History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 175

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 175

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

WILLIAM PENN MINER, retired editor and farmer, Plains township, P. O. Miners Mills, was born in Wilkes-Barre, September 8, 1816, and is a son of Charles and Letitia (Wright) Miner, the former a native of Norwich, Conn., and of English origin, and the latter a native of Luzerne county, Pa., and also of English lineage. Charles Miner was an editor and historian of much learning and fame in the early history of Luzerne county; he represented the county in the State Legislature, at Harrisburg, and was twice elected to Congress, while residing in Chester county, Pa. In his family there were six children, of whom William P. was the youngest, and of whom there are two living, viz. : Mrs. Jesse Thomas, of Wilkes-Barre, and William Penn. Miner, the subject of this memoir. Our subject was educated chiefly in the common schools and in a printing office, and in 1832 came from Chester county to Wilkes- Barre, and entered the printing office of Miner & Butler, publishers of the Wyoming Herald, where he remained one year, and then returned to school, and soon after returned to Wilkes-Barre. He took some interest in farming, in caring for the coal lands that were his, and in 1849, in company with Joseph W. Miner, purchased the Wilkes-Barre Advocate, of which he was editor until 1876, when he was obliged, on account of poor health, to retire from the active newspaper world to the quiet soli- tude of the farm where he now lives. Mr. Miner was married, April 11, 1842, to Miss Elizabeth D., daughter of John and Emily F. (Remington) Ligget, of Chester county, Pa., which union has been blessed with four children, viz .: Emily R., born April 4, 1845, residing with her brother William; Caroline T., born February 5, 1847, died April 8, 1870; Anna L., born June 17, 1852, married to Dr. A. H. Oliver, formerly of Wilkes-Barre, Pa .; and William, born June 20, 1854, editor of the Grant county Herald, at Lancaster, Wis. Mrs. Miner, who died March 26, 1871, was a member of St. Stephen's, at Wilkes-Barre, as is also her daughter. Our subject has always been a worthy supporter of the Republican party; he was prothonotary of Luzerne county from 1846 to 1849, during which time he was also clerk of the several courts.

EDWARD MINICK, outside foreman, Deringer Shaft No. 2, P. O. Sugar Loaf, was born in the village of Conyngham, this county, November, 15, 1857, a son of Jacob

and Susan (Beisel) Minick. His paternal grandparents were John and Polly (Klase) Minick, formerly of Northampton county, Pa., and pioneers of Sugar Loaf township; and his great-grandfather was Abram Minick. The children of John and Polly Minick were: Charles, Elizabeth (Mrs. Mordecai Hutten), Jacob, Maria (Mrs. Daniel Weaver), and Abram, all natives of Sugar Loaf township. Jacob Minnick was a carpenter by trade, and resided all his life in Luzerne county, dying in May, 1892, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife was a daughter of John Beisel, of Butler township, and his children who grew to maturity were: William H., Frank L., George, Edward and Henry. Our subject was reared in Conyngham village, and educated in the public schools. He served an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade, and has been in the employ of Coxe Bros. & Co. since 1883. On July 17, 1880, he married Mary E., daughter of Solomon and Mary (Fetler) Klinger, of Sugar Loaf township, and has four children: Claude, Grace, Ethel and Edward. Mr. Minick is a member of the Reformed Church, and of the I. O. O. F., and P. O. S. of A .; in politics he is a Democrat.

JOSEPH MITCHEL, farmer, Wyoming borough, was born, March 24, 1819, in War- ren county, N. J., and is a son of William and Mary (Hawk) Mitchel, also natives of New Jersey, of English and German origin, respectively, and farmers by occupa- tion. Our subject was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-one as mail driver. He drove mail coach out of Wilkes-Barre, for many years, on all roads leading out of that city. He then returned to New Jersey, and worked his father's farm for four years; also worked one year at Mauch Chunk, and one year on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. He then moved to West Pittston and carried on farming for thirteen years, and in 1869 purchased his present farm in Wyoming, whereon he has since resided. Mr. Mitchel was married, May 2, 1850, to Miss Matilda, daughter of George and Mary (Smith) Oyster, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and Eng-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

lish origin, respectively. Mr. Mitchel is a member of the F. & A. M., and in poli- tics is a good strong Democrat.

