History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 120

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 120
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 120
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 120

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).

The second store was on the corner opposite the Pot- ter & McKeal store, by Alexander Jeffreys, an eccentric Scotch bachelor, who filled it with such a heterogeneous stock of merchandise as has perhaps never before or since been gathered under one roof. Dr. Hollister states that "books, drugs, hard and soft ware and every con- ceivable thing from a pulpit to a pig-yoke stood upon the shelves." The drugs were sold in 1843 to Dr. Ben- jamin H. Throop.

The post-office in Slocum Hollow was removed to Providence in 1829. John Vaughn, jr., was appointed postmaster. The following named gentlemen have since been postmaster of the village : Voltaire Searles, J. R. Bloom, H. Reichardt, D. S. Koon, S. Easterbrooks, H. Hollister, B. P. Couch, J. R. Bloom and H. Roberts, in the order named, the latter being the present incum- bent (1880).

FIRST CHURCH-LEADING CITIZENS-A FLOOD.

In the days of its infancy the village laid no especial claim to piety, and yet one of the first churches in the valley was planned, raised and partially completed there when the great hurricane of 1834 blew it down and swept the rafters half a mile away. It was never re- .

built.

During the few years succeeding 1840 Providence de- veloped an extensive country trade. Among the mer- chants then or subsequently in business there may be named James J. Clayton, John Vaughn, Bennett & Weaver, Artemas Miller, Sylvenus Easterbrooks, Charles T. Atwater, W. W. Winton, Winton & Dunning, John Harding, William M. Champion & Co., Gardner & Couch, B. H. Throop, Kennedy & Osterhout, Silas Oster- hout, Osterhout Brothers. Samuel Wycoff, Mulley & Benjamin, Ambrose Mulley, H. B. Rockwell, Gillespie Brothers, Von Storch & Co. and Rockwell & Hurlburt. The first newspaper in the present city was established at Providence in 1845, and the last journalistic venture in the city to date was begun there in 1879. A tempo- rary check was given the growth of the village about 1845 by an overflowing of the Lackawanna which swept away the dam and carried away the bridge and Jerison White's ax factory and several other buildings, causing a great

destruction of property. In the summer of 1866 the street railway between Scranton and Providence was opened.

CIVIL HISTORY.

Providence borough was incorporated by act of As- sembly March 14th, 1849. The following were the first borough officers: J. R. Wint, burgess; W. W. Winton, S. Gardner, Asa Coursen and Ira Tripp, councilmen; Fran- cis Fuller, constable; David S. Koon, justice of the peace; Theodore Von Storch, assessor; Jacob R. Bloom and William H. H. Crandall, inspectors of election; Nathaniel Cottrill, judge of election; and C. T. Atwater, S. Easter- brooks and D. R. Randall, school directors. The suc- ceeding burgesses were as follows: N. D. Green, 1850; A. B. Dunning, 1851, 1852; Sanford Grant, 1853; E. Leach, 1854; Theodore Von Storch, 1855-57; E. S. M. Hill, 1858; E. Leach, 1859; Daniel Silkman, 1860; Theodore Von Storch, 1861, and re-elected each subse- quent year until borough elections ceased to he held on account of the incorporation of the borough with the city of Scranton.

The justices of the peace commissioned in Providence borough in different years were as follows: David S. Koon, 1850; E. Leach, 1850, 1855, 1860, 1865; Theo- dore Von Storch, 1854, 1859; G. W. Miller, 1865.

HYDE PARK BOROUGH.

The Heermans House, or "old white tavern," has been referred to as long a place of popular resort. At this place the elections in Providence were often held be- fore the boroughs of Providence, Scranton, Hyde Park and Dunmore were formed, and it was the scene of inany a fierce and exciting contest. It was the changing place and dinner station on the stage route between Wilkes- Barre and Carbondale, and after the establishment of the daily line of four-horse coaches presented a lively appear- ance about noonday. Under the proprietorship of Nor- vel D. Green, and afterward of John Merrifield and Samuel Slocum, it achieved a notable reputation as a hostelry. The second tavern built in Hyde Park was erected by Anson H. Wood in 1831, on the north corner of Main and Franklin streets, on land now owned by the Catholic church. It was known for many years as "the yellow tavern," and was burned in 1868. The first school house in Hyde Park was erected in 1816 or thereabout, on the westerly corner of Main street and that upon which the public school-house is located. It served several years as a meeting-house, and Elder Richmond often held meetings there.

