History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 196

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

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EVAN M. ROWLAND, general merchant, Wilkes-Barre; was born in Monmouthshire, South Wales, April 22, 1842, a son of Morgan and Elizabeth (Thomas) Rowland. He was reared and educated in South Wales, where, at the age of eight years, he began life in the coal mines, and where he followed mining in different capacities until 1867. The same year he came to America, locating in Carbon county, where he engaged in mining for eighteen months. In 1869 he located in Wilkes-Barre and mined uritil 1885, at which time he embarked in general merchandising, a business he still continues. In 1867 Mr. Rowland married Miss Mary, daughter of William and Rachel Herbert, of South Wales, and has one daughter living, Mrs. John T. Williams. Mr. Rowland is a member of the Ivorites, of the K of P., and also of the Welsh Baptist Church, in which he has been a deacon twenty years. In politics he is a Republican.

M. J. RUDDY, merchant, Miners Mills, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, March 13, 1840, and is a son of John and Ann (Ruddy) Ruddy. John Ruddy, who was a farmer, reared a family of nine children, viz: Charles, in Ireland; Thomas, in England; Michael J .; James, in England; John, who died at the age of fourteen years; Austin and John, both in Scotland; Bridget (Mrs. Michael Mayock), in Miners Mills; and Constantine, a miner in Miners Mills. Our subject came to America in 1863, and worked at mining in Providence, Pa., two years, and at Oly- phant fourteen years. In 1891 he built his store (with residence attached), which he purchased in 1886, and engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Ruddy was mar-

ried, May 13, 1886, to Miss Margaret, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Ferguson) Grady, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, and to this union have been born ten chil- dren, viz. : Patrick J., who taught school six years, and is now studying law with John T. Lenahan, Wilkes-Barre; John, deceased in infancy; Mary E .; Anna; Michael, deceased at the age of six and a half years; Thomas; James; Nellie; Frank, and Harold. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a member of the C. M. B. A. ; is a Democrat in his political views, and has held the office of school director.

ANTHONY RUDEWICK, general merchant, South Heberton, P. O. Freeland, one of the enterprising business men of the county, is a native of Poland, born in 1854. He received his education in his native land, and at the age of nineteen came to Amer- ica, locating at Shenandoah, Pa., where he worked in the mines two years. He then removed to Mahanoy City, where he followed mining for one year, after which he went to Pittsburgh, whence,. after a short stay he came to Upper Lehigh, where he worked in the mines four years. In 1878 he came to South Heberton and engaged in the general mercantile business, which he has since continuously fol- lowed, with the exception of two years that he was in business at Freeland, and a short time that he was engaged in farming. Mr. Rudewick carries on a very exten- sive trade; he is a well-known business man, and has many patrons. On January 10, 1882, he was married to Miss Wanda Czyzewska, also a native of Poland, and they have four children, viz .: Josephina, Stella, Wanda and Anthony, Jr.

C. W. RUGGLES, merchant, Pike's Creek, was born in Ross township, February 21, 1849, a son of Josiah and Mary Ann (Naugle) Ruggles, natives of Hanover township, the former born in 1816, the latter in 1819. Josiah was a son of Lorenzo Ruggles, a native of Connecticut, born in 1790, and who removed to this county about 1797, locating in Hanover township. During his lifetime he owned 140 acres of land, all of which were brought under subjection in his day, tangible evidence of his energy and pluck in those pioneer days. He was also a blacksmith, and in those early times was looked upon as a first-class mechanic. He was an expert in making

