History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 97

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

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CLEMENT H. BOSSERT, fireman on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, Hanover township, was born in Mauch Chunk, Pa., October 16, 1865, and is a son of John Y. and Sabra M. (Lathrope) Bossert, of Ashley. He was educated in the public schools of Ashley, and then wiped engines in the roundhouse two and one-half

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

years; was hostler five years, and after filling the position of brakeman two weeks, was promoted to his present position in May, 1889. Mr. Bossert was married, August 9, 1888, to Miss Stella, daughter of William and Clara (Dilley) Richards, natives of England and Pennsylvania, and of English and Dutch origin respect- ively. They have one child, named Lillie May. Mr. Bossert is a member of the B. L. F., and in his political views is a Republican.

HIRAM B. BOSSERT, passenger-locomotive engineer on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, Ashley, was born in Mauch Chunk, Pa., October 15, 1857, and is a son of John Y. and Sabra M. (Lathrope) Bossert. He was educated in the public school of Ashley, and at the age of thirteen began working in the carpenter machine shop, at same time attending night school. At sixteen he entered the machine shop, and worked at the trade ten years, after which he fired on the road three years, and in 1884 was promoted to engineer. He was married, September 27, 1887, to Miss Mary E., daughter of John and Eliza (McCormick) Van Norman, natives of Pennsylvania, and of early German and Scotch origin, respectively; she is a graduate of the New Columbus Academy, came to Ashley at the age of sixteen, and taught school till she was married. Mr. and Mrs. Bossert have three children, John R., Frank L. and Marian E. Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is a member of the F. & A. M., B. of L. E. and K. of H., and in his political views is a Republican.

MILTON B. BOSSERT, fireman at the Hartford Slope, Ashley, was born in Mauch Chunk, Pa., February 9, 1860, and is a son of John Y. and Sabra M. (Lathrope) Bossert. He was educated in the public schools at Ashley, worked fifteen years in the shops, and in 1890 took up his present occupation. Mr. Bossert was married March 1, 1881, to Miss Viola S., daughter of Ammon Beltz, of Wilkes-Barre, and they had three children: Bessie M., Arthur A., and Hiram A., who died when less than two years old. The mother of these children died May 22, 1888, and Mr. Bossert married October 9, 1891, Miss Alice Gardner, of Ashley, who died January 14, 1892. Our subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in his political views is a Republican.

C. W. BOUGHTIN, manufacturer of carriages, wagons, sleighs, etc., Kingston. Among the successful business men of Kingston may well be numbered the subject of this sketch. He was born March 10, 1828, in Orange county, N. Y., where he was educated and served his apprenticeship at Unionville, same county, where he became complete " master of his art." In 1849 he came to Kingston, this county, and established his present manufacturing business, in which, by the excellent quality of his workmanship and his strict business integrity, he bas won the confi- dence and esteem of the public. Mr. Boughtin has been twice married: first time to Mary Ann, daughter of Gilbert Wright, of Orange county, N. Y., and she died in 1869, leaving five children: George, married to Martha Mathews; Kate, married to Charles R. Acker, of Scranton, Pa. ; Nelson C., a painter in Scranton; Grace, and Jennie, married to Myron Garman, of Kingston. Mr. Boughtin was afterward married to Miss Martha, daughter of John Bogart, of Belvidere, N. Y. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Knights of the Golden Eagle, Knights of Honor, and P. O. S. of A. His political views are Republican, and he has held the offices of borough council- man, tax collector, and assessor, which office he now holds.

DAVID T. BOUND, merchant, Shickshinny, was born October 14, 1829, at Conklin (now Kirkwood), Broome Co., N. Y., a son of David and Mary (Brown) Bound, and is of English and Scotch descent. His paternal grandfather. David Bound, a native of England, was one of the first settlers of Bound Brook, N. J., and it was in his honor the place was named. Our subject was reared on a farm until sixteen years of age, then began railroading, and for some time was section foreman at Great Bend, Pa., on the Erie Railroad. In May, 1853, he went west, and was appointed trackmaster for the Lawrenceburg and Upper Mississippi Railroad, and six months later he returned to Pennsylvania, becoming connected with the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad, his first work thereon being the laying of switches. In

