History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 166

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

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JOSEPH J. McGINTY, recorder of Luzerne county, was born in the County of Durham, England, A. D., 1850, and is a son of Arthur and Isabel (Dunn) McGinty, natives of Ireland and England, respectively, who emigrated to America in 1864, locating near Hazleton, this county, where they reared their family of seven chil- dren, named as follows: Joseph J., William, John, James, David, Arthur and Edward. Our subject was reared in Luzerne county from fourteen years of age, and early in life began work in the mines, where he was employed until 1877; then was engaged in farming five years, at the end of which time he resumed work in the mines, which he continued until the fall of 1886. In that year he was elected recorder of Luzerne county, and was re-elected in the fall of 1889. In 1871 Mr. McGinty's father was killed in the mines, near Hazleton, and the care of the family devolved on our subject, who assumed the charge with courage and determination, and by his industry and thrift he succeeded in giving some of his younger brothers a good education. In 1873 Mr. McGinty married Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas and Ann (Finley) McGivney, of Hazleton, and has six children: Arthur, Thomas, Edward, Annie, John and Joseph. Our subject has at all times enjoyed the confi- dence of the people who know him, and has taken an active interest in public affairs and labor organizations. He served three years as member of the school board of Hazle township, during which he was president of the board one year, and its treas- urer one year. On several occasions he had the honor to represent his fellow work- men in their conventions. He was their representative at the great anti-monopoly convention held at Harrisburg in 1875; was also sent by District No. 87, Knights of

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Labor of Hazleton, to attend the general assembly held at Hamilton, Canada, in 1885, and to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1886. He is a popular official, and enjoys a repu- tation for honesty, faithfulness and integrity. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and was a candidate for Congress in the Twelfth Congressional District of Pennsyl- vania, but was defeated by a small majority in the convention.

JOHN MOGOLDRICK, a prominent citizen of Plains township, was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, August 31, 1829, and is a son of Edward and Catherine (McCabe) McGoldrick. The father, who was a farmer, reared a family of four chil- dren, of whom the subject of this memoir is the eldest; he came to America in 1869, followed by his family in 1873, and located in Plains, where he worked about the mines until 1888, when he retired from active life; he built his present residence and removed therein in 1883. Mr. McGoldrick was married, in October, 1855, to Miss Bessie, daughter of Cornelius and Mary (McCallough) Shovlin, and they have had eight children, six of whom are living, viz .: James, a miner in the Prospect Colliery; Catherine (Mrs. Hugh Gildea); Edward, a miner in the Port Bowkley Colliery; Mary A .; Cornelius J., and Sarah, the three latter living with their parents; Cornelius J. is collector for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Our subject and family are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a Democrat in his political preferences.

EDWARD FRANK MCGOVERN, lawyer, Wilkes-Barre, was born at Darlington, County of Durham, England, September 10, 1860, a son of Frank and Fannie (Ray) McGovern, natives of England and Ireland, respectively. He received his educa- tion at the public schools of Wilkes-Barre, and in the law department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, graduating as Bachelor of Laws in the class of 1886. He then entered the law office of John T. Lenahan, and was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, June 6, 1887. In 1881 he was elected an alderman in the second ward of Wilkes-Barre for a term of five years. Mr. McGovern belongs to a class of young men who-without the assistance of wealthy parents or a general college training, but by simple dint of natural wit and energy, and with the aid of only such educational advantages as are common to all boys and girls in this fair land-have furnished many of the brightest ornaments of the several learned professions, and not a few of our ablest statesmen. Mr. McGovern is himself a young man of unusu- ally keen intelligence, with a disposition for hard work, that proves very useful in every walk of life, and particularly in the legal profession. His record at the Law University was a good one, and it is safe enough to say, even thus early in his career as a lawyer, that he will not be among the hindmost in the race for patronage. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. Mr. McGovern is unmarried.

MICHAEL McGOVERN, watchman, Inkerman, was born November 13, 1835, in County Sligo, Ireland, and is a son of Andrew and Bridget (Martin) McGovern, natives of the same place. They reared a family of six children, of whom our subject is the fifth in order of birth. He received his education in Ireland, and in 1847 came to this country, locating in Susquehanna county, Pa., where he engaged in farming until 1880, in which year he removed with his family to Sebastopol, this county, since which time he has worked in the stone quarries and in the mines. He is at present engaged as watchman for the Pennsylvania Coal Company. Mr. McGovern was united in marriage, February 7, 1863, with Ann, daughter of Owen and Catharine (Mulderick) Holmes, natives of County Sligo, Ireland. Their union has been blessed with the following issue: Mary, born December 3, 1864, married, on January 1, 1885, to William Hunt, a carpenter, of Inkerman; John, born January 1, 1866; Bridget, born March 14, 1871; Edward, born August 7, 1873; Michael, born February 6, 187 -; Annie, born July 29, 1878; Nellie, born January 6, 1882, and Margaret, born May 3, 1887. Our subject is & member of the Catholic Church; in politics, he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM McGOWAN, conductor on the gravel train, with residence on Ridge street, Ashley, was born in County Derry, Ireland, August 3, 1857, and is a son of David and Mary J. (Blair) McGowan. The father, who was a farmer and baker,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

