History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 206

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

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FRANK N. SMITH, principal of the West Nanticoke schools, was born in Kent county, Del., August 12, 1864, and is a son of William and Margaret A. (Baggs) Smith, also natives of Delaware. Our subject was educated in the public schools of his birthplace and at the Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, taking a four years' course at the latter place and graduating in the class of 1891. He then took charge of the school of West Nanticoke. Mr. Smith has been a student of theology, and is at present pastor of the West Nanticoke Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he votes the Prohibition ticket; he is a member of the O. U. A. M.

FRED L. SMITH, attorney, Hazleton, was born in that town December 5, 1864, a son of Sampson and Elizabeth (Lauderburn) Smith, and is of English and German descent. He was reared in his native city, graduated from Dickinson College, in 1886, and studied law with C. W. Kline, of Hazleton. He attended Columbia Law School 1888-89, and in the spring of 1890 was admitted to the Luzerne county bar. He has since been located in Hazleton, where he is building up a lucrative clientage. Politically, Mr. Smith is a Republican.

GEORGE SMITH, blacksmith and wheelwright, Wright township, P. O. Albert, was born in Hazleton, February 20, 1863, a son of George and Anna C. (Creesy) Smith, both of German origin. The father was a farmer, and reared a family of six chil- dren, George being the fourth in order of birth. He attended the common schools of Butler township till he was fifteen years old, when he went to work on his father's farm, where he remained four years. He then attended school one term, after which he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he finished, together with that of wheelwright, in 1883 .. He then came to Wright township, where he opened a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, and, one year later purchased a farm and erected thereon a shop of his own, which contains all of the most modern machinery. Mr. Smith was married in October, 1884, to Anna B., daughter of George and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Hildebrand, both of Wright township and of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, viz. : Charles A. and Walter L. Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend the Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Smith is a Democrat.

GEORGE H. SMITH, brick manufacturer, Pittston, was born December 4, 1854, in Pittston, where he was reared, and learned the rudiments of the English language. He is a son of Harry and Caroline (Daniels) Smith, the former born in England, the latter in Wales. Harry Smith emigrated to this country in 1845, locating in Pitts-

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ton, where he became an active coal operator, owning at one time about 400 acres of coal land. He was a man of keen perception and fine business qualities. His son, George H., is a part owner in and is the business agent for the company. Mr. Smith, the father of George H., was not only a coal operator, but he also entered into other enterprises. He owned and managed a brewery and was the founder of the Peoples Bank of Pittston, being chosen one of the first directors. His life was active and eventful. He died August 2, 1874, at the early age of fifty. Harry and Caroline (Daniels) Smith were the parents of four children, two of whom are living: George H. and Albert P. George H. is the eldest and, in his preparatory discipline, spent several terms at the Kingston school. He next went to Graylock College, Massa- chusetts, thence to Europe, where he spent two years, and upon his return com- pleted his studies in Philadelphia. May 11, 1876, he married Miss Minnie, daughter of Robert and Mary Loona, by whom he has had six children, four of whom are living: Harry E., Mahel, A. Lester and George, Jr. After his marriage Mr. Smith returned to Europe with his family, where he spent four years, making in all seven years spent abroad. In 1888 our subject embarked in his first personal enterprise, as a brick manufacturer in Pittston township. He has a 40,000 capacity plant, and employs fifty men. His brick is of superior quality, for which he finds a ready market all over the country. Mr. Smith is an enterprising and hustling business man, he is a member of the Episcopal Church and a vestryman of that body. Polit- ically he is a stanch Republican.

HON. JOHN B. SMITH, president of the First National Bank of Plymouth, with residence in Forty Fort, was born May 26, 1819, in Plymouth, where the Smith Opera House now stands (which was built by him in honor of his parents), and is a son of Abijah and Esther (Ransom) Smith, natives of Connecticut and Plymouth respectively. The father came to Plymouth in 1806, and in 1807 helped to open the first coal mine in the United States, at that place. He followed the coal busi- ness until his death, which occurred in 1826, when he was aged sixty-five years. He had been twice married, having in all nineteen children, seven by his latter wife, three of whom are living, viz. : Louisa (Mrs. Samuel Davenport, of Plymouth); Levi M. (residing in Denver, Colo., and operating two large ranches a short dis- tance from the city) and John B. Our subject's education was limited to the meager facilities afforded by the Plymouth Academy at the time of his boyhood. He earned his first money, when but twelve years of age, digging potatoes, his payment being every eighth bushel, and during the following two summers he worked on a farm for a Mr. Turner, for which he received a shilling per day. When he was sixteen years of age, he engaged with the firm of Smith & Wright, of Newark, N. J. (of which his half-brother, Fitch, was the senior member), to learn the saddler's trade; he stayed just nine days, and then came by boat to Easton, and from there walked to Plymouth. Next day he began an apprenticeship at cabinet-making, which he followed a year and a half, and then entered the employ of his brother- in-law, Samuel Davenport, in a general mercantile business. In this he remained