GEORGE W. MITCHELL, farmer and contractor, Plains, was born in Jenkins town- ship, July 8, 1849, and is a son of John and Isabel (Smith) Mitchell, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Nova Scotia; they came to Luzerne county in June, 1849, and settled at Port Griffith, in Jenkins township. In 1854 they. removed to Plains, thence, in 1858, to Plymouth, and in 1860 returned to Plains, where they lived at Plank Road; in 1864 they located on the farm now occupied by George W. Mitchell. The father was a man of excellent business qualities, and accumulated a handsome fortune; he was an extensive coal operator, and spent the last few years of his life speculating in coal lands, in which he was one of the fore- most in the Valley; he died December 6, 1884, at the age of sixty-seven years. John and Isabel (Smith) Mitchell reared a family of seven children: Anna L., who mar- ried B. F. Courtright, a prominent farmer at Clark's Green, Pa. ; Robert C .; Eliza- beth, who married T. W. Courtright, of Newark, Ill .; Mary H., who married W. W. Amsbry, of Germantown, Pa .; George W. ; James L., a coal operator, at Tyrone, Pa .; and Isadore, who married Dr. James Brooks, of Plains. Our subject was edu- cated in the public schools and remained with his father until the death of the latter, when he became sole proprietor of the homestead estate; he was in the livery busi- ness in Plains from 1875 to 1885, and has also been an extensive and successful con- tractor. Mr. Mitchell was married, March 25, 1885, to Miss Anna D., daughter of Elwood and Mary (Doron) Worrell; the former died soon after returning from the army, and the latter is still living at Mount Holly, N. J. This happy union was blessed with three children : Ralph D., born February 5, 1886; Donald W., born Feb- ruary 7, 1888, and Jean M., born June 14, 1891. Mr. Mitchell and family usually attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife is a member; he is a Republican in his political views.

ROBERT C. MITCHELL, contractor and builder, Plains, was born in Nova Scotia, December 23, 1840, a son of John Mitchell. He was educated in the common schools and the select school of Prof. Woodhouse, of Wyoming, and began life for himself at farming, which he followed ten years. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was at Gettysburg and Antietam when the militia was called to active duty. In 1872 he engaged in contracting and building, which he has since followed. Mr. Mitchell was married, April 24, 1866, to Miss Celia Alexander of Burlington, by whom he had seven children, two of whom are living, viz. : Irene, born February 29, 1868, and Pearl, born August 17, 1872. Mrs. Celia Mitchell died March 10, 1881, and on January 13, 1887, Mr. Mitchell was married to Miss Helen Augusta, daughter of James and Aurelia (Schoonover) Wilcox, of New Albany, Pa .; her ancestors came from Connecticut, and were very early settlers in Albany township. Mr. Mitchell has always given his political influence to the Republican party.

WILLIAM MITCHELL, merchant, Inkerman, Jenkins township, was born in Inker- man December 22, 1861. He is a son of John and Jane (Laird) Mitchell, natives of Scotland, whence they emigrated to America in 1854. Their family consisted of ten children, nine of whom are living, viz. : Edward, in Pittston; John, in Arizona; Jane (Mrs. Gilbert S. Jones, in Pittston); Alexander, in Inkerman; William; Ellen; James, in Inkerman; Robert, in Australia, and Barbara (Mrs. Harvey S. Shoe- maker, in Ashland, Colo.). William Mitchell passed his boyhood on the farm, and attended the public schools till he was eighteen years of age, when he engaged in mining, which he followed six years. He then took charge of the mercantile busi- ness which was established by his father in 1877, and which his mother continued after the death of her husband, which occurred November 21, 1879. Our subject built his present place of business, with residence attached, in 1887. Mr. Mitchell was married, April 12, 1888, to Miss Mary, daughter of Henry and Ann (Adamson) Joplin, natives of England and Scotland, respectively. By this union there is one child, Joseph. Our subject has always given his political support to the Repub- lican party, and in 1890 was appointed postmaster at Inkerman.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

