History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 89

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.

keeping well abreast of the times, and is well posted on all the modern methods of agriculture. His farm is a model one; his buildings are neat and commodious, while his house is the model of a perfect home, made so by his most excellent wife who is a "Companion meet for him." While he is a general or "mixed" farmer, he gives preference to butter-making. He has many improvements on his premises, one of which is a hydraulic ram which supplies his stock with fine spring water. On June 2, 1888, Mr. Ayers married Miss Emma G., daughter of Rev. Abraham and Mary Ann Frisby. There is no issue. Mrs. Emma G. (Frisby) Ayers was born in Plymouth, August 29, 1855; she is a consistent member of the Christian Church, and a most worthy lady. Mr. Ayers is a member of the Grange, and in politics he is a Republican. By his good, honest, upright and industrious life, he wields an influence that is felt by all who come in contact with him.

JAMES AYRE, fire-boss in the Pine Ridge Colliery, Miners Mills, was born in the County of Durham, England, May 23, 1847, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Ferry) Ayre. His father, who was a ship carpenter, reared a family of two child- ren, viz .: James and John, the latter of whom died at the age of one year and one week; the mother dying when our subject was but three years old, his father mar- ried a second time. James Ayre came to America in 1877, and located at Miners Mills, where he began working in the mines with his father, first at track-laying and later at mining, timbering and tending shaft, and has held his present position for ten years. Mr. Ayre was married September 14, 1869, to Miss Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Rider) Little, of England, and they have eight children, viz. : Thomas, now learning the plumber's trade in Wilkes-Barre; John G., at pres- ent runner in the Delaware Mine; Richard, driving in the Pine Ridge Mine; Henry, news agent at Miners Mills, and Robert, Elizabeth H., and Charlotte J. attending school. Mr. Ayre and wife are members of the Primitive Methodist Church; he is a member of the Sons of St. George, and politically is a Republican.

JOHN AYRE, merchant, Miners Mills, was born in the County of Durham, Eng- land, December 1, 1854, and is a son of George and Elizabeth (Allen) Ayre, the former of whom has been twice married, our subject being a son by the second wife. His father, who is a ship-carpenter by trade, came to America in 1869, locat- ing in Miners Mills, where he worked at carpentering, and he is still hale and hearty, living with his sons. The family consisted of two children: George, who is a carpenter and contractor in Marshfield, Oreg., and John. Our subject com- menced life working about the mines, which vocation he followed eleven years; in 1879 he made a short visit to England, and in 1880 embarked in his present business. In 1884 he built his large double store and residence attached. In 1889 he made a tour of the West, traveling through thirteen States. Mr. Ayre was married January 13, 1876. to Miss Lydia, daughter of Richard and Mary (Morris) Lamborn, of Miners Mills, and they have seven children, viz .: Mary, Elizabeth, Alice, George, Lottie, John and Blanche. Mr. Ayre and his family attend the Primitive Methodist Church; he is Republican in his political views, and has been a member of the borough council.

FREDRICK BACH, farmer, P. O. Town Line, was born in Germany, May 1, 1840, a son of George F. and Barbara (Sibley) Bach. In 1852 the father emigrated to this country, and coming to Luzerne county located in Wilkes-Barre. He died in 1873, aged sixty-five years. He reared a family of six children, five of whom are living, Fredrick being the second. Our subject was reared and educated partly in Germany and partly in this country, and was twelve years of age when he emigrated with his parents to the United States. In early life he learned the molders' trade, at which he worked about twelve years. At the age of twenty, April 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Eighth P. V. I., for three months, but served four, and was honorably discharged. He then enlisted in Company A, Twelfth United States Regulars, for the term of three years. He participated in the following battles: Fort Donelson, Shiloh (where he received a slight wound), Williamsburg, Fair Oaks

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(where he was again wounded), and the Seven Days' Fight (where he was again wounded, and' also taken prisoner). After a few weeks he was exchanged, and finally discharged on account of disabilities. He held the rank of first sergeant, . and was honorably mentioned as being a good soldier. After his return to civil life he again took to his trade, but finding he could not do others justice in working for them in his disabled condition he abandoned journeyman work and opened a shop in his own name in Shickshinny, and here established a foundry, where he worked nine years. He then went to Kansas, remaining there sixteen years, engaged in farming and stock-raising. Returning to Luzerne county, on account of his health, he purchased a farm of 118 acres, in Union township, where he now resides. Dur- ing his residence in Shickshinny he was burgess of the borough, and a member of the council. In 1864 he married Miss Anna E. Adleman, who was born in 1845 where she now resides, a daughter of Peter and Lydia Adleman, and to this union were born seven children: Lilly, Laura, Harvey, Charles, Eddy, Pearl and Harry, all yet living. Mr. Bach is a member of the G. A. R. and enjoys a pension. Politically he is a Democrat.

