History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 124

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 124
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 124
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 124

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 Scranton Wochenblatt, a German Democratic

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402

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

paper, was established by E. A. Ludwig, in January, 1865. It was sold to F. Wagner and by him to August Stutzbach, the present proprietor and publisher.

The Scranton City Journal was established in March, 1867, by E. A. & G. W. Benedict, who came from Car- bondale. In 1869 Mr. S. D. Baker of Carbondale was admitted to the firm, the style of which was changed to Benedict Brothers & Baker. Mr. Baker retired at the expiration of a year and a half, the business being con- tinued by Benedict Brothers. In 1875 G. W. Benedict purchased the interest of his brother and changed the name of the paper to the Scranton Journal. It is an independent family newspaper with Republican proclivi- ties. A paper was issued the same year by J. D. Rea- gan, which was afterwards merged in the Democrat. The Examiner was published in 1868 by J. D. Reagan. It was purchased by J. B. Adams and its title was changed to the Democrat. It was a popular weekly paper several years, but has gone out of existence. It has been de- scribed as a " bold, original ultra Democratic paper." The Daily Democrat, an evening paper, was published for a time. The Baner America (American Banner), the pioneer Welsh paper of Scranton, was established in 1869. It was owned by a corporation and at different times edited by H. M. Edwards, T. B. Morris, W. S. Jones, D. J. Evans and E. R. Lewis. In 1874 it was sold to Thomas Phillips, and in 1876 to D. J. Evans, and was published and edited by him for a year, when he sold it to Messrs. Lewis & Holmes, Mr. Lewis assuming editorial charge. Its publication was discontinued in 1879. It was Repub- lican politically and was at one time an influential party journal. It was a large, eight-page paper, neat typograph- ically and at times ably and vigorously edited.

The Daily Times was founded in 1870 by a company. It was first edited by J. A. Clark for a few months; then by W. H. Stanton till September ist, 1872, and since by Aaron Augustus Chase. It is published every week-day morning and is Democratic politically. The Weekly Times, founded in 1873, is published every Thursday. It is Democratic and is edited by Aaron Augustus Chase. The Law Times was founded in 1873. It is a law magazine, published every Friday; Aaron Augustus Chase editor.

The Sunday Morning Free Press, the pioneer Sunday newspaper of northeastern Pennsylvania, was started by an association of practical printers known as the Co-opera- tive Printing Association. The first number was issued June roth, 1872. To compensate for the lack of mail facilities, the association at once projected pony express routes to all points within twenty miles of Scranton, which have ever since been maintained and been more than doubly extended by the present management. F. A. Beamish, its present proprietor, was the first subscriber on its list. The paper was purchased by F. E. Clark February 15th, 1873, and continued in his possession until May rith, 1874, when it was purchased by Mr. F. A. Beamish, who has since been its editor and proprietor. Its job office was burned December 14th, 1876, necessi- tating a removal to the Bane" America office. In the spring of 1878 an entire new outfit of type and material

was procured at considerable expense, and the Free Press was enlarged from a twenty-eight to a thirty-two column paper. The columns were also lengthened, increasing its size about one-fourth. July 15th, 1878, the publication office was removed to the republican building, on Wyoming avenue. The Free Press is independent-Dem- ocratic in politics, has always advocated the cause of the people and has a circulation equaled by few papers in the State outside of the large cities.

In 1873 the Hyde Park Visitor was established by Mr. E. R. Williams, better known by his nom de plume of "Jenkins." It was racy, witty and sensational, and its local news department was excellent. It was issued reg- ularly for about eight months, gaining rapidly in popular favor and circulation. Its publication ceased on account of the sudden death of its projector and publisher.

The Scranton Herald, the official German Republican organ of Lackawanna county, was established in 1874. Mr. Nicholas Kiefer is the sole editor and proprietor. It circulates in Lackawanna, Wayne, Wyoming, Pike, Lu- zerne, Carbon and other counties. The Avalanche was published as a Democratic campaign paper in 1876, by the Co-operative Printing Company, J. C. Coon manager. The publication of a small paper called the Daily Observer was begun in 1877. In 1878 it passed into the hands of Messrs. Holmes & Jones, who changed its name to the Evening Star and continued its publication a short time.

The People's Shield (Tarian y Bobe), another Welsh paper, was issued in 1877 by John Morris, editor and proprietor. Its political proclivities were Republican. It was a neatly printed weekly sheet, sprightly and newsy, and its editorial department was vigorous. Some of the best Welsh writers contributed to its columns. Its pub- lication was discontinued in 1878, owing to a change in the politics of the Welsh people of the counties of Lu- zerne and Schuylkill, who were its chief supporters. During 1877 a comic paper, the Wesh Punch (Y Pionch), was started; but its matter was obnoxious to a large class of the Welsh population, and its life was short.

