History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 183

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

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OHARLES PARRISH was born in Dundaff, Susquehanna Co., Pa., August 27, 1826. Having received the ordinary education of the boys of that day in the Wilkes- Barre grammar school, he was, at the age of about fifteen years, placed in the store of Ziba Bennett, a prominent merchant of the town. He remained in this establishment in the capacity of clerk, and later as partner till 1856, since which time he has been extensively engaged in coal operating and speculating in coal land. The public mind about this time had become aroused to inquiring into the prospective value of anthracite coal; it was the subject of conversation, but this quiet, unobtrusive man, of few words, but of constant thought and untiring energy, astonished his friends and associates with the magnitude as well as the success of his operation. The Wyoming Valley was the grand center, and Mr. Parrish had

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the capacity of brain, the breadth of enterprise, and energy of purpose to turn the advantages presented to his own account and make of this once and still beautiful valley, and the green mountains which surround it, a laboring man's metropolis to which people from all parts of the world have come to seek their fortunes. He organized the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, of which he was President for twenty years; and every acre of the great domain of this company, west of the mountains, was selected and purchased under his direction. The combination of the different companies, mines, railroads and canals, was the conception of his brain, and mainly the work of his hands; and it was the persevering labor of yeare to bring it about. Some of the charities which he incorporated into the mining sys. tem are worthy of note, and of them, though discontinued now, must be men- tioned: While President of the Wilkes-Barre Coal & Iron Company he pre- vailed upon his employes to allow the entire wages of one day in each year to be retained for the purpose of constituting a fund for the relief of disabled men of the mines and their families; upon the condition that the company should set apart, for the same purpose, the proceeds of the mines, of one day in each year, and in this way a yearly charity is amassed of some fifteen thou- sand dollars, from which many wants have been provided for and much suffering relieved. But it is not alone in mining operations that the influences of his views were discernible. During the seven years of his Presidency of the borough, and afterward city council, the first well-paved and lighted streets, the fire apparatus, and an efficient police of the town all indicate his handiwork. He took an active part in raising and equipping volunteers for the service during the late Rebellion. Prob- ably no man in the city did more in this particular than he. He built several of the railroads leading out of Wilkes-Barre, and it is universally conceded that he has done more toward developing the rich coal fields of the Valley, and bring- ing its products into touch with the markets of the world, than any other man. He was for twenty years President of the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, and is now President of the Parrish and the Annora Coal Companies; a Director of the North and West Branch Railroad, and has been a Director of the Lehigh Coal & Nav- igation Company since 1868. He has been instrumental in organizing and bringing many large industries to Wilkes-Barre, and he still has an interest in many of them. Mr. Parrish was married June 31, 1864, to Miss Mary Conyngham, eldest daughter of Hon. John M. Conyngham, LL.D., of Wilkes-Barre, the issue of which happy union is three children living: Anna Conyngham, Eleanor Mayer and Katherine Conyng- ham. Mr. Parrish and family worship at the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which his wife and daughters are members; he is a member of the Sons of the Revolution, and is a Republican in hia political views.

ELI PARRISH, farmer, P. O. Dallas, was born, November 11, 1842, reared and edu- cated in Wyoming. He is a son of William and Eleanor (Sweetland) Parrish, the former born October 3, 1817, the latter March 31, 1818, both in the Wyoming Valley. William was a son of Ebenezer, a native of Connecticut, who came to thia country in its early settlement, and whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary army. Ebenezer located in the Valley, where he was an extensive farmer, an influ- ential citizen, and a public-spirited man, one who had the full confidence of his peers. He waa honored by most all the town offices, which he discharged with credit. He reared a family of ten children, all of whom became good and loyal cit- izens and industrious men and women. He lived to be eighty years of age. His son, William Parrish, was born in Kingston, and began active life in Wyoming as a farmer on 160 acres of land, and, like his father, he was an honest, sober and upright citizen, and, while looking after his own interests, was never known to defraud othera. He and his wife are now enjoying the decline of life in the beautiful bor- ough of Wyoming; the former at the age of seventy-two, the latter at the age of seventy-three years. In politics he is a Democrat. His children numbered ten, eight of whom grew to maturity and are now living. Eli is the second in the fam- ily, and haa always confined himself to farming. He always resided in the Valley

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

until January, 1889, when he purchased a farm of 150 acres, from Chester White, of Dallas. On August 10, 1866, he married, at Carverton, this county, Miss Sarah Jane, daughter of Samuel and Ruth Ann Jackson, of that place. They have had four children, three of whom are now living.

