History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 181

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

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THOMAS O'BRIEN, miner, Port Blanchard, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, May 25, 1838, and is a son of Thomas and Bridget (Malia) O'Brien, natives of the same place, who reared a family of eight children, of whom our subject is the fifth in order of birth. He was educated in the Irish national schools, and came to the . United States in the year 1856, taking up his residence in Pittston. He received employment as a laborer in the mines, which occupation he followed until early in the year 1865, since which time he has worked as a miner in the mines of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. Mr. O' Brien was joined in wedlock July 29, 1861, with Margaret, daughter of Thomas and Annie (Jennings) Moon, natives of County Mayo, Ireland. The issue of this union has been nine children, all of whom are living, as follows: Patrick, born June 16, 1862; Mary, born May 31, 1864, married October 26, 1887, to Michael M. Moylan, a merchant, in Port Griffith; Bridget, born March 15, 1866; Thomas, born February 21, 1868; Michael, born April 13, 1870, James, born March 31, 1872; Margaret, born June 29, 1874; Luke, born May 18, 1876, and Agnes, born March 13, 1878. Our subject is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; he is a Democrat in politics, and in religion is a member of the Catholic Church. He built and owns the house wherein he now resides.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

CORNELIUS O'DONNELL, merchant, Sugar Notch, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in October, 1826, and is a son of Timothy and Giles (Dever) O'Donnell, who died in Wilkes-Barre. The father, who was a farmer, reared a family of eleven children, six of whom are living, and all are in America, viz. : Ellen (Mrs. Charles Conyngham, in Wilkes-Barre), Cornelius, Peter (a retired miner, in Wilkes-Barre), Mary (was twice married, first to John Hearn (who was killed in the mines), and. afterward to William Grant, a miner in Wilkes-Barre), Francis (who is in the employ of the city of Wilkes-Barre), and Ann (Mrs. Hugh McManmon, of Freeland, Pa.).

Cornelius O'Donnell, subject of our sketch, came to America in 1849, and for two months was employed on a farm on Long Island; he then went to Summit Hill and worked about the mines for one year, afterward at Buck Mountain two years; then traveled through the South two years, selling small merchandise and notions, after which he returned to Buck Mountain, remaining one year; then removed to Rockport, Pa., and worked about the mines four years. In 1861 he

came to Wilkes-Barre, and was engaged in mining four years; then at Nanticoke one year and nine months; thence in 1867 removed to Sugar Notch, where he followed mining until 1870, when he was injured in the mines by a fall of coal, so that he conld no longer follow that occupation; but after recovering he was appointed breaker-boss, which position he held twelve years. In 1882 he embarked in a gen- eral mercantile business, which he has since followed with great success. In Aug- ust, 1883, he visited his native country, remaining forty-five days. Mr. O'Donnell erected his residence in 1876, and the store in 1883, besides which he has built sev- eral other houses which he owns as well as other real estate. He has been highly successful in all his undertakings, and has accumulated a comfortable competence for himself and family. Mr. O'Donnell was married in January, 1848, to Miss Bridget Gallagher, daughter of Patrick and Margaret (McBararty) Gallagher, and they had six children: Mary, who died on the ocean during the passage to America; Cornelius, a merchant in Seattle, Wash .; John and Patrick, engaged in the saloon bus- iness in Sugar Notch; Ann, who died at the age of nine months; and Peter, a student in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell are devoted members of the Catholic Church, and he is a member of the Father Mathew Society. In his political views he is a Democrat; has held the office of supervisor in Sugar Notch borough, and has rendered the party much valuable aid by the respect and influence which he has in the community in which he lives.