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

1856 he was conductor of coal and freight trains between Scranton and New Hemp- ton Junction. The following year he was appointed train dispatcher in the Scranton yard, which position he held until July 20, 1861, when he was promoted to superin- tendent of the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg Railroad. In March, 1862, he took the running by contract of what was then known as the Pittston Branch of the Lacka- wanna & Bloomsburg Railroad, and March 1, 1869, was again appointed superin- tendent of the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg Railroad, holding the position until September 15, 1875. Mr. Bound has been a resident of Shickshinny since 1875, and has since spent most of his time in contracting, stone quarrying, and carrying on a general store. From 1878 to 1881 he was track-master for the Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe Railroad. In 1850 he was married to Olive S., daughter of Stiles and Lydia (Beecher) Hotchkiss, of Kirkwood, N. Y., and has two children living: Sarah L. (Mrs. R. B. Nicely) and William S. Mr. Bound is a self-made man, thorough and systematic in business habits, and is one of Shickshinny's represent- ative citizens. In politics he is a Republican, and holds the office of justice of the peace.

JOHN BOWDEN, merchant, Ashley, was born in Cornwall, England, June 6, 1841, and is a son of William and Lucinda (James) Bowden. 1n 1866, his father, who was a miner, emigrated with one son and two daughters and their families; he was preceded in 1861 by John, and followed one year later by the mother and another daughter. They located in Ashley, where the parents died. The family consisted of five children, viz. : Jane (Mrs. John Bluett, deceased) Elizabeth (Mrs. William H. Rickard, of Ashley), John, William (killed in the Hartford Mine at the age of twenty-one years), and Frances (Mrs. Samuel Matthews). Our subject received his education in his native country, where he also worked in the mines until he emi- grated in 1861. He worked three and one-half years in the copper mines about Lake Superior, then prospected for iron ore in New Jersey a short time, when he came to Sugar Notch, where he was engaged for a while sinking a shaft. After this he came to Ashley and accepted a position as mine foreman, which he held till 1870, when he embarked in the mercantile business; this he has since followed with the exception of a year and a half, in 1874-5, when he resumed his foremanship. Although he does a very lucrative mercantile business, it is secondary to his lumber- ing interests, which have since 1882 been very extensive in Luzerne, Northumber- land and Centre counties. The Bowden Block, which is an ornament to the town, was built in 1884, burned in May, 1890, and rebuilt the same year. Mr. Bowden was married, June 7, 1865, to Miss Isabella, daughter of John and Nancy (Mc- Cracken) Clark, natives of northern Ireland. They have one adopted child, their niece Jennie. Mr. Bowden and wife early united with the M. E. Church, in which he has repeatedly held nearly all the offices for many years, with much credit to himself and benefit to the church. He is a member of the F. & A. M. and the K. of H. In politics he is a Republican, and has been a member of the council in Ashley borough.

JOHN BOWKLEY, painter and paper-hanger, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Wolver- hampton, England, September 19, 1845, and is a son of Isaac and Ann (Deeley) Bowkley. The parents came to America in 1865 and settled at Port Bowkley, this county, which place was named in honor of Joel Bowkley, an uncle of our subject, who sunk the first coal shaft at that place. Isaac Bowkley was a miner, and ran a slope near Port Bowkley for several years. His children were five: John, Alfred, William, Alice (Mrs. Valentine Stritzinger), and Ann M. (Mrs. Edward Knox). Our subject was reared in England, where he learned his trade; he came to America in 1867, and located in Wilkes-Barre, where he has since followed his profession. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, of the F. & A. M., and Painters and Deco- rators Union of America; in politics he is a Republican.

WILLIAM BOWN, contractor, Duryea, was born in Springfield, Ill., April 7, 1856, and is a son of William and Mary A. (Jeffrey) Bown, natives of Somersetshire, England. They reared a family of ten children, of whom our subject is fifth in

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

order of birth. At the outbreak of the Civil war, in 1861, the family went to Eng- land, where our subject remained until 1881, being employed there as a miner. He then returned to the United States, and settled in Scranton, where he followed his trade as a miner for about one year; then came to Duryea and worked in the mines one year, after which he was employed as foreman by the Smith & Bown Construc- tion Company three years, at the end of which time he went into business as a con- tractor. Mr. Bown was united in marriage August 15, 1882, with Annie, daughter of William P. and Margaret Elizabeth (Allen) Thomas, natives of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and their union has been blessed with the following children: Herbert G., born November 2, 1882; Edward A., born December 12, 1886; William, born Feb- ruary 16, 1888. In politics Mr. Bown is a Republican, and was constable from 1886 to 1888. He is a member of the K. of P. and of the I. O. R. M.

