History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 148

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

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NICHOLAS B. JOHNSON, miller, P. O. Sybertsville, was born in Beaver Valley, Columbia Co., Pa., May 1, 1843, and is a son of Jesse and Sarah (Rittenhouse) Johnson. His paternal grandfather, John Johnson, a native of Philadelphia county, Pa., was a pioneer 'of Beaver Valley, where he cleared and improved a farm, and lived and died. His maternal grandfather was Martin Rittenhouse, a native of Pennsylvania, whose wife was Amelia Rittenhouse, of Briar Creek, Columbia Co., Pa .; was a pioneer of Black Creek township, this county, where he erected the first gristmill in the township, and lived and died there. The father of subject was a farmer of Beaver Valley, and died there at the age of sixty-five years. The subject of this sketch was reared in Beaver Valley, educated in the common schools, and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

served an apprenticeship of two years at the milling business. From 1863 to 1865 he had charge of his grandfather's mill in Black Creek township, and afterward was employed in mills at Sugar Loaf, Catawissa, Mahanoy City, and Port Carbon. He was then engaged in farming, three years, in Black Creek township; for twelve years was proprietor of the old Turnbach mill, in Sugar Loaf, and since 1884 has been proprietor of the Seybertsville mills. Mr. Johnson was three times married. His first wife was Amanda, daughter of Roswell and Maria (Rittenhouse) Trumbull, of Black Creek township, and by her he has five children living: Sarah (Mrs. Win- field Hausze), Margaret (Mrs. George Hetler), Roswell, Emma and Frank. His second wife was Caroline Hausze; and his third wife was a widow, of Hazleton. Mr. Johnson is a member of the M. E. Church; in politics he is a Republican, and has been school director of Sugar Loaf township one term.

OTTO M. JOHNSON, carpenter, P. O. Wapwallopen, was born in Hollenback town- ship, this county, November 16, 1860, a son of Samuel and Caroline (Sones) John- son. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Harlacher), of Colum- bia county, Pa., and Samuel, the father of our subject, was their only son. He was a blacksmith by trade, which he followed in Hollenback township for some years. He served through the Civil war as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died in 1867, of disease contracted while in the service. Our subject, the only survivor of a family of three, was reared in Hollenback township, where he received a limited education in the common schools. He served an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade, and since 1881 has worked as a journeyman, being now in the employ of the Dupont Powder Company. On September 8, 1881, he married Cora, daughter of Lewis and. Rosanna (Sizer) Weiss, of Nescopeck township, and has one son, L. Scott. Mr. Johnson is a member of the German Reformed Church, of the P. O. S. of A. and O. U. A. M. ; politically he is a Republican.

SAMUEL R. JOHNSON, jeweler, Nescopeck, was born in Beaver township, Columbia Co., Pa., September 8, 1843, a son of David and Sarah (Snyder) Johnson. His paternal grandfather, John Johnson, was of Scotch descent and a native of Mont- gomery county, Pa. ; he was a pioneer of Beaver township, Columbia county, where he carried on farming, and ended his days. His wife was Hannah Strong. David Johnson was a native of Montgomery county, Pa., a blacksmith and farmer by occu- pation, and spent most of his life in Beaver township, Columbia Co., Pa., where he died. His wife was a daughter of Michael Snyder, of Catawissa Valley, Schuylkill Co., Pa., and by her he had thirteen children: Amos, Hannah (Mrs. Charles Kyer), Sarah E. (Mrs. William H. Koch), Martin L., Emma J. (Mrs. John Steiner), Samuel R., Louise, Jesse, Mary A. (Mrs. William Shaffer), Moses, Michael, Ida V. (Mrs. Grifeth), and Casper W. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county and learned the miller's trade, which he followed twenty years. Since 1866 he has followed the jeweler's trade, a part of the time while he was engaged in milling. He served in the Civil war, enlisting August 6, 1862, in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, in which he served nine months. On March 11, 1864, he re-enlisted, in Company L, Third Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery; he was promoted to corporal and sergeant, and was honorably discharged by general order of the War Department after twenty-one months' service. He married, October 4, 1866, Mary C., daughter of Joseph C. Hughes, of Columbia county, Pa., and has two children: Ella B. (Mrs. A. L. Vandeling) and Robert B. Mr. Johnson has been a resident of Luzerne county since 1872; he is a member of the M. E. Church, K. of M. and G. A. R., and in politics is a Republican.