reared a family of five children, three of whom are living, namely: William; Elizabeth G. (Mrs. John A. Carr), and David H., conductor, Ashley. These three children came with their mother to America June 28, 1870, locating in Ashley. Our subject was educated in his native Ireland and in Ashley. He worked in the breaker for four months, after which he wiped engines in the round house two and a half years, and after that did various kinds of extra work on the gravel train until 1879. For three years he was brakeman, and since that time has been con- ductor. He built his elegant residence in 1886. April 2, 1881, Mr. McGowan married Miss Bessie, daughter of Thompson and Jane (Anderson) O'Connell of Hanover township, natives of County Derry, Ireland, and of this union have been born four children, viz. : Mary J., Thompson W., David H. and Harry. Our sub- ject and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and O. R. C. In his political views he is a Republican.

PATRICK McGRANE, mine contractor, Sugar Notch, was born in Nesquehoning, Pa., May 14, 1846, and is a son of Bernard and Ellen (Carr) McGrane, natives of County Louth, Ireland, whence they emigrated to America in 1840, locating at Nesquehoning, Pa., where the father worked about the mines seventeen years; then eleven years at Hackle Barney, Pa .; one year at Upper Lehigh, and in 1869 removed to Sugar Notch. Bernard McGrane was killed in No. 9 Shaft June 14, 1879; his widow still lives in Sugar Notch, now aged seventy years. Their family consisted of eight children: Two died young: Mary (Mrs. Hugh Brogan); Patrick; William, who was killed in Pittsburgh at the age of forty-two years; John, a miner, in Sugar Notch; Julia A., widow of Patrick Malone, by whom she had two children: Thomas and Ellen; and Thomas, a miner, at Sugar Notch. Our subject worked about the mines until 1868, when he went to Gratiot, Wis., where he worked on a farm five months, and then proceeded to La Salle, Ill., and worked in the mines there six months, at the end of which time he returned to Upper Lehigh, and thence to Sugar Notch, where and at Ashley he has since been engaged in mining and mine contracting. Mr. McGrane is a skillful and successful operator, and has probably mined as much coal as any man in Luzerne county. He was married, December 29, 1869, to Miss Ann, daughter of Michael and Catherine (Crossen) Boyle, natives of County Cavan, Ireland, and they have had nine children, eight of whom are living, viz .: Mary E., for five years teacher in the Sugar Notch schools; Katie, who taught one year in Ashley, and is now organist in the Catholic Church at Sugar Notch; Bernard, Annie, Michael, Elizabeth, John and Susan. Mr. McGrane and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a Democrat in his political views, and has held the offices of burgess and councillor in Sugar Notch borough.

THOMAS MCGRAW, general merchant, Beach Haven, was born in Salem township, May 2, 1832, and is a son of Patrick and Catherine (Corell) McGraw. His father, a native of County Waterford, Ireland, settled in Salem township in 1827, where he began his career as a laborer, and later was a contractor and builder of railroads, etc. During the Civil war he was a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and while in the service died of chronic diarrhoea in 1863, at the age of sixty-four years. His wife was a daughter of Nicholas Corell, a pioneer of Salem township and a soldier of the Revolution. By her he had six chil- dren, viz .: Mary (Mrs. Urich Van Pelt), Thomas, Elizabeth (Mrs. John Collins), Sarah (Mrs. David Brader), Maria (Mrs. Wesley Rabert), and Jennie (Mrs. Samuel Whitson). Our subject was reared in Salem township, was educated in the common schools, and after a varied career, during which he was engaged in boating, clerk- ing and railroading, he embarked in mercantile business at Beach Haven in 1875, in which he has since successfully continued. He was twice married. His first wife was Rachel, daughter of Henry and Betsy (Rabert) Thomas, of Salem township, and by her he had one daughter, Adeline (Mrs. Stephen Meusch). His second wife was Rosanna, daughter of John Hoch, of Hollenback, by which union there are three children: Mattie (Mrs. John Heabner), Christian H. and Daniel. Mr. McGraw is

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

one of the best-known citizens of Luzerne county, and his word is as good as his bond. He is a Democrat, and has held many of the local offices of Salem township; was mercantile appraiser of Luzerne county in 1891; is a member of the M. E. Church and of the F. & A. M.