WILLIAM R. and HENRY H. MONROE, farmers, Huntington township, P. O. Hunt- ington Mills, were born December 25, 1840, and January 2, 1851, respectively. They are sons of Samuel F. and Sylvina (Brandon) Monroe, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch and Irish origin, respectively. Samuel F. Monroe was a farmer by occupation; he died February 10, 1886, aged sixty-eight years. He was a son of Truman and Kezirah (Franklin) Monroe, natives of Connecticut. Truman Monroe came to Huntington valley in 1795, followed farming, and died May 14, 1854, aged seventy-two years. He was a son of Nathan and Mehitable (Seymour) Monroe, also natives of Connecticut. Samuel F. Monroe, father of our subject, reared a family of four children, viz. : George C., a farmer in Montana; William R. ; Sarah K. (Mrs. Charles Wilson, of Huntington Mills); and Henry H. William R. Monroe, the sec- ond in this family, at the age of twenty, enlisted in Company F, Thirty-sixth Penn- sylvania Volunteers, Capt. Speece commanding, and was in the following engage- ments: Mechanicsville, Gaines' Hill, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Fredericks- burg, and the Wilderness, in which battle he was taken prisoner and held in Ander- sonville, five months, also at Florence, S. C., for the same length of time. He was discharged April 1, 1865. Returning to his home, he has since conducted the homestead farm in partnership with his brother, Henry H. William R. Monroe was married, September 26, 1885, to Miss Mary A., daughter of James and Jemima (Culver) Brandon, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe are members of the P. of H. He is a member of the G. A. R, and politically is a Republican. Henry H. Monroe, the youngest in his father's family, has spent his whole life on the farm where he was born. He was married, November 9, 1873, to Eliza J., daughter of Sydney and Clarissa Telle. They have eight children, viz. : Robert C., born July 26, 1875; Charlotte I., born December 28, 1877; Oscar F., born Janu- ary 30, 1879; Ruth A., born April 18, 1882; Sydney H., born May 23, 1886; Grant E., born May 15, 1888; Geraldine J., born March 30, 1890; and Florence H., born February 1, 1892. This family attend the M. E. Church. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A., I. O. O. F., and P. of H .; he is a Republican in politics, and has been auditor for one term.

ALPHEUS C. MONTANYE, funeral director, Wilkes-Barre, was born at New Vernon, Orange Co., N. Y., March 21, 1835, a son of Samuel C. and Margaret (Smiley) Montanye. The father, who was also a native of Orange county, N. Y., was a son of Benjamin F. Montanye, a son of Thomas Montanye, a native of France, and both were pioneers of Orange county. Thomas carried dispatches for Gen. Washington, was captured by the British, and expected to be executed, but was retaken by the Continental forces. Samuel C. Montanye settled at what is now Parsons, this county, in 1844, where he carried on the business of manufacturer of woolens for many years, in later life removing to Wilkes-Barre, where he died in 1875. He was twice married, his first wife being Margaret Smiley, by whom he had five chil- dren, three of whom grew to maturity, viz .: Jane E. (Mrs. G. W. Hoover), Juliett (Mrs. Eugene Adams), and Alpheus C. His second wife was Julia Silvius, by whom he had five children: Thomas B., J. Henry, Samuel L., Mary (Mrs. Daniel Pursel), and Charles O. Our subject was reared in Luzerne county from ten years of age, and from eleven until seventeen was employed in his father's woolen factory. He then served an apprenticeship at the furniture finisher's trade, which he has fol- lowed more or less since, and for twenty-two years has been in the employ of Voor- his & Page and Voorhis & Murray, since 1890 as funeral director. In 1859 he was married to Helen, daughter of Robert and Eliza (Eicke) Kilmer, of Wilkes-Barre, and they have two daughters: Olive A. (Mrs. F. B. Forbes) and Elenor E. Mr. Montanye served four months in the Civil war as a member of Company F, Eighth P. V., receiving an honorable discharge at expiration of his term of service. He is a member of the M. E. Church, of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R., and in politics is a Republican.

JAMES MONTANYE, justice of the peace, Pittston. The Montanye family, of which our subject is a representative, is one of the old pioneer families of Luzerne

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

county. The grandfather, in all probability a native of Orange county, N. Y., moved in early times to what is now Exeter township. His name was Andrew, and the great portion of his life of over eighty years was passed in that township. He was a farmer by occupation, and had a large family of children, all of whom have passed away. The father, Stephen Montanye, was born in Exeter township, and followed the occupation of farming, and after an eventful life died in 1842, at the age of forty-four. The mother was, before her marriage, Sarah Harding, a daughter of Israel Harding, a soldier of the Revolution, and was born in what is now Wyoming county, but at that time Luzerne county. The family consisted of the following children: Lydia (Mrs. J. N. Van Tuyle, Wyoming county); Charles, constable of West Pittston; Isaac, plaster mason, of West Pittston; James; and John (deceased). Mr. Montanye was born and reared on a farm, and educated in the common schools of his neighborhood. At the age of fourteen he entered the general store of Brown & Thompson, of Exeter, as clerk, and from there went with the same firm to Orange. After that firm dissolved he was with their successor, Benjamin Sailor, and about the year 1850 entered the Wyoming Seminary, and was for a year a student in that school. Leaving there he clerked for R. McD. Shoe- maker, a year, returned to the farm for a short time, and later entered the general mercantile business at Exeter. In 1857 he removed his business to Pittston, and after a short time formed a partnership with B. C. Hurd and Charles H. Flagg under the firm name of James Montanye & Company. He continued in business there until July, 1863, when he enlisted in Company E, - Regiment P. V. I., and served 100 days. At the close of his service he secured a position as commercial salesman, and removed to New York City, where he lived about fifteen years. Returning to West Pittston, he has since made that city his home. He continued his business of commercial salesman until 1882. In 1880 he was elected burgess of West Pittston, serving six consecutive years; in 1882 was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and re-elected in 1887. He still fills that office. August 23, 1860, Mr. Montanye married Miss Caroline Baldwin, daughter of John Baldwin, a prominent farmer of Exeter township. Our subject is a member of the F. & A. M., St. John's Lodge, No. 213, Pittston. He is an active member of the Republican party, has for years been a great worker for his party's interests in this county, and has filled many offices of trust in New York City. He has always been a citizen of Luzerne county, and has been prominent in all enterprises leading toward the advancement of the community in which he lived. As a business man he has been successful, and has fulfilled the duties of the office of justice of the peace in a manner highly creditable to himself and perfectly satisfactory to his con- stituents, and enjoys the confidence and respect of the people of his native county, an honor of which any one might be justly proud.