MRS. WESLEY N. JOHNSON, nee Miss Sarah E. Pettebone, is a daughter of Noah and Margaret N. (Speece) Pettebone, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and of French and English origin, respectively. Noah Pettebone was a farmer by occupa- tion. He reared a family of ten children, seven of whom are now living, and of whom our subject is the eighth in order of birth. She was born November 13, 1847, and was educated in the common schools and Wyoming Seminary. November 19,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

1874, she was married to Wesley N. Johnson, son of Erastus and Nancy (Newton) Johnson, both of whom were natives of New York State, of English origin. The father was a farmer by occupation. This union was blessed with three children: Jessie Louise, born August 30, 1875, now at school at the Keystone Academy, Fac- toryville, Pa. ; Frank E., born September 5, 1877, attending school at Lake Geneva, Wis. ; and Edna May, born May 26, 1879, died November 26, 1883. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM JOHNSON, one of the first settlers in Ashley, was born in County Derry, Ireland, in August, 1827, and is a son of William and Eliza (Jameson) Johnson. The family came to America in 1846 and settled in Ashley. In his father's family there were twelve children, as follows: Robert, who died in Ashley, aged seventy years; Margaret (Mrs. William Brown), deceased; Jonathan, who died in Nanti- coke, aged eighty years; Hugh, who died in Ashley, aged thirty years; James, somewhere in British America; William; Rebecca (Mrs. Samuel Black, in Ashley); Eliza (Mrs. Robert H. Johnson), who died in Ashley when yet young; David, resid- ing in Ashley; John W., who died at the age of twenty-three years; Kennedy, working at, his trade in the machine shops at Susquehanna, Pa .; and Nancy (Mrs. James Williamson, in Ashley). Our subject was educated in his native country, where he followed farming till he came to America with the family in 1846, when he began working about the mines, which occupation he followed in all thirty years, including ten years mining. He then engaged in railroading, which he has since followed. Mr. Johnson was married February 20, 1854, to Miss Nancy, daughter of John and Martha Williamson, natives of County Antrim, Ireland, where her father was a miller. The issue of this union was ten children, viz .: Martha, married to Charles Ehert, carpenter, Ashley; Ellen, married to Charles Kennedy, now of the firm of Kennedy & Grossworth, Philadelphia (she died at the age of twenty-one, leaving one child, Mira); Eliza J., deceased in infancy; Rebecca, married to Will- iam Lee, fireman on the Central Railroad of New Jersey; Isabella (Mrs. Henry Clemens), who died at the age of twenty-two years; Agnes, who is keeping house for her father; William, a boiler-maker in Mauch Chunk; David, a brakeman on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and living at home; Bertha, also at home; Charles, in the Central shops, and living at home. Mr. Johnson and family are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a trustee. In his political views he is in sympathy with the Republican party. In 1848 he built his present residence, where he has since lived.

WILLIAM JOHNSON, miner, Parsons, was born in Plains township, May 5, 1842, and is the youngest in the family of six children of Samuel and Mary (Carman) Johnson, natives of Pennsylvania, and of New England parentage. He was edu- cated in the common schools of Plains township, and April 17, 1861, enlisted at Wilkes-Barre, in Company F, Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, for ninety days, at the expiration of which time he re-enlisted, on this occasion in Company D, Forty- sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and after serving two years re-enlisted in the same company. He participated in the following engagements: Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Antietam and Gettysburg. His corps was then sent to join Sherman at Chattanooga, under whom he took part in the following battles: Resaca, Dallas, Peach Tree Creek, Altoona and several minor engagements, and was in Sherman's march to the sea; was taken prisoner at Chesterfield Court House, N. C., February 27, 1865, and taken to Libby Prison, from which he was shortly after paroled. At the battle of Dallas, Ga., he received a gun-shot wound in the left leg, and was mustered out at Annapolis, Md., June 29, 1865, when he returned to Plains (now Parsons), and engaged in mining in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company, where he has since remained. Mr. Johnson was married Septem- ber 30, 1866, to Miss Melvina, daughter of Burton and Amanda (Root) Hadsell, of Forkston, Wyoming Co., Pa. Our subject and wife attend the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is a member of the G. A. R., and is a stanch Democrat.

