History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 209

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

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GEORGE M. STARK, manufacturer of iron and steel roofing, Pittston, and one of the leading residents of Wyoming, was born in Plains township, September 11, 1842, a son of John M. and Sarah (Davison) Stark; he is the eldest in a family of seven children, six of whom are yet living. Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools and at Wyoming Seminary, and at sixteen years of age began work on the canal with his father, where he remained one summer. During the following winter he attended school, and in the spring of 1859 he engaged with the Pittston Gas Company, in whose employ he remained until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Battery M, Second Pennsylvania Artillery, Capt. D. R. Schooley, with which he served until the close of the war; he then returned to Franklin township and worked on his father's farm for a year and a half, when he engaged in general mercantile business in Moosic for six years, at the end of which time he moved to Wyoming and operated a general store four years. In November, 1885, he engaged in his present business with the Pittston Iron Roofing Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer. He also owns and operates a farm near Dallas. He was married, October 10, 1867, to Miss Albertine, daughter of Dr. Alford and Catherine (Van Loon)

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Brace, respectively natives of New York and Pennsylvania, and of English and German origin. Mr. and Mrs. Stark have a large circle of friends; in his political views he is independent, and he devotes his entire time to his business and his home.

PETER STAUB, SR., farmer, P. O. Trucksville, was born in Germany February 26, 1830, and is a son of Peter and Mary Staub, both of whom were born in Germany; the former emigrated to this country in 1854; the latter had died in Germany. The son, Peter, had emigrated to this country one year previous to his father, April 30, 1853, and located in Wilkes-Barre, where he was employed by the Baltimore Coal Company for six years. He then removed to Sugar Notch, where he farmed eight years, and in 1867 removed to Kingston township, having, in 1865, purchased a farm of 150 acres of well-improved land, on which he has made many visible improve- ments. He was married December 27, 1853, to Miss Mary E., daughter of John Kline. To their union have been born two sons, John N. and Peter W. The latter is a farmer, and is married to Miss Lena Heck, who has borne him three children, two of whom are living. The former is a dairyman, milking fourteen cows; he married Miss Mary Heck, sister of Lena, and to them have been born five children, two of whom are living. Mr. Staub is a general and practical farmer, and a thorough-going business man. He is a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church, as well as organized Catholic Societies, and politically is a Republican.

JOHN STEEL, farmer, P. O. Huntsville, was born in the County of Salop, England, February 20, 1826, a son of John and Mary (Smith) Steel, both also natives of England. John Steel, the father of our subject, was an old English farmer. He had a family of seven sons, five of whom grew to maturity, John, whose name opens this sketch, being the eldest in the family. He was reared and educated in England, and in early life learned the butcher's trade. In May, 1848, he came to this coun- try, landing in New York, whence he proceeded to Pottsville, where he remained about eight years. In 1855 he came to this county, making his home in Wilkes- Barre, where he resided four years. Here he engaged in the manufacture of rope, twine and cordage, which he sold by the wholesale in the county, doing his own "drumming," at which he succeeded beyond all expectations. In 1866 he moved to Jackson township, where he now resides on a farm of 115 acres. This he has redeemed from Mother Nature, converting the bleak wilderness and causing it to "blossom as the rose." On August 12, 1855, at the age of twenty-nine, he married in Berks county, Pa., Miss Ann, danghter of Samuel and Ann Errel, by which union there were born thirteen children-nine sons and four daughters-eight of whom are now (1891) living: Mary A., John, Maggie, Alexander, Thomas, Isabella, Kate and Henry. Of these, Mary A. married H. Randall; Alexander married Miss Fannie Ayers; John married Miss Alice Maddock, and Isabella married William Lamareaux. Mr. Steel serves well the country of his adoption. He was made a citizen in 1853, in Berks county, and although he did not enter the army in the Civil war, yet he contributed liberally to the substitute fund. He and his estimable wife are mem- bers of the Episcopal Church; politically he is independent.

