History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 95

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

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REV. SAMUEL BLAIR, Methodist Episcopal minister, Huntington township, P. O. Harveyville, was born in Lewisburg, Union Co., Pa., January 26, 1863, and is a son of Dr. Samuel and Catherine (Hancock) Blair, natives of Florida and Pennsylvania, of Scotch and English origin, respectively. The father, who is a prominent phy- sician of Lewisburg, Pa., is a son of Samuel Blair, who was a planter in Florida. Our subject is the second child in a family of seven, six of whom are living. He was educated in the common schools, also at Bucknell University, and in 1887 began preaching in Chicago for the W. C. T. U. in which connection he remained one year. He then did evangelistic work through Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania for one year, when he united with the Central Pennsylvania Conference, and took charge of a new congregation at Hazleton, Pa., for two years, and through his efforts the Dimond M. E. Church of that city was built. He came to Harvey- ville as pastor of the M. E. Church of that town, and by earnest work in his congre- gation succeeded in rebuilding and furnishing the parsonage which was destroyed by the cyclone that passed through this section in August, 1889. He was married August 7, 1889, to Miss Mary, daughter of George Abdill, of New Castle, Pa., now residents of Virginia. This happy union is blessed with one child, Samuel A., born June 4, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Blair have a large circle of warm friends, and as an earnest, hard-working pastor, he is greatly admired by all. Politically he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM J. BLAKESLEE, farmer, Buck township, P. O. Bear Creek, was born in Bear Creek township, September 8, 1816, and is a son of Jacob and Rachel (White) Blakeslee, the former born in Connecticut of English descent and the latter in Penn- sylvania of Irish descent; the father was a farmer and came to Luzerne county in 1811. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeslee bad a family of three children, two af whom are living, William J. and Jacob. At the age of eighteen years our subject went out in the world for his own account, starting as a lumberman on the Lehigh river, an occu- pation he followed until 1881, when he went to live on a farm in Buck township that he had formerly bought; here he intends to spend the remainder of his life. In 1836 Mr. Blakeslee was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of Justin and Elizabeth (Sisko) Simeson, both natives of this county, of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeslee were blessed with a large family as follows: Elizabeth, Charles, Rachel, Jane, Mary, Lydia, Sarah, Jacob, Justin, William and John. All the children are married, and they and their families are a source of great pleasure to Mr. Blakeslee. In politics our subject is a Democrat, and has held the office of constable for Bucks township three years, and that of school director also three years.

GEORGE BLAKEY, manager of the "Franklin House," Wilkes-Barre, was born in Yorkshire, England, June 13, 1829, and is the son of Henry and Ann (Kitcheman) Blakey. He was reared and educated in his native country, where for some years he worked in the mines, and during five years was engaged in merchandising. In 1869 he came to America, and has since been a resident of Luzerne county; for ten years

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he was employed in the mines at Nanticoke, and during his residence in that city was a member of the council one term. He was ten years proprietor of a hotel in Plym- outh and in 1889 came to Wilkes-Barre where he has since been manager of the "Franklin House." He was three times married, his first wife being Maria Shaw, of England, by whom he had two children: Eliza and Emma; his second wife was Mary Mitchell, who bore him four children: Clara, Eliza, Emma and Walter. His third wife was Anna Gilmour, of Plains township, this county. Mr. Blakey is a well- known citizen of Inzerne county. In politics he is independent.

