History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 146

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

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SOLOMON P. IDE, farmer, P.O. Idetown, was born, December 10, 1818, reared and educated in Lehman. He is a son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Parker) Ide, the former born in Stockbridge, Mass., October 22, 1781, the latter in Coventry, Conn., October 12, 1787. They were married January 1, 1812. Elijah was the eldest son of Nehemiah Ide, who came to this county with his six sturdy sons about 1800, locating near Lehman Centre, on what is now called Idetown. The names of these pioneers were Elijah, Nathaniel, William, John, Nehemiah, Jr., and Oliver. Elijah settled on part of his father's estate, comprising seventy-two acres, which he improved, and on which he erected buildings and, as the land improved under his touch so he increased in usefulness and influence; he was a member of the M. E. Church, and a competent class-leader in those days. While his life was not full of thrilling events, yet it was fraught with goodness and usefulness. His earthly career ended March 16, 1860, at the age of seventy-nine. Elijah Ide reared a family of six children: Elizabeth J., Lucina P., Emiline, Solomon P., Reuben H. and Sarah. Solomon P. began life on the place where his father lived and died; and where he himself was born. His farm, consisting of 125 acres, is cultivated to the highest extent. He is a thorough-going farmer, and raises a general line of prod- uce. He has held the office of auditor for four terms with much credit, and also that of assessor and collector several terms. Like his father, he is living a life of usefulness and happiness. At the age of forty-seven Mr. Ide married, December 7, 1865, for his first wife, Miss Mary Ann Green. of Newark, N. J. She died without issue November 3, 1867. For his second wife he married, April 22, 1871, Mrs. Margaret Montanye Dymond, by whom he had one son, Elijah C., born April 1, 1872. Mrs. Ide was born in Exeter, Luzerne county, May 22, 1833. She is a member of the Baptist Church, in good standing. S. P. Ide is a member in full standing and fellowship of the M. E. Church. Politically, he is a Republican.

WILLIAM F. IMLAY. proprietor of restaurant, Ashley, was born in Imlaytown, N. J., April 11, 1853, and is a son of Nathan and Harriet (Bird) Imlay, natives of New Jersey, where the Imlay family settled with the first Holland colonies. The Bird family is of French extraction. The father of our subject, who is a farmer in New Jersey, reared a family of sixteen children, thirteen by his first and three by his second wife, Our subject, who is the third in order of birth, was educated in his native town, and at the age of seventeen years came to Ashley to tend bar for his brother-in-law, W. H. Tabler, where he remained two years, and was then conductor on the street car four years, after which, in 1878, he purchased from his brother-in- law, his present place of business. Mr. Imlay was married, November 13, 1884, to Mary W., daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Johnson) Black, of Ashley, and natives of Ireland. This gentleman is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M., the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, and is a Democrat in his political views.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

SMITH IRWIN, Wikes-Barre, was born in Dallas, this county, August 5, 1835, and is a son of Thomas and Clarissa (Tuttle) Irwin. The father, who was a native of Orange county, N. Y., settled in Wilkes-Barre in an early day, was the proprietor of the "Spring House Hotel" for a time; lived for forty years in Dallas, held the offices of county commissioner and county treasurer, and was a prominent citizen of his day. His wife was a daughter of Thomas Tuttle, formerly of Orange county, N. Y., a wheelwright by trade, and a pioneer of Dallas, this county. By her he had ten children: Mary Anne (Mrs. S. G. Krick), Andrew, Harriet (Mrs. M. C. Orr), Charles, Armina .(Mrs. Philip Shaver), Thomas, Smith, Lavina, Abram and Eliza (Mrs. Jacob Frantz). Our subject was reared in Dallas, this county, where he learned the painter's trade, which he followed for five years. For twenty years he has been a resident of Wilkes-Barre. His wife was Clara, daughter of John and Susannah (Morrison) Wardan, of Dallas, and he is the father of five children, viz .: Flora Anna, Minnie Eliza (Mrs. Samuel Hull), Archie Smith, Blanche Wardan and Eva Frances. Mr. Irwin served two and one-half years on the Wilkes-Barre police force. In politics he is a Democrat.

