History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 171

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

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A. M. Marvin is the third of the family in order of birth, and has always con- fined himself to agricultural pursuits; he has spent all his life in the county. He was mustered into the service of the United States as a private in Company E, Two Hundred and Third P. V. I., in 1864. He displayed patriotism in the battle of Fort Fisher, at which place he received a scalp wound. He served to the close of the war and was honorably discharged, returning to his chosen occupation of farmer. April 24, 1867, he married Miss Sophia, daughter of John and Rebecca Santee. To

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this marriage there were born five children, four of whom are living: A. W., M. E., S. R. and F. S. Mrs. Marvin was born in Union township, November 30, 1841. Mr. Marvin is a practical farmer, owning seventy-five acres of valuable and fertile land. He has held various offices.

ISAAC M. MASK, machinist and master mechanic, for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, machine department, Plymouth division, Plymouth. This highly- respected gentleman was born at Baltimore, Md., January 22, 1825, and is the second in the family of ten children born to Isaac G. and Mary (Crowl) Mask, natives of Pennsylvania. He was educated at Baltimore, and at an early age developed remarkable mechanical genius, which he utilized by entering the employ of Savage & Laural, manufacturers, for the purpose of learning the machinist's trade. There he remained four and a half years, after which he traveled throughout the South for the following three years, working in some of the principal cities while there. Returning to Baltimore, he was at once employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as machinist, working in that capacity for two years, at the end of that time being promoted to the foremanship of the Wheeling (W. Va.) Slope, in which capacity he acted for three years. In May, 1855, Mr. Mask was sent to Plymouth, by the company, with the first locomotive that ever was handled in this county. It was brought here and used by the Baltimore Coal Company, to take the place of mules in transporting the coal for shipment. There were only seven mines opened at this time between Nanticoke and Pittston, and these were imperfectly worked, transportation being so difficult. After getting this engine in working order, Mr. Mask was retained by the company as master mechanic of machinery, and held that position until the transfer was made to the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, when he accepted the same position under that company, which he has since retained. Mr. Mask was united in marriage, March 2, 1848, with Mary C. Neigh, of Balti- more, Md., and six children were born to this marriage, viz .: Amelia; Isaac G., now road foreman of the Norfolk & Western Railroad; Mary C., deceased; Emma Kate; Josephine and John J. Mrs. Mask died in August, 1885. The subject of this sketch is a Democrat in politics; he is a member of the F. & A. M .; the family attend the Presbyterian Church.

COLONEL ADDISON G. MASON, superintendent of Exeter Colliery, Lehigh Valley Coal Company, Pittston, was born in Monroeton, Bradford Co., Pa., October 16, 1839, a son of Gorden F. and Mary A. (Mason) Mason, both of whom were born in Bradford county. Gorden F. Mason was a prominent member of the Bradford county bar, and at one time was an extensive banker. He was honored by his fellow citizens to fill the office of State Senator for several years, an office which he fitted and filled with much credit to himself and the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He also held the office of county surveyor for some time, and was at one time colonel of a regiment of militia. He was a prominent politician and a successful financier. Politically, he was a Democrat until the formation of the Republican party, which cause he espoused till his death, which occurred in 1886, when he was at the age allotted to man-three score and ten years. His family consisted of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, of whom are now living: Maria, widow of Col. Guy H. Watkins; Irene, now the wife of Judge Searls, of Lackawanna county; Newton E., a lieutenant in the United States navy; Edwin M., in business in Towanda; and Addison G. The subject of this sketch was reared in Towanda, where he received a rudimentary education fitting him for the Susquehanna Collegi- ate Institute, which he entered, and from which he departed with high honors. He completed his studies in Worcester, Mass. His purpose in fitting himself for bus- iness pointed to that of civil engineer, but after he graduated he abandoned the idea, not because of his unfitness, but because of a change of taste. After leaving school he entered a bank in Scranton, where he remained till 1859. He then went to Towanda, where he was engaged in similar business, and left it only when his country called to arms. When that call reverberated through the land by the fall of Fort Sumter, A. G. Mason was one of the first to respond. In 1861 he helped

