History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 170

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

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Pennsylvania Volunteers, and twenty-one months in the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers on provost guard duty, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a Repub- lican. He married Miss Ann, daughter of Patrick Burke, a native of Ireland, and by her has six children: Charles, Kate, Harry G., Delphine, Maurice and Bessie.

MARTIN MANGAN, who was in his lifetime a prominent citizen of Plains, died at his residence in that place, February 26, 1883, of enlargement of the liver, caused by injuries which he had received in the mines. He was born in County Mayo, Ire- land, and was a son of Michael and Ellen (Gravey) Mangan. In their family there were seven children, of whom Martin was the third. The subject of this memoir came to America in 1861, and located at Plains, where he assisted in sinking the Henry Shaft, at which he was head-man, and subsequently docking-boss; in 1879 he engaged in the saloon business, which he followed until his death. His wife then continued the business with remarkable success until 1887; she built her present beautiful residence at Midvale, and removed therein in 1891. Mr. Mangan was married, May 15, 1860, to Miss Bridget, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Lines) Kinney, of County Mayo, Ireland, and to their union were born ten children, six of whom are living, viz. : Mary A. (Mrs. J. J. O'Donnell); Michael J., a brakeman, in Philadelphia (he completed his education in the Bloomsburg State Normal School); John A., an insurance agent and collector, resides with his mother; Bridget T., a teacher in Luzerne borough, is organist in the Catholic Church at Plains (she is an artist of marked ability); and Patrick P. and Martin, both attending school and residing with their mother. Of those deceased, Thomas F. died February 25, 1891, in the twenty-fourth year of his age (he had completed his education at the Bloomsburg State Normal School); Sarah E. married John McDonald, of Plains, and died in 1888 at the age of twenty-six, leaving two children, Annie and John. This family are all adherents of the Catholic Church; they are Democrats in politics.

WILLIAM MANN, pump-runner, Port Bowkley Shaft, Plains, was born in Montrose, Forfarshire, Scotland, January 23, 1842, son of William and Mary (Moore) Mann. His father, who in later life was a farmer in Canada, reared a family of eleven children, uine of whom are living, and of whom he is the eldest. He came to America in 1869, where he has since been engaged in mining, fire-bossing, and pumping; he removed to his present home November 2, 1891. Mr. Mann was married, December 31, 1860, to Miss Ellen, daughter of Alexander and Mary (Tough) Cliland, of Scotland. They have had born to them twelve children, nine of whom are living, viz .: Ellen C., Alexander C., Mary D., Elizabeth M., Agnes W., Jessie B., Whilmina, Margaret R. and Charles A. Mr. Mann and family usually attend the Presbyterian Church; he is a member of the Caledonian Club, and of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, and is a Republican in politics.

CHARLES H. MARCY, clerk, Duryea, was born in that town December 15, 1854, and is a son of Joseph and Ellen D. (Helme) Marcy, both natives of Luzerne county. They reared a family of eight children, of whom Charles H. is the eldest. Our subject received his education in the common schools and in Wyoming Seminary, and assisted his father on their farm until 1879, when he received employment as weighmaster at the Hillside Colliery, Avoca. In 1881 he was engaged as clerk in the store of Stiteler & Co., and afterward for Connell & Co. Mr. Marcy was united in marriage January 19, 1878, with Bertha E., daughter of John S. and Mary E. (Coolbaugh) Marcy, natives of Luzerne county. Their union has been blessed with the following issue: Sydney A., born November 9, 1878; Stella I., born October 4, 1880; Clara, born November 2, 1882; and Mary E., born October 12, 1884. Our subject is a member of the M. E. Church, of which he is one of the trustees. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias; in politics he is a Republican, and is at present serving as school director.

JARED E. MARCY, contractor and builder, Ashley, Hanover township, was born in South Wilkes-Barre, December 7, 1849, and is a son of Avery and Lucinda (Black- man) Marcy, the latter a granddaughter of Elisha Blackman, who took part in the

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Wyoming Massacre. His father, who was a carpenter, reared a family of thirteen children, viz. : Almina (deceased wife of David Hill), Cyrus (a tinner in Sayre, Pa.), Henry B. (served three years and four months in the Civil war, in which he was killed), Sarah (Mrs. Stacy Doan), Melissa (Mrs. William Klaprothe), Ira, Jared E., William, Araminta (Mrs. Daniel Ide), Annie (Mrs. William Roudenbush), Albert, and two that died in infancy. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Hanover township, and then learned the carpenter's trade, which has been the chief occupa- tion of his life. From 1870 to 1873 he lived in Chicago. In 1886 he engaged in his present business, and in 1889 built his shop and added a lumber trade. His present residence he erected in 1874. Mr. Marcy was married December 2, 1874, to Emma J., daughter of Benjamin and Emma (Muehler) Gregory, of Muhlen- burg, Pa., and of Irish and German origin. The issue of this union has been nine children, six of whom are living, viz .: Daisy, Ray, Amy, Lela L., Clyde and Nina. Mr. and Mrs. Marcy are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Baptist Church, respectively. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and in his political views is a Prohibitionist.

