History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 160

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

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

always followed. He has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Jennie Kriukle, to whom he was united May 11, 1881, and three children were born to this union, namely: Carrie, Maud, and Artum. This wife died in August, 1885, and was again married on May 26, 1889, this time to Miss Dora, daughter of Peter Engleman, a native of Schuylkill county. One child, Charles, has blessed this union. Our subject votes the Republican ticket, and is a member of the Knights of Malta.

JONATHAN LEIBENSBERGER, the youngest member of this firm, was born in Schuylkill county, September 15, 1864. He was reared in this county, receiving his education in the public schools, and afterward took a course at Price's Business College, Phila- delphia. He learned the carpenter's trade, and has followed that occupation since leaving school. He was married, September 13, 1889, to Miss Annie, daughter of Henry Shaffer, of Hazleton, Pa., and one child, Ethel D., has been born to this union. Jonathan Leibensberger is a member of the Knights of Malta and Sons of America, and in politics votes the Republican ticket.

CLARENCE H. LEIGHOW, foreman of Colliery No. 4, Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, Plymouth division, Plymouth. Among the many important positions about the mines perhaps there is none in which the responsibility is greater than that of the outside foreman, the general management of the work being under their supervision. The subject of this sketch, who occupies such a position, was born at Danville, Montour county, September 14, 1855, and is the eldest in a family of six children born to Charles and Sarah (Ernest) Leighow, also natives of Pennsylvania. Clarence H. was educated in the public schools of Danville, and after leaving school learned the machinist's trade, at which he worked two and one-half years. He then came to Plymouth and did general outside work at No. 12 Colliery, Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Co., remaining there two years. He then went to Colorado, and was engaged by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, working with the civil engineering corps, where he was employed two years, returning at the end of that period to Wilkes-Barre, where he was given the position of railway con- ductor, which he followed for three years. He then returned to Plymouth in Sep- tember, 1889, and was given the position of weigh master at No. 4, Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., occupying this place until 1890, when he was made outside fore- man of this colliery, in which capacity he has since been retained. At this shaft there are one hundred and twenty-five men employed on the outside, and two hun- dred and seventy-five, including the ninety-seven men, on the inside. They go to a depth of 665 feet, taking out, on an average, 1,000 tons daily. Mr. Leighow was united in marriage, July 6, 1878, with Miss Jennie, daughter of Ziba and Martha (Moyer) Van Loon, natives of Luzerne county. One child blessed this union, but she was called away when but eighteen months of age. Mr. Leighow is a Demo- crat in politics. The family attend the Lutheran Church. As a foreman, Mr. Leighow is trustworthy, and merits the confidence of his employers, and as a man he is respected by all.

ALBERT C. LEISENRING, superintendent for the Upper Lehigh Coal Company, Upper Lehigh, is one of the most successful managers of coal mining in the anthra- cite region. Every feature of the works, where he has charge, indicates the prac- tical application of the most scientific methods of mining, everything, from the breaker to the mules, being kept in first-class condition. Mr. Leisenring was born near Summit Hill August 9, 1855. He is a brother of Walter Leisenring of Sandy Run. He received his education at Nasereth Hall, the celebrated Moravian school at Bethlehem, the Montrose high school, Montrose, Pa., and Swarthmore College. At the latter place he took the courses in mining and civil engineering. He then entered the employ of the Upper Lehigh Coal Company, as mining engineer. hold- ing this position until 1883, in which year he was appointed to his present situation. In 1883 Mr. Leisenring was married to Miss Lillian, daughter of Judge W. H. Jes- sup, of Montrose, Susquehanna county. They have three children: Mary, Louise and Jessup. Mr. Leisenring is a prominent member of the F. & A. M., and in politics is a Republican. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

