History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 86

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

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In 1799, including the village of Wilkes-Barre, Covington, Buck and a large portion of Plains and Bear Creek townships, there were 121 taxables and 112 horses. The names of the taxables are as follows:

Charles Abbot, Stephen Abbot, Edward Austin, Christopher Avery, Thomas A. Alkin, William Askam, John Alexander, Asa Bennett, Charles Bennett, Wilbur Ben- nett, Eleazar Blackman, Cain Billings, Timothy Beebe, Clark Beebe, Isaac Bowman, Stephen Barnes, John Carey, Hugh Conner, Arnold Colt, Mathew Covell, Putnam Catlin, Cornelius Courtright, Henry Courtright, John Courtright, James Conlin, Peter Corbit, Nathan Draper, Isaac Decker, Daniel Downing, Daniel Downing, Jr., 35

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Reuben Downing, Joseph Davis, Aziel Dana, Anderson Dana, Sylvester Dana, Thomas Duane, James Dixon, William Dixon, Arthur Eiek, Jacob Ely, Jabez Fish, Jesse Fell, Daniel Foster, Daniel Gore, Timothy Green, Willard Green, William Augustus George, Daniel Gridley, Matthias Hollenback, Jonathan Hancock, Godfrey Hitchcock, Oliver Helme, Jacob Hart, Lewis Hartsouff, Solomon Johnson, Jacob Johnson, Jehoida P. Johnson, Christiana Johnson, John Johnson, Jacob Jenong, Luther Jones, Reuben Jones, John Kennedy, Jr., James Kennedy, Daniel Kelly, Joseph Kelly, James Morgan, Richard Maybury, Thomas Marshal, Enoch Ogden, Jacob Ossencup, Samuel Pease, Nathan Palmer, Benjamin Perry, Benjamin Potts, John Potts, Mary Philips, John Pooder, David Richards, William Ross, Eleph Ross, John Rosecrans, Jacob Rosecrans, the Widow Rosecrans, Thomas Read, William Russel, John P. Schott, William Slocum, Joseph Slocum, Benjamin Slocum, Eben- ezer Slocum, Jonathan Slocum, Eunice Sprague, Polly Stevens, Obadiah Smith, Paul Stark, Henry Stark, William Shoemaker, Joshua Squire, Henry Tilbury, Stephen Tuttle, Benjamin Truesdale, Daniel Truesdale, Elias Vandermark, Nathan Waller, Phineas Waller, Eliad Waller, Andrew Wickeizer, Conrad Wickeizer, Joseph Wright, Thomas Wright, Philip Weekes, Thomas Weekes, Jonathan Wildman, Henry Wil- son, James Westbrook, Richard Westbrook, Justice Woolcott, Crandal Wilcox, Isaac Wilcox, William Wright, Rosswell Wells.

WRIGHT TOWNSHIP

Was formed in 1851; was taken from old Hanover township and named in honor of Col. Hendrick B. Wright, of Wilkes-Barre. Conrad Wickeiser was the first settler in 1798; his place was near where James Wright made his tavern-stand. The last named gentleman opened the first tavern and built the first sawmill. These are all now in Fairview township.

In what is now Wright proper the first settler was probably Cornelius Garrison, in 1833 or 1834. He built his sawmill on the Big Wapwallopen creek in the southwest part of the township. This mill was the longest to continue to run in the township. Mr. Garrison made the first little farm improvement, planted the first crop and set out the first orchard. The settlements and most of the industry, to the time of the recent division of the township, were in what is now Fairview township. It is now left with its 152 inhabitants, without a postoffice, without a railroad station though two roads pass through it, and the few inhabitants are on the little patch farms, scattered sparsely on the few level places or clinging to the hillsides.

The pioneer postmaster was William G. Albert. His office was where J. Shafer lived on the west side of the township. The mails came at first once a week, on horseback. Afterward Horton & Gilchrist, of Wilkes-Barre, started a stage line between Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, and then the mails were received three times a week.

At the first town meeting Eleazer Carey was elected assessor. He held the office for eight years.

