History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 88

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

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Plains; Mrs. Dr. Lloyd, Wilkes-Barre, and Ray H. This gentleman and wife are members of the Christian Church, consolidated with the Primitive Methodist; he is also a member of the G. A. R., and the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Democrat.

JAELL M. ARNOLD, engineer on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, Hudson, Plains township, was born in Nanticoke, Pa., May 15, 1867, and is a son of Charles D. Arnold. Our subject was educated in the common schools and in Car- bondale high school, and began firing on his father's engine before he was seven- teen years old. After following this two years and eight months, he was made extra engineer, and in 1888 was promoted to his present position; he built his pres- ent beautiful residence in 1891. Mr. Arnold was married, October 13, 1891, to Miss Anna, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Youle) Dingwall, of Plains. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is steward; he is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the I. O. R. M., and Equitable Aid Union; in his political views he is independent.

MILTON H. ARNOLD, bookkeeper and treasurer West End Coal Company, Shick- shinny, Pa., was born in Uuion township, this county, March 26, 1856, a son of Reuben D. and Leah (Santee) Arnold. His paternal grandfather, Stephen Arnold, and maternal grandfather, John Santee, were both pioneers of Union township. Reuben D. Arnold was born at Muhlenburg, Union township, was a carpenter by trade, and died at Mocanaqua, August 6, 1884, aged sixty-four years. His chil- dren were six in number, viz .: Sarah E. (Mrs. Bowman Garrison), Aquilla (deceased), Virginia (Mrs. M. C. Bogia), Leah H., Milton H. and Martha J. Our subject-was reared in Union township, educated in public schools, afterward taking a commer- cial course at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston. In early manhood he taught school for four years; he was operator for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad two and a half years, and agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Mocana- qua three years, and since 1886 has held his present position with the West End Coal Company. He married, December 22, 1881, Loretta, daughter of Nehemiah and Catherine (Werkheiser) Richart, of Espy, Columbia Co., Pa., and has one son, Matthew C. Mr. Arnold is a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics is a Republican.

THOMAS R. ARNOLD, the popular proprietor of "Lee Park Hotel," Wilkes-Barre, was born in Smithfield, Monroe Co., Pa., July 28, 1849, a son of William and Mary J. (Nicely) Arnold, natives of England and Ireland, respectively, and early settlers of Monroe county, Pa. Our subject was reared in Bradford county, Pa., educated in the public schools, and began his business life as clerk in a general store at Camp- town, Pa., serving in that capacity four years. He afterward engaged in lumbering at Skinner's Eddy, in Wyoming county, and in 1877 located in Wilkes-Barre, where he embarked in the commission business. In 1887 he became proprietor of the "Lee Park Hotel." which he has since successfully conducted, having made it a popular resort. Mr. Arnold married Amanda, daughter of William and Patience (Brown) Passmore, of Bradford county, Pa., and by her he has three children: Arthur, Jennie and Eva.

PETER ASHELMAN, teamster, Plains, was born in Wilkes-Barre township, April 22, 1830, and is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Joslin) Ashelman, the former a native of Switzerland, the latter of Ohio, and of New England stock. In his father's family there were thirteen children, five of whom are living, and of whom he is the third. He embarked in life working at farming, which has been the chief occupa- tion of his life. He worked at the carpenter trade in the car shops of Kingston two years, 1865-1866, and also at huckstering two years, 1857-8. He farmed on the Company farm, where James Howey now lives, for twenty-four years, and in 1891 removed to Plains, where he now resides. In 1849-51 Mr. Ashelman was engaged in farming, and about the Iron Works in Columbia and Mountour counties. Mr. Achelman was married, December 24, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William and Margaret (Scott) Lewis, natives of Orange county, N. Y., and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

England, respectively, and of English descent. This union has been blessed with ten children, six of whom are living, viz .: Margaret E., married to W. C. Cressy, of Wilkes-Barre; Mary A., married to John Flaherty, of Plainsville; Ida R. and Eva M. (twins), who live with their father; Harlow D., works in the steel works at Scranton (his twin died in infancy); and Susan F. Mr. Ashelman and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is trustee and steward. In his political views he was a radical Whig, and on the formation of the party, became a radical Republican, and, for the last eight years has been a Prohibition- ist; he has held the office of school director in Plains township.