JOSEPH J. O'DONNELL, proprietor of the "Mangan Hotel," Plains, was born in Honey Brook, Pa., July 10, 1860, and is a son of Manus and Margaret (Gaughen) O'Donnell, natives of County Mayo, Ireland. The father, who was a miner, reared a family of six children, of whom J. J. is the third. The subject of this sketch began work in the mines at the age of twelve years, and at twenty-three learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed four years, and in 1889 engaged in his pres- ent business. Mr. O'Donnell was married, September 27, 1883, to Miss Mary, daughter of Martin and Bridget (Kinney) Mangan, natives of County Mayo, Ireland; they have had five children, as follows: Margaret, born July 4, 1884, died Septem- ber 2, 1888; Martin, born November 2, 1885; Joseph, born March 18, 1887; Charles, born January 2, 1889; and Mary, born April 27, 1890. Mr. O'Donnell and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a member of the A. O. H., and the Nationalists, and in politics is a liberal Democrat.

JAMES J. O'FLAHERTY, shoemaker, Sugar Notch, was born in Ireland, December 3, 1858, and is a son of Rodger and Mary (Joice) O'Flaherty, who reared a family of sixteen children-thirteen sons and three daughters-James J. being the second eldest. Our subject attended the national schools in his native country until he was seventeen years old, when he commenced to learn shoemaking. After finishing his trade he started from home and worked in Dublin, Belfast and Limerick, respectively, stopping in each place but a short time, however. In 1879 Mr. O'Flaherty came to America, and secured employment in Philadelphia, where he remained until 1881, in which year he came to Sugar Notch and opened a shoe store which he operated

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until 1885, when he gave that up, and recommenced his trade, at present employing a number of men, and doing a thriving business. Our subject was married March 11, 1877, to Margaret, daughter of James and Mary (Fahey) Riley, both natives of Ireland, and this union was blessed with five children, as follows: Bridget, Mary, Margaret, Gertrude and James, all of whom are living. Mr. O'Flaherty is a mem- ber of the A. O. H., the E. B. A. and the F. M. T, A. B. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and has held several important offices.

REV. JOHN P. O' MALLY, pastor of St. Ignatius Church, Kingston, was born in Quena, near Louisburg, County Mayo, Ireland, June 24, 1833, and is a son of Augustus and Honora (Cusack) O'Mally, natives of Ireland. There were six chil- dren in the family, viz .: William, a contractor, residing at Wilkes-Barre, Pa .; John P., our subject; Augustine, a resident of San Francisco, Cal .; Mary (now deceased), who was married to Richard F. Welsh, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. ; Ellen, who married a Mr. Hussie (the latter now deceased); and Bridget, who has charge of the pastoral house. The subject of this sketch was educated at Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, and at the age of seventeen came to America where he entered the Jesuit College of St. Francis Xavier, New York City, in which he remained four years, going from there to Emmitsburg, Md., where he studied three years. He then entered the Theo- logical and Philosophical Seminary at Philadelphia, and after two years of ardent labor he mastered the four years' course, and was ordained by The Most Rev. F. A. Wood, November 7, 1865. His first mission was that of assistant at St. James' Church, W. Philadelphia, where he remained from December 15, 1865, to June 15, 1868, when he was appointed to the pastorate of the Athens (Bradford county) Mis- sions. Here he remained two years, June, 1868, to October, 1870, going from there to Hawley, Wayne Co., Pa., where he had charge of Pike county and one-third of Wayne. While in this locality he erected the following churches, all in Pennsyl- vania: St. Mary's, Ledgedale; St. Joseph's, White Mills; St. Patrick's, Milford; St. Mary's, Lackawaxen, and St. Philomena, at Hawley, which was remodeled under his supervision. He resided at Hawley and vicinity from 1870 until 1891, when he was appointed to the charge of St. Ignatius Church (unfinished, which when com- pleted will compare favorably with any church edifice in the State) at Kingston, where he now resides. Of his merits as a pastor, one, to be convinced of their ex- cellency, has only to behold the fields of his labor. As a scholar, he is profound, and his opinions and views are made doubly impressive by the zeal and clearness with which they are presented. As a man, he is regarded with the highest esteem, not only by his own congregation, but by all classes who are brought in contact with him in either a social or business way.

