History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 172

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

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JOHN MAYOCK, merchant, Miners Mills, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, July 15, 1845, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Martin) Mayock. He began life on the public works; he came to America in 1865, and located in Scranton, where he worked on St. Peter's Cathedral for a short time, then in the mines there two years, and afterward in the mines at Wilkes-Barre six months. He then went to Des Moines, Iowa, and worked on the supply train on the construction of the railroad from that place to Council Bluffs, for two years. He then returned to Mill Creek, where he worked in the mines till 1878, when he engaged in his present business; he built his present residence in 1871, and added his store in 1878. Mr. Mayock was mar- ried, October 26, 1873, to Miss Ellen, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Loughtus) Kane, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, the fruit of which union has been ten chil- dren, seven of whom are living, viz .: Peter T., a student in the Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass .; Margaret and Mary F., students in the Nazareth Academy, Rochester, N. Y .; and Isabella, Rose, Elizabeth and Florence, at home. Mr. Mayock and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a member of the C. M. B. A .;

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he is a Democrat in his political views, and has held the office of school director of Miners Mills.

MICHAEL MAYOCK, merchant, Miners Mills, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, September 27, 1840, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Martin) Mayock. His father, who came to America in 1873, reared a family of eleven children (six of whom are living), viz. : Bridget, married to Anthony McGowen, a farmer in Ireland; Mary, married to Patrick Maloney, also a farmer in Ireland; Michael, who is the subject of this sketch; Patrick, who was killed in the Prospect Shaft, at the age of thirty- four; John; Margaret, married to Anthony McHale, foreman, Pine Ridge Colliery; Margaret Sarah is a Sister in the Convent of the Visitation, at Georgetown, D. C. Our subject began life farming; he came to America in 1866, and located at Scranton, Pa., where he worked in the mines eleven years; in 1868 he removed to Plains, where he also followed mining; and in 1877 engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, in 1879 building his present store, with residence attached. Mr. Mayock was married, February 17, 1864, to Miss Bridget, daughter of John and Ann (Ruddy) Ruddy, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, and they have had nine children, viz .: Mary E., a student in the St. Joseph school, Philadelphia; John F., a student in the Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass .; Patrick (who died at the age of twenty- three months); and James C., Michael, Peter, Thomas, Anna and Frank, still at the paternal fireside. Mr. Mayock and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a member of the C. M. B. A., of which he is a treasurer; he also is a member of the Columbia Club, at Wilkes-Barre, and is a Democrat in his political views.

W. S. MEARS, superintendent of the People's Street Railway Co., Scranton. This gentleman, who is one of the best known and most active business men in this part of the State, was born in Scranton, Pa., September 27, 1862, and is a son of Sidney C. and Jeanette (Affleck) Mears, the former of whom is an American of Eng- lish parentage, the latter a native of Scotland, but now deceased. Sidney C. Mears was a butcher by occupation in his early life. During the Civil war he was in the service as a contractor on railroads and fortifications, and after the close of the struggle he became superintendent of the stone works of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. At present writing he is inspector of the stone work of the city building being erected in the city of Scranton. He had a family of seven chil- dren, of whom W. S. is the youngest. Our subject was reared in that portion of Scranton known as Hyde Park, at the public schools of which place, and at the high school of Scranton, he received his education. When eighteen years old he began work in the coal mines of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, first as pump runner, afterward as engineer, and continued in the employ of that company until the spring of 1889, when he was made superintendent of the Newton Coal Mining Company, upon the organization of that company, of which he is a stockholder. On February 15, 1892, he accepted his present position in Scranton. Mr. Mears is a member of Hyde Park Lodge No. 339 F. & A. M. Politically he is identified with the Republican party.

P. A. MECK, physician and surgeon, Nanticoke. This gentleman is a native of Schuylkill Haven, Pa., and was born October 23, 1856, a son of Charles A. and Priscilla (Hartman) Meck, who are still residing in his native town where the father is an extensive lumber manufacturer and dealer. In the family there were six chil- dren, viz .: Jennie, married to.M. F. Novel, a manufacturer in Shamokin, Pa. ; Hattie, married to A. D. Hesser, coal operator and lumber dealer, Schuylkill Haven; Kate, married to John Smith, a manufacturer in Pottsville, Pa. ; P. A. (subject); Milton, a lumber dealer in Schuylkill Haven, Pa. ; and Thomas E., a fancy grocer in Sha- mokin, Pa. Dr. Meck received his early education in the high school of his native town, and at Latinett College at Myerston, Pa., where he was graduated June 7, 1876. He then returned home, and assisted his father in the store until 1878, when he went to California, and there remained two years, at the end of which time he returned home, and was engaged in business about a year afterward. In 1881 he entered the Jefferson Medical College, where he graduated in 1884, and he immedi-