PROGRESS OF SETTLEMENT.

As late as 1820 Hyde Park had not attained to the size of a village. A blacksmith and wagon shop stood opposite the Heermans tavern. Between that and Mr. Washburn's, who came during that year, timber grew on both sides of the street; opposite Washburn's Zephaniah Knapp lived; in the next house, below and across the way from the school-house, lived Robert Merrifield, who

COLONEL W. N. MONIES.

Scotland has contributed many an active brain to the development of American resources, but none more active, carnest, or industrious than that of William N. Monies. Nurtured in an atmosphere that gave to the world a Sir Walter Scott, a Robert Burns and a Thomas Carlyle, his nature seems to have imbibed the imagery of the author of Kenilworth, the warm-heartedness of the " Bard of Ayr," and the common sense of the admirer of Frederick the Great, together with his hearty detesta- tion of shamns. At this time of writing, in the year 1880, when he stands in the vigor and prime of life, one would hardly think that the possessor of such a robust manhood and genial nature liad such an eventful history. There are few men who, having passed through so many dangers, borne so many afflic- tions, encountered such a series of rev- erses and successes, can, with William N. Monies, " look back and smile at perils past." Yet, despite his checkered career, attrition with life's battles seems to have brought out the brighter qual- ities of his nature and given then an added lustre instead of wearing them out as is the case with the majority of men.

William N. Monies was born in the village of New Dailly, Ayrshire, Scot- land, on the 10th of May, 1827; attended the village school at the age of four, and was apprentieed to a baker at ten years of age. His young mind gave evidence of carly development. His school days were full of earnest work, and fore- shadowed the activity which has ever since characterized an unusually busy life. At the age of eighteen he began business on his own responsibility in the town of Dalmelington, in his native shire, and carried it on successfully for two years. His ambition and inherent love for a wider sphere of action natu- rally prompted him to turn his thoughts

toward the United States, and he came to this country in 1849. His wife, Mary Kirk, erossed the ocean in the same ship with him, and the young lovers crowned their romantie trip by being united in marriage on their arrival in Carbondale, Pa.

On settling in Carbondale Mr. Monies obtained employment with Andrew Law at his trade as a baker, earning $6 a week, and worked there for six months. At the end of that time he started business on his own responsibility in the same town, and carried it on until 1852; when, becoming interested in the gold discoveries of California, his natural love for adventure led him to organize an expedition by the overland route to the rich region toward which so many were hurry- ing. All the sailing vessels found the voyage a tedious and highly per- ilous one at that time. It required no small share of courage in those days to dare the dangers of a journey of such magnitude and involving so many hazards and hardships. Yet the indomitable pluck and hero- ism of Mr. Monies led him to get together his hardy little band of eight- een and prepare for the journey. When everything was in readiness for the start so gloomy did the outlook appear that the expedition was abandoned by all his companions with the exception of five, and with these he started out for the land of gold. The entire population of Car- bondale turned out to wish the little party God speed' on their danger- ous and supposed foolhardy journey. The gold hunters proceeded to Great Bend, the nearest railway station, by Morrison's teain, and then fook passage on an emigrant train to Dunkirk, N. Y., whence they crossed Lake Erie in a somewhat primitive boat, such as was then in use. Then proceeding by the Michigan Central to Chicago, they took a canal boat to La Salle and went by steam to St. Louis. From this point they journeyed by boat on the Missouri river to St. Joseph. Here they remained a few days in a log cabin preparing for the roughest part of the journey. They purchased twelve oxen and two wagons, loaded their traps, laid in provisions, and struck out through the Indian country now known as Nebraska. The journey lasted five months and four days, leading through a wild and desolate region. The history of this adventure alone would fill a volume with hairbreadth escapes and incidents of a thrilling character. Suffice it to say that the party arrived in California almost devoid of clothing, foofsore, hungry, yet full of hope. Three hundred miles before reach- ing California the party was out of provisions, and managed itself as best it could by trading and giving such assistance as it could to others found in distress by the way. On reaching California Mr. Monies obtained employment at his trade, receiving $5 a day, and continued to work at it a year, after which he engaged in river-mining for gold. Here he invested his savings in the construction of flames and dams, which were no sooner completed than they were swept away by a freshet. Thus the project in which his earnings and energies were eon- centrated was suddenly annihilated, and he was once more penniless. This incident broke up the party. By the aid of some friends Mr. Monies wits enabled to take the contract for a hotel, and in a few months cleared $1,100. The desire to see his wife then caused him to turn his thoughts homeward, and he returned to Carbondale, where he received an en- thusiastie welcome. After remaining at home a few weeks he went back to California, once more engaging as a baker on the steam- ship " Yankee Blade." In these two adventures occurred the greatest struggles of his life, but he rose triumphant above all adversities and came through the ordeal unseathed. On reaching California the second time the subject of our sketch started a bakery and boarding-house in the gold region, and in less than a year and a half seeured a handsome

