History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 110

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 110
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 110
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 110

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL RECORD,

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH AND JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

E. J. ACHENBACH, ticket agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, Plymouth, was born August 31, 1849, at Three Rivers, Michigan, and married Miss Kate Weiss, of Bloomsburg, Columbia county, Pa.

F. HOWARD ARMSTRONG, clerk, formerly a farmer, was born in Rileysville, Wayne county, Pa., January 8th, 1844, and married Hannah E. Jaquish, of Plymouth. Mr. Armstrong served in the army during the civil war and was mustered out as second lieutenaut of Company F 2ud Pennsylvania cavalry.

J. R. BALDWIN, a farmer of Jackson township, was born in Newark, N. J. He married Mary Baker, who died in 1844. May 2nd, 1864, he mar- ried Anna Pratt, of Nicholson, Wyoming county. Ile was county com- missioner's clerk from 1844 to 1860.

E. D. BARTIE was born in Philadelphia, September 7th, 1829, and married Margaret Collins, of the same city. During the Rebellion he served as sergeant in the 26th Pennsylvania volunteers. He has for some time published the Plymouth Star (office Main street, east ward), and has been burgess of Plymouth.

A. F. BATES, stable boss, Plymouth, was born in Luzerne county, February 18th, 1846. His wife was formerly Sarah Dreher, of Strouds- burg, Pa.

E. W. BECKWITH, photographer, was born May 1st, 1830, in Windsor, Broome county, N. Y., and married Miss Julia Chamberlain, of Great Bend, Pa.

JAMES BIRD, agent for the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Rail- road at Nanticoke, was born in Bear Gap, Northumberland county, Pa., December 7th, 1855, and married Lillie F. Nicely, of Shickshinny, Luzerne county.

ELIAS BITTENBENDER, who was formerly engaged in shoemaking, now an engineer in the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, was born in Nescopeek township. February 2nd, 1834, and married Eliza- beth Frantz, of Berwick, Columbia county, Pa.

BRICE S. BLAIR, justice of the peace and assistant burgess, Plymouth, was born in Candor, N. Y., December 25th, 1833. His wife was Miss Flor- ence E. Davenport, of Plymouth.

J. H. CAMPBELL, wheelwright, now foreman in the employ of the Pennsylvania Canal Company, was born in Nescopeck, March 4th, 1843, and married M. M. Post, of Union.

WORTHY CARVER, mining foreman, West Nanticoke, was born in England, in 1835. His wife was Hannah Williams, of Schuylkill county.

CALVIN W. CASE, a life-long resident of Jackson township, was born March 18th, 1812. He married Miss Olive L'Amoreux, also of Jackson. He is engaged in farming and bee-keeping, and has served as justice of the peace twenty years.

REV. RALPH C. H. CATTERALL, pastor of the Baptist church at Ply- mouth, was born in Lancashire, England, May 3d, 1840. His wife was Miss Caroline Reid, of Staffordshire, England.

GEORGE CEASE, farmer and manufacturer of lumber, was born in Beach Haven, Pa., August 24th, 1812, and married Jane L'Amoreux, of Jackson township. Ile has served as supervisor.

JACOB CEASE, farmer and lumberman, was born in Plymouth town- ship, February 4th, 1817, and married Emma J. Van Loon, of Plymouth. He has been supervisor.

JOSIAH CEASE was born in Jackson township, March 3d, 1833. He married Sarah J. Ide, of Lehman township. Mr. Cease, who is engaged in farming and lumbering, has served as town clerk of Jackson.

WILLIAM COBLEY, mining boss, Plymouth, was born in England, Oc- tober 6th, 1826, and married Helen Savery, of Schuylkill county, Pa. She died in 1870, and his second wife, Ann Gruntlett, of Plymouth, died in 1874.

GEORGE R. CONNERS, ontside foreman of Nottingham breaker No. 15, Plymouth, was born in Mauch Chunk, Pa., February 2nd, 1852, and mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Rickett, of Wilkes-Barre.

THOMAS D. DAVIS, miner, was born in Wales, in 1846, emigrated in 1865, and married Jane Davis, a native of Syracuse, N. Y.

WILLIAM DAVIS, merchant, Plymouth (residence on Willow street), was born in Schuylkill county, Pa., in August, 1840. He was formerly employed as a clerk.

