History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 127

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections > Part 127

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through all the so-called Pennamite troubles. Of the union of Phineas Nash Foster with Mary Bailey Johnson came Charles Dorrance Foster, who was born in Dallas, Luzerne county, November 25, 1836. He attended the local schools, giving his vacations to work on his father's farm. This continued until he had attained the age of twenty years, when he entered Wyoming Seminary. After a three years' course at that institution, he taught school in Jackson township for a year, and subsequently went to Illinois where, for a short time, he followed the same calling. He later, however, returned to Luzerne, and after putting in another year at farming, was entered as a student at law in the office of the late Lyman Hakes. He was admitted to the bar April 23, 1861. Clients soon came to him, but having inherited an area of more than a mile of choice farm land in Dallas and Jackson townships, he found that possession sufficient to occupy most of his time and for all of his wants, so he gave only incidental attention to legal practice. Mr. Foster is a Republican in politics, and an active worker in the party. He was nominated for the Lower House of the State Legislature in 1882, but was defeated by the late Hon. Herman C. Fry, who had served one term acceptably and was a candidate for a second. Two years later Mr. Foster was again his party's candidate, and was elected. In 1884 he came within fifteen votes of being nominated for Congress, against Gen. E. S. Osborn. He has been prominently identified with many of Wilkes-Barre's business institutions, among them the Wilkes-Barre & Kingston Street Railway Company, of which he was in turn secretary, treasurer and president, and the Wyoming National Bank, of which he has been for a number of years a director. Mr. Foster married, October 4, 1865, Mary Jane Hoagland, of the New Jersey Hoaglands, who have been leading people in New Jersey, since before the Revolutionary war. Our subject and wife have one surviving child, a daughter, Narcissa Florence, wife of Dr. Frank Hornto Jenkins, of Philadelphia, whose father, Hornto A. Jenkins is a rear admiral in the United States navy, and during the war was appointed chief of staff, by Admiral Farragut.

E. D. FOWLER, farmer, P. O. Prichard, was born in Union township, March 16, 1851, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of William E. and Mary (Stroud) Fowler, the former of whom was born in Berwick, February 5, 1819, the latter in Stroudsburg. April 10, 1824, and they were married at the latter place in 1840. In the following year they removed to this county, locating in Union town- ship, where the father has carried on blacksmithing ever since. He is a strong, muscular man, in the enjoyment of robust health. He owns a house and lot in Hunlock township, to which he removed in 1879, and where he now resides. He has been a consistent member of the M. E. Church for forty years. His family consisted of eleven children, of whom seven were reared, Edmund D. being the fourth in order of birth. Our subject married Miss Eliza S. Naugle, who was born in Hanover township in 1855, a daughter of Charles and Mary A. Naugle. They have no family to gladden their declining years. Mr. Fowler is a practical farmer, and now owns eighty-seven acres of good land, sixty of which are under improvement. He removed to his present place about eight years ago. He is a promising young man, and will yet surpass in agricultural attainments. Politically he is a Republican.

OWEN FOWLER, Freeland. Among the active and successful business men of this county may well be noted the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He was born in Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa., May 29, 1859, a son of Thomas C. Fowler, also a native of Columbia county. Mr. Fowler was educated at the high schools, and at the age of twelve years entered the office of the Danville Intelligencer as an apprentice to the printer's trade. He remained here five years, when he went to Hazleton as foreman on the Mountain Democrat, and afterward to Omaha, Neb., being there employed on the Omaha Herald. He returned to Danville and worked at his trade about one year, afterward going to Mauch Chunk, where he remained a short time. He then accepted a position as foreman and local editor of the Mountain Echo, Shickshinny. In 1881 Mr. Fowler came to Freeland and began the publica- tion of The Progress, the pioneer newspaper of the town. He published it as a

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weekly journal until May, 1887, when he made it a Daily, which he continued six months as an experiment; he then concluded that a semi-weekly was just what the people wanted, and The Progress has since been so published, the paper being now known as the Semi- Weekly Progress. Mr. Fowler received an appointment as post- master at Freeland, which he still holds. He was united in marriage with Miss Nettie Sherman, and they have one child, Howard S., born July 7, 1885. Mr. Fowler is a Republican, and through the columns of his paper champions the principals of his party. Socially, he is a member of the A. L. of H., P. O. S. of A., I. O. O. F. and S. of V. .

