History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 217

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

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and Kingston, and in 1880 came to Plains, where he has since resided. Mr. Walker was married, February 22, 1870, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Oliver (Porter) Gunsaulus, natives of New York and Connecticut, respectively, and they have five children, viz. : Lizzie E., Mary L., Millie M., Edith O. and Roberta A. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, the A. O. K. of M. C., and the O. U. A. M .; politically he is a Republican.

HENRY WALL, farmer, P. O. Lockville, Wyoming county, was born in Little Exeter, Wyoming county, June 6, 1840, and is a son of Dennis and Ursula (Hub- bard) Wall, both of whom were also born in Wyoming county. Dennis was a son of John, a native of Rhode Island, who removed to Little Exeter about 1810, in which place he passed the remainder of his days. He was a shoemaker of some experience, and worked at the trade for a number of years in his younger days, following the custom of his day in going from family to family to do their "shoeing." He removed from the east of this county at a time when good mechanics were of great worth to their fellow-men. He served in the war of 1812, and was not only a soldier and a master mechanic, but a successful and practical farmer as well, owning, in Little Exeter, a farm of one hundred acres. He reared a family of nine children, and died in 1862, at an advanced age. Dennis Wall began life in Little Exeter, as a farmer, and at his death owned five farms, all the result of his own hard labor. He was a man of great endurance and strict honesty, and a devout member of the Christian Church, whose influence was much sought after. He held most of the town offices with great credit. Mr. Wall died January 20, 1891, at the age of seventy-six years. His family consisted of nine children, eight of whom are now living.

Henry Wall is the eldest in the family. He lived at home until he reached

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his thirty-seventh year, when he married on February 27, 1878, Miss Mary E., daughter of A. O. and Elizabeth Lutes, to which union have been born three children, two of whom are living: Ursula E. and Ellen A. Mrs. Mary E. (Lutes) Wall was born in North Moreland township, Wyoming county. In 1878 Mr. Wall moved on to his present farm of ninety acres; he is an industrious and practical farmer. He has been elected to the office of constable, and also to other local posi- tions, which he has held with credit.

SYLVESTER WALL, brother of Henry, was born in Exeter, November 13, 1854, where he was reared and educated. In the early years of his life, he followed butchering. He made his home with his parents until he reached his twenty-eighth year, when, on September 30, 1881, he married Miss Rose, daughter of Spencer and Elizabeth Fitch, and they have had two daughters, Edith and Rose, aged nine and six years, respectively. After his marriage Mr. Wall removed to his farm of seventy- five acres; he is a general and practical farmer, and, since his residence here, has made many improvements in buildings and on fields. He has been honored with several township offices. Mrs. Rose (Fitch) Wall was born in Wyoming county, November 9, 1860. The Walls are stanch Democrats.

JOHN WALL, fire-boss, Plains, was born in Herefordshire, England, May 17, 1846, son of John and Sarah (Seal) Wall. His father, who was a miner, reared a family of six children, of whom he is the only son. He came to America in 1865, the rest of the family following in 1867; his father located at Mill Creek, where he worked in the mines and was killed in 1870. John located at Yatesville, where he worked in the mines, and, later, at St. Clair and Sugar Notch, removing in 1867, to Plains, where he has since resided and worked in the mines, with the exception of 1888-89, when he was engaged in the mercantile business, and, in 1889, in tax- collecting. Mr. Wall was married, August 31, 1869, to Margaret A., daughter of George and Mary (Slater) Martin, natives of England. They have seven children, viz .: George, bookkeeper, Sheldon Axle Works, Wilkes-Barre; Sadie; John William; Mary J .; Annie; Elizabeth, and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Wall are members of the Primitive Methodist Church, and his two sons are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church; he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, and the Sons of St. George; in politics he is a Republican.

ANTHONY WALSH, painter, P. O. Oliver's Mills, was born in County Mayo, Ire- land, in 1859, a son of John and Catherine (Sweeney) Walsh. In 1872 he came to America with his mother and two brothers, John and Michael, and located in Wilkes- Barre. He resided there until 1888, engaged in mining; then removed to Laurel Run borough, where he has since followed painting as his occupation. On January 23, 1888, Mr. Walsh married Miss Mary, daughter of John and Bridget (McCarroll) Daly, of Wilkes-Barre township, and has one son living, Anthony. Mr. Walsh is a member of the Catholic Church, and of the A. O. of H. In politics, he is a Demo- crat, and is one of the school directors of Laurel Run borough.