G. B. DE Wrrr, freight agent for the D., L. & W. Railroad Company, was born in Light Street, Columbia county, October 21st, 1852, and mar- ried Miss Jennie S. Lamon, of Kingston.

W. W. DIETRICK, a lifelong resident of Plymouth, was born in 1846. For several years he has been cashier of the Plymouth Savings Bank. His wife was formerly Miss Georgie Parsons. of Lock flaven, Pa.

JOSIAN W. ENo was born in Simsbury, Hartford county, Conn., Feb- ruary 23d, 1820, and married Louisa B. Glassell, of Culpepper county, Va. Mr. Eno, who is justice of the peace, was formerly engaged iu mercantile and coal business.

REV. D. E. EVANS was born in Wales, August 7th, 1825. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Evans, of Hazleton. Mr. Evans is pastor of the Welch Independent Church at Plymouth.

CHARLES W. EVANS, breaker boss for the Kingston Coal Company, was born in Wales in 1836. His wife, Mary Troy, is a native of Pittston. Mr. Evans was a clerk at General Terry's headquarters in the late war.

JOHN W. EVARTS, fariner, was born in North Guilford, Conn., in 1844, and married Emma D. Nevel, of Ross township. He served ten months in the 97th Pennsylvania volunteers during the Rebellion.

WILLIAM FRAIN, a resident of Larksville, was born in Shickshinny, May 31st, 1859.

EDWARD C. FLETCHER, physician, was born in England, July 3d, 1842, and married M. A. Richards, of Plymouth.

SAMUEL LIVINGSTON FRENCH, burgess, was born in Plymouth, Sep- tember 28th, 1839, and has since lived there, having been elected to the offices of register of wills for the county, secretary of the borough council and secretary of the school board, and now serving his third terin as burgess. He enlisted for service in the 52nd Pennsylvania vol- unteers, and afterward served with a company of militia from Plymouth. Mr. French married Harriet S. Turner, of Kingston.

HARVEY FULLER was born in Huntsville, Jackson towuship, October 30th, 1820. He married Mary Santee, ot Wilkes-Barre. He is the pro- prietor of a lumber and flouring-quill.

F. C. GATES, proprietor of the Central Restaurant, Plymouth, was born in Philadelphia, January 7th, 1951, and married Mary A. Snyder, of Plymouth.

REV. FRANK GRAY, Church street, Plymouth, was born in Stafford- shire, England, and married Margaretta Allbrighton, of Plymouth. He is engaged in the sale of coal.

AUSTIN GREGORY, miller, formerly postmaster, was born in Union township, June 7th, 1823. He had previously worked at the carpenters' trade and farming.

EDWARD HAHN, foreman for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, was born April 30th, 1832, in Germany. He married Miss Elizabeth Burns, of Wilkes-Barre, and was formerly engaged in boating.

WILLIAM E. HANCE, grocer, Plymouth, was born in Vienna, N. J.

JOSEPH HARRIS, tobacconist, was born in Loughor, South Wales, March 4th, 1848. His wife was Miss Catherine Phillips, of Cumavon, Glamorganshire. South Wales. Mr. Harris was formerly engaged in painting.

SAMUEL HARRISON, farmer, was born in Hunterdon county, N. J., Sep- tember 17th, 1817, and married Rachel Whitenie, of Newport township. Mr. Harrison, who was formerly engaged in mining, has served as supervisor.

WILLARD IlICKOK, forwarding agent for the Delaware and Iludson Canal Company, was born in Barryville, Sullivan county, N.Y., August 9th, 1852. His wife was formerly Mary E. Thompson, of light Falls, Ulster county, N. Y.

ROBERT HUTCHISON, who was born in Pietou, Nova Scotia, January 30th, 1835, is employed as superintendent of the Boston inines, Plymouth. His wife was Miss Sophia J. Easton, of Trevorton, Pa.

CHARLES M. HVATT, dealer in jewelry, groceries and lumber, was born in East Smithfield, Pa., October 30th, 1855, and married Emma A. Case, of Belbend.

HENRY T. HUTCHENS was born in Wilkes-Barre, April 16th, 1827, and married Christina Cease, of Jackson. Mr. Hntchens, who is now en- gaged in farming, has also been in the lumber business.