WILLIAM BOYD, postmaster at Wanamie, and manager of H. H. Ashley & Co.'s (now William Boyd & Co.'s) store, same place, was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., January 30, 1851, and is a son of Archibald and Agnes (Simpson) Boyd, natives of Scotland. The subject of this sketch, who is the fourth in a family of six children, was educated in the public schools of Luzerne (in which county the family had set- tled in 1861), and at the Bloomsburg State Normal School. After completing his education he embarked in the grocery business for his own account, in which he continued four years; then moved to Plymouth, this county, and was there engaged in mercantile business as clerk until 1885, when he came to Wanamie and took charge of the store (mentioned at opening of the sketch), and which he now owns. In October, 1889, he was appointed postmaster at Wanamie. Mr. Boyd was mar- ried January 23, 1875, to Elizabeth J., daughter of Matthew M. Weir, of Plymouth, Pa., to which union have been born eight children, namely: Mary M. (deceased), Gettie S., William C., Agnes L. (deceased), Lillie M. (deceased), Howard D., Lulu, and Ruth. Mr. Boyd is a Republican, is a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church at Nanticoke, and belongs to the following societies: I. O. O. F., Jr. O. U. A. M., and is a member of the Masonic Fraternity.

C. J. BOYLE, merchant and liveryman, Plymouth, was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., December 3, 1858, and is the younger of the two children of Charles J. and Mary (McClure) Boyle, natives of County Donegal, Ireland. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Luzerne county, Pa., and at quite an early age began work- ing in the mines, which occupation he followed until 1884, when he embarked in the grocery business, at present having a large store at No. 161 E. Main street, where he carries an extensive and well-assorted stock. He is also owner and pro- prietor of the livery-stable formerly kept by Honeywell, but which was purchased by Mr. Boyle in October, 1891, and has since been successfully conducted by him. He keeps ten good horses, together with handsome wagons, cutters and harness. Mr. Boyle was married in June, 1883, to Miss Matilda, daughter of James and Matilda Mannin, natives of England, and five children came to this union: Mary, born March 12, 1884, died December 8, 1884; James, born April 24, 1887; Bessie, born January 11, 1888; Mary, born January 24, 1890; Charles, born February 7, 1892. The family are adherents of the Catholic faith. Mr. Boyle is a member of St. Vincent's F. A. & B. Society, and also of the C. M. B. A., located at Scranton, Pa. He is a Democrat, and is a member of the borough council, having, at this writing, commenced his second term; he is also a member of Hose Company No. 1 Volun- teer Fire Department.

PHILLIP J. BOYLE, Hazleton. This gentleman was born March 19, 1856, at Tam- aqua, Pa., and is the third in the family of thirteen children of John J. and Mary (McHugh) Boyle, natives of County Donegal, Ireland. They came to America in 1840, settling at Tamaqua, Pa., where Mr. Boyle followed mining until the opening of the war, when he enlisted as a soldier and served during the great conflict. After the war closed he removed to Hazleton, Pa., where he embarked in mercantile busi- ness, which he followed until the time of his death, which occurred at Hazleton. September 28, 1878. The subject of this sketch was reared at Tamaqua, and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

received his education in the public schools in the neighborhood of his birthplace, and at the Millersville State Normal School. After completing his education he clerked in a dry-goods store owned by his father, for about three years. He then became manager of the "Central Hotel," at Hazleton, for Col. D. J. Matterson, remaining in that position eight years, at the end of which time he engaged in the wholesale cigar business, which he followed two years. He then commenced in the livery and undertaking business, which he has since successfully conducted. Mr. Boyle is an active and adroit politician, and has been auditor on the Republican ticket of Hazleton borough, and poor director for the middle coal field poor district. In 1889 he was nominated by the Republicans as recorder of Luzerne county, and after a bitter contest against Joseph J. McGinty, the latter was given the office; in 1892 he again received the nomination for the same office. Mr. Boyle is an ener- getic, enterprising young man, is loyal to his friends and party, and is deserving of the highest honors that either can bestow on him.

B. A. BRADER, merchant, Plains, was born in Union township, Luzerne Co., Pa., December 15, 1847, and is a son of Charles A. and Caroline M. C. (Gregory) Brader, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of German origin, the latter of English, Irish and Indian. His ancestors were early settlers in the Wyoming Valley. In Charles A. Brader's family there were seven children, of whom Benjamin A. is the fourth. Our subject began life clerking in Morgan's hardware store in Wilkes-Barre, where he remained four years, and then embarked in his present business, where he has since remained. Mr. Brader was married March 22, 1874, to Louisa A., daughter of Andrew J. and Louisa (Mills) Williams, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Welsh and New England origin, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Brader have five children, viz. : Charles A., Mary E., Leslie A., Jessie M. and Lillie W. Our subject is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Wilkes-Barre; also of the P. O. S. of A., and in politics is a most earnest advocate of the cause of Democracy.

