History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 169

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections > Part 169

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

MICHAEL A. MAGEE, general outside foreman for the Susquehanna Coal Com- pany, Nanticoke, is a native of Nesquehoning, Carbon Co., Pa., born March 29, 1844, a son of John and Elizabeth Magee, who came to America in 1833, and settled in New Jersey, subsequently removing to Nesquehoning, Pa. Our subject was reared and educated in his native village, and was engaged at general work about the mines until 1857, when he went to Yorktown, Pa., and engaged in firing for James Taggert & Son, where he remained about two years. He then ran engines about the mines until 1860, when he took charge of the hoisting engines for them, which he ran three years. Mr. Magee then went to New York City, where he was engaged at stationary engineering about one year, when he came to Wilkes-Barre and worked with the machinist's repair gang for the Consolidated Coal Company, being employed there one year. He next worked at his trade in the D. L. & W. Shops at Kingston, about six months, when he returned to the mines at Wilkes- Barre and worked as a laborer about one year. Then, in 1866, he came to Nanti- coke and engaged as breaker and hoisting engineer for Brodrick & Conyngham, remaining there until the Susquehanna Coal Company succeeded his employers, when he continued in the employ of the latter company. He was engineer at the first opening of the first mines by the Susquehanna Coal Company, and was the first engineer who ran a mine locomotive under ground in this Valley. It was built at Philadelphia by Girst & Long, and he ran it for two years for the Susquehanna Coal Company in Tunnel No. 1. In 1872 he was appointed master mechanic for the company, and served in that capacity until 1885, when he was promoted to his pres- ent position. Mr. Magee was married, April 30, 1870, to Miss Anna, daughter of De Grasse and Sarah (Womlesdorf) Daily, natives of Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed by seven children, viz. : Anna, a teacher; Bessie; and John, George, Sarah, Mary and John, all five of whom are deceased. Mr. Magee is a member of the Catholic Church, and politically is a Democrat.

WILLIAM R. MAGRAW, proprietor of the Hazleton Portrait Company, Hazleton, was born July 25, 1856, in Cecil county, Md. He is the eldest in a family of three children-two sons and one daughter-born to William and Elizabeth (Reed) Magraw, natives of Maryland. He was reared and educated in his native county, and started in life as a clerk for the Philadelphia Portrait Company, which occupation he followed for five years. He then became interested in the harness business, which, together with his other enterprises, he has since conducted. In 1882 he engaged in the portrait business, and at present he has charge of the extensive gallery located at Hazleton. In political matters he is a Democrat, and in religion a Presbyterian. Mr. Magraw is sociable and pleasant, and has made a host of friends during his residence in Hazleton.

JOHN J. MAHEDY, proprietor of restaurant, Duryea, was born in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, November 1, 1847. He is a son of Thomas and Winifred (Swift) Mahedy, also natives of the same place, who reared a family of ten children, of whom our subject was the eldest. The family went to England when John J. was but two years old, and settled in Leeds, Yorkshire, where he received his education in the common school, and was employed in the iron works until 1865, in which year he came to America, settling in Plains, this county, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith. In 1882 he removed to Port Griffith, Jenkins township, and in 1884 to Pittston, thence in 1891 going to Avoca, where he went into the hotel business, and

1152

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

the latter part of that year settled in Duryea. Mr. . Mahedy was united in marriage December 23, 1868, with Jane, daughter of Edward and Ellen (Brown) Devlin, natives of County Kilkenny, Ireland, and Wales, respectively. Their union has been blessed with the following children: Ellen, born October 16, 1869, married July 1, 1891, to William Barret, an engineer in Genesee county, N. Y .; Mary, born November 18, 1871; Samuel, born July 7, 1873; Winifred, born October 3, 1879, and George, born October 18, 1883. Our subject is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and of the A. O. H. ; in politics he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM T. MAHON, M. D., Nanticoke, who ranks among the skilled physicians and surgeons of Luzerne county, was born December 28, 1851, a son of Alfred and Perlinda A. (Shippey) Mahon, the former a native of New York, the latter of Penn- sylvania. The father of our subject was born in 1809, and is now living in Wyo- ming county, where his wife died in 1888. In the family there were twelve children besides William, eleven of whom are now living. Dr. Mahon received his prepara- tory education at the Keystone Academy, Wyoming county, and in 1880 entered Jefferson Medical College, where he was graduated in the class of 1883. After practicing a short time in Philadelphia, he located in Moscow, Lackawanna county, where he remained two years, commanding a large practice. He then went to Scranton, where he remained a short time, coming thence to Nanticoke, where he has been engaged in the practice of his profession since 1885, and has built up a remarkably large and lucrative practice for the length of time he has been there. The Doctor is a genial gentleman and an interesting conversationalist, well informed in all branches of science and letters. Possessing the degree of skill he does in the profession, he is well worthy of the large public patronage which he receives. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, the American Legion of Honor, and his polit- ical views are Democratic.