FREDERICK ITTIG, No. 21 Le Grand avenue, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Germany, March 22, 1836, the third son of Gottleib Ittig. He received his education in the public schools of his native country, and then learned the trade of cabinet maker. In 1854 he emigrated to this country, arriving at Philadelphia, where he worked at his trade for nearly two years, going from there to Pottstown, where he worked for one and a half years. After this period he resided at Pottsville for three years, re- moving from that place to Ashland. In 1873 he came to Wilkes-Barre and estab- lished a saloon at No. 42 Hazle street, continuing in this with great success until the high-license law went into effect, when he concluded to retire from business. Mr. Ittig was married, June 3, 1859, to Catherine, the second daughter of Edward Kappler, of Ashland, Pa., and one child (now deceased) was born to this union.

ARTHUR IVES, merchant and miner, Plymouth. This gentleman, who represents one of the pioneer families of the Wyoming Valley, was born April 26, 1837, being the sixth in the family of Joseph and Elizabeth (Barney) Ives, natives of Pennsyl- vania. The paternal grandmother was but ten years of age at the time of the bloody Wyoming Massacre, and the family fled to Sunbury, Pa., in order to save their lives. Arthur, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Luzerne county, and until 1860 was engaged in different occupations. At that date, however, he began mining, which he has since followed, working for the last twenty years at the Avondale Colliery. He also has a neat little store on Centre street, which he soon expects to enlarge, putting in a full stock of groceries. Mr. Ives was united in marriage, November 10, 1860, to Miss Susan, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Lape) Clark; the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of New Jersey extraction. Five children were born to this couple, viz .: Emma, now wife of Clinton Wolfe, of Plymouth, Pa. ; Thomas, deceased; Cora, deceased; Stella and Polly. Mr. Ives is a Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F., Shawnee Lodge, No. 225. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

B. JACKSON, merchant, Nanticoke, was born June 4, 1846, in Chester county, Pa., and is a son of Caleb and Letitia (Brinton) Jackson, the former a native of Chester county, the latter of Delaware county, both being of English lineage. He was educated at the West Nottingham Academy, in Cecil county, Md., and began life for himself clerking for H. C. Nesbitt, at Port Deposit, that State. After remaining there about two years, he came to Wilkes-Barre, this county, where he engaged as clerk in the Company store of the Franklin Coal Company, where he remained one year. He then accepted a clerkship with Jacob Geiselman, continuing in his employ until 1873, when he came to Nanticoke, and was employed as clerk for Hildreth & Co., remaining at that place seven years. He then embarked in the grocery business at Nanticoke, with S. P. George as his partner, and after continuing the partnership four years, Mr. Jackson commenced in his present general mercan- tile business, carrying full lines of all kinds of goods and wares. His store is

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

located at No. 108 Prospect street, a very convenient and desirable part of the hustling borough of Nanticoke. Mr. Jackson was married September 15, 1881, to Maggie E., daughter of William Kirk, of Cecil county, Md., and this happy union has been blessed with two children: Laura C. and Mary L. Our subject is a mem- ber of the Knights of Malta, I. O. O. F., K. of L. and Royal Society of Good Fellows. In politics he is a Republican, and has served two terms in the borough council.

E. B. JACKSON, farmer, P. O. Carverton, was born at Bowman's Creek, Wyoming county, July 23, 1837, and is a son of Samuel and Ruth A. (Carver) Jackson, the former born March 30, 1805, probably in one of the New England States, the latter February 18, 1810, in Wyoming. Samuel was a son of Jabez, who was a valiant soldier in the Revolutionary army. He reared a family of four children, all of whom are now deceased. His son Samuel began life as a farmer at Bowman's Creek, where he remained till 1840, when he removed to Carverton. He purchased a farm of sixty-five acres, part of which was improved, the rest he brought under cultivation during his lifetime; the place now comprises ninety acres. Samuel Jackson was a hard-working man, he was a strict Methodist, and a man of deep and sound convictions. He was twice married: first, in 1834, to Ruth A. Carver, by whom he had five children: Sarah J., born February 5, 1836; E. B., born July 23, 1837; Jabez, born March 23, 1839; William H. H., born March 13, 1841, and Almon (deceased), born December 10, 1841. Mrs. Ruth A. Jackson died May 1, 1843, and for his second wife, he married Miss Sarah, sister of Judge Phoenix, of Wyoming county, who still survives. Samuel died, April 7, 1888, at the age of eighty-four

years. The subject of this sketch is the second in the family, and received his education at the common schools of Carverton. He always confined himself to farming, and has always resided on his present farm, since he removed hither with his father. On February 12, 1867, he married Mies Mary Ann, daughter of George and Sarah Keller, to which union have been born three children: Rose H., Bessie (deceased) and Lizzie H. Mrs. Mary Ann Jackson was born in Harris Hill, May 19, 1843. Mr. Jackson is a practical farmer, a good neighbor and a sincere Christian man. He and his family are members of the M. E. Church, in which he is a trustee at the present time. He has also held the office of steward.