WILLIAM P. JOHNSON, farmer, P. O. Ketcham, was born March 14, 1814, reared

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

and educated in Wilkes-Barre in the Old Academy. He is the son of Jehoiada P. and Hannah (Frazier) Johnson, both of whom were born in Connecticut. Jehoiada P. was the son of Rev. Jacob Johnson, who was the first Presbyterian minister in the Valley, and a practical expounder of the Gospel from his point of view. He came from Connecticut about 1760, and was father-in-law to Gen. Butler, who com- manded the fort at that time. Rev. Jacob had four children; he lived to be ninety years of age, and dug his own grave. His son, Jehoiada P., began life in Wilkes- Barre township as a wealthy farmer, owning about 500 acres in and about Parsons, where he owned and operated a gristmill. He was a very influential man in his day and town, and gave his children a fine, liberal education. He reared a family of nine children, all of whom grew to maturity. One of his sons, Ovid F. John- son, was at one time time attorney-general of the State, and a man of great influ- ence in his party. Wesley, another son, studied and practiced law. Jehoiada P. died in 1830, at the age of sixty-three years. William P. is the fourth in the fam- ily in order of birth. He first began working in Wilkes-Barre, at the printing bus- iness, at which he continued two years. He next entered the distilling business, then worked at powder-making, after which he was engaged in boating, which he continued for ten years, and finally, in 1859, came to Dallas, where he settled down as a practical farmer, and has since remained as such. In June, 1837, at the age of twenty-three, he married Miss Eliza, daughter of John and Mary Rothrock, by which marriage there were born six children, five of whom are now (1891) living, viz. : Jane, Wesley, George, Sarah and Robert, all of whom are married. Jane married E. St. Clair; Wesley married Miss Anna Miller; George married Miss Jane M. Brace; Sarah married J. C. Ryman; Robert married Miss Ida Farrell. Miss Clara Louise Johnson, daughter of Robert and Ida (Farrell) Johnson, lives with her grandfather. Mr. Johnson is a practical and intelligent farmer, an upright man of business, and a loyal citizen. He has made many improvements on his farm, changing the wild, bleak hills into beautiful harvest fields. While in Wilkes-Barre, he was honored with the office of justice of the peace for five years, also serving as assessor, collector and school director. In this town, he held the office of school director for twelve years, and that of supervisor for two. Mr. Johnson was one of the first men to prospect for coal in the Valley; but the lack of a knowledge of mining, and mining facilities, was against him. Politically, he is a Democrat.

CHRISTOPHER C. JONES, contractor and builder, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Plains, this county, December 11, 1847, a son of Levi and Eleanor (Bryan) Jones. His father was a native of Luzerne county, a cabinet-maker and boat-builder by occu- pation, and died December 11, 1879, in his sixty-sixth year. His wife was a daughter of Charles and Rebecca (Wilson) Bryant, natives of New Jersey, who settled at Forty Fort in 1825, residing there until they died, the former at eighty-four years of age. Levi Jones was the father of six children who grew to maturity: John, James, Christopher C., Levi, Lewis C. and Ellen (Mrs. J. H. Nagle). Our subject was reared and educated in Wilkes-Barre, served an apprenticeship of four years at the carpenter's trade with H. C. Perry, and worked as a journeyman twenty years. Since 1871, with the exception of four years, during which time he was foreman for J. H. Fisher, contractor, he has been in business for himself as a contractor and builder. He was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention at Harrisburg in 1889, and is now serving his first term as a member of the city council from the First Ward, to which office he was elected in 1892.

D. T. JONES, physician and surgeon, Plymouth, was born in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, October 31, 1857, and is a son of William and Margaret (Thomas) Jones, also natives of Wales. Our subject was educated at Bedford College, and at St. Thomas Hospital, London, England. He came to America, and began the practice of medicine at Plymouth, this county, where he is at present located. He was married September 8, 1885, to Miss Anna, second daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Edwards) Edwards, natives of Wales, but now residents of Kingston, Pa. The Doctor is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society. In politics he votes the Republican ticket.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

DAVID X. JONES, farmer, Fairview township, P. O. Mountain Top, was born in Breconshire, Wales, February 10, 1844, a son of David and Elenore (James) Jones, the former of whom was a farmer. They had two children, of whom David X. is the younger. He was reared on his father's farm, living with him till he was twenty-four years old, when he quit the farm and went to work in the mines, where he worked until 1880, in which year he came to this country. He secured work in the coal mines in Wilkes-Barre, this county, in the Empire Colliery, and remained there until 1888, when he gave up the coal work and went to teaming in and around the city. At the end of a year he leased a farm in Fairview township, where he has since resided, paying particular attention to stock breeding, and he has at this date a well-stocked farm. On November 28, 1863, Mr. Jones was married to Jane, daughter of David and Catherine (Williams) Jenkins, and their union was blessed with three children, viz .: Jennie E. (at home), Elizabeth (married to William Miller, of Fairview township, and living with her mother-in-law in that township) and David, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Jones and family are all members of the Puritan Church of Wilkes-Barre. In politics he is a Republican and has, during his resi- dence in this county, held office under that party.

