History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 161

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

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G. MORTIMER LEWIS was born in Wyalusing, Bradford Co., Pa., a son of Augustus and Sarah (Stoue) Lewis. The ancestor, the first American Lewis, came to Massa- chusets, from England in 1630. His descendant, Thomas Lewis, was born at New London, Conn., in April, 1745, the second by birth in a family of four children: John, Thomas, Jemima, and Martha. Thomas married Mary, daughter of Capt. James Turrell, of New Milford, Conn., whose father, Daniel Turrell, was one of the original proprietors in Connecticut, resident at Milford. Mary Turrell was born, March 17, 1748, and was married to Thomas Lewis in 1768, by which marriage were born nine children, viz. : Sarah, Deborah, Ebenezer, Jeremiah, John, James, Amy, Justus and Mary. Justus Lewis, the son of Thomas Lewis, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born at Wyalusing, Pa., August 21, 1787. His father, Thomas Lewis, was a soldier during the Revolutionary war; was with the Northern army under Gen. Montgomery, and was instrumental in the construction of the bridge over Lake Champlain, and was prominent at Fort Ticonderoga. He was also, with his brother John, participant in the battle, when Denbury was burned, and caught Gen. Wooster when he was shot and falling from his horse. It is also related in tradition that when the enemy had torn the planks from the bridge, Justus

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Lewis led the horse of Gen. Washington across the stream upon the stringers of the bridge. These facts show that Thomas Lewis did good service for his country in the hour of its greatest need. After the close of the war, he came to Wyalusing in 1776, his wife, even, being compelled to come on horseback, in those days, through the wilderness intervening between Connecticut and Pennsylvania. There being no such things as roads, they could only follow the trails through the wilder- ness. Arriving in the Wyoming Valley, he followed thence, up the Susquehanna, to the destination, where he was four miles from a neighbor on one side and forty miles on the other, and settled upon lands granted him by Connecticut, in considera- tion of the services rendered during the Revolutionary war. Justus Lewis, Decem- ber 3, 1812, married Polly, daughter of Elisha Keeler, also of Connecticut, who had located in the same community with him. Of this marriage were born children as follows: Milton, Elisha, Lucy, Augustus, Adelia, Burton E., Mary and Eliza. Justus Lewis was reared and educated in Wyalusing. In 1814 he united with the Presbyterian Church, and became one of the most efficient workers in the faith, giving largely of his means for the support of the church. He was prominently and actively engaged in temperance work during most of his career, and was one of the prominent anti-slavery reformers; an outspoken; fearless man in his opinions. In 1808 he was a prominent Federalist. In 1824 he took a deep interest in the success of the National Republicans; from 1840 to 1848 was a supporter of the Anti-Slavery Whig party, and in all public enterprises was foremost.

The subject of this sketch is the son of Augustus Lewis (son of Justus and Polly (Keeler) Lewis), and was born at Merryall, Wyalusing, county of Bradford, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1848. Augustus Lewis, his father, was for many years a prominent merchant at Wyalusing, and was afterward largely interested in the manufacture of lumber. When the North Branch Canal was first opened, the first canal-boats passing through were built for him to carry the freight connected with his business. On his mother's side, the subject of this sketch is descended from a distinguished line. His great-grandfather, Jonas Ingham, was of Quaker origin whose father was one of the most bigoted and arrogant of the sect, and disinherited his son, because he took part in the warlike affairs of the Revolutionary war. Jonas was a captain, and was wounded at Valley Forge. He married Rebecca, daughter of - Beaumont, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. [Vide "History of Bucks County," by Gen. W. W. Davis. ] His mother's name was Bye. Her father came on the vessel with William Penn and Logan when they arrived for settlement in this country. His nephew became Secretary of the Treasury of the United States under Jackson. The daughter of Jonas, Sarah, married Rafael Stone, who had come into Pennsylvania with the first settlers from Litchfield, Conn. ; they came originally from England in the first settlement of the country. In tradition it is said that a branch of this family was, in the early history of the country, pirates on the high seas, trading with the West Indies. It seemed to be the only way to account for the wealth they acquired. G. Mortimer Lewis, the subject of our sketch (son of Augustus and Sarah (Stone) Lewis), was three years at LaFayette, and graduated there in 1873. He had been previously taught at the Wyalusing Educational Union, and was especially prepared to enter college by his uncle, Rev. Darwin Cook. His study of the law was in the office of the late Edward P. Darling, one of the State's most distinguished practitioners, and he was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, Pa., September 6, 1875. For a number of years he was a member of the law firm of Ryman & Lewis, but latterly has practiced alone, giving, however, a good part of his time to the organization and management of general business enterprises. In the prosecution of this work his name became a familiar one, not only in Luzerne county but throughout the State of Pennsylvania. He is a pro- nounced Republican, but does not take an especially. active part in politics. He was one of the originators of the Electric Light Company, and also one of the original directors, and originated and brought about the combination of the Street Railway companies of Wilkes-Barre and vicinity. The combination has become one of the

