History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 208

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

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tember 18, 1879, with Miss Martha Gerlock, of Hazleton, and to this union have been born two children, namely: Rollin L. and Hazle Elizabeth. In political matters Mr. Spaide is independent; the family are members of the Methodist Church.

Simon Spaide, the other member of the firm of Spaide Brothers, was born November 6, 1849, at Butler Valley, was reared on a farm, and educated in the public schools and at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. In 1870 he came to Hazle- ton, and was here employed as clerk by different merchants until 1878, when the present large mercantile business of Spaide Brothers was established, Simon hav- ing charge of the dry-goods department. Mr. Simon Spaide has been twice mar- ried: first, in May, 1875, to Miss Hannah M. Klinger, and two children were born to this union, namely: Elora Maud and Ira E. Hannah, his first wife, died July 29, 1880, and for his second wife he married, in March, 1883, Miss Maggie McGran. One child, Elda May, has blessed this union. In political matters Simon Spaide is independent.

CHARLES W. SPAYD, physician, surgeon and druggist, No. 159 East Market street, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Philadelphia, March 3, 1840. He is a son of John E. and Catherine Ann (Bilighaus) Spayd, natives of Saxony (Germany) and Penn- sylvania, respectively. The father emigrated to America in 1802, and engaged in the manufacture of planes in Philadelphia, where he died February 13, 1871, aged seventy-two years. He was a son of John E. Spayd, who came from Germany to Philadelphia, where he married Martha Geiss, and later returned to Germany. Our subject, who is the ninth in a family of ten children, five of whom are now living, was educated in Philadelphia, passing through the public school, and then entered the Pennsylvania Medical College. After attending that institution three years, he joined the U. S. service as assistant surgeon of the United States general hospital at St. Louis. He was afterward transferred and promoted to surgeon on the steamer "Empress," serving there until August 16, 1862, when he was transferred to the Fifty-Third Pennsylvania Volunteers, as regimental surgeon, in which capacity he served until his discharge, June 30, 1865. He then returned to Philadelphia, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in the spring of 1866. He immediately came to Wilkes-Barre, and on April 15, following, opened an office at No. 159 East Market street for the practice of his profession. In the spring of 1885 he established "Spayd's Drug Store," which he operates in connection with his large practice. He makes a specialty of surgery, and to day he is one of the best known surgeons in Luzerne county. On March 3, 1868. Dr. Spayd married Barbara J., daughter of Charles and Mary (Cridler) Hay, of Scotch and German origin, respectively. The result of this union was one child, Samuel B., who died at the age of three and one-half years, while on a visit with his mother at Easton, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Spayd attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was coroner of Luzerne county from 1881 to 1884; is medical examiner for the Travelers, New York Life, and North Western Mutual Life Insurance Companies. He is a charter member of Conyngham Post, G A. R. ; politically he is a Democrat.

AMBROSE SPENCER, P. O. Dallas, was born August 27, 1835, in Kingston town- ship, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of Daniel and Susanna (Amy) Spencer, the former born in Connecticut, the latter in Bucks county, Pa. The Spencers settled in Dallas about 1837, where they have since resided. Daniel was an honest, industrious man; he purchased a farm of fifty three acres, on which he had lived an uneventful life, dying January 27, 1878, at the age of eighty-two years, having been preceded to the grave by his wife, Susanna, July 23, 1856. Our subject, at his father's death, inherited the latter's farm, but in early life, commenced agricultural pursuits in Franklin township, at which vocation he has continued. He married Jane, daughter of Samuel and Betsy (Nulton) Honeywell, by whom he had three children-two sons and one daughter-James E., and Susan E. and Daniel J. (deceased). Mr. Spencer is a general farmer and an honest and industrious man. He has the confidence of his fellow citizens, who have elected

