History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 132

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

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WILLIAM GRAY, farmer, P. O. Silkworth, was born July 14, 1825, and reared and educated in Kingston township. He is the son of James and Elizabeth (Dyer) Gray; the former born in Massachusetts, the latter in Connecticut. They were married in the East, and removed from there to this county about 1808, locating near Wyoming. James was a miller by occupation, and worked at that most of his lifetime. He removed from Wyoming to Carverton, where he followed milling. Sev- eral years later he removed to Dymond Hollow, and after a few years' labor there, ceased work, his health being very poor. His death was finally caused by rapid consumption when he was seventy-five years of age. He was a good mechanic in his day, and a man highly esteemed by his fellows. His family comprised twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity. Two of this number are living: Samuel and William, the latter being the ninth in the family. The subject of our sketch always followed agricultural pursuits, to which he seems thoroughly adapted, and began his active life in Kingston on a farm which he worked on shares. However, he soon removed to Dallas township, where he farmed for a few years; then removed to Lake township and bought some property. He finally sold out, remov- ing to Lehman township, where he now resides. His farm comprises twenty-five acres of land, and the many improvements made on his property prove him to be a practical farmer. Mr. Gray, in 1848, married Mise Jane, daughter of Jonathan and Cindy Hughstead, and of thie union were born two children. One of these children, Horace J., is now living. He married Miss Nora, daughter of Frank Homel, and by her had five children, viz .: Emma J., Mary S., Lulu M., William F. and Arthur. Mrs. Jane Gray died July 14, 1891, at the age of sixty years. Mr. Gray is a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

GEORGE F. GREBEY, SR., locomotive engineer, Hazleton. This pioneer railroad man was born at Iba, Germany, September 22, 1836, and is the eldest in a family of ten children born to Frederick W. and Anna C. (Berge) Grebey, also natives of Germany; they came to America in 1848, settling at Hazleton, Pa., where the children were reared and educated. Our subject began life as a driver in the mines, following this for three years. In 1856, when railroading was in its primitive state, when the rails were made of wood, protected by strap-iron, our subject began rail- roading, on the road then operated by A. Pardee & Co., at that time known as the Hazleton Railroad. He worked as brakeman until 1858, when he began firing; after two years' service in this capacity he was, in 1860, promoted to engineer, running on the Hazleton division. He ran here until August, 1863, when, in

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

response to his country's call, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Ninety- eighth Pennsylvania Reserves, under command of Col. Sickels. He served one year and ten months, participating in most of the battles fought by the army of the Potomac. After the expiration of his first enlistment he re-enlisted in the same company and served until the close of the war, being mustered out June 9, 1865, at Philadelphia. After returning from the war Mr. Grebey again mounted the foot-board, and has been on all the divisions of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, between Elmira and New York City. He has pulled passenger, freight and coal trains, and has in all his experience been in but one wreck. Mr. Grebey was united in marriage, August 19, 1860, with Miss Martha, daughter of August and Elizabeth (Shugard) Walper, natives of Hazleton, and eight children have been born to this union, namely: Sophia, Cassie (deceased), George, Margaret, John, Annie, William and Henry. Mr. Grebey is a member of the following orders: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, I. O. O. F. and Hari Gari, which admits those of German birth only. The family attends the German Reformed Church.

JAMES D. GREEN, retired merchant, Wyoming borough, was born in Benton town- ship, Luzerne Co., Pa., April 26, 1834, and is a son of Hiram and Eliza (Dean) Green, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English origin, who reared a family of nine children, three of whom are now living. Our subject, who is the fourth in order of birth, was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools and high school of Waverly, Lackawanna county, and began life as clerk in a general store at Lynn, Susquehanna county, where he continued eight months. He then clerked at Waverly one year, at the end of which time he came to Wyoming and engaged with Swetland & Pettebone, remaining with them four months. In August, 1855, he began work for Thomas F. Atherton, and continued with him until 1859, when S. J. Sharps and he purchased the stock, and, as equal partners, conducted the concern for one year. Then S. J. Sharps sold his interest to John Sharps, who, with Mr. Green, carried on the business six years, when Mr. Sharps sold his interest to Mr. Green, who continued the business till 1878. He then sold out his stock to William Hancock, after which he and W. D. Green, a brother, carried on a store for a few years, and then sold to H. P. and W. S. Jacobs. Mr. Green then engaged with the Pittston Engineer Machine Company as treasurer, with whom he remained till 1891, when he retired. On October 31, 1861, he was married to Miss Fannie, daughter of Jesse B. and Jane (Breese) Schooley, which union was blessed with one child, Clara E., who was married to H. M. Ives, clerk in a bank at Scranton. Mrs. Green died July 12, 1867, and Mr. Green married, October 15, 1868, Martha, daughter of John and Mary (Stark) Searl, by which union there is one child, Mary S. Mrs. Green is a member of the Episcopal Church of Pittston. Mr. Green, in his political prefer- ences, is in sympathy with the Republican party.