D. F. BRADER, farmer, P. O. Town Line, was born in Union (now Hunlock) town- ship, January 2, 1851. He is the son of Charles A. and Caroline M. C. (Gregory) Brader, the former of whom was born October 1, 1811, the latter July 10, 1816, both in Union township. Charles A. was a son of Jacob Brader, who was a native of Germany, and removed to this county shortly after his emigration, locating in Union township. By occupation he was a shoemaker. He owned ons hundred acres of land and was a hard-working man. Jacob Brader was much respected and esteemed in his locality; died when seventy-two years of age, having reared a family of seven children. Charles A., his son, began his business career in Union township as a farmer, and after reaching his majority, bought the old homestead on which he always lived. He was a thorough-going man of business, a practical farmer and an honest and industrious man. He was a strict moral man; although not a member of any church, his sympathies went with the Baptists. He held several township offices with credit. He died in 1876, aged sixty-five years, killed by the cars at Miners Station. His family consisted of eight children, all of whom grew to maturity, and seven of whom are now living. D. F. is the sixth in this family. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked three years. He next entered the mercantile business, at which he continued for another three years, as a general store-keeper at Miners Station. He gave that occupation up on account of his health, and removed to Scranton, where he was engaged in the flour and feed business for one year. He next moved to the Masters' place, near Town Line, on a farm of eighty-five acres, where he now resides, a well-to-do and practical farmer. Mr. Brader married, May 25, 1876, Miss Hannah E., daughter of Peter and Rachel Masters. To this union was born one child, Clifford. Mr. Brader is an energetic business man, gentlemanly and entertaining, whose reputation for hospitality can not be excelled. He is a leading man in his community; he has held the offices of register and township clerk, and has been school director for the last seven years. He is a member of the Grange, while he and his wife are both members of the M. P. Church. Politically he is a Democrat.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

JAMES C. BRADER, real estate dealer, and insurance, steamship and foreign exchange agent, Nanticoke, is among the leading business men of that borough. He was born at Beach Haven, Luzerne county, February 12, 1856, son of Daniel and Adeline (Campbell) Brader, the former a native of Northampton county, Pa., of German lineage, and the latter a native of this county, of Scotch-Irish origin. Mr. Brader was educated in the common schools of his native town and Wyoming Semi- nary, and began life for himself as a telegraph operator for the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad Company, in whose employ he remained one year, when he came to Nanticoke, here accepting a position as shipping clerk for the Susque- hanna Coal Company. He followed this business two years, when he was made man- ager of the Susquehanna Supply Store, being subsequently appointed assistant superintendent. He was one of the promoters of the organization of the First National Bank of Nanticoke, and is at present one of its directors. He was also one of the promoters of the Nanticoke Electric Light Company, and is now serving his second term as director of that corporation. Mr. Brader was united in marriage April 15, 1881, with Miss Stella Lazarus, of Buttonwood, Plymouth township, who died October 16, 1891, leaving three children: Martha Lazarus, Clarence Arthur and Alfred Eugene. Our subject is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is at present a trustee in that organization. He is a member of the F. & A. M., and in politics was formerly a Democrat, but is at present in the ranks of the Prohibition party.

JAMES H. BRADER, carpenter, Plains, was born in Muhlenburg, Pa., May 21, 1858, and is a son of Charles A. and Caroline (Gregory) Brader, natives of Luzerne county and German origin. In their family there were eight children, of whom James H. is the youngest. Our subject was reared on the farm, educated in the common school, also in the select school of James M. Coughlin, at Muhlenburg, and began life teaming for the Delaware & Hudson Company at Plains, at which he remained two years, then fired one year, and has since followed his present trade. Mr. Brader was married January 17, 1878, to Miss Matilda, daughter of Nathan and Helena (Trumbower) Roberts, natives of Pennsylvania and of English and German origin respectively. Her great-great-grandfather took up nearly all of where Kingston now is; he was killed by Indians, and his wife carried one child back to Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Brader have two children: George and Lee. Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; he is a member of the P. O. S. of A., and in politics is a Republican.