E. W. PARRISH, farmer, P. O. Idetown, was born in Wyoming county (then a part of Luzerne) near Evans Falls, August 25, 1820, a son of Elihu and Elizabeth (Pierce) Parrish, the former born in Connecticut, the latter in Plymouth. Elihu was a son of Capt. Ebenezer Parrish, of Revolutionary fame, who served faithfully all through the Revolutionary struggle for independence and equal rights. After a life of usefulness and loyalty, he died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. His Bon, Elihu, began business in Kingston as an agriculturist, on a farm of 180 acres, and was a man of influence and worth in his day. He was honored with the office of squire for about twelve years, being appointed by the Governor, a practice that was prevalent in those days. He was born in 1780 and died in 1837. His family, by two marriages, numbered seven children, three of whom are now living. The sub- ject of this sketch is the fourth by the first marriage. He was reared and educated at Evans Falle, Wyoming county, and in early life learned the millwright's trade, at which he worked only a short time, his preference being for operating mills rather than building them. He followed the vocation of sawyer for twenty-six years, con- fining himself to lumbering in some capacity all his life. He moved from Wyoming county to Luzerne in 1883, locating on the near approach to that beautiful sheet of water "Harvey's Lake." He owns a farm of thirty-six acres of fertile land, and in his management of it proves himself a practical farmer. Since his residence in the county he has been honored with several town offices which he has filled with credit to himself and the satisfaction of his fellow citizens. On October 28, 1841, Mr. Parrish, at the age of twenty-one, married Miss Eleanor, daughter of Rev. Abraham and Betsy Frear. Of this marriage were born twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity, and of whom the following are now living: Edith H., who married Edwin Cook, a farmer; Margaret E., who married John Surben, a farmer; Mary E., who married Michael Reilly; C. V., who married Miss Annie Tannery; Lydia A., who married J. A. Headsel; Alice J., who married James P. Fisher; Ruth E., who married E. W. Terrel, and E. R., unmarried. Mrs. Eleanor Parrish died April 3, 1889, at the age of sixty-nine. Rufus F., a deceased son, served in the army; first, in the three months' service in which he was wounded, and after his discharge he re-enlisted, this time in Company F, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, was captured at Weldon Railroad, and finally died in Salisbury (N. C.) prison.

JOSEPH W. PATTEN, hardware merchant, plumber, gas and steam fitter, Wilkes- Barre, was born in Pottsville, Pa., May 7, 1841, and is a son of William and Jane (Weightman) Patten, natives of England. His father came to America about 1822, locating in Pottsville, Pa .; thence in 1850 removed to Plymouth, where he engaged in the coal business and resided until his death in 1857. His children were six in number, as follows: Elizabeth (Mrs. John P. Fell), Catherine (Mrs. Stephen Brew), Joseph W., William, Eliza (Mrs. James Woodring) and Jennie (Mrs. Robert Shoe- maker). Our subject was reared in Schuylkill and Luzerne counties, and was educated in the public schools of Plymouth and at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. He then served a four years' apprenticeship at the machinist trade, and from 1858 to 1866 (with the exception of the time he was in the army) followed his trade as a journeyman and foreman; from 1866 to 1873 he was outside foreman of J. H. Swoyer's mines. In 1873 he embarked in his present business, in which he has since successfully continued, ranking among the substantial business men of the city. On May 12, 1880, he was married to Lydia, daughter of Daniel (Gould) Van Scoy, of Wyoming, and they have one daughter, Lydia. During the Civil war Mr. Patten responded to Lincoln's first call for troops, and served three months in Company C, Eighth Pennsylvania Regulars. When he was honorably discharged (in 1862) he re-enlisted, this time in Company E, Eighty-fourth P. V., and was honorably discharged, after nine months' service, as orderly sergeant. In 1864 he again joined

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

the army, on this occasion as first lieutenant of Company E, One Hundred and Ninety-seventh P. V., served one hundred and ten days, and was then mustered out of the service. Mr. Patten is a Republican, and is now serving his third term as councilman of the Seventh Ward of Wilkes-Barre. He is a member of the G. A. R.