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most notable in the State of Pennsylvania; the system including the Wilkes-Barre & Kingston; the Wilkes-Barre & West Side; the Coalville Passenger; the Wilkes- Barre & Suburban; the Pittston Street Car Company; the West Pittston & Wyoming; the Pittston, Moosic & Pleasant Valley; the Nanticoke Street Railway and the Plym- outh Street Railway-covering the territory of the Wyoming Valley from Nanti- coke to Scranton, and having a trackage, when complete, of sixty miles. Mr. Lewis is also president of the Mt. Vernon Coal Company. He was also the originator of, and is a director in, the Wilkes-Barre & Shawnee Bridge; also director in the famous Colorado Marble and Slate Companies, and, also, of the Elk Mountain Railway Company, of Colorado, operating and developing large and valuable tracts of lands in Gunnison and other counties in that State. - [H. E. H.]

HIRAM B. LEWIS, miner, Plymouth, was born in Berks county, Pa., November 4, 1839, and is the fourth in the family of five children of Samuel and Sarah (Olds) Lewis, also natives of Pennsylvania. He attended school in his native county, and when he was fifteen years old the family removed to Columbia county, where our subject completed his studies. He was reared on a farm, and followed that voca- tion until the Civil war broke out, when he obeyed his country's call and enlisted in Company A, Sixth Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserves, under command of Capt. Wallace Ricketts. He participated in the following engagements: Drainesville, fought December 20, 1861; the Seven Days' fight in front of Richmond; Bull Run, August 28, 29 and 30, 1862; South Mountain, September 14, 1862; Antietam, September 16 and 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, 1863; Bristol Station, October 14, 1863; Mine Run, November 27, 1863; Wilderness, May, 1864 (ten days); Spottsylvania Court House, May, 1864 (vicinity five days); North Anna, May, 1864, and Bethesda Church, May, 1864. It seems almost incredible that one participating in so many battles should come out unscathed, but such is the case with the subject of this sketch. As a soldier, Mr. Lewis was true and fearless, and fought bravely for his country, and the debt we owe these noble veterans for grasp- ing the Union from the hand of dissolution can never be repaid. Mr. Lewis was discharged June 11, 1864, and came directly to Plymouth, where he began work at the mines, first as a coal loader, at which he worked one year, then as a miner at the Avondale Colliery, where he has been mining for twenty-eight years. He was mar- ried March 18, 1867, to Mary E., daughter of Francis and Elizabeth Stumm, natives of Germany, and to this union have been born eight children, namely: Samuel T., Francis S., Albert E., Sadie L., John W., Walter E. (deceased), Elvina M. and Muriel. Mr. Lewis is a Prohibitionist, and is a member of the G. A. R. The fam- ily attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JAMES LEWIS, assistant chief of police, Plymouth, was born in that town, Sep- tember 19, 1843, and is a son of Wesley and Dorothy (Shonk) Lewis, also natives of Plymouth. There were two sons in this family, James being the younger. He was educated in the public schools of Plymouth, and at an early age began mining. This he continued until the war broke out, when he enlisted, October 18, 1861, in Company H, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Col. Whinnecoop. He par- ticipated in the following battles: siege of Atlanta; Battle of Nashville, Tenn .; Franklin, Tenn. ; Galeton, Tenn; and at Brentwood, Tenn .; where he was taken prisoner and cast into Libby Prison, where he remained some time, and from there he was paroled and sent to parol camp at Annapolis, Md., where he was exchanged. After returning from the war Mr. Lewis again entered the mines and has worked as a miner ever since, having been employed at the Avondale for over twenty-three years. He has been for two terms chief of police, and is at present assistant chief. As an officer Mr. Lewis is always considerate, and, although he does his duty promptly and bravely, he is never over-hasty or cruel. He was married December 25, 1862, to Miss Fannie, daughter of Zepheniah R. and Mary (Tilbery) Barber, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter of Plymouth. To this union have been born seven children, viz .: James, who is married and resides at Plymouth; Mary, wife of Frank Knecht, of Jersey City, N. J .; Henry, who is married and resides at

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Plymouth; Laura, wife of Elmer Erwine, of Plymouth, Pa., ; Emma, wife of Thomas Jones, of Plymouth; Mark and Wesley, both at home. In politics Mr. Lewis is a Republican. The family attend the Christian Church.