GEORGE D. LEISENRING, business manager of the Pittston Gazette, Pittston, was born in Lehigh county, Pa., November 26, 1851, and is a son of William and Clarissa (Shisler) Leisenring, natives of Lehigh county and of German origin. The father was a tanner by trade, but is now retired from active business; they are both living, and reside in Lehigh county. They had a family of four children, viz .: Lavinia (the wife of Will S. Rodearmel, yard-master for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Com- pany at Allentown, Pa.), George D., Peter G. (deceased), and Tillie (deceased). Our subject passed his boyhood in Allentown, and had the advantages of a limited common-school education. When eleven years old he entered the office of the Allentown Friedensbote, a German newspaper, and began to learn the printer's trade. He worked on that journal for about four years, and then, as a journeyman printer, in different places in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New. York and New Jersey; then returned to Allentown, and was again engaged on the paper where he had learned his trade; from there he proceeded to Mauch Chunk, Pa., and thence, in the fall of 1869, to Pittston, where he assisted in establishing the Wyoming Valley Journal, on which he worked two years, and then in different places in Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and Indiana. Returning to Pittston, he was here united in marriage, May 22, 1873, with Mary H., daughter of Henry Stevens, a retired mechanic of Pittston. Once more moving to Allentown, he was there for a few years more engaged on the paper where he had learned his trade; he also assisted in establishing the Evening Telegram in that city. After remaining there a few years he removed to Atchison, Kan., and was engaged on the Atchison Champion; then returned to Allentown, where he edited the Daily Critic. In 1885 he returned to Pittston, and was foreman of the Gazette job rooms until the spring of 1891, when he was made business manager of the Gazette, which position he now occupies. Mr. Leisenring has had a family of nine children, viz .: Gertie May (deceased), Nettie E., Cora B., Florence J., George S., Clara M., William A., Mary A. and Theodore H. Our subject and wife are members of the Luzerne Avenue Baptist Church. He is a strong and earnest worker in the church, and fills the position of official secretary. He is also a member of the Y. M. C. A. at Pittston. Politically he is a stanch Republican. Mr. Leisenring is prominent in all the enterprises that lead to the advancement of his adopted city, and has by his integrity and social qualities gathered around him a host of friends.

WALTER LEISENRING, superintendent for M. S. Kemmerer & Co., coal operators, Sandy Run. In 1759 John Conrod Leisenring emigrated from Germany to America and located at White Hall, Lehigh county, this State. He was the great-great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and the first member of the Leisenring family, of whom we have any record, in this country. Walter Leisenring was born at Summit Hill, Carbon county, September 19, 1860. His father (whose name was also Walter) married Mrs. Mary Ann (Price) Kemmerer, widow of Charles Kemmerer, by whom she had had two children: Anna M. and Mahlon S. (the latter is now senior member of the firm of M. S. Kemmerer & Co.). To the union of Walter and Mary Ann Leisenring were born five children, viz. : Gertrude H., who married Thomas M. Righter, coal operator, of Mount Carmel, Northumberland Co., Pa .; Ada L., who married Dr. H. M. Neale, of Upper Lehigh; Albert C .; Walter (the subject of this memoir) and Mary W., wife of Dr. W. C. Gayley, of Hazleton. In 1866

Walter Leisenring, Sr., removed from Carbon county, where he had been a con- tractor for the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, and located at Upper Lehigh. He was one of the original members of the Upper Lehigh Coal Company and was secretary of same. He died at Upper Lehigh in May, 1877. Mrs. Leisenring is a native of Monroe county and a descendant of an early New Jersey family. She now resides at Upper Lehigh. Walter was educated at Swarthmore and Princeton Colleges, and at the age of twenty began life as a mining engineer at Sandy Run, in the employ of M. S. Kemmerer & Co., and two years later succeeded Mr. Righter as superintendent, which position he now holds. This mine has been in operation since 1877, and the company now employs over four hundred and fifty men, and ships about five hundred tons of coal per day.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

FRANK P. LENAHAN, M. D., a prominent young physician of Wilkes-Barre, was born in that city, May 16, 1864, and is a son of Patrick and Elizabeth (Duffy) Len- ahan. The father was a native of Newport, County Mayo, Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1846; the mother was a native of Wilkes-Barre township, a daughter of Bernard Duffy, a native of County Louth, Ireland, who emigrated to America in 1831. Our subject was reared in Wilkes-Barre, educated in the public schools and afterward taught school two years. He studied medicine with Dr. C. W. Spayd, of Wilkes-Barre, and was graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, May 3, 1888. He then spent one year as resident physician of St. Mary's Hospital, Philadelphia, and in 1889 located in Wilkes-Barre, where he has already built up a lucrative practice. The Doctor is a member of the Luzerne County Medical Society, and of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church; in politics he is a Democrat.

