History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 153

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

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THOMAS KERR, music dealer and real estate agent, was born in Scotland, Decem- ber 16, 1844, and is a son of Andrew and Mary (Wright) Kerr, also natives of Scot- land. Their family consisted of five children, Thomas being the eldest, and three of them survive. They came to America in 1849, settling in Luzerne county, near Wilkes-Barre. After our subject received a liberal education in the public schools of this county, he embarked in mercantile business at No. 18 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, dealing in all kinds of gentlemen's furnishing goods, during which time he was also agent for the Howe Sewing Machine. After nearly five years' res- idence at Wilkes-Barre, he removed to Altoona, where he was engaged in establish- ing general agencies for the Howe Sewing Machine Company. From Altoona he went to Hazleton, Pa., where he had a music store with a sewing machine depart- ment attached, and here he remained three years. He then proceeded to Alabama, where he was engaged in the butcher business at Shelby and Helena. and after two a music store. years he came from there to Plymouth, this county, January 3, 1879, and opened This he continued for five years, and then bought out D. K. Spry's hardware business, which he carried on in connection with the music store for the following five years. In 1888 he established his present business, which he has since continued. Mr. Kerr has on several occasions crossed the continent, and made extensive tours through the West. He was married, December 15, 1860, to Miss Alice, daughter of Nathaniel and Kate (Evans) Harris, natives of Wales, and he has seven children, viz .: Kate, Mamie, Lilliau, Ettie, Allie, Nellie and Elmer. Polit- ically, our subject is a Republican, and in 1886 he was elected chief burgess of Plymouth borough. As an officer, he was firm in his convictions, and believed in living up to the "letter of the law;" he was re-elected in 1887. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Kerr is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the F. & A. M.

CLARENCE PORTER KIDDER is of the seventh generation of the line of James Kid- der, Jr., who emigrated from Sussex, England, to New England, and located at Cambridge, Mass., in 1649. Lyman Church Kidder, the father of Clarence Porter Kidder, who was born at Woodstock, Vt., in 1802, came with his father to the Val- ley of Wyoming about 1823. Clarence Porter Kidder's mother was Mary, a daugh- ter of Anderson Dana, Jr. The name of Dana is one of the most conspicuous in the annals of the Wyoming Valley, many owning it having contributed to its wel- fare and good name in field and forum, in the pulpit, and otherwise. Both families,

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in fact, have been notably associated with the Valley's history, and the interesting fact is here recalled that both the great-grandfathers of Clarence Porter Kidder were slain in the Massacre of Wyoming. Clarence Porter Kidder was a student at Wyoming Seminary, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., and Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., where he took a degree. He was a volunteer, and served in both the Antietam and Gettysburg campaigns with Wilkes-Barre companies. He read law with Caleb E. Wright and D. C. Harrington, and was admitted to practice April 4, 1864. For six years, beginning with 1865, he was a councilman for the borough, and for three years, beginning with 1871, was councilman for the city of Wilkes-Barre. In 1869 he was the Republican candidate for register of wills of the county, but was defeated by less than 300 votes, though the county was at that time strongly Democratic. Mr. Kidder has done good service for his party on the stump. On May 24, 1864, he married Louisa Amelia, daughter of Capt. Calvin Parsons, of Par- sons, and they have three children, two sons and one daughter. One son is married, and the other son and the daughter are verging on manhood and womanhood.

PATRICK KILLGALLON, who was, in his lifetime, a prominent citizen of Plains township, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, March 14, 1838, a son of James and Mary (Gibbons) Killgallon. His father, who was a farmer, reared a family of seven children, of whom Patrick was the second. When he was twelve years old the family migrated to England, where he remained till 1864, a portion of the time working in the mines. He then came to America and located at Ashland, Pa., where he engaged in mining for two years; in August, 1867, he came to Mill Creek, where he passed the remainder of his days, dying March 28, 1892. He followed mining till 1881, when he retired from active life. At the time of his decease he owned per- sonal property and real estate in Plains township amounting to several thousand dollars; his success in life was wholly due to his own personal efforts. Mr. Killgal- lon was married, in May, 1855, to Miss Bridget Corrigan, of England, who died May 4, 1889; they had nine children, of whom are living: Mary, Annie, Patrick, James, John and Daniel. Mr. Killgallon was a member of the Catholic Church, of which his family are also members; he was a Democrat in politics, but voted for the best candidate; he was once appointed supervisor in Plains township, by the court.