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him to the office of constable for three years, and to other minor offices. Politically, he is a Democrat. His wife is a consistent member of the M. E. Church. Her father, Samuel G. Honeywell, Sr., was born in Hope, Warren Co., N. J., December 27, 1804. He is a son of Richard and Catharine (Sutton) Honeywell, who came to this county about 1809 with a family of six sons and two daughters, locating in Dallas on 400 acres of land. Richard was an old pioneer in the true sense of the term. The country was entirely new, in which the wolf, the deer and the bear reigned supreme; but by the help of his six trusty sons and his two virtuous and willing daughters, managed by the loving words of his wife, the forest gave way to the harvest-field and the rude log-cabin was succeeded by a more pretentious house. Richard was a man of influence, holding the offices of the justice of the peace, constable, and collector at various times; he lived to be sixty years of age. Samuel G., Sr., who is the only surviving member of the family, received part of his education in Hope, N. J., and part in Dallas, this county. He has always confined himself to agricultural pursuits, having begun life in Dallas on a farm of seventy-five acres, where he was looked upon as a practical farmer. In 1827, at the age of twenty-three, he married Miss Betsy, daughter of Jacob and Hannah Nulton, and there were born to them eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and five of them are at this writing living. He and his deceased wife lived consistent lives, and were members of the M. E. Church. Politically, he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM SPENCER, farmer, P. O. Town Line, was born in Kingston township, May 29, 1823, and is a son of Daniel and Susan (Amey) Spencer, the former of whom was born in Connecticut, and who removed to this county in its early settle- ment. Ho located in Kingston township, on a farm, where he passed the remainder of his lifetime. The grandfather served in the Revolution, in the defense of that lib- erty which the true patriot loves better than life itself. He lived to be ninety-two years of age. His family consisted of four children. His son, Daniel Spencer, began his business career as a farmer in Kingston, where he lived for a number of years, after which he removed to Dallas, on a farm of fifty acres. He was a hard- working man, and an industrious and practical farmer. During his lifetime he held several township offices. He died in 1880, at the age of eighty-four years, having reared a family of five children, all of whom are living. William, the sub- ject of this sketch, is the second in the family in order of birth. He was reared and educated in Dallas and Carverton, and has always confined himself to agricultural pursuits. In 1864 he was mustered into the U. S. service for the term of one year, in the Fourth New Jersey Light Artillery. He served until the end of the con- fliet, and proved himself a valiant and courageous soldier. After the close of the war, he removed from Dallas to Union township, where he bought a farm of ninety acres of land, on which he erected buildings and also cleared and beautified the farm, all with his own hands. Mr. Spencer has been twice married. For his first wife, he married Miss Ellen R., daughter of Jamison Meeker, and to their union were born eight children, seven of whom are living. Mrs. Ellen R. Spencer died in 1873, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Mary, widow of James Richard- son, who bore him two children, one of whom is living. Mr. Spencer is a practical farmer and a worthy citizen, who enjoys the full confidence of his fellow men. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has been honored with several township offices, and has held that of school director for nine years.

SIMEON S. SPENCER, farmer, P. O. Idetown, was born August 27, 1854, in Dallas township, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of Horace and Hannah (Rogers) Spencer, both of whom were born in this county, the former in 1822, the latter in 1832. Horace was a son of Orin, who was one of the first pioneers of the county, coming from New York State, and locating in Kingston township. He was a hard-working, honest, industrious and upright man, and a consistent Christian. He died in the year 1879, having reared twelve children, all of whom came to maturity. His son Horace began business for himself in Kingston township,

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and in 1857 moved to Dallas township, on a farm of ninety-six acres. Like his father, he was a worthy man and an industrious farmer, and held several offices of trust in his township. He died in 1890. Horace and Hannah Spencer were the parents of five children, four of whom are now living. Simeon S. is the sec- ond in the family, and worked with his father till he reached the age of twenty- five, when he married, on September 3, 1879, Miss Lydia, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Damon. By this union there were born three children, all yet living: Clarence, Raymond and Lloyd. Mrs. Margaret Spencer was born in Centre More- land, Wyoming county, May 25, 1862. She is a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Her family were early settlers in Wyoming county. Mr. Spencer moved on his present farm of twenty-five acres in 1881. He is an enterprising man, upright and industrious.