November Ist, 1878, Reagan & Higgins issued the first number of the Sunday Visitor, the publication of which was continued about six months. In the fall of 1877 the Industrial Advocate was established by the Industrial Advocate Publishing Company. It appeared regularly for about a year. In 1878 the initial number of the Daily Advocate was issued. It suspended in four or five months.

The Workingman's Banner ( Baner y Gweithiwr) is owned and edited by D. J. Evans. It is a Welsh Repub- lican paper, well printed, interesting and spicy. It is creditably edited and has a corps of able contributors. It has a large and increasing circulation. Its publication was begun in May, 1879. The Lackawanna Union was the name of a daily campaign paper published a few months in 1879 in the interest of William H. Stanton, then a candidate for additional law judge of the 45th judicial district. The Sunday Breeze was published two weeks in 1879 by the Breeze Publishing Company. It was merged in the News-Dealer, a Sunday paper pub-

403

LITERARY PEOPLE OF SCRANTON-BANKS.

lished simultaneously at Wilkes- Barre and Scranton. The Scranton department is ably conducted by Mr. Frank P. Woodward. Several Welsh campaign papers have been issued at various times. The Providence Echo was started in 1879. It is probable that mention of some papers which have had an ephemeral existence has been omitted, but it is thought that all journals which have ever been established and become well known have received due attention. A paper in the interest of the Knights of Pythias was published in Scranton for a short time. An ad- vertising sheet was published in the interest of the business men of Scranton by Mr. John T. Howe during 1877. It had a large gratuitous circulation, and was issued monthly.

The Christmas Argosy, an annual, containing many val- uable articles of high literary character, was issued dur- ing the holidays of 1879-80 by John E. Barrett and Frank P. Woodward. Captain O' Brien's Monthly Mag- azine first appeared February 4th, 1880. It is a neat brochure of romance, poetry and news of the day. Its motto is "to serve God, aid mankind and make money," and it will be issued on the last Saturday of every month. The legal fraternity of Lackawanna county have sup- ported several law publications, which have been or are issued in Scranton.

A love for business and a taste for literary matters are opposites, generally speaking. Scranton has fostered the one and not the other; the result is few writers and authors within its limits.

Richard Drinker, who died in Scranton a few years ago, was a quaint writer of poetry and prose of unques- tioned merit. He published no books, and it is to be regretted that his effusions were not collected and pre- served in a printed volume for posterity, for they well de- serve a place in all libraries. Rev. George Peck, D. D., a pioneer Methodist Episcopal minister in this portion of Pennsylvania and an author of national reputation, wrote and published the " History of Wyoming," " Early Meth- odism " and many other religious and historical works of great labor and value, which are everywhere regarded as standard publications. The city of Scranton may well feel proud of the literary achievements of this remarkable man, who has gone to his reward. "Contributions to the History of the Lackawanna Valley," a volume of 328 pages, issued in 1857, and "The History of the Lacka- wanna Valley," entirely re-written and enlarged to 442 pages, published in 1869 and 1875 by H. Hollister, M. D., are well known works of rare historical merit and more than local popularity. For the last thirty years the doctor has contributed many articles to the mag- azines and newspapers of the country. He is now pre- paring the history of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. 1 Mrs. Harriet G. Watres, wife of Alderman Lewis S. Watres, of Scranton, whose tender and patriotic sonnets have been widely read, under the nom de plume of "Stella of Lackawanna," has adorned many literary mag- azines and newspapers with her poetic gems. In her poetry, which as yet has never been published in book form, are pictured real scenes of nature in rare pathos, sometimes radiant with sunshine, but oftener tinged with a pathetic

sadness. Her "Centennial Ode," at Wyoming, July 4th, 1878, was not only original and grand in its character, but in the language of that fine critic the Rev. Abel Barker, of Wyoming, "it was a poem that Longfellow himself might be proud of." "TheWyoming Valley, Upper Waters of the Susquehanna and the Lackawanna Coal Region," by James Albert Clark, appeared first in pamphlet and then in book form in 1875. It is an attractive and valuable work, illustrated with twenty-five photographs. The chapters devoted to railroad and mining history evince much painstaking research. The work is well written and is valued by those interested in local history.