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ploughs for the breaking up of the new soil! He was an active politician, and in his party (Whig) had some influence-indeed, his political, social and religious influence was materially felt in his neighborhood; he was an active member of the M. E. Church. He lived to be about seventy-eight years of age, and reared a family of nine out of eleven children born to him. His son Josiah began life as a farmer in Hanover township, but soon removed to Pittston where he remained a few years when he came to Ross township, where he remained abont twenty years. In 1860 he removed to Lehman township, where he purchased 800 acres of timber land, and engaged extensively in the lumber trade. He built four sawmills and two steam, and two water power-one in Lake, one in Ross, and two in Lehman. He has been in partnership with J. J. Shonk, of Plymouth, in the lumber business at Ruggles, where they also built a tannery. He was the means of establishing a postoffice, which in honor of him was called Ruggles, and of which he was postmaster ten years. While he resided in Ross township, he was postmaster for about twenty years. He has been a very active man, one of much worth in society. Always ready to give to the needy, his home is ever open to the homeless, and his heart to the distressed; an active churchman, and a free and liberal giver in the support of the Gospel. His family consisted of twelve children, eight of whom grew to maturity. He and his good wife are yet living at advanced ages, and are in fair health. C. W. Ruggles, who is the seventh in the family, was reared and educated in Lehman and Ross townships, and spent two terms in Kingston Seminary. In his early life he followed the business of sawyer; afterward was clerk for Ruggles & Shonk, and in 1874 he removed to Lake township, where he engaged in mercantile business on a large scale. He has a commodious and well-stocked storeroom of general mer- chandise, and enjoys a large custom which has been brought to him mainly by his strict attention to business principles and his paying special attention to the "Golden Rule," which is sure to bring success in the end. Mr. Ruggles was mar- ried. August 1, 1872, to Miss Rosa Rood, who was born in Ross township, Novem- ber 9, 1852, a daughter of Thomas D. and Martha Rood, and there were seven chil- dren born to them, six of whom are now living, viz. : Milton L., Jennie M., Torrance, Bertha L., Rosa B. and Eliza B. Besides his store, Mr. Ruggles has a neat farm of eighty-two acres. He is a Republican, and has held the office of postmaster four- teen years-ever since the establishment of a postoffice there.

W. O. RUGGLES, farmer, contractor and builder, Pike's Creek, was born in Ross township, September 12, 1850, a son of Josiah and Mary A. (Naugle) Ruggles, the former born in Hanover township, the latter, it is presumed, a native of the same town. Josiah is the son of Lorenzo Ruggles, who was one of the first of this family to come to the county, arriving about 1797, from Connecticut, and locating in Hanover township, where he purchased a farm of 140 acres. He was a black- smith by trade, and, as well as clearing up his farm, he also made ploughs and axes by hand, and these ploughs and axes, although crude in appearance, were very effective practically. His family numbered eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity. He died in 1868 in his seventy-eighth year. His son, Josiah, in early life, followed boating and other vocations, and, as he advanced in years and experi- ence, entered mercantile business; he finally went into the farming and lumbering business extensively. At one time he owned about 1,000 acres of timber land. He is a man of large experience, and in his younger days of much influence and ster- ling worth. He had held the office of postmaster for about twenty years at one time, and for ten years at another, and he had other minor offices in the town which he discharged with credit. He and his good wife are now living and enjoying life in Lehman township at the ages of seventy-six and seventy-three years, respectively. They reared a family of eight, all of whom grew to maturity and are now (1891) liv- ing, W. O. being the eighth in the family. Our subject was reared and educated in Lehman at the common school. In early life he confined himself to the carpen- ter's trade, at which trade he became an adept, and has always followed it in con- junction with his farming. He contracts for all his work, bridges, buildings of vari-

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ous designs, etc. Mr. Ruggles is not only a master builder but an extensive and practical farmer, owning 120 acres on which he resides, fifty-six in another lot, besides building lote in the borough of Nanticoke. He has held several offices, and is a man of influence and ability. Last October he lost property to the extent of $800. At the age of twenty, September 12, 1870, he married Mise Mary A., daugh- ter of Nathan and Emily J. Ide, and by her he had five children: F. L., C. M., Eugene, Emily J. and Grace, all of whom are yet (1891) living. Mrs. Mary A. (Ide) Ruggles was born in Lehman, December 20, 1851, and is a descendant of the first settlers of Luzerne township. W. O. Ruggles is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Jr. O. A. U. M. Politically he is a Republican. He and his wife are consistent members of the M. E. Church.

CAPTAIN A. H. RUSH was born in Germany, September 26, 1836. He came to Wilkes-Barre in 1840, and as soon as old enough began work in the mines, where he was employed seven years. He then learned the marble-cutter's trade, and followed that business until the breaking out of the Civil war, in which he served three years and eight months -- one year as first lieutenant in the Fifty-second Pennsylvania Regiment, and two years and eight months as captain of Company E, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Since his discharge he has been engaged as traveling sales- man in the monument business.

MICHAEL C. RUSSELL, merchant, Edwardsville, is one of the leading business men of this locality, having been engaged in the mercantile business here for over fourteen years. Previous to this time he was engaged at railroading as locomotive engineer. Mr. Russell was born in the Parish of Rhine, County Clare, Ireland, and is a son of Timothy and Mary (Malloney) Russell, who were both natives of Ireland. When he was a little over twelve years of age his parents emigrated to America, settling in Kingston, Pa., in which locality he has principally remained ever since. Mr. Russell was married, December 19, 1863, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Keating, of Plymouth, Pa. ; Mr. Keating was one of the first settlers in Plymouth township. The fruits of this happy union are nine children, viz .: Elizabeth, married to John H. Ryan. of Edwardsville; John J., married to Julia Vahey, of Edwardsville; Thomas F .; Mary Ann; Michael C., Jr .; Joseph; Agnes, Matthew, and Paul. Mr. Russell and his family are members of the Catholic Church. His political principles are Democratic, and he has been borough councilman for three years.

