History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 131

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

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MONROE GIRTON, blacksmith, West Nanticoke, was born in Columbia county, Pa., July 14, 1862, and is a son of Cornelius and Rosanna (Hess) Girton, natives of Pennsylvania. He is the second in a family of four children -two boys and two girls. Our subject was reared and educated in Luzerne county, and learned the blacksmith trade at Benton, Columbia county, where he worked three years. He then went to Hunlock Creek, where he worked at his trade a short time, after which he proceeded to Dakota, where he was engaged at his trade about six months, and then returned to Hunlock Creek, and opened a shop for his own account, work- ing five years. He then went to Central, where he worked a short time, and in 1889 he came to West Nanticoke, and here he has since been engaged at his trade. On March 23, 1887, Mr. Girton married Anna, daughter of William and Mary (Varner) Shultz, of Nanticoke, Pa., and three children have been born to them: Flossie I., Lillie, and Daniel H. Our subject is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M., and in politics is a Democrat.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

PATRICK F. GLENNON (deceased) was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, and received his education in the Irish national schools. He came to the United States in 1846, and settled in Lowell, Mass., where in June, 1848, he married Catherine E., daughter of John and Mary (Early) Loftus, natives of County Mayo, Ireland. Mr. Glennon and his wife came to this county in 1851, settling in Pittston, where he worked as a miner. He was killed in the mine November 3, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Glennon reared a family of five children, namely: Mary E., born November 9, 1850, was married on November 12, 1872, to Edward J. Gibbons, breaker fore- man, Port Griffith; Joseph H., born January 26, 1855; Theodolph J., born Septem- ber 9, 1859 (he received his education in the common schools, and went to work when eight years of age, picking slate at the mine; in 1870, he worked as a driver, in 1874 as a laborer, and in 1879 as a miner, at which he stayed until 1883, when he was appointed deputy recorder of deeds, which office he held until 1887, when he was appointed to the position he still holds, that of collector for the firm of Hughes & Glennon, of Pittston. In politics he is a Democrat, and holds the office of school director; he is a member of the A. O. H., and president of the division to which he belongs); David, born April 11, 1863, principal of the Port Griffith public schools, and Agnes V., born November 3, 1867, a teacher. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

JACOB GOELTZ, foreman in the Empire Coal Yards, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Annweiler, Bavaria, Germany, December 3, 1840, a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Schnebele) Goeltz. His father came to America in 1841, locating in Wilkes-Barre, where he worked as a laborer, later becoming a merchant, and died there in 1870. His children were Sybille (Mrs. Christian Baker), and Jacob (our subject), who was reared in Germany until fourteen years of age. He then came to America, and spent one year in Sparta, Wis. Afterward he resided in Wilkes-Barre three years, at the end of which time he went to Kansas, remaining there two and a half years. In 1860 he returned to Wilkes-Barre, and in April, 1861, enlisted in Com- pany G, Eighth P. V., serving three months and eight days, and was honorably discharged at Harrisburg, Pa. On August 14, 1861, he re-enlisted at Harrisburg, as a member of Company A, First Battalion Twelfth U. S. Infantry, and served three years, when he was honorably discharged. Returning to Wilkes-Barre, he has here since been in the employ of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company. Mr. Goeltz married, October 15, 1864, Caroline, daughter of John Ruhs, of Wilkes- Barre, and by her he had three children: Kate, Isabel, and Jacob A. (deceased). His second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Landmesser, of Wilkes-Barre, by which union there are three children: Daniel, Helena, and Louisa. Mr. Goeltz is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and of the G. A. R .; in politics he is a Republican.

WARREN F. GOFF, lumberman, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Monroe township, Bradford Co., Pa., April 7, 1835, and is a son of William and Anna (Decker) Goff. His paternal grandfather, William Goff, a native of Connecticut, was one of the pioneers of Bradford county, where he cleared and improved a farm in Monroe township, and there died. His maternal grandfather, Decker, was one of the first surveyors in Bradford county, where he died in the early part of the present century. The father of subject was born and reared in Bradford county, and is now a resident of Canal Dover, Ohio. Warren F. Goff was reared in Bradford county, received a common-school education, and in early manhood engaged in farming. In 1863 he located in New York City, where for three years he was a contractor on sewer build- ing. He then spent three years in Wyoming county, engaged in lumbering and general merchandise. In 1869 he located in Wilkes-Barre, and has since been the . junior member of the lumber firm of Sturdevant & Goff. On February 7, 1866, Mr. Goff married Harriet M., daughter of Levesius D. and Ada (Morley) Sturdevant, of Braintrim township, Wyoming Co., Pa., and he has one son, William S. Mr. Goff is a member of the Central M. E. Church of Wilkes-Barre; politically he is a Demo- crat, and is now serving his second term as councilman of the Fifteenth Ward.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