JAMES PATTERSON, retired, Trucksville, was born in Orange county, N. Y., Jan- uary 10, 1815, son of Henry and Olive (Irwin) Patterson; the parents were sup- posed to have been natives of New York State. They removed to this county about 1817, locating in the Valley near Pittston. Henry served in the army of the United States during the war of 1812; in 1818 he enlisted in the standing army at Sacket's Harbor. His wife Olive died in December, 1817, when James was only three years of age, so his knowledge of his parents is limited. Their family consisted of three children; James is the second of the family in order of birth, and the only surviving member. He was reared and educated in Pittston, and in early life followed lum- bering for about fifteen years. October 17, 1841, he married Miss Lucinda, daughter of William and Elizabeth Honeywell; to this union were born six children, five of whom grew to maturity, four of whom are now living: Olive A., Elizabeth, William H. and Clara. Mrs. Lucinda Patterson was born in Dallas, September 28, 1820, and died February 5, 1890. Mr. Patterson removed to Trucksville in 1866, where he engaged extensively in the wheelwright business, carrying on both the wood and iron department with marked success until 1887, when his health became impaired. During this time he was also engaged in mercantile business. Mr. Patterson is a worthy gentleman, in good standing in society. He has held several township offices; he is a member of the M. E. Church, holding the offices of trustee and class-leader in that body. Politically, he is a Democrat, with Prohibition proclivities.

WILLIAM H. PATTERSON, merchant, Wyoming borough, was born June 12, 1848, in Wyoming county, a son of James and Lucinda (Honeywell) Patterson, also natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch and English origin, respectively. His father, who was a wheelwright, reared a family of five children, four of whom are now liv- ing. Our subject was the fourth in order of birth, and began life for himself at twenty-one years of age, painting in his father's shop, where he remained for five years; he then engaged with J. P. Rice as clerk in a general store at Trucksville, Pa., for one year, then with D. R. Prendergast, of Kingston, for two years; J. D. Green, of Wyoming, for two years; Whiteman & Patterson, for five years; and with John Bowden, of Ashley, for one year. He then returned to Trucksville, where he opened a general store, and served as postmaster for two years and six months. Mr. Patterson then closed out and moved to Wyoming, where he formed a partner- ship with J. I. Shoemaker; this lasted till 1889, when he purchased Mr. Shoemaker's interest, and has since conducted this business under the firm name of W. H. Pat- terson & Co. Our subject was married, September 5, 1880, to Miss Georgia, daughter of Robert R. and Martha (Caterson) Frear. This happy union was blessed with one child, Robert James, born July 20, 1881, now at school at the West Side Academy. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are members of the Methodist Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. ; in politics he is a sound Democrat, and since 1887 has been borough treasurer.

ROBERT S. PATTERSON, who was in his lifetime a prominent farmer of Huntington township, this county, was born May 22, 1816, on the farm where he lived and died, which is at present operated by his widow and son. He was a son of Thomas and Mary (Dennison) Patterson, natives of Scotland and Pennsylvania, respectively. His grandparents moved to the south of Ireland, where Thomas was reared and educated, coming to America at an early age. The latter, who was a school-teacher, purchased the present Patterson farm in 1805, and died April 29, 1844, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was a son of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Smiley) Patterson, the former of whom was a son of Archibald and Alleveah (Mont- gomery) Patterson, the latter being a sister Lord Montgomery, of Scotland. Rob- ert S. Patterson was the eighth child in a family of ten, three of whom are now living. He was reared on a farm, and educated in the public schools, and began

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life for himself, at the age of twenty-one, as a coal dealer in New Jersey, following this until the death of his father, when he came home and followed farming the remainder of his life. Politically, he was a Democrat, and held the office of post- master at Harveyville for years, and was also supervisor for several years. Mr. Patterson was married, September 27, 1857, to Miss Minerva, daughter of Sylvester and Susannah (Miller) Trescott, natives, respectively, of Connecticut and Pennsyl- vania, and of Welsh and German origin, respectively. This union was blessed with five children: Susan A. (wife of Horace Wiant, toll-gate keeper for the Huntington Valley Turnpike Company); Thomas S., who is managing the farm; Mary A., at home; Sarah E. (wife of Charles D. Harrison, a clerk in the Treasury Department at Washington, D. C.); and Richard S., bookkeeper for the Alden Coal Company. Mr. Robert S. Patterson died March 28, 1871, aged fifty-five years. Mrs. Patterson is a member of the Baptist Church; she is a devoted Christian mother, and by her kindness of heart and loving disposition has won a host of ardent, admiring friends.