JOHN RUTLEDGE, laborer, Port Blanchard, was born January 14, 1832, in County Mayo, Ireland, and is the youngest in a family of five children born to Michael and Mary (Burke) Rutledge, also natives of County Mayo, Ireland. Our subject was educated in the Irish National Schools, and afterward worked with his father on the farm. He arrived in New York in August, 1847, and settled in Schuylkill county, this State, where he received employment as a laborer in the mines. He came to Pittston in 1849, and worked at general laboring work until 1851, when he again went into the mines as a laborer; one year later, in 1852, he was employed as a miner by the Penneylvania Coal Company, with whom he stayed until 1891, when he was again employed at outside laboring work. Mr. Rutledge was united in mar- riage May 14, 1856, with Bridget, daughter of Peter and Bridget (Walsh) Nealon, natives of County Mayo, Ireland. This union has been blessed with five children, namely: Kate T., born May 6, 1858, and married December 26, 1889, to Patrick J. Manley, a school teacher, in Sebastopol, this county; Mary A., born March 26, 1861; John P., born April 28, 1864; Belinda A., born July 2, 1866, was married August 6, 1890, to Edward J. Moran Gibbons, a miner, of Port Griffith; and Elizabeth L., born January 2, 1872. The wife of our subject died July 6, 1882. He is a member of the Catholic Church and of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union. In politics he is a Democrat.

JAMES RYAN was born in Framingham, Mass., December 10, 1850, and is a son of William and Catherine (Lynch) Ryan. His father died in 1891; he was a farmer, a soldier in the late Civil war and a member of the Third Mass. V. He was the father of three sons: John, of Ellenville, N. Y., proprietor of a pottery; James; and

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William, proprietor of a pottery at Keene, N. H. Our subject was reare on a farm until seventeen years of age, then entered the employ of the Somerse Pottery Company at Somerset, Mass., with whom he remained three years. He con tinued in business in the eastern States until 1872, when he located in Pittston an entered the employ of Evan R. Jones, remaining there three years, after which h formed a partnership with his brother at Ellenville, which existed three years. H then returned to Pittston and again worked for Mr. Jones until his death in 1880 then continued in the employ of the estate until it was disposed of in 1887, an thereafter with the purchaser, Lewis Jones, until the building burned down in 1890 He then purchased the ground and erected the building he now occupies, and ha since conducted a successful business. He married, March 30, 1882, Mary G. daughter of John Gahn, an old resident of Pittston, and has two children, Esthe and Harry. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, is Past Master of St. John' Lodge No. 233, F. & A. M., and is present high priest of Pittston Chapter Nc 242; a member of the Wyoming Valley Commandery No. 57, K. T., the Easter Star, Chapter No. 1, and Gahonto Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 314; in politics he is Republican.

JOHN RYAN, foreman, Pittston, is a native of New York City, and was bor December 15, 1850. He is a son of John Ryan, in whose family were three chil dren, viz. : Michael, a reporter on the New York Sun, who died at the age of twenty two; Bridget, a Sister of Charity in New York; and John. When our subjec was about six years of age his parents died, and soon after he went to Monticello N. Y., to live with Mr. J. Booth. He remained there two years and attende school, then went to Damascus, Wayne county, and worked for E. Beech & Sor where he learned the tanner's trade during the next three years. June 26, 1863, h enlisted in the U. S. Navy, on the gunboat, "Penobscot," but was taken out of the ser ice by his sister who was his guardian, he being under age. He returned to the tar nery, where he remained until 1873, when he came to Pittston, and has since bee engaged in contract work in railroad building, chiefly through the anthracite regions He was married in 1873 to Miss Sarah, daughter of John Morgan, of Wilkes-Barre and by her has had three children, viz. : John M., William W., and Sarah J. M. Ryan is a member of the Masonic Lodge and of the Knights of Pythias. In politic he is a Republican.