NATHANIEL D. BRADER, carpenter, Plains, was born in Union township, Novem- ber 15, 1840, son of Charles A. and Caroline M. C. (Gregory) Brader. There were eight children in his father's family, seven of whom are living, and of whom he is the second. His boyhood was spent on the farm, and he received his education in the common schools of his native township and in Belleville, Wis. At the age of nineteen he went to Madison, Wis., where he worked as a stone-mason, enlisting at that place August 16, 1862, in Company E, Eighth Wis. V. I. He participated in the battles of Corinth, Iuka, Vicksburg, Nashville, Tupulo, Jackson, Mobile, Rich- mond, La., and many other minor engagements; he also took part in the Price raid through Missouri and Red River expedition, and was discharged at Montgomery, Ala., August 16, 1865. He then returned to Madison, where he followed farming one year; and then went overland by wagon to Linn county, Kansas, where he farmed on a claim of his own, which he bought from its first settler, also following the trades of carpenter and stone-mason for seven years. He then returned to Union township, where he remained one year; next working as stone mason for A. H. Coon & Co., at Plymouth, one year, after which he came to Plains, where he contracted getting out timbers for four years, and has since been employed by the different companies, working at his trade. Mr. Brader was married November 3, 1861, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Schuman) Walters, natives of Pennsylvania, of German origin. They have had six children, three of whom are living, viz .: Jennie W., Mrs. William Atkinson, who has three children: George N., Charles B. and

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

William; Charles A., a farmer in Tompkins county, N. Y., and Ida J., who still lives at home, the pride and comfort of her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Brader and their daughter Ida are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a member of the official board; he is a member of the P. O. S. of A. and the G. A. R., and is a Republican in politics.

THOMAS BRADER, farmer, P. O. Beach Haven, was born in Salem township, June 21, 1820, and is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Bilhimer) Brader. His paternal grandfather, Adam Brader, formerly of Northampton county, Pa., was a pioneer of Salem township, this county, and cleared the farm now owned by Henry Garri- son, and died there. His children were: Jacob, Sarah (Mrs. Michael Coons), Susan (Mrs. David Sink), Polly (Mrs. William Sink). His only son, Jacob, was a farmer, and lived and died in Salem township; his wife was a daughter of Christ- ian Bilhimer, formerly of Northampton county, Pa., and a pioneer of Salem town- ship. By her he had five children: Daniel, Stephen, Thomas, Julia (Mrs. Daniel Mensch), and Abbie (Mrs. Henry Garrison). Our subject was reared in Salem township, where he has always resided. In early life he taught school, and has been engaged in farming forty years. In 1851 he married Mary, daughter of Jere- miah and Catharine (Fenstermacher) Hess, of Salem township, and has four chil- dren: Chester B., Alton B., Thomas W., and Anna M.

WILLIAM B. BRADER, physician and surgeon, White Haven, was born at Beaver Meadows, Luzerne Co., Pa., July 9, 1858, a son of George and Mary (Chapin) Brader, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and French origin, respectively. The father, who was a farmer and miller, died February 6, 1887; the mother passed from earth June 2, 1876. Our subject, who is the second in order of birth in a family of three children, two of whom are now living, was educated in the common schools, Nazareth Hall, Nazareth, Pa., Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., and at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1885 he opened an office at Nanticoke, Pa., where he practiced for two years, when he gave up medicine, and moved to White Haven. On May 19, 1880, he was married to Miss Eva E., daughter of George and Mary (De Ball) Christiance, of Ithaca, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Brader attend the Presbyterian Church. He is past master of Laurel Lodge, No. 467, F. &. A. M., and past district president of the South Eastern District of Luzerne county in the P. O. S. of A. ; iu politics he is a sound Republican.

W. H. HARRISON BRADER, merchant and butcher, Plains, was born in Union township, January 22, 1841, and is a son of Jonas and Christina (Persen) Brader, also natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. In their family were eleven children, of whom W. H. Harrison is the sixth. Our subject received a common- school education, and at the age of twenty-two began life at carpentering, which trade he followed fifteen years. In 1873 he embarked in a general merchandise business, which he has since carried on. Mr. Brader was married, July 10, 1885, to Miss Kate, daughter of Perry and Lydia (Jones) Egge, and they have four chil- dren, viz. : Lydia C., Daisy, W. H. Harrison, and Ruth C. Mr. Brader is a member of the P. O. S. of A .; politically, he has always given his support to the Repub- lican party.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 97

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