HON. DANIEL L. O'NEILL, a prominent member of the Luzerne county bar, was born at Port Deposit, Md:, December 10, 1835. He is a son of Daniel and Bridget (Hopkins) O'Neill, who were natives of Counties Wicklow and Longford, Ireland, respectively. In early life he removed with his parents to Overton, Brad- ford Co., Pa., and was educated in public and select schools. His father was a con- tractor bridge-builder, and in later life a farmer; but our subject tiring of the monotony of farm life, at the age of seventeen began his career as a teacher, and taught eight years, achieving success in that profession. During a part of this time he studied law, finishing his studies with the late Hon. H. B. Wright, of Wilkes-Barre, and was admitted to the Luzerne County bar, April 4, 1864. Mr. O' Neill from the beginning took a front rank among the active workers of his chosen profession, and still devotes his whole time to his constantly increasing practice. In politics, he has always been a pronounced Democrat, and his political friends have on several occasions elected him to fill important positions. He repre- sented Luzerne county in the Legislature of 1868-69; has served two terms as member of the Wilkes-Barre city council, one term as member of the board of the Central Poor District, and five terms as a member of the Wilkes-Barre school board, in all of which positions he acquitted himself with credit to himself and to the satis- faction of his constituents. Mr. O'Neill married, May 16, 1864, Annie, daughter of

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Patrick and Elizabeth (Edwards) McDonald, of Muhlenburg, Pa., and has eight children living, viz. : Annie C., a graduate of Saint Cecilia's Academy, Scranton, and the Mansfield State Normal School (she is an accomplished musician, and a successful teacher in the city public schools); William A., a member of the choir at Saint Mary's Church, and a student in his father's office (he is also notary public); Daniel L., Jr., also a graduate of the Mansfield State Normal School, is principal of the Hillard Grove School, Wilkes-Barre; John F., a student in his father's office; and Philip Ambrose, Alberta, Francis C. and Leon A., still at school. Mr. O'Neill and family are devoted members of the Catholic Church, toward which he is a gen- erous contributor.

E. A. OBERRENDER, Drifton, was born in the small hamlet of Drum's, Butler township, June 29, 1856, eldest son in the family of J. S. Oberrender. The son was educated in the common schools of the vicinity, took a course at the Wyoming Seminary, and is a graduate of the Wyoming Commercial College at Kingston, Pa. At the age of seventeen he engaged in clerking, and after one year's experience was given employment by his present employers, Coxe Bros. & Co., of Drifton, commencing as assistant bookkeeper, after twelve months being promoted to the position of private secretary to Hon. Eckley B. Coxe, the head of the great house. In his present position he has charge of Mr. Coxe's private affairs; the superintend- ence of the store department, and charge of the taxable property and real estate of the firm of Coxe Bros. & Co., and of the estate of the late Tench Coxe, of which Hon. E. B. Coxe is administrator and general agent. He was a director of the Hazelton National Bank, of Hazleton, Pa., from the date of its organization in Jan- uary, 1890, until July, 1892, when he resigned. E. A. Oberrender was joined in wedlock December 8, 1880 with Fannie S. Jenkins, of Drum's. They have children as follows: Winfield S., Stanley S. and Harold S. Politically our subject is a Democrat.