WILLIAM Fox, carpenter in the Ashley carshops, was born in Cornwall, Eng- land, April 14, 1838, and is a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Harvey) Fox. The family were originally gardeners, but his father was a miner. The family consisted of eight children, viz: Thomas, who died on Lake Superior, at the age of fifty-five years; Nicholas, who was killed in a pit in Ontario, Canada, at the age of thirty-four years; Elizabeth, widow of Richard King (deceased), of Michigan; Kittie, who died at the age of twenty-five years; William, the subject of this sketch; John, who was drowned in Lake Superior; Catherine, wife of Nicholas Richards, Cornwall, England; and Richard, a farmer by occupation. Our subject was educated in England, where he worked at mining. He came to America in 1865, locating in Canada, and work- ing in the Bruce mines for five years; he then removed to Mahanoy City, Pa., where he remained six months, and went to Reading, where he worked at mining, and con- tracted on the cellar foundation of the Market house for eight months. In December, 1870, he came to Ashley, and worked at mining until 1881, at which time he engaged in his present occupation. He built his present residence in 1872, and owns much valuable property in Ashley. March 20, 1860, Mr. Fox married Miss Susan, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Kneebone) Richards, of Cornwall, Eng- land. Her father, a blacksmith by trade, reared a family of eight children, seven of whom are living and of whom she is the third. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have five chil- dren: William J., a painter in the Central shops, Elizabethport, N. J .; Fred, married to Martha L., daughter of William Kelly, ex-chief of police, Wilkes-Barre, by whom he had one child, William H. (Fred is head clerk at Livy's carpet store, Wilkes-Barre); Clara, Nicholas and Susan live with their parents. Mr. Fox is a member of the A. O. F .; he is a Republican in his political views, and he, together with the other members of his family, belongs to the Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM A. FRANKLIN, farmer, Huntington township, P. O. Huntington Mills, was born in Huntington township, Luzerne Co., Pa., September 14, 1826, a son of William and Ann (Hann) Franklin, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and of German and English origin respectively. The father, who was also an agricult- urist, died June 15, 1829, aged thirty-seven years; he was a son of Samuel and Mary (Ransom) Franklin, natives of Connecticut, who came to the Huntington Valley about 1775, and settled on the farm now owned by our subject. Samuel Franklin was a son of John and Kezia (Pierce) Franklin, the former of whom was a brother of Col. John Franklin. Our subject is the fourth in a family of five children, was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and has devoted his whole life to agricult- ural pursuits. When he was an infant, his father died, so that from early boyhood he was obliged to do whatever work he could, and he has always lived on the farm owned by his forefathers. When he was twenty-two years old, he taught the district school for four winters. He was married, October 23, 1852, to Ann E., daughter of David and Phoebe A. (Carpenter) McDaniels, natives of New Jersey and of Scotch and English origin, respectively. She is the second in a family of nine children, six of whom are living, and was born March 6, 1834. This union was blessed with six children, viz. : Permelia A. (Mrs. Sam H. Harrison, of Huntington township), born March 29, 1854; John Everett (of whom mention is made further on); Mary J., born April 8, 1857, died March 4, 1870; David C., born July 31, 1858, residing in Wilkes-Barre, as general agent for the A. F. Hawthorn's U. S. Roof Paint (he mar- ried, September 11, 1881, Miss Cornelia J. Wolf; he is a member of the Junior

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Order United American Mechanics); Maud Gertrude, born March 7, 1868, died March 4, 1870; and Howard H., born July 9, 1871, working for his brother in Wilkes-Barre (he is a member of the P. O. S. of A.). Mr. Franklin is a Republican, and has held the office of overseer of the poor. The Franklin farm is situated one- quarter of a mile south of Huntington Mills postoffice, and contains about one hun- dred acres of prime land.

JOHN EVERETT FRANKLIN, a progressive young farmer, residing at Huntington Mills, was born March 10, 1855, and was married July 20, 1881, to Cora E., daughter of Edward and Mary (Hutton) Hull, of Irish and Dutch origin, respectively, She is the eldest in a family of six children, five of whom are living, and was born November 30, 1858. By this union there are four children, namely: Edward B., born April 12, 1882; Charles H., born July 23, 1883; William R., born July 22, 1886, and Tacy M., born January 23, 1891. Mr. John E. Franklin is a member of the Junior Order American Mechanics and of the I. O. R. M. Mrs. Franklin is a member of the M. E. Church.