W. H. MOON, surgeon dentist, Pittston. This gentleman, though young in his profession, has met with a success and obtained a practice of which many an old practitioner might be justly proud. He was born in Pittston January 6, 1865, and is a son of Philander and Sarah (Benjamin) Moon; the father is a carpenter, and has been a resident of Pittston for many years. The parents had a family of three children, viz .: Rhuea A. ; W. H. and Nellie M. Our subject passed his boyhood in Pittston, and was educated in the public schools of that town and West Pittston, in 1883 entering Wyoming Commercial College, Kingston, Pa., from which institu- tion he graduated February 1, 1884. He was then engaged for a short time in driving a team in Pittston, after which he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. C. S. Carey, of Pleasant Valley, Pa., where he remained for about eighteen months. He next entered the New York College of Dentistry, New York City, and graduated from that college March 11, 1889; April 10, 1889, he opened his office in Pittston, and began the practice of his profession. Dr. Moon was united in wed- lock December 25, 1888, with Amanda F. Augenstein, a daughter of Charles Augen- stein, a farmer of Pike county, Pa., and a native of Germany. Dr. Moon is a mem- ber of the Broad Street M. E. Church, and an active worker for the good of the

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cause of Christianity; he is also a member of the Y. M. C. A. of Pittston. Politically he is identified with the Republican party. Dr. Moon, in seeking a location in which to practice his profession, located among those who had known him from childhood, and the fact that his practice is already large enough to employ almost all of his time, shows that he was wise in so doing. Dr. Moon has a host of friends and no enemies, and he is assured of a successful and brilliant future.

C. E. MOORE, M. D. and pharmacist, Alden Station, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., December 1, 1861, and is a son of William H. and Mary A. (Dalah) Moore, natives of England. Our subject is the sixth in a family of eight children, and was reared and educated in his native county. After finishing his public-school education he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md., where he was graduated in the class of 1883. The following March he came to Alden Station, and engaged in the practice of his profession, in which he has been eminently successful. In 1886 he opened a drug-store, where, with the assistance of a clerk, he commands the patronage of the community in connection with the practice of his profession. Dr. Moore was married, September 30, 1891, to Miss Carrie, daughter of Jacob and Frances Vandemark, descendants of early pioneers of this Valley. Dr. Moore is a member of the school board; he is a Republican in politics, and in religion is a member of the Episcopal Church.

C. L. MOORE, farmer, P. O. Kyttle, was born in Dallas township in 1840, and was reared and educated in Ross township, a son of Archibald and Mary (Ransom) Moore, both of whom were born in England. Archibald emigrated to this country when a young man and single, locating at Wilkes-Barre, where he remained for several years, working at his trade, that of wheelwright. He removed to Vernon, Wyoming county, where he owned a farm, but sold this, and removed to Dallas, where he remained ten years. He finally removed to Ross township, living on a lot of 300 acres, which was afterward owned by his children. He was a hard- working man, of pure moral principles, a stanch Republican, and a conscientious member of the M. E. Church; he died in 1888, aged eighty-four. He was deeply interested in educational matters, and helped to organize the first school and church in what is known as Mooretown. His family consisted of ten children, nine of whom reached maturity, and seven of whom are now living, Charles L. being the fifth in the family. Our subject has always confined himself to farming, and is now a practical agriculturist. When our country was in peril, Mr. Moore shouldered his musket and entered the front rank. He was mustered into the United States service, September, 1862, as a private in Company F, One Hundred and Forty- third P. V. I. for three years. He participated in the battles of Gettysburg and the Wilderness, in which latter his left eye was destroyed by a buck shot. He was honorably discharged from the service, and now enjoys a pension. In 1865 he married Miss Esther, daughter of David and Charlotte R. Ross, and to this union were born five children, all of whom are living: F. W., Giles, Ida, Anna, and Lilly. Mrs. Esther Moore was born in Falls township, Wyoming county, in 1842. Mr. Moore owns a farm of ninety-five acres, on which he has lived since his marriage, and is a worthy man, a practical farmer, and a good citizen. In politics he is a Republican, and has held several township offices with credit to himself; he is a member of the G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church in good standing.