JOHN THOMAS LENAHAN is a son of Patrick and Margaret (Durkin) Lenahan, and was born at Port Griffith. Luzerne Co., Pa., November 15, 1852. The father was born at Newport, County Mayo, Ireland, May 17, 1825, and came to this country in 1846, remaining for a time successively at Apalachicola, Fla., New York City, and Butterwick Falls, Wyoming county, Pa., before removing to Port Griffith. Here he was a successful merchant and leading citizen for nine years, filling at different times a school directorship, and other local offices. In 1860 he removed to Wilkes-Barre, and again began business as a merchant, continuing thereat until 1879. At the out- break of the Civil war, Mr. Lenahan entered the service as second lieutenant of Company D, Eighth P. V., continuing with that organization during its term of three months. His company was enlisted under President Lincoln's first call, which was for three months. Mrs. Lenahan was a daughter of the late Hugh Durkin, a native of Tyrawley, County Mayo, Ireland. John Thomas Lenahan was educated at the college at Villanova, Delaware Co., Pa., conducted by the Fathers of St. Augustine, and graduated from that institution in 1870. He read law first with Messrs. Wright & Harrington, and afterward with Judges Rhone and Lynch, and became a member of the Luzerne bar, October 27, 1873. (He was the Democratic nominee for district attorney of Luzerne connty in 1879, but there were three tickets in the field, one of which (the Labor ticket) drew nearly all its strength from the Democratic ranks, and the Republican nominee was elected, though by a minority vote). He has been repeatedly solicited to be a candidate for office, but his extensive legal practice has been his sufficient excuse for refusing. He has been active in county committees and conventions, has been delegate to State conventions, and was present in that capacity at the National Convention held in Chicago in 1892. He is the president of the Columbia Club, a thoroughly Catholic organization of Wilkes- Barre. He was one of the projectors and original directors of the new bridge. Mr. Lenahan married, April 26, 1880, Mary Donovan, a daughter of William Donovan, of Philadelphia, and they have five children: William Donovan, Gertrude Eleauor, Edwin, Marasita and John T., Jr.

ABRAHAM J. LENTZ, carpenter foreman for Coxe Bros. & Co., Eckley, was born in Washington township, Lehigh county, March 25, 1865, son of Gedian and May (Fensmaker) Lentz, both natives of Lehigh county. Mr. Lentz began life working in a brickyard in his native county, and followed this business for nearly two years, when he came to Eckley. Here he worked at blacksmithing just one year, and then began the carpenter trade, which he followed as journeyman until 1889, in which year he was made foreman, which position he still holds. January 7, 1891, he was married to Miss Lizzie Wagner, of Eckley. They have one child, Gordon. Mr. Lentz is a member of the P. O. S. of A., Knights of Malta, Junior Order Amer- ican Mechanics, and in his political views is a Republican.

PATRICK LEONARD, retired, Sebastopol, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, Janu- ary 4, 1839, and is the youngest of six children born to Patrick and Sarah (Malia) Leonard, also natives of the same place. Our subject left Ireland in 1850, going to Scotland, where he worked until 1860, in which year he came to America and set-

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tled in Sebastopol, where he now resides. He received employment as laborer in the mines with the Pennsylvania Coal Company, with whom he stayed until the time of his retirement. Mr. Leonard was united in marriage August 12, 1864, with Bridget, daughter of Michael and Mary (Guinley) Malia, natives of County Mayo, Ireland. She died January 26, 1877, leaving the following children: Sarah, born July 21, 1865, married November 26, 1890, Patrick Carroll, a brakeman, of Sebastopol; Mary, born December 24, 1866, married on October 26, 1892, Martin Rutledge, a fireman (they reside on Pine street); Ellen, born May 19, 1868; Patrick, born June 17, 1871; Joseph, born July 21, 1873, and Margaret, born July 24, 1875. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and in politics is a Republican.

LATON W. LETTEER, farmer, Fairmount township, P. O. Fairmount Springs, was born in Lackawanna county, April 28, 1838, and is a son of Joseph and Phoebe {Stine) Letteer, natives of New Jersey, of German origin. They came to Penn- sylvania in 1822, and died in October 1885, aged eighty-three years. Our subject is the sixth in a family of eight children, seven of whom are living. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and when twenty-years of age learned the shoemaker's trade, following same for fifteen years, when, owing to a broken leg, which has made him a cripple ever since, he was obliged to give up his trade, and has since devoted his time to farming. His property is three-fourths of a mile east of Fairmount Springs postoffice. He married, January 1, 1862, Miss Almira, daughter of Lewis and Diana (Boston) Harvey, by whom he has five children, viz. : Edith E., born December 1, 1862 (Mrs. Harry Berlin); Harvey E., born February 16, 1865, a candy maker at Oxford, Pa .; Jennie O., born September 24, 1868, and Myrtle V., born May 28, 1874, both teachers; and Lottie I., born August 10, 1877. This family are members of the M. E. Church. He has been constable, tax col- lector and treasurer, and politically, is a Democrat.