SIMON STEIN, farmer, P. O. Dorrance, was born in Hazle township, September 2, 1858, a son of Henry and Gertrude (Stein) Stein, both of whom were born in Germany, the former May 16, 1833, the latter May 29, 1844. They emigrated to this country in 1855, and first located at Tamaqua, Pa., where they resided for a short time; thence removed to Hazleton, where for a brief space he worked at his trade, that of shoemaker. He finally went to work in the mines, an occupation he followed for several years. During his residence at Hazleton he was married to Miss Gertrude Stein, and then removed to the neighborhood of Scranton, where he was also engaged in the mines; there he tarried five years, and then removed to Dorrance township, where he purchased fifty acres of land, to which he soon after- ward added 110 acres, making in all a farm of 160 acres, of which he cleared about forty-five. These figures show Mr. Stein to be a hard-working, sober, honest and industrious man. He is well thought of in his township, where he has held several

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offices. His wife died January 11, 1885, aged fifty-one years. They reared a family of five children, three of whom are living: Simon, Conrod and Annie, Simon being the eldest in the family. Our subject was reared and educated at Scranton and Dorrance; he has always followed agricultural pursuits, and is a promising young man of energy and pluck. He has in his own name forty acres adjoining his father's, and works both. He and his father have always lived together. On June 28, 1890, Mr. Stein married Miss Addie, daughter of Lyman and Susan Engler, to which happy union there was born one child, Henry M. Mrs. Addie Stein was born in Dorrance September 4, 1870. Mr. Stein is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and he and his wife are both members of the Lutheran Church.

JOSEPH STEINBERG, hotel proprietor, Kingston borough, P. O. Edwardsdale, was born in Germany, March 17, 1858, and is a son of John and Milanda (Balaska) Steinberg. Our subject was reared and educated in the land of his birth. Upon reaching his majority he became dissatisfied with the conservativeness of the Old World, and started out in search of new fields of enterprise. He came to America in 1880, and located at Drifton, Pa., where he engaged in mining, remaining there about seven years; he removed thence to Shenandoah, Pa., where he followed mining for two years more, and then came to Kingston, and engaged in his present business, in which he has met with crowning success. Mr. Steinberg was married, in 1888, to Miss Martha Warchensca, also a native of Germany. The fruits of this union are four children, viz. : Mary, Joseph, Charles and Leon. Mr. Steinberg and his family are members of the Polish Church; he is a faithful supporter of the prin- ciples of the Democratic party.

MATTHEW J. STEPHENS, a popular and prominent merchant tailor of Wilkes-Barre, was born in the County of Durham, England, May 6, 1853, and is a son of Will- iam J. and Kate (Callen) Stephens, being of Irish parentage. He was educated in his native county, where he served a partial apprenticeship at the cutter's trade, finishing in New York City, where he located in 1870. He came to Wilkes-Barre in 1871, and entered the employ of J. Stern, in whose service he remained fifteen years as cutter. In 1886 he embarked in business for himself, in which he still con- tinues. Mr. Stephens married, January 14, 1890, Letitia M., daughter of Robert C. and Ellen (McGroarty) Rogers, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and has a son, Robert R., and a daughter, Beatrice M. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

C. M. STEVENS, general grocer, No. 34 N. Main street, Pittston, was born April 27, 1838, in Orange county, N. Y., and is a son of Isaac and Riannah (Drew) Stev- ens, who were also natives of Orange county. In 1839 they, with their family of three children, left for what was then "the far West," and settled on a farm in Exeter, Luzerne county. Two sons and two daughters were afterward born to them, all of whom are now living. Here the parents spent the remainder of their days, the mother dying September 26, 1878, and the father October 19, 1889, in his eighty-third year. Our subject received his education in the public schools, was afterward a student in the Wyoming Seminary, and taught school for a number of years. In July, 1870, he, with his younger brother M. H., engaged in the mercan- tile business in Pittston, under the firm name of Stevens Bros. In May, 1883, he purchased his brother's interest, and has since been sole proprietor. In 1872 Mr. Stevens was married to Miss Mary A. Davidson, of Wyoming, and they have one son, Rolland D. Mr. Stevens is a member of Gohonto Lodge I. O. O. F., and in politics is a stanch Democrat.

FRANK STEVENS, carpenter, Plymouth, was born at Honesdale, Pa., March 24, 1855, and is a son of Mark and Sarah (Williams) Stevens, natives of Wayne county, Pa. Frank is the second in a family of four children, who were left fatherless by the cruel hand of the Civil war. He was educated at the Harford Orphan School in Susquehanna county, this State, and after leaving school learned the carpenter's trade, working at it a short time in Harford, and afterward proceeding to Callicoon, N. Y., spending two years in the public schools of that place. He then moved to

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Nanticoke, Pa., where he worked at his trade and about the mines until 1870, in which year he came to Plymouth, and was engaged by the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, where he has worked at his trade ever since. Mr. Stevens was married, July 21, 1884, to Miss Annie, daughter of Josiah and Rebecca (Wagner) Sterner, natives of Pennsylvania, and to this union have been born three children, as follows: Josiah, Carrie and Nellie. Our subject is a Republican in politics; he belongs to the P. O. S. of A. and Sons of America. The family attend the Method- ist Episcopal Church.