JOHN S. MARCY, retired farmer, and a justice of the peace at Duryea, was born in Marcy township, this county, November 1, 1821, and is a son of Ebenezer and Susannah (Adams) Marcy, natives of the same place, of New England origin. They were among the earliest settlers in Wyoming Valley, and reared a family of twelve children, of whom our subject is the eleventh in order of birth. He received his edu- cation in the common schools, and worked with his father on the old homestead farm until the year 1839, when he accepted a position as clerk in a store in Wilkes-Barre; but only stayed there one year, returning at the expiration of that time to his home, where he remained until 1860. He then went into the grocery business, but in September, 1861, sold out and joined, as lieutenant, Company G, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was at the battle of Fair Oaks, and at the siege of Charleston. Returning home in October, 1864, he has since then lived peacefully on his farm, which has been in possession of the family since the year 1770. Mr. Marcy was united in marriage August 7, 1843, with Mary E., daughter of Lieutenant Peter and Eleanor (Jacobs) Coolbaugh, natives of Bradford county, Pa., and their union has been blessed with the following children: Sarah A., born March 4, 1844, died December 2, 1889; Martha Rose, born January 26, 1846, died April 30, 1872; Joseph W., born April 9, 1848; Edwin B., born January 4, 1850, died August 11, 1883; Charles S., born March 19, 1852, died August 10, 1855; Gertrude J., born June 9, 1854; Hannah F., born July 20, 1856, died December 13, 1879; Bertha E., born March 13, 1859. Our subject is a Democrat, and has served at various peri- ods as constable of his township, assessor, supervisor and school director, and at the present time holds the offices of auditor and justice of the peace, having held the latter office nine years.

WILLIAM H. MAROY, lumberman, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Wilkes-Barre, October 1, 1836, and is a son of Ira and Mary A. (Teeter) Marcy. His paternal grandfather, Jared Marcy, son of Ebenezer Marcy, descended from an early New England family, were among the pioneers of Pittston, and were both (as was also the father of our subject) carpenters by trade. The father was a native of Pittston, but spent most of his life in Wilkes-Barre, where he died in 1873 at the age of sixty-five years. His wife was a daughter of Conrad Teeter, a harness maker by trade, who resided in Wilkes-Barre for many years, and he was the first mail carrier between Wilkes- Barre and Elmira, making his trips on horseback. The children of Ira Marcy were: William H., Rufus W., Sarah E. (Mrs. Charles B. Stout) and Ira T. Our subject was reared in Wilkes-Barre, educated in the common schools, and began life at the carpenter's trade which he followed seven years. He then embarked in mercantile business at Ashley, following same for five years. Since 1875 he has been engaged in general merchandising at Plymouth, at the same time carrying on a lumber busi- ness at Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Marcy married March 9, 1858. Susan A., daughter of Ira B. and Content (Ryan) Stone, of Salem, Wayne Co., Pa., and they have three

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children: Harry G., Cora A. and Leonard I. Mr. Marcy is a member of the Epis- copal Church, and of the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. In politics he is a Republican.