Z. SPENCER, farmer, P. O. Ketcham, was born January 28, 1828, reared and edu- cated in Kingston township. He is a son of Orin and Ann (Amy) Spencer, the for- mer born in Connecticut, the latter in Easton, Northampton Co., Pa. Orin was a son of David, who came to this county about 1775, locating at Forty Fort; he served three years in the Revolutionary army as a valiant soldier, defending his rights as a free-born man. He participated in the defense of the fort at the time of the Wyo- ming Massacre, and caused several Indians to " bite the dust." He is said to have been the owner of several hundred acres of land in the Wyoming Valley, which he dis- posed of for a trifle, not knowing its value at that time. He afterward moved to Dallas, and subsequently bought a farm in Kingston township, where he lived for a number of years. He died in Dallas at the age of ninety-five years, having reared a family of five children, all of whom grew to maturity. Orin, the father of our subject, began life in Kingston township on the farm purchased by his father after he moved out of the Valley. This farm consisted of fifty acres of fertile land. Orin was a hard-working, honest and industrious man, whose life, like that of other farmers, was uneventful. In religion he was a consistent member of the M. E. Church. Politically he was a Democrat. He reared a family of twelve children, all of whom came to maturity, and eight of whom are now living. Our subject is the fourth in the family, and has always "followed the plough." On July 4, 1850, he married Miss Sarah C., daughter of Conrad and Mary Kinkle, by which union there have been born ten children, eight of whom are living, as follows: Mary, Frank, Elizabeth, Thaddeus S., Marshall, George, Wealthy and Frederick. Mary is married to DeWitt Lord, a farmer; Elizabeth is married to Lyman Lord, and George is married to Miss Louisa Smith. Mr. Spencer has lived in Dallas all his life except- ing one year he spent in Wyoming county. He moved on his present place, a farm of sixty-five acres, in 1865, and is a general and industrious farmer, owning some very fine stock of a superior grade. He has made extensive improvements, clearing land and building out-houses; he was unfortunate enough to lose two barns by fire. Our subject has been honored with several township offices. Politically he is a Republican.

REV. LEVI L. SPRAGUE, A. M., D. D., was born December 23, 1844, in the town of Beekman, Dutchess Co., N. Y. His paternal and maternal ancestors were New England people for several generations. The father moved his family to New Mil- ford, Pa., when the son was a lad, and where the latter was given the advantage of excellent schools. The family afterward moved on a farm, near Le Raysville, Pa., and young Levi was sent to the academy of that place. This school at that time was one of the best of its kind in the State. When twenty years of age he took a business course at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and on return- ing home was made principal of the Le Raysville Academy, where he remained one year. In the spring of 1866 he entered Wyoming Seminary, where he graduated in 1868, and was immediately elected principal of the College of Business connected with the seminary. By private study Dr. Sprague completed a college course, and received the degree of A. M. from Allegheny College. He read law with Hon. W. W. Ketcham for nearly two years, but believing his duty to lie in the Christian

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ministry, he joined the Wyoming Annual Conference in 1874. He remained prin- cipal of the College of Business until 1882, when he was made president of the Wyoming Seminary, the position he now (1892) holds. In 1885 the Wesleyan Uni- versity conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He is a trustee of Wyoming Seminary, of Syracuse University, and of the Wyoming Annual Confer- ence, and was a member of the General Conference of the M. E. Church held in Omaha, in May, 1892. On December 22, 1869, Dr. Sprague married Miss Jennie E. Russell, of Otego, N. Y., and they have two children: Laura J. and E. Russell.

CHARLES E. ST. JOHN, Wilkes-Barre, was born at Norwich, Conn., September 20, 1820, and is a son of Albert and Clarissa (Hoyt) St. John. His paternal grand- father, Jesse St. John (whose wife was a Miss Weed) was a soldier of the Revolu- tion, and one of a party of seven men to capture Fort Montgomery, on the Hudson, from the British during that war. He was a farmer, and died at Wilton, Fairfield Co., Conn. Albert St. John was an edge-tool manufacturer, and was in business at Canterbury, Orange Co., N. Y., during the panic of 1832. Having failed, he returned to Connecticut, and worked as a journeyman at Norwich for some years; afterward located at Fleming, N. Y., and engaged in farming, and about 1857 he removed to Janesville, Wis., where he died in 1889, at the age of ninety-seven. Our subject was reared in Connecticut and New York, is an edge-tool maker by trade, which he learned in Cohoes, N. Y., and followed nine years. In 1837-38 he took part in the Seminole war in Florida, aud witnessed the capture of the Semi- nole chief, " Billy Bowlegs." For many years Mr. St. John has been a salesman on the road. He came to Luzerne county in 1858, and has resided in Wilkes- Barre since 1860. He was twice married, his first wife being Lucy L., a daughter of Jesse and Mary Word, of Dutchess county, N. Y., and by her he had six chil- dren: Jesse, George A., Charles W., Frank J., William H. and John N. His second wife was Mrs. Sallie (Tico) Owens, of Columbia county, Pa., by which union he had four children: Lucy (Mrs. Roland Evans), Hattie, Mary, and Daisy (deceased). Mr. St. John is a member of the M. E. Church, and of the F. & A. M. and Council; in politics he is a Republican.