JAMES KILLION, miner, Port Blanchard, was born in Warren county, Ohio, Sep- tember 9, 1860, and is a son of Michael and Catharine (Connors) Killion, natives of County Roscommon, Ireland. The family settled in Pittston, this county, in 1864, where our subject received his education in the common schools. In 1869 he went to work as a slate-picker, and in 1874 entered the mines as a driver; at the age of sev- enteen years he was employed as a driver, and since 1883 has been a miner in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. On June 20, 1884, Mr. Killion took unto himself as his partner in life, Sarah, daughter of John and Winifred (Brogan) Noon, of Port Griffith, this county, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, and the issue of this happy marriage is as follows: Kate, born May 4, 1885; John, born Septem- ber 30, 1887; Michael, born May 4, 1889, and George, born February 2, 1891. Mr. Killion is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In politics, he is a Democrat.

F. W. KINDRED, farmer, P. O. Sweet Valley, was born near Stanhope, Morris Co., N. J., August 29, 1833, son of Moses and Elicta (Henderson) Kindred, both of whom were born in New Jersey. Moses was a son of George Kindred, who was a native of France, and emigrated to this country when a young man. He located in Morris county, N. J., where he reared a family of thirteen, and died at a ripe old age. His son, Moses began his business career in Morris county, N. J., near Dover, where he was a collier by occupation. He removed to this county about 1850, locat- ing at Bear Creek, where he was engaged in the lumber trade. He remained there about ten years, and finally removed to White Haven, where he died in November, 1871, aged sixty-two years. He was a hard-working, honest and industrious man. Moses Kindred reared a family of seventeen children by two marriages. F. W. is the first child by the first marriage. He was reared and educated in Morris county,

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and always confined himself to agricultural pursuits. In 1859 he removed to Dallas, where he resided two years, when he removed to Ross township. He is now a well- to-do practical farmer, owning ninety-two acres of valuable farming land, upon which he has erected a beautiful house. His surroundings show him to be a man of taste and agricultural skill. In 1854 he married Miss Mary, daughter of George and Susannah Bush. There has been no issue by this union.

HENRY KINES, merchant, Hazleton. In selecting subjects for a biographical and historical work of Luzerne county, it gives the writer pleasure to present the names of such men as Henry Kines. He is a native of Hessen, Germany, and was reared and educated in his native land. He worked in the mines in Germany until he reached the age of seventeen years (1855), when he determined to cast his lot in a foreign clime. He accordingly emigrated to America, and settled in the desirable, then little, hamlet of Hazelton. In his new home he took up the trade of shoemak- ing and followed that industry as a journeyman until 1871, when he engaged in the boot and shoe mercantile business which he has since very extensively carried on. Mr. Kines is a man in whom the public can depend, his word is regarded to be as good as a note, and he has gained the well-earned confidence of the public. In fact he is one of the leading boot and shoe dealers in Luzerne county. When he first went into business his brother William was a partner, but later he sold out to Henry, and during the last eleven years the latter has been sole owner and proprietor. In 1860 Mr. Kines was married to Miss Anna D. Rudolph, an admirable young lady of Hazelton, and they have seven children, viz. : Katherine, married to Henry Happich of Hazleton; Hiram, a clerk; John H., a jeweler; Gustavius, Lizzie, Annie and Harry, Jr. Mr. Kines is a member of the Hazleton Working Men's Beneficial Association of twenty-five years standing, and of the Seven Wise Men, twenty-two years. He has been a member of the borough council two terms, and his political views are of the true Democratic type.

JOHN KING, miner, Inkerman, was born in Jenkins township November 14, 1859, and is the eldest of the four children of Michael and Mary (Breen) King, of the same place, and natives of County Mayo, Ireland. Our subject received his educa- tion in the common schools, and in 1869 was employed as a slate-picker in the mines; in 1874 as a laborer; and since 1884 he has been employed by the Pennsyl- vania Coal Company as a miner. Mr. King was united in the holy bonds of mat- rimony July 17, 1886, with Mary, daughter of John and Catharine (Burke) Flan- aghan, natives of County Kilkenny, Ireland, and their union has been blessed with three children, two of whom are living: Michael, born January 2. 1888, and Nellie, born March 19, 1891. Our subject is a Roman Catholic, a member of the A. O. H. and C. T. A. U. In politics he is a Democrat.

