents. In 1867 Mr. Flanagan purchased a lot on Prin- dle Hill, and was the first man who built on that place. He now enjoys a beautiful home, the result of hard, honest, faithful and persistent toil. In 1867 he married Miss Sarah, daughter of John Kelly, and they have had nine children, five of whom are living: Charles, Martin, Mary, Joseph and James. Mr. Flanagan is a member of the Emerald Society. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church; Martin, Jr., is a member of one of their benevolent societies. Politically our sub- ject is a Democrat.

MICHAEL J. FLANLEY, stationary engineer, Ashley, was born in County Sligo, Ireland, March 27, 1859. a son of John and Catherine (McCarty) Flanley. The family came to America in 1866, preceded one year by the father, and located in Hanover township. There were four children, viz. : Mary (Mrs. George Evans), Catherine (Mrs. Edward Casey), Michael J. and John. Our subject was educated in Ireland and in Ashley, and at the age of nine years began picking slate in the breaker, where he has since worked, doing every kind of work but mining, and has occupied his present position for eight years. In 1886 he built the "Hanover House," which he still owns. He is a member of the Catholic Church; a Democrat in his political views.

HON. JOHN T. FLANNERY, Pittston. In glancing over the many young men of Luzerne county, whose industry and ability have ushered them into the front rank of enterprise, we find the subject of this memoir to be one of the most conspicuous figures. Pittston is his native town, having been born there June 24, 1862. His parents, Patrick and Mary (Kelly) Flannery, natives of Ireland, now reside at Pittston, where the family is well-known and highly respected. Our subject, not unlike the average boy of the anthracite coal regions, at a very early age experienced real life on the culm-bank and in the breaker, where shrewdness is developed and a knowledge of worldly affairs prematurely acquired. He attended the public schools of Pittston till he became well advanced in years, when he entered the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, where he was graduated in the class of 1886. He then embarked in the insurance business, and has since been very extensively engaged in that line. On April 12, 1881, before he had reached the age of twenty, he enlisted in Company C, Ninth Regiment N. G. P., and was honorably discharged, by reason of the disbandment of the company November 28, 1882. On May 28, 1883, he enlisted in Company H, Ninth Regiment N. G. P., and in the following August he was appointed first sergeant; on September 1, 1887, he was elected captain of the company. The Captain is well known in military circles as a very popular officer in the National Guard; and it may be here said that his company is the best-drilled military body in the Ninth Regiment; they took first honors in the regiment com- petitive drill in 1888-9 and '90, every soldier in the company being a qualified marksman. In 1888 they won the regimental trophy for company marksmanship, and in 1888 the Captain won the colonel's badge by the highest score in the regiment. In 1890 Mr. Flannery was elected representative of the Fifth District with a majority of seven hundred, by the Democratic party, which office he has ably and honorably filled. He was secretary of the Pittston borough council from 1885-90; was chairman of the Democratic borough committee from 1887 to 1890, and in 1891 was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention. He is a member of the A. O. H., and in 1892 was a delegate to the National Convention of that order at New Orleans. On February 24, 1892, Capt. Flannery was united in marriage with Miss Bridget Tigue, one of Pittston's most accomplished young ladies.

DR. EDWARD C. FLETCHER (deceased) was at the time of his death a resident of Plymouth, and was one of the most prominent physicians in the borough. He was

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

born at Netherton, Staffordshire, England, July 3, 1843, and received his education at Townsend House School, Kidderminster. At the age of seventeen he commenced reading medicine with Dr. Durur, of Dudley, Worcestershire, England, continuing with him five years, at the expiration of which term he entered Queen's College, Bir- mingham, England, and successfully passed his preliminary examination, prior to attending the course of lectures. In August, 1866, he came to America, locating at Scranton, Pa., and. in November, 1866, he opened an office at Hyde Park where he practiced until 1871. About this time he was married to a daughter of William Pier- son, of Scranton, and removed to Providence, Pa., where, after eighteen months of wedded life, death claimed the partner he had chosen, and his home was made deso- late. He soon afterward came to Plymouth and opened an office, where he built up a large practice, in the meantime making many friends, who were ever ready to serve him. He was married, the second time, July 16, 1874, to Miss Mary, daughter of George P. and Sarah (Thomas) Richards, pioneers of Plymouth, and four children blessed this union, viz. : Sally (deceased), George P., Richards Edward, and William Challingsworth. The Doctor was a stanch Republican; the family were members of the Episcopal Church. He was at one time a leader of the Sons of St. George, and although a patriotic American, yet he believed in recognizing and remembering the land that gave him birth. His death occurred May 10, 1890, and he will long be remembered as one of Plymouth's intelligent, prominent and liberal-minded citizens.