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ately thereafter commenced practice in Philadelphia. There he remained, however, but a short time, and then came to Nanticoke, Pa., where he has since been actively engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery. Dr. Meck was married in 1882 to Miss Margaret Brinnan, of Fremont, Pa., and they have had born to them four children, viz. : Maria Lucretia, Charles Paul (deceased), Florence Priscilla (de- ceased), and Charles Francis. In politics the Doctor is a Republican.

SEBASTIAN C. MECKEL, pastor of the Reformed Church, Plymouth. This gentle- man was born February 7, 1826, in Coblenz, on the Rhine, in the Kingdom of Prussia. He received a thorough educational training in Europe, and completed the English branches in America, whither he came about the year 1851, locating in Newark, N. J., where he followed the occupation of a coach trimmer (the trade having been taught him by his father in Europe) for four years, during which time he was pre- paring himself for the position of a minister of the Gospel. In June, 1856, he was ordained by Bishop Simpson, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and was appointed to take charge of a Methodist Episcopal Church at Schenectady, N. Y., where he preached the Gospel for three years. At the end of that time he was transferred to Albany, N. Y., where he was pastor for three years; from there proceeded to Buffalo, N. Y., and there preached two years. He then returned to Albany, where, owing to ill health, he was compelled to abandon his regular work, and only did local preaching, working in the meantime at his trade in that city till the Civil war broke out, when he enlisted (in 1864) in Company H, Ninety-first New York Veteran Volunteer Infantry, and served as a non-commissioned officer until the war closed. He was engaged in battle near the Weldon Railroad, Harper's Ferry, Fredericksburg, re- ceiving a sabre wound while in the fierce battle at Harper's Ferry. At the close of the war he came to Wilkes-Barre, and resumed his old occupation, that of coach trimmer, doing local preaching at the same time, until 1878, when he was urged to assume the pastorship of the Reformed Church, which was about to be established at Plymouth. Accordingly he came here and, by perseverance and hard labor, has founded and built the imposing edifice where his congregation meet. In the morn- ing he preaches in German, in the evening in English, and this he has done for fourteen years. Mr. Meckel deserves much credit for what he has accomplished for his people, and which could only be attained by the most patient toil. In 1874 he was married to Louisa H. Joline, daughter of Henry and Susan Joline, natives of Easton, Pa. In politics Mr. Meckel is a Republican, and at present is chaplain of the G. A. R. at Plymouth. He has located at Wilkes-Barre, at No. 51 Hollenback avenue.

MICHAEL MEEHAN, hotel-keeper, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland, in December, 1848, a son of Andrew and Sabina (Hursley) Meehan. His parents came to America in 1884, settling in Wilkes-Barre, where the father died in 1890, and is buried in the Catholic cemetery in Hanover township. They had five children: Patrick (of England), Thomas, Michael, John (deceased), and Bridget (Mrs. John Rushton). Our subject was reared in England, and at ten years of age began life about the mines of Derbyshire, and later engaged in mining in Yorkshire. In 1870 he came to America, settling in Wilkes-Barre, where he was employed in the mines until 1882, though, in 1881 he embarked in the hotel business, in which he has since successfully continued. In November, 1864, Mr. Meehan married Miss Ann, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Fitzpatrick) Dougherty, of Ireland, and by her has one son Andrew. Mr. Meehan's family are members of the Catholic Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and served a term of three years as member of Wilkes-Barre council from the Sixth Ward.

THOMAS MEEHAN, miner, Inkerman, was born in County Galway, Ireland, April 14, 1844, and is a son of Thomas and Honora (Ferragh) Meehan, natives of the same place; they reared a family of eight children, of whom our subject is the seventh in order of birth. He received his education in Ireland, and worked on a farm until 1864, when he decided to seek his fortune in the New World. On landing here, Mr. Meehan immediately proceeded to Inkerman, and was employed as a laborer

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

in the mines until 1870, since which time he has been a miner in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. Our subject was united in marriage November 4, 1860, with Mary, daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Diskin) Gorman, natives of County Galway, Ireland, and their union has been blessed with the following issue: Peter, born April 7, 1867; Honor, born May 15, 1869; Mary, born January 22, 1871; Bridget, born December 9, 1872; Margaret, born June 12, 1873; Sarah, born Aug- ust 12, 1875, and John, born Angust 10, 1886. Our subject is a member of the Catholic Church, St. John's Literary and Benevolent Association, and the C. T. A. B. U. In politics, he is a Democrat, and held the office of school director in 1884 and 1885.