JOHN MARKLE, a son of the late G. B. Markle, was born in Hazleton, Decem- ber 15, 1858. His father was pre-eminent in the development of the coal industry in the anthracite region. Since his death the work has been taken up by his son, and is being pushed with the same consummate energy and intelligence that char- acterized in so marked a degree the founder of this house. The father was the head of the firm of G. B. Markle & Co., colliery operatives, and this branch of the concern has fallen to the lot of his son-the subject of this notice-and of him it may well be said, that in many respects he has given evidences that progress is as distinct a factor in his constitution now, as it was of his father in his palmiest days. The father conceived in his busy mind the coal breaker as we now have it; the son is now pushing the bold scheme of tunneling the mountain, and thereby opening the way to vast coal fields heretofore practically shut out from man's endeavors, by the waters that percolate these hills. The tunnel is being made at a vast expense, and when completed will be the most important advance in the matter of mining that has marked the decade of late rapid improvements. Mr. Markle attended private and public schools in his native town until he attained his twelfth year, when he entered the boarding school at White Plains, N. Y., known as Alexander Military Institute, remain- ing there three years. At this time his parents removed to Philadelphia, and for the next two years the youth attended Laudabach's Academy, in that city, after- ward entering LaFayette College, in the class of 1880. He was graduated in the Mining Engineering course, after which he was appointed general superintendent of the extensive mining interests of his father's firm, in the region of Jeddo, in time succeeding his father, who was compelled to retire on account of ill health. During the entire period of his management of the affairs of the concern, he has shown talent and executive ability of a high order. At the present time he is a partner in the firm. Mr. Markle was married in January, 1884, to Miss Mary E. Robinson, of New York City.

JAMES MARSHALL, mason, in the employ of the Sheldon Axle Works, Plains, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, May 9, 1853, son of James and Mary (Glass) Mar- shall. The father, who was a mason by trade, reared a family of ten children, six of whom are living, and of whom James is the eighth. Our subject received a moderate education, and took up his father's trade as the occupation of his life. In 1888 he came to America, locating at Plains, where he has since worked at his trade; he built his present residence and removed therein in 1890. Mr. Marshall was married, June 26, 1874, to Miss Maggie Porter, who had been adopted and reared by her grandfather, James Porter. They have six children, viz. : James, John, Maggie, Isabella, Robert G. and Marion C. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a deacon and trustee.

NORMAN MARSHALL, contractor and builder, Wilkes-Barre, was born in that city July 23, 1854, and is a son of Nelson and Rachel S. (Brown) Marshall. His pater- nal grandfather, a native of New Jersey and a farmer by occupation, was a pioneer of Stroudsburg, Pa .; and the maternal grandfather, Jacob K. Brown, a native of London, England, was for many years a resident of Wyoming county, where he engaged in a lumbering business, and there died. Nelson Marshall, father of sub- ject, and a native of Monroe county, Pa., was engaged in lumbering many years, and for forty-five years was a resident of Luzerne county, dying in Wilkes-Barre in 1889. His children were seven in number who grew to maturity: Mary S. (Mrs. Charles Labar), Hettie (Mrs. G. A. Baird), Benjamin F., William H., Jerome B., Norman and Walter S. Our subject was reared in Wilkes-Barre, and educated in the public schools and at Wyoming Seminary. He served a three years' appren- ticeship at the carpenter's trade, afterward worked as a journeyman, fourteen years, and in 1881 embarked in business for himself as a contractor and builder, in which he has since continued with marked success. Mr. Marshall was married Feb- ruary 3, 1892, to Minnie L., daughter of John Norton, of Allenwood, Union Co., 66

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Pa. Mr. Marshall is a member of the K. of P. and Jr. O. U. A. M .; in politics he is a Republican.

PRESTON MARSHALL, farmer and blacksmith, P. O. Maple Run, Fairmount town- ship, was born in that township January 22, 1843, and is a son of Job and Abigail (Dodson) Marshall, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and German origin, respectively. Job Marshall was a farmer by occupation, and died November 2, 1876. He was a son of Lloyd and Abigail Marshall, natives of Connecticut. Our subject is the eighth of a family of nine children, five of whom are now living. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and when twenty-one years of age enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Ninety-ninth P. V .; he was in all engagements with his regiment until the close of the war, and was dis- charged July 8, 1865. He then returned to his native place and worked three years on his father's farm, then two years as a laborer, after which he went to Wanamie, this county, and was employed as a blacksmith for the Lehigh Coal & Iron Company for four years. He then returned to Fairmount township and worked ten years at same business, when he purchased his present farm, containing fifty acres, one-fourth mile west of Maple Run postoffice. He was married March 15, 1868, to Miss Susan Hagenbaugh, by whom he has two children, viz .: Hattie (Mrs. Charles Miller, of Shickshinny) and Mary, who is still at home. The family are members of the P. M. Church. He is a member of the G. A. R. and P. of H. ; politically he is a Democrat, and has held the office of school director.