PATRICK E. FLOOD, salesman, P. O. Ashley, was born in County Meath, Ireland, January 15, 1856, a son of Patrick and Mary (O'Neill) Flood, who came to America in 1863, locating at Ashley, this county, where the father resided until his death, which occurred in 1886. Their children were six in number: Patrick E., John, Edward, Catharine (Mrs. Michael Devenay), Anne (Mrs. A. F. McGuire, now deceased) and Ellen (Mrs. James Bennan). Our subject was reared at Ashley from seven years of age; he was educated at Susquehanna Collegiate Institute, Towanda, Pa., and Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. He began his business career in 1883, as a teacher in the common schools, which occupation he followed until 1890, and has since been employed as salesman by the leading school furniture companies of the United States. He married, November 25, 1885, Mary A., daughter of Philip and Mary (Masterson) Riley, of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Flood is a member of the Catholic Church; in politics he is a Democrat.

FRANK FLOSSER, proprietor of the "Flosser's Hotel," Nanticoke, and one of the most popular hotel-men in the Wyoming Valley, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born July 21, 1843. He received his education in his native land, and at the age of thirteen years came to America. Young as he was, he came all the way alone with- out the aid or direction of friends or relatives, and stopped at Wilkes-Barre, where he remained until August 21, 1861, when he enlisted in the Ninth Regiment Penn- sylvania Cavalry. He was discharged August 11, 1862, and then re-enlisted Sep- tember 21, same year, in the First Battalion, U. S. Regulars, better known as "Sherman's Regiment." He was in the following engagements: Chickasaw Bayou; Arkansas Post; Falling Fork; Black Bogre; Haines' Bluff; Champion Hills; Vicksburg; Collier's Mill, and Mission Ridge, and was mustered out of service, Sep- tember 21, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He then went to Philadelphia, where he worked in a hotel and restaurant, remaining there until February 1, 1867, when he came to Wilkes-Barre and engaged in general mercantile business. He was in the last named place during the great strike, which proved very disastrous to his business. In 1890 he came to Nanticoke, and engaged in the hotel business. Mr. Flosser was united in marriage, March 10, 1867, with Miss Margaret, daughter of Adam Turkes, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and they have children as follows: William T., Sherman, Lillie, Maggie, Kate and Minnie. Mr. Flosser is a member of the F. & A. M., Knights of Honor, American Legion of Honor, Royal Society of Good Fel- lows, and G. A. R .; his political views are Republican.

FRANK FLYNN, merchant, Plains, was born in County Sligo, Ireland, August 15, 1851, and is a son of James and Celia (Laden) Flynn, the former of whom was a

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

farmer. They reared a family of eight children, three of whom are living, and Frank is the seventh. Our subject came to America with his mother and sister in 1854, and located at Port Griffith, where they remained three years; then removed to Midvale at the time that vicinity was a forest. Here our subject obtained a com- mon-school education, and at an early age began working about the mines; he did all the various kinds of work including twelve years' mining, chiefly at Midvale. In 1872 he embarked in the mercantile business at Port Bowkley, and built his present place of business, and removed thereto in 1875. Mr. Flynn was married, July 11, 1869, to Bridget, daughter of Michael and Mary (Flynn) Flynn, natives of County Sligo, Ireland, and they have three children, Thomas, Francis J. and Michael. Our subject and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a Democrat in his political views, and has held the office of assessor in Plains township.

THOMAS FLYNN, miner, Port Blanchard, was born in Port Griffith, Luzerne Co., Pa., March 26, 1860, and is a son of Martin and Mary (Figue) Flynn, of the same place, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, who reared a family of nine children, of whom Thomas is fifth in order of birth. Our subject received his education in the common schools, and in 1872 went to work as a slate-picker in the mines. In 1875 he worked as driver, in 1877 as laborer. and has been employed as a miner by the Pennsylvania Coal Company since 1882. Mr. Flynn was united in marriage December 27, 1887, with Mary J., daughter of Michael and Mary (Walsh) O'Brien, of Port Griffith, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, and their union has been blessed with the following-named children: Frank, born November 19, 1888; Esther, born April 30, 1890, and Marie, born July 16, 1891. Our subject is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1881 was elected assessor of his township for a period of three years.