A. J. GOOD, farmer, P. O. Carverton, was born in Pittston township, October 9, 1834. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Irwin) Good, the former of whom was born in Northampton county, Pa., the latter in New York. Samuel's father was a native of Germany, but served in the army of his adopted country during the Revolution- ary struggle, proving himself a good soldier and a loyal citizen. After he returned to a life of peace he located across the river from Wyoming, where he resided for a number of years. He was a worthy man of good moral principles which he prac- ticed during his entire life. His family consisted of seven children, all of whom are deceased. Samuel Good, son of this old pioneer, began his business career as an agri- culturist in Pittston township, where he owned a large farm which he worked with perfect skill, for he was a practical farmer. He was also a man of influence, who took an active part in all political gatherings; during his lifetime he held several township offices. Of a family of ten children, nine of whom grew to maturity, four now (1892) living. A. J. is the sixth in the family in order of birth, and was reared and educated in Kingston township. In his early life he worked some at the car- penter's trade, but is, by choice and the force of circumstances, a farmer of no small experience. Like most boys, his life was uneventful until he reached the age of twenty-five, when he fell in love with and married in 1860, Miss Lucinda, daughter of Conrad and Sarah Sax. To this happy couple were born six children, two of whom are living: Carrie and Belle. Carrie married J. J. Howell, a farmer; Belle is unmarried. Mrs. Good was born in Pittston township in 1841. Mr. Good has been living on his present farm of ninety-five acres for over fifty years, and has retained the good name he inherited from his ancestors. He is a genial man, full of dry and harmless jokes, the " cracking" of which he hugely enjoys. He purchased the property after his father's death; he bought out the heirs and kept on beautifying and embellishing the farm until it has reached its present state of perfection. He has held all the township offices except justice of the peace, and that he refused. He is a member of the F. & A. M., P. H. and I. O. R. M. He is also, in company with his wife, a member in good standing in the M. E. Church at Carverton. Politically, he is an-old time Jacksoniau Democrat.

CHARLES GOOD, merchant and postmaster, Waterton, was born July 10, 1832, in Plains township, this county, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Courtright) Good, natives of Pennsylvania, of German and English origin, the former of whom, a farmer by occu- pation, died July 19, 1881, aged ninety years. Our subject is the second in a family of seven children, four of whom are now living. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty began life for himself in the lumber business in Clinton county, where he remained two years. He then worked for Good & Davenport in a general store at Shickshinny, for two years, after which he located on the Pennsylvania Canal, three years, when he embarked in mercantile business for himself at Shickshinny, continuing therein about two years. He then took a trip to California on business, and after a year returned and rented a farm at Town Line, where he carried on agriculture two years. He then moved to Fair- mount Springs, thence to Waterton, renting a farm nntil 1882, when he purchased the property. It contains 200 acres, and is situated on Huntington creek, two and one-half miles below Huntington Mills. Mr. Good opened his store at Waterton in 1889, and was appointed postmaster same year. He was married March 19, 1857, to Adelaide, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth (Tubbs) Davenport, which union is blessed with seven children, viz: Annie, David P., Ira S., Harry E., Albert R., Luella E. and Jennie A. Mr. Good has been supervisor three years, assessor four years, and school director one term. Socially he is a popular man in his township, and politically he is a good Democrat.