W. E. PATTERSON, butcher, Nescopeck, was born in Fishing Creek township, Columbia Co., Pa., June 26, 1851, son of A. Willett and Sarah A. (Labaugh) Patter- son, and is of Scotch and German descent. He was reared in his native county, educated in the common schools, and after attaining his majority worked at the plas- terer's trade ten years. In 1881 he located at Nescopeck, aud embarked in business as a butcher, in which he has since successfully continued, and is the owner of the principal business block in the village. On July 4, 1879, he was married to Mary A., daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Deitrick) Harter, of Nescopeck township, and a descendant of pioneers of Luzerne county. By her Mr. Patterson has three chil- dren: Maggie I., Walter M. and Carrie E. Our subject is a live and enterprising citizen of Nescopeck. He is a member of the P. O. S. of A. and K. of M .; politic- ally he is a Democrat.

HENRY T. PATTON, farmer, P. O. Lehman, was born in Hanover township, Dela- ware county, December 14, 1850. He is a son of William and Jane (Wilson) Patton, both of whom were born in Ireland, and emigrated to this country about 1840, first locating in Philadelphia. The father was a weaver by trade, which he followed for a number of years. He was a man of marked ability and strict integrity. He lived to be eighty eight years old. To William and Jane Patton were born ten children; six grew to maturity, five of whom are now living. Henry T. is the eighth of the family. He was reared and educated in Monroe township, Wyoming county, and in early life worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1879 he married Miss Kate, daughter of J. G. and Caroline O. Sutton. To this union there were born four children, three of whom are now living, viz. : John, Grace and Howard. Mr. Patton moved to this couuty in 1889 on a farm of twenty-five acres. He has already built a fine and com- fortable house, besides other improvements, which show his taste and energy. Politic- ally he is a Republican.

EDWARD F. PAYNE, coal operator, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., and is a son of Edward and Priscilla (Standish) Payne, natives of Pennsylvania and of English origin. Mr. Payne was educated at Jersey City, N. J., and soon after completing his course of study embarked in the coal business at the East Boston Mine, where he acted in the capacity of outside and inside foreman until be was made general superintendent of the colliery. He, with his brother W. G. Payne, then purchased the entire interest from the proprietors, and succeeded them in the busi- ness. As a business man Mr. Payne is one of the most energetic and successful in Luzerne county. As an employer he is kind and considerate to those under his charge; and as a man he is courteous and obliging to those whom he meets in a business or a social way. Mr. Payne was united in marriage, June 22, 1876, with Miss Elsie, daughter of George and Aun (Esson) Reith, natives of Scotland. This union has been blessed with four children, viz .: Edith, born June 14, 1877; Eddie, who died October 22, 1884; Ellen Arline, born September 28, 1885; and Bruce B., born April 27, 1889. In politics, our subject is not led by any flaunting display of party colors; neither does he allow party zeal to overshadow that greater element, principle, which he always seeks in every man before pledging his support.