The most versatile writer in Scranton is recognized in the local editor of the Scranton Daily Republican, Hon. John E. Barrett, who for the last six years has given this department of the paper spirit, popularity and character. No man in Scranton can take the raw material of daily events and transfer them so readily and in so life-like a way to paper as this gentleman. He lays no claim to the gift of beautifying creation in poetry, but his sensibilities are so fine as to be in themselves poetical. If he excels in any one branch of literary work it is as a novelist, all of his stories having been widely and some of them ex- tensively read. Frank P. Woodward, who manages the Scranton office of the Sunday News- Dealer and is one of the editors of that paper, is a graceful writer of tales, many of which have appeared in the popular journals of the day. As a writer of historical and statistical articles on Scranton and the Lackawanna valley Hon. Lewis Pughe is well known. Colonel H. M. Boies is a contributor to magazines, writing on military and kindred topics.

BANKS AND BANKERS.

May roth, 1855, Mason, Meylert & Co. opened the first bank in the city at the corner of Wyoming avenue and Center street. The building now occupied by the Scranton Savings Bank was erected and occupied by this firm about 1860. There were two or three changes in the organization of the firm, which continued business until about 1864, Gordon F. Mason and Michael and A. N. Meylert being the partners.

The Lackawanna Valley Bank had its origin in the private banking house of George Sanderson & Co., who began business in November, 1855. In August, 1873, the institution was incorporated as a State bank, with a paid-up capital of $83,500. The original policy of sus- taining a department for general banking business and a department devoted exclusively to savings deposits, bear- ing interest payable semi-annually, is continued by the Lackawanna Valley Bank. In ISSo George Sanderson was president and W. E. Watkins cashier.

The Second National Bank of Scranton was established in the latter part of 1863, and is now in the hands of a receiver. The officers chosen at the time of organization were as follows: President, T. F. Hunt; vice-president, Doctor John Wilson; cashier, W. W. Winton. The re- ceiver is Mr. G. S. Goodale. In 1865 the First National Bank of Providence was organized. It was consolidated with the Second National Bank of Scranton.

404

HISTORY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY.

The First National Bank of Scranton was organized May 30th, 1863, with a capital of $200,000. The direct- ors were Joseph H. Scranton, Thomas Dickson, John Brisbin, Joseph J. Albright and Joseph C. Platt; presi- dent, Joseph H. Scranton; vice-president, Joseph J. Al- bright; cashier, William Cushing. John Brisbin removed to New York in 1864 and George L. Dickson was elected 10 fill the vacancy. William Cushing, cashier, resigned in June, 1865, and James A. Linen succeeded him. Jo- seph H. Scranton died at Baden Baden, Germany, June 6th, 1872, and Joseph J. Albright was elected president, Joseph C. Platt vice-president, and Jamies Blair director. Dividends of ton per cent. were made from the date of organization to 1869; from 1869 to 1872, twelve per cent .; from 1872 to 1874, sixteen per cent .; from 1874 to 1880, twenty per cent., and in addition the bank has accumulated a surplus of $255.coo. Edward S. Jackson has been teller since 1867.

The Scranton Savings Bank was incorporated February 26th, 1867. T. F. Hunt, George Fisher, J. H. Sutphin, S. Grant, John Hadley, C. P. Matthews and all other subsequent stock holders were named as the corporators. August 5th, 1867, James Blair subscribed for one hundred shares of capital stock, and S. Grant, T. F. Hunt, George Fisher, J. H. Sutphin, John Handley, J. S. Slocum, Charles P. Matthews and A. E. Hunt fifty shares each, making 500 at a par value of $100 each, and the amount subscribed $50,000, fifty per cent. of which was paid in then, and the balance July 6th, 1870.

September 10th, 1867, the following permanent organ- ization was effected; James Blair, president; James Arch- bald and John H. Sutphin, vice-presidents; T. F. Hunt, secretary; Oscar C. Moore, cashier; the first four and John Handley, S. Grant, Daniel Howell, George Fisher and James S. Slocum directors and trustees. The bank was opened October 7th, 1867, at No. 309 Lackawanna avenue. In June, 1869, the building No. 120 Wyoming avenue, known as the "Meylert Banking House," was purchased and the bank removed thereto, where it has since been located.

George H. Birdsall succeeded Mr. Moore as cashier January Ist, 1876, and H. A. Vail succeeded Mr. Bird- sall April 20th, 1878. Of the original managers only James Blair, George Fisher and James S. Slocum remain. The management in 1879 consisted of John I. Blair, James Blair, George Fisher, A. M. Decker, G. H. Catlin, James Archibald, jr., G. A. Fuller, James S. Slocum and H. A. Vail, directors and trustees; James Blair, president; H. A. Vail, secretary and cashier. The original managers (practically) continued in office until June, 1877, the bank doing a remunerative business; but the hard times obliged some of them to resign. The new managers who (in June, 1877, and later, in 1878,) followed remain' directors and trustees.