JOHN P. WALSH, grocer and hotel-keeper, Wilkes-Barre township, was born in Hawley, Wayne Co., Pa., March 24, 1863, and is a son of Patrick and Margaret (Kilboy) Walsh, who settled in Wilkes-Barre in 1865, where they now reside. Our subject was reared in Wilkes-Barre, educated in the public schools, and from 1880 to 1887 was employed on the railroad as brakeman and conductor. In 1887 he em- barked in his present business in Wilkes-Barre township, in which he has success- fully continued. On August 1, 1883, Mr. Walsh married Miss Mary, daughter of James and Ann (Kennedy) Kane, of New York, and has four children living: Ann, Margaret, Jane, and Delia. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

WILLIAM WALTER, farmer, P. O. Conyngham, was born in Baden, Germany, No- vember 23, 1845, a son of David and Catherine (Exly) Walter, the former of whom came to America in 1849, locating in Butler township, where his family joined him in 1854. Later he settled in Wilkes-Barre, and died there. His children were Christopher J. (deceased), William and Christian. Our subject was reared in Lu-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

zerne county from nine years of age, and began life as a farm hand. He served one year in the Civil war as a member of Company E, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volun- teers, and was honorably discharged at expiration of his term of service. Since 1870 he has been engaged in farming, the past twelve years in Sugar Loaf township, where he owns one of the finest farms in the county. On July 3, 1870, he married Sarah A., daughter of Jacob and Eliza (Houseknecht) Balliet, of Sugar Loaf town- ship, and has five children: Harry, Jennie, William, Jr., Charles and Florence. He is a prominent farmer and citizen, a member of the Lutheran Church, and G. A. R., has always been a stanch Democrat, and is now the nominee of his party for the office of sheriff of Luzerne county.

DAVID WALTERS, merchant; Miners Mills, was born in Brecon, South Wales, Feb- ruary 9, 1852, and is a son of John and Jane (Jones) Walters. His father, who was a tailor by trade, came to America in 1859, locating at Carbondale, Pa., but later resided at Rushdale, and died in 1890, at the age of seventy-five years, while on a visit to his native country. The family consisted of five children, viz. : Catharine, who died in childhood; John, who died in Miners Mills, at the age of forty-one years, after having worked in the mines at that place fourteen years; David, subject of this sketch; Amelia, married to William Phillips, a miner in Plymouth, Pa., and Mary Ann. Our subject received his education in the common schools of his native country, where he worked in the mines till 1878, when he came to America, bringing with him several thousand dollars; he located in Miners Mills, and worked in the Wyoming Colliery for five years, when he erected his present store and residence, and engaged in the mercantile business; he also built several tenement houses. In 1886 Mr. Walters discontinued the mercantile business, sold some of his houses, and removed to Texas, where he worked in the mines and kept boarders for eight months, when, on account of the poor health of himself and family in that climate, he returned to Miners Mills and embarked in his present business. Mr. Walters was married, April 7, 1877, to Miss Sarah, daughter of David and Catherine (Griffiths) James; her parents, who were natives of Wales, died in Miners Mills, and were buried in the Hollenback cemetery, Wilkes-Barre. The fruit of this union has been four children, viz .: David, who died at the age of sixteen months; Jane, who died when three months old; one that died in infancy, and Catharine, born June 3, 1888. Mr. Walters and wife attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she is a member. He is a member of the K. of P., and the I. O. R. M. ; he is a Republican in his political views, and was appointed postmaster October 7, 1889.

A. H. WALTMAN, lumberman, Nescopeck, was born in that village July 4, 1835, a son of Samuel and Susan (Swank) Waltman. The father, who was a native of Berks county, Pa., came to Nescopeck township in 1832, followed boating on the canal for several years, and in partnership with another built two sections of the Catawissa Railroad in 1838. He removed to Muncy, Pa., in 1840, and died at Shenandoah, same State, in 1868. His children were Alfred H., Mary (Mrs. Post Hart) and Julia (Mrs. Elias Jones). Our subject was reared in Lycoming county, Pa., from five years of age. In 1854 he returned to his native town, where he has since resided, and he was engaged in boating on the canal thirty-five years; also conducted a successful mercantile business in Nescopeck seven years. He has erected fourteen houses in the town, twelve of which are double dwellings, and one store building, and expects to build several more. In 1867 he married Ella, daugh- ter of John and Anna Ruch, of Berwick, Pa., the former of whom was a prominent citizen of Berwick, and postmaster there for about twenty years. By this union there are seven children living: Laura (Mrs. Harvey Bond), Harry, Susie, John, Howard, Clara, and an infant son. Mr. Waltman is a prominent citizen of Nesco- peck, is enterprising, and has done as much toward building up and improving the village as any one. In politics he is a Republican, and has held several township offices.