DAVID ASTON, station agent for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, and pro- prietor of Aston's restaurant, Plainsville, was born in Pontypridd, South Wales, October 7, 1832, and is a son of Edward and Rebecca (Edwards) Aston. His father, who was a timber merchant and farmer, reared a family of nine children, seven of whom are living and of whom he is the third. Our subject came to America in 1863, and located at Jersey City, where he worked at the blacksmith trade for a short time; he then went to Plymouth, where he worked in the mines one year, after which he came to Wilkes-Barre, and engaged in the hotel business. He was successively proprietor of the "North Branch Hotel," Canal street, one year; the "Old Wyoming Hotel," Main street, three years; the " Atlantic Hotel," Northampton street, one year; the "Celtic Hotel," East Market street, one year; and in 1873 became proprietor of the "Plainsville Hotel." He remained there six years, and then removed to his present place of business; since 1874 he has been station agent. Mr. Aston was married August 16, 1857, to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Catherine (Morgan) Duggins, natives of Wales, and they have had fourteen children, four of whom are living, viz. : Catherine, married to Daniel Jenkins, a machinist of Pittsburgh; Gwenllian, married to Samuel Wall, a fireman of Wilkes-Barre; Edward, station agent at Laurel Run; and Rebecca A., who lives with her father (she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Plains). Mr. Aston is a member of the Knights of Honor, and politically is a Republican; from 1873 to 1879 he held the office of postmaster at Plainsville. Mrs. Aston, who was born March 31, 1839, died October 13, 1891, after a long and severe illness.

D. W. ATHERHOLT, P. O. Luzerne, was born in Kingston township, January 30, 1857, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of David and Charlotte (Anderson) Atherholt, the former of whom was born in Bucks county, the latter in Dallas township, this county. David was a son of Christian Atherholt, who removed to this county about 1804, locating in Kingston township on what is known as " Bunker Hill," where he owned 162 acres of land. He was a hard-working and indus- trious man, and cleared quite a good share of the farm during his life-time, and also made many other improvements which advanced agricultural pursuits in the county. He died at the age of eighty-four years. His family comprised six children, one of whom is now living, Mrs. H. Harris. His son David was the eldest of the family, and was about five years of age when he removed with his father to this county. He always confined himself to a pastoral life, and lived on the farm his father occupied. To this farm of 162 acres he added 178 more, making in all 340 acres, besides seven acres in Luzerne borough. The results of his labor show that he was a man of determination and push, and as honest as he was hard-working. He was a stanch Republican in politics. He died January 3, 1891, at the age of eighty-seven years. His family numbered six children, five of whom are living: Harry, John, Samuel, Charles and D. W. The latter is the youngest of the family. Like his father and grandfather, he has chosen for his vocation agricultural pursuits, to which he is well adapted, being a robust and muscular man. He is a practical farmer, and promises well to make his mark in life in his chosen line. His farm comprises eighty-four acres of good hillside land.

On January 1, 1876, he married Miss Sarah, daughter of Palmer and Emma Steel; the former was killed in the Avondale disaster in 1869. To this union were

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

born eleven children (ten of whom are living): Susan, David, Jennie, Tenie, John, Lizzie, Pearl, May, Maud, Asa, and Estella. Mrs. Sarah Atherholt was born in Plymouth, June 20, 1858. Mr. Atherholt is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and is a Republican.

HARVEY ATHERHOLT, a farmer, P. O. Dallas, was born May 8, 1844, in Kingston township, this county, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of David and Charlotte (Anderson) Atherholt, the former born in Kingston, the latter in Dallas. David was a son of Christian Atherholt who, with his brother Frederick, moved from Berks county to this county in its early settlement, locating in Kings- ton township, north of Luzerne borough, where they purchased ninety acres of land each. Christian was the father of seven children, one of whom is now (1891) living. David, his son, began life as a farmer, and was successful and practical; the ninety acres Christian had soon grew to three hundred under his masterly touch. Notonly was he a practical farmer, but also a good cooper and an excellent blacksmith, and he accumulated his large property by a perseverance and honest industry. Besides his farm, he owned the property known as the "Hancock place." After a life of usefulness and toil, he departed this life January 3, 1891, at the age of eighty- seven years. His family numbered six children, five of whom are at this writing living, Harvey being the first in the family. He has always confined himself to agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty-six, he married Miss Eugene, daughter of Charles and Sarah Scovill, and by her had children as follows: Judson, Jesse, Boyd, Frank, James, Annie, Jacob and Daisy, all yet single. Mrs. Eugene (Scovill) Atherholt was born in Kingstou township in 1852. Harvey Atherholt, like his father, is a practical farmer, residing on a farm of eighty-four acres, on which he moved in 1885. He is a general agriculturist, and raises a mixed crop. As a farmer, he is industrious; as a husband, he is kind; as a citizen, he is loyal; politically he is a Republican.