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to raise 250 men, entering the ranks as a private, but before the command reached Harrisburg he was promoted to second lieutenant of the Fifth Pennsylvania Reserves, Company F. He was made adjutant the same year, a rank he held till the battle of South Mountain, where he displayed a heroic courage that brought eulogies from several officers of the line. After the action his service was demanded at Division Headquarters, when he became a member of Gen. Meade's staff, on which he remained up to the close of the war. He soon received his commission as first lieutenant, was subsequently made captain and recommended for the rank of major, and finally was made lieutenant-colonel by brevet, a rank he held at the close of his army career, which was an eventful one. He had participated in all the battles of the army of the Potomac, excepting that of Five Forks. At Charles City Cross Roads, in June, 1862, he was wounded. On his return to civil life he again engaged in the banking business with his father. On October 15, 1868, Col. Mason married Miss S. Adelaide, daughter of H. S. and Sarah A. Mercur, and to them were born four children: Sarah A., Charlotte I., James G. and Elizabeth M. (the latter being deceased). Mr. Mason remained in Towanda till 1872, when he removed to Elmira for a brief time; in 1873 he came to Luzerne county, locating in Wilkes-Barre, where he entered the service of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company; in 1874 he moved to Exeter, where he superintended the erection of the Exeter Colliery. Col. Mason has held several offices since his residence in Exeter, among which may be men- tioned those of president of the board of councilmen, four years; councilman, six years; and is now school director of the borough. Politically, he is a Republican.

DR. D. J. J. MASON, Wilkes Barre, the subject of this sketch, was born in Mon- mouthshire, Wales, in 1854. His musical education began when quite young, under the instruction of his father, from whom his musical genius was inherited. When only eight years old the Doctor had become a very proficient sight reader of vocal music. The cleverness of the boy called forth many bright predictions for his future, which have all been verified, for to-day Dr. Mason is known, not only to all Welshmen, but to every American musician. In 1869, in company with his parents, he came to this country, first locating in Ashland, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where, how- ever, they only remained about six months. The following Christmas, at a large Eisteddfod held at Mahanoy City, he attracted considerable attention by winning several prizes, and assisting his father in the choir which won all the principal prizes. Afterward, with his parents, he came to Parsons, where they made their homes. In 1872 he entered Mt. Pleasant Seminary, Boyertown, Berks Co., Pa., where he pursued his studies, upon the completion of which he was employed as teacher of vocal and instrumental music in the same institution. He then proceeded to Danville, Pa., and resumed his musical studies under the able direction of Dr. Joseph Parry, subsequently becoming his assistant. When Dr. Parry went to Wales in order to assume the professorship in the University of Aberystwyth, young Mason took his place in Danville, when he also became organist of the Grove Street Presbyterian Church. During his stay in Danville he won a prize for a com- position at Cincinnati. In Scranton, in 1875, he defeated Gwilyn Gwent, and some of the noted composers of Wales. This composition, "The Young Musicians," was published by. Schirmer, of New York. Locating in Wilkes-Barre in 1876, in the early part of 1877, the Mendelssohn Society was organized, and he became its leader. Under his direction the society produced many of the great oratorios, and was in existence until 1882. During this period he was for a short time organist of the Memorial Church, and subsequently of the First Presbyterian Church. In the summer of 1882 he went to Europe, and became a noted student of the Royal Academy of Music, London. Here he remained four years, diligently pursuing his studies under Duvivier, Fitten, Holland, Davenport and MacFarren. Besides music he also took up sciences, classics, etc. In 1886 he took the degree of Mus. Bac. at Trinity College, Dublin, his cantata, "O Be Joyful in God," being performed at the University chapel, at the same time his composition for Mus. Doc. was also accepted at the same institution. In July, 1886, he returned to this country and

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again settled in Wilkes-Barre. Two years later he was granted the degree of Doc- tor of Music in Toronto, Canada, on the merits of his compositions. In the fall of 1886, the Wilkes-Barre Oratorio Society was organized, with him as director. Until recently Dr. Mason was the director of the famous Welsh Baptist Church choir, of Scranton, Pa., comprising some 200 voices. This choir also, under his direction, rendered a number of the great oratorios. His compositions are many, most of which are still in manuscript form. Two elaborate choruses of an oratorio, "From Out of the Depths," were published three years ago, and were the subject for the $1,000 prize given at the great Eisteddfod held in Wilkes-Barre. The sacred cantata, " O Be Joyful in God," was published about a year ago. One of the numbers of this work, a quintette, was in competition at an Eisteddfod held in Wilkes-Barre, seventeenth of March, and also to be at the World's Fair Eisteddfod in 1893. The Welsh version of the cantata was adapted by William Apmadoc. Altogether, Dr. Mason, as a student, has been under the following eminent masters: Dr. Parry, Dr. Louis Maas, Eugene Thayer, Wheeler, Holland, Duvivier, Fitten, Davenport and MacFarren. His success as a teacher has been great. Some of the noted singers and musicians of northeastern Pennsylvania have been his pupils. At present the Doctor is director of the Oratorio Society, The Klara Schumann Club, and St. Dominic's choir.