until he was twenty-one, and then purchased a half interest in the stock, which partnership lasted till the death of Mr. Davenport in 1849. Mr. Smith continued in the business until 1870, admitting his nephew, Abijah Davenport, as partner in 1864. In 1862 he purchased the coal business of Heber & Crouse, of Plymouth, and in July, 1864, sold it for fifty-one thousand dollars. He then refused, but secured for his son, Robert N., a position as coal operator with a salary of twelve thousand dollars a year, and organized the bank of which he has since been presi- dent. This gentleman's brilliant success in life, which has been largely due to his own personal efforts, shows very clearly what may be accomplished in this great land of ours by honest and untiring industry, backed by good common sense; he embarked in life working by the day for very meager wages, but now his consolidated estates would constitute quite an Empire. He owns five large farms in Pennsyl- vania, and a tract of 3,680 acres in one of the best gold districts of Colorado, which, apart from its fertile soil, has been pronounced by experts as an unusually

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good gold field. Besides these vast estates, he owns and deals in town property to a great extent in Nanticoke, Plymouth, Forty Fort, and adjoining towns. He has been president of the Kingston & Dallas Turnpike Road Company since its organi- zation. He built his present beautiful residence in Forty Fort borough, and removed therein in 1868; for the past few years a large portion of his time has been given to traveling. Mr. Smith was married, February 8, 1843, to Miss Liva, daughter of Robert Davenport, of Plymouth, and they had born to them three children, two of whom are living, viz. : Robert N., teller in the First National Bank at Plymouth, and Liva (Mrs. Dr. Albert Reckard, of Plymouth). On January 25, 1851, Mr. Smith married Eveline Keeler, daughter of Asa and Elizabeth Keeler, and this union has been blessed with nine children, two of whom are living, viz .: May Virginia, resid- ing with her parents, and Margaret Ransom Eveline (Mrs. Harvey Yeager, of Forty Fort). Our subject is a member of the Christian Church of Plymouth, of the board of trustees of which he is president; his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Shawnee Lodge No. 225, at Plymouth; of the Farmers' American Congress, which he was appointed by Governor Pattison to attend at Sedalia, Mo., in November, 1891; is also a member of the Farmers' State Board. In his political views, Mr. Smith has always advo- cated the principles of the Republican party, and represented his District in the Legislature at Harrisburg from 1876 to 1880.

JOSEPH SMITH, retired, Forty Fort, is a son of Thomas and Mary (Grant) Smith, natives of England, who in 1834 came to America, where the father was engaged as farmer in Lackawanna county, Pa., and later as butcher in Wilkes-Barre, this county. Our subject, who is third in a family of nine children, seven of whom are now living, was born June 22, 1823, in Cambridgeshire, England. He was educated in the common schools of America, and in 1853 started in life for himself as broom-maker, which trade he followed until 1879, when he moved on his present farm known as the "Forty Fort Berry Farm," purchased in 1868. Mr. Smith was married in 1858 to Sarah Pugh, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Drecher) Pugh, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Their union has been blessed with two children: Samuel T., born November 20, 1859, and Elmer T., born May 25, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.

THOMAS SMITH, county commissioner, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Shillbottle, County Northumberland, England, August 31, 1830, a son of Thomas and Isabel (Smith) Smith. His father was a miner and a native of England, where he lived and died. His paternal grandparents were John and Bessie (Askel) Smith, and his maternal grandfather was John Smith-all natives of England. Our subject was reared in England, where he received a limited education in the common schools. He began work in the mines at nine years of age, and was employed in the mines fifty-one years in England and Pennsylvania. In 1864 he came to America and settled in Luzerne county, Pa., where he has since resided. Twenty-seven years of the time were spent at Milnesville, where he was engaged in mining, and since 1891

he has resided in Wilkes-Barre. In 1853 Mr. Smith married Mary Beadling, daughter of Thomas and Isabella (Shields) Beadling, of County Northumberland, England, and by her has eight children living, viz. : John, William, Thomas, Luke, Isabella (Mrs. Robert Ruthford), Mary A., Robert and James. Mr. Smith is a prominent member of the Knights of Labor, and for three years was treasurer of the Order at Milnesville; was also for two years vice-president of the W. B. A. Miners' Union. In 1890 he was elected one of the commissioners of Luzerne county for a term of three years, which he is now serving. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