JAMES P. GREEN, engineer at the Old Slope, Plains, was born in Scott township, Lackawanna Co., Pa., June 12, 1850, and is a son of John B. and Elizabeth (Cisco) Green, natives of New York, and of English and German origin respectively. The father came to Luzerne county about 1845, and worked at the carpenter's trade. He reared a family of two children, of whom James P. is the elder. Our subject obtained a common-school education, and at the age of sixteen went to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed about six months, when he began working around the machinery at the mine. In 1877 he became an engineer, and has since worked in that capacity for various companies at Plains. Mr. Green was married, August 16, 1875, to Effie E., daughter of Sylvanus and Huldah J. (Crandall) West- egate, of Susquehanna county, Pa., and they have five children, viz .: Robert A., Huldah J., Elizabeth, Mary B. and Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Green are members of the Free-Will Baptist Church; he is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and in politics is a Republican.

JOHN D. GREEN, treasurer and general manager of the Superior Stove Company, Pittston. This gentleman, who stands well toward the front among Pittston's bus- iness men, was born in Scranton, Pa., July 1, 1850, a son of Alfred and Laura

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

(Moore) Green, the former a native of Somersetshire, England, the latter of Dutch- ess county, New York. The father came to the United States in 1845, and located in Scranton, where he occupied the position of mine superintendent for many years. The parents are both living, residing in Scranton. They had a family of four children, of whom John D. and one sister, Belle, are the only ones now living. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Scranton, and at the Wyoming Sem- inary. Leaving school in 1869, he engaged in the drug business at Scranton for two years, and then entered the office of Henry O. Silkman, stove manufacturer, of Scranton, as bookkeeper, in which capacity he served four years; then, in 1873, came to Pittston and entered the office of the Pittston Stove Company, as bookkeeper. In 1875 he was promoted to treasurer and general manager of that large manu- facturing establishment, being also a heavy stockholder in the company. In 1890 Mr. Green was largely instrumental in organizing a company for manufacturing stoves, the plant to be located in Superior, Wis. This company secured large land interests in that thriving city, and erected a plant there, the main portion being 387x75 feet, with an "L" 40x60 feet. This he filled with new and improved machinery, which will give them a capacity for manufacturing 15,000 stoves and ranges yearly, and working a force of 225 men. Mr. Green will assume the office of treasurer and general manager of this company, of which he is a heavy stock- holder. He was married November 8, 1872, to Hattie A. Jones, a daughter of George K. Jones, a prominent merchant of Carbondale, Pa., and this union has been blessed with four children: Nellie, Hattie, Fannie and Natalie. The family worship at the Episcopal Church, West Pittston. He is a member and past master of Valley Lodge No. 499 F. & A. M., past high priest of Pittston Chapter No. 442, past eminent commander of Wyoming Valley Commandery No. 57, and first lieuten- ant commanding Keystone Consistory Scottish Rites, and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party.

W. H. GREEN, of the firm of Herrman & Green, merchants, Hazleton, was born at Scranton, Pa., October 5, 1862, a son of Simon Green, a native of Germany. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Scranton, and at the age of seven- teen began working in an insurance office in the city of his birth, as bookkeeper and corresponding secretary. After remaining there about one and a half years he engaged in the gent's furnishings business as clerk, at Scranton, where he remained three years; then went to Tamaqua and clerked in a clothing house two years. He then accepted a position as manager of a store at Lansford, Pa., remaining there until 1887, when he came to Hazleton and engaged in the mercantile business with Mr. S. M. Herrman. This house is one of the largest and most prosperous in the city, and it may well be, for these young men are all enterprise and push. Mr. Green is a Democrat in his political proclivities.