ELWIN D. FOGEL, Wilkes-Barre, was born at Pennsville, October 31, 1863, and is the eighth son of Joseph Fogel, a native of Whitehall, this State. Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native place, and afterward learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed at Whitehall for a short time. In 1883 he came to Wilkes-Barre, and secured employment with W. H. Pethick, the contractor, and for the past six years has occupied the responsible position of foreman for that gentleman. He is one of the most expert wood-workers in this section, and speci- mens of his art are to be seen in the new People's Bank of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Fogel was married December 25, 1883, to Mary J. Hummel, a daughter of William Hummel, of Kreidersville, Pa. Mr. Fogel owns a cozy residence on Moyallen street, Wilkes-Barre.

PATRICK J. FOLEY, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., May 17, 1847, a son of Owen and Alice (Tininons) Foley, natives of County Kil- kenny, Ireland. His parents came to America in 1845 and settled in Minersville, Pa., where his father engaged in mining, and where he died. Their children num- bered six: Patrick, Joseph, Michael, David, Mary (Mrs. Adam Boyer), and Luke. Our subject was reared in Minersville, and received a limited education in the com- mon schools. When eight years old he began life in the breaker, and from 1855 to 1861 was employed as slate-picker and driver. July 9, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany G, Thirtieth Pennsylvania Volunteers (afterward Ninety-ninth Regiment Penn- sylvania Volunteers), and after serving three years was honorably discharged. May 5, 1864, he was wounded in the right arm in the battle of the Wilderness. From 1864 to 1879 he was employed in the mines. He has been a resident of Luzerne county since 1871, and in 1879 was elected justice of the peace of Wilkes-Barre township, serving one term of five years. In 1889 he was appointed notary public by Governor Beaver, confirmed by the Senate, and still holds the office. From 1884 to 1892 he was engaged in the liquor business. He was married, March 14, 1883, to Rose, daughter of Hiram and Mary (Davis) Freeman, of Wright township, this county. Mr. Foley is a member of the Catholic Church, also of the G. A. R. and A. O. H. In politics he is a Democrat.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

MRS. ANNA M. FOLK, farmer, P. O. Pittston, was born in Germany, August 7, 1839, and is a daughter of John and Eva Terffessin, both also natives of Germany. They emigrated to this country in 1865, locating in West Pittston, where they both died, the former in 1882, at the age of eighty years, the latter in 1876, at the age of seventy-six years. There were nine children born to them, five of whom grew to maturity, and four of whom are now living. Mrs. A. M. Folk is the fourth in order of birth. She was reared and educated in Germany, and accompanied her parents on their emigration to this country in 1865. In 1870 she married Jacob Myers, a farmer, which union was blessed with nine children, six of whom are living: Emma, Metta, Albert, Theodore, Bertha and Lydia. After the death of Mr. Myers, she married on February 5, 1892, for her second husband, John Folk. Her beautiful and accomplished daughter, Emma, married Prof. John German, a professor of music. Mrs. Folk owns a farm of forty acres of surface land, devoted to gardening; the coal was removed and belongs to the Lehigh Valley Coal Company. Mrs. Folk is a hard-working, thrifty woman, hospitable and entertaining. She has a beautiful home on a very desirable site, about one and a half miles from Pittston postoffice.

GEORGE W. FOLTZ, Freeland. This gentleman was born at Hamburg, near Washington, D. C., June 7, 1863, a son of Martin and Sarah Bromheller, both natives of the District of Columbia, of German descent, and both now deceased, the father having died in 1886, at the age of sixty-eight; the mother in 1876, at the age of sixty-two. Mr. Foltz was educated in the common schools, and .in his boyhood days worked with his father, who was a cooper. At the age of eleven he learned the trade of barber at Danville, where he remained seven years; he spent a short time at Bloomsburg. He then went to Jersey City, where he worked at his trade one year, afterward working at Williamsport, Lock Haven, Muncy and Danville. In 1884 he came to Freeland, and opened a shaving parlor, where he has since enjoyed a liberal patronage. Mr. Foltz is a thorough master of his art. On December 18, 1883, he was married to Mary Gallagher, of Eckley, and they have four children, viz. : Francis, John, Mary and Louisa. Mr. Foltz is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Republican.