ERNEST V. JACKSON, attorney at law, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., August 6, 1848, a son of Angelo and Elizabeth (Whitney) Jackson. The father, who was a native of Erie, N. Y., was reared in North Moreland township, Luzerne (now Wyoming) Co., Pa., and graduated from Yale College in 1847. He studied law, was admitted to the Luzerne county bar April 1, 1850, and was for some years a law partner with the late Charles Denison. On October 10, 1861, he entered the army as first lieutenant of Company I, Fifty-eighth P. V. I., and June 5, 1863, was promoted to the captaincy; on September 5, 1865, he was mustered out with his regiment. He then became chief of a division in the Treasury Depart- ment at Washington, in which city he died in 1874. His first wife was Elizabeth Whitney (mother of our subject), daughter of Asa C. Whitney, M. D., and grand- daughter of Elisha Whitney, who settled in the Wyoming Valley in 1810, and removed to Wysox, Bradford Co., Pa., in 1816. He was a native of Spencer, Mass., born in 1747, and married Esther Clark, who was born in the same place in 1782; both are buried at Wysox, the former having died in 1832, and the latter in 1851. The sub- ject of this sketch received an academical education in Wilkes-Barre, and was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in 1869. He read law with William S. McLean, Esq. ; September 9, 18-, was admitted to the Luzerne county bar, and at once entered into partnership with his preceptor under the firm name of McLean & Jackson, which existed until January 1, 1883. He then removed to West Virginia, and there spent several years in other pursuits, after which he returned to Wilkes-Barre, where he has since been in the active practice of his pro- fession. On October 2, 1878, Mr. Jackson married Mary E., daughter of G. Byron and Mary A. (Stone) Nicholson, of Wilkes-Barre, and has one son living, Byron N.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Mr. Jackson in politics is a Democrat, and in 188- he was chairman of the Demo- cratic County Committee.

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON JACKSON was born in Carverton, Kingston township, March 13, 1841, the youngest in a family of four children born to Samuel and Ruth Jackson. He received a fair education at the country schools, and worked upon his father's farm until the war broke out. His father, fearful that his youngest son would enlist, exacted from him a solemn promise that he would not, but the spirit of patriotism was too strong to be resisted, and seeing his companions older than himself enlisting, he forgot his promise, and affixed his name to the muster roll of Company F, Fifty-third P. V., attached to the First Division, Second Corps, army of the Potomac. He participated in all the battles in which that army engaged, from its formation to the battle of Gettysburg, at which battle, during the second day's fight, he received a wound in the hip which incapacitated him for further service. After being mustered out at the close of the war he returned to Carverton, where he married Miss Emeline Frantz, daughter of a neighbor. Two children were the results of this union: Elloma R., now Mrs. B. S. Emory, and Minnie F. In 1871 he removed to West Pittston, where, during the greater portion of his resi- dence, he has followed the vocation of painting. In May, 1892, in company with B. S. Emory, he purchased the Acme Steam Laundry, in the conducting of which he has taken active part. Mr. Jackson is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is esteemed by all who know him for his unquestioned recti- tude and integrity.

FREDERICK JACOBS, No. 39 Hazle street, Wilkes-Barre, was born at Mahlstadt, in Germany, March 13, 1859. He is the eldest son of Conrad Jacobs, also a native of that place, who is still living, in the enjoyment of robust health. Our subject came to Wilkes-Barre March 15, 1873, and obtained employment at the Empire Colliery; he followed the occupation of miner until 1888, when he established a saloon at No. 39 Hazle street. The memorable and disastrous cyclone of August 19, 1890, entirely demolished Mr. Jacob's place of business, and a man named Peter Rittmeyer was killed by the structure falling upon him, but, fortunately, no member of the family was injured. Mr. Jacobs was married, March 18, 1880, to Miss Kittie Niedermeyer, and they have six children, namely: Barbara, Maggie, Kate. Frederick, Henry and Marie.