JAMES McGREEVY, wholesale and retail liquor dealer, was born in County Ros- common, Ireland, March 12, 1852. He came to America in 1873, locating in Wilkes- Barre, where he was employed in the mines for ten years. In 1876 he received private instruction under the tuition of Professor Reid. Since 1883 he has been engaged in the liquor business, and in 1889 erected the fine brick building he now occupies on Hazle street. Mr. McGreevy married, May 14, 1885, Mary Gilligan, a native of Wilkes-Barre. The issue of this union is three children: Mary E., James and Frances Josephine. In December, 1889, Mr. McGreevy visited Ireland, his journey occupying three months. He is a member of the Catholic Church; in pol- ities he is a Democrat, and has served one term of three years as register of wills of Luzerne county, to which office he was elected in 1887.

WILLIAM McGREGOR, miner, Parsons, was born in London, England, and is a son of John and Sophia (Davis) McGregor, natives of Wales. He has worked in the mines since he was ten years old; in 1855 he emigrated to America, and located at Minersville, Pa., where he engaged in mining, remaining there but a short time. He removed to Freedom, N. Y., where he followed farming until 1861, and then came to Hyde Park, Pa., and resumed mining, where he remained until 1865. In this year he came to Parsons, where he has since been engaged in mining; he has held various positions of responsibility around the mines, having been foreman for five years. Mr. McGregor was married, in 1851, to Miss Anna, daughter of Thomas Phillips, of South Wales; they have had eight children, viz. : Mary, married to John Pew, of Brookside; John (deceased); Thomas, a miner in Parsons; Sophia, married to Will- iam Griffith, of Parsons; Hannah (deceased); William J. (deceased); Margaret (deceased), and William, a mason, of Parsons. Mr. McGregor and his family are members of the Baptist Church; in politics he is a liberal Republican.

HUGH MOGROARTY, an aged and highly-respected citizen of Miners Mills, was born in the parish of Inver, County Donegal, Ireland, November 12, 1806, and is a son of Cornelius and Nancy (Montgomery) McGroarty. His mother, a very beauti- ful woman, who eloped with her husband, was a grandneice of Gen. Montgomery, of Quebec fame. In his father's family there were nine children, five of whom reached majority: John, who died in Ireland May 21, 1891, at the age of eighty- seven years; Hugh, the subject of this sketch; Catherine (Mrs. Peter Scanlon), died in Newtown, Pa., in 1889, at the age of eighty years; Cornelius, who was a farmer in Plains township, and once treasurer of Luzerne county, died January 21, 1891, at the age of eighty years; Patrick, still living in Plains township. Nancy Montgom- ery married, for her second husband, Hugh Meehan, by whom she had six children. Our subject came to America in 1839, and located in Summit Hill, Pa., where he worked about the mines three years, and then removed to Buck Monntain, where he followed mining twenty-five years; he was then engaged by the Coal & Iron Com- pany, driving a tunnel at Sugar Notch three years, after which he came to Miners Mills and built the hotel now occupied by Michael Athey, which was the first house of public entertainment in the place. He carried on the hotel fifteen years and then built his present residence, where he has since lived in retirement. Mr. McGroarty was married in January, 1834, with Miss Mary, daughter of Brien and Margaret (McLoon) McGinty; she was a lady of rare intelligence and a very benevolent char- acter; having but a common-school education, she was a great reader and thinker, and was very familiar with Irish history, as well as with the great questions in American politics. This happy union was blessed with twelve children: Five died in childhood; Bernard died September 17, 1883, at the age of forty-seven years; Mary (Mrs. John Gallagher) died in Buck Mountain, August 6, 1876, at the age of thirty-eight years, leaving four children; Bridget married Michael Farrell (deceased), by whom she has four living children; Margaret married John Murrin, a coal operator, Carbondale,

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Pa .; Catherine married Michael McHale, engineer for the Electric Light Company, Wilkes-Barre, with residence in Miners Mills; Hugh is conductor on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Miners Mills; and John S. Mr. McGroarty and family are mem- bers of the Catholic Church; politically he is a Democrat. He had three cousins in an Ohio regiment in the Civil war: Gen. Stephen J. McGroarty, who was wounded eighteen times, and died in Cincinnati; Col. Patrick McGroarty, who was killed at Lookout Mountain; and William B. McGroarty, whose father was drowned while in the army, and who lost both legs in the war, is still living.