ELIAS H. FRANTZ, farmer, P. O. Dallas, was born in Kingston township, January 11, 1846, and is a son of George W. and Sarah M. (Wilson) Frantz, both of whom were born in Kingston township. George W. was a son of Jonas, who came from Northampton county to this in its early settlement, locating in Kingston township on a large tract of land. Jonas was a man of integrity, a practical farmer, and a loyal citizen. He lived to be over seventy years of age, and died in 1871. His family numbered five sons aud six daughters, all of whom grew to maturity and seven of whom are now living. George W. began life on a farm, as a farmer in Kingston, and in 1848 bought a farm of his own consisting of 100 acres, in Wyoming county, where he has since resided, and where he is now living with his wife at the age of seventy. He has been honored with several offices in the township, and discharged them with credit. His family consisted of five children, four of whom are now liv- ing. E. H. is the first of the family, and was reared and educated in Wyoming county. At the age of twenty-seven, February, 1873, he married Miss Eliza, daughter of George and Ann M. Sutton. They have had three children: George W., Elizabeth and Clarence. In 1882 Mr. Frantz moved on his farm of eighty-four acres, known as the De Mon farm. He is an enterprising man of natural ability, honest, industrious and persevering, with an eye to business, and a man of influence in his own neighborhood. Politically he is a Democrat. Mrs. Eliza (Sutton) Frantz was born in Mehoopany, Wyoming county, September 16, 1855.

E. L. FRANTZ, farmer, P. O. Sweet Valley, was born near Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., Pa., August 8, 1851. He is the son of Thomas and Eunice (Metzger) Frantz, both of whom were born in Monroe county, the former in Ross, the latter in Hamil- ton township. Thomas is the son of Jacob, who was a native of France, and who emigrated to this country when a young man. His family consisted of nine chil- dren, eight of whom are living. He lived to a good old age. His son, Thomas, began his active business life in Monroe county. By occupation he was both a cooper and shoemaker, and has the reputation of being an expert at both. He is at present in good health, and an active man of his years. There were eight children born to him, five of whom are living. E. L. is the sixth in order of birth. He was reared and educated in Monroe county, and is a man of marked intelligence for his limited opportunities. He removed from Monroe county to Lackawanna county, locating in Daleville, where he was engaged in the manufacture of clothes pins-the first factory of the kind in what was then Luzerne county. In 1873 he removed to this county, locating at Orange, in Franklin township, where he served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade with a Mr. Williams. He has worked at his trade more or less ever since. Mr. Frantz is a first-class mechanic and a keen business man. In 1877 he removed to Ross township, where he now resides. In the same year -- January 2, 1877-he married Miss Lizzie, the accomplished daughter of Dr. A .- P. and Lizzie Gardner, and to them have been born three chil- dren: Sarah A., Parcel G., and Lizzie A. Mrs. Lizzie Frantz was born in Carbon-

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dale, May 9, 1849. Her father, Dr. Gardner, owns the beautiful residence known as "Glen Home Farm." In 1882 Mr. Frantz took a western trip, by way of exploring. He went to Kansas and Colorado, down to the Mexican line, and visited- many other places of interest. During his trip he kept his eyes and ears open, conse- quently he makes it deeply interesting to listen to his experiences. He is highly entertaining at all times. He owns 100 acres of valuable land in Sweet Valley. He has also a beautiful house and lot attached to his extensive wheelwright and blacksmith shop. Mr. Frantz has held several township offices with much credit to himself. He is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. He and his family are devout Christians. Politically he is a Republican.

REUBEN FRANTZ, farmer, Lehman township, was born October 4, 1827, and was reared and educated in Monroe county, Pa. He is a son of Michael and Mary Frantz, both born in Monroe county, the former of whom was a son of Peter Frantz, who was of German extraction, and who settled in Monroe county. All of them were tillers of the soil, and were honest and industrious. Michael's family con- sisted of four children, all reaching maturity, and of them is now living the sub- ject of this sketch. In early life Reuben Frantz learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he was an expert. In 1852 he came to this county, locating first in Wyoming, where he worked at his trade two years, after which he moved to Trucksville, where he remained eleven years, earning, by honest toil, dollar after dollar, and where the ring of his anvil was heard far and wide. Thus with brawny muscle and determined will, circumstances yielded to his will. After the lapse of eleven years he moved to Lehman township, where he now resides. In these days he worked at his trade and on his farm, but at no time confined himself to agriculture exclusively. His farm consists of ninety-two acres, which he has materially improved since he moved on it; hie land is good, his buildings neat, and his stock is excellent. At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Emily, daughter of John and Sarah Shaver, of Wyoming, by which marriage there were born six children, three of whom arrived at maturity, and are now living: James F., Edgar B. and Charles W. James F. married Miss Emma Ketchan, by whom he has one child; Edgar married Miss Kate Montgomery, by whom he has two children. Mr. Frantz is a practical farmer, looking with a masterly eye to all the interests of his fertile fields. He has held various offices in his township, offices which he honored by the discharge of duties well performed. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian; he is a member of the Grange; politically he is a Democrat.