J. C. MEIXELL, superintendent of the Wilkes Barre & Wyoming Valley Traction Company of Wilkes-Barre, was born at Saylorsburg, Pa., October 10, 1860, and is a son of John J. and Amanda E. (Altemus) Meixell, also natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Meixell was educated in Luzerne county, and, until the age of fifteen, was engaged in assisting his father, who was a contractor and builder located at Wilkes- Barre. He then engaged in the mercantile business in Wilkes-Barre, and continued at that for ten years. In August, 1889, he began the study of electricity, and was employed by the Edison General Electric Company to assist in equipping cars for the road. He was employed here but a short time when he accepted a position as motor-man for the Wilkes-Barre & West Side Railway Company. This position he held nine months, at the end of which time he was called to the Electrical Station as overseer, which place he occupied a year and three months. From the electrical station the successful young man was appointed to the responsible and trustworthy position of superintendent of the Wilkes-Barre & Wyoming Valley Traction Com- pany, which position he now occupies. Mr. Meixell was married in July, 1886, to Lena D., daughter of George Bruce, formerly of Owego, N. Y. It is needless to say that his success in life has been due to his own exertions, and, like the great electrical teacher, he has made perseverance and hard labor his motto. His polit- ical views are Republican. Mr. Meixell is yet young, and it is safe to predict that his career in the electrical world has just begun:

PETER MEIXELL, farmer, P. O. Belbend, was born in what is now Conyngham township, Luzerne Co., Pa., September 15, 1820, and is a son of Philip and Cath- arine (Lanehart) Meixell. His paternal grandfather, Philip Meixell, a native of Bushkill, Northampton Co., Pa., settled in Salem township, this county, in 1810, cleared and improved the farm now occupied by our subject, and died there. His wife was Elizabeth Varner, by whom he had two sons, John and Philip, the former of whom died in Fairmount township, and the latter, after attaining his majority, settled in what is now Conyngham township, cleared a farm and passed the rest of his days there. His wife was a daughter of Philip Lanehart, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1774, and was a pioneer of Conyngham township, where he died in 1802; his wife was Susannah Boyer, of Northampton county, by whom he had two children: Catharine (mother of our subject) and Margaret (Mrs. Nicholas Strole). Philip and Catharine Meixell were the parents of eleven children, some of whom died young, and nine of whom grew to maturity, viz .: Elizabeth (Mrs. Philip Weiss), Samuel, Peter, Polly (Mrs. Reuben Andrews), William, Maria (Mrs. Levi Hess), Philip, Michael and G. Washington. Our subject was reared in Conyngham township, was educated in the common schools, and in 1844 began farming in Salem township, on the old homestead (which was settled by his grandfather, Philip Meixell, in 1810), where he has since resided. He has been twice married: His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fenstermacher) Weiss, of Nescopeck township, and by her he had five children, as follows: Jacob W., Adeline (Mrs. Theodore Brymer), W. M. C., Lydia (who died young) and Sarah. His second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sarah (Hess) Fenstermacher, of Nescopeck township, and by her he had six children, all of whom are deceased except one son, Peter A., a well-known lawyer in Wilkes-Barre. Two sons of Peter Meixell are prominent farmers of Salem township.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

William M. C. Meixell was born in Salem township, January 26, 1847, where he was reared and educated, and has always resided on the old homestead. He was married July 25, 1868, to Maria E., daughter of Joseph and Mary (Bilhimer) Hess, of Conyngham township, and they have five children: Joseph F., Peter T., Clara M., Laura A. and Bessie E. The Meixells are members of the Reformed Church, and in politics are Democrats.