FRANKLIN H. GOOD, farmer, P. O. Hobbie, was born in Hobbie, Hollenback town- ship August 30, 1862, a son of Peter H. and Catherine (Fenstermacher) Good, both of whom were born in this county. Peter H. is a son of Anthony Good, of German descent, who had been an early resident of the county, having located in Hollenback township, where he was known as a thrifty, honest and upright man. He lived an

933

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

uneventful life, and died at an advanced age. His son, Peter H., began his active business life in Hollenback township, where he learned the carpenters' trade, at which he has worked for a number of years. At one period of his life he kept hotel at Hobbie, and was a favorite landlord who catered well to the wants of his custom- ers. In 1868 he removed to Dorrance township, on a farm of 150 acres, seventy- five of which he sold to Wilson Moyer, the rest being owned by his son Franklin H. Peter H. has held several offices in the township with credit to his official abilities. His family consisted of four children, all of whom are living, Franklin H. being the third by birth. Our subject was reared and educated in Dorrance township, and has always been a resident of the county. On June 1, 1889, he married Miss Rebecca Balliet, who was born in Dorrance township in 1870, a daughter of John and Sarah Balliet, and to this union were born two children: Foster F. and Carrie V. Mr. Good followed lumbering in former years, but latterly has confined him- self to farming exclusively. He is a worthy young man, enjoying the respect and confidence of his neighbors. He and his wife are members of the Reformed Church, and politically he is a Democrat.

JAMES GOOD, stable-boss, Jeansville, was born in Carbon county, Pa., July 19, 1837, and is the fourth in the family of five children of Abraham and Ann (Winter- steen) Good, also natives of Carbon county. James, the subject of this sketch, was reared partly in Carbon and partly in Luzerne county, and until 1857 followed the vocation of a farmer. In that year he went to White Haven, Pa., and worked in a foundry until 1858, when he engaged in the lumber business. In 1859 he removed to Buck Mountain, where he secured a position as stable-boss for Peter Ferguson & Co., which he held nine years, afterward taking the position of ticket-boss, which he filled two years. In 1868 he came to Jeansville and worked as a carpenter; then became stable-boss for J. C. Hayden & Co., which position he now holds. Mr. Good was united in marriage, September 27, 1857, with Miss Mary, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Fuge, of Nescopeck, Pa., and fourteen children have been born to this union, but seven of whom are now living, namely: Edgar O., Truman L., Lillian M., Carrie S., Ollie, John L. and James. In political matters our subject is identified with the Prohibition party, and he is a strong advocate of temperance. He is a member of the Sons of Temperance and O. U. A. M. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN J. K. GOODE, engineer at the Terra-cotta Works, Wyoming borough, was born in Coventry, England, November 10, 1845. He is a son of Thomas and Ann (Capp) Goode, natives of England, who reared a family of fourteen children, six now living. Our subject was the fifth in order of birth; he was educated in the common schools, and began work at the age of twelve in the manufacture of silk, following the same for five years. He then learned the milling business, which he followed for eleven years, when he came to America and worked for the Wilkes-Barre Coal & Iron Company, at Wanamie, for seven years, as engineer; then for John Brown, at the Stone Gristmill, of Pittston, for seven months; then one year for the Lehigh Coal Company, when he accepted his present position. Mr. Goode was married December 25, 1868, to Miss Letitia A., daughter of Thomas and Clara (Hems) Half- penny, natives of England. This union was blessed with ten children, viz. : Thomas W., born May 23, 1869; Harry C., born July 22, 1871; Clara A., born September 29, 1873; Harriet L., born April 12, 1876; Emma, born September 10, 1878; George F., born May 17, 1881; John, born October 3, 1883, died November 3, 1883; William O., born October 25, 1884; Scott S., born May 31, 1887; and Florence L., born February 15, 1890. Mr. Goode is a member of the Presbyterian Church, an elder in same, and assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school; he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P., and is independent in his political views; he devotes his entire time to his work and his family.

EDWIN Goss, teamster for Miner & Co., Miners Mills, was born in Wiltshire, England, January 26, 1856, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Palmer) Goss. In their family there are six sons, two of whom are in England, two in Kansas, and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

two in Luzerne county, Pa. Our subject, who is the fourth, came to America in August, 1872, and for five years labored in the mines of Luzerne county. He then returned to England, where he worked on the railroad and in paint and fuel works for four years, at the end of which time he again came to Plains, and labored in the mines four years. He next engaged with his brothers in the grocery and dry-goods business at Plains, and after one year in the same business with John Wilton, with whom he remained five years; and then embarked in his present business. Mr. Goss was married September 11, 1880, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Steer, of England, who was a soldier in the Crimean war. This happy union has been blessed with three children, viz .: Winnifred, born August 17, 1881; Robert C., born January 11, 1884; and Arthur, boin October 14, 1891, and died November 22, same year. Our subject is a member of the Sons of St. George; politically he is in sympathy with the Republican party, but votes for the best candidate and the soundest principles.