DAVID BLANCHARD, farmer, P. O. Plains, was born at Port Blanchard, Pittston (now Jenkins) township, March 18, 1825, and is a son of John and Sarah (Lazarus) Blanchard, natives of Port Blanchard and Monroe county, Pa., and of New England and German origin, respectively. He is a grandson of Jeremiah and Martha (Hutchins) Blanchard, and a great-grandson of Jeremiah Blanchard, who came from Connecticut about the year 1770 and took up a large tract of land on the hill south- east of Pittston; he commanded the Pittston fort at the time of the Wyoming mas- sacre, but the Indians having stolen their boats, they were unable to cross and take part in the battle. His father, who was a farmer, settled at Port Blanchard at a very early date, and reared a family of nine children, six of whom are living; his twin brother, George, died at the age of sixteen. Our subject spent his boy- hood on the farm, and was educated in the common schools and at the Wyoming Seminary. At the age of twenty-two he secured a position as manager of a store for the Irondale Coal Company, where he remained five years; he then rented and operated a mine for two years, and later was engaged in mercantile business in Pittston sixteen years; he next secured a position as book-keeper for Patterson & Co. in the lumber factory at Pittston, remaining there two years; worked on a farm in Exeter township one year; was freight agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad at Pittston Junction five years, and in 1878 removed to the Hol- lenback farm, at Midvale, where he has since lived. Mr. Blanchard was married, March 11, 1850, to Anna E., daughter of James and Jane (Magee) Frick, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and Scotch origin, respectively; the Fricks settled in Northumberland county (where they are now a very numerous family), at a time when they were obliged to live in forts for protection from the Indians. The fruit of this union was six children, viz. : George F., driller, Hazleton; Clara, married to John Haston, mine superintendent, near Richmond, Va .; Edward, who died at the age of twenty one; Morgan, deceased at the age of eight years; James, driller, Hazleton, and William M., who lives in Pittston. The mother of these children died February 18, 1864, and Mr. Blanchard was married, December 22, 1866, to Jennie J. Baird, daughter of William and Margaret (Andrew) Baird, natives of Scot- land. They have eight children, viz .: Helen M., a dress-maker in Helena, Mont. ; Nettie L., hospital nurse, Wilkes-Barre; Grace D., who was educated in the Wyom- ing Seminary, and is one of the successful teachers of Plains; and Annie E., Emily C .. Jennie, Robert and Theodore S., living with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Blanch- ard are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is elder; politically he is in sympathy with the Republican party, but votes strictly on principle.

EBENEZER S. BLANCHARD, agent Philadelphia & Reading R. R. Company, Port Blanchard, was born March 27, 1827, in the house where he now resides, and is a son of John and Sarah (Lazarus) Blanchard, uatives of this county, of New England origin. They reared a family of seven children, of whom Ebenezer S. is the second in order of birth. Our subject was educated in the common schools, and when a boy com- menced work as assistant to his father, who owned and operated a coal mine. In 1853 he went on a farm, and in November, 1862, enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-second P. V. I., serving three years and two months; the regiment was mustered out in January, 1865, when our subject returned to his home, and was employed as outside foreman at Port Bowkley until 1875.

The subject of this sketch was married, February 15, 1855, to Miss Catherine,

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daughter of Joseph and Mary (Newman) Davidson, of Wyoming, whose ancestors can truly be styled "Americans," they having arrived in this country with the Pilgrim Fathers. This union has been blessed with the following issue: Arthur, born February 10, 1856; Jeremiah, born August 26, 1858; John D., born April 23, 1860; Stanley P., born April 23, 1868, and Grier P., born October 23, 1870. Mr. Blanchard is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a Republican.

PHILIP BLAUM, boot and shoe dealer, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Bayern, Germany, August 24, 1848, and is a son of Saul Blaum, a native of the same place. Philip Blaum came to this country when quite a young man, and has resided in Wilkes-Barre for more than a quarter of a century. He was married June 16, 1870, to Lena, a daughter of Edward Wideman, a well-known resident of Wilkes- Barre, and ten children have been born of this union, viz: William, Lottie, Mary, Anthony, Henrietta, Henry, Louise, John, Paul and Edward (deceased). For twenty-five years Mr. Blaum has been in the boot and shoe trade, but on April 24, 1887, he engaged in the hotel and saloon business in the adjoining premises, and his son William is conducting the shoe store. Mr. Blaum is deservedly popular and successful, and by dint of hard work and self-denial has amassed considerable property.

HENRY F. BODINE, a prominent citizen of Miners Mills, was born in Lower Augusta township, Northumberland Co., Pa., May 15, 1837, and is a son of Levi and Jane (Feaster) Bodine, respectively natives of Greene and Berks counties, Pa., and of French and German origin. In his father's family there were four children, three of whom are living, and of them Henry F. is the third. Our sub- ject received a common-school education, and at the age of eighteen years learned the plasterer's trade, which has been the chief occupation of his life. He came to Miners Mills in 1875, and in 1883 built his residence, now occupied by his son-in- law, John Keats. Mr. Bodine was married, March 6, 1860, to Miss Lucinda, daughter of John and Hannah (Runyan) Swisher, natives of New Jersey and Penn- sylvania, respectively, and of English lineage, and very early settlers in New England. They had three children, viz: Howard, who died in infancy, Addie J., and John, who died at the age of three years. Major Ringold, so famous in the war of 1812, was an uncle of Hannah Runyan, and Mr. Bodine's great-grand- father was in the Revolutionary war. Addie J. Bodine, daughter of our subject, was educated in the public school, the Bloomsburg State Normal School, and at Jackson Seminary, New York City. She married John Keats, by whom she has three children, viz. : Olive Adele (who has much elocutionary power for a girl of eight summers), Ethel L. and Harold B. This gentleman and family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is a member of the O. U. A. M. and the G. A. R .; in his political views he is a Democrat.

