History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 211

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

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RENALDO SUTLIFF, farmer, Huntington township, P. O. Waterton, was born on the farm he now owns, June 23, 1849, and is a son of Daniel and Clarissa (Harrison) Sutliff, natives of Pennsylvania and of English origin; the father was a farmer by occupation, and died November 4, 1889, aged seventy-three years. He was a son of Miles and Phoebe (Culver) Sutliff, and a grandson of Abel and Charity (Barber) Sutliff, of Connecticut. Our subject is the third in a family of seven children, six of whom are living. He was reared on the farm he now owns, was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-three rented and worked the homestead farm on shares, until 1876, when he purchased fifty-three acres of the property, where he has since resided. Mr. Sutliff was married, September 26, 1871, to Ester J., daughter of William and Catherine (Downing) Thomas, which union is blessed with five children, viz. : Bertha V., born October 7, 1872, married June 13, 1892, to Frank Chapin; Eva D., born September 12, 1874; Howard B., born November 30, 1878; Floyd W., born May 11, 1880; and Merea Maud L., born March 28, 1892. The family attend the M. E. Church. Mr. and Mrs. Sutliff are members of the P. of H. Politically he is a sound Republican, and has held the office of school director.

S. H. SUTLIFF, farmer, P. O. Koonsville, was born in Ross township August 16, 1838, and is a son of Wells and Abiah (Harrison) Sutliff, both of whom were born in Huntington township. Wells was a son of Miles Sutliff, who was a native of Connecticut, and who removed to this county in its early settlement, locating in Huntington township, where he owned 200 acres of land. He was an industrious and honest man, and passed away at the age of sixty years. He reared a family of eight children, all of whom are now deceased. Wells began to farm for himself in Ross township on a farm of 200 acres, which he worked in a practical manner. He lived to be forty-nine years of age. He reared a family of eight children, six of whom grew to maturity, and three of whom are now living. Stephen H., the sub- ject of this memoir, is the fourth in the family, and was reared and educated in Ross township. He removed to Union township in 1890, where he is now about to enter into mercantile business. In connection with his store he conducts a small farm of twenty-one acres. In 1861 he enlisted in the U. S. service for the term of three years, as a member of Company D, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which com- mand he proved worthy to be called a soldier of the United States. He is a member of the G. A. R. On April 17, 1889, he married Miss Aurphy, daughter of Simon and Rydie Hainsley. To this union there has been no issue. Mr. Sutliff is an active and wide-awake business man and a loyal citizen.

S. W. SUTLIFF, druggist, Nanticoke one of Luzerne county's most prominent and worthy citizens, is a native of Huntington township, this county. He is a son of D.

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S. and Lydia (Dodson) Sutliff, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania, and descendants of pioneer families of Luzerne county. Our subject's father was a son of Darius Sutliff, who also was born and lived in this county, and whose father was one of the first pioneers of the Valley. Lydia Dodson, Mr. Sutliff's mother, was a daughter of John Dodson, of Shickshinny Valley. He was a descendant of the Dod- son family, some of whom were among the victims of the Indians during the Revo- lutionary period. The Sutliffs and Dodsons were both descendants of very promi- nent English families. Our subject is the eighth of twelve children. He was edu- cated in this county and reared on a farm, and then went to the New Columbus Semi- nary. Commencing life as a miner at Maquara, he continued there for two years, until the great strike. After teaching school for a time, he engaged in clerking in a store at Mt. Pleasant, Pa., for the firm of Tigret & Butler, where he remained two years. When business was suspended in the store, the same firm gave him employ- ment as assistant mule-boss in the mines, which business he followed a short time. Shortly after this, he went to Avondale and clerked in the company store of Lee Bros., from there going to Plymouth and clerking in the hardware store of F. E. Spy. Mr. Sutliff next went to Philadelphia, entering the employ of his brother, who was a wholesale and retail liquor dealer. While there he also attended the School of Pharmacy, and after two years in that city came to Nanticoke, and accepted a clerkship in the store of D. K. Spy, where he clerked about six months, being then given the entire management. After having filled this position three years he entered the employ of Dr. Lape, as manager of his drug-store, and in June, 1881, he engaged in business for himself, having ever since been one of Nanticoke's most flourishing druggists. Mr. Sutliff is a first-class apothecary. In the fall of 1886 he was unanimously nominated by the Republican party for the Legislature, but declined. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, American Protestants, I. O. O. F., Sons of St. George, I. O. R. M., P. O. S. of A., American Mechanics, Knights of Honor and Royal Society of Good Fellows. He married, for his first wife, Miss Jane Kostenbauder, of Catawissa, who died leaving one child, Hattie. He was again married, this time to Miss Emma, daughter of G. W. Nicely, of Nanti- coke. Politically Mr. Sutliff is a Republican.