NATHANIEL Goss (deceased) was born March 29, 1817, in Huntington township, this county, a son of Nathaniel and Thankful (Forbs) Goss. He was the sixth in a family of twelve children, was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and learned the miller's trade with his father. When twenty-two years of age he began farming, which he followed up to the time of his death, March 5, 1887. In 1833 he was married to Miss Lucy Fuller, who bore him two children and died in July, 1859. He was afterward married, July 15, 1875, to Mrs. Harriet L. Barrett, daughter of Andrus and Sallie (Smith) Fellows, natives of Pennsylvania, of English and German origin respectively. She is the youngest in a family of ten children, was reared on a farm, and February 10, 1856, married Dr. William E. Barrett, by whom she had six children living, viz .: Oliver W., John C. (a furniture dealer in Cambra) and Sarah M. (Mrs. Dr. P. L. Hartman), of Jamison City, Columbia Co., Pa. Dr. Barrett died April 15, 1873. Mrs. Goss has full charge of her large farm, situated one quarter of a mile from the Cambra postoffice, being the farm of her father, and on it is the house she was born in. Both her grandfathers were Revo- lutionary soldiers. She is a member of the M. E. Church.

ORLANDO Goss, retired, P. O. Kunckle, was born in Huntington township, , December 10, 1825, a son of Nathaniel and Thankful (Forbs) Goss, the former born in Huntington township, the latter in Connecticut. Nathaniel was a son of Nathaniel Goss, who came from Connecticut prior to the Revolutionary war, and lived in a block-house, the only one left standing by the Indians and Tories. He fled from there before the Wyoming Massacre, just in time to save himself and. family from the persecutions of their enemies. He was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, settler in Huntington; was an extensive farmer in those early days,

considering they lacked so many facilities we now enjoy, and lived to be sixty years of age. His family consisted of three sons and two daughters. Nathaniel, his son, took charge of the old homestead in Huntington township, containing 150 acres of land, where he built a gristmill which he operated several years. He was a man of influence and worth in his township and county, and was favored . with many offices of trust and responsibility, being a member of the "Partition Committee" when the county was divided. He was an expert hunter and loved the chase; he died in 1853, at the age of sixty-seven years. There were twelve children born to him, eleven of whom came to maturity, Orlando being the tenth in the family. Our subject was educated in Huntington township at the common school, and in early life he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for a number of years. In 1861 Mr. Goss married Miss Ellen, daughter of Jacob and Grace Fisher, and by her had one son, Hershal, who died in 1885, the mother having preceded him to the grave, June 1, 1876. Mr. Goss is now alone, and is retired from active life. He owns seventy-five acres in this county and 200 in Columbia county, besides other small parcels of land. He is honest, generous, and liberal of his means, which are ample. He built a hall for the Kunckle Grangers, they furnishing the material. He owns the county right of " White's Driving and Farm Gate," a superior piece of mechanism. Mr. Goss has held several town offices with credit, and is esteemed for his excellent worth.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

JOHN W. GRAAF. This well-known and popular landlord of the "Pottsville House," Hazleton, is a native of Hamburg, Germany, and was born June 7, 1846. He was reared and educated in the land of his birth, and served one year in the German navy as a marine engineer, during the Franco-Prussian war. At the age of twenty-five he departed from the land of his birth, and made his way to the more liberal one of the free, where every footstep of his has been crowned with success. He worked in a machine shop in Pottsville, until 1882, when he removed to Hazle- ton and took charge of the celebrated hotel known as the "Pottsville House," unexcelled for its excellence of famous brands of liquors, choice cigars and well- regulated facilities for boarding. Mr. Graaf was united in marriage, in 1869, with Miss Elsie Muhl, an accomplished young lady, also a native of Hamburg, Germany. This happy union has been blessed with one child, Helena.