DANIEL BAER, farmer, P. O. Prichard, was born in Union township, January 10, 1835, where he was reared, and educated at the common school. He is a son of Joseph and Catherine (Cope) Baer, the former born in Lehigh county, the latter it is supposed in the same county. Joseph was a son of Henry Baer who removed to this county in its early history, locating in Union township. He owned considerable land, was a pioneer of some importance in his township, and led a long and useful though not eventful life. He reared an interesting family of eight children. His son, Joseph, who was a young man when he removed to this county, married Miss Cope, in the county. He began his business career as a farmer in Uuion township; was a practical farmer, a worthy citizen and an honest and trustworthy man, enjoy- ing the full confidence of his neighbors. He and his wife are now living in comfort- able circumstances, and enjoying good health. They reared a family of six children, four of whom are living, Daniel being the third in the family. Our subject has always followed farming. In his younger days he worked out by the month, and by 1861 he had accumulated sufficient money to buy himself a home. His farm contains 115 acres of land, eighty of which he has improved. He is a hard worker, and is honest and energetic. On November 3, 1862, Mr. Baer married Miss Elizabeth Ben- jamin, who was born in Catawissa in 1829, a daughter of Samuel and Barbara Ben- jamin, and to this union were born five children, four of whom are living: Monema A., Catharine M., Margaret A. and Nora E. Of these, Margaret A. married Luther Wilkinson. Politically Mr. Baer is a Democrat.

D. D. BAER, farmer, P. O. Shickshinny, was born (July 9. 1852), reared and educated in Union township. He is a son of David and Sarah (Yuels) Baer, the former born in Heidelberg, the latter in Conyngham. David is a son of Henry and Elizabeth Baer, of Lehigh county, Pa., who removed to this county in 1822. They located in Union township on a farm of eighty-eight acres, out of which they made a comfortable home. The father was a hard-working and industrious man. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and politically he was a Whig. He died March 18, 1852, aged seventy-three years, having reared a family of nine children, all of whom grew to maturity. Two of these are still living. David is the youngest of the family, and was two years of age when his father removed to the county. He always followed agricultural pursuits, and has always been a resident of the township and county. On April 2, 1845, he was married to Miss Sarah Yuels, and to this union were born four children, three of whom are now living: Rachel E., D. D., and James R. D. D. Baer is the third in the family, and has, like his father, always followed agricultural pursuits. He lived at home until he was twenty-two years of age, when he married Miss Melissa, daughter of Hiram and Mary A. Birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Baer have been born six children, three of whom are living: D. Boyd, J. Del- bert and Olive D. Mrs. Baer was born in Ross township July 20, 1855. Our sub-

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

ject removed on September 15, 1878, to his present farm of 135 acres, where he has built a most beautiful mansion, in the most modern style, with hot and cold water all over the house, which is supplied from one of the finest springs in the country. His farm is under good control. Mr. Baer is a wide awake man, and thoroughly indus- trious in his business. His orchards are thriving and bear the finest fruit; his crop runs principally to hay. With other improvements, he has a fine well-stocked carp pond, which supplies his table with the finny tribe. Politically he is a Democrat, and has held several township offices.