JOHN PAUL OBERRENDER, butcher, Ashley, was born in Ebersdorf, Germany, July 27, 1836, and is a son of John Nicholas and Anna M. (Fulrath) Oberrender, the former, who was a maker of leather breeches and gloves, having been born in 1806. They reared a family of eight children (five of whom were born in Germany), viz. : John S., ex-sheriff of Luzerne county; Margaret, married to Stephen Housenecht, carpenter and contractor, Sugar Loaf township; Nicholas, a tailor in Bloomsburg, Pa .; Paul; Edward, residing in Hazleton, this county; Effa Doretta, married to Simon Moyer, blacksmith, Mahanoy City, Pa .; Christiana, married to William Boettner, employed in the bridge works at Pottstown, Pa. ; and Wilhelmina, married to Henry Shiner, carpenter and contractor, Philadelphia. The family (except three children) came from Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, Germany, in 1840, and settled in Conyngham Valley, Sugar Loaf township, where the father died in 1877. The mother, who was also born in 1806, now lives with her daughter, Margaret. When twelve years of age our subject engaged with Joseph Fisher, of Hazleton, to learn the trade which has been the chief occupation of his life. He remained there two years, and then engaged in business for himself-twelve years at White Haven and ten years at Mahanoy City. At the latter place he also carried on a grocery and lumber trade. In 1879 he removed to Ashley, where he has since done a thriving business. He built his present store and residence attached in 1882. Mr. Oberren- der was married, March 11, 1860, to Miss Mary E. Willard, daughter of Lafford and Abigail Willard, of Newtown, Bucks Co., Pa., and the issue of this union was six children, viz .: Charles, a conductor on the Boston & Albany Railroad; Frank, a clerk in Barber & Zigler's coal office, New York; Harry W., editor and proprietor of the Ashley Bulletin; Abi, who died at the age of eighteen years; Anna M., who keeps house for her father, and David W., engaged with his father in the butcher- ing business. Our subject and wife were members of the German Lutheran and Episcopal Churches, respectively, and in his political views he is a Republican.

WILLIAM OGIN, farmer, P. O. Slocum, was born in Slocum township January 12, 1838, and was there reared and educated. He is a son of John and Mary (Sims) 70.

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Ogin, the former born in Philadelphia, the latter being of Irish descent. The grand- father removed to this county in its early settlement, was a farmer by occupation, and owned about one hundred acres of land. He lived a life of usefulness, and died at a good old age. His family consisted of four children, and his son John fell heir to his father's estate by buying off the other heirs. He was a practical man in his way and day, for not only was he engaged in agricultural pursuits, but was also engaged in boating on the canal. He lived to middle life, and his family numbered twelve children, nine of whom are living, William being the seventh in the family. Our subject has continuously followed agricultural pursuits, and has always been a resident of Slocum township. In 1859 he married Miss Emily Kester, who was born in Slocum township August 7, 1843, a daughter of Jacob and Lucy Kester, and by this union were born eleven children, all of whom are living: Henry A., John, Jacob P., Leonard W., Willis F., Ralph R., Martha J., Mary C., Carrie E., Ada M. and Della. Mr. Ogin has been living on his present farm since 1870, and now owns seventy-three acres of land. He is a worthy farmer, and an honest and upright man. Politically he is a Democrat, and has been honored with several township offices.

WILLIAM OHL, outside foreman at the Alden Mines, P. O. Alden Station, was born in Schuylkill county, December 23, 1845. He is the eldest in a family of five sons born to Daniel and Mary (Dubenspeck) Ohl, natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared and educated in his native county, and in early life learned the carpenter's trade and followed it until 1870, when he engaged in constructing breakers. This he followed until 1882, when he accepted his present position at the Alden Mines. At this mine they employ about 650 men, inside and out. The mines are about 585 feet deep, and the daily output is 1,200 tons. Mr. Ohl has a large stock farm in West Penn township, Schuylkill county, where he is interested in breeding some very fine stock, both horses and cattle. He was married June 23, 1867, to Miss Emma, daughter of Moses Hauser. They have five children: William F., Amma J., Mary A., Amanda and Sarah. This gentleman is a member of the P. O. S. of A. His family attend the German Reformed Church, and in politics he is a Republican.