DANA W. KINGSBURY, physician and surgeon, Nanticoke, ranks among the flourishing followers of his profession in this county. He was born in Huntington township, a son of Daniel H. and Esther (Chapin) Kingsbury, both natives of Penn- sylvania, the former of English descent, the latter a descendant of John Chapin, an early pioneer of Luzerne county. He came to this county from Springfield, Mass., and settled in the then unbroken wilderness of what is now Huntington township. The date of his arrival here is not positively known, but the records show that he was a taxable in that township in 1796. He was a descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin, who was one of Boston's freemen as early as 1638; he soon after removed to Springfield, Mass., where he died November 11, 1675. Dr. Kingsbury's parents are still living. He has nine brothers and sisters, who are all living and prosperous. Our subject was educated at New Columbus and Orangeville Academies. He then taught school in this county from 1870 to 1879, and had marked success in that line, becoming one of the leading educators of Luzerne county. In 1879 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., where he was graduated in 1882. He immediately engaged in the practice of his profession at Nanticoke, where he has since remained, now commanding a lucrative practice, and where he has repeatedly demonstrated his adaptation to the profession of his choice. The

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Doctor was married December 31, 1882, to Miss Emma Sharpless, of Harpsville, Columbia county, and they have four children: Oscar J., Ebean P., Erma V., and Russell Sage. Mr. Kingsbury is a Democrat in politics.

GEORGE D. KINGSLEY, superintendent of the Avondale Colliery, with residence at Kingston. This gentleman was born January 31, 1858, at Scranton, Pa., and is a son of S. Dwight and Anna (Kenyon) Kingsley, natives of Pennsylvania, and of New England parentage. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Lacka- wanna county, and in Whitestown Seminary, Whitestown, N. Y., where he com- pleted his course in 1876. He then engaged in the drug business at Scranton, Pa., for two years, after which he directed his attention to the coal industry, and in 1886 was appointed superintendent of the Avondale Colliery, of mine-disaster fame, where he is at present employed. Mr. Kingsley was married, in 1879, to Miss Lizzie Wolcott, of Kingston, Pa., a daughter of Peter Wolcott, and this union has been blessed with one child, Jeanette, who was born March 25, 1882.

JOHN KINNEY, engineer, Delaware & Hudson Shaft No. 2, was born at Plymouth, Pa., October 28, 1864, and is the sixth in the family of eleven children of John and Johanna (Finley) Kinney, natives of County Tipperary, Ireland. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Plymouth, and when but eight years of age began working about the mines during the summers, attending school in the winters. In 1882 he was employed as fireman by the company for whom he is now working, and continued as such until December, 1891, when he was pro- moted to engineer, taking charge of the large pump engine at No. 2, which he has operated ever since. Mr. Kinney's father was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1828, and was educated in his native country. He came to America in 1860, and has until recently followed the vocation of a miner. He was married to Johanna Finley, and they reared a family of thirteen children, of whom William is now a resident of Leadville, Colo .; Mary is now Mrs. Tom Brown, of Plymouth; Edward resides at Leadville, Colo .; Helen is now Mrs. Phelix Doughtery; Maggie is the wife of James Fox; John is the subject of this sketch, in addition to which we have the names of Bridget, Johanna, Thomas, Kate and Dennis. The family attend the Catholic Church, and in politics they are Democrats.

IRA M. KIRKENDALL, wholesale grocer, and dealer in flour and feed, North Wilkes-Barre, was born in Dallas, this county, in 1835, a son of William W. and Maria (Dereemer) Kirkendall, natives of New Jersey, who settled in Dallas township about 1830; father was a farmer and lived and died in Dallas. His children were: Conrad, John S., George W., Ira M., William P., Anna E. (Mrs. Dwight Wolcott) and Charles W. Subject was reared in Dallas township, educated in the public schools, and began life, after attaining his majority, as clerk in a general store at Pittston, Pa., serving in that capacity ten years; spent two years in the West; in 1859 he located at Bear Creek, this county, where he had charge of a lumber busi- ness for Pursel & McKeen for six years. Since 1865 he has been a resident of Wilkes-Barre; in lumber business up to 1871. In 1870 he was burgess of Wilkes- Barre, and was elected its first mayor in June, 1871, for a term of three years. From 1875 to 1878 he was deputy sheriff of Luzerne county under his brother, W. P. Kirkendall; from 1880 to 1883, a member of the firm of Kirkendall & Whiteman, grocers, and, since 1883, a member of Kirkendall Bros., wholesale flour and feed dealers. Mr. Kirkendall married November 3, 1868, and has two children: Grace > W. (Mrs. Charles A. Bartlett) and Frederick C. Politically Mr. Kirkendall is a Democrat, and has represented the Fourth Ward of Wilkes-Barre in the city council since 1883.