THOMAS SMITH, miner, Inkerman, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., March 22, 1827. His parents, Jonathan and Sarah (Teal) Smith, natives of Lancashire, England, reared a family of five children, of whom our subject is the youngest. He received his education in the common schools, and when about twenty years of age came to Pittston, where he was employed as an out-door laborer until 1850, when he went

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to work in the mines. On the breaking out of the Rebellion our subject enlisted in Company C, Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and served with distinction during the war, being entitled to the rank of sergeant. On being mustered out at the close of the war he retired to Pittston, and has since been employed as a miner by the Pennsylvania Coal Company. Mr. Smith was united in marriage, July 4, 1856, with Annie, daughter of Frederick J. and Annie (Foster) Steward, natives of Durham, England. They have no children of their own, but adopted, many years ago, the son and daughter of Mr. Smith's brother. Our subject is a member of the M. E. Church, the I. O. O. F., O. U. A. M., and I. O. R. M. He is a Republican in politics.

THOMAS G. SMITH, truck farmer, Forty Fort borough, is a son of Thomas and Mary (Grant) Smith, who came to America in 1834, the father following farming in Lackawanna county, Pa., for a time, and, later, the butchering business in Wilkes- Barre. Our subject, who is second in a family of nine children, seven of whom are now living, was educated at the common schools in this country, and commenced life at broom-making, and at the age of twenty-five embarked in truck farming in Kingston township, which he carried on nine years. He then went to Boston, Ohio, and was there engaged in same business, one year; thence proceeded to Medina county, same State, and was there eight years, when he moved to Sanford Station, Ill., thence to Bloom, same State, remaining at each place one year. He then returned to Pennsylvania, and spent one winter in Scranton at general work, after which, in 1869, he came to Forty Fort and purchased his present property, whereon he has since resided. Mr. Smith was married November 10, 1845, to Rhoda Gunton, daughter of Matthew and Margaret (Barron) Gunton, natives of England, who came to America in 1831, the former of whom was a stencil worker by occupa- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had six children, of whom the following is a brief record: Charles B., a bottler in Scranton, married Elizabeth Motzonbacher, and has four children: Bertie, Maud, Flora and Artie; Mary J. married James Gardner, a bookkeeper in Scranton, and has five children: Frank, Lettie, Belle, Artie and Goldie; Margaret S. married Zeno Whitebeck, a carriage trimmer in Scranton, and has five children: Giles, Bessie, Frank, Gracie and Warren; Florence E. married Daniel Ruple, a carriage maker, of Scranton, from whom she was divorced, and she afterward married Robert Albertson, of Wilkes-Barre (by her first marriage she had one child, Naomi Ethel); Martha A. married William Menich, a dentist of Nanti- coke, and has two children, Grant and Austin; Rhoda (deceased) married Harper Pettibone, a farmer of Dorranceton, and had one child, Warren H. Mrs. Thomas G. Smith is a member of the Baptist Church of Abington; in politics Mr. Smith is a Democrat.

THOMAS H. SMITH, Nescopeck township, was born in Butler township, September 20, 1843, a son of William and Elizabeth (Washburn) Smith. His paternal grand- father, Samuel Smith, a native of New Jersey, settled in Nescopeck township about 1814, making improvements on a large farm, part of which is owned by our subject. While on his way to Philadelphia, to make his last payment on the tract of 428 acres, he was thrown from his horse and killed within a short distance from his home. His wife was Christina Robinson, and his children who grew to maturity were: William, Samuel, Phineas, Josiah, Jane (Mrs. George Fortner), John, George, Sarah and Mary (Mrs. Peter Stahr). The father of our subject was born in New Jersey in 1810, and was reared in Nescopeck township from four years of age. He cleared a part of the old homestead, where he died in 1871. His children were: Uriah, Albert, Samuel, Thomas H., Joseph, A. R., John W. and Elizabeth, by his first wife. His second wife was Susan Wright, and his children by her were: William, Benjamin, Ann (Mrs. Lutz), and Walter S. Our subject was reared in Nescopeck township from infancy, and has made farming his chief occupation. He enlisted in the Civil war December 23, 1864, in Company G, One Hundred and Ninety ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers; he took part in several skirmishes and the battles at Fort Gregg and Appomattox, and witnessed Lee's surrender. He was

