History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 143

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

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ISAAC A. HOWELL, farmer, P. O. Wyoming, was born in Hope township, Warren Co., N. J., March 29, 1839. He is son of A. J. and Levina (Allen) Howell, both of whom were born in Warren county, N. J .; the former died in New Jersey at the age of thirty-five, leaving a family of six children, all of whom are now living. Isaac A. is the third in the family, and came to live with his uncle Levi, a resident of this county, when but five years of age. He was reared and educated by his uncle in this county, with whom he remained till 1861. When he reached his twenty-second year he enlisted in Company F, Fifty-third P. V. I., with the rank of sergeant; but for his faithful service and undaunted courage, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and then to captain, which rank he held at his discharge. He partici- 56

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY,

pated in the following battles: Fair Oaks, Seven Days' Fight, second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Hatcher's Run. In all these engagements he seemed to lead a charmed life, coming out uninjured. On January 14, 1864, while yet serving his country, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia, daughter of Henry and Maggie Houser. To this union have been born two children: Mary Ellen (married to T. E. Root, a farmer), and Eva (married to Thomas N. Chesworth, a mechanic). After his return from the army, Mr. Howell again engaged in agricultural pursuits. He settled in North Moreland, where he remained about six years, then removed to Franklin township, this county, where he remained two years. He next went to Kansas, where he engaged in farming on a large scale; but after the lapse of four years he returned to Wyoming county, where he resided for two years, and again removed to Luzerne county, where he bas ever since resided. In 1866 he removed to his present residence, which is known as the "Goodwin Place," and was formerly owned by W. S. Shoemaker. He is a general farmer, but gives particular attention to dairying. Mr. Howell is a man of ability and intelligence. He is a member of the G. A. R .; he and his wife are consistent members of the M. E. Church, and politically he is a Republican.

JOHN HOWELL, retired, Pittston. This gentleman, who is one of Luzerne county's most successful business men, was born in St. Donatts, Wales, November 24, 1824, and is a son of Lewis and Ann (Priest) Howell, both natives of St. Donatts. The father was a builder by trade, and lived his allotted time in his native parish. His eldest son, William, has a history that reads like a page from a romance. He was educated for and became a Baptist preacher in his native country, was widely known and respected by all for his consecrated life, and for many years he was an earnest and successful worker in the church of his choice. But eventually he was brought in contact with two elders of the Mormon Church who were engaged in proselyting for their religion in the section where Mr. Howell was located, and by their force of reasoning he was converted to the Mormon faith. He at once undertook to spread that religion in France, and taking with him his eldest daughter, whom he placed in school at Paris, he commenced his mission. Not meeting with the anticipated result there, he not long after returned to England, where he continued his work and soon secured a following of about six hundred, with whom he embarked for the Mormon settlement at Salt Lake, Utah, U. S. A. To show the wonderful power of Mr. Howell's logic, we make mention of the fact that on the trip to the United States he succeeded in converting many of the officers and most of the crew to the Mormon faith. He brought his family, consisting of his wife, one daughter and three sons, with him on this voyage. He disembarked his little colony at New Orleans, and started for the Territory, but at Council Bluffs he sickened and died; his family, however, continued on to Utah Territory with the colony, and, with the exception of one of the younger boys, who was killed by falling under the wheels of the caravan during the journey, they reached the goal for which they had set out. The family received a competency from Wales, and for years have been prominent in the commercial, social and political affairs of the Territory. They have been blessed with a large family and are educating their children in Cornell University. Lewis, the second son, of Lewis Howell, was for many years a dry-goods merchant in Car- bondale, Pa., and died there in 1851; the third in the family, is our subject, after whom come Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Evans; Esdras, residing at Hyde Park, Scranton, a salesman for a Philadelphia grocery house; Joshua W., who was for years in the life insurance business in Pittston, and established the first agency of the Northwestern Life in Luzerne county and built up a business of colossal pro- portions for that company, then sold his business and went to San Francisco, Cal., where he is now engaged in the life insurance business; and Ann W., married to William H. Walters, of West Pittston. Our subject passed his boyhood in Wales, and had but meager chance of acquiring an education. At the age of fourteen years he was bound apprentice to D. Davis to learn the trade of draper, and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