At Chicago, during August, 1893, one week is to be devoted to a great Interna- tional Eisteddfod, it having been decided to give to the Columbian World's Fair a favorable exhibit of Welsh music-a music born of the harp. Dr. Mason has been selected to furnish the music of a three-act serious or grand opera, the libretto of which has been written by Prof. Apmadoc, of Chicago, under the title of "The Maid of Cefn Ydfa." Dr. Mason is at work on the opera, and hopes to have it. ready for presentation in August, 1893. If his success in the past is a criterion, the World's Fair Eisteddfodic committee can feel assured they have placed the work in able hands. It will doubtless reflect credit upon their judgment, as well as. win fresh laurels for a man who to-day stands with few peers among his countrymen in the ranks of musicians.

JOHN MASSMAN, outside foreman at the Henry Mine, Plains, was born on the Mozelle, Germany, July 25, 1848, and is a son of Michael and Catherina (Kisner) Massman. Our subject came to America in 1871, and located at Scranton, Pa., where he worked at mining, blacksmithing, and puddling for two years, and then removed to Plains, where he followed mining nine years, and has since held his present position. Mr. Massman was married, July 4, 1881, to Mrs. Margaret McCarty, widow of James McCarty, and daughter of Joseph and Ellen (Wilson) Cherry, natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Massman are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder and trustee; he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, and politic- ally is a Republican.

CORNELIUS MASTEN, farmer, P. O. Plains, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., May 2, 1822, and is a son of Henry and Rachel (Maxfield) Masten, also natives of Dutchess county, and of Irish and English origin, respectively. The father, who was a miller by trade, reared a family of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the fourth. He came to Wilkes-Barre in 1852 and worked on a farm one year, and then removed to Plains, where he was employed on the farm of James Searle for seventeen years. He then rented the farm for eight years; he built his present home in 1866, and removed therein in 1868. Mr. Masten was married, November 10, 1846, to Miss Harriet, daughter of Charles and Mary (Kilmer) Salmon, natives of Dutchess county, N. Y., and of early English and Dutch origin, respect- ively. They have seven children, viz. : Mary E. (Mrs. Jacob Egge, Plains); Lavina R. (Mrs. Edmund Brader, Plains); Charles, a carpenter, in Taylorsville; James H., a machinist, in Wyoming; John S., a machinist, in Kingston; Carrie L. (Mrs. James Barnes, Plains); and William, a blacksmith, in Kingston. Though not partisan in politics, our subject npholds the principles of the Republican party.

JOSIAH MASTERS, farmer, P. O. Town Line, was born in Union township, March

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15, 1837, son of Peter and Rachel (Meeker) Masters, the former born in Union, the latter in Huntington township. Peter was a son of Adam Masters, who was a native of Northampton county, whence he removed hither in the very early history of that county. He located in Union township, where he purchased land, on which were water privileges, and on which he built a mill, for he was by occupation a miller. This he operated as long as he lived. He was an honest hard-working man, and led a pure, upright life, dying at the age of eighty years. He reared a family of seven children, but one of whom is now living. Peter Masters began his career as a farmer in Union township, on a lot of 100 acres of unimproved land, which by hard labor and a perseverance he succeeded in reducing to a state of fertility. He was a man of worth and influence, holding by the wish of the people several township offices. He died in 1878, aged sixty-eight years, his wife, > Rachel, dying March 7, 1892, aged seventy-five years. They reared a family of eight children, seven of whom are living. Josiah is the eldest of the family, and is a farmer from choice and birth. He lived at home till he reached his majority, when he married on December 2, 1858, Miss Tacy, daughter of Joseph and Matilda

Monroe. They had two children, George H. and Charles M. Mrs. Tacy Masters died in September, 1863. In 1864 Mr. Masters married, for his second wife, Mies E. A., daughter of Abraham and Mary Wheeler, and to them were born six chil- dren, all of whom are living: Frank W., Mary E., Cora A., Della B., Clarence B. and Beulah G. He removed to his present residence in 1859, where he has since resided. Mr. Masters is a practical farmer, a sociable companion and a Christian man. He has made many needed improvements on his place, which is now a cheerful and cozy home. He has held several township offices. He and his wife and three children are members of the M. E. Church.