WILLIAM H. OLDFIELD, justice of the peace, Nanticoke, was born June 16, 1848, in Bristol, England, a son of Henry and Sarah (Smart) Oldfield, the former of whom still resides at Bristol, where the latter died March 4, 1891. Our subject was edu- cated in England, and when quite young commenced working in the mines at Bris- tol and vicinity, at which he continued until 1865, when he emigrated to America. After landing on the shore of Columbia he remained in Philadelphia for a short time; then moved farther west, and was engaged in mining in Ohio and Indiana until 1871, in which year he returned to England, where he mined a short time, and then received an appointment on the Manchester police force, in which he served for a time, when he was called to Wakefield to serve in the same capacity. At the lat- ter place he resided until 1878, when he resigned and entered the employ of the Ashtonvale Coal Company, with whom he remained about two years, when he again came to America, locating at Nanticoke. He was first engaged in mining for five years; then commenced in the hotel business, which he followed a short time, when he was appointed chief of police at Nanticoke, a positiou he held until February, 1890, when he was elected a justice of the peace, his term expiring in 1895. Mr. Oldfield is one of Nanticoke's most highly respected citizens, and an active partici- pant in all political reforms in that locality, as a firm adherent of the principles of Republicanism.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL PAUL AMBROSE (4) OLIVER (Paul A. (3) Thomas (2) Reuben (1)), (U. S. A. 1861-65), of Oliver's Mills, Luzerne county, Pa., is a son of Capt. Paul Ambrose (3) Oliver, who was born in Philadelphia, April 18, 1796; died at Fort Hamilton, L. I., June, 1848. Capt. Oliver was trained on shipboard by his father, Capt. Thomas (2) Oliver, of the big "Nancy and Kate," who was lost at sea in the great storm off the coast of Spain, December 15, 1812. His son Paul (3), then but

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sixteen years of age, brought his vessel safely into port. He was for many years successively in command of his own ships: the "Tiber," "Superior," "Trenton " and " Louisiana," vessels as notable in his day as the Cunard steamships of to-day. He served in the battle of Lake Erie in the war of 1812, taking several officers prisoners in an expedition in which he commanded a boat. He was commissioned sailing master in the U. S. navy, April 15, 1814. He was married, July 28, 1819, by Rt. Rev. William White, D. D., to Mary, daughter of Matthew Van Dusen, ship builder of Kensington, Philadelphia, who in 1795 purchased the famous "Fairman Mansion " in which William Penn lived until the Letitia House was built, and near which stood the "Treaty Tree," under which Penn made his treaty with the Indians, May, 1662. A scion of this tree Gen. Oliver transplanted in 1892, from Fort Hamilton to Oliver's Mills, where it now stands. Capt. Thomas Oliver, father of Capt. Paul A. Oliver, was born in Delaware, May 23, 1770; married, 1791, Sarah Ambrose, of Virginia. One of his sons, Thomas, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., was the father of Col. William S. Oliver-U. S. A. 1861-65-specially mentioned by Gen. U. S. Grant in his Memoirs, and of Lieut. Howard Oliver, and Richard Paul Oliver-U. S. A. 1861-65. His daughter, Elizabeth, married Dr. Samuel Bryce Flower, surgeon C. S. A. 1861-65. Capt. Thomas Oliver was the son of Reuben Oliver, of Delaware- 1730-74-and his wife, Hester Gallaudet, daughter of Dr. Pierre Elisee and Jane Gallaudet of New Rochelle, N. Y., who was a son of Joshua and Margaret (Prioleau) Gallaudet of Mauze, France, both families distinguished in Huguenot history. A sketch of these families was published in the New York Genealogical and Biograph- ical Record, 1888. Gen. Paul A. Oliver was born July 18, 1831, on board the ship "Louisiana," in the English Channel, latitude 49° 19' N. longitude under the United States flag. This vessel was built by his grandfather, Matthew Van- Dusen, owned and commanded by his father, Capt. Paul A. Oliver. Gen. Oliver was educated in Altona, Germany, came to New York and engaged in the shipping business, later in the cotton trade with his brother George W., in New York and New Orleans. He lived at Fort Hamilton, N. Y., and when in 1856 the yellow fever broke out there, he organized the Fort Hamilton Relief Society, of which he was made president. By means of this Society the sick were cared for, and the disease confined to that locality and prevented from spreading to the city of Brooklyn. Gen. Oliver enlisted, February, 27, 1862, in the Twelfth New York Volunteers as second lieutenant, Company E; made first lieutenant May 17, 1862, and captain April 13, 1864, ranking from January 1, 1864. He commanded his company at Gaines' Mills, June 27, 1862, where he was wounded; at Bull Run August 30, 1862; Antietam September 17, 1862, and Fredericksburg December 13, 1862. In 1864 he received the commission of major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel of the Fifth New York Volunteers, but declined. He was appointed and served as aide to Maj-Gen. Butterfield, Fifth Corps, army of the Potomac, December, 1862, to June, 1863; on the personal staff of Gen. George G. Meade, commanding army of the Potomac, June, 1863, to September, 1863; staff of Gen. Joe Hooker, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, army of the Cumberland, October, 1863, to March, 1864, received the medal of honor from Congress for distinguished services at Resaca, May 15, 1862. He was made chief of staff, Gen. Butterfield commanding the Third Division Twentieth Corps, army of the Cumberland, May to June, 1864, and was in the battle of Look- out Mountain, and the campaigns to Atlanta. Transferred subsequently, at his own request, to the army of the Potomac, he was assigned to duty at headquarters Fifth Corps, the Twelfth New York Regiment, having been consolidated with the Fifth New York Volunteers July, 1864; was acting provost-marshal Fifth Corps of staff of Gen. Warren until December, 1864. Assigned to duty with Gen. M. R. Patrick, headquarters armies of the U. S., by order of Gen. U. S. Grant, January 4, 1865, made brevet brigadier-general March 8, 1865. Detailed April 11, 1865, to assist in paroling the army of Northern Virginia, C. S. of A., at Appomattox, with Gen. George H. Sharpe, assistant provost marshal, who took the original paroles to the War Department at Washington, and the duplicate paroles of that army were delivered