MRS. MINERVA W. STEVENS, widow of the late John B. Stevens, was born in Briar Creek township, Columbia Co., Pa., August 12, . 1826, a daughter of Joseph and Ellenor (Bowman) Dilce. The Dilces were formerly from Ohio, but removed to Northampton county, thence to Columbia county, and finally to Luzerne county, Pa., locating in Cambra, latter county, in 1841. In October, 1843, Mrs. Stevens was married to John B. Stevens, who was born in Huntington township in 1821, a son of Zebulon H. Stevens, who was born on Pine creek. Zebulon H. was a son, of Capt. Thomas Stevens, a native of Connecticut, who served as captain in the Rev- olutionary army. After the close of that war he removed to this county, where he became one of the foremost pioneers of Huntington township. He was a worthy gentleman, enjoying the full confidence of his fellow citizens. He owned 100 acres of land in Huntington township, and there reared a family of eight children. His son, Zebulon H., began life on the old homestead in Huntington township, and was a prosperous farmer as well as an extensive contractor; he was self educated and a man of marked intelligence. He led a life of usefulness and died in 1854, aged sixty-three years. His family consisted of ten children, four of whom are yet living, and three were in the army, viz. : Thomas Q. A., Stratton Z. and John B., Thomas Q. A. having been first lieutenant. Of these, John B. began his first strug- gle in life near Cambra, where he resided two years, and seven years afterward he spent in Illinois. In 1851 he removed to Ross township, where he purchased a farm of 140 acres of land, 125 of which were cleared during his lifetime. He was a hard-working, honest, and industrious man, enjoying the full confidence of his fellow citizens. At various times he held office in the township, and he was a strong believer in Republican principles. In religious connection he and his family were strict Methodists. His children were eight in number, four of whom are now living. He was a member of Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-Ninth P. V. I., and served his country faithfully during the Civil war. He died July, 1890, from disease contracted in the army. His son, Joseph W., was also in the war of the Rebellion, as a member of Battery M, U. S. Artillery, for over three years; he lived only three weeks after getting home.

Z. H. Stevens, son of John B., is living on his father's old place, and is a practical farmer. In 1878 he married Miss Amy Rood, who was born in Ross town- ship in 1859, a daughter of George C. and Elizabeth Rood, and to them were born five children, four of whom are now living: Arthur, Nellie, Stratton and Eva.

GILBERT B. STEWART, master mechanic, Empire Shops, Lehigh & Wilkes- Barre Coal Company, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Chicago, Ill., September 20, 1844, a son of William L. and Eliza (Barnes) Stewart, the former a native of Philadelphia, Pa., a machinist by trade, the latter a native of Hollisterville, Luzerne Co., Pa. William L. Stewart has resided in Wilkes-Barre since 1864, and is now master mechanic in the Oliver Powder Works at Laurel Run. His children were three in number, viz. : Gilbert B., Sarah (Mrs. Charles E. Ayars) and Ruth (Mrs. Alfred F. Smith). Our subject was reared and educated in Wilkes-Barre, and in June, 1862, enlisted as a drummer in Company G, One Hundred and Forty- First P. V., later was promoted to drum-major of the regiment, and after serving three years was honorably discharged. Returning to Wilkes-Barre, he finished his trade of machinist, and with the exception of the five years he was locomotive engineer on the L. & S. division of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, and four years engine dispatcher for the L. & S. R. R. Co., he has since followed his trade; was

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

assistant master mechanic in the D. & H. C. R. R. shops at Carbondale, four years, and since 1888 has been master mechanic at the Empire Shops, Wilkes-Barre. On November, 3, 1867, Mr. Stewart married Drusilla, daughter of Ziba Kremer, of Newport, this county, and they have five children: Edith, Annie, Alice, William and Bertha. Our subject is a member of the Grant Street Presbyterian Church, Wilkes- Barre, of the F. & A. M. and G. A. R., and in politics is a Republican.

REV. WINFIELD SCOTT STITES, minister of the Gospel, Wyoming, was born at Cape May, N. J., August 9, 1847, a son of John K. F. and Harriet (Marcy) Stites, natives of New Jersey and of English origin. Mr. Stites was a Presbyterian clergy- man; he reared a family of three children, of whom Winfield S. was the youngest. Our subject received his primary education in the public schools of Philadelphia; he is a graduate of Princeton College and the Allegheny and Princeton Theolog- ical Seminary. In 1873 he came to Wyoming, as pastor of the Presbyterian Church, where he remained four years. In 1877 he was called to the pastorate of the Second Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pa., where he remained until broken health forced him to resign this charge. Since then he has spent the years in travel and in preaching in several churches. In politics Mr. Stites is a Republican.