MM.monies

competency. He then sold out his busi- ness and returned to Pennsylvania. When he reached Carbondale he en- gaged in business, and had considerable snecess. The spring following his re- turn he was elected poormaster of the city, and three years later he went into the milling business at Providence- now a part of the city of Scranton-with Joseph Gillespie. This was in 1858. In 1859 he was cleeted burgess of the bor- ongh of Providence, and in 1860, feeling desirous of seeing his native land, he returned to Scotland on a visit to the seenes of his childhood. After a short absence he returned and in the spring of 1862, when the civil war was raging, his heart beat in sympathy with the eanse of the Union, and he organized a company in less than three days. Has- tening to Harrisburg, he was appointed captain of Company B 136th Pennsyl- vania volunteers. The enlistment was for nine months' service, but cleven months elapsed before Captain Monies's company was mustered out, after hav- ing engaged in the stormny struggles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville and many exciting skirmishes. He then came back to the "music of the mill." The war still raged, and the life of the Republic was threatened. Gover- nor Curtin called for volunteers to de- tend the State. In twenty-four hours after the famous proclamation was issued Captain Monies was in Harris- burg with 136 men, offering his sword and his services once more to his eoun- try. He had the distinguished honor of being the first to respond to the eall of the war governor. The morning after his arrival at the State capital men began to pour in from all parts of Pennsylvania, and by the recomienda- tion of the governor and adjutant general at a meeting of the officers Captain Monies was elected colonel of a regiment. The regiment was at onee formed, and numbered the 30th Pennsylvania volunteers, after- wards known as the " Monies Tigers." At the skirmishes of Oyster Point and Carlisle the " Tigers" rendered effective service, for which they received the thanks of the governor. In about three months the emergeney that called the regiment into existence enlminated at Gettys- burg, and Colonel Monies returned to the peaceful pursuit of milling, which he carried on with his characteristic energy. In 1865 he pur- chased the bakery of Mr. Charles Schlager, corner of Lackawanna and Washington avenues, Seranton. At that time he disposed of his interest in the mill to his son-in-law, Mr. John B. Gillespie, and formed a part- nership in the baking business with Mr. Lewis Pughe, under the firm name Monies & Pughe, which still exists.

In the year 1869 he was elected Mayor of the city of Seranton for three years, an honor all the greater considering the fact that he was a Republican and the city had a Democratie majority of 1,200. He served as mayor with great credit during one of the most trying periods of the city's history, growing out of the labor troubles. Meanwhile he eon- tinned his business and engaged with his partner and others in the pur- chase of large tracts of coal lands, realizing handsome profit from the investment. In 1844 he again visited his native country, and made a tour of the continent. llis love of enterprise had previously led him, in company with several others, into the purchase of a foundry at Pitts- ton, which has grown rapidly and at this writing is one of the largest and best equipped stove foundries in Pennsylvania, Colonel Monies being president of the company. The firm Monies & Pughe has also invested largely in silver mines in the celebrated San Juan country, Colorado. Colonel Monies went in person to examine and locate them. The trip was made in company with Governor Hoyt,of Pennsylvania, and others, and several members of the party were severely injured by the upset- ting of the coach and the running away of the horses in crossing the mountains, In the forty-years light for the ercation of the new county of Lackawanna from a portion of Luzerne Colonel Monies was an active participant from time to time, and when the new county act was finally passed lie was appointed the first treasurer of the county, His manage- ment of its financial affairs was signalized by honesty and efficiency, and at the elose of his office his accounts with the State departinent. were settled to the eent. Subsequently he was nominated for the same office by the Republican party, and elected by a handsome vote. The Supreme Court of the State decided that there was no election at the fine, and his appointment continued over the term. It was fortunate for the new county to have a man of such sterling worth for its first. financial ollice. His books were admirably kept, and his accounts with State and county closed satisfactorily on the last day of his term, thus setting a noble example for his successors in office. After settling np his all'airs as treasurer of Lackawanna county he took an extended tour in 1880 through Scotland, England and Ireland, and his impressions of the trip, which have found their way into print, are decidedly interest- ing and original.