EDWARD J. JONES, bottler, Plymouth, was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, July 1, 1861, and is the third in a family of five children of David R. and Ann (Williams) Jones, also natives of South Wales. The family came to America in1865, and located at Johnstown, Pa., where the children were reared and educated. They removed to Plymouth, this county, in 1877, where the father of our subject took charge of the Welsh Baptist Church, continuing there until his death, which occurred in September, 1886; he had been educated for the ministry in London, England, and was ordained at the early age of seventeen years. After coming to Plymouth he engaged in the jewelry business on the corner of Center avenue and Main street, and his son, Edward J., was employed about the store as clerk. This business they followed for four years, selling out at the end of that time to Walton. In 1883 the subject of this sketch established his present industry, the manufac- turing of all kinds of carbonated drinks, which are bottled at the Plymouth Bottling Works, also operated by Mr. Jones. He employs three men, and keeps two teams with which to deliver his beverages; he also handles bock-beer. Mr. Jones resides with his mother at No. 73 Willow street, Plymouth. In politics, he is a Republican. The family adhere to the Welsh Baptist Church.

EMMANUEL JONES, retired, Inkerman, was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, May 1, 1817, and is a son of John and Mary (Thomas) Jones, natives of the same place, who reared a family of twelve children, of whom Emmanuel is sixth in order of birth. Our subject received his education in his native place, and worked in the mines there up to the time of his emigration to America. He landed in Philadelphia May 3, 1849, and located in Schuylkill county, Pa., where he worked at his old trade, that of mining, until the year 1854. He then went to Montour county, remaining there one year, coming to Inkerman, this county, in 1855. He was employed as a miner by the Pennsylvania Coal Company from that time until 1883, and as watchman until hie retirement in 1890. Mr. Jones was married February 10, 1842, to Ann, daughter of Moses and Ann Edwards, natives of Wales. She dying in 1843. Our subject married in May, 1844, Elizabeth, daughter of David and Catharine (Jenkins) Morris, also natives of Wales. This wife died February 18, 1871, and he married March 4, 1872, Phoebe Morris (sister of his second wife), who still lives. Mr. Jones is a member of the Congregational Church, and of the I. O. O. F. ; in politics he is a Republican.

ENOCH I. JONES, miner, Wilkes-Barre, was born at Dudley, Staffordshire, Eng. land, August 17, 1842, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Incher) Jones, both also natives of England, the mother of Cornwall. When our subject was seven years old, his parents left Dudley, England, with five sons and one daughter, and emigrated to Nova Scotia. Here Enoch I. was educated in the common schools, and at the age of eleven years began life in the mines, working until fifteen years of

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age, when he accepted the position of sexton of Christ Church, Albion Mines, which he held six years. He then resumed mining there until 1869, in which year he came to Pennsylvania, locating in Plymouth, this county, where he followed mining until 1888, when he removed to Wilkes-Barre, where he still resides, engaged in mining. For one year he was inside contractor for the Conyngham Mine, and holds a certificate from the Mining Board of Pennsylvania, (of date August 24, 1891), as fully qualified to fill the position of mine foreman. Mr. Jones was married February 9, 1863, to Barbara, daughter of Obadiah and Ann (Gordon) Turnbull, now of Plymouth, and they have five children living: Obadiah, George, Josie, Harry and Robert. Mr. Jones is a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Wilkes-Barre, and is the founder of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Plymouth. Socially he is a member of the Sons of St. George and of the Good Templars. . In politics, he is a Prohibitionist.

F. M. JONES, farmer, P. O. Slocum, was born in Owego township, Tioga Co., N. Y., January 11, 1826. He is the son of Elisha and Esther (Bolls) Jones. The former was born in Massachusetts, the latter in Vermont. Elisha is a descendant of Welsh parentage. His ancestors emigrated to this country, locating in the eastern States. In 1818 Elisha removed to Owego, N. Y. By occupation he was a farmer and drover; he was also engaged in the lumber business. Indeed he was a thorough-going business man, and one whose influence was mighty in many circles of society. He died in 1829, aged thirty-six years. His wife died in 1885, aged ninety-six years. Their family numbered seven children. F. M. Jones is the only surviving member of that family, and the fifth in order of birth. He was reared and educated at Little Meadows, Susquehanna county, and at several institutions of learning at various points of importance. He contemplated the study of medicine, but impaired health at the time forbade its completion. He was seven years of his life in the mercantile business in Bradford county, where he succeeded in making for himself a host of friends. In 1852 he removed to this county, locating in Slocum (then Newport) township. In 1856 he married Miss Mary A., daughter of C. F. and Hannah Lueder, and to them were born ten children, eight of whom are living (1892): Frances M., Clara A., Cora E., Hannah L., Mary E., Martha S., William E., Christian F., Charles F., and Isaac H. Mrs. Mary A. Jones was born in Hanover township, July 1, 1835. Mr. Jones was a very active man in his younger days. He has held several offices of importance in the town- ship and county; he has served as constable and assessor, and in several minor offices; at various times and under various exigencies he has been called upon to discharge the office of deputy sheriff. He was the leading spirit in cutting off Slocum from Newport, and the first postmaster in the new township, after it was formed. It was called " Lutsey." He owns 182 acres of choice land, which he works in a profitable and practical manner. He keeps himself well posted in all agricultural improvements, and therefore keeps abreast of or up with the times. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Republican.