HENRY JACOBS, hotel-keeper, Pittston, was born in Germany, August 24, 1862, son of Conrad and Helen Jacobs, both of whom were born in Germany. They emi- grated to this country in 1873, locating in Wilkes-Barre, where the father kept hotel. He is now a popular and prosperous hotel man at Schuylkill, Pa. His fam- ily consisted of eleven children living out of eighteen born to him. Henry is the fourth in order of birth of this numerous family, and was eleven years of age when he came to this country. He has always followed, and is now following, the same busi- ness as his father. He removed from Schuylkill to this county in January, 1892, and now occupies the "Tunkhannock Hotel." In November, 1885, he married Miss Eliza, daughter of John S. and Elizabeth Jones. To this marriage there was born John (now six years of age), Conrad (aged five), and William (three years of age). Mr. Jacobs has served some time on the police force of Schuylkill. He is now a member of the Golden Eagle. Politically he is a Republican.

DANIEL P. JAMES, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, November 16, 1834, a son of John and Mary (Pritchard) James. He was reared and educated in Wales, and in 1858 located in Australia, where he remained seven years, engaged in gold mining. In 1865 he sailed for America, landing at San Francisco, and worked in the gold mines of California until 1868. He then settled in Wilkes- Barre, where he has since resided, and has been in the employ of the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre and the Red Ash Coal Companies as miner, fire-boss and inside fore- man. March 19, 1870, Mr. James married Miss Jeannette, daughter of William and Genevive (Morgan) Thomas, of Glamorganshire, Wales, and by her has had seven children: William A., Margaret (deceased), John (deceased), Annie, Minnie, Spencer

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

and Arthur. Mr. James and his family are members of the Welsh Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and a charter member of the Ivorites. He is a respected citizen of Wilkes-Barre, and in politics is a Republican.

EDWARD JAMES, pump engineer at No. 1. Shaft, Susquehanna Coal Company, Nanticoke, was born in Morris, N. J., September 6, 1863, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Young) James, natives of England. They came to this section in 1870, and located at Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where our subject was reared and educated. In the family there were seven children, of whom Edward is the fifth. His father was master mechanic for the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company until 1884, since when he has devoted his attention to mine contracting. Our subject has made engineering the occupation of his life, beginning at South Wilkes-Barre Shaft, working for his father, where the latter held a large contract. He was at this place five years, and then went to the Indian Territory, where he was employed at mine engineering six months, at the end of which time he returned to Pennsylvania and engaged at engineering at Pleasant Valley for the Land Cleff Coal Company. There he remained six months, and then removed to Sugar Notch, where he was employed by the Hanover Coal Company about six months, when he came to Nanticoke and accepted his present position, which he has since filled. Mr. James attends the Methodist Church, and in politics he is a Republican.

EDWARD F. JAMES, proprietor of steam laundry, Hazleton. This enterprising gentleman was born at Stockton, Luzerne Co., Pa., July 18, 1864, and is a son of William and Mary (Holman) James, natives of Cornwall, England. The family emigrated to this country in 1850, settling at Stockton, where the father of the sub- ject of this sketch was engaged as mine foreman, by Linderman, Skeer & Co., dur- ing a period of thirty years. Mr. James, who is the fifth in a family of seven children, was reared and educated in this county, and began life as a coal shipper for Linderman, Skeer & Co., which position he held eight and one-half years. He then came to Hazleton and purchased from Mr. Drake an interest in the Hazleton Steam Laundry. The business was carried on in partnership for a short time, when Mr. James succeeded to the entire concern, which he successfully conducted until September, 1891. Mr. James at that time acquired an excellent position in the Hazleton National Bank, and he disposed of the laundry business to George W. Thompson. In April, 1892, the laundry was re-purchased by Mr. James, who soon after took into partnership Charles Wilde, one of Hazleton's energetic young men. Mr. James gives his personal attention to the management of the business, which, under his skilful control, has been enlarged and remodeled, and supplied with new machinery throughout, until now it is one of the best regulated and most thoroughly equipped steam laundries in eastern Pennsylvania. Mr. James is also identified with the Hazleton Steam Heating Company as secretary. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the P. O. S. of A., and Hazle Commandery No. 17, and in politics votes the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JAMES D. JAMES, inside foreman of Nottingham Mine, No. 15, was born in Car- diganshire, Wales, April 11, 1852, and is the third in a family of five children born to David and Susanna (Davis) James, also natives of Wales. Our subject was edu- cated in Wales, and in 1875 came to America, locating at Shenandoah, Pa., where he engaged in mining at the Giant and Thomas Mines, staying about one year in all. Coming from there to Plymouth in 1876, he began mining at the Gaylord where he remained about a year, when he came to the Nottingham and worked as a miner for five years, at the end of which time he was given the position of inside foreman, which he has ever since held. He has charge of about 850 men, who work in and about the mine-330 miners, 230 laborers, and about 300 Company hands. They take out on an average 2,800 tons daily. In 1877 Mr. James was married to Rachel, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Jenkins) Edwards, natives of Wales. Six children have blessed this union, viz: Sarah, Martha, Arthur, Agnes, Herbert and Gertrude. Mr. James is a Republican in politics, a member of the I. O. O. F., the Mystic Chain, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. The family are members of the Congregational Church.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