JOHN J. LEWIS, engineer at the Parrish Breaker, was born July 15, 1855, in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, and is the fifth in the family of eight children of John and Margaret (Lloyd) Lewis, also natives of Wales. Our subject was educated and reared in Wales, learned engineering at an early age, and engaged at the Coal- brook Colliery, where he followed his trade for a short time, afterward proceeding to the Ferndale, where he remained until 1878, in which year he came to America. He located in the State of Kansas, and worked as a miner at the Osage Mines about one year, coming from there to Houtzdale, Pa., and there worked at mining one year. He then removed to Nanticoke, and was employed by the Susquehanna Coal Company as slope engineer, and later at No. 2 Shaft under the same company. There he remained four years, at the end of which time he came (1887) to the Parrish Breaker and took charge of the slope engine, which position he has since held. Mr. Lewis was married, May 29, 1880, to Lizzie, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Jones) Griffith, natives of Wales, and four children blessed this union, namely: Maggie, Edith (deceased), Hettie and Willie. The family attend the Welsh Inde- pendent Church. Mr. Lewis is a Republican, and is a member of the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F.

SALMON LEWIS, farmer, P. O. Harding, was born (September 23, 1883), reared and educated in Exeter township. He is a son of Levi C. and Hannah (Shay) Lewis, the former of whom was born in Connecticut, the latter in New Jersey. Levi C. was a son of Oliver, who was a native of Connecticut, and removed to this county about 1828, locating in Exeter township, on the farm now occupied by Alexander Swartwood. He was one of the first settlers in the town, and suffered all the hardships of pioneer life; but by honest labor and incessant activity, he suc- ceeded, in a measure, in subduing the natural forest, causing it "to blossom as the rose." He reared a large family of thirteen children, who became sturdy farmers and the wives of farmers, who proved themselves worthy citizens of this county, causing the forest to give place to the golden grain, and the rude log cabin to give way to a more pretentious dwelling house. Oliver Lewis lived to be eighty-six years of age. Levi C., his son, removed from Connecticut, his place of birth, to New Jersey, where he lived for several years. During his residence there he was married to Miss Hannah Shay, by whom he had nine children, all of whom grew to maturity, and four of whom are now living: Rev. J. S., Salmon, Vincent L. and Giles B. In early life he followed the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for a number of years. In 1830 he removed from New Jersey to Exeter, purchasing about four hundred acres of land, 120 of which were cleared during his lifetime. He was a hard-working man who, by honest labor, became a successful farmer. While he was not a leading politician in the town, yet his influence was felt in his party. He was a leading man in the M. E. Church, holding the office of steward and class- leader in that body. He took a special interest in the advancement of the Gospel, and was the leading spirit in the erection of the church building at Mount Zion. He made ample provision for all his children, his estate being divided between them previous to his death, which occurred in September, 1881, at the age of eighty-two years. Salmon is the fifth member of his family in order of birth, and always followed farming as his natural calling, though in early life he taught school very acceptably and successfully for over ten years. He married, April 7, 1859, Miss Clarinda, daugh- ter of Abiathy and Lucretia Shippey. By this union there were born seven children, four of whom are now living: Eva, Emma, Levi S. and Arthur. Emma has been teaching school with great success. In 1859 Mr. Lewis removed to Kansas, where he purchased a farm of 330 acres, on which he resided for six years. He then, in 1865, returned to Exeter and purchased eighty-five acres of the old homestead, on which he has erected fine buildings and outhouses, capable of accommodating his large dairy. Mr. Lewis is a wide-awake farmer, who looks after the interest of

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"Sol," and keeps well abreast of the times. He is a man of influence in his neigh- borhood and an active worker in the Grange. His special line of farming is vegeta- bles, dairying and fruit culture. Besides the farm on which he lives, he owns 265 acres in Wyoming county, on which Peter Harris settled in 1798. Mr. Lewis is a practical man as well as a practical farmer. Politically he is a Republican.