JACOB W. MEIXELL, farmer, P. O. Beach Haven, was born in what is now Con- yngham township, this county, March 18, 1844, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Weiss) Meixell. [For the genealogy of Meixell, see sketch of Peter Meixell. ] Our subject was reared in Salem township, was collector and weighmaster for the Penn- sylvania Canal Company, at Beach Haven, for fourteen years, and since 1885, has been engaged in farming. In 1870 he married Anna M., daughter of George and Eliza (Burlingame) Hicks, of Salem township, and has four children living: Owen R., Ralph L., Boyd B. and Royal A. Mr. Meixell in politics is a Democrat, and has held the office of justice of the peace of Salem township, two terms.

PETER AUGUSTUS MEIXELL, attorney at law, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Salem township, Luzerne Co., Pa., August 16, 1857, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Fenstermacher) Meixell. His paternal grandfather, Philip Meixell, Jr., was a native of Bushkill, Northampton Co., Pa., and was born in 1796, and in 1812 he removed to Salem, this county, with his parents, Philip and Elizabeth (Warner) Meixell. Philip, Jr., was a farmer, and in 1845 was elected one of the commission- ers of Luzerne county; his wife was Catherine, a daughter of Peter and Susannah (Boyer) Lanehart. Peter Lanehart came from Germany to America in 1774. His wife was a daughter of John Boyer, who at one time was captured by the Indians near Drylands, Northampton Co., Pa., taken to Canada, and subsequently returned to his home after enduring many hardships. Peter Meixel, father of subject, was born in Salem township in 1820, and is one of its prominent citizens. His wife was a daughter of John Fenstermacher, of Hollenback (now Conyngham) township, a native of Northampton county, Pa., and a son of Philip Fenstermacher, who was a son of George Fenstermacher, a native of Germany .. Philip Fenstermacher was a pioneer of what is now Conyngham township, this county, and his wife was Ger- trude Harter. John Fenstermacher held the office of justice of the peace for Nes- copeck township nearly forty years, and died July 29, 1885, in his eighty-third year. [For genealogy of Meixell family, see sketch of Peter Meixell. ] Our sub- ject was reared in Salem township, educated in the public schools, Wyoming Sem- inary, and at the State Normal School, at Bloomsburg, where he was graduated in 1878. At eighteen years of age he taught his first school, and followed the voca- tion of teacher for eight years. He was principal of the Nanticoke public schools one year, and of those at Blakely, Pa., two years; also taught a select school at Beach Haven. He read law with Hon. Garrick M. Harding and John McGahren, of Wilkes-Barre, and was admitted to the Luzerne county bar in 1886, since when he has been in the active practice of his profession in Wilkes-Barre. On April 18, 1888, Mr. Meixell married Ella G., daughter of Andrew C. and Elvira C. (Peck) Wise, of Peckville, Lackawanna Co., Pa., and has two children, Carrie E. and John Harold. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and of Landmark Lodge No. 442, F. & A. M., in the city of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Meixell evinces a happy under- standing of the requirements of his profession, being a close and patient student, and conscientious and energetic in the elucidation of all the material facts in such causes as are given into his keeping. He is a first-rate office lawyer, and with reasonably good fortune is assured of a large and lucrative practice. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and is reasonably well posted upon the principles advocated by his party, and has given much time and attention to the direction of campaign work since he has been a resident of Wilkes-Barre. He began his political work by taking upon himself much of the detail office work that is so arduous, that few know so little about, and that is so essential to success even where a party is sup- posed to be strongly fortified in the confidence of the people, and with an unexcep-

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tional ticket. Mr. Meixell served his party so faithfully in the minor duties, that in the campaign of 1890 he was elected chairman of the Democratic Standing Commit- tee of his county, and by his zeal and honest effort succeeded in his work to the satisfaction of his whole party. He is personally very popular with all who know him, being of a genial and obliging temperament, honest and earnest in his friend- ship, and faithful in his every undertaking.

HENRY J. MELAN, contractor and builder, Wilkes-Barre, was born in that city April 4, 1850, and is a son of Michael and Margaret (Gay) Melan, natives of of Ire- land and Ohio, respectively, who located in Wilkes-Barre about 1845. His father was a lime burner by occupation, and resided in Wilkes-Barre until his death, which occurred in February, 1879. His children were: Frank (deceased), Anna (Mrs. Chas. Garrahan), Henry J., Elizabeth (deceased wife of Charles Klein), Cath- erine (deceased), Edward (deceased), Jenney (deceased), Charles and Maggie. Our subject was reared in Wilkes-Barre, educated in the public schools, and served an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade, after which he worked as a journeyman nine years. In 1882 he embarked in business for himself as a con- tractor and builder, in which he has since successfully continued, and in connection has been engaged in the lumber business since 1885. His wife was Belinda Clark, daughter of James Clark, of Scranton, Pa., and by her he has had eight children: Mary (deceased), William H., John E. (deceased), Gertrude R., Joseph, Theresa, Ambrose Francis and Christopher. Mr. Melan and family are members of the Catholic Church; politically he is a Democrat.