FREDERICK H. ATHERTON, in his lifetime a citizen of Wyoming borough, was a son of James and Martha (Hancock) Atherton, natives of Pennsylvania, and of English origin. James Atherton was a fruit grower by occupation; he reared a family of five children, of whom our subject was the first. Frederick H. Atherton was educated in the common schools, and began life as a farmer with his father, which occupation he followed for some years. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Orange, Pa., for two years, when, owing to failing health, he retired; he died October 6, 1879. On December 21, 1869, Mr. Atherton was married to Margaret, daughter of John and Mary A. (Ruggles) La Bar, natives of Pennsylvania and of French and English origin respectively. This happy union was blessed with three children, viz .: Lydia M., born March 21, 1873, now attending school at Hackettstown, N. J .; James, born June 7, 1875, attending Wood's Business Col- lege, Scranton, Pa .; and Fredrica, born February 16, 1879, now attending ths Wyoming High School. Mr. Atherton was a member of the Presbyterian Church and of the I. O. O F., and in politics was a sound Republican. Mrs. Atherton is a member of the Methodist Church of Wyoming, and a devoted Christian mother, whose every thought is for the welfare aud happiness of her three bright and prom- ising children.

JAMES N. ATHERTON, outside foreman, No. 5 Shaft, Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, Plymouth division, was born in Kingston in April, 1846, and is ths youngest in a family of ten children born to Anson and Sally (Mitchell) Atherton, also natives of Luzerne county. He was educated at his birthplace, and in 1864, when yet a lad, he enlisted in Company G, Third Pennsylvania Artillery. He par- tioipated in many skirmishes, and at the fierce encounter of Dutch Gap was wounded in the knee. His discharge did not take place until six months after the war was closed, as he was retained as one of the guards over Jefferson Davis. After returning home Mr. Atherton engaged in farming, which he continued until 1873, when he removed to Plymouth and did outside work at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

until 1883; he was then given charge of No. 4, where he remained seven years, afterward taking charge of No. 5, where he is now outside foreman. He has under his charge about 318 men, ninety-five outside and 223 inside. The average out- put of the mine is 800 tons per day. The shaft from the top surface is about 240 feet deep. The subject of this sketch was married at Plymouth. March 29, 1870, to Miss Delia, daughter of Joseph and Katie M. (Oakley) Norris, natives of New York. One child has been born to this union, Arthur E., who now holds the posi- tion of weigh-master at Shaft No. 5, Delaware & Hudsou Canal Company. Arthur E. was born April 24, 1873. Mr. Atherton is a Republican in political matters. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

THOMAS HENRY ATHERTON. The name of this gentleman was originally Thomas Atherton Henry, but was changed to Thomas Henry Atherton by act of the Legisla- ture of Pennsylvania, March 15, 1871. He was born in Kingston township, Luzerne Co., Pa., July 14, 1853, and is descended, on his father's side, from Robert Henry, who emigrated from Ireland to Chester county, Pa., in 1722. The Henry family has produced a number of remarkable men. William Henry, a grandson of Robert, was armorer to Braddock's expedition in 1754, and was afterward armorer for the White forces in the Indian war of 1757. In 1756 he lived in Lancaster, Pa., and one day seeing Benjamin West chalking on a fence, he fell into conversation with him, learning that he wanted to be a painter, but had neither paints nor brushes with which to begin. These Mr. Henry supplied, afterward encouraging West in every possible way, and enabling him to lay the foundations of the wonderful repu- tation he subsequently achieved. Mr. Henry served in the Legislature, and held many other important positions. He was the inventor of several highly useful mechanical appliances; was a worker with Fitch & Fulton in the perfection of the steamboat, and was largely interested in the development of the first canal in the State. William Henry, his son, was a justice of the peace, a judge of the common pleas, and a Presidential elector, as which he voted for George Washington for President. His son, a third William, and the father of Thomas Henry Atherton, was treasurer of the Susquehanna & Delaware Canal & Railroad Company, which, in 1832, undertook the construction of a railroad from the Delaware to the Susque- hanna. This took him into Lackawanna county, where he conceived the idea of founding a town by the erection of a furnace where Scranton now stands. This he succeeded in doing, with the aid of George and Selden T. Scranton (the latter his son-in-law), both of New Jersey. The town was first called Harrison, then Scran- tonia and finally Scranton, and Mr. Henry must fairly be regarded as its real founder. He married twice. By his first wife he had four sons, all of whom rose to good positions, and two daughters, one of whom married Selden T. Scranton, and the other, Charles Scranton. His second wife was Sarah Atherton, a daughter of Elisha Atherton, by which marriage he had one daughter, Lydia Henry (wife of Rev. W. S. Stites), and one son, Thomas Henry Atherton. The Athertons trace their lineage back to King John's time, when one of the name was high sheriff of