THOMAS HART BENTON LEWIS, was born in Trucksville, Kingston township, this county, February 22, 1835. His father was James Rowley Lewis, who came from Schoharie county, N. Y., and practiced as a physician in this county for more than half a century. Our subject's mother's maiden name was Nancy Ferguson, and she was a daughter of Alexander Ferguson, who lived at Delaware Station, Warren county, where his daughter was born, but afterward removed to Dallas, Luzerne county, where he died. Thomas Hart Benton Lewis was educated at the Wyoming Seminary, and at Bucknell University, from which latter institution he graduated in 1858. He studied law with the late Hon. Charles Denison, and was admitted to the bar August 22, 1860. In 1874 he was chosen a member of the Lower House of the Pennsylvania Legislature for the Second District of Luzerne county, which was then and still is largely Republican. Though Mr. Lewis was the Democratic nominee, and is an ardent advocate of the doctrines of that faith, he won in the District by a considerable majority. He served in the judiciary general committee, being secre- tary of the same. He served also upou several other committees. He has served as a member of the borough council of Kingston, as secretary of that body, and in the school board of the borough, being secretary of the board. He has been a ruling elder in the Kingston Presbyterian Church for twenty-four years, and secretary of the session nearly the whole time, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school for eight years. On May 17, 1865, Mr. Lewis married Rosa M. Atherton, daughter of J. A. Atherton, of Bridgewater, Susquehanna Co., Pa., and they have six children.

THOMAS P. LEWIS, miner in the Mill Creek Mine, Miners Mills, was born in South Wales, April 14, 1844, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Bousher) Lewis, in whose family there were eight children, two of whom are living, viz .: Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob Davies, of Wales), and Thomas P. Our subject came to America in 1866, and engaged in mining, which has been his occupation from boyhood; he has been successively employed at Elizabeth, Pa., one year; Wyoming, one year; Morris Run, six months; Wilkes-Barre, five months; and then moved to his present residence, which he built in 1870. Mr. Lewis was married, December 25, 1868, to Miss Jane, daughter of Richmond and Mary A. (Allen) Burridge, natives of England, and they have had born unto them children as follows: Richmond T., who was killed in the Pine Ridge Shaft, at the age of fifteen years; Susanna; Abigail; Mariam, who died in infancy; Mary A .; Daniel Wm .; John; Mariam (second), who died in infancy; Raymond P .; James B., and Elizabeth J. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the Primitive Methodist Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and Encampment, and in politics is a Republican.

CHRISTIAN LEYH, dealer in furniture and picture framing, and undertaker, Ash- ley, was born in Pottsville, Pa., December 19, 1845, a son of Henry and Dorothy Leyh, natives of Germany, who emigrated from that country before their marriage. The father, a weaver by trade, raised a family of seven children, viz .: Christian, William, Henry, Dorothy (Mrs. George Kyneet), Amelia, Daniel, and Louisa, who died at the age of fourteen years. Our subject was educated in the public schools at Pottsville and Orwigsburgh, Pa. At the age of seventeen he moved to Hazleton, where he served four years' apprenticeship at cabinet making, and then went to White Haven, entering the employ of Henry Price. After six months he became a partner in the business, but next year entered the employ of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company at that place, and in Ashley, September, 1867, engaged in business for himself, in White Haven. In January, 1868, he accepted a position in the shops at Ashley, remaining there until October, 1883, when he purchased a half interest in the furniture firm of Skillman & Co., in Union Hall block, and in the spring of 1886 became sole proprietor. He suffered severe loss from the burning of

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this block, May 12, 1890, but soon resumed business on North Main street, and took possession of his present place in the Fenner block in December of the same year. May 9, 1867, Mr. Leyh married Hannah E., daughter of Charles and Matilda (Lehr) Sassaman, natives of Allentown, Pa. The family settled there at an early date, and Mrs. Leyh's maternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Our subject has sev- eral children: Matilda, wife of William Wilcox, painter, Ashley, by whom she has two children; Ralph; Charles, brakeman on the Central Railroad of New Jersey; William H., painter in the shops at Ashley, and Flora M., who is in the store with her father. Mr. Leyh is a member of the Evangelical Association, of the P. O. S. of A., and of the Jr. O. U. A. M. He is a Republican in his political views. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILL W. LEYSON, commercial traveler, Wilkes-Barre, was born at Summit Hill, Carbon Co., Pa., August 22, 1866, a son of John W. and Susan (Wintersteen) Ley- son, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. The father followed the trade of builder, at which he was very successful. They were the parents of two children, of whom Will W. is the younger. Our subject was educated at the Wilkes-Barre high schools, and after graduating he entered the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company, with whom he remained three years, and then accepted a position with Bodmer & Co., brokers, remaining two years. Afterward he accepted a position with the Hillman Vein Coal Company; later was employed by the Mill Creek Coal Company, and afterward was with the Philadelphia & Reading Coal Company, Pottsville. After serving one year with this company, he took a western trip, and also a four months' trip through Europe, Upon his return, he accepted a clerkship at the "Hotel Elsmere," Washington, D. C., and afterward became clerk at the " Hotel Brunswick;" Philadelphia. Remaining there some time, he finally accepted a position with the Claus Shear Company, which he is holding at the present time. Mr. Leyson was united in marriage June 9, 1890, with Emily, daughter of Conrad B. and Mary Van Horn Silliman, by which union there is one child. Mr. and Mrs. Leyson are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the famous Clover Club of Washington, D. C. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.