ABRAHAM L. GREENBURG, one of the leading and prominent dealers in general merchandise in Wilkes-Barre, was born in the Province of Groningen, Holland, May 23, 1847, a son of Leonard and Minnie (Waarburg) Greenburg, the latter & native of Oldenburg, Germany. Our subject was reared in his native country, where he received a high-school education, and in the fall of 1866 came to America, residing four years at Dunnings, Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county, Pa., where he was employed in a tannery. In 1870 he settled in Wilkes-Barre, embarking in the grocery business on a small scale, but in 1879 he engaged in general merchandis- ing, in which he has successfully continued, carrying one of the largest stocks of goods in the city. He has accumulated a large property, both in Luzerne and Wyoming counties. Mr. Greenburg was married, December 24, 1872, to Sarah, daughter of Norman aud Rose (Jacobs) Greenburg, of Germany, and by her has four children: Leonard, Harry, Louis and Seigfried. Mrs. Greenburg died July 12, 1891. Mr. Greenburg is a member of the Reformed Jewish Temple, Free Sons of Israel, Kascher Shel Bassal, and in politics is a Republican.

C. D. GREGORY, miller, Dallas, was born in Union township, this county, August 16, 1857, a son of Benjamin and Emma (Muchler) Gregory, both of whom were

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

born in Luzerne county. Benjamin Gregory is a son of Peter Gregory, who came to this county in its early settlement, locating in Union township, where he always afterward resided. His son, Benjamin, began life in his native town as a merchant, at which he continued for about twenty years, at the expiration of which he turned his attention to horticultural pursuits, at which he is yet engaged. He is a man of influence in his town, and has held most of its public offices, among them secretary of the school board. He reared a family of seven children, all of whom are now living, C. D. being the fifth. Our subject received his first training in the common school of his native town, and afterward in the Columbus Academy, finish- ing at the Kingston Seminary. In early life he confined himself to bookkeeping, at which he continued up to 1885, when he went into mercantile business at Centre Moreland, Wyoming county. In 1888 he removed to Dallas, where he erected an extensive steam gristmill, suitable for chop purposes, with a capacity of 800 bushels per day, and put in a 40-horse-power engine the same year. On the completion of the mill, he associated with him, as a business partner, C. H. Heitsman, and they are now doing a thriving business. At the age of twenty-five Mr. Gregory married Miss L. J., daughter of Rev. George and Ruth Winters, the former of whom was a Baptist minister, and by her he had five children, three of whom are living, viz. : Claude, Ruth and Laura. Mrs. C. D. Gregory was born in Centre Moreland, Wyoming county, in 1860. Our subject is a worthy citizen, held in great esteem in the community. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, in good standing.

JACOB GREGORY, farmer, P. O. Prichard, was born in Union township, Febru- ary 24, 1821, a son of George and Amy (Roberts) Gregory, the former born in Berks county, Pa., the latter in Connecticut. They were farmers and people of respectability. George was a son of Peter Gregory, who was also a native of Berks county, and at a very early day removed to this county. He located near Shick- . shinny, where he purchased 400 acres of land on which he built the first gristmill in the township. He was a thorough-going business man, a good practical farmer, and held several township offices. His son George began his business life on the old homestead, and followed in the footsteps of his father. He owned 228 acres of land, and, like his honored parents, was a practical agriculturist and a far-seeing business man. In conjunction with his farm he owned and operated the mill his father had built. Politically he was a Federalist. He died at the age of fifty-six years, having reared a family of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity and five of them are now living, Jacob being the youngest son and the seventh child in order of birth. Our subject was educated in Union township at the common schools. He is a general and practical farmer and has always followed agriculture, begin- ning his active life on the old homestead, part of which he owned and on which he lived until 1872, when he removed to Hunlock township, onto a farm of eighty- seven acres. In 1841 Mr. Gregory married Miss Ellen, daughter of Joseph and Ann Moore, and to them were born six children, five of whom are yet living: Ches- ter, Charlotte, Charles, Luella and Manemia. Mrs. Ellen Gregory was born in Union township, December 13, 1821. Mr. Gregory is a worthy citizen, and has been appointed to some township offices of trust which he has filled with credit to himself and satisfaction of his constituents.