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WILLIAM G. PAYNE, coal operator, Kingston. This gentleman ranks among the enterprising and successful business men of Luzerne county, and is at present one of the owners and operators of the East Boston Coal Company, the mine being located at Luzerne. He is also one of the owners and managers of the Pierce. Coal . Company, and is president of the Dolph Coal Company, both of which are located at Scranton, Pa. In these various mines hundreds of men and boys are employed, the result of their labor being the shipment of many thousand tons of coal yearly to all parts of the globe. The subject of this sketch was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., July 19, 1848, and is a son of Edward and Priscilla (Standish) Payne, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English origin. Mr. Payne received his education in the educational institutions of Jersey City, N. J., and at an early age became identified with Meeker, Payne & Company, wholesale coal dealers, New York City, handling annually over $2,000,000 worth of coal. He is one of the directors, chairman of finance committee, and largest owner of the Consumer's Coal Company, of Newark, N. J., who own extensive coal lands in Pennsylvania. Is also one of the directors and principal owner of the Bridgeport Steamboat Company, and president of the People's Steamboat Company, both lines having a large fleet of passenger and freight steamers running from Bridgeport, Conn., to New York City. Mr. Payne, upon coming to Luzerne, entered the employ of the East Boston Coal Company, as clerk, and was soon promoted to secretary and treasurer, in which incumbency he remained but a short time, when he was called upon to fill the important position of superintendent, which he held until he purchased the business and succeeded his employers. On October 6, 1868, Mr. Payne was married to Miss Ellen, daughter of Luther Roberts, of Montreal, Canada, and two children have been born to this union: William T., an enterprising young man, in business with his father, and Blanche E., attending school at Bishop Hopkins Hall, Burlington, Vt. Mr. Payne is a stanch Republican, and was one of Pennsylvania's electors when Harrison was elected president, four years ago. He and his family are communicants of the Episcopal Church.

NEIL PAUL, proprietor of the " Hopeville House," Weston, was born in Carbon county, Pa., December 25, 1852, a son of Charles and Grace (McGinly) Paul, natives of Ireland. The father resided for many years in Carbon county, Pa., was a miner, and was killed by a fall of coal in October, 1872, at Colerain, Pa. His children were six in number, as follows: Catherine (Mrs. Michael North), Neil, Bridget, Bella (Mrs. John Flood), Grace and Annie. Our subject was reared in Colerain, Pa., and educated in the public schools. He has been in the hotel busi- ness the best part of twenty years, and has resided in Luzerne county seven years. He kept hotel in Hazleton six years, and has been the popular proprietor of the "Hopeville House" since May, 1892. In November, 1886, Mr. Paul married Elizabeth, daughter of George and Mary (Romick) Sweeney, of Weatherly, Pa., and has five children: Charles, James, Mary, and Grace and Elizabeth C. (twins). Mr. Paul is a member of the Catholic Church; in politics is a Republican.

JAMES H. PEARCE was born in Addison, Steuben Co., N. Y., January 24, 1853, a son of G. W. and Priscilla (Brownell) Pearce, both natives of New York. Their family consisted of two children: Julia L. (Mrs. Harry Jefferies), and our subject, who received a limited education in the common schools, and was reared on a farm until fourteen years of age. He was then employed on a steamer plying on Seneca lake, New York, until 1878, when he came to Pittston, where he has since been employed in various capacities at the Coxton yards. His wife was Maggie, daughter of George Oyster, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., and they have six children: Willie, Cora, Fred, George, Roy and Mattie. The family are members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Pearce is an active member of the Y. M. C. A. ; he has been in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company over twenty years. In politics he is a Republicau, and a strong advocate of temperance principles.

JAMES PEARN, miner, Luzerne, was born in Cornwall, England, August 20, 1844, and is a son of Edward and Jane (Clark) Pearn, both of whom were born

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in the same place. They were respectable farming people, and died in their native country, having reared a family of nine children. James is the fifth in order of birth. He was reared and educated in his native town, and was twenty-seven years of age when he emigrated, in 1871, to this country. He located in Dover, N. J., where he followed iron mining four years. In 1875 he removed to this county, . locating near Luzerne borough, where he has since followed mining, being employed by the Wyoming Valley Coal Company. In November, 1866, he married Miss Jane, daughter of Stephen and Mary Tonkin. There have been seven children born to their union, five of whom are living: John, Samuel, William, Rosina and Jane. John is married to Miss Emily Aregood; Rosina is married to George Taylor. Mr. Pearn is a hard-working man, steady and industrious, who has endeavored, by a life of economy and good management, to save enough to buy some property. He owns four houses near his own home. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and, while he and his family are not members of any Christian denomination, they contribute to the support of the M. E. Church.

JAMES PEARSON, grocer, Plymouth, was born in Staffordshire, England, January 15, 1835, and is the fourth in the family of eight children born to William and Catherine (Matthews) Pearson, also natives of England. He worked at mining in England until a young man, when he came to America locating at Plymouth, where he followed mining until 1888. He then opened a small grocery store on Railroad street, which he has since successfully conducted. Mr. Pearson is a member of the Foresters, and in politics he votes the Republican ticket.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 183

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