ANDREW FULLER LEVI (deceased) was born at Wilkes-Barre, Pa., September 19, 1845, and is a son of David and Mary Levi. He received his education at the Wyo- ming Seminary, Kingston, Pa., and was reared in Plymouth, same county. After completing his course of studies, he embarked in the grocery business, and later opened the first book-store at Plymouth, which he carried on until his health failed, and he was compelled to retire from active life. He was an influential citizen of the town, prominently connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a member of the F. & A. M. It was through his efforts that the first weekly newspaper, The Plymouth Index, was started in Plymouth, he being one of the editors and proprie- tors. Mr. Levi was united in marriage with Ellen O., daughter of Oliver and Lydia (Ransom) Davenport, natives of Plymouth. No children were born to this union. Mr. Levi died December 20, 1885, mourned by the entire community. He was a useful citizen, broad, generous in all his business ideas, and ever loyal to the town of his adoption.

JACOB G. LEVISON, cigar manufacturer, Wilkes- Barre, was born in Easton, Pa., May 17, 1851, a son of Henry and Bertha (Goldsmith) Levison, natives of Germany. His parents came to America about 1846, locating at Easton, Pa., where the father was employed as traveling salesman for a wholesale house several years, and in 1861 embarked in the manufacture of cigars, continuing there until 1882. He then removed to Wilkes-Barre, where he established a similar business with his sons, Jacob G. and Myer N., in which they have since successfully continued, being among the leading and prominent manufacturers of the State. The children of Henry Levison now living are: Vena (Mrs. Moses Hertz), Jacob G., Myer N., Anna (Mrs. Anthony Turkes) and Amelia (Mrs. Samuel Walters). Our subject was reared in Easton, educated in public schools, and learned the cigar-maker's trade in his father's factory, with whom he and his brother have been associated in business since attaining their majority. Mr. Levison is a member of the Jewish Synagogue. Politically, he is a Democrat.

DANIEL LEWIS, mine foreman for the Hanover Coal Company, Sugar Notch, was born in Merthyr Tydvill, Glamorganshire, Wales, February 26, 1842, and is a son of

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

David and Ann (Jones) Lewis. His father, who was a miner by occupation, reared a family of seven children, four of whom are living: Daniel, Ann (Mrs. David Mor- gan, in Wales), Mary (Mrs. Benjamin Edwards, in Fullerton, Pa.), and Susan (Mrs. Isaac Reese, in Wales). Our subject began working in the mines in his native country at the age of seven years, and followed that occupation until March, 1869, when he came to America and located at Plymouth, Pa., working there in the mines a few months, and then, removing to Ashley, mined coal for William R. Maffet, until No. 1 stopped in 1870. He then removed to Wanamie, where he mined until 1877; then went to Jacksboro, Tex., where he purchased a farm which he operated for nine months. He then returned to Ashley and timbered in No. 10 till it caved in, after- ward doing various kinds of Company work in the Jersey Slope until December 26, 1882, when he was appointed to his present position; he built his present comfort- able home in 1888. Mr. Lewis was married, April 7, 1866, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Rhys and Mary (Francis) Reese, and they have had seven children: Benjamin, driver-boss in the Hanover Shaft; David, who lost his right hand March 6, 1891, while acting as brakeman on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and is now tax collector in Sugar Notch borough; Mary A .; Elizabeth; Rhys; Daniel and Arthur. Mr. Lewis is a member of the K. of P. and I. O. O. F., and is a Knight Templar; he is a Republican in his political views, and is now serving his thirdterm as a member of the Sugar Notch school board, having been its president for three years.