WILLIAM P. JAMES, P. O. Hazleton, was born in Hazleton March 19, 1846, a son of James and Jane (Jenkins) James, natives of Wales, who came to America in 1838, locating at Pottsville, Pa. Here the father was employed as engineer at the mines until 1842, when he removed to Hazleton, where he followed the same voca- tion until 1852. After spending one year at Catasauqua, he returned to Hazleton in 1854, and was engineer and superintendent for A. Pardee & Co. until 1861, when he engaged in mercantile trade for two years with William Kisner. In 1864 he embarked in business alone, and so continued until 1869, when he was appointed postmaster at Hazleton by President Grant; re-appointed in 1873, by President Hayes in 1877, by President Garfield in 1881, and held the office sixteen years and four months. He died in 188- at the age of seventy-four years. His children were George, Richard, William P., Mary (Mrs. Thomas J. Williams), Sophia and Sally. Our subject was reared in Hazleton, educated in the public schools, and at the age of fifteen began his business life as clerk for A. Pardee & Co., with whom he remained five years; from 1866 to 1868 he was clerk in a general store at Tam- aqua, and afterward was sixteen months baggage master on the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. In 1869 he returned to Hazleton, and served an apprenticeship of three years at the machinist trade; worked as a journeyman one year, and from 1877 to 1885 was assistant postmaster at Hazleton. In the fall of 1885 he was elected clerk of courts of Luzerne county; re-elected in the fall of 1888, and retired from office in January, 1892. In 1870 Mr. James married Frances, daughter of Alfred W. and Catherine (Schreiner) Leyburn, of Tamaqua, Pa., and has one daughter, Libbie (Mrs. H. L. Collenson). Our subject is one of the best known and most popular citizens of Luzerne county; is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a stanch Republican.

HON. WILLIAM R. JEFFREY, Freeland, was born at Slatington, Lehigh county, October 12, 1857, and is a son of Samuel and Catherine (Roberts) Jeffrey, natives of North Wales. His parents came to America in 1852, and located in Lehigh county. The father died at Upper Lehigh, this county, June 27, 1877, and Mrs. Jeffrey now resides at Freeland. Mr. Jeffrey was educated in the public schools of Slatington. He attended school in winters, and worked around the slate quarries in summer. On August 15, 1874, he came to Upper Lehigh, where he was employed in the mines until 1888, when he removed to Freeland, where he has since resided. He was married October 5, 1878, to Miss Elizabeth J. Jones, of Upper Lehigh. They have five children, viz .: Samuel, Uriah, Gertrude, John and Mary. Mr. Jeffrey is, and has always been, a worker in behalf of organized labor, having been at one time master workman in the Knights of Labor. In 1888 he was elected Representative of the Fourth District, which office he now holds, much to the satis- faction of his constituents. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A., the I. O. O. F., the I. O. R. M., and the Jr. O. U. A. M. In his political views he is a Republican.

DAVID D. JENKINS, miner, Parsons, was born in Providence, Lackawanna Co., Pa., March 31, 1862, and is a son of William and Jane (Davis) Jenkins, natives of Wales. He was educated in Providence, and began laboring in the mines at nine years of age; he worked in Carbon Run for a time, and in 1874 came to Parsons, where he has since been engaged in mining, in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson and Lehigh Valley Coal Companies, being at the present time with the latter. Mr. Jenkins was married December 23, 1885, to Miss Ruth, daughter of Mesach and Sarah (Davis) Watkins, and they have had five children, viz. : Mesach (deceased), Willie (deceased), Jennie, Sarah and Ralph. Mr. Jenkins is a member of the I. O. R. M., is first sergeant of Company E, Ninth Regiment N. G. P., and in politics he is a Republican.

EDWARD W. JENKINS, miner laborer, Plains, was born in South Wales, January 3, 1867, and is a son of William C. and Margaret (Morgans) Jenkins. In his father's family there were eight children, five of whom are living, viz .: Mary (Mrs. Thomas W. Roberts); Edward W .; John W., in Maltby, Pa .; Evan W., and Thomas W., in Plains. The American home of the parents was in Miners Mills, where the mother

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 146

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