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honorably discharged from the service June 28, 1865. Mr. Smith was married, Febru- ary 2, 1868, to Lydia A., daughter of Michael and Sarah (Hess) Raber, of Nesco- peck, and by her he has had three children: George W., Albert W. (deceased) and Lloyd E. Mr. Smith is a member of the Senior Order of United American Mechanics; in politics he is a Democrat, and served as school director of Nescopeck township for twelve years.

U. R. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Harding, was born in this county, July 27, 1851, and is a son of Thomas and Louisa (Driesbach) Smith, the former born in New Jersey, the latter in Monroe county, Pa. Thomas was a sawyer by occupation and an expert lumber manufacturer. He removed to this county about 1840, locating in Exeter township, where he owned a farm, now the property of Jacob Kintz. At one time he was a hotel-keeper at what is now known as Harding, on the Susquehanna river. In 1864 he entered the Civil war, serving faithfully and courageously to its close, and was honorably discharged. He previously served three years under Gen. Scott in the Mexican war. Mr. Smith was a man of varied experience. He died in May, 1887, at the age of sixty-seven years. His family consisted of five children, four of whom grew to maturity, and three of whom are now living. U. R. is the second of the family; he was reared and educated in Exeter township and has always con- fined himself to agricultural pursuits. In September, 1875, he married Miss Dora, daughter of A. J. and Emma Vantingle, and to this union were born two girls: Jessie and Emma. Mr. Smith removed to his present place of seventy acres which he purchased in 1891, formerly known as the "Oliver Driesbach" place. Mr. Smith is an expert gardner, raising all kinds of "truck," supplying the needs of the Pitts- ton market. His hot-house is supplied with all the modern improvements for con- ducting that business. He is also an extensive dealer in milk, having forty cows of superior breed. Mr. Smith is a striving man of sufficient force of character to make his mark in life; he is gentlemanly in conduct, and amiable in disposition.

WILLIAM E. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Rock Glen, was born in what is now Black Creek township, May 3, 1824, a son of John and Eve (Engle) Smith. His paternal grandfather, Phineas Smith, a native of New Jersey, was a pioneer of Black Creek township, where he cleared and improved a farm, and there died: His children were James, Samuel, Phineas, Abram, Benjamin, Jesse, Mary (Mrs. John Cawley), Patty (Mrs. John Miller), Kate (Mrs. Daniel Shellhammer), Hannah (Mrs. Philip Cool), Sally (Mrs. Abram Cool) and John. The father of our subject was a native of New Jersey, but spent most of his life in Black Creek township, where he cleared the farm now owned by Peter Ringlaber, and died there. His wife was a daughter of John Engle, a pioneer of Sugar Loaf township, and by her he had nine children: Phineas, Joseph, John, William E., James, Mary (Mrs. John Sinn), Kate (Mrs. Amos McNeil), Rebecca (Mrs. Cyrus Young), Jane (Mrs. Frederick Hill). Our sub- ject was reared in Black Creek township, and cleared most of the farm where he now resides. His wife was Catherine, daughter of Abram and Elizabeth (Martz) Shellhammer, of Black Creek township, and his children are Charles, Abram, Asa, Ariel, Dennison, Lizzie (Mrs. James Hauze) and Della. Mr. Smith is a represent- ative of one of the oldest families of Black Creek. In politics he is a Democrat, and has held the offices of supervisor, overseer of the poor, auditor and school director.

JOHN SMOULTER, JR., president of the First National Bank of Nanticoke, was born in Wilkes-Barre, December 26, 1853. His parents, John and Elisabeth (Hochreiter) Smoulter, came from Germany and settled in Wilkes-Barre in 1847, where the mother died in 1863. His father, at the venerable age of eighty-three, now resides at Nanticoke, and is comparatively hale and active for a man of his age. He reared a family of five children, of whom our subject is the youngest. After receiving a good business education in the schools of Wilkes-Barre, he was employed around the mines for a time, when he engaged as an apprentice at the tinner's trade, which he followed for seven years. In 1886 he came to Nanticoke and engaged in the hardware mercantile business in various forms, such as plumbing and tinning. He devoted his entire attention to the business, in which he was very successful, until