JOSEPH JAQUISH, who died at his residence in Larksville, January 31st, 1875, was born in Lancaster county, September 26th, 1811, and mar- ried Hnldah Smalley, of Larksville, whose death occurred September 23d, 1852. Mr. Jaquish was a farmer.

WILLIAM JENKINS, carpenter, was born in Plymouth township, April 6th, 1818. He married Mary Chamberlain, of Plymouth. She died No- uember 27th, 1851, and he married Ellen Shaffer, of Dallas.

JOHN S. JONES, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., was born in 1832, and mar- ried Hannah Scott, of Plymouth, Pa. He is an engineer in the employ of the Kingston Coal Company.

PHILLIP KELLER, A native and life-long resident of Plymouth town- ship, was born March 16th, 1822, and married Esther Davenport, of the

354 A

354 B

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

same township. Mr. Keller, who was formerly engaged in canal boat- ing, is now occupied in farm'ng.

WILLIAM R. LABAR, barn boss, Avondale, was born in Union, March 25th, IS57.

DE HEAVEN LANCE, superintendent of the Water and Gas Company, Plymouth, formerly superintendent of the Norfolk Manufacturing Company, was born October 9th, 1846, at Minersville, Schuylkill connty. Mrs. Lance was formerly Miss Mary McFarlane, of Plymouth.

WALTER W. LANCE, civil engineer, was born it Pottsville, Schuylkill county, September 30th, 1844, and married Julia E. Scoville, of Williams- port. Ile was formerly a well known coal operator.

CHARLES LAWSON, outside superintendent for the Delaware aud Iludson Canal Company (breaker No. 4), was formerly engaged in engi- neering. He was born in Scotland, November 5th, 1839, and married Harriet Adelia Snyder, of Plymouth township.

CONRAD LEE, church street, Plymouth, was born in Wright township, November 30, 1843, and married Agnes Weir, of Hazleton. Mr. Lee, who is superintendent of the Avondale mines, has held that position for the last thirteen years.

JOHN R. LEE, merchant, was born in Wright township, November 16th, 1848. Ilis wife was formerly Emily G. Pell, of Wilkes-Barre.

HENRY LEES, merchant tailor, Main street, Plymouth, was born in England, in 1841. He married Lorinda Davenport, of Plymouth.

COLONEL ANDREW F. LEVI, bookseller, Plymouth, was born in Wilkes- Barre, September 19th, 1845, and married Ellen O. Davenport, of Ply- mouth. He is colonel of the 15th regiment national guards of Penn- sylvania.

JAMES LINN was born in Warren county, N. J., December 11th, 1836, and married Ellen Alkins, of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Linn, who was for- merly engaged in boat building, is now employed by the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company as foreman of breaker No. II.

E. M. LOWERY, carpenter, in the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, was born in Greenfield township, Lackawanna county, May 8th, 1846 His wife, a native of the same county, was for- merly Miss Mary Cole, of Scott township.

JAMES W. MACFARLANE, a native of Perth county, Canada, was born July 6th, 1847, and married Agnes Weir, of Plymouth. Formerly Mr. Macfarlane was engaged in contracting and building, but he is now eu- ployed as foreman for the Susquehanna Coal Company.

ISAAC M. MASK, master mechanic, Plymouth, was born January 22nd, 1825, in Baltimore, where he married Mary C. Nye, of that city. He was formerly a machinist.

C. W. MCALARNEY, attorney at law, was born in Mifflinburg, Union . connty, December 20th, 1848. He is now engaged in the practice of his profession at Plymouth.

G. W. McKEE, physician and surgeon, was born in Bradford county, May 16th, 1831, and married N. A. Frantz, of Franklin. Dr. MeKee came to Plymouth and commenced the practice of his profession in August, 1867.

E. A. OUTTEN, agent for the Nottingham Coal Company, was born in Norfolk, Va., May 9th, 1838, where he was subsequently engaged in mer- cantile business. llis wife, a native of Norfolk county, Va., was formerly Miss G. V. Foreman.

E. R. PECKENS was born in Montrose, Susquehanna county, June I6th, 1831, and married Mary Atherton, of Kingston. During the Rebel- lion he was captain of Company H 52nd Pennsylvania volunteers. Mr. Peckens, who has always been engaged in the coal business, is now superintendent of the Plymonth division of the Delaware and IJudson Canal Company.