WILLIAM HENRY (deceased) was one of the early progressive business men of the Lackawanna Valley; he was a pioneer iron master, and among the first to develop the resources of that region. He was born at Nazareth, Pa., August 15, 1794, and lived to the ripe old age of eighty-four years; he died at Wyoming, where his wife still resides. William was a son of William and Sabina (Schrupp) Henry, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish origin; they were descended from the early

pioneer eettlers of the Keystone State. Our subject's grandfather, also named William, was an officer under Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary war; his grand- father, Robert Henry, came to America in 1722, and settled at Newcastle, near Philadelphia; he married Ann Wood, who came to America in the ship with William Penn. Our subject's grandfather, William Henry, was the inventor of the first screw auger. The Henry family have usually held to the Moravian faith, and in politics have been Whigs and Republicans.

CHESTER B. STIVERA, merchant, Ashley, was born in Hanover township May 30, 1839, and is a son of Samuel B. and Mary (Mosher) Stivers, natives, respectively, of Newport township, this county, and Easton, Pa., and of Dutch, German and Irish origin. He is a grandson of John and Phoebe (Barber) Stivers, the latter a member of an Irish family. The Stiverses (formerly Von Stiver) settled in Long Island in 1645, and soon after 1800 a branch came to Luzerne county, settling in what is now Newport township. In the family of Samuel B. Stivers there were eight children, viz. : Thomas B., Conrad L. (died at the age of seven), Chester B., Malinda (Mrs. Peter Smith), Elizabeth (Mrs. William Field), Hendrick W., Phoebe and Horace. Our subject passed his boyhood on the farm and attended the common school, afterward learning the shoemaker's trade. He enlisted at Wilkes-Barre, August 18, 1861. as private in Company L, Twenty-third P. V., and March 1, 1862, was detached to Battery H, First Pennsylvania Artillery, as artificer. He was discharged November 26, 1863, re-enlisting the next day, being dismounted in May, 1864, and assigned to garrison duty at Fort Whipple. He also carried mail, did other detached service during the war, and was discharged at Philadelphia June 27, 1865. He then returned to Ashley, worked two years with an engineering corps, and in 1868 embarked in the grocery business, which he has since followed, and in con- nection with which he also ran a saloon in the same building, which he had put up in 1868. Mr. Stivers was married, March 15, 1866, to Miss Anna, daughter of Michael and Mary (Monahan) Donnelly, natives of Ireland. The issue of this union was five children, three of whom are living, viz .: William C .; Edward D., a farmer of Wright township, and Bessie J. Mrs. Stivers is a member of the Catholic Church, Mr. Stivers is a member of the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. He is a Republican in his political views, and has held the offices of constable, assessor and councilman in Ashley borough, and in 1890 was appointed census taker. The great-

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grandfather of our subject, George Stivers, who died in New Jersey at the age of one hundred and twelve years, served seven years in the Revolutionary war, as did also his four sons, including John, whose gun is still in the possession of Mr. Stivers.

William C. Stivers, brakeman on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, was born at Solomon's Gap April 11, 1867, and is a son of Chester B. and Anna (Donnelly) Stivers. He was educated in the common schools, and then began picking slate in the breaker, at which he remained two years. After this he worked three years in the shop yard at Ashley, then was brakeman on the Lehigh Valley Railroad eighteen months, and in July, 1888, began in a similar occupation on the Central. He has been on a passenger train since June 21, 1891. Mr. Stivers was married, July 31, 1889, to Miss Anna, daughter of Philip and Ruth (Bullock) Evans, natives of Wales. He is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. and B. R. T., and is a Republican in his political views.

FREDRICK STOCK, farmer, P. O. Forty Fort, was born July 25, 1837, in Bavaria, Germany, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Weaver) Stock, who reared a family of eleven children, of whom our subject is the sixth. He was educated in the common schools of Germany, came to America December 31, 1856, and engaged in public works for one year and three months; then worked for William Loveland, of Kings- ton, three years and nine months. He then worked for Payne Pettebone, of Wyoming, three years and nine months; then lived with his brother, Jacob, for two years; then in the Old House, by the Barber Mill, for two years, on the Shoemaker farm in Forty Fort. Then he came to Forty Fort, and in 1871 built his cozy home where he has since lived. On January 29, 1868, Mr. Stock was married to Susan, daughter of William and Martha (Flemming) Hartzell, natives of Pennsylvania, by which happy union they had three children, one of whom is now living: Miss Jennie, who is the pride and joy of the pleasant home, and is a member of the M. E. Church of Forty Fort. Mrs. Stock is also a member of the M. E. Church of Forty Fort, while Mr. Stock is a member of the German Reformed Church. In politics he is a stanch Democrat.