JOHN MAHONEY, a well-known contractor of Wilkes-Barre, is a native of Connect- icut, and a son of Michael and Helen (Collins) Mahoney, natives of County Cork, Ireland. He is the third child in a family of eight children, and began life as a farmer in Bradford county, Pa., which occupation he followed ten years, after which he acted as foreman of the North Branch Canal for several years. He later engaged in the wholesale liquor business with his brother-in-law, John Lafferty, on North- ampton street, Wilkes-Barre; continuing in this nineteen years, and now gives his attention to his present business of contractor. Mr. Mahoney was twice married; his first wife was Miss Ophelia L. Lafferty, of Camptown, Pa., by whom he had two children: Willis H., of the firm of Mahoney & Co., Wilkes-Barre, and Lula B. His second wife was Mrs. Annie (McGroarty) Kearney, widow of Michael A. Kearney, the second mayor of this city, who died February 11, 1877, leaving two children: Rose H. and Michael A. Kearney, Jr. Mrs. Mahoney and children are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Mahoney is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and the K. of H .; in politics he is a Democrat, and is now serving his third term as member of the city council.

SAMUEL MAIDEN, engineer, Wyoming Colliery, Plains, was born in Shropshire, England, August 4, 1843, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Allen) Maiden, the former of whom was an engineer. They reared a family of four sons and one daughter, all of whom are living except one son. Our subject learned the engineer- ing trade of his father, as did all his brothers, and came to America in 1865. He has been successively engaged as follows: At Scranton, on coal breaker, two months; Beaver Meadow, engineering, six months; Mt. Pleasant, engineering, eleven months; Mt. Hall, engineering, three months; Waverly, N. Y., building railroad fence, five months; Horseheads, in machine shop, three months; Mill Creek, firing, two months, and engineering, fourteen months; Port Bowkley, digging coal, six months; since which he has followed engineering exclusively, and has operated the engine he is now running since June 6, 1874. Mr. Maiden was married, July 3, 1878, to Miss Julia, daughter of Fuller and Sarah (Beisecker) Milligan, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, and of Irish and German origin, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Maiden

1153

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

have four children, viz. : Jessie E., married to David C. Morgan, a miner in Plains, (they have three children, Julia, Thomas and Samuel); John, engaged in packing cars for the Lehigh Valley Raiload Company at Port Bowkley; Sadie and Annie, both living with their parents. Mr. Maiden and family usually attend, and contribute toward the support of, the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, and in politics is a Republican.

ABLE G. MAJOR, farmer, P. O. Plymouth, was born in Lehman township, Feb- ruary 5, 1843. He is the son of William and Syble C. (Brown) Major, the former of whom was born in Yorkshire, in May, 1813, while the latter is supposed to have been born in Connecticut in the same year. William was a son of Thomas Major, a native of England, who emigrated to this country in 1821. He and his family landed at Baltimore, where they purchased wagons by which they could travel overland to Ohio, but, on account of sickness, they returned and located in Wyoming, where he resided one year. He purchased 100 acres of land in Wyo- ming, which he sold, not knowing there were veins of coal there. From the latter place Thomas removed to Lehman, where he purchased 300 acres of land in its primitive state, or nearly so. There was an old log cabin on his lot, but, in a few years, that gave way to a more pretentious dwelling, and the forest gave way before the sturdy pioneer's axe, fields of golden grain taking its place. All this tract was cleared during his lifetime. He was a man of education and refinement, whose