served him five years, after which he was a journeyman for years. In 1849 he came to the United States, and located in Carbondale, where he purchased his brother's interest in the firm of Law & Howell, having John S. Law for a partner. With this firm he remained until the burning of their store in 1862, after which he came to Pittston and assumed the management for his brother-in-law in the firm of Charles Law & Company, and after the brother-in-law's death he, together with Col. Camp- bell, purchased his interest in that establishment, which he held until 1872, when he sold to Col. Campbell and then retired from business. Mr. Howell is the owner of the Music Hall at Pittston, and of other real estate interest in that town. He has a beautiful residence property at No. 237 Wyoming street, West Pittston. Mr. Howell was united in marriage, in 1854, with Mary, a daughter of David Vinton, of Fond du- Lac, Wis., and although this marriage has been blessed with no children, they have reared one adopted child, Mary E., a daughter of Edward Jenkins, of Car- bondale, Pa. She was educated in the public schools of Carbondale, and at the Wyoming Seminary. She married George W. Farrer, of the United States navy, Quaker City, who, while serving as engineer on board one of the United States steamers, saved the vessel from fire by the display of almost unequaled bravery; the fire was dis- covered in the engine room, and his assistants and firemen all fled to the upper deck, but he persuaded them to return to the engine room and assist in subduing the flames, which had by this time gained considerable headway, and as soon as he got them inside he locked the door and told them that they would have to fight for their lives; so, seeing that there was no chance to shirk, they put forth an effort that soon extinguished the flames and saved the ship. For this deed Mr. Farrer received a medal and promotion. At his death he left two children: John, now attending the College of Pharmacy in New York City, and Louise, attending college in Wilkes- Barre. Mr. Farrer lived in Pittston after his marriage, and was engaged in the mill- ing business with Mr. Grier in that town, until his death in 1875. Mr. Howell is a member and senior warden of the Trinity Episcopal Church of West Pittston, He is a member of the F. & A. M., and in politics is a Republican.

LEVI HOWELL, farmer, P. O. Trucksville, was born in Hope township, Warren Co., N. J., February 27, 1817, a son of George G. and Lydia (Johnson) Howell, both of whom were born in the above-named place. George G. Howell was a worthy man, a loyal citizen, a kind, accommodating neighbor, and an honest and upright man in every respect. His family consisted of ten children, nine of whom are now living, Levi being second in the family. Our subject received his education at the public schools of Hope, N. J., and in 1839, when aged twenty-two years, he removed to North Moreland township, Wyoming Co., Pa., where he purchased 160 acres of land to which he added ninety-four acres, thus showing his ability in his chosen vocation to manage his affairs, and accumulate property. During his resi- dence of twenty-five years there, he brought under cultivation 150 acres, proving himself to be a thoroughly practical farmer. Selling this property, he moved to Orange, this county, where he purchased a house and lot; but this was farming on too small a scale for a man of his ability, so he sold out and removed to Kingston township, same county, where he purchased a farm of 160 acres, 120 of which are under the plow, his specialties being grain and hay. Mr. Howell has been married four times. For his first wife he wedded Miss Sarah Luce, of New Jersey, by whom he had one daughter, Sarah (now Mrs. Coursin); for his second wife he married Miss Olivia Smith, by whom he had one daughter, Mollie, wife of William Hatfield; his third wife was Miss Ruth Ann Rodgers, and by her had six children, one of whom is now living in Iowa; his fourth wife was Mrs. Vaughan, who bore him six children, four of whom are now living: Levi T. (married to Miss Kate Schooley), Charles W. (married to Miss Kate Atherholt), Judson J. (married to Miss Carrie Good), and Emeline (married to Walter Bodle). Mr. Howell is a man of marked influence in his township, both in social and religious circles. He is a member of the M. E. Church, in politics is a Republican, and has held several township offices.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