Lancashire. Members of the family distinguished themselves in the early history of the Wyoming Valley. Thomas Henry Atherton received his preliminary educa- tion at the Wilkes-Barre Academy and Luzerne Presbyterial Institute, Wyoming, Pa., and afterward, in 1874, graduaded from Princeton College. He read law with Judge Rice, and was admitted to the bar September 29, 1876. Mr. Atherton mar- ried October 7, 1880, Melanie Parke, daughter of Rev. N. G. Parke, D. D., of Pittston, and they have four children. Mr. Atherton is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to office. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was a delegate to the General Assembly of the Church held in Omaha in 1892.

MICHAEL ATHEY, proprietor of "Miners Mills Hotel," was born in Low Fell, near Newcastle upon Tyne, County of Durham, England, March 12, 1837. He is a son of George and Bessie (Surtess) Athey. His father, who was a mine foreman, reared a family of five children, three of whom are living, viz .: Michael, John and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Joseph, of Donaldson, Pa. A half-brother, George Athey, resides in the same place, where the family located on their arrival in America, in 1855. Our subject was educated in England, where he also worked about the mines; he followed min- ing in America for fourteen years; was inside foreman at Donaldson for six years, and, in 1883, removed to his present place of business. Mr. Athey was married December 15, 1860, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Ann (Moore) Fother- ingill, natives of Castle Eden, County of Durham, England. To this union have been born nine children, seven of whom are living, viz .: Elizabeth, who married Joseph Moore, an attorney at law, Miners Mills (they have one child, Isabelle); Joseph M., a brakeman on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad; Ann, who married John Rawling, a carpenter, Miners Mills (they have one child, Elizabeth); George S., a fireman at the Pine Ridge Colliery; Belle M., Alice E. and Margaret Beatrice, the latter three still at the paternal fireside. Mr. Athey is a master mason at Tre- mont, Pa., a Knight Templar at Lebanon, Pa., and a member of the I. O. O. F. at Donaldson, Pa; he is a Republican in his political views, has held the office of school director, and is at present a member of the election board.

THOMAS ATKINSON, farmer, P. O., Lehman, was born in the County of Westmoreland. England, January 16, 1832, son of James and Catherine (Black) Atkinson, both of whom were born in England. Their family consisted of six children, five of whom grew to maturity, and four of whom are now living. Thomas is the third of the family; he was reared and educated in the Greyrigg School, England, in early life learning the shoemaker's trade, at which he had worked about nine years. In after years he also learned the stone mason's trade. On January 14, 1856, at the age of twenty-four, he married Miss Charlotte, daughter of Rev. Robert and Jane Wilkin- son. By this union there were born to them eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, viz. : Esther, Catherine J., Mary E., William G., Margaret, Edith V. and Charles W. Esther married James Hilderbrand, a prosperous farmer; Catherine married Joseph P. Worthington, a mechanic; William G. married Miss Jennie France. Mr. Atkinson came to this country in 1857, landing at New York City, and first locating in Ross township, where he remained two years. From there he removed to Lehman, where he remained for four years; then, in 1862, moved to Jackson, where he purchased a farm of eighty-nine acres, on which he now resides, and which he has beautified by the building of a fine house of large dimen- sions and handsome appearance. On August 29, 1876, his barn, on which there was no insurance, was burned down, the fire being the supposed work of an incen- diary. Mr. Atkinson is a practical farmer in every sense of the word. His sur- roundings show the care and watchfulness, as well as thoughtfulness, exercised in the government and execution of his plans. He has held several offices of trust, among them that of poor director for eight years, school director for five years, and is now justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson are both members of the Church of England. Politically he is a Democrat.