The resignations mentioned and the rumors and sus- picions thereby excited culminated in June, 1877, in a three weeks run upon the bank by depositors, during which the bank paid out about $62,500. The new man- agement increased the capital stock to $100,000, of

which amount $99,000 have been paid in. The bank transacts a general banking business, and deals in foreign and domestic exchange and government bonds and sells steamship tickets.

The Scranton Trust Company and Savings Bank, organ- ized January ist, 1870, is now in the hands of an assignee.

The Merchants and Mechanics' Bank of Scranton was organized August 6th, 1870, succeeding in business John Handley & Co., with the following directors: John Handley, Daniel Howell, Thomas Moore, D. T. Richards, Patrick M. Cann, Edward Jones, D. B. Brainard, J. H. Gunster, M. M. Kearney, D. B. Oakes and Peter Bur- schel. Hon. John Handley was elected president, J. C. Burgess vice-president, and W. H. Fuller cashier. The paid-up capital of the bank was $125,000; the authorized capital $500,000. The place of business was and is at No. 420 Lackawanna avenue. May 18th, 1871, R. T. McCabe was elected cashier in place of Mr. Fuller, re- signed, and in March, 1873, the capital stock was in- creased to $250,000. In 1875 Mr. Handley retired from the presidency, having been elected judge of Luzerne county, and E. Phinney succeeded him. In 1876 R. T. McCabe was elected treasurer of the Pennsylvania An- thracite Coal Company, and John T. Richards became cashier. The present officers are: Daniel Howell, pres- ident; Thomas Moore, vice-president; John T. Richards, cashier. The directors are Daniel Howell, Thomas Moore, Edward Jones, James Jordan and D. B. Brainard. Up to February Ist, 1880, the bank had paid in dividends to its stockholders $150,000, besides adding a surplus of $50,000, and paying to depositors $75,290.51 as interest, and $22,963.50 in taxes.

The Third National Bank of Scranton was organized March Ist, 1872, by the election of the following direct- ors: Alfred Hand, John Jermyn, Lewis Pughe, J. A. Scranton, Henry M. Boies, William Matthews, George H. Catlin, James Archbald, William Connell, Frederick W. Gunster and Edward C. Lynde. The following officers were chosen: President, Alfred Hand; vice-president, George H. Catlin; secretary and temporary cashier, Ed- ward C. Lynde. March 16th, 1872, N. H. Shafer was elected cashier. The bank began business April 15th, 1872, at 504 Lackawanna avenue, with a capital of $200,- 000, and removed to the Republican building July 29th, 1872. The present commodious building was erected by the bank and occupied November Ist, 1877. Hon. Al- fred Hand was appointed additional law judge in March, 1879, and resigned the presidency of the bank. Lewis Pughe, vice-president (since January, 1875), acted as president the remainder of the year. January 13th, 1880, the board of directors was reduced from eleven to nine, and the following persons were elected directors for the ensuing year: William Connell, George H. Catlin, John Jermyn, Lewis Pughe, H. M. Boies, James Archbald, Fred. W. Gunster, Henry Belin, jr., and W. H. Rich- mond. The officers elected were: William Connell, presi- dent; George H. Catlin, vice-president; N. H. Shafer, secretary and cashier. The capital is $200,000; surplus, $35,000.

S&Whipple

LACKAWANNA VALLEY HOUSE.

I. E. WHIPPLE.

I. Eugene Whipple, son of Isaac and Emma (Lathrop) Whipple, was born in Jackson, Susquehanna county, Pa., February 19th, 1849. His great-grandfather, Ebenezer Whipple, a native of Connecticut, came to Susquehanna county and settled near Montrose in 1793, upon a farm which he cleared up, and upon which he resided until his death, being more than eighty years of age. He had three sons who came with the family, all of whom married and reared families. The eldest, Ebenezer, jr., was one of the first settlers in Iowa. Hiram, a farmer, settled in Sus- quehanna county, where he died in 1872, aged seventy- eight years. Cyrus lived in Susquehanna county until he was nearly seventy years of age, when he moved to Iowa, where his sons had resided several years. He died in 1878, aged eighty years. Isaac, the father of the subject of our sketch, is a physician, and has been in practice for several years in Stevensville, Bradford county, Pa. He had seven children-four sons and three daughters- all living. I. Eugene, the eldest, spent his boyhood at home and in the schools of his native town. He com-

pleted his education at the Stevensville Academy, where he was a student for three years. After he became of age he purchased the stage business between Laceyville and Montrose, which he carried on for one year, when he sold out and entered the boot and shoe trade in Stevens- ville. After continuing the business a year he sold out and was engaged as clerk in the Eagle Hotel, Pittston, which position he filled three years, when (in 1876) he became the proprietor of the St. Charles Hotel in the same place. In 1878 he came to Scranton and leased the Lackawanna Valley House, of which he is at present the popular proprietor; a view of the house may be seen above.