life was spent in usefulness. Thomas Major was a strict member of the Baptist Church. He married Miss Mary Britton, who bore him thirteen children, twelve of whom were born in England, and one in this country, the last mentioned being George. One of the family, David, is now (1892) living, and resides near Lehman Centre. William, his son, began his active life in Lehman, as an industrious farmer. He was also engaged in the lumber business, and, at one time, kept hotel but, the latter business not being congenial to his tastes, he abandoned it. Like his father, he was a pious man, and lived an uneventful though useful life. He was a member of the M. E. Church, in good standing. He was one of the first postmasters of Lehman Centre. He died in 1891, at the age of seventy-five years. His family comprised six children, all of whom are living. Able G., is the third in order of birth, and was reared and educated in the common schools in Lehman. He con- fined himself to agricultural pursuits, residing in his native town till 1870, when he removed to Plymouth borough, during which time he also followed farming. In 1880, he removed west of the borough, where, in 1884, he purchased 170 acres of first-class land, which he has been improving year after year. He also built two tenement houses. In the fall of 1867 he married Miss Helen, daughter of John and Rebecca Santee, and to them were born five children, three of whom are living: Rilla, who married R. B. Vaughny; Edith L., who married J. B. S. Rickard, son of the late Dr. Rickard, of Plymouth, and Leslie, who is yet unmarried. Mr. Major and family are consistent members of the Plymouth Presbyterian Church.

CRANDALL MAJOR, contractor and merchant, Forty Fort borough, was born June 13, 1837, at Lehman, Luzerne county, a son of John and Ann (Case) Major, natives re- spectively of Yorkshire, England, and Pennsylvania, and respectively of English and French origin. The father came to America about 1820, and here engaged in farming. Our subject is the eldest in a family of seven children. He was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools and at Wyoming Seminary. At the age of eighteen he engaged to learn the carpenter's trade at Lehmau, teaching school during the winter until 1869. He then went to Carroll county, Ill., and worked at his trade two years; then to Plainsville for one year; then to Forty Fort where he now resides. Mr. Major was married April 14, 1864, to Mabel R., daughter of Charles and Olive (Ransom) Curtis. This union was blessed with five children, three of whom are now living: Fredrick, a conductor on the Delaware, Lackawanna, & Western Railroad (he is married to Etta, daughter of Thomas and Rhoda A. (Dodson) Major); Ollie A., aged seventeen, while skating on the river just below her home broke through the ice and was drowned, January

1154

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

5, 1884; Charles C., principal of the Forty Fort high school; Ray, who lives at home; and Willie C., who died of diphtheria, September 21, 1885, at the age of eight years. Mrs. Major is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Major has been auditor, school director, and a member of the first borough council, serving one term in each office. He is a stanch Republican in politics.

THOMAS H. MAJOR, subject of this sketch, was born in Lehman township, Luzerne Co., Pa., June 4, 1841, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Adleman) Major, the former of whom was a native of Yorkshire, England, and of English origin; the latter a native of Luzerne county, Pa., and of Dutch lineage. The father, who was a farmer, reared a family of eleven children, seven of whom are living, Thomas H. being the fifth. He received a common-school education, and assisted his father on the farm until the age of twenty-five, when he embarked in life for himself. He fol- lowed farming one year, and then went to Princess Ann, Md., where he purchased a farm, which he operated two years; then went to Plymouth, Pa., and here worked at the carpentry trade seven years; then purchased a farm in Jackson township, Luzerne county, whereon he lived seven years, and in 1881 came to Forty Fort where he worked at his trade till he engaged with the Wilkes-Barre & West Side Traction Company. Mr. Major was married February 22, 1866, to Rhoda A., daughter of Obadiah and Mary (Cease) Dodson, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch and German origin respectively, and to this union have been born four children, viz. : Marietta, married to Fred Major, a conductor on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, with residence at Forty Fort (they have two children, Olive A. and Cora); Alice, married to L. Bruce Campbell, formerly a druggist at Luzerne, but now of Binghamton, N. Y .; Estella and Arthur, living with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Major are members of the First Baptist Church of Wilkes-Barre, and in his political views he is a Republican.