A. G. PEIPER, engineer, was born in Philadelphia, August 14th, 1842. His wife was formerly Susan Vannetter, of Plymouth.

E. G. PETTEBONE, farmer, was born November 1st, 1818, in Kingston, where he married Margaret A. Scagraves.

REV. T. J. PHILLIPS, superintendent of Avondale mines and pastor of the Welsh Presbyterian church, Plymouth, was born in South Wales, July 5th, 1825. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Jones, is a native of the same county.

WILLIAM L. PRITCHARD, justice of the peace, Plymouth, was born in South Wales, September 25th, 1825. Mrs. Pritchard, who is also a native of South Wales, was formerly Ann Watkins. Mr. Pritchard is engaged in mining.

GEORGE E. RANSOM, farmer, was born November 14th, 1852, in Jackson township, and married Elizabeth F. Wilcox, of the same township.

FRANK II. RAY, a native of Columbia connty, was born December 3d, 1849, and married Emeline Hons, of Plymouth. Mr. Ray, whose former business was railroading, now holds a responsible position in the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company.

DANIEL REESE, sen., mine boss, was born in South Wales, November 25th, 1816, and married Sarah Jones, of Summit Hill, Carbon County, Pa.

THEODORE RENSHAW, a native of Plymouth, was born November 11th, 1836, and has been employed as mine overseer. Ile is now engaged in the livery business and as an ice dealer. He has been twice married; his first wife was Emily Bags and the second Charity Smith, both of Ply- month.

GEORGE P. RICHARDS, liquor merchant, was born in Monmonth- shire, South Wales, April 17th, 1829. His wife, of the same place, was formerly Sarah Thomas. Mr. Richard was elected clerk of the courts of the county in 1870, which office he held one terin.

JAMES J. Ruch, hotel keeper at West Nanticoke, was born in Lehigh- ton, Pa., October 16th, 1842, and married Minerva J. Hummel, of Beach Haven, where he was at one time assistant collector for the Pennsyl- vania Canal Company.

AUGUST SCHNELL, who is a native of Germany, and who married Wil- helmine Kroeller, of that county, was born November 4th, 1822. He was engaged in surveying before coming to America, and is now em- ployed as outside foreman of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company's breaker No. 5, at Plymouth.

FRED. SCHWARTZ, liquor dealer at Plymonth, was born in New York, January 18th, 1850.

CHARLES SHUPP, a native of Plymouth, was born iu 1852, and married H. Mary Levi, also of that place. Ilis mercantile business is located on Main street at the corner of Centre avenue.

PETER SHUPP, a native and life-long resident of Plymouth, was born August 16th, 1822, and married Martha Bangs of the same place. Mr. Shinpp was married a second time, to Ellen Remmel, of Kingston. He was for many years engaged in the mercantile business, from which he has retired.

PETER B. SITES, carpenter, was boru in Lehman township, September 4th, 1830, and married Ellen E. Hungerford. She died June 17th, 1870, and he married May A. Lattime, of Plymouth

FRANK R. SNYDER, formerly publisher of the Plymouth Herald, was born in Orangeville, Columbia county, Pa., August 16th, 1834, and mar- ried Lucy E. Coffinan, of Bloomsburg.

JOSEPH SWEITZER, furniture dealer, was born in Wittemburg, Ger- many, February 29tli, 1828. His wife, Elizabeth Ritterspack, is a na- tive of Bavaria, Germany.

CHARLES VAN LOON, formerly a blacksmith, now employed as fore- man for the Delaware and Hudsou Canal Company, was born in Ply- mouth, July 31st, 1836, and married Elizabeth Powell, of that place.

C. F. WALTON was born in Columbia county, January 18th, 1857. He was previously engaged in farming but is now employed as clerk in H. H. Ashley's storc.

BOIN WILCOX, brick manufacturer, was born in Plains township, March 2nd, 1818, and married Nancy Maxfield, of Braintrim, Wyoming county. Mr. Wilcox has also been engaged in farming and mining.

C. M. WILCOX, dock boss of the Avondale breaker, West Nanticoke, was born in Plains township, August 9th, 1835. Mrs. Wilcox's maiden name was Esther A. Cease, and she was a resident of Plymouth.

STEPHEN F. WILLIAMS was born in Huntington township, aud is now engaged in the sale of drugs at Plymouth, on Main above Centre street.