CHARLES W. ST. JOHN, wholesale liquor dealer, Pittston, was born at Honesdale, Pa., August 6, 1850, and he is the third son of C. E. and Lucy (Wood) St. John, who were typical Americans, and resided for a number of years at Honesdale, Pa. The mother died in 1856; the father is still living, and is a traveling salesman. The family consists of six sons, viz. : Jesse, now retired from active business and residing at Mansfield, Ohio; George, a blacksmith, of Wilkes-Barre; Charles W .; Frank, salesman for the Newton Coal Mining Company and resident of Philadelphia; Will- iam, a blacksmith, of Scranton; John, a coppersmith, of Perth Amboy, N. J. Our subject passed the first six years of his life in Honesdale, and his mother dying at this time, he went to Prompton and lived on a farm for two years. He worked in the coal mines of Plymouth for a short time, and removed from there to Espy- ville, same State. where he was in the employ of Thomas Edgar, a planing opera- tor, for two years. He next entered the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, and remained with them about six months, then accepted a posi- tion with the Lehigh Valley Railroad and was in the employ of that company six- teen years, being one of the most popular conductors of that road. After leaving the railroad, he purchased an interest in the wholesale liquor business of Benjamin Bevan, at No. 73 Main street, Pittston, and shortly afterward became manager for the firm, which position he has filled until the present time. On January 12, 1880, Mr. St. John married Miss E. Lillian, daughter of Benjamin Bevan, a prominent merchant of Pittston, and this union has been blessed with one child, Lucy. The family worship at Trinity Episcopal Church, of West Pittston. Mr. St. John is a Master Mason. Politically he is a stanch Republican. An entirely self-made man, he has reached his present success not by hasty flight, but by the rugged rosd of toil and application, and is one of the representative citizens of this county, occupying a prominent position among the business men of the county.

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EDWIN S. STACKHOUSE, coal operator and merchant, Shickshinny, was born in that borough February 11, 1866, a son of John M. and Mary C. (Lanning) Stackhouse. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Stackhouse, a native of Columbia county, Pa., and a farmer, lumberman and foundryman, was the first of the name to locate in Luzerue county, and lived and died in Shickshinny Valley. He was a son of James Stack- house, a wood-worker and engraver, who spent most of his life in Columbia county and died there. The latter was a son of Benjamin Stackhouse, and his wife was Mary, daughter of Christopher Bowman, both of Bucks county, Pa. Benjamin was a son of Robert Stackhouse, and with his father left Bucks county prior to 1770, and made the first settlement at Berwick, Pa., with a colony of Friends, and died there in 1776. Robert, who died in Berwick in 1788, was born in 1692, and was a son of Thomas and Grace (Heaton) Stackhouse. Thomas Stackhouse came to Bucks county in 1682, and represented Bucks county in the Colonial Assembly, Province of Pennsyl- vania, in 1711, 1713 and 1715. He died in Middletown, Bucks Co., Pa., April 26, 1744. He was a nephew of Thomas Stackhouse, who was a fellow passenger of William Penn, in 1682, on the ship " Welcome," from England to Philadelphia.

John M. Stackhouse, the father of our subject, was born in the Shickshinny Val- ley in 1839, and died at Shickshinny in 1883. He was a lumberman, and first leased and operated, with others, what is now known as the Salem Coal Field, which he afterward purchased and operated until his death His wife, Mary C., was a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Winters) Lanning, of Shickshinny Valley, for- merly of New Jersey, by whom he has six children living: Annie (Mrs. James M. Fritz), Edwin S., Alice G., Jennie M., Charles P. and Mary M. Our subject was reared at Shickshinny and educated at Lehigh University, where he was graduated in 1886 with the degree of Mining Engineer, and has since been engaged in coal operating and merchandising. He is a member of the M. E. Church; also of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the P. O. S. of A., and is master of Syl- vania Lodge No. 354, F. & A. M .; in politics, he is a Republican. Mr. Stack- house was married May 4, 1892, to Lidie B., daughter of Rev. William H. and Marietta (Mullin) Keith, of Gettysburg, Pa.