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in person at Gen. Lee's headquarters by Gen. Oliver to Col. Taylor, 'Gen. Lee's adjutant-general. Gen. Oliver left the service, being honorably discharged May, 1865. He was in the siege of Yorktown and the battles of Hanover C. H., Gaines' Mills, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wauhatchie, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, Resaca, Cassville, Dallas, New Hope Church, Pine Knob, Kulp House, Marietta, Six Mile House, Weldon Railroad, Poplar Grove Church, Boynton Plank Road and Hatcher's Run.

Gen. Oliver received honorable mention in Butterfield's official report of the Seven Days battles June-July, 1862; in official report of Capt. Huson, Twelfth New York Volunteers of Second Bull Run; in Hooker's official report of the Chattanooga campaign [official record U. S. Armies, volume XIII, page 321; volume XVI, page 477; volume LV, page 325, etc. ]. After the war Gen. Oliver entered for a short time into the coal business with his brother-in-law, the late Mr. Samuel Bonnell, Jr. In 1869 he came to Wilkes-Barre and established a small powder-mill, which caught fire, whereby his men were killed and he himself badly burned. He then organized the Luzerne Powder Company, erected works which were burned, and rebuilt. These blew up shortly afterward, destroying .the works and killing two men. He then bought out the old company, and established himself at Laurel Run (now Oliver's Mills), where he has since been engaged in the manufacture of powder. He uses machinery of his own invention, consisting principally of devices by which powder can be made in small quantities at any time and in any place, thus doing away with the danger of violent explosion, and reducing the risk to a minimum. Gen. Oliver is a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers; the Loyal Legion; the Society of the Army of the Potomac; the Huguenot Society; the Society of the War of 1812, and the Netherland Society of Philadelphia. He is a com- municant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and has erected at his place, Oliver's Mills, a unique and beautiful log chapel for the use of his men, in which continued services have been held each Sunday for thirteen years.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 181

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