The rise, decline and present condition of this township that was purely a lumber district is told in the cold figures of the census reports. In 1860 it con- tained a population of 278; 1870, 603; 1880, 881; 1890, 152. These figures tell the story, but not the whole story. There was not as the figures would seem to indicate a general running away of the people when the lumbering business had completed its work. The fact is the territory that constituted old Wright township shows an increase of nearly 150 inhabitants in the last decade, but the most of them are now in the new township, Fairview, since February, 1889. This divided Wright township on the school line between districts 1 and 2; the north part, containing much the larger portion of the township, was given the new name, Fair- view, and the lower part retained the old name of Wright. The only village or the only hamlet and place of any industry at all was a part of the new township and hence there is but a nominal population of 152 in the present Wright township.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

WYOMING BOROUGH,

In superficial area, is one of the largest boroughs in the county. In historical fame there is no spot on the continent so well known throughout the civilized world. Wyoming! The inspiring theme of historians and poets. It was chartered a borough in June, 1885, and July 15 the first election for officers was held, resulting as follows: Burgess, William Hancock; council: John P. Smith, president; John A. Hutchins, John Sharp, J. I. Shoemaker (still in the board), Dr. C. P. Knapp, John Daugher. The secretary was H. C. Edwards. Second burgess, John J. Breese, resigned and his term was filled out by H. J. Best. The next burgess was the present incumbent. Present officers: Burgess, Charles Crouse, was re-elected. Council: Wilber Rozelle, president; J. I. Shoemaker, A. J. Crouse, W. W. Stocker, Fisher Gay, James E. Sanders; secretary, Merritt Sax; chief police, Benjamin Bunn; superintendent streets, J. R. Lefrance.

The many improvements going on mark the growing importance of this young borough. One firm has now in the course of building forty houses, and many others are following these closely. Business men in Wilkes-Barre are now looking along the line of the electric road all the way to Pittston for family residences, and the most of them find they can buy and build at a material saving to pay the city rents; and then their delightful healthy homes will possess all the double advantages of rural and urban life.

Wyoming avenue passes through the length of the borough. It is substantially the old road from Wilkes-Barre to Pittston, called the Wyoming road, passing in front of the monument, that tribute in lasting granite to the sacred memory of the patriots who fell on the battle-field July 3, 1778, of which are full details elsewhere.

. As soon as peace had been assured after the Revolution settlers began to return and others to migrate hither, and about 1780 the vicinity of Wyoming began again to show signs of life. "New Troy " was the name by which the place was known up to within the memory of many living.

As early as 1780 or 1781 Benjamin Carpenter, from Connecticut, located on Abram's creek, at the lower end of the gorge where the creek breaks through the Kingston mountains. Here he built a gristmill on the site of the present one, also a house, which is still standing, occupied by Mrs. Riley. The west wing of what is now the Pollock house was built by Mr. Carpenter, and in 1829 the main' part of the hotel was built by a Mr. Allenbach. Mr. Carpenter also built the woolen fac- tory at this place, and the Carpenter family sold it to Mr. Anibal, and he to Jacob I. Shoemaker, Sr. This locality was known as Shoemaker's Mills, and was for many years known as Carpenter's Mills and Carpenter Town, which latter name it retained long after it came into the possession of the Shoemakers. In 1807 Mr. Carpenter sold out all his interests to Isaac C. Shoemaker and moved to Ohio. There was about that time an ax factory farther up the creek, the foundation of which is still visible. There was a small foundry a little below the gristmill. The gristmill was rebuilt in 1840 by Jacob I. Shoemaker, Sr., when all the improve- ments invented up to that time were added. Other improvements besides steam power have since been introduced.

In 1820 John Jones located here and engaged in the blacksmithing business, and the same year Thomas J. Halsey, M. D., located in this vicinity, where he practiced several years. Dr. John Smith was also one of the early resident physicians.

In 1802 or 1803 Mrs. Gordon, mother of James A. Gordon, of Plymouth, taught school in an old schoolhouse on or near the corner were Laycock's Wyoming house now stands.

William Swetland, who was postmaster in 1830, was also one of the early merchants. He kept his store a little below the family residence of Payne Pettebone, on the main road from Kingston to Wyoming. John Gardner was the pioneer

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

cabinet-maker at Carpenter Town, locating there as early as 1820, now a dwelling on the corner opposite the Pollock house, known as the "old storehouse;" and he was succeeded in 1830 by Charles Barney. The "old storehouse" was occupied as early as 1820 by Charles Tuttle, who was among early merchants. The property became Daniel Van Scoy's. As late as 1830 the flat between Shoemaker's Mills and Wyoming was a dense wilderness.