T. H. RYAN, merchant, Miners Mills, was born in Scranton November 16, 1856 and is a son of James and Ann (Smith) Ryan, natives of Counties Galway and Sligo Ireland, respectively, and a grandson of James and Mary (Ford) Ryan, who came t America in 1847, and located in Philadelphia. In his father's family there wer seven children, viz. : Thomas H. ; James, who was killed in the Pine Ridge Shaft : the age of fifteen; John, employed in the Steel Works at Scranton; Catharine, wh lives with her mother in Miners Mills; Mary A., deceased in infancy; Ann and Mat Agnes, also living with their mother. Our subject began working in the Iron Work at the age of fourteen, and later removed with the family to Miners Mills, where h mined twelve years, afterward returning to the Iron Works for one year. He the attended the Saint Francis College, Brooklyn, one year; and after working a fe months in the Scranton Steel Works, came to Miners Mills, where he worked in th mines a year and a half. He built his present store in 1884, and a few month later devoted his whole attention to the business, which he has since conducted. M. Ryan was married, January 21, 1883, to Miss Margaret, daughter of Patrick Mui day, of Miners Mills, a native of Ireland. They have six children, viz. : James R Ellen, Anna, Mary, Leo and Regina. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan are members of the Cath( lic Church. He is a member of the A. O. H. ; he is a Democrat in his political view and has held the office of school director.

J. J. RYMAN, merchant, Dallas, was born in that town April 3, 1852, and is a sc of Abraham and Jemima L. (Kunkle) Ryman, both of whom were also born in Dalla Abraham was a son of Philip, a native of New Jersey, who came to this county i its early settlement, locating in Dallas, between that village and Huntsville, on

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place which is now known as the " Ryman stock farm." He was a thorough-going business man, all his lengthy life; he lived to see many changes for the better in Dallas, many of which he helped to make. He reared a family of nine children. Abraham Ryman began life in Dallas, his native town. He was a man of large business capacities, and was extensively engaged in the lumber and mercantile busi- ness. In the former business he was in partnership with Joseph Shaver; they built a saw and planing mill south of Dallas, where they manufactured lumber; this mill was burned down, but another was built on its site with greater facilities for manu- facturing purposes, and now has a capacity of from 12,000 to 15,000 feet per day. Mr. A. Ryman was a public-spirited man, and possessed great influence; he was very active in church matters, and a liberal contributor to the support of the Gospel, being a member of the M. E. Church. He died December 17, 1873, having been born August 21, 1817. He reared a family of eight children, seven of whom are living, viz. : Elizabeth, Ruth E., Theodore F., William P., John J., Fred S. and Leslie A. John J. received his education in Dallas, and at the Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, and has always confined himself to lumbering and mercantile business. Mr. Ryman is a striving business man, pleasant and genial with all. He was the prime mover in organizing the Dallas Broom Company, which is now incorporated and is doing a thriving business. He has been twice married, first, to Miss May, daughter of Charles Atwater, formerly of Providence, Pa., by whom he has two chil- dren: Edith and Edna. For his second wife he married Miss Jessie, daughter of E. C. Lynde, of Scranton, Pa., by whom he has one child: Lynde. They are both members of the M. E. Church and contribute largely to its support. The Ryman Stock Farm is owned and superintended by the Ryman Bros., who coufine them- selves principally to raising draught horses. The lumber business is carried on in Wilkes-Barre under the name of Ryman Brothers.

WILLIAM P RYMAN, attorney at law, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Dallas, Luzerne Co., Pa., August 23, 1847, a son of Abram and Jemima (Kunkle) Ryman. The ancestry of the Ryman [originally spelled Reiman] family came from the vicinity of Warmbrunn, in the Government of Liegnitz, Province of Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia. The first ancestor in America was George Ryman, who came to America about 1750 and settled in New Jersey, near Easton, Pa., and there married Kate Motley. He was the great-grandfather of our subject, and his children were Peter, John, Jacob and Kate, of whom Peter (the grandfather of subject) was born in New Jersey in 1776, and married Mary Sweazy, who was born in 1780, a daughter of Richard Sweazy. Peter Ryman and his wife lived for a time near Hope, Warren Co., N. J., and in 1812 settled in Dallas, Luzerne Co., Pa., with their family of children, viz. : John, Joseph, Peter and Eliza (Mrs. J. R. Baldwin); two sons were born in Dallas: Abram and Richard. They settled on Lot 5, certified, Bedford township (now Dallas), which farm is still in the possession of the Ryman family, and a portion of four generations have been born there. Abram Ryman was born August 21, 1817, and his life was spent on the old homestead, where he died December 17, 1873. His wife was a daughter of Philip and Mary (LaBar) Kunkle, of Dallas township, and by her he had seven children: Mary E. (Mrs. C. M. Max- well), Theodore F., William P., John J., Ruth E., Fred S. and Leslie S. Abram Ryman began business as a lumberman and farmer, in 1834, and soon after embarked in the mercantile business, which he continued up to his death, the present firm of A. Ryman & Sons, of Wilkes-Barre and Dallas, having been established by him. He was one of the most progressive and enterprising men of his day and place. He commenced life with nothing, took care of his parents, had a successful business career, and was honored and respected by all who knew him. An elder brother, John Ryman, was a distinguished lawyer of Lawrenceburg, Ind., where he was in the practice of his profession for twenty-five years, and during that time had charge of a large portion of the cases taken to the Supreme Court of the State. Our sub- ject was reared on the old homestead in Dallas, was educated in the common school at Dallas, and at Wyoming Seminary; was graduated from Cornell University in 1871,