BENJAMIN C. BODLE, farmer, P. O. Orange, was born in Orange county, N. Y., July 8, 1822, a son of Daniel and Deborah (Story) Bodle, the former born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1786, the latter in Connecticut in 1780. Daniel was a son of Samuel Bodle, who was also a native of New York, and Samuel was a son of Daniel Bodle; a native of the North of Ireland, who emigrated to this country about 1620, locating in Orange county, New York. The Bodles are a numerous family, and have made good citizens, filling various positions of trust and responsibility in various parts of the county. Daniel (second), removed from New York to Exeter, this county, where he lived about a year; then, in 1827, bought a farm of 106 acres, in Franklin township, some of which was cleared. He was a man of advanced learn- ing, and in early life taught school; was a stanch Democrat, and held several offices in the town. He lived to be eighty-three years of age, and died November 1, 1863. His family consisted of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity, Benjamin C. being the eighth in the family. Our subject was five years of age when he came with his father to this county, and here he has since remained. He has always confined himself to agricultural pursuits, and now owns 150 acres of land. Mr. Bodle is a self-made man, and all he possesses he made with his

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own hands, with the help of his wife. He is much respected by his fellow citizens. In March, 1850, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Champion, and there were born to them four children, all of whom are dead. Their only heir is a grandson, Paul Brace, now ten years of age. Mrs. Bodle was born in Providence, Pa., October 9, 1828.

JOSEPH KIRKENDALL BOGERT, late editor and proprietor of the Wilkes-Barre Daily and Weekly Union Leader, and postmaster of the city of Wilkes-Barre, was born at New Columbus, Luzerne county, on July 16, 1845, and was the fifth of nine children-six boys and three girls-of Samuel and Elizabeth Bogert. The family is of Dutch origin, Mr. Bogert's ancestors having been among the earliest emigrants from Holland to America. They settled in parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and many who bear the name have won distinction in professional and business life. The elder Bogert was a wheelwright, a respected citizen but in moderate circumstances. He died in Wilkes-Barre, July 9, 1881, having attained the age of sixty-eight years, and was survived by his wife who died in the same city seven years later, on August 3, 1888.

The subject of this sketch was not unused to manual labor in his earlier days. He attended the public school at New Columbus, and subsequently entered the Male and Female Academy. On June 23, 1863, being then eighteen years of age, he enlisted and was mustered into the United States service as private in the Twenty- eighth Pennsylvania Militia. This regiment, with others, was on duty in this State and in Maryland during the invasion of the North by the army of Northern Vir- ginia, and had a sharp skirmish with FitzHugh Lee's forces not far from Harris- burg on June 30. The regiment was mustered out July 27, and Mr. Bogert afterward re-enlisted, this time as a private in the United States Signal Corps, and was mustered in April 4, 1864. He was first assigned to duty in the campaign against hostile Indians in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Indian Territory; was afterward in the campaign against Price from the New to the Arkansas rivers on the Missouri and Arkansas border. There were engagements at Little Blue and Big Blue, respectively, on October 21 and 22, and later on at many other points on the route. After the completion of the compaign just mentioned he was sent to the Department of the Northwest, and took part in the Indian expedition up the Platte and Powder rivers, which extended from July 1 to November 4, and covered over 2,500 miles of previously unexplored territory, and was attended by many hard- ships and dangers. He was finally mustered out December 9, 1865, at Fort Leav- enworth, Kansas.