WILLIAM N. GREGORY, jeweler, Nanticoke, was born in Muhlenburg, Luzerne county, April 27, 1856, son of Nelson and Sybol (Monroe) Gregory, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Scotch and the latter of New England origin. William N. is the youngest of six children. He was educated in the common schools of his native village, and when fourteen years of age he went to Wilkes- Barre, in the employ of R. W. Haight, as an apprentice at watchmaking. He remained there three years, afterward going to Bloomsburg, where he completed his trade in the employ of Lewis Bernard, a prominent jeweler of that place. After remaining in Bloomsburg about one year and a half he returned to Wilkes-Barre, where he followed his trade about one year. He then went to Plymouth, and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

remaining there but a short time, again returned to Wilkes-Barre. After a etay of one year he went to Scranton, where he also followed his trade for about one year, thence removed to Pittston, where he remained another year. In 1880 Mr. Gregory came to Nanticoke and engaged in the jewelry business for himself, where, by the excellent manner of his workmanship and the superior grade of the articles he handles, his business has increased until he now constantly carries a large and handsome stock of almost everything in the jewelers' line. Mr. Gregory was mar- ried March 1, 1880, to Katie E., daughter of Thomas H. Bochman, of Wilkes- Barre. They have two children: Lena Sybol, born February 1, 1881, and Ralph Bernhard, born April 19, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, in which he is a trustee. He is a member of the Knights of Malta, the American Legion of Honor, and the American Mechanics, and politically is a Republican.

GEORGE GREICH, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born in Germany about 1820. He is the son of Joseph Greich, a German who emigrated to this country about 1831; his wife died previous to his coming. He had two sons, Joseph and George. They located first in New York City, then moved to Paterson, N. J., where they became engaged in a cotton-mill. In the course of time the father married again, after which the two sons left home, removing to Franklin township, where they conjointly purchased a lot of 125 acres of unimproved land on which they built a log cabin and began the work of pioneers. They endured many hardships in those days, but by hard and honest toil succeeded in clearing a beautiful farm. George married, for his first wife, Catharine Chandler. For his second wife he married Miss Sarah, daughter of Garrett and Mary Besterder. There were no children by either mar- riage. Mrs. Greich, the latter, was born in North Moreland, Wyoming county, in 1842. After the brothers married they desired to separate the homes, the land was divided and now each has his own home. They are both worthy citizens, and hon- est and industrious men. Politically, they are Democrate.

GEORGE T. GRIFFIN, of the firm of Griffin & Colburn, prominent photographers of Wilkes-Barre, was born at Moscow, Lackawanna Co., Pa., July 8, 1858, a son of Alonzo and Fannie (Schwartz) Griffin. His father was a native of Plymouth, this county, and a son of Jackson Griffin, formerly of Dutchess county, N. Y., who was one of the pioneer teachers of the Wyoming Valley; he died at Plymouth. The father of our subject is a carriage-painter by trade and has been a resident of Wilkes-Barre since 1884; his wife was a daughter of George Schwartz, of Moscow, Pa., and by her he has three children: Sadie (Mrs. Ira D. Rosencrans), George T. and Charles L. Our subject was reared in Wyoming county, Pa., and educated in the public schools. In 1872 he began an apprenticeship at photography with W. O. Look, of Meshoppen. Pa., serving two and one-half years, and has since been in business for himself, with the exception of four years that he was in the employ of Lee Stearns, at Wilkes-Barre. Since 1890 he has been in business in Wilkes-Barre, as a member of the firm of Griffin & Colburn; the work done by this firm can not be excelled in the State. Mr. Griffin was married, December 10, 1884, to Sophia L., daughter of Zachariah Gray, of Tunkhannock, Pa., and has one son, Ned G. He is a member of the F. & A. M., R. A. M., and K. T. ; he is a Republican.

DAVID D. GRIFFITH (deceased) was among the most prosperous mine contractors of the anthracite regions. He was born in Wales, March 14, 1841, a son of David and Margaret (Davies) Griffith, also natives of Wales. He was reared and educated in his native land, and in 1861 came to America and engaged in mining at Pittston (although residing in Hyde Park), where he remained a short time and then removed to Bellevue, Lackawanna county. He remained there until 1864, when he went to Plymouth, where he engaged in mine contracting, sinking shafts, etc. In 1883 he came to Kingston, where he resided until his death, which occurred January 31, 1891. Mr. Griffith was engaged in agriculture for a short time, but at the same time chiefly devoted his attention to contracting. He was twice married; first, to Miss Elizabeth Phillips, by whom he had four children, viz. : Sarah Ann, Mary,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Reese (who is a student at the University of Pennsylvania), and Margaret. About three years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Griffith was again married, this time to Miss Jane, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Davies) Williams, natives of Wales. She was born at Neath, Bradford Co., Pa., where her parents resided until their death. At her husband's death, Mrs. Griffith was left with three chil- dren, viz. : Bessie, Nellie and Guy. Mrs. Griffith and her family are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which she is a firm supporter and a faithful attendant.