ELIJAH MOORE, farmer, P. O. Irish Laue, was born in Union township, this county, December 18, 1828, a son of Walter and Mary (Hobbes) Moore, both of whom were born in Berks county. Walter Moore was a son of William Moore, who was a native of Ireland, whence he emigrated to this country before the Revo- lutionary war, locating in Union township, Luzerne Co., Pa. He was a large land owner, and was recognized as an upright man of pure principles. He lived a long and useful life; reared a family of six children. His son, Walter, began his business career in Uuion township on the old homestead, or on seventy-five acres of it. He was a practical farmer and a worthy neighbor, one whose life was uneventful but

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useful. He reared a family of fourteen children, ten of whom are now living, Elijah being the sixth in order of birth. Our subject received his education at the common schools, and in early life worked at the carpenter's trade. In Septem- ber, 1864. he was mustered into the United States service as a private in Company H, One Hundred and Ninety-eighth P. V. I. for one year. He served his country faithfully during the remainder of the war, at the close of which he was honorably discharged. He now draws a pension. In 1859 he married Miss Ellen Fink, who was born in Union township, a daughter of Joseph and Mary A. Fink, and to this union were born seven children, all of whom are living: May Annie, Florence L., Estella, Maggie, Kimber Cleaver, Alice, and Emma J. Mr. Moore is a practical agriculturist, owning a neat farm of sixty-three acres, which, through his faithful- ness in the discharge of his farming duties, returns him compound interest in heavy crops of various kinds.

REV. JAMES MOORE, pastor of the Second Primitive Methodist Church of Plym- outh, was born December 13, 1859, in Monmouthshire, South Wales, and is the seventh in a family of eleven children born to Elijah and Martha (West) Moore, natives of England. He received his educational training partly in England and partly in America, coming to the latter place when but a young man. After completing his general education, he took private instruction in theology under the tutorship of the Primitive Methodist Conference, composed of eight of the leading ministers of that body. After completing a four years' course, our subject was ordained in 1889, at Shenandoah, Pa., and was immediately appointed to the Pine Ridge charge, in Lacka- wanna county, where he remained three years.

In 1891, he responded to an urgent call from the congregation in Plymouth, where he has since labored. The Second Primitive Methodist Church was established in 1878, the present house of worship being built in 1882. The membership has increased so rapidly since Mr. Moore took charge, that it will be necessary to enlarge the church in order to accommodate the large congregation, Our subject was married, in Perry county, Ohio, to Miss Susan, daughter of Peter and Mary (Pork) Lindsay, natives of Scotland, and children have been born to this union as follows: William P. (deceased), Alfred Eugene and James E.

JOHN T. MOORE, contractor, Parsons, was born May 26, 1825, in Durham, Eng- land, and is a son of Richard and Ann (Barrass) Moore, also natives of England. Our subject was educated in his native land, and in 1854 came to America, locating in Frailey township, Schuylkill Co., Pa., where he engaged in mining thirteen years, at the end of which time he came to Mill Creek, where he also followed mining about a year, and then removed to Miners Mills, where he was mine foreman and superintendent, twenty-two years. On February 24, 1890, he came to Parsons, and is now engaged in general mine contracting. Mr. Moore was married March 28, 1849, to Miss Isabella, daughter of Joseph Smiles, of Durham, England. She died September 23, 1886, at Miners Mills, leaving a family of twelve children, viz. : Sarah Ann, married to George Adams, a miner at Miners Mills; Richard, a merchant in Parsons; Joseph, an attorney at law in Miners Mills; Atby Ann, married to William Hilburt, of Plains; Mary, married to John Bath, a Methodist minister at Irwin, Pa .; Elizabeth (now deceased); Alice, married to George Skidmore, of Plains; Robert, Edward, John and Isabell (all four now deceased), and Margaret. Mr. Moore is a member of the Primitive Methodist Church, is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Republican.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 175

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