J. J. HOWELLS, druggist, Luzerne. This popular young man was born at Wilkes-Barre in 1869, and is the only son of John W. and Elizabeth (James) Howells, both natives of Wales. They came to America at an early age, and settled in Schuylkill county, Pa., where they were married. At one time the father was a mine foreman at Gilberton, in that county, subsequently removing to Parsons, in Luzerne county, where he lived a retired life until his death, which occurred December 23, 1891, at the age of sixty-four years. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. The subject of this sketch was educated at the public schools of Gilberton, Schuylkill county, and after com- pleting his course came to Wilkes-Barre, where he began the study of pharmacy with Mr. Armstrong, a prosperous druggist of that city. He remained there four years, during which time, by close application and assiduous labor, he became a very proficient pharmacist. In August, 1891, Mr. Howells embarked in the drug business at Luzerne, and although a stranger in the place when he started, has by his kind and affable manner toward all, in an incredibly short time established a very prosperous business, which, through his ability and experience as a first- class druggist and pharmacist, has taken its place among the leading establishments of the city. There were four children in his father's family, viz .: Mary, John J., Laura, and Lizzie, all of whom are living at home. Mr. Howells usually votes the Republican ticket, and in his social connections is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and of the Masonic Fraternity.

JAMES HOWEY, farmer, P. O. Plainsville, was born in Monroe county, Pa., July 22, 1853, and is of Dutch origin. His father's family consisted of eight children, of whom James is the second. Our subject was reared on a farm, educated in the common school, and at the age of ten years began working around the mines. For twenty years he did all the various kinds of work about the mines, and in 1883 he commenced agricultural pursuits on the " Enterprise farm," where he remained five years; then served one year as supervisor of Plains township; and in 1891 he located on the "Pittston and Elmira farm," belonging to the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company. Mr. Howey was married, January 1, 1874, to Miss Parmelia, daughter of Samuel and Louise (Huey) Gregory, natives of Pennsylvania, and of early Dutch origin. Mr. and Mrs. Howey have two children, Minnie M. and Lizzie L. Our subject is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and in politics is a Republican. The family came to Luzerne county in 1855, and lived in a log house where Suburban Park now is, at a time when what is now the town of Parsons and vicinity was all a dense forest. The father, Mr. Simon Howey, is still living, and for eight years has been an inmate of the Danville Insane Asylum.

HENRY MARTYN HOYT, late governor of the State of Pennsylvania, was a de- scendant of an old New England family. The first of the name of whom there is record was Simon Hoyt, who occupies a place in the " list of such as are known to have been in Salem and about the north side of the Massachusetts Bay, before and in the year 1629." From Simon six generations of Hoyts were born in Connecticut and lived there. Ziba, the father of Henry, was born in Danbury, that State, September 8, 1788. He removed to Kingston, Luzerne Co., Pa., and died Decem- ber 23, 1853. He had fought at Lake Erie in 1813, and with Gen. Harrison in his campaign against Tecumseh, ranking as a lieutenant in Col. Hill's regiment, Pennsylvania Militia. Henry Martyn Hoyt's mother was Nancy Herbert, daughter of Christopher Herbert, who was a surveyor and lived in Hanover township until 1797, when he removed with his family to Arkport, in New York State. Mrs. Nancy Hoyt was a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church, and was held in the highest respect by the entire community. Henry Martyn Hoyt was born in King- ston, Pa., June 8, 1830, and worked on his father's farm until fourteen years of age. He was educated at the old Wilkes-Barre Academy, Wyoming Seminary, LaFayette College and Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., from which latter he was graduated in 1849. Afterward he taught at the Towanda (Pa.) Academy, and in the graded school at Memphis, Tenn. ; was professor of mathematics at the

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Wyoming Seminary, one year; read law, and was admitted to practice April 4, 1883; was Whig candidate for district attorney in 1855, and took part in the Fremont campaign in 1856. In 1861 he helped to raise the Fifty-second Pennsyl- vania Regiment, of which he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. He served with the army of the Potomac till January, 1863, was at the siege of Morris Island under Gen. Gilmore, and was captured in a night attack on Fort Johnson, July 3, 1864, in which he successfully led a division of boats, landed and entered the fort, but was unable to hold it by reason of the failure of his support to come to his aid. After a brief confinement in prison at Macon, Ga., he was taken to Charleston, S. C., where he escaped, but was recaptured and brought back to Charleston, where, with a number of other Union officers, he was placed within range of the besieging guns of the Union army. After his exchange he rejoined his regiment, served as its colonel until the cessation of hostilities, and was brevetted brigadier-general. He then resumed the practice of the law. In 1866 he was elected a member of the school board of Wilkes-Barre; in 1867 was appointed additional law judge of Luzerne county, and later was nominated by the Republicans for the same position, but was defeated. In 1869 he was appointed collector of Internal Revenue for the