Upon his return from the army he resumed his studies, and graduated with honor from Lewisburg (now Bucknell) University. He then came to Wilkes-Barre, and studied law for nearly a year with the Hon. Caleb E. Wright (now deceased), supporting himself by service as a correspondent for the Associated Press, the Phil- adelphia Times, Scranton Times, and other newspapers. He was appointed assistant of George P. Richards, clerk of the courts, and soon afterward was promoted to the position of chief deputy. In 1874, through the influence of Hon. D. L. Rhone, judge of the Orphans' Court, he was appointed deputy clerk of that court, an office of which he was the first incumbent. In 1875 he was the Democratic candidate for register of wills, and was elected by an enormous majority (1,570), although several of his colleagues on the ticket were defeated. In February, 1877, Mr. Bogert and George B. Kalp, Esq., purchased the Luzerne Leader, then recently established at Pittston. and removed it to Wilkes-Barre. In January, 1879, as the Leader Pub- lishing Company, they bought the Luzerne Union, for many years the Democratic organ of the county. The two papers were merged into the Union-Leader, and on October 1, 1879, the publication of a daily issue was begun. Mr. Bogert became sole proprietor in 1880, and in 1884 erected a building at No. 7 North Main street, where he continued the publication of his papers until his death. [See sketch of the Wilkes-Barre Leader, published elsewhere in this volume. ] He was an active politician and was twice chairman of the Democratic County Committee. In 1881

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he was a candidate for State treasurer, but after nine ballots in convention the nom- ination went to Orange Noble, the millionaire oil-dealer of Erie. With considerable reluctance Mr. Bogert accepted the chairmanship of the State Committee, au honor conferred upon him by the same convention, and conducted the campaign with such marked ability and energy as won the plaudits of his party throughout the State. Two years later he was urged to stand for the treasurership, and it was conceded that he could have the nomination, but he resolutely refused the use of his name in that connection. He frequently represented his party in State Convention, and was a delegate to the National Conventions at Chicago in 1880 and 1884, which nom- inated Hancock and Cleveland respectively. He was appointed postmaster of the city of Wilkes-Barre by President Cleveland in July, 1885, and took possession of the office on the 1st of August of that year, and was the incumbent at the time of his death. He was at one time president of the Pennsylvania State Editorial Association, and of the Wilkes-Barre Board of Trade, of which latter he was one of the principal projectors. He was a member of the Ely (now Conyngham) Post, No. 97, Grand Army of the Republic, of Lodge No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons, and of several beneficial organizations, among them the Legion of Honor, Heptasophs, etc.

Mr. Bogert married, December 31, 1879, at Philadelphia, Pa., Mary E., daughter of Lorenzo D. and Elizabeth J. Patterson, of Sweet Air, Baltimore Co., Md. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson died when their daughter was quite young, and she was sent to be educated at the Millersville State Normal School, Pennsylvania. After graduation she accepted a position as teacher in the Wilkes-Barre public schools, where she taught successfully for five years preceding the marriage. Two children were the offspring of this union-Lawrence Patterson Bogert, born August 12, 1881, and died September 6, 1881, and Harold P. Bogert, born March 14, 1883, who still survives. Mr. Bogert died in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday night, February 3, 1887, at 11:15 o'clock, after eight weeks of painful illness of pyæmia, preceded by a complication of bronchitis and pneumonia. A meeting of all the newspaper men in the city was held at the Daily Record. office on the morning of February 7, and resolutions strongly expressive of their respect and esteem for the deceased were adopted. On Monday, February 7, the obsequies were conducted by the Rev. Henry L. Jones, assisted by the Rev. H. E. Hayden, in St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. Mr. Bogert had been a regular attendant at this church with his wife, who is a member of it. Delegations from Lodge No. 61, Free and Accepted Masons, Ely Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and the editors, publishers and printers of the city attended the funeral. The interment was with military honors in Hollenback Cemetery.

After Mr. Bogert's death, which occurred when he had held the postoffice but a little more than a year, his widow was appointed his successor by President Cleve- land, the movement to secure her the place enlisting a large majority of the best- known people of the city and county. She retained the position for nearly five years continuously, bringing the work of the office to a high state of efficiency, thus fully justifying the pledges made in her behalf by those who asked for her appointment. She still resides in Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Bogert was in religious faith a Baptist, and gave liberally to the church of that denomination in Wilkes-Barre. As the facts in his history herein briefly set out will amply testify, Mr. Bogert, working almost always against obstacles that would have discouraged a man of less indomitable spirit, achieved a proud distinction for one so young as he was when death came, and gave reliable promise that, had he been spared, he would have attained a still greater prominence for himself and a broader measure of usefulness to his fellow citizens.