The topography of the ground along the river where is Susquehanna avenue has been taken advantage of and the rise is made a street and the lots face on a boulevard of natural old forest trees toward the river. The time is not distant when this must be one of the most favored residence streets in the world. The boulevard and the Susquehanna in front; the grand future mansions, flanked on either side with others of its kind and the gently rising mountains in the distant rear. The time is not distant when the river on both sides will be solid town, very nearly so now, from Pittston to Nanticoke. The principal or central trading and business stands now are on Wyoming and Eighth streets in the vicinity of Laycock's hotel, but with a place in the very first steps of a remarkably quick growth these conditions are liable to change at any time. The cause of this spurt in suburban improvements is first the electric street line that became a road in operation August 18, 1892, the car making its first business trip from the public square in Wilkes- Barre and then to Pittston that day. The cars had been running regularly to Wyom- ing, stopping in front of Laycock's hotel since May of this year.

In the borough are two hotels-the old Pollock and Laycock's; a steam gristmill, by James Fowler & Sons; a foundry; shovel works, by Payne Pettebone & Sons. This was at first, 1872, a company concern. The terra cotta works, by J. Hutchins & Co., who also operate the breaker across the hill; two breakers within the lines and one just outside the limits; the iron fence works, by John Wilder are situated on Sixth street, opened in 1776. James Eagan's mining drill factory is a growing industry as is the Laycock & Crouse carriage factory; 4 general stores, 1 confection- ery, 1 undertaking, 1 boots and shoes, 1 hardware and tin store, 3 builders, 2 shoemakers, 2 livery stables, and several small trading places.

The borough line extends on the mountain to the second tier of lots in the original division. The borough is bountifully supplied by the Spring Brook Water company. The same mains that supply Forty Fort, Dorranceton and Kingston pass through Wyoming.

YATESVILLE BOROUGH

Was formed from Jenkins township, May 20, 1878. The first borough election, June 1 following, resulted as follows: Burgess, T. T. Hale; council: George Fair- cloth, president; Thomas Nattrass, secretary; John Shields, William Learch, Alex- ander Frazer, Alfred Day; street superintendent, John H. Monk; chief police, Mathew Harrison; collector, W. D. Hale. T. T. Hale was re-elected burgess.

Present officers: Richard Bostock, burgess; council: John Harding, John Pierce, John T. Reid, William Carpenter and Leopard D. Schooley. Secretary and assessor, Edwin S. Monk; treasurer, Charles Hale; tax collector, Thomas W. Haines; street commissioner, Thomas Lloyd; chief police, Jasper S. Pierson.

Joel Hale, in 1809, built the first frame house in Yatesville, occupied by John Monk. Mr. Hale owned most of the borough site. The settlers following Mr. Hale were H. Fredrick, George Day, David Reese, James Cooper, Isaac and George Naphus, Joseph and John Stout and James Thompson. These came in 1809 or 1810. William D. Hale built the first tavern in the place on the corner of Main and Stout streets, in 1859, afterward kept by John H. Monk. The first store was opened in 1855. A schoolhouse was built in 1851. From 1812 to 1825 the added families were, John and Isaiah Hale, John Yates, Asa and Morris Naphus and Francis Yates, Sr. The borough was named for this Francis Yates, an Englishman who came to America in 1817. When he came here he bought ninety acres of land of

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Theophilus Brooks, on which was a log cabin. His widow survived to a great age. It is believed that Francis Yates and the Hale brothers were the first to mine coal. They found an outcrop and then by stripping they pursued the business of taking out coal with a sled and ox team.

Two railroads have depots at this place; three stores and a water reservoir of the Pennsylvania Coal company for the supply of their works and the town. Pop- ulation 437, domiciled in ninety dwellings. The people are engaged in mining.

PART II.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

DANIEL ACKER, teacher of banjo and guitar, and composer of music, Wilkes Barre, wasborn in Conyngham Valley, this county, June 1, 1853, a son of Charles and Mary A. (Belles) Acker. His paternal grandfather, Elias Acker, a native of Pennsylvania, was among the pioneers of Luzerne county, where he owned several large farms, and died there. Charles Acker, father of subject, was a native of But- ler Valley, this county, and by occupation a farmer. He was drafted in the Civil war, was a member of Company H, Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Regiment, and died in 1864 of wounds received at Ream's Station, Va. His wife was a daughter of John Belles, a farmer and miller of Luzerne county, and by her he had three chil- dren, who grew to maturity: Daniel, Lydia (Mrs. George Kern) and Ellen (Mrs. Al Kohl). Our subject was reared in Luzerne county, educated at Soldiers' Orphan School, McAllisterville, Juniata Co., Pa., and Soldiers' School, at Orangeville, Columbia Co., Pa. He served an apprenticeship of three years at the tailor's trade, and followed the business sixteen years as a journeyman, part of the time teaching music. Since 1888 he has been a resident of Wilkes-Barre, and has built up a successful business. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Jr. O. U. A. M., and in politics is a Republican.