CHARLES B. SUTTON, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Exeter township, this county, July 9, 1830, a son of Samuel and Mary D. (Buckingham) Sutton, and is among the descendants of the first settlers of the Wyoming Valley. He was reared on the homestead in Exeter township, and at Kingston, until sixteen years of age; was educated at Wyoming Seminary, and in 1850, began his business life as clerk in a general store in Kingston, where he was employed three years. In 1853 he came to Wilkes-Barre and entered the store of his brother, James, as clerk, in which capacity he served until 1861. On September 2 of that year he enlisted as musician in the Fifty-second Pennsylvania Regiment, and after one year's service was honorably discharged. After his return home he was again employed in his brother's store, until 1864, and then embarked in general merchandising for his own account, in which he continued seven years. After that he was engaged in the insurance busi- ness three years. On May 27, 1863, Mr. Sutton married Frances A., daughter of Daniel Woodward, of White Haven, and has four children: Charles H., Samuel, John and Nancy B. Mr. Sutton is a member of the G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican, and from 1874 to 1886 he was alderman of the Twelfth Ward, Wilkes- Barre; was mayor (pro tem.) from 1883 to 1886, and mayor from 1886 to 1892. In February, 1892, he was again elected alderman of the Twelfth Ward, for a term of five years, which incumbency he is now filling.

JAMES SUTTON, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Exeter township, this county, Decem- ber 22, 1825, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Buckingham) Sutton. His pater- nal grandfather, James Sutton, a native of White Plains, N. Y., and for several years a prominent hardware merchant of New York City, settled in Wilkes-Barre prior to the Revolutionary war, erected a gristmill on Mill creek, and later removed to Exeter township, where he had a farm and mill property at the time of the

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Wyoming Massacre, in which he took an active part. Soou after he, with others, built a raft, and with their families went down the river to near Harrisburg; after a year or more he returned to the homestead at Exeter, rebuilt the mills that had been burned down during the Indian troubles, and resided there until his death. His wife was Sarah, daughter of Dr. William Hooker Smith, formerly of West- chester county, N. Y., and among the pioneer physicians of Luzerne county. By her he had children as follows, who grew to maturity: Deborah (Mrs. Jacob Bed- ford), William, Polly (Mrs. Putnam Catlin), Sarah (Mrs. Daniel Sterling), John, Samuel and James. Of these Samuel, father of subject, was a native of Luzerne county, and spent most of his life in Exeter township, where he was engaged in farming, milling and lumbering, and where his death occurred by drowning March 25, 1842. His wife was Mary D., daughter of Stephen and Polly (Dorrance) Buck- ingham, and granddaughter of Col. George Dorrance, who was killed at the Wyo- ming Massacre. By her he had six children: Nancy A., James, Stephen B. (now a resident of Minnesota), who served throughout the late Civil war as a member of the First Minnesota Regiment; Charles B. and Samuel, twins, and Benjamin D., deceased. All were reared on the old homestead at Exeter, and all but three are residents of Wilkes-Barre, viz .: James, Charles B. and Samuel. Our subject left the homestead in Exeter when sixteen years of age, commencing life as a clerk in a general store, and in 1853 he embarked in general merchandising in Wilkes-Barre, in which he was successfully engaged twenty and one half years, retiring in 1873. His brother, Samuel, who resides with him, was for many years a resident of New York City, where he was engaged in the rubber trade. Both are unmarried.