MARTIN MELVIN, quarryman, Port Blanchard, was born October 12, 1847, in County Mayo, Ireland, and is a son of John and Bridget (Dougher) Melvin, also natives of the same place. They reared a family of five children, of whom the sub- ject of our sketch is third in order of birth. He received his education in the Irish national schools, and left Ireland in 1864, landing in New York on September 4, same year; he immediately went to work as a laborer in the mines at Pittston, Pa., where he stayed until March 26, 1866, when he enlisted in Company B, U. S. Infantry, and served three years. He then returned to Pittston, and went back to labor in the mines, remaining there until 1872, when he went to work as a fireman for the Penneylvania Coal Company, which position he still holds, working in addi- tion the Port Griffith Stone Quarry, of which he is owner. Our subject was mar- ried, June 24, 1870, to Annie, daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Forrester) Cawley, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, and the issue of this union has been as follows: Mary A., born April 24, 1873; Margaret R., born August 18, 1875; Lucy H., born August 28, 1877; Joseph A., born October 17, 1879; Annie, born November 17, 1881; John, born May 18, 1886; Martin, born November 7, 1888, and Francis, born May 23, 1891. The family are all members of the Catholic Church; Mr. Melvin is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; he is a Democrat in politics, and was elected auditor of Jenkins township in 1883, and school director in 1886.

PATRICK J. MELVIN, outside foreman at the No. 6 Colliery, Inkerman, Jenkins township, with residence on Market street, Pittston, was born in County Mayo, Ire- land, March 13, 1863, a son of James and Bridget (Loftus) Melvin. His father, who was a mason by trade, came to America in 1864, and located in Pittston, where he still works, and resides on William street. Mrs. Melvin died February 13, 1890. Their family consisted of six children, four of whom are living, viz. : Michael T., employed by the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, Pittston; Catherine, who lives with her parents; John J., who is employed at the Ewen Breaker, and Patrick J. Our subject was educated in the common school, and at an early age began working in the breaker, where he remained two years, afterward working at the mason's trade for four years. He then secured a position as shipping clerk for the Pennsyl- vania Coal Company, which he held eleven years, being promoted to his present position April 1, 1892. Mr. Melvin was married August 27, 1885, to Miss Jennie, daughter of John and Ann (Reading) Sheridan, natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania, respectively, and of Irish origin. They have four children, viz. : Irene, May, James

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and Raymond. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church, and in his political sympathies is Democratic, but he votes irrespective of party lines.

G. W. MENEELEY, inside foreman for the M. S. Kimmerer Coal Company, Sandy Run, was born at Tamaqua, Pa., September 30, 1856, and is a son of Alexandra and Mary (Davis) Meneeley, natives of the North of Ireland, the former of whom came to this country in 1842, locating in Tamaqua, and now residing at Sandy Valley, where he is engaged in farming. In the family there were nine children, as follows: John, a miner at Sandy Run; Alexander (deceased); George W .; Susan, married to Robert Hindson; Andrew, killed in the mines at Sandy Run in 1888; Maggie, married to Milton Hoodmacher, of Wilberton; Isabella, resid- ing with her parents; Samuel D .; and Mary E., who married Theadore Hind- son, of Sandy Valley, which union was blessed with two children: Winfield Ellsworth and Gordan Alexander, who are now attending Girard College, in Philadelphia. Their father died at Sandy Run, May, 1888, and their mother is now living with her father in Sandy Valley. When George W. was about six years of age, he engaged at working in the mines at Eckley, and he has since followed mining in nearly every capacity. February 27, 1886, he entered the employ of the M. S. Kimmerer Coal Company in the capacity of inside foreman, and has since filled that position to the entire satisfaction of all parties concerned. He was married, April 30, 1889, with Miss Jenetta Lester, of Sandy Valley. This union has been blessed with two children, viz .: Andrew Alexandra and Jeanetta Virginia. Mr. Meneeley is a member of the P. O. S. of A., Camp 91, Hazleton, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics; his political views are Republican, and he is at present a member of the school board of Foster township.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 172

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