counties of Luzerne and Susquehanna, and resigned in 1873; in 1875-76 he was chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. In 1878 Mr. Hoyt was nominated and elected Governor of the State, and during the four years of his term, no bill was passed over his veto. After the expiration of his term, he practiced his profession in Philadelphia and Luzerne county. Gov. Hoyt died, after a pro- tracted illness, at two o'clock on the morning of December 1, 1892, surrounded by his family and a circle of sorrowing friends. He married September 25, 1855, Mary E., daughter of Elijah Loveland, also a descendant of an old New England family, and there are three children living-one son and two daughters. The son, Henry M., Jr., is a practicing attorney. The family in religious faith are Presby- terians. In literature Gov. Hoyt wrote much of a high order of merit, the best known, of his works being "A Brief of Title in the Seventeen Townships in the County of Luzerne. A Syllabus of the Controversy between Connecticut and Penn- sylvania," which was prepared for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and an extended argument in defense of the Protective Tariff System, which is regarded by many as the ablest presentation of that side of the much-debated subject ever put in print.

JOHN D. HOYT, farmer, P. O. Kingston, was born August 13, 1819, and is a son of Ziba and Nancy (Herbert) Hoyt, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of Luzerne county, both being of New England origin. Mr. Hoyt was educated in the common schools and La Fayette College, and has devoted his entire attention to farming in Kingston. He has been twice married, and for his first wife he wedded Martha A., daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Myers) Goodwin, by which union there were three children, viz .: Ann Elizabeth, married to George Shoemaker, of Forty Fort; Abraham G., a lawyer in Wilkes-Barre; and Martha, now Mrs. Dr. Frederic Corss. For his second wife Mr. Hoyt married Elizabeth Goodwin, sister to his first wife, and by her has had three children: Augusta; Edward E., a lawyer in Wilkes-Barre; and Henry M., a lawyer in Spokane, Wash. Mr. Hoyt and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican.

J. RITNER HOYT, principal of the Ashley Graded Schools, was born in Huntington township, this county, May 17, 1859, a son of Milo J. and Jemima (Tubbs) Hoyt, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and Scotch origin. The father, who was a farmer, reared a family of seven children, six of whom are living and of whom our subject is the eldest. Mr. Hoyt was educated in the public school in Huntington township and graduated in 1878, from the New Columbus Academy, where he worked his way by teaching and various other means. He taught five years during his course, seven years in Huntington township, and accepted his present position in 1885. November 22, 1882, Mr. Hoyt married Nancy E., daughter of Fletcher and Huldah (Harrison) Chapin, natives of Huntington township where their ancestors

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

were among the first settlers. Of this union there are two children, Maud S. and Russel C. Our subject is a member of the P. O. S. of A. and the K. of H. He is a Republican in his political views.

SAMUEL HOYT (deceased) was born in Kingston, this county, November 2, 1815, the eldest son of Elias and Mary (Weston) Hoyt. He was a cousin of the late Hon. M. Hoyt, ex-governor of Pennsylvania. Onr subject was married January 25, 1860, to Mary M. Miller of Philadelphia, Pa., and two sons were born of this union: Frank Weston and George Samuel, the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. Hoyt was regarded as one of the solid men of the Wyoming Valley. He assisted his father as county surveyor from early manhood to the time of his marriage, and the years devoted to this work made him familiar with the properties of the county, so much so that he became a recognized authority as to title and ownership, both of surface and coal lands. His name and life are intimately associated with the history and prosperity of Kingston and the Wyoming Valley. After his marriage he abandoned surveying, turning his attention to coal interests and railroads, being intimately associated, in those days, with Mr. Abram Nesbitt, of Kingston, Pa. Mr. Hoyt was possessed of sterling qualities of mind and heart, and his kind, affable manner endeared him to all with whom he was associated. He had great clearness of per- ception, and his sound judgment and opinion were often sought in the settlement of important cases. While modest and unobtrusive, he had a strong will, and he was possessed of a well-developed moral nature of the highest type. He was a man of strong convictions in politics, as well as in business, but his modesty forbade any proclamation of them in view of office seeking. He attended the services of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hoyt passed from earth, October 7, 1875.