J. G. SUTTON, farmer, P. O. Outlet, was born in Bradford county, February 22, 1815, a son of Isaac and Hannah (Quick) Sutton, the former born in New Haven, Conn., the latter near Skinner's Eddy, Pa. Isaac Sutton was a ship car- penter by trade, and followed the sea for seven years, passing most of his life, how- ever, in Bradford county. His father, a native of Ireland, came to this country as a British soldier, but, on seeing the brave men struggle for freedom and independ- ence, he left the stronger for the better side and fought with the patriots. Isaac Sutton had three children, two of whom reached maturity, and one of them is now living, John G. Our subject was reared and educated at Towanda, Pa., and always confined himself to agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty-eight, he removed to this county, settling in Lake township, where he purchased a lot of 300 acres of unreclaimed land, at which time there was only one house between Outlet and Leh- man. During the intervening years he has cleared about fifty acres of land. He is a self-made man, who began life a poor boy and has accomplished much for him- self, as well as for the development of the township in which he settled. On Feb- rurary 19, 1845, he married Miss Caroline O., daughter of John and Sally Ide, to which union were born nine children, six of whom came to maturity, and five of them are now living: Solindia, Estella, Sharp J., Kate and Hannie, the latter of whom is unmarried and an invalid. Mr. Sutton is much honored for his worth as a man of sterling qualities and strictly moral principles. He is a stanch Republican and has served his town creditably in the following offices: justice of the peace, five years; school director, six years, and supervisor, two years.

: ALEXANDER SWARTWOOD, farmer, P. O. Lockville, Wyoming county, was born in Exeter township, March 22, 1827, and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Sick- ler) Swartwood, both of whom were born in Wyoming county. The grandfather of the subject of this memoir was a native of New York State, and was one of the early settlers in this county before its division. He was the owner of four or five hundred acres of land, and the proprietor of a first-class hotel in those days. He was a man of influence and intelligence, and in politics was a stanch Whig. His family consisted of eight children, all of whom grew to maturity. His son, Alexander Swartwood, followed the example of his father, being an industri- ous farmer, and occupied part of his father's vast estate on which he passed his lifetime. He was a consistent member of the Christian Church till his death, after

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

which he became a member of Christ's Church triumphant, as his reward for faith- fulness here. He departed this life in the year 1867, at the age of eighty-five years, having reared a family of eleven children, nine of whom are now living. Alexander Swartwood, the subject of this sketch, is the seventh in the family; he was reared and educated in his native township, and has always followed agri- cultural pursuits. Mr. Swartwood continued to reside in his birthplace till April, 1885, when he removed to his present place of residence, a farm of 106 acres, near Suttons creek, formerly owned by E. Williamson. He is a general and prac- tical farmer, fully understanding his calling in all its various and intricate branches. In 1852 Mr. Swartwood married Miss Elizabeth Frances, daughter of Benjamin and Ellen Eight, by whom he has had twelve children, as follows: Martin V., Henry, Elizabeth, David, Bertha, Mary Jane, Ida, Horton, William, Clarence, Lawrence and Garfield. Martin, Henry, Bertha and Mary Jane are married and in prosperous circumstances. Politically, Mr. Swartwood is a Republican.

HON. JAMES A. SWEENY, editor of the Plain Speaker, Hazleton, was born at Allentown, Pa., July 12, 1850, and is the eldest in the family of ten children of Edward and Hannah (Sweeny) Sweeny, natives of Ireland, who removed from Allentown to Summit Hill when our subject was but a child. Early in life the lat- ter began work in the mines picking slate during the summers and attending school in the winter season. In 1863 the family removed to Ebervale, where the lad worked about the mines until fourteen years of age, when his patriotic spirit and strong desire to participate in the great Rebellion, which at this time was at its height, removed the age qualification in his enthusiasm, and he went to Philadel- phia and enlisted in the regular army. Before the boy-soldier had been transferred to the fields of active duty, his parents raised objections, and he was compelled to return to his home without even reaching the front where battles are won and lives sacrificed, and his military hopes were blasted, yet he received the appellation of " Colonel" for his youthful escapade, which title has since clung to him. After his return home he came to the conclusion that an education was an essential thing even for a breaker-boy, and for seven years thereafter he worked early and late, saving his hard-earned dollars until he should have enough to pay for a course of study. At the age of twenty-one he entered the Bloomsburg State Normal School, where he remained several terms, and then returned to the coal regions and fol- lowed mining until 1875, in which year he was appointed reporter on the Anthra- cite Record and Daily News, remaining in that capacity until the following sum- mer. Again he lit his mine lamp, took charge of a coal chamber, and there con- tinued until 1877 when he accompanied a traveling show, as press agent, for two seasons. In 1879 he returned to Hazleton, and was here engaged as reporter on the Sentinel, which was commenced as a weekly paper. In 1880, when the Inde- pendent Democrat was started, he was largely interested in that organ, and worked on it for about one year, at the end of which time he went to mining again until 1882, when he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the State Legislature, in which he served in the sessions of 1883, consisting of the regular and an extra ses- sion; in 1885 he was re-elected and served his term. Since that time he has been newspaper correspondent during the Legislative sessions at Harrisburg, and editor of the Plain Speaker. "Col. Jim" is one of the best-known men in the county-an illustration of the amazing self confidence and resources of the real American lad who hoes his own row, and expects and asks no favors. His wit and originality charm every one, and his popularity outruns even high birth and the "Almighty Dollar." In the field of politics, or among the craft of newspaper men, his friends are legion, and instead of his buying his way to the most votes, his friends and supporters not only rally at the polls, but are willing to go into their own pockets and pay his election bills. "Col. Jim" is a marked character, but they are all those "marks" that are pleasant to see.