BENJAMIN F. STARK, proprietor of livery and transfer stables, Wilkes-Barre, was born July 15, 1845, and is a son of Cornelius and Louisa (Wagner) Stark, natives of Luzerne county. They were the parents of nine children, Benjamin F. being the fourth in order of birth. Our subject was educated at the Montrose Academy and Lowell's Business College. On October 10, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary F., daughter of Hon. D. D. and Mary A. (Raynsford) Warner, natives of Connecticut, by which union five children were born as follows: Fred W., Helen W., Jared W., M. Louise and Harold R. Mrs. Stark is a member of the Episco- pal Church, Mr. Stark of the Presbyterian. Church. He is a member of Lodge No. 61, F. & A. M., and is a Knight Templar, Dieu Le Veut Commandery No. 45. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party. He was a member of the Ninth Regiment, N. G. P., from its reorganization until recently, and was captain of Com- pany F, six years, a major three weeks, and lieutenant-colonel seven years.

HENRY STARK, retired, Plains township, P. O. Hudson, was born October 10, 1831, in Plains township, on the old Stark homestead, about twenty rods from his present residence. He is a son of John and Cornelia (Wilcox) Stark, and a grandson of Henry Stark, one of the pioneers of Luzerne county. In his father's family there were nine children, seven of whom are living, and of whom Henry is the sixth; his brother, John R., is also living on a portion of the old homestead. Our subject re- ceived a common-school education, and has been engaged in farming nearly all his life. His father built Henry's present residence, and there died June 22, 1878, at the age of eighty-three years, followed by his widow, May 11, 1884, at the age of eighty-seven years. Henry Stark was married, March 15, 1884, to Miss Letitia, daughter of Nelson C. Coolbaugh, of Mountain Valley, Pa., and one child was born to them, Cornelia, who died in infancy. Mr. Stark has a very comfortable home, in which he can pass the declining years of his life. Mrs. Stark is a member of the

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Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Stark has always given his political support to the Republican party.

HENRY J. STARK, proprietor of a restaurant, Plains township, P. O. Hudson, was born in Germany, May 3, 1858, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Apple) Stark, and a step-son of Christian Keil, of Mill Creek. In his father's family there were three children, of whom Henry J. is the youngest. Our subject came to America in 1870, and located at Wilkes-Barre, where he began picking slate; he followed the mines chiefly, seventeen years, being engaged as pumpman six and a half years and as engineer about six years. In 1887 he engaged in his present business, which he has conducted in such a manner that he has built up a large patronage. Mr. Stark was married October 27, 1878, to Maggie S., daughter of Frederick and Catherine (Kilian) Reichers, of Miners Mills. They have six children, four of whom are living, viz. : John F., Katie M., Henry C. F. and Fred O. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church of Wilkes-Barre; he is Sachem of Lodge No. 283, I. O. R. M., and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. of Wilkes-Barre, the A. O. K. of M. C., No. 72, all of which are German Orders ;. in his political views, he is a steadfast Democrat.

JOHN M. STARK, retired farmer, Wyoming borough, was born in Plains township, this county, February 23, 1819, a son of James and Mary (Michael) Stark, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English and German origin, respectively. James Stark, who was a farmer and contractor, was married three times and reared a family of fourteen children. By his second wife there were two children, of whom John M. is the eldest. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and at twenty-one years of age, began working his father's farm on shares; laboring thus for seven years, when he was employed as superintendent of the North Branch Canal for ten years. He then moved upon his farm in Franklin township, which he had purchased some time before, and farmed for one year; being then employed as superintendent for the Pennsylvania Coal Company eight years, after which he moved back to his farm and remained there six years. He then sold that property, and purchased a large farm at Wyoming, where he has since resided. Mr. Stark was married Octo- ber 16, 1841, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Morris and Ann (Nun) Davison, natives of New Jersey, of English origin. This happy union was blessed with seven children, six of whom are living: George M., a manufacturer at Pittston; Harriet E. (Mrs. M. Coolbaugh); Joanna (Mrs. Miles Stevens); Mary L. (Mrs. William Shoemaker); Lydia E. (Mrs. Frank Mosier); Charles B. (died July 27, 1882), and Jennie E. (Mrs. Dr. J. N. Warner). Mrs. Stark is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Stark was school director of West Pittston for some years; was supervisor of Franklin township and also served as a member of the council of West Pittston borough. He operated the first gas works in Pittston, manufacturing gas from rosin, in the year 1861; he is one of the substantial men of his borough, and politically is a Democrat.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 208

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