IRA WALTON MARSTELLAR, M. D., White Haven, was born in Broadheadsville, Monroe Co., Pa., November 13, 1859, a son of Simpson and Julia (Weiss) Marstellar, natives of Pennsylvania, of German origin. They reared a family of fourteen chil- dren, of whom our subject is the third in order of birth. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, Muhlenburg College, Orangeville Academy, and Columbus College, Columbus, Ohio. He taught school from the age of fourteen, to pay his way through these several institutions of learning, and in 1882, began the study of medicine with D. G. Long, M. D., of Reading, Pa. The Doctor graduated from the University of Vermont, was examined at Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia, and holds a certificate from said college. In the fall of 1884 he began the practice of medicine at White Haven, and has since enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, making a specialty of skin diseases. Dr. Marstellar was married December 25, 1883, to Miss Elmira, daughter of Charles and Levina (Shankweiler) Weiler, natives of Berks county, Pa., descended from German origin. This union was blessed with one child, Ashbel S., born September 25, 1889. Dr. Marstellar is a member of the Methodist Church, Mrs. Marstellar of the Lutheran. Socially he is a member of the K. of H., and politically he is a Republican.

HENRY MARTIN, alderman, Hazleton, is a native of Obervarschutz, Germany, born February 22, 1846. He received his education in the public schools of his native village, and, at the tender age of sixteen, cast his last loving glance at his native land and embarked for America, locating at Tamaqua, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he learned the baker's trade, which he followed for two years. He was afterward engaged at the same business in Philadelphia and New York for about two years, and in 1867 came to Hazleton, where he has since resided. Here he was engaged in bakery business for a number of years. He was elected borough assessor, serving four years; he was then elected constable five times in succession; in 1891 he was elected justice of the peace, which office bears the title of alderman since the incor- poration of the city of Hazleton. Mr. Martin was married at Hazleton, June 18, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Erbe, of Hazleton. This union has been blessed with one child, Anite. This gentleman is a member of the Mystic Chain, Seven Wise Men, Good Brothers, Royal Arcanum, and the Workingmen's Beneficial Association, and in politics he is a Democrat.

JAMES MARTIN, inside foreman at the Delaware and Mill Creek Breakers, Plains, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., August 26, 1851, and is a son of George and Mary (Maysmith) Martin, natives of England. In his father's family there were

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eight children, seven of whom are living, viz .: Robert, John, Maggie A. (Mrs. John Wall), James, Mary J. (Mrs. Joseph Goss), Rebecca (Mrs. George Hilbert) and Elizabeth (Mrs. M. A. Swaze). Our subject was educated in the common schools, and at the age of nine years began working in the breaker; he worked himself through all the gradations, was twelve years a miner, and has been mine foreman nine years. He built his present beautiful residence in 1891, and removed therein in January, 1892. In 1877 our subject made a trip to Texas, where he picked cotton for a few months, and then returned home; in 1880 and 1882, he made mining and prospecting tours through the silver regions of Colorado, remaining fifteen months the first time, and four the last. Mr. Martin was married, December 15, 1873, to Miss Catherine, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Apple) Stark, natives of Germany, and they have seven children, viz .: William R., Charles, Roy, Elizabethi May, James A., Anna and Fred. Mr. Martin and wife attend the German Lutheran Church of Wilkes-Barre, of which she is a member; he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment; he is a Republican in his political views, and has held the office of school director.

PETER MARTIN, farmer, P. O. Reyburn, was born in Germany, December 14, 1817, son of Adam and Mary Martin, both of whom were born in Germany, where they lived and died. Peter emigrated to this country about 1837, locating first in New York City, where he worked at various occupations. He removed to this county about 1840, locating in Union township in 1879, where he now owns a farm of sixty-one acres, which he has improved to a great extent. He married Miss Jane, daughter of John and Nancy Garthwaite, to whom were born nine children, five of whom are living: John, Nancy, Mary, Joseph and James. Joseph is a farmer and lives with his father. In 1874 he married Miss Rachel, daughter of Evan and Elizabeth Jones. To this union were born three children, two of whom are living, Harry and Roy. Peter Martin is a man much respected by his neighbors. He is a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Martin died April 25, 1887. Peter is the fifth in order of birth in his father's family, and the only surviving member. Politically he is a Democrat.

THOMAS MARTIN, of the firm of Martin & Nemeth, is a native of Nesquehoning, Carbon county, born August 19, 1856, and is a son of Patrick and Mary (Donahoe) Martin, natives of Ireland, in whose family there were three children, Thomas being the youngest. At the age of nine years our subject engaged in picking slate, and he continued to work around the mines in various capacities until he reached the age of twenty, when he became a miner. In 1885 he abandoned mining, and came to Hazleton, embarking in the tea business, gradually changing his stock into a general line of groceries. In 1887 he sold out the grocery and went to work at Nesque- honing, but after remaining there a short time returned to Hazleton, and engaged in his present business. He was united in marriage January 1, 1882, with Miss Mary Ann Miner, of Honey Brook. In politics Mr. Martin is a stanch Democrat, and has been a member of the school board one term; he can always be depended upon to support any worthy public enterprise.