L. D. AUSTIN, stationary engineer, Parsons, was born April 23, 1841, in Jeffer- son county, N. Y .. and is a son of Freeman and Susan (Fisher) Austin, natives of New York, the former of Scotch and the latter of English lineage. Mr. Austin was reared on a farm, educated in the common school, and at the age of fourteen began life as a farm laborer, which occupation he continued until he was eighteen when he went to Watertown, N. Y., and entered the employ of Remington & Son, paper manufacturers. In their employment he remained until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he promptly responded to his country's call, by enlisting at Copenhagen, N. Y., April 27, 1861, in Company B, Thirty-fifth N. Y. V. I. He participated in the following engagements: Rappahannock Station, Sulphur Springs, Gainesville, Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam and Fred- ricksburg; he also did provost duty near Fredricksburg, for several months, and was mustered out at Elmira, N. Y., June 16, 1863. On December 9, 1863, he re-enlisted at Elmira, this time in Company D, Sixteenth New York Heavy Artil-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

lery, which was stationed at Gloucester and was sent from there to Fort McGruder, where he remained until the fall of Richmond. His battalion was then sent to that city, and from there to City Point, where they were in guard of prisoners; from there they proceeded to Alexandria, whence they went to Washington, where our subject was mustered out August 15, 1865. He then returned to Elmira, N. Y., where he was engaged in the manufacturing business until 1868, in which year he came to Parsons, this county, where he has since remained, engaged chiefly in stationary engineering. Mr. Austin was married December 10, 1863, to Miss Isabella, daughter of John Pettigrew, of Olyphant, Pa., and they had seven children, viz .: John, a stationary engineer at Parsons; Freeman, a blacksmith at Parsons; Edward (deceased), Jessie, Almena, Agnes and Emma. Mr. Austin is a member of the F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F. and the K. and H. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in his political preferences he is a firm advocate of the doctrine of the Prohibition party. His father and four brothers were soldiers in the Civil war, all surviving but the father who died of fever.

ROBERT AVENY, proprietor of the " Van Leer House," South Wilkes-Barre, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, August 4, 1839, and is a son of James and Agnes (Gil- mour) Aveny, and is of English and Scotch descent. He was reared in his native city, where he served an apprenticeship of five years at the machinist's trade, after- ward working as a journeyman for nine months. In 1863 he came to America, locat- ing in Holyoke, Mass., and for about one year was employed as a maker of guns for the United States army in the Springfield Gun Works. In 1864 he came to Pennsylvania, and ran a locomotive between Scranton and Hoboken about four months, with a train carrying soldiers for the United States army. He then engaged as a machinist with the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company, serving in that capacity for seventeen years and nine months without ever being "docked" a day. In 1876 he ran the engine at Prospect Mines for a time, when he took charge of the machines and pumps at what is now Haddock, Shonk & Company's Mines, continuing at same ten years, and since 1887 he has been the popular proprietor of the " Van Leer House " at South Wilkes-Barre. In 1864 Mr. Aveny married Katie. daughter of Francis and Katie -, of Glasgow, Scotland, and has three children living: Maggie (Mrs. Lewis Morrison), Agnes and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Aveny are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., I. O. R. M., K. of D. C., K. of P., and K. of H. Politically, he is a Republican.

ALFRED AYERS, farmer, P. O. Dallas, was born November 18, 1836, reared and educated in Dallas. He is a son of Elijah and Catharine (Honeywell) Ayers, both of whom were natives of New Jersey, the former born February 11, 1804, the latter on June 14, 1809. They were married December 28, 1827, at Dallas. Elijah Ayers moved to Dallas about 1821, locating in East Dallas on a small farm of twenty acres, where he remained but a short time. He was a blacksmith by trade; but on his arrival in this country there was little to be done at his line of business, consequently he embarked in agricultural pursuits, at which he made a complete success. In 1832 he moved to West Dallas, on a farm of fifty acres of wild land, not cultivated by the hand of man; nature ruled supreme. His team was a yoke of oxen which suited the pioneer in his onward march to civilization. By hard labor and by strict attention to his own interests, yet not infringing on the rights of others, he kept adding farm after farm at various times, till his property aggregated about 200 acres. He was a man of sober habits-honest and industrious. In his pioneer life, the deer and the bear were in abundance, but he was not given to hunting. He lived to be eighty-five years old, and died August 31, 1888; his wife passed away October 3, 1886. In politics he was a stanch Republican. His family con- sisted of eight children, five of whom reached maturity and are now living, Alfred being the second in the family. Our subject always confined himself to agriculture, and on the same farm on which he was born. He is a practical, wide-a-wake farmer,

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 88

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