NATHAN BAER, farmer, P. O. Shickshinny, was born in Union township, Novem- ber 25, 1837, a son of Joseph and Catherine (Cope) Baer, the former of whom was born in Lehigh county, Pa., July 14, 1806; the latter in Union county, same State, April 5, 1809. Joseph Baer is a son of Henry Baer, also a native of Lehigh county, who removed to this county about 1821. locating in Union township, on a farm of eighty acres, on which he built a log cabin, in which he and his family lived com- fortably. During his lifetime there were seventy-eight acres cleared, ten acres having been cleared before he bought it. Mr. Baer was a hard working, honest, industrious man. Physically, he was strong, possessed of a robust and healthy frame. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He lived to be seventy- seven years of age, his wife dying at the age of seventy. They reared a family of nine children, all of whom grew to maturity, and two of them are now living, David and Joseph. Joseph Baer began life in Union township on a farm of fifty acres. At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Catherine Cope, by whom he had six sons, four of whom are living, and two of them were in the Civil war. Joseph. like all other pioneers, experienced many hardships, but succeeded in overcoming all obstacles, and is to-day living in the enjoyment of the society of his beloved life- companion. They are members of the Lutheran Church; politically, he is a Demo- crat. Nathan Baer, who is the fourth son of Joseph, has always followed farming, being a practical agriculturist, and, moreover, he is a natural genius. He lived at the parental home until his marriage in 1867 with Miss Alma L., daughter of George Glase. Nine children were born to this union, all of whom are living, and all yet single: Lewis D., Clinton H., Edward W., Joseph S .. Minnie A., Miner E., Bertha M., Mason B. and Bessie C. Mrs. Baer was born in Huntington township, in 1845. Mr. Baer removed in 1859 to his present place, comprising a farm of one hundred and eighty acres of valuable land, ninety of which are under cultivation. He is essentially a practical farmer. No one can stand on the porch of his beautiful home and view the pleasing aspect -- enhanced as it is by fruitful trees and bowing harvest + fields wh ose growth and development are the result of a guiding mind and watchful care-without being struck with admiration.' Mr. and Mrs. Baer are members of the Presbyterian Church; politically, he is a Democrat.

LUCIAN H. BAILEY, proprietor of the Wilkes-Barre Bus Line, was born at Facto- ryville, May 28, 1863. His father, Felix S. Bailey, was a native of Plainsville. The subject of this sketch came to Wilkes-Barre September 30, 1873, where for several years he attended the public schools. His first venture on his own account was made in 1885, when he embarked in the ice business, which he successfully con- ducted for the next six years. After that period he established the bus line, which runs from the corner of Franklin and Market streets to Carey avenue; half hourly trips are made, and as the vehicles are a great convenience, they are well patronized. Mr. Bailey is a pleasant and obliging gentleman, universally liked.

CHARLES E. BAIRD, Wilkes Barre, was born at Carbondale, Pa., August 10, 1864, a son of Joseph and Mary (Mills) Baird. His paternal grandfather, James Baird, a native of Scotland, came to America in 1828, and put up the machinery for the first paper-mill in the United States. He was at one time a resident of Wilkes- Barre, one of the proprietors of the Eagle Foundry, and died at Scranton in 1888, at the age of eighty-one years. Joseph Baird, father of Charles E., was born in Jersey City, N. J. ; was a machinist by trade, and resided in Scranton for many

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years. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1878, at Binghamton, N. Y., he was inspector of machinery at the shops of Shapply & Wells, of that city. His wife, Mary, was the daughter of Theodore Mills, a native of Greenbush, N. Y., and.an early settler of Carbondale, where he died. Joseph and Mary (Mills) Baird were the parents of four children: Charles E., Theodore M., George C. and Arthur J. Our subject was reared in Scranton, Pa., and Binghampton, N. Y., and was educated in the public schools. For ten years he has been engaged in the sewing machine busi- ness, and has resided in Wilkes-Barre since November, 1891. On September 22, 1886, Mr. Baird married Mary, daughter of Robert L. and Julia (Oakley) Gere, of Brooklyn, Pa. They have three children: Robert, Lawrence and Claude. Mr. Baird is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Jr. O. U. A. M .; he is a Republican.