THOMAS REBAUGH MARTIN is a native of Washington county, Md., having been born near Hagerstown in that county, May 26, 1849. His preliminary education was secured at the college at Mercersburg, and he afterward graduated from Frank- lin and Marshall Colleges at Lancaster. The Martins are an old family in the sec- tion of Maryland where Thomas Rebaugh was born, members thereof having been leading citizens there for many years. Our subject read law in Lancaster, Pa., and afterward in Hagerstown, Md. He was first admitted to practice in Maryland, but very shortly afterward (in January, 1876), he was admitted to the Lancaster (Pa.) county bar; a few months later he came to Wilkes-Barre, where he was admitted to the Luzerne county bar April 10. He has established a large and lucrative practice. Mr. Martin is a Democrat in his political preferences, and has prob- ably made more democratic speeches in various parts of the county than any other man in the party. He has been presented by his friends on several occasions

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as a candidate for district attorney, and for Congress, and though in every conven- tion, in which his name has been mentioned, he has had a large following, the com- binations have always been against him, and others have carried off the prizes. Mr. Martin married June 28, 1877, Anna F. Stirk, daughter of Isaac Stirk, of Lancas- ter, Pa., and they have one child, Florence Virginia Martin.

WILLIAM J. MARVEL, commission merchant, Wilkes-Barre, is a native of Sussex county, Del., and a son of William P. and Sally A. (Turpen) Marvel. He is of English and Welsh descent, and was reared in Delaware, where he received a limited education in the common schools. In early manhood, he located in Wilkes- Barre, where for six years he clerked in a grocery and market, and for three years drove an ice wagon. In 1874 he located in Pittston where he spent nearly a year in the butcher business, and then returned to Wilkes-Barre, where he worked in a butcher shop until 1879, at which time he embarked in the commission business for himself on a small scale. He has succeeded in building up a large and successful trade, and to accommodate his customers, and give him better facilities for conduct- ing his immense business, he erected, in 1892, a large brick building on East Market street, three stories high, forty feet by one hundred and thirty feet deep, a building used solely for his business. In 1874 Mr. Marvel married Miss Sallie L., daughter of William Neiall, of Delaware, and has two children living: William D. and Cora B. Mr. Marvel attends the services of the M. E. Church.

A. M. MARVIN, farmer, Muhlenburgh, was born December 1, 1841, in Union township, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of John and Eliza (Mon- roe) Marvin, the former born in Union township, April 18, 1810, the latter in Hunt- ington township, July 28, 1813. John was a son of Zerah Marvin, who was born in Plymouth April 11, 1775. He was a son of Uriah, who was one of three brothers who emigrated to this country from Ireland, prior to the Revolutionary struggle, and in which Uriah took a conspicuous part. These brothers were residents of Connecticut, where they settled on their arrival in this country. Uriah, however, removed to the Wyoming Valley, where he became a prominent character in its his- tory. He was there during, and took part in, the massacre. He died of small pox two years subsequently, while yet in the army of the United States. His family consisted of two sons, who in their turn became sturdy pioneers, helping materially in the advancement of agricultural pursuits in Luzerne county. Zerah Marvin removed from the Valley to Union township when twenty-two years of age, at which time he married Miss Rhoda Williams, who bore him eight children, six of whom grew to maturity. He owned about 200 acres of land, which he tilled to some pur- pose. He was a man of deep piety, a practical philanthropist, whose deeds live after him. His life was one of usefulness, devoted to the good of mankind. By craft, he was a cabinet maker; by necessity, a merchant; by choice, a farmer; and by the grace of God, a preacher of righteousness in the Baptist Church. His heart always beat in sympathy with the needy; and his hand was always ready to help. Mr. Marvin held the first postoffice in Union township, then called Union. He died September 28, 1857, aged eighty-two years, after a life of toil and usefulness. His wife died March 11, 1857. His son, John Marvin, began his active life in Union township, on part of the old homestead, where he lived a brief but prosperous life. He held several township offices, and was a man of education far in advance of his days and position. He died March 4, 1859, his wife, Eliza, December 27, 1841. Their family consisted of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and six of whom are now living.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 170

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