JOSEPH W. LIEM, of the firm of J. W. Liem & Co., general hardware merchants, Wilkes-Barre, was born in that city April 17, 1860, a son of Frederick and Barbara (Kaiser) Liem, natives of Eisenberg, Germany, who came to America in 1851, settling in Wilkes-Barre, where the father, who was a tinsmith by trade, followed his occupation thirty-two years. He was a son of Joseph and Frederica Liem, who settled in Wilkes-Barre, in 1848, and his children are Emma (Mrs. Philip Geritz), Joseph W. and Charles F., the latter of whom married Susan, a daughter of William and Caroline (Young) Ferder, of Wilkes-Barre. At the death of Frederick Liem, in 1883, his sons succeeded to the business established by him, in 1857, which they have since successfully continued under the firm name of J. W. Liem & Co. Our subject was reared and educated in his native city, learned the tinsmith's trade with his father, and is among the enterprising and popular hardware merchants of the city. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Democrat.

GEORGE W. LIGGETT, locomotive engineer, Hanover township, was born in what is now Atglen, Chester Co., Pa., September 25, 1856, and is a son of Ezekiel and Martha (Young) Liggett, natives of Pennsylvania and of Welsh and English-Welsh origin, respectively. He is a grandson of Caleb and Margaret (Wilson) Liggett and Thomas S. and Margaret (Black) Young; a great-grandson of Samuel and Mary (Coburn) Young; and a great-grandson of Ninian Young, who by some authorities was an Irishman, but by others a native of Great Yarmouth, County of Norfolk, on the east coast of England, whence he emigrated to America, and is first mentioned in Fallowfield township, Chester Co., Pa., in 1745. The family came to Luzerne county in 1867, and to Ashley in 1868, where the father was foreman in the black- smith department of the Ashley shops, and where he died July 19, 1885; the mother still lives with our subject. The family consisted of seven children, four of whom

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are living, viz .: Margaret (Mrs. Thomas Blodgett), Mary M. (Mrs. Collins Girton), Elizabeth (Mrs. Robert Winder) and George W. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia. and Wilkes-Barre, and then served an apprenticeship of four years in the Ashley machine shop; he then fired four and a half years on the Central Railroad, and in 1880 was promoted to his present position. Mr. Liggett was married April 25, 1878, to Miss Lucy, daughter of Robert and Clarinda (Garey) Johnson, respectively, natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania and of Irish and Yankee extraction. Mrs. Liggett died December 21, 1891, leaving five children, viz. : Clarence E., Clarinda M., Charles K., George T. and Martha Y. Our subject, as was also his wife, is a member of the Baptist Church at Wilkes- Barre; he is a member of the B. L. E., and in his political views is a Prohibitionist. In 1888 he built his present beautiful residence on Ridge street.

H. W. LILLY, cabinet-maker, Pittston, was born in Lehigh county, and while he was an infant his parents removed to Northampton county, settling at Bethlehem. He is a son of Joseph and Kate (Mensin) Lilly, natives of Northampton county, the former of whom died in 1880, and the latter now resides at Bethlehem. At the age of seventeen our subject began learning the cabinet-making trade, and worked at it until September 15, 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment, and was at the battles of Chancellors- ville and Gettysburg. At Gettysburg he received a gunshot wound in the hip, and was compelled to lie on the field seven days without any attendants, in his terribly mangled condition. He was then sent to the Portsmouth Grove Hospital, Rhode Island, where he remained four months, when he was discharged. He finally returned to Bethlehem, and after recovering sufficiently resumed cabinet-making and worked at it there until 1865, when he came to Pittston, where he has since followed the same. He was married in 1882 to Miss Anna Bussard, of Pittston. In politics, he is a solid Republican.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 161

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