WILLIAM A. MASTERS, farmer, P. O. Town Line, Huntington township, was born June 16, 1843, in that township, and is a son of Wesley and Margaret (Miller) Mas- ters, also natives of Pennsylvania. Wesley Miller followed farming, but is now retired; he is now residing at Shickshinny, at the age of eighty-three. Our sub- ject is the fourth in order of birth in a family of nine children, six of whom are living. He was reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools. He enlisted, September 29, 1861, in Company D, Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Capt. Burtles; was in the battle of Perryville, Ky., and many other engagements; he was taken prisoner December 12, 1864, at Marysville, Ga., and held four months in the prison at Florence, Ala. He was discharged from the service June 12, 1865, at Annapolis, Md. He then returned to his native township, and worked at the carpenter's trade until 1886, when he purchased his present farm of fifty-five acres, and has since followed farming. He married, February 21, 1867, Miss Josephine Sutliff, daughter of Barnard and Elizabeth (Walton) Sutliff. This union was blessed with two children: Dana B., born January 8, 1868, died August 12, 1880; and Verna, born August 29, 1881. The family attend the M. E. Church; Mr. Masters is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a Republican.

W. H. MASTERS, carpenter, Shickshinny, was born in Union township, May 14, 1843, a son of Samuel and Mary (Scott) Masters. His paternal grandfather, Adam Masters, was formerly of Easton, Pa., and a pioneer of Union township where he owned and operated a gristmill for years, and there died. His wife was Mrs. Sarah Simons, by whom he had seven children: William, Wesley, Peter, Samuel, Adam, Polly (Mrs. David Benscoter) and Sarah (Mrs. James Benscoter) .. The father of subject was also a miller, and rebuilt on the site of his father's old mill in 1861, which he conducted up to his death, September 8, 1891. His wife was a daughter of Garrett Scott, of Union township, and by her he had six children: Elizabeth (Mrs. A. S. McDaniels), William A., Arminda (Mrs. George W. Sarver), Evaline (Mrs. Jacob Hobbs), Lafayette and Gwynn. The subject of this sketch was reared in Union township where he learned the carpenter's trade. On August 22, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was honorably discharged from the service in June, 1865, since when he has been a

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resident of Shickshinny. In February, 1866, he married Margaret, daughter of William Labar, of Lake township, and has two children: Lacey E. and E. Wilfred. In politics Mr. Masters is a Republican, and has served one term as justice of the peace of Union township.

MICHAEL MATEY, hotel-keeper, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Austria, June 4, 1858, a son of Michael and Elizabeth Matey. He came to America in 1879 settling at Nanticoke, this county, where he was employed in the mines six and a half years, and kept a hotel for the same length of time. He has been a resident of Wilkes- Barre since 1888, kept the "Brookside Hotel " three years, and opened his present hotel in April, 1892. In 1880, Mr. Matey married Miss Annie, daughter of John Echnat, of Austria, and has four children living: John, Michael, Lizzie and Andrew. He is a member of the Hungarian Protestant Church of Nanticoke, and of the I. O R. M. In politics he is a Democrat. 1

J. O. MATHERS, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born January 24, 1844, in the borough of Luzerne, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of Charles and Syrinda (Raub) Mathers, the former born in Luzerne borough, the latter in New Jersey. Charles was a son of James Mathers who was a native of Ireland, and came to this county when it was in its infancy. He was at one time foreman in the old paper- mill that was formerly in Luzerne borough, or what was then called "Mill Hollow." He reared a family of seven children, one of whom is yet living. His son Charles began business in Luzerne borough as a millwright, which trade he followed all his life, and was recognized as a first-class mechanic. He built several mills in his day, which have not yielded to the ravages of time nor the decay of old age. His property is now the site of Thomas Waddles' breaker. He died in 1881, at the age of sixty- three, after an honest life of hard work. His family consisted of twelve children- eleven sons and one daughter-six of whom grew to maturity and are now living, James O. being the third in the family. In early life our subject learned the miller's trade, which he followed continuously up to 1891, when he moved from Lockville to Franklin. On August 24, 1869, he was wedded to Miss Emma George, who was born at Nanticoke (East) in 1850, a daughter of Hiram and Armanda George; the Georges, who are of Dutch descent, removed from Northampton county to Nanticoke at a very early date. By this union there were born six children, four of whom are now living: Jesse, Charles, Howard and Pearl. In 1869 Mr. Mathers removed from Nanticoke to Eaton, Wyoming county, where and at other places in that county he remained until the spring of 1891, when he bought of J. Schoonover a farm of fifty acres, all of which is improved.