JOHN S. McGROARTY, treasurer of Luzerne county, was born in Foster township, this county, August 20, 1862, the youngest son of Hugh and Mary (McGinty) Mc- Groarty. He was reared at Miners Mills, educated in public schools, Harry Hill- man Academy, and Carbondale high school. At the age of sixteen years he began teaching in common schools, which profession he followed three years; was appointed deputy county treasurer of Luzerne county in 1882, for a term of three years; was again appointed in 1888, and was elected to the office in November, 1890, the term expiring January 1, 1894. In 1887 he was editor of the Wilkes-Barre Evening Leader ; at the age of twenty-one years he was elected justice of the peace of Miners Mills, serving a full term of five years. On November 19, 1890, Mr. McGroarty married Miss Ida, daughter of Christian and Mary (Kreyscher) Lubrecht, of Wilkes-Barre. Socially, our subject is a member of the Elks, St. Aloysius Society and A. O. of H. He is a member of the Catholic Church; in politics he is a Democrat.

HUGH MOGROARTY, watchman at the Enterprise Mines, Plains township, was born at Buck Mountain, Carbon Co., Pa., in 1867, and is a son of Patrick McGroarty. Our subject began life as inside stable-boss in the Wyoming Mine, where he remained nine years; in March, 1890, he secured a position as outside stable-boss at the Enter- prise Mine, which position he held until that mine shut down; and since that time he has been watchman. Mr. McGroarty was married, October 27, 1881, to Miss Josephine, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Degnan) McCormick, and they have three children: Mary, born March 19, 1883; Harry, born November 16, 1885, died June 15, 1886; and William, born October 1, 1888. Mr. McGroarty and family are members of the Catholic Church, and politically he is a Democrat.

JAMES McGROARTY, stable-boss at the Henry and Wyoming Mines, was born at Buck Mountain, Schuylkill Co., Pa., February 18, 1856, and is a son of Patrick McGroarty. He was educated in the common schools, and began life for himself at the age of twenty, as inside stable-boss in the Henry Mine; he has continued in this line ever since, until he has been promoted to his present position. Mr. McGroarty was married, February 13, 1876, to Miss Kate, daughter of John and Belinda (Durgan) Howley, natives of Ireland; she came to America with an uncle, leaving her parents in Ireland. The following children are the fruits of this union: Belinda, born December 1, 1876; Anna, born September 22, 1878, died December 10, 1881; Rose, born July 23, 1880, died October 10, 1882; John, born November 22, 1883; William, born September 13, 1885; James, born September 20, 1887; and Charles, horn April 20, 1890. Our subject and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is an indefatigable worker in the cause of Democracy, and has held the office of school director.

PATRICK MOGROARTY, farmer, P. O. Plains, was born in the Parish of Inver, County Donegal, Ireland, April 14, 1814, and is a son of Cornelius and Ann (Mont- gomery) McGroarty. In his father's family there were seven children, of whom he is the youngest. He came to America in 1836, remained in New York two months, and then *engaged in digging coal at Summit Hill, Pa., where he remained ten years; at this time coal was obtained from the earth by stripping the surface in the winter and removing the coal in the summer. He next removed to Buck Mountain, where he remained fourteen years, mining; then went to Wilkes-Barre, where he remained four years, and in 1865 purchased a farm in Plains township and removed thereon. In 1877 Mr. McGroarty engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed for five years, and was a victim to severe losses caused by the strikes of

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

that time. Mr. McGroarty was married, July 10, 1842, to Miss Mary, daughter of Hugh and Catharine (McCue) Sweeney, and by her he had two children, one of whom is living, Cornelius, an engineer at the Wilkes-Barre Water Works. Mrs. Mary Sweeney died July 10, 1844, and Mr. McGroarty married, for his second wife, Mrs. John McAlune, nee Rose McAlune. To their union were born five chil- dren, viz. : Anna, who married for her second husband John Mahoney, of Wilkes- Barre; Patrick; James; Hugh, and William, shop carpenter for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, at Port Bowkley. Our subject and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a Democrat in politics, and has held the office of supervisor.

PATRICK MOGROARTY, JR., proprietor of "McGroarty's Restaurant," Plains, was born at Buck Mountain, Schuylkill Co., Pa., March 11, 1855, and is a son of Patrick McGroarty. Since beginning in life for himself, he has been successively engaged: in teaming, six years; mining, twelve years; as stable-boss for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, nine years; supervisor of Plains township, two years, and engaged in his present business in 1890. Our subject was married, November 24, 1887, to Mary A., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Martin) McDonald, natives of County Cavan, Ireland, and they have seven children, as follows: William, born September 26, 1878; John, born December 9, 1880; Patrick, born October 14, 1882; Bessie, born January 28, 1884; Rose, born April 7, 1886; May, born April 20, 1888; and Cornelius, born May 20, 1890. Mr. McGroarty and family are members of . the Catholic Church; politically he has always been identified with the Republican party.