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and from Harvard Law School in 1872. In November, 1873, he was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county, and to the United States Court in 1882. Since 1873 he has been in the active practice of his profession at Wilkes-Barre. He is president of the Wilkes-Barre & Eastern Railroad, and Wilkes-Barre & Williamsport Railroad, in process of construction. On December 17, 1879, Mr. Ryman was married to Charlotte M., daughter of George P. and Charlotte (Freeland) Rose, of Freeport, Ill., and has two children: Roselys and Emily. Our subject is one of the pro- gressive citizens of Luzerne county; he introduced the first telephone put in prac- tical operation in Wilkes-Barre, and was the organizer of the Wilkes-Barre Electric Light Company. In politics he is a Republican.

TOM SAGE, hotel proprietor, Luzerne, was born in Monmouthshire, England, May 12, 1858, and is a son of George and Ann (Appleton) Sage, natives of England. Our subject was brought to America with his parents when only five years of age, and was educated in Luzerne county. He commenced life as door-tender in the old Grand Tunnel (this county); then at Avondale (same place) as car-runner for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Coal Company; then for one year was in the huckstering and confectionery business, after which for seven years he carried on a livery business, but losing same by fire he went to work "outside" for John C. Haddock; then as stationary engineer; then with W. Y. Payne as breaker engineer; afterward with Simpson & Watkins, Northwest Coal Company; then returned to J. C. Haddock, and worked as fireman, afterward as engineer on slope engines; thence to Joseph Tyrrel as engineer. Coming afterward to the borough of Luzerne, he here opened his present well-known and popular hotel. Mr. Sage was married July 22, 1880, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Freeman and Julia (Poole) McCarty, natives of Pennsylvania, and to this union have been born four children, viz .: George F., William P., Ina E. and Fred A. In politics Mr. Sage has always been identified with the Republican party.

JOHN T. L. SAHM, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Greencastle, Franklin Co., Pa., September 6, 1843, and is a son of Rev. Peter and Susan (Tritle) Sahm. His paternal grandfather was John Sahm, a native of near Manheim, Lancaster Co., Pa., who was a farmer and distiller by occupation. Rev. Peter Sahm, D. D., father of subject, was born near Manheim, in 1809, and educated at the Lutheran Theo- logical Seminary, Gettysburg, Pa., where he was graduated in 1831. He began his ministerial career in 1832, as a clergyman of the Lutheran Church, and after forty-four years' service in the ministry, died at Laurelton, Union Co., Pa., March 14, 1876, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife was a daughter of John Tritle, a farmer of near Chambersburg, Pa., and granddaughter of Jacob Tritle, a native of Bavaria, Germany, who was a pioneer of Franklin County, Pa., where he engaged in the business of farming and distilling. Our subject was prepared for college at Somerset Academy, and was graduated from the Pennsylvania College, at Gettys- burg, in 1862. He afterward read law with B. McIntyre, at New Bloomfield, Pa., and in April, 1865, was admitted to the bar of Perry county. He then located in Mifflintown, and in 1866 was elected district attorney of Juniata county, serving his term of three years, after which he formed a legal partnership with Ezra D. Parker, under the firm name of Parker & Sahm. This partnership existed until 1873, when Mr. Sahm removed to Wilkes-Barre, and was admitted to the bar of Luzerne county in April of the same year. In December following, he engaged as clerk in the prothonotary's office, in which capacity he has served until the present time, being chief deputy prothonotary since January, 1880, and although a Democrat in politics, has retained his position under all the administrations of the office, for a period of eighteen years. Mr. Sahm was married September 17, 1872, to Minnie S., a daughter of Joseph Rothrock, of Fermanagh, Juniata Co., Pa., and has four children living: Frank Basil Rothrock Sahm, Raymond Paul Rothrock Sahm, Ruth Victoria Rothrock Sahm, and Minnie Constance Roth- rock Sahm.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 196

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