CHARLES H. WILSON, M. D., was born in Berwick, Columbia county, August 17th, 1835, and married Maria A. Egerton, of Carbondale. He was appointed postmaster at Plymouth, January 4th, 1879. He served as surgeon in the 49th regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, from ISSI to 1864, with rank as major; and as surgeon-in-chief of the 3d division of the national guards of Pennsylvania, ranking as lieutenant colonel, from IS70 to 1878.

WILLIAM E. WOLFE, agent for the Pennsylvnia Railroad, was born in Union county, on St. Patrick's day, 1853. Ile was formerly a clerk in the employ of the same company, at Sunbury, and is now living at Grand Tunnel, Plymouth township.

JORDEN WOMELSDORF, locktender for the Pennsylvania Canal Com- pany, West Nanticoke, was born in Reading, Berks county, August 11th, 1814. ITis wife, whose maiden name was Mary Belles, of Newport town- ship, died in 1866.

A. R. WORTHINGTON, liveryman, was born at Harvey's Lake, October 15th, 1828, and married C. D. Pringle, of Plymouth.

HARVEY YEAGER was born in Slabtown, Columbia county. November 23d, 1817, and married M. E. R. Smith, of Kingston. He was formerly a salesman, but is now carrying on a general mercantile business.

WILLIAM YIEGST, merchant at West Nanticoke, was born at that place Jnly I9th, 1833. Ile married Olive C. Baird, of Jackson township. His former occupation was farming.

We may mention also among the well known residents of Plymouth township and borough the following : P. Bacon, C. K. Bennett, Rev. F. J. Donahue, M. Garrahan, R. H. Gibbons, Jameson Harvey, G. P. Mac- farlane, Commodore Mack, E. W. Marple, Jolin J. Morgan, Charles Nel- son, Rev. T. J. Phillips, Saunuel Shaffer, Draper Smith, A. B. Tyrrell.

355

PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS MEN OF PLYMOUTH.

PLYMOUTH BOROUGH.

OVEMBER 30th, 1865, the petition of John B. Smith, Peter Shupp, H. Gaylord, Draper Smith, J. W. Eno and fifty-three others was filed in court, asking that a borough might be incorporated, and that its name should be Plymouth. The grand jury reported the same day in favor of granting the petition, and April 23d, 1866, the Court of Quarter Sessions granted a char- ter, and appointed Oliver Davenport judge, and J. J. Shonk and Ira Davenport inspectors, to hold an election for borough officers on the 2nd Tuesday of May, 1866. At this election, E. C. Wadhams was elected burgess, and the following persons as town council: Samuel Wad- hams, Henderson Gaylord, Peter Shupp, Ira Davenport and Frank Turner. Theodore Renshaw was elected high constable, and J. W. Eno auditor. August 3d a full code of regulations for the borough government was adopted. The borough was divided into two wards in 1872, and in 1876 into eight wards. The population in 1870 was 2,684, and in 1880 6,065.

EARLY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.

The settlers of Plymouth, early recognizing the im- portance of education, established schools as soon as the country became quiet after the Revolution. Two school- houses were built, one near the common-field and the other near Ransom's creek. Jonah Rogers was one of the first teachers and commenced teaching about 1800. A Mr. Hamilton, from Connecticut, taught in the lower school-house in 1806; followed by one Hazleton. The old academy was built in 1815. The early teachers in this building were Jonah Rogers, Thomas Patterson, Dr. Thomas Sweet and Charles C. Curtis. "The languages were first taught in the old academy as early as 1829" by Benjamin M. Nyce. Nyce and Patterson taught three or four years, and then Mr. Seivers, the last teacher who taught the dead languages in the old academy. A school was established in a building which stood nearly opposite the residence of George Snyder, in Larksville, as early as 1825. This was afterward removed to the lo- cation of the present school-house. The borough has sixteen schools. In 1876 it had fourteen, with an average attendance of 628 pupils. Schools were kept seven months, at an expense of $6,584.89.

The old academy is still used, and a fine brick build- ing has been erected in the west end of the borough. Prof. P. Bacon has been principal of the high school for several years. There are over 600 children in daily attendance, and more than $6,500 is annually expended on educational matters.

EARLY DOCTORS AND LAWYERS.