Colonel Monies is now actively engaged in pushing forward his numerous business enterprises. He is well known and highly esteemed not only in the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys but throughont Pennsylvania, and even beyond the borders of the Keystone State. Ile is regarded by hosts of friends as a social, pleasant gentleman. He is in the Inflest sense a public-spirited, representative man, who has won his way through "iron fortune" to a position of competency and esteem. But snecess has not spoiled him, for his warm heart and generous disposition still stamp him as one of Nature's noblemen.

Maymenifield

HON. WILLIAM MERRIFIELD.

Hon. William Merrifield, prominently connected with the carly history and growth of the Lackawanna valley, was born at Pine Plains, Dutchess county, N. Y., April 22nd, 1806. His ancestry upon his mother's side were of German descent; upon his father's English. His great-grand- father, Robert Merrifield, was born in England, in 1703, and emigrated with a brother or brothers to America, settling in Rhode Island. His grandfather William, an only son, was born in the latter State, in 1752, and came with his father to Dutchess county, N. Y. He was a school teacher and continued to live in Dutchess and Columbia connties until his death, in 1836. Robert, father of William the subject of the present sketch, was born in Columbia county, in 1778; emigrated with his family to Pennsylvania in 1819, and settled in the then township of Providence, subsequently Hyde Park. Here he engaged in the business of clearing away the forest and farming. He was assisted by his son William. whose axe in boyhood helped to fell the gigantic trees that once towered where now are hundreds of human habitations. Robert Merrifield died universally beloved, at. the advanced age of nearly eighty-seven years.

The education of William was limited to district schools, but his mind was sufficiently stored to enable him to teach, and for five winters he engaged in this occupation. While teaching at Wyoming he married Alnira, sister of the late William Swetland, and soon after engaged in the mercantile business at Centre Moreland, Luzerne county. Before going there he had been instrumental in getting a post-office established at. Hyde Park, and was appointed the first. postmaster in 1831. He re- inained at Centre Moreland about one year, returned to Hyde Park, was reappointed postmaster and held the office about ten years. At the saine time he erected a store building, and followed the business of a merchant almost uninterruptedly until 1864.

He carly foresaw the advantages of this section as a mining and man- ufacturing center, and in 1837 became a joint owner of the main portion of the lands where is now built the central part of Scranton. Heat once commenced operations, through correspondence and otherwise, toward calling the attention of capitalists to this point ; and in 1838 the tract was disposed of to Colonel George W. Scranton and others, by whose energy and perseverance it received the impetus that has made it a flourishing city.

In 1843 he was elected to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, to which he was returned for three successive terms. As a legislator he was regard- cd as a safe adviser. his opinion being frequently sought and highly respected. Besides serving on other committees he was a member of the Committee of Ways and Means ; at one session was chairman of the Cominittee on Banks, at another on Inland Navigation and Public Im- provements, at the time considered among the most responsible positions in the House. His struggles for the welfare of the Lackawanna valley exhibit lrim on the legislative records as the ablest champion ever sent from this locality. This is particularly true because of the intriguing attempts made at that time by other sections of the State to burden the anthracite region with onerous taxation. A speech upon this question inade by him during the session of 1846 was considered a masterly effort, replete with good sense and full of such a well considered array of sta- tistical information as to virtually effect the defeat of the incasure. But his greatest effort was in behalf of the proposed new county of Lackawanna, the bill for which he succeeded in passing through the

lower house, and was only defeated in the Senate by a tie vote. He was an earnest worker in favor of the extension of the North Branch Canal; also for the project of slackwater navigation on the Susque- hanna and Lackawanna rivers with a view of opening np the Lackawauna coal fields.