CHRISTIAN H. ACKERMAN, general grocer, Hazleton. Among the many business men of Hazleton none are more rapidly coming to the front than the one whose name opens this sketch. Mr. Ackerman was born in Germany, December 7, 1863, and is the fourth in a family of nine children of Jacob and Mary (Reinhart) Acker- man, the former a native of Germany, the latter of Swiss extraction. The family came to America in 1865, locating at Mauch Chunk, Pa., where they remained two years, afterward removing to this county, where their children were reared and educated. At the close of his school days the subject of this sketch worked about the coal mines, doing everything that falls to the lot of a youth so situated. He continued at that work until 1887, when he came to Hazleton and purchased his present business, which was formerly owned by his father. Mr. Ackerman was mar- ried July 4, 1887, to Elizabeth, daughter of John J. Dieter, of Hazleton, and to this union have been born three children, namely: Percy, Luella and Minnie. Mr. Ackerman votes the Democratic ticket, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum. The family attend the German Lutheran Church.

ANDREW ADDISON, coal dealer, Wilkes-Barre, was born in one of the Southern States January 5, 1849. He is the second son of Andrew Addison, who went to California in 1857, where it is supposed he died, as he was never afterward heard from. Our subject married his first wife, Frances Torthington, May 28, 1873, in Wilkes-Barre; she died April 7, 1882. To this union were born three children: George Edward, Virginia A. and Emily. In March, 1889, Mr. Addison married his second wife, Mrs. Mary Taylor. He established his present business in 1870, soon after coming to Wilkes-Barre. He has always controlled a large and profitable trade, and owns some desirable real estate in the best portion of the city.

CHARLES AITKIN, engineer at the Henry Shaft, Plains, was born in Scotland, August 19, 1860, and is the only son of Charles and Jennette Aitkin. He came to America in June, 1879, and located at Arnot, Tioga Co., Pa., where he remained a few

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

months, and then came to Plains, this county. He was brattice man at the Enter- prise Shaft nine months; then fired at the Henry Shaft, five years, at the end of which time he was promoted to engineer, which position he has since held. Before coming to America he made a trip to Buenos Ayres, South America. Mr. Aitkin was married April 22, 1881, to Miss Helen, daughter of William and Helen Cliland, of Plains. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, and of the Caledonian Club of Wilkes-Barre. He has always given his political support to the Republican party.

LYMAN ALBERT, teamster and contractor, Miners Mills, was born in Plains town- ship, this county, June 1, 1837, and is a son of George and Mary (Braden) Albert, natives of Pennsylvania and of German origin. In his father's family there were six children, four of whom are living, viz .: William, Sarah (Mrs. Hiram Yale), Lyman and Joseph, the latter of whom lost a leg in the Civil war. George Albert was in the war of 1812, and was killed in 1872 on the Jersey Central Railroad track in Miners Mills at the age of ninety-four years. Our subject received a common- school education, and at the age of twelve years began working about the mines, which, together with lumbering, teaming and contracting, has furnished him employ- ment since. He was married October 11, 1856, to Miss Christa Derr, daughter of John M. Derr, and they had six children, all of whom died in childhood except Clara; she married James Stocker (now deceased), by whom she had one child, Emma; her second husband was James Davis (also deceased), and her present hus- band is Robert Hislop, a miner, of Parsons. Mr. Albert and family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is a member of the P. O. S. of A. and the I. O. R. M., and is a Republican in his political views. He built his present residence in 1866.

SYLVESTER ALBERT, passsenger conductor on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, Ashley, was born in Wright township, this county, September 23, 1852, and is a son of William G. and Eliza (Shaffer) Albert, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Yankee and German origin, respectively. He is a grandson of John and Catharine (Bellers) Albert, early settlers at Parsons, this county ; his maternal grandparents were Jacob and Catherine Shaffer. His father, who kept a hotel, was one of the leaders in pushing to completion the Hazleton turnpike, and also named the first postoffice in Wright township. William G. and Eliza (Shaffer) Albert reared a family of eight children, as follows: Roxanna, died unmarried at the age of thirty-eight years; Syl- vester; Jesse, started from New York to go to Mew Mexico, but the ship in which he had taken passage was struck by lightning, and all perished; Sabina; Paxton; Sarah J., and Austin F., who live on Ross street, Ashley, and Clarissa, who died at the age of two years. Our subject was educated in the public schools at South Wilkes- Barre and Ashley, and then picked slate in the breaker for four years. He then fol- lowed boating on the Susquehanna canal two years, drove in the mines four years, and then became brakeman on the Central Railroad three years, and since 1875 has been conductor. Mr. Albert was married December 24, 1875, to Miss Ella N. Imlay, daughter of William Imlay. They have had two children, Edna and Harry S., the latter of whom died at the age of four years and five months. Mr. Albert is a mem- ber of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., O. R. C., and is a Republican in his political views.