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1888, when he received the nomination for county treasurer of Luzerne county by the Democratic party. He was also successful in politics as well as in business, being elected to the office by a large majority. Mr. Smoulter was also elected and served as a delegate to the National Democratic Convention held in Chicago, in June, 1892, which nominated Grover Cleveland for the Presidency. On January 14, 1889, at the organization of the First National Bank of Nanticoke, of which he was one of the leading promoters, he was elected its vice-president, and one year later became president, which office he now holds. Mr. Smoulter was married, January 24, 1883, to Miss Ellen Shea, of Nanticoke, which union has been blessed with four children, . viz. : Lizzie (deceased), John (deceased), Gertrude and Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. Smoulter are members of the Catholic Church at Nanticoke.

WILLIAM J. SMURLS, carpenter, Parsons, was born in Nanticoke, Pa., August 22, 1843, and is a son of John and Christiana (Stuckey) Smurls, the former born on board ship, on the high seas, between Ireland and Scotland. His parents were from Scotland, and he was a native of Pennsylvania and of Holland origin. Our subject was educated in the common schools, also in the Wilkes-Barre high school, and began life for himself at the age of eighteen, working at the carpenter's trade for the firm of Godshaw & Divenpect, constructing breakers at Scranton. He remained there about a year and then came to Parsons in the employ of the same firm, remain- ing with them here about three years. He then worked in various places for about a year, when he was employed by the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company, and has since been in their employ as a mine foreman. He enlisted October 17, 1864, in Company I, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry (One Hundred and Sixtieth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers), and, June 21, 1865, was transferred to Company A; he was assigned to Stanley's Division, cavalry of the Cumberland, was on scout duty near Chattanooga, and removed to Decatur, Ala .; was in a skirmish at Dalton, Ga., and also in the following engagements: Decatur, Pond Springs (Ala.); capture of Hood's pontoon and wagon trains, Mavoo (Ala.); Tuscaloosa road and rout of the H, Alabama Cavalry, Thorn Hill, Mt. Hope, Reel Hill, Paint Rocks, Stoneman's raid, Wilkesboro (on the Yadkin river), destruction of the Tennessee Railroad (Boone, N. C.); Wytherville (Va.); New London (Va.); Greensboro (N. C.); James- town, destruction of the bridge and depot at Deep River; also the capture of the money of the Macam Bank, near forks of the Appalachee, and was mustered out July 18, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn., and returned home. On January 9, 1866, Mr. Smurls married Miss Kate, daughter of Peter Murry, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., foreman for the Baltimore Coal Company, and they have had children as follows: Anna (deceased), William E., Doris (now Mrs. W. G. Gates, of Lake View), Hazel, Joseph A. M., Abram V., Kate and Winifred. Mr. Smurls is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the G. A. R., and P. O. S. of A., in politics he is the slave of no party.

SAMUEL B. SNELL, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born in Exeter, July 17, 1830. He is a son of Samuel and Susanna (Van Loon) Snell, the former born October 25, 1782, at Tioga Point (now Athens), Bradford Co., Pa., the latter in Plymouth about 1794. (The Van Loons were very early settlers in the Valley). Samuel Snell was a son of George, who was of Holland origin, and settled in Bradford county, near Athens, where he owned a large tract of land. He lived to be fifty years of age, and reared a family of seven children, all of whom are now dead. Samuel began life at Athens, and was by trade a hatter, owning a shop in partnership with his brother. He removed to this county in 1822, and in 1840 removed to Franklin township, where he purchased fifty acres of land, here passing the remainder of his days. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; Abraham, his brother, was a major in the same regiment. Samuel died in 1869, at the age of eighty-seven. His family consisted of eleven children, eight of whom grew to maturity, five living. Samuel B., is the fifth, and was reared and educated in Franklin township. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, but is now practically a farmer, owning a farm of 120 acres, well-improved, which he has acquired by economy and hard labor. On

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January 1, 1860, he was married to Miss Fannie, daughter of Henry and Eliza Anthony. There were ten children born to them, all of whom are living: Flora, John, Susan (wife of Charles C. Dilcer), S. B., Capitola, Maude, Harry, Fannie, Pansy and Mildred. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, P. V. I, for nine months. He received a wound at the battle of Gettysburg, the ball passing through his right cheek and lodging in his throat, where it remained six months, when in a fit of coughing one day he coughed it up. Mr. Snell is a worthy man, a good neighbor and is much respected in the community.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 206

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