DAVID BAIRD, merchant, P. O. Edwardsdale, was born in Airdrie, Scotland, February 17, 1835, and is a son of Alexandra and Ellen (Hunter) Baird, also natives of Scotland. In 1837 his parents emigrated with their family to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where they remained until 1850, when they moved to Jeansville, this county. From there, after a short sojourn, they proceeded to New Mines, same State, and in 1856 the parents moved to Illinois, where they passed the remainder of their lives. At the age of fourteen, our subject began life for himself, working in the mines at New Mines, Pa., where he remained until 1854, in which year he moved to Jeansville, same State, and worked in a sawmill. From there he went to La Salle, Ill., where he worked in the mines until 1860; then returned to New Mines, and continued mining there until the breaking out of the Civil war. On April 23, 1861, he enlisted at Harrisburg, Pa., in Company I, Fifteenth P. V. He was at the battle of Falling Water and the skirmish on the Martinsburg road, where he and thirty-eight other members of the company were taken prisoners. He was taken to Winchester and thence to Libby Prison, July 18, 1861, where he was confined until the following October, when he was removed to New Orleans Parish Prison; thence in the early part of February, 1802, he was taken to Salisbury Prison, Salis- bury, N. C., and was there confined until May 28, when he was removed to Goldsborough, and from there to New Berne, where he was paroled and sent to New York. On June 12, 1862, he was discharged at Harrisburg from the service on account of disability caused by imprisonment. Returning to New Mines, he here remained for a short time, and then proceeded to Belleville, Ill., where he engaged in mining, remaining there until 1864, in which year he returned to Pennsylvania and followed mining at Plymouth until 1867, when he went to Yorktown and from there to Arnot, same State. In 1868 he came to Kingston, where he mined until 1883, since when he has been engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Baird was married in 1872 to Miss Anna, daughter of Frederick Metzler, of New York, and of German descent. Mr. Baird was once a very active member of the Greenback party, but at present he is identified with the Republicans. He was a delegate to the national convention held, in 1880, in Chicago, and was treasurer of the same in this county; also delegate, two terms, for the State convention in Pennsylvania.

ROBERTSON BAIRD, blacksmith, Inkerman, Jenkins township, was born in Glas- gow, Scotland, July 13, 1845, and is a son of William and Margaret (Andrew) Baird. The father, who was a carpenter in his native country, came to America in 1848, landing in Nova Scotia, whence he journeyed to Pittston, Pa., where he was engaged in mining for John Butler, and whither he brought his family three months later. He followed mining in Pittston till 1853, when he met with a fatal accident, being the first man killed on the Pennsylvania Gravity Railroad. The family consisted of six children, of whom the following are living: Margaret, mar- ried to George Fell (he was a soldier in the Mexican war, and was killed in the Civil war at the battle of Antietam). by whom she had two children: Mary (Mrs. William Dow) and Margaret (Mrs. H. H. Halleck); Mary, married to Peter Smyser, by whom she had two children: Jean (Mrs. Dr. Eckler, of Helena, Mont. ) and Elizabeth (Mrs. Walter S. Brown, of Ogden, Utah) (Mrs. Smyser married, for her

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second husband, Abraham Minich, a merchant of Columbia Falls, Mont., by whom she had two children, Butler J. and Frank); Guy A., master mechanic in the Shel- don Axle Works, Wilkes-Barre; Jennie, married to David Blanchard, and Robert- son; Nettie, who married Oliver Decker, a clerk in Wannamaker's store in Phila- delphia, died at the age of forty-three years, leaving one child, Maud. Our subject was educated in the public school, and at an early age embarked in life as a labor- ing man, being engaged successively in the following: picking slate, one year; farming, one year; engineer at the Pittston Water Works, one year; pumping at the No. 1 Shaft, Pennsylvania Coal Company, two and a half years; and in 1863 engaged with John Hanson, of Pittston, with whom he remained one and a half years in Pittston, and two and a half years in Inkerman. He then purchased the shop he has since carried on with very profitable results. He built his present resi- dence in 1868. He owns one other house in Inkerman, besides 100 acres of oil land in Elk county, Pa., also several town lots and 160 acres of timber land at Columbia Falls, Mont. Mr. Baird was married, November 13, 1869, to Miss Annie, daughter of Alexander and Jennie (Adamson) Robertson, natives of Wanlockhead, Scotland. This union has been blessed with nine children, eight of whom are liv- ing, viz. : William W. and Margaret, residents of Columbia Falls, Mont., where the former is engaged in the real estate business; Archibald, weigh master and shipping clerk at Colliery No. 6, Pennsylvania Coal Company; A. Guy, a student at Wilkes- Barre Business College; Alexander, Nettie, Bertha and Ethel. Mr. and Mrs. Baird are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F. and the K. of H., and is a Republican in his political views.