SYLVESTER ALDEN, engineer at the Delaware & Hudson Shaft No. 4, Plymouth Division. One of the most important and highly responsible positions about a coal mine is the one occupied by the man who handles the levers of the ponderous hoist- ing engines; and those who occupy these places must be careful, alert and trusty. Such a man is Sylvester Alden, who was born January 1, 1845, the eighth in the family of eleven children of Andrew and Rachel (Fairchild) Alden, natives of this valley. Sylvester was educated in Luzerne county, and at the age of seventeen years, in August, 1863, enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Regiment, under the immediate command of Col. Naugle and Capt. Updegraff.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

This company were engaged in no regular battles, but participated in many hot skirmishes, the young soldier coming out unharmed. After the war was closed, Mr. Alden returned to Plymouth, and worked about the machinery at the Baltimore Mines until 1869, when he came to Plymouth and was employed by the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company in putting up machinery, until 1874, when he was given charge of the hoisting engine at No. 2, remaining two years, at the end of which time he was transferred to No. 4, Delaware & Hudson, where he has since been employed. Mr. Alden was united in marriage, March 8, 1872, with Amelia, daugh- ter of Isaac and Mary (Nigh) Mask, natives of Baltimore, Md., and two children have come of this marriage, viz .: Marshall, born February 26, 1873, and now learning the machinist trade; and Stanley, born November 18, 1883. Mr. Alden is a Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. The family attend the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN H. ALLBRIGHT, saddler, Plains, was born in Marlton, N. J., November 24, 1861, and is a son of John and Hannah (Worrell) Allbright, also natives of New Jersey, and of German and English origin. The father, who was a saddler by trade, reared a family of three children, of whom John H. is the eldest. Our sub- ject learned the saddler's trade with his father, and also took instructions of J. H. Hendrick, of Philadelphia; he then worked at his trade at Mt. Holly, N. J., two years; then, in 1884, came to Plains to open a shop for Wilcox & Doron, and in 1886 took the shop for his own account. Mr. Allbright was married April 30, 1890, to Jessie M., daughter of Andrew and Louise (Mills) Williams, of Mill Creek. Our subject's success in life has depended largely on his own exertions. He has always given his support to the Republican party, in his political influence.

ISAAC ALLEN, supervisor, Plains township, P. O. Hudson, was born March 11, 1841, in South Wales, and is a son of Richard and Dinah (Jenkins) Allen, also natives of Wales. Our subject was educated in his native country, and in 1860 he came to America, locating at Olyphant, Pa., where he became engaged in mining. Here he remained but a short time, however, when he came to Mill Creek, at which place he also engaged in mining, in the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company, with whom he remained until 1887, when, by reason of an injury received to the right hand, he was obliged to quit mining, and subsequently engaged in various kinds of work; was breaker-boss for a time, and in 1890 he was elected supervisor of Plains township. Mr. Allen was married in 1857 to Miss Mary, daughter of John Reynolds, of Wales, and they have had nine children, viz .: Eliza- beth (deceased), Merriam (deceased), Martha (married to Barney Bunker, of Mill Creek), Merriam (second, also deceased), David Richard, Dinah (deceased), Timothy, Thomas, James and Percilla. Mr. Allen has been deacon and elder in the Baptist Church; in politics he is a Republican, but does not permit party lines to influence his choice in local politics.

WILLIAM L. ALLEN, inside foreman, Mocanaqua Mines, P. O. Shickshinny, was born at Londonderry, Ireland, January 19, 1854, a son of John and Martha (Arbuckle) Allen. He was reared and educated in Ireland, and came to America in 1871, locating in Lehigh county, Pa., where he was employed in the Iron Works at Catasauqua four years. In 1875 he located at Ashley, this county, and was employed in the mines of that place and Sugar Notch twelve years; in 1887 he was appointed fire-boss at Wanamie Mines, and filled that position two years. He then served two months as mine foreman for the Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company at South Wilkes-Barre, and in 1889 removed to Mocanaqua, where he has since held his present position of inside foreman of the Mocanaqua Mines. On January 1, 1878, he married Mrs. Jane (McIntosh) Hays, daughter of John and Martha (Neal) McIntosh, of Ashley, Luzerne Co., Pa., and has one son living, William Leith. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Presbyterian Church; and he is a Republican.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 86

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