EDWARD McGUINESS, proprietor of restaurant, Wilkes-Barre, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1835, a son of Edward and Ann (Flynn) McGuiness. He was reared on a farm in Ireland, and came to America in 1863. After passing one year in Scranton, he located in Wilkes-Barre, where he has since resided. He worked twenty-five years in the mines; and since 1884 has been engaged in the restaurant business. In 1865 Mr. McGuiness married Miss Margaret, daughter of Martin and Mary (Moran) Corcoran, of County Mayo, Ireland, and by her had nine children: Michael, Edward, Mary (Mrs. Patrick Monahan), Annie (Mrs. Thomas Scranton), Maggie, Bridget, John, Ellen, and Thomas. Mr. McGuiness and his family are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a member of the E. B. A. Branch, No. 33, Wilkes-Barre. In politics he is a Democrat.

EDWARD MCGUIRE, miner, Plains, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, August 7, 1845, and is a son of Alexander and Jane (Ferris) McGuire, natives of Ireland and the Isle of Arran, respectively; the father came to America in 1864, followed in the years 1866 and 1870 by his family; they located in Northumberland county, Pa., where he died in 1877 at the age of forty-seven years. The family consisted of four brothers and one half-brother, of whom Edward is the eldest. Our subject began working about the mines at the age of ten years, which occupation he has since followed; he built his present residence and removed there in 1872. Mr. McGuire was married, September 4, 1869, to Miss Delia, daughter of John and Catherine (Gherity) Gorman, natives of County Mayo, Ireland. This union has been blessed with nine children, eight of whom are living, viz .: James, Edward, Mary J., Delia T., Thomas F., Annie, Robert and Catherine. Mr. McGuire and his family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a member of the Emeralds, and politically, is a Democrat.

GEORGE F. McGUIRE, merchant, Luzerne, was born, December 10, 1841, a son of Peter and Mary E. (Keller) McGuire, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. McGuire received a liberal education in the schools of his native county, and soon after, on May 1, 1861, enlisted as a soldier in the three months' service. After serving out the three months, he re-enlisted in the three years' service with the Fifty-seventh New York, Company I, Second Corps, and Second Division, which was under command of Sumner. Mr. McGuire was engaged in the following battles: Fair Oaks, Gaines Hill, Antietam, South Mountain, and Fredericksburg. In the last-mentioned battle, he was so severely wounded in both limbs that amputation of the right one was

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

made necessary two weeks after the battle, an operation that compelled him to remain in the hospital four months after his time expired. After returning to Luzerne, our subject engaged in the mercantile business in which he still continues. There were fourteen children in the McGuire family; and when the war broke out, eight of the boys enlisted and fought bravely for their country, two of them being buried beneath Southern soil, while the other six returned to the old home, maimed and wounded-facts which tell a greater story of patriotic devotion than records can ever portray. Our subject was married, June 26, 1870, to Mehitabel, daughter of David and Sarah (Reese) Laphy, natives of Pennsylvania. Of this union have been born five children, viz .: Warren C. (deceased), Thomas L .; Alfred B. (deceased); Walter A .; and Minnie M. Mr. McGuire has always been a stanch Republican. He is a member of the G. A. R., and is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

MARTIN MCGUIRE, watchman, Inkerman, was born February 24, 1850, in Carbon- dale, Luzerne Co., Pa., and is a son of Charles and Margaret (Armstrong) McGuire, natives of County Fermanagh, Ireland. They reared a family of five children, of whom our subject is the youngest. His parents came to this country in August, 1836, and settled in Pittston, this county, about 1846. Martin was educated in the common schools, and in 1864 went to work in the mines, where he stayed until the early part of the year 1869, after which he worked as brakeman for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company until 1875. He then accepted his present position, watchman of the L. V. R. R. Co.'s No. 6 Breaker. Mr. McGuire was united in marriage, December 9, 1866, with Mary, daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Noon) Burke, natives of County Mayo, Ireland. She died September 26, 1887, leaving one son, Charles, born September 26, 1887. His present wife, to whom he was married June 3, 1890, is a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Carey) McNamara, of Port Griffith, natives of County Mayo, Ireland. The issue of this union is one son, Hugh, born November 12, 1891. In religious faith our subject is a Catholic; he is a member of the Father Mathew F. A. B. Society, and in politics is a Democrat. He is an extensive property owner in Pittston borough and Inkerman.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 166

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