JACOB STOCK, farmer, Forty Fort, was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 22, 1831, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Weaver) Stock, both also natives of Bavaria, and farmers by occupation. Our subject came to America June 1, 1852, and was engaged in chopping wood by the cord, in Wyoming county, for three weeks. He then went to Tunkhannock, same county, and worked three months in a brickyard; also drove team in same town fifteen months. He then moved to Delaware Water Gap, Pa., and worked as foreman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Rail- road, two years, thence in 1856 proceeded to Kingston, and there worked on the railroad, three years. He then came to Forty Fort, and was engaged as farm hand with Anson Church, five years; then for William Sweatland, eighteen months, at the end of which time he returned to Kingston, and worked one year in the car shops. Once more coming to Forty Fort, he worked one year for H. H. Wells on the farm, and then in 1866 purchased a house and moved to his present farm, which he has since cultivated. In his father's family there were eleven. children, eight of whom are now living, Jacob being the third. Our subject was married August 11, 1855, to Elizabeth Biear, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Snider) Biear, natives of Germany. This union was blessed with seven children, only one of whom is now living, Adam, head man at the Pettebone Mine, who married Alice Hawk (both he and his wife are members of the Kingston Presbyterian Church; he is a member of Walnut Lodge, I. O. O. F., Luzerne). Jacob Stock is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre; his wife of the Presbyterian Church of Kings- ton. Politically he is a radical Democrat.

THOMAS STONEHAM, mine foreman, Parsons, was born in Pittston October 3, 1859, and is a son of Thomas and Latte (Cook) Stoneham, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut, both being of New England parentage. Our subject was educated in the public schools at Pittston, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-one, working in the mines at Plymouth, Pa. He remained

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there about ten years, when he came to Parsons, and engaged in mining at the Mineral Spring Colliery; he is now inside foreman at the Conyngham Shaft. Mr. Stoneham was married October 3, 1884, to Miss Anna, daughter of John and Mary (Gardner) Mountford, of Jermyn, Pa. The fruits of this happy union are four children, viz .: Emerson, born March 16, 1886; Burtie, born May 1, 1887; Harri- son, born August 23, 1888, and Anna, born September 1, 1890. Our subject is a member of the I. O. R. M., and of the F. & A. M. ; in politics he is a Republican.

DANIEL W. Srour, ticket agent, Nanticoke, Pa., was born in Briar Creek town- ship, Columbia Co., Pa., December 9, 1861, and is the youngest in the family of ten children (eight sons and two daughters) born to William and Mary (Shaffer) Stout, natives of Luzerne county. Daniel W. was educated in the public schools and at the Orangeville Academy in his native county. After leaving school he began work in the machine shops at Berwick, Pa., continuing here for three years. He was then employed in the Jackson & Woodin Car Shops until 1885, when he engaged in farming, which he continued for two years. In 1887 Mr. Stout began railroading, following this until 1891, when he was appointed ticket agent at the east end of the Nanticoke bridge, which position he now occupies. Mr. Stout was united in marriage, March 28, 1889, with Florence L., daughter of John and Elizabeth (McGraw) Collins, natives of Luzerne county. In politics Mr. Stout is a Democrat. He is a member of the Knights of Malta, and in religion is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN G. STOUT, retired farmer, Forty Fort, was born June 3, 1813, at Nazareth, Pa., and is a son of Christian and Sarah (Gross) Stout, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. Our subject, who is the second in a family of three chil- dren, two of whom are now living, was educated in the common schools, and at twenty-three years of age began work in the lumber woods, where he remained one year; then did general work two years, after which he came to Forty Fort, and was engaged in general work for five years. In 1844 he purchased his present farm, and rented the Myers farm, which he worked fourteen years. * He then moved on his farm, and followed truck farming until he retired some years ago. On May 10, 1836, he married Eunice Lamereaux, daughter of James and Sarah (Hunter) Lamereaux, natives of Pennsylvania, and of French descent. Mr. and Mrs. Stout have three children: Robert, Anson, and Dyer. Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Church, and in his political preferences be is a Republican.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 209

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