JOHN T. GRIFFITH, insurance agent, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Caernarvonshire, North Wales, December 25, 1824, a son of Thomas and Dorothy Griffith, who emi- grated to America in 1830, spending one year in New York City, and in 1831 locating at Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Pa. They resided in the county until their death, and both are buried at Pottsville, Pa. Our subject has been a resident of Luzerne county forty years, thirty-two of which have been spent in Wilkes-Barre. For four- teen years he was in the employ of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, as inside superintendent of mines, and in 1877 was badly injured by an explosion in the Stanton Mines. In 1878 he was elected treasurer of Luzerne county, serving one term of three years; since 1887 he has been engaged in the insurance business. His wife was Mary, daughter of John G. and Mary (Davis) Roberts, and by her he had four children, viz. : Kate (Mrs. Dr. J. Harris Jones), Thomas R., John R. and Lizzie (Mrs. Carl Koerner). Mr. Griffith is a popular and well-known citizen of Wilkes-Barre, is a member of the First Welsh Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a stanch Republican.

THOMAS H. GRIFFITH, wholesale dealer in cigars and tobacco, Wilkes-Barre, was born near Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Pa., June 5, 1849, a son of Nathaniel and Catherine (Evans) Griffith, natives of Wales. He lived in his native county until fifteen years of age, of which five years were spent in the breaker. His education was received at night schools, and one year at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. For twelve years he was bookkeeper for C. M. Conyngham, and for eight years engaged in general merchandising at Wilkes-Barre, and embarked in his present business in 1890. January 2, 1875, Mr. Griffith married Miss Mary, daughter of Morgan B. and Catherine Williams, of Wilkes-Barre, and has six children living: Kate, Mor- gan, Thomas H., Ray, Alice, and Ora. Mr. Griffith is a selfmade man, and after beginning life at the lowest round of the ladder has accumulated a competency. He ranks among the leading business men of the city, is a member of the Welsh Presbyterian Church and he is a Knight Templar. Politically he is a Republican, and has served two terms as city auditor.

DAVID R. GRIFFITHS, retired contractor, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Glamorgan- shire, South Wales, January 2, 1826, a son of William R. and Rachel (Owen) Griffiths. He was reared and educated in South Wales, where he learned the trade of stone cutter and mason, and prior to that worked at the tinsmith's trade. He did a large business as a contractor in sinking shafts in the coal mines of Wales. In 1860 he came to America and spent ten years in Illinois and Missouri., and in 1870 located in Wilkes-Barre, where he has since resided. For eighteen years he was a contractor under the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, retiring in 1888. In 1856 he married Miss Ann, daughter of Morgan and Elizabeth (Davis) Thomas, of Wales, by whom he had seven children: Elizabeth (Mrs. John Johnson), William M., Rachel, John, Olive (deceased), Edith, and Lee. His second daughter, Rachel, was a teacher in the Parrish Street Public School ten years, two years as assistant superintendent of the same, and since 1889 has been a teacher in the Wilkes-Barre Business College. Mr. Griffiths is a member of the Second Welsh Presbyterian Church, of the I. O. O. F., of the Foresters and American Protestant Association. In politics he is a Republican.

DAVID P. GRIFFITHS, general merchant, Wilkes-Barre, was born at Narberth, Pembrokeshire, South Wales, February 7, 1855, a son of John and Sophia Griffiths. He was reared on a farm in his native country until fifteen years of age, and during that time served a two-years' apprenticeship in a store. In 1869 he came to

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

America and located in St. Clair, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he worked as a clerk for three years. In 1872 he came to Wilkes-Barre, where he has since resided, and for nine months was clerk in a hardware store, and fourteen years was engaged in mining. He then embarked in general merchandising, in which business he has since successfully continued. In November, 1877, Mr. Griffiths married Mary A., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Reese) Haycock, of Wilkes-Barre, formerly of Wales, and has five children living: Sadie, Elizabeth, Kate, John and an infant son. Our subject attends the services of the Welsh M. E. Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Republican.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 132

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