JOHN GRADY, postmaster, and assistant superintendent Prudential Insurance Company, P. O. Port Blanchard, was born August 25, 1842, in Lockport, N. Y., and is a son of William and Catherine (Cain) Grady, natives of County Mayo, Ire- land, who reared a family of sixteen children, of whom John is fourth in order of birth. Our subject was educated in the common school, and in 1854 went to work as a driver in the mines, which occupation he followed until 1858, when he became a miner, and so worked until April 17, 1861, when he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-first New York Volunteers, being the first man to volunteer from Pittston, after the outbreak of the Civil war. Almost immediately afterward he was sent to the front, and took part in the following battles: First Bull Run, West Point and Gaines' Mills, where he was shot in the left leg and taken prisoner by the Confed- erates. On being returned to his regiment, after recovering from his wound, he fought in the battles of Cranton's Gap, Antietam, and at Mary's Heights, during the battle of Fredericksburg, where he was again wounded, this time in the right leg above the ankle. After his recovery he returned to Pittston, in September, 1863, where he stayed until March of the following year, at which time he went to Sus- quehanna county, where he worked on a farm until some time in 1866, when he came to Port Griffith, this county, and here worked for the Pennsylvania Coal Company as a miner until January, 1880, when he was elected road supervisor of the town- ship. On May 9, 1889, he was appointed postmaster by President Harrison, and in May, 1891, he went into the insurance business; he is now assistant superintend- ent of the Prudential Insurance Company. Mr. Grady was united in marriage January 15, 1867, with Sarah, daughter of Henry and Ann (Riley) Gibbons, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, and their union was blessed with the following children: Kate, born October 18, 1868; Mary, born July 27, 1870; William H., born Novem- ber 20, 1871; Edward J., born June 17, 1873; John J., born May 18, 1875, and Thomas F., born January 27, 1878. Mr. Grady is a Roman Catholic in religion, and in politics is a Republican. In 1876 he was elected school director for three years, and in 1878, tax collector, which office he held until 1882.

JAMES GRAY, fire-boss in the Pine Ridge Mine, Miners Mills, was born in the county of Durham, England, June 20, 1853, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Brown) Gray. The father, who was a miner, came, in 1869, to America, along with his brother Matthew, followed by the rest of the family three months later, and located in Ashland, where he engaged in mining; the family consisted of four chil- dren, viz .: Peter, Matthew, James and Elizabeth (Mrs. Isaac Davenport). Our subject received a common-school education, and began life working about the mines, which occupation he has always followed. He was married, December 18, 1878, to Miss Anna, daughter of Lewis Lewis, of Miners Mills, and they have four children, viz. : Joseph, Howard, Elizabeth and Ada. Mr. and Mrs. Gray are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a deacon and trustee; he is a mem- ber of the Sons of St. George, and in political preferences is a Prohibitionist.

PETER GRAY, brattice-man in the Delaware Shaft, Hudson, Plains township, was born in the County of Durham, England, June 5, 1842, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Brown) Gray. The father, who was a miner, came to America in 1871,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

and located in Miners Mills, this county, where he died in 1884 at the age of seventy- three years; the mother is still living at the age of seventy-eight years. The family consists of five children, viz. : Peter; Ellen, married to Edward Walton, a miner in Australia; Matthew, mine-boss at Olyphant, Pa. ; James, fire-boss in the Pine Ridge Shaft; and Elizabeth, married to Isaac Davenport, miner in the Keystone Shaft. Our subject, who had been a miner, and for five years a fire-boss in England, came to America in 1879, and located in Miners Mills, this county, where he worked at Company work till 1882, when he was promoted to fire-boss, a position he held for ten years, during which time he never had a man hurt, or received any injury him- self. Mr. Gray married, for his first wife, Miss Margaret Stark, daughter of Anthony and Dorothy Stark, the fruits of which union were twelve children, of whom are living Anthony, Polly (Mrs. Harry McCloskey), Dorothy B. (Mrs. Thomas Bell), Nicholas T., Peter, James E. and Margaret E .; one son named Matthew was killed in the mines at the age of twelve years. The mother of this family died, and Mr. Gray married, for his second wife, Mrs. Senia M. Johnson, daughter of John Kenson, a native of Denmark, and widow of Peter Johnson, by whom she had one child, Caroline (Mrs. Charles Curry). Mr. and Mrs. Gray have one child, Matthew. Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is a licensed local preacher of more than ordinary ability, and has preached for over twenty years in England and America in some of the best churches. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., and in his political views is a Prohibitionist.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 131

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