JOHN MATTIMORE, proprietor of restaurant, Ashley, was born in Lancashire, Eng- land, June 30, 1853, a son of Michael and Catherine (Grady) Mattimore, natives of Galway, Ireland. In his father's family were four children, two of whom are now living, viz. : Mary (Mrs. John Mitchel, in Australia) and John. Our subject worked in the mines in England and came to America in 1879. He located first at McKees- port, and mined one year, after which he came to Ashley and worked in the mines. He established his present place of business in 1891. November 25, 1878, Mr. Mat- timore married Mary Ann, daughter of John and Maria (Nolan) Larner, natives of Ireland, and of this union have been born nine children, viz .: Maria, who died at six years; Margaret, who died at one year; Michael who died at three months; James, Susan, Catherine, Mary Ellen, John, and James, who died when two months old. Our subject and family are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a member of the A. O. H. and E. B. A. In his political views he is a Democrat.

CHARLES MAURER, butcher, Wilkes-Barre, was born in that city May 20, 1864, a son of George and Margaret (Fleischaran) Maurer, natives of Wurtemberg and Rhein Pfalz, Germany. His father came to America about 1855, settling in Wilkes- Barre, where he worked at the butcher's trade two or three years. He then embarked in business for himself, in which he continued until his death, in 1874, since which time the widow has continued the business, assisted by her sons, Will- iam and Charles. Their children were five: Anna (Mrs. Henry Eckardt), William,

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Charles, Minnie, and Kate. The Maurer family are members of the Zion Reformed Church. Our subject is a Democrat, and has taken an active part in local politics, having served six years (three terms) as member of the Wilkes-Barre City Demo- cratic Committee.

FREDERICK MAY, contractor and builder, and proprietor of the City Lumber Yard, Hazleton, was born in Saxony, Germany, May 17, 1852, and is the eldest in the fam- ily of four children of Christopher and Elizabeth (May) May, also natives of Ger- many. He was raised and educated in the Fatherland, and in 1869 came to Amer- ica, settling in Hazleton, Pa., where he worked in the mines for a short time. After- ward he secured work in the Lehigh Valley shops, where he worked two years, and at the end of that time he engaged in carpenter work, at which trade he worked eighteen years, when he associated with him Jacob L. Wagner, and they commenced business as contractors and builders. In April, 1892, the partnership was dissolved, Mr. May continuing the business formerly conducted by the firm. He has an exten- sive trade, and at present employs sixteen men. In 1875 Mr. May was united in marriage with Miss Dora, daughter of George Suessman, of Hazleton, to which union seven children have been born: Gustav A., Dora C., Lizzie M., Willie F., Emma C., Arthur B. and Harry C. The family are supporters of the German Reformed Church. Mr. May, in political matters, is guided entirely by his own judgment, not by party or any other influence. He is a member of the Working Men's Society, and of the Shield of Honor.

ARIO P. MAYBERRY, instructor of band music, Freeland. This gentleman is a native of Butler township, and is a son of William and Levina (Rauch) Mayberry, the former a native of Montgomery county, and of English and German origin, the latter a native of Tamaqua, and of Scotch and German lineage. They now reside in Hollenback township. The subject of this memoir was educated at Conyngham. In his boyhood days he showed great musical talent, and at the age of seventeen he took up music and has since made it the study of his life, and it may well be said that it has not been in vain. His line of study and practice has been chiefly in band music, more particularly those instruments that are most difficult to master-and he has mastered them. In 1880 he removed to Sandy Run, where he resided two years, and then came to Freeland, where he has since resided. Since 1880 he has devoted his entire attention to instruction in band music, and during that time he has trained many bands to a remarkably high standard, and as an instructor in this line he has established a reputation well known to every one in Luzerne county. Mr. Mayberry was united in marriage, March 25, 1884, with Miss Harriet Lore, of New Philadel- phia, Pa., and this union has been blessed with two children: Emerson Edward and Harry Liberato. Our subject is a member of the P. O. S. of A. and Jr. O. U. A. M. He is cornet soloist of the famous De Pierro Orchestra, of Freeland. In pol- itics he is the slave of no party, but casts his ballot in accord with his best judg- ment.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 171

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