EBEN FOOTE, retired, Duryea, was born in New York State, April 18, 1819, and is a son of Gideon and Lavinia (Gillette) Foote, natives of the same place. They reared a family of eight children, of whom Eben is the eldest. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and came to this county in 1834, where he worked as a teamster; in 1836 he bought a pair of horses, and went into the business for himself. In 1844, when Groovan Bros. opened the first mine in this vicinity, he accepted a position with them, and remained there twenty years, proceeding, in 1864, to Mill Creek, where he was outside foreman for the Delaware & Hudson Company until 1868, when he retired. He was united in marriage June 30, 1839, with Martha, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Blanchard) Shiffer, natives of Luzerne county, Pa., and their uuion has been blessed with the following issue: Andrew, born March 19, 1840, died February 1, 1863; William L., born April 16, 1842; Harriet L., born April 16, 1842, married January 13, 1862, to Howard Knapp, carpenter, Duryea; Jeremiah, born December 2, 1846; Nancy E., born November 9, 1850; Nettie, born June 17, 1854, married June 6, 1877, to Robert Lamont, physi- cian, Scranton, Pa. ; Clarin, born March 10, 1856, married May 25, 1881, to John A. Wood, station agent, Lackawanna; Alice, born March 4, 1858, married September 26, 1883, to Henry L. Edsall, merchant, Duryea. Our subject is a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics is independent. He has held the following positions in his township: supervisor, poor director and school director.

ISAAC FORD, justice of the peace, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Bristol, Gloucester- shire, England, March 23, 1848, and is a son of Samuel and Ann (Brant) Ford. He was reared in England, where he received a public-school education, until seventeen years of age, and was employed in a warehouse two years in his native city. October 1, 1866, he sailed from Liverpool for New York, landing October 13. He soon after located in Scranton, Pa., and was there employed in the mines nine

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

months, and has since spent most of his time in Wilkes-Barre, where he was engaged in mining until 1890. He married Mary A., daughter of Henry and Emma (Whaler) Ashford, of Wilkes-Barre, and has ten children: Samuel, Emma, Harry, Isaac, Sallie, Thomas, Annie, Mollie, Stanley and Nellie. Mr. Ford is a member of the Episcopal Church; in politics he is a Republican, has held the office of tax collector one term, and is now serving the second year of his second term as justice of the peace.

JOSEPH FORD, outside-foreman, Stockton, was born in Yorkshire, England, May 18, 1836, and is a son of James and Martha (Swift) Ford, also natives of England. His parents came to America in 1851, settling at Pottsville, Pa., where the children, six in number (Joseph being the eldest), were reared and educated. At the out- break of the Civil war, our subject enlisted in the Pennsylvania Volunteers, for the three months' service, and served under Gen. Nagle until the expiration of his term of enlistment. In his youth Mr. Ford worked about the mines, and has done every kind of work connected with mining. In 1878 he was made outside foreman at Breaker No. 6, Stockton Mines, operated by Linderman, Skeer & Co., and has occu- pied that position at No. 6 and No. 7 ever since. At present he has charge of nine- teen men, and the works produce 150 tons of coal daily. Mr. Ford was married, in 1856, to Mrs. Johanna Fraw, which union has been blessed with four children: William, Albert, Elizabeth and Selina. Mr. Ford is a stanch Republican, and the family are supporters of the Primitive Methodist Church.

M. J. FORD, miner and constable, Inkerman, was born March 31, 1862, in the house where he now resides, and is a son of Patrick and Margaret (Glynn) Ford, natives of County Galway, Ireland, who settled in this county in 1837, and reared a family of six children, of whom our subject is the youngest. At the age of eight years he commenced work as a slate-picker, but in 1874, when twelve years old, he went to school, continuing until 1878. He then commenced the study of medicine, and graduated in 1881, but the profession not agreeing with him, he trav- eled to Colorado, where he engaged in mining. In 1882 he went to Mexico, where he followed the same line of business, and in the latter part of 1883 he returned to Inkerman, where he was employed by the Pennsylvania Coal Company in his present position as a miner. On December 25, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Alice, daughter of James and Ann (Cassidy) Harkins, natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish descent. This union has been blessed with three children: Michael and Frank (twins), born October 4, 1889, and Sarah, born February 19, 1891. In religion Mr. Ford is a Roman Catholic. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, of which he is county secretary, and is president of Division No. 10. He is also a member and treasurer of the Father Mathew Cadets. In politics he is a Democrat, and is now serving as constable of the township.