STEWARD SWINGLE, merchant, Plymouth. This enterprising gentleman was born July 30, 1844, in Wayne county, Pa., and is the second in the family of twelve chil-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

dren of Harmon and Elizabeth (Hutchins) Swingle, also natives of Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was educated in the county of his birth, and after coming of age he took Horace Greeley's advice, and went West, locating in Iowa, where he learned the carpenter's trade. He remained in the West six years, return- ing at the end of that period to his old home in Wayne county. After a short sojourn there, he came to Plymouth, and worked at his trade for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company until 1881, when he again journeyed westward, this time proceed- ing to Colorado, where he was prospecting and mining. He remained there about a year, and then returned to Plymouth, engaging with his old employer at his chosen trade, and here he continued until 1886. He then established his present business at No. 112 Vine street, Plymouth, which was at first operated on a small scale, but since has been greatly enlarged, and is now among the largest general stores in the city, commanding an immense trade. The subject of this sketch was married, June 25, 1873, to Martha, daughter of John Moyer, and two children have been born to this union, Elizabeth and Fred. In politics Mr. Swingle is a Repub- lican. The family attend the Christian Church.

WILLIAM SWITZER, farmer, Wyoming borough, was born March 8, 1847, in Wyoming county, Pa., and is a son of John and Julia (Sult) Switzer, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. Our subject is the fifth in a family of ten children, nine of whom are living. He was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-one embarked in life for himself as a farm hand, and so worked for two years; he then rented a farm on shares, whereon he remained twelve years; then moved to his present farm, owned by Samnel Shoemaker, and pays a cash rent. On June 17, 1873, Mr. Switzer was married to Miss Sarah, daughter of Henry and Magda- lene (Kemery) Houser, natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin, the former of whom was a farmer; they reared eleven children, of whom Mrs. Switzer is the tenth in order of birth. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Switzer has been blessed with three children: Maggie L., born September 13, 1874; Nellie B., born March 21, 1880; Archie H., born September 3, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Switzer are members of the Methodist Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Monument Lodge, No. 887, and in politics is a sound Republican.

WILLIAM SWORD, merchant, Parsons, was born at Fellingsberg, Sweden, a son of Andrew and Carolina (Carlson) Sword. He was educated in Sweden, and in 1869 emigrated to America, locating at Wilkes-Barre where he remained about a year, when he came to Parsons, engaging in the mercantile business and carrying a full line of general merchandise. Through his honesty and strict business integrity he has established a trade and reputation unparalleled in his locality. The firm is now known as Sword & Sons. Mr. Sword was married to Miss Christina, daughter of N. Nelson, of Sweden, and of this union have been born six children, viz .: Minnie, who is proprietor and manager of a first-class millinery store at Parsons; Oscar W., associated with his father in the mercantile business, and first lieutenant of Company E, Ninth Regiment, N. G. P .; Alma, also engaged in her father's store; Alfred; Edward, also engaged in his father's store; and Anna. Our subject and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and all are earnest advocates of the cause of Prohibition.