DANIEL B. LEWIS, mine foreman, No. 11 Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, Plymouth. This competent and intelligent mine foreman was born June 5, 1854, in Schuylkill county, Pa., and is the sixth in a family of nine children born to Thomas T. and Cecilia (Bennet) Lewis, natives of South Wales. In 1865 the fam- ily removed to Coalburgh, Ohio, where Daniel received part of his education, com- pleting the common branches in Plymouth, whither the family came in 1870. The subject of this sketch started life as a clerk in the store of Edward Jenkins, where he served one year. He then did Company work about the mines for about six months, and thereafter entered the employ of David Jones, as clerk, staying with him for about one year. He next went with his father, who was a miner at the Gay- lord, as assistant, for several years, during which time he became skilled in the art of coal cutting. He then did company work about the Gaylord until he became a practical miner, working at it there for four and one-half years, at the Nottingham, one year, at the Washington one year, and at No. 11 Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre, four years. He was then given the position of fire-boss at No. 15 Lehigh & Wilkes- Barre, which position he occupied for one and one-half years. At the end of that period he was promoted to the position of mine foreman, which he has since credit- ably filled. Mr. Lewis has under his charge about three hundred and eighty-seven men, who put out about 1,500 tons of coal daily.

Mr. Lewis was united in marriage, May 10, 1877, with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Rolland and Maria (Jones) Jones, natives of Wales, her father being one of the victims of the Avondale disaster. Three children have been born to this union: Maria, born June 11, 1881; Cecilia, born March 25, 1885, and Rolland M., born July 6, 1889. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Knights of the Mystic Chain and Knights of Pythias. He is a communicant of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, having been deacon in same, and is one of its founders; he is also superintendent of the Pilgrim Church Sunday-school. Politically he is an independent voter.

GEORGE LEWIS, butcher, Kingston, was born in Franklin township, Luzerne Co., Pa., July 30, 1841, and is a son of Nathan and Nancy (De Witt) Lewis, the former a native of New York, the latter of Pennsylvania. This progressive gentleman was educated in Luzerne county, and at the age of twenty-two launched out in business for himself. His first venture was the opening of a meat market at Kingston, re- maining there, however, but a short time, subsequently removing his establishment to Edwardsville, where he now commands a thriving trade. On December 25, 1877, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage with Amanda, daughter of Andrew Strunk, of

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Kingston, Pa., and one child, Andrew, was born to this union, March 18, 1879. In his political views Mr. Lewis has always followed the precepts of the Democratic party.

GEORGE CHAHOON LEWIS was born in Wilkes-Barre, August 14, 1844. His father, Josiah Lewis, one of Wilkes-Barre's prominent business men, was born in Kingston, November 15, 1815, and died at Wilkes-Barre, July 4, 1890. His mother, Arabella D. Chahoon, was the daughter of George Chahoon, prominently counected with the early growth of the city. Mr. Lewis is a great-grandson of William Lewis, who was admitted to practice in the court of common pleas at Philadelphia, December term, 1773. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence suspended, till a new or- ganization, all the business of the courts. The first session of common pleas, when the style of process was altered from "The King" to " The Commonwealth," was held in September, 1777. Only six attorneys were entered as admitted to practice, viz .: John Morris, John Haley, William Lewis, Andrew Robeson, Jacob Rush and Jonathan D. Sergeant. William Lewis was elected a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1787, and was re-elected in 1789. On September 26, 1789, he re- ceived from the Father of his country the appointment of attorney for the United States for the District of Pennsylvania, and July 14, 1791, was appointed judge of the District Court of the United States for the Pennsylvania District. The com- missions signed by George Washington, President, are now in the possession of his great-grandson. Mr. Lewis' grandmother, Margaret Delany, was the daughter of Sharp Delany, one of the early patriotic Irish settlers in America, who so liberally furnished financial and other aid to the American army while encamped at Valley Forge, and who was appointed, by the President, the first collector of the Port of Philadelphia. On September 6, 1876, Mr. Lewis was married with Miss Mary Pomela Squires, of Chenango Forks, N. Y., a descendant of John Barker, one of the first settlers of Broome county, and after whom the town of Barker was named. They have three daughters, Anna C., Ruth H. and Mary S.

GEORGE M. LEWIS, blacksmith and hotel proprietor, Parsons, was born in Sussex, England, June 21, 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Martha Lewis, also natives of England. The gentleman whose name heads this memoir was reared and educated in the town of his birth, and there learned the trade of blacksmith. In 1864 he came to America and located in Scranton, Pa., where he worked at his trade for about a year, when he removed to Parsons, this county, and has here since been in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company; he is also doing a thriving hotel business. Mr. Lewis was married August 15, 1871, to Miss Anna Morgan, of Par- sons, a lady of Welsh lineage. Our subject and wife are members of the Baptist Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. of L .; in politics he is a Republican, and has been councilman of Parsons borough two terms.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 160

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