F. C. FORSCHNER, jeweler, Nanticoke. This gentleman, who is one of the repre- sentative jewelers of Luzerne county, was born in White Haven, this county, and is a son of Charles and Mary (Delay) Forschner, the former a native of Germany, the latter being one of the fair daughters of this county. Our subject received his early education in his native town, and has worked at his trade from his boyhood, at White Haven, where his father is still in the same business, being the oldest and most sucessful jeweler in the place. F. C. worked in his father's store until he reached the age of nineteen, when he went to Freeland and in 1879 embarked in the business for his own account. There he remained until 1886, when he sold out the entire business and came to Nanticoke, where he began the trade again with an entire new stock, and where, by strict business methods, he has made himself a popular and reliable watchmaker and jeweler. Mr. Forschner was united in mar- riage, July 8, 1891, with Miss Mary E. Williams, an accomplished lady of Freeland, and this happy union has been blessed by five children, viz. : Myrtle, Edith M. and Eva L. (twins, the latter deceased), Ada and Frances.

REV. NICHOLAS FORVE, pastor of Holy Trinity (German) Catholic Church, Hazle- ton, is a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., having been born January 17, 1860. His

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parents, John and Mary (Becker) Forve, natives of Germany, came to Wilkes-Barre, where the father died and the mother yet lives. Father Forve received his classical education at Calvary, Wisconsin, where he was graduated in the class of 1880; he then took a theological course in the Grand Seminary at Montreal, Canada, and was ordained at Scranton, Pa., August 26, 1883, by Bishop O'Hara. He was then appointed assistant to Father Schelly, at St. Mary's, Scranton, where he remained from September, 1883, until October, 1884, when he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's Church at Pittston, where he remained until September, 1887, at which time he came to Hazleton, and has since been an untiring worker in the organization and development of his congregation there. He is justly entitled to the glory and reward of being the pioneer priest of the German Catholic denomination of Hazle- ton. The work of God which he has accomplished had long been neglected in that place. He has not only organized a healthy colony of Christians, as members of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, but has promoted and organized many church societies within his congregation, which all tend to carry with them the glory of God and the good of Christianity.

PETER FORVE, plumber, gas and steamfitter, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Obern- kirchen, Prussia, March 3, 1847, a son of Jacob and Mary (Miller) Forve, who came to America in 1852. The father who was a carpenter, followed his trade in the mines until 1885, and then retired. The family consisted of the following children: John (deceased), Jacob (deceased), Nicholas, Peter, Philip, Kate (Mrs. Fred Zimmerman), Margaret (Mrs. Anthony Myer), Mary (Mrs. Jacob Brown), Lizzie (Mrs. William Weiss), Theresa and Lena. Our subject has lived in Wilkes-Barre since five years of age, and was educated in the Catholic parochial school. He served three years' apprenticeship at the gunsmith's trade, four years at the plumber's trade, worked as a journeyman several years, and August 17, 1870, embarked in business for himself, and in this successfully continued alone until 1888. He then admitted his brother, Philip, as a partner, and the business has since been conducted under the firm name of P. Forve & Brother. Mr. Forve married Miss Lizzie Kinley, of Wilkes- Barre, and by her has six children: Jacob, Peter, George, Louis, Marie and Carl. He and his family are members of the German Catholic Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.

CHARLES DORRANOE FOSTER. In this gentleman mingles the blood of several families, notable as among the earliest English settlers of New England, and in connection with the troublous times of the first comers to the beautiful and rich Wyoming Valley. Through his paternal grandfather's marriage, he comes from the Nash family. Thomas Nash, the founder of the American branch of the family, came to Boston in 1637 with a wife and five children. In 1638 the company, mostly merchants and artificers of London, with whom Thomas Nash came, removed to and founded in Connecticut a town called Quinnipiack, now New Haven. A second and third generation abided in New England, solid men and women in their several communities. Phineas Nash, of the fourth generation, came to Plymouth several years before the massacre, where he became one of the first three directors chosen for that settlement, under the rule of the Susquehanna Company. At the age of eighty-three, he rode four hundred miles to Shelburne, Vermont, and died at ninety- three. His daughter Lowly married February 10, 1791, Edward Foster, who came to the Valley from Montpelier, Vermont, in 1803, and died in 1814. His son, Phineas Nash Foster, who was seven years old when his father came to Wyoming, lived more than seventy-five years, and died on his large farm in Jackson town- ship. His wife was Mary Bailey Foster, daughter of Rev. Jacob Johnson, who came to Wilkes-Barre in 1772, and was the first permanently located minister west of the Blue Mountains, in the territory now comprising the State of Pennsylvania. He was a Congregationalist, the teachings of which church were for more than half a century the prevailing religion of the Wyoming Valley. He was a remarkable man, was especially influential with the Indians, speaking fluently the language of more than one of the tribes, and was a conspicuous figure on the Connecticut side,

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 126

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