W. H. KIRKENDALL, farmer, P. O. Nescopeck, was born June 4, 1851, on the farm in Nescopeck township, where he now resides, a son of Hiram and Sarah (Buss) Kirkendall. His paternal grandparents were Josepli and Margaret (Gruver) Kir- kendall, and his great-grandparents were Emanuel and Mary (Garrison) Kirkendall, all pioneers of Mifflin township, Columbia Co., Pa. The children of Emanuel Kirkendall were Joseph, Levi, Betsey (Mrs. Michael Gruver), Rachel (Mrs. Henry

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Bellows), Sarah (Mrs. Fred Peck), Catherine (Mrs. John Mosteller), Cornelius and Leonard, of whom Joseph, the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer, and passed most of his life in Mifflin township, dying there in his seventy-seventh year. His wife was a daughter of Paul Gruver, of Mifflin township, and by her he had seven children who grew to maturity: Stephen, Mahala (Mrs. Matthias Hartman), Hiram, Caroline (Mrs. John Swank), Emanuel, Margaret (Mrs. Lewis Creasey) and Cath- erine (Mrs. La Fayette Creasey). Of these, Hiram, father of subject, was born in Mifflin township October 17, 1819, and died May 10, 1882. In 1842 he settled in Nescopeck township, on the farm occupied by our subject, cleared and improved it and died there. His wife was a daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth (Shellhart) Buss, who cleared and improved the farm, in Nescopeck township, now owned by William Houck, and there died; their children were Judith, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret, John, Sarah B., Hannah and Lucinda. The children of Hiram and Sarah (Buss) Kirkendall were William H., James W. and Martha L. (Mrs. David Thomas). Our subject was reared on the old homestead where he has always resided. On February 8, 1883, he married Martha L., daughter of George and Mary (White) Conner, of Centre township, Columbia Co., Pa., and they have five children: Mary E., Ralph C., Laura M., Helen G. and Florence M. Mr. Kirkendall is a member of the P. O. S. of A .; in politics he is a Republican.

WILLIAM PENN KIRKENDALL, lumber dealer, a member of the Kingston Lumber Company. Our subject is a native of Dallas, Luzerne county, where he still resides, although engaged in business in Kingston. He was born April 13, 1843, and is the youngest of seven children-four of whom are living-born to William W. and Maria (Dereamer) Kirkendall, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. William P. Kirkendall was educated in the common schools of Luzerne county, and in 1860, engaged in the lumber business, which he followed for fourteen years, when, in 1874, he became the Democratic nominee for sheriff of Luzerne county, was elected by over two thousand majority, and served three years. He then returned to farming at Dallas, where he remained about four years, when he embarked in his present business at Kingston. He was married, January 1, 1866, to Miss Olive A., daugh- ter of James and Lucinda (Honeywell) Patterson, natives of Pennsylvania. To this union was born one child -- a daughter, Carrie-who died at the age of three years. Mrs. Kirkendall is a member of the M. E. Church. Socially Mr. Kirkendall is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the I. O. O. F. He is at present a member of the Dallas borough council; is also prison commissioner, which office he has held since 1880; has served three years as school directior of Dallas township; has been a member of council of the city of Wilkes-Barre; has also been a member of the Democratic county committee, of which he was chairman two years; a member of the State Democratic committee; is a director of the Dallas Union Agricultural Society, and served as president of the Luzerne Agricultural Society four years.

JOHN G. KIRSCHNER, general merchant, Hazleton, was born November 10, 1840, in the province of Hessen, Germany, and is a son of John and Katherine Kirsch- ner, also natives of Germany. He was reared and educated in the land of his birth, and in 1860 came to America, locating at Hazleton, where he at once found employment in the mines. He was a miner until 1872 when he established his present business, which consists of a general grocery and dry-goods store, in connection with which he handles flour, feed, grain and hay. Mr. Kirschner was united in marriage in 1861 with Miss Anna, daughter of Valentine Deis, a native of Germany, and to this union have been born nine children, namely: George, John, Conrad J., William A., Emil, Adam, Lizzie, Kate and Anna. In February, 1892, Mr. Kirschner was elected assessor on the Republican ticket, his term expiring in 1895; he has also been president of the borough council for three years. The fam- ily are supporters of the German Lutheran Church.

GEORGE H. KIRWAN, physician and surgeon, Wilkes-Barre, was born at Hawley, Wayne Co., Pa., July 21, 1856, a sou of Martin F. and Winifred (Morris) Kirwan, and is of Irish descent. He was reared in Wilkes-Barre, educated in the public

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schools of that city, and Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, and in 1879 began the study of medicine with Dr. John T. Doyle, of Wilkes-Barre. On May 16, 1882, he was graduated from the Medical Department of Columbia College, New York, and has since been in the active practice of his profession in Wilke-Barre, where he is recog- nized as a popular citizen as well as an expert physician. He is the attending phy- sician for the Luzerne County Prison; is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society, of the State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Association. In politics he is a Democrat, and served as coroner of Luzerne county one term.