GEORGE JONES, outside foreman of Humboldt Mines, was born in Glamorganshire. South Wales, April 1, 1853, and is the eldest in a family of thirteen children of John and Mary (Jones) Jones, also natives of Wales, who came to America in 1859, settling at Nesquehoning, Pa., where they remained but a short time, afterward re- moving to Audenried, same State, where the children were educated and reared. The subject of this sketch commenced his mining experience by picking slate at Sil- ver Brook, where he worked several years, and then began firing at the Yorktown Mines, working there one year, after which he ran pump-engines for a year at No. 5, soon thereafter taking charge of the hoisting engines at No. 4, which he ran two years. In 1875 he visited the land of his birth, and after almost a year spent there returned to Yorktown, and went at his old occupation of firing. At that he continued but a short time, however, as he again took charge of a hoisting engine at No. 6, which he ran two years. He was then given charge of machinery at these mines two years, at the end of which time he went to Black Ridge, where he worked nearly

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two years; thence went to the Tomhicken Mines, and had charge of timbering for seven years. In 1889 he came to Humboldt Mines, and took charge as outside fore- man, wherehe has since been employed. Mr. Jones was united in marriage Septem- ber 7, 1876, with Miss Eliza, daughter of William Kenvin, of Hazelton, Pa., and five children have blessed this union, namely: John, William, Howard, Margaret and Josephine. In political matters Mr. Jones is a Republican; the family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

GOMER E. JONES, general mine foreman, Stockton, was born in Monmouthshire, South Wales, April 24, 1855. He is the son of Evan T. and Mary (Lewis) Jones, natives of Wales, who came to America in 1868, locating at Wanamie, where their children, five in number, of whom Gomer is the second, were reared and educated. Mr. Jones began work about the mines at the tender age of seven years, and has since continuously followed mining in its different branches. In 1878 he was appointed mine foreman for the Upper Lehigh Coal Company. In 1889 he came to Stockton and accepted the position of general mine foreman for Linderman, Skeer & Co., which position he now holds. He now has charge of six mines in the vicinity of Stockton. Mr. Jones has been twice married: first on July 4, 1876, to Miss Ida J., daughter of John W. Crouse, of Wanamie, Pa .; nine children were born to this union, namely : Zorobabel (deceased), John W., Gomer E., Jr., Frank W., Charles, Ida J., Evan T., Mary E. and Jane. Mrs. Ida Jones died in August, 1891, and Mr. Jones was married in August, 1892, to Miss Isabella, daughter of James Brook- mire, of Upper Lehigh, Pa. Mr. Jones is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the F. & A. M.

HARRY C. JONES, round-house man for E. B. Coxe & Co., Drifton, P. O. Freeland, was born at Lykens, Dauphin Co., Pa., July 3, 1864, and is a son of Charles and Ruth (Thomas) Jones, natives of Wales, the former of whom died October 19, 1883, and the latter now resides at Jeddo. In the family there are five children, one of whom is older than our subject. When he was about two years of age his parents came to Luzerne county, locating at Yorktown, Carbon county, and eleven years later came to Drifton. Mr. Jones began life at the age of eleven, picking slate, which occupation he followed during the summers, attending school in winters. He worked around the mines in various capacities until he was fifteen years old, when he engaged in firing a locomotive, in the employ of Coxe Bros. & Co. This position he filled about three years, at the end of which time he was promoted to locomotive engineer, in which capacity he continued nearly four years at Drifton, when he resigned and went to Parsons, where he was in the employ of the Delaware & Hud- son Coal Company eighteen months. He was then engaged in running a locomotive for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company. After remaining in Parsons about three years, he returned to Jeddo, where he was locomotive engineer for G. B. Markle & Co. nearly two years, and in January, 1891, he accepted his present position, which involves considerable responsibility. Mr. Jones was united in marriage, December 26, 1886, with Miss Mary Ann Cowans, an estimable young lady of Oakdale, Luzerne Co., Pa. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A., Jr. O. U. A. M., and I. O. R. M. In politics he is a Republican.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 148

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