He was an enthusiastic friend and supporter of the public schools of his neighborhood, and contributed liberally toward the erection of the churches. He officiated as school director at the time of the building of the first frame school-house in Hyde Park, and again during the construction of the more recent graded school building. Hewas among the first to give an impetus to the growth of the town, by plotting his tract of land, in the central portion thereof, into village lots, subse- quently laying out another tract in the westerly part, known as " Mer- rifield's plot of lots in Keyser's valley."

In 1856 he was elected associate judge of Inzerne county, serving at the time the late lamented Judge Conyngham presided, with whom he held the most pleasant relations. He had been an attentive reader of law books, and while occupying this position his general knowledge of law came well in play, as he was called upon to hear important mattersat chambers, in the disposition of which he acquitted himself with ability.

In 1820 he was chosen president of the Hyde Park bank, which during his life was a tlonrishing institution, enjoying the confidence of the entire community. At his death the board of directors, at a meeting called upon that occasion, unanimously passed a flattering series of resolutions, expressing their confidence in his ability and integrity, and deploring their great loss.

As a politician he belonged to the old Democratic school. and was ever known as a conscientious advocate of purity in public affairs, his wishes always being for the welfare and prosperity of the nation. The public offices that were conferred upon him were given in every instance without solicitation upon his part, and were invariably ad- ministered to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.

Judge Merrifield was emphatically the architect of his own fortune. Aside from the financial ability that had made him comfortable in his declining years, he was a ripe scholar in all that pertains to an English education. Ile was a profound historian and well versed in science and generał literature ; indeed, he was so diligent a reader even after hav- ing passed his three score and ten that it is believed to have been the predisposing eanse of his death.

On the 4th of June, 1877, after an illness of a little more than two monthis, he died, imiversally respected and mourned by the entire com- munity ; and as the solemn funeral cortege passed through the princi- pal street business was entirely suspended as a token of respect to his memory.

There were few men who possessed more fully the entire confidenee of acquaintances, his chief characteristics being those of honesty and integrity and a conscientious discharge of all duties entrusted to him. Not a breath of suspicion ever tainted his character, and he will long be remembered for his manly virtues and kindness of heart. It was in the home circle, around his own fireside, that his intelligence and good- ness shone pre-eminently, and mnade the father and hisband the idol of his home. His life presents a record which proves conclusively that the right road to success in life is that of unceasing labor and undeviat- ing integrity.

393

THE FOUNDERS OF HYDE PARK.

came in 1819. Just below lived old "Squire " Joseph Fellows and his sons Benjamin and Henry. Above the tavern or the right hand side of the road, about half way between Jackson and Franklin streets, was a dwelling house; the Bishop house had been destroyed by fire. Farther up were the homes of Preserved Taylor and Holden Tripp; and there may have been one or two other families in the neighborhood. Shortly after this period Philip Heermans, with the assent of his brother- in-law Joseph Fellows, who resided in Albany, laid out a few lots of about ten acres each, which measure may be said to have marked the commencement of the village. It received a name between 1825 and 1830. Harvey Chase, who came from Hyde Park, Dutchess county, N. Y., lettered the name " Hyde Park " on a board and stuck it up in the yard of one of the neighbors, from which time the village was known by that name.

THE POST-OFFICE-EARLY STORE.

July 14th, 1832, a post-office was established under the now well known name, and William Merrifield was ap- pointed postmaster .. Previously there had been a post- office at Slocum's, on the Scranton side of the river, but it had now been abandoned, and the postmaster was directed to receive the papers and key to the mail pouch from Pittston. The appointment was resigned shortly after, and Robert Merrifield was commissioned, under date of August 9th, 1832. William Merrifield was reappointed June 5th, 1834, and held the office about nine years. The first store was erected in 1833 by William Merrifield, the old building vet standing on Main street opposite the Methodist church. The Judge Merrifield residence was built about the same time. Prior to that Charles Atwater had kept a few goods for sale, occupying a dwelling house near where the Mckeever block now stands; but practi- cally Merrifield's was the pioneer mercantile establish- ment in the place. The second store was built by David Benedict about 1836, where the McGarrah block now stands. Here he conducted business for a year or two, . when he moved down to the Fellows corners. There he was succeeded by William Blackman & O. P. Clark. This was about 1840, when the village contained, besides the church and school-house, two stores, two taverns, two blacksmith and wagon shops, a cabinet and one or two shoemaking establishments, and not more than twenty dwellings.

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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 120

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