LEVI KISHBOUCH, mason and farmer, P. O. Nescopeck, was born in Nescopeck township, May 31, 1840, a son of Jacob and Lavina (Myers) Kishbouch. His pater- nal grandfather (formerly of New Jersey) was at one time a resident of Nescopeck, cleared a farm and resided in the township until his death. His children were Phebe (Mrs. John Bowkman), Margaret (Mrs. Jobn Whatnecht), Levi, Tobias, Susanna (Mrs. William Shadd), Mary (Mrs. Solomon Stewart), Elizabeth (Mrs. Benjamin Sloyer), Rebecca (Mrs. William Miller), and Silas J. Our subject was reared and educated in Nescopeck. He learned the mason's trade, which he fol- lowed twenty years; cleared a farm in Nescopeck township, and has been engaged in farming since 1871. On April 1, 1861, he married Maria E., daughter of George and Catherine (Nuss) Miller, of Nescopeck, and they have eight children: Austin, Calvin, Leslie, Ida, Minnie, Elmira, Edward and Levi. Mr. Kishbouch is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church; in politics is a Democrat, and has been assessor of Nescopeck fifteen years.

REUBEN KISNER (deceased) was born in Salem township, October 20, 1816, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Seybert) Kisner, the former of whom was a wheelwright by trade and also a farmer. The paternal grandfather, Michael Kis- ner, and maternal grandfather, Sebastian Seybert, both of German descent, were among the pioneers of Salem township. The children born to Jacob Kisner were: Kate, John, Susan, Polly, William, Sally, Betsy and Reuben. The subject of this sketch was reared in Salem township, where he resided all his life, a prominent farmer and respected citizen. He married, September 20, 1851, Cordelia, daughter of Nicholas and Catherine (Beam) Seybert, of Brier Creek, Columbia Co., Pa., and she survives him as well as tive children, viz .: Margaret C. (Mrs. Joseph Eck), Mary C., Nelson, Annie and Lida. Mr. Kisner was a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics he was a Democrat. He died August 23, 1882.

WILLIAM KISNER, a prominent business man of Hazleton, was born in Salem township, January 11, 1809. His father, Jacob Kisner, was a native of Northamp- ton county, Pa., where he was born in 1772. William Kisner's grandfather, John Kisner, who died at Berwick, Pa., October 4, 1804, was probably born in Germany. Our subject was one of the pioneers of the town of Hazleton, having settled there over fifty years ago. He has been one of the active business men of the place, as merchant, real estate dealer and banker. He served for many years as justice of the peace, and in numerous township and borough offices. He organized the Hazle- ton Savings Bank, and was its first president. He is the founder of the prosperous town of West Hazleton. Mr. Kisner is, and long has been, a member of the Pres- byterian Church, and in politics has always voted the Democratic ticket. At the advanced age of eighty-four he is bale and hearty, and has no recollection of hav- ing been sick for even a day in half a century. He was married to Boann Seybert, a daughter of Sebastian Seybert, of Salem township. Mrs. Kisner died the present year (1892), having almost reached the end of fifty years of married life. The chil- dren of William and Boann Kisner are Elliott P. and Gillingham F., both of whom live at Hazleton, where they are actively engaged in business.

ELLIOTT P. KISNER was born at Hazleton, August 1, 1845, son of William and Boann Kisner. He attended the public schools at Hazleton and a preparatory school at Franklin, N. Y., and entered the sophomore class in Hamilton College in 1864, graduating with the class of 1867. He became a law student in the office of Hon. Edmund L. Dana, of Wilkes-Barre; attended lectures at the law school of 60

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Columbia College in the winter of 1867 and 1868, and attended lectures the follow- ing winter in the law department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in the spring of 1869. He was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county in August, 1869, and has since practiced law at Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton. Mr. Kis- ner has been interested for a number of years with his father and brother in pro- moting the growth of West Hazleton, a prosperous and growing borough. He has served as director, president and vice-president of the Hazleton Savings Bank, and as director and vice-president of the Hazleton National Bank. Mr. Kisner is an ardent Democrat, and has served for three years as chairman of the Democratic State committee of his State. He took an active part in organizing the present city government of Hazleton, and is president of the common council.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 153

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