THOMAS N. MAJOR, merchant, Lehman township, was born in Lehman, February, 4, 1848, a son of George and Margaret (Deremer) Major, the former of whom was born in Forty Fort, the latter in Dallas. George was a son of Thomas Major, who was a native of Yorkshire, England, and came to this country about 1821 with a family of ten children, having buried two in England, and had one born after his settlement in this country, George, the father of Thomas N., making his family num- ber thirteen, eleven of whom reached maturity. David is the only survivor of the family. Thomas located first at Kingston, where he lived about two years, and then moved to Lehman township where he purchased two tracts of land, which he divided among his sons at his death; he died in 1844 at the age of seventy-five years. His son George occupied the old homestead, and lived there all his life. He was a man of integrity, and was honored by his fellow men and citizens; he died on October 15, 1891, at the age of sixty-nine years. His family consisted of five children, three of whom are yet living: Thomas N., Emma and Francis. Thomas N. Major was reared and educated in Lehman township, and has confined himself to farming and lumbering. At theageof twenty-one, he married Miss Delphine, daughter of Stephen and Derinda Edwards, and by her he had four children: Bertha E., Arthur M., Alice G. and Emma C., all of whom are unmarried. In 1886 he entered mercantile business at Lehman, where his store is the center of trade. His stock is large and of the finest quality-indeed, everything about the premises shows that a man of taste and refinement superintends the whole. By his gentle, manly deportment and courteous manner, Mr. Major attracts and holds a trade both extensive and solid. He owns his store, an extensive store-room and dwelling house combined. Since the death of his father, he has fallen heir to his farm consisting of 170 acres. He and his wife are consistent members of the Baptist Church. Politically he is a Repub- lican, and has held several responsible town offices which he filled with honor and ability.

REV. GEORGE NATHAN MAKELY, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Avoca, was horn at Albany, October 24, 1855, and is a son of Peter and Catherine (Proper) Makely, both natives of Columbia county, New York. The father resided in Columbia

1155

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

county, and afterward in Albany and Schoharie counties until 1876, when he died at the age of seventy years. The mother is now residing with one of her sons in Albany county, New York. Our subject was reared and educated in the public schools of Albany, N. Y., and at the age of nineteen began teaching, which he pur- sued during portions of three years, during which time he was preparing to enter college, and also taking a special course in literature and science. Then he attended the State Normal School at Albany, N. Y., for eighteen months. At the age of twenty-four he entered William College, Massachusetts, graduating therefrom in the spring of 1883, taking the degrees of B. A. and M. A. During the fall of the same year he entered the Princeton Theological Seminary, at Princeton, N. J., and graduated in the spring of 1886. Mr. Makely now received a call to supply the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church, at Burlington, N. J., which he filled eighteen months; afterward he was engaged in Evangelistic work for several months. On February 1, 1888, he came to Avoca, and has filled the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church there ever since. Our subject is a member of the Masonic Fraternity. His courteous bearing and exemplary life, together with his manifest ability as a clergy- man, have won him many friends among the citizens of Avoca.

HUGH MALLOY, merchant, Freeland, is a native of Ireland, whence at the age of fourteen he emigrated to this country, and locating at Hazleton, this county, entered the employ of A. Pardee & Co., as driver in the mines. Here he remained until 1868, when he moved to Upper Lehigh, and obtained employment with Leisenring & Co. He was in the employ of this company nineteen years, but during the strike of 1887, on account of his activity in the "Knights of Labor," of which he was master workman, he was compelled to resign his position. He then returned to Europe, and traveled through England, Ireland and France one season, spending the larger part of his time in Paris and London. Returning to Freeland, he engaged in the boot and shoe business, later adding a stock of eloth- ing and gents' furnishing goods, and he has since continued to enjoy a liberal pat- ronage, doing well. Mr. Malloy was married December 25, 1876, to Miss Catharine Connahan, of Upper Lehigh, and they have children as follows: Hugh, Dennis, James, Frank, Neise, Daniel and Bernard. Mr. Malloy is a Democrat, and has been tax collector of Foster township, four years.

JOHN J. MALONEY, associate editor of the News Dealer, Wilkes-Barre, was born in St. Louis, December 23, 1857, a son of Michael and Julia (McCarthy) Maloney. In 1860 they came to Lancaster, Pa., where John J. Maloney received his education at the public schools, and at the age of seventeen entered the office of the Lancaster Examiner as a printer's apprentice. While in the employ of that paper he, in con- nection with Henry Hartmyer, published a weekly paper in the interests of the chari- table organizations of the city. In 1881 he came to Wilkes-Barre, and accepted the position of telegraph editor on the Daily Record. Later he was promoted to night editor, which position he filled until he severed his connection with that paper to become one of the publishers of the News Dealer. On August 27, 1890, he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine McDade. Mr. and Mrs. Maloney are mem- bers of the Catholic Church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. -