SHERMAN P. FRANTZ, butcher, Luzerne, Pa., was born on the Frantz farm, Luzerne county, April 13, 1864, and is a son of Perry and Jane (White) Frantz, natives of Pennsylvania. After receiving his education Mr. Frantz engaged in the butcher business at Dallas, Pa., which he followed a short time, removing from there to Luzerne, where he has a first-class market, and caters to the wants of his many patrons, who highly appreciate his methods of doing business. Mr. Frantz was married to Miss Rose, daughter of Walter J. and Caroline (Welter) Wilson, natives of New Jersey. This union has been blessed by three children, Howard P., Walter J. and Hazel. Mr. Frantz is a member of the M. E. Church; he votes with the Republican party, and belongs to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

DANIEL FREDERICK, one of Ashley's oldest and most respected citizens, was born in Northampton county, Pa., December 24, 1807, a son of John and Christiana (Foglan) Frederick, natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin. His father, a farmer, came to Ashley in 1821, and for two years managed the "Red Tav- ern," and next engaged in farming, and afterward moved to the village of Ashley. The family consisted of six children, three of whom are living, viz. : Isaac, Millersville, Ill .; Daniel and Joseph, Hanover township. Our subject was educated in his native county and in Luzerne county, and then learned the carpenter's trade which he followed till 1877, when he retired from active life. In 1834 he built the residence which he still occupies, and hewed out most of the lumber of which it is made, with his broad-ax. Mr. Frederick was married February 24, 1832, to Miss

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Christiana, daughter of Adam and Mary (Ross) Steel, natives of Bethlehem, Pa., and of German and Yankee origin. They removed at a very early date to Hanover township, where Christiana was born October 29, 1808. Her grandfather, Thomas Ross, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was taken prisoner and saved his life by picking grains from an ear of corn concealed in his pocket. Mr. Frederick and his wife are a nice, sweet-tempered old couple who have always lived happily together, and it is pleasant to note that they have by their industry and good habits provided themselves with a comfortable home in which to pass their declining years. They have been blessed with eight children, seven of whom are living, viz. : Mary (Mrs. Alonzo Quick); Charles, farmer, Iowa; Howard, carpenter and machinist, Wilkes- Barre; Merritt, mine foreman, Plymouth; Annetta (Mrs. Stewart McIntosh); Catherine (Mrs. Peter Farley,) and Ruth (Mrs. Clarence S. Detro). Mr. Frederick's political views are at present in sympathy with the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder, and of which she has been a member forty-six years.

MERITT FREDERICK, foreman at the Parrish Colliery, Plymouth, was born at Ashley, Pa., July 24, 1841, and is the fourth in the family of seven children of Daniel and Christina (Steel) Frederick, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of New Jersey. Our subject was educated in Luzerne county, and learned the machinist's trade, which he worked at in this county for fifteen years. In 1864 he was employed by the Parrish Company as machinist, working in that capacity until 1871, when he accepted a foremanship at the Hartford Mine, Ashley, Pa. He remained in charge here from 1871 to 1885, when he was given the outside foremanship at the Parrish Colliery, where he has since been employed. Mr. Frederick was married in August, 1872, to Miss Margaret Barre, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and children were born to them as follows: Daniel, Millie, Edith (deceased), Walter ( deceased), Lida, Gertrude, Charles (deceased) and Harry. Mr. Frederick belongs to one of the pioneer families of the county, and one that has always been identified with the Republican party. The family attend the Presbyterian Church.