EDWIN SYNOTT, iron moulder, Inkerman, was born in Norfolk, England, Novem- ber 29, 1841, and is a son of John and Susan (Sutcliffe) Synott, natives of the same place, who now reside in Binghamton, N. Y. The family came from England in 1845, when our subject was but four years old He received his education in the common schools, and learned the trade of a moulder in Binghamton, N. Y., moving into this county in the year 1883, where he has since been employed at his trade. On October 1, 1865, Mr. Synott was united in marriage with Miss Jennie, daughter of John T. and Elizabeth J. (Helms) Brewster, natives of Binghamton, and of En- glish descent. They have one son, Edwin, born January 13, 1868. Mr. Synott is a member of the I. O. O. F., Sons of St. George, and K. of P., and in politics is a Republican.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

CHARLES W. TAMMANY, furniture dealer, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., December 31, 1851, a son of Moses C. and Susan J. (Bellas) Tammany, and is of Irish descent. His father, a native of County Donegal, Ireland, came to Amer- ica in 1836 and located in Wilkes-Barre, where for many years he boated on the canal between that city and Baltimore; later he was a contractor in the building of railroads, and during the last years of his life was engaged in the real estate busi- ness. He died May 10, 1892, at the age of eighty-three years, three months and seven days. His children were three in number, viz. : Margaret T. (Mrs. Edward G. Hart), Martha (Mrs. Hiram Cany), and Charles W. Our subject was reared in Wilkes-Barre and educated in the public schools. He served a seven years' ap- prenticeship at the bricklayer's trade; afterward worked two years as a journeyman from April, 1879, to June, 1887; was constable of Wilkes-Barre; in April, 1887, he embarked in the furniture business on a small scale, and increased his trade to such an extent that he had to enlarge his facilities to accommodate his numerous patrons, so that now he has one of the leading establishments of the kind in the county. Mr. Tammany was married April 25, 1870, to Sarah J., daughter of Jacob and Caroline Engle, of Wilkes-Barre, and they have one son, Stanley G. Mr. Tammany is one of the prominent merchants of Wilkes-Barre; is a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

DOMINIC TANNANT, miner, Port Blanchard, was born June 10, 1842, in County Roscommon, Ireland, and is a son of Dominic and Catherine (Boyd) Tannant, natives of the same place. Our subject came to America in 1856, and immediately settled at Port Griffith, this county, where he went to work as a laborer in the mines; in 1860 he was employed as a miner by the Pennsylvania Coal Company, and still re- tains that position. On November 20, 1861, Mr. Tannant was united in marriage with Catherine, daughter of John and Mary (Herly) Murphy, natives of County Mayo, Ireland, and the issue of this union was five children, as follows: Mary A., born August 23, 1862, a teacher in Port Griffith high school; Kate, born July 7, 1864; John, born January 12, 1867; Mattie, born November 10, 1869, and Winifred, . born November 7, 1875. Our subject is a member of the Catholic Church, and of the Father Mathew T. A. B. Society; in politics he is a Democrat. In the summer of 1884 he built the house where he now resides.

WILLIAM TASKER, proprietor of Restaurant, Miners Mills, was born in Glamor- ganshire, South Wales, September 12, 1826, and is a son of Reese and Margaret (Davies) Tasker. The father, who was an inside mine foreman for the British Com- pany, reared a family of ten children, two of whom are living, viz. : William, and Guinlean, who married Edward Jenkins, a miner in Glamorganshire, Wales. Our subject came to America in 1865, and located in Providence, Pa., where he en- gaged in mining, which had aleo been his occupation in Wales. He remained in Providence eight years, and then removed to Plains, where he followed mining till 1875, in which year he embarked in his present business, and in 1887 built a large hall adjoining, in which five different Societies meet. Mr. Tasker was married, De- cember 4, 1851, to Miss Martha Davies, of his native town, and the fruit of this union was two children, viz .: Reese, an engineer in Glamorganshire, and William, a miner in Miners Mills. Mrs. Tasker died in 1855, and he was again married, December 10, 1861, this time to Miss Margaret Roberts, of Glamorganshire. Five children were born to thie marriage, viz .: George, Mary E., David, Margaret A. and Jennie; Mrs. Margaret Tasker died January 8, 1884. Mr. Tasker is a member of the I. O. R. M. and I. O. O. F .; is a Republican politically.

SOLOMON W. TAYLOR, a prominent farmer of Huntington township, P. O. Harvey- ville, was born at Red Rock, Fairmount township, this county, February 27, 1846, and is a son of Firman V. and Eliza C. (Goss) Taylor, natives of Pennsylvania, of English origin. Firman V. Taylor, who was a carpenter by trade, died October 11, 1882, aged sixty-six years; he was a son of Thomas and Mary (Valentine) Taylor, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, respectively. Thomas Taylor was a son of Thomas Taylor who came from Connecticut about the close of the Revolution,

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 211

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