Dr. William H. Smith was the earliest practitioner of medicine. He was not a resident of the town, however. Dr. Anna Morse, formerly Mrs. Heath, practiced medi- cine early in the present century. She used herbs, calo-

mel and jalap as her principal remedies. She was suc- ceeded, about 1814, by Dr. Moreland, who lived here two years. Dr. Ebenezer Chamberlin came into the town in 1816, and continued in the practice of medicine until his death in 1866. Dr. Charles E. Gaylord, the son of one of the original " Forty," was the first native of Plymouth to study medicine. He did not practice here, but returned here to spend his old age with his son, dying in February, 1839.

James A. Gordon, the oldest member of the Luzerne county bar, resides here, and Hendrick B. Wright, the next oldest, was born here, and only left when he went to Wilkes-Barre to practice his profession. Thomas Nesbitt was the first resident lawyer. He was followed by James A. Opp, H. C. Magee, C. W. McAlarney and George W. Shonk.

BUSINESS GROWTH.

The business of Plymouth borough has increased wonderfully during the last fifteen years, as the following list of the principal brick business places will prove. The first brick store in the borough was built by E. C. Wad- hams about 1850, and is now used by the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, as an office. George P. Richards built a brick two-story hotel building, which he still occupies. Peter Shupp erected the three-story brick block at the corner of Main street and Center avenue, in 1867. His son Charles now occupies the building for a store. G. P. Richards put up in 1868 the building occupied by C. W. Jenkins as a hardware store. In 1871 D. K. Spy erected the block where R. Robert's drug store now is. J. B. Smith's opera house was begun in 1871 and finished in 1872. In 1872 Orange Gould erected a two-story brick store, having Lewis Boughton's wagon and blacksmith shop under the same roof. In this year G. P. Richards built the Plymouth House and the store occupied by Reese D. Williams, and Antony Duffy built the Duffy block, occupied by Sol. Hirsch as a dry goods store. In 1873 Henry Lees built his store; James Lynchkill, the building occupied by D. K. Spy as a drug store; James McAlarney, the block he now occu- pies; the Odd Fellows, the block adjoining McAlar- ney's, and now owned by J. J. Shonk and D. K. Spy; and Mark Duffee the store occupied by Hanes Brothers. In 1874 Daniel Antony built the store now occupied by A. F. Levi as a book store; William Davis, a double store; J. Dennis, the building now occupied by the Star drug store, and Samuel Snyder the store occupied by McKin- ney & Simons. In 1875 Mckinney & Simons built the store now occupied by A. Reese, and J. J. Davis his music store. In 1876 D. P. Williams built the double store now occupied by W. C. Sponsler and Thomas Roberts; Richard Lewis, a double store; J. J. Shonk, the store occupied by F. Schwartz; and S. Snyder, a two- story building now used as a barber shop. It. 1878 S. F. William built his drug store. In 1879 Lee Brothers, James B. Davis and Abram Straus, each erected two- Story brick stores, and Joseph Sweitzer a double two- story brick store,

356

HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

The principal hotels are the Parrish House, Milton Charles proprietor; the Ely House, James Ely proprie- tor; and the Frantz House, Luther C. Frantz proprie- tor.

The Wren Iron Works, built in 1871, by John Y. Wren, a native of Scotland, are principally occupied in the cast- ing of mine machinery. Iron fences and other ornamen- tal castings are also made at these works, which have a capacity equal to the work of twenty-five men. Owing to the dullness of the trade, but a small force is now en- gaged. John Y. Wren is superintendent and manager.

Harvey Brothers & Co.'s planing-mill began in April, 1871, in a building 229 by 70 feet, that had formerly been used as a machine shop. The capital invested was $48,- ooo. The works are principally occupied in making doors, mouldings, sash, &c., and can employ, when run- ning to their full capacity, 65 men. The machinery is driven by one thirty-five horse-power engine, with three boilers 32 feet long and 32 inches in diameter. The works are under the immediate superintendence of John Kern, one of the firm.

The first bank in Plymouth was the First National Bank, which was chartered December roth, 1864. The capital stock was $100,000, in shares of $roo. The first officers were J. B. Smith, president, and Henderson Gaylord, cashier. J. B. Smith is now president, Draper Smith vice- president, and J W. Chamberlin cashier. The bank is located in a brick building owned by its proprietors on Main street.

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History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 110

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York Publication date: 1880 Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co. Number of Pages: 900

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900