JACOB B. BOHLANDER, general blacksmith, Sybertsville, was born in Sugar Loaf township, this county, March, 1853, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Kohler) Bohlander. His father was born in Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, September 25, 1817, and was a son of Peter and Catherine (Frederick) Bohlander, who came to America in 1847, settling in Sugar Loaf township. Peter died in Wilkes-Barre, his wife in Dorrance township. Their children were four in number, viz .: Cather- ine (Mrs. Philip Baker), Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob Krost), Jacob, Gertrude (Mrs. John

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Weisheimer). Jacob, father of our subject, came to America in 1840, locating in Sugar Loaf township; for twenty-two years he worked in the mines, and since 1862 has been engaged in farming in Sugar Loaf. His wife, Margaret, was a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Lower) Kohler, of Sugar Loaf township, and by her he had eight children: Margaret (Mrs. Martin Balliet), Kate (Mrs. Wilson Houseknecht), Jacob, Henry, John, Peter, William and Rebecca (Mrs. Wesley Foust). Our sub- ject has always resided in his native township. He served an apprenticeship of two and one-half years at his trade, worked as a journeyman two years, and in 1877 embarked in business for himself in Sybertsville, in which he has since successfully continued. On March 25, 1876, he married Emeline, daughter of Fred and Matilda (Anthony) Knelly, of Sugar Loaf township, and they have one daughter, Nora E. Mr. Bohlander is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

PETER H. BOHLANDER, carpenter, P. O. Conyngham, was born in Sugar Loaf township, March 16, 1864, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Kohler) Bohlander. His paternal grandparents, Peter and Catherine (Friedrich) Bohlander, came to America in 1847, and settled in Sugar Loaf township: their children were Catherine (Mrs. Philip Baker), Elizabeth (Mrs. Jacob Krost), Jacob and Gertrude (Mrs. John Weis- heimer). Jacob, the only son, came to America in 1840, and settled in Sugar Loaf township; he followed mining twenty-two years, and since 1862 has been engaged in farming. His wife was a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Lower) Kohler, of Sugar Loaf township, and his children were Margaret (Mrs. Martin Balliet), Kate (Mrs. Wilson K. Houseknecht), Jacob, Henry, John, Peter H., William and Rebecca (Mrs. Wesley Foust). Our subject was reared and educated in Sugar Loaf town- ship, served an apprenticeship of two years at the wheelwright trade, and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed since 1886. He married, January 16, 1886, Rettie T., daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Hutchinson) Gear- hart, of Sugar Loaf township, now residents of Columbia county, Pa., and he has two children, Samuel E. and Charles T. Mr. Bohlander is a member of the Luth- eran Church, and of the I. O. O. F. ; in politics he is a Democrat, and has held the office of inspector of election.

JAMES G. BOHLIN, boot and shoe merchant, Freeland, is a native of Gothenburg, Sweden, and was born February 4, 1855. He received his education in the public schools of his native land, receiving the elementary course, followed by the modern course. He then studied civil and mechanical engineering in Chalmers' Polytechnic School, in Gothenburg. In 1872 he came to this country and located at Nanticoke, where he worked in various capacities in connection with the mines until the strike of 1875, when he went to Scranton and Plymouth, remaining at these places in all about one year and a half. He then returned to Nanticoke, where he remained but a short time, going to Upper Lehigh. In 1877 he went to Drifton, where he was in the employ of the E. B. Coxe Coal Company until 1883; he also attended Coxe's night school, where he received a certificate of graduation in 1883. During his attendance at this school he won every prize that was offered for excellency of work in his classes. In 1884 he passed the mine foreman's examination and received a certificate. In 1883, with J. P. Williams as partner, he engaged in the boot and shoe business at Freeland, and one year later bought Mr. Williams out, having since continued the business on his own account. Mr. Bohlin is a close student, and has devoted much study to geology, more particularly to that branch of the science which pertains to the formation of anthracite coal. . He is now interested in a large tract of coal land, which bids fair to bring fruitful results. His theory in regard to the position and formation of the coal formation in the anthracite regions is original and simple in its demonstration, although rather contrary to accepted theory, but it is founded on the basis of practice and common sense. Mr. Bohlin was married in 1882 to Miss E. L. Misson, of Slatington, Pa., and they have four children: Louisa, Emily, Howard and Mildred. Mr. Bohlin is a member of the American Legion of Honor and other societies. In politics he is a Republican.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 95

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