On October 11th, 1876, he married S. Ophelia, daugh- ter of Evan Evans, of Jackson Valley, Susquehanna county, Pa. She was born August 27th, 1854. Mr. Whipple is a Republican in politics, but never sought political preferment. He is identified with the Baptist church, of which both his parents have been members for several years.

uosi

EUGENE W. SIMRELL.

Eugene W. Simrell was born in Scott township, Lu- zerne (now Lackawanna) county, October 3d, 1851, the eldest child of Warren W. and Frances C. (Decker) Sim- rell. His great-grandfather, William Simrell, emigrated with his family from Ireland and settled in Rhode Isl- and. His grandfather, Nathaniel Simrell, was born in Rhode Island, married Lydia Wall, moved from Rhode Island and settled in Scott township, Luzerne county, about the year 1800, and raised a large family there.

Warren W. Simrell, E. W. Simrell's father, was born in Scott, and married Frances C. Decker, daughter of Ste. phen and Louisa (Giddings) Decker. By this union there were seven children, three of whom are deceased. Henrietta, Myra and Lydia, three daughters, are living at home.

Eugene W. Simrell was brought up on a farm. He received his education in the common school at Scott, Gardner's Commercial College at Scranton, Kingston Sem- inary and the Bloomsburg and Mansfield State normal schools. In 1873 he entered the Albany law school, from

which institution he was graduated in 1874, receiving the degree of LL. B. He opened a law office in Scranton in the fall of the same year, and has practiced his profes- sion there since.

In politics Mr. Simrell is a Republican. In 1875 he was appointed by the U. S. Circuit Court commissioner for the western district of Pennsylvania, which position he held up to January Ist, 1880. He received the nom- ination of the Republican party for district attorney in 1878 and was elected; but by the decision of the Supreme Court the election being declared void, he did not serve. At the election in 1879, having again received the nomi- nation of his party to the office, he was elected, and he is the present incumbent of the office, the duties of which he has filled to the entire satisfaction of the community. Of the many young attorneys who largely compose the membership of the Lackawanna county bar, it may well be said that none have made a better record or give greater promise of future success in the profession than Eugene W. Simrell.

405

BANKS OF SCRANTON-WARDS AND OFFICERS.

The Scranton Savings Bank and Trust Company was organized December 13th, 1873, and opened for business June roth, 1874, with a capital of $250,000, and with the following directors and officers: John Handley, E. A. Coray, F. D. Collins, U. M. Stowers, E. N. Willard, Thomas Phillips and Rev. Moses Whitty, directors; E. N. Willard, president; John Handley and Rev. Moses Whitty, vice-presidents; L. A. Watres, cashier. January 4th, 1875, John Handley, having been elected law judge of Luzerne county, resigned the presidency and E. N. Willard was elected in his stead. A good business is now (1880) being done under the following management: Directors, E. N. Willard, William M. Silkman, E. P. Kingsbury, Hon. F. D. Collins, M. J. Wilson and L. A. Watres; president, E. N. Willard; vice-president, Wil- liam M. Silkman; secretary, L. A. Watres; cashier, A. H. Christy.

The Scranton City Bank was incorporated in 1873. The capital is $500,000. The president is Victor Koch; the cashier, J. H. Gunster.

The Miners and Mechanics' Loan and Banking Associa- tion, of Hyde Park, was organized in May, 1874, with the following named officers: Hon. George Sanderson, pres- ident; A. B. Stevens, secretary and treasurer; H. T. Sawyer, cashier. Mr. Sawyer was succeeded by L. Rey- nolds in 1876. Mr. Reynolds died in November, 1877, and was succeeded by the present cashier, A. B. Eynon.

The Citizens and Miners' Savings Bank and Trust Com- pany of Providence, now in the hands of assignees, had its origin in the private banking firm of Winton, Clark & Co. There have been from time to time private banking offices opened in different parts of the city.

INCORPORATION AND CIVIL HISTORY.

The city of Scranton was incorporated April 23d, 1866, and embraces within its territorial limits all that .then remained of the ancient township of Providence and the boroughs of Providence, Hyde Park and Scranton.

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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 124

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