SAMUEL Y. FREDERICK, outside foreman for C. H. Knelly, Conyngham, was born in Conyngham village, July 29, 1863, a son of Ernst and Elizabeth (Benner) Fried- rich. His paternal grandparents were Lawrence and Barbara (Jacobs) Friedrich, of Germany, and his maternal grandparents were Christopher and Mary (Strunk) Benner, pioneers of Butler township, this county. His father was born in Saxon- Coburg, Germany, in June, 1829, learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, and in 1852 came to America, locating in Sugar Loaf township, where he has since resided, engaged in the shoe business. The subject of this sketch was reared in Conyngham village, and educated in the public schools; he served a three years' apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, worked as a journeyman five years, and since 1886 has been in the employ of C. H. Knelly, of Conyngham, as outside superin- tendent of his business. He was married, December 1, 1883, to Emma M., daugh- ter of Solomon and Mary (Fetter) Klinger, of Sugar Loaf township, and they have two children, Mabel L. and Charles C. Mr. Frederick is a member of the Reformed Church, I. O. O. F. and P. O. S. of A. In politics he is a Democrat.

P. H. FRENCH, coal operator, Pittston. This enterprising and successful gentle- man was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, March 9, 1852, and is the youngest in a family of twelve children-eight sons and four daughters-of Maynard and Julia (Eams) French, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New York origin. The sub- ject of this sketch was reared and educated in Cincinnati (Ohio) and Utica (N. Y.), receiving a liberal education at the highest educational institutions of those cities. After completing his studies he entered the mercantile business as a dry-goods sales- man at Evansville, Ind., where he remained six years, afterward going to New York City. There he continued in the mercantile line for eight years, at the end of which time he came to Pittston. He has since been engaged in the coal business in Luzerne county, and he has at the present time an interest in the coal separator near the Washington Mine, at Plymouth, which is capable of turning out about three

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hundred tons of coal daily. The father of our subject was in the hardware business the greater part of his business career, and for many years prior to his death, which occurred in 1867, he was president of the Indianapolis, Rochester & Chicago Rail- road Company, and was always considered a proficient, able man in all his ventures. He commenced business at Cincinnati in 1835, and continued it there for over thirty years. The subject proper of this sketch is single. He votes the Republican ticket, and attends the Presbyterian Church.

CAPT. S. L. FRENCH was born at Plymouth, which has ever since been his place of residence. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fifty-second Regiment, commanded by Col. John C. Dodge, and subsequently by Col. (afterward governor) Henry M. Hoyt; was in Gen. MacClellan's command during his Peninsular campaign before Richmond, participating in the battle of Fair Oaks, and was the last to leave the Chickahominy during MacClellan's retreat to Malvern Hill and the James River, being on guard at Bottom Bridge. In 1862 and 1863 he was second lieutenant of a company organ- ized in Plymouth, and as Company G, Thirtieth Regiment, was stationed on the southern border during Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania; in 1872 he was elected register of wills of Luzerne county, and as such, under the new constitution, became the first clerk of the Orphans Court; was chief burgess of Plymouth for several terms, and is president of the board of trade, president of the board of armory trustees, and holds several other offices in different organizations.

Company I, Ninth Regiment, N. G. P., was organized December 12, 1888, at which time it was mustered into the Guard by Col. Morris J. Keck, at McAlarney's Hall, Plymouth. The original members of the company were: S. L. French, cap- tain; Stanley W. Davenport, first lieutenant; F. L. McKee, M. D., second lieuten- ant; A. E. Gregg, first sergeant; Frank Madden, second sergeant; W. E. Renshaw, third sergeant; William H. Croop, fourth sergeant; P. H. Gallager, fifth sergeant; I. A. Weil, first corporal; C. H. Jacobs, second corporal; William J. Williams, third corporal; Chauncey L. Naugle, fourth corporal; Samuel French, fifth corporal; John P. Harris, sixth corporal; John Crossin, seventh corporal; John Davenport, eighth corporal. Privates: E. F. Bisher, G. P. Bisher, Eli Bittinbender, William Crossin, A. C. Compton, Chris. Conrad, Harry Davenport, John J. Flaherty, C. A. Furguson, T. F. Gwillym, John F. Griffin, James Griffin, George K. Hendershot, J. M. Hamway, John Krothe, William Krothe, George B. Kostenbader, Henry T. Lees, John J. Lynch, George H. Monk, D. W. Megines, James P. Murray, John Mutchler, A. McDaniels, E. Lloyd Marks, John May, Robert J. Nevins, Harry W. Pierce, George G. Pritchard, David Percy, William F. Powell, Frank H. Price, I. M. Renshaw, John J. Renshaw, Max Reese, John J. Richards, Adam Smeaton, Thomas H. Smith, D. M. Shafer, Irvin Vanloon, James Ward, R. E. Williams, Martin Walsh, I. M. Weil, Charles E. Waters, Freas Yaple and Harvey Zimmer- man.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 127

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