ANDREW JACKSON BALDWIN, coal operator, Trucksville, was born on the old Bald- win farm in Jackson township, this county, August 5, 1824, and is the second son of Jared R. and Mary H. (Baker) Baldwin, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Our subject received his early education in this county, and at the age of sixteen learned the printer's business at Wilkes-Barre, serving three years, when he commenced the publication of the Wilkes-Barre Transcript, and a German paper called the Demokratiche Waechter, which he published for one year when he went to New York City where he was given positions on the Journal of Commerce, as compositor and proof-reader, which he occupied until his health failed, when he returned to Wilkes-Barre and opened a book and job printing office. This business he continued until 1852, when he was appointed superintend- ent of the old Philadelphia & Wilkes Barre Telegraph Company, which position he held until 1864, when he began the construction of telegraph lines as a contractor, following same until 1888. After leaving the Telegraph Construction Company he became engaged in the business he is now following. Mr. Baldwin was married in 1847 to Miss Mary H., daughter of Daniel and Melinda (Blackman) Collings, natives of Wyoming Valley. To this union have been born five children: George P., of Philadelphia; Lillie M., wife of C. A. Jackson; Alexander G., at home; Harry H., engaged in the coal business; and Maud H., wife of Andrew Raub, of Luzerne, Pa. Politically Mr. Baldwin has always been interested in the Republican party, although principle usually governs his vote, rather than party influence. He is a member of the F. & A. M., and of the Episcopal Church.

E. B. BALDWIN, manager of the Pittston Underwear Factory, Pittston. This well known, successful gentleman was born in Prince George's county, Md., Feb- ruary 18, 1862, and is the fourth in a family of five children of Thomas J., and Cornelia (Matthis) Baldwin, also natives of Maryland. Our subject was reared on a farm, and educated in the public schools of his native place. At the age of seven- teen he commenced blacksmithing, working at the trade two years, when he came north and began railroading as fireman on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, running between Scranton and Northumberland. He remained on the road four years, and then resigned his position to accept a more lucrative one at Plymouthı, Pa., as manager of an underwear factory operated by Galland Bros., of

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Wilkes-Barre. There he remained until 1855, when he came to Pittston and took charge of their large factory at that place, his present incumbency. Mr. Baldwin was united in marriage April 27, 1887, with Miss Nellie B., daughter of John L. and Mary (Duffield) Courtright, natives of England. This union has been blessed by the birth of one child. Darrell. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. In political matters Mr. Baldwin is a Democrat.

JOHN H. BALDWIN, railroad conductor on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, with residence at Kingston. Among the popular and successful men of the Wyoming Valley, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch ranks second to none. He was born in Richmond, Va., December 13, 1859, and is a son of Thomas J. and Cordelia A. (Matthews) Baldwin, natives of Maryland, and descendants of old Vir- ginia families. ' Mr. Baldwin was educated at Buckeystown, Va., and at the early age of eight years went to work on a farm at that place. At fourteen he removed to Martinsburg, W. Va., where he was also engaged in farming four years, at the end of which time he removed to Washington, D. C., where he was engaged as watch- man in the Washington market. Remaining there about two years, he came to Kingston, this county, and was employed by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company as "water boy," and after a short time he was promoted, as he says, to the "pick and shovel," which laborious occupation he followed about three months, when he was promoted to brakeman for the same company. After two years he was further promoted to conductor of a coal train, which position he held two years, when he was given charge of a freight train, running same for four years. In 1886 he was appointed to the charge of a passenger train, which position he now holds. Mr. Baldwin was married April 22, 1891, to Miss Mary S. Toole, of North- umberland, Pa. He is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors, and his political views are Democratic.

MARTIN BALLIET, farmer, P. O., Conyngham, was born in Sugar Loaf township January 24, 1840, son of Jacob S. and Eliza (Houseknecht) Balliet. Both his paternal and maternal grandfathers, Stephen Balliet and Martin Houseknecht, natives of Pennsylvania, were pioneers of Sugar Loaf township. His father, Jacob S., was a farmer and carpenter, and settled in Sugar Loaf about 1837, where he died October 28, 1881. His children were: Martin, Jane (Mrs. Aaron Smith), Sallie (Mrs. William Walter), Alice (Mrs. William Olewine), and Savilla (Mrs. William McMurtrie). Our subject was reared in Sugar Loaf township, where he has always resided. He received his education in the common schools, and in the State Normal School at Millersville, and began life as a clerk in a general store. He later taught in the public schools for three years, and since 1878 has been engaged in farming. He married, March 14, 1868, Margaret, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Kohler) Bohlander, of Sugar Loaf township, and has four children: Annie (Mrs. Dole Hines), Amelia (Mrs. John Polk), William and Laura May. Mr. Balliet is a repre- sentative and enterprising citizen of Sugar Loaf. In religion he is a member of the Reformed Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 89

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