E. P. WALTON, proprietor of meat-market, Plymouth, was born in Salem town- ship Luzerne county, September 15, 1838, and is the third in a family of nine chil-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

dren born to Enoch and Julia (Longer) Walton, natives of this county. Our sub- ject was educated in the public schools of Luzerne county, and began life as a farmer, in which vocation he continued for six years. He then removed to Foun- dryville, Columbia Co., Pa., where he was engaged in the mercantile business for two years, coming thence to Plymouth, where he kept a livery and boarding stable for eight years, at the stand where C. J. Boyle is now located. He afterward opened a grocery in the building which stood where the "Eley House" is now located, and continued it for one year, at the end of which time he removed to Vir- ginia, remaining there nearly a year and coming from there back to Plymouth, where he established his present business, a large and well-stocked market, which is liber- ally patronized. Mr. Walton was united in marriage, September 22, 1855, to Anna M., daughter of Jacob and Phoebe (Gensell) Hoosler, natives of Columbia county, Pa., to which union have been born eight children, as follows: Charles; Emeline, wife of. J. C. Devers, a merchant of Plymouth, Pa .; Ida Belle, wife of W. W. Mul- ter, of Philadelphia; Ella, deceased; Minnie, deceased; Kate J., and Frederick B., both attending the Wyoming Seminary; and Carrie. Mr. Walton's political views are Republican. The family are adherents of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Knights of Honor.

JOSEPH WALTON, farmer, P. O. Shickshinny, was born in a log house on the Walton homestead, in Salem township, this county, February 14, 1830, and is a son of Enoch and Julia A. (Longer) Walton. His paternal grandfather Joseph Walton, of Berks county, Pa., was one of the early settlers of Salem township, where he cleared and improved the farm ou which our subject was born, and lived in the township until his death. Enoch Walton was his only son, and he resided on the old homestead until he died. He was twice married, his first wife being Julia A. Longer, by whom he had three children: Joseph, Annie (Mrs. E. Pollock) and Ellis; his second wife was Rachel Garrison, and by her he had also three children: Mor- ris, George and Almira (Mrs. C. S. Nesbitt). Our subject has always resided in Salem township, where he has followed farming and lumbering. He married Lavina, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Freeman) Pollock, of Salem township, by which union there were nine children, as follows: A son that died in infancy, William E., Enoch S., John F. and Annie F. (Mrs. Wallace Moore), Lemuel P., a daughter that died in infancy, Effie (Mrs. Lockard Hicks) and Elizabeth L. Mr. Walton is a prominent citizen of Salem township, and in politics is a Republican.

W. E. WALTON, farmer, P. O. Lehman, was born May 6, 1854, in Salem town- ship, this county, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of Joseph and Lavina (Pollock) Walton. both of whom were also born in Salem township. Joseph is a son of Enoch Walton, who was also a native of Salem township, and an exten- sive land owner, having as much as 600 acres at one time. He was a director of the Berwick Bridge at one time, and also owned "stock " in the same. He was a peace- able citizen and a good farmer. Enoch was a son of Joseph Walton, who was either a native of Holland or a descendant of Dutch parents, a resident of Berka county, and by faith & Quaker. He moved to this county about 1800, locating in Salem township; he was a blacksmith by trade, a man of energy and push, and died at the age of eighty-four years. He had two children. His son Enoch lived to be eighty-one years of age, and reared a family of six children, four of whom are now living. Joseph, the father of the subject of this sketch, is still living in Salem town- ship, at the age of sixty-one years; he has a family of seven children, all living. He owns 600 acres of land which produces an abundance of lumber which he manu- factures. Joseph Walton is also a prosperous farmer and a thorough-going busi- ness man. His son, W. E., is the eldest of the family, and has always confined him- self to farming. At the age of twenty-two, he married, for his first wife, Miss Dora, daughter of Jacob and Mary Prindle. She died without issue, October 27, 1877. For his second wife he married, on October 16, 1879, Miss Mary, daughter of John and Aminda Shaw, in Huntington, Luzerne county. By this marriage there were born four children, all of whom are living, viz .: John S., Joseph E., Dora O.

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and William A. Mrs. Walton was born in North Moreland, Wyoming county, October 22, 1852. Mr. Walton moved to Lehman township, on his present place of 115 acres of fertile land, in 1882. He is a general farmer of marked ability, whose surroundings show his taste and judicious management. He has been elected to sev- eral local offices, which he has held with credit. He and his esteemed wife are both consistent members of the M. E. Church. Politically, he is a Republican.