STEPHEN HARRISON HOYT, a prominent farmer of Huntington township, P. O. Watertown, was born in that township June 28, 1832. He is a son of J. Ross and Julia R. (Harrison) Hoyt, natives of Pennsylvania, of English origin. The father was a farmer by occupation; he died, May 21, 1892, aged eighty-three years. He was a son of Caleb and Elizabeth (Tubbs) Hoyt, natives of Stamford, Conn., who came to this county about 1795, and followed farming until his death in 1819. Stephen Harrison Hoyt is the eldest in a family of nine children, three of whom are living. He was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the common schools, and assisted his father with the farm work until twenty-three years of age. He then began boating for the Baltimore Coal Company, on the Pennsylvania Canal, a busi- ness he followed for ten years, when he moved to Lehigh Tannery, Carbon county, and worked three years in the lumber woods of that section. He then returned to his native township, renting the Jacob Good farm, which he operated for five years, when, owing to his father's failing health, he returned to the homestead, which he now owns. He was married, June 30, 1867, to Hannah E., daughter of Ezra and Rebecca (Wilson)Chapin, which union has been blessed with seven children, six of whom are living, viz .: Eva G., born May 1,1868, a teacher in the high school of Waterton; Charles B., born February 19, 1872; Frank A., born June 15, 1874; Ezra B., born September 23, 1877; R. May, born November 24, 1880; and J. Ralph, born March 24, 1885. The family attended the M. E. Church. Mr. Hoyt is one of the sound men of his township; has been school director for three terms, and in politics is a stanch Republican.

ABRAHAM HUFF, gardner, P. O. Harding, was born in Monmouth county, N. J., November 19, 1839, son of Oliver and Elizabeth (McGill) Huff, both of whom were born in the same county. Oliver Huff was a hard-working and honest man, one in whom his fellow-men could place implicit confidence. He lived to be of service to his country, and died in 1888. He reared a family of seven children, out of eight who were born to him. Abraham is the third of the family, and was reared and educated in his native county, and has always confined himself to agricultural pur- suits, at which he has been successful. He removed to Lackawanna county in 1865, locating in Hyde Park, where he remained one year. thence removing to Ashley, where he resided nine years. He next removed to Newtown, where he spent four

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

years, afterward going to Duryea, whence, after a residence of one year, he moved near Pittston, there passing seven years of his life. Finally, in 1888, Mr. Huff removed to Exeter township, where he bought a place, comprising forty acres, of beautiful and productive land, which he entirely devotes to gardening. He raises all kinds of vegetables, with which he supplies the Pittston markets. Mr. Huff is a man of energy and enterprise, who has succeeded in building up for himself a trade which defies competition. He is a man of pleasing manner and mild disposition. In 1866 he was married to Miss Ellen Vanderlung, who was born in 1846, daughter of James and Mary Vanderlung. To this happy couple have been born five children, four of whom are now (1892) living: Mary, James, Oliver and Joseph; Lottie is deceased. Politically, our subject is a Republican.

GEORGE W. HUFF, merchant and farmer, P. O. Town Hill, Huntington township, was born November 20, 1830, in Sullivan county, Pa., and is a son of Abraham and Annetta (Wright) Huff, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and German origin, respectively. The father was a carpenter and farmer by occupation. He died October 15, 1891, aged eighty-four years. George W. is a grandson of Amos Huff, who came from New Jersey to Hanover township in 1800. He is the second of a family of nine children, seven of whom are now living. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and began life for himself at eighteen years of age, as a carpenter and wheelwright, which he followed for twenty years in Huntington township. He then opened his present store, in 1865, bought a farm, and has since conducted both industries. He was married August 14, 1852, to Miss Frances L., daughter of John and Charlotta (Fuller) Myers, natives, respectively, of Pennsyl- vania and Massachusetts. She is the second youngest in a family of five children, three of whom are living. This union is blessed with three children: Rolland B., born April 19,1856 (he married Lizzie A. Newton; works his own farm); Abram L., born February 14, 1860 (married Jennie Westover); and Thomas R., born Decem- ber 4, 1863; clerks in the store. The family attend the Methodist Church. Mr. Huff was a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P., and Sons of Temperance. He has. held the offices of school director, assessor and poormaster, and has been postmaster of Town Hill for over twenty years. He is one of the prominent men of his section, in politics a sound Republican, and is a thorough business man.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 143

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