PATRICK F. MALONEY, inside foreman for the Newton Coal Company, Pittston, was born in that town, February 24, 1854, a son of Michael and Mary (Kelly) Maloney, natives of Ireland and residents of Pittston. Our subject is the oldest of a family of seven children. He was educated in the public schools of Luzerne county, began working around the mines at the age of fourteen, and has worked in all capacities up to his present position. In 1887 he was appointed mine foreman, and for two years was in the employ of C. Demming. He has been in the employ of the Newton Coal Company as foreman three years. In 1876 Mr. Maloney married Miss Cecelia Walsh, of Pittston, and of this union have been born seven children, viz .: Mamie, Willie, Theresa, Thomas, Kate, Nora and Edward. Our subject, whose political views are purely Democratic, has held the offices of borough register and assessor.

1156

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

HARRY E. MANDEVILLE, proprietor of the Hazleton Plumbing and Steam Fitting Company, Hazleton. This popular and energetic young business man was born at Beach Haven, Pa., April 10, 1859, and is a son of Ira O. and Ellen K. (Welch) Mandeville, the former a native of Luzerne county, the latter of Maine. Our sub- ject, who is the elder of two children, was reared at Hazleton, and received his education at the public schools of that borough, and at La Fayette College, Easton, Pa. After completing his college course he went to Philadelphia and engaged in the manufacturing of tin ware. There he remained two years, wben, in 1880, he came to Hazleton and established a large hardware store, which he, in partnership with his younger brother, Ira J., ran for ten years. In 1890 the partnership was dis- solved, and our subject opened his present business, which consists of plumbing, steam-heat fitting, and work pertaining to electric lights, etc., in which he employs ten skillful plumbers, kept constantly busy. Mr. Mandeville is pleasant in all his relations with men, and those who meet him either socially or in a business way are treated with the utmost consideration. He was united in marriage October 9, 1884, with Miss Lizzie, daughter of John A. and Elsie Tubbs, natives of Luzerne county, to which union have been born three children: Helen, Wilber and Elsie. In political matters our subject is a Republican, and the family attend the Presbyterian Church.

Ira O. Mandeville, father of Harry E., was born March 24, 1834, in Jackson township, Luzerne county, and is the seventh in the family of eleven children of Ira and Eliza (Deremer) Mandeville, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of New Jersey extraction. Ira O. was reared and educated in the public schools of his native place, and began life as a clerk in the Kingston stores, serving four years for Judge Reynolds. After six years' service as a clerk, he began railroading on what was then known as the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg Railroad. Under that com- pany he served for several years in the capacity of passenger brakeman, conductor and section-boss; then served in the capacity of conductor on the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad. In 1861 he went South, and had charge of the con- struction of a railroad in Maryland. During the winter of 1861 he returned, and in the following spring engaged with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Rail- road in the capacity of conductor, in which position he remained several years, returning, after his services there, to the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg as conductor of passenger and freight. He then went to Scranton and again engaged with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad as conductor, continuing with them until 1864, when he came. to Hazleton and took charge of the Lehigh & Luzerne Railroad, on which he served two years, and then was given charge of both the Lehigh and Luzerne, including the Hazleton Railroad. He was with that road until the entire system was merged by the Lehigh Valley in 1868, and he has held the position of roadmaster through all the various changes. Mr. Mandeville is one of the pioneer railroad men of Pennsylvania, and is well up in everything pertaining to the successful manipulation of a road. He was united in marriage in 1857 to Ellen K., daughter of George Welch, of Springdale, Me., and two children have been born to this union, namely: Harry E. and Ira J. In political matters Mr. Mandeville is a Republican, and he is a member of the F. & A. M. The family attend the Presbyterian Church.

OZRO MANDEVILLE, contractor and builder, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Dallas township, this county, February 12, 1830, a son of Ira and Eliza (Deremer) Mande- ville, the former a native of Plymouth, this county, the latter of Asbury, N. J. The father was a carpenter and joiner by trade, but afterward engaged in farming in Jackson township; he was born in 1801, and died in 1885. His children were: Samuel, Charles B., Ozro, Ira O., Virgil A., Jasper J., Maria, Margaret and Del- phine. Our subject was reared in Inzerne county, served an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade, and worked as a journeyman until February, 1886. He then engaged in business as a contractor and builder, in which he bas since successfully continued. He served in the Civil war three months in Company F, Wyoming Artillery; six months in Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 169

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