JOHN G. WARD, machinist, Duryea, was born in the County of Durham, England, April 22, 1850, son of John and Thomasina (Wheatley) Ward, natives of that place. They reared a family of eight children, of whom our subject is the second in order of birth. He received his education in the common schools, and in 1864 was apprenticed to learn the trade of machinist. In 1871 he came to the United States, and worked for the firm of Hillman & Sons, Miners Mills, this county, as engineer, for eighteen months. He afterward worked at his trade for a few months in Mahanoy Machine Shops, in Schuylkill county. He then returned to England and worked at his trade until July 18, 1879, when he again came to this country, locating in Scranton. In 1881 he took up his residence in Duryea, where he is employed as engineer by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Coal Co. He was united in marriage May 12, 1870, with Jane A., daughter of Carnaby and Ann (Carrick) Willis, natives of Durham, England. Their union has been blessed with the following issue: Robert C., born September 16, 1871; Thomas H., born October 29, 1872; Annie, born May 7, 1874, Margaret, born December 30, 1876; Lillie G., born August 16, 1878; John G., born June 27, 1881; Syd- ney E., born March 30, 1883; William E., born January 7, 1885; Charles H., born February 10, 1887. Our subject is a local minister of the M. E. Church, and in politics is a Prohibitionist. He is now holding the office of township auditor, and has also served as township clerk. Mr. Ward is prominently con- nected with the Sons of Temperance, K. of P., and K. of M. C. He is also largely interested in the Moosic Co-operative Association, of which he was one of the originators.

REV. JAMES P. WARE, pastor of the St. Peter's Church, Plymouth. This gen- tleman was born at Salem, Mass., April 6, 1859, and is a son of William and Jane (Graham) Ware, natives of England. Mr. Ware was educated first at Provi- dence, Rhode Island, where he prepared for a higher course of study which he took at the Delaware College, Newark, graduating from there in the class of '83, having the degree of B. L. conferred upon him. He then entered the Episcopal Theological Seminary of Cambridge, Mass., where he was graduated June, 1886, with the degree of B. D. On June 13, same year, he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island, and in May, 1887, was ordained priest. Was rec- tor of Trinity Church at Woburn; Mass., and later of Manville, R. I. He is at present assistant minister of St. Stephen's Church, Wilkes-Barre, and has charge of the Mission church at Plymouth. Mr. Ware was united in marriage October 12, 1887, with Helen E., daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth C. (Rowe) Story, natives of New York, the ceremony being performed at Providence, Rhode Island.

JOHN A. WARING, proprietor of the "Dairy Kitchen," Wilkes-Barre, was born in Bolton, Lancashire, England, August 18, 1853, a son of Charles and Jane (Moore) Waring. His father came to America in 1868, and located at Bingham- ton, N. Y., where he resided until his death, June 14, 1876. The family settled in Binghamton in 1870. The children were George, James, John A., Sarah E. (Mrs. Thomas Watson), George (II), William and Charles. Our subject was reared and educated in England, and came to America in 1870, locating at Bing- hamton, N. Y., and was clerk in a dry-goods store there eleven years. In 1881 he removed to Wilkes-Barre, and was superintendent of the Boston Store ten years, and was afterward manager of the store of Conyngham, Scrage & Com- pany two years. In December, 1889, he established the " Dairy Kitchen," a popu- lar resort and the only exclusive ladies' and gentlemen's restaurant in the city. On June 9, 1878, Mr. Waring married Miss Kate, daughter of William McKeever,

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of Louisville, Ky., a native of Scotland, and has one daughter living, Lizzie M. Mr. Waring is a member of the Episcopal Church, and of the American Legion of Honor. Politically he is independent.

EMANUEL M. WARNER, farmer and laborer, Huntington township, P. O. Harvey- ville, was born July 2, 1860, in Union township, only child of Henry and Sarah Ann (Houtz) Warner, natives of Pennsylvania, who were of English and German origin, respectively. Emanuel M. was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and at eighteen years of age began life for himself, as a common laborer, following the same until the fall of 1875, when he purchased his present farm, and has since devoted a part of his time to working and improving it. He was married, April 14, 1888, to Miss Elsie, daughter of Ami and Ann (Cope) Mas- ters. Mr. Warner is a careful, energetic young man, well liked by all his neigh- bors. Politically he is a Republican.

JAMES WARNER, farmer, P. O. Dorrance, was born in Hollenback township, April 18, 1844, a son of John and Elizabeth (Smith) Warner, both of whom were born in Northampton county, whence they removed to this county about 1850, and located in Hollenback township. Mr. Warner purchased several small parcels of land at various times, out of which he made a complete farm. After the lapse of years, when he became an old man, he sold this farm and went to live with his son James, the subject of this sketch. He had been a man of remarkable push and energy in his day, and he is now seventy years of age; his wife died in September, 1884. Their family consisted of fifteen children, of whom seven are now living, James being the eldest. Our subject was reared and educated in Hollenback township, and in his younger days worked at various callings. He spent several years in Dupont's Powder Mills, where he was much appreciated for his superior abilities. In 1867 he married Miss Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Barbara Cragle, by which union children were born as follows: John, Catherine, Martha, Annie, William, Lizzie, Norman, Garfield, Albert, Ida, Hannah and Harry. After his marriage Mr. Warner removed to Dorrance township, on a farm of eighty acres, where he has since lived, a prosperous man and a practical farmer. In 1864 he was mustered into the service of the United States for a term of three years, as a member of Com- pany E, One Hundred and Eighty-eighth P. V. I., and he displayed great heroism in various engagements while encountering Mosby and his band. He was honor- ably discharged at the close of the war, and now enjoys a pension. Politically Mr. Warner is a stanch Republican.

JAMES NELSON WARNER, a prominent dentist of Wilkes-Barre, was born in Hunt- ington township, this county, December 5, 1845, a son of Dr. Sydney H. and Cor- nelia (Machette) Warner, the former a native of Connecticut, the latter of Trenton, N. J. Dr. Sydney H. Warner, who was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, settled in Huntington, this county, in the early "thirties," and was a prominent physician of his day. He was twice married: his first wife was Hannah Loomis, of Susquehanna county, Pa., by whom he had five children: Geraldine, Adelaide (Mrs. M. C. Koons), Theodosia (Mrs. Hiram Park), Jared D. and Hannah {Mrs. Dr. H. C. Bacon). His second wife was Cornelia Machette, a lady of French parentage, by whom he had three children, of whom our subject is the only sur- vivor. James Nelson Warner was reared in Huntington township, received an academical education, and began the study of dentistry in 1871, graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, Philadelphia, in 1873. After practic- ing his profession in Hazleton two years, he located, in 1875, in Wilkes-Barre, where he has since been in active practice. On November 7, 1883, Mr. Warner married Jennie, daughter of John M. and Sarah (Davison) Stark, of Wyoming, and has two children living: Sydney and an infant son. Our subject is a member of the Susque- hanna County and Pennsylvania State Dental Associations; in religion he is an adherent of the Episcopal Church, and politically he is a Republican. He is a Knight Templar.

JOHN WASLEY, mine contractor, Wilkes-Barre, was born in the County of Corn-

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wall, England, May 14, 1841, a son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Edwards) Wasley. Our subject was reared and educated in England, and at ten years of age began working in the mines, and remained there in different capacities until 1873. He then came to America and settled in Wilkes-Barre, where he has since resided, fol- lowing mining uutil 1881, since which time he has been engaged in contracting, sinking shafts, driving tunnels, etc. On August 15, 1867, Mr. Wasley married Miss Mary J., daughter of Henry and Mary A. (James) James, of Cornwall, Eng- land, and by her has six children: Bessie, Jennie, Stephen, Edward, John and Amelia. Mr. Wasley is a F. & A. M .; politically he is an Independent.

EDWIN C. WASSER, proprietor of the "Bristol House," Wilkes-Barre, was born at White Haven, July 9, 1841, and is a son of John and Letitia (Clark) Wasser, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of whom was a contractor in the building of dams, and a lumber man. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Clark, was with Gen. Sullivan on his famous expedition through the Valley after the Wyoming Massacre in 1778. Edwin C. Wasser was educated at the public schools of White Haven, and at the Wyoming Seminary. While yet in his minority he was clerk two years in a drug-store. On December 9, 1861, he enlisted in Battery H, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, or One Hundred and Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and partici- pated in all the engagements of the regiment; he was honorably discharged from the service December 9, 1864. In 1866 he engaged in the hotel business at White Haven, and was the proprietor of the "Pacific House" at that place until 1870, when he located at Pittston, and there conducted the "Getting House " until 1872. He then went to Shamokin to take possession of some tracts of land, the claim to which the Reading Railroad Company disputed, but which land was, after a long and severe contest, finally held by the Reading Railroad Company. In 1874 he located in Wilkes-Barre, and here he carried on the "Exchange Hotel " until 1876. In 1878 he took charge of the " Bristol House," of which he has since been the pro prietor. In 1878 Mr. Wasser was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Wil- son, of Huntington township, this county. He is a member of the Methodist Church, of the K. of P. and G. A. R., and in his chosen vocation he is business-like in his methods, a strict disciplinarian, and competent, executive, affable and gen- erous to a fault, a courteous, popular and successful host.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 217

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